Joan Rivers' Life Caught on Tape

Joan Rivers has been entertaining us with her talent and wit for more than forty years and is still going strong. On Friday, we get to see the comedy icon in a whole new light when the documentary about her life, "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work," makes its way to theaters.

Photos: Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers Goes Inside Lives of Newly Rich

In the film, Rivers shows a vulnerable side, at one point showing an empty calendar. She says it represents fear to her.

Pointing at the empty pages, she says, "If my book ever looked like this, it would mean that nobody wants me, that everything I ever tried to do in life didn't work. Nobody cared. I've been totally forgotten."
Rivers said it was funny watching a clip from the movie because it's interesting seeing what the filmmakers chose to include after 14 months with her.

"You forget all those little moments that they chose to put in it," she said, adding, "And boy, oh, boy, that's my life. Empty book -- I think that's everybody's fear."

"Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith remarked, "And we watched you so much, and you do we stand up and everything else, in those situations, you are always in control. You are the one who is in control of the material that gets out. And this time, the walls come down, and we see you laid bare."

Rivers said that was what they set out to do.

"I just knew we were going to do a documentary. I don't want a stupid puff piece where everyone goes, 'Oh, she's so wonderful, here's another friend, 'Oh, I loved her.' All these horrible people that tell you how wonderful they are. And so I said we're going to do it, let's tell the truth."

"Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work" opens in select cities Friday. The film follows a year and half of Rivers' life, as well as exploring her entire body of work and her biography.

The finale of her second season of her TV Land show, "How'd You Get So Rich," airs tonight at 10 p.m. ET.

For more with Rivers, click on the video below.