Michael Shayne Mysteries Vol. 1 (Michael Shayne: Private Detective / The Man Who Wouldn't Die / Sleepers West / Blue, White, and Perfect)

Amazon.com

This very welcome box set turns up the heat on one of detective films' cold cases. Created by Brett Halliday, Michael Shayne appeared in 31 books between the 1940s and '70s. He is not as popularly known as other screen shamuses, but he's good company. As portrayed by Lloyd Nolan (best known as curmudgeonly Dr. Chegley on the groundbreaking sitcom Julia), Shayne is not as hard-boiled as Sam Spade or as sage as Charlie Chan. But, as one shady character observes to someone whom Shayne has just pasted, "You know better than to mix with Shayne." He's a working-class mug ("His office is in his hat, his home is in his car," he remarks), usually "down on his luck" and short on cash. As Michael Shayne, Private Detective (1940) opens, the furniture from his office is being repossessed. Still, Shayne has ethics enough to turn down $5,000 for a suspicious-sounding case. ("$5,000 will buy a lot of ethics," he's told). He's got some odd habits, from twirling his keychain to singing the odd Irish ditty. In each film, Shayne manages to get himself into some "screwy scrapes." In Private Detective, a "gag" backfires when an attempt to scare a gambling heiress straight results in a murder with Shayne's gun at the scene of the crime. In The Man Who Wouldn't Die (1942), Shayne pretends to be a wealthy woman's husband to get the lowdown on a body that won't stay buried. In Sleepers West (1941), he's on the right track when he accompanies a murder witness by train to San Francisco. Blue, White and Perfect (1942) is a real gem that finds Shayne embroiled in wartime espionage, smuggled diamonds and dodging his jealous, matrimonial-minded girlfriend.

These lively B-films each clock in at less than 80 minutes. What they lack in budget they more than make up for in shadow-drenched, dark, and stormy atmosphere, Shayne's moxie and inestimable support from some great character actors, such as Clarence Kolb (the crooked mayor in His Girl Friday) and Douglass Dumbrille (the nasty racetrack owner in A Day at the Races), who appear in Private Detective. For a collection of obscure films, this box set has all the trimmings, with three original featurettes that provide efficient primers on Halliday, Shayne, and Robert McGinnis, the artist who created luscious and lurid covers for the Shayne paperbacks. There is also an interactive trivia guide that makes the six-degrees connections between cast members and the film-noir world. This is volume 1, to which we can only say, "Come back, Shayne." --Donald Liebenson

Description

Disc 1 Side A: MICHAEL SHAYNE, PRIVATE DETECTIVE (1942) Disc 1 Side B: THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE (1942) Disc 2 Side A: SLEEPERS WEST (1941) Disc 2 Side B: BLUE, WHITE, & PERFECT (1942)

**Plus Featurettes **Packaging designed by Michael Shayne and artist Robert McGinnis

Customer Reviews:

LLoyd Nolan as Michael Shayne.......2007-07-07

The perfect fit of role and star, action a-plenty, twists, turns, and surprises, snappy dialogue, excellent cast support, upper level grade B production values, realistic settings, and transfer print quality as good as or better than you may have expected. What's not to like??

I haven't seen any of the Hugh Beaumont/Michael Shayne movies but I can't wait to watch the remaining three in the Lloyd Nolan series.

If you are fan of this era, a fan of mystery/detective movies with a side serving of good humor and a fan of this star who is perfect for this role, then you really don't want to miss this set.

Review of Michael Shayne Vol 1.......2007-06-28

I think these movies made in the 1940's were fun to watch. I particularly enjoyed LLoyd Nolan playing the lead role. I also enjoyed seeing old glamorous movie stars like Lynn Bari and Mary Beth Hughes in action again.

Classic B-Movies.......2007-06-12

I am a fan of Lloyd Nolan. He has always shined in B-movies. And his signature role as Michael Shayne is no different. His wit and timing are nothing short of outstanding. I hope that another boxed set of these films are released soon.

I would even like to see the one's with Hugh Beaumont. It would be nice to see Beaumont play a character besides Ward Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver. But, Lloyd Nolan is still the best to play this character.

Michael Shayne.......2007-06-08

The Michael Shayne mysteries are not only clever, but very funny. Lloyd
Nolan is great and the best Michael Shayne there ever was. Can't wait
till Volume 2 comes out.

action thriller.......2007-05-16

this dvd box set of michael shayne is very good and well worth buying for any film buff who likes lloyd Nolan. he plays the part very good and is comical also. the rest of the cast also are well worth watching, I do hope 20th centry Fox turn out more of Mike Shayne in the near future, I have been waiting for this series to come on dvd and now they are out Im more than pleased I purchased them. I realy do say this that Mike shayne is excellent and well worth the price of this set. and Lloyd Nolan takes the part well and I highly recommend it. well worth buying if you Like Nolan

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Chan, the name says it all
love all of them
Oldy but a Goodie
Not epic classics but .....
Warner Oland's Charlie Chan with Great Special Features

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece)
Starring: Juan Torena , Ana María Custodio , Rafael Calvo , Raul Roulien , and Blanca de Castejón
Director: David Howard , Eugene Forde , and Louis King
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EXDSAW
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Description

Disk 1: CHARLIE CHAN IN LONDON (1934) *Full Screen Feature *The Legacy of Charlie Chan Featurette (15:00) *Theatrical Trailer

Disk 2: CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS (1935) *Full Screen Feature *In Search of Charlie Chan Featurette (20:00) *Charlie Chan In London Trailer

Disk 3: CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT (1935) *Full Screen Feature *The Real Charlie Chan Featurette (20:00) *Charlie Chan In London Trailer

Disk 4: CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI (1935) *Full Screen Feature *ERAN TRECE Fullscreen Feature (79:00) *Eran Trece Theatrical Trailer *Charlie Chan In London Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Charlie Chan, the name says it all.......2007-08-13

I loved his films when I was a a little detective wannabe, and 55 years later I'm STILL a fan. Couldn't believe it. They are as fresh and interesting as they were when I was a child. Mantan Moreland, Keye Luke, all of the players took their work seriously and gave the audience a great ride for their dime. We paid more this time 'round, but it was the same wonderful memory.

love all of them.......2007-06-08

these movies are great to watch with the whole family. my 11 and 9 year olds love charlie Chan. these old black and white mystery movies are great quality and well done

Oldy but a Goodie.......2007-06-08

I am an old movie buff, especially mysteries. No need for all the modern tech stuff for enjoyment. This collection was great!

Not epic classics but ............2007-05-07

In a word the Charlie Chan series of movies are FUN. The Warner Oland movies are a cut above the others. The often used (and often made up)Chinese proverbs quoted by Charlie provide a lot of humor. Even more humor is evident after Keye Luke was added. I found it interesting that several of the movies managed to work in some of the cutting edge technology of the day. i.e. The photocell timing at the race track, the FAX-like transmission of pictures. It is easy to see why the series was so popular in their day and remain so.

Warner Oland's Charlie Chan with Great Special Features.......2007-05-06

Earl Derr Bigger's Charlie Chan was finally successfully brought to the screen by Warner Oland. This box set has Oland's 5th - 8th appearances as the detective. This set could be called Charlie Chan's world tour as he visits London, Paris, Cairo and Shanghai.

Like all detective serial movies, the plots are all different but they are all the same. Its just that Charlie has a classy way of doing things. He always does things with intelligence and style. Whether solving a case at an English country house, finding who has been forging bank bonds in Paris, who has been stealing the treasure from the tomb in Egypt or the murderer in Shanghai, Charlie / Warner always got his man.

But what makes this set special is are the special features. Three of the movies have featurettes about the origins of Charlie Chan and each is very interesting and gives great insight into the character.

The forth has a spanish language version of Charlie Chan Carries On. In the 30's the studios would make duplicate versions of movies for the foriegn markets, usually South America. These were made using the same sets as the English versions but with a Spanish cast. In this film they use a photo of Charlie's family but Oland is in the picture not the Spanish actor! (If you get Garbo's Anna Christie, it has the German version with Garbo but the rest of the cast replaced by German actors.)

These special features make this set better than just the films alone. Thanks for the extra content!!

Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 1 (The Asphalt Jungle / Gun Crazy / Murder My Sweet / Out of the Past / The Set-Up)

Average customer rating:

Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 1
If You Want One Film Noir Collection, This is the One.
"You're not a detective, you're a slot machine. You'd slit your own throat for six bits plus tax."
5 of the Best
Black & White rarely looks and sounds this good

Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 1 (The Asphalt Jungle / Gun Crazy / Murder My Sweet / Out of the Past / The Set-Up)
Starring: Sterling Hayden , Louis Calhern , Jean Hagen , James Whitmore , and Sam Jaffe
Director: John Huston , Joseph H. Lewis , and Edward Dmytryk
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000244F2S
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Amazon.com

Some boxed sets claim to be definitive, but are haphazardly selected. Not this one. Four of the five titles here can legitimately lay claim to being essentials in the film noir canon, and the fifth, The Set-Up, is a terrific boxing picture with a strong noir atmosphere. If you're a fan of noir--or have no idea what it's all about--this collection is a treat.

Of course, none of these movies were made as "film noir." The term was coined later by French critics to describe the moody, anxious feel of postwar American movies, especially the genre that highlighted duplicitous dames and susceptible men lost in the criminal jungle. Indeed, the title The Asphalt Jungle conveys the edgy urban arena of these pictures. That film is John Huston's masterly 1950 account of a heist, with Sterling Hayden the disenchanted, noirish hero. Joseph H. Lewis's Gun Crazy (1949) is one of the most supercharged (and sexually perverse) of noir films, with John Dall and Peggy Cummins as young criminals in love. Murder, My Sweet (1944) is a straight adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel Farewell, My Lovely. Amid the film's shadowy chiaroscuro, former musical comedy star Dick Powell makes a career-changing transition as Chandler's private dick, Philip Marlowe. Out of the Past puts Robert Mitchum (perhaps the quintessential noir actor) in trouble with gangster Kirk Douglas, complicated by classic femme fatale Jane Greer. Jacques Tourneur provides the evocative direction. And The Set-Up plays out an ingenious boxing tale in "real time," superbly enacted by (former boxer) Robert Ryan. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 1.......2007-01-16

The product is exactly as described.
The picture quality is excellent.
I have no hesitation in recommending this product to any propective purcher

If You Want One Film Noir Collection, This is the One........2006-10-11

If you want to buy one film noir collection, this "Film Noir Classic Collection, Volume 1" from Warner Brothers is the one to get. These are all 5-star films. "The Asphalt Jungle", "Gun Crazy", "Murder, My Sweet", and "Out of the Past" are top-notch films from the height of the film noir movement 1944-1950, each representing at least one iconic film noir motif. "The Set-Up" is not film noir, but it's brilliant nonetheless. All of the films in this collection are accompanied by audio commentaries that vary in quality and focus but are worthwhile for film noir buffs. A better sampler of crime films from Hollywood's Golden Era could not have been assembled.

"The Asphalt Jungle" (1950) is a steadily paced, thoughtful heist film. The requisite crew of mastermind, safecracker, driver, stick-up man, and financier are assembled to pull a grand jewel heist. Complex characters and themes make this a great deal more than a typical heist flick. Based on the novel by W.R. Burnett and directed by John Huston, "The Asphalt Jungle" was nominated for 4 Academy Awards. The audio commentary is by film historian Drew Casper, and there is a short introduction to the film by John Huston.

"Gun Crazy" (1949) is a Bonnie-and-Clyde-inspired fugitive couple film that might be the most blatant expression of the sexualization of violence in the film noir canon. Sharpshooting femme fatale Annie Laurie Starr lures her equally "gun crazy" nice-guy husband Bart into a life of crime. Their "amour fou" is irrational but, at the same time, completely fascinating. The audio commentary is by film critic Glenn Erikson.

"Out of the Past" (1947) typifies the noir style so elegantly and in so many ways. Retired private detective Jeff Bailey has settled down to a quiet life in a small town when his past comes back to haunt him. Years before, he was hired by a wealthy gambler in New York to track down the man's errant mistress Kathie. But Jeff fell head over heels for the beautiful, duplicitous Kathie, and now both the lady and her lover insist on his loyalty. Actors Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer make a striking pair, accented by beautiful low-key light. The audio commentary is by film noir historian James Ursini.

"Murder, My Sweet" (1944) exemplifies labyrinthine plots in the style of Raymond Chandler, upon whose novel the film is based. Private detective Philip Marlowe finds that two of his cases may be related when a quest to find the girlfriend of an insistent thug and a case of missing jewels lead him around in circles but always to Mrs. Helen Grayle, the lady whose jewels went missing. The audio commentary is by film noir historian Alain Silver.

"The Set-Up" (1949) is not film noir, but an introverted character drama starring Robert Ryan as a boxer past his prime, clinging to hopes of moderate success in the ring. "The Set-Up" is perhaps best remembered for being shot in real time, including15-minutes in the ring. With a beautiful naturalistic visual style and a subdued, sympathetic performance from Robert Ryan, "The Set-Up" is one of the most memorable boxing films made. The audio commentary is by directors Robert Wise and Martin Scorsese, who were recorded separately.

"You're not a detective, you're a slot machine. You'd slit your own throat for six bits plus tax.".......2006-08-21

From Warner Home Video comes the Film Noir Classic Collection, Volume 1, featuring, in no particular order, the following films...

