Reviews (5)

Katharine Heburn as Mary, Mary, quite contrary
One of my favorite stories about the absurd way that Hollywood thinks is that in the 1936 film "Mary of Scotland" starring Katharine Hepburn as Mary Stuart, her leading man Fredric March plays the Earl of Bothwell, whose real family name was Hepburn. But since Katharine Hepburn was a direct descendant, it would have been wrong to use the name in the film and suggest the actress was having a love affair with an ancestor. You just cannot make reasoning like this up in your spare time.

Directed by John Ford, this costume drama begins in 1561 when Mary Staurt returned to Scotland from France as the Queen of the Scots. Elizabeth Tudor (Florence Eldridge), Queen of England, feared the threat that the Catholic Stuarts presented to the English throne. Consequently, "Mary of Scotland" is a story of political brinkmanship during the Elizabethan period. Mary tries to strengthen her position by marrying the weak Darnley (Douglas Walton), and putting Bothwell in the position of being her protector. She gives birth to a son James (later King James VI of Scotland and King James I of Great Britain), but Darnley betrays her to the Scottish chiefs in an effort to rule the kingdom and is killed. Mary's marriage to Bothwell inflames the Scots even more. Bothwell leaves the country and Mary is imprisoned by the Scottish lords. Smuggled out of prision, Mary flees to England and seeks sanctuary from Elizabeth.

"Mary of Scotland" is based on Maxwell Anderson's play, which had Helen Hayes in the title role on Broadway, although the original blank verse is eliminated by Dudley Nichols's script. The chief attraction of this bio pic is the final confrontation between Mary her cousin Elizabeth. Anderson is one of several dramatists who could not accept the historical fact that the two queens never met, simply because the idea of that confrontation is too good to give up. Under Ford's direction the film is much more about spectacle than history, and there is a nice scene when Bothwell brings in a horde of bagpipes to drown out the religious rants of John Knox (Moroni Olson). Many scenes are shot at night, to provide a somber tone to the story of Mary's descent and death.

Hepburn has some trouble with the Scottish accent, as she would throughout her career whenever she tried to do something that covered up her distinctive speaking voice. However, it is the very idea of being a hapless queen that runs against the very persona of Hepburn as an independent woman. If you contrast the performance and the character from this film with her celebrated Oscar winning role as Eleanor of Aquitaine in "The Lion in Winter," you can easily see the differences on both scores. This is the most lavish of the costume dramas Hepburn did for RKO, as well as the most historical, despite the noted attempts at dramatic license. The result is okay, but not great, which is what you would expect from a film that brought Ford, Hepburn, and March together.

STORYBOOK HISTORICAL SAGA.
Mary was/is many a school-girl's heroine and her story is well-known. Mary, onetime consort of the young French king, who had died prematurely, comes to Auld Caledonia, where she is the rightful monarch. To the south, her cousin Elizabeth, Queen of England, fears the threat the Scottish queen represents, as she is next in line for the English throne. Mary, a Catholic, runs up against the Protestant leaders and the power-hungry, recalcitrant lords. To insure the succession to the throne and enhance her position, Mary married the weakling Lord Darnley whom she does not love.....Helen Hayes had played Mary to great acclaim on Broadway; while this picture will never go down in the books as one of the all-time greats, it did, however, display Hepburn's arresting and distictive personality in a role that called upon all her acting resources - and she revealed herself as an actress of greater range than was previously believed. Ford gave the film careful directorial handling, and it was handsomely mounted in all departments. March garnered excellent reviews as the bold and dashing Bothwell. Both Bette Davis and Ginger Rogers (!) fought for the role of Elizabeth I which was ultimately given to Florence Eldridge (Mrs. March) who did a commendable if not brilliant job playing Good Queen Bess.

In Some Ways, Better than Vanessa's Movie
I have known about the existence of this movie for years, having seen a brief clip on a Katharine Hepburn documentary. The narration in that documentary included it among Hepburn's many failures during the 30s, leading to her being labelled "Box Office Poison". I was prompted to rent it as part of my immersion in things Scottish in preparation for a trip to that country.

I was somewhat pleasantly surprised by this movie; in no way would I consider it as much of a dog as that documentary would have it. Hepburn is young and fresh--I liked her Mary much better than Vanessa Redgrave's in "Mary Queen of Scots" thirty-some-odd years later. This Mary is a match for those attempting to dominate her, whereas Vanessa's was always something of a weak sister. Like one of the other reviewers, I also found John Carradine's ill-fated Riccio to be a good characterization--what a woebegone love song he sings to the young queen.

Dislikes? Weird staging is a little too stark for my tastes. This is clearly the same John Ford who made "The Informer" a year earlier. How did he break through and develop his other style, I'd like to know. Another discordant note for me was Frederic March; I particularly was puzzled by a scene when he's warming himself by a hearthside, but appears to have lifted up his kilt to relieve himself into the fireplace. I can't imagine that's really what was happening, but look for yourself.

So, feel free to fling yourself into an easychair to see how Kate serves up Mary.

