Boris Karloff Classics

Studio: Genius Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

The Puppet Films of Jiri Trnka
Charming animation
emperor and the nightingale
Great movie memory from childhood...
Worthwhile collection

The Puppet Films of Jiri Trnka
Starring: Helena Patockova , Jaromir Sobotoa , Detsky pevecky sbor Jana Kuhna , and Boris Karloff
Director: Milos Makovec , and Jirí Trnka
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Music & Arts | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Puppets | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Stop-Motion & Clay Animation | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Alice

ASIN: 6305761183
Release Date: 2000-03-28

Description

The Czech stop-motion puppet animation master Jiri Trnka directed some of the most acclaimed animated films ever made. In 1966, four years before his death, Newsday lauded him as "second to Chaplin as a film artist because his work inaugurated a new stage in a medium long dominated by Disney." Trnka continues to astound audiences to this day, particularly those discovering this amazing animation for the first time. This collection includes five of the master's shorts and his feature-length classic "The Emperor's Nightingale" based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale and narrated by Boris Karloff. Includes: The Emperor's Nightingale (1951, 67 min.), The Hand (18 min.), The Story of the Bass Cello (13 min.), A Merry Circus (11 min.), A Drop Too Much (14 min.), The Song of the Prairie (21 min.), Jiri Trnka: Puppet Animation Master documentary (12 min.).

Customer Reviews:

The Puppet Films of Jiri Trnka.......2007-06-27

These unique, priceless animated offerings are perfect for those seeking some good old-fashioned low-tech charm after an overload of computer generated effects. Trnka was a brilliant artist whose work reflects a painstaking approach to creating animated magic. All his films reflect a striking breadth of imagination, and none more so than "Nightingale", which boasts Karloff's assured, understated narration. A memorable, distinctive treat for the whole family.

Charming animation.......2007-03-12

If ever a man was born to his trade and art, it was Trnka. He grew up helping his grandmother make dolls and his mother with her work as a seamstress. By the time started making his movies, in his 30s, he had utter fluency in all of the manual skill needed for success. For new success, that is, because his career as an artist was already well established by then.

This DVD splits almost evenly into a feature length piece and six shorts. The former, "The Emperor's Nightingale," is a wonderful adaptation of a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. It touches on many things, including the monotony of mechanical perfection compared to the unpredictable beauty of the organic world. Trnka objected to the Soviet regime that controlled the Czech people during most of his adult life. That was the hand that fed him, though, as well as the hand that could crush him. If there's a subtext of rebellion by a living society against a rigid, mechanical system of control, it's written in very small print.

The shorts varied widely in holding my attention. The cartoon adaptation of Chekov's "The Bass Cello" is warm and funny, with a delightful chill in it for anyone who's had a no-pants dream filled with frustration and embarassment. "A Drop Too Much" could possibly have been a public service feature, about a 15 minute sermon on the evils of drinking and driving. It comes across with the complexity and moral tone of one of those "Davey and Goliath" cartoons I never much liked as a kid. "The Merry Circus" is interesting for an innovative animation technique, one with many strengths and weakness relative to normal model making, and "The Song of the Prarie" is a silly satire of the 1950s Western movies - already pretty silly in themselves.

Only "The Hand" really stands out in that set. It's a modern fairy tale about artistic and personal freedom in the face of massive, controlling social power. Small wonder that this piece won awards abroad and suppression in his home country.

The style is a bit dated, and scripting tends towards a meditative pace. There's not a lot here for the ADHD generation, unless they're truly dedicated fans of animation. For us in the middle ground, there's a lot to enjoy, but the world has other things to enjoy in it, too.

//wiredweird

emperor and the nightingale.......2007-02-05

The claymation on this is wonderful but my kids could not stay interested in it.

Great movie memory from childhood..........2004-12-02

This is a review for The Emperor and the Nightingale DVD, mine is a slightly different one. The cover art is the same, but mine contains only the movie plus one short film "John Henry and the Inky Poo" (which I believe is a George Pal short, correct me if I'm wrong...) The film, narrated creepily enough by Boris Karloff, has been color-enhanced and sound-restored, according to the info on the box. I recall seeing this movie on TV sometime in the early 70's, probably at Christmas time. It is a great story, very sad in places, but with a good message for children even today, although the extremely old-fashioned look of the film may not hold up to some young kid's attention spans today. I would categorize it as more for people my age who have seen it many years ago and wish to have a lovely nostalgia trip by watching it. Buy it and have tissues handy, it's a weepie! I give it 4 out of 5 stars >>only because my DVD doesn't have all the goodies listed such as the other cartoon short subjects and the documentary material. Direct all comments to; BrideOfCyrano@aol.com

Worthwhile collection.......2002-11-18

The Emperor's Nightingale is feature-length (67 minutes). There are also five shorts plus a brief documentry on Trnka. I'm not familiar with Andersen's original, but Trnka's treatment of The Emperor's Nightingale makes it perfect for his medium. First of all, it is a story within a story: a live-action unhappy boy dreams the puppet-animated fairy tale. Then, the dream itself revolves around a real singing nightingale and a mechanical singing nightingale. Having this mixture of live action and puppet animation makes the experience more complex and interesting than reading the story in a children's book. Plus, nowadays, with simulated on-line experience competing with "real" get-out-of-doors experience, the story is even more complex. The Emperor of the title is the boy Emperor of China, and this leads to a nice Czech-filtered Oriental flavor to the art design. The shorts are a mixed bag. Story Of The Bass Cello (1949), from a Chekhov piece, and The Song Of The Prairie (1949), a spoof of Hollywood westerns, have humorous moments but felt too much like 1950s TV children shows. The Merry Circus (1951) is unique: the animation is done entirely with paper cutouts. The colors are very beautiful and reminded me of vintage carnival posters come to life. Then there's A Drop Too Much (1954), which is like the Citizen Kane of animation because of the virtuoso display of narrative technique. There is a stunning sequence of a drunk motorcyclist racing everything on the road during a rainy night. The last short, The Hand (1965), is best enjoyed as a Beckett-like short play, rather than a political allegory.

Mystery & Murder - 25 Killer Crime Classics

Average customer rating:

Questionable Quality
On a 1 to 10 scale, this collection is rated: 6.0

Mystery & Murder - 25 Killer Crime Classics
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck , Boris Karloff , Peter Lorre , Basil Rathbone , and Ginger Rogers
Manufacturer: Passport
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000MQ554S
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Description

Old dark houses, creaking staircases, sinister suspects, persistent private eyes, damsels in distress - they're all here in abundance in these twenty-five crime classics from the 1930s and 1940s - The Golden Age of the Hollywood Murder Mystery!

Hot on the trail of the crafty culprits are such savvy cinematic sleuths as SHERLOCK HOLMES, DICK TRACY, MR. MOTO, THE SHADOW, BULLDOG DRUMMOND and even NANCY DREW! Stars include BARBARA STANWYCK, BASIL RATHBONE, GINGER ROGERS, BORIS KARLOFF, EDWARD G. ROBINSON, PETER LORRE and JOHN BARRYMORE, just to name a few. A five-DVD feast for fans of classic crime, detective, murder, and mystery movies!

Disc One

THE CROOKED CIRCLE (1932) - Zasu Pitts (Greed) and James Gleason (Here Comes Mr. Jordan) lead a group of amateur detectives as they set out to expose a secret club of hooded occultists in a haunted mansion complete with trap doors, secret passageways, and skeletons.

A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT (1933) - In this delicious, pre-Code murder mystery, Ginger Rogers takes off her tap shoes to play a hard-boiled reporter who tries to outscoop rival reporter Lyle Talbot (Plan 9 From Outer Space) after a series of murders are committed in a Manhattan skyscraper.

THE SPHINX (1933) - Lionel Atwill (Mystery of the Wax Museum) plays a sinister mute who is accused of the brutal murder of a well-known stockbroker in this offbeat mystery. Directed by Philip Rosen (Spooks Run Wild).

THE PHANTOM BROADCAST (1933) - A popular radio crooner (Arnold Gray of King Kong) hides a terrible secret: His singing is actually voiced by his hunchbacked, club-footed, piano-playing assistant (silent star Ralph Forbes). In short order, the radio star is murdered and a police lieutenant (western sidekick Gabby Hayes!) is called in.

TOMORROW AT SEVEN (1933) - Guests in an old dark house are menaced by a maniac who warns his victims - just before he kills them! Chester Morris (Boston Blackie) stars, along with Warner Bros. favorites Frank McHugh & Allen Jenkins and Charles "Ming the Merciless" Middleton.

Disc Two

MYSTERY LINER (1934) - A professor (Ralph Lewis of The Lost City) is murdered on board a remote-controlled ocean liner, with Noah Beery Sr. (brother of Wallace) as the captain and Gustav von Seyffertitz (Dishonored) as the police inspector.

THE LADY IN SCARLET (1935) - In this delightful Thin-Man-like murder-mystery, playboy/private eye Reginald Denny is called in to solve the murder of a wealthy antiques dealer. Prolific Hollywood veteran Charles Lamont (Ma and Pa Kettle) directed.

MURDER AT GLEN ATHOL (1936) - Director Frank Strayer (The Vampire Bat) helmed this effective whodunit about a detective (John Miljan of Arsene Lupin) who is invited to a fancy party, only to become entangled in a web of gangsters, blackmail - and murder!

THE MANDARIN MYSTERY (1936) - Legendary sleuth Ellery Queen (in the person of Eddie Quillan from Mutiny on the Bounty) tries to solve the murder of two people over a rare (and priceless) postage stamp. Charlotte Henry (Alice in Wonderland) is the stamp's lovely owner and Franklin Pangborn (The Bank Dick) is a fussy hotel manager.

HOUSE OF SECRETS (1936) - A mad scientist, a torture chamber, and hidden treasure are just part of the fun in this atmospheric mystery starring Leslie Fenton (The Public Enemy) and Muriel Evans (Manhattan Melodrama) head the colorful cast.

Disc Three

JUGGERNAUT (1937) - A dedicated - and diabolical - doctor (the great Boris Karloff) is seduced into helping a greedy woman (French film star, Mona Goya) murder her wealthy husband (Arthur Margetson from The Mystery of the Marie Celeste).

THE SHADOW STRIKES (1937) - Silent star Rod La Rocque (The Ten Commandments) brings radio's Shadow (aka Lamont Cranston) to the big screen, where he goes undercover as an attorney and winds up involved in the murder of his wealthy would-be "client."

BULLDOG DRUMMOND'S REVENGE (1937) - Captain Drummond (John Howard of Lost Horizon) travels to Switzerland to get married and winds up on the trail of some stolen explosives. John Barrymore has great fun donning various disguises as Colonel Nielson.

THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG (1939) - British-born Boris Karloff as Chinese-born James Lee Wong, who is called upon to investigate the murder of an art collector who's been shot over a priceless sapphire. Probably the best of the Mr. Wong series.

NANCY DREW, REPORTER (1939) - Sixteen-year-old Bonita Granville (These Three) transfers the popular amateur sleuth from the written page to the big screen as a brave girl who winds up involved in a real murder while working on a story for her school paper.

Disc Four

MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING (1939) - Hungarian-born Peter Lorre stars as Japanese-born Kentaro Moto, who attempts to smash a spy ring that is bent on starting a Second World War (oh well). The colorful supporting cast includes John Carradine (House of Dracula) and George Sanders (All About Eve). Probably the best of the series.

PHANTOM OF CHINATOWN (1940) - This time, Mr. Wong is played by an actual Asian - Chinese-born Keye Luke - best known as Lee Chan, the "#1 son" of the Charlie Chan series. Mr. Wong tries to solve the murder of an archaeologist (Charles Miller from House of Frankenstein) who was poisoned over an ancient Chinese scroll.

MURDER BY INVITATION (1941) - Wallace Ford (Freaks) and Marian Marsh (Svengali) star as a reporter and his secretary in this effective old-dark-house thriller where the scheming relatives of an eccentric old woman (Sarah Padden, "Mom Palooka" of the Joe Palooka series) wind up dead, one at a time.

SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE SECRET WEAPON (1942) - Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce - the quintessential Holmes & Watson - in their first outing for Universal, locking horns with the evil Professor Moriarty (Lionel Atwill of Son of Frankenstein), who is trying help the Nazis with a new, top-secret bombsight.

EYES IN THE NIGHT (1942) - Fascinating tale of a blind detective (Edward Arnold of Meet John Doe) who starts out investigating a murder and winds up uncovering a nest of Nazis. The colorful cast includes Ann Harding, Rosemary DeCamp, Mantan Moreland - and 21-year-old Donna Reed. Directed by Fred Zinneman (From Here to Eternity).

Disc Five

LADY OF BURLESQUE (1943) - Stripper Gypsy Rose Lee contributed to this stylish mystery centering on a famous stripper (played by Barbara Stanwyck) who is accused of murdering her jealous rivals and must track down the real killer in order to clear her name. Arthur Lange's musical score was nominated for an Oscar and the film was directed by none other than William Wellman (Beau Geste).

THE BLACK RAVEN (1943) - On a dark and stormy night, a group of people are forced to spend the night at an eerie inn run by the sinister George Zucco (Moriarty in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) with Glenn Strange (Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein) as his dim-witted assistant.

THE RED HOUSE (1947) - Atmospheric mystery with Edward G. Robinson as a crippled farmer who lives with his sister (Judith Anderson of Rebecca) and who is obsessed with keeping a deep, dark secret about a mysterious red house that's hidden in the woods. Delmer Daves (Dark Passage) directed.

DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME (1947) - Ralph Byrd plays the legendary comic-strip detective, as he did in half a dozen features. Boris Karloff is Gruesome, an ex-con who stumbles across a secret paralyzing gas that he uses in bank robberies. Anne Gwynne (House of Frankenstein) is Tracy's gal-pal, Tess Trueheart.

WHO KILLED DOC ROBBIN? (1948) - An effective and entertaining comedy-drama about a group of people who find themselves trapped inside (what else?) an old dark house where they encounter a mad doctor, secret passageways and, of course, a homicidal gorilla. George Zucco (The Mummy's Hand) is the title character, whose nurse (Virginia Grey from House of Horrors) appears to be the killer.

Customer Reviews:

Questionable Quality.......2007-05-10

I've only watched a couple of the films in this set so far. I was very disappointed when watching "The Red House", to find the film is incomplete. The last 40 minutes are simply not there. Very frustrating.

I don't know if other films in the set suffer from this problem but you've been warned. Its too bad because these are fun films that may never see a better release.

On a 1 to 10 scale, this collection is rated: 6.0.......2007-04-15

MYSTERY & MURDER - 25 KILLER CRIME CLASSICS features a nice sampling of most of the mid-20th Century's theatrical detective series. Dick Tracy, The Shadow, Mr. Moto, Ellery Queen, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew and Bulldog Drummond are all here (while conspicuously absent are The Thin Man and Charlie Chan). There's also a nice cross-section of other 1930s and '40s who-dun-its that all fans of murder mysteries are certain to enjoy.
.

The overall rating for this box set was determined from polling data maintained at a film reference website. The current 1 to 10 average for MYSTERY & MURDERIS: 6.0.

The following alphabetized list includes individual poll scores, actual years of release and principal actors for each movie.

(5.3) The Black Raven (1943) - George Zucco/Wanda McKay
(5.9) Bulldog Drummond's Revenge (1937) - John Howard/John Barrymore
(6.4) The Crooked Circle (1932) - Zasu Pitts/James Gleason
(6.1) Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947) - Ralph Byrd
(6.8) Eyes In The Night (1942) - Edward Arnold/Ann Harding/Donna Reed
(6.1) House Of Secrets (1936) - Leslie Fenton/Muriel Evans
(4.2) Juggernaut (UK-1936) - Boris Karloff/Joan Wyndham
(6.5) The Lady In Scarlet (1935) - Reginald Denny/Patricia Farr/Jameson Thomas
(6.3) Lady Of Burlesque (1943) - Barbara Stanwyck/Pinky Lee (minor role)
(5.7) The Mandarin Mystery (1936) - Eddie Quillan/Franklin Pangborn
(6.4) Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1939) - Peter Lorre/John Carradine/George Sanders
(6.1) Murder At Glen Athol (1936) - John Miljan/Irene Ware/Iris Adrian
(6.4) Murder By Invitation (1941) - Wallace Ford/Marian Marsh
(5.0) Mystery Liner (1934) - Ralph Lewis/Noah Beery/George "Gabby" Hayes (in a minor role)
(6.1) The Mystery Of Mr. Wong (1939) - Boris Karloff
(6.3) Nancy Drew, Reporter (1939) - Bonita Granville/John Litel
(5.0) The Phantom Broadcast (1933) - Ralph Forbes/Vivienne Osborne/George 'Gabby' Hayes
(5.8) Phantom Of Chinatown (1940) - Keye Luke/Grant Withers
(7.0) The Red House (1947) - Edward G. Robinson/Judith Anderson
(5.3) The Shadow Strikes (1937) - Rod La Rocque/Agnes Anderson
(6.8) Sherlock Holmes And The Secret Weapon (1943) - Basil Rathbome/Nigel Bruce/Lionel Atwill
(5.9) A Shriek In The Night (1933) - Ginger Rogers/Lyle Talbot
(6.2) The Sphinx (1933) - Lionel Atwill/Sheila Terry
(6.5) Tomorrow At Seven (1933) - Chester Morris/Vivienne Osborne/Frank McHugh
(5.0) Who Killed Doc Robbin? (1948) - Larry Olsen/Virginia Grey/George Zucco

Average customer rating:

50 Mystery Classics

Manufacturer: Emson
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000H9W6AQ

Product Description

5 DVD's with 50 Classic Mystery's: DISC 1 SIDE A: The Affair, Dressed to Kill, The Mystery Liner, Scarlett Street & Terror by Night: SIDE B, Death Sentence, Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, A Study in Scarlett, Murder at Midnite, Kansas City Confidential: DISC 2, SIDE A, Fog Island, Murder with Picture, Jigsaw, Algiers, The Stranger: SIDE B, They Made Me a Criminal, The Green Glove, Quicksand, Eyes in the Night, The Second Woman: DISC 3 SIDE A, The Man on the Eiffel Tower, Impact, Detour, Too Late for Tears, He Walked by Night SIDE B, Topper Returns, Dick Tracy vs Cueball, The Sign of Four, Triumph of Sherlock Holmes, The Shadow Strikes: DISC 4 SIDE A, Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome, Dick Tracey-Detective, Murder at the Baskervilles, The Woman in Green, Nancy Drew-Reporter SIDE B, The Bat, The Kennel Murder Case, Bulldog Drummonds Revenge, Bulldog Drummond Escapes, Bulldog Drummond in Africa: DISC 5 SIDE A, The Black Raven, The Death Kiss, The Mysterious Mr. Wong, Mr. Wong, Detective, Suddenly, SIDE B, International Crime, Mr. Motos Last Warning, Midnight Manhunt, Murder by Television & Bulldog Drummonds Peril: 50 great movies featuring stars such as John Barrymore, Basil Rathbone, Natalie Wood, Edward G Robinson, Ray Millard, Burgess Meredith, Glen Ford, Mickey Rooney, Eddie Arnold, Robert Young, Nick Nolte, Bela Lugosi, Frank Sinatra, Boris Karloff and a whole bunch of people you've never heard of who still managed to make a pretty good " B " mystery! A great set!!!!

Average customer rating:

Real lions and plenty of action and adventure!

Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Starring: James Pierce , Frederick Peters , Edna Murphy , Harold Goodwin , and Dorothy Dunbar
Director: J.P. McGowan
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000FVQLTS
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Customer Reviews:

Real lions and plenty of action and adventure!.......2006-09-16

Long before Johnny Weissmuller made the character of Tarzan immortal for all time back in the 1940s, audiences were already thrilled to see exotic jungle action in the silent era, and this 1927 silent Tarzan could well rival the Weissmuller Tarzan adventures. Unlike many B-grade Tarzan movies over the years, this 1-hour action-packed adventure has several important highlights such as real animals (no fake, stuffed lions or apes) fairly authentic-looking natives, real action without tricks or stunts, and Tarzan himself comes off as quite realistic and believable. I was particularly pleased to see many scenes with Jab, Tarzan's pet lion, who behaves more like a dog, but is without a doubt a beautiful, real lion. This fast-paced story is much along the lines of the 1940s classics most of us are familiar with: somewhere deep in the jungle, an exotic (and un-African-looking) temple of sun-worshippers hides a team of greedy white men who have discovered a rich diamond mine under the temple. Another white man held prisoner by them escapes and tells Tarzan and his friends about his experience, but the leader of another team of thieves overhears the story of the diamond mine and determines to get them for himself. Along with Tarzan in this film is Jane, who is always dressed as an English lady, (since she is Lady Grestoke, after all) Tarzan's sister from England and a male companion, who find themselves in trouble when the diamond-hunters force them to show them the way to the temple and diamonds. At the climax, Tarzan's sister is about to be sacrificed to the natives' sun god, the warrior tribes fight each other, and Tarzan gets the baddies and saves the girl... with a little help from his lion companion. An unlikely story and even more unlikely costumes at times, but then again, that just seems to be the appeal of Tarzan. And this film is no exception so Tarzan fans shouldn't be disappointed. Boris Karloff fans, however, might be a little disappointed because although his name appears right after the lead role, James Pierce, Karloff plays only a small part, namely a rebel native warrior who sides with the diamond hunters. The picture quality is reasonably good for this low-price DVD; though more like VHS quality than sharp, clear DVD, and although I could imagine a more suitable exotic musical score to fit the scenes and action, the piano accompaniment on this DVD is not bad in itself, and pleasing to hear. Certainly good value for money, and like all Tarzan films, good and fun entertainment.

Average customer rating:

DEVOUTED CONSUMMATION!
Poor Little Gloria!
SWANSON & DOUGLAS.
"Ah, those gigalos! How do they do it?"
Gloria Swanson as an opera singer who doesn't feel her songs

Tonight or Never
Starring: Gloria Swanson , Melvyn Douglas , Alison Skipworth , Ferdinand Gottschalk , and Robert Greig
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000059H90
Release Date: 2001-03-20

Description

Silent screen superstar Gloria Swanson (Queen Kelly) is an opera diva with a problem, she sings beautifully, but without passion. Is handsome Melvyn Douglas (The Old Dark House) the answer to her dreams, or just a giggolo? Directed by Mervyn LeRoy (Little Caesar), Swanson and newcomer Douglas are sexy and charming in this romantic comedy of misunderstandings and double entendres. "Tonight or Never" is a delightful and dazzling film from Hollywood's Golden Age.

Customer Reviews:

DEVOUTED CONSUMMATION!.......2004-06-03

A BRILIANT RESTORATION of this early-talkie gem! Nary a scratch or a hiss ~ and a word of advice - DON'T play these oldies through a hi-tech sound system - you'll just be disappopinted - use your standard TV audio - you won't be disappoinetd.

CONTRARY to an earlier review - Miss Swanson DOES NOT sing in this moving picture - she plays an Opera singer - without the required fire ["Tosca" being her tour-de force] and discovers ther equired passion through a liason with a dashing Mr. Melvin Douglas.

MIS SWANSON has never been lovelier [or intentionally funnier! Great comedic timing under Mervin le Roy's baton] - as for the gowns! SPLENDID CREATIONS BY CHANEL! This alone is worth the admission price. Make up is slightly harsh - but that was the period - numerous generous closeups of the famous [and perfect] Swanson figure! They certainly 'had faces' back then! [AND there's nothign wrong with Miss Swanson's voice - check out 'Sunset Boulevard'!!!]

Lots of tongue in cheek yuks [Miss Swanson vacates her hotel suite due to the 'noises' from the newly-weds next door].

This is a perfect product of "Movies - when Movies were Movies!"

Boris Karloff cameos as a waiter ........

Poor Little Gloria!.......2004-05-14

No wonder Gloria Swanson never succeeded in talkies. This movie would have wiped out the career of nearly any star--whether or not they could talk, sing or what. I gave up watching this after 45 minutes although I've always been obsessed with Gloria Swanson. You would think that as an opera singer, Gloria would at least have lip-synched some songs. Instead, the movie takes forever to get started. Clad in stunning Chanel gowns and jewels, Swanson looks fantastic. But she spends her time staring, staring, staring at the mysterious gigolo, Melvyn Douglas, who cruises her hotel. One glaring weakness, too, is Gloria's voice. It simply has no vibrancy or personality. Although she looks phenomenal, everytime Gloria opens her mouth, she loses her star charisma. The movie creeps along at a glacial pace. Gloria looks completely uncomfortable talking. I found this movie so depressing to watch--after reading about it for years--that I quickly put in my new DVD of "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" and had a ball!

SWANSON & DOUGLAS........2002-09-24

Nella Vago is a young opera singer who is making her first major appearance at a Venetian opera house. The critics are less than enchanted, and her teacher remarks that she lacks the passion & fire which makes the difference between a singer and a diva. Gloria's voice takes on a newly-found timbre after an amourous affair with a handsome "gigolo" played by Fredric March...A fairly entertaining early talkie which was originally a stage play starring Melvyn Douglas and his wife, Helen Gahagan. The play was the last to be produced by Broadway legend David Belasco before his death. Note that Boris Karloff has a slyly engaging comedy part in this antique curio which continued to keep Swanson's fading career in the talkies on the down-side.

"Ah, those gigalos! How do they do it?".......2002-08-12

This odd little curio was recently restored by UCLA, and it looks pretty great, particularlly in the opening Venice scenes. The story concerns a young opera singer (Gloria Swanson) whose singing is technically excellent but souless because she has never truly been in love. She begins to notice a handsome young man (Melvyn Douglas, in the film's best performance) hanging around outside her window night after night. Inquiring after him, she learns to her shock that he is living with an aging diva who apparently supports him and who claims to be his "Aunt". After much thought, Swanson decides she might as well experience love with a gigalo than with anybody, so she goes after him.

I actually mildly disliked this film up until the last three minutes, when suddenly a surprise twist almost completely redeemed it for me, and changed my perception of everything that had come before. Melvyn Douglas is wonderful in the role of the young man; he plays his scenes opposite Swanson with wit and flair. Swanson is solid, although a little old, in the role of the lovesick singer. The supporting cast is fine, and the gorgeous art-deco sets and beatiful cinematography of Venice are first-rate.

That being said , "Tonight or Never" has some pretty big flaws, the biggest of which is its overt talkiness. Adapted from a hit play of the twenties, it never quite opens up, and there are long scenes taking place in one room that empahasize the staginess.

For old movie fans, though, it is worth seeing at least once and for fans of classic actor Melvyn Douglas it's a must have.

Gloria Swanson as an opera singer who doesn't feel her songs.......2001-07-12

"Tonight or Never" is one of the ten best movies about opera ever made (There have been at least 10, right? There is "A Night at the Opera" and "The Great Caruso," and they go to an opera in "Pretty Woman." Does that count?). Gloria Swanson plays Nella Vago, a young singer who has a rather disappointing operatic debut in Venice. Her voice teacher, Rudig (Gerdinand Gottschalk), tell here that her voice lacks warmth and feeling. Meanwhile, a young man (Melyvn Douglas) is following her around everything. Nella returns home to Budapest, where she learns that a scout from the Metropolitan Opera has refused to sign her until she can truly feel her songs. Depressed, she goes to the apartment of the young man and makes love to him. The next night Nella stuns the audience with her emotional performance in "Tosca." But now she has to choose between a career and the man she loves (apparently having both does not occur to her).

Swanson is pretty good in this early talkie, especially since she is dressed up in stunning gowns by Coco Chanel, which may well be the best part of the movie. This 1931 film directed by Mervyn LeRoy was based on the play by Lili Hatvany and this would be a much better movie if it seemed less like a play. Two other interesting tidbits about "Tonight or Never": The cameraman was Gregg Toland, the famous cinematographer who worked with Orson Welles on "Citizen Kane" and the scene stealing waiter was Boris Karloff, in his first role after "Frankenstein."

Average customer rating:

The Fall of Jayne Mansfield
Beware the Trailers!
primitive love/mondo balordo
Jayne!
Oh, Jayne!

Primitive Love & Mondo Balordo
Starring: Boris Karloff , Ugo Fangareggi , Jayne Mansfield , Franco Franchi , and Ciccio Ingrassia
Director: Roberto Bianchi Montero , and Luigi Scattini
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005QBZ2
Release Date: 2001-11-27

Description

Yes, Jayne strips and Boris lisps in this Mondo Drive-In Double Feature actually filmed in the bizarre corners of this weird, wacky world! "Primitive Love" (1964, 77 min.) - Jayne Mansfield, that eminent anthropologist herself, is out to prove that men prefer Primitive Love. The madness continues with "Mondo Balordo" (1967, 87 min.) as narrator Boris Karloff demonstrates that "nothing invented by the human mind can be as macabre, grotesque, and thrilling as the behavior of people in so-called real life," and we witness a global freak show encompassing transvestites, lesbians, Japanese bondage, the "reincarnation of Rudolph Valentino," and 27-inch-tall zoot suit-clad Franz Drago singing "I Ain't Got No Body!" Two jaw-dropping "shock-you-mentaries" proving once again that our planet is just one big loony bin!Mondo Trailers for "Primitive Love," "Mondo Balordo," "Ecco," "It's a Sick Sick Sick World," "The Mating Urge," "Mondo Freudo," "Mondo Oscenita," "Mondo Pazzo," "Secret Africa," "Women of Pleasure" and "Women Of The World;" 2 Short Subject Oddities: Spend A Wild Night at the Interlude, and Gawk at the Big Haired Beauty Pageant; "Let's Go to the Drive-In!" - An interactive feature allowing uninterrupted playback of almost three hours worth of mondo drive-in madness; Classic Drive-In Intermission Shorts; Gallery of Mondo Movie Exploitation Art with Radio-Spot Rarities

Customer Reviews:

The Fall of Jayne Mansfield.......2007-05-17

I had been seeking this movie for quite a while.
The people behind ''Something Weird Video'' really believe in the notion of ''Give'em what they want'' but also the concept of ''value for money''.This combo is not as attractive as the one with ''The Wild,Wild World of Jayne Mansfield+The Labyrinth of Sex'' and that is why I give it 4 stars instead of 5.
If you forget the awful wig Jayne is wearing (was the budget so low that they could not even afford a hairdresser ?),her body looks really good,and you laugh with her,not at her when she carries on with her intricate dance numbers.Poor Mickey Hargitay has a small role,that makes you want to watch ''The Loves of Hercules'' where you could at least see his outstanding physique.The two italian actors doing a really cheap imitation of Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis duo,would get arrested if behaving in public in their peculiar and creepy fashion.
The second part ''Mondo Balardo'' has to be the cheapest ''Mondo Cane''-inspired movie.It is still interesting in a ''what the hay ?''type of reaction.
Conclusion:Get that DVD,and show it to your non-Jayne Mansfield admirers friends,if you want to make sure that they will never spend another video-night at your place.However if you are a Jayne Mansfield,watch it as a guilty little pleasure...))

Beware the Trailers!.......2004-01-04

Both "Primitive Love" and "Mondo Balordo" are tamer examples of the "mondo" movies that were popular during the 1960s, beginning with the success of "Mondo Cane" (best known, perhaps, for the song "More," which received an Academy Award nomination). Mondo movies were pseudo-documentaries that purported to reveal shocking, exotic rituals around the world, but, in reality, concentrated their subject matter on third-world countries in Africa and Asia (where said subjects couldn't complain too much and were probably desperate for money, if they received any at all). By any stretch of the imagination, much of the footage would today be appallingly racist.

"Primitive Love" is an inept Italian sex farce starring Jayne Mansfield (already past her prime and obviously desperate for movie work) that includes some footage of so-called "primitve love" rituals from around the world. Some of these "rituals" include graphic documentary footage of the slaughtering and disembowling of animals that featured so prominently in the mondo-movie genre. Animal-rights activists would have a field day with these movies if they ever became popular again. What is inadvertantly hilarious about this movie is definitely not the antics of the two co-stars (a bargain basement Italian version of Martin and Lewis), but Jayne's voiceover narration. It may be the only time in cinema history where you are afforded the chance to hear a blonde bombshell sex goddess seriously conversing on Marxist economic theory!!!

"Mondo Balordo" may have been one of the last gasps of the exhausted mondo-movie genre upon its release, and it features a narrative voiceover by Boris Karloff. It's an incoherent mess of a movie, with random footage spliced together that promises insights into exotic rituals from around the world, but looks more like a package-tour travelogue through a very boring hell.

The real problem with this DVD release, however, is the attachaed trailers for other mondo movies. Here, you get the full, noxious variety of how degrading these movies became over the course of time in an effort to provide more shocking and disturbing thrills to jaded 1960s audiences. Easily the most offensive is a trailer for the mondo-movie "Secret Africa," which features typical National Geographic footage of bare-chested African women that may have been shocking 35-40 years ago, but now seems nothing less than degradingly racist. But more offensive is the inclusion of footage of a baby being held down and, in bloody close-up, ritually scarred as it screams in pain. Also included are close-ups of disfigured victims of the then raging war in Angola. This is appalling, graphic and inexcusable.

Because of the content of the attached trailers, this DVD is unfit for viewing -- certainly by minors and advisedly by any adult with a sensitivity for human misery, suffering and degradation. I would rate this no stars at all if given the chance.

primitive love/mondo balordo.......2004-01-01

lousy foreign film pass on this one

Jayne!.......2002-01-24

Another fine release here from Something Weird Video. PRIMITIVE LOVE features Jayne Mansfield (who totally eclipses Marilyn whatsername in every possible way in my personal book of Cool), while the 2nd feature MONDO BALORDO is narrated by a venerable Boris Karloff. Both are fairly tame, but enjoyable, 60's mondo-fests. Jayne's dance/strip segments are priceless and alone are worth the price of admission.

There are also a bunch of extras on the DVD, including trailers for other mondo movies and two short-shorts. My one minor complaint is that the cover's listing of the extras uses the kinda misleading title "Let's Go To The Drive In!" - An interactive feature allowing uninterrupted playback of almost three hours of mondo drive in madness". This is really just a way to play the disc through without using the menus. Nothing new if you've already gone through everything. No big deal, though.

Now if only SWV would release THE WILD WORLD OF JAYNE MANSFIELD...

Oh, Jayne!.......2002-01-23

Not quite as deleriously goofy as Jayne's post-mortem masterpiece "The Wild Wild World of Jayne Mansfield" (Hint: PLEASE! Something Weird put that one out on DVD!!!), but sure to thrill fans of Jayne and her bizarre exploitation phase, the best of her career. One scene, which might just be the dictionary definition of "camp", has Jaynie hula-dancing in a fake jungle set with a black wig to the strains of an Annette Funicello record! The plot, such as it is, involves Jayne's quest for academic acceptance of her anthropological theories in an uncaring world. She demonstrates her ideas with the usual array of "mondo" film clips in her hotel room. Shameless mugging ensues from Franco and Ciccio, two Italian comics who are delightfully surreal in their sheer UN-funniness as they try to get a peek at Jayne and her shocking footage. Jayne also does a tame (no real nudity) but sexy striptease which turns a guy into a werewolf. Jayne's husband Mickey Hargitay has an unusual, challenging role in that he appears in several scenes but has the same line in each. Although I don't know a word of Italian, the weirdly catchy theme song got stuck in my head for days.
The second feature, Mondo Balordo is also a lot of fun but Boris Karloff only narrates and doesn't appear in the film. It's a typical "Mondo" movie not especially more or less shocking than Mondo Cane, but like all of these movies, has a handful of great scenes. More fun are the trailers for other mondo movies that trim the filler and show the best gore and debauchery moments, for those of us with attention deficit disorder.
Both movies look great on the DVD when compared to VHS copies, though DVD purists might be annoyed by some flickering color fading in "Primitive Love", but it's certainly the best you will ever see a rare title like this that isn't curated like some studio "classics".

Average customer rating:

Graveyard Series, Vol. 3: House of Evil
Starring: Manuel Alvarado , Arturo Fernandez , Julissa , Boris Karloff , and Angel Espinosa
Director: Jack Hill , and Juan Ibañez
Manufacturer: Dv Classics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E0LLJK
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Average customer rating:

Two intriguing and enjoyable films on one DVD
Dated but worthwhile
I can make criminals confess their crimes...
For lovers of theatre and silent drama...
Bells of conscience ring

The Bells
Starring: Lionel Barrymore , Caroline Frances Cooke , Gustav von Seyffertitz , Lorimer Johnston , and Eddie Phillips
Director: James Young
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305773882
Release Date: 2000-03-28

Description

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem. A classic American horror film that combines elements of the traditional ghost story, Poe and "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." "The Bells" (1926, 68 min.) follows an ambitious innkeeper (Lionel Barrymore) on a downward trajectory into insanity after murdering a wealthy traveler to settle his debts. Though he is not suspected of the crime, the innkeeper is haunted by a hypnotist in a traveling carnival (Boris Karloff), and his conscience is tormented by a blood-smeared apparition of the dead man who comes seeking a confession of his own. "The Bells" is digitally mastered from an original tinted-and-toned nitrate 35mm print and backed with a musical score compiled by Eric Beheim.

Customer Reviews:

Two intriguing and enjoyable films on one DVD.......2007-04-06

There are many special highlights in both films on this DVD, such as great names like Lionel Barrymore and Boris Karloff in "The Bells", and the exceptionally good and enjoyable short Sci-Fi silent, "The Crazy Ray". Inspired by a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, "The Bells" had already been a popular stage play for half a century when it was filmed in 1926. It has all the gloomy elements often associated with Poe's work, but also a somewhat disturbing ring of truth to the story as it focuses on the main character who commits a murder, only to be tormented by a guilty conscience and visions of his victim's ghost. The exceptionally talented Lionel Barrymore is perfect in the role of the innkeeper in a quaint village of the mid to late 1800s who finds himself in serious debt and unable to resist the temptation when he encounters a travelling merchant carrying an abundance of gold coins in his money belt. With his emotive expressions, Barrymore superbly conveys through the silent film medium all the thoughts, emotions and subsequent anguish of his character's predicament and decline into madness, which is greatly exacerbated by the arrival of a hypnotist who threatens to read people's minds and reveal all secrets. Boris Karloff makes a memorable appearance as this hypnotist, and foreshadows his popular roles of future decades in many well-known horror movies. In this role, Karloff's character is deliberately portrayed as being strikingly reminiscent of Dr Caligari of the famous German Expressionist film, "The Cabinet of Dr Caligari", made several years earlier. But unlike this film with its distorted images, "The Bells" has a nice, normal setting, and the picture quality with sepia tinting is very good throughout. A very fitting musical score by Eric Beheim and his small orchestra also enhances the overall mood of the film.

The second film on this DVD is a drastically condensed version of a popular French Science Fiction film, "Paris qui Dort", aka as "The Crazy Ray" and released in the US as "At 3:25". Although shortened by about a third, this 20-minute condensed version has new intertitles, good picture quality and very suitable music, making it a real pleasure to watch. The viewer is immediately drawn into the curious and exciting situation of a man finding himself all alone in Paris because the rest of the world went into suspended animation at 3:25am. It is a superb Sci-Fi story, complete with a mad scientist who invented the ray of suspended animation and who hadn't even thought of reversing the ray's effects. There are many fascinating scenes of Paris in 1922, especially from the Eiffel Tower, which becomes the refuge for the few people unaffected by the ray, and even for the non Sci-Fi fan, "The Crazy Ray" is simply a crazy, fun ride.

Dated but worthwhile.......2006-08-28

I gave this DVD 3 stars, because any thoughtful presentation of a significant silent film deserves at least 3 stars, but that said, as a movie The Bells is more of a 2 star film.

Based on a pretty blatantly antisemitic bit of folklore, The Bells is rather simple morality play that hasn't aged all that well. Lionel Barrymore plays a village innkeeper with ambitions of being elected the town Burgermiester, but he is on the verge of bankruptcy from buying the townspeople's affection with free booze. Then one stormy X-mas Eve a wealthy Jewish businessman visits the Inn, and Barrymore gets him tipsy, then follows through the snow and murders him for his money. Though his debts are settled his conscious is not, and guilt torments him night and day.

I won't give away the end, but had this been a film where the murder victim was not a Jew you would have a more "justice" driven conclusion. There are also plenty of Jewish stereotypes to go around, which is not terribly surprising in a film of this vintage. However, even if you put the antisemitism in context, far too much of the second half is padded out with heavy-handed scenes illustrating Barrymore's guilty conscious, and no real pay-off in the final reel. Fans of Boris Karloff will want this for his early appearance as a mysterious Dr. Caligari-like mesmerist, who is positioned to expose Barrymore's guilt, but never realy does.

I'd be interested to know if this film went through a lot of re-thinking along the way, because there are many curious missed opportunities, that smell of re-writes and studio interference. That said, as it stands The Bells does entertain, and is worth a look if only to see a youngish Lionel Barrymore and Karloff.

Transferred from a restored, tinted 35mm nitrate print, The Bells looks pretty good, and has pleasing musical accompaniment. For no apparent reason Rene Clair's fantasy short, The Crazy Ray is put on this DVD as an extra (why not?)

I can make criminals confess their crimes..........2005-03-07

Generous mill and tavern owner Mathias (Lionel Barrymore) is both politically ambitious and deeply in debt. His dreams of becoming town Burgomaster are endangered when Frantz (Gustav von Seyffertitz) threatens to call in his loan. A type of salvation arrives when a wealthy man stops off at his tavern one Christmas Eve.
THE BELLS (1926) is based on the play `Le Juif Polonaise' by Alexandre Chatrian and Emile Erckmann. `Le Juif' was translated to `The Bells' and was a popular English play in its time, from the early 1870s on. It was probably familiar to audiences in 1926, the year the movie THE BELLS was released. You can find texts of the English version fairly easily on the internet; an engaging exercise for those interested in how plays are adapted for the screen. The biggest difference between play and screenplay concerns time and character. The movie compresses both and has, in my opinion, a better product to show for it. In both the stage play and the movie Mathias murders the wealthy stranger and is haunted by the crime, haunted by the sound of the bells on the Polish Jew's sleigh. In the play the crime occurred fifteen years in the past and Mathias is a vaguely sinister character. In the movie the crime happens in the present, and Mathias is a deeply sympathetic character. His troubles are a result not of greed, but of his generosity. There's a ghost of the slain man in the movie that's not in the stage play. The ghost and the bells appear in double-exposed sequences, one of which, Mathias playing cards with the ghost, is a pretty amazing technical achievement.
Lionel Barrymore is brilliant as the merchant slowly going mad after committing a crime quite beyond his character. It's a subtle performance that relies a lot on changes in facial expression, a performance that would be lost in the vast spaces of a theater, a performance that could only work on the intimate screen. Although he gets equal billing with Barrymore on the dvd cover, Boris Karloff plays the relatively small role of the Mesmerist. In the play the Mesmerist doesn't appear until the last scene, a dream sequence that signals that the consuming guilt Mathias carries is soon to destroy him. In the movie the Mesmerist is part of a traveling circus that is in town when the murder occurs. Karloff is buried beneath round glasses, high collars and a stovepipe hat, looking every inch the Dr. Caligari character he's obviously modeled on.
THE BELLS is going to work best for those comfortable with silent movies. The story unfolds at a different pace than modern movies. The card game with the ghost, for instance, will probably look kind of hokey until you realize the timing and skill needed to pull it off. Some of the conventions of silent movies - tinting indoor scenes green or brown, outdoor scenes blue, etc., take some getting used to, as do the more physical acting styles. The print is in good to very good condition, although there are some instances where it's obvious that a few feet of film have been removed. Less understandable are the few occasions when the image subtly goes in and out of focus. Overall, I thought THE BELLS was a grand treat.
Also included on the disk is René Clair's THE CRAZY RAY (1925), a short surrealistic romp about a Paris asleep. THE CRAZY RAY could easily be an episode of the Twilight Zone. Night watchman on Eiffel Tower and planeload of people discover themselves in a Paris where all the people are frozen - it occurring at exactly 3:25 a.m. Of course it's all the doings of a wacky scientist. This is one of Clair's first movies, and it should be noted that it's not the 54 minute French version but instead the 18 minute US release. The film is in good shape, some wear but watchable without distractions. Whoever edited the movie down to 18 minutes did a good job of it. They retained the gist of the story and characters without any noticeable gaps. Somehow I think the 54 minute version might drag a bit.

For lovers of theatre and silent drama..........2004-12-15

A must for lovers of silent drama and theatre history, this edition of The Bells offers the only surviving film version of the 19th-century play, formerly popularized by the great Henry Irving. (Note: Contrary to the packaging, there is no connection whatever with Poe's poem. The film is based on MM. Erckmann-Chatrian's Le Juif Polonais, translated by Leopold Lewis.) The print is clear, crisp and beautifully tinted, among the best preserved silent films I've ever seen, and the new score works well. Lionel Barrymore is competent and sympathetic as the tavern-keeper Mathias, tormented by the murder of a Jewish merchant. (As a young man Barrymore must have seen Irving's chilling performance, although he probably falls well short of its energy and terror.) The ending is a shocking disappointment, however, since the play's original and gruesome death scene (which made Irving an overnight star) is replaced entirely by an abrupt and sentimental repentance, giving an otherwise macabre human tragedy a fairy-tale ending. (It doesn't work and seems to make all that has gone before it just a bad dream.) That's Hollywood for you. (Imagine Willy Loman turning his life around suddenly in the last 30 seconds of Death of a Salesman-- and handing his wife the car keys, he resolves to lead a virutous life evermore.) The other 60 mins of The Bells, however, are still worth the price of admission.

Bells of conscience ring.......2001-01-16

The Bells, a 1926 release starring Lionel Barrymore as Mathias, an overly-generous tavern owner giving away more than he possesses, owes a great deal to Poe's 'Tell-Tale Heart'. Generosity leads Mathias into considerable debt, in which no resolve seems evident. Along comes Baruch, a wealthy traveler, seeking refuge from a fierce storm. After drinks, he foolishly reveals to Mathias a money-belt containing a great quantity of gold. Seeing no other recourse, Mathias seizes the opportunity to redeem himself as well as pay off his debts via murdering the unsuspecting traveler and taking his gold. Amidst a brutal snowstorm, Mathias kills Baruch, the sound of the sleigh bells reverberating throughout the scene. Once it's over, Mathias returns to his tavern with his ill-gotten fortune. Paying off his debts and marrying his daughter to the chief investigater, Mathias seems to be in the clear. However, in true 'Tell-Tale Heart' fashion, his conscience is tormented by the unrelenting 'bells', seen numerous times in a super-imposed manner. A trial commences and as luck would have it, Mathias oversees the preceding. Earlier in the film, Karoff, appears as a mesmerist, capable of casting a spell that will force the murderer to reveal himself. His role is minor but the possibilities prove endless in regards to the trial. In true Dr Caligari fashion, Karloff delights. His presence is enough to spook Mathias and the trial rapidly ascends into chaos. The print of the film is marvelous. For it's vintage, the picture quality is crisp and for the most part clear of any flaws. A few instances of jitter and film deterioration exist. The musical score provided byEric Beheim is adequate and proves to enhance the film's mood changes. If you're at all fascinated by Gothic horror, Poe, and/or Barrymore or Karloff, this DVD is well worth it. Regardless of whether or not you purchase this disc, a viewing is a must.

Average customer rating:

Embracing History Through Film
A Remarkable Achievement.
-= <+>=- New Film Score -= <+>=-
Hard to believe this was made so long agol
Not the experience it could have been...

The Last of the Mohicans
Starring: Wallace Beery , Barbara Bedford , Alan Roscoe , Lillian Hall , and Henry Woodward
Director: Clarence Brown , and Maurice Tourneur
Manufacturer: Sling Shot
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003ETJU
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Customer Reviews:

Embracing History Through Film.......2007-02-17

James Fenimore Cooper's 1826 classic novel, LAST OF THE MOHICANS is a pure example of historical romanticism. Directors Maurice Tourneur and Clarence Brown brings the classic American novel alive with this 1920 silent film adaptation. With great vividness and photographic craftsmanship, viewers have the opportunity to see Hollywood's take on the French and Indian War.

Within the same lines as D.W. Griffith's BIRTH OF A NATION and other early American film classics that depict America's historical past, LAST OF THE MOHICANS reflects and laments on a time that has long gone by. For those who have studied or read American history, Hollywood films tend to posses inaccuracies and misinterpretations of historical events in order to recapture or glorify a period for the present day moviegoer. In spite of the filmmakers staying loyal to Cooper's narrative, sadly, they depict and magnify the savage aspects about Native Americans and only show a small inkling of the alliances made between colonists and indians within their dying civilization. In addition, one sees the subtle romance between White woman, Cora Munro (Barbara Bedford) and Mohican Indian, Uncas (Alan Roscoe) that is dramatically shown throughout the film.

The most impressive part about the film is its cinematography and restoration and preservation done by the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House. The distinct color tints, depth of field of the landscape, and the period costumes are exceptional minus the pale over-powdered faces of the actors. Tourneur and Brown shot the picturesque mountainous scenes in California's backcountry - Big Bear Lake, San Bernadino County National Forest and the legendary Yosemite National Park - absolutely breathtaking scenes that are captured during the conclusion of the film where antagonist, Magua (Wallace Beery), stands atop a cliff viewing the vast untouched landscape.

If there existed a list of top films with a historical slant, LAST OF THE MOHICANS would be on the list. The film is a pure example of imaginative film-making as well as how history is depicted through the Hollywood perspective.

A Remarkable Achievement........2006-08-09

Having recently revisited this title as part of the available films of Maurice Tourneur on commercial DVD (the others are ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE, THE BLUE BIRD, A GIRL'S FOLLY, LORNA DOONE, VICTORY, and THE WISHING RING), I am again reminded of what a remarkable director he was and what a remarkable achievement this film is. Of all the existing versions this one is by far and away the most faithful to the James Fennimore Cooper original (the Daniel Day-Lewis version strays the farthest). The film was beautifully photographed on mostly natural locations (Yosemite Valley) and features fine understated performances from all the principal players especially Barbara Bedford as Cora (Boris Karloff is briefly seen as an Indian who throws a baby up in the air). The film is co-credited to Tourneur and Clarence Brown (Garbo's favorite director and maker of THE YEARLING). Tourneur was injured during the filming and Brown shot most of it. In a magnanimous gesture Tourneur wanted Brown to receive full credit but Brown refused saying that he only followed what Tourneur had already laid out and that he learned his craft from him. The print used here is from the George Eastman House and it is beautiful with subtle tints and proper framing. The title cards are new as is the electronic music score. While the score is perfectly suitable it really needs a chamber ensemble or small orchestra to fully bring it to life but this is a small quibble. The DVD is officially out-of-print but is worth tracking down as one of the very best silent examples of transferring a classic book to the screen. That comes as no surprise for if you check Tourneur's available titles, all but one are taken from literary sources.

-= <+>=- New Film Score -= <+>=- .......2005-04-10

This review is not speaking to the historical and writer's inaccuracies about the Mohican People, but is speaking to the added music score. A new edition of this film is available now with an entirely new film music score. The film itself has been remastered from a french nitrate master, by George Eastman House. The Slingshot and Miramax releases added a rather poor film score, with flute and synthesizer. A new version exists now, however, with an entirely new film score by a Mohican Composer, "The 1920 Classic Myth: The Last of the Mohicans" (2003) in 5.1 surround sound, re-scored for full orchestra, and American Indian instruments. Search for it, and definitely check out this film!

Hard to believe this was made so long agol.......2003-08-11

I have to honestly say that I did not even know there was a silent version of this film. I actually ordered it because I like the story and thought it would be interesting to see a silent version. Viewing this version was- breathtaking to say the least. The video transfer of this film is remarkably good which helps but more importantly the story itself and the acting I found incredibly interesting. Unlike the Dnaiel Day-Lewis version, which is excellent in its own right- this version has Hawkeye as a Minor Character. It focuses on the affection between Uncus (one of the 2 last of the Mohicans) and the General's Dauhter Cora (played by Madeline Stowe in the modern version). It must have been somewhat unsettling back in 1920 to even hint at a relationship between a Native American man and a Caucasian woman. This movie only hints at this relationship but I found it to be very believable and a refreshing point of view tastefully done. Another major plus of this movie was the actress who played Cora. If you view this movie it will be difficult to not think about this woman. I've seldom seen an actress or an actor emote so much simply by facial expression. Wallace Beery portrays Magua, the "bad" guy, menacingly well and, early in the film, you can see a very young Boris Karloff as an Indian raider. If you enjoy the story of Last of the Mohicans and if you have had the pleasure of seeing any silent film masterpiece you will thoroughly enjoy this DVD.

Not the experience it could have been..........2001-10-30

An excellent film with outstanding print quality but the whole experience of watching it was spoilt for me by a very poor musical score and sub titles that are simply text on a black screen.
Atmosphere is so important when watching a silent film -- you have to be totally immersed in all the aspects that constitute the whole. Having a totally inappropriate and monotonous synth score and sub titles that have no charm whatsoever,kept jarring me back to the present and as a result I could not appreciate the film as it deserved to be. A solo piano would have been preferable if a cost was a consideration and there is no excuse for not using, or at least reproducing, the original titles.

Horror Classics 04: Ape/British Intelligence

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Horror Classics 04: Ape/British Intelligence
Starring: Boris Karloff , Margaret Lindsay , Bruce Lester , Leonard Mudie , and Holmes Herbert
Director: Terry O. Morse , and William Nigh
Manufacturer: ROAN
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305632448
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Description

This double-feature disc features Boris Karloff in a pair of performances that will certainly please fans and also enlighten those cineastes who would only know the talented british-born Hollywood actor from his career-making role as the Frankenstein Monster. The Ape, a Monogram low-budget smash hit in 1940, showcases Karloff as a mad doctor donning the pelt of slain circus apes as he kills his neighbors for their spinal fluid in hopes of creating a polio-vaccine. Then, in the popular 1940 espionage potboiler British Intelligence--Boris Karloff plays Valdar, a butler working for a British cabinet minister during WW1, and who may just be a spy. He tangles with alluring secret agent Lindsay--who may just be a double agent. Remake of "Three Faces East".

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