Glenn Erickson's Reviews: Archives: Reviews

Anne of the Thousand Days 12/29/18

A movie for people who don’t normally like costume dramas about kings and queens, this adaptation of Maxwell Anderson’s play is great entertainment from head to toe. Richard Burton gives one of his better late-career performances, and Geneviève Bujold is a dynamo in a tiny package. It’s an impressive portrait of male power run amuck. With Irene Papas, Anthony Quayle, John Colicos and Michael Hordern. On Blu-rayfrom Twilight Time.
12/29/18

Notorious 12/29/18

Alfred Hitchcock’s nearly perfect romantic spy thriller teams Cary Grant with Ingrid Bergman to yield just what audiences wanted in 1946, an adult drama with menacing political themes… and an unusually adult approach to a perverse sex relationship! With the marvelous Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, Madame Konstantin, and Reinhold Schunze; photographed by Ted Tetzlaff. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
12/29/18

Dracula: Prince of Darkness 12/25/18

How to shake up a mid-sixties slump at Hammer Films? It’s back to basics time, with Christopher Lee returning in a most unusual way: there wasn’t much left of Dracula at the finish of his first outing as the number one supernatural public enemy. Terence Fisher is also back, enlivening the third film in the series with some surprisingly excessive gore. Barbara Shelley’s superb performance makes her Hammer’s most self-possessed heroine.. On Blu-ray from Scream Factory.
12/25/18

Disney Classics On Blu-ray 12/25/18

The resourceful Charlie Largent surveys a swath of Disney classics available on Blu-ray only through a special club, and discovers perhaps not classics but ‘boomer perennials’ that deserve a second look: Davy Crockett, Old Yeller, Treasure Island and Pollyanna! It’s a great article that acknowledges that the cultural effects of these Disney landmarks are more lasting than the films themselves. With interesting thoughts on Robert Newton, Fess Parker and Hayley Mills. But we aren’t shills for the club — you’ll have to find that for yourself. Blu-ray from Disney Movie Club.
12/25/18

The True Story of Jesse James 12/22/18

Nicholas Ray’s CinemaScope detour into outlaw Americana is yet another sincere artistic effort muffled by studio interference. Ray sought to examine a legend in terms of folklore and celebrity; Fox gave him Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter, Hope Lange and spectacular scenes repurposed from a 1939 Tyrone Power movie. Yet it still shows director Ray working his magic, in a revisionist western years before Sam Peckinpah — it has a violent robbery set piece that looks forward to The Wild Bunch. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
12/22/18

The Sea Hawk 12/22/18

Grand action entertainment bursts forth on the high seas, showing us how much production value Golden Hollywood could lavish on an exciting, artful swashbuckler. Errol Flynn is at his glorious best, backed by greats like Flora Robson, Henry Daniell and Claude Rains in fine form. The special effects and full-sized ship sets impress in ways that computer generated images never will. And the rousing music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold seals the deal — the term ‘Timeless Classic’ was invented for marvels like this. Co-starring the underrated Brenda Marshall. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
12/22/18

The Magnificent Ambersons 12/18/18

Hollywood’s most tragic ‘mangled masterpiece’ gets a new lease on life with this special edition of what could have been Orson Welles’ greatest film, had RKO not intentionally destroyed it to obliterate the stature of the unlucky Boy Genius. The movie can’t be reconstructed but its reputation can be restored — the story of the demise of a powerful industrial family would have been a dramatic powerhouse, perhaps more impressive than Citizen Kane. Terrific acting work here, from Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Ray Collins, Anne Baxter and particularly from Agnes Moorehead and Tim Holt. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
12/18/18

True Stories 12/15/18

It’s a film straight from the incredibly creative & earnestly searching mind of musician-composer David Byrne, complete with marvelous songs, bizarre staging, John Goodman, Spalding Gray, Annie McEnroe, Swoozie Kurtz, Jo Harvey Allen and other weird personalities from the wide expanses of Texas — the kind of people that answer the telephone. Intrepid TFH reviewer Charlie Largent insists that this isn’t a rental car. It’s a privately owned automobile. I think David Byrne and David Lynch need to meet, like Alien vs. Predator. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
12/15/18

The Atomic Cafe 12/15/18

Duck and Cover! And while you’re down there, enjoy a Flaming Atomic Cocktail! Loader, Rafferty and Rafferty’s influential documentary-satire uses authentic ’50s films and songs to illuminate the lies and myths about Cold War civil defense. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be like children in the face of a horror being promoted as an inconvenience to Americans insufficiently willing to Love the Bomb. And don’t forget to SING: “Nobody’s worried ’bout the day my Lord will come, When he’ll hit, great God a-mighty, like an atom bomb!” Included are a number of very impressive uncut ‘atomic’ propaganda films. On Blu-ray from Kino Classics.
12/15/18

Dark of the Sun 12/15/18

It’s tendon-biting combat, with guns, planes, trains, chainsaws, and an indestructible all-terrain vehicle (that still couldn’t stand the potholes in the street of Los Angeles)! Rod Taylor, Jim Brown and Yvette Mimieux blast their way through one of the roughest of the ’60s action spectacles, as mercenaries on a mission of mercy that’s really a venal grab to ‘rescue’ a fortune in diamonds. Director Jack Cardiff pushed the limits of acceptability on this one — legends persist about longer, more egregiously violent cuts. With Kenneth More and André Morell. It sparkles, booms and bleeds on Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
12/15/18

De Niro & De Palma The Early Films 12/11/18

No 1960s film student had more on the ball than Brian De Palma, who enlisted a smart group of collaborators to pull together his voyeuristic student-filmmaking, Alfred Hitchcock-worshiping early experimental pictures — especially budding actor Robert De Niro. In these three early features The Wedding Party, Greetings and Hi, Mom! we can feel the director being influenced in multiple directions — do ensemble comedy and Godard-esque minimalism have a future? Jill Clayburgh, Gerrit Graham, William Finley, Charles Durning, Jennifer Salt, Allen Garfield, Paul Bartel and Rutanya Alda think so. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
12/11/18

Sawdust and Tinsel 12/11/18

Ingmar Bergman’s ‘sad comedy’ finds desperation and adultery in his favorite milieu, the theater. He also gets to to contrast the self-important thespians with those dubious circus nomads, even as both groups are shunned by civilian society. Ake Grönberg and Harriet Andersson star as married performers considering ditching each other for a more secure future. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
12/11/18

