Out of Ireland

Starring:Brenda Fricker, Kelly McGillis, Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn
Director: Paul Wagner (II)
Studio: SHANACHIE
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

As she does in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Janeane Garofalo proves she's a capable leading lady--beautiful, charming, self-effacing, and what used to be referred to as sharp as a tack. Garofalo plays Marcy, aide to dim Massachusetts senator McGlory (Jay O. Sanders). Denis Leary is appropriately slimy as a fellow aide. The senator and Nick dispatch Marcy to the remote (and fictitious) Irish town of Ballinagra, where she's supposed to unearth relatives to use in the senator's PR campaign. Along the way, Marcy not only encounters the eccentric locals, but finds herself in the maelstrom of the town's annual matchmaking festival. The single Marcy inadvertently catches the eye of the movie's eponymous matchmaker Dermot (a captivating Milo O'Shea). Dermot senses sparks between Marcy and the equally cynical, recently returned local boy, Sean (David O'Hara), once a successful journalist who's returned home to work on a book. The intimacies of the small town, the relationships between the locals, and the dialogue are credible and engaging. Look for beautiful cinematography and music, too. Also notable is the movie's ability to convey the feel of a foreign film while injecting humor that's both sarcastically American and yet Irish in trademark.

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Matchmaking never goes out of fashion!.......2007-07-08

The plot of "The Matchmaker" has been told in depth by many reviewers as well as the talent shown by all the actors. I would like to add a little comment on the characteristics that I liked most and that will make me remember this work.
There are many reasons to see this movie, even now that it is ten years old.
The first is that it stands the test of time: it is still as fresh and entertaining as when it came out and it deals with timeless problems that have somehow become cliches: raskally political men, the importance the Americans give to finding their roots, overwork, the difficulty of a womans role, loneliness and love.
The second is that all the actors are well casted, very good and true to life, they don't seem to come out of a refinished, glossy out of the world reality.
The third is that its humoristic with fine ironic dialogue that makes a laugh or two.
But the fourth reason is the most important of all and it is the lively, precise and poetic description of the beauty and tradition of Ireland's West Coast from Connemara to Aran Island to Lisdoonvarna's long standing matchmaking tradition.
If at this point the reader is not bored I would like to make the point on how a good script makes a good movie.
Lisdoonvarna's Matchmaking Festival held every year in September-October dates back to the 18th Century, when after the summer harvesting rich Irish countrymen went to Lisdoonvarna for the famous spa with warm waters. Here they arranged marriages for their sons and daughters with the help of the traditional figure of the Matchmaker (man or woman) of which I believe a few still survive today. Lisdoonvarna is in County Clare to the south of the West Irish Coast, while the movie was shot in the more picturesque Roundstone Connemara north of Galway and on Aran Island, but the atmosphere of this beautiful corner of the world is all there.
Ireland also has a tradition of singing contests that is well depicted in the movie. The soundtrack is really important in defining the atmospheres and all the songs are chosen with real feeling as can be seen by all the reviews that ask for the soundtrack.
It is incredible and a little pedantic to say but from this movie we not only get entertainment but also a little bit of culture.

Career girl meets Danny Boy.......2007-07-08

I've always liked this movie, and I think the 2 leads (Janeane Garofalo and the "yummy" David O'Hara) are charming and very funny (and dare I say realistic and believable?). The supporting characters -- the shady American politicians (Jay O'Sanders and Denis Leary) as well as all the quirky locals in the little Irish coastal town -- are also hilarious. The plot is a bit madcap in places, but good clean fun.

Near perfect..........2007-05-13

Janeane Garofalo is an underused talent but she did have the opportunity to shine a few times on the big screen. This is one of those examples which, proves that good acting and a great screen presence is not reserved for stars with huge names and multi-million dollar signing contracts (though, it's a shame that Ms. Garofalo isn't pulling down super-star paychecks). This story is set in an Ireland that may be quaint but also shows it's cracks; they just aren't afraid of them. Instead it's the rough and tumble flaws of this country's people and locales that makes it so endearing as the primary setting. Janeane is a misplaced campaign employee trying to track down the roots of her boss, the candidate, who believes he has roots in a particular town on the coast of Ireland. To make matters worse than her difficulty getting to this place she lands in the midst of a matchmaker's festival. She has no interest in getting hooked up and only wants to get her job done so she can return to civilization. What she finds are scammers, overbooked hotels and a matchmaker desperate to hook her up with a rough-around-the-edges local son recently returned home. Dennis Leary plays a conniving campaign manager who is more focused on victory than on relative facts and also treats folks like Janeane's character like an under-achieving serf. Without giving too much away Janeane is a delight and a genuine talent. I doubt that this film did very well and that's a shame. It has some predictable romantic chops but it also has some wonderful dialogue and biting wit as well as observations on the shamelessness of politics. Janeane's a jewel and she doesn't seem to know it. All the better for us.

The Matchmaker.......2007-01-22

A real feel-good movie...loved it the first time I saw it - and still do.

Really cute movie.......2007-01-21

This is just a nice, feel good romantic comedy. Very cute, kind of funny. I like the lead guy, even though I can't remember his name right now. I also liked that they were not a typical hollywood-type couple. They look normal.

Average customer rating:

Finian's Rainbow
Finian's Rainbow
Francis Ford Coppala's first musical
A Truly Great Movie!
Just as good as I remember...........

Finian's Rainbow
Starring: Fred Astaire , Petula Clark , Tommy Steele , Don Francks , and Keenan Wynn
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Brigadoon
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ASIN: B0007939M0
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Amazon.com

A funny thing happened to Finian's Rainbow in between its debut as a Broadway musical in 1947 and its appearance as a film in 1968. After 21 years, its theme of racial tension in the American South was no longer cutting edge, and the fact that its heroes are a group of sharecroppers called the Rainbow Valley Tobacco Cooperative dates it even further. Add a number of subplots and the heavy hand of a 29-year-old Francis Ford Coppola directing his first and only musical, and the two-and-a-half-hour running time feels bloated. Hermes Pan (best known for the classic Astaire-Rogers movies) is credited with choreographing the overbusy musical numbers, but he was reportedly overruled by Coppola at every turn. Still, there is a lot to enjoy in this movie, most notably Fred Astaire in his last lead role in a musical. Fred plays Finian McLonergan, an Irishman who has traveled to America in hopes of planting a pilfered pot of gold near Fort Knox and watching it grow. Even at 69, Fred shows he is still capable of a sprightly step and warbling "Look to the Rainbow." Another plus is the casting of '60s pop icon Petula Clark as his daughter, as she sings with an unaffected loveliness. Finally, the score by Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg includes two of the best Broadway songs ever written--"Old Devil Moon" and "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?"--as well as the comic ditty "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love." --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Finian's Rainbow.......2007-06-08

This movie is a modern version of "Brigadoon" set in the 60's.

It is light with good songs and dancing sequences.

It is very much a family movie, however probable politically incorrect in todays enviroment because the story line is centered around the production of smokeless tobbacco.

Its a long movie but if you like musicals and old fashioned values you will enjoy this movie.

Finian's Rainbow.......2007-05-18

This was a good overall movie. I think there was a touch too much leprechan time though. Some numbers where a little long. But........Fred Astaire, 69, dancing up and down boxes...Hurray for him! Nice Dancing!

Francis Ford Coppala's first musical.......2007-04-17

Coppala was right out of college when he was asked to do "Finian's Rainbow". It had been a big hit on Broadway in the 40's but predated the civil rights movement. Coppala had the task of updating it for 1968.

Fred Astaire is 69 in the title role and this was his last role dancing and singing. This was the first times since the beginning of Astaire's career that he didn't have control over the direction of his musical numbers. Coppala was an inexperienced director and fired Hermes Pan, Fred's chorographer. He admits that it was his fault that Fred's big number in the film didn't come out the way should.
Petula Clark is wonderful as Astaire's daughter. Tommy Steele who was also in "The Happiest Millionare" and "Half a Sixpence" plays a part typical of his personality.
There is very little chemistry between Petula Clark and her love interest, Dan Franck.
PLOT: Finian(Astaire) is an Irishman that steals a pot of gold from Og (Tommy Steele). He heads toRainbow Valley, which is right next to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he thinks burying the gold will multiply his riches. He meets some people, Woody and Silent Sue, and gives them money to save their land from the bigot senator (Keenan Wynn). In return he wants part of their land to secretly bury the gold. Og follows Finian to get his gold back. He is turning into a mortal because he has lost his pot of gold. Meanwhile, Finian's daughter(Petula Clark) is falling in love with a local, Woody (Dan Franck).

Nicely restored with great special features. Includes a commentary with Coopala that actually has a mini documentry before it. Featurette is the world premere with interviews with the stars.

A Truly Great Movie!.......2007-01-24

Finian's Rainbow (1968) is one of the truly great movies of all time!

Unfortunately it was produced at the beginning of the reign of terror instigated by the Liberal Thought Police, and labeled "racially discriminatory."

Nothing could be further from the truth. It attacked racial bigotry in a most delightful way.

Check it out. I'm sure you will like it!

Just as good as I remember..................2005-10-26

I was so excited to see that Finian's Rainbow was finally formatted to DVD. The acting, singing, and dancing is just as fabulous as I remember it from my childhood. I would wager to say that Finian's Rainbow was my "first" musical. I couldn't be prouder of this masterpiece.

Average customer rating:

Sleazy and scuzzy ..........
Graphic
eight years after the first , death wish2 comes out to join the action 80's
Pure Revenge
deathwish 2

Death Wish 2
Starring: Charles Bronson , Jill Ireland , Vincent Gardenia , J.D. Cannon , and Anthony Franciosa
Director: Michael Winner
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Death Wish
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
Death Wish V - The Face of Death
The Mechanic
Mr Majestyk

ASIN: B0000YEEQM
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Description

Paul Kersey is not your ordinary victim: He fights back Â- with a vengeance! Legendary tough guy Charles Bronson resumes his trademark role as the hard-as-nails urban avenger in this hard-hitting, action-packed sequel! With the murder of his wife and the revenge against her killers now behind him, Kersey begins a new life in L.A. But tragedy is never far from his door, and when a group of local hoods viciously assaults his daughter, they unleash a wrath unlike anything the city has ever seen. Kersey has the face of each of them branded in his memory, and he will not rest until he tracks every one of them downÂ...and puts them all in the ground!

