Saturday night in Savant Land ... last night's Academy screening of Ryan's Daughter in 70mm and 6-track audio was sensational. The Academy's theater in Beverly Hills is one place with virtually flawless projection. Dick May of Warner/Turner introduced the picture and told us it was a work in progress (just two short shots were mistimed) with the audio synchronized on a separate machine. He also introduced Ms. Juliet Mills in the audience - Hayley's sister, John's daughter, the star of Avanti!. Going to see a show at the Academy is always a classy experience. On to the reviews ...

From the new DVD company Plexifilm comes Ciao! Manhattan, the controversial feature built around the celebrity of Edie Sedgwick, the young-to-die centerpiece of Andy Warhol's group of chi-chi counterculture Superstars. By itself, this rambling picture doesn't make much sense, but Plexifilm's excellent extras include informative text and commentaries from the makers, more interviews, and a lengthy set of outtakes from the 1967 New York shoot.

MGM's DVD of Alexander Korda's The Thief of Bagdad won't be out until December 3, but Savant couldn't resist reviewing it right away. The color is splendid in this all-time favorite Arabian Nights adventure. With Sabu, Conrad Veidt, Miles Malleson, and Rex Ingram as the Genie from the Lamp.

Savant's now in Screening mode - the studios are beginning to invite critics en masse to see their winter Oscar-hopeful output. And disc Screeners are starting to show up as well. I'll try to keep a running commentary on what I see and what I like on this Savant main page. Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson