The Wind That Shakes the Barley

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Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, this gripping drama by Ken Loach (Raining Stones) is set during the early days of the Irish Republican Army, when British occupation of the Irish radicalized many a citizen and caused some to take up arms. Cillian Murphy plays Damien, a medical student on his way to London when he witnesses a couple of atrocities committed by British troops. Instead of becoming a doctor, he turns into a leading and respected figure in an IRA division led by his brother, Teddy (Padraic Delaney). The film provides some fascinating historical insight into the nascent resistance movement as it was in 1920, and Loach brilliantly conveys the profound emotional transition young men had to make to become saboteurs and killers. Loach's realistic style is absolutely mesmerizing, with many scenes built around the dynamics of large groups: contentious meetings, torture sessions, battles, celebrations, and the like. One has the sense of history as a pool of energy, and one also develops a kind of Renoiresque appreciation for the fact that different people on opposing sides of a life-or-death issue have their reasons for believing what they believe. As the story moves along, subtle shifts in the perspectives of men and women who had once agreed to be absolute in their fight for freedom results in a tragic yet understandable schism among Irish patriots. The final half-hour of The Wind That Shakes the Barley says a lot about how the Irish, including people who had known one another all their lives, turned their wrath on one another for so many decades. This is an outstanding film, featuring the best performance yet by Murphy (Red Eye). --Tom Keogh

Description

Driven by a deep sense of duty and a love for his country, Damien (Cillian Murphy) abandons his burgeoning career as a doctor and joins his brother, Teddy in a dangerous and violent fight for freedom. As the Irish freedom fighters bold tactics bring the British to a breaking point, both sides finally agree to a treaty to end the bloodshed. But, despite the apparent victory, civil war erupts and families who fought side by side, find themselves pitted against one another, putting their loyalties to the ultimate test.

Customer Reviews:

A Powerful movie.......2007-09-08

A story description has been written about this movie. I just wanted to add my 2 cents. This movie was recommended to me by an Irish lady while touring Scotland and Ireland. I have waited almost 2 years for it to show up here in the USA. A powerful and strong story of the fight for freedom in Ireland not unlike our own fight for freedom. The landscapes are beautiful and the characters ring true.

Disappointing but Admirable Effort.......2007-09-08

I looked forward to this film as I do to any that attempts to shed light on the struggle of the Irish for freedom from England. The movie is beautiful cinematically and the acting very convincing, although I did think Cillian Murphy somewhat miscast as Damien, the young doctor who is reluctantly converted to the IRA cause by the British brutality he witnesses. However, overall I found the movie disappointing for somewhat the same reasons as reviewer Pouliot. If the viewer does not have a pretty good background in Irish history, especially of the 1910-1922 years, he is likely to have difficulty understanding what is going on and why. The film is narrowed so sharply to one small group of guerilla fighters in Cork County that I don't know how an average viewer could put the action in perspective with the 1916 Easter rebellion, the nationwide struggle going on, the direction and control being exercised by IRA leaders in Dublin and the overall scope of the fight against the British. The biggest plus of this film, to my mind, and it is a very big plus, is that it shows graphically the kind of savagery being engaged in by the British soldiers (the "black and tans" who were sent in to support the regular British forces in Ireland) and the galvanizing effect it had on the Irish populace. It also shows the tragedy that befell Ireland when the independence movement came apart after the Treaty was signed and the die-hard Republicans refused to support the new Irish Free State, feeling that it was a sell-out to accept anything but complete freedom for the whole island. The movie does a good job of showing how the two sides could differ so drastically and still each have legitimate reasons for taking the stance they did. It also drives home how devastating the Civil War was in the final wrenching scenes of what devotion to their beliefs cost the two brothers. This was certainly a singularly Irish story, as another reviewer said, and it leaves you feeling very melancholy to realize what their independence ultimately brought the Irish, i.e., families torn apart forever, scars much deeper than any the British left and a shadow that hangs over the land even today. A haunting if not fully satisfying film.

4.5 Stars. One of the best films of 2007 showing us the high price of freedom........2007-09-07

The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a beautiful looking film made in Ireland by director Ken Loach. It took home the Palme D'Or in 2006 at the Cannes Film Festival and deservedly so.

Loach tells a sympathetic and political tale of war and the birth of the I.R.A through two brothers Damien played by Cillian Murphy who is solid in pretty much every film I have seen him in and Teddy played by Padraic Delaney who equals Murphy's performance with a great one of his own. Damien a med school graduate headed to a London hospital to further his training decides against it after witnessing one to many atrocities on his people at the hands of the British Black and Tan soldiers and joins a guerrilla squad of the Irish Republican Army headed by his brother Teddy to fight and prevent such atrocities.

Above everything I found this to be a political film and doesn't go into the brothers relationship in any detail although there are some powerful and painful moments between them that could bring tears to your eyes. Also there facial expressions and looks in there eyes say a lot which can be attributed to powerful performances and great acting all around.
Even a love interest between Damien and a strong willed Sinead is still a backdrop for there political cause which they share an equally strong if not greater love for, there real passion in this film is the cause they fight for.

