Reviews (1)

a neglected movie
Based on Henry Ibsen's play Academy Award Winner Glenda Jackson stars as Hedda, a woman who tries to be everything to everyone but can't and in the end she ends up paying for it. This is a great film that has been neglected since it hasn't been re-released on video since it's first incarnation almost twenty years ago, which is a shame. Enjoy it!!!!!!!
Academy Award Nominee-Best Actress[1975]-Glenda Jackson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Movie! John Ritter gives an excellent performance!
Rush out and get this one! John Ritter is excellent in this action/ adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The Project
This extraodinary explosive film get 5 stars for originality and intense action fighting scenes. Olivier Gruner gives a non-stop spectacular performance and continues to shock and amaze. With the action, fighting scenes, and overall plot, this movie rates very high on my list.

A great performance of Olivier Gruner
The performance of Olivier Gruner was an impressive one. There's a compromise with Steven Seagal. "Olivier why are you still playing in the independant video-scene?" Please give me a website of his fanclub or more information to write him personally. ... Read more

Reviews (416)

The League of Extrodinary Gentlemen
A horribly burned madman, known as the Phantom/Fantom, is making very powerful weapons, is creating a world war and worst of all, it's not even the 20th Century yet! To combat this Phantom of the Opera wacko, "M"(Richard Roxburgh) has recruited 7 literary characters, each with their own special abilities and talents, to stop this madman. This team, which includes the Hunter Allan Quartermain(Sean Connery), the Rouge Rodney Skinner aka Invisible Man(Tony Curran), the Scientist Captain Nemo(Naseeruddin Shah), the Vampire Mina Harker(Peta Wilson), the Immortal Dorian Gray(Stuart Townsend), the Spy Tom Sawyer(Shane West), and the Beast Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde(Jason Flemyng and ugly CGI). Together, they form the League of Extrodinary Gentlemen.

This looked like a really fun movie. But in the end, it could of been done better. Now, I'm not very familiar with the comic book so I don't know how true this is to the material, but this film's weakest points are the script, which is terribly silly and pointless, and the horrible special effects. The action scenes were clumsy and you don't find any big suprises out of this film.

The actors range from good to bad. Sean Connery's a great actor, but he's just not believable as Quartermain because of his age. He seems too old to be able to do the physical things he can. Tony Curran is never given a chance to make us like his character. Skinner's a jerk most of the time and going back and forth between an actor in makeup and CGI effects is tedious. Naseeruddin Shah, as Captain Nemo, is fun to watch, but his fighting abilities seem a little hard to swallow. He's one of the better characters in the film. Peta Wilson does a fine job as Mina Harker. Her character is one you're really able to like. Stuart Townsend is great as Dorian Gray. He pulls the role off very well and has some pretty good lines. Shane West is good enough to make us like Tom Sawyer. He's got some really cool moments. Jason Flemyng is perfect as Dr.Jekyll, though the Hyde character looks really stupid(Facial expressions and deformations all over him.)

Overall, I'd say see it at least once. You might like it, you might hate it. Decide for yourself.

OK for hard core Connery Fans only!
No matter how many average, weird, or downright awful movies Sean Connery makes, he'll always command an audience. In this film, Connery plays a retired British explorer roped into preventing WW I by leading a team of misfits in a vaguely Bondian adventurer. As a nice twist, most of the misfits consist of 19th Century British villains such as Mr. Hyde, the Invisible Man, and Captain Nemo. Of course, no one bothers to explain why such villains would agree to unite for any cause other than, well, villainy. The film is comic book-y in a bad way, with ridiculous dialogue and a poor sense of continuity, and the effects are frequently unintentionally funny, especially Mr. Hyde's appearance. Connery makes the film work as a throwaway action film, but it's clear from the extras that the cast and some of the crew were deluded into thinking this was something more. Not surprisingly, this movie plays much better on DVD than it did in the theaters. If you're a die-hard Connery fan, you'll like this one. If not, and you want to see Connery at his best, you'd be better off with Goldfinger.

not terrible - it's fun
You probably know that LXG has the Invisible Man, Alan Quatermain, Captain Nemo and company in it. You can read the good and bad reviews. I haven't anything to report other than that I enjoyed it and LXG doesn't deserve it's bad rep.

LXG is GREAT!
I love LXG! It's cartoony and action packed and has so many of my favorite fictional characters in it. Most importantly it's got Peta Wilson in a perfect role for her. Ultra-sexy Peta is one hot vampire chick! The reviewer who said she didn't do any vampire stuff must not have really seen the flick. She drinks human blood! What more do you want dude? She flies and turns into bats too! That's not vampire stuff? Stop smokin' and WATCH THE MOVIE!
Don't let bad reviews written by people who didn't see LXG turn you away. It may not be your thing or it might be. I had a ball watching LXG. Give it a go, have some fun with it, enjoy the characters, watch Peta do vampire stuff,.. and hell just watch Peta! She's HOT!

One very poorly polished turd...
Everyone I know who's seen this film, myself included, hated it!! It's an interesting concept, but none of the actors really shine here and the look of certain things, such as the ship, are totally overdone and stupid looking. You'd think a movie with a vampire chick in it would be good, but she doesn't do any vampire-like things. I appoligize if anyone "doesn't find this review helpful," but seriously, I TRIED trading this DVD in to a local DVD store and they turned me away. This is no lie, they had 17 used and unsold copies already. Please don't waste your time on this flick. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of Walker, Texas Ranger, martial-arts veteran Chuck Norris's small-screen alter ego, get their fill of danger, uplift, and karate moves in Team Cherokee, a feature-length version of a two-part story line.As Cordell Walker, Norris strides stoically through a typical series plot casting the Rangers as avenging angels foiling racism, greed, and their foes' Miranda rights in the name of fair play, set against the backdrop of NASCAR racing. As always, Walker and his buffed comrades solve plot lapses or flat dialogue with flying kicks, whirling elbows, and a soft-boiled idealism that synthesizes liberal tolerance, good-old-boy camaraderie, and a weakness for collarless shirts.

A string of track victories by a Native American team of car racersgoads the ruthless, redneck circuit champs to resort to intimidation, sabotage, and commercially sanctioned road rage at triple-digit speeds.As in most Walker episodes, our hero's involvement stems not from a formal assignment but from personal connections, in this case a lifelong friendship with Team Cherokee's manager. Race footage, brawls, and periodic time-outs for wooden repartee and plot exposition at avuncular C.J.'s bar advance the story past the near-fatal crash that sidelines the team's star driver, leaving the ride free for Walker's triumphant debut as a racer. Naturally, there's a climactic dustup with the villainous rival team.

