The Forgotten

Starring:Julianne Moore, Christopher Kovaleski, Matthew Pleszewicz, Anthony Edwards, Jessica Hecht, Linus Roache, Gary Sinise, Dominic West, Katie Cooper, Scott Nicholson, P.J. Morrison, Robert Wisdom, Tim Kang, Kathryn Faughnan, Alfre Woodard, FÃ©lix Solis, Susan Misner, Lee Tergesen, Ken Abraham, J. Tucker Smith
Director: Joseph Ruben
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Product Description
Excellent condition, includes the DVD, case, and paperwork, different look same movie, fast shipped, ask me for my DVD List! :)
Amazon.com
With a plot that might've been lifted from The X-Files, nothing is quite what it seems in The Forgotten, a psychological conspiracy thriller with Julianne Moore doing fine work as a grieving mother whose nine-year-old son was killed in a plane crash. At least, that's what she's been led to believe, but when even her husband (Anthony Edwards) tries to convince her that she's delusional and never had a child, things start to get very spooky indeed. Dominic West (from HBO's superb series The Wire) plays a similarly traumatized father, and when they witness some very strange events--and a mysterious man (Linus Roache) who might be indestructible--this glorified B-movie potboiler directed by Joseph Ruben (best known for Dreamscape and The Stepfather) turns into a preposterous but entertaining trip into The Twilight Zone territory. Featuring Alfre Woodard as an intuitive New York detective and Gary Sinise as a seemingly sympathetic psychiatrist, The Forgotten offers adequate shocks and an intriguing, otherworldly study of tenacious parental instinct. It deserved its mixed reviews, but it's a fun spook-fest for rainy-day viewing. --Jeff Shannon

Gone, But Not Forgotten
Average customer rating:

Honest

a waste of time and a waste of money

dreary little film

Good and worth watching

Gone , but not forgotten

Gone, But Not Forgotten
Starring: Aaron Orr , Matthew Montgomery , Joel Bryant , Brenda Lasker , and Sandon Berg
Director: Michael D. Akers
Manufacturer: Wolfe Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Latter Days (Unrated Edition)

The Trip

The 24th Day

Just a Question of Love

Sugar

ASIN: B00013WVI0
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Product Description

In this 'riveting mystery-romance', two men™ s lives intersect and become one through a meeting of pure chance. Drew, a small town forest ranger rescues Mark, an injured hiker suffering from amnesia. As he recovers, he and Drew form a close friendship that slowly grows into something much more. Unfortunately, their time together is cut short when the hiker's old life comes back to reclaim him. A sexy and intriguing love story, Gone But Not Forgotten is a film not to miss.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Honest.......2007-06-11

Despite the vitriolic reviews, this clumsy little film is quite endearing. It *is* worth the time.

I'm not quite sure why some of the reviewes are so fascist, but it is the tenor of the times, isn't it?

a waste of time and a waste of money.......2007-06-11

the story line is poor- the acting is a shame...and i dont think no one should spend their money on this movie...i tried to enjoyed it when i first got it but after 20 minutes into the movie i was ready to click STOP!!! the acting reminds me of a a bad High School play....

dreary little film.......2007-05-29

It was very hard to keep my attention on watching the movie, it moves so slowly, and with no realism whatever, the actors are very bad, the script is monotonous, the character of the female doctor is ludicrous.... but all told all of it could have been worse!!!

Good and worth watching.......2007-04-28

This is a sweet, independent film. At times it shows its low-budget nature, but it has a pretty good and touching story line. It does try a bit too hard in places, but the acting is good (except for one woman) and the affection/sex between the two men is moving. It's not esp. erotic or anything, but it rings true and is tender--all too rare in films these days! NB: lthough there is some mystery in the film, I would NOT call it "riveting" as the box describes it. I thought it was reminiscent of (albeit not as strong as) Big Eden in its best parts. I'd like to see more story lines like this. We've had enough of the psychologically twisted LGB storylines (e.g., most of Strand Releasing).

Gone , but not forgotten.......2007-04-11

This is a sweet little independent film. The acting is fair, and has some interesting twists to the story. The film is slow paced, but has heart. The latter half of the film has a wife that would make anyone want to be GAY. Her acting wasn't very good. But the two male leads are attractive and beleivable characters in this not so mainstream romance.

Forgotten Noir Collector's Set 2 (Man From Cairo / Mask of the Dragon / FBI Girl / Tough Assignment / I'll Get You / Fingerprints Don't Lie)

Average customer rating:

Another Entertaining Box Set
Dark Nights Underscored.
Great Selection
"Forgotten Noir Collector's Set - Series Two ... From 1949 thru 1953 ... VCI Home Video"

Forgotten Noir Collector's Set 2 (Man From Cairo / Mask of the Dragon / FBI Girl / Tough Assignment / I'll Get You / Fingerprints Don't Lie)
Starring: Richard Travis , Sheila Ryan , Sid Melton , Michael Whalen , and Lyle Talbot
Director: Sam Newfield , and William A. Berke
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Forgotten Noir Collector's Set (Arson Inc. / Loan Shark / Portland Expose / Shadow Man / Shoot to Kill / They Were So Young)
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Michael Shayne Mysteries Vol. 1 (Michael Shayne: Private Detective / The Man Who Wouldn't Die / Sleepers West / Blue, White, and Perfect)
Hammer Film Noir Double Feature, Vol. 4 (Terror Street / Wings of Danger)
Hammer Film Noir Collector's Set (Bad Blonde / Blackout / The Gambler and the Lady / Heat Wave / Man Bait / Stolen Face)

ASIN: B000NJLM1Y
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Description

From 1949 thru 1953, a six-pack of forgotten film noirs that you won't want to miss. More dames, shame & deadly games…it's all here! This incredible set includes the movies from Volume 4 thru 6. I'll Get You (1952); Fingerprints Don't Lie (1951); F.B.I. Girl (1951); Tough Assignment (1949); Man from Cairo, The (1953); Mask of the Dragon (1951) Bonus Features: Wallace Commentaries| Blumberg Commentaries| Photo Galleries from each movie| Advertising Galleries from each| Bios| Scene Selection| Trailers| George Raft Biography| Sid Melton Video Biography| Don "Red" Barry Video Biography Specs: 3-DVD9s; Dolby Digital; 415 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1952, 1951, 1949, 1953; SRP - $29.99.

Customer Reviews:

Another Entertaining Box Set.......2007-07-03

Though I am a devotee of the film noir style, I am not expert on films and film-making as one early reviewer seems to be. All of the movies in this set predate my birth and I hadn't even heard of any of them let alone seen them before this box set became available. But because I enjoyed the first Forgotten Noir set, it was easy to take a chance on this one.
Overall, this set is very good although its easy to see why at least a couple of them were "forgotten". Here are my favorites, from best to worst:
1)I'll Get You: A cold-war type thriller involving missing atomic scientists, a shadowy figure sought by both the FBI and the British Secret Service, loads of intrigue, and a beautiful woman. George Raft is excellent as is most of the supporting cast. A top-tier noir film.
2)The Man From Cairo:George Raft again as an American tourist who inadvertently gets involved in intrigues involving French gold hijacked during World War II and missing ever since. Mostly takes place in Algiers, a once French-controlled city which postwar was filled with adventurers of all stripes and from all over. It was also a city where a stranger could easily find trouble. Both the crooks and the police are interested in Raft's character and that makes for an exciting film.
3)FBI Girl: Corruption and murder drive this exciting film. An ambitious governor and his amoral cronies will stop at nothing to keep the governor's secret from being discovered. An excellent cast featuring Cesar Romero, Raymond Burr, and Audrey Totter will keep you in your seat as the governor is finally unmasked.
4)Tough Assignment: An intrepid reporter and his wife discover that their butcher is being forced by goons to buy and sell uninspected beef. They find their butcher beaten and inadvertently capture the goons who beat the butcher on film. This innocent photo sets in motion a chain of events which ultimately leads to the rustling gang and the ranch from where the uninspected meat comes. A good story, but sometimes spoiled by silliness. Not a true noir story. Though he proves indispensible to the storyline, Sid Melton's goofy character takes the noir right out of it although there is plenty of menace and murder to go around.
5)Fingerprints Don't Lie: Here again, Sid Melton plays a bumbling idiot (reminiscent of Peter Falk's Columbo, but not as smart) who detracts from a more serious plot. That doesn't matter much, because although the movie is entertaining, the plot is not at all credible. I can't imagine a real-life fingerprint expert spending so much time and energy trying to help someone else prove him wrong. There is some murder and treachery, but little suspense. Overall, this film did not work for me.
6)Mask of the Dragon: This whole thing is just stupid, from the plot and the horrible acting right down to the phony Orientals. This is a dog that deserves to be forgotten although there are a few scenes so contrived and ridiculous that you'll laugh anyhow.
Despite this set containing some noir of questionable quality, overall I found it a very entertaining box set and am looking forward to Forgotten Noir Series Three.

Dark Nights Underscored........2007-06-27

Minor works of Film noir pulled together to make up for the real film before the featured film. The Acting in these films maybe somewhat shaky but who cares there is always repeated viewing when watching these films. At any rate this is a great Box Set.

Great Selection.......2007-06-14

A great choice of what to offer in this collection, they are to be commended.

Excellent.

"Forgotten Noir Collector's Set - Series Two ... From 1949 thru 1953 ... VCI Home Video".......2007-03-29

VCI Entertainment and Kit Parker Films presents "FORGOTTEN NOIR COLLECTOR'S SET - SERIES TWO" --- (Dolby digitally remastered) --- Film noir has sources not only in cinema but other artistic mediums as well...the low-key lighting schemes commonly linked with the classic mode are in the tradition of chiaroscuro and tenebrism, techniques using high contrasts of light and dark developed by 15th- and 16th-century painters associated with Mannerism and the Baroque...film noir's aesthetics are deeply influenced by German Expressionism, a cinematic movement of the 1910s and 1920s closely related to contemporaneous developments in theater, photography, painting, scultpture, and architecture...opportunities offered by the booming Hollywood film industry and, later, the threat of growing Nazi power led to the emigration of many important film artists working in Germany who had either been directly involved in the Expressionist movement or studied with its practitioners...Directors such as Fritz Lang, Robert Siodmak, and Michael Curtiz brought dramatic lighting techniques and a psychologically expressive approach to mise-en-scène with them to Hollywood, where they would make some of the most famous of classic noirs. Lang's 1931 masterwork, the German M, is among the first major crime films of the sound era to join a characteristically noirish visual style with a noir-type plot, one in which the protagonist is a criminal (as are his most successful pursuers). M was also the occasion for the first star performance by Peter Lorre, who would go on to act in several formative American noirs of the classic era ... featuring top performances from the '40s and '50s with outstanding drama and screenplays, along with a wonderful cast and supporting actors to bring it all together ... another winner from the vaults of almost forgotten film noir gems

First up we have Michael David Productions and Lippert Pictures feature "MAN FROM CAIRO" (aka: Dramma nella Kasbah) (1953) (81 mins/B&W) --- Under Ray Enright (Director) --- Starring George Raft (Mike Canelli), Gianna Maria Canale (Lorraine Beloyan), Leon Lenoir (Police Captain Akhim Bey) - - - - released on November 27, 1953, Mike Canelli (George Raft), the man from Cairo, nosing around Algiers with mystery surrounding the people he meets and the things he does and has done to him, all deriving from the war-time theft of $100,000,000 in gold which lies somewhere in the adjacent desert. People representing many nationalities and reasons are also seeking the gold. It boils down to a battle between Canelli and the badie aboard a speeding train. Raft again to the fore creating excitement in every scene, shows why he was the number one boy on the Warner Bros. lot ... beautiful Greek actress Irene Papas in a tub with Raft standing in the doorway getting an eye full.

Second on the double bill is a Spartan Productions Inc and Robert L. Lippert Picture release "MASK OF THE DRAGON (1951) (55 min/B/W) --- Under Sam Newfield (Director) --- Starring Richard Travis (Phil Ramsey), Sheila Ryan (Ginny O'Donnell), Sid Melton (Manchu Murphy) - - - - released March 10, 1951, Lt. Dan Oliver (Richard Emory), an American soldier in Korea, agrees to deliver a jade dragon to a curio shop in Los Angeles. Soon after his return to the states, he is murdered. His buddy Phil Ramsey (Richard Travis) and Ginny O'Donnell (Sheila Ryan) trace the murder to the shop of Professor Kim Ho (Jack Reitzen). When a package mailed to Ramsey, by Oliver from Honolulu, proves to contain the jade dragon, Ramsey takes it to the curio shop to force a showdown with Kim Ho over what Ramsey suspects is a smuggling racket. Not to be confused with "The Maltese Falcon" but it moves right along, and even throws in Curt Masey and His Trailsmen in an unexpected sighting.

Third film we have Lippert Pictures feature "FBI GIRL" (1951) (74 mins/B&W) --- Under William A. Berke (Director) --- Starring Cesar Romero (FBI Agent Glen Stedman), George Brent (FBI Agent Jeff Donley), Audrey Totter (Shirley Wayne), Tom Drake (Carl Chercourt), Raymond Burr (Blake), Raymond Greenleaf (John Williams, alias Gov. Owen Grisby), Margia Dean (Natalie Craig, the FBI girl), Don Garner (Paul Craig), Alexander Pope (George 'Georgia' Denning), Richard Monahan (Donald, the clerk), Tommy Noonan (Tommy, TV comic as Tom Noonan), Peter Marshall (Pete, TV comic as Pete Marshall) - - - - - released on November 4, 1951, our story line has the governor hiring Raymond Burr to steal a file from the FBI that has fingerprint evidence proving he previously was a wanted criminal ... Agent Cesar Romero and George Brent are hot on the trail, with Audrey Totter in the thick of things ... Raymond Burr as usual is the scene stealer as the snake in the grass wonderful part and a great actor.

Fourth choice is a Robert L. Lippert Picture release "TOUGH ASSIGNMENT" (1949) (64 min/B/W) --- Under William Beaudine (Director) - - - Starring Don 'Red' Barry (Don Reilly), Marjorie Steele (Margie Reilly), Steve Brodie (Boss Morgan), Marc Lawrence (Vince (a tough), Ben Welden (Sniffy (a tough), Sid Melton (Herman (crooked rancher) - - - - our story and film released November 15, 1949, involves a newspaper reporter (Don Barry) pursues a modern-day rustling gang whose truck driving "cowboys" are far more dangerous than their horse riding counterparts ... veteran actor Steve Brodie heads the cast as the bossman heavy

Fifth title up we have Eros Films and Lippert Pictures feature "I'LL GET YOU" (aka: Escape Route) (1950) (79 mins/B&W) --- Under Seymour Friedman (Director) - - - Starring George Raft (Steve Rossi), Sally Gray (Joan Miller), Frederick Piper (Inspector Reid), Reginald Tate (Colonel Wilkes) - - - - released March 3, 1951 as our F.B.I. agent (George Raft) illegally enters England following the disappearance of several noted atomic scientists ... as Raft and Sally Gray close in, the terrorists aren't about to give up without a final encounter ... what's behind this cloak and dagger game, will our popular hero of Warner Bros. fame come out of this suspenseful plot with all the answers and a new love life.

