Domo Arigato — 3-D 01/28/25

Bayview Entertainment
3-D Blu-ray, 3-D Anaglyphic, 2-D Blu-ray

The 3-D Archive continues its quest to revive our heritage of stereoscopic features with Arch Oboler’s obscure romantic travelogue. That the movie falls short of most of its aims won’t make a difference to connoisseurs of the process. Two Americans in Japan fall in love while seeing the sights, but the real interest is in the back story of the production and its creator, through Oboler biographer Matt Rovner. Plus two 3-D short subjects. On 3-D Blu-ray from Bayview Entertainment.
01/28/25

Teacher’s Pet 01/28/25

KL Studio Classics
Blu-ray

Clark Gable and Doris Day shine in an overlooked, bright romantic comedy: Kay and Michael Kanin’s elegant screenplay gets in some punches for education and good journalism, and overcomes most dated story aspects. A crusty news editor is forced to attend night school, and discovers that his teacher knows things about newspaper work he didn’t pick up on the street. Gig Young is excellent in the thankless Ralph Bellamy role; Gable mugs too much but demonstrates that he still has what it takes to interest females. Ms. Day’s lecturer goes literally ‘weak in the legs,’ yet doesn’t come off as a ninny. Newly remastered from VistaVision. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/28/25

The Lion in Winter – 4K 01/25/25

Studiocanal Vintage Classics
4K Ultra HD

Katharine Hepburn gets one more first-class filmic go-round, in James Goldman’s highly entertaining story of home life with those wild and crazy Plantagenets … how do three angry sons, one imprisoned Queen, the King of France and a frustrated paramour decide who gets the throne? Peter O’Toole is likewise excellent under the fine direction of Anthony Harvey, as are Nigel Terry, John Castle, Jane Merrow and new film personalities Timothy Dalton and Anthony Hopkins. Douglas Slocombe’s cinematography and John Barry’s music score are a big boost, in 4K Ultra HD from Studiocanal Vintage Classics.
01/24/25

Hatari! — 4K 01/25/25

KL Studio Classics
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Howard Hawks’ relaxed ’60s filmmaking style saw everything as a 2 hour-plus man’s world Time Out for Fun. This Africa is a heaven where boss males lord it over creation and express their macho souls around jungle cats like Elsa Martinelli. John Wayne is a great safari vacation guide; the action cinematography in pursuit of animals is breathtaking and Henry Mancini’s music turns the veldt into one big cocktail lounge. Reviewer Charlie Largent asks if Hawks’ gallery of tough professionals make the grade: Hardy Kruger in his short-shorts, Red Buttons groveling for another Oscar, Gérard Blain, Bruce Cabot, Valentín de Vargas. Get yer baby elephants walkin’, in 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/25/25

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell 01/21/25

KL Studio Classics
Blu-ray

While gearing up to take on the hypocrisy of the Production Code, producer-director Otto Preminger hired out for Milton Sperling & Gary Cooper’s ode to an aviator-warrior who fought against the War Office. To air his grievances and promote Air Power., General William Mitchell forced a military trial that destroyed his career; his superiors almost succeded in silencing him. The big trial scene hands the stage over to Rod Steiger. Other notables are Ralph Bellamy, Charles Bickford, Jack Lord, and in her first film, Elizabeth Montgomery. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/21/25

Miracle Mile — Special Edition 01/18/25

KL Studio Classics
Blu-ray

Los Angeles bursts into flames, total disaster, no mercy …. but it’s not a firefighting problem. Steve De Jarnatt’s classic apocalyptic thriller comes back in a remastered edition, with an entire disc devoted to the writer-director’s career story. Anthony Edwards’ and Mare Winningham’s ill-fated 24-hour romance in the City of the Angels is more poignant than ever. Even the cast seems miracle-chosen: John Agar, Mykelti Williamson, Kelly Minter, Kurt Fuller, Denise Crosby, Robert DoQui, O-Lan Jones, Danny De La Paz, Jenette Goldstein. And for locals that know the Miracle Mile neighborhood, it all feels very personal. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/18/25

Mr. Lucky 01/18/25

The Warner Archive Collection
Blu-ray

Whoa — RKO’s wartime hit is a bright spot for mainstream filmmaking: major studio talents turn an unpromising idea into a sweetheart film everyone loved. Cary Grant has total control of his ‘bad’ gambler-grifter, while the unsung but wonderful Laraine Day gives him a reason to reform. The Damon Runyon-inflected tale is frequently hilarious, with a cute romantic angle that saves the day. It’s also beautifully designed … by none other than William Cameron Menzies. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
01/18/25

