The Tragedy of Richard II

Starring:Shakespeare Collection
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

William Wyler directed this epic Western, about the clash of East and West, intellect and action. Gregory Peck stars as a sea captain who moves way out West to marry Carroll Baker and become part of the ranch owned by her father (Charles Bickford). But he discovers that daddy's top hand (Charlton Heston) carries a torch for Baker and doesn't particularly like Peck stepping into his place. Peck also finds himself caught in the midst of a power struggle between Bickford and his surly neighbor, Burl Ives (and his reprehensibly bullying son, Chuck Connors). This long, sprawling tale works because its characters are played by movie stars who know how to command the big screen in a big story. --Marshall Fine

Description

One of Hollywood's greatest directors teams with a cast of incredible screen legends for this bold,sweeping tale of a ship's captain who ventures west to find a hotbed of jealousy, hatred and dangerous rivalries. As the reluctant hero is thrust into the maelstrom, he must summon all of his resolveto save not only his own life, but also the life of the woman he loves. Four-time Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* William Wyler directs this action-packed adventure that triumphs as "a work of art" (Motion Picture Herald). Starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Chuck Connors and Burl Ives (in an OscarÂ(r)-winning** performance), this magnificently entertaining epic will take your breath away with unbridled suspense, exhilarating excitement and explosive drama on a grand scale.

Customer Reviews:

The Big Country - One of the Top 5 Westerns of All Time.......2007-07-03

A first class story, cast and music combine to create one of the top five westerns ever filmed. Burl Ives, Chuck Conners, Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker and Charles Bickford are superior in their roles and the theme music stays in your mind.

The Big Country.......2007-06-26

William Wyler's sprawling Western epic is aptly named, since everything about this film is big, including breathtaking panoramas, a close to three hour run time, and a larger-than-life, Oscar-winning performance from singer/actor Burl Ives as a rough-hewn rancher. It feels a trifle leisurely at first, but hold on and you're soon in the grip of this sweeping epic, which offers plentiful doses of romance, suspense, and high emotion. A stolid Peck carries the picture throughout. Also look for TV's Chuck Connors ("The Rifleman", "Branded") in a juicy role as Ives's ne'er-do-well son.

Wyler's Powerful Epic Highly Underrated.......2007-06-17

Few westerns capture the eye and the imagination as does this majestic, cinematic opera. Bringing together the grand acting talents of Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Burl Ives, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, Charles Bickford, Chuck Connors, and Alfonso Bedoya was truly "big"; however, matching them against a magnificent backdrop that cleverly captures the endless expanse of the American frontier - hence the name - was sheer genius. With a splendid score by Jerome Moross that stands the test of time and may be the best western motion picture score ever composed (possibly a dead heat with Elmer Bernstein's 'The Magnificient Seven'), 'The Big Country', for some strange reason, has never seemed to get its due reward.

The story captures a classic struggle between two land barons, ably portrayed by Charles Bickford as Major Henry Terrill, a cultured socialite, who runs the Ladder Ranch and his nemesis,Rufus Hannessey (Burl Ives) - the patriach of a clan of western, knuckle-dragging troglodytes who occupy a ranch beyond Blanco Canyon. While the dichotomy is rich, the portrayal by Burl Ives is nothing less than cinematic poetry - it just doesn't get better than this! The speech delivered by Hannessey (Ives) at the grand ball where Terrill (Bickford) announces the upcoming marriage between his daughter, Patricia (Carroll Baker), and her betrothed, Jim McKay (Gregory Peck), is very powerful and sets the tone for the conflict. In a battle over water rights and access to the "Big Muddy" - essential to both ranchers and their cattle, many characters and conflicts are enhanced.

The skill in character development is handled with such finesse, that despite the conflict, the audience finds qualities on both sides and is eager to root for Jim McKay (Peck) when he finally decides that the woman he met back East many years ago is not the woman he wants to marry. (Carroll Baker) plays a perfect "snot" who decides that McKay doesn't quite stand-up to the test of manhood that her father (Bickford) sets. Instead, McKay falls for beautiful Julie Maragon (Jean Simmons)and decides to use the property he purchased from her - containing the "Big Muddy" - to allow both feuding ranchers to partake in quenching the thirst of their cattle.

Look for Alfonso Bedoya, magnificent character actor, as a Terrill ranch hand - formerly "Gold Hat" ("we don't need no stinkin' badges") in "Treasure of the Sierra Madre". Also, Chuck Connors, who would shortly play TV's 'The Rifleman', plays Buck Hannessey with a terrificly solid portrayal as he attempts to woo Julie Maragon (Simmons) before McKay wins her over. Charlton Heston is relegated to the "back seat" as Terrill's ranch foreman who greatly dislikes McKay and believes that McKay doesn't deserve Patricia Terrill (Baker).

Filmed in multiple Arizona, New Mexico, and California locations - including, but not limited to - Canyon de Chelly, Chinle, Red Rock Canyon, Stockton, and Marysville, "The Big Country" is and remains a western classic. You can't go wrong with this one.

A Big Film.......2007-06-10

"The Big Country" is a film about a man and woman who comes of age long before the rest of the west does (and just happen to find each other). Gregory Peck, and Jean Simmons are perfectly casted, and superb in their roles. They don't belong in the west; there is no real place for them within our society either (not as it exist today, as most are yet to learn the lessons that their kind so amply teach -by simply being themselves). I was so glad they found each other; now it's up to us to search them out. I am a Philosopher and writer of aphorisms (thematic verse)whose work can be found on [...].

Great movie.......2007-04-14

I enjoyed this movie from start to finish. I was caught up in the characters and felt the emotions of each as the story unfolds. Great acting and beautiful settings.

Average customer rating:

tristan & isolde
Good love story, stronger Committment story
wonderful love story
romanticly sweet
Tristan and Isolde not your typical chick flick

Tristan and Isolde (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: James Franco , Sophia Myles , Rufus Sewell , David O'Hara , and Mark Strong (II)
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The New World
Match Point
Pride & Prejudice
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Munich (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000EPFCPE
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

Luscious cinematography and even more luscious stars make Tristan & Isolde a feast for the eyes. Adapted from the medieval love story, the movie begins with with young Tristan (played as a child by Thomas Sangster, Love Actually) as he sees his parents killed by the tyrannical Irish, who ruled over a fractured Britain after the Roman occupation. Taken in by Marke (Rufus Sewell, Dark City), who rules one of the British tribes, Tristan (James Franco, Spider-Man) grows up to be a young prince and a mighty warrior--and when he's believed slain in battle, he's given a royal funeral, which sends him out sea in a burning boat. But the fire goes out and Tristan washes ashore on Ireland, where Isolde (Sophia Myles, Art School Confidential), the daughter of the Irish king, nurses him back to health. Being a lovely pair of young folk bursting with hormones, they fall madly in love... and set in motion a tragic tale that's lasted for centuries in many variations. Some reviewers have criticized Tristan & Isolde for deviating from the most common classical version, but the movie's storyline--though certainly altered to appeal to modern audiences--is fairly strong. Myles and especially Sewell turn in strong performances; Franco, however, though surprisingly persuasive as a warrior, never burns as a lover. Nonetheless, the loving shots of Franco's muscular physique will make this a must-have for his fans. --Bret Fetzer

Description

From executive producer Ridley Scott (Gladiator) comes a sweeping, action-packed saga of epic battles, political intrigue and forbidden passion, set in a time when the lines between heroism and savagery were etched in fire and carved out with broadswords. After the fall of Rome, visionary warlord Marke (Rufus Sewell) seeks to unite the squabbling English tribes to form one strong nationand defeat brutal Irish King Donnchadh. But when Lord Marke?s greatest and most loyal knight, Tristan (James Franco), falls in love with Isolde (Sophia Myles), a beautiful Irish woman, it threatens to destroy the fragile truce and ignite a war. In the spirit of Braveheart and A Knight?s Tale, TRISTAN+ ISOLDE is a rousing tale of trust and treachery that will leave you breathless!

Customer Reviews:

tristan & isolde.......2007-06-29

If you enjoy a good love story, I would highly recommend the haunting & little known story of Tristan & Isolde. There are several versions of this tale, & the movie picks a powerful one in which Isolde takes center stage. Truly, Sophia Myles (as Isolde) commands every scene that she is in. Not that James Franco (as Tristan) doesn't make a strong appearance. He just seems more like the strong, silent type here. His emotional depth is found in what he does more than what he says. Franco can give some powerful looks. His "stalking" of Isolde & King Marc at the market is particularly haunting (almost disturbing really). Both of these young actors portray a passionate love, one that the viewer becomes rapped up in. Add the sympathetic King Marc to the mix, & you've got a love triangle in which you can believe.

The time honored theme of love vs. loyalty to one's country is the conflict that makes this film so interesting. It's not your typical love story; you can't see where this one is going. On another note, I found the scenery beautiful, and the ending is. . . . well, I won't ruin it, but don't miss this film if you are a fan of period pieces or just a good romance.

Good love story, stronger Committment story.......2007-06-23

I really liked the movie, it made me cry. I found the idea that Tristan's honor and committment to Marke was so strong that he was willing to give up his love heart-warming. I don't know if many people these days have that type of loyalty for anything. Loved Marke, Isolde, and Tristan's protrayal, also loved the Handmaiden to Isolde - she really stood out for me as one who is also loyal (and loving).

wonderful love story.......2007-06-19

I had never heard of Tristan and Isolde before watching this movie. After watching this movie, it reminded me somewhat of Romeo and Juliet.

Tristan, a Brit, and Isolde fall in love when Isolde brings him back to health. (At her maid's urging, Isolde doesn't tell Tristan her real name. Instead, she uses her maid's name.) However, Isolde's father, the Irish king, hears about an enemy on land and goes in search for him. Isolde manages to help Tristan escape. The king never knows who it was.

In an attempt to cause divisions among the Brits, Isolde's father has proposed an tournament. The winner of the tournament will get his daughter in marriage. Tristan volunteers to join the tournament to win the daughter for his king.

Of course, Tristan and Isolde realizes they're trapped with their duties when Tristan wins and discovers who the bride is. Despite their duties, they find other ways to express their love. As love progresses, they become bolder. However, these bold displays of love soon catches the attention of others. The other people decide to expose their affair to the king.

Love, forbidden or not, will not be deterred.

What can I say? Wonderful cast. Wonderful and romantic sceneries. Wonderful story. The only thing that I wasn't satisfied was the development of tension/jealousy between Tristan and his fellow comrades. It was sort of sudden. Other than that, simply wonderful.

romanticly sweet.......2007-05-23

this was such a good movie, not exact to the myth of the lovers.... but a really romantic story that was so close

Tristan and Isolde not your typical chick flick.......2007-03-31

Tristan and Isolde came before there was a Romeo and Juliet. And I can see perhaps why they are less talked about. The movie is not the best chick flick but not the worst. There is a lot of war and you have to keep track of the characters.
I feel like there isn't enough character development. I found Melot more admirable than the character of Tristan. Tristan tries to be selfless but ends up becoming selfish as he pursues Isolde regardless of the fact that she is now married to the man who took him in. Both characters choose deception to be together knowing that peace in Ireland depends on the said marriage.
The actions and decisions chosen by the characters cannot be undone and I think that is what leads to their downfall. I rented this in the hopes that watching this may make me shed a few tears but would otherwise be an enjoyable experience. This movie itself is not all that bad just know what you are getting into.

Tristan and Isolde (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

tristan & isolde
Good love story, stronger Committment story
wonderful love story
romanticly sweet
Tristan and Isolde not your typical chick flick

Tristan and Isolde (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: James Franco , Sophia Myles , Rufus Sewell , David O'Hara , and Mark Strong (II)
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

The New World
Match Point
Pride & Prejudice
Memoirs of a Geisha (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Munich (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000EPFCP4
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

tristan & isolde.......2007-06-29

Good love story, stronger Committment story.......2007-06-23

wonderful love story.......2007-06-19

romanticly sweet.......2007-05-23

this was such a good movie, not exact to the myth of the lovers.... but a really romantic story that was so close

Tristan and Isolde not your typical chick flick.......2007-03-31

Verdi - Otello / Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft, Levine, Moshinsky, Metropolitan Opera

Average customer rating:

Excelente Otello en DVD
TOP NOTCH IN ALL WAYS
Met's DVD Recording of Verdi's Otello Best Opera Recording Ever
Review of Otello Opera Production on DVD
The cream of Domingo on DVD as Otello

Verdi - Otello / Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft, Levine, Moshinsky, Metropolitan Opera
Starring: Plácido Domingo , Renée Fleming , James Morris (IX) , Jane Bunnell , and Richard Croft (II)
Director: Brian Large
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Verdi - Rigoletto / Domingo, MacNeil, Cotrubas, Diaz, Levine, Metropolitan Opera
Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988)
Verdi - Aida / Levine, Domingo, Millo, Metropolitan Opera
Verdi - Il Trovatore / Domingo, Kabaivanksa, Cossotto, Cappuccilli, van Dam, Zednik, von Karajan, Vienna Opera
Leoncavallo - I Pagliacci / Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana / Domingo, Stratas, Pons, Bruson, Obraztsova, Pretre

ASIN: B00012AST0
Release Date: 2004-04-13

Customer Reviews:

Excelente Otello en DVD.......2007-02-14

La versión discográfica de Otello en DVD, del Metropolitan Opera de NYC, puede considerarse como una de las más válidas y completas disponibles en video. Las razones son múltiples, y paso a enumerar cada una de ellas; en primer lugar dispone del más importante Otello de los últimos veinticinco años, es decir, Plácido Domingo. El gran tenor español logra una de sus más completas interpretaciones de Otello. Para el año de 1996, año de grabación de este DVD, Plácido Domingo se encontraba en excelentes condiciones vocales, a lo que debe incluírsele una profundización del personaje, que Domingo no había logrado en las grabaciones de los ochenta con Levine y Maazel. El personaje que muestra Domingo en este DVD, es mas completo, con momentos de furia como el "Esultate", pero también evidenciando un falso autocontrol en todo el segundo acto, no estallando en cólera con anticipación, como conviene a un personaje sumamente inseguro y acomplejado como lo es el de Otello. Mientras que en el tercer acto, resulta muy expresivo en el "Dio mi potevi..." y amenazante en todo el dúo con Desdemona. Por otro lado, Renée Fleming como Desdemona es, junto con Barbara Frittoli, la mejor opción en la actualidad para este personaje verdiano. Su voz es de muy bello timbre, aterciopelado y con un Médium importante. Su Desdemona no es únicamente un personaje angelical a ultranza, sin nervio alguno, que si bien no desecha ese lado dulce de Desdemona, resalta también de manera muy original la reacción airada y desafiante del dúo del tercer acto con Otello. Mientras que su último acto no está cantado solamente con mucha musicalidad y gran técnica, si no de manera muy expresiva. James Morris como Jago, es todo un acontecimiento, su voz de gran potencia y belleza, logra resaltar muy bien en los principales momentos de la obra. Su Jago es malévolo pero no un ogro de fábula, es más bien un personaje que en apariencia es muy bueno, pero que en la realidad es un manipulador y detestable personaje. Este es el verdadero enfoque que se debe proporcionar al rol de Jago, si no, como se las arreglaría para engañar con sus intrigas a Otello, si resultara tan evidentemente malvado. Su interpretación del "Sogno" del segundo acto, cantado casi completamente en "mezza voce" como lo indica Verdi en la partitura, es un acontecimiento. Un gran Wotan, cantando Verdi. La dirección de Levine es increíblemente buena, resalta de manera encomiable, pero sin excesos, los muchos momentos impresionantes de la partitura, pero también logra dar realce especial a todos los momentos dulces e íntimos de los que la partitura está llena. Entre los comprimarios, Richard Croft es un buen Cassio, de voz dulce y agradable, y de una presencia física perfecta para el rol, aunque su voz de tendencia dulce y lírica sufre un poco en lo vasta que es la Sala del Metropolitan Opera House. Alexander Anisimov resultó ser casi inexistente en el personaje de Ludovico, su voz es realmente poco incisiva e imponente. La dirección escénica de Elliah Moshinsky resultó ser excelente, los movimientos de los cantantes sobre el escenario fueron todos muy logrados, mereciendo una mención aparte el magnífico tercer acto, de los más logrados de los que haya visto en Teatro. Las escenografías de Michael Yeargan son colosales e imponentes, con un uso del color impactante. De hecho los enormes murales del tercer acto, inspirados en el pintor renacentista "Il Veronese" son realmente maravillosos. El vestuario diseñado por Peter Hall es estéticamente muy válido y de gran calidad. Por lo que un Otello de esta calidad en todas sus componentes, no es algo fácil de encontrar. La versión del Covent Garden, con Domingo, Te Kanawa y Leiferkus, bajo la dirección de Solti, cuenta con una muy buena dirección, pero una puesta en escena menos lucida, y una soprano y barítono menos relevantes desde el punto de vista vocal. La versión de Vickers, Freni y Glossop, dirigida por Karajan, tiene una puesta en escena mediocre y un muy deficiente uso de las cámaras, así como un Jago no solo mediocre desde el punto vocal, sino también desde el punto de vista del fraseo. Es necesario reconocer, de todos modos, que desde el punto de vista musical, la orquesta de Karajan es fabulosa y el dúo Vickers-Freni es realmente magnífico (prácticamente ideal). La versión de la Scala de Milano, bajo la dirección de Muti, cuenta con la dirección orquestal mas impactante que se pueda imaginar, con una excelente Desdemona en Barbara Frittoli, y un válido Jago en Leo Nucci, pero también con una puesta en escena mucho mas estática que la del Metropolitan y un Domingo ya no tan fresco vocalmente, aunque siempre intenso como personaje. Por lo que la versión en DVD del Metropolitan Opera House es sin lugar a dudas la más completa, sin tener eslabones débiles

TOP NOTCH IN ALL WAYS.......2006-11-18

Back in the sixties I attended the Met many times, but never heard anything like this. In addition to a fantastic performance this is one of a very few DVD opera disks that has an audiophile quality LPCM stereo track with very wide dynamic range. If this disk distorts, it is your player, amplifier or speakers, not the DVD. Sounds amazing on studio quality headphones, such as AKG K 240 studio.

Brian Large directs the video in a way that really gives a feeling for what you would see at a live performance. The Met is huge, and I am repeatedly amazed at the realistic views Brian Large is able to transfer to the small screen.

Met's DVD Recording of Verdi's Otello Best Opera Recording Ever.......2006-11-05

The Metropolitan Opera's recording of Verdi's OTELLO not only is loaded with a first class, super star cast, but the filming, art direction, staging is equally balanced and one, if not THE best recordings ever. Domingo, Fleming, Morris and Croft under the superb direction of James Levine---well, who could ask for anything better---it does not exist. The dramatic camera work during the passionate, anguished scenes puts the beholder right in the midst of the tragedy. I have watched this DVD recording many times and always become totally immersed and moved by it.

Review of Otello Opera Production on DVD.......2006-07-05

Verdi's music is powerful--his best opera in my opinion. Domingo is THE Otello. He sets the standard for all others who sing this role both in terms of musicianship and drama. I can say virtually the same for Fleming. The staging and musicianship are both outstanding.

The cream of Domingo on DVD as Otello.......2006-05-04

I've seen three DVD's featuring Placido Domingo in the title role: 1992 (Covent Garden), 1995 (The Met), and 2001 (La Scala). They are all high quality and worth owning but, in my opinion, this Met production has the best Desdemona (Renee Fleming), the best Iago (James Morris), and a stunning performance by Placido Domingo.

Some comparisons. Domingo's voice is clearest and most effortless in the Covent Garden production. But his understanding of the role deepens dramatically between 1992 and 1995. By 2001, he embodies Otello, but his voice is not as full-bodied and is strained in places. His overall best performance is in this 1995 production. This conclusion is not just a compromise between when he's youngest in voice (1992) and most experienced in acting (2001). In Acts III and IV of The Met production, it feels as if Domingo is no longer performing; he becomes Otello. Words are inadequate to describe him here; it simply has to be experienced. His work in Otello's Act III soliloquy, the brief "Dio! Mi potevi," is one of the finest two minutes I've seen in opera. And he is simply spellbinding in Act IV, as he crawls dying toward Desdemona, crying out for a kiss while the "kiss theme" from their Act I duet plays.

The three Desdemona's are Kiri Te Kanawa (1992 Covent Garden), Renee Fleming (1995 The Met), and Barbara Frittoli (2001 La Scala). All excel in different ways. Desdemona is a challenge to play. It's hard to convince an audience that she would so submissively accept the unjust fate she knows is about to befall her. Perhaps her love for Otello is so strong, she believes it will eventually bring him to his senses. Perhaps she's in a steadily increasing state of shock over his irrational behavior, shock that prevents her from acting. Perhaps she sees no choice but to accept whatever consequence follows from her bold move of having left her homeland to follow the Moor. These are but three possible approaches to the role.

For purity of voice and lyrical quality, Te Kanawa (Covent Garden) is unsurpassed, but her acting is weak. Some might call her portrayal of Desdemona restrained; I find it too wooden. But it's worth seeing Te Kanawa to hear the purity of her voice, especially in Act IV's "Ave Maria" prayer. Frittoli (La Scala) has a beautiful dark and dusky voice, and her portrayal of Desdemona as young and naive is moving.

But Fleming's Met performance surpasses the other two. Her voice is more expressive and she's a better actress. In Otello and Desdemona's Act I duet, "Gia nella notte densa," I can hardly breathe when Fleming and Domingo get to the kiss. The tenderness between them is palpable. In their duet and her "first tears" solo at the beginning of Act III, Fleming's combination of incomprehension, pain, and fear is heartrending. In Act IV, Fleming draws us to her sadly but quietly in the Willow Song only to stun us with her cry of terror at the end: "Ah! Emilia addio, Emilia, addio." I've read that this one short cry must communicate all the passion of an entire song. That's a tall order and, in my opinion, only Fleming pulls it off.

Frittoli (La Scala) plays Desdemona as in an increasing state of shock. It's believable and effective, but Fleming's performance is deeper because it's multi-layered. To flesh out the character, I think Fleming incorporates all three of the approaches I described above, making Desdemona a more complex woman.

A performer can take several approaches to Iago. There is no subtlety in Sergei Leiferkus' approach (Covent Garden). He exudes slimy evil intent, looking crazed at times. I think there's also a sexual component to his characterization (whether aimed at Desdemona or Otello, I couldn't say). Leo Nucci (La Scala) takes a more traditional approach to Iago, playing him as a nasty schemer. But once again, I prefer The Met production's James Morris. His Iago is the most frightening to me because he's seemingly so personable around Otello. His smile and his smooth baritone voice run chills down my spine.

I prefer The Met DVD over the others, but you can't go wrong with any of the three. Bottom line, I recommend you don't miss Domingo as Otello in this powerful Verdi opera.

Average customer rating:

The Best Hamlet I've Seen
The state of art!
The Real Deal
A Hamlet For The Ages!
Two classics--"Hamlet" & Burton

Richard Burton's Hamlet
Starring: Hugh Alexander , Richard Burton , Philip Coolidge , Hume Cronyn , and Christopher Culkin
Director: Bill Colleran
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Hamlet / Kline, New York Shakespeare Festival (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Hamlet
Macbeth / McKellen, Dench (Thames Shakespeare Collection)
Hamlet - Criterion Collection
Hamlet

ASIN: B00000JMON
Release Date: 1999-08-17

Description

Richard Burton stars and Sir John Gielgud directs William Shakespeare's play of the Danish Prince. This is a "Hamlet" acted in rehearsal clothes, stripped of all extraneous trappings, so the beauty of the language and imagery could shine through. Filmed during an actual Broadway performance, to be shown in movie theaters for two days only, the prints were contractually ordered destroyed, but Burton sent one to the British Film Institute, and kept one print at home, located by his widow Sally in 1988; here then is the complete Burton "Hamlet" in all its vocal power and glory.

Customer Reviews:

The Best Hamlet I've Seen.......2007-07-06

Burton (and Gielgud) have the best understanding of Hamlet that I've seen on film. I don't know why Olivier and Jacobi want to play Hamlet like he's bisexual, but it isn't right. Branagh is good, but for some scenes Gibson's interpretation is better than Branagh's. Gibson's is the most romantic Hamlet, but plays Hamlet as mostly depressed at first. Truth is, Hamlet is as mad as hell, but is torn and doesn't know what to do about it, so he turns it inward, at first. Burton's interpretation is quite good and the closest to the way Hamlet should be played.

The state of art!.......2007-06-05

The magnetic presence of Richard Burton on stage as Hamlet is simply outstandig. His personal approach in contrast to Olivier, for instance, resides in the modern vision and contemporary flavour he adds and carves in relief.

Burton had one of the most powerful, expreessive and dark voices in the history of cinema or theater. This DVD shows us just a sample of a set of famous performances in Broadway during 1964, and it convinces us once more about the impressive amount of expressive devices and gamut of his actoral gifts.

To be true, the edition process is not at first rate level, but the performance is so strong and mesmerizing, that you tend to forget this minor factor.

Don't hesitate just for a second at the moment to acquire this historical performance of this fabulous actor.

The Real Deal.......2007-05-12

I should mention right off the bat that I am a big fan of Mel Gibson's "Hamlet" for its sweep, its headlong pacing, and its presentation of the doomed philosopher as a man of passion as well as intellect; for me, Kenneth Branagh's distinctly cool rendering of the character rendered the Prince of Denmark too inaccessible to care about ... and a "Hamlet" without a Hamlet who breathes fire from the get-go is a Hamlet I can easily do without.

But "Mad Max at Elsinore", while startlingly true in its own way to its roots, is only about half of the very great play William Shakespeare wrote; and, really, unfolds so quickly that you hardly have time to ask yourself The Really Big Hamlet Question of the Ages: Why does the guy take so long to do what has to be done?

Richard Burton's "Hamlet" is the definitive answer to that question (among others) -- and that answer lies not in the reams and reams and volumes and volumes written in an attempt to convincingly analyze Hamlet's personality, hang-ups, and hesitations. The matter is simple beyond belief: Elizabethan audiences, composed of a complete cross-section of the society of the time, from highest to lowest, expected roughly three hours of murder, mayhem, comedy, farce, philosophy, pathos, tragedy, and acting on the titanically Heroic scale for their money -- and Master Shakespeare was the best around at delivering all of those things.

And, just like in a modern film, if Hamlet believes The Ghost straight-away and dashes from that wint'ry parapet to run Claudius through first chance he gets, well ... still a couple of hours of running time to fill, here, Bill ...

What Burton's version offers in stellar fashion are the celestial adornments The Bard wove into and around this second-or-third-hand revenge play -- you know, the stuff that made him famous and keeps him that way. Fully half the play (or more; the traditional stage Hamlet of the day was a clownish mad-man, and The Swan of Avon had to keep that in mind) is "a high-mettled comedy" as G.B. Shaw put it; humor from the worst of puns to the very best battles of wit, both laugh-out-loud and smile-somewhere-inside, bawdy and thoughtful by turns, with thoroughly unexpected delights that seem to be conjured out of nowhere. The Ghost (John Gielgud's voice and a huge shadow projected on the set) is neither as tangible nor as intimate as Paul Schofield's masterful portrayal in the Gibson flick, and yet the creepy supernatural atmosphere it creates clings like a chilling fog to the rest of the production -- the very air of Elsinor seems poisoned thereafter.

The other characters, from Gertrude and Claudius to Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern, have time to more fully develope their little quirks and idiosyncracies -- no one better than Our Will at exploring what makes a human tick through speech and action. Hamlet himself is possibly the most multi-dimensional stage hero extant, and here we have all his moods; his fancies; his sorrows and his wit.

And we have Richard Burton playing him. He sings the part operatically, he whispers it, he growls, he spins yards and yards of silk, he howls at the moon -- and has mastered the language to the point that he can make the most obtuse blank verse sound conversational ... almost offhand at times ... and you are never in any doubt whatsoever as to what he means when he speaks. He is as aware, it seems to me, of his own reputation as he is of Hamlet's, and rightly so -- the Heroic tradition of acting is as much about the actor as the part, and "Hamlet" simply begs for a huge personality to fill the shoes of its huge lead -- and Burton doesn't skimp: his "mad scenes" show us the legendary madness of the fabled Welsh Drunk he supposedly was ... too passionate and artistic to live to a ripe old age, too aware of himself and everything around him to be able to tolerate it, letting the courtly mask drop to the floor at the drop of a cue and baying like all the hounds of hell were at his heels.

In a word, he is Magnificent.

He does what any great Hamlet must aspire to -- he makes us care about the musty old role, makes us actually feel for this guy on many, many levels, helps us to realize just exactly why he's the best guy Denmark has to offer ... and why it is truly a tragedy when he goes down.

It's a visceral and volcanic performance that forms the centerpiece of a truly large, robust, Elizabethan "Hamlet" -- why does The Inky Prince dawdle so over his revenge? So the audience can be treated to all the marvelous tricks Will Shakespeare has up his sleeve -- the princes, pretenders, courtiers; the players, rogues, and twisting, turning, illuminating bits of character, movement, plot, and motive that make "Hamlet" the crown jewel of living, breathing theater.

Buy it. Buy it now.

A Hamlet For The Ages! .......2007-03-23

This is not a film of Hamlet in the traditional sense. It was not made especially for the screen. It is a filmed version of the famed 1964 Broadway production starring the late, great Richard Burton. This DVD showcases the power of not only Shakespere's words but of Richard Burton.

Because of the fact it was filmed during a dress rehearsal, it does not have the lavish period sets, costumes, etc. of other versions. This version is down with the most minimal of sets and in modern (1960's), even casual clothing. This is not the film for those of you who think Shakespere means lavish costumes and sets. But this is a film that showcases the power of Shakespere. Richard Burton is at the height of his powers in the title role. His "To be or not to be" speech is awe inspiring to see and hear. Hume Cronyn is terrific as Polonius playing a bumbling and, at times, oxymoron version of the character. Alfred Drake is well suited as Claudius, though he is a bit wooden at times. Eileen Herlie is virtually perfect as Gertrude. Linda Marsh is particularly impressive as the love struck Ophelia and has great chemistry with Burton making their relationship all the more believable. Add on other great actors and an appearance by George Voskovec as the Player King and even a cameo by the play's director Sir John Gielgud as the ghost of King Hamlet to the mix as well.

The DVD is mostly of this lenghty (Three hour, ten minutes long) film. It does feature an interview with Burton on how this was filmed plus a preview adveretsing the showings of the film in 1964. These aren't great special features but they certainly do give a little bit of insight into the production and how special the film truly is.

In short, this is a terrific version of Hamlet. It is carried not by the usual sets and costumes but by the sheer power of actors and some of the greatest words ever to be put to page. See not only a great play, but an acting legend at the height of his powers.

Two classics--"Hamlet" & Burton.......2007-03-09

There are many fine productions of Hamlet available today, but you won't find a better performance than Richard Burton's in this 1964 legendary production directed by John Gielgud.Besides the excellent performance of Burton, you get to see a live production on stage with an audience, and the immediacy of the moment.If you're fimiliar with Mel Gibson's Hamlet and Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, you certainly should give yourself the opportunity to view Burton's Hamlet and see a different kind of raw, brave performance.Don't miss it!

Average customer rating:

and for THIS you gave up baryshnikov???
Life On The Farm
she is as good as meryl streep
Subtitles
Jessica vs the Government

Country
Starring: Jessica Lange , Sam Shepard , Wilford Brimley , Matt Clark , and Theresa Graham
Director: Richard Pearce
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The River
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ASIN: B00008L3V9
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Description

Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard are Jewell and Gil Ivy. They work the land in America's heartland, on a farm that has bound their family together for generations. For Jewell and Gil, the land has always been their life. So when the government bureaucrats decide to take it all away, there's only one decision the family can make ... the Ivys are staying.

Customer Reviews:

and for THIS you gave up baryshnikov???.......2007-05-12

there were three of these movies all at the same time; "places in the heart" and "the river" were the other two. this is the one with jessica lange, instead of the one with sally field or the one with sissy spacek. if you liked one of the other two, you will like this one.

Life On The Farm.......2007-03-17

This movie depicted what happened to so many farmers in the 1980's when interest rates went so high that it was impossible to survive if there was any debt against what you owned. Jessica Lange of course, was brilliant as the all-suffering farm wife and Sam Shepard as the husband who could not accept that there was no support from "the bank". It is the heart-warming, but flawed depiction of a family coming together in the hard times to save their way of life.

she is as good as meryl streep.......2007-01-10

jessica lange was always in streep's shadow but also was as good or sometimes better. Country is a movie that allows Lange to showcase her true to life living. A true country girl who was no stranger to hard work in a farming community. A wonderful film and a wonderful performance!!

Subtitles.......2006-08-19

A moving story, very impressive. What a pity there are no subtitles! For people who speak English as a foreign language, it is not easy to understand it completely. And of course, every film should have subtitles for the hearing-impaired.

Jessica vs the Government.......2005-12-19

County and The River came out virtually simultaneously. They have the same theme, farms in crisis. The main difference is Country is more political in nature.

Country is not a true story but is based on a number of true stories. This film is about a family owned farm that is in trouble. This trouble was not really their fault. It was a combination of changing economies and a pullout of government funding. During the 70's, the government threw loans to the farmers, encouraging farmers to overextend themselves. In the 80's, when crop prices plummeted, the government foreclosed on the farms. This made way for large corporate farmers to buy them for pennies on the dollar.

Real life husband and wife, Jessica Lange and Sam Sheppard, play the Jewel and Gil Ivey. They have a farm and government loans. When they can't make the harvest payment, the bank forecloses on the farm. Jewel is determined not to lose the farm.

This is tour de force performance by Jessica Lange. Wilford Brimley plays her curmudgeon father and gives a perfectly measured performance. This would become his signature character that he would be cast as for the remainder of his career.

Richard Pearce's direction and William Witliff's screenplay keep the film from getting to preachy or too sentimental. This is the best film made on the subject of the farm loan crisis.

DVD EXTRAS: None

Average customer rating:

Good performance
Too Close
Great performances!
hang the naysayers! this is the best A&C you will ever see
When Nunn Was Still Green

Antony and Cleopatra
Starring: Richard Johnson , Janet Suzman , Rosemary McHale , Mavis Taylor Blake , and Darien Angadi
Director: Jon Scoffield
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B0002235QM
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Product Description

He was a man among men, one of the triumvirate who ruled the Roman world. She was a woman without equal, a mighty queen in a man's world. He was the warrior; she, the temptress. And neither could serve Caesar with the allegiance he demanded...because their ultimate devotion was to each other. Shakespeare's towering romantic tragedy - filled with alliances, rumors, battles, betrayals and death comes to the screen in a strikingly dramatic staging. Among the production's skilled ensemble of players are Richard Johnson (Khartoum) as Antony, a conqueror of armies but not of his own heart; Janet Suzman (Nicolas and Alexandra) as Cleopatra, the bewitching "Serpent of the Nile"; and Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next generation) as Antony's crafty aide Enobarbus, who provides a running commentary on Antony's plunge from the heights. They and the entire cast from London's celebrated Royal Shakespeare Company fuel the Bard's remarkable work with the power and passion befitting its two legendary icons of love and war: Antony and Cleopatra.

System Requirements:

Running Time 161 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Good performance.......2006-03-29

"Antony and Cleopatra" is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays where Marc Antony and Cleopatra, both with glorious pasts, have to cope with their dwindling fortunes. Janet Suzman plays Cleopatra and Richard Johnson plays Marc Antony and both handle their roles very well, faithfully potraying their respective characters.

The director, Jon Scoffield did a good job of producing a good film particularly in view of the fact that Shakespeare's plays are essentially theatrical and are a challenge to bring on film. However, he managed to produce a good film on a low budget by focusing on the characters and verse rather than producing a spectacle.

In summary, a good movie well worth viewing.

Too Close.......2006-02-07

The acting is beyond superb. Ms. Suzman IS Cleopata. My only complaint is the directing. This DVD consists of 90% talking heads. The close up lens for the camera was obviously the only one available. The play is done on a stage, but it is almost never seen. Way too too much facial.

Great performances!.......2002-03-12

I've seen this play on film and on stage, but this British television version is by far the best version I've seen. Richard Johnson seems to be EXACTLY the embodiment of Marc Antony that Shakespeare must have envisioned - pure poetry and agony. And Janet Suzman channels Cleopatra in a way that is almost spooky (Cleo lives!). I also personally love the set design, which is solely used to create the mood of the characters and plot. This is like a stage play, in that it allows the viewer to focus on the characters, not on locations (I'll leave that to the deeply inferior movie version that plays the story out like an over-produced historical document). Trevor Nunn proves that one doesn't need lavish productions in order to recreate great Shakespeare. Just get some great actors on an open set and let the magic happen!

hang the naysayers! this is the best A&C you will ever see.......2001-11-15

I'm not sure what the above reviewers were looking for, but I have had an English bootleg of this production for years, and have never seen a better one. Suzman and Johnson wowed all of the English critics when this RSC production was onstage. And Stewart won every supporting actor award that season. I'm glad to get a new copy of this production.

When Nunn Was Still Green.......2001-08-16

If you have seen Trevor Nunn's work in Twelfth Night, you may be curious about his screen version of Antony and Cleopatra; however, there is no comparison. Nunn's A & C, while competently vocally performed by all the actors, did not appear to combine Method acting with Cicely Berry's voice direction which resulted in a tedious and disappointing filmed version of a stage production. Neither Janet Suzman nor Richard Johnson are able to evoke the passion expected from these characters. However, Nunn's casting and direction were much improved by the time he produced the filmed stage production of Othello with Ian McKellan, Willard White, and Imogen Stubbs which is available through Amazon UK (but only in PAL format).

The Merchant of Venice / Trevor Nunn, Royal National Theatre

Average customer rating:

Antonio should forget it . . .
A Merchant to See
A Powerful Portrayal of a Sad Production
I gave it five stars but...
riveting performances - Shakespeare at his best!

The Merchant of Venice / Trevor Nunn, Royal National Theatre
Starring: David Bamber , Peter De Jersey , Mark Umbers , Alexander Hanson , and Jack James (III)
Director: Chris Hunt , and Trevor Nunn
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
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ASIN: B0001UZZM2
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Amazon.com

The often volatile character of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, is powerfully realized in Trevor Nunn's stylish film of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, which uses theatrical sets but is shot as a movie. Shylock (played with fierce commitment by Henry Goodman) loans money to a man he despises, the merchant Antonio (David Bramber), only if a pound of Antonio's flesh will be due upon default. Antonio borrows the money so that his friend Bessanio (Alexander Hanson) can travel to woo the woman he loves, Portia (Derbhle Crotty), whose freedom to marry is bound up in a fairy-tale decree of her father's. The play's mixture of tragedy and comedy often baffles contemporary audiences; Nunn attempts to solve this problem by treating almost everything as seriously as possible. While his approach serves Shylock well, the play's conclusion--in which Portia tests her husband's commitment--could use a lighter touch. --Bret Fetzer

Description

William Shakespeare's controversial classic comes to bristling life in this riveting production from theater legend Trevor Nunn. Relocated to Europe between the two world wars, the story follows the misadventures of young heiress Portia, who must don the disguise of a male lawyer to save the life of her love, and the financially obsessed Shylock (Notting Hill's Henry Goodman), determined to literally collect a pound of flesh in court. Trevor Nunn directed the landmark revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! with Hugh Jackman as well as groundbreaking versions of Nicholas Nickleby, Othello, and Porgy & Bess. Originally presented to tremendous acclaim at the Royal National Theatre in June, 1999. Awards include: Olivier Awards - Best Actor (Henry Goodman) / Critics' Circle Theatre Awards - Best Actor (Henry Goodman)

Customer Reviews:

Antonio should forget it . . ........2006-02-21

This is a bleak, dismal version of what is admittedly a problem play. Antonio is clinically depressed, Basanio is boring, Portia couldn't win a case in traffic court.

Try Al Pacino's version. MUCH better.

A Merchant to See.......2005-09-29

If you are a fan of The Merchant of Venice but were disappointed by Al Pacino's Shylock this DVD may be for you. Henry Goodman brings a grounded and passionate honesty to the role that Pacino sorely lacked. Although, I was not impressed by David Bamber as Antonio (boring) or Derbhle Crotty as Portia (lacking any real substance; Raymond Coulthard as the Prince of Arragon is historical and steals his scene. The show worked better on stage than it does as a filmed version but it is still well worth a viewing.

A Powerful Portrayal of a Sad Production.......2005-04-28

The works of William Shakespeare are rightly hailed as the pearls of English literature. Alas, in any collection of pearls there is one that is misshapen. This is that one.

The story centers around a man who must borrow a sum of money from a Jew for the sake of a friend. Instead of charging interest, the Jew demands a pound of flesh if his bond is forfeited. This has often been played in such a manner as to depict jewry in general and Shylock (the Jew) in particular as evil money grubbing people who wish nothing so much as the painful demise of Christians. There are other subplots but this is the crux of the story which reaches a climax when the pound of flesh is demanded.

The story is blantantly anti-Semetic. This production, however, goes some distance in redeeming it. The cruelty and discrimination which plagued Shylock's people are made evident in this production. It is easy to see how, in his torment, Shylock is driven towards revenge. So too are many of the "Christians" depicted in a less than flattering light. Both sides of the story are so driven by their respective hatreds and predjudices that it is difficult to have much sympathy for either. In the end it is the women, another group mistreated by the age, that manage to temper harsh justice with some degree of mercy.

This production is magnificent, though non traditional. It is set in Europe at about the time of the Great Depression. Taking Shakespeare out of its normal temporal bounds is done fairly often but does not always work well. In this case it does. The sets are approached in a minimalist manner but are adequate to the task. It has the feel of a stage production while still being clearly produced for the cinema. It is done with understated elegance.

So too is the acting of the highest caliber. Each of the principle parts is portrayed with a passion which almost makes up for the unlikeability of the characters.

This production is at time painful to watch because it is so good. It highlights some of the worst features of men but does so in an engaging manner.

I gave it five stars but..........2005-03-02

I can't decide if I love or hate this production. The acting is amazing, don't get me wrong. The sets are amazing. In reality, this play was done in a theatre resembling a stadium with the stage running down the middle of the auditorium, the wings on either side, and the audience on the left and right of the stage. That's why it looks so complex that you'd think, "how could they have done this onstage." The walls were built in later, I guess. But, here's where I can't decide whether I hate it or love it. This is one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays. It's probably his most controversial. Why? Because the Anti-Semitic content is more evident than it will ever be in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." And I mean no offense by this remark. I'm not saying that "The Passion of the Christ" isn't anti-semitic or that the Jews killed Jesus. I condemn anti-setism but I haven't seen that movie so therefore, I just don't get it entirely. I should know. I'm half-Jewish.

When I first read the play, I'm ashamed to say that this was my reaction. My first image of Shylock was a hunched-over, grumpy, little old man in [...]long robes and a long beard. His eyes were very leering (in my head) and he was much like those grumpy men you see in cartoons. I think he had a cane. In his last scene, I envisioned him shuffling off. I smiled. I thought he was a villain. So I was happy at the end when all was resolved. But then I did some more research on this play. I had only read it once before. They make him convert to Christianity!? That's an extremely anti-semitic act. Around the time that "The Passion of the Christ" was booming at the box office, I heard that a film adaptation of the play would be released the following year starring Al Pacino as Shylock, I thought, "God, hasn't the movie industry dealt with enough controversy." It didn't cause as big a stir as I anticipated.

Now, about this version. Trevor Nunn gives not an evil and plotting Shylock but a bitter and angry Shylock, a complex Shylock. Nunn is a master at shattering stereotypes. He presents with a Shylock who has dealt with years of anti-semititic behavior (for lack of a better word) directed towards him and his race. So we see his motivations. Also, we feel more for him when we see him in his yamurlke or setting up the lamp outside his house or conversing with his daughter, Jessica in Yiddish or singing with her in Hebrew (I can only wonder what that song meant but I like to think it's a song about happier times). Then, just as he is about to cut the pound of flesh from Antonio, his friend, Tubal, starts to leave the courtroom and gives Shylock a look that for me says, "This race has been through so much crap. Why do you want to make it worse for us, Shylock? Is it worth it?" It's moments like that that make this production so powerful and controversial for me. The sight of Shylock ripping off his traditional garments is chilling as is his exit of the courtroom. Everything's in silence. The ending also has its share of stereotypes. Basically, if you do the play and you do it so that Shylock looks like the villain, it's a happy ending for fans of anti-semitic entertainment because everyone's all happy, including Shylock's daughter. Instead, Nunn gives us an ending of uncertainty. Jessica backs away from the group. Portia notices that something is wrong and starts to converse about the coming of the day. For the first time in this production, it seems like a gloomy day is on the horizon. Meanwhile, Jessica breaks into that same Hebrew song. She is on the verge of tears. The film ends as thunder rumbles in the heavens as if to symbolize uncertainty.

I didn't get that ending at first. I thought Jessica was mourning for her father or asking forgiveness from her race. However, Nunn's interpretation is that by singing this song, she's saying, "You may have broken a Jewish man but his daughter's still around and she won't take the crap he had to take every day of his life." It's a haunting ending. The characters seem to be reminded of their sins.

All in all, as I write this review, I've decided that this production is powerful, not anti-Semitic. Nunn has given us a version of the play that should be considered the definitive production of the play. And now for the performances.

Henry Goodman deserved his Olivier for the part of Shylock. Had the production been brought to Broadway, he would have certainly won the Tony. He steals the show. Derbhle Crotty is a sassy and sexy Portia and looks just like she's been picked out of an old 30s [...]photo albumthis production being set in the 30s. Those were my two favorite performances. I particularly liked Nerissa's singing voice and I think she looks like Imelda Staunton a.k.a. the lady who played Vera Drake. Finally, while this production is powerful, it is funny, especially when the two princes are onstage. (Arragon does a flamenco dance. It's pointless but it helps define his character.)So, get this DVD and decide for yourself if you love it or hate it. And log on to the PBS website. They've got some stuff on this production 'cause it was on Masterpiece Theatre.

riveting performances - Shakespeare at his best!.......2004-09-13

This Royal National Threatre production is an excellent presentation of one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays. I was riveted for the whole performance, which is what a good production of Shakespeare should do. Although it does not have the same production values as a Branagh production (it is more of a stage production on film), the acting and direction are suberb. Henry Goodman as Shylock delivers an especially strong performance and won an award for it. The setting in the pre-War period really works, unlike many other transpositions of Shakespeare I have seen, and the sets, with its use of contemporary art, though minimal, also work. I highly recommend this DVD.

Average customer rating:

Jon Voight and Roxanna Zal Are Brilliant
Worth Watching
Overlooked gem
A man bridges a gap with his children...
Jon Voight Rules

Table for Five
Starring: Jon Voight , Richard Crenna , Marie-Christine Barrault , Millie Perkins , and Roxana Zal
Director: Robert Lieberman
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Champ
Testament
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Fandango

ASIN: B0007TKHH0
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Amazon.com

The initial concept of this remarkably poignant film may not be sexy, but it's well-executed and genuinely touching and easily brings its audience into the moving story. J.P. Tannen (Jon Voight), a divorced, absentee father, takes his three children, Tilde (a beautiful, heartbreaking Roxana Zal), Truman-Paul (Robby Kiger), and Trung (Son Hoang Bui), on a European cruise, during which a tragedy occurs at home. The emotionally charged setup of a father trying to reconnect with his children may be familiar to many people. Versatile writer David Seltzer (Lucas) melds realistic dialogue, conversations, situations, and reactions in a subtle, credible manner, giving his characters many levels and sincere depth. It's this realism that makes the story all that more compelling--Tannen is neither ogre nor saint, and his children are like real children: they're embarrassed by their insecurities, they act out, they crave affection. There are no one-dimensional characters either. Tannen and his ex-wife (Millie Perkins) maintain a distant fondness for each other, as she understands and finally accepts his foibles. Her husband, Mitchell (Richard Crenna), genuinely loves Tannen's children as he would his own. Party of Five is blessed with great talent, including the youngest stars. --N.F. Mendoza

Description

After his ex-wife dies in a tragic car crash, J.P. Tannen decides to take action in getting custody of his three children. This puts him against their stepfather, who also wants custody of the children.

Customer Reviews:

Jon Voight and Roxanna Zal Are Brilliant.......2006-07-03

One of the most HUMAN films it has ever been my good fortune to watch..The entire cast just walks into your heart and sets up permanent housekeeping..Voight is so human and Roxanne Zal is the type of daughter every father would want....She must be in her 30's by now and I pray she has the sucessful career and happy life she deserves..If you want to spend time with REAL people catch this masterpiece...God Love Everyone who helped make this the heartwarming experience is most certainly is...

Worth Watching.......2006-05-30

I grew up with this flick watching it many times and even now I cry just as much as I did when I first watched the movie many years ago. The music is beautiful and it matches the mood of it after the "tragic" accident. A scene that really pulled the emotional strings for me was the family dog silently crying lying on the ground while she was pregnant with her puppies.

If you're in a good mood for a major tear-jerker. This will definately fit the bill.

Overlooked gem.......2004-10-28

A very emotional, well-acted piece of work by Jon Voight. Perhaps his best acting ever. Don't miss this one.

A man bridges a gap with his children..........2003-01-06

Jon Voight plays a divorced father of three, who rarely sees his kids, remembers their birthdays, and generally isn't much of a parent. The role of parent to the kids belongs to his beautiful ex-wife, played by Millie Perkins, and her current husband, a loving man played by Richard Crenna. Voight arrives to take his children on their yearly vacation together, and it turns out to be a Mediterranean cruise. During the cruise, the love he has for his kids is evident as well as the unfamiliarity he has with playing the father and putting his kids first. But when a tragedy strikes back home, Voight must decide if taking on the role of father permanently is something he can and wants to do...

Jon Voight Rules.......2002-02-03

I loved this movie because Jon Voight gets closer to his kids then he ever was!

The Plays of William Shakespeare - King Richard II

Average customer rating:

and soon lie Richard in an earthy pit!

The Plays of William Shakespeare - King Richard II
Starring: David Birney , Paul Shenar , John Devlin , and William H. Bassett
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

William Shakespeare's Richard the Second
The Plays of William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet
The Plays of William Shakespeare, Vol. 5 - The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Plays of William Shakespeare, Vol. 1 - Antony and Cleopatra
The Plays of William Shakespeare, Vol. 6 - Othello

ASIN: B000059XTR
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Description

The clearest and most understandable Shakespeare productions ever made. Staged as seen in the 16th Century, featuring award-winning performers. The enthralling story of a self-centered and weak king. Starring David Birney, Paul Shenar, John Devlin and William H. Bassett. 172 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

and soon lie Richard in an earthy pit!.......2005-12-14

This made-for-television (or possibly video, I'm not sure) production starts off, if you're watching it on DVD, with several knocks against it, as the blurb on the box claims, with rather dubious accuracy, not only that the production is staged as seen in the sixteenth century (not true, it's indoors and there are women in it), but that unlike most filmed Shakespeare it does not feature "unfamiliar English accents." Despite these harbingers of doom I tried to give it a fair shake, and indeed occasionally director William Woodman makes some clever choices, but this is a dull and uninspired effort. In the title role, David Birney gives perhaps the most uncharismatic performance since David Gwillim donned the royal arms and whined at his soldiers to storm a cheap plywood Harfleur in the BBC Henry V; he plows through his speeches rather flatly and spends the whole production with either an arrogant smirk or what I think is supposed to be an anguished smirk. Paul Shenar fares slightly, but not a whole lot, better as a brooding but excessively pasty and sweaty Bolingbroke; the supporting cast ranges from unmemorable to wretched (and frequently causes utterance of the phrase "hey, what have I seen that guy in?"). Don't bother unless you're madly obsessive about Richard II like I am. In fact, if you're madly obsessive about Richard II, you *especially* ought not to watch this production.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Smokey and the Bandit Pursuit Pack

Mildred Pierce

Romeo And Juliet [1983]

DVD: Playing With Fire

American Pie