Countess From Hong Kong

Starring:Balbina, Peter Bartlett, Jose Sukhum Boonlve, Marlon Brando, Jenny Bridges, Patrick Cargill, Sydney Chaplin, Anthony Chinn, Arthur Gross, Tippi Hedren, Oliver Johnston, Dilys Laye, Sophia Loren, Michael Medwin, Bill Nagy, John Paul, Angela Pringle, Margaret Rutherford, Angela Scoular
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Customer Reviews:

A spotlight on THE APPALOOSA, only.......2007-06-13

Matt Fletcher (Marlon Brando), is a tight-lipped loner who returns from the Civil War to his surrogate family in the border town of Ojo Prieto to settle down. When Matt's prize Appaloosa stallion (played by Cojo Rojo) is stolen by bad banditos and spirited away to Mexico, he goes after them with a vengeance. Somewhat slow, and the title character isn't in the movie all that much. However, since it's the only way to get this movie on DVD, the boxed set is recommended.

Staci Layne Wilson

A meeting of classics for the true lovers of the seventh art !.......2006-08-31

I imported this collection because in Brazil we aren't respected by the Universal Home Video, and here we only have access to the "poor titles", releasing for the mass public. However, the Amazon site is a "oasis" for us, fans of the cult films on the whole world. I'm a Marlon Brando's admirer, and this product was extremely satisfactory for me. An obligator item for collectors, which deserve captive place in my videoshelf! Recommended for the latin public, therefore the four films have subtitles in Spanish. But not in Portuguese, unhappyly... (Bad luck for the Brazilians, one more time!)

The Greatest Actor Ever in Four Obscure Films!.......2006-04-09

Here's a list of the 4 films featured in this collection:

1.) THE NIGHT OF THE FOLLOWING DAY (1968 -- 93 minutes): This is an ultra-realistic crime drama featuring Brando as one of four professional criminals who kidnap a girl (a young Pamela Franklin) and hold up at a beach house in France. Richard Boone stars as the fiendish member. Jess Hahn plays a likable loser, the brother of the pathetically drug addicted Rita Moreno. Filmed in France. At the time of this picture Brando was 44 years old and NEVER looked better physically -- very trim and blond. Brando didn't start getting fat until the later-70's when he was well into his 50's. In other words, people need to quit envisioning Brando as some fat dude; most of his life he WASN'T. Most men in their 40's would kill to look as good as Brando did at the this age. Personal Rating: 4/5 Stars.

2.) THE UGLY AMERICAN (1963 -- 2 hours): This is another ultra-realistic film, an impressive political drama featuring Brando as a new American diplomat in a Vietnam-like SE Asian nation that is painfully struggling between capitalist & communist factions. Eiji Okada plays the country's revolutionary leader, a previous best-friend of Brando who has become brainwashed by the communists. Shot on location in Thailand. The ending expertly depicts how the average American is unconcerned with the political conflicts of other nations. Personal Rating: 3.5/5 Stars.

3.) A COUNTESS FROM HONG KONG (1967 -- 108 minutes): It's fun to see Brando in an atypical role in this silly slapstick romantic comedy. Sophia Loren stars as a Russian countess who stows away in a rich American's (Brando) stateroom on a cruise liner to escape a life of forced prostitution. Teppi Hedron is also on hand. This was director Charlie Chaplin's last film; he went into a depression after its box-office failure. The problem I have with this flick is that it's completely set-bound on the cruise liner; in fact, practically the entire film takes place in Brando's quarters. Personal Rating: 2.5/5 Stars.

4.) THE APPALOOSA (1966 -- 98 minutes): This is Brando's 'spaghetti western,' released at the height of this sub-genre's popularity. John Saxon stars as the villain who steals Brando's horse after severely beating him up while in a drunken stuper. Ajanette Comer plays the babe. The Southwestern scenery is spectacular! The best way I can describe this film is to imagine one of Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns as if it were actually any good in terms of story. Let's face it, although Leone introduced a cool new style to the western genre, his film's STORIES were honestly quite unmemorable. If you disagree, try sitting through "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" in one sitting without falling asleep. Or how about the two "Dollars" movies? I've seen them both a couple of times and can't remember anything about their actual storylines. "The Appaloosa" is essentially a revenge tale entailing Brando's trip to Mexico to get his horse back and kill Saxon. I wasn't all that impressed with the story the first time I saw it, especially since I understandably compared it with Brando's western masterpiece "One-Eyed Jacks" (a powerful precursor to the spaghetti western). The story in "The Appaloosa" is rather slow-paced and uneventful, with few action scenes. I saw it again recently and it dawned on me: The director and writer were NOT shooting for a run-of-the-mill western. In the mid-to-late 60's it became fashionable to make films as gritty and ultra-realistic as possible (disregarding Sergio Leone's westerns, which often contained goofy elements). Such was the case with "The Night of the Following Day" listed above (and to a lesser extent "The Ugly American"); this is also the case with "The Appaloosa." What would happen in REAL life if a man went to Mexico in the late 1800's and tried to retrieve his stolen horse? This picture shows exactly what might happen. Consider, for example, the cliched confrontation-in-bar-leads-to-fight scene; we naturally expect it to end in a brawl or shoot-out. It doesn't. In other words, it boldly sneers at western conventions. Or how about the final shoot-out with Saxon? Some have complained that it's uneventful. Yet, isn't that often the way such death-duels end in REAL life? I'll put it this way, don't expect "The Appaloosa" to play like a Hollywood blockbuster or typical spaghetti western with corny one-liners and unrealistic or goofy action scenes. Personal Rating: 3.5/5 Stars.

