Frenzy

Starring:Michael Bates, John Boxer (II), Bernard Cribbins, Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Jimmy Gardner, Drewe Henley, Noel Johnson, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Jean Marsh, Anna Massey, Alec McCowen, Vivien Merchant, Elsie Randolph, Madge Ryan, Gerald Sim, Clive Swift, George Tovey, Billie Whitelaw
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Masterpiece indeed. With 14 films, each supplemented with numerous documentaries, commentaries, and other bonus materials, Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection will be the cornerstone for any serious DVD library. Packaged in a beautiful, conversation-starting velvet box, the individual discs inside come four to a case, decorated with original poster art.

No doubt opinionated fans will argue about what should fall under the rubric of "masterpiece" in Hitchcock's body of work, but with the bona fide classics Vertigo, Psycho, and The Man Who Knew Too Much, there's plenty of timeless movie magic here. Eye-popping transfers and gorgeous sound make this set one of the must-have releases of the year.

Should the Hitchcock fan have the energy for more after imbibing on the movies themselves, a bonus disc provides additional documentaries. These include a revealing interview in which the master of suspense discusses, among other things, how much he dislikes working with method actors, going so far as to name names (we're talking about you, Jimmy Stewart and Montgomery Clift). In an American Film Institute lifetime achievement ceremony, the master of suspense is praised by the likes of Stewart and Ingrid Bergman, and seems to be suffering from severe boredom as celebrities pile on the flattery. Then Hitchcock opens his mouth to accept the award, delivering an endlessly witty stream of perfect bon mots that prove once again that he was a master of high comedy as well. Revealing documentaries about the making of Psycho and The Birds round out the feast of extras. The 36-page booklet, filled mostly with stills and poster art, provides little new information about the films.--Ryan Boudinot

Films Included in Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection

Saboteur
Robert Cummings stars as Barry Kane, a patriotic munitions worker who is falsely accused of sabotage, in this wartime thriller from Alfred Hitchcock. Plastered across the front page of every newspaper and hated by the nation, Kane's only hope of clearing his name is to find the real villain. The script as a whole is a clever one--Algonquin wit Dorothy Parker shares a screenwriting credit, and her trademark zingers make for a terrific mix of humor and suspense. Saboteur is a pleasure whether you're a die-hard Hitchcock fan or just someone who likes a good nail-biter. --Ali Davis

Shadow of a Doubt
Alfred Hitchcock considered this 1943 thriller to be his personal favorite among his own films, and although it's not as popular as some of Hitchcock's later work, it's certainly worthy of the master's admiration. Scripted by playwright Thornton Wilder and inspired by the actual case of a 1920's serial killer known as "The Merry Widow Murderer," the movie sets a tone of menace and fear by introducing a psychotic killer into the small-town comforts of Santa Rosa, California. Through narrow escapes and a climactic scene aboard a speeding train, this witty thriller strips away the façade of small-town tranquility to reveal evil where it's least expected. And, of course, it's all done in pure Hitchcockian style. --Jeff Shannon

Rope
An experimental film masquerading as a standard Hollywood thriller, Rope is simple and based on a successful stage play: two young men (John Dall and Farley Granger) commit murder, more or less as an intellectual exercise. They hide the body in their large apartment, then throw a dinner party. Will the body be discovered? Director Alfred Hitchcock, fascinated by the possibilities of the long-take style, decided to shoot this story as though it were happening in one long, uninterrupted shot. Since the camera can only hold one 10-minute reel at a time, Hitchcock had to be creative when it came time to change reels, disguising the switches as the camera passed behind someone's back or moved behind a lamp. James Stewart, as a suspicious professor, marks his first starring role for Hitchcock, a collaboration that would lead to the masterpieces Rear Window and Vertigo. --Robert Horton

Rear Window
Like the Greenwich Village courtyard view from its titular portal, Alfred Hitchcock's classic Rear Window is both confined and multileveled: both its story and visual perspective are dictated by its protagonist's imprisonment in his apartment, convalescing in a wheelchair, from which both he and the audience observe the lives of his neighbors. Cheerful voyeurism, as well as the behavior glimpsed among the various tenants, affords a droll comic atmosphere that gradually darkens when he sees clues to what may be a murder. At deeper levels, Rear Window plumbs issues of moral responsibility and emotional honesty, while offering further proof (were any needed) of the director's brilliance as a visual storyteller. --Sam Sutherland

The Trouble with Harry
A busman's holiday for Alfred Hitchcock, this 1955 black comedy concerns a pesky corpse that becomes a problem for a quiet, Vermont neighborhood. Shirley MacLaine makes her film debut as one of several characters who keep burying the body and finding it unburied again. Hitchcock clearly enjoys conjuring the autumnal look and feel of the story, and he establishes an important, first-time alliance with composer Bernard Herrmann, whose music proved vital to the director's next half-dozen or so films. But for now, The Trouble with Harry is a lark, the mischievous side of Hitchcock given free reign. --Tom Keogh

The Man Who Knew Too Much
Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 remake of his own 1934 spy thriller is an exciting event in its own right, with several justifiably famous sequences. James Stewart and Doris Day play American tourists who discover more than they wanted to know about an assassination plot. When their son is kidnapped to keep them quiet, they are caught between concern for him and the terrible secret they hold. When asked about the difference between this version of the story and the one he made 22 years earlier, Hitchcock always said the first was the work of a talented amateur while the second was the act of a seasoned professional. Indeed, several extraordinary moments in this update represent consummate filmmaking, particularly a relentlessly exciting Albert Hall scene, with a blaring symphony, an assassin's gun, and Doris Day's scream. The Man Who Knew Too Muchis the work of a master in his prime. --Tom Keogh

Vertigo
Although it wasn't a box-office success when originally released in 1958, Vertigo has since taken its deserved place as Alfred Hitchcock's greatest, most spellbinding, most deeply personal achievement. James Stewart plays a retired police detective who is hired by an old friend to follow his wife (a superb Kim Novak, in what becomes a double role), whom he suspects of being possessed by the spirit of a dead madwoman. Shot around San Francisco (the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of the Legion of Honor are significant locations) and elsewhere in Northern California (the redwoods, Mission San Juan Batista) in rapturous Technicolor, Vertigo is as lovely as it is haunting. --Jim Emerson

Psycho
For all the slasher pictures that have ripped off Psycho (and particularly its classic set piece, the "shower scene"), nothing has ever matched the impact of the real thing. More than just a first-rate shocker full of thrills and suspense, Psycho is also an engrossing character study in which director Alfred Hitchcock skillfully seduces you into identifying with the main characters--then pulls the rug (or the bathmat) out from under you. Anthony Perkins is unforgettable as Norman Bates, the mama's boy proprietor of the Bates Motel; and so is Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, who makes an impulsive decision and becomes a fugitive from the law, hiding out at Norman's roadside inn for one fateful night. --Jim Emerson

