ESPN's intriguingly structured two-part documentary 30 for 30 The American Gladiators Documentary shows that there's a lot more to one of the biggest cultural phenomena of the 1990s than meets the eye. Director Ben Berman's comprehensive and playful look at a horribly reviewed "sports" competition show that drew thirteen million viewers in syndication each week spends roughly ninety minutes each on two different, but intersecting tracks.
The first half of The American Gladiators Documentary looks at the day-to-day running of the show through the eyes of the producers, directors, contestants, former "gladiators" and, predominantly, the larger-than-life co-creator, Johnny Ferraro. The show, which revolved around ordinary people attempting to best burly, athletic giants in a variety of physical challenges, harkened back to a time when the safety and well-being of said participants was secondary to creating a bigger show. than life. Think of it like pro wrestling during the same era, only less hyphenated, just drug fueled, and in some ways even sillier. It was a blast to watch, but as Berman's interview subjects point out (or not at all for some who declined to participate), it wasn't a blast to do.
Star: John Ferraro
The second half focuses more on the genesis of the series itself and the murky history of its roots. The larger-than-life figure of Ferraro, who is the epitome of the kind of guy who loves it or hates it depending on who you talk to, likes to say that American Gladiators was his baby, but the concept actually started among the workers. unions in Erie, Pennsylvania. This part of The American Gladiators documentary finds Berman doing his best to track down the elusive and enigmatic Dann Carr, the show's other credited creator, and someone Ferraro apparently doesn't want the director to talk to.
Each half of The American Gladiators Documentary can be seen well done, standalone features on their own, making their pairing and the decision to split it all into two parts all the more enjoyable. There are laughs, tears, and moments that will make viewers angry, but it's always fast-paced and never boring. Berman's decision to make both halves have a slightly different style is also a good choice. Many detractors of the series that spawned these movies will say that it's probably better than the show deserved.
It's also amusing and worth noting that American Gladiators and its ill-fated, watered-down 2007 revival were born out of the writers' strikes that were going on in Hollywood. Something tells me that the documentary The American Gladiators could not be released at a more perfect time.
The documentary American Gladiators will be available to stream across Canada via Hot Docs from May 5-9. It premieres on ESPN in the US on Tuesday, May 30 (part one) and Wednesday, May 31.
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