Description

One of Disney's biggest and most fondly remembered hits, the spectacular screen version of the literary classic SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is full of breathtaking South Seas scenery, hundreds of exotic animals, and treacherous pirates. This heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community. But the ultimate challenge lies ahead when a band of cutthroat pirates threaten to destroy the Robinson's Makeshift paradise. Capture the thrills, romance, and fun of this unforgettable Disney film! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY...
You can't get much more wholesome than this. This film definitely has the Disney stamp all over it. The Swiss Family Robinson are on their way to New Guinea. Chased by pirates on the high seas, their ship runs up against a reef, and they find themselves shipwrecked by a deserted tropical island. They manage to get themselves and all their belongings and animals ashore, intact and none the worse for wear.

The mother, played by the lovely Dorothy McGuire, is always clean, perfectly groomed and coiffed. The father, played by the wonderful English actor, John Mills, is positively cheerful the entire film. Talk about optimism. His three sons, played by the hunky James MacArthur, the adorable Tommy Kirk, and the cute-as-a-button Kevin Corcoran, work tirelessly to make their new home into an island paradise.

In record time, they build a multi-level house to die for, high up in the trees. Somehow, they manage to get a pipe organ off the wrecked ship, ashore, and up into their multi-level tree house, so that they can sing Christmas Carols at the appropriate time. Kevin Corcoran even has a baby elephant for a pet, and they parade around their sculpted lawn which is surrounded by what appears to be a manicured, English country garden.

After a while, two of the boys set out on a home made sail boat to check the terrain around the island. They discover yet another casualty of the pirates' onslaught, delightfully played by Janet Munro. The two older boys are sweet on her, which causes a little fun loving tension. All is well, until the pirates come a-calling on the island, and all you know what breaks loose. Never fear. Rescue is on the way.

Who in their right mind, however, would ever want to be rescued from this magical island, where nothing can possibly go wrong, and everyone loves each other? Pure Disney fantasy, this film is a lot of fun to watch and, better yet, can be enjoyed by the whole family. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Disney touch is all over this grand, colorful version of the Johann Wyss adventure of a European family set off for the new world of New Guinea. The film opens on a ship jostled and torn by a raging storm while a family struggles to make it through alive. Tossed into a reef near a deserted tropical island, father John Mills takes charge and the family soon turns their island prison into a veritable paradise. Their multilevel tree house, built in record time, is complete with running water and a working pipe organ scavenged from the ship, while their grand yard is abloom in English roses. As a tale of hardship and pioneer pluck, the tale is pure fantasy, but as entertainment it's energetic and appealing. The island is impossibly populated by ostriches, zebras, lions, and elephants, a private zoo that delights the youngest boy and offers plenty of comic relief. The two older brothers discover even wilder life when they rescue the prisoner of oriental pirates (led by hard-bitten Sessue Hayakawa). There's little real danger anywhere in the film--even the climactic battle with the pirates is a cartoonish affair, with coconut bombs and nonlethal booby traps, until the final desperate, deadly moments. Hardly a faithful adaptation of the novel, but a lush, beautifully photographed film and an entertaining adventure safe for all ages. Dorothy McGuire costars as the proper, worry-prone mother. (Ages 5 and older) --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Vault Disney DVD packed with extras for a low price
What a fantastic DVD this is. The Vault Disney series is wonderful, and I hope they give more films the same treatment soon. Not only is the film beautifully restored (in its original 2:35:1 theatrical aspect ratio, and with 5.1 THX surround sound), but the DVD itself is packed with delightful extras.

There's a documentary about making "Swiss Family Robinson" that is nearly 50 minutes long and contains interviews with Sir John Mills, James MacArthur, Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran. There's a commentary track with the latter three contributing comments about the film. There's an additional interview with MacArthur about his film work, the original theatrical trailer and television spots, radio spots, the entire story album that came out with the film, a Donald Duck cartoon, and more! If you like "Swiss Family Robinson," get this DVD -- even if you already have the VHS tape. It's worth it just to finally have a widescreen version of this family-friendly classic (the better to view the wonderful island vistas), even if you don't figure all of the wonderful extras into the bargain.

this LOADED dvd deserves more than 5 stars
I strongly reccommend! This has to be one of the most fun family films Walt Disney ever made. And the 2 disc DVD treatment that Disney gave this film is perfect. It is Widescreen first of all, maybe it is the first widescreen release outside of theatres ever done for the film. And what a diffenrence in makes in the beautiful island vistas of the film. The DVD transfer itself is well done, with lush colors, great image and depth, great sound, it just sparkles.

The movie was filmed on location on the tropical island of Tobago. While the production went way over budget, Walt did not get mad at the time since the film was worth it. Featuring loads of animals, comedy, action, suspense, pirates, and tropical scenery this was a hard adventure film to beat. And similar to the role the Nautilus filled in "20,000 Leagues Below the Sea", the treehouse becoems a star in it's own right. The invenetive home designed by the castaways from the ship salvage is incredible to behold. An audio commentary as an alternate track features comments from casr and crew.

The extras on this DVD are what really make it a treasure, and they are not all listed here at Amazon or even on the packaging. You have to hunt it down and get creative with your remote. So let me help by telling you what to look for if you buy this... For starters they have the original cartoon that was released with the movie, "Sea Salts" allowing you to see this with the kids the way that it is meant to be seen. There is a 2 minute "1960 Disney Studio Album", a montage of projects, attractions, shows, and films being made and released that year. Next we have 23 minutes from an old Walt Disney television episode titled "Escape to Paradise", that includes the parts of that episode that show the making of the film. Up next is original 1960 movie theatre trailers for the film, and 1960 televison spots. Then there are "Storyboard to Scene Comparisons"; a seperate "Storyboard Gallery"; and a 2 minute "Production Gallery" of photo stills from behind the scenes at location. Another gallery of production stills; "Biographies" on 8 principle actors; and "Concept Art" on the film design work.

A featurette titled "Adventure in the Making" was made just for this set, and at 49:00 minutes long it is very complete, with recent interviews of the original cast and crew. There is great behind the scenes footage in this piece, and the folks regale us with funny stories. Peter Elleshaw (matte artist), Ken Annakin (director), Danny Lee (special effects), and actors John Mills, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran are all here. ANOTHER short 4 minute featurette that was also made just for this set is "Swiss Family Treehouse" narrated by Hayley Mills, it is the pre-opening footage and the actual Opening Ceremony of the Swiss Family Robinson's Treehouse (now gone) at the Disneyland Park. Walt is really enjoying himself in this must see footage.

Included on the set is a very nice 12 minute interview with James MacArthur, who appeared in this film and 3 others for Disney along with a TV movie. This features great video as well. There is a "Pirates" music video of clips from Disney films, tv shows, cartoons, and the theme park to the tune of "Yo HO Yo HO A Pirates Life For Me". Another unusual feature has 20 minutes of excerpts from the 1940 non-disney version of the film.

The set has Audio Archives set to photos from the film, including 2 Interactive SOund Studios, 2 songs from the film, original 1960 radio spots, and the soundtrack of the original merchandise Storybook Album released on LP in 1960.

