What is the movie Ed Wood about?
Ed Wood. Ed Wood is a 1994 biographical comedy-drama film about B-movie writer-director Edward D. Wood, Jr., a maker of films regarded by many as the worst of all time. The film focuses on Wood's early career and the making of Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster, and the infamous Plan 9 from Outer Space. Directed by Tim Burton.
What is Ed Wood known for?
Ed Wood. Ed Wood is a 1994 biographical comedy-drama film about B-movie writer-director Edward D. Wood, Jr., a maker of films regarded by many as the worst of all time.
Is Ed Wood a Hollywood outcast?
Because of his eccentric habits and bafflingly strange films, director Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) is a Hollywood outcast. Nevertheless, with the help of the formerly famous Bela Lugosi and a devoted cast and crew of show-business misfits who believe in Ed's off-kilter vision, the filmmaker is able to bring his oversize dreams to cinematic life.
What happened to Ed Wood’s wife?
"Actress Norma McCarty, Ed Wood's Wife, Dies at 93". The Hollywood Reporter. But film archivist Wade Williams, who told THR that he now owns the copyright to five Wood films, said he had close ties to all three and that McCarty legally remained Wood’s wife until the filmmaker's death in December 1978.
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Is Ed Wood Based on a true story?
Wood Jr., a biopic of his life, Ed Wood (1994), was directed by Tim Burton. Starring Johnny Depp as Wood and Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi, the film received critical acclaim and various awards, including two Academy Awards.
Why is Ed Wood famous?
Deadwood became known for its lawlessness; murders were common, and justice for murders not always fair and impartial. The town attained further notoriety when gunman Wild Bill Hickok was killed on August 2, 1876.
How accurate is Ed Wood?
Like most Hollywood biopics, Ed Wood isn't a completely accurate portrayal of his life or the lives of some of his friends. The portrayal of Dolores seems to get the most criticism since she actually had a very active acting career during the time she spent with Ed, which isn't mentioned at all in the movie.
Who was Ed Woods wife?
Kathleen O'Haram. 1956–1978Norma McCartym. 1955–1956Ed Wood/Wife
Did the movie Ed Wood win any awards?
Academy Award for Best Make...Academy Award for Best Actor...Golden Globe Award for...Screen Actors Guild Award for...National Society of Film Critics...National Society of Film Critics...Ed Wood/Awards
Did Tim Burton make Heathers?
Burton originally came on board as the producer, with Michael Lehmann, who made the unusual teen story Heathers (1988), down to direct. When Lehmann had to pull out, Burton stepped in, shot the film quickly, and worked for free.
Why is Ed Wood in black and white?
Burton said black-and-white was "right for the material and the movie, and this was a movie that had to be in black-and-white". He insisted on total creative control, and so in April 1993, a month before the original start date, Canton put Ed Wood into turnaround.
Did the movie Ed Wood win any awards?
Academy Award for Best Make...Academy Award for Best Actor...Golden Globe Award for...Screen Actors Guild Award for...National Society of Film Critics...National Society of Film Critics...Ed Wood/Awards
Why is it called Plan 9 From Outer Space?
After its debut in 1957, the title was changed (allegedly because two of the film's financiers, who were Baptist Ministers, objected to the name Grave Robbers from Outer Space) and after the planned distributor folded in 1958 it was 1959 before it actually went on general release.
What was Ed Wood shot?
The movie Ed Wood, released in 1994 and directed by Tim Burton, was shot on film using Panavision Panaflex Gold II Camera and Panavision Primo Primes Spherical Lenses with Stefan Czapsky as cinematographer and editing by Chris Lebenzon.
Where was Ed Wood premiered?
Ed Wood had its premiere at the 32nd New York Film Festival at the Lincoln Center. The film was then shown shortly after at the 21st Telluride Film Festival and later at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or.
What studio did Ed Wood work for?
He insisted on total creative control, and so in April 1993, a month before the original start date, Canton put Ed Wood into turnaround. The decision sparked interest from Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox in optioning the film rights, but Burton accepted an offer from Walt Disney Studios, who had previously produced The Nightmare Before Christmas. Similar to Nightmare, Disney released Ed Wood under their Touchstone Pictures banner. With a budget of $18 million, Disney did not feel the film was that much of a risk, and granted Burton total creative autonomy. Burton also refused a salary, and was not paid for his work on Ed Wood. Principal photography began in August 1993, and lasted 72 days. Despite his previous six-film relationship with Danny Elfman, Burton chose Howard Shore to write the film score. Under the pressure of finishing the score for Batman Returns, Burton's relationship with Elfman became strained and Burton admitted he and Elfman experienced "creative differences" during The Nightmare Before Christmas.
How does Ed convince Weiss to let him direct the movie?
Ed persuades Weiss to let him direct the film by convincing him that having a star in the film would sell tickets, and they could sign Lugosi for a low price. During production for Glen or Glenda, Ed and Weiss argue over the film's title and subject matter but Weiss eventually plays by Ed's rules, albeit reluctantly.
What is the rating of Ed Wood?
