Subgenre Sampler
Rental > Documentary > Film History: 186 Films to Rent
- I Am Alfred Hitchcock (2021)
- A seminal figure in the world of cinema, Alfred Hitchcock produced some of the most famous films ever made. I Am Alfred Hitchcock delves deep into…
- My Name is Gulpilil (2021)
- Dir. Molly Reynolds
Feat. David Gulpilil
- A documentary memoir of the late great actor and dancer David Gulpilil, an Aboriginal Australian of the Yolngu people who starred in movies such as…
- Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019)
- Dir. Alexandre O. Philippe
- Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the theatrical release of ALIEN, this documentary reveals the untold origins of the cinematic masterpiece –…
- Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (2019)
- Dir. Matt Wolf
- Extraordinary documentary about the TV producer and historian Marion Stokes and her vast collection of home recorded American news clips, which form…
- Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street (Scream Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street) (2019)
- Dir. Tyler Jensen, Roman Chimienti
Feat. Mark Patton
- Insightful documentary exploring the homo–erotic subtext in the controversial second installment of the NIGHT ON ELM STREET horror franchise,…
- Varda By Agnes (2019)
- Dir. Agnes Varda
Feat. Agnes Varda
- Belgian–born film–maker/photographer/artist Agnès Varda takes a seat on a theatre stage to present photos and film excerpts that provide…
- You Don't Nomi (2019)
- Dir. Jeffrey McHale
- Initially derided by critics and audience alike, Paul Verhoeven’s notoriously trashy sexploitation SHOWGIRLS has developed a devoted fan following…
- Eyes of Orson Welles, The (2018)
- Dir. Mark Cousins
- Mark Cousins (THE STORY OF FILM – AN ODYSSEY) examines the visual world of Orson Welles through his non–cinematic work, uncovering new…
- Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (2018)
- Dir. Mark Cousins
- Mark Cousin's follows up his ground–breaking THE STORY OF FILM series with this equally–lauded celebration of women in film, with…
- 78/52 (78 Shots & 52 Cuts) (2017)
- Dir. Alexandre O. Philippe
- An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), the "man behind the curtain", and the screen murder that…
- Becoming Bond (2017)
- Dir. Josh Greenbaum
- A unique documentary/narrative hybrid chronicling the stranger–than–fiction true story of George Lazenby, a poor Australian car mechanic…
- Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017)
- Dir. Alexandra Dean
- A revelatory and entertaining portrait of enigmatic Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr, whose ravishing beauty consistently belied her brilliant mind,…
- David Stratton: A Cinematic Life & Stories of Australian Cinema (2017)
- Dir. Sally Aitken
- Beloved Australian film critic, director and presenter David Stratton is the subject of the documentary A CINEMATIC LIFE, and the presenter of the…
- I Am Heath Ledger (2017)
- Dir. Adrian Buitenhuis, Derik Murray
- A loving documentary about the life of renowned actor Heath Ledger. Deliberately eschewing his death at age 28 from a prescription drug overdose, the…
- Cameraperson (2016)
- Dir. Kirsten Johnson
- Extraordinary autobiographical documentary by acclaimed cinematographer Kirsten Johnson, who has collected film clips spanning the past 10 years of…
- David Lynch: The Art Life (2016)
- Dir. Jon Nguyen
- An essential portrait of film–making iconoclast David Lynch, who takes us on an intimate journey from his childhood in idyllic small town…
- Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016)
- Dir. Bill Morrison
- Staggering documentary about the miraculous excavation in 1978 of 533 silent film reels, buried in 1929 under a swimming pool or hockey rink in…
- My Journey Through French Cinema (Voyage a Travers le Cinema Francais) (2016)
- Dir. Bertrand Tavernier
- Bertrand Tavernier's personal journey through French cinema, from films he enjoyed as a boy to his own early career, told through portraits of key…
- Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach (2016)
- Dir. Louise Osmond
- A revealing tribute to the life and career of one of Britain's most eminent film–makers and socially–conscious artists, whose prolific…
- A Flickering Truth (2015)
- Dir. Pietra Brettkelly
- In documenting one man’s precarious quest to restore thousands of hours of film heritage in the post–Taliban Kabul, New Zealand filmmaker…
- De Palma (2015)
- Dir. Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow
Feat. Brian De Palma
- A comprehensive overview of the career of prolific and sometimes controversial film–maker Brian De Palma, an avid disciple of Alfred Hitchcock…
- Dreams Rewired (2015)
- Dir. Manu Luksch, Martin Reinhart
Feat. Tilda Swinton
- Enchanting and baffling, this experiment in retro–futurist re–appropriation matches a vast amount of fascinating silent–era film…
- Elstree 1976 (2015)
- Dir. Jon Spira
- STAR WARS fans will enjoy this good–natured doco that looks at the lives of the film's bit–part actors and extras as they reminisce about…
- Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015)
- Dir. Kent Jones
Feat. Francois Truffaut, Alfred Hitchcock
- A lovingly crafted portrait of Hitchcock and his profound impact on cinema history, this adaptation from the 1966 book by Francois Truffaut is based…
- Listen to Me Marlon (2015)
- Dir. Stevan Riley
- A deeply revealing – and at times discomforting – look at the life of Hollywood icon and enigma Marlon Brando, utilizing hundreds of…
- Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans (2015)
- Dir. Gabriel Clarke, John McKenna
- Retrospective account of the making of Steve McQueen's cinematic passion project LE MANS, a flop at the time, but one whose verisimilitude has earned…
- Adjust Your Tracking (2014)
- An informal companion piece to REWIND THIS!, this documentary even shares a few of its commentators but narrows the focus down to a range of…
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014)
- Dir. Mark Hartley
- A wildly entertaining trip through the heady rise and fall of The Cannon Group – a prolific film production company responsible for countless…
- Jodorowsky's Dune (2014)
- Dir. Frank Pavich
Feat. Orson Welles, Salvador Dali, Mick Jagger…
- Billed as the greatest sci–fi movie never made, Alejandro Jodorowsky's attempt to adapt Frank Herbert's groundbreaking novel DUNE makes for a…
- Life Itself (2014)
- Dir. Steve James
Feat. Roger Ebert
- Profoundly significant film–critic Roger Ebert is the subject of this unique cinematic portrait. Originally an adaptation of his memoir, the…
- What Now? Remind Me (2014)
- Dir. Joaquim Pinto
- Extraordinary documentary portrait written, directed by and staring the acclaimed Portuguese director, producer and sound designer Joaquim Pinto. At…
- A Story of Children and Film (2013)
- Dir. Mark Cousins
- Film essayist Mark Cousins offers this edifying "mosaic" of films about childhood and their representation of children across various states of being…
- Pervert's Guide to Ideology, The (2013)
- Dir. Sophie Fiennes
- Director Sophie Fiennes' wacky and endlessly insightful follow–up to THE PERVERT'S GUIDE TO CINEMA, once again written and presented by the…
- Rewind This! (2013)
- Dir. Josh Johnson
- An Aro Favourite carried by our shameless bias, this essential documentary pays timely and passionate tribute to the humble video cassette and its…
- Search for Weng Weng (2013)
- Dir. Andrew Leavold
- A bizarre history of Filipino B–films, as told through director Andrew Leavold's personal quest to find the truth behind its midget James Bond…
- Room 237 (2012)
- Dir. Rodney Ascher
- Though straining credulity from the outset, this wildly entertaining round table of film obsessives and conspiracy theorists tackles the apparent…
- Side By Side (2012)
- Dir. Christopher Kenneally
- An earnest Keanu Reeves fronts this broad but insightful overview of the rapidly changing landscape of movie production and exhibition from both an…
- Woody Allen - A Documentary (2012)
- Dir. Robert. B. Weide
Feat. Woody Allen
- Candid look at the life and times of Woody Allen covers his career from fledgling comic writer to iconic director with a series of revealing…
- Cinema Asia (2011)
- Excellent five–part overview of the key creative and industrial movements within the exciting, often groundbreaking Asian filmmaking…
- Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (2011)
- Dir. Alex Stapleton
- A passionate portrait of prolific B–movie director and producer Roger Corman, exploring his extraordinary career in which he successfully…
- Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie (2011)
- Dir. Ric Meyers
- Overview of the history of the martial arts film by genre enthusiast Ric Meyers, who peppers an impressive assemblage of film excerpts with trivia,…
- Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2011)
- Dir. Gilles Penso
Feat. Ray Harryhausen
- The definitive documentary on late special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen. Includes interviews and tributes from Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Terry…
- Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir (2011)
- Dir. Laurent Bouzereau
- Intimate, fascinating and completely one–sided documentary made by Roman Polanski's friend of four decades that details his extraordinary life,…
- Story of Film - An Odyssey, The (2011)
- Dir. Mark Cousins
- An invigorating alternate film history from critic Mark Cousins, here adapting his own book into a 15–chapter exploration of cinema from its…
- In From The Cold? The World Of Richard Burton (2010)
- Dir. Tony Palmer
Feat. Richard Burton
- Tony Palmer’s portrait of actor Richard Burton, featuring interviews with his family members and fellow acting legends Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren…
- Kim Newman's Guide to the Flipside of British Cinema (2010)
- Dir. Jake West
- Cult film critic Kim Newman hosts this entertaining doco that looks at some British cinema's more esoteric films.
Includes three short films:…
- Machete Maidens Unleashed (2010)
- Dir. Mark Hartley
- Eye–opening look at the exploitation film–making industry that thrived in the Philippines during the seventies as American producers took…
- Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)
- Dir. Jake West
- Fascinating documentary about the moral hysteria in 80's UK that led to the mass ban of 72 video tapes deemed too obscene by political and religious…
- Barry Barclay - The Camera on the Shore (2009)
- Dir. Graeme Tuckett
Feat. Barry Barclay
- Film critic Graeme Tuckett directs this sensitive tribute to the late Kiwi filmmaker Barry Barclay, who passed away during the production of the…
- Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno (2009)
- Dir. Serge Bromberg, Ruxandra Medrea
- More than just a film about the making of a film, this glorious reconstruction of Clouzot's unfinished 'masterpiece' rescues incredible footage from…
- Magnificent Tati, The (2009)
- Dir. Michael House
Feat. Jacques Tati
- A fine, fun–filled tribute to the irrepressible French comic and filmmaker that is at once serious in its appraisal of Tati's artistry and…
- Nightmares in Red, White and Blue (2009)
- Dir. Andrew Monument
- An exploration of the appeal of horror films from an American angle, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre (John Carpenter, George…
- Once Upon a Time - French Cinema (2009)
- Dedicated SBS documentary series offering a retrospective look back on some of cinema's greatest films and directors.
French Cinema episodes:…
- Two in the Wave (2009)
- Dir. Emmanuel Laurent
Feat. Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, Jean-Pierre Leaud
- Taking us back to the inception of the French New Wave and the emergence of its two heavyweights, Jean–Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut, this…
- Back To Normandy (2008)
- Dir. Nicolas Philibert
- Thirty years after working on a film in Normandy, about a 19th century triple murder committed in the area, Nicolas Philibert returns to find the…
- Barefoot Cinema (The Art and Life of Cinematographer Alun Bollinger) (2008)
- Dir. Gerard Smyth
- The camera work of veteran Kiwi cinematographer Alun Bollinger is appraised in this documentary which includes tributes from Peter Jackson, Vincent…
- Beaches of Agnes, The (2008)
- Dir. Agnes Varda
- A wonderfully light–footed collection of memories and monologues in documentary essay form from the queen of the French New Wave, Agnes…
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History (2008)
- Toe–tapping documentary, presented by actress Shirley Jones, exploring the timeless genre of Hollywood Musical from Busby Berkeley's…
- Ladies or Gentlemen (2008)
- This brief exploratory retrospective of Hollywood's fascination with cross–dressing includes comment from the likes of Tony Curtis and Tim…
- Once Upon a Time - American Cinema (2008)
- Dedicated SBS documentary series offering a retrospective look back on some of cinema's greatest films and directors.
American Cinema episodes:…
- Picasso and Braque Go to the Movies (2008)
- Dir. Arne Glimcher
- Stately exploration of the influence of cinema's earliest pioneers, such as Georges Méliès, on Cubist painters Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.…
- Tube Tales - TV's Real Stories (TV Series) (2008)
- Edifying series investigating the people, places and events behind a number of hit TV series including THE WEST WING, SEINFELD, SIX FEET UNDER, SEX…
- Fog City Mavericks - The Filmmakers of San Francisco (2007)
- Dir. Gary Leva
Feat. George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood…
- Unevenly pitched, if nonetheless fascinating account of San Francisco’s filmmaking legacy, from Francis Ford Coppola to Pixar maestro John…
- Indie Sex (2007)
- Dir. Lesli Klainberg
- Proudly explicit, this racy review of sex in independent cinema compiles a hot and heavy survey of clips, qualified by insightful, sometimes…
- Not Quite Hollywood (2007)
- Dir. Mark Hartley
- Informative and bloody amusing exploration of the dubious ocker 'Ozploitation' films of the 1970's and 80's, celebrating the joyously cheap and nasty…
- Trumbo (2007)
- Dir. Peter Askin
Feat. Joan Allen, Michael Douglas, Donald Sutherland…
- Prominent blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo – the most famed of the alleged Communist sympathising ‘Hollywood 10’ – is the honoree of…
- Bergman Island (2006)
- Dir. Marie Nyreröd
Feat. Ingmar Bergman
- Just four years before his death, legendary filmmaker Ingmar Bergman sits down at his home on Fårö Island to discuss his work, his fears, his…
- Cinematographer Style (2006)
- Dir. Jon Fauer
- 110 of the world's most celebrated cinematographers give in–depth interviews about their craft, painting a fascinating portrait of the process…
- Edge of Outside (2006)
- Dir. Shannon Davis
- A succinct overview of the history of independent cinema, this overlaps ground covered in the likes of EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS and DECADE UNDER THE…
- Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)
- Dir. Lisa Ades, Lesli Klainberg
