The Triplets of Belleville

Amazon.com

Words cannot capture the delights of The Triplets of Belleville, an astonishing animated movie from the mind of French director Sylvain Chomet. In fact, there are only a few spoken sentences in the entire film; most of the soundtrack is a mix of squeaks, barks, and the jazzy music of Benoit Charest. A bicyclist is kidnapped from the Tour de France by mysterious gangsters; his grandmother travels to the city of Belleville (which has a sardonic version of the Statue of Liberty in its harbor), where she tracks him down with the help of a musical trio gone to seed, the Belleville Triplets. This hand-drawn movie is unlike anything you'll see from Disney; every scene mixes the silent comedy of Jacques Tati and Buster Keaton--in which the world of objects subtly fights with living beings for mastery--and the bouncy hop of Betty Boop. Unique and mesmerizing. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Insane yet piquant -- fun for all unless you are a frog!.......2007-09-09

This zany classic shows how the loyalty and determination of a widow, her son, and their dog, triumph over the evil forces of international gambling cartels and kidnappers with the help of the titular triplets. Well worth a watch if you like color, music, mayhem, and catch-as-catch-can cuisine.

Completely Original........2007-09-08

I can guarantee you will not have seen anything like this animated film. It's provocative, funny, intelligent, quirky, and artistically done. The funky musical soundtrack is memorable and will reverberate in your brain for quite a while. Be sure to watch the entire film through the credits because there is a fun little twist to the finale.

A great surprise.......2007-09-01

Yes, you won't find any dialogue on the movie, is not that the DVD doesn't come with subtitles... There is nothing to subtitle... There are a few words in French not really relevant in the movie, you get the idea... And you have to be patient and enjoy the movie, 'cause it's different than what you think about "French cinema"... A great animation, a wonderful story and great music, mixed with comedy and, of course, a little touch of our twisted reality... Take a chance in joining Madame Souza and the Triplets of Belleville, I hope you won't regret it

Great movie.......2007-08-29

We saw it in the theater several years ago and decided to purchase it so we could watch it again. The story is about a French cyclist who grandmother is his coach and crew in a race. If you know a little about the French obsession with cycling the story is very funny. Especily the car chase and the animation of the cars in the chase.

Non-stop entertainment.......2007-08-25

It takes a little time to get into the story, but the creative efforts are overwhelming! What a wonderful, quirky story of love and devotion. The dog is outrageous! This is an adult animation that makes you look at the world as a child again. It is terrific!

Average customer rating:

An excellent choice for history buffs
A glimpse into a vanished world
Quite simply, not to be missed, for academic film buffs
A nice sampler of very early films
Rare collection of early cinema at a very good price

Landmarks of Early Film, Vol. 1
Director: Thomas Edison , Lumiere Bros. , and Various
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 630507559X
Release Date: 1997-11-26

Amazon.com

A magnificent collection for anyone interested in the earliest days of film history, this compilation of films spans the years from 1886 to 1913, from the first experiments in "serial photography" to the emergence of narrative shorts and the dawn of the feature-length film. It's a veritable archive of nearly every important film from the birth of the medium, including Edison Kinestoscope films (1894-96), films by the brothers Lumière (1895-97), the magical movies of French special effects pioneer Georges Méliès, documentary "actualities" from 1897 to 1910, and selected short films from 1903 to 1913. The two-hour collection offers a fascinating study of how motion pictures quickly developed a variety of applications and a means of artistic and practical expression, with their own emerging language of camera style, editing, and cinematography. Watching these films is like stepping into a time machine to witness the infancy of motion pictures, which would rapidly evolve to become the most powerful medium of the 20th century prior to the development of television. --Jeff Shannon

Description

In celebration of the centennial of the birth of cinema, "Landmarks of Early Film" offers a collection of more than 40 films made in the early days of the medium. All films are mastered at correct speeds from excellent source material with new musical scores. Features a hand-colored copy of "The Great Train Robbery" from 1903, and "A Trip To The Moon" by George Melies with its original 1902 narration restored.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent choice for history buffs.......2007-08-17

This is an amazing collection of early films, ranging from 1877 to 1913. While some are longer pieces, most -- especially the early ones -- are just quick vignettes. I could see why A Trip to the Moon is considered to be such an important film as it was the first film on the disc to tell a story. Previous films were just scenes -- someone getting sprayed with a hose, men playing cards, a father feeding his baby lunch -- but not long narratives like A Trip to the Moon (which is fourteen minutes in length.)

The quality of these old films is excellent. Given the age of the film, these are some of the clearest, best-maintained old bits of film I've ever seen. The musical soundtrack laid over them is non-intrusive and pleasant and seems to have been carefully fit to the images rather than the hack-and-paste job of matching music to silent film I've seen on too many other discs.

One drawback to this disc is that there is a voice-over narration for A Trip to the Moon. The narration does make it much clearer what's occuring in the shots but I would have liked more information about the narration. How old is it? Was it taken from an original source or was it written in modern times? The narration was presented in English with a French accent that was sometimes a strain for me to follow.

If you are at all interested in the history of cinema, this would be an excellent disc to pick up. the films are arranged in chronological order, allowing the viewer to experience the evolution of film in its infancy. I was impressed to see how quickly both the use of the medium and the quality of the technology improved in the first twenty or thirty years of movie-making.

This is also a good choice for general history buffs as many of the vignettes are apparently unstaged scenes of daily life: women in big hats leaving the factory after a day of work, riders on horses swimming a river, a legless beggar being pulled in his cart by a dog, the milkman delivering milk and cream to housewives, and so on. A scene of two babies fighting over a toy is breathtaking for the lace Edwardian clothing the children wear and the beautiful toys they are quarrelling about.

(nudity warning: the first vignettes on the disc are series photography pieces of naked or topless women walking up and down stairs, hopping on one foot, etc. I assume these came from the early coin-operated, hand-cranked pornography machines.)

Taken as a collection, I couldn't give this disc higher praise. It is an excellent archive of early film history.

A glimpse into a vanished world.......2007-06-29

This DVD is very similar to a VHS tape issued by another distributor, Kino Video, "The Movies Begin, Vol. I." That the contents are similar is no surprise, as both are derived from the Film Preservation Associates' archives. The DVD is longer than the VHS tape (117 min. vs. 75 min.), and contains more material. Missing from the DVD is a wonderful sequence found in the VHS: "Moscow in the Snow" (1908). This Pâté documentary provides panoramic shots of pre-revolutionary Moscow, as well as vignettes of the inhabitants. It is such a delight that its exclusion represents a serious loss.

The earliest example included are "pre-movies-movies" consisting of a sequence of E. Muybridge's stills (1885) assembled into films. The effect is very interesting, even today. Muybridge used trip-wires and multiple cameras to obtain a sequence of stills. When Muybridge first published his stop-action motion studies they were positively revolutionary. One of Muybridge's accomplishments was to settle -- once and for all -- the question whether a running horse ever has all four feet off the ground (It does! Unfortunately this segment is not included.) Incidentally, Muybridge's sequences also provide a glimpse of the feminine figure of 100 years ago, and how it might differ from today's ideal.

This is followed by selected Edison Kinetoscopes (ca. 1894); of these I found the "serpentine dances" most interesting. (A dance form no longer practiced, except perhaps in Chinese opera.) Later on there appear additional vignettes. Some, such as the one of President McKinley, the San Francisco Earthquake, and gold prospectors crossing over the Chilkoot Pass, have obvious historical interest.

Five sequences are of special interest:

1) S. Porter's "The Great Train Robbery," is a seminal work which set the framework for countless westerns to follow.

2) "A Girl and her Trust" is similar to the above, but better. It even has "feminist" elements.

3) "Nero, or the Fall of Rome" is entertaining, if historically inaccurate: Nero did fall, but Rome did not fall until several centuries later. Nero's troubled relationship with Poppaea Sabina is the subject. Perhaps what it intends is that Nero's evil was amplified by Poppaea, and this set the tone for future emperors, eventually resulting in Rome's downfall. (The historian Josephus however tells of a very different Poppaea: A deeply religious woman who urged Nero to show compassion.)

For me, without question the two best works on this tape are: 1) George Melies's "Le Voyage dans la Lune" (Voyage to the Moon) of 1902; and 2) S. Chomon's "Le Scarabee d'Or" (Golden Beetle) of 1907.

The "Golden Beetle" is a fantasy piece, with similarities to Rimsky-Korsakov's fairytale operas - except of course there is no singing, and it is only 2 minutes long. Synopsis: A sorcerer captures a golden beetle and by means of a magic fire cauldron turns it into a woman. Or perhaps she is a fairy, as she has three pairs of wings. From his unbounded glee, we suspect the sorcerer's intentions are not quite honorable. The fairy however, turns out to be more than the sorcerer had bargained for. My means of two assistants (whose miraculous appearance is unexplained) she throws the sorcerer into the fire cauldron, from whence he disappears. The moral? Perhaps it is similar to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (remember Mickey and the brooms): don't mess with powerful things you don't fully understand. Or maybe that old men should not have an interest in young women. But ultimately it does not matter, because the plot seems merely a backdrop for the technical wizardry. Segundo de Chomon worked closely with Melies, and was heavily influenced by him. Chomon's specialty was early experimentation with color film, of which "Golden Beetle" is a good example. The coloring process involved hand coloring of individual frames, and was obviously very labor intensive. Chomon also experimented with more automated color techniques.

For me the piece de resistance of this collection is George Melies's "Le Voyage dans la Lune" (Voyage to the Moon) of 1902. This work has great historical interest as the first science fiction film produced. But the genre is peculiar: it is slapstick science fiction - a form occasionally still used, such as in "Mars Attacks."

After slapstick, the film is best characterized as an amalgam of J. Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon" and H. G. Wells's "First Men in the Moon." The first part of the movie roughly follows Verne's novel: a group of scientists use a giant canon to travel to the moon. The second part roughly follows Wells: the moon travelers discover a civilization of intelligent beings living under the surface of the moon. The travelers manage to get home safely among great rejoicing.

Melies had an abiding interest in science, especially astronomy, and science fiction. It is of interest to note that his scientists tend to be absent-minded, eccentric, and even buffoonish. They are unable to function without the help of down-to-earth assistants (e.g., telescope carriers). All this is very reminiscent of Swift's "flappers" from the "La Puta" section of "Gulliver's Travels."

Why slapstick? Probably Melies thought the audience of 1902 was not ready for a more scientific approach. This had to await "Die Frau im Mond" of 1929, and "Destination Moon" of 1950.

The science in this movie is best described as "absolutely pathetic" (possibly intentionally so). The movie is good training for school children assigned to "find all the mistakes." Two egregious examples: 1) the travelers have absolutely no problem breathing on the lunar surface; and 2) to return to Earth they simply fall off the edge of the Moon (ouch!).

Many viewers are familiar with at least one scene from this movie: the space capsule hitting the man-in-the-moon smack in the eye. This sequence has been excerpted many times - though most people may not know its origin. A second, almost as famous, sequence is the chorus line of beauties giving the travelers a spectacular send-off. (Should NASA consider such a format for its launches?)

Quite simply, not to be missed, for academic film buffs.......2007-05-16

If you love silent film, or if you love film in a scholarly way, or if you are interested in seeing some of the few masterpieces that have survived the silent era, or if you are sentimental about the rudiments of processes that have been later better-defined, this DVD is for you. Enjoy.

A nice sampler of very early films.......2007-01-22

Although some of the films on here do overlap with some of the other early film DVDs out there (such as the Edison set and 'The Lumière Brothers' First Films'), there are also some films on here that can't be found anywhere else, and it provides a very nice introduction to the subject for someone who's just getting into these very early short films from the dawn of motion pictures. Categories include the Edison films, films by the Lumière Brothers, a Keystone short (featuring the charming Mabel Normand in the leading role), a Biograph short, a Max Linder short, short French films, short documentary-style films, and the two very early film classics 'Le Voyage Dans la Lune' and 'The Great Train Robbery' (the latter with beautifully select hand-coloring). Basically, it gives the viewer a good sampling of the various different types of films being made from the 1890s to the early Teens. These very early films are like literally looking back in time, at this bygone world, a world where the moving image was so new and revolutionary that people didn't care the movies only lasted under a minute and showed things like employees leaving a factory or two babies quarreling, since they'd never seen these miraculously moving pictures before. It also opens with the short 1994 film 'Homage to Eadweard Muybridge,' who invented the zoopraxiscope, which projected a series of pictures in a way that suggested movement. He was one of the pioneers in the invention of the motion picture, even though here we're seeing series photography (from 1877-85), not actual motion pictures. (Those who are offended by such things should be aware that the woman in these series photography "films" is naked, at times partially and at other times fully, though there's absolutely nothing sexual or pornographic here; it's just a series of images of a woman who so happens to not have any clothes on.)

My one complaint about this disc (other than the mislabelling of 'I.B. Dam and the Whole Dam Family' as 'The Whole Dam Family and the Dam Dog') is that most of the films don't have any dates given. Even if one is already familiar with the films from this era instead of a new fan, it's still nice to have them placed into historic context and to see the years they were all made. Some bonus features also would have been nice, to have provided, say, some background to the films, the people who made them, the restoration process, and what film-making was like in these very early days. It's always nice to have supplemental information to enjoy and appreciate these antique films even more.

