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One of the spookiest ghost stories ever put to film, The Uninvited is also one of the few classic haunted-house movies to treat the subject with respect and seriousness. Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey play a brother and sister who leave the city to live in a beautiful old house dramatically perched on a cliff overlooking the Cornish coast. As they discover some of the house's peculiarities--the unexplained chill that settles in certain rooms, the aroma of mimosas that wafts through the house, flowers that wilt when brought inside--they are told by local girl Gail Russell that the house is haunted, by the spirit of Russell's mother no less. The rationalist city folk first scoff at the idea but as Milland slowly falls in love with the frightened girl he investigates the legends and discovers some startling hidden truths. Donald Crisp costars asRussell's humorless, hard-bitten grandfather who forbids her visits to the house. Handsomely shot against the beautiful Cornish countryside, director Lewis Allen wisely suggests more than he shows and the uneasy tone and quietly restrained direction looks forward to such films as The Haunting and The Legend of Hell House. Though Allen ultimately reveals a suitably spine-tingling apparition, some of the film's best moments are chilling in their simplicity: nocturnal moans, slamming doors, and the dog's whimpering fear of the upstairs. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (65)

One Of The Best
THE UNINVITED is a truly top-notch haunted house film. The story has lots of spooky moments and the ghostly manifestations are presented with subtlety, leaving much to the imagination of the viewer. Lighting is used effectively to heighten the mood, and, having been filmed in 1943, there is no special effect overkill to make it seem hokey.

Besides the haunting aspects of this film, it is an excellent movie in most other respects, as well. The acting is first-rate, the music is lovely, and the scenery is as beautiful as it is appropriate to the mood. The tension builds steadily as the romance between Londoner Roderick Fitzgerald (Ray Milland) and local girl Stella Meredith (Gail Russel) progresses. Ruth Hussey does a fine job in the role of Fitzgerald's increasingly edgy sister, and Donald Crisp is excellent as Stella's over-protective grandfather.

THE UNINVITED is an excellent movie and one of the best ghost stories on film to date. In terms of pure hair-raising, spine-tingling chills, the original 1963 version of THE HAUNTING is tops, in my opinion. THE UNINVITED isn't far behind, though, and in terms of overall production values, it doesn't get any better than this. A great addition to any video collection.

Something Menacing
Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey star as a brother and sister, who while on vacation in the Cornish countryside, fall in love with a house for sale and decide to buy it. The home is surprisingly cheap, and they quickly discover why. Doors open and close, the upstairs studio is cold and damp and somehow menacing, the animals won't go upstairs, and worst of all, just before dawn the moans of a crying woman echo through the house. Somehow connected to all this and in terrible danger is Gail Russell, the daughter of the man who sold the house. Her parents lived in the home, and her mother died there. It becomes very clear that she is in danger every time she visits the house unless Milland and Hussey can find an answer as to why they have "uninvited" guests. If this excellent ghost story had been made today, the emphasis would be on computer generated special effects to deliver the chills. But that's not what makes this such an effective film. The dark, candle lit cinematography, the restrained performances and direction, and the measured approach to presenting the chills is what makes it work. The story and mystery are involving, presented in a way that makes the viewer believe it could actually happen. Milland and Hussey are very good, and Gail Russell delivers a sympathetic performance as Stella. The only criticism of the story is the character and performance of Cornelia Otis Skinner as a woman who knows the truth of what happened with Russell's mother. She is over the top in a film where everyone else is restrained, and the parts of the story that shift the focus from the house to the insane asylum that Skinner runs interrupt the flow of the film. But other than that, this is a perfectly crafted film that delivers a terrific, suprisingly effective ghost story that make it tops in that genre. The film establishes a mood and credibility that make it a real winner.

It will send chills down your spine
I don't normally like ghost stories as movies because all too often they turn out to be silly, obviously fake, or overly gory. The Uninvited, however, was a pleasant surprise. It has a lot of elegance and class, and instead of trying to scare you outright as other films do, it succeeds in establishing a chilling, uncanny atmosphere with great economy of means. Special effects are kept to a minimum, and this, along with strong performances from the cast, keeps things subtle enough to be believable.

Great! Where is the DVD
This fine movie, scarry, spooky, wonderful...where is the DVD???!!!!

Stellar by starlight
Top-notch movie. A spectacular blend of spooky atmosphere, spirited characters, and hauntingly beautiful music.

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. The plot plays absolutely fair with the clues, too. Those who pay attention can solve the mystery of the haunting.

Ray Milland gives a great performance as Rick Fitzgerald, a lighthearted composer whose sister talks him into buying a house by a seacliff that turns out to be haunted. (Personally, I'd kill for a home like that, ghost or not.) Ruth Hussey as his sister Pamela Fitzgerald has never looked better. She has beauty, class and humor. Gail Russell as Stella Meredith, who play's Milland's love interest and inspiration for his song, "Stella by Starlight," has a haunted beauty of her own.

This movie should be on every top 10 list. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

"Home is the nicest word there is."
I grew up watching the reruns of Little House on the Prairie every day when I got home from kindergarten. My mom taped them, so my family owns 170 of the 200 episodes, from Episode 1, "Harvest of Friends," to the final episode, "Hello and Goodbye." Somehow, however, we missed taping "Premiere," so when I bought this DVD, I had never seen it. Well, I was a bit disappointed that in two hours the Ingalls family never reaches Walnut Grove (I was looking forward to seeing introductions of our favorite characters!), but I'm still very glad to own this gem. I know from experience that VHS tapes degrade with time and many viewings, but DVD will last forever. The pilot introduces Mr. Edwards (with a much thinner beard!) as well as the Ingalls family and includes some memorable moments between Pa and Laura. Probably the best scene of all is the classic "Errand for Santa," featuring a snow-caked Victor French who braves a blizzard to get his Christmas gifts to their recipients on time. Overall, a beautiful beginning to an endearing show.

