Amazon.com

David Zucker--of the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker creative troika behind Airplane! and television's Police Squad!--directed this 1988 feature film based on the latter show. Leslie Nielsen returns to his old TV role of Lt. Frank Drebin, the deadpan idiot with a detective's badge. The reinvention of the failed series as a theatrical feature seems to have inspired everyone involved to make a pretty funny movie, and the jokes gather a momentum that lasts until the final act. Ricardo Montalban is a perfect foil as a villain whose aquarium is being invaded by Drebin during routine questioning, and George Kennedy is delightful in a self-parodying part as an earnest but obtuse lawman. There's a hilarious bit when Drebin--wearing a live police wire while going to the bathroom--can be overheard over the loudspeakers at a speech given by a flustered mayor (Nancy Marchand). Yes, that's O.J. Simpson as a detective who ends up on the wrong side of numerous Drebin blunders. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (63)

From the files of when comedy was actually funny
Those who know me know that I don't often go to comedies that have been made since the Austin Powers era. The reason is that there has been a line that has been crossed in recent years that makes that majority of these films unfunny to me. While Austin Powers had Dr. Evil to save it from over all lameness most comedies these days are too reliant on riskaye sex jokes and over the top toilet humor that works in South Park and Nintendo's "Conker's Bad Fur Day" but nothing else. The Naked Gun is based on the short-lived but absolutely hilarious "Police Squad" TV series starring Leslie Neilson as Lt. Frank Drebbon. The show and films classic "who dun its" from the 40s and 50s with over the top classy humor, and a lot of well timed puns and gags. Timing is what makes not only this movie, but also its sequels do funny. The timing for everything is dead on, plus it's a Zucker film, and the Zuckers are almost up there with Mel Brooks. They know how to do comedy right. However the weakness of this film is in its time sensitive gags. A lot of the events in this movie are poking fun of events that were occurring at the time the movies were made. People who were not around in, or do not remember the early nineties may not get a lot of the gags. Even so there is still enough material that is not time sensitive for the film to be funny over all. Even a guest appearance by Weird Al Yankovic.
The special features are lacking, however. Part of what makes DVDs so fun is when you get a jam-packed DVD that goes in depth into the making of the movie. It is when you have those kinds of documentaries that the movie becomes more than a movie; it becomes a living piece of history. Considering that so many of the jokes are so era sensitive these making of featurettes that this DVD lacked could have been beneficial to those who don't know that backdrops to which so many of these jokes are built.

Frank Drebin from Police Squad hits the Big Screen
Yes, "The Naked Gun" is a funny movie, a fitting heir to "Airplane" in the genre of "Kitchen Sink" comedy where you had better pay attention to everything that is going on in the background and read all of the final credits or you will be missing out on the fun. But Leslie Nielsen's totally dead-panned performance as Lt. Frank Drebin in the original "Police Squad" TV series worked better than than the more hammy approach used in the films. Still, watching Priscilla Presley, Nancy Marchand and Ricardo Montalban deal straight up with all the wackiness redeems many things. Even if you never saw "Police Squad" (with Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln), you will laugh parts of your anatomy off during "The Naked Gun." I wonder if Queen Elizabeth ever watched this movie? Too bad it is hard not to wince every time you see that guy playing Nordberg. Final Trivia Note: the German version of "The Naked Gun" runs four minutes shorter. See if you can guess what the fun loving Germans found so offensive they cut (No, I do not have any idea, but I am curious).

Classic Comedy
Based on the failed tv series "Police Squad", 1988's "The Naked Gun" was a smash comedy that gave new life to Leslie Nielsen's career (he had previously been reduced to dramatic roles) as well as escued the team of Jerry and David Zucker and Jim Abrahams, who hadn't had a hit since 1980's equally hysterical "Airplane" (which also starred Nielsen).

Frank Drebin (Nielsen) is a bumbling cop who is assinged to look into a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth at the World Series after his fellow oficer and good friend Nordberg (O.J. Simpson - yes, that O.J. Simpson) is nearly killed. The prime suspect is a businessman named Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban). Drebin and his partner Ed Hocken (Georeg Kennedy) will stop at nothing to find out who's behind the crime. That is, if Frank can avoid the charms of the sexy Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley).

This is a great film for anyone who loves to laugh. And get the two sequels as well and pray they comeout with a fourth one soon.

This carn't be overlooked
Very funny movie if you haven't seen it its clear your behind in comedy.

Masterpiece
When asked what my favorite movie of all time, I always instinctively utter "The Naked Gun." While not everyone really appreciates this movie, unless you're into goffball comedies, this has to be one of the funniest movies ever. Not sure what else can be said about it. Puns, punchlines, side gags, are all brilliant. I laugh out loud every time I watch it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Why is it that, in such a cynical age, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen aren't more wary of a backlash against adorableness? Just when pop culture's more cantankerous hounds were harboring hopes that the preeminent pair of sugar-and-spice girls would grow into a couple of gawky teenagers, they've proved themselves more lovable than ever with Winning London. Here, they're tasked with delivering semimature subject matter--straightening out stalled romances, stifling an overactive competitive streak--but they come off as self-assured as ever. The scene is set across the pond, where Chloe and Riley (Mary-Kate and Ashley), along with other members of their high school's Model U.N. team, are strutting their strategic mock peace-bringing stuff at an international competition. While Chloe captures the heart of an upper-crust English boy, Riley sets her sights on teammate Brian, who's clueless enough to call her kiddo. After a breakdown in her budding romance, Chloe, who's accustomed to winning, learns to chill out and consider the more sporting side of competitions. This being a Mary-Kate and Ashley vehicle, shopping for schoolgirl-swanky ensembles is involved, as is boogying with the boys at hot nightspots. Sightseeing excursions to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, among other places, feel thrown in as educational tidbits for parents' sake; better to buy this video purely for fun--Mary-Kate and Ashley may not be known as the brainiest pair, but London aside, with this movie they'll continue to win hearts. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (93)

Olsen Twins Best Movie Yet
Some people say that Winning London is the Olsen Twins best movie yet, that would be me. In this movie of course they BOTH have to fall in love. In this movie Mary-Kate and Ashley are actually somewhat smart and for the first time they are not exactly alike. Like that Ashley's hair has all thses kinks in in it now and that their personalities are totally different. Chloe, played by Mary-Kate, is smart and only worried about winning the Modal U.N. competition. She likes to shop and hang out with boys, but her life doesn't depend on it. Riley, played by Ashley, is exactly the opposite. She is worried about how she looks and she is always shopping and only joined the Modal U.N. team to get the attention of her crush Brain, played by Brandon Tylar. Brain is popular and cute. He is the star running-back of the Lakeview High's football team. He only joined the Modal U.N. team to put on his collage reassume. Dylan is the opposite of Brain. Dylan, played by Eric Jungmann, always has his video cam and is filming everything. He is dorky and out of the group with is personality. Rachel, played by Rachel Roth, is like Dylan in many ways. They are both down lower on the popularity scale. Rachel is smart and focused in her work, but she also knows when to stop, unlike Chloe. Chloe runs in to this English guy named James Browning, played by Jesse Spencer. And the rest of the story I beat you can guess from other MKA movies.

Worst Mary-Kate and Ashley Movie YET!!!!
well, im uasully critical of the olsen twins.But when there series came out(so little time) i thought winning london might be okay.BOy was i wrong!The acting is horrid,and the whole plot is stupid!If u dont enjoy girls running around london shopping and listening to tycno music in the backround this movie isnt for u.The characters Riley and Chloe Lawerence(Ashley and M-K)have the same names from the tv series!cant these girls think of something original?This movie isnt for kids under 10 eigther cause there was way too much kissing action in this movie(in an air vent and on a ship)I was really suprised that so many people gave it 4 or 5 stars!cant you guys see bad talent in this movie?theres so many better Mary-Kate and ashley movies-such as-passport to paris,billbourd dad,our lips are sealed,toul+trouble,or to grandmothers house we come-i havnt thought of this befor but those movies are 5 stars to winning londons 2 stars.

