The Night of the Hunter

Starring:Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, Don Beddoe, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce, Gloria Castillo, Michael Chapin, Paul Bryar, Mary Ellen Clemons, Kathy Garver, Cheryl Callaway, George Wallace, John Hamilton, Corey Allen, Gloria Pall
Director: Charles Laughton
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

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Director Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) took home every Oscar in the book (well, okay, all the major ones) for this seminal 1934 comedy starring Clark Gable as a hard-bitten reporter who stays close to a runaway heiress (Claudette Colbert) rather than lose a good story. Funny and sexy, the film is full of memorable scenes often referred to in other films, such as the "walls of Jericho" (a mere bedcover hung on a line down the middle of a room so opposite-sex roommates can get undressed), and Colbert's famous flash of thigh to stop a speeding car in its tracks. Capra's brisk, urbane brand of wit was a perfect complement to his populist faith in the common man (in this case, Gable's character), and that inspired combination makes this film both a spirited entertainment and an uplifting experience. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

It Happened One Night.......2007-06-20

Frank Capra's sublime romantic comedy swept the 1934 Oscars, and it's still easy to understand why. Few seventy year old movies hold up like this one. Colbert makes a charming, deft comedienne (check out that hitch-hiking scene!), and Gable was never more appealing, winning his only Oscar for this role. The scene where Peter takes off his shirt and exposes his bare chest was a first, and reportedly, sounded a death knell for the undershirt industry. Hail to the walls of Jericho!

Classic Capra - with Clark Gable in a down-to-earth role.......2007-06-08

This is another great Frank Capra film about a well-to-do socialite heiress deciding to elope almost just to spite her parents. Gable's character is the newspaper reporter sent to track her down and get the scoop on the whole mess. While you can predict what happens, it's still enjoyable for the dialog and the acting/directing. If you're not a Capra fan, it's doubtful that this film will change that. However, if you are - you should definitely check this one out. We saw it originally as a Netflix rental, but my wife liked it enough it became a birthday present for her.

The Orignial Runaway Bride .......2007-06-01

This Frank Capra classic is all about the chemistry between Colbert and Gable--wow does it work! The uptown girl runaway bride (how current!) and the downtown and down on his luck reporter go from the fox and hound to...well the foxy and the hound.

The banter and the moments, from the hitchhiking lesson Colbert gives Gable to the flimsy wall of Jericho Gable gives Colbert are gems.

The film has one of the best wedding-scene endings in movie history (the others being "The Graduate" "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "The Philadelphia Story"), complete with what has to be one of the oldest helicopters ever put on film.

Pardon me while I get my tin trumpet, folks...

great.......2007-05-28

was shipped right away I didn't have to wait at all it was here within 3 days

It Happened One Night........2007-03-27

This screwball comedy keeps you laughing through the entire film. An oldie but a goodie. It truly highlights the talent of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.

Average customer rating:

The Night of the Hunter
The movie no child will ever forget
Don't he never sleep?
Laughton used every cinematic device to tighten the tensions...
Innocence meets evil.

The Night of the Hunter
Starring: Robert Mitchum , Shelley Winters , Lillian Gish , James Gleason , and Evelyn Varden
Director: Charles Laughton
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000035P5R
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Amazon.com essential video

In the entire history of American movies, The Night of the Hunter stands out as the rarest and most exotic of specimens. It is, to say the least, a masterpiece--and not just because it was the only movie directed by flamboyant actor Charles Laughton or the only produced solo screenplay by the legendary critic James Agee (who also cowrote The African Queen). The truth is, nobody has ever made anything approaching its phantasmagoric, overheated style in which German expressionism, religious hysteria, fairy-tale fantasy (of the Grimm-est variety), and stalker movie are brought together in a furious boil. Like a nightmarish premonition of stalker movies to come, Night of the Hunter tells the suspenseful tale of a demented preacher (Robert Mitchum, in a performance that prefigures his memorable villain in Cape Fear), who torments a boy and his little sister--even marries their mixed-up mother (Shelley Winters)--because he's certain the kids know where their late bank-robber father hid a stash of stolen money. So dramatic, primal, and unforgettable are its images--the preacher's shadow looming over the children in their bedroom, the magical boat ride down a river whose banks teem with fantastic wildlife, those tattoos of LOVE and HATE on the unholy man's knuckles, the golden locks of a drowned woman waving in the current along with the indigenous plant life in her watery grave--that they're still haunting audiences (and filmmakers) today. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

The Night of the Hunter.......2007-06-26

Gothic suspense/horror entry was actor Laughton's only outing behind the camera, and he was heart-broken when it failed at the box office. Evidently, the film was simply too dark for audiences of the time. Mitchum is terrifying as Preacher Harry, a wolf in sheep's clothing who has the word "Love" printed on the fingers of one hand, "Hate" on the other. Winters is perfectly cast as the dim Willa, but the stand-out is silent actress Gish as gun-toting Rachel Cooper, the kids' unlikely protector. Eerily composed and shot, and featuring a brilliant screenplay by James Agee, "Hunter" remains a spine-chilling masterpiece.

The movie no child will ever forget.......2007-02-18

"He ain't my dad."
"No. And he ain't no preacher either."

In my opinion Lillian Gish, the wonderful silent film actress, is the real prize in this film. She embodies the little goodness that may be left in the world. She is the willing instrument of God -He always picks the weakest and least of us for His purposes- in the plan to protect children from evil.

The film starts starts with a warning against false teachers, and thus, plainly states what the story is going to be about; so there's no need to waste words explaining anything. It just amazes me how well it measures the amount of evil and destruction that is around us, and how little goodness and inocence. Children and an old woman, that's all the goodness you will find. Everybody else is rotten, and they'd better repent and humble themselves before it's too late. Not only the false preacher, instrument of the devil, but everybody is guilty. Just pay attention. Who is not guilty of something here? Even the poor kids' old uncle won't help them -he is drunk when most needed-. And what about the officer in charge of killing the ones who are sentenced to death? He ain't happy either with what he has to do, however, he would rather keep his job. Not to mention the mob: such a crowd of hypocrites and gullible people.

Yup. Methinks there's enough guilt stinking around for everyone to have a little sniff. But for the innocent children. I loved, though, how the old lady gave an earnest spanking to the boy when he wouldn't wash.

No kid should skip this movie. It can be a spiritual experience out of which may grow, some day, some good seed in their hearts.

Still, some people will say this is not a Christian movie... or even worse: that it exposes Christians thru their hypocrisy.

Beware of false teachers; know them by their fruits. And love the Lord first and foremost.

P.S. And how about being located in the South? You say that people in the North are not so gullible and fanatical? Well, I say that if that's so maybe they are already dead (spiritually). Long live the South.

