Amazon.com

Snow Dogs is not a fantasy about talking dogs--it's a heartwarming story about personal growth starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and a sled team of Siberian huskies. When Dr. Ted Brooks, a successful, sun-loving dentist from Miami, receives a summons to the minuscule town of Tolketna, Alaska, his mother is forced to confess that he was adopted. Teddy's desire to quickly return to Miami yields to a burgeoning curiosity about his deceased mother and biological father. Teddy's experiences in Alaska acquaint him firsthand with the wonders of sled dogs, the sport of mushing, human sacrifice, and love. The city slicker's hilarious attempts to mush even culminate in a hero's reception at the finish of the prestigious "Arctic Challenge." Snow Dogs is 99 minutes of breathtaking vistas, amusing comedy, and entertainment suited for the entire family. Rated PG due to the occasional outhouse joke and other mild crude humor. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (108)

didnt REALLY enjoy it
What I saw was "Snow Dogs." It stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Sisqo, James Coburn and Nichelle Nichols. Gooding is Ted Brooks, a dentist from Miami who inherits some racing snow dogs in Alaska from his mother. He learns that he was adopted from his mother's will and begins a half-hearted search for his natural father.

In Alaska, he meets a bartender who knew his mother. Ted wants to leave because he doesn't belong in Alaska. But to stop him, the bartender tells Ted who his father is. He finds out that his dad was white (and Ted is black). One kid in the theater asked what a diary was when Ted found his late mother's diary in the house that she lived in.

Overall, I didn't really enjoy this film, but I guess that young kids could give it a shot. I did chuckle a little bit at some parts, like when he said that one of the dentist operations would hurt more than a tickle and less than paying your taxes (a little adult joke, the kids wouldn't get it). Some of the lines in the movie didn't come out right, though. One of my favorite parts was when Ted was dreaming and Michael Bolton made a cameo.

R.I..P Mr. James Coburn aka Thunder Jack
Although Cuba Gooding has always gotten on my nerves, this movie is worth the watch for James Coburn's turn as Thunder Jack, a grizzeled mountain man. To lose Rod Steiger, James Coburn and Charles Bronson all in such a short time marks the end of an era and a goodbye to the last of the 'Real Men' of both Hollywood and the world...

What's with the running gag about Michael Bolton???
My 6-year-old is obsessed with this film. It seems like every time I hear the TV turn on, my daughter's got "Snow Dogs" popped into the VCR...again (sigh...)! It's harmless good fun and I certainly don't mind hearing her gleeful laughter resounding through the house. The only thing that gets on my nerves are the Michael Bolton references. Michael Bolton's music is used in the film soundtrack. Michael Bolton is a White recording artist, but his most successful releases have consistently been cover versions of songs by Black artists. The central character in "Snow Dogs" finds out that he's not only adopted but also only half-Black. His foster mother promptly quips that maybe this is the reason he likes Michael Bolton's music so much. Then at some point Michael Bolton himself makes a cameo in the film. And Bolton's music returns as the credits roll, this time a cover of a Stevie Wonder classic. Was this redundancy really necessary? Aside from that, I think "Snow Dogs" is a heartwarming family movie that parents will be able to tolerate without going nuts the twentieth time the kids put it on. Don't hesitate to check it out!

A charmer fit for the family, even the pets will love it!
A Miami dentist and a team of sledding dogs combine for a humorous, snow-filled adventure. Dr. Ted Brooks (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) has a successful practice, "Hot Smile," when one day his mother drops the news that he was adopted. He soon finds himself in a small Alaska town to claim his inheritance, which includes no money but plenty of dogs - not such a good match for the wealthy, canine-hater! Before heading back to balmy Florida, however, he braves the frigid climate in search of his biological father. He slowly finds himself drawn to the simplicity of the town and its people, including Barb, a tough but sweet bartender, and Thunder Jack (James Coburn), a very rough-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside "musher." When the "Arctic Challenge" sled race begins soon after, Brooks and his new canine friends discover the meaning of love and family.

There is so much to enjoy about this movie, which comes from a long tradition of Disney snow/dog/sled racing classics ("Snowball Express," "White Fang," "Iron Will"). It's lighter in tone but still provides some thrilling moments against a spectacular Alaskan backdrop. (They could have capitalized on the scenery even more.) The laughs come naturally in this script, as a Southern city slicker thrust into the Alaskan wilderness is bound to run into goofy situations. Cuba Gooding, Jr. is in fine comedic form, and a scraggly James Coburn easily takes to his lighter side. Both actors have proven their dramatic prowess with serious, decidedly adult roles, but the two fit snuggly into this family film and share some amusing and touching scenes. Though "Snow Dogs" lacks the scriptural tightness of films before it, it warms the heart.

THE DOGS ARE THE SHOW
Critics have pretty much bashed this movie, stating that Oscar winner Cuba Gooding has sunk to depths unprecedented by previous winners. A little harsh; SNOW DOGS works not because of Cuba; it works because it's hearts in the right place and the dogs are a pleasure to watch, especially Demon and Nana. There is one hilarious dream sequence where the dogs are sunning themselves on the beach, in lounge chairs, sunglasses and drinks in hand. Cuba does better once he gets over the prat-falling sequences early in the movies; Gooding comes nowhere near the masters of this: Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, Dick van Dyke and Jerry Lewis. But once Gooding stops trying to be these guys, his performance settles down, and he avoids killing the movie. Also, James Coburn is delightful as his "father", and Nichelle Nichols is even more beautiful than she was in "Star Trek." There's nothing new in this movie, but as typical Disney fare, it has an upbeat message and everything goes just as one would hope and expect; the Alaska backdrop is sumptous, too. Don't let the horrible reviews influence you; if you like this kind of "feel good" movie, it's fine. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.

The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. --Eugene Wei ... Read more

Reviews (982)

A Masterpiece
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is simply a masterpiece. A brilliant film with great performances by its stars, Michelle Yeoh, Chow yun fat, and especially Zhang Ziyi. Director Ang Lee along with his choreographer tell this epic story in a stunning and creative visual way that makes this film one of the greatest ever made. The action scenes in this film are jaw dropping, and are unmatched by any action film ever made. Along with the action, is a great story and great characters that reflect influences from Lord of the Rings, and parallel the Jedi of the Star Wars trilogy, but remain consistent with the eastern culture and philosophy which permeates throughout the story. In fact, the main characters, especially Jen, portrayed by the talented Zhang Ziyi , seem to question that philosophy and culture throughout the film, almost rebelling against it. This is foreshadowed in the beginning of the film when Yun-fat's character describes how his meditation leads him to a place of sorrow instead of enlightenment. In a later scene, Yeoh 's character questions the buddhist teaching of Fat's character in relation to their suppressed love, pointing out the touch of her hand is real,not an illusion, even though it is of this world. However it is also the discipline of this eastern spirituality that gives these knights their power. the main character Jen, abuses this power, along with the power given to her when she posesses the Green Destiny, a magical and powerful sword, owned by the wizard -like, or jedi- like, character portrayed by Chow Yun-Fat. The Green Destiny, much like the ring of power in lord of the rings, or the force in Star Wars, becomes a power that threatens to consume Jen. Throughout the film , Jen rebels against the traditions of the easten culture and philosophy. Even during the action scenes, as Chow Yun-Fat's character scolds her, she responds by telling him to stop talking like a monk and fight. Her rebellion is also reflected in her love for a barbarian that lives in the desert. Jen's rebellion is an extreme one, however, that leads to such deep despair, that it leaves the viewer to question if even the true love she found in the desert can save her. This movie has everything one wants in an epic, great story, acting, cinematography, directing, score. This film should win an Oscar for Best Picture... Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is truly a great film.

