Emma (1996)

Amazon.com

Most people didn't mind Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent in this charming, 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel (which also inspired Clueless). But even if it doesn't sound quite right to you, there are plenty of authentic and wonderful Brit thespians in this film by screenwriter-turned-director Douglas McGrath (co-author of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway), including Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply), Alan Cumming (Buddy), Phyllida Law (Much Ado About Nothing), Ewan McGregor (the Scots star of Trainspotting), and Sophie Thompson, outstanding and finally heartbreaking as the chattering Miss Bates. Paltrow plays Austen's benign busybody, Emma Woodhouse--so busy trying to arrange the lives of others that she is sidestepping her own. McGrath brings a kind of pretty and light touch to the production, his best move the wise delegation of creative authority to the actors themselves. --Tom Keogh

Description

This delightfully fun and lighthearted comedy is based on the story that inspired the hit movie CLUELESS! Dazzling Gwyneth Paltrow (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS) shines as EMMA, a mischievous young beauty who sets up her single friends. Funny thing is ... she's not very good at it! So when Emma tries to find a man for Harriet (Toni Collette -- THE SIXTH SENSE, ABOUT A BOY), she makes a hilariously tangled mess of everyone's lives. You'll enjoy all the comic confusion ... until Emma herself falls in love, finally freeing everyone from her outrageously misguided attempts at matchmaking.

Customer Reviews:

Adorable!.......2007-08-21

I adore Jane Austen and this version of Emma is spot on. The acting is wonderful and the fact that Gwenyth Paltrow is not really british doesn't even come to play because she is fantastic in this. A very witty, charming fun movie that any Austen fan will love. And that Mr. Nightly..........................sigh

One of my favorites!.......2007-08-16

I absolutely adore Emma, it is witty, funny, and adorable. The costumes are excellent (I in fact made a replica of Emma's pink archery gown) and the set is absolutely amazing. Anyone will feel right at home in Highbury with Emma and her friends.

great fun............2007-08-11

I remember seeing this film on the big screen, when it was first released in 1996. I was on a total Jane Austen kick. I think I saw just about every film adaptation of her novels (with the exception of PERSUASION), and was looking forward to how this version would fare. I am happy to say that Gwyneth Paltrow embodies the title character of Emma charmingly. The upperclass matchmaker [and mischiefmaker] proceeds to set people up, shake up naysayers around her and has her share of misadventures. This film will make you smile and is very cleverly executed, and the supporting cast (James Cosmo, Greta Scacchi, and Alan Cumming, among others) are strong and play off of Paltrow's spritely and fiesty Emma delightfully. What's more, cinematographically, this film was shot like a beautiful English landscape and glows with life. Lovely......

Oh Gweneth, you have captured Emma!.......2007-07-22

I had saved this production of Emma for the last and was surprised at what I had missed when reading the book! This was so true to the book and so wonderfully done that I will watch it over and over I am sure. It made the book come alive for me and sparked even more of Jane's meaning for me. I could see how Emma felt through Gwyneth's wonderful portrayal. I have never known Gweneth to be such a perfectionist as this movie truely reveals. Thank you Gwyneth!

can't get enough.......2007-07-18

I finally bought this after renting it about five times. By now I've seen it more than any other movie, I'm sure, and will never tire of it. If I'm ever having a blah week, I pop it in, and like magic, I'm cheered up. It's truly delightful.

Average customer rating:

Excellent fare
Emma (A&E, 1997)
A very one dimensional Emma
Kate has displayed Emma's true personality exactly!
Wonderful Version

Emma (A&E, 1997)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale , Bernard Hepton , Mark Strong (II) , Samantha Bond , and James Hazeldine
Director: Diarmuid Lawrence
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
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ASIN: 0767020308
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Product Description

From the greatest romantic novelist of all time comes a delightfully wicked comedy of love and matchmaking. Jane Austen's sly and vivacious heroines have enchanted readers for more than 200 years. Now, for the first time on DVD, this acclaimed production from the creators of A&E s bestselling PRIDE AND PREJUDICE brings to life one of the most fascinating Austen characters of all -- the charming and mischievous Emma Woodhouse.Starring Kate Beckinsale (The Last Days Of Disco), EMMA is the story of a rich, clever and beautiful young woman who can't resist orchestrating other people's love lives. As her romantic plans go ridiculously wrong, however, it's Emma herself who risks missing out on her perfect match! Join A&E for a wry visit to the drawing rooms and country manors of 19th century England -- a visit to the enchanting world of Jane Austen's EMMA now in the crystal clear digital clarity of DVD.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Similar to the equally excellent Valmont, this version of Jane Austen's classic novel had the misfortune of following a sumptuous big-star version with Gwyneth Paltrow, which was released the summer before. And, just as 1989's Valmont suffered comparisons with Dangerous Liaisons, inevitably these Emmas were held up next to one another.

This delicious Emma concerns a young woman of financial substance (Kate Beckinsale), who fancies herself a matchmaker, especially with shy Miss Harriet Smith (Samantha Morton, who also appears in A&E's Jane Eyre). In Emma's swirling world of social activity and social consciousness, one's position and stature is a constant preoccupation. But to her credit, Emma, albeit a busybody, has compassion for all classes, and for her kindly but hypochondriacal father (Bernard Hepton).

This miniseries is more subtle than the grand theatrical release, is truer to the novel, and gives a richer explanation of the relationship between Emma associates Jane Fairfax (beautiful Olivia Williams of Rushmore) and the duplicitous Frank Churchill (Raymond Coulthard). Of course, at the center, as in all Austen stories, is the romance between the unsuspecting leading lady and an unlikely, but wholly suitable gentleman. In this case, it's Emma and her brother-in-law, the righteous (as played here) Mr. Knightley (Mark Strong). Strong's Mr. Knightley is more reserved, less coy than Jeremy Northam's; he plays Knightley more like Mr. Darcy (the leading man in Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which A&E also offers in a wonderful miniseries). Beckinsale proves to be utterly delightful and in no way should this excellent adaptation be ignored. --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews:

Excellent fare.......2007-09-13

This adaptation was excellent, the cast were well chosen and were able to portray their characters with excellence, maintaining the essence of each as Jane Austin wrote them. The storyline kept to the book, revealing the attitudes of the times and portaying Emma's growth from self consumed adolecent to compassionate young adult.

Emma (A&E, 1997).......2007-08-31

I love this movie because it highlights the relationship between "Emma" and "Mr. Knightley." The actor and actress did a good job of portraying their characters.

A very one dimensional Emma.......2007-07-16

Kate Beckinsale's performance, to me, seemed extremely one dimensional. We certainly see the vanity, but none of the compassion which makes Emma a worthy (albeit immature) hero traveling along her arc. By comparison, Gwenyth Paltrow's performance (within a year) shows us a misguided socialite, who repeatedly displays compassion.

The best example might concern Emma's view of Martin. While Paltrow tells us he is beneath her, she also points out that were he less fortunate (than he is), she would feel honor bound to help him. Kate's Emma, on the other hand, simply despise him for no good reason.

Having watched both features back to back, Beckinsale strike's me as a twin sister of Mrs. Elton, rather than Austin's kind-hearted, but misguided Emma.

I would recommend forgoing this version and taking Paltrow's instead.

Kate has displayed Emma's true personality exactly!.......2007-07-13

I am very pleased with this version of Emma. I am thinking Jane Austin herself would be proud that so much of the original dialog was used. The story followed true to the book much more than I have seen in any other Emma reproduction. If you loved reading Emma (which I believe is Jane's masterpiece), then this will make you smile all the way through it.

Wonderful Version.......2007-06-19

This is my favorite of the Emma movies. Emma, though meddlesome, is so endearing and forgiveable in this version. I think A&E in general does a great job of adapting beloved novels to the small screen. They have also done well with the Hercule Poirot mysteries. In the same way they treated Agatha Christie's words with care, they have done the same for Jane Austen. The supporting characters are all well-done in this movie too. The scenery and costuming is colorful and superb. I am pleased I purchased this, and I am not at all disappointed in the way this story has been presented. This is a terrific version of a great novel.

Average customer rating:

A great musical
Wonderful Movie
Hello...Dolly fans!
Dolly Reigns supreme
Hello Dolly

Hello, Dolly!
Starring: Joyce Ames , Louis Armstrong , Richard Collier , Michael Crawford , and Fritz Feld
Director: Gene Kelly
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005JL1P
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Product Description

One of Barbra Streisand's most beloved performances is that of the indomitable Dolly Levi in this hugely popular musical that received a Best Picture Academy Award nomination in 1969.

It's turn-of-the-century Yonkers, New York, where an ambitious young widow with a penchant for matchmaking (Streisand), has an idea for the perfect match-tight-fisted, local merchant Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau) and-herself! As she tries to win his heart, we're treated to one of the most musically entertaining, hilariously underhanded plots in film history. Directed by Gene Kelly, this Oscar winner for Best Sound, Music, Score and Art Direction/Set Decoration is among the world's most cherished films.

System Requirements:

Running Time 148 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

They just don't make musicals like this any more. There are some who would be grateful for that--the plot is but a flimsy excuse to string together song and dance numbers. Some of us, however, love big, splashy, overdone musical scenes, of which there are many. Glittering stage numbers showcase a commanding Barbra Streisand as Dolly Levy, a New York matchmaker who can find a mate for anyone. Anyone but herself, that is. Determined to marry wealthy Walter Matthau, she lures him out of Yonkers and sets about wooing him.

Don't worry about the lack of a solid story or Gene Kelly's pedestrian direction. Watch instead for the musical numbers and the lavish costumes. Listen to Jerry Herman's score, and dance around the living room when a sequined Streisand arrives in a club as Louis Armstrong strikes up the title tune for her benefit. (Just pull the shades first.) Based on Thornton Wilder's play The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! won Academy Awards for best sound, art direction, and musical score. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews:

A great musical.......2007-05-21

Although Streisand was a little too young to play the lead she made a note worthy lead. But it was the songs and choreogragphy that made this an excellent movie.

Wonderful Movie.......2007-05-08

I had watched this movie many times on TCM in letterbox. I even recorded it. Amazon offered it at half price so I jump on it. The bonus features are well worth it. This Movie is real. Not a bunch of CGI crap. Appreciate it for what it is. A marvel and masterpiece.

Hello...Dolly fans!.......2007-04-01

"Hey Mr. Armstine...here I am" and i loved this movie. Its got everything a musical should have, and more with barbra in it. Its a recommend for anyone with a song in there hearts.

Dolly Reigns supreme.......2007-03-10

There has been much talk over the years about Streisand being too young for the role. Who cares? This is a Hollywood classic proving some movies will remain popular forever. Fantastixc production numbers, costuming and art direction. Put on your Sunday clothes and check out Dolly. It is a great film. Barbra at her musical best.

Hello Dolly.......2007-03-09

I love Barbra Streisand. She didn't disapoint me with this movie. She is great. I really enjoy this movie and am happy to add it to my DVD library. Highly reccomend.

Average customer rating:

Pride and Prejudice (1980)
ENGLISH 19TH CWNTURY MANNERS
The Definitive Version of Pride and Prejudice
Perfect
Bought this unintentionally

Pride and Prejudice (BBC, 1980)
Starring: Marsha Fitzalan , Peter Settelen , Priscilla Morgan , Edward Arthur , and Judy Parfitt
Director: Cyril Coke
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000244FDW
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Amazon.com

In Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice, the arrival of a young, well-off, eligible man named Mr. Bingley sends the Bennet household--with five girls of a marrying age--into a tizzy. But it's the introduction of Mr. Bingley's friend, Mr. Darcy (played with an imperious scowl by David Rintoul), that sets in motion the fate of Elizabeth Bennet (the adorable Elizabeth Garvie), resolved only after a labyrinth of social and personal complexities. Austen's novels are miracles of skillful plotting, fusing a rich understanding of psychological motivation with whimsical turns of chance. This superb BBC adaptation from 1980 zips along, thanks to lively performances, fluid direction, and a keen grasp of the wit of Austen's dialogue (expertly translated to the screen by British novelist Fay Weldon) and her satirical characters, who range from clever and kind to utterly odious. Due to its faithfulness and deep appreciation of the material, this five-episode miniseries stands up against any other film or television adaptation (at least nine to date), though Rintoul may not sets hearts aflutter the way Colin Firth did in the also excellent 1995 miniseries. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Pride and Prejudice (1980).......2007-08-31

This is excellent! Beautiful singing from Elizabeth. I love how Mrs. Bennett and Mr. Bingley are portrayed in the movie. It's a good movie to watch!

