Marlene

Starring:Annie Albers, Marlene Dietrich, Bernard Hall, David Hemmings, Marta Rakosnik, Patricia Schell, Ivana Spinell, William von Stranz
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

The timeless themes of love and marriage in Jane Austen's superb romantic comedy Pride and Prejudice have captured readers for generations - the novel has sold more than 20 million copies and has never been out of print. Now, A&E and the BBC have brought this beloved classic to life in a compelling production directed by Upstairs, Downstairs' Simon Langton. This stunning production captures the celebrated beauty of the English countryside and its glorious, stately manors. It features lavish costumes and an exquisite soundtrack from noted composer Carl Davis.

Pride and Prejudice is the story of the lively and rebellious Elizabeth Bennet, one of five unmarried daughters living in the countryside of 19th Century England. IN a world where obtaining an advantageous marriage is a woman's sole occupation, Elizabeth's independent manner threatens her family's future. Will her romantic sparring with the mysterious and arrogant Darcy end in misfortune - or will love's true nature prevail?

System Requirements:
Starring: Jennifer Ehle, Colin Firth, David Bamber, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Anthony Calf, Anna Chancellor, Susannah Harker, Julia Sawalha, Alison Steadman, Benjamin Whitrow.
Directed By: Simon Langton.
Running Time: 310 Minutes, Color.
This Film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2001 A&E Television Networks.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Jane Austen's classic novel of 1813, Pride and Prejudice, still wins the hearts of countless schoolgirls with its romantic story of Elizabeth Bennet and her Mr. Darcy. Now, the 1996 BBC miniseries is winning over adults, with its faithful adaptation, gorgeous scenery, and superb acting. The essence of the story is the antagonism between Mr. Darcy, a wealthy single man who believes Elizabeth to be beneath him, and Elizabeth, who upon being insulted at a dance by the aloof Darcy refuses to associate with him in any manner. Austen evokes incredible tension with the wit and flirtation of the two characters, and director Simon Langton (who also directed Upstairs Downstairs) successfully translates the repartee and conflict in this six-hour miniseries. Dialogue, for the most part, is painstakingly replicated, except when fleshing out and smoothing for modern sensibilities was necessary. Darcy, for instance, is drawn out, giving his personality significantly more depth. The acting sweeps you away to Regency England: Jennifer Ehle (of Wilde) is convincing as the obstinate Elizabeth, who, despite her mother's attempts to marry her off, spurs the attentions of Darcy. And Colin Firth (of The English Patient) will have women everywhere longing for a Mr. Darcy of their own.

For those who enjoy excellent Austen adaptations such as Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion--this miniseries will round out the ultimate Austen library. For those new to these romantic period pieces, this version of Pride and Prejudice will have you hooked and longing for more. One caveat, however: plan to watch it in an entire day, because very few have the self-control to not watch all six hours in a single sitting. --Jenny Brown

On the DVD
There's a lot to love (and a lot lacking) on the 10th anniversary limited edition. It comes in a tall, embossed green case that's out of place on a DVD shelf but blends right into a library of volumes. The three discs fit snugly in a sleeve, accompanied by a 120-page deluxe companion book. The main attraction, a retrospective documentary, features interviews with key cast members with the sad exceptions of Jennifer Ehle (who played Elizabeth) and Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy), which is bound to disappoint fans. Nonetheless, there are some amusing anecdotes from Mr. and Mrs. Bennet (played by Benjamin Withrow and Alison Steadman), Mary Bennet (Lucy Briers), Mr. Collins (David Bamber), Mr. Bingley (Crispin Bonham-Carter) and Mr. Wickham (Adrian Lukis), who all look drastically different--and younger--without their period costumes and hairstyles. One producer recalls that casting Colin Firth in the role with which his name is now synonymous was not an easy feat: he auditioned having gained weight and dyed his hair blond for another role, looking like "an unmade bed." Even Firth's own brother doubted his ability to pull off the dashing Darcy: "Isn't he supposed to be sexy?"

The special features also include a walking tour of the shooting locations with Lukis and Briers and an A&E Biography episode on Jane Austen that focuses largely on the onslaught of mid-1990s film adaptations of her novels. If it's your first time purchasing Pride & Prejudice, this collector's edition is a nice one to own. But if you already own the movie, you're not missing out on anything here. --Ellen A. Kim

Beyond Pride and Prejudice

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Stills from Pride and Prejudice (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

a disappointment after all the hype; could've been better cast.......2007-07-09

I must admit I really loved the Keira Knightley movie, but I bought the miniseries after reading all the rave reviews saying it was superior to the film. And while I agree that the BBC production is more faithful to the book, this does not necessarily make the final product better.

My main objection was to the casting of the miniseries. True, there were some characters which were played spot on: Charlotte and Mr. Collins, for example, and Mrs. Forster and Miss de Bourgh. Kitty and Mr. Bennett weren't too bad either. And although Matthew MacFayden's Darcy swept me off my feet, Colin Firth has put such a stamp on the character that it's hard to imagine him being anything but.

Having said this, however, I still believe the casting left a lot to be desired. My main complaints:

1) Mrs. Bennett was annoyingly shrill and over the top,
2) Lydia was too coarse and unrefined (yes, even for Lydia),
3) Mrs. Gardiner lacked authority. I couldn't imagine her character scolding Lydia for her indiscretion before the wedding.
4) Mary was too unattractive. She even looked like she had chicken pox in some scenes. Weren't the Bennet girls supposed to be local beauties?
5) Jennifer Ehle seemed to have the same facial expression throughout the series: a smug, supercilious, self-satisfied smirk, which looked pasted on like a Kabuki mask. This patent look rendered her Lizzie a bit too self-assured that it was a stretch of the imagination to believe she was, as she claimed to Lady Catherine der Bourgh, "not one-and-twenty".

But these to me were mere annoyances compared to the biggest casting mistake of all: Jane, who was as plain a Jane as you could get. Was British television running low on English Roses when they cast this production? I'm sure they could have found someone prettier than Susannah Harker. Honestly, the girl who played Miss King, whom the sisters dismissed as "plain" and "freckled" was a lot prettier, as was Jennifer Ehle, who played Lizzie. (I thought Rosamund Pike as Jane in the 2005 movie was a bit of casting genius. Keira Knightley is pretty, like Lizzie, but Rosamund Pike is beautiful, as Jane should rightfully be.)

Therefore, scenes like the one where Lizzie told (Plain) Jane she was "five times prettier" than any of the sisters, and (Plain) Jane just simpered without even acknowledging the compliment were downright laughable. Succeeding allusions to her supposed "beauty", such as Darcy's "You were dancing with the only handsome girl in the room" and Bingley's "She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld" were a constant source of irritation, as Susannah Harker, though pleasant enough, was thoroughly undeserving of such rapturous praise.

I mean, honestly, was I the only one who thought so? I only wish I hadn't seen the movie "A Knight's Tale" first, because Harker looks just like Allan Tudyk (the guy who played Wat) in drag, and I couldn't get the disturbing image of Jane snarling "Pain! Pain" out of my mind.

The final verdict? I wish I would've just borrowed this DVD set, as I don't think I'll be watching it again. The film is shorter and much more romantic. As for being true to the book, neither production is, so I think I'll just read the original.

(sigh.....) If I could give it 20 stars it still would not be enough..........2007-07-08

Is this the most amazing, wonderful, breathtaking love story EVER?!?!?!? I have seen 3 different versions of this movie - this one with Colin Firth is theeeeee BEST! I admit that I do like the version with Keira Knightley, but I have to give the A & E version the prize! Firth is Darcy thru and thru. The casting is superb. I know I have seen this 10 times and each time it's better than the last! This is the version to buy. The scenery is breathtaking and the acting does not get any better.

It isn't just Darcy that draws you here...........2007-07-06

I agree with every other woman in the English speaking (and perhaps even farther than that) world... Colin Firth is well, AMAZING. That aside, the characters in this A&E production are so well acted with such unique voices that you'll never read the book again without seeing Mr. Bingley's big and constant smile, or hearing Mr. Collins' condescending nasal or Mrs. Bennett's high-pitched complaints of "flutterings". Other more recent versions have cut out those elements of the character development that make these people so watchable. It is a movie I watch over and over every year. And, may I say, it isn't just for women. Every man I know that has braved this "chic flic" has enjoyed it. Please watch this...you're reading of Austen will never be the same again. It is just a good movie.

Pride and Prejudice.......2007-07-05

I read the book and no one has filmed the book correctly till this film. The way it is expressed and not changed to our time period is what makes it so wonerful. This surpasses any movie I have ever seen. I bought it as soon as I could afford it after it was released. I have the VHS and DVD both. Thanks, Ireta C.

Pride and Predjudice.......2007-07-05

While I liked this movie I don't think it can compare with the one starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. That is the best one I have ever seen. It 1s superb.

P.S. I am referring to the version with Colin Firth. Okay but not the best.

Average customer rating:

Satisfied Customer
Clasic Bruce Lee
Enter the Dragon
His 4th and last film
The man the myth, the legend.

Enter the Dragon
Starring: Bruce Lee , John Saxon , Kien Shih , Ahna Capri , and Angela Mao
Director: Robert Clouse
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection (The Big Boss / Fist of Fury / Way of the Dragon / Game of Death / Game of Death II)
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
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ASIN: 6304981635
Release Date: 1998-07-01

Amazon.com

The last film completed by Bruce Lee before his untimely death, Enter the Dragon was his entrée into Hollywood. The American-Hong Kong coproduction, shot in Asia by American director Robert Clouse, stars Lee as a British agent sent to infiltrate the criminal empire of bloodthirsty Asian crime lord Han (Shih Kien) through his annual international martial arts tournament. Lee spends his days taking on tournament combatants and nights breaking into the heavily guarded underground fortress, kicking the living tar out of anyone who stands in his way. The mix of kung fu fighting (choreographed by Lee himself) and James Bond intrigue (the plot has more than a passing resemblance to Dr. No) is pulpy by any standard, but the generous budget and talented cast of world-class martial artists puts this film in a category well above Lee's primitive Hong Kong productions. Unfortunately he's off the screen for large chunks of time as American maverick competitors (and champion martial artists) John Saxon and Jim Kelly take center stage, but once the fighting starts Lee takes over. The tournament setting provides an ample display of martial arts mastery of many styles and climaxes with a huge free-for-all, but the highlight is Lee's brutal one-on-one with the claw-fisted Han in the dynamic hall-of-mirrors battle. Lee narrows his eyes and tenses into a wiry force of sinew, speed, and ruthless determination. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Satisfied Customer.......2007-07-08

As the customer, I was very satisfied with the deal. The DVD though used
had been maintained well.
Percy Ranasinghe

Clasic Bruce Lee.......2007-07-04

Probably the best known of Bruce Lee's films, this one has a great cast of supporting actors who were skilled martial artists in their own style.Lot's of great action and a great display of Bruce's unsurpassed skill. Excellent quality of video and audio. This is one of the best remastered films I've seen.

Enter the Dragon.......2007-07-03

"Dragon" breathes fire for purely one reason: the riveting presence of Lee, whose personal charisma and particularly ferocious brand of martial arts made him an international star. Part James Bond-style thriller, part Hong Kong chop-socky extravaganza, "Dragon" was Lee's last film, and quite justifiably his most popular. His battle with the gargantuan fighter Bolo (Sze) is a head-turning highlight, as is the scrappy brawl between real-life karate champions John Saxon and Jim Kelly, playing shady ex-pat Americans. But the film's climax, a harrowing confrontation between Lee and the deadly, claw-fisted Han in a hall of mirrors, turns this kung-fu classic into an extravagant Asian treat.

His 4th and last film.......2007-04-17

Well, this movie had a profound impact on me. I discovered Bruce Lee shortly after his death, and then he became my childhood hero. Yes, I had all the posters and all the books. I even studied Wing Chun as an adolescent, just like he did. Speaking of which, it is amazing to me that until his last breath he never really abandoned that style of fighting, despite all his experimentation and despite founding Jeet Kune Do. Leaving aside the opening scene in which he mostly adopts Mui Thai (Kickboxing), and with remarkable prescience, Ultimate Fighting type mixed martial arts, the rest of the film in terms of his hand fighting is strictly Wing Chun: all the trapping hands and short, precise, practical movements and techniques are virtually 100% Wing Chun.

Now, was this Bruce Lee's best film? Well, in some ways in terms of production value it was. But if you pay close attention to Fists of Fury (also known as The Chinese Connection), and Return of the Dragon, you'll find that the production value of those two weren't that far behind ETD, and in some cases was better. Production wise, nothing in ETD can compare with the battle with Chuck Norris in the Coliseum in the climactic scene from Return of the Dragon. Similarly, in Fists of Fury, the battle in the Japanese Karate dojo along with the fight against the big European towards the end are as good, if not better than anything in Enter the Dragon. The one poorly produced film made by Bruce Lee would be The Big Boss, his first on his return to Hong Kong. Although, that too had some scintillating and spectacular fight scenes.