Customer Reviews:

Sleazy and scuzzy .................2007-02-15

As with most great movies, sequelidas has to follow and the original classic , Death Wish was not spared from this. Number two followed eight years later.
Th gang rape scene has to be one of the most gratuitous and unpleasant moments in movie history. I know rape is not supposed to be a pleasurable experience, but was it really necessary to have it as long as it was? I dont know about anyone else,but I was squirming thorugh this. The rape scene from the first movie was brutal too, but it only lasted a few minutes and was used effectivley in conveying that senseless crime . This scene from Death Wish 2 seems to convey director Michael Winner`s sick fantasies.
Ironically, the actress who played Bronson`s gang -raped maid gives the best peformance of the entire movie. The late Bronson,his wife Jill Ireland(never one of the better actresses in history), and surprisingly, Vincent Gardenia ,turn in weak, ineffective performances. Bronson`s peformance is statuesque and I dont mean on a grand scale..He demonstrates the emotions and range of a statue.
This is poorly directed, cheap and grainy film making if you can call it film making. After the brutalization and murders of his daughter and maid, Bronson embarks on a dreary chase for the thugs in which he surprisingly remembers all their faces from two brief encounters. Predictable results follow, obviously, since there were three more sequels on the way.

Graphic.......2006-11-28

I have to agree with the highlighted review above. This film is very disturbingly graphic in the depiction of the group rape scene. I do have to doubt the validity of that whole scene being there in the first place. It is definitely not for under 18 viewers, and in some cases, not for those weak at heart/ emotions.

That being said, overall , it follows as a decent sequel to Death Wish 1. Not a buy, but you can rent it out on a Saturday night when your bored and definitely *NOT* with your loved one or family..

eight years after the first , death wish2 comes out to join the action 80's.......2006-06-02

really this is just an action movie that was made to cash in on the 80's action craze. this has very little to do with the 1974 origanal, which was a serious study of crime and the vigilante mind set! this is just an action movie and while the cast looks like they are sleepwalking through the movie it is fun in the action movie mode(if it is very excessive this time it's because it is just following the trend by this time)!
not a great one but it still is better than the last two in the series!

Pure Revenge.......2006-04-24

Charles Bronson picks up where he left off in the famous "Death Wish" movie of 1976, going after punks and eliminating them. The only differences: he's moved from New York to Los Angeles and the violence is more graphic.

Despite the B-movie feel to this (produced by the kings of the cheapo movies of that era (70s and early 80s) : Golan/Globus, it still is very enjoyable and satisfying - if revenge is your thing. Here, Bronson revenges the death of his daughter. At least her death is quick and bloodless, unlike the unpleasant rape-and-murder scene in the first film.
Also, unlike the first film there is no need for a long setup. Bronson gets back in his vigilante mode in a hurry here and never lets up. If you want a short dose (an hour and a half) of action, this is your movie. One of the gang members in here, by the way, is a young Laurence Fishburne.

The negatives are (1) sub-par acting performances by Bronson and his real-life wife, Jill Ireland; (2) some blatant credibility problems with the story ( such as how Bronson could get across town all bloody but never be noticed;) and (3) not exactly the most intelligent dialog!

Yet, this is still an appealing movie to our conditioned satisfaction for instant revenge. So, if you've had a bad day and need a release of your hostilities, this is a good remedy!

deathwish 2.......2006-03-10

excellent film this is the full uncut version bronson at his best however the group rape scene is very diturbing not recomended for under 18 due to the graphic scenes

Average customer rating:

Text Not Received
Excellent History Of the Irish in America
Excellent historical overview

Out of Ireland
Starring: Gabriel Byrne , Brenda Fricker , Kelly McGillis , Liam Neeson , and Aidan Quinn
Director: Paul Wagner (II)
Manufacturer: SHANACHIE
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

The Irish Empire
Michael Collins
In Search of Ancient Ireland (Includes Over Ireland)
Bloody Sunday
The Field

ASIN: B000005IQX
Release Date: 1997-12-16

Amazon.com

The enormous story of Irish emigration is well told in this documentary that mixes an adept historical overview and deeply touching personal stories with well-chosen archival material and gorgeously filmed modern footage. The troubled history of Ireland is covered by way of explaining why millions fled their homeland, and deserved attention is given to the uprising of 1798 and the Great Famine of the 1840s. The flood of poor Irish to the New World and their struggles to assimilate and eventually triumph is told with excerpts of letters, some of which are beautifully read by the noted playwright John B. Keane. Musician and folklorist Mick Moloney appears frequently to offer apt anecdotes and appropriate snatches of song, and historians provide perspective on the poverty and political repression at home that forced the Irish to cross a dangerous ocean to find a better life. Representative 19th-century Irish immigrants who found new lives in places as diverse as Massachusetts and North Dakota are profiled, and the contributions made in American society by the descendants of the millions who left Ireland are noted. As a striking blend of solid history and resonant personalities, Out of Ireland is a thoughtful presentation that also happens to be a pleasure to watch. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

Text Not Received.......2006-08-27

Ordered in July, here we are in August 26 and the book has yet to arrive. I give Amazon a -0 on service, will rate the book when and if it ever arrives.

Excellent History Of the Irish in America.......1999-09-02

The journey of Irish men and women forced from their own homeland to avoid starvation, religious discrimination and slavery by the British. Even when arriving to America they were treated as second class citizens and forced to fight in Lincolns' dirty little war. It's the story how an uneducated group of people who were once slaves, helped build a great nation, ran major cities built great canals and populated the country side. It's a must for any Irishman Or woman to pass down to their children to keep the history of the green alive. Also pick up the soundtrack to this DVD it's great too.