I really enjoyed this DVD, I wish all the really good classic Disney films got at least some of this kingly treatment. They are the best studio about protecting their old source material, archives, etc, and are in the best position to place intruiging extras with the movie. Thank YOU Disney for this compilation that really honors this gem of a film the way it should be!!!!

Good Movie.
This is a really good movie. Especially for little kids.... but hey, we're all little kids at heart, except for scrooge, but it's still a good movie. Both versions, new and old.

ALL AGES
This is a classic for all ages. We have watched the video over and over as a family and now need it in DVD. From my 3 yr. old niece, to my now teenage son, and my husband and I, and even my parents, it continues to draw us in. I believe its lure is that everyone can find a character to identify with, and long to prove their mettle on the island. I love introducing new generations to this tale.

Don't waste your time or money
Don't bother wasting your time or money on this movie. I don't care about the quality of the cinematography, the quality of the story is what is lacking. From the elmination of Jack, one of the Robinson children, to the blatant disregard for absolutely any speck of information from the book, this film will make you cringe in horror. Rather, go get the original book, and curl up with your family and read. It's a better use of your time than watching this garbage. It doesn't deserve the one star I was forced to give it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In English comedy at its blackest (and funniest) pitch, this droll 1955 farce finds Alec Guinness in one of his typically deft, chameleon turns as would-be criminal mastermind Professor Marcus. When Marcus's grand plan to pull off a train heist leads him to a strategically situated house occupied by the genteel Mrs. Wilberforce (Katie Johnson), the ensuing masquerade triggers a mordant, even macabre comedy of manners. With Marcus and his rough-hewn cronies (Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, and Danny Green) posing as a string quartet, and the dear lady's demise seen as the means to their larcenous end, the gang's sinister machinations are consistently, if unwittingly, foiled by the good-hearted, resourceful widow. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Black comedy at its finest
This is the kind of dark, bleak comedy that the British excelled at in the 1950s, and seems to anticipate many of the comic trends found on both sides of the Atlantic in the decades that were to follow. The plot concerns the adventures of a group of thieves who meet in the apartment of Alec Guinness, the gang's mastermind and the tenant of the lady of the title. Although the movie has many wonderful moments, I think my favorites are those in which a wildly grinning Guinness explains to his landlady the various goings on in his flat.

The cast is absolutely first rate. Even by Guinness's chameleonic standards, this is one of his more unusual performances. He made himself up to bear a striking resemblance to the great Alastair Sim, wearing some padding to make his frame look more like Sim's, and wearing false teeth and combing his hair to more successfully mimic Sim. It is a quite successful imitation, but I would enjoy knowing a bit more about why Guinness made this decision. Anyone familiar with the Pink Panther films will be delighted to see Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom as members of Guinness's gang. Lom was one of the great heavies in 1950s British film, and his casting in a comedy film was at the time highly unusual. Sellers, of course, was a few years from the film that would first bring him fame, I'm ALRIGHT, JACK, and his role in this film is not a major one. This is very definitely the "early" Peter Seller, carrying a great deal more weight before he lost a great deal because of the illnesses that plagued him throughout most of his life (Sellers suffered from a very serious heart condition the eventually killed him).

This film isn't for everyone. It isn't a film that will illicit laughs so much as smiles. And many will find the entire tone to be very, very dark, perhaps too dark for their liking. Finally, many will not enjoy a comedy in which all the major characters are essentially unlikable cads. But for those of us for whom these are not barriers, this is one of the most unique and enjoyable comedies of the 1950s.

The Ultimate Ealing Comedy
My parents took me to see "The Ladykillers" when it first came out in England in 1955--I loved it then, and I have never changed my mind. It is my favourite Ealing comedy. I will try not to duplicate other comments, but I'm pleased to see that the other reviewers think as highly of this film as I do.

Of course Sir Alec--with those horrible teeth and hair--is marvellous, but this gem is very much an ensemble piece. The rest of the "gang"--cocky young Peter Sellers--guilt-ridden Cecil Parker--dim, thuggish Danny Green--nasty, impatient Herbert Lom--are all terrific in support. As for Katie Johnson, she achieved some sort of cinematic immortality, as the sweet, little, old lady, who quite innocently undermines the gang, and its dream of enjoying the stolen "lolly". Also watch out for reliable Jack Warner playing--as always--a policeman, and a riotous cameo from a young Frankie Howerd.

The DVD is nice--the colour is pretty decent for a 48-year old film. Well done, Anchor Bay !

If you like British comedy from what many consider to be its "golden age", owning "The Ladykillers" is not a luxury--it is a necessity.

P.S. If anyone from Anchor Bay reads this, how about a nice DVD of "Genevieve " ?

Watch this, not the remake!
Alec Guinness is terrific here as the simpering, creepy criminal who uses a string quartet as a front for a huge theft. The base of operation for him and his fellow "musicians" is a room that he is renting in Mrs. Wilberforce's house. She's a kind, grandmotherly old lady who, in her own quiet and clueless way, manages to wreck all their plans.

The Ladykillers is a fantastic dark comedy; you might be shocked at how dark it can get, particularly when the frustrated criminals contemplate killing the old woman, an act made difficult by her age and general kindliness. The ending will have you hooting in delight and surprise. Really a great movie for those who savor irony and subtle humor, and who wish to see Alec Guinness in one of his greatest comedic roles.

The recent remake of the film is not worth watching. Though Tom Hanks is generally a fine actor, he does not hit the right note as the eccentric, scheming criminal; in fact, the entire remake doesn't capture the spirit of the original.

A Classic!
This is GREAT comedy, a la British! The plot is a gem, and the acting simply superb. To see Guiness, Sellers and Lom at the top of their form; and the "little old lady" is a treat. The suspense is unbearably funny and what a black comedy is all about. No holds barred here!

I wondered if you'd like some tea?
Ealing comedy at its zenith. Led by Alec 'Kenobe' Guinnes, a cabal or robbers hole up in the house of an elderly lady, Mrs Wilberforce, under the guise of a string ensemble. Mrs W eventually rumbles them and they agree there is no option left but to dispose of her. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and string ensemble is whittled down to nothing in no time.

Comedy throughout, although a very real sense of the macabre helped by the backdrop of a dark marshalling yard to the rear of the property where the final scenes are played out. Beautiful! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Vivien is stunning!
This movie is pretty cool but Vivien makes it marvelous! Hey DVD people! Why does this movie get released on DVD for the UK and not the USA? I would like this movie for my DVD collection!

It's Still A Delight! Really It Is!...
Yes, those that complain that this 1946 film version of Shaw's famous play of the same name is mainly 'stage-bound' and the acting often seems 'stilted'-- well, sigh, they surely have a point.

