Kansas City

Starring:Jennifer Jason Leigh, Miranda Richardson, Harry Belafonte, Michael Murphy, Dermot Mulroney, Steve Buscemi, Brooke Smith, Jane Adams (II), Jeff Feringa, A.C. Tony Smith, Martin Martin, Albert J. Burnes, Ajia Mignon Johnson, Tim Snay, Tawanna Benbow, Cal Pritner, Jerry Fornelli, Michael Marisi Ornstein, Michael Garozzo, Joe Digirolamo
Director: Robert Altman
Studio: New Line Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Customer Reviews:

Finally - The Official MGM DVD Release! Great Film Noir!.......2007-06-03

For years Kansas City Confidential has languished in the Public Domain Hell. Released in a woefully substandard version from Alpha (watch the video wiggle at the bottom of the screen every 10 seconds), and a much better, but still flawed version from Image (the picure is just a bit too dark and has some minor print damage), along with several "dollar" DVD versions that were even more flawed than the Alpha and Image releases, Kansas City Confidential was a movie that most Film Noir fans thought would never see an "official" DVD release by MGM (owner of the master print, and - presumably - the negatives).

But here it is - MGM is actually releasing (or has released, depending on when you read this) the "official" DVD for this fantastic Film Noir. Based on their track record of releasing official versions of movies previously relegated to public domain releases (see He Walked By Night as an example - MGM's DVD is flawless!), this should see a drastic improvement in both image and sound quality over all of the previous versions released to date.

The movie itself is a tightly written, well acted (John Payne is fantastic, and the supporting cast of Preson Foster, Lee Van Cleef, Neville Brand, Jack Elam, and Coleen Gray are all near perfect in their roles), and extremely well directed by Phil Karlson. The cinematography by George E. Diskant should also get special mention, as Kansas City Confidential has the classic look of Film Noir.

This is a classic crime/wrong man framed and sets out for revenge movie. For fans of Film Noir this is truly a, "Must Have," DVD.

Excellent cops and robbers movie.!!.......2007-04-29

Stars John Payne as a flower deliveryman who is set up as a fall guy for a robbery planned by disgruntled cop Preston Foster. Released from police custody for lack of evidence, Payne follows leads to Mexico where he uncovers the real criminals. Very good performances all round and a classic "cops & robbers" movie. Excellent!!

A good example of what second-feature B movies were all about: Not too bad, not too good........2006-11-26

Is Kansas City Confidential a noir? Some critics think so. Some have even gone so far as to praise the movie. For me, the film is just one more B-level programmer, churned out in the thousands during the Forties and early Fifties to fill out double bills. The one thing it has going for it is a clever plot idea that combines a crime caper with a resentful Mr. Big who disliked being placed on forced retirement. Is that enough to take the premise seriously? I don't think so, but the way the payback for the retirement is planned and carried out isn't bad.

The movie turns on two plot pivots. First is a bank heist. Three tough guys are recruited by Mr. Big, who wears a mask. He makes the others wear masks, too. Only Mr. Big knows who everyone is. Their getaway leaves behind an innocent patsy, Joe Rolfe (John Payne), a war hero who once got in trouble with the law. After the Kansas City police try to beat a confession out of him, they realize they have the wrong man and let him go. Joe gets mad and decides to track the robbers down.

The second pivot centers on a small Mexican resort village where Mr. Big and the three accomplices have gathered, months later, to split the loot. Joe has taken the identity of one of them, Pete Harris. Joe had tracked Harris down and was forcing him to go together to the resort. By coincidence, Harris was gunned down by police at the Tijuana airport while Joe was at the ticket counter. Complicating things is Tim Foster (Preston Foster), a retired police captain from Kansas City who likes to fish, and his daughter, Helen (Coleen Gray). Helen, soon to pass her bar exam, showed up unexpectedly to visit her father. We're often reminded that there is a substantial reward for whoever captures the crooks and finds the money. There are beatings, slappings, double crosses, cold-blooded murder, noble sacrifice and a promised happy ending for Joe and Helen. A lot goes on, but it's something of a slog to get to Joe's and Helen's big kiss.

