An Innocent Man

Starring:Tom Selleck, F. Murray Abraham, Laila Robins, David Rasche, Richard Young, Badja Djola, Todd Graff, M.C. Gainey, Peter Van Norden, Bruce A. Young, James T. Morris, Terry Golden, Dennis Burkley, Thomas B. Kackert, Vito Peterson, Charle Landry, Tobin Bell, Scott Jaeck, Holly Fulger, Philip Baker Hall
Director: Peter Yates
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This disappointment from Jim Jarmusch stars Johnny Depp in a mystery-Western about a 19th-century accountant named William Blake, who spends nearly all his money getting to a hellish mud town in the old West and ends up penniless and doomstruck in the wilderness. A benevolent if goofy Native American (Gary Farmer) takes an interest in guiding Blake on a quest for identity in his earthly journey, but the film is really just a string of endless shtick about inbred woodsmen, dumb lawmen, and a trio of irritable killers. With Robert Mitchum, Iggy Pop, Gabriel Byrne, Alfred Molina, and a noodling soundtrack by Neil Young. --Tom Keogh

Description

Johnny Depp (CHOCOLAT) delivers a remarkable performance in this highly acclaimed tale of adventure and intrigue in the wild, wild west! A young man in search of a fresh start, William Blake (Depp) embarks on an exciting journey to a new town ... never realizing the danger that lies ahead. But when a heated love triangle ends in double murder, Blake finds himself a wanted man, running scared -- until a mysterious loner teaches him to face the dangers that follow a "dead man." With an outstanding supporting cast including Gabriel Byrne (THE USUAL SUSPECTS) and Robert Mitchum (CAPE FEAR), and a sizzling soundtrack, DEAD MAN is another motion picture triumph from filmmaker Jim Jarmusch.

Customer Reviews:

Totally Awesome!.......2007-06-19

If you are a real free thinker than this movie is for you. If you need to have everything scripted and compartmentalized than this movie is not for you. The story line and soundtrack are a perfect marriage. Watch this movie when you are not distracted and can concentrate on the subtle dialogue ... Some pretty cool stuff here. Great characters. This film plays itself out like a hazy dream. Not everybody's cup of team, but it sure is mine. I can't think of another film that approaches this dream state.

Dead Man.......2007-06-11

Johnny Depp. I have never been disappointed by Johnny Depp on the screen. Not an action packed thriller, but if you don't "PAUSE" before leaving the room and don't rewind you'll miss something.

One Of My Favorites.......2007-05-16

I also think that Amazon should be ashamed of allowing their reviewer to give such a negative review. I can see if the guy had given an abundance of details to support the reasons why he hated the film so much, but to rattle off a couple of generalities about "Dead Man" is atrocious of him.

I loved "Dead Man." I just saw "Pirates of the Carribean 2," and I'm glad that great actors like Johnny Depp are allowed to flex their creative muscle in real roles instead of cookie-cutter Hollywood roles. I do admit to anyone interested in viewing "Dead Man" that so far, the majority of people I attempted to introudce the film to did not like it. This movie is made for a very particular audience, and I'm not sure if even the director can pin-point exactly who this audience is.

I loved everything about this movie, even the black & white, and I normally hate black & white movies. But "Dead Man" in color would have killed so much of the effect. I loved the characters, like Nobody, and the ruthless bounty hunters. Johnny Depp plays one of the most tragic individuals introduced to audiences in a long time.

This movie could not have been better. I consider it to be a masterpiece of art.

Not a single extraneous shot.......2007-05-06

I just finished watching this movie again and was really surprised to see the negative review given by Tom Keogh of Amazon (whoever he is). If Tom can only describe the superficial events of the story without recognizing the broader themes, then he is really missing out. I am always amazed at how much storytelling punch Jim Jarmusch manages to pack into so few scenes- minimalism at its best. He encapsulates the human experience in just a few short strokes- the innocence of the young as they make their way out into the world, taking the first long journey alone, seeing new & strange lands/people, encountering the decadence of the city, treachery in big business, enduring ridicule, sharing fragile dreams with another and seeing those dreams slip away. In the end, William Blake is transformed from innocence to maturity and understands the necessity and tragedy of it. Chances are pretty good that Tom Keogh did not understand that the dead baby deer was a symbol of William Blake's lost innocence; much less some of the other metaphors presented here. A great, great movie.

my FAVORITE MOVIE!.......2007-05-03

What else can I say. I loved it start to finnish.

Average customer rating:

Marathon Man
Ehhh.
MY TOOTH IS KILLING ME
Great thriller if you skip the first hour...
Marathon Man

Marathon Man
Starring: Dustin Hoffman , Laurence Olivier , Roy Scheider , William Devane , and Marthe Keller
Director: John Schlesinger , and Allan Garden
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005M2CO
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Amazon.com essential video

John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy) directed this gripping, entertaining 1977 thriller that centers on graduate student Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate, Tootsie). Hoffman plays a sullen and cowardly loner haunted by the suicide of his father, a suspected communist. He is drawn into a murky web of international intrigue when his brother, CIA agent Doc Levy, played by Roy Scheider (Jaws, The French Connection), is murdered by a former Nazi (Laurence Olivier) who has come to the United States to reclaim a valuable stash of diamonds. Babe (Hoffman) must confront his fears of the past as he runs for his life and tries to avenge his brother's death at the same time. Featuring a classic torture sequence and a terrific cast that includes William Devane and Marthe Keller, this film written by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men) stands as a great entertainment and as one of the seminal films of the 1970s. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Marathon Man.......2007-07-04

Dustin Hoffman re-grouped with "Midnight Cowboy" director Schlesinger for this nerve-jangling thriller based on screenwriter William Goldman's novel. Olivier, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, is chilling as the sadistic Szell. Twisty and paranoiac, "Man" delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense straight through to its memorable finish.

