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Peter Yates's 1968 cop drama has its existentialist pretensions, but there is something seductive about its strained seriousness and Steve McQueen's intentionally stoic performance as a San Francisco police detective on the trail of a murderer. A couple of key action sequences boost the film's stature, the most memorable of which is a vertiginous car chase that Yates almost approaches as a dance. Jacqueline Bisset provides window dressing as Bullitt's girlfriend--worried about how much his job strips away his humanity--and Robert Vaughan is almost reptilian as an opportunistic politician. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Bullitt Hits The Mark
1968's Bullitt is best known for its classic car chase scene that is still considered by many to the best of all time. The movie is worth watching for that scene alone as Steve McQueen's fastback Mustang chases down a Dodge Charger for a tense ten minutes through the streets of San Francisco. Even without that memorable scene, Bullitt is a classic 60's film. Mr. McQueen's performance as steely police detective Frank Bullitt is one of his best and the forerunner of the anti-heroes that would dominate films of the 70's. The plot revolves around a seemingly routine job for Bullitt and his men to protect a mob informant (Pat Renella) who is set to testify before a Senate subcommittee. When two hitmen break into the safe house and fatally wound the informant and injury another detective, Bullitt begins to have questions and takes up investigating the case on his own with the help of fellow detective Delgetti (Don Gordon). Fighting them at every turn is ruthless and ambitious senator Chalmers played with unctuous smarm by Robert Vaughan. Jacqueline Bissett co-stars in one of her first roles as Bullitt's girlfriend and Robert Duvall has a bit part as a cabbie. Director Peter Yates crafts a gritty look to the film and editor Frank Keller won the Academy Award for his superb work.

Steve McQueen scorches the streets of San Francisco
Arguably the best crime film of 1968, and certainly one of the most influential films of the genre...."Bullitt" established new directions in the mood and style of crime thrillers, and firmly established McQueen as one of the key anti-hero stars of the 60's. Based on the gritty novel "Mute Witness" by Robert L. Pike, this was the first, and only, time McQueen portrayed a police officer (albeit a maverick one) in his movie career. In 1968 Steve was then riding high on the success of his previous crime film, "The Thomas Crown Affair", and "Bullitt" just propelled his star even higher into the heavens !

The plot is tight, economical and well crafted....taciturn, moody Detective Frank Bullitt (McQueen) is charged with the protection of a key witness vital to an upcoming trial involving Mafia connections. Whilst hidden away in a supposed secure location, the witness and his police guard are brutally gunned down by unknown assailants. The heat is turned up on Bullitt by his tough Captain (Simon Oakland) and the manipulative, opportunistic politician Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) to come up with the right answers fast ! Between the draining investigation, Bullitt struggles to maintain his relationship with his cultured, sensitive girlfriend, Cathy (Jacqueline Bisset)

Primarily coming from a TV series background, Englishman Peter Yates (directing his fourth movie) did a commendable job as director on "Bullitt"...producing a complex, intense crime thriller with a unique style that would ultimately influence many other films. Yates would later to go onto direct Robert Mitchum in the excellent "sleeper" crime film "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" !

And of course "Bullitt" is reknowned for it's now legendary car chase between Frank Bullitt's 390 GT Mustang and the two hitmen in their black, Dodge Charger 440 Magnum barrelling through the city streets and highways of San Francisco....just don't pay too much attention to how many times they pass that slow-moving, green VW Beetle !!

The DVD transfer is excellent in both sound and picture quality, and the Limited Edition Set with the extra goodies (Single sheet poster, shooting draft, lobby cards etc.) is a real bonus for keen film fans !!

One of my favourite cop thrillers....McQueen sizzles on screen !!

Put on a Sweater
This detective drama aimed to be the essence of cool, and succeeded, in fact it's a little too cool, can somebody turn up the thermostat? Barely anybody in the picture is allowed to show any genuine emotion, although one of the hoods looks a little upset before he's shotgunned. Director Peter Yates apparently planned to tell the whole story with action and came up with a near-classic. In fact his spectacular staging of McQueen's car pursuit of two Mob assassins is usually blamed for the countless imitation car chases that have blighted American movies ever since. It's certainly one of McQueen's signature roles, but why give him a hokey name like Bullitt?

McQUEEN COOL!
Ignore the paisley pajamas, Steve McQueen was an icon of cool and BULLITT is the proof. Peter Yates has a smart thinking man's cop drama, bolstered by (yes) the best chase scene on film. Great locations in San Francisco. Superior acting by McQueen, Robert Vaughn as a sinister U.S. Senator and Don Gordon, as McQueen's partner. Why didn't Don Gordon become a bigger star?

The good, the bad, and the pretty
"Bullitt" is highly regarded by many for either "the chase", or the drama.

The good and the bad: True, there is a high-speed car chase in part through the hilly streets of San Francisco. Is it "the best ever" chase? Depends on how you look at it. Plus - It was very high speed. Plus - It had a cool-looking Mustang fastback vs a big GTO. Negative - They pass the same VW 4 times, and another car 2 times (why? if not intentional, then very poor continuity) Negative - double-shifting or not, there are about 97 too many gear changes, and some of those are at top speed on the flat stretch near the end. Neg - the bad guys lose too many hubcaps. Still, it's fairly exciting. However, though not car vs car, I think the chase in "The French Connection" is as good if not better.

As for the drama, some of it seemed a bit drawn out. Lt. Frank Bullitt is supposed to protect the state's witness "Ross" against the Chicago "Organization". Ross and one cop are shot, and Ross is later killed in the hospital, where Bullitt is hanging out. Bullitt does not want the prosecutor who gave him the assignment (Robert Vaughan) to know Ross died, so he will have time to find the killers. Turns out Ross may not be who the cops think he is, and this leads to a good foot-chase across the airport runways and the airport itself.

Some of the police procedure as portrayed in the movie is rather shoddy - such as handling a lot of evidence, then asking for it to be fingerprinted, etc.

The pretty: Bullitt has a girlfriend played by Jaqueline Bisset, who gives him grief for his callous attitude. This sets up the final scene of the movie where Bullitt ambiguously questions his existence. Otherwise, her appearance in the movie is useless.

Good acting by McQueen and Vaughan. Look for Robert Duval, Georg Sanford Brown, Norman fell, Simon Oakland and a few other names.

The jazzy score by Lalo Schifrin sounds like a bad TV movie. Wide-screen movie has decent picture and sound quality. DVD extras include a short behind the scenes documentary, text-based cast/crew/location info, list of awards, and a trailer.

In short - Not the best cop movie, not the best McQueen movie, and not the best chase. Watchable but not a stand out. ... Read more

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The Great Escape image of Steve McQueen (as "The Cooler King") astride his motorcycle has entered silver-screen iconography, alongside Brando on his bike from The Wild One. Based on a true story about a group of POWs who mount a daring breakout from a supposedly inescapable Nazi prison camp, this rousing and suspenseful WWII epic features an all-star cast, including James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, and David McCallum. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (151)

250 men just walking down the street? You're crazy!
That is the plot in the nutshell. 250 men planning to escape from German WWII camp. This movie has stars Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson. John Sturges directs and Elmer Bernstein composes. If this sounds familar, its because you have seen Sturge's "The Magnificent Seven". Like "Seven", the Great Escape was sorely missed from AFI's top 100. They were later included in the top 100 thriller movies with Great Escape coming in at #20.
Here's the bad news. Its widescreen, but its not anamorphic. In other words, the movie is trapped in darkness even on an enhanced tv. Also there is no commentary, which is a shame.
Despite these techincal flaws, this three hour epic is enjoyable. James Garner, James, Donald, Richard Attenbourgh, Donald Pleasance and David McCallum also star. (Trivia: the latter two appeared in The Greatest Story Ever Told as Satan and Judas!)Sorry, no girls allowed in this film. This a man only film. Sturges carefully crafts it that each man is an unique individual who works with the team. You can see the competition going on in their acting which brings out the best of them.
The blend of American film stars and British stage actors is fabalous.
Elmer Bernstein, once again delivers a rememarkable score that you will be whistling when you finish watching the movie.
Favorite scenes: Charles Bronson crying in the dark tunnel, the 4th of July celebration, the river scence, and of course Steve McQueen's motorcycle chase! Steve agreed to do the film only if he had a bike chase. The result: the wisest choice in script rewriting creating a great climax.
Features include a documentary and a little booklet.
Highly resommended!