THE QUEEN WHO WAS NOT TO BE...
This early nineteen thirties film is a classic. It features a very young and exquisite Katherine Hepburn in the title role. Beautiful, unfettered, and but eighteen years of age, she arrives on Scottish soil unheralded. There, she meets with her bastard half brother, the Earl of Moray, sternly portrayed by Ian Keith, who has been acting as Regent on her behalf. It quickly becomes apparent from her half brother and the Scottish Lords that her reign will not be an easy one. Moreover, she is staunchly Catholic and Scotland is strongly Protestant, whipped to Calvinist fervor by John Knox, the Calvinist reformer. Yet, she, herself, preaches religious tolerance, but finds her thoughts on the matter rebuffed. Look for the wonderful Donald Crisp in the role of Lord Huntly who alone supports her views.

She later meets the Earl of Bothwell, hammily and lustily played by Fredrick March, and it is love at first sight. Yet, she gives in to pressure and marries the Catholic, but dissolute, English Lord Darnley, foppishly played Douglas Walton. Unbeknownst to Mary, the Earl of Moray has been plotting with England's Queen Elizabeth to undermine her, and it is they who connived to put Lord Darnley in Mary's sights, knowing his weaknesses.

Lord Darnley, jealous of the Mary's affection for her Italian troubador and secretary, Riccio, played with touching loyalty by a cadaverous John Carradine, as well as of her apparent attraction to Bothwell, conspires with the Earl of Moray and some of the other Scottish Lords to have Riccio murdered. After his murder, Mary plays on Darnley's insecurities and together they flee the palace. Bothwell arrives in the nick of time to hold off the killers, while they get away.

Mary gives birth to James, the heir to the Scottish throne. Ultimately, Darnley himself is dispatched to his death. Mary and Bothwell marry and are hunted down. The Earl of Moray gives them terms that require Bothwell to go into exile, but promises that Mary may remain as queen. Bothwell leaves, but ultimately ends up in a Danish prison and dies insane. Mary, finds that the Earl of Moray's promise was a false one. His intention is to have her infant son, James, crowned King of Scotland, with himself ruling as Regent, until James reacheds his majority.

Mary flees Scotland and goes to England, expecting succor from her cousin, Elizabeth I. She finds only imprisonment. After years of house arrest, Mary is finally tried for treason, accused of plotting against her cousin, and beheaded. She died knowing that her son, James, would one day be King of England, as he was next in the line of succession, Elizabeth I having no children and not likely to have any.

This is a wonderful, classic film, with great, rousing bagpipe refrains throughout. Whlie it is a little hammy at times, it is still a wonderful piece of theatre. The cinematography is stark, almost chiaroscuro in effect, which contributes to its appeal. It is a very enjoyable film which should appeal to lovers of historical dramas and period pieces, as well as those who simply love a great film.

Young Katherine as a Queen
This is not Hepburn's finest film, nor is it the best Queen Mary movie. However, it does feature one of Hollywood's strongest women playing the part of one of history's strongest queens. This match makes an otherwise ordinary costume drama a must-see. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

James Garner vs. Clint Eastwood in a superb western comedy.
This is required viewing and a unique experience for Clint Eastwood admirers since he has a huge role as a colorful but loathesome gunfighter/villain and plays it sublimely well. Edgar Buchanan (the marvelous character actor that played "Uncle Joe" on "Petticoat Junction") and Abby Dalton round out the guest cast of this sensational episode of "Maverick" with James Garner. Bret Maverick (Garner) and Eastwood are at loggerheads over Dalton and the sequences illustrating Eastwood's quick-draw ability and Garner's reactions to it are extremely funny and perfectly played straight. The saloon fistfight between Garner and Eastwood is riveting and Maverick's gentle friendship with Buchanan's character is beautifully drawn. This was the first episode of "Maverick" to be offered on video and with good reason. No one could possibly be disappointed with this episode of my favorite television series.

Bret Maverick faces John Wesley Hardin in a gunfight
In his only Warner Bros. TV appearance, Clint Eastwood guest stars as Red Hardigan, a local tough-guy who is itching to provoke James Garner as Bret Maverick into a showdown. Red is jealous that "Maver-ack" is showing too much attention to Carrie Christiansen, played by Abby Dalton. But Red has to wait in line when notorious gunslinger John Wesley Hardin arrives in Sundown and "calls out" Bret. Episode also features Jack Kelly as brother Bart Maverick. Originally aired: Feburary 1, 1959. (This review is a paraphrase of the WB video release box cover review.) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A pair of first season episodes of the classic idiot sitcom
This videotape has a couple of first season episodes of "Gilligan's Island," including only the second appearance of a guest star. In Episode #15 "So Sorry, My Island Now," Vito Scotti, the Italian character actor who would go on to appear in "The Godfather," plays a Japanese sailor (I know, it strikes me as especially odd too) who shows up on the island in his one-man submarine and thinks World War II is still going on since his radio broke in 1942. Of course, Gilligan (Bob Denver) initially mistakes the submarine for a strange creature in their lagoon and it is not long before the visitor has captured most of the Castaways. Then, in Episode #16 "Plant You Now, Dig You Later," Mr. Howell (Jim Backus) hired Gilligan to dig a barbecue pit. When Gilligan hits a buried treasure chest, a custody battle ensues over ownership, which comes down to the principle of "finders keepers" versus the "out of court" settlement approach of paying off the jury. Both of the episodes are standard fare for the classic "idiot" sitcom, certainly representative of the first season but not classic episodes by any means.

