Hollywoodland by Paul Bernbaum - 8.7 out of 10

Hollywoodland by Paul Bernbaum
8.7 out of 10


Hollywoodland is an excellent crime story, that includes an early age Superman, with a remarkable cast.

The versatile, outstanding Adrien Brody is playing the main character, private detective Louis Simo, who investigates the death of George Reeves aka Ben Affleck aka Superman.
We see Louis Simo looking into other, less serious cases, such as the usual husband suspecting a wife that comes infuriated to the private eye to complain that her spouse wastes money on chasing her.

It is hard to find what happened to the late George Reeves, for it looks at one time as if he committed suicide, then suspicion falls on Leonore Lemmon, his girlfriend.

But it could also have been either Toni Mannix aka Diane Lane or her husband, Eddie aka legendary Bob Hoskins.
George was almost desperate to break into the movie business, where it is so difficult to succeed.

I have just learned from The Moon is a Balloon by David Niven that there were signs placed by the studios warning prospective job seekers:

'Do not try to become an actor. For everyone we hire, we turn down one thousand'

Hence, when he enters a relationship with married, older Toni, the young would be star seems to be more interested in the opportunities that her husband might offer.
Eventually, George would have some chances, including the Superman role.

Alas, at that moment, this was not the launching pad it is today.
The hero had only a limited, if large audience made up mainly of kids.

One boy nearly shoots Superman with a real gun, thinking the real bullets would ricochet, just like the blanks used in the series and stunts organized for the young public.
Tension reaches a climax when George informs his mistress that he plans to decamp, unhappy with the lack of perspective, the ridiculous- for the age- superman act and costumes.

Therefore, it is interesting to find what happened.

Has George killed himself?
Was it Eddie Mannix, acting through one of his goons?

Louis Simo would be beaten and nearly killed himself, trying to find what happened.