A truce is declared but with of course many unacceptable terms as seen by Damien. And seen as a victory and a stepping stone to greater things as seen by Teddy, which inevitably divides the Irish against there own people and brother against brother.

I rented this film from Netflix but will now be purchasing, It is a good add to any film collection at a fair price and highly recommended, this is one of the best of 2007 I have seen so far.
Thanks for reading.

Brutal but honest and necessary.......2007-08-17

anyone who ever said 'gee why do the irish hate the english people so much?' ought to see this film. to those who lived it - some of my relatives - the thuggish behavior by the black and tans and other british soldiers turned loose to "teach the irish a lesson" is a disgrace that's yet to be appreciated over here. it's a stain on british history that the english government treated a proud and free people like this - but then, they did the same to every colony didn't they? american patriots who are proud of OUR revolution against england would do well to watch this and appreciate the irish version of the same thing

Tragic Ireland.......2007-08-14

Set in Ireland in the early 1920's, this is the story of two brothers fighting for the cause of Irish independence. The IRA was a ragtag band of farm boys and local townsmen who, enraged by the appearance of the British Black and Tans in their country, decide that independence for Ireland is going to be a fight to the death. The British used cruel paramilitary tactics to try to suppress the rebellion, which did more to undermine their moral authority than anything else. The film depicts the futility of military tactics to subdue a people defending their own land. A political solution, though not a cure all, as we know from history, was the only answer.

Teddy O'Donnell unsuccessfully tries to draw his doctor brother Damien into the struggle. But Damien abandons his intention to take a job at a prestigious London hospital as he witnesses an act of violence on the platform of the train he's about to depart on. The brothers lead a band of guerillas harassing the British at every turn; exhausted by the fight, a Truce is finally declared by the British. But there's no redeeming end to this story for many years, as we all know. The Truce was the beginning of a fierce civil war, that has tragic consequences for the brothers and has had terrible consequences for Ireland for decades.

Shot on location, primarily in County Cork, the film doesn't romanticize the countryside or the people. The land is rainy and foggy and cloudy; the farms are poor. The interiors are cramped, smoky and dark. The film has a gritty, realistic quality, to match the grim story. The actors are all Irish, the dialogue often heavily accented and mumbled, occasionally mixed with Gaelic. This is a painful film to watch, but well-deserving of the awards it's received. The movie has excited comment in Britain for good reason--the British come off looking very bad. Nothing is spared in depicting British torture and murder; I covered my eyes a few times. There's no doubt that this is the Irish side of the story, but keeping that in mind, it's a great film and well worth your time.

Gone with the Wind (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Awesome considering when it was made
Forever a Favorite
Nice movie
One of the Best of Hollywood's Golden Time
Great - Revelatory - A must see? simply No.

Gone with the Wind (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Everett Brown , Fred Crane , Clark Gable , Howard C. Hickman , and Leslie Howard
Director: Cukor, George , and Fleming, Victor
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B000BYA4LA
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Amazon.com essential video

David O. Selznick wanted Gone with the Wind to be somehow more than a movie, a film that would broaden the very idea of what a film could be and do and look like. In many respects he got what he worked so hard to achieve in this 1939 epic (and all-time box-office champ in terms of tickets sold), and in some respects he fell far short of the goal. While the first half of this Civil War drama is taut and suspenseful and nostalgic, the second is ramshackle and arbitrary. But there's no question that the film is an enormous achievement in terms of its every resource--art direction, color, sound, cinematography--being pushed to new limits for the greater glory of telling an American story as fully as possible. Vivien Leigh is still magnificently narcissistic, Olivia de Havilland angelic and lovely, Leslie Howard reckless and aristocratic. As for Clark Gable: we're talking one of the most vital, masculine performances ever committed to film. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Awesome considering when it was made.......2007-09-06

There are a few silly mistakes in the film, and I was suprised to see they were using blue screen already. However this is a classic drama with great strong performances. Hope someone remakes it someday.

Forever a Favorite.......2007-08-24

Have loved this movie for at least 20 years! Finally took-on the book this summer... if you haven't read it and you feel like conquering something then definitely get your hands on the book! It's a shame so many things were left out of the movie, but once you read the book, so many things are answered and it all comes together. Still, a great classic.

Nice movie.......2007-08-04

First off, I had to write a review of this because currently there are 666 reviews, and that is bad. Mine maked it 667, hurray!

Well, I liked this product. The box smells kind of nice (like anchovies a little). It came in the mail by a nice man who rang my doorbell. It was in a bigger box them and came with lots of styrofoam that came as a free gift. There are 2 discs in the box. They have different pictures on them. They can make good frisbees. Buy this product it will give you a happy day. (And the styrofoam can make a good substitute for popcorn)

One of the Best of Hollywood's Golden Time.......2007-08-03

This would be arguably the best film made during the so-called "golden years" of Hollywood. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Margaret Mitchell, the film won 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best adapted screenplay by Sidney Howard and Best Director, Vic Fleming, known more for his Oscar nomination as Best Director for the timeless, The Wizard of Oz.

