Dial M for Murder

Product Description

When American writer Mark Halliday visits the very married Margot Wendice in London, he unknowingly sets off a chain of blackmail and murder. After sensing Margot's affections for Halliday, her husband, Tony Wendice, fears divorce and disinheritance, and plots her death.

Knowing former school chum Captain Lesgate is involved in illegal activities, Tony blackmails him into conspiring to kill Margot. When she kills Lesgate in self-defense, Tony implicates her as being guilty of premeditated murder. Halliday must out-stratagize Tony to save Margot's live.
Running Time: 105 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

A suave tennis player (Ray Milland) plots the perfect murder, the dispatching of his wealthy wife (Grace Kelly), who is having an affair with a writer (Robert Cummings). Amazingly, the wife manages to stave off her attacker, a twist of fate that challenges the hubby's talent for improvisation. Alfred Hitchcock wisely stuck to the stage origins of Dial M for Murder, ignoring the temptation to "open up" the material from the home of the unhappy couple. The result may not be one of Hitchcock's deepest films, but it's a thoroughly engaging chamber movie. It also features Grace Kelly at her loveliest, the same year she made Rear Window with Hitchcock. Dial M for Murder was filmed in the briefly trendy 3-D process, and Hitchcock shot some scenes to bring out the depth of the 3-D field; it's especially good for the nail-biting attempted murder of Kelly, and her desperate reach for a pair of scissors that seems to be just outside her grasp. However, the film was rarely shown with the proper 3-D projection, going out "flat" instead (a 1980 reissue restored the process for a limited theatrical release). Dial M was remade in 1998 as A Perfect Murder, a film that changed and expanded the material, with no improvement on the clean, witty original. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Maybe It Would Work Better With the 3-D Glasses.......2007-07-21

This is certainly a watchable film but a disappointment when you consider that it was directed by the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. The mystery here is pretty good with enough clever twists. Ray Milland is at the top of his game as the nefarious husband plotting his wife's murder. Grace Kelly effortlessly shines as Milland's intended victim. Alas, I have to say that the fault lies in the direction. It seems that Hitchcock instead of directing the film is a slave to the "groundbreaking" 3-D technology and lets it direct him. The film stops at certain points to a resounding thud so that we can marvel at the sight of a tray of teacups coming at us. If Hitchcock trusted his instincts instead of being trapped by this gimmick technology maybe "Dial M for Murder" would have been a better film. The only films that I can think of made in 3-D that transcended the technology are "Hondo" and "House of Wax". Tolerable Hitchcock but we, and he, deserve better.

"Do you really believe in the perfect murder? ".......2007-07-05

The hit Broadway play by Frederick Knott "Dial M for Murder" has been adapted to the screen several times, including the films made in West Germany and Sweden, as well as a TV movie in 1981 (TV) by Boris Seagal and the film "A Perfect Murder" (1998) directed by Andrew Davis with Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen. Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 adaptation was the first and certainly the best one even if the master himself considered it one of his lesser efforts. "Dial M for Murder" will be remembered as Hitchcock's first color film and the first of three thrillers he had made with Grace Kelly, the future Princess of Monaco, in the prime of her beauty and her talent. Using color proved to be very effective in the film. The first two scenes featuring Kelly wearing a white morning dress in the idyllic scene with her husband Tony and right after that kissing passionately her American lover, writer (Robert Cummings) in the red dress, immediately, without many words tell the viewer that the story of passion, deception, betrayal, and ultimately, murder will follow.

Ray Milland (Tony Wendice) is a surprisingly sympathetic villain (which is perhaps not surprising from the actor with talent, charm, and charisma that equal and remind a lot of both Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart) who knows about his wife cheating and decides to teach her a lesson by plotting a very clever murder which will make him a sole heir to her money (she is a wealthy one in the family). His plan is perfect and almost works but Margot managed to not only escape the murderer but to turn the table on him while stunned Wendice is on the phone and listens how his well thought of plan collapses. Wendice is very resourceful and he proved to be a master of improvisation because it took him a few minutes in a cab to switch to a plan B that turned a terrified victim Margot into a cold-blooded murderess. Now it is up to seasoned and shrewd inspector Hubbard (John Williams) to find the crucial piece of evidence and to solve the case.

As always with Hitchcock, his directing is impeccable, the camera rarely leaves Wendice's apartment but the film is never claustrophobic which is the case for many plays' adaptation. It breathes and moves freely and we almost forget that we are in the same room for close to two hours. I would not call "Dial M for Murder" my favorite Hitchcock's film but it is enjoyable, clever, and witty thriller with the interesting twists, outstanding performances, and more than one truly memorable scenes.

I Love this movie.......2007-05-29

This is a great murder mystery. Ray Milland is terrific as the cunning and manipulative husband out for the ultimate revenge. Robert Cummings seems a bit dim at first but then you realize he's just been taking it all in. Grace Kelly is just, well, she's Grace Kelly; elegant, beautiful, perfect. This movie introduced me to the talent of ay Milland. I watch this and "The Uninvited" together.

Do you really believe in the perfect murder?.......2007-03-15

Do you really believe in the perfect murder? Tony Wendice (Ray Milland), a former tennis player, does. That is the reason why he decides that asking someone to kill his beautiful and very rich wife is a good idea.

But why kill someone just for the sake of doing so? Truth to be told, Tony is afraid that Margot (Grace Kelly) will ask him for divorce in order to marry Mark (Robert Cummings), an American writer she had a brief affair with after marrying Tony. Margot decided to stay with her husband, and is not aware of the fact that he knows about her past relationship with Mark, who happens to visit them when Tony decides he has to kill his wife. But how will he do it? And will he succeed?

If you really want to know the answers to those questions, and enjoy a well-paced thriller, watch "Dial M for Murder (1954). Enjoy it...

Belen Alcat

PS: "Dial M for Murder" was the inspiration for "A perfect murder" (1998), a film starring Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Another Great Classic.......2007-02-23

If you are familiar with any of the Hitchcock masterpiece edition DVDs. This is about the same quality, good picture and sound. This is something you would find in a store, not a nock-off. No problems at at.

Average customer rating:

Far from perfect and made my day blue
Against the norm in a good way
Perfect Blue - Amazing thriller!
Excuse me... who are you?
Just bought it....

Perfect Blue
Starring: Junko Iwao , Rica Matsumoto , Shinpachi Tsuji , Masaaki Ôkura , and Mattie Rando
Director: Satoshi Kon
Manufacturer: Manga Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00000JL42
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Amazon.com

One of the most ambitious animated films to come out of Japan (or anywhere, for that matter), Perfect Blue is an adult psycho-thriller that uses the freedom of the animated image to create the subjective reality of a young actress haunted by the ghost of her past identity. Mima is a singer who leaves her teeny-bop trio to become an actress in a violent television series, a career move that angers her fans, who prefer to see her as the pert, squeaky-clean pop idol. Plagued by self-doubt and tormented by humiliating compromises, she begins to be stalked, in her waking and sleeping moments, by an accusing alter ego who claims to be "the real Mima," until she collapses into madness as her coworkers are brutally slain around her. Director Satoshi Kon, adapting the novel by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, shows us the world from her schizophrenic perspective: days blur, dreams cross over into the waking world, the TV show blends into her real life, until her life merges with her part and she can't separate the ghosts from the real-life stalkers. Though the pat ending sweeps the psychosis and anxiety away with nary an emotional scar, it remains a smart, stylish thriller and one of the most intelligent and compelling uses of animation in recent years. Though tame by the extreme standards of "adult anime," there is nudity and a few sexually provocative scenes, and the animation is detailed and stylized (if somewhat stiff and jerky by Disney standards). --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Far from perfect and made my day blue.......2007-06-14

This anime got lost somewhere in my anime collection. I haven't watched it in 2 years until today. I wanted to know the reason why this was still apart of my collection. And honestly... I dont know why. For every 10 anime fans that hop out the woodwork, about 9 reviews come out extremely overhyped. Perfect Blue joins that overhyped roster.

Perfect Blue really has nothing going for it all in my opinion. First the story. The main character Mima has established herself as a pop artist together with her group. Due to some "backstage politics" she was forced to break away and begin her new career as an actress. Unfortunetley she begins to receive life threatening gifts and emails from what appears to be disgruntled fans. The plot could have turned out to be something special. But several flashbacks and hallucinations cause the story to actually drag out. Soon you the viewer will begin to ask yourself, whats real or not real? It seemed kind of cool at first until some things didn't add up to me at all. Given the time the main character had between her movie filming, real life situations and just the development of the anime itself. The hallucinations just really didn't seem to make sense or was believeable to the point where anyone could have gone insane. Soon the writers of the script for the main character start to turn up brutally murdered which begins the who dunnit thing. Also to mention even though it was apart of the movie filming. There is a pretty disturbing rape scene. But I've seen much worse.

The animation is alright and the soundtrack is ok. I feel that this movie was wasted potential. Due to very weak character development. Very slow and non captivating plot. I honestly believe the only people who truly enjoy this anime are those that are new to the genre. Those who like everything and those that just like to give high ratings to anime that trys to make you think with minimum hack and slash. If you want something dark and WILL make you think. Then check out Boogiepop Phantom way before this. Perfect Blue is worth a rental at best. This anime is not for kids or the weak of heart, due to strong language, gore, and sexual situations.

Against the norm in a good way.......2007-06-14

Perfect Blue, directed by Satoshi Kon who would later do Millenium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers and the upcoming Paprika, takes a stab (no pun intended) at a more mature offering. Instead of having things such as mechs or special abilities or fighters who can fly 60 feet in the air, this is more like a traditional movie only done in animation. With some interesting, surrealistic visuals, an ever-shifting storyline and lots of twists Lost would be proud to have, this is a film for those looking for that little extra something in their anime movies.

Mima Kirogue is a pop singer for the band CHAM! Like all pop singers who dream of being known for something else as well as the brevity of most careers, she quits and pursues an acting career. Some fans are not happy with this decision and one in particular is quite obsessed with Mima returning to her old career, even going as far as to follow her and impersonate her online as well as going to extremes involving people working with Mima. But is it the stalker or is something else entirely going on?

What's really great ultimately about the story is its comfortable sense of pacing. Anyone who's a fan of film noir or the often used comparison to Hitchcock films knows pacing is very deliberate. Rather than have the slam-bang pace of a lot of anime films, here thinks start out quietly and strangely calm but soon things escalate and more and more things start to happen around Mima. It's a film that can probably work in live action but animation just gives it that extra surreal quality, especially the constant presence of someone in the mirror and their manner of moving which would look silly filmed.

The other is the story. The film very sneakily has so many elements and layers on it that you'll find yourself constantly figuring out the mystery only to have it not be the case. While at times it's incredibly hard to keep track of everything and what's in the mind and what's for real constantly shifts making you lose an understanding of what's going on only to be shown the answer later. You got to walk into this film prepared to challenge everything although the fun of it is seeing it unfold with you confused in a good way. Kon's style of animation at times can be somewhat distracting. While there's a lot of more cinematic elements used such as blurring or rotating camera movement, the characters look slightly ugly at times.

It may not be the most loved anime by most people with some calling it overrated or just plain weird for anything but I quite enjoyed it and you should check it out.

Perfect Blue - Amazing thriller!.......2007-06-08

I loved this movie so much I've watched it over and over.
Highly recommened...great psychological thriller.

Excuse me... who are you?.......2007-06-02

This movie is different for all you anime lovers. This is a great movie. It's a thriller. I really love this movie. The Japanese version is good. I enjoy watching movies with Japanese. Perfect Blue is a great movie.

Just bought it...........2007-04-01

and I love it!!! This movie is one of the weirdest, tripiest movies I have ever seen. If your into suspense, violence, drama and action, then get this movie.

Average customer rating:

excellent direction/performances/action sequences
I can't beleive all these 4 & 5 star reviews
High tension thriller!
Joyride meets the Texas Chainsaw
Truck stop terror that never stops

Breakdown
Starring: Kurt Russell , J.T. Walsh , Kathleen Quinlan , M.C. Gainey , and Jack Noseworthy
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Neo-Noir | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 6305182086
Release Date: 1998-12-01

Amazon.com

Tautly directed and superbly photographed, this crowd-pleasing thriller from 1997 is indebted to Steven Spielberg's Duel, but more closely resembles Dead Calm in its strengths and weaknesses. Kurt Russell plays a stressed-out husband whose wife (Kathleen Quinlan) disappears after their car breaks down in the desert. Tracking her whereabouts leads to an interstate theft and kidnapping ring, and as Russell pursues--and is pursued by--a vicious redneck played to perfection by J.T. Walsh (in one of his final film roles), the movie succumbs to several tense, but utterly conventional action sequences. That doesn't stop the movie from being an above-average nail-biter. It is so effectively directed by co-writer Jonathan Mostow that even the more surreal situations seem plausible and altogether unsettling. Russell's performance is key to the film's success--he's smart enough to be admirable, and we can readily identify with his frustration, confusion, and torment. Through him, Breakdown takes on the edgy quality of a wide-awake nightmare. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

excellent direction/performances/action sequences.......2007-09-09

Terrific thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Contains one of the most hair-raising fight scenes (that takes place on a bridge)
between J.T. Walsh's meany and Kurt Russell's good guy, that I've ever seen.

