Glenn Erickson's Reviews: Archives: Reviews

Penelope 01/25/20

What can one say about a comedy that just limps along, even when an attractive cast does fine work every step of the way?  Even the bit parts are creatively cast in this odd romp infected with a really bad case of The Cutes. Natalie Wood is at her best, but in service of dumb gags: let’s blow bubble gum bubbles! The result so upset Natalie that she ditched her studio contract. The roster of engaging talent includes Peter Falk (in suave leading man mode!), Dick Shawn (less grating than usual), Lila Kedrova & Lou Jacobi (showing real style), Jonathan Winters (wasted) and, of all people, Ian Bannen as Natalie Wood’s uncomprehending husband. Bannen is so good, he drags a real laugh or two from the material. The show has been beautifully remastered — it’s part one of this week’s accidental tribute to director Arthur Hiller. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
01/25/20

Tobruk 01/25/20

Rock Hudson’s big-explosion war movie applies decent production values and decent direction to a good idea, but substitutes some weak double-crosses for a real screen story. Hudson and his co-producer Gene Corman toss in a fine stack of quality actors… who don’t do much more than dodge tanks, flame throwers, and big explosions. Those explosions look familiar — I’ll bet they were recycled in more than a couple subsequent movies. Aiding and abetting handsome Hudson are George Peppard (manning a Tarantino-issue flamethrower), Nigel Green, and Guy Stockwell, who seems to be in EVERY Universal release around this time. Part two of CineSavant’s unplanned ode to director Arthur Hiller goes out with a bang and a boom. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/25/20

Gregory’s Girl 01/21/20

From the director of the beloved Local Hero: ‘Pure Simple Joy’ is an apt way to describe this deceptively meek, completely endearing Scottish film with a universal theme about adolescence and the reality of teen love. John Hughes’ teen pix do not hold a candle to the innocent charm found here. The gawky yet boundlessly optimistic Gregory falls head over heels for the teenaged wonder girl of his dreams… his only problem is that she’s light years ahead of him in terms of maturity. But the female social system takes on the problem in what must be the most gentle (make that Utopian) view of high school ever. Writer-director Bill Forsythe struck independent hit gold, through the great performances of Gordon John Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, and Clare Grogan. On Blu-ray from Film Movement Classics.
01/21/20

Night Tide 01/21/20

Experimental filmmaker and writer Curtis Harrington took his first shot at a feature film with this intriguing horror blend of Val Lewton ambiguity and A.I.P. nightmare thrills. Dennis Hopper is the amiable sailor at the sideshow pier who gets literally tangled up with a mermaid performer — who has some secrets he’d rather not know. Linda Lawson and Luana Anders are the romantic alternatives, but we know that sailors never pick the right woman. This two disc special edition loads the show with extras, including an impressive set of restored Harrington short films. And you’ll never think of the Santa Monica Pier’s carousel the same way again. Reviewed by the reportedly experimental Charlie Largent. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
01/21/20

House by the River 01/21/20

One of Fritz Lang’s least-known thrillers has aspects that appealed to him, and he certainly applied his personal viewpoint and visual talent. It’s a period Gothic with women in corsets, about a deranged writer who lets his desires get out of hand. It may be actor Louis Hayward’s best work. Jane Wyatt is the suffering wife, but the real honors go to Dorothy Patrick, in an all-too brief appearance. It’s yet another Lang film about a sex-killer; commentator Alexandra Heller-Nicholas relates the attempted rape to the #metoo movement. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/21/20

Fail Safe 01/18/20

The world trembles on the brink, and liberals are in charge!  The nicest President you ever met gives the Soviet Premier an offer anybody could refuse, while technical glitches, not crazy people or radical politics, are blamed for starting WW3. Sidney Lumet’s taut, scary armageddon-outta-here thriller was weighed in the balance against a certain Stanley Kubrick film and found wanting, but unless you’re a stickler for technical details it really works up a buzz. The cast & crew list is a menu of committed liberal talent. Featuring Henry Fonda, Dan O’Herlihy, Walter Matthau, Frank Overton, Edward Binns, Fritz Weaver, Larry Hagman, Janet Ward and Dom DeLuise. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
01/18/20

Tunes of Glory 01/18/20

Some critics wondered if Alec Guinness and John Mills should have swapped roles for this adaptation of James Kennaway’s incisive novel about popularity vs. discipline in the command structure of a Scots army brigade. Ronald Neame’s direction is exemplary, showcasing the powerhouse performances yet avoiding theatrical flourishes. And the movie introduces Susannah York as well. Criterion’s 4K remaster greatly improves on their older DVD release. Starring Dennis Price, Susannah York, Kay Walsh, John Fraser and Gordon Jackson. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
01/18/20

The War Lord 01/14/20

One of the more satisfying costume adventures of the ‘sixties is also one of its star’s best vehicles. Charlton Heston was born to play bigger-than-life historical types, and his Norman knight in this film has the benefit of an intelligent screenplay and a terrific supporting ensemble. This hero’s armor doesn’t shine — he’s more than willing to risk everything to possess a pagan woman with whom he’s become infatuated. Many would-be epics want us to think that the charms of unlikely damsels like Virginia Mayo and Claudette Colbert changed the course of history, but this show makes it seem more than possible. Plus, it features great action scenes and a terrific music score by Jerome Moross. With an impressive cast: Richard Boone, Rosemary Forsyth, Maurice Evans, Guy Stockwell, Niall MacGinnis, and James Farentino. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/14/20

Black Angel 01/14/20

This unassuming noir classic can boast a strong creative pedigree and an unusual ending… which I’ll not spoil. Dan Duryea is the confused pianist helping June Vincent clear her husband of a murder charge, by infiltrating the nightclub of suspicious Peter Lorre. The outline sticks close to Cornell Woolrich’s story source, and Roy William Neill contributes a classy job of direction. Also starring Constance Dowling and Broderick Crawford; Alan K. Rode’s commentary is a winner. On Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
01/14/20

The Titfield Thunderbolt 01/11/20

Toot Toot!  The Little Engine that Could becomes a tale of the little town that could, when their tiny rail service is discontinued. A crackerjack cast of Ealing regulars — Stanley Holloway, Naunton Wayne, John Gregson — band together to take over the little spur line and keep it running. We get to see a vintage locomotive from the early 1800s in action, but the appeal isn’t limited to lovers of trains — Ealing’s knack for inspired, understated comedy is all over this show. Plus, it’s the company’s first feature in Technicolor, and is beautifully remastered. With George Relph, Godfrey Tearle, Hugh Griffith, Sidney James, and Jack MacGowran. On Blu-ray from Film Movement Classics.
01/11/20

Young Winston 01/11/20

Epics — everybody wants to make them but the studios are naturally wary. Richard Attenborough’s ode to the youthful ambitions of Sir Winston Churchill was a big hit in England but didn’t make a dent here. Although a dead ringer for the young Winston, Simon Ward didn’t take off as a star either, leaving Anne Bancroft and Robert Shaw in a sidebar drama that will mostly be remembered for an STD. Correspondent-soldier Churchill sees action in India, The Sudan and South Africa, thanks to the intervention of his socially adept mother. It’s a beautiful, ‘safe’ production with plenty of national pride. Its American premiere served as the Grand opening screening for the second FILMEX film festival. No shortage of Brit movie stars on view: Jack Hawkins, Patrick Magee, Edward Woodward, John Mills, Pat Heywood, Laurence Naismith, Colin Blakely, Ian Holm, Robert Flemyng, Jane Seymour, Anthony Hopkins, Pippa Steel. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
01/11/20

Cimarron 01/07/20

Once upon a time, MGM launched a big spectacle Western remake with the top star Glenn Ford and the bright import Maria Schell — and then second-guessed the whole production, cutting back on everything so severely that director Anthony Mann ankled the set for Spain and El Cid. The storytelling is a mess — after starting big, the show soon falls into pieces. But many of individual scenes and set pieces are exemplary, especially Mann’s re-run of the Oklahoma Land Rush, staged in Arizona and augmented by classy special effects. The large cast rounds up some big talent — Mercedes McCambridge, Russ Tamblyn — to tell Edna Ferber’s multi-generational story about ambition, intolerance and dreams of glory on the frontier. With Anne Baxter, Arthur O’Connell, Russ Tamblyn, Mercedes McCambridge, Vic Morrow, Charles McGraw, Harry Morgan, David Opatoshu, Aline MacMahon, and a whole lotta horses. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
01/07/20

