Description

Based on the original version of Mary Shelley's classic horror story! Randy Bergin and Randy Quaid star. Year: 1993 Director: David Wickes Starring:Patrick Berin, Randy Quaid, John Mills ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Much better then I had ever anticipated!
Once in a while, whilst one is watching a movie (that one expects to be a waste of time); then the unexpected happens. Amongst these movies I now place, Frankenstein VHS~ Randy Quaid. The movie is surprisingly true to the original story and Quaid is awesome in his portrayal as the monster (in this role, i.e., that of the monster he, Mr. Quaid shows that he is indeed an accomplished actor that unfortunately has been typecast, i.e., he plays the same character over and over (the vacation movies), and directors do not want to take a risk and thereby loosing the audience that thinks that he is a goof ball). In fact, I was surprised to his how deep his acting range was and his depiction did not seem phony and one never questioned if he was playing the role. That was the problem with the Brannaugh (spelling) version since when one saw De Niro, acting as the monster, then it was him, i.e., De Niro himself that one saw and not the monster; which is not good since the actor should play the monster and not be a distraction from the main story.

The most Horrifying Frankenstein...
Frankenstein (1993) is based on the Classic Mary Shelley Horror story. This is perhaps the best 'Frankenstein' film around, faithful to the book, Patrick Bergin plays Dr. Frankenstein, Randy Quaid is the hideous monster. The movie has a a great score by John Cameron and is shot in beautiful locations.

Faithful to the novel
I remember seeing this when it was first broadcast on TNT in 1993. I recently rented it and remembered how good it was all over again. My favorite film version of Frankenstein is the 1931 version with Boris Karloff. Of the modern versions, I like the Kenneth Branaugh (1994) version and this one. This version is more faithful to the Mary Shelley novel than most other versions. Randy Quaid was magnificent as the monster, and in my opinion did a better job than Robert De Niro in the 1994 version. This film shows what a serious and gifted actor Quaid can be. The major difference from the novel is the creation of the creature. Mary Shelley never actually said that electricity brought the creature to life but she did say that the creature was stitched together from corpses. In this film, Frankenstein constructs a tank filled with a liquid that is made up of the elements of life. He uses this as a sort of cloning machine to make a stronger, wiser, and better version of himself. Electricity makes it work. Something goes wrong during the creation. The creature is strong, but he wasn't exactly formed all the way, thus giving him a hideous appearance. The creators of this film touch upon a concept that was fashionable to put into Frankenstein stage plays in the late 1800s / early 1900s. Frankenstein and the monster are versions of the same character, like Jekyll & Hyde. Since the monster is a clone of Frankenstein, they feel each others feelings and pains. They are the yin and yang of each other. When the monster is shot with a gun, Frankenstein feels the pain of the shot and a strange bruise appears on his chest. I liked how they touched on this concept. There are a few other differences from the novel as well, but no more than there are in the Branaugh version. One of the major differneces in that version is that Frankenstein actually does make a bride for the creature (an event that doesn't happen in the novel.) I think that if the creators of both films collaborated together, then they could have made one hell of a Frankenstein film. This is a must-own for any fan of "Frankenstein."

great for viewing - not so good for replacing the novel
This movie does a a pretty good job at following the themes and ideas of the novel, but it seriously strays from the novel. As a teacher, I am constantly looking for video forms of the novels we read in my classes. I read a review that said that this version followed the novel very well. I was disapointed when I saw how much this movie actually strayed from the plot of the novel. The relationship between the creation and Frankenstein is incorrect, major events are wrong, sometimes the order of events is wrong. This movie can be used for educational purposes, but it comes nowhere near replacing the novel.

However, if you are looking for a fun and new twist to the story, this is the movie for you. It was very entertaining, and I enjoyed watching it.

Finally! Now we don't have to read the book (lol)!!
I had to read this story for my Senior English Class. Like any other high school student the first question on my classes mind was "Can't we just watch the video?" The teacher responded that there was no version out that was really truthful to the book (and let's face she's right, most are just remakes on Boris Karloff's version, which is pretty good too).

It was a surprise then to see this movie. While scanning the horror section at Sigma Video (PLUG) I found this tape, just because one of the few movies in that section I hadn't seen. I expect the usual Igor, madman's brian, the usual formula. So I was happy to see the first scene took someone's complaints seriously and actually involved the story of Walton and his crew (however minimally)

And story-line is just great from there. They faithfullness to the original story is a big relief; instead of Victor the genius madmen and his retarded monster that shares his name, we see the truth: that Victor is an idiotic jerk (which actually makes him kinda likeable, the one in the book was an idiotic irresponsible egotistical ostrich-headed jerk) who somehow managed to become a doctor and scientist. and that the monster (I mean Creature) ROCKS. That it was in a horror section seems unusal to me, if only becuase there's none of the blood and guts and gore and all that other good overdone stuff that I've come associate with horror. But I'm not complaining, somehow lack of gore just makes this movie that much better, don't ask me why.

