Reviews (13)

"Little Colonel"
Charming Shirley Temple vehicle, with Lionel Barrymore as the irrascible grandfather, gruff and blustering but with a soft spot for Granddaughter, Shirley. Bill Robinson is at his best, or should I say, wonderful as usual as the old faithful family retainer and the dance rountines between him and Shirley are alone worth watching the movie for. Great family fare, touching in spots and easy on the eye as well.

A Cool Shirley Temple Movie!
I am a very devoted Shirley Temple fan.When I was in a video store one day, my dad picked out Our Little Girl(Shirley Temple) out for me...and I loved it,( black and white). My seacond Shirley Temple Movie was The Little Colonel. It is a touching warm hearting film that should be treasured in a Shirley Temple fan's video collection.The movie is about a little girl who is be coming friends with her grandfather. Her grandfather has a bad mood to Shirley's mother because she married her true love.Besides it also about two robers who want Shirley's dad's money, then Shirley leads her dad to the scene and those robers go to jail. This is a very clean movie, no stuff of today's world. You should buy this movie- you won't regret it!

Exciting and cool!
Shirley plays a young girl named Lloyd Sherman in this movie.
Lloyd's mother and grandfather haven't spoken to each other since a fight involving Lloyd's southern mother and her yankee husband (it was in the 1870's and lloyd's grandfather was a confederate soldier.) So when Lloyd's mother and father move into a cottage very close to her grandfather's house, it's up to Lloyd to bring them back together in a time of crisis.
Also starring Lionel Barrymore as Lloyd's grandfather.

Shirley's at it her Best!
This is one of Shirley's best pictures ever! It features America's most famous dance scene, the staircase and it features Lionel Barrymore, Drew Barrymore's grandfather. Funny and touching film! 2 thumbs up!

THE LITTLE COLONEL
EXCELLENT MOVIE, EXTREMELY FAST SERVICE! GREAT SELLER!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

This one deserves more stars!!
This is one of my all-time musical favorites and in my opinion, the best MGM musical made outside the Freed unit, with a top of the tops score by Cole Porter, my all-time favorite composer.

Grayson and Keel are in top form, their on-screen chemistry at its best moment, in such numbers as "We Open in Venice", the wonderful "Wunderbar", and the wondrous, lyrical and evocative "So In Love", one of the best romantic songs ever written by Porter.

Also in the cast, Ann Miller in excellent tap-dance form, in such show-stoppers as "Too Darn Hot", "Tom, Dick and Harry" (accompanied by Tommy Rall, Bobby Van, and Bob Fosse), but especially "From This Moment On", a number which features the aforementioned male dancers, plus Carol Haney and Jeannie Coyne, which is stolen by Fosse and Haney, in an unforgettable jazz-oriented pairing, as the french say: "la creme de la creme".

And last but not least, the funny couple of Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore, are thrown in for good measure and lots of laughs, getting also their chance at showbiz with "Brush Up Your Shakespeare".

I had longed for this dvd release, and after buying it I can say that I am satisfied with it.

If you are musical film-buff, buy it, it has an excellent score, sophisticated lyrics, very good singing, excellent numbers, expert dancing and some very funny moments indeed!!

KISS ME KATE A JOY TO WATCH
I saw this film for the first time in it's initial release in 3-D and loved it so much that I returned to see it twenty times or more. Anytime it is shown on the big screen in retrospect showings, I try to attend. To me, it is my most favorite MGM musical next to "SINGIN IN THE RAIN." Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson are outstanding in their roles and do justice to the Cole Porter tunes, even if MGM saw fit to clean them up a bit. Kathryn Grayson's rendition of "I HATE MEN!" sets the standard for all others to follow. Ann Miller is finally showcased in songs and dances where her true talent shines. The male dancers Tommy Rall, Bobby Van and an-oh-so-young but talented Bob Fosse are spectacular to watch, especially in the "FROM THIS MOMENT ON" number where Fosse dances with Carol Haney and his style just burns up the stage. Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore shine in their gangster-hood roles and do a nice soft shoe as well. I cannot say enough good things about this entertaining play-within-a-play musical filled with great Cole Porter tunes.
I have bought this on both vhs and laser disc and sure wish that MGM would get off their proverbial butts and release this on DVD soon.

Should have included a Field Sequential 3-D version!
Not that many people are aware of the Field Field Sequential 3-D .
This is a 3-D TV system that uses special shutter glasses that can be purchased here through Amazon in a set that includes 3 DVD's using this process. This system Is the only way to view a 3-D film effectively on TV to date. The result is about 90% close to the effect you will see in a theatre showing.. like IMAX and Disney and Universal.
These glasses are made of sturdy plastic and clear not these cardboard red and blue pieces of garbage, so you can view the film without constricted to seeing red and blue colors and with this system you will see more actual 3-D depth with the films true colors.. It's really amazing!
For some add reason the big studios haven't adapted to include a separate version of a 3-D title in this great format.
Films like:
"House of Wax","Kiss Me Kate","Friday the 13th Part 3", "Robot Monster, "Cat Woman on the Moon", "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "Jaws 3" are all now in 2-D DVD, but were originally shown in 3-D and could have been included using the Field Seqential 3-D system on the same disc with the 2-D version.
In Japan in the late 80's there were a few 3-D titles released using Field Sequential 3-D and can be found on e-bay converted to DVD and VHS.
Why aren't the studios producing these now!
I boycott any film DVD release that was originally intended to be seen in 3-D that's only presented in a 2-D version or anaglyph (Red and Blue Glasses).

The studios should really be awaken to this great 3-D system.

How to Win Back Your Wife
I write this review in honor of Howard Keel's 85th birthday.
"Kiss Me, Kate" is a lively, albeit dated musical with a slightly chauvenistic streak. It takes liberties with Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", but is more fun than reading the actual play.
The estranged couple Fred Graham and Lilly Vanessi (Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson), have been divorced for a year at the time they take the lead roles in the Cole Porter musical. Based loosely on Alfred Lunt and his wife Lynn Fontaine, their behind-the-scenes bickering gets a little out of hand and occasionally, resulting in a well-defined lack of professional courtesy as they occassionally humiliate each other in full view of an audience.
But they also have their glorious moments, such as a reminiscence that leads to the number, "Wunderbar".As did their first number, "So In Love", this number reveals a certain wistfulness at their estrangement from each other at the end.
The subplot is the realationship between the play's secondary couple, Lois Lane(Ann Miller) and Bill Calhoun (Tommy Rall), a compulsive gambler who signs Fred Graham's name to an IOU.
The play begins. The number,"Another Opening, Another Show" is heard only as an instrumental piece beforehand. But the numbers, "We Open In Venice" and "Tom, Dick or Harry" kick the show off magnificently. As a big fan of the late Ann Miller's dance numbers,the latter is probably my favorite. As Gremio and Hortensio, Bobby Van and Bob Fosse thrill us with their trademark moves.
Keel sings a sumptuous ballad as his ex discovers that the flowers she thought were intended for her were intended for Lois. Through it all, Howard Keel is characteristically confident, uttering lines of unadulturated sarcasm as his ego occassionally gets the better of him. After being slapped by Lilly, he proves to be even more of a drama queen than any actress.Perhaps the sexiest scene in the film is when Graham removes the sausage links his ex-wife hides against her poitrine during one scne in the play.

Kathryn Grayson, with her porcelain skin and heart-shaped mouth, is a living Madame Alexander Doll in the part of Lilly/Kate. She is comically, firey and able to stand up to her ex-husband and to the thugs that he uses to keep her onstage(Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore) when she threatens to leave after Fred humiliates her. Lippy and Slug appear to collect they debt they believe Graham owes them, and while not althogether academically inclined, they display some knowledege of the Bard and his works, although they look ridiculous in their onstage costumes.
Willard Parks, as Tex Callahan offers Lilly a possible escape from her life in the theatre. But ultimately she is won back not by Fred's threats or humilation, but by the simple admission that he was wrong. While some may find the end to be disappointing, it should be remembered that it was Lilly who ultimately chose whether or not to give Fred a second chance, and Graham's beam of triumph and the twinkle in his eye at the end are worth more than any words-even those by the Bard himself-can say.

Keel is keen!
Grayson is good, but Howard Keel steals this show. He shines in the role of the egomaniacal stage ham. His voice and his presence are perfect for the role. Ann Miller and Tommy Rall provide all the dance moves you could ask for in a great musical. If you are a fan of musicals, this is a must for your collection. The DVD also provides some fun behind the scenes information. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Tex Avery's Screwball Classics, Vol. 3 VHS
I bought this from Gayle and Zak from Plano, Texas and it came in broken. And amazon does not reburse any open VHS items. How else can you tell that the tape is not broken by not opening it.

Classic Cartoons
People should be aware that the other review of this video refers to Tex Avery's Screwball Classics Vol. 4, not Vol. 3. Mr. Komorowski has this video confused with that one. This video contains some real classics. I used to watch cartoons on television anticipating seeing a new Tex Avery, and they are certainly some of the funniest cartoons ever. I only give this 4 stars because House of Tomorrow and T.V. of Tomorrow are not as good as the others. They are okay cartoons, but Avery has made better stuff than those two that should have been included instead. Also, T.V. of Tomorrow is also on Vol.4, which is a bit of a nuisance for Avery fans who collect all four of the volumes. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to see the list of all of the cartoons on the tape.

A collection of 6 great cartoons by Tex Avery.
This one is a great collection. It contains "What Price Fleadom","TV of Tomorrow", "The Counterfeit Cat","The Cukoo Clock", "What's Buzzin' Buzzard",and the extremely rare "Blitz Wolf".This tape has some censored scenes and some can't be seen on television."Blitz Wolf" can't be seen on TV because it has the Wolf in a Hitler drag,"What Price Fleadom" can't be seen on televison because the dog almost kills himself,and the censored shooting scene of "The Cukoo Clock". ... Read more

Amazon.com

Cole Porter, Shakespeare, and 3-D:Not the usual recipe for an MGMmusical, but hey--it works. Although it runs hot and cold, this 1953 take on Porter's delightful Broadway smashlets a chewy cast gorge on some terrific songs and show-biz in-jokes. Think ofthe plot as His Girl Friday in greasepaint:vain star Howard Keel wantsto lure ex-wife Kathryn Grayson back to the boards with a musical version ofThe Taming of the Shrew. The movie's weakness is too much Shakespeare,not enough backstage backbiting (and why are two of the best numbers, "So inLove" and Ann Miller's zippy "Too Darn Hot," confined to a prologue?). Thenthere's the tendency to throw things at the camera--3-D, what hath you wrought?The candy-store color design is great fun, and Tommy Rall and future dance titanBob Fosse are turned loose for some sensational leaps. Now that's "Wunderbar."--Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (42)

This one deserves more stars!!
This is one of my all-time musical favorites and in my opinion, the best MGM musical made outside the Freed unit, with a top of the tops score by Cole Porter, my all-time favorite composer.

Grayson and Keel are in top form, their on-screen chemistry at its best moment, in such numbers as "We Open in Venice", the wonderful "Wunderbar", and the wondrous, lyrical and evocative "So In Love", one of the best romantic songs ever written by Porter.

Also in the cast, Ann Miller in excellent tap-dance form, in such show-stoppers as "Too Darn Hot", "Tom, Dick and Harry" (accompanied by Tommy Rall, Bobby Van, and Bob Fosse), but especially "From This Moment On", a number which features the aforementioned male dancers, plus Carol Haney and Jeannie Coyne, which is stolen by Fosse and Haney, in an unforgettable jazz-oriented pairing, as the french say: "la creme de la creme".

And last but not least, the funny couple of Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore, are thrown in for good measure and lots of laughs, getting also their chance at showbiz with "Brush Up Your Shakespeare".

I had longed for this dvd release, and after buying it I can say that I am satisfied with it.

