Reviews (5)

One of Betty Grable's better musicals
This movie gets criticized for having a "weak" male lead. First of all, it's called "Pin-Up Girl" not "Pin-Up Man." I am not interested in the male lead. John Harvey does a good job acting as a foil to Betty Grable - and that's all that's required. The last Betty Grable musical I tried to watch (Moon Over Miami) was going great until the male lead showed up and KILLED it. Another thing it gets criticized for is the "weak" finale. Instead of seeing a big song-and-dance number (for the 1000th time), you get to see Betty Grable marching around some kind of women's auxiliary force. This may have been necessitated by the fact that she was pregnant at the time, but it's pretty interesting to watch. It is also super-patriotic, whereas "Pan-American Jubilee," the ending to "Springtime in the Rockies," was a nameless celebration of the Western Hemisphere that made me want to shove my VCR through the TV screen.

Worth The Price To Watch The Ending
This film's finale is a staged rifle drill by dancing girls -- and they perform as well as almost any military unit you will ever see, with Betty Grable calling cadence. It's worth watching the entire film just to see them march.

A delightful confection!
Of course in this age of packaged pastries, that's a difficult metaphor to bite into. Forget the silliness of the plot (aren't all Hollywood plots, indies or otherwise, silly a year later?). Forget the mediocre songs. It's got a great cast, sensational clothes, wonderful sets & spectacular numbers. And it's light and deelish as a perfect meringue! They don't (can't) make them like this any more. (Sob).

Not one of Grable's best, but still enjoyable.
This film, although not one of Grable's best, is still enjoyable. The plot is rather contrived, but is still humorous. Some of the songs are corny, but, again, they are still enjoyable. Due to advancing pregnancy, producers didn't want to use the "Song of the Very Merry Widow" routine. Instead they substituted one that consisted of Grable leading girls in complicated military marches. Although the finale leaves much to be desired, the film is still enjoyable and was a top money-maker at its time.

Pin-up pins down war hero
Grable plays Lorry Jones, a stenographer and part-time USO entertainer in this WWII flagwaver. Slight plot concerning fibber Lorry, who gets herself into all kinds of bother with her fancy tales. But she bites off more than she can chew when she upstages Martha Raye for the attention of Gaudalcanal hero John Harvey. An unlikely plot, but Grable's sense of comedy and some expert dancing - with Hermes Pan - gives it lift off. Good support from Raye and Joe E Brown. The finale must be seen to be believed! Grable as a drill sergeant? However it a a perfect piece of parade-ground marching and should be in every military manual! Great fun, if you ignore the plot. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOR SCENERY PLUS GORGEOUS GENE TIERNEY
The real star of this fascinating little movie is the breath-taking Technicolor photography of Maine and New Mexico; even the architecture is great to look at (as is the gorgeous Gene Tierney!). Tierney's role of Ellen Berent has received almost cult status over the years since her character is that of an obsessive and cruel, selfish and evil woman; her relationship with Cornel Wilde indeed makes for an unusual and strange love story! Ben Ames William's novel of the same name was released in 1944 and was read by over a million people; the public was obviously captivated by this lurid little tale of a psychopathic wife. While being more than a little melodramatic, the story's believability is quite implausible at times, however the film lingers in the psyche nevertheless (the scene where Ellen lets Wilde's crippled little brother Hickman drown out of sheer jealousy is genuinely disturbing). Classic line: Ellen's mother: "There's nothing wrong with Ellen. She just loves too much!" Rarely has such a wicked woman looked as beautiful as Tierney does in this unusual story of obsessive "love".

Never Let You Go
Gene Tierney stars as Ellen, a woman incapable of anything except obsessive love. She goes to extreme lengths to keep her new husband (Cornel Wilde) all to herself. And I do mean extreme! She leaves her family in ruins. I'm not sure why Leave Her To Heaven works so well. The acting is either dull (Wilde, Jeanne Crain) or over the top (Vincent Price). The script is full of bad lines and unbelievable situations. But somehow it works! Give credit to Gene Tierney, who manages to make one of the most unbelievable and unlikeable characters in movie history so watchable by more than just her incredible beauty. Also give credit to the amazing technicolor photography that really must be seen. The musical score is very dramatic and over the top, which makes it a perfect fit for this movie. You may be shaking your head throughout most of the film, but I guarantee you'll watch it to the end to see what happens.

"Sometimes the truth is wicked."
In the film "Leave Her to Heaven", writer Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) travels to New Mexico for a holiday. On the train, he meets a woman, Ellen (Gene Tierney) who happens to be reading his book. They strike up a conversation, and once in New Mexico, Richard finds himself in a relationship with Ellen. A whirlwind romance leads to marriage, and soon the newlyweds are heading back to Harland's home on the East Coast.

It doesn't take long before Harland realizes that there's something not quite right with his beautiful bride. She's insanely jealous, but she's also hideously rude to lifelong friends. Ellen, however, is quite practiced at hiding her ugly side. At first, she welcomes Richard's crippled brother, Danny, but within a few weeks, she's eager to rid of him--she tries to get rid of Danny gracefully at first, and when that doesn't work, she takes matters into her own evil hands....

Gene Tierney was very well cast in this role. She has a sort of restless grace that convincingly conveys the sense of a mind that is not quite in control. Tierney's performance as the seriously disturbed beauty is flawless. She shifts from false sweetness to absolute psychotic evil with the blink of her eyelashes. Even the other characters in the scene seem amazed by her performance. Jeanne Crain is cast as Ellen's adopted sister, and the two actresses look incredibly alike. Vincent Price has a relatively small (and tame) role as Ellen's ex-fiance-the man has no idea what a narrow escape he had. This film is classed as film noir, but it has the feel of a soap opera at heart--an excellent one, I'll admit. The video is good quality and contains scenes from the film's premiere in Hollywood--displacedhuman

The most gorgeous motion picture ever photographed
This 1945 Technicolor "film noir" happens is the most visually beautiful picture that has ever been photographed. Lovely Gene Tierney is extremely gorgeous in this classic tale of obsession, jealousy and murder...all in a lush, Technicolor paradise. The scene where Tierney is rowing the boat and letting the little boy drown with the green pines in back of the blue, blue lake will knock your eyes out --- it is so beautiful. I can't think of any movie made today that has color like this.

Fox, we want this masterpiece on DVD NOW, we don't want anymore Simpsons crap!

Me too!
Since others have very eloquently outlined the intriguing plot and described the talents of the beautiful but ultimately tragic Gene Tierney already, I will only add that if you are a "film noir"/old movie fan and you haven't seen this one yet , then you are in for a huge treat. Don't just sit there! Get it now! Haunting actress, great plot and absolutley beautiful scenery up at the lodge.... Happy watching! ... Read more

Reviews (46)

The Ultimate Woman's Picture
At a time when Hollywood paid more attention to its female audience and made films for them, this may be the best of the bunch. A padded Bette Davis stars as Charlotte Vale, an overweight, unattractive spinster bullied by the mother who never wanted her. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, her sister-in-law arranges for her to meet a psychiatrist played by Claude Rains, and after spending time at his "hospital", she emerges thinner, beautiful, and more prepared to face the world, a world which include Paul Henreid, a married man that she falls in love with while on a post-recovery cruise. It's the kind of role an actress must love, and Davis plays it with restraint and class. Rains is good as usual, and Henreid delivers one of his best performances. The supporting cast is excellent, with Gladys Cooper pulling out all the stops as the tough mother and Mary Wickes bringing a gentle humour to her role as a nurse. The musical score by Max Steiner is excellent, and of course, there are the famous moments of Henreid lighting two cigarettes at once, something that wouldn't work in today's movies, but is quite effective in this film. With it's Ugly Duckling/Cinderella angle and it's sense of romance, this has to be the ultimate woman's picture. It knows its audience and delivers.

One of Bette's Best
I can never decide whether VOYAGER is the best Bette Davis
movie or DARK VICTORY. She is fantastic as a spinster who
is dominated by her monster mother, beautifully played by Gladys
Cooper. After her nervous breakdown she begins a new life
and meets Paul Henried who of course is married but later she
is able to help Paul's child. This is the movie where he lights
two cigarettes and gives her one and ends with "Oh Jerry, let's
not ask for the moon, we have the stars" Fabulous score by
Max Steiner. Fine acting from Claude Rains, Bonita Granville,
Ilka Chase and in a very small role, Lee Patrick. They don't make 'em like this anymore so thank God for home video. The
DVD transfer is terrific.

Overwrought and Only Somewhat Convincing Melodrama
Davis plays nice with middling results. The acting is fine, to be sure, but I miss the feistyness of her better movies. A hapless neurotic woman breaks free of her tyrannical and hateful mother. She seeks therapy and begins to live her own life. She learns that life can't be perfect but it can always be better & happiness s not impossible. Could be seen as encouragement to wallflowers.

Now Voyager - Bette at Her Best
Bette made some terrific films.... this is my personal favorite along with "Mr. Skeffington"... the ONLY criticism is the biographies of the cast ONLY work with Ms. Davis.. the others on the menu do not function.... still.. the plus side is the stunning transfer of the film to DVD. It is fresh and few flaws are visible on this version. I saw the new version of "Sunset Blvd." just after seeing this film, and though "Voyager" is 8 years older, it looks far cleaner and crisper than "Sunset" does. Bravo to the restoration crew here! The film itself, is of course, a masterpiece and well worth the purchase price. A true gem!

A Classic for the Fans
'Now, Voyager' tells the story of hapless introvert Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis), her near-nervous breakdown machinated by her domineering Mother (Gladys Vale) and her subsequent recovery with the help of the dashing J.D. Durrance (Paul Henreid). Directed by Irving Rapper (Another Man's Poison), 'Now, Voyager' is another glorious slice of early forties melodrama, and a total Davis vehicle.

Not that that's a bad thing, actually. Her performance as Charlotte Vale is excellent, she's emotional and deep enough to be believable, and her private exchanges with JD and her Mother are excellent illustrations of the power of Ms. Davis as an actress. Henreid, too, is wonderful as the stiff and faithful JD, stern enough to cause Charlotte frustration yet likeable enough to generate sympathy from the audience.

The supporting cast are a credible bunch - Gladys Vale is an excellent Matriarch (where are the actresses of this calibre today?) and Ivisible Man Claude Rains is hugely charismatic as Dr. Jaquith, a Vermont-based psychologist who all-but saves Charlotte from herself. Comic relief is supplied in the shape of the always-entertaining Mary Wickes (the crotchety nun in the Sister Act movies) as Dora.

Direction is beautiful, with noir-esque interiors and excellent lighting techniques employed to best suggest the sense of Charlotte subsisting in a grim dictatorial household. Rapper's style is a strange contrast to the script, too - it's got a more organic flow about it than the sometimes-stilted dialogue. The score is provided by the genius Max Steiner and is, as one would expect from a man of this legendary reputation, exactly perfect for the tone of the piece.

DVD Quality is excellent, perhaps a little worn in places but on the whole, it's fantastic, and certainly better than a lot of other later DVD conversions. The extras are perfunctory (and indeed, as one reviewer pointed out below, half seem to be missing!) but they don;t make the picture.

On the whole, 'Now, Voyager' is definitely one for the fans. It seems to have established all of the trademark Davis moves (cigarette, EYES, clipped accent, constantly jiggling arm) and is very stilted in some scenes, approaching Camp (see Charlotte's exchanges with the dreadfully annoying Tina Durrance for proof of this!). While it is an endearing and oftentimes emotionally-involving story, one can't help but feel that it will win no new fans to the genre.