Oh no, please, stereotype Brits! You know you want to...
Oh dear Lord, yet another movie that stereotypes Brits. Yes, we must all be rich and own large expanses of land and oh, yeah, we must ALL live in London. If I were one of those poor guys, I would be severely tempted to mug Mary-Kate and Ashley, which is far more likely. An unoriginal movie, which is really sad. I am quite sure there is someone out there willing to write an original plotline for these two and they might just refrain from ruining it. But really...isn't it funny how American's still think us English are completely up ourselves? We're not! Really! And I, for one, do not own half a county and have an incredibly rich relative. I'm not that offended at being constantly depicted as wealthy, neither are my mates, but, hmm, if you're going to put it in the title, couldn't you at least research the place a bit...?

Winning my vote
Winning London is a well-done children's movie with some glowing scenes. While the girl-meets-boy theme is, as always in an Olsen twins' movie, included, this movie is not so focused on it.

The main point of the story is this: go to London to win a competition.
The underlying stories that I love are these: a boy growing up and standing up for himself (the Peter Pan aspect), and a girl who learns and grows up (to be less competitive). These things really made the movie for me. A little bit of culture and comedy made me smile, and a somewhat more grown-up theme (than usual) for a twins' movie kept my interest.
While there are very predictable scenes and sometimes annoying parts, the movie is worth seeing.

In the end, the group doesn't so much "win London", but the each character wins a discovery of themselves and a new view on life. In this way, it wasn't the competition that made them grow so much as their experiences.

Winning London
Mary-Kate and Ashley are really good actresses and all of there movies rocks.I like this movie because I do studys on London and it is really cool to see 2 things that I like in one place!So I think that is a really interesting movie. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great Old Fashion Meodrama
Great change of pace for Doris Day who plays airline stewardess Julie Benton. After marrying Louis Jourdan, an overly jealous man, she discovers that he killed her first husband in order to have her. She is unable to get help from the police because it is her word against his and because the law at that time stated that a wife could not testify against her husband.The movie is tense and keeps you on the edge of your seat as Julie tries to escape her pyscopathic husband. The climax is dynamite although it does stretch your imagination a little bit. Alright, a big bit but remember this movie was made at a time when people went to the movies to be entertained by melodramatics and not be buried in reality. This is one of the better melodramas with Miss Day giving a fine performance. The title song.JULIE, is beautiful and stayed on top of the Hit Parade for many weeks. Alhough this film is in black and white, the Carmel scenery is gorgeous.

Surprisingly exciting.
Doris Day did not do well at all in Hitchcock's Man Who Knew Too Much, so it comes as a surprise that she handles herself admirably well as Julie, the widowed flight attendant cursed with Louis Jourdan for a husband (that alone would be bad enough, except that he is also homicidally jealous). There is very little substance in the way of plot or deeper meaning in this movie, but for what it is, a predecessor of the stalker/slasher genre, it can be quite exciting. Although some below found the airplane finale a bit hokey, I was caught up and thrilled by it.

What A Great Movie
I have always loved Julie it is such a great movie I bought this movie a few years ago the same edition as pictured and i absolutely loved it! It was so clean and so nice. Doris and Louis made such a great couple. This is not a good movie for kids because of the murder and that sort of stuff but for we adults it is a grand movie! Doris and Louis had such great chemistry !

Doris Day In Nail Biting Little Thriller
Long before the word "stalking", became a well known word in our news headlines and almost 30 years before a similiar theme was explored in the frightening "Fatal Attraction", this largely unknown little thriller from MGM explored the same topic in riverting style. It provided Doris Day with a distinct change of direction in the development of her screen image and displayed perfectly her often overlooked dramatic talents. Having already enjoyed Doris Day's work in two other thrillers, Alfred Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much", and "Midnight Lace", I was anxious to see this film and I was impressed by it's dramatic style and especially by the great performances from Doris and co star Louis Jourdan. In her excellent autobiography Doris Day stated that filming "Julie" was an ordeal as it brought back bad memories of life with her first husband. I feel now that as traumatic as that must have been those feelings in a way helped her to deliver a totally believable performance as a young widow being terrorized by her possessive new young husband who is carrying a dark secret with him.

The story begins abruptly where we find widow Julie Benton (Doris Day), already remarried to rising young pianist Lyle Benton (Jourdan). The opening sequence fills us in on the state of the marriage as we see Julie fleeing a gathering in Carmel pursued by Lyle who proceeds to terrorize her in the car by jamming his foot down on the acclerator as Julie drives around all the bends in the coastal road. The reason for this is that he is an insanely jealous man who gets furious if any man so much as pays Julie the slightest attention. Julie begins to question Lyle's jealous fits and the reasons why he married her and together with family friend Cliff Henderson begins to fear for her life in her present situation. By accident Julie learns that Lyle was responsible for her first husband's death which previously had been believed to have been by suicide. This terrifying piece of information sets off Julie's plan to somehow get away from her unstable husband who is willing to commit murder to get what he wants. However this is difficult to achieve as Lyle seems to be able to undermine any plan that Julie has for escape. She manages finally to get to San Francisco and hidden away in a shared apartment she resumes her earlier work as an airline stewardess. At each turn however she is pursued by her increasingly disturbed husband who when intercepted by Cliff at an old farmhouse seriously wounds him and then sets out after Julie with a clear murderous intent. Julie meanwhile has been booked on a flight that same evening unaware that ever resouceful Lyle has managed to get on the plane before takeoff armed with a gun. The nail biting climax sees a shootout occur with Julie left alone having to land the airplane via instructions from personnel at the landing field.

Melodramatic? Perhaps, but "Julie", is performed with a great deal of conviction that enables the viewer to look beyond the stories obvious flaws. The much maligned final scene of Julie landing the plane really is the stuff of camp legend nowadays however I feel the scene is done in an earnest and riverting manner which made this viewer hold his breath literally till the plane safely landed on the tarmac. Doris Day is excellent in the role of the terrified Julie and her on screen chemistry with Louis Jourdan is what makes this film so entertaining. Jourdan's suave and boyish goodlooks are perfect for the role of the insanely jealous husband who will willingly stoop to murder to achieve his ends. The tension between the two manifests itself in an almost "cat and mouse", interaction with Julie trying to stay one step ahead of her husband in her attempts to get away. The story is full of exciting moments such as Julie's attempt's to escape their house in Carmel while sending Lyle on an errand and especially in the climax where she has to pretend to not notice Lyle as a passenger on the plane while alerting authorities of his whereabouts. Lyle's ability to seemingly pop up when least expected is a familiar thriller ploy however here it works most effectively to heighten the sense of danger everywhere. Nominated for two Academy Awards in 1956 for Best Song and Screenplay the film strangley seems to be forgotten today and is certainly not a film that is ever heavily featured in any discussion of Doris Day's body of film work.

While not the best film that Doris Day ever made it is still a worthy addition to your thriller movie collection. If like me you enjoy actresses working in roles not normally associated with their screen "image", then "Julie", is well worth seeing. I especially enjoy the once off teaming of Doris and Louis Jourdan and it certainly opened up people's ideas of what Doris Day was capable of doing in the dramatic field. "Julie", was significant in revealing a Doris Day light years away from her fondly remembered roles in such films as "Pillow Talk". If you enjoy thrillers that dont let up on the tension for a second then treat yourself to a viewing of this nifty little thriller "Julie", soon. It is guaranteed to keep your interest even after you probably can guess the inevitable outcome earlier on. Enjoy!

