Shame (Special Edition)

Starring:Liv Ullmann, Max von Sydow, Sigge FÃ¼rst, Gunnar BjÃ¶rnstrand, Birgitta Valberg, Hans Alfredson, Ingvar Kjellson, Frank SundstrÃ¶m, Ulf Johansson, Vilgot SjÃ¶man, Bengt Eklund, GÃ¶sta PrÃ¼zelius, Willy Peters, Barbro Hiort af OrnÃ¤s, Agda Helin, Ellika Mann, Rune LindstrÃ¶m, Axel DÃ¼berg, Lars Amble, Jan Bergman
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Studio: Fox Home Entertainme
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Where is Jesus in all this?
Power and Money Corrupt (again)
The Sacrifice of Father Thomas Doyle
A powerful film diluted by excess and lack of focus
Priests Should Marry

Deliver Us from Evil
Starring: Oliver O'Grady , and Thomas Doyle
Director: Amy Berg (II)
Manufacturer: Lionsgate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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Jesus Camp
Little Children
Notes on a Scandal
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)
Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)

ASIN: B000NIVJH2
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

A devastating investigation into the pedophilia scandals tearing apart the Catholic Church, Deliver Us From Evil begins by looking into one priest, Father Oliver O'Grady, who agreed to be interviewed by journalist/filmmaker Amy Berg. O'Grady's genial calm is at first ingratiating, until he begins to describe his crimes with an unsettling sociopathic detachment. But O'Grady's blithe interview is only half of the story, as the documentary also unveils how church superiors covered up O'Grady's crimes and shuffled him from diocese to diocese in northern California, finally placing him in an unsupervised position of authority in a small town, where he sexually assaulted dozens of children; the video deposition of Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahoney is a grotesque portrait in brittle denial. What makes Deliver Us From Evil crucial viewing, however, are the remarkable interviews with a few of the victims (now adults) and their parents, whose stories are wrenching and riveting. With the support of a priest seeking to reform the church, two of the victims actually go to the Pope, seeking some form of help in addressing O'Grady's crimes. This stunningly potent documentary combines raw feeling with lucid and persuasive discussions of the reasons for--and disturbing breadth of--this crisis within the Church. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The true story of the most notorious pedophile priest in the modern history of the Catholic church.

Customer Reviews:

Where is Jesus in all this?.......2007-06-08

This film is harrowing and heartbreaking. O'Grady is a pure psychopath. His light, airy descriptions of the horrors he inflicted on dozens of children as young as nine months old is chilling. He is incapable of truly understanding that he has done anything wrong, instead tut-tutting the damage he wrought as merely "unfotunate events" or "tragic occurrences", somehow removed from himself.

The man is clearly damaged goods, broken and lacking in empathy: in short, a textbook psychopath, happy to be the centre of attention...

But O'Grady is not the real villain, as vile as he is. No, the real evil here is the Roman Catholic hierarchy and their lust for power and money who enable the destrcution of innocent children in the thousands. From John Paul II, through Joseph Ratzinger, formerly Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the current Pope, down to the execrable Cardinal Mahony, we see people who have the audacity to say they speak for God and follow Christ while knowingly allowing the rape of children to protect their worldly power.

The victims of the horror are shut out, ignored and belittled by a callous corporation whose executives presume to be spiritually superior while hiding behind lawyers.

The mindset of the world's first multinational corporation is illuminated by the courageous Father thomas Doyle who labours on behalf of the victims, but is unable even to get a letter from the victims past the Vatican guards.

Of course, no Chuch officials agree to be interviewed...

The documentary is a masterpiece. It is a gripping and maddening glimpse into the mind of a psychopath and a chilling illustration of Matthew 7:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

Our old pal George Bush shows up like a dirty shirt to comfort the comfortable and afflict the afflicted.

Highly recommended!

Power and Money Corrupt (again).......2007-06-05

Apart from 10 minutes in which the filmmakers and the film's protagonist make a lame attempt to explain WHY priests are likely to sexually offend, this movie is brilliant and should be viewed by parents, church leaders of any faith, politicians, psychologists and law enforcement officials. In other words, just about everyone. It is yet another tale of power and money corrupting (supposedly) good men. Father O'Grady is a sick puppy who of course should be behind one set of bars or another (either jail or a mental ward of some sort), but his superiors who allowed him to continue his ways will, I think, someday occupy a special place in hell. Using the church, the business of saving souls, to attain power, and allowing children and families to be torn apart in order to reach that power, is nothing short of evil.

Those of us who call ourselves Catholics should all demand that Rome admit its mistakes, apologize to all victims and set a strict standard of turning all criminals within the church over to law enforcement officials. Hiding behind the church to allow criminals to prey on children can not be accepted.

The Sacrifice of Father Thomas Doyle.......2007-06-04

Deliver Us From Evil portrays how the Catholic Church grossly mismanaged the crisis of pedophilia within its hierarchy. It depicts how the victims of Father Oliver O'Grady continued to suffer as a result of being sexual abused. The experiences of the Jyono family are particularly touching, especially when Bob, the father, confesses that he no longer believes in God because of the terrible things that happened to Ann, his daughter.

O'Grady was a very odd character. He seemed childish and naïve to believe that his victims would come to see him and perhaps forgive him. Quite surprisingly, he admitted that he was sexually abused as a child by a priest and by his older brother. Of course, this fact does not excuse what he did.

As the documentary reveals, Pope Benedict XVI led the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (formerly known as the Inquisition) from 1981 to 2005, and one of his duties was to protect children from being harmed by priests. Unfortunately, he did a very poor job, and numerous lawsuits have been brought against the Church as a result. He was "accused of conspiracy to cover up sexual abuse" in the US and was granted "immunity from prosecution" by President Bush.

The inability of Church officials to appropriately address this crisis remains bewildering. Some have suggested that their negligence was a consequence of fear as well as the culture of secrecy that exists among the clergy. Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating compared their attitude of silence and concealment to that of La Cosa Nostra. As Jason Berry and Gerald Renner note, "the great sin in ecclesiastical culture was to violate its ethos of secrecy. Cardinals take an oath to the pope to safeguard the church from scandal -- to prevent bad information from becoming public." The suggestion by Auxiliary Bishop James Quinn in 1990 that the Church hide the records of its sexual offenders in the Vatican embassy because it has diplomatic immunity did not help matters.

Father Thomas Doyle and two others wrote in 1985 a secret report for the bishops, warning of a national scandal if sound policy was not adopted to handle the problem of sexual abuse. They predicted that the Church would face "extremely serious financial consequences" and "significant injury" to its image and estimated that "total projected losses for the decade" might reach $1 billion. Moreover, they warned that "in this sophisticated society, a media policy of silence implies either necessary secrecy or cover up."

