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If there was a universal collective, albeit repressed, dream, it would probably be to become a successful singer. People would take that singing in the car, singing in the shower, and even singing in the rain, and have it be their life's love and work. The Thing Called Love uses this popular aspiration as its setting and examines the lives of four young people hoping to make it in the country music universe.At the center is earnest Miranda Presley--no relation--(Samantha Mathis), the pretty but untalented Linda Lue (Sandra Bullock), the intense and talented James (River Phoenix), and the sweet and prolific Kyle (Dermont Mulroney). Popular country stars make appearances:K.T. Oslin (as Lucy, the owner of the Bluebell, where open-mike auditions are held), Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Katy Moffatt, Jo-El Sonnier, Pam Tillis, Kevin Welch, and even Trisha Yearwood. The film's not merely focused on the rich musical milieu and its talented cast. It also carefully examines the dynamic between friends who are also competitors, as well as a realistic love triangle between the leads. The Thing Called Love is primarily knownas one of River Phoenix's last performances, but even if curiosity alone brings audiences to the movie, they'll soon be drawn into the fresh tale of four young people pursuing their dreams. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (30)

NASHVILLE, HERE I AM....
Nasville, TN is a city with more musical talent per capita than anywhere else on earth. And if that's not enough, the buses drop off a fresh new load for the grinder every day. This excellent movie is about 4 of these young, country music wannabees, discovering the real price that must be paid if Nashville's gonna let them stay around for more than a brief visit. River Phoenix plays James, a most believable, very talented musician who is beginning to be noticed, and who probably has the chops and determination to make it. Samantha Mathis is a jewel as Miranda, the epitome of the one who can never quit, even when they think they already have. Young versions of Sandra Bullock and Dermont Mulroney provide serious and comedic counterpoint and love rivals for James and Miranda, whose relationship seems to constantly ask, is love or career success more important, or is the appearance of love itself just a career success. This movie wins on several levels, and appeals even if country music is not your favorite musical genre.

My Absolute Favorite
If you already love country music you will adore this film; if you don't love country music, you just might when this film is through. I fell into the latter category when I first watched it after hearing it starred River Phoenix. Of course it also has some fabulous acting by Samantha Mathis, a younger Sandra Bullock ("Speed") and Dermont Mulroney ("My Best Friend's Wedding"). Unlike some of their other older works, this one is fantastic.

The story takes us into the lives of these four young people trying to make it big in country music, trying to find love and trying to find themselves along the way. You'll get caught up in their crazy antics, love triangle and doing anything (breaking into celebrity's car, lying...) to make it in country music.

A funny and heartwarming movie, this is the most warnout tape in my collection.

Fluff with heart
As a lonely teenager I was so obsessed with this movie that I made tapes of the songs and listened to them over and over.

Sure it's a fluffy little movie, and probably one of Pheonix's greatest flops, but it's fluff with heart. Samantha Mathis is the tough-talking New Yorker determined to make it in the country music capital of the world. She doesn't take any BS but she's strangely attracted to Pheonix's country boy with a drawl.

This is also one Sandra Bullock's early efforts, before the bus that propelled her to fame in Speed. Believe it or not she's supposed to be the plain Jane to Mathis' lead. The chemistry between the two of them is cute, and we also get an early Dermot Mulroney as the sweet cowboy. Plus it's loaded with cameos of country music stars - most of whom I didn't recognise then and still don't, but they're there, I swear.

There's lots of schmaltzy country music and tons of cliches (club owner with a heart of gold, bad boy with a heart of gold, cynical New Yorker with a heart of gold... you get the picture.)

But still, it's an interesting little movie and strays from the formula or most romantic comedies (it's not just happily ever after.) It might even convert you to liking country - I know I developed a taste for some of the classic stuff after this flick.

Plus it was River Pheonix's last picture before his death, which almost makes it worthwhile for cultural value alone. While some might argue that this wasn't Pheonix's most memorable movie I would totally disagree.

If you're heartbroken, down on your luck or are living out any other cliche that might be featured in a country music song, this is definitely worth checking out.

Want it on DVD!!
This movie includes every element of growing up, bitter and sweet, and is one of my favorites. I really want it on DVD, especially for the scenes where Phoenix is really singing. I am totally smitten with his sweet voice though not a country music fan at all.

Fantastic Movie!!
This movie is really good, I mean the talent is excellent and you know sometimes watching this show is hard knowing that this is practically the last movie that River was known for!! but hearing all the actors really sing in the movie was also really cool, I just wish the soundtrack would have included their own recordings of the songs but it didn't!! I definately recommend this movie to any country music lover, romantic or even just a River lover!! ... Read more

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Peter Bogdanovich directed this sensitive and moving story about a teenage boy, Rocky (Eric Stoltz), who lives with severe facial deformities and poor prognosis for survival beyond childhood. The film concentrates on that threshold-of-adulthood period familiar to past and present 16-year-olds, folding together common experiences of youth (love, hassles with mom, a desire to travel) with the special burdens endured by the hero. Stoltz, absolutely unrecognizable under lots and lots of prosthetic makeup, is quite good, as are Cher (as Rocky's mother) and Sam Elliott (Rocky's father figure). More than a tearjerker, the film is a genuine celebration of all that is most precious in life, even more to those who have nothing to take for granted.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Real and Moving
Mask is one of those rare "true story" movies that remains that way when it hits the big screen. It also houses an absolutely fabulous performance by Cher, as well as by Eric Stoltz.

Mask is about a boy named Rocky Dennis who is well above average in every way. If it weren't for a degenerative disease that horribly disfigured his face since birth, the world would probably see him that way. At first, those that meet him are understandably nervous and scared, but with an airy confidence, he wins his classmates and peers over.

That confidence comes from his mother, played by Cher. She is an attractive, drug addicted single mother with an on again, off again fling with Gar, played by Sam Elliot. Cher convincingly and movingly plays a mother riddled with insecurites, but in love with her son, who represents to her all she wishes she could be. She was born with the huge advantage of being beautiful, she dropped out of school and got pregnant. She lookes at Rocky and sees someone who was born with every disadvantage (a disfigured face and a short life) and who is confident, responsible, hardworking, and happy. He is also valedictorian of his high school class.

Ever since she had Rocky, she has been strong and tough, making it clear that Rocky will not be treated any differently than anyone else. Rocky takes from that confidence and gives it back to his Mom with the way he lives his life...getting up every morning, facing the world, being happy, taking care of himself, and preparing for and dreaming of a future that he may never have. Her hatred for herself is transcended only by her pure love and open admiration for her son.

I have seen Mask a number of times over the years, but I have to say it gets me every time. It is a movie that deals, realistically and truthfully with a disease that seems almost unreal. But the lessons learned and the topics raised have little to do with the "Mask" and more about the connection between a mother and her son.

Will tug at the heart-strings
Even someone with a heart of stone will feel for the characters featured in this film, which is based on a true story.

Both Cher & Eric Stoltz give moving performances, as a biker babe mother 'addicted' to drink and drugs, and a son, who can't get a girl, and is severely facially deformed.

I originally saw this movie quite a few years, and only remembered the scene where he's in high school, and he talks about being from Planet Vulcan.

Of course, the facial disease Rocky Dennis has is fatal, so obviously, you know what the ending will be. And the tears ended up tripping me - this is another film that I can add to my "Films I Cry At" list. My mum grabbed it, as she loves true stories, and it's not a film I will ever watch again - I hate crying at films!!! It's only a story is what I keep getting told, but it doesn't work. But you feel for the characters so much.

The real Rusty Dennis apparently was a consultant to the great Cher on this movie, and is now rumoured to be battling a drink & drug addiction - and can you blame her? The Cher gave when she found Eric Stoltz had died in his sleep, was almost too realistic.

Cher gives a great performance in this movie. It's one of the very rare movies where she isn't wooden - although she does advertise her plastic surgeon a lot. This is a movie to watch purely for Cher, to see her before she overdone the plastic surgery, and is does a farewell tour every couple of years.

Eric Stoltz is unrecognisable in his role of Rocky. He must have had a very boring time sitting for so long in make-up!

A very moving film, and totally worth watching!

