Master of Suspense

Starring:Alfred Hitchcock
Studio: Vintage Home Ent.
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
THRILLERS:
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Secret Agent
The Lady Vanishes

Amazon.com

A mixed bag that received mixed reviews when released in 1994, this lavish film works overtime to honor the spirit and style of the vintage pulp novels and radio shows that made The Shadow a household name in the 1930s and '40s. Alec Baldwin plays the Shadow, a.k.a. Lamont Cranston, who arrives in New York from his decadent life in Tibet, fully reformed and disciplined in his ability "to cloud men's minds." A crime fighter who lurks in the dark recesses of the city, the Shadow faces his most deadly challenge when Shiwan Khan (John Lone), the last surviving descendant of Genghis Khan, hatches a plot to conquer the world. The scheme involves a madman (Tim Curry), a hapless scientist (Ian McKellen), and various traps designed to catch and kill the Shadow, who must also contend with his blossoming romance with Margo Lane (Penelope Ann Miller), a slender beauty capable of a little mind play of her own. The movie's art deco production design turns out to be a scene-stealer when the plot drags, and in the title role Baldwin is never given enough good material to create a compelling character. Still, The Shadow is true to the legacy that inspired it, admirably avoiding any conspicuous compromise of its 1930s style and setting. If you can't get into the story, you're sure to be hooked by the look of the production, which is never less than dazzling. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Remade as Batman Begins........2007-06-26

THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST SUPER HERO MOVIES EVER MADE. Even Remo Williams was better. At least Remo Williams had some humor and heart.

BATMAN BEGINS SEEMS LIKE RIP OFF OF THIS MOVIE, BUT SO MUCH BETTER. If you have seen Batman Begins, you have seen this movie. A guy living in the underworld in some Asian mountains find the light with a guru. He returns to the big city as a rich playboy and fights crime. He ends up fighting those who trained under the same guru. Although The Shadow did it first, and Batman Begins is a copycat, Batman Returns is a much better movie.

I really like Alec Baldwin, but in this movie, he is a cardboard character. How he turns from bad to good is never shown, it just happens. He really doesn't show any emotion during the whole movie. He is a lot like the character he makes fun of in 30 Rock.

Not much is done with the concept of The Shadow. There is one short episode near the beginning of the movie tha shows what The Swhadow is all about, but it isn't very thrilling or interesting. He just captures some criminals on a bridge, but there is no background to draw you into the story.

After that, it is more a supernatural story, and not much to do with The Shadow. A much better movie would have been to explore more about The Shadow, just like Batman Begins gives you a rich story about Batman, who he was and how he fought crime. But, it also gives you a backgrind story about the criminals he fights so there is tension.

The love story in this movie is also very weak.

This movie was killed by critics and was a bomb at the box office. But, sometimes the critics can be wrong and the movie fans might miss a winner. You can decide if you want to take the chance.

Lots of surprises.......2007-05-13

This movie has fast paced action,good acting with a touch of the exotic. Based on an radio series. I liked it!

Brought back my childhood radio daze . . ........2007-04-25

I really liked this movie. I saw it in the theater and several times on DVD and VHS. When I was a kid in the 40's this was one of my favorite radio shows. It worked then because of my imagination and the talent of those radio actors and writers. The later black and white movies were a disappointment because of the lack of special effects, so they weren't convincing at all. Just a guy in a black baggy outfit with the other actors pretending not to see him. This version had it all. The right guy in the starring role, Alec Baldwin as the handsome Lamont Cranson/Shadow. Penelope Ann Miller as the vivacious Margo Lane and a great supporting cast with John Lone as the villain, the great Tim Curry, Ian McKellan before The X-Men and Gandalf, Peter Boyle, Jonathan Winters, et. al. The look of the film was excellent, the comic relief really well done and the writer David Koepp deserved a big slap on the back. This is one of those films that I will look at over and over in the future. The film deserved better and I think better advertising might have created a better financial performance, maybe one matching the performance of all who participated in making the film.

In The Shadow.......2007-02-09

A marvellous escape into the yesterdays of my childhood. A reminder of a simpler less complicated time when good versus evil was a clear-cut battle with good triumphing in this eternal battle. Yes I enjoyed the film and the acting was great and the cinemaphotography was vivid and eye-catching. The setting almost surrealistic. Overall a fascinating experience.

The SHADOW.......2007-02-03

I will never be able to understand why THE SHADOW (1994) is so underrated. Sure, there are things I would have changed, but--the acting was convincing, the special effects dazzling, the dialog witty--and it the film was appropriately set in New York.
The film borrows from both the pulps and the radio show. The Shadow is appropriately clad with an eerie, echoing voice. Shiwan Khan is properly cruel but humorous (how can a Tibetan have pupils THAT big??)
This is not exactly a family movie. There is some language, a scene with scantily-clad concubines. Oh, and the demon-possessed knife called the Purba.
Overall, a faithfully adapted crime fighter/superhero movie. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Entertaining but not accurate.
surprised me.
A nice movie
Great Suspense Thriller!
not bad--did the 2600 protests help it in rewrite?

Track Down
Starring: Skeet Ulrich , Russell Wong , Angela Featherstone , Donal Logue , and Christopher McDonald
Director: Joe Chappelle
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Pirates of Silicon Valley
Hackers - Wizards of the Electronic Age
Hackers
Chill Factor
Revolution OS

ASIN: B0002L57YQ
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Description

Based on an incredible true story, this intense high-tech crime thriller features Skeet Ulrich (SCREAM), Donal Logue (TV's GROUNDED FOR LIFE), and Russell Wong (TWISTED) in an amazing all-star cast! For years Kevin Mitnick (Ulrich) -- the most notorious computer hacker in the nation -- had eluded Federal agents while using the latest electronic gadgetry to break into countless computers and gain access to sensitive and valuable information. But when he breaches the system of leading computer crimes expert Tsutomu Shimomura (Wong), it sets off an epic chase through cyberspace between a pair of hard-driven geniuses operating on different sides of the law! Also starring Tom Berenger (TV's PEACEMAKER), Christopher McDonald (SPY KIDS 2), Master P (HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE) and Amanda Peet (THE WHOLE TEN YARDS) in this electrifying modern adventure!

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining but not accurate........2007-05-09

Its a very entertaining movie but the character and the facts and events were not what happened in reality. Look it up on wikipedia if your interrested in the truth, or watch "Freedom Downtime" from the "2600" group.

