This nifty and illuminating documentary paints a compelling portrait of Euan Lloyd, who was one of the rare film producers who treated his cast and crew alike with great kindness and consideration. Moreover, Lloyd was one of the first independent producers to make ambitious pictures with big budgets and all-star casts. Among the folks interviewed herein are the ever-suave Roger Moore, Lloyd's actress daughter Rosalind Lloyd, actress Ingrid Pitt, character actor Kenneth Griffith, singer/songwriter Joan Armatrading, and second unit director John Glen. The doc traces Lloyd's humble beginnings and notes several career highlights. The most intriguing stories center on how Lloyd got a huge big name cast to act in "The Poppy is Also a Flower" for a dollar each, persuading Sean Connery to play the lead in the Western "Shalako," his surprisingly pleasant experience working with Yul Brynner on the Western "Catlow," his difficulties with troubled alcoholics Richard Burton and Richard Harris on "The Wild Geese," taking a cut in pay to afford David Niven in "The Sea Wolves," and how Lloyd stopped making movies in the mid 80's after the industry changed in the mid 80's. A cool little documentary.
3 Reviews
A nice and informative documentary on one of the great British film producers
Woodyanders3 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A very interesting bonus documentary
SimonJack3 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This documentary extra (37 minutes) is quite a tale about British film producer Euan Lloyd. I rate it highly because it is very interesting. It has the usual interviews of some of the people he worked with – in front of and behind the camera. And, Lloyd himself has interview segments from at least two different periods. Lloyd gives a little background on his start from his early love of the Saturday matinees.
But what I found most interesting were some of the details he encountered in putting together various films over the years. His first stage appearance in introducing a film during World War II is hilarious. He was struggling to get his black tie tied, when he got the call, "Mr. Lloyd, Air Raid on Birmingham – now." He said he stepped on the stage and 2,000 people roared with laughter because he had forgotten to put on his trousers. Lloyd says, "The audience never forgot it, and thereafter I could do nothing wrong ."
Lloyd tells how he had been asked to help produce a film for the United Nations on drugs. They needed top names for "The Poppy Is Also a Flower" of 1966. Lloyd said they got more than a dozen cinema stars to work for just one dollar each. But, because they had to shoot in Iran, he needed help from the American government. He went to Washington and met with Adlai Stevenson, then U.S. ambassador to the U.N. He said Stevenson gave him an open letter and said that he could "present this to anyone."
Euan says, "Most of the agents in Hollywood and most of the stars for that matter, are genuine liberal Democrats, and here was their icon, Adlai Stevenson, giving me a letter asking them to help. When I got stuck, a little bit at the end, I did use it, and the agents started to jump."
This documentary has tidbits about several of the films Lloyd produced. While many were not very good films – or were controversial, many were of stories that few other producers could or would make. For that, Lloyd was highly regarded. Also, because of his ability to raise large capital for some expensive projects. And, he was well liked by all who worked on the films, from the casts to the crews and those in logistics. Euan Lloyd is regarded one of the most considerate producers for all people involved in the making of movies.
Here are a couple of interesting tidbits about "The Sea Wolves." Lloyd said he couldn't get Gregory Peck without also having David Niven in the film. In order to afford Niven, he cut his salary in half. He had Dianna Riggs lined up to do the part of Mrs. Cromwell, opposite Roger Moore, but "madame" protested, so he couldn't use Riggs. Lloyd didn't use names in this documentary, but "madame" was Luisa Mattioli, who was then Moore's third wife.
This is one of the more interesting documentaries about someone in show business. Those interested in the background of films and the industry should enjoy it.
But what I found most interesting were some of the details he encountered in putting together various films over the years. His first stage appearance in introducing a film during World War II is hilarious. He was struggling to get his black tie tied, when he got the call, "Mr. Lloyd, Air Raid on Birmingham – now." He said he stepped on the stage and 2,000 people roared with laughter because he had forgotten to put on his trousers. Lloyd says, "The audience never forgot it, and thereafter I could do nothing wrong ."
Lloyd tells how he had been asked to help produce a film for the United Nations on drugs. They needed top names for "The Poppy Is Also a Flower" of 1966. Lloyd said they got more than a dozen cinema stars to work for just one dollar each. But, because they had to shoot in Iran, he needed help from the American government. He went to Washington and met with Adlai Stevenson, then U.S. ambassador to the U.N. He said Stevenson gave him an open letter and said that he could "present this to anyone."
Euan says, "Most of the agents in Hollywood and most of the stars for that matter, are genuine liberal Democrats, and here was their icon, Adlai Stevenson, giving me a letter asking them to help. When I got stuck, a little bit at the end, I did use it, and the agents started to jump."
This documentary has tidbits about several of the films Lloyd produced. While many were not very good films – or were controversial, many were of stories that few other producers could or would make. For that, Lloyd was highly regarded. Also, because of his ability to raise large capital for some expensive projects. And, he was well liked by all who worked on the films, from the casts to the crews and those in logistics. Euan Lloyd is regarded one of the most considerate producers for all people involved in the making of movies.
Here are a couple of interesting tidbits about "The Sea Wolves." Lloyd said he couldn't get Gregory Peck without also having David Niven in the film. In order to afford Niven, he cut his salary in half. He had Dianna Riggs lined up to do the part of Mrs. Cromwell, opposite Roger Moore, but "madame" protested, so he couldn't use Riggs. Lloyd didn't use names in this documentary, but "madame" was Luisa Mattioli, who was then Moore's third wife.
This is one of the more interesting documentaries about someone in show business. Those interested in the background of films and the industry should enjoy it.
The Spinal Tap of Producers
jacksonsarm28 May 2010
I'll share the feeling that Euan Lloyd was a terrific and persuasive producer who hired actors and treated them well. But the movies he made were TERRIBLE! I have watched SHALAKO, CATLOW, WILD GEESE, they are awful. The scripts are disasters, the stories are primarily misogynist and the directors are generally hacks. The documentary makes him out to be David Lean or Sam Spiegal. In reality, his films are big budget Samuel Z Arkoff. That is what makes this film so much fun, these terrible films are treated like some of the greatest films of all time while they are brutal. Don't believe me, watch SHALAKO! (an extra on the Wild Geese DVD)
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