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Savant is still working our way through this year's bumper crop of war-themed releases, including some big-surprise favorites like Play Dirty and Army of Shadows. Several readers have written in to say that it's been leaked that a number of Columbia's Hammer films are going to be released in R2 fairly soon, highly desired titles like Scream (Taste) of Fear, The Gorgon, The Stranglers of Bombay and perhaps even (These Are) The Damned (pictured). We can only hope that Columbia and Sony get wise and put them out in R1 as well, along with their Toho holdings. The Turner Classic Movies cable station seems to have made a deal to screen more Columbia product, as I just saw the (not so good) Sword of Sherwood Forest last night, and the ultra-rare These Are The Damned is rumored for July. If Sony-Columbia got off the DVD dime with their Hammers, their Tohos and their Phil Karlson and Don Siegel Noirs, they'd make a lot of DVD enthusiasts happy! Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson

Greetings! Savant's new reviews today are

Some good news ... the specs on the new MGM disc of Andre de Toth's Play Dirty say that the movie is presented in 1:85 ... when those of us who know and admire the film know that it should be 2:35. I got the disc today and it is indeed 2:35 as it is supposed to be, and looks great.

Also good news, the Tyrone Power Swashbuckler Set is on its way. I remember some of these films fondly, and hope that Captain from Castile lives up to my exaggerated positive memories. The new special edition of Guns of Navarone is also in hand, and I'll be reporting on it as well. Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson

Hello! Savant's new reviews today are

Not much to report -- it's beautiful outside and I understand that New England is enjoying great weather as well. But the reviews will keep coming. Up next, The Royal Flash and Les Misérables. Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson

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Savant's Saturday column is coming to you unusually early this week because, because ... uh, our Attorney General says I don't have to tell you why it's coming so early. Just go about your business and back up my alibi for the next couple of days.

It's three war films this time, and now that the annual tribute to our veterans through "Father's Day Blood & Guts DVD promotions" is getting down to lesser-known war pictures, some interesting titles are cropping up. Criterion is contributing in its own way with the intensely creative, obscure Overlord.

What's exciting here at Savant? Reviews of the Alejandro Jodorowski set (whew, were they weird) and the Savant favorite Pulp will happen, but a little late ... I'm just getting screeners and they first have to ... hm. The Attorney General says for me to keep that story under my hat, too.

I'm reading a significant amount of web talk from very vocal fans of Sergio Leone about the finally-announced R1 releases of Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and Duck, You Sucker and so am investigating the issues for the upcoming reviews. I'd appreciate input from the Leone Devout, especially those who have seen the R2 German releases.

Thank You, Glenn Erickson

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All three discs written up today qualify as Savant favorites. I've always felt that the great picture True Confessions wasn't treated fairly by its studio, and The Silent Partner is a real treat, a modest thriller that stays in the memory. And I'm also pleased that MGM/Fox and Lionsgate have seen fit to give both of them such good transfers in widescreen mode.

Warners have announced their Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 4, which will be coming out on July 31 with ten (count 'em, 10) exotic titles on five double bill discs. A couple of these Savant admits that (gasp) he hasn't seen : Act of Violence and Mystery Street; Crime Wave and Decoy; Illegal and The Big Steal; They Live By Night and Side Street; Where Danger Lives and Tension. I witnessed some of Sparkhill's added-value production in the making and have high hopes for the extras.

And, what is that man in the picture all about? (Savant welcomes joke captions -- not too cruel, hopefully!) -- Thanks, Glenn Erickson
(Photo by Dan Brockett)

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Ask and ye shall be buried in discs ... Savant has a fistful of titles to wade through and isn't complaining. This week we mourn the passing of Kurt Vonnegut -- and celebrate his wonderful books. High winds and fires in L.A., and again I didn't look out the window to see the smoke! Just received Anchor Bay's Alejandro Jodorowski box yesterday, and will need a few days to sort it out ... I hope they still play well, without a certain sickly-sweet smoke in the theater ... Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson

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Hello - a quiet weekend, mostly catching up on other writing and checking in with family ... you know the questions: "You left home 37 years ago, when are you going to get a real career?" Just kidding. No Easter Bunnies showed up on Sunday, but a big fat Easter Squirrel came to my window and wagged his tail as if to say, "Where are the girl squirrels? I'm ready to go!"

Am still perturbed about the no-show of a screener for Bedazzled but will be patient. There are a great many desirable Fox pictures on the horizon and, as it is decreed in the scriptures, The Spice Must Flow. I did see Black Book again this weekend and it was just as good the second time around. Still recommended.

Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson

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Taxes! The day of evil portent looms .... excuse me, I was obsessing over modern curses. I've received a lot of mail about Boomerang! and the Anchor Bay Mario Bava Box, which is gratifying. I feel a lot of interest for the upcoming Sergio Leone boxed sets, even though some of it is consumer frustration, mostly over over the lack of original mono soundtracks -- the Leone faithful want to hear the films as Leone mixed them. Perhaps on Hi-Def?

I just read a negative review of a movie I saw last November. I loved it. It's BLACK BOOK by Paul Verhoeven, and it just opened. Here's what I wrote on Nov. 25, 2006:

"Hello! I was invited to a preview of Paul Verhoeven's new thriller Black Book (Zwartboek) last week, which turned out to be terrific movie. Verhoeven returns to Holland for another lengthy and detailed story of anti-Nazi resistance produced on a lavish scale like his previous masterpiece, 1977's Soldier of Orange. Derek de Lint and Dolf de Vries return in key roles, but the film follows the fortunes of the beautiful Ellis (Carice van Houten), a survivor of a massacre of Jews who joins the resistance and beds a senior occupation official (Sebastian Koch) as part of her mission. It's based on many true incidents gathered into one rather packed storyline, so unlike Soldier of Orange, it's not a "true" story. A few disturbing and excessive scenes, including one that was entirely unnecessary, will immediately define this as Verhoeven's work. But the movie has great performances, a great lead actress in Ms. van Houten and is the most exciting new film I've seen this year. I believe it hopes to become one of this year's nominees for best Foreign Film. It apparently doesn't open here until March. -- Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson"

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Savant received this warning from the reliable online message board poster known as DrSavaard: "The packaging on the new DVD of Bunny Lake is Missing claims it's anamorphic 2:35 -- but in fact it's only letterboxed ... and at 1:85!!" Savant checked his older copy of the disc, which is properly enhanced and framed. Caveat emptor, which in this case means "How dare they do that!"

Do you live anywhere near Kansas? Savant correspondent Bill Shaffer sent me the schedule for a Killer Kaiju Weekend Godzilla and Friends Festival II to be held Friday and Saturday April 6th and 7th at Washburn University in Topeka Kansas (Henderson Building, Room 112). Besides screening a number of Godzilla-related features and trailers preceded by professorial lectures, the event has scheduled performance-art skits, giveaways and (Savant's favorite) a "Godzilla Roar Contest." If this were to be taped, I see the makings of an Oscar-caliber short subject docu. More information can be had by E-mailing Bill Shaffer ( [email protected] ) or Bob Beatty ( [email protected] ).

Another Savant first ... I "reviewed" a disc that was recalled before release last summer, even though plenty of review discs (and perhaps errant retail product) have seemingly drifted into circulation. Hopefully Boomerang! will be out soon and we'll all be able to see it. Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson