The Scar

Starring:Scar
Studio: Kino Video
Product Type: DVD

Face Value (True Stories Collection TV Movie)

Average customer rating:

Only for Dale Midkiff

Face Value (True Stories Collection TV Movie)
Starring: Cheryl Pollak , Dale Midkiff , Kirk Baltz , Jack Blessing , and Juanita Jennings
Director: John Gray
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000MGBSLM
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Description

Becoming his friend was a mistake she'll live to regret.

Face Value is the tragic story of real-life cover girl Marla Hanson, whose fledgling career is ended abruptly after a vicious knife attack leaves her face scarred for life.

Up-and-coming model Marla Hanson (Cheryl Pollack, Pump Up the Volume) moves to New York City to fulfill her dream of becoming a top fashion model. A chance meeting with photographer Eric Warner (Dale Midkiff, Pet Sematary), opens doors to opportunities that Marla's only dreamed of…until now. With her star on the rise, Marla decides to move out on her own. Eric introduces her to makeup artist, Steve Roth (Kirk Baltz, Resevoir Dogs), a man with a room to rent and a dark, growing obsession for her.

As Marla's relationship with Eric blossoms, Steve becomes increasingly jealous. He tells Marla he wants more from their relationship, but she refuses his overtures. Steve's continued harassment leads Marla to break her lease and meet with him one final time to retrieve her security deposit. It is this last fateful meeting that will change the course of her life forever.

Customer Reviews:

Only for Dale Midkiff.......2007-05-25

I love anything with Dale Midkiff in it. I have heard the story so it was very interesting. It was a little drawn out but knowing she was a survivor kept me watching. If Dale wasn't in it, I would not have ordered it.

The Krzysztof Kieslowski Collection (A Short Film About Love/Blind Chance/Camera Buff/No End/The Scar/A Short Film About Killing)

Average customer rating:

Kieslowski collection . . .
Some of the best movies I have ever watched
Bravississimo!

The Krzysztof Kieslowski Collection (A Short Film About Love/Blind Chance/Camera Buff/No End/The Scar/A Short Film About Killing)
Starring: Boguslaw Linda , Tadeusz Lomnicki , Zbigniew Zapasiewicz , Boguslawa Pawelec , and Marzena Trybala
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

The Decalogue (Special Edition Complete Set)
The Double Life of Veronique - Criterion Collection
Three Colors Trilogy (Blue / White / Red)
Double Lives, Second Chances: The Cinema of Krzysztof Kieslowski
The Conformist (Extended Edition)

ASIN: B0009UZGQY
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Customer Reviews:

Kieslowski collection . . ........2005-12-31

A dirty Warsaw frames A Short Film About Killing, symbolizing a society in decay. Murder . . . both state sanctioned and random are shown in counterpoint. The film is a powerful indictment about the death penalty, and the barrister reflects the outrage of the heart. The second theme is random chance . . . if only the killer's sister hadn't been killed, if only he had a good friend to talk to, if only someone had intervened. The film is so hard to watch because it reflects the mirror back at our souls.

Voyeurism, love and loneliness mingle in A Short Film About Love. Love, the special world, cannot be approached directly, but only tangentially . . . in the film's case, through the lens. Where Tomek begins as an impassioned voyeur, his love interest takes over as the film progresses. Do we only need a fleeting glimpse to arrive at love? How do we escape from being alone in the world? Such universal question are asked(and answered) in this expanded film version of The Dialogue classic.

Blind Chance is fantastic. Absolutely great. The themes of free choice and predetermination are explored not as opposites but as two qualities somehow blended together. When we think, "ah, I can choose," are we correct, or does each cosmic choice imply similar outcomes, similar problems? If we have three choices, are they really so different? Is the bad choice so bad? On the extra selections, check out the fascinating interview with his film censor, whom he respected so much she became a sort of creative sounding board for his works in progress, while at the same time examining his work in her `official capacity.'

No End is obviously a precursor to Blue . . . where the dead(sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically)live on, influencing events. There is no Black and White in Kieslowski's films, only gradations. Like Blind Chance, each position/argument on how to handle the case of the prisoner has their pro and con side. Truth or the true side of the prisoner is expressed by the deceased lawyer, revealed through his writings. Check out the short documentary The Office on the extras portion of the disc. It has comedy, wit, grace and tragedy(all in five minutes). It takes place in the black hole of an official state office where some hack drones on in a staccato tone to desperate pleas from several claimants. In this short(shot in film school), one can see the shape and scope of Kieslowski's future films.

On the extras of Camera Buff, Kieslowski's short documentary Talking Heads shows the humanity and hopes of ordinary people, and also of the filmmaker Kieslowski himself. Camera Buff works on several levels. First, it's laugh-out-loud funny(in parts). Second, it raises questions of putting somebody in the spotlight . . . and its implications. Like the dwarf worker or the communist functionary who loses his job. I see implications in news stories everyday . . . the power of turning the camera on ourself. This is Kieslowski's first "breakthrough film," and, perhaps it is here that Kieslowski first all incorporates all of the parts in the sum in combination making Kieslowski a singular genius. No other filmmaker or artist of any kind examines life in this manner, turning the camera inward.

Some of the best movies I have ever watched.......2005-12-10

Each movie of the collection is a masterpiece, a refreshing experience, leaving a deep, intense after-taste. Do not miss them !

Bravississimo! .......2005-08-31

SO FAR THE DVD EVENT OF THE DECADE!

