Reviews (11)

"This is another fine mess you've gotten me into!"
Vincent Price and Peter Lorre were the Laurel & Hardy of horror films. Their by-play in this film and in THE RAVEN and TALES OF TERROR is priceless (sorry). And when you add Boris Karloff to the mix, you suddenly have Moe, Larry and Curly, with Basil Rathbone more-than-ably filling in the Vernon Dent/Bud Jamison role.

Why all this comedy name-dropping? Simply to underscore the fact that this is a classic comedy. "Why did I ever escape from prison?" mourns Lorre when forced into another murderous midnight recruitment venture for their undertaking establishment. "It was so nice and peaceful!" And watch Vincent's face as he suddenly wipes off his hands when giving Lorre a leg-up, growling, "What DID you step in? Wipe your feet, for pity's sake!"

Watch Boris' graphic maunderings about Egyptian mummification processes ("they yank out the brain with a hook!") at the dinner table and the excellent, underrated Joyce Jameson's grossed-out reactions. Watch Basil's oh-so-superior sneers as he threatens to evict Vincent & Co. in orotund dialogue worthy of a Snidely Whiplash meller-drammer. Watch the dead Rathbone return to life again. . .and again . . .and again . . . and again . . .and again, with Vincent's facial reactions getting broader each time. Watch Lorre carry on with the shapely Jameson as the romantic lead (that alone is worth the price of admission!)

The film's comic premise is richly endowed with black humor, put-downs, slapstick, a frenetic, prolonged chase, and a first-rate cast that makes the most of every line, pratfall and bit of business ("time for your medicine, old man!") Watch and enjoy.

"What Place Is This?"
This is a hilarious movie! I love it. Vincent Price plays an undertaker, as he has taken over his father-in-law's business. Peter Lorre plays his assistant, Boris Karloff plays the hard of hearing father-in-law, & Basil Rathbone wants the rent money. And of course there is Rhubarb (the cat) playing the role of Cleopatra! Oh, & you may want to wear ear plugs during the singing! Yikes! And just when you think everyone is dead, well you thought wrong! You have to see it to know what I'm getting at.

Brrrrr!
This movie is a great.
Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris KArloff, and last but not least, BASIL RATHBONE star in this hilarious black comedy about two aspiring undertakers who are having trouble getting customers, so they kill people just so they can give them a funeral. This movie had me laughin so hard I was crying, especially the part where Basil Rathbone chases Peter Lorre out of his house, quoting lines from Macbeth all the while. And who could forget the utter disgust on Vincent Price's face as he cries in absolute horror "What did you STEP in?!?"Absolutely hilarious.

Classic Video Fun!
This is a great movie if you like to see the classic horror stars letting their hair down.
There's nothing serious in this film but the fun.
Vincent Price and Peter Lorre are the center of attention with Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone playing the comedy role you never expected to see.
The sets are 1960's B movie stuff, but it just adds to the atmosphere.
If you're looking for something entertaining to watch on movie night this is one to put in the lineup.
I got this and "The Raven" at the same time. Both are funny!

Drunk again, huh?
I LOVE this film!! Vincent Price is just hysterical as the undertaker who needs to drum up some business, Peter Lorre is great as the assistant, Basil Rathbone is the landlord who wants his year's rent, and Boris Karloff just can't hear a thing. "What? Sugar?? There ya go!" Basil just keeps on coming back to life, quoting from "Hamlet" as he goes along, and Peter Lorre laments about his dear Annabel. Joyce Jamison is Annabel, who is Felix Gillie's love interest. Annabel is married to Waldo (Vincent Price) and Boris Karloff is her father. The funeral speech by Karloff is just priceless. Needless to say, as soon as Rathbone's character is buried we hear: "What place is this??" Great. If you haven't seen this movie yet, YOU HAVE TO!! And I agree with the comment: "Where is the DVD??" Get with it MGM, we still need this one and The Raven, and The Tomb of Ligeia....I have to finish my Vincent Price DVD collection! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Wonderful!
This is a great tape and has the first epiode the pilot Once Upon A Time In The City Of New York and is wonderful it is about how Catherine Chandler is attacked and Vincent finds her and brings her to his underground home to recover and soon a bond develops, a soul mate kind of love! I think this particular tape may only have the pilot but the tape we have also has an episode called A Happy Life and is about Catherine dealing with the anniversary of her mother's death. Both are great episodes but my favorite is the pilot episode! Linda Hamilton from the Terminator movies plays Catherine and Vincent is played by Ron Perlman. I highly recommend this video to fans of Beauty and the Beast.

Beauty and the Beast - the dream lives on.
This first part to the series is the one so many people fell in love with and it is a must if you have never seen Beauty and the Beast before. For from that first episode so starts the relationship between the man beast Vincent Wells and the beautiful district attorney Catherine Chandler. From the very first this couple captured our hearts, especially Vincent, who soon had his own following - as everyone that watched the series wanted to take him home. Soon he became every woman's dream as to the perfect man, and it became apparent that outward appearances are not important, it is the beauty of the inner self that shines through any differences. That and the fact that Vincent has the most gorgeous blue eyes, gravelly sexy voice, a marvelous physique and a love of the finer things in life such as good music and literature. And Vincent made us review our own life and made us better people. Vincent was played to perfection by the man behind the makeup - Ron Perlman. And there is a marvelous chemistry that exists between Mr Perlman and Linda Hamilton the actress that plays Catherine Chandler, that made their roles oh so believeable. Buy it, watch it and you will be forever pleased that you did. There is a huge fan following for this show who are campaigning to have more episodes made and hopefully a movie too.

PLEASE release this on DVD
I grew up watching this show and loved every episode. I've been trying to find them for years. Ron Perlman is amazing as Vincent and the actor who played Father was everything a kid could want. You really rooted for Perlman and Hamilton. PLEASE release this series on DVD.

Dvd
This was one of the best shows out there... I highly recommend it being put on dvd

This Show Should Have Complete Season DVD Boxsets!
Beauty and the Beast is a great show and Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman gave amazing performances as Catherine and Vincent. I used to watch Beauty and the Beast when it was on CBS and I also used to have this tape. There used to be reruns of this show on cable but it never seems to be shown anymore and I would like to see Beauty and the Beast put out on DVD in complete season DVD boxsets. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A Tortured Soul Finds Peace
This was the first time Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake were in the same film together, and when box office receipts exploded because of the gritty and tortured performance of Ladd as the killer Raven, Paramont knew it had a star. The chemistry of Ladd and Lake together was electric also, and Paramont also knew it had a couple. Ladd might not have gotten her in this one, but they ended up together in the other three films they would make and everyone loved it.

This was a dark and star making performance from Ladd. From the very first scene, as Raven stops on the stairs, gun in hand, to pause and decide if he should shoot the little girl who has seen him, he was a star. Raven has been double crossed by "Neptune Club" owner Willard Gates (Laird Cregar) and is out to settle the score. Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake) has a nightclub act and a cop boyfriend played by Robert Preston.

The government wants Ellen to help get the goods on Alvin Brewster (Tully Marshall) who runs a chemical company that has sold poisonous gas to the Japanese and also happens to be Gates's boss, the man pulling all the strings. But when Ellen senses the pain inside Raven and becomes his only friend, other than cats, we know the bad guys don't have a chance.

Doom follows Phillip Raven also though, his horrific chidhood slowly revealed to Ellen, his willing captive. She begins to reach Raven and make him human once more, maybe human enough to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country, and put his personal demons to rest. It was a teriffic turn from Ladd and one of his most memorable roles.

It's a good movie made great by Ladd's performance. It was also the beginning of screen magic for he and Lake. You have to see this movie if you like crime noir and/or you like Ladd and Lake, and how could you not? They were lightening in a bottle and the cork is blown completely off here....

A nice, slick bit of 40s movie-making
This Gun for Hire was based on the Graham Greene novel A Gun for Sale and was considerably toned down and glammed up for the early 40s movie going public. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I found this movie rather enjoyable, it is easy to see why Ladd and Lake were made into a screen team. They are supported by Laird Cregar as a plotting spy with no stomach for violence and Robert Preston as Veronica Lake's cop boyfriend. Alan Ladd steals the show as Raven, a killer for hire who really only likes cats. (as a cat lover, I was automatically more sympathetic to him) Cregar's Gates betrayed him to the cops and now he wants revenge.

Raven and Lake's Ellen, a nightclub magician, cross paths throughout the movie and she begins to strip down his tough guy veneer to reveal an abused childhood. Armed with her brains and a considerable amount of flag waving, Ellen tries to persuade Raven to give up his vengeance and uncover an Axis plot.

Ladd, Lake and Cregar are all marvelous but the usually wonderful Preston (best known for his smooth con-man in Music Man) isn't given much to work with and his cop character feels flat especially next to Raven.

This movie is really a must-see for any fan of 40's films and even with its flaws (I also found the final image to be annoying and totally against Lake's independant character), it is still a pleasant way to pass an evening.

Over-rated....Lake and Ladd make up for a tired scenario
This is the movie that made Alan Ladd a star, and his teaming here with Veronica Lake caused quite a stir back in 1942.

Sadly, THIS GUN FOR HIRE is really second-rate noir, a tired melodrama that really doesn't hold up, especially for repeat viewings.

Universal's DVD looks very similar to the old Image laserdisc release from a few years back. Not really any improvement

There's a lot of film-noir available on DVD, but this one doesn't live up to the hype. Skip it.

RAVEN A CHILLING SCREEN CREATION
"This Gun For Hire" is a watered down, glammed up version of Graham Greene's novel A Gun for Sale. It represents the first of four cinematic outings that teamed sultry Veronica Lake with the stoically handsome Alan Ladd, a potent cocktail of personalities that proved to be much in demand over the next decade. Perhaps a tad heavy on sentimentality than most film noirs, the plot concerns Philip Raven's (Ladd) obsession with Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake) a nightclub dancer with a rough and rumble cop boyfriend, Michael Crane (Robert Preston). Ellen is supposed to be working on exposing Alvin Brewster (Tully Marshall), a chemical company CEO who sold poisonous gas to the Japanese. But an odd and Freudian driven relationship surfaces between Ellen and Raven when she senses his childhood pain and angst. Ellen becomes Raven's willing captive, in the process transcending his nightmares and making him more human. The very first scene in this film is so incredibly chilling it begs special mention. After having been double crossed by ne'er-do-well, Williard Gates (Laird Cregar), Raven (Ladd) contemplates killing an innocent little girl who has seen him. Even though the resulting decision is typical "golden age" morality, Ladd makes one believe, if only for a moment, that such cold blooded silencing might be possible.
THE TRANSFER: Universal's DVD transfer is remarkably solid and clean. The gray scale is very well balanced with deep solid blacks and whites that are almost pristine. There's a hint film grain and some age related artifacts. Also, some edge enhancement and pixelization occur, but nothing that will distract from a visual presentation that is a considerable improvement over previously issued VHS tapes. The audio is mono and very well represented.
BOTTOM LINE: There are no extras on this disc. Nevertheless, it is a good disc to add to your library of classic cinema.

this gun for hire
In the world of film noire I found all the elements here, with wonderful casting. Lake and Ladd are imbued with a gorgeous chemistry, there is an underlying element that suggests that if the circumstances had been different:they would easily have succumbed to each other. This is indeed Ladd at his best,he carries the subtle,seething world of hatred just beneath the surface, and the camera is fascinated by the intensity of his physical gestures, and facial expressions. In particular when he recounts the nature of the injury to his wrist, you get a window into how his mind works and what motivates him to be who he is. Lake is strong, and vulnerable and I see no mistep in her performance. This is a film that mesmerized me when I was much younger and I still find it to do so. Laird Cregar as Willard Gates is as oily as grease and I felt his performance too was a standout,a coward at the core but willing to have murder done on his behalf . I enjoyed the whole spy-thing interwoven into the plot, and as well very memorable atmospherics, especially the scene where Ladd and Lake are trapped in the railroad yards; the fog just added an extra dimension to the scene. I also found Robert Preston did a fine job too in his role as Lake's detective love interest with an understated performance, but with just the right touch of resolve to win through the day. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Entertainment
A great story but not worth $75 - 85 dollars! This is an amazing hipe for putting dollars before the storyline. The movie is a wonderful love story which happens to anybody in this world during the war years. Still overpriced in the market - beware of this. If found @ a garage sale or Used VHS shops, buy it and you will have a lovely hour or so of entertainment.

I very highly recommend this delightful film!
Esther Williams and Van Johnson make a perfect romantic couple in this film, and realy shine in this film. "A Thrill of a Romance," has a great plot, and interesting people. The songs and swim scenes with Esther are lovely as well.

It's a bout a young swimming teacher, named Cynthia who marries a buisness men after he shortly couts her and weds her, only to find that before the honeymoon, he leaves her for a buisness trip. Trerribly lonely and sad, Cynthia cries on her balcony, and a young man who is in the military hears her cry, they meet, and have a romance, by the time her husband is ready to come back, they have fallen in love. It's a film well worth seeing. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Most Romantic Halloween!
Vincent (without a costume!) crashes a Halloween party. He does so in the hope of meeting the guest-of-honor, a writer named Brigit O'Donnell whose work has meant a great deal to him. Vincent and Brigit hit it off quite well, "escape" the party, and movingly communicate about the things that are very important to them. They do run into Catherine along the way. Some bad folks are after Brigit, and the episode mixes gritty violence with romantic elements. It is a powerful episode, and Brigit O'Donnell is one of the most compelling guest characters the series ever created. There is a beautiful romantic finish between Vincent and Catherine.

In 1998 I conducted a poll among Beauty and the Beast fans asking them to rate the 44 episodes of the first two seasons on a 1-to-10 scale. 31 fans participated. "Masques" finished 5th out of the 44 episodes.

I placed "Masques" 6th in my own personal 1-through-44 rank-ordering of the episodes.

Vincent meets a woman whose book has strengthened him.
On Halloween (Samhain) the one night a year when Vincent can walk "our" world in relative safety, he attends a party, hoping to meet Bridgit O'Donnell, a writer whom he admires. There, Catherine sees him, and follows he and Bridgit when they leave, which sets in motion a chain of events both despairing and enheartening. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This Movie Has Magic!
Although Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made a great team, this movie, The Geisha Boy, shows Jerry's true talent solo.

Jerry plays a magician named Mr. Wooley, who plans to entertain troops overseas to make a few bucks. Part of his tricks include a rabbit named Harry. This rabbit plays a big part in the movie (perhaps taking Dean's place?). Struggling, Mr. Wooley thinks that playing for the USO will make him a few bucks and give him, perhaps, the big break he's been waiting for. In this time he meets a beautiful Japanese woman, who has a nephew that laughs at practically the sight of Mr. Wooley, and is forever changed by Mr. Wooley. In this comical love story, also featuring Suzanne Pleshette in her first movie role, Jerry really shows true talent for clean comedy and laughs without a sidekick (if you don't count the rabbit). There are also a few surprise things in the movie that you really have to pay attention to catch, making it even more fun!

I highly recommend anyone who enjoys Jerry to watch this film. It will have you rolling with laughter and magically feeling good!

A Hidden Gem of Jerry Lewis; A Japanese Fan Can Testify
Owing to Eddie Murphy remake, "The Nutty Professor" comes to our mind first as Jerry Lewis's most representative work, but it also tends to overshadow his other neglected gems, one of which is here, "The Geisha Boy." Despite its now corny title, the film has still a lot to offer for our laugh.

Jerry is this time a second-rate magician, who goes to Japan and war-time Korea, to entertain the soldiers; instead, he falls in love with a Japanese woman Kimi (Nobu McCarthy). He also forms an unlikely relationship with an orphaned boy, who considers Jerry as a new father. As the time of returning to America comes near, he has to decide: stay or leave?

Besides the touching story, in which Jerry shows his tender side, he exhibits lots of his crazy gags as usual, and they are very funny even now. Among many others, my favorite is "the biggest splash in the world" that happens in the Japanese public bath. And Harry the Hare always steals the show -- look how he runs in a hotel -- and Sessue Hayakawa appears as a cameo, to parody his role in a David Lean film (you know what).

As far as I can judge from the film, Jerry's segments are all shot inside America, just like they did in Bogart's "Tokyo Joe" (though we see a big statue of Buddha in Kamakura, Japan, Jerry does not share the screen with it.) The town of Japan is obviously made in a soundstage, but these facts are not important. As a Japanese, I am not a little surprised (pleasantly) to find that the film is friendly to Japan, (remember both nations were at war 13 years before) and inaccurate descriptions of Japan, which are still often found in Hollywood movies, are reduced to the minimal level. It is quite possible that someone behind the production team gave information on Japan, not to offend Japanese audience. The biggest suprise is that some of the gag are clearly made for Japanese; check out the scene where a Japanese boy watches a TV program. An American is speaking (dubbed) Japanese, but his speech is in a dialect of Kansai, western district of Japan. This causes a big laugh in Japan, because it is like hearing a Japanese speaking with a strong accent of, say, New Orleans or Scotland. Who thought of this idea?

My only complaint is the film is longer than it should be, and the opening and ending reels move a little slowly. And Pleshette's character (her debut, and appears in military uniform) should be given more screen time. But these are minor things. A good film that makes you laugh a lot.

Domo Arrigato Gozaimasu, Jerry!
One of the better Jerry Lewis movies made after his split with Dean Martin. Jerry appears as an inept magician with a white rabbit named Harry as a constant companion. Together, they travel to Japan to perform as part of a goodwill tour sponsored by the State Department. While there, Jerry befriends a young boy who constantly follows him around. Jerry gets into one hilarious jam after another everywhere he goes in Japan. The 1958 Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team (their first year in LA after the move from Brooklyn) makes a cameo appearance in this film. Overall, very entertaining and funny with a couple of touching moments between Jerry and his young friend.

The ONLY Jerry Lewis movie
After watching every Jerry Lewis movie I can get my hands on, and this being one of the first I ever saw, I would still say it is his best. As soon as the little Japanese boy laughs at him, he is asked by the family to stay and keep making the boy laugh. He rather reluctanlty does so, but soon realizes he is having fun, along with Harry, his white rabbit that travels everywhere with Mr Wooley (Jerry Lewis) The Magician, especialy to Korea to entertain the troops. A great movie for adults and children.

Classic Jerry Lewis comedy
"The Geisha Boy" is the only Jerry Lewis movie I've ever seen and it's a good one. Jerry Lewis is a magician with a rabbit as a sidekick. He goes on the road one day to Tokyo, Japan where he meets a family that invites him to stay with them. A young boy becomes close with Mr. Wooley (Jerry Lewis) and wants him to be his father. For awhile, Mr. Wooley stays with the family until he learns that he has to go on the road again.

"The Geisha Boy" is a funny movie with some classic scenes such as when the rabbit gets loose on the plane and when Jerry Lewis's sandwiches keep mysteriously disappearing. If you like good old comedy movies, you should like this one. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Treasure
As most Tarzan movies with Johnny Weismueller, this one is great fun. Tarzan, Jane, and Boy once again face danger from outside forces and protect a secret gold treasure hidden in the jungle. The supporting cast including Reginald Owen is great. The group that confronts Boy are a good mix of good to evil. Even though there is a fair amount of stock footage in the movie, it is still a treat. Most kids even today find these movies fun to watch. Considering the great books by Edgar Rice Burroughs it is no surprise. Even though the movies are loosely based on the stories, they carry enough of his idea of adventure into them to make them entertaining. I look forward to this movie being released in a set on DVD June 8th,2004. I hope most of you will join me in buying the Tarzan DVD set. As one other reviewer indicated they wanted to get "Tarzan and the Leopard Women" and "Tarzan's Desert Mystery" on VHS. I too hope those will become available on DVD as well. They are fun to watch as well. I especially like "Tarzan's Desert Mystery".

Boy find gold. Boy and Jane captured. Tarzan find. Rescue.
The 1941 film "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" is the fifth of the twelve Tarzan movies featuring former Olympic swimming champion Johnny Weissmuller as the Ape Man. Weissmuller might not have been the definitive Tarzan, especially for anyone who read the original novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs, but he certainly ended up being the most memorable. In "Tarzan's Secret Treasure," Boy (Johnny Sheffield) finds gold at the bottom of the local river and when Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan) explains what it is and what it can buy in the more civilized parts of the world, Boy takes off to take advantage of his windfall. Of course, before Boy can find trouble, trouble finds him, in the form of Professor Elliott (Reginald Owen) and O'Doul (Barry Fitzgerald), a group of researchers eager to study the son of Tarzan, who happen to have a couple of villain in their midst in the form of Medford (Tom Conway) and Vandermeer (Philip Dorn). Eventually native and elephants become involved in the narrative as well.

The death of Irving Thalberg affected this film as budget cuts forced the use of stock shots taken from earlier movies in the series (e.g., the recycled Tarzan fights the crocodile scene). Add to that the predictable plotline and you would think that would be enough to make this a below average Tarzan movie. But it actually scores above average because of the pacing, the solid supporting cast (Fitzgerald calls the Ape Man "Mr. Tarzan"), and the fact that Sullivan still looks like the queen of the jungle. The idea of Boy wanting to make it to the big city was revitalized the following year for one of the best of these films, "Tarzan's New York Adventure." If you are currently watching the new "Tarzan" series on the WB, then that is one you will want to track down to see what it was like the first time Tarzan prowled a big modern city.

Action packed adventure!!
This may not be one of the best of the Tarzan films as far as good film making goes, but it is definatley one of the most action packed. Lots of impressivley staged chases with lions and rhinos and a very athletic Boy make for an action packed hour and a half. Gotta love that stock footage of Africa!! Can someone please tell me what kind of bird that 'chicken' looking thing was? Was that a real bird or was it some kind of elaborate puppet? Simply amazing!! I've never seen anything like that in my life!! I find the three movies with Boy to be the most action and fun for repeated viewings and Tarzan and His Mate to be the best overall film. I just wish I could get Tarzan and the Leopard Women and Tarzan's Desert Mystery on VHS.

Tongue-in-Cheek Adventure
"Tarzan's Secret Treasure" directed by Richard Thorpe injects more humor than menace in this tale of a band of gold seekers who invade Tarzan's jungle domain. The interlopers kidnap Jane and Boy as bait for Tarzan, but instead they all fall captive to the local natives. In usual jungle fashion Tarzan saves the day. This is one of the less memorable Tarzan adventures from MGM.

Johnny Weissmuller to the Rescue again
This admirable film is a testament to Tarzan the King of the swinging rescue. Interesting script has Tarzan "swinging" into action in usual fashion. This is a good action and adventure tale. It contains discriminating effects and beautiful photography, but is marred by sped up film. Johnny Weissmuller was the best of the loincloth-clad heroes. Weissmuller was always the ultimate master of swing. The villains once again meet their match in this tense drama of capture and escape. Another favorite of mine. ... Read more

Description

International superstar Bruce Willis (UNBREAKABLE, THE SIXTH SENSE), along with Lily Tomlin (9 TO 5, TEA WITH MUSSOLINI), Emily Mortimer (SCREAM 3, NOTTING HILL), and newcomer Spencer Breslin star in the hilarious and heartwarming comedy DISNEY'S THE KID. Successful, high-powered Russ Duritz (Willis) has spent all of his incredibly empty life forgetting the child he used to be -- until one day, he meets him face-to-face! Thinking this kid is a hallucination, Russ does everything he can to make him go away. But 8-year-old Rusty (Breslin), who's anything but happy that he grows up to be a loser without real meaning in his life, can't leave -- at least not yet. At once funny and charming, DISNEY'S THE KID is a magical comedy that's filled with adult-sized laughs. ... Read more

Reviews (75)

What are you gonna do with your life??!!
Well, this movie has Bruce Willis starring in it, so from the very start, you know that it's definitely not going to be bad. This was the first Disney movie I've seen in a long time. It was strange to hear words like "jerk" and phrases such as "holy smokes" instead of the more commonly-used swearing we always hear in movies!

I liked the premise of the story, since I've often wished I could meet mini-me, so I went along to check it out.

I thought it was going just okay, until I started crying just that little bit! It really makes you think about your own life, and how being an adult can eliminate your dreams... if you let it. Sometimes you have to think about, and allow yourself to remember the negative events that occurred in your past, in order to get over it, forgive yourself and move on.

The kid wasn't annoying, so that was a bonus too! Brucey Baby, of course, was in amazing form. A great movie for the whole family, as they say!

highly enjoyable with a great cast and realistic story!
Disney's The Kid is a very real and original concept because almost any businessman in america could be Bruce Willis's character. DO NOT let the Disney logo stop you from watching this wonderful movie. It is fun and great at the same time. The acting was superb all around. bruce Willis is at his cometic finest and this is also one of his best performances. Spencer Breslin(the little boy) was fablous you could just see Bruce Willis being like that at eight. Lili Tomlin is as sacastic as ever and does her job to the "t." the perfromance that strikes you the most is Emily Mortimer. She has an amazing screne presence and the best chemistry with Bruce Willis I have ever seen. She even got to keep her acsent! This is the movie that will make her a star.(you may recognize her from Scream 3) She will make it in hollywood because she has a sweet, down to earth look that people just love. Disney's The Kid is great and a must see! A lot of people can identify with at least one of the characters. This is one for Adults and Children alike!

Sorry but I can't agree
This story has been done dozens of times over the centuries -- the hardened, cynical adult looks back over their life and has an epiphany. Stories like this and Dicken's "Christmas Carol" seem to me to drag the audience through a lot only to get them to an ending which we all know -- bad guy turns good. I much prefer the twist versions of the story, like "Harold and Maude" and "It's A Wonderful Life", wherein the protagonist is a more likeable character who comes to see how much they are liked and valued by others in the world. Saw this on a plane and I'm sure that hurt it a little but honestly I hated this movie.

Barely watchable emotional comedy
The movie starts off with Bruce Willis living a fast-paced lifestyle, and approaching his 40th birthday. He wakes up in the middle of the night to see a kid in his house. He recognizes the kid to be himself, 32 years ago! Willis is obviously hallucinating, but medications don't make the kid leave. The movie ends with an explanation of why the kid arrived in the first place, and once the reason is figured out, the kid leaves.
There are some comedic and emotional moments, but not quite enough to give this movie a higher than 3-star rating.

Spencer and Bruce good, but need different movie.
Spencer Breslin and Bruce Willis are good together, but it is almost impossible to make an excellent movie out of this plot. They were using A Christmas Carol's plot, but did not even come close to the success of it. Spencer is hilarious about Bruce's job and about Bruce not having a dog, and Bruce is Bruce displaying his acting talents all over the screen, but this movie just did not live up to its wonderful predecessor, A Christmas Carol. It was actually an okay film, giving a good moral and displaying acting talent, but they didn't follow through all the way. ... Read more

Reviews (87)

Pieces missing from Classic
This is an annual favorite. I can't for the life of me figure out why Henson Productions would allow these meaningless edits. After all, a vhs tape will hold 2 hours-worth. This special was watched BY MILLIONS of people on Nick-at-Night for years, not to mention it's original airings. Did they think NO ONE would notice the missing scenes????? For this reason, I give this vhs version only 4 stars. Absolute senseless and stupid editing by people who obviously have NO CLUE why we true fans like The Muppets. It's a good thing I have an old video tape copy from having taped it off TV myself. Maybe we'll all get lucky, and The Odyssey Channel will air it this season, unedited. (tho their track record for giving the Muppets their due is sketchy at best).

If you've never seen this... it's a family favorite, charming, sweet, and **very** funny! The running gag of the icey patch, the Swedish Chef trying to make a holiday meal of Big Bird, Piggy getting caught in a blizzard, and the poignant cameo by Jim Henson all make it a wonderful special that's hard to beat (even the edited version). At the end is a wonderful Christmas carol sing-along. A real treasure.

Not for 80's version fans!
Really now.. When I heard that they were putting my FAVORITE Christmas film on DVD I was so excited. Muppet Family Christmas is something that my family always watches. It's funny, sweet, and so entertaining.

But, unfortunetly, the version on the DVD is not the version I just praised. They're are massive edits that are very noticable to viewers who have watched it since it first aired on TV and may leave new time viewers confused. Fozzie's duet with the Snowman is cut out, the Muppet Babies home video is cut out (leaving Doc with a very strange line that doesn't make sense) and in my opinion the best part, where Miss Piggy enters and sings her song and slips on the Icey Patch is edited out. The best Icey patch gag and it's left out of the DVD/VHS.

I am not going to buy this DVD, Fortunetly, my VHS tape still works well enough to watch it (yes with the OshGosh commercails and Double Mint Gum ones too!). Until they put the real version on the market, I will not spend my money on the DVD.

Oh, if anyone has a good version of the real version, please let me know!

The Best of Jim Henson's Muppets
I have loved this movie for years. Not only does it have Kermit and the others(including Robin) but it has Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and a special appearence by Jim Henson in it. I have watched this for too many Christmas's to remember, and always cry when I see all of them together.

Great "Make Yourself Feel Good" Movie !
I've loved this movie, along with The Christmas Toy, ever since I was little ! I was going to get the dvd but saw that many funny, familiar parts were cut out. Luckily, I went through some old tapes and found my original, 47 minute, taped from t.v version. Until they put out an absolutely uncut dvd, I'll stick with my 19 year old taped copy. If you've grown up with the full version, the cuts will greatly bother you. If not, then you won't really notice all that much of a difference. That said an done, this is a really wonderful movie to watch with the whole family. For the older people, it's a great chance to see all your fave muppets from childhood. For the youngin's, they see THEIR favourite muppets the way they used to be. If you've never seen this movie, or don't mind edited movies too much, you might consider getting this for the little ones....maybe just for yourself !

BUYER BEWARE!
I would have very gladly bought this DVD if it wasn't so poorly put together and edited. It is missing some of the best moments including Fozzy singing, dancing and telling jokes with the snowman. I had taped a lot of Christmas specials from TV and I went through my old tapes but I was upset when I found out that the tape that had the uncut version was the tape that broke in the video rewinder and the remaining tape had the edited version so apparently unless you were lucky to have caught the original airing you will be out of luck because it seems that they now show the edited version on TV. Sorry people but this edited DVD is the pits and the video tape version is the same and are total rip offs! BUYER BEWARE! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Mean and lean entry in the Tarzan series
The Tarzan movies in the Weismuller series are like the Burroughs novels upon which they are based--the early works are impressive ,and as the series developed an air of routine set in .This follows on from the second of the Weismuller movies Tarzan and His Mate ,and while still enjoyable and tautly directed it is a lesser work than its predecessor .In fairness it should be noted that the work as we have it is not the movie as originally shot-preview audiences were reputedly upset by the violence ,reportedly quite graphic for its day ,and the movie was extensively re-shot .
As with Tarzan and His Mate ,this features an expedition sent into the jungle to track Jane ;her sister and her sister's fiance are seeking Jane to advise her of a substantial bequest that needs her to return to London to attend to the formalities.
A white hunter takes charge of the expedition seeking to capture Tarzan.
The trek to Tarzan's lair is very similar to the one depicted in the earlier movie , even down to using some of the same footage in the native attack sequence .

Will Jane leave Tarzan for the bright lights ?Will the hunter's nefarious schemes work out or will right triumph ?

You will have a good time finding out in this tautly directed and actionful movie which is quite intense in atmosphere and moves at a brisk clip .
One interesting aspect is that ,with the Hays Code having come into being after the previous entry ,this is markedly less heavy on exposed flesh -Jane's sleeping attire is decorous and the swimming scenes is minus the tasteful nudity of the earlier movie.On a down side there is unfunny comic relief courtesy of the Cecil Kellaway character and Cheetah -always for me the greatest irritant in the series -has more screen time than I would have liked .

Good fun and a strong entry in the series .

Johnny Weissmuller is the preeminent Tarzan
This is a tough and mean Tarzan movie. Johnny Weissmuller was the best of the loincloth-clad heroes and he gets you cheering in this one. It's good vs. evil all the way. Code of the Jungle. A favorite of mine, this excellent film is a real testament to the notion of "kill or be killed." This is a good hard-hitting action and adventure tale. It contains discriminating effects and ravishing photography. Good supporting cast. Great score. The villains once again meet their match in this realistic drama. A good one.

Fastpaced and violent
Tarzan Escapes! is the most actiondriven of all the MGM productions consisting O'Sullivan and Weissmüller as the rulers of the jungle. It also has its moments of intelligence and ethical challenges, as when Tarzan escapes a trap and is led to believe by the slimy Captain Fry that Jane has decided to leave him in the hands of fateand bad will of his antagonist, incarnated in the body of a greedy safari. Then Tarzan, stricken with grieve over is beloved Jane's alleged betrayal, sadly enters the cage himself. Of course, everything turns out well, with the elephants (the cavalry!) coming to rescue, and the bad men being punished. A rare moment of Christian forgiveness, Tarzan pardons the black servant Bomba when he kneels before him in the climax of the end, when the bill has to be payed. But the stubborn and ill-hearted Captain Fry receives what is deserved upon the unrepentant, a gruesome death in the smoking swamps within the cave of death. Justice is being served, and once again, and thanks to it's monosyllabillic patriarc, the peace of the jungle is being restored.

It was good for a black 'n white
I saw this movie a couple thousand times, maybe more. It was good for a movie made in it's time. Of course I'm sort of a die hard Tarzan fan. If anyone feels the same way I encourage you to go see that new disney movie on June 18th.

Edge-of-your-seat-adventure
It all starts when Jane's cousins come to Africa to get her to go to London and sign a will leaving her a couple hundred grand. Jane must decide whether or not to go. When it was first released it included lizards and other scary stuff, it devastated audiences, it even scarred people for life. Then it was re-worked and re-released-a big hit. ... Read more

Reviews (426)

Taut, smart, enjoyable filmmaking
Hell has surely frozen over. That's the only way to explain how David Twohy, writer-director of the so-bad-it's-hilarious Charlie Sheen skydiving epic "Terminal Velocity," has made a movie this good. It's not high art, but "Pitch Black" is a triumph within its genre: a suspenseful, intelligent monster movie with surprisingly deep characters.

A damaged spaceship loaded with cargo and cryo-sleeping passengers crash-lands on an alien world where three suns create perpetual daylight. At first, the survivors think their biggest problem is the vicious convict who's escaped from the wreckage. Then they discover the light-fearing predators lurking beneath the planet's surface. And then comes the total eclipse...

"Pitch Black" is a Diesel-powered movie-- Vin Diesel, that is. As the menacing convict Richard P. Riddick, Diesel gives a ferociously intelligent and charismatic performance, backed up by Twohy's surprisingly nuanced script. You'll come to root for Riddick as the movie wears on, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll like him.

Radha Mitchell is also fine as the novice pilot Fry, battling inner and outer demons as she tries to hold the survivors together; Cole Hauser does a nice turn as Riddick's captor; and the fine supporting cast includes Keith David as a Muslim cleric (a refreshingly positive portrayal of Islam) and "Farscape"'s always-excellent Claudia Black.

"Pitch Black" is an embarrassment of riches for sci-fi fans: characters who continually surprise you, creepy creatures left mostly up to your imagination, and a stripped-down story that moves at a breakneck pace. Perfect popcorn entertainment-- just be sure you don't turn _all_ the lights off before you watch it...

leaves room for error
Since I don't know how to start this review, I guess I'll start with the plot. When a space ship carrying 40 civilians (including a convict) crashes on a planet that's very hot and has three suns, the survivors of the crash have to find a way to survive without food or water. But then they encounter strange creatures that have a hungry appetite for flesh and only come out at night. And then there is an eclipse

Vin Disel stars in the suspense/horror/science fiction blockbuster (in my book, anyway) along with Radah Mitchell and Keith David.

First, the good things: The special effects are great as well as the acting. The movie isn't exactly scary but it's very entertaining. There are some good one-liners, and the ending is great.

Bad things: It takes a while to get in to the meat of the movie. Although it starts with a huge crash, the movie doesn't pick up the pace until more than an hour in to the film. (and the film in 1 hr. and 48 minutes long) Intead, the first half is about character development and the second half picks up on the creatures.

DVD: I expected more special features. The 4 minute featurette isn't very good, but the commentary with the director, Vin Disel, and Cole Hauser is the meat of the special features. The other commentary is OK. The 3 minutes of restored footage add to the 1st half of the movie (character development) and the production notes are an intersting but quick read.

All in all: Good movie but was a little slow on pacing. I recommend you rent it before buying it.

1999; 112 minutes; Contains strong language, some scenes with intense violence, sensuality, and drug use.

muddled and dark.........
When I saw the previews recently of The Chronicles of Riddick,
I thought it might be interesting to see Pitch Black. Wrong.
From the first part of it, it looked cheap. That was my first
clue and from there it goes downhill. I frankly think Diesel
was much better in Fast and Furious than he was in this.
But I must say that he alone was the incentive to last as long
as I did. As far as the monsters, that go bump in the night,
anybody who compares them to those in Alien must be blind and
deaf......I found them interesting but definitely not scary, or maybe you needed to be there to see them in person? They reminded me in a way of the raptors from Jarassic Park particularly when they are congregating on the launch pad at the end of the film.
Total waste of time.
Perhaps 'Chronicles' will be different?
It definitely looks a bit more polished.

Just Excellent!
Sci/fi horror stories. You really don't expect such charatcer development in these types of movies, but this one does an excellent job, from start to finish. This is definitely not a B movie, not by a long shot.

You find out for example that the bad guy is not always the bad guy. In the crash sequence after all the dust settles and Johns finds an empty cryo sleep tube and his gun missing, it's found on the floor under a dangling Riddick. Now if Riddick was such a bloodthirsty bad guy, he would have taken the gun and shot Johns and been done with it. This is the second interesting development in the film, and gives you a nice window into the character of Riddick.

The first interesting development is the moral dilemna during the landing/crash of the ship, in which Fry tries to eject all the passengers.

The third interesting development is the assuming of Riddick's guilt in the death of Zeke, for which no one has apologized yet.

I've rarely seen such a depth in chracters in the scifi genre. All of the characters go through some deep changes under the pressure of the struggle to survive. Check out the expressions on the faces of the actors, and the dialogue, excellent job, without overacting or forcing.

The special effects are good, and they don't overwhelm the story. The plot is good, and the suspense stays with you up until the very end, building and ebbing throughout the film.

I wish they'd have had a bigger budget for this one, but if they had they'd have probably overloaded on the special effects.

Overall, I would give this an excellent rating as a movie buff.

Pitch Black
Awesome Movie. MUst Have.Vin Diesel Is Awesome. PERFECT MOVIE ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Terrific first season episodes!
Volume 17 has episodes "The Quadripartite Affair" and "The Giuoco Piano Affair", both which appeared on Man from UNCLE's first season and are one of the first episodes. The Man from UNCLE series is one of my favorite TV series ever to watch! The main characters are Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn, "Bullit" and "The Magnificent Seven") and my favorite the enigmatic and quiet Russian, Illya Kuryakin played to perfection by actor David McCallum (another great movie with him is "The Great Escape").

EPISODE 3 "THE QUADRIPARTITE AFFAIR": In Yugoslavia, Marion Raven's (Jill Ireland) father is killed because of his discovery of a plot to overthrow governments with the use of a fear gas. Gervaise Ravel (Anne Francis) and Harold Buffington (John Van Dreelen) are behind the plot and have Marion to be watched. Also working for them is Colonel Adam Pattner, (Richard Anderson, from "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman" series). Solo and Illya are assigned to find out where the fear gas is being made and to destroy it along with the help of Marion and native Yugoslavian Millan Horth (Roger C. Carmel).

Great episode and this is the first Man from UNCLE tape that I bought. Illya Kuryakin fans will most definitely love this episode since he gets to do a lot, plus he gets a love interest. The thing is that Marion, Jill Ireland, is in real life David McCallum's wife (though unfortunately she doesn't seem to act or do very well in this episode). Besides this episode, she will later on play in also "The Tiger Are Coming Affair" and "The Five Daughters Affair". And since this affair was supposed to be a two-parter with "The Giuoco Piano Affair" but was made into two separate episodes, she will return in her role as Marion Raven along with the same villains Ravel and Bufferton. We also get to see May Featherly as the beautiful UNCLE agent Heather McNabb, who occasionally appeared on UNCLE's first season episodes, one example "The Neptune Affair".

EPISODE 7, "THE GIUOCO PIANO AFFAIR": Gervaise Ravel (Anne Francis) and Harold Buffington (John Van Dreelen) are back again and on the run. UNCLE wants to get them once and for all. Napoleon concocts a plan to use Marion Raven (Jill Ireland) as bait for them. At first Marion is dead set against it but with a little persuasion from Illya (she really does like him!), agrees to help. According to plan, Marion is kidnapped by Ravel and Buffington to be used as a bait to get the UNCLE agents. Of course Napoleon and Illya are ready to catch the crooks and save Marion.

In my opinion, I like this episode better then The Quadripartite Affair. The title of this episode comes from the chess move called the Giuoco Piano where the players force the Queen to make her move (but of coures the White Knight, Illya, comes to the rescue!!!).Jill Ireland does a much better job in this episode, acts her parts just right and says her lines to perfection. She plays a little stronger role, especially in the beginning where she argues with Illya. Throughout the whole episode you can tell she's trying very hard to get Illya's attention! The humor is great and some of the best scenes are both the beginning and end party scenes at Marion's apartment. Some of the guests you can tell are Richard Donner (UNCLE director as a drunk), Norman Felton (UNCLE creator as a chess player), Sam Rolfe (UNCLE pilot scriptwriter as a Texan) and associate producer Joseph Calvelli (UNCLE writer as a writer). When asked how it felt to direct himself, Richard Donner said with a tongue-in-cheek answer, "I was the most versatile actor I've ever worked with" (trivia from "The man from UNCLE book" by John Heitland).

I very much highly recommend this Man from UNCLE Volume 17. For other good first season episodes, I also recommend Volume 1 which includes "The Project Strigas Affair" and "The Never Never Affair". Volume 3 has also two very good second season episode's included, "The Deadly Toys Affair" and "The Minus X Affair". But I should say that all of UNCLE's episodes are good!

Illya and Napoleon try to stop Harold and Gervaise
Volume 17 of the "Man from U.N.C.L.E." videotape series contains a pair of first-rate episodes from the first season, both directed by Richard Donner. Actually, it is a two-part story, but the two parts did not come in consecutive episode, which is certainly a nice touch. "The Quadripartite Affair" (#3, October 6, 1964), is the first episode where Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) takes the lead. Four conspirators are trying to seize power in an Eastern European country. Gervaise Ravel (Anne Francis) and Harold Buffington (John Van Dreelen) are the couple running the plan, while McCallum's then wife, Jill Ireland, plays Marion Raven, the innocent young woman caught up in the whole thing. Illya has to over come a fear-inducing gas and while he does derail the plot, the evil couple escapes. The fight continues in "The Giuoco Piano Affair" (#7, November 10, 1964), and is actually the better of the two episodes. Certainly it is the funnier of the pair, especially since Marion gets to have an adventure with Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn), while still being sweet on Illya, as his partner tries to finish off the villainous love birds. Meanwhile, Harold and Gervaise are having their own problems since he thinks she does not love him as much as he loves her, even though he finances all her evil plans. You have to love master criminals with marital problems. This is also my favorite title in the series; it refers to the gambit in chess where you force an opponent to move out their Queen. Of course, it describes the plot perfectly, but it is also just a very neat idea. In these episodes everything just clicks.

The Quadripartite Affair and The Giuco Piano Affair
These two episodes were at first going to be made into a two parter but was changed to two different episodes. The two episodes has lots of Illya and his former wife, Jill Ireland. Their both great, and so is Napoleon. I love the party scenes at Marion Raven's (played by Jill Ireland) house in the Giuco Piano Affair!

These episodes for any Illya fan!
The Quadripartite Affair and the Giuoco Piano Affair is a must see! For those who love Illya will enjoy them. Jill Ireland is very funny in the Giuodo Piano affair. I love the party scenes! You'll laugh at the funny parts!

not the best but better than average
These two episodes were filmed and telecast as separate episodes but fit easily into one two-hour show as they were filmed to be released as a two-hour theatrical film. While they don't represent the best efforts of the first season, which was clearly the show's best, they are nevertheless superior to anything in the second and third seasons and much of the fourth. The best scene is Solo's attempt to track Ann Francis on a yacht during a party. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hedy, Hedy, and...Hedy.
There's only one reason why I'm even rating this basically forgotten movie, which is VERY dated, and really not any better than an old "Jungle Jim" episode. It would probably be of interest only to old movie buffs, and, as one of those dying creatures, I feel the old flicks are worthy of preservation and viewing. But, the only obvious reason to watch this film is Hedy LaMarr. She (in my opinion) was never really a great actress, but was known for her flawless beauty. Louie B. Mayer imported Hedwig Keisler from Austria, after she literally created a splash in the then unheard of famous nude swim scene in "Ecstasy", in the early 1930's. She was married at one time to a wealthy industrialist, socialized with the likes of Hitler, and had adventures right out of the most imaginative fiction. She also co-invented a device which was used for tracking enemy German subs during World War Two, a fact which only recently came to light. Though most of her films in her Hollywood career were un-distinguished, she became a top star in the M.G.M. pantheon, simply by virtue of her screen image, and received top billing with the likes of Gable and Spencer Tracy. Her career waned in the 1950's, with even less distinguished roles, and, save for the occasional snippet of various semi-scandalous news in the papers, she dissapeared. In this film, she is so lushly, outrageously, ridiculously gorgeous, that she makes even someone like Liz Taylor in, for example, Cleopatra, look like a plain Jane. She is the ultimate "femme fatale", a role she basically never escaped. When I saw this movie as a kid... when Hedy comes out of the jungle and says "I am Tondeleyo", well... I think that's the moment when puberty kicked in, because I started shaking at the vision of this impossibly gorgeous, exotic dark bird of paradise. She is the epitome of the glamorous, other worldy mystique that stars such as Garbo and Dietrich projected in 1930's and '40's Hollywood, and Hedy in this film rivals even them. Hedy died just a few years ago, in relative obscurity, in a small Florida town. This little old lady was reportedly a good neighbor and friend to the few people she entrusted, who apparently were aware that their very elderly, sweet friend was, long...long ago, one of the legends of the Silver Screen. A real-life "Norma Desmond", though Hedy was, by all accounts, a happy lady in her final years, looked after by her loyal and protective friends. I can't honestly recommend buying this film for any reason other than viewing the raven haired, shimmering vision of un-equaled beauty that was Hedy LaMarr.

Unusual, but likeable film
This movie has an excellent cast and an amusing, if unusual plot. It will probably offend the politically-correct crowd because the men in charge are all white, and the workers are all black. Plus, the term "white men" is used repeatedly. That's a no-no today. Hedy Lamarr is an eyeful as the sneaky and abusive Tandaleyo. Walter Pidgeon is a cranky, uptight leader of a rubber plantation. Richard Carlson (years before he starred in 1950's sci-fi movies) does a good job as his inexperienced, youthful assistant. "White Cargo" is not a great movie, but it is fun to watch.

White Cargo Doesn't Deliver
Let's be honest: this is not a good film. Hedy Lamar is beautiful as ever and great at slinking and pouting around the tropical set. But, unfortunately for Hedy and for Walter Pidgeon, none of the characters or the plot are complex or compelling. Hedy's character is banal and evil. The young Brit is just an unsympathetic fool. Walter Pidgeon is given a little more to work with, but it doesn't save the film. The film is worth seeing, by the way, for the vision of Hedy in skin-revealing attire. Just don't pay much for the privilege. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fantastic! I Wish I Could Rate it More then 5 Stars!
I haven't read the Ernest Hemingway book yet nor have I seen the old Spencer Tracy movie yet but I saw this television remake starring Anthony Quinn and I loved it, it was a wonderful movie and I though Anthony Quinn was outstanding as Santiago the old fisherman. Anthony Quinn's daughter Valentina plays Santiago's concerned daughter in this movie and his son Francesco plays Santiago as a young man and the movie also stars Gary Cole and Patricia Clarkson as an American couple and I think this movie also had a young boy who befriended Santiago but I do not recall the actors name. This is a wonderful movie and I wish I could give it more then 5 stars and I very highly recommend it. The last time I looked up this movie on Amazon it was only available on video and now that it's also available on DVD I will definitely think about buying the DVD! I don't remember how long this remake was but I think it might have been a two part 4 hour mini series movie.

The film is better, really!
In my opinion, the film perhaps of its release date in 1963 is not at least standard for what I expect from a movie, but if you've read the book from Ernest Hemmingway it's pretty interesting watching the shark attacks, the big fish, the man and the boy and other events or protagonists of the whole story.

The visualisation makes the boring story a bit more exciting and the new elements that are implemented like the author Hemmingway itself and other persons not mentioned so directly in the novella surprise everybody who read the book at first in a positive way.

Once one said to me that a film as a visualisation of a novella could never as good as the written form. "The Old Man and the Sea" proves the contrary opinion because this movie simply is better than the original book.

Nevertheless also a good visual form cannot hide a weak story. For whose who have read the novella with pleasure or do like the great actor Anthony Quinn I can recommend the movie version.

Everyone else who don't like calm stories with philosophical background should take another video tape or DVD like "A Land Before Time" or "Predator"!

Great Remake!!
This film is a great remake of the former Spencer Tracey Film.Anthony Quinn Rules!! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

U.N.C.L.E. family fun...
THE MAN from U.N.C.L.E. was one of the '60's most popular shows.
Robert Vaughn and David McCallum essayed the "We Spy" team of Napoleon Solo and Illa Kuryakin. Leo G. Carroll--formerly of TOPPER fame--was UN spy master who sent them off to weekly
adventures parodying 007 films which had captured imaginations of the cinema-watching world. Despite "cool head" humor of both Vaughn and McCallum, and appealing sang froid/savoir faire they brought to their characters, the material now strikes as dated in many instances. Not so VOLUME 1. THE STRIGAS AFFAIR,is U.N.C.L.E. at its witty best. Along with genuinely clever plot twists to ensnare war-mongering Werner Klemperer(Colonel Klink of HOGAN'S HEROES),there is a typical series gimmick of featuring classy guest stars. In this instance, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy of STAR TREK fame.

Episode 2,THE NEVER-NEVER AFFAIR is also serious fun with Barbara Feldon (Agent 99)of GET SMART facing-off against THRUSH, U.N.C.L.E. series' SPECTRE clone led --this time--by Caesar Romero. Some think the best of the BOND spy parodies was OUR MAN FLINT. Some think it was--and remain--Peter Sellers' Jacques Clousea, PINK PANTHER adventures. It's a debate of weight to be sure. Nevertheless: if you were a series fan; thought you were one; or wanted to be part of the U.N.C.L.E. family; Volume I is...in my estimate...a blank-filled, but on target sure-shot.

a great review for a great show!
If you love action, twists, and humor all rolled into one, get this video!! The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Vol. 1 is a great example of how the 60s reinvented cool! In this volume, the episodes are "The Project Strigas Affair" and "The Never Never Affair".

In the "Project Strigas Affair" William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy delight us with their first great performance together.(even though they were only in a couple scenes together)The episode sorta has a "Mission Impossible" feel to it. It's full of twists and schemes. We also see Illya test out some of his disguises! A must see!

"The Never Never Affair" has to be my FAVORITE episode of the whole series! In this episode Barbara Feldon (Agent 99 on "Get Smart") guest stars as the innocent Many Stevenson who longs for the glamour and excitment of espionage. Mandy bugs Napoleon to his breaking point, but instead of a real mission he gives her a fake one with the "Evasion Pattern Eight".(You sorta feel sorry for the girl.)He gives her a humadore(spelling?) and tells her to ask a guy at the tobbaco store to open it. Of course, she misleads a scientest into thinking she is a real courier and is handed a microdot(which she cleverly hides). This episode shows how they used humor in the series. My favorite parts were 1.)When Illya and Napoleon go into the movie theater and shoot it out with THRUSH, a guy gets shot and stands in front of someone. The person goes, "Hey, Down in front!"(the dead guy falls into a seat), "Thanks!" 2.)When Mandy goes throughout the streets thinking she's a REAL spy.3.) When Cesar Romero questions her on what the humadore is: CR:"It looks like a hum. and even smells like a hum., what is it?" MS:"Um, ah..humadore?(laughs)" 4.) The Over- The-Shoulder shot!
To make this simple(too late) get this video! You won't be disappointed!

One Of The Best One
This Is the best that i have seen.
Soom of the others i would just like one on the videos but i love them all

The Project Strigas Affair and The Never Never Affair
"The Project Strigas Affair" and "The Never Never Affair" are what I think are the best episodes in all of UNCLE's episodes. You just have to watch these two episodes if you love "Man from UNCLE".

Episode 9 "The Project Strigas Affair": Though usually UNCLE doesn't get involved in politics, Mr. Waverly asks Napoleon and Illya to make some 'diabolical scheme' to bring down a certain Balkan intelligence chief Kurasov (Werner Klemperer), who is trying to enflame America and U.S.S.R. tensions. Kurasov's assistant is (Leonard Nimoy). Napoleon and Illya (him disguised as a KGB spy), with the help of bankrupt couple, (William Shatner and Peggy Ann Garner), make up a fictional gas to catch Kurasov's attention: the gas named Strigas. * This has one of the best plots of all the UNCLE episodes. There are plenty of twists and turns, humor when needed, yet serious at some places. This is another episode of many which shows Illya as the master of disguises. This is the first time for the secondary villain, Woodrow Parfey, to play in the Man from UNCLE show. He would be playing in many more episodes in the time to come. This is also the first time for Star Trek William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy to act together. One of my favorite parts in the show is when says, "But that's absolutely diabolical," to which Napoleon replies, smiling, "We try."

Episode 25 "The Never Never Affair": Mandy Stevenson (Barbara Feldon) is an UNCLE Portuguese translator who wants excitement. Napoleon Solo feels sorry for her so he send her out on a fake mission to get Waverly's tobacco and Mandy mistakenly takes an important microfilm that THRUSH is after. Napoleon and Illya search the streets looking for her before THRUSH gets to her. Eventually, Mandy and Napoleon are caught by THRUSH leader Victor Gervais (Cesar Romero). The only thing is, the microfilm is on a microdot and Mandy has hidden it so well that THRUSH can't find it!* I love, love, love this episode! Everyone's great in here; Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, and especially Barbara Feldon as Mandy Stevenson. She's great! The plot is good, everyone's acting is good, and it's so funny, yet serious where it's supposed to be. Here are a couple of my favorite parts. 1) When Mandy tries to convince Napoleon to give her a mission and Napoleon gives the fake mission and 'evasion pattern number 8', which is a fictional route. 2) When Napoleon tries to explain to Mr. Waverly and Illya about sending Mandy on a fake mission. Especially when Mr. Waverly asks what route she's going by and Napoleon says, "Evasion Pattern 6". The look on Mr. Waverly and Illya's faces are so funny! 3) In the beginning when Illya's trying to get away from THRUSH. 4) When Victor Gervais is trying to convince Mandy to tell him where the microdot is. She tells him, "Let me warn you. I don't crack under pressure." He says, "Not at all?" Mandy replies, "Not... noticeably, no." And basically the rest of the show is great.

Napoleon Solo uses Captain Kirk & 99 to help save the world!
Whoever put together Volume 1 in the "Man From U.N.C.L.E." Collection apparently decided the classic spy spoof series of the Sixties could not be marketed on its own merits and offers a pair of episodes featuring future television icons William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy from "Star Trek" and Barbara Feldon from "Get Smart." However, that does not take away from the surprising discovery that these are two of the best episodes from the show's first season. "The Project Strigas Affair" (Episode #9: November 24, 1964), finds Shatner and Peggy Ann Garner as a couple who are recruited for Napoleon Solo's scheme to stop a diplomat, played by Werner Kemperer of "Hogan's Heroes" fame, who is trying to heat up the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Technically Shatner and Nimoy are in some scenes "together," but they do not really act together. Still, this is there first appearance on screen together. This episode was written by Henry Misrock and directed by Joseph Sargent.

In "The Never-Never Affair" (Episode #25: March 22, 1965), Feldon plays Mandy Stevenson, a translator at U.N.C.L.E. who wants excitement and gets more than she bargained for. Solo sends her out to get more pipe tobacco for Mr. Waverly, but tells her it is a secret mission. Of course she ends up with a microdot containing key information about THRUSH., which means bad guy Victor Gervais (Cesar Romero, the Joker on "Batman") is after poor Mandy. "The Never-Never Affair" is one of the best lighthearted episodes from the series, although Illya Kuryakin again gets little to do. Also directed by Sargent, this was writer Dean Hargrove's first "U.N.C.L.E." episode. Here we have one of the few times Volume 1 of a video collection of a television series actually has nothing but great episodes on it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"Scandals" Holds Up Well
I'd heard and read about this film since I was a kid in the 60's but never got the chance to see it until recently. I suggest you do the same! It's kinda like "A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court", "Brigadoon" and "Wizard Of Oz" wrapped into one.
Cantor is a citizen of the American town, West Rome and suddenly finds himself transported to Ancient Rome. David Manners is a co-star and is much better in this film than in the Universal horror classics (like "Dracula") where he played a somewhat smarmy, prissy hero. He goes from bad guy, to good guy, to romantic guy, to action hero and I actually enjoyed him in this film. Gloria Stuart, who played "Old Rose" in 1997's TITANIC, plays Princess Sylvia, and is she ever a hotsy-totsy! Lucille Ball gets billing on the VHS back cover, but none in the film. She's basically just one of the many "Goldwyn Girls" featured. You can also catch a glimpse of Lucy's best friend at the time, Barbara Pepper, another hot Goldwyn Girl who went on to star as Mrs. Ziffel in the 1960's GREEN ACRES tv show!