Rebecca - Criterion Collection

Starring:Judith Anderson, Florence Bates, Nigel Bruce, Leonard Carey, Leo G. Carroll, Gladys Cooper, Melville Cooper, Gino Corrado, Reginald Denny, Edward Fielding, Joan Fontaine, Lumsden Hare, Forrester Harvey, Leyland Hodgson, Alphonse Martell, Laurence Olivier, George Sanders, C. Aubrey Smith, Philip Winter
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks) makes a huge leap in sophistication with this strong story about a comic-book artist (Ben Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams) and actually gets his wish that she love him, too. Their relationship is attacked, however, by his business partner (Jason Lee), who pulls a very unsubtle Iago act to cast doubt over the whole affair. The film has the same sense of insiderness as Clerks--this time, Smith takes us within the arcane, funny world of comic-book cultism--but the themes of jealousy, deceit, and the high price of growing up enough to truly care for someone make this a very satisfying movie. --Tom Keogh

Description

Chasing Amy is the third installment in the "New Jersey Trilogy" from award-winning writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma). Cult comic-book artist Holden (Ben Affleck) falls in love with fellow artist Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), only to be thwarted by her sexuality, the disdain of his best friend Banky (Jason Lee), and his own misgivings about himself. Filled with Smith's unique ear for dialogue and insight into relationships, Chasing Amy offers a thoughtful, funny look at how perceptions alter lives, and how obsession and self-doubt skew reality.

Customer Reviews:

Kevin Smith's best film..........2007-05-18

Chasing Amy, the third film in Kevin Smith's classic New Jersey trilogy (along with Clerks and Mallrats), just might be the best of the bunch. It packs Smith's usual envelope-pushing dialogue about sex, relationships, etc. and showcases some great comic performances. If you're feeling tired of boring Hollywood fare, Chasing Amy provides a refreshing slap in the face.

Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Bounce) plays Holden McNeil, a comic book artist who's still looking for the right woman. While attending a comic-book convention with his roommate and Bluntman & Chronic co-creator Banky (Jason Lee, Almost Famous), he meets Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), and they quickly hit it off. Holden is convinced that he's met future girlfriend material. However, there is one minor problem: She's lesbian, a fact that's conveyed in a hilarious bar scene.

After he gets over his initial shock concerning her lesbian preferences, Holden enters into a fast frienship with Alyssa. Their close bond is a source of tension between Holden and Banky, who believes that she's bad news (and perhaps is a bit jealous). As Holden and Alyssa's relationship becomes more intimate, he must also come to grips with her wild past. Whether or not you buy into the film's surprising resolution, there's no denying that it's a ballsy one.

Smith's writing is so sharp that almost any actor (or non-actor) can come off looking good. That said, Jason Lee gives a classic comic performance, spouting off numerous un-PC lines, whether introducing a young toddler to his collection of porn magazines or asking Alyssa about her lesbian habits: "Since you like chicks, do you just look at yourself naked in the mirror all the time?" Affleck delivers solid work in a gutsy role. How much you like or hate Joey Lauren Adams will depend heavily on how you cope with her nasal, high-pitched voice.

Of course, a Kevin Smith film wouldn't be complete without the presence of Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith himself), and their scene is a keeper. While dining with Holden at a restaurant, the two offer relationship advice that's alternately poignant and hilarious.

With a writer/director as daring as Kevin Smith, odds are there will be some scenes in his films that you won't like. However, that's a small price to pay for the many hilarious scenes you do get, and it's also part of the reason that Chasing Amy rewards repeat viewings.

An almost mature film from Kevin Smith..........2007-04-04

This is Kevin Smith's best film. It isn't perfect, but it has a lot of real emotion in it, even though Smith nearly ruins it with his usual oversexed, Generation X schtick. I think the reason this film works well for the most part is that it's really quite sincere in its best moments. Kevin Smith was dating Joey Lauren Adams (the lead actress here) at the time, and had problems dealing with her past. So he made this film as a cathartic experience, and maybe that was good for him to do so (even though him and Joey broke up, so it kind of all was for naught...oops). Anyway, you really believe Ben Affleck falls in love with Joey here, and his scene where he declares his love feels very real and sincere (something Gen X types like Smith are NOT known for). But when Joey just gives up being a lesbian right away for Affleck, it doesn't really feel authentic. Her character was a bit of a whore when she was young, she found lesbianism, now Affleck brings her back to straightdom? It's not entirely believable, but Affleck (in probably his only decent performance before he became a celebrity) is rather believable in this scene. And in the scenes immediately following it, Joey's character seems to be really in love with Affleck. Unfortunately, Smith throws in too many over the top sexual references (the scene where Joey Adams and Jason Lee talk about oral sex injuries is ridiculous and just there to be "in your face"), and the scene where Ben Affleck proposes a menage a trois between Jason Lee and Joey is ridiculous. Affleck somehow gets the idea in his head that Jason Lee has been in love with him his whole life (despite Lee talking about his oral sex injuries with women earlier on), which is completely out of place with his character. Affleck proposes this in front of a TV playing "video aquarium" for some reason. But I really like the ending of this film. It's left totally open, and Smith should be commended for ending the film like that. The film is a bit of a mess, with some questionable character motivations, but it has its good moments, and it's Smith's best film in my opinion.

