It is common wisdom that the Thin Man sequels adhere to the law of diminishing returns, and while none of the follow-ups reach the diamond level of the first film, all afford pleasures. There's the cocktail-swilling chemistry of Powell and Loy, for one thing, as well as the considerable satisfaction of average movies made during the studio system: the craftsmanship of studio hands, and a gallery of terrific character actors filling in supporting roles. First sequel After the Thin Man (1936) is very good, with the couple in San Francisco and a supporting part for rising player James Stewart. The scenery moves again, to Long Island, for the rather impudently-titled Another Thin Man (1939), which adds baby Nick, Jr., to the mix (a "bad idea," thought Pauline Kael, perhaps a sign of the domestication of the series).
Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) sets the action around a racetrack, and is the last of the series to be directed by the fast-working Van Dyke. The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) finds Nick escorting family to his parents' house for a visit. Song of the Thin Man (1947) engagingly adds a jazz milieu to the Charles's detective work; at this point, Nick, Jr. was played by child star Dean Stockwell. The series stuck with certain staples: the unveiling of the guilty party, a wirehaired terrier named Asta (who became a star in its own right), and booze. When Nick opines, in the first film, that a dry martini should always be shaken to "waltz time," you know why audiences fell in love with these guilt-free comedies. --Robert Horton
Running Time 1630 Min
Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
Masterpiece indeed. With 14 films, each supplemented with numerous documentaries, commentaries, and other bonus materials, Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection will be the cornerstone for any serious DVD library. Packaged in a beautiful, conversation-starting velvet box, the individual discs inside come four to a case, decorated with original poster art.
 |
No doubt opinionated fans will argue about what should fall under the rubric of "masterpiece" in Hitchcock's body of work, but with the bona fide classics Vertigo, Psycho, and The Man Who Knew Too Much, there's plenty of timeless movie magic here. Eye-popping transfers and gorgeous sound make this set one of the must-have releases of the year.
Should the Hitchcock fan have the energy for more after imbibing on the movies themselves, a bonus disc provides additional documentaries. These include a revealing interview in which the master of suspense discusses, among other things, how much he dislikes working with method actors, going so far as to name names (we're talking about you, Jimmy Stewart and Montgomery Clift). In an American Film Institute lifetime achievement ceremony, the master of suspense is praised by the likes of Stewart and Ingrid Bergman, and seems to be suffering from severe boredom as celebrities pile on the flattery. Then Hitchcock opens his mouth to accept the award, delivering an endlessly witty stream of perfect bon mots that prove once again that he was a master of high comedy as well. Revealing documentaries about the making of Psycho and The Birds round out the feast of extras. The 36-page booklet, filled mostly with stills and poster art, provides little new information about the films.--Ryan Boudinot
Films Included in Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection
Saboteur
Robert Cummings stars as Barry Kane, a patriotic munitions worker who is falsely accused of sabotage, in this wartime thriller from Alfred Hitchcock. Plastered across the front page of every newspaper and hated by the nation, Kane's only hope of clearing his name is to find the real villain. The script as a whole is a clever one--Algonquin wit Dorothy Parker shares a screenwriting credit, and her trademark zingers make for a terrific mix of humor and suspense. Saboteur is a pleasure whether you're a die-hard Hitchcock fan or just someone who likes a good nail-biter. --Ali Davis
Shadow of a Doubt
Alfred Hitchcock considered this 1943 thriller to be his personal favorite among his own films, and although it's not as popular as some of Hitchcock's later work, it's certainly worthy of the master's admiration. Scripted by playwright Thornton Wilder and inspired by the actual case of a 1920's serial killer known as "The Merry Widow Murderer," the movie sets a tone of menace and fear by introducing a psychotic killer into the small-town comforts of Santa Rosa, California. Through narrow escapes and a climactic scene aboard a speeding train, this witty thriller strips away the façade of small-town tranquility to reveal evil where it's least expected. And, of course, it's all done in pure Hitchcockian style. --Jeff Shannon
Rope
An experimental film masquerading as a standard Hollywood thriller, Rope is simple and based on a successful stage play: two young men (John Dall and Farley Granger) commit murder, more or less as an intellectual exercise. They hide the body in their large apartment, then throw a dinner party. Will the body be discovered? Director Alfred Hitchcock, fascinated by the possibilities of the long-take style, decided to shoot this story as though it were happening in one long, uninterrupted shot. Since the camera can only hold one 10-minute reel at a time, Hitchcock had to be creative when it came time to change reels, disguising the switches as the camera passed behind someone's back or moved behind a lamp. James Stewart, as a suspicious professor, marks his first starring role for Hitchcock, a collaboration that would lead to the masterpieces Rear Window and Vertigo. --Robert Horton
Rear Window
Like the Greenwich Village courtyard view from its titular portal, Alfred Hitchcock's classic Rear Window is both confined and multileveled: both its story and visual perspective are dictated by its protagonist's imprisonment in his apartment, convalescing in a wheelchair, from which both he and the audience observe the lives of his neighbors. Cheerful voyeurism, as well as the behavior glimpsed among the various tenants, affords a droll comic atmosphere that gradually darkens when he sees clues to what may be a murder. At deeper levels, Rear Window plumbs issues of moral responsibility and emotional honesty, while offering further proof (were any needed) of the director's brilliance as a visual storyteller. --Sam Sutherland
The Trouble with Harry
A busman's holiday for Alfred Hitchcock, this 1955 black comedy concerns a pesky corpse that becomes a problem for a quiet, Vermont neighborhood. Shirley MacLaine makes her film debut as one of several characters who keep burying the body and finding it unburied again. Hitchcock clearly enjoys conjuring the autumnal look and feel of the story, and he establishes an important, first-time alliance with composer Bernard Herrmann, whose music proved vital to the director's next half-dozen or so films. But for now, The Trouble with Harry is a lark, the mischievous side of Hitchcock given free reign. --Tom Keogh
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 remake of his own 1934 spy thriller is an exciting event in its own right, with several justifiably famous sequences. James Stewart and Doris Day play American tourists who discover more than they wanted to know about an assassination plot. When their son is kidnapped to keep them quiet, they are caught between concern for him and the terrible secret they hold. When asked about the difference between this version of the story and the one he made 22 years earlier, Hitchcock always said the first was the work of a talented amateur while the second was the act of a seasoned professional. Indeed, several extraordinary moments in this update represent consummate filmmaking, particularly a relentlessly exciting Albert Hall scene, with a blaring symphony, an assassin's gun, and Doris Day's scream. The Man Who Knew Too Muchis the work of a master in his prime. --Tom Keogh
