![]() |
|
include('/var/www/html/www.dvdtalk.com/htdocs/menu.html'); ?> | |||||||||||
|
August 30, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: ![]() 8/31/13
Blu-ray Remastered Edition ![]() 8/31/13
and Blu-ray ![]() 8/31/13
Hello! It's labor day weekend, and you can bet that I put today's column for DVD Savant together yesterday -- if I watch a movie today, it'll be some feature I already love and don't have to think about for a review. ![]() A fun science article is circulating among Sci-Fi fans. I wouldn't start tracing your family tree back to Mars quite yet, but senior SPACE.COM editor Mike Wall writes in this article that Earth Life Likely Came from Mars, Study Suggests. It's a serious news piece, that actually begins with the words, "We may all be Martians". Reading down the brief notice doesn't reveal any smoking Martian heat rays, but it's certainly enough to raise an eyebrow, and maybe even elicit the ire of religious fundamentalists and scoffing TV commentators. Remember that the nutcase 1952 anti-communist movie Red Planet Mars tells us that God lives on Mars. When I received the forward of the article, the subject line on the Email was, "Quatermass Was Right!" Image left: the Martians create a devil in their own image in 1967's Quatermass and the Pit. The HTV announced a blurb from Olive Films a few days back, outlining the company's lineup of titles between now and the end of 2014. The truly impressive list cancels all doubt but that Olive is the filmic equivalent of the legendary Lost Elephant Graveyard, where all "lost" movies go to die. If a title got uprooted from a studio, left behind in an acquisition or was sold by the heirs of its original producer, it looks as if somebody (at Republic? Viacom?) snapped up the rights and just socked the precious film elements away in a vault. Some of these titles have seen release on VHS or laserdisc, but others have been M.I.A. for decades. Here's the rundown: ![]() more Betty Boop Cartoon Collections, The Pawnbroker, The Bells of St. Mary, Stranger on the Prowl, Sleep My Love, Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid, That's My Man, I've Always Loved You, Magnificent Doll, Forever Female, Up the Junction, Home of the Brave, Johnny Come Lately, Flying Tigers, The North Star / Armored Attack, Operation Petticoat, Distant Drums, Good Sam, High School Confidential, Love Happy, Sands of Iwo Jima, South of St. Louis, Try and Get Me (aka The Sound of Fury), So This is New York, Arch of Triumph, Caught, The Lost Moment, Men in War, The Other Love, Cauldron of Blood, Beware, My Lovely, Outrage, Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Man on the Roof, The Adalen Riots, Elvira Madigan, Raven's End, Fedora, The Stationmaster's Wife (Uncut Version), Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street (uncut never-before-seen version), J'Accuse (1938), Ophelia (Chabrol), The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers, Guilty of Romance, Himizu. There are elusive horror pictures in there, several Bo Widerberg pictures, a Sam Fuller neo-noir, a couple of rare classic films noir, a Joseph Losey picture made in exile, a Cy Endfield picture that got him exiled, beloved Cary Grant pictures, a classic mermaid comedy, a couple of Leo McCareys, several by Frank Borzage, a Max Ophuls, an Anthony Mann war picture, two John Wayne war pictures, a Sidney Lumet art film, two by Douglas Sirk, an Al Zugsmith, an Ida Lupino, a Lewis Milestone, an Abel Gance pacifist horror classic ... and perhaps the last Billy Wilder film to make it to disc. The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers is an omnibus movie with segments by Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard and Roman Polanski. Thanks for reading! -- Glenn Erickson
August 27, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: Blu-ray ![]() 8/27/13
![]() 8/27/13
Blu-ray ![]() 8/27/13
and Blu-ray ![]() 8/27/13
![]() Hello! The people I've met reviewing for DVD Savant! This week I'm knocked out by a piece of writing by Gordon A. Thomas, with whom I've been corresponding since at least 2006. I covered Kino's restored Blu-ray of Fritz Lang's Die Nibelungen last December, at which time Gordon told me he'd be undertaking an in-depth essay on the film. Well, it's finished and is now readable at the Bright Lights page. The 'essay' could easily be a short book unto itself. Gordon digs into the story of Siegfried and Kriemhild, contrasting Lang and Thea von Harbou's adaptation with various legends, the old spoken tale, and other modern interpretations like the Wagner opera. In other words, it's an education for simple folk such as I, that watch Die Nibelungen and ask, "so where are the Valkryies? Isn't Brunhilde supposed to be sort of a goddess, or second cousin to a god? Even more fascinating is Thomas' analysis of the royal politics in the film. He argues that the dastard Hagen is actually a loyal vassal faithfully protecting his king. It's the leading characters that are weak, blind, or just plain can't keep their royal mouths shut. As a National Epic the movie slams the Burgundian proto-Germans as incompetents locked into rigid codes of conduct. The gloriously bleak Twilight of the Gods is really one big death wish. Gordon also questions the story's supposed affinity with the Nazi ethos, pointing up the non-alignmen of the world of the Burgundians and that of Hitler's National Socialists. Gordon's essay-monograph expanded my thinking about a movie / cultural puzzle, making it a little less alien to my experience. I think I'll read it again when the opportunity arises. Should anybody wish to contact Mr. Thomas, I'd be happy to pass along messages. ![]()