Excellent historical overview.......1999-02-05

The video "Out of Ireland" narrated by Kelly McGills presents a very informative and an excellent historical overview of the experiences of the Irish in both the United States and Ireland. The story makes an extensive overview of the good and bad events surrounding the lives of Irish Americans beginning with the Battle of the Boyne and culmunating with an examination of Irish men and women who braved the trip over on not very sea worthy ships to start a new life in America. Every aspect is examined in detail with the use of top Irish and Irish American historians, some of which are unfortunately no longer with us. This tape would be an excellent addition to any library and would be an excellent learning tool to use in American, World, or Cultural Geography course.

Average customer rating:

Long Dragged out and boring
Typically Brit
One of My Favorites
futility of war,(ww2) good transfer,peak o`toole
The Madness of War

Murphy's War
Starring: Peter O'Toole , Siân Phillips , Philippe Noiret , Horst Janson , and John Hallam
Director: Peter Yates
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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My Favorite Year

ASIN: B00008Z44O
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Description

MURPHY'S WAR tells the story of the sole survivor of a World War II German U-boat attack that leaves him enraged and consumed with revenge.

Customer Reviews:

Long Dragged out and boring.......2007-05-07

This was a very poor story and it dragged out so long and was not very realistic. You have no idea where the story takes place and it was so unbelievable. Peter O'Toole is not much of an actor here, just goes about screaming like an idiot. I do not recommend this unless you are a O'Toole die hard.

Typically Brit.......2007-02-23

Good story, good acting. Typically British, it forces you to think. The evil Germans murder survivors, but the Brit hero murders a crew of German submariners after the war is officially over. If you like your good guys and bad guys in black and white hats, the special effects full of mindless and gratuitous violence, gunplay and sex, the movie's not for you.

One of My Favorites.......2007-01-22

Murphy's War is another one that you won't find in the rental store. It's a war movie whose goal isn't bigger and better explosions and general gore (It has a little of both, but, Wow!, it's relevant to the story!) Peter O'Toole is great.

futility of war,(ww2) good transfer,peak o`toole.......2006-06-15

Its not a bad picture really and o`toole and his plane are the show.The color is good and overall transfer is very good, considering its age and the rock bottom price.But it is very slight in content with the theme of revenge and the futility of war its touchstone.As someone said , the ending is a bummer and sort of ruins what fun there was before; but it was made during vietnam and i guess they had a message to put out.The flying sequences are top notch,however, and the transfer showcases them well.Worth the price. A strong 3 stars.

The Madness of War.......2006-04-27

Director Peter Yates followed up his classic policier "Bullitt" and the minor romantic dramedy "John and Mary" with this small but engrossing commentary on the absurdity of war. (His next film would be the delightful comedy "The Hot Rock." Yates was nothing if not versatile.) Peter O'Toole plays Murphy, the last survivor of a Merchant vessel sunken by a German sub, and he's obsessed with revenge. That the war ends mere days after his rescue does nothing to deter him; he will even the score or die trying. Though no classic, the film's moral complexities and simple central conflict, combined with O'Toole's convincing portrayal of a man lost in the tunnel of his own mad vision, make it a rewarding experience. It's a downbeat ending, but a good one.

Average customer rating:

FOR THE 90's BEACH VOLLEYBALL FAN
NICE, IF UNREMARKABLE
Happy crap....
An Absolutely Brilliant Piece of Filmmaking
Laughable, yet, enticing

Side Out
Starring: C. Thomas Howell , Peter Horton , Courtney Thorne-Smith , Harley Jane Kozak , and Christopher Rydell
Director: Peter Israelson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Summer School (Life's a Beach Edition)
North Shore
Loverboy
Soul Man
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ASIN: B00023GG80
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Customer Reviews:

FOR THE 90's BEACH VOLLEYBALL FAN.......2006-08-28

A MUST HAVE MOVIE FOR THE 90's BEACH VOLLEYBALL FAN. AN ENTERTAINING FAMILY FUTURE STARTING WITH MOST OF THE REAL BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS CAMEOS, INCLUDING THE KING OF THE BEACH DUO FOR THOSE TIMES, RANDY STOCKLOS AND SINJIN SMITH, AS THE UNBEATABLE RIVAL TEAM.

NICE, IF UNREMARKABLE.......2006-07-15

"Side Out" is a breezy, if unremarkable film. If you love beach volleyball, you'll love this film. The "Rocky" of the sport.

Happy crap...........2004-07-26

This is a pretty bad movie, but if you are in the mood for that, watch Side Out. If you have a hangover on a Sunday afternoon, this movie may fit the bill. The dialogue will make you squirm, and then crack up. The movie isn't mean-spirited, just painfully cheesy. Nothing happens in the flick that you wouldn't expect. The best part of the movie is the dialogue. It's priceless!

An Absolutely Brilliant Piece of Filmmaking.......2004-05-18

Side Out is just an incredible film. From the moment Monroe Clark steps off the plane from Milwaukee and onto the hot sandy beach volleyball scene, the action just never stops. When Zack Barnes speaks you listen. Peter Horton's finest hour. C. Thomas Howell's career had nowhere to go but, downhill from here. How he got sunbbed by the Academny, I will never know. This is just a true classic and must have for any respectable movie collector.

Laughable, yet, enticing.......2004-04-27

OK, for so many different reasons I could easily pan this. The volleyball action by a certain duo, namely horton / howell, really stinks! The acting is out and out crap, Stoklos and Smiths final film for a reason.
HOWEVER, I love this movie, if for no other reason that you get to see some of the classic players; Timmons, Stoklos, Smith, Mootheart, and of course OB. It is a fun romp through a sillier time, when anyone without a sponsorship deal could dream. Just don't expect too much.

Out of Ireland - The Hit Songs & Artists of Irish Music (From a Whisper to a Scream)

Average customer rating:

A GREAT OVERVIEW OF SOME OF IRELAND'S FINEST
A GREAT OVERVIEW OF SOME OF IRELAND'S FINEST
This one is EASY!
A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT
A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT

Out of Ireland - The Hit Songs & Artists of Irish Music (From a Whisper to a Scream)
Starring: U2 , Van Morrison , Bob Geldof , Sinead O'Connor , and The Pogues
Manufacturer: Eagle Vision USA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Live at Montreux 1980 and 1974
The Irish Empire
Shane MacGowan & The Popes - Live at Montreux 1995
If I Should Fall from Grace - The Shane MacGowan Story
U2 Go Home - Live From Slane Castle (Limited Edition Packaging)

ASIN: B0000E2W0T
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Amazon.com

The history of rock & roll in Ireland is presented in suitably lively fashion in a series produced by RTÉ, Ireland's national television network. In these first three installments from the series (each an hour long), the story advances from the 1950s to the early 1980s, with archival footage providing a glimpse of what all the excitement was about. The first stirrings of rock music in Ireland took the form of "show bands," hugely popular ensembles that gave many young musicians their start. Fascinating clips of concert film chronicle the development of two artists who helped define rock in Ireland: blues guitarist Rory Gallagher and Phil Lynott, a black Dubliner who formed the hard-rocking band Thin Lizzy. The seldom-interviewed Van Morrison reminisces a bit about his own formative years and influences, Bob Geldof talks about his career in the Boomtown Rats, and Bono, the Edge, and others comment on U2's earliest stirrings. Folk bands like Planxty are seen briefly in clips, as are primal Celtic rockers Horslips and punk pioneers the Virgin Prunes. The bits of concert footage, especially scenes of guitar hero Gallagher blazing away, would alone make these programs worth watching, but interviews with Irish music writers and intelligent observers such as film director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot) make the programs informative as well as extremely entertaining. -- Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT OVERVIEW OF SOME OF IRELAND'S FINEST.......2003-12-24

No program of this type is going to please EVERY music fan - music is too much of a subjective passion for the listener, and some viewers are inevitably going to feel that their favorites were slighted in some way - but this series, produced by the Irish television network, goes a long way in giving widespread, attentive coverage to those acts who were innovators and groundbreakers, inspiring and enabling others to follow in their footsteps, certainly not as imitators, but as fellow-travelers on a never-ending adventure in music, art, culture and politics.

Beginning in the 1950s with the show bands, and moving through the 1980s, the three episodes contained on this DVD release (by the way, FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM and OUT OF IRELAND seem to be the same material with a different title and cover, the latter being the newer release) cover an amazing amount of musical ground - and, valuably, give the viewer lots of valuable background information on the Irish culture and atmosphere that contributed so vitally to the music documented here.

There's plenty of rare, historical footage to be seen here - Planxty, from (I'm guessing) around 1972; Clannad (including a bit of the video featuring Maire NíBhraonain and Bono duetting beautifully on `In a lifetime'; Horslips (a great band that mixed traditional tunes with electricity, sadly unknown in the rest of the world); a great live segment with legends Moving Hearts performing `Hiroshima-Nagasaki Russian roulette'; and much, much more. More toward the rock end of the spectrum, the programs deal extensively with U2 (of course), Bob Geldof's Boomtown Rats (including a nice section on the Live Aid concert that Geldof organized), Thin Lizzy (there's a touching tribute to Phil Lynott), Rory Gallagher (with and without his band Taste), the great Van Morrison, Sínead Ó Connor - and the list goes on and on.

Some of the archival footage is a little rough - but that's to be expected, and it actually adds not only a feeling of authenticity to the programs, but a sense of the true history of the subject as well. For too long, Ireland has been thought of as a piece of the British empire (of course, the North is still...), both politically and culturally. The programs explore the problems experienced by bands attempting to make a name for themselves in the 60s - scoffed at, and worse, by the powers-that-be in the UK music industry, until by sheer talent and determination, they made the world take heed and listen to them.

This is a great documentary - and I was touched to receive it as a gift from my best friend. She really knows me well, and was right on target with this choice. Highly recommended to anyone who takes their music - rock & roll as well as traditional - seriously.

A GREAT OVERVIEW OF SOME OF IRELAND'S FINEST.......2003-12-24

This one is EASY!.......2003-06-21

If you are thinking about making this purchase...DO IT! You will not be disappointed. This is not a film about U2 although they are prominently featured. This is an outstanding documentary covering all facets of Irish music culminating with the status of Irish Rock circa 2000. Fantastic interviews with a reflective Van Morrison, still intense still burning Bob Geldolf, and a suprizingly humble Bono, along with several pilars of Irish music. I've learned so much about the music I love and discovered more wonderful artists to explore. I'm embarrassed to say that I had no idea who Rory Gallagher was (his name has every right to be mentioned in the same breath with Page, Hendrix, and Clapton...Guitar God? Hell Yeah!) until viewing this DVD. Now I can't get enough of his music. Thanks to Amazon.com for making so much of his catalogue as well as the other artists available. I haven't explored any special features on the DVD and don't even know if they exist at the time I'm writting this...but...who cares! This disc ROCKS! The sound and picture quality are there. Everyone I've shown this to are just stunned by what they are seeing and hearing. The only complaint is that the music clips are too short but again, it's a great way to learn more about not just Irish rock, but Rock and Roll period.
To sum it all up...crack a cold one, pop the disc in, kick back, and ENJOY!!!

