The Dresser

Starring:Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Edward Fox, Zena Walker, Eileen Atkins, Michael Gough, Cathryn Harrison, Betty Marsden, Sheila Reid, Lockwood West, Donald Eccles, Llewellyn Rees, Guy Manning, Anne Mannion, Kevin Stoney, Ann Way, John Sharp, Kathy Staff, Roger Avon, Christopher Irvin
Director: Peter Yates
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

It's life in the Theater with a capital T in this film adaptation of the London and Broadway hit by Ronald Harwood. Though we see other people, the film is really a duet between Sir (Albert Finney), an aging actor-manager who runs his own theater company, and Norman (Tom Courtenay), his dresser, who gets him into costume and, ultimately, into shape to go onstage each night. Sir is on his last legs; Norman is alternately his cheerleader, his parent, and his whipping boy--whatever it takes to get Sir up to performance level each night. Finney perfectly captures the vainglorious insecurity of this aging ham, whose career has never quite matched his expectations but who has to convince himself each night (with Norman's help) that a performance in the provinces is as big a deal as treading the boards in the West End. The film lives and dies, however, with Courtenay's neatly nuanced performance as Norman. No man is a hero to his valet--but Courtenay finds the affection along with the disdain that are part of this character. A great backstage tale. --Marshall Fine

Description

Albert Finney stars as the head of a Shakespearean acting troupe touring Europe during World War II. A senile drunk, Finney is looked after by his dresser, Tom Courtenay. The film details their close and touching relationship as the dresser remains in the background while enabling the once great actor to continue his work. Albert Finney (Big Fish, Annie). 5 Academy Award® nominations - 1983 Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay Adaptation.

Customer Reviews:

Learn Something About Lear .......2007-07-02

I was hoping someone would notice that the relationship between "Sir" and the Dresser parallels the relationship between Lear and his Fool. This is a wonderful story, very funny and sad in its own right.

Two Great Contemporaries Appear Together.......2007-01-04

It is almost painful to watch the discomfiture of tyrranical actor Albert Finney (b. 1936) in his 247th stage performance of King Lear. Once a great bombastic actor, the poor fellow, in his dotage, can't remember his lines and must rely on his beloved assistant, called "The Dresser," brilliantly played by the excitable, meticulous Tom Courtenay (b. 1936).

The film is a psychological delight, with each part played to pefection and with the exquisite cruelty of Finney as he imitates in real life the unhinged Lear treating his utterly loyal cast and in particular his poor Dresser, whose only job is to please his boss, with shallow disdain and contempt.

The end is a testament to the love and devotion of a single-minded servant and his ill-appreciated - although deeply fulfilling - reverence for his master. This is what I'd call an "art film" for thinking people who are not afraid to see heroes unhinged by destiny and the ravages of life. A truly great film!

Brilliantly Acted And Superbly Written!.......2006-10-24

Of all the films that Albert Finney has ever starred in, "The Dresser" is his greatest film [in my opinion]. Albert Finney's acting and nuances in the film are unbelievable and totally convincing. This film is highly recommended. The film stars Albert Finney as a traveling Shakespearean actor whose own life is in under tremendous stress. He is beginning to lose grip of the mental faculties in his own life; and while he is undergoing these stresses in his life, and the continual breakdown of his sanity, he is assisted in his theatre performances by his dresser (Tom Courtenay). Courtenay's performance compliments Finney, and the two give a outstanding acting performance.

Both of these actor's give their ALL in this wonderful performance, as they try and keep the audiences entertained during the war [WWII]. However, the performances are beginning to become a strain on Finney. With his life already complicated and in dire need of rest, his motto of 'The Show must go on' keeps him entertaining the audiences at the detriment of his own health. With the always faithful companion of his dresser (Courtenay) close by to help assist the old Shakespearean actor on his last legs, the film makes for a very sad and touching film. I don't want to give away anything in the film which will ruin it for you, however, I will write that Finney and Courtenay give a touching and superb story of a freindship whose time has come, and the director, Peter Yates did an admirable job with the film and its characters. Highly recommended. [Stars: 5+]

THE KEAR LEAR OF MOVIES.......2006-08-21

If you like shakespeare, you'll enjoy this movie. If your an Albert Finney fan, you'll LOVE this movie. This is probably one of the greatest movies that I have ever seen. I rented this years ago before the days of DVD's, and it so affected me that I watched it every day for a week. Albert Finney gives the performance of his life as he portrays the role of an ageing Shakespearean actor who litterally gives the last performance of HIS life. The movie is set in 1940's England. Finney plays the ageing head of a Shakespearean company, which travels from one theater to another, trying to bring a bit of happiness to the war weary population. He himself is weary and tired as he struggles to keep his company together, and weather the storms of air raids and bombed out theatres. Finney's character finds himself slowely losing grasps of reality as the pressures of age, the war, and having once again to "dawn his robes" and play "the most difficult role any shakespearean actor must endure", that of King Lear. John Hurt plays his faithful and dutiful Dresser, Norman. Hurt is equally engrossing as his character tries desparetly to keep Finney from losing his mind, and at the same time, not let the rest of the Company know that something isn't quite right with their leader. Norman also struggles with the herculean task of keeping Finney's character focused on the one thing that he was born to do, and that's to portray King Lear. The enite cast is excellent as well. If you like a good drama, with great acting to boot, then get this movie. You'll never regret it.

Nominated then forgotten!.......2006-01-25

England--WWII-- Albert Finney is the aging star of a Shakespearean stage company, and Tom Courtney is his backstage "nancy-boy" dresser, who must somehow deal with the egomaniacal old ham in the early statges of senile dementia or Alzheimer's. The show must go on, despite bombing raids, Finney's collapse, and other difficulties--or must it?

The fop and the falling star share brilliantly-acted interactions that are alternately infuriating and touching. With well-timed direction, a great screenplay, and a sturdy plot, this film won 5 Oscar nominations but --amazingly-- no Oscars.

That doesn't mean this incipient classic should be overlooked. A fine addition to any DVD library, and one that may not "stay in print;" Order THE DRESSER now--you won't be disappointed!

Will Rogers Collection 2 (Ambassador Bill / David Harum / Mr Skitch / Too Busy to Work)

Average customer rating:

A Year of Jubilo

Will Rogers Collection 2 (Ambassador Bill / David Harum / Mr Skitch / Too Busy to Work)
Starring: Will Rogers , Louise Dresser , Evelyn Venable , Kent Taylor , and Stepin Fetchit
Director: James Cruze , and John G. Blystone
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 2 (Charlie Chan at the Circus / Charlie Chan at the Olympics / Charlie Chan at the Opera / Charlie Chan at the Race Track)
TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 1 (Waterloo Bridge 1931 / Baby Face / Red-Headed Woman)
W.C. Fields Comedy Collection, Vol. 2 (The Man on the Flying Trapeze / Never Give A Sucker An Even Break / You're Telling Me! / The Old Fashioned Way / Poppy)

ASIN: B000JLQQ26
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Amazon.com

Movie fans unfamiliar with the great wit of Will Rogers are in for a treat. The second volume of the Will Rogers Collection features some of Rogers' lesser-known talkie titles, but all showcase the humor and plainspokenness that America in the '20s and '30s ate up by the heaping spoonful. Included in this set are Ambassador Bill (1931), a Marx Brothers-esque romp through the world of international relations; David Harum (1934), in which Rogers plays horse race enthusiast betting on revenge against those who've pull fast ones on him; Mr. Skitch (1933), with the bubbly Zazu Pitts as Rogers' wife, a screwball comedy of the highest order; and Too Busy to Work (1932), in which Rogers re-creates his fan-fave role as Jubilo, a '30s-era hobo who tramps from town to town, avoiding work while trying to track down news of his missing family. The films are as valuable for their snapshots of the early years of the Depression as they are as showcases for the humor of Rogers. The boxed set includes several small, not-to-be-missed featurettes, including "Jane Withers Remembers," all of which are a tribute to a golden bygone era. "People are kind of funny," says Rogers as Jubilo. "They'll believe any kind of a lie if it sounds like the truth, but they won't believe the truth if it sounds like a lie." --A.T. Hurley

Description

Disc 1: AMBASSADOR BILL 1931 (B&W) Disc 2: DAVID HARUM 1934 (B&W) Disc 3: MR SKITCH -1933 (B&W) Disc 4: TOO BUSY TO WORK 1932 (B&W)

Customer Reviews:

A Year of Jubilo.......2007-01-21

In less than a year's time we've gotten TWO Will Rogers movie collections, so it seems a bit petty to complain, but--couldn't the titles have been selected a bit more judiciously for Vol. 2? If the plan is to release all the Rogers talkies, fine; but if we're only to get a few of these boxed sets, let's get serious: "Mr. Skitch?" It has a fine cast, some funny moments, a rattle-trap excuse of a plot, and production values so cheap you can hear the pennies jingling--both of 'em.

"Too Busy to Work," a drama with comedy highlights, will bemuse anyone who doesn't appreciate that Rogers played the "Jubilo" character in several movies throughout his career, this movie being the culmination and apothesis of them all, right down to the little jig step in Jubilo's stride. "David Harum" has as much sentiment but even more comedy and is a lot of fun to watch, no matter what your opinion of Stepin Fetchit.

"Ambassador Bill" weaves uneasily between sentimental comedy and broader, "Duck Soup"-style political satire that finally (and thankfully) predominates in the last third of the movie.

As with Volume 1, there are some good extra features included, the most interesting being the "He Chews to Talk" featurette with the famous "unemployment relief" speech. Any Rogers collection is better than none, but if we're only going to get one or two more of these, let's do Will proud and collect "Dr. Bull," "Judge Priest," "The County Chairman," and "State Fair."

The Scarlet Empress - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

A movie for film historians and students
Disturbing, Beautiful, Just Amazing
No evidence of the 'bad' print reviewers warned about
So cool
Up Stairs, Down Stairs

The Scarlet Empress - Criterion Collection
Starring: Marlene Dietrich , John Lodge , Sam Jaffe , Louise Dresser , and C. Aubrey Smith
Director: Josef von Sternberg
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Garden of Allah

ASIN: B00005A8TW
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Amazon.com essential video

The radiant Princess Sophia Frederica (Marlene Dietrich) gets taken to Russia, renamed Catherine, and married off to the Grand Duke Peter. Peter is "a royal half-wit" with all the physical (and intellectual) appeal of a halibut. Luckily, even before the wedding Sophia-Catherine-Marlene has already fallen in lust with the handsome, womanizing emissary Count Alexei, the first of many uniformed conquests. Melodrama doesn't come any more melo than this, and Dietrich doesn't really do much, except swivel those enormous searchlight eyes from one man to another, but this is one of her sexiest and most memorable roles. It culminates with her escaping from the Palace--and stealing the throne of Russia from the halibut (who by now is Peter III)--all dressed in Cossack uniform. The Empress, Peter's aunt, is played--somehow appropriately--with the accent and social grace of a New Jersey chambermaid. Great music, great lighting, and great camera work, all directed with an odd mixture of campy humor and glaring bombast by Josef von Sternberg. Scarlet Empress has (to quote the titles) "a supporting cast of 1,000 players"; at least 950 of them look exactly like Rasputin. They don't make movies like this anymore; what a pity. --Richard Farr

Description

Filmmaker-svengali Josef von Sternberg escalates his obsession with screen legend Marlene Dietrich in this lavish depiction of sex and deceit in the 18th-century Russian court. A self-proclaimed "relentless excursion into style," the pair's sixth collaboration follows the exploits of Princess Sophia (Dietrich) as she evolves from trembling innocent to cunning sexual libertine Catherine the Great. With operatic melodrama, flamboyant visuals, and a cast of thousands, this ornate spectacle represents the apex of cinematic pageantry by Hollywood's master of artifice.

Customer Reviews:

A movie for film historians and students.......2007-02-05

Sternberg/Dietrich is a match made in heaven. The cinematography, the set designs, the innuendo, the costumes, the supporting cast. This is a movie of the ages. The slow simmer between Dietrich & Lodge are the stuff legends are made of. Oh and the utter contempt Dietrich has for Jaffe that slowly grows and then boils over. They don't make movies like this anymore! True, the acting is abit over board, kinda like watching an old Douglas Fairbanks movie. But the atmosphere is awesome.

True, there are no extras or subtitles, but I have found the older the movie the more difficult to find the missing film.

Disturbing, Beautiful, Just Amazing.......2007-01-11

What an incredible film. It didn't do well when it was released in '34, and I can see why. There's no clear cut good guy or bad guy. The Count sleeps with Catherine 1 & 2, Peter is a sadistic halfwit, and Catherine, well she sleeps with the whole army and has her husband assinated.
However, it's that blend of darkness and triumph, humor and tragedy that makes this film incredible. John Lodge is fantastic and Marlene Dietrich's transformation from wide eyed Sofia into power hungery Catherine is amazing and chilling.
The print of the film isn't perfect, and the audio is in a depressing state (in fact I had to put the subtitles on half way through the film to understand what Catherine was purring to the Count, and in certain areas there is a loud background buzz) but Criterion puts its heart and soul into restoring these films. One can only imagine what the print was like before Criterion got their hands on it!
However, don't let this stop you from seeing The Scarlet Empress. It is a completely unique experience and its hold on you wont soon let go.
I definately reccomend this incredible film.

No evidence of the 'bad' print reviewers warned about.......2006-11-23

I asked for this DVD for my birthday, because I was afraid to purchase it due to so many negative reviews about the picture quality. I shouldn't have worried. As always, Criterion supplies a superior print. The film itself is one of those bizarre masterpieces a classic film fan can't live without, with Marlene as glamorous and fascinating as ever.

So cool.......2006-11-05

If you did not see it till now ... run for it . Fresh and cool in every aspect. Marlene Dietrich at her best.

Up Stairs, Down Stairs.......2006-09-02

A film I like because it doesn't stick to those much-cited utilitarian conventions of Hollywood's style of making films. It is a film not, as critics so often say, obsessed with Marlene Dietrich; it is rather a film inspired by a love of images as silenced yet highly structured regimes of organising space (namely, height) as a means of expressing power. This technique is not some self-indulgent kink on the part of its director, von Sternberg, but is actually far more disciplined than many films made in 1930s Hollywood. The style of this film is not some frippery of over-ornate set design and charioscuro lighting, quite the opposite; it is actually far more effective at distilling its chosen themes than in many films of the time. Moreover, as stated above, it does this a highly visual way... and cinema is, after all, a primarily visual medium.

The "Scarlet Empress" is a film about women; yes, about Dietrich's rise from a grand duchess to head of state of Russia, but also about her predecessor Empress Elizabeth's hold on power through romantic intrigue and the imposition of her will. It is curious that whereas a filmmaker such as Max Ophuls is much lauded for his use of visual metaphors -for instance, the handing of objects in a merry-go-round of rumour and assignation, and the repeated use of the subjective stairway shots in "Letter From and Unknown Woman"- people do not pick up, or do not choose to, on the use of height in Sternberg's film. It is in fact full of shots of women standing at the tops of stairs, making their way down stairs, watching from pulpits, rising to belltowers, and so on.

