Reviews (27)

I Hope Touched by an Angel Gets Complete Season DVD Boxsets!
Touched by an Angel was one of my Dad's favorite TV shows and it became one of my favorites too. I have a lot of favorite episodes and The 151st Psalm is one of my favorites, it is a sad but touching episode about a boy who is dying and how he wants to help his mother finish a song she was writing but never finished. The mother is played by Wynnona who I think did a great job and so did the actors who played the boy and his friend. This show was very popular and I don't understand why CBS cancelled it in order to air stupid reality shows and I wish they would start making new episodes or even TV movies and I really want to see Touched by an Angel put on DVD in complete season boxsets!

Fantastic!
I watched this episode first on TV, then I went out and bought the tape!! It was the first TV show that made me cry, but it the tears were happy tears. The acting in this episode was great. The message of love, acceptance, hope and, of course, that God loves us (more specifically you and me) went straight to my heart.

If you never buy any other Touched By An Angel videos or if you never watch another episode, make sure you get this one!

It's Finally Coming Out on DVD!
This is an update to my last review. The Touched By an Angel episodes on this tape are good but there is some great news! The First season of Touched by an Angel is being released on DVD on August 31, 2004. FYI: John Dye who played Andrew wasn't in the first season. I think he joined the show sometime during the second season and the angel in the first season who helped Tess and Monica was named Adam and played by Charles Rocket.

Wanted! "Touched By An Angel" DVD boxed set
I loved "Touched By An Angel" from the beginning. I had recorded episodes sent to me while stationed in Haiti with the Army in 1996. There was discussion at the time about cancelling the show. Public outcry helped to save the show. Had that not happened, there wouldn't have been a "151st Psalm" episode (the 100th episode) that's been mentioned in so many of the previous reviews. The audience is here, the demand is here, only the supply is missing. Release this series on DVD. You won't be sorry!

These episodes need to be released on DVD.
I enjoyed watching 'Touched By Angel' when it was on TV. I would like to see these episodes released on DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

An alternate title for this movie could easily be RV to Hell.Two middle-class couples take their spankin'-new motor home on a trip toColorado. While camping out in Texas, the men see something they shouldn't--ahuman sacrifice by Satanists who somehow manage not to notice their Safeway- sized vehicle until the last minute. The tourists flee from the devilworshippers, getting the monstrous RV hung up in a stream, and so goes therest of the movie. The local sheriff is in league with the devil, and everytown they come to is full of pesky Satanists. The vacationers are nothing ifnot resourceful, though; when a pair of determined Beelzebubbers cling to thevehicle like barnacles, Peter Fonda pokes at them with an aluminumvacuum-cleaner wand until they give up and fall off! Oddly, halfway through thefilm, it turns from a fairly routine (if suspenseful) horror movie to a RonHoward-style car-chase film, with a half-dozen vehicles pursuing the motorhome. The vacationers continue to abuse the RV until large chunks of it beginto fall off, fending off their enemies with a shotgun until the nastysurprise ending. With a cast that includes Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit,and Lara Parker, it's hard to go wrong (though the women's roles consist ofscreaming ineffectually, making coffee, and cleaning the earth-tonedWinnebago). Yep, this Central Texas-lensed drive-in feature supplies thrills,car wrecks, devil worshippers, and unintended laughs by the bushel... whatelse can you ask for? --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A 70's drive-in classic and a great team-up
This film evokes such great memories of warm summer nights at the drive-in. It has one of the greatest character actors who ever lived in Warren Oates, one of the coolest in Peter Fonda and together, they make a great team and have wonderful chemistry in their scenes together. Loretta Swit and Lara Parker are both good at making coffee in the RV and are very believable as the wives and boy can they scream!! Jack Starrett does a fine job directing, sets up some great, tense moments of suspense (the scene with the rattlesnakes is harrowing!!) and puts some first-rate car chase scenes and stunts into the mix, as well. It is also far more believable, plotwise, than the vast majority of horror films that have been made since. And they did it without the gratuitous blood and gore so common now. The most chilling aspect of this film's many villains is that they are not indestructible, unkillable monsters, but are very ordinary and human. They and the many everyday, normal settings both take on a cold, eerie quality, even in the brightest daylight. It also pays homage to the era in which was made. Imagine getting excited these days about having a microwave oven in an RV!! It doesn't make any efforts to be anything more than what it is, but the film is meant to be enjoyed as a thrill-show, like a rollercoaster. You care about the two vacationing couples, you cheer them on as they run for their lives, you despise the villains and you hate the abrupt, shock ending. All-in-all, this film delivers what it promises and is a satisfying story. Forget what the eggheaded film critics like Leonard Maltin have to say about it and just enjoy yourself.

Not Bloody, just very realistic!
By realistic, I don't mean it is realistic for devil worshipers to control most of a southern state. However, just two couples going on a camping trip, has very real possibilities for a good story. Especially a horror story. From the conversation between Oates and Fonda before the chase, to the reactions of our four main characters throughout this movie. Without giving away the story line... As Peter "Easy Rider" Fonda would say... This movie did not "cop out" at the end. Very creepy and realistic movie, much maligned by professional critics, but it's nice to see other regular people enjoyed this movie. Brings up great drive in memories.

RACE WITH THE DEVIL
WHERE IS THE DVD???? THIS MOVIE IS SUCH A CLASSIC.CREEPY AND SCARY ALIKE.SO WORTH SEEING!!

One of the great drive-in classics of all time....
The 1975 film "Race With the Devil" begins innocently enough. Two couples on vacation in an RV decide to take a turn on a dirt road to spend the night away from the bustle. They park their rocking vehicle out in the wilds of south central Texas. They inspect the beauty of the desolate land, have a candle-lit dinner and a glass of wine, and toast the first night of a needed vacation. The sun sets and a full moon rises. But a funny thing happens.

Across the river they hear an eerie howl and suddenly, a mysterious bonfire roars to life. They grab a pair of binoculars and notice a group of people in black robes dancing around this huge fire. There's weird chanting, a man in a mask with a sword, and nude women at his feet. The dancing becomes more intense, and a woman is stabbed to death in an apparent sacrifice. At that moment, the wife of one of the stunned men turns on the RV light and screams at her husband to come inside. The Satanic cult realizes they are not alone, and furiously charge across the river. Thus begins one long and very creepy chase across the back roads of a Texas landscape.

We've been here before, whether it be with a cannibalistic family in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" or Georgia hillbillies in "Deliverance." The setup is usually the same - a group of innocents, semi-lost, encountering horrid miscreants without a shred of help anywhere in sight. I don't think "Race With the Devil" is as good as either of the two previous films mentioned, but I will say in all honesty this flick scared me as a child.

"Race With the Devil" taps a primal fear we have of being stranded in unknown lands pursued by people with murderous intentions. The inspirations for this little 1975 horror opus are many, as Satan was quite the villain back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Where to begin? Perhaps Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby," one of the most chilling films ever made. And then you have "The Exorcist," "The Devil's Rain" and such TV flicks as "Crowhaven Farm." Which brings us to "Race With the Devil," where you have robed Lucifer hippies clawing at an agonizingly slow RV rolling for the nearest stretch of cement. Peter Fonda and Warren Oates do their best to fight off this beer-bellied horde (I suppose with the exception of the occasional dancing, they get little exercise), using everything from vacuum cleaners to ski poles to hold off the possessed crew.

For a kid growing up in the suburbs of Texas (that would be me), Satanic cults existed out there, and they were waiting in the dark. Out there is an uneducated wilderness, and it's scary. To this day, I have moments of fear when camping alone, remembering that cult from "Race With the Devil." As our society grows each day into an urban setting with farming communities disappearing, what is rural becomes alien and evil. It's out there man! Who knows what shenanigans they're up to!