Julie is a STEWARDESS with a crazy husband!
.
As a one-time flight attendant, I found this movie to be hysterically funny. It's one of the best airplane dramas of it's genre!

Doris Day plays the titular Julie, a stewardess who quits her job to marry prettyboy Louis Jourdan . Soon after the honeymoon, Julie realizes that her hubby is quite crazy.

Julie leaves the crazy prettyboy, and with one phone call she gets her stewardess job back, and is put right back on her "usual route", which is an 8-minute flight from San Francisco to Monterey.

Julie packs up the biggest suitcase she can find for this long journey, and decked out in her stewardess uniform and high-heels she climbs every hill in San Francisco as she carries her huge pullman suitcase to the airport. (I guess she didn't have cab fare.)

Once onboard the old propeller-driven luxury liner, Julie prepares to serve a twelve-course dinner to the frequent fliers. But who's that lurking behind a newspaper sneaking peeks at Julie as she serves cocktails? Why it's her crazy hubby!

Hubby makes his way into the unlocked cockpit with Julie as his hostage, takes his gun out and kills both the pilot and the co-pilot before putting the gun to his own head.

There, now he's done it! What is poor Julie to do?

Not to worry! Julie takes out her stewardess manual, and with a little help from a pilot on the ground, she not only flies the plane, but lands it in Monterey right on schedule! This is one brave stewardess!

The last time someone killed both pilots on one of my flights, I tried to find the chapter on plane landing in my stewardess manual and it wasn't there! I guess stewardesses were better trained back in the old days.

Doris Day is great in this role, and perfectly believable as a glamorous stewardess who can retain her perkiness under the worst of inflight circumstances. Any airline would be lucky to have a stewardess like Julie!

Hopefully they'll release this one on DVD someday soon. It's a classic! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The TV sitcom "McHale's Navy" sails on to the big screen
"McHale's Navy" was a military situation comedy that aired on ABC from 1962-1966. Basically the show was a naval version of Phil Silver's classic "Sgt. Bilko" show, where the main character is a con artist who is out to make a buck and almost always ignores regulations. This time the main character of Lt. Commander Quinton McHale was played by Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine ("Marty"), and that Oscar might well explain why this was one of the few television shows in the Sixties to get to do a theatrical film. Still, the timing of this film is strange since McHale commands a World War II P.T. boat and the commander of the most famous P.T. boat in history was assassinated in Dallas the previous November.

So, you must be asking yourself, what sort of plotline too big for the small screen did they come up with to justify a theatrical film? Well, it seems the crew of P.T. 73 bet their money on the wrong horse in a race, so now they need to raise the money to cover their loses. The result is a long string of bits where the crew tries to raise the money, involving lots of slapstick and funny dialogue. In other words, just like the television show, only 93 minutes long, so fans are going to enjoy this movie while others sit and slowly shake their heads. The result is certainly a lot better than the pathetic 1997 film version (this film gets 4 stars to ensure it is two stars better than that film) and is actually a bit better than your standard "McHale's Navy" episode.

Fans of Tim Conway should enjoy his scene stealing antics as Ensign Charles Parker, while long suffering Captain Wallace B. Binghamton (Joe Flynn), known to the boys as "Old Lead Bottom," suffers indignities at every turn because he is always a day late and several dollars short. Veteran character actor Carl Ballantine plays Lester Gruber and future televison star Gavin MacLeod is "Happy" Haines. My favorite was always Billy Sands as "Tinker" Bell, obviously because of the attendant irony.

Entertainment for all fans of the classic TV sitcom
When this movie was released in the sixties, McHale's Navy fans were finally treated to seeing their heroes presented in wide-screen technicolor. A low-budget film, yet funny and entertaining. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One of the Greatest War Movies of All Time
There are no combat scenes - none. Yet the battle sequences are among the most powerful I can remember. Halsey, having bet the farm on his attack of a superior Japenese fleet, sits alone in his quarters waiting for the battle to begin, waiting for word from the Combat Information Center, while in the background disembodied radio chatter chronicles the preparations of war. Wow. Cagney's face is all you need to see. Your tension increases with his. And then his transformation into a warrior leaves you unable to take a breath.
The black and white movie uses a narator to solve brilliantly some complex story telling problems, and background music is by a male chorus. And this stuff really works. Robert Montgomery, a competent actor in his own right, directed.
I have an old copy taken off the air 20 years ago that I am wearing out. I sure hope the DVD comes out soon.

Bill Wood

A brilliant depiction of the price of leadership. . .
Basically, The Gallant Hours is an episodic biography of Admiral William "Bull" Halsey during the early days of the Second World War, specifically while he was the naval theater commander for the Guadalcanal campaign.

James Cagney is superb in this very unusual war film, which has no combat footage, relying instead on character development and the intensity of interpersonal relationships to tell its story.

Although Admiral Halsey (Cagney) is the central figure, the movie also closely follows the involvement of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese theater commander, giving the viewer an interesting and enlightening counterpoint persective in the attitudes, concerns and approaches of the opposing leaders.

The most remarkable feature of The Gallant Hours is its willingness and effectiveness to show emotions seldom dealt with in military movies. One of these shows Halsey in the horrific dilemma of knowing that he is sending two close friends (Admirals Scott and Callaghan) to certain death, but being constrained by circumstance from any alternate course of action. In yet another sequence, Dennis Weaver gives a brilliant portrayal of a combat pilot dealing with the conflicting emotions of being relieved at having survived his mission and yet feeling both disgust and shame for what he is doing as he and his command "roll up a big score."

For the individual who wants a serious treatment of the personal effects of warfare, without the usual rah-rah, flag-waving and stereotyped villification of opposing forces, The Gallant Hours is a sobering, not to be forgotten movie experience.

The masterful combination of taut direction, a superior cast, eerie soundtrack and a very unusual approach make this remarkable film a must for any military video library.

James Cagney as Rear Admiral "Bull" Halsey
"The Gallant Hours" is one of the more usual bio-pics of a military leader I have ever seen. This is a semi-documentary dramatization of the pivotal role that Rear Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey, Jr. played as commander of U.S. naval operation in the South Pacific in bringing about the victory at Guadacanal. The framing device is Halsey's retirement ceremony and the film begins with a moving choral arranged by Roger Wagner that tells us: "I knew a lad who went to sea / and left the shore behind him / I knew him well the lad was me / and now I cannot find him." The hymn sets an almost religious tone for the film that seems rather strange given the events depicted and the approach of the director. Contrast this with the running bit about getting Admiral Halsey to take his shots.

The film is directed by U.S.N.R. Comdr. Robert Montgomery, the actor who served in the Navy during World War II but who is better remembered today as being the father of actress Elizabeth Montgomery. One of the most surprising things about this film is that is a war movie without any battle scenes. There are battles, but we hear about them rather than see them. Mostly "The Gallant Hours" is about Halsey's command decisions and the way he worked with his subordinates (when the Chief of Staff of the admiral he replaces because he provides contrary views). There are many scenes that consist mainly of a subordinate bringing Halsey dispatches and him thoughtfully coming up with responses.

Halsey, as the cover art emphasizes, is James Cagney, in what would prove to be his second to last film before he retired from acting for twenty years. Having met with Halsey, Cagney was struck by how the navy man hardly made any extraneous gestures, and the actor made a point of excising all of his well-known mannerisms from the performance. Cagney's presence is critical to the film because with it this 115-minute film would have been tedious. However, his presence allows Montgomery to focus on the decision making process during a war in more detail than any other film that comes to mind ("Command Decision" would be in the running, but this one has it beat). Clearly you can do a talking head war movie when the main talking head is James Cagney.