- Scintillating sequel to the dirs. 1995 CELLULOID CLOSET, here discussing the history of 'out' gay cinema in the twentieth century from Kenneth…
- Pervert's Guide to the Cinema, The (2006)
- Dir. Sophie Fiennes
- Mad philosopher Slavoj Žižek delivers a swirling introduction to psychoanalytic theory via the history of popular cinema, inserting himself into…
- Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection (2006)
- Splendid swag of early short films from special f/x pioneer Ray Harryhausen, many using the mature stop–motion style of his work in features…
- Sci-Fi Boys, The (2006)
- Dir. Paul Davids
Feat. Peter Jackson
- Charming doco that charts the evolution of science fiction films from stop motion B movies to blockbusters, and the influence that the pioneers of…
- Silent Britain (2006)
- An intriguing journey into the 'Lost Atlantis' of the British silent film industry, which prior to 1929 generated thousands of films, as much through…
- This Film is Not Yet Rated (2006)
- Dir. Kirby Dick
- A film that is close to our hearts, this is a good–humoured yet scathing attack on the American Film Industry and the hush of its censorship…
- This Filthy World (2006)
- Dir. Jeff Garlin
Feat. John Waters
- Scholar of bad taste, John Waters, extols the virtues of filth in this stand–up routine–meets–film lecture dedicated largely to his…
- Garbo (2005)
- Dir. Kevin Brownlow, Christopher Bird
Feat. Greta Garbo
- A portrait of the luminous, reclusive and mystifying star Greta Garbo, co–directed by filmmaker and historian Kevin Brownlow (BUSTER KEATON…
- How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) (2005)
- Dir. Joe Angio
Feat. Melvin Van Peebles
- Blaxploitation pioneer Melvin Van Peebles’ SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSS SONG is honoured in this high appreciation of the filmmaker and…
- Last Mogul, The (The Life and Times of Lew Wasserman) (2005)
- Dir. Barry Avrich, Nat Brecia, Jeff Sackman
- Fairly thorough look at the life of behind–the–scenes Hollywood legend Lew Wasserman, who built the MCA talent agency into a force to be…
- Midnight Movies - From The Margin To The Mainstream (Incl. Night of the Living Dead and Reefer Madness) (2005)
- Dir. Stuart Samuels
- Entrenched in the counter–cultural fertility of the seventies, this documentary profiles six seminal underground flicks that transformed the…
- Adventures of Errol Flynn, The (2004)
- Dir. David Heeley
Feat. Errol Flynn
- The derring–do, glamour and controversy of Australian–born actor Errol Flynn's phenomenal Hollywood career is covered in considered…
- Jazz Memories - The Incomparable Lena Horne (2004)
- Feat. Lena Horne
- Comprehensive documentary detailing the life and work of singer, actress and cultural icon Lena Horne, who began as a dancer in 'The Cotton Club' in…
- Looking for Sophia (2004)
- Dir. Roberto Olla, Danila Satta
- The fairytale story of iconic Italian actress Sophia Loren, who escaped her impoverished origins in the Fascist era to become a truly global star, is…
- Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon, The (2004)
- The recent discovery of 800 rolls of early nitrate film on a building site proved a rare cinematic find – turning out to be documentary footage…
- Tell Them Who You Are (2004)
- Dir. Mark Wexler
- An intimate, prickly, and ultimately moving portrait of famed American cinematographer Haskell Wexler, who lensed seminal films such as ONE FLEW OVER…
- Trekkies 2 (2004)
- Dir. Roger Nygard
- A surprisingly compelling followup to the documentary TREKKIES, which peered into the strange world of American STAR TREK fandom.
A tad upset by…
- Z Channel - A Magnificent Obsession (2004)
- Dir. Xan Cassavetes
- Relevant to any movie buff, this documentary charts the 1970s rise of one of America's first cable TV stations – Channel Z – and its…
- A Decade Under the Influence (2003)
- Dir. Ted Demme, Richard LaGravenese
- Tantalizing doco for film–buffs examining the decade of the 1970s, a turning point in American cinema that saw the director given unprecedented…
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (2003)
- Dir. Kenneth Bowser
- Based on the infamous 'tell–all' book by Peter Biskind, this in–depth documentary that details Hollywood's fertile creative period of the…
- Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)
- Dir. Thom Andersen
- Thom Andersen's sprawling cinematic essay about Los Angeles draws upon clips from movies filmed within the city to create a masterpiece of quotation…
- Real Middle Earth, The (2003)
- Jim Hickey embarks on a journey into the making the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, touring the NZ countryside and talking with Peter Jackson (and many…
- Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003)
- Presented by Playboy magazine, this documentary treads interestingly through the history of sex in Hollywood movies.
Featuring excerpts of dozens…
- BaadAsssss Cinema (2002)
- Dir. Isaac Julien
Feat. Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree, Quentin Tarantino…
- A fan's–eye–view of 1970s Blaxploitation cinema, featuring juicy interviews with players, directors, critics and aficionados.