A must own DVD.......2007-03-16

This is one of my all time favorite movies; I have probably seen it over 10 times and I still don't get bored with it. Great dialouge and very believable and beautifully flawed characters. Joey Lauren Adams shines in this and it's the only movie I like Ben Affleck in. But be warned, this movie might break your heart.

Kevin Smith in a nutshell........2007-02-27

It perfectly blends his potty mouth with sensitivity and good dialogue.This one and Jersey Girl is widely hated by the typical fans,but they're missing out.It's an unpopular formula that turns many away.You get the ones who like dick and fart jokes who don't appreciate the romance,and you get the other half who like the romance but hate the off-color jokes.For those of you with a taste for both,I reccomend this.

An ingenious comedy with a residual sadness .......2007-01-27

Chasing Amy is an intimate look at relationships and the uncompromising effect of regret. It is extremely rare to watch a comedy that will actually make you think.
This is by far Kevin Smith's most personal movie. It's low budget, the acting is bad (yes even by Ben Affleck), but it's still really enjoyable. Plus, the message is huge--follow your heart and ignore the distractions.
Holden(Affleck)is a comic book artist who falls in love with Alyssa(Adams), a woman who might have a questionable past. Then some rumors surface and her past endeavors start to become quite intrusive to him. Holden's insecurities boil over and puts their happy relationship in deep jeopardy.
This movie is hilarious, touching, and thought-provoking. A one-of-a-kind film.

In the Mood for Love - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

One note song
What's so special about Criterion Collection?
QING!
wow awesome film
Welcome to a dream!

In the Mood for Love - Criterion Collection
Starring: Maggie Cheung , Tony Leung Chiu-Wai , Rebecca Pan , Lai Chin , and Siu Ping-Lam
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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2046
Chungking Express
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In the Mood for Love (2000 Film)

ASIN: B00003CXUM
Release Date: 2002-03-05

Amazon.com

Winner of numerous awards including Best Actor at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, In the Mood for Love confirmed that Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai is a major figure in world cinema. As passionate as it is politely discreet, his film takes place in 1962 Hong Kong, where neighboring apartment dwellers Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) discover that their oft-absent spouses are having an affair. This realization parallels their own mutual attraction, but fidelity and decency ensure that their intimate bond remains unspoken though deeply understood. With a stealthy, eavesdropping camera style and a screenplay created through spontaneous on-set inspiration, Wong Kar-wai crafts an intricate, finely tuned platonic romance, enhancing its ambience with a kaleidoscope of color (most notably in Cheung's dazzling wardrobe of cheongsam dresses) and careful attention to character detail. Deservedly placed on many critics' top 10 lists, this elegant film should not be missed. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Hong Kong, 1962: Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-zhen move into neighboring apartments on the same day. Their encounters are polite and formal-until a discovery about their respective spouses sparks an intimate bond. At once delicately mannered and visually stunning, Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love is a masterful evocation of romantic longing and fleeting moments in time.

Customer Reviews:

One note song.......2007-07-05

I was more engrossed in this film than I should have been. It has a very simple plot. No twists and turns. Just the one question: "Will they or won't they?"

Basically, it's the prolonged musings of a man and woman thrown together because their spouses are having an affair. They're too principled to readily give into their own obvious chemistry. Or are they?

Like the other Wong Kar Wai films I have seen, this is beautifully directed and photographed. It is set in Hong Kong of the 1960s, therefore, vaguely familiar to us Westerners who remember the 1960s. But, if I watch it again, it will be to revel in Maggie Cheung's sex appeal, due especially to the form-fitting cheongsom dresses popular in Hong Kong the 60s.