Vertigo
Although it wasn't a box-office success when originally released in 1958, Vertigo has since taken its deserved place as Alfred Hitchcock's greatest, most spellbinding, most deeply personal achievement. James Stewart plays a retired police detective who is hired by an old friend to follow his wife (a superb Kim Novak, in what becomes a double role), whom he suspects of being possessed by the spirit of a dead madwoman. Shot around San Francisco (the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of the Legion of Honor are significant locations) and elsewhere in Northern California (the redwoods, Mission San Juan Batista) in rapturous Technicolor, Vertigo is as lovely as it is haunting. --Jim Emerson
Psycho
For all the slasher pictures that have ripped off Psycho (and particularly its classic set piece, the "shower scene"), nothing has ever matched the impact of the real thing. More than just a first-rate shocker full of thrills and suspense, Psycho is also an engrossing character study in which director Alfred Hitchcock skillfully seduces you into identifying with the main characters--then pulls the rug (or the bathmat) out from under you. Anthony Perkins is unforgettable as Norman Bates, the mama's boy proprietor of the Bates Motel; and so is Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, who makes an impulsive decision and becomes a fugitive from the law, hiding out at Norman's roadside inn for one fateful night. --Jim Emerson
The Birds
Vacationing in northern California, Alfred Hitchcock was struck by a story in a Santa Cruz newspaper: "Seabird Invasion Hits Coastal Homes." From this peculiar incident, and his memory of a short story by Daphne du Maurier, the master of suspense created one of his strangest and most terrifying films. The Birds follows a chic blonde, Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren), as she travels to the coastal town of Bodega Bay to hook up with a rugged fellow (Rod Taylor) she's only just met. Before long the town is attacked by marauding birds, and Hitchcock's skill at staging action is brought to the fore. Beyond the superb effects, however, The Birds is also one of Hitchcock's most psychologically complicated scenarios, a tense study of violence, loneliness, and complacency. What really gets under your skin are not the bird skirmishes but the anxiety and the eerie quiet between attacks. Treated with scant attention by serious critics in 1963, The Birds has grown into a classic and--despite the sci-fi trappings--one of Hitchcock's most serious films. --Robert Horton
Marnie
Sean Connery, fresh from the second Bond picture, From Russia with Love, is a Philadelphia playboy who begins to fall for Tippi Hedren's blonde ice goddess only when he realizes that she's a professional thief; she's come to work in his upper-crust insurance office in order to embezzle mass quantities. His patient program of investigation and surveillance has a creepy, voyeuristic quality that's pure Hitchcock, but all's lost when it emerges that the root of Marnie's problem is phobic sexual frigidity, induced by a childhood trauma. Luckily, Sean is up to the challenge. As it were. Not even D.H. Lawrence believed as fervently as Hitchcock in the curative properties of sexual release. --David Chute
Torn Curtain
Paul Newman and Julie Andrews star in what must unfortunately be called one of Alfred Hitchcock's lesser efforts. Still, sub-par Hitchcock is better than a lot of what's out there, and this one is well worth a look. Newman plays cold war physicist Michael Armstrong, while Andrews plays his lovely assistant-and-fiancée, Sarah Sherman. Armstrong has been working on a missile defense system that will "make nuclear defense obsolete," and naturally both sides are very interested. All Sarah cares about is the fact that Michael has been acting awfully fishy lately. The suspense of Torn Curtain is by nature not as thrilling as that in the average Hitchcock film--much of it involves sitting still and wondering if the bad guys are getting closer. Still, Hitchcock manages to amuse himself: there is some beautifully clever camera work and an excruciating sequence that illustrates the frequent Hitchcock point that death is not a tidy business. --Ali Davis
Topaz
Alfred Hitchcock hadn't made a spy thriller since the 1930s, so his 1969 adaptation of Leon Uris's bestseller seemed like a curious choice for the director. But Hitchcock makes Uris's story of the West's investigation into the Soviet Union's dealings with Cuba his own. Frederick Stafford plays a French intelligence agent who works with his American counterpart (John Forsythe) to break up a Soviet spy ring. The film is a bit flat dramatically and visually, and there are sequences that seem to occupy Hitchcock's attention more than others. A minor work all around, with at least two alternative endings shot by Hitchcock. --Tom Keogh
Frenzy
Alfred Hitchcock's penultimate film, written by Anthony Shaffer (who also wrote Sleuth), this delightfully grisly little tale features an all-British cast minus star wattage, which may have accounted for its relatively slim showing in the States. Jon Finch plays a down-on-his-luck Londoner who is offered some help by an old pal (Barry Foster). In fact, Foster is a serial killer the police have been chasing--and he's framing Finch. Which leads to a classic Hitchcock situation: a guiltless man is forced to prove his innocence while eluding Scotland Yard at the same time. Spiked with Hitchcock's trademark dark humor, Frenzy also features a very funny subplot about the Scotland Yard investigator (Alec McCowen) in charge of the case, who must endure meals by a wife (Vivien Merchant) who is taking a gourmet-cooking class. --Marshall Fine
Family Plot
Alfred Hitchcock's final film is understated comic fun that mixes suspense with deft humor, thanks to a solid cast. The plot centers on the kidnapping of an heir and a diamond theft by a pair of bad guys led by Karen Black and William Devane. The cops seem befuddled, but that doesn't stop a questionable psychic (Barbara Harris) and her not overly bright boyfriend (Bruce Dern, in a rare good-guy role) from picking up the trail and actually solving the crime. Did she do it with actual psychic powers? That's part of the fun of Harris's enjoyably ditsy performance. --Marshall Fine
Customer Reviews:
Necessarily flawed.......2007-09-14
The best this set rates is 3 stars.
Am I the only one wondering why a deal couldn't have been worked out with MGM/UA so that NORTH BY NORTHWEST could have been included here rather than the boring TOPAZ? And why not the great WARNER BROS. titles like DIAL M FOR MURDER, instead of MARNIE for instance? Wouldn't THE WRONG MAN be so much better than ROPE and STRANGERS ON A TRAIN a superior choice to TORN CURTAIN?
Let's tell it plainly here. This is not so much a "masterpiece collection" as it is the best Hitchcock titles that UNIVERSAL/MCA has in their vaults (along with some less-than-great filler). With such a massive project as this, I think some sort of accomodation could have been reached with the copyright holders of the films I've mentioned above. And if such an arrangement had been achieved, wouldn't those four substitutions TRULY make this DVD set Hitchcock's masterpiece collection?
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS - SEASON THREE is a superb collection of TV episodes from the Master of Suspense.
A GREAT SET FOR THE PRICE! MISSING SOME GREAT FILMS!.......2007-09-08
I didn't have any of these films on DVD so,..... When I saw it on sale for around $65.00 I thought it was a great deal for 14 films with some extra material. I would have liked to see a few different films in this set,but they ended up putting most of those in another DVD set with the exception of "LifeBoat" and "Notorious". I think all "Hitches" missing films should be put into similar sets. This is a nice set, but wait to see it at the right price. These will be dropping way down before you know it. The transfers look very good!
Pick this along with the Signature Collection and you're done!.......2007-08-23
First things first - This collection is brilliant and the packaging is also good. Its a velvet box containing 4 DVD boxes, each box containing 4 or 3 discs/films and a booklet with a short writeup on each film.
When it arrived, one of the 4 sets was missing, and one was duplicated.
That is: I had 2 sets of the same films, and one set was missing.
I wrote back to the Amazon Customer Support and got an immediate reply saying they will replace it.
This set does not include certain must-have classics like
Strangers On A Train
North By North West
Dial M For Murder
Foreign Correspondent etc.
All this is available in the Signature Series which I picked up from here.
So if you buy these 2 box sets, you're done!!!
5 Stars for the movies, 1 Star for the packaging.......2007-08-13
I would love to have most of the DVDs in this collection, but I won't get it because of the poorly-designed packaging. I don't want 4 DVDs crammed into one case with the artwork reproduced one-quarter size and overlapping. I want each DVD in its own case with full-sized artwork on the cover. If the idea was to make it more compact, the space saved is insignificant. I think the real reason is corner-cutting to save a few bucks. The other Hitchcock set did it the right way- 1 DVD per case. This is very disappointing. For a lot of us, aesthetics count for a lot. Actually, my ideal preference would for all box sets to be packaged chronologically, in the order each film was released.
Poor packaging........2007-06-01
This is a great set minus the annoying packaging. As someone mentioned earlier the DVD cases are fitted to go in a certain order and if they don't go in in that order then they get stuck and the edges of the DVD cases get frayed. The corners of the cases get frayed anyway because the cases are a paper and cardboard-based binding with the plastic DVD holders glued on to them. So I put them in spine first now. Open and close them enough times and you get those white, worn edges on the spine. Another problem with the cases is that the plastic glued on part that hold the DVDs in place are notorious for getting de-glued. Yet another thing. . .one disc is now not holding in the case properly. How could I remedy this problem? Buy an entire new set??? The door on the velvet box doesn't snap shut in anyway so if you hold the wrong side down. . .the DVDs will fall out. So watch out. The velvet box looks and feels nice but it collects dust very easily and is not easily cleanable. I tried to brush off some of the dust and the silvery logos and such began to flake off.
Description
All-new collector's edition with previously unseen Louis l'Amour footage, never-before-seen "behind the scenes" footage, producer commentary. The Shadow Riders is American writer Louis L'Amour's timeless western tale of two brothers, Mac, a yankee (Tom Selleck) and Dal, a rebel (Sam Elliott).
Customer Reviews:
Shadow Riders.......2007-09-12
Westerns don't get much better than this. Excellent actors, excellent filming, great story. Oh yeh!
Shallow, Slow and Inept.......2007-09-05
I have loved Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot in many instances (specifically westerns), and bought this movie based on their pairing. In my opinion, they're underrated actors with good presence and great skill.
They try gamely with this cast-off script, but the dialoge is full of cliche, and the plot in many scenes is so unrealistic as to be offensive.
On top of vapid lines and illogical actions, the pace is glacial - and not in the good sense that Sergio Leone uses to build tension and do place and person studies. This movie is just boring and dumb.
Classic Louis Lamour.......2007-08-25
The cast in this is typical of several other Louis Lamour westerns and it shows. They really enjoy doing his stories and having the opportunity to portray the "Old West" in the way that it really was. I can't get enough of these guys doing this. If you enjoy a good western with authentic equipment, gear, clothing, etc. this is a must see.
True to the best of Louis Lamour.......2007-08-24
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Well developed story line. Followed the original story. Actors followed the original characters from the story very well. Highly recommend.
O.K. - typical - older western.......2007-08-24
This was a so so type movie. It was a typical old fashioned Western. If you like older westerns like we do, you won't be too disappointed. If you are a Sam Elliott or Tom Selleck fan, you'll probably like this. It beats the heck out of most HBO stuff. It's refreshing to watch something without a lot of filth in it.
Amazon.com
Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a must-see film for any fan of the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, or any other classic Motown stars. This swinging documentary celebrates the Funk Brothers--the team of studio musicians who powered dozens and dozens of hit Motown songs--by combining reminiscences, reenactments, and clips from a recent concert put on by the Funk Brothers, featuring singers like Chaka Khan, Ben Harper, and Joan Osborne on classic tunes like "What's Going On," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "Heatwave." This crafty gang of elderly musicians will charm your pants off with a slew of entertaining anecdotes. Though it seems that there's a lot of dirt they're declining to dish, the movie deftly outlines the history of Motown, surely the most significant music label in American history--the label that turned segregated "race music" into chart-topping success. A soulful delight. --Bret Fetzer
Description
Detroit, Michigan, 1959. Berry Gordy gathers the best musicians from the city's thriving jazz and blues scene for his new record company: Motown. For the next 14 years these players are the heartbeat on "My Girl," "Baby Love," "Ooo Baby Baby," "Bernadette," "I Was Made To Love Her," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Dancing In The Street," and every other hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, the unheralded group of musicians plays on more Number One hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles combined, making them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They call themselves the Funk Brothers. But no one knows their names...this is their story.
Customer Reviews:
Good Historical Information.......2007-07-14
It's about time that some of these artists finally get their recognition. It's not so much that they are such great performers, but their body of work is incredible
Funk.......2007-07-10
I'm not even a big fan of Motown records, but this film is something else. The Funk Brothers were the sessions players who played on a large percentage of the hits of the 60's and early 70's.
Sadly some of the key players died before this film was made but the remaining musicians get together and play. The contemparay film of them reformed playing motown classics is absolutely marvellous. It helps if you put the 5.1 sound on as well. The first performance brought me close to tears.
The documentary film is also interesting and the stories about the legendary bass player (who I had never heard of) James Jamerson and others are fascinating. I watched it three times in the first month of owning the DVD.
This is an essential music DVD for those interested in the history of Motown.