ENGLISH 19TH CWNTURY MANNERS.......2007-08-30

A GREAT MOVIE I'VE WANTED FOR YEARS. IT IS A FINE EXAMPLE AS TO THE USE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. THE DIALOGUE IS A PLEASURE TO HEAR. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD PLAY WELL IN SOME PARTS OF GREAT BRITAIN OR THE U.S.

The Definitive Version of Pride and Prejudice.......2007-08-19

I owe them all; don't get me wrong. I own the A&E version, the new version with Keira Knightly, and the original 1980 BBC version. I have to say that the very best version, the truest to Jane Austen's vision, the most perfectly cast film version is this version, the 1980 BBC Version. Yes, Colin Firth in a wet shirt is a sight to behold. Yes, Dame Judy Dench as Lady Catherine is a pleasure. However, both versions fall entirely short when faced with the BBC version. In the BBC Version, Darcy and Elizabeth are perfectly cast. Mrs. Bennet deserves an Oscar for her great attack of "nerves." This is the very best version. Yes,. Buy and enjoy the others, but YOU MUST GET THIS AS WELL. You won't regret it.

Perfect.......2007-08-08

I find it exceedingly paradoxical that so many self-proclaimed Pride and Prejudice fans denigrate the 1980 version, yet adore the inferior, albeit more known 1995 version. Prior to watching this excellent adaptation, the A&E production was admittedly my favourite. I too, like so many other P+P enthusiasts adored it upon the first viewing. It wasn't so much the portrayal of the characters in the 1995 production that impressed me, rather, it was the dialogue, the scenery (for obvious reasons) and how naturally everthing unfolded. I took some issue with some of the liberties the director took-Mr Darcy jumping into the vermin filled pool etc.-but the dialogue between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth charmed me enough that I was able to overlook those minor foibles of the 1995 version.

Imagine my surprise, or horror rather, when I bought this version and discovered that the an inordinate amount of the dialogue from the 1995 version was sufficiently similar to the dialogue from this version as to render the dialogical origin of the 1995 version suspect. The discussion between Eliza and Mr. Darcy at Netherfield about pride and vanity and how the latter is a fault, but the former is justified if there is a true superiority of mind is one example that I cite; another is Miss Bingley's speech about "Elizabeth's lack of beauty" at Pemberley: "I remember you said, Mr. Darcy, she a beauty, I should sooner call her mother a wit."

That said, I haven't forgotten about the lamentable travesty that is the 2005 version. I first I knew I was in trouble when I witnessed the overtly rustic, pathetic excuse of a house the Bennets supposedly lived in. The 'manners,' or lack of manners, rather, that Keira's Elizabeth posessed made me wonder what it was that was so superior about her in comparison to her sisters or the rest of her lot in general. Leave it to Hollywood to confuse Elizabeth with a modern day feminist. Uncoventional, outspoken and witty Elizabeth may have been, but a shrill, ill-bred feminist she certainly was not. As for Mr. Darcy...the hair, the hair, the air, the complete lack of an air of nobility, of pride, of principle and goodness beneath his veneer of...pride, what pride? If you ask me, he merely appeared pathetic and dejected throughout the entire film. Why anyone was offended by his pathetic, melancholy countenance is beyond me. I felt sorry for the guy.

This version is infinitely superior to the other two, alhough the 1995 version does have its merits. Garvie's Elizabeth is wonderfully realized. She is at once impertinent, witty, sweet, and sympathetic. Rintoul's Darcy is handsome and certainly aristocratic, although I thought he could have softened up a bit in the latter part of the film where he is supposedly humbled. The secondary characters are also excellent. The budget did not hinder the beauty of this production. The costumes look realistic and it isn't without its share of the picturesque sceneries that poeple so admire about the 1995 version. Without a doubt, this is the version to watch for Jane Austen fans who admire her work not merely for their romantic plots, but for their wit, their distinct sense of humour, and their colorful and diverse characters.

