Hitch (Fullscreen Edition)

Starring:Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James (III), Amber Valletta, Julie Ann Emery, Robinne Lee, Nathan Lee Graham, Adam Arkin, Michael Rapaport, Jeffrey Donovan, Paula Patton, Philip Bosco, Kevin Sussman, Navia Nguyen, Matt Malloy, Maria Thayer, Ato Essandoh, Marlyne Afflack, Jack Hartnett, David Wike
Director: Andy Tennant
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Will Smith's easygoing charm makes Hitch the kind of pleasant, uplifting romantic comedy that you could recommend to almost anyone--especially if there's romance in the air. As suave Manhattan dating consultant Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, Smith plays up the smoother, sophisticated side of his established screen persona as he mentors a pudgy accountant (Kevin James) on the lessons of love. The joke, of course, is that Hitch's own love life is a mess, and as he coaches James toward romance with a rich, powerful, and seemingly inaccessible beauty named Allegra (Amber Valetta), he's trying too hard to impress a savvy gossip columnist (Eva Mendes) with whom he's fallen in love. Through mistaken identities and mismatched couples, director Andy Tennant brings the same light touch that made Drew Barrymore's Ever After so effortlessly engaging. As romantic comedies go, Hitch doesn't offer any big surprises, but as a date movie it gets the job done with amiable ease and style. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The Cure for the Common Man..........2007-06-28

Typically when I'm choosing a movie to watch in my spare time, I will choose from action, drama, comedy, sci-fi, thrillers, etc. (what you would basically expect from any guy), I can honestly say that I very rarely choose a romantic comedy, and never a musical. However, sometimes a romantic comedy comes along that looks interesting and funny to me, generally because the premise is different from most or because I like the stars in it, or simply because my wife chooses the movie for our movie night. In the case of "Hitch" it was a combination of the first 2 factors, but for some reason my wife and I never got around to watching this movie in theaters, and for the longest time on DVD. But recently, we sat down and watched it, and I must say that even though many critics and some moviegoers weren't entertained that much by the movie, I found it to be highly enjoyable and one of the better romantic comedies I had seen.

"Hitch" is the story of Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens (Will Smith), a man whose job is to find ways for a man to successfully woo the woman of his choice into a successful dating relationship. Hitch is a man that is good at his job, but never really finds the time for his own dating life. When Hitch begins coaching a pudgy accountant (Kevin James) on how to get noticed by an attractive, wealthy heiress, his own love life begins to blossom, but through a series of mishaps starts to go horribly awry. Inevitably leaving Hitch wondering why he can make love happen for complete strangers but never for himself. But before he can figure out what's going on in his life, a newsreporter (Eva Mendes) is trying to uncover the true identity of this so-called 'Date Doctor', and after protecting his identity for so long Hitch finds himself in the media crosshairs, and the real kicker is, it's his new girlfriend that put him there.

As far as romantic comedies go, most of them are generally predictable to some extent, sometimes the predictability of these types of films lends to boredom for me. However, there are a few romantic comedies that manage to be predictable, yet still entertain, and then there are the few (very few) that just surprise you by not being all that predictable. "Hitch" falls somewhere between somewhat predictable and not all that much, there are the typical romantic comedy elements that are crucial for this type of film. For example, guy finds girl, impresses girl, things get serious, some secret about guy is discovered by girl, girl breaks up with guy, guy proclaims love for girl, and all is well with the world - those are your basic elements (give or take one or two) to almost every romantic comedy these days, and "Hitch" contains several of them. The difference for me was that unlike a lot of other romantic comedies where the story is so thin and the humor is virtually non-existent that you find yourself already knowing how the movie will end and checking your eyelids for holes within the first 30 minutes due to boredom, "Hitch" keeps things going at a very steady pace with plenty of laughs and clever dialogue that I never got distracted by getting ahead of the story, and remained entertained throughout. Probably the element I enjoyed the most of the movie was the way the character of Hitch had taken a by-the-book approach to dating, as far as his tips go, that worked like a charm for every guy that he tutored, yet could never get the same approach to work for him, and in the end he discovers that love, much like life, isn't always so simply figured out.

The performances by the cast were uniformly strong, Will Smith and Kevin James out-shined everyone, which wasn't really all that surprising given their comedic and acting talents. Eva Mendes was very endearing as the woman that Hitch is trying to start a relationship with, and she shows a great on-screen chemistry with Will Smith that made their couple very believable. The story as I said earlier contained many of the familiar elements of most romantic comedies, yet still entertained me, and I never felt like I'd seen it all before. The ending is what you expect, and of course hope for in this type of movie, but the execution of the ending was done in a very interesting and unique way that I didn't expect, probably making it a much more enjoyable ending than most.

With all of that being said, "Hitch" isn't the most original romantic comedy, but there are numerous elements that are unique, and allowed me to overlook the same old elements that are so tried and true to this genre. It was a very entertaining movie, that provides you plenty of laughter and leaves you feeling good, which is what these movies should do.

"Hitch" is rated PG-13 for language and sensuality.

Will, Kevin, and New York, New York.......2007-06-27

Every role is perfectly cast in this romantic comedy/buddy movie. Kevin James and Will Smith are funny, but never over-the-top in roles that could have gone silly with less capable actors.
The movie is also a love affair with Manhattan. Every scene takes place in one distinctly New York spot after another. I loved each one.
By the way, the soundtrack for Hitch is great, too.

