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Roger Corman, Glenn Gabbard, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Val Lewton, Alexander Nemerov ... see more see more... , Ann Carter Newton , Geoffrey O'Brien , Jacques Tourneur , Robert Wise , Martin Scorsese , Elias Koteas , Simone Simon , Val E. Lewton

While his name was known to only the most obsessive film fans during the course of his career, Val Lewton produced a handful of low-budget horror movies in the 1940's that had a revolutionary impact o... read more read more...n the genre. Working within a special production unit at RKO Pictures, Lewton's films were mood pieces that created an atmosphere of anxiety rather than aiming for blunt shocks, and used shadowy camerawork and careful pacing to infer more than the audience actually saw. Several of Lewton's productions became minor hits, most notably Cat People, and a number of others (including Isle Of The Dead, I Walked With A Zombie, Curse Of The Cat People, The Seventh Victim and The Body Snatchers) are cult favorites to this day. Lewton also discovered a number of directors who would become major players later on, including Robert Wise, Mark Robson and Jacques Tourneur, but Lewton's efforts to move on to bigger budget projects fared poorly, and poor health claimed his life in 1951, six years after his last picture for RKO. Film critic and archivist Kent Jones traces the story of Val Lewton's life and career while paying homage to the films that made his name in the documentary Val Lewton: Man In The Shadows, which features highlights from Lewton's best films while sharing the memories of those who knew and worked with him. Originally produced for the Turner Classic Movies cable network, Val Lewton: Man In the Shadows is narrated by filmmaker and lifelong film fan Martin Scorsese. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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81% liked it

365 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

5 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 17 min.

Directed by: Kent Jones

Release Date: September 2, 2007

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DVD Release Date: August 19, 2008

Stats: 28 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (28)

  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    Very informative documentary that highlights the influence Lewton has had in cinema since his untimely death in the early 50's. Some things I knew, many I didn't and all misconceptions are laid to rest. Val Lewton was a revolutionary of the silver screen and many film makers, and... read more film lovers, owe him a lot of gratitude! Now stop reading my silly little review and go watch his films! ;o)
  • 366weirdmovies
    August 10, 2008
    366weirdmovies
    Overview of the career of the legendary producer who reluctantly made some of most poetic horror movies of the 1940s for RKO. Those who are already fans will appreciate the review and the bits of trivia, and newcomers may be inspired to check out hidden classics like CAT PEOPLE... read more and THE BODY SNATCHER.
  • iamthethinman
    April 5, 2010
    iamthethinman
    Never knew about this person or his legacy for a short career until I saw I Walked With A Zombie. Then found out about Scorsese and this documentary. So it was just something to add to the queue and get to, which I decided to finally get to. And this doc is very interesting. I am... read more a little interested in a bit of old hollywood, but so much of it is crap. This, is a great story. But I can say that this is not the most engaging, but strays more toward the artful presentation. Just the final ?scene? of the doc is different from others. However it relies too much on just showing the clips, which I guess is predicated on the fact that Lewton never gave an interview. So, they had to try to get creative. So you need to be a fan of him, his movies, or old Hollywood to really like it. And even there, it can still be passed.
  • kingmob6
    April 1, 2008
    kingmob6
    Narrated by Martin Scorcese, this was an interesting and informative documentary about an influential producer who made films that were able to rise above their B-movie trappings.

    Recommended.

View All Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows Reviews

Critic Reviews

Felix Gonzalez Jr.
February 11, 2008
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review

The most fascinating aspect revealed in this documentary is the way Lewton's suppressed emotions were embodied by his cinematic characters .... Full Review

John J. Puccio
January 27, 2008
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

Like any good documentary, Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows makes us want to know more.... Full Review

Edward Havens
January 16, 2008
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

We may not learn much about who Val Lewton was. We may never truly know what made him tick. And we might find ourselves too engrossed in what we see and hear to even care. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 15, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A well-deserved homage to producer Val Lewton. Full Review

Donald J. Levit
December 16, 2007
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews

'The Man in the Shadows' is an admirable and uniquely organized documentary about Val Lewton and his brooding works of darkness. Full Review

David Nusair
April 11, 2012
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

Click to read the article Full Review

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