Don't he never sleep?.......2007-01-23

The best kind of horror comes not from monsters or ghosts, but from other human beings. "Cape Fear," "Heavenly Creatures," and other such movies are brilliant examples of this.

But one of the most compelling examples is "Night of the Hunter," a haunting movie that slowly descends into an exquisitely-filmed, brilliantly-acted nightmare about a malign preacher and the two children who are trying to escape. Like an old fairy tale, it's full of terror, magic, beauty and darkness.

Murderous preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) is arrested for car theft, since the police don't know that his hatred of women has led him to repeated murder. He shares a prison cell with bank robber Ben Harper (Peter Graves), who stole ten thousand dollars. Powell tries to coax the location of the money from Harper, but the thief takes it to his grave. Only his son John (Billy Chapin) knows its location.

Upon his release, Powell arrives in Harper's town, claiming that he wants to "bring this small comfort to [Ben's] loved ones." Everyone is taken in by him, including his new wife -- Ben's gullible widow, Willa (Shelley Winters). When she vanishes, John and his little sister Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce) must escape their evil stepfather -- even though he's determined to hunt them down and find the money.

When it was first released, "Night of the Hunter" flopped completely. Not very surprising -- the 1950s audiences weren't ready for the unconventional villains, rich symbolism, or the fact that an actor had dared to stray into a director's chair. Fortunately, it lived on as a cult film, and is now regarded as a classic.

It's especially sad that Laughton never directed again, because this is simply astonishing. It feels like a fairy tale, with Powell as the wicked witch, and the children as the protected innocents who are helped by a "fairy godmother." Laughton also loads it down with sexual and religious symbolism -- the LOVE and HATE tattoos, the switchblade, the eerie sacrifice scene.

Best of all is the cinematography. Beauty and horror are inextricably tied together: the dead Willa with "her hair waving soft and lazy like meadow grass under flood water," or the little river animals watching the children escape under a starlit sky. But there are also moments of pure terror, such as the preacher's shadow falling over the kids, or calling out as they're hiding, "I'm out of patience, children. I'm coming to find you now..."

Robert Mitchum played another evil stalker several years later in the superb "Cape Fear," but this performance is even better. His Powell is a seething mass of murderous fervour and sexual hatred -- his intense eyes are enough to give you goosebumps.

He's also backed by some excellent performances -- Chapin is amazing as the little boy determined to obey his father and somehow stop Powell. Bruce and Winters turn in some solid performances, and veteran Lillian Gish has a good supporting role as the kindly Rachel.

As chilling and compelling as when it was first released, "Night of the Hunter" is a vibrant, primal experience, and nobody has quite come close to what it portrays.

Laughton used every cinematic device to tighten the tensions..........2007-01-11

When I think of the special terror that comes from the vulnerability of the helpless I am haunted by the shock-memory of two films ("The Night of the Hunter" and "Cape Fear") which, by no means coincidentally, both starred Robert Mitchum...

Now there is an actor who would no doubt have attracted more critical garlands if he had not been so incredibly popular, if he had not intercepted such a variety of roles, and if a sardonic air of self-deprecation did not tend to obscure a high talent... If he had decided to specialize in villains, he might even have come to out-play the great Bogart because, to the menace they both could share, Mitchum was able to add a genuinely frightening brutality...

In 1955 Charles Laughton went round to the other side of the cameras to direct one and only one motion picture... Laughton used every cinematic device of camera-angle, sound and lighting to tighten the tensions...

Mitchum played a psychopathic preacher with a restrained malice who married and murdered Shelley Winters for her money - only to find that her young children had it, and he proceeded relentlessly to terrorize them...

Mitchum constructed a really superb characterization of the obsessed drifter, with "love" tattooed on one finger and "hate" on another to point his terrifying parables...

Innocence meets evil. .......2007-01-10

The story is a rather strange mixture of innocence and evil with Mitchum in one of his nastiest roles. It's almost like he was rehearsing for his nastiest role in CAPE FEAR. He meets his match in Lillian Gish's character who stands up to him and is just as courageous and savvy as she is "sweet". In fact, the performances were great all around in this atmospheric film. Charles Laughton, in his only stint at directing, does an excellent job but I think he might have done more with the climax because it did seem that it could have been a little better and have more tension. A very good example of film noir.

Tennessee Williams Film Collection (A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 Two-Disc Special Edition / Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1958 Deluxe Edition / Sweet Bird of Youth / The Night of the Iguana / Baby Doll / The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone)

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Essential boxset for fans of American theater of the 1950s
A Boxed Set Named Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams' plays as movies
A Bit Of Heaven In This Southern Madness
Amazing Box Set Collects Some of the Finest Film Performances of Mid-20th Century American Cinema

Tennessee Williams Film Collection (A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 Two-Disc Special Edition / Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1958 Deluxe Edition / Sweet Bird of Youth / The Night of the Iguana / Baby Doll / The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone)
Starring: Vivien Leigh , Marlon Brando , Kim Hunter , Karl Malden , and Rudy Bond
Director: Elia Kazan , and Richard Brooks
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EBD9UI
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Amazon.com

A much-needed DVD tribute to one of the essential American playwrights, The Tennessee Williams Collection gathers six Williams titles and one vintage documentary. Taken together, it's a potent introduction to the specific terrain (geographical and emotional) of this brilliant writer. The set is anchored by Warner's deluxe two-disc treatment of A Streetcar Named Desire, which has copious extras (among them a fine 90-minute documentary about director Elia Kazan). The multi-Oscar-winning Streetcar is one of the better stage adaptations in film history, and it captures the electrifying Marlon Brando, re-creating his stage role, in the part that changed American acting: the brutish New Orleans sensualist Stanley Kowalski. Vivien Leigh won an Oscar opposite him, as the faded (except in her own mind) Southern belle Blanche DuBois, whose arrival in the Kowalski home leads to disaster.

Kazan also directed Baby Doll, which Williams scripted from a couple of one-act plays. This outrageous sex comedy casts the excellent Carroll Baker as the 19-year-old wife of middle-aged Karl Malden, who anxiously awaits the day he can finally consummate his maddening marriage; immigrant cotton magnate Eli Wallach shows up at Malden's crumbling plantation house just in time to take the bloom off the rose, as it were. Famous for being condemned in 1956, Baby Doll remains a very modern (and gloriously dirty) movie. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Richard Brooks, faithfully brings three of Williams's indelible characters to the screen, even if the script discreetly changes the original stage text: the hot Maggie the Cat (Elizabeth Taylor), her reluctant husband Brick (Paul Newman), and Brick's rich Big Daddy (Burl Ives). All three performers act the lights out.