"Caroline...We're Home....."
This review refers to "Little House On The Prairie...The Premiere Movie"(Goodtimes Video DVD)

Get ready to go from a good cry, to a big grin and back again on this very enjoyable and heartwarming family TV program. It's the beginning of a classic series that stands the test of time, and should be shared with a new generation.

"The Premiere Movie"..a double length feature that will introduce you to the Ingalls family and their harrowing journey to make a better life for themselves. You'll also meet Jack the dog and Mr. Edwards(Victor French) for the first time. When Charles says "Caroline..were home...".have the kleenex ready! It stars Michael Landon(who also directed many of the episodes), Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson.

Goodtimes DVD has done a nice job of transfering these 70's TV classsics. They look great. Nice color and sound. There is some occasional flickering but a very enjoyable view overall. It's nice to be able to enjoy them whenever the mood hits and without all the commercials!.If you really love these stories, you may want to consider buying the 4 pack. It includes this one,a double length feature "The Lord Is My Sheperd"(Little Laura runs away to be closer to God),"The Collection"(guest starring Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash), and "Laura Ingalls Wilder"(Laura and Almanzo finally tie the knot), another double length feature.

You'll laugh, you'll cry!...enjoy...Laurie

The Beginning of "Little House"
The Pilot film of "Little House on the Prairie" was what made Little House as it is today. It was first aired in 1974 on NBC-TV. Millions of fans gathered around the TV to watch it and now years later it is still a hit. Watch this great movie and enjoy it on DVD with your family for years to come! I have seen it several times and each time I see it I see somthing new that I have forgotten or that I have'nt seen before.

Goodtimes Video Tape Version!
I'm reviewing the video tape put out by Goodtimes Home Video, it contains the pilot movie that started the television show. Little House on The Prairie was one of my favorite shows as a child. I was Nine years old when this TV movie aired for he first time and I liked it and grew up watching the show. This Goodtimes tape is okay but kind of grainy. Complete seasons of Little House on the Prairie have been put on DVD, I think there is about 4 seasons that are available right now and I'm hoping to someday buy complete seasons on DVD! This is a terrific show!

Classic Tv Show
In this Dvd are the pilot episode of Little House of the Praire not a double lenght movie as the package says.

The transfer quality is good as well the sound.

The only thing is the absence of any subtitles or captions necesary for international customers like me.

I want to see also a good show featuring M Landon and Victor French Highway to Heaven released soon on Dvd.

Meanwhile I will collect most of the LHOTP Dvds. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

this episode
This video has two episodes that are highly ranked of my favorite episodes. The seal is my second favorite. BUY THIS DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tense, as usual
Of the two episodes in this video, the best is The Seal. It is always great to watch the IMF in action. In The Seal, an ancient and sacred seal has been stolen from an obscure country and in the interest of obtaining their favor in the Cold War, it is the team's duty to return the seal.

While this is an earlier episode, you can tell the show was hitting its stride. All the elements are there: timed sequences, the fake accents, a magician, hiding in equipment to gain entrances, fake ids and what is always best - watching the team psych out their prey.

I do not recall having seen this episode and I was surprisingly tense watching this show...there is so much going on and you know there is always the unexpected surprise. This show had everything including a trained cat! Don't miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Noteworthy Entry for the Mission: Impossible Collector
THE CONTROLLERS is the first entry in Mission: Impossible's fourth season and features a semi-plausible plot and a somewhat larger cast than the previous seasons. In the two-part episode, the IMF must prevent a scientist from unleashing a mind-controlling drug. THE CONTROLLERS is a good edition to the post-Bain/Landau Mission: Impossible T.V. series, but there is a chemistry that seems to be missing. From a technical standpoint, the series stands out as the first appearance of Dina Merrill as Meredyth and a post-Star Trek Leonard Nimoy as Paris. An enjoyable edition to the series. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

best cult series
i think the bunker is a excellent episode which has a lot going for it.It is a Playdon adventure, personally my favorite writer Bain and Landau are excellent,the only thing that got me was the masks.having two on at the same time is a bit implausible.Otherwise a great episode a must-see for all mission fans!

FINE EPISODE FROM SERIES THAT BROKE THE MOLD
Mission: Impossible is the TV series that broke the mold and proved that an exciting show that doesn't insult the intelligence of the audience can still be very popular. During the 1960's when MI first appeared, most action-adventure series contained a large helping of car chases, fist fights and shoot-outs. Although, in the first season's episodes, we still see some elements of these things, by the second season they had pretty much disappeared and the emphasis became on out-thinking the enemy. It even got to the point that if someone had to be "liquidated", the IMF maneuvered the bad guys into doing it themselves (another major motivation for reducing the amount of violence in the show was the climate of disorder in the United States during this period including the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr, widespread opposition to the War in Vietnam plus the rioting in the major urban areas of the US caused by the racial unrest of the time). Another factor in the success of the series is the music which has become legendary that was written or inspired by Lalo Shifrin. Many scenes consisted of Barney connecting up wires or tinkering with some mechanical device and yet, the musical background kept up the tension and prevented the scene from becoming boring. The two-part episode on this tape was written by Paul Playdon who wrote some of the best stories for the series. There are plenty of clever gadgets and escape-proof prisons plus the presence of a hired assassin from a third country whom the IMF is not in control of to keep any MI fan occupied for two hours. The only reason I gave the story only 4 stars instead of 5 was because of the use of masks (someone even wears two masks at one time!) which I find rather implausible, but it is great entertainment in any event. I hope that more episodes will become available for purchase in the future!

