Esther and the King

Starring:Joan Collins, Richard Egan, Denis O'Dea, Sergio Fantoni, Rik Battaglia, Renato Baldini, Gabriele Tinti, Rosalba Neri, Robert Buchanan (IV), Daniela Rocca, Folco Lulli, Ombretta Ostenda, Aldo Pini, Italo Tancredi
Director: Raoul Walsh, Mario Bava
Studio: Diamond Ent. Corp.
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Remarkable Acting - Unremarkable Story
Tender and Mature
the wedding night
Very Under-Rated
Very touching story

The Wedding Night
Starring: Gary Cooper , Anna Sten , Ralph Bellamy , Helen Vinson , and Sig Ruman
Director: King Vidor
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NIBUTO
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

One of the lesser-known satisfactions in Gary Cooper's career is this 1935 King Vidor film, an offbeat blend of romance, comedy, and tragedy. It begins in screwball territory: Cooper plays a novelist whose partying ways have stalled his career and made his new manuscript unpublishable. He and wife Helen Vinson like the high life (any resemblance to Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald is probably intentional), and she doesn't stick around while he tries to write a new book in a quiet Connecticut country house. The isolation puts him into proximity with a heartfelt young immigrant girl (Anna Sten), whose Polish community provides a subject for his new book.

If you think Cooper was a merely the High Noon guy, a lanky Western hero, this is one of the movies (among many) that dispel the idea: his utter naturalness is a gold standard for a certain kind of movie-star acting. Directing him on the set the first day, Vidor worried about the star's mumbling and forgetfulness with dialogue. "Imagine my amazement," Vidor later wrote, "when I watched our first day's work on the screen and observed and heard a performance that overflowed with charm and personality." Anna Sten was another issue: the Russian actress had been brought to the U.S. with great fanfare by producer Samuel Goldwyn, because he wanted to have his own foreign Garbo/Dietrich under contract. Her cool presence failed to generate audience interest, and Goldwyn gave up on her after The Wedding Night. She's a problem, but Cooper keeps it going, and the movie itself is unexpectedly warm. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Remarkable Acting - Unremarkable Story.......2007-07-04

I wasn't too impressed with the story of this one: A Manhattan writer named Tony (Gary Cooper), who made a splash with his first novel, is suffering from a long dry spell. Running out of cash, he and his wife head off to rural Connecticut where they can reside in his old family home rent-free. The writer gets inspiration for a new novel from his Polish neighbors. He also seems to fall in love at first sight with the Poles' daughter, Manya (Anna Sten). Tony's wife soon heads back to New York City out of boredom, leaving the writer to become more entangled with the Polish girl.

The acting is what makes this film worth watching: Gary Cooper, as usual, has a tremendous screen presence and Anna Sten is surprisingly good. I say "surprisingly" because she has often been accused of giving a "cold" performance that turned people off. It is hard to see why Hollywood gave up on her so quickly (this was her first and last major film). Not only did she possess a highly alluring beauty, but she was excellent in the role of Manya. [Looking at the other Amazon reviews, it seems that most of you out there agree with me on this last point.]

Tender and Mature.......2007-06-18

This tender and mature film from director King Vidor is one of the great forgotten films of the 1930's. There is a sensitive and romantic light hanging over every frame, as though Vidor turned the lamplight low, letting its warm, soft glow set the mood for a rich story of tragic love.

Alfred Newman's lovely score and Gregg Toland's photography gave Anna Sten a chance to truly shine opposite Gary Cooper. Her Manya is sweet and endearing, and it is sad that Goldwyn misused her by trying to make her into another Garbo. She is both funny and charming, and with a gift for conveying emotion on the inside while attempting to mask her feelings.

Edwin Knoff's original story of a writer in need of more inspiration and a lot less boozing returning to his country home in Connecticut has real depth. It doesn't opt for easy answers to lives gone astray. Love's redeeming power, and our connection to the earth, themes running through many of Vidor's works, are important elements in Edith Fitzgerald's screenplay.

Gary Cooper is quite wonderful as the writer who can't get published anymore returning to his home, his New York wife in tow. Helen Vinson lends great support as his wife Dory, and makes her sympathetic even when she leaves Tony (Cooper) and returns to the city for a time. It will prove to be a huge mistake, bringing about tragedy.

Tony finds both solice and inspiration in his lovely Polish neighbor, Manya (Anna Sten). Her gentle presence gives birth to "Earth's Return," a novel he reads to her by the fire. Her smile and gentle laughter is soothing to his soul, and soon there is a deep and unspoken love blooming.

Standing in their way, however, is her traditional Polish family, who have arranged a marriage for her, and his returning wife, who really loves Tony but is not sure how to hang on to him. This is a rich and mature film of a man adrift and the love which brings his soul back to life, with tragic consequences. Filled with warmth and humor, there is a something real about it. A farewell reminiscent of the final scene in Borzage's "Three Comrades" is not soon forgotten.

This is a lovely film from the 1930's which has the maturity of foreign films made decades later. Perhaps only when "The Stranger's Return" and "H.M. Pullman Esq." find a release, will King Vidor's standing as an important figure in American film finally be realized. A tender masterpiece.

the wedding night.......2007-06-03

an author with writers block finds more than he bargained for when he has to go to the country to escape his out of control city life-style. he finds that he has other problems when he falls for a local girl. one of them is how to tell his wife about her.. it isn't easy. and thereby hangs the tale.

Very Under-Rated.......2007-05-18

Over the years, I have repeatedly read that Anna Sten was not highly thought of as an actress. Perhaps something happened with that mysetery known as timing. If "The Wedding Night" is an example of her acting, the mid 1930s American audiences missed something. I think she is superb in this role and has a wonderful doomed chemistry with Gary Cooper. The film itself has a terrific look, as do a number of Goldwyn's films from this period. They appear like handsome leather bound novels in motion. Ralph Bellamy turns in his usual superb performance and captures the essence of these Polish immigrants as a pragmatic people. It's easy to dismiss them as cold and humorless but, to be fair, they most likely, as other immigrants of that time, came from countries where they knew only hardship and had to fight to survive. This clash of cultures leaves the viewer frustrated along with the characters, as the screenplay intends, and "The Wedding Night" elicits a very rewarding viewing experience.

Very touching story.......2007-03-15

This is not one of Cooper's most well known films but it is a very good one and deserves more attention. Cooper is an author who has run out of money and ideas so he and his wife retreat to an old family farm in Connecticut. There he meets Anna Sten who is the daughter of Polish immigrants that run a tobacco farm. She breaks his writer's block and he decides to write a story about her hard working family. Meanwhile his wife has decided to go back to New York city as farm life is not for her. Cooper and Sten fall in love but unlike movies of today there is no graphic sex scene as they do not consumate their feelings. Instead their love is shown very cleverly and sensually through glances that last a little too long and sweet gestures like Anna cooking for him and taking care of him. Her father however has plans for her to marry Frederik played by a young Ralph Bellamy. Frederik discovers that Sten and Cooper are in love but decides to marry her anyway because of the land and house he will get as part of her dowry. This movie has an unhappy ending but it is very fitting for the piece and only adds to it's depth and realism.

On top of this being a very good film it's also a chance to see a young and very handsome Gary Cooper. Anna Sten was quite beautiful also but this was her last major picture as for some reason she just did not "catch on" with the movie public. She is very good in this film however and you won't be disappointed if you check it out.

Average customer rating:

simply put...BUY IT!
Verry good especially compared to others
movie well worth watching
A faithful portrayal
Mostly well acted except...

The Bible - Esther
Starring: Louise Lombard , F. Murray Abraham , Jürgen Prochnow , Thomas Kretschmann , and Ornella Muti
Director: Raffaele Mertes
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Bible - Jeremiah
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Joseph (The Bible Collection)
The Bible Collection

ASIN: B00004VVOY
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Amazon.com

The biblical story of Esther, the Jewish woman who saved her people when they faced annihilation, is told in this production featuring British actress Louise Lombard in the title role and F. Murray Abraham as Mordecai, Esther's cousin and foster father. As a girl living under Persian rule, Esther was essentially kidnapped and taken into the harem of the king, Xerxes. The king, taken by her beauty, made her his queen, and as dramatized in the film, she found herself involved in a delicate balancing act between the ruling Persians and her own Jewish people. While this is a fairly elaborate production with a solid supporting cast, it proceeds at a relaxed pace and never quite takes off dramatically. But it does provide a solid telling of Esther's story, and if considered as something of a docudrama, it's successful. The story is clearly told of how the king's chief minister, Haman, had hoped to see the Jews annihilated, but thanks to Esther's intercession the Jews were able to defend themselves and destroy their enemies (events which are celebrated at the Jewish Feast of Purim). The production does provide much of the period flavor of ancient life, and the major facets of the story and portrayals of the characters coincide with biblical accounts. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