The film is as much about the duel between Halsey and his Japanese counterpart, Admiral Yamamoto (James T. Goto), which becomes not only a question of winning the battle to control Guadacanal but a personal attempt to kill each other. The Japanese commander is portrayed as a worthy opponent and there is as much attention to the aspects of his work as there is to that of Halsey. Biographical details abound in this documentary. Every time Halsey meets somebody a voice over tells us not only who they are but what is going to happen to them. The guy who is driving the jeep is an hour away from being short by a sniper and becoming a paraplegic for the rest of his life. A squad heads out on Guadacanal and we learn that only three of them are coming back. The details are such that I would have sworn this film was adapted from a book, but there is no book by that title or any other work cited as the source for this story.

The screenplay is by Frank D. Gilroy and Beirne Lay Jr. Lay was the co-author of "Twelve O'Clock High" and it is interesting that like the film version of that classic World War II novel there is a scene in which the central character waits out a pivotal moment alone in his office, living out the battle in his own mind. In case you are not sure what the moral of "The Gallant Hours" happens to be, Cagney reminds us with a voice over at the end: "There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet." Of course, "The Gallant Hours" pretty much disproves that point, at least with regards to the man at the top in the South Pacific.

unbelievably powerful movie
I saw this movie on television when I was probably 12 years old. The opening and closing hymn goes as follows:

" I knew a lad who went to sea---and left the shore behind him
I knew him well the lad was me---and now I cannot find him. "

This is a very mature movie. It captures imaginations and inspires at whatever age. The disembodied CIC radio transmissions in the midst of approaching naval battle as the only audio while the video shows only Halsey's anguish alone with himself ---is hauntingly powerful. It tells better than anything the reality of the vigilance of the determined search for an overwhelmingly stronger enemy force and the tension as the naval units appproach the inevitable meeting with its own destruction at the hands of the superior Japanese force which they are trying to block, delay or deter from obliterating the Marines on Guadacanal. " No contact......No contact.....No contact ....No contact -----the endless tension as the certain peril draws near---- No contact ....... CONTACT!!!!! .....then the reports as the ships who sacrifice themselves are ripped apart in terrible explosions........"

The movie is so powerful and moving. Without gore or the usual battle scenes. The movie reached out to me as a 12 year old and spoke to me as if I were an adult and conveyed very important messages into a reservoir that has been there for me the rest of my life. When I saw it again last week--exactly 40 years later-- I relived this movie's power and classic grace.

It is a shame that such movies are not known more widely ...and that the ability to make such has atrophied.

The Gallant Hours
As a character study in film, this is one of the most provocative, haunting ones I've ever seen. The camera angles, the choral music, Cagney's riveting performance--why isn't this film readily available, especially on DVD?? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Richard Lester's 1975 sequel to his romping Three Musketeers--released the year before--reunites his swashbuckling cast for a decidedly less happy and more somber experience. This time, D'Artagnan (Michael York) and his Musketeer mentors (Richard Chamberlain, Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay) have a tougher fight against their old enemies, and the adventure is not without its casualties. But the film is highly entertaining, filled with that same loony air that makes most films by Lester (How I Won the War, A Hard Day's Night, Help!) so much fun. The actors are with him every step of the way: Reed, Chamberlain, Finlay, and York are a heroic version of the Marx brothers, Raquel Welch was never better, and Charlton Heston clearly enjoys playing the evil Cardinal Richelieu.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Revenge Of Milady
Immediately following the events of the previous installment, Rochefort kidnaps D'artagnan's lover Constance. D'artagnan, unconscious after fighting the kidnappers, is taken in by the seductive Milady who is used by the control-hungry Cardinal Richelieu to distract him. With France at war with Protestants, The Duke Of Buckingham plans to send ships to aid the rebels. The Cardinal is going to have Milady assassinate The Duke by any means necessary. The Musketeers must prevent this for the sake of the Queen who is having an affair with the Duke. Not only this, but the Musketeers must also protect D'Artagnan and Constance from Milady (After Constance is rescued from the place where she is held), for she plans to wreck horrible revenge on both for humiliating her in the previous film.

This is not a sequel; it is merely different packaging since both film were supposed to be one. Aside from that fact, "The Four Musketeers" is an incredibly good continuation of the story. While it manages to blend slapstick and swashbuckling action well, the slapstick is less goofy and the action is more brutal (whether these are pros or cons I'll let you decide). Some may not enjoy the murders of many of the more significant characters, as they occur rather suddenly. The performances are very enjoyable, the humor is excellent, the final battles are intense towards the end, and the conclusion is extremely satisfying. See it!

Followed by: The Return Of The Musketeers.

Overall rating: 5 stars

Rated PG: contains brutal violence including a beheading, some language, adult themes, sexual encounters. However, I don't think many people will find this overly offensive.

A More Somber Conclusion...
Not nearly as much fun as the first film, The Three Musketeers, this conclusion to the story of D'Artagnon, Athos, Porthos & Aramis and their efforts to thwart the machinations of Cardinal Richelieu, de Rochefort, and Milady DeWinter, is much more plot-heavy and somber than the original, and includes some jarring assassinations and murders.

Benefiting greatly by having the same wonderful cast (both films were shot at one time), it continues where the first film left off, with clever and ironic period detail and wry observations, this time not only about the twit aristocracy, but about religious fanaticsm, persecution and wars (Protestant and Catholics)as well.

The wit and intelligence is still here, but some of the elan is missing. There is so much plot to be disposed of that the film seems more hurried and less relaxed than the first. There are some good fights, especially one clever and funny bit on an icy stream, and a brutal fight at the finale in a nunnery that climaxes with de Rochefort (the marvelously arch and disdainful Christopher Lee) and D'Artagnon (Michael York) dueling in the chapel. Again, the sword fighting is FIGHTING, using both hands and feet, and with the participants becoming exhausted by their efforts.

The cast, as mentioned, is superb, with Heston as the wily Cardinal, Jean Pierre Cassel as the dim King, Geraldine Chaplain the ninny of a Queen, a wonderful Raquel Welch as Constance, the aforementioned Chris Lee & Michael York, and the great Oliver Reed as the moody and explosive Athos, Richard Chambelain the aloof Aramis, and Frank Finlay the vain & pompous Porthos. I neglected to mention Roy Kinnear as the long-suffering servant, Planchet, in my review of the earlier film. He's wonderful, as he always was, and lost his life in making this film.

Full of wry bits of business and humorous asides, and ironic contrasts, the Four Musketeers has the great benefit of continuity of cast and style and tone, although the tone shifts much darker and more plot-driven here. Not as good as the first film, but well worth your while. Compared to the witless films that more often than not make up our present world, these gems seem better and better for their audacity and intelligence. 4-1/2 stars.

Great movie, Fox-Lorber has poor DVD version
This one was actually filmed back to back with the first movie, and was released in 1975. It features the same great cast and finishes up the story from the book "The Three Musketeers".

Same cast as before. Oliver Reed as Athos, Richard Chamberlain as Aramis, Frank Finlay as Porthos, Michael York as D'Artagnan. Christopher Lee, Raquel Welch, Geraldine Chaplin, Faye Dunaway. Again, just about every performance is amazing. And what's sort of sad is that the actors signed up for one "project" - so even though they put in enough material to do two complete films, they were only paid once. Ah well, we the viewers benefitted!

This tells the second half of the story from the book. The Queen was saved for ruin, and the musketeers are sent up to fight the Huguenots. The Cardinal is still after them, as is M'Lady. There are more battles, more attempts to kill the musketeers, more threats and plots. The mood turns darker in this one, as the fellowship runs into serious situations. The ending matches the book - not necessarily a "happy" ending but a satisfying one.