IMF team has to rescue scientist and his wife. Undetected.
A scientist is held captive. He is to perfect the missile. Only the scientist knows what to do. If he is not to do it. His wife will be executed. Also in sub-plot. A assassin is hired to kill the scientist so he can not finish his work. The IMF team has a gaget that might work. Wil they rescue the scientist in time. END ... Read more

Reviews (3)

amazing story of family
If you see only one Little House episode in your life, see this one!!!... It has been my favorite for years. It's really about forgiving, understanding, and loving your family through hard times. With all the things going on in the world, this is what it all boils down to, and this is what TV should be. This is just a beautiful movie with excellent family values, outstanding acting (Michael Landon's performance is one to remember), and a strong feel-good tone brought together to create a story you can appreciate and characters you can admire.

I definitely recommend this. And if you're new to "Little House," I would also recommend the others in the series. Check out some really good ones like "Remember Me," "Premiere Movie," "Craftsman," and many more. This is a show that will never lose its flavor.

BEAUTIFUL story of family and forgiveness
What a beautiful and touching movie. I have recently become a huge Little House fan, thanks to my mom who got me hooked on the TV series =) This is one of the most powerful episodes I have ever seen--it's so REAL and therefore incredibly effective. What I like so much about the Little House videos is that they have such strong family morals. This is a family that loves each other so much, you just want to cry because it is so touching. In "The Lord is my Shepherd," the spirited young Laura Ingalls gets nervous when a baby boy is born into their family. She sees her Pa with his new son and worries that the baby will take her place in her father's heart. Laura's jealousy is so thick that she refuses to pray for her brother when he comes down with an illness that threatens to take his life. But, as it turns out, Laura ends up being the most devastated one in her family when the baby dies. She feels that the baby's death is her fault, and she feels overwhelmingly guilty because she actually believes that her father wants a son more than he wants her. Lost in her own emotions, Laura runs away to the mountains and, through the grace of God, meets a kindhearted old hermit named Jonathan who befriends Laura and gradually counsels her through gentle advice and a sense of understanding. It is Jonathan who will help Laura come to the realization that nobody could possibly love and need her the way her Pa does (and if you watch some more videos in the series, you will immediately see how much he really loves and cherishes Laura). It is a truly beautiful story that moved me so deeply. Both Laura and Pa learn valuable lessons about unconditional family love. The Ingalls family paints a clear picture of what family is all about. The acting here is strong, solid, and consistent. Melissa Gilbert is heart-melting and sincere as little Laura, and Michael Landon is absolutely incredible in his role. To me, he IS Charles "Pa" Ingalls, and the only one I can imagine fit for the part. He may very well be one of the most masterful actors I have ever seen. He plays the role to the max, and he becomes the character both inside and out. His acting is so strong--in fact, all of the acting in "Little House on the Prairie" is amazing. Sorry if I ended up writing too much--but when it comes to movies like this, there aren't enough words in the world to describe how good they are. "The Lord is My Shepherd" is a beautiful, beautiful story with all the morality, love, and sensitivity that you could ask for in a movie. Blended in with the hardships of pioneer life and a vision of the courageous individuals who lived through it, it makes a pretty impressive movie that you can watch with your entire family. Don't wait any longer to watch these shows--I truly do hope that you will buy some of them, because I'm sure you will be very moved and inspired by the message that they have to share. (sorry again for making this too long!!!)

the lord is my shepard: Little House on the Prairie
I like this video because of it's family values it has. The sence of family unity. I just love shows that are wholesome and that I can watch with my children. And Little House has that.They don't have any bad words or naughty senes in it. And still it lasts through time. That proves that wholesome entertainment lasts the test of time and people truely like that best. ... Read more

Description

From the woods of Wisconsin and the plains of Kansas to Minnesota, the Ingalls fight to build and hold onto a new home, facing the danger of an untamed wilderness on the American frontier of the 1870's.

A Christmas They Never Forgot - After a sudden, fierce snowstorm traps all the members of the Ingalls family inside the little house on Christmas Eve, they pass the time by exchanging stories about their favorite Christmases of the past. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very good Christmas story
Excellent "Little House" video with great music, sensitivity, love, and family. This video has everything. =) When the family gets snowed in on Christmas Eve, they pass the time by retelling stories of their most memorable Christmases in the past. Each flashback was touching and entertaining. My favorite stories were those of Almanzo and Hester Sue. Almanzo was just so adorable, I laughed, and Hester Sue had an extremely bittersweet story to tell. Yes, the flashbacks are short, but they're enough to give you a fairly good background on the individual character. Don't miss this "Little House" edition--it's a great video to watch, both at Christmas and throughout the year.

Wonderful Christmas Episode, Beautiful Music
This is a beautiful episode where the family reminisces about their favorite Christmases in the past. It's sweet to see Almanzo as a little boy, and also Caroline as a little girl. My favorite aspect is that Michael Landon brought in a special group of choral singers for this episode and the music is amazing, absolutely beautiful. It's a wonderful family video that really conveys the true holiday spirit.

Little House On The Prairie - The Christmas They Never Forgo
I have seen all the Little House On The Prairie Shows. You can't go wrong with these. It shows how families & friends stick together through thick and thin. Teaches good family values that have been lost over the years. It shows how hard it was to make a living in the 1800's and how family and friends pull together to help one another. You will cry and you will laugh.