Deserved the Academy Award for "Best Picture"
When "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" first hit theatres in Asia in the summer of 2000, audiences were beyond pleased - because for the first time, what could be considered a kung-fu film included within itself a moving story. This film manages to be so philosophically deep that it subconsciously stirs emotion and feeling within the audience - without ever being corny. Not to mention that this is probably the best film ever that features the geography of China. Shots were absolutely stunning. Music was also beautiful, with one of the best cello performances given by Yo-Yo-Ma, and a smash hit song by Coco Lee - "A Love Before Time."

The film consists of various types of relationships - everything from forced-hidden love, children to parents, and disciple to a kung-fu master. Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Chang Chen, and Zhang Zi-Yi together made the best acting performances seen for years.

Cinematography was impressing. Each shot was meticulously perfected - exactly why "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" took two years for world-famous director, Ang Lee, to shoot. One shot of the rooftops for the film's previews itself took five months. The original version is much better than the dubbed, so take the time to read subtitles - it can't be that hard.

Get ready for flying kicks, tears, and beauty. Get "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" today. (Original version.) - Priscilla

Chic flick on speed or sublime flight of the imagination?
Call it what you will--archetypal fable with a feminist twist, exquisitely choreographed martial arts movie, balletic spectacle balancing image, action, poetry and music--"Crouching Tiger" is a distinctive variation on familiar genres. The words "ballet," "choreography," "Eastern" exotic myth don't quite do justice in describing the film. For one, the action sequences are lightning swift--reminiscent of American silent comedies and more suggestive of music than of formal dance. And certainly the tempo of this music and the pace of the film seem more Western than Eastern (as does the throbbing romantic cello of YoYo Ma). Some will single out the three female leads in this rite-of-passage archetypal story as the film's most distinctive twist. But even more novel is the way the form foregrounds allegory and approaches the theme of teaching and learning. Film is a medium that is normally "relentless" in his representation of the physical world, satisfying viewers' expectations of actions that are at least humanly plausible. But by making his characters fly all over the frame, director Lee keeps reminding the spectator that if you try to respond this film as another action movie you will not only miss the point entirely but be thoroughly disappointed. Sword play, flying, and fighting are metaphors for living, learning and loving. All of the 5 principals in the story are learners--and all are failures to greater and lesser degrees. In fact, the alleged villain, Jade Fox, is in some respects the most sympathetic of all the characters. She had access to the most masterful swordsman of all but not to his teaching because of her status as a woman. At one point sword play is compared with word play, or writing (through the picture-grams of Mandarese script). Whether the instrument is a sword, a pen, or a brush, the viewer of this enchanting parable is finally enjoined to fashion a personal narrative that rejects pride and selfishness in favor of a life sufficiently disciplined to give itself over to love.

One of the best -- ever
CTHD combines an exciting story, great stunts, beautiful cinematography, lovely women, and a complex story that is by turns mysterious, suggestive, and incomprehensible. Michelle Yeoh is a good actress in addition to her physical talents as a martial artist. Zhang Zi Yi is a sexy vixen. Chow Yun Fat is an aging warrior who seems to be going through a mid-life crisis. He loves Michelle Yeoh, but can't get around to telling her, and is attracted to Zhang. The unanswered question posed by Zhang is, "Did you want me or my sword?" The two women dominate this movie; their martial arts scenes are spectacular; Yo Yo Ma's cello is sad and fetching; the scenery is spectacular; the fate of Chow and Michelle is heart-rending; the fate of Zhang is puzzling and ambiguous. Great movie!

good and classy
ive seen this movie three times.the 1st time it was spoken in chinese with no words at the bottom.the 2nd was the same deal but with the english translation at the bottom.the 3rd was in normal english.thank god!in it,a thief steals a relic and some people go to get it back.it has breathtaking backgrounds like lord of the rings.beatiful music like amadeus and martial arts effects like a pre-matrix but similar.the kids could watch it.theres only one bad part.it is definately a artsy and classy type film.ang lee is the director.he also did the hulk.the hulk is better.it is not emotional per say but more inspirational.there are some chicks but they are not portrayed in a sexual way.one guy,in the less than apropriate part gets his hand down ones pants.i dont care what anyone says,if you get this in english,it is one of the best movies youll ever see.the special effects are cool.the fighting is outstanding! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Bitter-sweet triumph
This video, although beautiful and astounding cannot be watched without seeing the episodes surrounding it: "What Rough Beast" , Ceremony of Innocence" , and " The Rest is Silence" . Once you have seen these Though Lovers be lost will steal your heart and capture your soul.

Beauty & The Beast-Though Lovers Be Lost
I love all of the Beauty & The Beast episodes from the TV series. I have most on VHS. To Peggy Hendershot, I may have the ones you are looking for. I tried to never miss an episode!

Wonderful show
I have loved this show since it orginally aired. I used to have all of them, but moving so much, I have lost most of them. I would love to get the complete set if anyone can help me. This show really should be reaired. ecb612@hotmail.com

Though Lover's Be Lost
This is for Dawna and Peggy. I have 20 episodes on tape, and looking for more. I would be interested in sharing what we all have.
Tina
ldy8legs@aol.com

Great show, looking for all the videos
I was in my first year of middle school when this show came on and was absolutely enthralled. All the episodes were great, but I missed the last season (punishment for a bad report card, lol). Would desperately love to get the complete set from someone! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

TWO OF LOU and ABBOT's BEST!
What makes ABBOT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN dynamic is that Bella Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. play the monster roles as straight as their audence expects. They should have received bonuses for restraint! It's funny, scarry, and flies with an active story and creative cast. IN ABBOT & COSTELLO MEET THE INVISIBLE MAN, the boys are fresh out of detective school and looking for a place to start. A famous boxer, Tommy Nelson is wrongfully accused of murder. By a freak lab insident, Tommy is made invisible and needs LOU and ABBOT to find a rat in and out of the boxing ring. You have to see the fight scene with Costello. It roars! Excellent combination.

"I saw two men...carrying no man."
By the 1950's, Abbott and Costello's film career was beginning to slide. Fortunately, "A&C MEET THE INVISIBLE MAN" is a bright spot among these later films. Since it seemed unlikely that the scare comedy of "MEET FRANKENSTEIN" could be topped, someone wisely decided to make this more of a mystery-comedy with a sci-fi twist thrown in. And it works. Bud and Lou are joined by a great supporting cast including Arthur Franz (as the invisible one), Sheldon Leonard, and William Frawley (very funny as a befuddled detective!)

Meet the Invisible Man
Abbott and Costello meet the Invisible Man is their adventure as two private eyes hired by boxer (Arthur Franz) to prove his innocent of murdering his manager. Franz takes the invisibility serum and with the aid of Costello acting as a "champion" boxer, with Frantz doing the boxing, the duo find the real killer.

Franz takes the same invisibility serum as Claude Rains took in the original The Invisible Man. You will see his picture hanging in the scientist's lab.

Abbott and Costello later meet Dr. Jekyll and Hyde (1953) and The Mummy (1955); they had already met Frankenstein (1948) and The Killer Boris Karloff (1949).

