Black Caesar

Starring:Fred Williamson, Gloria Hendry, Art Lund, D'Urville Martin, Julius Harris, Minnie Gentry, Philip Roye, William Wellman Jr., James Dixon, Val Avery, Patrick McAllister (II), Don Pedro Colley, Myrna Hansen, Omer Jeffrey, Michael Jeffrey (II), Allan Bailey, Cecil Alonzo, Francisco De Gracia, Larry Lurin, Andrew Duggan
Director: Larry Cohen
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Steven Spielberg, proving he's one of the few modern filmmakers who has the visual fluency to be capable of making a great silent film, took a melodramatic, D.W. Griffith-inspired approach to filming Alice Walker's novel. His tactics made the film controversial, but also a popular hit. You can argue with the appropriateness of Spielberg's decision, but his astonishing facility with images is undeniable--from the exhilarating and eye-popping opening shots of children playing in paradisiacal purple fields to the way he conveys the brutality of a rape by showing hanging leather belts banging against the head of the shaking bed. In a way it's a shame that Whoopi Goldberg, a stage monologist who made her screen debut in this movie, went on to become so famous, because it was, in part, her unfamiliarity that made her understated performance as Celie so effective. (This may be the first and last time that the adjective understated can be applied to Goldberg.) Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including best picture and actress (supporting players Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery were also nominated), it was quite a scandal--and a crushing blow to Spielberg--when it won none. The digital video disc requires flipping to play the whole movie. --Jim Emerson

Product Description

Based on Alice Walkers Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple is the richly textured, decades-spanning story of Celie, an uneducated woman living in the rural American south. Forced to marry a brutal man she calls "Mr.," Celie turns inward and shares her grief only with God. But she is transformed by the friendship of two remarkable women, acquiring self-worth... and the strength to forgive.Starring: Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Rae Dawn ChongDirector: Steven SpielbergProduced by Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Ken; written by Menno Meyjes; Running time of 154 minutes; Closed Captioned. Copyright: 1985, Warner Bros.

System Requirements:
Production Notes, Theatrical Trailer, Cast/Crew Bios, Interactive Menus Video Format: Widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio Enhanced for 16x9 TVs Subtitles: French, Spanish, and English English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround French: Dolby Digital Surround

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

A Gem that the Oscars Missed.......2007-06-25

I am still disappointed that "The Color Purple" did not receive the Oscar in 1986. Not only was the cast OUTSTANDING, but the story hit to the core of so many issues and ills, not only in black america, but in america in general. I have two copies of the movie and still watch it when it comes on television. It is an American classic. I read the book, which has NOTHING on the movie. Steven Spielberg absolutely captured the heart and spirit of issues during a time when women were property and had no voice.

The struggle of Celie to find herself and peace, when she was raped by her "father", had her infant children taken from her, being forced to marry a man who did not want to marry her and then lost her sister because of her adulterous husband's "pride", touches the lives of every woman who has ever loved.

Outstanding performances by Oprah Winfrey, Whoopie Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Adolph Caesar, Akosua Busia and the phenominal Desreta Jackson (young Celie).

GREATEST CHICK FLICK!!!!!.......2007-06-14

This movie always makes me reach for the whole box of tissues from beginning. I love the story line-the book is even better!!!! A MUST HAVE for every woman!!!

Birthday gift.......2007-06-09

It was a mother's day gift for my mother and i thought of it at the last minute...It arrived quickly and was not costly. The package came in excellent condition.

'Sinners get married too, Daddy".......2007-05-23

Sometimes it seems like movies with African American subject matter have such heavy themes that it condemns the audience for it's default association by proxy. In a heterogenous setting that can be unbelievably awkard. This is one of the few movies I've ever seen that represented Afrian Americans with style. Steven Spielberg is a moviemaking prodigy. And yes I believe Whoopi Goldberg should've won the Oscar Award for this role!

Great Cast Of Performers.......2007-05-23

Whoopi Goldberg makes one of the greatest film debuts in history. Her Celie is as fine a work as any first timer in recent memory, and still her best performance to date. Who would have guested the future of Oprah Winfrey, after her wonderful portrayal of Sophia? All around superb cast of actors. And with Margaret Avery's presence, it seems a shame not much more was forthcoming for this gifted actress. Danny Glover's most villainous role. A great effort from Steven Spielberg's ingenius cinematic mind. Adapted from Alice Walker's Pullitzer Prize winning novel, and beautifully transferred to DVD. Received a well deserved 1985 Academy Award nomination for Best Picure.

Average customer rating:

"P": IN YOUR PANTS FROM LAUGHING TIME!!!!!!
Brand new, but not perfect condition
I found The End
Laughed until I cried!
Dying is Funny

The End
Starring: Robby Benson , James Best , Harry Caesar , Janice Carroll , and Dom DeLuise
Director: James Best
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000542CE
Release Date: 2001-02-06

Amazon.com

Burt Reynolds directed and stars in this dark comedy, which suffers from diminishing returns the longer it goes on. He plays a fellow who discovers that he has a terminal illness and wants to spare himself and everyone he knows the seemingly unavoidable end of a painful malady. So he decides to kill himself. But he proves surprisingly inept at it and after several tries winds up in a mental hospital, where he meets a cheerfully homicidal inmate (Dom DeLuise). The suicide stuff was handled more imaginatively and with greater flair in Harold and Maude; the film has very few real jokes and only comes to life twice: when Burt tries to confess to an easily impressed young priest (Robby Benson) and when the lunatic DeLuise is onscreen. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

"P": IN YOUR PANTS FROM LAUGHING TIME!!!!!!.......2007-06-08

This IS one THE classics along with "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing Saddles," "Texas Across the River," and ALL of the hilarious older movies.