Funny, refreshing and oh so much fun, exactly what I've been waiting for..........2007-06-26

While `Hitch' may not be the most original romantic comedy to hit the big screen it's one of the most enjoyable. Will Smith is always entertaining and effortlessly captivating, but this time, with the pairing of the breathtaking beauty known as Eva Mendes and the hilarious Kevin James, Smith is brought to the top of his game. The script is sweet and refreshing, the dialog is smart and funny and the acting is top notch. Eva Mendes is not only beautiful but charming and funny. She keeps proving with each role no matter how thankless that she is more than a pretty face. This role is not thankless, thankfully, but just the same she's a star. The real standout though is Kevin James who outdoes himself. I've always loved James' standup and his show `The King of Queens' but here he really blows me away with his natural charm and humor.

Smith plays Alex `Hitch' Hitchens, a date doctor as it were, who helps coach men into successful relationships. His latest project is Albert, an overweight accountant who has fallen for the rich and beautiful Allegra Cole, a woman many may consider out of his league. With Hitch's help Albert begins to woo Allegra and a mutual attraction between the two is formed. In the meantime Hitch himself finds he's been struck by cupids arrow, falling for columnist Sara Meles, and soon we discover that Hitch is about as helpless as the men he coaches. Between the two couples hilarity ensues and the audience is never left bored or wanting.

As may well be expected events line themselves up to expose Hitch and his clientele and threaten to end both sets of blossoming relationships. All is good though and the ride is a fun and entertaining one. The chemistry between the entire cast is fantastic. James feeds Albert enough charm and tenderheartedness that the audience falls in love with him alongside Allegra and Mendes plays Sara with enough sass and smarts that we can easily understand why Hitch is so absorbed in her. Smith may be the star but with a cast this impressive he gladly shares the spotlight and the praise with his co-stars. It's fun and breezy entertainment suitable for the entire family and will go down as one of my favorite romantic comedies of late.

great date movie.......2007-05-18

This is the kind of movie you could cuddle up and watch with a 1st, 2nd or 3rd date (especially a 3rd). Will Smith has made a great comical come-back!

Almost perfect.......2007-05-11

When I first saw the trailer for "Hitch" back in 2004, I couldn't wait to see this movie, because this role seemed tailor made for Will Smith, and it definitely was. Smith as dating consultant Alex Hitchens (aka "Hitch") is very much like the real Will Smith - tall, dark, handsome, suave, outgoing and humorous. This is quite a change of pace for him since Will is such a huge star of some of Hollywood's biggest action blockbusters ("Men In Black", "Independence Day", "Bad Boys", "I, Robot", "Enemy of the State"); romantic comedy isn't something he's done but he is a natural in this role. He's a coach for men looking for serious relationships but have no clue as to how to win over the women of their dreams. He's good at what he does. He is able to parlay his skills into a very lucrative yet inconspicuous career for himself.

Enter Kevin James (TV's "King of Queens") as Albert Brennaman - a bumbling, asthmatic accountant who is everything that Hitch is not. He is secretly in love with a rich heiress/socialite, Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta, "What Lies Beneath", "Premonition"). Albert's company oversees her financial and business interests. But because Albert lacks confidence in himself, and is clumsy, overweight and shy, he thinks he has absolutely no chance in hell of getting with this woman. However, there is a quiet charm and sensitivity about Albert that you can't help but find to be appealing - like a big teddy bear that you just want to hug! He enlists the services of Hitch, who is called "The Date Doctor", and that's when the fun begins. Hitch teaches him the right things to say, the right things to do, and little by little, the formally inattainable Ms. Cole becomes closer to being attainable to Albert. I thought the scenes between Will and Kevin were hilarious, and they have great on-screen chemistry. Hope to see them paired up in something again in the future.

However, Hitch's romantic life doesn't quite flow with the same ease that his clients have. Eva Mendes ("Training Day", "Out Of Time", "Ghost Rider") plays Sara Melas, a gossip columnist who takes her job a bit too seriously and the object of his affection, but nearly everytime they go out he does something wrong, or something embarrassing happens. I like Eva Mendes as an actress, but I found her character of Sara to be obnoxious at times and other than her being attractive, I couldn't understand what Hitch saw in her. I enjoyed her scenes with Hitch when she let her guard down, but otherwise, she rubbed me the wrong way with her self-righteous and shrewish attitude.

I really enjoyed this movie up until three-quarters of the way - then the behavior of certain people started to annoy me with an incident that really wasn't that big a deal, and then blown so far out of proportion that all of the main characters ended up unhappy. For that reason, I had to dock it one star. However, "Hitch" DOES conclude with a happy ending so it wasn't all that unpredictable. It has its flaws, but it is definitely worth watching, and one of the better romantic comedies that have been released in the past few years.