The Birds
Vacationing in northern California, Alfred Hitchcock was struck by a story in a Santa Cruz newspaper: "Seabird Invasion Hits Coastal Homes." From this peculiar incident, and his memory of a short story by Daphne du Maurier, the master of suspense created one of his strangest and most terrifying films. The Birds follows a chic blonde, Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren), as she travels to the coastal town of Bodega Bay to hook up with a rugged fellow (Rod Taylor) she's only just met. Before long the town is attacked by marauding birds, and Hitchcock's skill at staging action is brought to the fore. Beyond the superb effects, however, The Birds is also one of Hitchcock's most psychologically complicated scenarios, a tense study of violence, loneliness, and complacency. What really gets under your skin are not the bird skirmishes but the anxiety and the eerie quiet between attacks. Treated with scant attention by serious critics in 1963, The Birds has grown into a classic and--despite the sci-fi trappings--one of Hitchcock's most serious films. --Robert Horton

Marnie
Sean Connery, fresh from the second Bond picture, From Russia with Love, is a Philadelphia playboy who begins to fall for Tippi Hedren's blonde ice goddess only when he realizes that she's a professional thief; she's come to work in his upper-crust insurance office in order to embezzle mass quantities. His patient program of investigation and surveillance has a creepy, voyeuristic quality that's pure Hitchcock, but all's lost when it emerges that the root of Marnie's problem is phobic sexual frigidity, induced by a childhood trauma. Luckily, Sean is up to the challenge. As it were. Not even D.H. Lawrence believed as fervently as Hitchcock in the curative properties of sexual release. --David Chute

Torn Curtain
Paul Newman and Julie Andrews star in what must unfortunately be called one of Alfred Hitchcock's lesser efforts. Still, sub-par Hitchcock is better than a lot of what's out there, and this one is well worth a look. Newman plays cold war physicist Michael Armstrong, while Andrews plays his lovely assistant-and-fiancée, Sarah Sherman. Armstrong has been working on a missile defense system that will "make nuclear defense obsolete," and naturally both sides are very interested. All Sarah cares about is the fact that Michael has been acting awfully fishy lately. The suspense of Torn Curtain is by nature not as thrilling as that in the average Hitchcock film--much of it involves sitting still and wondering if the bad guys are getting closer. Still, Hitchcock manages to amuse himself: there is some beautifully clever camera work and an excruciating sequence that illustrates the frequent Hitchcock point that death is not a tidy business. --Ali Davis

Topaz
Alfred Hitchcock hadn't made a spy thriller since the 1930s, so his 1969 adaptation of Leon Uris's bestseller seemed like a curious choice for the director. But Hitchcock makes Uris's story of the West's investigation into the Soviet Union's dealings with Cuba his own. Frederick Stafford plays a French intelligence agent who works with his American counterpart (John Forsythe) to break up a Soviet spy ring. The film is a bit flat dramatically and visually, and there are sequences that seem to occupy Hitchcock's attention more than others. A minor work all around, with at least two alternative endings shot by Hitchcock. --Tom Keogh

Frenzy
Alfred Hitchcock's penultimate film, written by Anthony Shaffer (who also wrote Sleuth), this delightfully grisly little tale features an all-British cast minus star wattage, which may have accounted for its relatively slim showing in the States. Jon Finch plays a down-on-his-luck Londoner who is offered some help by an old pal (Barry Foster). In fact, Foster is a serial killer the police have been chasing--and he's framing Finch. Which leads to a classic Hitchcock situation: a guiltless man is forced to prove his innocence while eluding Scotland Yard at the same time. Spiked with Hitchcock's trademark dark humor, Frenzy also features a very funny subplot about the Scotland Yard investigator (Alec McCowen) in charge of the case, who must endure meals by a wife (Vivien Merchant) who is taking a gourmet-cooking class. --Marshall Fine

Family Plot
Alfred Hitchcock's final film is understated comic fun that mixes suspense with deft humor, thanks to a solid cast. The plot centers on the kidnapping of an heir and a diamond theft by a pair of bad guys led by Karen Black and William Devane. The cops seem befuddled, but that doesn't stop a questionable psychic (Barbara Harris) and her not overly bright boyfriend (Bruce Dern, in a rare good-guy role) from picking up the trail and actually solving the crime. Did she do it with actual psychic powers? That's part of the fun of Harris's enjoyably ditsy performance. --Marshall Fine

Product Description

14 of the finest works from the universally acclaimed Master of Suspense come together for the first time in one collection. These captivating landmark films boast three decades of Hollywood legends, including James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Anthony Perkins, Sean Connery and Doris Day. The premium packaging and collectible book make Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection the must-own, definitive anthology of gripping works by a true genius.

System Requirements:

Running Time 1630 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Poor packaging........2007-06-01

This is a great set minus the annoying packaging. As someone mentioned earlier the DVD cases are fitted to go in a certain order and if they don't go in in that order then they get stuck and the edges of the DVD cases get frayed. The corners of the cases get frayed anyway because the cases are a paper and cardboard-based binding with the plastic DVD holders glued on to them. So I put them in spine first now. Open and close them enough times and you get those white, worn edges on the spine. Another problem with the cases is that the plastic glued on part that hold the DVDs in place are notorious for getting de-glued. Yet another thing. . .one disc is now not holding in the case properly. How could I remedy this problem? Buy an entire new set??? The door on the velvet box doesn't snap shut in anyway so if you hold the wrong side down. . .the DVDs will fall out. So watch out. The velvet box looks and feels nice but it collects dust very easily and is not easily cleanable. I tried to brush off some of the dust and the silvery logos and such began to flake off.

A REALLY NICE COLLECTION - A GREAT GIFT.......2007-05-23

Not only does this collection have some of Hitchcock's best movies, it also comes in a REALLY nice felt box and nice DVD cases. Makes an excellent gift.

Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection.......2007-05-08

This is an excellent collection. It doesn't have all of Hitchcock's greats, it's missing Strangers on a Train, Notorious and Rebecca, but its hands down the best collection assembled of his movies from the 40's and on. There are some great extras as well. I highly recommend this collection.

Alfred Hitchcock - Masterpiece Movie Collection DVD set.......2007-04-12

A Must have for all hard-core Alfred Hitchcock movie fans

Multible Thrillers.......2007-04-12

I received this DVD in the time promised. It came in good condition. How can you go wrong purchasing Alfred Hitchcock collections! One of the greatest,writers,director, and producer of all times. This was a birthday gift, and my son was "THRILLED" to receive it. Thanks

Average customer rating:

Frenzy
The Necktie Strangler
The Master's last great film
Quinessentially British, and my favorite Hitchcock film...
Sadly Overlooked Title

Frenzy
Starring: Michael Bates , Bernard Cribbins , June C. Ellis , Jon Finch , and Barry Foster
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Detectives | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Family Plot
Rope
Topaz
Torn Curtain
The Trouble with Harry

ASIN: B000ECX0RY
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Amazon.com

Alfred Hitchcock's penultimate film, written by Anthony Shaffer (who also wrote Sleuth), this delightfully grisly little tale features an all-British cast minus star wattage, which may have accounted for its relatively slim showing in the States. Jon Finch plays a down-on-his-luck Londoner who is offered some help by an old pal (Barry Foster). In fact, Foster is a serial killer the police have been chasing--and he's framing Finch. Which leads to a classic Hitchcock situation: a guiltless man is forced to prove his innocence while eluding Scotland Yard at the same time. Spiked with Hitchcock's trademark dark humor, Frenzy also features a very funny subplot about the Scotland Yard investigator (Alec McCowen) in charge of the case, who must endure meals by a wife (Vivien Merchant) who is taking a gourmet-cooking class. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Frenzy.......2007-07-03

Hitchcock's last great film--and one of his most gruesomely comic. Thirty years after leaving England, Hitchcock ventured back to make this distinctively British film, creating a virtuoso tale of suspense. Like many preceding Hitchcock heroes, Foster is solid as Blaney, the innocent man everyone thinks is guilty, but it's Barry Foster as the smarmy true culprit, and McCowen as an unassuming Scotland Yard inspector, who remain locked in your memory.

The Necktie Strangler.......2007-07-03

This was Alfred Hitchcock's last suspense film. It starts with a crowd along the Thames river in London, a speaker tell how the river will be cleansed of foreign bodies. Then people see a nude body floating in the river! The next scene shows a barman being fired for sneaking a drink. We hear a doctor talking about the Necktie Murderer: he appears normal, but a psychopath can strike out anytime. Dick Blaine's exwife Brenda runs a matrimonial agency. Dick is drinker and a gambler, and somehow has bad luck; this makes him bitter. The next day Brenda gets a visit from "Mr. Robinson" who complains about his unsatisfied desires for a woman that meets his wants. Then something very repulsive happens. We learn who is the Necktie Murderer in a most upsetting scene. [Was this meant to be an argument for capital punishment?] Dick Blaine drops by, and is seen leaving the murder scene by Brenda's secretary.

When Dick finds some money he spends it on a fancy hotel. [The "Hotel Coburg" sign is obviously phony.] The porter calls the police when he sees the newspaper. But Dick has seen the same newspaper and makes an escape. [Does this remind you of "The 39 Steps"?] An old friend finds him and brings him home for safety. [The conversations allows more information on Dick.] Can a wanted man easily leave England? Babs Milligan seems to have found bad luck when she meets Bob Rusk. Later Bob finds his stick pin was lost, and returns to search the sack of potatoes. Bob's luck has turned bad. Dick's friends won't provide an alibi. Dick finds out who his friends are. Dick is tried and convicted. But the film is not over yet. And you will be surprised by the ending to this film.

This plodding drama has the recurring themes of Hitchcock's other films. An innocent man is wrongly accused and flees until he can prove his innocence by finding the real killer. Does part of this story remind you of "Dial M for Murder" or "Rear Window"? The attempt of "Mr. Robinson" to find a wife seem unbelievable; wouldn't he hire a professional for his special needs? [Note the name "Dick Blaine" is similar to "Rick Blaine".]

The Master's last great film.......2007-06-02

"Frenzy" was Hitchcock's last great film and a welcome return to form after the disappointments of "Torn Curtain" and "Topaz".

Once again the familiar Hitchcock ingredients are there - murder (in this case a series of killings), macabre humour, and an innocent man plunged into danger.

The location is London and more specifically Covent Garden, which was where Hitchcock grew up and he clearly revelled in returning to his old stomping ground.

The cast is a collection of first-rate English actors and this helps reinforce the quality of the film despite the unsavoury nature of the story. Indeed, Hitchcock pushes the boundaries of taste with a truly gruesome murder including nudity (this WAS the early 70's) and this is sequence is often trimmed.

The film is blessed with some great camera shots and an appropriately "British" musical score by Ron Goodwin.

A last great film from the director who many consider to be the greatest.

Quinessentially British, and my favorite Hitchcock film..........2007-02-20

This is my favorite Hitchock film. As we well know, this was Hitch's return to England after nearly 40 years or so. Most of it was shot on location (lovely to see England in the 1970's), and it has some of the greatest dialogue ever in a Hitchcock film (courtesy of Anthony Shaffer, one of the great British screenwriters/playwrights). It is also quinessentially British, which is probably why I love the film so much. There is an incredible amount of dark humour here, but it's done so well and with such skill and grace. I love the appalling meals that the police inspector has to "get rid of" from his wife, and the scene in which 2 doctors are discussing the murderer is very hilarious indeed. The film's outcome is pretty much never in doubt, but getting there is fantastic. Every performance is superb, and Hitch's direction never falters. One of Alfred's greatest films....

Sadly Overlooked Title.......2006-09-09

Great film that often falls under the radar - sadly Hitch has this tag of not being great after The Birds/Marnie, with bombs Topas/Torn Curtain. Well that is a great misconception and Frenzy is just as good as quite a few of the films he did in his prime. Acting is great and very genuine - this is no Hollywood fairytale with love stories forced in by movie star achetypes - this is Hitch at his darkest.

Kenny the Shark, Vol. 1 - Feeding Frenzy

Average customer rating:

Kenny the Shark, Vol. 1 - Feeding Frenzy
Starring: Kenny the Shark
Manufacturer: Discovery Kids
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Kenny the Shark, Vol. 2: Good Guys vs Bad Guys
Tutenstein, Vol. 1: The Beginning
Tutenstein, Vol. 2: A Bad Spell
Everyone's Hero
Krypto the Superdog, Vol. 2 - Super Pets Unleashed

ASIN: B000NA21VS
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

(Kids Animation - TV) Volume 1 - FEEDING FRENZY -- Kenny is a tiger shark who has found himself in the strange position of being a family pet. Kenny has all the characteristics and instincts of any other tiger shark, but he must adapt himself to the placid ways of suburban family life. If not, he'll be put back out to sea, which would mean giving up his best friend Kat. And that would be unthinkable! 6 11-min episodes + a special bonus episode, Discovery Kids Special: Shark Camp, Games and more!