Viy 01/07/20

Could the Soviets do a horror film?  The answer is a big yes, with an adaptation of the same Nikolai Gogol fable credited with inspiring Mario Bava’s Black Sunday. The bucolic period setting and comic undertones do not prepare the viewer for the maelstrom of supernatural events, aptly described by the disc notes as ‘demonic mayhem.’ It’s too terrifying for one Russian director, so Konstantin Ershov, Georgiy Kropachyov collaborated. The equally frightening CineSavant scribe Charlie Largent pens the review, doing some research to better place it in a cinematic context. Does a movie like this fit into the horror tradition of western Europe, or does it exist in isolation? Some of the creepy-crawly monster things in this show defy description.  On Blu-ray from Severin Films.
01/07/20

The Leech Woman 01/04/20

Why do we like horror and monster movies that routinely get labeled as ‘bad?’  Because many of them have great story ideas and look at the world from odd, warped viewpoints. Back when ‘warped’ wasn’t a prerequisite for ALL filmed entertainment (my exaggeration) this murderous rejuvenation tale could be appreciated as something unusual, even quirky. Jeez, the characters are even nastier than the people I know!  Lovely Coleen Gray takes a chance on a downmarket Universal programmer and proves how well she can carry a movie, even through several dubious horror make-ups. With Grant Williams, Estelle Hemsley, Gloria Talbott, Phillip Terry, Kim Hamilton, and John Van Dreelen. On Blu-ray from Scream Factory.
01/04/20

The Slasher – ‘Cosh Boy’ 01/04/20

He’s mean, he’s nasty, he carries a razor and he’s dating your sister!  Cosh Boy was front & center in 1953 debates about ‘what’s wrong with the British cinema.’ It holds up well, if not as PC social comment, then as solid exploitation fare, with our verminous hero putting the moves on tough-but-vulnerable local girl Joan Collins. The entire cast will want to stand in line to get revenge against Roy Walsh, the punk who steals from his own mum and lets his criminal gang do the dirty work. Take it from me, he’s a dirty rat. Directed by Lewis Gilbert; co-starring Hermoine Baddeley and Hermione Gingold, and with a lot of Hammer personnel in the credits. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
01/04/19

Cobra Woman 12/31/19

Charlie Largent approaches this High Kitsch classic with an open mind and an appreciative eye: the remastering of this wartime Technicolor hit is dazzling. Talent-challenged but curvaceous Maria Montez, a genuine cult figure, can’t act and certainly can’t dance — but she has what the GIs overseas wanted to see, and the censors let her show it. Jon Hall and Sabu aid and abet Robert Siodmak’s arrow-straight direction. The script is dreamlike, the dialogue ultra-campy; add an excellent music score and the film’s effect is actually quite pleasing. Membership in the Maria Montez cult fan club helps; I hope Charlie tells his story about when a festival screened five Montez trailers in a row. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
12/31/19

Passport to Pimlico 12/31/19

Much of Ealing Studios’ core appeal begins right here, with T.E.B. Clarke’s astute look at the character of pragmatic, energetic Londoners, who in this fantasy face an outrageous situation with spirit, pluck, and a determination not to be cheated. What happens when a few square blocks of London discover that they’re no longer even part of the British Empire?  A classic of wartime ‘adjustments,’ the ensemble comedy even begins with a Tex Avery- like ode to rationing. With Stanley Holloway, Hermione Baddeley, Margaret Rutherford, Sydney Tafler and Betty Warren. On Blu-ray from Film Movement Classics.
12/31/19

Dr. Cyclops 12/28/19

It may be a little creaky, but Dr. Cyclops is a genuine classic of the imagination, from a time long before pulp fantasy dominated Hollywood filmmaking. For 1940 audiences this must have felt like a strange dream. Five humans are miniaturized and terrorized by Albert Dekker’s Dr. Thorkel, a card-carrying mad scientist. Held firm by a giant rubber hand, ‘Mr. Crabby’ Charles Halton keeps an unfortunate appointment with a horrifying fate. Who will survive, and how big will they be?  Did Thorkel change his name to Soberin, move to California, and steal The Great Whatzit? Kino’s new HD transfer of this oddball gem is a wonderment — the Technicolor is outstanding, better than Paramount’s old nitrate studio print.. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
12/28/19

The Fugitive Kind 12/28/19

Marlon Brando is back in an adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play Orpheus Descending. The cameraman is Boris Kaufman and the director is Sidney Lumet; Marlon’s a classic tomcat drifter in a dangerous parish, who attracts two women. Acting styles mesh, or mix without blending — Anna Magnani and Joanne Woodward each get opportunities to shine. It’s all poetics and symbolism — dig the snakeskin jacket! — in a fairly realistic setting. The extras include three Williams one-act plays. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
12/28/19

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 12/24/19

Two givens for Los Angeles living in 1969: perpetual driving around listening to the radio, and stereo cartridge needles dropping onto record grooves. Those things were the basics of our existence! CineSavant closes out his pre-Christmas cheer with his favorite picture of ’19. It’s possibly Quentin Tarantino’s best. Yes, yes I know it has that crazy finale, but overall it has much less violence than most anything else he’s done. Plus it has scenes that can be described as heartwarming, and quietly sentimental… practically new territory for this director. The respect shown for Sharon Tate is gratifying. Bring us more great stories that inspire you this way, Mr. T. ! On 4K UltraHD, Blu-ray + Digital from Sony/Columbia.
12/24/19

The Cotton Club Encore 12/24/19

They say you Can’t Go Home Again, but Francis Coppola has pulled a real magic trick — his 1984 gangland musical ended up heavily compromised by outright racism producers that didn’t like the half of the story that favored a black show-biz drama. All the gangster action has been retained in this impressive Encore recut, but with twenty new minutes of performances and backstage intrigues. Gregory and Maurice Hines’ tap dances are extended, and musical numbers have been restored, with the terrific Lonette McKee getting special emphasis. The show was always good, and now it’s much better. On Blu-ray + DVD + Digitalfrom Lionsgate.
12/24/19

The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh 12/21/19

Walt goes radical, or as radical as the Disney brand could go. In the 1760s, an HRPMS (hobgoblin rogue phantom marsh smuggler) called The Scarecrow gives His Majesty’s forces a run for their money. We kids loved the theme song, the spooky cinematography, and especially Patrick McGoohan’s terrific voice and scarecrow disguise — he’s sort of a Masked Superhero 200 years before Watchmen. This is a Disney Club offering, so good luck getting a copy if you’re not a member. It’s not the feature cut-down but all three shows beautifully remastered in widescreen and color, sayeth the review of CineSavant’s in-house HRPMS, Charlie Largent. On Blu-ray from The Disney Club.
12/21/19

Brother Can You Spare A Dime? 12/21/19

Philippe Mora’s impressive documentary epic sees 1930s America through the movies, through music, and the evasions of official newsreels. Franklin Delano Roosevelt preaches prosperity while James Cagney slugs his way through the decade as a smart-tongued everyman — in a dozen different roles. This was a new kind of documentary info-tainment formula: applying old film footage to new purposes. On Blu-ray from The Sprocket Vault / VCI.
12/21/19

Trapped 12/17/19

Noir Nirvana isn’t found amid literary swells and hoity-toity art connoisseurs — but in the trenches of humble Eagle Lion Films, where Richard Fleischer, Lloyd Bridges and a hotter-than-hot Barbara Payton steamed up the streets of Los Angeles circa 1949. The Film Noir Foundation experts give us an expertly curated slice of hardboiled crime — Eddie Muller dubs it ‘To Live and Die in L.A.,’ but in the year that the Reds took over mainland China, and the USSR exploded its first Atom bomb. Muller, Alan Rode, Julie Kirgo, Mark Fleischer and Donna Lethal assemble several authoritative extras. On Blu-ray from Flicker Alley / Film Noir Foundation.
12/17/19