Again, the BIG WARNING. I wore out several copies of this video tape before getting this on the first DVD available. Fox Lorber put out the DVD version. I was thrilled to have it on DVD. I was less thrilled when I saw what they did to the movie!! They literally cut off ALL FOUR EDGES of the movie, losing quite a lot of the picture. The special features are completely missing. There is a new DVD version out which is a two-pack of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" that has the special features and has the full version of both movies without missing content. AVOID THE FOX LORBER VERSION and get the other one.

NO Closed Captions or Subtitles !!!!
Since we have bought many DVDs and borrowed many DVDs and all of them have captions or subtitles, I was cheated with this DVD - it has no captions/subtitles and I cannot enjoy this movie. I am hearing-impaired. This is one of only 3 of many many DVDs that do not have captions.

The Sequel is as Good as the First-A Must See
This sequel is just as entertaining as "The Three Musketeers." The performances are again very strong. It has all the elements as the first movie, comdey, action, adventure, but wraps up the story from Dumas' novel.

The movie focues' on Milady and her revenge to have D'Artagan and his lover killed. This movie was film concurrently with the first, and it shows as the actors are in full form and do not miss a beat. The conculsion is great as it ends with D'Artagan fighting the Count of Rochefort (played by Christopher Lee) is a wonderfully cheographed sword fight (it is gritty and realistic looking) and then the pronouncment of death on Milady.

Another must see movie. These two movies would be followed up by the entertianing, (however, not nearly as good as these movies) "The Return of the Musketeers" where the four musketeers are re-united. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Warning - No Commentary
I loved this film in the cinema, though it may be too
slow and dated for some children now. However I was
very dissapointed when I bought this DVD to find that
there was no audio commentary contrary to description
here and other sources. I don't know whether it was
perhaps on some early copies but it isn't on the
current version. Seems a missed opportunity if it was
dropped for some reason.

Tom Thumb
Loved the film; brought back memories of my childhood when my parents brought me to see it back in the late 50's. The film though presented principally for children, has a lot of sentimentality and morals to its' credit. Really nice movie.

A delightful film for the entire family!
I found this late 1950's version of Tom Thumb" to be the best Rus Tamblyn was superb in it. It's so very well worth seeing. i think it deserves all the stars it can get. It really impressed be as such a magical film. The dance numbers were great. It was funny amusing, romantic, colorful, nice songs and dance. I also found Alan Young wonderful in it as well. It's a must see for the entire family.

Tom thumb
This film is one of the best films of all time for children and adults too, unfortunately the film is not available on video or DVD in the United Kingdom so anyone who lives in the U.K. will have to have a Video Recorder which is NTSC compatible. This film used to double bill at the cinema with Wizard of Oz but more enjoyable of the two and you don't tire of watching it.

when i was a little kid, this was my favorite movie
and the good parts are just as good today.

start off, of course, with the brilliant sequences from george pal. if i am not mistaken, this was the final puppetoon animation he did, as he was then involved increasingly in directing feature length films. but if only for the yawning man and con-fu-shen, this film would be worth seeing.

add to that, the wonderful live performances by such as the underrated dancer russ tamblyn in the title role; the legendary jessie matthews; and a young peter sellers and terry thomas as marvelous comic villains. sadly, the love story between queenie and woody slows thing down, and even the usually wonderful alan young cant save that part of the movie. (incidentally, a year later young would turn in his finest performance in the george pal "time machine.")

i have such fond memories of this movie, and it manages to live up to them -- i would wholeheartedly recommend it, especially to fans of fantasy, dance, or puppetry. bravo! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Enteraining Film But Not Near as Good as the First Two
This is the third installment of the Richard Lester Musketeer's films. Based largely of Dumas' "Twenty Years Later," Lester was able to gather the original cast like Michael York, Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay, and Christopher Lee to name a few. Chamberlain also is in the film and new additions are C. Thomas Howell and Kim Catrall.

York and Reed give strong performances. Finlay is again in great form as well as is Christopher Lee. Howell and Catrall give fine performances but lack the same chemistry as the original cast.

Lester still loves the action-slapstick comedy routine and for the most part it works, but on a lesser scale than the first two. The fight scenes are delivered well enough but this film never gives the same great action/romantic adventure as the others and therefore waarents a three stars. It is good enough to watch once, but unlike the first two, which can be viewed over and over again, never beckens the viewer to return to this movie.

Great Entertainment
The Return of the Musketeers is the fourth remake of the Alexandre Dumas novel "The Twenty Years After.(A Russian and Italian version stayed closer to the original novel Milady had a son Mordaunt nee John Francis de Winter.The French made a 1955 version which like this version changed Milady's son into a daughter.This is a great follow-up to The Three and Four Musketeers.Being that Faye Dunaway was killed off in the Four Musketeers.Kim Cattrall is excellent as a foil for the Musketeers as Milady and Rochefort's illegitimate daughter after the Four Musketeers for having her mother executed (rightfully,so.).The acting,sets and costumery are great.It's a shame that Oliver Reed and Roy Kinnear are now deceased they could have been back for a fourth film based on the Musketeers final years-The Man in the Iron Mask.A great trilogy if there ever was one.At least the Russians filmed the 3 works.

Typical Sequel-Sequel Syndrome
It was good to see the 'boys' in action again. The 'twist' of Athos and Arimis not trusting d'Artagnan was good. Otherwise, most of it was boring. I loved the 3 and 4 Musketeers, the 3 being my favorite.

Return of the Musketeers
A real disappointment - 3 stars only because of the indestructible charisma of Oliver Reed and the high production values. What the screenwriter and director forgot is CHARACTER -no dialogue ever creates an impression of personality that isn't based on the assumption that the viewer has seen the first two films. Dialogue is atrociously simplistic, and Cattrall's fencing simply not up to par. Michael York's narration is unnecessary and an example of the screenwriter's laziness. Wasted opportunity, and a real shame.

Pleasant Surprise!
Surprisingly faithful depiction of Dumas' "Twenty Years After." Kim Kattrall provides a very formidable enemy for the reunited Musketeers, while the film itself provides an excellent excuse to bring back the original cast of director Richard Lester's Musketeer movies from the 1970s.

Much of the same energy from these previous films is in this one. There are a few odd moments, and some of the changes from Dumas' original story-line are a bit irritating. But for the most part, Lester hasn't lost in this film his ability to portray slapstick swashbuckle, or his ability for showing how any given situation can evolve to the comically surreal.

Among points to note are Geraldine Chaplin's excellent performance as Anne of Austria, and whose appearance in the film seems less the result of a casting director and more the result of a time machine ... she seems untouched by age.

The film is also colored by the fact that Roy Kinnear - who played Planchet - was killed in an accident during filming. There were a couple of scenes that were obviously meant to include him and in which a double was employed, which makes one sad.

