George Stevens A Filmmaker's Journey - The Memorable TV DVD Review

Distributor: Warner Home Entertainment
Certificate: Not Rated | Region 1 | NTSC | 112 minutes
Available to buy
Director: George Stevens Jr
Extras: No

ANYONE IN IT WE KNOW?

George Stevens, Fred Astaire, Warren Beatty, Montgomery Clift, James Dean, Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Rock Hudson, Alan Ladd, Spencer Tracy

WHAT’S IT ABOUT THEN?

Put together by his son George Steven Jr this wonderfully sentimental “filmmakers journey” tracks the life and career of one of Hollywood’s foremost directors George Stevens who despite now probably not being as well remembered as other great directors is just as important, helming classic films throughout the golden age of Hollywood.

SO IS IT ANY GOOD?

Responsible for some truly great movies that span the thirties to the fifties George Stevens spent much of the early part of his career directing movies like Alice Adams, Swing Time with Fred Astaire and Gunga Din with Cary Grant which were not only hugely popular but certainly helped put Stevens name close to the top of the Hollywood tree.

World War II changed things somewhat as Stevens got involved in the war effort, filming heavily as the allies pushed across Europe . On his return the movies he made definitely had a more serious edge, The Diary of Anne Frank and Giant to name but two pushing back the boundaries of the day.

This is a supremely interesting documentary on a sometimes overlooked director who was obviously well liked by his actors. There are some great contributions from people such as Douglas Fairbanks Jr and producer Pandro S. Berman and archive contributions from pretty much the cream of Hollywood . Yes George Stevens Jr does sometimes paint a too perfect picture of his father but the documentary succeeds on most counts anyway.

Thanks to a new transfer and a clean up on all the clips featured George Stevens A Filmmakers Journey also looks fantastic and for any fan of classic Hollywood cinema is a definite must see.

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?

No extras.

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