Reviews (12)

Sal Mineo's drum playing is outstanding
Sal Mineo plays legendary jazz drummer,Gene Krupa,in this bio pic. This is an outstanding movie Sal's acting is superb,and his drum playing is breathtaking!Sal Mineo was one of the great actors of modern time,and this film proves it.

AWESOME! SAL MINEO ROCKS!
"The Gene Krupa" is possibly the BEST movie in which SAL MINEO was the picture's main STAR~~A huge Box Office hit in 1959! He studied the drums for 18 months(training with the real Gene Krupa) and although he is playing along onscreen to the REAL Krupa's soundtrack, Mineo's drumming is REAL and leaves you breathless. His acting in this film, as always, is amazing, and the supporting cast is awesome! Featuring the lovely Susan Kohner(who also co-starred in Sal's hit movie version of his tv play, "DINO"), James Darren, and apperances by jazz greats, Anita O'Day, Red Nichols, and Buddy Lester, this is a wonderful biopic sure to thrill jazz lovers, and inspire all generations of future drummers. It's also a wonderful treat for the Sal Mineo fan, especially to see him in something so different than his most famous Oscar nominated role in "Rebel without a cause."(Sal Mineo also was nominated for an Oscar and won the Golden Globe for "EXODUS")

FINALLY ON DVD!!!! Release more Mineo flicks on DVD!
At long last, "The Gene Krupa story" has been released on DVD by Sony/Columbia home video. Rather than review the actual film, this review concentrates on the DVD format as I am very pleased with this edition! The DVD is nicely packaged with a color picture on the front of the box. The film's glorious black and white has been digitally remastered and the clarity is just amazing. Even more important, the film is presented in full "widescreen" so you can view the film the way it was originally presented in theatres. This allows you to view the entire scope of the screen, instead of having the left and right sides of the screen chopped off into a crappy traditional "square" television format. You can see so much more as we all know how wonderful wide screen is. Although the soundtrack is still "mono," Sony has digitally remastered it, and presents it on this disc in "Dolby Digital." This makes a huge difference as the sound is deeper, lusher, and does great justice to the music. This is simply a beautiful presentation of this film. There are no "special features" such as behind the scenes or out takes, however it does have an interactive menu complete with chapter search. This DVD version of the film blows the old VHS version out of the water! For me, this DVD gave me a fresh new viewpoint of the film. The widescreen format compliments Sal's drumming so much that the VHS version could never come close to doing. I rate this DVD a 10+ on the scale of 1-10! If you love this film as much as I do, BUY THE DVD! Now, if only "Who Killed Teddy Bear" could be released on DVD..Now that would be a treat! I am concluding this review with some technical specs: Screen Formats: Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1 Closed Captioned Language and Sound: English: Dolby Digital Mono Original Release Date in theatres: 1959. Released to DVD in May, 2004

One Of Sal Mineo's Finest Performances
For jazz and music lovers "The Gene Krupa Story", is unsurpassed entertainment of the first order and contains some of the best ever work by talented actor Sal Mineo. Sal took on his first real solo starring role in this biography of the legendary Gene Krupa who as the percussionist for the Benny Goodman Quartet became the first real jazz heartthrob developing a legion of besotted fans. A major part of his legend was his innovative playing of the drums and in this film Sal Mineo manages to recreate that special magic, with some of the most amazing precussion work ever caught on screen. Having gained stardom for his sensational work in "Rebel Without a Cause", Sal Mineo was at just the right age and level of acting experience to tackle this major acting role and to his credit he manages all the stages in Krupa's life in a totally believable manner with a minimum of sentiment. Mineo's level of understanding of both the sheer genius of Krupa's ability and also his darker personal side makes for a wonderful screen performance that stays in the mind and makes "The Gene Krupa Story", a viewing experience to treasure.