Ehhh........2007-04-17

After reading Goldman's novel of the same name and being surprised by some of the twists and turns , I was eager to see how the book was converted to film. To learn how Scylla the spy, Levy the student, Janey the Provider, and Szell the Nazi were handled. I was disappointed.

Don't get me wrong - the movie is a fine thriller. It just doesn't match up to what I'd been expecting. In the novel, Janey's identity is not revealed until halfway through the book, at which point you're shocked to learn the true nature of Scylla's relationship with him. This is a startling conclusion that is totally glossed over in the film. Also, while Elsa is transparently in cahoots with the bad guys even in the book, here it's made even more obvious and the viewer's small doubts of, "Is she good or bad?" are removed.

The movie is good. You should see it. But read the book afterward.

MY TOOTH IS KILLING ME .......2006-12-17

What do you get when you combine top notch acting and a stellar cast? You get the 1977 action thriller "The Marathon Man" presented in it's 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio.The dvd transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound from Paramount Studios is excellent.The video transfer doesn't seem to contain any dust or debris and the image is very impressive,considering this film is from the 1970's.The acting is superb and the chilling performance given by Laurence Olivier as the former Nazi "Szell" is outstanding.I've always hated the sound of the dentist's drill and after seeing it in the hands of "Szell",I hate it even more.Suspense,action and intrigue this movie has it all and after 30 years it's still highly entertaining.Only one question still remains "is it safe?"

The dvd bonus features include: Theatrical Trailer, Cast & Crew interviews, Rehearsal Footage, Original "Making of Marathon Man" Featurette.

Great thriller if you skip the first hour..........2006-12-05

The performances are stellar, the story is satisfying, the fear is real and you will never head to the dentist again without this film on your mind. All that said, the actual thriller doesn't begin until an hour in. There is some interesting setup and character building in the first hour, but most is not necessary to the story. Although, once you get through that, it's quite a ride. Every scene Goldman wrote puts Hoffman in the worst situation imaginable, all while maintaining a very true since of reality. A true thriller.

Picture quality on this DVD is 4.5 out of 5 and the sound is a 3.5, but thus far, the best print I have seen of it. Never saw it in the theater. :(

Marathon Man.......2006-11-04

We enjoyed this film in the theater years ago and it holds up well. Fun to see Dustin Hoffman when he is young. Sir Laurence Olivier is always interesting to watch. You won't see this on TV.
JGH

Average customer rating:

GREAT TOM SELLECK MOVIE
Edge of Your Seat Thriller!
Predictable, but entertaining.
In Peter Yates' film, bad cops become dangerous predators...
Take Tom Selleck seriously.

An Innocent Man
Starring: Tom Selleck , F. Murray Abraham , Laila Robins , David Rasche , and Richard Young
Director: Peter Yates
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008978T
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Description

Tom Selleck (THREE MEN AND A BABY) turns in a riveting performance as Jimmie Rainwood, an average citizen whose life becomes a living nightmare when he's framed by a pair of crooked cops and sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. With his life torn apart, Rainwood swears revenge, vowing to fight back and deliver justice to the dishonest cops who set him up -- no matter what the price! Ultimately, Rainwood risks everything to recapture his normal life, and prove once and for all that he is an innocent man!

Customer Reviews:

GREAT TOM SELLECK MOVIE.......2007-05-31

IF YOU ARE A TOM SELLECK MOVIE FAN THIS IS ONE GREAT PERFORMANCE OF HIS AND WITH CO STAR F. MURRAY ABERHAM HELPS HIM CARRY THE HEAVY PERFORMANCE. HIGHLY RECCOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO SELLECK FANS

Edge of Your Seat Thriller!.......2007-05-30

This movie is good because of the star and it keeps you on the edge of your seat because you don't know what will happen next. It shows that with determination that things will work out if you don't give up. It shows that bad policemen do pay the price for being on the wrong side of the law.

Predictable, but entertaining........2007-05-03

This is one of those, "it ain't great, but I liked it" movies. This is a formulaic movie, loaded with cliches and stereotypes, but without a great script to carry it. Unlike the superior "Shawshank Redemptions" of the world, it's not hard to figure out where this movie is going. That plus this one has more of a made for TV feel to it. Nevertheless, and the simplified vision of prison life aside, I liked this movie. The acting leaves a lot to be desired, but you can only use what your writers give you, and this cast makes the most out of it. Selleck is, well, Selleck. And Abraham is probably the best in his role of the wise, hip, independent, fellow inmate. But even that role is somewhat thin. Thin but fun. You know from the start how this one's gonna end up. The cast is too over the top to not to give it away. But it's still fun to watch unfold, as all the various roles get what the genre has coming to them. I can't remember the last time I saw Laila Robins, who plays Selleck's wife in this. She's an understated doll. If nothing else, this is an entertaining movie.

In Peter Yates' film, bad cops become dangerous predators..........2007-01-02

The film opens with sequences conceived to present Selleck as a loving husband and a devoted airlines maintenance supervisor... His name is Jimmie Rainwood...