Sweet Bird of Youth reunites Paul Newman with director Brooks, and also showcases Geraldine Page's performance as an aging film star tagging along with young stud Newman to his Southern home town. Some of Williams' more depraved touches are toned down, but the milieu is unmistakable and the movie is intense. The Night of the Iguana gives Richard Burton perhaps his finest hour onscreen: as Williams' dissolute defrocked priest, playing tour guide in Puerto Vallarta to tour groups of nattering biddies. The movie has director John Huston's sympathy for life's losers, as well as a trio of women built to torment Burton's reverend: Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr, and Sue Lyon. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, based on Williams's novel, is not a great movie, but gives Vivien Leigh a good workout as a wounded actress dallying with Italian gigolo Warren Beatty.

Tennessee Williams' South is a 1973 documentary featuring some marvelous observations from Williams, as he holds court for filmmaker Harry Rasky. It also has long scenes from his plays, enacted by good folks such as Maureen Stapleton, Colleen Dewhurst, and Burl Ives. Especially valuable is a Streetcar sequence with Jessica Tandy re-creating her original role as Blanche. Williams himself reads the narration from The Glass Menagerie, a privileged moment. This is not an exhaustive Williams set (Joseph Mankiewicz's Suddenly, Last Summer and Sidney Lumet's The Fugitive Kind are among the best Williams films), but it maps out the steamy, tortured landscape awfully well. --Robert Horton

Description

Streetcar Named Desire 2 Disc SE Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Deluxe Edition Sweet Bird of Youth Night of the Iguana Baby Doll Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

Customer Reviews:

Essential boxset for fans of American theater of the 1950s.......2007-02-23

This is a terrific boxset, collecting six of the films based on Tennessee Williams's plays (plus another disc with the documentary "Tennessee Williams' South"). All the films are transferred with great care, and look quite wonderful. And the films themselves are fascinating, because (with the exception of BABY DOLL), they're invariably sanitized, as the major studios (Warner Brothers, MGM) struggled to constrain the unfettered imagination of one of America's most floridly uninihibited playwrights. Yet Williams' reputation as one of the premiere writers for actors allows some classic performances, starting with Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Karl Malden and Kim Hunter in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, one of the most potent displays of Method acting which helped to revolutionize American film and theater. Kazan's hyperbolic direction of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE is tempered in BABY DOLL, possibly the most charming film in the set (with terrific performances from Carroll Baker, Karl Malden, Eli Wallach, and, most hilariously, Mildred Dunnock). It seems incredible that, at the time (1956), BABY DOLL was the most controversial film of its year, with condemnation and cries of "filth" being bandied about. But BABY DOLL is a comic interlude in Williams' career. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF is the most heavily censored, so that all the talk of mendacity makes the film seem mendacious, because no one is talking about what the film is really about. But all the actors go to town with their Southern accents, especially Elizabeth Taylor and Judith Anderson.

But if CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF seems antiseptic, that's nothing compared to SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, which is alternately lurid and dainty. To watch Geraldine Page rip through in an absolutely corrosive and riveting performance is to see one of America's greatest actresses at her peak. THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA is uneven, but, again, some of the performances (in particular, Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, and, especially, Deborah Kerr and Cyril Delevanti) are superb. The long sequence with Burton and Kerr talking about demons and love while Burton is tied in the hammock is one of the most poetic sequences in all of Williams, handled with great insight and power.

THE ROMAN SPRING OF MRS. STONE has worn well with the years, as Vivien Leigh gives an elegant performance as the aging woman desperate for love nad even more desperate for her dignity.

Of course, these are all works which could be done now with a greater fidelity to Williams' original texts, but it would be hard to beat the incredible performances, done (in many cases) in the original acting styles of the period (in STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, many of the original Broadway casts were also cast in the films). This is a chance to see some legendary actors in the classic parts which they made famous.

A Boxed Set Named Tennessee Williams.......2007-01-08

He may be considered the great American playwright of the 20th Century, but until I got the boxed set of DVDs featuring adaptations of his works, I had never really been exposed to Tennessee Williams. This set of six movies gives a good sampling of Williams and shows why he got his reputation for both daring and excellence.

In chronological order by film date, the first film in the set (and probably the best) is A Streetcar Named Desire. This story focuses on the interrelationship of three characters: Blanche DuBois (played by Vivien Leigh), her sister Stella (Kim Hunter) and Stella's husband, Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando). Blanche moves in with the couple, fleeing from scandal in her hometown and with only a weak grip on sanity. The brutish Stanley is her natural antagonist, with Stella stuck in the middle. Eventually, however, Blanche and Stanley will have to confront each other.

Though Blanche may be the main character, it is Stanley who steals the show due to Brando's wonderful performance. After seeing this movie, I can understand how significant of an impact that Brando had in the world of movie acting; prior to Streetcar, acting performances like Brando's were quite rare. This is a great film, and the only Williams movie I was really familiar with prior to watching, both due to its immortal scenes ("Stella!") and the brilliant Simpsons musical adaptation (in "A Streetcar Named Marge").

Next is Baby Doll, with Karl Malden as an impoverished cotton-miller and Carroll Baker as his very young wife, the Baby Doll of the title. She has been viewing her much older spouse with increasing contempt and has held him to a promise that they would not consummate their marriage until she turned 20, an event soon to happen. Eli Wallach enters the film as both a business and romantic rival to Malden. For the time this movie was made (1956), this film was sexually daring, and though not as explicit as modern movies, it still holds up well.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof features Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor) and Brick (Paul Newman) as a married couple on the edge. A deep secret has kept them estranged and there is the additional complication of the impending death of Brick's very wealthy and dominating father. Brick may be Big Daddy's favorite, but their problems threatens to cut Brick out of an inheritance he doesn't want; Maggie, however, has other ideas.

Newman is back in a different role in Sweet Bird of Youth as a young hustler who returns to his hometown as the lover/employee of an aging actress. He is hopeful that she will help him make it big in Hollywood, but he is also interested in winning back his old girlfriend, a goal her corrupt political boss father will do anything to stop.

Night of the Iguana has Richard Burton as a drunken reverend turned third-rate tour guide winding up at a hotel run by the widow (Ava Gardner) of an old friend. His job is threatened when a young tourist (played by Sue Lyons of Lolita fame) keeps trying to seduce him. As things fall apart for him, it's up to the widow and an artist (Deborah Kerr) to keep him from destroying himself.

Finally, there is The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, featuring Vivien Leigh as a recently widowed actress who takes a young lover (played by an early Warren Beatty). This is probably the weakest in the set, and the only one I felt rather bored while watching.

Actually, there is a problem that is consistent with many of these movies in that they often just seem like filmed plays. That is, everything seems very staged and there is little real action; the focus is on dialogue, which often takes the somewhat formal form you see in the theater. That is not to say that these are bad movies; actually, they are almost all good: Streetcar is a five star film, Baby Doll, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Sweet Bird of Youth merit four, Night three and Roman Spring two. There are also a good number of extras in the set, including commentaries on Streetcar and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a bunch of mini-documentaries and a bonus disc called Tennessee Williams' South. This bonus disc is an early-1970s documentary featuring interviews with Williams and various actors doing scenes from his plays; it is mildly interesting.

