The Kid Stays In The Picture [DVD] [2003]

Narrated by producer Robert Evans, in his distinctive voice and storytelling manner, The Kid Stays In The Picture is directed by Academy Award nominated filmmakers Brett Morgen and Nanette Burstein (On The Ropes) and producer Graydon Carter, who has been editor of Vanity Fair since 1992 and has won every award a magazine editor can win. The feature utilises a combination of visual effects, archival footage, clips from classic films and 35mm photography by cinematographer John Bailey to crate a rich visual and aural portrait of the man who throughout the 1970s was considered Hollywood’s "Golden Boy".

Robert Evans, who was Production Chief at Paramount Studios between 1966 – 1974 was responsible for bringing some of the greatest films of the era to the screen – The Odd Couple (1968), Romeo and Juliet (1968), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Goodbye Columbus (1969), True Grit (1969), Love Story (1970), The Conformist (1971), Harold and Maude (1972), Serpico (1973), Don’t Look Now (1973), Death Wish (1974), The Parallax View (1974) and most famously of all during this period – the Academy Award winning The Godfather (1972). During his tenure Paramount Pictures went from No. 9 at the box office to No. 1 – the leader of all major film studios. When Evans left Paramount he realised his dream by forming Robert Evans Productions, a company he had set up whilst at Paramount. His first picture as producer was the classicChinatown (1974). He then left Paramount’s executive suite to segue directly into producing Paramount releases beginning with Marathon Man (1976), the 1980 duo of Urban Cowboy and Popeye. It was at this time though that Evans’ involvement with cocaine began to threaten his career and his life. By the early 80s, the "Golden Boy" of Hollywood was losing his lustre. After a failed marriage to Ali MacGraw, a cocaine bust, and, finally a rumoured involvement in the "Cotton Club" murder, Evans disappeared into near obscurity. Only through tremendous will and uncanny luck did he once again rise as "the kid who stays in the picture." In 1991, Robert Evans rallied – he secured the rights to The Saint which reactivated his production deal with Paramount. The movie Sliver followed in 1993 along with a succession of films – the biggest and most successful of which was The Saint which was released in 1997.

Aside from his legendary movie career, The Kid Stays In The Picture charts the many relationships Evans has had over the years with friends such as Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Roman Polanski, Henry Kissinger, and Dustin Hoffman and lovers – Robert Evans has enjoyed meaningful love affairs with some of the most beautiful women of the past half-century – Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Lana Turner, Ali Macgraw, Cheryl Tiegs, Raquel Welch, and Margaux Hemingway. The Kid Stays In The Picture is a compelling documentary which as Robert Evans himself says shows that "There are three sides to every story: my side, your side, and the truth. And no one is lying. Memories shared serve each one differently."

• US theatrical trailer
  
• Dustin Hoffman Marathon Man gag reel in full
  
• Evans’ appeal to the board of Paramount in full
  
• Red carpet interviews with 15 celebrities on Robert Evans

"The candour with which Evans recounts his tale is astonishing"

"a satisfying slice of insider intrigue"

"A rollicking and beautifully crafted account of life in Hollywood’s fastest lane as lived by one of the biggest lovers and losers of them all"

"truly jaw-dropping and…..rather touching"