Ed Wood (film)
528464
221597760
2008-06-25T06:08:16Z
70.180.116.4
{{Infobox Film
| name = Ed Wood
| image = Ed_Wood.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Tim Burton]]
| producer = [[Tim Burton]]<br>[[Denise Di Novi]]
| writer = [[Rudolph Grey]] (book)<br>[[Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski|Scott Alexander ]]<br>[[Larry Karaszewski]]
| starring = [[Johnny Depp]]<br>[[Martin Landau]]<br>[[Sarah Jessica Parker]]<br>[[Patricia Arquette]]<br>[[Jeffrey Jones]]<br>[[Vincent D'Onofrio]]<br>[[Bill Murray]]
| music = [[Howard Shore]]
| cinematography = Stefan Czapsky
| editing = [[Chris Lebenzon]]
| distributor = [[Touchstone Pictures]]
| released = [[September 28]], [[1994 in film|1994]]
| runtime = 127 min.
| country = [[United States]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| budget = [[United States dollar|$]]18 million
| gross = [[United States dollar|$]]5,887,457
| amg_id = 1:132259
| imdb_id = 0109707
}}
'''''Ed Wood''''' is a [[1994 in film|1994]] [[Cinema of the United States|American]] comedic [[biopic]] directed by [[Tim Burton]] and starring [[Johnny Depp]] as the cross-dressing cult movie maker [[Edward D. Wood, Jr.]] The film, shot in black and white, was based in large part on [[Rudolph Grey]]'s quasi-biography ''Nightmare of Ecstasy''. The film concerns the period in Wood's life when he made his best-known films and also his relationship with actor [[Béla Lugosi]], played by [[Martin Landau]].
The film was the brainchild of screenwriters [[Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski]] who originally planned to make it with college classmate [[Michael Lehmann]]. A lifelong fan of Woods' films, Burton decided to direct the biopic after his plans for ''[[Mary Reilly (film)|Mary Reilly]]'' fell through. He immediately contacted Depp and asked him to star in the film as Wood and the actor agreed. Depp decided to draw inspiration for his performance from [[Andy Hardy]], [[Ronald Reagan]], [[Casey Kasem]], and the [[Tin Man]] from ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]''. To prepare for portraying Lugosi, Landau watched 25 of the man's films and worked closely with legendary makeup artist [[Richard A. Baker|Rick Baker]].
The film had its world premiere at the [[New York Film Festival]]. Though a box office failure at the time of its release, grossing only [[USD]] $5.8 million in North America, it was critically hailed. Landau was widely praised for his performance, earning top honors from the [[Screen Actors Guild]], the [[National Board of Review]], [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]], and winning a [[Golden Globe]] and an [[Academy Award]].
==Production==
===Origins===
[[Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski]] had been thinking about writing a screenplay on Ed Wood's life since they were students at the [[USC School of Cinematic Arts|University of Southern California film school]].<ref name= "Salisbury, Mark">{{cite news
| last = Salisbury
| first = Mark
| coauthors =
| title = Burton on Burton
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Faber & Faber]]
| date = 2000
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Alexander even proposed making a documentary about Wood entitled, ''The Man in the Angora Sweater'' in his sophomore year at [[University of Southern California|USC]].<ref name= "Gore, Chris">{{cite news
| last = Gore
| first = Chris
| coauthors = Jeremy Berg
| title = Ed or Johnny: The Strange Case of Ed Wood
| work =
| pages = 36
| language =
| publisher = [[Film Threat]]
| date = December 1994
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> However, Karaszewski figured, "there would be no one on the planet Earth who would make this movie or want to make this movie, because these aren't the sort of movies that are made."<ref name= "Gore, Chris"/> After school, they became established Hollywood screenwriters known for the ''[[Problem Child]]'' movie series. They wrote a ten-page treatment and pitched it to director [[Michael Lehmann]] who had also gone to USC. Karaszewski remembers that they sold it as "the guys who wrote ''Problem Child'' and the guy who directed ''[[Hudson Hawk]]'' making a movie about the worst filmmaker of all time."<ref name= "Gore, Chris"/> Lehmann showed the treatment to producer [[Denise DiNovi]] and a deal was struck where Lehmann would direct and Tim Burton and DiNovi would produce.<ref name= "Salisbury, Mark"/> Burton was due to direct the [[Jekyll and Hyde]] adaptation movie, ''[[Mary Reilly (film)|Mary Reilly]]'', and was staying in [[Poughkeepsie, New York|Poughkeepsie]], [[New York]] when he was approached with the offer to produce ''Ed Wood''.<ref name= "Smith, Gavin">{{cite news