One does not watch Williams expecting happy endings and everything nicely resolved (although some of the films do end more upbeat than others, in part, I believe because of a Hollywood demand for such conclusions, despite how the plays may have been written). Instead, you get a level and type of drama that was rarely shown prior to the Williams. Overall, this set rates a high four stars; it may not be perfect, but you do get some good films that pushed the limits of what was allowed at the time.

Tennessee Williams' plays as movies.......2007-01-06

Each of the plays of Tennessee Williams that has been rended as a movie is worth watching. The rawness of emotions, the actors and the direction all make these movies immensely watchable.

A Bit Of Heaven In This Southern Madness.......2006-10-09

Being a sucker for a good box set, I have accumulated quite a few. You end up with some great DVDs, but also some titles that you might not have purchased on their own. This Tennessee Williams collection is one that I wholeheartedly recommend--each selection might not be a true classic, but each represents a significant part of Williams' lexicon and lore. Put together, they symbolize and honor a master craftsman and a time when words, dialogue and screenplays were more important than quick edits and loud soundtracks.

Of course, the undisputed champion of this set is the two disc "A Streetcar Named Desire." An absolutely perfect rendering of a brilliant play, "Streetcar" boasts some of the most powerful performances you're likely to see. With Oscars going to Vivien Leigh, Karl Malden and Kim Hunter--this is one of the most honored films in history. And Marlon Brando's Stanley Kowalski has become a legend.

I'm not going to individually review every film, each offers its own merits. What is amazing about these films is how adult they were for their day and how well they stand up today. Southern melodrama never looked or sounded so good.

"Cat on A Hot Tin Roof" is a flawed, truncated version of Williams' play--but still an entertaining vehicle for Newman and Taylor. "Sweet Bird Of Youth" is one of my absolute favorites proving once and for all that Geraldine Page was an acting icon! Those that dismiss "Baby Doll" as a more minor work miss some of its subtlety. It's a very clever romp. "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" and "The Night of the Iguana" are both intriguing and eminently watchable, but not without their problems.

These films represent very adult topics, some great writing--sometimes leaning toward lurid melodrama--and awesome performances. It's easy to see why so many top caliber actors and directors are attached to these pieces--and why so many were honored for their works.

If you love film (or plays for that matter) and you haven't seen some of these titles, do yourself a favor--BUY THIS SET and enjoy. Tennessee Williams was a singular talent and a unique voice. KGHarris, 10/06.

Amazing Box Set Collects Some of the Finest Film Performances of Mid-20th Century American Cinema.......2006-05-24

If playwright Tennessee Williams's Southern gothic writing style makes his works feel more ornately melodramatic than those of O'Neill or his closest contemporary Arthur Miller, they do provide resonant showcases for the actors inhabiting his characters. This is clearly evidenced in this six-film, eight-disc collection that epitomizes some of the most powerful acting to come out of Hollywood in the 1950's and early 1960's, all directed by true filmmaking masters. Probably because they are the least censored by the studio system at least in the form presented now, the best of the set are Elia Kazan's "A Streetcar Named Desire" and John Huston's "The Night of the Iguana". The others are Kazan's "Baby Doll", Richard Brooks' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Jose Quintero's "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" and Brooks' "Sweet Bird of Youth".

A feral, smoldering Marlon Brando justifiably made his reputation as brutish Stanley Kowalski in 1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire", and his animalistic charisma still leaps off the screen. Intriguingly, one of the extras included in the two-disc set for the movie is footage from a 1947 screen test of Brando when he was 23, and his stardom seems assured even then. The plot of the movie amounts to the inevitable clash between Kowalski and his visiting sister-in-law, Blanche DuBois, a fading Southern belle on the verge of a mental breakdown. Having proven her ability to be a convincing Southerner in "Gone With the Wind", Vivien Leigh expertly handles all the florid dialogue with her particular blend of defiance and vulnerability.

Strong supporting work comes from Kim Hunter as Blanche's naive sister Stella and Karl Malden as Blanche's seemingly respectful suitor Mitch. Now over ninety, Malden is on hand to provide his own eloquent recollections of the production on an alternate track, and film historians Rudy Behlmer and Jeff Young provide more objective commentary on another track. Film critic Richard Schickel's 1995 feature-length look at Kazan is the centerpiece of the second disk, and there is also a more interesting five-part documentary on the film and original Broadway show, the best portion focusing on censorship and the several minutes that have been reinserted in the DVD version of the film.

1964's "The Night of the Iguana" deals with a similarly dysfunctional group of people, but this time the setting is a dilapidated Mexican beach resort where Reverend Shannon, newly defrocked, has taken a group of spinsters from a women's college. Huston made his reputation on his strong literary adaptations, and his affinity shows in the fulsome characterizations, striking visuals and dark humor. Richard Burton is in peak form as Shannon, and there is also sterling work from Deborah Kerr as the spinsterish Hannah and especially Ava Gardner as the slatternly resort owner, Maxine Faulk. The DVD contains a recent making-of featurette and a vintage video, both fascinating.

"Baby Doll" is an entertaining hoot that doesn't seem as sensationalistic as I'm sure it was when the film was first released in 1956. It's simply a Southern-fried farce about the potential deflowering of a nineteen-year old child bride with a nice, pouty turn by Carroll Baker in the title role and a surprisingly funny one by Karl Malden as her randy husband, cotton mill owner Archie. 1958's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is far more vaunted but ultimately hamstrung by the overly careful portrayal of Brick as an asexual protagonist, this in spite of stellar performances from Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives.

Newman is even better as gigolo Chance Wayne in 1963's "Sweet Bird of Youth", and he is matched all the way by Geraldine Page's all-cylinders-on performance as faded movie queen Alexandra Del Lago (a role that would have ironically been ideal for Ava Gardner). The weakest film of the set is 1961's "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" about an aging American actress living in Rome who falls recklessly in love with an indifferent gigolo. A decade after "Streetcar", the glamorous-looking Leigh excels in the title role, while a young Warren Beatty fits the physical requirements as the gigolo Paolo even though his faux-Italian accent is a little too emphatic. All four of these movies come with making-of featurettes and original trailers, and "Cat" also includes commentary from Williams' biographer Donald Spoto.

The focal point of the eighth disc is a 1973 documentary, "Tennessee Williams' South", which highlights insightful interviews with Williams in the New Orleans area. The film also includes classic scenes from his plays reenacted specifically for the documentary. You can have the privilege of seeing Broadway's original Blanche DuBois, Jessica Tandy, and compare her work to Leigh's, as well as an impressive turn by Maureen Stapleton as Amanda Wingfield in "The Glass Menagerie". This is an incredible film collection for anyone who wants to see some of the greatest performances of mid-20th century American cinema.