Second bill programmers were most often noted for only adequate acting, workmanlike but often clunky scripts, music scores that telegraphed what we were supposed to be feeling and the barest budgets the studios could get away with. This didn't mean that the movies were bad, just that there needed to be something -- an occasional standout script, or a solid actor, or an unusual concept or mood -- to make the movie worth remembering. With Kansas City Confidential we have, to my way of thinking, just two things that stand out. First, is that clever plot idea. Second, are the actors who play the three goons recruited by Mr. Big. There's Neville Brand playing Boyd Kane. Kane is dumb and violent. Brand's tough features and rough voice make him believable. There's Lee Van Cleef as Tony Romano, smooth and sleazy...not a guy you'd want to leave your daughter alone with. And there's Jack Elam as Pete Harris, a sweaty chain smoker, a squirming coward unless he's holding the gun. With Harris, you can almost smell his cigarette breath and body odor. Elam really does a fine job. But then we have John Payne as the hero. Payne, in my opinion, was a handsome, colorless, reactive actor. He acts tough, but it's as phony as Robert Stack acting tough in House of Bamboo. While I doubt even Bogart or Cagney could do much with lines like this, "I know a sure cure for a nosebleed: a cold knife in the middle of the back," Payne just looks irritable when he says it. Coleen Gray doesn't help much; her job is to be perky and sympathetic, almost in spite of the dialogue: Says Joe Rolfe, "Look, you're a nice girl, but in case you're thinking of mothering me, forget it! I'm no stray dog you can pick up, and I like my neck without a collar. Now get lost!" Says Helen, "Now I'm supposed to be hurt. Maybe even cry. But I won't. I think you're in trouble, and I'm going to help you!"

My advice: Watch it and learn what programmers were about. You might find you like it well enough. The film is in the public domain. The Image version is so-so; too dark and with too much contrast. It's not as bad as some public domain releases are. There are a few extras, including a cream-puff interview with Coleen Gray by noir specialist Eddie Muller. He also provides liner notes for an insert in the DVD case.

I have to echo these other positive reviews.......2006-10-09

I have to throw my two cents in along with some of the other reviewers. Kansas City Confidential is one of the finest examples of gum shoe film noir I can think of. As a noir fan and collector, I have seen hundreds of films of this nature. Kansas City Confidential is one of the handful of films I watch over and over again. If you are a fan of film noir, and this fantastic film has not yet made it into your collection, BUY IT NOW !!! You won't regret it.

"You been giving me the fisheye all night.".......2006-04-29

Revenge fueled noir about a police chief forced into an early retirement who nearly gets away with the perfect crime. Using masks all the time to conceal their identities, even from each other, he recruits three tough guys (Neville Brand, Jack Elam and Lee Van Cleef!) to help him rob an armored car using a fake florist delivery van. That way the driver of the real florist van (John Payne) will initially get blamed for the robbery.

They go through with the plan and it goes off without a hitch, now they split up with the intention to meet up at a later date to divide the money, and at this later meeting the ex-cop will bust `em and get the $300,000 reward. Only problem is he didn't guess just how pissed off the fall guy would be. Once freed, but not before the cops clobber him all over the joint, he hunts down the bad guys and let `em have it. "Thanks - FOR NOTHING!"

Some of the scenes are a little cheesy with the tough guy stuff and the final scene is too soft, but those fight scenes were riveting. I especially enjoyed Van Cleef.

The DVD by Alpha Video has a rough looking picture and no extras, but hey is 8 bucks so what do you expect?

Average customer rating:

Kansaa City Bomber
It's About Time!
Raquel Welch
Bomber Hits Target
Crash and burn

Kansas City Bomber
Starring: Raquel Welch , Kevin McCarthy , Helena Kallianiotes , Norman Alden , and Jeanne Cooper
Director: Jerrold Freedman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007TKNJW
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Description

Baseball has its Bull Durham. Basketball has Hoosiers. Football has Rudy. And the mad sport of the roller game has Kansas City Bomber. Step aside, boys, she's coming through. Disco was in, polyester was cool and the roller game was the hottest thing on wheels when this smash-mouth spinfest elbowed its way onto screens. Raquel Welch plays K.C., a single mom (Jodie Foster plays her daughter) who laces up to earn a living for her family. Real competition venues provide settings. Some true-life roller-game players appear in the film. And Welch adds to the authenticity, navigating the banked oval like a rocket-powered bumper car. Round and round she goes. Where she stops may be the top of the roller world.

Customer Reviews:

Kansaa City Bomber.......2007-05-07

Excellent movie that is on DVD for anyone who loves the sport of roller derby.

It's About Time!.......2007-01-20

I was very surprised to see "Kansas City Bomber" finally released on DVD. It was never released on VHS in North America, only in the U.K. It's a classic that I have not seen on TV for years! It looks great on DVD. The video transfer utilized is clear, and the sound is good too. Although, this movie is not an Academy Award Winner, it has it's own type of charm. It cashed in on the Roller Derby craze of the early '70s. I always liked this movie because Raquel Welch starred in it, and she also did all of the roller stunts for this movie too. There is some historically incorrect information in the synopses located on the back cover. It is mentioned that "Disco" was hot when this movie was released. "Disco" didn't break until 1974, and really blew-up and was in full swing by 1976. This is a small piece of info that should be deleted. All and all, I am very happy with this DVD, and this classic Raquel Welch movie. I recommend it highly for people that like early '70s fare movies.

Raquel Welch.......2007-01-11

Excellent roller-skating pro contests, and very well done by Welch. Even if she had a double, I'll bet she got a lot of bruises in this one--tough job!!! Excellent story, with many true-to-life highlights. The movie tells the story, without dwelling on any maudlin aspects of the business too much.

Bomber Hits Target.......2006-03-04

Racquel in spandex and on wheels is a wow. I had the pleasure of working on this film on location in beautiful Portland, Oregon. I am not giving this film five stars because I appear in it. Kansas City Bomber was a very special film for Racquel. The script by Barry Sandler was written expressly for Ms. Welch. This was also the first film for Jodie Foster who played Racquels daughter. Vetran character actor Norm Alden gave the best performance of his life as Horrible Hank Hopkins.
Racquel plays KC Carr, a roller derby diva who's life is in turmoil. Her relationship with her children is strained as she tours the country with her derby team. Her team mates are at odds with her believing that she is sleeping her way to the top with the owner of the team (Kevin McCarthy). KC must come to grips with life and what she really wants to achieve.
You'll find yourself rooting for KC to find herself, and she does. The film ends with an exciting skate off between KC and Jackie Burdett. The skate off is set up for KC to take a fall so that she can be traded off to another team, but at the last minute KC and Jackie decide to "keep it real". The climatic skate off is filled with thrills as KC wins the title, and resolves to be the roller derby diva she is.
There are not many films on roller derby, however, this is clearly the best.

Crash and burn.......2005-12-26

I was ecstatic when one of my fond childhood memories had finally been released on DVD. How could I have been so incredibly wrong?

I remember Kansas City Bomber serving up an abundance of thrills and chills and gripping drama on and off the roller derby ring, but having recently seen it as an adult it was like a test of endurance to make it all the way to the end of the disc. I'm not trying to be overly dramatic when I say this movie was horrible. If there was an actual screenplay involved it must have been written within a twenty-four hour deadline.

Here's an example of how nonsensical the screenplay is. Early in the movie we hear rumors that KC's roommate/teammate was traded because of it possibly having something to do with KC's lusty relationship with the team owner. KC is appalled at even the mere thought of such a thing and she takes action to confronts the owner head-on. The first thing he says is "Of course that's not the reason I traded her!" and the seccond thing he says is "OK, so maybe I was a bit jealous she gets to spend more time with you than I do",. And KC basically says something like "Well, you could have been a bit nicer about it", as they both carry on with the rest of their happy-go-lucky day. It's simply absurd!! First, why would the owner kick a player off of the team all because it's his lover's roommate--esspecially when he plans to give her her own swanky little nest on the water?? And what happened to KC going to save her teammates position on the team?? Incredibly muddled writing.

The action scenes in the ring would have been great if it weren't for Welch's big, mannish stunt woman overtly and clumsilly hiding her face with a wig and keeping her head facing the ground. There's no second guessing which shots feature Welch mainly because Welch isn't really doing much of anything that resembles action. As a matter of fact much of the roller derby action was handled with corny cartoon buffoonery. This movie makes the WWF look like the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

And then there's KC's seasoned old rival who's bitter towards KC because she knows KC is there to take her crown as the roller queen. It's just a one note performance of a woman grousing and crying in her beer and any scene that begins to give us a glimpse into who this woman is/was quickly turns into a sloppy meaningless fight scene. And all the men in the movie (with the exception of the gentle giant Hank) are relegated to being rude, crude, crotch-grabbing, raping neanderthals.

This is just the shell of a movie. It's also the seed of a GOOD movie. Unfortunately the only thing that grew out of this one is stink weed. And what an insult to Rachel Welch's career to even infer this was the greatest roll of her career. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know the studio's main objective was to find yet another action-packed way of selling Welch's undeniable sex appeal in a tight outfit and THAT they were successful in.