The Asphalt Jungle (1950), directed by John Huston and starring Sterling Hayden as a streetwise hooligan hired on as muscle for a big-time heist, caught in the middle when things go seriously sour. The picture, presented in fullscreen (1.33:1), looks very good, limited to a few, very minor flaws, and the Dolby Digital audio, available in both English and French, comes across sharp and clean. There is a so-so commentary track featuring author/film noir specialist Drew Casper with co-star James Whitmore, along with a theatrical trailer, an introduction by director John Houston (0:49), and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

Gun Crazy (1949) aka Deadly Is the Female, directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring John Dall and Peggy Cummins as a pair of pistol packing newlyweds who embark on a life of crime because it's a hell of a lot easier (and exciting) than actually working for a living, that is at least until the Johnny Law makes the scene...the picture, presented in fullscreen (1.33:1), looks very good, limited to a few, very minor flaws, and the Dolby Digital audio is sharp and clean. There is a commentary track featuring author/film noir specialist Glenn Erickson, along with subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

Murder, My Sweet (1944), directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Dick Powell and Claire Trevor, the former playing Private Eye Philip Marlowe, caught up in a mystery involving a stolen jade necklace, a couple of hot tomatoes, and a corpse or two. The picture, presented in fullscreen (1.33:1), looks very clean and clear, and the Dolby Digital mono audio comes across clearly. As far as extras, included is a commentary track with author/film-noir specialist Alain Silver, a rough looking theatrical trailer, and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

Out of the Past (1947), directed by Jacques Tourneur and starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas. Mitchum plays a once private eye now fulltime schlub whose past catches up to him after getting too close to a dame he was only supposed to find for a well to do client, and ultimately ends up on the wrong end of a murder investigation. The picture, presented in fullscreen (1.33:1), is strong, and the Dolby Digital mono audio comes across well. As far as extras, included is a commentary track with author/film-noir specialist James Ursini and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

The Set-Up (1949), directed by Robert Wise and starring Robert Ryan as an aging boxer who gets crossed by his unscrupulous manager while going for his last, big shot. The picture, presented in fullscreen (1.33:1), comes across well with few, if any, noticeable flaws, and the Dolby Digital mono comes through cleanly. As far as extras, there's an audio commentary track featuring director Robert Wise and Martin Scorsese, along with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.

While each film in this set is outstanding in its own right, my personal favorites are The Asphalt Jungle and Murder, My Sweet.

Cookieman108

By the way, if you dig on these, you might want to check out the other DVD sets in the series, listed below...and the quote I used for the title of this review came from the film Murder, My Sweet.

Film Noir Classics Collection, Volume 2
Born to Kill (1947), Clash by Night (1952), Crossfire (1947), Dillinger (1945), The Narrow Margin (1952).

Film Noir Classics Collection, Volume 3
Border Incident (1949), His Kind of Woman (1951), Lady in the Lake (1947), On Dangerous Ground (1952), and The Racket (1951). This set also includes a bonus disc which includes a handful of short features

5 of the Best.......2006-08-18

Excellent choice of movies, either as intro to Noir, or for the aficionado who can recite the lines and anticipate every scene.Through the cynical postwar eyes of writers and directors like Huston and Tourneur, bleak views of human behavior are handled with style and wit, and the denouement of criminal behavior comes from the moment of conscious choice to treat people with contempt.
Superb.

Black & White rarely looks and sounds this good.......2006-01-26

I jump-started my personal noir collection with this box. I can't say enough about these movies -- all 5 are classics. I will give THE SET-UP special attention since it is unique. Told in almost real-time, it's a fascinating boxing/mobster/underdog drama.

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 2 (Angels' Revenge / Cave Dwellers / Pod People / Shorts, Vol. 1)

Average customer rating:

Best or Second Best Collection (as of Volume 11)
A Starter Kit & Collector's Must-Have
Top Notch MST3k
Best of the collections
Funny, Witty and just a bit (the good kind of ) Stupid!

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 2 (Angels' Revenge / Cave Dwellers / Pod People / Shorts, Vol. 1)
Starring: Mystery Science Theater 3000 , Jack Palance , and Peter Lawford
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000087EYI
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Customer Reviews:

Best or Second Best Collection (as of Volume 11).......2007-08-27

Briefly: this is my favorite collection, save perhaps volume 10 which is not available for any reasonable sum at this point (and I do not own, but remember the episodes). These aren't the watchable bad films like Manos, but they are so poorly conceived if produced competently enough as to be hilarious. The shorts hit a little close to home at times too. Enjoy!

A Starter Kit & Collector's Must-Have.......2007-04-16

This MST3K collection is the perfect set for both die-hard fans and viewers who are new to the show. The movies are bad in a ripe, juicy way, making it easy to squeeze every last drop of possible humor out of their horrendous dialogue, lame-duck plots, and trapped-in-a-paper-bag acting.

For collectors and afficianados, this collection is a no-brainer. For everyone else, it makes an excellent starter kit to get you into and hooked on this intelligent, delightful, and addictive show. This particular set contains the following:

CAVE DWELLERS - Miles (and miles) O'Keefe stars as Ator, the greasy, chesty hero who must travel to the ends of the earth in order to stop a strange and mystical device (the Geometric Nucleus -- never seen, never explained, never mind) from falling into the evil hands of some man with a black swan helmet. Along the way he fights invisible warriors (this film's version of cost-saving casting), a fiberglass cobra, and -- of course -- a few cave dwellers. Both well-read and beefy, Ator is assisted in his quest by his mostly mute sidekick, Dong (or is it Wong? Chong? Ba-da-bong?), and a hubcap-clad warrior woman whose name, I believe, is Linda. Joel and the bots discuss foley artist techniques, reprise the opening credits of the film in their own tongue-in-cheek fashion, and discuss ways bad movies make bad props sound better than they are. Delicious if for no other reason than the hang-glider scene.

ANGELS REVENGE - A thinly disguised rip-off of Charlie's Angels, this self-righteous dud treats us to feeble-minded drug dealers beating up school children and a typically-squinty Jack Palance doing as little acting as he possibly can. Other down-on-their-luck stars exploit their dwindling fame as well (Peter Lawford, Pat Burtrum, Alan hale, Jim Backus, and Arthur Godfrey), prompting Tom to invent a Shame-O-meter, just to gauge how pathetic the movie really is. A few of the host segments fall a little flat and seem short-changed, but that doesn't detract from Mike and the bots' able and always incisive commentary. Listen for KPLOT, watch for the scenes of young teens being instructed on proper gun use, cringe at the overly-excessive administration of groin torture, and laugh at eight women "sneaking" into a drug compound in broad daylight while wearing downy-white Evel Kineval jumpers.

