Directed by William Wyler (1986)

Documentary on the life and films of William Wyler, one of the greatest and most honored directors of Hollywood’s golden era. Interestingly Wyler died just three days after completing his interviews for the film. Numerous other talking heads provide keen insight on this most talented filmmaker and his work. Notable among these is Billy Wilder (who makes the funniest remark in the doc) and who mentions that the similarities in the two’s name’s worked to his advantage when he just staring out as a director, apparently it would confuse some people who would then accord the novice the respect and service do the master. Lot’s of good Wyler movie clips and I also learned something I had not known, that Wyler lost about 3/4th’s of his hearing in WWII, and still managed to produce about half his output (including name pictures such as The Best Years of Our Lives and Ben Hur) despite this impairment. This documentary’s enjoyable for those who know the directors work, but its not as well produced as similar doc’s on Wyler’s Liberty Films partners Frank Capra and George Stevens. Three out Five.