| last = Smith
| first = Gavin
| coauthors =
| title = Tim Burton: Punching Holes in Reality
| work =
| pages = 52-63
| language =
| publisher = [[Film Comment]]
| date = November/December 1994
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> The director began reading ''Nightmare of Ecstasy'' by Rudolph Grey (ISBN 0-922915-24-5), a full-length [[biography]], which draws on interviews from Wood's family and colleagues. He also read some of Woods' letters and was taken by how he "wrote about his films as if he was making ''[[Citizen Kane]]'', you know, whereas other people perceived them as, like, the worst movies ever".<ref name= "Dwyer">{{cite news
| last = Dwyer
| first = Michael
| coauthors =
| title = The Stuff Dreams are Made Of
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = The Irish Times
| date = [[December 10]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Alexander and Karaszewski wrote a 147-page script in six weeks, working 14-hour days, seven days a week<ref name= "Gore, Chris"/> and this got Burton interested in directing the film.<ref name= "French2">{{cite news
| last = French
| first = Lawrence
| coauthors =
| title = Tim Burton's ''Ed Wood''
| work =
| pages = 32-34
| language =
| publisher = [[Cinefantastique]]
| date = October 1994
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> The deciding factor for the filmmaker came when the studio wanted to make ''Mary Reilly'' sooner than he would have liked and starring [[Julia Roberts]] instead of his choice, [[Winona Ryder]].<ref name= "French2"/> Burton decided to abandon the project and to direct ''Ed Wood'' instead with Lehmann moving to direct ''[[Airheads]]''.
===Burton and Wood===
Burton admits to having always been a fan of Ed Wood, which is why the biopic is filmed with an aggrandizing bias borne of his admiration rather than derision of Wood's work.<ref name= "Thompson2">{{cite news
| last = Thompson
| first = Bob
| coauthors =
| title = Beyond the Fringe
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Toronto Sun]]
| date = [[October 4]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Burton acknowledged that he probably portrayed Wood and his crew in an exaggeratedly sympathetic way, stating he did not want to ridicule people who had already been ridiculed for a good deal of their life. Burton decided not to depict the darker side of Wood's life because his letters never alluded to this aspect and remained upbeat. To this end, Burton wanted to make the film through Wood's eyes.<ref name= "Thompson2"/> He said in an interview, "I've never seen anything like them, the kind of bad poetry and redundancy - saying in, like, five sentences what it would take most normal people one...Yet still there is a sincerity to them that is very unusual, and I always found that somewhat touching; it gives them a surreal, weirdly heartfelt feeling."<ref name= "Smith, Gavin"/> Burton's respect for Wood is also hinted at in his film ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' - the director has stated that he named the lead character in the film ''Edward'' because that's Wood's full first name. The relationship between Wood and Lugosi in the script echoes closely Burton's relationship with his own idol and two-time colleague, [[Vincent Price]]. He said in an interview, "Meeting Vincent had an incredible impact on me, the same impact Ed must have felt meeting and working with his idol."<ref name= "Salisbury, Mark"/>
===Casting===
To portray Wood, Burton called Johnny Depp and "within 10 minutes of hearing about the project, I was committed," the actor remembers.<ref name= "Arnold, Gary">{{cite news
| last = Arnold
| first = Gary
| coauthors =
| title = Depp sees promise in cult filmmaker Ed Wood's story
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Washington Times]]