Bought this unintentionally.......2007-07-18

I bought this in high school after reading (and LOVING) the novel and watching watching clips from what my teacher called "the BBC miniseries." I didn't realize that the version we saw was actually the A&E/BBC version, and bought this one by accident. What a disappointment! Yes, as many people have pointed out, it is very accurate. However, when I read the book, I felt like the characters were alive, but did not feel that at all when I watched this version. Needless to say, it hasn't come out of its case since that afternoon of disappointed viewing.

Average customer rating:

Terrific Sweet Comedy
Matchmaking never goes out of fashion!
Career girl meets Danny Boy
Near perfect...
The Matchmaker

The Matchmaker
Starring: Janeane Garofalo , David O'Hara , Milo O'Shea , Jay O. Sanders , and Rosaleen Linehan
Director: Mark Joffe
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000714BW
Release Date: 2003-01-07

Product Description

As she does in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Janeane Garofalo proves she's a capable leading lady--beautiful, charming, self-effacing, and what used to be referred to as sharp as a tack. Garofalo plays Marcy, aide to dim Massachusetts senator McGlory (Jay O. Sanders). Denis Leary is appropriately slimy as a fellow aide. The senator and Nick dispatch Marcy to the remote (and fictitious) Irish town of Ballinagra, where she's supposed to unearth relatives to use in the senator's PR campaign. Along the way, Marcy not only encounters the eccentric locals, but finds herself in the maelstrom of the town's annual matchmaking festival. The single Marcy inadvertently catches the eye of the movie's eponymous matchmaker Dermot (a captivating Milo O'Shea). Dermot senses sparks between Marcy and the equally cynical, recently returned local boy, Sean (David O'Hara), once a successful journalist who's returned home to work on a book. The intimacies of the small town, the relationships between the locals, and the dialogue are credible and engaging. Look for beautiful cinematography and music, too. Also notable is the movie's ability to convey the feel of a foreign film while injecting humor that's both sarcastically American and yet Irish in trademark.

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Terrific Sweet Comedy.......2007-08-07

Continuing the romantic vein that Janeane Garofalo had in The Truth About Cats & Dogs is The Matchmaker. Garofalo plays Marcy, a put upon campaign assistant, that is given the near impossible task of finding the Irish roots of a clueless politician. Amongst the obstacles in Marcy's way are a matchmaker festival, eccentric characters, a wily matchmaker and a cynical journalist who might just be her match. Janeane Garofalo has never been better at playing a character that is both tough and vulnerable. Milo O'Shea is wonderful and David O'Hara is terrific as the romantic foil. The cinematography is great and the dialogue is witty. This is a movie that is great for someone looking for a romantic comedy on a rainy day.

Matchmaking never goes out of fashion!.......2007-07-08

The plot of "The Matchmaker" has been told in depth by many reviewers as well as the talent shown by all the actors. I would like to add a little comment on the characteristics that I liked most and that will make me remember this work.
There are many reasons to see this movie, even now that it is ten years old.
The first is that it stands the test of time: it is still as fresh and entertaining as when it came out and it deals with timeless problems that have somehow become cliches: raskally political men, the importance the Americans give to finding their roots, overwork, the difficulty of a womans role, loneliness and love.
The second is that all the actors are well casted, very good and true to life, they don't seem to come out of a refinished, glossy out of the world reality.
The third is that its humoristic with fine ironic dialogue that makes a laugh or two.
But the fourth reason is the most important of all and it is the lively, precise and poetic description of the beauty and tradition of Ireland's West Coast from Connemara to Aran Island to Lisdoonvarna's long standing matchmaking tradition.
If at this point the reader is not bored I would like to make the point on how a good script makes a good movie.
Lisdoonvarna's Matchmaking Festival held every year in September-October dates back to the 18th Century, when after the summer harvesting rich Irish countrymen went to Lisdoonvarna for the famous spa with warm waters. Here they arranged marriages for their sons and daughters with the help of the traditional figure of the Matchmaker (man or woman) of which I believe a few still survive today. Lisdoonvarna is in County Clare to the south of the West Irish Coast, while the movie was shot in the more picturesque Roundstone Connemara north of Galway and on Aran Island, but the atmosphere of this beautiful corner of the world is all there.
Ireland also has a tradition of singing contests that is well depicted in the movie. The soundtrack is really important in defining the atmospheres and all the songs are chosen with real feeling as can be seen by all the reviews that ask for the soundtrack.
It is incredible and a little pedantic to say but from this movie we not only get entertainment but also a little bit of culture.