If you are musical film-buff, buy it, it has an excellent score, sophisticated lyrics, very good singing, excellent numbers, expert dancing and some very funny moments indeed!!

KISS ME KATE A JOY TO WATCH
I saw this film for the first time in it's initial release in 3-D and loved it so much that I returned to see it twenty times or more. Anytime it is shown on the big screen in retrospect showings, I try to attend. To me, it is my most favorite MGM musical next to "SINGIN IN THE RAIN." Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson are outstanding in their roles and do justice to the Cole Porter tunes, even if MGM saw fit to clean them up a bit. Kathryn Grayson's rendition of "I HATE MEN!" sets the standard for all others to follow. Ann Miller is finally showcased in songs and dances where her true talent shines. The male dancers Tommy Rall, Bobby Van and an-oh-so-young but talented Bob Fosse are spectacular to watch, especially in the "FROM THIS MOMENT ON" number where Fosse dances with Carol Haney and his style just burns up the stage. Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore shine in their gangster-hood roles and do a nice soft shoe as well. I cannot say enough good things about this entertaining play-within-a-play musical filled with great Cole Porter tunes.
I have bought this on both vhs and laser disc and sure wish that MGM would get off their proverbial butts and release this on DVD soon.

Should have included a Field Sequential 3-D version!
Not that many people are aware of the Field Field Sequential 3-D .
This is a 3-D TV system that uses special shutter glasses that can be purchased here through Amazon in a set that includes 3 DVD's using this process. This system Is the only way to view a 3-D film effectively on TV to date. The result is about 90% close to the effect you will see in a theatre showing.. like IMAX and Disney and Universal.
These glasses are made of sturdy plastic and clear not these cardboard red and blue pieces of garbage, so you can view the film without constricted to seeing red and blue colors and with this system you will see more actual 3-D depth with the films true colors.. It's really amazing!
For some add reason the big studios haven't adapted to include a separate version of a 3-D title in this great format.
Films like:
"House of Wax","Kiss Me Kate","Friday the 13th Part 3", "Robot Monster, "Cat Woman on the Moon", "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "Jaws 3" are all now in 2-D DVD, but were originally shown in 3-D and could have been included using the Field Seqential 3-D system on the same disc with the 2-D version.
In Japan in the late 80's there were a few 3-D titles released using Field Sequential 3-D and can be found on e-bay converted to DVD and VHS.
Why aren't the studios producing these now!
I boycott any film DVD release that was originally intended to be seen in 3-D that's only presented in a 2-D version or anaglyph (Red and Blue Glasses).

The studios should really be awaken to this great 3-D system.

How to Win Back Your Wife
I write this review in honor of Howard Keel's 85th birthday.
"Kiss Me, Kate" is a lively, albeit dated musical with a slightly chauvenistic streak. It takes liberties with Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", but is more fun than reading the actual play.
The estranged couple Fred Graham and Lilly Vanessi (Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson), have been divorced for a year at the time they take the lead roles in the Cole Porter musical. Based loosely on Alfred Lunt and his wife Lynn Fontaine, their behind-the-scenes bickering gets a little out of hand and occasionally, resulting in a well-defined lack of professional courtesy as they occassionally humiliate each other in full view of an audience.
But they also have their glorious moments, such as a reminiscence that leads to the number, "Wunderbar".As did their first number, "So In Love", this number reveals a certain wistfulness at their estrangement from each other at the end.
The subplot is the realationship between the play's secondary couple, Lois Lane(Ann Miller) and Bill Calhoun (Tommy Rall), a compulsive gambler who signs Fred Graham's name to an IOU.
The play begins. The number,"Another Opening, Another Show" is heard only as an instrumental piece beforehand. But the numbers, "We Open In Venice" and "Tom, Dick or Harry" kick the show off magnificently. As a big fan of the late Ann Miller's dance numbers,the latter is probably my favorite. As Gremio and Hortensio, Bobby Van and Bob Fosse thrill us with their trademark moves.
Keel sings a sumptuous ballad as his ex discovers that the flowers she thought were intended for her were intended for Lois. Through it all, Howard Keel is characteristically confident, uttering lines of unadulturated sarcasm as his ego occassionally gets the better of him. After being slapped by Lilly, he proves to be even more of a drama queen than any actress.Perhaps the sexiest scene in the film is when Graham removes the sausage links his ex-wife hides against her poitrine during one scne in the play.

Kathryn Grayson, with her porcelain skin and heart-shaped mouth, is a living Madame Alexander Doll in the part of Lilly/Kate. She is comically, firey and able to stand up to her ex-husband and to the thugs that he uses to keep her onstage(Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore) when she threatens to leave after Fred humiliates her. Lippy and Slug appear to collect they debt they believe Graham owes them, and while not althogether academically inclined, they display some knowledege of the Bard and his works, although they look ridiculous in their onstage costumes.
Willard Parks, as Tex Callahan offers Lilly a possible escape from her life in the theatre. But ultimately she is won back not by Fred's threats or humilation, but by the simple admission that he was wrong. While some may find the end to be disappointing, it should be remembered that it was Lilly who ultimately chose whether or not to give Fred a second chance, and Graham's beam of triumph and the twinkle in his eye at the end are worth more than any words-even those by the Bard himself-can say.

Keel is keen!
Grayson is good, but Howard Keel steals this show. He shines in the role of the egomaniacal stage ham. His voice and his presence are perfect for the role. Ann Miller and Tommy Rall provide all the dance moves you could ask for in a great musical. If you are a fan of musicals, this is a must for your collection. The DVD also provides some fun behind the scenes information. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My grandma's cousin is in this movie!
Arthur Hunnicutt is my grandma's cousin. I don't have to say much cause it's funny, but doesn't have Pa in the movie. The part where the animals get drunk goes to long and we get the funny stuff in a minute. The part on the train is the best. Ma and Pa Kettle are funny because they are people in the wrong place. Country people are on farms and it's funny that they are in (such as) Wakiki insted of the country. There funny on the farm too. Don't buy it unless you are a Ma and Pa Kettle fan.