To the person below who said "Movies are never accurate dont expect it out of this one...." Ok lets make a movie about Osama flying some planes into a building, but before he hits them he lands and hands out ice-cream... because thats what really happened isnt it? or was it? If your going to tell a story tell it right in my opinion, why do you think Students are taught HISTORY in school and not issued TABLOIDS!

surprised me........2007-03-28

this movie surprised me, i enjoyed it a lot more than i thought, and was actually on the edge of my seat. especially cause it's based on a true story and is quite accurate.

i watched it again a couple of weeks later and still enjoyed it and then i read "the fugitive game" (available at Amazon.com!!!) i got that book instead of the one the movie was based on, because of the comments of users and it was written by a third party so i felt it would be less biased.

ANYWAY, if you have any interest in computers and find "the art" of hacking to be interesting......check it out!
ah... the movie that is, not the "art of hacking", just something to live vicariously thru the movies!

A nice movie.......2006-11-16

If you like, this "histories" about hacking, here you got some of what MAYBE happen with the capture of kevin mitnick...

I recomend it for perople who really like the type... go for it...

Great Suspense Thriller!.......2006-08-21

A really great hacker film that becomes a cat-and-mouse edge-of-your-seat thriller. In the spirit of War Games and Sneakers, this film is exciting, thrilling, and fast-paced.
I don't care how accurate it is, THIS is a great movie!

8-17-06.
Walt D in LV

not bad--did the 2600 protests help it in rewrite?.......2005-11-08

I saw this after watching "Freedom Downtime," and I have to say that if they'd seen the final script they needn't have bothered to protest. The film is quite sympathetic to Kevin Mitnick--he comes out as more of a sympathetic character than Tsutomu Shimomura does (and "wins" in the end despite jail). There's no trial scene, there's no garbage can lid scene (contrary to one of the reviewers, who seems to be reviewing the initial script rather than the final product)--Mitnick is not portrayed as violent in this film. Sure, they took some liberties with the facts to try to make it more entertaining, but that was probably necessary.

Watch for the real Tsutomu Shimomura in the scene where the actor portraying him is speaking at a conference--he's sitting next to Donal Logue (the Lewis DePayne, er, Alex Lowe character), who is giving Shimomura a hard time (as the real Shimomura laughs).

It is amusing that one of the best scenes in the movie (in the strip club where Lowe and Mitnick are meeting with an "Agent Steal"-like character named Icebreaker) comes out of Jonathan Littman's _The Fugitive Game_ rather than the Shimomura and Markoff book. Littman filed a copyright infringement suit over it, according to Kevin Poulsen's review of the DVD on The Register (Feb. 13, 2001).

Average customer rating:

A Fitting Coda to Lang's Career
The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse - DVD MAJOR GLITCHES
Last Fritz Lang "Mabuse" film is a Treasure!
One of a kind movie
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW

The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse
Starring: Dawn Addams , Peter van Eyck , Gert Fröbe , Wolfgang Preiss , and Werner Peters
Director: Fritz Lang
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse - Criterion Collection
Testament Of Dr. Mabuse/ The Crimes Of Dr. Mabuse
Dr. Mabuse Collection
Dr. Mabuse - The Gambler
The Spiders Part 1- The Golden Lake, Part 2- The Diamond Ship (1919)

ASIN: 630590796X
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Amazon.com

Fritz Lang's all-but-unseen final film, a low-budget German thriller that resurrects (sort of) his legendary underworld genius Dr. Mabuse, is a flashback to Lang's early days of criminal conspiracies and wild, fast-paced adventures. A relentless police inspector (Gert Goldfinger Fröbe) targets the Nazi-built Hotel Luxor as the central connection in over a dozen murders and camps out in the lobby. Upstairs an American industrialist (played by the very German Peter Van Eyck) rescues a suicidal woman (Dawn Addams) from the ledge and falls in love, while in the basement a mysterious, club-footed character watches everything on an elaborate closed-circuit surveillance system. Rounding out the cast of shady characters are a jovial but nosy insurance salesman, a creepy blind psychic, and a particularly menacing Howard Vernon as an icy assassin with a silent rifle. The complicated, at times confusing plot is secondary to the web of blackmail, murder, secret identities, and incessant surveillance at the center of the conspiracy: everyone is spying on somebody and almost no one is as he or she seems. The generic sets and frankly cheep special effects are made up for with ingenious cinematic signatures (the opening assassination is a model of cool simplicity and striking suggestion), dark humor, a rich cast of vivid characters, and a driving pace that sends the film hurtling headlong toward a fatal climax. --Sean Axmaker

Description

The last film ever made by the great Fritz Lang (Metropolis, M, The Big Heat), this fascinating thriller combines elements of film noir, horror, and science fiction. Gert Frobe (Goldfinger) stars as police commissioner Kras, trying to uncover the sinister secret of the mysterious Hotel Luxor, ground zero for a massive crime wave. The crimes show all the hallmarks of evil genius Dr. Mabuse--but he died 30 years ago! Digitally restored from original studio negatives.

Customer Reviews:

A Fitting Coda to Lang's Career.......2004-09-18

Barely released in America, "The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse" (1960) marked director Fritz Lang's final film. At age 70, Lang had returned to Germany after abandoning Hollywood filmmaking for good in 1956. Despite a low budget and obvious commercial considerations ("1,000 Eyes" was the launching pad for a popular, never-ending series of "Dr. Mabuse" films), Lang managed to create an atmospheric thriller. Though the criminal mastermind had died in 1933's "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse," Lang developed a spiritual heir who would continue the Mabuse tradition. In retrospect, "1,000 Eyes" is a throwback to Lang's early German thrillers, yet it has a modernist style -- depicting a world in which NOTHING is what it seems, including the characters who inhabit Lang's mysterious environment. The film is not without its slow stretches, but the inventive assassination sequence and climactic car chase represent Lang at his best. Overall, a fitting coda to the director's 41-year career.

The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse - DVD MAJOR GLITCHES.......2002-02-25

There are two major glitches in this DVD. At the end of chapter 8 and again in chapter 25 at the 2:30 mark, two different video sequences cut in: One is a color soccer instructional, and the other a Japanese (I think) dubbed B&W film. How could such a thing get past the mastering phase??

Otherwise, this is a great film, wonderfully presented with all the extras listed in these other reviews. But these glitches make it unacceptable. I hope the same problems don't pop up in Vol. 2 of the series!

Last Fritz Lang "Mabuse" film is a Treasure!.......2001-09-14

This disk is one of my favorites. Although not quite up to the standards of it's two predecessors, the Third Dr. Mabuse film (and the last directed by Lang himself) is wonderful and more than worth the purchase price.

David Kalat's extraordinary commentary is easily THE BEST I have ever heard (and I've heard quite a few.) He strikes the perfect balance between knowledge and wit - the narration is informative without being dry or condescending and, indeed, is quite lively at times. His delivery style is remarkably excellent throughout and is a major reason I consider the disk to be one of my most valued.