Sixth and final film is a Spartan Productions Inc and Robert L. Lippert Picture release "FINGERPRINTS DON'T LIE" (1951) (57 min/B/W) --- Under Sam Newfield (Director) - - - Starring Richard Travis (James Stover), Sheila Ryan (Carolyn Palmer), Sid Melton (Hypo Dorton), Tom Neal (The Prosecuting Attorney), Margia Dean (Nadine Connell), Lyle Talbot (Lt. Grayson) - - - - released February 23, 1951, our story line rests on the identity of the murderer of a town's mayor by his fingerprints on the weapon ... could there be any doubt could the case be finally closed, could the experts be wrong ... music for opening and closing is a studio organ playing in the background, good old time radio effect ... is there guilt for the murder of the town's mayor is placed on Richard Emory by fingerprint expert Richard Travis during the murder trial because Emory's fingerprints were found on the murder weapon ... local reporter plants doubt in Travis mind about the guilt of Emory ... he decides to investigate further with the help of Sheila Ryan, the dead mayor's daughter and Emory's fiancee ... Travis discovers that the fingerprints are forged and the chase begins

Great job by the people at VCI Entertainment, hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out VCI Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns and Serials --- all my heroes have been Cowboys!

Total Time: 415 mins on DVD ~ VCI Home Video KPF-558 ~ (4/24/2007)

Forgotten Noir Collector's Set (Arson Inc. / Loan Shark / Portland Expose / Shadow Man / Shoot to Kill / They Were So Young)

Average customer rating:

Obscure but fun flicks
Excellent Package of Obscure Film Noir
Not the Noir-est, But Purty Durn Good

Forgotten Noir Collector's Set (Arson Inc. / Loan Shark / Portland Expose / Shadow Man / Shoot to Kill / They Were So Young)
Starring: Robert Lowery , Anne Gwynne , Edward Brophy , Marcia Mae Jones , and Douglas Fowley
Director: William A. Berke , and Seymour Friedman
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000HC2LLW
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Description

From 1947 thru 1957, a six-pack of forgotten film noirs that you won't want to miss. Murder, Mystery and Scandal…it's all here! This incredible set includes: Portland Expose, They Were So Young, Loan Shark, Arson Inc, Shadow Man, Shoot to Kill. Some first time on video and/or DVD. PORTLAND EXPOSE: In the 1950's LIFE Magazine printed a blistering exposé on the rampant sin, crime and Teamsters-controlled corruption that at the time had a stranglehold on Portland, Oregon. Producer Lindsley Parsons seized upon the considerable publicity and assembled a cast of great character actors for the starring roles. Although the film crew was threatened with physical violence, the result is a dark and gritty filmed-on-location crime drama that contains considerable violence for a 1950's movie, most notably a violent rape scene with the Frank Gorshin character and a teenage girl. THEY WERE SO YOUNG: Five European models arrive in Rio de Janeiro and become trapped in a white slavery ring. An exciting crime melodrama with Raymond Burr at his villainous best! LOAN SHARK: Tough ex-con George Raft is hired by a factory owner and a union leader to help smash a loan-sharking mob preying on their employees. To obtain the necessary evidence, Raft puts his life on the line by joining the gang. ARSON INC: A Bureau of Fire Investigation agent goes under cover to confront a ruthless arson ring that has left a trail of bodies, burned out buildings with various and sundry carnage! SHADOW MAN: A saloon owner falls in love with the abused wife of a heavy gambler. He is snared into a web of intrigue when an ex-girlfriend is found murdered in his apartment. SHOOT TO KILL: A tale of plotting and counterplotting commences after the new district attorney and an escaped gangster are killed in a car crash! Bonus Features: Anamorphic Widescreen - Enhanced for 16x9 Monitors| Original Theatrical Trailers| Commentary by Assistant Director Lindsley Parsons Jr| Original Advertising Materials| Bios| Photo Gallery| Scene Selection| "Inside Lippert" (Part 1: 1907-1949) as told by Robert L Lipert Jr| "Loan Shark" Audio Commentary by Richard M Roberts| Movie Trivia| "Inside Lippert" (Part 2: 1950-1976) as told by Robert L Lippert Jr.| "Shoot to Kill" Schedule & Luana Walters Wardrobe Plot| Day Player & Stuntman Contracts ("Shoot To Kill")| Original Script - Sample pages with Director's Notes ("Shoot To Kill"). Specs: 3-DVD9; Dolby Digital; 428 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1957, 1954, 1952, 1949, 1953, 1947; SRP - $29.99.

Customer Reviews:

Obscure but fun flicks.......2007-06-24

For every well-known movie in a genre, there seems to be a dozen more obscure films. That doesn't mean they're bad, just forgotten. Hence, we have Forgotten Noir with six movies that few prior to the DVD era would have ever seen. The Forgotten Noir Collector's Set - Series One has six such movies on three discs.

Disc One has Portland Expose and They Were So Young. Portland Expose is a fair-to-middling gangster flick taking place in Portland, Oregon (though except for some narrated bits at the beginning and end, could pretty much take place anywhere). The mob tries to take over the city, in particular one little lodge owned by the main character. This film has an early appearance by Frank Gorshin (most well-known as The Riddler on Batman) as a hoodlum with a thing for teenage girls. The second movie, They Were So Young, is a tale of white slavery in which young European beauties are flown to South America on "modeling assignments". One such girl tries to break free with the assistance of a mining engineer. Raymond Burr plays a shading millionaire.

Disc Two has Loan Shark and Arson Inc. In Loan Shark, ex-con George Raft (looking a little long-in-the-tooth to play a tough guy) goes undercover in a mob to bring down the killers of his brother-in-law. It also features Russell Johnson (the Professor on Gilligan's Island) as one of the crooks. Arson Inc also is the tale of a guy going undercover, this time an arson investigator for the fire department who is out to foil an insurance fraud scheme.

Disc Three has Shadow Man and Shoot to Kill. Shadow Man stars Cesar Romero as the slightly shady owner of a night club who winds up being accused of the murder of his ex-lover, a snag in his own attempts to woo a married woman. Shoot to Kill is told mostly in flashback by the only survivor of a car crash which killed her husband - the District Attorney - and a fugitive. What led to the crash is a tale of mob wars and crooked politicians.

It'd be a little much to say that these are classics, but they are all decent, competently made movies. While if you were given a choice between Out of the Past or Loan Shark, you should always for the former, fortunately there's no reason you can't see both. Actually, these films are only borderline noir, but are more straight crime movies with some noirish elements, particularly in terms of lighting. But if you are a fan of these old movies and you've seen the big ones, here's a chance to see some more obscure stuff from that same era.