A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT.......2001-04-09

Warning, this documentary might be disappointing to the average fan because the performance clips are painfully brief. But if you are more intererested in a deeper knowledge and understanding of Irish rock and it's place in rock..indeed in the full spectrum of Irish music, then this video should be your cup of tea.

The influence of The Beatles as well as such American rock as Chuck Berry is traced along with the influence of traditional Irish music, even that of the legendary operatic tenor, John McCormick. Most important though is the very Irish nature which flavors the music.

All music is interwoven, and the relationship between Irish rock and the dance spectacular, "Riverdance", is brought out.

Performers such as Van Morrison, Clannad (and Enya), The Cranberries, U2, and The Corrs are all highlighted, but performers lesser known or even unknown outside of Ireland are all given their due, and the credit they deserve.

If you want a comprehensive overview of Irish rock, and are NOT looking for the entertainment value of long performance clips, then this video is definitely for you.

A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT.......2001-04-09

One caution...the average rock fan probably would be dissatisfied with this DVD because the music clips, though numerous, are so brief.

But for the person looking for more depth and understanding, this documentary is tops. The very roots of Irish Rock & Roll are explored, including the influence of The Beatles and of Chuck Berry as well as that of traditional Irish music and even the Irish operatic tenor, John McCormick. Foremost of course is the Irish character itself which flavors Irish rock.

Irish rock's place and influence on international rock is spotlighted, as well as the genre's place in the whole spectrum of Irish music.

Performers such as Clannad (and Enya), U2, the Corrs, the Cranberries, Van Morrison are highlighted, but many other notable groups less familiar or unfamiliar to those outside of Ireland are given their dues.

There's even a relationship shown between Irish rock and "Riverdance".

Amazon.com

Film noir is a term usually associated with American films of the 1940s and 1950s, but this British classic from 1947 fits the definition in almost every respect. It's one of the milestone films of its era, highlighted by what is arguably the best performance in the illustrious career of James Mason, here playing the leader of an underground Irish rebel organization who is seriously wounded when a payroll heist goes sour. Left for dead by his accomplices on the streets of Belfast, he's forced to hide wherever he can find shelter and refuge, and as his gunshot wound gradually drains his life away, his lover (Kathleen Ryan) struggles to locate him before it's too late. Although the IRA and Belfast are never mentioned by name, this film was a daring and morally complex examination of Northern Ireland's "troubles," and its compelling tragedy hasn't lost any of its impact. A study of conscience in crisis and the bitter aftermath of terrorism, this was one of the first films to address IRA activities on intimately human terms. Political potency is there for those who seek it, but the film is equally invigorating as a riveting story of a tragic figure on the run from the law, forced to confront the wrath of his own beliefs in the last hours of his life. It was this brilliant, unforgettable film that established the directorial prowess of Carol Reed, whose next two films (The Fallen Idol and The Third Man) were equally extraordinary. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Hailed for its sensitive treatment of a difficult subject, "Odd Man Out" is a tale of ordinary people trapped in the web of Northern Ireland's troubles. Irish rebel Johnny McQueen (James Mason), maimed and bleeding, weaves an escape route through Belfast's seedy underground while each of his comrades falls prey to bounty hunters and police in director Carol Reed's (The Third Man) classic film noir.

Customer Reviews:

Withstands the Test of Time!.......2007-01-09

Recalling my fondness for James Mason as an actor, I recently bought a DVD of "The Desert Fox." Although Mason is as usual excellent in the title role, the film itself seems so dreadfully dated! I then realized that my continued regard for Mason as an actor actually stems from his performance as Johnny McQueen, in Carol Reed's "Odd Man Out," which I first saw as a child (Mason's luminous interpretation of the dying McQueen has cast a glow on my memory of all his performances, including a hypothetical reading of the telephone book!). I can never forget the scene in the artist's garret when, in a moment of recognition, McQueen "speaks with the tongues of men and of angels."

"Odd Man Out" does not disappoint, even after sixty years. It still brings fresh tears to my eyes. How can the film miss with the nuanced direction of Carol Reed, the haunting music of William Alwyn, and the splendid cinematography of Robert Krasker--to say nothing of the actors? Every character--from the urchins on the street to the anonymous passers-by--some who help; others who hinder--is perfect. Kathleen Ryan gives a beautifully understated performance as the woman who will die for McQueen, and Robert Newton is brilliant in the role of Lukey, an artist, whom starvation has driven beyond the point of madness. The actors, who play Lukey's companions-in-misery--Shell, a down-and-outer looking for rewards, and Tober, a ruined medical student, whose Eton accent speaks of better times--are splendid.

As for Mason, "Odd Man Out" brought him fame as well as the attention of Hollywood, and a subsequent series of mediocre--albeit entertaining--potboilers, in which his gifted performances simply do not compare to his timeless interpretation of the Irish militant, Johnny McQueen. Jamie, we hardly knew you!

A work of art with a flaw.......2006-12-29

It definitely reminds me of "The Third Man" -only this one in Dublin-, the other Carol Reed classic, this one with the valuable help of Orson Welles.

