Friday, September 8th, 2006

An Interview with Allen Coulter, Director of HOLLYWOODLAND

HOLLYWOODLAND is the fascinating story behind the death of actor George Reeves, best known for playing “Superman” on Television in the 1950s.  While his death was ruled a suicide, there are many people who continue to believe that he was murdered.  HOLLYWOODLAND investigates the case while shedding some light on both the man and the myth.  Director Allen Coulter has previously been working in television, helming popular shows such as The Sopranos and Sex In The City.  HOLLYWOODLAND is his directorial debut. 


How did you come to be attached to direct the film?

Well the truth is I was sent the script by Paul Allen Smith my agent and within 5 pages I know it was something I wanted to do.  I went into meetings and wanted to dig deep into the character of Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) and I got the gig.



How much about Hollywood history did you know going into this project?

Like any film buff, I knew a good deal I suppose, but not by comparison to someone like Leonard Maltin.  This would not be the sort of story I would have known.  It was not the history of movie making itself, but an unsolved mystery.  The history I studied was Charlie Chaplin, etc.  I was fascinated by the tale once I read the script.



I notice the story plays out in a very Rashomon type fashion presenting several different versions of the truth but never offers a definitive answer…

Because nobody knows what happened that night…no one has ever come forward and said they were in the room.  It remains a mystery to this day for those who refused to accept what the police said at the time.  We wanted to be true to that and to let the audience wrestle with those questions and decide for themselves.  Although the film and the character of Louis Simo suggests what he thinks happened.



What films influenced you?

Like most directors who have an interest in noir and mysteries of this sort…Chinatown, L.A. Confidential, Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep and so on….but in particular Chinatown which was the most masterful film of them all.


 

Did you do extensive research?

We did a great deal of research.  We got real headlines from the time…all of the things that Louis looks at were actual headlines and articles.  A journalist told us that we really got the look and feel of the headlines correct as well.  We did as much research as we could into the facts of the time.  We also did a great deal of research in terms of the art direction and production design.



Did you extensively research George Reeves?  Did you contact any of his relatives?

We did not contact any of George Reeve’s relatives but that was done by Jim Beaver himself.  We did speak to Jack Larson who was the original Jimmy Olson who had a lot of first hand knowledge about Toni Mannix and George.



What is next for you?

If I knew, I would be allowed to say.  I am trying to find something that fascinates me as much as this story did.  It is hard to find something as well written and interesting….



When I was watching the film, I couldn’t help but think about how Hollywood is so glamorous and enticing yet so dark and terribly cruel at the same time.

I’m so glad that came through.  That was our intent.  People come to Hollywood seeking glamour, allure, power, sex and all things people want.  The darkest side is that most people don’t get to have those things in the way they want to and don’t achieve what they want when there’re here.  Simo also wants a certain stardom and notoriety and can’t get what he wants either.  Unfortunately for him, the sad story of George Reeves allows him to escape from the path that he’s on.


To find out more about the film, log on to the Official Website.

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