Reviews (11)

A MUST SEE
This is a very good movie! I am a Shirley Temple fan, but I think that even if you are not, you will still love this movie! Shirley plays Star, a child that was in a ship wreck and was found by Captain January, a lighthouse keeper. There is an evil truant officer who is trying to take Star away from "Cap". This movie has something for everyone. It has a lot of really funny parts, but it also has a very good plot. There are some good songs in the movie, such as,"At the Codfish Ball","Early Bird",and "The Right Somebody To Love". This is a very good movie, A must see for anyone!

Shirley
This Temple film is very good. Little Shirley stars as the "daughter" of a lighthouse keeper who rescued her when she was a baby. A truant officer learns that "Star" doesn't go to school, makes her take an examination, and when she passes, angrily decides to sent Star to an institution. Unhappy Star gets a surprise from her sympathizing aunt and uncle. Includes lots of dancing. Not too cute like some of the Temple films. Lots of songs.

Great film
This movie has a good dance sequence with Shirley and Buddy Ebsen. Shirley sings some good songs with friends. An uplifting and entertaining film.

Gets Me Everytime
This is probably one of the only films besides for some tear-jerking romance movies that gets me to break down in tears each time I watch it. Shirley Temple gives an excellent performance as Star, a pint-sized orphan living with her savior, Captain January, in a lighthouse on the shore. When Star is ripped out of Captain January's arms as the cold truant officer tries to put her in an institution (I know- these are a likely basis for Temple flicks but who cant love them!), I bawl everytime as she yells to the grief-stricken Cap- "What did I do? Why are they taking me away from you?" It is the sadest thing ever to see a little girl, especially Shirley, break down like that- it gets me everytime.
This movie is indeed a Temple memorable- most def. one of her classics. She shines in this movie- dances surely the best she can with Buddy Ebsen- and bestows this beautiful relationship with the old sea Cap. The cap and Star both take care of each other and it is adorable to watch on screen. The songs in this movie are very cute and any child or Shirley fan will love this movie. I highly recommed it being a major Shirley fan myself. I grew up with her big smile, her bright eyes, her tiny dimples, and her curly top- Shes a big part of my childhood memories. I wish their were movies more like these that exist now...

AT THE CODFISH BALL WITH JED CLAMPETT!
A remake of a 1923 silent with the now-forgotten Baby Peggy, this is an amusing little Temple flick - one in which the little ones should enjoy. This was Shirley's initial 1936 release and it actually turned out to be one of her most fondly remembered movies. Based upon an 1890 novel entitled THE LIGHTHOUSE AT CAPE TEMPEST by Laura E. Richards, its the story of a poor foundling (how unusual for a Temple character!) named Star who is taken in by a kindly lighthouse keeper - the title character played by the talented Guy Kibbee. Shirley sings THE RIGHT SOMEBODY TO LOVE and her dance number with Buddy Ebsen is among her best while doing AT THE CODFISH BALL. During the filming of the latter's sequence, Temple had to climb a 45 foot stairway while a camera crane moved up beside her, catching her lines each time she turned on the stairs - timing the line exactly to the turn - Shirley never missed the synchronization once. Temple was easily the greatest asset the newly formed TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX had and this movie is quite a showcase for the little moppet. It's designed solely as its star's vehicle; Shirley appears in nearly every sequence: grinning, sobbing, dancing, singing, wriggling, pattering downstairs or spitting on her pinafore as the scenerio requires! The colourization process has improved substantially, so the kids won't complain about watching "old black and white movies"! ... Read more

Description

With ANNE BAXTER, THOMAS MITCHELL, SELENA ROYLE, WARD BOND, BOBBY DRISCOLL. Directed by LLOYD BACON. This heart-wrenching drama was made at the height of World War II, when American mothers and fathers were sending their sons off to battle. In too many cases, these young men never were to return. It opens with a simple declaration: "This is a true story." What follows is the account of five young men named Sullivan. They enjoy a typical all-American small town childhood as they share youthful adventures and mischief. The Sullivans go fishing and boating. They worship in church. They boyishly slide down the banister of their house and squabble among themselves and with others. Their hardworking father tries to set for them a good example. Their mother cooks their meals, cleans their clothes and mediates their differences. The years pass too quickly and the Sullivans become young men. They date and go to dances. One of them falls in love and marries. Then terrible!news comes, on December 7, 1941. The Japanese have launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. America is at war. "Its always been the five of us," one of the Sullivans proclaims. So they join the navy to do their patriotic duty. This is a tremendously moving account of boys grown into men and of honor and obligation, courage and sacrifice. The film is extremely well-acted, especially by Thomas Mitchell as the Sullivans father and Anne Baxter as the bride of the youngest Sullivan. Highly recommended. 113 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

An American family sends its five boys off to World War II
"The Fighting Sullivans" is the true story of five brothers who died together when their Navy ship, the Juneau, was sunk in the South Pacific during World War II. But only the last act of this 1944 film, directed by Lloyd Bacon, shows the Sullivans at war. Most of this film is pure Americana, following the lives of the boys from their childhood in Waterloo, Iowa. Thomas Mitchell and the marvelous Selena Royle are the loving parents, while the five boys are played by unknown actors: Edward Ryan (Al), John Campbell (Frank), James Cardwell (George), John Alvin (Matt), and George Offerman (Joe). Trudy Marshall plays their only sister, Genevieve. Top billing actually goes to Anne Baxter as the young girl who marries into the family and will be left a widow with a baby in arms. Ward Bond plays the Navy lieutenant who befriends the family when the Sullivans insist that they will only join up if they can serve together. Eventually the Navy relents and the boys get their wish.

Audiences knew the tragic fate of the Sullivans, although the film was originally released as "The Sullivans" and pretty much bombed at the box office. Retitled "The Fighting Sullivans" and re-released, it became a smash hit. The use of unknown actors made the film all the more effective, especially since it refrained from the sort of cliches you would expect. If the scene where the parents learn all five boys have died does not get you, the next scene will: Mr. Sullivan goes off to his job on the railroad and as the train passes the water tower where his boys waved to him as kids, he salutes them. Actually, this film works so well that the final shot, of the Sullivans in uniform striding across the clouds of the afterlife does not seem one whit hokey. There is a documentary available on the Sullivans, which tells how one of the boys survived the sinking before dying in the waters off of Guadacanal. I would not have thought anything could have made this story more tragic, but that bit of information certainly made it worse for me.

True story of 5 brothers who fought & died together in WWII
"The Fighting Sullivans" is a moving tribute and true story of five brothers who served together on the same ship in WWII. The story begins with the birth of each child (including one daughter) and then continues on showing the close and loving relationships in the family through the years. There's one great scene where the father (Thomas Mitchell, who was Scarlet's father in "Gone With the Wind) teaches some of the sons a lesson about smoking -- very funny! One of the sons marries prior to the war and the movie shows some good old-fashioned "courting" (kids today should see what courting is all about!). This is a great movie for the whole family to see (as most movies were back then) with great examples of family togetherness, wholesome values, and the willingness of honorable men to do what is right even if this means that they must "pay the price" as well. Even my daughters, when they were young girls, loved this movie and still quote the line of the brother who tells his family of the girl he wants them to meet and adds, "She's swell!" This would be a great movie to see any time, but especially on Memorial Day or Veterans Day when we remember those who served and gave their all to protect and defend the United States of America.