Still, if you're fan, you can't go wrong with this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is a far cry from The Thin Red Line, but it's engaging and efficient World War II propaganda about the opening of the South Pacific campaign that would ultimately turn the tide of the war. Anxious and unsuspecting Marines land on the Solomon Islands and quickly learn how to engage the Japanese in foxhole warfare. It's full of archetypal characters (tough sergeant Lloyd Nolan, Brooklyn cabby William Bendix, lusty Mexican Anthony Quinn, and gravel-mouthed Lionel Stander) and well-staged battle scenes. There's even a battle-weary narration to provide authenticity and historical perspective. All around, a good grunt film. --Bill Desowitz ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Entertaining Movie, Bad History
Guadalcanal Diary is exactly what you'd expect to come out of Hollywood during the war--high on fluff and propaganda, low on substance. While it's true that some of the events in the film are based on real events, many are not. None of the Japanese attacks, like at the Tenaru and Bloody Ridge, are depicted though they're mentioned in the film. To have included these hair-raising night battles would've made the movie much more realistic and entertaining. With the exception of the ill-fated Goettge Patrol, what you have instead are fictional battles. For instance, the marines never did launch an offensive on the 10 November, the Marine Corps' birthday.

Guadalcanal Diary, however, does create the general feel of what it was like to fight on Guadalcanal, though nobody in this film is ever hungry, sick, or unshaven! You do find an excellent depiction of the Battleship bombardment on 13 October as well as some superb air raid scenes. This movie would have been much better if it was strictly based on the time-frame of the book (late July - 26 September). Too bad the movie didn't depict real battles and real people. It's still fun to watch, though. If you like war movies, you'll like this flick.

A well-made "flag waver", which also entertains.
Set apart by its realistic portrayal of the struggle for Guadalcanal from most other "flag-wavers" made during World War 2, this film is also most entertaining. Marines live and die in this film, and the Japanese also certainly die, as you would expect. The black and white photography and narration by Richard Tregaskis (an actor really) give the film a documentary realism. For civilian audiences, this film must have seemed absolutely real to them. However, while the Marines on the 'canal were literally starving to death for a while, the actors in this film stay remarkably healthy looking. Also, they shave every day. The cast is top notch. You'll recognize many past and future stars from it. Richard Jaeckal (the MP Sergeant in The Dirty Dozen ) started his film career in the movie. Guadalcanal Diary is a fine example of the World War 2 film, made to bolster civilian morale during the war years. It is well worth seeing and owning, as a piece of cinematic history.

"boys with a memory of death in their eyes"
Based on Richard Tregaskis' popular book of his account of the action at Guadalcanal, when the first detachment of U.S. Marines landed in the Solomon Islands in August of 1942, this is a tough and gritty war film with a sturdy ensemble cast, who do a wonderful job of recreating the diverse characters in the story, from Anthony Quinn who dreams of his señoritas, to the young Richard Jaeckel, who is always writing home to mom.
Preston Foster, William Bendix, Lloyd Nolan and Richard Conte are the other actors that contribute to make the film interesting, along with the narration by Reed Hadley which contrasts with the everyday speech of the dialogue and at times is quite poetic.

Enduring the humid jungle, often plagued with torrential rain, and at one point running out of food and needing reinforcements, the narrator says of October 10th, "...for we are tired, after days of heat and rain, dust and disease, mud and malnutrition, weeks of constant fighting...", the film depicts a lot of heroism, the caring for one another, and much patriotism.
The battle cinematography by Charles Clarke is visually exciting, though all very sanitized, as none of the intense fighting is graphic, and one must remember that this is a 1943 film, and the language used is far from politically correct; those who can't put it into historical perspective should avoid seeing it.
Total running time is 93 minutes.

Well staged war movie
This account of the struggle to retake the South Pacific island of Guadalcanal from the occupying Japanese army in World War two is marked by superbly staged battle sequences .It -uniquely for the period -eschews the standard gung ho flag waving that marked most Hollywood war movies of the era (understandably ,in my book given the circumstances)and depicts a very matter of fact view of the average soldier's life in combat situations.
The acting honours are stolen by the under-rated Richard Jaeckel but there is sterling support from reliable performers like William Bendix,Richard Conte ,Lloyd Nolan and the great Anthony Quinn.
A war movie showing rare honesty and integrity .

Just Want To Go Home.
Set in the early days of WWII in the Pacific, the film follows a unit of Marines as they battle everything from disease and treacherous terrain to just being tired of not being at home. The Marines go from one battle to another, fighting to stay alive and keep there hopes up. There is a rogue Sgt. (Lloyd Nolan), a simple cab driver from Brooklyn (William Bendix), and a troubled Marine (Anthony Quinn)! With well done battle's and a outstanding script, this film is considered to be one of the best films done during WWII! If you can put aside that it was made in 1943, and it is not as realistic as it would be today. It is sure to get the message across and deliver the goods. One of the best war films of all time!
Grade:A ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

High on the list of W.C. Fields's achievements is this 74-minute feature from 1940, rich in his brilliantly rambling inspiration. Fields plays Egbert Sousé (pronounced Soo 'zay, of course), who manages to foil a bank robbery, tilt a glass in the Black Pussy Cafe, and marry his daughter to Og Oggilby (Grady Sutton) before the closing credits. Maintaining his usual and deliberate half-step behind the rest of the world, Fields's characteristic persona gets a truly worthy movie here that always seems, wonderfully, to be on the verge of racing ahead of him. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This is Just Too Funny
This is the second best Fields film (after It's a Gift) and it's similar in that it casts Fields as the lovable drunk with an absolutely hateful family. From the almost surreal episode directing the movie to the eye-poppingly ridiculous chase scene, this one is pure comic entertainment. One side note: it's sad and not a little scary how bloated and tired the Great Man looks in this compared to just six years earlier when It's a Gift was released

a fine example of slapstick comedy
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

W.C. Fields stars as Egbert Sousè (Pronounced as "Soosay" but mispronounced as "souse" by many of the people in his town though he is also a souse) a husband who is constantly critized by his family for his drinking and smoking. He lated inadvertently catches a bank robber and is offered a job as a guard at the bank.