While not the best film you'll ever see, it's quite enjoyable for fans of the first two movies. Admittedly, nostalgia plays a role in my opinions of this movie: it was good to see THIS particular cast once more portray the Four Musketeers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Made in Heaven, Timothy Hutton plays a young guy in 1946 who's just been dumped by his girl and decides to go to California. On his way, he rescues a family from a car that's driven into a lake--and drowns in the process. Of course, he finds himself in Heaven, and there he meets Kelly McGillis, a soul who's never been born on Earth. The two fall in love. Just as they're about to get married--just for the fun of it, since by the rules of Heaven they're already married--McGillis gets sent to Earth to be born. Hutton pleads with Emmett, a figure who may or may not be God, who finally agrees to give Hutton 30 years on Earth to find her and continue their love. This 1987 Alan Rudolph film teeters on the edge of absolute cheesiness and steps over that edge at moments, but mostly it miraculously maintains a delicate, sweet, and affecting tone. McGillis is good, but Hutton is superb, demonstrating an honest charisma that makes him engaging even when he's being a jerk. The depiction of Heaven avoids the patronizing, overdone joyfulness that too many movies fall into. Though the idea sounds like pure saccharine, Made in Heaven consistently sidesteps the obvious and comes up with something genuine. Rudolph is a prolific but erratic director (his stronger movies include Choose Me, Trouble in Mind, The Moderns, and Afterglow), but this is one of the ones worth seeing. Made in Heaven features Debra Winger and an uncredited Ellen Barkin, as well as cameos by rock stars Neil Young, Ric Ocasek, and Tom Petty. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Heavenly Description of After-Life Accomodations and Romance
This Compelling movie brings much Understanding to the concept of "Life After Death" and gives us a few clues about how to get-around when we do not have bodies, anymore! This movie also shows that you do not just Quit doing all of the things you love...you simply have a Lot More Time to do them! If you have ever questioned dogmatic beliefs or had "Lucid" dreams that foretold an After-Life that contradicts what you have been led to believe...this movie is for you. If you are a person who seeks Knowledge about Spirituality, this movie is a great addition to your personal collection of images, data and theories. Or....if you are just a Romantic person, who enjoys a Great Love Story! Get your box of tissues ready and delve into this Highly Under-rated film. I would give it 5 stars, if it were a little faster-paced...but, that's just my Opinion. Most women Love this film (and guys should give it a try)! "Made in Heaven" is difficult to find, where I live, so I wonder how many people know about this Great Movie. There are many surprising scenes in this film and I believe it should be considered a Classic.

Beautifully woven story:love, heaven, earth, rebirth, death
The opening credit of the film "The story you are about to see could be true. You may even know some of the people." sets you up for and helps you ponder the story line of the movie. There are questions which we all ask ourselves and things we all wonder about. Where does inspiration come from? Did you ever notice that when you meet some people you just click? How about all of the seemingly small, insignificant things which have happened in your life. Things that had they not have happened, your live would be drasticaly different? All of those things that struck a chord but only later did we realize the significance. The lyrics of the title song "We've Never Danced" by Neil Young tells the story in itself: "Between heaven and earth, there's a ballroom glow, where couples glide in the evermore.......I hope it's not too late, we were more than friends, I can hardly wait, til we meet again." Some of these questions and mysteries are presented within a beautiful and moving love story. As you'd expect, the answers can't really be put into words, without trivializing them. So all we can do is experience the magic of the story and at the end, know that we have experienced part of the connection between heaven and earth. I highly recommend that you seek out this video and experience the magic.

Great story, cinematography, and music
This is one of those rare movies that takes the subject of life after death and gives the viewer layers to ponder. Do souls go on? Are there new souls as well as old ones? Can we really talk to G*d that smokes and wisecracks? I felt the use of color was particularly done well and the cinematography was exceptional. Then there is the sound track, one of the best I have ever heard. I would love to meet whomever picked these songs, they are perfect. Next to "Streets of Fire", this is about the best music from any movie that is not a musical. I wish they would release it on wide-screen DVD. PS- the small part casting is great, watch for Neal Young as a truck driver!

A Maid In Heaven Movie
If you believe in love, if you believe that their is only one special someone for you, if you believe that the love you share with your significant other was "Made in Heaven," this is the movie for you. Timathy hutton plays the all American nice guy who dies after rescuing two kids from drowning. In heaven, he meets the love of his life played by Kelly Mcgillis. As they are about to marry, her soul is sent to earth. Timathy's character asked to be sent to earth to find her. He is given thirty years to do so. This sweeping story is nothing short of mesmerizing. You can't help but route for these two people. You want them to find each other and you care about the things they are going through. This film makes you believe in the "L" word in it's true sense. Even if you are not one who can grasp or understand the notion that love made in heaven is a possibility, you can't help but get caught up in this little story about these two love struck souls. I highly recommend this movie to every romantic at heart person out there. If you ever find yourself in the arms of your loved one on a lazy, rainy Sunday afternoon, this is the movie to cozy up with. Yes, it's a "Chick's Flick" but sometimes, they can be good too.

Great Feel Good Movie
This is a really great rainy day movie....I love to watch this movie when feeling glum....this movie makes you believe again...take the time and watch it...you'll love it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Decades before Brad Pitt starred in Meet Joe Black, the story of a vacationing Grim Reaper was adapted for the screen from a popular play. Frederick March, playing Death, disguises himself as a European prince and spends three days with an amenable duke at his palatial estate. Women are instantly attracted to the Lord of the Underworld, but back off when they sense his true nature--that is, all women except for the beautiful young innocent (Evelyn Venable), who is destined to marry the duke's son.

Filmed in 1934, this is more sensual than the Pitt remake, though the acting style is more mannered than some audiences may enjoy. But at only 78 minutes, the emotional content, as well as the ending, feels more real than the lengthy '90s version. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Saw orginal, and both remakes,Original Best
I was a young lady when I saw Fredic March in Death Takes A Holiday, I was a young mother when I saw the remake with Monte Markham and now as a grandmother I saw Meet Joe Black. Which one is the best in my mind? Mr. Pitt and Mr. Markham Can't hold a candle to the style of Mr. March.The ending is still as touching and chilling as it was the first time I saw it. I have seen it many times since and it still has the same effect on me. It's a wonderful movie, a bit dark but consider the era in which it was made just adds to the effect the movie wants to parlay to it's audience.It's a timeless treasure, not to be missed. You've seen the rest now see the best!!!!!

Poor. Whereas "Meet Joe Black" is long & boring,
"Death Takes a Holiday" is merely boring. This is not a knock on Fredric March or Brad Pitt, both fine actors. It is simply creepy yet too one dimensional to be taken seriously. A play that did not transfer well. As for Death, aparently he likes to vacation with the stupid, idle, rich rather than real people. Ironically, these stiffs are already half dead. They have nothing to say yet prattle on endlessly about it. Death isn't much better. I fell asleep & had to rewind a bit. It didn't matter. Such excellent suject matter squandered twice 64 years apart. I really do like the old movie classics. This one... disappointing.

Meet Prince Sirki
Sixty-four years before we met death disguised as "Joe Black"(Brad Pitt), Prince Sirki amused himself among the living for a three day holiday. Although not quite the lavish production of it's remake "Meet Joe Black", "Death Takes a Holiday" is a wonderful romantic fantasy from 1934, and is shot beautifully in black and white cinematogrpahy.

A wealthy and aristocratic family, and their houseguests, are visited by the 'grim reaper'...'the old man'...DEATH! Only the head of the household knows who Prince Sirki really is, and why he is there. They strike a deal, and the Prince has 3 days to learn why he is so feared by the human race. For those three days, he lives among them, experiencing and taking in all he can of human ways, and what's more..NO ONE dies while Death is on holiday. Weapons of war malfunction, accident victims walk away without a scratch, people can't even commit suicide when they try! But here's the catch..Sirki falls for the beautiful and deeply pensive Grazia. Will he take her with him to that other world when his time has expired? Does the power of love win out in the end?

The great Fredric March gives an exquiste performance as "Death" trying to adjust to life.It is so beautifully filmed and the performances were so brillant at bringing the marvelous characters to life, that it was like watching a play. Although a serious subject, there are many moments that will make you smile, and in the end, you may view the subject of death a little differently.

If you love the classic films of the thirties, this is a must see. It is also nice to have as a companion to "Meet Joe Black". If you are looking for this on DVD, it is included in the 2 disc "Ultimate Edition" of Joe Black. That way you can have "death" come to you in the form of Fredric March OR Brad Pitt!...What a way to go!...Enjoy....Laurie

Mysterious,very interesting, magnetizing
A very rare presentation of a story, even more rare a captivating mind boggling series of events. A story that can frighten you while holding a deep interest. Should be a movie that will be a classic for all time. Anyone interested in parapsychology, the "other Side", or even interests of and about death would surely appreciate this movie. The story presents "Death" who may spare or take. "Death" who comes for a visit to feel as a "Man", who came, to leave with an experience for himself(Death). A powerful moving story that can "educate" the viewer and possibly change their view of life and "Death". A "Must See" movie that one would remember for a long time. Possibly the movie may affect one forever , all while waiting, Yes, to meet and finally see "Death" again.

Death lives!
Rather archaic, and a bit difficult to sit through, this is still a fascinating film. On re-screening it recently, I found that some scenes had lingered in my memory for 43 years. Death takes human form temporarily to satisfy his curiosity about why we humans fear him so much. During his "holiday", no one dies. The idea that a moratorium on death for a few days would not become immediately obvious and would not cause screaming headlines worldwide cannot be taken seriously, nor can the entire film. (Check out the climactic announcement, "He is -- Death!!" Very melodramatic.) This is a film that requires a huge suspension of disbelief, but if you do so, you will enjoy it. Fredric March was an unusual choice to portray Death, but he does his typically fine job. Science fiction writer Fred Pohl has said that seeing this film in his early teens caused him to not fear death. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Contemporary Psychobabble Dates Badly
BOB AND CAROL AND TED AND ALICE starts off as if a stoned hippie with an 8mm cam began to film cinema verite and did not wish to infringe on the rights of an equally stoned cast to get the scene right in the first take. Somewhere in this turgid bloated mess of a psychodrama are some unpleasant truths about the way married couples confront personal and sexual disconnections, but this relevant set of subtexts is hidden under an annoying coating of a 60s mentality of free love, beads, primal scream therapy, and groupsex, all of which date what otherwise have been some eternal truisms.

Robert Culp is Bob, a 40 something successful businessman who is less a fully-fleshed individual than a stereotyped hippie weekend wannabe who wants the freedom to have affairs but is unwilling to give his wife Carol (Natalie Wood) the same right. Bob is not just a man in search of himself. He comes across as an annoying pest who likes to think of himself as a new age guru who believes that he personifies the adage of Do Your Own Thing. Naturally, anyone who dares to show conventional middle class moral objections to his philandering is dismissed as a fuddy duddy out of touch with his own feelings. Carol is even less of a believable person as she skates through life with her feet barely touching the moral ground of life. Director Paul Mazursky allows the viewer to get an idea of how and why Bob and Carol think and act. At the start of the film, they attend a group interaction session led by a therapist who exhorts his patients to engage in some questionable methods: they scream, beat pillows, gawk about the room, and stare into one another's eyes as if to connect on a visual level.

Ted (Eliot Gould) and Alice (Dyan Cannon) are more open with their vulnerabilities, and hence engage us more. Both are disgusted at first with the open fooling around of Bob and Carol. Ted wants more frequent sex with Alice but does not know how to handle her rejection of him. Despite his geekiness, Ted comes across as a reasonably moral man whose own limits are soon to be tested first by a wife whose burgeoning sexuality snaps to attention then later by his own crumbling wall of marital fidelity.

The second half of the film is more interesting than that of the first. The cloying irritability that dominates the first half is replaced by several humorous, yet revealing vignettes that culminate with all four in bed and not knowing or daring what to do. The hesitant expressions on their faces suggest that morality is not a blanket to be donned or doffed at will. BOB AND CAROL AND TED AND ALICE is a potent, if misguided moral fairy tale that warns us that the freedom to be superficially open may in fact be nothing more than a license to hide behind that blanket of openness.

Amusing and Intriguing
Certainly a movie that has publicized the sexual revolution of the sixties and seventies. Very interesting how Bob and Carol's carefree attitude about sex eventually loosens up Ted and Alice's more conservative ways.

Its interesting how Bob and Carol test their relationship with their affairs. Amusing how Carol is quicker to be more accepting of their individual affairs than Bob. Ted and Alice at first are appalled by each of their infidelities. However when they hear the reasons behind their actions, they lighten up their approaches. Bob and Carol truly love each other where their affairs are merely for recreational purposes.

Those who are intrigued by psychology or the free love generation of the late sixties will be specially interested in this video.

A Hip Sendup of the Sexual Revolution
"Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" is an insightful film about the sexual revolution.

It deals with two couples -- one older and into "experimentation" (Bob & Carol), and the other younger and more square (Ted & Alice).

In a sense, the sexual experimentation of Bob and Carol epitomized the 60's ethos of (perhaps pathological) self-reflection and the idea that "if it feels good, do it." (We're still feeling the reverberations of that.)

But the ending of this enjoyably funny movie also indicates that most people can only go so far. Whether its cultural conditioning or innate, there are certain lines that most people simply cannot cross....

The movie does not pass judgment, but ultimately, there is a message there.

All the actors are good, but Elliot Gould and Dyan Cannon especially so. (They were both nominated for supporting Oscars.) Dyan Cannon is wonderful -- she's the best thing about the movie.

sexual revolution
I watched this movie on local television in the UK a couple of weeks ago, turning it on a half hour or so into it.

Once I got past the shallow critique of hair styles and clothing I was able to consider what was happening socially in the US during the late 60s when this movie was conceived/filmed.

I was only 3 when the movie was released but I imagine it was significant for adults at that time. Society was much more open/liberal re: sexuality and the challenging of stereotypes, such as the long-standing double standards afforded to men.

My '4 star' review may be slightly high, but what motivates me to do so has more to do with the subject this movie takes on, its willingness to challenge the status quo and collective consciousness of the public at that time, as well as the honesty in which it's delivered.

The final scene is hardly climactic compared with the latest Bond film but, like much of the film, there's an authentic message there.

Ill-conceived
"Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice" is widely applauded as a breakthrough film, but lets cut through the hype. First what Leonard Maltin calls "ultrasophisticated" is more an exposure of his own dimwittedness than a film commentary. 2 couples seek enlightenment and think they found the key: just have an affair and tell your partner about it...is that really the extent to which enlightenment was explored in the '60s? Such is the main flaw; 2 couples are sincere about transcending middle class limitation, but group encounter sessions do not "insight" make.

Robert Culp and Natalie Wood play the couple who think affair+honesty=enlightenment. As Horst observes, Culp is one hellofaguy. I wish Natalie Wood's husband would let me have her...I'd think he was a nice guy too. What would have made this film good is if at the end they decided to go to India and seek true enlightenment.

On the bright side we have '60s fashions and good Bacharach music...and the beautiful Natalie Wood. The final scene "Love Sweet Love" is an interesting ending to an otherwise disappointing film. ... Read more

Reviews (187)

Shark Revenge??
Ellen Brody (Lorraine Gary) is convinced that the same kind of shark that attacked her husband and kids in the past is out to finish her family off in this mediocre third sequel to the 1975 Steven Spielberg classic. When he youngest son, now taking over for his father as sheriff of Amity Island, is killed by a shark while investigating wreckage in Amity Harbor on Christmas Eve, Gary escapes with her other son Mike (Lance Guest) for the Bahamas, and meets up with a congenial local airplane pilot (Michael Caine).

But Mr. Whitey isn't through with the Brody family just yet. The result is a series of admittedly scary but otherwise thoroughly pedestrian shock sequences, topped off by flashbacks experienced by Gary to events that she never even witnessed (!!) and a climax that is both totally unbelievable and rather disgusting.