Average customer rating:

Frenzy
The Necktie Strangler
The Master's last great film
Quinessentially British, and my favorite Hitchcock film...
Sadly Overlooked Title

Frenzy
Starring: Michael Bates , John Boxer (II) , Bernard Cribbins , Jon Finch , and Barry Foster
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Detectives | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Murder & Mayhem | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Family Plot
Rope
Topaz
Torn Curtain
The Trouble with Harry

ASIN: B000055Y13
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Frenzy.......2007-07-03

The Necktie Strangler.......2007-07-03

The Master's last great film.......2007-06-02

Quinessentially British, and my favorite Hitchcock film..........2007-02-20

Sadly Overlooked Title.......2006-09-09

Adventures In Odyssey: Fine Feathered Frenzy & A Twist In Time

Average customer rating:

An Odyssey of Excellence

Adventures In Odyssey: Fine Feathered Frenzy & A Twist In Time
Starring: Adventures in Odyssey
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson Pub.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Adventures In Odyssey: In Harms Way & Baby Daze
Adventures in Odyssey: Someone To Watch Over Me
Adventures In Odyssey: A Flight To The Finish & Once Upon An Avalanche
Adventures in Odyssey: The Knight Travellers
Adventures in Odyssey: Go West Young Man

ASIN: B0000A1QO4
Release Date: 2001-01-06

Customer Reviews:

An Odyssey of Excellence.......2007-06-02

Well worth the money spent--kids love this movie and all Odyssey movies. Creative, fun, and teachable. Real and involving. Check them all out, you will not be disappointed and especially your children will not be disappointed!

Average customer rating:

Not love just sexy and a disappointing ending. . .
Just love not frenzy,DVD
Just plain crazy fun!
Pansexual frolics in Madrid's club scene
Just plain fun if not terribly deep

Not Love Just Frenzy
Starring: Nancho Novo , Cayetana Guillén Cuervo , Ingrid Rubio , Beatriz Santiago , and Gustavo Salmerón
Director: Alfonso Albacete , Miguel Bardem , and David Menkes
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Gay & Lesbian | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

Amor de Hombre
Km.0
Shortbus (Unrated Edition)
Broken Sky
Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B0000633SK
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Description

Not Love Just Frenzy is a fast and funny adventure through the wild Euro club scene in the style of the scandalous Pedro Almodovar! A group of hot and horny twentysomething friends looking for love at Madrid's hottest disco get tangled up in a maze of wild sex, drugs and gunfights as they encounter flashy drag queens, self-absorbed gigolos and a whole host of other outrageous characters. Accompanied by a dynamite soundtrack and starring many of Spain's top young actors, including appearances by Penelope Cruz (Vanilla Sky), Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls) and Bibi Andersen (Kika) as a high-class lesbian pimp, "Not Love Just Frenzy" is too hip to miss.

Customer Reviews:

Not love just sexy and a disappointing ending. . ........2007-06-26

I really wanted to like "Not Love Just Frenzy" more than I did. It's certainly a pretty picture--pretty colors, pretty people--but, unfortunately, the movie turns pretty ugly by its disappointing ending. Let's just say I wasn't left with a very good feeling after watching this flick. However, I do have a few positive things to mention about "Frenzy": it has a gorgeous cast! Gustavo Salmeron is a hot young thing (at least he was back in 1996)--and his steamy shower scene with Javier Albala is almost worth the price of admission. Almost. And Beatriz Santiago delivers the film's best performance as daffy art student Maria--a delightful character who you're rooting for throughout the film. Oh yes, then there's Penelope Cruz's brief 5-second appearance--which isn't worth anything. The film is a lot of fun in the beginning, but it eventually dissolves into an ending that just leaves you feeling dirty--and wanting to go take a shower with Mr. Salmeron. If only.

Just love not frenzy,DVD.......2005-10-14

Very sweet, Almodovar's style movie about Spanish club life, drugs, homo- and hetero sex affairs and crime. Lots of music, stylish drugqueens and emotional dialogs - all that stuff which we love in Spanish cinema.

Just plain crazy fun!.......2005-07-21

Excellent movie. It was extremly entertaining, cleaver, well acted and directed, erotic and overall well done.

Pansexual frolics in Madrid's club scene.......2003-06-17

NOT LOVE, JUST FRENZY [Más que Amor Frenesí] (Spain 1996): The staff and customers of a popular Madrid nightclub - gay, straight and everything in between - are thrown into disarray by the arrival of a handsome stranger (Nancho Novo) whose life is threatened by a corrupt cop (Javier Manrique) seeking to connect him with a brutal murder.

Virtually every review to date has compared this outrageous Spanish melodrama to the early work of Pedro Almodovar, and while the movie was clearly inspired by that director's commercial success, NOT LOVE, JUST FRENZY is hugely enjoyable on its own terms, despite an initial lack of focus and a series of disappointing plot developments toward the end of the film. Co-written and directed by Miguel Bardem and debut filmmakers Alfonso Albarete and David Menkes (I LOVE YOU BABY), the movie features some of Spain's sexiest rising stars - including popular actress/TV presenter Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (HISTORIAS DEL KRONEN) as a trampy nightclub owner with the hots for Novo, and Gustavo Salmerón (99.9) as the eternal party-boy who dumps his deceitful boyfriend Javier Albalá (SECOND SKIN) to pursue an impossible infatuation with the unattainable, ultra-beautiful Liberto Rabal (LIVE FLESH) - and includes cameo appearances by Penelope Cruz (blink and you'll miss her), Javier Bardem (ditto) and Almodovar favorite Bibi Andersen as a lesbian pimp(!). The script combines sure-fire commercial elements (unrequited love, sexual betrayal, nymphomania, etc.) with layers of melodramatic excess (the gigolo who swears he was framed for murder, the psycho cop determined to nail him come what may), and the movie indulges an exhilarating sexual candor, including a heated exchange between Salmerón and Albalá in a shower, Novo and Guillén Cuervo enjoying a wild encounter in front of a bank of video monitors, and - in the film's most romantic episode - Rabal's full-frontal nude scene on a rooftop at midnight. All in all, voyeurs will certainly get their money's worth! About halfway through, however, the movie surrenders its 'gay' credentials and descends into mere 'camp', dropping several interesting plot threads to focus on Manrique's increasingly psychotic behavior as he launches a series of violent assaults on the primary female characters (the final sequence is a jaw-dropping combination of sex, death and bodily fluids!). Still, the movie is well-played by an engaging young cast (watch out for the lovely shot of Guillén Cuervo sweeping down a crowded high street in a billowing Victorian-style party dress!), and most viewers will be impressed by the filmmakers' refusal to compromise their eccentric ideals.

