Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 9, 2017

Mark Hartley's documentary "Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films" (2014) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the documentary; original promotional materials for a wide range of genre films from the Cannon Films library; video interviews with director Mark Hartley; interview with former president of Paramount Pictures and MGM executive Frank Yablans; and a lot more. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The Dreamers

Like most people I became interested in Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus’ story long after their company, the legendary Cannon Films, seized to exist. When MGM took over their library and the films they had produced started getting much better exposure overseas occasionally there were small news reports about disagreements between different parties and some high-profile failed projects that fans had been anticipating, but no one outside of the industry really knew how complicated Menahem and Yoram’s financial dealings were. And if there were people close to them that actually realized how risky and ultimately damaging they were, they were certainly not talking to reporters. The official story was that Cannon Films was always busy investing in new films and that they were getting bigger and bigger.

Mark Hartley’s documentary reconstructs the real story of Cannon Films and its founders, from the early days in Israel to Menahem and Yoram’s arrival in the United States to the eventual financial collapse that would turn the two men against each other. It really is a pretty wild story, and while I am fairly certain that there are bits of it that are incomplete, there is no doubt that it offers an authentic summation of what clearly was an extraordinary dream that became a reality.

The bulk of the documentary blends clips from new and archival interviews with people that had crossed paths with Menahem and Yoram and apparently gained a good understanding of their mission. The remaining parts combine short clips from various films from the Cannon Films library, some original promotional materials, and archival footage from prestigious festivals and casual events where some specific policies were discussed. So throughout the documentary there are a variety of different views about the rise and fall of Cannon Films that are directly positioned against archival footage in which the legendary producers frequently address their business practices.

The big picture that emerges is both inspiring and at the same time incredibly sad. One thing that just about everyone that steps in front of Hartley’s camera agrees on is that Menahem and Yoram truly cared about their projects. They were not the ‘conventional’ and ‘serious’ types of films -- though there were a few, like The Apple, that they genuinely believed could win big at the Oscars -- that could earn the admiration of the ‘professional’ critics and the big guns in Hollywood, but Menahem and Yoram were absolutely convinced that they offered quality entertainment that people wanted. This is what made the difference and allowed them to, at least initially, prosper -- the enthusiasm in their films was undeniably authentic and people responded to it. The sad part is that not everyone that made the films with them felt like they did, and while this may not have been the key factor that contributed to the demise of Cannon Films, it is clear now that it certainly had a lot to do with it. Indeed, there were plenty of very expensive hypocrites that jumped on the Cannon Films bandwagon -- a number of them are actually interviewed in the documentary -- once they realized that for Menahem and Yoram money was nothing more than a tool that allowed them to realize their dream, and once they did, it was only a matter of time before the dream was destroyed.

There is no doubt that the history of Cannon Films and its founders will be revisited for as long as their films can be seen, but the parts of it that matter the most have already been told. These men and the films they produced, including the ‘bad’ ones, truly left an indelible mark on American culture and without them movie theaters around the country became some of the most awfully dull places to visit. It is the simple truth that Hollywood has been diligently hiding since their demise.

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Mark Hartley's Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

The documentary uses original new footage (typically from interviews and conversations) that was shot specifically for it as well as archival footage and clips from feature films. Naturally, the quality of the visuals can vary a bit, with some of the archival footage showing some obvious though never overly distracting age-related imperfections. The original footage also conveys minor fluctuations, but they are introduced either by the manner in which the camera is positioned in imperfect conditions or directly by the manner in which light is captured. Regardless, these are the types of minor fluctuations that are perfectly normal for documentaries. Excluding a few archival clips, image stability is excellent. Finally, there are no purely transfer-specific anomalies to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

Dynamic intensity varies as does the overall quality of the content, but clarity is excellent. Obviously, during the original content (mostly interviews and filmed conversations) depth is also outstanding; only during the archival content there are native limitations. There are no audio dropouts, pops, hiss, or other transfer-specific anomalies.

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted & Extended Scenes - presented here is a massive collection of additional scenes/interviews and archival content that was not used in the final version of the documentary. In English, not subtitled. (38 min).

• Michael Dudikoff Extended Interview - presented here is additional footage from the excellent interview with the star of American Ninja. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• A Word with Frank Yablans - in this short segment, Frank Yablans, former president of Paramount Pictures and MGM executive, discusses his complex professional relationship with Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Cannon Films Trailer Reel - presented here is a very large collection of trailers for films that at some point carried the Cannon Films logo. (88 min).

• TIFF Red Carpet - presented here is a short program with footage from the Toronto International Film Festival in which director Mark Hartley quickly explains in an impromptu interview what inspired him to shoot Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films. Also included are clips from a recent interview with Robin Sherwood (Death Wish 2). In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Variety Studio Interview with Brett Ratner & Mark Hartley - presented here is a Variety Studio episode in which director Hark Hartley and producer Brett Ratner discuss the production history of Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• UK Press Interview - in this press interview, director Mark Hartley explains how Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films came to exist and why Cannon Films established itself on the international marketplace. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Cannon Films & Stills Gallery - presented here is a large collection of original promotional materials for a wide range of Cannon Films projects. With music. (19 min).

• Behind the Scenes Gallery - presented here is a collection of original behind the scenes stills. With music. (7 min).

• Theatrical Trailer - original trailer for Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Cover Art - reversible cover.

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is beyond naive to believe that Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus were the shameless crooks that the late Frank Yablans argued they were. The library of films they left behind and their lasting appeal amongst a wide range of film lovers effectively invalidate the claim. However, it is also equally naive to portray the two producers as misunderstood visionaries who were on a mission to reshape the industry they were a part of with a long list of masterpieces. Simply put, they were not that good. The thing that made these guys and their company special was their enthusiasm -- and yes, part of this enthusiasm was about money, power, and status, the same things that every other 'serious' producer in Hollywood is after. The big and important truth about Cannon Films, however, is this: Without the company the industry has been utterly disappointing and it is only going to become more obvious that the two guys that ran it knew exactly what they were doing because a lot of their films defined what made the '80s such a special decade -- the freedom to create and have fun without giving a damn about political correctness. Mark Hartley's documentary Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films is included in this double-feature release together with Machete Maidens Unleashed!. This is a Region-Free release with an outstanding selection of supplemental features which is distributed by Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.