THE BEST OF ABBOTT AND COSTELLO
The best of Abbott and Costello is definitely in this pack!I love Abbott and Costello(as actors)!Not even the 3 stooges can beat the abbott and costello when they meet the monsters!Everyone should have the right to watch the talented Bud Abbott and Lou Costello!There should be more copies!So whoever is reading this that hasn,t seen it I won't spoil it,only give a tiny summary on my favorite one.:
Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde
Slim and Tubby(Bud and Lou)are American cops in London to study police tactics and knowing them,they wind up in jail. They are bailed out by Dr. Jekyll who has been murdering fellow doctors who laugh at his experiments. The boys look to solve the recent murders to get back on the police force. The serum ends up into the system of Tubby and several police officers, causing many Hyde's running around London.

Classic Family Fun at its best
Bud & Lou graduate detective school or at least Bud does, Lou graduates because the teacher is bribed. A suspected killer comes to them to help prove he is innocent and later becomes invisible to hide from the police who happens to be william frawley (fred mertz from i love lucy). frawley had lou sent to a shrink to explain disappearing men and ends up hypnotizing the shrink - very funny. The theme is a boxing frame up, when a figher doesnt take a dive and knocks out the mobs boxer- you get a murder. Next Bud and lou go undercover as boxer and manager to prove the set up and with the invisble man as lou's real boxing hands it is very funny and a very well put together hollywood gem that you can watch with the whole family, unlike the current [stuff] hollywood puts out today, this is good clean fun and a keeper. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This two-hour CBS movie from the much-loved series Dr. Quinn,Medicine Woman depicts the long-anticipated wedding of Dr. Michaela Quinn(Jane Seymour) to mountain man Byron Sully (Joe Lando). Any show that featuresthe marriage of the two lead characters has built-in appeal, and this one is noexception. The wedding of Dr. Mike and Sully is the most exciting thing that'sever happened to the tiny frontier town of Colorado Springs. The time is 1870,as the attractive period sets and costumes attest. The charming scene in whichthe very first train--an adorable steam locomotive--pulls into the town's brand- new station will delight train buffs, and the appearance of historical figureGeneral George Custer ups the story's action quotient. The show doesn't strivefor strict accuracy, however. Its tone resembles a historical romance novel,without the bodice-ripping. Like Little House on the Prairie, Dr.Quinn glorifies the traditional American family values of a simpler, bygoneera. Yet the script also incorporates modern-day concerns. (Dr. Mike doesn'twant to change her name after marriage, and Sully won't wear a wedding ring.)One theme of the movie is timeless: what to do about meddling relatives whenplanning a wedding. All told, Dr. Quinn's worldwide following of devotedfans will find this movie full of all the romance, excitement, and drama theyhave come to expect. --Laura Mirsky ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Irresistibly Romantic
The Dr. Quinn/Medicine Woman series had, in my opinion, some of television's most truly romantic moments (in contrast to the crude sex scenes of many movies which leave nothing to the imagination and fail to touch the heart). The chemistry between the rough yet articulate and noble-hearted Sully (Joe Lando)and the idealistic, headstrong Mikaela Quinn is palpable. This particular episode marks the triumphant climax of their long, stormy courtship and is filled with warmth, tenderness and heart-pounding sensuality (in spite of the G rating). True romantics will not be able to resist! Aside from romance, this series is top quality family entertainment with excellent character-development, positive role models, and accurate historic events/issues, many of which are still relevant today (e.g., environmental protection, civil and women's rights).

Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: For Better or Worse
I absolutely love this video. Its very interesting to me how a woman in the 1800s had to win the respect of a man to have equal rights. In doing all that she won the heart of an extremely cute guy in the process. I think that Jane Seymour and Joe Lando are the perfect actors to pursue these characters, very interesting characters. I just cannot say enough about this video and the whole series for that matter. You just have to get it. I highly recommend it for a person at any age. Preferrably a teenager and above.

The Greatest Love Story in History
This was one of the best episodes of Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman ever. Jane Seymour and Joe Lando are magic together. The way they fought to have the type of wedding they wanted was very inspiring and romantic. I think that all their fans would love to see them together in another project. I continually look at all the reruns on television and I never get tired of looking at them. My goal is to one day own all the episodes, from the first one to the last one.

A great continuation of the TV series
Mike and Sully continue their life and in this movie, there is lots of action! I enjoyed seeing the same people of Colorado Springs again, and hope there are more movies coming! I am sorry the series went off the air!

DQMW For Better or Worse
This is an excellent quality video, clear, sharp and good sound. The music and scenery are fantastic! A video for all ages, well done and worth watchng over and over again. Great Video for the price. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

VILLON A'LA COLMAN.
Vagabond - roustabout Francois Villon lived in Paris of the 15th century, during the reign of Louis XI. Villon was arrested in a tavern brawl in which the Grand Constable of France was wounded. The perversely sly king was taken with Villon's speech and manner and made him into the Grand Constable for a week............John Barrymore starred in the 1927 silent version entitled THE BELOVED ROGUE; in 1930, Rudolph Friml scored the Broadway musical THE VAGABOND KING which starred Dennis King. In this Paramount film from 1938, Colman is on view in one of his more charming and carefree incarnations as the reckless poet given to romantic flights of fancy & the daring adventurer who's resourceful in a crisis. With elegant grace, he woos his lady fair, played by Frances Dee, and with a slyness spritually saturnine as Rathbone's own, he fences with the crafty king, knowing full well his very existence is on the line. Only Colman, with his eloquent speaking voice, could recite poetry as beautifully: "If I were king - the stars should be pearls upon a string"...... Although the sets, crowd scenes and Preston Sturge's script failed to completely disguise the creaky stage orgins of the piece, it's a beautiful production nevertheless.

A TOUR DE FORCE...
The velvet voiced Ronald Colman triumphs in the role of Francois Villon, a roguish poet who verbally duels with the canny and crafty King Louis XI of France, played with artistic abandon by Basil Rathbone in an Oscar nominated performance for Best Supporting Actor.

A series of circumstances finds Villon made Chief Constable of France by the King's decree. He is given a week to save the City of Paris from the Burgundians, who remain encamped on the outskirts of the city, waiting to move in and depose the King. The people of Paris are on the verge of revolt due to some serious food shortages and draconian punishments meeted out in the name of the King's justice. It looks like the beginning of the end for the King.

Villon, however, manages to change the people's sentiment. He uses his power to open the King's food storerooms to the people. He tempers justice with mercy, and he proves his loyalty to the king. He also wins the love of a beautiful princess, charmingly played by the lovely Frances Dee. In the end, he rallies the people of France in the name of the King and the Burgundians are defeated. This film, however, is not an action film. What is notable is the incisive and delightful repartee exchanged between Villon and the King. The dialogue flows fast and furious and is earmarked by a rapier like wit. Clever and sophisticated, it is an unusual costume drama fueled by an outstanding screenplay by the legendary Preston Sturgess.

Romald Colman fans will ejoy this film, as will those who enjoy historical dramas and period pieces.