The acting is what one would expect from comedy films of the time, and has a cameo role by Shemp Howard best known for his work as one of the 3 stooges.

This is W.C. field's last major film role. The DVD has no special features.

Pretty Good for Sketch Comedy
If this had been made 20 or 30 years later, it would have been great television stuff like Monty Python or Benny Hill. Essentially plotless w/ Fields careening around. Fun but no reason to own it.

W.C. Fields is too funny...
this movie may cause you to lose faith in the possibilities of comedy in the new millenium. W.C. Fields was the best curmudgeon ever and this is one of his greatest films. His wife and his children hate him. Only his friendly neighborhood bartender (played by 4th or 5th stooge, Shemp Howard) loves him. As usual, W.C. gets himself into loads of trouble and finds a way to get out of it with a bunch of money. The final chase scene is rivaled only by It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, What's up, Doc?, and Seven Chances in it's superfluity of gags and danger.

Watch this movie....or die!

Essential W.C. Fields DVD
The Bank Dick is pure Fields and the best of his feature films (with My Little Chickadee a close second). The comedy is timeless; most of the jokes, although written 60 years ago , are relevant today. Supporting cast is brilliant. A must have for all classic comedy fans. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Dark One For Lucy
This often over-looked film noir is a near classic and although it dosn't quite make it to greatness, it does hold up very well against many other better known films in this fasinating genre.

The story centers around a down and out gumshoe (Mark Stevens) who after serving time for a crime that he had been framed for, finds himself being setup for murder by someone who seems bent on destroying his life. Along the way he is stalked by the menacing "White Suit" (William Bendix) and helped by his true blue secretary (Lucille Ball) who is the only one who believes his innocence.

Mark Stevens is excellent as the put-up-on detective who can't understand what is happening to him, and Lucille Ball is very much at home in her role as the love interest.

The "The Dark Corner" is by far one Lucille Ball's best films, it along with "Lured" are a rare look at the mostly untapped dramatic acting ability of an actress who sadly was over-looked as a major film star during Hollywood's golden age.

The production values in this movie are very good the sets, dialog, and lighting are all top-notch although I found the music a little heavy handed.

My first Film noir!
This is the first film noir movie I ever watched and it hooked me on to the genre. It is a superb movie with it's assortment of characters that often populate the film noir genre. Lucille Ball was excellent as the trusting secretary! Another movie to see of Miss Ball's that displays her acting ability is the Big Street with Henry Fonda. Mark Stevens was an actor I had not heard of before. He was suprisingly very good in his role of Brad. Many people think this is the only film-noir done by William Bendix. It is not. He is also in The Big Steal with Robert Mitchum. Clifton Webb is always delightful and his presence in this movie makes you compare this and his other noir classic Laura. He plays the same kind of character - obbessed with a much younger woman when he himself is an aging prudish man. The plot itself is good with some good dialouge and all the actors are in top form! I am sixteen years old and am a BIG classic movie fan and really enjoyed this movie. I reccomend it to any age group.

The Best dramatic performance by Lucy
This is a really good film with a young and beautiful Lucille Ball giving, probably, her best dramatic performance. For those of you who only know Lucy from TV this movie will come as a big surprise. It is taut and gripping and a fine example of film noir, with an excellent supporting performance by Clifton Webb. I highly recommend this film.

Young Lucy Deserved Better than This Movie!
According to Lucille Ball's autobiography, "Love, Lucy," Lucy had a mild nervous breakdown during the filming of this movie, due to outside personal problems. That explains a lot about the way she LOOKS in this film. I am the biggest Lucy fan on earth, and she handles her lines very well, but there is an empty-eyed, haunting sadness and apathy about her in this movie that just doesn't seem like her at all. Also, the plot is a little weak, but over-all, it isn't that bad. I saw it on AMC, and enjoyed it, but I don't think I would buy it, when there are so many other great old movies out there.

Great detective film noir
I've seen this classic a dozen times now and I won't say I never tire of it at times, but this is a great example of 40's film noir. Who would have thought that an unknown like Mark Stevens, paired with LUCY, of all people, would turn out a thrilling drama like this! William Bendix plays the perfect heavy, and Clifton Webb is here too! Don't miss this one. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Never trust the face of life.
In a way an interesting film about the world of drama-entertainment in New York, with the strict division between « noble » musicals and « unmentionable » burlesque, except that burlesque ? being a lot more fragile and a lot less valorized by the « worthy » audience, is a hothouse for all kinds of flexible and at times very creative shows, songs, ideas, artists. When one is hungry and poor one has a natural tendency to move on, to invent, to attract attention, to be what one has never been and what others have never been either. What's more the film is also about some social issues, particularly women and their position in the confrontation they live every day with men. Men appear as being ruffians, a little bit rough on the edges and definitely tactician sexual climbers taking advantage of any opportunity appearing in their vision. Women are depicted as more faithful, more attached to permanence and deeper feelings. This little film is in many ways one of the roots of the theme developed in « Moulin Rouge » though a lot less dramatically and emotionally. A good entertainment that shows how the burlesque can take its revenge on upperclass showbusiness.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

highly entertaining musical
DOLL FACE is a highly entertaining and delightful musical starring the sadly under-rated performer Vivian Blaine (1945's STATE FAIR and GUYS AND DOLLS).

She plays Doll Face Carroll, the headliner in a third-rate burlesque theatre in Brooklyn who hits it big when she writes her autobiography "Genius de Milo" and then stars in a musical version of it on Broadway.

Very fun and highly nostalgic, DOLL FACE is one very good musical.

With Perry Como, Carmen Miranda, Dennis O'Keefe, Martha Stewart, Michael Dunne and Reed Hadley.

