Glenn Erickson's Reviews: Archives: Reviews

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

Cradle Will Rock 08/04/18

Writer-director Tim Robbins goes all out to recreate a politically potent chapter of Broadway legend, the true story of the rebel WPA production The Cradle Will Rock — with a dynamic sidebar about Diego Rivera’s provocative mural for the Rockefeller Center. An enormous cast works up the excitement of Depression-era revolutionary theater: Emily Watson, Bill Murray, Hank Azaria, Rubén Blades, John Turturro, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Cherry Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Angus Macfadyen, Cary Elwes, Philip Baker Hall, Jamey Sheridan, Bob Balaban, Jack Black, Kyle Gass, Paul Giamatti, Barnard Hughes. On Blu-rayfrom KL Studio Classics.
8/04/18

Home from the Hill 08/04/18

He-bull womanizer Robert Mitchum spars with wife Eleanor Parker for the future of their son George Hamilton in Vincente Minnelli’s attractive, sprawling tale of cruel family unrest. The real winners in the picture are the fresh-faced new talent George Peppard and Luana Patten, whose small-town romance is more appealing than the main bout. With Everett Sloane, Constance Ford, Ray Teal, Denver Pyle, Stuart Randall, Dub Taylor, and Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
8/04/18

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean 07/31/18

Need a laugh? Paul Newman shoots people, hangs others and runs a judiciary speed trap for unwary outlaw vagrants. John Huston’s picture is a slack, passably amusing interpretation of writer John Milius’s career- boosting screenplay. A slow-going exercise in ‘printing the legend, only funnier,’ it’s recommended just to take in Stacy Keach’s memorable albino menace, ‘Bad Bob.’ With a dynamite cast, mostly in glorified cameos: Tab Hunter, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins, Roddy McDowall, Victoria Principal, Jacqueline Bisset, Ned Beatty, John Huston. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
7/31/18

Footsteps in the Fog 07/31/18

Could this be retitled “Dial ‘F’ for Fog?”  Jean Simmon’s greedy maid blackmails her employer Stewart Granger with proof that he murdered his wife, kicking off a criminal ‘deadlock’ in a London household. The cold-fish schemer Granger ponders his next murderous move while Simmons enjoys playing the lady of the house — having dared to leapfrog two social classes, she hopes that her victim will respond with kindness, not homicide. This gothic domestic murder tale should be required reading for marriage counselors. With Belinda Lee and William Hartnell, in Technicolor. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
7/31/18

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 07/28/18

David O. Selznick’s  Americana classic came together in the run-up period before Gone With the Wind, getting terrific results from early 3-strip Technicolor. They’re all here — Tom, Huck, Becky Thatcher, Aunt Polly, Muff Potter and Injun Joe — plus that prissy little SOB, Sid. The unforgettable cave sequence by William Cameron Menzies cinched the big GWTW gig for the world-class designer. Mark Twain’s tale is presented in two versions, the uncut original and a later reissue cut-down. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
7/28/18

The Revolt of Mamie Stover 07/28/18

Now it can be told! Or maybe, now it can’t be told? William Bradford Huie’s novel of creeping American ambition in Honolulu ends up as a tame vehicle for Jane Russell, who in one of her last big starring movies gives the Hawaiian scenery a run for its money. Raoul Walsh does well in the direction department, but the story has been cleaned up for Sunday School. Co-starring Richard Egan, Agnes Moorehead and Michael Pate, plus gorgeous Oahu locations in CinemaScope and Color by Deluxe. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
7/28/18

The Complete Hal Roach Thelma Todd Patsy Kelly Comedy Collection 07/28/18

Vintage ’30s comedy returns, with a beautiful blonde, a sassy brunette and elaborate location filming in a bygone Los Angeles. Producer Hal Roach found a good match for his ‘female Laurel & Hardy’ comedy team in gorgeous Thelma Todd and the smart-mouthed Patsy Kelly. The relatively expensive shorts were filmed all over Los Angeles. It’s hours of vintage comedy, plus several bonus shorts with Pert Kelton and Lyda Roberti, on the ‘Silver Series’ label. On DVDfrom ClassicFlix.
7/28/18