One night, a couple of crooked narcotics cops break down Rainwood's peaceful door...

Jimmy--who had just taken a shower--comes out with a hair dryer in his hand... He is shot twice by the anti-drugs cops who have caught a shadow of what looks like a gun... So to justify their error, they concocted an entire fairy tale planting drugs in Jimmy's home and a gun in his hand...

Rainwood ends up in jail...

Luckily, he is befriended by Virgil Cane, played by F. Murray Abraham... Cane was the character to keep your eye on... He is a 'schemer and a charmer.'

Virgil disagrees with Jimmy's sensitiveness as a straight man... This is an 'insane place with insane rules' that tests the human consciousness, yet survival will never be the same without some sort of sacrifice... A group of degenerate prisoners make life unbearable for Jimmy until he learns how to really fight back...

The film had its fair share of bloody moments and did not shy away from the nasty things that go on in men's prisons...

Take Tom Selleck seriously........2006-09-25

At last, those of you who think that Tom Selleck is type-cast as either a cowboy or in a comedy role, will surely change your mind after watching this movie. He is absolutely terrific in this dramatic role, paving the way for his later movies, all of which have been thrillers/dramas. I have always loved the man, to the point where I used to holiday in Hawaii every year in the hope of meeting him, but this movie has made even me step back in awe. Well done Tom.

Average customer rating:

Strangely touching
Eminently Forgettable
Loads better than Hollow Man
Decent all the way
Underrated movie!

Memoirs of an Invisible Man
Starring: Sam Anderson , Steven Barr , Rosalind Chao , Chevy Chase , and Shay Duffin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00009NHC7
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Description

Chevy Chase and Darryl Hannah star in and John (Halloween) Carpenter directs a lighthearted adventure: a Wall Street analyst becomes invisible after a lab accident, leading to complications both comic and romantic. Year: 1992 Director: John Carpenter Starring: Chevy Chase, Daryl Hannah, Sam Neill

Customer Reviews:

Strangely touching.......2007-03-23

This movie is indeed underrated, and perhaps largely unknown due more to its relatively low budget than to its concept or execution. Chevy Chase is strangely touching portraying in dramatic tones a character caught in what would at first seem a purely comedic situation. Nick Holloway's predicament is well-realized and well thought-out, and many of the special effects - though not elaborate - are both humorous and intriguing. Darrell Hannah is her usual sensuous and beautiful self. Well worth a watch.

Eminently Forgettable.......2004-12-29

Nick Halloway (Chevy Chase) is attending a talk at some scientific-type outfit when there is a nasty accident. Something weird leaks out and next thing, he knows, he's invisible with no idea how to becomes visible again. Matters are made considerably worse by insane CIA-type David Jenkins (Sam Neill) who wants to capture him and use him as an intelligence resource. Matters are made considerably better by Alice (Daryl Hannah) the girl he met just before his accident who comes to his aid.

This very slight movie marks the beginning of the rather sad decline that was the career of John Carpenter in the 1990s. Its tongue is very much in its cheek and it sets out very much to be a comedy thriller. It is at best mildly effective both as comedy and as thriller but as both it is really very slight, throwaway stuff.

Loads better than Hollow Man.......2004-11-05

I can't say that I'm that keen on Chevy Chase, sorry, I just do not find him funny! After putting this off for a while, I got told to watch it, or my budgie would die :( I mean, what's a girl to do? Lose her budgie, or sit through an hour & a half of Chevy Chase?

I thought I was going to be constantly reminded of Hollow Man watching this, as it's one that I hated, just about as much as I dislike Chevy Chase. Hollow Man totally freaked me out, from Kevin Bacon sucking on the girl's nipple, to the ending. Never again. If I have to watch that movie again, it'll be too soon!

The special effects were better & more subtle than Hollow Man, from the building disappearing, to Chevy smoking, and seeing the smoke in his lungs, and seeing his outline as he blew it out, or the makeup on his face! Also, when he eats, sees it, and then gets it straight back out again, and the rain scene has an almost magical feel to it.

The whole movie deals with loneliness, alienation, and insanity, although I sometimes felt Chevy was wrong for the role, as was Sam Neill - I did NOT like his character at all. But I guess that was the whole point. Everyone will say this movie is a comedy due to Chevy being the main character, but it was quite a serious role for him, a big step away from his usual roles. Daryl Hannah was terrific, considering most of her intimate scenes are played to special effects. The last scenes over the end credits are especially touching, and bring a little tear to the eye!

Now I've finally seen this, I'm hoping that's the last I'll hear about it! It was a better movie than I was expecting, and the special effects were amazing. There's not much in the way of extras, no trailer (!), and a series of outtakes.

Decent all the way.......2004-06-24

This comedy directed by horror maestro John Carpenter is actually pretty decent. The special effects still look amazing.
The plot is thin, but who cares? It's well acted (it would be better if you're a fan of Chevy Chase) and hilarious in some places. Slows a bit down in the second half but picks up for a good finale.

Underrated movie!.......2003-11-14

I really enjoyed this movie when it came out and was quite surprised by all the bad reviews. I had read the book several years before I saw the movie and thought they did a great job of transfering it to film.

The funny thing is that most reviews criticize the film makers for their wierd story choices, but the film was just following the book.

Description

Determined to escape the confines of an evil laboratory, two dogs make a flight for freedom into the rugged hills. Panicked by the cries of other animals on their way out, they accidentally break a vial used by plague researchers, and when news gets out that the two could be infected, the human world launches the deadliest hunt. Pursued at every turn, the dogs are forced to retreat further and further until their time runs out and they must make the ultimate decision - and take their chance with fate.

Customer Reviews:

An Animated Animal Movie with Bite.......2007-05-31

It's easy to look at the cover of the movie "Plague Dogs" and then call the kids into the living room for an enjoyable Sunday matinee. There is a deceptive nature to the beautiful hand drawn animation of cute little animals that harkens back to the golden age of Disney animation. This would be a mistake however for it's that very deceptive quality to "Plague Dogs" that makes this film such a treat for adults and a rather disturbing nightmare for children.

Like it's predecessor "Watership Down" (another Richard Adams book made into an animated feature by director Martin Rosen), "Plague Dogs" is a very adult tale about animals in jeopardy. In "Watership..." it was a small group of rabbits in search of a safe home. "Plague Dogs" is the story of two dogs who escape from a testing laboratory. Together they are desperate to find safety and a life free of abuse and pain. The smaller dog (Snitter) having just had brain surgery, is a smart but tortured animal. Rowf, is a dog mentally and physically beaten by repeated drownings. Together they search for peace, but peace does not come easily on an empty stomach and the many pastures of sheep are too tempting for the two dogs to pass up. As sheep carcasses begin to pile up local farmers begin to make the connection that the testing laboratory may have had something to do with the two wild dogs that are roaming their land. When it's discovered that the laboratory was working with Bubonic plague, the dogs are marked for death.

Ultimately "Plague Dogs" is an adventure tale; however, director Martin Rosen uses the bleak storyline to propel a theme of hopelessness. Snitter and Rowf and undesirables, cast out by bad luck and bad timing. The society that they find themselves in is unable to fully understanding their situation and their destruction is a simply seen as a more effective way of dealing with them. The ending in particular has our two furry antagonists in questionable straights.

Such a film would not play well today, nor did it play that well in this country 25 years ago. It asks too many questions, pushes too many cringe inducing buttons, and often doesn't wait for the passive viewer to catch up. I can't think of one reason why or how a movie like this got made, but it's our great fortune it did. "Watership Down" proves to be a better movie experience but "Plague Dogs" goes where "Watership Down" didn't and we are all the better for it.

Worth seeking out the Australian version.......2007-05-10

I don't really have a lot to add about the film itself that the other reviewers haven't already said; this is a dark, distressing, relentlessly grim and harrowing film about two dogs on the run from an animal research laboratory. It has a somewhat slow pace at times, and much of the animation is crude by today's standards, but it has tons of character. It's not exactly a pleasant experience but it has great power and a worthwhile message. Just to make it clear (if it isn't already), this is mature material only suitable for older teens and adults.

I actually just wanted to address a couple of points in a previous review (possible spoilers coming). The original film, released in the UK in 1982, was 1 hour 42 minutes - this is the full, unedited version which can ONLY be found on the Australian DVD release (the quality isn't great, but at least you're getting to see the whole film). The difference in running time (99 mins on DVD as against 102 mins in theaters) is simply down to the fact that films run slightly faster on VHS and DVD than they do on the big screen; ALL films are approximately 3 - 4% shorter when transfered to home entertainment formats.

When it came time to release the film in the USA, director Martin Rosen had great difficulty finding a distributor willing to take it on. That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise; the film is far too disturbing for kids or families, and adults are likely to dismiss an animated feature with talking animals as kids' stuff - so who exactly would pay to see this movie? In an effort to placate the distributors, Rosen was forced to cut 17 minutes from the film's running time. Some of the cuts were simply made to speed up the pace, and others were made to remove some of the more unpleasant scenes (most notably the sight of a human corpse which the starving, desperate dogs have partially eaten). Needless to say, these cuts did little to lighten the film's grim tone, and it only ever received a brief and extremely limited run at a few US theaters. Unfortunately, it is this shorter version that has been used for most of the recent DVD releases; as I mentioned before, only the Australian edition has both versions included.

There were some changes to the plot in the transfer from novel to screen. The somewhat forced but nevertheless welcome happy ending in the book was removed, to make the film a more powerful anti-vivisection statement. Also the fate of the fox, or The Tod as he is known, was changed; in the book he falls victim to a hunt, whereas in the film he sacrifices himself to a pack of army hounds as a distraction, allowing the two titular dogs to escape (temporarily) on a train. This was NOT changed due to any pressure from pro-hunting groups; neither Richard Admas or his admirers would have tolerated such a move. I imagine it was changed to allow the Tod's death to play a more important part in driving the plot forward, and to show us the wily fox was a noble fellow in the end.

A classic (not so well known animation).......2007-04-28

The animation is rough (ala Watership Down) - but this is a film with heart, and a moral...and makes me cry every single (*&(*& time I see it. Everyone should see this film, at least once...!

Lovers of the Novel Will Not Be Disappointed.......2007-04-08

_The Plague Dogs_ by Richard Adams has long been one of my favorite books. For this reason, I have avoided seeing Martin Rosen's adaptation until now; I was afraid I would be deeply disappointed, that the film would somehow tarnish my relationship with the book. Although the film adaptation falls short in places, and there are slight variations in plot (notably, in the last five minutes of the film), overall it is an exceptional work that stays true to the heart of the book.

Fortunately, I have not seen the entire movie in its original format. If I had, I may be disappointed. Having researched the changes that were made, I do see how Martin Rosen's original rendition would have been stronger. However, those new to the film will not be disappointed.