Sunshine 12/08/18

Before TV movies were dissed with the put-down phrase ‘disease of the month,’ this 1973 film surprised and moved audiences with the realistic story of a young mother facing a fatal illness. It’s directed by the great Joseph Sargent and graced with the music of John Denver, but its impact rests upon the remarkable, affecting performance of actress Cristina Raines, then just twenty years old. With locations in the ‘country roads’ of British Columbia, and co-starring Cliff De Young, Meg Foster, Brenda Vaccaro, Bill Mumy and Corey Fischer. On Blu-ray from Redwind Productions.
12/08/18

Mamie Van Doren Film Noir Collection 12/08/18

Charlie Largent looks back at three crime-themed shows featuring the platinum blonde bombshell Mamie Van Doren. In The Girl in Black Stockings she’s a possible target for a serial killer at a Utah resort. Guns Girls and Gangsters sees her involved with high-stakes armored car robbery. And in Vice Raid she’s a good-time-gal trying to protect her younger sister from nasty hoodlums. I guess there’s some noir in there somewhere!  Plus an interview with Mamie herself — where she discusses bullet bras and reminds us that she once played opposite Clark Gable! 3 features on Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
12/08/18

Horror of Dracula 12/08/18

The best of all Hammer horror pictures finally comes to Region A Blu-ray, with a bright transfer made to look like original Technicolor prints. This is where Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing came into their own as international stars, as the undead Count Dracula and the no-nonsense vampire killer Van Helsing. It’s the bridge between old-school gothic horrors and the modern age of sex and gore, and it’s as exciting as a breakneck action serial. Also starring Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh, Janina Faye and Michael Gough, whose performance is unfairly dissed. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
12/08/18

The Thing from Another World 12/06/18

An EXTRA off-day special review!  Intrepid soldiers and scientists battle a bloodsucking alien invader at the top of the world! The Warner Archive Collection releases Howard Hawks’ incomparable Science Fiction thriller, a long-desired favorite. Long handicapped by missing scenes, this RKO classic is intact again, complete with its nerve-rattling bombastic Dimitri Tiomkin music score. CineSavant lays on a full review essay. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
12/06/18

The Outer Limits Season Two 12/04/18

It’s here, the second half of the science fiction TV series from the 1960s, restored and remastered. It’s really only half a season and the creative team has been swapped out, but several gems are every bit as good as episodes from year one. Plus acting disc producer David J. Schow ladles on the extras like thick gravy … including promos and TV spots not seen since 1963 and ’64. This season includes the Harlan Ellison episodes Soldier and Demon with a Glass Hand, and the double episode The Inheritors. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
12/04/18

The Puppet Masters 12/04/18

Robert Heinlein’s frighteningly brilliant sci-fi horror novel was a conceptual original that spawned an entire generation of biological invasions from outer space. Director Stuart Orme’s faithful, authorized 1994 adaptation has a lot going for it, including sensationally good, gloppy special makeup effects, and a commanding performance from a dour, authoritative Donald Sutherland. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
12/04/18

A Coffin for the Sheriff & Blood at Sundown 12/04/18

Guest reviewer Lee Broughton returns with more vintage Spaghetti Westerns. Prolific Italo western star Anthony Steffen shoots first in Alberto Cardone’s gothic vengeance drama Blood at Sundown, and plays the revenge game straight up in Mario Caiano’s A Coffin for the Sheriff. The double bill disc also features appearances by genre stalwarts Gianni Garko, Erika Blanc and Eduardo Fajardo. On DVD from Wild East Productions.
12/04/18

Hallelujah the Hills 12/01/18

Adolfas Mekas made his mark in American independent filmmaking with this avant-garde comedy that shook up film festivals circa 1963. Although it is said to have inspired Andy Warhol, it’s its own animal entirely, eighty minutes of cinematic frivolity that’s too sincere to be a parody of the filmic conventions it so happily celebrates. With rare extras, including a 1963 TV discussion between Adolfas Mekas, Richard Roud, Amos Vogel and Joseph Losey. On Blu-ray from Kino Classics.
12/01/18

Gosford Park 12/01/18

At least twenty fine actors and stars make Robert Altman’s period piece about a party in a big English country house into a gala occasion. The show is also a fascinating entree into a classed world of masters and servants. The drama of manners could also be described as a mystery who-dunnit. Either way, we’re floored by excellent work from a stellar cast: Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, Eileen Atkins, Emily Watson, Clive Owen, Michael Gambon, Alan Bates, Derek Jacobi, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jeremy Northam, Bob Balaban, Kelly Macdonald. On Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
12/01/18

Age of Consent 11/27/18

A dreamy tropic idyll … or a dirty old man’s movie? Our verdict chooses the first option for Michael Powell’s retelling of the old tale of the artist’s innocent yet sensual creative adventure with his young model. Producer James Mason eases nicely into the part, but then- newcomer Helen Mirren takes the prize as the most fearless and liberated woman in filmdom circa 1969. With Jack MacGowran, the Great Barrier Reef when it was still Great, and a very talented dog, Lonsdale. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
11/27/18

A Man Alone 11/27/18

Ray Milland directs a fine western drama, strong on character and tension; it garnered enough praise to set him on a second, minor career behind the camera. Milland also stars as a gunman in the wrong place at the wrong time — framed for a mass murder in an unforgiving frontier town. Who ya gonna blame? That nasty sidewinder villain Raymond Burr, of course. Also starring Mary Murphy, Ward Bond, Raymond Burr and Lee Van Cleef. Now, of those actors, which do you think doesn’t live to see the ‘The End’ card?  On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/27/1

Clouzot The Early Works 11/24/18

A master of suspense admired even by Hitchcock, Henri-Georges Clouzot is famous for acid-tinged thrillers about cold-blooded murder and ugly politics, whether in a French town or a Latin American oil field. But his early writing career was quite different: he provided the scenarios and dialogue for ten years’ worth of clever farces and affecting melodramas, often with musical numbers. The set’s titles are My Cousin from Warsaw, Dragnet Night, The Unknown Singer, I’ll Be Alone After Midnight, The Terror of Batignolles, Tell Me Tonight and Dream Castle. On Blu-ray from Kino Classics.
11/24/18

Brewster McCloud 11/24/18

Robert Altman’s first opportunity to cut loose with an entirely personal film is this scattershot comedy that satirizes the American scene, taking pokes at patriotism, greed, and silly police movies. To his favorite eccentrics from M*AS*SH Bud Cort and Sally Kellerman he adds the new discovery Shelley Duvall; the movie’s like a bag of absurdist jokes that spilled onto a Houston Highway. Also starring Michael Murphy, William Windom, Rene Auberjonois, Stacy Keach, John Schuck, Margaret Hamilton and Jennifer Salt. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
11/24/18