The film traces Krupa's life from his humble beginnings in Chicago as the youngest child of working class parents who live by the rules of traditional life based around family and the church. We get a very early glimpse of the conflict already existing in young Gene when he brings home a set of drums which his angry father smashes as unsuitable for his son to be wasting his time on. After his father's death Gene however bows to the expectations of his family and joins the priesthood but after a year realises that it is not the life for him. He joins up with friend Eddie Sirota (James Darren) and his band and begins playing in many of Chicago's speakeasies. Eddie has a girlfriend Ethel (Susan Kohner), however soon a real attraction develops between her and Gene. Determined to succeed Gene soon pursuades Eddie to make a stab at work in New York's jazz scene. After a rough start and surviving on little money Gene through the force of his personality and sheer talent , manages to get a break which sees him climbing to stardom as the most electrifying performer in New York's big band scene. However stardom with all its adulation and material benefits also reveals its dark side as Gene begins to become involved in the heavy drug and drinking culture of the musicians world. His success also sees him begin to loose sight of the people who are important to him as he becomes alienated from Ethel who after committing herself to Gene finds herself forgotten. Best friend Eddie also drifts away as he doesn't approve of his friends free wheeling drug laden lifestyle. After being set up on a drug charge Gene's world rapidly crumbles before his eyes and he serves a jail term for possession which sees all those people, like selfish singer Dorissa Dinell, supposedly his lover abandon him in his hour of need. Upon release Gene experiences the full force of being considered a "has been", as he is reduced to performing in strip clubs and gambling houses. The hard times however refuel Gene's earlier love of music for the sheer joy of it and ever faithful Ethel comes back into his life as the steadying force she always was in the hard times. The conclusion sees Gene reunited with Eddie's band and setting out on a new life as the talented drummer that he is but this time with a more level view of what is important in life, which in his case is the devoted love of Ethel.

Sal Mineo is perfectly cast as Gene Krupa and he actually received the wholehearted blessing of the jazz legend to play him in the film. Mineo worked with Krupa to perfect his drum playing and the result on screen is sensational as Sal Mineo gives his heart and sole to his playing. The drum playing was actually recorded by Krupa however Mineo had the difficult task of matching that on screen which he does admirably. Totally devoted to perfecting his craft as an actor Mineo died far too young and sadly saw his star eclipsed long before it should have. This film along with "Rebel Without A Cause", and "Exodus", among others is this talented actors legacy to the movie going public and he will be remembered always for his great work in them. The supporting cast is uniformily fine with James Darren as Krupa's best friend Eddie, the before mentioned Susan Kohner as Ethel, and Susan Oliver in the hard driven role of Dorissa really shining and they perfectly compliment Sal Mineo's work. Appearances by real life jazz performers Buddy Lester, Red Nichols and Anita day also add an authentic ring to the story depicted. Character actress Celia Lovsky also has a memorable role as Gene's disapproving mother who is mystified by her son's obsession with the drums. The photography in "The Gene Krupa Story", is top flight with the often seedy black and white photography highly effective in particular in both Gene's pre stardom scenes and those depicted in his fall from grace when much of the action takes place in seedy "greyish", surroundings. Mineo's supreme concentration on his playing of the drums is a marvel to watch and is guaranteed to leave you breathless.

The great thing about "The Gene Krupa Story", is that you dont have to be a jazz enthusiast to enjoy the story or the music. For any lover of the drums it makes compulsory viewing and the golden age of jazz in the 30's is authentically recreated in this Columbia studios production. For me the best thing about the film will always be seeing the extraordinary talent of Sal Mineo on display. He combines strength and a touching vulnerability in his playing of Gene Krupa that leaves you rooting for him right through. I highly recommend this film to all lovers of jazz/swing and to those that like the less sentimental kind of performer film biography. Enjoy Sal Mineo at his electrifying best in "Columbia's "The Gene Krupa Story".

hooray! The Gene Krupa Story
I was stationed on a NIKE Army site between Albany and Sylvester Georgia in 1960-1961. I had the priviledge of showing the movies on our base. Due to staggered duty hours for the troops, I ran the Gene Krupa Story 3 times in one evening with the last showing at midnight. It was the only multible showing of any movie but I was more than eager to run the Gene Krupa Story as I was enthralled with the music and great drumming. Being a musician myself, it was a pleasure to offer it to my buddies no matter what time it was! Ben Shackelton ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Loved Kolchak
I remember enjoying the show when it was on. It scared me to death. Then in it's repeat later, I enjoyed it again. I had been waiting a long time for it to come out on vhs and maybe, I've missed it, but now I'm glad I've found it. I don't own it yet, but you can be sure I will own it shortly.

I also have a comment about the certain "federal agent". I can't help it. I adore Mulder. And it shows a compliment to the creaters of Kolchak that an unknown writer, (Chris Carter) would use the ideas and put a twist on it.

Kolchak is the man !
The " Night Stalker" ( as Kolchak is known to many of us who watched the series as children, ) is much more entertaining, endearing, and human than a certain 'federal agent ' of recent near- cultism. Vincenzo ( The editor ) is always on our hero's back, only to be frustrated to his wit's end when Kolchak comes through, despite the obstacles faced him.

GREAT only words to describe it!
Darren Mcgavin is awesome in the night stalker possibly the best 70s original show this tape is 2 of the best episodes fans get a real treat listening to Mcgavins wit and humour as well as his serious side fantastic series.