| date = [[October 2]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> At the time, the actor was depressed about films and filmmaking. By accepting this part it gave him a "chance to stretch out and have some fun", and working with Landau, "rejuvenated my love for acting".<ref name= "Arnold, Gary"/> The actor was already familiar with some of Wood's films thanks to filmmaker [[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]] who had shown him ''Plan 9 From Outer Space'' and ''Glen or Glenda''.<ref name= "Arnold, Gary"/> To get a handle on how to portray Wood, Depp approached Burton who suggested [[Andy Hardy]]. The actor said in an interview, "So I saw some Andy Hardy stuff. I had a couple of other things that spiced it up a bit. I came to him and I said, 'Listen, Andy Hardy, but look [[Ronald Reagan]].' And Tim went, '''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|Wizard of Oz]]'' or [[Casey Kasem]].'...We just boiled up this stew and shot it."<ref name= "Clark, John">{{cite news
| last = Clark
| first = John
| coauthors =
| title = The Wood, The Bad, and The Ugly
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]
| date = 1994
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Depp watched several Reagan speeches because the actor felt he had a kind of blind optimism that was perfect for the role. Depp also borrowed some of Kasem's cadence and "that utterly confident, breezy salesman quality in his voice".<ref name= "Arnold, Gary"/>
To get a hold on his character, Martin Landau started with make-up tests with [[Richard A. Baker|Rick Baker]]. He did not use extensive make-up applications, only enough to resemble Lugosi and allow Landau to use his face to act and express emotion.<ref name= "French, Lawrence">{{cite news
| last = French
| first = Lawrence
| coauthors =
| title = Playing Bela Lugosi
| work =
| pages = 24-25
| language =
| publisher = [[Cinefantastique]]
| date = October 1994
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Once the actor had the makeup on, he had to adjust his facial expressions in order to resemble Lugosi and work on a credible Hungarian accent.<ref name= "Arnold, Gary"/> For research, the actor watched 25 of Lugosi's films and seven interviews between the years of 1931 and 1956.<ref name= "French, Lawrence"/> According to the actor, he did not want to deliver an over-the-top performance. "Lugosi was theatrical, but I never wanted the audience to feel I was an actor chewing the scenery...I felt it had to be Lugosi's theatricality, not mine."<ref name= "French, Lawrence"/>
Sarah Jessica Parker was cast as Dolores Fuller and found it a challenge to play "someone as rigid and self-conscious and has absolutely no instincts . . . It's hard to do, because you're never bland enough".<ref name= "Rea, Steven">{{cite news
| last = Rea
| first = Steven
| coauthors =
| title = Animated Actress in a Wooden Role
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]
| date = [[October 6]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Patricia Arquette was cast in the role of Kathy O'Hara and met her real-life counterpart during filming. The actress found her to be "very graceful and very nice".<ref name= "Thompson, Bob">{{cite news
| last = Thompson
| first = Bob
| coauthors =
| title = Quirky Arquette Learns to Play Normal
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Toronto Sun]]
| date = [[October 4]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref>
===Pre-production===
The film was originally in development with [[Columbia Pictures]] but when Burton wanted to shoot it in black and white, the studio wasn't going to back it because they claimed it would be a hard sell in foreign markets and on video<ref name= "Clark, John"/> and unless they had a first-look deal.<ref name= "Salisbury, Mark"/> The director insisted on total control and a month before shooting was scheduled to start, Columbia put the film in turnaround. [[Warner Brothers]], [[Paramount Pictures]], and [[20th Century Fox]] became interested in optioning the film, but Burton went with [[Disney]] because they gave him total creative control on the condition that he work for scale.<ref name= "Salisbury, Mark"/>
''Ed Wood'' gave Burton the opportunity to make a film that was more character-driven as opposed to style-driven. He said in an interview, "On a picture like this I find you don't need to storyboard. You're working mainly with actors, and there's no effects going on, so it's best to be more spontaneous."<ref name= "French2"/> Shooting began in August 1993 and lasted 72 days.<ref name= "Clark, John"/>
==Cast==
*[[Johnny Depp]] as [[Edward D. Wood, Jr.]]