POD PEOPLE - The filet mignon of MST3K episodes, "Pod People" features some of the best jokes and gags Joel and the bots have ever pitted against a film. This travesty of a movie concerns the deaths of a few brain-dead poachers (one of them is a Leslie Nielsen look-alike, the other looks like he belongs around the potato cauldron at a Renaissance Fair), the "antics" of a horrendous band (boasting a combined IQ of 12), and the machinations of a couple of murderous aliens that look like the love-children of Alf and an upright Hoover (with attachments). The plot also follows a precocious young boy as he deals with parental neglect, his uncaring and alcoholic grand/father, and a whole host of traumatizing sights. Featuring a hilarious spoof of one of the band's feature songs ("It stinks!") and a delightful recreation of Trumpy's abilities, this episode contains everything that made MST3K a brilliant show. If this one doesn't turn you into an fan, nothing will.

SHORTS, VOL. 1 - Okay, well, maybe this would be better for newbies. Hosted by Tom Servo, this disc provides viewers with 10 and 15 minute "shorts," brief, bite-sized educational clips hailing mostly from the 50s and designed -- primarily -- to teach suppression and the Great White Way to unsuspecting schoolchildren. A short on Home Economics (one of my all-time favorites) follows four girls through college as they major in various things like baby sitting, how to set a table, and (no fooling!) being a good wife. A short on good grooming encourages not just clean skin and hair, but also unswerving conformity to all traditional standards of clothing. Speaking of conformity, "A Date with Your Family" is one of the most frightening short films I've ever seen, a diatribe on familial duty that demands that children dress casually for a home meal, never ask dad for money, and always make sure dinner time conversations are as unemotional as possible. (Seriously. The narrator uses the word "unemotional.") Others include an industrial arts segment (much like the Home Economics clip, except here you have guys talking about how much they love the "smooth feel of wood pushing through a buzzing saw"), a piece on "The Chicken of Tomorrow" (a bizarre title for a boring subject), cheating (in which a young boy who cheats on a test is treated as a leperous pariah by rib-less students and teachers alike), and a Junior Rodeo in which young children risk their lives and spines for a fleeting moment of unbridled, bucking fame.

Unsettling Depression-era edutainment, 70's technicolor plaigarism, sci-fi/fantasy tomfoolery, and self-congratulatory heavy handedness: this collection harbors some of MST3K's worthiest (and cheesiest) foes. It's a treasure to be able to watch Mike, Joel, Tom and Crow chop them to bits with high-brow allusions, goofy witticisms, and hilarious insights. If you like watching bad movies with your best friends (or if you're the type who can't help making wise comments when you see something lame), MST3K should be a treat, making this collection the equivalent of a candy shop of humor.

Top Notch MST3k.......2007-03-23

I would recommend this box set for anyone who is new to Mystery Science Theater 3000; and if you're already a fan and you don't have this one, what are you waiting for? "Cave Dwellers" and "Pod People" are two of the finest episodes in the shows ten year history. The movies are just so goofy that they beg for commentary from Joel and his robot pals. And they deliver with some of their best and funniest commentary ever. (Though some fans who prefer the Sci-fi channel era may disagree). "Angels Revenge" is another fine episode because the movie is so terrible that you simply have to laugh. Also features "Shorts vol. 1, which contains several short films with classic commentary from Joel, Mike, Crow and Servo that will keep you laughing for hours. Also, the skits on the Satellite are very funny as well, with several parodies of scenes from the featured movies. For me, this is the best MST3k compilation from Rhino home video, along with volume five. They are a little high priced, but check out Amazon's new and used section for a good deal. It will be worth it.

Best of the collections.......2006-12-23

MST was pretty great throughout its run, but these flicks mark the apogee of the show's excellence.

"Cave Dwellers" and "Pod People" are the best. Both are, of course, horrid flicks, but even on their own are tremendously enjoyable. Joel and the Bots are completely on top of their riffing game, from their evisceration of Trumpy to Ator's hang-gliding performance (the latter answers the age-old question: How much Keefe is in this movie? The answer is obvious: Miles O'Keefe.

"Angel's Revenge" is a tremendous '70s/'80s homage/ripoff of "Charlie's Angels", with a nod to Russ Meyer. The cast reads like a who's-who of spent actors of the era: Peter Lawford, Jim Backus, Alan Hale Jr., Jack Palance. Only "Mitchell" comes close to replicating the latter phenomenon.

The shorts are good, but somewhat superfluous.

Any fan of the series should have this as part of their collection.

Now if we could just get "Master Ninja" I & II, "Alien from L.A.", "The Giant Gila Monster" amd "Warrior of the Lost World", my life would be complete. And "Puma Man".

Funny, Witty and just a bit (the good kind of ) Stupid!.......2006-08-07

This is a classic show! I used to watch these as a kid on the SciFi channel and they are just as funny now that I am an adult! The characters are great, and you will think that they made the movies up because they are just that bad... The best part about this, is that when my sister-in-law was a kid and these were on TV, she saw her favorite movie as the subject of one of them. I wont reveal which movie, but it is pretty funny when you recognise one of these!

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Vol. 1-4

Average customer rating:

Watchable
WOW
The Inspectorr Lynley Mysteries, Vol. 1 - 4
Inspector Lynley Mysteries
The Best Crime Fighting Duo on the screen

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Vol. 1-4
Starring: Nathaniel Parker , and Sharon Small
Manufacturer: WGBH BOSTON
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HEWH0A
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Customer Reviews:

Watchable.......2007-09-08

As a fan of the Elizabeth George novels, I was impressed by the initial quality of the series. As the series moved beyond the novels, the plots became irritatingly predictable. George had the sense to expand the narrowness of a two character lead by adding four other central characters. We are left with Helen, interpreted as so neurotic that one wonders why anyone would spend more than ten minutes with her.

WOW.......2007-07-27

What a great way to spend hot summer evenings, in front of the tv watching good mysteries with great acting and plot lines. Fantastic to watch the character development between Lynley and Havers. The English scenery shots are fantastic, almost feel like I am there.

The Inspectorr Lynley Mysteries, Vol. 1 - 4.......2007-07-11

Considering that the stories on which this series was based were written by an American lady, the programmes are excellent. Both stars are well drawn; particularly Sharon Small, and the scenery alone makes the series worth watching.

Agatha Christie it may be not, but an entertaining, beautifully filmed series it is.

Inspector Lynley Mysteries.......2007-07-03

My husband and I love British mysteries. I read many of the books years ago and was delighted to find them on PBS. We have now started to purchase sets. We really enjoyed this series but found Inspector Lynley to be overly harsh to Havers, his DS. I don't remember him being quite so rude in the books. We were not happy with the abrupt ending of the series - many plot lines left unfinished and we're disappointed to not have answers to our questions. The quality of the series was great - well photographed, great dialogue, good plots. I'd buy it again.

The Best Crime Fighting Duo on the screen.......2007-06-13

I've been a long time fan of the good inspector and the Inspector Lynley Mysteries are a cut above the rest, because it really concentrates on the complex relationship between Lynley and Havers. It's not just who dunnit, but more about how Lynley and Havers go about solving it that makes it compelling viewing.

This dvd set, with 17 dvds ( including a Great Deliverance) is like a big box of chocolates - watching it is an absolute treat. If you watch in order, you can see how their relationship evolves from their first reluctant pairing to the genuine friendship that develops.

The acting is sublime - Nathaniel Parker really shows Lynley to be a complex character ( as is the protagonist in Elizabeth George's books) and he captures Lynley's emotions well. Lynley is unlike other British detectives who seem fairly one dimensional and rather wooden. Sharon Small is also outstanding as Havers - from the ugly duckling early days to the assured, s strong character she becomes. Both characters seem very real, again, unlike other detective series and to get these two fine British actors sparring off each other for over 25 hours is television heaven.

All in all, a great DVD collection to own. Bring on Series 5 and 6 please!

Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Definitely Worth Preserving: Suspense
Suspense
Here is a listing of the items in this set.
A Blast from the Past
I Rather listen to the Radio Series

Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1
Starring: Suspense: the Lost Episodes
Manufacturer: Infinity Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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Mystery & Suspense | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000P1KPIQ
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Customer Reviews:

Definitely Worth Preserving: Suspense.......2007-09-17

The stories in this series are surprisingly good. Unlike many early TV thrillers, these actually generate a good amount of suspense. So they are worth seeing for that reason. Another reason to watch them is the casts. It can be great fun spotting faces that will become well-known in later years: Lee Marvin, Eva Marie Saint, Barry Nelson, Anne Francis, Leslie Neilson and many others who were literally unknown in 1949-51. On the other hand, at least one episode features the legendary acting teacher Stella Adler. Some of the acting on these shows (all performed LIVE) is poor, and actors occasionally flub their lines (even when they only have one!). The productions are very low-budget too. But the writing, most of the acting, and the fascinating casts can add up to some pretty entertaining viewing. Some episodes contain the entire Auto-Lite commercial material (it goes on a long time, but you can fast-forward), and some episodes have it cut out. These programs exist only in kinescope (a filmed image of a TV monitor). They were probably not meant for posterity, but for showing on the West Coast, assuming they were produced in NYC. The quality of the kinescopes is variable, but some do look quite good, too bad the audio was not captured in better quality. Still, for those interested in early TV this is one of the best extant anthologies from those long-ago days.

Suspense.......2007-09-06

This is tv in its beginning. I had forgotten mic shadows, line mistakes, and the like. I am enjoying the disc just for the people appearing in the shows. Many of them at the beginning of their careers. The picture quality isn't the best but passable watching. I reccomend the disc for anyone living thru the begining of television. Roger

Here is a listing of the items in this set........2007-09-05

I haven't bought this item yet, but for those of you who want to know WHAT is in this collection, here is the listing, thanks to B&N.

I am a collector of KARLOFF and I have knowledge of only six shows he did under "Suspense".

(The Signal Man, The Black Prophet, The Lonely Place, The Yellow Scarf, The Monkey's Paw, and A Night at an Inn)

So this will be a treat to see NIGHT AT THE INN.

Menu

Disc #1 -- Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1

A Night at the Inn

Dead Ernest

Help Wanted

The Comic Strip Murder

Dr. Violet

The Murderer

Black Passage

The Man in the House

Disc #2 -- Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1

The Suicide Club

The Parcel

My Old Man's Badge

Photo Finish

Edge of Panic

The Brush - Off

Dead Fall

Double Entry

Disc #3 -- Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1

On a Country Road

Summer Storm

Wisteria Cottage

The Black Panther

Alibi Me

The Debt

The Crooked Frame

Remember Me?

Disc #4 -- Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection, Vol. 1

Woman in Love

The Invisible Killer

Vacancy For Death

The Kiss - Off

Kiss Me Again Stranger

The Duel

A Blast from the Past.......2007-08-23

Return to the early days of television when everything was live!! These DVDs, taken from kinescope recordings, do not have great picture quality. and some of the stories are pretty cornball to the more sophisticated audiences of today,but it is still great to see the old stars, and the early performances of young actors who later became stars.

I Rather listen to the Radio Series.......2007-07-25

Suspense is one of the Greatest Radio Shows in the history boardcasting.
Outstanding writing with performances from many big name stars of 1940's.

The Suspense TV series after viewing these 30 episodes for first time is a let down. It uses many of the same stories as the Radio series even some of same actors like Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre.
But I just don't get the same Thrill and tension while watching as I do listening.

Radio, The Theater of the Mind is a more powerfull tool then what actually
can be shown over the TV.

Mr. Moto Collection, Vol. 1 (Mr. Moto Takes A Chance / Mysterious Mr. Moto / Thank You Mr. Moto / Think Fast Mr. Moto) (4DVD)

Average customer rating:

SELDOM SEEN TREASURES!
Oh, so? A not-so-typical detective
Mr. Moto ... so enjoyable
Mr. Moto Peter Lorre
Excellent B Adventure/Detective Series

Mr. Moto Collection, Vol. 1 (Mr. Moto Takes A Chance / Mysterious Mr. Moto / Thank You Mr. Moto / Think Fast Mr. Moto) (4DVD)
Starring: Peter Lorre
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000FKO3U8
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Description

Bonus Features: **Mr. Moto Wave 1 includes Mr. Moto Takes A Chance, Mysterious Mr. Moto, Thank You Mr. Moto and Think Fast, Mr. Moto.

**All available for the first time on DVD plus The Mr. Moto Collection Volume One**

Episode Description: Disc 1: Mr. Moto Takes a Chance Disc 2: Mysterious Mr. Moto Disc 3: Thank You Mr. Moto Disc 4: Think Fast Mr. Moto

Customer Reviews:

SELDOM SEEN TREASURES!.......2007-07-23

These Moto films were a staple on late night TV in the early '70s, but are never seen now---what a shame. They are, without exception, VERY enjoyable and a fun way to spend an evening or two. Starring the always watchable Peter Lorre as the international spy for the good guys and a plethora of FOX contract players, there's not a dud in the bunch. Great companion pieces to the Charlie Chan films!

Oh, so? A not-so-typical detective.......2007-07-15

I purchased both collections of Mr. Moto films and have watched the first three movies in the series with great enjoyment. Peter Lorre's depiction of the Japanese importer/detective is quite good. I have been pleasantly surprised to find that the character often reacts or behaves totally unlike his counterparts in other detective films. The extras are okay, though not spectacular. The featurette about Peter Lorre was interesting but would have been better if it had included clips from some of the films mentioned in the story. All in all, I'm very pleased with the Mr. Moto films thus far and look forward to watching the rest of them.

Mr. Moto ... so enjoyable.......2007-07-05

Love the character, that maintained integrity unlike James Bond that has relied so heavilly on cheap violence and gimickry.

Mr. Moto Peter Lorre.......2007-03-29

I've been looking for Mr. Moto for the last 20 years? They don't show them on tv anymore, and I could not find them on the internet. So, it seems they needed restoration and it was worth the wait. I am savoring every moment of this work. Thank you, Mr. Lorre, for your gift to us.