Great Video - Horror & Comedy Combined
Hmmm, I suspect this is the episodes "The Ripper" and "The Vampire" combined together. They're not the absolute best of the 20 Kolchak episodes produced in 1974-75, but they're definitely in the top 10. The Night Stalker is a series that combines horror and comedy - reporter Carl Kolchak is a bit of a bumbler, and is as likely to run in terror from the approaching monster than confront it. Darren McGavin carries the show, capturing the many facets of Kolchak from buffoon to fast-talker to reluctant hero. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Misadventures of Opie
I bought it because it claimed to be uncut, but the episodes were cut. It was nice, however, to not have to fast forward through commercials. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Freddy transcends from movies to TV
I never knew that Freddy Krueger had a TV series, until I found an episode in the store. As an avid Freddy fan (though Michael Myers is still my #1 fav!) I gave it a chance, and wow! Though not as intense as the movies (which is to be expected from 1980's TV), Robert Englund still manages to deliver his creepy, yet riotous, performance as Freddy Krueger. Many people say he became less scary as the movies went on, but I say his twisted ripoffs of one-liners makes him even better. James Bond pulls a similar stunt in all of his movies, so let's give Freddy a break and stop complaining about the movies. Robert Englund deserves a standing ovation for playing the same character for almost 20 years! In this particular episode, when a TV talk show host does an investigation into dreams that kill, Freddy attempts to stop the show, or else he won't have anyone to play with anymore! But the show goes forward, and Freddy puts the talk show host in the hospital. There's a truly great Freddy moment when he performs surgery on his patient, ripping off even more great oneliners. This is Freddy at his best! Although not as good as the movies, the TV series is still worth checking out, especially if you love Freddy! You are all his children now!

Freddy Fever!
I kind of thought the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET the series was cheesy, but as a fan of Freddy, I still liked these episodes.

Okay episode of the Elm Street tv show Freddy's Nightmares
Dreams That Kill is the story of talk show host Charlie Michaels, who is plagued by Freddy during sleep. After he is accidentally electricuted on the set of his show and lapses into a coma, a young man who was in a motorcycle accident is injected with Charlie's brain cells by an overzealous doctor, to replace damaged ones. Only the doctor took them from the dream center of Charlie's mind. . . ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Shows and Funny
Both of these episdoes are pretty funny. Johnny Carson is young and just starting on The Tonight Show when this episode was made. You can find out the "secret" of how Jack keeps going in this one.

The Hawai episode has some funny very funny moments but not quite as entertaining all the way through. Light and fun, which is what Jack Benny is all about. ... Read more

Description

Collection of TV series stories, all set in the dreams and nightmares of Elm Street. The show is hosted by Freddy Krueger himself. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Freddy's "Trick and Treats" Review!
I actually remember this being one of my favorite episodes of the series back in its original run. Please note that this series is really intended for the die-hard Nightmare fans.

Marsha is a grad student, who despite having a fun-loving boyfriend would rather spend Halloween night, studying in the Springwood morgue. She is still haunted by memories of her psychotically-overbearing grandmother. Freddy uses her guilt over her grandmother's death to haunt her. Enter an arrogant dream supervisor who is using her to study the affects of her nightmares.

While Freddy usually only shows up to host most of these episodes, this one was one of a select few episodes to actually feature him as a central character. If you didn't like the movies, you probably won't like this show but if you're a fan, you will want to add this to your collection and quick.

the worst episode
this movie was so stupid it really never showed freddy. had nothing to do with the series. i was so bored watching this movie because for these reasons... stupid, not funny, not a good plot, bad acting. I recomend you DO NOT BUY THIS MOVIE its a waste of money.

Freddy's Tricks And Treats
One of the standout episodes in the lackluster T.V. series of the late 1980's. This episode features Mariska Hargitay of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" in one of her early roles as a med student who decides to spend Halloween in a morgue studying for an exam. This particular episode is not as cheesy as most of the others and the second half of it has an intrigueing subplot involving the recording of dreams for medical purposes. Worth checking out. Co-stars Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger . It is directed by Ken Wiederhorn.