*[[Martin Landau]] as [[Bela Lugosi]]
*[[Sarah Jessica Parker]] as [[Dolores Fuller]]
*[[Patricia Arquette]] as Kathy O'Hara
*[[Jeffrey Jones]] as [[Criswell]]
*[[Vincent D'Onofrio]] as [[Orson Welles]]
*[[Bill Murray]] as [[Bunny Breckinridge]]
*[[Mike Starr]] as Georgie Weiss
*[[Max Casella]] as [[Paul Marco]]
*Brent Hinkley as [[Conrad Brooks]]
*[[Lisa Marie]] as [[Maila Nurmi|Vampira]]
*[[George Steele|George "The Animal" Steele]] as [[Tor Johnson]]
*[[Juliet Landau]] as [[Loretta King Hadler|Loretta King]]
*[[Ned Ballamy]] as [[Dr. Tom Mason]]
*[[Maurice LaMarche]] as [[Orson Welles]] (voice)
*[[Ray Baker (actor)|Ray Baker]] as Doctor
*[[Matthew Barry (actor)|Matthew Barry]] as Valet
The film includes cameo appearances from actors who had worked with Wood on ''Plan 9 From Outer Space''. [[Conrad Brooks]] (who played one of the comic policemen) appears as a bartender, and [[Gregory Walcott]] (who played the hero) appears as one of the potential financiers of ''Bride of the Monster''. In addition, [[Paul Marco]], the other comic policeman, can be spotted in the background.
==Reception==
''Ed Wood'' had its world premiere at the 32nd New York Film Festival at the [[Lincoln Center]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = Grimes
| first = William
| coauthors =
| title = New York Film Festival to Show its First Feature by Woody Allen
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[New York Times]]
| date = [[August 27]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Burton's film was also shown shortly after at the 21st [[Telluride Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite news
| last = McCarthy
| first = Todd
| coauthors =
| title = Telluride to Earth: Trouble Ahead
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
| date = September 12-18, 1994
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> and later at the 1995 [[Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name= "Carr, Jay">{{cite news |last= Carr |first= Jay |title= Carving Out an Affectionate Look at Ed Wood |publisher= [[Boston Globe]] |date= [[October 2]], [[1994]] |url= http://www.timburtoncollective.com/articles/ew3.html |accessdate= 2007-05-31 }}</ref> It went on to open in two theaters on [[September 30]], [[1994]], ''Ed Wood'' grossed $71,566 on its opening weekend. When it went into wide release on [[October 7]], [[1994]] in 623 theaters, it grossed $1.9 million in its opening weekend. The film went on to gross $5.8 million in [[North America]], well below its estimated $18 million production budget.<ref>{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| coauthors =
| title = ''Ed Wood''
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = Box Office Mojo
| date = [[May 31]], [[2007]]
| url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=edwood.htm
| accessdate = 2007-05-31 }}</ref>
Reviews were highly positive. The film currently has a rating of 90% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] and a 70 metascore on [[Metacritic]]. [[Roger Ebert]], in his review for the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', wrote, "Burton has made is a film which celebrates Wood more than it mocks him, and which celebrates, too, the zany spirit of 1950s exploitation films - in which a great title, a has-been star and a lurid ad campaign were enough to get bookings for some of the oddest films ever made".<ref name= "Ebert">{{cite news
| last = Ebert
| first = Roger
| coauthors =
| title = ''Ed Wood''
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Chicago Sun-Times]]
| date = [[October 7]], [[1994]]
| url = http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19941007/REVIEWS/410070301/1023
| accessdate = 2008-02-08 }}</ref> ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the film four out of four stars and declared it "Burton's best since ''[[Pee-Wee's Big Adventure]]'', and if that doesn't tickle you, stay away from Ed Wood movies".<ref name= "Clark">{{cite news
| last = Clark
| first = Mike
| coauthors =
| title = Burton's Glorious, Gleeful ''Ed Wood''
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[USA Today]]
| date = [[September 28]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> In her review for the ''[[New York Times]]'', [[Janet Maslin]] said that the film was "an unobtrusively gorgeous black-and-white film with a wide range of striking visual effects".<ref name= "Maslin">{{cite news
| last = Maslin
| first = Janet
| coauthors =
| title = Ode to a Director Who Dared to Be Dreadful
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[New York Times]]