I dislike using this word, but Gone with the Wind is your `quintessential' American film & story. Set wholly in the Deep South just prior, during and after the Civil War, historically the movie seemed to capture the tone, attitudes, ambience and sentimentality of the time period. Gone with the Wind managed to harness that "fighting spirit" that culturally the United States is known for...in terms of never giving up and life's essential contradictory combination of ugliness and beauty. More so, however, the film is a love story, a tragic love story and our changing times.

The last time seeing Gone with the Wind was by sheer fluke, playing at a small cinema across town. There is that captivating scene where Scarlett O'Hara (the beautiful Vivian Leigh) stands at the top of the winding staircase and sees for the first time, Rhett Butler, (Clarke Gable); the camera sweeps down the staircase for a close up at Gable's roguish smile, and still, after seventy years, the theatre filled with the sighs of women, young and old, over Clarke Gable's looks and charm - astonishing.

Sidney Howard won Best adaptation screenplay that year, (1939) but after the film was made and he was nominated, died on his farm, his tractor falling upon him. Howard was the first writer to win an Oscar posthumously from the academy...a brilliant writer.

There were many beautiful stars during the Golden Age but personally, Vivian Leigh as a child and now, so many years later, remains my ideal woman: feisty, strong, tragic and attractive till the end of her life. My other favourite role of Ms. Leigh's was in Tennessee Williams', A Street Car Named Desire, as another (tragic) character, Blanch...beautiful, extraordinary yet ultimately tragic.

One cannot write about this film without mentioning "mammy" (Hattie McDaniel) the black house servant that stayed with Miss O'Hara through it all...Hattie was the first black American actress in American film history to be nominated and win the Oscar for Best supporting actress in Gone with the Wind. As a child, her character always made me wish that she would be a family member in our household...no pretension, say's what she feels and so caring.

Although best viewed on the big screen, Gone with the Wind can be appreciated on DVD because it is that kind of timeless film that should never be forgotten.

Great - Revelatory - A must see? simply No........2007-08-01

"Gone with the Wind" is hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time, and not without reason I am sure, as it was not only a great drama, but a pivotal and exciting technical breakthrough. But the question when labeling a great movie is not only how much it resonates with old audiences and how it looks in the film history text book but how it resonates with audiences throughout time. As the 1900s progressed and social and political viewpoints became exponentially more liberal, "Gone with the Wind", the grand product that it is, feels in many ways - just as putrid and despicable as it doe great and epic. Its racism is explicit, its philosophical outlook pessimistic, its romance unromantic. Scarlett O hara, no doubt one of the great screen talents and beauties, plays a character who is thouroughly and utterly despicable, so much so that her last screen revelation that she actually loved Clark Gent after all, feels forced and unbelievable. Her attitude as a woman is courageous and admirable, but her attitude as a person is so wretched that no last dramatic lines could possibly redeem it. Take note that the movie suggests she still does not know who she loves by the end, as her last revelation is from the words of Ashley..."The answer is Tara."

Average customer rating:

masterpiece!
Exilerating.
Best of Miyazaki Films
nausicaa valley of the wind
Nausicaa

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Starring: Sumi Shimamoto , Mahito Tsujimura , Hisako Kyôda , Gorô Naya , and Ichirô Nagai
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B0001XAPZ6
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Amazon.com

Hayao Miyazaki gained widespread attention in Japan for his complex ecological manga series, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982), which he adapted for the screen two years later. One thousand years after a war devastated much of the Earth, humanity clings to existence at the fringes of a vast, polluted forest inhabited by monstrous insects. Only Nausicaä, the princess of the tiny realm of the Valley of the Wind, grasps the environmental significance of the forest. She sees beyond petty wars and national rivalries to the only viable future for the planet. In Nausicaä, Miyazaki began to explore elements he would develop more fully in his later films: daring, compassionate heroines; exciting flying sequences; colorful side characters; strong interpersonal relationships; and a call for an ecologically sustainable way of life. Nausicaä prefigures Sheeta in Castle in the Sky and Chihiro in Spirited Away, just as the rough and ready Asbel anticipates Pazu in Castle in the Sky and Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke. For years, Nausicaä was available in the United States only as the badly re-edited Warriors of the Wind. The new English dub from Disney presents the film in its entirety, with strong vocal performances by Uma Thurman, Patrick Stewart, Alison Lohman, and Edward James Olmos. (Rated PG: violence, frightening imagery) --Charles Solomon

Description

From one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation and the creator of the Academy Award(R)-winning SPIRITED AWAY (Best Animated Feature Film, 2002) comes Hayao Miyazaki's epic masterpiece NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND. A thousand years after a global war, a seaside kingdom known as the Valley Of The Wind remains one of only a few areas still populated. Led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, the people of the Valley are engaged in a constant struggle with powerful insects called ohmu, who guard a poisonous jungle that is spreading across the Earth. Nausicaä and her brave companions, together with the people of the Valley, strive to restore the bond between humanity and the Earth. NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND is written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. And this spectacuar 2-disc set features exotic settings, impactful music, and a timeless story about courage and compassion in the face of danger.

