Movie: Laurence Olivier: a life

Top 10 Billed Cast

Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier

Self

Ralph Richardson
Ralph Richardson

Self

John Gielgud
John Gielgud

Self

Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh

Self ( Archive footage )

William Wyler
William Wyler

Self

Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Self

John Osborne
John Osborne

Self

Joan Plowright
Joan Plowright

Self

Jill Esmond
Jill Esmond

Self ( Archive footage)

Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg

Self (Interviewer )

  • HomePage

  • Overview

    A multi-award winning biography covering the life and career of legendary screen and stage actor/director Laurence Olivier.

  • Release Date

    1982-10-24

  • Average

    10

  • Rating:

    5.0 starts
  • Tagline

  • Genres

  • Languages:

    English
  • Keywords

Recommendations Movies

Gilbert
67%

Gilbert(en)

2017-04-20

The life and career of one of comedy's most inimitable modern voices, Mr. Gilbert Gottfried.

Looking for Richard
68%

Looking for Richard(en)

1996-10-11

Al Pacino's deeply-felt rumination on Shakespeare's significance and relevance to the modern world through interviews and an in-depth analysis of "Richard III."

A Decade Under the Influence
79%

A Decade Under the Influence(en)

2003-04-25

A 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.

I Am Heath Ledger
74%

I Am Heath Ledger(en)

2017-04-23

The life and career of an actor, artist, and icon. His own journey through his own camera.

I Know That Voice
71%

I Know That Voice(en)

2014-01-07

Filmmaker Lawrence Shapiro discusses voice-over acting with the talented people behind the characters.

Love, Marilyn
66%

Love, Marilyn(en)

2013-05-30

Using the book 'Fragments', which collects Marilyn Monroe's poems, notes and letters, and with participation from the Arthur Miller and Truman Capote estates who have contributed more material, each of the actresses will embody the legend at various stages in her life.

For the Love of Spock
74%

For the Love of Spock(en)

2016-09-09

The life of Mr. Spock, as well as that of Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played him for almost fifty years, written and directed by his son: Adam.

Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin
69%

Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin(en)

2003-05-01

Brilliant, long in-the-works story of the life and art of the world's greatest comedian and the cinema's first genius, Charlie Chaplin. Produced, written and directed by renowned film critic Richard Schickel.

Downloaded
65%

Downloaded(en)

2013-06-20

A documentary that explores the downloading revolution; the kids that created it, the bands and the businesses that were affected by it, and its impact on the world at large.

Listen to Me Marlon
75%

Listen to Me Marlon(en)

2015-07-29

With exclusive access to his extraordinary unseen and unheard personal archive including hundreds of hours of audio recorded over the course of his life, this is the definitive Marlon Brando cinema documentary. Charting his exceptional career as an actor and his extraordinary life away from the stage and screen with Brando himself as your guide, the film will fully explore the complexities of the man by telling the story uniquely from Marlon's perspective, entirely in his own voice. No talking heads, no interviewees, just Brando on Brando and life.

To Be Takei
72%

To Be Takei(en)

2014-08-22

Over seven decades, actor and activist George Takei journeyed from a World War II internment camp to the helm of the Starship Enterprise, and then to the daily news feeds of five million Facebook fans. Join George and his husband, Brad, on a wacky and profound trek for life, liberty, and love.

Love, Gilda
72%

Love, Gilda(en)

2018-04-18

Diaries, audiotapes, videotapes and testimonials from friends and colleagues offer insight into the life and career of Gilda Radner -- the beloved comic and actress who became an icon on Saturday Night Live.

The Last Waltz
77%

The Last Waltz(en)

1978-04-26

Martin Scorsese's documentary intertwines footage from The Band's incredible farewell tour with probing backstage interviews and featured performances by Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, and other rock legends.

Mifune: The Last Samurai
71%

Mifune: The Last Samurai(en)

2016-12-02

An account of the life and work of legendary Japanese actor Toshirō Mifune (1920-97), the most prominent actor of the Golden Age of Japanese cinema.

Sidney
73%

Sidney(en)

2022-09-10

This revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier—iconic actor, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Featuring interviews with Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and more.

Hamilton's America
66%

Hamilton's America(en)

2016-10-01

This documentary delves deeper into the creation of the Hamilton musical, revealing Lin-Manuel Miranda's process of absorbing and then adapting Hamilton's epic story into ground-breaking musical theater.

Corman's World
71%

Corman's World(en)

2011-12-16

A chronicle of the long career of American filmmaker Roger Corman, the most tenacious and ingenious low-budget producer and director in the US film industry, a pioneer of independent filmmaking and discoverer of new talent.

Public Speaking
70%

Public Speaking(en)

2011-02-23

Martin Scorsese’s portrait of writer and social commentator Fran Lebowitz, celebrated for her sharp wit and observations on modern life. Filmed at New York’s Waverly Inn and intercut with archival footage and interviews, the documentary captures Lebowitz’s distinctive worldview through her spontaneous monologues and public appearances.

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
75%

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds(en)

2017-01-11

An intimate portrait of Hollywood royalty featuring Debbie Reynolds, Todd Fisher, and Carrie Fisher.

Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present
73%

Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present(en)

2012-06-13

Performance artist Marina Abramovic prepares for a major retrospective of her work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Similar Movies

That Guy Dick Miller
70%

That Guy Dick Miller(en)

2014-03-07

Documentary about veteran character actor Dick Miller, whose career in and outside of Hollywood has spanned almost 200 films across six decades, featuring a diverse range of interviews with directors, co-stars, and contemporaries.

Canvas of My Life
75%

Canvas of My Life(en)

2016-12-08

Jason Momoa's story of fatherhood, craftsmanship, and the legacy he'll leave behind.