Though listed in several sources as 125 minutes in length - apparently the result of a typo - the movie runs 104m 19s on Image's all-region DVD (minus the logo of US theatrical distributor Jour de Fête), and it seems completely intact. The image is letterboxed at 1.85:1 (anamorphically enhanced), and while colors are bright and vivid, the print is more than a little ragged in places, particularly at reel ends where cracks and blemishes are highly pronounced, though not enough to spoil the overall presentation. Released theatrically in Dolby Digital, the DVD has been downmixed to 2.0 Dolby surround - a problem which is now endemic on DVD's from independent US distributors - and while the booming Euro-pop soundtrack is rendered with gusto, it doesn't represent the original theatrical experience. The permanent English subtitles are excellent throughout, but there are no extras at all, not even a menu screen, only a chapter list. Talk about basic!

Just plain fun if not terribly deep.......2002-10-21

The plot is simple enough...she and her two roomates throw a party to find a fourth. Meanwhile, her ex comes back but with the police after him for a suspected sex murder. All of which is a mere excuse for meeting a gorgeous gigolo, a foxy starlet, one cool madam, and a host of flashy queens, not to mention a cabal of street agitators--all of whom move to a disco beat. If you like Pedro Almodovar, you probably love this.

Average customer rating:

A keeper.
ONE OF A KIND
Save your time
All Ed All the Time
Strikes at Society's Secret Obsession for Fame and Celebrity

EdTV (DTS)
Starring: Viveka Davis , Ellen DeGeneres , Adam Goldberg , Woody Harrelson , and Clint Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Domestic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Horror | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

13 Conversations About One Thing
Tiptoes
The Newton Boys
Frailty (Ws)
The Wedding Planner

ASIN: B00000JQB8
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Amazon.com

The third entry of 1998-99's cinematic TV trilogy kind of got lost in the shuffle following The Truman Show, an art film masquerading as a blockbuster, and Pleasantville, a heartfelt feel-good movie masquerading as a special-effects extravaganza. EDtv is nothing more than it appears: a scruffy comedy about fame and its discontents. Matthew McConaughey stars as Ed, a white-trash rube who gets his own dawn-to-midnight TV series in which every aspect of his life, no matter how sordid or dull or embarrassing, becomes mass entertainment (it inverts Truman by having the protagonist invite the pervasive cameras). Predictably, fame makes him miserable and, unsurprisingly, he finds a way out of his predicament. Albert Brooks covered this same territory in the funnier Real Life, and it's probably not the best idea for a load of comfy celebs to preach to us about how difficult fame is. But the film is cannily cast, including a number of performers who themselves have fallen victim to stupid media tricks (McConaughey, Ellen DeGeneres as the network executive, Elizabeth Hurley as a vamp hitching her star to Ed's, and Woody Harrelson as Ed's even dumber brother). Structurally, the movie is a mess. It looks as if the filmmakers had the choice between making a fully realized, two-and-a-half-hour-long movie that no one would sit through or one that clocks in under two hours but has a lot of plot holes; they opted for the latter (Hurley's character disappears, practically without comment). Still, there are enough laughs to keep things moving, and as a shaggy dog tale it's decent fun. --David Kronke

Description

It's the unforgettable story of a nobody...that everybody's watching! Matthew McConaughey and Jenna Elfman star in this hilarious romantic comedy Joel Siegel of Good Morning America calls "Big-Laugh Funny."

Ed Pekurny (McConaughey) is just a regular guy who feels he has nothing to lose by agreeing to be a star of a new reality-based TV show. Almost overnight, the program becomes a hit, and suddenly this goofy but engaging video clerk is a national celebrity! Everything's fabulous...until Ed falls head-over-heels for Shari (Elfman), the girlfriend of his brother Ray (Woody Harrelson). Suddenly their most private moments become public entertainment - and the ratings go through the roof - as millions of fans tune in to watch a real soap opera filled with comedy and romance.

Superbly directed by Ron Howard and featuring a stellar supporting cast including Elizabeth Hurley, Sally Kirkland, Martin Landau, Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Reiner and Dennis Hopper, EDtv is an outrageous look at instant fame, overnight success, and sharing your life with a few million of your closest fans.

Customer Reviews:

A keeper........2007-03-09

While not normally my favorite kind of movie, I seem to reach for this movie to watch again and again since buying it some time ago. It's just so entertaining.

ONE OF A KIND.......2007-01-14

THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE THAT WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH LIKE NEVER.

Save your time.......2006-05-08

Reality TV is now old hat. Perhaps this movie predicted a bit of that.

The gimmick, however, of the main character talking to his loved ones (and the rest of the world) through the TV camera in real time (no delay -- AS IF!), gets old fast.

The story hinges on the preposterous notion that the main character would sign himself into indefinite video slavery, at the will of the TV network.

I could tolerate such a stretch if the characters were interesting, or I could tolerate simple characters if the plot were fascinating and airtight. But this flick don't got neither!

The Truman Show might not have been a perfect movie, but it at least tried to say something important -- to emotional effect. It was obviously put together with care. EdTV just invites disgust.

All Ed All the Time.......2006-03-27

If Andy Warhol were alive today, he might conceivably modify his famous "In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes" quote to something like, "In the future, everyone will have his very own reality show"--which might require that one be in the limelight for a bit longer than 15 minutes actually...but would it be quality time?

Ron Howard's EDtv was not a huge hit at the time of its release, and critically, it was your classic "mixed" reception. And it suffered from coming so close on the heels of two other TV-themed films, THE TRUMAN SHOW AND PLEASANTVILLE. But EDtv is a genial movie, starring a genial Matthew McConaughey, an even more genial Jenna Elfman, and an array of genuinely genial to genially grouchy supporting characters. The casting is ingenious and almost "stunt," in that many of the cast have had their fair share of brushes with the tabloids and could certainly offer a few insights of their own as regards the pro's and cons of celebrity culture.

It's sly casting, but it's also good casting. Ron Howard's famous abiltity with actors serves him well once again in this project--so much so that even the occasional lapses in plot can be overlooked. That so many of the cast, including the director himself, are more known for the television work than for films lends this amiable satire an additional layer of irony. And also a certain validity. Julia Roberts would have been too much of a "big screen" star to take on Liz Hurley's role, for instance. Hurley, a model and hair product spokesperson (not even a series vet!) is really just "small screen" enough for her part as "a model and sometimes actress" on the make.

The notion of a 24 hour a day broadcast of one individual's life is perhaps less outlandish in 2006 as it was in 1998. Back in those days, "reality TV" was limited mainly to an MTV that was trying to redefine itself and a few other, relatively minor cable stations. The new millennium changed all that--although despite being inundated with so-called "reality," no network has offered the unedited version (so far).

And with good reason. It really would be too boring. EDtv (the movie) risks tedium itelf by clocking in at over two hours, which is a bit too long, by industry standards, for a comedy. It probably could have stood some editing itself.

