Los Angeles Plays Itself

Jul 28, 2004

2h 49m

★ 7.6

Overview

From its distinctive neighborhoods to its architectural homes, Los Angeles has been the backdrop to countless movies. In this dazzling work, Andersen takes viewers on a whirlwind tour through the metropolis' real and cinematic history, investigating the myriad stories and legends that have come to define it, and meticulously, judiciously revealing the real city that lives beneath.

Genres

Documentary

Los Angeles Plays Itself Trailers

Cast

Narrator (voice)

Encke King

Officer Frank Smith in Dragnet (archive footage)

Ben Alexander

Frank Stark in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)

Jim Backus

Lana Turner in L.A. Confidential (archive footage)

Brenda Bakke

Dorothy in Bush Mama (archive footage)

Barbara O. Jones

Dr. Clayton Forrester in The War of The Worlds (archive footage)

Gene Barry

Roy Morgan/Roy Martin in He Walked By Night (archive footage)

Richard Basehart

George Copeland in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage)

Hugh Beaumont

Buzz Wanchek in The Blue Dahlia (archive footage)

William Bendix

Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce (archive footage)

Ann Blyth

Terry Lennox in The Long Goodbye (archive footage)

Jim Bouton

FBI Agent Little Johnson in Die Hard (archive footage)

Grand L. Bush

This short travelogue depicts snippets of locations in Hollywood, California, most of them as seen from the streets. Considerable time is taken showing the kinds of architecture of private homes. There are images of various important buildings, and a depiction of the Hollywood Bowl. Finally, there is a sequence revolving around the premiere of the film “Dirigible” (1931) at the famed Chinese Theatre.

7.0

Wattstax

Feb 4, 1973

A documentary film about the Afro-American Woodstock concert held in Los Angeles seven years after the Watts riots. Director Mel Stuart mixes footage from the concert with footage of the living conditions in the current-day Watts neighborhood.

6.7

Rize

Jan 15, 2005

A documentary film that highlights two street derived dance styles, Clowning and Krumping, that came out of the low income neighborhoods of L.A.. Director David LaChapelle interviews each dance crew about how their unique dances evolved. A new and positive activity away from the drugs, guns, and gangs that ruled their neighborhood. A raw film about a growing sub-culture movements in America.

0.0

The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell

Feb 20, 2025

Bill Bartell was a multifaceted individual who traversed the punk rock scene, law enforcement, rodeo riding, and country music. Known for his unique contribution to punk rock through his label Gasatanka Records and band White Flag, Bartell's life defies conventional boundaries, blending hyper-masculinity with subcultural rebellion. His story, filled with mysterious and seemingly contradictory roles, offers a compelling narrative about identity, transformation, and the unexpected paths life can take.

0.0

Place Clichy sans complexe

May 11, 1996

Documentary on the 18-month renovation of the large Pathé Wepler cinema on the Place de Clichy in Paris. This 1,600-seat cinema is a landmark in the heart of a working-class district of Paris. The cinema becomes a twelve-screen multiplex.

4.5

Carlos Almaraz: Playing with Fire

May 1, 2019

Mixing archival footage with interviews, this film celebrates one of Los Angeles's most influential painters and Chicano art activists from the 1970s.

7.2

The Go-Go's

Mar 8, 2021

As the first all-female band to play their instruments, write their songs and have a No. 1 album, The Go-Go’s made history. Underpinned by candid testimonies, this film chronicles the meteoric rise to fame of a band born in the LA punk scene who became a pop phenomenon.

7.1

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession

May 16, 2004

A documentary on the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the US, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974, the LA-based channel's eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.

8.1

One Six Right

Aug 12, 2005

An exhilarating documentary film that celebrates the unsung hero of aviation - the local airport - by tracing the life, history, and struggles of an airport icon: Southern California's Van Nuys Airport. Featuring thrilling aerial photography and a sweeping original score, the film dispels common misconceptions and opposes criticism of General Aviation airports.

0.0

Look Away

Sep 1, 2021

Interviews from women involved in the 70's and 80's rock music industry. An examination of the people taking advantage of underage fans and calling for a "Me too" movement in the music world

6.6

Half the Picture

Jan 23, 2018

At a pivotal moment for gender equality in Hollywood, successful women directors talk about their art, lives and careers.

6.9

The Donut King

Aug 24, 2020

Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy builds a multi-million dollar empire by baking America's favourite pastry: the doughnut.

0.0

Hero's Journey: Myth or Delusion

Invalid Date

A librarian explores the mythical landscape of a timeless storytelling concept and reveals a revelation about a critical key stage.

8.0

Prüdes Hollywood - Laster, Lust und Leidenschaft im Film

Apr 8, 2025

In recent years, Hollywood productions have turned away from sensuality. Is the sex scene on the verge of extinction or reinvention? Alongside film professionals and researchers, this documentary deciphers a trend that speaks volumes about the evolution of the industry and our societies.

10.0

Love in the Long Run

Jun 14, 2024

A young runner adventures solo from LA to Denver seeking answers and healing following a special love lost.

5.3

Mondo Hollywood

Jun 30, 1967

Long considered a cult classic, "Mondo Hollywood" captures the underside of Hollywood by documenting a moment in time (1965-67), when an inquisitive trust in the unknown was paramount, hope for the future was tangible and life was worth living on the fringe. An interior monologue narrative approach is used throughout the film, where each principal person shown not only decided on what they wanted to be filmed doing, but also narrated their own scenes. The film opens with Gypsy Boots (the original hippie vegan - desert hopping blender salesman), and stripper Jennie Lee, working out 'Watusi-style' beneath the 'Hollywood' sign -- leading into the 'sustainable community' insight of Lewis Beach Marvin III, the S&H Green Stamp heir, who lived in a $10 a month garage while owning a mountain retreat in Malibu.

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0.0

Lost Angeles - Eine Stadt zwischen Traum und Trauma

Jan 1, 2000

Documentary about the dark side of Los Angeles.

0.0

Ballad of an Unsung Hero

Sep 16, 1983

Using rare historical footage, vintage musical recordings, and interviews with 88-year-old Pedro J. Gonzalez and his wife, this film chronicles Gonzalez’s long and colorful life, from his early days with Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution, to his career as a popular radio personality in Los Angeles in the 1930s, to the controversial court case that sent him to San Prison, a victim of the repressive forces operating against the Chicano/Mexicano community during that period.

7.3

Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405

Oct 14, 2016

56-year-old artist Mindy Alper has suffered severe depression and anxiety for most of her life. For a time she even lost the power of speech, and it was during this period that her drawings became extraordinarily articulate.

7.1

The Decline of Western Civilization

Jul 1, 1981

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.