The Quarry

Starring:John Lynch, Oscar Petersen, Sylvia Esau, Jody Abrahams, Serge-Henri Valcke, Jonathan Phillips
Director: Marion Hänsel
Studio: First Run Features
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Best of an the era
Arthur Penn, Brando, Nicholsen, Harry Dean....what more do you want??
Maltin Shmaltin.
Broken land, twisted characters
A very satisfying film

The Missouri Breaks
Starring: Daniel Ades , Luana Anders , R.L. Armstrong , Richard Bradford , and Marlon Brando
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000B6CO48
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Description

A rancher, a rustler, and a regulator face off in Arthur Penn's eccentric western. As a cover for their horse thievery, a gang of Montana rustlers, led by the laid-back Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson), buys a small farm adjacent to the ranch of their latest target/nemesis, Braxton (John McLiam). When the gang leaves Tom on the farm and heads to Canada for another score, Tom takes a shine both to farming and Braxton's rebellious, strong-willed daughter, Jane (Kathleen Lloyd). The slightly loco Braxton, however, hires the psychopathic regulator Lee Clayton (Marlon Brando) to root out the rustlers. With a series of unorthodox methods (and costumes), Clayton hunts down Logan and his gang one by one, even after Braxton fires him, but Logan isn't about to let Clayton (or Braxton) make him obsolete.

Customer Reviews:

Best of an the era.......2007-06-08

Cannot beat this little known weatern with Brando and Jack. What a lost treasure! Some truely great lines in this one and perfect Brando style. I have no doubt that both of these actors were just playing themselves. 5 Stars for these guys. What a great memory movie.

Arthur Penn, Brando, Nicholsen, Harry Dean....what more do you want??.......2007-06-01

This is one of the near-great post modern Westerns IMO. (The 2 Great ones being The Wild Bunch--altho is that really post modern?--or the ultimate "classic western"?--& Once Upon a Time in the West.) And we could add "the Last Picture show" to the mix.....but is that really a "western" (it takes place in the 1950's)?

It's got Arthur Penn as director, Brando, Nicholsen, Harry Dean, et al. And the gorgeous brunette Kathleen Lloyd who blatently & with direct language seduces Nicholsen. (Which I love, because I'm a guy).

It imposes a "70's" sensibility on the American Western. And some people may not like that. I think--the best film to compare it to is Altman's "McCabe & Mrs. Miller".

I dig it....any fan of quirky, offbeat films should see it.

Maltin Shmaltin........2007-03-08

Leonard Maltin calls "Missouri Breaks" a BOMB. I think he's looking in the mirror and sees everything backwards. "Missouri Breaks" is a studied, nuanced, greatly acted, directed, scored, designed, and photographed masterwork. It is pure genius from Penn, Brando and Nicholson in carefully shaded characters, and a marvelously talented supporting cast headed by Harry Dean Stanton and Kathleen Loyd. There are no false steps.

The violence Maltin decries is sudden, graphic, and realistic. It shows the brutal nature of the frontier American experience directly, without moral or relish. If anything, it is sincere reportage, which may be what Maltin really finds objectionable; we do like our pretty myths. Students of American western frontier history will instantly recognize the authenticity of setting, society, and events.

He calls it "plodding." It's about a bunch of lazy no-count horse thieves, who are at bottom just human beings with tough beginnings trying to survive in tough conditions. It is a leisured film, but not casual. The viewer enters the world on the screen, to dwell intimately therein as a participant observer, seeing at ground level how these people deal with the events of both a mundane and peculiar life. "Breaks" creates a solid environment with a natural pace that enters the remorseless realm of Greek tragedy. We watch helplessly as the players march relentlessly to an avoidable, but inevitable climax. We see the survivors in the brief still aftermath fumble for new lives, and new beginnings.

If as Maltin says, "Missouri Breaks" is a BOMB, I guess I like this BOMB VERY MUCH. It is a mature, fully realized vision, film as literature that matures like fine wine. Highly recommended for people who think. Leonard?

Broken land, twisted characters.......2007-03-07

Most of the reviews of this film appear to have been written by males, so I thought I would add a female point of view to the discussion.

I bought the DVD for my husband for Valentine's Day, he being a fan of the western genre, and watched it with him. It's not exactly romantic Valentine's Day fare.

Here are a few short observations:

In my opinion, the film should be rated "R," instead of "PG," because of its violent scenes.

There are no good guys in this film, only flawed characters. I found the Marlon Brando character, the amoral regulator, blood-chillingly evil. Compared to him, the bumbling rustlers seem almost to be sympathetic characters. I very nearly found myself rooting for the "bad" guys.

This is not your typical, old-fashioned western. It's a more-interesting film with more-believable characters.

A very satisfying film.......2006-12-30

I haven't seen any other of Arthur Penn's films, but I enjoyed this one as a start. The script is great, as is the acting, epecially Marlon Brando's turn as the eccentric "Regulator" Robert E. Lee Clayton. Jack Nicholson is also pretty good. If you're a fan of westerns, the stars, or even just damn good movies, check this film out.

Average customer rating:

"Winning" is really Newman's picture all the way...
Paul + Joanne= Beautiful Chemistry
Neat Movie
Winning
Much under rated movie.

Winning
Starring: Paul Newman , Joanne Woodward , Robert Wagner , Richard Thomas , and David Sheiner
Director: James Goldstone
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 078323211X
Release Date: 1999-03-16

Amazon.com

Paul Newman plays a racecar driver, Frank Capua, who steps out of his professional and personal isolation long enough to marry a single mother, Elora (Joanne Woodward). The two have a brief but happy life together with Elora's 13-year-old son, Charley (Richard Thomas), but it comes to an end when Frank goes back on the racing circuit and Elora assuages her loneliness in the arms of her husband's chief rival, Luther (Robert Wagner). Frank checks out, and Charley travels across the country to find him and effect a reconciliation. A touching movie (with some good racing footage) by director James Goldstone, Winning is about the real pain of people who have become used to a certain way of safe, arm's-length living, and who have to learn to get beyond it to find redemption in love and faith. Good performances by Newman, Woodward, and Thomas, who makes a terrific impression in one of his earliest roles. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

"Winning" is really Newman's picture all the way..........2007-01-17

Newman is a successful driver who marries a small-town divorcée (Joanne Woodward), soon after they've met... As usual, he devotes too much time to his career and ignores everything else, and, as in "From the Terrace," Woodward turns in desperation to another man--here a rival driver (Robert Wagner). Newman finds them in bed, and becomes estranged from her (again, as in "From the Terrace"), but after winning the big race, he realizes his life is empty, and attempts a reconciliation (the theme of the "winner" who's really a loser).

