Savant's new reviews today are

Well, I'd like to think it was because I whined like a baby, but even if Universal's review copies of their Noir releases (now four weeks after street date, there's a Savant scoop for ya) get here late, they're more than welcome. I'm holding Criss Cross for last, but all of them are great shows.

I just saw COLLATERAL last night. It was a fairly good action show, but I was surprised how closely it related to my ideas about This Gun for Hire, which I just reviewed. Tom Cruise really does play the perfect American gun-toting killer-hero: a baby with a gun, just like Alan Ladd. I've amended the review with a postscript about this.

Thanks for all the support ... have fun during this Convention week ... Glenn

Savant's new reviews today are

Hello! Once again it's foreign film week - French titles seem to have stacked up in lieu of interesting noir screeners that are conspicuous no-shows - Universal! But the quality remains high and I am becoming a confirmed Claude Chabrol fan. The trailer compilations here are a fun diversion, and a fairly guilty pleasure considering some of the incredibly trashy titles included - but these are exactly what the fans want to see.

Interestingly, on these collections are trailers for films like Blacula that are owned by major studios. The majors naturally frown on this exploitation of their product but apparently can't do much about it - before a certain year, coming attractions are fair game in the Public Domain. For low-budget movie docus, trailers are often used to circumvent licensing fees for movie clips. The Public Domain is such a problematic subject - sometimes it helps get rare movies into circulation, and other times it keeps them out of reach. Lousy PD copies of many films are all we can see, when studio vaults often have pristine printing elements. They presumably don't put out their own superior versions, because the graymarket PD sector could immediately dupe them and call them their own. It's a strange world out there.

BTW, if you don't receive an answer for an email, please send it again. I try to answer every note (that asks for a response) but I keep getting "undeliverable mail" spam for messages I never sent, I'd say an average of ten a day. So if I have thrown out some good responses, or am unaware that something wasn't delivered, please let me know ...

Thanks, Glenn Erickson

Savant's new reviews today are

Hello - It's a full Francais day here at DVD Savant. Actually, the three Criterion titles are all part of a the same boxed set called Stage and Spectacle, Three Films by Jean Renoir. A lot of odd titles are on their way, including two oddball trailer collections I'll be reviewing for Sunday.

Very saddened to hear of Jerry Goldsmith's passing today. Goldsmith was ultra hip in the mid 60s and went on to do every kind of score exceedingly well, even reinventing the noir sound for Chinatown. I think the second or third album I ever bought with my own money was an Our Man Flint lp.

See you Sunday, Glenn Erickson

Savant's new reviews today are

It's a great week for discs ... besides STORY OF WOMEN and 1918 (which I had no idea was so good) there's the fun of the THUNDERBIRDS pictures. The CASTLE KEEP snit has snowballed on web boards, partially spurred by my review, which is a good thing. As I'd hoped, a more-connected web writer has contacted director Sydney Pollack, and there may be some action on an acceptable non pan-scan disc. We hope ... and try not to overstate our importance or influence. I've amended the Castle Keep Review with some of the earlier reader responses. Thank you! Glenn Erickson

Savant's new reviews today are

Hello again. Boy, I've been receiving a lot of mail about Castle Keep. Even Blockbuster has come to its senses and has revoked its preference for pan-scan transfers, but Columbia TriStar is on a pan-scan only kick. Like John Dillinger, there's no saying where they'll strike next. I've collected all my email on the subject and have amended it to the Castle Keep review; I believe the sentiments expressed there are typical and not just those of DVD fanatics. As for Wal-Mart and its supposed preference for pan-scan only titles, it sells wide-screen televisions just like everybody else does!

Thanks, Glenn Erickson

Savant's new reviews today are

Oddly, the "also reviewed" humble docu F-86 Sabre is the top title this time around. An English thriller is rather weak, and the horror film didn't measure up. But far worse, a favorite Savant war movie has been spoiled, ruined by an idiotic marketing decision that goes against everything DVD stands for.

But there are interesting DVDs up ahead - more thrillers and some promising Criterion and Home Vision titles that I've never seen, like Port of Shadows. And for fun, I'm going to buy a noir title or two and review them, even though screeners from Universal haven't been forthcoming. That's the breaks! Thanks for all the corrections and questions, and comments and criticisms on the Gun Crazy commentary ... Thanks again, Glenn Erickson

Greetings once again with another potent dose of DVD reviews. I'm working my way through the rest of Warners' film noir pictures; It looks as though screeners of the great Universal discs are hard to come by this time .. although maybe the studio is just late with them. Criss Cross, The Big Clock, This Gun for Hire and Black Angel are all awfully good; if they don't come in I'll buy one or two just for the pleasure of reviewing them.

Four discs but six titles covered this go-round:

More spies, animation and horror for Sunday! Thanks all, Glenn Erickson

Savant's new reviews today are

Hello! Savant only has three disc reviews tonight but they add up to four features, and besides, there was a lot of holiday stuff to prepare this year. Or .... I just needed a break.

"woggly" sent me a jpg of the original Deadly is the Female lobby card that I've added to my Gun Crazy review for comparison with the final art. No wonder it flopped on first release. Thanks! Glenn Erickson

Savant's new reviews today are

The fourth is almost upon us ... and with it the summer heat. Four reviews are really ten reviews today - yep, I watched all of those Tarzan pictures and now know every repeated scene by heart. That big rubber alligator that spins like it tangled with a boat's propeller? It shows up at least 3 times!

Nice news from Warners' future as well. The Fearless Vampire Killers will be out in October, making this a big year for sci fi and horror.

A lot of Savant DVD work is coming out at once. The Manchurian Candidate and the Thunderbirds theatrical double feature will be out soon, along with Gun Crazy, my first attempt at a feature commentary track.

Thanks for writing all the notes - and the corrections of course: Sam Slade? Pleeeze, Savant. Glenn Erickson