Sidenote: There are some interesting extras on the DVD, such as deleted scenes, which I'm glad they didn't include in the final edit because it would have made the film too long (like what was done with the unrated version of "The 40 Year Old Virgin" DVD). In this case, less was definitely more. :-)

Average customer rating:

The Cure for the Common Man...
Will, Kevin, and New York, New York
Funny, refreshing and oh so much fun, exactly what I've been waiting for...
great date movie
Almost perfect

Hitch (Fullscreen Edition)
Starring: Will Smith , Eva Mendes , Kevin James (III) , Amber Valletta , and Julie Ann Emery
Director: Andy Tennant
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000957O7S
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Cure for the Common Man..........2007-06-28

Will, Kevin, and New York, New York.......2007-06-27

Funny, refreshing and oh so much fun, exactly what I've been waiting for..........2007-06-26

great date movie.......2007-05-18

This is the kind of movie you could cuddle up and watch with a 1st, 2nd or 3rd date (especially a 3rd). Will Smith has made a great comical come-back!

Almost perfect.......2007-05-11

Average customer rating:

Hitch [Blu-ray]
Disappointing Transfer to HD, but Better than DVD
save your money and buy the dvd instead
A DELIGHTFUL ROMANTIC COMEDY...

Hitch [Blu-ray]
Starring: Will Smith , and Eva Mendes
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000EZ7ZYA
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Product Description

Blu-ray Disc - HitchActors: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta, Julie Ann Emery, See more Directors: Andy Tennant Format: AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen Language: English Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 Studio: Sony Pictures DVD Release Date: June 20, 2006 Run Time: 132 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Hitch [Blu-ray].......2006-07-27

This would be one of two BD titles I would reccomend for demo's. The movie is recent, the content is tame and very bright. So if you are watching on a projector or some other form of hi res screen, you can actually see the difference. The other movie that falls into this same description is 50 first dates. The good thing about both is that they are shipping now!

Disappointing Transfer to HD, but Better than DVD.......2006-07-07

The movie is good. This review is about the transfer to HD.

Sometimes the picture looks great and are obviously HD, but other times it's just plain ugly and DVD quality or less.

This is very obvious (i'm not a videophile, just an ordinary guy with money to blow on blu-ray) because the quality changes many times during a single scene, changing based on the camera angle.

So you end up with a shot of will smith that looks awesome, and then suddenly there's a shot of someone else that looks terrible, then it's back to will smith and looking good, then the camera changes back to the horrible looking image.

It's still better than the DVD, but it's not what it could or should be.

It's a shame that the movie is not up to par because the early adopters of this technology are the least price sensitive, but the most likely to notice poor quality.

Go ahead and charge a fortune for the movies, but at least make them the best possible. Sadly, the high price combined with the poor HD transfer make the offerings unattractive to both the early adopters as well as more general consumers.

There's a decent chance a Sony exec of some kind will read this, and if so, I hope you have the cajones to do what it takes to make your media platform a success. You will ultimately fail if you can't deliver on the promise.

save your money and buy the dvd instead.......2006-06-26

Either this was not filmed in HD, or it is a very poor transfer/encoding. Appears to be dvd quality, at best.

A DELIGHTFUL ROMANTIC COMEDY..........2006-06-22

Will Smith is a cute, funny, and charismatic actor who has charm to spare. It is, therefore, surprising that Hollywood has never before cast him as the lead in a romantic comedy. I doubt that this oversight will occur again, as Mr. Smith takes to the genre like a duck takes to water and makes it his own. His seemingly effortless, laidback style of acting strikes pay dirt as the romantic lead in this film. I am sure that Hollywood has now taken notice that Will Smith has what it takes to be the lead in a romantic comedy.

Will Smith is cast in the role of Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, a young, suave, successful, sophisticated, smooth talker who has devised a career out of his ability to show even the most clumsy and shy, geeky guy how to get hitched to the woman of his dreams. He takes on clients whom he then coaches in the mysteries of finding one's way into the heart of a beloved, but seemingly unattainable, woman.

Our erstwhile dating consultant is hired by Albert (Kevin James), a chubby, earnest, tongue-tied accountant, who has fallen for one of his firm's own clients, socialite-heiress Allegra Cole (Amber Valleta). She is a trophy type of woman who, one would think, would not even given Albert a second look. Under Hitch's careful coaching, however, even our unlikely, lovesick accountant seems to be on the road to true love.

Of course, them that can, do, while them that can't, coach, and Hitch is no exception. While he can successfully coach his clients to attain the love of their lives, Hitch runs into a whole host of problems in his life when dealing with his own romance. It appears that he has fallen for the gorgeous Sara (Eva Mendes), a local gossip columnist. Despite his ability to ensure that the path of true love runs smoothly for others, he himself runs into many roadblocks and bumps in the road.

Will Smith is simply terrific in the role of "Hitch", playing the role with insouciant charm. His likeability quotient can't get much higher, and he certainly infuses the role with his effortless charm and humor. Hollywood would be remiss in not casting Will Smith in other romantic comedies, as he is such an ingratiating performer that the viewer cannot help but fall in love with him. As his love interest, Eva Mendes is certainly a gorgeous leading lady, although her character is not always likable. Still, she makes the most of her role as the feisty Sara, and I look forward to seeing her in more films.

I totally enjoyed seeing Kevin James in the film. He is the star of the long-running, hit television series, "The King of Queens", a show that I love and wish would run forever. I was not disappointed by his transition to the big screen, as I really enjoyed his performance. He is simply a big, cuddly, teddy bear sort of guy that you can't help but love, which helps make his on-screen pairing with Amber Valleta believable. They are simply adorable together. Amber Valleta successfully infuses her character, Allegra Cole, with a certain vulnerability that makes her very likable.