The relationship is superficially written, but Newman and Woodward make us care about it... Their first film together since "A New Kind of Love," it's their best since "The Long Hot Summer." They exude a naturalness, intimacy and spontaneous affection that one suspects come from their own feelings for each other... It is apparent in their first scene, where he is slight1y drunk, delightfully playful, and confident (but no longer unpleasant) in his attempt to pick her up; and she responds with smiles and applause at his tricks with a fireman's hat, but looks slight1y uncertain about this glamorous stranger...

Following their wedding, they sit on a swing, drinking beer from cans, talking and laughing quietly... She describes her previous loneliness, and he responds, typically, "Beer's a lot less complicated." They smile, she rubs his back and leans her head on his shoulder: these are people who really know each other, and who have attained a maturity about themselves...

Newman exhibits this maturity throughout... His loose, casual style, evident in "Cool Hand Luke," has given way to an almost complete mellowness... Perhaps because of the confidence gained from his directing experience, he has gotten rid of his mannerisms; and except for the intense determination he shows while racing, he's more relaxed than ever before... Although the script tells little about his past, there's a wealth of experience etched into his face, especially in his brilliant, silent reaction to finding the couple in bed--one of quiet resignation that suggests a lifetime of pain and frustration...

Newman has many fine scenes of quiet underplaying: his camaraderie with Wagner early in the film; his solitude after the race; his genuine warmth in the relationship with his stepson (Richard Thomas). The scenes in which they drink champagne and come home drunk together project for the first time in Newman's career a really paternal feeling--only vaguely suggested in strikingly similar scenes in "Hud."

Paul + Joanne= Beautiful Chemistry.......2007-01-16

I recently watched this movie for the first time ever, and was met with an interesting, compelling storyline and phenomenal acting. Paul Newman is top-notch, as always, making acting look like a walk in the park. His real-life wife Joanne Woodward was excellent, as well. I enjoyed the racing sequences in the film, but I'd say what grabbed me the most about it was the obvious love between Newman and Woodward. They'd been married for 10 years when they filmed "Winning," and in my opinion it really shows. They are at ease with each other...the love scenes are comfortable and romantic. Robert Wagner and Richard Thomas also bring fabulous performances to the table.
All in all, a wonderful movie.

Neat Movie.......2006-11-08

Winning is a pretty good movie. I think what I appreciate the most about it is the old footage of Indy (1968) It really gives you insight into the differences between the sterile modern races and the kind of race that men REALLY let it hang out.

The story, on the other hand, is a little wishy-washy and overly dramatic at times and Richard Thomas really comes off sappy and weird. And the plot stays a tad on the thin side with no REAL dramatic moments or challenges (barr one) that the characters face. Still, the charisma of Paul on screen is very powerful.

I guess my biggest problem is editing. Shots are used to build up drama that never really plays out. Some shots are held uncomfortably long for no reason and the race footage wasn't pieced together to maintain continuity with a lap around Indy. Shots jump all over the track. However, some of the camera positions are very Grand Prix-esk and give you a good sense of speed.

The racing footage alone is enough to prop this movie, but some of the fluff in between could have used some polishing.

Winning.......2006-11-05

Great movie. Around the time Newman started roadracing. I roadrace and see Newman on track every once in awhile. He's still a fine driver even at what, 82? Neat to see the old Indy and compare to the present. Jeepers, wooden Gasoline Alley... was that ever a good idea? Also fun to see the Brickyard Crossing as it was almost 40 years ago. Really hasn't changed much.

Much under rated movie........2006-11-03

This film is much better than was realised at the time of release.
While the racing scenes are not up to Grand Prix or Le Mans standards, the above average story line helps that along.
Newman and Woodward give good performances, as does the rest of the cast, including Robert Wagner and Clu Galagher.
Richard Thomas is great in his first film.
Excellent vintage racing footage from the 1966-68 Indy 500's.
Among the cameos in the film are Indy 500 winners Foyt and Unser.

Average customer rating:

"I know that you can achieve so much more Bill"
Some Women Just Aren't Cut Out to Be Housewives.
Who says 1950's suburban housewives lived dull and simple lives?
Crime of Passion
Latter Day Barbara Stanwyck In Engrossing Crime Story

Crime of Passion
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck , Sterling Hayden , Raymond Burr , Fay Wray , and Virginia Grey
Director: Gerd Oswald
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B0000CNY2I
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Description

Barbara Stanwyck soars in a "rafter-rattling portrayal of a homicidal housewife" (The New York Times) in this "exciting, taut" (Motion Picture Daily) thriller about wanting it allandstopping at nothing to get it. A most unusual story for its time, Crime of Passion delivers nail-biting suspense, shocking plot twists and a 1950s anti-heroine you won't soon forget! Advice columnist Kathy Ferguson (Stanwyck) abandons her successful career when she marries police detective Bill Doyle (Sterling Hayden). But her new role as a 1950s suburban homemaker quickly stiflesher spirit, and she transfers her thwarted ambition to her husband's career, scheming to push Bill up the ladder by any means necessary even murder!

Customer Reviews:

"I know that you can achieve so much more Bill".......2006-02-11

Barbara Stanwyck was an actress of formidable talent, she was subtle, and elegant, yet she could bluster and lose control and do it with so much grace and grandeur. In Crime of Passion a 50's noir potboiler, Stanwyck plays a popular San Francisco newspaper columnist named Kathy Ferguson. Fiercely independent, Kathy prides herself on the fact that she's a career girl, and that she hasn't resorted, like most other women of her generation, to settling down to cook and clean for a man.

All this changes however, when she meets and falls in love with hunky detective LA Police detective Bill Doyle (Sterling Hayden). Whisked off to suburban Los Angeles, Kathy finds it hard adjusting to life as a policeman's housewife, and she's frustrated at her husband's lack of ambition. It doesn't take long for the droning petty misery of suburban life and the stifling social puddle of the detective's wives to steadily unbalance her.

Without her husband's knowledge, she uses her feminine wiles to help advance his career - cleverly conspiring to associate with Alice Pope (Fay Wray) so as to get close to Chief of Detectives Tony Pope (Raymond Burr), Bill's boss. Bill remains ignorant of Kathy's dangerous schemes even when they result in him being unfairly pushed ahead of his more-qualified Captain, Charlie Alidos (Royal Dano). Things really spiral out of control when Kathy starts to put the moves on the retiring Chief Pope, in the hope that he will place Bill first on the LAPD's short list for his job.

Although the story isn't remotely believable, and the Lady Macbeth-like themes are indeed quite bizarre, the film is mostly worth watching for Stanwyck's fine performance as Kathy. She starts out as a tough, wisecracking, and no nonsense newspaperwoman, who is quick to put male chauvinist cops in their pace, and then she quietly turns into this macabre, coolly manipulative woman, who will stop at nothing to advance the career of her straight-shooting but unimaginative husband.

Made in 1957 and in a time when there was much discussion over the role of women in the workforce, Crime of Passion brings feminist issues right to the forefront. Kathy's far too cool to be shaken by conservative detective Dano's assertion that she belongs in a home cooking some man's supper. But she's getting on in years and must be feeling the need to marry, because she lands a man of her own almost before she knows what's happened. And it's quite remarkable that she jumps into the role of dutiful wife without so much as taking a breath.

Director Gerd Oswald gives us a tough and uncompromising look at 1950's suburban middle class life. Kathy is forced to live in a wasteland - here's a woman who is used to working with intelligent and creative people, now all she has for company is her doltish but loyal husband - when she can get to see him - and a bunch of gaggling unsophisticated detective wives for company; they're shallow women that seem do little more than praise the big boss and butter up the hen at the top of their pecking order.

To give away much more of the plot would be to destroy the viewer's enjoyment of this compelling film, but suffice to say as Kathy becomes even more unhinged, and her straight-jacketed life becomes too much for her, she resorts to terrible ends to get her way; this intelligent and supposedly sophisticated woman just can't accept a man without ambition. You really believe that a high flier like Kathy could fall in love with a man like Bill and then imprudently push him beyond his limits.

Barbara Stanwyck and Sterling Hayden are terrific together and there's a real chemistry going on here. Bill loves Kathy unconditionally and just wants her to be happy, but Kathy's fatal mistake is that she can't accept her husband for who he is. It is to Barbara's credit that she plays the role straight, without resorting to camp. And Sterling Hayden is a revelation as Bill. He's a sort of a sensitive stalwart, a Mr. nice guy who knows he's just good enough to do his job and is comfortable with that.

Crime of Passion is bleak and cynical in its portrayal of the claustrophobic aspects of suburbia, especially in the way that women were stifled intellectually and creatively. Full of existential angst and fuelled by a sort of quasi-macho misogyny, the film is a powerful and commanding depiction of a middle-class 50's marriage gone terribly wrong. Mike Leonard February 06.

Some Women Just Aren't Cut Out to Be Housewives. .......2005-11-21

Kathy Ferguson (Barbara Stanwyck) is a popular advice columnist for a San Francisco newspaper. Career-minded and unmarried, Kathy has a certain disdain for the housewives with whom she professes to sympathize in print. But when a murder suspect confides in her, Kathy is able to turn the woman in to the two Los Angeles police detectives who were on her trail. Her role in capturing a fugitive is a boon to Kathy's career, and she's offered a better job in New York. But Kathy has fallen in love with one of the police detectives on the murder case, Lieutenant Bill Doyle (Sterling Hayden), a steadfast, unassuming man of whom Kathy says, "I don't think you'll get very far, but you're a nice guy." She gives up her career to marry Bill, make him happy, and keep his home in suburban Los Angeles. But she is soon frustrated by the tedium of bourgeois dinner parties and policemen's wives.

"Crime of Passion" is a female melodrama where violence and hysteria invade the idyllic post-war suburbs. What starts out as an advocacy of women leaving their careers to be homemakers, personified in Bill Doyle's chauvinistic partner Captain Charlie Alidos (Royal Dano), doesn't turn out that way. Kathy is an ambitious, self-possessed woman trapped in suburbia with nothing to do but have ambitions for her husband. She becomes obsessive and neurotic, but is as driven as she ever was. Uh oh. It's hard to say if "Crime of Passion" sympathizes with Kathy Ferguson, as a victim of ridiculous and stifling expectations, or makes her out to be an immoral monster because she's selfish and ambitious. Perhaps both.

Barbara Stanwyck gives Kathy the necessary force and hysteria, but it is painfully obvious that she is 15 years too old for the role. Her face is a mass of crow's feet in some scenes, and her neck is always covered. The hideous frosted hairdo doesn't help. Handsome Sterling Hayden looks downright ungroomed and unappealing. Raymond Burr, who is terrific as police Inspector Tony Pope, the one person who understands Kathy's character, appears younger than the film's 2 stars and is supposed to be older. Well, the actors' appearances wouldn't matter if they were not actually distracting. And Stanwyck and Hayden are perfectly cast otherwise. The film's final crime-solving sequence is contrived and implausible, but "Crime of Passion" features a captivating supporting effort from Raymond Burr, a passable performance from Barbara Stanwyck, and some interesting themes. There are no bonus features on the MGM 2003 DVD. Subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish.