Do yourself a favor and get it.......2007-07-04
This might be the best 10 bucks you'll ever spend if you like Motown or heck if you like music. It leaves you wanting to know more and many of us who grew up with this music should know more. While some of their stories are heartbreaking it was a pleasure to see Pistol Allen smiling behind the drums even though he was so sick he would die shortly after the completion of the film. It was a sad moment too when two of the surviving brothers describe their last encounter with James Jamerson who would die the day after their visit. But there is fun too, fun for the Funk Brothers and fun for us as we are honored to hear these guys play and play they still can. The band is still very tight and very good. The vocalist do an admirable job of interpreting the hits. It would have been nice to have been graced with Marvin Gaye's and David Ruffin's presence but this is about the Funk Brothers and I for one am damn glad I got to see it.
Thanks to Dr. Lick's for putting this together.
Motown disappointment.......2007-06-27
I was looking forward to seeing the actual footage of the singers. I do appreciate the story of the fellows behind the artists but still, I think the video would have been more enjoyable had they included the actual singers.
FANTASTIC!.......2007-06-18
I rented this from Blockbuster,and immediately bought it. It's sooooo good and informative, I can't describe it. I loaned it to someone who stayed up until 2:00 a.m. to see the whole thing. There are absolutely great live performances from: the late Gerald Levert, (His "Shotgun" is outstanding) Me'shell Indegeocello (sp.)(who sexes up "You Really Got A Hold On Me"), Bootsy Collins, ("Cool Jerk"). Joan Osborne does a great ("What Becomes of the Broken Hearted") and Ben Harper all sing 2 songs. (The only performance I HATED was Ben Harper's "Heard it through the Grapevine"). Chaka Khan, Montell Jordan & Tom Scott also appear. The remaining "Funk Brothers" musicians who played behind the Motown groups,tell funny stories about each other, how they met, Berry Gordy and the label's performers. They even go to "Hitsville" where it all started. There are reinactments, and old photos. It's so good I've seen it at least six times. You will almost cry at the finale when they introduce everyone, even the musicians that have passed away. Their photos are on stage with the remaining members. There is a second disc of extras that I have yet to finish, but the movie itself is wonderful. I've watched it with Black and White people, young and old, and everyone loves it. Go get it. Now.
Product Description
With its alluring tales of Gothic mystery and supernatural intrigue, DARK SHADOWS became one of the most popular daytime series of all time. Since first airing on ABC-TV from 1966-71, DARK SHADOWS has earned the reputation as being one of the most unusual and enduring programs in broadcasting history. The character of Barnabas Collins, a guilt-ridden, 175-year-old vampire, brought the show tremendous success.
Now, for the first time on DVD, MPI presents the spooky series' rare, early episodes before the arrival of Barnabas.
Collinwood's surly caretaker Mathew Morgan informs Victoria Winters that he believes the ghost of Josette Collins and other spirits inhabit the estate. In an attempt to settle the controversy surrounding the manslaughter case that sent Burke Devlin to prison, Collins Fishing Fleet Manager Bill Malloy sets up a private meeting for himself, Roger Collins, Same Evans and Burke.
Elizabeth Collins Stoddard confides to Victoria some of the legends involving Collinwood and Widow s Hill. Carolyn Stoddard and Victoria spot a body floating at the bottom of the cliff and Victoria soon experiences a strange premonition. After Malloy mysteriously disappears, Roger nervously bribes Sam to leave town. A ghost emerges from the Old House on the Collins family property.
Customer Reviews:
Dark Shadows: The Beginning "Reels" Out More Tantalizing Gothic Mystery!.......2007-08-31
Dark Shadows became fodder for my pre-teen imagination enough to be one of the kids who ran home after school, out of breath to sit on the edge of the couch and watch every second of eerie goings on at the Collinwood mansion....evil abound with ghosts, werewolves, phoenixes, zombies....a schoolage boys delight. The show had centered its story by then around a sympathetic figure in the guise of one 175 year old vampire Barnabas Collins and the misadventures of his dysfunctional wealthy family.
The Beginning Collection 2 continues the early pre-Barnabas Gothic storyline of governess Victoria Winters trying to find out HER beginnings and family origins after she has accepted a position as governess to the strange and rather disturbed 10 year old David Collins. Victoria (quite ably played by Alexander Moltke) is a perfect femme fatale mix of Jane Eyre and Nancy Drew desperately trying to uncover the mystery of her parentage for she was an orphan growing up in New York who all her life receiving a stipend of money mysteriously from Bangor, Maine not 50 miles from Collinsport where she is summoned out of the blue to become a governess and companion at the Collins Estate/Collinwood....little does she know the mysteries and dangers that await her around every corner of the haunted 40 room mansion....the story continues for another 35 black and white episodes.....Matt Morgan, Collinswood's surly caretaker warns Vicki to mind her own business and tells her tales of ghosts that haunt the spooky mansion such as Josette Collins, wife of an early settler. Bill Malloy, manager of the Collins Fishing Fleet tries to force a meeting between Roger Collins and Burke Devlin to resolve the manslaughter case that wrongfully convicted Burke to years in prison, but this has its own dire consequences....soon Victoria and Carolyn spot a body floating in the shallows beneath Widow's Hill and Victoria has strange premonitions....Roger bribes Sam Evans to leave town to prevent Burke from prying further with his investigation....a mysterious ghostly figure emerges from the Old House......BOOOOOOOOO!!! Great fun just in time for Halloween......ghostly and atmospheric, of the non-gore kind.....you will love Dark Shadows, great family fun!! A+++++++++++++++
The Gothic Plot Thickens!!.......2007-07-14
Following it's landmark premier in 1966, the first-ever gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows, settled into its afternoon timeslot to haunt viewers with is unique blend of romance and terror. Unfortunately, viewership dwindled steadily, despite excellent stories and equally fine acting, which are clearly demonstrated in this latest boxed set of remastered DVD episodes from MPI Home Video.
The Beginning Set 1, reflecting the first 35 episodes of the series, introduced the characters and eerie atmosphere created by innovative sets and unforgettable original music that was the hallmark of the show for its five-year run.
The Beginning Set 2, which collects the next 35 episodes, builds on that foundation by further developing the main characters and adding some new ones.
Burke Devlin, portrayed with animation and realism by Mitchell Ryan, has returned to Collinsport a rich man after being away for 10 years. He spent the first five years in prison after being convicted in Collinsport of manslaugter. He had spent the succeeeding years years abroad amassing his fortune before returning, embittered and angry, to his hometown.