The Best of the Three Stooges 11/24/18

Duck while you can still see: this collection rounds up enough short subjects for a 13-disc set, including all 87 of the Columbia Pictures Shorts produced between 1934 and 1945; also television, stage shows, cartoons and four Three Stooges Feature Films. Are you getting the message — it’a LOT of stuff! Plus those awful pokes in the eyes. Reviewer Charlie Largent has tried them for real, and reports from the state reformatory that the sound effects are different, but people do end up blinded. On DVD from Time-Life.
11/24/18

Crazy Rich Asians 11/20/18

A surprise hit? This ultra-glamorous rom-com about life among the Singapore 1% would be a fantasy, if everything we see weren’t real. Constance Wu and Michelle Yeoh head an all-Asian cast in a celebration of ostentatious excess — yep, some folks aren’t hurting at all. As an expression of Asian ascendency and female power, the show may have opened a door to a whole new empire of crossover ethnic fantasies. With Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu and Awkwafina. On Blu-ray from Warner Home Video.
11/20/18

Georgy Girl 11/20/18

Lynn Redgrave burst to stardom with this fine study of romance vs. reality in swinging London circa 1966. Georgy thinks of herself as a plain Jane next to her popular roommate, played by Charlotte Rampling. Alan Bates is the flighty boyfriend and James Mason the old millionaire making Georgy indecent proposals. How can a good girl get somewhere in life? As sometimes happens, the song has retained more fame than the movie. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
11/20/18

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood 11/20/18

Matt Tynauer’s frank, unrated documentary about the wild times of gay and straight hustler-procurer Scotty Bowers is built around his 2012 tell-all book about the Hollywood sex underground of the late ’40s and ’50s. Scotty tells his own story in a way that compels belief. It’s a fine docu, sort of an exposé item but more credible than Hollywood Babylon. But it’s also not for all audiences, as some hardcore content is included. On DVD from Kino Lorber/Greenwich Entertainment.
11/20/18

Nothing Sacred 11/17/18

Whaddaya know, this new disc of the Carole Lombard / Fredric March comedy hit looks great, besting by far all previous videos and prints I’ve seen of the early (1937) Technicolor production. Hazel Flagg’s Madcap Manhattan Weekend now pops with brilliant hues. And a little digging tells us that Ben Hecht’s morbid premise is based on a real-life scandalous workplace tragedy called ‘The Living Dead Women.’ Also starring Charles Winninger, Walter Connolly, Sig Ruman, Margaret Hamilton, Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom and Troy Brown as a non-PC Eastern potentate. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/17/18

The Princess Bride 11/17/18

William Goldman and Rob Reiner’s unchallenged modern classic captures the magic of fairy tales about noble lovers, loyal warriors and low-down villains. Everybody’s terrific, all the characters are hilariously magical and Goldman’s writing glows with love for happy storytelling leavened further by sly wit. Criterion presents the Blu-ray in a lush storybook package with a treasure chest of extras. Starring Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Peter Falk, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant and Wallace Shawn. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
11/17/18

Gas, Food Lodging 11/13/18

Welcome to the West, long after the frontier has closed. Allison Anders’ marvelous drama of a three-girl family is a big step for indie cinema, a highly entertaining examination of women’s aspirations and frustrations out on the non-glamorous working class fringe. Writer-director Anders wastes no time with a terrific cast — Brooke Adams, Ione Skye and Fairuza Balk’s family lacks a father, and ‘men who walk’ becomes the central issue in their lives. Filmed in a gloriously believable New Mexico desert. On Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
11/13/18

Sword of Sherwood Forest 11/13/18

Hammer takes time off from horror to ‘Speak Treason — Fluently!’  TV’s Robin Hood Richard Greene goes Eastmancolor and MegaScope to oppose the Sheriff of Nottingham on the big screen. The cast is certainly attractive: Peter Cushing, Niall MacGinnis, Richard Pasco, Jack Gwillim, Sarah Branch, Nigel Green, Vanda Godsell, Desmond Llewelyn and Oliver Reed. Reviewer Charlie Largent sorts things out — and adds a fascinating mini-history of the ‘lefty’ TV show we all watched as kids. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
11/13/18

Blondie The Complete 1957 Television Series 11/13/18

‘Hey Blondie!’ Dagwood, Blondie, Mr. Dithers and a victimized postman return for a stab at a TV revival of the 1940s series from Chic Young’s never-ending comic strip. It’s not bad, with Arthur Lake clowning up a storm and Pamela Britton a charming new embodiment of a character who began as ‘Blondie Boopadoop.’ It’s the entire one-season series. Guest stars include Barbara Nichols and Pamela Duncan. On Blu-ray from ClassicFlix.
11/13/18

The Last Movie 11/10/18

Dennis Hopper’s legendary follow-up to Easy Rider ended his Hollywood directing career for at least fifteen years. Barely seen again after brief premiere bookings, it hasn’t built up a reputation as a suppressed masterpiece. So what is it exactly? A new spotless restoration gives a dazzling rebirth to Hopper’s Perú- filmed deconstruction of Hollywood. The astonishing number of notables in the cast list may in itself demand a viewing: Julie Adams, Tomas Milian, Don Gordon, Donna Baccala, Sylvia Miles, Rod Cameron, Severn Darden, Sam Fuller, Peter Fonda, Henry Jaglom, Michelle Phillips, Kris Kristofferson, Dean Stockwell, Russ Tamblyn, John Phillip Law, Richard Rust, Toni Basil, Michael Anderson Jr.. On Blu-ray from Arbelos.
11/10/18

Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure 11/10/18

Tarzan got a new lease on life when a film company finally went to Africa to pit Gordon Scott’s excellent ‘Lord of the Jungle’ against a formidable phalanx of villains. Anthony Quayle, Sean Connery and Niall MacGinnis are perfect Dastards of the Darkest Continent. Also top-flight are the women in this jungle combat, wicked Scilla Gabel and naughty Sara Shane. Fun for adult kids of all ages! Poor Al Mulock gets no respect, but he’s in there slugging as well. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
11/10/18

Mr. Capra Goes to War: Frank Capra’s World War II Documentaries 11/06/18

These wartime docu-propaganda films are fascinating, but critic Joseph McBride’s critical accompaniment is even better, nailing the meaning of five groundbreaking works of ‘indoctrination’ and giving us a refreshing revisionist take on one of America’s more revered film directors. The films are Prelude to War, The Battle of Russia (1&2), The Negro Soldier, Tunisian Victory and Your Job in Germany; get ready to hear plenty of ‘why we fight’ rhetoric and see all those dramatic animated maps, with swastika daggers making entire countries bleed. On Blu-ray from Olive Films.
11/06/18