Bernard Shaw himself (he did not die until the 1950s) is credited with the screenplay, which may have something to do with the criticisms. Shaw is very talky and hard to 'transfer' to motion picture standards of verisimulitude, but this movie has a beautiful, delightful Vivien Leigh, the incomparable Claude Rains, the beautifully dashing Stewart Granger, plus 'old friends' of the classic British cinema such as Flora Robson, Felix Aylmer, Basil Sidney, Stanley Holloway, Leo Genn, Francis L. Sullivan -- all who appeared in wonderful films like Laurence Olivier's 'Hamlet', David Lean's 'Great Expectations' and many other intelligent pictures of that pre- and post-war (WWII, that is) period. (There is even a very very young, but very lovely as always, Jean Simmons as a slave of Cleopatra who plays the harp.)

The picture attempts an 'epic' look, with battles yet noted I'm afraid by unconvincing stunt work and 'casts of thousands' sort of milling about -- and Cecil B. De Mille does this so much better than Gabriel Pascal, the director of 'Caesar and Cleopatra'. But I myself admit I love the Shavian ambience -- the intellectual activist actually attractive (in Shaw's plays at least!) to the winsome young woman; ... friendship, discussion and respect; thought as more important than 'action-adventure'.

If Shaw's plays do seem too dated to you and they generally bore you, yes, stay far away from this film! But if you brighten when 'entertainment' is also provocative to the intellect and not only to the eye (and other sense organs) -- and particularly if you have great affection for the era of British cinema dominated by Olivier, David Lean, and the early Tony Richardson and featuring so many familiar and adept character actors that fill the firmament with 'supporting' stars, you will like the movie, and ignoring its quite obvious flaws, enjoy every minute: I guarantee it!...

Definitly a disappointment
I just recently became a Vivien Leigh fan after seeing her in great films. I picked this up at my public library, looking foward to see her again. When I put into my VCR and when this movie appeared at the screen, I must say I was terribly disappointed. Nothing like GWTW or Waterloo Bridge. Her version of Cleopatra was ofial. And Claude Rains also gave me a bad impression, since it was the first time I had ever seen him on screen. I fell asleep half way through the movie, and when I woke up, I intended to fall back asleep. It was a horrible waste to my Saturday evening. But you can't be totally harsh because Vivien Leigh was going through some tough times during the making of the movie. But i'd recommended Waterloo Bridge, or GWTW, or any other Vivien Leigh film, but not CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA.

Great Caesar's Ghost!
This is the most affordable of the great 1940's-1950's renditions of George Bernard Shaw's plays, done perfectly by great actors of their time: Claude Rains(CasaBlanca), Vivien Leigh(Gone With the Wind), Stewart Granger, et al. Mainly true to Shaw's play, it depicts a modern, empowering leader, not a military despot; clever, quick, dialectic drama, great staging, costuming, even musical scoring. This is Shaw, not history, or Shakespeare, of course. Except for Pygmalion, other Shaw plays on film cost ... more; this is a bargain for sparking the study of Shaw's brand of post-Victorian thinking. Finally, Caesar's Egypt invasion in this play suggests timely comparisons to present U.S. conflicts with Iraq, AlQuetta & the Islamic world.

Caesar and Cleopatra...Leigh/Rains Version
This version of Caesar and Cleopatra is an historical farce. The talent of Leigh and Rains are wasted on this thing. At the start of the film when Leigh meets Caesar Leigh plays the role of Cleopatra as a whimsical/foolish/giddy girl. Outrageous. Good costumes for a period piece but when compared to the Claudette Colbert or Elizabeth Taylor verions this is a disgrace. Don't bother...you have been warned. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Danny Kaye spoofs Robin Hood and Scaramouche in this inventive slapstick swashbuckler. Portraying the clownish but good-hearted entertainer Hawkins, he infiltrates the court of the corrupt Basil Rathbone (up to his usual brand of cruel villainy) disguised as the legendary king of jesters, Giacomo. After a court sorceress hypnotizes Hawkins into believing he is also a legendary assassin, Hawkins has more identities than he can keep straight, and Kaye zips back and forth between them at, literally, a snap of the fingers. Comic highlights include a wonderful sword fight with Rathbone in which he constantly switches identities, and the classic "chalice from the palace/vessel with pestle" wordplay as Hawkins plays "hide the poison" and forgets where it is. With comely Glynis Johns as his spy-in-arms love interest, Angela Lansbury as the scheming princess, and Mildred Natwick as the dotty spellcaster, this is Danny Kaye at his comic best. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Charming and Hilarious Re-telling of the Robin Hood Story
I am not a great Danny Kaye fan, but this movie is one the the very funniest I've ever seen. Everything about it is excellent, from the production values to the songs & lyrics, from the fine quality of actors to the charm and wit of the dialogue and the story. There is literally nothing wrong with this movie. It is fit for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest members of your family. I remember the first time I saw it, being struck by the fact that all the actors seemed to be having an absolutely marvellous time. Particularly during the Jester's first call at entertaining the court...unforgettable and sheer delight. Every single person on camera looked like they were having a wonderful time just being there. I hadn't seen anything like such a fine emsemble cast since 'All About Eve.' I think it must have been because there were no bad lines, no bad parts, no scenes that didn't work, and everyone had a chance to shine. Having a good material to work with really does make a world of difference. Stars Danny Kaye, Angela Landsbury, Basil Rathbone, and a host of marvellous British actors whose names are right now escaping my memory. Buy it. Keep it. Enjoy it for years.

The Brew that is True...
If one is tired of baudy bathroom humor of the typical comedies one finds today, perhaps "The Court Jester" will satisfy your comical thirst. Set in England during the time of chivalry and knighthood this musical comedy stars Danny Kaye as a ne'er do well circus performer who ends up out"fox"ing the dastardly villains, getting the girl and saving the real king's butt (so to speak). Glynis Johns plays Maid Jean whose stunning beauty and big eyes just make you melt (wow, I wish I'd been born earlier). Basil Rathbone is his typical bad self as the evil Ravenhurst playing it to the hilt! This film pulls out all the comical stops from tongue twisters to hypnosis, magnetism and even a Zorro sword play spoof with Rathbone! This is Danny Kaye's finest and funniest comedy! A must see movie!

Comedy Could Not Better Be!
In the history of the movies, fewer things are more amusing than watching Danny Kaye behave as Danny Kaye. Watching his films was a wonderful part of my childhood,and I remember being at home from High School on the day of his passing. I'm very glad for the legacy he has left us to enjoy.
In "The Court Jester" he couldn't be more in his element as he amuses us with his usual patter numbers clever, tounge-twisting lyrics and sword play, and moves us with his loving care of the orphaned infant heir to the English throne. The scene of his lullabying the baby was shown as a tribute to him at the end of "Entertainment Tonight" the weekend after his death and it was a fitting tribute to him, his love of children, and the childlike sense of wonder he brought to all of his films.
As Kaye's love interest, Jean, a charismatic Glynis Johns is highly complimentary.She is not the sterotypical woman of medeival times, but having been raised as a boy, has a lot of cunning, ingenuity, and an occassional bit of brawn as the leader of those in rebellion against Cecil Parker's evil King.
Angela Lansbury's Princess Gwendolyn longs for true love rather than an arranged marriage. She is firm and decisive in many ways, as she helps bring the tale to a positive conclusion.
As the sourceress, Mildred Natwick leads into some of the film's funniest scenes, including the notorious "Pellet with the poison is in the vessel with the pestle" routine that has become a classic.
Hubert Hawkins' cleverness in seizing the real Court Jester,(John Carradine, a man whom I could never really think of as funny) who was very arrogant, disguising himself in his clothes, and using his tounge-twisting dialogue with the King to cover his tracks is also a riot.
Basil Rathbone as the evil henchmen is a refined villian. It's amusing the way Kaye kept pushing his name out of the way during the opening credits, and I have wondered how often Hawkins' accelerated knighthood ceremony had to be rehearsed before those on the set could stop laughing.

Although the film overlooks the fact that a person can't be hypnotized against their will, the way Hubert Hawkins is, the comedy is generally light, and goofy, doesen't get any saucier than the exposure of an infant's backside, and children will love it.
And as Hawkins reassures us at the beginning,"What starts like a scary tale ends like a fairy tale, and life couldn't possibly better be!"

So funny your cheeks will ache from laughing!!
This is one of Danny Kaye's best. He was so talented and his comic timing is impeccable. The "chalice from the palace" scene is so funny that I have not forgotten it over the years. This movie will get you out of the blues in no time.

You will go and buy this movie and do it like that (snap)!
This is my favorite movie of all time. When I was a kid Danny Kaye movies played every Sunday morning and we would wait the few months until it came around again.

I have never stopped laughing at the scenes, the funny interplay between Danny Kaye and the court and his continual buffonery.

Even kids will love this movie. It starts with a dance routine which is almost like Robin Hood Men in Tights. That is quaint, yet the next scene will take you in and take you on the funniest rides of all time.

Kaye, disquised as an old man who is hard of hearing having a scream fest with the captain of the guard. This few minutes is one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed. Then there are just funny scenes that will make you split your sides with laughter from there on out.

The wit it took to bring together this cast and the concept of the movie seems that it will never be outdated.

What Danny Kaye and the rest do here is ascend age and time making this movie appeal to any age group, young or old. I have seen a young family start off thinking this was a silly movie then, taken by the first comedic interaction, launch into continuous laughter. I laugh getting a kick out of watching everyone else laugh too.

This movie is a must for any DVD or VHS library. Share it with your friends, watch it when you are a little too stressed out to do anything else to lighten up your day.

The plays on words, the different fast paced situational scenes that will have you thinking; 'how clever...,' even when you think that Hawkins/Giacommo is at his end, then it gets even funnier. The Chalis with the poisly has the pellet with the pesly......

This movie is so fast paced that you cannot believe you have sat there and laughed for the better part of 90 minutes. The great thing about the DVD, you do not have to worry about watching this over and over again and wearing it out.

This movie has great color and scenery. The imagery is wonderful. You wonder if they really were in a castle.

Laugh and love this movie......I recommend it for school, church and family activities. It is a classic that may become more well known with time. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One of Alec Guinness's best comedic films of the fifties
Although Alec Guinness had already achieved a fair degree of fame on stage and on screen by the time he made THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT, this is, in fact, one of his earliest starring roles. Strictly speaking, although he had portrayed eight characters in 1949's KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS, this was his first comedy in which is played the lead. Playing inventor Sidney Stratton, Guinness further cemented his burgeoning reputation as one of England's most interesting and versatile actors.

The film features a marvelous though, to early 21st century film fans, largely unknown cast. Joan Greenwood, who is one of my favorite actresses in the history of film--beautiful, effortlessly sexy and sensual, enormously talented, and possessed of one of the great voices in the history of cinema--plays Guinness's romantic counterfoil. Cecil Parker, who while never a star, seemed to populate dozens of successful films without ever calling attention to himself. The film also features a typical performance by Ernest Thesiger, who played ancient-old-man parts for over forty years in films and is one of the most unique looking actors in British film history.

The story involves a quirky scientist inventing cloth that never gets dirty and never wears out, but which comes out of the lab pure white. This was at a time when a whole range of new synthetic fabrics were hitting the market, so the subject was very topical at the time. The plot revolves around the anticipated effects such material would have on the textile industry. The film is a comedy, but it is the kind of comedy that creates more smiles than laughs. It is not less delightful for that.

What Is Big Business Hiding From Us?
Alec Guinness plays another one of the oddball characters he often played in 1950's British films, this time as an inventor/scientist of a miracle fabric that will not wear out or get dirty. It seems like a great idea to him and to the owner of the factory where he makes it, but then the economic reality of it becomes an issue. What will happen to fabric manufacturers and the clothing industry if clothing doesn't wear out? Will unions let that happen? Trapped in the middle of all this turmoil is Guinness, glowing in his white suit. He delivers yet another terrific performance, and is well supported by so many fine British character actors. The film is well written, although I found the first fifteen minutes or so a little confusing. The premise is great, and it makes you question whether there are a lot of potential products not being invented because of their long term effects on big business, regardless of their usefulness to the general public!

YaDADUMdeeDOODAHaY
I'm not eggsactly sure how to justify my rating or describe this film. It's not exactly a great, touching, or brilliant film. It's a bit dry. The humor is there but only so long as you're the sort of person to laugh at the bleakest of insights, the bitterest of satires, or the most depressing qualities of society. It is as relevant to the present as it is to it's own time. It is entertaining to a degree, if fairly obvious on the surface. Alec Guinness is a good actor and suits The Man in the White Suit perfectly.

This is the sort of film I can admire, enjoy watching once, reflect upon for a little bit afterwards, get depressed and/or happy about what it implies, type off a quick review, and be done with it. It's definately not a 50s romp though comedy like Some Like It Hot, more of an intelligent satire that's more than average in entertaining and a little bit more lighthearted than Sunset Boulevard.

Whiteout
Would anyone really want to live in a perfect world? That momentous question and nothing less is the theme of Alexander Mackendrick's comedy, which despite it's high reputation is still, to my mind, one of the most underrated films in the world's cinema. Mackendrick examines what the human race really means by perfection in this allegory about a semi-mad scientist who seems to invent a perpetually clean, tear-proof cloth. There goes any need for variety in anybody's clothing, ever, and although the textile industry is the setting for the story it doesn't take much imagination to see the director's point in a larger context. Mark Twain used to say that the Christian idea of heaven sounded like hell to him, and we see that same insight brought to visual life here. An impeccable cast, headlined both by the great Alec Guinness and by Joan Greenwood, whose voice was almost as distinctive as Guinness'. As a social comedy I rate it with Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove," and I can think of no higher praise.

Emperor's New Clothes set with socio-economic issues...
The driven Sidney Stratton (Alec Guinness) bounces from job to job as he finds a way to sneak into each textile company's laboratory where he commences his own scientific investigations in regards to a new resistible fabric. This fabric should be able to withstand almost anything and even repel dirt. However, each time he gets close to finding the solution he must escape or is taken for a mad man. Man in the White Suit is an interesting satire as it combines the Emperor's New Clothes with socio-economic issues in a modern setting. This comedy is enhanced through Alec Guinness's character Stratton who is rather eccentric and absentminded as he performs with his usual brilliance, which leaves the audience with a wonderful cinematic experience. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Indiscreet is Indescribable!
Indiscreet is one of my favorite Cary Grant movies of all time!
Ingrid Bergmand & Cary Grant are at their all time most charming selves in this light-hearted romantic comedy. Bergman, who has shown her talents in suspenseful thrillers such as Notorious, is surprisingly outstanding in comedy! Will Anne (Bergman) who plays a famous stage actress and Phillip (Grant) an international financier get together? In the course of finding out, you will be delighted with the amusing interactions & banter which so accurately characterize men & women in romantic relationships. Ingrid Bergman is stunning and stylish and her apartment is to die for. Grant is debonair and charming as always. The lines in this movie are timeless! A favorite scene includes watching Grant dance with Bergman at a ballroom type function. This is a movie you can watch again & again and love even more each time.

A nice romantic comedy...
Although this is not one of my all-time favorites, it is still a funny and charming film. In many ways, it is not as good as many of Cary Grant's earlier screwball comedies...but that can also be a matter of personal taste. The script is not as witty and frantic as the screwball comedies, but the movie is more romantic and is given a real sense of warmth by the affectionate behavior of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman.

Essentially, Indiscreet is the story of a romance between actress Anna (Ingrid Bergman) and diplomat Philip (Cary Grant). There are several surprising twists and turns, and to explain anything more would be to give too much away.

Anyhow, one reason Indiscreet is such a nice film is that the real life friendship and warmth between Cary and Ingrid comes though very well, and they are very believable together! Indiscreet also has several funny scenes, especially the one in which Cary does a hysterical tap dance at a fancy ball. The two stars seem to be having fun, and you will too while watching them. This film is good for the whole family, and is very enjoyable: highly recommended.

A GREAT DUO STARS IN AN ELEGANT COMEDY.
Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman are always delightful to see in a movie, because they were two of the greatest actors of their era. "Indiscreet" isn't the typical romantic comedy, because it's much more subtle than that kind of movies. Cary Grant appeared in a lot of excellent comedies like "Bringing Up Baby", "His Girl Friday" or "The Philadelphia Story" to name a few, but Ingrid Bergman wasn't the usual choice to cast in a comedy, perhaps because her specialty were the dramas ("Casablanca", of course). Well, despite that Ingrid did a great work in "Indiscreet".

In this movie our classy duo must overcome adversities of all kind, and to be honest, I didn't laugh out loud with "Indiscreet", but I was interested in the plot at all time. Perhaps a different casting would have resulted in a very standard movie, but Cary and Ingrid can make a good movie even better.

So if you are interested in movies where Cary Grant appears, or you are interested in Ingrid Bergman's filmography, well, "Indiscreet" is a good choice. Good movie.

Warning - watch out for this one!
This is a great film. Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman really click and it's a shame they only made two films together. However, I can't recommend buying this particular VHS release of Indiscreet. Hello! - it's recorded in the EP (SLP) mode and also letterboxed and a lot of quality is lost - very blurry. Strange that the other films in the Cary Grant Collection released by Republic are recorded in standard SP, digitally remastered and all that. This one is strictly for the bargain bin at K-Mart.

Also disappointed by DVD quality
I was excited by this movie coming out on DVD because this is a wonderful movie but the quality of the DVD picture and sound was awful. The content of this movie is 5 stars, as far as I am concerned, but the quality of the DVD is 1 or 2 stars. ... Read more

Description

Together with The 39 Steps, this inspired mix of mystery, comedy, and romance catapulted Hitchcock to international fame.Cowritten by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder, the always clever script pits a bossy debutante and a young music scholar against a ring of ruthless spies. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Criterion is Cool
I don't have the other DVD version to compare this with, but this Criterion edition of THE LADY VANISHES is very good. There is an animated index page with the sound of a train. The print of this film looks very good -- of special interest is the "restoration" section of the index. Through the use of "wipes" the Criterion people show you a before and after version of the cleaned-up print. Very neat.

There is also a commentary from a film historian which is interesting, if a bit dry. I didn't get a chance to listen to the whole thing yet.

This is a good Hitchcock movie. It's a lot of fun -- as innocent as a Nancy Drew mystery at times, but with interesting strokes from the master! I had a good time.

DELIGHTFUL, SURPRISING GEM
"The Lady Vanishes" is a sparkling Hitchcock cocktail that looks forward to "North By Northwest" with its light adventure/mystery plotline and romantic/witty humor. Lockwood and Redgrave are spirited and always believable and understated in their roles, and if the mystery ultimately is revealed to be a trifle thin, Hitchcock makes the journey there so much fun that we don't mind in the least. (After all, this doesn't have the depth and poetic quality of "Vertigo"--but it isn't meant to.) Wry support from the secondary cast adds humor and social commentary, and a few trademark Hitchcock images give what could have been (in lesser hands) a claustraphobic production, a real cinematic charge. The Criterion DVD is remarkable: crisp, clean images, and a great and always interesting commentary from Bruce Eder. This is the kind of film whose reputation will continue to grow with time; its understated performances and Nancy Drew type premise give it a surprisingly timeless feel. For Hitchcock fans, the film and the Criterion disc are a must.

No "North by Northwest," but good early Hitchcock
This is early Hitchcock and you can see the talent that was already there. He made this story into a great suspense film, even though there were quite a few implausibilities. It's an odd film, though, in that it mixes a rather dark story (woman disappearing on a train) with an almost slapstick feel at times. This caught me off guard, and sometimes subverted the tension Hitchcock was trying to create. But it's a very witty film, quite fast-paced once it gets going, and very suspenseful. Definitely a fine example of early Hitchcock and an interesting look at turn-of-the-century Scotland.
Also, since this is a Criterion edition, the special features are excellent. Even more impressive, considering that the movie was made in 1935. They include an original press book that you can zoom in on and read, as well as commentary.

a great release for Criterion and one of Hitchcock's best !
The Lady vanishes is one of my most favorite Hitchcock films.

In it a young British woman meets an older Biritsh woman on a train in continental Europe. Later, her friend is nowhere to be seen and when no one else remembers her being there, she suspects a conspiracy.

It is another great one of the Pre WWII films that talks about Europe having 'problems' that will eventually lead to the second war.

Brilliant entertainment, nicely packaged
Along with The 39 Steps and The Man Who Knew Too Much, the Lady Vanishes represents the very best of Hitchcock's pre-Hollywood output.

It's a gripping tale told well. All the usual Hitchcock tricks and idiosyncracies are present and correct; the blonde, the train, and of course the murder and the fiendish twists.

Hitchcock was often at his best when designing films in restricted locations, so much of this takes place on a train, a train on which, of course, a lady - one Ms Foy - vanishes and everyone denies she ever even existed. Margaret Lockwood is excellent as the young woman determined to prove her own sanity by finding out what happened to Ms Foy.

And Michael Redgrave is great as the caddish wiseacre who is the only passenger who'll believe her.

Hitchcock was always great at getting the right chemistry between his leads, and this is another relationship with crackling, intelligent, slightly subversive dialogue.

It rips along at a great speed for a film of its vintage and deserves its place in the Hitchcock canon as his last truly great English film. But even forgetting who made it, forgetting its historical interest, its still an evolving, light-hearted yarn with all the elements you would want; action, romance, comedy and, naturally, suspense.

Brilliant entertainment, nicely packaged with a commentary and added material - although it's the film you'll come back to again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

this movie is slightly worse than rollerball
on a scale of one too one million with one million being the best this movie was aproximately a -10000.597. The acting in porn movies is alot better than the acting in this movie.a low budget porn film.If i had the choice of seing this movie and watching midgets play monopoly id watch the midgets.The only reason for anyone to watch this movie is to see dirk's nice package.:-->

*Kissing Dirk Bogard*
Nope, he never got to kiss the girl. And the movie wasn't in color, either. Didn't have to be. This is THE BEST, most beautiful version ever made of the finest tale of heroism ever told. A 5 (out of five) Kleenexes rating for A Tale of Two Cities, starring Dirk Bogard!! Don't confuse it with any other version of this movie. No man alive played the indolent wastrel, Sidney, with the intensity that Dirk did. A unique performance! The others were great too.

You watchers of TITANIC (it was OK), get a real movie, will you?

"It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have done before. It is a better rest I go to...than I have ever had."

Beat that for unforgettable if you can. Hand me another Kleenex. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Money Isn't Everything
Robert Donat, an excellent actor who made too few films, stars as a young English doctor who enters the profession with many ideals and dreams, but loses them along the path of his life. Rosalind Russell stars as the schoolteacher he marries that loves his ideals, while Ralph Richardson and Rex Harrison are doctors he befriends at different points in his life. Richardson believes in helping the regular man and that money is not important, while Harrison treats wealthy hypochondriacs in between fancy lunches and golf games. The message of the film is pretty obvious, and there are some slow parts. But the acting is fine, with special praise to Richardson who has a number of showy moments. It's one of those stories that reminds us that money isn't everything.

Fine medical melodrama, very heartfelt.
This is a wonderful screen adaptation of the classic novel that deals with a Doctor in Great Britain as he struggles with the entrenched medical establishment. The film is dated, of course, and may be a bit slow for modern tastes. The lead actors are mostly fine in their roles, although Robert Donat as Dr. Manson seems to be somewhat conflicted in his motivations. Rosalind Russell gives an excellent performance as Dr. Manson's highly-principled wife. Ralph Richardson does a great supporting turn as a flawed physician desperately trying to reclaim his humanity. His impassioned plea to Dr. Manson to join him in a preventative care group is one of the highlights of the film. A very young Rex Harrison does a nice job as a society doctor. Overall, this is a highly watchable film with a delighful cast and a relevant storeyline. I would highly recommend this film, especially to anyone in the medical profession.

A Doctor's struggle with morality in the world of medicine.
This is a moving and beautifully acted film about a doctor who attempts to be a courageous and moral man in his practice. Robert Donat is superb as Andrew Manson-- a man who begins his career with dreams of healing people without any compromises, then later is challenged by the material temtations of his profession. This film is a great story and has an incredible scene at the end, reminiscent of the ending bridge scene in "Its a Wonderful Life". I recommend this movie highly! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Christian Dior really ought to be considered one of the stars of Indiscreet, director Stanley Donen's consummately glamorous, altogether grown-up love story. The magnificent 1950s "New Look" gowns Dior designed for Ingrid Bergman, herself at the peak of sophistication and loveliness, are a high point of the film's chic, cosmopolitan mise en scène. Bergman plays Anne Kalman, a celebrated actress who's "the envy of everyone who knows her," yet is bored and lonely. Then she meets suave diplomat Philip Adams (Cary Grant), her match in every way: looks, charm, elegance--the works. The electricity is palpable between them and neither makes any attempt to hide that fact. When Anne learns that Philip is an expert on international finance, she's bold enough to crack: "I'm crazy about hard currency."

It's the very maturity of the romance between Anne and Philip that makes this movie so exhilarating, so romantic, and so affecting. When people fall in love at "a certain age" it's much more poignant; much more is at stake. (The film has a truly surprising plot twist, which throws everything into chaos.) The two "sadder but wiser" stars Bergman and Grant had certainly seen their share of love and heartbreak by this time in their lives, and it shows. (Grant was on the third of his five marriages; Bergman's career had already survived the scandal of her adulterous affair with Roberto Rossellini.) It's fascinating to watch them both, knowing what we know of their personal lives: to see Bergman's Anne throw caution to the wind to commit an "indiscretion" with a married man; to observe Grant/Philip's distinct ambivalence about the institution of marriage. It's a case of picture-perfect casting. --Laura Mirsky ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Indiscreet is Indescribable!
Indiscreet is one of my favorite Cary Grant movies of all time!
Ingrid Bergmand & Cary Grant are at their all time most charming selves in this light-hearted romantic comedy. Bergman, who has shown her talents in suspenseful thrillers such as Notorious, is surprisingly outstanding in comedy! Will Anne (Bergman) who plays a famous stage actress and Phillip (Grant) an international financier get together? In the course of finding out, you will be delighted with the amusing interactions & banter which so accurately characterize men & women in romantic relationships. Ingrid Bergman is stunning and stylish and her apartment is to die for. Grant is debonair and charming as always. The lines in this movie are timeless! A favorite scene includes watching Grant dance with Bergman at a ballroom type function. This is a movie you can watch again & again and love even more each time.

A nice romantic comedy...
Although this is not one of my all-time favorites, it is still a funny and charming film. In many ways, it is not as good as many of Cary Grant's earlier screwball comedies...but that can also be a matter of personal taste. The script is not as witty and frantic as the screwball comedies, but the movie is more romantic and is given a real sense of warmth by the affectionate behavior of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman.

Essentially, Indiscreet is the story of a romance between actress Anna (Ingrid Bergman) and diplomat Philip (Cary Grant). There are several surprising twists and turns, and to explain anything more would be to give too much away.

Anyhow, one reason Indiscreet is such a nice film is that the real life friendship and warmth between Cary and Ingrid comes though very well, and they are very believable together! Indiscreet also has several funny scenes, especially the one in which Cary does a hysterical tap dance at a fancy ball. The two stars seem to be having fun, and you will too while watching them. This film is good for the whole family, and is very enjoyable: highly recommended.

A GREAT DUO STARS IN AN ELEGANT COMEDY.
Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman are always delightful to see in a movie, because they were two of the greatest actors of their era. "Indiscreet" isn't the typical romantic comedy, because it's much more subtle than that kind of movies. Cary Grant appeared in a lot of excellent comedies like "Bringing Up Baby", "His Girl Friday" or "The Philadelphia Story" to name a few, but Ingrid Bergman wasn't the usual choice to cast in a comedy, perhaps because her specialty were the dramas ("Casablanca", of course). Well, despite that Ingrid did a great work in "Indiscreet".

In this movie our classy duo must overcome adversities of all kind, and to be honest, I didn't laugh out loud with "Indiscreet", but I was interested in the plot at all time. Perhaps a different casting would have resulted in a very standard movie, but Cary and Ingrid can make a good movie even better.

So if you are interested in movies where Cary Grant appears, or you are interested in Ingrid Bergman's filmography, well, "Indiscreet" is a good choice. Good movie.

Warning - watch out for this one!
This is a great film. Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman really click and it's a shame they only made two films together. However, I can't recommend buying this particular VHS release of Indiscreet. Hello! - it's recorded in the EP (SLP) mode and also letterboxed and a lot of quality is lost - very blurry. Strange that the other films in the Cary Grant Collection released by Republic are recorded in standard SP, digitally remastered and all that. This one is strictly for the bargain bin at K-Mart.

Also disappointed by DVD quality
I was excited by this movie coming out on DVD because this is a wonderful movie but the quality of the DVD picture and sound was awful. The content of this movie is 5 stars, as far as I am concerned, but the quality of the DVD is 1 or 2 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Fairly Pointless Story
LADY L is a film about an octogenarian aristocrat (Sophia Loren) who reminisces about her steamy life as lover of an anarchist (Paul Newman) and wife of the sophisticated David Niven. The film has a lot of great scenery and a thoroughly competent cast but not much of a story.

Loren's husband Carlo Ponti is the producer. Peter Ustibov is the director and screenwriter. The film is based on a novel by Romain Gary. The supporting cast includes Cecil Parker, Claude Dauphin, Philippe Noiret and Michel Piccoli.

A Wonderfully Querky movie!
This movie is so "nutty" that you are laughing the whole time... Paul Newman and Sophia Loren sizzle the screen! A great movie with a humdinger of an ending!

The movie is about eclectic Lady Louise. A friend wants to write her biography and she is delighted, but boy is the friend in for a surprise... she takes him to her summer home and tells her life story, ending it with a shocking revelation. A very good movie.

Nice video
The action is not availaible in the film, but the best actor is Mr. Raymond Schlatter that appeared in the film holding Sofia Loren in Switzerland. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Classic Hitchcock Double Bill
It would be hard to beat this video package for value for money - two Hitchcock British classics for a very low price. Thankfully, in spite of the bargain price and the age of the films, the sound and visual quality are very good.

The 39 Steps is perhaps not very faithful to the John Buchan book it is based on, but it is rather more enjoyable. Hitchcock maintains all the mystery of the Buchan original, but he adds his own brand of suspense and humour. With the obligatory added love interest, Hitchcock maintains the humour of the film and adds a degree of salaciousness and even sado-masochistim in the plight of the potential lovers handcuffed together. Of course they can't stand each other, but their experiences lead them to fall in love. The 2 travelling lingerie salesmen who share the train carriage with the fleeing Hannay are wonderfully funny, but also menacing, as they hold the newspaper that declares his "crime" on the front page. The film has several great set pieces which are justifiably famous in cinema history - including Hannay hanging from the Forth railway bridge, the evening at the mean Scottish crofter's house and the Music Hall finale.

The Lady Vanishes also blends mystery and suspense with romance and humour, based around a paper thin plot of "spies". The story is a classic journey on a train in "middle Europe" at some point where Europe is on the brink of war and the vanishing governess who is really a spy. Of course noone believes her companion that she was on the train, but we and she know that she was and that she will be found and rescued. The plot is engaging and some of the clues tantalizing, but the real joy comes from the eccentric cast of British characters.

As the main coup takes place at 5 in the afternoon in the refreshment car, the British are all trapped together having tea. They behave with typical British phlegm and courage for the most part, apart from the cowardly adulterous barrister, who tries to surrender to the enemy rather than fight to protect his mistress and fellow characters. He is, of course, shot.

Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave are entertaining as the sparring lovers who start off hating each other and end up in love. And Dame May Witty is so delicious as the spinster spy you really could eat her.

But y favourite characters are Charters and Caldecott two dim-witted Englishmen abroad whose only interest in life is cricket. Their cameo performance was so popular they later appeared in other British films, not directed by Hitchcock. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY...
You can't get much more wholesome than this. This film definitely has the Disney stamp all over it. The Swiss Family Robinson are on their way to New Guinea. Chased by pirates on the high seas, their ship runs up against a reef, and they find themselves shipwrecked by a deserted tropical island. They manage to get themselves and all their belongings and animals ashore, intact and none the worse for wear.

The mother, played by the lovely Dorothy McGuire, is always clean, perfectly groomed and coiffed. The father, played by the wonderful English actor, John Mills, is positively cheerful the entire film. Talk about optimism. His three sons, played by the hunky James MacArthur, the adorable Tommy Kirk, and the cute-as-a-button Kevin Corcoran, work tirelessly to make their new home into an island paradise.

In record time, they build a multi-level house to die for, high up in the trees. Somehow, they manage to get a pipe organ off the wrecked ship, ashore, and up into their multi-level tree house, so that they can sing Christmas Carols at the appropriate time. Kevin Corcoran even has a baby elephant for a pet, and they parade around their sculpted lawn, which is surrounded by what appears to be a beautifully manicured, English country garden.

After a while, two of the boys set out on a home made sail boat to check the terrain around the island. They discover yet another casualty of the pirates' onslaught, delightfully played by Janet Munro. The two older boys are sweet on her, which causes a little fun loving tension. All is well, until the pirates come a-calling on the island, and all you know what breaks loose. Never fear. Rescue is on the way.

Who in their right mind, however, would ever want to be rescued from this magical island, where nothing can possibly go wrong, and everyone loves each other? Pure Disney fantasy, this film is a lot of fun to watch and, better yet, can be enjoyed by the whole family. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Hitchcock stretches with mixed success
A period piece directed by Hitchcock? Yes, it is a surprise. It wasn't the first though It must have surprised Hitch as well. While produced by his own company (Transatlantic Pictures), Under Capricorn would seem a natural choice for David O Selznick as producer but all wrong for Hitchcock as director. While Under Capricorn is flawed, it's got a number of strengths chiefly the performance by Ingrid Bergman and the unusual experiment begun in Rope with long takes. Under Capricorn doesn't rely on as many gimmicks as Rope did and, while Joseph Cotton may seem odd for his role (Burt Lancaster was Hitchcock's original choice), he does a solid job in the role. Although the Irish accent perpetually eludes the three principal actors, it's no worse than watching a film set in, say, Germany with actors attempting German accents while speaking English.

Yes, the material might seem appropriate for Hitch given the themes explored but this romantic melodrama was really quite a stretch for him as a director. The experience here certainly made his later works richer (such as Vertigo) but, on the whole, Under Capricorn was clearly a learning experience for Hitch.

The performances are grand and as florid as one might expect given the material. The screenplay by James Bridie (with considerable rewriting by Hume Cronyn)leaves Hitch in a lifeboat without oars; Hitch pretty much goes nowhere over the course of the film's 116 minutes. Unfortunately, this expensive miscalculation would do in Hitch's Transatlantic films (Rope was the first Transatlantic production and, despite some obvious flaws, is a much better film).

Still, despite its considerable flaws, Under Capricorn is a worthy experiment and worth a look from Hitchcock fans. The transfer is solid although not as rich as I expected and the extras are pretty slim (especially compared to Rope and Shadow of a Doubt).

Hitchcock's caution backfired during shooting
The former reviewer is right, of course: UNDER CAPRICORN was not produced by Selznick, as I wrote in my first comment, but by Hitchcock himself. I was led to this error because the sight of Margaret Leighton and Joseph Cotten in those costumes and on those sets reminded me so mucn of GONE WITH THE WIND and DUEL IN THE SUN.

The film is watchable, no question. There is no such thing as an "unwatchable" Hitchcock film. The cinematography (By Jack Cardiff, who also made THE RED SHOES and BLACK NARCISSUS) is attractive and Ingrid Bergman is very moving, especially in the scene where she pulls herself together and makes an attempt to run the household. The kitchen-maids, used to Leighton's strict rule, disobey, and Bergman realizes that she has no authority in her own house. Leighton strides to Bergman's bedroom and systematically exposes her and her bottles in front of her guests. But this is probably the only good scene in the entire film.

The fact that Hitchcock produced it himself, explains much of the film's shortcomings: He wanted to play it safe, because his own money was at stake. UNDER CAPRICORN must have looked terrific on paper, but his caution during shooting robbed the story of everything that must have attracted him in the first place. And he fails with one of the most potent subjects: mesalliance. A society lady marries her stable-boy, suffers under the loss of her social position and drowns her sorrows in the bottle. An interesting premise, but Hitchcock fails completely to elucidate their complex relationship. Hasn't Cotten every reason to be depressed since his wife considers him so obviously as her punishment? And what would have happened after all those years of his (not so selfless) self-sacrifice, if Bergman had refused to meet her part of the deal? Hitchcock answers no questions, and his gingerly approach paralyses the film to such a degree that the potentially most interesting scenes are not even shown: Bergman and Cotten were too grown up to play teenagers, and Hitchcock was unwilling to curtail their precious screen-presence for a flashback with younger actors. So they simply tell their story to the patiently listening Michael Wilding, and instead of psychology, the director resorts to a gunshot to bring the film to a conclusion. And that's it, plotwise.

UNDER CAPRICORN could have had the drama of WUTHERING HEIGHTS or the comedy of THE PRINCESS AND THE SWINEHERD. Hitchcock prevents the story from gliding into parody, but his direcion is heavy-handed and maladroit. The film lacks dynamism: Other stars in Hitchcock films, like James Stewart or Anthony Perkins were not exactly hyperactive, either, but the director explored the dark obsessions beneath their apparent phlegm. In Bergman and Cotten he had top actors, but he was too afraid to rely on their talent, and pushed them around like pawns instead. UNDER CAPRICORN may look like a masterpiece when compared with all those "Hitchcockian" thrillers made by the master's clones. But the director of VERTIGO & Co deserves to be measured by the standart he set with his best films, and in this context UNDER CAPRICORN is not worth more than a 3/5.

eva25at is ignorant
...First of all this is NOT a Selznic picture. Hitchcock was free from his contract with selznic after "The Paradine Case." Hitchcock produced this under his own Transatlantic Productions.
Selznic didn't have the remotest thing to do with this movie! No this isn't as good as most Hitchcock movies but it is entertaining.

A forgotten gem comes to DVD!!
First off my thanks to Image for bringing this little seen Hitchcock film to DVD. I haven't seen the DVD yet so I don't know how the color hues of this late 40's film have held up. Image was a high quality Laserdisc producer and they have carried on with DVD. They have produced fifty titles for Universal and many more both for other studios and on their own. While light on extras the price, at least lately, is always fair for the product offered. Something I can't say of every DVD producer out there. "Under Capricorn" was Ingrid Bergman's last film for Hitchcock. Shot in color it does feature a Hitchcock cameo appearance in a crowd. While it does not have the flash of some of his later films, it has some moody and creepy moments as Bergman is being haunted by a jealous housekeeper. Also notable is Joseph Cotten who gives his usual excellent performance along with a nice turn by Michael Wilding. As the 1993 Sterling Video VHS release has been out of print for some time I can't wait to see this DVD. Thanks, CAL

Doomed to failure.
This film is doomed from the start. Quality actors Cecil Parker and Michael Wilding appear and their very presence guarantees that the film will never sink below the level of well-groomed britsh film-making. Neither will it rise above. Superior workmanship. Tasteful performances. No risks taken. No surprises. Unless you are surprised to find crime in a Hitchcock film. The crime, in this case fratricide, is committed by society lady Ingrid Bergman. Joseph Cotten, her stableman bears her blame, spends seven years in a penal colony (in chains) and marries her. His housekeeper (Margaret Leighton) supplies Bergman with booze and frightens her with shrunken heads in order to drive her to insanity and become lady of the house. Michael Wilding has a crush on Bergman, a fact that drives Cotten to violent jealousy. Soon Wilding has a bullet in his stomach and this may cost Cotten his head...

Producer David O. Selznick's obsession to repeat the success of GONE WITH THE WIND presents us with expensive sets, a waste of money, since most of the action takes place inside the house. Did no one involved with this film have the idea of putting some kangaroos ih the garden? Cotten's "australian" farm looks like Tara, even Vivien Leigh is here - no it's her carbon copy Margaret Leighton who gives us a cross between Scarlett O'Hara, Mrs. Danvers and Charles Boyer in GASLIGHT. Ingrid Bergman looks beautiful and gives a credible performance as tired alcoholic. No hysterics, just desperate passivity. She should have played in LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT instead of Katharine Hepburn. What a career Joseph Cotten had in the forties! CITIZEN KANE, SHADOW OF A DOUBT, THE THIRD MAN! Then he gave himself in King Vidor's deadly embrace and made DUEL IN THE SUN and BEYOND THE FOREST. Vidor himself could have saved UNDER CAPRICORN. He would have sexed things up a bit and given the story the high-camp treatment it deserved. With tasteful Hitch at the helm the film never rises above average. Attempt at resuscitation failed! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders
If you take this version of Moll Flanders and compare it to the other versions, the other ones are better. But if you take this film and place it amongst other movies (not Moll Flanders-related), this film is pretty decent.
It's not a drama, if that's what you're thinking. It's actually a bawdy comedy, and I have to disagree with other viewers. This film has sort of a Monty Python/Three Stooges thing going on here which actually makes the movie interesting and funny for everyone...even the kiddies! I have little brothers and they love Jemmy's sidekick in this!
Well-casted, well-acted...it's actually pretty good. There isn't really anything wrong with this that made me lower the star rating - I just find it's not the best movie in the world. But I still love it. Hehe.

A Kim Novak Movie, for a change
Usually, whenever I've encountered Ms. Novak, she was part of somebody else's movie, "Vertigo" starring James Steward or "Pal Joey" starring Frank Sinatra. This time, she stands alone--and it's not very outstanding at all, I'm afraid.

Likes like a "Tom Jones" rip-off, and a very un-funny one at that. I had had great hopes for George Sanders, but even he can't bolster up this Tom Turkey.

What a shame, too, because the book "Moll Flanders" is so interesting. Well, I guess you can take THAT out of the library if you really have to. ... Read more