Director Jonathan Mostow does amazing work here. A natural.

I can't beleive all these 4 & 5 star reviews.......2007-09-04

Man, I've never seen a movie start off so electrifying, so intense, so deeply captivating and interesting, and then only take a nosedive into total stupidity. Alas, it got the Hollywood treatment.
Judging by all the other reviews, I'm in the minority on this one. I won't recap the plot, but I will say this mystery starts off totally realistic and frightening. But then it goes too over the top for me. I love Kurt Russell, he does a great job in this, but the second half of this film really ruined it for me. Oh well, check it out for yourself...

High tension thriller!.......2007-08-16

Breakdown is a very smart and creepy thriller that states a crude reality; when a couple is stranded in the middle of nowhere (in a very isolated place) by a mechanical deterioration, his wife decides to drink a lemonade due the high temperature and accepts a hitch hike of a truck driver, will be the genesis that will arouse the unexpected vanishing of her, and so he will have to undertake by himself all his talent to bein a zealous search in a village that doesn't feature by being kind and disposed to aid him.

That dramatic struggle against the time, the febrile anguish and the fear generated by this coward kidnapping is magnificently told, with (at least to my mind) and supported by the best performance on screen until this date by Ken Russell and the epic means he will have to employ to rescue her. Adrenaline, high tension and hair raising sequences will lead us to a very credible final.

Kudos too, for this promise of the direction: Jonathan Mostow, the same who filmed four years later, the cult movie U-571.

Joyride meets the Texas Chainsaw .......2007-08-06

Breakdown is a terrifying movie that enters the timeliest fears of our time, joyfully and perhaps sardonically representing what happens when we find out that our $50,000 sport utility vehicle isn't enough to protect us from all the nasty human unsavory people that are out there in the world just waiting to kick us a big on in the face.
Kurt Russell is Jeff Taylor and his wife, Amy (Kathleen Quinlan), have pulled up roots in Massachusetts to move cross-country via the driving method. After talking to a redneck trucker because their Jeep breaks down in the Utah desert, the terrifing fun begins. Just like in Spielberg's Duel, malevolence arrives in the semblance of a big truck. The trucker named Red (J.T. Walsh) agrees to give Amy a lift to the nearest pay phone while Jeff stays with the car.
Now, it's easy to wonder why in the world Jeff would let his wife ride off with a total stranger in an 18 wheeler, but put yourself in the same situation and you would probably do the same thing. One goes to get help, the other stays with the automobile.
Amy disappears, never turning up at Belle's Diner, where she was supposed to meet with Jeff. The customers have never seen her. And when Jeff chases down Red's rig, Amy is nowhere to be found. Worse, Red claims that he's never seen Jeff before in his life.
What now happens is, "lets find the wife." What an awesome thrill ride that the entire cast gives, especially Russell as the nervous, ready to enter the booby hatch husband who let his wife loose the grip of his loving hand back on that lonesome highway when a nice trucker said, "Come with me, I can help." Russell turns out an amazing performance as the obsessed husband who let his wife get away. He becomes totally focused, almost obsessively so to find out why this town has never seen his wife, lips are shut tight and you definitely get the opinion this is CreepVille, Utah.
Rent it. What a fun ride. You will have sweaty palms throughout.

Truck stop terror that never stops.......2007-07-28

There are certain elements to the film Breakdown that could have made it nothing more than a B-grade bore. The plot is relatively simple and the outcome is not unexpected. The keys to this film were two things: Great actors backed by a plausible storyline. The vacant, empty roads that stretch on for miles and miles quickly take away an advantage of someone if another who knows the area means them harm, and that is what Jeff Taylor and his wife Amy soon find out as they travel cross country to California. As stated earlier, the actors in here are great. The fact that besides you have Kathleen Quinlan playing Amy Taylor, you also have smaller but important roles played by familiar faces. Jack McGee (Rescue Me, Crash) is a bartender and Rex Linn (Cliffhanger, Drop Zone) plays a Sheriff that Russell's character discovers may or may not be in on what turns out to be a horrendous kidnapping ring.

Kurt Russell is superb as Jeff Taylor, Russell is able to play his character with great conviction, as we see Jeff turn from surprised, to worried to fearful and finally, to resourceful. The "bad guys" in this film are fun because they are actually halfway smart and display an interesting system of catch and grab which is backed up by the vital use of CB radios. This truly is an overlooked gem in the catalog of thrillers that have come out in the past fifteen years, and it has elements of everything from "The Hitcher" to "Joy Ride" in it.

As Jeff's wife comes up missing, Jeff realizes he can trust nobody he runs into throughout his journey in the film. Often times that does not matter because this thing is so full of suspense that half the time Jeff is doing all he can to keep from dying, let alone try to find somebody he can trust. Great chase scenes coupled with a "hunter vs. hunted" atmosphere makes Breakdown a fantastic late 90s thrill ride to pull from the vault and enjoy.

Average customer rating:

This is another great Gosling movie!
Chilling
A Good Movie Hampered by a Bad Title
Numbers game
A Star is Born!

Murder by Numbers (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Sandra Bullock , Ben Chaplin , Ryan Gosling , Michael Pitt (II) , and Agnes Bruckner
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Numbers & Letters | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005JL29
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com

While reinventing Leopold and Loeb for a new and troubled millennium, Murder by Numbers probes the disturbing psychology of two teenaged murderers and the cleverness of their crime. Like Hitchcock's Rope and other films inspired by the Leopold and Loeb case of the 1920s, the film intensifies as it explores the repressed (and subtly homosexual) tensions between high-school outcasts Richard (Ryan Gosling) and Justin (Michael Pitt), who randomly kill a woman to enact an amoral philosophy--and to tease a savvy homicide detective (Sandra Bullock) with misleading clues. While clashing with the by-the-book procedure of her partner (Ben Chaplin), Bullock gives one of her best performances in a role that comes with its own set of psychological hurdles. It's comfortable territory for Reversal of Fortune director Barbet Schroeder, who draws fine work from his cast while proving that there's no such thing as a perfect crime. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The body of a young woman is found in a ditch in the woods of the small California coastal town of San Benito. SANDRA BULLOCK ("Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood," "Miss Congeniality"), stars as Cassie Mayweather, the seasoned homicide detective and crime scene specialist assigned to the case along with her new partner San Kennedy (BEN CHAPLIN - "Lost Souls," "The Thin Red Line"). The two dectectives make their way through microscopic hints of evidence, which seem to indicate a random act of violence, but Cassie has a gut feeling that there is more to this murder than meets the eye. Something about this case reminds her of her past exactly at a time when she is asked to appear at a parole hearing on an old police matter. These events force Cassie to revisit the past.

Customer Reviews:

This is another great Gosling movie!.......2007-08-31

Another must-see in the Ryan Gosling catalog! AND I love Sandra Bullock so that was an added bonus! Great movie!

Chilling.......2007-06-15

This moviewas frightening to me, both as a mother and a random person. A popular kid, a brilliant kid and together they murder a woman putting her groceries in her car. Just Because.

A Good Movie Hampered by a Bad Title.......2007-06-13

The title of this movie is misleading. It leads you to expect an Agatha Christie-style whodunit, whereas in fact this story is more of a realistic, edgy take on a Leopold-and-Loeb kind of murder.

As in the real Leopold and Loeb case, a lot of the detective work here revolves around establishing who was instigator of the crime and who was mere follower. There are some interesting twists on our expectations.

Paralleling the often reverse relationship between the killers is the reverse relationship between the male and female detectives on the case. Sandra Bullock takes the lead and doesn't stand around merely batting her eyes in admiration of her male's partner's prowess. And most unexpected of all, her male partner is quite willing to admire and learn from her competence.

This is an intelligent film that deserved a better send-off.

Numbers game.......2007-04-06

Murder by Numbers has an interesting, if derivative premise -- two high school students plotting what they think will be the perfect murder. The dramatic device lets the audience in on the crime and the investigation, so the tension arises as the antagonists and protagonists get closer to each other. This is nothing new and director Barbet Schroeder doesn't improve on the convention, but he overcomes a possible extended cliche by getting very good performances from most of his cast. Ryan Gosling is especially compelling and his subsequent work bears out the notion that he is a major talent. Sandra Bullock adds a new facet to her standard screen persona by playing a more aggressive character and her foil, Ben Chaplin, adds a nice touch as her sympathetic if puzzled partner. I was not much enamored of Michael Pitt's performance, though that may be a function of the way the character was written. His inwardness, if I may call it that, seemed overplayed at times, and the revelations of the character's actions and motives felt forced. This was probably, however, the most difficult role of all. I also had some problems with the final set piece at the ocean house, especially the sequence on the crumbling porch which looked very stagy and incongruous in style with the preceding pieces. But it is good, if not great, film. Bullock is always worth watching and her sparring with Gosling in this film was, for me, its highlight.

A Star is Born!.......2007-03-29

Murder by Numbers starring Sandra Bullock is an all-around engrossing crime drama. I wasn't expecting much from this movie before I watched it, the previews for it made this movie seem drab and less than thrilling but I was pleasantly surprised how actually good this movie is. First of all, Ryan Gosling steals every scene he is in, you could tell Gosling was on his way to bigger and better things. He is amazing as the creepy and high-school bored Richard. Bullock pulls off another solid preformance, I have been a huge fan of Bullock since While You Were Sleeping, she has great charisma in every movie she appears in. I highly recommend Murder by Numbers, you won't regret it.

Average customer rating:

Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler
A major force in Germany 1922
A German silent cinema masterpiece in restored form
good Fritz Lang film but a horrendous soundtrack - Kino vers
Fritz Lang's TRUE Silent Masterpiece.

Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler
Starring: Rudolf Klein-Rogge , Aud Egede Nissen , Gertrude Welcker , Alfred Abel , and Bernhard Goetzke
Director: Fritz Lang
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000FS9FLW
Release Date: 2006-07-18

Amazon.com

It's hard to imagine that the razor-sharp Kino DVD of Fritz Lang's first magnum opus fails to capture any of the visual electricity and heady atmosphere experienced by Berlin filmgoers in 1922. The film's historical importance to the crime-film genre and its thematic relevance to the director's later work have never been in dispute, but with only murky, choppy editions to go by, the movie has largely been paid lip service for its legacy rather than appreciated for itself. Now, thanks to this definitive restoration by the Murnau Institute, we can properly see it and experience it.

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler is actually two films in one--or, more precisely, one film in two feature-length parts totaling four-and-a-half hours and conceived to be watched on consecutive evenings. Its title character is a criminal mastermind with the power and the will to orchestrate complex capers, counterfeit national currencies, manipulate the stock market, and hypnotically bend anyone to play a role in his diabolical designs. The hand of Mabuse seems to reach everywhere--for the excellent reason that the Doctor himself, a master of disguise, turns out to be just about anywhere at just the moment his intervention will wreak havoc and wreck lives. (He's played by Rudolf Klein-Rogge, who would repeat the part ten years later in The Testament of Dr. Mabuse and also, in spirit if not in name, in Lang's dazzling 1928 film Spies; he was also the inventor Rotwang in Metropolis--as well as, offscreen, the former husband of Lang's screenwriter wife Thea von Harbou!)

The film's title in German is Doktor Mabuse der Spieler, and our supervillain is really less a gambler (all his games of chance are rigged) than a player: playing multiple roles, but even more importantly, playing with others' lives, playing with the very fabric of modern reality. The subtitles of the two parts are "A Picture of the Time" and "People of the Time"; the film is an artifact of the Weimar era when, as one character remarks, "We are bored and tired ... we need sensations of a very special kind to remain alive." Lang and his art directors, Otto Hunte and Karl Stahl-Urach, create a hallucinatory mise-en-scène in which the decor is at once stark and decadent, a playground for all manner of perverse spectacle and gamesmanship, a maze of corridors and doorways and streets where the modern and the gothic interlayer. This world ripe for Mabusian manipulation prefigured Hitler by a decade--and in one of his last declarations, the Doctor anticipates more contemporary visionaries of chaos: "I feel as a state within a state, with which I have always been at war." Fritz Lang continues to be a chillingly prophetic filmmaker. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews:

Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler.......2007-06-18

Winning the trust of wealthy businessmen he can manipulate to his own ends, mad mesmerist Dr. Mabuse (Klein-Rogge) employs his psychic abilities to lure millionaire Edgar Hull (Paul Richter) into a fateful card game, prising information he plans to use in order to corner trade on the stock market. But wily police commissioner Von Wrenk (Bernhard Goetzke) is on Mabuse's trail, and is planning to bring an end to the devious doctor's criminal operation.