I like this movie but it is pretty sad
I think its pretty sad like he dies at the end.Me and my 3 other 11 year old friends watched this movie and we first couldn't look at his face because it looked so weird.And we thought he only had a mask on.But I like this film.His mum has a angry managment and takes drugs.Well but I still recomend this for all ages.

unforgetable
IN 1987 i sat,totally engrossed,watching the heart-wrenching story of a boy suffering with facial deformity, a boy who was not expected to live beyond a teenager. At least that was the write up. What i saw,was not only his torment,but his mothers. Cher played this role so believably i still feel the character when i see her now. Her heartbreak,her own battle with drink and drugs, and her stuborn determination and humour when faced with authority. Also this was the point in time that i fell in love with Sam Elliot,and his voice. The man is a god. His character as Chers biker boyfriend was brilliant. Supposedly tough,but a sweetheart with a reassuring and patient relationship with the young man with dreams for the future. The three of them carried this film through every emotion you could think of. Shock,disbelief,laughter, tears, heartbreak and horror to name a few. Truly one of the most memerable films i ve ever seen. In fact here we are 16+ years on and i can remember it as vivdly as if i'd seen it an hour ago. How long is it since i ve seen it? Well i met my husband in 1988 and some 6 months after he ''borrowed'' the reel from inside the video case and never rebuilt it! The other reel with the film on?????? That was ''placed somewhere safe!'' So, i have looked for a replacement for a long time,and thought i'd found it here. Except i'm in england and your vhs wont play on my vhs. I'll just have to keep digging. In fact ''I COULD DIG SO DEEP I COULD END UP IN F¬`*=^+G CHINA!!!!!!'' Good night x

High schoolers find Mask moving
I recently showed Mask, based on the true-life story of Rocky Dennis, to my high school English class. Even today's teen-agers found the relationship between the disfigured Rocky and his blind girlfriend to be sweetly touching. The two sides of Rocky's biker-chick mother (in an outstanding performance by Cher) led to fruitful writing assignments about a parent struggling with addiction who can also be an incredibly supportive mother to her son. The students were also impressed with Rocky's exemplary personal qualities. Not only was Rocky Dennis an intelligent and sensitive human being who copes with his rare disease with humor and courage, he often has to "parent" his mother, and sets challenging goals for himself despite the death sentence hanging over his head. This film gives a strong message to teens (and adults) that -- despite bad examples sometimes from parents and peers -- having a strong sense of respect for oneself, nurturing long-range personal goals and healthy interests, being kind and decent to others, and maintaining a sense of humor can get us through even the worst challenges life deals us. ... Read more

Reviews (97)

This has to be the funniest movie that no one ever heard of!
Noises Off is a treasure of a movie buried in the comedy section of the video store. And after viewing it as a chance discovery, I would rank it as one of the funniest movies I've ever seen ' bar none! There is no message, no lingering camera work and precious little plot actually, but the sight gags and interaction of the characters make this movie an absolute laugh riot.

The premise of this film deals with the rehearsals and pre-Broadway tour of a play that aspires to be a classic British sex farce. Michael Caine plays the beleaguered director, with Julie Hagerty as his stage manager, trying to corral a collection of stage and movie actors on both sides of the career loop. Carol Burnett, John Ritter, Christopher Reeve, Denholm Elliott, Marilu Henner and Nicolette Sheridan make up the onstage ensemble, with the able support of Mark Linn-Baker. Throughout early rehearsals and performances the cast conspires with and against each other in matters of romance, revenge and profession expression ' all to hilarious effect.

It all culminates in a fateful performance that we view/hear primarily from backstage as conflicts of love and stage presence boil over in mid-show. It just might be the funniest thing ever filmed that didn't involve the genius of Mel Brooks.

Don't Miss the Original
I'll echo the companion reviews in raves for the film itself and my great delight in replacing my timeworn VHS with a new DVD. But what I'd like to add is that this is a remarkably skillful screen adaptation of the even funnier original stage play. By all means, buy the DVD. And if you like the movie, take pains at all costs to see "Noises Off" on stage.

The startling novelty is that the entire set rotates between scenes to show first the chaotic tech/dress rehearsal from the front, or audience, view, then depicting a subsequent performance, loaded with interpersonal conflicts and amazingly choreographed sight gags and goofs as seen backstage! The last act shifts back to an audience view of an ensuing performance disaster, leaving you to imagine clearly what must be going on behind the set. The title refers both to the scripted off-stage sound effects and the thumps and crashes that signal the hi jinks backstage.

The play is a popular choice for resident theater companies and occasional roadshow productions. Don't miss it!

Backstage exposed
That actors get confused between their real life and their acting on-stage (and backstage) is not quite new, but I never saw it better done than in 'Noises off...'. Above all, I'm more than grateful to the reviewer "archibael", thanks to whom I knew the DVD would be in the original screen format (when it's cropped to full-screen, and especially for good movies, I consider it's a kind of swindle and refrain from buying).

Exit...Stage Everywhere
An oddity of sorts because you have the two actors who played Superman and Captain Avenger in one movie (Christopher Reeve and John Ritter respectively...Ha! Ha! Just kidding! For joke reference, see review for film SPEECHLESS,"...Well Spoken Movie" starring Micheal Keaton, Geena Davis, & Christopher Reeve! by same reviewer from Gilroy,CA)
Anyway, NOISES OFF is different from anything that has been done in film in recent years and is a salute to the art of theatre. A movie farce about a small midwest theatre group putting on a stage farce. The play will tour parts of the U.S. and finally make it to Broadway. It is during a test run on the small theatre circuit that the hilarity begins. Egos and personal differences manifest a literal physical battle among the cast members behind stage during one performance. A classic shot is of a stagehand witnessing the proceedings who shakes his head in comic disgust. However, as true professionals, no matter what happens behind the scenes, the show must go on. The film is very fast, physical and the ensemble cast is excellent. The movie audience sees rehearsals and performances on tour that take the kinks out of the presentation and stage direction finally bringing the cast together. Peter Bogdanovich directs one of his best films to date with Michael Caine, Carol Burnett,John Ritter, Christopher Reeve, Marilu Henner,Denholm Elliot,Mark Linn Baker, Julie Hagarty and trooper Nicollette Sheridan (trooper because she's in her under garments practically the whole movie). This film died at the box office maybe because movie going audiences are not theatre types. This film may not be for all tastes, but it is worth a look especially to see the late John Ritter and a healthy Christopher Reeve in outstanding comedic roles.

A must see. . . over and over!
I have been waiting impatiently for this show to come out on DVD. I can't believe it's not a bestseller. One of the funniest shows I have ever seen! We watch it frequently just to lighten our day. ... Read more

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Director Peter Bogdanovich(The Last Picture Show) tipped his hat to the classic screwball comedies of the 1930s, and especially the most glorious of them all, Howard Hawks'Bringing Up Baby. Barbra Streisand plays a charming flake who distracts a self-absorbed musicologist (Ryan O'Neal). He's engaged to be married, but soon Streisand's character has him chasing after stolen jewelry and getting into one madcap fix after another.Bogdanovich, who is also a film critic, understands the engine of the screwball genre, and his loving revival of the form brings a smile, though it is not quite consistently inspired or funny. There are plenty of great moments, however, including a slap at O'Neal's own star-making vehicle,Love Story. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (93)

As comfortable as cashmere...
When a comedy is done right on screen, it often has a very long life beyond its initial release. Such is the case with this wonderful movie. From the moment at the beginning when Streisand hums and sighs and launches into a blazing version of Cole Porter's "You're the Top", the film is a funny, frenetic, comfortable delight that is as cozy as a pair of flannel pajamas. Everyone here is working at the top of their form, and the fact that it looks effortless shows just how accomplished and talented they all are. Barbra looks slim, tan, loose, and very sexy; Ryan O'Neal is perfect as Cary Grant in "Bringing Up Baby", and Madeline Kahn is just perfect. There are so many moments that are memorable, it's hard to name them all. Peter Bogdanovich brought it all together so beautifully, with such style, verve, and loud-out-loud humor, you'll be in heaven for 90 minutes. Hollywood romantic comedy doesn't get any better than this. The DVD picture is bright, crisp, and letterboxed. What a treat for us all!