what a great tape of Gilligan's Island
this tape is so so great... i loved it. in your local video stores these tapes are out of print so BUY IT NOW from amazon.com !!! these episods are funny and they look great in color. best thing you dont have those commercials ! i love Gilligan's Island and this is a MUST for any Gilligan's Island fan out there.... hury !!! these videos might be gone soon so buy it now while you have the chance!!

japanese sailor on gilligan's island
is cool the first time seeing the japanese it was in black and white on nick at nite but on this tape it is in color wan giligan was in the lagoon a peasocp came out of the wather gilligan ran a way gilligan thinks it is a seasurpint wan it was a japanese sailor from ww2 the japanese sailor dos not kown ww2 is over the japanese sailor capsers the castways to find out what happans next you must buy this video

Excellent colorized version of episodes 15 and 16
Excellent true-to-life colorized version of episode #15 (first aired on January 9, 1965) and #16 (first aired on January 16, 1965). Contains original music and scenes not shown in re-runs. END ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Gilligan wins $3 million and has to guard the water supply
This video tape offers up a pair of episodes from the first season of "Gilligan's Island." First up is "Three Million Dollars More or Less" (Episode #13, December 26, 1964), where Gilligan wins $3 million from Mr. Howell in a golf game. Mr. Howell then tricks Gilligan into buying a worthless oil well that he owns. Of course, then Mr. Howell hears on the radio that the oil well is a gusher and now he needs to find a way to get the productive well back. Unfortunately he is going up against Gilligan. This episode was written by Bill Davenport & Charles Tannen and directed by Ray Montgomery. Then in "Water, Water Everywhere" (Episode #14, January 2, 1965), the castaways have to deal with the fact that their supply of fresh drinking water is running out. This forces the group to strictly ration what little water they have, which simply means they wait until Gilligan is on guard to get themselves some more. Written by Tom Waldman & Frank Waldman and directed by Stanley Z. Cherry, I appreciate the fact that this is one of the few episodes that actually deals with one of the "real" problems the castaways would have confronted. While neither of these are classic episodes of "Gilligan's Island," they do show why the series is usually considered the epitome of the "Idiot Sitcom" that dominated television in the middle-1960s.

Gilligans Island One of the greatest shows of all time!
In this episode of Gilligan's Island Mr. Howell is getting tired of playing golf by him self so he askes Gilligan to be his partner. Mr. Howell realizes that Gilligan is an excellent player. Mr. Howell bets Gilligan that he can't play better than him and Gilligan beats him every time! Mr. Howell still doesn't give up and he keeps playing and playing until he loses three million dollars in gambeling against Gilligan! Gilligan is so happy that he became a millionaire he is confident that he can win more of Mr. Howell's money so he plays another game and bets all of his money. Unfortunatly Gillligan plays a game he is not all good at and loses and Mr. Howell becomes the millionaire on the island once again! This episode is full of laughs! See it now and witness the luaghs and comedy of the castaways on Gilligan's Island! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Robert Redford in an early appearance as a cowboy.
Robert Redford put in an extremely early appearance in this fine episode of "Maverick" featuring Jack Kelly as the title character's brother Bart. This one's a very good straight western involving a cattle drive and a character whose hand was amputated by Indians and casually uses an iron prosthetic to crush the skull of an argumentative associate. Redford has an oddly baby-faced look here, with ample cheeks and a hint of his famously acne-scarred complexion visible. Fast paced and well acted, this is an excellent example of a 50s TV western and an intriguing curio for Redford admirers. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

the best of maverick
maverick is a gambler and this is truer to the story line and is very entertaining it's clean fun to watch and maverick gets a taste of his own medicine buy it enjoy it!

Okay but not great...
The cover is misleading it shows Bret (James Garner) with his brother Bart (Jack Kelly), but Bart's not in this episode. The show is okay, but not as enjoyable as "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres."

A superb episode of James Garner's classic 50s TV series.
If someone asked me to choose one episode of "Maverick" that superbly illustrates my favorite television series' strengths, this might be it. James Garner's fascinatingly complex character Bret Maverick is on full display and Diane Brewster as Samantha Crawford, Maverick's primary female nemesis, is introduced in this episode in all her slipperiness and duplicity in a plot that revolves around a New Orleans riverboat gambling contest that hinges on an obscure poker rule of the day. The principals later segue by stagecoach to a western town with a crooked casino, where they encounter Leo Gordon as Mike McComb, Maverick's strapping Irish ally. Jodie Foster's character in the recent Mel Gibson movie version was based on Samantha, and Ms. Brewster's performance is a revelation, forcing the viewer to bemoan the policy of that period preventing most television actors from moving into theatricals. Warners' unsung but mesmerizing stable of character actors are peppered throughout the show to good effect, as is always the case with this series, and this episode has a classic feel, with lustrous lighting and photography and fascinatingly nuanced performances. This is one to watch repeatedly and serves as a superior companion to the movie version.

