This documentary about the career of director/producer William Wyler, appropriately, begins with the music from one of his best films, "The Big Country". It consists of footage, many interviews with stars and footage taken of Wyler only days before his death.
The reason I loved seeing this film is that for a long time I have felt that Wyler was probably the greatest American director. Although John Ford won more Oscars and Hitchcock (yes, he was British--but his best films were made in America) today gets all the recognition, Wyler was somehow able to consistently make great films. He didn't have a particular style...other than GREAT. Here, his contemporaries such as Billy Wilder, John Huston, Bette Davis, Greer Garson and Wyler's wife are all interviewed and give insights into his personality and style.
I enjoyed this film a lot but it did have one problem. Because Wyler made so many great films, the movie went too fast and one hour was simply too little. Excellent otherwise.
By the way, of all the reminiscences in the documentary, probably the most boring and pointless was the one involving Ralph Richardson walking about his beard. A lovely actor and a lovely film...but a really dull thing to include in the documentary!