Even things they added aren't that unbelieveable, that Creature was made as a sort of Victor clone was pretty cool, that everyone knows about Creature makes the=ings sooo much easier, until Elizabeth offers herself to be cloned as the Creature's mate. And not-so li'l William provided some good comic relief (Victor propses to Elizabeth, she accepts, and he has nightmares ever since; William : I hope I never fall in love, I don't wanna get sick and have nightmares.)Hmmm....that's funny in the film than in writing oh well. And then there's that scene with De Lacey and Creature was pretty sweet too a kinda lull in the storm thing. So Mrs. M. and all you other teachers out there..if yer kids bug you to "just let us watch the movie" let them watch this. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Each episode very engaging.
Each episode keeps you watching and always ends with an unexpected twist. I wish they would produce videos of the whole series; very good material.

SHANON TWEED IS THE STAR!
I saw the episode VIDEO DATE when it first came out on HBO and was SO-O-O turned on by Shannon Tweed in that! She looks incredibly beautiful and provides the makings for an all-time-favorite fantasy of mine: being tied up and seduced by a beautiful woman. If I was that guy (who is a real slimball, by the way) I would give in to her suggestions and be held captive without hesitation, particularly when she is wearing a sexy black thing like she does in this episode. I ordered the tape strictly with the longing to see the "climatic" parts of VIDEO DATE. Who cares about the other two episodes!

SYBIL DANNING'S INCREDIBLE BODY DESERVES 5 STARS
Video consists of three shows of the old Hitchhiker Series. The one titled "Face to Face" with the fully tanned B-Movie Queen SYBIL DANNING is the best. Each episode deals with the moral lesson that when someone does something wrong, it comes back to haunt them. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent!
The script for this story adds a few more human elements than the other versions. The tensions between Dr. Jekyll, his father-in-law and his romance with his sister-in-law along with the Hyde conflict adds to a complex drama. Michael Caine and Cheryl Ladd were both excellent in these roles. When I saw this movie, I had to go out and buy it then I had to read the Stevenson book!

A sleeper with a chilling ending!
Michael Caine turns in a fine performance as the brilliant Dr. Jekyll. Romantic complications add a subversive dimension to the film that was played more subltely in the classic Spencer Tracey version. However, the final frame of the film...where one peers into an unhallowed abyss is genuinely frightening. Check it out for a "classy" scare. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent!
The script for this story adds a few more human elements than the other versions. The tensions between Dr. Jekyll, his father-in-law and his romance with his sister-in-law along with the Hyde conflict adds to a complex drama. Michael Caine and Cheryl Ladd were both excellent in these roles. When I saw this movie, I had to go out and buy it then I had to read the Stevenson book!

A sleeper with a chilling ending!
Michael Caine turns in a fine performance as the brilliant Dr. Jekyll. Romantic complications add a subversive dimension to the film that was played more subltely in the classic Spencer Tracey version. However, the final frame of the film...where one peers into an unhallowed abyss is genuinely frightening. Check it out for a "classy" scare. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Sexy David Essex Will Blow You Away!
The best thing about this movie is David Essex. He is georgeous!
He just keeps getting better and better. And for any of you Essex fans who haven't seen this movie yet, there is a shower scene! As far as I'm concerned David shines in this. The song "I think I'll always love you" was composed by him but sung by someone else. It is lovely. I enjoyed this film so much I bought it in BETA, and am now purchasing it in VHS!

Silver Dream Racer
This is one of those movies that you can tell while watching it, that you know you're seeing something bad. But I continued to watch. Only to be completely "blown away" by the horrible ending. What a waste. I basically watched the entire movie to get the big race at the end, and I'll admit that I was slightly more interested in the characters at this point, so what do they do? KILL the star, and thus, the relationship with the girl. If your into torture, or a laugh then rent it.

BEST BIKER MOVIE
Quite a while since I first saw the film but having been to see David Essex live a couple of days ago when he sang the title track - it evoked memories of what an excellent "biker" film this was. It was a classic for its time - the race scenes were excellent and David portrayed the part par excellence.

The ending was unexpected and very dramatic - it leaves a constant memory for what was a brilliant film.

