Woah, there’s A LOT to break down here!
For those who don’t know, back in 1995 Leonardo DiCaprio starred in a little known indie flick called Don’s Plum. The movie, produced by Don Wheatley, also featured Tobey Maguire and Jenny Lewis.
Related: The Most NSFW Movie Posters EVER!
Despite the laid back tone of the film depicting one night of improvisational conversation between 20-something friends, it ended up causing tons of drama for Don and the director R.D. Robb.
Essentially, Leo and Tobey claimed Don’s Plum was misrepresented as a director’s exercise for a portfolio instead of a full-feature film. The actors contended the movie makers decided to release the footage only after DiCaprio made it big with Titanic. The slander in the press and subsequent litigation eventually resulted in the film being banned in the United States and Canada.
Cut to 21 years later, and Wheatley is fighting back. After years of failed legal attempts, the producer has released the full movie on his website along with an open letter to Leo.
In the scathing letter, D.W. states:
“I can no longer remain silent. I can no longer allow the defamation and lies that you perpetrated against Don’s Plum to scar the great work of the artists who created it. I’m not afraid of you or your lawyers anymore. I have endured enough. I’m going to speak with the freedom that our Constitution affords me. I’m going to stand up for our film and for every one of the people who helped make it…I don’t know you anymore, Leo, but I hope that you’ve learned a little bit about film preservation and your responsibility to protect and contribute to the ongoing experiment of filmmaking…you are not bigger than art, Leo.”
Yikes! Tell us how you really feel, Don!
The scorned creative also went on to assert that Tobey was responsible for L.D.’s change of heart, saying:
“In a single night in 1996, you made a series of hasty and wildly irrational decisions that hurt a lot of people. By abruptly cutting off all communication with me and RD Robb, you cut off your access to the truth. Had you just taken time to listen to reason, you would have found that Tobey Maguire was using you for his own mysterious purposes. Had you actually taken the time to look at the facts, and not just listened to Tobey, you would have continued to support Don’s Plum. But instead you allowed yourself to get swept up in a witch hunt that destroyed art and careers.”
Very interesting! We wonder how T.M. would respond to this accusation!
Regardless of whose side you’re on, the full film is available to watch HERE!
[Image via WENN/Zentropa.]
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