First step in an interesting American story
The movie makes up for what it lacks in historic facts with it's ability to show the family as they truly were- a close-knit, hard-working Irish American family. The movie is an excellent example of 1940's American war-time propaganda, but is an excellent starting off point for learning more about the Sullivan's story, about their lives,their deaths, and their family, which continues to this day to carry on the legacy of the Sullivan brothers.

Today, the USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) is commissioned United States destroyer working hard to protect the country. The crew is well aware of the brother's story and the ship's motto is taken directly from one of the brother's upon joining the navy as a group- "We Stick Together". Watch the movie, and keep in mind the sailors who are out there today risking their lives in much the same way the Sullivan Brothers did 60 years ago.

Always been a favorite
I saw this movie years ago with my grandmother, and I hadn't seen it in years. Naturally, I wanted to see it again. It begins as the story of a close-knit family growing up. It follows them right into WWII into their untimely demise. A true tear-jerker...and a classic that ranks up there with "It's a Wonderful Life."

Excellent
This movie is great. I first saw it as a kid about 15 years ago, & fell in love with it immeadiately. Even then it made me cry. Everyone should see this movie about 5 brothers who make the ultimate sacrifice. They are mentioned in Saving Private Ryan, but its' a shame that more people don't know about the Sullivan Brothers. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Good for the kids...
I saw this movie as a child and still remembered many scenes...although I didn't remember that most of the movie is dubbed for English...even many of the scenes with Kirk Douglas... The DVD audio wasn't very good...but not hearing any other version (either VHS or broadcast) I don't really have anything to compare it to. Perhaps they're bad on other media types too, or I guess that with DVD's we've just come to expect too much...;)... The kids enjoyed the story very much. Nothing really objectionable.

Kirk Douglas as Ulysses in an impressive failure from Italy
"Ulysses" is an impressive failure, an admirable attempt to bring Homer's epic "The Odyssey" to the big screen that ultimately fails to click. Kirk Douglas plays "Ulysses" (the Latin version of Odysseus, which makes sense since this was an Italian film directed by Mario Camerini and produced by Dino De Laurentis and Carlo Ponti. The story in the film actually begins with the end of the Trojan War and Ulysses' strategem of the Trojan Horse. After sacking the city Ulysses and his men head for home, but the next thing we now our hero is washed up on the shore of an island suffering from amnesia. With the help of a beautiful young princess (Rossana Podesta), he eventually remembers everything that happened to him and his men during the past several years and that he has a wife waiting for him back home. Of course, she is trying to put off all those suitors who insist her husband is dead and that she should remarry. The best idea in this film was having actress Silvana Mangano play both Penelope, Ulysses' wife, and Circe, the sorceress who keeps our hero for several years on his magical isle. However, the English dubbing of the film is painfully reminiscent of a SNL gladiator film sketch and the script, worked on by seven writers including Irwin Shaw and Ben Hecht, is too obviously a cut and paste job. Anthony Quinn is wasted in this 1954 film as Antinous, which will remind you more of those Italian he-man movies than a Hollywood epic. The set designs are quite impressive and the sequence with the Cyclops has some good moments, but overall "Ulysses" just lacks fire.

This is a question not a review
Almost half of world population speak Spanish. Why do not you edit this clasic movie with subtitles (at least) in Spanish?

Fun flick...I wish someone would dig up the original 3-D
Not many people know that ULYSSES was shot in 3-D, but it only released in flat 2-D form as the craze was over by the time the film was completed. I wish someone would try to locate the original 3-D elements so we could see this film as intended!

More of a satire then anything else.
What can I say. This was made by the same film company that made all those low budget Hercules movies. Kirk Douglas is somewhat amusing in the part but the cheesy effects and art direction will make you turn the movie off in five minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

A true classic
Wow. This is one of those animated movies you won't soon forget. With a wonderful score by James Horner, great story, and admirable characters, this is right up there with Disney's best.

Basic plot: Boy gets separated from his family on their way to America by boat (in the early 1900s?) and must find his way back to them. On his journey, he meets new friends and enemies in one grand adventure in New York. Oh, did I mention the main character and his family are mice? Anyway, it's a good movie. Watch it and enjoy.

A Delightful Tale!!
This animated featured, directed by Don Bluth, is an unforgettable treat for the entire family. It follows the adventures of "Fievel," a little boy mouse who journeys from Russia to America with his family, late in the 19th century, to seek a new life free of cat persecution. (Some analogies are present here.) During the storm boat trip, Fievel is lost at sea, and he finally washes up ashore in New York Harbor, where he vows to find his family.

With the voices of Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Nehemiah Persoff, and Christopher Plummer, this story will warm your heart. A highly recommended movie!!!

Heart Felt but Slow Moving
This movie was one of the greatest movies that was released in the eighties. Now as a parent, I tried introducing my four year old daughter to this movie. She had no interest in it at all. As I watch today, I did notice slow moving plots in the beginning. After the first half hour it becomes more entertaining. I do not recommend this movie for kids with short attention spans.

An American Tail
AAT is one of the best animated movies from the 1980's, and also a Don Bluth masterpiece.
Many animated movies is getting too blended with CGI, and it failed like in Pocahontas, but AAT is nicely animated without any use of a computer.

When will they ever learn...
I have waited a long time for An American Tail to be released on dvd and I was very discouraged when I finally found it in a movie store. I actually love the movie itself and give it 5 stars but I awarded it's dvd release 1 star for a particular reason. For some reason whoever makes the choice for the format of the movie has this blind man's perspective that "kid's" movies should be released in a standard 4:3 ratio. This company did the same with The Land Before Time as well. Universal did the same to a clever movie called Big Fat Liar. Standard format was originally invented on videotape movie releases because everyone who owned a TV back when marketing videos began owned a square almost equal lateral set. No other type of TV screen existed back then. Now a days HDTV and widescreen plasma monitors are the new standard and cope with it folks they are here to stay. I actually prefer the widescreen format. One reason is because that is exactly how it is supposed to look...panoramic, professional and sophisticated. If you saw a comparison of one frame of a movie (let's say from the opening scene of the Live action movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, there is an awesome panoramic view of Manhattan, NY with the World Trade Center, Empire State Building, Ect.)Take that same frame and view it in standard and it loses so much pizzazz and scenery that I can hardly call it the same movie. I read another review on this website about another movie and the author said it best. It's like trying to read a book with the last chapter torn out of it. Has anyone noticed the trend of commercials on TV having those black bars on the top and bottom of the screen? That is evidence that widescreen is here to stay. Has anyone ever watched a full frame 4:3 format movie on a widescreen TV? Didn't like it did you? The picture looked really crappy and distorted didn't it? I have heard there are ways to manipulate the settings on these screens to change a stretched out 4:3 movie to a normal 4:3 shape but then those evil black bars that everyone seems to hate so much come back but this time on the left and right sides of the screen! And after time on a plasma screen those evil black bars can cause permanent damage to that area of the screen. At any rate buy An American Tail on DVD, it is no different than the VHS copy your child has under the couch next to the moldy bologna sandwich in the living room but at least you can watch it on your dvd player instead of on a scratchy noisy VCR. Enjoy!

This was a review written by a member of the Non-Existing Widescreen DVD Coalition. Ask Hollywood to bring Night Of The Comet to dvd and any other title you wish you had. ... Read more

Description

"On Moonlight Bay" stars Doris Day and Gordon MacRae are back together in top tune-crooning form for the further adventures of a small-town family turning the corner from World War I into the Roaring '20s. Year: 1953 Director: David Butler Starring:Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Billy Gray ... Read more

Reviews (12)

An Old-Fashoined Love Story
I saw this movie for the first time when my music teacher lent it to me. It's more of a Christmas movie, but it's a wonderful love story. The music was wonderful. I was disappointed at the end. I was expecting them to get married. The two leads sre played by Doris Day and Gordon MacRae (he did wonderful in Oklahoma! and Carousel) They can also both be seen together in On Moonlight Bay and Tea For Two.

Romantic, Melodic, & Fun
Though I loved the first movie "On Moonlight Bay," I have to admit that I loved this sequel even more. Gordon MacRae looks awfully handsome and his gorgeous voice just makes you fall in love with him. Doris Day looks even prettier than in the first movie with her blond hair all done up. There's so much chemistry between MacRae and Day that their romance bursts with believability.
The musical numbers are adorable and fun, you literally feel like you've stepped right into their world and become part of the Winfield clan. Like the first movie, though, once you get to the end, you'll be sorry it's over! Highly recommended!

Will these two ever get married?
This is the sequel to the film ON MOONLIGHT BAY (1951) and the entire main cast of the first film returns to entertain you. Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Leon Ames, Rosemary DeCamp, Billy Gray and Mary Wickes. Everything is still the same. Same house. The front door window has been fixed. Gordon MacRae will be coming home from the war soon. Doris thinks she is going to get married to him as soon as he is back in town, but what she does not realize is that the war has given Gordon a much more mature look at life.
The cute romance is still there, but will these two ever get married?
Look quick for a young Merv Griffin at the ice-skating pond.

By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
Marjorie Winfield (Doris Day) and William Sherman (Gordon MacRae) are back Bill has just gotten back from the war and Chester Finley (Russel Arms) Wesley's (Billy Gray) 's Piano Teacher has been dating Marjorie! Well when Marj and Bill are going to a big dance Bill shocks Marj by saying that he is going to wait a few years for the marriage so he can afford their Nest Egg without going into debt! Well They get into a big fight and Marj takes the car and leaves! Well they get over their fight and have a lot of fun with Wesley causing his usual problems! This movie ends with the whole family skating on the ice rink singing By The Light Of The Silvery Moon!

BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON
THIS IS PURE CLEAN FUN, IT IS CUTE AND DORIS DAY AND GORDON MACRAE MAKE A CUTE PAIR. IT IS A GREAT FAMILY FILM THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD. WORTH OWNING. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of James Mason's Best
I love this movie. I fell in love with in when I saw it the first and was hooked ever since to James Mason. I didn't know that Todd and Mason were having an affair but no matter, they certainly made a good couple. It astounds me how Todd acted so well to her character and how Mason protrays the deep love that he had for her in his way of rejecting her time and time again. How he slams his cane over her hands as she dares to leave him for someone else. In the end though, I kinda felt that she should have ended up with the doctor but I know that she and Mason were meant to be together. Mason has always fascinated me as an actor that never got his true claim. When he played in Lolita, he did very well though I was surprised that he would do a movie like that. But the Seventh Veil was very good and I recommend it to everyone who likes in the old classics that the modern stuff would never obtain.

An understated and elegant movie
This is a fascinating and intense movie, a classic of its genre and one which is teeming with repressed sexuality. The two lead performers, James Mason and Ann Todd, were romantically involved throughout the making of this film and had an affair in real life (as Todd later admitted). Their chemistry is quite palpable, though not in the same way as Tracy and Hepburn; the entire movie is an exercise is repression, caution and masked motions. In fact, with a few exceptions, neither star even touches one another throughout the movie, but there is more overt sex here than in many more graphic films. One must simply strain harder to discern it.

Mason is beautifully wicked here, his evil nature and sadism are extremely attractive to watch. Ann Todd is a repressed and frightened pianist who suffers to horror of having Mason slam his cane down upon her hands while she scales the keyboard. Delicious! This scene, above any other, catapulted James Mason to the forefront of British cinema stars. Watch the scene where a white kitty is curled on his lap as he dourly pets it and stares daggers as Todd in the background. You can cut the psychological melodrama here with a thick butter knife.

This isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you appreciate a beautiful man in Mason, a terrified lamb of a starlet like Ann Todd, and an adroit and mature screenplay, then watch "The Seventh Veil." It has worn very well in the ensuing decades and still makes for gripping viewing.

Haunting psychological drama
A young James Mason molds a distant relative into a world-class pianist (Ann Todd). The film begins in the present with Francesca (Ann Todd) being hypnotized by a psychiatrist to probe her fear of injury to her hands. Through flashbacks the story of an orphaned young girl and a controlling guardian is told amid beautiful piano music. I loved the focus of Beethoven's Adagio from the Pathetique as well as the ever popular Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto. The title, "The Seventh Veil" refers to each level of disclosure a person reveals about themselves. The psychiatrist must reveal the last and most deep..."The Seventh Veil". Superb acting and wonderful music make this film at the top of my list of classics. Ann Todd is especially withdrawn and emotionless dealing with her guardian, James Mason. James Mason is quite handsome and sometimes infuriating. Turn off your phone and curl up with this magnetic movie, you won't be disappointed!! (It won a best original screenplay oscar in 1946). ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This lush retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a dark and engrossing tale. Director John Boorman (Deliverance) masterfully handles the tale of the mythical sword Excalibur, and its passing from the wizard Merlin to the future king of England. Arthur pulls the famed sword from a stone and is destined to be crowned king. As the king embarks on a passionate love affair with Guenevere, an illegitimate son, and Merlin's designs on power, threaten Arthur's reign. The film is visually stunning and unflinching in its scenes of combat and black magic. Featuring an impressive supporting cast, including early work from the likes of Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne, Excalibur is an adaptation of the legend both faithful and bold. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (242)

An amazing movie
Ok, its not a perfect movie, but for this movie, which covers the mythology of Arthur, Camelot and Excalibur(very very difficult to do) it succeeds remarkably well. There are scenes that are nearly perfect throughout the film. When the Knights of the Round Table first form, when Arthur and Lancelot joust, the sins of adultery scene, the 'unholy child' scene, the search for the Grail, when Perceval strips his armor and is born anew(remarkable), when Arthur and Guenevere meet one last time with some beautifully poetic dialogue, the scene where Arhur sees Merlin in his dreams while at Stonehenge at dusk, and of course the final battle. Wow, there are just so many great scenes. Probably my favorite is when Perceval casts Excalibur back into the lake and the Lady of the Lake reaches out to take it back. Then, we see another amazing scene as Arthur is seen being taken away in a boat to Avalon. I could go on and on about this film. See it in DVD, though, the widescreen vision. A beautiful, remarkable film that few directors would even begin to attempt today. I think a younger Speilberg would be daring enough to attempt it, but I doubt he would succeed nearly as well. Zemeckis gave it a try with Sean Connery and Richard Gere. It was called First Knight. Watch that movie and then watch Excalibur and it is almost laughable how much better the latter one is... Buy this movie now, sit back and enjoy.

Not Perfect, But Darn Close...
It's tough to compress the 900-some-odd pages of text that Thomas Malory used to tell his story of Le Morte d'Arthur into 140 minutes, but director John Boorman and screenwriter Rospo Pallenberg give it a good shot. While it sometimes leaves out important details or compresses events in the interest of time, it can never be accused of playing fast and loose with the legend. However, the film also requires a bit of work on the part of the viewer to fill in some of the details, and it's obvious Boorman expects his viewer to be at least passing familiar with the traditions of the Arthurian legend (anyone unfamiliar with the mythology associated with Avalon, for example, may be baffled by the imagery in the film's closing moments).

With its darkened, cloud-streaked skies, lonely stone castles, eerie green lighting, (all caught in beautiful widescreen glory on the DVD!) and use of the music of Richard Wagner, you won't find a moodier, more beautifully shot film. In fact, there are some downright breathtaking cinematic moments in this film -- from the wedding of Arthur and Guinevere (complete with medieval chants and armor polished to a mirror-like sheen) to the Lady of the Lake's clean catch of Excalibur over the swooshing music of Wagner. Great stuff.

While Nicol Williamson turns in a very game performance as Merlin, it's Nigel Terry who carries the film in an underappreciated but wholly believeable interpretation of King Arthur. Terry leaves the scenery-chewing to Williamson, and anchors the film instead with a steady, understated performance. Look also for stars-in-the-making Liam Neeson as the jealous Gawain, and Patrick Stewart as Guenevere's father, Leodegrance.

EXCALIBUR has all the elements one expects in a fantasy; yet, in a sense, Boorman does for the sword-and-sorcery film what Sergio Leone did for the western: whereas prior horse operas showed cowboys riding across the desert and shuffing down dirt streets without a bit of sweat, and firing pistols that never drew blood, Leone made everyone look hot and sweaty, and showed that a Smith & Wesson could rip a real hole through your gut. Boorman does the same for the knight in this film -- knights clunk around clumsily in heavy armor, get skewered on pikes, get their heads bashed in, and cough their guts out in bloody mud puddles. It all lends an air of veracity to the film that makes it all seem like It Could Really Have Happened This Way.

The widescreen format available on DVD gives this film the weight and heft it has long deserved, and there are some real gems lurking among the additional features -- a surprisingly cheezy, Grade B trailer, and a really great alternate soundtrack in which director John Boorman discusses the action and shares some behind-the-scene goodies (such as the fact that Nicol Williamson and Helen Mirren couldn't stand each other, or that the actor playing the teenaged Mordred was actually a first-rate horseman).

weak but at least it sticks to the legends
Of all the horrid films based on Arthurian legends (it seems there's a curse preventing a good Arthurian film!), this is the "best" there is. The screenplay is weak and the acting bearable at best but at least it sticks (roughly) to the legends (which is more than I can say for every other "Arthurian" film in existence). For that reason, I recommend "Excalibur" over any other Arthurian film.

Classic
The thing to remember about this movie is that it was made in 1981. By that token, do not expect non stop battle sequences, one dimensional acting and obviously fake computer cg graphics. This is a movie in the old tradition, in the vein of something like "The Lion in Winter." It is not a non stop action epic and takes pride in slowly building up the story according the classical tales of King Arthur. I like to think of this as a great adaptation in the grand old style. Bravo.

Only ordinary
The Arthur story has been told and retold in dozens of ways. Some (like Mists of Avalon) give a unique perspective, others emphasize the character drama, yet others apply the newest effects to the story.

This version, though competent enough, never seemed to find itself. It has good action, reasonable interprtations of characters, and a generally high standard of craftsmanship. When the story is as familiar as Arthur et al., it takes something more for a movie to become memorable.

It's exciting and it's watchable. It just has nothing to put it ahead of other versions of the Arthur story. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

It SHOULD Be On DVD!!t Has Phoebe Cate's!
This movie has a young and nubile Phoebe Cates in it... Nuff said! Automatic 5 Stars!!!

Wow!
Wonderful combination of every 80's teen movie cliche' that you can jam into one film. The beauty of Phoebe Cates and especially Betsy Russell were stamped into my brain from the moment I first saw this flick as a hormonally excitable lad of fourteen. I suggest you get in the time machine and enjoy an evening of leg warmers, pre-breast augmentation actresses, and fun. They don't make em' like this anymore.
Betsy Russell...where are you?

Silly film, but still worth a look
This is a silly story really. Outrageous, improbable events. But still enjoyable. I last saw this film over 10 years ago and I can still recall it as if it were yesterday. Shockingly, Phoebe Cates is great in this! Silly storyline and situations, but entertaining.

Betsy Russell - Unbelievable
If you're looking for gratuitous T&A, this is one of the best of all time. Betsy Russell in this movie might quite possibly be the most stunning performance by any actress ever. Her bareback horseriding scene, the seduction scene, and the stained clothes so I better take them off and let them soak scene are all nothing short of awe inspiring. Add that to a bunch or other bombshell schoolgirls walking around naked (the shower scene is just... wow), plus the fact you've got Phoebe Cates staring and I don't know what more you could ask for in this type of movie. Plotwise it's also pretty amusing with many laugh out load moments (although it's hard to stay focused on that with what you're looking at).

Beautiful leads can't save this train wreck
I really wanted to find something good to say about this movie because my favorite girl is in it. So here it is: the only bright spots in this miserable film are Betsy Russel and Phoebe Cates. Betsy is a beautiful woman with a most impressive rack. Her horseback scene is nothing short of awe-inspiring. And Phoebe is, as always, angelic. She may not have Betsy's impressive dimensions, but the elegance of her form is without rival. And who can resist her smile? Unfortunately, she remains entirely too clothed--we only see a few seconds of her backside late in the film. I found much of this movie painful to watch. The males are an embarrassment, and the female authority figures don't fare much better. I primarily blame the director for confusing vulgarity with humor, and for failing to rein in the men's performances. Without their hammy and [dumb] antics, this could have been a standard teen sex farce instead of the piece of [junk] that it is. As actors, Phoebe Cates and Ray Walston are too good to be in this train wreck. One can only wonder what they were thinking. ... Read more

Description

Originally broadcast in the UK in 1966, The Tenth Planet marks the last appearance of the highly popular first Doctor, William Hartnell. In the 1970's the final episode of The Tenth Planet was lost, so this story never aired in the U.S. However, this specially reconstructed version of the missing episode contains the first regeneration sequence. The story centers on the return of the tenth planet to Earth's solar system. The planet's inhabitants, the dreaded Cybermen, who make their first appearance in the Doctor Who series, may prove too much for the ailing Time Lord. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

At long last...
If you only own one other Dr. Who video, your collection is incomplete without The Tenth Planet. It depicts, of course, the most significant turning point in the history of the show, the departure of William Hartnell as the Doctor. That, in itself is more than enough reason to buy this video.

As a special bonus, there are the Cybermen. Don't be fooled as I was by the still photos which gave them a cheesy appearance. They don't appear terrifying at all until you see them in action. The lip action and voice characterization are nothing less than chilling. I first saw the Cybermen in "Revenge" then later in "Earthshock" and "Attack" and found them scary enough then. Now that I've seen "Tenth" I realize that they actually got less and less scary as time went on, which makes this one the scariest ever.

The reconstruction of the unfortunately missing final episode is surprisingly and absolutely brilliant. The audio track is complete and there are stills that refresh every couple of seconds. The only times that I was reminded that it was a reconstruction was when lines of text would scroll across the bottom of the screen to depict what was happening or when brief clips of actual film would delightfully appear. And the regeneration scene is complete. So there is not much that is missing after all.

Bottom line, get this one.

A Historical Moment in Doctor Who Finally Available!!!
Sure the Cybermen look crude, the scenes of them communicating through just opening their mouths at times are laughable and the sets are cheap. Still, if you are a fan of Doctor Who "The Tenth Planet" is an absolute must for several reasons.
1) This was a corner stone moment in Doctor Who where the Doctor suffers his ultimate fate, then regenerates into Pat Troughton.
2) Its the first Cyberman story.
3) It's actually is a damn good story, well written by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis and further enhanced by William Hartnell's superb swan song as the cranky Doctor.
4) The incredible reconstruction of the missing fourth episode. Through still photos, the preserved audio recording, rediscovered missing footage and preserved "regeneration scene", the people in charge of reconstruction did an outstanding job.
The final episode alone is worth the price!

Missing for 20 Years - A Must Have For Who Fans
What can I say. When I finally sat down to watch The 10th Planet, I was truly excited. I've been a Dr. Who fan for the past 15 years, and have always enjoyed the early black and white Who's; that's why I couldn't wait to see The 10th Planet. The 10th Planets plot is very simple, Doctor #1 lands at the South Pole with companions Polly and Ben only to discover that the missing sister planet to Earth, Mondas, is coming back and that its inhabitants are the Cybermen. Anyone familiar with the Cybermen will have a little chuckle when you see their first incarnation. William Hartnell, still one of my favorite Doctors is great, but you can tell that he was getting tired and probably glad that this was going to be his last story. The fourth episode is a rebuilt version since most of it is still missing, but it was enjoyable to be able to finally see the First Doctor regenerate. Perhaps not the best of the First Doctor, but The 10th Planet is a must have for Dr. Who fans. Lets hope the BBC is out there trying to find other classic Dr. Who for true blue fans!

A 5 star for true fans, for everyone else a 3
As is usual in older Doctor Who episodes (and some of the later ones as well), you have to ignore the bad special effects and use your imagination. If you can do that in this one, it becomes one of the better episodes of the William Hartnell era, not to mention an intriguing look at all of the hopes and fears of America's then (1966) burgeoning space program and technological advances. The travelers have arrived at an arctic, military run space station in the year 1986. Fascinating to see how the folks at or working for the BBC in the '60's imagined what space travel would look like in 20 years. They obviously couldn't have imagined the advances in technology that would exist in a mere two decades. Even the cybermen, former humans who have technologically adapted themselves so as to have superior strength and no emotions, bear bulky technology, have difficulty speaking anything like normal humans, and are surprisingly easy to defeat. Yet they are, at the same time, if one uses one's imagination, as terrifying as the Borg of Star Trek Next Generation and even more alien than the Vulcans. Even the Cybermen's claim that "resistance is useless" seems to predict the Borg.

Technically speaking, this series is a little rough, particularly the sound, so careful viewing is required. But in many ways, it seems a more modern series of episodes than some of the later ones, as it still seems to be a realistic view of a remote space station, and the general who runs it, although seemingly a bad caricature of John Wayne, represents all too well the kind of cowboy American thinking to which many people can still relate to all too well! The sets are wonderfully realistic and claustrophobic, and the existence of a national agency run by a Swiss man whose native language is French seems a precursor of how in the future the world would need to work together more as one body and those bodies would not necessarily be run by England and America.

I agree with the other reviewers that it would have been nice to see more of William Hartnell in his last episode, but it's kind of exciting to see the first regeneration in the show, even though it's in the lost episode which is mostly just audio of the show over stills, with descriptive information in text at the bottom of the screen. By the time of the last episode, however, one is so into the story that it's easy to ignore the fact that it isn't playing out with full video.

If you're new to Dr. Who, this isn't the place to start, but for Who fans, this is really a must episode as it's not only a well-told story, but has the first appearance of the Cybermen and the first regeneration. It's a fitting final episode for William Hartnell, who really remains the quintessential Doctor. He may not be everyone's favorite (personally I find Tom Baker much more fun and warm), but he's what the creators had in mind and every other Doctor draws from him.

Quite good!
Though one of the most important adventures in the entire history of Doctor Who, "The Tenth Planet" doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of a 'classic' story. And I admit... it's no "Caves of Androzani" (but what other regeneration story is?), but it's tremendously entertaining and I had a fine time watching it. In fact, I ended up viewing all four episodes in one sitting... I didn't want to stop!

The story is a good one, though it was rather disappointing to see so little of the Doctor. In fact, that's the real reason why this misses that one final star from me... I loved Hartnell's portrayal of the grouchy old eccentric time traveller and I wasn't happy at all to learn that we'd have to sit through one whole episode (part three for those of you who didn't know) seeing nothing of him but a couple brief scenes of him asleep in a bed! I know, Mr. Hartnell was ill at the time, so it couldn't be helped... It's just that knowing that doesn't take away my disappointment.

Still, it's not a total loss... episode three focuses quite a bit on the Doctor's young companion, Ben, and I ended up liking him quite a lot. Polly too... a very pretty girl, very sweet. I'd never seen either of them before, as the first six years of Doctor Who are sort of my 'final frontier' as far has viewing goes (while I remain very familiar, for the most part, with the 1970-1989 years)

Even though I know many have mocked them for their appearance, I found the Cybermen to be very very creepy, not silly at all. From the bandages that seem to hold their heads together, to the bare fingers of their hands (if this story were in colour, what would those fingers look like? Would they be flesh coloured, or blue from lack of circulation? Just how alive are the flesh parts of the Cybermen? I'm under the impression that the Cybermen, at least here in their earliest incarnations, were basically cadavers animated with mechanical parts). The thing I will always get me, though, was the way they spoke... I mean, the head Cyberman drops open his mouth, holds it open, and words come out of it till he shuts it again **shudder**.

The fourth episode of this four-part adventure, sadly, no longer exists, as it's one of the many 'lost episodes' of the early seasons of Doctor Who. In its place, the kind folks at the BBC have provided us with the complete soundtrack of the episode (all dialogue, music, and special effects), and have supplemented this visually with surviving still photographs taken from the episode. It's not the same, but it works... I wasn't distracted by the change, and after a little while I was so into the story that I hardly noticed it.

I'll finish up by saying that "The Tenth Planet" is a highly enjoyable adventure with the Doctor (well, a highly enjoyable adventure with the Doctor's companions), and definitely worth a look. It's one of the very best Cyberman stories, in my opinion sharing the top spot in that category with the Sixth Doctor adventure, 1985's "Attack of the Cybermen", which I'd recommend you buy together with this story, if of course you've got the cash.

Carry on Carry on,

MN ... Read more

Amazon.com

Cheating? Who's cheating? When an egghead chemistry professor (Ray Milland) stumbles upon a formula for making baseballs resistant to the touch of wood, he sneaks a little onto a pitcher's glove and for a time has a career throwing from a major league mound. Set aside ethical concerns: this light comedy is in an Absent-Minded Professor mold, with balls clownishly, impossibly dancing around the swing of batters. (Besides that, the climax requires an act of minor heroism on the prof's part when the magic suddenly isn't there.) Directed by Lloyd Bacon (42nd Street), the movie is a lot of fun for all ages and proves that you can make kids hysterical with silly action without wrapping a stupid, crude story around it. With Ed Begley, Alan Hale Jr., and Paul Douglas. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Absent Minded Pitcher
Any fan of classic comedy movies like the "Absent-Minded Professor" will enjoy this movie. The original "Angels in the Outfield" was a classic that lead to a remake. Surprisingly they haven't remade this one, it is a great movie too. Good cast, story, and direction make this fun for the whole family. When a professor comes up with a material from his lab that causes a baseball to avoid wood bats the results are hysterical.

Ray Miland, and the rest the cast give good performances. Ray Milland typically did serious roles like his award winning "Lost Weekend", but he does a fine job in this slightly zany comedy. I am sorry to see this is out of print and the scalpers here want your first born to buy it. We can only hope the studio puts this out on DVD soon. Until then I will keep a sharp eye out for it being televised. Great movie or not I'm not paying thirty-five plus dollars for a VHS tape.

PLAY BALL...!!
Even if you're not a big baseball fan, this good-natured comedy should still grab you. Ray Milland stars as a mild-mannered, but all-American college professor who has a secret passion for baseball, and gets a little nutty every Spring, when the season starts up. His twin passions -- baseball and chemistry -- collide when he accidentally invents a substance that repels wood... just the thing to use if you want to become a major-league pitching star overnight, and rake in the big bucks when every pitcher you come up against gets dusted when you use the super goo.

What's weird about this Truman-era film is that Milland is never confronted as being a fraud or a cheat, even though he's obviously behaving unethically and taking unfair advantage of friends and foes alike. He's worried about getting caught by his fiancee (the reason he's trying to raise the money is so he can settle down with her), but when he becomes a national sensation, everybody jumps on the bandwagon and becomes a fan, including her sports-hating father, the campus dean. But nobody ever ever discovers his secret and delivers a big lecture telling him it's not right to cheat, etc. etc., and Milland makes it through the season with his fraud undetected. Setting ethics aside, the screwball elements of this film are quite enjoyable, and even if you're not a big sports buff (I'm sure not) it's a lot of fun. Recommended!

HILARIOUS BASEBALL COMEDY.
Ray Milland was a rather underrated actor who was equally adept at comedies as he was in dramas. Here, Milland shines as a professional scientist-turned-baseball-wizard in a side-spitting comedy that has since become a minor classic. Valentine Davies, who wrote the marvelous script for MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, came up with another winner here. Ray is a mild-mannered chemistry professor in love with the lovely Jean Peters. Milland's meager salary won't suffice in supporting her however, and he keeps putting off marriage. While developing a bug repellant for trees, he invents a solution that repels any kind of wood it comes in contact with. Being an avid baseball fan, Milland concocts a clever scheme to earn additional money...There are many hilarious moments in this little gem, such as Paul Douglas mistaking the solution for hair tonic - his hair does the St. Vitus dance when he uses a wooden brush to comb it! The hilarious scenes in the baseball fields are terrific because the special effects appear completely natural.

Excellent Comedic Baseball Movie
Any baseball fan will love the humor in this baseball yarn about a professor who develops a "potion" that when applied to the ball repels wood (bats). A true diamond gem !!

and it's contagious
Vernon Simpson (Ray Milland) is a graduate student at a Midwestern university with two seemingly unrelated problems in his life. The first is that he hasn't completed his doctorate in chemistry yet and so isn't qualified for any of the positions, in the academy or in business, that would enable him to marry and support his girlfriend, Deborah Greenleaf (Jean Peters), who just happens to be the dean's daughter. The second is that starting in April and lasting into October he becomes oddly preoccupied and suffers from a strange tendency toward absent-mindedness--it happens every spring. That span of months, of course, coincides with baseball season and Vernon, it turns out, is a die-hard fan of the St. Louis club, which just needs pitching help this season in order to be a contender. So even as Vernon struggles to make his experiments work and to finish his thesis, he hangs on every pitch of every game, oblivious to all around him, including his students and Deborah.

But then the hand of fate intervenes and solves all of Vernon's problems--well, kinda. A baseball comes flying in through his laboratory window from the nearby practice field and, though it irreparably damages all his hard work, it quite accidentally creates an entirely new and uniquely valuable formula. This remarkable substance, of which Vernon is only able to salvage one panfull, makes the baseball that landed in it avoid wood. The next morning Vernon tests his discovery on the practice field and finds that his pitches are indeed unhittable (note that his batting practice catcher is Alan Hale, Jr.--The Skipper), swerving around and hopping over the wooden bats.

Hastily asking a leave of absence from Dean Greenleaf, Vernon hops a train to St. Louis and presents himself to the club's incredulous manager and the initially hostile owner demanding $1,000 for each of the thirty wins he guarantees. Soon Vernon, calling himself King Kelly so that Deborah's sports-hating father won't know how he's earning a living, is pitching St. Louis to victory after victory. Veteran catcher Monk Lanigan (Paul Douglas) is put in charge of the flaky but valuable phenom and together they lead the team to the World Series.

Entirely predictable zaniness follows every step of the way, but it's all great fun. Milland is surprisingly daffy and Paul Douglas is great. The special effects are joyously primitive. The fact that Vernon is cheating is a little disturbing--though a strangely common theme of baseball movies from Angels in the Outfield to Damn Yankees to The Natural--but in the end he is inevitably required to rely on himself, rather than weird science. It remains inexplicable that even a minor baseball movie like this one can be so engaging and entertaining, while other sports (with the exception of boxing) produce almost no good movies. I've no more explanation for this phenomenon than Vernon evers offers for his formula, but this film proves it true once again. Watch it every spring.

GRADE : B ... Read more

Reviews (2)

my favorite episode
this is one of the best episodes. i love it because it mainly focuses on my favorite ranger adam- the black ranger. this was the first episode taped where adam, aisha, and rocky were actually rangers. it is one of the best a must own for any pr fan

The White Ranger Series : Goldar's Vice Versa
This video is really awesome! It is one of the shows that comes from the best series of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and includes the Thunder Ultrazord that is rarly seen on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Children of Tama are a mysterious, rarely encountered race whose language is indecipherable even by the Universal Translator. This is because Tamarians speak in metaphor, which is strange and poetic, but, without a frame of reference, also gibberish. After yet another failed attempt at communication, the Tamarians take drastic measures: they kidnap Picard and beam him to the surface of a hostile planet along with their own captain. What follows is an interesting, well-acted story of the struggle to understand.

Don't be put off by the premise. "Darmok" is one of the best episodes of TNG. It's action-packed and holds its own next to "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I," "Time's Arrow," and "Descent." Thanks to Joe Menosky's brilliant teleplay and Paul Winfield's solid acting, this uphill battle in futility shows what probably would happen when two truly alien races attempt to communicate. There is genuine desperation in Dathon's (Winfield) eyes when he attempts to explain "Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra" for what seems like the millionth time. Watching Picard struggle to understand is downright painful, as is the inevitable confrontation that follows. The viewer comes to care what happens to the Tamarians. We want to know this alien race; but at the same time, we also know we'll probably never comprehend them.

In series television, it's almost unheard of for a show to depart from canon. TNG takes a huge chance with "Darmok" and the end result is worth watching again and again. --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

Reviews (15)

One of the best TNG episodes
Next to "Best of Both Worlds" or "Yesterday's Enterprise," "Darmok" is one of the most intelligent and vibrant episodes of the entire Next Generation catalog. Picard's attempts, and eventual success, to communicate with the Tamarian captain, wonderfully portrayed by Paul Winfield, is splendid. Obviously, most Star Trek stories, whether they be the original series or TNG, offer socio-political commentary on our own society, this episode is no different. It basically teaches that communication with peoples or entities that are different than us can be accomplished if one is willing to try. "Darmok" is Patrick Stewart's finest hour in TNG.

In order to read, you must have read.
Have you ever read The Canterbury Tales? Allusions to classical literature abound. These references were a sort of shorthand or jargon of the time, a way of saying much by saying little. To refer to Zephirus, for instance, is to mention the warm, sweet breezes of Spring and to conjure up that time of year, with all of its freshness and new life.

Episode 102 presents a culture in which this sort of idiom is carried to the extreme. The words are getting through, but the meaning is not. The struggle of the two captains, the alien and Picard, to bridge the gap is brilliant and fascinating.

This is my favorite Star Trek episode of all time, of all generations.

Magnificent.

The best episode from the 7 years of ST:TNG
"Darmok" remains the best of the best of the seven years ST:TNG was on the air. In a short 55 minutes, one has learned a new language. Think of it: at the time Picard speaks with the Tamarian First Officer, the language exchange (if you paid attention to the whole episode) is completely understandable. There is no need for a translation scroll at the bottom of the screen...and was wisely done that way.

Highly recommended.

A testament to the excellence of season 5...
"Darmok" captures what is the heart and soul of Star Trek: discovering new races and learning to coexist with them. In this episode, that is no easy feat for Picard, who is trapped on a planet with an alien captain who talks different from everyone else. The two cannot understand each other, but as a monster hunts them down, it becomes apparent that the two must learn how to communicate. This is a phenominal episode, downplaying the action and instead building on the characters of the alien captain and Picard. It's not just good Star Trek, it's great science-fiction. While the monster effects are very subpar (they always are for Star Trek), the being itself is of little importance to the story. What is important is how Picard and the other captain learn how to communicate. Truly a wonderful episode.

An example of how Star Trek can be a good base for new ideas
One of the things I like about Star Trek was the ability for it to be a platform of new ideas. This episode certainly shows that strength- it's not loaded with special effects and technobabble but it shows good acting and an outstanding idea in having a race which talks solely by example. Though I've not watched much TREK recently this is one of the episodes I remember. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great career starter
I remember watching this in high school. Every character stood out on their own. Donna Dixon was my favorite-playing Sonny Lumet-beautiful and brainy. Wendie Jo Sperber was also wonderful. It She had the best lines. I always liked to see Hanks and Scolari get into the women's clothing before they got caught. Every episode is very funny and it's nice to seethem again!

You can't go wrong!
I have been a Bosom Buddies fan since the show came out. Why it still doesn't air is beyond me. This and all the other video's are must haves. When ever I need a smile - these are the tapes that do it! ... Read more

Description

To be or not to be?To act or not to act?The questions are the same to Joe, a struggling (read:jobless) actor whose every sinew and synapse cries out to performand to soften the blow of not landing a part in a megabudget sci-fi movie.So in the stalwart (read:desperate) tradition of actors everywhere, Joe vows to put on a show, a special (read:even more desperate) version of the greatest play in the English tongue.

Writer/director Kenneth Branagh serves up Hamlet on wry with this salute to dyed-in-the-wool and other woolly-brained thespians.Michael Maloney (Truly Madly Deeply) portrays Joe, maxing out credit cards and his wits to realize his dream.Does he succeed?Well, with Richard Briers (Branagh's Hamlet), Joan Collins (Dynasty), Nicholas Farrell (Chariots of Fire), Absolutely Fabulous alumna Jennifer Saunders and Julia Sawatha and more joining Maloney, one thing's certain.The show must go on! ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A great little movie with a top-notch cast
We knew Kenneth Branagh could act, direct, and adapt Shakespeare, but who knew he could write comedy? This film is a discovery. Branagh got some of his friends together (you'll recognize many actors from his other films) and made this gem about an amateur theatre company putting on Hamlet at Christmas time! The audition scenes are priceless.

The script is excellent, the acting is wonderful, and--a rare treat in films--you will care about every character. They all go through changes and become better people as a result of their time together.

Michael Maloney is fine in the lead role of the director (playing Hamlet himself, of course; the comparisons to Branagh are unmistakable), and the rest of the cast give it their all. A standout is John Sessions as the drag queen playing Gertrude. He has the most heartbreaking scene in the film.

All in all, an inspired concept rendered beautifully. A movie with a heart as well as a funny bone.

A Side Note: The original title was "In the Bleak Midwinter," suggesting the Christmas aspect, but I prefer the alternate "A Midwinter's Tale" as it is more Shakespearean.

Hilarious And Heartfelt
Here's a story for you: Joe, a depressive, out-of-work actor, puts on a no-budget production of Hamlet, as a benefit for a church that's about to be bulldozed by developers; he's plagued by money problems, disinterest from the locals, and a cast of actors that spend their time arguing and sniping at one another. They cannot seem to focus on the play very often-and when they do, they can't get things right. Despair begins to overtake Joe.

Now: picture this as a comedy.

Can't do it? That's okay, because Kenneth Branagh already did it for you.

A Midwinter's Tale (originally titled In the Bleak Midwinter for its British release) takes that concept and weaves comic gold out of it, presenting the viewer with a film that is by turns clever, slapstick, hilarious, and heart-wrenching. After Henry V it's probably Branagh's best film, and funnier by far than his other two comedies, the uber-schmaltzy Big Chill ripoff Peter's Friends, or the intelligently done (though occasionally miscast) Much Ado About Nothing. A Midwinter's Tale surpasses them both with a tightly written script, able and artful direction that owes a debt to both Woody Allen and Frank Capra, and a truly great ensemble cast.

Casting is an integral part of any film, of course, but when one is adapting Shakespeare (or, in this case, doing a film about adapting Shakespeare), good casting is essential. Branagh has been hit-or-miss with this over the years-most notably in the case of Keanu Reeves, hopelessly out of his depth in Much Ado-but in this particular film it's spot-on. From Branagh regulars like Michael Maloney and Richard Briers, to semiregulars like Gerard Horan, Celia Imrie, and John Sessions, to newcomers Julia Sawalha and Joan Collins (yeah, that Joan Collins), everyone does a tremendous job, and each actor approaches his or her role with a verve and a dedication that is extremely fun to watch. Sawalha in particular is a delight as the incredibly nearsighted Nina, Joe's love interest; she brings a vulnerable humanity to her role that not only heightens the humor in her more slapstick scenes, but deepens the drama of the more solemn moments as well. Likewise Sessions (probably most familiar to Americans from his appearances on the British version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?) is given the seemingly one-dimensional/stereotypical role of the female-impersonating homosexual, Terry . . . which would seem unrewarding. But he turns in a three-dimensional characterization that is screamingly funny throughout the film-until his role takes a gutwrenching turn for the dramatic in one of the film's best scenes. And so it goes for each of the characters; they all have something to do in this film, and they all do it superbly, hilariously, and when it is called for, tenderly.

Branagh's script is another key element to this movie's excellence. It's impeccably written, using both Shakespeare and its unique bunch of characters to tremendous advantage. One of the keys to this is that Branagh never makes fun of these people, even when they are at their worst, their silliest, their most pompous, or venal. Branagh has an obvious fondness for these people (presumably based on actors he knew during his own struggles to make it in the business), and he treats them like people, rather than as fall guys or as the means to get to a lame punchline. Every line the characters speak, every scene they're in, shows their humanity, and shows it lovingly. A lot of the humor in the script grows out of character, and that really makes this film shine. It builds the laughter naturally, rather than forcing it through meanness and being shocking or crude, as in the case of many so-called "comedy" writer/directors today.

As I said above, Branagh's direction borrows a page or two from other comedy directors before him, mainly Woody Allen and Frank Capra. The Allen influence shows through the strongest, especially through the dialogue and the first half of the film, which bears a lot of similarities to both Manhattan and Stardust Memories. The opening credits are strongly reminiscent of Allen's classic "middle period pictures; Joe directly addresses the camera, as a lot of Woody's characters do, and this is juxtaposed with music-Noel Coward's delightful "Why Must the Show Go On?", a sardonic look at the gung-ho attitude actors have. The song becomes a leitmotiv throughout the film, with the action echoing Coward's cynical lyrics . . . until the turning point in the film, when the troupe unwittingly comes up with the answer to Coward's question, and demonstrates precisely why the show must go on. From here on in the Capra influence takes over-and I can't say too much about that without giving the ending away, unfortunately. What I will say is that like Capra at his best, A Midwinter's Tale favors sentimentalism over cynicism-something a lot of modern critics find distasteful for some reason. I can't imagine why, especially when the sentiments expressed here-in particular, the value of loyalty and family-are so genuine and loving, especially when contrasted with the phoniness and cruelty that passes for humor these days in far too many films. Branagh is more intelligent than that-and willing to take the risk that the audience is, too. A Midwinter's Tale is like a breath of fresh air compared to the stale stench of most modern comedies; take a chance on it. I guarantee you'll be happy you did.

Please release this on DVD. I keep wearing out my VCR tapes
A great movie. Full of laughter and tears. I laughed and I cried. The only thing that could have made this movie better (10 stars!) would be if they had actually shown the entire Hamlet. That would be the coolest DVD extra ever!! What a great bunch of misfits.
PLEASE release this movie on DVD! I wore out my VCR copy.

The greatest comedy you've never heard of
Don't let the fact that you've never heard of this deter you from seeing it! When I saw A Midwinter's Tale in a New York movie theater I went back either the next day or within a couple of days and it was GONE. I couldn't believe the movie ran for such a short period. And, although the VHS has been available for a few years, Amazon.com didn't even carry it at first. So, I figured "something" was going on at the distributor. Since the other reviews already say enough about it, all I can add is, this film is destined to be a CLASSIC. Branagh pays homage to Woody Allen's Stardust Memories & Manhattan in the beginning but develops the film into so much more as the characters reveal themselves in the way that only British comedians can! I believe the reason for removing it was more economic/political than actual interest -- indeed, the movie never had a chance to be seen!

Such a pity this is not available on DVD
VHS has gone the way of the dinosaur! This movie was fantastic. A must see for anyone who has taken an interest in theater (professional or amateur). I can't help wishing it was available on DVD! I have looked and looked (and searched and searched) and if I have missed something please let me know. My search for the DVD will continue till I reach my grave. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Classic Episode
For starters, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" is a classic, and this is THE episode that fans always remember. The magic of this episode is that it's so un-Mary. Dear, sweet, genuine Mary wouldn't be the person you'd expect to behave this way. The episode isn't really about death so much as it is about an embarassing moment, which we've all been through. When Mary Richards cries, you can't help but feel for her!

Finally, I saw it.
Well I had been hearing about this episode for years. I was pretty young with this show was out so never really saw the series.

In this show, a TV clown, who is grandmarshal of a parade shows up dressed like one of his characters. "A Giant Peanut" a rogue elefant unfortunatly breaks loose and the clown is killed when the elefant successfully tries to shell him. EVerybody in MArys office is at first shocked but then cannot help but laugh at the incident. MAry is shocked at their insensitivity. However when Mary attends the clowns funeral.........
Taking into consideration that this show is nearly 30 years old I really enjoyed it. Some of the set-ups were a bit obvious now because they are typical sit-com set ups but remember that when this show first aired they were not, in fact this is one of the shows that created the road down with many of todays sitcoms go.
So for a dose of nostalga, or even if you never saw the show in it's heydey you need to get at least THIS episode.

Considered by many to be the funniest sitcom episode ever
"Chuckles Bites the Dust" (Episode #127, October 25, 1975), remains the best episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and is one of the classic situation comedy episodes of all time. Unless you have been living on another planet you know that Chuckles the Clown is killed when he is dressed as a Peanut and a rouge elephant attacks him. Mary is aghast at the gallows humor that compels the guys in the newsroom to keep making bad jokes. But then at the funeral it is Mary who has an attack of the giggles. Stop and think about it: on how many episodes of MTM does MARY get the big laughs? This is the proverbial exception that proves the rule, big time. Both writer David Lloyd and director Joan Darling earned Emmys Awards for this episode. For that matter, Mary Tyler Moore won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and the show won for Outstanding Comedy Series, probably on the strength of this legendary episode.

Total Classic
"Dear sweet Mary"... of everyone in the WJM newsroom,(and for those of you who know and love her like i do) she is the most loving, caring, genuine person th