Best movie about motorbike racing I've seen
Read this review with the understanding that I first saw this movie as a 12-year old at my local cinema around 1980. And then I went to go and see it another four times in the week after that. At that time, this movie just blew me away with its motorbike race scenes - and I also wasn't puked out by the romance sub-plot either - which is saying something for a 12-year old. The sight of David Essex zipping around the track on that gorgeous silver bike - and the sad conclusion to the movie -was enough to create a warm memory of the movie for me. I'll probably see it today and be able to intellectually accept its hokiness, but sentimentally - hey, it's a good memory from my youth so I'll probably buy it for my Guilty Pleasures collection (alongside An Officer and a Gentleman and Against All Odds).

ROADRACING ACTION!
With footage from Barry Sheen, David Essex plays an always strugling racer who have the willing power to build the ultimate machine. Nice shots and good story produced with technical motorcycle parts and a lovely girlfriend. Does anyone have a copy to sell? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Peel off your trench coat, pour yourself a stiff whiskey, and get ready for a slick look at the dirty secrets of Deco Era Hollywood with a private dick who knows them all. HBO's Philip Marlowe, Private Eye takes Raymond Chandler's gritty crime fiction and transforms it into a stylish, atmospheric production piece.

In this first video of the three-tape set, Marlowe (effortlessly played by Powers Boothe) tries to rescue a would-be starlet (Robin Givens) from the seamier side of tinseltown, then tries to sniff out the thugs who put a lethal fix on a boxing champ and his torch singer girlfriend. In a perfect world, a man as capable and dedicated as Marlowe would succeed on both counts--but the fractured reality Marlowe navigates is far from perfect. And it's the idiosyncrasies that breathe life into these stories decades after their archetypal elements have been flogged nearly to death. From the devotion of a straight-razor-wielding albino bodyguard ("Don't call him Whitey...") to the faint glimmer of machismo underneath the foppish mannerisms of a matinee idol, there are enough low-key accents to bring the performances to life. Admittedly, in these earlier episodes some of the lines fall flat, but those fade away when compared to the countless succession of rapid-fire tough-guy gems. In this series, the soundtrack is smoky and the locations reek of cigarettes, sweat, and liquor; the thugs all know from cracking wise and all the dames are cool as silk. --Grant Balfour ... Read more

Amazon.com

Peel off your trench coat, pour yourself a stiff whiskey, and get ready to learn the dark, dirty secrets of Deco Era Hollywood from the private dick who knows them all. HBO's Philip Marlowe, Private Eye takes Raymond Chandler's grittiest short stories and transforms them into stylish, atmospheric production pieces. This installment of the three-video set starts with "Trouble Is My Business"--a twisted tale of inheritance and revenge. Marlowe (brilliantly played by Powers Boothe) is hired by a dying millionaire to clean up his spendthrift son's gambling debts by digging up dirt on the pretty shill helping him drink his way through the family fortune. But Harriet Huntress is brighter than your average gold digger, and when Marlowe's information merchant turns up a few choice facts about her past, she begins glittering in a whole new light--and skeletons begin turning up in the most unexpected closets.

The touching, tough-minded tale "Spanish Blood" opens with Marlowe en route to the 10th wedding anniversary of his best girl, Belle, and his best friend, successful straight-arrow prosecutor Spanish Delaguerra. But when the would-be city attorney turns up dead, Marlowe puts his nose where it doesn't belong--Mayor Big John Masters's corrupt campaign. The dogged detective gets caught between conflicting cover-ups as he follows a trail of bodies, bus lockers, and broken hearts, and discovers even victims have their secrets. --Grant Balfour ... Read more

Amazon.com

Peel off your trench coat, pour yourself a stiff whiskey, and get ready for a slick look at the dirty secrets of Deco Era Hollywood with the private dick who knows them all. HBO's Philip Marlowe, Private Eye takes Raymond Chandler's grittiest short stories and transforms them into stylish, atmospheric production pieces.

In this installment of the three-video set, Marlowe (played to the hilt by Powers Boothe) faces two equally tangled webs of desperation and desire. "Blackmailers Don't Shoot" has Marlowe plunging through a labyrinth of double-crosses with a fresh-faced starlet and her psychotic kidnapper at the center. The series as a whole seems to truly hit its stride in "Red Wind," as Marlowe spends a single sleepless, sweltering night roaming the back alleys and luxury apartments of a city tortured by a hot, desert wind--"the kind of wind that makes things happen...crazy things." A mysterious, Benzedrine-sniffing gunman points Marlowe toward crooked politicians, corrupt cops, and a gorgeous dame who knows more than she lets on. But is she worth taking a bullet for? Marlowe tackles the case with his usual combination of muscle and mind power--and at the end of the long night, finds both taxed to their limit. --Grant Balfour ... Read more