In 1976, David Klein had one of the best (or worst depending on your perspective) ideas of his life. It was that year that the odd-ball idea man came up with the idea for fluorescent colored, unusually expensive jelly beans. He called his new candy concoction, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. And the rest is history.
Candyman: The David Klein Story is the true story of the rise and fall of an eccentric entrepreneur with a dream that would change his life. On the website for Candyman, the film is described like this:
“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 a flaky 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.”
I love stories like this, where the underdog comes up with a crazy idea, and through luck, or genius, or sheer willpower, turns the idea into reality. The backstory to the business or invention is almost always more interesting that the business itself. Apple is a great company, but it’s nowhere near as interesting as the backstory of company founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniack. The story of how David Klein’s life led to Jelly Belly looks like a similar situation.
Candyman hits the festival circuit in 2010 beginning with the SLAMDANCE Film Festival January 21-28 in Park City, UT. It looks like a great film and I’m looking forward to seeing it.
You can find out more about the film by visiting the Candyman website.
Candyman: the David Klein Story (trailer) from Jennifer Klein on Vimeo.