On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 92% based on 65 reviews, with an average rating of 7.94/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up to fête the life and work of cult hero Ed Wood, with typically strange and wonderful results." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.
How much did Ed Wood make?
Box office. $5.9 million. Ed Wood is a 1994 American biographical comedy-drama film directed and produced by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as the eponymous cult filmmaker. The film concerns the period in Wood's life when he made his best-known films as well as his relationship with actor Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau.
What did Ed Wood say about Burton?
Ed Wood gave Burton the opportunity to make a film that was more character-driven as opposed to style-driven. He said in an interview, "On a picture like this I find you don't need to storyboard. You're working mainly with actors, and there's no effects going on, so it's best to be more spontaneous.".
What is the plot of I Changed My Sex?
Upon hearing of an announcement in Variety magazine that producer George Weiss is trying to purchase Christine Jorgensen 's life story , Ed meets with Weiss to direct a now fictionalized film titled I Changed My Sex! but isn't hired.
What is Ed Wood known for?
Although Ed Wood is best known for his sci-fi and horror pictures, those films represent a relatively small portion of his overall output. As detailed in Rob Craig's Ed Wood, Mad Genius, Wood also made Westerns, such as the aforementioned Crossroads of Laredo and Crossroads Avenger, crime films, dramas, and television commercials — none of which were successful.
Where was Ed Wood born?
YouTube. As detailed in Rudolph Grey's 1992 biography, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood Jr., Ed Wood was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Oct. 10, 1924. The first son of postal worker Edward Davis Wood, Sr., and Lillian Wood, Ed was a bright, handsome child who loved movies and comic books.
How old was Ed Wood when he made the Sinister Urge?
By 1968, Ed Wood was 44 years-old and no closer to his dream of becoming a successful filmmaker than he had been when he arrived in Hollywood in 1947. Following his final mainstream film, The Sinister Urge, Wood continued to write B-movie scripts with little success. He also turned to writing racy short stories and novels, including 1965's Killer in Drag and 1967's Death of a Transvestite, ostensible sequels to Glen or Glenda that found the film's protagonist on death row after turning to murder.
Why did Wood and O'Hara get evicted?
At one point, Wood pawned his typewriter for a bottle of liquor. With Wood drinking away his income, the couple was evicted for failure to pay their rent. As detailed in Nightmare of Ecstasy, Wood and O'Hara moved in with longtime friend, actor Peter Coe. On the evening of Dec. 10, 1978, Wood retired to Coe's bedroom.
Why did Wood leave the theater?
Just 17, Wood left his job as a theater usher to join with two of his friends. Wood, however, was the only member of the trio to actually enlist.
What is Tim Burton's relationship with Ed Wood?
Tim Burton's 1994 film largely distorts the details of Ed Wood's love life. Wood's long relationship with Dolores Fuller is especially misrepresented in the film. According to Fuller, she and Wood had been living together for nearly a year before she found out about the director's crossdressing.
What is the irony of Ed Wood's story?
The great irony of Ed Wood's story is that in death, he would at last gain the adoration he had craved his entire life. In 1980, film critics Michael and Harry Medved published a compendium of cinematic misfires titled The Golden Turkey Awards.
Storyline
Because of his eccentric habits and bafflingly strange films, director Edward D. Wood Jr. is a Hollywood outcast. Nevertheless, with the help of the formerly famous Bela Lugosi and a devoted cast and crew of show-business misfits who believe in Ed's off-kilter vision, the filmmaker is able to bring his oversize dreams to cinematic life.
Did you know
One day, Kathy Wood, Edward D. Wood Jr. 's wife, visited the set and asked to meet Johnny Depp. That day, they were filming a scene where Wood would look really messed up, which made Burton nervous for what Kathy would think of the movie. When Depp exited his trailer, she said, "That's my Eddie."
What is Ed Wood about?
Ed Wood is a 1994 biographical comedy- drama film about B-movie writer-director Edward D. Wood, Jr. , a maker of films regarded by many as the worst of all time. The film focuses on Wood's early career and the making of Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster, and the infamous Plan 9 from Outer Space . Directed by Tim Burton.
Who said "I don't hire directors with burning desires to tell their stories"?
George Weiss: Ed, you seem like a nice kid, but look around ya. I don't hire directors with burning desires to tell their stories. I make movies like "Chained Girls." I need someone with experience, who can shoot a film in four days, and make me a profit. I'm sorry, that's all that matters.
Who said "too constrictive"?
Bela Lugosi: Too constrictive! I can't even fold my arms.
Where was Edward Wood born?
Wood was born in 1924 in Poughkeepsie, New York to Edward Wood Sr. and his wife Lillian. On the surface, the Woods seemed like the perfect nuclear family— but dark secrets lurked beneath. According to Wood’s second wife, Lillian always wanted a girl, and took it out on little Edward by forcing him to dress in girls’ clothing.
What is Ed Wood's favorite drink?
Ed Wood used a truly incredible number of pseudonyms. One of them, “Adkov Telmig,” was actually just his favorite drink spelled backwards, AKA “vodka gimlet.”. 3. The Misfits. Wood loved using his films to collect Hollywood’s forgotten and neglected artefacts.