In Odd Man Out the story is completely different though. I have to admit that it took me some time to appreciate it well. It is slow. It goes in crescendo in emotion and intensity of drama, and suspense as well. But many times it is frustrating because the resolution never takes place, it keeps postponing and postponing, and one has to get irritated at this. But there is a purpose in making it this irritating way: To show all the characters that play around the passive heroe. Very much like what the characters involved in the passion of Christ. So I did the wrong thing by focusing in the heroe and not in the variety of persons that reveal a part of human nature in their interactions with James Mason.

A film that needs a second viewing and a lot of meditating. However, it does not stand at the level of "The Third Man", although it tries to shoot even higher.

Sinner's Progress.......2006-12-23

This film is described as Crime, Drama, Thriller, but it is really none of these. It is an allegory. It starts with quite a realistic set-up, but gradually the Irish rebel, Mason, turns into Everyman: moving through unidentified streets in an unidentified town somewhere in Ireland: a sort of Irish Catholic Pilgrim's Progress. He meets a large number of varied characters on his suffering way towards his ultimate fate. The whole story is somewhat creaky, although well-shot and well-acted in general. It is stagey, and although quite ingenious, still rather mechanical with its serial introduction of one stereotype after another. The message, we must love one another or die, is delivered in a manner which can only be described as heavy-handed. Nevertheless, it is still quite interesting, and although few of the actors are actually Irish, there seems to be quite a good feel for Irish lower-class society of the period. All the performances are enjoyable to watch, and some of the faces and actions of the street-kids give the ambience a patina of authenticity. The ending introduces an element of suspense, as we are at one point led to believe that the outlaw is going to get away. This didn't happen in films of the 1946 era. The disc cover that I have describes Mason as a "hitman". Incredibly misleading.

Visually compelling, intellectually less so.......2006-07-01

If this gets 5 stars, what do people give a truly great film?

Viewers clearly see what they want to see in this film, and what they want to see is something I never saw. For fans of "The Third Man" this offers a glimpse of an earlier Reed, using some of the same techniques but without the grace or subtlety of the later masterpiece. But the abundance of characters, the lugubrious pacing, the leaden foreshadowing and the lachrymose plot all add up to a less than satisfying experience. This has to be the oddest role James Mason has ever played; for the last 90 minutes of the film he groans and mumbles and collapses, but does little else, and yet manages to hold our attention. But the cast around him left me cold. When films have the proverbial cast of thousands, it is hard for any of them to be more than stereotypes. I found Robert Newton's painter a silly caricature, a bombastic and over-the-top portrayal of what a movie painter might be like. Kathleen Ryan, whose ravishing looks and stellar makeup certainly bely the supposed poverty, never catches fire. And why does she love Johnny? No idea. The priest, the cops, the drunken driver, the foolish old ladies? All right out of Irish typecasting 101.

Religious strife? Never mentioned. The Organization is not described; anyone seeing this as plunging deep in Belfast's problems is reading something the film left out.

This is a rough draft for one of the great films of all time, The Third Man. It is an entertaining and skilled production, with much to recommend it (see all these glowing reviews.) Worth the time, and certainly different. But not something I'd ever watch again.

Very Impressed & Somewhat Disappointed.......2006-04-20

I acquired this out-of-print DVD in March of 2005 and was thrilled to do so since I had heard good things about it and I was familiar with director Carol Reed, who had directed the famous noir, "The Third Man."

Well, after watching it, I was both impressed and disappointed. I was impressed with the cinematography. It was tremendous, better than the more famous "The Third Man." Scene after scene is just visually stunning. There are tons of great nighttime city scenes and the DVD transfer is top-notch. Kudos for the job Image did with this. It's a showcase for the best of film noir photography.

The disappointment was the story. It went on too long and introduced a couple of really sappy, annoying characters (a bum and his artist friend). The story had a good premise: a man (James Mason) on the run in the streets of London, with the police trying to catch him and his friends all trying to hide him or bring him to safety. All the while, the man is bleeding to death so time is of the essence. Sounds good, but it turned out to be more a human interest than a crime story, showing how some people were sympathetic to Mason, others were the opposite and some were in the middle. I did like the ending, though. It was a bit different.

On the whole, the camera-work is so good that it far outweighs the so-so story and is definitely recommended.

Average customer rating:

Great Film Noir
"Raw Deal (1948) ... Dennis O'Keefe ... Classic Media"

Raw Deal
Starring: Whit Bissell , Raymond Burr , Cliff Clark , Curt Conway , and Richard Fraser
Director: Anthony Mann
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000KJTGEC
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Customer Reviews:

Great Film Noir.......2007-06-08

I really enjoyed this film. Claire Trevor is one of the finest ladies of Film Noir, and it is always a treat to see her perform. This was the first film I've seen with Marsha Hunt, and she was just as good as Miss Trevor. Raymond Burr was great as the "heavy". I always like seeing him in pre-Perry Mason roles. One thing I did not care for in this film was the music. It sounded like it belonged in some creepy sci-fi movie. If you are a Film Noir fan, this is a must.

