Difference between revisions of "Hollywood Man"

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  <div class="large-6 columns">'''[[/Review|Hollywood Man]]''' ([[:Category:1976|1976]], [[:Category:USA|USA]]) is a [[:Category:Bikers|Biker themed]]-[[:Category:Crime|Crime]] film directed by [[Jack Starrett]].
{{USA}}
*'''Contents''': [[/Review|Film Review]] | [[/DVD|Available DVDs]]
 
[[File:Hollywood_manpost.jpg]]
*[[/DVD|Available DVDs]]
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====Main Details====
==Tagline==
* The cops try to stop him!!...the mafia tries to stop him!!..but nobody's going to stop him!
 
==Also Known As==
* Djävulsänglarnas hämnd (Sweden)
* Helvetin enkeleiden kosto (Finland)
* Katharmata tou Los Angeles  (Greece)
* Stoker (USA)
 
==Main Details==
 
* Released in 1976
* Released in 1976
* Color
* Color
* Running Time: Finland:93 min (uncut) | Finland:87 min (cut)
* Running Time: Finland: 93 min (uncut) | Finland: 87 min (cut)
* Production Co: Olympic Film Productions
* Production Co: Olympic Film Productions
* Distribution Co: Intercontinental Releasing Corporation (IRC) (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
* Distribution Co: Intercontinental Releasing Corporation (IRC) (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
==Cast and Crew==
* Directed by [[Jack Starrett]]
* Directed by [[Jack Starrett]]
* Written by Tom Farese, Ray Girardin, Dominic Gombardella, William Smith
* Written by Tom Farese, Ray Girardin, Dominic Gombardella, William Smith
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* Cinematography by Robert C. Jessup
* Cinematography by Robert C. Jessup
* Film Editing by Arthur Anthony, John C. Horger
* Film Editing by Arthur Anthony, John C. Horger
 
====Also Known As====
==Film Review==
* Djävulsänglarnas hämnd (Sweden)
{{William Smith}}
* Helvetin enkeleiden kosto (Finland)
{{Don Stroud}}
* Katharmata tou Los Angeles  (Greece)
{{Bikers}}
* Stoker (USA)
{{Crime}}
====Tagline====
 
* The cops try to stop him!!...the mafia tries to stop him!!..but nobody's going to stop him!
I first learned of Jack Starrett's 1976 crime B-film Hollywood Man from reading up about it after it played at one of Quentin Tarantino's Austin Film Fests back in 1997. Ever since it was a film I searched high and low for but was never able to find. Many years later I finally ran across a full version on YouTube (which has really become a godsend when it comes to tracking down old movies). Well, I was very pleased to discover once I watched it how much fun it actually was. The movie opens with one of the most memorable songs I've ever heard. The ballad by charismatic crooner Tony Chance is sung with an emotional sincerity and exuberance as he proclaims "Hollywood Man/They call me Hollywood Man/Too proud to stand aside...". The lyrics give us our thematic introduction to the main character, Rafe Stoker ([[William Smith]]) who is an enthusiastic movie director trying to complete his latest opus: a biker film. The only trouble is he's run out of financing. With no money to complete the film, his producer suggests he goes to a loanshark or more precisely The Mob to get the cash. In a desperate move (and going against his better judgement) Rafe does just that. What he doesn't know is that once he agrees to the terms of the "contract" set up, the mob boss Mr. Russo (Angelo Farese) has his own shady plans. Russo hires a psychotic thug named Harvey (Ray Girardin) to help him ruin the film. With support from his girlfriend Julie (Mary Woronov) the actors and technical crew including the daring stuntman Barney (Don Stroud) Rafe soldiers on, doing his best to keep the production on schedule and dodging each problem as it comes. Meanwhile Harvey, his blonde floozy Buttons (Jennifer Billingsley), faithful pal, the oafish Mr. Rhodes (Jude Farese) and the rest of his gang do their best to cause havoc for Rafe & Co.
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One thing that set Hollywood Man apart from other low budget fare of the day was that it belonged to the "Movies About Movies" subgenre. This gave it a more artistic edge and it actually does a superb job at showing what making a film is really like from behind the scenes. It looked at both the obstacles faced as well as the joy it brings when things go right. There are some really exciting car and motorcycle stunts featured to give it the blast of energy it needs as well. Star William Smith who was a veteran of biker films like [[Run Angel Run]], [[C.C. & Company]], [[The Losers]] and often played heavies, this time got the chance to be the good guy. Smith is excellent as Rafe although the real standout performance in the film for me happens to be co-star Ray Girardin (also co-writer) who plays Harvey. The main reason being he is a complex character. You get the sense that while tough talking Harvey fancies himself the top dog, even his own gang don't really respect him or take his status seriously. Moreover, he is a completely unpredictable loose cannon and that really makes the story even more intriguing and provides a very important dose of suspense to the proceedings.
 
Claude Ennis Starrett (1936-1989) aka "Jack" began his career in directing with [[The Girls From Thunder Strip]] (1966). After that he made several biker classics like [[Hells Angels on Wheels]] (1967), [[Born Losers]] (1967) and [[Angels From Hell]] (1968). He also was an actor who had small but very memorable roles in Blazing Saddles (1974) as the town drunk Gabby Johnson and in First Blood (1982) in which he played the brutally sadistic police deputy Art Gault. Other films Starrett directed include: [[Cleopatra Jones]], [[The Dion Brothers]], [[Race with The Devil]] and [[A Small Town in Texas]]. Starrett truly was one of the finest genre directors of his day. We highly recommended seeking out all these great B-movies.
 
Reviewed by Pete R. (for The Drive-In Mob Blog & The Deuce)
 
==Featured in==
* The First Quentin Tarantino Film Fest in Austin, Texas, 1996.
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[[Category:1976]][[Category: Films]][[Category:Reviews]][[Category: Bikers]][[Category:Crime]][[Category:Jack Starrett]][[Category:William Smith]][[Category:Don Stroud]][[Category:Byron Mabe]][[Category: Mary Woronov]][[Category:USA]]
[[Category:1976]][[Category: Films]][[Category:Action/Adventure]][[Category: Bikers]][[Category:Crime]][[Category:Jack Starrett]][[Category:William Smith]][[Category:Don Stroud]][[Category:Byron Mabe]][[Category: Mary Woronov]][[Category:USA]]

Revision as of 14:34, 15 May 2018

Main Details

  • Released in 1976
  • Color
  • Running Time: Finland: 93 min (uncut) | Finland: 87 min (cut)
  • Production Co: Olympic Film Productions
  • Distribution Co: Intercontinental Releasing Corporation (IRC) (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
  • Directed by Jack Starrett
  • Written by Tom Farese, Ray Girardin, Dominic Gombardella, William Smith
  • Starring: William Smith, Jennifer Billingsly, Ray Giardin, Mary Woronov, Don Stroud
  • Produced by Sarah Genesee Burton, Jude Farese, Thomas Anthony Farese, Paul Lewis, Byron Mabe, Harry Roth, William Smith
  • Original Music by D'Arneill Pershing
  • Cinematography by Robert C. Jessup
  • Film Editing by Arthur Anthony, John C. Horger

Also Known As

  • Djävulsänglarnas hämnd (Sweden)
  • Helvetin enkeleiden kosto (Finland)
  • Katharmata tou Los Angeles (Greece)
  • Stoker (USA)

Tagline

  • The cops try to stop him!!...the mafia tries to stop him!!..but nobody's going to stop him!
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