A Clever, Resourceful Special Effect Surprise 07/28/18

It’s another special effects-related CineSavant piece, like last year’s on Close Encounters. ‘Fifties effects mavericks Jack Rabin, Irving Block and Louis DeWitt cleverly repurposed CinemaScope scenes from a drama about Hawaii in 1941, for use in a 1957 Science Fiction film set in Mexico. Get set for explanations about mattes, reformatting and mystery aspect ratios. A CineSavant Article.
7/28/18

The Stranglers of Bombay 07/24/18

“Kali bids us to Kill! KILL!”  A full review of Indicator’s Hammer Volume 3 Blood and Terror collection will follow, but CineSavant jumps the gun to highlight Terence Fisher’s 1959 mass murder shocker. It adds up to more than exploitative and racist cheap thrills: it’s one of the key films to describe the roots of contemporary terrorism. David Zelag Goodman’s screenplay lets Hammer for once say something relevant about the Colonial past, even if it’s a case of mixed signals — and sex. With Guy Rolfe, George Pastell, Marne Maitland, Jan Holden and Marie Devereaux. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
7/24/18

Cinderella Liberty 07/24/18

A real peach of a ’70s New Hollywood picture, Mark Rydell and Darryl Ponicsan’s story of a sailor on extended leave is sentimental neorealism — a tough street story, but with the pessimism removed. Poolroom hustler Marsha Mason and sailor-adrift James Caan are a beautiful couple in the making — although the whole world seems against them. Co-Starring Eli Wallach and Kirk Calloway; photographed by Vilmos Zsigmond. On Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
7/24/18

The Day After 07/21/18

Will the world end with a bang or a whimper? Back in ’83 a hundred million viewers tuned in to ABC to find out. Edward Hume and Nicholas Meyer’s daring docudrama reacquainted Americans with their status as hostages in a global game of nuclear roulette. Gruesome nuclear annihilation visuals complement fine performances led by Jason Robards. The tense, thoughtful show is presented in separate TV and theatrical versions. Co-stars under the fallout are JoBeth Williams, Steve Guttenberg, Jim Dahlberg, John Lithgow, Bibi Besch, Lori Lethin, Amy Madigan, Jeff East, Georgann Johnson, William Allen Young and Calvin Jung. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
7/21/18

Supergirl 07/21/18

The fine presence of the marvelous Helen Slater redeems this last film in the Salkind Superman franchise, which we’re told features the first live- action theatrical film super-heroine was. CineSavant likes the show for the right reasons — his very young kids adored it — and can see its turnip screenwriting and frayed corners showing through. The release combines a 125-minute Blu-ray with an overstuffed 139-minute DVD. Also starring Faye Dunaway, Brenda Vaccaro, Peter Cook Marc McClure, Hart Bochner, Maureen Teefy, Peter O’Toole, Mia Farrow and Simon Ward. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
7/21/18

Meet Me at the Astor 07/21/18

With the help of correspondent ‘B’ CineSavant poaches on Greenbriar Picture Shows territory with a quick sideshow of photos from New Yawk, New Yawk: Once upon a time, any old film release might get a gigantic ‘your name in lights’ opening on the Great White Way. The Astor – Victoria theater combination created a giant wall that regularly carried enormous, elaborate film advertising signs — and not just for road show epics.
7/21/18

Strange Victory 07/17/18

‘This Picture Kills Fascists’ might be a motto for this bombshell essay documentary. Leo Hurwitz’s film wasn’t made welcome in 1948 and would surely be controversial today, as it’s just too &%#$ truthful and blunt about good old American bigotry and injustice. The passionate, jarring plea for humanist sanity really shakes up viewers, in a constructive way. Hurwitz said that one TV executive compared it to The Sermon on the Mount. It’s still a lightning bolt against fascist ideas flourishing in the Land of the Free. Narrated by Alfred Drake, Muriel Smith, Gary Merrill, Saul Levitt and Faith Elliott Hubley. On Blu-ray from The Milestone Cinematheque.
7/17/18