Kudos also go to director, Andy Tennant, whose deft direction contributes to the success of this film. This is a well-written, well-acted romantic comedy that is highly enjoyable. Co-stars Will Smith and Kevin James have great chemistry in the film and are excellent foils for each other. I would love to see them paired together in a buddy movie, as I think that they would be sensational. Fans of romantic comedies, however, would be well-advised to see this film. They will be glad that they did.

Average customer rating:

The Cure for the Common Man...
Will, Kevin, and New York, New York
Funny, refreshing and oh so much fun, exactly what I've been waiting for...
great date movie
Almost perfect

Hitch (UMD Mini For PSP)
Starring: Adam Arkin , Kevin James , Michael Rapaport , Will Smith , and Jeffrey Donovan
Director: Andy Tennant
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

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Accessories:

Sony PSP PlayGear Amp
Sony PSP Comfort Grips Black
Sony PSP Psyclone Nodus Sound System
Sony PSP Travel Case

ASIN: B00096S49O
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Product Description

Hich PSP UMD Movie
MODEL- 11488 VENDOR- UMD MOVIES

FEATURES- "Hich" PSP UMD Movie
Wach movies on your PSP handheld wih DVD picure qualiy in
widescreen. This full lengh movie fis on a single UMD disc.
New York "dae docor" Alex Hichens (Will Smih) ries o charm
gossip columnis Sara Melas (Eva Mendes) a he same ime he is
coaching shy Alber (Kevin James) on how o win he love of
beauiful heiress Allegra Cole (Amber Vallea).
* Sarring: Will Smih, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Vallea, Julie Ann
Emery

-- SPECIFICATIONs -----------------------------------
MPAA Raing : PG13
Genre : Romanic Comedy, Urban Comedy
Thearical Dae : 2005
Run Time :
Disribuor/Sudio: Sony Picures

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Cure for the Common Man..........2007-06-28

Will, Kevin, and New York, New York.......2007-06-27

Funny, refreshing and oh so much fun, exactly what I've been waiting for..........2007-06-26

great date movie.......2007-05-18

This is the kind of movie you could cuddle up and watch with a 1st, 2nd or 3rd date (especially a 3rd). Will Smith has made a great comical come-back!

Almost perfect.......2007-05-11

Average customer rating:

Who Wants To Ride With David Hess?
Worth seeing for David Hess and Corinne Clery alone...
Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy was scarier.
"The Devil Thumbs a Ride"
Joy Ride

Hitch Hike
Starring: Franco Nero , Corinne Clery , David Hess , Joshua Sinclair , and Carlo Puri
Director: Pasquale Festa Campanile
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000069HOX
Release Date: 2002-07-23

Customer Reviews:

Who Wants To Ride With David Hess?.......2007-02-26

When a movie's got two mean mothers like Franco Nero and David Hess, you know interesting things'll happen. These guys teach us the dangers of picking up hitch hikers long before Rutger Hauer and C Thomas Howell did(they did a great job as well). No point in really going into the story, coz it's pretty much what you expect. A couple picking up a psychotic hitch hiker who makes their day very, very crappy. Kinda like House On The Edge Of The Park on the road. I've always loved Franco Nero, and this movie further solidifies that. It may not be the best acting he's ever done, but he actually plays a very slimy and unlikable guy...and he's not even the so called "villain"! You're used to Nero being rather heroic. Sure, he sometimes plays flawed and sometimes downright mean characters, but nothing like this. Clery is just there for eye candy, but she does become more important as the film goes on. David Hess is...David Hess, and we couldn't love him more for it. Still looks meaner and sleazier than hell(come on, would anybody really pick this guy up?), slaps , rapes and terrorizes women, calls everyone [...], and is just all around fun. Though the whole idea of the film may not seem totally original anymore, the ending is. Check it out before they remake this one too.

Worth seeing for David Hess and Corinne Clery alone..........2004-08-04

Hitch-Hike is a little known italian film that has its share of memorable moments. The film revolves around an attractive couple (Franco Nero, the stunning Corinne Clery) travelling cross country who pick up a psychopathic and sadistic hitchhiker (David Hess) who is on the run for committing a violent robbery.
This is a sleazy exercise in misogny with David Hess (Last House on the Left, House on the Edge of the Park) assuming his usual ugly role. However, this film differs from Last House on the Left and House on the Edge of the Park as the female protagonist is abused not only by the psychotic Hess but her alcoholic, boorish husband. The viewer is left to ponder who is the real bad guy in this excursion.
For fans of exploitation and sleaze films, there is much here to behold as the leggy Corinne Clery is quite the beauty and shows quite a bit of skin throughout her ordeal. The unpleasant sexual violence of Last House on the Left is here also, though mercifully more muted here than in that film.
The film is very well paced and much of the interaction between the three main characters is believable and suitably intense. There are also some major plot twists that I will not reveal here, that keep things interesting for this film which is admittedly overlong.
Anchor Bay has done a fine job with this DVD. The audio and video are very nice. The new documentary, The Devil Thumbs A Ride is interesting and insightful, once again in large part due to the participation of Hess and Clery.
In closing, this film is nothing special, but still worth a watch for fans of italian cinema who enjoy copious amounts of sex and violence in their films.

Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy was scarier........2004-05-08

Hitch-hike is one of those small movies you watch becouse you hope that becouse of it's budget they would spend some real quality time on the script and try to make up for it by giving us a good move ie- Night Of The Living Dead, Holloween, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mad Max, and Blair Witch.

So it sould come as no surprise that this film is as bad as those movies are good. David Hess plays a hitch hiker picked up by a husband and wife couple. After getting into thier car he reeks havok with thier lives. I don't know if the movie The Hicher with Rutger Hauer came before or after this but either way it is a much better film. THat movie was suspensefull where as this movie is just tiersome. By the end you don't really care who wins just that the movie ends.

"The Devil Thumbs a Ride".......2003-12-29

Ah, the wonderful warped world of David Hess. How I love it.

Ever since the first time I saw "Last House On The Left" - I've been infatuated with this man's ability to be a monster. He's tremendous at it, and that's what compelled me to buy this movie sight unseen. What do I think? Well,...

"Last House On The Left" and "House On The Edge Of The Park" are a couple of my favorite movies of all time. This coupled with the knowledge I've read on the internet claiming the character Hess plays in this movie is very similar to the aforementioned 2, I had to check it out. David Hess is outstanding in the movie as his usual typecast character. But the movie, umm well, it's ok.

The film is about a husband and wife that pick up a hitch-hiker (David Hess) and trouble obviously ensues. The plot is a little weak, (ok, very weak) - and the audio is a little out of sync. But the movie moves along at a surprisingly quick pace, being that there isn't THAT much killing and/or violence. There are some quality dialogue from Hess and Franco and some quality shots of the wife (I forget her name) nude. Small amounts of violence scattered throughout. (Though not nearly as much as I was hoping for)

In comparing this movie to Last House and House On the Edge, I would have to say it is a failure. However, looking as a stand alone movie without comparing it to the aforementioned films, I would say it is an enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half, even if it's just for Hess's faces and dialogue and the wife's body.

The dvd looked good for the year the film was made and the budget I'm sure it was made on. Pretty clear, not too much grain or dirt. The audio is acceptable and there are a couple extras on the disc, a trailer and a few interviews with the cast.

Story: C-
Violence: C-
Nudity: B-
Comedy (Intentional or Unintentional): B
Overall Entertainment Grade: C+

Joy Ride.......2003-06-09

Talk about movies for guys who like movies, this is one joy ride for sure!!! David Hess deserves the Best Actor Oscar for this completely ridiculous performance that makes you laugh one second, then become slack-jawed the next. For the fellas, we get bush, nice boobs and some good action.....for the chicks, you might want to rent another flick...haha.....ENJOY!!!

Average customer rating:

Restored classic.
Horrible copy of a good movie !
The Hitch-Hiker
"You've always had it good, so you're soft."
Fishing Trip Takes Turn for the Worse with "Hitch-Hike Slayer" Aboard.

The Hitch-Hiker
Starring: Edmond O'Brien , Frank Lovejoy , William Talman , José Torvay , and Sam Hayes
Director: Ida Lupino
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305683875
Release Date: 2000-01-18

Amazon.com essential video

Ida Lupino, Hollywood's sole female filmmaker of the 1950s, directs an all-male cast in a taut, 70-minute thriller. Frank Lovejoy and Edmund O'Brien are two war buddies taking a break from the wives for a Mexican fishing trip; a hitchhiker they pick up turns out to be a crazed killer wanted in nine states (William Talman, later the perennially defeated district attorney on Perry Mason) who forces them at gunpoint to drive him through the desert. Talman's Everett Myers is a fascinatingly abstract creation, filmed by Lupino first as a discorporate flurry of hands and feet, then as a satanic figure whose grinning, key-lighted face seems to float by itself in space. With his paralyzed right eye (he sleeps with it wide open), Myers may represent the return of the fascist evil the two men confronted during the war; he may also represent something inherently violent in the American male that, having been liberated by the war, has to be faced down and defeated by the two vets before they can return to a normal life. Lupino's use of the desert setting, rich with associations of nuclear devastation, seems to look forward to the science fiction films that would flourish later in the decade. --Dave Kehr

Customer Reviews:

Restored classic........2007-06-11

This is the restored & digitally mastered VHS edition of Ida Lupino's film-noir classic The Hitch-Hiker (ISBN 1557394873), and the tape includes a special feature showing the restoration, comparing the sharp contrast the director originally intended to the faded prints it was restored from. It's a captivating story about two men driving from California into Mexico, where they're car-jacked by a fugitive murderer.

Horrible copy of a good movie !.......2007-04-02

I believe Alpha Videos spent more time and money on the boxing cover of this good film noir movie than they did on the clean up of it !
The movie starts off very splotchy during the credits, cleans up a little bit
but goes in and out of bad and very bad on the sound and picture.
The ending scene is so dark, I have no idea what is going on.
Alpha should be ashamed of themselves for putting this garbage out!
I guess at this price I got what I paid for!!

The Hitch-Hiker.......2007-03-25

The story itself is outstanding. However, the movie is almost unwatchable because it is very dark and full of "scratches." I wished they would have cleaned it up to make it more pleasing to watch.