Perfect choice to know the best TV of the period
I saw this when I was younger and liked it then. It is ahead of its time. It instructs patience in the face of setback. Maverick loses badly to a woman, something that doesn't happen to a western hero, but Maverick takes it in stride, never missing a beat stays focused on his final outcome. There are lessons in morality, justice and determination. The best of its kind

Bret Maverick meets his match...
It's one thing for Bret Maverick to lose a poker game, it's another thing to lose to a woman, it's even worse when she beats him by invoking an obscure rule from Hoyle's Book of Games. But Bret's adventure with Samantha Crawford, played by Diane Brewster, is just beginning -- as he discovers when he follows her in an attempt to get his money back.

Originally aired: October 6, 1957 ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Garner started a new genre
Maverick is at his best as the cowboy - gambler who is the smartest guy in the room but used quips instead of arrogance to make his points. He is almost the anti-hero, because he isn't the fastest gun and knows it. He uyses his brains and sense of humor to win the day. He also has a strong sense of right and wrong, which was probably odd for a professional gambler.

I love all the garner Mavericks and wish they would release more.

Given that these were had in the 50's, they are all family friendly.

maverick-point blank
i got the maverick serouis years ago and its a great western to watch it differant than most becuse its funney and adventous and enjoyable to watch i recomend it to anyone its a good story and so are the rest! columbia movies? i think offers the conpleat searous of tapes thats how i got mine!check it out, it also offers have gun will travel great show i have almost all of them!

Good Maverick, not the best
I thought this was more of a standard western than other Maverick episodes. If you like the series, you'll enjoy adding this to your collection. if you haven't seen the series, I'd suggest starting with "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres" or "According to Hoyle."

The Maverick episode written first and meant as the intro.
This was the first episode of "Maverick" to be written. Roy Huggins had intended it as the first one to be broadcast as well but the studio insisted on using a rewrite of a story that they already owned instead, so that they wouldn't have to pay Huggins the creator fees. Standard policy for the period. 29-year-old James Garner is superb in delivering the complex and mature characterization of Bret Maverick and a young Mike Connors, who later played TV's "Mannix," is the episode's guest villain. The show has a verve, energy, and intelligence that set the tone for the run of the series. It is by definition an excellent start for experiencing "Maverick." ... Read more

Description

All of your favorite characters from the most popular syndicated television show ever. When the S.S. Minnow is lost in a terrible storm, the captain and hi s crew find themselves deserted on a tropical isle. Gilligan, the skipper, a millionaire and his wife, the movie-star, the Professor and Mary Ann must learn to live together - all the while trying to figure out how to get themselves rescued. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Gilligan "Two on a Raft very funny and enjoyable to watch.
I bought this video because I remembered how much I enjoyed watching Gilligan as a kid and wanted my kids to see it too. My five year old thinks Gilligan is just hilarious! We laughed and laughed. I don't mind that it is colorized. The part where Gilligan and Skipper are out on the raft and the sharks eat the raft was great.

COLORIZED
Excellent episodes, but they've been colorized. I was so surprised to see these episodes in color (I didn't even have a color TV when I saw these the first time). It was quite disconcerting to see these episodes in color. Also, they seem to have been edited: the skipper doesn't ever hit Gilligan with his hat (or maybe he started doing that in later episodes?)....

I would have given it 5 stars if it had been in B&W (original format).

This is a tape of two episodes of Gilligan's island
This two episode set contains the first episode of Gilligan's Island the first episode is titled Two on a Raft and involves the castaways trying to get of the island. The Professor tells the Skipper and Gilligan to watch out for headhunters on nearby islands. The bumbling crew set out, but a shark attack and a sudden storm cause them to land on an island(the same one they left)! remembering what the Professor told them, the Skipper and Gilligan think the other castaways are headhunters, and vice versa. The second episode involves the castaways trying to build a hut on the island. They do, but they all get on each others nerves so they decide to build individual huts however a set of minor disasters(Gilligan), causes the destruction of the huts. the castaways all have to try to build one major hut before a hurricane hits. END ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Roger Moore replaces James Garner as Maverick.
"Maverick" had suffered a steep decline from its glory days by the time this episode was filmed, but it's still a good show. Roger Moore replaces the absent James Garner as Maverick in this one, a task about as enviable as his replacing of Sean Connery in the role of James Bond years later. Moore did some extremely good episodes, though, one in particular written and directed by Robert Altman, but this isn't one of them and this isn't it. Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick and Moore as his cousin Beau work hard at it but the script in this one just isn't quite up to snuff, and Kelly plays the material a bit too broadly, something that would have been inconceivable in his work with Garner. It's worthwhile to dyed-in-the-wool Maverick adherents (like me) and Roger Moore admirers (you won't believe how young he looks in this, shot long before his later series "The Saint"), but this one should only be ordered after you've experienced the classic earlier episodes with Garner and Kelly. It's easy to see why Moore was chosen to replace Garner, though, since the resemblance between the two actors throughout the 60s is eerie. Later in the same season the studio went that one better, though, by hiring Garner lookalike Robert Colbert, dressing him in Garner's signature black outfit, and calling his character "Brent." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great opener to a great series
I especially like the Maverick episodes that emphasize humor, and this one has many clever scenes. The highlight for me was seeing Bret sway the election to the ex-judge. However, I have to side with Phineas in the poker game at the beginning--No way I let Maverick bet with a sealed envelope.