Gripping Tale of a
After more than a decade of trying to get a studio to film a movie based on Paul Brickhill's book "The Great Escape," John Sturges finally got backing from the Mirisch Company to recreate the true-life story of Allied officers escaping from a German POW camp in 1944.

While the screenplay by W. Burnett and James (Shogun) Clavell fictionalizes the characters and compresses time to fit a feature film's running time, the details of the escape attempt are true-to-life. Even better, the film was actually shot in Germany (even the thickest wooded areas in California don't come close to resembling the Black Forest area). Not only does Germany look like Germany, but the availability of WWII-era vehicles and uniforms make the authenticity more palpable.

Also helpful in the success of The Great Escape is the cast. Although the DVD artwork features the late Steve McQueen on its cover (and McQueen's contribution IS quite large, especially in the now-famous motorcycle chase, where McQueen did most of the real driving, since he was famous for his love of 'cycles and fast cars!), Sturges' movie is an ensemble movie. It's hard to remember, especially in the post-Vietnam era, that there was a period when war movies had all-star casts (The Longest Day is perhaps the best-known of these, and the trend continued -- even as viewership declined -- with such films as Tora! Tora! Tora!...Midway (a really bad film, by the way)...and ending with the well-made but poorly-received A Bridge Too Far). The Great Escape not only reunited director-producer with Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and James Coburn (whom he'd directed in The Magnificent Seven); it also features the talents of Donald Pleasence, James Garner, David McCallum and Richard Attenborough (who would later go on to direct A Bridge Too Far and Gandhi).

Also reuniting with Sturges was composer Elmer Bernstein, who had scored The Magnificent Seven three years previously. Bernstein's main theme is pretty catchy and still holds up well in these John Williams and James Horner-dominated years.

The DVD itself is pretty standard. The image is a bit grainy but it's not too distractingly so. It also includes the theatrical trailer and a short "making of" featurette.

And why did Sturges have such a hard time selling this now-classic film to major studios? Get this: Studio heads thought the subject matter was too depressing (most of the escaping POWs were recaptured, and 50 were shot on Hitler's personal orders), and there was no female romantic lead!

If you have the original DVD release SELL IT NOW!!!
Okay....All the extras are great...and there are MANY featurettes and interviews to keep you busy for hours....BUT..the main point I want to make is for all of you who don't care about extras and figure you already have this on DVD....you don't...
this transfer is AMAZING!!! it is a real HIGH DEFINITION transfer and STUNNING is what they say on the case and its true! Many DVDs say digitally transfered....and often that just means they pulled it from a previously issued laserdisc via digital output...you have never seen this movie this pristine....EVER!

TRUE AND INSPIRING AND TRAGIC
THE GREAT ESCAPE Special Edition (MGM) is based with fidelity on Paul Brickhill's best-seller. The inspiring story is about heroic men who cannot be broken and refuse to give up.

This was Steve McQueen's career defining role but it's the late and much lamented Charles Bronson that you most remember as the taciturn tunnel digger with claustrophobia.

Previously released on DVD, this hi-def transfer has new 5.1 surround sound, and interesting extras that include five featurettes, a terrific documentary on the untold true story and a commentary track that includes John Sturges, some of the cast (including the late James Coburn) and crew.

The two disc is WELL worth the money
I just finished watching all the extra stuff on the 2nd disc and if you are into the true story of this WWII event, you'll love it! I'm not sure, but I think there is almost 2 hours of extras. Although the film seems dated (especially after 'Band of Brothers'), I've now changed my mind - after seeing how accurate the director tried to keep the film. The only draw back was the director had to put the American's (mostly Steve McQueen) in the forefront where they didn't belong. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A 60's Cinematic Gem.
To put it quite simply, they just don't make movies like this anymore. This is one of the best films on a touchy issue that still speaks to audiences today. The age-old dilemma of getting into trouble and deciding what's the right thing to do is as universally unending as the different choices people make in regards to it.

Angie Rossini (Natalie Wood) comes from an Italian Catholic family in which she's watched like a hawk by her overly protective brothers. One can hardly blame her for slipping away and having a one-night stand with a cool, swinging musician like Rocky Pampasano (Steve McQueen). What she later deems as a "stupid experiment" goes awry when she finds herself pregnant and asks him to help her get the money together for an abortion which was then illegal.

I think that one of the strongest scenes in this movie is when Rocky stops the operation from happening and gets her out of the dump it was supposed to be performed in by a midwife. It's very nearly tear-jerking, and the follow-up scene where he's first losing his steely cold resolve as he holds her in the cab is a real capper.

Love with the Proper Stranger is, if anything, a study in what makes different people tick, and how they react to each other when fate pulls them together. This includes all the people around them. Rocky and Angie both come from loving, but dysfunctional families, and their dealings with them are also interesting to watch as they play out. A lot of it is moving and funny.

Angie's brother Dominic is a bit stupid and overly aggressive in his protection of her, but he also means well, and you almost feel sorry for the way Angie treats him. Her mother is a comically distressed widow, and it's easy to see where her children get their stubborn streaks from. Tom Bosley's debut as the clumsy, but sweet cook who has a crush on Angie is also a noteworthy performance, and Edie Adams as Rocky's sleazy girlfriend with too many dogs steals every one of the few scenes that she's in.

It's almost too funny when Rocky offers to marry Angie and everyone is in an uproar because she refuses, then moves out on her family and gets a place of her own. Can Rocky change her mind, or will his tendency to say all the wrong things keep getting in the way? After all, Angie wants bells and banjos, but she doesn't hear them when she looks at him any more then when she looks at Columbo. What happens, you will just have to see the movie to find out. I promise you won't be disappointed if you want to see a story with a good moral compass and lots of excellent dialogue. I have it in my personal library and think you will want to own it too.

Three Movies in One: One Was Good, Two Were So-So.
Get this: Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood as, what else? Ethnic Italians living in New York City. Seriously. After you choke that down, you're looking at a movie with three distinct themes: 1) An honest and uncomfortable look back into the world of illegal abortions; 2) Third or fourth-generation Italian-Americans caught between their suffocating traditional families and their desire to be a part of mainstream New York City and; 3) a simple love story. The trouble with this movie is that the three themes never seem to integrate with each other. It starts off great with the set-up to the story. But then, the characters meander about in a plot that serves the story about the social issues over that of the characters themselves. This was especially tedious in a scene during the "Italian kids yearning to breathe free" part of the story where McQueen hits his parents up for dough in a park on the East Side. It goes on forever and we end up nowhere on the story side with McQueen and Wood, but we learn incrementally more about how it must feel like to be a young Italian-American belonging in two worlds, but completely comfortable in neither. The payoff is in the third movie inside the movie where Wood teaches McQueen and her brothers a lesson in appreciation and respect for women not borne from duty, but from love. That's where the movie shines. There are some great scenes between the two and, by the end, we're convinced that Wood and McQueen belong together. The movie ends up delivering the goods, but it's not from the cumulative effect of indulging all of the side issues that it takes on. It's from the five-minute set-up at the beginning and the ten or twelve-minute long movie inside the movie that's just a straight love story. Adorable performance from Tom Bosley as the hapless but true bachelor.