Also, there seems to be a debate about the ending of the film vs. that of the novel. Although completely different, both endings are equally as strong and poignant. Both the book and the film will elicit an emotional response from all except the coldest of hearts.

The voice actors in the film are excellent. John Hurt, who did the voice of Hazel in _Watership Down_, appropriately performs as Snitter. Christopher Benjamin excels as Rowf. We are even briefly treated to the voice of Patrick Stewart in a very small role.

This film falls short in one area: length. It is impossible in 87, or even 99 minutes to thoroughly develop the plot of the novel. The absence of Digby Driver, for example, eliminates a fascinating and ironic subplot from the film. However, since editing was necessary, it was nice that Rosen chose to focus almost exclusively on the animals themselves.

If you, like me, have read the book and are thinking about checking out the DVD, please do not hesitate. The animation is beautiful, the voice acting is excellent, and it is thematically true to the book. Its only shortcoming is its length.

Hummm. Still functioning despite the amputations!.......2007-03-18

"Plague Dogs", based on Richard Adams' (Watership Down, Shardik) 1977 novel, is among the most substantive offerings in animation films. Snitter (terrier), and Rowf (Black Lab) escape from an animal research lab conducting "experiments" on dogs, monkeys, rabbits and others, including: Bubonic Plague, experimental brain surgery, sensory deprivation, and (often-fatal) recovery-from-drowning. Encountered on the run, a worldly-wise fox (The Tod) helps Snitter and Rowf evade re-capture and survive in the wild while seeking a vaguely understood, permanent safe haven.

The animation is fine, similar to Watership Down's. But it is the novel's substance and attendant characterizations that underlie the film: a brutal perspective, from that of two anthropomorphized dogs and a fox, about survival needs; animal researchers' clinical depravity; anthropocentricity; and a welter of CYA political and press mendacities. At its core is a fascinating character study: that of poor Snitter's brain surgery-induced delirious yet moving confusions and imaginings; Rowf's ever-fatalistic, aggressive, no-nonsense realism; and the Tod's sympathetic opportunism.

At 150,000 words, the novel (Knopf, 1978, 1st American hardbound edition) also has a bonus: 20-plus pages of carefully-drawn Wainwright illustrations (13 full-page, eight being route maps), plus a two-page frontispiece. While a quarter of the novel centers on various humans and their conversations, the film cleverly maintains interest by keeping the focus on Snitter, Rowf and the Tod, pertinent human conversations largely presented as voice-overs. But though the film carefully replicates Snitter's and Rowf's trek and manages to convey some personality subtleties, one needs the novel's far richer prose (Adams' prose rivaling Tolkien's) for a rewardingly deeper understanding of the characters and out-of-context scenes depicted.

Though intriguingly four minutes short of the original's reported run-time, Australian (PAL region 4) sources offer a 99-minute "extended release" DVD viewable in the US with a PAL-enabled system and region-free player. This version, reportedly made from an only-surviving copy, has non-re-mastered but adequate picture-sound quality. Also included is an 82-minute amputated re-mastered version. Struggling for film release, its producers obviously encountered lowest-common-denominator marketing mentalities, shunning of graphic depictions, script change demands appeasing the pro-fox-hunting lobby, and having to manufacture several thrills. Two notable changes from the novel concern the fates of the Tod, and of Snitter/Rowf. Even ignoring detrimental changes, this reviewer awards just four stars for this 80 percent of the original film.

Several reviewers caution prospective buyers to deny young children seeing this film. Would such folks also shield children from Oliver Twist, The Yearling, Race of the Swift, Cooper's Leather Stocking tales, or Felix Salten's Bambi? When this reviewer was in grade-school over fifty years since, it was customary to have such books read by the teacher, generally a chapter after lunch; or on one's own at home! Were that Plague Dogs had been available! Presumably no permanent damage resulted to this reviewer from such dangerous childhood adventures, though some might disagree! And do you suppose the film's missing four minutes were to accommodate the novel's ending, hinted in the closing scene?

Average customer rating:

Beauty's only skin-deep
An underrated masterpiece of silent cinema
Good but not great
Conrad Veidt in a silent masterpiece!!
Would have been better with the original ending

Paul Leni's The Man Who Laughs
Starring: Mary Philbin , Conrad Veidt , Julius Molnar Jr. , Olga Baclanova , and Brandon Hurst
Director: Paul Leni
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000B1A1J
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Customer Reviews:

Beauty's only skin-deep.......2007-06-22

Based on the well-known Victor Hugo novel, this story begins in the year 1690, when Lord Clancharlie is brought before King James II, bound and humiliated, and told that his young son Gwynplaine has been permanently disfigured by a band of Gypsies known as the Comprachicos. On order of the King, the Comprachicos have just been ordered to leave England, but little Gwynplaine is left behind, during the cold of winter. (Supposedly he's ten years old in the beginning, but I'd peg the little boy playing the young Gwynplaine as a few years younger than that.) He shortly discovers a woman sitting in the snow, dead, with a baby girl in her lap. He takes the baby to the nearest house he can find, to a philosopher named Ursus. It is discovered that the baby, Dea, is blind, and when Ursus orders Gwynplaine to stop laughing and is told he's not laughing, discovers to his horror that his face really is mutilated into a permanent grotesque smile.