The first episode is a strong introduction to James Garner.
This is the first episode of "Maverick" and is a marvelously written and photographed introduction to James Garner in his signature role of Bret Maverick. This program had to compete with the Ed Sullivan and Steve Allen variety shows, then considered impregnable, and understandably knocked them for a loop, with neither of them ever completely recovering their former standing in the ratings for a continuous period. Garner and his role are so striking that it's easy to see why; in an era of flat and colorless western heroes, he played a much more adult, complex and chronically fascinating character, making an electrifying impression on viewers of the day. Even though set in the Old West, "Maverick" has as urban a feel as anything on film. All the elements of the character are quickly established and Garner's performance is practically perfected out of the gate, with only a few minor changes made later: in this one Maverick wears a bow tie with his usual black broadcloth gambler's suit and hasn't yet figured out that he basically wears his hat on the back of his head (something Garner forgot when the series was revived in the eighties) but aside from that everything else is in place. Garner is also noticably thinner than he ever was before or since in anything, since he had an uncharacteristic bout with dieting and working out at the gym immediately before the filming of this episode. To kick off the series with a splash, this installment is a kind of rolling extravaganza of everything, with Maverick saving an entire town from the clutches of an mining baron in spite of the townspeople's fears. It is a television masterpiece. If that sounds anomalous, watch it and see if you don't agree. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Much better sequel than "Tomb" and "Ghost"
This final film in the series chronicling the adventures of Kharis the Mummy (still played by Lon Chaney) as he continues his quest to find princess Ananka. The is the best of the Mummy sequels Everything in it is perfect, just like in "The Mummy's Hand."

The mummy's on the loose and he's dancin' with the devil
Universal had pretty much milked the whole Kharis the mummy thing dry by the time this fourth and final Kharis movie was released in 1944. Even Lon Chaney doesn't seem to care a whole lot about the project as he slides and stumbles his plodding way through the swamps of Louisiana. It's really best not to question how Kharis and the ancient Egyptian princess Ananka wound up buried in a swamp in Cajun country; just accept it and go from there. Ananka, once she rises from the muck and gets herself cleaned off, is quite the dish this time around, although her whole schizophrenic, dual identity, amnesia thing can be a little off-putting. The beauty and doe-like eyes Virginia Christine brings to the role of Ananka helps explain why Kharis is still stubbornly pursuing her after more than three millennia. I mean this guy just won't give up, nor will he take no for an answer. Every time he approaches Ananka, she runs away screaming, yet he just bows his filthy bandaged head and starts the whole search over again. At least the supporting cast is pretty good. You can't help but like a guy called Cajun Joe - well, unless you're an ancient mummy, anyway. And then there is my favorite character, the wide-eyed Goobie (Napoleon Simpson) who runs around hollering "The mummy's on the loose and he's dancin' with the devil" every time something bad happens.

The plot of this particular quartet of mummy films was really starting to wear thin by this point. You've got two Egyptian mummies calling Louisiana home, then you've got this new high priest who has come over to find Kharis and keep giving him the old "three Tana leaves" juice that keeps him going. You can't even feel sorry for Kharis' millennia-old love problems anymore because Ananka clearly wants nothing to do with the filthy, tongue-less collection of dirty linen strips. The fact that the film runs for barely an hour is indicative of the fact that the magic was all but gone by this point; there comes a time when the same old same old begins to sound rather silly, and The Mummy's Curse comes close to crossing that line on several occasions.

The Mummy's Final Universal Feature
"The Mummy's Curse", was the last of the four Mummy films that Universal released in the early 1940's and coming hot on the heels of their previous release "The Mummy's Ghost", this installment suffered a little from the feeling that alot that was covered in its story had been done effectively before. While all the Universal Mummy films indeed have a familiar feel to their storylines this last film still managed to keep a little individuality to it and certainly contained a couple of startling scenes that still impress today. Universal had a way with their horror films and it constantly impresses me just what they could do with limited budgets and very short shooting schedules which still managed to create a polished looking final product.