Andrei Rublev 11/06/18

Want to get serious about Russian cinema? Andrei Tarkovsky’s 15th-century epic portrays the travails of an artist at odds with his world — a medieval nightmare far more cruel than the Cold War indifference and suspicion that Tarkovsky experienced in his own industry. It’s perhaps his masterpiece, a ‘safe’ historical story that nevertheless was too personal and religious to escape Soviet censorship. Both versions are here, the 3-hour director’s cut and the longer The Passion According to Andre. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
11/06/18

Lisbon 11/03/18

Ray Milland produces, directs and stars in this odd, forgotten travelogue / adventure / romance /crime tale filmed in Portugal’s beautiful capital. Claude Rains is magnificent, Maureen O’Hara is okay and relative newcomer Yvonne Furneaux is a knockout. Most remembered is Nelson Riddle’s adaptation of the film’s title theme, one of the most admired pop instrumentals of the 1950s. Filmed in Republic’s ‘Naturama’ and ‘Trucolor,’ both of which prompt plenty of fuzzy man Savant-‘splaining. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
11/03/18

Black Widow 11/03/18

(1954) Fox touted Black Widow as the first murder mystery in CinemaScope. Ace writer / tyro director Nunnally Johnson tries an ‘All About Eve’ dissection of Broadway swells but in a mystery context, with beaucoup flashbacks. The result is something akin to Rope, with scenes all taking place in apartments with views of Central Park. Nobody complained about the big marquee names Ginger Rogers, Van Heflin, Gene Tierney and George Raft, but I re-watch to marvel over the dreamy, interesting Virginia Leith. Raymond Durgnat encouraged us to indulge our screen fantasies! On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
11/03/18

Sisters 10/30/18

Brian De Palma unleashes 101 ferocious Hitchcock references for this great horror opus, all bolstered by Bernard Herrmann’s nerve-jangling music score. Plus a very young Margot Kidder and the impressive Jennifer Salt, plus appearances by the equally youthful Charles Durning, William Finley and Dolph Sweet. It’s a fine revisit of an early Criterion disc, with some highly amusing extras — such as a surprising 1970 talk-show excerpt with Margo Kidder, Janis Joplin and Gloria Swanson. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
10/30/18

The Satanic Rites of Dracula 10/30/18

Hammer’s Dracula goes out with a whimper in this final Chris Lee-Peter Cushing vampire opus, which posits the Prince of Darkness as a super-mogul super-villain (with insufficient infrastructure). He’s battling Scotland Yard, MI5 and his old nemesis Van Helsing, while still arranging ritual sacrifices. And don’t forget the quartet of vampire babes he keeps in the cellar. Also starring William Franklyn, Freddie Jones and Joanna Lumley; on Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
10/30/18

William Castle at Columbia Volume One 10/27/18

All of Columbia’s gimmick pictures by ‘Mister Showman’ are here, from the buzz-in-the-rear jolt of Percepto! through the Ghost Viewers of Illusion-O, The Fright Break and The Punishment Poll. A couple of the movies are good, too, especially The Tingler with its bizarre non-sequitur narrative, and the weird take on an average American family in the casually morbid 13 Ghosts. The derivative shocker Homicidal plays games with gender roles, while the cut-price gothic Mr. Sardonicus relies on a single horrifying countenance to chill the blood. The authoritative extras make the difference, plus the handsome remastering of the selective-color gag in The Tingler that shocks us with a literal Bath of Blood. Reviewing this set for CineSavant is our one and only diabolical Charlie ‘Loathsome’ Largent (shudder!). On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
10/27/18

Valley Girl 10/27/18

One of the oldies celebrated by lovers of ’80s fare, Martha Coolidge’s ode to pampered teens in La La Land has aged extremely well. It still fairly representative of reality, but the romantic fairy tale angle is what keeps it afloat. Nicholas Cage’s unguarded vulnerability and Deborah Foreman’s infectious smile win the day — we like these kids, even if they’re somewhat idealized. With fun input from Elizabeth Daily, Heidi Holicker, Michelle Meyrink, Lee Purcell, Colleen Camp & Frederic Forrest, and a ton of extras. On Blu-ray from Shout Select.
10/27/18

Gun Shy (2000) 10/27/18

I had never heard of this comedy-thriller, and the good news is that it’s a pleasant surprise, thoroughly enjoyable. The toughest kind of filmmaking must be making comedy seem effortless, and that’s what Eric Blakeney does in this quirky, near- Screwball take on the done-to-death drug deal undercover thriller. Liam Neeson is sensational, and producer Sandra Bullock is at her most charming. Great work from the underrated Oliver Platt, making an unlikely character into something special. Even the flatulence jokes are funny. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
10/27/18

The Spiral Staircase 10/23/18

There’s a storm outside, the cook has drunk herself to sleep, the other servants are gone, the old lady is an invalid — and the helpless mute maid is trapped indoors with a murderous maniac. No, it’s not a Reality Show about the White House, but Robert Siodmak’s superior ‘old house whodunnit’ that is equal parts Americana, film noir and proto- slasher horror. The top-flight cast includes Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Ethel Barrymore, Kent Smith, Rhonda Fleming, Elsa Lanchester and a diabolical staring eye. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
10/23/18

12 Monkeys 10/23/18

Terry Gilliam’s second big-star ‘retrench’ movie benefits from his fertile imagination, and his handling of an overly complicated sci-fi script. Did happy audiences respond to the film’s second-hand time travel complexities, or did they just like seeing Brad Pitt in a new mode, playing a weird motormouthed eccentric? Bruce Willis gets first billing and Madeleine Stowe and Christopher Plummer provide support in a tale adapted from a classic Chris Marker film. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
10/23/18

Night of the Demon 10/20/18

(+ Curse of the Demon):  A top horror title gets the Powerhouse Indicator treatment just in time for Halloween — it’s not a domestic release but it plays in our Region A players. You can shuffle the alternate versions like a deck of cards: one basic movie, but six separate encodings: by length, title sequence and aspect ratio. Plus fascinating extras and a killer versions comparison feature. You have only your time allowed!  On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
10/20/18

Dracula A.D. 1972 10/20/18

Dracula and Van Helsing seem more than a little confused, fighting the good fight of virtue against evil in a modern setting dominated by painful Mod fashions and flaky pop rock ‘n’ roll. Hammer’s desperation bid to make itself ‘relevant’ at least gives us Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, who keep the show on the rails despite the disastrous concept. The two leading ladies are favorites as well: Stephanie Beacham and Caroline Munro. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
10/20/18