When you're feeling down, pop this in your DVD player or VHS player and brighten up your mood.

Brand new, but not perfect condition.......2007-06-02

Brand new, but some of the movie was blurry and not clear

I found The End.......2007-02-07

I was looking for this video for a while. Amazon had it in stock and I was ecstatic to add it to my collection. Burt Reynolds and Dom Deluise are absolutely hilarious.

Laughed until I cried!.......2007-01-04

Putting these actors together is a sure mix for total insanity! You will need a box of kleenex though, cause you'll laugh until you cry!

Dying is Funny.......2006-07-13

I think this is one of Reynold's top three films. It is an hysterical movie about someone who is dying. There are numerous lines from this film that have become part of my vocabulary. Dom DeLuise jumps off the top of a building, doesn't die and says "you were right, it's not high enough". Even the music by Paul Williams is good. I don't know why this film doesn't get more word of mouth, it rates with Mel Brooks for laughs per minute. Do yourself a favor and watch it and you will want to own it.

Average customer rating:

Tommy Gibbs Is One Bad Mobster
It's Okay but nothing special
A tough, gritty blaxploitation classic not to be missed
Good
Blaxploitation.....A Perfect 10

Black Caesar
Starring: Fred Williamson , Gloria Hendry , Art Lund , D'Urville Martin , and Julius Harris
Director: Larry Cohen
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000053VB6
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Amazon.com

Shot on the streets of New York, writer-director Larry Cohen captures the bustle and color of the city in this violent, low-budget crime film. Ambitious Tommy Gibbs (a swaggering, self-confident Fred Williamson) has risen from shoeshine boy to Harlem crime lord, but he wants a bigger piece of the pot. With a racist, high-ranking cop (Art Lund) in his pocket, he begins his expansion with a bloody takeover bid but finds himself betrayed from within and the target of both the cops and the mob. Cohen invests this fast-paced tale (partially inspired by the 1930 gangster classic Little Caesar with a touch of Scarface) with colorful characters (notably a hustling religious leader played by D'Urville Martin), high energy, and a scruffy style. Black Caesar is one of the most entertaining movies to come from the 1970s explosion of low-budget black cast genre pictures, more commonly known as "blaxploitation" films. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Fred Williamson is "imposing, tough and unflappable" (The New York Times) as a street kid who muscles his way into the big-time mob racket in this super-slick crime drama that became the smashhit of its genre and spawned a successful sequel (Hell Up In Harlem). Tommy Gibbs (Williamson) has always had it tough. Growing up on the streets without a father and trying to make his mother proud, Tommy resorts to running "errands" for The Man. But when a crooked cop beats him up, Tommy realizes there's a better way to live: by making The Man deliver for him! Infiltratingandthen destroyingthe infamous Cardoza family, Tommy takes over Manhattan as the first black Godfather and puts the squeeze on anyone who dares to get in his wayincluding the crooked cop! But as he tightens his grip on others, he loses his hold on the most important things in his own life, making him the vulnerable target of every cutthroat gangster who ever dreamt of ruling an empire!

Customer Reviews:

Tommy Gibbs Is One Bad Mobster.......2007-04-11

Taking its cues from a pair of classic mobster movies - Little Caesar (1930) and Scarface: The Shame of the Nation (1932) - Black Caesar aptly shows the blur between organized crime and crime fighting, with the impact reverberating through society.

Fred "The Hammer" Williamson magnificently portrays Tommy Gibbs, who - as a child - is facing straight down life's dead end street in a cold, uncaring city after being crippled by a racist cop; that is until he channels his ambition into the hustle for survival.

Tommy - who is equal parts gangster & Robin Hood - claws his way to the top of crime world, but the rules of the game never stay the same and betrayal by mobsters & cops is always right around the corner. The movie does a good job in depicting Tommy's complex character and who ultimately should carry the tag as "criminals."

The outstanding soundtrack is composed by James Brown & Fred Wesley, with Lyn Collins deliver a tour-de-force lead vocal in Mama Feelgood.

Black Caesar was released in February 1973 and its sequel, Hell Up in Harlem, debuting 10 months later. In 1974, Williamson - a former AFL star - was briefly part of the Monday Night Football broadcast team.

Willamson's nickname "The Hammer" came from the forearm shots he gave opposing players on the pro gridiron. Black Caesar finds Williamson tackling the lead role with a zeal that has made Tommy Gibbs eponymous with Celluloid gangsters.

It's Okay but nothing special .......2007-03-13

After about two viewings of Black Caesar I am rather disappointed with the results. The movie in hearled by many on amazon and by critics as being one of the better so-called blaxpoltation movies. Despite all the recommendations, I was not overly impressed by Black Caesar.

The movie does have many important chracters,elements,and plot but what makes the movie suffer is the bad acting of Fred Williamson. Williamson's preformance is much too wooden and flat to bring interest into a figure like Tommy Gibbs. Williamson is not alone either with most of his supporting cast providing little substance. The notable exception is the racist Irish cop played by Art Lund.

The script was written by a white[I am guessing Jewish] Larry Cohen and it definately shows. The dialogue is flat,boring,and unrealistic for the 50's Harlem setting. The script also is severly flawed by the same instances.

Black Caesar,while not being an awful film, has very little entertainment value. Many films actually are worse than Black Caesar but have a great amount of entertainment value. Black Caesar aspires to be a serious gangster film but falls from glory. Quite disappointing considering the freshness of the story. The story of a ghetto kid rising up in the mafia underworld would be compelling even in modern cinema.
For many that might not know the movie is supposed to be loosely based upon real life black gangsters named Nikki Barnes and Frank Matthews. Ironically, Frank Matthews was a gangster from the 60's-70's that ran most of the ghettoes in NYC including Harlem.

A tough, gritty blaxploitation classic not to be missed.......2005-06-05

Black Caesar (1973) is one heck of a good movie. I hate the term blaxploitation that is used to describe movies of this genre because it implies that these sorts of films are somehow second-class entries in the world of cinema. Black Caesar is a first-class ride from start to finish, taking as much from classic gangster films of the 1930s and 1940s as it does from earlier blaxploitation films such as Shaft. Larry Cohen gave us a tough, mean, dirty, gritty film that tells it and shows it like it is: plenty of cursing, gunplay, blood, profanity, nudity, and racism. I have heard that the starring role was originally written for Sammy Davis, Jr. Nobody loved Sammy more than I do, but there's just no way he could have done the things that Tommy Gibbs does effectively. A lot of people deride the acting skills of Fred Williamson, which makes no sense to me; the man is just fantastic in this film.

Tommy (Williamson) grew up on the streets of Harlem, where the living was hard. When a corrupt, racist cop smashed up his leg at a pay-off exchange gone wrong, young Tommy's future was set. Eight years in prison taught him everything he needed to know to pull off his master plan of becoming the man who runs Harlem. Just after he limps back into town, he scores a mafia hit in broad daylight and uses that audacious act to nose his way into the local Family. Back then, the Mafia didn't make a habit of embracing blacks, no matter how useful they could be. All Tommy asks for is a block in Harlem to call his own; he gets it, and a new reign of terror begins as Tommy and his associates begin cleaning house. At first, they talk about helping the blacks in the community at the same time, but this whole thing is really just about the money and the power. Ironically, Tommy finds himself working with the same slimy cop who broke his leg as a youth, but he's got the guy by the short hairs thanks to his acquisition of certain evidence against him.

As you might expect, a couple of blocks in Harlem is just the beginning for Tommy. He quickly expands his operation and puts the screws to the Italians running the show in New York. He becomes, for all intents and purposes, "the man" and gains control of all of Harlem. All the power and money can't make him happy, however; no one seems to appreciate the things Tommy can give them, especially his mother and his wife. As things start unraveling in his personal life, he is set up for a fall - and his Italian "friends" are ready and willing to take him down. The final half hour of the movie is nothing short of intense, as Tommy tries to deal with betrayal and simply stay alive. His final encounter with the racist cop who has tormented him for so many years makes cinematic history, as far as I'm concerned.

The music makes this fantastic film even better, as the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, supplies the funky soundtrack. Songs such as Down and Out in New York City and Mama's Dead sharply define pivotal moments and make sure the film always fires on all cylinders. It's hard to believe Black Caesar was filmed in only 18 days, especially given some of the elaborate chase scenes taking place on New York streets. This is a masterpiece of a low-budget film. Maybe a couple of the sociological aspects of the film don't play as effectively as they did back in 1973, but Black Caesar has really lost nothing of its raw power and intensity over the years.

Good.......2004-12-29

i havent seen this movie in a while, but I know it was good.Ill redo this when i watch it again.

Blaxploitation.....A Perfect 10.......2003-10-21

This is by far the best in the genre.....raw and rugged....a perfect 10....should not be missed if your a fan of blaxploitation flicks.....enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Little Caesar
First of the founding trio of gangster films
"If he's looking for trouble, why, that's what we got the most of."
Edward G Robinson's gangster prototype
Interesting early gangster film

Little Caesar
Starring: Edward G. Robinson , Douglas Fairbanks Jr. , Glenda Farrell , William Collier Jr. , and Sidney Blackmer
Director: Mervyn LeRoy , Elmer Clifton , and Rudolf Ising
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006HBLUK
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Customer Reviews:

Little Caesar.......2007-06-20

Along with the original "Scarface," released by Howard Hughes one year later, LeRoy's "Little Caesar" summoned up the real-life exploits of Al Capone, who in the prior decade had virtually controlled Chicago through fear, violence, and huge illicit profits from bootlegging and vice operations. Actor Robinson, a refined soul in real life who'd considered becoming a rabbi, actually resembles Capone, but projects a menace all his own. This makes "Little Caesar"--a landmark gangster film that made Robinson a star--still bone-chilling 75 years after its release.

First of the founding trio of gangster films.......2007-05-04

"Little Caesar" was the first of the three movies that founded the gangster film as an art form during the age of sound. The other two were "The Public Enemy", released three months after Little Caesar, and 1932's "Scarface". The movie itself may only rate four stars, but it is Edward G. Robinson's performance that rates five stars.

The film starts out with a distance shot of a gas station robbery in which the attendant is gunned down. You see the lights in the station go out, you hear the shots, you see the getaway car speed away. You can guess the rest. Such a scene would have not been nearly as powerful before the advent of sound and helps establish the ruthless nature of Rico. Later, Rico (Edward G. Robinson) and his partner Joe Massara (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) are talking in a diner. Rico has designs on heading to the big city and getting in with a gang there. His partner is only interested in this life from the financial security angle, since he actually wants to go straight. Rico, though, believes in the gangster's version of the American dream and wants to climb to the top of the gangland power structure.

Although "the big city" is never named, it seems to be Chicago from the various neighborhoods mentioned. Once there, Rico joins up with Sam Vettori's gang. Joe, however, is more interested in being an exhibition dancer at a local night spot, although he "moonlights" as a gangster just for the extra money and perhaps out of the habit of doing Rico's bidding. At first Rico seems content to take orders from Sam, but he is just biding his time. Once he realizes that Sam is weak he takes over his gang. Rico quickly climbs through the ranks until he is at the top of the criminal heap. Rico is interested only in power and status. To Rico, the money is important mainly as a symbol of this status. Rico has only one "soft spot" - his fondness for Joe. When he can't bring himself to shoot Joe to keep him from talking, Rico finds himself on the run and his fall is precipitous. His violent end comes when his overblown pride won't allow him to leave a local police chief's bragging to the newspapers about Rico's downfall to go unanswered. Ironically, and somewhat too coincidental to be believable, Rico is gunned down behind a sign advertising one of Joe's upcoming performances.

Strangely enough, there isn't even that much direct violence in this film and absolutely no mention of prohibition. "Little Caesar" would probably not be so well remembered if it was not for Edward G. Robinson's star-making performance. Dialogue had not yet reached a very sophisticated level at this point in talking pictures, yet Robinson artfully portrays a ruthless gangster for which power and status are everything through his gestures and expressions.

Richard Jewell, who does the commentary on this film, does an excellent job of analyzing both the film itself and Robinson's performance inside and out. Also, there is a classic short, a newsreel, and a cartoon along with some other extras that I've come to expect from Warner's superb DVD renditions of their classic movies.

"If he's looking for trouble, why, that's what we got the most of.".......2006-07-26

I really enjoy them old timey gangster films, and while Little Caesar (1931) isn't one of my absolute favorites (I've always been partial to the James Cagney features), it's still a damn good picture and worthy of the attention it has gotten over the years. Based on a novel by W.R. Burnett and directed by Mervyn LeRoy (I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Little Women, No Time for Sergeants), the film stars Edward G. Robinson, `the best actor never to win an Oscar', at least while alive (Bullets or Ballots, Scarlet Street, Key Largo) in one of his earliest `talkie' features. Also appearing is Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (The Prisoner of Zenda, Gunga Din), Stanley Fields (Destry Rides Again, Island of Lost Souls), Thomas E. Jackson (The Woman in the Window), Glenda Farrell (Gold Diggers of 1937), George E. Stone (Some Like It Hot), Maurice Black (The Front Page), Ralph Ince (The Sea Wolf), and Sidney Blackmer (Rosemary's Baby).

As the film begins we see a couple of small time mugs knocking over a filling station, eventually winding up at a diner where we meet them proper...there's Caesar Enrico Bandello (Robinson), also known as Rico, and Joe Massara (Fairbanks Jr.). Tired of small timing it, Rico decides they should head east to Chicago, as that's where the action is, ultimately joining up with a gang lead by a local hood named Sam Vettori (Fields). While Rico's got his eyes on the prize (moving onward and upward), Joe seeks to extricate himself from the life by taking a gig as a dancer at a club named The Bronze Peacock. Vettori gets word from his boss Diamond Pete Montana (Ince) to cool it on the rough stuff as the new crime commissioner is cracking down hard. Vettori and his boys, being criminals and such, can't sit still for long and end up knocking over The Bronze Peacock (using a reluctant Joe as the inside man), which leads to power struggle and Rico taking charge. After tying up some loose ends, Rico's notoriety grows, drawing the attention of not only his peers, but also law enforcement officials (one in particular name Flaherty, played by Jackson). A failed attempt on Rico's life leads to him horning in on even more territory, so much so he's given rule over the entire North Side by Big Boy (Blackmer) himself (seriously, there's a character named `Big Boy' in this film), but is that enough? Nah...why settle for the frosting when you can take the cake? Eventually Rico's meteoric rise to power reaches its apex, leading to his inevitable downfall, triggered by a past event and an old loyalty.

If you're not familiar with old timey gangster films then some of the lingo used within this film may sound strange upon hearing it, so I'm going to provide some definitions, as best I can, to help you along...

Gat - A term used extensively throughout this film, it refers to a gun, most generally the hand held variety.
Rod - Another term used within the film, it, too, refers to a handgun.
(just a note, some other terms used within the genre, but not here, are heater, popper, cannon, piece, persuader, peashooter, thirty-eight - this refers to the caliber of the gun, ordinance, artillery, and so on)
Chopper - A machine gun, sometimes referred to as a `tommy' gun, derived from its full name of Thompson submachine gun.
Bird - I've always thought this a term for a woman, but gangsters will use it in reference to each other, most common when a boss is talking to a group of henchmen...here's an example, "You birds need to lie low for awhile, until the heat dies down."
Heat - When gangster talk about heat, most likely they're referring to increased pressure in general from the authorities that might be cracking down on criminal activity. Generally this term is used after a big score or a hit.
Score - A robbery.
Hit - An assassination.
Mug - A term sometimes used to reference associates, or just people in general..."You mugs really rub me the wrong way."
Moll - Girlfriend of a gangster.
Torpedo - A professional thug or assassin.
Yellow - This is what you call someone if you really want to disrespect them as it's the same as calling them a lowly, gutless, sniveling coward..."Yer as yellow as the day is long!" Gangsters really seem to take offence to this so use it with care.

I really enjoyed this film and while it's not my favorite gangster feature, it's definitely a classic. There's no mistaking Edward G. Robinson owns this picture, as the ruthless, swaggering, self-made, contemptuous, opportunistic lead character never content with his lot in life...the more he gets, the more he wants, so much so he eschews anything (alcohol, women, personal relationships) that might get in the way (ultimately one, or more, of these three contribute to his inevitable downfall). My favorite scene happens right after Rico and his cohorts hold up the nightclub. Robinson's character, who's just plugged a mug, jumps in an awaiting getaway car and tells the driver to floor it. The driver, being a real nervous Nellie, has trouble with the manual transmission, and gets a wallop upside the head so hard from Rico I felt it from my chair. The other performers do well (I particularly liked the sardonic, low-key character of Sergeant Flaherty), providing support for Robinson. One bit I thought odd was the amount of attention given to the character of Tony Passa, who ended up being a weak link in Rico's gang (guess what happens to him). There's a scene with him and his mother I thought unnecessary as she talks about what a wonderful boy he was, just before Rico catches up to him. All in all I thought the story tight, the pacing even and strong, the direction capable, all making for an entertaining and enjoyable experience.

The picture on this Warner Brothers DVD release, presented in fullscreen (1.33:1), looks decent for a film that's seventy plus years old. There is some unevenness in the quality at times, but I think it's unrealistic to expect a pristine transfer given the age of the original elements. The audio, presented in Dolby Digital stereo, comes through well. As far as extras, there's bit called Leonard Maltin's Night at the Movies, which includes an introduction by Maltin, a trailer for a film called Five Star Final (1931), a newsreel of the day, a short feature called The Hard Guy (1930), starring Spencer Tracy, a cartoon titled Lady, Play your Mandolin (1931), and a trailer for Little Caesar. Also included is a featurette titled Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero (17:05), a 1954 re-release introduction (0:42), a commentary track with film historian Richard B. Jewell, and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. One really minor, yet thoughtful, touch I liked was on the main menu...there's a picture of Edward G. Robinson in character, brandishing a gun, with wisps of smoke coming out of the barrel. It's barely noticeable, but it's there...

Cookieman108

Edward G Robinson's gangster prototype.......2006-07-24

Just as James Cagney broke through to stardom in 1931 as "The Public Enemy", so Edward G Robinson did the same in 1930 with "Little Caesar". These are the 2 gangster films which really established the genre and typecast their leads for the rest of their careers. Both actors worked hard to break the typecasting and in Robinson's case, he was a very talented actor of great range and probably the greatest actor never to have received an Oscar for best actor. For those who don't know his work, I recommend "Scarlet Street" and "Double Indemnity" for starters.

Robinson dominates "Little Caesar" even more than Cagney did his vehicle but mainly because the rest of the film is so mediocre. The plot, based on the life of Al Capone, concerns the rapid rise and fall of braggard Little Rico. Robinson snarls out his lines and completely overwhelms the rest of the cast. The narrative is unconvincing and there is little justification or logic to Rico's progress except his arrogance. No wonder crime seemed attractive. This is probably due to hack director Mervyn Le Roy who brings none of the flair to the film which William A Wellman did to "The Public Enemy". The photography is static, the dialogue stilted and most of the supporting actors poor. This is very obviously an early talkie with all the limitations that implies. Douglas Fairbanks Jr plays Rico's friend and he is dismal. The ending is justly famous, the best moment in the film.

The DVD print is variable; at times crystal clear then suddenly grainy with a white vertical line down the screen. All the usual Warner's extras are included. The short documentary about the film is much easier to take than the nasal drawl of the commentator to be heard while viewing the film. Pity too because the commentator knows his stuff and, with reference to the original script, provides interesting insight into the censorship of the time. He also paces his commentary so that you can watch the film as he speaks and this is far superior to others who do not draw breathe. Both the cartoon and the newsreel seem from a different age like the film and the short features a very young Spencer Tracy. Leonard Maltin's introduction to the "Warners Night at the Movies", in fact, is the best feature of all. His introductions sum each feature up accurately and concisely - a good example that sometimes less is best. Maltin has a relaxed and warm style and comes over very well!

The DVD can be purchased alone or as part of the great value Warner's Gangster Collection. It is probably the dud of the set for while it is historically important, the antique filming techniques make it almost unwatchable today, except, of course, for Robinson.

Interesting early gangster film.......2006-06-24

I watched this because I am studying classic film. I am not into gangster pictures, really. But since discovering James Cagney not long ago, I do find some of them enjoyable. James Cagney gangster films are interesting because he had such an exuberant personality...he is just such fun to watch! I found I didn't much care about Edward G. Robinson's character in Little Caesar; he wasn't a likeable person at all. In the end, you feel he gets what he justly deserves, whereas in The Roaring Twenties, you tend to feel sorry for Cagney's character not being a "big shot" anymore, which is very weird, for is it not odd to feel sorry for a gangster?

I thought this was filmed well for an early sound film...not static and "stagey" as many films in this time period are. Yes, at times one can see the acting is a bit overdone and dramatic; lines aren't always delivered as well as they could have been, but overall I thought this film was quite good. It took two watchings to get the full plot...I was very tired the first night and also some films aren't as clear as to what is going on. I did "get it" the second night. The things that stood out to me were other actors. The police detective Flaherty, well as soon as he spoke, I knew I had heard his voice somewhere before. So I closed my eyes and listened, and yes, he was the frustrated, overworked newspaper editor in Nancy Drew, Reporter. Also, Ma Magdalena, I recongized her as one of the old hag peasants in A Tale of Two Cities, by looks, and also on hearing her voice I instantly thought, "she is the voice of the wicked queen in Disney's Snow White", and I was right. And Otero, I remember from 42nd Street. Glend Farrell as Olga I agree was miscast...she didn't seem the right sort of woman that I would believe a guy like Joe to fall in love with...a bit too hard on the edges, not quite feminine and pretty enough. It was fun to see Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in another film too (also saw him in Prisoner of Zenda).

I have read lots of comments about Little Caesar not being a normal man...well, I think people tend to read into some things way too much with that sort of thing and many other things in pre code films. I think Little Caesar was just a power hungry guy and didn't have time for "dames" in his life. He seemed to like jewelry a lot, and to be dressed up and have his hair combed just right, but that doesn't mean you are not a normal man. I think Otero was just "one of the guys" he could trust most, and was his close friend now that Joe had gone off dancing with Olga, and nothing more. I agree the scene of Little Caesar and Otero sitting on the bed and talking together was a bit different; can't say if I have seen it in a classic film before. But I don't read into it that it meant more than just them talking, and the bed was the handy place to be since there wasn't much other furniture in the room.

Overall, I would say the quality of the film was pretty good for its age. It was interesting to watch, but I have seen other gangster films I like better. The extras were interesting; that cartoon with the obvious Mickey Mouse copy "cat" was boring and dumb. The short with Spencer Tracy was a bit over dramatic, but fun to see him so young! My 8 yr. old son right away caught on what Spencer really did with the gun when he goes out! I really was understanding it all like his wife as she listened to the policemen outside her window! I didn't have a chance to listen to the full commentary, but the short documentary was interesting enough. This is worth a watch if you are studying classic film; but for enjoyment, I would recommend most any Cagney gangster film over this one.

Average customer rating:

Best Ariport Film
Info on the VHS version
THE SECOND OF 4 IN THE GREAT AIRPORT MOVIE COLLECTION
Breathtaking shots of a Jumbo Jet, just yards above the peaks of the Rocky Mountains...
"There's no one left to fly the plane".

Airport 1975
Starring: Charlton Heston , Karen Black , George Kennedy , Gloria Swanson , and Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Director: Jack Smight
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Airport (Widescreen Edition)
Airport '77
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ASIN: 6304843267
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Customer Reviews:

Best Ariport Film .......2007-06-08

Somepeople say airport '77 was beter then airport '75 but airport '75 has beter acting beter sotry and the whole story and movie was the BEST. If you are planing on seeing airport '77 it's fine as it self but i'd see airport '75 if i were you. Both are fine but '75 is beter by a lot.

Info on the VHS version.......2007-05-16

You might want to know that the out of print VHS (I happen to own one) is recorded at LP speed instead of SP. It has a mono soundtrack & is not recorded in VHS HiFi. Also it's pan & scan instead of widescreen like the DVD. You want widescreen? Then go get the DVD. Otherwise save a few bucks (if you have a VHS machine or a DVD/VHS combo) and get the tape.

The movie is still very enjoyable even in this version....

THE SECOND OF 4 IN THE GREAT AIRPORT MOVIE COLLECTION.......2007-01-30

This was the second of four Airport movies and it was as good as the
first one. Charlton Heston plays the role of Alan Murdock, Karen Black
plays the role of Nancy Pryor and George Kennedy plays his second
straight role Joe Patroni. Nancy Pryor has A disagreement with Alan
Murdock before she boards Columbia Airlines, flight 409, a Boeing 747
flying from Washington to Los Angeles. On this same flight is Joe
Patroni wife and son. While in flight the plane is hit head on by a
small, plane that goes down some where over the state of Iowa. Injured
on the plane is the pilot and co pilot and there's no one to fly the
plane. Now the first flight attendant Nancy Pryor is forced into flying
the plane with the help of Captain Murdock and Joe Patroni. Now Joe
Patroni is left with only one problem and that's who's going to land
the plane in Salt Lake City.

Breathtaking shots of a Jumbo Jet, just yards above the peaks of the Rocky Mountains..........2006-12-17

Stricken with a massive heart attack on his private light aircraft, Dana Andrews collides into the nose of an unsuspecting 747 jumbo jet, alternated, for bad weather, to land in Salt Lake City...

Impact puts a gaping hole in the cockpit of the heavy jet... The co-pilot (Roy Thinnes) is sucked from his seat and goes flying into the wild blue space, the navigator (Erik Estrada) is killed by a falling instrument panel, the pilot (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) is blinded, unable to speak clearly and with continuity, and he cannot fly the aircraft...

Nancy (Karen Black), the flight attendant, scared but cool, has to maneuver the jumbo to safety...

On the ground everyone has been alerted... Joe Patroni (George Kennedy) and Alan Murdock (Charlton Heston), decide to meet the jetliner, with 120 passengers, for a daring midair rescue...

Among the passengers: a famous movie star Gloria Swanson; a lovely teen-ager awaiting kidney transplant (Linda Blair); the wife and son of the airport operations chief (Susan Clark and Brian Morrison); two nuns (Martha Scott and Helen Reddy); plus a needlepoint woman; an hostile man; a dowager with dog; a Rock star and two Rock singers...

"Airport 1975" marks the 4th happy co-starring of Heston with Martha Scott... They were together on Broadway, and she played his mother in both "The Ten Commandments," and "Ben-Hur."

For all the lovers of disaster films, this old-fashioned "Grand Hotel" of a movie does offer excitement, suspense and breathtaking shots of a Jet death-defying flight, just yards above the peaks of the Rocky Mountains...

"There's no one left to fly the plane"........2006-04-18

Sequel to the first film, AIRPORT (1970), with George Kennedy returning as "Joe Patroni" in this second story.
I will not reveal the disaster in this film so the first-time viewer can be surprised.
Charlton Heston plays "Alan Murdock".

The Pilots: Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Ray Thinnes, Erik Estrada.

The Stewardesses: Karen Black, Christopher Norris, Laurette Spang, Irene Tsu.

The Passengers: Gloria Swanson, Helen Reddy, Martha Scott, Norman Fell, Jerry Stiller, Conrad Janis, Myrna Loy, Susan Clark, Brain Morrison, Alice Nunn, Sid Caesar, Charles White, Linda Blair, Nancy Olson. Football players: Jim Plunkett, Gene Washington.

Also in the film: Terry Lister, Dana Andrews, Bob Hastings, Beverly Garland, Kip Niven, Larry Storch, Ed Nelson.
Alan Fudge is "Danton"--the controller intructing "Nancy".

Famous line: "There's no one left to fly the plane!".--said by Karen Black.

Nicest line: "Every morning is beautiful. You're just too young to know".--said by Gloria Swanson.

DVD released by Goodtimes in 2001 is in wide-screen and a bonus is production notes. Subtitle options: English, French, Spanish.

The airline movie that Sid Caesar and Myrna Loy are watching is American Graffiti (1973).

This was Gloria Swanson's first film in 22 years and she looked beautiful at the age of 75. Also on this plane is Nancy Olson. They were in Sunset Blvd. (1950). Gloria Swanson was really working on the book "Swanson on Swanson: Autobiography (1980) at the time.

Followed by Airport '77 (1977)
The Concorde...Airport '79 (1979).

Average customer rating:

The Color Purple
Starring: Margaret Avery , Susan Beaubian , Drew Bundi Brown , Akosua Busia , and Adolph Caesar
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000P0J092
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Description

Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple is a richly-textured, powerful film set in America's rural south. Whoopi Goldberg, winner of the Best Actress Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination, makes a triumphant screen debut as the radiant, indomitable Celie, the story's central character. Her impressive portrayal is complimented by a distinguished cast that includes Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, Adolph Caesar, Rae Dawn Chong and Akosua Busia. The Color Purple marks a new, more mature color in Spielberg's artistic palette. It is an exquisitely crafted, landmark film that will be treasured and talked about for years to come.

Average customer rating:

"The young and the bloody useless."
Aussie Movie at its best!!!!!
Brilliant perception of the Australian suburbia........
Idiot Box is Top-notch Aussie entertainment!

Idiot Box
Starring: Ben Mendelsohn , Jeremy Sims , John Polson , Graeme Blundell , and Deborah Kennedy
Director: David Caesar
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JA9L
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Description

Gritty and hard-hitting, Idiot Box follows 2 unemployed friends who spend their days drinking beer and wathcing violent shows on TV. Kev's hobby is being angry while Mike is the more romantic fo the two, writing poems about being unemployed. Looking for some excitement and finally fed up with being broke, they decide to rob a bank. As the day draws closer, Kev begins to spiral out of control hurtling them towrds a dramatic and tragic conclusion.

Customer Reviews:

"The young and the bloody useless.".......2005-08-27

In the Australian crime film, "Idiot Box" two young, unemployed Australian men spend their days watching television and playing video games. Mick (Jeremy Sims), is--all things being relative--the more "sensitive" of the two. He writes rotten poetry, and lives with his brother. Kev (Ben Mendelsohn) the more self-destructive, explosive, and domineering of the two lives with his thoroughly fed-up mother. Life for Kev and Mick is a speculative thing--something they rail against, and pontificate about--but it's done from the luxury of a couch with occasional drunken forays into the neighbourhood.

One day, inspired by the dual influences of boredom and television, Mick and Kev begin a conversation about why bank robberies always go wrong. From this springboard, Kev and Mick decide it would be a great idea for them to rob a bank, and so the plan begins. The lads are hampered by a lack of a getaway vehicle (they only have bicycles), and no guns. The fact that they watch far too much television doesn't help either.

Watching Mick and Kev "practice" the robbery is tragic-comic--comic because they are so ridiculous, and tragic because they have no clue how out of touch with reality they've become. During the film, they cross paths with a shady gun dealer, and a big unsocial Rottweiler. The film also includes a sub-plot about a real banker robber and his heroin-addicted wife. "Idiot Box" is primarily a dark tale of despair, and exactly how funny the viewer finds the plot, depends on how much humour is seen in wasted lives, bitter ironies, and savage truths. The film is fast-paced (not an easy feat when the main characters suffer from terminal ennui), and the film's looks match the plot most effectively--displacedhuman

Aussie Movie at its best!!!!!.......2002-08-13

Kev and Mick are 2 natural born losers that decide that it would be easy to rob a bank. Kev is an accident waiting to happen, angry, and unemployed, gets the guns. Mick is slack, cynical, and most of all unemployed, masterminds the plan! The reason for robbing the bank - FUN!!!

Starring Ben Mendelsohn and Jeremy Sims, this Australian movie is hilarious. The hijinks these two idiots get up to will have you rolling on the floor. There is a lot of offensive language though, but this does help the reality and humour of the movie. The cinematography of the suburbs of Sydney is fantastic. The Aussie hard metal soundtrack is awesome as well. Recommended to all who want a different kind of movie.

Brilliant perception of the Australian suburbia...............2000-04-18

I loved this film so much.It's got such strong performance's, it unfortunately started to remind me of most of my own mates.Ben Mendelson doesnt get the attention deserved of him and this film is his showcase along with the equally brilliant Metal Skin. The imagery and cinematography is quite stunning of terrible Sydney suburb backdrops and development, and the environment surounding the two hapless characters seems to enhance the desperation of their situation.Their interaction's with other people prove's compelling viewing,from the garage drug dealer to one's deluded wife.Theres a particuliar scene I will never forget,and still makes me laugh out loud every time. While some factors and scenes can be disturbing in this film,it never the less add's to the spiralling effect of the guy's assumption's of life.

Overall 8.5/10 for this particuliar masterpiece.

Idiot Box is Top-notch Aussie entertainment!.......2000-03-16

In Australia, this movie has been on video for years and it's always been a classic in my eyes. It has a brilliant cast, a truly honest screenplay and stylish direction. It is also a great spin on the bank robbery genre. (as is another great Australian movie "Two Hands")

Average customer rating:

Tommy Gibbs Is One Bad Mobster
It's Okay but nothing special
A tough, gritty blaxploitation classic not to be missed
Good
Blaxploitation.....A Perfect 10

Black Caesar [Region 2]
Starring: Fred Williamson , Gloria Hendry , Art Lund , D'Urville Martin , and Julius Harris
Director: Larry Cohen
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00009MGKI

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Tommy Gibbs Is One Bad Mobster.......2007-04-11

It's Okay but nothing special .......2007-03-13

A tough, gritty blaxploitation classic not to be missed.......2005-06-05

Good.......2004-12-29

i havent seen this movie in a while, but I know it was good.Ill redo this when i watch it again.

Blaxploitation.....A Perfect 10.......2003-10-21

This is by far the best in the genre.....raw and rugged....a perfect 10....should not be missed if your a fan of blaxploitation flicks.....enjoy!

Murda By Numbers II Kill Willy the Movie

Average customer rating:

Murda By Numbers II Kill Willy the Movie
Starring: Oschino of State Property, R Kelly and Bernard Hopkins Mally Manson
Director: Doc Smitty
Manufacturer: Notable Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000AQOH3U

Product Description

Introducing General the Street Banker in a Philadelphia underground Hip Hop drama from Groove Boy Productions based on the autobiography by Jarrod "General" Whitaker. This Doc Smitty Flick features General & Mally Manson as rivals on the streets of Philly. General is on the verge of becoming one of Hip Hop's rising stars. Unsigned and still hungry for the fame, General and his partner Smitty hustle their way into the game to find themselves in a street beef with the Manson family which will escalte to a street war. Black Costa Notra is the family name that General & Smitty's team goes by, and they will have to make a choice between an opportunity in the lime light or power of the streets. Includes two music videos

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Bluegrass Music Roots

Truth Or Consequences N.M.

Awake and Sing! (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Mark of Zorro/Don Q. Son of Zorro

Nowhere Man