Which film is a tale of an ironic friendship, a peek into Hollywood’s past, and an aging director?

The 1998 film "Gods and Monsters" is a tale of an ironic friendship, a peek into Hollywood’s past, and of an aging Frankenstein director James Whale. Once a powerful Hollywood director best known for "Frankenstein" and "The Bride of Frankenstein," James Whale (Ian McKellen) is long since retired and in increasingly poor health. His stalwart housekeeper, Hanna (Lynn Redgrave), quietly disapproves of Whale's faceless, nameless parade of young gay lovers, but when the director takes an interest in new gardener Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser), a former Marine and Korean War veteran, it seems to be for something more than his usual casual conquest.

The two men will begin an uneasy friendship as Boone poses for Whale's sketches. As they bond, they will discuss their lives while dealing with Whale's spells of disorientation and weakness from his strokes. Boone, impressed with Whale's fame, watches 'Bride of Frankenstein' on TV as his friends mock the movie, his friendship with Whale, and Whale's intentions toward Boone.

"Gods and Monsters" is a period drama. It recounts the partly fictionalized last days of the life of film director James Whale. Besides McKellen, Redgrave, and Fraser, stars include Lolita Davidovich and David Dukes. The film was directed and written by Bill Condon, based on Christopher Bram's novel 'Father of Frankenstein'. It was produced by Paul Colichman, Gregg Fienberg, and Mark R. Harris. The film received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.