The Night Stalker & The Night Strangler 10/16/18

A review by Charlie Largent: these two legendary TV movies spawned a series for monster hunter Darren McGavin, a modern-day cross between a tabloid reporter and vampire hunter Van Helsing. Produced by Dan Curtis, written by Richard Matheson and starring a rogue’s gallery of supporting faces: Simon Oakland, Barry Atwater, Carol Lynley, Ralph Meeker, Charles McGraw, Elisha Cook Jr., Richard Anderson, Scott Brady, Wally Cox, John Carradine, Margaret Hamilton, Jo Ann Pflug and Al Lewis. The audio commentaries are by Tim Lucas. Separate purchases on Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
10/16/18

Shampoo 10/16/18

Beverly Hills 1968 — Sunset Blvd., The Strip, The Bistro, the haze in the Hollywood Hills — where a lowly hairdresser-stud is locked in a crazy lifestyle free-fall while having the time of his life with four beautiful women. Warren Beatty puts a facet of his public personality on display as a world-class ladies’ man who just can’t keep things together. His quartet of conquests in a single day are Lee Grant, Goldie Hawn, Julie Christie and a teenaged Carrie Fisher. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
10/16/18

Les parents terribles 10/16/18

Jean Cocteau’s film work wasn’t limited to fairy tales and art-house fantasies; this adaptation of his hit play shows us fine theater at its best. A family is a tangle of not-quite-normal relationships that reach an impasse when the emotionally spoiled son seeks to marry — a woman his father already knows. The cast bears repeating: Jean Marais, Josette Day, Yvonne de Bray, Marcel André, Gabrielle Dorziat. On Blu-ray from The Cohen Group.
10/16/18

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 10/13/18

A super-classic receives a super ‘Olive Signature’ Blu-ray release. CineSavant clears up some online rumors complaining that the disc producers didn’t do a full restoration. The original release Superscope version of Don Siegel’s soul-shaking chiller has been handsomely remastered — and with the extras we’ve awaited for 12 years. They include never-before-seen interviews and never-before-heard commentaries with stars Dana Wynter and Kevin McCarthy. On Blu-ray from Olive Signature.
10/13/18

The Swarm 10/13/18

It’s time to celebrate the Irwin Allen disaster epics for what they are — huge, indigestible spectacles that first seem funny and then congeal into a cinematic badness that words cannot describe. This sprawling ordeal tortures good actors and shatters every limit of audience patience. Enough stars for you?: Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia de Havilland, Ben Johnson, Lee Grant, José Ferrer, Patty Duke, Slim Pickens, Bradford Dillman, Fred MacMurray, Henry Fonda… Is a fair review even possible? I alone have survived to tell thee. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
10/13/18

The Official Story 10/13/18

Political terror hits home, as a Buenos Aires teacher and housewife discovers that her family life is not only a lie, it’s a lie grounded in government treachery and murder. Forget conspiracy foolishness, for Luis Puenzo’s Oscar-winning tale is based on solid, documented truth, with an American connection. This is one of the first of the modern filmic political exposés from Latin America. Starring Héctor Alterio and Norma Aleandro. On Blu-ray from The Cohen Group.
10/13/18

Trilogy of Terror 10/09/18

The ‘seventies brought forth some well-remembered TV horror movies, that shocked impressionable kids back in the days of Watergate and Sonny & Cher. Karen Black toplines Dan Curtis’s trio of malevolent tales, all from original stories by Richard Matheson. The third story about a killer Zuni Warrior doll, is considered a must-see genre gem. The disc carries two commentaries and three interviews, with Matheson, the composer and the much-missed Ms. Black as well. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
10/09/18

The Last Hurrah 10/09/18

In the last decade of his career John Ford produced and directed this ode to crony politics, with Spencer Tracy as an old-fashioned mayor who uses underhanded ploys to do right by his constituents. Tracy is backed by a veritable army of supporting actors, neatly orchestrated in Frank Nugent’s screenplay. We’re talking scores of John Ford stock company players; it’s like old home week, with Ford in firm control. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
10/09/18

Horrors of Malformed Men 10/09/18

No, it’s not about the U.S. Senate. Teruo Ishii’s kitchen-sink Japanese horror show tosses in everything under the rising sun: madmen, murder, strange doppelgängers, a return from the dead, freakish deformities and Oedipal nightmares. Will our hero help his depraved father with his hobby of atrocious surgery? Reviewer Charlie Largent sorts out the slime and the shudders of a storyline cobbled from various tales of the uncanny by the legendary Edogawa Rampo. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
10/09/18

Scenes from a Marriage 10/06/18

The marital discord in this show is a different animal than those Italian romps with Loren and Mastroianni — Ingmar Bergman’s miniseries examination of a breakup between two upstanding, thoughtful parents is a demanding, grueling exercise in self-evaluation. Try as one might, we can’t help but compare the fireworks between Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson with one’s personal experiences. It’s presented in two separate versions — the three-hour theatrical cut, and the original 6-hour Swedish TV show. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
10/06/18

Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series 4 10/06/18

Let the debate about the incompatibility of film art and screen eroticism commence: Joe Sarno is back!  His 1964 Sin in the Suburbs is still a slice of genuine Americana, considered total smut when first released but barely notable now except for the sordid believability of its subject matter. Is Sarno the Cassavetes of his own subgenre, the ’60s softcore sex soap opera? He certainly impresses as a man with a cinematic mission, following the beat of a different drummer. Joining Sin is Confessions of a Young American Housewife and a bonus feature, Warm Nights and Hot Pleasures. On Blu-ray from Film Movement Classics.
10/06/18

The Naked Prey 10/06/18

An excellent example of a thriller that improves with age, Cornel Wilde’s survival tale is a lean ‘n’ mean exercise in first-person terror. Sent barefoot and naked on a hopeless ‘run of the arrow,’ our hero earns our admiration from his first desperate steps. Actor Wilde may never have directed anything else quite as good, but this winner cements his name in the achievement books. With Ken Gampu. On Blu-rayfrom The Criterion Collection.
10/06/18

The Bravados 10/02/18

Gregory Peck slips into vengeance mode full-tilt, riding down a quartet of blackhearted knaves: rapist Stephen Boyd, ambusher Albert Salmi, sneaky Lee Van Cleef and inscrutable Henry Silva. The action direction and scenery in this late ‘fifties Big Sky western are excellent; Joan Collins and Kathleen Gallant put in good performances as well. But Savant has reservations about the story’s air of sanctimony. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
10/02/18

The Collector 10/02/18

Mixed-up lotto winner Terence Stamp goes about putting his life in order in a straightforward manner: since he has difficulty attracting a woman, he just kidnaps one, locks her away and waits until she decides to love him back. At least that’s the plan in William Wyler’s late career horror-suspense item. The object of Stamp’s non-PC affections is the wonderful Samantha Eggar; it’s a toss-up whether the screenplay has anything to say, or is simply exploiting a sick premise in a classy presentation. Reviewed by the much more civilized Charlie Largent. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
10/02/18

