Bright Leaves

2004 1h 48m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 16

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Ross McElwee travels through the North Carolina tobacco belt in search of the ancient southern traditions associated with tobacco growing and use, while comparing his filmmaking to commercial cinema, represented by Bright Leaf, a melodrama directed by Michael Curtiz in 1950, starring Gary Cooper, apparently based on the life of his great-grandfather.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Ross McElwee
Himself - Narrator (voice)
Brian Baucom
Susan Bennett
Ed Bivens
R. Bullock
Jack Clayton
Mary Clayton
Marian Fitz-Simmons

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ross McElwee
Writers: Ross McElwee
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 22 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ross McElwee, shot by Ross McElwee. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ross McElwee shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Ross McElwee and Brian Baucom and Susan Bennett carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0372806 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 16 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ross McElwee directs. Ross McElwee behind the camera. Ross McElwee cuts. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 22 years ago.
2International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
3Directed by Ross McElwee, shot by Ross McElwee. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Ross McElwee shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Ross McElwee and Brian Baucom and Susan Bennett carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0372806 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 16 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.