Most pleasant memories
I remember as a very young man of going to the Fox Theater in downtown Detroit to see this most entertaining movie.WWII was still going on and movies like this were a great escape from the sometimes sad news of the day. What can you say about Pery Como that hasn't been said. He was just wonderful as well as the entire cast of this treasure of Hollywood. Oh come on it didn't win any oscars but it wasn't intended to. It was, like most movies of the time, to just entertain us. And it did so quite well. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Depart In Radiant Contentment!
Whistling In the Dark (1941) is one of my favorite films. Red Skelton is excellent in his first leading role as is the entire cast. Red plays Wally Benton, a radio detective named the Fox who writes his own crime stories. The extremely beautiful and foxy Ann Rutherford is his girlfriend Carol Lambert who appears on the radio shows with him. Eve Arden plays Wally's agent and Conrad Veidt is the leader of a cult that is in dire need of a perfect murder plot. The light-hearted thrills, laughs and fun start from there and never let you down.
Be forewarned, this film is in black and white but don't let that stop you. Two sequels followed, Whistling In Dixie (1942) and Whistling In Brooklyn(1943), to complete the "Fox Trilogy." If you view all three in order notice the interesting development of the Rags Ragland character. Even my children and grandkids love this one.
The cult leader's favorite saying is "Depart In Radiant Contentment" and after viewing this film you definitely will.

Excellent Movie!
If you're looking for a light-hearted thriller (not, that is not an oxymoron in this case), this movie is for you! Red Skelton delivers a sublime performance as "The Fox", and will leave you gasping for breath because of all the laughter the movie will bring you! A must-see for all comedy lovers and afficionados... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Railroad goes West,must fight pre-Civil War Confederates
Railroad moving West,just before the Civil War is beset by problems. Construction boss (Barton MacLane)recieves help from the head office in the form of chief engineer (Sterling Hayden).Hayden quickly goes against the raiders led by "Quantrill"(Reed Hadley and pre-Civil war confederates/ Average Western-B movie. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Red Skelton at his best!
This movie is the greatest! Red Skelton is at his funniest in this hilarious film about a northern bellboy who dreams of becoming a spy during the Civil War. He finally gets his chance when he accidentally falls in with a ring of southern spies who think he is the notorious spy, "The Grey Spider". His adventures while masquerading as the grey spider will have you laughing long after the movie has ended! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

the most sensational airplane serial ever made!
Don't miss this!This the best oldie movie I have ever seen! The special effects, in crisp black and white, were flawless, not "hokey" like most action movies of the period. When I watch this movie I feel that I'm "there" - I love the big cars,the street scenes, machines, fire trucks, ambulances, ships, planes and the fashions!Donald Woods is as dashing a hero as Erroll Flynn and Kathyrn Adams is as sweet as your little sister. The bad guys are trying to kill them and steal the protype of the Air Forces military plane.There's a lot of fistfights, car chases, crashes, and we enjoy long displays of flying stunts (small propeller planes)in every segment of the serial. The characters are all very close, like a family and their is a constant light-heartedness and implied romances. Each part ends in a disaster (or "cliff-hanger" to keep your interest. ... Read more

Description

A former Confederate guerrilla officer arrives in Dallas, Texas, seeking revenge on the three brothers who ravaged his home and lands. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

OUTDATED LOOKING EVEN IN ITs DAY
Warner's idea of continuing to produce large budget town taming Westerns was something of a myth by the time this film was released in 1950. The idea was old and the film even looks older than it is because of it save for the John Twist's script and Stuat Heisler's direction. The film's opening shootout was a clever piece of scripting and the idea of Gary Cooper and Leif Erickson switching identities is well executed. These are good techniques that enhance the characters but not the plot. The basic premise of cleaning up a Western town is still filmed with very little innovation in standard pre-1950 Hollywood style.

Yagggh!
Completely stupid and boring so-called western. A real let-down. To be avoided by all costs!

Routine, But Never Boring
DALLAS is a routine action/western, the sort of thing John Wayne did in his sleep for Republic throughout the forties. And why shouldn't Coop be permitted to amble through this sort of stuff? And amble he does, looking terrific in his tan buckskin shirt, every inch the hero. The movie is never boring and it zips merrily along, from one action sequence to the next, pausing for an occasional breath so that Cooper and Ruth Roman can set up their eventual kiss at the end. I agree with the previous two reviews that Max Steiner's score is fabulous (far better than the film deserves, truth be told). I also agree that Steiner's score for THE HANGING TREE is "utterly sublime". Not only isn't the score out on CD, but Warner Home Video has taken THE HANGING TREE out of distribution here in the U.S. Not overseas, just here! What idiocy! Furthermore, why?

Tired Cooper/Tired Film
DALLAS is another example of how Warner Bros. had no idea how to use Gary Cooper during his six picture stint with them from 1948 to 1953. Though DALLAS is a servicable western, it plays more like something Randolph Scott or Joel McCrae should have done. There's nothing particularly terrible -- a nice professional cast, an underrated Max Steiner score, even the script at times provides punch (in fact, in the early going, it shows promise of being a light-hearted comedy western, like ALONG CAME JONES, also directed by Stuart Heisler), but the whole exercise seems tired. And Cooper looked just as tired in some scenes. Of the westerns he did for Warners in this period, only SPRINGFIELD RIFLE (with an especially resonant and evocative Max Steiner score; question: why isn't this soundtrack out on CD?) clearly stands out. And yet, Cooper went on to star in four of the finest westerns ever made after this: HIGH NOON, MAN OF THE WEST, THE HANGING TREE (another question: why isn't Steiner's utterly sublime score for THE HANGING TREE out on CD!), and VERA CRUZ. So it is obvious that the problem wasn't Cooper, it was the powers-that-be at Warner Bros. They wasted a very good actor!