Average customer rating:

The Battle Of Kansas City Jazz Or The Deception Of Beauty
Atmosphere and little else.
Might Have The Best Ending Ever
Someone other than Altman should have cut this film
Ovelooked and underated American Film Noir Masterpiece

Kansas City
Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh , Miranda Richardson , Harry Belafonte , Michael Murphy , and Dermot Mulroney
Director: Robert Altman
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006Q9482
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Amazon.com essential video

Robert Altman wanted to captured a sense of what life was like in his hometown during the Depression, both in a story about the people who lived there and, more impressionistically, in the jazz that sprouted there before moving to New York. But his plot here is rambling and undramatic: A small-time hood double-crosses a vicious black gangster (Harry Belafonte) and is grabbed by him, marked for death. To save his life, the hood's dim blond wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) kidnaps a rich politician's wife (Miranda Richardson) and spends the day driving around town with her, on the theory that the politician can convince the gangster to free her husband. Leigh is jittery, Richardson seems bored--and the lengthy jam sessions we see (involving contemporary musicians such as Joshua Redman) serve only to prolong an already slow-moving film. Possibly worth seeing for the silky menace of Belafonte, but there is little else to recommend it. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

The Battle Of Kansas City Jazz Or The Deception Of Beauty.......2005-12-30

When one listens to the gorgeous music of Lester Young, Charlie Parker(I think he was "shown" in a scene as well) and Coleman Hawkins and William Count Basie,a jazz fan is left with a sense of wonder what must have gone down at KC in those days...Now we have a great depiction of the music and what life might have been like with great music revisited and performed by these "new giants of jazz" recreating the high swinging good time sense of euphoria sweeping those magical tunes..
Yet, at the same time, music lovers see the battle going on between the somewhat bluesier, aggressive playing of the giant Coleman Hawkins contrasted clearly with his major rival Lester Young, the more sweeter melancholy player..These 2 contrasting visions play-out throughout the entire movie not only as a backdrop as a soundtrack but a portrayal of the contradictory lives played by it's characters.
There is no difference between the Downtown KC of crime, brothels and booze(opium and cocaine as well) with it's underworld in contrast to the Americana of the Uptown KC with it's quaint Democratic lifestyle untouched by the jazz going down at the Hey-Hey Club...ultimately leading to murder from all sides.
This is a powerful message and why the movie scores big besides the wonderful music and the 2 Cd's spurned out which are equally impressive.
The moral equivalency of these 2 worlds makes this movie a great one.

Atmosphere and little else........2005-09-19

Even the mighty have their moments when they stumble and KANSAS CITY is one of those moments for maverick director Robert Altman. There's little more than atmosphere in this film; the period-recreation of 1935-ish Kansas City Missouri, the great jazz throughout every frame and a bravura performance by Harry Belefonte as a gambler/crime kingpin named "Seldom Seen" don't mask the fact that the plot's thinner than newspaper and that every other actor save Belefonte is chewing the scenery and burping after every chew. On the surface, this movie's approach isn't much different from Altman's others--there's constant activity, so much that it's initially disorienting to try and figure out all of the threads of the story, but in many of his films (NASHVILLE, MASH and GOSFORD PARK, for instance), those threads gradually come together into a whole. It never happens in KANSAS CITY. The threads stay threads and you're left with a jumble, albiet a jumble with a great score.

Might Have The Best Ending Ever.......2005-04-28

Bottom line, whether you love or hate "Kansas City" will depend on your reaction to Jennifer Jason Leigh's performance. Leigh's character Blondie anchors the story as a desperate wife trying to save her husband from the gangsters he tried to rob. Leigh looks great in this role, she is fit and trim which makes her face that much cuter. The contrast between her almost angelic appearance and her tough persona is intentional because the toughness is an affectation, qualities she has adopted because she loves her husband and they are a turn-on for him.

Her's is the key performance of the film, the twist is her emulation of Kansas City native Jean Harlow ("The Public Enemy" and "Girl from Missoui"). Watch Harlow in "Red Headed Woman" to see the incredible physical resemblance between these two short actresses. Personally I found it touching, humorous, and inspirational. And her character worthy of the brave heroine hall of fame. But it is almost a caricature and many are put off by this tiny woman talking so tough.

As in "Nashville", there are great songs (but jazz rather than country) throughout the film. It is important to realize that "Blondie's" behavior is intended to mirror the "cutting contests" between the jazz musicians on-stage at the club. Just as the musicians borrow from one another and weave each others stuff into what they are improvising, "Blondie" borrows from the movies and weaves Harlow's tough girl phrases and expressions into her conversation.

Leigh and Miranda Richardson spend most of the film in each other's company. Although Richardson's character is doped up on laudanum (tincture of opium) most of the time, you get the idea that she is taking in a lot more of the situation than she is letting on. It is a fascinating pairing. One of them has lost all restraint, the other has lost everything but her restraint. There is almost a "Thelma and Louise" quality to their relationship, in part because Leigh doing Harlow ends up sounding a lot like Geena Davis doing Geena Davis.

Richardson's character is unexpectedly touching. An emotional bond is subtly forged between the two women as the film proceeds, with Richarson actually becoming protective of her kidnapper. The ending is shocking but you understand the motivation (or you will if you watch it again), then looking back you pick up on the various foreshadowing devices that Altman placed throughout the film. He goes out with a bass duet of Duke Ellington's "Solitude" performed by Ron Carter and Christian McBride.

Like many films with downbeat endings, "Kansas City" is destined to be more appreciated 25 years after its release.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Someone other than Altman should have cut this film.......2005-03-28

There are the makings of a good movie here, but obviously Altman had final cut approval, and his gift was quite off on this one. Belefonte endlessly pontificates nonsensibly, Jason Leigh surpasses her legendary how-annoying-can-she-get Hudsucker Proxy performance, it's long, the jazz performances just make the film drag.

Such a shame - beautifully shot, great actors, shame about the director's inability to look in the mirror and notice the obvious bloat. A dreadful, annoying film.

Ovelooked and underated American Film Noir Masterpiece.......2004-03-09

Robert Altman, one of the foremost filmakers of the last thirty years followed up what many consider to be his magnum, "Short Cuts", with this quietly more ambitious project. "Short Cuts" finished 'place' at the Oscars to "Shindler's List" and helped spawn the career of Juliana Moore (sort of like Sissy Spacek in "Welcome To L.A.") although I personally liked virtually all the other performances better (and there are some great ones in it).
The release of "Kansas City" followed hard upon the heals of the Oscar 'second best', and met with 'mediocre' to 'ok' critical reviews. Thus, the film didn't have much of a run in the theatres, playing to sparsely filled houses, who basically came to see the novelty of Harry Belafonte playing a rip-snorting gangster in an Altman film. Nor was the DVD release much of a hit.
What kept the movie alive basically was the magnificent soundtrack - a group of the best of the new generation of jazz musicians playing Kansas City jazz - well - as well as Count Basie and that guy who invented the jazz saxophone (what was his name?) - oh yeah, Coleman Hawkins, themselves. The CD became a classic, and a few people discovered that Altman had fostered this long time love for Kansas City jazz, and now that he was a bigshot and could finally raise lots of money to make any film he wanted, he decided to act on his long time dream to recreate the Kansas City Jazz scene in the early thirties in a movie.
And what an incredible recreation it is! There is even a separate one + hour film which Altman made of simply the bands (as recreated by the contemporary musicians playing all the tracks in the film and on the CD and more, and nothing else!) This film evokes an amazing, dreamlike experience and ranks with any performance of twentieth century music currently on DVD, and I wish they would release it when they release the director's cut, which I predict they will (my 30 year track record is pretty good).
Simply put, "Kansas City" is a noir masterpiece. Jennifer Jason Leigh gives an incredibly complex, brilliant performance and which is only to be matched by her foil, Miranda Richardson. One of the great "two chick" flicks of all time, one wonders why Altman seems to be the only director who sees Leigh for what she is: the best American actress of her generation. Belafonte and the rest of the cast are up to the searing standards demanded by these lead performances, and the script and the almost superhuman attention to detail evidenced in the sets, editing, and every frame, make one wonder what exactly the critics had in mind when they watched this film for the first time.
But the music . . . the bands themselves take on a certain personification and become characters participating in the action of the story.
I believe "Kansas City" is due for a re-evaluation and may go down as the greatest venture of both Leigh and Altman, and that's saying a lot.

NFL History of the Kansas City Chiefs (2pc)

Average customer rating:

NFL History of the Kansas City Chiefs (2pc)
Starring: NFL History of the Kansas City Chiefs
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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NFL History of the New York Jets (2pc)
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WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete First Season
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ASIN: B000PY52E0
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Description

It began with one man and a dream. It continued with Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Hank Stram, and an upset in Super Bowl IV. Today, the history of the Kansas City Chiefs lives on in the finest stadium in the land with over 79,000 fans in a vibrant sea of red creating one of the NFL's greatest home field advantages. Now, for the first time, the Chiefs' story is available in this thrilling two-DVD set - The Complete History of the Kansas City Chiefs. From Lamar Hunt's quest to build a second professional football league, to Larry Johnson, Herman Edwards and the Chiefs of today, The Complete History of the Kansas City Chiefs takes you inside one of the NFL's finest franchises. Join NFL Films as they re-capture the team's greatest moments and profile the legendary names that circle the field at Arrowhead. Re-live the thrilling playoff victories, the heart-breaking defeats - all amidst the renown class and style that define the Kansas City Chiefs. The Complete History of the Kansas City Chiefs is a must for any Chiefs fan - buy yours today!

The Last of the Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story

Average customer rating:

Blue Devils
Joe Turner and friends - Kansas City Reunion
A Musical Genius
Oklahoma Music and Lester Young footage
This is the supertop of Kansas City music

The Last of the Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story
Starring: Gene Ramey , Jo Jones (II) , Charlie Parker , Jesse Price , and Herman Walder
Director: Bruce Ricker
Manufacturer: Rhapsody Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005M2CK
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com

Kansas City in the 1930s was a wild, wide-open place. Under political boss Tom Pendergast, the booze flowed freely, prostitution and gambling flourished, and the Depression pretty much passed the city by, making it an ideal spawning ground for some great music. Pianist-bandleader Count Basie, saxophone immortals Lester Young and Charlie Parker, and blues belters Big Joe Turner and Jimmy Rushing were all working there, along with a host of lesser- known but equally formidable musicians, and they all played the blues, Kansas City style.

Director Bruce Ricker's 90-minute The Last of the Blue Devils chronicles the 1979 reunion of many of these legendary players, combining interviews, vintage film footage, photos, and some inimitably swinging performances by Basie, Turner, pianist Jay McShann, and many others to create an intimate, good- natured portrait of what one old-timer calls the "cool, relaxed sound" of the city. The camaraderie among these men, all of whom are colorful raconteurs (drummer Ernie Williams's harangues to some bemused local kids are especially entertaining), is palpable. But it's the music, unsurprisingly, that's the main attraction; performances include some familiar tunes, like Turner's "Shake, Rattle & Roll" and a Basie big band version of "Night Train" (featuring tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, the tune's composer) that's as greasy as the local barbecue. The Last of the Blue Devils is an absolute delight. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

Blue Devils.......2007-07-03

About 1986 or close to it, I saw a portion of "The Last of the Blue Devils" on late night TV, and I have always watched for it to be aired again, but I have not seen it. When I saw this CD listed, I jumped on the opportunity to buy it, hoping to see more of Lester Young than his brief appearance. But all in all, I still enjoyed the CD.

Joe Turner and friends - Kansas City Reunion.......2007-01-10

As an account of the history of Kansas City jazz "The Last of the Blue Devils" is a bit thin on detail. However this nostalgic record of a gathering of aged musicians is very interesting and at times highly entertaining. For those who are seriously interested in tracing the history and influences of Kansas City Jazz there are plenty of other sources to be explored but Big Joe Turner and friends enjoying themselves is something well worth experiencing - and a bit of the Kansas City jazz story creeps in too.

A Musical Genius.......2006-11-28

The Blue Devils never sounded so good as this. Jay has now completed his 5th Symohony (198 pages) which was written at the age of thirteen. It has been recorded for Sony BMG in the same studios where the Beatles' songs were recorded. This fifth composition was played by the London Symphony Orchestra in England,

He was not your normal twelve year old, not interested in sports. He was bored to distraction in history class. He sees music as a hobby, and not his destiny. He hears the music in his head at the speed of light. He hums what's channeled to him as he walks. He is the musical Einstein.

At the age of ten, he enrolled at Julliard. Now, at the age of fourteen, he is a 3rd year college student. Jay need to question his 'gift' like Beethoven and studies piano lessons. He played cello at the age of three. He had started writing music at the age of two. His mother is Israli and father lost his sight at the age of 36.

At twelve years, he became known as a musical prodigy and declares that "it comes right the first time." He writes the music for each instrument of the orchestra even though he has not played them. He write "when I am inspired;" when one long session is completed, he starts another immediately. I fear he will burn out before he reaches twenty. He writes what he has imagined and when asked "who can really define happiness" he answers "keeping one's mind challenged."

This was a good documentary filmed both in America and Britain as he takes his bows after the performance of his 5th Symphony. He may know music, but I would advise him to change his mind about history, as that is where we come from and is to be the result of our family heritage and genes as to what his future holds for him. He is an inspiration to all.

Oklahoma Music and Lester Young footage.......2006-11-10

I ordered this movie to supplement a class I am taking about the Culture of Jazz and Oklahoma music. The wonderful footage of some of the founding fathers of Kansas City Jazz, including the Oklahoman Jay McShann, is a treat!
This is a good movie for anyone interested in what musicianship can be...

This is the supertop of Kansas City music.......2004-09-18

I have seen this on film and video about 5 times and never got bored.
If you like the Kansas City Blues and Big bands of the 30ties and 40ties this is the DVD for you.

Average customer rating:

Give it a try . . .
Home video-camera production quality
Fun, Creative and Challenging
Exercises are good and efficient but...
Innovative and effective

3D Abs

Manufacturer: Kansas City
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Abs Diet Workout
Gilad's Abs Workout
The Abs Diet Workout, Vol. 2
Swiss Ball Upper Body
The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide

ASIN: B00066NA8M
Release Date: 2004-08-01

Description

No more sit-ups. No more crunches. Just results.

There is a smarter (and yes, tougher but better) way to enhance abdominal performance and definition. 3D Abs ensures the ultimate ab workout as well as making the abdominal core more successful in all three planes of motion - sagital, frontal, and transverse. The natural result - improved core strength, athletic performance and definition. There's no other ab workout like it. No where. 3D Abs will define the way you look and perform.

THE END RESULT - STRONG DEFINED HEAD-TURNING ABS FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE.

Customer Reviews:

Give it a try . . ........2007-03-09

When I first watched the video, I felt a little dissapointed because it seemed too simple and not that slick; but thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did. I actually think this is a GREAT concept that works, is unique, doesn't take a lot of time, and is easy to do but you feel it. Easy in that these are not complicated moves but tough because it really works all of those muscles that wrap around your entire middle including the back. I always hated crunches because it seemed to just be this bulky (even with good technique) middle stomach excercise. THis stretched out feeling with tension is much better - at least I think. I moved the video over to my zune player and watch the different day's routine just before I do it to help remind me of the sequence.

Home video-camera production quality.......2007-03-02

I think this video was produced by some high-schoolers with an average video-camera in a basement.

Fun, Creative and Challenging.......2006-11-16

The DVD provides the individual with exercises that address ABS in all three planes of motion (Sagital, Frontal and Transverse). The DVD does an excellent job of laying out the program design, you can perform ABS on consecutive days by choosing a plane of motion(rotational exercises on Monday, Frontal or side to side on Tuesday, and sagital on Wednesday) instead of targeting specefic muscle groups. By choosing a plane a day you will cover all of the muscles in the core region, create balance in your workout, and have less of a chance of overtraining. My clients love the challenge and appreciate the variety of movements that I add to his/her workout program. Variety and creativity are very important when designing personal training programs and retaining clients.

Exercises are good and efficient but..........2006-08-31

The only problems with the dvd are:
1/There are many exercises to keep in mind so it is not easy to remember and do them all correctly at the gym club unless you go there with your portable DVD player ! Even if the coach gives you some gym club alternatives. So if you want to do the exercises at the gym eat fish...
2/At home in front of your TV set it's easier but you would need to by some stuff such as medecine ball, drumbells, rubberband,...
.
But the exercises when you can do them are ok and efficients. Only the realisation looks a bit amateurish and sometimes it seems that even the "coach" doesn't really know what he does.
.
We only regret that a leaflet with the exercises was not provided, we could at least have taken it to the gym club.

Innovative and effective.......2006-04-24

Griffith utilizes a distint core approach that focuses on all the planes (thus the "3D") giving a complete and total workout that is not only effective, but attainable. Much in the way of fitness is geared toward advanced fitness people, but this DVD is one anybody can use, without selling some gimmick or ineffective toy like so many others. If you want REAL abs then get this video.

Average customer rating:

Finally - The Official MGM DVD Release! Great Film Noir!
Excellent cops and robbers movie.!!
A good example of what second-feature B movies were all about: Not too bad, not too good.
I have to echo these other positive reviews
"You been giving me the fisheye all night."

Kansas City Confidential (B&W)
Starring: John Payne , Coleen Gray , Preston Foster , Neville Brand , and Lee Van Cleef
Director: Phil Karlson
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
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The Woman in the Window (MGM Film Noir)
The Stranger (MGM Film Noir)
A Bullet For Joey (MGM Film Noir)
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Ace in the Hole - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B00006II5J
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Customer Reviews:

Finally - The Official MGM DVD Release! Great Film Noir!.......2007-06-03

Excellent cops and robbers movie.!!.......2007-04-29

A good example of what second-feature B movies were all about: Not too bad, not too good........2006-11-26

I have to echo these other positive reviews.......2006-10-09

"You been giving me the fisheye all night.".......2006-04-29

NFL Team Highlights 2003-04 - Kansas City Chiefs

Average customer rating:

Skimpy coverage
Great review of a great team

NFL Team Highlights 2003-04 - Kansas City Chiefs
Starring: Priest Holmes , and Trent Green
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Fan Accessories | Fan Shop | Categories | Sports & Outdoors
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NFL Team Highlights 2003-04 - St. Louis Rams
NFL Team Highlights 2003-04 - Denver Broncos
NFL Team Highlights 2003-04 - Philadelphia Eagles
NFL Team Highlights 2003-04 - Indianapolis Colts
2004 NFC Champions - Philadelphia Eagles

Product Features:

48:00 Mins
NFL Films produced highlight DVD.
Takes fans on an NFL roller coaster ride each week
Recaps the 2003-04 campaign.
Provides a look at the upcoming 2004-05 season.

ASIN: B0002DRDG4
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Product Description

These NFL Films produced highlight DVDs take fans on the NFL roller coaster ride each week, from game 1 through the team's playoff campaign. The DVDs recap the 2003-04 campaign, as well as provide a look at the upcoming 2004-05 season. Reference ID:TC01-DVD-0939

Customer Reviews:

Skimpy coverage.......2005-10-09

The DVD briefly highlights the 13-3 season of the 2003 Kansas City Chiefs - in just 35 minutes. The other 13 minutes of "bonus" material is nice bit about a sports-bar in South Philadelphia that is devoted to the Chiefs, and an unannounced visit there by Vermeil and other Chief coaches.

Like the recent Chief defenses, this DVD has pretty weak coverage.

Great review of a great team.......2005-07-23

This is a quality production and a must-have for every Chiefs fan. Relive the phenomenal 2003 season with this DVD. Don't pass it up!

Film Noir Triple Feature Vol. 1 (Too Late For Tears/He Walked By Night/Kansas City Confidential)

Average customer rating:

Not the greatest.........

Film Noir Triple Feature Vol. 1 (Too Late For Tears/He Walked By Night/Kansas City Confidential)
Starring: Lizabeth Scott , Don DeFore , Dan Duryea , Arthur Kennedy , and Kristine Miller
Director: Byron Haskin , Anthony Mann , and Alfred L. Werker
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | 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

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Film Noir Double Feature, Vol. 2: The Chase/Bury Me Dead
The Crooked Way
The Street With No Name (Fox Film Noir)
Black Angel (Universal Noir Collection)

ASIN: B00019G4KU
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Customer Reviews:

Not the greatest................2004-06-29

This disc is OK if you really don't care about quality. The prints they used show alot of wear. For "HE WALKED BY NIGHT", i would suggest you buy the disc put out by MGM. The print they used here for "TOO LATE FOR TEARS" looks like the same one that Image Entertainment used. It has several splices and scratches. TOO LATE FOR TEARS was also released under the title "KILLER BAIT" which is available in a better quality print in a 6 disc set called "5 Killer Film Noir Classics". As for "KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL", if i remember right the disc put out by Image is of better quality. (This review is for the "Film Noir Triple Feature Vol. 1" disc put out by Goodtimes Video")

Average customer rating:

A Perfect Film For Family Viewing
Funny, Insightful Documentary

Prom Night in Kansas City
Director: Hali Lee , and Peter von Ziegesar
Manufacturer: Zeitgeist Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
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Born into Brothels
Fingersmith
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The Errol Morris DVD Collection (Gates of Heaven/The Thin Blue Line/Vernon, Florida)
Jesus Camp

ASIN: B0009I7O48
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Description

Filmmaker Hali Lee thought her own prom was a real letdown, yet she continued to be fascinated by the endurance of this quintessentially American coming-of-age ritual. To discover why, she returns to her hometown of Kansas City to track the pomp, preparations and individual stories of would be promgoers as diverse as America itself. Among them: Smurf, an inner-city track star who is gunning for Prom King; Nick, who attends a No-Dancing-or-Spaghetti-Straps celebration of an ultra-conservative Christian school; Gayla, an openly lesbian teen who participates in an alternative event by a gay & lesbian youth group; and Oliver, an anti-prom slacker who takes his video camera as his date. With wry humor and an analytical eye, Lee and co-director Peter von Ziegesar breezily capture the fabricated fantasies, kitsch and pageantry that keep proms eternal.

Customer Reviews:

A Perfect Film For Family Viewing.......2005-09-03

We all loved "Prom Night", particularly our 13 year-old daughter. It raised all sorts of questions that were great discussion-starters about conformity, cultural expectations and the pressure that goes along with them, and growing up.

Funny, Insightful Documentary .......2005-07-27

Well filmed, brilliant editing, fascinating view into the lives of modern day teenage life in the midwest. LOVED this movie.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Fair Game

In Search of Dracula : DVD

Charlie's Angels -- Superbit [2000]

DVD: Stargate (Special Edition)

Nukes In Space - The Rainbow Bombs