Who says 1950's suburban housewives lived dull and simple lives?.......2005-10-04

This review is for the 2003 MGM DVD

Barbara Stanwyck stars as Kathy Ferguson, an ambitious, independent woman who writes a relationship advice column for a San Francisco newspaper. While on the job, she gets a different assignment dealing with a Los Angeles police investigation and through some savvy detective work, helps the out of town detectives crack the case. One of the policemen is Bill Doyle (Sterling Hayden) and they quickly fall for each other. But at the same time, Kathy just accepted a job with a prestigious New York paper and is clearly conflicted between going east or continuing a relationship with Bill. On impulse they elope and Kathy becomes a housewife for Bill in suburban Los Angeles. It doesn't take too long for Kathy to realize that she's too ambitious and too liberated to be a stand-by-your-man spouse and quickly devises some schemes to push Bill up the business ladder. This sets up the rest of the film where things go wildly out of control.

The movie is in some ways a slice of life picture of life in the later 1950's. The social gatherings are segregated so that the women calmly chat in one room while the men recreate and discuss business in another room. I'm sure some people viewing this movie today would argue that the Kathy Ferguson character was an oppressed victim rather than a greedy, drunk for power wife. The movie has plenty of good acting, especially from one of my all time favorite actors Raymond Burr. The irony of the movie is that this "relationship coach" turned out to be the most dysfunctional character imaginable. It's overall a very good movie, but not a great one for me. Perhaps its because the ending plays it too much by the book and also it's a bit heavy handed since it portrays housewives in the `50's as shallow, simple minded, and boring.

As for the DVD, the B&W full screen picture was near pristine with minimal graininess or contrast problems. The DVD did not have any bonus material.

Movie: B

DVD Quality: A-

Crime of Passion.......2005-05-25

Ace San Francisco newspaper columnist Kathy Ferguson (Barbara Stanwyck) cracks a big murder case and is offered a prestigious job on a New York paper. Opting for love over ambition, she instead marries Los Angeles homicide detective Bill Doyle (Sterling Hayden), leaving her, as she breathlessly tells him, with one ambition left - `to make you happy.'
A tender sentiment, but Barbara Stanwyck rarely walked through any movie with a single ambition. Even if Stanwyck's newlywed avowal is as portentous as Arnie telling a police clerk that he'll be back, it's expressive of more ambition than her husband can muster. While the housebound Kathy is slowly melting down in the dining room, chatting stuffed olives and chiffon dresses with the girls, husband Bill is contentedly debating the merits of the retirement plan with his work pals in the kitchen. If Bill isn't going anywhere it's fine enough with him. Another fifteen, twenty years on the force and he'll be able to retire with full benefits.
Enter Police Inspector Tony Pope (Raymond Burr). Enter the story, anyway. The Doyle's aren't quite in Pope's social set, and from the looks of it Pope doesn't go slumming too often. It's only when Pope goes a-knocking at a door that he ought to have stayed away from, sickly wife or no, that CRIME OF PASSION gains some last act momentum and lives up, or down, to its melodramatic title.
CRIME OF PASSION is an indictment of suburbia and suburban values, including marriage. It's a portrait of a socially ambitious woman married to a behind-the-curve, slug of a husband. It's a star vehicle for femme fatale par excellence Stanwyck, ably abetted by a strong, understated cast.

Latter Day Barbara Stanwyck In Engrossing Crime Story.......2004-10-05

"Crime of Passion", it seems is never included in the pantheon of Stanwyck classics during any retrospective of her legendary career however it makes an interesting addition to her body of film work in the mid 1950's when meaty roles for maturing actresses like Stanwyck and Bette Davis were becoming increasingly scarse. Having to spend alot of her creative time in this period appearing in westerns or television, "Crime of Passion", in a way represented a return to the type of role Barbara had made her own, the non nonsense practical woman who could match a man every step of the way in intelligence and drive. While no great classic the film benefits from a powerful performance by the seasoned Stanwyck who always knew how to play both vulnerable and tough when the situation called for it. In "Crime of Passion", she begins as a fast talking, non nonsense newspaper columnist Kathy ferguson who has no time for romantic attachments. Underneath however is a woman who wants to be loved and when the opportunity for the usual option of marriage and family offers itself Kathy impulsively jumps at it. However following that "traditional", path has its pitfalls which leads Kathy into a nightmarish world of ambition, infidelty and murder. Here is where the real power of "Crime of Passion", sits as it shows an ambitious driven woman who to "improve", the very different man she marries, is prepared to involve herself in murder to make it happen. Alot of societies expectations of this mid 1950's era, of who and what men and women "should", be are vividly brought to life in this screenplay which makes "Crime of Passion", an intriguing snapshot of another time and set of expectations.

The story opens with Kathy Ferguson (Stanwyck), leading the sort of independant, no frills life she enjoys. She is a columnist on a San Francisco newspaper offering advice to the love lorn. She is successful and respected and operates very well within a traditional man's world of journalism. When some LA detectives are brought in on a case where Kathy has been offering advise to the woman of a wanted man Kathy's life is changed forever when she encounters affable Police Lt.Bill Doyle (Sterling Hayden), along with his arrogant superior Capt. Charlie Alidos (Royal Dano),who believes women should only be concerned about cooking and caring for their husbands. Bill makes a refreshing change from the usual ruff and tumble crowd Kathy is used to and before much time has passed Kathy finds herself not only resigning her position on the newspaper to be with Bill, but also marrying him and moving out into the suburban life in the San Fernando Valley. However domestic bliss as the house wife with the picture postcard suburban home soon pales for Kathy as she begins to realise very quickly the mind numbing existence she is trapped in. Not only does her domestic routine appear drab and predictable but is seems that Bill very quickly settles into this type of non challenging existence and has no desire to try an improve himself. Kathy's own intelligence is also put to the test when she must endure endless evenings of silly small talk with the other police men's wives who's thoughts dont go beyond new dresses and things to do with their homes. Kathy quickly realises she needs to take matters into her own hands to get Bill into the type of responsible positions she feels he is capable of away from this suffocating existence. Kathy sees that the real person who could make a difference is Police Captain Tony Pope (Raymond Burr)and she sets out to win over both him and his wife Alice (Fay Wray)in her plan to get Bill promoted out of his mundane job. Becoming increasingly desperate to improve things in their lives Kathy learns that Tony Pope is planning on retirement so she uses every means at her disposal to win his job for Bill. Being of a similiar character Kathy and Tony square off against each other with few illusions which ultimately results in them having a short affair which Kathy naively believes will secure Bill the coveted place in the Police hierachy. Tony however has his own private views on who should succeed him in the top position and when it becomes obvious to Kathy that Tony has no intention of naming Bill as his successor things definately turn ugly. Discarded as a momentary fling by Tony Kathy resorts to the most permanent of solutions for her problems,... murder. However this supposed solution to her situation has the opposite effect where all her schemes unravel and she eventually not only looses her marriage but finds herself convicted of murder in the first degree.

A vintage noir drama "Crime of Passion", certainly is with the usual twists and turns in the sometimes incredible proceedings but it is the performances that make it interesting viewing. Barbara Stanwyck is right at home in this type of character who is ruler of her own destiny and is smart and forward thinking. Despite her at times odd chemistry with the much more placid Sterling Hayden playing her husband the two generally combine well together while Hayden would certainly never be listed among Stanwyck's more memorable leading men. Raymond Burr in a pre "Perry Mason", acting role does well as the hardnosed Police Chief who sees through Kathy's devious thinking and pays the ultimate price for standing in her way. The scenes between Burr and Barbara Stanwyck surprisingly bristle with a real sexual tension one does not expect from one of televisions most loved personalities. "Crime of Passion", also has on offer two veteran actresses playing most interesting supporting characters here in Fay Wray as Alice the unsuspecting wife of Burr's character who befriends Kathy and Virginia Grey as Sara Alidos, Kathy's rival in her quest to have Bill promoted. Both veteran actresses have some of their best later career scenes here in particular when they are performing with Barbara Stanwyck. Perhaps the main weakness in "Crime of Passion", is the sudden turn arounds that Barbara Stanwyck's character experiences. Never for one moment can you really see her Kathy Ferguson settling for a life in suburbia however that does makes an interesting point about the role of even ambitious women at this time which most often tied their futures in with marriage and families. Also Kathy's sudden transformation into a murderess even when she realises all her plans would certainly come to nothing is a bit hard to fathom when watching it. However the often unlikely proceedings make this story great viewing and it contains an interesting late career Barbara Stanwyck performance. This film effort did at least did provide this veteran actress with a role far better than many of the others she was forced to take around this time, like alot of other maturing actresses in order to remain working.

I always enjoy Barbara Stanwyck's work in any genre she tackles and film noir is idealy suited to her. Certainly "Crime of Passion", came along quite late in her starring career but I believe late Stanwyck is better than no Stanwyck at all. Watching her play a scheming minx is always enjoyable and when blackmail or murder are thrown in you are guaranteed a enjoyable viewing experience. Supported by an interesting and most able supporting cast the star here manages to make something worthwhile of both her character and the proceedings. For a good dose of intrigue and to see the original tough lady Barbara Stanwyck in one of her many anti-heroine roles you are sure to enjoy United Artists "Crime of Passion".

Average customer rating:

Backlash on backlash "Oblivion 2"
Fun, but not as good as the first...

Backlash: Oblivion 2
Starring: Maxwell Caulfield , Andrew Divoff , Meg Foster , Mike Genovese , and Isaac Hayes
Manufacturer: FULL MOON
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000V48GG
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Product Description

Journey to the badlands, as the saga continues when the notoriously vicious but yet charming bounty hunter Sweeney arrives in oblivion to bring the leather clad, whip wielding bad beauty outlaw lash to justice. Lash has just discovered a huge, creature-infested mine filled with Derconium (the rarest and most valuable mineral in the Universe). Enter JAGGER, the evil warlord who strikes a deadly deal with lash to control the supply to Derconium and rule the galaxy. Will Sweeney get lash? Will jagger get the goods? Or will they all just get eaten?...

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Backlash on backlash "Oblivion 2".......2006-02-24

The first downfall is no subtitles or closed captioning. But if you are a fan of low budget campy quirky fun, then backlash is for you. Seeing Julie Newmar and Meg Foster alone is worth the price of the movie.

Fun, but not as good as the first..........2002-08-25

The two Oblivion movies are some of the best, and least known, of the Full Moon films.

This film takes place immediatly after the first. (I think they were filmed at the same time.) The main plot concerns an intergalactic bounty hunter after a sabatour wanted by the galaxicorp. The main suspect is Lash. (Played by the incredible Musetta Vander.) Zack, as sheriff, must help the bounty hunter in his quest.

The film lacks the in-jokes that made the first so fun. Julie Newmar has much more of a role in this one. (I am not certain what to think about her in this. Something about a 60+ year old woman in a form fitting outfit that is kind of frightening. Especially since she still looks good, in a weird plastic surgery Brazil-like way.)

Description

"Victims and vampires even wear mini skirts" boasts the original studio press kit, hyping this blood-sucking thriller about a modern-day vampire who ironically terrorizes the City of Angels. With plenty of sharply fanged villains, bosomy victims and an eerie castle just minutes from the closest freeway exit, this bone-chilling horror story is one you can really sink your teeth into.Two lovers, Paul and Erica make a grave mistake. When they park their van outside a foreboding, vine-covered manor, the new owner ? a vampire ? decides to feed on the trespassers. The next morning, Paul has a terrible headache and Erica has two mysterious puncture wounds in her neck. Now, Paul must figure out just what happened before he loses the love of his life ? and his own life ? forever!

Customer Reviews:

a good vampire movie from 30 plus years ago that I remembered as a child being very scared.......2007-01-19

I found this movie at Amazon. I have tried to rent it at video stores in the past and was unable; not in stock. It is a movie I saw as a child and was very scared. I love vampire movies to this day and haven't seen any really good ones. I remembered this one and I still love it. I wish they would have made more.