What else is happening? I'm curious to hear more about the restoration job (it sounds pretty difficult) being performed by Severin Films on a horror picture called The House on Straw Hill. The disc is likely a long way off but Severin honcho David Gregory is deep into the project. I've also seen Kino's new Blu-rays of Mario Bava's Five Dolls for an August Moon and the beloved Bela Lugosi PRC turnip The Devil Bat, and hope to have reviews up shortly. Also expect coverage of Budd Boetticher's Bullfighter and the Lady (a personal favorite), Larry Cohen's fun I also hope (am not entirely sure) that after Wednesday I'll have a Region B Blu-ray review of House of Usher coming. A little further out (September 24) is Lost and Found: American Treasures from the New Zealand Film Archive. The release contains the cream of the silent features (and fragments thereof) uncovered several years ago in New Zealand, including John Ford's silent picture about actors, Upstream. Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson
August 23, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: of Adèle Blanc-Sec Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy ![]() 8/24/13
Blu-ray ![]() 8/24/13
![]() 8/24/13
and Blu-ray ![]() 8/24/13
![]() Hello -- Four reviews today ! For today's column I have a review of a new book. It's for students of film and those interested in the cultural image of Ireland as presented in movies. Scholar Joseph Paul Moser's oddly titled analytical film study Irish Masculinity on Screen: The Pugilists and Peacemakers of John Ford, Jim Sheridan and Paul Greengrass examines directors with similar themes to get a handle on the issue of Irish liberation. It begins as a conventional breakdown of John Ford's screen characters and quickly moves to a deeper investigation of Ford's major political shift after WW2. Along the way we're offered (finally) a strong argument that John Wayne's image as a patriot is a cultural fraud. Moser argues that the mythical image of Ireland put forward in Ford films like The Quiet Man expresses a patriarchal tyranny common to many dramatic depictions of Irish culture. The author disassembles Ford's liberal pictures with Henry Fonda and then examines the director's conservative films during his John Wayne years -- his persuasive take on The Searchers' Ethan Edwards is one I never considered. Ford's conservative vision is contrasted with a newer group of films by Jim Sheridan and Paul Greengrass, that make the controversial issue of Irish political violence their central concern. The struggle to stop the cycles of terror & retribution in Northern Ireland is seen as a problem of overcoming this patriarchal mindset that cannot think beyond crude notions of vengeance. With Sheridan's films Moser deals with the problem of Irish stereotypes -- he charts them out -- and moves on to the gritty honesty of Paul Greengrass. FYI, Neil Jordan's Michael Collins is described as superficial; Moser gives his endorsement to Ken Loach's The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Perhaps the best thing about Moser's book is that, unlike most film writing acknowledging the existence of political reality, it has a positive, constructive attitude. The well-written Pugiists and Peacemakers is an entertaining academic discourse that will engage readers interested in a study that integrates film and political struggle. Moser's lengthy footnotes extend his thesis, presenting additional information, quotes and references to back up his arguments. Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson
August 19, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes Blu-ray ![]() 8/20/13
Blu-ray + DVD ![]() 8/20/13
and ![]() 8/20/13
![]() Hello! Lots of nice feedback on my Shane review, I'm happy to say, and only a couple of text corrections this week (although they were pretty embarrasing). Readers flipped out over the bizarro Egyptian TV Spots as well. Correspondent Robozol fowards a YouTube audio interview with Gloria Grahame from 1979 that I'm listening to; it's very interesting so far. And with that I'm off to search out another solution to my Region Free player problem, so as to make good on my promise to review the Arrow House of Usher Region B Blu-ray. Thanks for reading! -- Glenn Erickson
August 16, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: Blu-ray ![]() 8/17/13
Blu-ray ![]() 8/17/13
Blu-ray ![]() 8/17/13
and The Essential Collection Volume 1 Blu-ray ![]() 8/17/13
![]() Hello! Well hey, I'm having to regroup with my All-region BD player. I think if I do get it going, I'll just leave it on region B and use another player for domestic discs. That means a serious delay on Arrow's fancy BD of House of Usher. I'll direct disappointed readers to Nathaniel Thompson's coverage, which will probably be up before the weekend is over. Sorry about that. Helpful friend (and legendary makeup artist) Craig Reardon turns our attention to more pressing matters -- he's located the "famous" 1975 British TV Interview with Helen Mirren on YouTube. She lives up to her press reputation -- the interviewer introduces her as if she were X-rated goods. A great lady indeed. I've waited a few days but can't hold off any longer... Joe Dante has circulated some bizarre Egyptian TV Spots that will either get you to buy Panda™ Cheese, or give you permanent nightmares. These seven spots get an A+ in my book -- the makers have a sure instinct for weird humor. Question: will any measure of a pop song, repeated like the one in these spots, suddenly sound sinister? That's it -- four reviews today and hopefully as many coming on Tuesday. Thanks for reading -- Glenn Erickson
August 12, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: Blu-ray ![]() 8/13/13
![]() 8/13/13
and Blu-ray ![]() 8/13/13
![]() Hello! A couple of fun links: Gary Teetzel forwards this link to Mental Floss, listing 11 Things We No Longer See in Movie Theaters. Some of them are a bit much, but the first was so important to my memories of moviegoing that I really miss it .... I remember the beginning of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea trailer playing as the curtains opened, with the lights of the Nautilus screaming forward at a thousand cheering kids. Sink that ship, Nemo! Max Fraley sends along this fifty-actress morph-a-rama YouTube item, Different Dreams, from Greta Garbo to Natalie Portman. I'm sure it's been up forever, but it's still interesting. I wish there were a textless version to serve as a quiz. It's interesting that the modern women are just as beautiful, but not all of them are as distinctive, as the classic dames of the screen. The Arrow House of Usher Region B Blu-ray arrived, and I'm so far unable to get my all-region player to behave, and switch over. And I'd like to review all those exclusive extras right away, dang-nab it! We'll see how far I get by Saturday. Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson
August 09, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: Blu-ray ![]() 8/10/13
Blu-ray ![]() 8/10/13
and Blu-ray Double Bill ![]() 8/10/13
![]() Hello! The weekend looms ahead and I'm eager to get going, so this will be a short notice. Readers are revved up to read about Shane but my review for that one will be posting first at TCM... I'm not sure if it's up yet. It looks like I have Arrow's Region B Blu-ray of House of Usher on the way. I couldn't resist the fat list of extras, which include the participation of Joe Dante. Next, by now most of us have heard about Orson Welles' rediscovered film Too Much Johnson -- I received the news from about 8 sources at once but this is a link given by the helpful Stefan Andersson. More news from the upcoming big Hollywood 3-D Festival at the Egyptian theater: Bob Furmanek wrote to tell me that the premiere of his 3-D restoration of the movie Dragonfly Squadron will be showing in the festival, on September 14. According to Furmanek, Allied Artists never distributed the movie in 3-D, so this will be something of a real public premiere. Here's a trailer. Just in from Olive Films is a Blu-ray of Betty Boop cartoons, Betty Boop The Essential Collection Volume 1. I'll be reviewing these right away -- one 1932 cartoon ends with a character morphing into a very disturbing caricature of Fredric March in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I've also watched Terrence Malick's new picture To the Wonder and am grinding up the experience in my head before venturing an opinion ... it's not an easy picture to write about. I'm sure I've forgotten something but that's it for now ... see you back on Tuesday (or Monday, really!) -- Glenn Erickson
August 06, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: Nicolae Ceauşescu ![]() 8/06/13
Blu-ray ![]() 8/06/13
and Blu-ray ![]() 8/06/13
![]() Hello! An odd bit of fun to report... a short article I wrote has been translated into German. I was invited to write an introduction to an extensive, sixty-title retrospective of film noir movies called Ikonen der Schwarzen Serie for the Munich Filmmuseum, Which starts this September 6. I've written program notes before but these are published in a glossy Film Festival catalog, the kind I once saved when I attended old Filmex festivals here in Los Angeles. The shows, all projected on film, are organized around writers, directors and actors, and add up to an excellent cross-section of the first '40s noir wave of expressionistic, romantic thrillers. I was shocked to see the Deutsche translation come back almost instantaneously. By the quality of his email notes, editor and festival organizer Christophe Michel's English skills are better than my own. I have no doubt that he liberally adapted my style to work for a German reader -- even though I avoided pseudo-clever asides and idioms as much as I could. Anyway, it was a challenge and a privilege -- I can now say that DVD Savant has been translated into foreign languages all over the world! Sort of. ![]() Perhaps you've heard of Time Warner's feud with CBS. In Los Angeles Time Warner cable has dropped the CBS affiliate