Complete credited cast: | |||
Robert Evans | ... | ||
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Eddie Albert | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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Peter Bart | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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Charlie Bluhdorn | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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William Castle | ... |
Himself
(archive footage) (as Bill Castle)
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Francis Ford Coppola | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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Catherine Deneuve | ... |
Herself
(archive footage)
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Charles Evans | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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Josh Evans | ... |
Himself
(archive footage) (as Joshua Evans)
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Mia Farrow | ... |
Herself
(archive footage)
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Errol Flynn | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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Ava Gardner | ... |
Herself
(archive footage)
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Karen Greenberger | ... |
Herself
(archive footage)
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Ernest Hemingway | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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Arthur Hiller | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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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 ... Written by Sujit R. Varma
Documentaries are a dime a dozen, and I've seen my share. Being the type of person who would watch a documentary on anything, I was excited to catch this film about a man who has had one hell of a career in Hollywood. I knew I would find the subject matter interesting, but was completely surprised at how much I enjoyed the way the story was presented.
The Kid Stays In The Picture is the story of Robert Evans, told in Evans' words and narrated by Evans himself. His amazing career highs and lows are detailed in fantastic cinematic fashion, utilizing photographs and film clips from Evans' acting, then producing career while accompanied by Evans' enrapturing narration. The stories told by Evans were so effective and interesting that it could have been overlaying a blank screen and would have riveting. He is truthful, arrogant and most importantly, self-deprecating. He isn't afraid to admit the mistakes he made in his career, which is a refreshing turn from so many self-serving documentaries.
If anything, this film is worth watching for two scenes: When Evans tells the story of his near-suicidal moments that are harrowing in itself, but is accompanied by appropriate images from some of the films he produced. The other is during the final credits, when you see Dustin Hoffman do an incredible and hilarious impersonation of Evans on the phone. I certainly hope that Evans was proud of the way this documentary portrayed him, and should be commended in the way he portrayed himself.
--Shelly