If you enjoy documentaries that show personal journeys and comedy in equal measure the new film from Costa Botes, (who made mockumentary Forgotten Silver with Peter Jackson) may be worth looking out for. The story of the Willy Wonka of the Jelly Belly bean being exiled from his own candy empire looks to provide a kitschy character-driven film about the dark side of the industry.
Offical synopsis:
Candyman tells the amazing true story of David Klein, an eccentric candy inventor from LA, who in 1976 had a once in a lifetime epiphany and came up with the concept of Jelly Belly jellybeans. These colourful beans came in numerous shockingly realistic flavours and were a radical new product. They became a pop culture phenomenon and revolutionised the candy industry. It didn’t hurt that no less a personage than Ronald Reagen, president of the USA, proclaimed Jelly Bellies as his favorite sweets. David’s eccentric personality and peculiar sense of business led him to give up the business just as it was about to explode. He has struggled with bitter regrets ever since. Jelly Belly has grown into a billion dollar enterprise, and the company has deliberately erased him from its history. There is no room for an eccentric genius like this in the modern corporate world. The movie is all about both sides of the American dream. It tells how Klein lost his beans, but kept his soul.
Tagline: “It’s time to spill the beans”
The film premieres at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival.
[...] Candyman: The David Klein Story -traileri – unohdettu karkkikeksijä [...]
This is David Klein–the Candyman. Our dvd(CAndyman) is now on Amazon. We are very happy with this documentary. The product code at Amazon is ASIN: B003VSL57A Only the Best
Living Life is being out there and meeting interesting people, with great stories that share lessons for all of us to learn and progess by.
Candyman is out there, very interesting, a heartfelt story with lessons you’ll want to experience.
Almost here…..this Saturday at 8:00 pm I will be watching the Documentary channel….Our documentary Candyman:the David Klein story will be on….It will also air at 11:00 the same night( November 27th) If you love candy as much as I do please watch this. I want to thank everyone involved with this documentary…Next stop the book A Man and His Beans…..thank you David Klein
I watched this a few days ago. I went to the Jelly Belly web site and sure enough it does not mention David by name. SHAME ON THIS COMPANY!!!! I was born in Fairfield CA in 1958 and I loved Jelly Belly until I saw this documentary. I will not buy them again until they give David the credit he deserves. What an amazing generous man! I hope there is a way to get this message out! Keep on being the wonderful generous man you are. Not many people would be able to still be the kind generous person you obviously are. Hang in the David!!!!
I agree with Debbie above. I was a big fan of Jelly Belly’s for a long time. My parents took me the factory as a kid and I always enjoyed most of the unique flavors, besides Popcorn Yuck. This documentary is just plain heartbreaking to see a man completely taken advantage of by businessmen and even his own selfish family member. Only a rare few people are bright enough to come up with a revolutionary product; and to not be given the credit due for it’s invention is criminal. I will not be purchasing any Jelly Belly candies until something changes for David. David was certainly not a businessman and made a foolish, uninformed decision. I understand this is his fault as well, but that doesn’t mean I cant take his side.
Whilst I feel the treatment of David Klein was terrible; the $5m dollars is treated as if $0. David Klein could have been a billionaire, but instead only made millions.
Like David didnt get paid beyone generously from Jelly Belly, bet he wont tell you how much he and his partner got from the deal… Get all the facts, he is credited at Jelly Belly Candy Company in many ways. But when you sell a trademark you sell it… To bad you have nothing to show for it…Should have invested better