Albert Maysles, David Maysles, 1963, 53 min
Film Synopsis
A mogul in-the-making. SHOWMAN follows movie merchant,
Joe Levine during the ballyhoo of Two Women and Sofia
Loren's Oscar-winning performance. Levine wheels and deals
his way through daily life - surrounded by movie stars, fellow
tycoons and yes-men.
Levine grew up in the slums of Boston where he became a
small-time distributor of films. Only a few years ago he could
be seen toting a can of film under his arm. New England was
his territory. Today (at the time of Showman), he's a big
executive. His territory: the world.
SHOWMAN was filmed during a period when Levine was
enjoying huge success handling the picture Two Women
featuring Sophia Loren. The camera is with Levine as he
negotiates for the release of his films and at a reunion of
boyhood friends from the West End of Boston. It follows
him on the way to Cannes to present the Oscar to Sophia
Loren, and through his debate with David Susskind about
the art of the movie.
Reviews:
“The audience will live with top movie distributor-promoter
Joe Levine, seeing and reacting to the real events of several
months. As he wheels and deals his way through daily life
surrounded by movie stars, fellow tycoons, yes-men and
others involved in the unpredictable, glamorous and high
pressure work of the movie mogul.”
– Charles Reynolds, PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE, May 1964
Accolades:
Official selection, Edinburgh Film Festival
Official selection, Turin Film Festival