simply put...BUY IT!.......2007-03-04

It helps us remember the Biblical story and the intervention of the God of Israel in His People's lives. It also helps to be reminded that satan/the evil one works to try and stop God from keeping His Covenants with His People (including those of Judah during the account of Esther), as well reminds us of the lineage of the Savior's mother [Mary] which may have been in those who experienced this story of "Purim." Satan has always tried to "thwart" Yahweh's Plans.

We RECOMMEND buying this Biblically accurate (very close) movie on Purim, from "The Bible" series films. If you buy this version, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED. But getting the "One Night With The King" version is somewhat disappointing due to it's liberality with the Biblical account.

This "The Bible- Esther" film is very enjoyably accurate and rewarding! The authentic feeling of the movie props/sets, the political issues happening at the time, the differing types of Jews at that point in history, and the power of the Gentile nations are all given time in this movie. Get it! The actors do well, and you FEEL the issues at hand. A spirituality is brought forth, just as the Spirituality you pull from the Biblical account Itself.

My family loves to watch this movie over and over. We make it a point, as well, to watch it every Purim...though we enjoy it throughout the year too.

Verry good especially compared to others.......2007-02-27

This is one of my favorite movies from the "Bible Series". They managed to give Nehemiah and Ezra some roles in the story as well. The dialog between Mordecai and Ezra is very entertaining. Somehow it always turns out that the one rebuking the other accidentally does exactly the opposite, just a few moments later.

Unfortunately nothing is perfect. There's quite some visible female flesh in some scenes, and the king could have done with a little more "royalty" in his character. But still I like the way this movie was done. Good acting and a good soundtrack.

movie well worth watching.......2006-11-04

This movie is a beautiful account of the Biblical story of Queen Esther. I especially enjoyed F. Murray Abrahams portrayal of Mordecai, Esther's uncle. The movie was authentically done.

A faithful portrayal.......2006-07-21

This was a very well made portrayal of the story of Esther. Her night with the king was handled very tastefully, however parents may want to preview it before letting their kids watch it, as every family is different. It had both good acting, high production values, and remained (for the most part) scriptural. Much of the dialogue was lifted straight from the pages of the bible. While it did have some minor differences from the biblical account (Esther and Mordecai having a conversation across a wall instead of through messengers for one) these details do not detract any from the story itself. An excellent film.

Mostly well acted except..........2006-07-08

A faithful adaptation to scripture yet the movies portrayal of the king was terrible. He was presented as as a naive, stupid, irresponsible child that drank too much. This did not give Esther much credability for loving such a silly man.

Average customer rating:

Esther and the King
Esther and The King
Great Classic ~ Excellent Production & Quality
Esther and the King - DVD
Lousy lousy lousy

Esther and the King
Starring: Joan Collins , Richard Egan , Denis O'Dea , Sergio Fantoni , and Rik Battaglia
Director: Raoul Walsh , and Mario Bava
Manufacturer: Diamond Ent. Corp.
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

The Story of Ruth
David and Bathsheba
Constantine and The Cross
David and Goliath
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ASIN: B00004WGC6
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Customer Reviews:

Esther and the King.......2007-05-15

It was ok.I saw part of it on t.v. and wanted to know how the movie was I can only say it was just o.k.

Esther and The King.......2007-05-08

The quality of the DVD I purchased was so poor that I had to throw the disk away.

Great Classic ~ Excellent Production & Quality.......2006-11-19

CONTENT: Joan Collins does a great act in her role as the beautiful Queen Esther, and it's and excellent movie to add to your collection, especially for the price! TECH: Great quality picture and sound for the price. It's especially nice that not all movies are being made in "widescreen!" I'm so sick of tinie-tiny pictures I that can barely see. Not everyone in this world has the money to upgrade their television sets on a whim. I'm grateful to have a good-quality TV at all to watch movies on.

Esther and the King - DVD.......2006-09-06

I bought this. It is sacriligious and NOTHING at all like the Biblical story. It is immoral. I threw it in the trash because I did not want anyone else to see it.

Lousy lousy lousy.......2006-06-23

Contentwise, I won't toss darts OR roses. This is genre stuff. You either like it or you don't. My beef is with the technical quality. It is execrable. (1) It is NOT in widescreen (Cinemascope), which it ought to be for a biblical spectacular. There is simply no excuse for cranking out a full-screen treatment in a DVD issued in the year 2000. (2) The so-called "digital remastering" must be kitchen-table grade, because the shapes are fuzzy, colors oversaturated, visuals mushy. This DVD should be withdrawn from the market and a new widescreen version substituted. I get better quality from my VHS of this movie than the DVD I purchased. Lousy lousy lousy, as I said.

Bible Time Classics: David and Goliath/Joseph and His Brethren/Martin Luther/Esther and the King

Average customer rating:

bible Time Clasics David and Goliath
Movie quality varies

Bible Time Classics: David and Goliath/Joseph and His Brethren/Martin Luther/Esther and the King
Starring: Bible Time Classics
Manufacturer: St Clair Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
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Esther and the King

ASIN: B0002I84IU
Release Date: 2004-08-17

Customer Reviews:

bible Time Clasics David and Goliath.......2007-05-08

Fast service. Poor Quality DVD but Considering the age of the movies it was well worth the low price.

Movie quality varies.......2007-03-02

The quality of the four movies in this collection vary greatly in quality. I do applaud the attempt to save some of the cinema for future generations and I found these versions of three bibilical stories and one pseudo-biography interesting variations on their stories. You also get the chance to see some young fairly famous stars before they were very famous at all.

The movies included are:

"David and Goliath" starring Orson Welles and Ivo Payer

"Joseph and His Brethren" starring Goeffrey Horne and Robert Morley

"Martin Luther" starring Niall MacGinnis and John Ruddock

"Esther and the King" starring Joan Collins and Richard Egan.

Average customer rating:

Freddie Gibbs is Back ! ! !
Pathetic piece of trash...I'd rather see Amos and Andy or Beulah.
Have A Cigar
CLASSIC FRED WILLIAMSON!!!!
Great sequel to Black Ceasar

Hell Up In Harlem
Starring: Fred Williamson , Julius Harris , Gloria Hendry , Margaret Avery , and D'Urville Martin
Director: Larry Cohen
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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Black Caesar
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ASIN: B00005N7Z6
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Amazon.com

Fred Williamson returns as Tommy Gibbs, the self-styled Godfather of Harlem in Larry Cohen's quickly made sequel to the low-budget Black Caesar. The film opens with a different perspective on the finale from the earlier film, this time with Gibbs surviving an assassination attempt with the help of his estranged father (Julius Harris), who becomes Tommy's new chief lieutenant in his rebuilt organization. Tommy takes his revenge on those who set him up but faces a new threat from within as the corrupt DA partners with an ambitious gang member to take Tommy down. It's not going to be as easy as they think. Shooting on NYC streets and locations, Cohen punches up the slim rise-and-fall/revenge story line with gritty action, a driving pace, and edgy, always-on-the-move, hand-held camera work. The production feels rushed at times and the performances don't have the energy of the previous film, but Cohen doesn't give you much time to think about it with his speeding plot and machine-gun editing, moved along nicely with help from Edwin Starr's funky score. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Tougher than Shaft and smoother than Superfly, this high-voltage sequel to Black Caesar explodes with enough action to incinerate New York City. Packed with machine-gun mayhem and riveting adventure, Hell up in Harlem is nothing less than a modern-day tribute to the classic 30s gangster film. Fred Williamson (Original Gangstas) is Tommy Gibbs, a fearless, bulletproof tough guy who blasts his way from the gutter to become the ultimate soul brother boss. When he steals a ledger with the name of every crooked cop and official on the mob's payroll, he becomes the most hunted man in the city. Enlisting the aid of his father and an army of Harlem hoods, Gibbs goes from defense to offense, launching a deadly attack on his enemies that sets off a violent chain reaction from Harlem all the way to the Caribbean, climaxing in one of the hottest turf-war shoot-outs in Hollywood history.