Newly remastered by Kino video, this crisp DVD creates the electricity and atmosphere experienced by Berlin moviegoers in 1922. Lang's sinister thriller is a vivid, engaging tale of crime and evil (the German director's lifelong preoccupation from "M" to "The Big Heat") that plunges us into a seedy underworld of dingy cabarets and gambling houses in 1920s Berlin. Klein-Rogge is amazing as the malevolent master criminal, a calculating opponent seized with hubris and a penchant for clever disguises. Avoiding all the pitfalls of overly stagy silents, Lang brilliantly handles the (rather explosive) action and livens the pace, creating an atmospheric, fully realized world. Best viewed over two nights owing to its four-hour length, "Mabuse" is an eerily brilliant pinnacle of early cinema.

A major force in Germany 1922 .......2007-03-20

The period after WW1 was for Germany featured by an unbridled vices, sharp depression in many orders, hopeless, desperation, deep despair, hysteria and cynicism. So Dr. Mabuse should be the prototype of his own time, a man who didn't' t believe in love but desire; a gambler, he bets, plays cards, roulette and lives and fates of people simply because there was not reason for not making it. "If God doesn't exist , everything is permitted" , in words of Dostoievsky. Mabuse represents the reincarnation of Faust in a decaying environment, where power is the reason for living and the perfect substitute for happiness. That's why the final is so admirably metaphorical when he escapes via the sewer tunnels.

Lang mirrored with accurate precision and dramatic realism the state of things in which Germany was involved would seem to materialize the foreseen visions of the Expressionism, artistically expressed just two years ago in "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari."

Powerful filmic achievement that simply overpowers all kind of sublime adjectives to describe this prominent landmark in the cinema.

A German silent cinema masterpiece in restored form.......2006-08-08

Fritz Lang's brilliantly directed and designed DR. MABUSE: THE GAMBLER (1922, Germany) is one of the crowning achievements of the German silent cinema from the decade following World War One. And Kino Video in Manhattan has given it a magnificent restoration that runs a full four-and-a-half hours. The print is beautiful, way longer than previous versions on home video, and with an evocatively harsh piano and violin score by Aljoscha Zimmermann and ensemble.

Dr. Mabuse (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) is the archetype of all master criminals in a century of espionage movies, from James Bond to Alfred Hitchcock. He is a master of many disguises and is forever masterminding all means of terrorism in early 1920's Berlin. In this respect, DR. MABUSE: THE GAMBLER is very timely and contemporary.

In a movie that is also a commentary on 1920's Germany living, Mabuse works out of (or frequents) a cabaret with a gambling table that vanishes quickly in case of a police raid, and that offers cocaine for the mere asking. One wonders whether the cast and crew of Bob Fosse's CABARET (1972) saw this movie. Thea von Harbou's adaptation of Norbert Jacques' novel keeps the action moving quickly, despite the mammoth length. Something is always blowing up, and Mabuse is forever in another disguise to elude the police.

Actually, the 270 minute length is an asset because continuity holes have been filled in. We have two separate movies with an intermission for easy two night viewing on home video. (The intermission is at the two-and-a-half hour mark) The cinematography is by Carl Hoffmann, while the wondrous art direction is by Otto Hunte and Carl Stahl-Urach. Other cast members include METROPOLIS' Alfred Abel, Bernardt Goetzke, Aud Egede Nissen, and Paul Richter.

DR. MABUSE: THE GAMBLER is the grandfather of all espionage movies and cannot be recommended highly enough to fans of this genre. In its Kino Video restoration (which actually is a Berlin-Munich-Moscow restoration with Kino as American distributor), the movie is a stupendous achievement even by today's achievements. If you like it, then check out Kino's impeccable restorations of such other Lang silent restorations as DIE NIEBULENGEN (1924), METROPOLIS (1927), and SPIES (1928).
At (800) 562-3330 or Amazon.com, they are the definitive source for Lang silents.

good Fritz Lang film but a horrendous soundtrack - Kino vers.......2006-08-08

This new Kino version of the film has 40 or so more minutes of film, but unfortunatly has a terrible, almost unlistenable soundtrack of some guy plink-plinking away at a few notes on the piano. Which is really a shame. While Die Nibelungen, Metropolis, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Spies, and Woman on the Moon are better films, this film deserved better than this soundtrack, one is almost forced to recommend the shorter Image version on dvd.

Fritz Lang's TRUE Silent Masterpiece........2006-07-22

Yes METROPOLIS is the movie that everybody knows and while it is a highly influential work of world cinema, for my money Fritz Lang's true masterpiece is DR. MABUSE, THE GAMBLER especially when seen in this new authorized edition from Kino which runs 270 minutes. That's 57 minutes longer than the previous Image release which was the standard bearer up until now. There is so much I could say about this release but I will do my best to try and be concise. All of the elements that make Fritz Lang's movies what they are are on display here. The set design is truly astonishing not only for how it looks but for how it complements the action that is going on in front of it. The cinematography by Carl Hoffmann is fabulous especially when seen in a proper restoration like the one here. The editing is first rate as it highlights the dramatic action and the characters throughout the film. The characters are also fascinating to watch and there are so many of them. In many ways DR MABUSE plays like a silent version of Quentin Tarrentino's PULP FICTION (the source material IS pulp fiction) which leads me to what for me is the real strength of the picture and that is the screenplay by Thea von Harbou. The principal themes of guilt, intimidation and redemption which occur throught Lang's work are fully displayed here for the first time. Although they are often pointed out as the biggest weakness in his pictures I think just the opposite. Von Harbou's screenplays are grounded in silent film storytelling which makes them appear simplistic but like a fairy tale or other allegorical work there is a lot more when you look below the surface. It is rather telling after Lang left her and Germany that the principal themes of her scenarios crop up again and again in his work from LILIOM to SCARLET STREET to HOUSE BY THE RIVER. Rounding out the film are the vivid performances of Rudolf Klein-Rogge (Harbou's ex-husband and Rotwang in METROPOLIS) as Dr Mabuse, Bernhard Goetzke (DESTINY) as von Wenk, Alfred Abel (METROPOLIS) as Count Told and especially Norwegian actress Aud Egede Nissen as the ill-fated Cara Carozza who is the heart and soul of the story. One unintended effect by Lang is that the film is now an incredible time capsule of 1920's Berlin and what the world of CABARET must have been like. Rounding out this double DVD set are background documentaries on the making and meaning of DR. MABUSE including a marvelous part with composer Aljoscha Zimmerman and how he created his new background score which is absolutely perfect. Any lover of movies silent or sound should have this release as an example of a top director at the peak of his powers and as a prime example of how a restoration of a classic film should be done.