Career girl meets Danny Boy.......2007-07-08

I've always liked this movie, and I think the 2 leads (Janeane Garofalo and the "yummy" David O'Hara) are charming and very funny (and dare I say realistic and believable?). The supporting characters -- the shady American politicians (Jay O'Sanders and Denis Leary) as well as all the quirky locals in the little Irish coastal town -- are also hilarious. The plot is a bit madcap in places, but good clean fun.

Near perfect..........2007-05-13

Janeane Garofalo is an underused talent but she did have the opportunity to shine a few times on the big screen. This is one of those examples which, proves that good acting and a great screen presence is not reserved for stars with huge names and multi-million dollar signing contracts (though, it's a shame that Ms. Garofalo isn't pulling down super-star paychecks). This story is set in an Ireland that may be quaint but also shows it's cracks; they just aren't afraid of them. Instead it's the rough and tumble flaws of this country's people and locales that makes it so endearing as the primary setting. Janeane is a misplaced campaign employee trying to track down the roots of her boss, the candidate, who believes he has roots in a particular town on the coast of Ireland. To make matters worse than her difficulty getting to this place she lands in the midst of a matchmaker's festival. She has no interest in getting hooked up and only wants to get her job done so she can return to civilization. What she finds are scammers, overbooked hotels and a matchmaker desperate to hook her up with a rough-around-the-edges local son recently returned home. Dennis Leary plays a conniving campaign manager who is more focused on victory than on relative facts and also treats folks like Janeane's character like an under-achieving serf. Without giving too much away Janeane is a delight and a genuine talent. I doubt that this film did very well and that's a shame. It has some predictable romantic chops but it also has some wonderful dialogue and biting wit as well as observations on the shamelessness of politics. Janeane's a jewel and she doesn't seem to know it. All the better for us.

The Matchmaker.......2007-01-22

A real feel-good movie...loved it the first time I saw it - and still do.

Average customer rating:

I.Q.
Very Pleased
It's a no-brainer - "I.Q." is a fun movie
very good
Excellent in Every Aspect

I.Q.
Starring: Tim Robbins , Meg Ryan , Walter Matthau , Lou Jacobi , and Gene Saks
Director: Fred Schepisi
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000A2ZO0
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Amazon.com

I.Q. has all the elements of a classic romantic comedy. Certainly Meg Ryan has demonstrated she has the stuff for funny love with films such as When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in Seattle, and director Fred Schepisi's Roxanne ranks among top contemporary romantic comedies. Even though Tim Robbins received acclaim for dramatic work in Jacob's Ladder and The Shawshank Redemption, his early comedic work shouldn't be forgotten (well, maybe Howard the Duck, but not the hilarious Sure Thing). And Walter Matthau? No explanation needed.

Combine I.Q.'s talent with its fresh story and it charms. Garage mechanic Ed Walters (Robbins) is captivated at first glimpse by pretty, perky Catherine (Ryan), a gifted academic who lives with her uncle, Albert Einstein (a brilliant Matthau). Catherine is engaged to pretentious James Moreland (the oh-so-appropriate English actor and writer Stephen Fry). Catherine's early 1950s world is all bookish and brainy, even though she has aspirations toward the romantic (Moreland's idea of a honeymoon is the Belgian Congo with Pygmies; she longs for Hawaii). Einstein and his professor pals, played by Lou Jacobi, Gene Saks, and Joseph Maher, conspire to match their beloved Catherine with the sincere and smart (though not intellectual) Ed.

