It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures (2001)

I wanted to but couldn't!

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Take two ambitious nobody's from behind the scenes, a bit of insite to what Hollywood was missing, and a view into the future, and you have what became 25 years of cinema history. For creative controller James H. Nicholson and legal/business minded Samuel Z. Arkoff, the realization that the movies needed the boost of teenaged audiences (and college kids of like minds) lead to a film studio that created entertainment just for them. Whether it be juvenile delinquency, crazy looking creatures from beyond or giant earth creatures impacted by nuclear power, American International had a film for every one of their tastes. Young people in bathing suits cavorting on the ocean shores (belly buttons covered still due to silly censorship), some gothic tales of terror and the emergence of black exploitation also became their way. Told by the people who were there, this is a nice abridged history of the studio that showed Hollywood that there was more to poverty row studios than what had been put out by Monogram, PRC and Republic in the 1930's and 40's. Those studios paved the way. American International was like the super highway that sprung out of those early ideas. With Nicholson long dead, it's up to surviving studio chief Samuel Z. Arkoff to tell his side of the story. Coming off like a crusty old grandfather (complete with little stogie), Arkoff lovably recounts the history, with the aide of the gentle speaking Roger Corman who directed much of their product. Beverly Garland recounts meeting the giant cucumber which became the dreaded conquerer of the world, while Susan Hart recounts meeting Nicholson, him ending his marriage to marry her, and the controversy and discontent that minor scandal caused. The very lady like Pam Grier explains how she went from struggling college student to cult film star by becoming the leading star of their "blaxploitation" films. Others interject brief commentary (mostly film critics and historians), and a look at the next generation of Hollywood creative A listers is seen as well. I've always enjoyed the American International films, and continue to seek them out. American International was just as involved in the advancement of young people's concerns as much as any college campus protest, simply because it allowed teens to see thanks to some older gentlemen that they had a voice, and that they could stand up and be noticed even if the fuddy duddy's of society tried to silence that.

It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures (2001)*** 1/2 (out of 4) Peter Bogdanovich narrates this 56-minute documentary that takes a look at the impact Jim Nicholson and Sam Arkoff had on Hollywood when their tiny studio AIP broke through and captured the spirit and dollars of the American teenager. Arkoff as well as Roger Corman, Roger Ebert, Bruce Dern, Joe Dante, Pam Grier, Susan Hart, Dick Miller, Aron Kincaid, Beverly Garland, David Del Valle and Herman Cohen are among the people interviewed.If you're a fan of AIP then this here is a must-see documentary because it features so many people that were involved in the actual production of these movies. The film does an excellent job at talking about how Nicholson and Arkoff managed to start with nothing and grow the company into such a big item. It also does a wonderful job at talking about the type of films that they were making and how stuff like I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF and BEACH PARTY were just what paying teens wanted.The interviews are all extremely good and especially the stuff dealing with Corman as well as Ebert talking about these movies. There's no question that the documentary could have been longer but this here is the perfect way to be introduced to the studio. It'll also make you want to go back and watch the films that these two men created.

This documentary evokes the finest memories of the Second Golden Age of Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film of the Fifties & Sixties. Along with Hammer Films of the UK and various efforts (mainly in Italy) AIP were churning out little miracles which kept many Baby Boomers scared half out of our wits with delicious little nightmares. There is one problem with the documentary: it is too short and the omission of Vincent Price and the Roger Corman cycle of Poe films is criminal negligence. All of the personalities interviewed are splendid: David Del Valle ushers in the psychedelic direction of AIP in the late Sixties and other film scholars and the surviving actors and actresses are right there giving their added insights. A must anyway! Kudos to all who did this, but an extra 30 minutes devoted to the Poe cycle and perhaps a bit more about Mario Bava or a few comments by Italo horror queen Barbara Steele would have been stellar. Exceptional, entertaining, insightful documentary thanks to the people at Planet Grande!

It's nice to see American Internationsl Pictures get their due like this. AIP truly resurrected the movies business during a time when TV was making inroads and Hollywood was severely threatened. The teenage market had been all but ignored and AIP filled that gap and the rest, as they often say, is history. Many clips are included, old beloved trailers and interviews with many people including Roger Corman, Bruce Dern and the surviving half of the team at the helm, Samuel Z. Arkoff present a great picture of the studio and it's place in movie history. This documentary is almost too short and is definately worth seeking out and seeing. It would go well sandwiched in between a couple of AIP's 1950s classic movies to make a mini-film festival in your home.