Skins

Starring:Joseph American Horse, Nathaniel Arcand, Wilda Asimont, Dave Bald Eagle, Bruce Bennett (IV), Robert A. Bennett, Gil Birmingham, Joe Black Elk, Kato Buss, Jenny Cheng, Gerald Tokala Clifford, Dale Cooks, Gary Farmer, Graham Greene (II), Lois Red Elk, Eric Schweig, Chaske Spencer, Michelle Thrush, Noah Watts
Studio: First Look Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

A dark and moving tale of bitter helplessness turned to vigilante rage, Skins is the second feature film directed by Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals). As with the previous movie, Skins concerns two very different and determined protagonists who have grown up together: a cop, Rudy Yellow Lodge (Eric Schweig), on the Lakota reservation's police force, and his older brother Mogie (Graham Greene), an unrepentant drunk. Frustrated by Mogie's self-destruction and outraged by rampant alcoholism throughout the rez (with the disease's concomitant social violence and general hell-raising at an all-time high), Rudy resorts to off-duty, anonymous jungle justice--beating suspects and torching a Nebraska border-town liquor store--with tragic consequences. Eyre's unflinching eye for reservation horrors and the exploitation of Indians is compelling; his compassion for characters grasping at hope is equally strong. Skins benefits mightily from Schweig and Greene's strong performances; in all, this is an underrated drama waiting for a real audience. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

powerful!!!.......2007-06-01

I must have seen this film (at least) four years ago. I loved it then, and, upon recalling the plot, still appreciate the power and intensity it presented to us, through its depiction of the turbulence and pain of the Plains Indian experience on the "rez" (reservation). Rudy Yellow Lodge (Eric Schweig), a man employed to uphold honor and accountablity, snaps in the face of his brother, Mogie (Graham Greene)'s alcoholism and the desolate existence of his fellow residents. In defiance, Rudy decides to take part in random acts of violence (beating a white supremacist, destroying a liquor store in a fiery act of arson, fueled by anger). Though, Rudy's original intention is to take a bold (but violent) stand against the multitudes of injustice laid on the heads and hearts of his Native brothers on sisters, his plan backfires on him.

Director Chris Eyre (SMOKE SIGNALS) boldly directs this film and takes us all on a gothic, violent and very disturbing journey down the path of anger, oppression and (attempted) redemption. I really got a sense of the rage blazing behind the camera (in the director's chair) as I did in the eyes of the actors who so masterfully portrayed such powerful and disturbed characters. SKINS challenges the stereotype (and stigma) of alcoholism in the Native American community, as well as everyday racism that occurs as easily as breathing in and out. Eyre's unflinching account of these experiences is beautiful and heartbreaking. Watch SKINS purely for the reason that not enough people have heard of the film (but ought to). What's more, you will walk away with a perspective that you may not have possessed upon initially pressing the "play" button on your DVD player.

Skins.......2007-05-10

Chris Eyre does a wonderful job of bringing to light the truth of what happens on the reservation. This movie is serious yet has some comic relief. All of the main characters are portrayed by Native American actors. Chris pulled together a great cast. This movie is thought provoking and deep. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in or wanting a deeper look into present-day reservation life.

skins.......2007-04-12

Great Movie... FINALLY I can watch a movie with REAL Indians portraying themselves. I truly enjoyed this movie.

Veil Between the Material and Non-material worlds.......2007-02-24

Excellent movie for any viewer to get a fundamental understanding of the inter-connectedness of all humans and the spirits, or the parallel worlds and other dimensions, on this level of reality .

Skins will keep your attention!.......2007-01-12

Is a terrific and well produced movie with great actors in it!

Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 5 (The Little Princess / Stand Up and Cheer / The Blue Bird)

Average customer rating:

Great Service!
Definitely the weakest set...
DVD Titles

Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 5 (The Little Princess / Stand Up and Cheer / The Blue Bird)
Starring: Warner Baxter , Madge Evans , James Dunn , Sylvia Froos , and John Boles
Director: Hamilton MacFadden , and Walter Lang
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Music & Arts | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Musicals & Performing Arts | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Shirley Temple: America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 4 (Captain January / Just Around the Corner / Susannah of the Mounties)
Shirley Temple Collection, Vol. 3 - America's Sweetheart Collection -(Dimples / The Little Colonel / The Littlest Rebel)
Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 2 (Bright Eyes / Baby Take a Bow / Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm)
The Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 1: Heidi/Curly Top/Little Miss Broadway
The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2 (Romance on the High Seas / My Dream Is Yours / On Moonlight Bay / I'll See You in My Dreams / By the Light of the Silvery Moon / Lucky Me)

ASIN: B000LC4ZDU
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Description

Disc 1: THE BLUE BIRD Disc 2: THE LITTLE PRINCESS Disc 3: STAND UP AND CHEER

Customer Reviews:

Great Service!.......2007-07-05

The tapes arrived very quickly and were in perfect condition. My daughter has been very happy with her new videos.