Customer Reviews:

masterpiece!.......2007-09-06

when i first saw this film i thought to my self "it's ok, it could be better", but then i watched it again and was mystified! this is a beautiful story of a young girl fighting to save the humans that are left and the earth. the story takes place after a nuclear war that destroys the planet and most of the people and animals on it, the only forest left is a poison forest full of giant insects that protect it. its a cautionary tale of how if we let our selves go to far their will be nothing left, this is one of the reasons i love Mr. miyazaki's films so much most of the say that we half to protect our world, because if we don't, who will?

Exilerating........2007-08-10

I love this movie. The animation is amazing. The story line is fun. And it has a great message. I recomend it completley. I never tire of watching it.

Best of Miyazaki Films.......2007-08-10

I have seen all of Miyazaki's films and this is easily my favorite. Beautiful music and scenery mixed with a futuristic message for protecting the environment.

nausicaa valley of the wind.......2007-07-17

Wonderful animation. Good story about respecting others and our planet. My 4 year old daughter absolutely loves this movie.

Nausicaa.......2007-07-09

The exhilarating feature by "Spirited Away" director-animator Miyazaki, "Nausicaa" is an epic masterpiece about an issue very much on the minds of young people today: sustainable living and the future of our planet. Borrowing its apocalyptic scenario from Miyazaki's own manga originals, this dark fantasia pits a band of warrior activists against the encroachment of a poisonous environment. As always with Miyazaki, this is a world where good and evil coexist, sometimes in the same character. Splendid visuals, great voice acting by Thurman, Stewart, and Lohman, and an absorbing finale make this a science-fiction film with a heart, mind, and message.

Gone with the Wind (Four-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Awesome considering when it was made
Forever a Favorite
Nice movie
One of the Best of Hollywood's Golden Time
Great - Revelatory - A must see? simply No.

Gone with the Wind (Four-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Clark Gable , Vivien Leigh , Leslie Howard , Olivia de Havilland , and Thomas Mitchell
Director: Victor Fleming , George Cukor , and Sam Wood
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002V7TZ6
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Amazon.com essential video

Description

DVD Features: Disc 1 & 2 (The Film)
* Commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer
* 5.1 Dolby Digital Soundtrack
* Original Mono Soundtrack

DVD Features: Disc 3
* The Making of a Legend: Gone With The Wind the acclaimed 1989 documentary made by Selznick's sons and narrated by Christopher Plummer (125 Minutes, Never-before-available on DVD)
* Restoring a Legend- An in-depth look at the restoration and Ultra-Resolution process utilized by Warner Bros. For this new DVD presentation
* Footage from 1939 Atlanta and 1961 Civil War Centennial Atlanta premieres
* The Old South - Fred Zinnerman directed this historical 1940 theatrical short, which was shown by MGM in theatres prior to the release of Gone With The Wind

DVD Features: Disc 4
* Melanie Remembers: Olivia de Havilland Recalls Gone With The Wind - All new documentary produced especially for this new DVD set, features Ms. de Havilland's personal recollections of the film
* Clark Gable: A King Remembered - A Portrait of the legendary actor's long and distinguished career as M-G-M's most famous leading man
* Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond hosted by Jessica Lange, this is an insightful look at Leigh's short and troubled life
* Mini documentaries covering lives and careers of the most prominent cast members

Customer Reviews:

Awesome considering when it was made.......2007-09-06

Forever a Favorite.......2007-08-24

Nice movie.......2007-08-04

One of the Best of Hollywood's Golden Time.......2007-08-03

Great - Revelatory - A must see? simply No........2007-08-01

Average customer rating:

Honor Above War, Love Above Loyalty
'Between the Wind and the Lion is the woman. For her, half the world may go to war.'
The Wind and the Lion
luis g caliz
SEAN CONNERY? AN ARAB TRIBAL EADER??

The Wind and the Lion
Starring: Chris Aller , Luis Barboo , Deborah Baxter , Candice Bergen , and Sean Connery
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B0000EYUCK
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Amazon.com

The up-and-down career of director John Milius had no finer moment than The Wind and the Lion, a dandy adventure tale. It's based on fact: An American (played by Candice Bergen) and her two children were kidnapped in 1904 Morocco by a Berber tribe, an international incident settled by President Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick" military muscle. The film's sweep and swagger are unabashedly old-fashioned, even as Milius occasionally pokes fun at the grand characters. Some of the peripheral material is sloppy, but as long as Milius keeps his sights locked on the two powerful protagonists, he's dead-on: Brian Keith makes a gutsy Roosevelt, and Sean Connery is in splendid form (with Scots accent in place--got a problem with that?) as the dashing Berber chieftain. Perhaps overshadowed by John Huston's The Man Who Would be King the same year (Huston plays advisor John Hay in this one), Wind makes a marvelous companion piece. --Robert Horton

Description

An American is kidnapped by a rebellious Arab chieftain, principally as a means to embarrass the Sultan of Morocco. This abduction sparks the threat of armed intervention by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Customer Reviews:

Honor Above War, Love Above Loyalty.......2007-08-25

I sometimes tire of non-fiction (reality) and escape into DVDs, but many of them are either reality or a sembalnce of reality that merits respect. This is such a film.

I would also add a note of caution to those who would demean this film as "corny." NOT right. This film was ahead of its time. In this film, the moderate Islamists (represented by Sean Connery) are upset with foreign presence (Western Europe), and the USA with its bully Theodore and its aggressive Marines, are in the wrong until the Marines are led back on track by the female American protagonist (Candice Bergen) and free the Lion of Islam to fight again.

TAKEAWAY: Americans can be, are, morally wrong (as are all immoral predatory nations), and moderate Islamists are, in their own place that we have invaded, morally correct. Our God is NOT, as LtGen Jerry Boykin, one of my top five greatest generals ever (out of 75 or so I have known, most never more than a Colonel with a facelift) greater than theirs. Our God is CO-Equal to theirs, and the sooner we put Dick Cheney and Henry Kissinger behind bars, the sooner we eliminate our 750 bases overseas, the sooner the world can restore balance. Legitimacy and morality are the two strategic pillars that America has abondoned its in prostitution to Saudi oil and 42 of 44 dictators, and we can never be America the Beautiful, America the Good, unless we right ourselves.

As a patriotic estranges Republican I will say this clearly: America and Israel are the scourges of the world, followed by Saudi Aribia. We have sown the dragon's teeth, and I weep for what we have become: virtual colonialists, unilateralist military confusing might with right, and a cheating culture that ignores the class war led by our predatory immoral Wall Street band of merry thieves laundering drug money and covering up the complicity of Dick Cheney and Rudy Gulliani in the murder of most who died on 9-11 from controlled demolitions (NYC) or a missile (the Pentagon).

Where, or where, is the American Eagle that we need so desperately? See the image I have posted above to understand where we need to go if our children, if all children, are to have a future.

Other DVDs (see also my lists):
Tibet - Cry of the Snow Lion
Why We Fight
Gandhi (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Last Samurai (Full Screen Edition)

'Between the Wind and the Lion is the woman. For her, half the world may go to war.'.......2007-08-23

For me, The Wind and the Lion is one of the great adventure films of all time (rather than an action movie per se) and certainly has the best script of the 70s, managing to combine adventure, myth, romance, wit and political cynicism while creating memorable characters and driving the story forward. Its influences are clearly noticeable, and all acknowledged by writer-director John Milius: the children's behavior is straight out of A High Wind in Jamaica, the superb beach sequence inspired by another horseback swordfight in The Hidden Fortress (Kurosawa is a big Milius influence elsewhere in the film as well) while the finale throws in a tip of the hat, both musically and visually, to The Wild Bunch. But unlike a Tarantino grab-bag of favorite movie moments, Milius manages to make something unique of his own out of them all in this highly romanticised tale of an American woman (Candice Bergen) and her children kidnapped by an Arab leader (Sean Connery) in Morocco in 1904 that became an international incident that briefly threatened to turn into a war as Teddy Roosevelt (Brian Keith) used it as a rallying cry during his election campaign. But as the Americans and European powers that control the region rattle sabres, hostage and captive form a real friendship they'll risk anything for.

As for Connery's casting... Well, it makes a change to cast a Scot as a north of the border Berber - up until then Hollywood usually cast Welsh actors like Hugh Griffiths as Arabs. Yes, you do laugh when you first hear him speak, but after his line "I am the Raisuli - you will not laugh at me again!", you won't. Accent or not, this is one of his most likeable and charismatic performances, proving himself one of the few actors with enough presence for the epic genre. He's well-matched by Brian Keith's blustering but self-aware Roosevelt, the film building up a growing relationship of mutual respect between the two leaders from different sides of the world who never meet that threatens to make more of an impact than Connery's sparring with Bergen. Connery's The Man Who Would Be King director John Huston offers a good supporting turn as Roosevelt's Secretary of State John Hay, while Jerry Goldsmith's exciting and richly romantic scores is indeed one of the all-time greats. Splendid entertainment in every way.

Warners' DVD is the best presentation of the film to date, offering a fine 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, a vintage making of featurette, theatrical trailer and typically engaging commentary from John Milius.

The Wind and the Lion.......2007-08-09

One of the greatest ever---action, history, romance. Sean Connery and
Candice Bergin are superb together. My highest recommendation.

luis g caliz.......2007-07-20

A good movie and if you think about it, very similar to events taking place in this days....