A Step Down For Cooper But Fascinating
It must have come as quite a shock when Gary Cooper received the script for his fourth starring vehicle under the Warner's contract he'd signed in 1948.After three classy features("The Fountainhead","Task Force",and "Bright Leaf")with first-rate directors(King Vidor,Delmer Daves,and Michael Curtiz),"Dallas" was a distinct comedown.It had been announced for Errol Flynn(also on the wane by this time),but Cooper was assigned at the eleventh hour.The studio's choice of journeyman Stuart Heisler to direct was hardly a vote of confidance either.If you look at Cooper's gag cameo in the previous year's "It's A Great Feeling",you can get a pretty good idea of how the star was regarded by his new employers.The appearance is brief---Cooper is carelessy photographed(at a time when his age was starting to betray him),and the exchange with Dennis Morgan trades on the old "yup" and "nope" routine that had dogged him since the beginning of his career----two decades of fine performances had taken him way beyond that insulting cliche,yet here he was,engaging in a self-parody that had to hurt.Unfortunatly for Cooper,"Dallas" is more of the same.There is Technicolor,though it doesn't flatter him(his hair looks almost orange at times,even in original dye-transfer prints),and the whole thing has a slapdash,backlot feel about it.So my recommendation?You must get this movie! It's practically a textbook on the declining careers of the pre-war generation of great leading men---a fallow period in the late forties when youngsters like Gregory Peck,Burt Lancaster,and Robert Mitchum were getting the really intresting parts,while the veteran stars---Gable,Flynn,Cooper---were having to make do in studio product that made no allowance for changing times,or the leading man's advancing age(s).Gary Cooper is fabulous in "Dallas"---you can tell he's making the best of a bad job.He's winging dialogue,peppering dull scenes with quirky mannerisms----in short,making plenty out of nothing---getting a lemon,and giving us lemonade.Watch for his introductary scene---it's a classic---and only Cooper could make it look so good----burning that wanted poster and lighting his cigar---yeah! His leading lady is Ruth Roman---oh well,I guess that's where Warner's saved some money---after all,Coop didn't come cheap.For the record,"Dallas" had a negative cost of 1.390 million,and final worldwide rentals were 4.490 million,so Cooper in a western was still boxoffice----it's just a shame WB didn't think enough of him to put a little more effort into the piece.I still love it though---and what a kick to see Raymond Massey in a seedy land-grabber villain role(and Steve Cochran's his brother!)---bet Massey loved telling that one to his lunch companions at the Player's Club.Barbara Payton's there too---read her sleazy auto-bio,watch this movie---and think about it.There's lots to like in "Dallas"---a great(and I mean GREAT)Max Steiner score---a priceless scene where Cooper masquerades as a "dude"---and a sock finish when he finally corners Massey."High Noon" was a year away,but if you wanna know the truth,this one's actually more fun. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Never trust the face of life.
In a way an interesting film about the world of drama-entertainment in New York, with the strict division between « noble » musicals and « unmentionable » burlesque, except that burlesque ? being a lot more fragile and a lot less valorized by the « worthy » audience, is a hothouse for all kinds of flexible and at times very creative shows, songs, ideas, artists. When one is hungry and poor one has a natural tendency to move on, to invent, to attract attention, to be what one has never been and what others have never been either. What's more the film is also about some social issues, particularly women and their position in the confrontation they live every day with men. Men appear as being ruffians, a little bit rough on the edges and definitely tactician sexual climbers taking advantage of any opportunity appearing in their vision. Women are depicted as more faithful, more attached to permanence and deeper feelings. This little film is in many ways one of the roots of the theme developed in « Moulin Rouge » though a lot less dramatically and emotionally. A good entertainment that shows how the burlesque can take its revenge on upperclass showbusiness.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

highly entertaining musical
DOLL FACE is a highly entertaining and delightful musical starring the sadly under-rated performer Vivian Blaine (1945's STATE FAIR and GUYS AND DOLLS).

She plays Doll Face Carroll, the headliner in a third-rate burlesque theatre in Brooklyn who hits it big when she writes her autobiography "Genius de Milo" and then stars in a musical version of it on Broadway.

Very fun and highly nostalgic, DOLL FACE is one very good musical.

With Perry Como, Carmen Miranda, Dennis O'Keefe, Martha Stewart, Michael Dunne and Reed Hadley.

Most pleasant memories
I remember as a very young man of going to the Fox Theater in downtown Detroit to see this most entertaining movie.WWII was still going on and movies like this were a great escape from the sometimes sad news of the day. What can you say about Pery Como that hasn't been said. He was just wonderful as well as the entire cast of this treasure of Hollywood. Oh come on it didn't win any oscars but it wasn't intended to. It was, like most movies of the time, to just entertain us. And it did so quite well. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Shazam! It's Captain Marvel vs. The Scorpion
Definitely the finest of the old-time movie serials, and the finest live action version of Captain Marvel. This movie was voted by Wizard magazine as the best comics-to-movie adaptation ever.

It has decent special effects and a fine story. A classic desert adventure, including angry horde, offended god, and stalwart hero. The flying sequences are well done. The cliff hangers are appropriately dramatic. The Scorpion is a nice serial villain, complete with hooded face and ultimate weapon, and Captain Marvel remains my favorite hero.

If you like serials or Captain Marvel you really can't go wrong with this.

Shazam! It's Captain Marvel vs. The Scorpion
Definitely the finest of the old-time movie serials, and the finest live action version of Captain Marvel. This movie was voted by Wizard magazine as the best comics-to-movie adaptation ever.

It has decent special effects and a fine story. A classic desert adventure, including angry horde, offended god, and stalwart hero. The flying sequences are well done. The cliff hangers are appropriately dramatic. The Scorpion is a nice serial villain, complete with hooded face and ultimate weapon, and Captain Marvel remains my favorite hero.

If you like serials or Captain Marvel you really can't go wrong with this.

Greatest Serial
The 40s serial "The Adventures of Captain Marvel" has to be the "Greatest Serial Ever Made." The special effects, for its tme, are outstanding. The flying scenes stood the test of time until the first Superman movie.