The Pumpkin Eater 12/17/19

Reviewer Charlie Largent wanted to write up the Indicator disc of this title several years ago. We missed that UK release, but Jack Clayton’s show is included on the The Anne Bancroft Collection, reviewed separately just below. Largent focuses on this show, in which Ms. Bancroft fleshes out Harold Pinter’s portrait of an unhappy housewife, who keeps having children in an unfulfilling marriage. Peter Finch, James Mason, Richard Johnson and Maggie Smith co-star! On Blu-ray from Shout Select.
12/17/19

The Anne Bancroft Collection 12/17/19

I asked for this set so Mr. Largent could review The Pumpkin Eater, but I didn’t want the rest of the package slip by unremarked. The word is that Mel Brooks himself pulled strings to round out these titles, from companies that normally don’t collaborate: Fox, Criterion, Olive, MGM, Sony. The eclectic range of shows gives us Ms. Bancroft at her best: Pumpkin Eater,plus Don’t Bother to Knock, The Miracle Worker, The Graduate, Fatso, To Be or Not To Be and 84 Charing Cross Road. All are beautiful transfers, carrying over plenty of extras. On Blu-ray from Shout Select.
12/17/19

Major Dundee 12/14/19

Sam Peckinpah’s ‘Mangled Masterpiece’ gets a new lease on life with this Austrian import, which corrects all the things that bugged me about Twilight Time’s impressive Blu-ray back in 2013. This is the first time that the original uncut Preview-International version of Major Dundee has come to Blu-ray with the original soundtrack. The Two-Disc set includes a longform making-of docu from the prolific producer Mike Siegel, and the other extras make an extensive raid of our combined Dundee photo archives. On Blu-ray from Explosive Media GmbH.
12/14/19

Downton Abbey 12/14/19

Ah yes, we have a winner for the best ‘Comfort Food Movie’ of them all. When a trailer for this show popped up at a screening of The Farewell back in August, I heard gasps of excitement from the (slightly older-skewing) audience, as if everyone’s favorite relatives were coming back to town. Loyal fans of the massively popular TV series will be delighted: if you enjoyed it week by week or streaming, you’re going to love this ‘one more time’ get together with the elegant Crawleys and their engaging domestic staff. On Blu-ray + DVD + Digital from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
12/14/19

Christmas in July 12/10/19

At least the title sounds Christmas-themed!  Preston Sturges’ sweet trifle is as simple as a sit-com mix-up, but the charm is in the lovable characters (the core of Sturges’ formidable stock company) and the sincerity of all concerned. Ellen Drew is the most deserving fianceé ever to pine for a wedding ring, and Dick Powell an oh-so-earnest Dagwood Bumstead type who banks his future on a goofball coffee slogan contest — just try and figure out the meaning of his winning slogan. In his second film Sturges confirmed himself as Hollywood’s newest comedy genius writer-director — although William Demarest’s perpetually flustered character is so well written and played, we’d think that the actor was simply living the part.. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
12/10/19

The Story of Temple Drake 12/10/19

Hoo-haw! One of the most notorious pre-Code shockers comes to Criterion — and proves to be a superior drama with an entirely mature, sound outlook on the political issues around women’s sexuality and personal freedom. Taken from a raw novel by William Faulkner, this tale of rape and terror stars Miriam Hopkins in one of the bravest, best performances of its era. Truth-telling like this always comes at a price — Temple Drake was a prime target for the oppressive Production Code, with the result that Hopkins’ achievement was banned and unseen for over thirty-five years. Also starring Jack La Rue and William Gargan. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
12/10/19

Abbott & Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection 12/07/19

It’s a monster box — reviewer Charlie Largent only found out how big when he began to wade into the extras. It’s enormous — 28 films, from One Night in the Tropics(1939) through Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy (1955), all remastered in HD, with sixteen audio commentaries and an additional disc of extra goodies. And I peeked, and finally saw Abbott & Costello Go to Mars — in Blu-ray HD, I can identify more of the Venusian beauties! The exhaustive extras include many commentaries. Did I forget to say this is a BIG set? A&C fans can schedule a movie a week until next August. On Blu-ray from Shout Select.
12/07/19

The Beast with a Million Eyes 12/07/19

Once again CineSavant becomes intrigued by a minor genre opus normally dismissed in a sentence or two; this Roger Corman production may fall short of his other early efforts because it tried to be too cerebral and then ran afoul of the Hollywood Guilds. David Kramarsky is listed as director but it’s hard to know how many of the credits are accurate — or simply bogus. Monstermaker extraordinaire Paul Blaisdell apparently came to the rescue with 11th-hour special effects to give the ambiguous, invisible alien menace more substance. Scorpion’s release has a new transfer and a commentary by Tim Lucas. On Blu-ray from Scorpion Releasing.
12/07/19

Fritz Lang’s Indian Epic 12/03/19

At the end of his career, Fritz Lang returned to Germany and a producer who gave him a big budget to remake a silent classic in color, with an international cast and locations in remote India, including a palace never seen in a movie before. The two-movie, 200-minute epic was chopped in half for America and dubbed in English. Seen in its full Eastmancolor glory, The Tiger of Eschnapur and The Indian Tomb form an old-fashioned storybook tale, with its special charm lying in our knowledge of Fritz Lang’s fixation on fatalism and intricate patterns of betrayal and intrigue. Plus the films contain the erotic highlight of the decade, the spectacle of star Debra Paget’s scorching ‘temple dances’ before an all-male audience of admirers. With Paul Hubschmid, Walther Reyther and a huge anatomically correct faux-Indian idol. On Blu-ray from Film Movement Classics.
12/03/19

Slaughterhouse-Five 12/03/19

Kurt Vonnegut’s quirky sci-fi novels didn’t always adapt well to film, but George Roy Hill’s 1972 effort is a faithful winner. The filmmaking craft used to ‘unstick’ Billy Pilgrim in time is nothing short of brilliant, highlighting the camera talent of Miroslav Ondricek and the editing skill of Dede Allen. The book even has a built-in sex angle that the film doesn’t shy away from — providing our first encounter with Valerie Perrine as a starlet kidnapped by aliens curious about human mating habits. The somber, sometimes spiritually-defeatist tone of the show represents the book well; it ought to be better known. Starring Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, Eugene Roche, Sharon Gans, Holly Near, Perry King and Friedrich von Ledebur. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
12/03/19

Until the End of the World 11/30/19

An amazing Blu-ray year is capped by a genuine favorite, rescued by its filmmaker and set aside for almost twenty years. Wim Wenders was forced to make a shortened version of what he hoped would be his greatest success, following Wings of Desire: but he cleverly saved his 4.5-hour uncut version, making its Blu-ray debut on December 10. Longform video is currently the rage, so perhaps the time has finally come for the uncut Bis ans Ende der Welt. The music soundtrack is nothing less than fantastic, not to be missed. Starring William Hurt, Solveig Dommartin, Sam Neill, Rüdiger Vogler, Jeanne Moreau, Max von Sydow, Ernie Dingo, Lois Chiles. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
11/30/19

The Strange Case of Until the End of the World 11/30/19

Same movie, but some writing done 21 years ago. The pair of articles here are essentially the same as what I wrote in 1998 for the original MGM DVD Savant website, after seeing the long Die Trilogie’ version of Until the End of the World at the Harmony Gold Preview Theater on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. Beware: although I’ve deleted a detailed synopsis, the articles contain plenty of Spoilers for Until the End of the World and Bertrand Tavernier’s 1980 film Death Watch.
11/30/19

The Magic Sword 11/26/19

St. George is little more than a ‘callow Yoot’ but he takes on those Seven Curses like a champ. Before he fell afoul of the murderous HAL, we can see that Gary Lockwood was a hell of survivor, dodging monsters, witch-hags, fiery pits, etc., that snare his fellow noble nights on the quest to save Da Princess. Bert I. Gordon’s most polished production benefits from spirited thesping from Estelle Winwood and Basil Rathbone, and Maila ‘Vampira’ Nurmi is in for a guest spot. Tim Lucas waxes nostalgic for this kiddie saga, and reviewer Charlie Largent retains good childhood memories too. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/26/19