Unlike the surreal TRUMAN SHOW, EDtv is based on the premise that people (regular guys and not just exhibitionists) might willingly permit their entire lives to be broadcast 24/7. Where would anybody get such an idea? The only way to sell the premise really is to have the cable network so desperate that they will try almost anything. Ellen DeGeneres' Network exec character complains that they are losing ratings share to the Gardening Channel, complaining that people "would rather watch soil." Not everyone at the network is convinced, however, and the show does get off to a shaky start. It's only when the camera uncovers family scandal that things start hopping ratings-wise and otherwise, and before you can say "EDtv" a phenom is born.

There's a certain irony in that particular plot twist that gives this media satire a bit of a leavening touch. Ed (with camera crew in tow) drops by brother's place for a visit only to find that brother Ray (Woody Harrelson) is with a woman other than the girlfriend (Jenna Elfman) both the film audience and now the TV audience have come to know. Of course, it's longsince been clear that Ed and Shari (Elfman's character) have had eyes for each other all along, so Ray's two-timing on TV is exactly the plot device that we've been waiting for all along.

Shari has been a camera-shy bit player in this farce up until now. Once she becomes Ray's ex- and Ed's current girlfriend, she finds the strain of 24 hour coverage of her personal life unbearable, and the relationship is almost nipped in the bud. Of course, even if the (movie) believes that their getting together is virtually inevitable, however, it's nonetheless true that it was the TV show that brought this pair together, and, one could argue, did so in such a dramatic way that the love that hits them could only be full force.

So when it all gets to be a bit much, and Shari breaks it off and runs, she can be said to be biting the hand that joined her and Ed together.

That little irony is certainly not enough to compel any sane person to want to remain in this intrusive set-up, and her frustration soon becomes Ed's. His subsequent plotting to get out of his contract is understandable and even laudable in that light. It does all go to prove, however, that life in contemporary, "mediated" America ain't simple. As insane as it can get and as overwhelmng as it can be, it even has its upside. Not the least of the benefits is Ed's the mega-salary (with its "balloon payments") that he still gets to keep, even after he officially reneges on the deal. The audience can't begrudge him that, norhis newfound happiness with Shari (about whom most Americans polled for USA TODAY had their doubts at first). That's all part of the American dream too. If you can hoodwink the powers that be, more power to you.

Speaking of Andy Warhol. I recall that back in the 60s, I used to be intrigued by the notion of a 24 hour movie of the Empire State Building or eight hours of someone sleeping. I didn't want to actually WATCH them necessarily, but I was intrigued by the fact that they existed. I don't imagine I would feel much differently about an actual EDtv (or a BOBtv, a MIKEtv or a SUSIEtv). Well, maybe I would check it out--for about fifteen minutes.

Strikes at Society's Secret Obsession for Fame and Celebrity.......2005-12-07

I've watched this film probably close to a hundred times, it's that good. Ron Howard has struck at the heart of every person in America: deep down we all seek fame and celebrity, but this story serves as a morality tale: Celebrity for Celebrity's Sake ain't all that it's trumped up to be. There's a down side to Fame.

Everyman Ed is selected for a True TV reality show, in which his supposedly mundane and average life is filmed, 24 hours a day. Only it doesn't turn out that way, as family secrets are revealed to the world, and Ed's life takes unexpected twists and turns. Somehow, celebrity isn't all sweet anymore, and Ed loses the people he loves because of his sudden fame, while attracting the sychophants and hangers-on who want to use him to thrust themselves in the spotlight. The Ed Phenomenon gets out of hand, with TV Execs attempting to hold Ed to an iron-clad contract and essentially committing him to EDTV for the rest of his life.

It is a fast-paced, hilarious film with never a dull moment. Jenna Elfman does a good job with Ed's tortured girlfriend. Woody Harrelson is quite a scene stealer as Ed's sleazy older brother. Ron Howard's brother has a hilarious role as a frazzled, hairplugged cameraman, and Rob Reiner is a scream as the greedy President of True TV. Matt McConaughey's performance as the hapless Ed is the calm in the Eye of the EDTV storm. And Ellen DeGeneres gives a surprisingly great performance as the one TV producer who sees the human behind this madness and does her part to help Ed get his life back and off the TV. An thoroughly enjoyable film that makes you think twice about pursuing celebrity.

Alfred Hitchcock The Masterpiece Collection - Frenzy / Family Plot / AFI Salute to Alfred Hitchcock plus other extras Bonus Disc (DVD)

Average customer rating:

Alfred Hitchcock The Masterpiece Collection - Frenzy / Family Plot / AFI Salute to Alfred Hitchcock plus other extras Bonus Disc (DVD)

Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Alfred Hitchcock - The Master of Suspense

ASIN: B000M2LWWQ

Product Description

Three Disc Set .. Frenzy and Family Plot Discs contain bonus features and the Bonus Disc contains a Fifteen Minute portion of the AFI Salute to Alfred Hitchcock, Masters of Cinema: Alfred Hitchcock, All About "The Birds" and The Making of "Psycho"

The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: The Best of Hitchcock, Vol. 2 (Vertigo / The Birds / The Trouble with Harry / Frenzy / Marnie / Saboteur / Torn Curtain / Alfred Hitchcock Presents Vol. 3)

Average customer rating:

Espionage, the Wrong Man and Things that Go Bump in the Night
An Overview of Hitchcock's Work, Part 2
Who doesn't like Hitchcock?
I love it
An impressive DVD box set showcases real talent

The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: The Best of Hitchcock, Vol. 2 (Vertigo / The Birds / The Trouble with Harry / Frenzy / Marnie / Saboteur / Torn Curtain / Alfred Hitchcock Presents Vol. 3)

Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: The Best of Hitchcock, Vol. 1 (Psycho / Rear Window / Shadow of a Doubt / The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) / Rope / Topaz / Family Plot / Alfred Hitchcock Presents Vol. 2)
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)
Lifeboat (Special Edition)
To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition)
The Complete Thin Man Collection (The Thin Man / After the Thin Man / Another Thin Man / Shadow of the Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / Song of the Thin Man)

ASIN: B000055Y19
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Customer Reviews:

