That Guy Dick Miller

Elijah Drenner's (AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE) movie is like a love letter to famed character actor Dick Miller. Seeing it a year after Miller's passing gives it even more poignancy. Miller racked up almost 200 film and TV credits over his six decade career, but, with rare exceptions early on, they were mostly in supporting and bit roles. Miller's ability to make his few minutes on screen memorable was both a blessing and a curse. His career sustained for all those years, but, it he relegated to the background. At one point, Miller is quoted as giving a backhand compliment to a "nice small" role. Emphasis on small. Miller reveals that at a low-point, he earned all of $1,500 one year. Even in the 60s, hardly a livable salary. Miller is extensively interviewed and doesn't reveal much bitterness, and seemed accepting of his lot in Hollywood. His co-star, literally, is his wife Lanie Halpern Miller. An actress herself, Lanie gives as good as she gets (she is still alive). Roger Corman testifies for Miller, and other interview subjects include filmmakers like Joe Dante, Jonathan Kaplan, Jack Hill, Jon Davison and Fred Dekker and they relate stories of how Miller always made his scenes (or scene, singular) count. Fellow actors Mary Woronov, Belinda Balaski, Corey Feldman, Robert Forster (who talks about being another "that guy" type) and others give insights from the in front of the camera POV. Miller's brothers, Leonard Maltin, Larry Karaszewski, Michael Schlesinger, Chris Walas and more provide additional commentary. Drenner's movie isn't a formal investigative Doc as such (Miller's wife is a co-producer), but it does highlight a lesser known aspect of Miller's career - that of a writer. Indeed, Miller intended writing to be his calling card with Corman, but, sort of 'fell' into acting. Still, Miller did get a few scripts produced including an ill-fated collaboration with Jerry Lewis (WHICH WAY TO THE FRONT). His script was drastically re-written and Miller had to fight to get a credit. Even though I know quite a few of the people interviewed here, I only got to personally meet Miller once - at a party at Director Fred Olen Ray's house (Ray is interviewed). When that door opened and in walked Miller, it definitely was...Look! It's THAT GUY DICK MILLER! RIP

That Guy Dick Miller (2014)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Excellent documentary on that character actor who you might recognize but not know his name. Dick Miller started his career working in Roger Corman pictures like A BUCKET OF BLOOD and THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and this here led to a fifty year career that had him working in exploitation pictures as well as horror and comedies. He became known to a new group of fans thanks to director Joe Dante putting him in all of his movies.

If you're a fan of Dick Miller then you're going to love this documentary as you really get to hear a complete history of his work in films as well as get a few nuggets about his personal life including his marriage to Lainie. Both Dick and Lainie are interviewed here so we get to hear about how he got into the business, how he met Roger Corman and how that meeting led to a long career in the business. We get clips from some of his most popular movies.

Best of all are the interviews. Not only are the Miller's on hand but we also get interviews with Corman, Dante, Steve Carner, David Del Valle, Julie Corman, Ernest Dickerson, Corey Feldman, Robert Forster, Jonathan Haze, Jack Hill, Leonard Maltin, Jonathan Kaplan, John Sayles, William Sadler, Fred Olen Ray and many, many more. All of them telling wonderful stories of how they met Miller, what it was like working with him and so much more. THAT GUY DICK MILLER was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and it was certainly money well spent.

Love for acting, love of life, and love for a beautiful, devoted partner. Dick's got it all, and this well-crafted documentary is a labor of love, too, having taken 3 years to complete. I saw it this evening in Toronto (Lainie Miller's hometown) with the Millers in attendance. If you have seen much of his work, you'll still be charmed by the lesser-know movies and TV appearances, all delivered with equal enthusiasm and panache by one of the greatest character actors ever. Lainie's contributions are not ignored, as she did acting and day jobs to support their family in dry spells. I had honestly not known she played the sexy stripper in The Graduate!

The film is also a pretty inclusive history of American B-movies, beginning with Roger Corman's initial run in the 50's, through New World and Joe Dante's films. Anyone with a love of this kind of movie-making will not be disappointed. Mrs. Miller produced the film and told us the upcoming DVD release (May 15) will have much more material, so put it on your shopping list.

A face so recognizable, most times appearing out of nowhere. There's something about Dick Miller that simply stays with you. No matter the role, large or small, lead or cameo, he just embodies the character. In doing so, the quality of the production is of no concern as he always manages to leave an impression in whatever he appears on; including this documentary. "THAT GUY DICK MILLER" is a wonderful, insightful and often humorous celebration on the personal life and acting career of journeyman, character actor Dick Miller.

From his beginnings in Roger Corman's AIP quickie, low-cost productions to the exploitation boom in the 70s under New World pictures, he became their good luck charm and then finding his way into mainly small parts in studio films of the 80s/90s. He was a face that seemed to pop up everywhere. We are provided with an entertaining, and endearing bunch of elastic interviews by family, friends, and fellow colleagues through to tidbits, film clips and home footage/photographs from his time in the industry.

Learning how he wasn't too interested in acting at first, showed the natural talent he became and why he was so well-liked around those he worked with to constantly pop up in so many films/TV shows throughout years. The structure's timeline does breeze by, where sometimes I think it becomes a little too focus discussing the film at hand, but still it stays interesting and never does forget who's the centre piece. Watching Dick Miller interacting with wife Lainie was pure delight, so was those moments in his house looking over movie memorabilia, reliving encounters/relationships and showing other talents (animation/illustrative art) which is hard not to be blown away by.

If you're a fan of Dick Miller (and who isn't?!), do not pass it up.

Although it kind of meanders a bit and goes off on tangents, this is still a solid look at an actor everyone knows but might not be able to name. Nice to see the underdog/character actor getting some love, especially since Dick Miller was the best of the best!