This is a list of films written, produced or directed by Ed Wood. Acting roles are also noted.
Filmography Year Film Role Notes1948The Streets of LaredoDirector, screenwriter, actorHalf-hour western not completed by Wood, the film was shot silent and on very low quality film stock; Wood had planned to use minimal dialogue and fill most of the soundtrack with cowboy songs; the film was decades later completed, scored and theatrically premiered by Dolores Fuller and Crawford John Thomas as Crossroads of Laredo posthumously in 1995 (see below under 1995).Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg. 197. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.1950The Baron of ArizonaStuntman onlyA biopic about James Reavis starring Vincent Price as the conman who nearly stole the Arizona Territory; Wood worked as a stuntman dressed as a woman on a runaway stagecoach.1951The Sun Was SettingCo-Producer, Co-Director, Screenwriter, Music aka The Sun Also Sets; 14-minute B&W short about a young woman coming to terms with her impending death. This film only aired locally in Los Angeles. It was codirected by Ben Brody, and stars Tom Keene, Phyllis Coates and Angela Stevens. Filmed on 16mm at KTTV Studios in December 1951; never available on home video, but a print can be watched on YouTube;1952Trick Shooting with Kenne DuncanDirectorThis 9-minute documentary consists of Kenne Duncan performing trick shooting stunts and showcasing weapons by Remington Arms. The weapons showcased are a Remington Model 552 and a Remington Nylon 66. This film was made in 1952, around the same time Wood co-produced The Lawless Rider with Kenne Duncan. Sinister Cinema released this short as a bonus feature on a home video release with The Lawless Rider (1952)The Lawless RiderAssociate Producer, PlotHour-long Western film shot in 1952, directed by Yakima Canutt, starring Johnny Carpenter, Frankie Darro, Noel Neill and Kenne Duncan. It was not released until 1954. Wood co-produced the film with Alex Gordon and Carpenter, and claimed that he wrote the plot on which Johnny Carpenter's screenplay was based (originally to be called The Outlaw Marshall).Double NooseCo-Screenwriter (with Michael Hayes)TV Western show shot in 1952, produced by Sidney R. Ross, directed by Derwin Abbe and starring Tom Keene. Only the script apparently survives.1953Glen or GlendaDirector, screenwriter, actorThis 1953 fictional documentary approach to transvestitism, also known as I Changed My Sex! or I Led Two Lives!, is semi-autobiographical in nature and many suggest that Wood made it as a plea for tolerance. The story was prompted by the world's first successful sex change operation. Movie producer George Weiss wanted to capitalize on the current buzz by making a freak-show type film about sex reassignment surgery. Wood made a pitch, took the money and, much to Weiss' horror, produced this compassionate film about transvestites instead. The film stars Wood himself as Glen/Glenda (credited as Daniel Davis), Bela Lugosi, Dolores Fuller, Lyle Talbot, Conrad Brooks and Timothy Farrell.Son of the RenegadeCo-ScreenwriterAnother Johnny Carpenter Western film (running 55 minutes) directed by Reg Brown; Wood allegedly helped Carpenter with the plot, uncredited. This film is available on DVD and onlineCrossroad Avenger: The Adventures of the Tucson KidDirector, screenwriter, actorUnsold 25-minute Pilot for an unproduced television series (filmed in Color) starring Tom Keene and featuring Lyle Talbot, Harvey B. Dunn, Don Nagel, Kenne Duncan, Tom Tyler (and Wood playing a Pony Express rider); Wood later expanded this film into a 50-minute feature called The Adventures of the Tucson Kid; available on DVDRudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg. 199. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.BootsDirector, screenwriterWritten and directed by Ed Wood (approximately 25 minutes) for Tucson Kid Productions, this was made as a sequel to Crossroad Avenger.Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg. 200. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.1954Jail BaitCo-Producer, Director, Screenwriter A film noir in which a criminal has a face swap operation in order to avoid the police. The original shooting title was The Hidden Face; Co-produced by Ed Wood, Joy Newton Houck Sr. and J. Francis White; Co-written with Alex Gordon, the film stars Lyle Talbot, Steve Reeves, Dolores Fuller, Herbert Rawlinson, Theodora Thurman, Don Nagel and Timothy Farrell; Rawlinson died the day after he finished shooting his scenes. A racist "blackface" dance number replaced a stripper act at the last minute (without consulting Wood); Distributor Ron Ormond (of Howco) changed the title to Jail Bait just before releasing it.Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg.201. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.1955Bride of the MonsterCo-Producer, Director, ScreenwriterOriginally titled The Atomic Monster or Bride of the Atom. Stars Bela Lugosi, Tor Johnson, Paul Marco, Conrad Brooks, Harvey B. Dunn, Loretta King. Lugosi plays a mad scientist bent on creating a race of atomic supermen that will allow him to take over the world. Tor Johnson plays his lumbering assistant, Lobo. The film features an obviously rubber octopus (rumored to have been stolen by Wood and his colleagues from storage at Republic Studios) in the finale. The part of the leading lady was given to Loretta King, which led to Wood's later breakup with his girlfriend Dolores Fuller who had been promised the part. Bela Lugosi was hospitalized for drug addiction soon after the film was completed. Tim Burton affectionately relates much of the story behind this movie in Ed Wood (1994).1956The Violent YearsScreenwriter (uncredited)A.k.a. Female or Teenage Girl Gang. Directed by William M. Morgan and based on an original story by the film's producer Roy Reid called Teenage Killers. A neglected, rich teenage girl and three of her friends go on a crime spree, robbing