Winchester ’73 — 4K 01/14/25

The Criterion Collection
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

What at first seems a plain-wrap generic western is actually anything but; Borden Chase’s circular storyline pulls in a bit of every theme the genre had going before 1950. This first James Stewart – Anthony Mann collaboration is one of their toughest; something violent or despicable happens in every reel. Mann gets to adapt Shakespearean ideas to the sagebrush; Stewart roughs up his ‘aw shucks’ nice guy image. Terrific input comes from a big supporting cast: Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, Stephen McNally, Millard Mitchell, Charles Drake, John McIntire, Will Geer, Jay C. Flippen, Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis. 4K Ultra HD restores William Daniels’ moody B&W cinematography. From The Criterion Collection.
01/14/25

Mountains of the Moon 01/14/25

KL Studio Classics
Blu-ray

It’s an excellent ‘thinking man’s safari picture’: Bob Rafelson’s beautifully produced epic examines the partnership of two of the 19th century’s greatest explorers. They jointly found the source of the Nile, but after their amazing adventure, London politics and malicious interference broke them up. Patrick Bergin and Iain Glen are the intrepid explorers, Richard E. Grant a duplicious publisher, and Fiona Shaw gives the most appealing portrait of a vibrant Englishwoman ever. It’s certainly the best safari movie we’ve seen, realistic and harrowing. And it comes from the producer of Easy Rider. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/14/25

Conclave – 4K 01/11/25

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital

Wow, we review a picture just a couple of months old. Good director Edward Berger guides some fine performances in a drama about dark secrets and backroom deals in the voting to elect a new pope. The movie looks lavish in 4K — entire Vatican chapels were duplicated at Cinecittà — and the ensemble acting is first class: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Brían F. O’Byrne, Carlos Diehz, Lucian Msamati, Isabella Rossellini, Sergio Castellitto. On 4K Ultra-HD + Blu-ray + Digital from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
01/11/25

The Grifters – 4K 01/11/25

The Criterion Collection
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

What a great picture to see bumped to 4K … when that grinding Elmer Bernstein cue launches the titles, we know we’re in for a hardboiled experience. Roy, Lilly and Myra are highly attractive ‘poison’ people in their own cheap rackets — hooking, fixing racetrack odds and grifting — practicing petty con-man ripoffs on unsuspecting ‘suckers.’ They’re bad enough separately but any combo is toxic. The great director Stephen Frears guides John Cusack, Anjelica Huston and Annette Bening into some of the best performances of their careers. It’s the best filmic adaptation of Jim Thompson. On 4K Ultra-HD + Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
01/11/25

Nora Prentiss 01/07/25

The Warner Archive Collection
4K Ultra HD

It’s another intense film noir with a strong woman dealing with a weak man. Ann Sheridan comes through with a great performance in her most promising Warners star vehicle. ‘Accidental Homewrecker’ Nora is the anti-femme fatale, who can only watch as her doctor-lover Kent Smith throws away his practice, his family, his upscale lifestyle and finally his own identity. A striking new remaster showcases James Wong Howe’s glowing images, that create moments of existential horror. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
01/07/25

Inglourious Basterds – 4K 01/07/25

Arrow Video
4K Ultra HD

It’s one of Tarantino’s best: Arrow Video repackages his celebration of absurd wartime action thrillers with a battery of new featurettes and interviews. We take the opportunity to revise a review that still gets mail. Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender and Diane Kruger star in a genre wish-fulfillment fantasy that could be called ‘Once Upon a Time in World War II.’   On 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video.
01/07/25

Russ Meyer’s Vixen! 01/04/25

Severin Films
Blu-ray

Whoa!  What was once ‘raw adult’ fare now plays as quaint — yet still hot. Voyeurism becomes entertainment — America’s mammary-obsessed independent filmmaker Russ Meyer did as much for naughty male daydreams as did Hugh Hefner. The entire ‘Vixen trilogy’ is being released, but we concentrate on Meyer’s breakthrough picture with Erica Gavin, the one that the young critic Roger Ebert helped make into an undressed success. On Blu-ray from Severin Films.
01/04/25

Weak Spot 01/04/25

Radiance Films
Blu-ray

aka Le faille.  Radiance comes up with yet another exotic Eurothriller. Author Antonis Samarakis’ first-person experience informs this sophisticated study of the psychology of detectives operating in a police state. An apparently ordinary guy is snatched from the street and accused of being a subersive; two cops take him ‘for a ride’ in hopes that he’ll talk. Ugo Tognazzi is the pigeon and Michel Piccoli & Mario Adorf are the ‘friendly’ potential torturers. Peter Fleischmann’s sly direction underscores a number of story twists and surprises. The music score by Ennio Morricone seals the deal. On Blu-ray from Radiance Films.
01/04/25