Excellent Package of Obscure Film Noir.......2007-03-27

Since I wasn't around when any of these films were current and because they are derided by many as "B" films and thus sank into obscurity, I had neither seen nor heard of any of these films when I bought the Forgotten Noir Collector's Set. As luck would have it, this set turned out to be money well spent. Though most of these films will never be considered classics, each of them is enjoyable in its own way.
Here are my favorites from most to least:
1)They Were So Young: Here is a film the topic of which is still of contemporary interest: White slavery. Though the national origins of today's white slaves lie chiefly in Eastern Europe, viewers will see that the false promises that lure impoverished and/or naive young women to seek employment abroad are much the same. This film is full of suspense, double-dealing, and official corruption. Recalcitrant girls who refuse to service wealthy clients are bundled off to service a rabble of coffee plantation laborers on an itinerant riverboat. But one girl refuses to play the game and with the aid of a man she had spurned, a little luck, and an undercover Brazilian agent she cracks the forced prostitution ring wide open. Well-acted, suspenseful and very believable. 5 stars.
2)Shadow Man:A fine English murder intrigue and long on noir. Well acted on all fronts. An ingenious story. 5 stars.
3)Shoot to Kill: Official corruption and double dealing are the name of the game. But fitting ends come to those who deserve them. Rival gangs of thugs seeking to control city are ruthless as is the district attorney to be whose overarching ambition leads ultimately to his deserved demise. 4 stars.
4)Portland Expose: A powerful national gang of crooks sweeps away the local petty one in a play for control of vice in Portland. One club owner in a desireable location is unwittingly sucked in when he allows the local gang to first get its foot in the door installing pinball machines. But the new gang wants to go all out:gaming, prostitution, and an increasing share of the profits. Union pickets(considered sacred at that time)then threats against his family ultimately bring the straight-laced club owner to heel. But he and his family are confronted by increasing danger including an attempted rape of the daughter by a convicted sex-criminal, a gang member who can't stay away from the "dollies". The enraged club owner fights back and with the help of some honest police officials and the muscle of some uncorrupted union leaders beats the crime syndicate. An excellent film which loses a star from the corny "civic-minded" Dragnet style intro and ending as well as the unbelievable scene in which the club-owner's daughter forgives a date who earlier suggested a tryst in a motel since she surely must "get around" because of the "wide-open" kind of establishment her family runs. C'mon, how much cornier can it get? A real woman would tell him to take a permanent hike after smacking his smirking face. 4 stars.
5)Arson Inc: More civic-minded fustian to introduce a story about a crime which is still common today. Fireman recently promoted to the arson unit goes deep underground to investigate a rash of fires, reported and unreported, that result in fraudulent insurance claims. The crime itself is everyday and its cost high, but the storyline here is a little dubious. Then there is the unwitting girlfriend who as always ends up in the middle of things and that corny grandmother who is just silly. Still, the movie is largely well-acted and often suspenseful. 4 stars.
6)Loan Shark: Payday loans can be deadly and this film shows just how deadly they can be. Never take one out! 4 stars.
Although four of these films received only four stars, I give the set five stars overall on the basis of price, quality of film transfer, the overall quality of my favorite two, and the general entertainment value of the collection. I will be sure to view each of these movies more than once and once you get this you will want to do the same.

Not the Noir-est, But Purty Durn Good.......2007-03-07

This is a collection of six movies that most of us "Boomers" saw over and over again on TV in the early 1950s.

PORTLAND EXPOSE is the only real non-Lippert entree, and a fairly suspensful drama that was well ahead of the times as far as the material it was presenting...vice, corruption, attempted rape, etc.

THEY WERE SO YOUNG concerns the White Slave Trade in South America. It is of particular interest because it features an international cast, a young Raymond Burr, and Scott Brady...Brady sure looks a lot like Ray Liotta!

LOAN SHARK features a very mature George Raft as an ex-con infiltrating the money lending racket. You get to see how tires are made first hand as he works his way into the mob.

SHOOT TO KILL and ARSON INC. are perhaps the weakest link in this chain, but remain good watchable crime dramas, albeit short on the noir.

The real gem in this package is Cesar Romero in SHADOW MAN, an English made flick that features some nice plot twists, great acting all the way around, and a really nifty score, highlighted by harmoinca solos.

Of course, since this package comes from VCI you KNOW that the picture and sound quality will be superb.

Average customer rating:

Top 10 Forgotten Cartoons - By Title
Great cartoons!My two daughters love this!
great
A Surprisingly Wonderful Collection of Classics!

Top Ten Forgotten Cartoons
Starring: Top 10 Forgotten Cartoons of All Time
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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The Cartoons That Time Forgot - The Ub Iwerks Collection, Vol. 1
Cartoons That Time Forgot - The Ub Iwerks Collection, Vol. 2
The Lost Cartoons, Vol. 2: Famous Studios
The Golden Age of Cartoons: Attack of the 30's Characters
Cartoon Crazys - Banned & Censored

ASIN: B00006RCLC
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Customer Reviews:

Top 10 Forgotten Cartoons - By Title.......2007-05-03

These public domain cartoons represent some of the best of the experimental early days of animated cartoons. Most are available on other compilation CD's:

Doggone Tired (1949) Directed By Fred 'Tex' Avery. (MGM)
Trolley Ahoy (1936) Directed By Burt Gillett. (Van Beuren)
Dancing on the Moon (1935) Directed By Dave Fleischer. (Fleisher)
A Waif's Welcome (1936) Directed By Tom Palmer. (Van Beuren)
All's Fair at the Fair (1947) [Popeye] Directed By Seymour Kneitel (Famous)
It's A Greek Life (1936) Directed By Dan Gordon (Van Beuren)
To Spring (1936) Directed By William Hanna (MGM)
A Self-Made Mongrel (1945) Directed By Dave Tendlar (Famous)
Cupid Gets His Man (1936) Directed By Tom Palmer (Van Beuren), and
Happy Days (1936) Directed By Ub Iwerks (P. A. Powers)

Great cartoons!My two daughters love this!.......2006-08-19

It's so interesting and nice!It's not much colorfull but still great show for us!

great.......2004-07-19

i got this dvd at a stop and shop about a month ago and i liked it! i got ripped off, but it was still worth it!!!. dog-gone tired was so funny that in third grade i brought in a tape of it to class. everyone loved it. one of my favorites.

A Surprisingly Wonderful Collection of Classics!.......2004-06-09

I bought this DVD because it contained the classic cartoon "Dancing on The Moon". This has been released on DVD before, and it was terrible, with print-through and "augmented" sound that produced a terrible buzzing sound. THIS DVD is not perfect, simply because the original cartoons are not, but it is very good and the quality is better than I have seen. "Dancing on The Moon" is clear, with good color and decent sound. The cartoon is marvelous and has a catchy musical number. It is characterized by a 3-D landscape or "Rotoscope" instead of a painted backdrop. There are 2 other treasures on this DVD. "It's Spring" which has some of the most incredible color to be seen in any vintage cartoon. The animation rivals Disney's "Fantasia" and the overall quality is superb on this one. The other surprise is a cartoon about a mid-western couple visiting the Worlds Fair. The couple become "modern" after visiting the art deco palaces and the mechanical marvels to be seen there. Very amusing and visually a treat. I highly recommend this DVD... and for the price, its a steal!!

Average customer rating:

Stunk.
Forgettable
A parent's tie with thier children
Interesting concept...bad execution
No need to tell the story

The Forgotten
Starring: Julianne Moore , Christopher Kovaleski , Matthew Pleszewicz , Anthony Edwards , and Jessica Hecht
Director: Joseph Ruben
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0006IIKQW
Release Date: 2005-01-18

Amazon.com

With a plot that might've been lifted from The X-Files, nothing is quite what it seems in The Forgotten, a psychological conspiracy thriller with Julianne Moore doing fine work as a grieving mother whose nine-year-old son was killed in a plane crash. At least, that's what she's been led to believe, but when even her husband (Anthony Edwards) tries to convince her that she's delusional and never had a child, things start to get very spooky indeed. Dominic West (from HBO's superb series The Wire) plays a similarly traumatized father, and when they witness some very strange events--and a mysterious man (Linus Roache) who might be indestructible--this glorified B-movie potboiler directed by Joseph Ruben (best known for Dreamscape and The Stepfather) turns into a preposterous but entertaining trip into The Twilight Zone territory. Featuring Alfre Woodard as an intuitive New York detective and Gary Sinise as a seemingly sympathetic psychiatrist, The Forgotten offers adequate shocks and an intriguing, otherworldly study of tenacious parental instinct. It deserved its mixed reviews, but it's a fun spook-fest for rainy-day viewing. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Haunted by the memories of a son her husband swears she never had, a distraught mother's search for the truth leads to a mind-shattering conspiracy of unearthly terror.