The Texas-born Jack Starrett directed this little drive-in horror/action hybrid, and he really didn't create much else. A few episodes of "Hill Street Blues," a couple of other B-movie excursions. He's probably best known as the tough cop with a billy club who drives Sylvester Stallone over the edge in "First Blood." He sadly passed on in 1989. Starrett has a funny cameo in Race With the Devil as a nosy gas station attendant.

Warren Oates, the greatest character actor in motion picture history, stars as the unlucky sod who makes the fateful choice to camp in the Texas boonies. He was really too good to be starring in this fare, but he does deliver the best line when the sheriff mentions a local hippie cult that kills cats. With a straight face, Oates replies, "Well, I guess they ran out of cats." By most accounts Oates tilted beers with film director Sam Peckinpah while they made such films as "The Wild Bunch" and "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia." A huge Warren Oates cult has grown since his death in 1983, and this film is as good as any learn the greatness of this brilliant actor.

In "Race With the Devil," Peter Fonda has a good time shaking martinis while firing shotguns at hillbilly Satanists. And you even have "Hotlips" Loretta Swit as a perplexed wife. She likes to scream a lot and wear colorful bathrobes.

I suppose we could obsess over the stupid decisions our protagonists make before Satan closes in on the RV. We could laugh at the dialog as they marvel over the newfangled microwave and color TV. We could even snicker as by the end of "Race With the Devil," the trashed RV resembles Steve Martin's and John Candy's car in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." But our laughs are uneasy. When we travel to unknown lands, we are terrified of being preyed upon. In "Race With the Devil," these country folks are out there man, creepy and evil. Part horror, car chase and action, this film is one of the greatest drive-in flicks ever made.

unsung cult classic
I saw this film in the 70's. It made a lasting impression on me. The film includes the foxy witch from Dark Shadows. Hotlips from MASH. Peter Fonda from Easy Rider and Mr.Warren Oates.
This film was made in an much inocent time way before the strange societies and strange uneasyness that is circulating now. Talkabout Tom Cruz's film Eyes Wide Shut this film prefigured that message. It just that unlike Cruz's movie that alerted folks that rich people belong to not too frienldly societies so too do regular folk inhabite fringelike clubs too. This classic never got the attention it deserved,perhapes it was too close to real life. The ending is real to life too. I mean with all the innocent children being kidnapped and other freaky things that our cablenews is alerting us to be very wary. Imagine how back in innocent times before Ted Bundy and other kind with strange appetites. How it scary was. I mean Earthday was just invented and peace, love, and joy were still believed in. Heck folks in Florida did noteven lock their doors to their houses yet. This film was way before its time. I pesonnally can not see a vacationing RV without thinking of what happened in the film. People disappear while vacation in cars or RVs more than is realize. The film is not graphic or gory. It does not have to be to get the message across. The panic in the film comes across as pure choas. The choas that one feels in the dark no place to turn and no one to turn to for help. That is what so scary. It so like we are living today with the aftermath of the Twin Towers, never knowing what is gonna happen next. You just want everything to return to normal.
Its like impending doom. This film is exactly what Americans feel like today. We are in that RV and bad things are happening man! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A 'Continental' Appeal!
The Gay Divorcee is one of my favorite films. Fred plays a persistant bachelor determined to capture the heart of Mimi (Ginger), who is married and ready for a divorce. As the plot unfolds, this romantic comedy is hilarious and can make anyone smile. Fred and Ginger shine as they perform the hauntinly beautiful 'Night and Day' and the seventeen minute 'Continental'. A must see for any Astaire Rogers fan!

GAY ALL THE WAY!
The Gay Divorcee, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, is still as funny and charming today as when it was first released. Just watch the two of them dance to "Night and Day"-- beautiful chemistry! All the dance numbers are great, but "The Continental" number went on a bit too long for me (although admittedly it was written for this movie, so it is understandable that an elaborate production was made out of it.) The loverboy who keeps forgetting his lines ('chance is a fool's name for fate' and the many variations that he came up with) had me in stitches too. To sum it up, this movie is great for the whole family and you won't be disappointed!

My favourite Astaire and Rogers film
Fred Astaire plays a dnacer returning to England from a trip abroad. In the Customs shed he meets Ginger Rogers in an embarassing predicament. He tries to find out who she is, but she refuses to tell him, and he spends ages searching London for her until he finally tracks her down and begins to awaken her interest. Ginger goes down to Brighton with her friend dithery much-married Alice Brady, and Astaire and his dithery lawyer friend Edward Everett Horton go in pursuit. Ginger has gone to Brighton to try and obtain a divorce, she intends to spend the night with a professional co-respondent. Somthing Astaire says makes her think he is the co-respondent, which puts her right off him. Fortunately the real co-respondent, a diminutive Italian, turns up ("your wife is safe with Tonetti,he prefer spaghetti") and the mystery is sorted out. But what will happen when Ginger's husband arrives the next morning? will she get her divorce. This is a wonderful film, with a silly but extremley funny plot, and some wonderful dialogue, particularly between Horton and Brady, who somehow manage to end up married to each other, much to their surprise. An absolutely delightful film.

a joy to watch
This is such a great movie! In their first starring roles, Fred and Ginger carry the movie on their shoulders. Alice Brady is more than hilarious, so is Edward E. Horton. Look for a very young Betty Grable singing "lets knock knees."
the night and day nember is incredible. Ginger looks like something out of this world with her soft features. The look that she gives him at the end of night and day make the rest of the picture unnecessary. but then you would miss Fred's hilarious looks, especially when he's confused. The nice thing about this movie is that the mistaken identity plot only lasts for a little while. (about 13 minutes) the continental is great too.

A classic from its period
A classic. The dancing, first, with Fred Astaire, is perfect and many will remember the Continental. The singing is quite humoristic, light and entertaining. The comedy itself is very simple but extremely effective. An enormous amount of humor, of puns, of funny situations, etc, and a general situation that is both banal but dealt with so much grace and lightness that it is pleasant and entertaining. The punch line is of course totally unexpected, though a averagely trained viewer will have known the outcome some time before the end because it is hinted at all along the film. Definitely a film that will survive time as one of the best representatives of that type of light comedy with dancing and singing, and of course Fred Astaire.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A nifty outdoors action thriller
"Shoot to Kill" is a solid action adventure that stars Sidney Poitier who makes his return to the screen after a 10 year absence as a determined FBI detective on the trail of a killer who has murdered a hostage and a fisherman and makes for the Canadian border. No longer a young man, Poitier's Warren Stantin has all he can do to keep up with his trail guide Jonathan Knox [Tom Berenger] who guides him through treacherous mountain terrain in pursuit of this calculating killing machine who has seized another hostage, Knox' girlfriend, and forces her to guide him through rugged country to British Columbia. The film's scenery is beautiful and offers fetching views of the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and makes subtle parallels to 1972's "Deliverance" during the search for the killer and a party of hikers. The resentment between Agent Stantin and mountain man Knox, thick and palpable at first, later thaws and both men come to respect each other. Kirstie Alley's gritty Sarah keeps her captor on his toes during her unwilling mountain hike. The DVD release is in beautiful color in the widescreen format and the sound is excellent.

Great story and excellent acting
This is the first movie I saw Sidney Poitier in, and I have to say he did an excellent job.

The main characters are Sidney Poitier as an FBI agent out to catch a serial killer, Tom Berenger as a mountain man who lives in the woods, and his girlfriend Kirstie Alley who is giving a bunch of men a guided tour through the wilderness.

Some other well known actors are in the movie, but those three play the more dominant role.

I won't give away any scenes to spoil it, but I will say that the movie starts out in the city and quickly heads to the wilderness where the majority of the movie takes place. It only heads back to the city at the end.

This is one of the best suspense movies I have ever seen. You don't see the killer through most of the movie. Even once he is shown, there are so many other actors on screen as well that you don't know which one he is.

Suffice to say, excellent movie and terrific acting! Once the movie kicks into high gear, you won't leave your seat.

The killer has an unusual trademark he does to all his victims after he kills them. You will see what I mean. The ending is very good and very well thought out. Not too many criminals would do some of the things this killer does to avoid being seen or caught.

If you like suspense, definitely check this out! You can't go wrong with Shoot To Kill!

RIVETING ACTION ADVENTURE IN THE WILDERNESS
A rare action movie that manages to rise above its formula, Shoot to Kill delivers mystery, exciting action, and beautiful cinematography.

Tom Berenger has done many action/thriller movies, but Sidney Poitier steps out for a change of pace in this movie. Its formula is "double-fish-out-of-water buddy picture", and it stays pretty close to the formula throughout the movie.

Poitier plays an FBI agent who blew an arrest and wound up with a dead civilian, and has tracked the (unseen) thief/killer into the Pacific Northwest. Berenger plays a tracker, whose girlfriend runs a trail guide business. The girlfriend (Kirstie Alley in an outdoor role!) has taken her latest group of travelers out into the woods, and Poitier believes that the killer is among them. If that's not bad enough, a deadly storm looks like it's coming on.

The real fun in this movie is in the first half, where you see all of the men in Kirstie Alley's group. All of them are recognizable character actors, and most of them have played villains in other movies before. So which one of them is the killer? I guessed wrong the first time.

Unfortunately, this gets revealed about halfway through, and the movie returns to the formula. However, the excellent performances and lush cinematography elevate it beyond the norm. I thought Poitier did a great job as the city-based FBI agent, and Alley was surprisingly good as the trail guide.

Definitely worth a watch. Or two.

One of my all-time favorite movies!
This is a GREAT movie. I hate gory movies - this wasn't gory. The first time I saw "Shoot to Kill" I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. For the first part of the movie you don't even see the killer's face, so when you finally DO see him in a group of other men, you don't know which one's the bad guy. And just when I thought I had it figured out -- bam! -- it turned out to be someone else! Even after knowing which guy is the bad guy, you can't sit back and relax... it's still so suspenseful as to what's going to happen next, both when the killer is in the scene as well as when the scene revolves around Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenger. The location of the film is beautiful, too. I can't say enough good things about this movie -- it's simply terrific, and if you haven't seen it -- you should!! I was so disappointed that the DVD wasn't released when planned, because we'd been waiting a long time... I'm happy that we finally got it on DVD!

TERRIFIC MOVIE - BUT WHERE'S THE DVD?
I absolutely adore this movie! I have been waiting forever for it to come out, then got notified that it was, then it wasnt. What's happening? This is a cast of greats who were very well cast. The movie is suspenseful, has breathtaking scenery, great acting....but.....it's worth seeing the film just for the bear scene and the moose scene! (won't spoil it anymore than that!) Now PLEASE bring out the DVD so we can purchase it! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

An intelligent and potent drama about taking life's second chances when they come, Passion Fish finds director John Sayles (Matewan, Lone Star) once again providing a strong cast of actors with a smart, literate screenplay to produce an entertaining and thought-provoking film. Mary McDonnell (Dances with Wolves, Grand Canyon) plays a soap-opera actress paralyzed in a car accident, who returns to the small town on the Louisiana bayou where she grew up to hide. But the hiring of a physical therapist with a tortured past (Alfre Woodard), and the sometimes antagonistic bond formed between them, allows the woman to try and rehabilitate herself and seize the opportunities that life still has to offer. With some great traditional Cajun music and the picturesque bayou as a backdrop, Passion Fish is an engaging yarn not to be missed. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Beautiful Bayou.
In this current era of moviemaking, it's rare than an idea as soft, as pure as Passion Fish, will be given an opportunity to be made. Thankfully John Sayles has the ability to circumvent the 'by-committee' filmmaking which would have ultimately turned this wonderful little film into God know's what.

Mary McDonnell will never be better-she is brilliant, than in her portrayal of May-Alice Culhane (for which she was Oscar-nominated), the once-on-top Soap Opera star to whom tragedy has taken the use of her legs, and forced a re-evaluation of her life.

Alfre Woodard, as the hired home-care worker/nurse Chantelle provides the perfect complement as both these women find more of themselves through each other, then they might ever have found otherwise. Again, Ms. Woodard has rarely disappointed.

The early montage of health-care applicants is clever and funny. And John Sayles always is able to find brilliance in his supporting cast: notably Vondie Curtis-Hall, Leo Burmester, and David Strathairn, as well as a small role early in the career of Angela Bassett.

Sayles' script was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Modern Classic
Films like Passion Fish remind me that film can be art. With intelligent writing and direction by John Sayles, Passion Fish explores the friendship and bond between an unlikely and reluctant duo: a soap opera actress paralyzed in a car accident (brilliantly performed by Oscar nominated MARY McDONNELL) and her hired nurse with demons of her own (the wonderful, and shamlessly Oscar overlooked ALFRE WOODARD). This movie beautifully explores how two very independent women deal with their dependence on each other. With a strong supporting cast headed by DAVID STRAITHARN, Passion Fish is an absolute gem. The "anal probe" monologue is worth the price of admission alone!

a good movie
This is a well-acted movie with a good locale,a good script,and a good soundtrack.Recommended.

Great content, Superb acting - a true work of art
I love this film. The acting is as good as it can be. The simultaneous journeys of the characters blend and combust on each other and enrich each other. There are many delicious moments that themselves are worth re-watching. Completely delicious - all this despite the content itself being relatively challenging.

I'm just really going to have to check out all Sayles movies I guess - I keep finding out a favorite is by him. And Alfre Woodard of course never disappoints.

Completely worth it!

Sayles Greatest?
An almost perfect drama, by turns funny and heartbreaking. Sayles avoids his usual tendency to try and tell too many stories at once, instead keeping the action focused on the female leads (whose performances I cannot praise enough.) Sayles uses a technique of unfolding the narrative in a series of vignettes (most shorter than one minute) keeps the movie solidly on track, and maintains the interest of the viewer throughout. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

We did kidnap my father! It's a nightmare!
All right, I'm biased. When I watched the whole series on TV I was only about 7, so my memories of most of the episodes are all but nonexistent. "Phantom Train" is one of the exceptions, and the most vivid in my mind. So naturally I enjoyed watching it again, even more than the others. It's great as a breather between "Trenches of Hell" and "Oganga", which are very thoughtful and serious. It is a tad hokey, but in that respect most like the Harrison Ford movies. Indy undergoes character developement, however, which is good. The first half has plenty of action, but Indy learns his lesson of the day, and this lesson actually sticks with him and is seen in the movies. That is, that the ability to improvise is a quality.

The second half seems slow when compared with the first, but doesn't end up being anticlimatic. Von Lettow was really great as the stodgy German general, who reminds Indy of his father (see review title). The German woman who manages to shampoo and condition her hair out in the wilds was, in my opinion, a yawner. But she didn't figure in all that prominantly, so it wasn't too bad.

Five stars for all the times I was able to say, "I remember this part!"

