Cult Classic Corner: Ed Wood

By Nate Storey

Directed by Tim Burton
Starring
Johnny Depp…Ed Wood
Marin Landau…Bela Lugosi
Sarah Jessica Parker…Dolores Fuller

Synopsis: The biopic of Ed Wood, widely regarded as the “worst director of all time,” focuses on his life during his peak years of the 1950s and the filming of such classics as “Glen or Glenda” and “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” as well as Wood’s relationships and life as transvestite.

Why It’s Great: Rarely have a better team existed than that between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, for together their combined bizarreness becomes genius. Their eccentricities are perfect when trying to capture Ed Wood, who certainly had a vision unique to himself when it came to cinematography. The eccentric character of Wood is a perfect role for Depp (who doesn’t want to see Johnny Depp in drag, I say in all straightness), who has made his career by portraying the offbeat and bizarre.

Besides Depp, the other cast members are also excellent, especially Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi, the actor best known for playing Dracula. Hearing him rant about Boris Karloff and curse every other word in his thick Hungarian accent is priceless.

With all the pieces in place—Burton, Depp, and of course the man who brought the worst movie ever into existence as the focus of the film—this piece is perfect for cult fans everywhere, especially those who have witnessed the amazing badness that are Wood’s original works.

Best Scene: After Lugosi’s death, Wood is confronted by his landlord about his rent, and after the landlord reveals his church’s interest in getting into the movie industry, Wood convinces him to help finance his new movie “Grave Diggers from Outer Space,” now just a script and the few shots of Bela. Finally, to ensure funding, Wood and the majority of the cast get baptized by the Baptists. The baptism scene, while short is very amusing, and the whole sequence leading up to the actual filming of “Plan 9” shows all sides of Wood’s and his cast’s peculiar personalities extremely well.

Trivia:

This film cost more to produce than all of Edward D. Wood Jr.’s films put together.

Johnny Depp has said that his characterization of Edward D. Wood Jr. was a mixture of “the blind optimism of Ronald Reagan, the enthusiasm of the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Casey Kasem [the voice of Shaggy on Scooby-Doo].”

One story claims that the decision to film in black and white was made because no one could decide how Bela Lugosi should look filmed in color.

Martin Landau’s winning of the Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi is the first time in Academy Awards history that a performer in any category won for playing an actual movie performer.

Great Quotes:

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: My girlfriend still doesn’t know why her sweaters are always stretched out.

Bela Lugosi: This is the most uncomfortable coffin I’ve ever been in.

Orson Welles: Visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your life making someone else’s dreams?

Edward D. Wood, Jr.: Kathy… I’m about to tell you something that I never told any girl on a first date. But I think it’s important that you know… I like to wear women’s clothes.
Kathy O’Hara: Huh?
Edward D. Wood, Jr.: I like to wear women’s clothes. It’s just something I do. And I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but I really like you, and I don’t want it getting in the way down the road.
Kathy O’Hara: Does this mean… you don’t like sex with girls?
Edward D. Wood, Jr.: No, I love sex with girls.
[long pause]
Kathy O’Hara: Okay.