On the Road With Bob Hope and Bing Crosby Collection (Road to Singapore/Road to Zanzibar/Road to Morocco/Road to Utopia)

Description

They are some of the best-loved film comedies ever created. Now, four of the most popular "Road" pictures, starring the unbeatable screen duo of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, are here together in this deluxe DVD collection. Join Bing and Bob as they travel the world and experience rollicking, fun-filled misadventures in the company of the alluring Dorothy Lamour in such screen gems as Road to Singapore, Road to Zanzibar, Road to Morocco and Road to Utopia. You'll laugh yourself silly with four of the titles that made Hope and Crosby one of the most successful comedy teams of the 1940s and which continue to charm and entertain audiences of all ages today.

Customer Reviews:

Four roads to fun.......2007-07-29

There are many great comedies nowadays, but there are very few great comedy teams. In the old days, you could have the Three Stooges, the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello: teams that were greater than the sum of their parts. (What was Abbott without Costello or Moe without Curly and Larry?) Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, on the other hand, each were successful on their own, yet they are also recognized as a team in a way that even modern combinations like Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are not. And the series of films that made them a famous team were the Road Pictures, the first four (of seven) of which are on the DVD On the Road with Bob Hope.

Actually, the Hope/Crosby team was actually a trio, with Dorothy Lamour as the woman who always came between the two. In the first Road movie, Road to Singapore, she is an island girl taken in by the two of them after they get her away from her nasty employer. The two are sailors fleeing commitment in the U.S. by taking refuge on a tropical island. In the second movie, Road to Zanzibar, they are showmen in Africa who escort Lamour and Una Merkel through the jungle, unaware that the two women are actually con artists.

In Road to Morocco, the two find themselves in a desert nation. Crosby sells Hope into slavery, which turns out to be a lot better than it sounds, when it turns out he has to marry a princess played by Lamour. What Hope doesn't know is that her first husband is destined to die, clearing the way for a long second marriage; what Lamour doesn't know is that the prediction is based on faulty information. Though Hope always seems to lose Lamour to Crosby by the end of the movie, Road to Utopia shows Hope and Lamour old and long-married before flashing back to a time when they were in Alaska looking for a gold mine.

Plot is almost incidental in these movies, merely a means to move from one gag to another. Although I doubt they were the first to do so, they often seem to recognize that they are in movies. For example, in Road to Utopia, Hope calls a mountain his bread-and-butter: it suddenly gets a circle of stars and becomes the Paramount logo. Anything can happen - even animals talk - and it is all a lot of fun. Not every joke works, but Hope and Crosby's chemistry carry the films. For some silly, old-fashioned movie comedy, this foursome fits the bill nicely.

A RETURN TO NORMALCY.......2007-06-08

HAVING SEEN ALL OF THE ROAD MOVIES IN YEARS PAST, IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE ONCE AGAIN TO HEAR WONDERFUL VOICES, & COMEDIC ACTING AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL. MUSIC & COMEDY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE VULGAR TO BE ENTERTAINING. WHERE HAVE YOU GONE BING CROSBY?

So Happy.......2007-04-27

I looked for the Road To movies a few years back with no luck. I checked back recently, and was pleased to find this collection of the first four- and, arguably, the best four- films in the series. The package is nice, and the movies are on one double-sided DVD, which is a nice change from the unnecessarily disc-heavy sets we see so often. The transfer of the movies isn't perfect, but they're old, and it's still fantastic in both sound and picture. All four movies are wonderful, though Road To Singapore is a bit slow in coming off the ground. Hope and Crosby are revered as one of the best comedy duos of all time, and this set proves why. I'm young, and I love these movies. They're great fun for all ages, and I highly recommend getting them. Especially for that price!

On the Road..........2007-03-10

Including four of the seven films in the series, "On the Road with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby" is a collection that I'm proud to own. The Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "Road" movies are a set of classic comedy musicals that are pointless but funny! This can only be appreciated by someone who understands the relationship between Hope and Crosby and the jokes that apply to the era. A great collection for the Hope, Crosby, or Lamour fan.

Enjoyable!.......2007-01-12

Couldn't wait to get this DVD and it was worth the wait. Got a charge out of seeing Bob and Bing together. Must order the other "Road" films.

The Shop On Main Street - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Tour de Force ...
amazing movie!
The Shop on Main Street
Interesting subject matter that takes a long time to build up any steam!
give people something for nothing and they will join your -ISM IE NAZISM , SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM

The Shop On Main Street - Criterion Collection
Starring: Ida Kaminska , Jozef Króner , Hana Slivková , Martin Hollý , and Adám Matejka
Director: Elmar Klos , and Ján Kadár
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: B00005NFZD
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Description

An inept Czech peasant is torn between greed and guilt when the Nazi-backed bosses of his town appoint him "Aryan controller" of an old Jewish widow's button shop. Humor and tragedy fuse in this scathing exploration of one cowardly man's complicity in the horrors of a totalitarian regime. Made near the height of Soviet oppression in Czechoslovakia, The Shop on Main Street features intense editing and camera work which won it the Academy Award® for Best Foreign Film in 1965.

Customer Reviews:

Tour de Force ..........2007-08-29

Antonin (the wonderful Jozef Kroner) is a willingly lazy carpenter who is leading a simple life in a small Czechoslovakia town. His wife is an ill tempered and dominating lady who is perpetually disdainful of her husband. She dreams of a better life and constantly compares Antonin to his brother-in-law who is a Nazi officer in the city.
One fine day, at a small family gathering and whilst miserably drunk, Antonin's brother-in-law hands him the "Aryan" ownership papers for a button shop on the main street that is being run by an elderly and near-deaf Jewish lady, Mrs. Lautman.
Antonin is a reluctant owner and is easily outmaneuvered and outsmarted by Mrs. Lautman. Antonin eases into his ownership position by offering to help Mrs. Lautman in her day-to-day shop chores. At home, he spins a dominating owner story and is pestered by his greedy wife to search for a hidden cache of money & gold. Days go by and an unusual bond develops between Antonin & Mrs. Lautman. She treats him to some delectable homemade food and he helps her run her shop and paint her aging furniture whilst maintaining the veneer of being an owner.
However, the holocaust looms large over the small city and the local Nazis are listing the Jews and sending them off to labor camps. Antonin dreads that Mrs. Lautman's name will be on the list of evacuees and she'll be condemned to a labor camp any day. He and a friend decide to hide Mrs. Lautman, but fear for the prospects of her being caught later. Antonin is clearly worried, but is unable to hatch a clear plan for Mrs. Lautman and is confused about keeping her in hiding or having her leave with fellow Jews. In his inept desperation and utter paranoia (seeing some Nazi officers closing in on the shop) he pushes Mrs. Lautman into a closet. The officers simply walk by the shop and the relieved Antonin rushes back to the closet to find a motionless and dead figure of Mrs. Lautamn. In his desperation he pushes her too hard and she falls to her death. Antonin is devastated and commits suicide. But, before hanging himself he lets his ever faithful dog out of the shop.
The story is simple, but very hard hitting. Antonin's character is very innocent, kind and human. He is emotionally vulnerable and unable to handle the dark circumstances that the holocaust brought upon common people. The premise behind the eviction of Jews baffles him and leads to his own death.
This is one of the best movies I've seen. I sat gazing at the credits and the blank screen long after the movie was over. Supreme acting by Jozef Króner.

amazing movie!.......2007-08-18

great movie! unbelievable acting, and cinematography! i don't understand why more people haven't heard of this movie!

The Shop on Main Street.......2007-07-02

A deserving winner of the Best Foreign Film Oscar in 1965, "Shop" is a haunting tale of the holocaust. Directed by Jan Kadar and Elmar Klos with simplicity and restraint, the heart-rending story unfolds gradually, with a pitch-perfect rendering of the two central characters (by Kroner and Kaminska) keeping us glued to the screen. An unforgettable testament to the horrific ravages of the Second War.

Interesting subject matter that takes a long time to build up any steam!.......2007-06-12

I have always been extremely interested in films about the WW2 Holocaust from the perspective of the different countries that were so effected by this tragedy. THE SHOP ON MAIN STREET is a very unusual tale that comes to us from Czechoslovakia. Produced in 1965 and filmed in black-and-white, this is the story of Tony who has been given "ARYAN" charge of Jewess Mrs. Lautmann's Button Shop on Main Street during the fascist takeover in 1942.Mrs. Lautmann, at 78, has bad hearing and no comprehension of the terror that is befalling all of the Jews in the town. Tony is trapped trying to protect her and at the same time save his own skin. The film really plods for the first 90 minutes, and truly only reaches some level of steam in the last half hour. The "soundtrack" (if that is what it should be called) is nothing more than occasional violin scratch that is very reminiscent of arthouse work of the '60's. The acting by the two principles is unquestionably top drawer, but the film is not at all a pleasant two-hour+ view.

Other Czech films about the Holocaust would be ALL MY LOVED ONES and DARK BLUE WORLD.

give people something for nothing and they will join your -ISM IE NAZISM , SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM.......2007-01-28

This movie will really make you think! A great funny and tragic story. Most people want something for nothing and if they can get it from their neighbors in the guise of Nazism, Communism, Socialism without having to 'earn' it, they will jump at it. They sell their souls. The peasant it seems to me saw that his wife was everything she accused the Jew of being and the wife wanted the husband to act like the very Jews that they were denouncing and expelling. A very interesting concept!
Loved it!

Average customer rating:

Admittedly a mixed bag
Brilliant, a bit twee, painful to watch, too short!
Excellent
Interpretations, Etc
Excellent show!

Carpenters - Interpretations
Starring: Carpenters , and Karen Carpenter
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000A9D2F
Release Date: 2003-07-29

Customer Reviews:

Admittedly a mixed bag .......2005-03-17

Even for a seventies child like me who had this music on the radio while I was finishing breakfast and heading for school on many a morning, this DVD leaves something to be desired.

One reviewer is correct in noting that the great songbird Karen Carpenter looks unsure of herself in most of these clips and that makes it somewhat difficult to watch. Plus, the DVD is way too short. They may have been better off with the excellent live Carpenters' performances from the Ed Sullivan show in 1970 included.

On the other hand, there's of course the beautiful music, which disarms much criticism. This also captures the spirit of many musical variety shows of the early 70s.

This also includes the almost forgotten "Bless the Beasts and the Children" which turns to gold as almost anything the Carpenters' touched. Even a bizarre tune like "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft," in the tradition of bizarre attempts at message songs of the era, sounds like sheer beauty and bliss out of Karen Carpenter's mouth. (The intro with the spooked-out radio DJ is a nice touch).

Watch this and "It's yesterday Once More" (oops! That song isn't included here...oh well).

Brilliant, a bit twee, painful to watch, too short!.......2005-01-24

[...]

This DVD is a version of the video of the same title, which was longer by a couple of songs and about 7 minutes.

Karen's singing is brilliant as usual and she again demonstrates that she could sing anything put in front of her by her brother, a master in arrangements and production - who could play piano with the absolute best. They were supported by an excellent band of musicians and the sum amounted to a truly fantastic sound.

The Carpenters are my all-time favourites and should have been there for the whole musical journey. However, Karen's untimely death from complications caused by anorexia nervosa which, it seems, resulted in her suffering heart failure, meant that the journey ended all too prematurely.

Karen is the main focus of attention on any Carpenters recording. Here is no different; but the videos stem from the 1970s when the Carpenters, for me, suffered from awkwardness and self-consciousness in front of the camera so, on occasions, the lip-synching doesn't always seem to work and Karen's facial and head movements seem affected and contrived. Strangely, some of the earlier videos look better, probably because she is behind a drum kit or has a microphone in her hand, Also, and the point about some of it being painful to watch, the later videos show Karen looking terribly thin and, particularly, on the penultimate video ("When I Fall In Love"), she reminds me of Nancy Reagan, with gaunt looks and a hair style which is very uncomplimentary - she looks more like 80 than 30!

Having said that, the only other things wrong with this are that there are no extras on this DVD and it is all over in only 37 minutes, which seems to be a desperate waste of disk space.

Onto the good things - it's got all the ingredients that Carpenters fans would expect, but "Reason To Believe" and "Bless The Beasts And The Children" are lovely surprise inclusions and the video of "Calling Occupants...." is better than the version seen on other collections of their videos (except Tony Peluso's DJ piece at the start, which is the same clip).

So should you buy it? Your choice, but you might find other collections of songs which are better. For die-hard Carpenters fans, yes, go and buy it.

Excellent.......2004-12-14

This DVD is great! Some nice hits, and also some lesser known songs. Wow!

Interpretations, Etc.......2004-09-02

Although I have yet to view any of the Carpenter's material on DVD, I find it interesting and equally satisfying that after all these years the public,and I dare say the world,continues to acknowledge, and seek more of, the absolute flawless and angelic voice of Karen Carpenter. God gave us a gift in this world that many continue to cherish and long to hear. No wonder why she was with us for a short time. Richard should not be too strongly condemned for whatever material mistakes he may or may not have made. The only thing I wish is that Richard, in his brialliancy, go on tour to various cities with philharmonic Orchestras and continue, not only her legacy, but there's.

Excellent show!.......2004-01-20

I enjoyed this collection of songs thoroughly. Each song was very interesting. The most I liked: Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft - visually very pleasing- this is the first time I saw the video of this song, (They Long to Be) Close to You - the little drummer girl enjoed herself greatly playing the instruments and singing, and We've Only Just Begun - excellent song for the newlyweds and not only. The last song From This Moment On was especially interesting - Karen was sitting close to her brother playing piano - you could appreciate her clear voice and lyrics - very sensual. Short collection of songs but I enjoyed them greatly and I am going to watch them over and over again. I would like to add that this DVD has excellent picture and audio quality. Overall money well spent. Very good price, too.

The King of Kings - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Renaissance Art Come to Life
a magnifisent film
More sincere than you'd expect from De Mille
The King If Kings
From a non-Christian perspective

The King of Kings - Criterion Collection
Starring: H.B. Warner , Dorothy Cumming , Ernest Torrence , Joseph Schildkraut , and James Neill
Director: Cecil B. DeMille
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: B00005JNGA
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Description

With this silent-era spectacle, Cecil B. DeMille cemented his reputation as the master of the biblical epic. DeMille tells the story of Christ's life and Passion with great attention to historical accuracy, along the way paying homage to the religious illustrations of Da Vinci and Doré, and, in a modern flourish, restaging Christ's resurrection in luminous Technicolor. In time for Christmas, Criterion will present fully restored editions of both versions of this glorious spectacle in a heavenly two-disc set: the original 155-minute silent version from 1927 - never before available on home video - and the 1931 release, re-cut by DeMille to 112 minutes. The DVD edition will also include new Dolby Digital 5.1 scores by composers Donald Sosin (1927 version) and Timothy J. Tikker (1931 version); the original score for the 1931 release by Hugo Riesenfeld; behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the film; cast portraits, production and costume sketches, a stills gallery of production photos and promotional material; the original illustrated program and press book featuring photographs from the film's gala premiere; and more.

Customer Reviews:

Renaissance Art Come to Life.......2007-04-23

This great film was released EIGHTY years ago, during an era which our current society has all but forgotten. That only adds to the mystique of "King of Kings"--which one could almost imagine was somehow filmed in Biblical times, so remote and rarified is its visual quality.

In viewing the Criterion set, I was continually awed by the way in which DeMille evokes the visual style of classic religious art ---it's as if you are witnessing the work of Da Vinci, Raphael, Tintoretto and Gustave Dore come to life on screen. (Rudolf Schildkraut as Caiphas has the uncanny appearance of one of Rembrandt's self-portraits right there on your TV screen!)

Once we are past the incredibly cheesy opening scene with Mary Magdalene and her Nubian zebras--that is, once the film gets into its black and white glory, De Mille composes almost every shot to reflect the majesty and reverence of the the great art work that we have always associated with the events of Christ's life. DeMille arranges his actors and extras within each shot--especially during the "Way of the Cross" scenes, with a marvelous sense of DEPTH--all I can do is marvel at the visual texture of each shot, with the crowds of onlookers creating a succession of artfully arranged living tableaux.

The scenes of crucifixion and its aftermath are awe-inspiring and chilling---truly a Dante-ish Inferno of mayhem on film! The shots of HB Warner (having expired) on the cross in near darkness---with wind-blown leaves and lightning flashes---are breathtaking. The 1928 soundtrack including a chorus of voices during these scenes---screaming, wailing, moaning along with the action on the screen (especially during the remarkably effective earthquake scenes), and this is an essential element of viewing the film I think. In fact, it's really too bad that the 1928 orchestral/choral soundtrack only exists for the shortened (112-minute) version, because the sound of this score is so evocative of the time in which the film was made. You can't beat the final two minutes of the film, as Jesus leaves his disciples in the Last Supper room in a radiant glow--to the strains of a lovely hymn, and then appears over a modern skyline to a full orchestra/choral rendering of "Rock of Ages"; that's what religion USED to feel like. The new score for the complete film is serviceable---all synthesized, though rarely is it distracting(a few incredibly poor synthesized cymbal crashes make me cringe). Of course, one MUST see the entire, full-length film....in which case the new synthesized score is your only choice.

A word about the cast: check them out on IMDB---you'd be amazed at how many of the actors had impressive credentials throughout the silent era and beyond, and yet whom are totally forgotten to us today. The actors who played the parts of Pontius Pilate and the Roman Centurion, for instance, are very impressive indeed---and their career background is fascinating. (There's something very cool about "Hopalong Cassidy" [Bill Boyd] stepping in to help "Old Man Gower" [HB Warner] carry his cross). Of course, Joseph Schildkraut, looking every bit the matinee idol as Judas, was a very distinguished actor--check his Oscar-winning performance as Dreyfuss in 1937's "Life of Emile Zola" for starters---or his 2 Twilight Zone appearances in 1961/62.

It's a pity that so much of our great film heritage has been lost forever---which is why it's all the more important for Criterion and other companies to continue to preserve it---especially the masterpieces like DeMille's "King of Kings."

PS---Included as bonus material is a substantial amount of behind-the scenes shots made during filming, which apparently DeMille did as a matter of course. What a treasure---practically worth the cost of this set alone!

a magnifisent film.......2007-04-12

Watching Jesus , brinks you years back like you lived that years with him but i believe that Franco Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" is the best story , of the jesus life , in the history of cinema , and Robert Powell as Christ the best ever..............

More sincere than you'd expect from De Mille.......2006-05-02

While no match for Nicholas Ray and Samuel Bronston's 1961 film, the restored version of Cecil B. De Mille's The King of Kings is surprisingly good. It's a curious mixture of showmanship and sincerity, with sincerity surprisingly gradually winning over even if De Mille was using a film about Christ to defraud his principal backer into keeping his failing studio afloat with a lot of creative accounting (the film cost a million less than the accounts stated!). Although it skirts close to anti-Semitism at times for a film made by a Jewish director (albeit a closet one), it does ultimately make the distinction between good and bad people who happen to be Jews, adding a Jewish character who won't take Caiaphas' bribe to call for Jesus' death.

Starting off in typical De Mille mode, with Mary Magdalene breaking off an orgy to go after her errant admirer Judas Iscariot - "Go harness my zebras, a present from the King of Nubia!" - it never descends to the threatened kitchfest. Beginning towards the end of Christ's ministry, he plays fast and loose with the chronology (Palm Sunday AFTER Jesus goes to the Temple?) and it's a long way from history, but De Mille understood the power of symbolic design: Pilate's throne room may look nothing like the cramped quarters of most Roman buildings, but the giant eagle that towers and glowers behind his throne is a great piece of visual shorthand for the overbearing power and might of the Empire. And he pulls off some surprising coups de cinema, be it Christ's much-delayed first appearance through the gradually restored sight of a blind girl, the ghostly sins surrounding Magdalene, Pilate's first establishing shot or a strikingly powerful moment when the beam Jesus is leaning on outside a farmhouse is suddenly revealed to be a cross. De Mille also is a master of crowd scenes - these crowds are alive, a world of movement, with Christ's stillness setting Him apart.

H.B. Warner is a genuinely unexpected figure here considering the hollowed, balding old man of barely a decade later: very much a picture book Jesus, he does have a striking presence (when not overlit or made up with too much pancake) and there's a surprising warmth too - a scene where the carpenter repairs a child's doll is genuinely charming. There's a restrained power, too, most notable in the scene with the moneychangers in the temple, where an expected eruption of anger is instead turned into a simple tip of a table that is actually more violent in its controlled fury.

Don't expect a great movie - this is a great show, a Medieval Mystery Play filmed on a truly epic scale, and quite winning in its way. Criterion's disc is quite a winner too, with the picture quality of the uncut version quite outstanding aside from some relatively minor color fading in one sequence. The extras are pretty good too - the restored 155-minute roadshow version is acompanied by the two-hour general release version, plentiful stills and text galleries, two trailers and a genuinely informative booklet.

The King If Kings.......2005-10-07

welli just order the dvd criterion version a friend of myne alledged that the begining titles and mary magelene befor redemption was in technicolor as much as the resserection but that has yet to be proven it might be tinted the mary magelene courtesean and begining scene that is well im looking forward to this 155 minute version

From a non-Christian perspective.......2005-09-21

Not being the target audience for this film, I had a different reaction to it than the average Christian viewer is likely to have, and as a historian, I take issue with quite a few of the events and things in here presented as fact (too numerous and off-topic to get into here). Therefore, I was left to view this film not as theology or history but rather as a religious story. Certainly this film is far more heavily religious than the 1961 remake, although the original also isn't as long as the remake and doesn't lose its focus by wandering off into subplots. Although unlike the remake, the original covers less time; instead of beginning with the birth of Jesus, it starts about a few weeks before the Crucifixion. And I know some people take minor issue with the fact that it doesn't exactly go in the order these stories take place in the Bible, although given how religious DeMille was, it seems to have been done respectfully instead of just arbitrarily cutting and pasting the most important stories together.

Though I didn't feel really moved or spiritually uplifted the way a Christian viewer would, there were some scenes I found very moving and touching, like particularly the scenes Jesus has with children, such as healing the blind girl and later on healing the broken legs of another small child's wooden doll. Another moving scene is when he's shaping some wood and suddenly looks up and realises it's in the shape of a cross. H.B. Warner himself gives a really moving performance, very well-suited for the role. He was truly perfect for this role; another strong performance is by Ernest Torrence in the role of Peter. Mr. Torrence usually did character work, and was often in a villainous role, but here this big bulky man really shines in a role different from many of the other ones he did. Other points of note are the two beautiful scenes in two-strip Technicolor, the opening scene (probably the only real non-Biblical scene in the entire movie) and the Resurrection scene near the end, as well as the cute scene where the Romans are hoping they'll find fish with gold in their mouths the same way Peter just did.

Cecil B. DeMille is a director the likes of D.W. Griffith; you either love or hate him, either find most of his films overwrought morality plays or excessive Biblical dramas with a saturation of sex and violence or find most of his films masterpieces or moving touching affairs. However, whatever one's personal feelings about him may be, even many people who ordinarily dislike him have to admit this is one of his best films, one where he doesn't engage in many excesses.

John Carpenter's Vampires (Superbit Collection)

Average customer rating:

Vampires are roaming this earth
Forget about vampires, James Woods is one bad dude
Wicked vampire movie!
Awesome
Warriors of the Vatican

John Carpenter's Vampires (Superbit Collection)
Starring: James Woods , Daniel Baldwin , Sheryl Lee , Thomas Ian Griffith , and Maximilian Schell
Director: John Carpenter
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009VTX7
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com

Talk about an opening. The first few minutes of John Carpenter's Vampires--in which James Woods's vampire killer leads a dawn raid on a New Mexico "goon nest" of bloodsuckers--not only suggests a horror movie that will not pull any punches, it even evokes some of the more disturbing dream-memories of American Westerns. Muscular and uncompromised, the sequence suggests a new Carpenter classic unraveling before one's eyes. Well, dream on. Things don't quite work out that way, but this is still a film to reckon with. There are a few serious (and surprising) misjudgments on the director's part, particularly a mishandling of Sheryl Lee's role as a prostitute poisoned by the bite of a "master vampire" (who pretty much wiped out Woods's team of goon terminators). But aside from some weaknesses, the action is jolting, the suggested complicity of the Catholic Church in destroying monsters is provocative, and the traces of Howard Hawks's continuing influence on Carpenter's storytelling are in evidence. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Vampires are roaming this earth.......2007-09-12

I have this movie and its not tagged like it should be, but amazon doesn't listen to me.

Forget about vampires, James Woods is one bad dude.......2007-08-29

John Carpenter still turns out these low budget horror movies like no one else. Some work some don't but almost all are fun to see. This one WORKS FOR ME!
James Woods(who never gives a bad performance) is a super vampire killer working for the Vatican killing vampires anywhere they live. In the opening scene his team raids a hiding place and wipe the floor with the undead,only to have a master vampire follow them and wipe out most of the crew.
After that the chase and hunt is on, and it is one big thrill ride. Sure the movie has some problems but in Carpenters hands the movie flows well and has some genuine shocks to it. Great fun!

Wicked vampire movie!.......2007-07-16

Jack Crow (James Woods), Montoya (Daniel Baldwin) and a team of vampire killers hunt down bloodsucking fiends from beyond the grave in New Mexico. Once they had succeeded in killing the undead cretins, they throw a celebration party at a motel until an uninvited party crasher who is a ancient vampire master Valeck (Thomas Ian Griffith) mutilates nearly half of the slayers and guests leaving only Jack and Montoya with a lovely hooker (Sheryl Lee) to survive. The hooker has been bitten by the vampire master and is the only link to find Valeck and stop him before he can find a relic that can make him powerful.

Entertaining, bloody and well done vampire saga from John Carpenter who brought you "Halloween", "The Thing" and "Escape from New York". James Woods steals the show as Jack Crow who is the wisecracking vampire hunter with attitude and Sheryl Lee is one fine fox especially her nude scene, the film has done well at the box-office and has a small following. It's truly one of the 90's best horror movies and one of the most underrated vampire movies there is, it's a electrifying mix of modern western, gore, action and horror with some laughs combined in this is a must have for fans of vampire flicks.

This DVD has good picture and sound with extras like director's commentary, photo gallery and trailers especially to this movie.

Also recommended: "Near Dark", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "The Monster Squad", "Vamp", "The Hunger", "Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)", "Lifeforce", "Queen of the Damned", "The Forsaken", "Buffy The Vampire Slayer (movie and show)", "Blade Trilogy", "Scream", "Underworld 1 & 2", "The Return of the Living Dead", "Demons", "Interview with the Vampire", "Razor Blade Smile", "Vampire Hunter D", "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust", "Dracula (1931)", "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "Dracula (All Hammer productions)", "Evil Dead 2", "Re-Animator", "The Howling", "Def By Temptation", "Dawn of the Dead (1978 and 2004)", "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "Blood The Last Vampire", "Salem's Lot (1979)", "Bordello of Blood", "The Lost Boys", "Grindhouse", "Day of the Dead", "Night of the Living Dead (1968)", "Dead Alive (a.k.a. Braindead)", "Vampyres", "The Devil's Rejects", "Land of the Dead", "Van Helsing" and "The Toxic Avenger".

Awesome.......2007-05-21

Iknow this is short, but coming from a movie expert, this movie is awesome. The effects are awesome, there is like 3 or 4 scenes where people are decapitated. trust me this is a gory movie, a must see for gore fans.

Warriors of the Vatican.......2007-03-11

This is based on the book VAMPIRE$ by John Steakley. James Woods is a cynical vampire hunter and leads a team sanctioned by the Vatican. But after a job in the Southwest things go wrong. Suddenly a vampire shows up who is immensely powerful and knows Woods by name. In just moments the vampire slaughters everyone present, slayers, cops, prostitutes. Only those who were not there survived. To make matters worse, the Monsignor in charge of the slayers has arrived from the Vatican and wishes to meet with Woods. Woods is introduced to a new priest for the team and told to assemble and train a new team. But Woods is ticked off and wants to know how a vampire can be so powerful and also knows his name.

Woods does not follow his orders. Instead he tries to track down the vampire. It seems this is the original vampire; the one who spawned the rest. The vampire was created during a botched exorcism and seeks to perform a new ritual that will make him even more powerful and eliminate some of his weaknesses. Woods has little time to find the vampire and put a stop to him. Woods also has to put up with team members who are in grave danger of turning into vampires themselves. Armed with guts, a hatred of vampires, and some modern weaponry Woods is all that stands between the world and total domination by vampire.

This is a James Woods movie pure and simple. Sure, it has vampires, action, and women, but it is Woods that makes the movie. His character is wonderful. You have to wonder at how desperate the Vatican is for slayers to even tolerate Woods let alone employ him. The slaying techniques are different, efficient, and very sensible. All in all a pretty fun movie with James Woods at his absolute best. Fans of Joss Whedon's Firefly will probably get a kick out of the score which seems to have inspired the music in Firefly. Check it out.

Gene Autry Collection: Tumbling Tumbleweeds

Average customer rating:

A great start for the Singing Cowboy!
"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935) ... Image Entertainment"

Gene Autry Collection: Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Starring: Gene Autry , Smiley Burnette , Lucile Browne , George 'Gabby' Hayes , and Norma Taylor
Director: Joseph Kane
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000G8NXSW
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Description

Billed as "a new kind of entertainment with music, thrills and comedy" in 1935, Tumbling Tumbleweeds presented Gene Autry as "radio's silver voice now heard on the talking screen in trills, thrills and spills!" Singing cowboy Gene Autry is thrown into the midst of the mysterious killing of his father and to make matters worse, his best friend is accused of the crime. This rip-roaring western has daring rescues, an old time medicine show, fast riding, hard-hitting fistfights, rib-tickling antics from Smiley Burnette, and the sensational songs of Gene Autry!

Customer Reviews:

A great start for the Singing Cowboy!.......2007-09-13

This was Gene Autry's first feature-length starring movie, and his acting is just a little stilted in a few places. But overall, he takes charge of this classic tale of ranchers vs. nesters just like the pro he quickly became. His scenes with the two lovely young women are especially relaxed and natural.
Autry looks as young and fresh as a daisy in "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," although he's still got a little baby fat on him that had pretty much disappeared by his movies made in early 1937. It's funny how if you watch his early movies in chronological order, you can see him gradually slim down at the same time his wardrobe sharpens up and his horsemanship on Champ goes from passably adequate to effortlessly expert.
Gene's singing wasn't quite yet what it became later, but nevertheless there's nothing wrong with his pipes as he sings three western classics during the movie: the title song; "Riding Down the Canyon;" and the song for which he won the first-ever gold record: "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine."
As the other reviewer mentioned, George Hayes, not yet Gabby, shows his versatility in this flick as the pompous, phony-dignified medicine show "doctor." Smiley Burnette gives samples of the humor and tunes he'll offer in future Autry movies.
This is an expert blend -- just the right proportions of drama, comedy, music and action. The first singing cowboy movie was a great start to a great genre. It's well worth watching.

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935) ... Image Entertainment".......2007-07-18

Republic Pictures present "TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS" (1938) (54 mins/B&W)(Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- relive those thrilling days when the "First Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry took us down the dusty trails with hard riding and straight shooting hitting the bull's eye with excitement every time ... the Gene Autry series of B-Westerns were a staple of Saturday matinees in the 1930s and 1940s ... don't miss any of the Singing Cowboy's Gene Autry features loaded with action that will leave you wanting more of his B-Western adventures

Under Joseph Kane (Director), Nat Levine (Producer), Ford I. Beebe (Screenwriter), Alan Ludwig (Short Story Author), Ernest W. Miller (Cinematographer) --- released September 5,1935 --- This is Gene Autry's first picture for Republic, and also the first directing job at Republic for long-time Autry and Roy Rogers director, Joseph Kane --- Gene solves the murder of his father, rights the wrongs attributed to his old friend, and gets both the horse and the girl - all in just over one hour --- The substance of the dispute is over water rights: a very real part of the history of the American West --- the singing cowboy returning home after a five-year absence to find his father murdered and his old pal charged with the crime --- Gene is sure he's innocent, so he teams with sidekick Smiley Burnette to find the real killer --- The supporting cast is very good, however, including a beardless George pre-"Gabby" Hayes (he does sport a walrus moustache, however) as the leader of the medicine show: "Where's the nearest waterhole so I can mix up a batch of dope?" he asks --- Hayes is a delight in a characterization far removed from his more familiar screen persona, though little glimmers of "Gabby" are visible --- plus Gene, Smiley and the Sons of the Pioneers (the screen debut of Leonard Slye, soon to become Roy Rogers) perform Bob Nolan's title tune "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" along with "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine," "Ridin' Down the Canyon," and "Corn Fed and Rusty," composed and performed by Smiley Burnette.

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette ... Smiley
Lucile Browne ... Jerry
George 'Gabby' Hayes ... Dr. Parker
Norma Taylor ... Janet Brooks
Edward Hearn ... Barney Craven
Eugene Jackson ... Eightball
Jack Rockwell ... McWade
George Chesebro ... Henchman Connors
Frankie Marvin ... Shorty
Horace B. Carpenter ... Town Drunk
Champion ... Autry's Horse
Steve Clark ... Cowhand
Charles King ... Henchman Blaze
Tom London ... Henchman Sykes
Iris Meredith ... Girl
Fred Parker ... Nester
Wally West ... Posse Rider
Slim Whitaker ... Foreman Higgins

BIOS:
1. Gene Autry
Date of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, Texas
Date of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, California

Special footnote, Orvon Gene Autry was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television --- Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, he and Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures Corp. "In Old Santa Fe" as part of a singing cowboy quartet; he was then given the starring role by Levine in 1935 in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" --- Shortly thereafter, Mascot was absorbed by the formation of Republic Pictures Corp. and Autry went along to make a further 44 films up to 1940, all B westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his horse Champion, had Burnette as his regular sidekick and had many opportunities to sing in each film --- Autry became the top Western star at the box-office by 1937, reaching his national peak of popularity from 1940 to 1942. His Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show debuted in 1940 --- Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce --- Radio, Films, Recordings, Television and Live Theater.

2. Smiley Burnette
Date of Birth: 18 March 1911 - Summum, Illinois
Date of Death: 16 February 1967 - Encino, California

Second special footnote, Lester Alvin (Smiley) Burnette an American singer-songwriter who could play as many as 100 different musical instruments, was a successful comedy actor in Western films over three decades --- The popularity of Burnette's Frog Millhouse character, with his trademark floppy black hat, was such that when Autry left for World War II service he did sidekicks duties with Eddie Dew, Sunset Carson and Bob Livingston, plus nine other films with Roy Rogers. After leaving Republic Pictures in 1944, Burnette became the sidekick to Charles Starrett at Columbia Pictures in the long Durango Kid series. Starrett starred in the series from 1944 until 1952, and that pairing resulted in more than 50 films. After the Starrett series was over, Burnette joined Autry for his final six films, all released by Columbia Pictures in 1953.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Reminiscing with Gene Autry and Pat Buttram at the "Melody Ranch Theater"
2. "Don't Touch That Dial", Gene Autry is on the air - excerpts from the Original "Melody Ranch Radio Show"
3. Production and Publicity Stills
4. Horseplay
5. Poster and lobby Card Art
6. Trivia and Movie Facts
7. Original Press Kit Material

Check out a new book "Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks" by David Rothel, available from Amazon and Empire Publishing. . . Empire Publishing presents "Best of the Badmen", by Boyd Magers, Bob Nareau and Bobby Copeland telling the inside story in depth about some of the bad guys, the heavy and the villain who rode against the law and the heroes of our B-Westerns era --- also a complete account of "Roy Barcroft:King of the Badmen", which is the title of Bobby J. Copeland's book on the life and times of "Republic Pictures Number One Villain" --- pick up your copy today.

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Image Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 54 min on DVD ~ Image Video #2296. ~ (9/26/2006)

Average customer rating:

Musical Tribute to the Red Cross
Starring: Mary Chapin Carpenter
Manufacturer: Unicorn (Tnt200)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: B0007N1JK0
Release Date: 2006-10-27

Average customer rating:

Bob Hope's Comedy Collection 1972
Great quality, but edited versions!

Bob Hope's Comedy Collection 1972

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: B000H2NHHE

Description

Enjoy two of Bob's favorite shows from 1972 featuring an all star lineup that includes: David Cassidy, Ingrid Bergman, Mark Spitz, Ray Millard, The Carpenters, Bobby Fischer and many more. Rediscover the best and brightest moments from "The Bob Hope Special" the longest running series in television history. As a star with no equal Bob Hope has been hailed and honored as the most popular entertainer of the 20th Century and America's most prized ambassador of good will throughout the world. No comedian has traveled so far, or so often, to entertain as many, as comedian Bob Hope.