Contrary to the 1985 report, the bishops declined to establish a national crisis intervention team. Naturally, the problems the Church deferred still haunt it today. Given its stringent moral code, the Church was regarded by a growing number of people as hypocritical and negligent because it allowed its clerics to physically and mentally abuse its followers.

Yet the most depressing aspect of Deliver Us From Evil is the sacrifice of Father Doyle, a subject not extensively examined by the filmmakers. For breaking the unwritten rule of getting too close to scandal, he was dismissed from the Vatican embassy in 1986 and lost his faculty position at Catholic University. Daniel Wakin of the New York Times writes that Doyle was "quietly removed from his job as an Air Force chaplain" in 2004 by Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, and many believe the decision stemmed from Doyle's outspoken support for sexually abused victims. A man of great moral courage, Doyle remains committed to helping victims and their families, calling the sexual abuse "rape and brutalization of the person's body" and also of "their soul [...] and the anguish and all that goes with that are still there."

A powerful film diluted by excess and lack of focus.......2007-05-28

As I write this, there are already eighteen reviews on Amazon.com, so I have to ask myself whether, after reading them all, I should post a nineteenth. Obviously, I decided I should, largely because so many of the reviews here are so passionate, often owing to the statuses of the reviewers. Indeed, when one ersatz reviewer prefaces a review with "I have not seen the movie," another is a spokesperson for the Catholic Church, and a third edited the film in question, there is a need for more reviews from people who have no personal involvement with the film or its subject except for membership in the human race.

"Deliver Us from Evil" is a remarkable film in at least one salient respect. Prominent in the film is Father Oliver O'Grady, who, by his own admission, molested children while he was a priest in California. What makes his presence so remarkable is that he recounts many of his deeds in an almost stoic fashion and at length. (Thankfully, though, his accounts as they appear in the film are generally not graphic in detail--with the exception of one scene.) O'Grady appears in scene after scene in the film, all of them filmed, I assume, in Ireland, where O'Grady is free after having served seven years in prison in the United States.

We also meet some of the now-adult victims of clergy molestation. One in particular stands out, though I hasten to add that she stands out from the others primarily because of the time the film spends with her and her parents. I do not doubt that the other victims, including those not shown or named, have harrowing stories, but Ann Jyono's case is especially poignant. Her parents were interviewed extensively for the film, and their comments, especially her father's, are deeply painful to watch. For example, there is one scene in which Mr. Jyono tearfully recalls that his daughter refused to tell him what was happening to her because he had said previously that he would kill anyone who hurt her, thus leading her to remain silent lest her father keep his promise and endanger his soul.

"Deliver Us from Evil" is about more than the victims and one molester, though. It is about institutions: the church itself and the priesthood. Indeed, the film spends a great deal of time and effort assigning blame to Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles and even the current pope. The charges range from allegations that the church deliberately shuffled pedophile priests from parish to parish, never allowing the new parish to know what it was getting, to more general claims that the church seems more concerned with its finances than with the victims here. On this point, the film loses some steam and some credibility. It may be that every accusation in the film is true--I have no way of knowing--, but what comes through is so one-sided that I had to wonder how much really was true. Granted, the end of the film tells us that the Catholic Church declined to be interviewed, but one cannot help but wonder what responses church officials might have to some of the claims in the film. What we do see of church officials comes through depositions, and here, too, questions arise. Depositions are long, boring, and sometimes contentious affairs, so a few hand-picked minutes of footage is almost certainly misleading in one way or another.

The weakest aspect of "Deliver Us from Evil" is its tendency to offer hypotheses regarding the cause of the molestation. Is it the celibacy requirement for priests, which, the film assures us, has no scriptural support and was created so that the church could gain priests' property when the priests died? Is it, as the film hints, a case of abuse begetting abuse? The film's 103-minute run time is simply insufficient for these issues, especially when there is nobody to defend, say, the celibacy requirement. Instead of a debate, we get one-sided opinions. Certainly I do not begrudge people their opinions, but when the film advances, without opposition, the argument that the celibacy requirement, since it states that all sex for priests is bad, effaces the line between sex with a consenting adult and molestation, there are problems. Is the argument really that men who would otherwise form healthy sexual relationships with adults if they were allowed instead form them with children? If not, what exactly is the point? We never learn since the film just includes this claim without elaboration.

In the end, it may be that the problem is simply too big for one film. By trying to touch on so many different aspects, the filmmakers lose their focus and produce a film with far less power than it could have had. There is still a great deal of raw emotion here, but it is nonetheless diluted. And that's a real shame, because there are two scenes at the end of the film, both involving the Jyono family, that demonstrate what the film could have been. In one, Ann Jyono and another victim travel to the Vatican in the hope of delivering a letter to the Pope only to be turned away. In another, Mr. Jyono, seated next to his daughter, announces with firm belief that there is no god and the Bible is all written by men. There are so many aspects to this statement and the obvious loss of faith that are significant, but perhaps none more so than the fact that as he makes these statements, Ann sobs silently next to him.

Priests Should Marry.......2007-05-19

This movie banned in Singapore and DVD not allowed because of its truthful exposure of pedaphelia by Catholic priests. My mother was catholic but I never received parochrial training and stopped going to church at age 10, and so escaped what might have happed to me.

Oliver O'Grady is a monster should should be in Jail for life. Cardinal Mahoney should be in Jail too.

If you are Catholic and have children, watch this DVD or keep your kids away from priests unless you are present at all times.

I am glad this fildm was shown in Australia where I watched it.

Bill

John Waters Collection (A Dirty Shame NC-17 Version / Desperate Living / Female Trouble / Hairspray / Pecker / Pink Flamingos / Polyester)

Average customer rating:

Close to perfect...
Good little collection......
john waters box set
Not bad, but not great.
Hilarious

John Waters Collection (A Dirty Shame NC-17 Version / Desperate Living / Female Trouble / Hairspray / Pecker / Pink Flamingos / Polyester)
Starring: John Waters Collection
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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Cry Baby (Director's Cut)
Lust in the Dust
Cecil B. Demented
Divine Trash
Serial Mom

ASIN: B000929UPA
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Description

All new John Waters Gift Set that includes: A Dirty Shame, Desperate Living, Female Trouble, Hairspray, Pecker, Pink Flamingos, Polyester and a bonus disc of extras!

Customer Reviews:

Close to perfect..........2007-05-04

John Waters has been an inspiration, a guide in good (bad) taste and a personal hero since I was 13. 24 years later nothing has changed and this DVD box-set was a joy. It's like being shot in the head by your favourite member of the Manson Family or joining a sickening cult who relentlessly coerce you into getting a life.

I'm biased of course. I think John Water's movies should be obligatory by law. However I do have some questions...like where the hell is Multiple Maniacs and why has Serial Mom been omitted from the list?

What you DO get are classics like Pink Flamingos in which the protagonists struggle to prove themselves to be the filthiest people alive, while Desperate Living has the greatest Backwards Day scene ever filmed while hippies blasted on LSD shove babies into refrigerators. Also you get Female Trouble which is simply Divine's unquestionable masterpiece, while Pecker is just sublime and counts as the most loving tribute to a camera yet put on celluloid. All in all this cannot be missed but where the hell have Cry Baby and all the others got to?

The most series overlook is Multiple Maniacs and I'm still stuck without David Lochary as Mr David. I only have my VHS copy and the tape is wearing out. Please release it on a shiny plastic disk before I do something drastic and saw off my own face.

As Water's commented in Crackpot...much of what counted as showmanship in cinema is now dead. Thank god there is then a record of a man possessed of that vision who (unlike the infamous Jim Rose who once threatened to kill me when I compared his freak show with Water's visionary work) has an eye on the truly depraved. As always that's where the action is and there is no competing with it. A whole truckload of Quentin Tarantino's with their boring, tame, saleable zeitgeist crap have missed the bus. Perhaps you'll be on it with them heading to Retardsville instead of moving here?

I bought this with a Date With John Waters on CD. Great double pick. Still I'm missing the armpit licking and Divine's blasphemous unholy vision.

Water's really is The Pope Of Trash and this box-set will at least partially prove it. It makes me want to hit the banned-list and invite over a few nuns.

2000 out of 10.

Good little collection.............2007-02-26

I sometimes wonder if John Waters should've released two boxed sets. One containing the films prior to Hairspray and one after Hairspray, because it seems that the feel and focus of the films changed with that movie. Besides, that would make for a truly complete collection. However, I still enjoyed the box set. Some films I liked better than others obviously..... Personally, I enjoyed Water's newer films more than some of the old ones. Pink Flamingoes is still great, but some of the older flicks such as Female Trouble and Polyester seemed a bit boring to tell the truth. I highly enjoyed Pecker and A Dirty Shame. All in all, its a decent set. And the extra scrapbook disc adds some extras for die-hards to surf through.

john waters box set.......2007-01-12

this is a must have for any waters fan. the box set "very crudely yours" lives up to it's name.

Not bad, but not great........2006-11-03

The older films were a bit rough, as would be expected. Much of the acting is just awful, but that is the charm of the movies in some respects. I am glad that I got this set, but would hesitate to recommend it.

Hilarious.......2006-08-03

I've only recently discovered Jon Waters' movies. I had seen Pink Flamingos last year and loved it. Now, within the last 2 months I have purchased 5 of the movies in this collection as well as the Divine Trash documentary. I will only review the films i have seen (i have not seen Pecker or Hairspray)
1. Pink Flamingos-this movie is absolutely hilarious and is the best in this collection. Waters could not have cast a more perfect group of people-Divine, Mink Stole, Mary V. Pearce, Danny Mills, David Lochary and the unforgettable Edith Massey are all brilliant in their roles as dysfunctional perverts and freaks. The plot is very simple, the sets are simple...but the film is great. watch it with friends! [A+]

2. Female Troube-comes oh so close to being #1. This was the perfect follow-up to Pink Flamingos. It's not as gross though (which isn't saying a lot, it still has it's uneasy moments!). Divine gives a better performance this time around and Mink is priceless as Taffy. The scene with Divine in her see-through wedding dress had me howling on the floor. This is Waters' second best film. [A+]

3. Desperate Living-I had my reservations before seeing this one since Divine is not in it, but it turned out to be really good as well. I'm almost tempted to say that this one is even more gross than Pink Flamingos! It has a lot of laughs, although i do have some criticisms. The Mole characted was really annoying to me, I don't think Susan Lowe should have played the part. Also, the penis-cutting scene was a bit over the top. But on the better side, Mink Stole deserved an Academy Award for the performance, Jean Hill was a brilliant addition to the Waters gang, and Mary Vivian and Edith Massey were great, as always.Third best Waters film. [A]

4. Polyester-This is considered Waters' "transitional" film from underground to mainstream. It was a little more conventional, but still had enough of an edge to be considered a true Waters film, especially with the return of Divine. Honestly though, it wasn't as good as the previous three films. It had some good moments but it kind of dragged on a little bit. I also wish Mary Vivian would have been featured a lot more. [B-]

5. Dirty Shame-I was looking forward to this one since it was heralded as Waters' return to his nasty roots, but it just wasn't that good. Sorry to say it, but Waters' best days were in the late 60's and 70's. I barely even laughed through this one. I really don't see how it was even rated NC17, it didn't even come close to the filth from his 70's movies. [D+]

I recommend that you just buy the Trash trio: Pink Flamingos, Female Troube and Desperate Living-those are the 3 best he's ever done and ever will do. Cemented in stone as the Filthiest Movies Alive.

Average customer rating:

If you take is seriously then you're totally missing the point!
PERFECT MOVIE
Very funny at times
Another of my favorites
Average but mildly amusing time killer.

A Low Down Dirty Shame
Starring: Michael Bofshever , John Capodice , Gary Cervantes , Devin DeVasquez , and Don Diamont
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00008977B
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Description

Here's the action-packed hit that's armed with explosive entertainment and dangerously funny comedy! Writer, director, and star Keenen Ivory Wayans (TV's IN LIVING COLOR) is Shame, a down-on-his-luck ex-cop turned private investigator. He's hired by drug enforcement officials to track down his seductive former girlfriend -- and $20 million in stolen drug money! With his trusty sidekick Peaches (sexy Jada Pinkett Smith -- JASON'S LYRIC, MENACE II SOCIETY), Shame aims to make a buck and clear his name in what becomes his wildest and most dangerous assignment ever! Fast and fun, A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME is loaded with laughs and ready for action!

Customer Reviews:

If you take is seriously then you're totally missing the point!.......2006-02-25

A Low Down Dirty Shame is really no more than all the most familiar Cop movie clichés arranged in an order that makes a barely cohesive story. But it's all the fun and silly action that occurs in between that really matters! It's a bit like The Last Boy Scout from a spoof-blaxploitation angle.

Shame (Keenan Ivory Wayans) is a former cop who has been blackballed after a major drugs bust went awry, leaving several DEA agents dead. He now works as a private detective, taking on suicide missions for peanuts and barely scraping by. His disapproving secretary Peaches (a very funny and very, very small Jada Pinkett) wants him to get his act together but he's too busy wallowing in self-pity.

His old pal from the DEA shows up and offers him a side mission to help get back at the Drug Kingpin who ruined his career. And so, with only a few clues, Shame begins his search and soon all roads lead to lies and deception. Like I said, the plot is certainly nothing special. But it does contain a helluva lot of laughs and decent action.

The one thing I can complain of is that the production design is kind of dated now. Action films have evolved so much in the past decade that watching ALDDS 12 years on can be a bit distracting. Wayans (who also directs as well as writing and starring) too often shoots non-actions scenes like a sitcom and his light-hearted editing may help remind you that this totally AIN'T a serious film but it's a little TV-ish if you know what I mean.

If you find ALDDS for cheap somewhere or if it's showing on TV then don't con yourself out of a fun movie. High art is not what this film aims to be.

The DVD has a slightly soft 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer with a Dolby 5.1 sound design. There are zero extras.

PERFECT MOVIE.......2005-08-28

This movie is perfect. It has Comedy, action, drama, lots of shooting, I guess I would recomend this for all action lovers.

Very funny at times.......2004-10-18

Very funny action-comedy. There are some huge plot holes and sometimes the movie gets kinda silly but the movie was overall very entertaining. Very funny and energetic performance from Jada.

Another of my favorites.......2004-02-26

Keenan plays a down and out PI named Shame, with his wanna be PI Assistant Peaches (played by Jada Pinkett). Shame finds out the love of his life is back in town and does what he can to save her. Peaches wants Shame to notice her, and does everything to get him to do so. The movie is fun, filled with action, and will have you laughing in some parts. I Love this movie!!!

Average but mildly amusing time killer........2004-01-23

Amusing comedy homage to blacksploitation films, should collapse under its own premise but doesn't. Due largely to the chemistry between the cast, and the comic skills of the elder Wayans the film actually allows you to sit through it. Throw in a sassy Jada Pinkett and whoever that Pochohontas chick is and it's at least watchable. Convoluted plot has Wayans as an ex-cop who has a chance for redemption by taking down a drug lord and a bad cop, the guy from Roc. 20 million dollars of the drug lords money being stolen by Keenan's ex, blah blah blah. Not a lot of laugh out loud type moments, but a few smirkers despite Jada's constant head and finger wagging.

A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Rated Theatrical Version)

Average customer rating:

Cult does not = clever
...Just the newest the latest & greatest by the King of Trash!
Tracey Ullman is a goddess!
More Fun with John Waters
PLEASE MAKE IT END!!!

A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Rated Theatrical Version)
Starring: Tracey Ullman , Johnny Knoxville , Selma Blair , Chris Isaak , and Suzanne Shepherd
Director: John Waters
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Inside Deep Throat - Theatrical NC-17 Edition
Pecker
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ASIN: B000929UOQ
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Amazon.com

When prissy, prickly Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) suffers a head injury during a traffic altercation, she's, er, revived by self-appointed sexual missionary Ray-Ray Perkins (Johnny Knoxville) and is transformed into an insatiable, take-no-prisoners sex maniac. Yes, it's a John Waters film. Yes, it's filthy. No, it's not as hilarious and sustained as you'd like it to be. It works for a while, though: Ullman, never a stingy comedienne, does everything Waters dares her to do without hesitation; words cannot describe the perversely sporting delight with which she mounts a water bottle during a round of "The Hokey Pokey" at an old folks' home. And there's some fun to be had when Sylvia's emancipation leads her Baltimore 'burb to new heights of ecstasy, freeing her large-breasted daughter Caprice (Selma Blair) while horrifying husband Vaughn (Chris Isaak) and her hardline mother Big Ethel (Suzanne Shepherd, hysterical) in the process. It's also packed with the standard cameos, the most satisfying of which is good old Patty Hearst at a Sex Addicts Anonymous encounter. But, for all the nasty, necessary glee, the movie feels inescapably been-there-done-that, and you can't help but wish this was 1972 and Divine was on hand to prowl for dog droppings. The most shocking thing about A Dirty Shame is how desperate and tiresome its anarchy becomes.--Steve Wiecking

Description

Are you ready for a movie that puts filth right where it belongs? Then get ready to laugh with A Dirty Shame--the latest raunchy riot from director John Waters (Hairspray). When a concussion awakens the carnal urges of Sylvia (Tracey Ullman), the people of Pinewood become pitted against each other in a battle of decency versus depravity.

DVD Features: Audio Commentary:Feature commentary with John Waters DVD ROM Features: Documentary:"All the Dirt on A Dirty Shame" documentary Theatrical Trailer:

Customer Reviews:

Cult does not = clever.......2007-05-10

For some reason the appellation of "cult" is meant to be synonymous with intelligence, insight or distinction. Certain reviewers have been convinced that this film is something of value. Look, I'm not claiming to be a seer, but judged on ALL criteria, there are no redeeming features in this film. It is horrible, base, juvenile and tedious. For some reason, cretin reviewers believe that objections are based on the sexual content of the film. NOT SO! Full-on porn would redeem this film, seriously. It is one of the low points for anyone with an "artistic" expectation or one in which they hope to be entertained. Vile and hideous. Dumb and several rungs lower than any other of Knoxville's efforts. And that's saying something.

...Just the newest the latest & greatest by the King of Trash!.......2007-02-23

This movie embodies all that is typical of a John Waters' film. It's campy, kitschy, tacky, and just darn downright funny--AWESOME! Naturally, as any fan would know, it takes place in the teamin' metropolis known as Baltimore--as virtually all his films do. Fans can expect appearances from some of the old Waters' crew including Mink Stole (my personal favorite) and a cameo by Patricia Hearst. The highly entertaining movie is backed up by a line of stars including the outrageously insane Johnny Knoxville, Tracey Ullman, Selma Blair and Chris Isaak. Suzanne Shepherd's character "Big Ethel" is also noteworthy. This has been the funniest John Waters movie in a while. I am a huge fan, and this movie just reiterates how great John Waters is! Rent or Buy it today for non-stop laughs! You won't be disappointed.

Tracey Ullman is a goddess!.......2007-02-20

Okay, if you don't know what John Waters' films are like, you'll probably hate this and think it's repulsive filth. If you're familar with his movies, and like them, then you'll enjoy this one as well. In my opinion, Tracey Ullman steals the show. There is one scene in particular where I was laughing so hard I was crying. It's at the old folks home...that's the extent of what I'll say about it. You just have to see it for yourself!

More Fun with John Waters.......2007-01-20

Like many John Waters fans, I enjoy his 1970s movies the most. But this one is a lot of fun, and not to be missed. Some say that the last part is overdone, but that's one of his trademarks. Others say that his brand of humor is 30 years out-of-date, but if you like it anyway then see this one.

PLEASE MAKE IT END!!!.......2006-07-22

There are no words to describe how AWFUL (!!!) this "movie" was from beginning to end, but let me try anyway so as to give people a fair chance to avoid it and thus try and prevent their day/evening from being ruined: the film supposedly deals with a woman who has an accident and is "touched" by a sex angel only to discover she is a sex addict and the twelfth sex apostle... Need I say more?
The plot, the "humor," the dialogues, and the music are way beyond "below average."
There is next to no nudity and there are no, I mean 0 as in ZERO beautiful girls, in this film!
As for the acting-oh my- the acting is beyond words...
School plays (and pre-school for that matter) have better actors! It is truly sad...
Rent or buy (ha ha ha) at your own risk. You have been warned!

British War Collection (The Cruel Sea/The Ship That Died of Shame/Went the Day Well?/The Dam Busters/The Colditz Story)

Average customer rating:

Very Good Value
British War Stories
British War Collection
A sterling collection of several excellent British WW II films
Britain At War.

British War Collection (The Cruel Sea/The Ship That Died of Shame/Went the Day Well?/The Dam Busters/The Colditz Story)
Starring: Richard Attenborough , George Baker , Bill Owen , Virginia McKenna , and Roland Culver
Director: Basil Dearden , Guy Hamilton , and Alberto Cavalcanti
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Military & War | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

Ealing Studios Comedy Collection (The Maggie / A Run for Your Money / Titfield Thunderbolt / Whisky Galore! / Passport to Pimlico)
In Which We Serve
The Man Who Never Was
Immortal Sergeant
The Alec Guinness Collection (Kind Hearts and Coronets / The Lavender Hill Mob / The Ladykillers / The Man in the White Suit / The Captain's Paradise)

ASIN: B00076YPBM
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Description

Experience all the explosive drama of a nation at war by land, sea and air. The five classic films in this collection - starring such screen legends as Michael Redgrave, Richard Attenborough, John Mills, Jack Hawkins, Stanley Baker, Robert Shaw and more - are now presented uncut and fully restored, depicting the men and women of Great Britain at their most compassionate and courageous. These are British war movies' finest hours.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Value.......2007-01-26

This collection brings together five of the older British war stories and is excellent value for anyone who enjoys such movies.

British War Stories.......2007-01-10

This set of very British movies deserves viewing. While in B&W, the restored copies are clear and look good on HDTV.

British War Collection.......2006-03-09

Excellent collection of the early black and white british movies. some excellent british actors

A sterling collection of several excellent British WW II films.......2005-10-18

Over the years I have with effort to see a large number of British films and had seen four of the five films in this collection. In all four cases, however, the print I saw was vastly inferior to the superb prints contained in this fascinating set of films. So far I've seen three sets of DVDs from Ealing: one featuring the films of Alec Guinness, another containing several non-Guinness comedies, and this collection of war films. I hope that they don't stop with these. Although the sets are remarkable for the utter and complete absence of extras (and by none I truly do mean none), the prints themselves have in ever instance been impeccable. A bit about each film.

THE DAM BUSTERS--Of all the films in the set, this is the one that is most widely available. I first saw this as a small kid when in my most passionate warmonger phase. It is based on an actual bombing raid in WW II where a technique for attacking dams was developed by a British scientist. By dropping bombs so that they would skip across water like stones across the surface of a pond, they were able to attack targets surrounded by water that were normally protected by torpedo nets. Michael Redgrave anchors an excellent cast of performers who will largely be unknown to American audiences, though Basil Sydney appears in both this film and in WENT THE DAY WELL?, while a very young Robert Shaw can be seen in several scenes. If one is very attentive one will spot a very young Patrick McGoohan in a small role as a guard.

THE CRUEL SEA--Far and away the best film of the bunch, and one of the very best films about the Battle of the North Atlantic, this brings home the story of escort work against the German U-Boats better than any other film. The movie tells the story of the Compass Rose, a destroyer employed in protecting cargo ships during the early part of WW II. The cast is outstanding, anchored by a powerful performance by Jack Hawkins, a superb actor not as well known in the US as he deserves to be, though his role in THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI guarantees that he will not ever be forgotten (he is the only one of the major stars who ends the film alive) and also by his memorable role as an alcoholic missionary in ZULU. Speaking of ZULU, the star of that film, Stanley Baker, has a memorable supporting role here as the overly intense first officer in the first third of the film. Many of the other performers will be more familiar by face than by name, the best known by far being a very young and startling handsome Denholm Elliott. The film has many marvelous moments as well as two haunting scenes: the first where Hawkins has to attack a German U-Boat that is submerged below a group of British sailors in the water awaiting rescue, but instead find the destroyer dropping depth charges directly below them, guaranteeing their deaths. Equally disturbing is the sound of the men over the communication tubes after the Compass Rose has been struck by a torpedo. One could add the ensuing scene as well, the British sailors who crowd onto the two rafts following the sinking of the ship, only a few managing to survive the night. All in all, this is a powerful, disturbing film driven by a string of strong performances.

THE COLDITZ STORY--John Mills stars in this excellent film about prisoners of war intent on escaping from an interment camp in Colditz Castle. Directed by Guy Hamilton, of James Bond fame, the film tells the story of British, Polish, and French soldiers who gradually learn to coordinate their efforts in escaping from the camp. There are a score of fine performances in this one, led by Mills and Eric Portman as leaders of the British officers, and backed by memorable performances by the likes of Ian Carmichael, Lionel Jeffries, and Bryan Forbes. Film and folk music fans will also recognize Theodore Bikel as one of the Polish officers.

THE SHIP THAT DIED OF SHAME--I saw this one many years ago in an inferior print. It is an unusual film, almost a gothic ghost story. It stars George Baker and Richard Attenborough as two former officers of a WW II wooden patrol boat. I'm not certain what they were called in Britain, but in the US they were called PT boats, though unlike the famous PT-109 this ship is fitted with deck guns instead of torpedo tubes. The ship distinguishes itself in wartime, but after the war is put into mothballs until after the war, when the two officers buy it to use it for smuggling. With the help of the boat's former coxswain, they engage in petty smuggling for a long while, but eventually get involved in more serious crime. At this point the boat starts mysteriously breaking down or steering hard when doing something deeply wrong. In the end, the boat seemingly commits suicide rather than continue being used in criminal activities. This is certainly not a great film, but it does manage to be a very interesting one.