Fangs for the memories.......2006-11-10

I first saw these movies in the cinema back in the 70s and found them to be soooo much scarier than the Hammer vampire movies of the time. There was something otherwordly about the overall ambience of the movies, with the contemporary setting and handheld camera moments adding to the real feeling of unease.
The fragile chamber orchestra score helped rattle my nerves at the time, too!
Watching these movies again after a period of 25 years I still get a frisson of fear even though I'd suggest older kids could get a kick out of them without too much worry of nightmares.
The actors somehow manage to keep heroically straight faces ( unless the script calls for a knowing look during some of the rare lighter moments ). Of the two, I think Return Of Count Yorga stands up a little better, and contains several moments of sustained creepiness which still raise a few hairs today.
This set comes with a big thumbs up and should entertain anyone with a fondness for this sort of thing. A few decent extras would have been nice but then again - the film's the thing.

Pretty Darn Good Flick.......2006-08-25

I remember seeing this movie (The Return of Count Yorga) as a kid late at night (thanks Mom for letting me stay up late at night to watch these movies) and I must admit that I really like this one. I like the first one as well...but the second movie was a bit more eerie and Robert Quarry played the part so well, you couldn't help but like him.

The Return of Count Yorga wasn't a continuation of the first film. It is just basically another story that involves Yorga in a different setting. I think that if another actor played Yorga, the film wouldn't of worked. It had its eerie scenes, ghoulish vampire women, ugly bodyguard, and the ending had a twist to it. It's really too bad that there wasn't a third Yorga movie.

This movie (Return of Count Yorga)is always a delight to watch and it's in my top 10 vampire movies. I would say that this movie was better than 4-5 Christopher Lee Dracula movies. Maybe "Horror of Dracula" and "Dracula has Risen from the Grave" were better.

A blast from the past.......2006-08-24

There hasnt been any great Vampire pics for decades now, not since the great days of Christopher Lee at Hammer and there have only been a few from the US, the original Dracula and then Count Yorga. It is a bit dated now but still offers a few good frights and I enjoyed it just as much as when I was a kid.
The quality of the DVD is excellent and having both Count Yorga and the return on one DVD for a bargain price is great.
No complaints with this one at all

Can't wait to see it again!!.......2006-07-22

I remember back in the seventies how controversial this film was. It was what everyone talked about. I remember people saying "Have u seen Count Yorga yet?" So I thought I would go see it. At the time I was very into vampire movies with all the Hammer films around at the time. I remember seeing this movie at Sydneys famous State Theatre which is very gothic from its rambling marble staircases to its red velvet drapery...a perfect venue for a film about vampires. I also remember the talked about scene in the campervan and the controversial scene with the cat. This movie double is on its way to me and I cannot wait to see it as a double feature...
Enjoy!!

Average customer rating:

Pam Anderson
Pam Anderson at her best
Everything I wanted to see
"Don't Call Me Babe!"
Good but not great

Barb Wire
Starring: Pamela Anderson , Temuera Morrison , Victoria Rowell , Jack Noseworthy , and Xander Berkeley
Director: David Hogan
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007AJF5
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com

Remember the old days, when Pamela Anderson Lee was still just a Playboy Playmate turned Baywatch babe? You know--back before the bootleg release of her infamous home video with then-husband and ne'er-do-well rocker Tommy Lee, at which time the whole world got to compare Pam's barely adequate acting chops with her formidable skill at fellatio? Yes, those were the days (1996, to be exact), when a movie like Barb Wire represented dubious progress for the busty blonde, who was determined to make as big a splash on the big-screen as she did in the world's most popular syndicated TV series. Set in the year 2017 when the Second Civil War is in full force, this sci-fi action thriller stars Pam in the title role--a leather-clad biker babe ("don't call me babe," she warns) who runs a nightclub in the last free city in America. The rest of country is controlled by the "Congressional Directorate," a dictatorial superpower which suspects Barb of trafficking in black-market contraband. That gets her into plenty of trouble (and a lot of cleavage-revealing costumes), and ... well, if any of this sounds even vaguely familiar, it's because this comic book-inspired movie is really just a shamelessly breast-enhanced variation on Casablanca, with Pam Anderson in the Bogart role. Taken for what it is, it's a brazen folly with action to spare, and as guilty pleasures go it's surprisingly enjoyable. What--you were expecting Oscar material? --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Pam Anderson.......2007-05-16

To me this is a clasic. Pam looks stunning and is probably in her best acting role ever. She's bad and beautiful in this one, so it's a keeper.

Pam Anderson at her best.......2007-05-07

I am a big Pam anderson fan and she looks great in this series of movies

Everything I wanted to see.......2007-03-22

I saw this movie in the theater when it came and I thought it was great then. It's everything I wanted to see--Pammy in a new sexy outfit in every scene.

"Don't Call Me Babe!".......2006-09-08

Pamela Anderson stars in this fast-paced and sexy movie about a gorgeous bounty hunter trying to survive during the second American Civil War.

Anderson stars as Barb Wire, a former freedom fighter for the United Front, a group of guerrillas who are fighting against the Congressional Directorate, located in Washington, D.C. Barb has given up her freedom-fighter days, instead retreating to Steel Harbor, the last free city in America. There, she has set up a bar/nightclub called Hammerhead, which caters to everyone, regardless of political affiliation. On the side, she also moonlights as a high-priced bounty hunter, earning money to pay off local cop Alexander Willis (Xander Berkeley). She also has frequent run-ins with a bail bondsman named Schmitz (Clint Howard).

Back in Washington, events have transpired which could upset Barb's tidy little business. The Directorate began a virus program called Red Ribbon, with the help of scientist Dr. Corrina "Cora D." Devonshire (Victoria Rowell). Derived from the HIV virus, this weapon can knock out any area in the United States in under 12 hours. Cora D. ended up defecting to the United Front, changed her appearance through plastic surgery, and is now headed to Steel Harbor along with fellow fighter Axel Hood (Temuera Morrison). Hood happens to be an old flame of Barb's. They are in search of a special contact lens which can hide freedom fighters from identification scans. Barb wants nothing to do with Cora D., Axel, or anyone who wants something for free. However, she soon finds herself in the middle of a conflict between the United Front and the Congressional Directorate, who have sent the notorious Col. Pryzer (Steve Railsback) to Steel Harbor to find the lenses. Pryzer begins investigating everyone in Steel Harbor, including Barb, her blind brother, and Alexander. Will Barb succeed in delivering the lenses to Cora D. before Col. Pryzer finds them first?

This is a first-rate post-holocaust movie. There is massive amounts of gunfire, huge explosions, and many scenes of Pam Anderson and her very revealing little black dress. For a post-apocalyptic movie, Barb Wire is very good. Be sure to watch the "sexy outtakes"; you won't want to miss them!

Good but not great.......2006-02-17

A million times better than the crap classic Casablanca, Barb Wire at least has all the good elements for a perfect film. A girl like Pamela Anderson for sure is a perfect choice for the babe. Plenty of action, a little bit of t&a and again lots of actions! The first scene when she is dancing is classic stuff my friend! And don't call her babe!

***1/2

Average customer rating:

Good movie
Village of the Darned
the morals issues and questions are still there
9 Eerie children.
OK movie but why was it rated R?

Village of the Damned
Starring: Kirstie Alley , Thomas Dekker , Cody Dorkin , Constance Forslund , and Mark Hamill
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0783230427
Release Date: 1998-12-15

Amazon.com

The original 1960 version of Village of the Damned is regarded as a classic of science-fiction and horror, and it remains one of the creepiest movies of its kind. Directed with occasional flair by John Carpenter, this 1995 remake trades subtlety for more explicit chills and violence, but the basic premise remains effectively eerie. In the tiny, idyllic town of Midwich, a strange mist causes the entire population to fall asleep, and when everyone awakes the town physician (Christopher Reeve) discovers that 10 women--including his wife and a local teenaged virgin--have mysteriously become pregnant. Their children are all born on the same day, with matching white hair and strange, glowing eyes, growing at an accelerated rate and raising Reeve's suspicion that they're not of Earthly origin. These demonic brats can control minds and wreak havoc with the power of their thoughts--so of course, they must be destroyed! Only Reeve knows how to get the job done, and his performance (the actor's last big-screen role before his paralyzing accident in 1995) grounds this otherwise superfluous remake with enough credibility to hold the viewer's attention. But for the real chills, definitely check out the original version--it's 20 minutes shorter but twice as spooky. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Good movie.......2007-04-25

For some reason this movie seems to always get bad reviews from critics and viewers. I'm not exactly sure why, but I think that people expect something different from John Carpenter and this wasn't it. They compare it to his other movies rather than looking at it on it's own.

I think that the movie was great, very well done in the way that it was shot and the way that the actors portrayed each character. It's interesting to see the different twist that John Carpenter put on the original novel by John Wyndam, "The Midwich Cuckoos." The tone of the movie is very eerie, with everything shot in a sort of gray, monotone atmosphere. The leader of the children is absolutely chilling and gives a great performance. I think that she really makes the movie with how she speaks and acts throughout the film. People just aren't used to seeing some seven year old look as if she could snap you in half with a blink of an eye.. literally.

The visual affects are awesome. Who doesn't like to see crazy glowing eyes? It's just cool looking. I highly recommend this movie to anyone not looking to rip it apart just because it's not 'gory' or 'violent' enough for them.

Village of the Darned.......2006-12-12

Although the most prolific of the 70s directors who worked their way up from superior exploitation to the mainstream, John Carpenter's flame may have burned the brightest but it also burned the most briefly before he descended into lifeless hackwork. Even the more promising projects floundered when confronted with his increasingly pedestrian handling. His 1995 remake of Village of the Damned is a classic example. Ill-advisedly relocated to a California coastal town inhabited by Superman, Luke Skywalker and Crocodile Dundee's girlfriend, the special effects are more prominent and the body count is multiplied more than ten times as villagers burn themselves to death, impale themselves, doctors blind or perform autopsies on themselves, all staged with remarkable flatness and a complete lack of atmosphere or foreboding. A few good ideas are thrown in, but aside from one schoolroom sequence and the foolproof "brick wall" ending, it's desperately dull and under characterised stuff that feels like it was made by a wage slave reluctantly punching a time clock every day. More like Village of the Darned, the most mysterious thing about it is just how Michael Pare managed to get such prominent billing when he doesn't even make it past the title sequence.

the morals issues and questions are still there.......2006-09-18

this remake of the 60's sci fi classic still poses the same questions of the movie viewer as the classic. issues like conformity of innocence, fascism,communism, and the like are still there but not as much. the creep factor comes from the stated elements above. thats why the two movies the original and the remake are good sc fi b-movies they ask you thoses hard questions and not a soap opera like new battlestar galactia. i use the title the village of the damned as a metaphor for chicago because it lose a certain something like new york and l.a. america becoming grey goo of mediocrity and conformity. enough of that but carpenter is underrated to me at least because he don't turned out tendy kiddyporn horror flicks. like scream or i know what you did last summer. its real horror like full moon movies.

9 Eerie children........2006-02-27

John Carpenter directed movie based on John Wyndham's novel `The Midwich Cuckoos'. After an entire small town blacks out 10 women give birth to gifted children. Only 9 live. As the children get older people seem to be very accident prone in their presence.
Lindsey Haun as the children's leader Mara is just creepy. The one scene to best sum up the movie has Dr. Alan Chaffee (Christopher Reeve) talking to Jill McGowan (Linda Kozlowski). She's trying to convince him to teach the children separately from the normal children. Dr. Chaffee; "What could I possibly teach them?" Jill answers, "Humanity." It should've been a great movie. Unfortunately Christopher Reeve's excellent acting was overpowered by Kirstie Alley's incredibly horrible acting. Why any director would use her to play a hard shell government doctor is beyond me. This movie had four things going for it; 1. It was based on Wyndham's classic novel. 2. John Carpenter directed it. 3. Christopher Reeve stars in it. And 4. The children were just plain creepy. So why didn't it work? Kirstie Alley is one of the worst actresses ever and just ruined the Dr. Susan Verner character. Carpenter never really pushed for any suspense. More of A Sci-Fi B-movie then a Horror. Worth catching on AMC or TCM but not worthy for my collection, which is unfortunate when you consider that Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980) and The Thing (1982) along with a few others have made the list. Watch for Mark Hamill as Reverend George.
Beware the Children.