Years go by and Gwynplaine (Conrad Veidt) and Dea (Mary Philbin) are all grown up, and touring England with Ursus as part of a circus and as performers in a play he's written, 'Le Homme Qui Rit,' 'The Man Who Laughs.' Though Gwynplaine is a real person with all of the normal human feelings and emotions, the crowds out there only laugh at him and see him as nothing more than a clown, someone who's expected to take all of their laughs and jeers without feeling pain. But Dea, who has grown up with him, isn't able to see what he looks like on the outside, and loves the beautiful man on the inside, even though Gwynplaine doesn't think she'd still love him and want to marry him could she see his horrifying permanent smile. (He's actually a dead ringer for the Joker.) Around this time it is discovered that Lord Clancharlie's son is alive and well, and that this heir must marry Duchess Josiana (Olga Baclanova), who stands to lose her estates inherited from Lord Clancharlie if she goes ahead with her marriage to Lord Dirry-Moir instead of this newly-discovered rightful heir. Duchess Josiana doesn't seem too committed to the idea of either marriage, preferring to have fun at local carnivals instead of attending to royal functions, but one couldn't easily say no to a royal edict in this era. All sorts of complications arise after the discovery of Gwynplaine's true identity, leading up to some very dramatic developments in both the circus and at court, and culminating in a dramatic chase through the streets of London at night, leaving the viewer wondering till the very end if there's going to be a happy ending or not.

Extras are a featurette on the making of the film and the long backstory behind it (the idea was five years in the making, and originally Carl Laemmle wanted Lon Chaney to play the star role), an excerpt of 'Die Filmstadt Hollywood,' showing Conrad Veidt and some other actors off the set, an excerpt of the Italian version of the film, information about the restoration (much of it drawn from the Italian release, which explains why somewhere in the middle, an untranslated Italian intertitle suddenly shows up), galleries of photos and promotional materials, and an excerpt from Hugo's original novel, which contains the original (notably different) ending. After reading the ending of the book, I'm actually glad the film had a different ending, and I usually prefer the book over the movie!

Though perhaps not quite so well-known as other silents, this one is a real emotional powerhouse, from the last really great year for silents. The artform was truly at its height in 1928, and would not have worked nearly so well as a talkie. Though Conrad Veidt could barely move his mouth due to the device holding it in that permanent Joker-like grin, he does a masterful job at expressing all of his emotions with his eyes. He says with his eyes what many speaking actors could never come even close to saying with words. And since the film was directed by Paul Leni, a recent import from Germany (who sadly died suddenly in 1929 at the age of only 44), it has a very Expressionistic influence on it, what with the lighting, mood, and sets. It has much more of a dark Gothic than Hollywood or 18th century England feel to it. Overall, I'm very happy that this film ended up being my 800th silent, a real milestone deserving of remembrance.

An underrated masterpiece of silent cinema.......2007-06-11

"The Man Who Laughs" is one of those near-forgotten silent films that deserve much more praise and attention, especially as it was well received in the late 1920s following the success of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Phantom of the Opera" which are in a similar category. In fact, Lon Chaney would have suited this role of yet another pitiful grotesque mutant, but due to his contract with MGM, the German-born producer, Carl Laemmle, chose a German crew which resulted in a definite German Expressionist flavour to this film. In the lead is Conrad Veidt, playing perhaps his best ever role as the mutilated man with a permanent grin on his face, and next to Mary Philbin, who starred in "The Phantom of the Opera", Veidt's performance is most moving and impressive. Unable to move his mouth due to the huge, grotesque grin, Veidt expresses the character's deep and strong emotions with his eyes and body language, for which the silent film is the perfect medium. The story for this unusual film is based on a 17th century French novel, but several changes were made to adapt it to the screen and win over American audiences especially. The scene is still 17th century with good sets and costumes of the period, and the overall mood is reminiscent of the gloomy, shadowy German Expressionist cinema of the 1920s, but Conrad Veidt's character demands viewers' full attention and almost detracts from the rest of the film's fine qualities. Working closely with fellow-German director Paul Leni (who directed "Waxworks", an earlier successful Expressionist film) Veidt manages to convey all the emotions of a man laughed at and treated like a clown due to his freakish face, at the same time struggling to feel worthy of a woman's love. Apart from this superb expressive character portrayal, the story is rich in royal court intrigues, not unlike stories such as The Three Musketeers and The Iron Mask, with treacherous assistants to the King, and a reckless, seductive duchess. `The Laughing Man', as he is called in his circus/freak show, becomes a pawn for the corrupt characters of the royal house, which separates him from his love and his circus show partner, Dea; the blind girl. There are some very stirring and beautiful scenes between these two players, and one of them is highlighted with the original Movietone soundtrack song, which was becoming all the fashion in the late 1920s. Restored to good-as-new condition like the picture quality, this soundtrack made for the film is well-suited and sounds very much like the music of early sound films. There are also a number of bonus features on this DVD such as a 20-minute short "the making of" documentary, a short candid home video of Veidt and other European stars such as Jannings and Greta Garbo, as well as extensive photo galleries of stills, photos and all kinds of promotional material concerning the film. There is also an insert with a good article written by the author of various books about early films and Conrad Veidt so that anyone from serious fan to general curious viewer should be well satisfied. While not as popular as Chaney's films `the Hunchback' and `the Phantom', "The Man Who Laughs" definitely deserves a place up there along with other top quality productions from the late silent era.

