Gary Leva

Gary Leva

79 Credits

Biography

Filmmaker and film historian Gary Leva has distinguished himself as the creative force behind scores of documentaries, broadcast programs and Special Features, many of them focused on the cinematic arts. His feature documentary, Fog City Mavericks, which highlights 100 years in the history of San Francisco's vibrant filmmaking community, had its world premiere at the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival prior to its continuing life on cable television and disc. Leva's documentaries ha...

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Complete Filmography

The Men of Midway

2020

Director, Editor

Directing

Meet the dazzling line-up of male stars who bring Midway to life. Nick Jonas, Ed Skrein, Aaron Eckhart, Patrick Wilson, Darren Criss, Dennis Quaid, Wo...

Roland Emmerich: Man on a Mission

2020

Producer, Editor

Producing

Discover the man behind the movie, director Roland Emmerich, whose unflagging energy and relentless pursuit of perfection inspired the entire creative...

Getting It Right: The Making of Midway

2020

Director

Directing

From shooting at Pearl Harbor on the very ground where American servicemen died on December 7, 1941 to recreating the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier ...

We Met At Midway - Two Survivors Remember

2020

Director, Producer

Directing Producing

Interviews with two veteran survivors of the pivotal battle of WWII

Joe Rochefort - Breaking The Japanese Code

2020

Director

Directing

Vastly outnumbered and outgunned, America's triumph at Midway seems like a miracle until you look at the key event that paved the way to victory: Brea...

Turning Point: The Legacy of Midway

2020

Director

Directing

Few Americans realize that the Battle of Midway - just six months after Pearl Harbor - doomed the Japanese to defeat. Discover how Admiral Nimitz and ...

Monsters are Real

Monsters are Real

2019

Director

Directing

Why does the fear of monsters resonate in every culture and civilization around the globe? Take a deep dive into the chilling world of our primal fear...

Creating Ghidorah

Creating Ghidorah

2019

Director

6.0
Directing

A look at the newest version of one of Godzilla's greatest rivals.

Making Mothra

Making Mothra

2019

Director

8.0
Directing

A look at one of the greatest monsters in the Godzilla universe.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters - Godzilla 2.0

Godzilla: King of the Monsters - Godzilla 2.0

2019

Director

7.7
Directing

A look at the newest version of one of cinema's greatest monsters.

Reimagining Rodan

2019

Director

6.0
Directing

A look at the newest version of one of Godzilla's greatest rivals.

Godzilla: King of The Monsters- The Antarctic Base

Godzilla: King of The Monsters- The Antarctic Base

2019

Director

10.0
Directing

In Monarch's Antarctic Base, a frozen fortress buffeted by screaming winds and surrounded by impenetrable ice, King Ghidorah shakes off his icy slumbe...

Godzilla: King of the Monsters- Monster Tech: Monarch Joins the Fight

Godzilla: King of the Monsters- Monster Tech: Monarch Joins the Fight

2019

Director

10.0
Directing

Join the filmmakers and their special effects wizards in this high-energy look at the tech that makes Monarch's missions possible. Go inside the enorm...

Godzilla: King of the Monsters- Castle Bravo

Godzilla: King of the Monsters- Castle Bravo

2019

Director

10.0
Directing

The blast doors slowly open, revealing for the first time - Godzilla, his bioluminescent dorsal spikes outlining his shape in the murky waters of the ...

Reimagining The Met Gala

2018

Director

8.0
Directing

Director Ross, various cast and crew and members of the Met staff discuss how the film took over the famous museum for its version of the gala. The pr...

Ocean's Team 3.0

Ocean's Team 3.0

2018

Director

8.0
Directing

Director Gary Ross and participants from the previous extras discuss the challenge of casting a film where group chemistry is even more important than...

The Devil and Father Amorth

The Devil and Father Amorth

2018

Editor

5.0

William Friedkin attends an exorcism with Father Gabriele Amorth, as he treats an Italian woman named Cristina for the ninth time. Prior to filming, C...