Despite the fact that none of these films rate 5/5 Stars, I rate the collection itself 5 Stars because it's a fantastic assemblage of fairly obscure Brando works (I never saw ANY of these pictures prior to getting this 4-pack).

Most people rave about Brando's famous films "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Godfather" and "Last Tango in Paris." Personally, I'm not a fan of any of these overrated pictures, even though I admit "The Godfather" is a good film and can see why some regard it as great. In my view, believe it or not, every film in this 4-pack collection (with the possible exception of "A Countess from Hong Kong") is better than these.

If you want to witness how incredibly charismatic Brando was as an actor, check him out in any on these magnificent pictures: "Apocalypse Now" (the original 1979 version), "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1962), "One-Eyed Jacks" (1961) and "The Young Lions" (1958).

A 4pack of brando which packs a punch.......2005-10-11

This dvd should be bought for it brings to life brando's overlooked movies.

The ugly american is a great political drama and brando is brilliant as the well meaning american ambassador to a country in south east asia. A good solid film which failed when it was released but deserves to get a second look.

The appaloosa is goood taught western and brando is in great form. Has some great lines and is very ably supported by the menacing JoHn Saxon. The arm wrestiling match with scorpions is a must watch.

The night of the following day has brando looking great and acting even better. This movie is an average kidnap drama which has its share of tense moments.

A countess of hong kong starts off well and then meanders away. brando is very good in some cominc moments and Sophia loren looks voluptous.

All in all there could have been some extra features in all the dvds about the movies, behind the scenes etc.

But this 4 movie collection highlights the fact that brando did not make trash in the 60s. none of these movies can be called ouright bad, infact 2 out the 4 here are good solid movies. But then the critics of the time were comparing everything brando did in the 60s to the stuff he did in the 50s which is not possible coz that kind of magic happens only once. He displayed that magic again in the 70s. which highlights the fact that brando was the greatest ever, period. The studios should get all his work on dvds with extra features and they will make a killing.

amen to that.

Great price - BUT - three out of four already on DVD..........2005-07-04

Universal is to be commended for releasing theme collections (how about W.C. Fields Vol. 2 please!!!) but this set really lets down the Brando fanatic that already purchased three of the four films in this set already (and now have to buy those three titles AGAIN because it's the only way you can get THE APPALOOSA.) Why didn't they include BEDTIME STORY - another obscure, underated Brando title in their vault?

Average customer rating:

Countess From Hong Kong
Great light comedy
This is the Chaplin film to avoid....
All of the classic elements of farce--minus the humor, timing and chemistry.
Wonderful

Countess From Hong Kong
Starring: Balbina , Peter Bartlett , Jose Sukhum Boonlve , Marlon Brando , and Jenny Bridges
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007GZR3
Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com

Charlie Chaplin's last film is the cinematic equivalent of Willie Mays staying too long in baseball--a sad farewell from someone who has clearly lost his touch. Marlon Brando (who famously did not get along with Chaplin and initiated, with this film, his curious habit of undermining his directors' best intentions) plays an American millionaire leaving Hong Kong to assume an ambassadorship. He discovers Sophia Loren--playing a daughter of Russian aristocrats and a former gangster moll--concealed in his closet onboard the outbound ship, hoping to gain passage to the States. Brando, looking none too pleased, agrees to help her, with not terribly comic or romantic results. Chaplin's one modestly clever touch is to have the camera rock gently and slowly back and forth, ostensibly emulating the movement of the luxury liner. The humor falls flat, Brando and Loren have no chemistry, and the story isn't terribly engaging. The former Little Tramp appears, mercifully briefly, as a seasick steward who opens and closes a door, swooning in between. Appropriately enough, in silence. --David Kronke

Customer Reviews:

Countess From Hong Kong.......2007-03-09

This is a great old movie. Setting is dated but the story and acting are great. Marlon Brando could do comic acting! Has a very good scene about seasickness on a cruise ship. Buy it.

Great light comedy.......2007-02-17

It's a slapstick comedy in full Technicolor. The acting is superb, with a
sense of humor simply too subtle for some late bloomer. Highly enjoyable!

This is the Chaplin film to avoid...........2007-01-29

This film is not without some merit, but overall, it's pretty disappointing, considering it's a Charlie Chaplin film. Out of Chaplin's five sound films, this is the one to avoid. It seems Mr. Chaplin was trying to put Marlon Brando in a role Chaplin himself would have performed in his heyday. But Chaplin was obviously too old to play the tramp (he was 77 when he made this), so he put Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren through the antics. There are a few funny moments, a lot of doors slamming, some nice humanistic touches, but most of it just seems tired. The supporting performances are very subpar, the editing is quite awkward, and the atmosphere of the film is almost dirge like. A rather sad experience, especially if you're a Chaplin fan. It's not the worst film ever made, but it's very disappointing....

All of the classic elements of farce--minus the humor, timing and chemistry........2006-08-13

What is lost via the clumsiness of the production is made up by the obvious antipathy of the participants.

Wonderful.......2004-12-12

I abolutely like this movie, because I dont see it as a "last film from C.C." I see it as it is, a good comedy, especially
because Loren an Brando do not have the greatest chemestry - it
makes it even funnier. I like the type of comedy from these days
and it cant be compared to our times - I judge it positively for a movie from these days. Love it much!

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