SEAN CONNERY? AN ARAB TRIBAL EADER??.......2007-05-21

Only Sean Connery, with his thick, albeit familiar accent could pull off a role such as this, with Candace Bergen no less as the believeable heroine. Sprawling vistas, great cinematography, great soundtrack make this a must collector item for lovers of adventure films and historical epics. In spite of the beheadings (tastefully depicted) my entire family enjoyed the picture.

shullcat2003

Average customer rating:

A great start to the War and Remeberance Saga
Winds of War
Better than I remember it!
Non stop viewing.
winds of war

The Winds of War
Starring: Robert Mitchum , Ali MacGraw , Jan-Michael Vincent , John Houseman , and Polly Bergen
Director: Dan Curtis
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0001NBNGQ
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

An engrossing, 1983 television miniseries based on a bestselling work of historical fiction by Herman Wouk, The Winds of War is an admirable production reminiscent of the era of Hollywood's epic features. At the center of the globe-trotting story is the Henry family, whose laconic but straight-shooting patriarch is United States Navy Commander Victor "Pug" Henry (Robert Mitchum), sent to Hitler's Berlin in the spring of 1939 as a naval attaché to the then-neutral American embassy. A keen observer, Pug deduces that Germany is not preparing for war on two fronts (western Europe on one side, Russia on the other) despite what the Nazis want the world to believe, meaning that Hitler must be working out a secret peace deal with Stalin. Pug's prescience makes him a favorite eyewitness in Berlin for Franklin D. Roosevelt (Ralph Bellamy); the irony is that Pug is far less sagacious when it comes to the realities of his family.

Polly Bergen plays unhappy wife Rhoda, who turns to A-bomb developer Palmer Kirby (Peter Graves) for comfort. Pug's 19-year-old daughter, Madeline (Lisa Eilbacher), defies her iron-willed dad's decision that she stay in school by taking a job for CBS radio in New York. Compliant son Warren (Ben Murphy) can't seem to get Pug's attention despite doing everything right (including becoming a Navy pilot, eventually present at the bombing of Pearl Harbor). By contrast, Pug spends more time fuming over black sheep son Byron (Jan-Michael Vincent), who is working in increasingly Fascist Italy as an assistant to an art historian (John Houseman) while trying hard to woo the latter's exasperating niece, Natalie (Ali MacGraw). The story of Byron and Natalie takes up much of The Winds of War as the pair traverse Poland during the shock of Hitler's 1939 assault, and Jewish Natalie later finds herself trapped inside Italy facing the threat of concentration camps. Before The Winds of War ends, each of these characters will end up in places and situations, and with historical figures (Churchill, Mussolini) as well as ordinary people, they would not have anticipated outside the pressures of war. The program's length and smart script allow for a lot of ideas and background detail that pull a viewer in--happily. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A great start to the War and Remeberance Saga.......2007-08-27

A truly great start to the War and Rememberance Saga. If you want history and a great story line this is the one to see. An all star cast. Great movie.

Winds of War.......2007-08-08

Amazing production and many historic events are quite accurate. I have seen it several times and enjoy it more each time. One of the best made for TV films made.

Better than I remember it!.......2007-08-01

Brings back memories of when I first saw this Series on network TV.
Much better when able to view it without commercials every few minutes.
Series is 'timeless' and provides reminders of what people went through during WWII. Will acquire 'War and Remembrance' to complete the series.

Well worth the price.

Non stop viewing........2007-07-26

Wonderful program about the beginnings of World War II. Keeps you very interested in what the next part will be. Great actors. Beautiful locations.

winds of war.......2007-07-24

a most excelent production and recording enjoyed by all the family. What a pity it is recorded for area one as i am sure more people would enjoy it,or if more dvd players could pley area one as well as area two.
charles goldsmith.

Average customer rating:

For the benbfit of Mr. Kite
Musical, Fun and Campy
bee gees
Rating of zero is generous
Hidden classic

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Starring: Peter Frampton , Barry Gibb , Robin Gibb , Maurice Gibb , and Frankie Howerd
Director: Michael Schultz
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009APB6
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Amazon.com

If it weren't for a couple of inspired performances, as well as the time-capsule weirdness of it all, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band would be definitively unwatchable. This misguided effort to dramatize the classic Beatles album (the Fab Four had nothing to do with it, thank goodness) also includes tunes from other Beatles LPs, strung together in lumbering '70s rock-opera style. Peter Frampton, then at the crest of his brief run at the top, stars as Billy Shears, with the Bee Gees wearing the glossy day-glo band jackets from the Pepper album cover. Earth, Wind & Fire turn in a spirited revamp of "Got to Get You into My Life," and Aerosmith thrash their way through "Come Together"; but most of the performances are pretty awful. Out-and-out novelties include Steve Martin doing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and George Burns (but of course) warbling "Fixing a Hole." This high-profile 1978 flop helped kill the hot streak (Saturday Night Fever, Grease) of record and movie producer Robert Stigwood and sink his RSO movie-music empire. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

For the benbfit of Mr. Kite.......2007-09-03

I loved this show ever since I was a kid. One of the few times big name bands worked together to produce a movie. It may be the last time we see something like this come together.