Customer Reviews:

Stunk........2007-04-10

I really can't think of anything positive to say about this movie. It was not even down to the so bad it is funny level. It was just mediocre, boring, and stupid. A waste of time, pure and simple.

Forgettable.......2007-03-09

"The Forgotten" looks like a bad episode of the X-Files or the Twilight Zone. A mother grieves the death of her young son, only to be told (by her therapist, her husband and the whole world) that the boy never existed. She forms an unlikely alliance with an alcoholic ex baseball player and the whole thing turns really, really ludicrous. Julianne Moore delivers, as usual, a wonderful performance, but not even her talent can rescue this silly movie.

A parent's tie with thier children.......2007-02-19

I really liked this movie. It does show how strong a parent's tie with thier children certainly are. Watching this movie certainly made me think of all of the parents that have lost thier children via accidents, child abductions or run-aways and how the parents must feel. Appreciation of what you have comes to mind and love the ones that you have, because tomorrow they could be gone. I liked this movie because it told of the "real pain" that Telly was feeling when her child was gone and "others" tried to erase her memories. I did watch the extended alternate ending which I do recommend in seeing. This movie is an on the edge of your seat thriller and I do recommend it to anyone!!!

Interesting concept...bad execution.......2007-01-07

This is a horribly implausible storyline, but probably could have been better executed had it been an episode of the defunct X-Files. The begining is intriguing but somewhere in the middle you sense that the writers didn't truely know where to go. I think I could have swallowed this more, if in fact 'The Others' needed the children for something-not simply to watch this woman go crazy like a lab rat. Her doctor even says that they've been doing this sort of thing for years-decades even. So you're telling me they've been success of making people disappear and just watching the festivites? For their own amusement? But didn't the NSA guy-say something about survivial? SO which is it? You needed the children to survive or do you need them for amusement? And even if you buy that this is a one time experiment gone wrong-and you buy into the Disney-like fairy tale ending-that still leaves the problem of aliens hoovering above doing what they will. So is the ultimate goal to get the children back or do away with the aliens. How can you buy into the peace of mind and security when the children return but know they are still out there?
Julianne Moore give a good performance-for the material, I think. Dominic West made me wince each time he came onto the screen. Overall-save ninety minutes of your life and skip this one.

No need to tell the story.......2007-01-06

Regarding all the reviews, you can deduce what the film is about. I'm not going to re-tell the story. I am going to tell you that a parent's panic at a lost child is traumatic, but what is worse is that no one believes you. You go through the stages of panic, investigation, doubt, blame, and guilt. Your results may vary.

This film is certainly a B film. But, the issue remains. After a few wet-your-pants moments you really want Julianne Moore to find her son. The confrontation with her and the creator of loss and forgetfullness, a dispassionate alien, brings to fore the nobility of humanity and the shortcomings of an analytical race.

Hug your loved ones. No one knows how permanent it may be.

Korea - The Forgotten War (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

Korea-The forgotten War

Korea - The Forgotten War (History Channel)
Starring: Robert Stack
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000AABL4E
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Product Description

At the end of World War II, few Americans dreamed that less than five years later the nation would once again be involved in a bloody overseas conflict. Yet June 25, 1950 marked the beginning of a war like no other America had ever fought. KOREA: THE FORGOTTEN WAR explores the long struggle half a world away, from the forces that shattered the postwar peace to the delicate resolution which set the stage for many of the tensest moments of the Cold War. See dramatic footage of U.S. forces in action as Marines execute a brilliant amphibious landing at Inchon. Follow the troops as they push the North Koreans to the Yalu River, then face overwhelming odds as China sends hundreds of thousands of soldiers over the border in a move that many thought might signal the beginning of World War III. With dramatic footage captured by combat cameras and first person accounts from soldiers, this is a fascinating examination of one of the most important events of modern times.

System Requirements:

Running Time 100 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Korea-The forgotten War.......2006-08-27

I Bot thi for a friend to give to his Fother on his birthday.
Kurt

Average customer rating:

Gone But Not Forgotten
DECENT ADAPTATION OF A BETTER BOOK
Exellent Thriller
Highly recommended

Gone But Not Forgotten
Starring: Brooke Shields , Lou Diamond Phillips , Scott Glenn , Marilu Henner , and Robin Riker
Director: Armand Mastroianni
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BQ7J98
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Customer Reviews:

Gone But Not Forgotten.......2007-06-10

This is a very good movie. It kept my attention. I would recommend this movie to those who like mysteries.

DECENT ADAPTATION OF A BETTER BOOK.......2007-02-02

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN is based on the best seller by Philip Margolin; another example of the book being better than the movie.
However, this miniseries is effectively produced and features some good performances.
Brooke Shields does okay a defense attorney who finds herself defending a corporate giant on a serious murder charge. Scott Glenn is the client who we know is guilty and has a horrifying past as well. Lou Diamond Phillips is the DA who wants to put Glenn away, and Marilu Henner is the cop from Glenn's past who tries to help Phillips.
It's all familiar territory but there are enough twists and suspenseful moments to make it worthwhile viewing.

Exellent Thriller.......2006-07-30

Gone But Not Forgotten is a first rate mystery thriller. Brooke Shields as well as the rest of the cast did a great job. The screenplay written by WGA award nominated writer Steven H. Berman is top notch. Go get it now, highly reccomended.

Highly recommended.......2006-01-16

This is an excellent murder mystery/thriller that will keep you interested from start to finish. The cast is uniformly good and the script very well-written. Everything about it is way above average for a TV-movie. At first it seems as though it will be a standard courtroom drama, but after the set-up it goes in an entirely different direction and keeps you guessing the whole time. Watching this movie is like curling up with a good book on a dark and stormy night. I recommend it highly.

Average customer rating:

A Clever Little Doc(Moc)umentary
Finally, the story of Colin McKenzie and the birth of filmmaking as we know it
So detailed in its forgery, I tried to google Colin McKenzie with no success
Great Spoof
No CGI needed to see the brilliance of Peter Jackson!!

Forgotten Silver
Starring: Beatrice Ashton , Costa Botes , Peter Corrigan (II) , Marguerite Hurst , and Leonard Maltin
Director: Costa Botes
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0001ZX0JM
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Amazon.com essential video

This dryly funny mockumentary about the lost work of a pioneering New Zealand film genius is probably one of the best examples of the faux-documentary genre. In fact, it was so successful that when it originally aired on New Zealand television, hundreds of viewers bought the premise hook, line, and sinker. If you didn't know any better yourself, it's entirely possible you might be duped into believing the extremely tall tale of one Colin MacKenzie, an ambitious filmmaker who made the world's first talking movie (years before The Jazz Singer), invented color film, and created a huge biblical epic that would put Cecil B. DeMille and D.W. Griffith to shame. Filmmaker Peter Jackson (Heavenly Creatures) shrewdly inserts himself into the film via his documentation of the "discovery" of McKenzie's lost epic, which for years was preserved in a garden shed. This hidden gold mine, which Jackson likens to finding Citizen Kane in an attic, will forever rewrite the history of film--a fact to which both critic Leonard Maltin and studio exec Harvey Weinstein eagerly attest. Jackson chronicles MacKenzie's fame through newspaper accounts, still photos, and keenly inventive footage showing both the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of MacKenzie's Salome as well as clips from that crowning film achievement; if you don't believe the filmmakers, actor Sam Neill is on hand to vouch for its importance. Jackson has the self-importance of film documentaries down pat, from the "re-creations" of past events through photos and voiceovers (the film's narration is properly stentorian), and never tips his hand once through the interviews with film historians as well as MacKenzie's "wife." Even nonfilm historians and aficionados will be won over by Jackson's subtle humor and inventiveness--you'll remember the story of Colin MacKenzie for a long time to come. -Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

A Clever Little Doc(Moc)umentary.......2007-01-10

I watched this mockumentary having already heard that it was a hoax. I was curious to see if I would still enjoy it. I did. Knowing it was a hoax I was trying to see if there were any obvious clues to give it away. The only one that may possibly have had me wondering was the 20,000 stolen eggs, but that was with the benefit of hindsight. I'm sure had I watched unaware I would have swallowed that as well.