In terms of Bruce Lee himself, I'm afraid to say he was past his prime at this juncture. Remarkable, powerful and masterful yes, but somewhat past the prime he demonstrated in his earlier films. Martial Arts, in the end, is an athletic endeavor, and athletes generally reach their prime in their mid to late 20s and pass it as they approach 30 and beyond. And, of course, Bruce Lee was under an extreme amount of pressure. This would be his make or break film. If it failed he would be finished in Hollywood, if it succeeded he would finally take his place among the Hollywood elite whom he alternately admired, envied and detested. In addition to that, there were guys coming out of the woodwork wanting to fight him and claim the singular distinction of being the one guy who kicked Bruce Lee's butt. When he couldn't avoid it, he actually had a couple of real fights on set during the making of this film, and he didn't dissapoint. There was no fancy stuff, his opponents were quickly and ruthlessly dispatched. Had he lost any of those fights his career would be over.

All in all this film is a classic. It has some of the most brutal and beautiful hand to hand fight sequences ever committed to film. The battles are at once fantastical and savagely realistic. There is a minimum of fakery here, which at the time was the hallmark of Kung fu movies. And while Bruce Lee would always add fancy kicking to his film repertoire, many of his techniques here are in fact practical and commonsensical, and would work on the street if executed by a decent fighter.

Enter the Dragon is the only Bruce Lee film in which we hear his real voice. And it was finally the big budget, relatively carefully made Kung-fu movie everyone was clamoring for. But the greatest compliment I can pay this film is that after having watched it dozens of times over the last 30+ years, I can still watch it over and over again.

The man the myth, the legend........2007-04-02

Bruce Lee was a cult figure/phenomenon that may never be explained, a martial artist, a philosopher, a movie star. This movie I have always thought was his finest effort and showed the more thoughtful introspective side. The original scene with the shaolin,priest was cut out but it really gives you some of his thoughts on Zen and Fighting. Its great that it was put back in. I have to agree with others that in this movie Bruce was beginning to look sick and may have been slowly dying, his face was drawn and he was carrying to little body fat. The speed and power was evident and this is a great movie with a great story.

Average customer rating:

These were the Best Years of Our Lives
Thoughtful, touching film
Classic Black & White War Movie
Shame on the Film Makers
The effects of war

The Best Years of Our Lives
Starring: Myrna Loy , Fredric March , Dana Andrews , Teresa Wright , and Virginia Mayo
Director: William Wyler
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792846133
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Amazon.com essential video

Winner of seven Academy Awards, including best picture, director, actor, and screenplay, William Wyler's brilliant drama about domestic life after World War II remains one of the all-time classics of American cinema. Inspired by a pictorial article about returning soldiers in Life magazine, the story focuses on three war veterans (Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Harold Russell in unforgettable roles) and their rocky readjustment to civilian life in their Midwestern town of Boone City. Capturing the contradictory moods of America in the mid to late 1940s, this three-hour drama spans a complex range of honest emotions, from joyous celebration and happy reunion to deep-rooted ambivalence and reassessment of personal priorities. A movie milestone when released in 1946, The Best Years of Our Lives still packs a punch with powerful, timeless themes. --Jeff Shannon

Description

It's the hope that sustains the spirit of every GI: the dream of the day when he will finally return home. For three WWII veterans, the day has arrived. But for each man, the dream is about to becomea nightmare. Captain Fred Derry (Dana Andrews) is returning to a loveless marriage; Sergeant Al Stephenson (Fredric March) is a stranger to a family that's grown up without him; and young sailor Homer Parrish (Harold Russell) is tormented by the loss of his hands. Can these three men find the courage to rebuild their world? Or are the best years of their lives a thing of the past? Featuring a brilliant cast that includes Myrna Loy and Virginia Mayo, this postwar classic garnered* seven OscarsÂ(r), including Best Picture. Heart-wrenching, touching and "filled with emotional dynamite" (The Hollywood Reporter), it remains "one of the best films about war veterans ever made" (American Movie Classics). *1946: Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Writing/Screenplay, Film Editing, Music/Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture

Customer Reviews:

These were the Best Years of Our Lives.......2007-06-09

What a great movie. The scenes between Fredick March, Myna Loy and Theresa Wright where Theresa told them that they alway had the perfect life and marriage and Myna looks at Fred and say "how many time have I told you that I hated you and meant it?" Then he looks at her and say "how many times did we have to fall in love all over again?" Its so gooood...Harold Russell great actors and deserves the TWO Oscars. Anyone that hasn't seen it really needs to check this one out..

Thoughtful, touching film.......2007-05-07

I love this movie. Though all the actors were excellent, Harold Russell is the reason to watch this movie. He deserved every ounce of his two - yes two - Oscars that he received for this role. He is amazing to watch. Though disabled, it was hard to consider him handicapped. I once used this film in my sunday school class. The lesson was on overcoming adversity and I showed the scene where Russell plays a piano duet with Hoagy Carmichael. The girls in my class were amazed. Then I shared with them some of the other things Russell had accomplished in his life - like being a founder of AMVETS. Russell's off screen story is a story in itself and should be made into a movie. Unfortunately, no actor could convincingly play him. That's the key to the impact he had on the screen - he wasn't an actor - he was a real, disabled person. Watch this movie - you'll be amazed too.

Classic Black & White War Movie.......2007-05-07

This was my father's all time favorite movie, which may be one reason I love it so much....then again, it's a damn good movie that still holds up! It is the story of three soldiers return to civilian life after World War II, with an outstanding cast and a great 40's style.

Shame on the Film Makers.......2007-04-08

I don't see how self-respecting African-Americans can watch this film without gritting their teeth. Black people are shuffled off to the sidelines with stereotypical, non-speaking parts: They lug baggage at the airport. They work behind the drugstore soda counter. They don't say anything, they don't go anywhere important, they don't even exist in the poor part of town where one of the featured white characters lives.

The movie is racist. It ignores what the Black experience was like for soldiers in WWII and for the folks at home who put up with the enduring racism.

And the flick got a zillion Oscars. Hollywood felt good about itself. Hooray. Figures.

The effects of war.......2007-03-31

This story of three men who return to small town America after fighting in the second world war, each man wounded in his own private way by the horrors he's faced, is filled with so many small heartbreaks. I very rarely get choked up watching movies (especially ones made in Hollywood) but this one gets me. Yet somehow it manages to be incredibly hopeful. Gregg Toland's amazing deep focus cinematography fills each frame with visually interesting compositions that demand to be seen more than once to take in everything that's being shown. The performances are uniformly outstanding, keeping the movie from ever straying into sentimentality. With a running time of almost 3 hours, it never drags. Every scene feels essential.

A great film.

