Amazon.com

The second and concluding part of the 1976 miniseries focuses on Franklin D. Roosevelt's early career and the major role his wife played in overcoming profound difficulties in their marriage. Told mostly in flashback, the film features Edward Herrmann and Jane Alexander, whose performances in the title roles are uncanny. During World War I, the Roosevelts moved to Washington, D.C., where young Franklin, while serving in the Wilson administration, began having an affair with Lucy Mercer, his wife Eleanor's social secretary. Deeply wounded when she discovers his betrayal, Eleanor nonetheless stays with Franklin. And she would be at his side when, during a summer vacation with their five children, he was stricken with polio and paralyzed. Urged to take a more public role during his recuperation in the early 1920s, Eleanor touchingly admits, "I'll never be any good at public speaking." In a scene in which Eleanor drives a roadster down a country road while rehearsing the speech she's on her way to give in rural New York State, Alexander beautifully captures Eleanor's determination to overcome her own shyness and become a champion of progressive politics. This miniseries, which met critical acclaim when it was first aired, has aged very well. It's a great love story as well as a great political story, an engaging drama made all the better by its historical resonance. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Why no DVD??
I remeber this miniseries from 25 years ago, and now I would like to see it on DVD.. They can bring back Laurel and Hardy on DVD, why not the good stuff??

Excellent presentation!
"Eleanor and Franklin - The Early Years" is one of the most interesting movies I've ever seen. The story told from Eleanor's view is very well written. I've loved this movie for years, and enjoy seeing it each and every time. Quite a master piece.

The epic love story of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt
This 1976 two-part biopic, which won the Emmy for Outstanding Special-Drama or Comedy, provided one of those perfect marriages of actors and roles for Jane Alexander and Edward Herrmann as Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt. Amazing, neither performer won an Emmy, losing out of Sally Field in "Sybill" and Christopher Plummer in "The Moneychangers," respectively. The script, written by James Costigan, is based on the book by Joseph P. Lash. "Eleanor and Franklin" is told primarily in flashbacks as Eleanor travels from Washington, D.C. to Warm Springs, Georgia and back to retrieve Franklin's body after his sudden death in 1945. The first part covers their courtship and marriage; she accepts his proposal on behalf of her luggage, since she will not have to change her last name. They move to Washington when Franklin serves as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the Wilson Administration during World War I. In addition to the ambitions of Franklin and her overbearing mother-in-law (Rosemary Murphy), Eleanor has to deal with her husband's relationship with Lucy Mercer (Linda Kelsey) and then the crucible of his battle with polio. From the woman who had to hide in the bathroom with the water running so no one would know she was crying when one of her baby's died, Eleanor becomes a tireless campaigner for Franklin in his quest for the White House and ultimately a passionate public figure in her own right. Clearly our sympathies are with Eleanor throughout this story as we come to an even greater appreciation for her role in history. Alexander is positively exquisite as the painfully shy and awkward Eleanor, who is compelled into the public spotlight by forces beyond her control and yet proves herself more than equal to the challenge (Mackenzie Phillips plays the character at age 14). Herrmann became so identified with the role of FDR that he has reprised his performance several times over the years, most notably in "Annie." Director Daniel Petrie also received an Emmy for "Eleanor and Franklin," which met with such critical acclaim that a sequel, "Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years" was put together for the next year. However, it just could not match this first effort, which was renamed "Eleanor and Franklin: The Early Years" to distinguish it from the 1977 series. This is as fine a television biopic as you will ever see, a combination of rich historical material turned into an excellent script and featuring superb acting performances. No matter what you think of Franklin Roosevelt, it will be pretty much impossible not to think better of Eleanor Roosevelt by the time you finish watching this movie.

My Favorite! But no captions showed up..solutions to fix??
I've seen this movie on television many years ago and I've loved it ever since. I had a copy on tape, but somehow it got taped over it. Then I brought one last year and it claimed that it was closed-caption for the hearing-impaired. To my disappointment, the captions was so bad, not even showing up on my TV. It was my absolute favorite, it was very upset to the fact that I was not able to watch and understand. How can the captions get corrected so many of us can watch it! It is history after all. Any solutions would be very much appreciated! Will this become available on DVD soon?? Thanks!

Extremely well written and performed.
This movie draws the viewer in from the beginning to the end with its vintage-view footage and protrayal of emotions that the famous Roosevelt family experienced. The cinematograpy and music adaptation are the perfect element added to this skilled cast! Well done. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This direct-to-video sequel in the Addams Family series stars a winning pair of actors as the everlasting lovers Morticia and Gomez Addams: Daryl Hannah and Tim Curry. Most of the rest of the cast is new, as well. The story concerns the distinct possibility that Grandma and Grandpa Addams are turning normal, so the entire family goes to an Addams reunion in hopes of finding a witch doctor who can help. The film is entertaining largely because of the instant-recognition factor of Addams shtick. Curry and Hannah are good, but the whole production has an obvious, scaled-back feeling about it, probably to accommodate the limits of video and a small budget. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Good for a laugh
Oh, come on! Most of you people are being way too harsh. Okay, it's a terrible follow up to the excellent first two films. Okay, it's a terrible film, period. But Reunion is an obvious attempt at a return to the style of the original television series (although this is probably due to a low production budget than a deliberate effort) that was not entirely successful in the outcome. But still, not that many people saw the third instalment, so it's always good to whip it out during "what is the worst sequel ever" conversations. This is B-grade at its finest, people. And poor Daryl Hannah - everything that woman touches turns to dust. Just forget you ever saw the first film and the second film, and bring on the overly-buttered popcorn. Three stars for pure camp enjoyment.

Another Addams Adventure
It's not very, very, good.
The mistake they made was, Morticia's parents are the only ones alive. Gomez's parents are Dead. It's not a very good plot.
Tim Kully is a good Gomez, but he dosen't really Look like Gomez. Dayrl Hannah is an okay Morticia, and the Wendsday and Pugsly are bad.
Pugsly, like in the first two is fat, but not tooooooooo overweight, like this one. Wednsday, does not look like Christina Ricci as Wedsnday.
I think that they could have made a better movie.

DUMB WERID MOVIE
THIS MOVIE WAS JUST DUMB NOTHING LIKE THE FIRST TWO THIS HAD NO HUMUR IS WAS JUST DUMUB IT WAS BORING THE PLOT DID NOT MAKE SENSE ATT ALL WENDAY AND PUGLEY WAT THEY DID IN THIS MADE NO SENSE THE ADDAMS FAMILY ACCTED SUPID IN THIS ONE FESTER WENT AROUND ACCTEING LIKE HAD TO THE BATEROOM A ALOT IN THIS TIM CURY DID NOT PLAY THE PART FOR GOMEZ GOOD AT ALL WHY DID THEY HAVE TO PUT A KILLER DOG THAT WAS NOT EVEN FUUNY THEY DREESED TO GLOTHIC LOOKING IN THIS THIS IS JUST NOT A GOOD MOVIE DONT SEE IT I HOPE WHEN THEY MAKE A NOTHER ADDAMS FAMILY MOVIE THEY MAKE IT GOOD LIKE THEY FIRST TWO AND PUT EFERT IN TO IT AND THEY PUT ANJELICA HUSTON IN IT.

BAD STUPID FILM THAT DID NOT PAY NO THIG TO THE FIRST TOO
I THAT THIS FILM WAS WAS GO TO BE GOOD BUT IT WAS VERY BAD THE FLIM I NOT ANTHIG LIKE THE FIRST TWO THAT WERE GOOD MOVIES that were a lotlike th 60 tv seris addams family reunin was just a ripe of flim plot did not make any sense to me horblie film the way they made addams family in this one they made them at like were stupid family when they relly wernt what wenday and pugley did made sense the granny accted werid in this one and feter not played by critfer loynd in this flim accted like he was inpain all the time dont see it it is very very very bad flim just buy or see the first two there worth every peny.

Not as horrible as people think...
Well, the actors and actresses were different from the first two movies, but that was to be expected, considering how one was dead, and two were too old to look the part, but all in all, not a bad film at all.

I have been watching Addams-related media for quite some time, and although this film isn't much better than the others, it is certainly a far cry from being much WORSE as well.

The toughest part of this film was getting used to the new faces. After that, the second toughest part was getting used to the poor graphics given to the killer dog, but those are just inconsistensies and budget issues that could hardly be avoided...

Thing was still a blast, Wednesday was still a lovable deadpan, Pugley was still a delinquent, etc, etc... I found almost nothing wrong with the film except for what I mentioned above.

Now a lot of people say the plot was common. This is only partially true. I agree that I wouldn't be surprised to see a plot like this showcased in the classic '60s series, but there would not have been as much adventure if it had been in that series. Not only that, there is so little FAITHFUL Addams material coming out nowadays, we should feel blessed as long as they don't become the brady bunch. (I have been rather Addams-starved for a while.) I don't think I can explain it better than that.

So all in all, a nice little film that doesn't tread on our memories and stays faithful to our well-established characters. A continuation of what's already been started, and really, isn't that what every sequal ought to be? ... Read more

Reviews (353)

original? no... but stylish as hell
Dark City seems to me to sum up an entire universe of sci-fi and third-stream movies in which reality is not what it appears. This movie brings in influences from Blade Runner (the most obvious influence), Barton Fink (whence the seedy hotel), The City of Lost Children (the "strangers" are VERY similar to the "cyclopes"--I could almost picture their leader saying "j'ai vu un monde qui était un monde de chien!"--and they even use the phrase "lost children" at one point; also, the vials that contain synthesized memories look a lot like the probosces of Marcello's robotic fleas), Brazil (possibly the origin of Dark City's lost-in-time feeling), The Crow (same director, thus a similar direction style), Twelve Monkeys (one man manipulated by a faceless committee...), The Nightmare Before Christmas (Tim Burton likes spirals too), and even to some extent Lost Highway (notably in the cinematic treatment of half-remembered images), although that only came out a year earlier. There are also hints at earlier things--film noir, Peter Lorre. So while it's not original, and certainly not perfect, this movie seems to combine all those aspects into a single coherent whole, which is rather impressive. The plot is revealed well, and doesn't have too many holes in it. Certain scenes when John starts to figure out what's going on are really chilling. And the movie manages to have a happy ending that's not stupid! I couldn't believe it. And of course, the cinematography is beautiful.

I'd also like to mention that the Matrix is very clearly a rip-off of Dark City, using the same basic concept (a group of superior beings that control our perception of reality), a lot of the same imagery (people who don't rely on gravity), and a very similar pre-climactic scene. The Matrix, however, undermines itself with a lot of pointless fight scenes, truckloads of inconsistencies, revealing everything too soon, and Keanu Reeves. Dark City is a far better movie.

Better than Amazon thinks
Dark City may have been one of those pictures you never got around to seeing at the theater. And you may have planned to rent it at one time but forgotten. It's a terribly under-rated movie--maybe because it defies easy genre classification. Dark City isn't science fiction in the popular Aliens or Star Wars sense, nor is it horror, nor is it the detective flick it starts out as.

However Dark City is a very compelling film with a terrific premise and a well plotted story. There are complaints on this board that the characters are too one-dimensional, but this in fact is critical to the way the story unfolds for its main character, Murdoch. To be swayed from sampling this movie because of anyone's claim that the plot is excessively thin is to do yourself a diservice.

The effects in this film are universally impressive, but what's more, refreshingly integral to the story. Both the sound and the picture are fantastic. If you're able to watch this on a good television capable of deep blacks, you'll find yourself marveling at just how great DVD is all over again.

Be warned that some of the extras listed in the product description here are somewhat underwhelming. This "Platinum Edition" doesn't measure up to some of New Line's other "Platinum Edition" DVDs such as Boogie Nights or Magnolia. For example, the "Comparisons to Metropolis" feature is a wonderful idea, but is executed here with about as much thought as goes onto the back of a cereal carton.

Of the two alternate voice tracks, Roger Ebert's is actually the more insightful. The film makers' voice track is muddled with too many participants. You realize pretty quickly that the director, writers, production designers, and photographer recorded their comments separately. The unfortunate result is a disjointed and repetetive commentary track. No matter how you feel about Roger "the fat one" Ebert or about critics in general, he will teach you something you didn't know in his commentary track.

One of the last great films during the 20th century!
"Dark City" will be remembered as the film that bridged the film noir genre at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st.

Alex Proyas directs a suspenseful story on the meaning of reality in a dark, foreboding dream world. As people go about their lives, almost no one notices something is seriously wrong with their world. Until one man wakes up alone, one fateful night.

John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) awakes in a hotel room to find he's lost most of his memories. Even worse, he may have committed a string of brutal murders against local prostitutes. Fleeing the crime scene, he finds himself pursued by not only the police, but also a mysterious cabal of cloaked men.

Assisted by a cowed doctor and a supportive woman who claims to be his wife, Murdoch learns the truth of the city, and its secret Masters, the Strangers.

The feature actors all give strong performances, as a confused Murdoch and a supportive Jennifer Connelly as Emma. Keifer Sutherland is impressive, especially when you contrast the cowardly Dr. Scheber vs. his characters from "The Lost Boys" or "24."

The sets are as compelling as the actors, and credit is due for the deliberate "retro" look of the city. Making of movie of this style look creative guts, and it paid off.

I just beg of the producers of the story one request: don't make a sequel, this story will always stand as a one and only!

A Triumph
In a city covered in perpetual darkness a group of strange beings known as "The Strangers" attempt to understand what makes us human and identify what the soul is. These strangers change the city and erase peoples memories and assign them all new lives, but one of their specimens also has this unique power. Now he must save the day and prove that he's not a killer.

Much has been said about Dark City. Roger Ebert called it the best movie of 98. A visually stunning sci-fi/noir tale of a man who wakes up with no knowledge of who he is or how he got to where he is. From the opening narration by Dr. Schreber (Sutherland), we learn that is a world that only mirrors our own. The inhabitants are nothing more than guinea pigs for a group of "strangers from another solar system" to study. Schreber knows that Murdoch (Sewell) has the ability to "tune" where he can change things around him by concentrating. The strangers also have this power and use it to change the city and imprint the inhabitants with all knew lives to see what makes us tick. But they must first take care of Murdoch who they in the process of imprinting with the life of a serial killer. Then we meet Inspector Bumstead (William Hurt) and Emma (Connelly), the detective on the case and Murdoch's wife. He must learn who he really is, stop the strangers, and prove he is not a serial killer.

