Most major studios refused to back this hilarious film about one of Hollywood's worst-ever directors.

It was not the fact that Edward D Wood Jr, responsible for such truly terrible films as Glen or Glenda and Plan 9 from Outer Space, was a cross-dresser who loved to wear angora sweaters on the set.

It was because director Tim Burton wanted to shoot it in black and white.

He stuck to his guns and the results fully vindicate his stand, adding period feel to the abrasive biopic.

Johnny Depp delivers one of his most in-depth performances as Wood, who shot most of his epics in a matter of days on home-movie budgets and with a cast of Hollywood misfits.

These characters are where Burton's tribute is at its strongest. Martin Landau is astonishing (rightly winning an Oscar) as horror king Bela Lugosi, addicted in old age to morphine and living in squalor.

Bill Murray is also spot-on as aspiring transsexual Bunny Breckinridge.

All in all, an offbeat film that, instead of just wallowing in a life of failure, desperation and trashiness, celebrates it with great visual style and panache.