Espionage, the Wrong Man and Things that Go Bump in the Night.......2007-04-03

Sir Alfred Hitchcock was trying to make a statement that we as moviegoers are voyeurs and are just as fanatically obsessed by the images on the screen as "Scottie" Ferguson is with Madeleine in VERTIGO. VERTIGO is in effect a movie about people who love the cinema and are captivated by it. Those people who do not like VERTIGO state that it is not realistic and too improbable. That is just the point. VERTIGO is about an artificial world and the fascination of that world. Those who like VERTIGO are drawn to it over and over because it is about something that is inside each of us that is ever so fleeting and will always remain unobtainable. Bernard Herrmann, the film's composer seems to have understood the essence of this film as he captured the erotic passion and ultimate hopelessness of its characters with his haunting score. Herrmann had always expressed his desire to be a symphony conductor, yet the lure of the cinema was more than just a means of collecting a paycheck for him. I think he had a great understanding of the cinema and its power over human emotions, yet it seems to have remained an enigma even for him.
THE BIRDS metaphorically plays out the frailties of the human heart as befuddled humans' fears are visually juxtaposed against hoards of birds gone on a destructive rampage. Humans rebel against nature and each other as the birds represent nature in harmony turned against human progenitors who stand to disrupt harmony. Rod Taylor's solid performance, as the steadfast Mitch Brenner who gradually realizes (but cannot fathom why) that things are beyond even his control, is pivotal to the progression of the story. The importance of Taylor's performance has been long overlooked. This film is a masterpiece full of vivid histrionics running the gamut of human emotions.
"She's wearing my necktie." That's what Alfred Hitchcock said in the trailer for FRENZY as he returned to the United Kingdom to film this movie. Again the wrong man is accused for crimes he did not commit. And so it goes. Barry Foster's mesmerizing performance is both disturbing yet charismatic far overshadowing would be hero Jon Finch. Also Alec McCowen as Chief Inspector Oxford has never been better. The opening shot of London accompanied by Ron Goodwin's score is an instant classic.
MARNIE is one of Hitchcock's masterpieces. It has been highly underrated and misunderstood by viewers and many critics alike. It is not a straightforward narrative as it deals with the compulsive and obsessive nature of its two main characters (Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery). The viewer has to become absorbed and drawn into the film's sights and sounds. The viewer has to elicit from what is seen and heard to fathom the motivations of the film's two main characters. Some of its images are just unforgettable and disturbingly haunting. Sound too plays an important part in the viewer's experience. In accompaniment is Bernard Herrmann's low-key score. I watched this film again several times over. Herrmann's score is always present, yet never intrusive. I used to think this score was somewhat repetitive, but it is quite diverse. It complements the images in such a way that it almost evokes some hidden and suppressed experience from the viewer that creates an emotional bond with the main title character of the film. I found the DVD print to be of exceptional quality and most pleasing in the wide-screen presentation (a prerequisite in this format).
TORN CURTAIN was Alfred Hithcock's 50th motion picture. This film marked a departure from his most recent bulk of films at that time, not in directorial style, but in the absence of many of his close-knit artistic-technical company he had been utilizing. Distinctively missing is collaborator-composer Bernard Herrmann. However, John Addison does a commendable job in Herrmann's absence, as his score seems to fit this film very well with the passage of time. This was a cold war drama set behind the Iron Curtain. The hero of the story as portrayed by Paul Newman is motivated less by personal staunchness for democratic idealism, but rather by his inner confrontation coming to grips with his own failure as a scientist. This very suspenseful film is really about his own redemption for his perceived failure. This film is has been highly underrated.
The Autumnal colors of New England seen in THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY are a beautiful backdrop to this dark comedy enhanced by Bernard Herrmann's reflective score. As life comes full circle the quirkily eccentricities of the human heart take on new meaning as an artist (John Forsythe) somehow, perhaps unwittingly, makes it all come into perspective. THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY is one of my favorite Hitchcock films.
SABOTEUR certainly looks like a forerunner of his NORTH BY NORTHWEST. This WWII espionage tale planted on American soil is an impressive bit of filmmaking from Alfred Hitchcock. He uses his familiar theme of the wrong man on the run from the law and implicated by those who are in fact guilty, our hero Barry Kane (Robert Cummings) must uncover the culprits before they carry out their next act of terror and destruction before he himself is apprehended. Simultaneously Kane must clear himself of the initial crime with the aid of Patricia Martin (Priscilla Lane). Set against the backdrop of that familiar icon of freedom, The Statue of Liberty, our hero must undergo a death struggle both metaphorically and realistically demonstrating that we as Americans value our freedoms as well as all human life no matter how malevolent it be because it is in our nature to go the distance for all that is virtuous in the world. Despite the fact that Alfred Hitchcock stated that it would have been more suspenseful to have the hero dangling from The Statue of Liberty rather than the villain Fry (Norman Lloyd), this scene demonstrates the compassion for humanity that we as Americans hold dear and goes straight to the ideals of the fiber of our inner fortitude to preserve that way of life as Kane struggles to save Fry's life. Otto Kruger's performance as Charles Tobin is very stylistic and on the surface he seems more sophisticated than our earthy hero Kane but Tobin's eloquence is superficial in every sense of the word. Jack Otterson's Art Direction and Joseph A. Valentine's Cinematography are standouts. John P. Fulton's un-credited Special Effects are impressive.

An Overview of Hitchcock's Work, Part 2.......2005-12-23

Those who are fans of Alfred Hitchcock will naturally want to own copies of the films featured in this box set. This is the second of two sets issued by MCA home video that give the fan a wide-ranging overview of Hitchcock's work, not only chronologically, but in the type of film as well. Many people who are unfamiliar with his long career associate him and his fame with just one type of film. This set and its predecessor do a good job of scotching that notion.
There is far too much here to review in depth, others have done so already. I will just make a comment about each film and what I think of it.
1) Saboteur- A wartime patriotic film that undoubtedly buttressed government efforts to keep the public aware of potential fifth-columnists in their midst. The character of Frank Fry makes a great stereotype of the fifth-columnist bogeyman. Lots of suspense, good acting, and many ethical questions posed to make the audience think. Five stars.
2) The Trouble With Harry- To me, the story is just downright silly. I like the rural setting, but I did not care for the plot nor did I really like the cast. It was supposed to be darkly humorous, but it just left me cold. Two stars.
3) Vertigo- A classic. The story, the acting, the scenery, and the filming are all first rate. Lots of suspense, and a lot of romance. Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart make this one a film for the ages. Five stars.
4) The Birds- Another Hitchcock classic. Fear and terror strike an idyllic seaside community as its birds inexplicably go berserk. Tippi Hedren makes a great ice queen, but she doesn't take as long to thaw here as she does in Marnie. The scenery is spectacular, both the story and the acting are first-rate. Another of Hitchcock's finest. Though it is never said why the birds attacked, there is a possible hint early on in the film. See if you can catch it.
5) Marnie- A psychosexual story that features a frigid, kleptomaniac woman and a suitor who is determined to chip through her icy demeanor paying no heed to the costs. Tippi Hedren is Marnie the ice queen and Sean Connery plays her wealthy suitor who apparently likes a big challenge. Here again, ethical issues come into play as the viewer is forced to consider what he/she would do if in the position of Connery or of one of the many people Hedren had ripped off attempting to prove her worth to a mother she felt did not truly love her. By the way, the mother is a rather bitter and detestable shrew. Lots of drama, but Marnie is not one of my favorite Hitchcock films. Three stars.
6) Torn Curtain- The critics did not like this, but I did. To me, the film is very suspenseful and like its cousin Topaz, is a great cold-war film. The East Germans were regarded as a feared and successful vanguard of Soviet Communism and I think the characters who portrayed East German officials did a great job of doing so in the most unflattering light imagineable. While there is not a lot of romance in Torn Curtain, there is betrayal, violence, fear and at times there is hope and the selfless nobility of people who only want freedom for others as well as for themselves. Some reviews have said that Torn Curtain was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. I don't think so, I think it was dead serious and Paul Newman's character reinforces that. Five stars.
7) Frenzy- Another gem. Set in London, the story exudes a great sense of place. The story line, the acting, and the camera work are all top-notch. And amid the suspense, there is always an undercurrent of droll humor. The sequence in the potato truck is a gut-buster. Five stars.
8) Alfred Hitchcock Presents #3- This contains four episodes from his television series. The best two are A Dip in the Pool and One More Mile to Go. Three stars.
I was fortunate in being able to pick this up at a reasonable price here just a few months ago. It seems the price is now roughly doubled. This set of course is recommended, but if you order Alfred Hitchcock-The Masterpiece Collection instead, you get nearly everything in both Volumes 1 and 2 of the Best of Alfred Hitchcock Collection at roughly half the price. I wish that I'd noticed that set first, I would have at least saved some money.