Sully: Sully Sullenberger - The Man Behind the Miracle

2016

Producer

6.7
Producing

Documentary about the life of Captain Chesley Sullenberger

I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas

2015

Producer

Producing
One Soldier's Story: The Journey of American Sniper

One Soldier's Story: The Journey of American Sniper

2015

Writer, Director, Editor

5.8
Writing Directing Producing

Join director Clint Eastwood and his creative team, along with Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, as they overcome enormous creative and logistic obsta...

The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz

2013

Producer, Editor, Director

10.0
Producing Directing

Actor Martin Sheen narrates this newly produced, feature-length high definition documentary, touching on the film's timelessness and legacy before div...

The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase

The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase

2013

Director, Producer

8.7
Directing Producing

Join Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pantoliano, director Andrew Davis and their collaborators in this stirring look at the creation of one of Hol...

Cabaret: The Musical That Changed Musicals

Cabaret: The Musical That Changed Musicals

2013

Director of Photography, Writer, Producer

Directing Writing Producing

On the film's 40th anniversary, the cast and crew of Cabaret look back at the creation of this cinematic landmark, winner of 8 Academy Awards and the ...

The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie

The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie

2012

Producer

Producing

This documentary short explores the origins of the monster movie and how Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (1963) fits in the genre.

Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic

Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic

2012

Writer, Director, Producer

6.5
Writing Directing Producing

The behind-the-scenes story of how "Casablanca" became an American film classic.

Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of

Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of

2012

Director, Producer

7.0
Directing Producing

Documentary about the work of film director Michael Curtiz.

Clint Eastwood's West

2011

Director, Producer

6.0
Directing Producing

An entertaining look at Clint Eastwood's storied career as a Western icon and filmmaker, featuring interviews with Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Kev...

Turning Like Clockwork

Turning Like Clockwork

2011

Director, Producer

4.7
Directing Producing

A look back on A Clockwork Orange

Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock

2009

Producer

Producing

A short Universal promo regarding the works of Alfred Hitchcock.

Gone With The Wind: The Legend Lives On

Gone With The Wind: The Legend Lives On

2009

Director

10.0
Directing

This featurette discusses why the film is still so important. Also discusses “Windies”, the GWTW fan club. New for the 70th anniversary release.

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style

2009

Director

6.8
Directing

Documentary that features interviews with Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson, Francis Lawrence, William Friedkin, Guillermo Del Toro, John Carpenter and o...

North by Northwest: One for the Ages

North by Northwest: One for the Ages

2009

Director, Producer

6.3
Directing Producing

A discussion of "North by Northwest" and its influence.

Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman

Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman

2009

Editor, Director, Producer

7.5
Directing Producing

A documentary on the life and career of Victor Fleming, director of such iconic movies as The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind.

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

2009

Writer

7.5
Writing

This documentary focuses on 1939, considered to be Hollywood's greatest year, with film clips and insight into what made the year so special.

Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock

Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock

2008

Director, Producer

Directing Producing

Alfred Hitchcock often referred to his style of film making as "pure cinema" — using camera movement, editing, music and sound to tell stories that wo...

Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock

Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock

2008

Director, Producer

Directing Producing

The cry of gulls. The ticking of a clock. The clatter of a shower curtain, torn from its rod. In this workshop-like documentary, Academy Award-winning...

Edith Head: Dressing the Master's Movies

Edith Head: Dressing the Master's Movies

2008

Director

6.0
Directing

For over five decades, Edith Head's costumes helped define not only the style of Hollywood movies, but fashion itself. This documentary examines this ...

Alma: The Master's Muse

Alma: The Master's Muse

2008

Director

7.0
Directing

Few people outside the director's inner circle knew that Alfred Hitchcock's chief collaborator throughout his career was his wife and muse, Alma Revil...

Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro

Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro

2008

Director

Directing

No director-composer collaboration has been more seminal to motion pictures than the partnership of Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann. In this doc...

Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators

Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators

2008

Producer, Director

Producing Directing

Four featurettes focus on Hitch's collaborations: "Saul Bass: Title Champ" (opening credits), "Edith Head: Dressing the Master's Movies" (costumes), "...