What a great movie !
I love the movie, "Love with the Proper Stranger".It is a romantic comedy drama ,starring beutiful Natalie Wood and handsome Steve McQueen. Please bring this movie to DVD.

Pro-choice or pro-life?
A young woman buttonholes a musician with whom she's recently had a one-night fling -- "a stupid experiment," as she later calls it. She has to remind the young man who she is, because he can't even remember her name. Then she tells him: "I'm going to have a baby."

As she stares into his eyes, he makes his face go blank and replies, "Congratulations," as if he were merely a friend of the family.

Whether this response diverts her to Plan B or simply confirms her in the course she has already chosen, we don't know. But her next words are: "Don't worry, I'm not going to cause you any trouble. I just want you to find me a doctor -- an address, you know?"

And so he does. This being 1963, it takes some doing: a rendezvous on a deserted street, a walk up a dark corridor in an unheated building, a "finder's fee" to a shady character.

At one point, the unhappy pair look up his parents for help raising the cash the procurer wants. All unawares, his folks dote on her as a prospective daughter-in-law, and they give him some money thinking it's for a night on the town.

At every step of the way, she keeps staring at her single-shot lover, and we can see her heart chilling while he keeps her at arm's length as the "solution" to their "problem" draws near.

Finally, she goes into an empty room with an old woman who lays out a blanket, a flashlight and some medical instruments on the floor while the girl stands stiffly at a window and starts undressing. But he, alarmed that he's found her a midwife instead of a "doctor," breaks in on them, and she, turning and looking upon the blanket, the flashlight and the instruments, screams, "Oh, God, no!" and collapses in his arms. The abortionist and her procurer high-tail it as the young lovers embrace for the first time in the picture.

That's the first half of "Love With the Proper Stranger," an early effort of producer Alan J. Pakula, with Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen in the starring roles.

After its harrowing brush with tragedy, the movie goes on to a happy ending. It's a fine film, totally down to earth, with excellent performances all around. But what's the moral of the story?

Suppose the young woman had been able to look up an abortionist on her own, in the Yellow Pages rather than on a deserted street, with a "Dr." in front of his name and a waiting room with comfortable chairs and nice pastel prints on the wall and a stack of ladies' magazines to read? Would that make her lover's blank face and the chill inside and the instruments and the scream all go away?

I don't think so!

the perfect romantic story
i love this movie. why don't they make movies like this? i remember seeing this movie as a little girl and falling in love with it then. they have to put this movie on dvd. ... Read more

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Akira Kurosawa's rousing Seven Samurai was a natural for an American remake--after all, the codes and conventions of ancient Japan and the Wild West (at least the mythical movie West) are not so very far apart. Thus The Magnificent Seven effortlessly turns samurai into cowboys (the same trick worked more than once: Kurosawa's Yojimbo became Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars). The beleaguered denizens of a Mexican village, weary of attacks by banditos, hire seven gunslingers to repel the invaders once and for all. The gunmen are cool and capable, with most of the actors playing them just on the cusp of '60s stardom: Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn. The man who brings these warriors together is Yul Brynner, the baddest bald man in the West. There's nothing especially stylish about the approach of veteran director John Sturges (The Great Escape), but the storytelling is clear and strong, and the charisma of the young guns fairly flies off the screen. If that isn't enough to awaken the 12-year-old kid inside anyone, the unforgettable Elmer Bernstein music will do it: bum-bum-ba-bum, bum-ba-bum-ba-bum.... Followed by three inferior sequels, Return of the Seven, Guns of the Magnificent Seven, and The Magnificent Seven Ride! --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (92)

One of The Last Great Westerns
Before the advent of the Spaghetti Western and the few good films that followed came The Magnificent Seven. The Wild Bunch, The Long Riders and several others owe their creative souls to this movie. I like Yul Brenner, if you have seen Westworld, well this is where Mr. Brenner began the character he later used in that film. Charles Bronson , Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, what a cast! And the heroic notion of helping a village of peasants fight tyranny....what more can you ask for!? The special features, well maybe not like in some more modern videos, but it is nice to hear Eli, and James Coburn and the directors and producers wax nostalgic about said movie...I admire their acting capabilities and their knowledge of film in general, so I enjoyed this a lot. If you are a lover of the Western genre, then by all means you have to have this for your collection! And the music too. What a score!

An Epic American Western
"The Magnificent Seven" combines the great elements of a successful western...exciting story, stellar cast, scenic locations, and a legendary soundtrack. A Mexican village plagued by a gang of bandits led by Eli Wallach solicits the aid of mercenary gunfighters. Yul Brynner, with his commanding presence and black attire, recruits a band of diverse characters, including a wry-witted drifter seeking excitement; a brash young man seeking respect; a skilled craftsman seeking challenge; an opportunist seeking wealth; a tough sentimentalist seeking redemption; and a man on-the-run tormented by fear. Together they assume heroic proportions in an altruistic fight against near-impossible odds.

Elmer Bernstein's memorable musical score has achieved a lasting stature. From his rousing signature title to the haunting Spanish-flavored themes, the music teems with scope, drive, and energy. After 40 years, "The Magnificent Seven" remains vibrant, robust, and enduring...a hallmark for American westerns.

Wanted to Give it 5 Stars, BUT...
This movie was excellent, from the brassy music to the awesome cast and storyline (from The Seven Samurai. It is just too bad that there are at least three scenes that require the viewers to leave the room until they are over. All three of these feature a certain person, played by Horst Buchholz. They say that his character's name is Chico, but I prefer to call him the "Stupid Kid." He is the only damper on an otherwise perfect movie. It is a terrible shame, from his lovely appearance, as he stupidly follows the hearse, to his speech to the farmers about how cowardly they are, to his love affair with the stupid girl, to his ....oh I can't go on.....

A review of the DVD in specific
This is a superbly remastered and restored film, It comes with some brilliant extras including original trailers and more interestingly a documentary on the film named "Guns For Hire".
If you are a fan of the actors in this classic you'll love the doco which shows what they went on to do and includes some interviews showing the actors today and telling how Yul Brynner brought this tale to life.
For Steve McQueen fans you get a little insight into how he tries to steal every scene he appears in.
The film is a great telling of an adventurous story based on the Toho studios film "The Seven Samurai".
The commentary features actors James Coburn, Eli Wallach, producer Walter Mirisch & Ass Director Rob Reylea. It covers many interesting stories from a set which saw several stars of the time and even the wedding of Yul Brynner.
Worth a viewing.

A cultural transplant that wasn't rejected
A small village in Mexico is repeatedly harassed by outlaws, and decides to hire seven gunfighters as protection. A simple idea, transplanted out of Akira Kirasawa's "Seven Samurai", but when the cast is right, the film is right. Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, and Robert Vaughn were all up-and-coming stars, and Yul Brynner was perfect as the essence of cold, efficient, authoritative leadership. Add an unforgettable musical score, and you have a winner. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent war story, not so great love story
Never So Few is an excellent WWII adventure that deals with a part of the war that very few other movies even go near. Captain Tom Reynolds is the leader of a force of Americans and Kachins, Burmese natives, who wreak havoc on Japanese forces in the Burmese jungle in whichever way they can. During an ordered vacation, Reynolds falls in love as well as picking up a doctor, a driver, and much needed medical supplies. This is a very good movie that suffers because of an unneccesary love story. I know this part was inserted to draw people in, but the movie is much better when it deals with Reynolds and his unit. The action scenes are very well done at the beginning and the end while most of the middle portion is occupied by the relationship between Reynolds and Carla. Even with the love story, this is still a very enjoyable film.

