In the Heat of the Night

Amazon.com essential video

Both riveting murder mystery and classic fish-out-of-water yarn, Norman Jewison's Oscar-winning In the Heat of the Night represents Hollywood at its wiliest, cloaking exposé in the most entertaining trappings. Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger prove the decade's most formidable antagonists. Poitier plays Virgil Tibbs, an arrogant homicide detective waylaid in Sparta, Mississippi; Steiger, in his bravura Oscar-winning turn, is Bill Gillespie, the town's hardheaded, bigoted sheriff who first arrests Tibbs for murder and then begs for his expertise. As the clues and suspects mount, Gillespie and his deputies develop begrudging respect for the black officer. The first-rate supporting cast includes Lee Grant as the victim's angry widow, Warren Oates as a voyeuristic deputy, William Schallert as the pragmatic mayor, and, in his screen debut, Scott Wilson (In Cold Blood) as an unlucky fugitive. The brilliant widescreen cinematography is by Haskell Wexler, and the scat-music score is by Quincy Jones. Ray Charles wails the blues theme song. --Glenn Lovell

Description

Starring Academy AwardÂ(r) winners* Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger and Lee Grant, this provocative mystery thriller won** five 1967 OscarsÂ(r), including Best Picture. Highlighted by an evocative score from OscarÂ(r)-winning*** composer Quincy Jones, In The Heat Of The Night is a "powerful film" (The New York Times) that delivers the "highest level of exciting entertainment" (New York Daily News)! While traveling in the Deep South, Virgil Tibbs, a black Philadelphia homicide detective, becomes unwittingly embroiled in the murder investigationof a prominent businessman when he is first accused of the crimeand then asked to solve it! Finding the killer proves to be difficult, however, especially when his efforts are constantly thwarted by the bigoted town sheriff (Steiger). But neither man can solve this case alone. Putting aside their differences and prejudices, they join forces in a desperate race against time to discover the shocking truth. *Poitier: Actor, Lilies of the Field (1963); Steiger: Actor, In the Heat of the Night (1967); Grant: Supporting Actress, Shampoo (1975) **Actor (Steiger), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Sound ***1994: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

Customer Reviews:

The Performance Really Make This A Can't Miss.......2007-09-07

Every once in a while does a movie come along that's not only intelligent but thought provoking and it really makes you take a look at government. This is one of those films. The movie itself spawned a wonderful TV show but the movie is by far one of the can't misses of cinema.

It's so much more than the detective story it gets labeled as. And it boasts two of the best performances imaginable.

The commentary on the disc is a good one. Pretty informative.This is a definite recommended movie from me.

Highly recommended.

What Can I Say.......2007-08-01

This movie is a classic and one that truly eans the title. Top Notch acting, fine mellow-drama and a mystery that still works today. This is the movie where the classic line of "They call me Mr. Tibbs" is uttered and it is still as powerful today as iut must have been upon its theatrical release. In my opinion, this is the movie that Sidney should have won the Oscar for (A Raisin in the Sun should have been a winner too, but he wasn't even nominated for it), and not the bland, Lillies of the Field, as he truly shows his power as an actor. Rod Steiger delivers a strong performance as well and the ending scenes (especially the one at his home) really cause you to think about who his character is in relation to his surroundings. If you haven't seen it, take a chance on thee purchase, yuou will not be disappointed.

Great Film.......2007-06-22

From the opening performance of "In The Heat of the Night", sung by the great Ray Charles, this film will grab your attention immediately and will grip you for the next hour and 3/4.

Poitier plays a black northern dectective Virgil Tibbs, who is arrested in the deep south for a murder he had nothing to with. Steiger is a bigoted local Sheriff eventually forced to work with Tibbs to solve the case. Both the lead performances are truly mesmerising. There are a number of classic scenes in this film of which perhaps my favourite is when the Sheriff interviews Tibbs for the first time and finds he's a policeman.

The film is very well directed by Norman Jewison and won 5 Oscars in 1967, including best actor for Rod Steiger. Quincy Jones also deservedly won a Grammy for his music score. The only extra is the original trailer, which is a shame. However the film itself is so good that the DVD has to have 5 stars regardless.

The Original "In The Heat Of The Night".......2007-06-15

1967's "In the Heat of the Night" is almost a time capsule of an earlier age. The long-running TV series of the same name has probably blurred memories of this classic, while the raw racial tensions depicted in the movie may have lost some of their edge in the intervening 40 years. However, the artistry of this Academy Award-winning movie remains vivid and intact.

In the middle of a hot summer night in the small Southern town of Sparta, Mississippi, a prominent white industrialist is found robbed and murdered in the streets. One of the town constables arrests a black man at the train depot, who seems to have more money than he should. Only at the jail, under questioning by the town sheriff (in an Academy Award-winning performanc by Rod Stieger), is it revealed that the black man is a homicide detective from Philadelphia named Virgil Tibbs (played by Sidney Poitier).

Thus begins an uneasy alliance between the white sheriff and the black detective, in a race to find the real killer before tensions in the town explode into something uglier. Along the way, the two will be forced to face their own and each other's racial prejudices. Poitier's street-savy and professional cop is quick to anger at any affront to his dignity, an attitude not much seen in Sparta. Stieger's redneck sheriff must walk a delicate line between his slowly increasing admiration for Tibb's skills and the discontent his presence in the case is causing among the townspeople. The case itself twists, turns, and doubles back on itself to a tense and surprising conclusion. In the process, the white sheriff and the black detective arrive at a subtle but touching mutual respect that is the real payoff of the movie.

The movie is blessed with a superb supporting cast, especially Warren Oates as a troubled town constable and Lee Grant as the wife of the murdered industrialist. The cinematography is unforgettable; the viewer can almost feel the stifling heat and humidity of Sparta. The detail, from the small diner with pies under glass to the sweat-stained shirt and tie and polite drawl of the town mayor, is spot-on.

This movie is very highly recommended as a classic movie experience that has lost none of its bite and its suspense over the years.

Great movie...........2007-04-12

Sidney Poitier made this movie what it was. Great mystery with a few turns that keep you guessing.

Average customer rating:

Good adventure
must watch for anyone interested in storytelling
awesome
botched culture nights
Arabian Nights

Arabian Nights
Starring: Mili Avital , Alan Bates , James Frain , Tchéky Karyo , and Jason Scott Lee
Director: Steve Barron
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B00005NB94
Release Date: 2001-08-07

Amazon.com

When Sultan Said discovers his wife locked in a passionate embrace with his only brother, he flings his sword at the prince and accidentally murders his adulterous queen. Tortured by his wife's ghost, the maniacal and cowardly sultan must marry another to save his kingdom, but to avoid future matrimonial disgrace he plans to have her executed the morning after the wedding. Fortunately for him, Scheherezade, the grand vicar's daughter played by the lovely Mili Avital, jumps at the challenge and the chance to marry her childhood love. A master storyteller, the newly crowned sultana escapes death night after night with her mesmerizing tales of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin and his Magic Lamp, countless warriors, supernatural duels, and ferocious genies.

Although the main story line falls short of Scheherezade's seductive tales, audiences will be enchanted with fantastic special effects, elaborate costumes, and the magic of Persia. Wonderfully directed and edited by Steve Barron, Hallmark's Arabian Nights will particularly appeal to fans of magical computer-effects laden television miniseries. --Melissa Asher

Customer Reviews:

Good adventure.......2007-08-24

This is a well done production. Bought the DVD for my 10 yr old daughter, but she lost interest. I thought it was good however. The story gets a bit slow in places and it would have been nice if the comedy was bit better. However, this has been the best Arabian Nights film that I have seen so far and would recommend to anyone into this genre.

must watch for anyone interested in storytelling.......2007-08-03

I've watched this over and over again, so many times it's embarassing. I still can't believe this was made for TV. The costumes, sets, special effects . . . look as if it was a high budget blockbuster. Stories told within a story - the other reviews have the details already - well written to preserve the great teachings of the original and to entertain, the script is very funny though sometimes subtle. Excellent acting for the most part. I can't say enough good things.

awesome.......2007-07-31

it is like owning four movies in one. They tie all the stories together so nicely it is really worth owning and it is geatly priced

botched culture nights.......2007-04-19

Did anyone else find the glaring cultural mixups distracting? Interesting how they mixed Indian dance, Indian clothing, inauthentic clothing, English accents into this movie.

Arabian Nights .......2007-04-07

I'm 63 years old and never get tired of this movie. A pleasure to watch with a bowl of pop corn and my family. Mili Avital is enchanting and uses hers brain to keep the story going. Finally a movie where filthy language and sex aren't used to entertain the viewer. This movie has its silly moments and fantasy abounds. The special effects are really very good making this move a classic for the ages. There is some old slapstick comedy which keeps you laughing. without telling secrets out of school this movie is worth the almost 3 hours a viewing. I would consider this a top 10 for family viewing.

Average customer rating:

Fun 1930's "B" Mystery Starring Ginger
Fun for fans of B-movie mysteries
Early Ginger Rogers in Mystery Spoof now on DVD!

A Shriek in the Night
Starring: Ginger Rogers , Lyle Talbot , Harvey Clark , Purnell Pratt , and Lillian Harmer
Director: Albert Ray
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009NHBF
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Customer Reviews:

Fun 1930's "B" Mystery Starring Ginger.......2006-03-08

This fun to watch "B" mystery is great for a rainy night. Frances Hyland's screenplay based on a story by Kurt Kempler is typical of minor formula mysteries of the early 1930's but a young Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot give this Allied Pictures offering just enough zip and nostalgia to make it a nice one for "B" movie fans to own.

The story starts off with a bang as a man named Harker falls to his death from his own apartment complex. Reporter Lyle Talbot is on the scene trying to get a scoop on the hot news story but Ginger, cute as can be, may have the inside track. She has been posing as Harker's secretary for a rival paper in order to explore his ties to an underworld boss. The cops question everyone but the most fun is derived from Ginger and Talbot trying to get the scoop. There is some fun byplay between the two when they inevitably fall for each other.

A serpant card given the victim and a second murder add some spice to the mystery. Someone may have to save Ginger from the murderer near the end and who does so will come as a surprise. While certainly no mastepiece, as these little early "B" mysteries go, this one is entertaining for buffs. Ginger's fans will love this look at her just as she was on her way to a career capped by an Oscar for Kitty Foyle.

Fun for fans of B-movie mysteries.......2005-12-02

Alpha Video currently offers two B-movie mysteries that both feature early starring roles for Ginger Rogers: THE THIRTEENTH GUEST (1932) and A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT (1933). GUEST is marginally better than SHRIEK, although the print of GUEST used for Alpha's DVD transfer is definitely inferior (the picture quality has a dupey, washed-out, milky look to it).

By contrast, Alpha's copy of A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT is pretty sharp (an original print, not a dupe) and the print is in very good shape. Fans of these kind of B-grade mysteries will enjoy watching Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot as rival reporters who try to solve a series of baffling murders. This is a typical 1930s "Poverty Row" production (i.e., a low-budget, independent studio release), so don't expect the kind of glossy production values you'd find in an MGM or Warner Brothers film. Nevertheless, sometimes these inexpensive little mysteries offer just as much entertainment value as their higher-bracketed counterparts. A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT is proof of this, with Rogers, Talbot, and the rest of the cast giving lively performances that more than compensate for the budgetary limitations.

Early Ginger Rogers in Mystery Spoof now on DVD!.......2004-02-08

Ginger Rogers is really cute in this Murder Mystery Spoof.

This Standard Format Black/White 67 minute movie is a good quality DVD transfer.

Summary: Live in Undercover newspaper reporter Pat Morgan (Ginger Rogers) is acting as a millionaire mob bosses secretary. She is trying to discover his involvement in the crime syndicate. "A Shriek in the Night" awakens the entire apartment building. The crime boss has fallen mysteriosly from his Penthouse balcony to his death. Other deaths soon follow and Pat is in the middle of it all holding key clues to who the murderer is.

Amazon.com

Description

A ruthless Sultan (Dougray Scott) enacts a barbaric decree to avenge his unfaithful first wife by bedding--then beheading--the women of his empire. The wise Scheherezade (Mili Avital) devises a desparate plan to save her kingdom by seducing the Sultan's imagination with the fantastical tales of Aladdin, Ali Baba, and larger-than-life heroes, warriors and djinns. Mind-blowing adventure and extraordinary special effects set against the backdrop of mysterious Arabia make this an exhilarating trip through the greatest anthology of all time.

Customer Reviews:

Good adventure.......2007-08-24

must watch for anyone interested in storytelling.......2007-08-03

awesome.......2007-07-31

it is like owning four movies in one. They tie all the stories together so nicely it is really worth owning and it is geatly priced

botched culture nights.......2007-04-19

Did anyone else find the glaring cultural mixups distracting? Interesting how they mixed Indian dance, Indian clothing, inauthentic clothing, English accents into this movie.

Arabian Nights .......2007-04-07

Average customer rating:

"Terror by Night (1946) ... Sherlock Holmes ... 20th Century Fox (2005)"
Sherlock and the Diamond
SUSPENSEFUL!!!
TEDIUM ON A TRAIN
A train caper featuring a high-stakes jewel heist

Sherlock Holmes: Terror by Night
Starring: Basil Rathbone , Nigel Bruce , Alan Mowbray , Dennis Hoey , and Renee Godfrey
Director: Roy William Neill
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000EMYKH
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Description

Terror by Night (1946) hints at a few of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories. The action takes place on a speeding steam train racing from London to Edinburgh. Lady Margaret Carstairs possess a 423 karat diamond, known as the 'Star of Rhodesia' and her son employs Holmes to protect the priceless jewel until it reaches its home in Scotland. Lady Margaret's son is found murdered and the 'Star of Rhodesia' has been whisked away. Eccentric and suspicious passengers line the Scotland Express as Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) investigate. Along for the ride is an old friend of Watson's, Major Duncan-Bleek (Alan Mowbray), who may or may not be as disinterested a party as he appears.

Customer Reviews:

"Terror by Night (1946) ... Sherlock Holmes ... 20th Century Fox (2005)".......2007-08-24

20th Century Fox present "TERROR BY NIGHT" (Released: 1 February 1946/60 mins) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- now in COLOR and Glorious Black and White --- Under Roy William Neill (Director / Producer), Arthur Conan Doyle (Short Story Author), Frank Gruber (Screenwriter), Maury Gertsman (Cinematographer), Mark Levant (Musical Direction/Supervision), Milton Rosen (Musical Direction/Supervision), Hans Salter (Composer (Music Score), Saul A. Goodkind (Editor),Jane Huizenga (Production Designer), John B. Goodman (Art Director), Abraham Grossman (Art Director), Howard Benedict (Executive Producer), Russell A. Gausman (Set Designer), Carl Lawrence (Set Designer), Vera West (Costume Designer), Jack Pierce (Makeup), Melville Shyer (First Assistant Director), David D. Martin (Technical Director) - - - - - - the story line and plot, As fast paced, tightly woven Sherlock Holmes mystery as you will find, Terror by Night tells of a famous jewel being transported from London to Edinburgh with the watchful eye of Sherlock Holmes and befuddled, faithful Watson in tow --- Along for the ride are Inspector Lestrade, arch criminal Colonel Sebastian Moran, a cast of eccentric, Victorian type characters including a wonderful professor of mathematics(not Moriarity), and a train that gives off the right mood for murder and intrigue entirely set on an express train and once again revolving on the theft of a very valuable diamond --- as Holmes and Dr. Watson are hired to keep an eye on the "Star of Rhodesia", a most precious jewel that travels from London to Edinburgh, along with its owner --- When the person who hired Sherlock Holmes is found murdered in his compartment, our master detective has to come up with some of his most amazing deduction skills --- Holmes' inimitable investigation techniques are as usual over the top, thanks to a couple of effective and innovating elements, avid fans of the Sherlock Holmes series could righteously claim that "Terror by Night", is one of the best films in the series! --- The train setting creates a claustrophobic atmosphere and writer Frank Gruber put a lot of effort in the characterizations of the supportive cast, making all of them look suspicious --- Fans of classic cinema, horror and film-noir should all get aboard as we pull out of the station for another classic case of Sherlock Holmes.

the cast includes:
Basil Rathbone - Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce - Dr. John H. Watson
Alan Mowbray - Maj. Duncan-Bleek / Col. Sebastian Moran
Dennis Hoey - Inspector Lestrade
Renee Godfrey - Vivian Vedder
Mary Forbes - Margaret Carstairs
Billy Bevan - Train Attendant
Frederic Worlock - Prof. William Kilbane
Leyland Hodgson - Conductor
Geoffrey Steele - Ronald Carstairs
Boyd Davis - Insp. McDonald
Janet Murdoch - Mrs. Shallcross
Skelton Knaggs - Sands
Harry Cording - Mock Sr.
Gerald Hamer - Mr. Alfred Shallcross
Charles Knight - Guard
Colin Kenny - Constable

BIOS
1. Basil Rathbone (aka: Philip St. John Basil Rathbone)
Date of Birth: 13 June 1892 - Johannesburg, South Africa
Date of Death: 21 July 1967 - New York, New York

2. Nigel Bruce (aka: William Nigel Ernle Bruce)
Date of Birth: 4 February 1895 - Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Date of Death: 8 October 1953 - Santa Monica, California

3. Roy William Neill (aka: Roland de Gostrie) (Director)
Date of Birth: 4 September 1887, (ship off Ireland)
Date of Death: 14 December 1946 - London, England, UK

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who first appeared in publication in 1887 --- He is the creation of Scottish born author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle --- A brilliant London-based detective, Holmes is famous for his intellectual prowess, and is renowned for his skillful use of deductive reasoning and astute observation to solve difficult cases --- He is arguably the most famous fictional detective ever created, and is one of the best known and most universally recognisable literary characters in any genre.

Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories that featured Holmes --- All but four stories are narrated by Holmes' friend and biographer, Dr. John H. Watson, two are narrated by Holmes himself, and two others are written in the third person --- The first two stories, short novels, appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887 and Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890 --- The character grew tremendously in popularity with the beginning of the first series of short stories in The Strand Magazine in 1891; further series of short stories and two serialised novels appeared almost right up to Conan Doyle's death in 1930 --- The stories cover a period from around 1878 up to 1903, with a final case in 1914. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Rathbone is most widely recognized for his starring role as Sherlock Holmes in fourteen movies between 1939 and 1946, all of which co-starred Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson --- The first two films, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (both 1939) were set in the late-Victorian times of the original stories --- Both of these were made by Twentieth Century Fox, later installments, made at Universal Studios, beginning with Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942), were set in contemporary times, and some had World War II-related plots --- Rathbone and Bruce also reprised their film roles in a radio series, The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939 - 1946) --- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Legend Films can restore, colorize and release many of the classic earliest black and white films --- a patented coloring and remastering process makes each film picture perfect plus more vivd than ever --- no one can resist collecting every title that Legend Films releases.

Hats off and thanks to Barry B. Sandrew Ph.D. (Founder, COO & CTO) and his Legend Films Staff --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '20s, '30s & '40s --- order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Legend Films where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector.

Total Time: 60 mins on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox. ~ (9/06/2005)

Sherlock and the Diamond.......2006-01-26

The Basil Rathbone - Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes films were moved from Victorian England to current England (1946). Also, like the James Bond films, the only thing similar to the books is the title. If you are looking for faithful adaptation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books then get the Jeremy Brett Mystery series. If you are looking for some great acting and good period mysteries, the Rathbone - Bruce series is great.

Lady Carstairs is taking the train from London to Edinburgh with The Star of Rhodesia. Holmes and Watson are hired to protect it from master jewel thief Colonel Moran, who also happens to be a master of disguise. To make things more intriguing, Lady Carstairs son, Roland, is murdered on the train. This is probably one of the more typical plots but is set entirely on a train.

The transfer quality is fairly poor but not awful. These are the kind of films that are not usually subject to restoration and the deteriorated status is that of wear and age. I have seen a new collection but they are quite expensive. So if you just want to have a copy of the films just to enjoy these mysteries, these are fine.

Of course, for most Basil was Sherlock Holmes, this was probably the first films that he had a chance to a role that he could use his substantial talent. Before these, he was usually the bad guy or a minor supporting player. He was an accomplished swordsman and the joke was he constantly had to lose to actors that he could beat blindfolded. So Basil made these quickie films much more depth than they would otherwise have.

SUSPENSEFUL!!!.......2005-09-30

What makes this a masterpiece "who done it" is that everyone acts suspicious.
Holmes is hired by Roland Carstairs to guard the Star of Rhodesia, a magnificent diamond being transported from London to Edinburgh. Holmes replaces the diamond with a fake that ends up being stolen and Carstairs is murdered. Now, the question is who stole the fake one and killed Carstairs. But Carstairs is not the only one to get murdered. There WILL be others, and for some of you who are trying to figure out who the fiend is, you might just be surprised when the very one you thought done the killing, ends up being killed themselves. Black and White with no curse words or sexual situations and no bloody gore. Just a superb plot with a fairly good directed movie.
I say fairly good because the way the train was shown speeding down the track was obviously done by fast forwarding the film. If a real train was to cut a corner like that one did in the movie, it'd flip off the track. But overall this is a movie worth watching, with great action and suspense(one scene in particular that comes to mind is where Holmes fights desperately to keep from being literally thrown off the train), also, there is drama, intrique, and horror. This is one you can enjoy watching alone to figure out who done it, or share with a friend, family members, or mate.
Get something to eat, preferably buttered popcorn and a Coke (or as I like to eat, Banner chocolate covered almonds and a Coke), turn out the lights, and by all means, make sure you put your sofa or chair against the wall as you enjoy this entertaining film. If you like a good mystery, you'll want to order this one.

TEDIUM ON A TRAIN.......2005-04-10

Tedious Sherlock Holmes entry that can't be salvaged even with the casting of the best theatrical Holmes and Watson; Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. The speeding train makes for a limited cinematic experience, and Bruce's Watson comes off more imbesole than sidekick. The bigger mystery is where the title comes from; although the train travels at night, 'terror' is not the word that comes to mind.

A train caper featuring a high-stakes jewel heist .......2004-10-04

Terror By Night offers a nice change of pace in the old Sherlock Holmes series of films starring Basil Rathbone as the great detective. The action takes place completely outside the confines of London and 221B Baker Street, centering on a train ride from London to Edinburgh. Holmes has been hired to safeguard an ill-fated diamond called the Star of Rhodesia on Lady Margaret Carstairs' trip home, but he's not alone. Good old Inspector Lestrade is also onboard, posing as a fisherman on holiday. Despite the presence of Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade, though, Lady Margaret's son is murdered and the jewel stolen. The jewel must be in one of the compartments onboard the train, and Lestrade quickly takes over the questioning and searching of the passengers. Dr. Watson - God bless him - also attempts his own investigation, which bears only ignominious - and comical - results.

There are a number of real characters onboard the train, each one of them suspicious in some way or other. There's a rather impertinent young lady accompanying her mother's coffin, a most disagreeable professor, an older couple concerned about the police presence around them, Watson's old friend Major Duncan-Bleek, as well as several train employees. The fact that we the viewers are kept unaware of the culprit's identity until the end is a definite plus - as is the fact that the guilty party turns out to be a jewel thief of much renown. There's as much light comedy as there is drama until the endgame is set in motion, and the ending offers a surprise or two that rescues the film from the realm of the merely average. Terror By Night is not the best of the Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films, but it's certainly an entertaining, reasonably compelling entry in the series.

Sherlock Holmes - Terror by Night (Colorized / Black and White)

Average customer rating:

"Terror by Night (1946) ... Sherlock Holmes ... 20th Century Fox (2005)"
Sherlock and the Diamond
SUSPENSEFUL!!!
TEDIUM ON A TRAIN
A train caper featuring a high-stakes jewel heist

Sherlock Holmes - Terror by Night (Colorized / Black and White)
Starring: Basil Rathbone , Nigel Bruce , Alan Mowbray , Dennis Hoey , and Renee Godfrey
Director: Roy William Neill
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009X75K6
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Description

The legendary Sherlock Holmes plunges us into this thrill ride of a murder mystery set on a speeding passenger train. Holmes has been entrusted to guard the transport of the 400-carat diamond, Star of Rhodesia, but when the gem is stolen, the murders start to mount. Only the masterful Holmes can deduce which of the eccentric and suspicious passengers is the true criminal.

Customer Reviews:

"Terror by Night (1946) ... Sherlock Holmes ... 20th Century Fox (2005)".......2007-08-24

Sherlock and the Diamond.......2006-01-26

SUSPENSEFUL!!!.......2005-09-30

TEDIUM ON A TRAIN.......2005-04-10

A train caper featuring a high-stakes jewel heist .......2004-10-04

Average customer rating:

Nice Little Movie
Another Totally Implausible WWII Propaganda Film
Friday steals the show!
Just a lot of fun!
A Solid B Movie With A Blind Detective And Ruthless Nazi Spies

Eyes in the Night
Starring: Edward Arnold , Ann Harding , Donna Reed , Stephen McNally , and Katherine Emery
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008AOUV
Release Date: 2003-02-18

Customer Reviews:

Nice Little Movie.......2006-11-17

This is a Thin Man movie with a dash of Val Lewton hastily thrown in. Not quite your typical film noir, but close to it. Nazi's? Donna Reed behaves like a Nazi, completely against type, even though she is unaware of all the real goings on. She treats her stepmother cruelly, and even accuses her of murder. (Cue the blind detective. Only at the end does she show any remorse. No wonder the characters were so brutal! Two murders, a hostage situation, and a German shepherd guide dog for a rescuer makes for a riot of a film. A little bit of slapstick is thrown in to make this MGM movie from 1942 funny. The print could have been better. Certain scenes are a little murky, inclunding the credits, on my new widescreen Toshiba television. The black and white is not as vibrantly displayed as on a Turner DVD, but for $7.98 or less, this is worth it, until Turner releases it, after which I would recommend an upgrade. All in all, an improvement over most Alpha titles, and a nice form of entertainment.

Another Totally Implausible WWII Propaganda Film.......2006-10-03

Another WWII Implausible Propaganda Film
"Eyes in the Night" is another example of the power of WWII propaganda to freeze the brains of screenwriters. Adapted from a decent detective novel, the Nazi spy element was amped up to cash in on home front paranoia. Along with the better detective elements went most of the logic, suspense, and character motivation of the original story. In its place is a confused mess that even Director Fred Zinnemann (later to do "High Noon" and "Here to Eternity") could not salvage.

Along with simplistic motivation you will find a lot of stupid pet tricks as the blind detective's (Duncan Maclain played by Edward Arnold) seeing eye dog can open doors and obey vague fetch commands that confuse his step-and-fetch-it black servant (Mantan Moreland).

Set in the United States, Duncan's long-time friend Norma (Ann Harding) lives on a country estate with her new husband who for unknown reasons stores top secret scientific plans in his small unguarded wall safe. You know they are critical to the war effort because the spies say they are worth ten armored divisions. As the story unfolds it is slowly revealed that almost everyone is a Nazi spy; the entire household staff, a community theatre group, and a few guys of unknown origin. There are almost enough German personnel to fill up those ten armored divisions.

Although they enjoy a huge numerical advantage the spies conveniently wait around until Norma and her husband leave town to make their move on the safe.

A melodramatic back-story concerns Norma's relationship with her new stepdaughter and aspiring actress Barbara (Donna Reed). Barbara is supposed to be just 17 but Reed was in her early 20's and looked about 30. Harding (as always) is quite good and Reed (as always) is quite bad, the talent disparity gives their scenes together a farcical quality. These actually are bad enough to give the movie a certain camp appeal. Reed might be the only aspiring movie actress to have been challenged by the role of an aspiring movie actress.

Zinnemann does infuse his production with a certain style. Playing off the blindness of his main character with frequent blackouts and generally understated lighting. There may never have been a feature film whose negative had less exposure to light than this one did.

Arnold's performance is a bit over the top, apparently compensating for his character's blindness with aggressive flailing (imagine an extremely fat man replacing Patty Duke as Helen Kellor) and a loud voice.

Along with Harding, Katherine Emery (a stage actress in her film debut) gives a great understated performance as the leader of the huge band of Nazi's. She may remind "Narnia" viewers of the best performance in that film, Tilda Swinton's White Witch.

There are no extras on the DVD but it is a very good print.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Friday steals the show!.......2006-03-22

To be honest about it, I got this disc by mistake, thinking it was another film. It turns out that the mistake was a brilliant one, because "Eyes in the Night" is a near-forgotten gem. This is a movie that should be a favorite in the rotation on TCM, but somehow it escapes notice.

The plot centers around a blind detective played by Edward Arnold (very effectively) who appears from the very beginning to be an eccentric sort. At first glance, you might mistake him for a gruff Nero Wolfe clone, but any such misconception melts away when you discover that there's no Archie Goodwin here to do all the leg work. No, Arnold does his own, with the able assistance of his seeing eye dog, Friday.

Arnold's niece has married a wealthy inventor doing government work. Her strained relationship with her step-daughter gets worse when a lover they shared is murdered. The girl blames her step-mother, who seeks Arnold's help in finding the real killer.

As it turns out, that murder is the tip of an iceberg of espionage, and the victim belonged to a ring of spies seeking the inventor's latest classified formula! Arnold finds himself trapped in the house with the family, prisoners of the spies. That's when the blind man shows what he can do! And most of all, that's when Friday gets serious!

I won't ruin it for you, but let's just say that Friday engages in canine heroics that would give Rin-Tin-Tin and Lassie both inferiority complexes. Actually, the animal stunts are fairly spectacular, even if the dog's intelligence level seemed to surpass that of just about anyone else in the movie (not that Arnold's human helpers are that hard to top in the mental category, another fun part of the movie). When Friday escapes from a locked basement, it's almost worthy of McGyver!

"Eyes in the Night" is a great blend of action, mystery, and humor. There are a few stretches where the film drags briefly, but it doesn't hurt the overall product. This is a load of fun. Friday alone makes it worth watching. Arnold's effective performance and the antics of his zany non-canine employees are just bonuses!

Just a lot of fun!.......2006-03-05

This film will provide a good solid evening of entertainment. Yes, it is a Grade B detective film from the 40's, but it contains some distinctive, fun moments. The detective (played by Edward Arnold) is blind and must employ his own set of tricks to nab the bad guys. His Dog FRIDAY is a hoot. This dog is brighter than most of the humans in the movie! It is worth the price of the film to watch this dog act! Donna Reed at her youngest, is one of the female actresses, she adds a bit of interest in her "bad girl" routine.
To sum it up, this is a film that provides a good entertainment. It certainly is different!

A Solid B Movie With A Blind Detective And Ruthless Nazi Spies.......2006-01-16

Eyes in the Night has Nazi spies with a ruthless leader, a country home atmosphere, a spoiled daughter and a noble stepmother, and a secret in a safe that, in 1942, is worth ten armored divisions to the Germans. Most of all, it has a smart, confidant, resourceful private detective who happens to be blind.

Duncan Maclain (Edward Arnold) lost his sight in WWI. Now he's a successful detective who has mastered Braille, judo, and has honed his other senses to a keen edge. He has as his associates a tough but humorous assistant (Allan Jenkins) and his smart guide dog, Friday. One day he's visited by an old acquaintance, Norma Lawry (Ann Harding), for whom he has great affection. "You're just as beautiful as ever," he says, after "seeing" her face with his fingertips. "The only time I miss not having eyes is when you're around." Norma has married a scientist who is working on a great discovery for the war effort. Her daughter, Barbara Lawry (Donna Reed), however, dislikes her intensely, wants to be an actress and has begun seeing the lead in a play they're rehearsing. The man is a cad who had also wooed Norma before she married Barbara's husband. Norma wants Mac to help her discourage the actor, but one night someone does it first and permanently. The actor is killed, the body disappears and Mac suspects there is more to things than meets the eye. When he visits Norma's country estate, he quickly finds a nest of Nazi spies intent on learning the secret Norma's husband has discovered.

There's murder to be done, men to be tortured, a safe to be broken into and the ruthlessness of the Nazis to be exposed. Mac Maclain must use all his wiles, from acting like a drunk to strong-arming a few of the bad guys. "Where are you?" cries one of the Nazis, trapped in the darkened basement with no bullets left in his revolver. "In the dark," Maclain says quietly, "In the dark. In my kingdom." It's quiet for a minute. Then there's a strangled cry. He even matches erudite quotations on blindness with the butler, topping the man with these words from John Milton, "O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Blind among enemies! O worse than chains, dungeon, or beggary, or decrepit age!" Maclain may be blind among enemies, but it doesn't slow him down at all. Eventually Maclain beats the Nazis at their own game, with the help of Friday, and Norma and Barbara are reconciled.

This is one of the many, many well-crafted B movies turned out in the Forties. It's a tight story of espionage, made interesting by the skills and cleverness of the blind Duncan Maclain. Edward Arnold, one the of the great Hollywood character actors, dominates the movie with his characteristic blend of confidence and good humor. One of the villains (it's no secret; we learn her true nature early on) is played by an actress named Katherine Emery. She made only a dozen or so films, preferring the stage. She's a forbidding combination of Gale Sondergaard and Mercedes McCambridge. She is eerily self-possessed. Typical of many of the films of the era, there's a black servant, played by Mantan Moreland, who is all rolling eyes. There is a roster of actors with familiar faces or whose faces will be, such as Reginald Denny, Rosemary DeCamp, John Emery, Steven Geray, Barry Nelson and Steven McNally (billed as Horace McNally). It's also worth remembering that first-class directors such as Fred Zinnemann, who later made such films as From Here to Eternity, High Noon, A Man for All Seasons and The Day of the Jackal, learned their craft by making studio programers like Eyes in the Night.

This Alpha Video is in better shape than we might have expected. It's watchable. There are no extras and only six chapter stops.

Average customer rating:

lesbians seeing stuff
Not for the Franco beginner
Lurid and Moody ...
Franco the Tanco

Nightmares Come at Night
Starring: Diana Lorys , Paul Muller , Jack Taylor (II) , Colette Giacobine , and Andrés Monales
Director: Jesus Franco
Manufacturer: Shriek Show
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001FVEDQ
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Customer Reviews:

lesbians seeing stuff.......2007-05-27

This is a pretty okay film about a lesbian who sees things and blacks out and hurts people. And the people who loved her and who manipulated her and things like that.

You know, some things were certainly happening in this movie, but I couldn't figure if the director intended for me to care or not. Or whether I was really supposed to know anything at all or not. But I didn't mind, I just went with the flow. Pretty fun movie to watch.

It's in a threepack with Werewolf Woman and Flesh for the Beast for actually a couple of bucks less, so you'll definitely want to pick that up instead of this dvd by itself. It's the same DVD as listed here too, so if you hate triplefeatures on single disks there's no problem there.

Not for the Franco beginner.......2005-08-10

Jess Franco's "Nightmares Come at Night" aka "Les Cauchemars naissant la nuit" is important for two reasons. First, it's a movie that sounds far more important when referred to by its French title. Two, the gorgeous Soledad Miranda of "Vampyros Lesbos" and "She Killed in Ecstasy" fame turns up in a very small part. Fans of this exquisite Spanish beauty will love to see her in another Franco film, even if she's only onscreen for a matter of one or two minutes despite receiving prominence on the DVD case. "Nightmares," it turns out, is a rather obscure effort from director Franco that disappeared for a number of years. Many feared this film lost until it recently resurfaced just in time for the DVD revolution. After sitting through the roughly eighty minute runtime of "Les Cauchemars naissant la nuit," I'm beginning to understand the reasons for its obscurity; it's not the sort of film that would endear itself to a large audience. In terms of plot and linear continuity, "Nightmares" will induce nightmares in viewers trying to make sense of the whole thing. If the viewer approaches the film understanding that atmosphere is the name of the game, Franco's film is far more enjoyable. I wished I'd known that going in.

Here's the synopsis as far as I could discern after a viewing of the film. A stage performer of some repute named Anna (Diana Lorys) falls under the spell of another beautiful gal named Cincia (Colette Jack). Perhaps their budding relationship has something to do with the way Anna manipulates that feather boa onstage. Who knows? Anyway, Cincia brings Anna back to her sumptuous home in order to get to know her better, but ominous things start to happen soon after their first meeting. Anna frequently falls into these odd spells in which violent hallucinations assume frighteningly real dimensions. These spells along with the fact that Anna seems like she's a prisoner in this house point to something sinister going on. A doctor that drops by the house from time to time to treat Anna for her weird fugues, Paul (Paul Muller), doesn't seem to help matters much. As the film progresses, it's obvious Cincia is keeping some grand scheme hidden from Anna, and that the same scheme likely involves two enigmatic figures keeping tabs on the house from a building across the way (one of whom is Soledad Miranda). Who are these people and why are they so interested in Cincia and Anna? Does Paul have something to do with Anna's spells? What's going on?

That's it as far as plot goes, folks. I could reveal the little subplot that feels thrown in just to explain Anna's extended hallucinations, but why spoil what little there is to understand here? I think it becomes fairly obvious early on that Franco's interests lie in creating a certain mood and style rather than worrying much about telling a coherent story. And considering he has beautiful women like Diana Lorys, Soledad Miranda, and Colette Jack on hand to help realize his vision, I say let the man do whatever he wants. The vast majority of the film deals with Anna's wacked out visions, which essentially means we watch her cavorting about the house or onstage in various stages of undress while a real funky jazz-type score thuds away in the background. Cincia isn't shy about prancing around her digs in her birthday suit, either. Whether she's entertaining Anna or meeting up with a mysterious boyfriend, Cincia's hostility to clothing comes through in spades. Come to think of it, even Soledad Miranda displays a shocking disdain for garments when we see her lounging on a mattress in the house next door to Cincia's abode. We owe Jess Franco a round of applause for making such an anti-clothing statement!

"Nightmares Come at Night," despite the title, isn't a horror film by any stretch of the imagination. There is a bit of violence on display from time to time--nothing too tough to sit through--which occurs when Anna starts remembering a few killings she committed during her endless fugues. I think it's important to draw a distinction between this film and Franco's more explicit horror films like "Faceless" because if you're looking for something with a lot of gore, you won't enjoy "Nightmares Come at Night." This is a movie more in line with "Vampyros Lesbos"--scads of symbols and style wrapped around an altered sense of reality. It's an arty flick in every sense of the word, although the abundant nudity, extremely low budget, and various "interactions," for lack of a better term, between Anna and Cincia definitely fall into the realm of classic Eurosleaze. I liked the movie and feel good about giving it a decent rating, but I'd have been mighty disappointed had I gone into this one convinced I was going to see another "Faceless."

