Fade In (Blu-ray)

Silver-screen icons Burt Reynolds (The Longest Yard) and Barbara Loden (Wanda) shine in this offbeat romantic western about opposites who attract while living through the hurly-burly schedule of a film shoot. Arriving in Moab, Utah, to work as an editor on a Hollywood movie, a young city woman (Loden) surprises herself and everyone else when she finds herself falling for a handsome and charismatic ranch hand (Reynolds) who is working as a driver during the production. Initially drawn together by the “anything goes” sense of location shooting, the pair quickly discover that despite their differences they are forging a serious connection. But are they going to make it past the final reel? Beautifully shot by ace cinematographer William Fraker (Rosemary’s Baby), this unique, genre-blurring film documents the real-life making of the cult western Blue (1968), starring Terence Stamp, Joanna Pettet, Ricardo Montalban and Sally Kirkland. Fade In was directed by Jud Taylor, but became the first film credited to Alan Smithee, the pseudonym initially created for Death of a Gunfighter (1969). Officially premiering as The CBS Late Movie in 1973, Fade In—also known as Iron Cowboy—has since garnered a cult following for its glowing star performances and fascinating behind-the-scenes look into late-sixties Hollywood filmmaking.