This is a sweet--but not saccharine--story about "engineering" the course of true love and the ironic triumph of heart over head. The topnotch performances (which also include Tony Shalhoub and Frank Whaley as fellow mechanics) really draw audiences into this winning movie. --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews:

I.Q........2007-05-15

Very good quality movie. A movie I would enjoy over and over again.

Very Pleased.......2007-05-07

I love Meg Ryan and Tim Robbins so I love this movie. Amazon was very quick as usual with the order and I just love when I qualify for free shipping.

It's a no-brainer - "I.Q." is a fun movie.......2007-05-01

I just rediscovered this little gem of a movie on DVD recently and, as soon as I watched it, remembered why I had liked it so much when it was released in the `90's. While one of the major elements of the plot is quite far-fetched - that is, fooling everyone into believing that an auto mechanic is a nuclear physicist - the story is so well executed by all of the members of the cast that it works perfectly. The result is a light-hearted comedy with the anomaly of Albert Einstein (!) as a major player in the action.

Garage mechanic Ed Walters (Tim Robbins) falls in love at first sight with Catherine Boyd (Meg Ryan), but he doesn't yet know how he can possibly win her away from the "lesser professor," James Moreland (Stephen Fry), to whom she is already engaged. Serendipity comes into play when Catherine accidentally leaves her watch at the garage; Ed goes to her address to return it to her and finds out that she lives with her uncle, Albert Einstein (played to gleeful perfection by Walter Matthau). Einstein and his cronies (also played with joy and verve by several co-stars) provide the vast majority of the laughs as they set about to make sure that Catherine doesn't resign herself to a drab life with the "chimp pimp" but instead falls in love with vibrant Ed.

There is not a bad performance in this film, the 1950's are recreated with a great sense of nostalgia, and the scenery is beautiful as well (New Jersey lives up to its `Garden State' nickname in this one). The movie is rated PG for "Some mild language," but there are fewer profanities than you can count on one hand (and these truly are mild); I dislike profanity in movies, but I must admit that I can't even recall exactly when in the movie any of the instances of it occurred in this one. Other than two brief instances of sexual innuendo (nothing truly crude, but not as cleverly funny as the writers must have thought), there is nothing here that would be objectionable to anyone. What is here is a pleasant, well-done movie, and I recommend it.

very good.......2007-03-09

una pelicula super solida que permite ver el romance en todos los aspectos

Excellent in Every Aspect.......2006-11-26

I miss Walter Matthau. I believe this to be one of his finer movies. As much as anything Einstein seems to fascinate the public, Matthau's portrayal of Him simply adds his persona. Although somewhat in a better light and greatly fictionalized.
This movie is completely charming, funny and one to be watched over and over again without loosing it's ability to entertain.
Meg Ryan was perfect as Einstein's niece in the film and did an outstanding job as both a thinker and being a bit dizzy at times in common sense matters. She added greatly to the success of this gem as she does with most everything that she has appeared in.
If you're looking for a decent, funny, and at times heartwarming movie this is where you should be. You won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

A Fair within a musical story

It Happened at the World's Fair
Starring: Elvis Presley , Joan O'Brien , Gary Lockwood , Vicky Tiu , and H.M. Wynant
Director: Norman Taurog
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000QXDEEU
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Description

Fun, music and Elvis all happen in this romp boasting one of the best backdrops of any Elvis Presley movie: the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, with its showpiece Space Needle, monorail and more. The King plays pilot-for-hire Mike, whose hope of starting his own flying business is grounded by the gambling of his co-pilot Danny (Gary Lockwood). The pair hitch to Seattle, where Mike finds romance, Danny finds easy marks and both find problems prior to a Happy Ending. Kurt Russell, star of 1979's Elvis biopic, plays the child who wallops Mike in the shins. And among the 10 songs are I'm Falling in Love Tonight, Relax and the gold record One Broken Heart for Sale. If he's selling, we're buying!

Customer Reviews:

A Fair within a musical story.......2007-09-12

After having viewed this movie, you feel like if you have been a visitor at
the Seattle's World Fair in 64, I enjoyed espescially the revolving
restaurant at the top of the Space Needle, the story is bleak but the view is
spectacular, the tunes are good, the actors are good, very few women as
compared to other Elvis' movies. All in all, captivating, interresting and a
good time spent watching this film.