I purchased both volumes. Mr. Moto with Peter Lorre. On this one, my favorite movie is Mr. Moto Takes a Chance. The restoration is beautiful, and each movie dvd has extra content, background, informative.

Excellent B Adventure/Detective Series.......2007-03-28

The Mr. Moto series is an excellent group of adventure/detective movies. Peter Lorre's characterization as Mr. Moto and a fine supporting cast elevates these movies above the usual "B" detective movies.

The restoration of these films by Twentieth Century Fox is excellent. The picture quality of this set (and its companion set)are far superior to the public domain versions of these films.

Please consider two (2) other related purchases to become an expert fan of Mr. Moto and Peter Lorre. Howard Berlin has written a concise and well-organized overview of the Mr. Moto series, The Complete Mr. Moto Phile: A Casebook. This softcover book is available for approximately $[...] from Amazon.com. Stephen Youngkin has written a book on Peter Lorre, The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre. Youngkin's book is one of the most comprehensive and best researched biographes of a Hollywood star - it is a a treasure trove of information about Peter Lorre. This hardcover book is available for approximately [...]from Amazon.com I gained a greater appreciation for Peter Lorre's acting talents in the Mr. Moto series after I read both of these books. Please review the Amazon.com reviews for these books.

The Complete Mr. Moto Film Phile: A Casebook

The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre

Average customer rating:

Clive Owen is wonderful
Great detective video with AUDIO DESCRIPTION for blind viewers
Another Clive Owen hit
A Wonderful Surprise
Enjoyable

Second Sight, Vol. 1 & 2
Starring: Clive Owen , Rupert Holliday-Evans , Claire Skinner , Frank Harper , and Alexander Morton
Director: Edward Bennett , and Charles Beeson
Manufacturer: WGBH BOSTON
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0002XVRWK
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Amazon.com

Taut, styish, and smart, Second Sight is the rare detective thriller with a brutal poetry in its premise. Detective Chief Inspector Ross Tanner (Clive Owen) is a maverick cop and workaholic who solves crimes by putting his faith in facts he can see for himself. What more cruel irony could beset him than a slow and irreversible loss of vision? While a rare disorder attacks his cornea, causing intermittent blindness and hallucinations, Tanner conceals his problem in the pursuit of a murderer who brutally beat a 19-year-old man to death. The suspects are largely people the victim knew well, including his mother (Phoebe Nicholls) and stepfather (Stuart Wilson), the nanny (Louise Atkins) of his young sister, a gardener (Eddie Marsan) who supplied him drugs, and an uncle (Stuart Wilson again, playing twins) who has allegedly been out of the country for years but in fact has been keeping a low profile in London. Tanner faces an added strain, initially, when he is partnered with a female detective, Catherine Tully (Claire Skinner), whose reliance on intuition is the antithesis of his own methods. Nevertheless, the two make a bargain after Skinner deduces Tanner's medical troubles: she'll be his eyes if he promises to give her equal credit for apprehending the killer. Utterly engrossing, Second Sight is part of that tradition of somber crime thriller done so well on British television, from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy to Prime Suspect. Stars Claire Skinner (Sleepy Hollow) and Clive Owen carry the load exceptionally well. Owen (Closer, Bent), who looks like a slightly more rugged version of Kevin Costner and is instantly likable onscreen, conveys Tanner's necessary conversion to a more intuitive approach to police work with great care. Owen has looked like a candidate for international stardom for a while, and Second Sight certainly reinforces that perception.

Second Sight 2 follows the critically acclaimed, highly popular miniseries Second Sight with three bracing, two-part thrillers challenging ordinary notions of perception and deduction. Clive Owen returns as Chief Inspector Ross Tanner, whose eyesight is failing (his doctor sounds less certain this time that Tanner will absolutely go blind), subjecting him to blurry, distorting vision and even occasional hallucinations. Unwilling to give up his job, Tanner continues to rely upon confidantes working under him in his Special Murder Unit (now called the "Special Money Unit," investigating cold crimes and unusual cases), particularly Catherine Tully (Claire Skinner), who became Tanner's "eyes" in Second Sight and is his lover in the first story here, "Hide and Seek." Created and written by Paula Milne, Second Sight was most interesting as a study of a man who can no longer use his eyes to solve crimes and must turn to a kind of sixth sense, heightened intuition, instead. Second Sight 2 extends that idea into chilling storylines in which only Tanner can "see" what his colleagues merely look upon. "Hide and Seek" is a strong and tragic tale in which Tanner re-opens an investigation into the apparent murder of a world-class violinist. While the SMU team pokes through three possible murder scenarios, Tanner takes the extraordinary measure of building a mock-up of the victim's home within police headquarters. (Meanwhile, Catherine endures the humiliation of being found out as Tanner's secret girlfriend.) "Parasomnia" is an absolutely spooky story about a sleepwalker (who fascinates Tanner on several levels) who has no memory of crossing town in her nightdress and bashing in her fianci's head. Finally, "The Kingdom of the Blind" finds Tanner's young son missing during an investigation into the racially charged killing of an activist. Through all of these, Owen's laser-focused, powerful performance is something special to behold. --Tom Keogh

Description

This taut psychological thriller from Paula Milne (The Politician's Wife) introduces Ross Tanner (Clive Owen, Closer; Bent), a hotshot police detective who lives for the thrill of the chase—while desperate to conceal a terrifying secret: he's losing his vision. Claire Skinner (Inspector Morse; The Wingless Bird; Sleepy Hollow) co-stars as D.I. Catherine Tully, drafted into Tanner's crime unit to aid in the investigation of the apparently motiveless, brutal murder of a 19-year-old college student. As Tanner's relationship with the world becomes increasingly fragile, he learns that there is more to murder than meets the eye. Insight prevails over eyesight as he discovers that success and survival both will depend on the alchemy of all his senses. Then, Clive Owen returns as Detective Chief Inspector Ross Tanner in three new cases of Second Sight. Still afflicted with a rare and incurable eye disease, Tanner's vision is slowly dimming, yet his crime-solving senses are as sharp as ever. He's just been chosen to head the Special Murder Unit, an elite group assigned only the toughest cases. Tanner has to hone his observation skills while staying several steps ahead of his colleagues—who are unaware of his debilitating secret.

Special DVD features include: article by series creator Paula Milne about developing Second Sight; bonus arficle "Disabled Detectives Develop New Ways to Fight Crime;" selected cast filmographies; selected cast list; link to the Mystery! Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On four DVD9 discs. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Customer Reviews:

Clive Owen is wonderful.......2007-05-16

I was pleasantly surprised at how well Clive Owen acted in this series. In some of his movies he seems a little too stiff, however, in this series he is warm and believable. This is the story of a detective on the fast track who is losing his sight. Reading the synopsis you may think that "Second Sight" is referring to being able to see into the future/past; however that is not the case. He is losing his sight due to a viral infection that is uncurable. He is unable to hide this condition from his most able coworkers (they are detectives after all), and has to lean on a few of them which is something he hates to do. This series would have been better has the intro been deleted off of it, but the show was very good and the last show of the series had a wonderful and satisfying ending.