| date = [[September 23]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> In his review for the ''[[Boston Globe]]'', Jay Carr wrote, "Burton makes ''Ed Wood'' glow with conviction...Never has such a loser been transformed into such a winner."<ref name= "Carr2">{{cite news
| last = Carr
| first = Jay
| coauthors =
| title = With a mix of optimism and denial, Tim Burton turns ''Wood'' into gold
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Boston Globe]]
| date = [[October 7]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> In the United Kingdom, [[Kim Newman]], in his review for ''[[Sight and Sound]]'' magazine, wrote, "It is ironic that for all its anecdotal and elliptical approach, ''Ed Wood'' is Burton's most successful piece of proper storytelling."<ref name= "Newman, Kim">{{cite news
| last = Newman
| first = Kim
| coauthors =
| title = ''Ed Wood''
| work =
| pages = 44-45
| language =
| publisher = [[Sight and Sound]]
| date = May 1995
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> However, Desson Howe's review in the ''[[Washington Post]]'' felt that the film, "despite fleetingly good moments from Landau and Murray - is devoid of character warmth".<ref name= "Howe, Desson">{{cite news
| last = Howe
| first = Desson
| coauthors =
| title = Ed Wood: It's a Wrap
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Washington Post]]
| date = [[October 7]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Despite the film being a commercial failure, Burton is very proud of the movie. He said, "I love the movie . . . It's just that no one came. I guess if I was like everybody else, I would just blame a bad marketing campaign. But that's too easy."<ref name= "Salisbury, Mark"/>
===Awards===
''Ed Wood'' was nominated for three [[Golden Globes]]: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy|Best Musical or Comedy]], Johnny Depp for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy]], and Martin Landau for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]].<ref name= "Lowry, Brian">{{cite news
| last = Lowry
| first = Brian
| coauthors =
| title = ''Gump'', ''Pulp'' Top Globe Noms
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
| date = [[December 23]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Landau won in his category.<ref name= "variety">{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| coauthors =
| title = Golden Globe Winners
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
| date = [[January 23]], [[1995]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Landau and Rick Baker were nominated for and won [[Academy Awards]] for their work on the film.<ref name= "variety2">{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| coauthors =
| title = 1994 Oscar Nominations
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
| date = [[February 15]], [[1995]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref name= "thomas, bob">{{cite news
| last = Thomas
| first = Bob
| coauthors =
| title = Wiest, Landau Win Supporting Oscars
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Ottawa Citizen]]
| date = [[March 28]], [[1995]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> Landau also won [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]] at the first [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski were nominated for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen by the [[Writers Guild of America]] which was a surprise as few predicted that it would be considered.<ref name= "Cox, Dan">{{cite news
| last = Cox
| first = Dan
| coauthors =
| title = WGA Taps Quirky Pix
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
| date = [[February 10]], [[1995]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> The [[National Board of Review]] voted Martin Landau Best Supporting Actor and Stefan Czapsky for Best Cinematography.<ref name= "Walsh, Thomas">{{cite news
| last = Walsh
| first = Thomas
| coauthors =
| title = N.Y. Crix Take ''Quiz'', Tarantino
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
| date = [[December 16]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> The [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]] also voted Landau Best Supporting Actor, Czapsky for Cinematography, and [[Howard Shore]] for Musical Score.<ref name= "McCarthy2">{{cite news
| last = McCarthy
| first = Todd
| coauthors =
| title = L.A. Crix Pat ''Pulp'', Including Travolta
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
| date = [[December 16]], [[1994]]
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> The [[National Society of Film Critics]] also picked ''Ed Wood'' for [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] and Best Cinematography.<ref name= "McCarthy3">{{cite news
