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This splatter flick, along with John Carpenter's Halloween, helped spawn the great horror-movie movement of the '80s, not to mention eight sequels, many of which had nothing to do with the films that preceded them. It also gave birth to Jason Voorhees, one of the three biggest horror-movie psychos of the modern era (the other two being Halloween's Michael Myers and A Nightmare on Elm Street's Freddy Krueger). Forever duplicated, the original Friday the 13th popularized a number of themes and techniques that today are now clichés: the increasingly gory murders, the remote forest location, the anonymous and nubile cast, the murderer as cult hero, and, of course, the moral that if you have sex, you will die, very painfully. Still, if you have to see a Friday the 13th movie, this is the one to check out. A group of eager (and horny) teenagers decide to reopen Camp Crystal Lake, which 20 years earlier was closed after the shocking and mysterious murders of two amorous camp counselors. You can take it from there, as the teens get picked off one by one, during a dark and stormy night; of course, their car won't start and there's no phone. The ending stole shamelessly from Brian De Palma's Carrie, but it still provides a slight if campy shock. Look for a young Kevin Bacon as the requisite stud--you can tell that's what he is because when the cast appears in swimsuits, he's wearing a Speedo--who's the beneficiary of the film's best murder sequence, an arrowhead to the throat. Right after having sex, of course. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (359)

The Original Slasher Opus!
Camp Crystal Lake, 1957. A mysterious figure hacks up two love-bonding teenagers, kicking off a great, entertaining credits sequence with Harry Manfredini's great score!
Opening to 1980, a teenager is on her way to Camp Crystal Lake,
to meet up with other camp counselors who are putting the camp back up for the summer. She is warned by the town's people, but ignores their warnings. Ofcourse, being the original film in the Friday The 13th horror movie series, she makes a deadly mistake, picking up a ride from a mysterious figure in a jeep.

Meanwhile back at camp, the head, Steve Christy, leaves the young counselors to clean up as he goes to town. As night comes, a storm comes and so does Mrs. Voorhees hacking her way threw this horror venture, featuring special effects by Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead).

This original flick in the great franchise has so far, spawned nine sequels, including the groovily fun Jason X! Ofcourse all these horror greats are fun! Some good gore abound in this flick, including a slit throat, arrow threw the neck, axe to the face and more! The sequels got even better, more [gore] scenes and ofcourse, Jason would take the axe over in Part 2!

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!

Friday the 13th (1980).
Written and directed by Sean S Cunningham, Starring Kevin Bacon...Make-up: Tom Savini. This early trendsetter spawned 8 sequels and set a new type of standard in the slacher genre. This bloody tale is about some youngsters camping around the area of Christal Lake. But what they don't know is that the camp has a curse, namely Jason's curse. Jason is(that most of us know) a young kid that drowned back in the 50's wile the dreadful teenagers made love. Now he is back for revenge, or is it his mother?

What more can I say then that this movie is amazing. Sean S Cunningham takes the genre one more step further then Halloween and adds a simple revenge story but whit a great touch of atmosphere and loads of gore. Fx guru Tom Savini gives us some truly terrifying death scenes (who can ever forget Kevin Bacons harpoon trough the chest scene) that really deliver entertainment to us dark souls. The Psycho inspired music and the dark settings give Friday the 13th a creepy stile. This is a historic flick in horror history that any serious fan of the genre should add in there horror collection. Many people underrate this kinds of films. I suggest you don't. Those people are boring moralists that are all to small minded. This flick deserves to be a classic as much as Psycho or Silence of the Lambs.

Earn your self to see this blockbuster. You will have a lot of fun seeing it (trust me). Remember this was one of those movies that started the hole area of 80's horror.

Rating: 5 stars of 5 possible.

The best Friday ...
Though I enjoy Jason Voorhees a lot, this is the best Friday the 13th. For the most part, this movie actually didn't have that bad of acting, as did the sequels. It's better because it is the original storyline. The sequels are better in that since Jason is the killer, he has unique and gruesome ways of killing people, and he's much scarier and would be much harder to get away from.
This movie has everything that a horror movie should have. There is no way someone can go through their life claiming to be a huge horror fan and have no seen this movie INCLUDING the sequels. If you like teenage horror with plenty of killings, get this. A good movie to start off your horror collection.

Don't listen to the critics!
"Friday the 13th" is a typical slasher from the early 80's, only it's better than most. Despite critics, like Roger Ebert and Lenorn Maltin giving it ridicuosly low ratings, it really isn't as bad as they claim. In fact, the scripting, at least, is every bit as good as that of "Halloween"'s, only it isn't as well made and certainly not as original. Almost everyone knows the plot-line, even those who have never seen it, so I won't bother on outlining it. And if you are familiar with it, then you know what just about every "Friday the 13th" is about.