Saul Bass: Title Champ

Saul Bass: Title Champ

2008

Director

6.7
Directing

Set to a bebop jazz beat, this documentary brings to life the extraordinary work of graphic designer Saul Bass, whose groundbreaking title sequences f...

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy

2008

Producer, Director

7.0
Producing Directing

Films beget films. Filmmakers influence other filmmakers constantly. But the most influential filmmaker of all time is Alfred Hitchcock.

Sunlight and Shadow: The Visual Style of 'L.A. Confidential'

2008

Director, Producer

5.0
Directing Producing

Curtis Hanson and his behind-the-scenes collaborators reveal the secrets of bringing 1950s Los Angeles to life in unforgettable style.

Whatever You Desire: Making 'L.A. Confidential'

Whatever You Desire: Making 'L.A. Confidential'

2008

Director, Producer

7.0
Directing Producing

Director Curtis Hanson and his cast and crew discuss the arduous but rewarding process of creating a modern classic.

Super Heroes United! The Complete Justice League History

Super Heroes United! The Complete Justice League History

2008

Director

7.5
Directing

This documentary tells the rich, 47-year history of DC Comics' favorite team of characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Green Lanter...

A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry

A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry

2008

Director, Producer

4.5
Directing Producing

Filmmakers, social scientists and authors take a provocative look at the moral, political and ethical themes of the Dirty Harry films.

The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry

The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry

2008

Director, Producer

5.8
Directing Producing

An in-depth look at Dirty Harry (1971), featuring interviews with such film artists as Michael Madsen, 'Hal Holbrook', John Milius, 'Shane Black' and ...

The Business End: Violence in Cinema

The Business End: Violence in Cinema

2008

Director, Producer

8.0
Directing Producing

An unflinching look at the ongoing debate on violence in movies and its effect on the audience.

The Evolution of Clint Eastwood

The Evolution of Clint Eastwood

2008

Director, Producer

7.0
Directing Producing

Follow Eastwood's career from television star to matinee idol to Oscar-winning director in this wide-ranging documentary.

The Craft of Dirty Harry

The Craft of Dirty Harry

2008

Director, Producer

6.0
Directing Producing

A look at the cinematographers, editors, musicians, production designers and other talent of the Dirty Harry series.

An Old Fashioned Love Story: Making 'The Bridges of Madison County'

An Old Fashioned Love Story: Making 'The Bridges of Madison County'

2008

Producer, Director

9.0
Producing Directing

Follow the difficult birth and full realization of this beautifully told romance through its many twists and turns. Through interviews with Clint East...

Fog City Mavericks

Fog City Mavericks

2007

Director, Producer, Editor

8.5
Directing Producing Writing

Fog City Mavericks: The Filmmakers of San Francisco is a compelling exploration of the legendary filmmakers who call the San Francisco Bay Area home i...

Great Bolshy Yarblockos!: Making 'A Clockwork Orange'

Great Bolshy Yarblockos!: Making 'A Clockwork Orange'

2007

Director, Producer

6.0
Directing Producing

In this documentary, we follow Stanley Kubrick as he creates one of the most controversial films of all time, one that retains its power to shock audi...

Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick

Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick

2007

Director

6.9
Directing

He is considered by many the greatest film director the medium has ever known. Yet in a 45-year career, Stanley Kubrick's films number only a dozen. T...

View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining'

View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining'

2007

Director

7.4
Directing

An overview of the making of, and a look at the continuing popularity of, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining.

The Visions of Stanley Kubrick

The Visions of Stanley Kubrick

2007

Director, Producer

6.9
Directing Producing

A look at the visual design of the film The Shining (1980).

Full Metal Jacket: Between Good and Evil

Full Metal Jacket: Between Good and Evil

2007

Director

4.2
Directing

Follow Stanley Kubrick as he creates his savage and brilliant Vietnam film, hewing closely to the theme that dominated his creative life for four deca...

Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001

Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001

2007

Producer, Director

6.0
Producing Directing

This documentary about "2001: A Space Odyssey" looks at some of the things that seemed fanciful in 1968, which don't seem quite as much anymore.

Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001

Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001

2007

Director

6.1
Directing

Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking 2001: A Space Odyssey opened the door to all the films and filmmakers who followed it. Through interviews with direct...

The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird

The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird

2006

Director, Producer

7.8
Directing Producing

An appreciation and the story of the making of the 1941 film "The Maltese Falcon."

Prohibition Opens the Floodgates

Prohibition Opens the Floodgates

2006

Director

Directing

Short documentary about prohibition and gangsters and how it affected the movies of the day.

Welcome to the Big House

2006

Director

Directing

Short documentary on the prison film in the 1930s.

Gangsters: The Immigrant's Hero

2006

Director

Directing
Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light

Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light

2006

Director

7.1
Directing

Film Noir burrows into the mind; it's disorienting, intriguing and enthralling. Noir brings us into a gritty underworld of lush morbidity, providing i...

Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films

Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films

2006

Director

Directing

A documentary on the roles of women in gangster movies.

Woodward and Bernstein: Lighting the Fire

Woodward and Bernstein: Lighting the Fire

2006

Writer, Producer, Director

Writing Producing Directing

Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward changed American history through their dogged pursuit of the truth in uncovering the story of Watergate. Starting smal...

Out of the Shadows: The Man Who Was Deep Throat

Out of the Shadows: The Man Who Was Deep Throat

2006

Writer, Producer, Director

6.0
Writing Producing Directing

It was a plot device worthy of any film noir thriller. A shadowy figure, keeper of the secrets to a national crime, reveals snippets of information to...

Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of  "All the President's Men"

Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of "All the President's Men"

2006

Writer, Director, Producer

5.2
Writing Directing Producing

A short documentary on the making of "All the President's Men."

Emotional History: The Making of 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'

Emotional History: The Making of 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'

2006

Director

Directing

Milan Kundera's rambling novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being, though greatly admired, was thought by Hollywood studio executives to be "unfilmable...

Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema

Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema

2005

Producer, Director

6.6
Producing Directing

Current filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflect on the importance and influence of the epic classic "Ben-Hur".

By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'

By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'

2005

Producer, Director, Editor

5.0
Producing Directing Writing

A short documentary about the making of Spike Lee's biopic, "Malcolm X."

The Characters of Star Wars

The Characters of Star Wars

2004

Producer, Editor, Writer

6.8
Producing Writing

The Characters of Star Wars is a Video Documentary included in the 2004 DVD release of the Star Wars Original Trilogy. It explained the Mythos of many...

A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope

A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope

2004

Director, Producer, Editor

7.5
Directing Producing

A fascinating chronicle of the birth and rise of the radically different independent studio founded by director Francis Ford Coppola.

Artifact from the Future: The Making of 'THX 1138'

2004

Editor, Producer, Director

6.8
Producing Directing

The Making of feature for the George Lucas movie 'THX 1138'.

R2-D2: Beneath the Dome

R2-D2: Beneath the Dome

2001

Writer, Editor

6.5
Writing

Mockumentary telling the never before told life story of the fictional robot R2-D2 from the Star Wars film series. The movie was made as a fun project...

Inside The Living Daylights

Inside The Living Daylights

2000

Editor

8.0

The making of the film that introduced Timothy Dalton as James Bond, who gave Bond a darker edge for a new generation.

Inside 'Octopussy'

Inside 'Octopussy'

2000

Editor

5.6

Documentary looking at the production of the James Bond movie 'Octopussy'. Narrated by Patrick Macnee.

Ian Fleming: 007's Creator

Ian Fleming: 007's Creator

2000

Editor

6.9

John Cork and his compatriots from the Ian Fleming Foundation, who have created outstanding documentaries for most of MGM's 007 DVDs, provide a fine o...

Plan B

1997

Director, Writer

Directing Writing

A group of friends in their 20s and 30s wrestle with the fact that their lives haven't turned out like they planned.