Dreams with Sharp Teeth (2008)

A documentary on speculative fiction writer and essayist Harlan Ellison.

Director:

Erik Nelson

Writer:

Erik Nelson

Stars:

Harlan Ellison, Robin Williams, Neil Gaiman

Cast

Credited cast:
Harlan Ellison	...	Himself
Robin Williams	...	Himself
Neil Gaiman	...	Himself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edie Adams	...	Trina Yale in 'The Oscar' (archive footage)
Haskell Barkin	...	Himself
Tony Bennett	...	Hymie Kelly in 'The Oscar' (archive footage)
Stephen Boyd	...	Frank Fane in 'The Oscar' (archive footage)
Michael Cassutt	...	Himself
Peter David	...	Himself
Stu Levin	...	Himself
Ronald D. Moore	...	Himself
Josh Olson	...	Himself
Nicholas Podbrey	...	Himself
Dan Simmons	...	Himself
Tom Snyder	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

A documentary on speculative fiction writer and essayist Harlan Ellison.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | television | screenwriter | anti conformity | controversy | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Creative Differences

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Nelson was only 24 when he first videotaped Ellison at a typewriter for a March 1981 PBS documentary about science fiction and fantasy writers - footage that is included in this film

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Quotes

Ronald D. Moore: Television is a lot of compromise, especially running a show over the course of a season. It's about managing compromise and picking battles. "I'm going to fight for this and I'll let that go." And I don't know that that's in Harlan's makeup... I think he fights all the battles, because I think he thinks all the battles are worth fighting. "Sure, you could compromise on that, but then it's gonna suck."

User Reviews

The Man, The Myth, The Misanthrope...

If you are, or ever have been, an avid reader of fiction, especially the SF/Fantasy genre, you can probably recall at least one author whose work was so vivid, potent and visceral, it changed the way you looked at everything - not just reading, or writing, but your entire world view - for the rest of your life. I recall that very moment well: I wasn't even into my teens yet, when I picked up a copy of DEATHBIRD STORIES and read "The Whimper Of Whipped Dogs." Whatever sense of true naiveté I had gasped its last breath that day, when I read the last page of that story.

Not necessarily a bad thing, either. So when I heard about this documentary all these years later, I had to know if the man responsible for that story and that book, was every bit as cynical, angry, vitriolic, nihilistic and insanely brilliant as the reputation that preceded him. I can now verify: he is that and so, so much more.

Perhaps it's most telling that at the opening of DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH, we are introduced to Harlan through the eyes, perception and quicksilver wit of one of the author's closest, long-time friends: Robin Williams. Harlan is at his calmest (if the word can be applied to him) and most amiable when he is in the company of like-minded, intelligent and especially famous people, many of whom chime in here to help tell his story: Neil Gaiman, Ron Moore, Dan Simmons and his own fifth wife, Susan among them (and she gets not nearly enough screen time, more's the pity.)

Through rare home movie footage, recited excerpts of his work, various rants, tirades, anecdotes and reveries, we get a sense of who the man is apart from the author, and it's certainly a complex, perplexing, funny and often times very sad picture. For long-time fans, it will be a validation of everything you've heard over these many years since he began writing pulp paperbacks under a pseudonym barely out of his teens.

If you're not a fan or haven't read a single thing by him, I would suggest you pick up an anthology like DANGEROUS VISIONS or even just a story or two if possible. That way, he'll look a lot less like just one more short, angry old man screaming "YOU KIDS GET THE F*** OFF MY LAWN!!!"