Good episode of the TV series Freddy's Nightmares.
Jayne Mansfield's daughter, Mariska Hargitay, stars as Marsha in this bizarre Halloween episode from the first season, "Freddy's Tricks and Treats". On Halloween Night, Marsha would rather cram for finals with cadavers than party and pull pranks with the living. But staying awake isn't always easy. . .soon she dreams of her overbearing grandmother and the town's resident dream-psychopath. The second half of this episode deals with a college kid that uses Marsha as a ginea pig as he experiments in recording dreams. Welcome to her nightmare. . . A little confusing, but enjoyable Elm Street humor prevails. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must See Superb Andy Griffith Collection of Barney Fife!!
In this classic 3 show Andy Griffith Collection starring 5 time Emmy winner Don Knotts as Barney Fife is as follows,1.The first show has Barney fixing up Andy with the fun girls that ends with hilarious results,2.This show has Barney becoming jealous of Opies affections with his girlfriend Thelma Lou again with hilarious results3.This show has Barney jealous of Gomer courting Thelma Lou and ofcourse agin resulting with hilarious results which makes this video overall a must see,superb Andy Griffith Collection of Barney Fife!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The best supporting character in television history
Don Knotts' character Barney Fife, as good as the other elements of the show were, made "The Andy Griffith Show" perhaps the best sitcom ever. Any package featuring Barney Fife should be an excellent one. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Of course this video is child appropriate!
The Andy Griffith Show is THE finest T.V. series ever made. And how anyone could even think, mind you, just think anything else is beyond me and mine!

Story Line-Content
I just want to review to see if this video is child appropriat ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Here Be Munsters
This had all the makings of a huge disaster. We had already born witness to the huge travesty that was The Addams Family Halloween reunion special four years earlier in 1977, so there weren't high expectations for this one. While the film is by no means a classic or what one would of hoped, it isn't all that bad at all. It's quite enjoyable and very watchable and makes you just about forget The Addams Family mistake. Well, almost. By now, we all know the story already. The Munsters was an ABC show that ran for only two seasons(1964-1966)and consisted of 70 episodes. There was the man of the house, Herman Munster(Fred Gwynne), his wife Lily(Yvonne DeCarlo), her father Grandpa(Al Lewis), son Eddie(Butch Patrick), and beautiful niece Marilyn(Originally Beverly Owen, then Pat Priest). They resided at 1313 Mockinbird Lane. This 1981 reunion brings back the 3 main players, Gwynne, DeCarlo, and Lewis, while newcomers played Eddie and Marilyn. Comedy legend Sid Caesar plays a crook who has his wax dummies at the wax museum come to life and pull off robberies. Two such wax dummies are dead ringers for Herman and Grandpa. Naturally, our favorite gruesome twosome are charged with the robberies and it's up to Herman and Grandpa to clear their names and stop the madman. The depiction of Herman and Grandpa as a slapsticky comedy team is fun. What is really special about this goodhearted reunion is that the 3 main actors are all in fine form. It was as tho not a day had passed since their final episode in 1966. Gwynne, who was 54 at the time, was as usual, perfection. He knows Herman inside and out and there is not a single difference in his look or performance as Herman. He was fantastic and never got the credit he deserved. Al Lewis is Grandpa and like Gwynne, it was as if nothing had changed. There was definitley noticeability in age with DeCarlo however. Still, she was Lily. There was nothing to write home about the new actors who played Marilyn and Eddie. Obviously the original actors would of been too old to play these roles now. Points also go to the set of the famous Munster abode. It is pretty much the way it was on the series. It was nice to see the house, what we saw of it, in color. The first Munster movie, "Munster, Go Home!" in 1966, was nice, but I liked and enjoyed this one better. Like I said before, it could of easily of been a horrible disaster, but with the fantastically in top form Gwynne and Lewis, the house, and the endearing charm of the film and the series' legacy, it wasn't all that bad. Now, how about a big screen update?.

Let me splain sometheen
As far as The Munsters go, this may be the worst thing ever done before Munsters Today. But as far as comparing it to the Addams family reunion movie Munsters Revenge is a Masterpiece.

Weak overall, but still irresistible
For those of us who are lifelong fans of "The Munsters," this made-for-TV reunion, while weak in storyline, at least continues the life of the original series sadly cut short after only two seasons. Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis look mostly unchanged and the pair have lost none of their camraderie, and even a noticeably older Yvonne DeCarlo holds up well. Kudos also go to the set designers, who seem to have assembled as many of the original props as could be found for the interior set of the Munster home which fans know so well. [Note, however, that exterior shots of the house are taken from "Munster, Go Home!," with "England or Bust" painted on the family car. By the time "The Munsters' Revenge" was produced, the original house facade at Universal had gone through several unfortunate alterations and must have been too costly to restore and re-dress.] Call this one "for fans only."

it is litttle good but still a bad flim
this migt be worth wacing somtimes but not all the time i dint reely care for this the truth about this show is to try to beat with a other monster the addams family which came first before this show this rely is not that good a rip of show that is stupid if you whant somthing that is good go see the addams family you will be glad you did

Great DVD release
The Munsters' Revenge is, as reunion movies go, an excellent outing. The stars look remarkably unchanged (in spite of the 15 year interval)and their typical performances in character leave you feeling they've never really been away - especially with a script which is very reminiscent of the original series and is quite strong in its humour. What a great idea to release this on DVD and let's hope that this encourages the release of more Universal product reunion movies on DVD such as The Return of Ironside, The Rockford Files, etc. Well worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Robert Wagner Fan
YES! Please DO make a new movie -- AND PLEASE release the entire series! It Takes a Thief is my all-time favorite TV show and Robert Wagner is STILL my favorite actor! I, too, would buy every single one!