Who doesn't like Hitchcock?.......2005-09-30

I love the Hitchcock movies, and the Best of Collection Volumes takes most of his best known movies and puts them in an attractive packaging. I personally enjoyed Volume 1 better than Volume 2, but who can't laugh at the rubber birds in "The Birds"? And the Psycho Collectors Edition is a treasure to hang onto for years and years (or until the next multi-movie pack). However, why is there no inclusion of "To Catch A Thief" with Cary Grant? This is a terrific movie, and yet not in any Best of Collections! Anywho, if you are a fan of Hitchcock, you really can't get much better of a value than these collections.

I love it.......2005-09-01

I have this VOL 2 And I love it much,it deserves to be added in your Collection :)

An impressive DVD box set showcases real talent.......2005-06-29

This impressive Hitchcock DVD collection has seven of the master's finest film masterpieces in the early 40s and 50s to solid entertainment in the 70s. Peter Viertel brings SABOTEUR (1942) to life with a razor-sharp screenplay, while Priscilla Lane and Robert Cummings bring their well-written roles to the fore, creating a luminous blend of action and depth that Hollywood rarely sees these days. THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY is the oddity of the bunch, with the quaint little townspeople trying to decide what to do with Harry, a young man who dies mysteriously. Shot against a dreamy small-town backdrop in America, the cinematography is warm and fuzzy, and the musical score sets a nice tone for the film's story. The pace is a little slow at the beginning for a comedy, but released in 1955, almost all films were of the familiar style. There are laughs to be had here, with some great comedic moments between the actors. Repetitive and slow at times, it nevertheless is a fun little film and an interesting introspective on Hitch's opinions on life and death.

Misunderstood on its release, VERTIGO (1958) was Hitch's precious gem, a marvelous tale of a man driven to obsession, played to perfection from movie legend James Stewart. Possibly his best film, this was eventually hailed as an amazing cinematic triumph that still thrills audiences today. The bell tower scene is revolutionary filmmaking, but every scene is fantastically weaved. Like Steven Spielberg, Hitchcock knew the importance of color to represent a mood (Danger, warmth, obsession) The film in certain parts is swathed in sickly green hues, connecting Stewart's beautiful acting to Hitch's well-played camera techniques while simultaneously showing Hollywood how masterpieces were made. Bernard Herrman's fantastic score sets the tone of a film that shines in every respect. Directors like Martin Scorsese are huge fans of VERTIGO, and it is one of my personal favorites, along with REAR WINDOW. The follow-up after PSYCHO, THE BIRDS is a very interesting notch in Hitch's belt, a curio of a film that has some amazing special effects and minimal music, instead concentrating the sounds of squawking seagulls to heighten the tension. Tippi Hedren's convincing performance (She really did freak out on set, having live birds attached to her clothes to maximize the realism) carries the film, and a young Rod Taylor gives a ripping presentation. Every step of the way, the tension grows, until its almost unbearable and the finale is genuinely frightening.

Hitch's last great film MARNIE shows a softer side to the director while ushering into the cinema world a new slant to filmmaking. Produced in 1964, this complex character study of a frigid lady thief (Tippi Hedren) and the mysterious man (Sean Connery) who tries to cure both her hang-ups is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most stunning films, thanks in great part to Hedren's magnificent performance in the title role. Hedren, who became a star a year earlier in Hitch's THE BIRDS, delivers her most accomplished performance to date. TORN CURTAIN is an exceptional Alfred Hitchcock film that is for the most part intriguing, suspenseful, and entertaining. Paul Newman stars as an American scientist who appears to be defecting to Germany. Julie Andrews plays Newman's associate and girlfriend who tags along for the ride. "Torn Curtain" isn't as good as "Psycho", "The Birds" and "North by Northwest" but even though the movie moves a little slow at times, it's still very interesting and sometimes funny addition to Hitch's immense list of films. The only disappointment in this formidable collection is FRENZY, a nasty little rape/murder story that failed to interest audiences in the 70s, and some scenes are shockingly graphic. A long way from the stylish shower-curtain masterstroke of PSYCHO. But the score is reasonably cool, and some action scenes do wrack up the tension. And finally "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" has 4 of the 17 fantastic TV episodes directed by Hitchcock: "Poison," "The Perfect Crime," "A Dip in the Pool" and "One More Mile to Go" This is an essential collection for Hitchcock fans and movie buffs alike.

Adventures In Odyssey: A Fine Feathered frenzy with bonus 60 minute audio adventure

Average customer rating:

Adventures In Odyssey: A Fine Feathered frenzy with bonus 60 minute audio adventure
Starring: Adventures in Odyssey
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson Pub.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Adventures in Odyssey: Someone To Watch Over Me
Adventures in Odyssey: The Knight Travellers
Adventures In Odyssey: A Flight To The Finish with a bonus 60 minute audio adventure

ASIN: B00008V5W1
Release Date: 2003-05-06

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

I'll Take You There

Razor Blade Smile : DVD

The Early Films Of Peter Greenaway - Vol. 1 [1969]

DVD: Invincible Obessed Fighter

Formula For Death