I Walk Alone 07/17/18

One of a number of Paramount noirs seemingly forever MIA on disc, Hal Wallis’ glossy production reunites Burt Lancaster and Lizabeth Scott with promising newcomers Kirk Douglas and Wendell Corey. It’s light on action but strong on character — and it contains a key scene in the development of both the noir style and the gangster genre. Co-starring Kristine Miller, George Rigaud, Marc Lawrence, Mike Mazurki, and as a cocksure hoodlum, Mickey Knox. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
7/17/18

Ready Player One 07/17/18

Lifelong gaming fan Steven Spielberg goes all-in for motion capture, with much different results than The Adventures of Tintin. It’s an ode to 1980s videogame fads and pop culture that could be re-titled ‘Astounding Adventures in Licensing.’ It’s Star Wars, TRON and Avatar mashed together for young teens, and more interesting than it ought to be. With Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance. On Blu-ray from Warner Home Video.
7/17/18

Irma La Douce 07/14/18

Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond’s lavish movie boils down to a dirty party joke, but they struck gold just the same. Audiences flocked to see Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine reunited in a fantasy Parisian red light district, in a show that looks like Disneyland for fans of Playboy cartoons. Co-starring Lou Jacobi, Herschel Bernardi and Hope Holiday. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
7/14/18

Billy Budd 07/14/18

Forget the ‘famous book’ doldrums — this exciting seagoing drama will take your head off. Criminally unseen and unheralded, Allied Artists’ classic is an impressive feat by director-co-screenwriter and star Peter Ustinov. It introduced Terence Stamp and provided Robert Ryan with a deserved career highlight. Filmed on the high seas in CinemaScope, and co-starring Melvyn Douglas, Paul Rogers, John Neville, David McCallum, Ronald Lewis, Robert Brown, John Meillon and Niall MacGinnis. On Blu-rayfrom The Warner Archive Collection.
7/14/18

The Incredible Shrinking Man 07/14/18

I Still Exist!  CineSavant’s own Charlie Largent takes on this dee-luxe 2017 English release, the one with the terrific transfer and some glorious extras. Robert Scott Carey takes the plunge into microscopia, a seventh of an inch per day, passing through a Robinson Crusoe world before confronting the Infinite (and he didn’t even have to fly to Jupiter first). Jack Arnold and Richard Matheson’s classic is still the spiritual experience that knocked kids on their tails back in 1957, and its special magic has not yet been surpassed. On Region B Blu-ray from Arrow UK.
7/14/18

Village of the Damned 07/10/18

Inquiring minds want to know — why you’re thinking about a BRICK WALL. John Wyndham’s diabolically clever alien invasion fantasy is taken straight from nature: children fathered by who-knows-what are found to possess a hive mentality and brain-powers that we puny Earthlings cannot oppose. Is it simply Us against Them, or perhaps a paranoid image of estranged, dangerous 1950s teens? Martin Stephens, George Sanders and Barbara Shelley star. We’ve all seen and loved this thriller; this time around CineSavant writes more of an essay than a review. On Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.
7/10/18

Smash Palace 07/10/18

From reviewer Charlie Largent: This superior drama won co-writer and director Roger Donaldson breakthrough international attention. The breakup of a family is sensitive and shocking, and takes a turn into violent territory without becoming exploitative or crude. Starring New Zealand’s leading actor Bruno Lawrence. A non-molestation court order for a race car driver to stay away from his wife, leads to bad, self-destructive decisions — the title is the name for an auto junkyard, but really describes a failed marriage. On Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
7/10/18

sex, lies and videotape 07/10/18

Is this show still as daring as it once was? How does it fare in this year of #MeToo? Where are the personal boundaries in relationships, when nobody can risk being entirely honest? We discover a man who wants to relate with women solely through the recordings he makes of them talking about sex — is that OK, or not OK? Steven Soderbergh’s micro-budgeted intimate drama was the definition of independent filmmaking success. With fine, complex performances from Andie MacDowell, James Spader, Laura San Giacomo and Peter Gallagher. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
7/10/18

