The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman is a must for any comic book illustrator who was remotely influenced by the world of MAD magazine and the 90s American satirists. The documentary is a deep dive into MADcreator and satirist Harvey Kurtzman, his integrity, and his strive for humour and edge in the politics of the time. With an expansive cast of interviewees that include family (Adele and Nellie Kurtzman), peers, and those influenced by his work, it’s a testament to that integrity and the respect garnered in Kurtzman’s lifetime. Directed by Bart Simpson and executive produced by Terry Gilliam, it’s unsurprisingly vivid and immersive, though perhaps more modest than expected. It explores the constant dance between creativity and commerce, with a focus on the relationship between Kurtzman and his financier Hugh Hefner.
Simpson’s film is an interesting and respectful portrayal of the life of Kurtzman, who died back in 1993. The film speaks to many of the individuals he worked with over the years who influenced and were equally influenced by him, including The Simpsons’ Matt Groening, Robert Crumb, journalist Gloria Steinem, and filmmaker Terry Gilliam.
Throughout the documentary Simpson, a Canadian director and producer, weaves narrative into the many tributes from the comic book world, as well as comics themselves. Known for producing the award-winning documentary The Corporation and for directing Brasilia: Life After Design,Simpsonis clearly adept in this film format and comprehensively constructs the story behind this key comic figure.
Nellie, Kurtzman’s youngest daughter and the keeper of his legacy, ties it all together as the film’s main narrator. She visits family friend Denis Kitchen to go through her father’s archive (while Kitchen threatens to burn the lot) with thoughts of creating a Kurtzman museum, which provides an interesting structure and starting point to the film. With a vast array of material this documentary collages television appearances with sketches, storyboards, letters, and indeed animation.
Most fascinatingly, it touches upon Kurtzman’s layered and textural work, which moved away from vivid black and white to several shades of grey and eventually colour. Though there’s less animation than expected for a film executive produced by Gilliam, it’s a compelling exploration of Kurtzman with a fine visual balance. It gives the sense of a film that massively values the work of this influential countercultural figurehead of his time. It certainly depicts Kurtzman’s dampened ambition, as his dream of filmmaking was put aside in order to satisfy his financiers. Insightful and with moments of inspiration, The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman is an informed and somewhat balanced biographical documentary.