The tale of the doomed high priest Kharis and his eternal quest for his lost love the Princess Anana is well known to horror fans and in "The Mummy's Curse", Lon Chaney Jnr plays for the final time the Mummy who has become one of the most famous of the Universal monsters. This film continues on from the conclusion of the previous film and despite the confusing change in the locale of where Kharis was buried at the previous films conclusion (he is now found in a dried up swamp in Louisiana)the story flows along with good elements of mystery thrown in. A land works excavation team are draining the whole area for redevelopment when a strange coffin shaped recess is found in the ground. Immediately the workmen start to get frightened fearing that they have unearthed the resting place of the mummy which terrorised the area years before. Their fears seem to be justified as despite the warnings of Dr. Zandaad to stop developing the area, a number of weird sightings are reported and then a strange girl emerges out of the bayou (in the most visually stunning scene in the whole film) who is unsure of who she is, but who in actual fact is the Princess Ananka risen from her swampy grave. With Kharis in hot pursuit of the Princess the murders in the area begin and it is revealed that Dr. Zandaad (Peter Coe in a wonderfully eerie performance) is in actual fact the latest of the high priests from the Temple of Karnak who is hiding Kharis among the ruins of an old Monastery in the area while he attempts to seek out the Princess. Ananka in the mean time stumbles into the camp of some of the local workers and it is there that Kharis comes in his quest to find her and murders happen as the unfortunate men encounter the Mummy. After the Mummy abducts Ananka and takes her back to the Monastery one of the female workers who befriended Ananka, Betty Walsh is led there by Dr. Zandaab's secret assistant Ragheb (Martin Kosleck), who has developed a passion for her. When other members of the team catch up to her a fight develops which sees Dr. Zandaab killed and the Mummy bring down the whole building on top of himself and Ananka as he kills Ragheb. The team then decide to dig out the two Mummies at a later date and take them back to the Museum from where they were originally taken by the earlier High Priests.

Despite being the last of the Mummy series this entry has a good eerie feel to it. Virginia Christine makes a stunningly beautiful Ananka and Peter Coe's performance as the usual sinister High Priest is also of much interest. Lon Chaney Jnr by this stage had played the Mummy three times and despite his well publicised hatred for playing this role he still manages within the obvious limitations of such a role to instill a bit of sympathy into an otherwise unlikeable horror character. His visual look as Kharis is top notch and really has been the bench mark for how all subsequent Mummies should appear with the mouldering bandages, dry dusty features and killer arm that can strangle anyone within reaching distance. The visual settings of "The Mummy's Curse", are it's real strong point and are very much above those of the previous entry in the Mummy series. The misty swamp scenes of the deep South, the Monastery set and best of all Ananka's wonderful rise from the mud in the swamp at the beginning of the story really make this one of the better efforts by Universal in their saga of Kharis the Mummy.

"The Mummy's Curse", makes light entertaining viewing and was just the escapism that wartime audiences lapped up before the war's conclusion. This film marked the real end of the Mummy films however until Hammer Studios embraced and revived the Mummy for their own series of films in the late 1950's and early 1960's. The film is short in running time and takes little time in getting into the main action of the story and the dramatic ending to Kharis's sad story is well worth waiting for. A "B" film it may be but it ranks as a worthy horror addition to any horror buff's collection. Enjoy Kharis searching one last time for his lost love the Princess Ananka in Universal's "The Mummy's Curse".

A really good ending
This film, featuring Kharis's fourth appearance, is more exciting that most of them, because the really good parts come sooner, but at the slowly building beginning, people can squirm and shiver as they see the spooky bayou and the characters talk about the mummy.

Now, when the action is real close to happening, Ananka appears, and the scene is represented beautifully. Also, the sun was coming out of a camera lens, but it still looked real.

Then, as the story ends, it settles down, and we see Kharis's fate. But, like in most movies, the scene is more exciting then it sounds, so, if you like the classic 1940-50's horror shows, this is one to watch.

Don't believe the box
In reading the cover for this video, I read that the mummy Kharis will meet his princess Ananka and the two will "wreak havoc together." I don't know what the writer of these words saw, but it was not this movie. Although the mummy attacks those who get in his way, there is no duo of mummies doing anything.

In this film, a public works crew is working to drain a swamp in the American South. Given the character of Cajun Joe, we can assume that this is Louisiana. As the crew is draining the swamp, the mummy is retrieved by his acolytes. With their knowledge of the sacred tanna leaves, they work to help Kharis find his princess. The movie gives us the battle between the modern age and the mystical times long ago.

Lon Chaney, Jr. plays the mummy in this film. For the most part, he plays it well and sets the pace for any actor playing a mummy. The outstretched arm with the other arm close to the chest and the dragging foot all give us the standard for a mummy.

I would recommend seeing this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

More fun filled wacky happenings on "Gilligan's Island"
This videotape serves up another pair of episodes from the first season of "Gilligan's Island" (1964-1965), although unlike most of the other volumes in this series they are not consecutive episodes. First up in Episode #3 "Voodoo Something to Me" it seems various items are mysteriously vanishing from the camp. The Skipper (Alan Hale, Jr.) quickly becomes convinced it is because of evil spirits. What it really turns out to be is a chimpanzee. While the Castaways are searching for the real culprit, Gilligan (Bob Denver) falls into a mud hole and while he is washing his clothes the chimp steals them and puts them on. Of course, the Skipper finds out that his little buddy has been changed into an ape by the voodoo curse and is rather upset. This would have been a good episode to pair up with "Waiting for Watubi," but none of these tapes are thematically oriented.

Then in Episode #9 "The Big Gold Strike" Gilligan discovers a gold mine on the island and is set to work night and day mining the gold by Mr. Howell (Jim Backus). Meanwhile, the life raft from the "Minnow" has washed ashore providing the Castaways with an opportunity to try and reach another island. But "Gilligan's Island" is a classic American "idiot" sitcom and that means that the two plotlines of this particular episode are going to collide and insure that the situation is preserved for the next week's fun. Neither offering qualifies as a classic episode of the series, but these are certainly representative of what the show was like during that first season. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Standing the Test of Time
I was about eight years old when Maverick was popular but I remember my family sitting around the television in the evening and watching the original episodes. When I found the Maverick video website I ordered two immediately. I looked forward to their arrival with great anticipation. At the same time I wondered if the program would live up to my recollections. I was astounded to find that it did, and we all laughed out loud at Shady Deal at Sunny Acres and the other videos I have purchased. The writers and producers of Maverick put a lot of time into these scripts and it shows. Its great to enjoy them again.

Best Maverick episode I have seen
If you are a fan of the 1950's TV series Maverick, starring James Garner and Jack Kelly, and have not seen this episode, then buy this video, and prepare yourself to be blown away. "Shady Deal..." is quite an excellent installment (among very many) of Maverick. What I love most about this particular episode is that it expresses quite well the foolishness of greed and of selfishness when it shows Mr. Bates, a dishonest banker, steal Bret's money and then immediately lunge into another man's monetary affairs, unaware that he is about to be conned out of his shoes. The episode makes me laugh when I see Bret just sitting and whittling, acting as if Mr. Bates' dishonesty does not worry him in the least. And above all, when I realize that brother Bart, Samantha, Gentleman Jack, Cindy, Dandy Jim, and Big Mike--quite a roster--have all assumed false identities, I am reminded that no one messes with the Mavericks and gets away with it. This episode was written unbelievably well, with the sharp, diligently collated plan carried out by Bart and his friends, and with Bret's laid back, subtle sense of humor, which portrays him as just an easy-going person and gives the show an amiably comical atmosphere--a quality that seemed to disappear from Maverick after Garner left the show. "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres" is sure to be esteemed among the greatest installments of the Maverick TV series. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

WHAT A GREAT SHOW!
I'm apparently a little young to remember this show when originally broadcast. I bought this one 'coz I love James Garner, and now I'm hooked on it. What a great show! It's got a solid plot, wonderful and well-executed characters, a good balance between humor and compassion, and the good guys win! What more could you ask for? I recommend this video even if you're not a great fan of the western genre.

The most fondly remembered episode of the best TV series.
This is the quintessential episode of "Maverick," the one that everyone remembers first and the one that sticks in everyone's mind. The entire supporting cast of running con-artist characters is featured, including the perfect Diane Brewster as Samantha Crawford, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Dandy Jim Buckley (his most winning role), Richard Long as Gentleman Jack Darby, and Leo Gordon as Irishman Big Mike McComb, among others, with John Dehner as the sublimely execrable villain of the piece ("If you can't trust your banker, whom can you trust?"). Jack Kelly as Maverick's brother Bart runs a complex con that is the forerunner for the film "The Sting" while James Garner as Bret Maverick spends most of the show sitting in a rocking chair and whittling, telling scoffing townspeople that ask how he intends to recover a stolen $15,000 within a self-imposed two-week deadline that he's "working on it." Somehow the image of Garner rocking and smiling and whittling is one of the three most memorable television images of the 1950s, along with Elvis Presley on the Ed Sullivan Show and Fess Parker as Davey Crockett on Walt Disney's Disneyland series. If you can't understand how this can possibly be the case, see for yourself.

Quintessential Maverick
I think this gem is my second-favorite Maverick episode (behind "A Fellow's Brother"). Some of the Mavericks were basic westerns, but this great sting episode showed the genius and humor of the show. John Dehner is once again great as a comedic villian. Definitely makes me wish that more Maverick episodes were available. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Duel at sundown
This is a very good movie with James Garner and Clint Eastwood. It also has some comedy at the end. If you like Mavericks, you'll love this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This four-episode compilation of the 1960s-era comedy starts off witha two-parter which sends extraterrestrial Martin (Ray Walston) and his"nephew" Tim (Bill Bixby) back in time to the 1800s in "Go West, YoungMartian, Go West." After wagon-train and riverboat rides and battles withIndians and an overzealous sheriff, the pair make it back to the presentonly to meet a time-traveling Leonardo Da Vinci in "Martin Meets His Match." The duo help resolve Da Vinci's theft of his own Mona Lisa, and then it's back in time to undo Tim's bungling of the tribal sale of Manhattan Island to the Dutch in "Pay the Man the 24 Dollars." The chemistry between thefinger-wigglingly proficient Walston and slightly daft Bixby makes for funfamily viewing, but be aware that stereotypes of Native Americans abound in the second and fourth episodes, not the least of which is their portrayal by Caucasian actors with a lot of makeup. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (4)

pat
an excellent video, not only is the acting good, the episodes are in color and have been quality enhanced with better viewing. A hard to find classic sitcom with good taste no graphic violence, sex, or profanity at all and still very entertaining, i hope they start marketing more 60's and 70's sitcoms.

