Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (TV 2004)

A documentary on the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the US, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974, the LA-based channel's eclectic slate of movies ... See full summary »

Director:

Xan Cassavetes

Stars:

Robert Altman, Vera Carlisle Anderson, C.L. Batten

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Robert Altman	...	Himself
Vera Carlisle Anderson	...	Herself (as Vera Anderson)
C.L. Batten	...	Himself
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Herself
Charles Champlin	...	Himself
David Chasman	...	Himself
Stuart Cooper	...	Himself
F.X. Feeney	...	Himself
James B. Harris	...	Himself
Jerry Harvey	...	Himself (archive footage)
Don Hyde	...	Himself
Henry Jaglom	...	Himself
Jim Jarmusch	...	Himself
Charles H. Joffe	...	Himself
Kris Kristofferson	...	Himself

Storyline

A documentary on the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the US, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974, the LA-based channel's eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.

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Plot Keywords:

cable television | interview | memory | film buff | depression | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, violent images and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 2007 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Kanazi Z: Mia yperohi emmoni

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fresh Produce Films, Independent Film Channel (IFC), Maja Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was made only after the financing for another film project, a fiction film, partially collapsed.

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Quotes

Penelope Spheeris: The "Decline of Western Civilization" was financed by two businessmen from the Valley who wanted to finance a porn movie. They had no idea I was going in to pitch a punk rock movie.

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Connections

References The Rules of the Game (1939)

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Soundtracks

"Italo - Western Theme"
Written and Performed by Steven Hufsteter
Courtesy of Meinemusic
Administered by Bug Music

User Reviews

The IFC of the 80s

It's doesn't take a genius to see why the Independent Film Channel would finance this documentary. Basically the Z Channel was the first movie channel to play independent, little seen, and foreign films. Featuring interviews with directors Quentin Tarantino, Robert Altman, and Alexander Pane, "Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession" focuses on the effect the channel had on the film industry.

The station had among it's subscribers some of the biggest names in Hollywood. What I found fascinating about this film is the power a cable channel can have. For example James Woods credits his Oscar nomination to the Z Channel's constant playing of the little seen movie "Salvador" to the right people.

As a film geek I also enjoyed the generous amount of film clips by director Cassavetes. The film turned me on to movies like "Bad Timing" and "F is for Fake".