Exorcist II: The Heretic 10/02/18

‘There must be a sequel’ spake Warner Bros., and lo Sir John of Boorman stepped up to the plate. One of the most jeered-at, overcooked sequels of all time thoroughly deserves its reputation as a train wreck of a movie. In hindsight we see a heap of resources and cinematic fireworks thrown at a project with little chance of survival. I think a lot of the scorn was blowback from the power of the original Friedkin picture, a blockbuster that was just too profane of an act to follow. Louise Fletcher is no lecher. Richard Burton isn’t hurtin’. Hey there it’s Linda Blair. A two-disc set on Blu-ray from Scream Factory.
10/02/18

A Raisin in the Sun 09/29/18

Lorraine Hansberry’s play has been given a masterful film adaptation, with the emotional truth of her words left intact. We’re told of some superficial compromises, but they do not diminish the play’s powerful clash between old and new ideas in a Southside Chicago family struggling to escape poverty. This may be Sidney Poitier’s best screen performance, but the honors are shared with a superlative cast: Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee, Diana Sands, Ivan Dixon, John Fiedler, Louis Gossett Jr., Stephen Perry, Joel Fluellen. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
9/29/18

Looker 09/29/18

It’s always fun to peruse the impressive career of writer-director Michael Crichton, whose brilliant, commercially savvy ideas so often hit the mark. He even invented a plausibly credible dinosaur movie. This 1981 thriller may be his least coherent show, with too many screwy ideas and a supporting cast that needed better direction. Yet it has the winning combination of Albert Finney and Susan Dey, and some very original thriller elements.. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
9/29/18

The Cyclops 09/25/18

He’s back — looking meaner and uglier than ever!  Bert I. Gordon’s early sci-fi effort shapes up as a surprisingly entertaining monster thriller with an elemental appeal. And lots of groaning and howling, too. Led by Lon Chaney Jr., the all-name cast keeps things lively. The pop-eyed monster is the ultimate bogeyman for the kiddies. Any movie that inspired as many nightmares as this one did, can’t be bad. With Gloria Talbott, James Craig and Tom Drake. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
9/25/18

The Mind of Mr. Soames 09/25/18

Amicus tries for class-act science fiction: lifelong coma sleeper Terence Stamp is revived as an ‘adult baby’ and must be educated in a medical psychology lab. But hey, Doctors Nigel Davenport and Robert Vaughn differ on how to raise children! The bouncing baby Cockney is soon an infantile Clockwork Orange, defying his minders and running away to see the world for himself. No, you can’t explain youth rebellion that easily… Also with Donal Donnelly, and shot by cameraman Billy Williams. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
9/25/18

The Dragon Missile 09/25/18

Guest reviewer Lee Broughton offers an assessment of one of the Shaw Brothers’ quirkier and more idiosyncratic historical martial arts efforts: an action-packed Meng Hua Ho wuxia flick from 1976 that concerns an irredeemable killer sent on a mission to save the life of a despicable and hated tyrant. Outstanding fight choreography, unusual weaponry and unpredictable plot twists! On Region B Blu-ray from 88 Films.
9/25/18

The Changeling 09/22/18

Morbid spirits are on the loose … Peter Medak directed this much-respected ghost story, that finds new wrinkles and some great characters in a haunted house. George C. Scott adds another fine performance to his record, as a master musician who discovers a secret room and a horror story that happened seventy years before. The nervous supporting cast features Trish Van Devere, Melvyn Douglas, Jean Marsh, John Colicos, Barry Morse, and Madeleine Sherwood. On Blu-ray from Severin Films.
9/22/18

The Trip to Bountiful 09/22/18

Horton Foote strikes again, with a warm and thoughtful tale of life as it was lived in East Texas in 1950. Geraldine Page won an Oscar for her unguarded portrait of Carrie Watts, a woman who has outlived her peers and been uprooted from an ideal hometown of her youth. Her trip to recover her life becomes a bittersweet acknowledgment that some things just need to be accepted with as much grace as can be mustered. The great ensemble cast teams Fitzgerald with John Heard, Carlin Glynn, Rebecca De Mornay and Richard Bradford. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
9/22/18

Death in Small Doses 09/22/18

This ’50s drug epic is not about hopheads on dope, but working folk frying their brains on amphetamines. Peter Graves’ undercover narc seeks the source of deadly pills that are wreaking havoc in the trucking industry; the film’s wild card is an unhinged Chuck Connors — yes, that Chuck Connors — as a deranged pill-popper running amuck on the highways. Seat belts recommended. Co-starring the formidable Mala Powers and Merry Anders in showcase roles. On DVD from The Warner Archive Collection.
9/22/18

My Man Godfrey 09/18/18

For my money this is the brightest, most endearing and wittiest ’30s comedy to be given the name ‘screwball.’ Everyone on screen is flawlessly magnificent — Carole Lombard, William Powell, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Jean Dixon, Eugene Pallette and Mischa Auer — and Gregory La Cava’s direction is so good, it’s invisible. No kidding, I’ve never watched this with a group or individual that didn’t immediately rank it among the best entertainments they’ve seen. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
9/18/18

The Invisible Man Complete Legacy Collection 09/18/18

Universal’s four-disc set includes all six transparent epics (The Invisible Man, The Invisible Man Returns, The Invisible Woman, The Invisible Agent, The Invisible Man’s Revenge and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man), starring Claude Rains, Vincent Price, Jon Hall, Virginia Bruce and Arthur Franz as various invisible leading players. Reviewer Charlie Largent sorts them out. The original Griffin is a maniacal murderer (beware monocaine!) but subsequent no-see-’em folk are innocent good guys, a Nazi-fighter and a sexy woman! On Blu-ray from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
9/18/18

Day of the Jackal 09/18/18

Fred Zinnemann’s counter-assassination thriller remains topflight filmmaking, torn from reality and shot through with an unsentimental dose of political realism. Edward Fox’s implacable killer outwits the combined resources of an entire nation as he stalks his prey, and when bad luck forces him to improvise, he racks up more victims on his kill list. Step aside Bond, Bourne and Marvel — the original Jackal is the man to beat. Starring Edward Fox, Michel Lonsdale, Delphine Seyrig, Cyril Cusack, Alan Badel, Olga Georges-Picot, Derek Jacobi and Jean Martin. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
9/18/18

