King of the Movies

Directed by Phil Chilvers

An interview-based documentary broadcast by the BBC in May 1978, made to coincide with a season dedicated to King at London’s National Film Theatre (now BFI Southbank). The 90-year-old master was in attendance at the tribute event and was interviewed on camera. Film clips aside, King of the Movies relies almost entirely on the brilliance of King’s storytelling, which entertains, illuminates and charms. Elegantly dressed in his typical late-period style of bowtie and horn-rimmed glasses, resembling a professor of American history, King reminisces on half a century in “the strangest business in the world”.