Average customer rating:

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Starring: Ross Alexander , Billy Barty , Joe E. Brown , James Cagney , and Hobart Cavanaugh
Director: William Dieterle
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Charley's Aunt

ASIN: B000QGE8JC
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Description

Love is blind, fickle and true. And under the sway of capricious fairies it becomes blinder ( a queen romances as donkey), more fickle (best friends swoon over each other's beau) and truest of all (lovers repledge their devotion). "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" in Shakespeare's bewitching comedy!

Classic Albums - Queen: The Making of A Night at the Opera

Average customer rating:

An Excellent, In-Depth Look at a Queen Masterpiece (4.5 stars)
A Great Companion for any Queen CD Collection
A Cool Masterpiece!...
very weak audio
Buy it

Classic Albums - Queen: The Making of A Night at the Opera
Starring: Ian Hunter (IV) , Brian May (II) , Rosie Horide , Joe Smith (III) , and Freddie Mercury
Director: Matthew Longfellow
Manufacturer: Eagle Vision USA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Classic Albums: Cream - Disraeli Gears (Dol)
Classic Albums: The Making of The Dark Side of the Moon
Classic Albums - The Who: Who's Next
Classic Albums - Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Classic Albums - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland

ASIN: B000EHSVP0
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Description

If ever there was an album worthy of inclusion in Eagle Vision's Classic Albums series it is Queen's breakout release A Night At The Opera. Released in 1975, this was not only the band's first platinum album, but also the one that catapulted them into the spotlight as one of the biggest rock acts in the world.

Now for the first time, fans are offered an in-depth look at one of rock music's seminal records with the Classic Albums DVD Queen — The Making Of A Night At The Opera.

• BRAND NEW INTERVIEWS with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor.
• COMMENTARY by original producer Roy Thomas Baker.
• ARCHIVAL PERFORMANCE and INTERVIEW FOOTAGE with late lead singer Freddie Mercury.
• INTERVIEWS and GUEST COMMENTARY by guitarists Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) and many more.
• NEW ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCES of '39 and Love Of My Life by Brian May.
• DRUM and ACOUSTIC DEMONSTRATIONS of I 'm In Love With My Car from Roger Taylor.
• ANALYSIS OF THE RECORDING PROCESS of all12 tracks on the album.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent, In-Depth Look at a Queen Masterpiece (4.5 stars).......2006-11-08

In 1975, Queen were a band on the rise. They just had a hit single with "Killer Queen" off the "Sheer Heart Attack" and were set to release their 4th studio album. "A Night at the Opera" marked Queen's breakthrough, which spawned 2 hit singles, one of them being one of the most popular singles of all time. This song of course was "Bohemian Rhapsody", Freddie Mercury's epic, 6 minute long operatic force. John Deacon also contributed a delightful pop hit with "You're My Best Friend." It wasn't just these two singles that made this album so classic though.

Brian May and Roger Taylor give excellent, detailed descriptions of the work that went into recording and writing many of the songs off the album. "Death on Two Legs" was Freddie's heavy opener, and the DVD takes an excellent excerpt of a Mercury interview where he describes the idea behind the song. Brian May goes through his song structures and writing techniques for "The Prophet's Song", "'39", "Good Company" and "Sweet Lady." Roger Taylor explains the drum-work for "I'm in Love With My Car." However, John Deacon doesn't participate in any interviews, and Roger and Brian discuss how he wishes to live the "quiet life." If you are a Queen fan, this is great footage of the band members detailing the work done on these songs, and along with in-depth analysis and summaries of every song on the album, there are extras. Included is a live version of "Sweet Lady" at Hyde Park, Brian May's performance of "'39" and "Love of My Life", performed by Freddie and Brian.

This a worthwhile DVD if you are a Queen fan who loves this particular album, and are interested in how it was composed so brilliantly. Highly recommended to all fans of Queen.

A Great Companion for any Queen CD Collection.......2006-11-05

I'm a big fan of the 'Classic Albums' DVD series. As a fan, I'd rather see and hear about my favorite musicians' triumphs rather than their personal failures (ala' "Behind the Music"). If you're a fan of the group being profiled, you're going to enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at the making of their best-known album. I'm a Queen fan, and I thoroughly enjoyed this video.

There's a lot of archival footage of Queen's mid-70s stage act (though not of the footage shows the band in the studio actually recording their music). Brand-new interviews with both Brian May and Roger Taylor comprise the bulk of this DVD's running time. Brian and Roger are as soft-spoken and thoughtful as always and I've always appreciated their dry sense of humor. Roy Thomas Baker, the album's producer, also appears sporadically as do a handful of executves who were in power at Elektra Records when Queen were under contract there. (Elektra were Queen's American distributors at one time; I am surprised no one from EMI was interviewed as this was Queen's British label). There are some rock journalists and British DJs. A variety of minor rock celebrities (Nuno Bettencourt, Joe Perry) pop in but provide very little. Freddie Mercury, of course, only appears in grainy vintage TV interviews from the early 1980s. John Deacon apparently is letting his bass work speak for itself as he declined requests to be interviewed for this project.

There are many, many highlights to both Brian's and Roger's interviews. Brian, in particular, gently reminds us that although 'A Night at the Opera' was considered Queen's breakthrough album, it really exists in a continuity of musical styles and techniques going back to Queen's first album. Brian plays us excerpts of 'March of the Black Queen' and 'Procession' to bring the point home. It's always a delight to see Brian play his Red Special guitar (or an Ovation) to make a musical point, and Brian freely credits Freddie Mercury for authoring some of Queen's heaviest riffs. It's also a treat to hear Brian's solo acoustic takes on both '39' and 'Love of my Life.' Roger shares a wonderful story in which Groucho Marx gave his blessing to Queen's appropriation of the Marx Brothers' film title to their album, and its an anecdote that isn't often retold.

There are also a series of 'extras' which were apparently cut from the TV Special version of this DVD. For what it's worth, I would have prefered if these sequences were simply re-edited into the continuity of the video. Still, they are great to have and the DVD is stronger for their inclusion.

If you're a Queen fan (especially of the 1970s material), you'll definitely want to own this DVD. While Queen experts may already know most or all of the stories included here, it's a great tribute to one of rock music's most adventurous bands.