I second that movie idea
Yes there should be a major motion picture based on "It Takes A Thief," but I suggest Rob Lowe as his son. Would also buy a DVD collection of every episode.

RW as Alexander Mundy - It Takes a Thief
And it would take an exceptional talent to one up Wagner in this pilot for the excellent series that followed. I enjoyed Fred Astaire playing Wagners dad in the tv series. The fabulous 60's. It Takes a Thief will go down as one of the best tv series of that golden era. Saw RW on the Larry King show recently. He still looks fantastic at 72! Hey RW, how about a 2002 version of "The return of Alexander Mundy." Is the actor who played Noah Baine still around? Great series. I loved it.

Great series
That was a great series, they have released other series on DVD that were not as popular at the time but so far not this one.
I wonder what they are waiting for.

My favorite TV show of all time
I don't know why I love this series but I do. As with a previous reviewer, I would love to own Magnificent Thief on DVD and I would purchase the entire series on DVD as well. I have all episodes on VHS and watch them over and over. Some of the best episodes are "Takes one to know one" and Turnabout. Love this stuff. Maybe we should write to Universal and start bugging them to get this series out on DVD. Anyway, this "made for TV" movie set the stage for the short lived series (1968-1970) and I want more. Maybe Wagner should do another movie as Alex Mundy only 30 years later with Tom Cruise as his son following in his footsteps. Tom is optional. ... Read more

Description

The Andy Griffith Show: Great Special Collection contains the following episodes:

The Loaded Goat
The Class Reunion
Rafe Hollister Sings
Aunt Bee's Medicine Man
The Darlings are Coming
Barney's First Car
The Rivals
Dogs Dogs Dogs
Mountain Wedding ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Andy and Barney are always great
Just want to assure you that this is a good video. It does have the silly whistling song, instead of the original Andy Griffith theme, but we didn't really mind that. We quit watching tv because it was just getting too obscene, so this was a real find for us, and truly enjoyable.

Where's the theme song?
I guess the video company that purchased the rights to these episodes decided it would be less expensive to compose their own theme music instead of paying the copyright holder to use the familiar "whistling" tune on the tape. Whatever the reason, it doesn't work.

The episodes are the same great shows we all remember, but the music isn't the same and the visual quality of the tape itself is a little bit shaky. Be aware of this if you're considering a purchase of this cassette.

A great collection of Andy!
We are very pleased with this collection. We are really big Andy fans and this is a very nice collection of episodes. 2 thumbs up!

No Stop Andy!
You can never get enough of those old-time classics. This Andy Griffth tape features 10 episodes that will entertain you for hours. I found this tape and I could not pass up a deal like this. I received this tape 1 week ago and I have already watched every episode atleast 2 times. The quality is great and it has all the best episodes. If you like the Andy Griffth Show Gang, you'll love this Video. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great shows,but very dissapointing video!!!
"The Andy Griffith Show" is perhaps one of the absolute best and very entertaining shows of its time.However,there are 16 episodes of the series,mostly from the 3rd Season,that have end up in the public domain and that means that there are many different companies out there that are releasing the shows often at times with poor picture and sound or even removing the classic original theme music.But this UAV video package is one of those few.This video contains 10 out of the 16 public domain episodes of TAGS and all of the shows contain very innapropriate stock keyboard music,which makes the opening theme look like something off of Saturday Morning TV for Kids and it also ruins the whole atmosphere of the series!! I give this two stars,because both the picture and sound quality are superb,but ZERO for the opening and end credit music.Some years ago,UAV released a series of AUTHORIZED "Andy Griffith Show" episodes such as "A Christmas Story","Haunted House",and many other episodes and yes,all of those releases did contain the original theme music.Unfortunately,these videos are now out-of-print and are often considered collector's items! So I urge the AGS fans to avoid this tape at all costs and I strongly recommnend either the Platinum Disc or Brentwood DVD's of the series as they do outstanding jobs using better quality opening and closing music compared to this version!! I will never buy these shows from either UAV or Madacy or any other crappy distributor that puts out these great shows!! Avoid this and or any other AGS titles from UAV,period!!!