Average customer rating:

Not a review but rather a request....
Great 60s classic with enjoyable commentary
Superb!
You mean Andy Griffith wasn't Opey's first dad?!
Sweet, Sappy, Feel Good Movie

The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Starring: Glenn Ford , Shirley Jones , Stella Stevens , Dina Merrill , and Roberta Sherwood
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008MTY8
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com

Decades may pass, but The Courtship of Eddie's Father never loses any of its abundant charm. Long before he became an Oscar®-winning director, 8-year-old "Ronny" Howard (then appearing on TV's The Andy Griffith Show) costarred with Glenn Ford in this heartwarming family classic, later adapted into a TV series (1969-72) starring Bill Bixby and Brandon Cruz. While the later show adopted a hip, late-'60s sensibility, this 1963 production is more straight-laced and, for its time, remarkably frank--and disarmingly funny--about the many questions that precocious son Eddie (Howard) has for his widower father (Ford) as they recover from the death of wife and mother. A perfect director for this delicate material (wonderfully adapted from Mark Toby's novel), Vincente Minnelli hits all the right notes of sadness, hope, and parental concern; Ford's unspoken love for a helpful neighbor (Shirley Jones) may be a foregone conclusion, but romantic subplots (and Eddie's diligent matchmaking) add plenty of domestic drama. Sweet but never saccharine, this timeless Courtship is guaranteed to make you smile. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The film that started the classic TV series. Although he's only seven, Eddie's got it all figured out. He wants his father, a widower, to get remarried - to the girl next door. Unfortunately, she's not one of the women that his dad's been dating. Sweet family comedy.

Customer Reviews:

Not a review but rather a request...........2007-08-18

This being one of my two favorite shows from this era (the other being Eight is Enough), I wish that the powers that be would release the TV series on DVD. I would purchase it immediately. No questions asked. What a wonderful, sweet series this was. I noticed that people were requesting that the distributors produce the Eight is Enough series on DVD in the Comments section when I tried to locate it as well, which gave me the idea to do that for this series here. To whom it may concern and who may have the ability to release this TV series on DVD, please do so as soon as possible! Thank you!

Great 60s classic with enjoyable commentary.......2007-07-30

If you are reading this, you are probably already a fan of the Courtship of Eddie's Father, either the movie or TV series or both. This is a great movie of the 60s: supper clubs, jazz clubs, dates when the men wore suits and the women dressed up and looked fabulous.
I particularly enjoyed the commentary track with Shirley Jones, Dina Merrill and Stella Stevens. From their reflection on the movie, the commentary is fairly recent and it makes for a wonderful flash back 40+ years to the making of the Eddie's Father.

Superb!.......2007-03-16

Vincente Minnelli directed, so visually it's incredible, did any other director pay such attention to set decor, lighting, and making his stars look beautiful? (The chief benefactors here are Dina Merrill, Shirley Jones, and Stella Stevens, all beautifully turned-out and photographed to their loveliest.)
Glenn Ford and Ron(nie) Howard both were deserving of Oscar nominations, i think it may be Ford's most versatile performance ever, and the very young Howard had remarkable range and his performance, i believe, stands the test of time and remains one of the best acting jobs by a child ever recorded on film.
The commentary by Jones, Merrill, and Stevens is very revealing and interesting-Jones (who admits to having wanted to play the Stella Stevens role) notes that Minnelli wasn't so much a director of actors as a director of visual splendor, and while she states she had wished for more direction from Minnelli, she does so without insulting his memory or legacy. Dina Merrill comes across as the liveliest commentator here, with the happiest memories of the film. Stevens'comments compliment the other 2 actresses' very nicely.
In my opinion, Glenn Ford walks away with the movie, and this very under-appreciated actor seems in many ways to have been the George Clooney of his day, in terms of oozing charisma complimented by a no-nonsense, no-frills approach to acting. Yet, in this film, Ford shows he had plenty of technique, mastering difficult crying scenes one minute, heated anger with the Jones character another, and learning to parent his mother