No need to heap more praise upon Kieslowski, one of the greatest masters behind the camera. Just wanted to uncork a flood of this for this nothing short of phenomenal DVD set harvested by the "Kino video" film thoroughbreds! Each of these DVD titles has features aplenty to consider the entire edition a cultural event of the first water ---Kieslowski' rare shorter footage films are added on each of the titles; each title includes interviews with closest associates, friends, critics etc. It seems like that even the critics got inspired -being awara that they are paying tribute to a master that stand on equal footing to a Tarkovski, Fellini or Kurosawa to name but the cream of the crop.
All DVD's from the set are rented relentlessly, around the clock, at least in the video store I frequent. It makesone joyous to see that there's so many film fans hungry for the REAL THING (as opposed to the abominable, unmentionable, ever worse and more offensive Hollywood drek ;-)

Average customer rating:

DVD Samuri Banners
samurai banners
A Very Good Epic Samurai Film!
Subtitle Trouble
More drama then war.

Samurai Banners
Starring: Toshirô Mifune , Yoshiko Sakuma , Kinnosuke Nakamura , Yûjirô Ishihara , and Katsuo Nakamura
Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
Manufacturer: ANIMEIGO
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ASIN: B00095VKCS
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Description

The landmark film that ushered in Japan's "golden age" of filmmaking!

Mifune Toshiro stars in this epic adventure story, based on a best selling historical novel. Yamamoto Kansuke (Mifune) is a fearsome warrior who has risen to the position of Clan Chamberlain through trickery and deceit, only to learn the true meaning of honor when he and his Lord, Takeda, fall in love with the same woman.

Set against the background of great conflict, Samurai Banners is one of Mifune's greatest films!

DVD Features:
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen
Japanese with English Subtitles

Bonus Material Includes:
Original Theatrical Trailers
Image Gallery
Character Biographies
Interactive Program Notes

Customer Reviews:

DVD Samuri Banners.......2007-06-22

I really like most everything Toshiro Mifune appears in. I had the opportunity to meet him when both of us were a lot younger. You felt the integrity of the man when you were in his presence.

samurai banners.......2007-04-11

This is the first time I have purchased a japanese Samurai movie other than those by Kurosawa, and I was disappointed. I made the decision to buy based on one of these reviews which said it was on a par with the Kurosawa's.

To me the only redeeming factor is Mifune who I find fascinating - but the film was a poor immitation of any of those by Kurosawa. I felt it was slow, contrived and not at all grippng.

Had I not seen the others then maybe it would have been more watchable, but it was almost as if the director was copying Kurosawa style but frankly he was not good at it.

A Very Good Epic Samurai Film!.......2007-01-02

"Samurai Banners," is an epic samurai drama film clocking in at almost 3 hours long. The film, directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, is set in Japan between 1543 to 1562. It is a time of constant strife. Some of the viewers noted that their DVD does not have subtitles. There must have been a problem with their versions, as the one I own has perfect subtitles, which are in different colors to allow the viewer to see who is talking. And although the film is long, it is definitely well worth the purchase. The legendary Toshiro Mifune gives a fine performance as Kansuke Yamamoto: One of Japan's great Generals during the wars of medieval Japan.

Kansuke Yamamoto (Toshiro Mifune) was a military strategist for the Takeda clan. And although the film is based on the life of Takeda Shinken, whose reputation is even greater today in Japan, than that of either Tokugawa or Toyotomi, the film gives a great look at his greatest warrior General: General Kansuke Yamamoto. The films climax is very good, where the battle of Kawanakajima [a historic battle in Japanese history] nearly cost the Takeda clan its power, due to a disastrous mistake by Kansuke Yamamoto. The costumes in the film are great, and compliment the great look of medieval Japan.

The film will give you the viewer a very good look at what the cause of the wars during medieval Japan were like, and why they were fought. Among the DVD specials inside the disc, include a biography of the films characters and another dealing with the wars of medieval Japan. And why they fought. It is advisable to view this prior to viewing the film, as it will give you the viewer a better understanding of the nature of these wars: an overview which will really help you understand the historic events of these times. Many viewers compare this film to Kurosawa's classics, and this is not fair. The film stands on its own merits. This is a very good film in its own right. I have all of Kurosawa's films, but there are other good films out there too. I recommend it for your DVD collection, it is a worthwhile film to own.

Subtitle Trouble.......2006-11-04

Fine flick for its genre. I found that the subtitles do not play on my TV and seem to not be compatible with my DVD player; I couldn't yell you why, it's a fairly mainstream machine, and not being a Japanese speaker makes it a little tough to fully enjoy. The subtitles DO appear if I play the moive on my portable player or computer. Go figure.

More drama then war........2005-08-09

I am bit surprised to read the two previous reviews. The AnimEigo edition of Samurai Banners proves to be well presented and its subtitles with its different colors to see who's talking proves to be one of the highlights. This movie got excellent subtitles!! Maybe that reviewer who didn't get the subtitles should check his DVD player. He may have turned something off.

I enjoyed watching Samurai Banners despite of its 163 minutes or so length and the fact that its more of a samurai drama film with a war theme then anything else. Toshiro Mifune who have been considered as Japan's verison of John Wayne is well cast in this movie as it followed the destiny of the Takeda clan through many campaigns. For those who may care, Takeda clan also featured in the film, Kagamusha. Mifune's character, Yamamoto Kansuke (real historical figure), joined the clan, and it helped lead it to many victories, gaining the trust and confidence of his lord and along the way, fall in love with his lord's concubine. The movie is well acted, scripted and directed although fans of bloody battles may have to look else where.

Although the movie seem to dragged here and there but overall, despite of the length, the film moves with great deal of interest. The audience will be caught up in the going on of the Takeda clan and its struggles as they faced stronger foes as the movie goes on. For any Mifune fan, this movie should be on the mandatory buy list. Although Mifune's fortune fell after he left his partnership with Kurosawa, this movie still showed him at his best.

There are couple of interesting extras in this package. There is a one about character biographies which should be watch before the movie since it introduced the viewer to all the major characters of the movie. It probably be easier to followed the film. Second for more die-hard fan, there is Interactive Program Notes which gives you a super basic history lesson on period of warring warlords in Japan. It might be interesting to read this before watching the film. It may help understand the motivation behind some of the characters. Both features are pretty short in duration.

Overall a pretty good film, not boring and although bit pricy, a definitely worth the money.

(History minded viewer should read the book Kawanakajima 1553-64 by Stephen Turnbull for more in-depth historical look at the background of this movie. Its part of the Osprey Campaign Series #130.)

Average customer rating:

a good subject, but sloppy handling
A GREAT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT BACKYARD WRESTLING
5 Star Backyard
Enlighting documentary
Worth a watch but be warned...

The Backyard
Starring: Rob Van Dam , James Weston , Andrew "The Lizard" Cook , Scar , and Bongo
Director: Paul Hough
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Customer Reviews:

a good subject, but sloppy handling.......2007-04-15

If you are not initiate to the world of backyard wrestling, this might be a good place to start, if you want to see something of the pure drive and horrors of this trend. Just like pick-up games in the dirt, youth in all corners of America are making their own wrestling federations, with of course no training outside of watching television and having a love for the game. You may say that backyard wrestling is far more dangerous than any kind of baseball or football game in the mud (especially when barbed wire and flaming tables are into play), and you wouldn't have too much of an argument from me, but the question here is how in-depth and revealing and objective this documentary is.

This film delivers a good range of proto-wrestlers, from The Lizard, who does aspire to be a proper professional wrestler (and puts his money where his mouth is and actually auditions for a WWE Tough Enough and goes to a wrestling school), to kids throwing each other on thumbtacks and slicing their own foreheads for a handful of fellow kids in their yards. Some seem like angry kids who would rather find ways to cut themselves open, and others seem totally lost and have no idea that they are working towards one day being fed through a tube. Some of them even show how their performances channel them through great pain in their lives--Scar, for example, was a sickly kid who went through mutliple surgeries when he was just a small child, and hardcore wrestling seems to give him a place to take control of his body, which was taken away from him for so many years. One boy plays out his history of abuse through his wrestling storylines, to somehow master the pain he has been put through. These are intriguing looks into some of the drives for what seems on the surface a horrifying youth trend.

But what drags me away from this movie are the thinly disguised manipulations on the moviemakers' part. When two brothers reveal to their grandmother the extent of their matches, it is clearly a moment set up for the camera, and so loses any appeal of seeing any true reaction from the grandmother. When a boy decides to arrange a match with a fellow kid who goes by the name of The Retarded Butcher, the Butcher's mom 'suddenly' shows up, again a clear arrangement by the moviemakers. Even Rob Van Dam's brief appearances in the film feel like obligatory 'counterpoint' and not a full examination of the sport vs. the backyard shindigs.

Ultimately, _The Backyard_ falls short of trusting the subject matter and has too many rough edges, and unfortunately they are not the rough edges that might cut open a scalp or two.

A GREAT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT BACKYARD WRESTLING.......2005-01-25

THIS INSIGHTFUL DOCUMENTARY SHOWS THE RECKLESSNESS THAT MANY YOUNG WRESTLING FANS PUT THEMSELVES THROUGH IN THE WORLD OF BACKYARD WRESTLING. WHILE BACKYARD WRESTLING IS ENTERTAINING, IT'S ALSO UNNECESSARILY DANGEROUS AND IT ALSO GETS TOO MANY PEOPLE HURT. THIS DOCUMENTARY IS THE FIRST TIME I GOT TO SEE ANYTHING DEALING WITH BACKYARD WRESTLING. AND AS THE FILM SAYS, IF YOU WANNA BE A WRESTLER, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TRAINING SCHOOL, THERE'S JUST NO WAY AROUND THAT. ALTHOUGH IT WAS A MOVING PIECE OF FILM, IT COULD'VE AND SHOULD'VE BEEN A LITTLE LONGER. BUT ANYWAY, IT'S GOOD FOR WRESTLING FANS TO WATCH. FOR A GREAT DOUBLE FEATURE, GET THIS WITH ''BEYOND THE MAT''. INCLUDES SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY ROB VAN DAM.

5 Star Backyard.......2004-08-09

I absolutely loved this DVD. It shows how much some of these teenagers really want to become profesional. I also really hope the Lizard makes WWE. I reccomend this to anyone! Just makee sure a stupid idiotic nagging cousin isn't near you while your watching it.

Enlighting documentary.......2004-04-11

I have always been a wrestling fan, and when I was younger, my friends and I would often stage video-taped "matches" in our backyards and basements. We weren't pros, but at least we were aware of that fact. Nor did we brutalize ourselves the way the kids featured in this documentary do. I think the film maker did a supurb job with showing these kids and what they do without using a judgemental slant, which could have been very easy to do. The film documents various backyard "wrestling" leagues. I think the saddest story is that of two brothers who violently torcher one another in their matches as an outlet for the pain of abuse they suffered when they were younger. Also featured is a 17 year old wannabe promoter who couldn't care less who gets hurt in his events. He comes off as heartless and power hungry in this film. Other leagues are featured, including some talented, although foolish boys in England. Their fun is stopped when a bystander calls an amulance when they see the blood of a kid who thought it would look cool to "blade" himself during a match (taking a razor blade and cutting a small nick in the forehead, producing just enough blood flow to look pretty nasty) The only group that seems to come out looking good in this film is a group of college kids in upstate New York that focus on working together and being safe. (In other words, they aren't cutting each other up, setting each other on fire, nor performing dangerously high risk maneuvers)

The film primarily follows a 26 year old who uses the stage name "the lizard" in his quest to become a real professional wrestler. When he finally makes it a legitimate pro wrestling school, the film shows quite a few shots of them doing strength training and physical conditioning; thats what will save your body in the ring.