The Friday the 13th film franchise kicks off with a whimper.
Some things defy explanation, the success of this lame and predictable series is one of them. Perhaps the minimal amount of explicit violence was shocking in 1980, but by today's standards it is tame and would be unscary to even bed wetting pre-teens.
This is a low budget film about a summer camp being finally reopened after a decades old drowning tragedy. Shortly after the arrival of the young camp counselors, the legendary Camp Crystal Lake is rocked by a series of gruesome murders.
This is a pioneering film in the genre of the slasher film and follows the formulaic plot of horny teens retreating to a secluded area to have sex and smoke pot before being killed for their sins by an anonymous killer. If you are a fan of this genre, you have seen this a million times and probably much better than this.
Some of the gratuitous violence and murder in parts I and II could be considered clever and inspired, if it were not essentially plagiarized from an earlier and much better italian film entitled Twitch Of The Death Nerve (now available on DVD) by Mario Bava. The influence that Bava's film had on this crap is blatant, especially in part II.
The cast is uninteresting, even a pre stardom Kevin Bacon puts in a lethargic performance and the film is mostly dull and tedious. One of the most harrowing sequences, the abduction of the female hitchhiker, happens during the first half of the film and its basically all downhill from there.
There is nothing to recommend this even to hardcore gore fans as most of the effects fade to white before you can get a good look at them.
In the end the whole mess seems overlong and boring. With the absence of any character development or significant suspense, this is a very shoddy exercise compared to the immensely successful Halloween which predates this by two years. No wonder this sorry excuse for a series never produced a veritable horror icon like Jamie Lee Curtis.
The DVD is lame also, almost completely devoid of extras. My advice to fans is to save their cash for the upcoming box set, which will be reasonably priced and contain the first eight entries in the series. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

So Many Favourites In One Film!!
Henry Fonda stars in one of his most famous roles as Mr. Roberts, an officer on board a cargo ship, a man who underestimates his importance and the respect he is shown by an appreciative crew. The reason they admire him so much is because he stands up to their dictatorial captain, played ferociously by James Cagney. Fonda brings a lot of dignity and quiet strength to his character. The great William Powell is Fonda's confidant and ship's doctor, and Powell plays him with wisdom and class. Jack Lemmon, as Ensign Pulver, gets many of the film's best laughs, as he broadly plays the officer who is a lot of talk, but not much action. Mister Roberts combines humour, honesty, and drama very well, giving the viewer a real sense of the camaraderie onboard the ship. We also see how the human spirit can triumph under difficult conditions. And it's also a great chance to see four of Hollywood's greatest actors in one film, each one showing what they did so well. This is one to watch.

Thank you, Mr. Roberts
When Henry Fonda received the Kennedy Center honors in the late 70's, as part of his tribute, the Naval Academy glee club sang. Red River Valley saluted Grapes of Wrath, but the highlight was Anchors Away, when the Midshipman director of the glee club turned about face, saluted and said "Thank you, Mr. Roberts." As each Middie left the stage, he saluted and former Lt (jg) Fonda returned each one. Mr. Fonda was reported to have said that that was the greatest honor he received in a truly distinguished career.

This movie has that impact--it is a salute to "all those brave men who sailed from Apathy to Tedium, with an occasional side trip to Monotony" (I hope I have this right). When he died, the network news tribute was a dark screen and the sound track as Dolan and the others, having learned just what Mr. Roberts had done for them, each repeated those magic words "Good night, Mr. Roberts."

This is my favorite movie, one which I have watched at least 100 times. With marvelous performances by William Powell (Doc), James Cagney (the Captain), and Jack Lemmon (Ensign Pulver), as well as a fine supporting cast, this is a "must have" selection.

Review is of DVD - Not the movie
Given the "classic" status of this movie, it seems meaningless to discuss the content for this review. Thus, I will stick to reviewing Warner Brothers DVD release of the film.

First, I commend them for the inclusion of the excerpt of an Ed Sullivan "Toast of the Town" (1948) tribute episode featuring the movie's stars. This was really interesting viewing.

However, for the movie itself....this is the worst Warner release I have seen since "National Velvet". The picture frequently becomes out of focus, and the picture is often very undefined throughout the whole movie. There are a couple of places in the movie where the picture jumps, as if the film from which the transfer was taken "skipped a sprocket".

Overall, this is an embarassing release of a classic movie....despite the great extras which are included. Warner needs to go back to the drawing board on this one.

I love this movie!
The film "Mister Roberts" has everything.

Great Story, great cast, great meaning. If I had my choice of only a dozen movies to recommend to anyone, this would be one of them.

After fifty years, it's still an inspiring story of how sometimes small, seemingly insignificant details and the consideration of the human factor contribute to effective leadership.

In fact, this film is still in use as a motivational tool in the U.S. Naval Services.

I highly recommend this movie.

One of my favorite movies
I loved this movie when I saw it many years ago, it's timeless and still funny after all these years. I'm so glad it's available on DVD and now part of my movie collection. ... Read more

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Henry Fonda re-created his Broadway hit for this 1955 film that was mostly directed by Fonda's frequent collaborator, John Ford (Young Mr. Lincoln, My Darling Clementine)--an ailing Ford was replaced at some point by Mervyn LeRoy--and the results are exceptionally fine. A perfect cast, including James Cagney's irascible captain, William Powell's thoughtful physician, and Jack Lemmon's Oscar-winning Ensign Pulver, give Fonda the right boost to portray his ennui-burdened officer with dignity, self-effacing humor, and not a trace of self-pity. A wonderful film. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (39)

So Many Favourites In One Film!!
Henry Fonda stars in one of his most famous roles as Mr. Roberts, an officer on board a cargo ship, a man who underestimates his importance and the respect he is shown by an appreciative crew. The reason they admire him so much is because he stands up to their dictatorial captain, played ferociously by James Cagney. Fonda brings a lot of dignity and quiet strength to his character. The great William Powell is Fonda's confidant and ship's doctor, and Powell plays him with wisdom and class. Jack Lemmon, as Ensign Pulver, gets many of the film's best laughs, as he broadly plays the officer who is a lot of talk, but not much action. Mister Roberts combines humour, honesty, and drama very well, giving the viewer a real sense of the camaraderie onboard the ship. We also see how the human spirit can triumph under difficult conditions. And it's also a great chance to see four of Hollywood's greatest actors in one film, each one showing what they did so well. This is one to watch.

Thank you, Mr. Roberts
When Henry Fonda received the Kennedy Center honors in the late 70's, as part of his tribute, the Naval Academy glee club sang. Red River Valley saluted Grapes of Wrath, but the highlight was Anchors Away, when the Midshipman director of the glee club turned about face, saluted and said "Thank you, Mr. Roberts." As each Middie left the stage, he saluted and former Lt (jg) Fonda returned each one. Mr. Fonda was reported to have said that that was the greatest honor he received in a truly distinguished career.

This movie has that impact--it is a salute to "all those brave men who sailed from Apathy to Tedium, with an occasional side trip to Monotony" (I hope I have this right). When he died, the network news tribute was a dark screen and the sound track as Dolan and the others, having learned just what Mr. Roberts had done for them, each repeated those magic words "Good night, Mr. Roberts."

This is my favorite movie, one which I have watched at least 100 times. With marvelous performances by William Powell (Doc), James Cagney (the Captain), and Jack Lemmon (Ensign Pulver), as well as a fine supporting cast, this is a "must have" selection.

Review is of DVD - Not the movie
Given the "classic" status of this movie, it seems meaningless to discuss the content for this review. Thus, I will stick to reviewing Warner Brothers DVD release of the film.

First, I commend them for the inclusion of the excerpt of an Ed Sullivan "Toast of the Town" (1948) tribute episode featuring the movie's stars. This was really interesting viewing.

However, for the movie itself....this is the worst Warner release I have seen since "National Velvet". The picture frequently becomes out of focus, and the picture is often very undefined throughout the whole movie. There are a couple of places in the movie where the picture jumps, as if the film from which the transfer was taken "skipped a sprocket".

Overall, this is an embarassing release of a classic movie....despite the great extras which are included. Warner needs to go back to the drawing board on this one.

I love this movie!
The film "Mister Roberts" has everything.

Great Story, great cast, great meaning. If I had my choice of only a dozen movies to recommend to anyone, this would be one of them.

After fifty years, it's still an inspiring story of how sometimes small, seemingly insignificant details and the consideration of the human factor contribute to effective leadership.

In fact, this film is still in use as a motivational tool in the U.S. Naval Services.

I highly recommend this movie.

One of my favorite movies
I loved this movie when I saw it many years ago, it's timeless and still funny after all these years. I'm so glad it's available on DVD and now part of my movie collection. ... Read more

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As bad as Friday the 13th, Part 2 is, it's a work of art in comparison to the rest of the Friday the 13th flicks that came afterward. This installment officially introduced us to Jason Voorhees as the killer (if you remember Drew Barrymore's fatal phone quiz in Scream, you know that the killer in the first Friday the 13th was actually Jason's mother), and made the slicing and dicing even more generic. Survivor Alice is dispatched within the first 10 minutes, and we're left with plucky Ginny (Amy Steel, doing a fairly decent Jamie Lee Curtis impression) to do battle with the monstrous Jason. Ginny's part of a another group of horny teenagers (less intelligent as well as less attractive than their predecessors) who try to resurrect Camp Crystal Lake five years after the initial murders--a pretty mean feat, considering this movie was made only a year after the first one. Being a smarty-pants child-psychology major, Ginny tries to outwit the dim Jason, and at one point dons the bloody and moldy sweater of Jason's late mother (which is more disgusting than any of the killings beforehand) in an attempt to confuse the masked killer. Jason may not be the brightest bulb on the tree, but the only one who's going to pull the wool--or in this case, the burlap--over his eyes is Jason himself, who wears a sack with one eyehole throughout the movie to hide his deformed features (he finally found his way to a sporting-goods store and his trademark hockey mask appears in the third installment of the series). Directed by Steve Miner, who also helmed the next Friday the 13th film (in 3-D no less) as well as the more reputable House, Forever Young, and Halloween: H20. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (199)

An good sequel with a few flaws.
Director Steve Miner(Foverer Young, House, Halloween H20) did a fine job as his directorial debut. The film start a couple of months later after the first film ended. Adrienne King as Alice, who survive the first film. She having problems forgeting the pass been thought. One night, a unknown person enter her apartment and then he kills her stabbing with a ice pick. Then five years later, they decided to open the camp, near crystal lake. Within a couple of days later, trouble is going to happen at some unlucky campers. Almost liked the first film in some way. Actors are better than the first film but they can`t beat the first movie death scenes and a scary classic ending. Still it has a fun, last twenty minutes of terror between the Killer and Heroine played by Amy Steel(April`s Fools Day). The problem is the last three minutes, is a bit of a letdown. (...)

DVD it`s has a good anamorphic widescreen(1.78:1) transer and a well recorded 2 channel mono sound is a little better than Friday The 13th DVD. For die hard fans of Friday films is a must buy of the series.

Trivia:Steve Miner also directed Friday the 13th Part 3, after the second left off. In the third film was filmed in 3-D! and was most successful series box office hit in the friday sequels. Grade:B+.

Not nearly as bad as expected
The second in what would become one of the most milked movie franchises ever (there are ten incuding the recent Jason X), Friday The 13th Part 2 isn't nearly as bad as you might expect. It's obviously noticeable for introducing us to Jason for the first time, although he doesn't get to don his hockey mask until Act 3, here wearing a cloth with an eyehole which is actually quite creepy. Set five years after the original yet made only a year after, this has a group of kids up on Camp Crystal partying and doing things they shouldn't be.

What's most fun about this is watching all those clichés laid out in front of us. There's the post-coital killing, the girl who's punished for going skinny-dipping and the old man whose prophesies of doom turn back on him. If you watch this after watching Scream, it's impossible not to laugh at the now famous score and several scenes which is parodied from the film, most notable the scene with Ginny in the car. The killings are all pretty gruesome, with some very dark humuor being injected into several impressive set-ups such as the boy in the wheelchair rolling backwards down the steps of a cabin after being murdered with an axe. Of course, after dispatching with the original only survivor in the opening sequence, all you've got left are a group of blandly attractive undeveloped characters that you can't really care about. Still, it's not without an element of fun that you watch the voyeuristic camera movements follow the sexy girl out to the car accompanied by corny music.

Unusually, the female protagonist Ginny outwits the killer rather than just outrunning him or waiting for help. Obviously the explanation for Jason's murders are lifted straight from Psycho, but the scene where she wears his mother's jumper to try and convince him that she's her should be given some credit at least. Plus there's an inconclusive ending which leaves it open for Part 3. I have to admit to never watching any of the sequels, and from what you hear they're all pretty bad, but this one is actually pretty good and worth at least an hour or so of your time.

All the hype for this...?
"Friday the 13th, Part 2" is well known by horror/slasher fans to be considered the second best of the series. And I don't know why. I'd say part 6 is. But im not here to talk about part 6, so I guess I'll have to review this. Part 2 begins by killing off probably the nicest "last girl" of the series, Alice. On my first viewing, I was dissapointed already. However, Alice is replaced by yet another satisfying "last gir", the sassy and smart Ginny; but she still didn't save the rest of the film from being a dissapointment. The whole movie just seems to be missing something; I have no idea WHAT tho. The rather murky atmosphere also made it a tad depressing. And a poor little dog is killed!About the only thing I liked about the whole thing was Ginny. She, and the first appearence of Jason may have helped some in making this installment so popular...

Ooh, scary... NOT!
Like the initial installment of the series, I found 'Friday the 13th Part 2' kinda hokey, with a few gruesome gore FX here and there. But scary? Hardly... though I must admit I got a pretty good start by a couple BOO!-type scenes. And the only real surprise I experienced was when the cripple got the machete to the head. Which just goes to show that Jason (who's takin' over for mom here) doesn't discriminate-- he's killin' everybody! Well, everybody except for that one chick who somehow manages to survive the carnage, gets carted away by the ambulance in the aftermath, and isn't seen again 'til the recap at start of the next flick...

But even though I didn't find this flick particularly shocking or grody, it is kinda fun to watch for its predictability and use of the usual slasher-horror-flick gimmicks and cliches. I got more of a laugh than a fright outta most of the kills here, 'cuz they were so silly lookin'.

Bottom line: if you're planning to watch this for fright, I think you'll be sorely disappointed. But if you're looking for something to laugh at for its by-the-numbers predictability and hackneyed moments (Huh-huh..."hack"...), then this just might right up yer alley.

'Late

Personal favorite!!
I don't get all the people that trash Friday the 13th movies. Well, I'll admit that part 8 was horrible, but every movie prior to 8 was really entertaining to me. Part II is my personal favorite, with parts I and IV close seconds and part III is my third favorite of the series. Basically, with parts I-IV you can't go wrong. Yeah, Jason has the sack on his head and not the hockey mask, but he is still determined to take out some camp couselors and has that menace that we've come to know and love. Anyway, I saw that this movie had the same review rating as part 8 and I decided I needed to put my two cents in and let you know it is an awesome chapter in the Friday series. FYI, if you are a Friday the 13th fan, Paramount is releasing a box set of all the movies with special features and commentaries (on 3 movies) this October 5th. So be on the lookout. I've been waiting a long time for a box set like Nightmare on Elm Street got and now it is on the way. I have all the Fridays on vhs but waited for this box set and I only have a few more months to wait. Unfortunately, they will not have any uncut versions of the movies included, but you will get deleted/uncut footage that you can check out seperately. All in all could be a little better, but beggers can't be choosers and it is supposedly only going to cost about 60 bones. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Poor Edit of Original Item
When this program originally aired as a made for TV 'Mini-Series,' it was very good. I recorded it, and still have it. This version only runs 95 minutes, and most of the story has been edited out, and many of the details are missing. As an example, the scene where Dr DeForge tells Mary Ashley to go to the pharmacy is missing, not to mention the discovery at the pharmacy. Why couldn't they make this a two tape set, and present a complete version? I bought this on Ebay for $8.00 in May of 2004 and regret the purchase. My own recording is much better.

Jaclyn Smith : Sheldon's Favorite Angel!
If there's a title for the "coolest actors" on tv, then, Smith and Wagner will win hands down.

Based on Sidney Sheldon's bestselling novel, this highly rated miniseries, released in 1988 is absolutely engaging from start to finish. It's not an EMMY calibre performance but will surely enjoy the movie from start to finish. Like a Sheldon book, this is hard to resist with wonderful performances from the lead stars.

This is probably the best adaptation of a Sheldon book. Can't wait to see the dvd version.... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Last Of The Not Quite Human Series:
This was the last film of the "Not Quite Human" series. The series first started in 1987 when the first "Not Quite Human" video came out and was followed by the sequel "Not Quite Human 2" in 1989.

In this last film of the series, Chip and his Father are out to sell business, and on the trip, Chip's father is kidnapped and replaced with a Android of him. Chip and the "Android" must find out the clues to find out where his father is and rescue him! The film has lots of surprises and has been aired on Family Channel a few times in the past. Is worth the watch!

Great family film, clean and fun!
Of the 3 Not Quite Human movies, Still Not is our favorite. It has plenty of action, humor and plot to keep us on the edge of our seats. This is a very clean, fun for the whole family entertainment. Please republish it!

It was Good, But not the Best!!!
The 3rd sequel to the series "Not quite Human".Chip Carson, is android who was built by his scientist father.After his father gives a speech, he is kidnapped and tortured by a company who wants his secret to building androids.Chip finds out about his father getting kidnapped and that his father was replaced by a clone.With the help of Chip's new friend, they must hurry and stop this evil company.2 other sequels were made before this, "Not Quite Human" (1987) and "Not Quite Human 2" (1989).Both are Out-of-Print.

I hope you enjoy this movie as much as I do!

Enjoy!!! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Inspiring and well-made
Highly enjoyable tale of the life of Marty Maher, the Irish immigrant who rose from humble waiter to become West Point's beloved athletic trainer and football coach for more than 50 years. Despite personal tragedies, and through two World Wars, Maher inspired generations of young men who came through the distinguished Army officers' academy, including future legends like Omar Bradley and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Tyrone Power is excellent and compelling as he portrays Maher from young idealist to elderly sage, Irish accent intact all the way. The scenery and West Point pageantry is fun to watch (although some of it looks like it was filmed inside a studio -- but much else looks like it may have been filmed at the Military Academy). Interestingly, there's not really all that much football in this film -- there's a little, but it's mainly the story of Maher and his family, and the young men he came to love like his own sons. With the flame-haired Maureen O'Hara as Maher's Irish wife Mary, giving a radiant performance. Sentimental in that '50s way, of course, but the legendary director John Ford (working with a cast made up of many of his favorites) always puts a bite behind the sweetness.

Long Gray Line
My wife and I stumbled across this rare gem a few days ago on AMC. It began late in the evening, but we were unable to stop watching. It is a truly wonderful story, based on what I've come to learn is a book entitled BRINGING UP THE BRASS that was based on Technical Sargeant Martin Maher's life. The movie has all of the classical elements of John Ford including humor and poignancy, and I shall heartily recommend this film to my family and friends. It's nice to see patriotism and honor on film, even though it was 45 years ago!

Dulce et Decorum...?
"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" -- "Proper and sweet it is to die for the Fatherland." These words from Vergil's "Aeneid" apply in spades to "The Long Grey Line." Beneath the film's overt message of patriotism, honour and glory lies one constant, recurring theme: It's a good, grand and glorious thing for young men to be so filled with dreams of militaristic "glory and honour" that they are ready to die for "The Reich." And it's a good, grand and glorious thing as well for the loved ones they leave behind in mourning.

Am I being a touch judgemental? Darn right. So why did I give it four stars? First, any film with Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, Ward Bond and the score of other fine actors (and an actress or two) is already worth at least three stars in my book. Secondly, the film is so over-the-top in its melodramatic depiction of "fantasy patriotism" that I wonder whether its creators didn't mean to suggest the folly of militaristic utopianism through the expedient use of a near lethal overdose of hyper-pious hands-over-hearts whenever Old Glory passes by, the ultra-dramatic portrayals that "my tragic loss is really my strength and glory," and the continuous flag-waving, death-worshipping and militaristic sentimentalising that saturates this film from start to finish.

On the one hand, the war-sentimentalisers who have always sent and who continue to send young men to early graves for the sake of political and/or corporate interests will undoubtedly see this film in one light. One that appears to validate their own far-from-honourable interests and agendas. On the other, those who despise the fantasy of militaristic glory may well see a brilliant portrayal of the waste of young lives, a waste that brings the hero of the film to sanctimoniously mark the deaths of his former youthful cadets with a black ribbon in the appropriate yearbook. In either case, the message will be in the eye -- and prompted by the true nature of the heart and soul -- of the viewer.

Whatever the case, I recommend that any viewer of this classic film follow up with a sobering shot of "Taps." And that in viewing that rather different presentation of military school cadets special attention be paid to the professional soldier who accuses his own honour-enraptured cadet son of being "in love with death."

Super movie no matter who you like
Pay no attention to Pine Hurst reviewer. I like Jane Fonda and I like this movie. Everyone in my family is a Jane Fonda fan (including my father who was 20years in the Marines), and we all like the film. It's story telling at it's best. One of Tyrone Power's best performances and Maureen O'Hara is simply radiant. It made me want to know more about Martin Maher and his Mary. See this, and you won't be disappointed.

BEST FORD WITHOUT WAYNE
I first saw this movie at our local in the late 50`s here in the U.K. The Memory of Marty Maher never left.. Looking through Amazon one evening i noticed it was available. Well done it arrived in 6 days. Some things you order locally take longer than that.After all these years since i last saw it it`s still a great movie and still brings a tear to the eye. Tyrone Power was perfect, sadly nearing the end of his life as Marty Maher. Nothing against John Wayne who i understand was the first choice but this was`nt his part. Maureen o Hara is wonderful. Ward Bond as "That blackhearted master of the sword" as Marty calls him and Donald Crisp as Marty snr. Its a long movie covering 50 years but never you loose interest. Its perfect. John Ford wanted to be remembered as the man who made westerns. Well he made other great movie`s as well. In my opinion this is an equal to The Quiet Man....The Long Gray Line. The best Ford without John Wayne. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Can you say over-the-top?
Joan is at her delectable best, as she steamrolls her way over the supporting cast, totally stealing every scene with her over-the-top style.
This is one dame who's not going to blend into the scenery. If you are a Crawford fan, and if your reading the reviews of this film, you must be, you simply must add this film to your collection. Joan plays Eva Phillips, a conniving southern socialite, with a taste for the finer things, only matched by her taste for other women's men. Eva's the queen bee, and there's no doubt that she's the one running the hive. Joan delivers some wonderful lines in the film, for instance, "Any man's my man if I want it that way". Joan looks wonderful slinking around in drop dead gowns designed by Jean Louis. Whether she's verbally abusing her alcoholic husband or driving the poor unfortunates who dare cross her to suicide, Joan can do no wrong. Of course in the end, Eva gets what she deserves.
Add this film to your Joan collection, it's really a keeper.

Joan at her bitchy best!
This is a must-have for every Joan Crawford fan. Her star was beginning to fall by this time but she does a bang-up acting job as the evil Eva Phillips. (One wonders if the character was given that name purposely - Eva, evil, get it?) Everyone else in the film, with the exception of John Ireland as the tormented Judson, pales in comparison with Joan.

Certainly, the plot is pure soap opera (but if you know that at the outset and just take it for what it is, you'll find it enjoyable and a nice escape from reality).

Joan is in fine form as the Queen Bee in her little Southern mansion hive, ruling her unhappy family with an iron stinger. Particularly, the targets of Joan's ire are the other women of the mansion, whose men Joan is always determined to steal, as summed up in her classic line, "Any man's my man if I want it that way." And Joan usually succeeds in what she sets out to do. Plus, Joanie excels at emasculating the men of the mansion (such as her long-suffering husband Avery, who withdraws into an ocean of alchohol to escape his misery).

Of course, she eventually gets her comeuppance as punishment for all the unhappiness she's caused (a nice coda that doesn't happen nearly often enough to rotten people in real life).

Long story short, this DVD's very worthwhile. Joan fans get to see her in a superbly over-the-top performance, and it's a feel-good type story because Eva at long last gets exactly what she deserves, and the last laugh is on her. I won't give away the ending, but suffice it to say that if you like to see good triumph over evil, you'll be very pleased at how things turn out.

Godzilla in a Jean Louis Gown
Joan Crawford appears to have a field day in this silly, but extraordinarily engrossing, overheated family melodrama. Ranald MacDougall's script is like Tennessee Williams without the poetry or the subtext. And it's like Douglas Sirk without the sumptuous color or the inner turmoil those autumnal hues disguise.

Eva Philips is possessive, controlling, and self-absorbed, and Crawford plays her to the hilt. What more could any fan ask?

A monument of selfishness, Eva fascinates like a cobra about to strike. In one memorable scene, her cousin asks what the doctor said (about Eva's troubled child). "Such extravagant things!" responds Eva. She continues: "Did you see how the doctor trembled as he spoke to me? You'd think he'd never seen a beautiful woman before!"

Moments like these are pure gold (or should it be 'honey'?) in this wondrous opera-without-singing.

The rest of the cast consists of some more than adequate talent: Barry Sullivan (Eva's booze-soaked, trampled husband), John Ireland (a former lover, still caught by her stinger. He gets one of the best lines: "Whatever you are Eva, you're on wheels!"), Betsy Palmer (the deer in Eva's lethal headlights). Lucy Marlow (another deer, that starlet from the opening sequence of A STAR IS BORN, 1954) is passable. (In a TCM documentary, it is revealed that Crawford really slapped the younger actress with all her might.). Fay Wray makes a brief, but noteworthy appearance early on, a past casualty of Eva's rampaging ego.

The DVD is pretty bare-bones. But the transfer is luminous.

If you enjoy watching a 5' Godzilla in a Jean Louis gown, don't miss QUEEN BEE.

Bee with an Itch!!
This is a great movie and as one other reviewer put it, Joan stands there acting furiously in every scene! Believe it or not I have known manipulative, bitchy women exactly like Joan was in this movie and it wasn't pleasant ... was she really playing herself? I think so. Trouble was that there were a lot of women who imitated her. In any case this movie is a great period piece, and I'd also recommend the noir classic Sudden Fear also with Joan Crawford.

Grade A Crawford
In one of her best and boldest. This film is really too amazing to explain. You will awe as Crawford smashes the living room with a riding crop. You will marvel when she slaps the young ecstatic girl across the face. You will be amazed as she easily steps into a bath that has to be at least 200 degrees! You will applaud as she seduces another man while her children lay in bed with the covers over their heads shaking in fear! Beauty bagged himself a real wild one here! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anthony Mann made some of the greatest Westerns of the 1950s, all inpartnership with James Stewart. Perhaps needing to prove himself as his own man,in 1957 Mann dropped out of Night Passage to do this film. It's a ratherschematic character study about a lawman-turned-bounty-hunter (Henry Fonda) whoundertakes the professional shaping-up of an effete young sheriff (AnthonyPerkins) too tentative to police the streets of his town. Those streets arecompositionally present right outside the oversize window of the office wherePerkins undergoes a lot of his soul-searching and arguments with Fonda. That'stypical of the film--scrupulously designed, yet abstract to the point ofdramatic aridity. The VistaVision black-and-white of cameraman Loyal Griggs(Oscar®-winner for Shane) is at once stark and glossy. Fonda's ownreclamation as a social being is accomplished by way of a not-very-interestingsubplot involving Betsy Palmer and a half-breed child played by Michel Ray.--Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (10)

GOES AGAINST MANNs OWN FORMULA
THE TIN STAR seems to go against Anthony Mann's own formula, not so much for its plot, but in its casting of the principal actor Henry Fonda as the catalyst that motivates young sheriff Anthony Perkins (and the film) to live up to the demands of the position. Fonda's casting and presence as the hero seems to make the role static and less complex when compared to what James Stewart could have brought to the role (Stewart was Mann's usual choice for the leading man in his Westerns). Fonda's character is one of a bounty hunter / ex-sheriff who appears to have no moral ambiguities, thus the apprenticeship of Perkins under Fonda's moral stalwartness brings a very straightforward relationship to these main characters. Visually the film also seems to be limited to the town rather than on the wide unclosed vistas of the open range. This claustrophobic effect seems to repress elements of this otherwise interesting screenplay. However, these are only observed peculiarities to Anthony Mann's usual style. This is still a tightly scripted and enticing Western. The showdown between Perkins and Neville Brand is excellently played out. Elmer Bernstein's early Western score is very absorbing and insightful to the film's narrative. I particularly like Henry Fonda's role and his performance in this film. This is a good Western.

Very good but under-appreciated western.
Henry Fonda was one of the greatest movie actors ever -- sometimes I think that he was THE greatest. Somehow Fonda managed to BE whomever he was playing, with no hint that he was acting, despite the wide variety of roles he played over his long career.

In The Tin Star Fonda is superb as an embittered ex-sheriff turned bounty hunter who scoffs at naive but dedicated Anthony Perkins, the newly-appointed sheriff in a town to which Fonda has come to collect the reward for an outlaw he has killed. While waiting in town for his reward money to arrive, Fonda reluctantly mentors Perkins in the art of being an effective sheriff and staying alive while doing it. There is a subplot involving Fonda's developing relationship with a widow (played by Betsy Palmer) and her half-Indian son. Although there is action in The Tin Star, the movie is primarily about the relationships among the principal characters and how they change each other. This is a very good western -- indeed a very good movie -- in every respect. But Fonda's role makes it outstanding. Please don't pass up this under-appreciated classic now that it's available on DVD.

Tin Star
Anthony Mann's THE TIN STAR was a little disappointing. Mann was an early expert in 'psychological' westerns and I guess this one fits that category. Henry Fonda plays bounty hunter Morg Hickman, a man with a past. Hickman rides into town with a bounty trophy and, this being a fairly civilized town, is shunned by the citizens. Doesn't seem to bother him much, though. While waiting for his bounty money to come through he becomes involved with a local widder and her young 'un and helps set young and clumsy sheriff Ben Owens (Anthony Perkins) on the right track.
THE TIN STAR is a little light and domestic for Mann. A run-of-the-mill story with acceptable acting by all involved.

heavy hard star
You can make easily a tin star by cutting that feeble metal from, for example, a fruit can. To carry it is more difficult. From outside the USA it seems public workers aren't so valued as private entrepreneurs.
But not all people serve to do business privately, and some have to choose public work. One of these tasks is being sheriff in old west. In this movie the figure of the sheriff as a public server is well seen: a man not very capable as I suppose were almost all, elected between the people of a small village, honest but without real skills to impose the law against dangerous bandits: So then, that famous tin star should weigh terribly. In contrast there is the gunman: he's very able with firearms but in this film shooting exhibitions pass to a secondary plane. The personage played by Henry Fonda basically knows his profession in full and furthermore, it remains in a slight dark the feeling that he doesn't value life too much, nor those of his preys nor his own, as he's a bitter, lonely, disillusioned man of and uncertain age with not much to lose. That quality, paradoxically, gives him an advantage in all fights owing to a quiet, indifferent mood the sheriff can't attain as he wants to live and hates troubles. The sheriff must risk against his will; the gunman afford these risks without much worry and all these isn't only a matter of mastery with the revolver. The two protagonists are very well chosen, contrasting the sober Fonda with the disquiet Perkins, but in the film at the end, the two men have changed.

THIS STAR SHINES MORE LIKE GOLD THAN TIN!
Henry Fonda's career was never the same after "The Tin Star." Shedding the every man good guy persona that had made him so likeable on screen for so long, on this occasion Fonda's pretty cold, aloof and forboding as a lawman turned bounty hunter. Director, Anthony Mann's in-depth character study of the old west is made even more compelling by a startling performance from Anthony Perkins, as the too gentle for gunsmoke sheriff, to whom Fonda undertakes a shaping-up of.
THE TRANSFER: The VistaVision black-and-white picture elements are in reasonably good shape. Contrast and black levels are nicely balanced. Age related artifacts are present but do not distract. Digital anomalies are also present, but again, do not distract. The audio is mono but nicely balanced.
EXTRAS: Not on this disc!
BOTTOM LINE: "The Tin Star" is an above average western from a time when westerns were a dime a dozen. It's thoughtful and thought-provoking and well worth a second look on DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (39)

So Many Favourites In One Film!!
Henry Fonda stars in one of his most famous roles as Mr. Roberts, an officer on board a cargo ship, a man who underestimates his importance and the respect he is shown by an appreciative crew. The reason they admire him so much is because he stands up to their dictatorial captain, played ferociously by James Cagney. Fonda brings a lot of dignity and quiet strength to his character. The great William Powell is Fonda's confidant and ship's doctor, and Powell plays him with wisdom and class. Jack Lemmon, as Ensign Pulver, gets many of the film's best laughs, as he broadly plays the officer who is a lot of talk, but not much action. Mister Roberts combines humour, honesty, and drama very well, giving the viewer a real sense of the camaraderie onboard the ship. We also see how the human spirit can triumph under difficult conditions. And it's also a great chance to see four of Hollywood's greatest actors in one film, each one showing what they did so well. This is one to watch.

Thank you, Mr. Roberts
When Henry Fonda received the Kennedy Center honors in the late 70's, as part of his tribute, the Naval Academy glee club sang. Red River Valley saluted Grapes of Wrath, but the highlight was Anchors Away, when the Midshipman director of the glee club turned about face, saluted and said "Thank you, Mr. Roberts." As each Middie left the stage, he saluted and former Lt (jg) Fonda returned each one. Mr. Fonda was reported to have said that that was the greatest honor he received in a truly distinguished career.

This movie has that impact--it is a salute to "all those brave men who sailed from Apathy to Tedium, with an occasional side trip to Monotony" (I hope I have this right). When he died, the network news tribute was a dark screen and the sound track as Dolan and the others, having learned just what Mr. Roberts had done for them, each repeated those magic words "Good night, Mr. Roberts."

This is my favorite movie, one which I have watched at least 100 times. With marvelous performances by William Powell (Doc), James Cagney (the Captain), and Jack Lemmon (Ensign Pulver), as well as a fine supporting cast, this is a "must have" selection.

Review is of DVD - Not the movie
Given the "classic" status of this movie, it seems meaningless to discuss the content for this review. Thus, I will stick to reviewing Warner Brothers DVD release of the film.

First, I commend them for the inclusion of the excerpt of an Ed Sullivan "Toast of the Town" (1948) tribute episode featuring the movie's stars. This was really interesting viewing.

However, for the movie itself....this is the worst Warner release I have seen since "National Velvet". The picture frequently becomes out of focus, and the picture is often very undefined throughout the whole movie. There are a couple of places in the movie where the picture jumps, as if the film from which the transfer was taken "skipped a sprocket".

Overall, this is an embarassing release of a classic movie....despite the great extras which are included. Warner needs to go back to the drawing board on this one.

I love this movie!
The film "Mister Roberts" has everything.

Great Story, great cast, great meaning. If I had my choice of only a dozen movies to recommend to anyone, this would be one of them.

After fifty years, it's still an inspiring story of how sometimes small, seemingly insignificant details and the consideration of the human factor contribute to effective leadership.

In fact, this film is still in use as a motivational tool in the U.S. Naval Services.

I highly recommend this movie.

One of my favorite movies
I loved this movie when I saw it many years ago, it's timeless and still funny after all these years. I'm so glad it's available on DVD and now part of my movie collection. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Paul Muni is excellent, as usual
This movie is about an elderly doctor in the Brooklyn slums. He has lived and worked in the slums for 45 years. He is dedicated to his profession and his patients. The story revolves around his nephew's efforts to turn the doctor's life into a television program. The movie is ok, but Paul Muni shines. He received an Oscar nomination for this, his last movie. Billy Dee Williams makes his movie debut as one of the doctor's patients. He plays a young thug with a brain tumor. The doctor has to chase after him to treat him. If you look closely at the girl left on he porch in the opening scene, you'll see that it's Cicely Tyson, also an unknown at that time.

Best Ever
I thought it was great. My grandparents lived in NY at the time, so it feel close to home for them. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A fair horror movie!
If one comes in with high expectations to watch this movie, i.e., The Fear: Halloween Night VHS; then one one will end up very disapointed. However, if one expects bad act, gore and a minimal plot; then this is a alright movie. The epsecial effects are quite neat and the costumes to represent their fears are also quite smart. However, it feels as if they could have done more with this and actually had their characters explore their fear by talking to him in a seance rather then by showing it all with brute force.

Patricide, Homicide, Fear-i-cide
It's death-by-fear (read: scared-to-death) in this deceptively psychological thriller. The hero, Mike brings his friends to his grandparents' house-in-the-country for a Halloween party wherein they'll all dress up as their innermost fears. Mike's fear is that he's inherited a homicidal legacy from his father. Mike's father was a serial killer who murdered his mother right in front of him when Mike was five, before committing suicide. Mike's fear manifests itself in his inability to commit to his girlfriend of 4 1/2 years, Peg for fear that history will repeat. Heads start rolling when an ancient Indian totem -- a wooden figure named Morty -- is enlivened and starts killing off Mike's friends by making their worst fears come true. The ultimate confrontation comes when Mike has to face his greatest fear -- his own father. Good gory fun.

gory fun
well the first is sort of ok But the Second is decent the better effect, more likable people, and some funny moment's so I have a heart for these movie's If you like the first it great but very cheap not great. keep them coming. ... Read more

Description

CBS-TV. "The River Garden," with PATRICIA COLLINGE, RICHARD WEBB, BETSY PALMER. 60 minutes. ... Read more