I picked up Paper Moon for $10 at BB last week. I always liked the flick and have waited years for it to be released.

Anyway I listened to the commentary and watched the "making of" extras. Low and behold the director Peter Bogdanovich did not have an ending in mind even as filming started! More so, he even says key scenes were added at a whim during shooting, and that tying things together "just happened" as things progressed.

Even the beginning had improvisation.

Sounds like he had half a film in mind at the rest was made up on the way. The only thing that seems preplanned were location and Addie's wardrobe. I cant believe it.

Rhetorical question: Is this a way to make a movie? Not in my opinion rather it sounds like a recipe for disaster -- Pete got away with one.

I thought His story about how he cast the 16 year old girl was a bit much considering his past.

Good commentary.

Bogdanovich has always referred to the "John Ford Axiom of Happy Accidents".



This was based on a book-- "Addie Pray" so it seemed like they had at least a blue-print to follow.

Yeah, he had the book as an initial blue print, but Peter said that the second half of the book dealt with Addie at her new home and that he didnot want any of that in the movie.