Why did Wood and Fuller break up?
In the end, Fuller and Wood’s relationship crumbled at least in part because of his unorthodox tastes. Fuller was simply too conservative to handle his true self , and even turned him down when he showed up at her door begging her to take him back and marry him. As Fuller said, “I’m a very normal person. It’s hard for me to deviate! I wanted a man that was all man.”
Why did Dolores Fuller and Wood break up?
According to one story, Dolores Fuller and Wood broke up after he dealt her a heartbreaking betrayal. Not only was he drinking excessively during this time, he had also promised her a prominent role in his upcoming film Bride of the Monster —and then reneged, cutting down her part to a one-minute cameo. But it got even worse: He then cast another actress as the lead.
How long did it take for Wood to write the script for Plan 9?
Wood had an infamously breakneck pace when it came to writing and shooting movies. He penned the script for Plan 9 From Outer Space in under two weeks , and his film Glen or Glenda took just four days to complete.
Why did Wood love cross dressing?
An avowedly straight, heterosexual man, O’Hara claimed that he enjoyed dressing in women’s clothing not as a sexual fantasy, but because it gave him a kind of maternal comfort from the memory of his mother, particularly feeling his beloved angora.
How many books did Wood write?
But you couldn’t say he didn’t work hard at it. At the end of his life, Wood wrote at least 80 smutty crime and bedroom novels as well as literal hundreds of shorter stories.
What to know
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up to fete the life and work of cult hero Ed Wood, with typically strange and wonderful results. Read critic reviews
Movie Info
Because of his eccentric habits and bafflingly strange films, director Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) is a Hollywood outcast. Nevertheless, with the help of the formerly famous Bela Lugosi and a devoted cast and crew of show-business misfits who believe in Ed's off-kilter vision, the filmmaker is able to bring his oversize dreams to cinematic life.
Movie & TV guides
The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review.
Overview
Ed Wood is a 1994 American biographical comedy-drama film directed and produced by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as Ed Wood, the eponymous cult filmmaker. The film concerns the period in Wood's life when he made his best-known films as well as his relationship with actor Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau. Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, Lisa Marie, …
Plot
In 1952, Ed Wood is struggling to enter the film industry. Upon hearing of an announcement in Variety magazine that producer George Weiss is trying to purchase Christine Jorgensen's life story, Ed meets with Weiss to direct a now fictionalized film titled I Changed My Sex! but is not hired. Ed then meets his longtime idol, horror film actor Bela Lugosi, with whom he becomes friends. Ed persuades Weiss to let him direct the film by convincing him that having a star in the film would s…
Cast
• Johnny Depp as Ed Wood: Burton approached Depp and "within 10 minutes of hearing about the project, I was committed," the actor remembers. At the time, Depp was depressed about films and filmmaking. By accepting this part, it gave him a "chance to stretch out and have some fun", and working with Martin Landau, "rejuvenated my love for acting". Depp was already familiar with some of Wood's films through John Waters, who had shown him Plan 9 from Outer Space and G…
Production
Writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski conceived the idea for a biopic of Ed Wood when they were students at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Alexander even proposed making a documentary about Wood, The Man in the Angora Sweater, in his sophomore year at USC. However, Karaszewski figured, "there would be no one on the planet Earth who would make this movie or want to make this movie, because these aren't the sort of movies that are made." Irritat…
Historical accuracy
When describing the film's accuracy, Burton explained, "it's not like a completely hardcore realistic biopic. In doing a biopic you can't help but get inside the person's spirit a little bit, so for me, some of the film is trying to be through Ed a little bit. So it's got an overly optimistic quality to it." Burton acknowledged that he probably portrayed Wood and his crew in an exaggeratedly sympathetic way, stating he did not want to ridicule people who had already been ridiculed for a good deal of …
Release
Ed Wood had its premiere at the 32nd New York Film Festival at the Lincoln Center. The film was then shown shortly after at the 21st Telluride Film Festival and later at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or.
The DVD edition of Ed Wood initially had difficulty reaching store shelves in the United States and Canada due to unspecified legal issues. The initial release had a featurette on transvestites — n…
Reception
Ed Wood had its limited release on September 30, 1994. It went into wide release on October 7, 1994 (just three days before what would have been Wood's 70th birthday) in 623 theaters. The film grossed $1,903,768 in its opening weekend. The film went on to gross $5,887,457 in the United States and Canada and $13.8 million worldwide, less than the production budget of $18 million.
Further reading
• Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster by Gary D. Rhodes and Tom Weaver (2015) BearManor Media, ISBN 1593938578
• Bela Lugosi: Dreams and Nightmares by Gary D. Rhodes, with Richard Sheffield, (2007) Collectables/Alpha Video Publishers, ISBN 0-9773798-1-7 (hardcover)
• Lugosi: His Life on Film, Stage, and in the Hearts of Horror Lovers by Gary D. Rhodes (2006) McFarland & Company, ISBN 978-0786427659