Definitely the weakest set..........2007-04-30

As a Shirley Temple fan, I have purchased each one of these new DVD sets so far. This one is definitely the weakest.

The one strong movie of the three, "The Little Princess", cannot make up for the other two. Though all three movies look good, it is the story/plot of each that is either their saving grace or their downfall. (Note that two of these movies - "The Little Princess" and "The Blue Bird" are in colour, while "Stand Up and Cheer" has been left in its original black-and-white state without a colourized version.)

"The Blue Bird" is weak, and it is understandable that this film was the one generally viewed to have ended Shirley's career as a child actress. The story is boring and drawn out, and one cannot help but think that it would be much better as a play (and, in fact, it was originally a play). Shirley is unappealing as a selfish child, and the acting on the part of her co-stars is not very good. Young children would probably not understand some of the underlying themes, and might get bored. I certainly did...

"The Little Princess", made a year earlier than "The Blue Bird", is a much better film. Based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the movie tells the classic story of little Sara Crewe and her undying belief that her soldier father is still alive. This version looks great; the colour is wonderful. The sound didn't seem quite right (loud ambient noise and too-quiet voices), but that may be my DVD player.

"Stand Up and Cheer" is just a weird movie. It's not for children, and it barely has enough of a plot to keep adults entertained. It's a mish-mash of song-and-dance numbers, and Shirley barely features in it at all. Luckily, with DVD technology, we can skip right to her special scene (and it is a good one... it's no wonder the 1930s movie-going public fell in love with this child!).

I am still waiting for some of my other favourites to be released as part of this series, but I don't know how many more 3-disc sets there will be, as there are five movies (by my count) left to be released: "Our Little Girl", "The Poor Little Rich Girl", "Stowaway", "Wee Willie Winkie", and "Young People".

So, for this set, three stars. The films have been restored nicely. They're just rather weak on content.

DVD Titles.......2006-12-12

The 3 titles in this collection are:

Stand Up And Cheer
The Little Princess
The Blue Bird

Average customer rating:

Which movie is it?
A doomed unequited love affair
A fine, bleak noir, close to great, where a person's destiny is written on his face like an epitaph
LANCASTER AND DECARLO IN GREAT S IODMAK NOIR!
You can't seem to trust anybody these days (recommended)

Criss Cross (Universal Noir Collection)
Starring: Burt Lancaster , Yvonne De Carlo , Dan Duryea , Stephen McNally , and Esy Morales
Director: Robert Siodmak
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Film Noir | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

This Gun For Hire (Universal Noir Collection)
The Big Clock (Universal Noir Collection)
Black Angel (Universal Noir Collection)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (Fox Film Noir)
Kiss of Death (Fox Film Noir)

ASIN: B00023P4GA
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Amazon.com

A certified film noir classic, Criss Cross embraces the genre's darkness with an uncompromising tale of doomed lovers and multilayered betrayal. Reuniting with director Robert Siodmak after their success with The Killers, Burt Lancaster plays a love-struck loser who seals his fate when he returns to Los Angeles to find his ex-wife (Yvonne DeCarlo) eager to rekindle their love against all better judgment. She encourages their torrid affair but marries a mobster (Dan Duryea); to deflect suspicion, Lancaster lures Duryea into an armored-truck robbery, creating a vortex of greed and passion from which he cannot escape. Featuring the brief screen debut of Tony Curtis, Criss Cross is a stylish masterpiece of clashing fates and fatal attractions; Franz Planer's cinematography creates a shadow world in which every desire is tainted by the threat of violence, and Miklos Rozsa's score underlines a love story that could never end happily. Film noir doesn't get any bleaker--or better--than this. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Which movie is it?.......2006-11-26

So which is this, the Goldie Hawn movie, shown, or the Burt Lancaster film, as described? I guess I'd give both 4 stars, but would like to know what I'm buying!

A doomed unequited love affair.......2006-10-05

The Robert Siodmak directed "Criss Cross", has all the classic underpinnings for film noir, black and white cinematography, a plot bordering on criminality and a manipulative bad girl.

The sultry Yvonne DeCarlo plays Anna, the self serving black hearted ex-wife of Burt Lancaster. Lancaster, in an early role, plays good natured schnook Steve Thompson who stills pines for his ex. He left L.A. in order to get her out of his system but is lured back hopelessly infatuated, much to the chagrin of good friend detective Lt. Pete Ramirez played by Stephen McNally. The trouble is is that DeCarlo is now married to L.A. mobster Slim Dundee played by Dan Duryea. Lancaster, an armored car driver, in desperation schemes to ally himself with Duryea in a hold up. With his share of the take, he hopes to run away with DeCarlo.

As in all film noir, we see that crime doesn't pay and the plot leads to the inevitable downfall of all the major players in this solid 1949 flick.