Team Cherokee preserves a formula that invokes bursts of piety amid one of network television's most relentless (if bloodless) barrages of violence. Both good guys and bad are proudly reduced to stereotypes, achieving a kind of surreal neutrality: a jaw-dropping gag about the Cherokees' "reservations" is cancelled out by an equally ham-fisted caricature of the racist team's owner. Ultimately, these are cartoons, as stylized as Norris's craggy rendition of the title theme, promising "the eyes of the ranger are upon you." --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (2)

jimmy wleck shines
jimmy wleck really outdid himself in this movie. A great show!

One of the BEST Walker episodes
I had the pleasure to watch this episode while it was on tv, and although I have to admit one of the major reasons I watched it was because of Jimmy Wlcek, I have to admit this episode ROCKS! I highly recommend it to any and all Walker fans. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Gesellschaft and Gemeinschaft collide!
While watching this film, the viewer cannot escape the feeling that he is witnessing a collision between what the Sociologist Ferdinand Toennies called "Gemeinschaft" (the rural village) and "Gesellschaft" (the modern city), or what Emile Durkheim called "mechanical solidarity" and "organic solidarity." But Colin Nutley's unfortunate sociological propaganda aside (the film is hamhandedly pro-Gesellschaft/organic solidarity), this film is a highly entertaining, and ultimately touching film about a young woman's return to her roots, the resulting conflict with the locals, and, finally, a heart warming peace.

very entertaining
I really enjoyed watching this movie because it is humorous and engaging. The protagonist, Fanny Zander, comes to a Swedish village to see the house which her grandfather left her in his will. All the women in the village start disliking her immediately because of the way she dresses and her profession. (She is a night club performer.)Some of the women become jealous of her because she attracts male attention. They also dislike her companion because he is dark.
Axel Flogfält dislikes her because she refuses to sell the house to him.
The movie is thoroughly enjoyable and a little unpredictable.

Delightful Screen Presence
A story composed of small things made delightful by the beautiful female lead, Helena Bergstrom.

My favorite Swedish Movie!
This movie is so fabulous, and so very Swedish! The people, the town, the way they react to this girl who is thrown in amongst them... This movie is a masterpiece. It is clever and witty, and yet charming and touching. Absolutely recommended!

A beautiful movie about love, understanding and greed.
House of Angles is a true gem and a great purchase.

The eccentric owner of the largest manor in a small Swedish town leaves his estate upon his death to his granddaughter, a cabaret singer based in Germany who he has never met. When she arrives to claim her inheritance, dressed in a sleek black dress, just in time for her grandfather's funeral, she sends this small traditional village into a tailspin. Fear of the unknown, greed and prejudice surface as the village's most powerful rancher mounts a campaign to buy her newly inherited land, at a discount. As the two fight for control, they discover something extraordinary... House of Angles is a charming and heartwarming movie with beautiful cinematography and a strong cast. And best of all, it is a fun movie to watch! ... Read more

Description

Paul Scott's STAYING ON This delightful drama, based on the award-winning novel by Paul Scott (The Jewel in the Crown), reunites the magnificent Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson for the first time since their appearance in the classic 1947 romance, "Brief Encounter." Retired Indian Army colonel Tusker Smalley and his wife Lucy made the decision to stay on in India after the British withdrew in 1947. While most of their friends returned home, Tusker decided to continue in military service. Now retired, he and Lucy are the only remaining British residents in the once-busy hill station of Pankot. Residing peacefully in a bungalow annex of the run-down Smith's Hotel, aided only by their long-suffering servant Ibrahim, their peace is about to be disturbed by the hotel owner, Mrs. Bhoolabhoy, whose plans for the hotel - and their bungalow - will permanently change one corner of India that had remained forever England. Stunningly filmed at the hill station of Simla at the foot of the Himalayas, a once-popular retreat for the British in India, STAYING ON is a memorable dramatization of this acclaimed novel, which perfectly captures a place, a time, and two timeless performances from Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Sequel to Jewel in the Crown.
This is an excellent rendering of Paul Scott's book Staying on, which is in itself a sequel to the Jewel in the Crown Quartet also writen by Paul Scott and also made into a TV Drama by Granada the same British compny that made the Jewel in the Crown sereis.
Staying on is a double success, it is an excellent rendering inhnto film of the book itself and in acting and dialogue it does not fall below the excellent TV series the Jewel in the Crown.
The story is set in post independent India, COL Tusker Smalley of the British Indian Army decides to stay on after India gains independence. He stays on as COL of his regiment.
Yes these things happened many British officers stayed on in the Indian Army and many British civil servants stayed on also. They were kept on by the Indian Government. The plot is set some 10 years after Independence when Smalley in his late sixties or early seventies is already pensioned off and living in a small cottage.
The film captures all the poignancy of the end of Empire and how it affected the British and Indians on an individual basis and above all it shows that despite claims to the contrary British Rule was not over resented by the Indians. They wanted Independence yes but the British were rather liked. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A Charming Comedy
FATHER GOOSE is a charming comedy about a decadent American expatriot (Cary Grant) who gets pressed into service as a coastwatcher by the Australian Navy during World War II. Grant is stationed on a lonely South Pacific island until he unwittingly is forced to rescue Leslie Caron and her band of young French refugees who join him at his outpost.Trevor Howard is an Australian Navy Commander who maintains radio contact with Grant.

Much credit goes to Director Ralph Nelson and Peter Stone with his fellow screenwriters. Cary Grant is superb as usual and Leslie Caron is gorgeous.

FATHER GOOSE won an Oscar for Best Original Story and Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Editing and Sound.

Fancy and Reality play well together
Essentially a comedy FATHER GOOSE dabbles into some of the realities of World War II in the South Pacific. Credit for this can be given to Cary Grant's surly yet sophisticated approach to this type of role and Ralph Nelson's direction which uses comedy as a canvas to spin his tale tinged with the realities and frailties that are encountered in life's many challenges not to mention relationships. I could not help but think as I watched this film that Cary Grant really stood his ground as an actor because the seven little girls really could have stole this picture away from most adult actors. Leslie Caron is also good as she brings a sense of level headed femininity to counter Cary Grant's gruff response to having his solitude encroached on by "civilization" and all that implies. This is an enjoyable film.

Cary Grant plays an unshaven outcast!