WENT THE DAY WELL?--This was the one film I had not seen before and it is the only one actually made during WW II. It was definitely made as a morale booster and tells the fictional story of a German invasion by a company of English-speaking troops of a small English village as a prelude to an invasion of Britain by German forces at large. It is a fairly improbable film, in that even if Hitler had been able to assemble that many soldiers who could pass for English, it would be highly unlikely that they would have been squandered so readily. Nonetheless, the film is entertaining and avoids most of the sentimentality and hollow patriotism one might expect in such an effort. The cast is strong, with the normally heroic Leslie Banks playing a German plant in the village. If it isn't in the end especially convincing, it nonetheless features a likable ensemble cast.

One thing all of these films have in common, and something typical of most of the Ealing Studios films, is marvelous scores. Many of Britain's finest orchestral composers wrote for the cinema and scores and the playing are almost always incomparable.

These films may not have the macho heroism associated with American films, but I find these much more focused on the actual human experience. They truly are must-see films both for fans of British cinema and for any WW II buffs.

Britain At War........2005-08-08

As someone who was born in Britain and spent his childhood there in the fifties, I remember being taken by my parents to see several of these films when they were released, particularly "The Dam Busters" and "The Colditz Story". So I do appreciate this collection of British World War II films by Anchor Bay, and the memories that came flooding back.

All five films are a crisp black and white, full-screen, mono sound, but--apart from a nice booklet--the DVDs have no extras. As of this writing, Richard (now Lord)Attenborough, Sir Donald Sinden and Richard Todd are still "with us", so their comments would have been fascinating. Some extras--comments on these films and the British war film genre in general--would have been a "nice touch", to say the least.

"The Cruel Sea"--quite simply one of the finest and most realistic films about naval warfare ever made. As the captain of a corvette assigned to protect supply convoys from German U-boats, Jack Hawkins gives one of his best performances--you will not forget the scene where he must decide the fate of some stranded sailors--this is real war, where good people must make heart-breaking decisions. Mr. Hawkins receives fine support from Donald Sinden and Denholm Elliott. A real classic.

"The Dam Busters"--that superb actor, Michael Redgrave, stars as British scientist/engineer/inventor Barnes Wallis, who fought an uphill battle with the British military (and far too much "red tape")with his innovative plan to destroy dams in Germany's Ruhr Valley, and cripple Hitler's industry. After various setbacks, he proves that his "bouncing" bomb does indeed work. That's when Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson and his squadron of Lancaster bombers become involved, with much intensive training, and ultimately one of the most dangerous missions of the war. "The Dam Busters" is another true classic--and a treat for aviation fans.

"The Colditz Story"--John Mills, Eric Portman, Bryan Forbes and a number of other fine British actors portray prisoners in Germany's infamous Colditz Castle. Their captors tell them that escape is impossible ! Oh really ? John Mills and his compatriots beg to differ ! This film isn't quite a classic, but the performances and situations will still demand your attention--and, again, the film is based a real events.

"The Ship That Died of Shame"--the titular vessel is a small, well-armed speed boat that served with distinction during the war. It is "saved" from mothballs after the war by its old crew, played by Richard Attenborough, George Baker and Bill Owen. However, Mr. Attenborough's intentions for the boat are totally dishonourable--he sees big money in smuggling, and drags his old mates (Messrs. Baker and Owen)into this lucrative, but high-risk business. As time goes by, the "business" becomes even nastier, with the main characters turning on one another and bringing "shame" to their once-proud ship. The film is a fascinating exercise in the study of human greed and immorality.

"Went the Day Well"--here is the "sleeper" in this collection. I had never seen this one--what a movie ! This film has consistent suspense, worthy of Alfred Hitchcock ! It was released in 1943, when the war with Germany was still raging, and there are various scenes and situations which I suppose can be considered propaganda--an attempt to boost the spirits of the British public and remind them how evil the Nazis were (as if this was necessary after the Blitz !). A small English village is visited by British troops on "manouvers"--except they aren't British at all ! They are Nazis who have sneaked into Britain to establish a "beach-head" for a large-scale German invasion. They threaten the villagers with death, and are only too pleased to demonstrate that they mean business ! Even children are threatened (of course, after the war, with the discovery of the concentration camps, nothing in this film can be considered an "exaggeration" ). Leslie Banks stars, with a very nice turn by David Farrar as a particularly reprehensible Nazi. "Went the Day Well" is not the most famous title in this collection--but it just might be the most unforgettable !

Britain produced a lot of World War II films in the fifties. Many of them had a very authentic look and feel about them. This was likely because many of the people involved had experienced "the real thing", with memories and details still fresh in their minds.

I would certainly welcome another collection--"Above Us the Waves"--"The Sea Shall Not Have Them"--"Cockleshell Heroes"--"The Wooden Horse"--"The One That Got Away"--"Reach for the Sky"--"Carve Her Name With Pride"--"The Battle of the River Plate"--"Yangtze Incident"--"Ill Met by Moonlight"--there are many titles that come to mind.

Bottom line--this is a fine collection of movies that show, from a number of viewpoints, how bravely and competently British people coped with the war, and an evil enemy. Rule Britannia indeed !

Average customer rating:

Cult does not = clever
...Just the newest the latest & greatest by the King of Trash!
Tracey Ullman is a goddess!
More Fun with John Waters
PLEASE MAKE IT END!!!

A Dirty Shame (R Rated Version)
Starring: Tracey Ullman , Johnny Knoxville , Selma Blair , Chris Isaak , and Suzanne Shepherd
Director: John Waters
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000929UP0
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Cult does not = clever.......2007-05-10

...Just the newest the latest & greatest by the King of Trash!.......2007-02-23

Tracey Ullman is a goddess!.......2007-02-20

More Fun with John Waters.......2007-01-20

PLEASE MAKE IT END!!!.......2006-07-22

The Ingmar Bergman Special Edition DVD Collection (Persona / Shame / Hour of the Wolf / The Passion of Anna / The Serpent's Egg)

Average customer rating:

Well done, but the aspect ratios are STILL wrong
MGM gets it right

The Ingmar Bergman Special Edition DVD Collection (Persona / Shame / Hour of the Wolf / The Passion of Anna / The Serpent's Egg)
Starring: Bibi Andersson , Gunnar Björnstrand , Margaretha Krook , Jörgen Lindström , and Liv Ullmann
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Manufacturer: MGM
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Art House & International | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Boxed Sets | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

A Film Trilogy by Ingmar Bergman - Criterion Collection (Through a Glass Darkly/Winter Light/The Silence)
Wild Strawberries - Criterion Collection
Fanny and Alexander (Special Edition Five-Disc Set) - Criterion Collection
The Seventh Seal - Criterion Collection
Cries & Whispers - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B0001MIK6I
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Amazon.com