One of Ronald Coleman's very best costume dramas
Ronald Coleman plays the 15th-century French poet and vagabond Francois Villon, who is arrested after a tavern brawl in which the Grand Constable of France is wounded. King Louis XI, a barely recognizable Basil Rathbone, makes Villon replace the Constable for a week, after which he will be hanged. But Villon is the perfect advisor on how to govern and when the citizens of Paris are on the verge of revolt against the King, it is Villon who rallies them to defeat the invading Burgundians. The King, as smart as he is crafty, pardons Villon, who gets to live happily ever after with Katherine de Vaucelles (Frances Dee), the lovely young lady of the court who has caught his eye. Coleman, of course, is perfectly suited to the role of Villon, able to make the lines seem like poetry: "If I were king, the stars should be your pearls upon a string" (Wait, that rhymes; it IS poetry!). But equally impressive is Rathbone, who makes the most of a rare opportunity to act, showing that his monarch is more than a bad guy with a crown. It is just marvelous to listen to the verbal duels between Villon and the King as this argue about how to govern France. However this film, directed by Frank Lloyd, is also nice to look at, with grand crowd scenes and action pieces. This 1938 film features a script by Preston Sturges, based on the play by Justin Huntly. I know it is heresy, but I like "If I Were King" better than "The Prisoner of Zenda."

If I Were King, one of Ronald Coleman's best
"If I Were King" is set in fragmented France without a Charlamagne to meld the country together. Remeniscent of ancient Greece' citystates, Paris has its own king. The movie is based upon true events. Ronald Coleman is a rascal of sharp wit and tongue who is confronted by a seemingly impossible challenge issued by the King of Paris, Basil Rathbone, with his life as wager. In short, Ronald Coleman is a renegade who is forced to summon his wherewithall where his mouth and pen had previously been.

In my opinion, "If I Were King" is a *must have* for the library of fellow classic buffs. Ronald Coleman was a rare actor who's transition from silent films so enriched the industry. His starring role in "The Light That Failed," from the novel by Rudyard Kipling, was perhaps his finest and a personal favorite.

Comedy Masterpiece!
This film is very near the top of my best comedies of the 20th century. Why? It's a great story of a rogue who accidentally catches and kills a high ranking traitor to the King of France. Because he boasted that he would be a better king then the one who was standing incognito in the room with him, The King makes him governor of all France as a combined punishment and reward. Preston Sturges' colorful commentary is delivered by one of the finest and funniest casts ever assembled. Basil Rathbone was nominated for an Oscar for his ingenious portrayal of the wily and eccentric King Louis XI. As the King enters the torture chamber to force a confession from a traitor's messenger he comments: "What an odd smell in here...as if someone had burnt the Roast!" The line is funny on paper but when Rathbone delivers it in a high nasal and rolls the 'r' in 'roast' almost beyond reason, it's hilarious. Ronald Colman has the lion's share of funny lines, poems and quips. His sensitive reading of the romantic moments make his unexpected jokes all the more delightful. Convinced that he is being removed from the dungeon to be hanged, he makes up a little poem for the bar wench who loves him so she won't cry: "Here goes Francois, child of France, to swing into his final dance, his neck at last will have the chance....to weigh the tonnage of his pants!" A dark statement to be sure but delivered with such wide-eyed innocence as to be intoxicatingly funny. Every supporting actor is funny and engaging and the script is endlessly entertaining. This movie has just been made available to the public (I had to tape it from late night cable TV). I watch it at least once a year. Now it's available to us all. If you love classic comedy, you will treasure "If I Were King." ... Read more

Description

In his travels, Caine meets up with an old man who has several surprises for him. The first being the destruction of the Shaolin order, the second being that the man is the father of the Emperor's nephew whom he killed in China, and the third is that he seeks his revenge using the son Caine never knew he had sired as the instrument of his death. It will take all of Caine's skill and wisdom to find a solution to this deadly predicament. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

why do they ruin good old shows?
Why do they always have to ruin good old TV shows by making reunions and sequels? So many classics have been ruined like this -- STAR TREK, BURKES LAW, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, TWILIGHT ZONE, GET SMART, and, sadly, KUNG FU. I thought this 1986 film was awful -- then, later, when I watched KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, it didn't seem as bad (NOTHING was as bad as KF:TLC!). Still, this is pretty awful, and let's hope they don't release KUNG FU: THE NEXT GENERATION (the one-hour sequel that CBS aired in 1987) or KF:TLC.

Beautiful
I liked the film, although Brandon Lee (one of my favourate martial arts performer) did not appear so often in the film. D. Carradine was great.

ONLY ONE GOOD AND PROPER FIGHT SCENE
This film Kung Fu the movie woulld appeal to most people but I do not like it. It is a bore. The end fight with Cardine and Brandon is good but even that is slow. It is not a great film but if you like a film with one good fight in it feel free to get this. DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $5 FOR IT

Very Good
Brandon Lee is a very great martial artist, and as much as a role he had in this film it was enough to light up the screen and create a wonderful movie, I am a martial artist and have studied the martial arts my whole life just to be like my idol...Brandon Lee.

A message of non violence, a war against drugs.
After the tv series, with the same title and actor & character a movie its not as good as the tv series. The story is very slow. There should be some more suspence & action full movements. David Carradine seemed a super human. Its very far from real life. He should make film like his tv series. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Can't Live with Him, Can't Live without Him
This episode deals quite seriously (and often in a lovely lyrical fashion) with the serious consequences (for Catherine) of her relationship with Vincent. On the 20th anniversary of her mother's death, Catherine is overcome with a sense of hopelessness about her life. The problem seems to be...Vincent. She must confront the fact that their relationship is closing her off from life possibilities for which she has always longed. As he tells her, "Our dream exists at the cost of all your other dreams." Her pain is so great that (in an extremely powerful scene) the superhumanly chivalrous Vincent gives her the breakup she so desperately needs (though doing so, for him, is akin to ripping his heart out of his chest). It is a breakup she could never, ever, bring herself to directly ask for. It takes time away from Vincent for Catherine to come to a realization of what in her life is indeed "worth everything." She makes her choice, and she and Vincent (and we) derive great joy from that decision. I've never (before or since) experienced such joy at the finish of an episode of a TV series!

Linda Hamilton is so good here that she gives us an empathic connection to Catherine that is stronger than Vincent's. "A Happy Life" is a thing of stunning beauty and power, and I don't think there is a significant misstep in it. This episode and the magnificent "Orphans" are by far the highest pinnacles of achievement for this series.

In 1998 I conducted a poll among Beauty and the Beast fans asking them to rate the 44 episodes of the first two seasons on a 1-to-10 scale. 31 fans participated. "A Happy Life" finished 1st out of the 44 episodes.

I placed "A Happy Life" 1st in my own personal 1-through-44 rank-ordering of the episodes.

One of the series finest episodes.
Twenty years after her mother's death, Catherine re-evaluates her life and her relationship with Vincent. Beautifully written and acted, Linda Hamilton gives an amazing performance as her character sinks deeper into despair as she is slowly torn between two worlds. This is a must-see episode for anyone who has watched (or is even familiar with) Beauty and the Beast.

Intro episode to a fabulous new version of an old faerytale.
A modern day woman is drawn into a world of fantasy and things that cannot be possible, yet are oh, so very real. Injured and left to die in Central Park, Catherine Chandler is rescued by Vincent, a very unique, gentle being, who brings her to his world, to heal. His world consists of a labyrinth of subterrean tunnels, peopled by those society has either discarded or left to die alone and in poverty. Here, Catherine learns the true meaning of caring, committiment, and love. She also learns that a person's looks are truly 'only skin deep', and it is ones soul which gives an inner beauty and strength which is both lasting and incorruptable. ... Read more

Description

"As Time Goes By" stars Judi Dench & Geoffrey Palmer.Long ago Lionel, a dashing young British Army officer met Jean, a lovely student nurse and fell deeply in love.When Lionel was shipped off to fight in the Korean war the two lost touch.In the first episode of Series One they meet again and slowly begin to rekindle their romance. The wonderful series that ensues is simply a pleasure to watch. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Lionel finds there are too many women in the house...
For Volume 8 of the BBC comedy "As Time Goes By" poor Lionel Hardcastle (Geoffrey Palmer) is confounded by the fact there are too many women in the house. Of course, there is Jean (Judi Dench), with whom he has moved in as the couple have rekindled their romance forty years after they first fell in love, and there is Judith (Moira Brooker), her daughter. But now Sandy (Jenny Funnell) has moved in as well, having finally broken up with her less than satisfactory boyfriend. She and Judith are looking a flat together, but the pickings are slim. Meanwhile, Lionel is constantly worried that somebody might be in the bathroom. Then there is Mrs. Flack (Vivienne Martin), who is supposed to be helping Lionel with his Hollywood script but who is driving him to distraction with her constant chatter. This video offers up three episodes from what I believe is the first half of Series 4:

Episode 24 (counting from the beginning) has Sandy moving into the Pargetter household and making Lionel extremely uncomfortable. Things get hot and heavy as Jean and Lionel push a bed around his "study."

Episode 25 has Lionel working on revising the first love scene in his romantic mini-series but getting no where because of the constant stream of commentary from Mrs. Flack (who has definite opinions about when a man should take off his sox in such circumstances). Not for the first time Jean and Lionel come to the conclusion that Mrs. Flack has to go. Meanwhile, Judith has grown tired of Allistair (Philip Bretherton) taking him for granted and shows him the door. Of course, Allistair is not used to being shown the door.

Episode 26 finds the situation with Mrs. Flack coming to a head and Jean coming up with a plan for getting rid of her without hurting her feelings. Unfortunately the plan hinges on Jean's ability to make a sound like a ringing phone. When Allistair asks Judith to move in with him rather than with Sandy, she turns him down. In a portent of things to come, Lionel suggests that Allistair should be thinking about the "m" word.

This trio of episodes falls somewhat into a limbo as the relationship between Lionel and Jean is sort of on cruise control and the happy couple is dealing with the problems of others in the house. Of course, all this makes Lionel uncomfortable, explaining, he does not mind being confided in, he would just prefer that it not happen while he is in his pajamas. While missing the initial charm of the earlier episodes in the series when Lionel and Jean were dancing around their obvious affection for one another, these are still pleasant enough character comedies with a very good cast.

A Mini-series In the Making
Volume 8 of "As Time Goes By" sees the start of the 4th season of the venerable British comedy, and a good focus on Lionel's attempts to write a script which could possibly become an American mini-series. For those of you unfamiliar with the basic premise of "As Time Goes By", following is a quick synopsis.

Jean Pargetter & Lionel Hardcastle were once lovers. They were separated by the Korean War (Lionel went off to fight), and they lost touch. The very first episode of the series finds the two reunited, and they attempt to re-kindle their romance. Slowly but surely, things progress, and a delightful, charming series begins to develop.

Episode 1 on this particular video finds Lionel in the midst of writing the script for "Just Two People", a proposed mini-series based upon he & Jean's very own love affair. The main focus of this installment is Sandy, Jean's secretary, who is on the outs with her boyfriend, and moves in with Jean, Lionel, and Jean's daughter, Judith.

Episode 2: Lionel is being nudged by the American producers to write a sex scene or two for the mini-series. Jean hasn't felt comfortable with the young, attractive secretary that has been working with Lionel, so she sacks her, and hires-on Gwen, an annoyingly talkative older woman who makes it impossible for Lionel to get any work done.

Episode 3 is a continuation of the writing of the mini-series/annoying Gwen scenario. Jean tries to devise a way in which to painlessly get rid of Gwen.

All three of these episodes are quite funny, very well-written, and keenly acted - what else would you expect from "As Time Goes By"? ... Read more

Reviews (88)

One of my top 10 favorite movies of the 20th century!!!!!!
Network was way ahead of its time! This film shows how a television network can take something that can actually enlighten and empower people and turn it into entertainment. It's also interesting to see the network's ratings skyrocket by feeding reality TV programs into the minds of its viewers. If you look at the saturation of reality shows today you can see that screenwriter Paddy Chayesfky was an oracle of his era.

What I also got from this film is the discarding of old ideas and replacing them with new ones. The William Holden and Peter Finch characters (these guys were already established movie stars) represented the old ideas; and the Robert Duvall and Faye Dunaway characters (by this time they were becoming big movie stars) represented the new ideas-a brilliant move on the part of the casting department.

Lastly, Paddy Chayesfky's screenwriting work is superb!!!!!! The words have so much substance and color to them! These days you hardly come across a movie with rich, propelling dialogue.

This movie is worth 20 stars. But to be fair to the rating system, giving it five is still good.

"This is mass-madness, you maniacs!!!"
This was the winner of 4 Oscars back in 1976, ultimately losing the Best Picture Oscar to "Rocky." But this film garnered every acting nomination across the board, winning three: Best Actress(Faye Dunaway), Best Actor(Peter Finch), Best Supporting Actress(Beatrice Straight). Other acting nominations included William Holden for Best Actor and Ned Beatty for Best Supporting Actor. Obviously, the acting here is amazing! Sidney Lumet's direction is also stellar, with fluid transitions and a professionalism that makes one forget how well-directed this film actually is. But the star of this film is screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky. Back in 1971 he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for "The Hospital" and wrote nothing else for the screen until "Network" in 1976 for which he won another Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. His writing for "The Hospital" is excellent, but his writing here is unprecedented. The writing is razor-sharp and savagely funny, primarily satirizing the television industry in all its lunacy. My favorite lines from the film are witty plays on poor journalism like the title of my review or "a wanton fiscal affront to be resolutely resisted." The next time you watch the news, particularly sporting news, listen for those annoying phrases where the newscaster uses absurd word-play, usually as a segue. This film actually changed my outlook on all entertainment industries, from television to radio, and showed me how everything is commercialized. We live in a capitalist society, so it is little wonder why networks are "in the boredom-killing business" to make money. Keep the viewers sedated with artificial bliss and you can make them believe anything. That is only one of the intelligent themes that this scathing indictment of the television industry has in store. The script is incredibly tight, with perfect concoctions of frantic word-play and insightful revelations. This is the only screenplay that I own in paperback. I believe the writing is that phenomenal. New viewers should be warned, however, that watching this film may make you never want to watch television again. I've seen this film dozens of times and I am now disgusted with the television industry, magazines, newspapers, etc. For me, this film really was a revelation. For most, in the least, it should be an intelligent and entertaining satire on a powerful part of American culture. The ideas here may not be as strartling as they were to an audience of 1976, but most of them still hold true to this day.

The reason why I'm in the Broadcasting business!
You want to see some great acting! I'm mean do you really want to see some great acting? This all star cast is a testament to the movie's greatness. William Holden, Faye Dunnaway, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty are all outstanding. But it's Peter Finch who died just before the Academy Awards and recieved a postumous Oscar for the mad prophet himself, Howard Beale. A man who single handedly brings a Broadcasting Network from worst to first. The actions of the executives in this movie are no different then what they do today. On my top 5 list of the greatest movies ever!

We're mad as hell!
'Network' should be seen together with 'EdTv' and 'The Truman Show'. They all show the effect of television on people and also what goes on behind the scenes, the eternal fight for higher ratings, no matter what it is about.

Faye Dunaway wants to try everything to get higher ratings, she is so obsessed that even life has become a scenario to her, she almost has no ties to 'normal' life anymore, everything has become a spectacle.

When a newsbroadcaster tells his audience he is going to kill himself on tv in two weeks hell breaks loose. No one cares about human life, it's all about ratings. They would go as far as they can possibly go...

Possibly the Most Important Film Ever Made
I have put off writing a review for this film for quite a long time, but I finally decided to dive straight into the maelstrom and take a stab at it.

Network is (in my opinion) one of the most important films ever made and is essential as both an angry and cynical satire (one of the greatest) and as an eye-opening experience for our modern age. I would even venture to say that this film is even more pertinent now than when it first entered theaters 28 years ago. A huge (actually staggering) amount of events have happened since then, including the rise of the computer (which is already an average, commonplace thing now) and globalism. Corporations (the object of scorn in this film) are more powerful than ever. It makes the chilling statements in this movie even more confrontational and prophetic.

Network displays terrific ensemble acting by all of the characters involved: from "leading" figure William Holden, the old-fashioned romantic left rudderless in the wake of a new ultra-consumerist culture to his icy and mechanical love interest Faye Dunaway who is the "ugly" spirit of the Network itself to his wife Beatrice Straight, the lonely, bitter, and heartbroken woman (she won an Oscar for being in merely one scene, that's how real it was!) to Robert Duvall's exaggerated performance as a cruel and money-obsessed entrepeneur to Ned Beatty's strange, almost Shakespearean portrayal of the head executive as a sort of Antichrist for Capitalism to the small but gritty and ferocious roles of the quasi-Communist radicals who also end up tangled in the web of the Network and scrambling for their own "share".

Then we come to Peter Finch. Dunaway and Straight also won Oscars, but it was Finch's dazzling, enraged, and clownish acting feat as "mad prophet" Howard Beale that truly steals the show. His vitriolic diatribes which reveal his deepest, darkest inner secrets as well as his outer visions about society and the world end up bringing chills to the spine and are more adrenaline-pumping than any action-adventure extravaganza. He was an anomaly in the film and in the Hollywood spotlight, being the first actor awarded a posthumous Oscar.

Of course, the heart and soul of this film belong to kinetic director Sidney Lumet, who captures the zeitgeist, city, and intricate structure of modern times so well, and riddling writer Paddy Chayefsky who does some intense philosophical probing into many puzzling and disturbing issues that still ring true today.

In the end, Network is more than just another Oscar winner (being another tragic example of Hollywood's bias and/or reluctance to choose revolutionary films as Best Picture, other examples being Citizen Kane, Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, etc.), it is also a film that makes you examine your own position in our modern society and what that society is doing (more importantly, the persons in power in that society). Network has no heroes, no happy ending, and no resolutions. It offers hard questions but few answers. I highly recommend this startling, over-the-top, and controversial film. It is provocatively honest. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Unsung masterpiece of film comedy
It's a shame more people don't remember this film. Made in 1971, it hasn't aged one bit. It remains a devastating (and gut-bustingly funny) commentary on addiction, greed, and industry. How can you go wrong with a script by Larry Gelbart (writer of several classic "M*A*S*H" episodes), direction by Norman Lear (who brought us "All in the Family," "Maude," "The Jeffersons," etc.), and a cast of comic geniuses like Dick Van Dyke, Bob Newhart, Edwrad Everett Horton, Jean Stapelton (Edith Bunker on "All in the Family"), Vincent Gardenia, Tom Poston ("Newhart"), and Bob & Ray? You can't. Throw in a score which features some of Randy Newman's best songs from his album "Sail Away," and you have one of the great film comedies.

Cold Turkey
this movie shows that not all older movies, especially comedies, are corny. This movie is still one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Tom Postin and Barnard Hughes are hiliarious. Getting to see it commercial free and hearing all of Randy Newmans songs without the station talking over it was a big plus. You rarely get to see this movie on cable and I was so glad to find it on amazon. Wonderful to have in my collection. It's in my list of top 10 comedies.

A classic for your collection
Saw this movie when it first came out and my wife and I have been looking for a copy of it for years - this film deserves to be distributed in DVD format. Vintage humor. Will be the first on our block to purchase it when its offered.

Memories
I was an extra in this movie (age 10). My grandfathers farm is in the background in the opening scene (dog watering the sign). The barbershop belonged to my uncle. Lots of memories!!!

A forgotten satire on the tobacco industry from Norman Lear
lucky seven for those of us who fondly recall this underappreciated satire. Keep in mind that it was only in 1966 that Congress first required ciagarette manufactureres to place specific warning labels on cigarette packs and that the last cigarette commercial (for Virginia Slims) was broadcast on "The Tonight Show" at one minute to midnight on January 1, 1971. While there were those who were worried that the lost of ad revenue would destroy network television (which seemed like a good idea at the time), the larger question was how cigarette companies would seek to market their product.

In "Cold Turkey" the idea is advanced by Merwin Wren (Bob Newhart), an advertising executive who convinces the Valiant Tobacco Company to offer $25 million to any town that can stop smoking for thirty days. The idea is that the offer will generate free publicity but that no town in American would ever be able to successfully go cold turkey. But the 4,006 heavy smokers of Eagle Rock, Iowa take up the challenge, led by the thought of all that money and the persuasive efforts of The Reverend Clayton Brooks (Dick Van Dyke), of the Eagle Rock Community Church. The town had been trying to woo back the military, hoping the return of the military industrial complex would help the local cash flow, but that has not panned out.

This film, co-written and directed by Norman Lear, on the cusp of remaking television with "All in the Family," falls into three acts. In the first Reverend Brooks convinces the townspeople to take the pledge, while in the second the members of the community deal with not being able to smoke any more (substituting sex seemed like such a good idea at the time). The climax of the film comes as it looks like Eagle Rock might actually be able to do it and Merwin Wren has to pull out all the stops to make sure that does not happen. There are plenty of laughs and while you have to feel "Cold Turkey" falls short of its true satirical potential, it is still worthy tracking down and checking out.

In many ways "Cold Turkey" is the impoverished cousin of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," with a host of familiar faces such as Tom Poston, Vincent Gardenia, Jean Stapleton, Barnard Hughes, Graham Jarvis, and Edward Everett Horton. The comedy team of Bob (Elliott) and Ray (Goulding) appear in multiple roles of "familiar" Names. Bob is Hugh Upson, David Chetley, and Sandy Van Andy, while Ray plays Walter Chronic, Paul Hardly, and Arthur Lordly (think about it for a while and if you are my age you should get most of those). Add to the mix Randy Newman's first film score, which opens with his song "He Gives Us all His Love."

What brought this movie back to mind was the decision of Hollywood to change the case at the heart of John Grisham's novel "Runaway Jury" from a tobacco case to a gun case. The reasoning was that Hollywood had already done a "cigarette" more with "The Insider," and, as we all know, Hollywood never repeats an idea and companies only pay to have products placed in movies not to have them not placed in movies. However, even a faithful adaptation of Grisham's novel would not be as brutal an indictment of the tobacco industry as "Cold Turkey." For that matter it has a pretty cynical take on small town Americana as well. Of course, in the end the joke is on the people of Eagle Rock, and, by extension, the rest of us. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

For the fugitive kind of person..
I recently saw this film in a class of mine, and afterwards I was compelled to buy it. This film embodies the idea that silence is more powerful than words. Some people may find this film boring and slow, but those who do have not felt the intense connection you get by watching someone--the way they move, observe, think--and by understanding their human emotion. Though the story in general is simple--two strange and peculiar characters fall in love--the thoughtful lighting, the ambient music, the disorienting camera angles, the sharp acting..they all unite to create a complicated layer of emotions that provoke you. On the silver screen, these characters will go down as silent heroes to those who ever felt they were misunderstood by most. This film is a peculiar classic with peculiar characters, but nonetheless brilliant.

Magnani!
This is one of my favorite films ever. The cinematography is wonderful enough to almost be a character itself! Joanne Woodward and Maureen Stapleton turn in excellent performances - and the beautiful Anna Magnani was never been more sensual. The story is pretty melodramatic, as you'd expect from being based on a Tennesee Williams play (Orpheus Descending). This film is a classic.

What a Drag !
Such a slow and boring movie. Absolutely NO chemistry amongst the artistes. One of those "bad" movies of Marlon Brando. If not for Marlon Brando I would gladly miss this movie !

"The weight of a man..."
Marlon Brando at is best. Many parts of the movie you just repeat them again and again on your VCR, trying to understand what his the secret of this guy.What make this guy so great, so different. What makes each of his gesture so hyptnotic. The movie is wonderfull. But Marlon Brando's attitude lesson in itself is worth the price of the tape.

I really think it's my favorite movie of all time!
Fine adaptation of Tennessee William's multi-layered play (an improvement in fact), and terrific performances from Woodward, Brando and Magnani (perhaps the greatest actress in cinema history). ... Read more

Reviews (22)

ALL FOR ONE AND ALL FOR FUN
Richard Lester's refreshingly breezy adaptation of the Dumas classic is one of the best interpretations of this venerable classic. He combines the elements of swashbuckling swordplay with the satirical buffooneries of the Pink Panther movies. Michael York, scrawny yet efficient, plays D'artagnan with a youthful exuberance. Raquel Welch is hilarious as the bumbling, accident prone Constance, and Spike Milligan is likewise a hoot as her aging and lustful husband. The Musketeers are played by Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay and Richard Chamberlain, and are dashingly heroic, if a little out of shape? Faye Dunaway is cold and calculating as the Lady DeWinter while Geraldine Chaplin is quite coquettish as the Queen. Rounding out the marvelous cast are Charlton Heston, Christopher Lee, Simon Ward and Jean Pierre Cassel. Lester filmed this and its sequel (The Four Musketeers) at the same time, but the studio opted to go with a sequel as the whole movie would have been too long. They are both fine films, although the follow up is a little darker in tone. Well worth viewing for a good time.

A Spectacular Action/Adventure-Comedy- A Must See
This movie has it all: action, adventure, comedy. The cast is outstanding and it brings out some of the best performances in some individuals careers like Michael York, Rachael Welch, and Richard Chamberland. The direction by Richard Lester is excellent.

Based on the Alexandre Dumas novel, this film is the best adaptation ever. It is so far superior than the "brat pack" version with Sutherland, Curry, and Sheen, that one wonders why another version was even attempted.

The story begins with D'Artagnan setting off to be a musketeer. He ends up being an embarrashment and has three duels, with the The Musketeers, played by Oliver Reed, Chamberland, and Frank Finely (Finely, in my opinion, gives the best performance in the movie). Because of the Cardinal's guards, the four unite and soon, they are friends going off to England to save the Queen's honor and stop the evil plot of Cardinal Richelieu (played by Charleton Heston).

This movie is a true blast and is followed up by "The Four Musketeers" where Milady (played by Fay Dunaway) tries to bring the ruin of D'Artagan.

The Three Musketeers
Set in 1500's France, a young Gaston named D'Artagnan (Michael York) leaves his family with hope of becoming the king's musketeer. After facing humiliation in his daily exploits, he inadvertently offends three musketeers at different times and each force him to duel to the death the next day (the musketeers: Athos is Oliver Reed, Porthos is Frank Finlay, and Aramis is Richard Chamberlain). However, they all form an alliance after being forced to fight off the Cardinal's authority. Soon after, D'Artagnan falls in love with his landlord's beautiful wife Constance (Raquel Welch) and finds that the Duke Of Buckingham (Simon Ward) is in love with subtly somber The Queen Of France (Geraldine Chaplin). When the Duke and the Queen meet, the Queen gives the Duke her diamond necklace so he can remember her. A spy is pertinent, sees their exchange and reports it to Cardinal Richelieu. Cardinal Richelieu (Charlton Heston), a delicately ominous figure, wants nothing but to take control of France from the King, and the queens missing diamonds are a good opportunity for him to cause the king trouble. It's up to D'Artagnan and the musketeers to return the diamonds to the queen by traveling to England. The obstacles to reaching the destination is easily offended and violent men with varying political views, bandits, the skilled and deadly Rochefort whom D'Artagnan encountered several times (Christopher Lee) and the cardinal's covert agent Milady (Faye Dunaway).

This film version of Alexander Dumas's masterpiece story is filled with incredibly enjoyable elements. There is much slapstick humor that is never forced, pretentious or overly distracting; there is a good amount of swashbuckling action; the performances (especially by Roy Kinnear as the abused servant) are well done and amusing; and the sets are extremely memorable. See it!

Sequel: The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (which was originally going to be utilized as footage for this film)

Overall rating: 5 stars

Rated PG for violence, and some restrained sexual innuendo.

Great Fun & The Best Version so far.....
Richard Lester & his screewriter, George Macdonald Fraser (of Flashman fame), made the best & most complete version of the Dumas tale with great flair and wit, seasoning the old story with satiric touches, irony and outright slapstick. Working with a dream cast, Lester shot this and the sequel (The Four Musketeers) all at once (ala Lord of the Rings) allowing him to tell a bigger story without the distractions of aging or changed cast members. It is great fun.

Since everyone knows the story I want to point out some of the wonderful qualities of the flim. First,there are the terrific fight scenes staged by Wm. Hobbs, who has his swordfights as exhausting affairs, full of sweat and effort, with no rules, no balletic dueling, but rather FIGHTING, with both hands and feet and anything that can be of use. These are set amongst blowing sheets, in tub rooms, and one especially clever night fight with lanterns blinking on and off. Oliver Reed as Athos especially convinces you that he is FIGHTING, not waltzing about.

Next, the wonderful cast, including: Michael York as an enthusistic and eager D'Artagnon; Raquel Welsh as D'Artagnon's paramour, Constance Bonancieux, bountiful and endearingly clutzy; Spike Milligan as Msr. Bonancieux, Raquel's addled and horny husband; Charlton Heston as the shrewd and ruthless Cardinal Richelieu; Christopher Lee, an arch & dignified villain as Rochefort, Richelieu's "blade" (and possibly illegitimate son); Faye Dunaway as the beautiful and treacherous Milady De Winter; Geraldine Chaplin as the ninny of a Queen; Jean Pierre Cassel as the dim and indifferent King. And then, of course the 3 Musketeers: Oliver Reed as a moody & temperamental, but powerful Athos; Richard Chamberlain's refined and aloof Aramis; and Frank Finlay's vain & pompous Porthos. Terrific all!

A light and infectiously joyful swashbuckler, Lester also has great fun displaying the extravagance and vanity of the Royals, idling away their time in ridiculous pursuits, completely impervious and indifferent to their servants and the lives of the common people shown in rough and coarse contrast. The King & Queen are clueless, Buckingham (Simon Ward) is a headstrong dolt, Richelieu schemes, and everyone else tries to survive their foolishness.

A rare mixture of genres and tones that really works, this witty romp must be seen with its concluding Four Musketeers where the tone shifts yet again. A treat for movie lovers.

Avoid this DVD Version! Get the newer release
Filmed in 1973, the one that began it all. The book was actually split into two movies to fit all the plot! This is the first half of the book. An amazing, star-studded cast, great attention to detail and it's funny to boot!

Let's see. Oliver Reed as Athos, Richard Chamberlain as Aramis, Frank Finlay as Porthos, Michael York as D'Artagnan. Christopher Lee, Raquel Welch, Geraldine Chaplin, Faye Dunaway. Just about every performance is amazing.

This has the REAL plot - not the entirely made-up one Disney foisted on us. D'Artagnan is cheating on his landlord with his landlord's wife. The Queen of France is cheating on her husband, the King, with the Duke of Buckingham. The cardinal is trying to gain power of France. The Musketeers gladly steal food and cheat when necessary. It's a rough world out there!

The attention to detail in the film is simply amazing. From the stunning costumes, to the silver-and-white ball at the end, to the interiors of the buildings, to the food they eat, wine they drink, games they play - it's all fully authentic. You could watch this in a history class and learn quite a bit.

And the swordfighting!! None of this pretentious sword-waving and back-flipping. These guys were professional soldiers. They fought to win. This involved rough-and-tumble brawl tactics at times. I compare Athos' fighting style to Aragorn's in Lord of the Rings. His aim was to stay alive and to keep his comerades alive, not to look pretty when he fought.

Now for the BIG WARNING. I wore out several copies of the video tape before getting this on the first DVD available. Fox Lorber put out the DVD version. I was thrilled to have it on DVD. I was less thrilled when I saw what they did to the movie!! They literally cut off ALL FOUR EDGES of the movie, losing quite a lot of the picture. The special features are completely missing. There is a new DVD version out which is a two-pack of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" that has the special features and has the full version of both movies without missing content. AVOID THE FOX LORBER VERSION and get the other one. ... Read more

Reviews (74)

A subtle movie! A Dynamite Cast! A Gorgeous Score!
This is a subtle and rewarding film. The cast is magnificent--the performances great! One of my favorite film scores too!

A hint for watching the movie. With each viewing, I find I have been concentrating on a different actor. Kim Novak is definitely at her peak; William Holden is remarkable; Rosalind Russell is at her very best, with a fantastically varied and difficult part; Susan Strasberg is wonderful indeed. All of the supporting actors are super too! And this IS primarily a story of individuals' lives, and how they are changed.

The film gives a remarkably accurate picture of life in 1950's rural Kansas. But onto this background is thrust a love story of great interest and appeal. The film has super color and fine sound (for its era anyway).

The film is, quite simply, astounding. Don't rent it....buy it, bucause it just gets better and better with repeated watchings!

Dripping with lust!
Picnic is one of those films that just transports the viewer into another time and era and that's the sign of a truly great film. Holden has the daunting task of playing a loveable hustler with big dreams that he just can't make happen. So he decides to go back to familiar grounds and falls for kim Novak. Novak is a treasure in this movie her exotic beauty and shaky voice highlights her characters uneveness to conform into the town's perfect beautiful young woman. This film at it's time was billed as too sexy due to the dance that Novak and Holden share at the picnic and till this day the scene holds up great. The lust in both their eyes and Novaks raw sex appeal against Holden's rugged good looks is a sight to be hold. But the back story which I won't give a hint of is the true tale of this flick and shows how human nature is always determined by the role society wants you to play based on your looks! This film still holds up today as a work of pure sexual energy and raw human emotions.

William Holden & Kim Novak are OUTSTANDING in Picnic
I saw PICNIC during its release in 1956 in India when I was in
school. I was crazy about English films and never missed a good
film.one of my class mates saw the film before me and remarked
about the energetic dancing of Holden as spellbinding.I was not
that keen in the beginning to see the film due to its title which meant lightweight and fun. But when I saw the film the experience was tremendous, I had just seen a masterpiece. William Holden and Kim Novak were just outstanding. Holden

brought a breath of fresh air as soon as he appeared, and Kim
Novak was not just a small town beauty queen, she oozed raw sex
and hidden desires exposed to the full by carefree but passionate William Holden. Although, without doubt the highlight of the film was the picnic and the dancing where all the principal players of the film are envolved emotionally and the finale to the story builds up, there other memorable scenes notably the swing scene where Holden gets hold of the swing where Novak is sitting, he begins playing with it unintentionally and realises for the first time that he has fallen for the fiancee of his best friend. Then there is that passionate scene beside the waterfall where both Holden and Novak admit their love for each other and kiss intensly, Holden with torn shirt. After this Holden runs and catches the running train and finally Novak follows him, her true love in the Greyhound. The execution of all these scenes and the whole story is nothing less than perfect. James Wong Hoe's technicolor photography is outstanding. Needless to say I have seen this film many times since and found it always charming.

Holden Sparks, Novak Smolders, Kansas Burns
In a decade of conformity and great prosperity William Inge and Tennessee Williams tackled subjects ahead of their time. Of course they in some cases had to veil the subject matter but that lead to some wonderful revelations in writing and reading between the lines. In this DVD from Colombia of Inge's Pulitzer Prize winning 'Picnic' we have one of the best films of this genre of sexual repression, animal heat, and desperation in small town America.
Most reviewers of this film might begin with the leads but I must start of with the wonderful Verna Felton as Helen Potts the sweet old lady who is caretaker of her aged mother and lives next door to the Owens family. This gifted and now forgotten character actress sets the tone of the picture as she welcomes drifter Hal Carter (William Holden) into her house. At the end of the film she glows in tender counterpoint to the dramatic ending. She is the only person who understands Hal, even more than Madge (Kim Novak). Her speech about having a man in the house is pure joy to watch. It is a small but important performance that frames the entire story with warmth and understanding.
Betty Field turns in a sterling performance as Flo Owens, Mother of Madge and Millie. She is disapproving of Millie's rebellious teen and smothering of her Kansas hothouse rose Madge. A single Mom trying in desperation to keep Madge from making the same mistakes she did. She becomes so wrapped up in Madge's potential for marriage to the richest boy in town she completely ignores the budding greatness that is bursting to get out in her real treasure. Millie.
Susan Strasberg creates in her Millie a sweet comic oddball. She is the youngest daughter who awkwardly moves through the landscape nearly un-noticed, reading the scandalous "Ballad of the Sad Café" being the only one who is different and can't hide it. Her yearning to get out of the smallness of small town life is colored with the skill of a young actress with greatness her.
Rosalind Russell nearly steals the show as the fourth woman in the Owens household boarder, Rosemary, a frantic, hopeless and clutching spinster. In the capable hands of Miss Russell we have a real powerhouse of a performance. She imbues Rosemary with all the uptight disapproval of a woman who k