Director: Ralph Nelson
Format: Color
Studio: Republic Studios
Video Release Date: November 23, 1999

Cast:

Cary Grant ... Walter Christopher Eckland/Mother Goose
Leslie Caron ... Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau
Trevor Howard ... Commander Frank Houghton RAN/Big Bad Wolf
Jack Good ... Lieutenant Stebbings RAN/Bo Peep
Sharyl Locke ... Jenny
Pip Sparke ... Anne
Verina Greenlaw ... Christine
Stephanie Berrington ... Elizabeth Anderson
Jennifer Berrington ... Harriet 'Harry' MacGregor
Laurelle Felsette ... Angelique
Nicole Felsette ... Dominique
Alex Finlayson ... Doctor Bigrave
Peter Forster ... Chaplain
Richard Lupino ... Radioman
John Napier ... Lt. Cartwright, USS Sailfin Executive Officer
Simon Scott ... Captain of Submarine, USS Sailfin
Don Spruance ... Navigator
Ken Swofford ... Helmsman, Submarine USS Sailfin

An unkempt, scruffy Cary Grant plays an American ex-patriate during WWII who is running from civilization, but is recruited into the coast watcher service against his will by Commander Frank Houghton (Trevor Howard)of the Royal Australian Navy with promises of whisky as a bribe. While on an island radioing aircraft and ship traffic, he is induced to take a teacher (Leslie Caron) and her girl charges into his custody. Japanese forces are a constant threat, as well as the danger of snakebite, for which Cary Grant maintains a supply of snakebite remedy. Of course, it is suspected that he also carries a supply of snakes for the same purpose.

This is one of the last movies that Grant made. Two years after it was made, he retired from the movie industry.

The usually dapper, suave Grant, was out of character in this part: unshaven, scruffy, and a drunkard. It was a refreshing part for him, and he played it superbly.

It is a thoroughly entertaining film.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

Cary Grant driven mad by Leslie Carron
Cary Grant plays an American drifter in the Pacific during WW2, who is blakcmailed by Australian Naval officer Trevor Howard into staying on a small island to keep a lookout for Japanese (Howard rams Grant's boat to make sure he can't get away from the island). His peaceful island existence is disrupted when he has to accomodate a French diplomat's daughter (Leslie Carron) and the seven little girls in her charge. Carron is an insufferable prig who forces Grant to give up his hut to accomodate them, and to add insult to injury hides his supply of whiskey. There is a charming scene where, after he has saved the life of one little girl when Japanese land on the island, she shows him where the whiskey is. From then on the girls become friends with Grant, and even the self-righteous Carron unbends a bit and becomes less obnoxious. Then he teaches Carron to catch fish by hand, and as he is fondling her in the water, they start to smoulder at each other, and you probably can guess where it goes from there. The girls are all very good,particularly 'Harry', who is inseperable from her cricket bat. This is a very funny film,though Carron is infuriating through a lot of it. Personally I think it would have been better if Grant had - oh well, perhaps I'd better not finish that thought, it's very politically incorrect.

Father Goose is Cary Grant at his best!
"Father Goose" is a lot of fun and is arguably Cary Grant's funniest and finest film. Yes, he was great in "Charade", "North by Northwest", "Notorious", etc -- but here his honed skills and comedic timing pay off in this very funny film and makes it well worth seeing. You don't have to be a Cary Grant fan to enjoy this film -- but after seeing it, you will be.

"Father Goose" was nominated for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) by the Golden Globe and won an Oscars for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen in 1965. The cast, production, direction, photography, story -- all are top notch.

The film looks terrific on DVD with an aspect ratio of 1.85. The South Pacific cinematography adds greatly to the visual impact of this film. There are brief bios and filmographies of the priniciples. That's all. No further extras. This film is 16x9 enhanced.

Highly recommended! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Cast interviews have rarely been so compelling as these of teenageperformers describing their memories of the 1976 Soweto riots. The SouthAfrican adolescents are the cast of Voices of Sarafina!, the Broadway musicalthat told how black students protesting the replacement of English with the Dutch language Afrikaans led to police brutality and student deaths. Thisapartheid-era documentary combines the personal stories of theseactor-singers with scenes from the Broadway show. While the music by HughMasekela and Mbongeni Ngema is often celebratory, the play's scenes ofviolence against the children are harrowing. Film director Nigel Noble won anAmnesty International Film Festival award for this 82-minute film, whichfeatures scenes of barren townships in South Africa and an examination of thecast's temporary life in the United States. Highlights include classes inwhich teachers openly discuss South African history and an emotional meetingwith exiled freedom fighter Miriam Makeba. It's a mystery why thethen-restrictive South African government allowed these young people out to share this story, but this video makes sure it will never beforgotten. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sarafina
A moving documentary based on the lives of children in South Africa. Expect the truth. Unadulterated and moving. A good film to show your children.

wonderful
I watched this movie in History class last week, it was one of the best movies i have seen. And it's hard to get a high school class to all watch a movie without falling asleep, but this one is one that kept everyone awake, it was very educational learning how people were really treated and what kind of life they lived. I would definately recommend this movie to anyone.

Absolutely Astounding
I watched this video some years ago, and even now, I remember how much I learned from it, and how much I enjoyed it, as well as how much I wept for the sorrows of the young cast members. Sarafina itself is a tale of the terrible history of apartheid, and this video, with interviews from the cast, all from South Africa (all of whom were first-hand witnesses to the horrors perpetrated by the former government) is even more affecting than the musical or the movie. I can't think of any reason not to buy or watch this poignant, moving film. I can only say that you'll be very sorry if you don't.

Extraordinary, simply marvellous!!!!!
The tale of an African girl back in the days when Africa was in so much turmoil. It explains life for the teenagers who suffered much during those times. Gives us, as African-Americans who grew up not knowing such hard times a sense of reality and pride. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sophisticated to a point, this well-executed wolf-man tale works due to its clever setting and enormous star power. We all know Jack Nicholson can go nuts, but the script makes his character aware of his changes, sometimes for the better, early on. The setting, a publishing house in the middle of a takeover, gives the characters dramatic life before the horror elements kicks in. A senior editor about to get the boot, Nicholson's character becomes a new man after being bitten by a wolf. He takes on challenges at work, lives a more robust life, and attracts a new love. But will his newfound energy consume him? Director Mike Nichols keeps the action alive in the first half, but the film peters out at the end with cheap theatrics and the overuse of slow motion. Michelle Pfeiffer has little to do as simply the love interest with a grittier than average personality. Better is James Spader as a smarmy colleague. Nicholson is in fine form, relying on his keen gift to spark interest (a twitch of the head, a look in the eyes), instead of heavy doses of movie makeup. Giuseppe Rotunno's sweeping camerawork sets the mood quite well. Easy to recommend, with the added feature it's hardly gratuitous. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (26)

TOP DRAWER WEREWOLF MOVIE...
This is a thinking person's werewolf movie. Well directed by Mike Nichols, it features a stellar cast who give excellent performances. Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Plummer, James Spader, Kate Nelligan, and David Hyde Pierce all contribute to the successful execution of this sophisticated and subtle horror film. As an added bonus, those of you who are devotees of the TV series, "Friends", should look for David Schwimmer's cameo appearance in the film.

Jack Nicholson plays a middle aged, married, senior book editor for a publishing company. Driving home at night from a business trip in New England, he hits an animal on the road. When he gets out of his car to check on the condition of the animal, he discovers it to be a wolf. What happens next will change the course of his life forever.

When Jack gets back to his office, he is feeling the after effects of his interaction with the wolf. He is also concerned about his job, as his publishing house has been taken over by Christopher Plummer. Jack initially plays his character as a somewhat laid back, nice guy, a good man who doesn't see the knife being plunged into his back by his young, ambition driven underling, played with obsequious perfection by James Spader, until it is too late. Publishing is, indeed, a dog eat dog world.

Betrayed by his underling who has been given his job, Jack finds himself undergoing a subtle, physical metamorphosis. He no longer needs reading glasses, his hearing is extremely acute, and he has a keen, very keen, sense of smell. It is these enhanced senses that lead him to discover that his wife, well played by Kate Nelligan, has shockingly betrayed his love and devotion, causing him to leave her. It is a betrayal that is to have dire consequences for her.

Finding himself more robust and aggressive, literally a new man, Jack goes on the attack and, and with the aid of his loyal underling, played to perfection by David Hyde Pierce, gets his job back. He aggressively asserts himself with Spader and lets him know, in no uncertain terms, who is top dog. There is a memorable scene to this effect. In the process of regaining his life, Jack falls in love with the boss's beautiful daughter, played with gritty charm by Michelle Pfeiffer, and she with him.

Still, Jack finds himself battling his inner demons over his change. The transformation of Jack is subtle, and there is very lttle use of special effects to enhance his metamorphosis. Jack is often able to convey to the viewer what he is undergoing with a flick of the eyebrow, a twitch of the nose, a curl of the lips. It is a wonderful piece of acting and a tribute to the power of suggestion.

Certain events transpire that make Jack fear that his transformation will result in injury to Michelle. She eventually buys into his fear, misinterpreting certain events that take place. What he and she ultimately discover is that they both, in fact, have a great deal to fear, but that their initial fear was misplaced. Look to a great finale.

If you are the type of horror film fan who likes excessive gore, as well as many high tech, special effects, this is not the film for you, as there is very little of that in this film. This is a subtle, multi-layered, symbolic type of horror film that will leave the viewer analyzing what they just saw. It is simply a great werewolf film.

A movie with a modest bite
Will Randall (Jack Nicholson) is the senior editor of a big book company and his life isn't as great as he would like it to be. However, things drastically change, and mostly improve, for Will after he is bitten by a mean looking wolf. Will soon finds out that he is changing more and more every day and that he is becoming like a wolf. Before long, he has better vision, hearing, and a spectacular sense of smell, but not everything has improved for Mr. Randall. Since he is now a lot more like a wolf, animals are now afraid of him and he becomes a murderer, just by following his wolf instincts. Will Mr. Randall find out what he's becoming, and is there a way to stop it?

"Wolf" is a pretty good movie. The makeup and the special effects in the movie aren't some of the best, but they get the job done. Jack Nicholson does a good job of acting and so does Michelle Pfeiffer as Will's new love interest. "Wolf" is a moderately exciting movie, it doesn't have as much blood and gore as you would expect it to have. It also doesn't have as much action as I would've liked to have seen, but it was still an entertaining movie and I recommend anybody who likes horror movies to at least watch "Wolf."

Intelligent horror film/character study
This is an interesting film, because it's partly a character study of a tired, middle aged publisher and partly a horror film about werewolves. Jack Nicholson plays a publisher about to lose his job to his friend and protege, who also happens to be sleeping with his wife. He seems too worn out to put up much of a fight, until he is bitten by a dying wolf, and begins to feel as if he has taken on its spirit. He also falls for the incredibly beautiful daughter of his boss (Michelle Pfeiffer). This movie has top notch acting, an intriuging story and a cool ending. I recommend it.

JACK NICHOLSON was made for this role of strange WOLF
This movie can demonstrate that the talents of JACK NICHOLSON are immenses, ernormous ! This is a film which i 've seen many time and i ave not lassitude ! The scenario is structured as much as a jewel ! Sure i like this film !

Wicked good fun!
Imaging the weirdest of all actor getting even weirder. That's what happenes when Jack Nicholson hits a large black animal and is bitten when he attempts to remove it from the road.
I love this movie as it shows the strength and rejuvination which comes with the werewolf's bite. Jack Nicholson is old but has an OK job, he has a cheating wife, and a new nose which smells a drop of tequilla in a cup of coffee on your breath.
He learns more of his internal demon wolf as the moon cycles. He also finds a way of controling his complete change, but when a new woman in his life is in danger from a rival wolf he must decide if he really wants to. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Molly and Lawless John
It's a good old "B" western with Sam Elliot as the bad guy.

Very good for all Sam Elliot fans and Good for all cowboy movie fans.

Bad Language
I like Sam Elliott movies very much. This one was BAD!!! A lot of Bad Language. Every couple of words. It should be rated R. I think instead of PG.

A WESTERN FROM THE GENRE'S TWILIGHT YEARS
Had this movie been made a dozen years earlier, it might have found an audience. By 1973, however, the Hollywood western was riding into the sunset and the studio hardly bothered even releasing this admittedly-minor production.

Vera Miles plays the shy, quiet wife of a blustery frontier lawman who clearly doesn't appreciate her. On impulse, she helps a handsome, sweet-talking young prisoner escape from her husband's jail. The bulk of the movie then follows this mismatched pair as they flee across a desert landscape.

The dialog between the runaway wife and the outlaw isn't sharp enough or observant enough to lift the proceedings above the ordinary, but the femininist tone of the script is a pleasant surprise and Vera Miles makes for an appealing heroine.

Sam Elliott, virtually unknown at the time, plays the escaping prisoner. His screen personae hadn't yet developed and so his character never quite comes into focus. At times the movie simply uses him for "beefcake" value and he has several scenes in which he gets to show off that gloriously-hairy chest.

While not a notable contribution to the genre, "Molly and Lawless John" at least brought no shame to the once-proud American western. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A Charming Comedy
FATHER GOOSE is a charming comedy about a decadent American expatriot (Cary Grant) who gets pressed into service as a coastwatcher by the Australian Navy during World War II. Grant is stationed on a lonely South Pacific island until he unwittingly is forced to rescue Leslie Caron and her band of young French refugees who join him at his outpost.Trevor Howard is an Australian Navy Commander who maintains radio contact with Grant.

Much credit goes to Director Ralph Nelson and Peter Stone with his fellow screenwriters. Cary Grant is superb as usual and Leslie Caron is gorgeous.

FATHER GOOSE won an Oscar for Best Original Story and Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Editing and Sound.

Fancy and Reality play well together
Essentially a comedy FATHER GOOSE dabbles into some of the realities of World War II in the South Pacific. Credit for this can be given to Cary Grant's surly yet sophisticated approach to this type of role and Ralph Nelson's direction which uses comedy as a canvas to spin his tale tinged with the realities and frailties that are encountered in life's many challenges not to mention relationships. I could not help but think as I watched this film that Cary Grant really stood his ground as an actor because the seven little girls really could have stole this picture away from most adult actors. Leslie Caron is also good as she brings a sense of level headed femininity to counter Cary Grant's gruff response to having his solitude encroached on by "civilization" and all that implies. This is an enjoyable film.

Cary Grant plays an unshaven outcast!

Director: Ralph Nelson
Format: Color
Studio: Republic Studios
Video Release Date: November 23, 1999

Cast:

Cary Grant ... Walter Christopher Eckland/Mother Goose
Leslie Caron ... Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau
Trevor Howard ... Commander Frank Houghton RAN/Big Bad Wolf
Jack Good ... Lieutenant Stebbings RAN/Bo Peep
Sharyl Locke ... Jenny
Pip Sparke ... Anne
Verina Greenlaw ... Christine
Stephanie Berrington ... Elizabeth Anderson
Jennifer Berrington ... Harriet 'Harry' MacGregor
Laurelle Felsette ... Angelique
Nicole Felsette ... Dominique
Alex Finlayson ... Doctor Bigrave
Peter Forster ... Chaplain
Richard Lupino ... Radioman
John Napier ... Lt. Cartwright, USS Sailfin Executive Officer
Simon Scott ... Captain of Submarine, USS Sailfin
Don Spruance ... Navigator
Ken Swofford ... Helmsman, Submarine USS Sailfin

An unkempt, scruffy Cary Grant plays an American ex-patriate during WWII who is running from civilization, but is recruited into the coast watcher service against his will by Commander Frank Houghton (Trevor Howard)of the Royal Australian Navy with promises of whisky as a bribe. While on an island radioing aircraft and ship traffic, he is induced to take a teacher (Leslie Caron) and her girl charges into his custody. Japanese forces are a constant threat, as well as the danger of snakebite, for which Cary Grant maintains a supply of snakebite remedy. Of course, it is suspected that he also carries a supply of snakes for the same purpose.

This is one of the last movies that Grant made. Two years after it was made, he retired from the movie industry.

The usually dapper, suave Grant, was out of character in this part: unshaven, scruffy, and a drunkard. It was a refreshing part for him, and he played it superbly.

It is a thoroughly entertaining film.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

Cary Grant driven mad by Leslie Carron
Cary Grant plays an American drifter in the Pacific during WW2, who is blakcmailed by Australian Naval officer Trevor Howard into staying on a small island to keep a lookout for Japanese (Howard rams Grant's boat to make sure he can't get away from the island). His peaceful island existence is disrupted when he has to accomodate a French diplomat's daughter (Leslie Carron) and the seven little girls in her charge. Carron is an insufferable prig who forces Grant to give up his hut to accomodate them, and to add insult to injury hides his supply of whiskey. There is a charming scene where, after he has saved the life of one little girl when Japanese land on the island, she shows him where the whiskey is. From then on the girls become friends with Grant, and even the self-righteous Carron unbends a bit and becomes less obnoxious. Then he teaches Carron to catch fish by hand, and as he is fondling her in the water, they start to smoulder at each other, and you probably can guess where it goes from there. The girls are all very good,particularly 'Harry', who is inseperable from her cricket bat. This is a very funny film,though Carron is infuriating through a lot of it. Personally I think it would have been better if Grant had - oh well, perhaps I'd better not finish that thought, it's very politically incorrect.

Father Goose is Cary Grant at his best!
"Father Goose" is a lot of fun and is arguably Cary Grant's funniest and finest film. Yes, he was great in "Charade", "North by Northwest", "Notorious", etc -- but here his honed skills and comedic timing pay off in this very funny film and makes it well worth seeing. You don't have to be a Cary Grant fan to enjoy this film -- but after seeing it, you will be.

"Father Goose" was nominated for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) by the Golden Globe and won an Oscars for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen in 1965. The cast, production, direction, photography, story -- all are top notch.

The film looks terrific on DVD with an aspect ratio of 1.85. The South Pacific cinematography adds greatly to the visual impact of this film. There are brief bios and filmographies of the priniciples. That's all. No further extras. This film is 16x9 enhanced.

Highly recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A pair of first season episodes of the classic idiot sitcom
This videotape has a couple of first season episodes of "Gilligan's Island," including only the second appearance of a guest star. In Episode #15 "So Sorry, My Island Now," Vito Scotti, the Italian character actor who would go on to appear in "The Godfather," plays a Japanese sailor (I know, it strikes me as especially odd too) who shows up on the island in his one-man submarine and thinks World War II is still going on since his radio broke in 1942. Of course, Gilligan (Bob Denver) initially mistakes the submarine for a strange creature in their lagoon and it is not long before the visitor has captured most of the Castaways. Then, in Episode #16 "Plant You Now, Dig You Later," Mr. Howell (Jim Backus) hired Gilligan to dig a barbecue pit. When Gilligan hits a buried treasure chest, a custody battle ensues over ownership, which comes down to the principle of "finders keepers" versus the "out of court" settlement approach of paying off the jury. Both of the episodes are standard fare for the classic "idiot" sitcom, certainly representative of the first season but not classic episodes by any means.

what a great tape of Gilligan's Island
this tape is so so great... i loved it. in your local video stores these tapes are out of print so BUY IT NOW from amazon.com !!! these episods are funny and they look great in color. best thing you dont have those commercials ! i love Gilligan's Island and this is a MUST for any Gilligan's Island fan out there.... hury !!! these videos might be gone soon so buy it now while you have the chance!!

japanese sailor on gilligan's island
is cool the first time seeing the japanese it was in black and white on nick at nite but on this tape it is in color wan giligan was in the lagoon a peasocp came out of the wather gilligan ran a way gilligan thinks it is a seasurpint wan it was a japanese sailor from ww2 the japanese sailor dos not kown ww2 is over the japanese sailor capsers the castways to find out what happans next you must buy this video

Excellent colorized version of episodes 15 and 16
Excellent true-to-life colorized version of episode #15 (first aired on January 9, 1965) and #16 (first aired on January 16, 1965). Contains original music and scenes not shown in re-runs. END ... Read more

Description

A divorced woman moves to a new city with her child, trying to build her life again. She joins the choir of a local church but has some personality conflicts with the choirmaster, a curmudgeonly old gentleman who will accept nothing but perfection from his group. As Christmas approaches and the choir practices for a big show and the director pushes them all to their emotional limits, she contemplates quitting the group. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Blinded by the Light
CITY FOR CONQUEST could have been just one of those late 30s fight movies with an underdog battling for the title. But thanks to director Anatole Litwak and a sterling cast led by James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, and Arthur Kennedy, the result tells a timeless tale based on the adage that Broadway devours the very performers seeking to bask in its bright lights. This movie is not only a forum for Cagney, but it instead functions as a three way tale with Sheridan and Kennedy facing a similar destiny: how far can one go in pursuit of the Golden Dream? Their collective fates are intertwined as they seek the spotlight. Cagney is Young Samsom, a talented welterweight who fights only occasionally since he realizes that the fight business is likely to lead only to post-career punchiness. Kennedy is his brother Eddie, a pianist who dreams of someday conducting an orchestra at the Carnegie, but is instead reduced to banging out cheap jitterbug tunes to make a buck. Sheridan is Peg, a dancer whose eyes are filled with the glare of a Broadway that leaves no room for the love of a boxer who fights only to please her. Of the trio, it is only Kennedy who remains true to his talent. Cagney sells out to win back Sheridan, who in turn sells out by dumping Cagney for a smooth talking dance partner, (Anthony Quinn), in whose oily charm very nearly steals the show. The glare of the lights of Broadway does far more than light up the stage for wannabes. It functions as a metaphor that tests the ability of these star wannabes to recognize the twin-edged danger that stardom promises. For some, like Kennedy, those lights motivate them to try harder while not surrendering their basic selves to a glare that can destroy as easily as it can attract. For others, like Cagney and Sheridan, those bright lights produce a blindness that results in a near-tragic ending that resonates even many decades later.

Symphony For New York
James Cagney stars as Danny, a boxer otherwise known as Young Samson, who sacrifices much so that his younger brother, played by Arthur Kennedy, can pursue his gift for music. Ann Sheridan, a dancer from the neighbourhood, is the girl Cagney loves, but she wants badly to get out of their old neighbourhood and to make something of her life, and she wants it so much she ends up in a destructive relationship with ambitious dancer Anthony Quinn. Cagney is strong as usual, but more sympathetic than other films, as the man with the big heart. Sheridan gives a strong performance as well, really delivering in a number of scenes with simple reaction shots. Kennedy is equally passionate as the composer whose symphony captures the life of New York City. The supporting cast is full of familiar, welcome Warner Bros character actors like Frank McHugh, George Tobias, Jerome Cowan, Donald Crisp, and Lee Patrick. New York City also becomes a character, thanks to the evocative music and the backdrop atmosphere. People have said the ending is too sentimental, but Cagney and Sheridan pull it off and make it work. The more Cagney films I see, the more amazed I am by his talent. The film is a showcase for him and also New York. It does both proud.

Overlooked Warner Bros. Classic
During Hollywood's Golden Age, no one made better pictures about New York than Warner Bros., and this one is by far the best. The film contains something for everybody--boxers, dancers, gangsters, romance and music. Although James Cagney felt the storyline strayed too far from the novel on which it was based, he gives a typically outstanding performance, as does Ann Sheridan in perhaps the finest role of her career. The film also features newcomer Arthur Kennedy as Cagney's musical brother, who composes a symphony (actually by the brilliant Max Steiner) that transcends usual movie scoring. In addition to several members of Warner Bros. stock company are a young Anthony Quinn and future controversial director Elia Kazan. A beautiful, regrettably unsung classic.

What a great flick!
Some of the best second-line actors get to step forward and do their stuff -- and several stepped forward to become first-line. Sentimental in places, sure, but if you liked "Boyz in the Hood," you can just go back 50 years and switch from the West Coast to the East, and this is where you'd end up: Tough kids in a tough world, with some making it and some falling by the wayside. And, yes, the rape scene is significant, not only for getting past the censors, but for the way it showed Peggy's desperate need to get out of the old neighborhood. There are more artistically perfect films out there, but for guts and memorable moments, this is an outstanding flick!

Cagney as Cagney
Arthur Kennedy shines a Cagney,s brother in this interesting film. The whole cast does its best but it seems very trite in the end. Ann Sheridan, Anthony Quinn, Donald Crisp , Jerome Cowan and Kazan as "googie" are all around to add flavour..but this film lacks legs in many ways...and is very sentimental.. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good of kind
Was not as good as I remembered as a kid. I was told this was the movie where Piper Laurie wiggled thru the bars. But if it was, it was cut out of this print.

tony is a babe
Far out Tony Curtis is a babe. I'm so obssessed with him that I wish I was alive at the time of this movie ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must See Superb Andy Griffith Collection of Barney Fife!!
In this classic 3 show Andy Griffith Collection starring 5 time Emmy winner Don Knotts as Barney Fife is as follows,1.The first show has Barney fixing up Andy with the fun girls that ends with hilarious results,2.This show has Barney becoming jealous of Opies affections with his girlfriend Thelma Lou again with hilarious results3.This show has Barney jealous of Gomer courting Thelma Lou and ofcourse agin resulting with hilarious results which makes this video overall a must see,superb Andy Griffith Collection of Barney Fife!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Disney's foray into big-budget science fiction, close on the heels ofStar Wars, had some of the most impressive special effects to grace theater screens in the 1970s. Graced by handsome production design--most notably a glass and latticework interstellar craft that looks like a battleship crossed with a modern skyscraper--The Black Hole is in many ways the most beautiful science fiction film of its era. Unfortunately, the graceful and gorgeous picture is jarred by dialogue that wouldn't pass muster in a comic book and a silly conclusion that plays like a murky,dime-store knockoff of 2001. Too bad, because the visual realization ofthe film is a veritable haunted house of futuristic phenomena, from the cloaked zombie-like drones shuffling through corridors to the devilish, crimson robot Maximillian, the strong arm of the mad scientist played by Maximilian Schell (a kind of wild man Captain Nemo with an even more ruthless temperament). Only the way-too-cute robot V.I.N.CENT (voiced by Roddy McDowall), a merchandising gimmick that looks like a Fisher-Price toy, mars the technological landscape.Robert Forster is the quietly authoritative captain of an exploration ship that stumbles across the seemingly derelict ship, and Anthony Perkins, Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine, and Joseph Bottoms fill out his crew. This is one case of a triumph of art direction and special effects over story--it's worth sitting through it to see the magnificent scene of the fireball rolling through the ship's enormous hull alone. The rest is just atmospheric gravy. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (123)

Not Bad...and leave Vincent alone!
Ok, so the dialogue isnt the greatest, the acting is a little stiff, and sometimes you can see the strings holding up Vincent and his Texan counterpart, but this is one of those movies that shouldnt be taken seriously anyway! Speaking of Vincent, quit picking on him! I thought he was cool, a lot less annoying of a kid's immick than Jar-Jar! (if maybe a tinge too philosophical...) Even into the new millenium I think most of the FX and set designs hold up very nicely to today's movies (the black hole itself and the meteor are still stunning). This is really more of a kid's sci-fi movie, and truthfully it made me feel like one again watching it! Mix together Lost In Space (for storyline and characters) , 2001 (for visuals) , and Star Wars (set/costume design) and you get the Black Hole. Also worth watching to see Norman Bates and Ernest Borgnyne as astronauts! Dont take this movie too seriously and you'll love it...trust me! DVD version picture was nice and crisp, sound was as good it probably was in its day, but a la cheap-o Disney, don't expect any worthwhile extras (like all their other dvd's). I think this movie was more enjoyable and better than the Phantom Menace...honestly!

My Guiltiest Of Pleasures
People would kill me if they read what I'm writing about "The Black Hole". However that's the way I feel about it. This movie was a flop at the box office and most critics weren't so gentle with it. But I really enjoyed this campy sci-fi flick from the Walt Disney Studios for many reasons:
1. I was overwhelmed by the teaser trailer (too bad it's not included on this DVD) where the green grid is moving all over the screen, ending with the Black Hole logo swifting and twisting in black. Awesome!!
2. The black and yellow logo in some of the posters, the one shown on the DVD case.
3. The U.S.S. Cygnus. WOW!!! What a beautiful ship.
4. The robots. Maximillian truly looks menacing. And V.I.N.CENT and Old B.O.B.; the cutest robots since "Star Wars"'s R2-D2.
5. The cast of outstanding performers: Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine, and Roddy McDowell as the voice of V.I.N.CENT.
6. John Barry's majestic score.
7. The final scene, inside the black hole. Those images. Those visual effects. John Barry's music.

This movie might have had some flaws at describing a space version of "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea", but this is my most cherished guilty pleasure of all time.

A forgotten, gothic sci fi epic from the 1970s
OK let's get the bad things about the Black Hole out of the way first of all. Some of the dialogue is unbelievably naff. It has an overtly judgemental morality which runs throughout the film from start to finish. Very occasionally the SFX slip, and you see wires holding up robots etc. Some of the scenes are cloying, particularly involving the antics of the overly cute, heroic robots... Also the makers would have done better to remember what effect the vacuum of Space would have on people NOT wearing spacesuits...

Put all that aside though and you are left with a minor sci fi masterpiece. Atmospherically the film is an outright winner - it is just so gothic, from its' sets, robots, and cowled and hooded undead crew. It also boasts one of the very best musical scores by John Barry. Visually it is stunning, Space has seldom looked this good. The blue/black background of space with its' dense clusters of stars looks as good as it did on the day that it was released. Unlike Star Wars and its' visibly dated mattes, this film has more than withstood the test of time.
The film's visual pinnacle though is the giant space ship Cygnus.
A cross between Brighton Pier and The Eiffel Tower, this gothic behemoth is like no other. The scene where its' lights are switched on suddenly and unexpectedly, is one of awe and beauty.
The exploration of the ship, culminating in the arrival in the control tower is stunning. Ditto the firing up of the ship's Frankenstein Lab like reactors and huge engines for its' final journey to the Black Hole. Even in its' death throes, this huge vessel retains a sad dignity.
Acting honours go to Maximilian Schell as an intergalactic Captain Nemo. Ernest Borgnine, Anthony Perkins, Yvette Mimeux, and Robert Forster all provide very able support though.
The blood red robot Maximilian (I wonder how that name was arrived at...) is an inspired creation, and has a temperament to match its' colour scheme...

The dvd is great, picture and sound are both superb. Playing the film in 5.1 Dolby Digital on your home cinema is something else, especially when your memory of the film in the cinema is in mono. All sound channels are free of distortion and nicely separated. Both Surround channels in particular are superb.
Get this dvd if you can (it is due to be re released anyway) and add one of sci fi's most underrated films to your collection.

Worst Sci-Fi film ever!
How can anyone claim this film has any redeeming value? There are so many problems with it that it would be impossible to enumerate in less than a 1,000 words!

The ending is utterly unbelievable and contains Christian symbolism evoking the Dark Ages! Ewwwwww! I'm scared!!

Disney is about to release this film themselves in August, 2004. Two things: it should definitely be an anamorphic transfer in order to attain much better picture quality than this release and it should have the symbols of "hell" etc. edited out!

all right, let's get this straight:
Okay, people, let us please understand something. The Black Hole started production before Star Wars was released. It was not a Star Wars rip off or something that was rushed out to capitalize on the Lucas craze. It's a completely different film. It has lots of problems, obviously, but you know what? It's *still* better than the Star Wars films. I'll let you figure out why. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THE RIFLEMAN VOLUME 4
VIDEO ANNOTATION The video includes five episodes: "Man From Salinas" starring Robert Culp, "The Vaqueros" starring Sammy Davis Jr., "The Deadly Image" and "Waste Parts One and Two" starring Vito Scotti and Enid Jaynes. Total Running time 140 minutes

The Rifle Man
There is no description on the volume? What are the episodes ... Read more

Amazon.com

On July 13, 1955, Ruth Ellis became the last woman to be hanged in England. With a smart, tough little script by Shelagh Delaney, Mike Newell's noir-ish film is a dissection of the human frustration and complex class issues surrounding her crime. Miranda Richardson, looking like some delicious, chilled confection, plays Ellis, the hostess to a "glorified brothel" who plans for a better life with her young son until she meets David Blakely (a young, gorgeous Rupert Everett), the wealthy ne'er-do-well whose fitful attentions chip away her armor. Their vicious attraction and its constant tug-of-war lose some dramatic pull as the story heads toward its inevitable climax, but Richardson's performance holds your attention. She plays the entire film in a kind of stunned ardor, a feisty little animal caught in the headlights of Everett's sullen magnetism. By the time she's plugging bullets into his body, she's already hit you a few time with her heated, fatal despair. --Steve Wiecking ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Oscar Worthy Performance By Miranda Richardson
This is as good a cinimatic portrait of a factual homocide as I've seen since In Cold Blood, the infamous Truman Capote nonfiction novel, starring alleged murderer Robert Blake. Miranda Richardson is rivoting, her performance superlative, as she plunges deep into the depths of depair and self pity. Her portrayal of the attention starved and insecure Ruth Ellis is deeply inspired. How? I ask myself with each repeated viewing of this movie, could such a finely crafted flim be overlooked , almost ignored.

Noteworthy as well is the fine performance delivered by Rupert Everett, as David Blakley, Ellis's part-time lover and object of obsession. And, of course the brilliant direction of Mike Newell, who creates perfection in almost a Hitchcockian way. His vision gives this movie the tention, the edgeiness, the underlying danger and the oh so real atmosphere, as to absolutely suck you into the dark seedy, lustful world of an obsessed and scorned woman.

A Cinematic Masterpiece You must See
If there is one problem with Dance With a Stranger it has to be that inevitably one becomes so mesmerized with the performance of Miranda Richardson there is a danger of missing the other performances. The nuances of her character's brittle emotions are perfectly pitched with the arch of penciled eyebrows, the tightening of blood-red lips, and the lisp of her tense voice. A total victim of her own weakness she is drawn into an emotionally and physically abusive relationship, but is powerless to escape. Even under the wing of a man who truly loves her, she throws his devotion aside in a reckless and indeed masochistic spiral. In Richardson's potrayal Ruth Ellis seems almost to crave the violence and mercurial passion, watch her eyes and face as Blakely hits her. The movie drips ambience, wonderfully creating the London nightclub scene in the early 50's. Costumes and makeup are impeccable. Superlative performances from Ian Holm and Rupert Everett, and indeed all members of the cast. Mike Newell has taken a wonderful slice of an evocative era and portrayed a tragedy that we must hope, could never have reached such an awful conclusion today. Breathtaking.

Some dance to remember.
Before Brit director Mike Newell became famous for rom-coms starring Hugh Grant, he directed this intense little masterpiece called *Dance with a Stranger*, based on the true-life story of the Last Woman Hanged in England, Ruth Ellis. Firstly, one is shocked to discover that they were still HANGING people in England 50 years ago! -- in the progressive United States, we had moved on to electric chairs and other inventive methods for dispatching our undesirables. Onward and upward! At any rate, this film is an engrossing experience, with dynamite acting from the British Meryl Streep, Miranda Richardson. (Another shocking thing to consider is that this was her first starring role in the movies! She carries herself like a 20-year screen veteran, here.) A very young Rupert Everett acquits himself well as the lover that Ellis eventually guns down. He plays the part with a curious mixture of viciousness and sleepiness. And Ian Holm finds himself in the type of role he was born to play; that is, the repressed, lip-gnawing little man on the sidelines. His character is a torch-carrying friend of Ellis, as equally obsessed with her as she is with the Everett character. (The Everett character is equally obsessed with himself.) There's some social commentary here, if one cares to search for it: it's a feminist saga by its very nature, in which the heroine serves as either a) a repository for Everett's "jam", or b) a punching bag . . . and sometimes as a combination of the two. As you might imagine, Ellis finally gets her fill of this treatment, but don't expect a feel-good, you-go-girl speech as a side-dish for the vengeful main course. This is a woman in living damnation. She's not Susan Sarandon with an accent. There's also a nod toward the caste system in post-war Britain. Ruth Ellis was little better than a hooker, one of those "very friendly" bar-maids who indifferently sings torch songs and keeps the gentlemen company. The Everett character, despite his moonlighting as a race-car driver, came from a family whose home in the country resembled Blenheim Palace. And Everett's comfortably bourgeois friends can muster only contempt for this woman, who -- to them -- seems no better than a tarty and shrill Marilyn Monroe look-alike. Yah yah yah, the social commentary is there, all right; but the movie isn't terribly interested in it. You're better off just watching Richardson portray this woman whose life spirals vertiginously out of control. One senses that she has been waiting all along for a chance to self-destruct: it's not an easy life, coming home to your young son reeking of gin and cigarette smoke. As she slowly but surely turns into a masochistic, lust-soaked monster, pulling down three different people (including her own son) into the abyss right along with her, we can only watch with appalled fascination. I highly recommend this ice-cold film.

DEATH AT THE TOP.
A WORTHY sister to Susan Hayward's "I Want to Live" both based on fact, this scorching look at 'fatal attraction' across the Class line will stay with you for a long long time.

Depressing? Of course! MIRANDA RICHARDSON as the much abused real life Ruth Ellis glistens in the sultry expose of 'Life Reaching for the Top' - you just cannot take your eyes off this woman as she battles through this hellish liason with the upper-class David [another brilliant turn by Rupert Everett].

One almost applauds when she is driven to the inevitable conclusion of the affair, but it gets even worse ..... Yes, it's a shocking ride though this mangled life.

This IS the versatile and highly gifted Ms. Richardson's movie.

Other viewings? "Tom and Viv", "Enchanted April", "Damage".

Flawlessly Cast And Expertly Directed
This a rivoting story, made all the more incredible given the fact that it is based on the true-life events surrounding the life of Ruth Ellis, the last women to be hanged in the UK. The casting of Miranda Richardson as the love obsessed, call girl in a seedy London hostess club is inspiried to say the least. The intensity of her character in all its frailty and flaws is meticulously portrayed by Richardson. As she endures disappointment and humiliation at the hands of her young lover, David Blakley, (Mike Newell) her obsessive love grows to a heated frenzy, as she is compelled to distroy the object of her obsession.

Rubert Everett deserves kudos for his flawless recreation of the seedy London night-life as seen through the eyes of the denizens of the hostesss club. The overall effect I felt in watching Dance With Stranger was like unwittingly being pulled into a strange and troubling atmosphere...Almost like being in a place where the undercurrent of danger and intrigue have a grasp on you and you can not let go. I've seen this move four times and find it fresh and rewarding with each repeated viewing. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Volume One of a great series
Check out my review of the box set containing Volumes 1 through 4 of this series.

Apart from anything else, it lists the episodes included on this and the other tapes.