Many in the cast do a fine job. Tom Tyler makes an excellent Captain Marvel. He looks the part and he demonstrates the great athletic ability required of the part. The actor playing Billy Batson leaves a lot to be desired. He delivers his lines as a Junior High student would do in a school play. The "bad guys" are just great. They fill the bill in typical 1940s serial style.

By today's standards, the plot is childish, but for its time and targeted audience it must have proved to be exciting from week to week. Anyone with a penchant for memoribelia would surely want this video in their collection.

Lighthearted fun
I do not know how accurate this is to the original comic book--the first time I read "Captain Marvel" (SHAZAM), I got the idea that Bill Batson was only between 10 and 15. Here, he is closer to 21 or so.

Told in 12 parts, "Adventures of Captain Marvel" tells of a man trying to get all six lenses to a golden scorpion, which has an ability to turn regular objects into gold--and other powers. So which of the men is behind the "Scorpion" mask? You guessed it! None of the suspects are developed enough to bother guessing.

Captain Marvel walks like a mummy, and the bad guys continue to shoot him even after it is apparent bullets will not harm him--why is this always the case? Captain Marvel does not talk much, and Billy Batson is the real hero...after all, he is the person behind the superhero.

The story is good. Corny at times because as a serial, it wants viewers to wonder how the hero will escape at the beginning of each week. Billy is flying a plane that explodes. We know he is not dead because he is Captain Marvel, but they do not reveal how he escapes until the next episode.

The effects are obvious, but remember that this was the 1940s.

While not rated, the DVD does contain violence and parents might want to monitor younger children...equivalent of a PG.

One of the Best Superhero DVD's from the 20th Century!
No, there's no Dr. Sivana, Captain Marvel Jr., Mary Marvel or even Uncle Marvel...but you do have the prototype for which all superhero movies should be judged. The origin is actually pretty close to the well-known comic origin, with the old wizard SHAZAM, just in a different setting. I grew up watching the CBS SHAZAM! series in the '70's, and actually loved it. But this blows that series away by a mile. The flying scenes, by today's standards, are mediocre...but for someone seeing this in a theatre in 1941, groundbreaking would not begin to describe them. This Cap isn't afraid to get rough with the badguys, and will even use a machine gun when necessary! If you love serials, superheroes, cliffhangers or Captain Marvel, you gotta get this! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Zorro ride again in superior Republic Chapterplay!
There have been four serials made that use the actual "ZORRO" name and two or three that use a character similar to Zorro, but this 1938 chapterplay is the only one with the one and ONLY Zorro! With Zorro played by Reed Hadley, Republic's original story takes Zorro to Mexico after Juarez's successful revolution aainst Spain to stop the reincarnated Yaqui god Don Del Oro from stealing much needed gold and fomenting a Yaqui uprising. The twelve chapters of this serial keep Zorro and his Fighting Legion in continual peril from Don Del Oro and his Yaqui followers, and trying to deduce which one of four evil councillors is Don del Oro will keep everyone guessing until the final chapter! One of Republic's best serials ever and a worthy addition to the Zorro legend. END

One of the greatest movie serials of all time
This is also the ONLY Zorro serial dealing with the original Zorro character, set in the original time period (early 1800's). The serial is very well made. Reed Hadley is an excellent Don Diego/Zorro. The sword fighting scenes are very impressive. The cliffhangers at the end of each chapter are excellently done. Don Del Oro is one of the greatest movie serial villians of all time. If you are a fan of the Zorro legend or of movie serials in general, this is one of the best. A must have!

ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE VERSION!!
Read the horrid reviews (as usual) for the Madacy product, then grab this Hal Roach Studios/Image version of this classic Republic Serial, perhaps second in fame only to THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL. This version is meticulously mastered from the original camera negative with fine grain shots substituted wherever necessary. Where Madacy "simply" eliminates(!) the beginnings and ends of each of their twelve 16mm chapters, making it more into a herky-jerky feature film that runs 3-1/2 hours (then making you buy TWO separate discs in order to obtain the whole story), this Hal Roach Studios version is absolutely complete--four hours on one disc (double-coated, no turning over!) and boasts trailers for six other top serials to boot. All from 35mm, with the visual power and dynamic soundtrack range the use of those elements brings to the table. This is the one you've been waiting for, so get the best possible version. (Same for ROBINSON CRUSOE OF CLIPPER ISLAND, ZORRO RIDES AGAIN and ZORRO'S BLACK WHIP, also mastered from the original 35mm nitrate camera negatives and fine grains. They're all being released by Image in the coming months.) As the reviewer from the Knight-Ridder Newspaper chain recently published "Do yourself a favor--wait for the Hal Roach Studios version from Image--it's the real deal". I concur. It's worth the little bit extra you have to pay to be able to see the picture and hear the sound the way it was all meant to be presented. ZORRO'S FIGHTING LEGION is worth the money for the twelfth chapter alone, with it's great unmasking scene (but, no peeking till you've built up to it by watching the first eleven!). You'll love it.

Enjoyed my 10 year old tape better
I was going to write my own review but michaeljmoore2 beat me to the punch. My old VHS version of this serial beats this DVD hands down. I still can't understand why the DVD version did not include the synopsis from the previous chapter. For me, this was one of the fun parts of the serial. It can't be because they ran out of space on the DVD since there are two DVDs with this set. Go figure.

