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| Image: Showman |
The Maysles' first documentary feature is an unflinching portrait of Hollywood entertainment mogul, Joseph E. Levine, following the success of Two Women staring Sophia Loren. Levine, the real-life personality behind Godard's crass film producer in Contempt (1963), redefined Hollywood film distribution through his entrepreneurial publicity campaigns of the 1960s.
Revealing as much about the machinations of the Hollywood star system as it does about Levine's rise to power, Showman is a fascinating exposé of the commercialisation of the US film industry. Screens with Muhammad and Larry.
'The audience will live with top movie distributor-promoter Joe Levine, seeing and reacting to the real events of several months ... As he wheels and deals his way through daily life surrounded by movie stars, fellow tycoons, yes-men and others involved in the unpredictable, glamorous and high pressure work of the movie mogul'. Charles Reynolds, Photography Magazine, May 1964