A Cool Masterpiece!..........2006-10-02

It was really a pleasure to see this DVD and realise the renewed personalities of drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May. If you remember after that Freddie passed away (RIP), they were really in a dark, gloomy mood. I don't remember their tranquility and peace of mind in an interview, since all happened, 6 years ago.
This DVD really is illustrative with an extensive analysis of the recording process song by song with Roy Thomas Baker and Brian May (I don't know if it had would been better to add the comments of Roy Thomas Baker about the making of "Bohemian Rhapsody" that appear in "THE MAGIC YEARS" vol. I), special Roger's drum demostration (almost a clinic!... If you aren't a drummer, with these tips you can understand better the Roger Taylor style), with good introspective interviews (and the reason of the John Deacon's disappearing of the musical scene), with people that lived the bankrup of the band in '74, and finally, the making of an extraordinary masterpiece: the A NIGHT AT THE OPERA album. It's interesting see the live footage and performances between one and another interview, and a good example of this is the live track "SWEET LADY" from the DVD LIVE AT THE HYDE PARK, '76... Good Luck!

very weak audio.......2006-09-07

I think their original intention was to give you an insight to the behind the scenes making of the album...what you end up with is a very light overview of what happened. Lacking the presence of Freddie and John Deacon...most of what you're hearing and seeing are assumptions and opinions of half a band. They really aren't sharing any secret studio tricks with you that hadn't been made available at earlier dates.

I agree with the other reviewer who commented....since when are Joe Perry...Nuno Bettencord and Ian Hunter considered Queen experts.....at least Ian was playing the same local London bar circuit back in the pre-fame days as Queen were..and was classified as "glam rock"..so they climbed up from the same streets.

I wasn't very pleased with the audio.....very weak output.

My bottom line opinion is: The remainer of Queen are just cashing in on anything they can use to generate more income. This video is just a trip down memory lane with some of the people involved in the making of a great album. Just as they are doing by touring with Paul Rodgers and billing themselves as Queen and Paul Rodgers....They need to come up with a new name to represent their project...Queen died when Freddie did....and John Deacon pretty much made his mind known when he refused to be a part of any further musical projects. Sometimes you need to let go and move on.

Buy it.......2006-05-13

This is a great DVD. For me, the original album gets only 4 stars. While brilliant, it has a couple of uninteresting tracks (Good Company, Sweet Lady and God Save The Queen). The rest though, Rocks!!!
The Making Of DVD is incredible. So interesting, I love hearing Brian and Roger talk. Watching them play is worth the price of the DVD alone.
I always thought '39 was about the Second World War. Silly me.
For me, I would love to hear the original 9 minute version of Bo Rhap and hoped it would be on here. It isn't which is a shame. Perhaps one day it will surface.
My version has the DVD of Night At The Opera (released on its own a couple of years ago) included, the 5.1 surround sounds amazing.
Hopefully they do A Day At The Races next as that is my favourite Queen and All Time album.

Ian Hunter - Just Another Night Live at the Rant Band

Average customer rating:

Ian Hunter Musical Icon
almost 5 stars
"Rock and Roll's a loser's game/ it mesmerizes and I can't Explain..."
Awesome
Just Another Review

Ian Hunter - Just Another Night Live at the Rant Band
Starring: Ian Hunter
Manufacturer: Mvd Visual
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nuthin' But the Truth
Strings Attached
Live
Ian Hunter
Good To See You Again, Alice Cooper - Live 1973 - Billion Dollar Babies Tour

ASIN: B000ANVPLA
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Product Description

JUST ANOTHER NIGHT: LIVE AT ASTORIA (HUNTER,IAN)

Customer Reviews:

Ian Hunter Musical Icon.......2006-11-28

Unfortunately the setlist is missing from the official description of this DVD.
So here it is.. buy it.. you'll love it!

Rest In Piece
Rock'n'Roll Queen
Once Bitten Twice Shy
Twisted Steel
I Wish I Was Your Mother
Knees Of My Heart
23A Swan Hill
Irene Wilde
The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth
Rollerball
Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
Roll Away The Stone
Saturday Gigs
All The Young Dudes
The Journey
Dead Man Walkin'
Just Another Night
Cleveland Rocks
Michael Picasso
Standin' In My Light
All The Way From Memphis

almost 5 stars.......2006-06-07

I've seen Ian everytime he's been in Cleveland since 1972.

That being said, this is perhaps his best live/DVD/VHS concert ever. Unless they unearth a video with Mick Ronson, this is it!
Ian ain't about flash, smoke pots, and fire, his songs are the reason people go to see him.

With a set that includes songs from LP 1 (R & R Queen/ Mott The Hoople) to his last studio LP (Dead Man Walking/Rant),he touches all bases.

With a crack line-up which includes Andy York and MICK RALPHS!!, they tear up a slew of classics and obscure songs---obscure only if you're a newbie to his music

Highlights--Dudes--Ian's joined onstage by his kids Tracie (what a Hottie) and Jesse
Michael Picasso--ode to Ronson
Roll Away the Stone--another appearence by Tracie
Memphis--because Ian screws up and they restart the song in true Mott The Hoople fashion

The only downer on this is the camera placement. Most everything is shot from viewer left/stage right---up and down to center stage.
This is why it gets 4 stars.

Good interview with Ian also, although a translator might be in order--lol---he's so British

New LP on the way---hopefully by September

"Rock and Roll's a loser's game/ it mesmerizes and I can't Explain...".......2006-06-06

Wow...all the other reviewers here sound like they've been to the Cameron Crowe school of adjectives. Ok, truth is, I have Ian with Ronno and the "Welcome To The Club" band, so I'm in no great rush to hear his songs mangled by JC Mellonhead's guitarist. But Ralpher is on here fairly prominently, so, until IH releases stuff that he did PRE-MTV....like I said, I will wind up buying this. 6/20 - it arrived yesterday. It's wonderful to see and hear Ralpher again - and, in truth, the price you pay for this thing is justified, just to watch/hear Mick Ralphs actually play the immortal riff that IS All The Young Dudes." And Tracy is a stone HOTTIE, but somebody needs to stick a sock in that brat from "Def Leppard" & Brian May's mouths, and....oh, you know, I'm sorry ; I've said it all before: stick to pre- "Welcome To The Club" stuff.

Awesome.......2006-05-26

Wow. Great DVD. Ian's looking great. It's so much fun to see these guys up there playing a mix of old and new stuff. The band sounds great and look like they're having a lot of fun, too. This is true rock and roll.

Just Another Review.......2006-01-14

Ian's back. So am I.I won't review every song this time,nor write about me.About the sound and picture quality, I'm not that knowledgeable. The picture seems very clear at times and not so at others. I think this is done purposely, sought of like what Pearl Jam did with their dvd.The sound is great. In the past I've owned many bootleg tapes, some with very poor quality, so I think all these dvd concerts are fantastic. Including this one. There are a lot of different songs on this dvd than the last one, and no strings, of course.I loved Knees of my Heart. Ian re-tools Irene Wilde and it's great to hear a song you know slightly different.That's what makes a live performance special.Ian does The Truth,The Whole Truth... And I don't think I've ever heard this live before but I love this song and is the main reason I bought this dvd.Andy York really shows his skills here and through out the dvd.With good camera angles and close ups you get a good look at his playing.Fantastic!Ian also brings back Mick Ralphs for this one.He's looking a little old but gets off a few blistering leads himself, to show he can still play.A few more different songs Ian does are Roll Away The Stone, Cleveland Rocks and Standing In My Light.He also goes way back and breaks out The Journey.Awesome!Then for the finale he does All The Way... with special guests Brian May and Joe Elliot. That's alot of talent on the stage. Great show. Ian does the ballads. Ian rocks.Ian delivers.