Average customer rating:

The Italian Job (UMD Mini For PSP)
Starring: Gregory Scott Cummings , Seth Green , Olek Krupa , Boris Krutonog , and Mary Portser
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

General | Universal Media Discs | Stores | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Universal Media Discs | Stores | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Universal Media Discs | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Accessories:

ASIN: B0009W5JAA
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Product Description

The plan was flawless. The execution was perfect. Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn't plan on was being double-crossed. Now he wants more than the job's payoff...he wants payback. Mark Wahlberg is electrifying as Croker in this "fast and furious action-adventure."* Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker (Charlize Theron), Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase that careens up, down, above and below the streets of Los Angeles. With an ensemble all-star cast that also includes Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, Franky G and Donald Sutherland, The Italian Job is "Hot!"

Average customer rating:

Essence of Anime: Perfect Blue
Director: Satoshi Kon
Manufacturer: Manga Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000S1MMAM
Release Date: 2007-09-04

Average customer rating:

Not the right message for a kid
Far from perfect
Couldn't be more predictable if it tried.
memories
A Great Family Film!

Perfect Game
Starring: Edward Asner , Patrick Duffy , Cameron Finley , Tracy Nelson , and Drake Bell
Director: Dan Guntzelman
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000089797
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Amazon.com

When a championship-bound coach (Patrick Duffy) adds some notoriously untalented kids to his team on a bet, the players view it as their chance to learn from the master. But the scheming coach has other plans, which include not letting them play. When young Kanin and friends uncover the plot and the coach is dismissed, the team disintegrates--or does it? With the help of Kanin's determined mom (Tracy Nelson) and a past-his-prime coach (a blustery Ed Asner), the multiracial, coed team pulls it together enough to make it to the playoffs, where they face... you guessed it, Duffy and his new team. The latest in a long line of underdog kids sports movies, which started with The Bad New Bears, this 96-minute film from Disney TV has neither the wit nor the grit of its inspiration, but it serves as reasonable family entertainment. Baseball fans will have to forgive its casual approach to the rules of the game, however. (Ages 5 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs

Description

Premiering on video, PERFECT GAME. In the spirit of THE MIGHTY DUCKS, PERFECT GAME is a humorous and touching story that celebrates the determined believer in all of us. Eleven-year-old Kanin has one dream -- to be the world's best baseball player, or at least not to be the one always picked last. Things look up when coach Bobby Geiser (Patrick Duffy) surprisingly picks him to be on his Little League team. But Kanin soon discovers that Bobby thinks he's one of the worst players and is using him as part of a bet. Crushed but confident in their abilities, Kanin and some of the other "Little League losers" fire Bobby and rally around Kanin's mom (Tracy Nelson) and a retired high school coach (Ed Asner). While setting their sights on the championship, they learn the true meaning of sportsmanship and teamwork, and soon, feel like the champions they are. Overflowing with fun and inspiration, PERFECT GAME will delight kids of all ages and leave you cheering for more!

Customer Reviews:

Not the right message for a kid.......2005-06-27

Watched this movie with my seven year old son. It exposed him to all sorts of themes that I just didn't want him to see. For a young baseball player, the movie introduces the concept of "loser" and just won't let go of it. Irritating as a parent. I spent the movie talking him thru dialogue just to keep him positively directly. Avoid this movie if you have a young kid just learning baseball. There's plenty of fun positively directed baseball films out there.

Far from perfect.......2004-04-08

Not only is this movie unoriginal and superficial at its very core, but also its logic is flawed and it is not really a good kids movie.

There are far too many prototypes: the not-so good team coached by a washed-up ex-minor league player, the "evil" coach who has won a string of championships that wants to "rule" the baseball league with another title, the "heart-broken" kid who wants to win for Dad, the mom who wants the best for her little boy, the rise and fall of the "lovable loser" type team, etc. It seems to all be a bunch of one-dimensional and predictable characters that begin to work each and every baseball cliché.

I agree with the reviewer, Brett, who mentioned the flawed logic of this movie. It's hard to exactly know what the message of this movie is. Do the parents want their team to win? Do they want their kids to practice, not to practice? Why do they want them to quit a game that is a passion just because some coach tells them they aren't good enough? The naivety of this movie excels all baseball movies I've seen. Couldn't they put a little more thought into some of these characters?

The slight positive to this movie were the few chuckles that were there. Ed Asner does a decent job as the ex-minor league player turned coach, and has a few good lines:
"Baseball is spelled F-U-N-D-A-M-E-N-T-L-E" ..

"Can you spell irritating, kid?"

However, overall, the lines and the action aren't fun, but rather superficial, and it's ending left me, well, confused (kind of like they just said, "Let's stop the movie right here."). A movie that could have been much more, but failed miserably.

Even if it is just suppose to be a fun movie, Perfect Game doesn't even come across as a true kids movie. I would suggest that if you want a kid's movie with a little more spirit, rent "The Rookie" instead. If you are wanting a good baseball movie period, see "The Natural" or "Field of Dreams."

Couldn't be more predictable if it tried........2003-12-01

Would it have killed the makers of this movie to even attempt to do something worthwhile? This is a kids' baseball movie that has been done too many times already.

The setup: The "evil" coach Bobby Geiser (Patrick Duffy) has won eight consecutive local Little League Championships and all the other coaches are jealous of him. In order to try and even the playing field, Geiser agrees to allow a lot of kids who aren't very good at baseball to be on his team. Our hero, 10 year old Kanin, is going to be on Coach Geiser's team this year. So what's the problem? To be honest, I'm really not sure. The kids' parents flip out when they find out that the coach has been holding extra practices for his good players in order to make sure they stay sharp.