A fine, bleak noir, close to great, where a person's destiny is written on his face like an epitaph.......2006-07-04

"I didn't come back on account of her. It had nothing to do with her. I wasn't going to go looking for her. I didn't expect to run into her. I didn't particularly want to see her. I was sure of that if I was sure of anything. Then from the start it all went one way. It was in the cards or it was fate or a jinx or whatever you want to call it."

Steve Thompson (Burt Lancaster) is a drifter, taking jobs where he finds them. He'd been married to Anna (Yvonne De Carlo) for seven months two years ago. He thought he had her out of his system when he returned to Los Angeles. He was wrong. He starts dropping in at The Roundup, an old hangout, telling himself he isn't there to see her. One evening he spots her there dancing. She's with Slim Dundee (Dan Duryea), a known gangster. The old story starts up again. In a way he sees what's coming. "Half the time you don't know what you're doing," he tells her, "the trouble is you always know what you want." An old friend, Detective Lieutenant Pete Ramirez, tries to tell him she's bad news. Steve's mother tries to talk sense to him. "You know, Steve," she says to him while he's getting ready to meet Anna, "you're a very nice looking boy. Out of all the girls in Los Angeles why did you have to pick on her?...A girl puts on a piece of silk and the next thing that happens, a fellow like you is sure he knows exactly what he's doing." Steve and Anna start to have good times, if good times means going to the beach or a movie or The Roundup. Then one night at The Roundup, waiting for Anna to show up, he's told she's not coming...she got married to Dundee. Dundee may be a criminal, but he has what Anna wants...money.

Then Anna and Steve start seeing each other again. Anna shows the bruises she says she got from Dundee. And Dundee is no fool. One afternoon Anna goes to Steve's home while his mother is out...and Dundee and his gang catch them there. "Hello, baby," Dundee says to his wife while Steve stands nearby in his undershirt. "You know it don't look right," he tells her, "you can't exactly say it looks right, now can you?" Steve makes up a story about how he was meeting Anna just to set up a meeting with Dundee. "What meeting," Dundee asks. You can see the machinery work behind Steve's eyes. A holdup, he says. We can crack an armored car delivery because that's where I work. I'll be Mr. Inside. We'll split fifty-fifty. Steve's committed now. He'll have the money to run away with Anna and she'll be free of Dundee.

As with all fatalistic noirs, of course, it doesn't work out that way. By the time we get to the bleak, night-time ending in a cottage on the California coast, there have been double and triple crosses, betrayals and a loss of innocence that's sad to see.

Is this one of the great noirs, where content isn't as important as style and where a person's destiny is written on his face like an epitaph? Not quite, but it comes close. What I found missing was the lack of empathy between myself and Steve Thompson. Lancaster plays him like just an innocent, well-intentioned guy, a big, dumb lug way over his depth in his relationship with a woman who wants a lot more than just being content with Steve Thompson. Lancaster was a smart, dynamic actor. I had trouble accepting that he was so under Anna's spell that nothing she did raised any questions with him. De Carlo does a nice job as Anna, a character who is selfish and wants money, but who also is being pushed around. Steve gives her the benefit of every doubt, but no one else comes even close to that. The most interesting character, in my view, is Dan Duryea as Slim Dundee. He may be a double-crossing gangster, but we come to believe he really loves Anna. As bleak as the ending is, the last look at Duryea's face is a fine piece of acting.

The movie also has some set pieces which help build a lot of tension during the second half. Handled very well are the planning of the robbery in a smoke-filled room, the tear-gas attack and the shoot-out around the armored truck, the extended scene in the hospital when Steve believes Dundee is going to send someone to get him, the drama between Anna and the wounded Steve at the ocean-side cottage and that ending. If you tend toward bouts of depression, you might want to skip the last few minutes.

There's also Percy Helton, a short, balding actor with a round face and one of the most distinctive voices among Hollywood character actors, hoarse and breathy. He's one of any number of interesting actors we can't remember the name of but we recognize the face and style. He plays Frank, the bartender at The Roundup, and he does a great job.

The DVD transfer looks very good. There are no extras.

LANCASTER AND DECARLO IN GREAT S IODMAK NOIR!.......2006-05-15

German born director Robert Siodmak has directed at least three (3)film noir classics,"Phanton Lady",The Killers"(1946 version) and this gem,the best of the three "Criss Cross".Yvonne DeCarlo,in her most convincing and sexy role,is Anna the ex-wife of Burt Lancaster,who still longs for her.The femme fatale,a staple in noir films is played to the hilt by ms DeCarlo,who after another brief fling with Lancaster,winds up marrying "crook" Dan Duryea(superb).Lancaster is now an armored car driver/guard and he still can't forget the glamorous Yvonne.Well,needless to say this situation leads to fatal results.Under the forceful direction of Siomak Criss Cross is one of the GREAT NOIRS,after "Nightmare Alley",with Tyrone Power,Criss Cross is my all time favorite.THE DVD has NO commetary,for some reason Universal treats its noirsas if they were second rate.FOX knows how to release their DVDs in a first rate manner.

You can't seem to trust anybody these days (recommended).......2006-03-23

Wow! How many ways can a group of people double-cross each other? It's impossible to tell who is really on the same side. A beautiful single woman (DeCaro) fails to show up for a date with her ex-husband (Lancaster) because -- get this -- she has just remarried. Ouch! The inducement? Lancaster's reticence paired with family and police interference.

DeCaro's second marriage to a dangerous mobster (Duryea) is an emotional disaster which makes her long for the affections of her first husband. Lancaster concocts an off-the-cuff scheme to keep Duryea from killing him after being found alone with his DeCaro. Lancaster betays the trust of his employer by becoming the inside man for a robbery. The tables turn again during the robbery when things don't go as planned and more promises are broken. Hospital security is breached by a man sent to bring Lancaster to the mobster husband. The driver is bought off to avert unspeakable torture. This produces several more plot twists in the love affair that led to the 'perfect' crime.

Average customer rating:

Big Street
Henry Fonda
HENRY IS KINDA FONDA LUCY...
Lucy as a dramatic actress!
An Odd Film

The Big Street
Starring: Henry Fonda , Lucille Ball , Barton MacLane , Eugene Pallette , and Agnes Moorehead
Director: Irving Reis
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Dance, Girl, Dance
Du Barry Was a Lady
So Proudly We Hail (Universal Cinema Classics)
Jane Eyre
Mame

ASIN: B000O76ZQW
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

With a curious mix of comedy and melodrama, The Big Street features Lucille Ball in one of the best roles of her big-screen career. Playing up her image as a brassy gal who knows what she wants, Lucy's got a hard shell and a soft heart as Gloria Lyons, a self-centered nightclub singer who looks down upon the "little people" who enthusiastically support her career--none more than Augustus "Little Pinks" Pinkerton (Henry Fonda), a doting busboy so smitten with Gloria that he's willing to put up with her dismissive and blustery behavior. (If the movie has a major weakness, it's Pinkerton's puppy-like devotion; this is an unusually wimpy role for Fonda, whose character seems a little too tolerant of Gloria's abuse.) When Gloria is paralyzed after her mobster boss (Barton MacLane) knocks her down a flight of stairs, "Little Pinks" does all he can to speed her recovery, aided by friends and colleagues played by a fine supporting cast of RKO regulars including Agnes Moorehead, Ray Collins, and Eugene Pallette.

Lucy's character may be unlikable but her performance is not; it's refreshing to see the future TV sitcom queen as a sassy and selfish diva, and Lucy gives the role a subtle dimension of sympathetic appeal. And while the movie's pitiful depiction of disability is typically maudlin from a more enlightened present-day perspective, The Big Street is noteworthy as a Damon Runyon production, based on Runyon's short story "Little Pinks" (originally published in Collier's magazine) and featuring several of the characters (like Pallette's Nicely-Nicely Johnson) who were later immortalized in Guys and Dolls and other tales of Runyonesque folly. With a strangely downbeat ending, The Big Street may not be a crowd-pleaser, but it's certainly worth watching as an unconventional showcase for its popular costars. Also available in The Lucille Ball Film Collection, this DVD includes two Warner Bros. short subjects from 1942: "Calling All Girls" is a 19-minute Vitaphone showcase for the lavish choreography of Busby Berkeley, featuring highlights from several major Broadway and Hollywood musicals; and "The Hep Cat" is a typically wacky "Merrie Melodies" cartoon, in which the title character will do just about anything to impress the kittenish object of his feline desires. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Big Street.......2006-11-17

This is a great movie, great acting, the best of the best stars and a perfect plot. See Lucy at her best, and Fonda so wonderful. You will love this movie and won't leave the room until it ends..........5 stars

Henry Fonda.......2003-10-25

I got this movie for Lucille and this is different material from Lucy. In this she effectively plays a cold hearted woman. You're drawn to believe she's faking it. But she is immensely cruel in this movie and why Henry Fonda's character puts up with her is beyond me. This was a different role for Henry too. This isn't a depression or western role. He plays an extremely shy boy and at times comes across as very lovable. After watching this it made me a fan of him. Before I never cared much for him.

HENRY IS KINDA FONDA LUCY..........2002-08-30

In 1942, 31 year-old Lucille Ball got her first major dramatic role as Gloria Lyons, the selfish, arrogant moll of Barton McLane. Lucy is crippled as a result of McLane slapping her around and finds a devoted admirer in Henry Fonda as "Little Pinks"... Lucy was very excited about acquiring this part and even went to Charles Laughton and his wife Elsa Lanchester for advice on how to interpret Gloria. Henry Fonda wasn't impressed with Ball's acting style at all and he would make statements such as "You're not going to play her like THAT -- are you"? - much to Lucy's intimidation and dismay. Incredibly, Lucy had already been in Hollywood for 9 years when this meaty role was offered her. Ball received mostly positive reviews from the critics, but the movie was not a financial success at the box-office. Charming, touching and often funny in parts, this Damon Runyon vehicle wavers from good to too sticky. Although I'm a tried-and-true Lucy fan, I'm in total agreement ... that this IS a rather oddball film. THE BIG STREET has long been hailed as Lucy's best dramatic venture but I much prefer her serious performances in LURED (1947), THE DARK CORNER (1946) & DANCE, GIRL, DANCE (1940)...

Lucy as a dramatic actress!.......2001-11-27

This is a wonderful movie if you are interested in seeing a different side of Lucille Ball. She is absolutely wonderful, yet there is not a single thing funny about her character. She is cold, mean, and stubborn...but Lucy potrays the character brilliantly. you can truly see her talent as a dramatic actress in this movie. It's a tear jerker and a must for all Lucy fans.

An Odd Film.......2001-08-08

There are very few words that can properly discribe this movie. Odd tops that list. However, odd doesn't neccessarily mean bad. The story centers around a young star-struck bus-boy nicknamed "Pink" who is infatuated by glamours nightclub-singer Gloria Lions (Lucille Ball). In a strange and bizzare set of events Mrs. Lions loses the use of her lower extremities. Pink takes the rude Mrs. Lions into his home to help her recouperate. Deciding she doesn't like the cold of New York, Mrs. Lions (often reffered to as "Your Majesty") makes Pink push her to Florida in her wheelchair. Once down there Gloria tries to attract the intrest of the local billonair. In a final attempt to cheer up Mrs. Lions, Pink throws her a large party.

Product Description

Marlon Brando set the mark for a brilliant career in Stanley Kramer's "The Men", his motion picture debut. Asia war veteran paralyzed in combat, he returns home to face the torturous ordeal of rehabilitation. The courage and strength of the soldier are betrayed by the fear and insecurity of the man when he learns he will never walk again.

Embittered by his condition, he refuses to see his fianc e and sinks into a solitary world of hatred and hostility. Fighting the wishes of her parents, the coldness of a guilt ridden society and her own self-doubts, it is she who must force him to confront the reality of his condition and break his physical and emotional confinement. When feeling starts to return to his legs, it could be his last hope.....or his final downfall

SPECIAL FEATURES :

Full screen version

Digitally Mastered

English Closed Captioned

Scene Index

System Requirements:

Running Time: 85 Minutes

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Fred Zinnnemann strikes again in Brando 's first Opus!.......2005-10-12

This mature and off-beat movie anticipated for years the awful and painful consequences about the reinsertion of a man in the civil life after having been in the War. This neo realist picture would be marked for the Moral League, believe or not winning a dark notoriety, with a young actor named Marlon Brando making his debut with this Opus.
Zinnemann was preparing another hidden Ace, even more penetrating and acid work: "From here to the eternity."
Previously this raising promise of the direction had filmed "The Seventh cross", an epic War picture, and the best would yet to come.
Interesting and potent existential drama, that illustrates as a few the unsaid.

the men.......2005-08-02

I was impressed with this movie when I fist saw it in the 50's I have been a Brando admirer ever since . Over the past 50 years I have seen all of his movies more than once. The Men has a great message , I recommend it to all my friends .

jack

Still a good film despite unevenness.......2004-12-26

Marlon Brando's first feature film, "The Men" tells the story of a group of injured veterans of WWII who try to put their lives together. Overall I feel this is a well-done film, as it's not pretentious as many such films tend to be. Brando turns in solid performance, even though at times he over-acts which makes his character less than believable. The g/f character, unfortunately, is not very likeable; the actress never seems to get into the role, and there's little chemistry between her and Brando. The best chacrater is Dr. Brock; it's probably because of my own exposure to such physicians that I find him very believable and powerful.

In the end, the reason to watch this film is really to see Brando as a first-time feature actor. He *is* good. Many of the supporting actors are good, too; unfortunately the second half of the film seems too hurried and becomes shallow compared to the first half. I think this is a movie not to be missed.

Deserves a viewing.......2004-05-28

Although The Men was Marlon Brando's first movie, all the elements of his acting style were in place for the viewers to see. The supporting cast is effective, particularly a young Jack Webb, who shows an acting range beyond that seen in his most famous role as Sgt. Joe Friday in the TV series Dragnet.
A Streetcar Named Desire may have made Brando a movie star, but The Men put him on the map.

Brando's first film!.......2002-12-28

Marlon Brando's performance alone makes the movie worth watching. His sensitivity to the character's pain is so visible that it's just touching to see. It's a great start to the unforgetable legend's film career. I really enjoyed it simply because of Brando. So if you don't particually care for him, then it's not really worth it.

Average customer rating:

Shirley Temple in a Propaganda Film
No Shirley? SO WHAT!? Who needs Shirley Temple when you have WARNER BAXTER!?
The Stepin Fetchit Show???
Shirley is SOOOOOO amazing!!!!!
Shirley's Hardly Seen

Stand Up and Cheer!
Starring: Warner Baxter , Madge Evans , James Dunn , Sylvia Froos , and John Boles
Director: Hamilton MacFadden
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Music & Arts | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Just Around the Corner
Blue Bird
Our Little Girl (1935)
Susannah of the Mounties
Young People (Col)

ASIN: B000LC4ZEY
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

It can't really be called a "Shirley Temple movie," because the original Little Miss Sunshine appears in it for just 10 minutes or so. But you can easily see how Stand Up and Cheer! gave birth to the most dominant star of the mid-1930s: Shirley Temple brings down the house. With just a bit of dialogue and one musical number, "Baby Take a Bow," Ms. Temple sets the cuteness meter to 11 and packs considerable hilarity into her already-definable personality. (Old pro James Dunn, who co-starred with Temple in a few subsequent features, plays her father/dance partner here.) The movie itself is something else again, in every sense. Purportedly based on an idea by Will Rogers, it imagines a new cabinet position--Secretary of Amusement--established by the President himself. Said official (Warner Baxter, fresh off a similar role in 42nd Street) must drum up lotsa socko entertainment to pull America out of its Depression doldrums. The near-surreal results include the acrobatic vaudeville team Mitchell & Durant as loopy senators and a sequence involving Stepin Fechit and a talking penguin dressed up as Jimmy Durante. Yes, you read that right. Meanwhile, corporate fatcats conspire to ruin the plan; they want America to remain scared and passive. But you know they don't stand a chance against Shirley Temple--whose 1930s career fulfilled the movie's idea of cheering up a population staggered by hard times. --Robert Horton

Description

With America's economy at a standstill, the President creates the cabinet post of Secretary of Amusement and charges his new appointee with entertaining the country so everyone will forget their troubles. After all, as the President says, "any people blessed with a sense of humor can achieve success and victory". But certain businessmen who are getting rich off the misery of others try to sabotage this effort by launching a smear campaign to discredit the entire idea. Shirley does her part as little Shirley Dugan, Who has a song and dance act with her father (James Dunn).

Customer Reviews:

Shirley Temple in a Propaganda Film.......2006-12-18

According to IMDB, Shirley Temple's film career began in 1932. She appeared in many short films and at least some full length (for that time) films, such as "Out All Night (1933)" and "To the Last Man (1933)." As 1934 was unfolding Shirley was well on to her way to becoming a movie icon and a cultural phenomenon of the 1930's. However, before her career was fully launched she appeared in several highly forgettable films, including this propaganda disaster.

This movie apparently took some inspiration from Will Rogers, though I failed to see the connection. Supposedly President Franklin Roosevelt appoints Lawrence Cromwell (Warner Baxter) as the secretary of amusement. Hah, hah. That is really funny. Soon Cromwell is running afoul of various nefarious (a very 1930's word) business types who want the Depression to continue because it is good for business. I did not make this up. Apparently someone thought it would be a good idea to blame businessmen for the Depression. I guess it was easier to blame them than blaming beer-drinking polka players from Wisconsin.

Shirley's big part comes when she sings "Baby, Take a Bow," which is actually the best part of the movie. She appears a couple of more times, but only briefly. I should have timed how long she was on screen, but from the picture on the package I thought Shirley was going to be in this movie a lot and never thought to add up the seconds she was in the movie. Okay, I exaggerate; Shirley was in the movie for minutes, maybe even 10 minutes.

I admit that I allowed myself to be bamboozled into this movie. I just wanted to have a collection of Shirley Temple movies and Shirley's role was highlighted on the package. Remember caveat emptor, let the buyer beware? I guess I get burned so rarely that I failed to remember caveat emptor. In fairness to Shirley, the song "Baby, Take a Bow" is a sweet little song and Shirley is as cute as can be. Furthermore, there are fans of many of the actors in this film that may want it for other reasons. I even understand that this movie was an attempt by Hollywood to try and get people to think more positively about the country. However, the ending of this movie was just too corny and over-the-top; in other words, pure propaganda.

This movie is a must for Shirley Temple completists. Fans of some of the other actors in this movie will want this movie for their appearances. Everyone else can move on to the next item on their movie list.

Good Luck!

No Shirley? SO WHAT!? Who needs Shirley Temple when you have WARNER BAXTER!?.......2006-11-21

Okay, so there is too little Shirley Temple to go around. But still, this movie would be just fine without Shirley. I didn't buy it because of her, I got because I LOVE WARNER BAXTER! After June Knight, he is my favorite actor. He carries this film with the usual expertise, but I get a little sad seeing him in these ol' musicals when he used to do such great work in silents. As is typical of most musicals of the 30s, the plot is awfully thin in Stand Up and Cheer. If you are going to buy this because you want to see Shirley Temple, you had better buy Curly Top or Heidi or something, because Shirley Temple is not billed very highly. SHE IS NOT THE STAR! The Stars are Warner Baxter, Madge Evans, Sylvia Froos and James Dunn, the musical dude that I recognized from Take a Chance(1933). I liked that better than this, probably becuase of the story and MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE MUSICAL ACTRESS, THE VIVACIOUS JUNE KNIGHT!! James Dunn is Shirley's dad in this, and he was also with her in some other films. Shirley does one quite cute number in here, Baby, Take a Bow. So buy this if you like Sylvia Froos(Princess of Song) or Waner Bxter, and you'll be satisfied. I am!

The Stepin Fetchit Show???.......2005-08-01

As other reviewers have noted, Shirley Temple appears in only a few scenes. The rest of the movie represents one of the worst productions of this era. The appearance of Fetchit gives us a peek at how bad racial stereotypes were in the 1930s--a foul, slanderous, and contemptuous image that shouldn't be shown to impressionable children.

If you want to see Temple's best, then go out and buy "Poor Little Rich Girl", "Curly Top", or "The Littlest Rebel" and you'll understand why this little girl captured the hearts of the nation. On the other hand, this film should be renamed "Sit Down and Shutup!"

Shirley is SOOOOOO amazing!!!!!.......2005-01-30

Oh I know it deserves a half star, but it's worth it for just that bit part of Shirley. It's the best dance sequence I've ever seen in all of her movies, she just overflows with so much cuteness it is unbelievable!!

Shirley's Hardly Seen.......2005-01-26

I bought this movie with the expectation it would be one of Shirley's better films since it was done when she was just a little tot. I was disappointed Shirley is hardly shown in this movie at all.

This movie was one of Shirley's first feature length films-- and it focuses more on the adults than, Shirley's cute dancing and precious nature- despite the fact it has one of Shirley's most well-known scenes "Baby Take A Bow" in that classic baby-doll poka dot dress. And once again you see Shirley's on screen dad Dunn(Baby Take A Bow).

Since Shirley is rarely seen one can hardly call it a "Shirley" movie- not to mention the storyline is cheesy and over-dramatized. I found myself falling asleep instead of being amused.

With no Shirley and no real show stopping music. It is a real disappoint even to the biggest Temple fan. Go and buy a real Shirley Temple movie instead.

Average customer rating:

The Time of Your Life "DVD"
heartwarming
"Here's two dollars; go get me a map of the world and a good revolver."
Long on Promise but Short on Delivery
Come in and Be Yourself.

The Time of Your Life
Starring: James Cagney , William Bendix , Wayne Morris , Jeanne Cagney , and Broderick Crawford
Director: H.C. Potter
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

William Saroyan's The Time of Your Life (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Blood on the Sun
Sundown
Gentleman Jim
In Which We Serve

ASIN: B00004YKQS
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Amazon.com

When James Cagney starred in the 1948 movie adaptation of The Time of Your Life, it was hotly debated whether William Saroyan's stage play was really filmable at all. Because of its small cast, because all the action takes place on a single claustrophobic set, because the "plot" consists entirely of sub-plots, and because Saroyan's "dirty sentimentality" isn't to everyone's taste, such doubts are still understandable today.

However, accept the movie for what it is--a play in a box--and you'll be captivated. The story revolves around a down-at-heel bar-restaurant, where a group of disparate characters come and go as their stories gradually unfold. They include an ex-prostitute desperately seeking a new life, a dancer looking for a break into show business, a down-and-out who discovers a vocation as a pianist, and a beer-sodden cowboy. This gaggle of misfits is presided over by an enigmatic, champagne-drinking philanthropist (brilliantly played by Cagney) who gently nudges them towards their goals while indulging his own fascination with the minutiae of daily life. --Roger Thomas

Description

Based on a William Saroyan play, and tells the story of Nick's Saloon and the characters who frequent this waterfront dive in San Francisco. Cagney plays a saloon philosopher, drinking and listening to the stories of his friends there while also offering some eccentricities of his own.

Customer Reviews:

The Time of Your Life "DVD".......2007-03-18

Great Movie Plenty of Great Characters.
We are "AVID" Movie collectors and have over 1200 titles and a few months ago had purchased "The time of Your Life" #865.
We finally tried to watch the DVD but found that three quarters of the way through the movie it lock up and will not play on any of the 5 DVD players we have, we put the disk in our computers and found that the video file is corrupted on your disk.
Needless to say we will not be buying any titles "VINA Distributor" has from this point on. Plus the resolution is bad less that 640X480 "You must be joking".

heartwarming.......2006-09-08

I love this film - eccentric people show up at a bar in San Francisco - Cagney's character just watches them come and go, listens, helps them along. That's it. If you're looking for action - go elsewhere. The scene never leaves the bar. Originally a play by William Saroyan.
My favourite quote from the play/movie is "Living is an art, it's not bookkeeping. It takes an awful lot of rehearsal for a man to get to be himself." -

"Here's two dollars; go get me a map of the world and a good revolver.".......2005-09-28

Nick's Bar is a place where you can "come in and be yourself."

The sign says so; and everyone does so.

For Joe, being himself is drinking champaign all day while teaching Tom all the skills he'll need in life, defending Kitty Duvall's honor from a bullying policeman (some things never change!) and humoring an old cowboy with more stories than he can remember having told.

"Did I ever tell you about the time I was married to a midget weighing thirty-nine pounds?"

I've noticed that at least three other reviewers drew comparisons to the teevee show Cheers, which I found vacuous and shallow. Nick's is the bar that the cast of Cheers WISHES they were in.

Remember the sign ["Come in and be yourself"]?

In the final scene, Nick himself takes the sign out of the window and tears it up, saying, "Enough is enough!" reminiscent of BobGod's great stage play "Ronald Smith's Closet" used as an improvisational training tool at Ned Mandarino's School of Transpersonal Acting in the seventies and eighties.

Long on Promise but Short on Delivery.......2005-04-16

I suspect many an aspiring writer has spent too much time in a bar looking for artistic inspiration. I get this inpression from all of the "dramas" that take place in taverns. Some, like "The Iceman Cometh", are topnotch. Others, like "The Time of Your Life", come across mediocre at best. In the case of the latter, I found myself wondering what the point was. We are expected to believe that interesting, intelligent people congregate for innocent fun and frolic. Maybe it does seem like a pleasant place to many but I found myself wondering why there were more employees than customers, why there was a full-time cook when I only saw one person eat while there, why the script was so lame. This was obviously a theatrical play brought to the screen. It may have worked better on stage the way the script moves the spotlight from one charater to another. However, on film I felt this gave the movie a lack of perspective. Most of the vignettes were pretty bland. The humor failed to make me smile, the drama failed to touch me and the suspense bored me. It seemed that there was always the potential to amuse, entertain, or intrigue but the script just wasn't up to the task.

I made it a point to watch "The Time of Your Life" because I noted that James Cagny was the star. I like his acting style and ability (when given at least a reasonable vehicle to preform in). It actually was a sort of family affair with his brother William as the producer and his sister Jeanne as the leading lady. Cagny was decent enough but his role, as well, lacked substance. The movie was from a play by William Saroyan. Saroyan no doubt observed many interesting things from his experiences in taverns. Unfortunately, it appears that he must have been inebriated at the time; no sober writer would have thought that any of this was worth writing about.

Come in and Be Yourself........2002-09-07

THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE was based upon William Saroyan's Pulitzer Prize-winning play and was brought about, in part, by a collaboration of the Cagney siblings (James, Jeanne, and William). Except for one brief shot of the Salvation Army singing outside the establishment, the entire movie takes place inside Nick's, a saloon, restaurant, and entertainment palace on the waterfront in San Francisco. James Cagney plays Joe, a man who has a lot of cash and spends his time observing, listening, and helping people and fulfilling his every whim. Wayne Morris plays Tom, Joe's gopher man; Jeanne Cagney plays Kitty, a former "burlesque queen" who falls for Tom; and William Bendix plays Nick. The floating characters at Nick's also include, among others, a lovesick young man, an out of work fellow, a drunk, a cowboy who calls himself "Kit Carson", a pinball wizard, a dancer who is a comedian that has no funny jokes, a police officer, and a couple of socialites.

There really isn't much plot in THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE. However, neither the movie nor the play it was based upon are about "plot". There may not seem to be a lot going on, but actually there is. The plot of the story is it's characters. Each person that comes into Nick's has a story and some of them we learn, some of them we don't. However, while listening to each person (just as Joe does) we learn something about them and in the process we discover things about ourselves. THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE is art in it's highest form because it entertains, yet also enlightens.

The quality of this DVD isn't all that bad, especially considering how inexpensive it is to purchase a copy (the Laserlight edition can be purchased for less than $5). The sound is good through most of the film except for the occasional scratch and the picture is great (the one scene where you can't read what is on the piece of paper was filmed that way intentionally because you are not supposed to see what's written on the paper because it's too small).

Customer Reviews:

GOOD ROAN QUALITY.......2004-09-07

These movies are issued by a myriad of companies. I only have this set so I can't comment on the comparative quality. I can state that I am satisfied with the quality of this Roan set. That is, the images are mostly crisp and there wasn't much hiss. The price is a plus also.

I Liked "Time of Your Life" best. It has a good quirky cast and plot. The acting is also first rate. It has a certain stage play feel to it.

"Blood On The Sun" is a more than adequate suspense yarn.

"Something to Sing About" is a fun movie. Its kind of a comedy-musical-drama. Nothing too serious.

Average customer rating:

The Time of Your Life "DVD"
heartwarming
"Here's two dollars; go get me a map of the world and a good revolver."
Long on Promise but Short on Delivery
Come in and Be Yourself.

The Time of Your Life
Starring: James Cagney , William Bendix , Wayne Morris , Jeanne Cagney , and Broderick Crawford
Director: H.C. Potter
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video