Average customer rating:

Basehart a Darkhorse!
He Walked by Night
Great and dark
You could call this a Dragnet prototype. Jack Webb has
Just the Facts on an Elusive Criminal

He Walked By Night
Starring: Richard Basehart , Scott Brady , Roy Roberts , Whit Bissell , and James Cardwell
Director: Anthony Mann , and Alfred L. Werker
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Kiss of Death (Fox Film Noir)

ASIN: B0000CNY4Z
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Amazon.com

This gritty and often chilling documentary-style noir (based on a true story) about the hunt for a cop killer in Los Angeles is a must-have for fans of vintage crime films. Richard Basehart stars as a cold-blooded thief whose murder of a police officer sets off a citywide manhunt; the law, led by granite-jawed Scott Brady, tracks him relentlessly until the pair square off in the shadow-steeped drainage canals beneath the city (the same locale for the finale of Them!). Though Alfred Werker is credited as director, noir and Western vet Anthony Mann actually helmed the majority of the film; his muscular direction lends palpable suspense to the picture, aided in no small part by longtime collaborators John C. Higgins (who co-wrote the script) and cinematographer John Alton, whose Germanic-influenced lighting creates an otherworldly atmosphere. Supporting cast member Jack Webb borrowed the no-nonsense, semi-documentary approach for Dragnet. --Paul Gaita

Description

Based on true events, this film noir classic is a "thrilling, absorbing story, superbly told, well-acted [and] brilliantly photographed" (The Hollywood Reporter). Starring Richard Basehart, Scott Brady and Jack Webb, this "tense, exciting" (Variety) thriller was the inspiration not only for the TV series "Dragnet" but for many other subsequent "ripped from the headlines" crime dramas. Taken from actual case files, He Walked by Night is the suspenseful, action-packed tale of a manhunt for the most cunning criminal in the history of the LAPD. With a combination of ingenuity, state-of-the-art technology, sweat and sheer determination, the police painstakingly track down a brilliant, elusive thief and cop killer who seems to have the ability to vanish into thin air. But can they catch him before he murders again?

Customer Reviews:

Basehart a Darkhorse!.......2007-06-27

Richard Basehart gives an under the radar performance as a lonely, troubled, cold killer in He Walked By Night (1948). His screen presence as the character Roy commands recognition among noir stalwarts such as Widmark, Duryea , Mitchum, and Lancaster. How this minor league studio produced such a realistic vision of Los Angeles noir is amazing. The acting, camera work, script, lighting, sets, and final print leaves little to be desired. A bit more plot intrigue would have earned this film a 5 star rating and a place alongside noir masterpieces such as The Asphalt Jungle, The Killers, and Out of the Past. The film boasts a wide range of characters; from mailmen, police officers, and crimminal technicians to a mentally unstable housewife. Unfortunately I own The Ultimate Film Noir Collection which contains 5 DVD's and 10 films one of which is He Walked By Night that omits closing credits. I accessed the uncredited cast of He Walked By Night by visiting a helpful website-the movie data base which contained interesting information about the film and cast. One comment I would like to make that was mentioned by previous reviewers is the comparison between the underground chase scene in He Walked By Night and The Third Man. The sound, editing, visual bleakness and desperation captured in the chase scene in He Walked By Night is superior to the plagarized scene in The Third Man.

He Walked by Night.......2007-06-22

The semi-documentary approach Director Mann pioneered within film noir, seen in both "T-Men" and "Naked City," was realized most effectively in this picture, which methodically follows a manhunt for a cop-killer. The film is extremely tight, plays out in chronological time, and climaxes with a brilliantly-shot sequence in a city sewer. The spooky, skin-crawling performance of Basehart as the baby-faced killer is reason enough to add this movie to your must-see list of noir masterworks.

Great and dark.......2007-02-20

As a kid I only knew actor Richard Basehart for his part as Admiral Nelson of the submarine Seaview on the 60's TV series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and wasn't aware of his edgy work in films that had preceded it. This precision tooled crime drama also includes several elements that would later become part of the Dragnet TV series, but this is a much more intense sort of work. Based on a real case, this fine black & white film showcases Basehart's portrayal of a brilliant sociopathic killer/criminal, but everyone is well cast and utilized; including a very young Jack Webb. Sort of half police-procedural film and half cold-blooded film noir. Basehart was also excellent as the man on the suicidal ledge in Fourteen Hours

You could call this a Dragnet prototype. Jack Webb has.......2007-02-02

a supporting role in this one as Lee, a forensic expert for LAPD. He must have been taking notes on how to do it. It is a good noir, murder thriller. Los Angeles became a favorite city for these type of movies for lots of obvious reasons. But it is also a huge city, spread out, diverse & exciting. A real challenge for cops. Richard Basehart is Roy Martin/Morgan, a smart sophisticated thief. He graduates to murder, a cop killer. He has no record & thus is able to fly under the radar of the cops for a quite a while. In a documentary style that became familiar, the film shows the slow, many times boring process in catching a dangerous criminal. This is seen through the main character, Sgt. Marty Brennan, played by Scott Brady. He is a doggedly determined homocide detective. It is also personal for him. One of the cops killed was his friend. He has the vast police community as his support system. Apprehension of the guilty seems assured. But the final chase scenes are nonetheless gripping, eventually ending in the vast sewer system underneath the city. Good drama, good movie

Just the Facts on an Elusive Criminal.......2006-12-30

He Walked by Night, 1948 film

This is a true story, only the names were changed to protect the innocent. Los Angeles was the fastest growing city in the nation, 452 square miles. An off-duty policeman noticed a man near a closed store. He asks for identification, and is shot by this prowler. The police stations are called and the police set up a dragnet to arrest anyone in the area and question them. Hotels in a four mile area and anyone on the street were brought in for questioning. [No probable cause?] Most were let go, the one sought wasn't caught. They search the MO file to find burglars who use picklocks; no success.

We learn Roy Martin is an ace electronics technician whose machines are leased to customers (reflecting post-war scarcity). One of them was stolen. The police are called and they set a trap. But Roy suspects something and arrives early. There is an exchange of shots and Roy is wounded but escapes to operate on himself! The police learn Roy worked for the Signal Corps. Now Roy begins a new career as a liquor store bandit (cash only, no credit as in small grocery stores). He learned to escape through the storm sewer system of Los Angeles, an underground highway. The police gather the crime victims to develop a picture of the robber. Wanted posters were sent out, but nobody knew this unknown subject. Roy eludes the police and sees a businessman to rob him. The police assign a new team to catch a man who has no friends, no records, no fingerprints, and can outsmart the police. The wounded officer comes up with a clue to find this seeming genius, Finally they get a suspect and a name! The detective tracks him down disguised as a milkman.