The Bells of St. Mary’s 11/26/19

Despite being one of the most popular pictures of its year, this favorite holiday movie plays strangely today, and should have disturbed people when it was new as well. Director Leo McCarey and his glowing stars Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman do remarkable work, and the show has its heart in the right place… but the values built into its story points are painfully wrong-headed. We don’t expect ’40s films to adhere to today’s so-called enlightened PC values, but some of the attitudes in this one make us want to throw things at the screen. Taken from a beautifully remastered new restoration, Olive’s Signature Edition is flawless. On Blu-ray from Olive Signature.
11/26/19

Now, Voyager 11/23/19

This must be an official Bette Davis month… Criterion has two vintage Davis pictures on offer, and TCM is devoted to a roundup of the actresses work as well. This one qualifies as the all-time champeen Women’s Weepie, but one that holds up as a great picture on all levels. Director Irving Rapper guided this best-ever drama, in which a put-upon Ugly Duckling throws off oppressive familial chains and blossoms into a woman of the world. She then makes choices of personal nobility and selflessness, that will challenge anybody’s notions of saint-like deportment. It’s the kind of show normally gets discussed over coffee, not by film critics, so the extras on this one are especially interesting. Co-starring Paul Henried and his double cigarette trick, with Claude Rains, Gladys Cooper and Bonita Granville. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
11/23/19

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 11/23/19

Michael Cimino could have done worse for his first directing gig — a big Clint Eastwood – Jeff Bridges buddy picture with guaranteed major attention. It’s a simple crime caper for simple audiences, and he pulls it off in style. The Sunday movie supplements celebrated Cimino as a great new talent. He’s picture still looks handsome and it runs like a Swiss watch — the writer-director even has his vulgar comedy down pat, giving bad guy George Kennedy a few memorable choice bits to play. With Geoffrey Lewis, Catherine Bach, and Gary Busey. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/23/19

RoboCop 11/19/19

Extra-special extras adorn this stunning reissue of a modern sci-fi action classic. Paul Verhoeven’s sledgehammer of graphic-novel brutality and wicked political satire (courtesy of a Michael Miner-Ed Neumeier screenplay that should have won awards) hasn’t diminished one iota. We still feel like we’re being subjected to a shockingly ultra-violent entertainment from the future. Both versions are present, along with enough interview extras to make one feel personally involved in the production. Although later entries in the Robo franchise were marketed to children (we have the toys to prove it) this hard-action show expresses an adult-oriented rage against Reagan’s America. The filmmakers could have earned a lot more money making Robo un-political and kid-safe but instead chose to stay true to their radical concept. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
11/19/19

The Bad and the Beautiful 11/19/19

One of Vincente Minnelli’s best is this glamorous ‘Hollywood Looks At Hollywood’ exposé of sin and conniving among the actors, directors and producers that make Quality Entertainment for us unglamorous nobodies. It’s overstated and often grossly overacted (Kirk Douglas, front and center!) but still carries a grandiose charm. Lana Turner gets to play an idealized version of herself. Gloria Grahame generates additional heat, and for her trouble walked away with an Oscar. And composer David Raksin contributes one of his most melodic music scores — the main theme is a winner, right up there with his Laura. CineSavant runs amuck critiquing the way MGM’s movie slams Hollywood creatives, while pretending that the studio bigwigs are infallible Gods. With Barry Sullivan, Dick Powell, Walter Pidgeon and Gilbert Roland. On Blu-rayfrom The Warner Archive Collection.
11/19/19

Requiem for Gringo 11/19/19

We’ve got more Spaghetti western action from Guest Reviewer Lee Broughton — the more obscure they become, the more fanciful the concept. This creative 1968 entry foregrounds a gothic vibe and employs imagery and narrative devices that Lee says would fit well in a horror movie. Italo western fans know the regular actors Fernando Sancho, Femi Benussi and Aldo Sambrell, who star alongside Lang Jeffries and future Pedro Almodóvar star Marisa Paredes. On Blu-ray from Wild East.
11/19/19

Madigan 11/16/19

Don Siegel’s powerful cop saga shows the way for police stories of the ’70s — it has traces of TV movie cheapness, and then barrels forward with its story of rotten crooks a desperate detective and an elitist Police Commissioner. A strong cast gets powerful roles — Richard Widmark, Harry Guardino, Inger Stevens, James Whitmore — and Henry Fonda is cooly forbidding. The bang-bang finale was celebrated for its violent editing: Siegel’s blunt-force cutting effects make it feel extra-intense. For warped screen villainy, Steve Ihnat’s Barney Benesch has no equal — he has less than three minutes of screen time, but you’ll never forget him. Kino gives the show a strong commentary by Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/16/19

The Far Country 11/16/19

Did star James Stewart and director Anthony Mann corner the market on upscale ‘A’ ’50s westerns?  This beauty sends Stewart, Ruth Roman and Corrine Calvet on a breezy trek over a Canadian glacier, with Walter Brennan as a folksy, ditsy sidekick — not very original but endearing. John McIntire saves the day as a charmingly malevolent self-appointed Judge Roy Bean-type swindler and murderer — he’s so hilariously evil, even Stewart’s character is amused. The special edition has two aspect ratio versions, a full commentary and two film history featurette-docus. With Jay C. Flippen, Harry Morgan, Steve Brodie, Robert J. Wilke, Chubby Johnson, Royal Dano, Jack Elam and Kathleen Freeman. On Blu-ray from Arrow Academy .
11/16/19

Konga 11/16/19

Ah yes!  It’s not exactly I Was A Teenage Gorilla but it comes close. Herman Cohen’s made-in-England monster opus has Michael Gough chewing scenery to put something exciting on the screen. Other fine actors sort-of bring to life the tale of a really nasty scientist’s revenge plan using a chimp pumped up with his super-duper growth serum. The lecherous Gough has a field day, and every fifth special effect looks pretty good — the entire ‘sensational’ action climax consists of one stroll in London Town. I was little when this came out and we all thought it was shocking, fantastic and incredible — but all I saw was the poster. Perhaps Reynold Brown’s artwork is the best thing about the picture — which finally looks tip-top in HD and good color. Trailers from Hell’s Charlie Largent gives it a warmly nostalgic look-see. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/16/19

The 3-D Nudie-Cuties Collection 11/12/19

CineSavant chooses its reviews with discretion, knowing that attending to readers’ spiritual needs is a top priority. So get ready for a blistering, too-too spicy duo of ‘adult movies’ (read: they cater to dirty old men) created in the prehistoric days before humanity was transformed by X-rated porn. The first show THE BELLBOY AND THE PLAYGIRLS may be the professional screen directing debut of Francis Coppola, moonlighting from UCLA. It’s something of a wreck, but he was not one to miss an opportunity to write and direct. The second picture ADAM AND SIX EVES, in gorgeous color and eye-popping 3-D, is so good as to suggest an art revival, if today’s PC culture wasn’t so likely to condemn a vintage girlie entertainment out of hand. But then again, the sub-genre is supposed to be forbidden and Taboo. Blu-ray 3-D conquers all! On 3-D Blu-ray from Kino Classics.
11/12/19

They Made Me a Fugitive 11/12/19

Sinister stabbings, women kicked and beaten, perverse hoodlums selling cocaine and murdering street-beat bobbies: what happened to civilized English crime?   Cavalcanti’s vicious postwar Brit Noir shocked critics for The Times and had to be cut to ribbons for American distribution. A disillusioned, bored RAF hero turns to smuggling and skullduggery.  This fully restored crime classic gives us Trevor Howard, Sally Gray and Griffith Jones in one of the best — and most brutal crime pix of its day. Plus attractive PI extras! On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
11/12/19

Great Day in the Morning 11/12/19

Jacques Tourneur’s ‘big sky’ western gives us the beauty of Colorado mountains plus stunning color images (originally Technicolor & Superscope) of his attractive cast: Robert Stack, Virginia Mayo, Ruth Roman. North-South antagonisms break out in Denver City, before the Civil War begins, and Robert Stack’s loner opportunist must choose a side. The WAC’s disc includes four Jacques Tourneur short subjects, with mystery themes. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
11/12/19