JAWS 4 does boast a good music score by Michael Small, and is directed well enough by Joseph Sargent, a journeyman director who has made at least two great films prior to this--1970's COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT, and 1974's THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE-TWO-THREE. But his cause is hindered by Michael De Guzman's inert screenplay, which simply uses the revenge format as a raison d'etre for the scares and the killings. Like JAWS 3, its immediate predecessor, this film is admittedly watchable. But that is ALL it is.

JAWS4 SWEEEET!!!!!
This was AWWWWWWSOME!!!! No wonder it got a PG13 rating, BLOOOD. New invention, SOME FLASHEY THINGEY.That Jaws in this movie looked scarier than Jaws 1, 2 and ,3! New place, BAHAMAHS BABY!! keep shopping!

Best Michael Caine comment
Cheesy schlock that, like the other sequels, buys into the horror cliches that Spielberg so brilliantly subverted for the first movie (does not the scene in the origninal Jaws where a child and a dog get eaten by the monster in broad daylight at a crowded beach right in front of the hero break every horror movie rule?).

However, it did produce one great moment. When asked by an interviewer about this movie, Michael Caine said, "I have not seen the film, but I hear it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it paid for, and it is superb."

Amazing, simply amazing.........
....amazing that the great Michael Caine would associate himself with such a dreadful movie. This is among the worst movies I've ever seen.

Please do not buy this movie
Let me start off by saying sorrying if my spelling is incorrect and oh yah this is the most terrible jaws movie I have ever seen and it is a disgrace to the first movie and how dare the women who played Brodys wife could ever sign a contract wanting to be in this movie. Second of all throughout the whole movie the shark is "supposibly" trying to track down the Brody family and trying to eat every one of them like it did to one of Brodys sons in the first scence of the movie. And throughout the whole movie Brodys wife some how has some sort of psychic ability to know if the shark is close or something bad is happening that has to do with the shark its a know doubt one 100% quality corny movie. And another thing when they are killing the shark the shark is making loud moaning noises which really goes to how how much the director knows (hey a little hint sharks don't have voice boxes so they cant make any type of noise what so ever). The movie is terrible so please I beg the people who read this review please and i mean please dont buy this movie it is a huge disapointment to all you shark movie fans because I am a shark movie fan myself but in final words don't by the movie ... Read more

Amazon.com

Snicker if you will, but Kung Fu was one of the most influential TV series of the 1970s, one that managed to inject a note of both spirituality and Eastern religion into the standard Western formula and make it seem new. This was the pilot, an intriguing and scene-setting TV movie in which David Carradine starred as the mysterious Caine--half-white, half-Chinese, reared in a Shaolin monastery in China by blind master Po (Keye Luke), then exiled to America, on the run for killing the men who killed his master. The pilot mixes flashbacks to Caine's youth with a story set in the Old West of Caine battling intolerance as he begins the search for his father. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Hope they put the whole series on DVD
I have loved this series for years. I just love the little thought provoking things that Caine, the main character says. I've watched it since I was a little kid, and when I was in my twenties, it came on at 4 am on a channel once a week so I'd stay awake just to see it. I really hope they put the whole series on DVD. I'd buy it in a minute.

I love the quiet demeanor of Caine. I enjoy his humility and his respectfulness. The Caine character proves that you don't have to be "bad" to be cool. The pilot movie is definitely worth watching.

Unique Western flick.
This is certainly by no means an all-time favorite movie of mine, but it's an excellent little flick nevertheless -- especially considering that it was made-for-TV, the pilot for the "Kung Fu" TV series. My wife and I just saw it tonight and quite enjoyed it. At a mere 74 minutes, it's short and sweet, kinda the way I wish more movies would be! It's definitely a Western, as it takes place out West in the late 19th century, but it's unique for this genre in that it incorporates Eastern philosophy/wisdom and martial arts -- sorry, no quick-draw shootouts here.

A great scene appears near the beginning wherein Caine walks into a saloon after walking (!!) across a desert to get some water. Naturally some redneck dork wants to start a fight with him 'cause he's one of them "slant-eyes." Three times the guy attempts to attack Caine and three times Caine swiftly and decisively repels the attacks. The guy wisely decides not to attack again as Caine finishes his water and humbly walks out of the saloon leaving the saloon patrons in astonishment.

There's more martial arts action toward the end, but, it should be noted, this is by no means a standard martial arts flick. The movie teaches humility and respect for elders & all fellow human beings.

Despite the fact that they have very little dialogue, Caine develops a close father/son relationship with blind Master Po.

Some scenes have such a reverent and touching quality to them that they actually brought tears to my eyes .

In Brian Garfield's "Western Films" guide he criticized this film as "Juvenile tripe." With all due respect for the brilliant Mr. Garfield, this film is neither juvenile or tripe! As far as Westerns go, it's quite mature and original. Good Eastern-style music too.

Kung Fu: The Movie of Respect
KUNG FU is one of the few movies I have ever seen that has respect for a foundation. It is unfortunate that the martial arts are what viewers most often think of when they remember either the movie or the long running television show. Yet, a respect for tradition and a veneration for one's elders form the philosophical underpinning for both. The young Kwai Chang Caine, played modestly by Rademas Pera, portrays Caine as the height of worshipful respect. Having grown up as an orphan, we see in flashbacks, that he and the other village orphans, were invited to visit the local Shaolin monastery. He waits patiently in the rain for days until he is admitted. Once he is, he and a group of ragamuffins sit down at a table laden with food. The other orphans gorge themselves. Young Caine does not. Because he had the manners to wait, he is invited to stay by Master Po. During his years in the monastery, there are many scenes of interaction between him and his Shaolin instructors. It is these vignettes of the Wise Sages instructing the Eager Youth that lend the movie its charm. Caine, played now by David Carradine, grows to adulthood and leaves the temple to wander China. He is forced to kill the Emperor's nephew and must flee to America. These scnes of exposition are required for the movie to make sense. Caine's rise to maturity forms the basis for his encounter with villainous engineers and a renegade monk.
One subtle scene of respect occurs midway in the film when the adult Caine is working on a desert railroad somewhere in the western region of the United States. A heavily loaded wagon threatens to tip over, and Caine rushes over to prop it up with his surprisingly strong skinny arms. As he raises his arms, the Chinese crowd sees the tatoo of a dragon on his arms, and they bow in reverent silence. Later at the end, Caine must fight an outlaw monk whom he kills, but takes no joy in his victory. Even in defeat, a beaten enemy commands respect.
KUNG FU is the movie that attempts to make some sort of sense out of a violent unpredictable life. Caine seems to say that respect for all may make that possible. Perhaps he is right.

Good Script Makes Up For Bad History...Grasshopper!
Much has been written about the philosophical & moral lessons that can be learned from watching the old "King-Fu" tv series. However, one lesson that can be learned from this show has not been mentioned...a good script & solid acting performances can make up for very bad history done in an American western!

Alright, David Carradine does do a solid acting job as the peaceful, philosophical Buddhist monk roaming the American west. (Yup, like that other early 1970's martial-arts hero "Billy Jack", Carradine's "Caine" preaches "peace" & "brotherhood", until he's harrassed by "rednecks", then he tosses out all of that philosophy & kicks...! This show isn't really a martial-arts showcase. It's a hippie's wish-dream!) The surrogate father/son relationship between Carradine & Keye Luke as the blind master "Po" is solid, & let's face it, the bad guys racial slurs of "Chinaman" & "slanty-man" are delightfully repulsive! (I'm an Asian-american, & I enjoy watching Carradine, who's really a white actor in "yellow-face", kick the stuffings out of the bad-guys after they insult him!) And this tv pilot does have solid social commentary, with the background of the Chinese-american railroad workers as symbolic of American racial-exploitation.

Okay, so what's off about this show? A