The issue of height, and the varying degrees as to which it is employed, is moreover highly structured in sequences which often show the camera tracking to follow the woman's progess down a flight of stairs and then back up. An example would be Dietrich's initial entrance into society as she greets the Russian ambassadors; the camera carefully tracks her movement downstairs, then the niceties of her greetings with the guests, and then back again, all in one take. Dietrich's ascent as Catherine the Great is confirmed in one of the last sequences of the film, where this time she ascends the belltower to give the signal to depose her imbecilic husband Grand Duke Peter. In this sequence she truly replaces Elizabeth as queen, taking over her privileged lofty viewing position; the reversal of her mute, staring passivity is complete, and most importantly, this is achieved by a solely visual metaphor -that of the ascent to position of being uppermost. This topmost position is not just a blind figurehead; it has the far wider effect of installing the sovereign as a fully seeing character who can fully take advantage of her ability to look at others. This very simple yet satisfying visual touch is something that many other films do not choose to employ, forgetting that cinema is primarily a visual medium, achieving its distinction from literature through its ability to use visual metaphors far more effectively.
A second point of interest is the clear influence on Eisenstein's "Ivan the Terrible", made some eight to twelve years later; from the lowering sets, preponderance of carved statues often dwarfing the human actors, and even the stylised acting of Sam Jaffe as Peter -for instance shying away to cover his face after Elizabeth strikes him- are all highly reminiscent of what the Soviet filmmaker was to do in his treatment of the sixteenth century tyrant.

Average customer rating:

you said it, Graceann!
Splendid Romantic Comedy
A Stylish and Enjoyable Silent
Sheer Delight
IN THE BEST ROMANTIC STYLE.

The Garden of Eden (Deluxe Edition)
Starring: Corinne Griffith , Louise Dresser , Lowell Sherman , Maude George , and Charles Ray
Director: Lewis Milestone
Manufacturer: Flicker Alley
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00007F8OC
Release Date: 2002-11-06

Amazon.com

An absolutely terrific silent comedy, wittily played and polished like a gem. Jazz-age cutie Corrine Griffith stars as a showbiz-minded girl who leaves her humble family of bakers ("I could never be satisfied making pretzels all my life") in Budapest. In a hilarious sequence, she tries her hand at hifalutin "opera singing" while employed at a distinctly questionable cabaret in Paris. Somehow this leads to impersonating royalty at a fancy hotel in Monte Carlo, with the expected confusions and complications. The delightful blend of sophistication and slapstick recalls the comedies of Ernst Lubitsch, but it was directed by Lewis Milestone, best known for the Oscar®-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, made two years later. Adding fun is the delightfully debauched presence of Lowell Sherman, a popular actor and director of the era (and a lounge lizard before his time), as a tuxedo-clad baron on the make. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

you said it, Graceann!.......2006-07-11

I was going title my review "A Sheer Delight," but in another critique listed here Graceann beat me to it! So I can only second that assessment!

I recently attended a library-sponsored film series, where the speaker said he hadn't programmed comedies because they don't age well and he doesn't find them funny. Well, that film expert hasn't seen *Garden of Eden* (nor, apparently *Gold Diggers of 1935*).

I was interested in this film because I'd researched the career of Lewis Milestone years ago, and also because my Amazon travels have introduced me to the hitherto unfamiliar Lowell Sherman--who, when directing himself in one early talkie, seemed a mirror of John Barrymore, only to turn out to be Barrymore's real-life brother-in-law. Sherman is a tad more youthful in this late silent, but his sound films allow him to use his voice to considerable comedic effect.

Watching this silent, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. And just when it looks like they're about to repeat a joke from an earlier plot segment, they take the story into new territory. I fear I'm of an age and temperament that doesn't equate "film comedy" with the current American trend in bodily function humor. In contrast, this film manages to be just plain funny from start to finish--and risque on its own terms.

If in the future I organize my own library-film-society series on the movie musical, I'll open with *Garden of Eden*--yes, a SILENT musical! Abetted by an excellent music accompaniment on this DVD.

One final observation: contemporary audiences might find the color short subject "The Toy Shop" disturbing, which is more of a commentary on our own "sophisticated decadence" than on the admitted sentimentalism of that earlier time.

Splendid Romantic Comedy.......2006-05-24

The Garden of Eden referrs to the outside of a prestigious hotel where most of the action in this film happens. However, in order to get there, we must backtrack. The film begins with Corinne Griffith, a girl named Toni with ambitions to become an opera star. She leaves her family to go to Budapest and is reduced to appearing in a cheap showgirl act. After being fired for being unwilling to comply to a wealthy man's advances, she and seamstress friend Rosa (Louise Dressler) team up together as mother and daughter. It is revealed that Rosa is really a Baroness and the two plan to live a life of luxury for a couple of weeks on her annual pension. In the process, Toni falls in love with an enthusiastic man (Charles Ray). It seems that the story will end there, in a typical halo of happiness, but an unexpected twist continues the story.

This film is a delightful romantic-comedy. What makes it exceptional is the artistic aspects. Lewis Milestone has directed a truly beautiful film here with fun traveling shots, playful use of deep focus, and glorious halos of light around the stars. The print is slightly scratched, but the images are clear and crisp. Griffith does a splendid job in the starring role; her subtle acting style does not degrade the film at all. Robert Israel has composed a fitting music score for this release.

Included are two short subjects. The first is The Toy Shop, a two strip technicolor film about a little girl's dream inside a toy shop on Christmas. The print is fuzzy and it seems it was included because of the lost color dream sequence from The Garden of Eden. The second short is called Hollywood The Unusual, evidence of why Hollywood is so alluring to tourists. It roams over the various styles of buildings ranging from English, French, Spanish, Middle Eastern, Aztec, African, and the Egyptian and Chinese designs for Grauman's famous theaters. The film is clear and beautifully restored.

This DVD is truly worth the money.

A Stylish and Enjoyable Silent.......2006-05-10

This beautifully produced and sophisticated film starring the lovely Corinne Griffith made in that period just before sound pictures would overtake silent art remains as fresh and entertaining today as it was when introduced to the moviegoing public of the age.

Lewis Milestone, like King Vidor, Frank Borzage, Cecil B DeMille, and Allan Dwan, would bridge that gap between silent and sound film and be successful at both. Perhaps best remembered today by noir buffs for "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" and film buffs in general for "All Quiet On the Western Front," he should also be remembered for "The Garden of Eden."

A lovely score which is integral rather than distracting and some stunningly stylish art direction from the great William Cameron Menzies add just the perfect touch to the duo of Corinne Griffith and Louise Dresser. The film very much has the look of those glossy Paramount productions from the early 1930's when it ruled Hollywood.

Toni LeBrun (Corinne Griffith) is shocked when she shows up at a Paris cabaret for what she thinks is a job singing opera. Her first shock will come when she meets Madame Bauer, a woman who dresses more like the other gender. She bills Toni as the "pleasant embarrassment" for her decadent male patrons. A trick with the lighting will show off Toni's beautiful legs but prove the last straw for Toni and Madame Bauer's assistant, played winningly by Louise Dresser.

Dresser is actually a Baroness with a pension who only works at the cabaret in Paris so she can travel to Monte Carlo for two weeks of the year and live like royalty at The Garden of Eden Hotel. She will take Toni under her wing as a mother would which brings about some funny and romantic complications in Monte Carlo.

To reveal more would not be prudent but suffice it to say many sophisticated comedies of the 1930's owe a great deal to "The Garden of Eden." Milestone's direction is flawless and Corinne Griffith is as well. Her performance is quite natural and full of humor and honesty. She is both sweet and hilarious, and a truly great star.

This was one of the great silents and deserves to be remembered. Milestone's film is itself a milestone for many such films of the sound era which would follow in its wake. A must see for true film buffs.

Sheer Delight.......2006-02-18

This sumptuous release is everything a silent film buff could ask for - lovely restoration, a beautifully appropriate score and a wonderful story. Corrinne Griffith is cute as a button, and Lewis Milestone directs her and the other stars - Louise Dresser, Charles Ray and Lowell Sherman, among others, with a light touch. The Garden of Eden has now joined Show People as a film I screen for friends who think that silents are static and boring. The print is so pristine that it sparkles, and the extras are generous and interesting.

IN THE BEST ROMANTIC STYLE........2005-04-22

This is a delightful film based upon a play by Avery Hopwood, an adaption of a work by Rudolph Bernauer and Rudolf Oesterreicher, featuring a radiant and vivacious Corinne Griffith as Toni LeBrun, a would-be diva who is adopted as ward by a baroness (Louise Dresser) who takes her to Monte Carlo where romantic adventures then take place. The work is directed by Lewis Milestone, one of the few Americans who may be described as a cinematic auteur, predicated upon his clear stylistic methods, in evidence here in this leisurely paced effort, in particular with clever establishing, long and detail shots used in the seamless decoupage typical of silent filmmaking at its best, and certainly present in this influential picture. The keen expressivity of art director William Cameron Menzies and the technically flawless cinematography of John Arnold are absorbed by Milestone as this trio combine in presenting a stream of interesting imagery, some of which has been copied but not bettered in the sound era. A highly polished supporting cast backs Griffith, notably Charles Ray as her romantic favorite, Lowell Sherman as a knavish would-be nobleman, Maude George, who portrays an androgynous stage manager and Dresser in a typically well-defined performance as Toni's adoptive mother. Rosa Rio, at the Wurlitzer, plays the original score with a great deal of wit and neatly interpretive passage-work; a perfect aural mating with a sublimely visual feast.

Average customer rating:

Valentino as a Russian masked avenger!
The Fun Side of Valentino
"I don't associate with masked men as a rule."
Great film, lackluster restoration
Could We Have The Old Version, Please?

The Eagle
Starring: Rudolph Valentino , Vilma Bánky , Louise Dresser , Albert Conti , and James A. Marcus
Director: Clarence Brown
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006674H
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Description

Set in the Imperial Court of 18th-century Russia, "The Eagle" is a dashing and romantic adventure in which Rudolph Valentino gives what many consider to be his finest screen performance. Here is a role tailor-made for the legendary Valentino--that of Vladimir, the handsome young Cossack guardsman who is banished after rejecting the amorous advances of Catherine the Great (stunningly portrayed by Louise Dresser) and becomes the "Black Eagle," a Russian Robin Hood dedicated to robbing the rich and giving to the down-trodden peasants.

Customer Reviews:

Valentino as a Russian masked avenger!.......2007-05-04

Silent screen legend Rudolph Valentino reached enormous heights of popularity in the 1920s before his untimely death not long after starring in "The Eagle", which is a terrible shame because judging by his performance in this film in particular, it is evident that Valentino was more than just a pretty face and had a lot of talent to offer. First cast in some dubious character roles (such as in "The Married Virgin") Valentino was soon established in the typical Hollywood heroic and irresistably charming leading man role for whom all women swooned. "The Eagle" is a good example of this role in which Valentino demonstrates not only his usual magnetism and appeal, but also humour and an overall fine feeling for details and subtle comedy. Very much in the style of Zorro and Robin Hood made popular a few years earlier by Douglas Fairbanks Sr, "The Eagle" is Russia's version of this masked avenger fighting for the poor against injustices, and all in glorious Hollywood style. Although the sets and costumes give the film a distinct Russian flavour, the story is definitely classic Hollywood entertainment all the way with tongue-in-cheek comedy, indispensable romance, standard action and adventure, and the triumph over bad in an unexpected happy ending. The story is quite interesting and entertaining from the very onset which shows how Valentino as a Cossack guard first gets into trouble by resisting the Czarina's romantic advances, resulting in her condemnation of him as a deserter, wanted dead or alive. At home, his dying father has been cheated by a wealthy landlord out of his entire estate, and as the peasants rally around him crying for justice, Valentino dons the Zorro-like mask and becomes known as `The Black Eagle' vowing to take revenge on the greedy landlord, but wouldn't you know it: Valentino's love interest turns out to be the daughter of the man he is after! This enjoyable and satisfying story is enhanced by good acting, especially by Valentino, and the picture quality is very good throughout. The musical accompaniment is a theatre organ and is well-suited to the scenes, although I can imagine that an orchestral score playing Russian-style music would further enhance this film. In any case, "The Eagle" is thoroughly entertaining in true Hollywood style and should satisfy even those who are not great Valentino fans.

The Fun Side of Valentino.......2007-04-17

Those who know little about Rudolph Valentino other than modern society's dark image of him, painted by gossip and the passage of time, like water passing over stones, eroding their original beauty, will be greatly surprised by Valentino's skill and humor as an actor in this terrific film, filled with romance and adventure. There is a real sense of fun here, as though Valentino is quite aware of his own image at the time and is giving a wry wink to it.

The set direction of William Cameron Menzies is beautifully photographed by George Barnes in Hans Kraly's fun screenplay of romance getting in the way of revenge. When that romance involves the lovely Vilma Banky, known mostly today for her films opposite Valentino, the quandry is a difficult one. She is shown to great advantage throughout the film, one particular scene where she kneels by her bedside table in a nightgown, searching for a way to sway the man she loves away from revenge, proof that her baby-faced charm rivaled any female star of the era.

Rudolph Valentino is Lt. Vladimir Dubrousky. When he rescues a runaway coach with Mascha Troekouroff (Vilma Banky) in it, the wheels are set in motion for a great adventure. It is the Czarina's (Louise Dresser) steed Vladimir appropriates during the valiant deed, but upon her meeting with the young soldier, her heart melts and she tries to use her power to procure his love. But Vladimir has only signed on to fight, not for this!

He returns to his home with a bounty on his head, only to find his father near death due to a scoundrel named Kyrilla. While the Czarina finds romance with one of her Captains, whom she promotes to General, Valentino swears vengence when his father dies, donning the mask and title, "The Black Eagle." If this sounds like fun, that's because it is!

Though it's all done seriously, Valentino's charm and charisma come through loud and clear, giving this film a sense of humor. Vladimir runs across the lovely Mascha once again, and grabs an opportunity to be near her and quench his thirst for vengence as well. Mascha's father, of course, is the evil Kyrilla. When Vladimir comes to their home in the guise of her French tutor, an incident in a wine cellar when he saves her life reveals to her his true identity. Rather than exposing him, she opts to change his mindset from vengence to love.

There is a fun and terrific ending to this one I won't spoil for the first time viewer. Director Clarence Brown, not widely regarded for his action films, allows the "Great Lover" to have some fun in what turned out to be one of Valentino's finest pictures. The picture quality of this silent, overseen by film historians Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, is excellent in this HBO presentation. For those who want to see the fun side of Rudolph Valentino, this isn't a bad one with which to start.

"I don't associate with masked men as a rule.".......2006-11-17

Dashing Russian Army Lieutenant, Vladimir Dubrovsky (Rudolf Valentino) draws attention from Catherine the Great (Louise Dresser) when he heroically captures one of her favourite horses. Catherine wants to reward him by making him a general, and while that title comes with certain privileges, it also comes with certain obligations. Catherine makes it clear that she has amorous intentions towards her new general, and while she goes to her boudoir to slip into something more comfortable, Dubrovsky escapes to the provinces.

Dubrovksy intends to return to his family estate, but in his absence, it's been seized by Kyrilla (James Marcus). Meanwhile, Catherine, enraged by the rejection of her latest love-toy, issues a warrant for his arrest and execution.

Dubrovsky dons a mask, and calling himself the Black Eagle, he and a band of loyal followers begin robbing and generally harassing Kyrilla at every opportunity. But then Dubrovsky meets the lovely Mascha (Vilma Banky)--Kyrilla's only child....

"The Eagle", directed by Clarence Brown is great entertainment for Valentino fans. The scenes between Dubrovsky and Catherine are wonderful, and while she eyeballs him head to foot, she doesn't hide her admiration or her insatiable nature. Dubrovsky is depicted as coy and chaste--powerful qualities that no doubt drove his hordes of female fans to distraction, and this simple but entertaining romance works well as a vehicle for Valentino's role as yet another impossibly dashing romantic hero.