Rare collection of early cinema at a very good price.......2007-01-05

This set consists of 40 short films and series photographs shot between 1894 and 1913. Arranged in roughly chronological order, with the earlier pieces subdivided into categories ("Edison Kinetoscopes," "Lumiere Films," "Actualities"), they present an overview of the early silent era of motion pictures. Most people have seen stills or excerpts from such films as "A Voyage to the Moon" and "The Great Train Robbery," but seldom have people had the chance to experience such pioneering works in their entirety. This is not a disc for everybody. Only those who have a keen interest in the development of motion pictures at their earliest phase will appreciate it. If you are one of those, like me, consider this a must buy.

In addition to scripted comedies and dramas, there are a number of films that simply record everyday life at the turn of the last century. There is "Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat", which is said to have panicked early audiences who failed to grasp that the approaching train wasn't going to come through the screen and run them over. Other films, such as "Snowball Fight" and "Seminary Girls" are staged with the intent of creating the appearance of spontaneity. Either way, these rarely seen films are important documents of a recent past that is so different from our present that it's hard to believe that they were shot only a century ago.

The Dolby Digital mono sound is clear and well presented. Many of the films are tastefully scored with newly recorded piano music, while others are paired with period recordings. "Skyscrapers of New York City From North River," for example, is particularly haunting when viewed with its mysterious, unidentified musical accompaniment drifting from the speakers. A good number of films in this collection date back to the 1890's, and a lot of them are a lot better looking than I would have thought. Some films, like Train Robbery, even have their original hand painted color tints intact. One of the neat things about the DVD is the freeze frame, because I was able to spot a single frame in one of the Kinetiscope films that was slipped in to read "Copyright 1907 T.A. Edison." This is not a disc that's about features, other than being able to zip from film to film versus fast forwarding on VHS, nor is it one to show off your home theatre. This is a film for those with a serious interest film history only.

Mrs. Henderson Presents (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Windmill Theatre nostalgia
A real gem of a movie!
Dame Judy Doesn't Dissapoint
Rather entertaining.
Laura Henderson: "We've had some good shows, but they're not daring enough. Let's get rid of the clothes."

Mrs. Henderson Presents (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Judi Dench , Bob Hoskins , Will Young , Christopher Guest , and Kelly Reilly
Director: Stephen Frears
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000ETRCN0
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Amazon.com

The blitz-bombing of London in World War II provides the serious backdrop for the uplifting entertainment of Mrs. Henderson Presents, a delightful British comedy anchored by the flawless performances of Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins. After losing a son in World War I, and becoming a widow in 1937, the wealthy and respectable Mrs. Henderson (Dench) decides that the best way to support soldiers going off to battle is to give them a wartime send-off they'll never forget. Thus, she buys and renovates the Windmill Theater in London's Soho district, hires Mr. Vivian Van Damm (Hoskins) as the impresario of an all-day musical variety show called "Revudeville," and secures permission from the censorious Lord Cromer (Christopher Guest) to include naked women in the stage show - on the condition that the ladies remain still onstage to qualify as "art," like nude portraits in a gallery, with the "foliage" of their "midlands" discreetly obscured. "Revudeville" is an instant hit, British propriety remains tastefully intact, and as The Windmill's fortunes rise, fall, and rise again, Mrs. Henderson Presents develops an emotional depth and good-natured nobility that's perfectly matched to the comedy of tweaking British manners. Working from an eloquently witty, fact-based screenplay by Martin Sherman, director Stephen Frears (High Fidelity) brings out the best in a well-chosen cast, and Andrew Dunn's cinematography (enhanced by judicious use of digital effects to show the London blitz in progress) casts a warm, inviting glow over this winning tale of show-biz tenacity in the best and worst of times. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Academy Award winner1 Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love) received her fifth Oscar® nomination for her saucy, hilarious performance in Mrs. Henderson Presents. Laura Henderson (Dench) may be a widow in London but she is certainly not going to spend the rest of her days playing bridge. In a time when England is brought to its knees by war, she brings a nation to its feet in applause—with a live show featuring nude girls! Dench and Academy Award nominee2 Bob Hoskins have won critics' hearts in this stylish gem that Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal calls "one of the wittiest comedies to come our way in a very long time!" "Two hours of relentless, heart-pounding pleasure." - Rex Reed, The New York Observer 1Best Supporting Actress, Shakespeare in Love 2Best Actor, Mona Lisa

Customer Reviews:

Windmill Theatre nostalgia.......2007-09-13

This DVD has been viewed with pleasure by several of my retiree friends, who are unanimous in their praise of it - as entertainment. For me there was the added pleasure of being able to turn back the clock to the 1946-1950 period when my cousin and I frequently visited the Windmill Theatre, which, at that time, had two groups of attractive dancers, performing alternate days, and changing programs every six weeks. Judi Dench added a new dimension to my recollections of that intimate theatre and its light hearted reviews.