Sangaree (3-D) 09/15/18

‘3rd Dimension!’ ‘Technicolor!’ Paramount underwent a difficult post-production learning curve getting this early entry in the 3-D craze out the door and into waiting theaters. Fernando Lamas and Arlene Dahl decorate the colonial-era costume drama, injecting some heat into their frisky wrestling match meet-cute love scene. Rip those bodices! Also starring Tom Drake, Patricia Medina and Francis L. Sullivan; comes with an educational restoration comparison extra. On 3-D Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
9/15/18

The Man Who Cheated Himself 09/15/18

The Film Noir Foundation has helped revive yet another difficult-to-see noir gem — the murder coverup tale begins with a shooting in a mansion and races across San Francisco to a finale given classic lines by director Felix Feist. And the casting: Slightly saggy Lee J. Cobb as a romantic leading man? Sunny, everybody’s-mom Jane Wyatt as a duplicitous killer?   Bring it on!   Also starring John Dall and Lisa Howard, whose political backstory is one of the strangest in Hollywood history. On Blu-ray + DVD from Flicker Alley.
9/15/18

The Farmer’s Daughter 09/11/18

A solid mainstream hit for 1947, Loretta Young and Joseph Cotten’s political fairy tale maintains its charm despite the usual populist dodges — a spirited young woman finds both romance and The American Dream when she runs for Congress. With Ethel Barrymore as a political party kingpin, and the very young Lex Barker, Keith Andes and James Arness as Loretta’s farm-fed brothers. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
9/11/18

Queen of Outer Space 09/11/18

“I hate her! I hate dat qveen!” Despite being one of the most maladroit sci-fiers of the ‘fifties, color and ‘scope and Zsa Za Gabor’s hilarious accent make this Allied Artists offering a must-see head scratcher. Bad taste! Tacky art direction! Infantile sexist humor! The word on the street is that the Me Too movement has this embarrassing howler on their kill list. With Eric Fleming, Dave Willock, Paul Birch, Laurie Mitchell and Lisa Davis. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
9/11/18

The Tree of Life 09/08/18

Terrence Malick’s magnum opus fully expresses what might be called his ‘Unified Theory’ of cinema — which embraces the human experience from the core of family life to the creation and destruction of the universe. Even Stanley Kubrick didn’t go that far: he never filmed merciful dinosaurs or anything as simple as a mother who experiences rapture rolling in the grass with her young sons. Starring Jessica Chastain, Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Hunter McCracken and several soulful dinosaurs. The set contains an added Extended Version.  On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
9/8/18

Bronson Caverns, The Hidden Hollywood Location 09/08/18

Let’s take a trip back to Bronson Caverns, but with new and better photos! Once you visit this hiding-in-plain-sight Hollywood location, you’ll start seeing it every time you tune in an old movie. We dropped in on Labor Day to commune with the ghosts of B-movies past. It’s a thoroughly un-glamorous yet essential Hollywood side trip for genre cinema enthusiasts. And Savant is a well-informed, annoyingly opinionated tour guide. With plenty of images old and new.
9/8/18

First Reformed 09/04/18

Paul Schrader’s austere, intense thriller is billed as a return to the director’s ‘transcendental’ roots, although we suspect he never really left them at all. Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried and Victoria Hall immerse us in a country pastor’s dreadful impulse to act on spiritual values and strike back against evil. The mix of Robert Bresson style and slightly ‘Taxi Driver’ suspense plotting leads us to fear an exploitation apocalypse at the finale… but Schrader surprises us, mercifully. On Blu-ray from Lionsgate.
9/04/18

Missing 09/04/18

Costa-Gavras’ superlative political thriller begins with a skeptical attitude, but soon pulls viewers into the depth and breadth of a monstrous political crime aided and abetted by our own U.S. government. Sissy Spacek and Jack Lemmon headline a strong cast, in a story that our State Department called a pack of lies — until the truth became undeniable. With Melanie Mayron and John Shea; Filmed by a French crew in Mexico for Hollywood’s Universal Pictures, which stood behind the film even when our government complained. That’s a triumph for freedom of speech and expression. On Region B Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
9/04/18

Creature From the Black Lagoon Complete Legacy Collection 09/01/18

It’s controversy in the Black Lagoon! Universal releases a much-desired box of all three Gill Man epics — but goes cheap on the encoding and hands us a 3-D rendering of Revenge of the Creature at half- bit rate and half- resolution. When is a Blu-ray not a Blu-ray? When it’s not even full HD. And all that after commissioning a state-of-the-art 4k 3-D video remaster! We still love the movies — Creature from the Black Lagoon, Revenge of… and … Walks Among Us— and my review takes the time to justify our devotion to them. Now all we need is a satisfactory disc presentation. On Blu-ray from Universal Home Entertainment.
9/01/18

The Naked and the Dead 09/01/18

One of the splashier WW2 combat sagas adapts Norman Mailer’s respected book but ends up a bona fide mess. Aldo Ray, Cliff Robertson and Raymond Massey flail about in a compromised screen story, augmented with side-dish appearances by sultry Barbara Nichols and — even though she’s allowed to contribute almost nothing — famous ecdysiast Lili St. Cyr.  Let the search for outtakes begin. With exactly every actor one would expect in a 1958 war movie — William Campbell, Richard Jaeckel, James Best, Joey Bishop, Jerry Paris and a humiliating role for L.Q. Jones. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
9/01/18

Strait-Jacket 08/28/18

Wicked William Castle, bloody Robert Bloch and Axe Lady Joan Crawford make slay-time in a camp-fest too crazy for words. Exaggerated make-up! Dresses with huge flowered prints! She’s not a lumberjack, and neither is she okay — why doesn’t Joan just go back and kill the source of her psychosis, Ann Blythe? SEE! Grown men pretend to be attracted to a crazoid woman! SEE! Diane Baker’s big acting finale stolen, and made a Miss Joan showcase instead! With Leif Erickson, Howard St. John and George Kennedy; on Blu-ray from Scream Factory.
8/28/18

The Hot Rock 08/28/18

Donald Westlake’s lovably luckless crook John Dortmunder is brought to life by Robert Redford, in a lightweight crime caper engineered by top talent: screenwriter William Goldman and Brit director Peter Yates. Redford’s partner is a worrisome, talkative George Segal; Moses Gunn is the unhappy client, Ron Liebman a jolly master of all things technical and Zero Mostel a major obstacle in the obtaining of a priceless diamond. A new commentary, too. With Paul Sand, William Redfield, Lynne Gordon and Robert Weil. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
8/28/18

Ministry of Fear 08/28/18

Fritz Lang’s third wartime anti-Nazi film is an Alfred Hitchcock- type spy chase taken from a psychological novel by Graham Greene, with the psychology angle transferred mostly to physical threats — ticking clocks, a mystery cake, and German bombs in the Blitz. Ray Milland is cool and collected for a man just released from a mental asylum, and proves up to the task of defeating a Nazi conspiracy. With Marjorie Reynolds, Carl Esmond, Hillary Brooke, Dan Duryea, Alan Napier and Erskine Sanford. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
8/28/18

Gloria 08/25/18

“Come on, come on, I’d love it — don’t hang back!” dares Gloria Swenson, brandishing a gun at three mobsters that know she means business. Gena Rowlands is electric as a tough New York ex- gangland moll who finds that her maternal instincts make her deadlier than the male: “I’ll kill anybody that’s trying to kill me.” John Cassavetes’ commercial crowd-pleaser is also a smart, sassy gangland mini-classic; this presentation gives us Bill Conti’s music score on an isolated track. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
8/25/18

The Horror of Party Beach 08/25/18

Favorite camp hilarity — a drive-in kick when new, Del Tenney’s gloppy monsters ‘n’ bikinis epic has persevered as a nutty exemplar of ‘sixties escapist fun. Mutated aquatic zombies with goo-goo-googly eyes ravage teen girls for their blood — in between sets by the swingin’ Del-Aires. Beach bunnies! Bikers! Slimy monsters and Bosco for bloody gore! And don’t forget the soulful housemaid, Eulabelle. The extras include a good Daniel Griffith featurette narrated by Tom Weaver. On Blu-ray from Severin.
8/25/18

Filmworker 08/21/18

Stanley Kubrick had a dedicated assistant, and not one who simply held the master’s cinematic paintbrushes. He staffed research, production, post-production and marketing departments all on his own. Tony Zierra’s brisk documentary teaches us much about a genius director, the assistant that devoted himself entirely to the director’s mission, and the nature of work and ambition. With interview input from Ryan O’Neal, Matthew Modine, and R. Lee Ermey. On DVD from Kino Lorber.
8/21/18

The Shape of Water 08/21/18

Miracle of miracles! Oscar’s Best Picture for last year is a genuine monster movie. Guillermo del Toro’s overachieving Gill Man spectacle features a gratifyingly anti-authoritarian attitude. The emotional love story is as pure as a silent movie — and has the sentimental commitment to pull an audience into its dreamy Fairy Tale horror fantasy. Starring Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer and Michael Stuhlbarg. On UltraHD + Blu-ray from 20th-Fox Home Entertainment.
8//18

The Last Hunt 08/18/18

Robert Taylor and Stewart Granger shine in Richard Brooks’ engaging drama about the grim slaughter of the Buffalo — a fairly appalling historical episode. A disclaimer is required to explain why we’re seeing real animals killed on screen… which in this case would seem justified by the film’s ecological theme. Co-starring Lloyd Nolan, Russ Tamblyn, and Debra Paget as, what else, an ‘Indian Girl.’ It’s good just the same. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
8/18/18

Trapeze 08/18/18

Top stars Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lolobrigida earn their keep in Carol Reed’s powerful tale of ambition and excellence performing forty above a circus arena. The best circus movie ever is also among Reed’s most exciting, best directed movies, a solid show all around. Also with Katy Jurado, Thomas Gomez, Sidney James, beautiful Paris locations and the creative cinematography of Robert Krasker. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
8/18/18

Hammer Volume 3 Blood and Terror 08/14/18

This third collection sees Hammer bleeding its brand of filmic horror into the War and the Colonial Adventure genres: The Camp on Blood Island is a lurid exposé of Japanese atrocities, the difficult-to-watch Yesterday’s Enemy peels away the last illusions of honor in combat, The Stranglers of Bombay sensationalizes horrid crimes in India in the 1820s, and The Terror of the Tongs is a grotesque expression of classic Colonial racism. The enticing extras give us the production backstories and fill in the historical context. Starring André Morell, Stanley Baker, Leo McKern, Guy Rolfe, George Pastell, Christopher Lee and Yvette Monlaur. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
8/14/18

Memories of Underdevelopment 08/14/18

Memorias de subdesarrollo — Perhaps the top cinematic output of Cuban filmmaking is this investigation of a man that doesn’t embrace the revolution. Wishing to remain apolitical, the handsome Sergio prefers to pursue attractive women, as well as illusions of his own superiority. Tomás Gutiérrez Alea’s account of life with Castro doesn’t shirk from an honest view of conditions in the embargoed island, between The Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Starring Sergio Corrieri, Daisy Granados and Eslinda Núñez. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
8/14/18

Deep Rising 08/10/18

Let’s hear it for ‘undiscriminating’ audiences, the kind that want nothing more in a movie than a hundred minutes of combat action, suspense, scary monsters and gross-out gore. They’ll get their fill in Stephen Sommers’ Cuisinart blending of Titanic, Aliens and Die Hard.It’s quality fast food exploitation; just keep your medicine handy if you’re allergic to brainless cornball dialogue. The cast is certainly good: Treat Williams, Famke Janssen, Anthony Heald, Kevin J. O’Connor, Wes Studi and Djimon Hounsou. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
8/11/18

The Cat O’ Nine Tails 08/10/18

Dario Argento’s second murder whodunnit is less stylized but almost as enjoyable as his first, Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Reporter James Franciscus and blind ex-detective Karl Malden investigate killings at a fancy genetics institute, but everyone they interview turns up dead. Catherine Spaak is among the suspects in a crime spree with nine clues but no easy solution. Turin locations, a glossy widescreen image and Argento’s polished direction are the draw, along with some fine music cues by Ennio Morricone — who in 1971 scored 24 separate features! Also with Horst Frank and Rada Rassimov. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
8/11/18

It Happened Here 08/07/18

Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo were teenagers when filming began on this superlative wartime thriller. Taking over eight years to complete, it imagines life in an England occupied by Nazi Germany and run by home-grown English collaborators. The film’s realism outdoes any big-studio picture — the period detail and military hardware are uncannily authentic. It also pushes the limit of the documentary form by using the ugly testimony of real English fascists in a fictional context. Mr. Brownlow opens up his behind-the-scenes film archive for this dual-format release. With Pauline Murray and Sebastian Shaw. On Region A+B Blu-ray from Bfi (UK).
8/07/18

Heaven Can Wait 08/07/18

This may be the year for new cinephile converts to the cult of appreciation for the great Ernst Lubitsch. One of his last pictures but his first in color is this Production Code- defying tale of a serial philanderer and his relationship with the woman of his dreams, his wife. It’s a prime film blanc stylized as a series of birthdays; our hero is judged not by St. Peter but at the gates of Hades, by the Devil himself. The stars are Don Ameche, Gene Tierney, Laird Cregar and Charles Coburn. On Blu-rayfrom The Criterion Collection.
8/07/18