STAR RATING: ***** Brilliant **** Very Good *** Okay ** Poor * Awful
In 1989, television writer Lawrence D. Cohen was commissioned to write the screenplay for an ambitious adaptation of Stephen King's mammoth, 1,000+ page 1986 epic novella, It, in the form of a two part TV mini series. A project grand in scale and constrained by the boundaries of TV network censorship, the wild excesses of King's novel would have to be curbed, as well as a great deal of the novel to condense it for the time constraints, but somehow Cohen pulled it off, and his project became one of the best loved shows of all time, with a lasting cultural impact that has endured to this day.
If transferring a successful, well loved novel to the screen is a tricky enough endeavour, then getting a documentary about said screen adaptation out there is seemingly even tougher, as the producers of this affectionate account of the making and legacy of the 1990 small screen adaptation of Stephen King's epic novella can testify, with their efforts to crowd fund via the internet their pet project, appealing directly to fans of the film to donate to get the production rolling, that I can remember from around two years ago. And so the arrival of this film is in itself testament to how much the original film was loved. And even more so given what an in depth little number it is, stretching over the two hour mark, well over the length of most documentaries.
The passion of the makers has clearly spread around, as most of the original cast of kids make contributions, including those who attained some Hollywood success, such as Seth Green, who played the irrepressible wise ass Richie Tozier, but each are as uniquely insightful as the other, and provide an illuminating insight into what went on behind the scenes. The original adult cast also give some eye opening accounts, and even some minor supporting players, as well, of course, as the wheelchair bound, stroke stricken Tim Curry, offering his reflections on his key role as Pennywise the Clown. We learn that other actors, including Harvey Fierstein, had been considered for the part, but that feels all the more unthinkable as he still manages to ooze the unnerving menace that he originally projected all those years ago in that role.
For all its scope and ambition, it's low budget feel glaringly shines through, even if it's clear where most of the money went, and strangely, there's no mention of the box office smash 2017 and 2019 films, that brought the story to a new generation of horror aficionados. But the original TV film has left a lasting mark all of its own, and this ambitious, thoroughly panned out documentary, obviously made by people with a deep love of it, leaves you well aware of it. ****