Average customer rating:

Witness for the Prosecution
A highly skilled and professional movie, with four highly skilled and amusing performances
From the Old School!
Guilty, Your Honor - I Love This Movie
Charles Laughton Steals the Show

Witness For the Prosecution
Starring: Tyrone Power , Marlene Dietrich , Charles Laughton , Elsa Lanchester , and John Williams (II)
Director: Billy Wilder
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005PJ6Z
Release Date: 2001-12-11

Amazon.com essential video

Billy Wilder cowrote and directed this brilliant 1957 mystery based on Agatha Christie's celebrated play about an aging London barrister (Charles Laughton) who's preparing to retire when he takes the defense in the most vexing murder case of his distinguished career. In his final completed film (he died of a heart attack less than a year later), Tyrone Power plays the prime suspect in the murder of a wealthy widow, and Marlene Dietrich plays the wife of the accused, whose testimony--and true identity--holds the key to solving the case. A classic of courtroom suspense, Witness for the Prosecution is one of those movies with enough double-crossing twists to keep the viewer guessing right up to the very end, when yet another surprise is deftly revealed. This being a Billy Wilder film, the dialogue is first-rate and the acting superb, with both Laughton and his offscreen wife Elsa Lanchester (playing the barrister's pesty nurse) winning Academy Awards for their performances. Although later films would concoct even more complicated courtroom scenarios, this remains one of the best films of its kind and a model for all those films that followed its lead. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton star in this brilliantly made courtroom drama (The Film Daily) that left audiences reeling from its surprise twists and shocking climax. Directed by Billy Wilder, scripted by Wilder and Harry Kurnitz and based on Agatha Christie's hit London play, this splendid, six-time Oscar-nominated* classic crackles with emotional electricity (The New York Times) and continues to keep movie lovers riveted until the final, mesmerizing frame. When a wealthy widow is found murdered, her married suitor, Leonard Vole (Power), is accused of the crime. Vole's only hope for acquittal is the testimony of his wife (Dietrich) but his airtightalibi shatters when she reveals some shocking secrets of her own! *1957: Best Picture, Actor (Laughton), Supporting Actress (Elsa Lanchester), Director, Sound, Film Editing

Customer Reviews:

Witness for the Prosecution.......2007-06-27

Adapted from Agatha Christie's celebrated stage play, Billy Wilder's quintessential 1957 courtroom drama steadily builds narrative tension with its crisp, cynical dialogue. Surprises of identity, double and triple crosses, and a succession of plot twists keep this "Witness" from becoming predictable. Laughton and real-life wife Elsa Lanchester, playing Robards's meddlesome nurse, both won Oscars for their roles, but it's Wilder's razor-sharp script and direction that make this mystery tick. Sadly, this was Power's last completed role.

A highly skilled and professional movie, with four highly skilled and amusing performances.......2007-06-13

"I'll snatch her thermometer," snarls the aging, portly, brilliant, irascible London barrister Sir Wilfred Robarts, just back in his office after spending time in a hospital recovering from a heart attack, "and plunge it between her shoulder blades!"

In Witness for the Prosecution, based on an Agatha Christie story and popular stage play, Sir Wilfred (Charles Laughton) is referring to his personal nurse and attendant, the chirpy and determined Miss Plimsoll (Elsa Lanchester). Sir Wilfred has strict instructions to give up everything he holds dearest, namely brandy, cigars and the excitement of criminal defense cases. Nurse Plimsoll is there to see that he does, as well as to give him his injections, make sure he swallows his pills and tuck him in for his afternoon naps. In an effort to sneak a cigar that first day back in his office, Sir Wilfred finds himself intrigued by the case of Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power). Vole is a charming, too charming, man whom we don't quite trust. He has been charged with murdering a rich, silly woman...who coincidentally changed her will in Vole's favor a week before her death. Vole stands to become a very wealthy man. There is means, motive and opportunity, and for Sir Wilfred, there is a challenge. Vole swears he's innocent, but his story is not altogether plausible. His only hope, and a shaky one it is, is the testimony of his German wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich). She has supplied an alibi, which cannot be verified, but at least she cannot be forced to testify against her husband. Then, when the marriage is found to be invalid, who should decide to become a witness for he prosecution? Sir Wilfred is mortified but even more determined to save his client.

The case, full of startling twists, legal shenanigans, first-rate performances and vivid characters, ends with a typically Agatha Christie surprise. Some argue that Christie perhaps was weak as a writer, but peerless as a storyteller, able to construct mystery plot puzzles that consistently stumped her readers until the last chapter. With Billy Wilder directing and Wilder and Harry Kurnitz, an old pro, providing the screenplay, Christie once again gives a surprise twist that leaves us open-mouthed, yet smiling at her cleverness. Thanks to Wilder and Kurnitz, we also have a conclusion that involves Sir Wilfred and Nurse Plimsoll that is immensely satisfying. If only there had been a sequel.

The four leads do marvelous jobs. In a way, the movie is about two relationships, not just one. There is the relationship between Vole and his wife. They met when Vole was a sergeant stationed in Germany right after WWII. He met Christine when she was earning money entertaining in a dive for soldiers. We see some of this in flashback. With Vole's opportunistic charm and Christine's cool manner, it's difficult to determine who, if either of them, is using whom, or to what degree love enters the picture. Christine's first entrance is memorable. Says Sir Wilfred to a group of fellows awaiting Mrs. Vole, "Be prepared for hysterics and even a fainting spell. Better have smelling salts handy and a nip of brandy." Then in walks Marlene Dietrich as Christine Vole, with perfect assurance. "I do not think that will be necessary," she says to Sir Wilfred. "I never faint because I am not sure that I will fall gracefully and I never use smelling salts because they puff up the eyes. I am Christine Vole."

In the second relationship, Sir Wilfred and Nurse Plimsoll provide the acerbic and mutually bullying comic relief for the movie. The two actors, however, married in real life, manage to develop a touching inter-dependence. It's not just a smile they give as at the end, but also a modest lump in the throat.

And personally, I was delighted to see Henry Daniell in a substantial secondary role. He plays Mayhew, the solicitor who brings Vole to Sir Wilfred. Daniell could look like he was sneering with disdain even if he was just admiring the view. He played some wonderfully upper-class cads and villains in a lot of so-so movies. He also was a first-rate actor, who, given the chance, could also play serious, concerned men, the kind you wouldn't mind having for a friend. He does a fine job here.

The movie, filmed in black and white, looks very good in the DVD transfer. There are no extras to speak of.