I only give this video 4 stars and not 3 because of a special feature entitled "wresling Superstar", in which a professional wrestler talks in length about how to become a pro wrestler, the importance of a good education and following your dreams, and the foolishness of the brutality many of these backyard "wrestlers" put themselves through. I think any parent who's child participates in backyard wrestling should watch this film, know whether or not their children are putting their bodies at risk, and watch the "wrestling superstar" featurette.

Worth a watch but be warned..........2004-04-03

I consider myself to be a HUGE wrestling fan. However I have been raised on the WWF/WWE, I never really got into ECW all that much. I am much more into moves and storytelling and talent than that of the pure violence and bloodshed that is the Backyard Werstling set.

This movie tries to follow a few backyarders around and sort of explain to an uninformed public the "meaning" for what they do. Many think it is going to lead to a shot in a major league of the WWF...I have news for you boys (and girls) Vince doesn't recruit his guys like this.

Basically it a bunch of boys that idolize wrestling, that's all fine and good, but they are untrained individuals that are executing violent moves on either solid ground or homemade rings that can cause even more damage.

Wanting to be a wrestler is cool, but the message is lost when you see these guys abusing themselves and each other with items like light bulbs, barbed wire, glass, thumbtacks or god forbid the occasional use of lighter fluid to set objects or each other on FIRE!. All this done in front of HUGE crowds sometimes as small as 4 people. While the WWF can be critized for many things, they are never this blanantly brutal. The WWF has always been about the show...not the violence.

Most of the story focuses on a hopeful 26 year old guy named The Lizard, that dreams of entering the WWE. It's quite evident that after seeing him on camera, we as viewers know that will never happen. He lacks carisma and has such a bad command of the English language that it's laughable. His gimmick is horrible and he's skinny as all hell.

For all the wantabes in this thing, that dream of being a professional wrestler, nothing is ever said about working out, and getting in shape. AND LEARNING THE CRAFT. If they are fans they obviously don't see that Triple H, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin, have done a lot more than smash their high school buddies in the head with Flourcent light tubes.

Even Rob Van Dam mentions on this video that no matter what you need to go professionally trained, however this is never brought up to many of the kids. The Lizard, he knows he has to go, but he's older and wiser than the rest of these guys.

I think this video really explains it all when during the very first segment on 2 brothers that have a match vs. each other goes very wrong. Instead of landing on his back and shoulders, this guy gets dumped right on the back of his head and neck...OUCH! It is the furthest thing from professional wrestling you can get. This video makes me feel bad that I watch wrestling, becuse to people that don't know any better, they think it's all like this.

I'll take my WWE over this crap anyday. I don't agree with the movie, but it's worth it to see kids destroying their bodies before they finish puberty.

Description

Two Film Noirs for the price of one! In the first feature, The Limping Man (1953), ex-G.I. Bridges soon realizes his wartime girlfriend has become involved with racketeers but before he can untangle her mess, he gets in the middle of a police investigation to solve the murder of a victim killed by a mysterious "limping man," who is also a deadly sniper. In the second part of our double-bill, The Scar (1948), when a crooked gambler (Henreid) seeks to hide from a rival mobster, he hatches a plot to take the place of a psychiatrist that he's a dead-ringer for. But it's not long before the good doctor's secretary (Joan Bennett) is on to his scheme. With a bonus TV episode titled Dark Stranger starring Edmond O'Brien and Joanne Woodward. Bonus Features: Bonus Film Noir TV Episode "Dark Stranger" starring Edmond O'Brien, Joanne Woodward| Bonus Film Noir Trailers| Bonus Film Noir Poster Gallery| Scene Selection. Specs: DVD9; Dolby Digital Mono; 185 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1948-1953; SRP - $9.99.

Customer Reviews:

The ending is . . . well, lame........2006-02-09

This review focuses on the second of the two oddities paired here: THE LIMPING MAN (1953).

Is it a noir? Let's call it a near-noir.

Lloyd Bridges, having survived his encounter with Nabura in the 1945 serial SECRET AGENT X-9, flies into Heathrow and into this British mystery looking a bit older but no worse for wear. As Frank Pryor, he's The American, a fact which unsettles most of the other characters, including one fascinated barmaid who seems to believe that America is located somewhere out beyond Venus. Scotland Yard has a reason to be interested, though, because the minute Frank steps off the plane the guy walking beside him, who proffers a light, is ventilated by a rifle bullet. Frank hasn't even had a chance to inhale, and suddenly he's looking down at a corpse.

How do we know the bullet came from a rifle? Easy--we see the shooter. Actually, it's not a rifle, it's a crutch; well, not a crutch, but more like a walking stick--a walking stick that you can shoot when you take the little rubber cap off the bottom. Remember when canes all had swords in them? Well, by 1953 they could shoot rifle bullets, which is handy in this instance since the shooter, crouching behind his car, is about a mile too far from his victim to throw a sword.

No one else glimpsed this guy, or his car, sitting by itself out in the field adjacent to the runway, so Scotland Yard naturally interrogates all the passengers on the plane (thankfully we are spared these interviews). They show particular interest in Frank, whom they grill in a cordial, mildly curious way. He's en route to see his wartime girlfriend, Pauline French, so the Yard boys note her address and send him on his way. Then, in an abrupt reversal of cordiality, they put a tail on him.

Pauline, played by Moira Lister (a sultrier name than Pauline French!), is strangely underjoyed to see Frank, though she does her best to put some oomph into her kisses. He learns that Pauline and the dead man, who was a sleaze, were . . . well, you know, Frank was way off in America, and the years were long, and the London nights are so foggy and cold. . . . Frank is perplexed--what was she mixed up in? Scotland Yard is suspicious--what other shady connections does she have? And Pauline is secretive--why should she lie to Frank, an American?

There are several good reasons to watch this movie. One is the sheer lunacy of the musical interludes, both of which take place during an onstage magic act. While the magician thrusts knives and other sharp objects through boxes containing a woman, the woman herself breaks into song ("Hey Presto!" is the engaging title of one number) and keeps it up throughout the act, which we are forced to watch even though we know that the important stuff is happening elsewhere. (When we tire of the singing we can at least distract ourselves with the magician's props, one of which resembles a larger version of the finger chopper that was once every kid's first purchase from the Johnson Smith catalog).

Another good reason is the brief appearance, but only the appearance, of Jean Marsh (she is onscreen for a couple of minutes but has no lines). This was her first movie role (as the landlady's daughter), and she didn't appear in another movie for several years. It is nice to see this veteran of theater, movies, and TV ("Upstairs, Downstairs," "Doctor Who," FRENZY--it's a long list) as a winsome but saucy 19-year-old in the pointiest bra this side of HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL.

The ending of THE LIMPING MAN: I can't talk about it, and not because I don't want to spoil it for you. No, I want you to watch this thing all the way through so you will suffer as I did. And suffer you will, in the 75th minute of this 76-minute movie. Trust me.

If you can't bring yourself to shell out the asking price for the VCI release, the movie is also available on Alpha and on one of Platinum's Disc's "Mystery" collections.

"The Leader in Film Noir, B-Westerns & Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ The Scar & The Limping Man".......2005-12-11

VCI Entertainment presents a double feature of classic film noir to die for... "The Scar" (1948) and "The Limping Man" (1953) (Dolby digitally remastered)...featuring top performances by actors of the '40s and '50s with outstanding drama and screenplays...from so little known films that will leave you intrigued...so pop some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the movie.

First up we have "The Scar" (1948) (83 min. B/W)...under director Steve Sekely, producer Paul Henreid, associate producer Bryan Foy, with original story by Murray Forbes and Daniel Fuchs, music composed by Sol Kaplan...the cast includes Paul Henreid (John Muller/Dr. Victor Emil Bartok), Joan Bennett (Evelyn Hahn), Eduard Franz (Frederick Muller), Leslie Brooks (Virginia Taylor), John Qualen (Swangron), Mabel Paige (Charwoman), Herbert Rudley (Marcy).....storyline has our favorite leading man changing his career in mid stream playing a brilliant crook who is planning a holdup, but a few things go wrong and it becomes complicated...is there someone after him with a sorted past...could there be a psychiatrist who is a dead ringer for him...which side does The Scar appear on his face... there are many questions to be answered in this suspenseful drama that will keep you guessing until the very end........special footnote, actor Paul Henreid had second thoughts about appearing in the classic film "Casablanca" (1942), Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), who comes to Casablanca on the arm of Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a few steps ahead of the Nazi police, we now have three people and two letters of transit. Who will reach America, and who will stay in Casablanca?...Henreid felt it would ruin his image and cause him to fade from the public eye...just the opposite it's that very film which immortalized him.

BIOS:
1. Paul Henreid (aka Paul Georg Julius Hernreid Ritter Von Wassel-Waldingau)
Birth Date: 1/10/1908 - Trieste, Austria-Hungry (Now in Italy)
Died: 3/29/1992 - Santa Monica, California, USA. (pneumonia)

BONUS FEATURES:
Film Noir TV Episode: (The Star and The Story)
"The Dark Stranger" (1954), Directed by Arthur Ripley, cast includes Edmond O'Brien (Ray), Joanne Woodward (Jill), Evelyn Ankers (Ruth McCabe) and Dan Tobin (Don Shaw)...a writer has a book and things are becoming complicated when his story and one of the characters become real in his life...quite an effective performances by both O'Brien and newcomer Joanne Woodward.

Second on the double bill is "The Limping Man" (1953) (76 min. B/W)....under director Charles De Latour, producer Donald Ginsburg, with original story by Anthony Verney (aka "Death on the Tideway"), Ian Stuart Black and Reginald Long....the cast includes Lloyd Bridges (Frank Prior), Moira Lister (Pauline French), Leslie Phillips (Detective Cameron), Helene Cordet (Helene Castle), Alan Wheatley (Inspector Braddock)...our story opens with Lloyd Bridges returning to Britain to visit a long lost love Moira Lister from the war...a murder takes place right in front of him at the airport...Scotland Yard enters the picture and Bridges becomes involved and is a suspect...who is "The Limping Man", what part in this mysterious murder and intrigue does he play...watch the story unfold as this film has more twist and turns than a roller coaster and you're loving every minute of it.........special footnote, actor Lloyd Bridges made the transition from movies to TV by starring in "Sea Hunt" (1958), one of the more successful syndicated shows during that era, on the big screen "High Noon" (1952 - as Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell), "Airplane" (1980 - as Steven McCrosky) and "Hot Shots!" (1991 - as Adm. Thomas 'Tug' Benson), Lloyd Bridges sons Beau and Jeff Bridges went on to leave their mark in the world of films........there's a great deal of entertainment here for all the film noir fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features like this one.

BIOS:
1. Lloyd Bridges - (aka Lloyd Vernet Bridges Jr.)
Birth Date: 1/15/1913 - San Leandro, CA
Died: 3/10/1998 - Los Angeles, California, USA. (natural causes)

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing the "The Scar" (1948) and "The Limping Man" (1953), digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more of the same from the '40s and '50s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again with a top notch "Classic Film Noir" that only VCI Entertainment (King of the Serials) can deliver...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 159 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment 8302 ~ (9/30/2003)

A nice sampling of low-budget film noir, plus great bonus features.......2005-11-30

Another fine film noir double feature from VCI Entertainment, this disc contains two entertaining B movies, "The Scar (A.K.A. "Hollow Triumph)" and "The Limping Man." Although "The Limping Man" is much more obscure, "The Scar" is by far the better movie on this disc. Having seen two previous versions of "The Scar" on dvd, I was glad to discover that VCI had made at least some attempt to restore the badly damaged public domain print. However, there are still plenty of picture/audio flaws with each movie, but I can almost guarantee that you won't see any better-quality version of either film released on dvd.

1948's "The Scar" stars Paul Henreid as Johnny Muller, a conman and thief who's released from prison after serving a sentence for robbing a payroll. Refusing to learn from his past mistakes, he gets his old mob together and convinces them to rob a gambling club owned by the notorious racketeer Rocky Stansyck. However, the robbery doesn't go as planned, and only Johnny and his friend Marcy escape, the rest being captured and gunned down by Rocky's men. After splitting the stolen $60,000, Marcy heads for Mexico while Johnny goes back to his old job and lays low.

When he discovers that he's an exact look-alike of Dr. Victor Bartok (also played by Henreid), he romances Bartok's sexy secretary Evelyn Nash (Joan Bennett) while learning all he can about the doctor. Johnny eventually kills the doctor and assumes his identity. Dr. Bartok had a big scar on his face, and so Johnny makes an incision on his own face to have the exact same scar. Only after Bartok's death does he realize that his scar is on the opposite cheek of the doctor's. Evelyn discovers Johnny's deception and, angry and heartbroken, plans to leave town.

Refusing to lose Evelyn, whom he truly loves, Johnny makes plans to go to Honolulu with her on a ship. But fate intervenes, and in an ironic twist Johnny's clever scheme backfires. 1948's "The Scar" was produced by Paul Henreid for the "Poverty Row" studio Eagle-Lion, and the legendary John Alton was responsible for cinematography. The plot of "The Scar" is contrived and the ending is gloomy, but the exceptional performances by Henreid and Bennett and Alton's impressive cinematography make this a must in any film noir buff's collection. By the way, Jack Webb has a cameo appearance in this movie!

Next, we have the 1953 British noir "The Limping Man." Frank Prior (Lloyd Bridges) is an American WWII veteran who goes back to England after the war to see his old girlfriend Pauline French (Moira Lister). As he's walking away from the plane at the London airport though, the man right by his side is shot and killed by a sniper. Prior is questioned along with the other passengers, and then released. He does rekindle his romance with Pauline, but the more time they spend together the more he suspects that she's involved somehow in the shooting at the airport.

To make matters worse, Scotland Yard informs Frank that his girlfriend has been seen with known criminals that are connected with the shooting, and Frank finally convinces Pauline to tell him the truth about her past. But Pauline's past catches up with her in the form of a blackmailer, and Pauline must decide the right thing to do, while both Frank and the police desperately try to find those responsible for the shooting. Just when things start to get really exciting, however, there's a twist that changes everything and will definitely leave you disappointed.

Several noir films have a dreamlike quality that drastically affects the story ("Woman in the Window," "The Chase," "Stage Fright," etc.), but in this case it almost ruins the whole movie. Oh well, Lloyd Bridges does a good job in this B movie and it is entertaining enough, until the twist ending. Bonus features on this disc are: An entertaining noir tv episode of "The Star and the Story," called "Dark Stranger" and starring one of the great stars of film noir, Edmond O'Brien. Plus there's a film noir poster gallery and several trailers and dvd previews. Bottom line, this dvd is highly recommended because of "The Scar" and the bonus features.

Just Ok............2004-07-06

This dvd contains 2 film noir movies: THE SCAR (1948--80 min.) starring Paul Henreid and THE LIMPING MAN (1953--76 min.) starring Lloyd Bridges.
THE SCAR i would say is the more interesting of these 2 pretty good noir movies. The audio and video quality would rank about a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. They both look pretty good, but they both have several splices and scratches. The audio is fairly clear on both except THE LIMPING MAN has a couple of bad spots. This disc contains an episode of THE STAR AND THE STORY titled "Dark Stranger" starring Edmond O'Brien and a young Joanne Woodward as a bonus. The quality of the bonus episode is very good. It also contains a film noir poster gallery which is cool. All in all this dvd is OK, but it's nothing to cheer about. Let's hope someday an excellent quality disc of both films comes out.

Average customer rating:

"I hate everything I know! I hate everything in me! I hate you! I hate! I hate!"
Director of Photography the real star of this film
"You're just a wild bundle raring to go."

The Scar
Starring: Charles Arnt , Joan Bennett , Ray Bennett , Robert Bice , and Henry Brandon
Director: Steve Sekely
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000C8AXD
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Customer Reviews:

"I hate everything I know! I hate everything in me! I hate you! I hate! I hate!".......2005-11-18

The highest ranked film noir in the massive "Film Noir Bible" is Steve Sekely's THE SCAR a.k.a. HOLLOW TRIUMPH.

Fresh out of prison John Muller is disgusted to find out that the members of his old crew have all gotten jobs. He pressures them into helping him rob a gambling hall that's run by the toughest boss in town. The heist is a bust and only John and one other guy get out alive, they split the dough and John goes into hiding in Los Angeles.

On the lam, John gets a normal 9 to 5 job then one day while out running errands a guy (John Qualen from THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE and THE SEARCHERS!) mistakes John for a local psychiatrist. This gives John an idea. He starts romancing the doctor's secretary and learns everything he can about the doctor. Finally he's trained himself to a perfect double except for the huge scar on the doctor's cheek. John better hurry and make the switch soon cause the goon squad is closing in. There's much more to the story but I can't say anymore without giving it all away.

For a low budget picture THE SCAR looks great (wish I could say the same for the fuzzy Alpha Video DVD) with dark, brooding shadows and imaginative camerawork. There's one shot towards the end that tripped me out. I rewound it four times because I liked it so much.

A definite must see for noir fans.

Hey Criterion how about a lesser known noir box set with THE SCAR, DETOUR, ARMORED CAR ROBBERY, THE HITCH-HIKER, PRIVATE HELL 36 and ACT OF VIOLENCE.

Director of Photography the real star of this film.......2005-03-21

The great John Alton's cinematography is dimmed but not nearly destroyed by Alpha's contrasty and weathered-looking transfer. But as this isn't an easy film to get hold of in any shape, I can put my qualms about Alpha's typical technical quality aside in this case.

John Alton was born in Austria-Hungary in 1901, and after working his way through the ranks in allied studio positions (film labs, etc) he eventually photographed many of the films that define the noir style for us today. In most every case, these films are worth watching more for the atmosphere his brilliant eye hewed out of the dark for them than for their story content. As DP he had a major impact on the visual style of such noir essentials and cult favorites as T-Men, Raw Deal, He Walked By Night, The People Against O'Hara, I, The Jury, The Big Combo and others. He was better than most anyone at taking the location shooting that was often necessitated by budget on noir films (which were not the "prestige" productions of their time) and making it work, investing it with a poetry and capturing the gritty atmosphere.

You realize in its first couple of minutes, from a simple scene of a man walking down a hallway, that The Scar is going to be a film of visual distinction. Without Alton, The Scar would still be a neat film because of the plot, the nifty twist and the memorable finish. But Alton lifts it to another level of visual eloquence and feeling. It remains rivetingly watchable. I give this copy of The Scar 5 stars and recommend this DVD -- one of the few Alpha DVD's that I would recco-- without reservation.

"You're just a wild bundle raring to go.".......2004-11-06

When John Muller (Paul Henreid) is released from prison, instead of going to Los Angeles to accept arranged, honest employment, he returns to his old gang. He's amazed and disgusted to find that most of them have jobs, but it's not long before he persuades them to discard their 9-5 schedules and pull off a lucrative heist in a gambling den. But nothing goes according to plan, and Muller is soon on his way to Los Angeles with a vengeful gambling den owner in pursuit. Muller tries to lead a normal life, and then one day he accidentally discovers a psychiatrist, Dr. Victor Bartok, who could be his exact double--except for the long scar on Bartok's cheek. Muller insinuates himself into the life of Bartok's attractive secretary, Evelyn Hahn (Joan Bennett) and he begins to study Dr. Bartok's habits.

"The Scar" is a marvelous example of 40s film noir. There's a desperation and hopelessness to Muller's plans, and it's pervasive enough to set the film's atmosphere. Paul Henreid makes a good villain, and yet there's also a great sympathetic strain for this man. In the past, he's attended medical school and studied psychiatry. His intelligence is not in question; there's some flaw in his character that has made him turn out badly. Muller studies Bartok with dogged determination, and his intense attention to detail even sparks a certain admiration for Muller's character. The fact that he's a double for a successful, unpleasant psychiatrist serves to underscore the notion that Muller has somehow or another been dealt a bad hand by society. Is there really a great deal of difference between Bartok and Muller? One is a successful man, and the other is a horrible failure. They look identical--except for the scar, but interestingly enough, even their personalities don't seem so different, and it's all too easy for Muller to step into Bartok's shoes.

Joan Bennett as Bartok's secretary, Evelyn is hard-edged, disillusioned and tough. She doesn't want to get hurt and she looks at love as a disease she can't afford to catch. There's no femme fatale in the film, but Evelyn's morality is on the line. There are hints that her relationship with Bartok is quite complex, and one scene suggests they are more than just employer/employee. Evelyn falls into a romantic relationship with Muller even though the warning signals are loud and clear. Muller seems to offer her something that Bartok doesn't, and this plays into the underlying idea that Muller and Bartok are not so different, and in fact, Muller may in some ways have more appeal.

"The Scar" (alternate title--"Hollow Triumph") is an excellent story that explores many facets of human nature, and the plot delivers surprises along the way. The Alpha DVD is not bad quality. The picture was actually shaking for the opening credits, and this did not bode well. But by the time the film began, the shaking stopped. The picture remained dark and grainy, but this did not interfere with my enjoyment. Fans of film noir will enjoy this dark tale of despair--displacedhuman

La Pasion Segun Berenice (The Passion of Berenice)

Average customer rating:

The misterious ways of human attraction

La Pasion Segun Berenice (The Passion of Berenice)
Starring: Pedro Armendáriz Jr. , Martha Navarro , Blanca Torres , Emma Roldán , and Magnolia Rivas
Director: Jaime Humberto Hermosillo
Manufacturer: Desert Mountain
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00008DDVA
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Customer Reviews:

The misterious ways of human attraction.......2004-06-12

Watching this film, it would be like going to a therapist and have an enlightening experience in human relations, identity, and sexuality. This is the story of an adventurous man and a repressed woman in a rural location somewhere in Mexico. Berenice, the main character, portrays an extraordinary cool woman controlled by her stingy godmother, subordinated by her status as a widower, limited by her insignificant salary from her educational career, abandoned in a narrow minded town, and disrupted of the benefits of living her life to the fullest. She is the epitome of so many people in many eras, not only women, repressed by so many factors in Mexican society, and others as well. She is an adult woman inside of a glass box that eventually will be broken and Berenice will breath again. This film allows us to see her life from the secret window of the voyeuristic eye. It is mysterious, sensual, and dramatic. It was great!