"You've always had it good, so you're soft.".......2006-07-02

"The Hitch-Hiker", directed by actress Ida Lupino is touted as film noir, and it's included in many compendium DVD sets. But even so, after finally watching the film, I think it's a stretch to call it 'noir'--this film suffers for the lack of one of those really evil film noir female characters. And at least for this film noir fan, those evil women are one of the greatest aspects of film noir.

The plot of "The Hitch-Hiker" is simple--two married men escape from their wives for a fishing trip. On their way to Mexico, they stop and pick up a hitch-hiker. As luck would have it, the hitch-hiker, Emmett Meyers (William Talman) is an escaped killer who's hitched and killed his way south of the border. Meyers plays twisted cat-and-mouse games with the two men--even using them for target practice at one point. Meyers is a sinister figure whose paralyzed eyelid translates into an inability to close that lid when sleeping, so that his captives can't tell if he's asleep or staring right at them.

One of the more interesting aspects of the film is the resentment Meyers has towards the two men--mechanic Roy Collins (Edmond O'Brien) and draughtsman Gilbert Bowen (Frank Lovejoy). Meyers identifies with his two victims in a sense--they're about the same age, etc. But Bowen and Collins are decent fellows who are fiercely loyal to each other. Meyers--a career criminal--is a loner, an outsider who despises Collins and Bowen for their respectable lives.

The film's first few scenes are tense, but that sense of tension is lost as the film wears on. There are attempts to create tension as Meyers herds his captives through certain encounters (in the small Mexican market, for example), but the level of tension is merely lukewarm. The film remains a fairly mediocre crime drama focusing on the dilemma of the hostages weighing a decision to cooperate and perhaps live--or escape--even if it means dying in the attempt.

The Alpha DVD print is decent--a couple of white splotches appear on the print on a few occasions, and there are no extras--displacedhuman

Fishing Trip Takes Turn for the Worse with "Hitch-Hike Slayer" Aboard........2005-09-04

"The Hitch-Hiker" is a 1-hour-and-10-minute low budget suspense that has the distinction of being the only classic film noir directed by a woman. It was directed by Ida Lupino, who starred in a few film noirs herself, and went on to direct many television series. The screenplay was based on an unpublished story by Daniel Mainwaring, who wasn't credited by RKO, because Howard Hughes didn't like his politics. The film is introduced with the declaration "This is the true story of a man and a gun and a car." It was inspired by a real crime that took place in the early 1950s.

Two friends, Roy Collins (Edmund O'Brien) and Gil Bowen (Frank Lovejoy), are seeking some rest and relaxation on a fishing trop to Mexico, where they pick up a hitchhiker. The hitchhiker immediately pulls a gun on them and identifies himself as wanted killer Emmett Myers (William Talman). Myers holds the men constantly at gunpoint as they make their way toward Santa Rosalia, where Myers intends to evade pursuit by crossing a river. Myers plays sadistic games with Roy and Gil, and reminds them, "You guys are gonna die, that's all. Just a question of when," as both Mexican and American authorities hone their search for the missing men. In a comically cruel twist of fate, Emmett is afflicted with an eye that doesn't stay shut, so no one can tell if he is awake or asleep.

I found the opening of "The Hitch-Hiker", when we see the atrocities of a ruthless, faceless murderer, to be the most effective part of the film. Director Ida Lupino really creates a sense of menace in a few minutes. After that, the film is fine but predictable. Collins is hot-headed and emotional, while Bowen is more even-tempered and less impulsive. It is unclear which strategy is best under the circumstances, which adds a little interest. But this is not one of Edmund O'Brien's more memorable performances. There's just not much to it. William Talman is more memorable as thoroughly sociopathic Emmett Myers. The film's perspective on Mexico and Mexicans is interesting. Conversations that take place in Spanish are not translated. Gil Bowen appears to be fluent in Spanish himself. And Mexico is not the haven for American criminals that it usually is in movies. Mexican authorities work hard to catch Myers. "The Hitch-Hiker" didn't always keep my interest, but it's a solid B-movie, intended for the second half of a double bill. 3 ½ stars.

The DVD (Kino Video 2000): This print is unrestored but acceptable. There are some white specks and the sound could use a little cleaning up. There are no bonus features or subtitles.

Average customer rating:

Restored classic.
Horrible copy of a good movie !
The Hitch-Hiker
"You've always had it good, so you're soft."
Fishing Trip Takes Turn for the Worse with "Hitch-Hike Slayer" Aboard.

The Hitch-Hiker
Starring: Edmond O'Brien , Frank Lovejoy , William Talman , José Torvay , and Sam Hayes
Director: Ida Lupino
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000098ZS3
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Restored classic........2007-06-11

Horrible copy of a good movie !.......2007-04-02

The Hitch-Hiker.......2007-03-25

The story itself is outstanding. However, the movie is almost unwatchable because it is very dark and full of "scratches." I wished they would have cleaned it up to make it more pleasing to watch.