From the Old School!.......2007-04-25

"Witness for the Prosecution" is a first rate courtroom drama with razor sharp direction by Billy Wilder and a cast to die for. As the plot opens, "nice guy" Tyrone Power stands accused of murdering a wealthy widow. Unemployed and shiftless, he reminded this reviewer of Ray Milland in "Dial M for Murder". TP was the last known person to see the demised alive, has a shaky alibi-and is in the lady's will for big bucks! TP turns in desperation to big shot London lawyer Charles Laughton. In fact, Scotland Yard busts him in CL's office! Most have already commented on the lively courtroom drama but this reviewer admired the out of court sparring too as Laughton and his colleagues prepare for trial. Just out of the hospital, CL is perfect as the curmudgeonly and crafty barrister, even if he does tear up most of his scenes. His tart banter with his nurse (Elsa Lanchester) is softened by the knowledge that she was his real life wife. There are at least 3 huge plot twists to WFP, leading this observer to write a concise review in the interests of not divulging the ending. That leads us to female lead Marlene Dietrich: She is central to those twists- watch her closely! MD played 30 movies from 1930-1965; was she ever better than here? Hollywood took notice of WFP: It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Laughton) and Best Supporting Actress (Lanchester), though winning none. Dietrich was ignored by the Academy but nominated for Best Actress by the Golden Globes. How many times were husband and wife nominated together? WFP is filmed is beautiful black and white-a lost art-and features true economy of sets, perhaps reflecting its' stage origins. This review tried to maintain an aura of mystery about the ending; there is a good deal more suspense than implied here. Like the header states, WFP is a winner from the old school -one that has long since been out of session.

Guilty, Your Honor - I Love This Movie.......2007-04-19

The film is based on Agatha Christie's story with the enormous twist not on the last page but on the last line. Billy Wilder's direction is perfect and all actors get it right. Charles Laughton is absolutely superb; he has the best lines and scenes and he brings the wit, intelligence, and the heart to the film. Marlene Dietrich is perfect playing not one but three roles, convincingly transforming from one character to another, from the present to the past. This is not just a good mystery but a classic of the courtroom genre and a very enjoyable film even after you know the ending. "Witness for the Prosecutionis" is one of my favorite Agatha Christie's screen adaptations.

Charles Laughton Steals the Show.......2007-04-04

Witness for the Prosecution is an outstanding film with a number of great performances. I've seen some criticism of Tyrone Power but I can't agree. Far from wooden, he alternates between suave man-about-town and frantic defendant depending on the scene. Marlene Dietrich is also very compelling as his wife although I'm not sure I see her appeal as a sex-symbol which she used to enjoy. By far the best role, however, belongs to Charles Laughton as the defense attorney (or barrister) and he nails it beyond belief. His character is a classic curmudgeon but he plays it with such charm and humor that he is one of my favorite characters of all time from any movie.

The story moves along briskly and there are plenty of mood shifts as some scenes are very light and funny while others are quite tense. It's a bit of a roller coaster but one that is pure pleasure to ride. All in all, I highly recommend this film for virtually any movie fan.

The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

"me, me, me ...... me too"
Cool Action but Silly and Pretentious
An Exercise In Franchise Annihilation...
Good Series
It's a (good) MOVIE, not a pholosophy book.

The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Ray Anthony (III) , Christine Anu , Andy Arness , Alima Ashton-Sheibu , and Helmut Bakaitis
Director: Andy Wachowski , and Larry Wachowski
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Matrix Revolutions (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
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ASIN: B0000AXE8I
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Amazon.com

Considering the lofty expectations that preceded it, The Matrix Reloaded triumphs where most sequels fail. It would be impossible to match the fresh audacity that made The Matrix a global phenomenon in 1999, but in continuing the exploits of rebellious Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as they struggle to save the human sanctuary of Zion from invading machines, the codirecting Wachowski brothers have their priorities well in order. They offer the obligatory bigger and better highlights (including the impressive "Burly Brawl" and freeway chase sequences) while remaining focused on cleverly plotting the middle of a brain-teasing trilogy that ends with The Matrix Revolutions. The metaphysical underpinnings can be dismissed or scrutinized, and choosing the latter course (this is, after all, an epic about choice and free will) leads to astonishing repercussions that made Reloaded an explosive hit with critics and hardcore fans alike. As the centerpiece of a multimedia franchise, this dynamic sequel ends with a cliffhanger that virtually guarantees a mind-blowing conclusion. --Jeff Shannon

Description

In the second chapter of the Matrix trilogy, Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) continue to lead the revolt against the Machine Army. In their quest to save the human race from extinction, they gain greater insight into the construct of The Matrix and Neo's pivotal role in the fate of mankind.

DVD Features:
DVD ROM Features:Web links to the official Matrix website
Documentaries:PRELOAD: Go behind the scenes with the cast and crew THE FREEWAY CHASE: Anatomy of the mind-blowing scene ENTER THE MATRIX: Making of the ground-breaking video game WHAT IS THE ANIMATRIX? THE MATRIX UNFOLDS: A look at the Matrix phenomenon GET ME AN EXIT: Matrix-inspired design advertising
Other:THE MTV MOVIE AWARDS RELOADED

Customer Reviews:

"me, me, me ...... me too".......2007-06-23

The Matrix Reloaded has one thing that simply stands out throughout the movie - complete eye candy. Its true, while the first Matrix brought about new origins in movie animation and cgi, Matrix Reloaded takes it x100. The action is amazing, it will blow you away almost to the point that you've had enough. Major action and visual effects fans will dig this. True harcorde fans of the Matrix story might be dissapointed.

The story almost takes a backseat to the action. The plot is dragged out throughout huge action scenes that seem to never end - example- Neo vs dozens of Smiths lasting forever, and the highway chase that lasts as long as I-95 runs. While these scenes are truly spectacular, they take away from the story somewhat. Gone is the great in depth exploration into the Matrix. Very little is newly introduced to us about the Matrix, and the story now focuses on Neo and the rest of humanity saving itself from destruction, both from the machines in the real world, and Smith in the Matrix world. We do get to meet the architect of the Matrix, though not as astounding as one would think.

Overall this is not as good as the first one, but you'll still want to see it to see how the trilogy continues. If you love never-ending action and cgi, you will want to watch this over and over and over. The movie is worth buying on that regard. As for a compeleing story, you might be ok stopping after the first Matrix and being satisfied. If you do see Reloaded, you'll have to see Revolutions too, since both technically are one big film split into 2 parts.

Cool Action but Silly and Pretentious.......2007-05-19

The first MATRIX film was interesting but I felt they held too much info back for too long. By the time you understood the story, the movie was over.

By the second movie, THE MATRIX RELOADED, the filmmakers got caught up in their own pretentious premise. The dialogue just plays flat and weird. Keanu Reeves looks either deep or...blank. Couldn't tell which most of the time. The truly-odd "Rave Scene" was so primitive and even bestial that I wondered why humans needed to survive at all. Maybe the machines were on to something to exterminate such rampant barbarism and partying.

The action scenes were very cool and the special effects extremely interesting. I'm sure the filmmakers turned to talented effects people to shoot those scenes.

If only they had turned to talented sci-fi writers to flesh out their script.