| last = McCarthy
| first = Todd
| coauthors =
| title = Nat'l Society Crix Fall for ''Fiction''
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
| date = January 9-15, 1995
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref>
==DVD==
The [[DVD]] edition of ''Ed Wood'' initially had difficulty reaching store shelves in [[North America]] due to unspecified legal issues.<ref name= "Restaino">{{cite news
| last = Restaino
| first = Mike
| coauthors =
| title = ''Ed Wood'' (Special Edition)
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = DVDFile
| date = [[November 3]], [[2004]]
| url = http://www.dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=226&Itemid=3
| accessdate = 2008-02-08 }}</ref> An initial street date of [[August 13]], [[2002]] was announced<ref name= "Bracke">{{cite news
| last = Bracke
| first = Peter M
| coauthors =
| title = More Superbits; Buena Vista August title specs; Columbia unveils ''New Guy''
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = DVDFile
| date = [[June 3]], [[2002]]
| url = http://www.dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4551&Itemid=15
| accessdate = 2008-02-08 }}</ref> only to be postponed<ref name= "Bracke2">{{cite news
| last = Bracke
| first = Peter M
| coauthors =
| title = Street date alert; ''Spock'' specs; New Criterion titles; more D-VHS from Fox
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = DVDFile
| date = [[July 25]], [[2002]]
| url = http://www.dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4585&Itemid=15
| accessdate = 2008-02-08 }}</ref>. A new date of [[February 3]], [[2003]] was set.<ref name= "Bracke3">{{cite news
| last = Bracke
| first = Peter M
| coauthors =
| title = ''Ed Wood''; ''Rain Man'' SE, more MGM; Warner TV on DVD
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = DVDFile
| date = [[November 5]], [[2003]]
| url = http://www.dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4521&Itemid=15
| accessdate = 2008-02-08 }}</ref> only for it to be recalled again without explanation – though some copies quickly found their way to collectors' venues such as [[eBay]]. The DVD was finally released on [[October 19]], [[2004]],<ref name= "Bracke4">{{cite news
| last = Bracke
| first = Peter M
| coauthors =
| title = ''That's Entertainment!'' box; ''Ed Wood'' returns; Universal classic comedy
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = DVDFile
| date = [[July 14]], [[2004]]
| url = http://www.dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4321&Itemid=15
| accessdate = 2008-02-08 }}</ref> minus the transvestitism-themed featurette "When Carol Met Larry", which is highly speculated was the reason for the legal woes. (Others claimed that Burton thought the featurette mocked transvestites, counter to the themes of the film.) However, on the Dutch and British editions of the DVD (and probably the rest of region 2) this featurette is present. Another theory states that the producers did not have the legal right to release a film including the song "Que Será Será" on DVD. The song barely plays in the background of one scene, but is featured prominently in the cut sequences included. Yet another theory is that it was due to a deleted scene where Lugosi refers to 'those bastards at Universal'. This is supported in that this scene can only be found as an [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] on the final DVD release.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==See also==
* [[Transgender in film and television]]
* [[Cross-dressing in film and television]]
* [[List of recent films in black-and-white]]
* [[List of U.S. box office bombs]]
* [[Andrew Thompson]]
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{imdb title|id=0109707|title=Ed Wood}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=ed_wood|title=Ed Wood}}
* {{metacritic film|id=edwood|title=Ed Wood}}
* {{mojo title|id=edwood|title=Ed Wood}}
* {{amg movie|id=1:132259|title=Ed Wood}}
* [http://video.movies.go.com/edwood/ Official DVD site]
{{Tim Burton Films}}
[[Category:1994 films]]
[[Category:Touchstone Pictures films]]
[[Category:Black and white films]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winning performance]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tim Burton]]
[[Category:Comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Transgender in film]]
[[Category:Films about film directors and producers]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1950s]]
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[[pt:Ed Wood (filme)]]
[[ru:Эд Вуд (фильм)]]
[[fi:Ed Wood (elokuva)]]
[[sv:Ed Wood (film)]]