Not what I expected!
I love everything that is connected with Laura Ingalls Wilder, and was looking forward to this video. However, it was just filled with reflections and short flashbacks. I would prefer to see a movie that actually developed one of these flashbacks rather than this. I was also hoping to give the Ingalls bug to my daughter. This video doesn't allow you to watch any particular character long enough for that. I probably would have bought this eventually but only after I purchased the other available videos.

I love it! I really recomened it for all Little house fans!
Little House on the Prarie is a wonderful show! I've loved it ever since I was a little girl! And it has the love of a famiy in it! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Sinatra - The Actor
Firstly I'll presume your a Sinatra fan or you would'nt be looking at this Dvd.

Secondly I will further presume you hav'nt heard much about this film, maybe never even heard of it before, am I right.

.....Well relax and get this film, its one of those rare films in which Sinatra showed all the disbelievers he could act. A gritty drama, probably better because it was shot in black and white and O.K, its not as good a quality print as some of todays films would be but this genuinely adds to the feel of the movie.

As anyone who has seen the laserdisc will testify this is a very good watch and a must for all real Frank Sinatra fans.

"Suddenly" is a great Sinatra Film!
This 1954 film is one of my favorite films. It is a Film Noir and it stars Frank Sinatra! What a great combination. Sinatra plays the bad guy and he does agood job at it, too! His acting is authentic and very smooth. "Suddenly" is about an assassination attempt on the President. A picture is worth a thousand words, so watch the picture, you won't regret it. At least I didn't!

THIS IS THE WAY "SUDDENLY" WAS MEANT TO BE SEEN!!!
Unknown, strange companies crawling out of the woodwork have been, up till now, foisting ill-wind versions of Frand Sinatra in his early surprise hit, SUDDENLY!, a film packed with excitement but the sole purveyors of this excellently high-quality master created from the original 35mm master and, with the quality so high, all one has to do is pay attention and by the second reel--you're hooked. It's short, taught, and guaranteed to impress the riff-raff. Even the old Groaner would love this one. And this is the ORIGINAL version which means great visual field and, most imnportantly---NO "LETTERBOXED" VERSIONS!! This film was shot in a flat, square format, and there it shall stay. Buy the Hal Roach Studios version and avoid the phoney letterbox but receive the best possible show for your trouble. And, that's a promise!! Remember, it was Hal Roach Studios that Colorized "Suddenly" which could only be done from really fine underlying black and white materials and that's what's being offerted here, so enjoy. And, unlike the first try at the color version, "Old Brown Eyes is NOT back"--we made them change them to blue!! Highly recommended

An early psychodrama, but not very convincing
*Suddenly* is an intriguing little film about a plot to assassinate the POTUS (President of the United States). The premise is groundbreaking, considering the period it was made in, the "I Like Ike" years.

Frank Sinatra is pretty good as the wack job hired by some unknown plotters for the job of whacking the Prez. There's some decent acting from a few of the supporting players, especially the one who plays the old retired Secret Service agent. Sterling Hayden, whom I really like in *Asphalt Jungle* and *The Godfather*, doesn't shine for me in this one. I'll bet he was bored.

The trouble with *Suddenly* is that it's a low-budget thriller that set its sights too high. You simply can't believe that a big-buck-backed assassination plot could really transpire like this. It's just too hokey. At the same time I give the film credit for making the old college try. 'Cause that's what *Suddenly* feels like--a film-college noir, strong on bold concepts but weak in the pocketbook and experience. Having a gang of desperados headed by a maniac impersonate a team of FBI agents so as to knock off the president was a brilliant idea for a film of '54, but this idea, great as it was, is stillborn in *Suddenly.* If it had been about a train heist or a small town bank robbery, it could have worked a lot better.

I'm a personal friend of Alan Wexler, son of the late Paul Wexler who played the deputy sherrif, Slim. He gets shot (but not killed) when trying to arrest one of the gang. Al has a lot of cool stories about growing up in Hollywood during the '50's and 60's. He was just a little runt when *Suddenly* was made so he doesn't remember much about that one. Still, it's a part of his life, and as his good buddy, it's a part of mine too. Get *Suddenly* and get nostalgic.

The Gambler
Just two years before he made Suddenly, Frank Sinatra thought he was finished. His vocal cords hemorrhaged, and 'The Voice' almost fell silent. Movie producers lost interest in making musical comedies starring the Kid from Hoboken, and no one took him seriously as a dramatic actor, a field where he had no track record. And he could feel the love of his life, Ava Gardner, slipping out of his grasp. (Although Sinatra and Gardner had just married in 1951, following his divorce from first wife, Nancy, the affair had been going on for years, and the wedding was anti-climactic.)

Well, Sinatra got his vocal chords fixed. And after a manic lobbying campaign, he got the role of a lifetime, as the heroic but ill-fated, "Pvt. Angelo Maggio," in 1953's From Here to Eternity. With Sinatra's help, the movie won eight Oscars, including his own, richly deserved one for best supporting actor.

For the next 12 or so years (through Von Ryan's Express), until one of the longest midlife crises in world history took over, Frank Sinatra was among the world's greatest movie actors. Unfortunately, the third part of his life could not be saved. By 1955, he and Ava Gardner had split up, though as she wrote in her autobiography, Ava, they would have occasional 'reunions' in hotels around the world, over the next 30-odd years, until her death in 1990.

Going for the role of Maggio was a huge gamble for a man who had no history of straight dramatic acting. But then, Sinatra was nothing, if not a gambler. Existentialism was then a popular philosophy, but unlike pretentious types in French cafes, who knew only the words, he knew the music. From his thirties through his mid-forties, Sinatra lived a life of continual high drama, subsisting off tempestuous passions and guile, with little room left for prudence. (But unlike professional existentialists, Sinatra was no nihilist.)

And so in 1954, he starred in the kind of insane movie that could have ended his fledgling, dramatic movie career. Suddenly (what a lousy title!) is the name of a California hamlet, where the President of the United States will happen to pass through, for about the time it takes to smoke a cigarette. Only the Secret Service knows this ' and a small group of assassins posing as Secret Service agents, led by 'Johnny Baron' (Sinatra).

Johnny is a homicidal sociopath who has no qualms about doing what was then 'the unthinkable.' 'Sure, I like choppin'' (shooting). He has a $500,000 contract to kill the President, and so kill him, he will.

(Sinatra would go on, in 1962, to co-star in yet another movie about a plot to assassinate the president, The Manchurian Candidate. Directed by the late John Frankenheimer from Richard Condon's classic political thriller, in Candidate, Sinatra gave a now hilarious, now moving performance as insomniac Capt. Bennett Marco. But the following year, his friend, President John F. Kennedy, would be assassinated, and so for the next 30 years, Sinatra would get Suddenly and The Manchurian Candidate pulled out of distribution.)

The era of the anti-hero had just begun, with Marlon Brando's 1953 performance as motorcycle gang leader Johnny Strabler, in The Wild One. But not even the young Brando had guts like Sinatra. No one had shot a president since William 'Big Bill' McKinley in '01, and no one made movies about assassins.

But Sinatra did. Working almost entirely on one set, on a shoestring budget, and squaring off against dramatic (and physical) heavyweight Sterling Hayden (as 'Sheriff Tod Shaw'), he gave a towering performance.

Johnny and his accomplices take the Benson family hostage; their home has a clear shot at the spot where the President will get off his train. 'Pop Benson' (James Gleason) is a retired Secret Service agent, whose widowed, pacifist daughter-in-law, 'Ellen' (Nancy Gates) has been rebuffing Tod Shaw's attempts at courtship. Ellen Benson holds all who wield weapons equally in contempt.

Johnny likes to talk, and he has a captive audience. Literally. The set-piece around which the picture revolves, is the spellbinding soliloquy Johnny delivers, on his failed life as a civilian prior to World War II, as a lost soul, wandering about an anonymous, non-descript, unnamed metropolis.

'Before, I drifted and drifted and ran, always lost in a great, big crowd. I hated that crowd, used to dream about the crowd, once in a while. I used to see all those faces, scratchin' and shovin' and bitin.' And then the mist would clear, and somehow all the faces would be me. All me, and nothin.'

This is not the spirit of America on the eve of World War II, but of a different time and place altogether. It is the spirit of Hitler's Vienna on the eve of World War I, the spirit of fascism.

Now, I realize that logically, this doesn't jibe. After all, Johnny doesn't work in a collective, the way the fascists and Nazis, or the anti-Semitic socialists of pre-WWI Vienna did; he's more of a freelancer. And spoken abstractly, overlaying a 1910s, European mentality doesn't work for a story set in America in the mid-1950s. And yet, it does work, gloriously.

Here's the background: During and after the war, with the help of Soviet communist propaganda ' to paper over the Soviets' 1939 alliance with Nazi Germany -- many leftwing artists, academics, and journalists mindlessly pushed the notion that "fascism" was merely political gangsterism. This attitude was perpetuated most dramatically by communist playwright Bertolt Brecht's entertaining play, written in 1941 in Finnish exile, The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui.

But Suddenly doesn't owe its power to the propaganda of Bert Brecht, or of leftwing academics or journalists. Give credit, instead, to screenwriter Richard Sale, director Lewis Allen, and to ' The Gambler.

A Different Drummer, February 6, 2004. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Movie
This movie is truer to the books than the tv series. It is not perfect but is what helped introduce me to Laura and her books.

Wonderful
This is the movie that started it all. A young pioneer family heads out of their home in the "big woods" not quite knowing what to expect. They settle on the Indian territory, make a home for themselves, and remain close as a family. Despite a few fearful encounters with Indians, wolves, and a fire upon their house, the Ingalls family remains tight in love. They celebrate their first Christmas in the territory, befriend the loving yet gruff Mr. Edwards, and experience many births, both in their hearts and in their horses. If you want to see a good movie on love and persistence, then by all means buy this one. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

In Spanish too
I feel happy that tv series that I watched many years ago . Now I can get them in DVD, but these serios were no popular just in USA in other countries of Latin America was popular too. It should be make in Spanish too or with subtitles in several languages. Thanks

When's the DVD coming out????
I see all of these other old school TV shows coming out on DVD. Mission: Impossible was a great show and deserves its spot for a DVD release for each season.

Impossible to Match
I saw many of the Mission Impossible series as a teenager. I also read the original paperback book when it came out which was made as Vol. #7. Steven Hill playing Daniell Briggs (the first season)and Peter Graves ( all subsequent seasons) as Jim Phelps both play excellent as the genius mastermind Team leader of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) a top American government group virtually unknown to the rest of the top secret agencies. During his college days Dan or Jim majored in psychology at a top west coast university and was a chess champion. The rest of the IMF is composed of the beautiful model and Fem Fatale, Cinnamon Carter played by Barbara Bain is excellent. The academy award winner, Martin Landau who eventually married Barbara plays Rollin Hand, the magician and master of disguise. Black actor, Greg Morris does a superb job as Barney Collier, electronics genius with a prestigious background. The strong man or weight lifting world record holder, William (Willie) Armitage played by Peter Lupus is the brawn on the Team. he certainly looked the part also. Together the IMF carries out missions against impossible odds to rescue people, con enemy states, and change the courses of governments for the betterment of the free world especially without causing wars. This first volume is excellent in introducing this Team of specialists with exciting and intruiging plots and ways the IMF thwarts and bamboozles the opponent in the pilot and also in the second story called the Photographer which Anthony Zerbe stars. All of the Mission Impossible series are excellent and demonstrates how things can be accomplished through nonviolent methods also. The CIA actually did accomplish some similiar things which are now becoming declassified. This show was one of my favorite TV shows in the sixties and early seventies. You will enjoy them as well!!

Introducing you to the Cold War and the IMF Team
"Mission Impossible" originally ran from 1966 and 1973, telling tales of the Impossible Mission Force, a group of highly specialized government agents who were usually involved in disrupting the activities of small foreign powers trying to mess with the United States and the Free World. The group leader, Daniel Briggs (Steven Hill) in the first season and Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) for the rest of the show's run, put together the team and developed the complex plan to pull off the impossible mission; Cinnamon Carter (Barbara Bain) was the the beautiful female member of the team, Rollin Hand (Martin Landau) the master of disguise, Barney Collier (Greg Morris) was the electronics expert, and William Armitage (Peter Lupus) the muscle.

This first tape in the "Mission Impossible" series has the pilot and a choice episode from the show's second season. In the pilot episode (9/17/66), Wally Cox plays a safecracker who has to sneak into the vault of a hotel to steal a couple of nuclear warheads from a military dictator. This was the only episode of the show written by series creator Bruce Geller. This is not a classic episode per se, but it clearly sets the template for the entire series. "The Photographer" (12/17/67), written by two of the show's most productive writers, William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, deals with biological warfare. Enemy agents intend to spread pneumonic plague and a top photographer (Anthony Zerbe) is the key contact. The IMF fakes a nuclear attack on New York to get the key to the code. Yes, there is a large degree of irony in watching this particular episode today, but remember what things were like in the Sixties. "The Photographer" is a classic MI episode and along with the pilot makes this an excellent tape to have for fans of the series.

Final Note: For my money the title sequence for this show is definitely one of the ten best ever, not just because of Lalo Schifrin's memorable theme music but because of the way shots from the episode were mixed in with the burning fuse and shots of the cast. You always saw enough to get interested in what was to happen, but they never let the cat out of the bag enough to ruin the episode.

Mission: Impossible, Vol. 1
I Thought that these two episodes were two of the best. One the first episode had Steven Hill starring who I think in some cases is better at the part than Peter Graves is. Two the second episode had a clever set up. But I won't explain it to you I want you to see it for youself. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Exchange
There are two episodes on this tape. The Mercenaries and The Exchange. The Exchange is a major and exciting departure for M.I. It is the only episode where an MI agent is captured (Cinnamon) at the beginning. The entire show is based on an exciting and creative "rescue".

This is a show that the creator (Bruce Gellar) did not want to make. Later this became one of his favorite shows. Phelps is clearly pained by Cinnamons capture and the rescue is a "cold war" stroke of genius. A must see!!

The Mercenaries
I renember of watching "The Mercenaries" for the first time. I consider it one of the bets MI episodes ever! It was very inteligent.

I have the picture of the villian (with a Fidel Castro looking) shooting Rollin when he fiunds ot that Rollin is an IMF agent.

The golden stealing scene was really well planed and really well done (I hear that the golden bars whre Ice Creams tablets). I read in a megazine that this scene became very famous.

It was always good to see IMF on action. In my opinion, "The Mercenaries is the second best episode of MI's season 3. It only looses for "The Mind of Staphan Miklos". ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Put this show on DVD
This entire series needs to be put on DVD soon and with many special features! I loved this show since I was a kid. The original TV show blows the movies away ... BIG TIME.

SLP Recording really ruins video quality !
Good video. Poor delivery.

I was really annoyed by the fact that the video producers decided to shave pennies off of their costs by recoding in SLP (Super Long Play) mode.

Fantastic plots sold here
Want to bend your mind a bit? Let the IMF do it with these two as Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) matches wits with hyperintelligent secret agent Stefan Miklos (Steve Ihnat in one of his best performances ever) as Phelps seeks to destroy a spy ring that has penetrated American intelligence by leading the enemy's most accomplished thinker through turn after turn to completely dupe him in the process. When your brain stops hurting with the dense plot and amazing attention to logical detail, try the even more phenomenal "Live Bait" where Phelps and the IMF must keep American spy Orin Selby (John Crawford) by being unmasked by enemy security chief Helmut Kellerman (Anthony Zerbe in another fine guest role). Watch for the great subplot with Kellerman's faithless assistant Brock (Martin Sheen) and his scheming girlfriend (Diana Ewing). Buy this video *now*.

A Must-See
Two of the most intelligent and elegantly-wrtten episodes of the all-time great, "Graves-and the Landaus season" Mission: Impossible. If you haven't seen these two, you haven't watched Mission: Impossible at all. Don't miss them. ... Read more

Description

Difficult economic times cause the Ingalls to move closer to Mary who is teaching at the blind school in the city. They all prepare to celebrate Mary’s birthday: Pa sells his fiddle to purchase her a present and Laura makes her a card written in braille. Everyone is moved to tears when Mary expresses her appreciation for the special people in her life – as they are everything she could ever really want ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Should've Been Bigger Than Bonanza!
The only reason why I don't buy "Legend Of A General" is because I already have it on tape! If I didn't, you better believe I'd snatch it up in a second! "The Big Valley" is my absolute favortie tv western of all time! ("Dr. Quinn" comes in at a close second.)

For one thing, being from California & living just an hour away from Stockton, I liked the show's locale! Most other westerns take place in Texas, or Arizona, or New Mexico, or Nevada ("Bonanza"), but "The Big Valley" takes place near my home! It was also the first western I ever saw (I first saw it on re-runs when I was nine.) I also found the Barkleys more believable than the Cartwrights. (Ben Cartwright was widowed three times,. for godsakes!) The over-the-top stories with the moral/social lessons are solid (How many times has Lee Majors' "Heath" been falsely arrested by a corrupt sheriff?) & the action-scenes are well-staged. (My favorite was the episode where Nick helps out a boxer. The fight scenes were expertly done!) The characters were also well-defined (except of course, Linda Evans' "Audra", who isn't given much to do, except look pretty.)

If you haven't seen "The Big Valley" & you like westerns, buy this tape! The story concerns the Barkleys helping out an old friend of theirs, an exiled Mexican general, who is being sought after by a corrupt political opponent. (The Barkleys seem to have been involved with every historical figure of the Old West! And like other wealthy tv western families, they care more about what's right than about their vast land & financial holdings! After all, Barbara Stanwyck's "Victoria Barkeley" takes in Lee Major's "Heath" character as a member of the family, even though he is the illigitamate son of her husband & his mistress! If only REAL wealthy ranchers of the Old West were like that!) You may not get an accurate California history lesson by watching "The Big Valley" (the most inaccurate was the episode "Light Foot" with Joe Don Baker as a Modoc Indian, even though the Modocs were nowhere near Stockton!), but you'll get a solid family-drama with great dialogue & fast-paced action!

Like Lee Majors as "Heath" would say, "Boy howdy!"

THE BARKLEY SAGA
Every single episode of this fantastic western series should be available on video! I've met many people who, like myself, are devoted fans of this classic show which originally aired from 1965-1969. There were 112 hour-long episodes of this western filmed and it remains my very favourite show of all-time. As Victoria Barkley, Barbara Stanwyck is nothing less than sensational in her acting technique; as the widow Barkley, she is a curious combination of being both tough and gracious - but above all, Stanwyck was an incredibly NATURAL actress; she won an Emmy for her portrayal in 1966 (she was nominated the remaining three years of the show's run, plus she won other awards such as the Photoplay Medal) and her playing of the proud matriarch has practically made her Victoria Barkley a cult figure. Richard Long is fine as Jarrod, the level-headed eldest lawyer son - while never a great actor by any means, Long had an intensely likeable personna about him. Nick, the tough, egotistical son is played with neccesary verve by Peter Breck and Audra as played by astonishingly beautiful Linda Evans made many a male baby-boomer swoon (I was one of them!). NIGHT OF THE WOLF is a classic episode which lingers in the memory: Nick gets bitten by a rabid wolf and tries to find his lost love, golden-haired Jeannie before he dies; he finds she died from typhoid. Nancy Olson and Ronny Howard play the widowed mother and son who take Nick in and the conclusion is both happy and sad. Stanwyck was such a striking presence in this show (which was envied by many of her peers and was a huge personal triumph) that entire episodes are literally showcases for her acting talent. The youngest son, Eugene (played by the now-forgotton Charles Briles) was mysteriously written out of the show after the first season. The public's very favourite character, however was HEATH (the half-breed b------- from Strawberry) as played by Lee Majors! The rest of the cast was actually peeved and annoyed due to the fact that more stories centered around Heath, and Majors received more fan mail than any other cast member! The guest stars in this terrific western included Julie Harris, Susan Oliver, Colleen Dewhurst (she was terrific), Milton Berle(!), Robert Goulet(!), Pernell Roberts, Cloris Leachman, Buddy Hackett, Adam West, Virginia Christine, among many others. James Gregory worked well with Stanwyck and he was a frequent co-star. The stories were excellently written, the characters were colourful and genuine. The beautifully colourful scenery, the musical score by George Duning (which included the pretty little theme heard at the beginning of many an episode entitled A FUTURE LEFT BEHIND) are all first-rate. If someone doesn't do a book on THE BIG VALLEY..... maybe I WILL!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

IMF
Your Mission Jim Should You Decide to Accept It!

2 Thumbs Up!

The Council
This originally aired as a two part show. The theme is organized crime which later became a repeated theme as the show aged and budgets got tighter. This, however, was in the early years with a big budget and MAJOR excitment. Cinnamon plays a cosmetologist doing a plastic surgery job in front of a host of "bad guys". The show is riviting with an unforgetable finale. If you're an MI fan this is a must see!

THE ORIGINAL SPY MASTERPIECE IN ALL IT'S GLORY!
I am a big fan of this series and have been for many years. With this volume having some of the best episodes of the series. The gadgets and all the action and great storylines that never seemed to go over the top of the viewer's crediablity. The remake of The original "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE" t.v series wasn't that good i don't think it could ever come close to the remarkable sucess of it's predecessor. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The "Hand " That Robbed The Crib
One of the finest exhibitions of plotting, stealth, pinpoint timing, acting, writing, and oh yeah, true IMF coincidences,
few fans will want to leave their seats during this two parter!

The plan is to free a cardinal bishop from a high security prison which has never been victim to a prison escape. Martin Landau's interaction with the frail cardinal took on a
somewhat father son quality. Mary Ann Mobley was brilliant
as the trapeeze artist. She and Barbara Bain worked their seductive magic in an effort to stall and divert the guards attention. The fine performances by Greg Morris as the clown and Peter Lupus punctuate the episodes. And of course, no 1st season episode would be considered a
classic without the great Steven Hill. His ability to slide
from total involvement to complete anonymity is a gift
that was occasionally explored but never eclipsed by Peter Graves. This episode along with Operation Rogosh and Ransom leaves you with a marvelous and wistful taste of
what could have been of Mission had Steven Hill stayed on.
Fine television viewing right to the finish!!

Shows with Guest Stars
The episodes are wonderful. But I'd like to know who is guest starring on ea. tape before purchasing.

The Ultimate First Season Mission: Impossible Episodes
OLD MAN OUT is arguably the best two-parter in MISSION's long history, and definitely stands out among the rarely-seen first season episodes. OLD MAN OUT finds the IMF in all their mindbending glory, attempting to liberate ailing political prisoner Cardinal Vossek (Cyril Delevanti) from an impregnable fortress. Although not as sophisticated as later shows, the episode does feature outstanding performances by Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and guest star Mary Ann Mobely. It also features some of the best character interaction in the series. OLD MAN OUT, more than any other show, makes the IMF appear comprised of human beings as opposed to the deadly clockwork machines they later became.

The Ultimate First Season Mission: Impossible Episodes
This two-parter from MISSION's first season is arguably the best of '66-'67. OLD MAN OUT parts one and two showcase the IMF in all their mindbending glory as they set out to free political prisoner Cardinal Vossek (Cyril Delevanti) from an impregnable jail. To free Vossek, the IMF must pose as a travelling carnival troupe which takes up residence outside the prison walls. Although not as sophisticated as some of the later episodes, OLD MAN OUT does feature outstanding performances by Marin Landau, Barbara Bain and guest star May Ann Mobely. Character interaction is also at an all-time high, as in this episode more than any other, the characters appear more human as opposed to the clockwork machines they later became. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

continues the "Little House" tradition
This episode has no problem carrying out all of the characteristics of "Little House on the Prairie" that makes the series so wonderful. In this story, the Ingalls' adopted son Albert is forced to get a true taste of prejudice at a young age. The people who are supposed to be his friends turn on him and call him a "Jew lover" when he befriends and becomes the apprentice of a kind, elderly Jewish craftsman. Albert and the craftsman carry this episode all the way through--they are two beautiful people who come together to address the issue of prejudice and stress the meaning of love. Great acting, great story--I recommend it ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Operation Rogosz-The Episode the Made the Series
Operation Rogosz (oh-come on, he's supposed to be Hungarian-spell it right!) was the fourth episode of Mission Impossible, and in my opinion, it was the one that made the series what it became. In the first season, there were still a lot of "action" scenes, shoot-outs, car chases and fist fights, but this episode doesn't have any of that, which is why it is so good. MI, at its best is all about psyching the enemy out and brain is more important than brawn. Fritz Weaver puts in a great performance as the consummately evil Imre Rogosz. Combining this with a very impressive job of directing by Leonard Horn and some very special camera work, we see a very intense and exciting story. One thing that is different about this episode from later ones in the series is that we see light-hearted banter between the members of the IM Force. It was apparently believed by the later writers that this might detract from the tension of the story, but on the other hand, it makes the members of the IMF more "human" and believable. I leave it to the viewer to decide which is a better approach.
One other factor that makes the story so compelling is that it is about bacteriological warfare, a subject that is unfortunately very relevant today. Get this video and see the good guys win.

"Operation Rogosh" on video--finally!
The great "Operation Rogosh" episode of "Mission: Impossible" featured the series' first time-displacement scam, with an environment completely recreated from scratch and a mission that, to be successful, had to be completed within a strict time-frame. To one extent or another, this first-year installment set the tone for the rest of the series, and after 37 years, "Rogosh" is still fresh, and still a model of staging and editing.

Director Leonard Horn was a veteran of the sci-fi classic "The Outer Limits" ("The Man Who Was Never Born," etc.), as was writer Jerome Ross ("The Man with the Power"). Other "Limits" tie-ins include directors Lee H. Katzin and Paul Stanley, as well as co-producer Alan Balter.

The second episode on the video, "The Train," is more gimmick-reliant but quite entertaining, with one especially nerve-wracking moment. To quote an early reviewer of "Mission: Impossible," fine stuff!

Two classic episodes
Two classic episodes for a great price -- "Operation Rogosh" features a genocidal saboteur (Fritz Weaver) convinced three years has elapsed, he's on trial for his life -- and all he can remember to prove his innocence is to tell "his accusers" of the "last" great operation he was trying to pull off in America. Great psychological drama and a real cliffhanger ending. "The Train" also features some fun technology, including a IMF-rigged train crash that never was, a faked heart murmur with a microphone, and great acting from villain William Windom. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great story
"Home is the nicest word there is." These are Laura Ingalls' sweet and touching words that help kick off the "Little House on the Prairie" video series in "A Harvest of Friends." The Ingalls family has decided to settle at Plum Creek in Walnut Grove. Pa builds a house for the family, and they are all happy there. Pa starts working for two men named Mr. Hanson and Mr. O'Neil to ensure that he can earn the supplies he needs for his harvest. Mr. Hanson is a kind and caring man, but Mr. O'Neil is pushy and unrelenting. So, when Pa falls out of a tree at a family picnic and is ordered off to bed, you could probably guess which one of those two men is understanding and which one refuses to cut Pa any slack. I was very touched when the title of this video came to life and presented itself so beautifully at the end. This is a good one--I give it 5 stars and I definitely recommend it. ... Read more