Needless to say, this was the last MATRIX movie I saw in a theatre.

An Exercise In Franchise Annihilation..........2007-04-09

"Reloaded" turns out to be a whopping disappointment. I caught the midnight preview of this movie and was expecting a satisfying sequel building from the strengths of the first Matrix film, which was an instant sci-fi/action classic. Instead, we were treated to a terribly botched effort. Apparently, the first film was a fluke for the Wachowskis, whose writing and character building skills simply evaporated after the smash success of the first film. Alongside the likewise awful "Matrix: Revolutions", the once promising team proceeded to demolish the legacy of what could have been the next "Star Wars Trilogy". Hence, a potential all-time classic series of Matrix films was not to be. What went wrong?

Plenty.

For starters, the original characters were not refreshed or developed adequately. We fully expect to see Neo's awesome powers on full display, and here the Wachowskis do not disappoint. However, the Neo character remains virtually the same, his realization that the Oracle's prediction was correct and that he truly is "The One" failed to boost his confidence or convince him to truly lead his comrades towards victory against the machines ( Imagine Luke Skywalker in "Return Of The Jedi" still behaving like a whining farm boy). Instead, Neo takes a back seat to Morpheus again. The relationship between Neo and Trinity is still flat, I sensed no on-screen chemistry between the two at any time.

The supporting cast have a small degree of development, but it is too little, too late as the movie plods along between killer (if not cliché) action sequences. Central character Agent Smith is altered into a more powerful "Smith", OK. This classic villain has been ruined by an awful script long on existential rhetoric but short on captivation. The CGI "Squidies" are badly overdone here as well as in "Revolutions". We expect to see more sophisticated and diverse machines introduced, especially in a world of machines such as this. Instead, the squidies are the only muscle the machine empire can produce to combat the Zionites. The program-run-amok characters such as the Merovingian are silly and lame.

This movie was a financial blockbuster due mainly to the action sequences, which were superb despite the overdone CGI effects. It's a shame that the excellent storyline introduced in the first movie was thoroughly trashed beginning with this sequel and continuing into the third and (thankfully) final installment.

Good Series.......2007-04-02

A must have. Has some great scenes.
Not quite as good overall as the first installment but still great.

It's a (good) MOVIE, not a pholosophy book........2007-03-03

First off, I will say that I enjoyed these movies as great entertainment.

I realize that for some people, these movies are vehicles for philosophy for you. We each have different vehicles that work for us to learn the truths of life, so I am trying not to be too arrogant in my comments, but I am just flabbergasted that so many people follow the text and slightest nuance (intended or not) as if it were holy writ.

It really scares me that our culture has become so sanitized and bland, that people are looking to movies like this for meaning. Sure, there is a little there, but it is smashed in with new-age mumbo and eye-candy. You want to learn of life and truth? Read Ghandi, read the words and thoughts of truly great men. Or really take the plunge into profound searchings for the truth and meaning and read Christ, Buddha, or Mohammed.

You want things in movie form? Watch Ghandi, the killing fields, Hotel Rwanda, or Schindler's list, etc.

But it you really want to learn philosophy, the kind that really matters, go seek out those who suffer more than you can possibly imagine, look in their eyes and hear their stories. Keep your heart open and let them touch you. Cry with them. It is amazing how fully life begins to change.

There is so much more out there than what is found in this movie! Put the video games, football games, and beer aside for Just a moment, and try to truly see. It gets addictive, trust me.

Touch of Evil (Restored to Orson Welles' Vision)

Average customer rating:

Touch of Evil
Orson Wells
Touch of a master.
Touch of Evil
WIDESCREEN DEBATE

Touch of Evil (Restored to Orson Welles' Vision)
Starring: Joe Basulto , Joseph Calleia , Ray Collins , Marlene Dietrich , and Zsa Zsa Gabor
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305999872
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Amazon.com essential video

Considered by many to be the greatest B movie ever made, the original-release version of Orson Welles's film noir masterpiece Touch of Evil was, ironically, never intended as a B movie at all--it merely suffered that fate after it was taken away from writer-director Welles, then reedited and released in 1958 as the second half of a double feature. Time and critical acclaim would eventually elevate the film to classic status (and Welles's original vision was meticulously followed for the film's 1998 restoration), but for four decades this original version stood as a testament to Welles's directorial genius. From its astonishing, miraculously choreographed opening shot (lasting over three minutes) to Marlene Dietrich's classic final line of dialogue, this sordid tale of murder and police corruption is like a valentine for the cinematic medium, with Welles as its love-struck suitor. As the corpulent cop who may be involved in a border-town murder, Welles faces opposition from a narcotics officer (Charlton Heston) whose wife (Janet Leigh) is abducted and held as the pawn in a struggle between Heston's quest for truth and Welles's control of carefully hidden secrets. The twisting plot is wildly entertaining (even though it's harder to follow in this original version), but even greater pleasure is found in the pulpy dialogue and the sheer exuberance of the dazzling directorial style. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Touch of Evil.......2007-06-27

The director's original version is restored for this DVD, to powerful effect. Welles creates a desolate night-time world in the dirty town of Los Robles, a forgotten speck on the map where everyone seems to carry a nasty secret. Lurid, almost surreal atmosphere is complemented by uniformly first-rate performances, with Heston and Leigh never better, Welles himself a bloated symbol of moral decay, and Akim Tamiroff memorably slimy as a local crime boss. Don't miss Marlene Dietrich playing a gypsy- as you might guess, she gets the final word. A cult movie with a capital "C".

Orson Wells.......2007-03-19

well worth seeing. A Wells classic, that just has not aged

Touch of a master........2007-02-28

Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958)

The American Experience documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane concludes with the observation that after the scandal that erupted over Kane, Orson Welles "never worked on another major Hollywood production." Which is pretty amazing, when you consider how many of Welles' post-Kane movies are acknowledged as classics nowadays. After Kane, Welles plunged himself deep into the world of noir (one wonders what Jung would have to say about that) and continued cranking out fantastic movies. Seventeen years later, Welles made his second-best movie-- Touch of Evil, the very epitome of the things that make noir great.

Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston) is a Mexican (yeah, yeah, but suspend your disbelief) narcotics officer who's just gotten married to Susan (Janet Leigh), a Philadelphia socialite. On the eve of their honeymoon, someone plants a bomb in the car of a rich American on the Mexican side of the border, and the bomb explodes on the American side. This brings Vargas into contact with Hank Quinlan (Welles), a corrupt, racist American detective who tries to railroad Manelo Sanchez (Victor Millan, last seen in Scarface), the victim's daughter's boyfriend, by planting evidence at the crime scene. Vargas, meanwhile, is also being pursued by Joe Grandi (Justine's Akim Tamiroff), a crime boss whose brother Vargas arrested. All the threads eventually come together in the most entertaining of ways; the movie's climactic scene has been copied (and parodied) so many times that by now it's a cliché. But remember that it wasn't in 1958; this is as good as it gets.

Orson Welles' directorial prowess was as legendary as his excesses. Rent a Welles movie at random, and you're pretty much guaranteed a good time. Some of his movies, though, deliver more universally than others; Citizen Kane seems to be the favorite of most folks. Mine has always been The Stranger. But Touch of Evil stands with both. This is great stuff, an absolute must for film fans. **** ½

Touch of Evil.......2007-02-27

"Touch of Evil" is the movie that ended Orson Welles' reign in Hollywood, a huge failure at the time of its release. Now, it's considered his 2nd best film (hopefully I don't need to tell you what #1 is). "Touch of Evil" is a slice of film-noir, written and directed by Welles', set in Los Robles, a Mexican-American border town. As the movie opens (in one of the best shots I've ever seen) with an unbroken shot lasting three minutes and twenty seconds, a bomb is placed in a car. The camera follows the car, but stops as we're introduced to a newlywed couple: Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston), a Mexican narcotics official and his wife Susan (Janet Leigh). As they're going through a border checkpoint, the car drives past them and then we hear an off-screen explosion. As the police descend upon the scene like vultures, the tension slowly builds as we wait for Captain Hank Quinlan (Welles). The Welles' we finally see is quite different from the Welles' that once played Charles Foster Kane. The new Welles' is a fat, sweaty man who seems to be standing above the camera in almost every shot he's in. Quinlan comes in and states that the explosion was caused by dynamite, he cites "intuition" as his proof. As Vargas gets involved with the investigation, much to the dismay of Quinlan, Susan is set up at a secluded motel. Meanwhile, a local crime boss named "Uncle Joe" Grandi (Akim Tamiroff) is trying to harm Susan because Vargas is testifying against his brother and harming Vargas directly will get his brother convicted. Meanwhile, we watch as Quinlan investigates the explosion and realize that he has his own agenda. He's a dirty cop, distraught over the unsolved murder of his wife, who has no problem planting evidence to get someone arrested. One of the best scenes in the movie (which seems to reflect a passage from Welles' own life) is when Quinlan, drunk, goes to see a fortune-telling madam (Marlene Dietrich). The scene reads as follows:
Welles-Come on, read my future for me.
Dietrich-You haven't got any.
Welles-Uhh...What do you mean?
Dietrich-Your future is all used up.
"Touch of Evil" is a film that embodies what film-noir is supposed to be. Dark cinematography and low camera angles and there's a lot of that. This DVD is a terrific edition. The story behind the making of "Touch of Evil" is almost as well known as the film itself. After the studio drastically re-edited the film, Welles' wrote a pleading 58-page memo to the studio. Now, all these years later, we see the version that Welles' wanted. The cinematography of this film is an absolute gem. There are a lot of legendary and very well done shots that should rank up there with the best Gregg Toland shots in "Citizen Kane." Touch of Evil is a terrific, underrated film by "The Boy Genius."
GRADE: A-

WIDESCREEN DEBATE.......2007-01-25

I have read reviews on this site suggesting that this dvd release cropped the top and bottom of the original aspect ratio. I have seen the late '90s release of Touch Of Evil in the theater. I remember the top and bottom of the Universal globe was (slightly) chopped off of this theatrical release and looks just like the aspet ratio of this dvd release. I believe this dvd portrays the aspect ratio accurately. Besides, I have never heard of movies in the late 1950's released in the theaters having a "square" or "television" type of aspect ratio like most movies released in the 30's and 40's.

Average customer rating:

me please
Wings of Desire is better by far
The Original Is Better
City of Angels
meg ryan fan

City of Angels
Starring: Nicolas Cage , Meg Ryan , Andre Braugher , Dennis Franz , and Colm Feore
Director: Brad Silberling
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: 0790737345
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Amazon.com

Some critics complained that City of Angels could never compare to Wim Wenders's exquisite German film Wings of Desire, which served as the later film's primary inspiration. The better argument to make is that any such comparisons are beside the point, because Wings of Desire was a much more deeply poetic, artfully contemplative film, whereas City of Angels is an enchanting product of mainstream Hollywood. Meg Ryan stars as Dr. Maggie Rice, a heart surgeon who is grieving over a lost patient when an angel named Seth (Nicolas Cage) appears to comfort her. She can see him despite the "rule" that angels are invisible, and Seth's love for Maggie forces him to choose between angelic immortality and a normal human existence on earth with her. Featuring heavenly roles for TV veterans Andre Braugher and Dennis Franz, the film liberally borrows imagery from Wings of Desire, but it also creates its own charming identity. Cage and Ryan give fine performances as lovers convinced they are soul mates, and although the plot relies on a last-minute twist that doesn't quite work, this earnest love story struck a chord with audiences and proved to be one of the surprise hits of 1998. The Special Edition widescreen DVD includes audio commentary by Nicolas Cage, producer Charles Roven, and director Brad Silberling in addition to deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes documentary, a featurette about the film's special effects, and the theatrical trailer. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

me please.......2007-06-27

Found the item to be of good quality what was said was what I got found them to be reliable and effficient. Thank You.

Wings of Desire is better by far.......2007-05-16

"Wings of Desire" (the movie that "City of Angels" is loosely inspired upon), is a masterpiece and "City of Angels" is...is... how could I explain it not being too rude? It is just a piece of junk in comparison. Somebody wrote that he didn't like "Wings of Desire" because he didn't feel the same as he felt watching "City of Angels". I agree in the "feeling" part, because I felt nausea watching "City of Angels" and that didn't happen to me watching "Wings of Desire"!! I own "Wings of Desire" and have seen it and enjoyed it many times. Regarding "City of Angels", well I rented it and barely could see it once!

The Original Is Better.......2007-05-13

Back in 1988, on a friend's recommendation, I saw "Wings of Desire" in the theater and loved it. Subsequently, I was interested when Hollywood made its own version of Wim Wender's film with Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan, both actors whose work I've enjoyed. I saw "City of Angels," and for the most part I liked it -- that is, until the very end. What a DOWNER!! No matter that the movie gets all psedo-warmfuzzy-philosophical and time-to-get-out-your-handkerchiefs, it misses the point of the original film, which was a celebration of Human Life and Love. I own the DVD of "Wings of Desire." One viewing of "City of Angels" was enough for me.

City of Angels.......2007-05-09

this is a great movie, a must have. Beautiful music. Two wonderful actors with very expressive eyes. upgrade to DVD

meg ryan fan.......2007-03-18

i like this movie because for me, it was a nice, simple story about love. it made me think and it reminded me not to take life, love and peoples feelings for granted...