Musical, Fun and Campy.......2007-07-28

Although the Beatles are not performing, the Bee Gee's and Peter Frampton do a wonderful job singing the Beatles' songs. Most of the familiar songs are included. My favorites are all on this DVD. My original was VHS and I remember when we watched it as a family it became a sing-a-long. Also performing in the movies were: Steve Martin, George Burns, Billy Preston, Aerosmith, and Earth Wind and Fire. It is an enjoyable movie and has become a favorite of our teenage grandsons, who have heard of, but were born too late to experience the great talents of the original Fab 4.

bee gees.......2007-06-08

great to have - the boys are at their best and it is a good rememberance piece

Rating of zero is generous.......2007-05-24

I'll challenge anyone who may think they are a bigger fan of the Beatles than myself, however, this is the absolute WORST movie I had ever had the displeasure of viewing in my life. I simply cannot understand how the Beatles could have given the rights to their music to an outfit who could make such a disaster. This is actually painful to watch; you'd get more enjoyment out of watching paint dry. Don't waste your money.

Hidden classic.......2007-05-14

I had known that The Beatles made movies to go a long with some of their albums, like Help! and Yellow Submarine, but I had never heard of this one. My husband had seen it as a child and recently made me rent it and boy am I glad! This movie is amazing! We ended up purchasing it shortly after. It stars the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton with tons of special guest stars. This may sound strange, but their performances are amazing and they add a whole new dimension to the album. The whole movie seems to parallel The Beatles rise to fame and the sex, money and corruption that goes along with it. I think this movie is a classic and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Average customer rating:

Inherit the Wind
Strangely, this film may be more relevant today than when it was made
A Real Zinger
Inherit the Wind (1960) 47+ years and still relevent!!!
Is NOT "all glitter and glamour but no substance"

Inherit the Wind
Starring: Claude Akins , Donna Anderson , Jr. Noah Beery , Jimmy Boyd , and Philip Coolidge
Director: Stanley Kramer
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005PJ6V
Release Date: 2001-12-11

Amazon.com essential video

Two of the juiciest roles in the American theater fall at the feet of Spencer Tracy and Fredric March, and both men make a meal of it. Inherit the Wind, based on the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, is a slightly fictionalized account of the Scopes Monkey Trial, that galvanizing legal drama of the 1920s. When a young Tennessee teacher is prosecuted for teaching the theory of evolution in a public school, he receives unwanted public attention as well as the legal advice of a giant. Tracy plays the role based on Clarence Darrow, the eloquent defense attorney, and March storms his way through a part based on Williams Jennings Bryan, the failed presidential candidate (and famed orator) who prosecuted the case. Gene Kelly plays a character based on the acid-penned H.L. Mencken, reporting on the trial and caustically commenting on the absurdity of the human animal. Stanley (Judgment at Nuremberg) Kramer's direction is not especially subtle, but the verbal fireworks unleashed during the trial sequences are still stirring. Even the different styles of the actors are intriguing: March is all mannerism and false padding around the belly, while Tracy does his patented naturalistic grumbling. It would be nice if this story were a quaint period piece, but its issues and arguments keep reemerging in the headlines with each new generation. --Robert Horton

Description

Two-time Best Actor OscarÂ(r) winners* Spencer Tracy and Fredric March go toe-to-toe in this thrilling re-creation of the most titanic courtroom battle of the century. Garnering four Academy AwardÂ(r) nominations**, including Best Actor (Tracy), and featuring Gene Kelly in a rare, critically-acclaimed dramatic role, Inherit the Wind is powerful, provocative cinema and "a heaping measure of entertainment" (The Hollywood Reporter)! The controversial subject of evolution versus creation causes two polar opposites to engage in one explosive battle of beliefs. Attorney Clarence Darrow (Tracy) faces off against fundamentalist leader William Jennings Bryan (March) in a small Tennessee town where a teacher has been brought to trial for teaching Darwinism. Let the trial begin...and watch the sparks fly!

Customer Reviews:

Inherit the Wind.......2007-06-27

Stanley Kramer's spellbinding film features a deft performance by Tracy as the rumpled, deceptively plain-spoken Drummond (modeled on Clarence Darrow), matched by March's larger than life, virtuoso turn as Matthew Brady (based on William Jennings Bryan). Just sit back, pretend you're sitting in that humid courtroom, and watch two old pros at work. You'll re-live history. Also look for Gene Kelly in one of his only serious, non-dancing roles as a cynical journalist based on H.L. Mencken.

Strangely, this film may be more relevant today than when it was made.......2007-05-21

Inherit the Wind is the broad fictional adaptation of the real-life Scopes Monkey Trial in which John Scopes, a football coach who taught evolution in a high school classroom, was put on trial and the city of Dayton, Tennessee was put on the map... and not in a particularly pleasing light.

Spencer Tracy and Frederic March turn out tremendously powerful performances as opposing lawyers in the trial, while Gene Kelly stands aloofly by as a flippant reporter for the Boston Globe.

What is especially striking about Inherit the Wind is the relevance of the movie (almost 50 years later) to the current political atmosphere). In the 20's the law said that evolution couldn't be taught, and now it's creationism that can't be taught. As Tracy's Henry Drummond says in the film, "Well, that's evolution for you."

The acting throughout the film is outstanding and it hardly feels like a two hour film, particularly in black and white. The entire film builds momentum until it all comes to a head at the very end with the showdown between Drummond (Tracy) and Brady (March). This is not a film to be missed if you're at all interested in history (although it's a loose adaptation) and the current intelligent design debate.

