Review: 'Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick', Directed by Todd Robinson

In terms of history, filmmaking hasn't really been around for as long we may think. But regardless of the relatively short time it’s been around, filmmaking has come a very long way and William Wellman (often called Wild Bill) is one of the pioneer directors who successfully branched out from silent films into talking pictures. Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick is ultimately a well-rounded documentary showcasing the talents and work of one of the most respected directors of the 20^th century.

Before becoming a renowned director, Wellman is a fighter pilot in France during the First World War. The first quarter of the film is spent allowing us to glimpse into his past and how the war and his experience in it influence his earliest movies. Going back to civilian life, Wellman is first an actor before deciding he sucks at it. It is then he chooses to turn his talents to directing.

 Wellman starts off as a contract director for Paramount Pictures and produces Wings, the first film to win an Oscar for Best Picture. From then on, he becomes a force to be reckoned with, often making as many enemies as he did friends with people in the industry. No one can deny, regardless of whether they liked him or not, the fact that Wellman is still a Hollywood maverick who paved the way for other directors in the business.  

While watching the film, you can immediately tell that director Todd Robinson has a high respect and admiration for Wellman. Robinson has well-known actors and directors such as Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Robert Redford, and Martin Scorsese recount their anecdotes and their esteemed opinions of the Wild Bill. In between all that, Robinson intersperses commentary, narration, and scenes from Wellman’s work to really paint the picture of a man whose legacy is cemented in his films.

Wild Bill is narrated by Alec Baldwin, who does a good job infusing the film with heartfelt accounts of Wellman’s life. Everyone interviewed for the documentary speaks highly and honestly about Wellman and his love of making films. Robinson takes great care to make sure that Wellman is seen as a visionary and a successful director who moved from silent to talking films seamlessly. 

For those who have never heard of Wellman before will want to watch his films as soon as they finish watching this documentary. Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick provides great excerpts of some of Wellman’s greatest and most renowned films while also giving us a glimpse into the man he was when not behind the camera.