Average customer rating:

Judgment at Nuremberg
Judgment at Nuremberg
All-Around Classic
Judgment at Nuremberg
An American film made with rare subtlety, especially for 1961

Judgment at Nuremberg
Starring: Spencer Tracy , Burt Lancaster , Richard Widmark , Marlene Dietrich , and Maximilian Schell
Director: Stanley Kramer
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B0002CR04A
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Amazon.com essential video

Director Stanley Kramer's socially conscious 1961 film tackles the subject of the war crime trials arising out of World War II in an earnest and straightforward fashion, exploring the consciousness of two nations as they struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of the Holocaust. Spencer Tracy plays the American judge selected to head the tribunal that will try the suspected war criminals. As he sets about his task, he must confront the raw emotion felt by the German people, and his own notions of good and evil, right and wrong. Regarded as a classic, this stark rendering of one of the most pivotal events in the 20th century features a stellar cast including Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, a young William Shatner, and Maximillian Schell, who won an Oscar for his role as counsel for the defense for those charged with crimes against humanity. Judgment at Nuremberg is important viewing not only for the history of film, but for the history of modern times. --Robert Lane

Description

Nominated* for eleven Academy AwardsÂ(r), including Best Picture, Judgment at Nuremberg is "magnificent" (Los Angeles Times), "continuously exciting" (The New Yorker) andboasts brilliant performances by an all-star cast. American judge Dan Haywood (Spencer Tracy) presides over the trial of four German jurists accused of "legalizing" Nazi atrocities. But as graphic accounts of sterilization and murder unfold in the courtroom, mounting political pressure for leniency forces Haywood to make the most harrowing and difficult decision of his career. *1961: Actor (Maximilian Schell, won); Actor (Spencer Tracy); Supporting Actor (Montgomery Clift); Supporting Actress (Judy Garland); Director; Adapted Screenplay (won); Cinematography (B&W); Art Direction (B&W); Film Editing; Costume Design (B&W).

Customer Reviews:

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-06-27

Long but brilliant, "Judgment" was a box-office sensation, due to director Kramer's sensitive, socially conscious approach, which examines the degree to which people should be held responsible for following orders. The movie includes a host of sterling performances: Schell stands out as the impassioned defense attorney (the part netted him an Oscar), as do Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland, whose tragic characters poignantly mirror the consuming sadness in their real lives. "Judgment" is an absorbing, true-to-life reckoning with the infamous Nazi legacy and the nature of modern justice.

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-05-30

best of actors, powerful messages from an horrific time where geopolitics were driven the world (as of today)............nevertheless, principles of fairness must be imposed above all, to respect life and to sanctioned wrong doings.

All-Around Classic.......2007-05-18

For the Star-Power of the cast alone, this classic is worth adding to your collection. However, as an added bonus, this story provides thought provoking insights into the political and cultural forces at work in post-war Europe and the United States. "Judgement At Nuremberg" is a well-crafted, well-acted, gripping tale about doing the 'right thing', even when it's not easy, and even when it's not obvious.

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-04-04

A masterpiece of great actors exercising their craft amidst the Russian blockade of Berlin in 1948. Those who appreciate history and fine acting will be very pleased at the aspects of both..

An American film made with rare subtlety, especially for 1961.......2007-03-28

I saw this film for the first time a few days ago and it will stay with me a long time. Are you embarrassed to think that you've read and seen enough already about the Holocaust? This film is only tangentially about the Holocaust. It is mostly about how morality shifts depending on who is in power and who wins the war, and how easy it is to accuse others of crimes that most of us under similar circumstances might commit or ignore. It is about standing up and saying out loud that you have made a terrible mistake. It is about not going along with the prevailing winds just because you tell yourself you'll try to do better later.

The film is in black and white, which gives it a semi-docuemtary look,
There are interesting shots, including zoom close ups used to great dramatic effect. The actors never gave better performances, including
Montgomery Clift, Judy Garland, and of course Spencer Tracy. Maxmillian Schell was fifth or sixth in billing for the film, yet he won the Oscar for the thankless role of being a defense attorney for German judges on trial in 1947 for committing crimes against humanity because they worked for and supported the Nazi regime. This was a second-string trial, the famous criminals like Hess had already been tried and convicted. Yet, Spencer Tracy's character, as head of the military court tribunal (written a little too nobly perhaps)takes this trial, and its implications, as seriously as if it had been the first time the issues of complicity and "just following orders" had ever been raised. The film is 3 hours long and yet moves right along, and there are few slow moments. I'm not sure if the Marlene Dietrich character (widow of an executed Nazi general) was essential to the story, but it was entertaining to watch Dietrich and Tracy play off each other. Watch them in the coffee-drinking scene in her apartment. This is still a great film, equally for the story and the issues it raises, and for the cinematic techniques and choices.

John Wayne: Screen Legend Collection (Reap the Wild Wind / Rooster Cogburn / The Hellfighters / The War Wagon / The Spoilers)

Average customer rating:

John Wayne: Screen Legend Collection (Reap the Wild Wind / Rooster Cogburn / The Hellfighters / The War Wagon / The Spoilers)
Starring: John Wayne , Ray Milland , Paulette Goddard , Susan Hayward , and Charles Bickford
Director: Cecil B. DeMille
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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The John Wayne Century Collection (Big Jake, Donovan's Reef, El Dorado, Hatari!, Hondo, In Harm's Way, Island in the Sky, McLintock!, Rio Lobo, The High and the Mighty, etc.)
The John Wayne Film Collection (Without Reservations / Allegheny Uprising / Tycoon / Reunion in France / Big Jim McLain / Trouble Along the Way)
John Wayne Collection, Vol. 1 (The Quiet Man / The Sands of Iwo Jima / Flying Tigers / The Wake of the Red Witch)
James Stewart: Screen Legend Collection (Shenandoah / The Glenn Miller Story / Thunder Bay / You Gotta Stay Happy / Next Time, We Love)
John Wayne Collection, Vol. 2 (Rio Grande / A Lady Takes a Chance / The Fighting Kentuckian / Dakota)

ASIN: B000NNUWZC
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Description

John Wayne is one of the most popular and recognizable leading men ever to hit the silver screen. Five memorable films capture his unforgettable career in the John Wayne: Screen Legend Collection. Co-starring an impressive roster of talent including Katharine Hepburn, Kirk Douglas, Marlene Dietrich and Randolph Scott, these films highlight an American icon who will always be remembered as a true screen legend. Reap the Wild Wind Cecil B. DeMille directs John Wayne and Ray Milland as two sailors battling pirates and competing for the affections of a southern belle (Paulette Goddard) in 1840s Key West. The Spoilers John Wayne joins Marlene Dietrich and Rand