Spirited Away 11/09/19

Hayao Miyazaki’s animation masterpiece, a truly wondrous flight of fantasy and imagination, returns to Blu-ray in a beautiful boxed special edition, similar to last May’s Princess Mononoke. Reviewer Charlie Largent turns his admiring eye to sing its praises, and reflect on the special edition’s contents, which include a lavishly illustrated forty-page book. “There. Your body matches your brain.” On Blu-ray from Shout! Factory.
11/09/19

The Man Between 11/09/19

Critics compare this sophisticated spy thriller to Carol Reed’s earlier Triumph set in Vienna with Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles — but it’s a different story altogether, not about black-market evil but the perils of moral compromise in a divided Berlin. James Mason and Claire Bloom are stunningly good together, in a moody suspense that’s completely serious — no comic relief or ‘fun’ jeopardy to distract from the fascinating, you-are-there setting, a Berlin trying to rebuild itself. With Hildegard Knef, and an extended, beautifully filmed nighttime chase that seals an unlikely romance. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/09/19

Eegah 11/09/19

Mean-spirited ‘Bad Movie’ satirists forget that production values aren’t everything, even if the collected works of Barry Mahon and Coleman Francis say otherwise. This threadbare backyard production has ‘endearing’ written all over it. The Last Time We Saw Arch Hall (we never saw him a first time), he may have been cooking up a sequel to his maladroit teenage caveman epic … if only he hadn’t killed off the main character. But this Turkey actually performed in release: Eegah would rate its niche in film history even if Richard Kiel hadn’t become a star in James Bond movies. Co-starring Arch Hall, Jr. and Marilyn Manning; Gary Teetzel contributes a gallery of vintage Trade Paper notices for the picture. On Blu-ray from The Film Detective.
11/09/19

Operation Crossbow 11/05/19

‘Mission impossible’ wartime sabotage fun takes on an authentic, dramatic episode of WW2 — the onslaught of futuristic V-Weapons on London — and then veers into fictional fantasy (think big explosions). George Peppard toughs it out to get free of his MGM contract. Lili Palmer and Barbara Rütting do the heavy lifting, while Sophia Loren is in as a glamorous sidebar. Weirdly, the movie all but lionizes the Germans that develop, test and fire the V-Weapon rockets at England … exaggerating their scientific progress and giving them a strange kind of ‘Right Stuff.’ The fast moving film features a galaxy of name actors as righteous heroes and tech-savvy villains: Trevor Howard, John Mills, Richard Johnson, Tom Courtenay, Jeremy Kemp, Anthony Quayle, Paul Henreid, Helmut Dantine, Richard Todd, Patrick Wymark, Ferdy Mayne and Anton Diffring. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
11/05/19

Werewolf in a Girl’s Dormitory 11/05/19

Italian horror from the early 1960s covers a wide quality range, from eerie hauntings to tacky, lurid vampire romps. For one of his first major credits, ace giallo scribe Ernesto Gastaldi cooks up Lycanthropus, a murder mystery in which the savage slashing committed by a drooling maniac with a hairy face, wild eyes and saber-toothed fangs. You saw the poster out front, kid — do you think it might be … a werewolf?  Director Paolo Heusch’s thriller is no classic, but neither is it stupid — and the original Italian language option on this disc reveals good work by a spirited cast. Dreamy Polish starlet Barbara Lass is a much more assertive, independent female than what we expect from conventional Italo horror fare. We also get to discuss a musical milestone added to the film’s U.S. release, the rather clever pop novelty song The Ghoul in School. On Blu-ray from Severin Films.
11/05/19

Hammer Volume Four Faces of Fear 11/02/19

PI’s fourth collection of Hammer attractions shows no sign of compromise — three out of four titles here are superb tales of fright and science fiction. Thanks to the company policy of leaving no gravestone unturned, the exclusive special extras never stop. We have alternate title sequences for two films, a gallery of censor alterations for another, and an entire second release version for yet another. Plus, Powerhouse re-premieres a new remastered copy of a prime Hammer classic, one that until now hasn’t been looking so well. Get set for The Revenge of Frankenstein, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, Taste (Scream) of Fear, and The Damned (These Are the Damned). On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
11/02/19

Seven Days to Noon 11/02/19

Is this ground zero for Atom-fear science fiction?  The Boulting Brothers assemble the very first movie about a nuclear terror plot, without cutting corners or wimping out. The incredibly dry, civilized André Morell must track down a rogue scientist who threatens to nuke London; the entire city must be evacuated. Barry Jones is the meek boffin with a bomb in his satchel. This impressively produced thriller won an Oscar for Best Story; it’s practically a template for the ‘docu-real’ approach of the first Quatermass films. It’s also the link between ordinary postwar thriller intrigues and the high-powered, science fiction- canted terrors to come. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/02/19

The World The Flesh and The Devil 11/02/19

The world could come to an end in a lot of ways, but 1950s sci-fi was fond of making it end like a One-Act play. Harry Belafonte’s personal project soon drops the spectre of annihilation to cozy up to a statement about race relations. Despite the fact that his co-star Inger Stevens likely had the courage to take the material way, way farther, the last man and woman on Earth don’t even share a kiss. Can’t offend those distributors in Alabama, by golly. The film’s amazingly realistic vision of NYC abandoned after an atomic gas attack is stunning in HD — the show hasn’t lost its appeal, even if it deserts its second theme in favor of a rifle-toting showdown between Belafonte and Mel Ferrer’s villainous third-wheel survivor. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
11/02/19

Matewan 10/29/19

John Sayles’ coal strike epic is grand American filmmaking bolstered by fine Haskell Wexler cinematography, great performances by dedicated actors, and a screenplay that avoids the common pitfalls of liberal filmmaking — by assuming the structure of an action Western. Filmed on a shoestring not far from the site of historical events, the pro- Union picture revs up viewer emotions, winding up as a moving, satisfying experience. Matewan’s been out of circulation far too long, but those that remember it will give it a high recommendation. And the great cast (all looking extra-young): Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell, Will Oldham, David Strathairn, Kevin Tighe, Gordon Clapp, Bob Gunton, Jace Alexander, Joe Grifasi, Nancy Mette, Josh Mostel & Maggie Renzi. Matewan’s been out of circulation far too long, but anybody who remembers it will give it a high recommendation. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
10/29/19

Hammer Horror 8-Film Collection (2016) 10/29/19

In honor of Halloween, Creepy Charlie Largent takes a loving look back at Universal’s Blu-ray release of three years ago, still a great buy for classic Hammer horror. The good-news titles include The Brides of Dracula, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Phantom of the Opera and The Kiss of the Vampire; there’s also the fine period adventure Night Creatures, the okay Sangster psycho rallies Paranoiac and Nightmare and the odd-monster-out The Evil of Frankenstein. And we can trust Charlie to fairly separate the classic titles from the completeist entries. No Christopher Lees, but three Peter Cushings and valued performances by Herbert Lom, Oliver Reed, David Peel, Yvonne Monlaur, Yvonne Romain, Heather Sears, Michael Ripper, Janette Scott, Jennifer Daniel, Noel Willman, Jennie Linden and Katy Wild. On Blu-ray from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
10/29/19

Scarface 10/26/19

Brian De Palma’s ’83 saga of hoodlum Tony Montana is an exceptional remake that’s become a classic almost by default — it’s too strikingly original to ignore. De Palma did the Latin male stereotype no favors, while bringing attention to the outrageous drug trafficking aided by law enforcement and criminal banks in a shameful decade of excess. Al Pacino added a page to his catalog of great performances, and the careers of Michelle Pfeiffer and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio were duly launched. De Palma gives this one ‘classical’ direction: he skips his former film school cinema games and hommages to Hitch the Master. With Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, F. Murray Abraham and Harris Yulin; the Limited Edition comes with a ‘The World Is Yours’ commemorative statue. On 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
10/26/19

An American Werewolf in London 10/26/19

An old-fashioned monster movie gore-fest that hasn’t dimmed in popularity, John Landis’s slightly twisted telling of a hiking mishap pulled nervous laughter from audiences pre-primed to expect ground-breakingly shocking special effects. Rick Baker delivers the shape-shifting fireworks in a two-minute sequence that goes way beyond easy laughs. The story is thin but the execution slick in a Landis film fashioned from his own screenplay, written at age 19. David Naughton is the unlucky lycanthrope, Griffin Dunne his even unluckier sidekick, and favorite Jenny Agutter is the nurse who dances with wolves. On Blu-ray, with more extras than last year’s wolfsbane festival, from Arrow Video.
10/26/19

The Queen of Spades 10/22/19

What was horror author Robert Bloch’s idea of superior terror fiction? Alexander Pushkin’s novella is about a Faust-like attempt by a corrupt man to learn a diabolical secret from an old woman. Anton Walbrook and Edith Evans lead a fine cast in a tale that just gets creepier as it goes forward. A strange book offers grim advice: ‘How to make a deal with the Devil. How to get a secret from a dead person.’ Scared yet?  Director Thorold Dickinson, aided by cameraman Otto Heller, makes this into an expressionist classic of English cinema, embellished with music by Georges Auric. Charlie Largent reviews the Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
10/22/19

3 Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg 10/22/19

The experts were right when they said that silent filmmaking was developing something unique and beautiful, before talkies came along and spoiled the party with all that noise. This ‘handy three-pack’ of once-obscure Josef von Sternberg classics proves the theory 100% — his intense dramas excite audiences with something that’s gone missing from the movies, or the cinema or whatever you want to call it: the magic of visual stylization in the service of basic human emotions. Before Marlene there was Evelyn Brent and Betty Compson: Sternberg presents them as shimmering visions. The titles are Underworld, The Last Command and The Docks of New York. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
10/22/19

Quatermass and the Pit 10/22/19

Don’t run away because we use the word ‘profound’ to describe this 1967 sci-fi classic — some call it the best of the Hammer Quatermass films, this time fully written by Nigel Kneale and acted by a terrific cast — Andrew Kier, James Donald, Barbara Shelley and Julian Glover. A subway excavation uncovers strange human skulls, and then a huge bluish craft that the Army dismisses as a secret German V-weapon… until it begins to emanate psychic storms and supernatural phenomena. Sci-fi fans wanting ‘more’ will be intrigued by author Kneale’s incredible ‘origin story’ for the human race as an intelligent, aggressive and literally haunted species. The disc is loaded with extras, information, history and great opinions from a half-dozen qualified film experts. Plus we can hear Nigel Kneale discuss it himself. On Blu-ray from Scream Factory.
10/22/19

The Devil Rides Out 10/19/19

Hammer’s key Satanic Mass epic comes to Blu-ray in a terrific improved transfer. Christopher Lee’s pitched battle with Charles Gray’s necromancer Mocata has long been a favorite of fans of symbolist rituals with candles, magic circles, Christian icons, etc. We’re happy to report that after all the monstrous demons and human sacrifices, good prevails through the agency of an ordinary (well, filthy rich) housewife, who can sling a Latin incantation faster than you can say ‘The Goat of Mendes.’ This is yet another big-deal Hammer disc for 2019 — we also get a look at the earlier Blu-ray’s revised special effects. With Nike Arrighi, she of the magical name, although the film’s unheralded shining performance is from Sarah Lawson. On Blu-ray from Scream Factory.
10/19/19

The Jetsons: The Complete Original Series 10/19/19

It says the complete original series, which is really the 24 episodes of its one season back in 1962-63. This show stayed around so long in syndication that I can hardly believe it was all over before JFK went to Dallas. Hanna-Barbera’s space age answer to The Flintstones plays best as a radio show — the jazzy soundtrack is sensational, especially the sleek title sequence (which is mostly all I saw back in the day, anyway). Charlie Largent gives this ’60s milestone the full cultural perusal, in the context of the ‘flaky futurism’ that so distorted our baby boomer vision. With George, Jane, Judy, Elroy, Rosie, Astro and Cosmo Spacely, all in bright color. And a big cheer for voice talent Penny Singleton, and George O’Hanlon of ‘Joe McDoakes,’ Park Row and Kronos. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
10/19/19

Parasite 3-D 10/19/19

Nope, this isn’t the new Bong Joon-ho movie, but a 3-D oldie from 1982. Although it’s by no means a great picture, fans equipped for Blu-ray 3-D will want to take a look — the depth effects fashioned with the over’n’under Sterevision system are some of the best yet. Stan Winston provides director Charles Band with the ‘Alien’ rip-off title critters, and added interest is provided via an early appearance by Demi Moore, who sleepwalks through her part but certainly looks good. A full complement of extras tell the making-of story; the feature is also encoded in 2-D, for really imaginative viewers. With Cherie Currie, Luca Bercovici, Tom Villard, Vivian Blaine (!), and Cheryl ‘Rainbeaux’ Smith. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
10/19/19

The Lavender Hill Mob 10/15/19

They’re ‘The Men Who Broke the Bank and Lost the Cargo!’ Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway shine in one of the funniest crime comedies ever, Ealing Studios’ tale of a pair of nobodies who take the Bank of England for millions. Guinness’s bank clerk follows his dreams into a big time bullion heist, and the joke is that his ad-hoc mob is the most loyal, ethical band of brothers in the history of crime. This being a caper picture, the suspense is steep as well — just what is going to trip up these brilliantly gifted amateurs?   With great acting support from Sidney James and Alfie Bass, and on this disc, an audio commentary by Jeremy Arnold. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
10/15/19

Time Without Pity 10/15/19

Joseph Losey’s fortunes as an expatriate director took an upswing with this efficient, nervous and somewhat overcooked thriller with a daunting ticking-bomb deadline story gimmick — alcoholic wreck Michael Redgrave has only twenty hours to save his son from execution for murder. Losey racks up the tension, but he doesn’t give a hoot for Ben Barzman’s whodunnit scripting. Just the same, it’s good to see the director finally gaining traction — from this point forward most every Losey picture received serious international attention. With a powerful supporting cast: Leo McKern, Ann Todd, Peter Cushing, Alec McCowen, Lois Maxwell, Richard Wordsworth, Joan Plowright. On Region Free Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
10/15/19

Hercules in the Haunted World 10/12/19

Mario Bava excelled with at least five super sword ‘n’ sandal pictures — shooting two Hercules classics and directing two viking sagas in addition to this eye-popping mix of mythology and horror. Forget warring armies and casts of thousands. Bava places Reg Park, Christopher Lee, and several beautiful Italo actresses within his weird visual world of and hallucinatory imagery: swirling mists, intensely physical actors and retina-burning color. Kino’s disc carries three discrete versions on two discs, and a gotta-hear commentary by Tim Lucas. On your next trip to The Underworld, remember NOT to trust what you see!  Trust instead, uh, trust your … oh, just use the Force! On Blu-ray from Kino Classics.
10/12/19

Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages 10/12/19

Want to get serious about Halloween, like scary serious?  Charlie Largent wades into this mysterious relic, which comes from 1922 but is still up-to-date on the historical and even the psychological aspects of witchcraft. Part slide show and part drama, its depictions of historical witch hunts are accurate and its fantastic images of satanic visions is mind-blowing — uncensored, extreme stuff. Plus, of all things, a wicked Danish sense of humor from writer-director Christensen — who himself appears as Satan, a pot-bellied hairy horror constantly leering and waggling his obscene tongue. If you have any psychic connection with supernatural traditions, this show will be scarier than the 6 O’Clock news. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
10/12/19

Man of a Thousand Faces 10/12/19

Now that we can read the real story of the great silent actor and makeup magician Lon Chaney, the inaccuracies are fairly glaring in this well-received biopic about his career heights and difficult personal life. But it remains a compelling James Cagney movie, allowing the actor to try on different acting styles (and even a dancing style). The dramatic conflicts may be invented, but they’re compelling just the same. The movie works even as it represents Chaney’s original fantastic makeup creations with a series of ever-worsening rubber masks. Excellent supporting performances from Dorothy Malone, Jane Greer and Celia Lovsky. This one carries a good Tim Lucas commentary as well!  On Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
10/12/19

The Fearless Vampire Killers 10/08/19

Some movies just don’t get the respect they deserve, which cues pushy reviewers to sing their praises. Forget everything you’ve read and give this Roman Polanski picture a chance — it’s the classiest Halloween treat ever, a lavish blend of Hammer horror, slapstick comedy and wistful romance — plus a vampire horde more balefully scary than a carload of zombies. It’s the beloved Sharon Tate’s best picture, and its vampire king is an original apart from Bela Lugosi and Chris Lee’s Draculas — an aristocratic one-percenter on a satanic mission to put all of humanity in a graveyard of the undead. Warners’ Panavision-Metrocolor restoration is drop-dead beautiful. And they’ve even revived Frank Frazetta’s original ‘jolly chase’ poster art. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
10/08/19

Ida Lupino Filmmaker Collection 10/08/19

More than a movie star: America’s one female Hollywood director working in the 1950s receives a four-title boxed set well worth the investment — one noir mini-masterpiece is accompanied by a pair of independent social issue movies better than what the studios were turning out. It’s all thanks to Lupino’s fine dramatic direction. She emphasizes basic human values: cooperation over competition, and interior conflict. Her company ‘The Filmmakers’ lasted only about six years, but as an independent experiment it consistently turned out ‘special’ pictures anybody could be proud of. The four features included are the ‘social problem’ features Not Wanted and Never Fear with Sally Forrest, the excellent film noir thriller The Hitch-Hiker, and The Bigamist, in which Edmond O’Brien finds himself married to both Ida Lupino and Joan Fontaine. In his dreams!  On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
10/08/19

Holocaust 10/05/19

This four part, eight hour miniseries turns the fate of a family of German Jews into a sprawling drama that covers all the bases of the holocaust horror. It was strong stuff and a big Emmy winner, boosting the careers of James Woods and Michael Moriarty. His warped charisma as a psychotic Nazi is so good that he’s consistently more interesting than the courageous victims. As for Meryl Streep, she became an instant star — everybody remembered her from this. Although it’s been called ‘The Holocaust for Dummies,’ it’s a quality show. Looking from today’s perspective, after forty years of Political Correctness adjustments, I’m not sure any two viewers will react in quite the same way.. On Blu-ray from CBS Television Studio / Paramount.
10/05/19

The Letter 10/05/19

It’s the formidable Bette Davis once again, in yet another superior William Wyler picture. The Somerset Maugham play is a classy vehicle for a star performance — the nagging legal ‘difficulty’ of plantation wife Leslie Crosbie is intertwined with colonial politics but remains entirely personal. Leslie isn’t exactly a poster girl for the feminist movement. Is she the victim of social pressures or just a petty, selfish monster? Screenwriter Howard Koch had to invent a twisted new ‘yellow peril’ finish to appease the Production Code … you know, the Code that some people say made Hollywood movies better.. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
10/05/19

Sesame Street Fifty Years and Counting 10/01/19

An American institution turns fifty, and the disc release to mark the event is a very long (almost six hours) compendium of uncut historical segments from the show, without overdubs — Disc one features musical highlights and disc two dramatic and comedic highlights. It’s terrific background material, especially the music disc with the favorite characters both human and muppet. Plus some of my nostalgic favorites — it helps if you once had a baby or toddler in your lap, clapping along with you for these things. I can’t think of a better way to honor the show, and am ready for a followup, with more favorite segments. On DVD from Shout! Factory.

My Favorite Year 10/01/19

Comedy expert Charlie Largent waxes enthusiastic over this 1980s paean to 1950s live television, and the swashbuckling memory of a certain movie star. Peter O’Toole is the drunken movie actor who has never performed live in front of an audience; Mark Linn-Baker is a writer who reminds us of Mel Brooks and Jessica Harper a production assistant with a big heart. Plus terrific comedy input from Joseph Bologna, Lanie Kazan and Lou Jacobi. Imagine! Excellent, witty quotable movie dialogue from an ’80s comedy. It’s director Richard Benjamin’s finest hour. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
10/01/19

Whirlpool (1950) 10/01/19

(1950)  Otto Preminger and Gene Tierney’s return to the noir fold plays better now than it once did — the performances are impressive and the villain’s diabolical murder scheme is as good as anything that Fantomas or Moriarty ever came up with. Tierney’s pampered wife is the perfect patsy for a con-man with hypnosis skills — a fraud who decides to cover up an earlier crime by mesmerizing a new victim to frame herself for murder. The focus is on third-billed José Ferrer… who puts an oily menace into his character that few actors could provide. Co-starring Richard Conte and Charles Bickford. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
10/01/19

The System (The Girl-Getters) 09/28/19

Michael Winner got the England Swings scene off to an early start with this beach-set tale of ‘clever lads’ that cooperate to score with vacationing girls. Oliver Reed gives a sterling performance as Tinker, a photo-snapper who takes on a tall target — an independent, posh model with her own amorous agenda. The romance proceeds in a positive direction… or is Tinker fooling himself? The swingin’ ’60s were more than A Hard Day’s Night, the Mersey Beat and slapstick in the street with Rita Tushingham. Co-starring Jane Merrow, Barbara Ferris, Julia Foster, and a young David Hemmings. On All-region Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
09/28/19

Gremlins 4k Ultra HD 09/28/19

The exclusive 4K Ultra-HD club welcomes a worthy new member, Joe Dante’s evergreen horror comedy (and Christmas delight) about a cute furry critter and its 2nd-generation horde of scaly, impish demons. These aren’t Gremlins from the Kremlin, but homegrown domestic terrorist monsters, and Dante contrasts their killer antics with a sentimental parody of small town America. No CGI … You will believe that the animatronic rascals can multiply like rabbits, break dance, and run amuck! Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Keye Luke, Frances Lee McCain, Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph, Judge Reinhold, Polly Holliday and Belinda Balaski. On 4K Ultra-HD + Blu-ray + Digital from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
09/28/19

Popeye The Sailor the 1940s Volume 3 09/28/19

From reviewer Charlie Largent: the third and last installment of the softer, color Popeye of the 1940s comes to BD fully restored — some are even in Polacolor, an alternative system to Technicolor. The slur-talking swab is back trading punches with Bluto over the hand of Olive, in colorful locations. She even runs for President in one cartoon. WAC says these 17 cartoons were released in 1948 and 1949. With Laurence Olivier and Eleanor Roosevelt as the voices of Popeye and Olive, respectively (is anybody there?). On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
09/28/19

The Major and the Minor 09/28/19

This can’t-lose comedy is ace writer-director Billy Wilder’s first solo directing credit; he and writing partner Charles Brackett concoct a side-splitting crowdpleaser guaranteed to secure his Hollywood future. Ginger Rogers was never more adept, playing a fake 11 year-old in a farce that’s both code-iffy and censor proof; Ray Milland shines as well with the limitlessly clever and witty screenplay. Don’t forget to ask why Charles Boyer hates women… and look out for Diana Lynn, the terrific teenage comedienne that Wilder found before Preston Sturges did. With Rita Johnson and Robert Benchley; on Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
09/28/19

The Tall Men 09/24/19

The legendary director Raoul Walsh hits The Big Trail one more time for a CinemaScope & stereophonic ‘big star’ cattle drive movie, dodging most cliches but taking a few squarely between the eyes. Star chemistry is what keeps them dogies movin’, with Clark Gable making it look all too easy. Frisky Jane Russell fares well, but not our favorite Robert Ryan: despite the high-profile billing, he pulls S.O.B. duty yet again. There’s no doubt about it, pilgrim … I see a whole lotta cows in this one. TT includes an isolated track for the Victor Young music score. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
09/24/19

The Mind Benders 09/24/19

This strange picture goes forth in search of a genre, mainly because its theme — the destruction of the human personality — had previously seen light only in movies about brainwashing and alien possession. The Michael Relph and Basil Dearden team may not be as slick as The Archers, but they do peg this sober Isolation Chamber drama — even if we wonder if Dirk Bogarde will start talking like Paddy Chayefsky, and then shape-shift into an ape man. The real issue here is scientific ethics, of which Bogarde’s associates seem to have zero. Taking acting honors is Mary Ure, with John Clements, Michael Bryant and Wendy Craig providing support. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
09/24/19

Local Hero 09/21/19

Charlie Largent is just the latest to extol Bill Forsyth’s timeless tale of a transplanted Texan befriended by a smorgasbord of Scottish eccentrics (the innkeeper’s wife might be on the menu too). Animal House’s Peter Riegert is the lonely executive who finds love in a storybook fishing village and Burt Lancaster is his comet-crazy boss. Forsyth offers up a beautiful mermaid in the bargain. With Peter Capaldi, Denis Lawson and Jenny Seagrove as the might-be mermaid. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
09/21/19

Touchez pas au Grisbi 09/21/19

‘Hands off the Loot!’ Jacques Becker’s crackling Paris crime tale is a time machine to an age of Parisian tough guys in double breasted suits, who never show their cards, and mistreat women in ways the Hollywood production code would never allow. Old thief Jean Gabin’s ill-gotten wealth is threatened by the newcomer creep Lino Ventura, thanks to the treachery of a very young Jeanne Moreau; the struggle revives weapons and tactics not used since the Occupation. One of the GREAT Euro crime classics is now looking terrific in Kino/Studio Canal’s restoration. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
09/21/19

Jezebel 09/21/19

Which Bette Davis movies qualify for greatness?   Her flawed character doesn’t conquer all in this costume picture, and it’s historically more sensitive than Gone With the Wind. It’s also William Wyler at the top of his form, creating in just 104 minutes a rich image of a long-gone world. Southern Belle Julie Marsden is a contrary troublemaker, a flip coquette who shoots her whole life to hell with just a couple of social gaffes. The story is ‘bigger than Bette’ – the apocalyptic finale is just a side event in a fable about the nature of chivalry and honor in a flawed social structure. With Henry Fonda, George Brent, Margaret Lindsay & Fay Bainter. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
09/21/19

Cluny Brown 09/17/19

Reviewer Charlie Largent is quite taken with the uncommon graces of Ernst Lubitsch’s gentle comedy of romance and women’s roles. Lowly plumber’s daughter Jennifer Jones fixes the pipes in a big mansion and becomes an important person in everyone’s life, especially European refugee Charles Boyer. This is the movie with the cosmically daffy dialogue line about ‘nuts to the squirrels,’ or ‘squirrels to the nuts’ or something. What an endearing, excellent choice for a Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
09/17/19

Soldier of Fortune 09/17/19

(Treffpunkt Hongkong)   Two-fisted Crown Colony racketeer Clark Gable goes out on a limb to recover Susan Hayward’s husband, held prisoner in Red China. In a literal pirate vessel armed with a stolen cannon, Gable literally goes to war, risking his smuggling empire by half-kidnapping Michael Rennie’s Hong Kong cop. This lush CinemaScope action-travelogue-romance now comes off as comfort food movie viewing: familiar stars doing what they do best. It’s a German import from a Hollywood Studio whose library titles may soon no longer be licensed to hard media home video. On Region B Blu-ray from Explosive Media GmbH.
09/17/19

A Bucket of Blood 09/17/19

Roger Corman’s ‘sick sick sick!’ horror comedy is still a delight, and Olive’s Signature edition accompanies it with some excellent Elijah Drenner extras, including a video interview with the beloved star Dick Miller. Walter Paisley is the patron saint of underachieving artists everywhere, and this special edition has director Corman and writer Charles B. Griffith on tap to sing his praises. It is by will alone that I set my mind in motion: “Be a nose!”  On Blu-ray from Olive Signature.
09/17/19

Circus of Horrors 09/14/19

Four out of five psychologists agree that something rotten is alive and well between the sawdust and the high wire in the delirious Circus of Horrors. Lame big-top horror pix are common enough, but this fiendishly entertaining delight would inspire the voyeur-sadist in MisterRogers. Anton Diffring is the steely-eyed medical maniac with a mission to populate an insane circus exclusively with cosmetically-enhanced prostitutes and criminals. And I won’t turn that into a White House joke. On Blu-ray from Scream Factory.
09/14/19

90° in the Shade 09/14/19

Sordid Noir in Czechoslovakia: a one-of-a-kind Czech/Brit coproduction teams fine British actors (Anne Heywood, James Booth, Sir Donald Wolfit) with the home-grown star Rudolf HruSinsky, and the result is neither murder nor mayhem, but a real everyday tragedy that might happen anywhere. The bright B&W images chart an unhappy illicit romance, and a petty crime with awful consequences.. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
09/14/19

Noir Archive 9-Film Collection Volume 3 09/10/19

Mill Creek and Kit Parker have raided the Columbia vault once again in search of Noir Gold from the ‘fifties. Their selection this time around has a couple of prime gems, several straight crime thrillers and domestic jeopardy tales, and also a couple of interesting Brit imports. They aren’t really ‘Noir’ either, but they’re still unexpected and different. The top title is Don Siegel’s incomparable The Lineup, but also on board is a snappy anti-commie epic by André De Toth. Get set for a lineup of impressive leading ladies: Diana Dors, Arlene Dahl, Anita Ekberg — and the great Colleen Dewhurst as a card-carrying Red! On Blu-ray from Mill Creek / Kit Parker.
09/10/19

Who Saw Her Die? 09/10/19

Giallos run hot and cold, but this one has plenty to recommend it — a serious outlook, a focus on elements other than gore, beautiful cinematography on terrific locations in Venice, and committed performances from Anita Strindberg, Adolfo Celi and an unusual choice, ex- 007 George Lazenby. Director Aldo Lado takes this one in a different direction than Giallo maestro Dario Argento — with a humanistic bent and a compelling performance by child actress Nicoletta Elmi. Plus a piercing music score by Ennio Morricone, sung by a children’s choir. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
09/10/19

Fists in the Pocket 09/07/19

You think YOU’VE got mentally unstable relatives? Marco Bellocchio’s debut film made a big splash in ’65 with its tale of a family packed with serious problems, where the relationships have an air of sickness about them. Lou Castel’s brilliant but twisted brother likes to float preposterous ideas, but his latest creepy brainstorm is to start murdering his siblings. This one feels like it should be an allegory for something … but what? Reviewer Charlie Largent knows sick drama when he sees it, and gives us the Euro-thriller low-down. Music by Ennio Morricone! On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

Dinosaurus! 09/07/19

Were movie folk blind in 1960? We kids were so dino- crazy, ANY movie about dinosaurs would have cleaned up at the box office. We’re told that Jack H. Harris didn’t do badly with his third turn at the wickets, despite thunder lizards with a complexion of Jurassic Pla-Doh. The Romper Room dramatics didn’t offend my eight-year-old sensibilities, either. The movie had a caveman for comic relief and a klutzy villain that all but eliminates himself, so kid-safe it is even if people are being devoured alive. And hardly any kissing scenes, Ma. With Ward Ramsey, Kristina Hanson, and Paul Lukather. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
09/07/19

Magnificent Obsession 09/03/19

One of the strangest ‘uplifting moral tales’ of the 1950s was a huge hit, and launched Rock Hudson as a major star. Criterion’s deluxe presentation puts it on a par with world cinema, mawkish Kitsch-O-Rama and all. Comes with a restored copy of the slightly less head-spinning 1935 version, too. Co-stars Jane Wyman, Barbara Rush, Agnes Moorehead, and Otto Kruger, whose moral guidance has something to do with ‘contacting one’s power source.’ On Blu-rayfrom The Criterion Collection.
09/03/19

Death Ship 09/03/19

From the golden age of Canadian tax shelters comes a horror movie about a fiendish, fearful freighter fraught with frills, I mean, chills. A notable cast — George Kennedy, Richard Crenna, Sally Ann Howes, Kate Reid — shows up for paycheck duty, and must have gone through real torture getting this one in the can. It’s got a reputation, and if being ripoff-remade is a marker of success, then it’s earned its place on the horror map: SEE George Kennedy apparently really doused in awful oily bilge water! On Blu-ray from Scorpion Releasing.
09/03/19

Wagon Master 08/31/19

John Ford’s favorite western of his own work is a curiously gentle, endearingly simple hark-back to the verities of silent filmmaking. Mormons crossing the desert are encumbered by show people and beset by a nasty outlaw family — but don’t worry ’cause the Sons of the Pioneers will still be singing backup for ‘The Chuckawalla Swing.’ Ford rodeo discovery Ben Johnson returns with Harry Carey Jr. and every other Ford stock player not nailed down, and the marvelously direct cinematography is keyed to Ford’s idealized vision of life on the frontier. Joanne Dru, Ward Bond and Charles Kemper round out the ‘refugee caravan.’ On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
08/31/19