Before he produced “The Godfather” and married Ali MacGraw, Robert Evans was a failed actor the Paramount brass wanted nowhere near a studio lot.
His meteoric rise to Hollywood’s golden-boy producer—and spectacular fall involving cocaine, scandal, and bankruptcy—is the ultimate cautionary tale of Tinseltown.
It’s “Boogie Nights” meets “Citizen Kane” by way of “Goodfellas”—but it’s all true.
This is the best documentary on a film producer I’ve seen.
Thx to movie mogul Brian Savelson for recommending this one.
Trailer for “The Kid Stays in the Picture”
Watch “The Kid Stays in the Picture”
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Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 80/100 (Users); 91/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note — Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen directed this 93-minute documentary.
Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen directed this 93-minute documentary. Burstein is best known for “On the Ropes”, “American Teen”, “Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee”, and the Hulu docuseries “Hillary”. Morgen is known for “Cobain: Montage of Heck”, “Jane”, “Moonage Daydream”, “Chicago 10”, and ESPN’s “June 17th, 1994”.
Release Date: January 20, 2002 (Sundance); August 2, 2002 (U.S. theatrical release)
My Review of “The Kid Stays in the Picture”
The Setup – Robert Evans narrates his own life story like a Hollywood noir monologue—equal parts ego, charm, and confession.
Once a B-movie actor, Evans clawed his way to the top as Paramount’s production chief and then crashed hard after scandal.
This doc is a visualized audiobook, built from his memoir, using only archival photos, voiceover, and quick cuts—no talking heads, no filler.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Jack Nicholson flew to Monte Carlo and personally pleaded with multi-millionaire Swiss financier Daniel M. Rexford to give Evans back his Beverly Hills mansion (with no profit on the sale) — and it worked.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Evans was discovered in 1956 while lounging poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel by Norma Shearer. She cast him to play her late husband, MGM mogul Irving Thalberg, in “Man of a Thousand Faces.” He had zero acting experience.
- Evans was nearly fired from his role in “The Sun Also Rises” until studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck stomped into a meeting and growled, “The kid stays in the picture.”
- As Paramount’s production chief, Evans greenlit “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Love Story,” “The Godfather,” and “Chinatown.”
- He took Paramount from dead last to #1 in the studio rankings.
- His marriage to Ali MacGraw ended after her affair with Steve McQueen.
- The narration is all Evans—dramatic, ego-filled, and totally self-aware.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Evans inspired the “Jack Woltz” character in “The Godfather.”
- The doc’s animated still-photo style helped shape later films like “Val” and “Listen to Me Marlon.”
- Evans staged a quiet comeback by producing “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” in 2003.
- He was tied to the “Cotton Club Murder” scandal—never charged, but his reputation nosedived.
Wrap Up – It’s Hollywood ego at its most entertaining. If you want a doc where the villain, the hero, and the narrator are the same person—this is your movie.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc