The High Crusade

Starring:Werner Baum, Tahareh Becker, Patrick Brymer, Debbie Lee Carrington, Ray Cokes, Michael Des Barres, Frank Kanakusen, Bobby Knoesel, Tim Luna, Holger NeuhÃ¤user, Jochen Nickel, Rick Overton, Catherine Punch, John Rhys-Davies, Jophi Ries, Fabian RÃ¶sler, Hans SchÃ¶del, Klaus Stiglmeier, Rinaldo Talamonti
Director: Holger NeuhÃ¤user
Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Set in the expanse of the Sudan desert in the midst of holy war, Khartoum (1966) plays like an attempt to work the Lawrence of Arabia magic on the (mostly) true story of eccentric British general Charles "Chinese" Gordon in 1884 North Africa. The magnificent opening desert battle suggests David Lean's epic sweep, at least until the film settles into a more modest story of political games, military standoffs, and a battle of wits and wiles between two fierce leaders. Charlton Heston plays the wily Christian soldier as cocky, unconventional maverick, and Laurence Olivier (behind heavy make-up and a thick black beard) is almost as good as his cagey nemesis the Mahdi, the Islamic holy warrior on a mission of annihilation. More talk than spectacle, the film falls short of Lawrence but is nonetheless a compelling story of colonial politics, cynical maneuvering, and the unconventional heroics of another colorful British maverick abroad. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Academy AwardÂ(r) winners* Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier face off in this epic, stirring drama of two men and two empires. Filmed in glorious CineramaÂ(r), with stunning desertbattles staged by the creator of the Ben-Hur chariot race, Khartoum is a "magnificently staged action spectacle [with] outstanding portrayals" (Boxoffice) and breathtaking cinematography. In 1883, British Prime Minister Gladstone (Ralph Richardson) dispatches General Charles Gordon (Heston) to Khartoum, Sudan, where thousands of civilians are threatened by a Muslim fanatic, the Mahdi (Olivier), and his army of followers. Gordon gains the Mahdi's respect but can't prevent the Mahdi's men from laying siege to the city. Now, as history hangs in the balance, Gordon faces the fight of his life defending the ancient city of Khartoum. *Heston: Actor, Ben-Hur (1959). Olivier: Actor, Hamlet (1948); Lifetime Achievement (1978); Outstanding Achievement as Actor, Producer and Director on Henry V (1946)

The Life of Emile Zola (Special Edition)

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The Life of Emile Zola (Special Edition)
Starring: Paul Muni , Gale Sondergaard , Joseph Schildkraut , Gloria Holden , and Donald Crisp
Director: William Dieterle
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006HBV3W
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Amazon.com

Still as potently relevant today as it was in 1937, The Life of Emile Zola is a marvelously entertaining slab of Hollywood social issue-mongering. The life of the French writer is broadly sketched in the early going, but the film settles into its groove with the Dreyfus affair: the scandalous railroading of a military captain for treason, which shook France to its foundation in the 1890s. The elderly Zola's gradual involvement in the case, climaxing with his electrifying "J'accuse!" essay and subsequent trial for libel, is the heart and soul of the picture.

Warner Bros.' version of this story, directed by William Dieterle, carries over the passion (and hokum) of the previous year's Story of Louis Pasteur. It also retains that film's leading man, Paul Muni, who turns in an elaborately theatrical performance. The result was a box-office smash and three Oscars, for best picture, script, and supporting actor (Joseph Schildkraut, who plays Dreyfus). While the film occasionally creaks with Hollywood artifice, the clarion call of truth and outrage come through surprisingly strongly--indeed the film looks prescient as a warning about governments closing ranks to cover up mistakes. Mostly sidestepped is the anti-Semitic vitriol of the campaign against Dreyfus (his Jewishness is referenced only in a written report glimpsed for a moment). This is an old-fashioned barnburner that encourages the viewer to fan the flames. --Robert Horton

Description

The Life of Emile Zola episodically explores the career of the novelist who championed the cause of France's oppressed. Zola (Paul Muni) is a hugely successful French author who risks all his success and comfort to come to the defense of the unjustly jailed Capt. Dreyfus (Oscar winner Joseph Schildkraut). Winner of three Oscars overall-and of immense critical and popular success-this distinguished film is a must-see portrait of a life that's "a moment of the conscience of man." Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Year: 1937 Director: William Dieterle, Irving Rapper Starring: Paul Muni, Gale Sondergaard, Joseph Schildkraut, Gloria Holden, Donald Crisp, Erin O'Brien-Moore, Henry O'Neil, Morris Carnovsky, Louis Calhern.

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The Education of Shelby Knox
Director: Rose Rosenblatt (III) , and Marion Lipschutz
Manufacturer: Docurama
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GG4XYC
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Description

Shelby Knox--a wide-eyed, precocious activist--is the star of THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX, a riveting tale of one girl's mission to bring sex education to schools in her ultra-conservative hometown of Lubbock, Texas. Bursting with original characters, including an intolerant preacher crusading for abstinence, Shelby's skeptical but loving Republican parents, and Lubbock's tiny-but-vocal gay youth movement, the film richly captures an unusual coming of age story. In a town filled with religious fervor, sexual ferment, abstinence-only agitators and teenage pregnancy, Shelby struggles with her conflicting values and comes to terms with her own sexuality. In the process, she becomes an endearing and honest guide to the national moral morass. Unafraid to tackle pressing, complex questions, the film is supercharged with religion, politics, sex and the cultural warriors and ordinary people who battle over these hot-button issues. Skillfully crafted by award-winning directors Marion Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt, THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX is "a pungent civics lesson on what can and cannot be accomplished by one plucky, idealistic girl." (The New York Times) DVD Features: Bonus Featurette; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

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Rather like Chain-Mail Pythons in Space
Oh dear! Where's the Dubbing?
Simply terrible.
Not the book, and its not Monty Python
Don't watch this unless someone will pay you (a lot)

The High Crusade
Starring: Werner Baum , Tahareh Becker , Patrick Brymer , Debbie Lee Carrington , and Ray Cokes
Director: Holger Neuhäuser
Manufacturer: Geneon [Pioneer]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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War in Space

ASIN: 6305150729
Release Date: 1998-11-03

Description

In a castle somewhere in England on the eve of the crusades, all good English knights are preparing to march on Jerusalem. Out of the heavens, an alien spaceship descends, an entry hatch opens, and a scouting party from another planet emerges, gathering information for a potential march on Earth. Unimpressed by the alien's high-tech weapons, the knights storm the spaceship. With arrogance (and dumb luck) on their side, they soon gain possession of the vessel and a hostage who can fly the thing! Of course, there is only one thing to do - fly it to the Holy Land and use it to put the fear of God into the heathens! But they are not destined to reach Jerusalem - as soon as he's back in his spaceship, their hostage switches the automatic pilot to return home. In two days, the bumbling, arrogant and ignorant crusaders will be at the mercy of an entire alien planet...heaven help the aliens! ohn Rhys-Davies, Rick Overton

Customer Reviews:

Rather like Chain-Mail Pythons in Space.......2005-11-20

I can see that the typical reviewer isn't impressed with the film... That's a pity. I suspect most of the reviewers are not British, and thus aren't "getting" the gist of the humour in the film.

Let me say first of all that OF COURSE this film is not high art. It's comedy - and very British at that. Sometimes it's plain silly, but very FUNNY plain silly.

I found the film amusing. There were many moments that had me laughting in that typically "Oh dear, I shouldn't be laughing" fashion that any Monty Python fan ends up perfecting. For example, the bit with the horse... the alien's arguments with the priest... the chastity belt... the wedding night... and the orgasmic finger.

If you can simply watch this film on its own merits, and if you enjoy Pythonesque humour, I can't see why you won't find the film providing you with plenty of laughter.

NOTE: I don't see any problem with the dubbing. The version I have is Zone 4, Australian, and of course we tend to get British rather than American versions here. Perhaps that makes a difference.

Oh dear! Where's the Dubbing?.......2004-05-01

I've got a dubbed version of this on video quite a few year when it was on T.V. which is absolutely excellent, I live in England and can't get The High Crusade on DVD over here. So I got the U.S. version, all I can say is it's terrible. In the british version, all the aliens were dubbed with hilarious English accents and didn't sound like dodgy Jawa's out of Star Wars.

All I've got to say is, watch the English dubbed version if you get the chance. It's a completely different movie...

Simply terrible........2003-07-15

My father bought this movie thinking it was a historical account of the crusades. Maybe he didn't read the back or see the spaceship flying across the cover. In any case, he cursed me for not notifing him of the film's contents. My father somehow managed to sit through this movie, then disowned it. I have tried several times to sit down and watch this movie to the end with no avail. It's not funny, or scary, nor does it accomplish anything I'm sure the director was trying to accomplish. A funny movie is "Rikki-Oh," "High Crusade" is definately not worth your time. Instead try poking small needles under your fingernails. This is a more gratifying experience than the "High Crusade." From a historical background, the "High Crusade" fails on several levels. First I don't think there was an alien invasion during the crusades. Second, well...I guess only the invation thing is wrong, but trust me it's wrong on so many different levels. The French guy is not funny either. He tries to get with the main character's wife and then I don't know what happens because I usually shut of my dvd player. I have passed along this movie to my friends and family with hilarious results. They watch the movie, the entire movie, hoping it has some redeeming value, but of course, it doesn't. Then they bring me back the DVD and curse me for wasting 90 minutes of their lives. Well, watch at your own risk, and mind your pints and quarts.

Not the book, and its not Monty Python.......2003-01-06

I was disappointed that this was not an adaption of the very funny Poul Anderson book. Other that a credit to him and the fact that the story involves knights and aliens, there is scant relationship between the book and the movie.

This movie is more akin to Benny Hill than Monty Python. Very low brow and broad.

That said, the movie was mildly amusing. Not worth buying unless you find it in a cut-out bin.

Don't watch this unless someone will pay you (a lot).......2002-10-05

I gave it a try because I loved the book and because one of the actors was in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. My gosh! What trash. Not funny. Terrible acting. Terrible screenplay. Obviously, a fair amount of energy was put into the sets, but the special effects were comparable to Plan 9. Don't do it. No matter how much you loved the book, I warn you, you will regret the experience.

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Evil in Clear Creek
Starring: Jay Bernard , James Berry , Charles Black , Thomas Wilson Brown , and Gloria Carlin
Director: Karen Arthur
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000JMKJQE
Release Date: 2007-01-01

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