A Matter of Life and Death 07/07/18

Imagination and resourcefulness accomplishes miracles on a Stairway to Heaven, with visual effects never bettered in the pre-CGI era. The wonder movie of 1946 sees the Archers infusing the ‘Film Blanc’ fantasy with amazing images and powerful emotions. Michael Powell’s command of the screen overpowers a soon-obsoleted theme about U.S.- British relations. David Niven, Kim Hunter and Roger Livesey bring fine performances to bear on the fantastic material. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
7/7/18

Xtro 07/07/18

Nope, this isn’t ET, The Extraterrestrial, not by a long shot. Guest reviewer Lee Broughton offers an assessment of Harry Bromley Davenport’s British cult sci-fi shocker of modest means, a show that would be pure exploitation if not for some creditable performances. It’s nasty but has a basic competence and is not just more cynical grist for the mill. ‘Phone Home,’ my Aunt Fannie: sometimes the difference between a thriller like this and a higher-profile classic is just pretension. On Blu-ray from Second Sight (UK).
7/7/18

Under Capricorn 07/07/18

What could go wrong? Alfred Hitchcock directs Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten in a mysterious tale of marital intrigues and social bigotry in a land populated by ex-convicts. Bergman is the long-suffering wife and Jack Cardiff is behind the Technicolor camera, which swoops through several amazing unbroken moving camera master shots, one fully five minutes long. I respectfully repeat, what could go wrong?  Also starring Michael Wilding and Margaret Leighton. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
7/7/18

Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! 07/03/18

Inflato-faced Jô Shishido is at it again, here in a typically precocious, spoofy crime adventure by Nippon’s nutcase-stylist Seijun Suzuki. If the eccentric color scheme doesn’t do the trick, the antic comic relief and wild musical numbers will. Shishido dances the Charleston, and the nightclub rocks with a terrific twist number. How cool it is to hear better rock music under Nikkatsu’s logo, than in a Hollywood picture?. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
7/03/18

Hitler’s Hollywood 07/03/18

What, another docu about Nazis? This one tells the entire story — with many rare clips and interesting actor and filmmaker profiles — of the hundreds of state-produced German films made during the Third Reich. Rüdiger Suchsland’s film is an excellent look at a suppressed era of film history. With Joseph Goebbels dictating the subject matter, personnel, and political spin on every movie made, what did Germans see? Mostly mindless escapism laced with totalitarian subtext. Udo Kier reads a first-class narration. With revelations about some surprising names, like Douglas Sirk and Ingrid Bergman. On DVD from Kino Lorber.
7/03/18

Beirut 07/03/18

We’re still waiting for the role that will prove that Jon Hamm has a future after Mad Men. This middling hostage negotiation drama doesn’t insult our intelligence yet is still not that much more impressive than an average ‘let’s go to a war zone!’ episode of NCIS. Hamm delivers excellent work as the put-upon diplomat in a tight, tight spot. Co-starring Rosamund Pike and Mark Pellegrino, and filmed in Morocco. On Blu-ray from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment/Bleeker Street.
7/03/18

Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood 06/30/18

Delirious silver-screen glamour never disappoints! Marlene Dietrich’s six Paramount pictures for Josef von Sternberg arrive in a beautifully annotated disc set: Morocco, Dishonored, Shanghai Express, Blonde Venus, The Scarlet Empress and The Devil is a Woman. The most creative director-muse relationship of the 1930s created an all-conquering German siren-goddess, a screen icon vom kopf bis fuss. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
6/30/18