This silent film from 1925 is a decent print marred by a few, thin, black vertical lines. The DVD has no extras, and if you've never seen Valentino I also recommend the two-for-one "Sheik/Son of the Sheik." These two films show Valentino several years apart and he measurably hones his acting skills for the later film. "The Eagle" is great fun for Valentino fans, but it's not his best--displacedhuman

Great film, lackluster restoration.......2005-01-24

The movie is worth 5 stars and more; it's only the quality of the DVD transfer that is meriting a 4-star review. This DVD is my only experience with this movie, since I never had a laser disc player, but hearing about how beautiful the laser disc version this very same company used to offer was, it's shameful that they put out the lackluster rendition in lieu of their far superior print. On the one hand, we're lucky to have this on DVD when only about half of Rudy's major movies are currently available on that format (the rest are on videos that aren't sold in most major retail chains, and those videos too deserve restoration work and DVD treatment), and that most of his major movies, and even a fair amount of the movies he made before becoming famous, are still with us when so many other silent movies are lost, but considering all of that, more care should have been demanded. It's one thing to say it's expected in a film of this age, but obviously there was a much better print available previously, a print which didn't have dust, specks, and lines speckled over it. However, in spite of that, it's in very good condition; from having read about the condition of the print, I was expecting much worse. This isn't a film like his earlier movie 'Moran of the Lady Letty'; a solid underrated movie which is practically unwatchable in many spots because oftentimes faces and objects are little more than blurs. This movie has none of that; you can see everything and everyone clearly, and since it's such a good story, the background disturbances can be overlooked. The background music of the organ is also a problem in this transfer; it's not as bad as the background music in 'Moran,' but still just doesn't seem to fit with the mood of the movie. I would have expected authentic Russian pieces to be played in the background, giving the movie an even more Russian feel (I'm also a longtime Russophile in addition to liking classic cinema).

In spite of the lacking transfer job, the story is still wonderful, combining drama (my favourite genre) with a lot of comic moments, like when Vladimir, while posing as Marcel, is so distracted by the presence of Masha at the supper table that he puts way too much pepper in his soup, or when the ring on his finger gets stuck and he has to pull on it for awhile before he can give it to Masha. If there were another DVD edition put out, this time with proper music and the old laser disc print, it would be even better and more highly-recommended.

Could We Have The Old Version, Please?.......2002-12-26

If you don't have a copy of Valentino's most engaging silent, "The Eagle", in your collection, you should certainly have this, but you should know that it is far - very far - from the best version that has been available. This edition is sourced from the Killiam Collection, and is evidently from a 16mm reduction print that saw long use and little care. Contrast and detail are poor, to say the least. There is a sad, tired musical accompaniment that is best turned off, frankly.

What's awful about all this is that this same company, Image Entertainment, once offered a far superior version. Its 1989 laserdisc edition was based on a clean 35mm print from the Rohauer Collection that had excellent contrast and detail. The score was a magnificently well-suited one by Carl Davis; it went so well with the film that once you've had a viewing with Davis's compositions, seeing "The Eagle" with any other score is unthinkable.

"The Eagle" is indispensable to a collection of silents, but this edition is not a patch on what Image itself has offered in the past. It is to be hoped that the company can clear whatever obstacles are keeping it from offering a DVD release of what was one of the best silent-film offerings on laserdisc.

Product Description

This publication is a professional quality DVD video covering robotized welding cell design and operation control topics in lean, Visual Factory Management & Control (VFM) environments. VFM is an integrated set of methods and technologies for the purpose of reducing waste at all levels, improving profitability, increasing lean production control, product & process quality, productivity, safety, on-demand / just-in-time (JIT) production / delivery, and employee morale in a factory, or virtually in any business. The key to the success of VFM is the expert implementation of 'visual controls', making information truly visible and clear for everyone. In this DVD video we focus on robotized welding dell design issues, automatically changeable robot tools, robot cell safety, visual controls, and an electrode tip dresser.The fundamental purpose of visual controls is to help employees to improve their processes, understand their roles, and to contribute to the success of the corporation, whilst reducing waste at all levels. This can be achieved by creating up-to-date information in a format they everyone can easily absorb, as and when, and where they need it. VFM typically begins by following an integrated process, requirements, and risk analysis method, embedded into a statistical analysis and multimedia framework. As a result, the team will have a clear picture about what needs to be done, when and how. The next step is typically the implementation of a 'Five S', a 'Lean Six-Sigma', and a 'Monozukuri' program. (See more about these methods and technologies in Professor Ranky's Library.) System Requirements: DVD-ROM: NTSC standard definition (SD) DVD video player for TV, or computer. Approximate length 16 minutes, in 16:9 widescreen format, also playable on a 4:3 regular screen, or any good computer screen (800 x 600 resolution, or better). Furthermore available in PAL DVD video, in streamed digital, and Apple Video iPod formats. The HD (high-definition NTSC and PAL)

Average customer rating:

Comical and Sad

Boutique
Starring: Mohammad Reza Golzar , Golshifte Farahani , Reza Rooygari , Yousef Teymouri , and Ali Alaei
Director: Hamid Nematollah
Manufacturer: Irmovies.Com
ProductGroup: DVD
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Under the Moonlight
Donya
Friday's Soldiers
Turtles Can Fly
Cease Fire

ASIN: B0007Z9QTY
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Customer Reviews:

Comical and Sad.......2006-12-01

This film takes the viewer on a slow yet dramatic sequence of events that portrays the desperation and challenging obstacles that face the youth in Iran today.

