U.N. Owen Robert Evans stars in, narrates KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE - a documentary about the career of Mr. Evans.Mr. Evans' career in the entertainment business started with noted actress, Norma Shearer, asking Mr. Evans if he wanted to portray her husband, in an upcoming film.A story like this - a story like that of Mr. Evans' life, can only happen in one place; Hollywood.KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE follows Evans' career, and, just as promoting the products he's made, so does Mr. Evans deliver a documentary that's more public relations, than anything else.To tell one's own story inevitably means you're going to gloss over certain events, while building up others. For example, Mr. Evans' 7 marriages are barely mentioned, save for that to Ali McGraw.But, that glossing over 'details' can't really be held against him. The film business is all about illusions. While Mr. Evans has been involved with 'hits,' not all of them are of the high quality of GODFATHER. He also produced SLIVER. It did make money, but, no one would put these two projects in the same category.But, making a 'successful' picture means it made money - having it ALSO have good response is a bonus, but, not the major point of making a film.Mr. Evans is a beloved character, still, in Hollywood. With his square-framed glasses, his swept hair, Mr. Evans IS a character, both literally, and figuratively. He's a Sammy Glick. As the saying goes, there's no such thing as bad press, so goes this film. It comes off more as a CV - a reumé, than, an honest, fair, no-hole barred telling of Mr. Evans' business life. Even as the end-credits role, we're given an impression of Mr. Evans, by Dustin Hoffman, in which 'Bob' speaks in that oily, faux-charming way, that is such an image of what many believe to be a 'Hollywood insider.'Like any resumé, the film's last shot is of Mr. Evans' most current (at the time this film was made) projects financial standings.As long as you take this story with a bit of disbelief, it's harmless. The memories of a Hollywood player, filtered through ones own recollections.

paul2001sw-1 This documentary, in which movie mogul Robert Evans narrates the story of his own life, begins with a quote from his book in which he declares that everyone has their own truth. The assertion is pertinent; for while his is an entertaining story, the film is limited by the fact that it lacks external perspective. Evans was a movie star who became an acclaimed producer; his reputation suffered after a cocaine bust; and then, bizarrely, crumbled after someone was murdered after an attempt to sell access to him ended disastrously. Evans was not personally involved in any of the dealings that led to this death; but his name was associated with the crime for the seven years it took to resolve, in which time his name crumbled to mud. He suffered mental health problems but returned to the business. This dramatic life story is certainly entertaining; but the absence of any take on events other than Evans's own is limiting, especially given his preference to narrate events as if he was Philip Marlowe. The "kid" knows how to tell a story; but whether it's the whole story is anyone's guess.

Peter Hayes Robert Evans is a Hollywood legend. For the good, for the bad and for the somewhere in between. The man is often portrayed as the "guy that got lucky", but isn't that a bit unfair? He was only the oil that made the steel wheels go around - but in Tinseltown oil is king.He also had good taste and he got what he wanted. He made Francis Ford Copolla what he is today having - as this film makes clear - made three utterly offbeat flops and a b-picture.He is more than a row of credits - including producing the best film that was ever made in The Godfather. Or so IMDb.com says anyway. Did anyone see a blockbuster in a gangster film before it was actually made? No, but Evans did.This production uses the (droning) voice of Evans and a load of cuts-and-paste animation's plus old film clips. There are times when the clips are probably nothing to do with the subject in hand. London police holding back the crowds? Which crowds? Or does this not matter?Evans shows that he can actually act a bit despite being a failed actor. Just a bit. Enough to get the money and to persuade the money guys that they are not hearing the sound of toilets flushing. Even though they sometimes did. Naturally this has nothing to do with Evans. The Cotton Club was expensive because he lost control of his original lead and lost control of his director.Sometime after this someone ended up dead. Somehow people started to falsely tie Evans in to this death. He was never even a suspect - but there had to be more to it than he is telling here. I know a short change when I hear one!He had loads of friends. From Bob Hope to Jack Nicolson, stopping off at Paul Newman. He even had them appear at his benefit gig - some sort of trade off to stop him going to prison for dope dealing. I won't spoil the film by giving the full excuse here - but he should have served time.It is hard to feel sorry for Evans because he had loads of women (he was a good looking guy), loads of dope (you should here the excuses made here!!!) and loads of money. He did work hard as well. What drags this production down a couple of notches is that Evans never lets anyone else speak. It is my version or no version and is not really a documentary in my book. More a long drone - although the subject makes up for it a little bit.Evans has gone the way of all flesh. He has got older, he has got fatter and he has got lazier. But he has had his day in the sun and that is what counts. His fifteen minutes are up and the party is over. He lived the American dream and emerged the other side - if only just.This film demonstrates that hard work and luck are no substitute for talent, but they are the next best thing..

James Owen It would be easy to criticise this documentary as a self-indulgent superficial exercise in egotism, but only if you choose the disengaged cynical view of the film. If you can alternatively sit back and enjoy an autobiographical Hollywood fairytale described by a seasoned storyteller who has been and there done it, who knows both the ugliness and the magic of movie-town, USA, you're in for a treat.The gloss, the glitz, the joy and self-recrimination, it's all seldom been so intimately communicated in film. Dismiss any notion that it's vapid story-light Entertainment Now celebrity pap and rent it out.8 out of 10.