Although…
- Fellini's Magic (2002)
- Dir. Carmen Piccini
- Essential viewing for Fellini fans, this vivid if humble homage to the Italian ringmaster–cum–filmmaker brings together a useful mixture…
- I Don't Know Jack (2002)
- Dir. Chris Leavens
Feat. Jack Nance
- Concerning the life, work and death of Jack Nance, star of ERASERHEAD and eccentric of other David Lynch films, whose self–destructive…
- Kid Stays in the Picture, The (2002)
- Dir. Brett Morgen, Nanette Burstein
Feat. Robert Evans
- Unique auto–documentary about Hollywood 'super–producer' Robert Evans who put together pictures like THE GODFATHER and…
- Lord of the Rings - Beyond the Movie (2002)
- Dir. Kathleen Phelan
- Made for the National Geographic TV–channel, this documentary explores the background to Peter Jackson’s monumental adaptation, as well as J…
- Lost in La Mancha (2002)
- Dir. Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe
Feat. Terry Gilliam, Johnny Depp, Jean Rochefort
- A cautionary fable of filmmaking in the mould of HEARTS OF DARKNESS, concerning director Terry Gilliam’s (BRAZIL) attempt to film a version of…
- Prisoner of Paradise (2002)
- Dir. Malcolm Clarke, Stuart Sender
- Justly acclaimed examination of an unusual chapter in the Holocaust, in which the Dutch–Jewish comic actor Kurt Gerron was forced to make a…
- Real Mary Poppins, The (The Shadow of Mary Poppins) (2002)
- Dir. Lisa Matthews
- A documentary on the life and times of P.L. Travers, creator of Mary Poppins, whose working relationship with Walk Disney was the stuff of legend,…
- Magical World of J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) (2001)
- The creator of the kidult ‘Harry Potter’ books is documented in this made–for–TV study.
- My Voyage to Italy (Il Mio Viaggio in Italia) (2001)
- Dir. Martin Scorsese
- Martin Scorsese’s personal journey through Italian cinema is an epic appreciation, less an overview than a guide to the films and filmmakers who've…
- Schlock! - The Secret History of American Movies (2001)
- Dir. Ray Greene
- A suitably low–rent survey of 50s and 60s B–grade movies, with insights courtesy of Roger Corman, Peter Bogdanovich, David F. Friedman,…
- Searching for Debra Winger (2001)
- Dir. Rosanna Arquette
- Hollywood actress Roseanna Arquette analyzes the pressures and rewards of her profession in this loosely–formed patchwork of interviews with…
- Stanley Kubrick - A Life in Pictures (2001)
- Dir. Jan Harlan
Feat. Malcolm McDowell, Woody Allen, Jack Nicholson…
- Authorised by his family, a 'biography' of the great, reclusive, obsessive film–maker, whose genius is attested by the likes of…
- Walt - The Man Behind the Myth (2001)
- Dir. Jean-Pierre Isbouts
Feat. Walt Disney, Dick Van Dyke
- A television documentary on the life of the extraordinary Walt Disney, whose animated characters and overall vision conquered the public imagination…
- A Constant Forge (2000)
- Dir. Charles Kiselyak
- A lengthy examination of the life and work of renowned American filmmaker John Cassavetes, who pioneered the use of improvisation in film…
- American Nightmare, The (2000)
- Dir. Adam Simon
Feat. Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, John Carpenter…
- A searching examination of the American horror films of the late 1960s and 1970s, in which the paranoia of the times was reflected in some intense…
- History Lessons (2000)
- Dir. Barbara Hammer
- A "revisionist" archival doco from militant experimentalist, Barbara Hammer, that montages (and modifies) esoteric lesbiana as a clarion call for…
- Kurosawa (2000)
- Dir. Adam Low
Feat. James Coburn, Clint Eastwood, Kon Ichikawa
- Solid, though roughly tailored journey through the life of the Japanese film director of THE SEVEN SAMURAI and YOJIMBO. Composed mostly of interview…
- Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000)
- Dir. Kevin Brownlow
Feat. Lon Chaney
- A comprehensive overview of the life and career of "Man of a Thousand Faces" Lon Chaney, one of the greatest actors of the silent era. Narrated by…
- Mario Bava - Maestro of the Macabre (2000)
- Dir. Garry S Grant
- Find out where Dario Argento (and others) stole their licks from in this rare glimpse into the life and work of the Godfather of modern horror, whose…
- Phandom Menace, The (2000)
- Dir. Craig E Tonkin, Warwick Holt
- A vivid look into the 'realities' of various obsessive STAR WARS fans in Australia, on the eve of THE PHANTOM MENACE being released in 1999.
The…
- Universal Horror (2000)
- Dir. Kevin Brownlow
- Reeling back to the horror films produced by Universal Studios in the 1930s, this Kevin Brownlow documentary is a lovingly–made reminder of the…
- Brakhage (1999)
- Dir. Jim Shedden
- Conventional, though enlightening portrait of experimental film maverick Stan Brakhage, whose work consistently pushed the boundaries of the medium…
- Cinema Europe - The Other Hollywood (1999)
- Dir. Various.