Good except for intro music
The episodes listed are good choices as the episodes are interesting and they span the main cast. The video quality is excellent, as is the sound. This can not be said of all Mayberry videos. The only detraction is that the video producer chose different but similar sounding intro music, presumably to avoid paying royalties on the music. This is practical, but how many of us buy Mayberry video's for practical reasons? My kids think this is the original music - a small but disappointing fact.

Overall, with well-chosen episodes, great quality images and sound, this is a good video for Andy fans and those with kids who want quality entertainment with traditional values. ... Read more

Description

1963 comedy pairing Lucille Ball and Bob Hope. Broadway fans will enjoy the inside jokes of this movie based on a play by Ira Levin. Ball is a young playwright while Hope is her husband - and a drama critic. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

THERE'S HOPE FOR LUCY.
Bob is cast in his usual one-dimensional character as theatre critic Parker Ballantine - who must review his wife's new play!...With the comfort of booze, analysis, and the comfort of his first wife (Marilyn Maxwell), Bob labouriously decides to pen a review...Arriving drunk at the opening, and himself immediately being the center of attention, Lucy takes the expected measures, which lead to a comical - if routine - conclusion. A funny comedy which was even a more successful Broadway play. Implausible as it is, the great talents of Hope and Ball will undoubtedly please their many admirers. The costumes by Edith Head are above par and the supporting cast is excellent: Jessie Royce-Landis, Jim Backus, Lurene Tuttle, Jerome Cowan, Rip Torn, John Dehner and Richard Deacon.

Wonderful!
This movie doesn't really fit in well with the other Ball-Hope movies; it's much better. There is a lack of slap-stick comedy and a presence of realism that I found refreshing. If you are looking for a typical Hope movie, try "Fancy Pants," but if you are looking for a great semi-dramatic movie, try this. Just try to remember that the characters are not Lucy Ricardo and the usual Bob Hope: they are the Ballentines. Highly Reccomended!

Very funny! Lucy is exceptional, as usual!
This movie is great! Lucy is the world's best actress, and she shines in this funny film. Lucy and Bob make a great team. Lucy looks beautiful in this movie, as she does in everything else she's in. Lucy lovers will love this movie, and Lucy even more. Watch it!

Very funny! Reminded me of"I LoveLucy"!
This movie is a must see for Lucy fans! If you enjoy "I Love Lucy", then you'll enjoy this movie. Lucille Ball is fantastic! I admire her very much. She is my idol. No other actress, or person for that matter, has left such a legacy. She shines in this movie. I don't care what the professionals think. If you love Lucy as much as me, then you'll love her in this movie. It reminded me in some ways of "I Love Lucy", because in this movie Parker Ballentine(Bob Hope), doesn't think that his wife, Angela(Lucille Ball)has enough talent to write a play, similar to the way that Ricky doesn't think that Lucy has the talent to be in his shows. This movie is great for all the Lucy fans! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best Of Freddy and the Comedy Chills!
Ok after seeing No More Mr.Nice Guy I heard there were 4 more avalible.Hey I bought 1 lets buy another!Buy this you aren't about to waste your time and money!

1st Half:Freddy Krueger is channeled by a girl meaning to bring
a man back from the Titanic!Wow!Freddy loves his new body.He is
bragging!...It was Freddy!Fav. Quote:Your a real head turner babe!

2cd Half:Freddy Krueger goes to school!He is after some punks!
Of course,He would [end the life of] his girlfriend QUOTE:SAVE THE LAST DANCE
FOR ME!or the dweeb which helps him do his job.HOWARD NEHAMPKIN!
Really good actor.QUOTE:FREDDY WASNT SO BAD ONCE U GOT TO KNOW HIM!

Big inprovment!:More Freddy then NO MORE MR.NICE GUY!

It's My Party
Get past the tenth rate acting and cheap production values and you have a not too bad (not even decent either) entry to the all too cheesy, piece of crap TV series. The first half of this episode truly sucks as it spoofs "The Exorcist", but the second half isn't bad. The second half deals with Freddy's graduating class coming back to Springwood for their high school reunion and just finding out that the kid that wore that dirty red and green sweater all the time is not only dead, but a vicious child molester and murderer. One of his peers, a Hollywood horror film screenwriter, decides to exploit Freddy's story for the screen (it would make an excellent movie right?). For the Nightmare completist. Anyone looking for quality, look away.

Perfect for any Freddy fan!
If you like Freddy because of his way with words and his talent for FX-laden deaths, this tape is defintely for you. No pesky plot or realistic dialouge gets in the way of the gore! Robert Englund looks like he had fun with this one! For people who enjoyed Nightmare 2, or Freddy's Dead.

Good episode of Elm Street series Freddy's Nightmares
"It's my Party" is from the second season of the tv show Freddy's Nightmares. A phony psychic channeler gets more than she bargains for when she invites a spirit to take over her body-- and Freddy accepts the invitation. The second half of the episode centers on a woman waiting to go to her class reunion and dreaming of the man she played a prank on in high school-- you know who. A plot twist leads to a script being written for A Nightmare on Elm Street. Good tongue-in-cheek Freddy humor at its' peak. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

pretty good
i used to be a big fan of the tv series. and this episode isnt really your typical freddy slasher. its just like the dude from kosivo said take this episode for what it is. now keep in mind that the episodes took place in the late 80s real early 90s. tv shows wernt exactly how it is now. but over and all this is a pretty good episode even though i dont remember seeing this on tv a while ago. but if your a big nightmare fan such as myself and a big fan of late 80s and early 90s tv shows i recamend that you buy all the freddys nightmare episodes that are on sale right now

Not bad, for a low-budget series.
Like 1960's Batman, this series is campy. Don't look for unpredictable plots, state-of-the-art effects, or a mildly good scare. Take the series for what it is. A low-budget extension of the films. I didn't become a Freddy fan to be scared, I enjoyed his humor. Just take each episode with a grain of salt, willingly suspend your disbelief, and do your best to enjoy this series. Nearly every Freddy appearance is comedic and a treat. This episode is no exception.

Lucky Stiff
Of all the terrible episodes of this lousy TV series I've seen, this is the worst! There is no reason to see this cliched "scheming wife killing her husband to run away with another lover only to discover that her husband was buried with a winning lottery ticket" piece of garbage! Only for the "Nightmare On Elm Street" completists. This video features Mary Crosby of "Dallas" and David Lander of "Laverne and Shirley" as the couple. It was directed (?) without passion, suspense or anything else film makers put into their work by William Malone. It co-stars Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger. If you want an episode of Freddy's Nightmares check out any other one but this!

This is one of the more dumb episodes of the tv series.
Lucky stiff is an episode of Freddy's Nightmares taken from the second season of the series. It deals with a woman whose husband won the lotto-- but she only learns of it after his death. The ticket is missing and presumed to be in the jacket she buried him in. One of the duller eps of the show, Freddy is not a central character in the story, as he is in the other 4 videotapes that were released. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One Of The Best Christmas Shows Ever Done For Any TV Series!
"The Andy Griffith Show" was on network television for 8 seasons (1960-1968), and thanks to syndication it has never been off the air since.

The series' first season featured its one and only Christmas-themed show (entitled "Christmas Story"), and it is one of the finest Yuletide programs ever produced for a weekly TV series (in my own opinion, that is -- which is, I admit, tainted slightly with a built-in "Andy Griffith Show" bias). :)

"Christmas Story" co-stars Will Wright as mean and spiteful local department-store owner "Ben Weaver", who causes a bit of trouble on Christmas Eve for the Mayberry law-enforcement officers (Andy Taylor and Barney Fife). In reality, however, spiteful old Ben is deliberately *trying* to get himself arrested by "Fast Gun Fife", in order to join in the holiday festivities at the Courthouse.

The episode plays out very nicely, with Andy eventually "catching on" to Ben's little scheme. And, in typical Andrew Taylor fashion (with understanding and compassion -- even with regard to a man he's never really liked too much), Andy goes along with Ben's plan and dutifully arrests Weaver on the trumped-up charge of "emptying trash cans on the city streets".

Ben finally is able to join the party at the jailhouse, and even distributes gifts to everyone at the same time. Aunt Bee offers Ben a nice hot turkey dinner, and Ben's irritable and crusty nature melts away by episode's conclusion.

Another highlight of this moving and tender Christmas episode is when Elinor Donahue (who plays Andy's girlfriend, "Ellie Walker") sings "Away In A Manger" -- with guitar and vocal accompaniment from Andy. As the song progresses, the camera begins panning around the Courthouse and eventually pans to an outside window in one of the jail's cells -- and who's standing there behind the barred window? -- Ben Weaver, who sings right along with Andy and Ellie. A great, great scene.

Here's an interesting side note regarding the recording of that Christmas song for this episode ...... Elinor Donahue was evidently as nervous as a cat when it came time to pre-record the song for the show. Andy Griffith asked her to sit down on the floor of the recording studio because he could see she was nervous. They both sat on the floor in the middle of the studio, while Andy played his guitar and hummed along, telling Elinor she should start singing whenever she felt ready. So, whenever you're watching this Christmas episode, remember that Andy and Ellie were really sitting on the floor of a recording studio when they were singing "Away In A Manger".

"Christmas Story" was just the 10th episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" ever to air, first broadcast on CBS-TV on Monday night, December 19, 1960. The episode was directed by Bob Sweeney and written (expertly to say the least) by David Adler.

If this episode of "T.A.G.S." doesn't give you the "warm & fuzzies" all over, then I don't know what will. It's a program that begs to be re-visited each and every December 24th! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Girl With the Beat
This is the story of a 15-year-old girl who can outrun all the boys on the track team because she uses "the Beat," the rhythm of rock music in her head to help her run faster. She's invited to be on the boys' track team, to the consternation of the school principal and her father (reliable character actors Richard Deacon and Jim Backus)-especially embarrassing her father, who's running for mayor on what today would be thought of as a "male chauvinist ticket." Dad changes his tune when Billie becomes a track star, but his mayoral opponent has another family secret up his sleeve.

Of course at the end Billie takes the 60s way out and decides she'd rather be a girl than a track star, which infuriates many people, but the film was actually very daring for 1965 with its "everyone should do what they like" theme: no one actually ever coerces Billie to leave the team, not her envious team-mates, or her father, or the boy who wants to be her boyfriend-it's Billie's decision to stop running, not anyone else's.

This is just a nice pleasant rainy Saturday afternoon film with some great character actors, including Jane Greer, who plays Billie's mom who takes her husband with a grain of salt, the aforementioned Jim Backus, who wishes his little girl had been a boy (this leads to a very heart-rending scene where Dad refers to Billie as "son"), Susan Seaforth before she did DAYS OF OUR LIVES, a pre-THAT GIRL Ted Bessell and pre-BEWITCHED Dick Sargent, and Patty Duke as Billie, who actually comes off very natural as a tomboyish girl who feels out of place with everyone. (Her dyed blond hair is a fright, though; how did two brown-haired parents manage to have a blonde daughter anyway?) And of course lots of cool 60s dance scenes and clothes.

One point taken off for the DVD, which uses widescreen for the titles and pan and scan for the rest. It's good quality DVD, but the framing ruins several scenes. Someone must have had the original widescreen print somewhere; why not just transfer that?

Entertaining and reliable
This is a very sweet film, and a musical as much as a story. There are a lot of good songs (and dance)and the cast consists mainly of reliable supporting actors and actresses for the times. The story is perhaps daring for 1965, which is the right of a girl to compete not only in sports, but on a male team. But, since it was done in 1965, punches were pulled. The copy is crisp (you can see Patty Duke's smallpox scar) but her hair color seems to change quite a bit, and was a bit distracting. This is a fine family film and fans of Patty Duke, especially of her early years, will want this for their collection. Those who remember her from her TV show will be very happy this film is on DVD. The ending is a bit of a downer, considering the stand taken earlier in the film, but then one has to consider when the film was made. Few of the actors looked really like athletes, and Patty Duke seemed physically unlikely for the role, but then this was likely a small town high school and the coach was also an English teacher, unlike the specializations today. This DVD is a pleasant way to spend some time, but not strong enough to require devoting a special time to watch.

BILLIE NOW ON DVD
It's nice to see this wonderful flick on DVD. Starring Academy Award winner PATTY DUKE as Billie Carol, a young gal who scores on the Track Team but feels like a "Lonely Little In Between" in her private life. Ted Bessell plays her young brother in Law, and the wonderful Jim Backus plays her dad. Duke sings three songs in the film - "Funny Little Butterflies" "A Girl is a Girl" and the aforementioned "Lonely Little In Between". Her performance, including her dance routines, are totally enjoyable. She literally sparkles on the screen and it is easy to see how Patty Duke made the transition from child star to teen star to more mature roles. If you are looking for a DVDthe whole family can watch and enjoy,BILLIE would be an excellent choice.A MUST for Duke fans!

semi ok
This is good as something to waste a Saturday afternoon. Patti Duke plays an athlete. She listens to "the beat" which guides her in running. Since she's the top runner, the boys in the school are in shame. It's like a sitcom and all was okay till the end. It's not a good message.

Duke Sings Again in BILLIE
This is a great family movie which stars Patty Duke as track star BILLIE. Billie, it seems, suffers from gender indentity disorder but she doesn't let it get her down. She still finds time to sing "Lonely In-Between", "A Girl is a Girl" and "Funny Little Butterflies", one of Duke's 45rpm hit singles at the time. All in all, a video worth seeing and another must-have for Duke fans. ... Read more