Etti, the young girl who talks of living abroad, is approached by a man (Reza Golzar) that desires to help her. There is an obvious chemistry between these two, one that is platonic in nature.

Etti's behavior throughout this film appears innocent at first but one will notice that she has a different agenda in mind, one of desperate hope, a better future as a result of dissatisfaction with daily life in Iran... which seems to be an understatement among the youth in Iran for many years.

Reza feels obligated to assist Etti yet stumbles upon other obstacles between his own job and family life. Reza's character is laid back and introverted to some degree but remains a man that is skeptical of Etti towards the end of the film.

Many Iranian films that are produced in Iran leaves the viewer with a void at the end. Its up to the viewer to fill the gaps and understand the social dynamics between the character's and the consequences of their actions.

The end of this film "Boutique" is a mystery, regarding the fate of Etti. To the casual viewer, with no knowledge of Iranian cinema, this film provides a glimpse into the dark and often sad ending of Iranian cinema.

Average customer rating:

Eagle

Manufacturer: Synergy Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Average customer rating:

Buy Walking with Prehistoric Beasts
Oh dear
Mammoth DVDs were very good
very good video on prehistoric Ice Age mammals

Land of the Mammoth
Starring: Bernard Buigues , Bas Van Geel , Christian DeMarliave , Dr. Bessie Dresser , and Ross MacPhee
Director: Emmanuel Mairesse
Manufacturer: Family Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
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What Killed the Mega-Beasts
Walking With Prehistoric Beasts
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ASIN: B000059H6O
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Customer Reviews:

Buy Walking with Prehistoric Beasts.......2002-01-01

This is good for watch on television once in a while. But if you want a good film about mammoths watch Walking with Prehistoric Beasts. It has just as many mammoth shots as Land of the Mammoth but are much more realistic. Not to mention all the great other creatures beasts describes. Land of the Mammoth had bad special effects. It should have talked more about cloning the creature itstead of digging in the ground and repeating the same shots over and over again. They were diging in the block but the film stops before they got to the interesting part of the block. Now it is good for hard core mammoth fans but I suggest Walking with Prehistoric Beasts.

Oh dear.......2001-04-15

I saw this when It first aired on Discovery. The program is trying so hard to be like Walking with Dinosaurs but it totally fails.

The main problem is there is just not enough footage and so many shots are shown repeatedly. While some of the footage is indeed interesting there are only so many shots of hairdryers thawing out a lump of hairy ice that I can take, and while them finding the first mammoth tusk was interesting by the time they had dug up the 50th I was almost asleep...

There is also a problem with the CG. It is just terrible!! Whereas in walking with dinosaur you really felt that the dinosaurs were alive, in this the mammoths look horrible and dont walk relistically. The program looks like it was rushed so that it could jump aboard the Walking with Dinosaurs bandwagon.

I'd recommend trying to catch a repeat on Discovery before buying this disc

Mammoth DVDs were very good.......2001-04-04

I have both of these DVDs, both this one, and the previous, Raising the Mammoth, which I found to be fascinating, informative and entertaining. Granted, they are not Jurrasic Park or some such, but they were not intended to be. They are documentaries, not feature films. And true, the Computer Graphics, in some cases, was not up to the standards of Walking with Dinosaurs, but again, I don't think that was the intent of the producers, although I think they would have liked it to be.

These two films, seen back to back, show the efforts being made and the studies conducted in the scientific field of endeavor, not the made for TV movie. If you really want to learn what is going on with research into these areas, you will really enjoy these films. And, it is true, in the end, they discovered that the animal they had hoped to be intact seems to have been damaged, either by injury, exposure or predation after death, there is still a lot to be learned from these films and I urge you all to view them, if you have the slightest interest in this field of study.

very good video on prehistoric Ice Age mammals.......2001-03-12

Well, just saw the Land of the Mammoth special on Discovery. Not bad, nice to have a two hour special on one of my passions, paleontology. It seemed to wander a bit, and if you curious mainly about the Jarkov mammoth it was full of padding, though of course the other stuff was acutally more interesting. The mammoth CGI segments were nowhere near as great as those in Walking With Dinosaurs which stilll remains the standard for these types of programs, but they tried and have more than I have seen anywhere else. The CGI woolly rhinos were pretty good, and it was nice to see attention devoted to them, being a prehistoric rhino fan. I liked how they discussed how they used insect and plant remains to infer the environment and habits of mammoths, good to see that addressed on Discovery.

They discussed the ideas about mammoth extinction, primarily disease, climatic change, and human hunting. I have never subscribed the disease theory and I thought their case for it was weak, but they did a reasonably good job covering climatic and human reasons for mammoth (and other Ice Age megafauna) extinctions.

They also discussed the notion of bringing back mammoths via cloning, one of the main reasons the Jarkov mammoth has received the attention it has. Discovery did hint at the fact that the Jarkov mammoth may be only scraps, but didn't definitely say so. I have read that there is some controvery that the Jarkov mammoth is not a complete specimen, and towards the end of the program they did seem to acknowledge that it might be the complete specimen they had hoped.

Customer Reviews:

Valentino as a Russian masked avenger!.......2007-05-04

The Fun Side of Valentino.......2007-04-17

"I don't associate with masked men as a rule.".......2006-11-17

Great film, lackluster restoration.......2005-01-24

Could We Have The Old Version, Please?.......2002-12-26

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