- Kevin Brownlow and David Gill continue their extended homage to all things cinema with an in–depth series on early cinema in Europe leading up…
- Cinema Verite - Defining the Moment (1999)
- Dir. Peter Wintonick
- Unique "documentary of documentaries" from the dir. of MANUFACTURING CONSENT that chronicles "Cinema Verite", a film–making movement bound by a…
- My Best Fiend (Mein Liebster Feind) (1999)
- Dir. Werner Herzog
Feat. Klaus Kinski, Werner Herzog
- Werner Herzog’s personal portrait of his friend and famous ‘alter ego’, the late Klaus Kinski, threads together just some of the bizarre…
- Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999)
- Dir. St. Clair Bourne
- Documentary exploring the life and career of Paul Robeson, the singer, actor and political activist whose distinctive bass baritone is heard on some…
- Divine Trash (1998)
- Dir. Steve Yeager
- A divine treat for fans of the film–maker John Waters’, this supplements contemporary and archival interviews with rare footage of the…
- Full Tilt Boogie (1998)
- Dir. Sarah Kelly
- Little more than a 'making of' FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, edited to feature–length to cash in on Tarantino–mania.
Without dramatic meat or…
- Mouth Wide Open (1998)
- Dir. Jonathan Dennis
- A portrait of pioneering NZ camera person and inventor Ted Coubray, who was one of the first people in Australasia to use a sound camera. Offers a…
- Century of Cinema - Australia / NZ / UK (1997)
- Dir. George Miller, Sam Neill, Stephen Frears
- Director George Miller (MAD MAX) construes his own personal perspective on the history of Australian cinema and its wider cultural meanings. Perhaps…
- Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember (1997)
- Dir. Anna Maria Tato
- Documentary about iconic Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, providing a full–career portrait across an indulgent 3+ hours.
Based on…
- Méliès the Magician (The Magic of Méliès, Méliès Magic Show) (1997)
- Dir. Georges Melies, Jacques Meny
- George Méliès was a unique pioneer of cinema, who virtually invented the 'trick shot' and created an astonishing 1000 short films using special…
- Tranceformer: A Portrait of Lars Von Trier (1997)
- Dir. Stig Bjorkman
- Insight into the methods and career of celebrated Danish director Lars Von Trier, covering up to his breakout hit, BREAKING THE WAVES.
- American Cinema (Box Set) (1996)
- In–depth series explores most dimensions of the American feature film (mainly post–1930s). Ten 50 minute episodes include classic clips…
- Century of Cinema - A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese (1996)
- Dir. Martin Scorsese, Michael H. Wilson
- Martin Scorsese details a history of American film from his own perspective, with particular focus on the mavericks and unsung heroes of…
- Century of Cinema - China (Yang±Yin - Gender in Chinese Cinema) (1996)
- Dir. Stanley Kwan
- One of the more outstanding (and idiosyncratic) episodes in the CENTURY OF CINEMA series, dir. Kwan (ROUGE) analyzing depictions of sexuality and…
- Cinema of Unease (1996)
- Dir. Sam Neill & Judith Rymer
- Sam Neill essays a personal history of Kiwi film as a reflection of our national identity. From his big break in the landmark SLEEPING DOGS to the…
- East Side Story (1996)
- Dir. Dana Ranga
- Enchanting curiosity draws back the Iron Curtain to detail the history of the Communist musical! Focus on the Russian, East German, and…
- Jackie Chan - My Story (1996)
- Feat. Jackie Chan
- An authorised biography of the incomparable one–man movie–machine from Hong Kong. Banal presentation is compensated by clips from all his…
- Battle Over Citizen Kane (1995)
- Dir. Michael Epstein, Thomas Lennon
- As this useful overview makes clear, the story behind the making of the classic CITIZEN KANE was as fraught with drama and clashing egos as the film…
- Celluloid Heroes, The (TV Series) (1995)
- A celebration of Australian filmmaking, this fascinating four–part series details the evolution of Australian cinema from the early silent…
- Century of Cinema (UK / Ireland) - Typically British (1995)
- Dir. Mike Dibb, Stephen Frears, Donald Taylor Black
- The British contribution to the series celebrating 100 years of the moving image. Film–maker Stephen Frears chats to industry heavyweights Alex…
- Directors, The (1995-1999)
- Dir. Robert J Emery
- Seven episodes on individual DVDs from the American Film Institute series covering film directing greats. Each episode comprises one hour of…
- Krzysztof Kieslowski: I'm So So (1995)
- Dir. Krzysztof Wierzbicki
- A brilliant portrait of the great and famously modest Polish director, which by virtue of being made by a longtime confederate, imparts an intimacy…
- Lumiere and Company (1995)
- Dir. Various
- Fitting homage to those pioneers of filmmaking, the Lumiere Brothers, made on Cinema’s Centennial celebrations in 1995. Forty directors were asked…
- Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business (1994)
