Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016)

A look at the life, work and political activism of one of the most successful television producers of all time, Norman Lear.

Directors:

Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady

Stars:

Norman Lear, John Amos, Bea Arthur

5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
John Amos	...	Himself
Bea Arthur	...	Herself (archive footage)
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Herself
Valerie Bertinelli	...	Herself
Todd Bridges	...	Himself
Gloria Calderon Kellett	...	Herself
George Clooney	...	Himself
Dabney Coleman	...	Himself
Keaton Nigel Cooke	...	Young Norman
Kim Fields	...	Herself
Marla Gibbs	...	Herself
Alan Horn	...	Himself
Louise Lasser	...	Herself
Norman Lear	...	Himself
Jay Leno	...	Himself

Storyline

How did a poor Jewish kid from Connecticut bring us Archie Bunker and become one of the most successful television producers ever? Norman Lear brought provocative subjects like war, poverty, and prejudice into 120 million homes every week. He proved that social change was possible through an unlikely prism: laughter. World Premiere -Opening night selection, Sundance, 2016.

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Plot Keywords:

reenactment | 

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Taglines:

The legendary creator of All in the Family and The Jeffersons

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 2016 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,912, 10 July 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$70,056, 12 August 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Loki Films, Thirteen / WNET

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Good Times (Theme Song)
written by Dave Grusin, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman
performed by James Gilstrap & Blinky

User Reviews

A Pretty Darn Good Version of Norman

This film can be - and has been - criticized for being too much of a puff piece, too much "old news," and not sufficiently insightful into the meaning of Norman Lear's life. But for those who know him and his work - both artistic and political - well enough but not intimately, this is a great overview of Lear and his accomplishments.

Still fully intact both physically and mentally at 93, Lear has much to offer through his own interviews, and ANY movie that simply catalogs his career would be worth seeing. From early Martin-Lewis writer through All in the Family and Maude through his Good Times misstep to his "retirement" from TV and creation of People for the American Way, Lear's career was unparalleled. As Jon Stewart and others put it in the film, there was TV Before Norman and After Norman.

But this documentary does more. The skill of the filmmakers is obvious, and they leave their imprint - and Lear's famous and unusual hat - throughout this enjoyable film. While it's respectful and loving, it's not worshipful. There's focus on his absence as a father and husband, his difficult relationship with his own father, and the Good Times cast's serious concerns about racial stereotyping. The directors chose excellent clips from the most important shows, including the Maude abortion episodes and some truly extraordinary acting from Carol O'Connor as Archie Bunker. One Archie scene, Archie talking to "Meathead" about his own father, is particularly poignant, as we watch Lear watching Archie.

A worthwhile hour and a half with an American icon, still going strong.