Great detective video with AUDIO DESCRIPTION for blind viewers.......2007-05-07

DVD or Video--This is an engrossing 2-part detective movie PBS (or BBC?)about a detective who is losing his sight after an accident. He tries to hide the fact from his police force, while solving a case. Great plot and acting.

NOTE TO AMAZON: Can Amazon Note in their product description when a DVD or Video (like Second Sight) offers DVS--Descriptive Video Service, an audio descripton option for viewers with visual impairment--low vision or blindness?
Same way you may list when a product offers CC --Closed Captioning for viewers with hearing impairment--deaf, hard of hearing, etc.

For those who have visual impairment, this DVD/video/TV movie offers the option of Descriptive Audio, a quiet voice that describes key visual scenes (e.g., "The man slips into the room and hides a key under the phone.") To use this, check SECOND SIGHT video menu for additional features. On regular TV, you click the MTS or SAP button on your TV remote and highlight MTS or SAP-- when a program has it, a subtle voice describes all the video action. The voice in no way interferes with the video voice--in fact, it helps the viewer.

My husband is blind, and this way we can both watch DVD. (If the program does not have it, clicking SAP or MTS will play classical music or Spanish translation).
I'm sighted, but I love Descriptive Audio for when I'm tired, too--I never miss a trick this way!

We urge ALL DVD/video makers to add descriptive video---PBS tv stations offer a great many programs with DV (e.g., Masterpiece Theatre, series, etc.)--some networks--NBC, CBS, ABC--must also, by law--look oline on tv schedule to see if DA or DV appears (where the initials CC, for "Closed Captions" for deaf viewers, normally appears).

Another Clive Owen hit.......2007-02-08

Excellent in everyway-acting & storyline. I would highly recommend-British television & Owen at their best.

A Wonderful Surprise.......2007-01-19

Clive Owen caught my eye in Inside Man (Widescreen Edition). Ever since then I've been a fan. After checking out his movies on amazon I came across "Second Sight". It sounded pretty interesting- Clive Owen plays a police detective who is losing his sight. He has to deal with temporary blindness and hallucinations- not to mention solving the case.

I've never purchased a British television show before so I was a bit apprehensive. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to understand some of the accents, or even the terms. Overall though, I was able to understand it very well. I can only remember one time where I rewound two or three times before giving up on that one phrase because I had no idea what they said.

Clive was fabulous. He plays the tough detective (Ross Tanner) so well, but was also able to show that he was a loving father to his son. His difficulty in accepting that he had a problem was hard to watch. Claire Skinner costars as his partner (Catherine Tully). It was interesting to watch her mind work, whether it was figuring out the crime, or noticing her partner had a problem.

I thoroughly recommend this series to anyone who loves mysteries or detective stories. Or if you're a Clive Owen fan like me. Buy "Second Sight Vol. 1 & 2". There's only four episodes total, but they are each two parts due to the length. I was sorry to see them end!

Enjoyable.......2007-01-10

Have only watched the first two episodes so far, but am greatly enjoying the show. It is alot of fun and I enjoy seeing some recognizable British actors with smaller parts. The mysteries are in depth and not easily solved. We make bets about half way through the show to see who is right (or closest) in solving the mystery.

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 1 (Bloodlust / Catalina Caper / The Creeping Terror / Skydivers)

Average customer rating:

Six Months and Still Waiting
Good one, but not the best set...
You Gotta Be Kidding Me....
Funny, Witty and just a bit (the good kind of ) Stupid!
One of the funniest shows on TV

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 1 (Bloodlust / Catalina Caper / The Creeping Terror / Skydivers)
Starring: Mike Nelson
Director: Joel Hodgson
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

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ASIN: B00006RJCL
Release Date: 2002-11-12

Amazon.com

This four-disc set, bundled together in an appropriately cheesy but charming package that sports pop-up-book-styled artwork, compiles four episodes of the Peabody Award-winning comedy series. The "experiments" in question (Bloodlust, Catalina Caper, The Creeping Terror, and The Skydivers) aren't necessarily MST3K's finest hours--they don't hold a candle to the show's takes on The Magic Sword, The Atomic Brain, and The Brain That Wouldn't Die. But the barrage of verbal zingers and pop-culture references slung by hosts Joel Hodgson and Mike Nelson and their puppet pals Crow and Tom Servo are still quite funny, and should please both longtime fans and science fiction aficionados who don't take too much umbrage at having their beloved movies heckled.

The Collection is decidedly Mike-centric, with The Creeping Terror, Bloodlust, and The Skydivers all culled from his reign during the sixth season. Series creator Joel Hodgson's participation is relegated to season 2's Catalina Caper, a fan favorite that at one time was pulled from circulation over rights issues. As with most of Rhino's MST3K DVDs, each disc is dual-sided, with one side devoted to the original, uncut version of each film, and the other given over to the "MSTied" version. Theatrical trailers for each movie round out the remainder of the supplemental features. Given the size of this presentation, it might have been interesting to include some interviews with the show's writers and performers (Comedy Central once ran a passable special about the series), but fans will still appreciate having these four episodes together, each providing a wealth of laugh-out-loud moments. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Six Months and Still Waiting.......2007-05-28

Have fun waiting to order this DVD. I ordered this back in January of 2007, and still have not received this DVD.

Good one, but not the best set..........2007-03-26

MST3K Volume 1 features three episodes with Mike Nelson and one with the show's creator Joel Hodgson. Three of these are funny while one is pretty lousy.

-The Skydivers: Not very clear what this one is totally about, but there's a couple trying to keep their marriage together, even though they both cheated also there's plenty of skydiving footage, some dancing and a lot of bad dialogue. Good lines throughout this one, like Mike's "Did the actors do their own skydiving?" followed by Crow's "No, the skydivers did their own acting", near the end when one guy is chasing the villains and driving fairly cautiously Mike pops "Whether chasing or being chased, remember drive defensively" and finally Mike's comment on the lack of action "Seems like they forgot to have things happen in this movie". Great comments on the bad acting too as well as the horrible editing, like Crow's shot at a bad jump cut, "Someone with attention deficit disorder edited this movie" and Servo's quip about a skydiver falling way too fast out of the plane, "Geez, the last 2000 feet are the quickest". Great episode overall, 10/10.

-The Creeping Terror: Some monster crash lands on earth, starts eating people and grows, but is nice enough to let the people he eats help him move along, as it's obvious that's what's happening. There's also a sherriff, his wife and his best friend trying to find the monster with the help of a proffesor of sorts and a branch of the military (seems like it's a broken branch, though). Loved the lines, "Did anyone in the 50's ever think of running?" as characters just stand there and let the monster eat them basically, when the monster tries to eat a couple of people in a car with the roof down, it looks like he's doing something well, nasty with the car, Mike's "Well you see when a monster and a small car love each other very much" and when the momster's done Servo says "Well, that was a new twist on an old trick huh", when the main guy tries to smash some spacship technology with the butt of a gun Mike comments "Hey, there are bullets in the other end of that thing". Loved this episode, so absurd and badly done, 10/10.