I gave it to my parents to watch, saying nothing about it and was rewarded with a hook, line and sinker reaction. They even had the case to look at. My mother started to tell me all about how fantastic Colin McKenzie was and what a shame he wasn't better recognised. It was almost a shame to have to burst their bubble.

I was even amused to read that in one of the reviews on this site the person still doesn't realise they've been hoaxed. It has been very cleverly made and a tribute to Peter Jackson and Costa Botes mischievious sense of humour. It is interesting also to see some of the actors from LOTR showing up in this although I don't think I would have recognised them without being told.

Finally, the story of Colin McKenzie and the birth of filmmaking as we know it.......2006-10-07

At first I thought Forgotten Silver was a joke, but I changed my mind when I saw that one of the greatest of contemporary film historians and critics, Leonard Maltin, had contributed his insights to the story of film pioneer Colin McKenzie. It's an amazing story of how an inspired and dedicated film genius, located in New Zealand, anticipated and invented so many of the film techniques we take for granted now. It's hard to comprehend how this one man gave us such things as steam-powered projection systems, the first tracking shot, the first example of a talking movie, the first color film, the first close-up. He was naive, yes, but with the naiveté of the innocent. The first talking movie, for instance, featured Chinese day laborers speaking their native tongue. Mr. McKenzie, regrettably, neglected to provide sub-titles. While New Zealand movie goers stayed away in droves, the purity of his intent is beyond question.

He was an unsung genius who had the courage of his beliefs. He was there filming man's first heavier-than-air flight. He invented a small motion picture camera which, in partnership with Stan the Man, anticipated the spontaneous hilarity of Candid Camera. For those, like me, who had never heard of Stan the Man, Stan was an inspired silent comic who specialized in attacking the unsuspecting. His pie in the face gag featuring the New Zealand prime minister resulted in Mr. McKenzie's filmed reaction of the prime minister's police escort, which was the forebear of the Rodney King cinema verite.

McKenzie's superlative creative achievement, of course, was his three-hour film of Salome. He built a vast city in the jungles of New Zealand (which was newly discovered and is being excavated). It took him years to achieve the financing and it resulted in a deep, permanent personal tragedy. Yet the film, newly restored, reaffirmed not only Mr. McKenzie's vision, but also strengthened so many of our feelings about silent films. Harvey Weinstein, then chairman of Miramax, reaffirmed Mr. McKenzie's genius and emphasized how happy Mr. McKenzie would be that Mr. Weinstein himself insisted that an hour be cut from the restored film.

Colin McKenzie was an unsung genius who periodically would disappear, then reemerge with new inventions and passions to over-awe those of us who now are familiar with his extraordinary accomplishments. Yet no one really knew him. His inventions never led to acclaim or fortune. His disappointments were great. His legacy, in fact, was accidently found in a locked chest in an old shed at the bottom of his widow's garden. There, two young filmmakers, Peter Jackson and Costa Botes, found reel after reel of film, stored and long forgotten in rusting containers. If it hadn't been for this chance discovery, we might never have learned of Mr. McKenzie's transforming impact on film making.

Mr. McKenzie died tragically during the Spanish Civil War, shot while trying to rescue a wounded soldier. How deeply inspiring it would be if those of us who love film could watch, and re-watch, and watch again, D. W. Griffith, Alfred Hitchcock, Louis B. Mayer or F. W. Murnau as they died. Thanks to the foresight of Mr. McKenzie, who set up his camera to film his rescue attempt, we can with this New Zealand...no, this world...genius of film. He died as he lived...with his sprockets turning.

Despite the deteriorated condition of so much of Mr. McKenzie's film record, Jackson and Botes have put together a compelling documentary. They wisely intersperse contemporary evaluations of Mr. McKenzie's achievements and the recollections of his widow with many examples of Mr. McKenzie's pioneering work.

But what of the young filmmakers themselves, who brought us the McKenzie story? Little is known of Botes. Jackson, however, can be found occasionally working on the fringes of filmmaking. His innovative use of New Zealand middle school students to film a fantasy about middle earth was well received by the students' parents. Unfortunately, his attempt to use advanced technology to solve the problem of filming a story featuring a gorilla which had been fed football steroids met with mixed results. Holding a magnifying glass in front of his camera lens while photographing a chimpanzee and pretending it was a giant ape was too advanced a leap for most movie ticket buyers.

Forgotten Silver looks just fine on the DVD edition and is a must for film students.

So detailed in its forgery, I tried to google Colin McKenzie with no success.......2006-02-09

I originally caught the last half hour of "Forgotten Silver" when it aired on IFC 4 years ago. Eager to see the entire film, I scanned the program guide to find the next showing. Although it had an inconvenient start time (1:00 a.m.), I stayed up and watched the whole thing. I was mesmorized by this tale of family, struggle, love, loss, and redemption. Why had we never heard of Colin McKenzie, clearly a film pioneer in many areas?

The internet offered no help. No reference whatsoever of Colin McKenzie. It was only after looking for the film on amazon.com that the hoax was revealed to me.

This is a near-perfect practical joke for the pretentious film buff. I've loaned out the DVD to several friends and family members without the disc's case and cover jacket, which would provide clues as to the nature of what they were about to see. I only tell them to avoid the bonus features and see if they can figure out what's going on.

This is brilliant filmmaking and you get a glimpse at Peter Jackson honing his skills in special effects, set detail, and cinematography which would come in handy for the Lord of the Rings films.

Buy this film, but more importantly, loan it to unsuspecting film fan friends.

Great Spoof.......2005-08-03

Exeptionally well done, has the viewer believing every step of the film right up to the end.A thoughly brillant excercise in the art of deception.

No CGI needed to see the brilliance of Peter Jackson!!.......2004-12-08

To fully appreciate this film, you must consider two things. First, this is a MOCumentary. It is not a real story, but instead something created through the imagination of a very rich storyteller. Second, this film was released to the general New Zealand public without them knowing that this was a mocumentary and they completely felt that it was a real occurrence. They took the bait ... hook, line, and sinker. It reminded me of the fear that Orson Welles was able to conjure when he did "The War of the Worlds" broadcast in 1938. Welles was able to create a mythological occurrence that was packaged so well that audiences bought it. This is the same with Peter Jackson's creation, Forgotten Silver. Jackson's attention to detail and excitement behind this project is seen with every digitized photo, every sound bite, and every word of the story.

The great idea behind mocumentaries is that you have the opportunity to create a world from the ground up. I think this was an aspect that I thoroughly enjoyed about this picture was every creative angle that Jackson took with his characters. They were flawed, but in a good way. They were real, yet in a sense very cartoonish. They gave you this dream about life that is normally missing in most films, yet these guys were never alive for you to believe in. It was funny how deeply rooted you could become with this film until you had to pull yourself away and say that it was just a work of fiction. For anyone to say that about a film means that the filmmaker is doing a spectacular job. The only director that I can think of that closely able to pull this off today is Christopher Guest, but even in his work you can tell that it is a mocumentary from the beginning. Jackson never gives you the opportunity to find the truth. Everything he hands to you has been researched and tested giving us the chance to believe in our man Colin throughout all of it.