altogether in a sort of war being waged with propaganda directed at us lowly consumers. Each side makes it sound like they're the innocent party, while the other is a greedy monster trying to rip off the customer. It'll soon boil down to slogans, like Chairman Mao vs. Chang Kai Shek. I'm waiting for Time-Warner to broadcast "Five Minute Hate" PSAs against that evil conglomerate CBS. As I rely on NBC for my National News and can survive for a while without Letterman, I think I'll be okay. But on Sunday Time-Warner dropped our Internet access as well. If Tuesday's Savant is delayed, that is why... no web access, no upload. To paraphrase Billy Wilder's One, Two, Three I'd hoped to get Tuesday's post uploaded on Monday, because DVDtalk likes the Newsletter to be submitted promptly on Sunday night. Thanks for reading! -- Glenn Erickson
August 02, 2013
Savant's new reviews today are: of Billy Mitchell Blu-ray ![]() 8/03/13
Blu-ray ![]() 8/03/13
and ![]() 8/03/13
Hello! Joe Dante has sent along a link to a great documentary viewable online -- Kubrick and the Illuminati: Don't You Want To Go Where The Rainbow Ends? It's a video essay by Michel Ciment about Eyes Wide Shut that gets really, really interesting, much moreso than other shows that strain our patience to 'reveal' weird ideas in Kubrick movies. Ciment makes a great case ... I like this just for its own sense of discovery. As a big-time fan of Science Fiction movies, the list of classic-era films I haven't seen is beginning to dwindle. Some are foreign productions from the '30s onward, and others are domestic pictures that have somehow evaded me. When I worked at MGM back in the '90s they never kept a viewable copy around of the least of the Gardner-Levy horror & sci-fi pictures done for United Artists, The Flame Barrier. I think I saw about twenty seconds of it on TV back in around 1962, when our reception for channel 11's Chiller Theater was so poor I couldn't see what I was looking at. Over the years I've read that the movie was a dud, and I've been told flat out that it is bad by wise folk like Bill Warren. I finally got hold of a screen-able copy for movie night here at Savant Headquarters. How bad could it be? It has Arthur Franz and a deadly satellite from space. Why does Savant do this? It's like Sir Hilary and those mountains in Nepal. They're there! ![]() Well, the movie is 55 minutes of nondescript jungle trek footage, with mostly irrelevant action and drama, followed by maybe fifteen minutes that are science-fiction-y. We're told that the dreaded rainy season is expected, but the most our explorers must put up with are some mud puddles. I think we see them driving through the same puddle three times, in an attempt to stretch the idea out. It's supposed to be Mexico, but a stock shot cutaway shows us an African hyena. When we finally get to the downed satellite, nothing adds up. The 'flame barrier' is described early in the show as an invisible force field in space, against which rockets burst into flame. But there's a smaller barrier around the downed satellite too. A supposed gooey outer space monster has spilled from the inside of the space probe; it just sits and glows and looks like a big pile of Saran Wrap. We've seen natives that were burned by being near it, and one of them disintegrates to nothingness. But the original guy who opened the satellite and put it in the cave (why?) is caught in the Saran Wrap, and is intact. Anything that gets too close to the 'flame barrier' force-field zone around the satellite bursts into flame or disintegrates. Yet the corpse is inside the perimeter and is intact. The Barrier doubles in size every two hours, which makes it essential that our heroes neutralize it in just fifteen minutes, before it gets too big to allow anyone to approach. This last suspense bit seems lifted from time traps in the movies The Magnetic Monster and The Monolith Monsters. The problem is resolved almost as soon as it's discovered, and the movie ends with a big thud. ![]() Oh yes, a chimpanzee-astronaut comes back in the satellite. Just when we're wondering how it survived crashing in the jungle, and not being disintegrated by the Thing from Space, the ape casually walks into the flame barrier and is wiped out. So, another title gets crossed off the list. The Flame Barrier is not the worst 'discovery' I've made but it's a real non-starter. I can imagine it being a drag as a second feature back in the day. I wonder if UA gave 'Gramercy Pictures' a fixed amount to make The Monster that Challenged the World, The Vampire, The Return of Dracula and this one, and The Flame Barrier got short-changed because the money had all run out? The other similar '50s picture I saw this week was Olive Films' new Blu-ray of Fire Maidens of Outer Space, a real "Z" effort from England that I never seemed able to finish when it showed on TV back in the day. FMOOS makes Flame Barrier look like a classy studio film, but it is even more fun to watch. You know, because that's what we monster fans do. I can't wait to review it. Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson
Review Staff
| About DVD Talk
| Newsletter Subscribe
| Join DVD Talk Forum
|
|
| |||||||||
include('/var/www/html/www.dvdtalk.com/htdocs/menu.html'); ?> |