Two tiny quibbles, stuff so small as to bother only me: The English Language captioning, written for the German audio track, is a little disorienting when viewed in connection with the English language track. Most of this has to do with the demands of lip-synchronization between two languages. Still, and despite the additional cost it might have created, two independent sets of captions would have been appreciated - one for each of the different languages. This would be a welcome addition for a hearing impared viewer.

The other minor quibble is that the documentary really needed captioning, much more so than the feature owing to the heavy accented speech.

All told, though, this is absolutely a remarkable film and a remarkable, and very treasured disk. AllDay Entertainment is releasing some extraordinary stuff, and deserve kudos and, above all, purchases!

One of a kind movie.......2001-02-21

A truly unique movie that was way ahead of its time in exploring the theme of the loss of privacy in the modern world. The kind of movie that shows you don't need a big budget or amazing special effects to create a truly outstanding sci-fi film.

THE LAST PICTURE SHOW.......2000-09-12

Last movie of german-american director Fritz Lang, 1000 EYES OF DR MABUSE must not be neglected even if one can prefer M, FURY or MOONFLEET in the royal filmography of this Master. Personally, I confess that I'm very fond of this movie, maybe not for the right reasons. 1000 EYES OF DR MABUSE is one of these movies I've discovered a sunday afternoon on TV when I was twelve or thirteen years old. And even now, I can remember the nightmares generated by the blind medium or the multiple hidden rooms of The Luxor Hotel. To be short, I've bought the DVD right after its release.

As bonus features, you will have the choice between the subtitled german version or an english dubbed version, a very interesting commentary of the producer of the DVD who is a Dr Mabuse specialist (12 Dr Mabuse movies have been produced until now !). And last but not least, you will discover a featurette presenting interviews of Fritz Lang's specialists including Forrest Ackerman.

Naturally, there are a lot of other good reasons to put this DVD on the shelves of your library but, if you have stopped at this peculiar page of Amazon, you surely already know that Fritz Lang's 1000 EYES OF DR MABUSE is a valuable addition to any movie lover's collection. So, have fun with the mad doc.

Amazon.com

One of the truly oddball artifacts of the early talkie era, either a cockeyed fluke or a surrealist masterpiece. Producer-director Roland West had already done a silent film version of The Bat (1926), Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood's creaky stage melodrama about a fiendish criminal haunting a lonely Long Island mansion. The coming of sound cued a remake--now The Bat could whisper as well as skulk. And in a stroke of genius worthy of his mad mastermind, West added yet another dimension: The Bat Whispers would be one of a handful of 1930 features shot in widescreen, with a compositional emphasis on forced perspective and inky shadow play.

The plot is lunacy, but there are images here that seem to have escaped from the collective unconscious. Some of the miniature work, like a plunge down a skyscraper that then tilts and cuts "subliminally" into a real-life street scene, is easy to spot, yet chances are you'll find yourself enchanted all the same. And there's a chase during which the widescreen angles suddenly drop the floor right out from under one character, and you feel it in the pit of your stomach.

Like 1930's other pre-CinemaScope experiments , The Bat Whispers was shot in two versions--the 65mm Magnifilm production and one in the conventional "square" 35mm format. Deprived of the widescreen's radically unsettling asymmetry, West's movie became just another old-dark-house picture. You can see both on the DVD, and compare the standard version against the lustrous widescreen restoration by the UCLA Film and Television Archive (different cameramen, different setups, and occasionally different rhythm and action). On the other hand, why not just click on the real movie and prepare to go batty? --Richard T. Jameson

Description

The Bat, a master criminal who dares the police to catch him, has been terrifying the city. A bank is robbed, and the home of the bank president becomes the center of mysterious happenings. Amidst thrills, chills and laughs, the stolen money is discovered, and the Bat's secret identity is revealed!

Customer Reviews:

Technically and Historically Fascinating, But Unlikely To Appeal To Most Modern Viewers.......2007-06-25

THE BAT WHISPERS has a convoluted history more interesting than the film itself. Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1957) created this tale of a master criminal skulking around a creepy country mansion as the 1907 novel THE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE. Critics were not impressed, but the public loved it--and in 1917 Rinehart joined forces with playwright Avery Hopwood to adapt it to the stage. Retitled THE BAT, in 1920 it took Broadway by storm with its mixture of crazy characters, corny situations, and spooky atmosphere, and in 1926 film director Roland West brought the play to the screen. Once again it proved a great success; not only was the film an audience favorite, it was critically well-regarded too.

It was also made just as sound began to roar. In 1930 West decided to remake the film as a "talkie." He also decided to add a few innovative bells and whistles in a visual sense as well. Many directors of early sound films had enough to do in coping with sound technology--and so they tended to lock the camera down, a circumstance that gave most Hollywood films made between about 1929 and 1933 a visually static quality. Not so West: THE BAT WHISPERS would be noted for a remarkably fluid camera that made the most of detailed minitures and lavish sets. But more than this, THE BAT WHISPERS would truly stun audiences of the day via a widescreen format.

Widescreen format? In 1930? Surprising, yes, but true. Directors had tinkered with widescreen formats since the silent era, with French director Able Gance's 1927 masterpiece NAPOLEON a case in point--but although interesting, the results were hit and miss. With THE BAT WHISPERS, cinematographer Robert H. Planck nailed it flawlessly. He also left something of a puzzle: film historians are still not entirely sure how he brought it off. Most records seem to indicate that Planck actually shot the film on 35 mm, and then somehow managed to paste, cut, process, and reprint the original footage onto 70 mm. Regardless of how it was done, the result is astonishing, and every one who saw the film was amazed.

Unfortunately, those who saw it were few and far between. Theatre owners were still recovering from the expense of buying audio systems and they were not in a mood to pay for an expensive new screen and projection system as well. When the film went into general release, it went in standard ratio filmed by cinematographer Ray June. Again, it is hard to say exactly how this was done, but looking at both versions it would seem that June took a fair amount of Planck's footage, cropped it, and then re-shot most key scenes directly onto 35 milimeter stock.

We now come to something of a paradox. Planck's widescreen version is both visually beautiful and innovative--but Planck and director West were pretty much working without any precedent and they weren't quite sure of what do with the effect once they had it. Virtually everything is done in long shot, and when the camera isn't in motion THE BAT WHISPERS feels dry as dust and twice as slow. The June version, however, makes solid use of close-ups and medium shots, and while it sometimes feels a bit jumpy it has a better flow and a significantly better pace. Ironically, the June version is actually the more watchable of the two.

But I use the word "watchable" in a comparative sense here. The style of acting that worked so well for silent film proved horrifically awkward in sound film, and directors and actors struggled for several years to find a new acting technique. Both versions of THE BAT WHISPERS find the cast struggling in the gulf between old and new. The Planck version tends to highlight the difficulties involved; the June version softens them--but whether it be Planck or June, the performances are chiefly notable for their awkward quality.

The plot is also antiquated. Part of the charm of the novel, the 1920 play, and the 1926 film was the use of already old-fashioned plot ideas that had not yet worn out their welcome--but by 1930 the whole thing was wearing very thin, and it emerges here as overworked and lacking the necessary light touch. Every thing about the story had become very cliched, and two years later director James Whale would wickedly spoof the entire genre with a film aptly titled THE OLD DARK HOUSE. Although the Rinehart story received one more major turn before the cameras in 1959 with Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead, the type of plot involved is now more often done tongue-in-cheek, with such films as MURDER BY DEATH and CLUE cases in point.

So what, exactly, is the value of THE BAT WHISPERS for a modern, casual viewer? The answer, rather sadly, is "not much." Hardcore fans of early 1930s film will likely enjoy the film, and film students interested in the history of cinematography cannot afford to miss it--but few others will be able to see beyond the awkward acting styles and now-absurd plot to experience the charm this film--in both widescreen and standard versions--had in 1930.

In terms of picture, the standard ratio version has the occasional blip and blemish but has weathered very well. Although it has been restored, artifacts abound in the widescreen version; even so, the picture is very clean and they do not significantly detract from the film. Sound quality is a problem in both versions, less so in the standard ratio version, more so in the widescreen version. To some extent, this may be due to the recording technology of the era (actors tend to become fainter as they move away from the center of the sets), but it seems safe to say that the entire sound balance is off on this DVD release. You'll have to turn up the volume all the way to hear it--and where the widescreen version is concerned you'll also have to sit by the speakers.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

An old dark house, a clever bat, some outstanding tracking shots. Just don't say rubeola is a plant.......2007-05-19

When you hear the Bat whisper, you don't know whether to smile at the dated melodrama or admire some classy scenic set ups and camera work. The film may show its age with acting that is over the top, broad comic relief and a solution that for modern audiences is fairly easy to anticipate, but it looks great. The film was shot in an early version of wide-screen as well as a standard release version, using different cinematographers, cameras and set-ups. The wide-screen version is the one to watch. This is an old-dark-house creeper-thriller, with a stormy, thundering night, lots of shadowed stone staircases, massive doors and fireplaces, things that bump and thump, and, of course, a hidden room which may contain thousands of dollars stolen from a bank. More to the point, the film has a master villain who creeps and slides around wearing a bat outfit. He can shimmy up a rope in a flash or hang head down while he tips a victim out of a high window. And for fans of Bob Kane's Batman comic books plus all those Batman movies, this Bat is the grandaddy of both. He...it?...casts harsh, disturbing shadows of a tall figure with huge bat wings attached to unnaturally long arms. Is this just the work of the shadows or are his victims dispatched by some hideously deformed creature? And it whispers. All we know for sure is that the Bat is determined to frighten...or kill...his way to the stolen fortune.

The movie was based on a hugely popular stage play. The number of characters is almost large enough to make its own crowd scene. Whenever things get really tense, it seems a new character suddenly pops up. In this old mansion is the owner, a grande dame named Cornelia Van Gordon (Grace Hampton), an imperious woman with a vast bosom, a sturdy waist and a shrewd mind. How shrewd? She knows the new gardner is not what he seems when she asks him what he thinks of rubeola and he says it's a nice plant. Mrs. Van Gordon has a niece, Dale Van Gordon (Una Merkel), who seems a typical brainless flapper until we realize she's in cahoots with the false gardner. There is also a loyal maid, Lizzie (Madge Eburne), who has hysterics, rolls her eyes, prepares bear traps, sits on funny objects and acts like a cross between Patsy Kelly and Harpo Marx. There's a mysterious doctor, a small town elderly police lieutenant, a butler, a handyman who shakes violently when the Bat whispers, and a smart, big city cop, Detective Anderson, who is determined to catch the Bat and solve the bank robbery. We are faced with a question as simple as the plot, just who among all these characters could be the Bat?

Anderson is played by Chester Morris. If you're familiar with Morris' work you may recall him as a tough-guy leading man in a lot of Thirties movies. He never quite got both feet firmly on the A-level actors' list but never entirely was considered just another B-level lead. He exuded no-nonsense confidence, a kind of tall Jimmy Cagney without most of Cagney's empathy. He was always, in my opinion, an interesting actor. Then in 1941 in Meet Boston Blackie, he played Blackie, another tough, good guy detective. He was so good in the role he was instantly type cast. He played Boston Blackie in many movies during the Forties, each one a little worse than the other as the studio turned the series into a cash cow. By the time the string ran out, Chester Morris, who could be a fine actor, found himself doing television and regional theater. He killed himself with an overdose of sleeping pills in 1970 while starring in The Caine Mutiny Court Marshal at a theater in Pennsylvania. As Detective Anderson, Morris gives an odd performance that combines a clipped, sort of semi-off-and-on British inflection with a high degree of intensity.

The thing that makes The Bat Whispers of interest is the use of miniatures, especially at the beginning, the use of camera tracking shots that pull us away while walls slide back or that take us from a clock tower down to a street. Considering the weight of cameras in 1930, these shots are a tour de force. Some stunning lighting shows up, particularly when the Bat is framed against back lighting that is almost blindingly bright. And it is genuinely unnerving when the giant shadow of the bat shrivels down toward the floor and a dark, hunched shape rises up and starts slowly to limp towards us.

On balance, I think The Bat Whispers is something more than just an old and odd curiosity, but just barely. It's only out on VHS, as far as I know. Be sure you get the wide-screen version which was restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

Definately worth a look........2007-03-25

The Bat Whispers is definately best of the "Old Dark House/Clutching Hand" type film I have ever seen (and that's covering about 53 years of movie viewing). This film held my attention from beginnning to end with creative model work, active camera movement and very imagenative camera angles and cinematography. This film is best viewed in the "Widescreen" version (This DVD contains both the 65MM experimental Widescreen version and standard Fullscreen versions)because it broadens the expanse of the settings and give you a broader view of what is taking place.
The characters are quite interesting and enjoyable and the acting is pretty straight forward for a film that was made right at the beginnig of the sound era. I also was amazed at how well the movie was able to keep the "Bats'" identity a secret. Neither I or any of my movie loving friends were able to figure out who he was until he is unmasked.
I had seen the original silent version titled "The Bat", by director Roland West also, some ten years ago and thought that it was a very creative film. But with the original "The Bat" the effect was lessened by its silence so director Roland West realized this and refilmed a whole new movie with "Sound".
If you are a fan of classic cinema "The Bat Whispers" should be on you list because they did not make many that are as creatively artistic or as well made as this one.

Hard to FInd.......2007-01-09

I tried for months to purchase this and each place said it was out of print or unavailable. Then I came here and here it was and in stock. So I quickly purchased it. I must say I was pleased after reading up on all the hype of this movie. There were parts of it that were comical only because of the difference in time and when this was made. But you need to take all that into consideration when you watch this. If you can, put yourself back into the year this came out and just marvel at it.

This Movie is not out of print no more........................2006-12-26

Is there any reason why these sellers are selling this movie so much still? apparently it is in print again. Anyhow this is a artistic classic I Highly Recommend this movie.

Sherlock Holmes - The Master Blackmailer

Average customer rating:

DID NOT ORDER
Holmes the human -- almost.
not as good as "sign or Hound of the baskerville" however
A Very Dramatic and Suspenseful Film
Sherlock in Love?

Sherlock Holmes - The Master Blackmailer
Starring: Jeremy Brett , Edward Hardwicke , Gwen Ffrangcon Davies , Belinda Peters , and Rosalie Williams
Director: Peter Hammond
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Sherlock Holmes - The Eligible Bachelor
Sherlock Holmes - The Last Vampyre
Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four
Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes Collection

ASIN: B00007G1WL
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Amazon.com

Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," this two-hour 1991 adaptation for the most part sticks close to the details of the original. Holmes (Jeremy Brett) takes on the reputed king of all blackmailers, Milverton (Robert Hardy), who has made a fortune extorting money from the famous and the blueblooded and who routinely ruins others' lives when not pleased. Unable to talk Milverton into turning over letters belonging to Lady Eva Brackenwell, Holmes decides to steal them, going undercover as a plumber and even romancing Milverton's housemaid, Agatha (Sophie Thompson), to gain better access in the house. (The ethical Watson, played by Edward Hardwicke, is upset to hear of Holmes's deception of an innocent woman.) The story builds to a surprisingly violent finale, but the real hook is Brett's performance as the disguised detective and the startling suggestion that Holmes's close contact with Agatha truly moved the bachelor sleuth. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

DID NOT ORDER.......2007-03-29

Harry Potter Goblet of Fire, March 28, 2007
Reviewer: Sacred Chapel "Carol" (California) - See all my reviews
I am a fan. I loved this movie.

Your tags: harry potter, goblet of fire, fantasy, magic

Holmes the human -- almost........2007-03-10

THE MASTER BLACKMAILER is arguably the best of the five feature-length Sherlock Holmes films made by Grenada TV. It lacks the convolutions of THE LAST VAMPYRE, the occasional sluggishness of the THE SIGN OF FOUR, the weird mystical elements of the THE ELIGIBLE BACHELOR, and the overly experimental cinemetography that undermined the otherwise excellent HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. The story shoves Holmes out of his comfort zone of cold deductive reasoning and poses with brutal frankness the old Nietzscheian question: 'How many lines can the hero cross before he becomes a villain himself?'

BLACKMAILER pits Jeremy Brett's Holmes Edward Hardwicke's Watson against
Charles Augustus Milverton, their most formiddable opponent since Professor Moriarity. As the name suggests, Milverton, played with sniggering, loathsome villainy by Robert Hardy, makes his living obtaining compromising information about London's elite and threatening to ruin them unless paid fortunes in hush money. His long history of blackmail has left a wreckage-trail of scandal and suicide all over Victorian England, but his precautions are so thorough, and his intelligence so keen, that his victims have no choiue but to pay up or endure the consequences.

When Lady Eva Brackenwell becomes Milverton's next target, however, she employs Holmes to recover old love letters which, if made public, will foil her upcoming marriage to a young lord. And herein lies the story's main departure from formula: instead of a conventional mystery for the consulting detective, we have a problem better suited to a noirish private investigator. How can Holmes prevent a master blackmailer from spilling his illicit goods with the wedding only a few days away?

The late and extremely great Jeremy Brett always played Holmes as being either a bit less or a bit more than human depending on his mood and the case at hand -- he was often ill-tempered, arrogant, bad-mannered, and insensitive to the point of cruelty, and even in his best moments he seemed to be approximating human feelings rather than actually experiencing them; yet he was also courageous, brilliant, dogged, loyal, and imbued with a fierce sense of justice and a terrifying resolve to see the mystery solved and the evildoer punished. It is this last category that the writers chose to explore in BLACKMAILER, in which an increasingly desperate and frustrated Holmes finds himself posing as a plumber and seducing (in chaste Victorian fashion) Milverton's naive housekeeper, Agatha, so as to gain access to Milverton's home. To what extent Holmes feels anything for Agatha, if at all, is unclear, but Brett's subtle acting shows that while Holmes may not be capable of experiencing affection, he is certainly capable of feeling shame -- shame encouraged by a disgusted Watson, whose gentlemanly sense of honor is revolted at this ultraMachiavellian move.

Hardy's Milverton, far from being a foil for Holmes' genius, proves to be a full match for our hero, who grows to hate his antagonist and finally throws aside the subtleties of espionage for brute force and thievery. The story's resolution, one of the most violent in the history of the series, is simultaneously satisfying and humbling -- in the end, Holmes and Watson serve as little more than accessories after the fact to the world's most unlikely vigilante. The only real down note in the whole production was the decision by the director to edit Inspector Lestrade's role in the story to a glorified cameo -- a potentially classic scene where he is talking to Holmes and Watson about a crime without realizing he is talking to its perpetrators unfortunately did not make the final cut.

THE MASTER BLACKMAILER stands as one of the more disturbing and poignent of all the Grenada TV Holmes outings. Normally it is Holmes who gives the lecture and those around him who are the pupils. Here, it is the detective who learns one of the hardest of life's lessons -- that the means used to defeat evil are often as bad as the evil itself.

not as good as "sign or Hound of the baskerville" however.......2005-11-10

If you're a Brett fan you have only so many choices. The master blackmailer, filmed late in his career, still holds up. It's a nice story with Holmes flirting, in disguise, with the scullary maid. And outwitting the master Blackmailer.
It's better then The Eligible Bachelor and The Last Vampyre but the best two hour productions are The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Sign of Four.

A Very Dramatic and Suspenseful Film.......2005-09-09

For years this was the only Sherlock Holmes mystery in the Jeremy Brett collection that I had never seen. I put off buying it because of the many mediocre reviews I had read. This month I decided to purchase it and finish off my collection. In brief, I was pleasantly surprised. I found it to be a very suspenseful and interesting film. Holmes must bring down a "professional" blackmailer (Charles Milverton), who has destroyed many lives through his tactics. There is much debate over whether Holmes falls in love in the episode. I don't think so. In order to infiltrate the Milverton household, he disguises himself as a plumber and, in the process, draws the romantic attraction of the house maid. They have a couple of "romantic moments" together, and even kiss at one point. However, although the maid is attracted to him, I don't think Holmes was truly attracted to her. It was merely an act as part of his undercover operation. Needless to say, he breaks the girl's heart. At the end, he even says there are aspects of the case that he was not proud of. This was no doubt one of them.

But I would definitely recommend this film. It is more dramatic and suspenseful than other Sherlock Holmes episodes, and the acting is fantastic. And even though it is close to 2 hours in length, it will keep your attention throughout.

Sherlock in Love?.......2005-05-18

+++++

This movie is based on the story "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton" (1904) written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 to 1910).

This story is about a man, Charles A. Milverton (Robert Hardy), "who prays upon weakness with a smiling face and a heart of marble."

One of Milverton's many blackmail victims, before committing suicide, writes a letter to Sherlock (Jeremy Brett) telling him of Milverton's unscrupulous methods and asks Holmes to find a way to stop him. Sherlock takes on this "most repulsive" case.

The first thing that Holmes' does is infiltrate Milverton's mansion by posing as a plumber. In the process, he becomes close to the housemaid (Sophie Thompson) who has "touched [his] heart." The ethical Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) protests this tactic, feeling that Sherlock has gone to far.

The first hour of this movie shows the damage Milverton has done to his victims while the second hour details how Sherlock plans to put him out of business. The end of this movie is surprisingly violent but unforgettable.

Brett (as usual) does a good job in capturing the essence of the famous gumshoe in his performance. Also watch for the fine performance of Bob Hardy as the blackmailer.

Finally, the costumes, background music, attention to detail, and cinematography are quite well done.

In conclusion, this is a good movie to watch even if you have read the story it's based on!!

(1992; 2 hr; British drama; made for TV; full screen)

+++++

Average customer rating:

An intriguing and magical cinema serial
"another great feature from the King of Serials on DVD...VCI Entertainment"
Presto-Chango Serial-O Okay-O
Ace Columbia cliffhanger; top print but repairs in Chapter 1

Mandrake the Magician
Starring: Warren Hull , Doris Weston , Al Kikume , Rex Downing , and Edward Earle
Director: Norman Deming , and Sam Nelson
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

The Phantom - Serial
The Green Archer
Captain Midnight
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Secret Agent X-9

ASIN: B00008YLUE
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Description

The Wasp, the crafty head of an underworld gang, is on the hunt for a radium-energy machine developed by Professor Houston. The Wasp will stop at nothing to steal the scientist's invention. His evil machinations to obtain the device include blowing up a radio station, a power plant, and a dam. Fortunately, his dastardly deeds cause only minimal damage because of the timely intervention of the quick-witted Mandrake, a world-famous magician, who has vowed to stop The Wasp. Will Mandrake finally capture the master villain and his gang, thereby saving the world from the sting of The Wasp? And will Mandrake be reunited with Professor Houston's lovely daughter Betty? Well, you'll have to watch all twelve thrilling chapters to find out! This colorful King Features newspaper comic strip hero was brought to the big screen by Columbia Pictures. Bonus Features: Poster Gallery| Bios| Bonus Cliffhanger Trailers. Specs: DVD9 + DVD5; Dolby Digital Mono; 215 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1939; SRP - $19.99.

Customer Reviews:

An intriguing and magical cinema serial.......2006-01-08

"Mandrake, the Magician"(1939 - 214 minutes - 12 episodes), is one of the classics B&W cinema serials of Columbia, directed by Sam Nelson and Norman Deming. Based on the known Comics created by Lee Falk and Phill Davis in 1924 and written by Joseph F. Poland, Basil Dickey and Ned Dandy. Mandrake (the actor Warren Hull) is a sagacious detective who is traveling in a maritime cruise when he knows the professor Hudson (the actor Forbes Murray), the author of a machine that uses the energy of the radio waves. Developed for the good, the powerful device becomes a dangerous weapon when it falls in the hands of an evil genius known as "Wasp". Mandrake and his faithful assistant, Lothar (the actor Al Kikume), will fight Wasp and his gang, living an intensely battle between the good and the evil. The Mandrake's dress style with the black and red layer, ternary and top-hat, had immortalized the figure of the magician. The English word "Mandrake" is the name of a root that was always associated with magical powers and miraculous cures. Lothar was an African prince and one of the first black character treated in a serious way in Comic books, he was always considered as an intelligent and loyal ally. With original special effects for that time, the film deserves reverence to the great performance of Warren Hull, that gave life to one of the biggest icons of the Comic books of all times.

"another great feature from the King of Serials on DVD...VCI Entertainment".......2005-10-02

VCI Entertainment and Columbia Pictures present Lee Falk and Phil Davis comic strip King feature "Mandrake the Magician" (1939) (Dolby digitally remastered), 12 Chapters of vintage serial loaded with action sequences...story line thus far has our favorite magician doing battle with "The Wasp", who is out to steal another scientist invention...will our villain of villains succeed in taking the radium energy machine and use it against Mandrake...can good triumph over evil...with Mandrake's assistance can Professor Hudson keep his invention out of the clutches of the henchman sent to do him in...will "The Wasp" blow up a dam, a power plant, a radio station and the entire sound stage at Columbia Pictures before he's stopped...does Hudson's daughter Betty have her sites set on Mandrake, well that may be more dangerous than "The Wasp" ever was...don't even think about touching that dial...there's more to follow and it gets better with every episode.

Under director's Norman Deeming and Sam Nelson, producer Jack Fier with screenplay by Ned Dandy, Basil Dickey, Lee Falk (comic strip), Joseph F. Poland, original music by Sidney Cutner, Floyd Morgan and Morris Stoloff (musical director)...the cast Warren Hull (Mandrake the Magician), Doris Weston (Betty Houston), Al Kikume (Lothar, Mandrake's Assistant), Rex Downing (Tommy Houston), Edward Earle (Dr. Andre Bennett), Forbes Murray (Professor Houston), Kenneth MacDonald (James Webster), Don Beddoe (Frank Raymond), Dick Curtis (Dorgan - Henchman), John Tyrell (Dirk - Henchman), George Chesebro (Baker - Henchman), Tom London (Mill River Inn - Henchman), Tom Steele (Powerhouse - Henchman)...great stunt work by George DeNormand stunt double for Warren Hull, Eddie Parker stunt double for Al Kikume and Chuck Hamilton who performed all the rest of the stunts...entire cast brings to life the characters based upon the King Features Newspaper...can't wait for next weeks episode at your favorite neighborhood theater.

CHAPTER TITLES: (Disc One)
1. Shadow on the Wall
2. Trap of the Wasp
3. A City of Terror
4. The Secret Passage
5. The Devil's Playmate
6. The Fatal Crash

SPECIAL FEATURES: (Disc One)
BIOS:
1. Warren Hull
2. Doris Weston
3. Al Kikume
4. Rex Dowling
5. Sam Nelson (Director)
6. Norman Deming (Director)

PHOTO GALLERY (Disc One)
(stills from "Mandrake the Magician" serial & Lobby Cards)

VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS: (Disco One)
1. Zorro Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)
2. Radar Men from the Moon (Clayton Moore & Roy Barcroft)
3. Mysterious Mr. M (Richard Martin, Dennis Moore & Pamela Blake)
4. Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
5. The Royal Mounted Rides Again (Bill Kennedy, Milburn Stone & Robert Armstrong)
6. The Hurricane Express (John Wayne & J. Farrell MacDonald)
7. The Shadow of the Eagle (John Wayne)

CHAPTER TITLES: (Disc Two)
7. Gamble for Life
8. Across the Deadline
9. Terror Rides the Rails
10.The Unseen Monster
11.At the Stroke of Eight
12.The Reward of Treachery

SPECIAL FEATURES: (Disc Two)
BIOS:
(Same as Disco One)

PHOTO GALLERY (Disc Two)
(Same as Disc One)

VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS: (Disco Two)
(Same as Disc One)

If you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure then this is the place for all of the above...if you enjoyed this serial check out another release from VCI Entertainment and Columbia Pictures present "Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere" (1951) (digitally remastered), 15 Chapters.finally for the first time on video the really great Columbia Serial that broke the mold...we have everything a serial fan would want...the tinted sequences by Cinecolor and unique inventions that were unlike any other serial out there in the '50s...get out there as they're going fast, this is the one you've been waiting for.

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing the digital transfers with a clean, clear and crisp print of "Mandrake the Magician"...looking forward to more of the same from the '30s & '40s vintage serial era...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again with a top notch serial from VCI...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 215 mins on 2 DVD's ~ VCI Entertainment 8349 ~ (4/29/2003)

Presto-Chango Serial-O Okay-O.......2004-11-15

Okay, I'm going to start this review by admitting that I never liked heroic magicians in fancy suits, top hats, and tails. Even Zatanna, who had great legs, grated on me. So MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN began with a strike against it. On the other hand, it has Warren Hull, who was so excellent in THE SPIDER'S WEB (and pretty good in THE GREEN HORNET STRIKES AGAIN, too). And of course Mandrake himself was created by Lee "The Phantom" Falk, so that's a third hand. And if you think that's impossible, well, he IS a magician.

A mysterious arch-criminal known as "The Wasp" (he actually wears a rather effeminate silk mask and cape, not a fierce-looking wasp get-up, unfortunately) is after a new invention that can... well, it can do something pretty terrible, I'll bet. Into the fray stumbles Mandrake, who, with his faithful giant African manservant Lothar, foils the various machinations of Mr. Silky Drawers. Only Lothar is, not a muscular ebon giant, but instead a rather doughy guy who looks like a Philippino and dresses like an extra in a Sinbad picture.

I liked the first couple of chapters; Mandrake does a magic trick or two, and occasionally tosses those nifty little smoke capsules and then sprints out of the room, leaving the villains wondering how the heck he did that. It gets tiresome, however, and pretty soon even Mandrake loses interest, tossing the capsules and then just standing there, waiting for the smoke to clear and the fisticuffs to continue. Not long into the serial, the magic angle is completely forgotten, the eveningwear goes in the closet, and for all intents and purposes Mandrake turns into Dick Tracy.

Ultimately, the darn thing is disappointing. A Mandrake serial should have done more with the mystical aspect of the character, even if only having its hero pull bunnies out of his hat to throw at the villains. It runs out of steam midway through, and - although at 12 chapters, it's the shortest of the 57 Columbia chapterplays - becomes rather tedious in the second half. Co-directors Sam Nelson and Norman Deming did one more serial together (OVERLAND WITH KIT CARSON) and then Columbia dumped them and handed over the serial reins to James W. Horne, who directed the next ten Columbia serials all by his lonesome.

VCI's DVD is good, not great. Some of the soundtrack of chapter one has decayed over the years, and voices were overdubbed for the DVD release, but if you cared about stuff like that, you wouldn't have read this far into the review anyway. Bonuses include a poster gallery, biographies, and serial trailers.

Ace Columbia cliffhanger; top print but repairs in Chapter 1.......2004-02-12

Columbia's cliffhangers tend to be campy or silly by serial standards, but this early effort (1939) is a very enjoyable adventure. The personable Warren Hull is excellent in the title role. Movie buffs will recognize many of the cast members from Columbia's "B" pictures and Three Stooges movies. Slick production and good direction by Sam Nelson and Norman Deming (who were usually assistant directors) push this one head and shoulders above the general run of Columbia serials. (Watch for a beautifully staged wrap-up in the last chapter, when the masked villain finally gets his!) A note about this video edition: the soundtrack of Chapter 1 was damaged, so the video producers hired actors and technicians to fake a new synchronized soundtrack. The repair job is rather distracting (the suave, pencil-mustached Kenneth MacDonald suddenly has a twangy Texas tenor), but it only lasts a few minutes; the rest of the serial is fully intact and the source print is in top shape. Picture and sound are excellent. The 2-DVD set also includes a selection of trailers from Mascot, Republic, and Universal serials. Highly typical of Saturday-matinee adventures, and a fine choice for first-time serial viewers or for fans who've never seen this long-unavailable film. (Let's hope VCI or Columbia will release the even better "Spider's Web" serial to home video.)

Average customer rating:

The "Death and the Maiden" of this year

Master of the Game
Director: Jeff Stolhand
Manufacturer: Sunn Classic Picture
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Holocaust | Jewish Heritage | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video

If Tomorrow Comes
The Other Side of Midnight
Bloodline
The Judith Krantz Collection
Memories of Midnight

ASIN: B0009NCQHS
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Customer Reviews:

The "Death and the Maiden" of this year.......2005-08-14

Since Polansky's "Death and the Maiden" I had not felt like this. This psychological thriller goes far beyond the subject of the Holocaust, human power and abuse; Fantastic WAR movie. Unlike regular movies these days I didn't go away feeling empty and void of any possible thoughts. It kept me fixed to the screen throughout the entire screening until the end: agressive, suggestive, unexpected, witt, surprising... BRAVO to the scriptwriter, the director and the actors!

Average customer rating:

Return of Doctor Mabuse
Starring: Lex Barker , Ady Berber , Ze'ev Berlinsky , Albert Bessler , and Jean-Roger Caussimon
Director: Harald Reinl
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Average customer rating:

Good!
Not Good!
Love/Hate Phenomenon
Wish i could give it a minus 5 starts

Bad Bizness
Starring: Traci Bingham , Master P , Brent Huff , Belinda Gavin , and Norbert Weisser
Director: Albert Pyun , and Jim Wynorski
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

Decisions
Still Bout It
No Limit - Double Play (Da Last Don / I'm Bout It)
No Limit Double Play 2 (No Tomorrow / Da Game of Life)
Foolish

ASIN: B0000CDLAR
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Product Description

As the weather gets hotter, bodies of girls start showing up dead... one by one. A beautiful undercover cop gets pulled into the dark underworld of prostitution when she finds out that the common tie between all the victims is a call girl ring. When one mysterious power player in the city tries to keep the murders under wraps, she has only one chance left to catch the killer...and her suspect is closer than she thinks.

Features:

Photo Gallery

Trailer

Sneak Peaks Trailer Gallery

Interactive Menus

Digitally Mastered

Scene Selection

System Requirements:

Running Time: 92 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Good!.......2004-02-19

The new movie of Master P is good but not as I'm Bout It or Da Last Don but it's good.
Buy it if you want the movie(s) of the New No Limit Records...

Not Good!.......2004-02-17

I dont know why they even put Master P on the cover? He only got 4 SHORT scenes! The actin is not that good. This movie is like pamelas show V.I.P. Traci Bingham look like a black pamela. Movie is not good, TRACI IS COVERED UP THE WHOLE TIME, she doesnt show! Alot of other nudity scenes tho. Movie is a 2.5/5

Love/Hate Phenomenon.......2004-01-16

Bad Bizness is just what the title dictates... something utterly horrible. The film is a cleverly ridiculous attempt at a murder/erotic thriller.

Master P, who is specifically on the cover as to indicate that he is the "starring role" in this film, is in the film for a
total of 5 minutes. He appears in the film approximately 3 times throughout the movie, calling from Las Vegas. You are immediately aware that it is a scene where Master P will definitely be shown because of the hard core rap in the background that overtakes the "well thought" dialogue that Master P is trying to read... I mean, perform.

Also, they make sure you understand that he is in Las Vegas by the flashing scenes of Las Vegas scenery, the 2 minute flash of the huge "Las Vegas, Nevada" sign and the fact that Master P wears a visor that says "Las Vegas" on it... I think Master P is supposed to be in Las Vegas.

Please don't let me forget to tell you the horrendous acting of Traci Bingham. It hurts my brain to think about her and how she seems to be trying to act so I will move on to the greatest parts of this movie. 1) It's pretty much a soft core porn...
scenes of pointless soft core porn are inserted into the film (some of which is stolen from "Final Examination"... a recommended film on the DVD special features); and 2) The movie's plot is wrapped up in a record breaking 8 minutes.

I call this a Love/Hate Phenomenon because I love to hate it but can't stop watching horrible B Films... It's a love/hate relationship.

If you share my passion, I highly recommend White Fire (starring Robert Ginty) and Street Knight (starring Jeff Speakman). Although, Trans World films aren't thoroughly distributed, I highly recommend Ninja Squad and Ninja Terminator (both starring Richard Harrison). Trust me that you will NOT be disappointed!

Wish i could give it a minus 5 starts.......2003-12-06

Ok, from the title, this movie sounds like a ghetto movie, far from it, its sort of an erotic thriller but the cheapest u can find around. Im surprise that Master P's name in his the credit when he's rarely seen in the movie, its horrible, it shouldnt be out for rent it belongs to the garbage

Alfred Hitchcock - The Master of Suspense

Average customer rating:

Amazon's description is inaccurate
THESE REVIEWS ARE FOR THE WRONG ITEM
I cannot stand reviewers who have not seen it but want to review it anyway.
A great value, quality is the same as Laserlight DVD's
Not Quite As Expected...

Alfred Hitchcock - The Master of Suspense
Starring: Alfred Hitchcock Collection
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

The Essential Alfred Hitchcock Collection
The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)
Under Capricorn
Alfred Hitchcock's Bon Voyage & Aventure Malgache
Lifeboat (Special Edition)

ASIN: B0000CC88G
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Customer Reviews:

Amazon's description is inaccurate.......2007-01-11

The plot synopsis for this product says that this set includes 4 episodes from the 1980's televison series, including Man from the South. This was the reason I purchased this set.
I was disappointed to find there are no episodes from that series in this set. This set is exclusively early movies Hitchcock directed, including from the silent era.
While they are good movies, and certainly interesting from the perspective of studying the great director as a young filmmaker, I was unhappy Amazon did nothing to rectify their mistake, and still hasn't changed their product description.

THESE REVIEWS ARE FOR THE WRONG ITEM.......2007-01-04

THIS ITEM SHOULD BE THE SINGLE DISC OF 4 EPISODES OF THE 1985 TELEVISION REMAKE OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. IT IS IN COLOR. THESE REVIEWS APPEAR TO BE FOR SOME MULTIDISC COMPILATION OF VERY EARLY HITCHCOCK FILMS IN B&W. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I ORDERED ONE OF THESE AND GOT THE LATTER AND SENT IT BACK TO SELLER. THERE IS SOME SCREWUP IN THE BARCODING OR SOMETHING BY AMAZON!

I cannot stand reviewers who have not seen it but want to review it anyway........2006-07-01

The morons who decided to review the movie and start our their ignorant review with "I haven't watched them all yet, but" should not be allowed to post.

This goes to the stupid people who didn't read the book yet but will post how difficult it was to stand in line at midnight and get new newest Harry Potter edition.

A great value, quality is the same as Laserlight DVD's.......2004-09-03

Audio and video quality of these movies is exactly the same as the Laserlight issues. Unfortunately most of these movies have not been re-issued on DVD by big name companies such as Kino, Criterion, Universal, or Image. In the mid 1980's Criterion released Laserdisc versions of "Blackmail", "Sabotage", "Secret Agent", and "Young and Innocent", however Criterion has no plans to release these titles on DVD. Audio and video quality is not bad, fairly standard for 1920's and 1930's nitrate films. If you are a Hitchcock enthusiast and are interested in buying these early films buy this box set, it is very economical and the quality is exactly the same as Laserlight's issues.

As an added bonus two episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" are included, you get a total of 12 presentations in this box set! A great value!

Criterion has released a re-mastered version of, "The Lady Vanishes" on DVD. I was shocked to see that the audio and video quality of the Criterion version is almost exactly the same as the version on this box set by the Bci Eclipse Company.

Not Quite As Expected..........2004-07-25

This collection of Hitchcock movies features his earliest movies. The main problem, however, with this collection is the audio. The audio quality on these films is so poor you can't understand the diologue half the time. And worse, when you can, the movies are just boring (with 2 of them being silent films). After watching Psycho and Dial M for Murder for the first time, I didn't expect this.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Crest of the Stars - Wayward Soldiers (Vol. 3)

Brotherhood of the Wolf

Kiss (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Switch

The Escapist