One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & the Lost American Film

A boring documentary about an egomaniac director who happens to fall in love with his leading ladies. Only liked one of his films - Mask.

Deceptively-packaged as a documentary on the life and film career of director and sometime-actor/author/songwriter/movie historian Peter Bogdanovich, this lovely little valentine instead becomes a case for reevaluating a past, neglected work, Bogdanovich's 1981 comedy-romance "They All Laughed". The picture united Bogdanovich with a great team of colorful, eccentric players and terrific ladies, most particularly Dorothy Stratten, who would go on to be the great love of Bogdanovich's life before she was killed by her estranged husband. Apparently receiving no support from the film company upon its completion (though we do see a vintage newspaper ad for the picture surrounded by glowing reviews from the critics), Bogdanovich bought back the rights to "They All Laughed" and attempted to distribute it himself, from theatre to theatre, city by city (something unusual at the time). It nearly cost him everything, but for the sake of art--and his love for the friends who worked on the movie (many of whom are here in present-day interviews)--Bogdanovich kept his work alive, eventually reaching and inspiring film scholars such as a rapturous Quentin Tarantino. Playboy Playmate Stratten's murder and its after-effects are not ignored, though Peter's volatile interactions with Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner are. We also don't get much of Bogdanovich's early days before success, except to say he was second assistant director to Roger Corman on "The Wild Angels" (no mention of "Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women"), so this isn't an in-depth biography. However, what we are privy to is the pure emotion of creating magic on celluloid, along with the intertwined highs and lows of making a film and the proverbial infighting over the creative issues with the powers-that-be. It's also a moving testament to friendship and to loyalty, rare commodities in show business. *** from ****

They All Laughed, is evidence that Peter Bogdanovich was a good Director but not a Great Director. For those who think this movie is great or anything close to resembling a masterpiece is bias toward Bogdanovich's reality toward women. The movie is not only bad, but the aftermath of the movie was far worse and Bogdanovich is to blame.

Although I enjoy documentaries about movies, this is nothing more than praise for Bogdanovich's failure with the film, the distribution and his relationships with women.

Does anyone else find it weird that throughout They All Laughed nobody is laughing? More of a drama than comedy, the movie truly reflected Bogdanovich's reality with his relationship with women. Throughout the movie, there are endless beautiful women who are finding over aged, depressed, weird and unattractive men desirable. Where other than in Hollywood, is this reality?

Bogdanovich was very successful in the bedroom with some drop-dead gorgeous women throughout his life. I'm sure being a popular / successful filmmaker made that possible. 99% of the women in the world do not find ascot scarfs attractive or find movie trivia a sexual magnet.

The same goes with this fantasy world where this movie takes place. The Filmmakers arrogance and ego made the film more self-biographical than it had to be. Yes, this was a personal film for him, and it shows, and that is what makes this not a good movie. They All Laughed is not hyper cinema or a spirited film, unless you relate to his vision of relationship which in our reality, doesn't exist, unless you live in a fantasy world. In this world Bogdanovich is the only one laughing, even when it's not funny.

The movie falls under the eye of voyeurism which speaks true to Bogdanovich being a filmmaker. The stalking of women, the spying, etc. Falls close to the borderline of one's obsession with women. The movie is a frightening personal view of a 40-year-old Bogdanovich's belief and passion for a woman half his age. His movie is intoxicating but far from romantic, for anyone other than Bogdanovich.

As for the aftermath, the promotion and distribution of the film was a one-way street just like the movie itself. Nobody is to blame but Bogdanovich. He did it for the Ego not the Art.

Not often do I feel compelled to write a review on IMDb, but after watching this documentary I just felt that it was crucial to spread the word. If you are a movie lover, you will adore this documentary.

As a movie fan, you will know the pleasures of discovering hidden gems amongst older movies. Viewing a documentary that celebrates such a hidden gem (They All Laughed - 1981), is really invigorating, and a good concept. That the film being lauded happens to be a Peter Bogdanovich film, makes it even more interesting, because of his famous career of peaks and valleys. Finding hidden gems in the valley of any director can often be the most interesting part. If a movie is very underrated, you want to scream about it from the rooftops - to recommend it to people. And that is one of the things that makes the creation of this doc so pleasing. It is shining a spotlight on a movie that never got it's proper due.

The documentary is never boring, and always entertaining. The interviews are uncommonly insightful and touching. I especially liked Quentin Tarantino's reflections on movie watching, and on Bogdanovich. I also appreciated Ben Gazzaras' honesty.

Some underrated movies are so good that you just have to make a documentary about them. I applaud the director (Bill Teck) for making a love letter to a movie - that deserves more recognition - and to a legendary director, who also deserves a documentary of this quality about himself. It's terrific.

Ok it's a good documentary but I have a hard time with the smarminess of Peter Bogdanovich. I knew Dorothy Stratten pretty well. I wasn't thrilled with Paul or Peter. Peter would fall in love with these very young impressionable women then try to mold them into who he wanted. Her entire personality changed... he tried turning her into a middle aged woman. Then with her sister... I just can't with him, he grosses me out.