gas stations, vandalizing classrooms and forcing total strangers to have sex with them at gunpoint. It was the most financially successful film of Wood's career. Stars Jean Moorehead and Timothy Farrell.1957Plan 9 from Outer SpaceCo-Producer, Director, Screenwriter, EditorThis is Wood's best known movie. Made in 1956, the film had a theatrical premiere on March 15, 1957 at the Carlton Theatre in Hollywood under the title Grave Robbers From Outer Space. It was put into general release in July 1958, retitled Plan Nine From Outer Space."James Theatre, Starts Today/Liane Jungle Goddess/Plan Nine from Outer Space". Daily Press. July 3, 1958. p. 8. It stars Tor Johnson, Gregory Walcott, Bela Lugosi, Vampira, Tom Keene, Duke Moore, Lyle Talbot, Conrad Brooks, Dudley Manlove, Bunny Breckinridge, Paul Marco and Criswell. Bela Lugosi died in 1956 before production began, but Wood incorporated some earlier footage he had taken of Lugosi into the film.Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg. 204. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.Final CurtainProducer, Director, Screenwriter Unsold 22-minute pilot for a projected TV anthology series called Portraits in Terror, starring Duke Moore and Jeannie Stevens, narrated by Dudley Manlove; Bela Lugosi was considering this script when he died, and had to be replaced in the cast by Duke Moore; footage from this unsold pilot was later integrated into Wood's 1959 Night of the Ghouls; Wood always regarded Final Curtain to be one of his best works. It resurfaced in 2011 and is now available for viewing on the internet.Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg. 203. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.The Night the Banshee CriedProducer, Director, Screenwriter22-minute short TV film which is apparently a lost film; it was made as an episode for a projected TV anthology series called Portraits in Terror; in 1960, Wood tried once again to sell his Portraits in Terror TV series, including Banshee and Final Curtain in the package, but again it failed to sell.1958The Bride and the BeastScreenwriterAlso known as Queen of the Gorillas, it was produced and directed by Adrian Weiss. Ed Wood wrote the screenplay with input from Weiss. A woman (Charlotte Austin) becomes romantically attracted to a great ape kept caged in her husband's basement. When hypnotised, it is discovered that, in a previous life, she was a queen of the gorillas. A RiffTrax version was released in 2014.The Astounding She-MonsterConsultantWood served as an unofficial "consultant" on this Ronald Ashcroft film such as advising on the use of stock footage. Stars Robert Clarke, Shirley Kirkpatrick and Kenne Duncan; released in England as The Mysterious Invaderhttp://www.edwoodonline.com/thehunt/ASTOUNDING.html#MYSTERIOUS.1959Revenge of the VirginsScreenwriter A 1959 American "nudie cutie" Western film directed by Peter Perry Jr. Ed Wood wrote the screenplay.Night of the GhoulsWriter, DirectorThis film was made in 1959 but was not released until 1984 (see under film's actual release date (1984)).1960The Sinister UrgeCo-producer, Director, ScreenwriterStars Dino Fantini, Duke Moore, Kenne Duncan, Conrad Brooks, Carl Anthony and Jean Fontaine. Crime drama about women going missing or turning up dead, victims of the pornography industry. Film incorporates footage from Wood's unfinished 1956 film Hellborn (a.k.a. Rock and Roll Hell). This was Ed Wood's last attempt to make a "real movie".1961Anatomy of a PsychoContributed to Screenplay Stars Ronnie Burns (George Burns' son) and Michael Granger. Directed by Boris Petroff (a.k.a. Brooke L. Peters), who was Jane Mann's husband. Wood just contributed to Jane Mann's screenplay. Music excerpts from Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) were used in this film.1962Married Too YoungCo-Screenwriter (Wood collaborated with Nat Tanchuck)Directed by George Moskov, this film was about young newlyweds who get mixed up with a gang of car thieves. Stars Harold Lloyd Jr., Anthony Dexter, Marianna Hill, Jana Lund.1963Shotgun WeddingScreenwriter (Wood's script was based on a story idea by Jane Mann)Hour-long film produced and directed by Boris Petroff (Jane Mann's husband), starring J. Pat O'Malley, Jenny Maxwell, William Schallert, Valerie Allen; story of two warring hillbilly clans and a young girl who is scheming to get one of the yokels to marry her.1965Orgy of the DeadScreenwriter, Assistant DirectorOriginally titled Nudie Ghoulies, this was Ed Wood's first plunge into the world of movie erotica. In the film, a writer and his girlfriend crash their car and find themselves in a cemetery where they are forced to watch the dead dance for a Lord of the Dead, played by Criswell. A bevy of dancing strippers outfitted in various motifs make up the bulk of this movie, though it also oddly features a werewolf and a mummy. Strangely assembled and surreal in its plot and blatantly low-budget, it was directed by Stephen Apostolof. Filmed in "AstraVision" and "Shocking SexiColor", it stars Pat Barringer, Criswell and Texas Starr. A paperback novel version of the film written by Wood was published in 1966.1967For Love and MoneyWood contributed the plot; James Rogers wrote the screenplay A group of well-endowed women decide to use sex to become successful in business; adapted from Wood's novel Sexecutives, directed by Donald A. Davis.1969Operation RedlightScreenwriter, actor Based on Wood's novel Mama's Diary (written as Dick Trent). Wood plays a popular porn novelist managing a whorehouse in Vietnam; produced by Jacques Descent and directed by Don Doyle.Gun RunnersScreenwriterLow budget Western film directed by Donald A. Davis; Ed Wood wrote the script.One Million AC/DCScreenwriterFilm is about a tribe of horny cave dwellers in prehistoric times who run afoul of a very antagonistic Tyrannosaurus Rex. Wood wrote the screenplay using the pseudonym 'Akdov Telmig' (Vodka Gimlet spelled backwards), though a typographical