This one is more a cousin to the Kettle films...
Absent from this film is Percy Kilbride as Pa Kettle. However, Arthur Hunnicutt plays his brother Sedge rather well (though this raises some plot issues with the Waikiki film). And while Percy may be gone, Charles Lamont directs this one (he directed 3 of the best Kettle films: Further Adventures, Go to Town, and On Vacation), salvaging the film to some degree. This film doesn't have quite the same humor as the other Lamont films, though, and suffers from Pa's abscence. There is the screwball routine wih the bootleggers that carries some of the trademark feel, and Marjorie Main is still in top form...but overall the simple plot and limited cast make this a lesser Kettle title. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

JENNIFER JONES FIRST MOVIE
"Frontier Horizon" a.k.a."New Frontier", is is a typical short Western actioneer at 57 mins.It is a formulaic film from the budget minded Republic Studios, from 1939.It is interesting only because it was the first attempt at film stardom for Phyllis Isley, aged 20 at the time, whose name was changed in 1942 to the better known, Jennifer Jones, at the request of David O. Selznick, her mentor and later husband.

She plays Celia Braddock who assists the "Three Mesquiteers" (whose number includes a young John Wayne playing Stoney Brooke), to prevent a ruthless claim-jumping construction company from stealing the ranchers' properties in their "New Hope Valley".The company had duped the three heroes , in order to build a lucrative dam.Phyllis gets to ride a horse but is given rather a trite and banal script to say.Republic Films churned out these films at quite a rate of knots in 1939 (one a week!) so script quality invariably suffered.After a second Republic Film that year "Dick Tracy and the G-Men, Phyllis and her then husband, Robert Walker, decided they were not being regarded seriously enough by Hollywood and returned back to New York to pursue their still unrealised dreams of stage stardom.

Due to its short run time, this film normally comes with another Republic title, e.g. on my copy "Randy Rides Again" or as here "Lawless Ninet".The present title is only now interesting in order to see the embryonic talent of Jennifer Jones in order to compare to her more mature, later work.Otherwise it is mediocre and I rated it at 3 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Restored edition, fantastic!!!!!!
The movie Reefer Madness seen by itself is really nothing to brag about, but this special addition for this best-selling cult classic is fantastic. It's a must buy, because for how cheap it is, you really get your money's worth. For the first time ever, I can say that the colorized version (complete with multicolor smoke and over saturated psychedelic color schemes) is better and looks better than the original black and white, and both versions are available to watch which is considerate of the DVD producers to give us both, and it looks as good as we can ever expect. Extra features are fantastic highlighted by a hysterical commentary by Mike Nelson, formerly of Mystery Science Theater 3000, which is the sole reason why I bought this edition. The commentary by the people who colorized the film is also worth a look. I highly recommend this new edition.

Reefer Madness IN COLOR for the First Time - Fire UP!
Reefer Madness is the quintessential cult classic. Originally made as a 1930's propaganda film, it was meant to scare America's youth away from drugs, showing them that one puff of the "demon weed" turns teens into raving reefer addicts. Now, years later, this ham-fisted effort to warn you off weed has become the height of camp entertainment. A 'must watch' film among students, Reefer Madness continues to entertain today's youth with the edgy exploits of their high school predecessors. This movie is so beautifully bad, it's great!

Finally someone has released Reefer Madness the way it should be: Beautifully restored, in color for the first time, and in 5.1 surround sound. Both the color and black-and-white versions are on the disk. Plus this DVD has loads of fantastic bonus material. Mike Nelson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 does a hilarious commentary track, cracking wise from start to finish. Grandpa's Marijuana Handbook, A short film by Grandpa Ganja himself, graces this edition and tells us everything we need to know about dope.

No question this is the "FEEL GOOD" DVD of the year!

TELL YOUR CHILDREN!!!
After hearing about this movie for years I finally picked it up, and its better than I ever expected. This one dude smokes a reefer and appears to drive around the block 2 times then hits this old man and then he drives away. oh, yeah, this other guy named Ralph really loves his reefers, he smokes a few hits, then laughs, then he falls in love with Mary, he tries to win her heart by ripping her clothes off and groping her. It doesnt really work out for Ralph, because his fanciful advances cause Mary to get capped, and then Jimmy gets blammed for it because he's a total dork. In the end everything works out, because this stupid girl spills the beans to judge turtlehead, and Jimmy gets aquitted then the stupid girl jumps out of the window. all in all I loved this movie, it really opened my eyes to the evils of the demon weed. thanks for saving me from a life of crime and dispair Reefer Madness!

Re Urban Legend
To address xerxes59's question about the urban legend:

I never heard any evidence about Dupont funding Reefer Madness, but they would have a motive.

Dupont was facing enormous loses because their inventions rayon and nylon could not compete with natural hemp (in quality, cost effectiveness, not to mention environmental friendliness). Andrew Mellon, US Treasury Secretary and chairman of Mellon Bank, one of the major financers of Dupont, did appoint Harry Angslinger (who was also married to his niece) as Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. As seen in Ron Mann's documentary "Grass", Angslinger was an extremist zealot who managed to criminalize marijuana and create ridiculous sentences for smoking pot. One of Angslinger's methods was to demonize pot with completely false evidence throughout the various media (newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, whose financial interests in paper mills was also being hurt by hemp, was a great ally). Of course this is a tenuous connection between Dupont and Reefer Madness, but Dupont clearly had a direct financial interest in demonizing reefer, just like the movie attempts to do.

Pointless
You mean they used to think pot was bad!!! Wow! Actually I saw this film and it was boring. It wasn't suprising, it had no point. It probably wasnt even that great back in '38. This movie is for children who just learned how to roll one and now they want to be cool. This movie SUCKS!!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

More hilarious serial fun from James W. Horne
Serial purists will roll over in their graves or fall off their
sofas after viewing this one. James Craven is back again ranting
and raving against his underlings and wearing many ridiculous disguises. One hilarious scene has him arguing with his daughter
over the sillyass disguises he dons--of which she strongly disapproves. In another scene his numbskull thugs knock each other out. Keep your tongue firmly in your cheek and you will have a lot of fun watching this one.

Saved by Craven and Horne.....
As one who was a loyal Ovaltine drinker (hated the stuff, but I had to be the first kid in my block to get the mugs and decoders!) and CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT fan during the 40's, I was hoping for a better depiction of my childhood radio hero. Yet, sad to say, I can't honestly justify giving this more than three stars.

Indeed, there is a lot here that is enjoyable, and I give credit for that. First, the reasons for a three star rating are mainly a less than faithful portrayal of the main character (Why is he wearing a mask when everyone knows who he is?), the omission of the character's origin and the beginning of the conflict between him and Ivan Shark, and (with the notable exception of chapter 10) basically weak chapter endings and next-week resolutions. Heck, our hero just walks away, albeit rather dazed, from a number of the situations!

However, especially on a repeat reviewing, James Craven as the evil Ivan Shark shines as a villain. His facial and bodily over reactions are a joy to watch, along with his vitriolic tongue lashings of his henchmen. Unexpected dialog, such as his peevish "I don't want to talk about it!" in one aerial scene is well delivered.

And then, there's James W. Horne's direction. Horne directed several classic comedians including the Three Stooges, Laurel & Hardy, and Buster Keaton, and he used this style to pepper the serials he directed such as THE GREEN ARCHER (which also featured James Craven as the bad guy), THE SHADOW, and this one. Scenes such as three of the thugs ending up slugging each other after the hero gets away with their vehicle and one henchman crossing his fingers while the other radios very unwelcome news to Shark are examples. There was one scene that regrettably was edited out though it was shown in the teaser at the end of one chapter that again was prime Horne, with Craven venting his wrath on all in his reach. And the resolution to the very spectacular chapter ending in Chapter 10 is masterful in a comic sort of way. Another Horne touch is the slight hint made that there could be more to the father/daughter relationship between Ivan and Fury Shark than meets the eye, especially when contrasted to the more acceptable relationship between heroine Joyce and her inventor father. Finally, there's the radio serial like narration at the start and end of each chapter. The chapter end narration is standard for Columbia, but the hyperbolic chapter introduction is very reminiscent of the golden days of radio. I do wonder about Joyce's obvious flubbing of her lines when she's on the phone in the first chapter...was that poor editing, or did Horne think that it might be cute to let it stand?

Yes, I would dearly love to see what Republic could've done with the character. But we do have the Columbia version, and despite its several shortcomings, many (certainly not all) serial fans will enjoy this.

Action and More
One of the most popular of the old-time radio programs was Captain Midnight, which ran from 1938 through 1949. Columbia Pictures created a cliff-hanger serial loosely based on this program, though with differences common to serials of the era. The radio featured Captain Midnight as the leader of a paramilitary aviation-based organization called the Secret Squadron. He had regular companions Chuck Ramsay, Joyce Ryan, and Ichabod Mudd. In the serial, "Captain Midnight" was a secret identity, like a comic-book superhero, rather than a code name, as in the radio show. The film dropped many of the radio-show trappings, leaving just a few items, such as Captain Albright (Captain Midnight's real name) as a skilled aviator. The serial is typical of many of the period, with a relatively thin plot, but lots of action. For a serial, it's not bad, and it doesn't "cheat" (i.e., change the cliff-hanger bridge) though there is one rather remarkable survival of a peril. It's entertaining, though those wanting to find out about the radio show will find little in the serial to enlighten them. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Shirley Temple is at her plucky peak in this film. She bests legend Lionel Barrymore: literally (her credit is above his) and figuratively (as her character softens his). The Little Colonel is set in the post-Civil War South. Little Lloyd Sherman hopes to reunite her mother, Elizabeth Lloyd (Evelyn Venable), with her stern Confederate Civil War veteran grandfather, Colonel Lloyd (Barrymore). Six years earlier, Lloyd's mother had run away to marry Yankee Jack Sherman (John Lodge). Now the young family hopes to return to Elizabeth's plantation home.

Like The Littlest Rebel, made the same year (1935), the film has questionable politics, featuring a supplicant Mom Becky (the formidable future Oscar-winner Hattie McDaniel) and a poor-spelling butler, Walker (Bill "BoJangles" Robinson). But Temple, as sweetly energetic little Lloyd, is affectionate with both, as well as with her African American playmates, May Lily (Avonnie Jackson) and Henry Clay (Nyanza Potts). (Temple apparently shared the sentiment in real life, and once said Robinson was her favorite costar.) The Little Colonel features the amazing dance number with Temple and Robinson merrily tapping up and down a staircase. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (13)

"Little Colonel"
Charming Shirley Temple vehicle, with Lionel Barrymore as the irrascible grandfather, gruff and blustering but with a soft spot for Granddaughter, Shirley. Bill Robinson is at his best, or should I say, wonderful as usual as the old faithful family retainer and the dance rountines between him and Shirley are alone worth watching the movie for. Great family fare, touching in spots and easy on the eye as well.

A Cool Shirley Temple Movie!
I am a very devoted Shirley Temple fan.When I was in a video store one day, my dad picked out Our Little Girl(Shirley Temple) out for me...and I loved it,( black and white). My seacond Shirley Temple Movie was The Little Colonel. It is a touching warm hearting film that should be treasured in a Shirley Temple fan's video collection.The movie is about a little girl who is be coming friends with her grandfather. Her grandfather has a bad mood to Shirley's mother because she married her true love.Besides it also about two robers who want Shirley's dad's money, then Shirley leads her dad to the scene and those robers go to jail. This is a very clean movie, no stuff of today's world. You should buy this movie- you won't regret it!

Exciting and cool!
Shirley plays a young girl named Lloyd Sherman in this movie.
Lloyd's mother and grandfather haven't spoken to each other since a fight involving Lloyd's southern mother and her yankee husband (it was in the 1870's and lloyd's grandfather was a confederate soldier.) So when Lloyd's mother and father move into a cottage very close to her grandfather's house, it's up to Lloyd to bring them back together in a time of crisis.
Also starring Lionel Barrymore as Lloyd's grandfather.

Shirley's at it her Best!
This is one of Shirley's best pictures ever! It features America's most famous dance scene, the staircase and it features Lionel Barrymore, Drew Barrymore's grandfather. Funny and touching film! 2 thumbs up!

THE LITTLE COLONEL
EXCELLENT MOVIE, EXTREMELY FAST SERVICE! GREAT SELLER!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Much better when watched one chapter at a time
These serials were, after all, made to be viewed one chapter a week, and so watching one in its entirety can become tedious. This is definitely in that category.

Now, I've given it three stars mainly because serial collectors aren't likely to regard it as one of the classic must see ones. It is enjoyable, at least for those like me who just plain enjoy the serial genre. But there isn't a whole lot to distinguish it.

However, as an adventure serial, separate from the crime, science fiction, super hero, or western genres, it is surprisingly good because it sweeps over a variety of geographical locales.

It begins in Cairo and involves a couple of espionage agents, a villainous sea captain, and various other characters. Over the 15 chapters, you're taken to sea, to the Northern California Coast, to the American desert, among other places. You have smugglers, pirate types, and just plain no-goods battling our heroes. And then there's the black coin of the title which is supposed to bring bad luck to the holder. It apparantly doesn't all the time though. Actually, the black coins are Arabic coins which were made over by Christian Crusaders, and over a period of time turn black.

So this is a serial which just doesn't have the elements that serial lovers especially love, but it is a rollicking adventure story, and as I said before, is far better viewed a chapter at a time. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

To prove Danny's innocence, the boys must find killer.
This is the 10th official film with he East Side Kids (Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, Sunshine Sammy Morrison, Bobby Stone, Stanley Clements). The East Side Kids try to help a girl (Anne Gillis) and her paralyzed grandfather (J. Arthur Young) from Gabriel Dell and his thugs. When Danny (Bobby Jordan) goes back to get her clothes, the paralyzed man is there and the police show up as Danny is leaving. With his eyes, the grandfather motions to the cop the dead body in the other room. The policeman thinks Danny did it. The boys try to help the police in finding the murderer. Noah Berry Jr. plays "Butch"/"Rusty". This version was not formulated to fit the screen. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Restored edition, fantastic!!!!!!
The movie Reefer Madness seen by itself is really nothing to brag about, but this special addition for this best-selling cult classic is fantastic. It's a must buy, because for how cheap it is, you really get your money's worth. For the first time ever, I can say that the colorized version (complete with multicolor smoke and over saturated psychedelic color schemes) is better and looks better than the original black and white, and both versions are available to watch which is considerate of the DVD producers to give us both, and it looks as good as we can ever expect. Extra features are fantastic highlighted by a hysterical commentary by Mike Nelson, formerly of Mystery Science Theater 3000, which is the sole reason why I bought this edition. The commentary by the people who colorized the film is also worth a look. I highly recommend this new edition.

Reefer Madness IN COLOR for the First Time - Fire UP!
Reefer Madness is the quintessential cult classic. Originally made as a 1930's propaganda film, it was meant to scare America's youth away from drugs, showing them that one puff of the "demon weed" turns teens into raving reefer addicts. Now, years later, this ham-fisted effort to warn you off weed has become the height of camp entertainment. A 'must watch' film among students, Reefer Madness continues to entertain today's youth with the edgy exploits of their high school predecessors. This movie is so beautifully bad, it's great!

Finally someone has released Reefer Madness the way it should be: Beautifully restored, in color for the first time, and in 5.1 surround sound. Both the color and black-and-white versions are on the disk. Plus this DVD has loads of fantastic bonus material. Mike Nelson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 does a hilarious commentary track, cracking wise from start to finish. Grandpa's Marijuana Handbook, A short film by Grandpa Ganja himself, graces this edition and tells us everything we need to know about dope.

No question this is the "FEEL GOOD" DVD of the year!

TELL YOUR CHILDREN!!!
After hearing about this movie for years I finally picked it up, and its better than I ever expected. This one dude smokes a reefer and appears to drive around the block 2 times then hits this old man and then he drives away. oh, yeah, this other guy named Ralph really loves his reefers, he smokes a few hits, then laughs, then he falls in love with Mary, he tries to win her heart by ripping her clothes off and groping her. It doesnt really work out for Ralph, because his fanciful advances cause Mary to get capped, and then Jimmy gets blammed for it because he's a total dork. In the end everything works out, because this stupid girl spills the beans to judge turtlehead, and Jimmy gets aquitted then the stupid girl jumps out of the window. all in all I loved this movie, it really opened my eyes to the evils of the demon weed. thanks for saving me from a life of crime and dispair Reefer Madness!

Re Urban Legend
To address xerxes59's question about the urban legend:

I never heard any evidence about Dupont funding Reefer Madness, but they would have a motive.

Dupont was facing enormous loses because their inventions rayon and nylon could not compete with natural hemp (in quality, cost effectiveness, not to mention environmental friendliness). Andrew Mellon, US Treasury Secretary and chairman of Mellon Bank, one of the major financers of Dupont, did appoint Harry Angslinger (who was also married to his niece) as Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. As seen in Ron Mann's documentary "Grass", Angslinger was an extremist zealot who managed to criminalize marijuana and create ridiculous sentences for smoking pot. One of Angslinger's methods was to demonize pot with completely false evidence throughout the various media (newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, whose financial interests in paper mills was also being hurt by hemp, was a great ally). Of course this is a tenuous connection between Dupont and Reefer Madness, but Dupont clearly had a direct financial interest in demonizing reefer, just like the movie attempts to do.

Pointless
You mean they used to think pot was bad!!! Wow! Actually I saw this film and it was boring. It wasn't suprising, it had no point. It probably wasnt even that great back in '38. This movie is for children who just learned how to roll one and now they want to be cool. This movie SUCKS!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The East Side Kids search a spooky manor.
It began with DEAD END (1937). the boys came from the Broadway play and landed their first starring role togehter. After DEAD END (1937), Warner Bros. made six films with them in 1938 and 1939. Some of the cast still known as The Dead End Kids joined The Little Tough Guys in nine films for the new Universal and the serials 1938-1943. However in 1940, Leo Gorcey and Bobby Jordan became The East Side Kids from 1940-1945 for Monogram Pictures Corp. Billy Halop and Bernard Punsly did not join them. They continued as The Dead End Kids with The Little Tough Guys. The East Side Kids came about from the film EAST SIDE KIDS (1940) and although the gang we enjoyed are not in that film, they spawned into the next film BOYS OF THE CITY (1940), which is considered the first official film for the beginning of the East Side Kids. Bobby Jordan and Leo Gorcey are top billed. Huntz hall and Gabriel Dell are not in this one, but returned to the Gorcey/Jordan gang later in the film series. David Gorcey plays "Pete". He is the younger brother of Leo. Also part of the new gang is Sunshine Sammy Morrison as "Scruno", Donald Haines as "Pee Wee", Hally Chester as "Buster" and Frankie Burke as "Skinny". Frankie Burke (as of this writing is still alive) played the younger "Rocky", the James Cagney character in ANGELS WITh DIRTY FACES (1938). All the boys are invited to the Judge's manor. However, his manor is a spooky one full of secret passageways. They brought the boys hoping they could prevent a murder. Other scary films with the East Side Kids are: SPOOKS RUN WILD (1941) and GHOSTS ON THE LOOSE (1943). The next film in the series is: THAT GANG OF MINE (1940).

Ghostly Classic Crime Comedy Mystery!!
Muggs and the gang are arrested for opening up a fire hydrant on a blistering summer day.Their friend Knuckles gets them off the hook by promising to take the gang to a summer camp in the upper Adirondacks to keep them out of mischief.On their trip they meet a judge and his entourage who are having car trouble.Knuckles offer the judge and his group a ride and when they arrive to the judges mansion and then their car fails with the judge reluctantly offering the gang to stay there.The judges mansion is dark,creepy with a graveyard out in front and an eerie housekeeper inside.The boys can detect trouble and when the judge is murdered and it's up to boys to solve the mystery.Great East Side Kids Classic!! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

"Little Colonel"
Charming Shirley Temple vehicle, with Lionel Barrymore as the irrascible grandfather, gruff and blustering but with a soft spot for Granddaughter, Shirley. Bill Robinson is at his best, or should I say, wonderful as usual as the old faithful family retainer and the dance rountines between him and Shirley are alone worth watching the movie for. Great family fare, touching in spots and easy on the eye as well.

A Cool Shirley Temple Movie!
I am a very devoted Shirley Temple fan.When I was in a video store one day, my dad picked out Our Little Girl(Shirley Temple) out for me...and I loved it,( black and white). My seacond Shirley Temple Movie was The Little Colonel. It is a touching warm hearting film that should be treasured in a Shirley Temple fan's video collection.The movie is about a little girl who is be coming friends with her grandfather. Her grandfather has a bad mood to Shirley's mother because she married her true love.Besides it also about two robers who want Shirley's dad's money, then Shirley leads her dad to the scene and those robers go to jail. This is a very clean movie, no stuff of today's world. You should buy this movie- you won't regret it!

Exciting and cool!
Shirley plays a young girl named Lloyd Sherman in this movie.
Lloyd's mother and grandfather haven't spoken to each other since a fight involving Lloyd's southern mother and her yankee husband (it was in the 1870's and lloyd's grandfather was a confederate soldier.) So when Lloyd's mother and father move into a cottage very close to her grandfather's house, it's up to Lloyd to bring them back together in a time of crisis.
Also starring Lionel Barrymore as Lloyd's grandfather.

Shirley's at it her Best!
This is one of Shirley's best pictures ever! It features America's most famous dance scene, the staircase and it features Lionel Barrymore, Drew Barrymore's grandfather. Funny and touching film! 2 thumbs up!

THE LITTLE COLONEL
EXCELLENT MOVIE, EXTREMELY FAST SERVICE! GREAT SELLER!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Three times the Bela for Your Buck!
Man, there is just something about this cheap little flick. And that something is Bela Lugosi. Although he is essenially one character, that character plays 3 roles in the film. Part of the low-brow charm of BOWERY is that, at times, you feel like you're watching 3 different films. With that lean 61-minute running time, the action comes fast and the body count rises rapidly.

Bela certainly made better poverty-row films (Devil Bat, Invisible Ghost), but BOWERY is still pretty entertaining.

This is the 2nd release by the Lugosi Estate, and it's a keeper. The picture and sound quality are mostly top-notch (some of the exterior night scenes are pretty murky, but they probably didn't look that great to begin with). There's another audio commentary track by Bela Lugosi Jr. and genre critic Ted Newsome. You won't learn much about the movie, but Bela Jr. does have some great memories of his father to share. You also get another fun radio play starring Bela Sr., and 2 trailers for other Lugosi flicks.

All in all, a must-have for Lugosi fans. Let's hope his estate will make good on Bela Jr.'s promise to keep 'em coming.

Surprisingly Good Flick from Monogram!
Monogram Pictures were poverty-row quality, but here, as in a few other Lugosi movies, they make the most of their limited resources and even make a virtue out of them. I don't remember any other movie that captured the seedy, dusty atmosphere of the Bowery as this one. The plot is actually a very interesting one, with a psychology professor masquerading at night as a mission proprietor to front his third line, robbery and murder. Lugosi, in my opinion a vastly underrated and stereotyped actor, does a wonderful job in differentiating the three personae of Professor Brenner (aka Karl Wagner). His tenderness and affection for his wife are very convincingly portrayed; the only real and unexpected jolt is his murdering her in order to prevent the police from discovering his double life. Here is an example of the film's being a bit too short and not being able to fully deliniate the contradictions of the main character; otherwise, this is one of the most interesting interpretations that Bela Lugosi achieved onscreen. The ending is really frightening, as it is suddenly and swiftly presented to the viewer.

What's that smell in the basement?
Bowery at Midnight (1942) stars Bela Lugosi in one of his many 'poverty row' films, a time when Lugosi was on the outs with the major studios and subsequently worked with independent studios like Monogram and PRC. Directed by Wallace Fox (the back of the box mistakenly says Wallace 'Cox'), most known for his westerns, who also directed another one of Lugosi's low-end films called The Corpse Vanishes (1942).

Bela plays three roles in this film, a kindly soup kitchen operator on skid row, a psychology professor and loving husband, and finally a vicious crime lord (I kept wondering when this character found time to sleep).

Basically the plot runs that Bela runs a soup kitchen, enlisting the aid of various criminal elements that pass through to perform heists, jobs, scores, whatever, while maintaining a secret life as a educator...once an individual outlives his usefulness in Lugosi's crime organization, that individual is then eliminated, keeping turnover high and costs down. This also helped to keep Lugosi's activities secret. Also, if a henchman exhibited the slightest bit of treachery, he was gone...like all the way gone, if you know what I mean (I love how they would bury these poor fellows in the basement, and then put markers with their names, no less, showing where each one rested. Not the smartest move, in my opinion, but whatever). And that soup kitchen/criminal lair...I haven't seen that many secret doors in like...well...ever. How in the heck did they keep track of all of them?

Anyway, one of Bela's students, who is involved with Bela's female assistant at the soup kitchen, decides to do a paper on transients, unaware that his teacher is also the man in charge of the soup kitchen. He finds himself in dire trouble as he stumbles across Bela's alter ego, and soon the police are involved. There was an actor in the movie, Dave O'Brien, who plays a detective, which I recognized from somewhere, but couldn't place until I finally remembered he was also in the movie 'Reefer Madness' aka 'Tell Your Children' (1938).

Soon Bela's worlds begin to collide as the police close in, and he meets a suitable fate involving recently deceased criminals resurrected from the dead?! This movie has everything. For a cheapie little movie, I found much to like with the sets and decor. The makers of this movie may not have had much, but what they had, they used very well. A fine example of making the best of what you've got. Oh, and keep an eye out. About 17 minutes into the movie, you may notice a movie poster for one of Lugosi's other poverty row movies, made within the same year. The hour run time serves nicely to keep things moving as the pace rarely slows down.

This disc was released by Lugosi's Estate, and has many worthwhile features including a digitally remastered picture from 35mm film elements, commentary by film historian Ted Newsom and Bela Lugosi, Jr., a photo gallery, some trailers featuring Lugosi's other poverty row releases including one with the Bowery Boys, a wonderful mini movie poster insert, and there is even a radio episode called "Gasoline Cocktail" from some old time radio crime show. If you are interested in getting this movie on DVD, this is the one to get, rather than some of those cheaper releases floating around.

Cookieman108

Good Script . . . Excellent Bela
One item few fans know about Bela Lugosi is that, in his spare time, he was an excellent gourmet cook. Give him a few ingredients, a little time, and he could give the Iron Chef a run for his money. This philosophy also influenced Lugosi's films. Quite often he was called upon to make a decent meal from scattered leftovers. Sometimes his main ingredient would be a portion of ham, depending on the film involved. But, give him a good script and he shone like the sun breaking through on a cloudy day.

"Bowery at Midnight" gives Lugosi a chance to stretch his acting legs. He plays a character who uses three different guises during the course of the film. By day he is a respected professor of criminal psychology as the City University. In his spare time, he is a kindly do-gooder who runs a soup kitchen in the Bowery. But we soon learn this is a cover for his real persona, a snarling, ruthless crime boss who mistreats everyone who had the bad fortune to work for him. Work for this Lugosi at your own peril, for when he has decided you have lost your usefulness, he tosses you to his henchman doctor for disposal. Unknown to Bela, the doc, whom he has also badly misterated, gets revenge by transforming them into zombie-like creatures and keeps them in the mission's basement. When the police catch on, Bela goes to his mistreated employee for help and a place to hide. The doc is more than happy to oblige, leading Bela down the steps to the basement - and his doom at the hands of those he had previously cast aside.

Given the 61 minute running time, the script has to sacrifice characterization for action, but it keeps its continuity quite well and makes sense throughout the film. It's actually fun to see Lugosi in three different characters, going from the pompous, elitist professor of criminology to the kindly, caring social worker to the thoroughly nasty gang boss.

This is the second DVD in the "Bela Lugosi Presents" series and like the first, "The Devil Bat," it is loaded with wonderful extras. First, the picture quality is excellent, as it digitally remastered from a 35mm print. You will not find this quality in other DVD versions of this movie. Secondly, the commentary by Ted Newsom and Bela Lugosi, Jr., serves to enhance the viewing experience by filling us in on behind the scenes information on both the film and Bela's private life. A rare photo and poster gallery is included, as well as a collectable movie poster insert, giving a flavor of the times to the viewer. As if that wasn't enough, a few Lugosi trailers are thrown in as is, as an extra bonus, "Gasoline Cocktail," a radio drama starring none other than Bela himself. If you think his voice is exceptional in the movies, wait until you hear it on radio. Simply fabulous for Bela fans, and cinema fans in general.

I can only hope that Ted Newsom and Bela Lugosi, Jr. do not stop here. Having whetted our appetites with this feast for eyes and ears, we impatiently look forward to their next offering.

EXTRAS EXTRAS!!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!
Finally a series of Lugosi films put out by the Bela Lugosi Estate. With commentary from Bela Jr and Ted Newsom, a crystal clear stills, lobby card and poster section from the Borst Archive. Perfectly designed and animated motion menus. Also added are some bonus trailers and a complete radio program. This is THE version to buy, quality is SUPERIOR!!! ... Read more