Included on the disc is the original trailer for the film, which features a few clips, director Stanley Kramer discussing the film, and lists awards that it had won in festivals. It's interesting to see a trailer that old and compare it to our current ones.

A Real Zinger.......2007-03-30

Stanley Kramer's "Inherit the Wind" seems a bit dated with Ernest Laszlo's Oscar-nominated black & white cinematography. Frederick March plays Matthew Harrison Brady that is loosely based on William Jennings Bryant. March won two Oscars, one for "Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" (1931) and another for "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946). While he won the Silver Bear Best Acting Award for "Inherit the Wind" from the Berlin International Film Festival, this was not among his 5 Oscar nominations. His tirades are so over-the-top that he seems almost to act in a different universe from Spencer Tracy's more modern realism.

Stanley Kramer used bravado to assemble his cast. He told Tracy that he had Frederick March & Gene Kelly signed to the picture, then approached Kelly saying he had Tracy & March signed. Eventually, all did come on board, but it was major salesmanship on Kramer's part that assembled the cast. Kramer had three Oscar nominations as Best Director for "The Defiant Ones" (1958), "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961) & "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967), but never won other than an honorary award. Pickets went up at movie theatres protesting the "anti-religious" slant of this picture. Kramer's known liberal platform rings loud & clear in this film, made in the year that John F. Kennedy was elected president.

Spencer Tracy will be remembered as one of film's best actors from its first century as a medium. He had an amazing pair of back-to-back awards for Best Actor Oscars for "Captain's Courageous" (1937) & "Boys Town" (1938). "Inherit the Wind" was among his 9 Oscar nominations, although Burt Lancaster won that year for "Elmer Gantry." Based on Clarence Darrow, Tracy plays Henry Drummond as a cantankerous geezer, but with enough reserve to make the riveting moments real zingers. March, on the other hand, gets on a high note and seems to stay there, making him seem -- as Kramer probably intended -- like a buffoon.

Dick York will be remembered as Darren Stevens on the "Bewitched" TV series. He had been in "My Sister Eileen" and had even sustained a back injury while shooting "They Came to Cordura" in 1959 that would eventually cause him to leave the "Bewitched" series. "Inherit the Wind" is probably his most memorable dramatic role. John Scopes has been changed to Bertram Cates. York's youthful looks seem the right fit for a teacher promoting Darwin's theory of evolution. York would pass away from emphysema 32 years later; but this is probably his best work on film.

Donna Anderson plays Bertram's fiancee. She'd been in Kramer's previous film "On the Beach" (1959) about survivors of a nuclear holocaust. This was the 2nd of the 5 films she would make. She seems pretty confused about the issue of evolution, but love firmly persuades her to stand by her man.

Other performances that shine are Henry Morgan that we also know from the TV shows "M.A.S.H." & "Dragnet." Florence Eldridge, who in real life was Mrs. Frederick March, plays his wife here while having very sympathetic eyes for Spencer Tracy. Claude Aikens plays the staunch Rev. Jeremiah Brown. And TV's "3's Company" regular Norman Fell has a cameo as a radio announcer. The film did not win any Oscars, although it was nominated for Best Editing & Best Adapted Screenplay.

The issues in the film are still relevant today. I didn't particularly find the film "anti-religious" as much as it seemed opposed to fanaticism & intolerance. Science plays a vital role in debunking religion of much of its superstition, but it does not negate the existence of God as Creator. Evolution could be as well interpreted as part of the Divine Technique rather than in opposition to religion. The performances in the film drew me into the picture. I found it entertaining as it nears 50 years since it was made. Enjoy!

Inherit the Wind (1960) 47+ years and still relevent!!!.......2007-03-16

This is a movie about the dispute between creationism and evolution and the legal ramifications of this moral delima (teaching evolution in a town that make evangelicals look like hippies). Look for Spencer Tracy (Drummond), Frederick March (Brady), Harry Morgan as the Judge, and Gene Kelly in a rare dramatic role as a trial reporter! Also for an interesting side note, this was the first in-flight movie EVER!!! Based on a play.

Is NOT "all glitter and glamour but no substance".......2007-03-08

This is a 1960's marvel. The screen writers, actors and actresses alike do a phenomenal job making the Tennessee vs. John Scopes trial come to life. The movie has arguably more depth and reach than perhaps the actual court case had. Issues of Evolution and Creationism (while still present) take a back seat as Spencer Tracy (Counselor Drummond) argues for man's progress and right to think while not completely rejecting spirituality.
This movie will never be in danger of becoming irrelevant as it confronts issues of fanaticism, ignorance, bigotry, and group-think. In my opinion it's the best version of the story out there, play, movie re-make or otherwise. It's one of my all time favorites.

Average customer rating:

For those who love to sail...
Great
They did good
It's all true! An excellent film!
DVD Quality

Wind (1992) (Ws Sub)
Starring: Matthew Modine , Jennifer Grey , Cliff Robertson , Jack Thompson , and Stellan Skarsgård
Director: Carroll Ballard
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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