The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)

Documentary about legendary Paramount producer Robert Evans (the film shares the same name as Evans's famous 1994 autobiography).

Directors:

Nanette Burstein, Brett Morgen

Writers:

Robert Evans (book), Brett Morgen (screen adaptation)

Stars:

Robert Evans, Eddie Albert, Peter Bart

4 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Evans	...	Narrator
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eddie Albert	...	Himself (archive footage)
Peter Bart	...	Himself (archive footage)
Charlie Bluhdorn	...	Himself (archive footage)
William Castle	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Bill Castle)
Francis Ford Coppola	...	Himself (archive footage)
Catherine Deneuve	...	Herself (archive footage)
Charles Evans	...	Himself (archive footage)
Josh Evans	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Joshua Evans)
Mia Farrow	...	Herself (archive footage)
Errol Flynn	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ava Gardner	...	Herself (archive footage)
Karen Greenberger	...	Herself (archive footage)
Ernest Hemingway	...	Himself (archive footage)
Arthur Hiller	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

This documentary captures the life story of legendary Hollywood producer and studio chief Robert Evans. The first actor to ever to run a film studio, Robert Evans' film career started in 1956, poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel. His good looks, charm and overwhelming confidence captured the eye of screen legend Norma Shearer, who offered him a film role. After a glamorous--but short-lived--career as a movie star, Evans tried out producing. At the age of 34, with no producing credits to his name, he landed a job as chief of production at Paramount Pictures. Evans ran the studio from 1966-1974. During his tenure, he was responsible for such revolutionary films as The Godfather, Rosemary's Baby, Love Story, The Odd Couple, Harold and Maude and Chinatown. By the early '80s, the Golden Boy of Hollywood was losing his luster. After a failed marriage to Ali MacGraw, a cocaine bust and rumored involvement with the Cotton Club murder, he disappeared into near-obscurity. Only through ...

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Plot Keywords:

murder | cocaine | love | marriage | movie star | 

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Taglines:

The Story Of A Man Who Seduced Hollywood.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some brief violent and sexual images

Details

Official Sites:

USA Films - synopsis, trailer, etc. [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

A kölyök képben marad

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows - 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$89,087, 28 July 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,434,436, 6 October 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Highway Films,Ministry of Propaganda Films,Robert Evans Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title comes from a line attributed to studio head Darryl F. Zanuck. Several of the actors involved in the film The Sun Also Rises (1957) (as well as author Ernest Hemingway himself) had insisted Evans be removed from the cast. Zanuck refused: "The kid stays in the picture! And anyone who doesn't like it can quit!"

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Goofs

The closing credits say that Evans has been at Paramount for over 35 years, "more than any other producer on the lot." However, A.C. Lyles has been with Paramount for 75 years (as of 2003), though he is no longer actively producing.

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Quotes

Robert Evans: Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to Anonymous Content

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Connections

Referenced in 30 for 30: June 17th, 1994 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Machine Gun
Performed by The Commodores
Written by Milan Williams
Published by Jobete Music Co. Inc.
Courtesy of Motown Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Glossy and Superficial, But Still Quite Interesting

7 out of 10

It is hard to resist this documentary even though it seems more like self promotion. The fact that this man has attained what others could only dream about makes it a must see itself. Robert Evans certainly does seem to embody every stereotype one could imagine when they think of a Hollywood producer. He is rich and suave, he wears big, tinted glasses, dresses in gaudy suits, hosts wild parties, dates beautiful women, and lives in a beautiful, serene Hollywood home. You would think that he would almost have to be a caricature, but he isn't. His stories involving famous Hollywood celebs, both past and present, could alone fill a movie if not several.

Of course that is the problem with the documentary. It all seems a bit too Hollywood. Everything seems a bit phoney and too far removed from the average person. He seems, in a way, to have made a production out of himself. The film, like the man, is very deliberate and highly glossy. It depends almost exclusively on some very well transferred old photographs and elaborate stills. At no time do we ever get someone else's viewpoint or perspective. Evans shows no ability at having any self depreciating humor or humbleness. His determination and gutsiness is inspiring yet it would have been nice to see Evans as a child and a little bit more on his upbringing. Also the dialogue between him and his then wife Ali Macgraw seems really weird and only adds to the mythical quality of the thing.

Evans does all the narrating and proves to be quite a character and showman. His ability to do different accents and voices is impressive. The whole thing is very fluid and it gets you involved in a hypnotic sort of way. You also gotta love his saying, which was taken from an old Chinese proverb "Luck is when opportunity meets good preparation."