In these episodes, Burke begins to unravel the truth behind the crime for which he was falsely convicted, and strategizes to take over the Collins Family's vast financial holdings, including the family estate of Collinwood.
Victoria Winters, played to perfection by Alexandra Moltke, finds herself drawn to Burke, then embroiled in a bitter feud with Carolyn Stoddard, portrayed by the incredible Nancy Barrett, who inexplicably decides she no longer wants her steady but "boring" boyfriend, Joe Haskell, but would rather try to seduce the volatile Burke.
As a result, Joe, played by the late Joel Crothers, begins to develop romantic feelings for waitress Maggie Evans, played by Kathryn Leigh Scott. (Cast Note: Mark Allen, the actor who originated the role of Maggie's father, Sam Evans, is now replaced by actor David Ford, who brings a depth and likeability to the character as never before.)
David Collins, the young son of Burke's arch enemy, Roger Collins (who testified against Burke at his trial,) is given a crystal ball by Burke and "sees" the disappearance of Bill Malloy, manager of Collins Enterprises and Cannery. Malloy, who has begun to believe that Burke was innocent of the manslaughter charge, had been investigating and had asked to meet with Burke, Roger and Sam that night to discuss what he had found. Instead, Malloy's lifeless body is found washed up on the rocks by Widow's Hill.
Talented actress Clarice Blackburn joins the cast as Malloy's housekeeper Mrs. Sarah Johnson, who eventually becomes the live-in housekeeper for the Collins Family at Collinwood. This set also features the debut of the brilliant actor, Thayer David, who took over the role of Collinwood ground's keeper Matthew Morgan. Mr. David would go on to play some of the show's most memorable characters during the remainder of the series' run.
Special features in this set include: Interviews with Moltke, Ryan and Conrad Fowkes, who portrayed attorney Frank Garner.
These early episodes occur prior to the arrival of the vampire, Barnabas Collins, played by the gifted Jonathan Frid. Series Creator, the late Dan Curtis, decided to "go all the way" into the supernatural in an attempt to save the show from falling ratings. It worked. Once Frid joined the cast, the show skyrocketed to iconic status. Many fans who began watching once Barnabas became a fixture on the show, never saw these early episodes, so it's wonderful to have them finally available on DVD, to see how it all began!! Besides, there's plenty of gothic intrigue in these episodes to satisfy anyone.
Bring on Set 3!!
Average customer rating:
- Out of the shadows
- Excellent
- What price freedom.
- Vive la résistance!
- Cinematic ideal
|
Army of Shadows - Criterion Collection
Starring:
Lino Ventura ,
Paul Meurisse ,
Jean-Pierre Cassel ,
Simone Signoret , and
Claude Mann
Director:
Jean-Pierre Melville
Manufacturer: Criterion Collection
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 French
| By Original Language
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| France
| By Country
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Classics
| France
| By Country
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Nazis
| By Theme
| Military & War
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Cassel, Jean Pierre
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Meurisse, Paul
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Reggiani, Serge
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Signoret, Simone
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Melville, Jean Pierre
| ( M )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All
| Criterion Collection
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
General
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
France
| European Cinema
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Jean-Pierre Melville
| By Director
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
French
| By Original Language
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Sansho the Bailiff - Criterion Collection
-
The Third Man - Criterion Collection (2-Disc Edition)
-
Ace in the Hole - Criterion Collection
-
If... (Criterion Collection)
-
Vengeance Is Mine - Criterion Collection
ASIN: B000NOK0HG
Release Date: 2007-05-15 |
Amazon.com
Who would've guessed that the best film of 2006 would be a 37-year-old thriller about the French Resistance during World War II? Hailed as a masterpiece by an overwhelming majority of reputable critics, Jean-Pierre Melville's Army of Shadows wasn't officially released in America until 2006 (hence its appearance on many of that year's top-ten lists), but its reputation as a French classic was already well-established throughout Europe. Fully restored in 2004 and released in the U.S. by Rialto Pictures, it represents the gold standard of films about the French Resistance, based upon Joseph Kessel's 1943 novel and imbued with personal touches by Melville, an Alsatian Jew whose own involvement in the Resistance qualifies Army of Shadows as a semi-autobiographical exercise in somber nostalgia, as indicated by an opening quote echoing Melville's ironic belief that memories of Nazi occupation needn't always be traumatic.
Having lived through this history, Melville doesn't treat it lightly; in Army of Shadows, the threat of death hangs over every scene like a shroud. Unfolding with flawless precision, the plot begins in 1942 and focuses on a small, secretive band of Resistance fighters led by Gerbier (Lino Ventura), whose intuitive sense of danger lends additional suspense to the film's dark, atmospheric study of grace under pressure. While working in the classical tradition of the Hollywood films he admired, Melville breaks from convention with lengthy, deliberately paced scenes in which tension builds to a subtle yet almost unbearable intensity. With the possible exception of a brief and wryly humorous scene involving Resistance leader (and future Prime Minister) Gen. Charles de Gaulle, every scene in Army of Shadows supports Melville's predominant themes of solitude and futility. Melville's visually and thematically bleak outlook may prove challenging for some, but Army of Shadows is remarkably beautiful in its own way, and it gains power with each additional viewing through flawless development of memorable characters played by a first-rate cast. Especially memorable is Simone Signoret as Gerbier's boldly pragmatic ally Mathilde, a woman in a war of men, with a tragic vulnerability that ultimately decides her fate. As intellectually stimulating as it is thrilling to experience, Army of Shadows represents the triumphant zenith of Melville's posthumous recognition as a world-class auteur. Thanks to the Criterion Collection, this masterpiece can now be widely appreciated, along with Criterion's previous DVD releases of Melville's earlier classics Bob Le Flambeur, Le Samourai, and Le Cercle Rouge. --Jeff Shannon
On the DVDs
On disc 1 in this superior two-disc set, the meticulous 2004 restoration of Army of Shadows is presented in a new high-definition digital transfer supervised by cinematographer Pierre Lhomme. The audio commentary by French film historian Ginette Vincendeau is one of Criterion's finest to date; Vincendeau's scholarship is impeccable, her thematic observations are eloquently expressed, and her knowledge of French cinema is impressively thorough, placing Army of Shadows in a rich context of other films about the French Resistance. The supplements on disc 2 maintain Criterion's highest standards of archival research, beginning with "Jean-Pierre Melville: Filmmaker," a four-minute French TV news segment from 1968, in which Melville discusses the production of Army of Shadows. A new 2006 interview with cinematographer Pierre Lhomme (14:00) is accompanied by a restoration demonstration (7:10) and color-tone reference photos used during the restoration process. Also included is an 11-minute interview (also from 2006) with editor Françoise Bonnot.
A half-hour segment of the French TV show L'invite du dimanche, from March 1969, features behind-the scenes production footage and fascinating interviews with Melville, the primary cast of Army of Shadows, novelist Joseph Kessell, and French Resistance fighter André Dewavrin (whom Melville recruited to play Colonel Passy in Army of Shadows). "Melville et 'L'Armée Des Ombres'" ("Melville and Army of Shadows) is an excellent half-hour documentary featuring interviews of many of Melville's contemporaries (including director Bertrand Tavernier) sharing insights and anecdotes in an in-depth appreciation of Melville and Army of Shadows. A superb section devoted to the French Resistance includes "Le Journal de la Resistance," a riveting 33-minute documentary filmed in Paris in August 1944 (and narrated by Noel Coward), just as the final French insurrection and pending arrival of U.S. liberation troops were leading to Nazi surrender and massive celebration in the streets of Paris. A five-minute TV interview segment, from 1984, features Simone Signoret paying tribute to Lucie Aubrac, a Resistance fighter (also interviewed) who was a key inspiration for Signoret's character in Army of Shadows. Finally, disc 2 closes with a 23-minute excerpt from a 1973 episode of the French TV show Ouvrez les guillemets, in which several former members of the French Resistance discuss their clandestine activities during the Nazi occupation of France from 1940 to 1944. --Jeff Shannon
Description
JEAN-PIERRE MELVILLE'S MASTERPIECE ABOUT THE FRENCH RESISTANCE WENT UNRELEASED IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THIRTY-SEVEN YEARS, BEFORE ITS TRIUMPHANT THEATRICAL DEBUT IN 2006. ATMOSPHERIC AND GRIPPING, ARMY OF SHADOWS IS MELVILLE'S MOST PERSONAL FILM, FEATURING LINO VENTURA, PAUL MEURISSE, JEAN-PIERRE CASSEL, AND THE INCOMPARABLE SIMONE SIGNORET AS INTREPID UNDERGROUND FIGHTERS WHO MUST GRAPPLE WITH THEIR OWN BRAND OF HONOR IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST EVIL.
Customer Reviews:
Out of the shadows.......2007-09-11
Army of Shadows is such a profound escape, a poignant transference in time, to a place so devoid of hope. It pulls you in with a raw sense of emotion and vulnerability, it's easy to get lost within the story. It follows the path of a group of brave members of the French Resistance during World War II, who were struggling to overcome the hostile German control.
They are also threatened by imminent danger from their own people, who might be forced to betray them in order to survive. Fear and distrust run rampant amongst this small army of shadows.
This story is based on the book by Joseph Kessel, an actual member of this Resistance. Plus the director Melville had some strong ties with this opposition. Their experiences makes for a very personal film. It harnesses such a sad, controlled energy that is unleashed in a subtle yet overwhelming manner. The effects are entertaining, provocative, and ultimately heart-breaking. A definite must see film, finally available in the U.S. after 37 years.
Excellent.......2007-08-18
This is essentially a psychological study of the French Resistance movement in the form of a thriller. While many parts of the movie are suspenseful, the deliberate pacing and almost mundane nature of much of the action is the stylistic opposite of conventional thrillers. Melville, himself a veteran of the Resistance, emphasizes not action but the psychological states of his protagonists. This is reflected not only in the plotting but also in the cinematography, which emphasizes closeups and conversations between characters. Army of Shadows conveys a vivid sense of the oppression of the Occupation/Vichy period, the relentless tension and sense of paranoia experienced by the Resistants, and the great moral courage required to persist in this bleak activity.
What price freedom........2007-07-20
Gritty well acted and directed wartime story. Gallic phlegm versus Teutonic iron-discipline - this motion picture ought be included within the National Curriculum.
Vive la résistance!.......2007-07-20
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
Army of Shadows, released in France as L'Armée des ombres was unreleased in the United States for over 35 years despite it's excellent following.
The film is a superb depiction of the French Resistance during World War II. The costumes, mannerisms of the actors and just about everything else is among the most realistic of any film on the topic. I found the film to be very informative and I learned a lot.
The film made it's theatrical debut in the united States in 2006 after a restoration two years earlier. It was then released by Criterion in this excellent double disc set. They are:
Disc one
Optional audio commentary by Ginette Vincendeau.
Disc two
Interviews with Françoise Bonnot, behind the scenes videos with intertviews, a 2006 documentary on the film, a 1944 documentary on the Resistance, and a restoration demonstration.
This film is worthy of being shown in high school and college classrooms.
Cinematic ideal.......2007-06-16
Now why would you want to see L'ARMÉE DES OMBRES (or ARMY OF SHADOWS, or ARMY IN THE SHADOWS)?
Do you appreciate beautiful visuals? Jean-Pierre Melville possessed a truly cinematic eye. His characters are part of a setting but they don't get lost in it (unless he wants them lost, for effect). And here he worked with his cinematographer, Pierre Lhomme, to produce a blue-tinged world too exquisitely lit to be grim and ugly. This is a visual masterpiece of mood.
How about an honest story of the French Resistance? Not too romantic, nor too cynical? Melville was in the Resistance. So was the writer of the novel that this is based on. Here, Resistance fighters are presented as brave, and frightened. As self-sacrificing, yet pragmatic. As diverse, and single-minded. As successful, or frustrated. As doomed. As hopeful.
Do you like depth of character? This is not an action film. Very little violence is shown. This is a story of the lives between the violence where most of the time is spent. Where suspense dogs each Resistance member's footsteps. Where secrecy, even from family, is the way of life.
Do you like something thoughful? The effect of this film's quiet, deliberate pacing is intellectual - not just emotional. I didn't lose myself entirely in the fatalism of the Resistance fighters' circumstances. There was a sane, comforting person befriending me. And his name was Jean-Pierre Melville.
This was the first Melville film that I had seen. It was like the splash of cold water. Why had this filmmaker been overlooked? Here was a Frenchman who constantly wore a cowboy hat, Ray Ban sunglasses, drove an American convertible and soaked in American films - and he got nothing beyond art house exposure in return.
Here was a man who blended his beloved American influences with his own sensibilities, creating an extraordinary style all his own. This long-lost auteur created a movie that is as close to my cinematic ideal as I'll ever find.
Average customer rating:
- A Great Gift..
- The Shadow Knows...