Dark City is a movie that's hard to forget, not only for its visuals but its great story and acting. Proyas (The Crow) gives us more of the same dark and dreary visuals from the The Crow, but in Dark City they are on a grander scale. Proyas delivers visuals with a flare and style all his own. Proyas and his writing team also delivered an original and brilliant story. The acting is dead on here too. Sewell is great as Murdock, Sutherland is amazing as the doctor, Hurt plays the hard edged copy well, and Connelly as usual looks great and is a hell of an actress. Throw all those elements together into an exhilarating comic book type flick and you have Dark City.

What you've heard about this flick is true. Its a masterpiece! A brilliant and beautiful film that you won't soon forget. It's not just a sci fi or a noir flick, its much more. Its a film about what makes us human. Although we are surrounded by darkness, the human spirit will triumph and that's just what Dark City is. A triumph.

The myth of the ocean
Imagine a city that is always dark, that lives in eternal night. Imagine its inhabitants that are human beings whose memories have been erased and replaced by some borrowed recollections from other human beings, hence artificial. Imagine that city is being built and rebuilt every-« day » in that eternal night at what corresponds to midnight when everything stops, everyone goes to sleep and forgets everything to regain when waking up a newly arranged consciousness in a newly arranged environment that has been reorganized following the dreams or recollections of some human beings that are not even in this city. Imagine that all this is done by some extraterrestrial species that is testing the human race to see how they live and react. Then this city is nothing but a bubble in the middle of cosmic emptiness. The discovery of the extraterrestrials is that some humans can resist this process and then they stick to some dream of sunlight, a beach, the ocean, etc. And this dream will lead these human beings into breaking the bubble to go beyond this selfcontained city. That's the film. It is interesting but it remains rather superficial : a real human being always wants to escape a limited space or time that is imposed onto him or her.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

One of Roman Polanski's more overt comedies, this 1966 monster spectacle stars Jack MacGowran and Polanski as a clunky but heroic pair of vampire killers. Called upon to rescue the beautiful and buxom daughter (Sharon Tate) of an innkeeper from a Draculalike bloodsucker, the duo muddle through all sorts of scrapes, the most intense being a scene in which a room full of dancing vampires realize the human interlopers are the only ones in the room who are reflected in a mirror. Scary and funny, the film has some unforgettable set pieces, a terrific score, one of the few records of Tate's extraordinary beauty, and vibrant performances. Not exactly Polanski in a relaxed mode, but clear evidence of his estimable skills as a director of both brilliance and polish. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (60)

First Class Entertainment
I first watched this film on the television at Christmas in about 1982 (under the title "Dance Of The Vampires"), and even then, as a 12 year-old, was impressed by this superior vampire 'caper'. The film starts with a beautifully haunting score (by the late Christopher Komeda) and the arrival of a pair of intrepid vampire killers to a Transylvanian Inn. Throughout the film, the viewer is treated to a visual and musical feast, enhanced by brilliant acting from the likes of Ferdy Mayne, Jack MacGowran, Alfie Bass, and of course, Iain Quarrier as the token gay vampire! The enchanting qualities of Sharon Tate as the inn-keeper's young daughter, Sara, add to the overall enjoyment of the film; which, in my opinion, is easily the best vampire and/or Polanski movie to date.

A Comedic Rendition of Bram Stoker's "Dracula"
"The Fearless Vampire Killers" is producer/director/screenwriter/actor Roman Polanski's comedic rendition of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" legend. The bumbling Professor and his timid assistant Alfred (played by Roman Polanski) travel to Transylvania to study vampires. The Professor and Alfred rest at an inn festooned with garlic. That evening, the innkeeper's daughter (played by the *stunningly beautiful* Sharon Tate) is kidnapped by the Count (played with a characterization combining elements of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing). The distraught innkeeper (played with a Zero Mostel characterization) runs out into the night to rescue his kidnapped daughter and never returns alive. The Professor and Alfred seek the Count's castle. The Count invites the Professor and Alfred to stay at his castle and to study in his library. The Professor and Alfred agree, they learn that the Count and his flock are planning a formal dress ball, and the real fun begins ...

This film's scenic vistas and its theatrical sets are impressive -- they are complex, ornate, and convey a somber atmosphere. And Sharon Tate's beauty is impressive -- previously an unknown actress, this film gave general public recognition to Sharon Tate. Roman Polanski was involved in *all* aspects of this film's production, and his quality touch is visible throughout the film.

It is ironic that this film's plot revolves around Sharon Tate's kidnapping by the Count and his flock. After this film was released, Sharon Tate and her real life friends were murdered in their home by members of the Charles Manson family.

Not his best
... when u compare it with Rosemary`s Baby, Repulsion and Frantic. But it DOES have its moments... What really saves this film is the music by Komeda, choreography by Norwegian Tutte Lemkow, the scenary, the make-up, the off-key characters, Sharon Tate and the costumes... Too often u find yourself wondering what-the-heck this is all about and why doesn`t Polanski move a bit faster into the action??? Still; it`s watchable and I`m glad that so many have found it to their hearts:-)

A Timeless Classic
This is one of my all-time favorite films. I first saw this movie as a young girl and never forgot it. I was thrilled when I found it on VHS years later and am now excited about owning the DVD. This film is a mixture of an early silent film and a Laurel & Hardy-type comedy. Our "fearless vampire killers" keep getting themselves into tight spots and then must work to get themselves out again. The sets are terrific, especially the castle. You can get wrapped up in this film, it won't bore you for a minute. It's a subtle spoof of a vampire movie keeping the thrills while adding comic relief. A must-see and a must-have.

A Vampire Classic
Late one night many years ago I had the pleasure of watching the great Roman Polanski vampire film. Now, many years later, I have added the complete and uncut edition to my collection.

This tongue-in-cheek begins with Professor Abronsius and his assistant (Polanski) arriving in Transylvania. The professor, who has one of the silliest mustaches of all time, is researching the legends of vampires. He is convinced that they really exist and that he can eliminate them. Shortly after their arrival it becomes apparent that there are indeed strange creatures about. All of the evidence convinces the professor that his suspicions are correct.

When the inn they are staying in is hit by a vampire the two journey to a bleak castle. There they encounter the local lord, who is a vampire. The lord and the professor hit it off quite well as both are men (ahem) of learning. During the day the professor and his assistant search for the vampires tomb. They find it but are unable to dispatch the creatures and wind up losing all of their tools in the process. Then night falls.

With the fall of night the two become targets and must avoid their vampiric hosts. then they make a startling discovery. There are more vampires in the castle than just the lord and his son. There is a graveyard filled with generations of bloodsuckers. As the vampires hold an annual ball at which they will feast on a number of locals, the professor and his protégée manage to make off with one of the victims and successfully flee into the night pursued by a hunchback sledding in a coffin.

The film then ends with a very dark note. The woman they have saved makes the complete transition to vampire while they are fleeing and she bites the young assistant. It is in this way that the bumbling Professor Abronsius enabled vampirism to spread out of Transylvania into the rest of the world.

