The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr.

Comment: I didn't find this documentary as compelling as the earlier "Flying Saucers Over Hollywood" (which is an extra on Image's "Plan 9 From Outer Space" DVD), nor Tim Burton's "Ed Wood"--despite it's being a controversial subject for many of the real-life participants. THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EDWARD D. WOOD JR. reeks of being a pandering puff-piece; with only Bela Lugosi's son able to cut through the Wood mystique, calling Ed a "user" who only latched on to Lugosi's fame in order to give his movies some class and credibility.

Loretta King, the star of "Bride of the Monster", finally closes the case on the alleged money which secured her the leading role. It turns out that Ms King was approached by a pair of agents who offered the project to her; money never came into the deal whatsoever. And as for Dolores Fuller, Wood's one-time muse and the leading lady of his opus "Glen or Glenda?", the woman is still obviously embittered by the whole affair and continues to stick by her version of events: Wood wrote the role in "Bride of the Monster" especially for her but later ditched Fuller when Ms King -- a starry-eyed, would-be actress brandishing a hefty inheritance -- was able to bankroll the film in exchange for the lead. Well, this might be true but Fuller wasn't exactly great shakes as an actress--she later left the profession to become a songwriter. Perhaps Wood was aware of Fuller's dramatic shortcomings and invented the story just to get her out of the way? Who knows...and frankly who cares?

Maila Nurmi (Vampira) manages to cut through the treacle with her impressive, commanding interview. This woman was truly something and is sadly missed. The re-creation of "Crossroads of Laredo" (Wood's first, unfinished movie project) will only be appreciated by the hardcore Wood fans but is still quite tedious; and the pieces of rare footage from Wood's TV commercials and home movies are the only other things I can recommend. This documentary should have been so much more.

Comment: The Ed Wood Box (Glen or Glenda / Jail Bait / Bride of the Monster / Plan 9 from Outer Space / Night of the Ghouls / The Haunted World of Ed Wood) contains this DVD as well as Image Entertainment's Plan 9 from Outer Space. Image's Plan 9 includes the two-hour documentary "Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The Plan 9 Companion." The "Flying Saucers" documentary is superior (if it were a stand-alone DVD I would give it 5 stars without hesitation). Why? Hard to say, but it just flows better and feels more warm, more intimate, than "The Haunted World." If you buy the Ed Wood Box you get them both (in addition to the aforementioned classic Wood films), which gives you plentiful interviews with all of the usual suspects in the Wood Universe. If you're into Ed Wood and his films I'm sure you'll enjoy this DVD...you'll just enjoy "Flying Saucers" more.

Comment: This book is a thorough account of Ed Wood's life and career, but done in a sympatheitic yet humourous way. The humour is engaging, and definitely not poking fun at our hero. A must for all fans.

Comment: Very well done with interviews with many of the stock players that were in his films. The DVD extras covering behind-the-scenes and the premiers are great. The reason that I did not rate it a 5 is because the film gives the impression that Ed remained married to Norma McCarty when in fact there was an annulment. He then married Kathy (Wood) and they remained together until his death.

Comment: I found this documentary to be probably the best tribuye to Edward D. Wood, Jr. available.

Cheaply done, prroly written, this documentary was mainly a few of Ed's old friends sharing their memories of Ed and thereby cashing in on their association with him.

What better tribute to Ed Wood can there be?