Tim Burton, His Film Ed Wood, and The Big Lie
What would say, or what would you do, were you to see one of your favorite actors being wrongfully portrayed in a movie, and you know that the falsehoods are likely being accepted as factual by many who viewed it?
It has been 30 years since Tim Burton brought his biopic of a grade z movie maker, who was an alcoholic, and enjoyed cross-dressing, to the screen. The film is ED WOOD, and stars Johnny Depp. Also starring as Bela Lugosi, is character actor Martin Landau.
Now we all know that all movies are really make believe. Many are adapted from books, and many changes occur from the page to the screen. Even those based on historical events, are reworked or take liberties with the truth, to the point that in time, people have a tendency to accept these movies as truth and fact, when they are not.
I love movies, especially the classic monster films of the 30s and 40s. I have read and collected a number of books on the people involved in the making of many of these films.
My rant is with the depiction of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.
The film Ed Wood is presented as a biopic, not a comedy or parody.
Whenever I see any comments or photos on various web sites of this film or of the actor, there are always a number of participants who enjoy quoting some of the profane dialog attributed to Lugosi, from the film.
Do those folks believe it as factual? Are they simply being cute and enjoy posting profanity?
Allow me to set the record straight. The presentation of Bela Lugosi as a foul mouthed old man, spewing profanity at his whim, is total BS! It has been debunked by his son. It has been called out by other actors who worked with him. The profanity directed at Boris Karloff in the film, has been debunked not only by Lugosi's son, Bela Jr, but also by Boris Karloff's daughter, Sara.
This 'rivalry' between Lugosi and Karloff was mainly created by the Hollywood studio and the press corps. While it is true, that Karloff had the better career than Lugosi, there is no indication of dislike by either actor. They respected each other.
Yes, they were different! Lugosi was Hungarian. Karloff was British. They enjoyed different things. Karloff liked cricket, Lugosi liked soccer....etc. They were both professionals and charter members of the Screen Actors Guild.
It is well documented that Lugosi was a sick man during the last years of his life. It is a well known fact that earlier in his life he developed sciatica in his legs and grew an addiction to the prescribed treatment morphine. He was also the first actor to go public with his addiction and place himself into a hospital for rehab. It is true that he liked to drink and became an alcoholic (as was Ed Wood, but that is conveniently omitted in the film).
I will not deny that Bela Lugosi was far from perfect. That would be absurd. All of our favorites have flaws. They are human, as we all are, and have their shortcomings.
What I refuse to accept, is the false and terrible depiction of Lugosi in the film Ed Wood. I have searched for comments by Tim Burton about his film and specifically about his interpretation of Lugosi, during his association with Wood. So far, I have come up empty, but have not given up. My search continues.
It has been 30 years since the film debuted.
In that 30 years, has this false depiction of Bela Lugosi now become fact in the minds and hearts of the public?
I hope not.....but I will promise this: I will continue to debunk this false narrative about Bela Lugosi, until my last breath.
Thank you for reading.
It has been 30 years since Tim Burton brought his biopic of a grade z movie maker, who was an alcoholic, and enjoyed cross-dressing, to the screen. The film is ED WOOD, and stars Johnny Depp. Also starring as Bela Lugosi, is character actor Martin Landau.
Now we all know that all movies are really make believe. Many are adapted from books, and many changes occur from the page to the screen. Even those based on historical events, are reworked or take liberties with the truth, to the point that in time, people have a tendency to accept these movies as truth and fact, when they are not.
I love movies, especially the classic monster films of the 30s and 40s. I have read and collected a number of books on the people involved in the making of many of these films.
My rant is with the depiction of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.
The film Ed Wood is presented as a biopic, not a comedy or parody.
Whenever I see any comments or photos on various web sites of this film or of the actor, there are always a number of participants who enjoy quoting some of the profane dialog attributed to Lugosi, from the film.
Do those folks believe it as factual? Are they simply being cute and enjoy posting profanity?
Allow me to set the record straight. The presentation of Bela Lugosi as a foul mouthed old man, spewing profanity at his whim, is total BS! It has been debunked by his son. It has been called out by other actors who worked with him. The profanity directed at Boris Karloff in the film, has been debunked not only by Lugosi's son, Bela Jr, but also by Boris Karloff's daughter, Sara.
This 'rivalry' between Lugosi and Karloff was mainly created by the Hollywood studio and the press corps. While it is true, that Karloff had the better career than Lugosi, there is no indication of dislike by either actor. They respected each other.
Yes, they were different! Lugosi was Hungarian. Karloff was British. They enjoyed different things. Karloff liked cricket, Lugosi liked soccer....etc. They were both professionals and charter members of the Screen Actors Guild.
It is well documented that Lugosi was a sick man during the last years of his life. It is a well known fact that earlier in his life he developed sciatica in his legs and grew an addiction to the prescribed treatment morphine. He was also the first actor to go public with his addiction and place himself into a hospital for rehab. It is true that he liked to drink and became an alcoholic (as was Ed Wood, but that is conveniently omitted in the film).
I will not deny that Bela Lugosi was far from perfect. That would be absurd. All of our favorites have flaws. They are human, as we all are, and have their shortcomings.
What I refuse to accept, is the false and terrible depiction of Lugosi in the film Ed Wood. I have searched for comments by Tim Burton about his film and specifically about his interpretation of Lugosi, during his association with Wood. So far, I have come up empty, but have not given up. My search continues.
It has been 30 years since the film debuted.
In that 30 years, has this false depiction of Bela Lugosi now become fact in the minds and hearts of the public?
I hope not.....but I will promise this: I will continue to debunk this false narrative about Bela Lugosi, until my last breath.
Thank you for reading.