OK movie but why was it rated R?.......2006-02-01

I thought the movie was OK really, not as good asthe 1960 classic. Not even on par with Carpenter's prior work. I do love the soundtrack though, Carpenter always seems to come up with good music for his movies even when they stink.

But I really don't know why this movie was rated R. There is absolutely nothing as far as violence to warrant the rating, and certainly nothing in the way of suspense or thrills to scare anyone. This really should have been PG, but I guess Carpenter thought nobody would go see his movie if it was PG so he pushed for a R rating. Turns out nobody saw the movie either way.

Average customer rating:

"Hey, old man, I'm coming with you!"
Them sure ain't making movies like this none
Excellent Western!! Rogers and Tritt Rule!!

Rio Diablo
Starring: Kenny Rogers , Travis Tritt , Naomi Judd , Brion James , and Bruce Greenwood
Director: Rod Hardy
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009NHAM
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Product Description

In Rio Diablo, some men are worth more dead than alive.

System Requirements:

Starring Brion James, Bruce Greenwood, Kenny Rogers, Laura Elena Harring, Michael G. Hagerty, Naomi Judd, Stacy Keach, Travis Tritt

Directed by Rod Hardy

Running time: 93 minutes

Customer Reviews:

"Hey, old man, I'm coming with you!".......2007-07-01

Country western singer Kenny Rogers's few forays in front of the camera haven't exactly rendered him indelible in the minds of movie fans. He starred in the 1981 TV movie COWARD OF THE COUNTY, the blandly regarded MacShayne series in the 1990s, and the genial 1982 theatrical release SIX PACK. And, in the course of the GAMBLER series (the role he's best known for), he embodied Brady Hawkes, the savvy, card-shuffling protagonist of five television films. Then, in 1993, he made RIO DIABLO. In this CBS made-for-television western, Kenny Rogers played even further against type as he took on with relish the role of the ill-mannered and coldly calculating Quentin Leech.

Mere moments after young farmer Benjamin Taber (Travis Tritt) weds his lovely Mexican bride Maria (Laura Harring), their tiny town of Del Rio is rocked by a desperate shoot-out between its citizens and a gang of fleeing bank robbers. One of the many resulting fatalities is believed to be Maria. Benjamin, seeking revenge, bumps into Quentin Leech (Kenny Rogers), an avaricious, foul-tempered but very canny bounty hunter. Leech is out to capture the bank robbers, who've accrued a nice bounty. Even though Benjamin threatens him at rifle-point - thereby living up to Leech's assessment of Taber being "dumb as a headless chicken" - Leech allows him to tag along. As they wend their way in pursuit, a run-in with an outlaw raises the possibility that Benjamin's wife may yet be alive. Benjamin is hopeful, but does Leech give a fig about that? Or, with him, is it all about the reward money?

I liked Quentin Leech from the very first scene, as he masquerades as a man of the cloth. This is a very well done showcase role for Kenny Rogers, who grabs his nice guy image by the throat and clubs it zestfully with a gun barrel. As fleshed out by Rogers, Quentin Leech is full of vinegar and rancor and harbors a general resentment against the world. I didn't know Kenny had the capability to go all flinty-eyed. Point blank, Kenny Rogers' screen presence carries the film.

Travis Tritt, then a superstar country singer, makes his film debut here, and I guess he's decent enough and relaxed enough in front of the camera. The third country singer is Naomi Judd - the lovely mom in the mother and daughter act, the Judds (and also mother to actress Ashley Judd) - and she nicely plays the bit role of Flora Mae Pepper, proprietor of a desert establishment of ill repute, which also doubles as neutral ground where violence and shows of weaponry are vigorously frowned upon. Okay, so maybe Naomi's delivery of her lines is a bit stilted, but I choose to give her a break. The rest of the cast are regular actors, rounded out by Bruce Greenwood, who plays the venomous younger brother in the Walker gang, and Stacy Keach, who has a miniscule part as a rival bounty hunter.

With the number of high profile country singing celebrities here (believe me, they were big back then), there's a tendency to dismiss RIO DIABLO as a whim-indulging, self-aggrandizing platform. But, make no mistake, RIO DIABLO is a gritty and fairly entertaining little western. The shoot-em-up sequences may be pedestrian and infrequent, but the fun lies in watching our lead star, the normally urbane and benign country singer (and erstwhile chicken restaurant owner), coldly bracing inhospitable sheriffs, shifty bartenders, and the bad men of the Old West. Kenny Rogers may be grey-bearded and stout, but he's neither cute nor amiable, not here anyway. He's quite convincing as he channels his charisma into this grim and very practical collector of bounties, who often likes to offer his targets "one, maybe two, choices" but really leaving them only one. So, yeah, why not give this one a try? RIO DIABLO may be the closest you'll ever see Kenny Rogers do some intense scenery chewing.

Them sure ain't making movies like this none.......2007-07-01

It is actually not a bad movie at all, sure it is full of stereotypes but somehow the story is very watchable. Kenny Rogers plays a central figure, Travis Tritt comes in as a accidental sidekick, the stolen bride is a beautiful woman, most bad guys die various bloody deaths, the story ends as expected, there is even another music watch similar to what Lee Van Cleef was carrying in one of his westerns. What else one could ask for ?

What I found surprising is how well Kenny Rogers played his part, he is a good actor and it is amazing that he hasn't played in bigger/better known roles.

Excellent Western!! Rogers and Tritt Rule!!.......2002-09-12

Kenny Rogers plays an unconventional role as Quentin Leach,a bounty hunter with both a trigger finger and temper.Also singer,Travis Tritt makes his movie debut as Benjamin Tabor who is out for blood after the kidnapping of his bride by a fleeing gang of bank robbers who Leach is after for the bounty money dead or alive.This movie is an Excellent Gun Blazin Western!!

Average customer rating:

Intrigue! Action! Kimono girls!
Ryan Gives Standout Portrayal in Noir Misfire
A unique peek at post-war Tokyo
Noir at its best
A routine big-budget crime drama with fascinating Japanese locations!

House of Bamboo (Fox Film Noir)
Starring: Clifford Arashiro , Sandy Azeka , Brad Dexter , Biff Elliot , and Sandro Giglio
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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