The Hollywood Sign (2001)

Three washed-up actors must deliver the most convincing performances of their lives as part of a dangerous plot designed to finance their triumphant comeback.

Director:

Sönke Wortmann

Writers:

Leon de Winter (novel), Leon de Winter (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Berenger, Jacqueline Kim, Rod Steiger

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Berenger	...	Tom Greener
Jacqueline Kim	...	Paula Carver
Rod Steiger	...	Floyd Benson
Burt Reynolds	...	Kage Mulligan
Al Sapienza	...	Rodney
Dominic Keating	...	Steve
Eric Bruskotter	...	Muscle
David Proval	...	Charlie
Kay E. Kuter	...	Robbie Kant
Raf Mauro	...	Lenny Lena
Kathleen Gati	...	Deb
Roz Witt	...	Deli Waitress
Adria Tennor	...	Kant's Receptionist
Amy Leland	...	Rocco Hostess
Mark Gantt	...	Party Boy

Storyline

Three washed-up actors must deliver the most convincing performances of their lives as part of a dangerous plot designed to finance their triumphant comeback.

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Plot Keywords:

bare chested male | hollywood | male rear nudity | hairy chest | based on novel

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Taglines:

Three ex-Hollywood legends are going to steal $10,000,000. If they can only keep their act together.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Details

Country:

Germany USA Netherlands

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 2001 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Aplistia

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Senator Film Produktion, Blue Rider Pictures, Pleswin Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Throughout his career Burt Reynolds has made a number of movies that examine movie-making and this film is one of them. The pictures include Fade-In (location filming & westerns); Silent Movie and Nickelodeon (silent films); Best Friends (scriptwriting & Hollywood); Hooper (stuntwork and Hollywood); The Player (Hollywood); Boogie Nights (adult films); The Last Producer (producers and Hollywood); The Hollywood Sign and A Bunch of Amateurs (actors and Hollywood).

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Goofs

The bottle of whiskey rotates between shots even though no one has touched it.

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Quotes

Paula Carver: Do you remember what we used to say? Talent plus good luck equals success. Talent plus bad luck equals bad luck.

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Connections

Featured in Barend en Van Dorp: Episode dated 27 September 2001 (2001)

User Reviews

a light-hearted and poignant film, a homage to three great actors.

This light-hearted comedy was a great surprise for me, I didn't expect much from The Hollywood Sign since it was a direct-to-video movie but after finishing it, I was impressed not only by the quality of the film, but also for the brilliant performances from the three leads.Granted is not a mainstream movie, but for what it is - a low budget comedy - The Hollywood Sign was entertaining and quite poignant at times. I personally felt that the three main actors had a nice time working together (something that a lot of people who watched it noticed too) and that they did their best with the material handed.Burt Reynolds, Tom Berenger and Rod Steiger have personal connection and knowledge about the main theme of the story - about being an actor and getting old in a place where legends are built with the same speed they are destroyed.All of them were at the top of the world during a certain period, especially Burt Reynolds, the box-office king of the seventies, and they had to face hard times afterwards. Reynolds has the most emotional and beautiful scene, in which he, with tears in his eyes, watches an old western he made.Beautiful moment and homage to Burt,a really talented, charming, wonderful and unfortunately underestimated actor of his time. I wonder if people in Hollywood will one day give Burt Reynolds the respect and admiration he deserves, or if they are only going to give credits when it's too late, as in the case of the outstanding and deceased Rod Steiger.