Watch Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood Boulevard is a 1976 comedy film that blends elements of the road movie, exploitation film, and satire. Directed by Allan Arkush and Joe Dante, the movie follows the story of an aspiring actress who leaves her hometown to pursue her dreams in Hollywood. The protagonist of the movie is Candy Wednesday, played by actress and artist Mary Woronov. Candy is a naive and optimistic young woman who dreams of becoming a movie star. She travels to Los Angeles and lands a job as a go-go dancer in a sleazy nightclub on Hollywood Boulevard. However, Candy's luck changes when she meets film director Eric Von Leppe (Paul Bartel), who hires her to star in his latest low-budget movie, titled Machete Maidens of Mora Tau.

Despite the low production values and the eccentric personalities of the cast and crew, Candy is excited to be working in the film industry. She quickly befriends the other actors, including the surly driver and stuntman C.C. (George Wagner), who drives Candy and her co-stars to remote filming locations in the desert. Along the way, the group encounters a variety of strange and humorous situations, including a runaway monkey, a hitchhiking rock star, and a group of hippies who mistake the film crew for real pirates.

As Candy becomes more immersed in the chaotic and unpredictable world of filmmaking, she faces challenges and setbacks. She clashes with the domineering and egotistical director, who is more interested in exploiting the actors' bodies than making a quality movie. She also struggles to balance her growing feelings for C.C. with her professional ambitions, as well as navigate the seedy side of Hollywood, where exploitation and sleaze are commonplace.

Hollywood Boulevard is a fast-paced and irreverent film that parodies the low-budget exploitation movies of the 1970s. The movie features an ensemble cast of eccentric and often outrageous characters, including a wisecracking narrator (Roger Corman), a lascivious producer (Jonathan Kaplan), and a series of guest appearances by other cult directors and actors, such as Joe Dante, Marya Small, and Bert Convy.

The film is notable for its use of real-life locations and props, including the iconic Hollywood sign and Mann's Chinese Theater. Many of the scenes were shot guerrilla-style, with the cast and crew improvising dialogue and action on the fly. This gives the movie a raw and spontaneous feel, as if the audience is watching a documentary about the making of a Z-grade movie.

At its core, Hollywood Boulevard is a funny and affectionate tribute to the independent spirit and DIY ethos of the early Hollywood era. It celebrates the ingenuity and creativity of filmmakers who used limited resources and offbeat ideas to create memorable cult classics. However, the movie also acknowledges the darker side of the entertainment industry, where exploitation and deception are rife.

Overall, Hollywood Boulevard is a fun and entertaining movie that will appeal to fans of cult cinema and offbeat comedy. The film's blend of satire, humor, and action makes it a timeless classic of independent filmmaking.

Hollywood Boulevard is a 1976 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.