VERY, VERY GOOD VIDEO
I've been an Indiana Jones fan for over six years and this was one of the first young Indy videos I watched. I have seen about half of the episodes available on video and so far this is still my favorite. It had a good story with good acting and great special effects. It is a classic tale of adventure in Africa. In the first part of the video Indy accidently goes on a mission to blow up a mysterious train with a flat-bed mounted cannon that has been shelling allied troops but cannot be found. In the second part of the video, Indy and his army buddy Remmy try to survive the wilds of Africa with an important german military prisoner. They run into hostile bush-men, lions, and are being pursued by the entire German army the whole time. Action-packed and full of surprises along with nice bits of humor in appropriate places this video should delight anyone intereseted in Indiana Jones.

Wonderful Saturday matinee fun
The first hour is pure fun, the action has all the wit and humor of Raiders or Last Crusade, with a wonderful contrast between Young Indy and the much older soldiers.

The second continues all of the wit and humor, yet adds a thoughtful look at Indy's search for father figures to replace his own estranged father, Prof Henry Jones Sr.

Quick, some lead a crusade to persuade Viacom (Paramount's parent company) that either of their networks CBS or UPN needs to make more Young Indy movies! We'll all be right behind you!

"Train" lays down tracks for the developing Indy's character
In his filmed introduction, George Lucas describes "Phantom Train of Doom" as one of his favorite Young Indy stories. For once, his perception of his own work isn't inflated. This is great Saturday afternoon matinee material, as the series was always intended to be. Like the equally exciting "Daredevils of the Desert", this episode succeeds because it is plausible, its historical figures are limited, and its two hours--filmed at different times--are knitted together extremely well.

Hour One has us meeting a very young Indy, indeed. This Indy is a relatively new inductee into the Belgian Army fresh off the boat to East Africa. Indy here is, well, uptight--more uptight than even the younger, River Phoenix portrayal. He likes plans, orders. He hasn't learned yet to say, "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go along". But the group of older soldiers he meets in East Africa soon teach him the value of flexibility. They teach him, in short, how to improvise. In the process, we're shuttled along on a rollicking great adventure.

Hour Two largely reverses Hour One and shows us--and Indy--that improvisation can only successfully begin from a position of discipline. Demonstrating the point is a finely-acted General Von Lettow Vorbeck, Commander of the German forces in East Africa, who variously plays captive and captor. It is a fascinating study in the relative values of luck and strategy. Lucas' choice of von Lettow, along with the apparently accurate 'elderly regiment', is, to my mind, what Lucas should've been doing in most of the episodes. By chosing people who are at once historically important, yet relatively unknown to modern audiences, Indy's association with them doesn't feel so blatantly contrived as in other episodes. Also, by concentrating almost exclusively on Von Lettow in the second hour, we really get a chance to understand the character in a way we never did in, say, "Mystery of the Blues", where historical figures virtually flooded the plot. Here, with just the single villain, we have an enjoyable game of cat and mouse, somewhat akin to "Silence of the Lambs", where we at once dislike and admire our antagonist.

What Hour Two ultimately says, then, is that, while fortune does indeed favor the bold, heroic outcomes are largely the result of ordinary hard work. Ford's Indy has obviously learned the lesson well. For all the action and adventure we see in the films, there's also a lot of study and hard work before Indy ever dons the leather jacket. It is, for the audience, a lesson far more valuable than the history on offer.

Classic Indy Adventure
This film has the classic Indy feel to it. It is an adventure comedy and it is full of fun adventures and one liners. While not as good as Oganga or Trenches of Hell this film is probably the most Indiana Jonesesque of all the Young Indy series. Fun for the family! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This high point in the 1940s vogue for movies about family life at the turn of the century was directed by George Stevens (Shane), and stars Irene Dunne as the matriarch of a Norwegian family that faces hard knocks with grace in 1910 (or so) San Francisco. Based on John Van Druten's hit play (derived from Kathryn Forbes's autobiographical memoir), the film is gorgeously rendered and quite moving as an act of memory. The sterling cast of character actors--Edgar Bergen, Rudy Vallee, Oscar Homolka, Barbara Bel Geddes, Ellen Corby, Cedric Hardwicke--add great texture and a depth of experience that make the film feel quite lived-in. Hardwicke's turn as a penniless boarder who "pays" his rent by reciting from classic literature is a special highlight. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Mama as Memory
Few films can tug at the heart strings as well as I REMEMBER MAMA. Adapted from the John Van Druten play, which was itself taken from the Kathryn Forbes novel, I REMEMBER MAMA captures indelibly slices of time in the life of a Norwegian family living in San Francisco at the turn of the 19th century. Narrated by a grown up Katrin (Barbara Bel Geddes), the film combines the problems of adapting to life in the United States with solutions that seem unworkable to those still steeped in the ways of the Old Country. At the center is Mama(Irene Dunne), who orchestrates the lives of her large extended family. Irene Dunne is superb with her profound understanding of human nature. She shows in scene after scene that a matriarch must be flexible enough to account for and guide the divergent personalities of her family. For her sisters, Mama makes it clear that she will not permit them to bully her vulnerable children. For her children, she extends praise when it is needed and stoicism when that is needed too. And for the boarder who skips town without paying his owed rent, she resigns herself that he has paid in a different coin, that of reading the classics to her children, thus inculcating in them a love of words. Surrounding Irene Dunne is a group of superb supporting actors, all of whom add flavor to a film that is linked only by the memories of Katrin. Perhaps the most outstanding job is the one done by the non-paying boarder, Mr.Hyde (Cedric Hardwicke), who nightly regales the family with timeless tales narrated in his booming voice, the sum total of which is to create a story within a story with each passing tale. Although the years pass, no one seems to age, and that is all right since the segue from scene to scene is accomplished so seamlessly that the audience scarcely notices. Oscar Homolka as Uncle Chris hits just the right note as the blustery yet kindly man who hides his kindness beneath a pushy attitude. Interspersed through key scenes in the movie are the appearances of Katrin, who interrupts the narrative to talk directly to the audience, commenting like a subdued omniscient narrator on the plot. Again, rather than putting off the audience with a style of narration that in another film would surely be seen as intrusive, in I REMEMBER MAMA, Katrin's comments, as well as all the various strands of the film, are seen instead as welcome threads that unite what could have been an aimless, disjointed movie into a chronicle of a family that rings true with each passing scene. Not many movies can come close to accomplishing this. Homolka, Bel Gedddes, and Dunne were all nominated for Academy Awards. This is truly one of the most heart-warming films of all time.

A families common goal
I enjoyed watching this film. Irene Dunn, who plays "Mama", does an excellent job holding this family together. She, also, does a great job of establishing and holding onto the treasures that makes this family blend together. What good memories I will have of this movie when I drink a cup of coffee. The movie is narrated by Barbara Bel Geddes. She brings the love this family has for each other by her presentation of the story. How many families do we know today who would share all aspects of the ups and downs a family faces, especially financial? Nothing was held back from anyone in the family which allowed them all to work towards one common goal.

they don't make them like this any more
it will make you cry and laugh a truley wonderful and memorable movie

dvd please
This is a magnificent performance by a wonderful artist, Irene Dunne, PLEASE....DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Movie...see it!