This is where the movie nosedives even further. The parents decide to get rid of the coach and all of the good players on their team. Then they tell their kids that they should just cancel the rest of their season and not even play anymore. It's twisted logic which I can't understand. Why make your kids stop playing a sport they love simply because the coach was holding extra practices? Just goes to show you how parents are ruining youth sports programs these days...even in the movies!

Anyway, I won't spoil how things turn out but I need to get one more gripe off of my chest. In several scenes, the baseball used during the games is not real. It is an extremely poor computer special effect. Has the film industry sunk so low that they can't have a baseball movie using a real baseball? Why use CGI when you don't even have to? This movie has no soul.

memories.......2000-12-12

reminiscent of the Kenny Roger's hit "The Greatest". Superb acting by young Cameron Finley (Kanin) as he struggles to become a great ball player like his dad. A movie that will surely bring back Little League memories, whether as a player, parent of coach. Great family film for young and old alike.

A Great Family Film!.......2000-04-21

There are all too few movies around that we can take the kids to. And many of them are tough for adults to sit through. Thankfully, this one is a gem. Ed Asner is charming as always and Patrick Duffy makes a great bad guy. But the kids are the stars of this story of a young boy who just wants to be one of the team. Don't miss this one. It'll make a great addtion to the kids' video library.

Average customer rating:

German Expressionist Masterpiece
Incomplete, lousy score: great film
Very good film but short on chills
For And Against
A timeless classic

Dr. Mabuse - The Gambler
Starring: Rudolf Klein-Rogge , Aud Egede Nissen , Gertrude Welcker , Alfred Abel , and Bernhard Goetzke
Director: Fritz Lang
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

World War I | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005M2CC
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Description

Dr. Mabuse--criminal genius, psychologist, hypnotist, counterfeiter, card shark, master of disguise, thief of state secrets and ruler of a sinister empire founded on selfishness, chicanery and murder--gained his first screen incarnation in this monumental film by Fritz Lang, one of cinema's greatest directors. Made in 1922 and subtitled "A Picture of Our Time," "Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler" is indeed a snapshot of a historical moment when Germany was likened to Sodom and Gomorrah. Now, both parts of Fritz Lang's memorable silent film--"Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler" and "Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime"--are now available on one package.

Customer Reviews:

German Expressionist Masterpiece.......2007-01-01

Though pre-dating "Metropolis",Fritz Lang's absolute silent masterpiece and not quite as nightmarish as "Cabinet of Doctor Caligari" or "Nosferatu", "Dr. Mabuse-The Gambler" created a disturbing (and frightfully prophetic) and highly suspenseful masterwork about the criminal genius Dr. Mabuse who manipulates people's minds to carry out his misdeeds. Some of the shots such as where the screen moves to a close up of Doctor Mabuse and the rest of the screen is black were new for their time. On two discs because the film was divided into two parts at the time, my only complaint is the plodding piano score that is too similar to that used for other silent films. Melodramatic yes but "Dr. Mabuse" is less so than most American films of the time. And of course Fritz Lang after fleeing Nazi Germany would continue to churn out classics such as "The Ministry of Fear". Make sure you get this 2 disc version, as other versions are heavily inferior in that the film quality is lacking and they are missing crucial footage.

Incomplete, lousy score: great film.......2005-01-02

I have loved this film since I saw it on a big screen in film school. As a collector and afficionado of both silent and sound film noir, to me, Dr. Mabuse has no equal. Not only was it made in 1922 by the great Fritz Lang from a novel by Norbert Jacques; not only did it presage Hitler's rise and subsequent fall, but it was prescient about the future in a way that Metropolis, another famous Lang film, was not. This was the truth about Germany in the 1920's and Mabuse film scholar(hard to believe there is such a thing, but there you go),David Kalat enhances this two disc set with his insightful, though occasionaly over-analytical, commentary.

My problem with the Image Entertainment DVD is this: the version I saw in film school had a much different and more cohesive score by Konrad Elfers that features one of the most haunting, yet uplifting themes in all silent film music history. Why this score was not used by Image baffles the mind. The new score, while in surround sound, does nothng to highlight the jazz age in the Weimar Republic as does Elfer's magnificent composition. My first VHS copy of the film has this score on part 1 and regardless of the enhanced quality of the image on the DVD, the film is slower and more confusing with the new music and definitely not as much fun to watch. My new DVD also breaks up alot (my other discs do not) so there may be a problem with the DVD itself.

Otherwise, this is still one of Fritz Lang's greatest silent films and the DVD does have Kalat's great commentary which, though a bit stuffy, tells you more about the origins of Dr. Mabuse and the making of the film than you'll ever find out without doing a ton of research. It's interesting to hear that there is another, more complete version available in Europe: too bad we in America are at the mercy of the Region 1 and 2 debacle. Why can't the whole world used the same standard for DVD's so we could all get the benefit of the global marketplace and see the best possible version of the film instead of wasting almost $40 on one we may have to replace next week, if not next year?

Very good film but short on chills.......2004-11-20

I was hoping it'd be scarier. The only times I thought it scary was when Count Told saw images of himself chasing after him. Film gets better on repeat viewings and the commentary is good and informative.

For And Against.......2004-06-18

As of June 2004 you need to wait and think before you buy this DVD. In it's favour it has a fantastic commentary by David Kalat. Against it, it's not a complete version. It WAS the most complete available, but now a region 2 release by Eureka contains the whole film, complete and restored.

A timeless classic.......2003-10-20

I am became interested in this film largely because of its director Fritz Lang. I had always enjoyed Metropolis (I now own the Kino release which is nothing short of breath taking in the quality). I began to read about the evil doctor and I was hooked by the concept of the narrative. So dark and given its timing so right in the context of a Weimar Germany.
I must admit that slient films require the viewer to see the film from a different context as compared to modern cinema. However, if one makes that adjustment the rewards are worth it.

Many of the other reviews do an excellent job of discussing the plot and the like so in the context I will not go into any detail other than to say it may well in total be a 4 hour experience but it DOES NOT feel like it. This is one of my favourite pieces of cinema. I think much of garbage coming out of Hollywood could learn much from a thriller such as this.