GOOD FOR MADACY, BUT STILL DISAPPOINTING!
While Madacy may not have digitally remastered their version of Zorro's Fighting Legion, this disc does have decent picture and sound quality. The print is at times a little dark, but overall it is not bad to look at. The biggest problem with Madacy's version is that they not only have cut out the title's beginning and endings, they also removed the chapter recaps as well. This seems an odd choice on their part, considernig all chapter recaps were left in on their Painted Stallion, and New Adventures of Tarzan DVD's. Without the chapter recaps the serial loses some of its flare. I would reccomend waiting for the Image version of the serial. I understand that theirs comes from the original negative. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

In this 1942 melodrama, founded on the novel by Olivia Higgins Prouty (who also wrote the novel on whichStella Dallas was based), Bette Davis stars as Charlotte Vale, a dowdy, repressed woman who, overwhelmed by her domineering mother, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She finds help at a sanitarium from a kind psychiatrist (Claude Rains), who turns her into a beautiful, confident woman. As a new person, she takes a pleasure cruise, where she meets Jerry (Paul Henreid), an architect trapped in an unhappy marriage, saddled with a troubled daughter. The two fall in love, but, of course, the romance is doomed. Yet their paths cross on occasion, and, despite their feelings, Charlotte finds satisfaction in helping Jerry's depressed child. The film will seem familiar to new viewers--the campy style was the pattern for many tearjerkers to come, and its most famous line has been oft repeated ("Don't ask for the moon--we have the stars"). But the heartstrings are tugged, and as Paul Henreid chivalrously lights two cigarettes and hands one over to the doleful-eyed Davis, pull out the box of tissues--you're gonna need 'em.--Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (46)

The Ultimate Woman's Picture
At a time when Hollywood paid more attention to its female audience and made films for them, this may be the best of the bunch. A padded Bette Davis stars as Charlotte Vale, an overweight, unattractive spinster bullied by the mother who never wanted her. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, her sister-in-law arranges for her to meet a psychiatrist played by Claude Rains, and after spending time at his "hospital", she emerges thinner, beautiful, and more prepared to face the world, a world which include Paul Henreid, a married man that she falls in love with while on a post-recovery cruise. It's the kind of role an actress must love, and Davis plays it with restraint and class. Rains is good as usual, and Henreid delivers one of his best performances. The supporting cast is excellent, with Gladys Cooper pulling out all the stops as the tough mother and Mary Wickes bringing a gentle humour to her role as a nurse. The musical score by Max Steiner is excellent, and of course, there are the famous moments of Henreid lighting two cigarettes at once, something that wouldn't work in today's movies, but is quite effective in this film. With it's Ugly Duckling/Cinderella angle and it's sense of romance, this has to be the ultimate woman's picture. It knows its audience and delivers.

One of Bette's Best
I can never decide whether VOYAGER is the best Bette Davis
movie or DARK VICTORY. She is fantastic as a spinster who
is dominated by her monster mother, beautifully played by Gladys
Cooper. After her nervous breakdown she begins a new life
and meets Paul Henried who of course is married but later she
is able to help Paul's child. This is the movie where he lights
two cigarettes and gives her one and ends with "Oh Jerry, let's
not ask for the moon, we have the stars" Fabulous score by
Max Steiner. Fine acting from Claude Rains, Bonita Granville,
Ilka Chase and in a very small role, Lee Patrick. They don't make 'em like this anymore so thank God for home video. The
DVD transfer is terrific.

Overwrought and Only Somewhat Convincing Melodrama
Davis plays nice with middling results. The acting is fine, to be sure, but I miss the feistyness of her better movies. A hapless neurotic woman breaks free of her tyrannical and hateful mother. She seeks therapy and begins to live her own life. She learns that life can't be perfect but it can always be better & happiness s not impossible. Could be seen as encouragement to wallflowers.

Now Voyager - Bette at Her Best
Bette made some terrific films.... this is my personal favorite along with "Mr. Skeffington"... the ONLY criticism is the biographies of the cast ONLY work with Ms. Davis.. the others on the menu do not function.... still.. the plus side is the stunning transfer of the film to DVD. It is fresh and few flaws are visible on this version. I saw the new version of "Sunset Blvd." just after seeing this film, and though "Voyager" is 8 years older, it looks far cleaner and crisper than "Sunset" does. Bravo to the restoration crew here! The film itself, is of course, a masterpiece and well worth the purchase price. A true gem!

A Classic for the Fans
'Now, Voyager' tells the story of hapless introvert Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis), her near-nervous breakdown machinated by her domineering Mother (Gladys Vale) and her subsequent recovery with the help of the dashing J.D. Durrance (Paul Henreid). Directed by Irving Rapper (Another Man's Poison), 'Now, Voyager' is another glorious slice of early forties melodrama, and a total Davis vehicle.

Not that that's a bad thing, actually. Her performance as Charlotte Vale is excellent, she's emotional and deep enough to be believable, and her private exchanges with JD and her Mother are excellent illustrations of the power of Ms. Davis as an actress. Henreid, too, is wonderful as the stiff and faithful JD, stern enough to cause Charlotte frustration yet likeable enough to generate sympathy from the audience.

The supporting cast are a credible bunch - Gladys Vale is an excellent Matriarch (where are the actresses of this calibre today?) and Ivisible Man Claude Rains is hugely charismatic as Dr. Jaquith, a Vermont-based psychologist who all-but saves Charlotte from herself. Comic relief is supplied in the shape of the always-entertaining Mary Wickes (the crotchety nun in the Sister Act movies) as Dora.

Direction is beautiful, with noir-esque interiors and excellent lighting techniques employed to best suggest the sense of Charlotte subsisting in a grim dictatorial household. Rapper's style is a strange contrast to the script, too - it's got a more organic flow about it than the sometimes-stilted dialogue. The score is provided by the genius Max Steiner and is, as one would expect from a man of this legendary reputation, exactly perfect for the tone of the piece.

DVD Quality is excellent, perhaps a little worn in places but on the whole, it's fantastic, and certainly better than a lot of other later DVD conversions. The extras are perfunctory (and indeed, as one reviewer pointed out below, half seem to be missing!) but they don;t make the picture.

On the whole, 'Now, Voyager' is definitely one for the fans. It seems to have established all of the trademark Davis moves (cigarette, EYES, clipped accent, constantly jiggling arm) and is very stilted in some scenes, approaching Camp (see Charlotte's exchanges with the dreadfully annoying Tina Durrance for proof of this!). While it is an endearing and oftentimes emotionally-involving story, one can't help but feel that it will win no new fans to the genre.

Still, if you're fan, you can't go wrong with this. ... Read more