Media Blasters gives us a great DVD presentation of the film. The transfer looks good, despite a few scratches, and extras abound. A lengthy interview with Jess Franco gives us some good insight into the man's vision of filmmaking as well as a few of his typical gripes. Trailers for other discs from Media Blasters, some liner notes, and a photo gallery round out the DVD. I recommend "Nightmares Come at Night," but not for the Jess Franco first timer. Start with another film first, possibly "Vampyros Lesbos" or "Faceless" or "Marquis de Sade's Justine" before dipping your toe into this picture. Those films will give you a good idea of Franco's range, or lack thereof in the case of some of these movies, and will provide you with the necessary fortitude to plumb the depths of this enigmatic flick. Good luck.

Lurid and Moody ... .......2005-02-01

Jess Franco's NIGHTMARES COME AT NIGHT was much better than I was expecting. This doesn't have Soledad Miranda in much of it, despite her billing on the box cover and still photos. However, the story and atmosphere was very close to the Franco film A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD in some of it's pace and moodiness. Franco's cinematragraphy seems a bit tighter here and Bruno Nicolai gives an inspiring score as always.
This film isn't for everyone and I am sure some Franco fans may cry foul at this release. Proceed with caution.

Franco the Tanco.......2004-09-28

I bought this film today (being a Franco and Miranda fan), but found myself a little dissapointed after watching it knowing it cost $20.It starts of good but then it suddenly goes nowhere until the last 12 minutes, when he throws you a suprise plot twist that explains everyhting that just saw for the middle 60 minutes. During the middle 60 min Annas reality is blurred with a lot of dream sequences, which includes lots of nudity. The last scene with Anna was cool in a freaky way, but the music definitely helped a lot. Better yet, the music and score by ? was excellent. I can honestly say the best 3 minutes of this movie was the 3 minutes Soledad Miranda was in front of the camera, she has something that is very hard to put into words.
Buy it only if you are a Franco fanfreak and want to add it to your dvd library. Its a movie I wouldn't watch more than a few times. If your not sure, rent it or borrow it first, which will probably be pretty hard.

Average customer rating:

Later Hammer Thriller With Sterling Cast And Good Story
Last Hammer thriller from writer/director Jimmy Sangster
GOOD THRILLER FROM HAMMER!!!
Great tension!
Title mix-up

Fear in the Night
Starring: Judy Geeson , Joan Collins , Ralph Bates , Peter Cushing , and James Cossins
Director: Jimmy Sangster
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005UW7J
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Customer Reviews:

Later Hammer Thriller With Sterling Cast And Good Story.......2003-11-19

I've long wanted to see this little thriller which was produced in the "twilight" period of Hammer Productions highly successful run with horror and mystery tales. While not the greatest of that famous studios efforts it nevertheless is an intriguing tale that on first viewing does keep you guessing with it's surprise twists and great atmosphere. Written and directed by Hammer's Jimmy Sangster, he is none to flattering of it in his interesting book "Inside Hammer" however I feel this film is long due for a reappraisal.

Blessed with the usual Hammer Studios trademarks of a fine cast and great atmosphere "Fear in the Night", makes enjoyable viewing for thriller watchers without it ever creating "edge of the seat" suspense. In the early seventies Ralph Bates was being touted as the "new Christopher Lee" by Hammer Studios and here he has a good showcase for his excellent acting talents. The story is set in a mysterious school for boys hidden away in the English Countryside. But like so much else in this film as the story unfolds the school is not what it first seems to be. The opening shot of the school grounds with the boy's choir singing in the backgound with the camera panning onto a body hanging from a tree gives you some idea of the "mixed signals" this story gives off. "Fear in the Night", relates the story of Peggy Heller (Judy Geeson), a girl who has suffered a nervous breakdown but has recently married and plans to join her school teacher husband Robert (Ralph Bates) at his new teaching appointment at a boys school. Just before leaving she is attacked by a strange man with one arm and as no one will believe her she joins her husband and tries to put it out of her mind. Settling into a cottage on the campus grounds the school appears to have a strange funeral-like atmosphere to it which is not helped by the unsettling presence on campus of the headmaster Michael Carmichael (Peter Cushing in a smaller than usual role) and his seductive wife Molly (Joan Collins in a very effective performance). Left alone in their small cottage while Robert attends a conference in London Peggy is attacked again by the one armed man and the suspicion is placed on Michael who only has the one arm. As it turns out he is completely innocent of the crime and as the story progresses it is reveled that Robert and Molly are involved in an affair and are using Peggy and Michael in an elaborate scheme to get possession of Michael's property and money. Michael however turns the tables on the scheming pair and in an exciting climax to the story their murderous plans fall in a heap with both Robert and Molly getting their just desserts.

"Fear in the Night" is really one of the better later day efforts by Hammer Studios and what is an essentially 4 character story is acted with great polish by the four leads. Joan Collins is very effective in her small role of the scheming Molly and Judy Geeson displays just the right vulnerable qualities as the young bride who thinks she might or might not, be actually going insane. Ralph Bates delivers a first rate performance as the villian of the piece. His earlier scenes as the loving and concerned husband make way beautifully to reveal the deadly murderer he actually is. The surprise twist in the story while not totally unexpected does still deliver a jolt and the build up to the climax as Peggy now finds herself in danger from all quarters is first