Good but not great.......2007-05-16

"Man Who Laughs" is good but not great (Metropolis is my standard of greatness). Visually, it's very good, especially the Expressionist -influenced elements. The first act shows enormous promise, but towards the middle it slips into a tired romance melodrama requiring the use of fast forward in a few places. This film (and the novel on which it is based) will be of some interest to fans of Batman because the protagonist is cosmetically similar to the Joker.

Conrad Veidt in a silent masterpiece!!.......2006-07-17

This is one of the true great films of the silent era. Veidt plays a disfigured character with a permant grin on his face. For those of you who this sounds familiar too, this is where they came up with the famous comic book villian the Joker from Batman. This is a great dvd to introduce you to silent films. I often wish I could find an original movie poster or lobby cards for this film. The transfer is great! Watch and enjoy!!

Would have been better with the original ending.......2006-05-05

I know that the world of cinema frowns upon sad endings, but "The Man Who Laughs" with a harmonious happy ending is just plain... blasphemy. The ending in the novel is similar to that of Romeo and Juliet. The Girl dies, and the Boy follows her. They are reunited in Death. Why couldn't a serious European director like Paul Leni stick to the original plot?

John Wayne in Color (Stolen Goods / GOld Strike River / An Innocent Man)

Average customer rating:

This is NOT your Grandma's Colorization
john wayne in color
Like a thief in the night
Reworked Films
Nice set, but.....

John Wayne in Color (Stolen Goods / GOld Strike River / An Innocent Man)
Starring: John Wayne
Manufacturer: Legend
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

The Telegraph Trail / Somewhere in Sonora / The Man from Monterey
The Big Stampede / Ride Him Cowboy / Haunted Gold
The John Wayne Film Collection (Without Reservations / Allegheny Uprising / Tycoon / Reunion in France / Big Jim McLain / Trouble Along the Way)
John Wayne - An American Icon Collection (Seven Sinners/ The Shepherd of the Hills/ Pittsburgh/ The Conqueror/ Jet Pilot)
The Man Behind the Gun / Thunder Over the Plains / Riding Shotgun

ASIN: B000I0RNWK
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Description

John Wayne times three! This classic collection brings together the best of The Duke's "Lone Star" period, each of them beautifully restored and in color for the very first time. Three gun-slingin', action-packed, two-fisted westerns starring that swaggering legend of the silver screen, John Wayne.

Customer Reviews:

This is NOT your Grandma's Colorization.......2007-05-28

I've said this before and I'll say it again: Colorization is NOT evil if it induces someone to watch (or better yet, buy) something they would not otherwise have been inclined to, and more often than not that diversion from their sheltered ways will benefit them -whether artistically, culturally or whatever.

I remember the films in this set when they were released nearly a decade ago on the Nelvana Tech/UAV label as part of The Young Duke Series (you can still find them under the titles The Fugitve and Rodeo Racketeers).
Nelvana Tech was a pioneer at re-cycling and colorizing otherwise un-marketable black and white product and at least breathing some life into them. Once they caught on they also scored a hit with an unfortunately short-lived but pure genius idea of doing the same thing with old science fiction B-movies of the 50's and releasing them to TV (I've never been able to find a DVD of them, but I'm hoping) as Attack of the Killer B's.

It would appear that Legend Films has aquired them and worked their magic on them and again released them under still different titles. Purists will attack the re-editing, colorizing and sound mixing, but even the most dispassionate bystander will have to admit that after 70 years or so, these films were desperately in need of a makeover. I've seen the unaltered versions and they creak badly. The re-edited versions tightened the plot, added some visual interest by way of color and the new soundtracks punched up the dead spots (though the new voice-overs seemed a bit jarring).

I want to repeat again that colorization is NOT a bad thing, particularly if (as Legend does) the original version is also made available. They also go the extra step and include bonus material rather generously.

Legend Films is NOT the old comic book/crayon style colization we all know and hate. The advances in computer and digital technology are literally night-and-day from what they were in the 80's ad in some instances -like in some of the Stooges shorts- it is almost impossible to tell that the films were not originally filmed in color.

No less respected a director that Martin Scorcese himself has not only praised Legend Films for their efforts, but he has used them (most notably in The Aviator) and has championed and supported them.

I welcome and applaud Legend Films for breathing life into old films and regret only that the condition of the public domain prints they use limits them from achieving their full potential.

john wayne in color.......2007-03-08

always a joy to watch the best in the west, never seen a bad one yet.

Like a thief in the night.......2007-01-06

Ok Lets cut the crap, this is just another rerelease of older movies that they think colorizing makes it sale again. This is a walmart 5.50 bin item that has the duke which of course is nice it is in no way worth more than 10 bucks colorized or not.

Blue steel and mclintock are the 2 most rereleased john wayne fans of all time.

here it comes again blue steel. lol i have this one in 5 different sets.

the lucky texan again

sagebrush trail again

the only reason to buy this set is if u don't already own them or are the kind of collector that must have every think john wayne on dvd.

in closing the quality is subpar if you like to see what they can do with older movies check out errol flynns robin hood or the james bond ultimate collections. these are B movies no amount of tricks is gonna change that in interviews duke himself thought these movies weren't the best.

beware this is false advertising and amazon themselves should ad in subtext under the names the real names of these films

Reworked Films.......2006-12-31

The three John Wayne movies in this DVD set are not newly discovered John Wayne films, but rather are a trio of public domain films which Legend has renamed, edited slightly, and added music and sound effects in addition to color. The actual films included in this set are BLUE STEEL, THE LUCKY TEXAN and SAGEBRUSH TRAIL. These discs have special features which are all nearly identical on each disc in the set. The only differences are thet the Featurette will be different.

