Rating: 
Summary: Exceptional documentary
Review: "Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu" is an exceptionally well-crafted and emotionally moving documentary. It is one of the best film documentaries I have seen. Barry Paris (author of the definitive biography of the actress) has written a masterful, sympathetic script. And director Hugh Munro Neely has fashioned a well-researched, balanced and finely documented study of this 20th century icon.
Louise Brooks (1906 - 1985) was incredibly photogenic - some have claimed her to be one of the most beautiful actresses of all time. The many photographic images shown in this film highlight Brooks' life and career as a girl growing up in small-town Kansas, as a Denishawn dancer (she danced alongside Martha Graham!), as a showgirl with the Ziegfeld Follies in 1920's New York, as a bobbed-hair flapper in a handful of American silent films, as Lulu - an innocent femme fatale murdered by Jack the Ripper in her most famous film - the now classic German production "Pandora's Box," and later in life, as an essayist and author of the bestselling book, "Lulu in Hollywood."
"Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu" features numerous film clips - some of them rare, including Brooks' first appearance in a movie, her first part in a talkie, and her last film, a low budget Western with John Wayne. There are also excerpts from an on-screen interview with the actress conducted later in her life. The film is narrated by Shirley MacLaine (herself a big Brooks fan), and features interviews with actor Francis Lederer, (Brooks' co-star in "Pandora's Box"), actor Roddy McDowell (a longtime admirer and friend), actress Dana Delany (another fan of the actress), and others who knew Brooks throughout her life. These interviews are well chosen, and help tell the story of her "life, death, and resurrection."
Perhaps the only criticism one could offer is that "Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu" is not long enough! (Pretty much everyone who has seen this film wishes for more.) Another twenty or thirty minutes spent exploring Brooks' time in Europe, her decades of obscurity, her rediscovery, and the cult which has grown up around her would be welcome. Otherwise, this film is highly recommended for anyone interested in Louise Brooks in particular or film history in general.
Rating: 
Summary: Good biography that leaves you wanting more
Review: 'Looking For Lulu' is a well made documentary of silent star Louise Brooks. The film's makers have used the one hour running time to very good effect - there is no padding or wasted time on this DVD. The documentary is written by Barry Paris who has also penned highly acclaimed books of this great actress. But of course 60 minutes is not long enough to fully cover Ms Brooks' career, let alone her entire life. Ideally, I would have liked to see a documentary twice this length, but the hour we do get is extremely interesting. Shirley MacLaine does a fine job narrating the DVD, which is also scattered with movie clips, photos and anecdotes from those who knew Louise Brooks. The most fascinating feature is interview clips of Louise herself - filmed in 1976 when Ms Brooks was in her late sixties. These are quite revealing. On the technical side, I was slightly disappointed by the DVD's (lack of) special features. The only extra feature is a filmography - just a list of Louise Brooks' films with no additional information given. What would have made this disc really special is a gallery showing the photos used in the documentary plus any others the makers could get their hands on. One other aspect of the DVD that leaves you wanting more is the picture quality of some of the old silent film clips - they are truly exceptional. There is clearly the potential for video companies to release high quality prints of Louise Brooks' work. Let's hope some of her films appear on DVD soon.
Rating:
Summary: Good biography that leaves you wanting more
Review: 'Looking For Lulu' is a well made documentary of silent star Louise Brooks. The film's makers have used the one hour running time to very good effect - there is no padding or wasted time on this DVD. The documentary is written by Barry Paris who has also penned highly acclaimed books of this great actress. But of course 60 minutes is not long enough to fully cover Ms Brooks' career, let alone her entire life. Ideally, I would have liked to see a documentary twice this length, but the hour we do get is extremely interesting. Shirley MacLaine does a fine job narrating the DVD, which is also scattered with movie clips, photos and anecdotes from those who knew Louise Brooks. The most fascinating feature is interview clips of Louise herself - filmed in 1976 when Ms Brooks was in her late sixties. These are quite revealing. On the technical side, I was slightly disappointed by the DVD's (lack of) special features. The only extra feature is a filmography - just a list of Louise Brooks' films with no additional information given. What would have made this disc really special is a gallery showing the photos used in the documentary plus any others the makers could get their hands on. One other aspect of the DVD that leaves you wanting more is the picture quality of some of the old silent film clips - they are truly exceptional. There is clearly the potential for video companies to release high quality prints of Louise Brooks' work. Let's hope some of her films appear on DVD soon.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL!
Review: Absolutely riveting! Brooksie finally gets the documentary she deserves. Stunning images and a wonderfully narrated program!Perfect for anyone interested in Miss Brooks!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Look At Silent Actress
Review: Accidentally catching "Looking For Lulu" on television sparked my interest in Louise Brooks. This insightful documentary captures your attention beginning to end with wonderful silent film clips and interview clips from an elderly Louise. WONDERFUL!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Look At Silent Actress
Review: Accidentally catching "Looking For Lulu" on television sparked my interest in Louise Brooks. This insightful documentary captures your attention beginning to end with wonderful silent film clips and interview clips from an elderly Louise. WONDERFUL!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Great biography of Louise Brooks and all aspects of her life - including interviews with her. Well rounded story without a lot of gloss - recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Exceptionally Awesome
Review: It is amazing that all the information provided about this one time potential star was ferreted out. She was a tremendously amazing lady. The narration by Shirley MacLaine sounds like she closely identifies with Louise's character. I just recently learned that Louise is my second cousin so I was "blown away" that there is so much on the Internet concerning Louise. Louise was my Mother's (Mary Brooks) first cousin and my Mother lived with Louise's parents in Wichita, KS in the early 40's. I was never told of Louise until recently as it was obviously unseemly to live the Free Spirited life that Louise obviously subscribed to. I am fascinated by this video as I have a daughter that has similar characteristics and we always wondered where the genes came from. Absolutely fascinating stuff from my vantage point and I will always wonder why I never heard anything about this marvelous woman until 3-4 years ago and I am 56 years old. What a bloody shame!!! A must read for anyone who entertains an interest in women with a zest for life. Killer Video!!!
Rating:
Summary: LULU WE LOVE YOU
Review: Louise Brooks flashed across the magic flickering Silver Screen for oh so brief a moment, only to fall back into almost forgotten lost history. "Louise Brooks: Looking For Lulu" is a earnest documentary hosted by Shirley MacLaine. It features clips from her dazzling early career, her spotty movie roles, and amazingly, an interview with the once notorious super-star herself. The bouncy teen from Kansas landed in Hollywood in the early 1920's ready to change the world. Her defiant, trenchant attitude didn't suit the studio bosses, but Paramount Pictures smelled stardom, and signed her immediately. Several bouncy roles followed, all featuring the black-haired vixen with the special coif. But Louise's temprament soon pushed her away from the meaty film roles she might have attained. She went to Berlin in 1926 to star in a dark tragedy for German director G.W. Pabst. She portrayed a flighty young dancer, romancing lovers, young and old, rich and penniless. She stands trial for an accidental murder, which occurs during one of her trysts. The proceedings go poorly, and she flees to London, with her young companion, played by Francis Lederer. Her life soon descends into poverty and despair, ending with a fateful meeting with none other than Jack the Ripper. The movie is rich in mood and mystery, featuring an ealy lesbian relationship(banned in the United States). The film was called "Pandora's Box". Brooks's last film(in 1937) was as a b-film co-star in a cowboy movie starring a newcomer named John Wayne. Brooks life took a turn for the worse as well. Her final interview, years later in a Manhattan flat, is breathtaking. Re-discovered by cinema historian James Card, Brooks served out her final days with grace and dignity. This marvelous DVD presents an accurate re-telling of the Hollywood career, and it's eventual pitfalls. Louise Brooks is a cinema icon. Would that this halcyon star might shine forever.
Rating:
Summary: LULU WE LOVE YOU
Review: Louise Brooks flashed across the magic flickering Silver Screen for oh so brief a moment, only to fall back into almost forgotten lost history. "Louise Brooks: Looking For Lulu" is a earnest documentary hosted by Shirley MacLaine. It features clips from her dazzling early career, her spotty movie roles, and amazingly, an interview with the once notorious super-star herself. The bouncy teen from Kansas landed in Hollywood in the early 1920's ready to change the world. Her defiant, trenchant attitude didn't suit the studio bosses, but Paramount Pictures smelled stardom, and signed her immediately. Several bouncy roles followed, all featuring the black-haired vixen with the special coif. But Louise's temprament soon pushed her away from the meaty film roles she might have attained. She went to Berlin in 1926 to star in a dark tragedy for German director G.W. Pabst. She portrayed a flighty young dancer, romancing lovers, young and old, rich and penniless. She stands trial for an accidental murder, which occurs during one of her trysts. The proceedings go poorly, and she flees to London, with her young companion, played by Francis Lederer. Her life soon descends into poverty and despair, ending with a fateful meeting with none other than Jack the Ripper. The movie is rich in mood and mystery, featuring an ealy lesbian relationship(banned in the United States). The film was called "Pandora's Box". Brooks's last film(in 1937) was as a b-film co-star in a cowboy movie starring a newcomer named John Wayne. Brooks life took a turn for the worse as well. Her final interview, years later in a Manhattan flat, is breathtaking. Re-discovered by cinema historian James Card, Brooks served out her final days with grace and dignity. This marvelous DVD presents an accurate re-telling of the Hollywood career, and it's eventual pitfalls. Louise Brooks is a cinema icon. Would that this halcyon star might shine forever.
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