Biedermeier: his identity, both mistaken and true

Otto Biedermeier, the Hollywood icon and B-movie legend, was murdered by his wife, Mysterious Circumstances. Tom Lenz, a film historian and the director's biographer, wants to update his 20-year-old monograph as well as to pay his respects.

After meeting again with Ms. Circumstances, a former circus performer whose specialty of magic tricks on the high wire had made her briefly famous before capturing the heart of the filmmaker, Tom Lenz has his doubts.

Once, I had asked,"Why? Does it matter? No one seems to care. People apparently want to be lied to. That's what politics is. That's why they go to the movies, isn't it?"

Otto was firm in his answer. "Truth matters. You have to look for it. What our children know is our only legacy. That's why I make my movies."