There is no denying this fact: Ingmar Bergman's films are true commitments. Though averaging only an hour and a half in length, the psychological depth, the magnitude of human exploration, and the emotional rollercoaster you embark on while watching his films can stick with you for a lifetime. According to Bergman, "No form of art goes beyond ordinary consciousness as film does, straight to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls." By the mid-sixties, Bergman was about to show the world how far the medium film could go. He began to move away from his Seventh Seal style into the dreamlike, deconstructive, nonlinear realm that would continue throughout his career. This DVD set wonderfully captures all his landmark films of the late 1960s marking this significant transition. Each film stars Liv Ullmann, Bergman's beautiful muse, and involves another longtime collaborator, cinematographer Sven Nykvist. Each film has been remastered, and is presented in its unedited theatrical version loaded with pertinent extras, including a featurette on each film, interviews with cast members (every disc has an on-camera interview with Liv Ullmann), a feature-length commentary by Bergman biographer Marc Gervais on four of the films, and a wonderfully surprising commentary by David Carradine on The Serpent's Egg. Couple these films with an extra disc of supplemental material and you have yourself an incredible Ingmar Bergman film festival. --Rob Bracco

The Films:
In Persona (1966), Elisabeth Vogler (Live Ullmann) has stopped speaking and withdrawn from the world. At her doctor's orders, she moves to a remote cottage to be watched over by Nurse Alma (Bibi Andersson). To fill the silence, Nurse Alma talks aloud to her silent listener and slowly lays out her soul and identity to her patient. In essence, the nurse becomes the patient herself. If the extent of your Bergman exposure is The Seventh Seal, be prepared to get blown away by this film's hallucinatory, multilayered exploration in identity and personality. The hallucinatory analysis of personal identify continues with the haunting The Hour of the Wolf (Vargtimmen) (1968). Artist Johan Berg (Max von Sydow) is desperately trying hold on to his sanity, while being haunted by his demons. His wife (Ullmann) is trying to help, but also begins to share Johan's hallucinations. As they both begin a downward spiral Ullmann has to make a painful decision between the love of her husband or her own sanity. Shame (Skammen) (1968) stars von Sydow and Ullmann as a couple in the midst of a civil war. They escape to their farm for safety only to be haunted by the soldiers that invade their home. The Passion of Anna (En Passion) (1969) again stars von Sydow and Ullmann. Andreas and Anna live on a remote island with a neighboring couple. While trying to escape the skeletons of their pasts, they each seek solace in one another, even as their lives are torn apart by deception, isolation and psychological turmoil. The last film in the set is a leap forward to 1977. The Serpent's Egg (Das Schlangenei) may be the weakest of the set, but by no means is it a lesser film. It tells the tale of two Jewish trapeze artists trapped in Berlin during the Nazis regime. Bergman would only turn out three more feature films before disappearing into retirement. --Rob Bracco

Description

Disc 1: HOUR OF THE WOLF SE Disc 2: PASSION OF ANNA SE Disc 3: PERSONA SE Disc 4: THE SERPENT'S EGG SE Disc 5: SHAME SE Disc 6: BONUS DISC

Customer Reviews:

Well done, but the aspect ratios are STILL wrong.......2005-09-29

I had originally given this collection 5 stars, but then did some investigating. It turns out that although they've fixed the aspect ratios on a couple of the films, they are still wrong on Shame, Persona, and Hour of the Wolf. This effectively chops out about 12% of the films, destroying Bergman's original compositions. I didn't believe it at first until I went through scene-by-scene and realized the horrible truth.
[...]

MGM gets it right.......2004-04-24

After much confusion, the long-awaited Bergman set has finally come out. You can disregard all the negative comments you may have read about faked aspect ratios, etc. Yes, MGM tried to pull a fast one on a couple of the titles in this box, but after being caught out, they did the right thing by pulling the box and waiting to issue an excellent set with transfers that easily match those of Criterion, Kino, etc. (Let's hear it for consumer power!) All the titles are now in their proper aspect ratio. The black and white transfers (Persona, Hour of the Wolf and Shame) are truly beautiful. These films have probably not looked this good since they first came out. The digital transfers for the two colour titles offer equally fine video and clear original audio. The disc of bonus materials is fascinating, with rare interviews with Bergman himself from 1970 and 2002. The bonus disc and the five individual titles also offer interviews with key Bergman players, including Erland Josephson, Bibi Anderson and the ever-insightful Liv Ullmann.
As for the films, they speak for themselves. If you still haven't seen the four sixties films in this box (the summit of Bergman's art in the opinion of many critics), here's a chance to get acquainted with some truly great late-20th century art. Forget about the bad press. MGM got it right this time.

Olga's House of Shame / Olga's Dance Hall Girls / White Slaves of Chinatown (Something Weird)

Average customer rating:

Fast forward review
''Olga'', back and better than ever!

Olga's House of Shame / Olga's Dance Hall Girls / White Slaves of Chinatown (Something Weird)
Starring: Audrey Campbell , Judy Young , W.B. Parker , Ella Daphni , and Ava Denning
Director: Joseph P. Mawra
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Olga's Girls
Rent a Girl / Aroused / Help Wanted Female (Something Weird)
Cool It, Baby/Mini-Skirt Love/Venus in Furs
The Touch of Her Flesh / The Curse of Her Flesh / The Kiss of Her Flesh (Something Weird)
Two Girls for a Madman/Mr. Mari's Girls/Tortured Females

ASIN: B00008H2HK
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Description

Meet Olga, a woman who "possessed a mind so warped she made sadism a full-time business!" In the first of the series, Olga uses pot parties and comic-book violence to turn Gigi Darlene and other female captives into her White Slaves of Chinatown. But Olga has her tender side too and, in the mood for romance, selects an occasional slave for a little loving: "The disease called Olga cannot be fought!" And after relocating to New Jersey, Olga's House of Shame is open for business! With the help of her malignant brother and a sweet-faced victim-turned-protege, Olga runs a crime syndicate while gleefully engaging in unhealthy extracurricular activities in this, the most outrageous of the series. Finally things take a bizarre turn with the most obscure Olga of them all, Olga's Dance Hall Girls, in which a new brat-faced Olga recruits suburban housewives as "hostesses" for a dance hall which is really just a front for -- are you ready? -- a satanic cult! Ouch! For maximum effect, view while shackled.