- Remade as Batman Begins.
- Lots of surprises
- Brought back my childhood radio daze . . .
|
The Shadow
Starring:
Alec Baldwin ,
John Lone ,
Penelope Ann Miller ,
Peter Boyle , and
Ian McKellen
Director:
Russell Mulcahy
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Crime
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Superheroes
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Heroic Missions
| By Theme
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Fantasy Adventures
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Baldwin, Alec
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Boyle, Peter
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Curry, Tim
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Gregory, Andre
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Hong, James
| ( H )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Kapelos, John
| ( K )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Lone, John
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Lustig, Aaron
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Maher, Joseph
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
McKellen, Ian
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Miller, Penelope Ann
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Shimono, Sab
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Willrich, Rudolph
| ( W )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Winters, Jonathan
| ( W )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Wright, Max
| ( W )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mulcahy, Russell
| ( M )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Universal Studios Titles
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Action & Adventure
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $10
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
4-for-3 Action & Adventure
| 4-for-3 DVD
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
4-for-3 Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 DVD
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
4-for-3 All DVDs
| 4-for-3 DVD
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
General
| Action & Adventure
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( S )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
The Phantom
-
Rocketeer
-
Dick Tracy
-
Darkman
-
The Saint
ASIN: 078321958X
Release Date: 1997-11-19 |
Amazon.com
A mixed bag that received mixed reviews when released in 1994, this lavish film works overtime to honor the spirit and style of the vintage pulp novels and radio shows that made The Shadow a household name in the 1930s and '40s. Alec Baldwin plays the Shadow, a.k.a. Lamont Cranston, who arrives in New York from his decadent life in Tibet, fully reformed and disciplined in his ability "to cloud men's minds." A crime fighter who lurks in the dark recesses of the city, the Shadow faces his most deadly challenge when Shiwan Khan (John Lone), the last surviving descendant of Genghis Khan, hatches a plot to conquer the world. The scheme involves a madman (Tim Curry), a hapless scientist (Ian McKellen), and various traps designed to catch and kill the Shadow, who must also contend with his blossoming romance with Margo Lane (Penelope Ann Miller), a slender beauty capable of a little mind play of her own. The movie's art deco production design turns out to be a scene-stealer when the plot drags, and in the title role Baldwin is never given enough good material to create a compelling character. Still, The Shadow is true to the legacy that inspired it, admirably avoiding any conspicuous compromise of its 1930s style and setting. If you can't get into the story, you're sure to be hooked by the look of the production, which is never less than dazzling. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
A Great Gift.........2007-07-24
My father in law loves this movie, so it was the perfect father s day present and we had a nice time as a family...
The Shadow Knows..........2007-07-21
1994's "The Shadow" is a faithful film take on the popular 1930's and 1940's radio and comic book crime-fighting hero The Shadow. Filled with authentic period costumes, weapons, and cars, and paying full homage to the mystical underpinnings of the original character, "The Shadow" is an entertaining movie that never quite hits its stride.
Alec Baldwin stars as the Shadow and as his alter-ego, the weathly New York playboy Lamont Cranston. Penelope Ann Miller is more than adequate as his beautiful and telepathic romantic interest. John Lone and Tim Curry are delightfully over-the-top menancing as the Shadow's ancient enemy Shirwan Khan and his scheming henchman. Peter Boyle has an excellent cameo as a taxi driver who ferries the Shadow around his nightly forays in New York.
Shirwan Khan's arrival in New York with a plan to take over the City sets the stage for his battle with the Shadow. Khan and a host of helpers set repeated traps for the Shadow while securing the use of a primitive atomic bomb. Lamont Cranston as the Shadow must evade the various traps while dealing with the complication of a girlfriend who is resistant to his power to "cloud men's minds." The final showdown, in an art deco skyscraper, matches the Shadow and Khan in a battle of mind over matter to save the City.
Baldwin's character never gets the development it needs to hold the interest of audiences too young to remember the original Shadow. The movie can't quite seem to make up its mind on what The Shadow's powers really are, which leaves him oddly vulnerable to Khan's underlings, yet able to face Khan. On the plus side, the sets are extremely stylish and detailed, and a excellent set of supporting characters help advance the storyline.
This movie is well recommended as good entertainment, whether for fans of the original series or younger audiences looking for something new in an old action hero.
Remade as Batman Begins........2007-06-26
THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST SUPER HERO MOVIES EVER MADE. Even Remo Williams was better. At least Remo Williams had some humor and heart.
BATMAN BEGINS SEEMS LIKE RIP OFF OF THIS MOVIE, BUT SO MUCH BETTER. If you have seen Batman Begins, you have seen this movie. A guy living in the underworld in some Asian mountains find the light with a guru. He returns to the big city as a rich playboy and fights crime. He ends up fighting those who trained under the same guru. Although The Shadow did it first, and Batman Begins is a copycat, Batman Returns is a much better movie.
I really like Alec Baldwin, but in this movie, he is a cardboard character. How he turns from bad to good is never shown, it just happens. He really doesn't show any emotion during the whole movie. He is a lot like the character he makes fun of in 30 Rock.
Not much is done with the concept of The Shadow. There is one short episode near the beginning of the movie tha shows what The Swhadow is all about, but it isn't very thrilling or interesting. He just captures some criminals on a bridge, but there is no background to draw you into the story.
After that, it is more a supernatural story, and not much to do with The Shadow. A much better movie would have been to explore more about The Shadow, just like Batman Begins gives you a rich story about Batman, who he was and how he fought crime. But, it also gives you a backgrind story about the criminals he fights so there is tension.
The love story in this movie is also very weak.
This movie was killed by critics and was a bomb at the box office. But, sometimes the critics can be wrong and the movie fans might miss a winner. You can decide if you want to take the chance.
Lots of surprises.......2007-05-13
This movie has fast paced action,good acting with a touch of the exotic. Based on an radio series. I liked it!
Brought back my childhood radio daze . . ........2007-04-25
I really liked this movie. I saw it in the theater and several times on DVD and VHS. When I was a kid in the 40's this was one of my favorite radio shows. It worked then because of my imagination and the talent of those radio actors and writers. The later black and white movies were a disappointment because of the lack of special effects, so they weren't convincing at all. Just a guy in a black baggy outfit with the other actors pretending not to see him. This version had it all. The right guy in the starring role, Alec Baldwin as the handsome Lamont Cranson/Shadow. Penelope Ann Miller as the vivacious Margo Lane and a great supporting cast with John Lone as the villain, the great Tim Curry, Ian McKellan before The X-Men and Gandalf, Peter Boyle, Jonathan Winters, et. al. The look of the film was excellent, the comic relief really well done and the writer David Koepp deserved a big slap on the back. This is one of those films that I will look at over and over in the future. The film deserved better and I think better advertising might have created a better financial performance, maybe one matching the performance of all who participated in making the film.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent
- My Name Is Victoria Winters...