Malevich. Born in Ukraine
0%

Malevich. Born in Ukraine(uk)

2019-02-28

A story about the life and work of the twentieth century artist Kazimir Malevich and his influence on world culture.

Crazy Horse Paris
75%

Crazy Horse Paris(fr)

2025-07-27

Artfully erotic nudity with plush, glamorous décor and sensual, atmospheric lighting: The Crazy Horse, in the French capital’s well-heeled eighth district, has been delighting audiences for 70 years with its special brand of classy Parisian cabaret.

George Carlin: Playin' with Your Head
74%

George Carlin: Playin' with Your Head(en)

1986-06-14

George Carlin is in top form with these stand-up recorded at the Beverly Theater in Los Angeles in 1986. Routines included are "Losing Things," "Charities," "Sports," "Hello and Goodbye," "Battered Plants," "Earrings," and "A Moment of Silence." Also included is a short film entitled "The Envelope" co-starring Vic Tayback.

Discovering Hamlet
59%

Discovering Hamlet(en)

1990-01-07

IN 1988, rising star Kenneth Branagh tackled the role of Shakespeare’s prince of Denmark for the first time in his professional career under the guidance of celebrated actor Derek Jacobi. Narrated by Patrick Stewart, this hour-long film documents how Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jacobi, two intelligent and passionate men, found new depths in Shakespeare’s classic drama, Hamlet. Filmmakers Mark Olshaker and Larry Klein follow the company through four weeks of rehearsals, from the first read-throughs to opening night.

Des Amandiers aux Amandiers
78%

Des Amandiers aux Amandiers(fr)

2022-07-09

A free and intimate portrait behind the scenes of Valeria Bruni Tedeschi's creation. In front of the camera, she transmits to today’s young actors the memory of the 1980s.

Investigation of a Citizen Named Volonté
65%

Investigation of a Citizen Named Volonté(it)

2004-01-12

Indagine su un cittadino di nome Volonté is a documentary exploring the life and career of Italian actor Gian Maria Volonté. Known for his roles in films with significant political and social impact, this documentary offers an intimate look through interviews and archival footage, highlighting his commitment to cinema as a form of artistic expression and a tool for social change.

Aufstand im Bordell - Frauenhandel um 1900
80%

Aufstand im Bordell - Frauenhandel um 1900(de)

2024-03-05

In the spring of 1902, Viennese working-class daughter Marie König runs away from her beating father and is lured into a high-class brothel by an agent. Instead of the promised self-determined life "with horse-drawn carriage rides and silk dresses", she experiences closed doors, violence and exploitation. Only after years of agony does Marie confide in the journalist Emil Bader, who makes the conditions in the brothel public and takes the owner, Regine Riehl, to court.

Popular Science J-8-1
0%

Popular Science J-8-1(en)

1938-09-02

A variety of scientific subjects, including the laboratory of a plastic surgeon in London, and his method for applying permanent makeup; a new school for kiddies employing finger paint so they can express their urge to put things on paper; Army aviation, showing the latest development in blind landing. Produced in Cinecolor.

Mel Gibson Goes Back to School
0%

Mel Gibson Goes Back to School(en)

1991-01-01

Mel Gibson teaches Hamlet to a group of high school drama students.

L’épopée des vignerons
90%

L’épopée des vignerons(fr)

2022-09-07

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
67%

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light(en)

2000-02-02

Actor/director Sidney Poitier discusses his life and career. He tells of his upbringing in Jamaica; the difficulties he encountered in New York City at the start of his career; his involvement in the US civil-rights movement; and efforts to end apartheid in South Africa. Friends and acquaintances, as well as other performers, give their insights about what makes him so special.

Popular Science L-8-5
100%

Popular Science L-8-5(en)

1949-06-17

Gigantic machine combs beach in southern California and retrieves articles lost in sand; synthetic gems made by new chemical process; aviation school holds classes in grounded transport plane; how seaweed is processed for scientific use.

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
0%

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre(en)

1989-06-26

A study of the Group Theatre, a company that changed the face of American drama. The Group was founded in 1931 by Cheryl Crawford, Harold Clurman and Lee Strasberg, who were strongly influenced by the naturalistic acting of Konstantin Stanislavski’s Moscow Art Theatre.

Cut Piece
65%

Cut Piece(en)

1965-01-01

Filmed at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Cut Piece documents one of Yoko Ono’s most powerful conceptual pieces. Performed by the artist herself, Ono sits motionless on the stage after inviting the audience to come up and cut away her clothing in a denouement of the reciprocity between victim and assailant.

Iris Berben - Ein persönliches Porträt
0%

Iris Berben - Ein persönliches Porträt(de)

2024-11-17

She is the grande dame of German and international cinema, always a bit of a rocker chick, freedom-loving, adventurous and willing to take risks. This portrait unfolds Iris Berben's career, which has spanned more than five decades - between the art of film and television, between rock 'n' roll and political commitment.

Edward Abbey, naturellement subversif !
60%

Edward Abbey, naturellement subversif !(fr)

2025-11-14

A resistance writer and pioneer of nature writing with a controversial personality, Edward Abbey wrote more than twenty books on the theme of eternal nature. A gem of counterculture, his 1975 novel The Monkey Wrench Gang inspired a generation of environmental activists and readers with rebellious souls. Portrait of a rebellious, lyrical, and rude writer.

Twiggy
77%

Twiggy(en)

2025-03-07

Twiggy takes a comprehensive look at the life story of UK model and cultural icon Twiggy, real name Lesley Lawson, whose career kickstarted in the 1960s. It features interviews with Twiggy and her husband Leigh Lawson, as well as commentary from Erin O’Connor, Paul McCartney, Lulu, Poppy Delavigne, Brooke Shields, Pattie Boyd and Zandra Rhodes.