Average customer rating:

"Now why would anyone build a thing like that in this godforsaken spot?"

House of the Damned
Starring: Ron Foster , Merry Anders , Richard Crane , Erika Peters , and Dal McKennon
Director: Maury Dexter
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B000GIXEVI
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Description

A perfect romantic getaway turns into a hellish nightmare in this suspense-filled thriller! Architect Scott Campbell (Ron Foster) and his wife Nancy (Merry Anders) join another couple, Joseph and Loy Schiller (Richard Crane and Erika Peters), for what promises to be a pleasant stay at an empty castle set on a secluded California hillside. Soon, however, tension mounts as terrifying things begin happening: A group of ghoulish circus performers who once inhabited the castle become increasingly hostile towards their "guests," turning their mini-vacation into a life-and-death challenge of wits!

Customer Reviews:

"Now why would anyone build a thing like that in this godforsaken spot?".......2006-09-08

While I've never lived in a House of the Damned (1963), I did once almost stay in a motel of the objectionable (that is until I found out it had roaches). Written by Harry Spalding (One Little Indian, The Watcher in the Woods) and produced and directed by Maury Dexter (The Day Mars Invaded Earth, The Mini-Skirt Mob), the film stars Ron Foster (Cage of Evil, Operation Bottleneck) and Merry Anders (The Hypnotic Eye, The Time Travelers, Women of the Prehistoric Planet). Also appearing is Richard `Whooping' Crane (The Devil's Partner, Surf Party), Erika Peters (Mr. Sardonicus, Monstrosity), Dal McKennon (The Misadventures of Merlin Jones), who provided the voice of Gumby on the late 1950s Art Clokey television show, and Richard Kiel (Eegah, The Longest Yard), probably best known as the hulking, metal mouthed henchman Jaws from the Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979).

Ron Foster plays Scott Campbell, an architect who gets a job offer to survey a rather large and remote Californian mansion called Rochester Castle from his friend Joe Schiller (Crane) who happens to be a lawyer whose firm is handling the estate. As Scott and his wife Nancy (Anders) arrive, they discover the joint, which was built by some nutty heirless long since put away, isn't really a castle, but is more in the motif of early Spanish/American Dracula. Anyway, after retrieving the keys (thirteen of them, to be exact) from a local real estate man, along with getting a bit of exposition with regards to the last tenant, a man named Arbuckle who just up and disappeared mysteriously, the couple set up shop, and we soon learn perhaps the house isn't as uninhabited as most everyone seems to believe. During the night the keys are stolen, but then mysteriously returned the next day with two missing (there's other strangeness afoot as lights work sporadically and doors seem to be locking and unlocking themselves). Before Scott and Nancy can uncover the mystery of the missing keys (and which doors they go to), a woman named Loy (Peters) makes the scene (she's Joe's wife...seems Joe was planning on making a weekend out of it by he and his wife meeting up with Scott and Nancy). Shortly after Joe appears, has a spat with his wife, and Loy decides to hit the bricks but gets a surprise on her way out in the form of a shirtless Richard Kiel. Realizing Loy is still on the premises (her car is still out front), Scott, Nancy, and Joe begin looking for her (Joe wants to avoid any unnecessary publicity by getting the police involved), and Nancy sees something she wishes she hadn't (I could tell you what it was, but I won't). Seems the house has plenty of secrets, most of them behind the locked doors for which the keys have gone missing, but never fear as all shall be revealed, one way or another...

If you're interested in this film and have yet to see it, do not watch the included trailer or read the blurb on the back of the DVD case as both give away some fairly key details. I've provided a good bit of set up, but I tried to carefully avoid spilling any of the juiciest beans. Also, if you look at the DVD cover art, you may get the impression this is a recently released feature, but know it's a black and white film released back in the early sixties. Also, the bit on the cover that states '13 keys to unleash the living dead' is partially fitting as there are thirteen keys within the story, but it really has nothing to do with any `living dead', at least not in a literal sense. Obviously this was just a skeevy marketing attempt to lure potential, unsuspecting DVD buyers into hucking out their hard earned dough for the disc. I don't mind studios playing up the sensational aspects of a film in order to sell it, but they really should keep it within the context of the feature. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this movie, but if you're coming into it expecting zombies and their ilk rending the flesh of the living, you're going to be sorely disappointed. The film was more akin to William Castle's House on Haunted Hill (1959), sans the theatrical elements and, of course, Vincent Price. The film is short, with a runtime of about 62 minutes (I think it ended a little too soon), spending a good deal of time developing an ookie eeriness that comes across well. It will seem tame by today's standards, but for those who can appreciate spooky fun, it's definitely worth checking out. The actors did well enough, as none of them really stood out as being really good or really bad, but just solid. The strongest aspect, to me at least, was Maury Dexter's direction. He obviously knew what he was doing in terms of developing and delivering tension. I did find the abruptness of the ending kind of odd, but on the flipside I enjoyed it due to the fact of its anti-climatic nature (not every story needs to end with a bang).

The picture, presented in both widescreen (2.35:1) anamorphic and fullscreen (1.33:1), looks beautiful on this 20th Century Fox DVD release, coming across very sharp and cleanly (the DVD is double sided, so the `A' side contains the fullscreen format while the `B' side has the widescreen version). As far as the audio, it's available in both Dolby Digital mono and stereo, and is on par with the picture quality. In terms of extras provided, there's an original theatrical trailer, a poster gallery (containing three images), and subtitles available in English, Spanish, and French.

Cookieman108

By the way, I'm sure some will make suppositional ties of this film and another, more controversial feature released back in 1932 by a director with the initials `TB', but any presumed linkage between the two would be purely superficial, in my opinion.