"You've always had it good, so you're soft.".......2006-07-02

Fishing Trip Takes Turn for the Worse with "Hitch-Hike Slayer" Aboard........2005-09-04

Average customer rating:

"The Leader in Film Noir, B-Westerns & Serials...VCI Enertainment"

D.O.A./The Hitch-Hiker
Starring: D.O.a. (1950)/Hitch Hiker (1953)
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

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ASIN: B000EJ9V9I
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Description

Actors: Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler, Beverly Campbell, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman, Jose Torvay; Two of Edmond O'Brien's classic features: D.O.A. and The Hitch-Hiker. D.O.A. is the classic drama of suspense with Edmond O'Brien giving one of his finest performances as Frank Bigelow, a real-estate salesman whose life suddenly turns into a bizarre nightmare. "This is the City--Los Angeles, California", intones the narrator of this tense crime drama, The Hitch-Hiker, told in semi-documentary style. A psychotic killer uses the storm drains of the city to hide from the police. Good performances by the entire cast. DVD Bonus & Features: Menu Selection, Bonus: "Univeral Newsreel, 1949 in Review" & "Universal Newsreel 1953 - Year of Catastrophes", DVD-9, Dolby Digital Mono, 191 min, Color & B&W, 1.33:1, NR, 1945, 1947

Customer Reviews:

"The Leader in Film Noir, B-Westerns & Serials...VCI Enertainment".......2006-07-23

VCI Entertainment presents "D.O.A./The Hitch-Hiker - Edmond O'Brien" --- (Dolby digitally remastered)...featuring top performances by actors to die for from the '40s and '50s with outstanding drama and screenplays...from little known films we now refer to "film noir" that will leave you intrigued with all the suspense...so pop some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the movie.

First up we have "D.O.A." (1950) (83 min. B/W)...under director Rudolph Mate, producer Leo C. Popkin, screenplay by Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene, music score by Dimitri Tiomkin ...the cast includes Edmond O'Brien (Frank Bigelow), Pamela Britton (Paula Gibson), Luther Adler (Majak), Beverly Campbell (Miss Foster), Lynne Baggett (Mrs. Philips), William Ching (Holliday), Henry Hart (Stanley Philips), Neville Brand (Chester), Laurette Luez (Marla Rakubian), Jess Kirkpatrick (Sam Haskell), Cay Forrester (Sue),Virginia Lindley (Jeanie), Michael Ross (Dave), Carolyn Hughes (Kitty), Jerry Paris (Bell Hop), Frank Gerstle (Dr. MacDonald), Beverly Garland (Miss Foster), Lawrence Dobkin (Dr. Schaefer). . . . . .our story is a strange one, never before were these words ever uttered on "I want to report a murder...mine."...from then on it's a roller coaster ride with flashbacks galore up to the present time...Edmond O'Brien is told he has received a deadly poison known as iridium...within 24 hours O'Brien must locate his murderer, not telling his fiancee Pamela Britton what is going she must help him trace the shipment of iridium...the suspense is almost unbearable and the acting in each scene is superb...with no antidote he has at most, a week to live...the question is who did this and why, this is a nail biter. . . . . .special footnote, Edmond O'Brien had a famous quote - "Versatility is a dangerous thing. It's very satisfying to portray many types of roles, but often your own identity gets lost. Seldom does a producer say, 'This is an Eddie O'Brien part.' On the other hand, while the rewards may be great in fame and financially for stars, the work becomes monotonous. No actor who plays himself is a happy person."...Mr. O'Brien was truly a great actor during his time on stage and in films.

BIOS:
1. Edmond O'Brien
Birth Date: 9/10/1915 - New York, New York
Died: 5/09/1985 - Inglewood, California
2. Pamela Britton (aka: Armilda Jane Owen)
Birth Date: 3/19/1923 -Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Died: 6/17/1974 - Arlington Heights, Illinois
3. Rudolph Mate (aka: Rudolph Mayer)(Director/Cinematographer)
Birth Date: 1/21/1898 - Krakau (Kraków), Poland, Austria-Hungary [now Kraków, Poland]
Died: 10/27/1964 - Hollywood California

SPECIAL BONUS FEATURES:
1. Universal Newsreel 1949 in Review
2. Universal Newsreels 1953 Year of Catastrophes

Second on the double bill is "The Hitch-Hiker" (1953) (71 min. B/W)....under director Ida Lupino, producer Collier Young, screenplay by Robert L. Joseph, Ida Lupino, Daniel Mainwaring and Collier Young, musical score by Leith Stevens ....the cast includes Edmond O'Brien (Ray Collins), Frank Lovejoy (Gilbert Bowen),.William Talman (Emmett Myers), José Torvay (Capt. Alvarado), Sam Hayes (Sam), Wendell Niles (Wendell), Jean del Val (Inspector General), Clark Howat (Government Agent), Natividad Vacio( Jose). . . . . .our story has two good friends Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy going on a fishing trip only to have their plans changed by William Talman, who gives a terrific performance as the man they pick up "The Hitch-Hiker"...holding the men hostage and using them for target practice, the taunting never stops from the time they threesome meet...one interesting note though, Talman has a bum eye so you never know if he's awake or asleep...this tense thriller is skillfully directed by Ida Lupino, this maybe the only film noir she ever directed...the tension builds, unpredictable right up to the very end.