Never So Few boasts an impressive cast that works well together. Frank Sinatra in the role of Capt. Tom Reynolds is very good as the leader of the Americans and Kachins harassing the Japanese. Gina Lollobrigida is decent as Carla, but as I said I think the love story was not needed. Reynolds' men include Richard Johnson as right-hand man Lt. Demortimer, Steve McQueen in an excellent supporting role as Cpl. Bill Ringa, Peter Lawford as doctor Captain Travis, Dean Jones as radioman Sergeant Norby, Charles Bronson as Navajo Indian Sergeant Danforth, and Philip Ahn as Nautang, the leader of the Kachins. The film also stars Brian Donlevy in a great supporting role, Paul Henreid, and Robert Bray. I really do hope that Never So Few gets released on DVD. I watched the letterbox version of this movie on TCM so I can't answer for the VHS, but if you like Sinatra and WWII action movies then you'll love Never So Few.

Frank Sinatra and his guerrillas take on a Chinese warlord
Captains Tom Reynolds (Frank Sinatra) and Danny DeMortimer (Richard Johnson) are fighting the Japanese in Burma during World War II. Ordered to take a "holiday" to Calcutta to find a doctor and get medical supplies for their group of guerrillas, they find Dr. Grey Travis (Peter Lawford) and a driver named Bill Ringa (Steve McQueen). But the two officers also meet war profiteer Nikko Regas (Paul Henried) and his mistress, Carla Vesari (Gina Lollobrigida). Although she is not responsive to Reynold's initial overtures, when she warms up to the captain when he is in the hospital after being wounded. When Reynolds returns to the field he has to put up with not only the Japanese, but a Chinese warlord who is stealing American supplies to sell to the Japanese. The main problem with "Never So Few" is the romance between Sinatra and Lollobrigida, which gets in the way of what is a more than decent story of O.S.S. operatives in the Burma theater. I know this is sacrilegious, but every time Gina came on screen, I went to make popcorn or get something to drink. There is really no chemistry between the two. Only when Sinatra is with his troops out in the jungle is "Never So Few" on the right track. This 1959 film, directed by John Sturges (who later directed McQueen in "The Great Escape"), is based on the novel by Tom T. Chamales.

Never so Few: A Visonary War Movie of Things To Come
In 1959,no one heard of Vietnam or the struggles with the Indo-China question,or at least the American public did not know much about the Far East and its complicated politics. The Excellent "Never So Few" really comes out of nowhere to become a topnotch war film and predicts the Vietnam War in some of its implications.The director John Sturges has always been a great action director, for this is the director that gave us the wonderful classic, "The Great Escape," among many very good action films and the action sequences in this movie are vibrant, real, and startling. The cast is excellent. Frank Sinatra has never been better save "The Manchurian Candidate," probably his best role and of course Maggio in "From Here to Eternity," which he won an Academy Award for.He is totally convincing here as the guerilla officer leader of the native forces in Burma with some "advisors" and the similarities are many to Vietnam, when the sides blurr and decisions are made out of necessities over military orders.Other standouts in the cast went on to become superstars. Steve McQueen steals many scenes he is in and gives portents of stardom to come. John Sturges uses him beautifully here and of course again in "The Great Escape." Others include Charles Bronson before he got the Death Wish, Dean Jones, Richard Johnson( One of Kim Novak's husbands for a short time but here and excellent actor), and Gina Lollobrigida, who brings the action to a stop and the romantic scenes don't ring as true as the rest of the film. But overall, "Never So Few" is an action film that holds up fairly well, telegraphs future movie stars, and has an epic stature it really earns. Sturges was one of our best action directors and "Never So Few" is one of his better efforts. Re-dicover it. A great movie of action and substance.

Never So Few
This is much more than a war movie. Made years before Viet Nam became a quagmire, it examines how politics plays a dirty hand in war. When Sinatra & Co. fight the "wrong" bad guys it leads to a confrontation with the brass that is so topical it should be required viewing for any politician considering sending our troops into conflict. On another level it entertains as a great action movie and the romance between Sinatra and Lollabrigida really rocks. This movie also has one of the deepest casts of sixties star power ever assembled. Check it out!

Very Good
The movie was very good, Steven McQueen gave one of his best performances. Some little details could have been changed but all in all it was worth the money and time to watch it. ... Read more

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Franklin J. Schaffner (Patton) directs this true story of Henri Charriere (better known as "Papillon" or "the butterfly"), a prisoner so determined to escape the notorious Devil's Island, he attempted it multiple times until he reached old age. Steve McQueen plays Charriere, and Dustin Hoffman is very good as the hero's anxious, defenseless friend. Based on Charriere's own memoir and uncompromisingly adapted by screenwriters Dalton Trumbo (Johnny Got His Gun) and Lorenzo Semple Jr. (Three Days of the Condor), the film is tough going (it is set, after all, on Devil's Island) but not gratuitously violent. There are sequences that stay with one for a long time, such as Papillon's brief stay at a leper colony and the long periods of starvation and solitary confinement he endures after each attempted flight. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (38)

One of McQueen's finest
Papillon is a great movie based on fact that contains many scenes that will stick with you for a long time. Henri Charierre is a safecracker framed for the murder of a pimp and sent to French Guiana, the prison system in South and Central America. Along the way, Papillon meets counterfeiter Louis Dega played to perfection by Dustin Hoffman. The two men struggle to survive amidst the horrible conditions in the prisons. However, the only thing that keeps Papillon alive is the thought of escape and freedom. This is a very bleak movie, at times you might not even recognize McQueen with all the makeup, but the ending does offer hope. The scenes of Papi's solitary confinement and the hallucinations he has while there are very effective and not easily forgotten. Also, the film decides to show prison life as it is. This is not a whitewashed version of it, but instead a fairly graphic depiction of the horrors of the French prison system. Nonetheless, this is still an excellent movie that will keep you interested throughout.

Papillon is up there with The Sand Pebbles as Steve McQueen's finest performances. His role as Henri "Papillon" Charierre is fully believable as he attempts over and over again to escape to freedom. Dustin Hoffman is just as good as Louis Dega, the prisoner who hires McQueen to protect him. The two become friends as they try to adjust to their new lives. The friendship between the two men is very good and some of the better parts of the movie involve their relationship. Don Gordon plays Julot, a veteran prisoner who tries to help them adjust. Robert Deman and Woodrow Parfrey are also very good as Maturette and Clusiot, two fellow prisoners who attempt escape with Papillon. I have to add about Jerry Goldsmith's very good score that perfectly fits the film. The DVD offers a widescreen presentation that looks great, a documentary made during filming that contains interviews with cast, crew, and even Henri Charierre, and also the theatrical trailer. This is a very dark movie, but it is still a great character study that never really slows down. McQueen fans will love this classic!

A Great Prison Escape Film
Franklin J. Schaffner felt that the obligation of motion pictures is to entertain, it's as basic as that, and that is exactly what Papillon does. It is also a movie that really triggers your emotions from start to finish. I feel this is one of Steve McQueen's best acting roles. It was probably the most physically demanding and emotionally challenging role of his career. Dustin Hoffman is simply magnificent as Louis Dega, a role that demonstrates how versatile the actor really can be. It eventually earned him a best supporting actor nomination. Unfortunately, McQueen was overlooked by the Academy that year. Another example of their stupidity!!

The film is emotionally draining, but I find myself watching this film time and time again because of its portrayal of one man's quest to gain his freedom no matter what it takes. Freedom always comes at a price. It is not something that is handed to us or exists freely. It must be earned and that is exactly what his character does by the time the credits role on this film. The viewer will not believe what the character of Papillon had to endure to gain his freedom. The trials he goes through are unforgettable and often left me wondering if I would persevere if I had to undergo the trials he faced.

For me, Steve McQueen is one of those actors who really has a great on screen presence. I will almost always watch a movie just because he appears in it, good or bad. Papillon is no exception. Although Papillon is a character driven film, the movie must be viewed for more than just the characters. It also has wonderful cinematography, direction and a memorable, and at times haunting, musical score by Jerry Goldsmith. It is right up there with the best of the prison escape films.

Henri Charrière, the real life Papillon and author of the novel, talked about society and his real life experiences in this way:

"Society does not want free men. They talk freedom, democracy, anything you want, but they do not want free men. Society wants conditioned men, men who march in step." It's up to the viewer to agree or disagree with that statement while viewing the film.

I highly recommend you watch this film today!

Compelling in every respect
Steve McQueen stars as "Papillion" a French safe-cracker whose butterfly tattoo earned him the title nickname. Framed up on a murder charge he is packed off to the infamous Devils Island prisoner colony. On the ship over he meets Dustin Hoffman, a notorious counterfitter with the means (money) to stay alive but not the muscle to back him up, that is where McQueen comes in. Papillion however has a single-minded outlook on life - freedom. He quickly devises escape plans by any means possible. The settings are exotic, the stories of friendship heart-rendering, the brutality of the prison shocking, the stories of escape, attempt, capture, escape, defiance and the soaring human spirit timeless. Simply a classic of cinema that will stand the test of time, could have been made yesterday and been a blockbuster smash.

One of the greats!!
I dont normally take the time to write these reviews... but this is one of the best movies I have ever seen. The struggle these guys have to go through is monumental. This is a must see. I have watched this many times and it never gets old!

A great escape
A movie that made a big impression on me in my early teens, "Papillon" holds up surprisingly well on DVD. The picture and sound quality are more vivid than they ever were on VHS tape (although the vividness also has its drawbacks--a brief "storm at sea" scene during one of the escape sequences looks much more artificial than it did on the big screen 30 years ago), and the star turns of Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman are as vivid as they first seemed. The movie's depiction of life and death in France's South American prison camps looks as harrowing and grim as it did when the movie was in theatres.

Yet even as a teenager I had a couple of qualms about the movie--namely, that it didn't follow the book closely enough (and would have been better characterized if it did), and how did Hoffman's character magically regenerate a limb that developed gangrene and apparently had to be amputated? Over the years, despite my nostalgic soft spot for this flick, I've also come to wonder whether a younger actor would have been more appropriate for the role than the 40-ish McQueen (Henri Charriere, on whose memoirs the movie was based, described himself as a young-looking 25 when he was shipped off to the French prison camps), and whether a more gritty approach wouldn't have been more appropriate. The movie is pretty violent for a PG rating (it would probably be PG-13 today), but even with slashings, shootings, stabbings and an execution by guillotine (in close-up, no less), it's somewhat prettified by those grand, leisurely camera moves that were favored by director Franklin J. Schaffner.

On the other hand, I've also got something of a soft spot for those grand, leisurely camera moves, which now seem like relics of an age in which filmmakers didn't assume their audiences suffered from attention-deficit disorder.

In passing, a TV documentary from a few years ago about the French penal colonies (it may have aired on the Discovery Channel or the History Channel) questioned whether Charriere's description of his years as a prisoner was factual. Apparently, none of the former prisoners or guards interviewed could remember a guy named Papillon who managed to escape from Devil's Island. So maybe any questions about the movie's accuracy are moot. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Provacative and entertaining
After having just seen the latest version of the Thomas Crown Affair I much preferred the original version with Steve McQueen & Faye Dunaway. It had subler shadings in it and even though it wasn't as slick as the Brosnan-Russo "Affair", I felt it was more stylish, and had more substance. It really kept you guessing more, and the ending was more in keeping with the nuances played out during the film itself. The newer one threw in so much unnecessary nudity it grated on me. Too much of the "90's obligatory gratuitous sex" trying to make a good movie better. It didn't succeed. Steven McQueen gave you much more of a feel of a man who had his finger in many pies and was simply bored with his predictable (boring, rich life) and out to pit his considerable brain power against his antagonists. There too, there was more of the picture of the Law against the man who believed he could beat the odds. All in all, McQueen's Thomas Crown Affair had both style AND substance; the Brosnan Affair had only the style.

Chess was never this much fun
I was interested in seeing this film after I saw the remake, especially when I heard so many people say the original was so much better. After having seen both, I'd call it a toss up (both were good!).

Actually, the remake was only loosely based on the original. The original is about a rich guy who knocks off a bank, and the remake about a rich guy who steals art.

This film is well crafted and though the story is far fetched (as in the remake) it's entertaining. Norman Jewison does a terrific job of directing. His visual interpretations, camera angles and dramatic effects are timeless. He overuses the split screen concept a bit, but we need to remember that in 1968 this was fairly new technology and he was probably enamoured with the novelty of it. Think of how much `morphing' was being used when it was first developed.

Probably the best scene involved the chess match between Thomas (Steve McQueen) and Vicki (Faye Dunaway). It was far more erotic than all the scenes where Rene Russo was running around naked in the remake.

The acting was excellent, with Dunaway taking top honors as the stop-at-nothing insurance investigator who literally gets her man. Steve McQueen played the rich macho ego maniac to perfection. His only minus was his phony victory laugh, which was overacted and overused. Paul Burke stayed appropriately but effectively on the sidelines as the police detective.

In comparing the two films, I'd have to say it's about even. The remake had a more inventive and interesting story, replacing the bank robbery with an art heist, but it was also more ridiculous in the final disposition of the stolen painting. The original had better direction and use of the camera, while the remake was much better in use of costumes, props and sets in recreating the opulent lifestyle. Clearly the remake benefited from 30 years of technological improvement in sound and film quality.

The remake was more self indulgent, especially in the sexual area. The McQueen interpretation of Crown was more realistic than Brosnan's conflicted and emotional distraught version. Each reflected their respective times, but McQueen's character was a better representation of the timeless arrogance of the ultra rich. I have to give Rene Russo a slight edge as the investigator. She gave the character more complexity and range. Paul Burke was far superior to Denis Leary as the cop.

The ending of the original was definitely superior, though each ending was really true to the characters' personalities as portrayed.

I gave this film an 8/10. If you like classic films, and you enjoyed the remake, you will probably enjoy this one as well.

Has It Been THAT Many Years?
After enjoying the remake of this movie I ordered the DVD of the original. I loved it at the theater back in the sixties and hadn't seen it since then. For once in a blue moon, I discovered I liked the remake better! The plot is only vaguely the same for these two movies. I remember this film was a great departure for Steve McQueen and he still seems to have a thug-like quality to me. Ms. Dunaway is a walking parade of late-sixties fashion, with lots of makeup and eyelashes. Strange, I didn't ever realize she had a scar on her forehead. Regardless, the style of cinematography is extremely dated now. Sort of like what today's jerky-camera commercials will look like a few years from now. Oh, it's fun to watch. It's just not as good a story as the remake.

The Original Crown!
This is an extremely fine film. Besides a ingenious story and terrific acting by McQueen (who plays a "cool" and very wealthy businessman perfectly) and Dunaway (who looks absolutely stunning and plays it "smart" in nearly every scene), this movie has some fascinating and utterly BRILLIANT editing like no other film I know of... and a HAUNTING and GORGEOUS music score created by Michel LeGrand.

What about the NEW version?

I have been a huge fan of the original Thomas Crown Affair since I first saw it while in the military in 1969..... and bought the 1999 "re-make" because I heard so many good things about it. I must say that honestly there are good points in BOTH films. I never quite bought the fact that the original wealthy "Crown" got his "kicks" robbing a bank.... so stealing the "Monet" made much more sense to me. I also thought the story was a bit more interesting in the new version and I was more satisfied by the challenge Bronsnan's character found in Russo's bluntness.

Overall, however this 1969 "Crown" is the version I prefer. It contains an absolutely beautiful music score by Michel LeGrand (which is superior to the loud, lackluster and frangmented score that Bill Conti created for the new version). The title track here is "Windmills of Your Mind" is an awesome song, but also amazing is "Her Eyes, His Eyes" created for the infamous chess playing sequence. I also prefer the sensuous and sexy elegance of the fire between McQueen and Dunaway to the overtly sweaty lust that Brosnan and Russo desparately share together... this film is more subtile and suggests sexuality.. which seems more fascinating than just the plain nakedness in the new version.

Although I do prefer this film to the remake, both versions are well made and interesting in their own right, and should be enjoyed for what they are and what makes them so entertaining.

"Cat and Mouse" At Its Finest
Once again, why did they ever even think of remaking this movie? Steve McQueen is at his best in his portrayal of Thomas Crown, a wealthy genius who is a mastermind for constructing elaborate bank robberies. I really enjoyed the music in this film, particularly the way it interacts with the director's (Jewison) use of split screens. While it's a dated technique, it really helps move the plot along without unnecessary cutting. Additionally, the anonymity of his accomplices and the way that several loose ends come together to form the perfect robbery is best captured by this technique, in my opinion.

Beyond McQueen's powerful performance, Faye Dunaway blows Rene Russo's remake performance out of the water. Dunaway is smart, sexy, and knows how to handle herself. While it's a bit slow in some parts, this movie is a psychological piece that focuses primarily upon the "cat and mouse" interplay between McQueen and Dunaway. This is a "battle of wits" movie-not a pure action flick, as the remake might have you believe. The ending is also extremely well done. Rather than end on a typical Hollywood note, the final scenes of this film will leave you perplexed and wanting more of this film. With one of the longest screen kisses I've ever seen and the famous "chess" sequence, this film is a classic that definitely belongs in your video library. ... Read more

Description

Tom Horn is hired by Wyoming cattle ranchers to put a stop to the violence on the range. In the process, Tom finds himself accused of murder. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

ONE OF THE BEST WESTERNS OF ALL TIME
Tom Horn is one of the best westerns ever made and probably Steve McQueen's best film. McQueen gives a performance that deserves a best actor award in my view. The movie is based on Tom Horn's later years that take place from 1901 to his death in 1903. In that time period Horn is hired as a stock detective to rid Wyoming of cattle rustlers. But when Horn gets rid of alot of the rustlers, the people that hired him want to get rid of him so they frame him for a murder of a teenage boy and Horn is arested and put on trial.This was Steve McQueen's next to last movie before dying of cancer. His next film was The Hunter and it's a very good film also.Rated R for some graphic violence and language.

One of McQueen's last movies
Tom Horn is a very good western along the lines of The Wild Bunch about the changing times in the west and how certain people are adjusting to it. Based on a true story, the movie is about fronteirsman and marksman Tom Horn. Famous for several reasons that are introduced early in the movie, Horn begins the movie drifting along in 1903 Wyoming. Known for his ability with a rifle, Horn is hired by an association of ranchers to drive out rustlers in whatever way necessary. Soon, he begins to call too much attention to himself causing the ranchers to take action. This movie is very good for several reasons. It seems very realistic with beautiful scenery, good characters(good and bad), and a well-told story.

Steve McQueen gives a very believable performance as frontier hero, Tom Horn. His role as a man caught in a changing world who is not willing to change along with it is very well done. Richard Farnsworth plays rancher John Coble, one of the only men to remain loyal to Horn even when he is in trouble. Linda Evans gives a good, if somewhat short, performance as Gwendolene, a schoolteacher who Tom falls in love with. Slim Pickens is excellent as the sheriff who knows Tom from the past, but we never learn in what way. There are several other recongizable faces here, but their names escape, most notably the deputy who was a regular in John Wayne movies. I really hope they put this movie on DVD since it is vastly underrated as a western. Fans of McQueen will absolutely love Tom Horn even if it is not the most uplifting of movies.

ONE OF MCQUEEN'S GREATEST ROLES
A classic western and one Steve McQueen's greatest roles, Tom Horn is a must for any serious western movie library. The movie tracks Horn's tracks from the Southwest into Wyoming and a career as a "stock detective." The career begins promisingly enough but soon takes a downward turn as Horn, the simple cowboy and tracker, runs head on into big business politics and scandals that jeopardize not only his freedom but his life.

The cast also includes Linda Evans (Dynasty) and Richard Farnsworth (The Grey Fox).

As a result of viewing this movie I was also lead to an excellent biography: Tom Horn: Blood on the Moon: The Dark History of the Murderous Cattle Detective by Chip Carlson and Larry D. Ball. Once you see the movie you'll want to read the book.

An Overlooked Gem
Taken on it's own, Steve McQueen's Tom Horn stands as a fine portrayal of the western frontier at the turn of the last century.
If there are flaws it is in the editing, which seems choppy at times, leaving the viewer to want more of the scene and perhaps in a too sympathetic showing of Horn, who was not as likable human being if history is accurate.
But that is quibbling. Mcqueen's penultimate role is one to seen and remembered.

MORE MCQUEEN THAN HORN
I SAW THIS MOVIE IN WIDE SCREEN LETTER BOX FORMAT WHEN IT PREMIERED IN MARCH OF 1980. I WAS FOURTEEN YEARS OLD AND LOVED IT.
IT IS STILL KIND OF A CULT CLASSIC. IT IS A STRETCH THOUGH FROM THE WAY THINGS ACTUALLY OCCURRED. ENTHUSED BY THE FILM I BEGAN RESEARCHING "TOM HORN."
I THINK MCQUEEN WAS MISCAST AS HORN. HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND IT WAS HIS FILM, BUT SOMEONE LIKE ROBERT DUVALL, DENNIS WEAVER OR SAM ELLIOTT WOULD HAVE PHYSICALLY BEEN A MORE IDEAL CHOICE.
FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT IN THE FILM HORN USES A WINCHESTER 1876 .45-60 RIFLE. IN REALITY HORN USED A WINCHESTER 94 IN .30-30 WHICH WAS A NEWLY INTRODUCED SMOKELESS CARTRIDGE AND THE HIGH PERFORMER OF THE DAY. I GUESS .30-30 DIDNT RING WITH MAGNUM FLARE IN 1980.
SOME OF THE BIT PARTS IN THE FILM WERE PLAYED BY STUNTMEN WHICH IS A COMMON PRACTICE. BUT THE ACTING SUFFERED AS A RESULT.
A LOT OF NAMES WERE CHANGED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A "RIGHTS" THING AND ISNT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
HORN WAS A LOT MORE TALKATIVE AND BOISTROUS IN REAL LIFE THAN THE MCQUEEN TACITURN STYLE.
IN THE MOVIE HORN GIVES EVERYONE A FAIR CHANCE AND KILLS THE BAD GUYS IN STAND UP FIGHTS. IN REALITY HORN WAS BASICLY A SNIPER WHO KILLED FROM AMBUSH. A TRUE "DRY GULCHER."
DONT GET ME WRONG I LIKE THE MOVIE AND IT DOES VERY WELL FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF OF GOOD SHOOT EM UP ACTION WESTERN. I JUST THINK IT SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A CREATIVE QUASI-FACT PARTLY FICTION FILM.
IT ENTERTAINS NICELY ITS JUST MORE STEVE MCQUEEN THAN TOM HORN. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My favorite B-17 movie
This has always been my favorite B-17 movie because of one scene, when McQueen buzzes the CO's office with his bomber because he's angry about being sent out on a leaflet drop mission. The rest of the movie is also great but the B-17 scenes are awesome, rivalling that other B-17 classic "12 O'Clock High". If you liked that one, you'll like this one.

There is romance in "The War Lover" but it isn't over done, the movie is still great despite it.

War Lover
Simply stated, this is more than just another McQueen movie. The War Lover offer dynamics that are frequently missing in so-called war/action movies. This movie is ideal for men who love action and the believable drama of the airwar over Europe - in this case the role of the pilot of your father's B17 Flying Fortress. Hollywood would be wise to create a rerun of this great flick.

Highly recommended.

Early Michael Crawford
Every Mc fan should have this one. You could see, even then, that he's a natural.

McQueen makes the "The War Lover" an excellent film.
Steve McQueen's ability to heighten a character's reality makes "The War Lover" and enjoyable film. The war scenes with the B17's adds to the excitement and value of this movie. By the way this movie is available at America's largest retailer for [price] plus shipping.

McQUEEN RISES ABOVE MATERIAL
"The War Lover" is another war film with a love triangle at its center. This time Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner and Shirley Ann Field are the lovers caught in the web. However, McQueen's unique style and the excellent aerial photography of the B 17s on their bombing runs are this film's greatest assets and make it a must for lovers of this genre. This is a British film and it looks and feels like it, which only adds to the authenticity. Highly underrated and forgotten these days. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Great Movie
I read the other 2 reviews of "Soldier in the Rain" and totally agreed with them. I just wanted to add my opinion - and that is that this movie has universal themes that will appeal to anyone I think. I first saw the film, probably in the 70's when a friend highly recommended it. The characters from Jackie Gleason's seasoned performance to Steve McQueen's innocent youthfulness to Tuesday Weld's sweetness to Tom Poston's pompousness all contribute to a very human story - along with the antagonist soldiers and gentle humor and little tragedies we all encounter along our lives. I highly recommend this great great movie to everyone - it has some wonderful lines and lessons for us all.

Another lost gem
It's a shame that this classic is going the way of all things. I don't know if service in the military is absolutely essential to appreciate this film, but those who have served can easily appreciate Gleason's and McQueen's genius in rendering their characters. Both figures are timeless and ever-present in the real military (the military that's generally not reflected in entertainment media because it's simply too real, ordinary and every-day) and Gleason and McQueen play them with dignity and a sensitivity that shows their characters for the ordinary human beings they are. These characters may be less compelling to the average movie-goer than those of Preminger or Spielberg, but they are much more typical of the institution that, for most Americans, exists in peacetime somewhere out there in the backstage of their minds.

One might argue that a movie about street sweepers would be just as relevant. To the degree that most Americans have well developed preconceptions about street sweepers that don't accord with the every day reality of street sweeping in our society, the argument may be justified. But I doubt that's the case. That most Americans have fairly concrete, if uninformed, notions about their standing military is hard to deny. That even informed citizens fail generally to distinguish between the peacetime and wartime institutions is nearly axiomatic (and not a peculiarly American phenomenon).

Nor should Gleason's and McQueen's characters be interpreted as exclusively American stereotypes. Anyone who has served in any professional military - American, Soviet, German, Chinese, French etc - will recognize these characters and appreciate the realism and drama these masters bring to their roles.

Movies like "Soldier in the Rain" (or "The Pawnbroker" or "A Patch of Blue") are evidence of what Hollywood can do when it's not just trying to sell movie sound tracks and sequel rights.

Steve and Jackie outstanding
A splendid showing of their versatility, Steve of his upcoming stardum and Jackie of his seasoned acting. This is in a catagory along with stalog 17. It pulls you along with all the feelings of an actual happening. It has your comedy and tragity in good order. Tuesday Weld also makes her character true to life. This film is outstanding with performance excelence. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Great Faulkner Classic
William Faulkner was one of America's greatest authors. His Pulitzer Prize winning works are renowned for his ability to capture, with affection and fascination, the culture and people of Mississippi...Southerners of all color, class, and gender. Many of Faulkner's stories evoke a somber tone of Southern Gothic tragedy based on his observations of racial intolerance, and the decline of traditional Southern values before the forces of greed and modernization. In contrast to his more serious works, "The Reivers" is light-hearted, comic, and thoroughly entertaining.

The movie captures, with rich authenticity, the colorful characters of Faulkner's Mississippi. The cinematography and music evoke the sites and sounds of a picturesque South in 1905. The cast, including narration by Burgess Meredith, is impeccable. The movie centers on the joyriding adventures of 11-year old Lucius McCaslin, his cousin Boon Hogganback (Steve McQueen) and their black relation (Rupert Crosse). The story involves a stolen car, a 4-day odyssey from northern Mississippi to the 'red light" district of Memphis, a horse race, and the life-changing experiences of young Lucius. Will Geer, as Lucius' grandfather "Boss," offers a memorable performance when he confronts the young boy with his misdeeds, proving again that the word is mightier than the hand. William Faulkner would be proud of this movie.

Don't Forget John Williams' Best Ever Score
Like the cinematography, the beauty and details are exquisite. While you're at it try the book too, Faulkner's sweetest.

Poignant, coming of age film to delight audiences all ages.
The Reivers is a purely entertaining film about a young boy who is introduced to an adult world at the turn of the century. Perfectly cast and well- written, this film is sure to delight all audiences. Steve McQueen is at his best, and Mitch Vogel will win your heart. Pure enjoyment!

Wonderful movie
Very well casted. Cinematography is great and so is sound track. Strong performances from all actors. I especially liked Will Geer as the grandfather. The story is always engaging and never drags. Great entertainment for all ages.

Tender, funny -- a wonderful story well told!
Probably the finest acting Steve McQueen ever did. Not his usaual roll, very different. He shows a wonderful flare for comedy and almost a shy sensitive side. The story romps thur one miss-deed to the next consequence. It's well told with humor and tenderness. You'll like this one; you'll watch it with the family and then tell a friend about it. It's honestly that good. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

My Favorite Hunk Of Flesh-Devouring Protoplasm!
Yes! A meteorite crashes to earth, unleashing the blob! An old man is it's first victim, foolishly poking at it with a stick, only to be absorbed into it's mass! Steve McQueen is excellent in his first starring role. He witnesses his local doctor being assimilated into the monster. The cops don't believe him. Only the town's swinging teens will help. Meanwhile, the blob is on a rampage, eating everyone and growing bigger and redder with each new meal! What is it? Where did it come from? Can it possibly be stopped?? This movie will have you checking under your bed, chair, and even in your duct-work for this hellish beasty! Watch it at your own risk...

Silly Putty from Outer Space.
This is the apex of '50s sci-fi camp. Quite correctly, amazon.com has this listed as Sci-fi/Comedy. Unlike many old sci-fi flicks that take themselves seriously, this film goes with the goofy flow, and occasionally laughs at itself. An indestructible mass from outer space absorbs humans, and grows gigantic. One great moment is the scene at the local theater. As the teenagers sit, engrossed in a spook show marathon, the gelatinous mass gobbles the projectionist and oozes through the projection room windows. It dribbles through the theater and out the double doors into the street, finally causing mass panic. This movie memory is part of '50s baby boomer folklore. Steve McQueen and Aneta Corsaut run around town trying to persuade the adults that a monster is on the loose, and, no, it's not a teenage prank. The chasm separating adults and teenagers impedes the kids' ability to serve as the community's monster-attack warning system. The adults in this movie are straight from the "Ward and June Clever" profile. Another hilarious moment unfolds thus: running out into the street in his sleeper PJs, Ignatz (or is his name Danny?), Corsaut's annoying little brother, fires his cap pistol at the Blob. When the caps are gone, the kid throws the toy gun at the monster, the old movie Western standby. The snappy little rock-n-roll song above the opening credits sets the proper mood. The oddly effective blend of spine-tingling suspense and bizarre humor make this one a winner. Great fun for collectors and nostalgia buffs. ;-)

My favorite horror flick.
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film

This film needs no introduction. Terence "Steve" McQueen's first starring role remains one of his best.

A meteorite lands in the woods releasing a viscous substance that absorbs living things and gets bigger each time it does so. Some local teens attempt to convince the police what is happening while rescuing the town.

The acting is really good too.

I like this film even more as it was made entirely within 20 miles from my home. The locations where the movie was filmed attract many tourists. The movie theater featured in the film even holds an annual Blobfest every July attended by the cast and crew.

The director Irvin Yeaworth directed several sci-fi films to learn how to direct better. He has since done hundreds of religious short films. Assistant Producer Russell Doughten went on to direct the apocalyptic "Thief in the night" films which are based on the Biblical book of Revelation. As a Christian, this film remains special to me, being directed by another Christian.

The DVD has several special features including a slideshow of production stills, a theatrical trailer, and a foldout poster.
There are also two audio commentaries which are very impressive.

The first is by producer Jack Harris and film historian Bruce Eder who has done much work with the Criterion Collection. The commentary mentions several events about the production and the untimely death of Steve McQueen They also mention his stay in a Mexican clinic in an attempt to cure his cancer with a controversial drug derived from fruit seeds which is banned in the US as quackery. They also mention Steve asking Billy Graham to visit him in the clinic to pray for him.

The second Commentary is by Director Irvin Yeaworth Jr. and actor Tony Fields.
In this commentary, Yeaworth talks much about his desire to make relgious films and gives further production information.

This DVD is one of the really good ones and it is a film that one should not miss.

The Blob (original 1958)
I saw this B-movie almost 6 years ago, and I haven't forgotten it since. Steve McQueen does a fabulous job as a young man whose girlfriend and him are caught up in a terrifying frenzy of terror when a gigantic blob of goo starts killing people around a city. THE BLOB is an extremely creative and thoroughly enjoyable experience. It's one of those films that has a plot so simple and yet so fresh, that's the effect that adds the creepiness to it. This movie is a true, B-movie classic and should never be forgotten.

"It Creeps & Leaps & Glides & Slides Across the Floor...."
Taken as a straight horror film, 1958's THE BLOB would admittedly fail, as it is not creepy or frightening by any conventional cinematic standards. But this campy classic is not meant to be taken seriously. From the opening bars of the catchy pop-music theme song to the question mark that follows the words THE END, the film is a blatant send-up of 1950s American culture and its white-bread mores and sensibilities. The film is replete with palpable caricatures of nearly every cultural icon of 1950s: Squeaky-clean teenagers, rock-n-roll music, hot-rods and drag racing, friendly neighborhood cops, cold-war anxiety...you name it. Indeed, taken as a whole, the film itself is a spoof of both the invasion-from-space and the giant-monster-on-the-loose sci-fi flicks that were popular earlier in the decade.

THE BLOB was made and released in the wake of teen-angst films like REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and beatnik publications like Kerouac's ON THE ROAD, and it was also a time when the counterculture icons of the 1960s--rock groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones; gurus of alternate lifestyles such as Dr. Timothy Leary and Abbie Hoffman--were formulating their radical ideals and ideologies. In other words, THE BLOB was the product of a period when American youth were becoming restless and were itching for artistic and intellectual stimulation, and teens and young adults were therefore growing increasingly weary of bland 1950s conservatism. Campy films like THE BLOB capitalized on that attitude by offering up exaggerated and surrealistic snapshots of the culture's insipid qualities, thereby giving the younger crowd an opportunity to openly laugh at the worldview of their elders. Alas, the sardonic humor and satirical subtext of THIS classic film seems to be lost on the average contemporary audience.

The special FX in THE BLOB are typical of 1950s cinema, but that only adds to the humor and the fun. The gelatinous titular character is especially a hoot to watch. Even though the illusion of its movement is obviously the result of stop-motion animation, it is still quite compelling to see it ooze under doors, through duct vents, and down Main Street, USA.

Film buffs will definitely enjoy seeing the venerable Steve McQueen in one of his earliest film roles--the twinkle in his eye as he delivers his ah-gee-whiz lines should clue you in to the fact that this film is parody--and couch potatoes and fans of classic TV will recognize Aneta Corsaut, the girl playing Jane Martin, from her recurring role as Helen Crump on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

The visual transfer on Criterion Collection's DVD version of THE BLOB is beautiful--probably the best digital version to date--and the disc also offers extras that include two interesting audio commentaries. The one negative aspect of CC's disc, though, is some very noticeable scratchiness on the soundtrack during a few short portions of the film. For the price that the CC charges for their discs, consumers are right to expect all noticeable flaws in picture and sound to be cleaned up.

Overall, THE BLOB is a great piece of classic camp, and the five-star rating is based on the film itself and does not, therefore, reflect the aspects of any particular DVD version. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The Cincinnati Kid
One of my all time favorites...Steve McQueen is great in the title role of a man who wants to be the best and the only way he can do it is to beat the best...Edward G Robinson's Lancy Howard. Right up there with Rounders as the best poker movie ever made. Like all great movies the supporting acting is first rate...check out Ann Margaret and Tuesday Weld and the always good Karl Maldin. This is a must see for movie fans.

Unpolished to Perfection
Classic performances by Steve McQueen, Karl Malden and Edward G. Robinson, along with an impressive supporting cast, lend character and depth to a deceptively straight forward plot. Hunter's (McQueen) quest to become "the man" is complicated by the people, both sympathetic and avaricious, who are drawn into his orbit. Yet, the plot remains focused as all converge on the big match, and the players dwindle to the head to head clash that will decide much more than the outcome of a simple game of cards. Raw and gritty, this film is a wonderful period piece of both Depression Era society in general and simmering, sultry New Orleans in specific. The characters are interesting and colorful; and like most outstanding movies, what you get out of it is what you read between the lines. This movie is to Rounders what The Hustler is to The Color of Money.

Don't waste your gambling money on this stinker
There is a reason this film (and I use that term loosely) has not been released on DVD.. I am a huge Steve McQeen fan, but this is a terrible movie... Poor Ann-Margaret..no wonder she never really was taken seriously as an actress.. This movie reminded me more a musical, without the music.. (Think "Showboat").. cheesey lines, uneven editing, hey the list goes on and on.. I know, the current poker craze has everyone jumping on anything having to do with the game.. but save your money.. this movie stinks..

Great poker game film is a hidden gem
This film has great headliners and suspense that builds up to a riveting, marathon poker game and climax that leaves the Cincinnati Kid and old pro Lancey Howard drained at the finish as well as the many onlookers in that hotel room who witness the grand showdown. Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson are great adversaries who spar, feint, thrust and circle, feeling each other out in a realistic drama worthy of a great heavyweight championship match. Karl Malden is the pathetic Shooter whose ethics, such as they are, are part of the film's plot. Rip Torn also weighs in with fine work as a New Orleans gentleman with a keen interest in the big game. Sexy Ann-Margret is a siren with a past who takes great delight in tormenting husband Shooter and Tuesday Weld is pretty as the marriage-minded girlfriend of the Cincinnati Kid.

DVD
I hope someone will release this great movie in DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

No doubt, BEST DISASTER MOVIE EVER!
Firstly, this movie deserves praise for Faye Dunaway's dress that she wears throughout the entire film. But movies shouldn't all be beautiful women in provocative clothing, this movie has it all. Produced by Irwin Allen, who produced "The Poseidon Adventure" before this movie. Allen bested himself in this flick.

The story is relatively simple; the world's highest skyscraper ca