Customer Reviews:

Bob Hope's Comedy Collection 1972.......2006-11-06

Very enjoyable collection of Bob Hope shows from 1972. Especially the one with guest star "the magnificent INGRID BERGMAN"

Great quality, but edited versions!.......2006-08-18

Although I enjoyed watching these specials from 1972, they have been edited. The musical performances have been deleted from the DVD release. The quality of this DVD is excellent, but there should be notice on the jacket that these are edited programs.

Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration

Average customer rating:

Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration
Starring: The Carpenters
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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The Carpenters - Gold: Greatest Hits

ASIN: B0000A9D2J
Release Date: 2003-07-29

The Carpenter Collection (The Thing/They Live/Prince Of Darkness/Village Of The Damned)

Average customer rating:

Mixed bag
Good movies, no booklets
Some weak Carpenter and some Great Carpenter- It's all fun!
A fantastic collection....almost.

The Carpenter Collection (The Thing/They Live/Prince Of Darkness/Village Of The Damned)
Starring: John Carpenter
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Horror | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Customer Reviews:

Mixed bag.......2004-04-12

The Thing

Yep we are confronted by a dog-splitting being from the great beyond. Being isolated we must evaluate track and kill this most obviously menacing "Thing". But what, who, and where is it?
In an attempt at graphic surprises we have sacrificed character and mood of the book ("Who Goes There" by John W. Campbell Jr.), and the original movie ("The Thing From Another World.}". Ah you say what if you do not compare? Still it is a sticky blob story that has no personality of its own.
This movie is fun to watch and say "don't look there" but it is far from extraordinary.

They Live

Turns out that some economic entrepreneurs are in the process of exploiting people. (All people. O.K. the world.) They seem to have a different physical appearance than you or I and for the sake of keeping the exploration covert, have electronically masked themselves to appear normal.
All is going well until the presents of this drifter come to LA looking for work. He finds himself in an unbelievable situation. Evidently malcontents have devised a way to spot these interlopers and are threatening exposure. He is skeptical at first then after a bout of fisticuffs will be forced to see the truth. Subsequently he becomes the most radical in a plot to blowup the masking devise and expose this cabal to the world. Will he succeed or are they clever enough to catch him at the last moment? A more sinister thought is will anyone care?
In a world where you can not tell the good buys from the bad without your glasses there is also a quasi love interest between the vigilante and a worker (Meg Foster) at a local TV studio.

Village Of The Damned

This movie which holds it own is a remake of the 1960 film classic which in turn was based on the book "The Midwich Cuckoos" ISBN: 0899683878.
The small town of Midwich one-day falls inexplicably asleep. Many accidents occur due to the sudden narcolepsy, which is exaggerated in John carpenter style. The result is that several of the village females including a virgin is in a motherly way. They all have their bouncing white hair babies the same day and as with the cuckoo eggs, they are too in love to notice the little quirks about having to control or punish everyone. Compound this by other villages that fall to the same fate and you have an epidemic that threatens to wipe out the human race.
What action can be taken? Is it too late? If he/she were your child what would you do?

Good movies, no booklets.......2004-01-23

I just recently bought this collection from a store in Montreal, Canada. On one hand, I'm very pleased to have finally gotten my hands on the out-of-print They Live and Prince Of Darkness. I don't care much for Village Of the Damned, and I already had The Thing. One important side-note: none of the films have booklets! My separate copy of The Thing had a booklet, so this is probably not because the films don't have booklets - simply a cheap way to cut corners on price. So, be advised: no booklets. There. That was the main thing I had to say. Said It. Done. Still, an overall great deal, even though it's missing HALLOWEEN!

Some weak Carpenter and some Great Carpenter- It's all fun!.......2003-10-24

More than likely it'll be fans of John Carpenter taking a look at this set to begin with. The main hook for the fans is that "Prince of Darkness" and "They Live" have been out of
print for a long time. What better way to re-release them than alongside "The Thing" - arguably Carpenter's masterpiece?
I'm also aware that "Village of the Damned" is considered one of the weaker Carpenter movies, but it has its moments and overall, it's fun. The set is also a great price! I look at it this way: Even if you don't like one of the titles as well as the other three (whatever your Carpenter preferences may be), you're basically getting three good to great movies at a low price and a fourth one for free! You can't really go wrong. If you don't like John Carpenter, stay away. If you've seen very little to none of his movies, this is an OK way to get started.

A fantastic collection....almost........2003-10-11

For this to be the ultimate JOHN CARPENTER HORROR COLLECTION, you'd have to replace the insipid VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED with the underrated IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS. The other three flicks in this worthy set are sterling examples of CARPENTER's work.
THE THING rocks. A great, slimy alien infestation nightmare of truly eerie proportions with CARPENTER fav KURT RUSSELL taking a flamethrower to his infected bunkmates with gusto. An excellent movie and an even better horror movie.
The ten minute wrestling brawl between KEITH DAVID and RODDY PIPER is just the cherry on top of the THEY LIVE sundae. A superb paranoia sci-fi action flick that has earned its cult status and then some. Not really a horror movie, but great none the less.
PRINCE OF DARKNESS birngs some interesting ideas to the mix; Jesus was an alien, the devil's kid is living in a massive jar of green Gatorade in the basement of an old church, and ALICE COOPER's possesed bum feasting on maggots, to name a few. A creepy movie with lots of chills and some good laughs.
The selections are all from the UNIVERSAL vault so no wonder VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED made the cut (MOUTH OF MADNESS is WARNER BROS.). Not bad for a collector's set, but CARPENTER really deserves a set of all his films on DVD like the KUBRICK one. That would make a prime collective of great DVD's.

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