David Kalat's narration is fantastic, and so are the other Mabuse films he has reviewed. Like all great teachers you never feel as if you are being educated but being entertained.

Customer Reviews:

Prepare to have your mind bent!.......2007-07-31

This short thriller will have you guessing what is going on until the very end. It is shot in a rather unique style, and told by one of the characters in a sequence of flashbacks. Also incuded, in the special features, is the original short story "The Web," which inspried this film. The acting is wonderful and the costumes quite interesting. (and if you're a fan of Christopher Eccleston, this is another must have)

Interesting Take on Crime Novels (or Borges), But Too Long.......2005-04-24

Things started like this. BBC asked Alex Cox to make a made-for-TV film based on a novel of Jorge-Luis Borges, and the finished original version (55 minutes) was televised on August 5th, 1992. I regret to say that I haven't seen this, but it seems it was received with good reviews. (Interestingly, Cox first wanted Harry Dean Stanton as the lead, which eventually went to Peter Boyle.)

Later on, however, the extended version (88 minutes) was made, which I have seen. It's still not bad, but it is clear that the shorter format was more suitable for the material. The film suffers from too many talks and no actions, but some parts are still fascinating in their own ways.

[IT'S ALEX COX, IT'S PUNK] Like his more recent film 'Revengers Tragedy' the world of Alex Cox is a punk-rock world even if he is using the book of Borges. The film is set in the near future, when one master criminal Scharlach leads his gangs in tow, and robs the bank. Though he is a killer, the film says, he does it with some devilish charms so some people think him as a hero. The film reveals it's tongue-in-cheek attitudes when one 'Borges' appears (and he is blind), and he is played by Alex Cox himself.

But ... well, here's the weakness of the film. For the film is actually about another case, leaving the evil Batman behind. The protagonist and detective Lonnrot (Peter Boyle) is to investigate another murder in a downtown hotel. A Jewish scholar was killed, and though police chief Treviranus (Miguel Sandoval) believes the victim was mistaken for another guest at the hotel (a plausible explanation), Lonnrot insists 'I'm looking for a more rabinnical explanation.'

And another murder occurs, probably related to the first one. Helped by a young journalist Zunz (Christopher Eccleston), Lonnrot seeks for the truths, going through the labyrinth with the clues left on the crime scenes, and using the theological knowledge gained from Zunz.

We should know Cox is using a very intelligent method, knowing the original writer's intentions about the inverted rules of detective novels. The original meaning of 'clue' is literally interpreted, and the detective wanders the labyrinthine world. The inside of a police station is shot in one long shot, with the camara following the policemen going through the numerous turns and narrow alleys of the place, making us lose the sense of direction. OK, I see.

For all its good intention and good location (in Mexico, Cox's favoorite place), the film is extended too long, with too many dialogues and unnecessary flash-forward sections. The problem is Miguel Sandoval's character whose part makes a frame of the story of Lonnrot. Naturally Lonnrot should be the main character, but the police chief, who should be the secondary character, interrupts too much. Moreover, the main story itself does not interest us enough until the very final moment, in which we see everything in the right way. Until then, the 'truths' about the crimes, the identity of the criminal, or the unusual method of the detective all only help confuse our mind, instead of drawing us into the world of the film.

Of course, these apparently unrelated factors all fit in the end, but to see them in the right places we have to wait almost 80 minutes, which is 30 minutes too long. Then we come back to the origin of the film. Why not 55 minutes?

interesting--but the short film smokes the feature.......2005-02-07

Though "Death and the Compass" was reworked into a feature from a short project--and shows telltale signs of this--it might have succeeded better if only director Alex Cox had been content to allow the film's sound to come through clearly. The film has some great images and performances as well as funky avant-garde elements to both the visuals and story structure. However, when you're doing all that, you can only get yourself in trouble by also monkeying with the sound; here the dialogue is sometimes garbled, sometimes muffled, and sometimes mumbled (pick your poison).

Based on the Jorge Luis Borges short story of the same name, "Death and the Compass" follows a detective who has chosen an "intuitive" path of detection, finally risking losing himself deep in a labyrinth of speculation as he attempts to guess, second-guess, and out-guess the criminal pattern unfolding before him. Unfortunately the film, largely due to the sound trouble, ends up nearly as jumbled as the story. The film is commendable for its referencing of many other Borges stories, but ultimately it leaves one wishing for a great deal more cohesion.

One can look to Lars von Trier's "The Element of Crime" as a film that was, both in terms of story and stylistic flair, a comparable but far more successful venture. More obviously, one can look to Paul Miller's excellent "Spiderweb," a short film with a sort of "Guy Maddin" feel. "Spiderweb" is also based on Borges' "Death and the Compass" and stars Nigel Hawthorne. It is included on the DVD release of Cox's film (but somehow there is no reference to "Spiderweb" on the IMDB!).

Too bad this doesn't include the original television version.......2005-01-23

According the movie commentary, this movie was originally made as a 50 minute movie for BBC television, but with funding from a Japanese production company, this version was made with adding an extra 40 minutes of footage. Though I haven't seen it, the 50 minute version sounds like a more cohesive film, judging once again from the movie commentary with Alex Cox. Another problem with the movie is its muddy soundtrack. Following what's being said by the characters is rough business all the way through. One of the most irritating additions is a jarring collection of progressively incoherent monologues by Treviranus (Miguel Sandoval), a cowardly character in the film, that only serves to break up the (limited) momentum of the story. Even with better editing and a sharper soundtrack, this would still be, I think, a mediocre movie. The main characters come off as wooden and unsympathetic. The extra short "Spiderweb", mentioned by an earlier review, is watchable, but isn't in my opinion worth the price of the DVD. As a saving grace for big Alex Cox movie junkies, the commentary is fun listening. For anyone else, I suggest Repo Man on DVD, or tracking down Cox's Highway Patrolman on VHS.

feature's a mess -the short is great.......2003-11-07

I watched the short film that was part of the extras on this disc and was very entertained. It was smart, to-the-point & had a sort of retro black & white foreign film feel while retaining the existential twist that makes it interesting.
Unfortunately,( don't get me wrong, I love many of Alex Cox's films )the feature was over-written, badly cast & had some of the worst recorded dialogue sound I've ever heard for a film.
I wish that someone would release Cox's 'Highway Patrolman' on dvd as this one seems like a wasted effort.

DVD:

DVD

DVD