edgar g ulmer - the man off-screen
"Ulmer was nothing if not a self-inventor - by his own fantastic account, he created the first dolly and worked on every major film to come out of Weimar Germany, handily listing himself as an uncredited assistant. But Ulmer's moviemaking influence is incontrovertible. Using a Peter Bogdanovich interview as the connecting thread, the director taps helmers such as Joe Dante, John Landis, Roger Corman and Wim Wenders for their takes on Ulmer's style and influence, although it's his daughter Arianne's affecting comments that speak most of the frustrated artist trapped in the cul-de-sac of Poverty Row.
"The pic's most thorough discussion is of the Expressionist masterpiece The Black Cat and Ulmer's PRC days, when he turned out such noir classics as Bluebeard and Detour. The latter's star, Ann Savage, discusses her favourite director's working methods, speaking with appreciative amazement of his speed and improvisatory skills." - Variety
"The most underrated of all American filmmakers." - Francois Truffaut
D/S Michael Palm P Georg Misch, Ralph Wieser, Arianne Ulmer Cipes WS Mischief Films KEG L German w/English subtitles TD video/ col/2004/77mins