Customer Reviews:

Freddie Gibbs is Back ! ! !.......2006-05-17

This was the infinitely more popular sequal to BLACK CAESAR (American International Films and Blaxploitation's answer to THE GODFATHER.) In truth, BLACK CAESAR is really where the story is at... but HELL UP IN HARLEM is a lot more visually exciting in terms of costumes and action. Basically it takes up where CAESAR ended finding every loose string it could, and using them for HK style movie cut fast paced action and chase scenes. As for the soundtrack... you can get it on CD now(!) CEASAR's soundtrack was by JB - - but I think Edwin Starr actually gave him a good run for his money capturing all that Starsky and Hutch meets SPEED type action...

Whatever you do, if you really want to appreciate the campy element of this film, be sure to see PART ONE first... and you'll realize how ridiculous the story in this one is (especially the extremes to which it went to keep certain actors working as well as others who were unavailable) - - but enjoy it just as much ! (In the end though, nothing will ever beat Glory Hendry getting the afro wig knocked over her head in CAESAR... but still, Tommy Gibb's dad turned (occasionally bedwetting) gangster ain't so bad either !

Pathetic piece of trash...I'd rather see Amos and Andy or Beulah. .......2006-01-02

I mean this stuff was horrible. The minute the man put the gun up to the little boy's temple, I was out of this picture and I mean way out. That kind of stuff should have been edited out of this pic. And speaking of the editing, this picture was edited to not make sense by having certain scenes that have nothing to do with the premise of the film to sadly become a part of this abysmal movie. On the dvd's special feature as to how the film was made, the director, Mr. Cohen stated that the editor doesn't include this picture on his resume and rightfully so. This picture was a disgrace to filmmaking in general and ought to be shown to NYU film students as to how you should not make a movie.

There were certain scenes that got underneath my skin such as the one were the white guy gets hung by Gibbs--Gibbs is the main character in the film, the black hero-- by using a necktie as a rope. A scene, which in my opinion, was way over the top. How can Gloria Hendry --a fine actress with a long resume-- prostitute her acting abilities into a film such as this? How can Margaret Avery--another stellar actress largely known for-- do the same thing as well?!?

Some of the blaxploitation films from the 1970's are not as bad as this partiuclar one; Some provide a well thought out script lines and stories but why do they always cast white characters as evil, demonic and uncaring individuals about to unleash fifty tons of heroin into the entire black population? It seems that a lot of these films from that period operate on that same premise, give or take. Why is it that black and white chacters can't come together--like Mel Gibson and Danny Glover did in Lethal Weapon-- to defeat a common nemesis? It would be refreshing to see a movie from that period with such a theme.

I guess the only redeeming factor of this picture was the soundtrack featuring Edwin Starr. Starr really put all of it into the music.

Have A Cigar.......2006-01-01

Hell Up In Harlem w/Fred "The Hammer" Williamson and directed by the one and only, Larry Cohen! If that alone doesn't make you hit the purchase button, then the hell with ya. Harlem continues pretty much immediately after Black Caesar left off. The very last scene in Caesar is changed a bit-he's no longer beaten by a mob-in order to continue the story. Tommy still has the list of corrupt officials, and naturally the corrupt officials still want the thing. Tommy's dad, a minor character in the first film, is now a major player as he goes through a big change from humble old guy to big city crime boss. Tommy's ex is still hanging around, but she's pretty much treated like a doormat the entire time, and Tommy only seems to care once she's already dead. He finds a new spouse though, a religious chick who seems to jump in the sack with Tommy a little too easily(not that much different from real life I suppose). Tommy tries to leave his crime life behind, but do you think that actually works? Once a traitorous schmuck takes over Tommy's old territory, kills his dad and attempts to kill Tommy, well there's hell to pay. Hell Up In Harlem, that is! Tommy goes into Rambo mode in the last half hour of the film. This sequel is more action oriented than Black Caesar. Caesar, like Scarface, was more of a crime drama about how a small time crook makes it big. Harlem is more focused on the butt kickin', and The Hammer has no problem dishing it out. Good times.

