This film is part of Rentals
A Fuller Life
James Franco leads the eulogies in this profile of the larger-than-life filmmaker Samuel Fuller, who also had eventful stints as a journalist and serviceman.
Director: Samantha Fuller
Overview
Samuel Fuller was one of classic Hollywood’s great characters. An enterprising filmmaker who crafted memorable, modestly budgeted films in a range of genres, including Shock Corridor and Pickup on South Street, he was also a great raconteur who like nothing more than regaling audiences with stories of his eventful life, which encompassed a stint as a crime journalist and service on the front-line of World War Two.
So it’s fitting that his daughter Samantha’s profile is largely structured as an oral history of the great director’s life. A range of celebrity admirers including James Franco, Joe Dante, William Friedkin, Monte Hellman, Tim Roth and Jennifer Beals read from Fuller’s copious and colourful diaries, detailing the man’s many adventures and filmmaking exploits. They’re interspersed with clips from his marvellous features, and the overall result is a rich and rewarding account of a life lived to the full.
infrequent references to rape and sexual assaultRelated
Riefenstahl Riefenstahl
Documentary 2024 115 mins Director: Andreas Veiel
Captivating insight into the controversial filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, who became world-famous for her Nazi propaganda.
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story
Documentary 2025 100 mins Director: Sinéad O'Shea
A candid portrait of a literary sensation that’s as enchanting as O’Brien’s wonderful novels.
Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other
Documentary 100 mins Director: Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter
A creative artist couple navigate love and ageing in this brave, fascinating documentary.
Dust & Metal Dust & Metal
Documentary 2022 82 mins Director: Esther Johnson
Discover unfamiliar histories of Vietnam through Esther Johnson’s poetic documentary on the country’s love affair with the motorbike.
Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound
Documentary 2024 91 mins Director: Antony Crook
Celestial sonic odyssey charting the cult Scottish band’s expansive career from the mid-90s to their tenth studio album written during lockdown.
Ernest Cole: Lost and Found Ernest Cole: Lost and Found
Documentary 2024 107 mins Director: Raoul Peck
Raoul Peck’s sorrowful portrait of Ernest Cole, the first photographer to expose the horrors of apartheid to the world.
Elstree 1976 Elstree 1976
Documentary 2015 101 mins Director: Jon Spira
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, ten actors landed small roles in a mysterious project called Star Wars. This is the story of how their lives changed forever.
David Lynch: The Art Life David Lynch: The Art Life
Documentary 2016 88 mins Director: Rick Barnes, Olivia Neergaard-Holm and 1 more
An exquisitely textured and reflective documentary about Lynch as a visual artist.
Memory: The Origins of Alien Memory: The Origins of Alien
Documentary 2019 93 mins Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
The untold origin story behind Ridley Scott’s Alien, one of Hollywood’s most beloved and iconic shockers.
An Accidental Studio An Accidental Studio
Documentary 2019 93 mins Director: Bill Jones, Ben Timlett and Kim Leggatt
Charting the rise of one of Britain's most distinctive film companies, HandMade Films, producer of classics such as Life of Brian, The Long Good Friday and Withnail and I.
My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock
Documentary 2022 120 mins Director: Mark Cousins
Mark Cousins re-examines the vast filmography and legacy of one of the 20th century’s greatest filmmakers, through a new lens: the auteur’s own voice.
Fragments of Paradise Fragments of Paradise
Biopic 2023 98 mins Director: KD Davison
Intimate portrait of the life and career of the pioneering filmmaker, poet and critic, Jonas Mekas, assembled from thousands of hours of his personal film footage and letters.
I Am Michael I Am Michael
Drama 102 mins Director: Justin Kelly
James Franco stars in this provocative film about Michael Glatze, a pioneering gay rights activist who later denounced his homosexuality.
Riefenstahl Riefenstahl
Documentary 2024 115 mins Director: Andreas Veiel
Captivating insight into the controversial filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, who became world-famous for her Nazi propaganda.
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story
Documentary 2025 100 mins Director: Sinéad O'Shea
A candid portrait of a literary sensation that’s as enchanting as O’Brien’s wonderful novels.
The Penguin Lessons The Penguin Lessons
Drama 2025 112 mins Director: Peter Cattaneo
Steve Coogan is superb as a disillusioned teacher whose life is turned upside-down when he rescues a penguin in turbulent 1970s Argentina.
Cloud Cloud
Drama 2024 124 mins Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
An online scam leads to deadly consequences in Kurosawa Kiyoshi’s chilling tech thriller.
La Cocina La Cocina
Drama 2024 139 mins Director: Alonso Ruizpalacios
Tensions rise in a frenzied New York diner, in this loose reworking of Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play.
Mr. Burton Mr. Burton
Biopic 2024 124 mins Director: Marc Evans
Toby Jones is terrific as the inspirational mentor who helped propel Richard Burton from the poor son of a Welsh miner to acting legend.