What's so special about Criterion Collection?.......2007-06-07

Of course, I dig the movie. But does anyone know why Criterion Collection costs twice as much? Thank you.

QING!.......2007-05-18

Is this another of Amazon's DVD language oversights? For the single DVD version of In the Mood for Love they list the film's language as ENGLISH! YET the language of the Criterion version (which is more than double the price of the single version and that Amazon sells) the language is listed correctly as Cantonese.

What gives with Amazon - is the Criterion in Cantonese and the single DVDs in English? Qing!(Please!)

wow awesome film.......2007-04-29

i have to say the film was one of my faves. when i read the plot outline i saw it was boring and slow and dumb and i thought "pfff i aint buyin this!" but then i watched a commercial for it (yea im obsessed w/ commercials) and just in the commercial itself the cinimatography (sp?) was AMAZING.
the film was slow and if wong kar-wai wanted, he could do the same story in 30 minutes but it would never ever meet the graceful and elegant movie here. the slowness is not boring but enchanting and beautiful. its a film of its own kind. i strongly sujest it.

Welcome to a dream!.......2007-04-19

I bought this DVD after reading a review on a magazine about they way it was beautifully shot and referring to the movie as a wonder to look at. Well, I have to say that this movie by far exceeded my already grand expectations of it. It truly is like entering a dream in which you feel like a close spectator of a reality that defies reality. You know it is not real; yet, you can't help but stare and believe. The scenary is just something that will haunt you for days. The music is just amazing and complements the visual effects very well. It adds to the surreal dream-like aura. The dialogue does not waste a single line. From the get-go, we are being seduced into a trance that allows the movie to capture us and take our imagination to another place. This movie is like a hallucinogenic that allows us to marvel at the simplest of things like the sound of a heavy rain. It has taught me that sometimes you say the most by not saying much and just listening and observing. That's what you should all do...get this movie, listen and observe.

Average customer rating:

Robert Altman's Mockumentary MASTERPIECE
Cool mini-series
Tanner is for real
Still Relevant
Ahead of it's time

Tanner '88 - Criterion Collection
Starring: Michael Murphy , Pamela Reed , Daniel Jenkins , Cynthia Nixon , and Kevin J. O'Connor
Director: Robert Altman
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
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Secret Honor - Criterion Collection
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Tanner on Tanner
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Nashville

ASIN: B00005JM80
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Amazon.com

It still looks like one of the most adventurous projects ever undertaken for television: to concoct a fictional presidential candidate and follow him as he mingles (often improvising) amongst the real-life candidates on the campaign trail. Tanner '88 was the brainchild of director Robert Altman and "Doonesbury" cartoonist Garry Trudeau, who executed this on-the-fly series for HBO during the 1988 primary season. Thus we get "former Michigan congressman" Jack Tanner (Altman regular Michael Murphy) sorting out his messy professional and personal life as he hobnobs with the likes of Bob Dole, Pat Robertson, Kitty Dukakis, and real-life journalists. Some of these meta-fictional encounters are cameos, but some are remarkable full-blown sequences, such as Tanner's heart-to-heart with Bruce Babbitt as they stroll beneath Washington's cherry trees. (But then you always knew politicians were basically actors.) The deft supporting cast includes Pamela Reed and Cynthia Nixon. For fans of satire, Tanner is smart and sometimes mind-bending; for fans of Altman, it's the director at the top of his characteristic game: a multi-layered, many-sided ensemble picture that happens to be all about America. --Robert Horton

Description

During the 1988 presidential campaign, Democratic hopefuls spiritedly canvass the country, jostle for their party's nomination and the honor of opposing Republican Vice President George Bush, when Senator Jack Tanner suddenly emerges from the shadows of a lengthy political hiatus to challenge candidates such as Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, Gary Hart, and Michael Dukakis. Filmmaker Robert Altman and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Garry Trudeau created this mock-documentary television miniseries, which brought a fictitious presidential candidate out on the campaign trail and shed a revelatory light on America's political process and landscape. The Criterion Collection is proud to present Tanner '88 in its entirety, from New Hampshire to the convention... and beyond.

Customer Reviews:

Robert Altman's Mockumentary MASTERPIECE.......2006-07-11

This is one of the most important things Alman's done. Which is probably why it's one of his favorites along with MASH and NASHVILLE and SHORT CUTS. It is a political satire set in the '88 presidential election. It has everything and more, even a sequal, Tanner On Tanner. Very smart and sophisticated. CHECH IT OUT NOW!!!!!!

Cool mini-series.......2005-03-11

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the series.

Tanner 88 is a TV miniseries which aired on HBO during the 1988 election year. It portrays the campaign a fictional presidential candidate by the name of Jack Tanner.

He is ultra liberal and nominates Ralph Nader for Commerce secratary, Gloria Steinem for Health secratary and other actvists for cabinet positions.

The film has a cast of many famous people playing themselves, including the late country singer, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dole, Pat Robertson, Gary Hart, and many others.

The show ran for 11 episodes starting with the beginning of his campaign to his loss of the nomination to Michael Dukakis.

I found it to be interesting and had some interesting humor in it also. Also since the show aired on HBO it contains language and scenes not shown on regular television. It would get a TV MA for language and sensuality if aired today.

The Criterion DVD includes new interviews with the show's creators Garry Trudeau and Robert Altman. It also has cast members reprising their roles for introductory 'interviews' for each episode. These were first shown during the airing of the series on the Sundance Channel in 2004

This overall was an interesting change of pace from the normal issuing of films on Criterion and I think it is more than a coincidence that it was released less than a month before the real 2004 presidential election.

Tanner is for real.......2004-11-27

Tanner is an odd bird, it hasn't aged quite as well as i thought it would...yet it remains interesting and sometimes fascinating. The performances are all over the place, sometimes great (Micheal Murphy especially) and sometimes alomst cartoonish...this could be a result of the writing...Trudeau is a cartoonist after all. Being taped on video gives it an odd look as well. Still i watched the whole thing in one sitting and wanted more...so it gets 4 stars. (the interview with Altman and Trudeau is a nice plus)

Still Relevant.......2004-10-23

Just in time for the November U.S. elections, the good folks at Criterion have released Robert Altman's little-seen (yet influential) Tanner '88, an eleven-episode mini-series that he created with Gary Trudeau (of Doonesbury fame). Done for then fledgling HBO and shot on video, it was an attempt to critique and satirize the political landscape in America at the time. Sixteen years later, it is still relevant.

The Sundance Channel bought the rights to Tanner '88 and ran the entire series earlier this year. They brought back Altman, Trudeau, and key cast members to record brand new intros for each episode. Tanner is now a university professor who reflects, with some bitter resentment, on that fateful bid for the Oval Office.

There is also a fantastic 20-minute conversation between Altman and Trudeau. It's a spirited conversation with Trudeau being quite animated and Altman flattered by the former's gushing praise.

Tanner '88 is not just a fascinating snapshot of American politics in the late `80s. It holds up today because a lot of the same things are being said and a lot of the same things are being done. The people are still at the mercy of these double-talking politicians and Altman and Trudeau's series zeroes in on this with absolute clarity. Despite its limited run when initially broadcast, it went on to inspire Tim Robbins' scathing Republican satire, Bob Roberts and Steven Soderbergh's short-lived TV show, K Street, which also mixed actors with real politicians (and was also green-lighted HBO). This is a timely release well worth a look.

Ahead of it's time.......2004-06-07

Script by Gary Trudeau, directed by Robert Altman, shot on video with a small crew, improvising around real life Democratic Convention, bringing in real people from media and politics. And with a candidate, Jack Tanner, who was remarkably prescient of Clinton. The campaign slogan "For Real" had it's tongue firmly in it's cheek. All well ahead of the pack in terms of reality tv, dogme films and it's undertanding of the media.

Amazon.com essential video

Rebecca is an ageless, timeless adult movie about a woman who marries a widower but fears she lives in the shadow of her predecessor. This was Hitchcock's first American feature, and it garnered the Best Picture statue at the 1941 Academy Awards. In today's films, most twists and surprises are ridiculous or just gratuitous, so it's sobering to look back on this film where every revelation not only shocks, but makes organic sense with the story line. Laurence Olivier is dashing and weak, fierce and cowed. Joan Fontaine is strong yet submissive, defiant yet accommodating. There isn't a false moment or misstep, but the film must have killed the employment outlook of any women named Danvers for about 20 years. Brilliant stuff. --Keith Simanton

Description

"Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again." Rebecca's haunting opening line conjures the entirety of Hitchcock's romantic, suspenseful, elegant film. A young woman (Joan Fontaine) believes her every dream has come true when her whirlwind romance with the dashing Maxim de Winter (Sir Laurence Olivier) culminates in marriage. But she soon realizes that Rebecca, the dead first Mrs. De Winter, haunts both the temperamental, brooding Maxim and the de Winter mansion, Manderley. In order for Maxim and the new Mrs. De Winter to have a future, Rebecca's spell must be broken and the mystery of her violent death unraveled. The first collaboration between producer David O. Selznick and Hitchcock, Rebecca was adapted from Daphne du Maurier's popular novel and won the 1940 Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Cinematography (Black and White).

Customer Reviews:

classic.......2007-06-11

This movie is absolutely a classic!! All the newer versions are mere pale reflections of a masterpiece. The suspense mounts and the twists at the end-WOW, what a movie!!

not exactly my cup of tea.......2007-05-09

but I have to give respect where its due.

I truly loved the haunting opening sequence. And I was consistantly amazed by the cinematography.

Some of the performaces were semi dated. But often impressive and overall quite satisfying. The pacing was dead on. The plot is a bit of a cliche - bluebeard with a twist. But the execution and tone are so classy and elegent you almost forget its a b-movie comic book type of story.

The master piece.......2007-04-02

Pour moi le meilleur Hitchcock, tiré du roman homonyme de Daphné du Maurier. L'atmosphère pesante est parfaitement transmise, la photo et les décors sont superbes et le jeu d'acteurs excellent.

Korean release is affordable $$$$ and in English..........2007-03-01

Don't miss Rebecca-it is one of the best films ever. Until they re-release this on DVD at an affordable price, do as a previous reviewer suggested. The Korean DVD of Rebecca is under $20.00 new and is in English--you just turn the Korean subtitles off. There are optional English subtitles available.

On my top ten list..........2007-01-15

Okay, REBECCA was GREAT. I thought it was very spooky and suspensful, not to mention super stylish and beautiful. I just read the book, and I, having read it first, thought the book was better. Nothing can outshine the morvelous descriptiveness of words. I am going to do the book for my next book report, or a biography of Marilyn Miller. Say, if you're a BIG old musical fan like me, catch her in the movie SALLY. I loved it. But REBECCA movie is tops. But it costs A LOT. Now, if you are a hardcore old movie fan of Hitchcock, then go and buy a new copy. Rent it if you can. I got mine for Christmas. Now, Judith Anderson was a great character actor. I've seen her in the movies LAURA and AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. These are also amazing mystery movies. Strictly tops. She plays the character of Mrs. Danvers flawlessly, beautifully, and chillingly. Joan Fontaine is her usual good-actress self, and she does 1st class work. So does HANDSOME Lawrence Oliver, the Shakespeare guy. I won't spoil the story, but you've GOT to see this movie. It's #5 on my favorite movie list. Never will you find a more elegant, chilling, sleek, and haunting moive as REBECCA. Except maybe my favorite movie, the BOROADWAY MELODY OF 1936. It's the BEST movie I've ever seen in my life. The music touches your heart in a way no other musical can. It's better than TOP HAT, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, all of them. IN fact, some of it's musical numbers are on disc 2 of the SINGIN' IN THE RAIN special features. Watch at least I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin' with Robert Taylor serenading June Knight. It's the most beautiful peice of cinematography I've ever seen, and that's saying a lot, because I've seen REBECCA.

Wrong Men & Notorious Women - Five Hitchcock Thrillers 1935-1946 (The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / Rebecca / Spellbound / Notorious) - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Great Collection, but don't pay these outrageous prices...
Fabulous Noir...Classic Films...One Short Of Perfect
Early Hitchcock classics
Correction
IMMACULATE(AND STILL AVAILABLE)

Wrong Men & Notorious Women - Five Hitchcock Thrillers 1935-1946 (The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / Rebecca / Spellbound / Notorious) - Criterion Collection
Starring: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)
Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection (Psycho / Vertigo / Rear Window / The Birds / Shadow of a Doubt / Family Plot / Frenzy / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Marnie / Rope / Saboteur / Topaz / Torn Curtain / The Trouble with Harry)
To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition)
Lifeboat (Special Edition)
Under Capricorn

ASIN: B00008OM70
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Amazon.com

Wrong Men & Notorious Women is an irresistible set: five early Alfred Hitchcock thrillers--The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Rebecca, Spellbound, and Notorious--in sumptuous Criterion Collection editions that offer pristine transfers, commentary tracks by film scholars, and other bonus features such as screen tests, essays, rare photos, and radio broadcasts.

The 39 Steps (1935) is a prime example of the MacGuffin principle in action. Robert Donat is Richard Hannay, an affable Canadian tourist in London who becomes embroiled in a deadly conspiracy when a mysterious spy winds up murdered in Hannay's rented flat--and both the police and a secret organization wind up hot on his trail. It's classic Hitchcock all the way, a seemingly effortless balance of romance and adventure set against a picturesque landscape populated by eccentrics and social-register smoothies, none of whom is what he or she appears to be.

The Lady Vanishes (1938) begins innocently enough, as a contingent of eccentric tourists spend the night in a picture-postcard village inn nestled in the Swiss Alps before setting off on the train the next morning. Attractive young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) clashes with brash music student Gilbert (Michael Redgrave) when his nocturnal concerts give her no peace. True love is inevitable, but not before they are both plunged into an international conspiracy. Hitchcock effortlessly navigates this vivid thriller from light comedy to high tension and back again, creating one of his most enchanting and entertaining mysteries.

Rebecca (1940) is an ageless, timeless adult movie about a woman who marries a widower but fears she lives in the shadow of her predecessor. This was Hitchcock's first American feature, and it garnered the Best Picture statuette at the 1941 Academy Awards. In today's films, most twists and surprises are ridiculous or just gratuitous, so it's sobering to look back on this film where every revelation not only shocks, but makes organic sense with the story line. Laurence Olivier is dashing and weak, fierce and cowed. Joan Fontaine is strong yet submissive, defiant yet accommodating. Brilliant stuff.

Hitchcock takes on Sigmund Freud in Spellbound (1945), in which psychologist Ingrid Bergman tries to solve a murder by unlocking the clues hidden in the mind of amnesiac suspect Gregory Peck. Among the highlights is a bizarre dream sequence seemingly designed by Salvador Dali--complete with huge eyeballs and pointy scissors. Spellbound is one of Hitchcock's strangest and most atmospheric films, providing the director with plenty of opportunities to explore what he called "pure cinema"--i.e., the power of pure visual associations.

Notorious (1946) features a cast to kill for: Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, and Claude Rains. Bergman plays the daughter of a disgraced father who is recruited by American agents to infiltrate a post-World War II spy ring in Brazil. Her control agent is Grant, who treats her with disdain while developing a deep romantic bond with her. Her assignment: to marry the suspected head of the ring (Rains) and get the goods on everyone involved. Danger, deceit, betrayal--and, yes, romance--all come together in a nearly perfect blend as the film builds to a terrific (and surprising) climax. Grant and Bergman rarely have been better.

Description

A supreme technician and innovative stylist, Alfred Hitchcock always left his indelible stamp on his productions. From the wit, romance, and fast-paced action of 1935's British-made The 39 Steps to the bittersweet blend of lush romance and spy- thriller in the 1946 Hollywood production Notorious, Hitchcock continually flaunted a peerless formal mastery as he capitalized on a wide variety of genres. In the 1940 Academy Award™ -winning Rebecca and 1945 psychoanalytic thriller Spellbound, Hitchcock also proved himself a keen surveyor of the human mind, incisively exploring the psychology of fear and sexual repression within the context of films that both entertained audiences of the day and ensured that his career would be one of the most illustrious in the history of cinema.

Starring Robert Donat, Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Claude Rains, and Cary Grant, these five acclaimed films bridge Hitchcock's early British masterworks with his triumphant American collaborations with producer David O. Selznick, and present the legendary director at his unparalleled best, creating films that are exemplars of suspense and cinematic virtuosity.

Oscar™ , Academy Award™ , and Academy Awards™ are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Customer Reviews:

Great Collection, but don't pay these outrageous prices..........2007-03-09

MGM dvd is set to to release these same titles later sometime this year (2007). So be on the look out. I already own this Chriterion collection and it is great, but it lacks any documentaries on the films. I'm sure the new MGM dvd releases will more than likely put this on them and hopefully more features too, like Warner dvd did with the rights they own of Hitchcock now.

Fabulous Noir...Classic Films...One Short Of Perfect.......2006-05-13

Hitch, Cary, Ingrid, Olivier, Whitty, Du Maurier,Fontaine. The list goes on. All these great talents combined to make a great package for Hitch fans.A selection of fabulous noir, that is definitive of all things Hitch. The suspense, the shadows and light, the camera angles, the sly humor, his trademark sequences, all here, for one great Hitch film-fest. A mix of his vintage British films, and the great classics of Hollywood.
Here are the "wrong men" and "notorious women" that make up this great collection.

