Starz Entertainment Group (SEG) and Playboy's Alta Loma Entertainment's original documentary "Bullets Over Hollywood" premieres on Encore at 8 p.m. on December 2.
"Bullets Over Hollywood" chronicles the blood-soaked landscape and never-ending appeal of the American gangster movie - from its origins in the silent film era to modern times. Developed and produced by SEG and executive produced by Playboy founder Hugh M. Hefner, "Bullets Over Hollywood" delves into America's fascination with gangsters. The companies say it features historical perspective, insightful analysis, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and details about the connection between real-life hoods and their cinematic alter egos.
The documentary chronicles films such as D.W. Griffith's The Musketeers of Pig Alley (the 1912 classic that began it all), '30s and '40s classics including Little Caesar, The Public Enemy and High Sierra to such modern tales as The Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, Casino, A Bronx Tale, Carlito's Way, Once Upon a Time in America and many more. It is all part of America's parallel fascination with fictional and real-life gangsters.
The film also explores the actors who became synonymous with the genre, including those who defined the classic gangster character like Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart, to today's counterparts such as Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and others.
"Bullets Over Hollywood" is narrated by Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) and includes interviews with The Godfather's James Caan, Talia Shire, Chazz Palminteri, Roger Corman, real-life "Goodfella" Henry Hill, Michael Madsen, former FBI agent Joseph Pistone (aka "Donnie Brasco"), Angie Dickinson, film historian Leonard Maltin and others.
"I think gangster films have a historic connection to Hollywood and they are certainly one of the genres that had a major influence on me as a kid growing up in Chicago," Hefner said.
"Bullets Over Hollywood" is produced by A& F Productions' Elaina Archer, whose previous documentaries on Hollywood lore include: "Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl," "Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu," "Mary Pickford: A Life on Film," "Captured on Film: The True Story of Marion Davies" and "Rita" (Hayworth).
SEG is the largest provider of premium movie services in the United States with approximately 179 million pay units.
Alta Loma Entertainment is a subsidiary of Playboy Entertainment Group that produces mainstream, non-adult, television, feature films and theatre. Its current productions include "The Girls Next Door," "Party at the Palms," "Celebrity Centerfolds" and "Bullets over Hollywood."
