A stranger-than-fiction true story of the early career of Edward D. Wood, Jr., the undisputed "worst movie director of all time," Tim Burton's ED WOOD is nevertheless a delightful, zany, and ultimately moving film. Wood was the auteur behind GLEN OR GLENDA? (1953) and PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (1959), and it is during the making of these two no-budget flicks that Wood is profiled. His friendship with the aging, drug-addicted, former film star Bela Lugosi--who he cast in his movies--is one of the most poignant characters ever portrayed on film. Wood had an infectious enthusiasm which inspired his cohorts, including transsexual wannabe Bunny (Bill Murray), the psychic Criswell (Jeffrey Jones), and behemoth wrestler Tor Johnson (George "The Animal" Steele). To a large extent, ED WOOD celebrates bad filmmaking raised to the level of a fine art form. With his fetishistic style of dressing in for pumps, narrow skirts and angora sweaters, Ed Wood was as much of an outsider as his actors. Perhaps the final irony is that ED WOOD may be one of the best films of all time about one of the worst filmmakers of all time.

Theatrical Release: September 28, 1994

Martin Landau won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi.

PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE never did play at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre to a receptive audience; today it's widely cited as one of the worst films ever made.

In real life, Wood languished in obscurity, his devoted wife Kathy at his side, until his death in 1978. A few years later, a cult following sprang up around his work.

Tim Burton received the Maui Film Festival's Silversmith Award in 2000 (the festival's first year), citing his "imagination and creativity in film making."

The comic highlight of Tim Burton's ED WOOD is a scene featuring a stuffed octopus that Wood used as a prop. Bela Lugosi threw his body down upon the puppet and, in an attempt to create the illusion of mobility, wrapped the creature's limbs about his torso.

Excerpt: "I'm the first celebrity that ever checked into rehab." Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi

DVD Features:

Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Alternate Scenes - Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary - Including Tim Burton - Director; Martin Landau - Star; Scott Alexander, Larry Karazewski - Writers; Colleen Atwood - Costume Designer
Featurettes - 1. PIE PLATES OVER HOLLYWOOD
2. MAKING BELLA
3. THE THEREMIN
4. LET'S SHOOT THIS F#*%@R
Music Videos
Trailers - Original Theatrical Trailer

Distributor Notes: Ed Wood

From Tim Burton, acclaimed director of BIG FISH, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, and BATMAN, and the producer of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, comes the hilarious, true-life story of the wackiest filmmaker in Hollywood history, Ed Wood! Johnny Depp (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, CHOCOLAT, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS) stars as the high-spirited movieman who refuses to let unfinished scenes, terrible reviews, and hostile studio executives derail his big-screen dreams. With an oddball collection of showbiz misfits, Ed takes the art of bad moviemaking to an all-time low! The all-star cast features Bill Murray (LOST IN TRANSLATION, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), Sarah Jessica Parker (TV's SEX AND THE CITY), Patricia Arquette (STIGMATA, LITTLE NICKY), and an Academy Award(R)-winning performance by Martin Landau (Best Supporting Actor, 1994) as Bela Lugosi. Hailed by critics everywhere, this laugh-packed comedy hit is sure to entertain everyone!

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Johnny Depp: American Actor - SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STR
Martin Landau: Oscar winning actor, ED WOOD
Sarah Jessica Parker: American Actress, SEX AND THE CITY
Bill Murray: American actor, LOST IN TRANSLATION, MEATBALLS
Patricia Arquette: American Actress; MEDIUM
Jeffrey Jones: American Actor
G.D. Spradlin: American Film/TV Actor, GODFATHER 2, WILL PENNY
Vincent D'Onofrio: American actor
Mike Starr: Supporting Actor
Max Casella: TV/Film Actor
Lisa Marie: Actress/Tim Burton films
Juliet Landau: Actress/"Direct Hit"
Clive Rosengren: 
Ned Bellamy: Actor
Danny Dayton: 
Bill Cusack: 
Biff Yeager: Actor/"Roadside Prophets"
Joseph R. Gannascoli: Actor
Melora Walters: Supporting Actress
Conrad Brooks: Actor

Tim Burton: American director

Denise Di Novi: 
Tim Burton: American director

"...An A+ movie about a B-movie geek..." - Recommended
"...Sympathetic and endearing....For the length of Burton's affectionate and slyly affecting movie, Ed Wood finally belongs..."
Ranked #5 in Entertainment Weekly's "10 Favorite Films of the '90s" - "...[Burton's] finest film....Sublime and touching..."
"...Burton's very good film about a very bad film maker....[Depp] gives a witty and captivating performance, bringing wonderful buoyancy to this crazy role..."
"...Deft enough to satisfy high-culture and low-culture aficionados alike..."
"...ED WOOD is Burton's most successful piece of proper storytelling....The cast is perfect down to the walk-ons..."
"...Lugosi gives Landau the opportunity for a wonderfully rousing yet poignant performance..."
"Burton's sweet, sad, warmly funny paean to Hollywood's old ghosts."