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IMDbPro

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession

  • TV Movie
  • 20042004
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
DocumentaryBiographyHistory
The story of Z Channel, one of the first U.S. pay cable stations and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974 in LA, their eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the... Read allThe story of Z Channel, one of the first U.S. pay cable stations and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974 in LA, their eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.The story of Z Channel, one of the first U.S. pay cable stations and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974 in LA, their eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
    • Xan Cassavetes
  • Stars
    • Robert Altman
    • Vera Carlisle Anderson
    • C.L. Batten
    • Xan Cassavetes
  • Stars
    • Robert Altman
    • Vera Carlisle Anderson
    • C.L. Batten
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos8

    Jacqueline Bisset in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
    Paul Verhoeven in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
    Quentin Tarantino in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
    Theresa Russell in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
    Jerry Harvey in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
    Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
    Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Altman
    Robert Altman
    • Self
    Vera Carlisle Anderson
    • Self
    • (as Vera Anderson)
    C.L. Batten
    • Self
    Jacqueline Bisset
    Jacqueline Bisset
    • Self
    Ernest Borgnine
    Ernest Borgnine
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Charles Champlin
    Charles Champlin
    • Self
    David Chasman
    • Self
    Stuart Cooper
    Stuart Cooper
    • Self
    F.X. Feeney
    • Self
    James B. Harris
    James B. Harris
    • Self
    Jerry Harvey
    Jerry Harvey
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    William Holden
    William Holden
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Don Hyde
    • Self
    Henry Jaglom
    Henry Jaglom
    • Self
    Jim Jarmusch
    Jim Jarmusch
    • Self
    Charles H. Joffe
    • Self
    Kris Kristofferson
    Kris Kristofferson
    • Self
    John McNally
    • Self (Interviewer)
    • (voice)
      • Xan Cassavetes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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

    • Connections
      Features College (1927)
    • Soundtracks
      What'll I Do
      Performed by William Atherton

      Written by Irving Berlin

      Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Corporation and Williamson Music

    User reviews31

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    All I Ever Wanted to Do Was Work For the Z Channel
    What anyone looking at this documentary needs to know first is .... although the "Z" channel was a Los Angeles based subscription service, almost everything you see now on premium cable and on DVD benefited from this channel's existence.

    I came to Los Angeles actually in the late middle to the end of Z's reign. Who knew at that time how important a little channel like this would be and what an impact it would make on the film industry actors, actresses, directors, producers careers?!?! I had no idea it began in the 70's. I had no idea how many films got Academy Award notice because of the showings...but most importantly, I never knew exactly what kind of a person Jerry Harvey was....except I thought he was brilliant.

    This film was made by the daughter of a man who's films were shown on this channel - and honestly if I never saw "Z", I NEVER would have known John Cassevettes was one heck of a director as well as actor. That's the beauty of this documentary. That's what Zan wants everyone to understand and she does get that across.

    But, as a subscriber of "Z" and not in the "inner workings" of "Z", I have quite the romanticism toward the channel, I've written many reviews on IMDb for foreign films I saw on "Z" and never anywhere else...and in many cases have never seen these films again. I can't even REMEMBER who did what film or the name of them and I wish I could...and I wish there was a running listing in this documentary so folks could see just how influential this channel was. You see, when I arrived in Los Angeles there were only a few cable networks: "ON", "Select" "HBO" "Showtime" and "Z". I HAD to have "Z". I was a "Z" junkie.

    Although this documentary seemed heavy on the life of troubled programmer Jerry Harvey, I watched it to see the impact of "Z" on many directors, films, edit and film releases to the masses. This was the beginning of what we have today on DVD's "Directors Cuts" and "Extra Footage Not Seen in Theaters" and "Interview/Extras". Yes, it was Jerry Harvey who started the ball rolling with HIS love and support for film, non cut, non edited,RAW...on the "Z" Channel.

    You could not help but fall in love with "Z". I've admitted may times in many reviews, "I matured to life watching the Z Channel". Nowadays, its different. But back in the 80's...before "Brokeback Mountain"...there were SEVERAL films made that would make "Brokeback Mountain" look like Sesame Street. I know, I own a few - and these films were made for a heterosexual audience.

    The star actors and actresses and directors to me of the "Z" Channel were Sonja Braga, Rutger Hauer, Renée Soutendijk....Director Pedro Almodovar who introduced a little known actor that oozed screen charisma named Antonio Banderas - too many to name here....too many memories of films that shocked me, made me laugh, made me cry - that were NOT widely released in America if not released at all.

    Yes, I saw the 99 hour version of "Heaven's Gate" (it really wasn't 99 hours, but the way the studio slammed it made it seem like it was!) and thought "Ya know, it ain't that bad." I watched through the 5 hour version of "Fanny and Alexander" and understood Bergman. The Tin Drum, Beau Pere, Asparagas, Mondo Trasho ...you name it, they were shown. Versions from R to what is now known as NC-17 and even...X (not porno, but very adult situations.) The programming was genius and yes, that was due to Jerry Harvey and his team. The schedule changed weekly, so you had several chances during that week to see what was programmed. You had "Night Owl Theater" which was very popular for obvious reasons and themes/director showcases. I loved the Director's Showcase which connected Directors from films early in their careers to the most recent. This is where I loved Paul Verhooven Pre Robo Cop. You learned what kind of risks these male AND female producers and directors took.

    And the documentary talks about the "Z" magazine. Maybe today folks don't see a big deal about a movie magazine because there are so many of them. But The "Z" Channel magazine that came with your subscription was THE history lesson that went with the film. The Magazine and the Channel were one. A unique thing at the time. As was the interviews with with Chaplain. I have one with him speaking to Tom Hanks and the film "Nothing in Common". I even liked those little breaks.

    The documentary misses much...(like the surprise New Years Eve Midnight Movie, etc.) but again, I am more inclined to write and think about the brilliance of the channel and not about the demons of the programmer and the hell the staff went through. Zan's documentary put as much as she could in the little time she had and bless her for it. If I knew, I would have done everything to support the effort. "Z"'s place in history is in its programming while the "juicy" story was in its Programmer.

    The ironic thing? Yes, Jerry Harvey would have shown this documentary on the "Z" Channel.

    I was a long time subscriber, and the documentary did enlighten me about the man and staff behind a channel I'll never forget. This channel will have many perspectives told, this is one of them, and one that gives you quite an overview.

    I am hoping that the next "Z" perspective told ...is told through the eyes of someone like me who learned to love film from every walk of life, every voice and vision, every language, every political side, Women in Film, African Americans in film, Hispanics in Film, Asians in Film...every country because of "Z"'s existence.
    helpful•13
    0
    • lambiepie-2
    • Apr 27, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 2007 (Germany)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fresh Produce Films
      • Independent Film Channel (IFC)
      • Maja Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours
      • Color
      • Mono

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