Favorite Martian, Favorite Video
It's hard to remember the old "My Favorite Martian" TV series being in color, but it was -- during its final season. These rare color episodes are a treat for anyone who grew up watching the original series. Take a trip back to an innocent time -- and if you can, take someone with you who's never been there. It's fun for the whole family.

RAY WALSTON IS THE GREATEST
RAY WALSTON HAD THE SOPHISICATION OF A REAL ALIEN, THAT MR. LOYD WILL NEVER HAVE. LET'S HAVE THE PAST!!!!

A WONDERFUL PERSON WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR
I REMEMBER THE SHOW WHEN IT FIRST AIRED ON TV BACK IN 1963 AT MY OF TWELVE. THIS MAN PERFORMED WITH AWE AND WITH A WIT OUTMATCHED BY THE COMEDIANS OF TODAY. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Complete First Season is Coming out on DVD!!
Gilligan's Island may be one of the silliest sitcoms ever to be shown on TV but isn't that one of the reasons us fans of the show like it so much? This tape has some great epiodes, Angel on the Island is good but my favorite is Waiting for Watubi, it is a very funny episode and Alan Hale and Bob Denver are hilarious! Both of these episodes are from the first season and Gilligan's Island's first season is coming out on DVD on February 3, 2004. In the first season DVD set you get Angel on the Island and Waiting for Watubi and a whole lot more and the first season episodes are shown in the original black and white while the two episodes on this tape have been colorised and look like it too! They have that weird distorted look that happens when they colorise black and white so I have to dock several points for that.

A nice pair of episodes where Gilligan saves the day
This videotape has two of the better first season episodes of "Gilligan's Island," mainly because the focus is on characters other than Gilligan (Bob Denver) and it is actually the First Mate of the S.S. "Minnow" who saves the day. In Episode 10, "Waiting for Watubi," the Skipper (Alan Hale, Jr.) digs up the sacred Tiki god of the Watubi tribe, which he believes has him under a curse. No matter what he does to try and get rid of the statue, it keeps reappearing. The only thing that will save him is if a Watubi witch dotor removes the curse and in the absence of any other living sole on the island, it is up to his little buddy to do the job himself. Given all the shtick that the two would go through in their three years on the island, episodes where the friendship between the Skipper and Gilligan seems real come across as a breath of fresh air.

Then in Episode 11, "Angel on the Island," Ginger (Tina Louise) is depressed because she has lost a leading role in a Broadway play because she is, well, shipwrecked on the island. Mr. Howell (Jim Backus) promises he will back the play when they are rescued and the Castaways start rehearsing the play. The only problem is that Lovey (Natalie Schaeffer) insists on taking the starring role of Cleopatra, which is not exactly making Ginger happier, which was supposedly the point of the rehearsal. Once again, it is Gilligan who comes to the rescue by having a chat with Mrs. Howell. Like the previous episode, there is a sense of community if not family behind the story, and not just a descent into sitcom shtick. Ironically, this makes "Waiting for Watubi" and "Angel on the Island" atypical episodes of the classic "idiot" situation comedy, but above average episodes as well.

about tina lousieAND ALAN HALE
i ThINK tina lousie did a great job on angel on the island because she really brought out her personiaty as ginger grant,and alan hale as the skipper did a great job on wating for watubi.he thought that he had a curse that ahe need a doctor to crue him.so the proffsser dressed gilligan as watubi to brack the curse.all in al I LOVE THIS TAPE!!!...

What fun these shows are! It's great!
This video is one of my first "Gilligan's Island" videos, and it is absolutely fabulous. I believe you can see what Mr. Denver's personality is like in this show, and particularly in "Waiting for Watubi". I don't think that he is as clumsy as Gilligan, but I believe he has as big a heart as him. Watch this episode and you'll see what I mean. The second episode on this video, "Angel on the Island", is a wonderful one also. All the castaways try so hard to make Ginger not feel so bad about missing her stage debut. They do the play with Mr. Howell directing it. Mrs. Howell gets a big head, and talks him into allowing her to play in the starring role of Cleopatra, the part that Ginger was to have, instead of playing the maid. This breaks Ginger's heart. Gilligan goes to the Howells' hut and pleads with Mrs. Howell to get back the role of Cleopatra for Ginger. Mrs. Howell pretends to have laryngitis so that Mr. Howell will have to let Ginger do it. The play was done with Gilligan doing all of the roles, except the role of the sailor which was played by the Skipper. It was funny seeing poor little Gilligan run backstage and back on stage after he had changed into different clothes fot the multiple roles he had to play. If you're a fan of "Gilligan's Island", you will love this tape. It is shown in color which, I think, is better than black-and-white. You get a better idea of things that way. ... Read more