In all fairness the BW verison of the film have been cleaned up a bit. The color versions are not as good as prior Legends films releases, as an example see any of the Shirley Temple films which have been colorized. I am not a fan of someone altering with someone elses work, especially when it comes to editing and adding music and sound effects. These three films have menacing music playing throughout the films, which very quickly becomes annoying.

Nice set, but............2006-12-21

I have enjoyed a few other colorized films that Legend's Films has released over the last few years. Two that especially stand out are 'My Man Godfrey' and 'Terror By Night'. If you didn't know those two were originally filmed in black and white, you would never know the difference.

Here in lies the problem with this set. Knowing Legend's past record with colorization, when an average job is done on one of their releases, it becomes that much more obvious. To this viewer's eye, it appears that Legend Films has re-done the opening credits and closing title card (which look outstanding, by the way), but have substituted in the previously released colorized versions of these films. The techonlogy used here seems to be the same type used by Ted Turner 20 years ago. The colors are drab and dull...just like how the VHS releases of these Lone Star films were, back in the late 80s.

Now, for the positive parts....This set includes some very good extras (the two skits with Jimmy Durante are especially funny). There is also a new soundtrack laid on top of the original one, that is not intrusive or over-bearing. As a matter of fact, the storm at the beginning of Blue Steel comes crashing out of the speakers.

In summary, I will recommend this set, but if your looking for the normal quality work that Legend Films usually puts into it's product, you'll be somewhat disappointed with these.

Average customer rating:

John Wayne: An Innocent Man
Starring: Hank Bell , Lane Chandler , Earl Dwire , Art Mix , and Hal Price
Director: Armand Schaefer
Manufacturer: Legend
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000NA21U4
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Young & Innocent/The Man Who Knew Too Much

Average customer rating:

Hitch With a Twitch

Young & Innocent/The Man Who Knew Too Much
Starring: Frank Atkinson , Leslie Banks , Edna Best , D.A. Clarke-Smith , and George Curzon
Manufacturer: Whirlwind Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 6305951683
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Customer Reviews:

Hitch With a Twitch.......2006-07-23

Many of Hitchcock's early films share story elements because he used the same writer (Charles Bennett) for the screenplays. So you find "Young and Innocent" sharing the beginning of "Sabotage" by immediately revealing the identity of the villain/murderer, turning both films from mystery/thriller into simple thriller. And it shares with "The 39 Steps" a hero on the run with a reluctant heroine, as they work to clear his name they fall in love.

A woman is found dead on a beach, the police determine that she did not drown but was strangled with the belt of a raincoat. Robert Tisdall (Derrick De Marney) is the prime suspect, in part because he was observed running from the scene and in part because he is known to have owned a similar type of raincoat. Robert's claim that his raincoat was stolen at a lorry station a few days before is not believed and his court appointed barrister does not inspire confidence. So he escapes and with the help of Erica Burgoyne (Nova Pilbeam) dashes about the countryside seeking the elusive raincoat in order to clear his name. As a further complication Erica's father is the chief constable.

Like "The 39 Steps", the story has a lighter tone than most of Hitchcock's thrillers; nicely blending comedy with suspense. It lacks that films interesting technical elements but does feature a nice climatic sequence where a continuous crane shot moves slowly over a crowded dance floor to end inches away from the twitching eyes of the murderer who has not been shown since the opening scene of the film.

The film seems to be hacked up a bit, jumping in and out of scenes at inappropriate times as if a poor job of trimming was done and incompletely restored sometime in the almost 70 years since the original edit. This is disconcerting but not fatal, as the themes of disguise and visual impairment are still quite clear. Robert escapes from the courthouse by donning his defense lawyer's glasses-which impair his vision; Old Will dresses up in a new suit in order to infiltrate the hotel but is too concerned with the police to spot the murderer, the murderer appears in blackface but has trouble seeing because of a nervous tick in his eyelids. Ironically it is the medication he takes for this condition that causes Erika to finally notice him.

Hitchcock's skills in casting and directing actors is rarely mentioned but he had a amazing ability to select an actress at the perfect moment of her career for the performance he needed. Nova Pilbeam was only 18 during the filming but she had considerable experience as a child actress. This allowed her to play a confident and capable heroine, and yet project a charming naïveté. Her resemblance to Kiera Knightley is almost spooky, going beyond simple appearance into speech and mannerisms.

This time the "MacGuffin" is the raincoat and it enables Hitchcock to have a double chase for most of the film, as Robert pursues his raincoat he is being pursued by the police. For those who have never heard this, a "MacGuffin" is Hitchcock's term for a plot device (often used in thrillers) that motivates the characters and advances the story-but has little other relevance to the story itself. Unlike other types of plot devices it is not important what specifically the object is, anything that could serve as a motivator could be used. And from an audience perspective the MacGuffin is not the point of the story. Thus in "Young and Innocent" the hero and heroine pursue the raincoat only to discover than it will not be useful for the purpose they intended. It then goes from central focus to insignificance.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Charlie Rose with author John Grisham (October 13, 2006)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with author John Grisham (October 13, 2006)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Best-selling author John Grisham joins Charlie for a discussion about corruption in the U.S. legal system and his first work of non-fiction, "The Innocent Man."

DVD:

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