Summary
When Hollywood superstar George Reeves dies in his home, private detective Louis Simo is hired to investigate his death and gets caught in a web of lies involving a big studio executive's wife.
Cast
Adrien Brody
Louis Simo
Diane Lane
Toni Mannix
Ben Affleck
George Reeves
Bob Hoskins
Eddie Mannix
Robin Tunney
Leonore Lemmon
Kathleen Robertson
Carol Van Ronkel
Lois Smith
Helen Bessolo
Phillip MacKenzie
Bill Bliss
Larry Cedar
Chester Sinclair
Eric Kaldor
Barbell Man
Caroline Dhavernas
Kit Holliday
Kevin Hare
Robert Condon
Molly Parker
Laurie Simo
Zach Mills
Evan Simo
Neil Crone
Chuck
Gareth Williams
Del
Seamus Dever
Phillip
Vladimir Jon Cubrt
Morgue Attendant
Ted Atherton
Detective Doug Johnson
Diego Fuentes
Natividad Vacio
Dash Mihok
Sergeant Jack Paterson
Veronica Watt
Rita Hayworth
Joan Gregson
Chopard Saleswoman
David Bolt
Judge Eisler
Todd Grinnell
Times Reporter
David J. MacNeil
Officer Daniel Korby
Ayumi Iizuka
Miss Yoshida
Eric Fink
Dominick's Waiter
Jeffrey DeMunn
Art Weissman
Jeff Teravainen
Lester Koenig, Auditioning Actor
Brendan Wall
Harold Chiles, Casting Director
Eric Weinthal
Barney Sarecky, Producer
Steve Adams
Bob Maxwell, Producer
Jack Newman
Izzy Berne, Tailor
Brad William Henke
Russ Taylor
Joseph Adam
Jack Larson / Jimmy Olsen
Lorry Ayers
Phyllis Coates / Lois Lane
Robert B. Kennedy
Tommy Carr, Director
Sven Van de Ven
John Hamilton / Perry White
Gray Powell
Chad
Michael Rhoades
James Engelmann
Tim Campbell
MGM Hunk
Joe Spano
Howard Strickling
Richard Fancy
Alford "Rip" Van Ronkel
Kerin McCue
"Superman" Announcer (voice)
Jeff Cowan
Maxwell Arnow, Casting Director
Peter James Haworth
Fred Zinnemann
Tim Dorsch
Docville Bank Teller
Alexander Cameron Drogemuller
Stunned Boy
Jason Spevack
Kenneth Giles
Dendrie Taylor
Mrs. Sinclair
Jody Jaress
Mannix Maid
Murray Oliver
Funeral Reporter #1
Walter Rinaldi
Funeral Reporter #2
Terry Barna
Buddy Adler
Bill Lake
Cigar Man
Natalie Krill
Camera Girl
Erin Gooderham
Jackie, Leonore's Friend
Cameron Mitchell Jr.
Earl Wilson
Cotton Mather
Dark Figure
Steve Brandes
Thug Detective
Donald Burda
Rick Harris
Charlie Lea
5-Year-Old Evan
Matt Amar
Man at Police Station (uncredited)
Jordan Barker
Wag (uncredited)
Yaron Betan
Delivery Guy (uncredited)
Patrick Dussault
Man at Audition (uncredited)
Crystal Joy Hall
Mom (uncredited)
Michael Janik
Cop (uncredited)
Austin Macdonald
Boy at Park (uncredited)
Jennifer Sims
Mom (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Allen Coulter
Screenplay
Paul Bernbaum
Reviews
Wuchak
November 26, 2021
7
_**The mysterious death of 50’s icon George Reeves**_
In the early morning hours of June 16, 1959, George Reeves (Ben Affleck), star of the Adventures of Superman that ran from 1952-1958, is found dead in his Westside Los Angeles bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head. While the official cause of death is listed as suicide, his mother hires a private detective (Adrien Brody) to investigate the possibility of murder. Although it is argued that Reeves had reasons to kill himself due to depression over being typecast and aging issues, several individuals had motive and opportunity to kill him, including ex-girlfriend Toni Mannix (Diane Lane) and her powerful husband, the manager of MGM (Bob Hoskins), as well as Reeves’ fiancé (Robin Tunney). The biggest mystery is why the other three individuals in the house at the time of Reeves’ death waited 45 minutes to notify police.
“Hollywoodland” (2006) is a crime drama in the neo-noir vein and also a tragic biopic similar to “Auto Focus” (2002), “Mommie Dearest” (1981) and “Changeling” (2008). The only fictional character is Brody’s private eye, but he was based on real-life detective Milo Speriglio.
The movie effectively details the three different death scenarios with the hint that one is the most likely. But, really, it begins as a mystery and ends as one, which I think is fitting since no one actually knows what happened at this point. In any case, this is a worthy tribute to Reeves and his life in Hollywood during the 50s. After watching, research the case for yourself.
Also notable on the female front are Caroline Dhavernas as the detective’s girlfriend and Molly Parker as his ex.
The film runs 2 hours, 6 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles and the greater Toronto area.
GRADE: B