- Dir. Helena Solberg
- Catch fever Brazilia (followed by a dose of true story reality) in this all–you–need–to–know expose of the exuberant Samba…
- Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora (1994)
- Doco on the B–movie director, that reveals the man beneath the pink cardy. Covering the time of Tim Burton's biopic and beyond, through to the…
- Flesh and Blood - The Hammer Heritage of Horror (1994)
- Dir. Ted Newsom
- A tour through the history of horror film specialists Hammer Studios, whose rise in the 1950s ushered in a new era for the genre. Narrated by Peter…
- Last Bolshevik, The (1993)
- Dir. Chris Marker
- Chris Marker's video essay celebrates the life and work of little known film pioneer Aleksandr Medvedkin to reflect on the legacy of Soviet…
- Luck, Trust and Ketchup (1993)
- Dir. Mike Kaplan, John Dorr
- Director Robert Altman is observed while at work on 'Short Cuts'. Includes many interviews with cast and crew, including Tess Gallagher (the late…
- Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl, The (1993)
- Dir. Ray Muller
- Regarded both as great filmmaker and Nazi Party propagandist, Leni Reifenstahl, the maker of TRIUMPH OF THE WILL and OLYMPIAD, will always be a…
- MGM - When the Lion Roars (1992)
- The story of "super–studio" Metro–Goldwyn–Meyer from its origins in 1924 to become one of the largest production companies in…
- Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)
- Dir. Mark Rappaport
- An irreverent deconstruction of the films of Rock Hudson with an amusing conceit; that Rock never concealed his homosexuality, it was all up there on…
- Silent Feminists, The (1992)
- Dir. Anthony Slide, Jeffrey Goodman
- A factual study of the silent movie era that tributes the pioneering women behind Hollywood's cameras.
Features rare film clips,…
- Visions of Light (1992)
- Dir. Arnold Glassman
- Illuminating film about the unsung heroes of the film industry – the humble cinematographer – that person responsible for the 'look' of a…
- Oscar's Greatest Moments (1991)
- Highlights from twenty years of Academy Award ceremonies
- Republic Pictures Story, The (1991)
- In its heyday one of the most important of the 'small' Hollywood studios, Republic Pictures is here documented from its beginnings in 1935 to its…
- Creative Process - Norman McLaren (1990)
- Dir. Donald McWilliams
Feat. Norman McLaren
- The ideas and intriguing techniques of Canadian animator Norman McLaren are dissected in this detailed documentary. Draws upon uncompleted works and…
- Hearts of Darkness - A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (Coda - Thirty Years Later) (1990)
- Dir. Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper, Eleanor Coppola
- Astonishing illustration of the nightmare that was the making of APOCALYPSE NOW, a production that endured huge personal and commercial crises,…
- Jodorowsky Constellation, The (1990)
- Dir. Louis Mouchet
- The creator of latterday surrealist films such as EL TOPO, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN and SANTE SANGRE, Alejandro Jodorowsky, gets due homage in this detailed…
- Martin Scorsese Directs (1990)
- Dir. Joel Sucher, Steven Fischler
- Summarises the life and film–making of the American director of 'Taxi–Driver' & 'Raging Bull'. Shot during the making of 'Goodfellas',…
- For Adults Only (Sex and Buttered Popcorn) (1989)
- Dir. Sam Harrison
- A must–see for schlock film fans, this investigates the origins of exploitation film–making in the 1930s and 1940s, mixing rarely seen…
- Preston Sturges - Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer (1989)
- Dir. Kenneth Bowser
- Celebration of the unique comic vision of Preston Sturges, who shot to success with 40s films like Sullivan's Travels and The Miracle of Morgan's…
- Forever James Dean (1988)
- Dir. Ara Chekmayan
- Revealing portrait of the quintessential lost–boy–turned– Hollywood legend, tragically killed at age 24 with just 3 films to his…
- Histoire(s) Du Cinema (1988-1998)
- Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
- Grizzly bastion of art cinema and all things French, Jean–Luc Godard, delivers a personal visual essay on the state of the medium. His…
- Faded Dreams (1987)
- Dir. James Forsher
- In true Hollywood tradition this film explores alternative theories over the controversial deaths of such Hollywood legends as James Dean, Marilyn,…
- Secret Life of Sergei Eisenstein (1987)
- Dir. Gian Carlo Bertelli
- Thorough look at the legendary Soviet director of 'Battleship Potemkin' and 'Alexander Nevsky', acknowledged pioneer of the montage approach to…
- Dario Argento's World of Horror (1985)
- Dir. Dario Argento
Feat. James Franciscus, Karl Malden, Jessica Harper…
- A compendium of scenes and images from the work of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento, including an indepth interview with the maestro.
Covering…
- Filmmaker's Journey, A (1985)
- Dir. George Stevens Jr.
