Hollywood Man

Hi, I'm Ray Girardin. I wrote "Stoker" (which became "Hollywood Man") along with my friend Bill Smith in 1976. We wrote it mainly so we could do a movie together, and it worked out. He played the lead, Rafe Stoker, and I played the heavy, Harvey. There were problems along the way, as there always are with low-budget films, but we enjoyed doing it. If you've seen it, I'd welcome your comments, pro or con.

This is quite a decent movie to spend some time with. It has action, suspense, craziness, violence and great bike stunts. Although this is supposedly a B movie, as a whole it looks professionally done. The cast is also very realistic in their portrayal of their characters. The result is we get a true-to-life kind of movie. In the show, Bill Smith plays an actor who's trying to make his own movie, with a low budget and him in the main role. And then he encounters the difficulties and obstacles in making such a production. Ray Girardin (whose comments you'd find here as well) plays a guy who gives Bill a hard time. I understand some of the elements of the show is a reflection of the real life situation in making this movie i.e. the problems they had when filming, just as Ray mentioned in his post. However the currently available version (a DVD was released in 2007) is an edited one, thus some elements of the show (I would presume some profanities and violence) have been taken out, from the looks of it. Otherwise, this is one to catch given the chance, and is reminiscent of a good 70's movie. If you like that era or am nostalgic to it, this is even an extra reason to watch.

Sadistic William Smith vehicle stars Smith as the brawny B-movie actor Rafe Stoker, whose invested heavily in making a biker film, until he runs out of money. He seeks an injection of cash from shady characters who force him to sign away his possessions as collateral - then they hire a loser (Girardin) and his motley crew of misfits to disturb filming so they can collect.

There's some interest in seeing the "film about a film" theme unfold, with the behind-the-scenes type narrative fictionalising the trials of making a B-movie for next to nothing. The tone shifts considerably at midway, as Girardin's gang begin to affect the schedule, their crimes becoming increasingly more daring and deadly. Aside from Smith in the lead role, Mary Woronov is his supportive love-interest, Don Stroud as the easy-going stuntman and Tom Simcox as the no-nonsense lawman. Relative unknown Jude Farese almost steals the picture as the docile thug whose Buddy Hackett-like face belies his killer capability. Interestingly, Woronov co-starred in another "B-film about a B-film" in 1976 titled "Hollywood Boulevard", although the similarities end with her presence.

While the film begins in a relatively tame fashion, the violence escalates to full-blown R-rated status with beatings, murders and rape becoming commonplace, and an unexpected ending that will make some audiences gasp. The beach scene late in the movie where Girardin is emasculated by his disloyal gang leaves an impression, and despite its excess, is quite effective. If you're looking for something a bit different to your average biker film, and don't mind a bit of gratuitous violence, then "Hollywood Man" might fit the bill.

Star William Smith basically plays himself in this tale of the difficulties low-budget filmmakers face when making their films outside of the Hollywood system. This film is especially cynical about the ways in which these films get financed and how the good guys always get ripped off in the end. Smith just wants to make movies so he puts up his house as collateral and borrows mob money while he's being harassed by some old psycho biker buddies looking for easy money. This film makes you appreciate the hell that is low-budget B-movie filmmaking.

First off I believe this precedes the movie "Stuntman" which has garnered a lot of cult appeal due to its exploration of the same themes. But with a distinctly grittier, more low-budget and ergo more authentic telling of the tale, H'wood Man turns out to be the superior effort. There are so many wonderful little facets to this movie: An unfortunately turgid, melodramatic theme song which is spliced into the last act at completely gratuitous and inappropriate moments; Mary Woronov as a leading lady (looking rather lissome and not at all Patti Smith'ed out); for villains, a cadre of losers with wonderful parallels to the kidnap-caper misfits in "The Candy Snatchers" -- particular kudos for the designated Tiffany Bolling-psychotic blonde in this grouping of trash ne'er-do-wells and score settlers; the sarcastic one-offs heard from various real-life crew stalwarts playing someone in an alternate universe just like themselves; topped off with a.stylized 70s downer ending a la Bonnie and Clyde. I could go on. Why this film is not considered an exploitation diamond in the rough i do not know, but for anyone with an appreciation for William Smith's acting career as a heavy this is an excellent watch.