Ed Wood (5 Stars)

True Stories #22

Name: Ed Wood

Lived: 10 October 1924 – 10 December 1978

Film dates: 1953 to 1957

Film made in 1994

Yesterday I watched "Mulholland Drive", a film about Hollywood. It's more than just a film that takes place in Hollywood. Today's film is the true story of Edward D. Wood Junior's prime years in which he made his most famous three films: "Glen or Glenda", "Bride of the Monster" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space". Those are three films I need to watch again soon, maybe early next month after finishing my true stories marathon. The reason why I mentioned "Mulholland Drive" is because "Ed Wood" also takes place in Hollywood, and the location is significant.

"This town, it chews you up, then spits you out".

Tragically, those words are spoken by Bela Lugosi, one of the best actors of the mid 20th Century. He was an icon. Even today, when you mention Dracula, Bela Lugosi's face is the one most people think of.

The film "Ed Wood" is just as much about Bela Lugosi as about Ed Wood himself. The two men meet in 1953, and we see Bela die in 1956 during the filming of "Plan 9 From Outer Space". The film was completed with a double who looked very little like him. The double was younger, taller and had no hair.

"Ed Wood" is directed by Tim Burton and filmed in glorious black and white. It's appropriate. I'd hate to see the film any other way. The film gives the impression that Ed misused Bela by talking him into a film without telling him what it was about. I'm curious to know whether that 's true or not. Ed's first film with Bela was "Glen or Glenda", a film about a transvestite who was struggling to find the courage to come out. All he told Bela was that it was a film about people having two sides, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

"Glen or Glenda" was a thinly disguised autobiography. Ed himself was a transvestite, a secret that he even withheld from the woman he lived with. I can understand his difficulties. Today people are enlightened, but in the 1950's it was an enormous scandal to be a transvestite.

Ed's girlfriend Dolores accepted his transvestism, but it still disturbed her. Eventually she walked out on him, accusing him of gathering misfits around himself who unquestioningly accepted whatever he did.

Was Ed Wood successful as a director? That depends on your definition of success. His films were rejected by critics and made hardly any money at the box office. In his later years (not shown in the film) he gave up making films and descended into alcoholism. He died in poverty. However, his films have gained cult status after his death. The first film I ever bought on videotape was "Plan 9 From Outer Space". It's a case of a man's success not coming until after his death.

Success Rate:  - 3.1

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