Documentaries 1980-1989

In 1987, Robert Crumb presents himself: raised by a Marine father, educated in Catholic schools, married at 21 in Cleveland where he worked for a greeting card company, dropping acid in 1965, heading to San Francisco and getting in on the formation of Zap Comix, gaining celebrity, loving old time jazz, starting a band, living in a commune, meeting Aline Kominsky who became his second wife and his partner in art, having a daughter, and developing a more realistic drawing style. The confessions include his loneliness, his obsessions with women, his bewilderment by fame, his sense of the disintegration of Sixties' subculture, his nervous breakdown in 1973, and his peace now.

A chilling and often hilarious reminder of Cold War-era paranoia in the United States, this film artfully compiles newsreel footage, government archives, military training films and 1950s music into a singular cinematic experience. Also covered are Washington's Communist witch hunt, the historic trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a A chilling and often hilarious reminder of Cold War-era paranoia in the United States, this film artfully compiles newsreel footage, government archives, military training films and 1950s music into a singular cinematic experience. Also covered are Washington's Communist witch hunt, the historic trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and the sagely prophetic comments of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

A documentary film about the mid-1980s music scene in Athens, Georgia, USA.
The film features interviews and concert footage of local bands who were a part of the scene at the time of the documentation as well as local legends R.E.M., Pylon, and The B-52's. It also features an interview with famous folk artist Howard Finster. Among the bands featured are Kilkenny Cats, Flat Duo Jets, Time Toy, the Bar-B-Que Killers, Dreams So Real, and Love Tractor. Local legendary personality ORT's storytelling also features prominently in the film.

A documentary on the chaotic production of Werner Herzog's epic 'Fitzcarraldo' , showing how the film managed to get made despite problems that would have floored a less obsessively driven director. Not only does he have major casting problems, losing both Jason Robards (health) and Mick Jagger (other commitments) halfway through shooting, but the crew gets caught up in a war between Peru and Ecuador, there are problems with the weather and the morale of cast and crew is falling rapidly...

The history of the Gay and Lesbian community before the Stonewall riots began the major gay rights movement.

A collection of profiles of people dead from AIDS who are remembered in the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

It's more than music...it's a way of life.

The Los Angeles punk music scene circa 1980 is the focus of this film. With Alice Bag Band, Black Flag, Catholic Discipline, Circle Jerks, Fear, Germs, and X.

A rather incoherent post-breakup Sex Pistols "documentary", told from the point of view of Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, whose (arguable) position is that the Sex Pistols in particular and punk rock in general were an elaborate scam perpetrated by him in order to make "a million pounds." Silly and hard to follow at times, but worth seeing for some excellent Pistols concert footage, some wickedly amusing animated sequences, and Sid Vicious' eerily prophetic performance of "My Way."

A documentary on the history of garlic. Blank interviews chefs, garlic lovers, and historians about the their love of the 'stinking rose.'

A biography of the rock music star.

A look at some of Elvis Presley's more obsessive fans.

A documentary detailing the career of makeup artist Tom Savini, including clips from the various movies he's worked on.

Documentary tracks the rise of devil cults, witches and other elements of the "black arts."

A semi-documentary about Nijinsky's dancing daughter.

Contrary to the public stereotype of a youthful homosexual community, gay men and women do grow old. Silent Pioneers presents an upbeat focus on the lives of these people today, showing them living full and diverse lives and sharing concerns on aging, health and housing, with other senior citizens. It also considers how support networks within the gay and lesbian community have enriched and strengthened their individual lives.

A Jane's Addiction "home video", showcasing band members off duty, in the privacy of their own bedrooms, bathrooms and beyond.

Ross McElwee sets out to make a documentary about the lingering effects of General Sherman's march of destruction through the South during the Civil War, but is continually sidetracked by women who come and go in his life, his recurring dreams of nuclear holocaust, and Burt Reynolds.

If you are a least bit interested or intrigued by Rundgren and the progressive 70's musical innovation, you must see this beautiful and honest self-portrait of a movie. Rundgren acts as both journalist and as himself in a portait/interview. He asks the questions that he likes to answer, and gives you honest and intelligent views on his own life, his music and the fact that most of it has been highly influated by psycedelical drugs. He explains what happened to him after something/anything, when he started experimenting with LSD, guides you through those years of evolution, and shows you videos with his music which shows you what his mind was about when he recorded that music. My favorite part of this picture is a live performance of the funky soul 1975's Initiation-opener, "Real man". You can't afford not to see this one! Get on with it.

A documentary of the successful career and assasination of San Francisco's first elected gay councillor.

Using takes and rehearsals discarded from the original edit plus interviews made during the shooting...

This is a documentary about an unfinished movie. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention try to film the sci-fi epic "Uncle Meat."

Early Errol Morris documentary intersplices random chatter he captured on film of the genuinely eccentric residents of Vernon, Florida. A few examples? The preacher giving a sermon on the definition of the word "Therefore," and the obsessive turkey hunter who speaks reverentially of the "gobblers" he likes to track down and kill.

This entertaining musical survey, produced by the minds behind the great Beatles documentary THE COMPLEAT BEATLES, not only highlights how diverse rock's female artists are, but also just how diverse the genre of rock music is itself. WOMEN IN ROCK uses rare historical footage, musical videos, live concert performances, and personal interviews to showcase such legendary women of rock and roll as soul diva Aretha Franklin, Spanish-influenced Linda Ronstadt, 60's rock goddess Janis Joplin, pop star Madonna, and 1980's rockers The Bangles.

''WHAT SEX AM I?'' looks sympathetically at transsexuals and transvestites, exploring the meaning of gender. How is it defined? The Home Box Office documentary, neither salacious nor exploitative, finds ambiguities. It suggests that gender is, and probably should be, beyond definition.

Inside a warehouse, a precarious 70-100 feet long structure has been constructed using various items. When this is set in motion, a chain reaction ensues. Fire, water, law of gravity as well as chemistry determine the life-cycle of objects - of things. It brings about a story concerning cause and effect, mechanism and art, improbability and precision.

A film exactly described by its title. German film director Herzog had made a bet with fledgling director Errol Morris that, if Morris made a film, Herzog would eat his shoe. Morris went on to film 'Gates of Heaven', so Herzog kept his promise. While eating the boiled shoe, Herzog carries on a dialogue with the film premier audience on film, art, and life.

This film is a documentary about the personalities in, and the music of, the early 1980's Los Angeles punk band X. There are studio and live performances by the band and interviews with band members; all nicely interspersed with footage of area DJs, record stores, old TV shows and commercials.