- Remarkable bio of the life and career of George Stevens, director of GIANT and SHANE, in context of the political events of the time. Directed by his…
- Tokyo-Ga (1985)
- Dir. Wim Wenders
- Wim Wenders travels to Tokyo to deliver a love letter to Yasujiro Ozu and the surviving bastion of his films, actor Ryu Chishu, though ends up…
- Marlene (1984)
- Dir. Maximilian Schell
Feat. Marlene Dietrich
- Maximilian Schell presents his own personal vision of Germany's greatest screen legend, Marlene Dietrich. Witness the woman in person and her career…
- Making Utu (1983)
- Dir. Gaylene Preston
- Exemplary behind the scenes documentary observes the making of Geoff Murphy's groundbreaking 'puha western' UTU, revealing both the insistence on…
- Unknown Chaplin (1983)
- Feat. Charles Chaplin
- Previously unseen footage raided from Chaplin's private collection forms the backbone of this splendid documentary series, delving into the great…
- Burden of Dreams (1982)
- Dir. Les Blank
Feat. Werner Herzog
- Les Blank's most famous film sticks with Werner Herzog through the thick and thin of the Amazon jungle during the notoriously troubled shooting of…
- Wim Wenders Documentaries (Room 666, Tokyo-Ga, Notebook on Cities and Clothes) (1982-1989)
- Dir. Wim Wenders
- Three documentaries from the hand of Wim Wenders, concerned with his chief obsessions in Japanese culture and the state of cinema.
- Pasolini - Whoever Says the Truth Shall Die (1981)
- Dir. Philo Bregstein
- A fascinating scan of the multi–faceted life of Pier Paolo Pasolini, as poet, theorist and film–director. Gives a lucid account of his…
- Lightning Over Water (Nick's Movie) (1980)
- Dir. Wim Wenders
Feat. Nicholas Ray
- A disturbing portrait of Hollywood film director Nicholas Ray's final days, shot by fan and friend Wim Wenders.
Although he made some of the most…
- Ciao, Federico! (1970)
- Dir. Gideon Bachmann
- This portrait of director Federico Fellini was shot during the making of Satyricon. Revealing, while managing to capture his many contrasting sides.
- History of Australian Cinema (1967-1979)
- A three part television special that charts the early decades of the Australian film industry and its many pioneers.
Part 1: The Pictures That…
- James Dean Story (1957)
- Dir. Robert Altman
Feat. Martin Gabel
- Martin Gabel narrates this portrait of James Dean created shortly after his death, which assembles the material available at this time, including…
- Norman McLaren: The Collector's Edition (1948-1968)
- Dir. Norman McLaren, Donald McWilliams
- A collection of 14 films from Norman McLaren, the visionary Canadian filmmaker who pioneered innovative techniques to blend animation and…
- Time to Remember, A - New Zealand Edition (Movietone Edition) (1930-1975)
- Comprehensive archive of New Zealand Cinesound and Movietone newsreels, from 1930–1975. Surveying five decades of Kiwi history and heritage,…
- Oskar Fischinger: Ten Films (1921-1947)
- Dir. Oskar Fischinger
- A collection of ten films from German–American filmmaker and visual artist Oskar Fischinger, whose brilliant abstract animated films paved the…
- Time to Remember, A - British Empire Edition (Movietone Edition) (1920-1980)
- Widespread collection of British Empire Movietone newsreels, from 1920–1980. Providing an unbeatable insight into major events in British…
- Time to Remember, A - World Edition (Pathe Edition ) (1900-1980)
- World edition of this invaulable newsreel series, compiling segments from the Pathe archives on two World Wars, totalitarianism, the Holocaust,…
- 50 Worst Movies Ever Made
- An appropriately schlocky, American–centered countdown of the 'worst movies ever made', ranging from classic cult items like "Glen or Glenda"…
- Adventures in Maoriland
- An insight into the making of 'Hei Tiki', a romantic drama by American Alexander Markey, circa 1930. From the Education and Resource Series.
- Alfred Hitchcock - Legend
- The Master of Suspense discusses his film–making techniques and career, as well as interviews with those that worked with him and many excerpts…
- Dalekmania
- Feat. Peter Cushing
- Cast members and cultists take a nostalgic peek at the making of the Dr. Who feature films.
- Horror of Hammer, The
- Brilliant collection of movie trailers from Hammer Studios horror heyday in the 1950s and 60s. Includes all the classics, plus two featurettes…
- Ingmar Bergman - Distinction Series
- Useful collection of several documentaries and articles relating to the singular Swedish filmmaker. Also contains a short doco on the great…
- Making Movies
- This complete movie–making serial collates footage from the golden age to give insight into the role of the director, the actors,…
- This Is Horror I & II
- Feat. George Romero, Clive Barker, Dario Argento…
- Two informative and entertaining documentaries that celebrate the best of modern horror. Contains many excerpts from films (some unavailable) with…