Los Angeles Documentaries
Documentaries about Los Angeles History and Culture
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27 titles
- DirectorMaria DemopoulosJodi WilleStarsAhom AquarianIsis AquarianDon BollesA charismatic leader founds a commune in Los Angeles in the early '70s based on natural food, spiritual practices and psychedelic rock. This short-lived era is recreated with archival material and the memories of participants.
- DirectorPeter JonesMark A. CatalenaStarsDorothy ChandlerHarry Brant ChandlerNorman ChandlerInventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times, tells the story of the Los Angeles Times and the city's most powerful family. For four generations, the Chandlers wielded unique influence through their newspaper. In their pursuit of personal agendas and civic ideals, they built the city of the future, but also exposed the dark side of the American Dream.
- DirectorThom AndersenStarsEncke KingBen AlexanderJim BackusA documentary on how Los Angeles has been used and depicted in the movies.
- DirectorMel StuartStarsThe DramaticsThe Staple SingersKim WestonDocumentary covering a Stax Records-sponsored all-day concert at the 1972 Watts Summer Festival with performances by Stax Records artists such as Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, The Staples Singers, and more.
- DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsEugene TatuAlice Bag BandBlack FlagA look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.
- DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsJoe PerrySteven TylerGene SimmonsDocumentary showcase, what life was like for the music artists living during the Los Angeles Heavy Metal scene in the mid and late 1980s.
- DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsFleaKeith MorrisEyeballThe Decline of Western Civilization III is a 1998 documentary film that follows the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless teenagers.
- DirectorStacy PeraltaStarsSean PennJay AdamsTony AlvaDocumentary about the pioneering 1970s Zephyr skating team.
- DirectorCle SloanStarsDaryl GatesFred HamptonJoe HicksSurrounded by death and the brutal lifestyle that feeds it, a Los Angeles gangbanger explores the history of Southern California street gangs from the 1950s through the 1990s in an attempt to fully understand his existence. Bastards of the Party humanizes the staggering casualties of the LA gang wars.
- DirectorStacy PeraltaStarsJim BrownTony MuhammadKershaun ScottWith a first-person look at the notorious Crips and Bloods, this film examines the conditions that have lead to decades of devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.
- DirectorAlmudena CarracedoMade in L.A. follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from a mega-trendy clothing retailer. In intimate verité style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman's life as they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice.
- DirectorMatthew OgensStarsChristopher Lloyd DennisMaxwell AllenJennifer WengerChronicles the lives of four mortal men and women who work as characters on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard.
- DirectorDavid MarkeyStarsGerard Christian ZacherChristopher Lloyd DennisMichael A. LuceFilmmaker David J Markey interviews people who dress like their favourite movie characters on Hollywood Boulevard.
- DirectorAva DuVernayStars2MexChali 2naCut ChemistA feature-length documentary that chronicles "The Good Life" emcees, the alternative music movement they developed, and their worldwide influence on the art form.
- DirectorRamin NiamiStarsRay BaileyAndrea BalestraShawn BarryFor the last 54 years, Babe's and Ricky's Inn has harbored nothing but the greatest live blues music in Los Angeles and across the country.
- DirectorShari Springer BermanRobert PulciniStarsRaymond BilboolRonald ClintTommy GallagherIn 1995, Chasen's closed its doors after 60 years of serving chili to movie stars and visiting dignitaries, Presidents and the Pope. During its two final weeks, Chasen regulars (actors and producers), staff, and management sat for interviews. There's an Oscar party for 1500, footage and photos of famous diners, and time with Tommy Gallagher, the ebullient head waiter until retirement in 1994, his son Patrick, catering head Raymond Bilbool, general manager Ronnie Clint, hat check girl Val Schwab, ladies' room attendant Onetta Johnson, and foreign- born waiters, including Jaime. When he started in 1970, like other Latins, he wasn't allowed out of the kitchen. It's a family farewell.
- DirectorDaniel LindsayT.J. MartinStarsHenry AlfaroDanny BakewellJohn D. BarnettTwenty-five years after the verdict in the Rodney King trial sparked several days of protests, violence and looting in Los Angeles, filmmakers examine that tumultuous period through rarely seen archival footage.
- DirectorSacha JenkinsStarsAlex AlonsoNicolas AlonsoB-RealExplores the roots of civil unrest in California and the relationship between African Americans and LAPD.
- DirectorJohn RidleyStarsDaryl GatesTom BradleyDamian 'Football' WilliamsAn in-depth look at the culture of Los Angeles in the ten years leading up to the 1992 uprising that erupted after the verdict of police officers cleared of beating Rodney King.
- DirectorHugh BallantyneStarsLiev SchreiberStefan Ashton FrankMelissa FarleyA retelling of the Manson story using original, archived 16mm footage.
- DirectorTom JenningsIn this episode, the Lost Tapes series looks at the 1992 L.A. Riots, revisited through television and radio reports, home video, and police footage. Many of these tapes have never been seen or heard, or have not been broadcast since 1992.
- DirectorOne9Erik ParkerStarsGeorge HollidayJohn SingletonMichael WintersL.A BURNING: The Riots 25 Years Later is a 2-hour documentary film exploring the lives of the people at the flashpoint of the LA riots, 25 years after the uprising made national headlines and highlighted the racial divide in America.
- DirectorMurray GrigorStarsSean ConneryKarol Lautner PetersonFrank GehryRenowned architectural filmmaker Murray Grigor explores John Lautner's dramatic spaces with choreographed camera moves, as Lautner himself provides the commentary, speaking with insight and wit in recordings culled from archival sources.
- DirectorTed DemmeRichard LaGraveneseStarsFrancis Ford CoppolaWilliam FriedkinRobert AltmanA documentary examining the decade of the 1970s as a turning point in American cinema. Some of today's best filmmakers interview the influential directors of that time.