Perhaps what I am trying to say here is that Jackson doesn't just create a story, he creates a world filled with emotion and chaos. It is easy to create a story, books are released everyday, but to put visuals with this story AND build a main character that the average Joe can relate to is much harder. While only pushing 60 minutes, Jackson had quite a bit of work on his hands. This was not an easy project. Jackson not only had to play director, but also put himself into the film that I think only helped build the mirage of truth. You kept forgetting that he created this story, yet was in it himself. It honestly takes away that feeling of cinematic rubbish that Hollywood releases daily and builds a true story.

The interventions between Harvey Weinstein, Sam Neill, and Leonard Maltin only help build more of that "truth" to the film. You hear these men from the industry talk about this fictitious man named Colin McKenzie, you begin to believe that perhaps he was alive and Jackson is just trying to tell the truth.

While I have spoken heavily about the amazing fake factoids that Jackson disperses through the film, what I found funny was the type of humor that Jackson placed intermittently throughout the film. The idea of Stan the Man is brilliant and his "Rodney King" moment proved that it is always possible for history to repeat itself. The jail time that Colin faced due to his "smut" film had me rolling in my seat. The exuberant size of the extras needed for this film kept me smiling throughout. There was just something about this humor that made me excited about my educational background.

Finally, I would like to say that the fact that the New Zealand public never realized that it was a mocumentary should already prove the worthiness of this film. I do not see why it didn't receive more press than it did, but this has been the biggest film enjoyment of the week. I remember a line from a film that went something like this, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist". Think of this line as you witness Jackson's film Forgotten Silver. It will make you curious.

Overall, I thought that this film was beautiful. Midway through this film you will loose track of reality and think that you are watching a true documentary, and that is when you can realize that you have a master director giving you a perfect "gem". This was not a film filled with violence and annoying Gollems, but instead cunning wit and satire. Jackson continually proves that he can handle so much more than just The Lord of the Rings with this film. No CGI is needed to see the imagination and brilliance behind this visionary. For those of you that are huge Lord of the Rings fans, you may not enjoy it as much, but for me this was Jackson in his truest form.

Bravo!

Grade: ***** out of *****

Average customer rating:

This great presentation leaves you wanting more.
Horray! A Langdon Collection!
A Must Have for your Silent Comedians Collection
A Fascinating Silent Star
silents speak a thousand words

Harry Langdon ...The Forgotten Clown
Starring: Harry Langdon , Priscilla Bonner , Gertrude Astor , William V. Mong , and Robert McKim
Director: Frank Capra , and Harry Edwards
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Slapstick Encyclopedia

ASIN: B00004Z4W3
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Amazon.com

In an exceptional case of good timing, Harry Langdon emerged as a silent-comedy clown just as the careers of Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Charlie Chaplin were stagnant or (in the case of Chaplin) on extended hiatus. Along came Langdon with his own screen persona--a cherubic, innocent man-child in ill-fitting clothes, his weathered hat at a permanent tilt--and by the mid-'20s he was a critical and box-office smash. The three short features offered here represent the best work of this "forgotten clown," and although Langdon's slapstick was gentler and somewhat derivative, his endearing character was featured in delightful stories that earned his place in the silent-comedy hall of fame.

The Strong Man (1926) was Langdon's second and finest film; it's bracingly ambitious in both scope and story, and marked director Frank Capra's feature-film debut. Harry plays an unlikely World War I hero who immigrates to America to find his pen-pal sweetheart, posing as a vaudeville strongman as his love-struck odyssey spins through a series of increasingly audacious comedy set pieces. Langdon's debut feature, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (1926), costars Joan Crawford as the woman who's captured Harry's fancy, and he joins a cross-country walking race in an adventurous effort to impress her. The film's climactic cyclone scene is as impressive for its time as anything in Twister--and a whole lot funnier. Finally, 1927's Long Pants follows the familiar formula: Harry's misguided attraction to a brazen vamp (which tempts him to dispatch his unsuspecting fiancée) leads to a series of misadventures, but as always, Harry's innate goodness wins out in the end.

Langdon's career was never again as bright; he directed himself in subsequent, lesser films and his popularity rapidly faded. That makes this collection essential for silent-comedy aficionados; these films are the enduring legacy of Langdon's brief but shining time in the spotlight, and they should not be forgotten. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Three complete features from the rediscovered genius of silent comedy! These classic silent slapstick films are the high points in Harry Langdon and Frank Capra's collaboration during 1926 and 1927, culminating in some of the finest American comedies of all-time! "The Strong Man" (1926, 74 min.) - After a tour of duty in World War I, Paul, a witless young Belgian, comes to America and seeks out the dedicated pen pal (Priscilla Bonner) whose letters lifted his spirits during the heat of battle. But to Paul, the land of opportunity turns out to be a world of confusion, as his quest for Mary Brown leads him from mishap to comic disaster. "Tramp. Tramp, Tramp" (1926, 61 min.) - In an effort to save the family business, a shoemaker's son enters a cross-country foot race with hopes of walking away with the $25,000 prize. During the course of his westward hike, Langdon woos Joan Crawford, is thrown in a chain gang, dangled from the edge of a cliff and caught in a violent tornado. "Long Pants" (1927, 58 min.) - When a sheepish young man yearning for romance is given his first pair of grown-up trousers, he springs into adulthood and is immediately smitten by the wrong woman. When his queen is jailed, Harry abandons his small-town sweetheart and comes to the brazen woman's rescue, ushering his fugitive moll through a series of riotous scrapes.

Customer Reviews:

This great presentation leaves you wanting more........2007-03-02

I'm glad that Kino has re-issued the 1997 Laserdisc collection "Harry Langdon...The Forgotten Clown" on DVD for more fans to discover Harry and enjoy the best three films he did.

The film transfers are great, sharp & clear. The master prints may have some wear but they are still in decent shape.

My only disappointment is that the original Laserdisc set included three 20-30 minute shorts from Harry's Mack Sennett films. Fortunately two of these missing shorts have been issued on DVD as part of the SLAPSTICK ENCYCLOPEDIA DVD set.

So defenately BUY THIS collection and buy the SLAPSTICK ENCYCLOPEDIA DVD set to get the best of Harry Langdon.

I just wish more of the early Langdon - Mack Sennett comedies would find their way to DVD. Sadly, just after making these three features Harry made the biggest mistake of his life and fired his director Frank Capra. Harry let his popularity go to his head and thought he knew better than his director. Harry just did not understand what made his comedy funny and over stretched the pathos when he tried to direct his own films. By 1929 Harry Langdon would be bandrupt because of his bad decision. Sound would ad further problems for Harry's film career as this diminished his mute boyish persona.

But enjoy Harry at his best with these three features.

Horray! A Langdon Collection!.......2006-11-14

This collection is a wonderful way to experience the comedy of the man often referred to as the fourth genius of the silent cinema. It includes three of his best silents in excellent prints with great soundtracks.

The Strong Man is perhaps the best Harry Langdon film to watch to see the genius of the comedian. Many trademark jokes are included in the film including his climbing the stairs bit. Also, we get to see the best of his humor, some of the more wholesome jokes (as opposed to finding comedy in attempted murder like in Long Pants).

This is the story of a meek and mild Frenchman (Langdon) who travels to America as part of a strong man act with a man who captured him in the war. He decides to go on a quest to meet the woman who wrote to him in the war and professed her love for him, Mary Brown (Priscilla Bonner). This leads to some very funny run-ins, especially that with a jazz baby with ties to gangsters. Eventually, he is led to a town divided into the hooligans who run things with their bootlegged liquor and loose women and the straight-laced Christians who have faith that the sin will stop eventually. Langdon finds Mary in the town, the daughter of a preacher. The climax of the film happens when Langdon's partner gets too drunk to perform, forcing Langdon to go on in his place. Lets just say he brings the house down.

If you don't find yourself laughing out loud constantly, just remind yourself that Langdon was much slower with his delivery than some of the other comics of the era. Some do not believe in his talent, but others feel quite strongly about it. It seems to be most evident here in one of his most universally popular films.

Another wonderful aspect of this film is the music score. It is peppered with familiar tunes of the era and contributes a whole other dimension of humor to the film.

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp is a sweet film that has not been previously released on VHS. It is an exciting film because of the presence of Joan Crawford in an early role. She plays the mascot of a shoe company which is having a race cross country to advertise. Some of the best atheletes are planning to run. Somehow, a lovestruck fan of Crawford's enters and experiences a series of hilarious mishaps including one particularly amusing scene with a fence. This film is short and sweet, a great way to put a smile on your face.

Long Pants is certainly not the film you want to see to fall in love with Langdon. However, it is a sweet movie on its own merits. The story concerns a young man (Langdon) whose family has kept him in short pants for his whole life. They believe it will keep him innocent and out of trouble. It seems they were right; when he gets long pants he falls in love with a troublesome but beautiful girl (Alma Bennett). Although he is engaged to another (Priscilla Bonner) (who he is willing to do anything to get rid of), he follows the beauty everywhere including to jail and out again in a crate.

There are some classic gags utilized, some belly laughs to be had, but also a rather disturbing scene of comedy rooted in murder. This is one silent comedy you might want to ban your children from.

A Must Have for your Silent Comedians Collection.......2006-07-06

I purchased this not having ever seen Harry Langdon on film, I had seen photos and read about him and I found him intriguing. I have to say that I did not fall about the room laughing at these comedies, but I really enjoyed these movies. I highly recommend them. They have a surreal and distant feeling about them and you can only lament that Harry did not go on to better things. I liked The Strong Man the best of the three. I found parts of "Long Pants" very strange, especially the attempted murder scene, but essentially I enjoyed it. "Tramp Tramp Tramp" I found the weaker of the three but I really enjoyed the fence scene and of course Joan Crawford appears as the object of Harry's desire. As an earlier review states I too find Harry just standing very funny and I too could not tell you why, he has a beautiful face and smile and is an excellent practitioner of pantomine. I love his tipping of the hat that he does.

A Fascinating Silent Star.......2006-07-06

I basically agree with the other reviews here: Harry Langdon was a marvelous comedy talent, totally unique, and quite loveable, and these three films are generally excellent. And yes, it's true that Harry's an acquired taste. Not everyone will "get" him. In that respect he may be the first "cult" comedy figure in film history. Those of us who love Langdon *really* love him, and most of us first saw him in one of these three films. Personally, I don't see any particular stamp of genius in Frank Capra's direction; there's nothing wrong with it, but the non-Capra film here, "Tramp Tramp Tramp," is actually my favorite of the three. The thing that's consistently awesome is Harry's performance. Even when he's just standing around looking at the camera, he's funny, but I couldn't explain why if my life depended on it! Everything he does makes me smile, the way a cute little toddler does. These are excellent films from a really special performer.

silents speak a thousand words.......2006-06-01

For anyone interested in physical comedy, clowns, or pioneers of all that is funny, I highly recommend Harry Langdon. A short lived career on screen and unfortunately short lived off, Langdons' influence continues to be seen today. Comics today learn their craft from watching their mentors. Just as their mentors did before them. Harry Langdon is one of the mentoring masters that created the mold left for others to emulate.
Watch the man that could bring an audience from laughter to tears without ever saying a word. Some legends of comedy are known for their gags, others for their great stunts. But with Harry, just watch his face. Watch and learn from this underrated master.

Average customer rating:

A vivid and enlightening documentary
Dr. Julian Represented!

NOVA: Percy Julian - Forgotten Genius
Starring: Bobbie Patrick , Sean McGuirk , Jonathan Niles , Pamela Lambert , and Frank Harrison
Director: Llewellyn M. Smith
Manufacturer: Wgbh Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MQ4WYC
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Description

His house was firebombed. He lost his job on the eve of the Depression. He took on powerful, entrenched interests in the scientific establishment and overcame countless obstacles to become a world-class chemist, a self-made millionaire, and a humanitarian. Yet despite his achievements, Percy Julian's story is largely unknown.

The grandson of Alabama slaves, Julian broke the color barrier in American science more than a decade before Jackie Robinson did in baseball. A brilliant innovator, he discovered a way to turn soybeans into synthetic steroids on an industrial scale, helping to make drugs like cortisone available to millions.

InForgotten Genius, a special two-hour presentation starring Tony-award winning actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson, NOVA brings Julian's scientific breakthroughs and gripping biography to life, with vivid period reenactments based on newly opened family archives and interviews with dozens of colleagues and relatives.

Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Customer Reviews:

A vivid and enlightening documentary.......2007-04-11

Featuring Tony Award-winning actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Percy Julian: Forgotten Genius is a DVD biography of a truly exceptional American scientist, humanitarian, and self-made millionaire. The grandson of Alabama slaves, Percy Julian shattered the color barrier in science over a decade before Jackie Robinson did in baseball. Julian discovered how to transform soybeans into synthetic steroids on an industrial scale, and helped to make modern medical drugs like cortisone available to patients. Originally shown as part of the public television series NOVA, Percy Julian: Forgotten Genius is a vivid and enlightening documentary featuring period reenactments and drawing heavily from family archives and dozens of interviews with Julian's colleagues and relatives. Highly recommended for school, library, and private DVD collections alike. 112 minutes, color.

Dr. Julian Represented!.......2007-02-08

It's very fascinating to me that this work was a NOVA project, rather than an American Experience one. I really wonder if PBS were trying to get hardcore scientists to think about history, race, and other matters they might not usually explore.

I disagree somewhat with the title. Yes, more people may have heard of George Washington Carver, however, Dr. Julian is not "forgotten." There's an important high school in Chicago named after him. He also has a US postal stamp made in his honor. My guess is that he's beloved in Black scientific circles.

Too often, many (mis)conclude that "the Emancipation Proclamation solved everything for Blacks" or "the Civil Rights movement corrected any other leftover matters for them." This work provides numerous examples of anti-Black racism. Just as Sandra Day O'Connor was not given legal jobs after finishing at the top of her law class, Dr. Julian was constantly rejected from graduate programs. Just as Harvard recently disrespected Dr. Cornel West, Harvard prevented Dr. Julian from finishing his Ph.D. there. Just as Malcolm X's teacher told him he couldn't dream to be a professional, white scientists told Dr. Julian he should be more than satisfied that he had an undergraduate degree. I love how this work demonstrated that racism continually caused problems for this talented brother.

On the other hand, I don't think non-Blacks will be "threatened" by this work. As. Dr. Julian faced much institutional racism, he also had several white allies that aided him. The fact here reminded me of Thomas and Dr. Blaylock, Jesse Owens and Lutz Lung, or even the interracial buddies of "Brian's Song." I also loved seeing that Dr. Julian lifted as he climbed. He seems to have hired and encouraged numerous female and non-white scientists younger than him.

I struggle with the length of the work. This could have been one hour, rather than two, if it weren't for all the acting and monologues. I suppose the fluff was added to lure in everyday viewers and scientists that dislike other subjects. As a person who doesn't care for science, there was much talk of chemistry for which I could not care less. However, since that field is where he earned his fame, it's logical that they went deep into that topic.

This was a strong work, perfect for Black History Month. It's length may prohibit school classes from seeing it in one class period. Still, for those who haven't heard of this genius and his struggles, it will be quite inspiring.

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