"Raw Deal (1948) ... Dennis O'Keefe ... Classic Media".......2007-02-28

Eagle-Lion / Edward Small Productions presents "RAW DEAL" (1948) (79 mins/B&W) --- (Dolby digitally remastered) --- featuring Dennis O'Keefe, Claire Trevor, Marsha Hunt, John Ireland & Raymond Burr and Directed by Anthony Mann --- Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe Hollywood crime dramas that set their protagonists in a world perceived as inherently corrupt and unsympathetic...Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography, while many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression...the term film noir (French for "black film"), first applied to Hollywood movies by French critic Nino Frank in 1946, was unknown to most of the American filmmakers and actors while they were creating the classic film noirs..the canon of film noir was defined in retrospect by film historians and critics; many of those involved in the making of film noir later professed to be unaware at the time of having created a distinctive type of film ... featuring top performances from the '40s and '50s with outstanding drama and screenplays, along with a wonderful cast and supporting actors to bring it all together ... another winner from the vaults of almost forgotten Hollywood gems ...

Under Anthony Mann (Director), Edward Small (Producer), Arnold B. Armstrong (Screenwriter), Audrey Ashley (Screenwriter), Leopold Atlas (Screenwriter), John C. Higgins (Screenwriter), Paul Sawtell (Original Score), John Alton (Cinematographer), Alfred DeGaetano (Editor), Edward L. Ilou (Art Direction, Armor Marlowe (Set Decoraton), Clarence Steensen (Set Decoration) - - - - the cast includes Dennis O'Keefe (Joseph Emmett), Claire Trevor (Pat Cameron), Marsha Hunt (Ann Martin), John Ireland (Fantail), Raymond Burr (Rick Coyle), Curt Conway (Spider), Chili Williams (Marcy), Regis Toomey (Police Capt. Fields), Whit Bissell (Murderer), Cliff Clark (Gates) - - - - released on May 26, 1948, the story line has Joe Sullivan is itching to get out of prison ... he's taken the rap for Rick, who owes him $50 Grand. Rick sets up an escape for Joe, knowing that Joe will be caught escaping and be shot or locked away forever ... but with the help of his love-struck girl Pat and his sympathetic legal caseworker Ann, Joe gets further than he's supposed to, and we are posed with two very important questions ... is Joe really the cold and heartless criminal he appears to be, or is there a heart of gold under that gritty exterior? ... and does Joe belong with the tough, street-wise Pat, or with the prim, moralizing Ann? ... A fabulous Anthony Mann noir with the hulking visage of Raymond Burr as a sado-masochistic pyromaniac!

BIOS:
1. Dennis O'Keefe (aka: Edward Vance Flanagan)
Date of birth: 29 March 1908 - Fort Madison, Iowa
Date of death: 31 August 1968 _- Santa Monica, California

Special foonote, Dennis O'Keefe was an American actor started in films as an extra in the early 1930s, and appeared in numerous films under the name Bud Flanagan. After a small but impressive role in Saratoga (1937), Clark Gable recommended O'Keefe to MGM; he signed with them in 1937 and was renamed Dennis O'Keefe. His film roles were bigger after that, starting with The Bad Man of Brimstone (1938), and the lead role in Burn 'Em Up O'Connor (1939), O'Keefe left MGM around 1940, but continued to work in mostly lower budget productions, often played the tough guy in action and crime dramas like Lady Scarface (1941), The Leopard Man (1943), The Fighting Seabees (1944), The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944), T-Men (1947), and Raw Deal (1948). He gave excellent performances in comedies such as Topper Returns (1940), Weekend for Three (1941), Abroad with Two Yanks (1944), Brewster's Millions (1945), Getting Gertie's Garter (1945), and The Lady Wants Mink (1953). He was the dramatic lead in films like Doll Face (1946), Dishonored Lady (1947), Woman on the Run (1950), The Company She Keeps (1950), One Big Affair (1952), and Drums of Tahiti (1954), in the 1950s he did some directing, wrote mystery stories, and had a TV show, The Dennis O'Keefe Show --- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

2. Anthony Mann (aka: Emil Anton Bundesmann) (Director)
Date of birth: 30 June 1906 - San Diego, California
Date of death: 29 April 1967 - Berlin, Germany.

Specal footnote, Anthony Mann was an American actor and film director, in 1938, he moved to Hollywood, where he joined the Selznick Company, became an assistant director in 1942, directing low-budget assignments for RKO and Republic Films. Mann is best known today for directing several film noir classics, widely hailed as some of the finest films of the genre. Early films such as 1948's He Walked By Night (directed but not credited), as well as Desperate, Railroaded!, T-Men and Raw Deal made Mann a name in Hollywood, Mann also made his mark in the Western genre, particularly for a cycle of collaborations with James Stewart: Winchester '73 (1950), Bend of the River (1952), The Naked Spur (1953), The Far Country and The Man from Laramie (both 1955). Mann's other famous Western is Man of the West (1958), starring Gary Cooper, Mann was respected for his acute visual sensitivity toward the American Western landscape, effortlessly blending natural vistas with human drama. Mann's dramas verged on classical tragedy, often showing anguished heroes attempting to resolve personal pain and confusion, in the 1960s, Mann put aside Westerns to concentrate on making two epics for producer Samuel Bronston: El Cid (1961) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), both intelligent and breathtaking examples of the epic form, once more demonstrating Mann's talents for merging drama with landscape and architecture --- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on VHS, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out VCI Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns and Serials --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 79 mins on VHS ~ Classic Media Video ~ (10/18/2005)

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The Matchmaker
Starring: Janeane Garofalo , David O'Hara , Milo O'Shea , Jay O. Sanders , and Rosaleen Linehan
Director: Mark Joffe
Manufacturer: Polygram Video
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