This edition restores the twenty minutes that were cut out when the film was first released in America. This is an unusual film in that much is communicated through action. The dialogue is rather sparse throughout. But with the almost exaggerated actions of a silent film combined with a haunting score result in a richer movie than had it been full of dialogue. The special effects, what few there are, are quite effective and possibly more effective than current effects. In one scene the vampire killers and the woman they are trying to rescue are leading a dance at the ball. The procession advances towards a mirror and only the three are reflected although dozens are in direct line. Spectacular. The rest of the film uses small dashes of comedy to season an otherwise dark story. This is a true classic among vampire films. If you have not seen it you should. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

without a doubt the funniest series of all time
Chris Elliott is a comedic genius. The humor in "Get a Life" defies explanation. While the episodes on this tape are definitely hilarious, unfortunately, in my opinion, Rhino could have chosen better episodes for its first (and hopefully not only) set to be released. I would have loved to see Meat Locker 2000 included. It also would have seemed a logical choice to included the Hell Loop 2000 episode on the first tape (since it was the first episode - and one of the funniest).

The best show on earth, finally comes to video.
I remember watching this show when I was 10 years old, and I have never forgotten it. I have about 24 of these episodes on tape, but didn't have "Spewey and Me" or "Girlfriend 2000," so these tapes go great with my collection. I do, however, wish that they would have added more than 2 episodes per tape. I also would like to see "Zoo Animals on Wheels" and "Chris's Brain." (The one where Chris learns to spell because of Toxic Waste.) These are 2 awesome episodes, that I do not have, and would love to see a great quality copy of either of these 2 episodes. Hopefully these 2 volumes will sell well, and encourage Rhino to release more tapes. They should read these reviews to get an idea as to what to put on the next volumes. Anyways, I'm just glad I got to see "Spewey and Me" again.

Whoever's Listening. We want more Get a Life on video!
I have Volumes 1 and 2, and have ordered the latest release of this silly 90s TV show, but I must have more. Come on producers, stop teasing us. Let's get "Houseboy 2000" and some other episodes on video or DVD. There's a cult following out there who is hungry to see Chris bumble his way through life.

get a life volume 1
The funniest show you'll ever see. Where in the world are the rest of the episodes? Like the one where Chris learns to spell from consuming toxic waste and the one where they go camping and eat some berries that make them see strange things. This tape is a must for all comedy fans!!!!!!!!!!

SPEWY I love You!
Just like volume 1. This tape is a must for GET A LIFE FANS.

YELL and Shout for VOLUME 3! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Best ending
Excellent episode from this great show. The ending makes this one memorable. After the ice breaks, all of the men in town gather together for their traditional "running of the bulls"- in the buff. The music is perfect' "Where the Wild Things Are"- about everyone's need to go a little crazy, and we'll go there together.

Spring Breakup Brings Out the Animal in Cicely
This is one of my favorite episodes because it first introduces Officer Barbara Semanski to Cicely, the future bride of Maurice Minnefield. The whole town is struck with "Spring Fever"in anticipation of the ice breaking and to go along with that is a healthy dose of mass "horniness". Joel and Maggie go at it for the first time and Holling gets his horns clipped when Officer Semanski, played brilliantly by Diane Delano, lands a TKO in the boxing ring before the whole town. Chris has his own scheme for reminding people about "chaos" by ripping off stereos and Ed tracks him down. A quote by Chris "Sometimes you gotta do something bad just to know you're alive"..Excellent episode!

Spring Break
This is a gem of postmodern television. Spring is approaching, and along with it, the annual breaking of the ice. The stress of the ice manifests itself in many of the townspeople. See MTV, the Garden of Eden, the impermanence of material goods, boxing, and zen all come together for a rousing running of the bulls.

This is one of the best of what was a wonderfull show.
This episode has everything that makes northern exposure good. If you have never seen northern exposure than this is a great one to start with. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

At one point in the filming of this flawed epic, actor Charlton Heston (in the title role) got so mad at director Sam Peckinpah that he charged him on horseback with a cavalry sword and Peckinpah had to escape into the air on the camera crane. Yet Heston offered to give up his salary to get the studio to let Peckinpah finish the film. As it turned out, this story--of a headstrong Army professional who goes slightly crazy chasing a band of Apaches while shepherding a group of Confederate prisoners--was taken away from Peckinpah in the editing room and recut, so that much of the character development was eliminated from the crucial central section of the film. Still, it offers solid outings by Heston and Richard Harris (as his prisoner) and gives a hint of things to come in Peckinpah's next film, The Wild Bunch. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A flawed western.
They say this movie was cut to ribbons by order of overanxious studio execs, and it certainly shows. The movie starts out great with Major Dundee (Heston), a Federal cavalry officer who has seen his career plummet from fighting in the battles of the Civil War to a POW camp warden, being forced to recruit Confederate POW's to help him track down an Apache raider. Unfortunatly, the movie eventually loses focus and just meanders along. It seems disjointed and, at times, just patched together. Part of the fault was the studio execs decision to cut it down and part of it was Peckinpah's who started filming without a complete script much to Heston's dismay. The result is a flawed film with some good performances, especially Richard Harris, and some great action sequences which were a Peckinpah specialty.

Mangled to pieces
Despite being ripped apart in the editing room, Major Dundee still manages to be a very entertaining western. Supposedly the movie was supposed to clock in at just under three hours, but the editing cut it down to just over two hours. It is a shame that it was mangled so badly since it has a lot of potential.

Major Dundee stars Charlton Heston as Amos Dundee, a Union officer banished to the west for a mistake he made in the heat of battle. Richard Harris co-stars, he steals many scenes, as Confederate officer Benjamin Tyreen, an old friend of Dundee who was betrayed by him at a court martial hearing. Dundee organizes a ragtag bunch of Confederate prisoners, black Union infantry, frontiersman, and Jim Hutton as the bumbling artillery officer, Lt. Graham, assigned to the cavalry, to pursue Sierra Cheriba, a renegade Apache. Dundee's troop runs into the Apache as well as French lancers in Mexico amidst many well-executed action sequences. The final battle in the river should not be missed.

The movie does leave a few parts with no conclusion, but overall the film is well worth the watch. Great supporting cast with James Coburn, Ben Johnson, Warren Oates, L.Q. Jones, Slim Pickens and Senta Berger. Great action with good storyline. Too bad the movie got mangled since it is very good even mangled as it is. To all you Peckinpah fans out there, go out and get this movie!

Wrong Turn
Sam Peckinpah's bungling of this film and his discharge from "The Cincinnati Kid" nearly terminated his directorial career, and "Dundee" gives a hint of the self-destructive inclincations that eventually put him out of business for good. The disciplined creator of "The Rifleman" and "The Westerner" TV series and director of the masterpiece "Ride the High Country" went completely haywire on "Dundee," much to the shock of the studio backing it, and although Peckinpah tried to shift the blame, it was his alone for mounting a disastrously disorganized production of a thoroughly idiotic script. His principal reason for pushing the project apparently was his desire to film in Mexico, a country for whose women he was devloping an all-consuming passion. That and his incipient alcoholism were having severe personality repercussions and giving an ugly cast to Peckinpah's works that he never shook completely.

This story of a Union POW camp officer using Confederate prisoners to cross into Mexico to hunt for Apaches has no basis in historical reality whatsoever and there isn't a single believable scene as a consequence.

BRAVO!!!
Definitely a great Western and one of my personal favorites, Major Dundee, brings to the screen such heavyweights as Charlton Heston and Richard Harris, whose performances are outstanding, making this movie one of the best of its kind. The acting, the battles and the costumes are all wonderful!
Major Dundee is a movie about honor, bravery, and heroes from a time long gone.
A great movie indeed!

Greatest western/civil war drama of all time.
This movie is a classic which inspired many that followed. The cast is incredible and they all give the performances of a lifetime. Charlton Heston is in his prime. Full of confidence and conflict. Cast includes Richard Harris, James Coburn, Warren Oates, Slim Pickens and many others. All give great performances. I have watched this movie many times and enjoy different aspects each time(there are many themes still relevant today). This is a must see film. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Great Classic Movie!
I enjoyed watching this movie because it is entertaining and I never got bored throughout the movie. I am deaf and I really enjoy the fingerspelling scenes, plus Annie Sullivan did wonders for Hellen by portraying her as a hard worker to help Hellen get a life from a soundless, sightless world. Both Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft did a great job on their parts. This is a good movie, both funny and heart-wrenching, and it is worth it to watch!

The deaf speaks...
I'm usually very critical of movies. A movie that really blows me away is rare, but I have never been more blown away in my entire life than by this film - I am deaf, I say this because it is relevant to the subject. I grew up in the same school as deaf/blind children. I assure you, the performance of Patty Duke is INCREDIBLE - totally credulous. Anne Bancroft is overwhelming as Annie O'Sullivan, the schoolteacher. There is not a bad performance in this entire movie. It is emotional and gut-wrenching without the smallest drop of schmaltz or saccharine - something that is very rare in a movie with the subject matter of a disabled child. In fact, it is almost painful and brutal to watch at times, but I am grateful to the director for cutting no punches. The cinematography and black-and-white film are perfectly in tune with the performances and subject matter. So often the easy way is taken out when transferring a stage play to screen - just look at "And Then There Were None" aka "Ten Little Indians" for an example - but here, the ending is presented after a gruelling drama - I honestly think that the ending of this film is a true cinematic moment - it is unsentimental and yet... the emotions, the sheer power, the strength and climax of it all - the realisation. My entire nervous system vibrated for half a hour after watching this film, and still does so whenever I think of it - It is BRILLIANT. Disturbing, disquieting, ferocious, frightening, funny (yes, funny), tender, loving, HATING, calmness and storms. I could say so much about this film - write so many essays upon its different aspects - but I have neither time, nor you the patience, so I shall end with these words: Watch it!

Fantastic Movie!
I saw The Miracle Worker on TCM and it is a fantastic movie. It is based on the stage play which is based on the true story of Helen Keller who was left deaf, blind and mute since an illness she contacted when she a baby and thought of by doctors as being retarded and that nothing could be done to help her so with really no way of communicating with anyone she was a very frustrated young girl and was kind of let by her parents to run wild and doctors and even some family members thought she should be sent away to an asylum but all that changes when Annie Sullivan comes to help Helen and teach her how to communicate and survive so she is not sent away. Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke were both wonderful as Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller and I highly recommend this movie and I just may someday buy the widescreen DVD. Sometime in the late 1970s Patty Duke starred in a television remake in which she played Annie Sullivan and Melissa Gilbert played Helen Keller and though the original is best the remake was also good. FYI: Fans of the 1980s sitcom Benson might be interested to know that Inga Swenson who played Helen's mother in this original Miracle worker Movie played Mrs. Kraus the housekeeper in Benson.

Beautiful Performances
Beautiful performances by Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke in a film about overcoming devastating childhood disabilities. The musical score is also very moving. Just a comment about the well-known dining room scene which took several days to shoot. It is very powerful, but if you are attentive to detail, there are some inconsistencies in continuity. But this is the fault of the director and editor, not the actress.
There are many wonderful moments in this film. The last 10 minutes of the movie are deeply touching. It gets to me every time.

Home visit
This is such a wonderful story.Helen Keller as a child,Patty Duke Gives such a performance and Anne Bancroft is splended.From child to adulthood Helen Keller Life history is amazing.We all have to have some sympathy for anyone that has a handicap as she did but how many would seek the education,dedication to help others as she did, courage to visit other countries.She met Presidents(had her picture taken with them)Leaders of other countries welcomed her. This past summer I visited her home in Tuscombia Al.There are plays in June and July. I didn't go to one though(It was Hot).The bleachers are in the back yard,I hear the plays are wonderful.It protrays her as the movie does.You can visit the House and explore each room.I must say I was shocked to see the house,because it looked so big in the movie,and the house next door where Anne took her.The well,buggy,maids house in back. If you haven't been there,Type this up on your net. Alabama History on Line Email:dpendlot@Archives. state.Al USA.They will send you pamplets and information about everything. Have fun,Marie ... Read more

Reviews (2)

And Now For Something Completely Different!
This is a quiet film--very, very British with wonderful shots of Oxford University--particularly New College, although Mr. Palin himself attended Brasenose College. The scenery is beautiful and the story is wonderfully thought-provoking. We enjoyed it very much--particularly the insight into "What is integrity?" It was good to see Connie Booth again and Alfred Molina was very convincing as a Brit. Michael Palinn is quite excellent in his Oxfordian restraint, and it was touching to see people very much in love without having to jump into bed immediately. Imagine! Well done, Mr. Palin!

A Different Role for Michael Palin
I have rented this movie twice, and I would like to say that this is a video worth seeing. Michael Palin stars as Reverend Francis Ashby, an English professor at Oxford University. He takes a trip to the Swiss Alps where he meets two American women. Connie Booth plays Caroline Hartley, and Trini Alvarado plays young Elinor. Throughout the movie the two women are in a competition for Reverend Ashby. At Oxford however, women are prohibited and also they are not allow to marry. It's a struggle seen by Reverend Ashby who is at odds with his devotion to Oxford and the women he loves. I won't give away whose heart Reverend Ashby wins so you will have to watch and see.

For those of you who are familar with Michael Palin's work, comedy is his speciality. Also Michael is known for his world travels. This movie is drama although it does have a few light moments. Not only Michael stars in the movie but he also wrote the movie. The movie is set in the mid 1800's and is based on the diaries of Michael's great grandfather. The scenery of the Swiss Alps are very beautiful. It makes you want to take your next vacation there. It's a movie that you will want to have and it also shows that Michael Palin can do drama. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This smart, funny episode finds the Enterprise visiting the planet Iotia, where the starship Horizon accidentally left behind Earth materials a century before. During that time, as Captain Kirk (William Shatner) discovers, the Iotians have made much of one of those items, a book called Chicago Mobs of the Twenties. The planet's population has divided into rival gangs who dress, speak, and do violence like the spiritual descendants of Al Capone, plunging Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and McCoy (DeForest Kelley) into a facsimile of Earth's colorful and dangerous past.

The episode is played for comedy: Kirk and Spock keep getting kidnapped by the warring hoods, each of whom wants the Federation team to use their technology to defeat the other side. The big payoff, however, is a summit meeting of bosses, where Kirk employs plenty of gangster-movie jargon to get matters settled. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Except on Tuesday
This gangster episode, and Tribbles, were the two Trek comedies that really worked. While I wouldn't exactly call the humor here subtle, it is intertwined in a fairly traditional action plot. We are able to enjoy Kirk and Spock's thuggishness for its own sake while simultaneously staying focused on the plot, for the simple reason that their behavior is called for by the story, rather than being a gimmick. The idea of a highly impressionable alien race who's cultural evolution could depend so thoroughly on a random event (the leaving behind of the book) is an interesting one as well. This episode is also helped by strong guest acting, most notably from Tayback.

The funniest of the original series
This is without question the funniest episode of the original Star Trek series. There is no funnier deadpan scene anywhere in television than the one where Kirk is "explaining" the fizzbin card game and asks Spock what the odds are against getting a royal fizzbin. His deadpan, yet truthful answer is, "I have never computed them." I laughed out loud the first time I saw that and still smile when I see it, even though I have seen it over fifty times.
The main premise is that a Federation vessel visited a planet before the Prime Directive was imposed and members of the crew interacted with the planet's inhabitants and contaminated them. Therefore, the primary task of the Enterprise is to repair the damage. The earlier Federation vessel left a book that described the Chicago gangs of the prohibition era and the inhabitants have modeled their entire culture after the book. Their clothing, buildings, speech and social structure are all modeled from the gangster movie cliches.
After many trials and errors, including Kirk trying to drive a car, there is a climactic scene where Kirk takes charge and unifies the government under one of the gang bosses. His pacing on a pool table while brandishing a machine gun and speaking one gangland cliché after another is one of the best scenes in the entire original series. His solution, where the Federation is described as an interplanetary gang, is funny and original. I have always wondered what the reaction of Star Fleet command was to his report of how he solved the contamination problem.
Funny, and essentially a spoof of a movie genre, this is one of the best Star Trek episodes ever, original series and beyond.

"A Piece of the Action," the 2nd funniest Star Trek episode
"A Piece of the Action" has the Enterprise visiting Sigma Iotia II, where a hundred years early the USS Horizon visited. Apparently this was before the Prime Directive, because one of the Horizon crew left behind a book: "Chicago Mobs of the Twenties." Now, once you get past the fact that (a) someone was toting a book into Deep Space and (b) it happened to be that particular book, you can really enjoy this one. Bela Oxymy wants the Federation to supply his gangsters with weapons so he can take over the planet, taking down Krako and the other bosses. My favorite part is when Kirk makes up a very complicated card game to play with the gangsters holding him hostage and Spock has to admit having never calculated the odds on the rarest of possible hands. Then there is also the bit where they try to drive an automobile. In the end, Kirk decides if you cannot fight them, join them. "A Piece of the Action" may well be the second funniest Star Trek episode, after "The Trouble With Tribbles," of course.

Excellence
In my opinion, A Piece Of The Action is in the top 3 episode category along with Mirror Mirror and the Corbomite Manuever. The whole episode is very deep and never uneventful. The action never stops. It employs humor in the form of "slang talk" which people like Spock and McCoy dont understand. I cant explain it all here, but I will tell you it is a very good episode.

One of the funniest and best Star Trek episodes
"A Piece of The Action" is one of my five favorite episodes of Star Trek. In "A Piece of The Action," Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy beam down to a planet whose landscape is similar to that of earth. The boss of a bunch of gangsters demands that the trio from the Enterprise make a deal with him which would help him ward off some of his enemies. To put it short, the Enterprise crew has been tricked. There must be a way for Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy to escape the planet alive, but they have a little bit of fun first.

"A Piece of The Action" is a great episode of the original series of Star Trek. It is well written and some parts of it are hilarious, especially the part when Captain Kirk drives a car for the first time. It's also amusing the way that Kirk talks in slang and has to repeat himself for the others to understand him.

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy both give one of their best performances to make this one of the unforgettable episodes of Star Trek. I recommend "A Piece of The Action" to anybody. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The Crow set the standard for dark and violent comic-book movies (like Spawn or director Alex Proyas's superior follow-up, Dark City), but it will forever be remembered as the film during which star Brandon Lee (son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee) was accidentally killed on the set by a loaded gun. The filmmakers were able to digitally sample what they'd captured of Lee's performance and piece together enough footage to make the movie releasable. Indeed, it is probably more fascinating for that post-production story than for the tale on the screen. The Crow is appropriately cloaked in ominous expressionistic shadows, oozing urban dread and occult menace from every dank concrete crack, but it really adds up to a simple and perfunctory tale of ritual revenge. Guided by a portentous crow (standing in for Poe's raven), Lee plays a deceased rock musician who returns from the grave to systematically torture and kill the outlandishly violent gang of hoodlums who murdered him and his fiancée the year before. The film is worth watching for its compelling visuals and genuinely nightmarish, otherworldly ambience. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (233)

Very stylish and enjoyable goth/graphic novel adaptation
I never saw this originally in '94 because I dismissed it as A. a martial arts film (and I hate those) and B. adapted from a comic (and I just can't get into those) and C. aimed at a teen/goth/punk audience (and I am way too old for that). What a mistake! Finally almost ten years on, a friend heard me say I really liked Alex Proyas' DARK CITY -- a neat sci fi film with a very different story but the same kind of dark fantasy look -- and couldn't believe I had never seen THE CROW and made me watch it.

I have to say that I really think this is a fine, well made movie and none of my preconceptions were remotely correct. The art direction is brilliant, with a wonderful and creepy gothic fantasy look, almost but not quite black-and-white, set in a mysteriously surreal "Detroit" that is in some kind of alternate universe from the real Motown. Brandon Lee is really charismatic and haunting in the role of Eric Draven, and not merely because of the tragic incident surrounding the film. He was real star material and just totally inhabits this part.

After seeing the film, I did read the O'Barr comic, which is very sincere and heartfelt, but I think the filmakers -- in what is a pretty rare event -- IMPROVED the plot and characters while keeping all of the angst and atmosphere. They totally honored the character of Eric and the basic idea of the avenger, the memories of his beautiful girlfriend, and sense of overwhelming grief that inhabits the graphic novel. Where they impoved the storyline in cinematic terms is in the treatment of the minor characters and villians. They really fleshed them out, and it enriches the movie and balances the storyline well.

Bookending the film with quotes from Sarah (Rochelle Davis), the little girl who narrates and observes much of the story is an example of a good idea that doesn't really exist in the comic, where the little girl is called Sherri and only appears briefly. Even more so is the expansion of the character of Top Dollar, who again is a minor episode in the comic and more of a grubby hell's angel/drug dealer -- in the film he has been transformed into a complex and compelling crimelord. Michael Wincott is simply amazing in this part, playing Top Dollar as a kind of depraved, satanic, renaissance prince, and clearly having a great deal of fun with this role, especially some wonderful and very clever dialogue. The very, very sick but quite sincere love story between Top Dollar and his psychic half-sister is the reversed-mirror image of the pure and innocent love of Eric and his fiance, a clever idea.

Wonderful music, great visuals, terrific acting...The Crow should NOT be missed.

NOTE: I bought the "Collector's DVD". Don't bother. There is NOTHING worth looking at on the second DVD, some production sketches and posters, nothing special. The director's commentary (on the first disk) is interesting to listen to ONCE, but you can get that on the single disk DVD. There is a smattering of extra footage, but nothing you will miss. Save some bucks and just get the one disk wide screen version.

Fantastic is an understatement.
For those of you don't know this movie is Brandon Lee's last. Tragically, he died during the last days of filming. This film would have catapulted Brandon Lee into major-stardom.

Knowing this only makes the movie darker, sadder, and more heart-wrenching.

Based on the comic book series of the same name by James O'Barr, the movie stays close to its comic book roots. Dark imagery, up-close shots, and stark contrasts add to the comic book feel and gothic look of the movie. The music in the film, both soundtrack and songs, convey thoughts and imagery.

The Crow is a story of love and revenge, loss and retribution. It is a portrait of the struggle between the pain of seeing the past, and the peace of gaining closure. Director Alex Proyas did a wonderful job of capturing this struggle on film.

While the bulk of the supporting cast is at the very least believable, Michael Wincott is disturbingly creepy as the main antagonist "Top Dollar." Ernie Hudson, here playing a cop who thinks he's seeing a ghost, delivers an even performance.
But the movie is ALL Brandon Lee. He brought his martial arts background and talent to this film and gave 200%. He was also the movie's fight choreographer. This means: sit up and watch!

This movie is 80% action, 5% comedy, and 15% heart-wrenching, tear-jerking tragedy. Be prepared to sit on the edge of your seat, and use up a box of kleenex.

Death.It's a living.
The story of The Crow begins when a rock'n'roll guitarist named Eric Draven along with his fiancee,Shelly Webster were brutally murdered by T-bird's gang.
However,one year after their death,Eric returns from the dead and tries to find out about the murder of himself and the love of his life.The Crow is a very romantic,action,battle story fill with a great historical event that Eric,the undead hero must solve with a police officer and a young kid from the streets.This is for Dar and Tao from Sarah:Dar and Tao.Together forever.

The Crow- A Comic Book Treasure Brought to Life
The Crow is based on the dark comic series by James O'Barr. The film was directed by Alex Proyas who later made Dark City and the upcoming feature I, Robot, which is due out July 16, 2004. The Crow is a stunning film, its visuals are dazzling. This film of course is always remembered for the sad and unfortunate death of Brandon Lee, son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee. Brandon Lee had emerged and stunned us with this great performance and if he had lived he could have had a promising and grand career as an action star.
Brandon Lee plays Eric Draven, a rock musician who is brutally murdered along with his fiancee. A year later he comes back to life by the powers of a crow and the crow guides him as he seeks revenge for those who took away his life. The movie does turn simply into a revenge flick, but it is a quite stunning one. This film features some great action sequences and Lee as I stated earlier gives a great performance. The film was released in 1994 and spawned two sequels, neither were as good as the original, infact the third went straight to video. Due to Lee's unfortunate death, the filmmakers were able to finish the film using digital technology by what they had filmed of Lee's performance so the film could be released. Proyas released the film to honor and in tribute of his death, some where upset by this but others think it was good of him. This is a great film and I'm pleased to say it is a part of my DVD collection.
The Crow is rated R for A Great Amount of Strong Violence, Language, Drug Use and Some Sexuality. The violence is pretty intense and some might be offended or upset by it, after it one can expect that considering this is a dark and gritty film. The violence includes the use of guns, knives, swords as well as fisticuffs. There's also use of profanity, most of which is strong, and some drug use. Overall a great movie and one which should be seen.

A truly dark masterpiece!
Brandon Lee plays Eric Draven in this story of revenge and justice. Eric Draven and his fiancee are alone on "Devil's Night" which has been named that because of the crime and arson that goes on in the city. Devil's Night takes place on the night before Halloween. Eric and his fiancee are interrupted by a group of thugs that rape and kill Eric's fiancee in front of him, and then proceed to kill him. Now the idea of The Crow is this; when a person dies, a crow carries their soul to the afterlife, but sometimes the crow will bring the person back for unfinished business. Guided by the crow, Draven returns to exact revenge on those responsible for the rape and murders, and he targets each and every person involved. He returns as a tortured soul, bent on revenge for taking the life that he and his fiancee Shelly wanted to live, a life that was taken from them for no reason.Along the way Eric is helped by Sargeant Albrecht, who is the only one who truly cared about bringing the killers to justice. Every time Eric kills one, the task at hand gets harder as he gets to the source of the evil.

This is a superb film, perfect in every way in my opinion. It is dark, graphic and I would even go so far to call this a true masterpiece of American cinema. Brandon Lee plays his role with a passion, truly giving the dark feel of this film and the message behind it. It really is a shame that he died, I think he would have been a great actor. But this is his legacy, and it is a great legacy to leave behind. I have not seen the 2 sequels yet, but I am fairly certain this is the best one. I encourage you to see this movie if you haven't already.

The dvd itself is packed with extras that take an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the film as well as other things. The movie really sounds great turned way up on a surround system, and the picture quality is great.I should also mention the soundtrack to the movie, which is one of the best I have ever heard. Seeing this will make you want to buy the soundtrack, it is just that cool. My only regret about this movie is that I didnt see it sooner. So I have given my opinion, and I really recommend that you see this movie. If it isn't considered one already, it will go down as a true classic in cinema for the rest of time. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Remember Spanky doing "Friends, romans, countrymen..."?
Volume 1 in the Little Rascals collection features four of the Our Gang comedies from the Hal Roach-MGM years, at least one of which is a certified classic while the rest are at least well above-average. Leonard Maltin introduces the two-reelers, although I am not exactly sure why. It is not like the Rascals are performing Shakespeare (just a speech from one play).

Actually the central character in "Fly My Kite" (1931) is Grandma (Mrs. Margaret Mann), who reads the gang pulp stories, gives them friendly advice, and even puts on the boxing gloves to spar with them. But her son-in-law Dan (James Mason; no, not that one) wants to send the old lady to the County Home so he can move into her house with his new bride. But then it turns out Grandma has some gold bonds now worth $100,000. Dan wants to steal the bonds but Grandma has tied them to the tail of Chubby's kite. This one features Farina, Chubby, Mary Ann, Stymie, Wheezer, and Pete the Pup, as well as some fun stunt work by Grandma's double.

In "Honky Donkey" (1934) Wally's mom sends him home with chauffeur Don Barclay, but the lad wants to meet with his friends at a vacant lot, where they have made a merry-go-round powered by Algebra the mule. Chased from the lot the Barclay drives the gang (and their mule) to the mansion where Algebra engages in predictably but hysterical destructive behavior. It seems Algebra will only move if you sneeze, at which point he chases the offender, and only tops if he hears a bell ringing (Remember, this is supposed to make sense to KIDS). One of the nice touches by director Gus Meins is how he uses Spanky and Scotty to react to the antics of Barclay and the mule. This one also features Stymie, Tommy and Buckwheat.

"Beginner's Luck" (1935) is the classic two-reeler where Spanky is entered in a local amateur contest where he will recite Mark Antony's funeral oration from "Julius Caesar." Of course, Spanky knows "all actors are sissies," and gets the gang to promise to heckle him big time. But then he meets Daisy Dimple (Marianne Edwards), who wants to win so she can buy a new dress. When she gets stage fright Spanky decides to win so he can give her the money. This sets the stage for one of the great scenes in "Our Gang" history, as Spanky has to put up with the verbal and spitball assault from his friends and the frantic attempts by his mom to get her little darling off the stage.

A fitting companion piece to that classic is "Reunion in Rhythm" (1937), where the gang stages a musical show for the Adams Street Grammar School class reunion. The entertainment consists of Darla singing "Baby Face" to Porky, Spanky leading a chorus line singing "Broadway Rhythm," Alfalfa singing "I'm Through with Love" after failing to impress Georgia, and Buckwheat trying in vain to recite "Little Jack Horner." There is some introductory footage of an actual Our Gang reunion, which is rather awkward; but we do get to see "Stymie" with hair.

This is a solid first volume and if the idea here is to parcel our one classic along with several above-average Little Rascal comedies, that is certainly going to work. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

A well told morality tale
7 Faces of Dr. Lao can be looked at in two different ways. The movie, released in 1964, can be seen as a morality lesson. It is the story of the small Arizona town of Abalone full of citizens who suffer from greed, vanity, loneliness, and pettiness. When Dr. Lao brings his mystical circus to town, the townsfolk get a good look at themselves and don't always like what they see. For today's audience the movie is a bit slow and ponderous. The film is highly predictable and you know by the end of the film that everyone gets exactly what they deserve and once the errors in their ways are pointed out to them then they will miraculously change for the better and everyone will live happily ever after.
The second, and more enjoyable, is to focus on the performance of Tony Randall. Randall is amazing as the Chinese impresario Dr. Lao. Tony Randall portrays all seven inhabitants of Dr. Lao's circus: Dr. Lao, Merlin the Magician, Medusa, The Abominable Snowman, Pan, the serpent, and Apollonius of Tyana, he also makes a brief appearance as Tony Randall. As you are watching the film you forget that it is the same man playing all those parts, and it is widely considered one of Randall's most impressive performances. William Tuttle, who won an honorary Academy Award for his astounding make-up work, flawlessly transforms Randall from one character to the next. The film also comes from Director George Pal, who is also known for directing such classics as Time Machine and War of the Worlds, brings his distinctive blending of reality and fantasy to this film. Randall's performance, along with the incredible make-up work of William Tuttle and fine direction by George Pal make this a must see film...

Strange, wonderful, uplifting
I saw this film over 25 years ago. It made a permanent imprint on me. I had never seen anything like it (and haven't, since). It's a western, and a fantasy (but not science fiction). It's also mythological and even a bit religious. It's also a wonderful, life-affirming film. I've never been a fan of Tony Randall, who I always remember as the prissy little neurotic in "The Odd Couple," but I have to give him the greatest credit in this movie (he plays six parts!) The special effects are Ray Harryhausen stop-motion (and obviously fake) but that is part of the enormous charm of this movie--as exemplified by the amusing-looking snake in the cage with a man's face on it, and the goldfish-bowl-dwelling monster than attempts to snack on Dr. Lao. In some ways this movie reminds me of Ray Bradbury's _Something Wicked This Way Comes,_ but this is a far superior film. In fact, I'd have to call it a classic.

Tony Randall Is Pure Magic (& is also a mystical Asian man!)
"Mike, the whole world is a circus if you look at it the right way. Every time you pick up a handful of dust, and see not the dust, but a mystery, a marvel, there in your hand - every time you stop and think, 'I'm alive, and being alive is fantastic!' - every time such a thing happens, Mike, you are part of the Circus of Dr. Lao." I am so glad another fine reviewer quoted this immortal passage, and I will begin with the same, for it has informed much of my life!)

My friend Carlo mentioned to me that this fine film was playing at my local library recently and I had to pause and hold back my shock - I have not yet gotten over Tony's passing, and now I was confronted by so much lost time. Was it really forty years ago that Tony Randall stepped out of the shadow of his lightly comic performances on Broadway (of course you all remember "Oh Captain!" at the Alvin?) and shattered the world (yes, the world!) with his tour de force in "Dr. Lao?"

Now - regarding critial analysis of this film over the years, far too much emphasis has been placed on George Pal's "effects" and the like for my taste. Let's turn the spotlight back on Tony and the fine job he did playing eight different personae in this tale. Eight!

I will say this without hesitation: Certainly the finest hour (or hour and thirty one minutes) of his young career. Buy this movie for that reason alone (and children will most likely enjoy it too, I suppose. But if you do not have children, then buy it for that reason alone).

Serendipity Cinema #1
This won an Oscar for Make up, but it is not the kind of film that one would think right off as an award winner. Hey, it has the feel of Roger Corman and George Pal, with a hint of Ray Harryhausen thrown in (Although I am told it was Jim Danforth and crew who did the actual fx)I remember interviewing Tony Randall years ago, when he was touring in "The Music Man." He said his main memory was having his head and eyebrows shaved. He was distressed because it gave him ``this horrible unborn look.'' All that aside, the film is a joy. It is simple, and while seeming simplistic it is far from that. It humbly powerful. There are a thousand reasons to belittle and put down this film. If if you go in with that mindset, you will find them all. But, if you give it a willing suspention of disbelief and let the magic that hints around every corner over take you, this will be a little gem that you treasure and share with others.

I'd give Seven Stars for Dr. Lao if I could
One of the most charming and wonderful fantasy films of all time. This is the story of Abelone, a dying town in the desert at the turn of the 20th century. In arrives Dr. Lao, played with great effect by Tony Randall in what is probably his best performance ever.

With him, he brings his unusual circus and its performers. Including an Abomidable Snowman (who is barely used in the film and has no scene to himself), Merlin the Magician (very good), Pan the God of Joy, The Great Serpent, Apollonius the blind fortune teller who sees the future with absolute clarity, and the Medusa.

Basically, the townspeople must decide whether to sell their town to the misguided Clint Stark (played wonderfully by Arther O' Connell) or to stay and risk going thirsty with the town's only water source coming through a crumbling and very expensive to fix pipe.

With a little help from Dr. Lao and his circus, the townspeople eventually make the right decision.

There are just too many great scenes for me to describe, nor would I want to give away too much. I would encourage you to see this movie as it's one of the best fantasy films ever made.

Unfortunatly, Tony Randall passed away recently and he never liked giving interviews about this film. Which is a real shame since the DVD extras are pretty barren. My understanding is that Mr. Randall did not like how the script left out so much of the original book and that too much attention was paid to "romance" between Barbara Eden (who is just gorgeous) and John Ericson (in a great supporting turn).

I found it rather interesting that Dr. Lao pronounces his name "Dr. Low", yet everyone else, including a very attentive boy, calls him "Dr. La-ow". As an aside, the episode of MST3K when Joel Robinson leaves the Satelite of Love for good ("Mitchell"), he recites the "Circus of Dr. Lao" poem. But he calls him "Dr. Loo". I guess no one is ever suppose to get the pronounciation right.

Look for an eight character played by Tony Randall. He appears briefly without makeup just after Dr. Lao introduces his pet fish after the "parade of performers" scene. While the crowd around him claps with delight, Tony just slowly shakes head in disbelief. A wonderful little scene. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

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

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

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

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

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

Definitly a disappointment
I just recently became a Vivien Leigh fan after seeing her in great films. I picked this up at my public library, looking foward to see her again. When I put into my VCR and when this movie appeared at the screen, I must say I was terribly disappointed. Nothing like GWTW or Waterloo