Customer Reviews:

Fast forward review.......2004-06-14

Ah yes, Olga. One of the most cheesy set of flicks ever made. We're talking no sound track at all, just some added-on narration and other effects, and no color. There were a lot of these "roughies" made, but these are some of the most famous.

I'd stick to "House of Shame", if you're interested in sex sleaze. We got topless babes tied to trees and fake whipped, but not too bad (hey, considering that stuff coming out of eastern europe these days, the "fake" is a necessary comment). We got some paddling through mesh hose, and especially a soldering iron scene that actually approaches the kind of realism that Franco achieves. OK, that means it's ridiculous, but you gotta have some cred for even having a soldering iron scene, eh?

There's also some pretty silly scenes involving Olga threatening models with strange tools and implements that don't really look very effective and a lot of plot, if you call silent movie footage with a narrator "plot". Topless is all the nudity you can expect, but it does show the goods. You could probably extract a clip or two here for old times sake. Two stars for being famous and actually having some reason for being notorious.

''Olga'', back and better than ever!.......2003-06-19

This fabulous new release from the good folk at Something Weird Video presents three of the infamous "Olga" films, complete and uncut, with a few choice extras.

For maximum effect, you should watch the movies in chronological order, as follows...

WHITE SLAVES OF CHINATOWN - Meet Olga Petroff (Audrey Campbell). She is a hard-hearted woman with a penchant for torture and sin. Olga runs a prostitution ring, and also has shares in an opium sydicate. Watch as Olga 'disciplines' her girls in outlandish torture methods! Keep an eye out Gigi Darlene (BAD GIRLS GO TO HELL) who plays one of Olga's lovelies.

OLGA'S HOUSE OF SHAME - Olga relocates her business to an abandoned mill in upstate New York. Joining Olga is her corrupt brother Nick (W.B. Parker) and the lovely Elaine (Alice Davis, aka Alice Linville). When the beautiful Nadja (Ella Daphne) tries to destroy Olga's empire, there's hell to pay as Olga fights back with all her fury.

OLGA'S DANCE HALL GIRLS - Olga (now played by Lucy Eldredge) sets up 'housekeeping' in the suburbs, and recruits all the able-bodied housewives in the area for her new business, which is just a front for a weird satatnic cult, complete with Olga as the 'High Priestess'!. Featuring appearances by Larry Hunter, Hattie Felder and Moia Gifford.

The extra features include the short-subject "Audrey Campbell: Art Lover" which also features her husband, director Byron Mabe (THE HEAD MISTRESS). There's also the "Olga" exerpt from MONDO OSCENITA, trailers for the films featured on the disc and a tantalising exerpt from the 'lost' "Olga" film, MADAME OLGA'S MASSAGE PARLOR (which starred W.B. Parker and Alice Linville reprising their roles of Nick and Elaine!).

With Synapse set to release the missing "Olga" film (OLGA'S GIRLS) complete with a commentary by no less than Audrey Campbell herself later this year, fans will have to wait a while longer to complete their collection.

Product Description

Maverick documentary filmmaker Kazuo Hara once again criticizes the mores and customs of Japanese society in this unsentimental portrait of adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Focusing on how the CP victims are generally ignored or disregarded in Japan, Hara challenges his societys taboos about physical differences and handicaps.
Using a deliberately harsh style, with grainy black and white photography and out-of-sync sound, Hara brings a stark realism to his subject that is raw and fresh.

Customer Reviews:

Disabled in a Modern Country.......2007-06-17

The subject matter of Hara Kazuo's films has always been quite fascinating. In his 1974 film Extreme Private Eros Love Song 1974 he followed his ex-girlfriend Takeda Miyuki to Okinawa in order to get over his feelings for her by filming her daily life there. In 1987 he filmed The Emperor's Naked Army Marches on which concerns Okuzaki Kenzo a World War II veteran who tracks down fellow veterans to make them confess their war crimes. However, the main subject of Hara's Goodbye CP never ran off to Okinawa to form relationships with lesbians or African American soldiers nor did her ever shoot ball bearings at the Emperor with a sling shot. In fact, Yokota Hiroshi never walked on his own two feet due to his disability caused by cerebral palsy.

Apparently in 1972 Hara, then twenty-seven, was hired by Green Lawn, a Japanese group for sufferers of cerebral palsy, and the Japan CP Association to make a documentary film to show "healthy" people the lives of those who cannot control there own bodies. Although Hara spends time filming a number of people suffering from cerebral palsy, the film mainly focuses on the above mentioned Yokota Hiroshi whose disease prevents him from walking on his own two feet. Instead the man walks on his knees because it is faster than a wheelchair. In many films such scenes would be used to show a man trying to overcome the odds fate has set against him. However, in this film the viewer sees a man who is unable to keep his glasses on when he "walks" and who is terrified crossing the streets because he might be killed by an oncoming car.

However, instead of wallowing in pity or trying to gain the pity of others, Yokota and his friends want only to be treated as human beings. The human essence within their crippled bodies is what Hara tries to bring to the fore and he does so through questions concerning their sex lives, etc.

Another incredible part of the film deals with another sufferer of cerebral palsy who, inspired by Hara, picks up a camera himself to take photos of "healthy" people. Through the lens of the camera he is able to stare at those who he once feared were staring at him because of his disability. However, instead of being stared back in return, the man's camera is avoided. This avoidance is echoed in the treatment of Yokota who, although he is on his knees before them handing out pamphlets is generally ignored by the populace who just stare straight ahead instead of acknowledging his presence.

It goes without saying that Goodbye CP does not make for an enjoyable film watching experience, but instead it gives the viewer an early dose of one of Japan most controversial documentary film directors while laying bare the reactions of a general populace towards the disabled.

Average customer rating:

Drama at its Classic Best
Hit and Run

Hit and Run
Starring: Hit & Run
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007ZSHIU
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Customer Reviews:

Drama at its Classic Best.......2006-05-07

The back of the DVD describes the movie as "A suburban housewife's pefect existence is turned upside down when she accidentally hits an eight year old girl with her car. Racing to fine a phone, Joanna Kendall's nightmare worsens when she returns to find an angry mob. Rather than face the dangerous crowd, she chooses to drive away. Now, wracked with guilt over the child's survival, Joanna tries to return to her picture perfect life--only to find that sometims the weight of one's own conscience is the deadliest form of punishment." This is classic drama which I am sure you will enjoy.

Hit and Run.......2005-12-04

This product has no description. I have no idea what I would be buying.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

The Art of the Ninja, Volume 2

Prisoner Cell Block H - Episodes 7 and 8 : Video

The League Of Gentlemen - Live At Drury Lane [1999]

DVD: Criminally Insane & Satan's Black Wedding

Spuren von Rot