The film portrays Bob Crane’s descent into sexual addiction and subsequent death, centering on his friendship with John Carpenter (Willem Dafoe), a video expert, around the time he began working on *Hogan's Heroes*. The allure of fame proves overwhelming for Crane; the era’s casual attitude toward sex is something he finds difficult to resist, and he becomes involved with numerous women. Carpenter, who lacks Crane’s celebrity status or looks, manages to attract women simply through his association with the star. As his television show gains popularity, Crane spirals downward, increasingly caught up in a cycle of sexual encounters. He died at age 49 in June of 1978. "Auto Focus" (2002) is adapted from Robert Graysmith’s book *The Murder of Bob Crane: Who Killed the Star of Hogan's Heroes?*, which, surprisingly, depicts an even more disturbing portrayal of Crane’s sexual behavior than what appears on screen. Paul Schrader, director of several well-regarded films like "Taxi Driver," "The Mosquito Coast," and "Hardcore," is credited as writer or director for these projects. “Hardcore,” similarly to "Auto Focus," explores the topic of unrestrained sexuality with a focus on an unusual bond between a conservative father (George C. Scott) and a young prostitute (Season Hubley). While not quite as compelling, this film holds your interest, and the performances are solid if you can tolerate its graphic content. Rita Wilson and Maria Bello appear as Crane's wife and his subsequent wife/mistress, respectively. Michael E. Rodgers takes on the role of Richard Dawson, who seems to be something of a rival to Crane. The DVD includes a documentary about Crane’s death and focuses on John Carpenter, considered by many to be the prime suspect. The circumstances surrounding his death are certainly intriguing. I also have to mention that I know someone who worked at an A&W in my area during the mid-70s when Crane was doing traveling theater to make ends meet, as shown in the movie. She served him and another man, and he seemed like his usual friendly self, though with a noticeable sarcastic quality. Apparently, she wasn't impressed enough for him to leave a tip! The film’s running time is 1 hour and 45 minutes; it was filmed in California and Arizona. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB