Harold And Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story

Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story is a captivating and heartfelt 2015 documentary film directed by Daniel Raim, which brings to light the story of an ingenious, behind-the-scenes couple and their profound impact on Hollywood’s golden age.

The film stars the remarkable couple, Lillian Michelson and Harold Michelson, and showcases interviews with notable Hollywood personalities like Bill Krohn and others who worked with them.

The story chronicles the life and shared journey of Harold and Lillian Michelson, who contributed significantly to the world of cinema for over six decades, albeit mostly behind the scenes and away from the limelight. Screenwriter and director Daniel Raim, through this documentary, seeks to honor this extraordinary couple's legacy by shedding light on their immense, yet often unacknowledged, contributions to some of the greatest films in Hollywood history.

Harold, a storyboard artist and production designer, and Lillian, a film researcher, were behind many iconic scenes in Hollywood cinema. In fact, many acclaimed filmmakers, producers, and actors have utilized Harold's innovative visual storytelling techniques, and Lillian's unparalleled wealth of research to bring their movie visions to life.

The film takes a compelling approach, integrating engaging interviews with the couple’s peers, personal home movies, and a remarkable collection of Harold's art and Lillian's research documents. By doing so, it provides a nuanced portrayal of their respective careers and their personal lives, including their enduring love story that spanned over 60 years. Their story is narrated with humor, intimacy, and a great deal of admiration, making it not just a chronicle of their professional lives, but also a tender love story.

Harold is portrayed as a multi-talented artist who realized scenes from directors' scripts into cogent storyboards and visually stunning production designs — elements that were instrumental in producing classics such as ‘The Birds’, ‘The Graduate’, and ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’. His storyboards demonstrate how he visually interpreted cinematic narrative, setting the look and feel of many celebrated Hollywood scenes.

Meanwhile, Lillian is depicted as an endlessly curious researcher whose valuable trove of research contributed to the detailed and authentic environments, characters, and dialogue in many films. She ran a unique Hollywood research library where filmmakers could find intricate information about virtually any topic. Her research proved invaluable to numerous films, helping them portray period settings, ethnic backgrounds, and myriad other details correctly.

Among the film's numerous interviews, one with the iconic director Danny DeVito, speaks eloquently of Harold's ability to bring his visions to life on the silver screen while also attesting to Lillian's bank of information. What makes 'Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story' an intriguing watch is how it weaves together the romantic and professional lives of Harold and Lillian, using their own anecdotal evidence, as well as the testimonials of the many filmmakers and collaborators who worked with and admired them.

The documentary also explores the couple's personal life, starting from their marriage in 1947, the adoption of their children, and the love and support they gave each other throughout hardships and triumphs. Importantly, it does not shy away from the challenges they faced; instead, it deftly adds in the complexities of having a marriage while working in the demanding film industry.

'Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story' is a testament to the couple's contribution to the film industry, their mutual respect for one another's work, and their ability to maintain an enduring love story that weathered Hollywood's many storms. It offers an in-depth exploration of this talented couple's hidden contributions, spotlighting not only their roles in shaping the Hollywood of old but also their genuine and inspiring love story.

The film, therefore, is much more than a Hollywood love story. It's a paean to the unsung heroes of filmmaking - the creative minds working in the shadows to help directors turn their visions into reality. This documentary beautifully portrays and pays homage to the couple’s creativity, dedication, and enduring love story, making it an absolute must-watch for film lovers and romantic souls alike.