Eric Lax

Movies

Woody Allen: A Documentary
Self
Iconic writer, director, actor, comedian and musician Woody Allen allowed his life and creative process to be documented on-camera for the first time. With this unprecedented access, Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Robert B. Weide followed the notoriously private film legend over a year and a half to create the ultimate film biography. "Woody Allen: A Documentary" chronicles Allen's career - from teen writer to Sid Caesar's TV scribe, from stand-up comedian to award-winning writer-director averaging one film-per-year for more than 40 years. Exploring Allen's writing habits, casting, directing, and relationship with his actors first-hand, new interviews with A-listers, writing partners, family and friends provide insight and backstory to the usually inscrutable filmmaker.
Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen
Self
The epic story of how the film The African Queen (1951), directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, was shot on real African locations, barely overcoming all kinds of hardships and disasters.
The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird
Self
An appreciation and the story of the making of the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon.
Prohibition Opens the Floodgates
Self
Short documentary about prohibition and gangsters and how it affected the movies of the day.
Gangsters: The Immigrant's Hero
Himself
Morality and the Code: A How-to Manual for Hollywood
Self
A look at the motion picture production code and its effects on Hollywood.
Sweet Bird of Youth: Chasing Time
Self
The making of the film with Drew Casper.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: Playing Cat and Mouse
Self - author of 'Newman: A Celebration'
The Making of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Donald Spoto and Drew Casper.
Huston's Gamble
Himself
The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert
Self
Short documentary about the making of "The Petrified Forest."
White Heat: Top of the World
Self
An examination of "White Heat" (1949) by film historians and critics.
The Roaring Twenties: The World Moves On
Self
This documentary is featured on Warner Brothers' DVD for The Roaring Twenties (1939), released in 2005.
Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say?
Self
Documentary covering the Warner Bros. James Cagney /Pat O'Brien classic "Angels with Dirty Faces" (1938), hosted by film historian Rudy Behlmer.
A Love Story: The Story of 'To Have and Have Not'
Self
In the '40s Howard Hawks boasts that he can make a movie out of the worst thing Hemingway ever has written. When Hemingway asks, which novel he means, Hawks says To Have and Have Not. Jules Furthman writes a script, which follows the book closely. The location of the story is Cuba, but the US Government is against depicting corruption and violence on Cuba, and threatens to withdraw the film's export license. William Faulkner rewrites the script, and relocates the story to Martinique. Hawks's wife, Nancy Slim Gross, happens to see a young model at the cover of the magazine Harper's Bazaar, and shows it to her husband. Hawks is a star-maker, who likes to discover and nurture new talents. After a screen test, he chooses the 19-year-old model as the lead actress opposite Humphrey Bogart. She changes her name from Betty Perske to Lauren Bacall. At the first takes she is so nervous that she shakes.
Curtains for Roy Earle
A featurette exploring the gangster films made at Warner Bros., actor Humphrey Bogart's career, and the making of HIGH SIERRA (1941)
Discovering Treasure: The Story of 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'
Self
An overview of the making of John Huston's 1948 classic "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre."
Hold Your Breath and Cross Your Fingers: The Story of 'Dark Passage'
Self - Bogart Biographer
Bogart was interested in this project because it offered a chance to work with his new bride. The studio wasn't convinced but the result speaks for itself.
Divided Highway: The Story of 'They Drive by Night'
Self
Documentary looking at the film classic, They Drive By Night