CLASSIC FRED WILLIAMSON!!!!.......2003-07-16

THIS is an awesome movie and I would truly recommend this to any Fred Williamson fan who enjoys his movies and I loved this movie it was pretty good Julius W. Harris and Gloria Hendry returns also and she is a very beautiful woman and they are very good legendary actors and actresses and this movie is really good I would really recommend Tommy Gibbs falls in love again with a minister by the name of Jennifer and may I also add that this is a nice soundtrack also this time this soundtrack is done by Edwin Starr and this is the sequel to Black Caesar !!!!h

Great sequel to Black Ceasar.......2002-06-02

Fred Williamson is the man. He was the sexiest african american actor of the 70's..and still sexy today..:-)

It was a great sequel. The James Brown sound tracks were right on! I would suggest buying the 2 DVD special. It's a great deal. I've seen Black Ceasar and Hell up in Harlem sold for a lot more.

I will always love Fred Williamson. If you are Fred Williams fan..you will like him in One down..two to go" the "Kill Reflex".."Bucktown". I can go on and on.

Description

CELEBRITY-STUDDED CASTS HIGHLIGHT THESE RICHLY PORTRAYED BIBLICAL STORIES! Total Running Time: 3 hrs 24 min Esther and The King (1960) 109 min COLOR Starring: Joan Collins, Richard Egan; Director: Raoul Walsh The wife of Persian King Ahasuerus has been murdered, and an attractive young Jewish woman named Esther is selected to be the next queen. Trouble awaits Esther and her people, however. Villainous Haman, the King's First Minister, plots to take over the throne and remove the Jews from the land. Esther perseveres through trying times while still staying loyal to her husband, and her patience and loyalty make this biblical story an inspiration for young and old alike.

Description

Melvin Van Peebles' film adaptation of his novel "The Party in Harlem", set in a boisterous Harlem party that is crashed by a pair of very unwelcome guests - two devilish minions sent up from the underworld to spoil everyone's fun. The devil and his impish friend spend this musical comedy disrupting everyone else's good time.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Play Us Cheap.......2007-05-08

I am a fan of stage plays but this play was awful from the beginning to its very end. It was not entertaining at ALL. I forced myself to watch the play hoping that it would get better......what a disappointment.

At Least It's Better than "Sweetback".......2002-01-17

This film does have a strange story about muses who try to destroy a Harlem house party, but wind up getting involved with the participants in the process. However, if there is a soundtrack CD out there, it would be nice because there is some great music in this film. Some nice slice-of life Black Americana is included also, particularly regarding the relationship with Esther Rolle and her niece Rhetta Hughes. Unfortunately, Van Peebles is his usual self, being long on bizarre symbolism that escapes the average viewer (the introduction where he explains the concept of the film is absolutely necessary to understand what's going on). However, as odd as it is, it has some nice moments, good music, and it's at least 75% better than Van Peebles overrated dungheap "Sweet Sweetback."

A wierd movie!!!.......1999-03-16

This movie is like a "gospel" musical. I thought the plot was wierd. It's about a demon, sent by the devil, to ruin a party. In the mean time he falls in love with the the party girl. Atleast, that's what I got out of the movie. The plot is hard to follow. The songs are wonderful, especially the one's sung by Mabel King. The movie also stars Esther Rolle, of Good Times. I recommend this movie, but pay attention or you'll get lost. Pay special attention to the last song, "Smash Em", funny stuff.

Average customer rating:

A Unique Gift
Haack... the film
[...]
Genius
Haack's the man

Haack: The King of Techno
Starring: Bruce Haack , Esther Nelson , Ted Pandel , Chris Kachulis , and Chris Albertson
Director: Philip Anagnos
Manufacturer: KOCH VISION
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Moog
Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey
Dimension Mix
OHM: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music
Modulations: Cinema for the Ear

ASIN: B0007L86HG
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Customer Reviews:

A Unique Gift.......2007-06-08

The DVD came on time and in perfect condition. It was a decent price too. As far as the movie itself, I gave it as a gift. It wasn't the best documentary but it was a very unique gift and he appreciated the sentiment behind it.

Haack... the film.......2005-11-26

"Haack: The King Of Techno" directed by Philip Anagnos, is another one for the music documentary buffs...

Electronic music pioneer, Bruce Haack, wrote much of his music for children, but the influence of his unconventional, psychedelic sounds can be heard today in everyone from Beck to Money Mark. Aside from his children's albums, he invented and built his own electronic musical instruments, including the "Dermatron", a musical instrument that was controlled by two people completing an electrical current by making physical contact. He also appeared on various TV and radio shows including Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. As well, in the 80s, he caught the attention of Russell Simmons, who worked with him on a rap project.