The police silently surround Roy's bungalow. His dog senses the strangers and barks a warning. But Roy escapes into his attic and jumps to another roof. When the police pursue, Roy jumps into the underground storm drain system to escape. The police arrange for converging columns, and Roy is trapped by a parked car. There is an exchange of shots, and Roy ceases to resist. The idea of a criminal who knows police procedure must be a bad dream for the police. Yet there are examples of this in some true crime stories. Jack Webb, who played a minor role here, went on to stardom in the "Dragnet" dramas on radio and television in the 1950s. This story could be a primer on police procedure. One significance of this film are the scenes of an extinct Los Angeles. Sparse traffic, sunny skies, no smog, small businesses, etc. are all gone. [The scenes of the hunt in the storm sewer system seems to be echoed in Carol Reed's "The Third Man".]

Average customer rating:

There Has To Be a Plot Here Somewhere
Zalman King's Best
Hauntingly Beautiful
Zalman King must be stopped
An interesting film

Women of the Night
Starring: Shawnee Free Jones , Seymour Cassel , Sally Kellerman , James Farentino , and Masaya Kato
Director: Zalman King
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Wild Orchid 2: Blue Movie Blue
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Femalien

ASIN: B000056HOX
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Customer Reviews:

There Has To Be a Plot Here Somewhere.......2006-06-30

Okay, I can appreciate a cheesy, wafer-thin plot to make room for the steamy scenes, but this movie has neither. It thought it was going to be soft porn, but it didn't work out. But by the time you realize this, you have already lost interest in the plot, for the simple reason that there really isn't one. This is one of the few films actress Sandra Taylor ever starred in, so it's worth picking up if you're a fan. But if you're just looking to see if maybe Zalman King has finally done a nice steamy movie that doesn't involve David Duchovny and a small dog, you're wasting your time - he hasn't.

Zalman King's Best.......2006-05-28

One of the best of Zalman King's Work. I was very surprised, as an avid admirer of his Red Shoes Series that he could dwelve this deep into human emotion and sexuality in such a blissful manner. Not only by the sentious nature of the storyline, the beautifully execution of the soundtrack and the lives of the characters you follow and get to know as you follow the midnight pirate radio broadcast. The underlying story that follows each of the characters keeps you wishing and wanting for more. I hated for the movie to end. Zalman far outceeded his work with Red Shoes with this move "Women of the Night". I wish he would do more and I wish he would continue to use George Clinton as his musical director.

Hauntingly Beautiful.......2003-05-25

I caught this one on a late night cable channel. I didn't know what to expect but the first few minutes caught me and I couldn't look away.
This is a story about an Heiress who managed to get away from her ruthless drug lord father and escape to the states. The story is laid out from her perspective and she incorperates the lives of two other women that she knew as a result of working at a coffee shop.
I can see how this may be a bit confusing at first because the storyteller is a blind radio pirate who is actually the heiress. She tells her story only at night in hopes of luring her father to her.
In the heiress's story, which to me is the only one that matters, Her brother was kidnapped and murdered and her mother committed suicide by driving drunken off a cliff. Then the young blonde girl is sent away from home because it is no longer safe. In this segment she realizes that her mother should have had a driver when she crashed and that leads her to believe that her father murdered her mother. The heiress runs from the 'bodygaurd' and gets away only because of a young asian man who distracts the men while she escapes.
Later in the states she meets up with this asian man and they fall in love and plan to move to another city where her father can't find them.
Then one night before they leave her father's men attack the coffee shop in hopes of kidnapping her, they mortally wound the asian man and before he dies he kills the man forcing the heiress into the car and she escapes.
From that day on due to the trauma she goes blind.

I'm not sure how long from this instance till she decides to tell her story via pirate radio, but she looks older to me.

That is only the heiress' story there are two other's to follow as well. This was beautifully orchastrated, and a jewel to watch. I love it.

Zalman King must be stopped.......2002-11-17

Caught this late at night (where it belonged). A complete and total tease. Music video editing, incomprehensible plots--ponderous and stultifyingly pretentious.

I have a theory that [stuff] like this and the "Red Shoe Diaries" actually drives people TO hardcore pornography.
ALRIGHT ALREADY--JUST GET TO IT!!!

An interesting film.......2002-10-14

I had never heard of pirate radio stations before watching this movie. I found the idea of a beautiful pirate radio host traveling the streets of Los Angeles in a fully armed 18 wheeler a bit strange at first, but it all makes sense at the end. The lead actress was so beautiful, so ethereal, so melancholy that I empathized with the men who protected and loved her. I never saw the Red Shoe Diaries (the director directed that series) but I've heard good things about it and I found this story to be surprisingly entertaining with the voices of the lead actress and Sally Kellerman (who is still sexy after all these years) and Donna De Lory's soundtrack to be both haunting and soothing. I highly recommend getting Ms. De Lory's album, "Bliss," to enjoy this wonderful performer. As erotica, though, the movie is quite tame, and the comedianne part was somewhat of a disappointment because her jokes weren't funny and they didn't show enough of her to really get a sense of her erotic nuances. Thus the four star rating rather than a five.

Average customer rating:

The film? Like playing Jenga on acid. The commentary? Gold, I tell ya...
A Night To FORGET!!!!!!!!
Beyond bad....
2 sams
Watch it for the commentary, it's priceless!

A Night to Dismember
Starring: Samantha Fox , Diane Cummins , Saul Meth , Miriam Meth , and William Szarka
Director: Doris Wishman
Manufacturer: ELITE ENTERTAINMENT
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Slasher Flicks | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005OSJZ
Release Date: 2001-10-29

Amazon.com

For anyone who still holds up Ed Wood as the worst director who ever lived, consider A Night to Dismember as a nomination for Doris Wishman. This largely incomprehensible horror film (her first feature in 20 years) features porn star Samantha Fox in a rare "legitimate" role as a suspected psycho killer sprung from an insane asylum. Is it mere coincidence that the body count begins anew? The Queen of Exploitation adds mutilations, dismembered bodies, and buckets of gore to her trademark nudie style, but her technique is just as primitive as ever. The special effects are crude (to say the least), the photography dark and dreary, and the soundtrack awkwardly dubbed in (why waste time recording sound on set?) while a grating narrator hopelessly tries to make sense of the mess. This one is for Wishman fans and bad-cinema junkies only.

The film may be dreadful, but the brash and brassy Wishman is a real character and contributes a hugely entertaining commentary track. She bickers with