A real gem of a movie!.......2007-08-28

Dame Judy Dench and Bob Hoskins are a wonderful pair of British showpeople who warm the hearts of British soldiers during World War II in this fact based racy film. Mrs. Henderson was a gutsy woman, a visionary who dared to buck the establishment and bring a bit of lightness and fun to the bleak days of war torn London. The film is beautiful and the acting supurb! I can still hear the music in my head and the final song about the Windmills runs through my mind all the time. I recommend this movie to all who are interested in a few hours of enjoyment. The specials on the DVD are well worth watching as well. The story of the real Mrs Henderson and the real Windmill girls is facinating.

Dame Judy Doesn't Dissapoint.......2007-07-03

I love Judy Dench. She is one of the best actors of this time. If you want a good entertaining film and are not uptight about nudity then this is a must see movie! Wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Rather entertaining........2007-06-07

I have to say that movie was rather entertaining with dance numbers, singing, and even a tragedy. Kelly Reilly is stunning as Maureen. She does a terrific job; I hope to see her more.

Laura Henderson: "We've had some good shows, but they're not daring enough. Let's get rid of the clothes.".......2007-04-28

A wealthy widow, Mrs. Laura Henderson (Judi Dench) buys an old London theater and comes up with the brilliant idea to turn it in a performance hall with the non-stop shows featuring nude girls during World War II. Bob Hoskins plays Vivian Van Damm, her business partner, who is as stubborn and opinionated as she is but somehow they manage to stay friends and to maintain the respect and admiration for each other. I liked this little movie very much. It's a well crafted dramedy with nice musical numbers, nudity, touching story, and it is based on the real events. Dench and Hoskins are marvelous together.

Average customer rating:

An emblematic musical!
Far and Away the most enjoyable musical of the era.
the little words.
GREAT MUSICAL
Three Little Words

Three Little Words
Starring: Fred Astaire , Red Skelton , Vera-Ellen , Arlene Dahl , and Keenan Wynn
Director: Richard Thorpe , and Tex Avery
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EBD9S0
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

Three Little Words (1950) was an example of Hollywood's late-'40s/early-'50s interest in the lives of famous songwriters. Fred Astaire plays vaudeville dancer Bert Kalmar, whose act with Jessie Brown (Vera-Ellen) runs aground due to his interest in magic acts and a backstage accident. While in rehab, he meets composer Harry Ruby (Red Skelton), and the two discover a knack for writing Tin Pan Alley songs, then Broadway shows, together. There's some mild conflict in their lives as portrayed in film, but mostly the movie is an excuse to pull out a slew of Kalmar & Ruby songs such as "Who's Sorry Now," "My Sunny Tennessee," "Nevertheless," "I Wanna Be Loved by You," and the title tune. Vera-Ellen is an excellent partner for Astaire, and the relatively restrained Skelton puts in a good performance. Also appearing are Arlene Dahl as a musical actress, Gloria De Haven as her own mother, a young Debbie Reynolds as Boop-a-Doop girl Helen Kane, and the real Harry Ruby as a baseball player playing catch with Skelton, the movie Harry Ruby. Three Little Words isn't one of the great MGM musicals of its era, but it's an entertaining picture, especially for fans of Astaire. --David Horiuchi

Description

Bio-pic of songwriters Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby.

Customer Reviews:

An emblematic musical!.......2007-08-03

Two famous songwriters' story : Kalmar and Ruby is shown magisterially by a fine direction of Richard Thorpe and a bouncing cast that included the charismatic Fred Astaire, the sympathetic red Skelton, plus the combined talents of Vera- Ellen and Arlene Dahl one of my favorite beauties of the American Cinema.

From start to finish, the script is so dynamic and fluid, loaded with tender, funny and human situations, that will engage you; even you are not a hard fan of musicals, because this film is quite above the average.

One of my eternal cult musical movies.

Far and Away the most enjoyable musical of the era........2007-06-09

Before watching this movie, I had never heard the names of Bert Kalmar or Harry Ruby! And now I can only say what a wealth of sheer musical talent I missed until now!