BIOS:
1. Frank Lovejoy
Birth Date: 3/28/1914 - Bronx, New York
Died: 10/02/1962 - New York, New York
2, William Talman
Birth Date 2/04/1915 - Detroit, Michigan
Died: 8/30/1968 - Encino, California
3. Ida Lupino (Director/Writer/Actress)
Birth Date: 2/04/1918 - Camberwell, London, England, UK
Died: 8/03/1995 - Los Angeles, California

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "D.O.A./The Hitch-Hiker", featuring Edmond O'Brien, digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more of the same from the '40s and '50s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again with a top notch "Classic Film Noir" that only VCI Entertainment (King of the Serials) can deliver...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 191 mins on DVD ~ VCI Home Video 5013 ~ (3/28/2006)

Average customer rating:

EXPLOITATION DOUBLE FEATURE!! WILD
PULP THAT PURRS!
Bad b-movie trash.

Hitch Hike to Hell/Kidnapped Coed
Starring: Jim Blankinship , Elizabeth Allan Burger , Jack Canon , Marvin G. Crosland , and Larry Drake
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000633SP
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Description

Hitchhike to Hell (1968, 87 min.) - Teenage runaways Hitchhike to Hell when they accept a ride from Howard, an innocent-looking mama's boy who loves giving rides to pretty young gals. Unfortunately, he also loves killing them. Like a big bad wolf in a red delivery van, Howard searches the highway for sexy hitchhikers despite the efforts of police Captain Shaw (Russell Johnson, the Professor on "Gilligan's Island") to stop him. "Kidnapped Coed" (1978, 75 min.) - Rich girl Sandra Morley becomes a Kidnapped Coed when she's held for ransom by Eddie Mattlock, yet another mama's boy gone bad. After they're attacked by two sleazy psychos at a seedy hotel, the couple take to the back roads of the Carolinas, encounter an extremely odd assortment of humanity. Remember, kids: There's No Such Thing as a Free Ride!

Customer Reviews:

EXPLOITATION DOUBLE FEATURE!! WILD.......2003-02-06

Something weird has put two really strange films together here. The first is Hitch Hike To Hell in which a deranged man in a dry cleaning delivery van kidnaps women who are hitchhiking and then proceeds to rape and kill them. There is a shocking murder of a child (it isn't seen on screen) that really has an impact. Russell Johnson (Professor on Gilligan's Island) is a policeman assigned to the case. Very odd, but well made film.
The second film is Kidnapped Coed, and this is a film about a kidnapped girl who falls in love with her captor, and he with her. They go on a crime spree together. A great twist ending to this one. The extras are good on this disc, but the highlight is a tour thru Harry Novac's Boxoffice International studios. That is a great 30 minutes. All in all a great disc well worth the money.

PULP THAT PURRS!.......2002-07-18

One of the best discs yet released by SWV, this little beauty sports two awesome features and a slew of even better extras. "Hitchhike to Hell" is undoubtedly the weaker of the two features, but is nonetheless a laugh riot. The lead actor veers from one extreme to another with such scenery-chewing abandon as to be a marvel unto himself. Half the time he's acting like Lenny from an "Of Mice and Men" production staged by a particularly talentless community theater. The other half of the running time finds him screaming and going as psycho as Norman Bates would have had "Psycho" really sucked. "Kidnapped Coed" is a much better film. The acting (particularly from Friedle regular Jack Cannon) is solid. The story manages to be fairly compelling in its own pulpy way and some of the scenes are actually quite remarkable. Though pacey and far from perfect, it is a solid piece of work from an underappreciated director. As for the extras, I must crown the animated short "The Cautious Twins" as King of School Scare Cinema. This rhyme-narrated little ditty follows the titular twins as they play in the park, attend a movie and walk the streets in what has to qualify as the most depraved town in America. These poor kids can't go two feet without confronting yet another touch-feely stranger offering candy or a free ride. Hilarious!

Bad b-movie trash........2002-06-21

Here is my take on the two films on this DVD:

HITCH HIKE TO HELL - The movie "Hitchhike To Hell" centers around a deranged laundry deliveryman named Howard. He uses his company van to pick up hitchhikers and kill them. The reason Howard does this is because six years ago his little sister ran away from home and never returned. It completely devastated their mother and Howard is determined to punish young people who want to run away from their mommies.

Not surprisingly, every single facet of this movie is atrocious. From the acting to the direction, from the cinematography to the worthless plot...this is one awful flick. Not a shred of humor is to be found in this macabre tale. It is simply a monotonous pattern of showing Howard picking up hitchhikers and killing them. Terrible!

KIDNAPPED COED - You would never guess that "The Kidnapped Coed" clocks in at a mere 76 minutes. At times, it seemed like an eternity.

I would like to state that I am definitely not someone who needs violent action or gratuitous nudity every few minutes in a movie. However, I do enjoy some dialogue every once in a while. The dramatic pauses in "Kidnapped Coed" are long enough that you could take a solid nap during one. It gets awfully boring sitting around for a full two minutes looking at the main characters and waiting for one of them to actually say something. With tighter editing, this film could have been cut down to about half an hour and none of the plot would have been lost.

"Kidnapped Coed" is about the following: Man kidnaps young woman. He holds her for ransom. Woman falls in love with kidnapper. They spend a lot of time doing absolutely nothing.

The only positive thing I can really say about this little flick is that it has surprisingly good cinematography. A couple of the shots were very nicely set up. Too bad the rest of the film lacked that quality.

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