A gem of a film!!
I remember seeing "What's Up, Doc?" as a kid in a drive-in theatre and laughing uproariously. Later, as an adult, I bought the video and wore it out; the movie still hasn't lost it's charm. I've also introduced many of my friends to the film, but one consequence of that is that my tape is now faded and fuzzy. God bless whoever got this movie onto DVD!!

If you've somehow missed this film ... stop reading, turn off your computer, go to the store and buy it. (Don't rent it; you'll want to watch it more than once.) I mean it. Go now!

I'm not a Streisand fan, but I sure make an exception in this film. She's fantastic! Her zany energy just pours off the screen, her timing and delivery are top notch, and her chemistry with Ryan O'Neal is simply unbelievable. And O'Neal ... is awesome. You might not think of him as an actor who could so ably take on the role of the boring, distracted, absent-minded professor, but man! he owns the role. From his opening shot straight through to the end of the film, he's simply wonderful. And if Streisand's cheerful nuttiness and O'Neal's goofy, sweet seriousness aren't enough for you, there's the inimitable Madeline Kahn in her first role, owning every scene she's in ... 'til Liam Dunn shows up as the judge at the end, that is.

The dialogue sparkles; why aren't more people writing dialogue like this these days? There should be a law. The comedic timing is impeccable. The story is lunacy, but it's sold whole-heartedly ... and the lack of a score (other than Streisand's rendition of "You're the Top" to open and close the film, along with a brief snippet of "As Time Goes By" during the film) makes the whole thing seem almost believable, somehow.

This movie is a gem; I can watch it over and over. The DVD is crisp and clean, looking like it was filmed last week ... a rarity for some early '70's films. The sound quality is excellent; nuances that were lost on my video tape are restored here. Streisand's commentary is generally unilluminating, but Bogdanovich provides some wonderful thoughts and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. All in all, an excellent release.

One minor, tiny little flaw: at the very end of the film, with Howard and Judy on the plane, my VHS version shows Judy batting her eyes, then a cut to Howard ... a cut back to Judy for a lovely pregnant pause ... and finally the return to Howard, who delivers his deadly comeback. The timing on that, as with the rest of the movie, is perfection. But in my DVD, Judy batts her eyes, and we cut to Howard ... who delivers his line after only a short pause. There's a missing bit there in the middle. YES, it's a terribly minor quibble ... but when you monkey with a classic and throw off the comedic timing, a guy has to wonder who would do such a thing.

That's really my only quibble. 5 stars anyway. (Have you bought this DVD yet?! Get going!!)

Great Fireballs of Screwiness, Doc!
Genuine screwball comedy may be one of the toughest cinematic feats to pull off. Alot of directors, including Speilberg, have tried and screwed up, but very few have achieved genuine anarchic, screwball style; Bogdanovich does it ecstatically with Doc. Perhaps one of the reasons films of the seventies are considered so extraordinary is that titles such as Godfather, Exorcist and Chinatown, etc, achieved the high water mark for their respective genres. So it can be said of What's Up, Doc, which not only holds up beautifully but seems even funnier with the passage of years. Do we dare say classic? Yup.

"I can't breathe, is it possible to break a lung?"
The first screwball comedy to be a box office blockbuster since the early forties, WHAT'S UP, DOC? fills it's 94 minute runtime with so many terrific one-liners, double innuendoes, and visual puns that the average viewer will probably have to watch the film a couple of times before he or she catches all of the jokes! Apparently the film inspired repeat viewing even during it's initial release - Doc was the third-highest grossing film of 1972 (right behind THE GODFATHER and THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE). In all honesty, I think this film has a higher laugh-per-second ratio than any film before or since.

This film was the perfect (and surprising) way for director Peter Bogdanovich to follow-up his cinematic landmark THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, and he keeps the film's momentum running right at the perfect speed. He also knows how to cast a film flawlessly. Buck Henry's marvelous screenplay contains many scenes with overlapping dialogue and double reverses, and the entire cast never misses a beat. Barbra Streisand literally radiates with magnetism throughout the entire film! Anyone who still wonders why she was the highest grossing actress of the seventies definitely needs to see this film; Streisand's performance in DOC is what being a movie star is all about. Many critics complained that Ryan O'Neal was miscast when the film was originally released, and those critics obviously missed out on the joke. The fact that O'Neal was considered a heartthrob at the time was all part of the fun in seeing him cast as complete goof; and I don't think anyone can deny the fact that he throws himself into the role completely.

As most viewers already know, Madeline Kahn has her finest screen role in Doc, and steals nearly every scene she's in (and she wisely knows just how far to push the characterization without going over the edge). The rest DOC'S supporting cast also could not be improved upon, Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendlrton, and Liam Dunn give just three of the standout performances in this perfect supporting ensemble. As with most comedies, DOC was snubbed at the Academy Awards (Bogdanovich, Streisand, and Kahn all deserved nominations in the respective categories in my opinion), but time has been good to DOC and remains far more popular than many of the films that did get Oscar noms in 1972. Arguably, the best comedy of all time.

About the DVD: The picture quality is very good - a tad soft at times, but very natural and true to the film's original look. The sound is mono, but it's well-rendered. It's great to have the trailer and vintage featurette preserved on disc, and while Streisand's brief commentary isn't very illumenating, Bogdanovich's full-length track is very informative and entertaining.

Use Your Charm.....
This is unquestionably one of my all time favorite films. All of the actors are in top form. Streisand turns in a masterful comedic performance which I would describe as "understated zany". O'Neil is stoic yet endearing. Madeline Kahn (in her movie debut, which makes the film noteworthy if for NO other reason) gives a perfect performance as O'Neil's overbearing fiance. The supporting cast including Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendleton and Liam Dunn are top notch. Brilliant writing (Buck Henry, et.al.) and directing (Peter Bogdanovich) combine with the cast to make this film one of the rare Hollywood productions that appeals to young and old alike. Don't miss this one, it is truly a classic. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This is a Gem
This film is perfectly charming all the way through. There's lots of great talent in the star-studded cast and the whole effect is one of a charming fairy tale with wit and humor. The story is just a little bit far-out when private investigators break with their professional code and actually meet and fall in love with the people they are hired to watch. But putting that on one side, this is a lovely story that shows us a charming side of New York. This film rises to the delighful level that one rarely sees in films set in New York. Too many wallow in the 'mean streets' with guns and violence, but this one is a story about people who enjoy the city and move seamlessly through it, jumping from taxi to taxi arriving for meetings and liasons so smoothly. John Ritter shows us he is a master craftsman at being the buffoon and comes up with an assortment of fients, starts and gaffs to lighten the story. Ben Gazzara shows a charmingly romantic side of him, Audrey Hepburn is the masterful actress she always was. The street scenes are entirely authentic and lend credibility to the film. Nice acting, smooth cutting and humorous sub-plots are there too, and these make it all the more real. Dorothy Stratten glows with charm and beauty and is absolutely captivating. Peter Bogdanovich has posed and illuminated her well and she carries herself with confidence. What a charming legacy to leave behind is this film. How sad she was not given the opportunity to do more.
I put this film on whenever I want to be put in a good mood, and visit The City, and the film never fails to show me additional things each time I see it. What a gem

Falls short
I have heard a lot about this movie over the years and finally decided to buy it. I am a huge fan of Dorothy Stratten which is the reason why I bought it! I have also heard a lot about Peter Bogdanovich and his movies and style. I am by no means a director so it wouldn't be fair to judge by that, but I know what I like and I didn't like this! It was what I call a "feel good" movie where everything fits neatly together(e.g. Coyote Ugly, Varsity Blues) and some parts of the story are left out either deliberately or by mistake so that the whole story comes
together in the end, it was long and had some great talent which were wasted on the storyline which seemed to go in circles. I guess I expected a lot more from a supposedly brilliant Director at the peak of his career!

Mind candy
Over the years a cult has grown up around this movie. And most of it centered around the murder of co-star Dorothy Stratten, who it must be pointed out is immensely appealing here. One can only wonder what lay ahead for her had she lived. It's obvious that Bogdanovich(her real-life fiance) tried to turn this movie into a valentine to her. It's just too bad he nearly lost his shirt in the process, because this is certainly a very charming picture.
But it could also be argued that charm is this film's selling point since it offers very little by way of a script. It moves along rather aimlessly from one story to the next, and for a comedy there really aren't all that many laughs to be had. Still, I completely enjoyed this movie. The charm and appeal of all the players more than made up for any shortcomings in the script. Stratten, like I said is breathtaking here and it's certainly no stretch of the imagination why John Ritter, playing the somewhat addled detective assigned to follow her would take more than a professional interest in his work(In an ugly parallel to the film Stratten's real-life estranged husband had her followed in a similar fashion in the weeks leading up to her death). Patti Hansen and Colleen Camp are both great-looking and likeable although Camp's over-the-top character can be grating at times. Audrey Hepburn brings her usual touch of class, as well as a lot of warmth to her part. Ben Gazzara shows a softer, more sensitive side that we rarely get to see. And John Ritter proves that with the right director he can be a comic force to be reckoned with.
An added bonus. The cinematography is top-drawer. New York has never looked so good.
The verdict? Yours to make, really. Just lie back, put your brain and neutral and enjoy. There are a lot worse ways to kill a couple of hours. Enjoy.

If movies were fabric this would be the cheapest polyester!
This film is definately in the running to be the worst ever made. I've watched it about 4 times, just trying to find some saving grace in it. But sorry, not even the grand Audrey Hepburn could save this one. I love wacky romantic comedies, however, this is neither romantic, funny, fun, or intelligent. It is simply lacking a script, and a good director. I feel it deserves minus 000000, but had to give it one star. It is sad that when Ms. Hepburn returned to films after an 8 to 9 year retirement she never again made a good film.

Great Big Little Film for NY'ers
The last credit in this film explains its appeal - - Thank you to the people of Manhattan on whose island this was filmed. A charming and witty romantic comedy, it is a love story written to New Yorkers (Peter Bogdanovich is a native) who can identify every location (West 12th Street, Greenwich Avenue - not Street, the Ansonia, the old FAO Schwartz, the Plaza, the Roxy, and City Limits which was a country & western club - not a Tex-Mex joint). One gets the impression that the entire ensemble cast clicked as well off-screen as they do on, and this intimacy is clearly communicated. I laughed, I cried, it was better than CATS. Not only an ode to Dorothy Stratten, it was also one of Audrey Hepburn's last appearances on-screen (if not THE last) and her inner beauty seeps from the screen. Buy it, make a big tub of popcorn, and curl up with someone you love. ... Read more

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Like Easy Rider, Bonnie and Clyde, The Wild Bunch, andThe Graduate, The Last Picture Show is one of the signature films of the "New Hollywood" that emerged in the late 1960s and early '70s. Based on the novel by Larry McMurtry and lovingly directed by Peter Bogdanovich (who cowrote the script with McMurtry), this 1971 drama has been interpreted as an affectionate tribute to classic Hollywood filmmaking and the great directors (such as John Ford) that Bogdanovich so deeply admired.It's also a eulogy for lost innocence and small-town life, so accurately rendered that critic Roger Ebert called it "the best film of 1951," referring to the movie's one-year time frame, its black-and-white cinematography (by Robert Surtees), and its sparse but evocative visual style. The story is set in the tiny, dying town of Anarene, Texas, where the main-street movie house is about to close for good, and where a pair of high-school football players are coming of age and struggling to define their uncertain futures. There's little to do in Anarene, and while Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) engages in a passionless fling with his football coach's wife (Cloris Leachman), his best friend Duane (Jeff Bridges) enlists for service in the Korean War. Both boys fall for a manipulative high-school beauty (Cybill Shepherd) who's well aware of her sexual allure. But it's not so much what happens in The Last Picture show as how it happens--and how Bogdanovich and his excellent cast so effectively capture the melancholy mood of a ghost town in the making. As Hank Williams sings on the film's evocative soundtrack, The Last Picture Show looks, feels, and sounds like a sad but unforgettably precious moment out of time.--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A plotless mood piece, but very well done
To call a movie plotless sounds negative, but in the case of The Last Picture Show, there's so very little plot that it's barely worth speaking about. The film revolves around a number of characters, most notably two high school seniors. Duane is dating the "only beautiful girl in town" and Sonny is carrying on an affair with a married woman. Several other characters move in and out of view, notably the beauty's mother and the owner of the pool hall. The film carefully develops its dozen or so main characters and simply watches them as they move about the bleak-looking desert town. Further adding to the immersion is the fact that the soundtrack consists solely of early-50's country music heard through tinny radios in the background.

This film was quite controversial at the time of its release for its frank (and unglamorised) depictions of sex. Jacy sums up the attitude of sex for the teens when she tells her mother "I would never do that, it's a sin before marriage," but later tells a college boy "I'm a virgin, but I don't want to be." In a small town with little to do, sex is just a form of entertainment, while 1951 morals required that it be hidden from view.

This is a film that cares about its characters and allows them to inhabit the setting. The dialogue and events occur naturally, and at the end of the film, the only things that have really happened are Jacy losing her virginity, a funeral, and the high school football team gets some better linebackers. But because you care about the characters (and the performances are universally fantastic), you care about these events that are objectively small, but which are important to the characters.

This DVD is not of high quality. This may be deliberate - the film is supposed to have a hard-edged, bleak feel that might not be as effective if the film had been cleaned up for the DVD. There is an hour-long reminiscence on the making of the film, which is interesting to watch once. Director Bogdanovich gets the lion's share of time, but many cast members have their say as well. Overall, it's a decent DVD, but the VHS will contain the important part, which is the film itself, and likely of the same quality.

Stark Picture
Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show is an adaptation of a Larry McMurtry novel. Much like most of Mr. McMurty's work, the film is set in Texas. The time is the mid 50's and like many towns at the time, TV was sweeping the land and fewer people were going to the movies, so the only movie theater in town is shutting down. The picture isn't built around that, but more around that the idea of a loss of a more innocent time. The film centers around Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) whose best friend is Duane (Jeff Bridges). They were the captains of the high school football team, but they have since graduated. Sonny still wears the varsity jacket as a sign that he was once something big. He ends up having an affair with the football coaches plain wife. Cloris Leachman plays the wife and she brings a sadness to the role. Sonny helps her feel young and alive, but she can never be with him. Sonny ends up falling for Duane's girlfriend Jaycee (Cybil Shepard) and Duane leaves town. Sonny & Jaycee marry, but in the end everything breaks apart. Mr. Bogdanovich filmed the movie in black and white and town is stark and dusty and we feel a sense of loss. Ben Johnson appears a the all-knowing Lion and he and Ms. Leachman won the 1971 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor & actress respectively. The Last Picture Show is difficult and depressing, but brilliantly made.

plaudits for cinematography
This flick is overrated. But you've got to give the filmmakers credit for going with black- and- white, for shooting it in Texas (where the story takes place) and for not trying to squeeze in too many characters into the "plot."
The Chase, starring Marlon Brando, that also takes place in Texas, might have received all the praise heaped on the Last Picture Show flick had they gone the black -and- white route and stayed away from the Universal back lot.

Hud, also shot in Texas, was a better film than this. It seems to me, a good rule of thumb to doing pictures in Texas is to go with black-and-white photography. Don't know why, could be the automatic, built-in authenticity factor one gets with B & W. Color very often means Hollywood glitz, and doesn't seem to work well with this type of tale.

Anyway, it's not the worst flick ever made. Ben Johnson does a nice job, so does Ellen Burstyn. The latter two deserve four stars for their work here. Sybil Shephard was drop-dead gorgeous at the time.

1950's North Texas in Full Color
This film captures life in small town Texas vividly. It was shot in black and white but color film would not have changed the appearance one bit.

Some of the scenes were shot where I delivered newspapers as a kid. I thought I had been transported back in time when I first saw the film. The characters and dialog are magnificent and the situations reminiscent of life as it was then.

It is a beautiful and touching film, one to watch over and over.

Last Picture Show
An amazing movie. Frankly, I agree with the glowing reviews of the film and I have nothing to add to them. However, concerning the quality of the restoration to DVD I must say that it appears that the widescreen formatting was done incorrectly. If you compare the image of the film's opening with that in the documentary(disregarding the full frame), you will notice that the area below the steps of the moviehouse, in the documentary, reveals the begining of the street. In the film itself, this has been cut off. You can also compare the image of Cybill Shepherd on the back of the DVD cover that shows her feet as she steps out of her car. In the film, this is also cut off. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A sweet and subtle gem of a movie. Newly orphaned Addie (Tatum O'Neal) falls into the care of small-time con artist Moses Pray (Ryan O'Neal, Tatum's real-life father) and turns out to be better at grifting than he is. Set in Depression-era Kansas, Paper Moon is a miracle of unity. The set design and cinematography combine to give both the flavor of documentary photos and the visual quality of movies from the period, and every performance meshes with the overall tone of sincerity, earnest optimism, and creeping desperation. The rapport between Addie and Moses is phenomenal--and being father and daughter doesn't make that a sure thing. Ryan O'Neal gives a truly great performance (perhaps the only one of his career) and Tatum won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (she's the youngest winner in history). Madeline Kahn was also nominated for her wonderfully funny and sad turn as an exotic dancer named Trixie Delight. Paper Moon has a miraculous combination of outrageous sentimentality and pragmatic cynicism; the result is genuinely touching. One of director Peter Bogdanovich's best films, and kind of a comic companion piece to The Last Picture Show. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (40)

It's Only A Paper Moon Sailing Over A Cardboard Sea...
Adapted from the matchless novel "Addie Pray" by Joe David Brown, Paper Moon is set in the Midwest/dustbowl during the Great Depression/Roosevelt era. One-of-a-kind directing by Peter Bogdanovich, beautiful black & white cinematography, a great musical score with snippets of old time radio shows like Fibber McGee & Molly, Jack Benny and a host of others.

Real-life father & daughter duo, Ryan & Tatum O'Neil team up in this gem of a movie.

Ryan plays Moses Pray. A slick, sliver-tongued, gold toothed, travelling huckster & who always has a new con to turn up his sleeve such as door to door Bible selling to recently widowed women, bootlegging, short changing, and a "car swappin' wrasslin' match" between Moses and a very young Randy Quaid. Tatum plays Addie and garnered the coveted Oscar for her performance at the tender age of 10. Addie decides to get in on many of the cons and becomes quite a prolific short change artist. Addie decides on her own to take Moses' last name and travel with him under the guise as his daughter. In one of the best scenes in the movie they deal with whether or not Addie is Moses' illegitimate daughter. That scene is set in a diner while drinking NeHi's and eating Coney Islands. Addie is sure that Moses is, indeed, her father as she states, "We got the SAME jaw!" Moses responds and says, "I know a lady who has the jaw of a bullfrog but that doesn't mean that she's the damn things mother!" Addie asks Moses, "You meet my mamma in a barroom?" (implying that her mamma was a prostitute). Moses comes right back asking Addie, "You think that just because a man meets a woman in a barroom means that they get a baby?" Ryan and Tatum's bantering repartee is natural, hilarious and touching all at the same time.

The Prays fall "prey" to a con played on them (well, Moses anyway) as the film progesses, by a hootchie-cootchie sideshow carnival dancer/prostitute named Miss Trixie Delight, adeptly played by Madelyn Kahn who was also nominated for an Oscar. The sneaky and a little jealous Addie deals with Miss Trixie in her own time and also helps out Miss Trixie's maid, Imogene and gives her money to return back to her family.

This is a great family movie with a touching father/daughter story to share. No nudity, few "cuss" words, and an all-around crowd pleaser whether you are 6 or 106. I don't mind telling you that this is my favorite movie of all time and I have viewed it upwards of 100 times. I still laugh, cry, and go through a multitude of emotions no matter how many times a watch the film. Certainly, a hallmark of a great cinematic masterpiece! Happy Watching!

A perfect movie?
It is hard to find any fault in this movie. Filmed in black-and-white, is uses great depth of field so everything, including the Kansas landscape and people in the deep background, is in focus. Many scenes are in one shot, and go for minutes without a cut.

Tatum O'Neal earned her best supporting actress Oscar as a "mature" youngster who ends up on an adventurous road trip to a relative's house, driven by a cheap con-man played by Tatum's father, Ryan O'Neal.

A few other notable actors make an appearance - namely Randy Quaid (briefly) and John Hillerman (several key scenes). Madeline Kahn was nominated for best supporting actress as well.

The DVD has a great picture quality, some nice behind-the-scenes stuff, and a commentary by director Peter Bogdanovich.

It's rated PG for some (funny) language.

It's not my favorite all-time movie, but could be in my top-10.

An easy 5 stars.

Quiet, subtle, excellent and funny
What a great and fun movie! Tatum O'Neal steals the show here; she definitely deserved the Oscar for her great portrayal of the way-too street smart for her age orphan (maybe) Addie Pray (Loggins). Adults and kids can enjoy this together without much fear of the admittedly seedy subject matter -- con artistry, prostitution, racial exploitation, the corruption of youth, etc. You can't help but root for Addie all the while knowing that Moses will never be a good father, role model or successful "businessman."

The black and white cinematography recalls classic Margaret Bourke-White Depression-era photos as well as "The Grapes of Wrath," but without the need for Prozac or counseling. The soundtrack is comprised of Thirties pop radio standards that fit perfectly without calling too much attention to themselves.

Madeline Kahn is a scream as Miss Trixie Delight, John Hillerman excels in two roles: a sheriff and his brother, a local bootleggar, and P.J. Johnson is great as Trixie's maid, Imogene.

I loved it when I first saw it as a 12-year-old. I still love it now. So will you.

How could anyone not love this movie?
Paper Moon is without a doubt Ryan O'Neal's best performance. His daughter Tatum absolutely STEALS the show. The Academy Award says it all. Back then the Oscar meant something, now the whole thing's become a joke. But Paper Moon will always be one of my favorites. You really get the feel of the Depression era Midwest. All the sets, costumes, and music authenticate this. I've never gotten that "Grapes of Wrath" feel from any other movie that's been produced since the forties, and that's not just because it's shot in B&W. This movie also will keep you in stitches as Moses (O'Neal) slowly discovers how clever a little con artist Addie (Tatum) really is. Her wit and sarcasm would make this movie equally entertaining if you turned off the picture and merely LISTENED to it. It's that good. I also adore Madeline Khan and Trixie Delight IS a delight. This movie is in my top twenty and I recommend it as a "must own."

tatum oneal as addie
ive read a few people comment on how tatum isnt a great actress but you have to keep in mind that tatum oneal was very young in this movie.
in all this movies been one of my top 3 movies since i was a small child. if your a big fan of Paper Moon id suggest seeing matchstick men. it just came out.. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Underrated sequel to Bogdanovich's masterpiece connects well
"The Last Picture Show" had a lot going for it when it was adapted for the screen in 1971; a terrific book as source material, a talented young director poised to make a name for himself in Hollywood, and a solid cast of youthful actors (Jeff Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, and yes, Cybill Shepherd) braced with veterans who would be recognized for their own exceptional merits with Academy Award wins for Best Supporting Actor (Ben Johnson) and Best Supporting Actress (Cloris Leachman).

When Larry McMurtry wrote the sequel novel "Texasville" in the late 1980's, it took place thirty years later...and when screen rights were secured and the film production began and Bogdanovich was again asked to recreate the magic wrought almost two decades prior, he had at his disposal the same actors who shone so well two decades prior...who had aged sufficiently enough to be able to pick up precisely and absolutely believably where their characters had left off at the end of the first book/movie.

Expecting this sequel to be as important or ground-breaking as "The Last Picture Show" is not realistic...indeed "Texasville" seems far more influenced by MTV than John Ford, but considering the timeframe during which it is set, this is exactly as it should be. The joy of "Texasville" is not the "American Gothic" gloom prevalent throughout "The Last Picture Show"; there are some aspects of the movie that, although true to the novel, are pure schtick. Rather, the joy is in watching the characters whose youthful potential (or lack thereof) was only suggested in the first film in their present state, having weathered innumerable storms and not necessarily having come out the better for the wear.

It's a movie that, while at times depressing in its outlook, never ceases to cheer me up. It captures time's merciless march across our lives better than most movies ("Robin and Marian" being the most obvious favorable comparison that comes to mind, "Once Upon A Time In America" being another), and while not likely ever to occupy the rarefied ground in critical circles as "The Last Picture Show", "Texasville" DOES succeed brilliantly as a rather innovative sequel that is at the very least honest in its treatment of its stars' characters. Watch it if you're in the mood for light entertainment (and especially if you've already seen "The Last Picture Show" and enjoyed it), but don't expect Bogdanovich's lightning to strike EXACTLY in the same place twice.

underrated
While not the monument that "The Last Picture Show" is, this is a thoroughly excellent film which proves, at least to me, that Peter Bogdanovich is anything but a has-been. The film captures the loosely-controlled chaos of the novel quite ably, and the performances are uniformly excellent. I was especially charmed that Bogdanovich kept the style he used in "Picture Show" of having the score composed entirely of source music; that's a fine way of linking the second film with the first one. My only complaint, really, is that the DVD doesn't have a lick of supplementary material. I'd have loved to have seen the deleted scenes, and also a documentary about the reunion of the cast. I'll echo an earlier reviewer's wish for a third Bogdanovich/McMurtry pairing with this cast in an adaptation of "Duane's Depressed," the final part of the trilogy.

CLASSIC
A SUREFIRE CLASSIC FOR TODAYS MOVIES.
THE FACT IS THERE REALLY IS NO PLOT, BUT THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS MOVIE SO GOOD. IT EXPLORES ITS OWN PATH IN THE MOVIE BUSINESS.
GOING ABOUT THE DAY TO DAY LIFE OF DUANE (JEFF BRIDGES).
HE IS HAVING A ROUGH TIME IN HIS LIFE AND REFLECTS ON HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND HOW THERE IS REALLY NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO TO FIX
IT.

Not too Great
Unfortunately, this was one lackluster flick. The Last Picture Show was great; Texasville just did not get off the ground.
Too bad. The cast was capable of something far better.

TEXASVILLE: One Of THE BEST Films Of All Time!
Texasville is one of those very unusual sequels -- like A Man And A Woman: 20 Years Later -- that is adored by many -- sometimes even more then the first -- but that most reviewers and the majority of the public hated because it is not the original. However, it is also one of those films where if you get it ... if you REALLY GET IT... then you tend to adore it. The scenery, story, and performances are all terrific and there's not an ungenuine moment in the film.

What would be really terrific is if:

1) Texasville: The Director's Cut is ever released on DVD. After years of searching, I recently got this film on out-of-print Laserdisc and the additional 30 minutes of scenes have to be seen to be believed! Just as you can't appreciate The Abyss unless you've seen the Director's Cut, you also can't appreciate Texasville unless you've seen the Director's Cut.

2) What would also be terrific would be if Bogdonavich and company reunite to do a film version of the third and final book in this series "Duane's Depressed." ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A plotless mood piece, but very well done
To call a movie plotless sounds negative, but in the case of The Last Picture Show, there's so very little plot that it's barely worth speaking about. The film revolves around a number of characters, most notably two high school seniors. Duane is dating the "only beautiful girl in town" and Sonny is carrying on an affair with a married woman. Several other characters move in and out of view, notably the beauty's mother and the owner of the pool hall. The film carefully develops its dozen or so main characters and simply watches them as they move about the bleak-looking desert town. Further adding to the immersion is the fact that the soundtrack consists solely of early-50's country music heard through tinny radios in the background.

This film was quite controversial at the time of its release for its frank (and unglamorised) depictions of sex. Jacy sums up the attitude of sex for the teens when she tells her mother "I would never do that, it's a sin before marriage," but later tells a college boy "I'm a virgin, but I don't want to be." In a small town with little to do, sex is just a form of entertainment, while 1951 morals required that it be hidden from view.

This is a film that cares about its characters and allows them to inhabit the setting. The dialogue and events occur naturally, and at the end of the film, the only things that have really happened are Jacy losing her virginity, a funeral, and the high school football team gets some better linebackers. But because you care about the characters (and the performances are universally fantastic), you care about these events that are objectively small, but which are important to the characters.

This DVD is not of high quality. This may be deliberate - the film is supposed to have a hard-edged, bleak feel that might not be as effective if the film had been cleaned up for the DVD. There is an hour-long reminiscence on the making of the film, which is interesting to watch once. Director Bogdanovich gets the lion's share of time, but many cast members have their say as well. Overall, it's a decent DVD, but the VHS will contain the important part, which is the film itself, and likely of the same quality.

Stark Picture
Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show is an adaptation of a Larry McMurtry novel. Much like most of Mr. McMurty's work, the film is set in Texas. The time is the mid 50's and like many towns at the time, TV was sweeping the land and fewer people were going to the movies, so the only movie theater in town is shutting down. The picture isn't built around that, but more around that the idea of a loss of a more innocent time. The film centers around Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) whose best friend is Duane (Jeff Bridges). They were the captains of the high school football team, but they have since graduated. Sonny still wears the varsity jacket as a sign that he was once something big. He ends up having an affair with the football coaches plain wife. Cloris Leachman plays the wife and she brings a sadness to the role. Sonny helps her feel young and alive, but she can never be with him. Sonny ends up falling for Duane's girlfriend Jaycee (Cybil Shepard) and Duane leaves town. Sonny & Jaycee marry, but in the end everything breaks apart. Mr. Bogdanovich filmed the movie in black and white and town is stark and dusty and we feel a sense of loss. Ben Johnson appears a the all-knowing Lion and he and Ms. Leachman won the 1971 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor & actress respectively. The Last Picture Show is difficult and depressing, but brilliantly made.

plaudits for cinematography
This flick is overrated. But you've got to give the filmmakers credit for going with black- and- white, for shooting it in Texas (where the story takes place) and for not trying to squeeze in too many characters into the "plot."
The Chase, starring Marlon Brando, that also takes place in Texas, might have received all the praise heaped on the Last Picture Show flick had they gone the black -and- white route and stayed away from the Universal back lot.

Hud, also shot in Texas, was a better film than this. It seems to me, a good rule of thumb to doing pictures in Texas is to go with black-and-white photography. Don't know why, could be the automatic, built-in authenticity factor one gets with B & W. Color very often means Hollywood glitz, and doesn't seem to work well with this type of tale.

Anyway, it's not the worst flick ever made. Ben Johnson does a nice job, so does Ellen Burstyn. The latter two deserve four stars for their work here. Sybil Shephard was drop-dead gorgeous at the time.

1950's North Texas in Full Color
This film captures life in small town Texas vividly. It was shot in black and white but color film would not have changed the appearance one bit.

Some of the scenes were shot where I delivered newspapers as a kid. I thought I had been transported back in time when I first saw the film. The characters and dialog are magnificent and the situations reminiscent of life as it was then.

It is a beautiful and touching film, one to watch over and over.

Last Picture Show
An amazing movie. Frankly, I agree with the glowing reviews of the film and I have nothing to add to them. However, concerning the quality of the restoration to DVD I must say that it appears that the widescreen formatting was done incorrectly. If you compare the image of the film's opening with that in the documentary(disregarding the full frame), you will notice that the area below the steps of the moviehouse, in the documentary, reveals the begining of the street. In the film itself, this has been cut off. You can also compare the image of Cybill Shepherd on the back of the DVD cover that shows her feet as she steps out of her car. In the film, this is also cut off. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Moral heroism takes real courage, too!
Don't let a negative review discourage you from seeing this powerful made-for-TV drama. True, you won't see action-packed scenes of Ghetto uprisings or death-camp liberations. The courage demonstrated in this film is of the quieter, clandestine kind, but it is no less heroic! "Mamushka" is the story of Mickey, a little Jewish boy. His Polish (Ukrainian?) nanny, Gertruda, refuses to abandon her adoptive family when the Germans invade Poland. Educated and fluent in six languages, she accompanies the refugees to Russian-occupied Lithuania, and helps them survive. When the Holocaust overtakes Vilnius, Gertruda promises the dying mother she will raise Mickey as her own son. "You must call me 'Mamushka' from now on," she cautions the child, "and you must never let anyone see you naked. Jewish boys are different from other little boys." Mamushka makes a living translating German documents, and takes Mickey to daily Mass. But they endure the terror of SS troops storming their neighborhood. "What do you know about Jews?" a Nazi barks at Mickey while searching the apartment. Gertruda holds her breath. Wide-eyed with fear, the little boy whispers, "they're different..." Gertruda would risk her life many times during the next years, not only to save Mickey, but to smuggle food into the Ghetto. "Woman on a Bicycle" is the story of Rebecca, a young Frenchwoman. When her brother joins the Resistance, Rebecca becomes a messenger and smuggler. She is enlisted by her bishop to falsify documents for Jewish orphan children. Rebecca tries to conceal her dangerous work from her mother, until she rescues a Jewish couple who were injured making a desperate leap from a moving boxcar. Unquestioningly, her mother offers their home as a refuge. Both of these stories are true accounts of compassionate Catholics who risked death to save Jewish lives. In a time when even the Pope had sided with Hitler, these Christians had tremendous moral courage. Both Gertruda and Rebecca have been honored at the Holocaust Memorial in Israel. Please watch their inspiring stories; you'll remember them for a long time.

Don't buy it-- READ THIS REVIEW
This movie is really terrible-- and if your purpose is to really see what happened during the Holocaust, you certainly don't want this movie. It's a chick flick-- and a bad one at that. I was wanting something to show my kids what the Holocaust was really like and some of the things that happened in the death camps, etc. (...) If you want to see something pretty good and that's tamer than Schindler's List, get Devil's Arithmetic.

2women
I'd like to review it now,it's my first time

So Glad This Movie Is Now Available!
I am so happy that this video is available for purchase at this affordable price on Amazon! This is a wonderful double feature video. These stories are filled with awe inspiring courage, and devotion to the human spirit by two very courageous and endearing characters. I loved both stories, and truly enjoyed the performances. For those of you who enjoy World War II movies, this is a must have.

The subtitle tells it like it is
I was fortunate enought to purchase this video used. It is an inspiring story of how normal people can display courage in bad situations as opposed to the macho man with a gun type of heroism that Hollywood normally puts out. It reminds us that life can put us to the test and if we have loving hearts we to can be heros to someone. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

The Cat Did It
Film historian and movie director Peter Bogdanovich has crafted an instant classic from an obscure play to produce 2001's "The Cat's Meow". Charlie Chaplin, William Randolph Hearst, and his mistress Marion Davies(almost unknown today) are the characters boarding Hearst's yacht Oneida for a fateful 1924 cruise. Fading movie producer Thomas Ince tags along to entice Hearst to bank-roll his sagging career. More than Ince's career is about to go underwater. "The Cat's Meow" surrounds real people and probable events, with wild parties, grand dinners, and a clandestine murder on the menu. Bogdanovich is picture-perfect, lovingly recreating a 1920's Hollywood scandal that is still unsolved. Kirsten Dunst is magnetic as Davies, but it's Jennifer Tilly who steals the show as bouncy, clueless Louella Parsons. This new DVD features a trailer, a Chaplin short, and commentary by world-weary Bogdanovich. Charlie Chaplin and Rudolph Valentino appear in an actual Hollywood news-reel. As history has noted, the Hollywood legacy is shrouded in decline. Sadly, the quality of this news-reel has suffered the same fate.

Wish I could give it 10 Stars
While there are many different styles of movies that can entertain, this one is pure pleasure to watch and experience. It tells us the story of what may have happened aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924, and shares "The Whisper Told Most Often." Of course it may or may not have happened in this exact manner, but you will lose yourself in the magic of that time in our history.

The acting is superb - all of it. Herrmann actually becomes W.R. Hearst. Jennifer Tilly, Eddie Izzard, and Joanna Lumley are perfect. Kirsten Dunst is absolutely luminous as Marion Davies. She brings her to life with a vivacity that makes you want to learn more about the real Marion.

As the story unfolds, you will be mesmerized by not only the acting, but the "to die for" costumes, the wonderful music and the great sets. I've seen the movie 3 times and have ordered the DVD. Can't wait to see it again. I also have the sountrack - great music.

Do yourself and a friend a favor and see if it you can still find it anywhere. If not, order the DVD. You won't be sorry. I've read far more estatic reviews than unfavorable. You would have to be a very "jaded" person to dislike this movie.

a olden type movie
This movie takes place in the past, the 50's I think and on a boat. It's just a bunch of actors and writers and rich people. Kirten Dunset plays a young actress, I think Maryln Monroe (I think the other characters call her Maryln). She is very good int his role because it requires her to ACT! SHe has to be both serious and funny when people arent looking. Alos on the boat is an actor named Charlie who is having an affair with Kirsten. Overall a good movie, but its a who dun it?! A who dun it is when theres a crime and nobody knows who did it and the audience has to figure it out like a puzzle. American Beauty was a who dun it and so is this movie. It hink its a cheat cause the writers theysleves dont know who dun it, but if yoiu can ignore that and you are a fan of old movie type ACTING, then The cat's Meow is for you.

It's Just The Cat's Meow
The Cat's Meow is a delightfully entertaining film, set in 1934 on the cruise ship Oneida. The events that took place on board that boat were never actually discovered. This film entertains one of the many theories of how the events transpired that weekend. It's the 43rd birthday of film director and producer Thomas Ince, played nicely by Cary Elwes. Mr. Ince's friend Marion Davies is throwing him a birthday party on board the yacht Oneida which is owned by her lover William Randolph Hearst. Marion's guest list also included her friend and part-time fling, actor and comedian Charlie Chaplin. Hearst is very possessive of Marion and he is not fond of the relationship that her and Mr. Chaplin share. The other guests include Elinor Glyn who was an extremely famous romance novelist, Louella 'Lolly' Parsons a well known up and coming Hollywood gossip columnist, and Ms. Margaret Livingston a not so well known actress who was also Ince's mistress. Now I know what you are thinking all the wrong people are in all the right places for the sparks to begin flying and fly they do.
Though many of us would not have picked such an unknown actor such as Eddie Izzard to portray Charlie Chaplin the results support themselves. In this more serious portrayal of Chaplin, Eddie Izzard did spectacular. Kirsten Dunst plays Marion Davies quite remarkably I must say the on screen chemistry that Dunst and Izzard share is shockingly realistic. The largest downfall for this film would have to be the chemistry between Marion Davies and her lover William Randolph Hearst, or should I say the lack of. Edward Herrmann who portrayed Hearst did wonderful in his own right but the scenes that he and Dunst shared, suspended believability farther than I am willing to allow. There just seamed to be no connection between the two, even though in real life Marion Davies stayed by William Randolph Hearst until his death nearly thirty years later. I just felt that when portraying real people it is quite important to display the connection that they shared, you know for history's' sake and for my own as a viewer.
Alright lets get back to the good stuff. In my opinion the best part about this film has to be the roles portrayed by Joanne Lumley and Jennifer Tilly. Jennifer Tilly plays gossip columnist Lolly Parsons. Jennifer Tilly is such a delight to watch on screen, she has that presence that makes everyone want to giggle the first time that she appears on camera. Her role is quite different from many of her films that she has been in, but she still pulls the role off nicely. My favorite part of the film would have to be Joanne Lumley many of you may not recognize her but she has been around. She plays Patsy on the BBC program Absolutely Fabulous. Joanne plays novelist Elinor Glyn who in the film is the woman who tells it like it is. Elinor has a witty comment or comeback for everyone. Lets just say that Elinor has a way with words, hence her novelist status. Joanne Lumley is perfect for the role, she fits in so nicely that I don't think I could even picture someone else playing Elinor Glyn. Joanne's performance is spectacular, she is a great actress. Peter Bogdonovich did a good job, I especially liked the color changes from full color to black and white and back again they really enhanced the story. Overall the film is well worth watching and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys film as much as I do or anyone that is interested in possible scenarios in history.

One Account of the Cerebrities in the Jazz Age (with a Gun)
"The Cat's Meow" is purely imaginary accounts on what really happened on the ship owned by William Randolph Hearst, powerful newspaper mogul (now mostly remembered as the inspiration of Orson Wells' "Citizen Kane"). Don't expect Agatha Cristie-like mystry, though -- the film is about these characters in the lavish party held on the ship, and director Peter Bogdanovich is more interested in the frivolous atmosphere of the time than in the plot.

In was in November, 1924, in the middle of the Jazz Age. Hollywood celebrities arrive at Hearst's ship to have a good time. They are -- Charles Chaplin, Marion Davies (actress and Hearst's mistress), Thomas Ince (movie producer who desperately needs jobs), Elinor Glyn (bestselling author, and best known for writing Clara Bow film "It"), Louella Parsons (later known as the 'writer' for Hearst's paper), and Margaret Livingston (actress and Ince's mistress). But before the ship arrives at San Diego, something terrible happened (so the film claims) to one of them.

"The Cat's Meow" is fictional accounts of the 'scandal,' but its own version of the story is, I am afraid, too incredible. Moreover, in order to fully enjoy the film, you have to know some historical backgrounds about these people, and that is not appealing to general audience. (You also remember that director Bogdanovich's career started as a film critic.) The romantic part of the story, or the entangled relations between Hearst, Chaplin, and Davies, is interesting, but the rest of the characters seems practically left out in the story.

I love Kirsten Dunst who plays Marion Davies, but here it is a trouble to me. The real Marion Davies was about 27 years old then, and Kirstin Dunst does NOT look like a 27-year-old woman. She is brilliant in modern setting (see "Bring it on," "Spider-Man" and even "Drop Dead Gorgeous"), but she now looks quite uncomfortable. Put Edward Herrmann (as Hearst) beside her, and he looks more like a grandfather to her. Sorry to say this, but Ashley Judd or Charlize Theron would be much more convincing Marion.

The film's best (and most surprising) role is Eddie Izzard as Chaplin. The casting was a gamble for the director, but it works. He is a great comic, as you know, but now he gives emotional depth to Chaplin who is clearly in trouble (he was then soon to be married second time). Robert Downey Jr, did Chaplin once (and he was great, too), but Eddie Izzzard's portait is more realistic when he describes the pains of the man.

The film's greatest virtue is probably its beautiful photography and gorgeous costumes. The crew did a great job, the photographer Bruno Delbonnel ("Amelie") in particular. Its happy-go-easy jazz music is fun to hear, the riduculously fluffy hats are fun to see, and the witty dialogues are also going to make you grin.

Probably, Peter Bogdanovich was too meticulous in re-creating the atmosphere of the age (even Chaplin's Japanese driver Takano is not forgotten). But I need the central story which has the power to draw us into the world he shows. It's all jazz, I know, and it's fun to see, but there should be more to it.

Some of the characters are also the subject of another film "RKO 281 -- The Battle Over Citizen Kane" starring John Malkovich. Just in case if you're interested in film history. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

The Cat Did It
Film historian and movie director Peter Bogdanovich has crafted an instant classic from an obscure play to produce 2001's "The Cat's Meow". Charlie Chaplin, William Randolph Hearst, and his mistress Marion Davies(almost unknown today) are the characters boarding Hearst's yacht Oneida for a fateful 1924 cruise. Fading movie producer Thomas Ince tags along to entice Hearst to bank-roll his sagging career. More than Ince's career is about to go underwater. "The Cat's Meow" surrounds real people and probable events, with wild parties, grand dinners, and a clandestine murder on the menu. Bogdanovich is picture-perfect, lovingly recreating a 1920's Hollywood scandal that is still unsolved. Kirsten Dunst is magnetic as Davies, but it's Jennifer Tilly who steals the show as bouncy, clueless Louella Parsons. This new DVD features a trailer, a Chaplin short, and commentary by world-weary Bogdanovich. Charlie Chaplin and Rudolph Valentino appear in an actual Hollywood news-reel. As history has noted, the Hollywood legacy is shrouded in decline. Sadly, the quality of this news-reel has suffered the same fate.

Wish I could give it 10 Stars
While there are many different styles of movies that can entertain, this one is pure pleasure to watch and experience. It tells us the story of what may have happened aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924, and shares "The Whisper Told Most Often." Of course it may or may not have happened in this exact manner, but you will lose yourself in the magic of that time in our history.

The acting is superb - all of it. Herrmann actually becomes W.R. Hearst. Jennifer Tilly, Eddie Izzard, and Joanna Lumley are perfect. Kirsten Dunst is absolutely luminous as Marion Davies. She brings her to life with a vivacity that makes you want to learn more about the real Marion.

As the story unfolds, you will be mesmerized by not only the acting, but the "to die for" costumes, the wonderful music and the great sets. I've seen the movie 3 times and have ordered the DVD. Can't wait to see it again. I also have the sountrack - great music.

Do yourself and a friend a favor and see if it you can still find it anywhere. If not, order the DVD. You won't be sorry. I've read far more estatic reviews than unfavorable. You would have to be a very "jaded" person to dislike this movie.

a olden type movie
This movie takes place in the past, the 50's I think and on a boat. It's just a bunch of actors and writers and rich people. Kirten Dunset plays a young actress, I think Maryln Monroe (I think the other characters call her Maryln). She is very good int his role because it requires her to ACT! SHe has to be both serious and funny when people arent looking. Alos on the boat is an actor named Charlie who is having an affair with Kirsten. Overall a good movie, but its a who dun it?! A who dun it is when theres a crime and nobody knows who did it and the audience has to figure it out like a puzzle. American Beauty was a who dun it and so is this movie. It hink its a cheat cause the writers theysleves dont know who dun it, but if yoiu can ignore that and you are a fan of old movie type ACTING, then The cat's Meow is for you.

It's Just The Cat's Meow
The Cat's Meow is a delightfully entertaining film, set in 1934 on the cruise ship Oneida. The events that took place on board that boat were never actually discovered. This film entertains one of the many theories of how the events transpired that weekend. It's the 43rd birthday of film director and producer Thomas Ince, played nicely by Cary Elwes. Mr. Ince's friend Marion Davies is throwing him a birthday party on board the yacht Oneida which is owned by her lover William Randolph Hearst. Marion's guest list also included her friend and part-time fling, actor and comedian Charlie Chaplin. Hearst is very possessive of Marion and he is not fond of the relationship that her and Mr. Chaplin share. The other guests include Elinor Glyn who was an extremely famous romance novelist, Louella 'Lolly' Parsons a well known up and coming Hollywood gossip columnist, and Ms. Margaret Livingston a not so well known actress who was also Ince's mistress. Now I know what you are thinking all the wrong people are in all the right places for the sparks to begin flying and fly they do.
Though many of us would not have picked such an unknown actor such as Eddie Izzard to portray Charlie Chaplin the results support themselves. In this more serious portrayal of Chaplin, Eddie Izzard did spectacular. Kirsten Dunst plays Marion Davies quite remarkably I must say the on screen chemistry that Dunst and Izzard share is shockingly realistic. The largest downfall for this film would have to be the chemistry between Marion Davies and her lover William Randolph Hearst, or should I say the lack of. Edward Herrmann who portrayed Hearst did wonderful in his own right but the scenes that he and Dunst shared, suspended believability farther than I am willing to allow. There just seamed to be no connection between the two, even though in real life Marion Davies stayed by William Randolph Hearst until his death nearly thirty years later. I just felt that when portraying real people it is quite important to display the connection that they shared, you know for history's' sake and for my own as a viewer.
Alright lets get back to the good stuff. In my opinion the best part about this film has to be the roles portrayed by Joanne Lumley and Jennifer Tilly. Jennifer Tilly plays gossip columnist Lolly Parsons. Jennifer Tilly is such a delight to watch on screen, she has that presence that makes everyone want to giggle the first time that she appears on camera. Her role is quite different from many of her films that she has been in, but she still pulls the role off nicely. My favorite part of the film would have to be Joanne Lumley many of you may not recognize her but she has been around. She plays Patsy on the BBC program Absolutely Fabulous. Joanne plays novelist Elinor Glyn who in the film is the woman who tells it like it is. Elinor has a witty comment or comeback for everyone. Lets just say that Elinor has a way with words, hence her novelist status. Joanne Lumley is perfect for the role, she fits in so nicely that I don't think I could even picture someone else playing Elinor Glyn. Joanne's performance is spectacular, she is a great actress. Peter Bogdonovich did a good job, I especially liked the color changes from full color to black and white and back again they really enhanced the story. Over