A Hilarious, Touching Family Movie
Our whole family (ages 1-44) watched this movie together and every one of us (except the 1 yr old) laughed and cried throughout the whole thing. Dunne is an amazing actress for her day and plays "Mama" beautifully. Uncle Chris is a brilliant character that adds much color to this black-and-white film. The family- Mama's husband and children- are delightful to watch mature and grow up. The aunts are a load of fun! From beginning to end, this movie grabs your attention-and you will most certainly laugh! I also suggest reading the book "Mama's Bank Account" before or after watching the film. What a great movie! WONDERFUL! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hawaiian fun with legendary characters Ma and Pa kettle
I always find the Ma and Pa Kettle films alot of fun to watch and although they could be dismissed by some people as a "guilty pleasure" I feel there is alot to enjoy in the old fashioned comedy that was their special charm. Alot of their appeal for me results from the wonderful playing of veterans Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride in their immortal roles of the wacky Ma and Pa Kettle. It's obvious that never once in all their films as the Kettles did these two actors ever loose respect for the characters they were playing which I feel explains their enduring popularity with audiences.

"Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki" came late in the hugely successful run of Kettle films and rather sadly marked the last appearance by Percy Kilbride as Pa. He retired due to ill health after this film and died soon after. Certainly this film's story lacks some of the freshness of the earlier installments but it is still very enjoyable with Ma's trademark raw voice and down home outlook combining beautifully with Pa's lazy, dont give a care view on life.

"Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki" finds Ma and Pa along with eldest daughter Rosie (played by beautiful starlet Lori Nelson), answering an urgent call from cousin Rodney kettle to come to Hawaii to help out with the operation of his Pineapple Canning factory while he recovers from a medical condition brought on by stress from his failing business. It seems Pa in his letters has boasted to Rodney about his great business acumen and Rodney feels some of Pa's obvious "genius" might help his ailing business. What develops is a typical Kettle misadventure where Pa through a series of mistakes like causing an explosion and bringing his new fangled music player into the workplace actually improves productivity and business practice in the factory. Ma meanwhile has her hands full trying to cope with the wives of Rodney Kettle's business associates. It is in these scenes that Marjorie Main really comes into her own. A veteran of so many classic films like "Dead End", "Susan and God", "A Woman's Face", and "Meet Me in St. Louis" Main is hilarious adapting herself to the fancy living and refined tastes of the ladies forced to invite her for an afternoon tea. Mabel Albertson, still best known as one of the interfering mother-in-laws on the classic 60's comedy series "Bewitched" excells as the bitchy and snobbish Mrs Andrews who has the misfortune to encounter the Kettle's on the boat to Hawaii (ending up in the swimming pool fully clothed for her troubles!!) and then finds herself having to play host to Ma at one of her afternoon soiree's. The highly unlikely proceedings result in "business wizard" Pa Kettle being kidnapped by Rodney's creditors who are anxious to take over the operation of the factory. It's interesting to see a very young Russell Johnson pre "Gilligan's Island" in the role of a hired thug determined to get rid of Pa. The scenes of Ma's "rescue" of Pa where she does everything from paddle an Hawaiian fishing boat to organising a coconut bombardment of Pa's captors is very funny and carried off in Marjorie Main's unique style. Its very amusing to see the Hawaiian family who help Ma with the rescue are a carbon copy of the Kettles with the Hawaiian Pa exactly like Pa in character and Hawaiian Ma the same as Ma together with 15 children of their own!

"Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki" might not be straight out of the pages of Oscar Wilde but it is a unique opportunity to see two seasoned performers in roles that absolutely suited them to a tee. Alot of the humour might seem very familiar to those of us used to TV sitcoms however one has to remember that the Kettles came first and influenced humour in the decade to come as seen in such hugely successful TV series as "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Green Acres". Marjorie Main in particular is wonderful as Ma and I still feel she never received the recognition she deserved for her acting. Enjoy the laid back charm one last time of the movies most famous country bumkins Ma and Pa kettle when they travel to Hawaii.

If you are a Kettle fan don't miss seeing Waikiki.
Ma and Pa Kettle in Waikiki is a rib tickler of a comedy. You'll laugh and roll as this down to earth family finds themselves in Hawaii. By shere mistake and accident Pa blunders his way to the top of his cousin's pineapple business. His goofs turn out to be incredibly beneficial and helpful to Rodney Kettle. You won't be sorry buying this video. If you don't like it, something is wrong in your humor zone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When a mail-order apprentice witch (Angela Lansbury) is saddled with three sibling refugees from London during World War II, the outlook is grim. But the kids soon discover her secret and sign on for adventure in the name of England. With the aid of a magical bed, they track down her fraudulent headmaster (David Tomlinson) to find the spell that will aid the Allies. Fascinated that she has actually achieved results with his lessons, he joins forces. The quintet does battle with corrupt booksellers, animated-lion royalty, and, eventually, invading Germans. Songs include Lansbury's Oscar-nominated "The Age of Not Believing." This film is often compared to director Robert Stevenson's earlier effort, Mary Poppins, and for good reason. In addition to Tomlinson, the movies share a fondness for magic at the hands of a good woman, light romance with an understanding male, and wide-eyed children. Stevenson also graces both films with interaction between humans and animated animals. Disney is wise to play up that aspect on its box this time around as both the underwater ball and the subsequent island soccer match are the most visually interesting and appealing parts of the film. Adults may find the 1971-vintage mixing of actors and animation a bit creaky, but kids used to a variety of animation quality will find the action a hoot. Ages 4 and up. The movie has been recut several times but was restored to the original length of 139 minutes for its 30th anniversary in 2001. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (70)

A Magical Disney Adventure
While the special effects on this movie are rather outdated (they were really quite good for the era) the story line still delivers an enjoyable experience, and is hightened by the fabulous acting of Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson and superb song and dance scenes.
While the youngest viewers will delight in the scenes where live action and animation mix, and where everyday objects take on lives of their own, I recommend this movie primarily for older kids and adults. The movie is to some extent a little slow paced compared to many modern childrens movies, which may cause the smaller children to grow a little restless, and much of the plot will be lost on the younger audience. I first saw this movie when I was four or five years old, and enjoyed it thuroughly, but it wasn't until years later that I was able to understand what was going on with the Nazis and the war and was able to truly appreciate it.
Now as an adult I'm able to fully enjoy every aspect of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and think it's great fun!

I Love This Wonderful Movie! 5+ Stars!
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is my favorite Disney movie ever created. However, it is also one of the most overlooked ones as well. I've watched this movie since I was a little child, and you never get bored of it. One childhood memory I have, is watching this movie with my family. Now, I watch this 30th Anniversary DVD with my baby brother. Now I'll tell you all what this classic is about.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is about a middle aged apprentice witch named Eglantine Price who lives in 1940 England. She is ordered to watch after 3 children who have been evacuated from London. The kids find out Miss Price's secret, and they also find out that Miss Price learns witchcraft from a mailorder course. To make a pact that states that if they keep her secret, she'll make it worth her while. So, she enchants a brass bedknob that will make them go wherever they want. However, the school closes, without the most important final spell, the Subsitutiary Locomotion spell.

So, using the bedknob, they go to London and seek out the headmaster of the school, Emelius Brown. Mr Brown can't find the spell either because the book he got out the spell of is torn, and the spell is only found on a necklace of a sorcerer named Astoroth.

Anyway, they go to Portobello Road, like a mini mall, and learn that towards the end of Astoroth's life, he captured animals and kept them in cages to make them more human like. The animals rebelled and killed Astoroth and stole the necklace. The animals escaped and took refuge on a mythical Isle named Niboombu.

The animation starts know as the tiny group explore the sea and then the island using hte traveling bedknob, and get the necklace that has the spell on it after a fun soccer game with a lion, which almost ends our story. After getting the necklace and returning home, the Nazi soldiers attack, and using the Spell, Miss Price and Company defeat them.

Now, I highly reccomend this DVD because of its digitally restored and digitally remastered format, and the resolution is so clear. This also has one of the best climaxes in Disney history, when they fight the Nazi's, and also has great animation.

As Mr Brown says, "Do it with a Flair", and get this 30th anniversary DVD, Digitally Restored and Remastered and Ready to Go!

Poppins-lite
Made during the Disney wilderness years following Walt's death, Bedknobs is a re-tread of the hugely successful Mary Poppins. However, if you're going to re-tread a film, it might as well be a classic! Check off the ingredients: - initially cold matronly female lead who the children and audience quickly warms to, capable and charming child leads, a perky male side-kick, an animated/live action interlude that has nothing to do with the plot, a Sherman brothers score, an episodic structure, a general magical story-book quality to the film etc.
Angela Lansbury gives her most likable screen characterisation (apart from perhaps Jessica Fletcher!) and shows to those not familiar with her Broadway career that she can sing and dance. David Tomlinson brushes off the stuffy ghost of Poppins' George Banks and plays a buffoon with great relish. The children are all well cast and shine in slightly cliched and under-written roles. Special mention must go to Roddy McDowell for a lovely cameo as a scheming cleric and to British-favourite Bruce Forsyth as a flick-knife toting 'spiv'.
The animated sequence involving the 'Beautiful Briney' is wonderful and, once the characters reach dry land, the soccer game with the animals is as 'Looney Tunes' as Disney would probably dare be! The rest of the film is slightly slow in places but has some excellent set-pieces, in particular the Portabello Road musical interlude, the clothing being 'magic-ed' to life and the final 'Armour vs. Nazis' showdown. The special effects are very good for the age, especially the animated object scenes. The score, by the Shermans, isn't a patch on their Mary Poppins but includes some real gems including the afore-mentioned 'Beautiful Briney' and 'Portabello Road' as well as the catchy 'Substituciary Locomotion'.
This edition includes around fifteen minutes of previously cut scenes and lines of dialogue that have been re-inserted into the main body of the film. Unfortunatly, the audio from these clips has been lost, and so the lines had to be re-recorded with varying degrees of success. Lansbury and McDowell have supplied their own voices but Tomlinson's, the children's and Tessy O'Shea's have been 'impersonated' quite poorly, meaning that those with relatively keen ears can tell when a newly inserted scene is playing. The audio for the songs survived, meaning that 'Eglantine' and 'Portabello Road' have been extended, although some of the film quality in the latter also draws attention to the cut scenes. These quibbles do not, however, spoil the film and the re-inserted scenes at least clarify McDowell's character's intensions towards Miss Price. Prior to this edition, we were not aware that he was wanting to marry her for her 'nice, sturdy house' - which is why he is jumping up and down on her porch when she answers the door to him!
Overall, this is a film that plays well to all ages (I loved it as a child and now sit and watch it often with my son). It's unfortunate that it will forever live in Mary Poppins' substantial shadow (along with the weaker Pete's Dragon), but at least it lives as one of the better Disney films made in those wilderness years prior to The Little Mermaid'.
Thouroughly recommended.

SLOW
I bought this for my 3-year old since she just loves Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang and it just doesn't have any comparison. Amazon made the suggestion and I fell for it. Bad move! Very slow moving movie!!!

Magic
This is a very good movie for every one. The story is very nice and the characters are fun for every body. I really can't think of any complaints. A rated acting and scenery. ... Read more

Description

Steven Spielberg retrospective on the "Making of Jaws" with exclusive footage, behind-the-scenes and rare interviews

Jaws Archives: Photos, storyboards, and production drawings

Original theatrical trailer and teaser trailer

Digitally remastered

Special Silver Foil Packaging ... Read more

Reviews (464)

"Here's to Swimmin' with Bowlegged Women"
Jaws has something for everyone. It has a bit of the classic disaster movies of the 70s like "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno." It has a bit of the classic Hitchcock suspense films like "Psycho" and "The Birds." It has a bit of the teen B-movie slasher flicks. It's a buddy picture. It's a road trip movie. Now a lot of directors could take these elements and make a lousy movie, but Spielberg turned it into Hollywood gold.

The casting and character development in the movie are excellent. Robert Shaw's Quint, especially, is unbelievably good as the salty shark-hunter. His monologue about the USS Indianapolis demonstrates in a couple minutes the depth of his character who, prior to that scene, was almost a caricature (the quote in the title of this review is an example of his charming wit). Dreyfuss and Scheider also create characters with nuanced depth. Spielberg even takes Murray Hamilton's character, Mayor Vaughn, who at first seems shallow and smarmy ("Amity, as you know, means friendship") and in the hospital scene transforms him into a real person.

Included on the DVD is an excellent documentary looking at the making of the movie, which does a great job at spreading credit for the film's success beyond just Steven Spielberg, as well as throwing in a lot of filmmaking trivia. The other extras on the DVD are a mixed bag. The deleted scenes are worth watching, though appropriately deleted from the final version. The outtakes were a disappointment (you'd think Roy Scheider would have test-fired the gun after it jammed the second time). The trivia game is nice once through. The Windows screensaver amounts to 5 still images (most of them mediocre) from the movie that endlessly repeat. A commentary or two would have been great ... maybe for the 30th anniversary.

Jaws was one of those movies that was an instant hit and continues to impress. It's still in the Top 30 box office draws (even ahead of Monsters Inc., Batman, and Men in Black) - and with good reason: it's simply an excellent movie. If you've never seen it before, you're missing a thrill (literally). If you have seen it, but don't have it on DVD already, get it now; it doesn't disappoint.

Take a Bite Out of this DVD!
Anyone old enough to remember the Summer of '75 will recall the sheer terror caused by the 20-foot mechanical shark in Steven Spielberg's classic horror film "Jaws". Not only did this flesh-ripping Great White take a huge chunk out of the worldwide box office, it also put a dent in the profits of beach towns on both coasts. No one wanted to go anywhere near the ocean! Heck, you couldn't even jump into a kiddie pool without some prankster breaking into a couple bars of the classic "Jaws" theme. (Da-Dum-Da-Dum-Da-Dum...) The media, in fact the whole world, was caught up in a stupifying feeding frenzy of Shark-Mania. You see, "Jaws" wasn't merely a movie; it was an EVENT! It was the original Summer Blockbuster. But, unlike the majority of mega-movies it spawned, "Jaws" was worth every penny of the $3.50 we movie-goers forked over in 1975. In a stroke of genius, Spielberg kept us squirming by not allowing us to see the toothy, blood-lusting shark for the first hour of the film. We only witnessed the bone-crunching damage that this monster had inflicted. When the Great White finally surfaced, a collective gasp could be heard throughout the theatre. Nevertheless, we had faith in Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider -- the heroic hunters who set off to sea in a small fishing vessel named, ironically, "Orca". But, alas, we knew that indeed they'd need "a bigger boat". The inevitable showdown between man and maneater was more horrifying than anything we'd ever seen on the big screen. But, ultimately, in the end, we let out a whopping round of applause and got right back in line to see it again. (Well, some of us unemployed youth actually hid in the bathroom between shows!) Everything about "Jaws" worked. The suspense, the music, the chemistry of the stellar cast and, of course, the big rubber shark kept us coming back for more. Finally, after years of suffering through heavily edited pan and scan versions on Cable TV, we are treated to a beautiful widescreen version of "Jaws". This DVD is truly worth it. The print itself is crisp and clean. The entire soundtrack, most notably John Williams' chilling score, is greatly enhanced by the DTS. For my money, the "Making of Jaws" documentary included within is worth the price of admission alone. Overall, a job well done and quite befitting of this all-time classic. Highly recommended.

THE ALL-TIME SHOCKER
I`ve seen this over and over... It simply never outstays its welcome. The thrills are still at potent as in 1975. Yup, they did make sequels and Deep Blue Sea; but it can never be like this....Thanks to the genius of Spielberg, Verna Fields and a GOOD screenplay by Garl Gootlieb and author Peter Bencheley this is both drama, horror and suspense on a high level. JAWS is indeed high art. Scheider, Gary, Duvall, Hamilton and Dreyfuss ALL excell in their roles.

May be too intense for Younger Children
Before the PG 13 rating existed, producers of Jaws placated the MPAA ratings board by adding "May be too intense for younger children" after the PG. May be should be changed to MOST DEFINITELY. Jaws broke box office records BECAUSE people of ALL AGES found it amazing. Jaws may seem quite tame today, but in 1975 it kept all age groups out of the surf. It succeeded because all aspects of the filmmaking process were done excellently. First, the script. Speilberg wisely jettisoned the affair between Hooper and Ellen. He softened the characters making them more likable. He obviously changed the ending to make it more spectacular. Next, the acting. Perfect casting choices all around, from the 3 leads to the smallest part (secretary Polly is a riot with that voice). Location shooting was right on the money. Beautiful beach is made ominous at night. Effects: Speilberg may complain but the mechanical shark is very convincing when it is on screen (mostly near the end). Lighting, editing, and of course the most famous musical score of all time are the icing on the cake. Top it off with an eye grabbing movie poster, and how could you NOT succeed.
This is one of my favorite movies, I usually watch it around the fourth of July. The DVD is excellent, however the 75 minute documentary was cut by about 45 minutes (which was included on the laser disc). That aside, enjoy this marvelous film that will make you feel you are on that boat, that beach, or most chillingly, in the water.

Over Three Tons of Horror!!!
I first saw this movie shortly after its release in 1975. I didn't know what was going to happen when it kept me at the edge of my seat hair raising and harrowing that it was. I knew that Christie was going to become the first victim when she goes out for a swim, running behind her was a drunk, young man who was interested in her. She beckons him to come out with her but he passes out at the water's edge. As for the girl? Terror strikes! Roy Scheider plays police chief Martin Brody, who was generally afraid of the water because of a near drowning accident in his younger life, goes out in search of the menacing great white shark with Quint (Robert Shaw) and Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), but not before the shark claims a few more victims. My youngest brother has a brother-in-law who happens to be a police officer, freaks out when he sees the part of the movie when that corpse looms right at Hooper, scaring him as he examined the boat that had been attacked by the shark. A great horror flick if you dare to go in the water after you see it. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Still a great story after all these years! Well, almost.
I was just a child when I saw this 1947 film in a movie theater and have never forgotten it. Now, more than a half century later, I revisited it on video. I'm a different person now, and a lot of time has gone by, but I was still captivated by the film. Well, almost!

The story is set in the mid 19th century when British colonialism was at its peak. Two sisters are in love with the same man, played by Richard Hart, who goes off to sea in the King's navy. He is drugged in China, misses his ship and goes off to New Zealand to make his fortune. He's really in love with the quiet sister, played by Donna Reed, but when he sends for her to be his wife, his pen slips and he actually asks for the strong willed sister, played by Lana Turner. To complicate matters, the man who really loves the Lana Turner character is the husband's partner, played by Van Heflin. But that's just a small part of the sweeping epic that includes an earthquake, a tidal wave and a Maori war. The film is also about love, the kind that grows through the years, as well as religious love. Because while Lana Turner is off in New Zealand battling the elements of nature, Donna Reed becomes a nun.

This is a great story and there are twists and turns throughout. Lana Turner is beautiful. Her makeup is always perfect and her costumes are great. I can't help noticing though that even when she is about to give birth, she still has a perfectly corseted narrow waist, and her lipstick and hairdos are just a little too perfect throughout. But that, of course was the way they made movies in 1947. The film was 2 hours and 21 minutes and could have been shorter. Some of speeches were a little too long, especially near the end. Also, I can't help it, but I now have a 21st Century attitude about colonialism although back then it seemed like a thrilling adventure. Acting was excellent, several other sub-stories added a rich tapestry to the tale. Best of all, though, were the special effects, which won an Academy Award in 1948. I found the earthquake scene every bit as frightening as anything on the screen today even though this film was produced in black and white without benefit of modern technology. And except for the ending, the story moved fast and held my interest and, for a little while, transported me to a world of adventure, intrigue and romance. Recommended.

"I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE UNDER MY FEET..."
"Green Dolphin Street" was the result of a novel-writing contest, sponsored by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. The author of the best original novel, in MGM's opinion, would have their novel turned into a screenplay, and then produced/filmed/released as a feature film by MGM Studios. The novel, by Elizabeth Goudge, was published in 1944, and this MGM film was completed and released in 1947.

As a story and a film, it's ALL THERE. Sights, sounds, characters, costumes, international adventure, anthropolical insights, loyalty and betrayal, disaster and redemption. The black-and-white cinematography capture the New Zealand landscapes, Pacific seascapes, French convents and sea villages so skillfully, you would think Amsel Adams photographed them! Lana Turner never looked better and gave an Oscar-worthy performance. Donna Reed gives a great supporting performance as Turner's younger sister. Reed is afforded a spectacular sequence in which her character must escape from a brutal incoming tide (washing over a landbridge), by clawing her way up a vertical tunnel inside a cliff.

The best sequence, though, is the earthquake sequence. "Green Dolphin Street" won the 1947 Academy Award for Special Effects and for good reason. Once the Maori Aborigines stop beating their drum to the seismological gods, a catastrophic earthquake of epic proportions begins. This sequence must have inspired Irwin Allen during the filming of his 1970's disaster epics because it looks like "Earthquake," "The Towering Inferno," and "The Poseidon Adventure" all rolled into one! Geysers, fire, landslides breaking dams, tidal waves, and locals being swallowed up by the earth and being squashed by monstrous falling timber make for a VERY dramatic disaster. And the NOISE...no wonder the film was nominated for Best Sound, if only for Lana Turner's hysterical, banshee-like screeching.

After starting all over from nothing, the main characters get caught in the middle of a Maori civil war and must try to escape.

Whether it be the convent on the island of St. Pierre, France; a sheep farm or timber camp in New Zealand; a Chinese denizen or the wide open sea, this film has something for everyone. Just be prepared to "hold on tight."

GREEN DOLPHIN STREET
THIS FILM IS TOPS WITH ME. ONE OF THE BEST PLOTS EVER AND A GRIPPER TILL THE END.

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO A DVD ON THIS ONE?????????

PLEASE, PLEASE,

A Marvelous Melodrama
If you've got 2 and a half hours, a cup of tea, and an appreciation of costume melodrama, this is the flick for you. Starring Lana Turner and Donna Reed as loving sisters whose lives and loves take a very different turn, Green Dolphin Street carries the viewer through tragedy, disaster, and utlimately, the realization that it is not we who are in charge of our lives, but a greater Love. The special effects still hold up, the costumes are great, and the performances by Turner, Reed, Van Heflin, and Richard Hart are first rate.

A beautifull done film!
This is a must see film, for any fan of a good story or the classic movie era. Donna Reed and Lana Turner both shine in it as the sisters in the film. It's a very entertaining and meaninful story, of women and men who love a person they can't have, but end up loving who they can have so much more and deeper then their first love. It truly deserves all the stars it can get. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Rita Hayworth stars with Glenn Ford in the "sequel" to Gilda
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Rita Hayworth had been absent from the screen for a few years when she made this film, but as the camera proves, although a bit older, she hadn't lost her on-screen magic.

This film isn't technically a "sequel" to the noir classic "Gilda", but it has many of the same elements. Rita (still with her famous Gilda hairstyle) again stars opposite Glenn Ford, who slaps Rita across the face just as he did in "Gilda"; Rita sings and dances (ala Gilda) in a couple of musical numbers wherein the voice is dubbed by the same singer who sang for her in "Gilda"...

The plot is contrived, and nowhere near as interesting as "Gilda", but it still makes for an interesting film, especially if you enjoyed "Gilda" and want to see more of the sultry Rita Hayworth making onscreen magic with her most effective co-star, Glenn Ford.

For fans of Hayworth, it's worth seeing for the musical numbers alone.

Lovely Rita... this film bears watching just to see her beautiful face light up the screen!

An "Affair" to Forget
"Gilda" is a great nasty film noir, in which Glenn Ford isn't quite man enough to take on Rita Hayworth, and she keeps flaunting it in his face. Will he step up to the plate... or burst into tears? If you're a fan of that movie hoping for more of their unique sado-masochistic chemistry, forget it. "Affair in Trinidad" is a third-rate knockoff of Notorious, but director Vincent Sherman is no Charles Vidor. In fact, he's nobody. The stars don't make fools of themselves as they did in their ludicrous "Carmen," but duller isn't necessarily better. She throws her hair around energetically, but years of hard living had taken their toll, and you know Hayworth is in trouble when you find yourself wondering if she's wearing a wig. "Gilda" was Ford's finest hour, maybe because his usual scowling tough guy act was framed up as a paper-thin cover for sexual ambiguity. Here, he looks like he can barely keep himself from stomping off the set in disgust. You're luckier than he was: you have a remote.

de-energised Hayworth
On the orders of Columbia studio head Harry Cohn, Rita Hayworth was transformed from a latin B player to an A picture love goddess, her high spirits passing as all-American in titles like Cover Girl and Gilda. However the curse of the beautiful is that they become possessions by collectors, just as Rita told screenwriter of Gilda, Virginia Van Upp - men fell in love with Gilda but woke up with me. Her greatest collector was Prince Aly Khan, and the idea of capturing a movie star predated Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier in the 1950's. However the Hayworth/Khan marriage failed and Rita returned to Hollywood. Perhaps in a depression, unhappy with the vehicle provided for her comeback role, or simply older, Hayworth's sparkle had dimmed. That's not to say that she doesn't look beautiful in the film. Whilst not lit as gorgeously as she was by Rudolph Mate in Gilda, she has a moment here standing in repose in shadow, smoking. But even with her character being a recent widow, her voice is dead and she carries herself like a somnambulist. She is best when she is dancing as she does twice here. In the first, Trinidad Lady, is the Carmen Rita - barefoot and tossing her dress. The framing distances us - director Vincent Sherman may be more interested in the crowd around the stage, but she looks happy performing. The second, I've Been Kissed Before, has obvious parallels to her Put The Blame on Mame from Gilda. She wears a shimmery black dress as fetishistic as the famous black satin sheath, the number is schematically arranged to present her as a tramp to later be rewarded with a face slap, even the choreography recalls that of Mame. However her announced intention to dance, even if contextualised, is a dramatic change of characterisation. She gives us the Gilda we want, and not the woman we have accepted up to this time - the one we have woken up with. The Gilda connection is made in the film by the casting of Glenn Ford as her romantic partner, thankfully treating her a little kinder this time around, Steven Geray in an amusing supporting role as her employer, Alexander Scourby as a pseudo-George Macready but without the menace, the locale being Trinidad as Gilda was set in Buenos Aires and a plot about German-ish hoods investing in shady activities that pose a threat to security. Ford tells us he was a pilot in the war and since he isn't old enough to mean WW1, we know that Upp and her cowriters have written their screenplay in a rush, explaining Hayworth's own reluctance to participate. Scourby is give the witty lines like "Some people are mellowed by drink. Have another" and "At the risk of dislocating your personality, try to be calm". He has a funny exchange with Ford about Hayworth - "I think you look lovelier in this colour than any other. Don't you agree?" "There's a few shades I haven't seen her in yet". Valerie Bettis who created Rita's dances also appears as the wife of one of the Germans and her drunken energy is very welcome. She has a great laugh and even gets to parody Hayworth's dancing at one point, and Juanita Moore is good as Rita's maid. Sherman provides an exterior of an airport with seemingly limitless open skies, and gives Scourby's interior an imposing staircase. This film is not the bomb I thought it was the last time I saw it, plot holes notwithstanding, but Sherman moves things along and at least Hayworth isn't the embarassment she was in the Hall of Mirrors sequence in The Lady from Shanghai. Perhaps sadly Aly Khan took the best of her and Harry Cohn was left to salvage her career with the little she had left to give.

The goddess spies (and dances and collects male resentments)
The thriller plot with a beautiful woman under-cover and unable to respond to maligning suspicions seems to me to owe much to Hitchcock's sublime "Notorious." (The original murder mystery of the plot is never solved. Hitchcock would not have left that hanging.)



The noirish cinematography is excellent, though the editing cannot compare with that in "Notorious" (or "Gilda"). I find Glenn Ford's sanctimonious hard to take (here as elsewhere).

Primarily, however, this was a vehicle for the return of screenn goddess Rita Hayworth in 1952, after the collapse of her marriage to Ali Khan ended her early retirement. There is a sadness underlying many of Rita Hayworth's sultry performances (as in "Gilda").

She could most certainly dance! No one at the time credited her with being able to act, but she could do that, too. She was so mesmerizingly beautiful that she just had to be vapid, everyone seems to have thought. 34 years old when she made this film, she looked absolutely ravishing.

The film's costume design won an Academy Award, but in the (deservedly) best-remembered scene, she danced barefoot.

More than I expected
I have seen Ford and Hayworth in movies (seperately) since World War II. The story is quite good, as are the script and the direction. The suspense and plot twists are interesting, and Rita Hayworth was very good in a fairly difficult role. I expected only a steamy romance vehicle, having seen repeatedly publicity so indicating for Gilda and for this picture. I was very pleased at the picture,including theTrinidadian blacks being so favorably and well protrayed for the time, and such roles being very well acted. And there is some chemistry there ! Maybe 3 1/2 stars out of 5 (I don't give many 5s). ... Read more

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THE FUTURE IS DISMAL - SO IS THE TRANSFER!
Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" is an apocalyptic postmodernist vision of the future. The story involves a bounty hunter, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) who is assigned to kill three replicants - android style robots that look identical to humans, but who have come to earth to seek revenge on their creator - Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkel). Sean Young costars as Rachel, the latest model of replicant who is so incredibly life like that not even she knows that she's not human. Also in the cast are Rutgar Hauer as Roy Batty - the ultimate killing machine, Edward Olmos as a drugged out police detective, Gaff, and Darryl Hannah, as the psychotic replicant, Pris. Flawed in its narrative, but visually stunning, "Blade Runner" has developed a cult following - and it is easy to see why. The production is layered with multi-references to the steady moral and social demise of our own society that stir the mind into rethinking this movie as much more than a sci-fi adventure. This version of the film is the re-edited director's cut that audiences were never shown in 1982. The subtle tweaking of story and plot elements really doesn't enhance one's viewing experience so much as it just alters the story in a different direction.
But what a shame about the transfer! Though the gene