-Bloodlust-This one has Robert Reed (The Dad from "The Brady Bunch") and three other teens/20 somethings finding an island that houses a man who likes to hunt things including people for sport. The comments about Reed holding his gut in are funny, especially Crow's "Man, his shirt's so tight you can see his liver". Other funny lines include when a drunk man sees the four people Mike quips "All eight of 'em?" in a drunk voice, when two of the teens? are exploring the mansion one of the henchmen comes into the room their hiding not very well in and as he's about to leave he turns around and Crow says "When did I have teenagers installed?", my favorite is at the end when the villain gets his throat and hands pierced against spikes on a wall Servo says "Why this symbolism, did Christ hunt people on deserted islands?". There are some dead spots in the film and in the quips, but this is a funny episode, just not as good as other ones they've done, 8/10.

-Catalina Caper-Weird and pretty unfunny one here, something about a painting being stolen and some beach boys and girls try to find out who dunnit, I think. Not a lot of memorable lines here, but that's largely because the movie itself is a really bad comedy and Joel and the bots can only do so much. Skip this one unless you've seen other Joel episodes as this shouldn't be your first or even second or third introduction to him. 3/10.

The extras include the original un-cut movies, but trying to sit through them with the commentary is hard enough, if you try to pay attention to the film itself that is. Also there are original trailers for every movie, but "The Creeping Terror".

Good set overall, just skip "Catalina Caper" again unless you've seen other Joel episodes beforehand. 8/10.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me...........2006-11-13

I have got to agree with Jerika (Why did he get 4 not helpful votes?) 10.00+ per episode is way overpriced. I predict this will be re-released someday in a lower priced set or the off the air sellers will continue to have a field day selling the non Rhino complete sets (seasons 0-10) for $90.00. I guess its good that its out so you could rent it through Netflix, but collectors unless pretty well off, will probably pass at this price point. Hey I love the show, 5 stars for material, but 1 star for not being a complete season and for twice the price of the going rate for a complete season TV show on DVD now.

Funny, Witty and just a bit (the good kind of ) Stupid!.......2006-08-07

One of the funniest shows on TV.......2006-07-15

MST appealed to pretty much all levels of humor and thought. Brilliant concept, brilliantly (but cheesily) executed. The cheese was part of its charm. In college I used to stay up til 1:00 to record the episodes on Comedy Central and cut out the commercials. The one and only thing holding me back from buying this box set (and others) is the PRICE!!!!!! Fifty bucks for four stinkin' films that everyone knows are not that great to begin with? And no extras, no interviews, no nothin' but 4 movies they did a long time ago? You can't convince me they had to pay that much for the rights to Catalina Caper, or any of these other stinkburgers. It may just be that the boys are trying to profit as much as they can, since the series is no more (many of them left it early to puruse individual careers, and were never heard from again--the medical term for this is the M*A*S*H Syndrome, btw). Still, greed is a poor motivator, and it's alienating die-hard MSTies in the fan base, like me. No pun intended.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist)

Average customer rating:

The Best!
There's no better version of the Sherlock Holmes stories
Vintage Homes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist)
Technical problems with two copies of this DVD

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist)
Starring: Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0788602047
Release Date: 2000-10-03

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"A Scandal in Bohemia"
The very first Sherlock Holmes short story (following the detective's introduction in the novels A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four) was also the first Granada Television production in the long-running Holmes series featuring Jeremy Brett's definitive performance as the famous sleuth. No deerstalker cap, cape, curved meerschaum pipe, or Basil Rathbone mannerisms for this Holmes: Brett's portrayal went straight to the heart of the character Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created, with all the manic-depressive, coldly clinical, drug-dependent, and unnervingly focused brilliance intact. Just as on-the-money is David Burke's Dr. John Watson, who is hardly the loyal puppy of widespread assumption but rather a dedicated ally and determined chronicler of the publicity-wary Holmes. "A Scandal in Bohemia," ironically, is one of the few instances of Holmes being bested by an equally intelligent adversary--an actress by the name of Irene Adler (Gayle Hunnicutt), who has threatened to reveal damaging evidence of her own affair with the king of Bohemia (Wolf Kahler), a ridiculous pseudonym invented by Watson to protect the real royal personage in trouble. It's Holmes to the rescue, going undercover in disguise to take away the blackmailer's trump, though it's he whose head will ultimately be turned by the extraordinary Irene. The cast is wonderful (meet Rosalie Williams as Baker Street housekeeper Mrs. Hudson), and the drama is great fun. (For a contemporary movie reinvention of this story, check out the 1998 feature Zero Effect, starring Bill Pullman as a whacked-out variation on Holmes, Ben Stiller as his long-suffering Watson, and Kim Dickens as an updated Irene.) --Tom Keogh

"The Dancing Men"
What is the meaning of the stick figures that appear scrawled one day on the exterior wall of a Northfolk manor? Why do they so terribly upset the American wife (Betsy Brantley) of the gentleman (Tenniel Evans) who lives there? The case proves one of the most tantalizing for Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and his ally and chronicler, Dr. Watson (David Burke). Then it proves among the gravest of Holmes's career when murder enters the picture and the distraught woman is charged with the crime. This is one of those stories from the Holmes canon that practically invites an adaptation; Sherlockians will enjoy seeing the oddly disturbing "dancing men" on screen, while newcomers to Holmes will find the tale particularly compelling. As always, Brett remains the definitive Holmes. --Tom Keogh

"The Naval Treaty"
An old schoolmate of Dr. Watson's, Percy Phelps (David Gwillim), has asked the longtime friend of Sherlock Holmes to intercede on his behalf with the famous detective. Phelps, a member of the Foreign Office, has stolen a copy of a naval treaty with serious international consequences, but the document has been missing for two months. His nerves shattered from worry, Phelps is under the care of his fiancée (Alison Skilbeck), but so far the treaty has not surfaced. Holmes (Jeremy Brett), aided by Watson (David Burke), agrees to take the case, which is handsomely adapted in this episode from the Granada Television series. As usual, Brett is the most fascinating, most complex, and truest of the many Holmes portrayals in film and TV history, Burke is solid as the good doctor, and Rosalie Williams is delightful in her fleeting appearance as the Baker Street housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. --Tom Keogh

"The Solitary Cyclist"
Sherlock Holmes (the incomparable Jeremy Brett) is unhappily interrupted during a major investigation by the appearance at Baker Street of a young, regal-looking woman named Violet Smith (Barbara Wilshere). Frightened for her safety, Smith tells the busy sleuth and his friend Dr. Watson (David Burke) of her recent life since being left penniless. Employed as