- My mom loves this series!
- Excellent
- darkshadows
|
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 1
Starring:
Alexandra Moltke ,
Jonathan Frid ,
Joan Bennett ,
Louis Edmonds , and
Kathryn Leigh Scott
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Television
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Vampires
| Things That Go Bump
| Horror
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Television
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Dark Shadows
| D
| TV Series, A-Z
| TV Series
| Television
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Classic TV
| Television
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
| The Addams Family
| The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents
| The Andy Griffith Show
| Bonanza
| The Dick Van Dyke Show
| Dragnet
| The Ed Sullivan Show
| Gilligan's Island
| Green Acres
| Gunsmoke
| The Honeymooners
| I Love Lucy
| Leave It to Beaver
| The Lone Ranger
| Lost in Space
| Maverick
| The Milton Berle Show
| Mister Ed
| The Munsters
| The Outer Limits
| Perry Mason
| Star Trek
| The Time Tunnel
| The Twilight Zone
General
| 1960s
| By Decade
| Television
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Grover, Stanley
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mason, Marsha
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Strickland, Gail
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Viharo, Robert
| ( V )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Wilson, Elizabeth
| ( W )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Sedwick, John
| ( S )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
| Boxed Sets
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Television
| Boxed Sets
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Horror
| Boxed Sets
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( D )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 2
-
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 3
-
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 4
-
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 5
-
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 6
ASIN: B000060MVN
Release Date: 2002-05-28 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-08-31
It was a thrill to watch Dark Shadows all over again, 40 yrs later. It was wonderful to see Barnabus again. Loved the show, the dvd's are wonderfully done.
My Name Is Victoria Winters..........2007-08-30
Daytime "Soap Operas" have a short shelf-life; each episode is seen but once, and once aired it goes into the vaults, never to return. But there is one exception: DARK SHADOWS. Unlike other such series, it has been seen in syndication, it has been released on video, it is now available on DVD, and it has spawned everything from feature films to board games.
When it debuted in 1966 DARK SHADOWS was a gothic-inflected series that focused on the life of Victoria Winters (Alexandra Isles), an orphaned young woman employed by the wealthy Collins family of Maine to tutor and manage a particularly difficult child. Although often more original than other soap operas of the era, it was soon faced with cancelation--and producer Dan Curtis had a brainstorm. Since the series had a creepy sort of atmosphere, why not introduce a ghost or two?
The ratings began to inch up, and then on 22 March 1967 DARK SHADOWS introduced its signature character: Barnabas Collins (Johnathan Frid), a centuries old vampire accidentally released from his grave. Presenting himself as an English cousin, Barnabas gradually insinuated himself into the family--and the series became a ratings monster, with story lines that ranged from murder to seances to time travel to werewolves.
As the series progressed, its writers began to have some difficulty in creating equally powerful characters and plotlines--but this is not the case with this particular DVD collection, which opens with a very brief summary of earlier plotlines and then leaps directly into the storyline that spawns Barnabas; these particular episodes offer the series at the height of its creativity, and it is noteworthy in several different ways.
Chief among these is the atmosphere involved, which is particularly well served by the standard black-and-white cinematography (the series did to go color after a time) of the era; effective sets; and some of the most memorable music ever written for any film presentation. And then there is the cast. Soap Operas are seldom noted for the artistry of the actors or writing; everything is done at a fever pitch. But strange to say, the overheated style works extremely well with the supernatural story lines, and the result is so entertaining that it proves addictive.
At the time, the best known member of the cast was Joan Bennett, one of Hollywood's leading ladies of the golden era--but while Bennett plays over the top as well as the rest of the cast, and while Johnathan Frid (Barnabas) and Grayson Hall (Dr. Julia Hoffman) emerged as stars of the series, the real acting strength is in the supporting cast. Alexandra Isles, later notorious for her round-about involvement in the Sunny Von Bulow case, is not a great actress, but she does very well in the role of series narrator; better still are the likes of Nancy Barrett (as Carolyn Stoddard), John Karlen (as Willie Loomis), Katherine Lee Scott (as Maggie Evans), and numerous others.
With four disks, forty episodes, and about a 900 minute run-time, DARK SHADOWS DVD COLLECTION 1 gives you a lot for your money--including several enjoyable but slight bonuses. The film and sound quality is sometimes weak, the sets occasionally wobble, and the shadows of the cameras and microphones are here, there, and everywhere, but it is worth remembering that no one thought any of these episodes would be seen more than once, and the occasional blooper simply adds to the fun of the whole thing. Recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
My mom loves this series!.......2007-08-24
My mom loves this series, wish I could afford the whole set for her. I got her the revival series, and she likes it very much.
I believe there are 1225 episodes in total. Episodes 1 through 206 (1 through 209 going by the actual series number, not the actual installment number) are pre-Barnabas, and episodes 207 through 1225 (210 through 1245) are with Barnabas. Episodes 210 through 1245 have been released in 26 collections (at $30 - $60 a pop depending on where you shop, whoa!). Episodes 1 - 206 will be partially released on The Beginning Collection 1 and The Beginning Collection 2.
I wonder that once all the Dark Shadows episodes are released, will MPI release a MEGASET of all 1225 episodes? That would be one heck of a boxset!
Excellent.......2007-05-13
Excellent excellent excellent....i just think before every episode it should tell you what episode it is...but except for that it is wonderful!
darkshadows.......2007-04-11
man,this is good stuff!i can't say enough about this series.anyone that has ever seen this show knows what i mean.buy it!!!
Average customer rating:
- A beautiful movie!
- made my mom happy
- A very CHARMING movie!
- Delightful in so many ways
- One of the 10 Best Films I have ever seen!
|
Shadows in the Sun
Starring:
Harvey Keitel ,
Joshua Jackson ,
Claire Forlani ,
Armando Pucci , and
Giancarlo Giannini
Director:
Brad Mirman
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Romantic Comedies
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Cavalli, Valeria
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Davies, John Rhys
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Forlani, Claire
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Giannini, Giancarlo
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
|
Dark Shadows: The Beginning Collection 2
Dark Shadows - Bloopers and Treasures
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 26
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 25
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 1