If ever there was a moment when I thought the filmmaker and the subject matter couldn't be more perfectly matched, it would be now... Equally unconventional is the film's editing, the animation, and the quirky and psychedelic interview backgrounds, which, for any other subject would have driven me nuts, but for a film about Bruce Haack, was perfect. If you're renting or picking this one up, don't look for a chronology of Bruce's life. Instead, expect a mix of psychedelic animation, family photos, assorted friend and band interviews about Bruce's life and influence, and delightful black and white clips of Haack appearing on old Mister Rogers' Neighborhood episodes. The film is informative, just not in the conventional way.

Oh, and as an added bonus for the Tipsy fans out there (myself included), there's a somewhat rare interview with the guys.

[...].......2005-09-18

LEt me start off by saying that I love Bruce Haack's work. His "Electronic Lucifer Book 2" is a personal favorite. Spacey, psychedelic, very strange...it's great. The director of this documentary did NOTHING to capture that spirit in this film. Not only did he talk to a bunch of hack musicians, but is himself a hack. Rather than trying to create his own footage to compensate for the lack of existing film of Mr. Haack, the director uses what appears to be clip art moving around to the beat of the music. I felt like I was 13 again, watching the Megadeth laser light show at the planetarium. It's just that cheesy. I understand that there was trouble securing the rights to old footage, but at least be creative with your limitations!

Further, there is no explanation on how these gadgets worked. The director could easily have had an interviewee explain the workings of the instruments, with cuts to drawings, diagrams, animations, performances, etc. Nope. Nada. It was pitiful. I've seen the Moog doc, the Theramin doc, and several other docs on obscure musicians and this is by far the worst. DO NOT BUY!

Genius.......2005-06-03

A facinating hour or so long documentary about electronic music composer Bruce Haack.

What's there is well paced and very cool. I guess their big problem was rarity of Haack footage and there is mention within the film of some sort or rights difficulties and people not talking which I'm sure hampered them (unless that was just an issue in the Tribute album, it's not clear). I'd say there's a little too much emphasis on the Bruce Haack tribute album - though I guess it provides a ready source of ready to use soundbytes.

Perhaps somewhat of an unfortunate a title too. It reminds me about those ad campaigns saying things like "Jean Michel Jarre, the father of Techno" or "Wendy Carlos is THE synthesizer" or whatever nonsense. Minor point of course since the material is well paced and solid.

There's only some short mention in the actual film about technology - something I'm sure frustrates hardcore synthesizer buffs. How innovative was his predominantly self-designed technology? How did it operate? You get plentiful teasers that it indeed was very special but no examinations of it all. Though in the extras section there's a very solid audio-only interview about Electronic music and technology along with some wild Mister Rogers TV footage of it in action.

Haack's the man.......2005-05-13

I wasn't too familiar with Bruce Haack before I saw this movie. It caught my eye because I love music of all kinds, I grew up in the 70's and I was intrigued by the great cover art.
The film did not disappoint. It's colorful, playful and sometimes a little mysterious which is what Bruce Haack seemed to be all at one time. The film captured how innovative and subtle his music was and really seemed to get to the heart of what this strange person was really about.
Check out this film and check out his music. You're in for a good time.

PopFlix - Christian (Esther and the King / David and Goliath / The Old Testament / Samson and Gideon)

Average customer rating:

christian esther and king david the old testament samson gideon

PopFlix - Christian (Esther and the King / David and Goliath / The Old Testament / Samson and Gideon)
Starring: Collins , and Welles
Manufacturer: Pop Flix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GPIFQA
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Description

CELEBRITY-STUDDED CASTS HIGHLIGHT THESE RICHLY PORTRAYED BIBLICAL STORIES! Starring: Joan Collins, Richard Egan, Orson Welles, Kronos, Brad Harris, Susan Paget, Margaret Taylor, Fernando Rey, and more!

Esther and The King (1960) 109 min COLOR David & Goliath (1961) 95 min COLOR Old Testament (1962) 88 min COLOR Gideon and Samson (1966) 105 min COLOR

Customer Reviews:

christian esther and king david the old testament samson gideon.......2007-06-01

ok it look like it was dubbed no close caption and it looked like it was copyed off a tape I sent it back for those reason

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