"The 39 Steps"
One of Hitch's masterpieces! From 1935.. "The Thirty Nine Steps" has Hitch's trademark style all through it. An innocent man gets involved with spies and counter spies. He is at the music hall, watching a "Memory Act"(which is quite a scene in itself),there's a gun shot, panic erupts and everyone runs out. A mysterious woman attaches herself to him and comes home with him. She reveals she is a spy and others are after her. She mentions the mysterious "Thirty Nine Steps", and the next morning he finds her dead. He goes on the run for fear he will be implicated in the murder and in order to prove his innocence he must uncover this spy ring on his own. His path is fraught with danger, suspense and of course a beautiful woman. It stars Robert Donat,Madeline Carroll(you know how Hitch loved those beautiful cool blondes!), and Lucie Mannheim(as Annabela the spy).Also look for his trademark staircase scene.

Looking for Hitch: Less than 10 minutes in, you'll spy him. What a litter bug!

"The Lady Vanishes"
Of all Hitch's early British made film's(mostly made during the late 1920's and 1930's), "The Lady Vanishes" is by far the most captivating one for me.
A train trip is the setting for this mystery. A woman's traveling companion has disappeared. Where could she be? The train is only so big. She tries desperately to find her friend, but is alone in her quest. No one seems to believe that she even had a companion to start with.All seem to have their own mysterious reasons for denying her any help.
Finally one man is convinced to help, and together they try to solve this possible crime. There are lots of tense sequences to keep you in suspense, and your heart pounding. Hitch mixes up the thrills with his marvelous sense of humor and his wonderful trademark style.Wonderful performances by the likes of Dame Mae Whitty, Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave add to the enjoyment of this one.

Looking for Hitch:....You must be patient. Check Victoria Station almost at the end of the film.

"Rebecca"
What do you get when you have a great work of literature by Daphne Du Maurier, combined with the cinematic skill of Director Alfred Hitchcock,combined with the extraordinary acting talents of Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders and Judith Anderson? You get pure perfection on film. Movie heaven!

The story begins in the South of France where a young, introverted woman(Joan Fontaine) meets wealthy widower Maxim de Winter(Olivier) His wife,Rebecca, had recently died in a drowning accident and often he seems to be pensive and far off. They fall in love, marry, and go back to his home, an estate called Manderly. She is overwhelmed by the palacial grandeur, the huge staff of servants but mainly by the very prim but chilling head housekeeper Mrs. Danvers(Judith Andersson). The first Mrs. De Winter still seems to have a presence in the household that Mrs. Danvers keeps alive.
To say anymore will be giving away too much of this hauntingly chilling love story/mystery.

Looking for Hitch: Nice day for a stroll...check the phone booth scene towards the end.

"Spellbound"
Here's a little of this riveting story.....
The beautiful Ingrid Bergman plays the distant psychiatrist Dr. Constance Petersen. She treats a number of troubled patients at the Green Manors Mental Asylum, but her toughest case is yet to come. With Dr. Murchison(Leo G Carroll) being forced into retirement a new chief of staff will be arriving. It is the esteemed Dr Edwards(Gregory Peck)who takes over. It is not long before Edwards and Constance find themselves attracted to one another, and it is not long before Constance figures out that Edwards is not really who he says he is. He displays signs of paranoia and amnesia and it is possible that he murdered the real Dr. Edwards.They are on the run to try to solve the case but as the original theatrical poster says,"Will he Kiss me or Kill me?"

You'll be awed Hitch's definitive style of camera angles, shadow and lights, romance and a unique dream sequence designed by Salavdor Dali. Not to mention all the wonderful talent that graces this film. Bergman and Peck make screen magic together, Carroll is a legend and this film shows us why.Also starring is Rhonda Flemming,Michael Chekhov, and Wallace Ford. The music by Miklos Rozsa also adds greatly to the building tension, and romantic scenes in the story.
So don't worry about trying to over anaylze this one....As Hitch himself said "It's just a movie." But a GREAT one!

Looking for Hitch: About :40 minutes in, you may see him if you're quick!

"Notorious"
The master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, gives us another edge of your seat thriller. He combines, mystery,romance, and the evil's of Nazism in this chilling story.It takes place shortly after WWII. Alicia(Ingrid Bergman) is a woman with a past. Her father has just been convicted of spying. American agent Devlin(Cary Grant), enlists Alicia to infiltrate a Nazi spy ring.After her father's conviction, Alicia can prove her own patriotism by cooperating in this manner. She finds herself right in the thick of things and her own life in danger after she goes as far as to marry Alex(Claude Rains), one of the very powerful, rich and dangerous ring leaders of the group. Alex is on to her and tries to methodically get rid of his beautiful wife.Can the handsome "Dev" rescue the woman he has come to love so much before tragedy strikes.?

You'll delight to find Hitch's trademarks all through the film. The camera angles are definitive,the trademark staircase scene, the passion between Grant and Bergman electrifying,Claude Rains is terrifying, and the story a rollercoaster of suspense filled moments. There isn't a more perfect film I can think of.

Looking for Hitch: A little over an hour in you can have a little drink with him.(Not too much though, the Champagne needs to last the night at this party).

Hitch was "notorious" for stories where the "wrong" guy was accused of the crime. There are others that could fit into this collection. But I truly think there is one glaring omission.Shouldn't "The Wrong Man" with Henry Fonda, be included in "Wrong Men and Notorious Women"?.It's a dark wonderful piece of filmmaking, based on a true story of a man who happened to look like the criminal.

One other note. I notice that Amazon is out of stock. The outside sellers seem to be taking advantage of that fact, and have raised the cost sky high. If this set is the absolute way you want to go, put it in your cart or wish list, and keep an eye out for a reasonably listed price. In the meantime, you may want to surf around and see what it would cost to buy these films separately. A couple of them are on the expensive side, but others are averaging the usual cost of a DVD. One more route, would be to go to you local video store, they may have it, or may even be able to order it for you at the suggested retail price.

Five 5 star films, but missing one to make the package perfect.
Enjoy....Laurie

Early Hitchcock classics.......2005-06-28

This impressive DVD box set showcases some of Alfred Hitchcock's earliest work in the 1930s and 40s, where the young director was not only breathing new life into Hollywood, but also displaying his enthusiasm for macabre tales of murder and mystery. By 1935 Hitch already had 19 films under his belt, however for the most part, his earlier work (The 1920s films THE LODGER, THE RING, BLACKMAIL and MURDER in 1930) was more experimentation that art, but THE 39 STEPS was the landmark film that put Hitch on the map. Watching it on TV late one night, I was enthralled at how expertly-crafted this little thriller was, and its great to see this classic on DVD. Boasting powerhouse performances form Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll and some fantastic cinematography, 39 STEPS says: "I respect you and here's a great movie worthy of your time". Made when movie studios like RKO, 20th Century Fox and Universal had uncertain futures, this was one of the movies that assured cinema-goers that this was not only worth money, but showcased some fantastic thrills, chills, and wonderful escapism. THE LADY VANISHES (1938) is not the directors' best film however, with a slow-paced first 20 minutes and the writing isn't as strongly composed as 39 STEPS. Some impressive action at the finale and a strident score almost make up for it's casual style.

Derived from Daphne Du Maurier's excellent novel by Philip MacDonald, REBECCA (1940) is possibly one of the most expertly crafted films ever made in the history of cinema, a rare perfect film that deserves 6 stars for its incredible style, music, and some gripping acting from veteran Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. SPELLBOUND and NOTORIOUS are equal in style and achievement, and the DVD extras are fantastic, including The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock, a Janus Films documentary, rare deleted scenes, restored image and sound, and some amazing screen, hair, makeup and costume tests with Vivien Leigh, Anne Baxter, Loretta Young and Joan Fontaine. Commentaries by film scholar Leonard J. Leff, author of Hitchcock and Selznick, Hitchcock on Rebecca, excerpts from his conversations with Francois Truffaut, phone interviews with Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson from 1986 and exclusive behind the scenes footage of the making of these classic masterpieces. If you don't have this already, buy it now and be thrilled by the master of suspense!

Correction.......2004-06-15

Amazon lists this as a five-disc set. Actually it includes six discs since Rebecca comes on two.

IMMACULATE(AND STILL AVAILABLE).......2004-04-28

When I read the reviews and saw that Amazon no longer carried this, I was disappointed. Only disappointed until I purchased this item new from a different vendor. I don't know why Amazon does not carry it.

In any event, when you get your opportunity pounce! The quality of these movies is amazing, the extras extraordinary and the price a steal. These movies are a feast for the eyes and ears. The images are beyond crisp and the sound is beyond clear. What more can be said. This set is a must have.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Life With Father

Standard Deviants School: Anatomy, Vol. 8 - The Endocrine

Tiny Planets: Shower Power [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

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