As far as the film is concerned, I have to say this and "Lovely to Look At" have got to be the very best things that "over-the-top" comedian, Red Skelton has ever done. It's such a joy to watch him in an almost dramatic - (and human} role!

As for Fred Astaire, what can I say? He's just Fred Astaire - and that's enough to guarantee a very watchable film.

I still regard the number performed by Arlene Dahl in the movie as one of the finest production numbers I have ever seen (with the possible exception of a hundred others choreographed by the brilliant Bob Fosse! And a few by Buz. Berkeley!)

And what a thrill to see the young Debbie Reynolds impersonating Helen Kane!!! Too much!!

the little words........2007-06-01

I love the way Vera Ellen and Fred Astair work together. It was smart and entertaining. I recommend it to all!!

GREAT MUSICAL.......2007-05-31

THIS WAS A WONDERFUL STORY OF TWO SONGWRITERS WHO MEET BY CHANCE TO FORM A WONDERFUL WRITING TEAM.
FRED ASTAIRE AND RED SKELTON WERE SENSATIONAL. PERFECTLY MATCHED FOR THE ROLES. SONGS WERE CATCHY AND MEMORABLE. STILL POPULAR TODAY.

Three Little Words.......2007-05-18

What a treasure! It's too bad more people don't watch this. Fred and Red are terrific together. I bet a lot of people also do no know that Red is a good actor & musician. Red used to do song and dance as well as the comedy he was best know for doing. Vera Ellen is an exceptional dancer...together you could see the fun Fred & she were having dancing together. It has been said that "in private" she was one of his favorite partners. Fred & Vera played their part so well. Arlene Dahl was wonderful and Ruby's (Red) wife.

Average customer rating:

you have got to be kidding!!!!!
If I EVER get to see it .. I might just like it
Produced by a Tobacco company?...
Lost Empires 3volume boxed DVD
Colin Firth's Big Television Break

Lost Empires (3 DVD Set)
Starring: Colin Firth , John Castle (II) , Carmen du Sautoy , Beatie Edney , and Pamela Stephenson
Director: Alan Grint
Manufacturer: Goldhil Home Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000065U2J
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Description

This extraordinary Masterpiece Theatre featured production based on the novel by JB Priestley, and featuring one of the last performances of Sir Laurence Olivier, takes you to the last days of Britain's innocence and the glamorous, magical world of the great music halls - which once brought entertainment to millions. In 1913, young Richard Herncastle, played by Colin Firth, escapes from a stuffy, provincial English background into the glitter and excitement of the theatre world. Funny, sad, and nostalgic, Lost Empires, follows Richard from his naïve, country upbringing to join his uncle Nick Ollanton, a famous music hall illusionist - known as the Indian Magician, Ganga Dun. The mystery of illusions, on and off the stage, is eventually shattered for Richard, whose dream of becoming a famous painter becomes sidetracked while he contends with men gone nearly insane, the lusts of countless women, and a murder that hangs over his head. As Lost Empires opens, looming on the horizon is World War I, which will destroy so much of Britain's tradition, including the great era of the Empire music hall. Soon the cinema will replace the eccentric and colorful performers whose home is the world of variety.

Customer Reviews:

you have got to be kidding!!!!!.......2007-04-23

this is a very good series, however i would not pay over $25 for it. this is not rare or even hard to find! go order it from your local video store it cost $30 from them. but profitering on an item that is not even the least bit difficult to obtain you have got to be kidding!!!!!

If I EVER get to see it .. I might just like it.......2007-02-16

Beware .. I ordered this item November 16, 2006 and I STILL do not have it.. the deadline keeps getting pushed up and I have to keep renewing my order. I am VERY disappointed. If you are planning to buy this for a loved one or a special date, don't bother. I would not be surprised if I don't have it by Fall this year.

Produced by a Tobacco company?..........2007-01-01

It must have been... Characters are CONSTANTLY smoking SOMETHING. Cigars, cigarettes, even a hookah at one point. It seems at times there's barely a moment when there isn't someone smoking in the scene.

However, that's my only complaint-- I thought the plot was unique, it was pretty well executed, and most of the acting is pretty good. I saw the whole thing in two days, 1/2 at a time and was quite engrossed. All in all quite good, but I felt I had to say something about the incessant and unnecessary infusion of tobacco in just about every scene...

Lost Empires 3volume boxed DVD.......2006-05-22

Item of good quality and sent to me securely and promptly.

Colin Firth's Big Television Break.......2006-03-10

Colin Firth's first memorable TV role - and doesn't he look young! This series links the beginning of the decline of the British Empire with beginning of the decline of the British Music Hall - the former with the First World war and the latter with the advent of cinema. The script is superb and Colin Firth and John Castle's performances are excellant. There is a cameo role in the first episode from Sir Laurence Olivier but it is obvious that his skill is in decline.
The main story is Colin's (Richard Herncastle's) coming of age - as he certainly learns about life in the music halls before he is shipped out to the horrors of the War. He loses his love but miraculously regains it in the trenches when fate decrees that she turns up to entertain the troops, Colin gets wounded and she saves him.
It is a wonderful story to get lost in on a cold winter's night and I greatly recommend it.

Mrs. Henderson Presents (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Windmill Theatre nostalgia
A real gem of a movie!
Dame Judy Doesn't Dissapoint
Rather entertaining.
Laura Henderson: "We've had some good shows, but they're not daring enough. Let's get rid of the clothes."

Mrs. Henderson Presents (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Judi Dench , Bob Hoskins , Will Young , Christopher Guest , and Kelly Reilly
Director: Stephen Frears
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000ETRCNA
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Amazon.com

Description

Academy Award winner1 Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love) received her fifth Oscar® nomination for her saucy, hilarious performance in Mrs. Henderson Presents. Laura Henderson (Dench) may be a widow in London but she is certainly not going to spend the rest of her days playing bridge. In a time when England is brought to its knees by war, she brings a nation to its feet in applause—with a live show featuring nude girls! Dench and Academy Award nominee2 Bob Hoskins have won critics' hearts in this stylish gem that Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal calls "one of the wittiest comedies to come our way in a very long time!" "Judi Dench in the performance of her life." - Rex Reed, The New York Observer

Customer Reviews:

Windmill Theatre nostalgia.......2007-09-13

A real gem of a movie!.......2007-08-28

Dame Judy Doesn't Dissapoint.......2007-07-03

Rather entertaining........2007-06-07

I have to say that movie was rather entertaining with dance numbers, singing, and even a tragedy. Kelly Reilly is stunning as Maureen. She does a terrific job; I hope to see her more.

Laura Henderson: "We've had some good shows, but they're not daring enough. Let's get rid of the clothes.".......2007-04-28

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Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys
Starring: Woody Allen , Peter Falk , Michael McKean , Liev Schreiber , and Edie Falco
Director: John Erman
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0002IQJ9Q
Release Date: 2004-08-17

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A wonderful documentary about a time long past
A STAR-FILLED VARIETY SHOW. OR A FIELDS DAY!
Great Fun!
VAUDEVILLE DVD
VAUDEVILLE DVD

Vaudeville
Starring: Ben Vereen , Billy Barty , Blossom Seeley , Ginger Rogers , and John Lahr
Manufacturer: Winstar
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000034DDM
Release Date: 2000-01-04

Amazon.com

A priceless document of archival footage and precious oral history, Vaudeville offers a comprehensive survey of American family entertainment in the decades before radio, movies, and television. From its origins in British comedy, Yiddish theater, and burlesque, vaudeville is explored in all of its immigrant diversity. Astonishing film clips are a constant marvel, featuring such vintage but still-entertaining crowd-pleasers as Fannie Brice, Bert Lahr, Chaz Chase ("Eater of Strange Things"), Little Tich and his oversized shoes, and Hadji Ali, the greatest of all "regurgitators." Anecdotes and history, with a focus on the inherent racism of minstrel shows, are shared by such luminaries as Rose Marie, Billy Barty, Gerald Marks, Bobby Short, the Nicholas Brothers, and many others (several interviewed shortly before they died). Their stories, along with Studs Terkel's fond reminiscence and Ben Vereen's informative narration, preserve a form of entertainment that has vanished forever, its spirit lingering in our habitual channel-surfing of television. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful documentary about a time long past.......2007-01-10

This documentary is one of my favorites. It explains the history and origin of the old art. There is wonderful footage of old acts from the days gone by mostly the 20's and some pricless intervies of old vaudevillians before they died. There is also an interesting segment on race too. It is just too bad that there are not more films of the old acts available.

A STAR-FILLED VARIETY SHOW. OR A FIELDS DAY!.......2003-05-30

Before TV, before radio, even before silent films came vaudeville --- an art form of traveling variety shows in which performers sang, danced, acted, juggled and joked and did just about anything else to make crowds laugh. The golden age of vaudeville was, indeed, the launching pad for many a star, including George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bert Williams, James Cagney, W. C. Fields, Bob Hope and Eddie Cantor, all of whom appear, in rare performances, in this "American Masters" documentary hoisted by Ben Vereen. Say hello, Gracie. Now say good-night.

Great Fun!.......2002-03-20

A terrific documentary, that provides an energetic look backward at America in the late 1800s to through the first few decades of the 1900s. The footage of the old acts are worth the price of admission, but there's also some wonderful interviews with people who lived it. Best of all, the narrative is intelligent and insightful.

VAUDEVILLE DVD.......2000-08-08

This is a case of documentarians thinking that you'd rather hear them pontificate that actually see what they're talking about. The packaging for this DVD claims you'll see 80 vaudeville acts. And you will, for about 12 seconds each... not one performance is complete. Which is a big shame, given the wealth of footage the filmmakers apparently had access to. The writer of this presentation should have stepped well out of the way, and let the performances speak. To make it that much more frustrating , much of the running time goes to interviews with non-vaudevillians such as present-day filmaker Robert Townsend, and clips of vaudeville-influenced stuff like the Muppet Show. It kills you sit through this stuff knowing that the filmmakers are holding back rare footage of performances by houdini, w.c. fields, you name it. Buy this if you know nothing about vaudeville... and want to hear some old-timers doing a remember-when. If you want to see some old routines, get some of the variety films (international house, stand up and cheer, (this list is huge) from the early thirties and you'll be much better off.

VAUDEVILLE DVD.......2000-08-08

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New Faces of 1952

New Faces
Starring: Ronny Graham; Robert Clary; Eartha Kitt; Alice Ghostley; Paul Lynde; Carol Lawrence
Director: Harry Horner
Manufacturer: Reel Enterprises
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000KJTC7S
Release Date: 2006-11-13

Description

Vaudeville hodgepodge of variety numbers, based on Leonard Sillman's popular Broadway revue, which was a springboard for much new talent. One of the writers was Mel Brooks.

Customer Reviews:

New Faces of 1952.......2007-05-13

One of my favourite films, it was lifted directly from the Broadway smash hit. I've waited long years for its release. An early Cinemeascope film, it exploited the increased width of field best seen in the full cast production numbers. This show launched several careers. Robert Clary went on principally to Hogan's Heroes. Ronny Graham appeared in several TV sitcoms and Mel Brooks movies. (Mel was a co-writer of the sketches in this show.) Paul Lynde made several comedy appearances as well as TV sitcoms and his own TV show. Alice Ghostley also went into TV sitcoms and movies, most notably "Grease". One of the revue's songs, "Guess who I saw today?", was delivered in a deadpan fashion but was to be picked up years later by Nancy Wilson who turned it into a stunning torch song. For me the star of the show was the then newly-discovered Eartha Kitt. She sings "Santa Baby", "Uska Dara", "C'est si bon" and the showstopper "Monotonous" which shows us why Orson Welles labelled her the sexiest woman on the planet. This DVD has been lifted directly from a mediocre film print with patchy colour, splices and some image and sound damage. Still, for me, better than no release at all.

Average customer rating:

Complete overview of the Stooges
Great extras, very good documentary
Mediocre
Top Notch Addition to any Stooge Collection
The best 3 stooges bio dvd

Stooges: The Men Behind The Mayhem
Starring: Moe Howard , Larry Fine , Curly Howard , Billy West (II) , and Joe Besser
Director: Paul E. Gierucki
Manufacturer: Mackinac Media
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00080ZGZQ
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Amazon.com

So, was Larry Fine really the Keith Richards of the Three Stooges? That's just one of the weighty assertions put forth in this thoughtful bio of the world's greatest troupe of slapstick comedians. Aside from lovingly edited "greatest hits" moments, this A&E production also contains hardcore Stooge material documenting the troupe's early years (under the name Ted Healy and his Stooges), as well as detailing the ever-changing Stooge membership. The video is impressive not only for its breadth of coverage, but also for its depth. Viewers are treated to an ultra-rare glimpse of the early Stooges performing on vaudeville as well as poignant home movies of an aged Curly. But it's not all sugary praise and heart-tugging remembrance; the video points out that the Stooges appropriated much of their act from other performers and, during the early part of the career, weren't really all that popular. Overall, The Three Stooges is a compelling work that puts a touchingly human face on characters most think of as simple, pie-throwing clowns. --S. Duda

Description

Originally airing on A&E's Biography channel, this extensive documentary goes behind the scenes of the legendary comedy show THE THREE STOOGES. Over two hours of previously-unseen footage offers viewers an insightful look at the private lives of everyone's favorite funnymen. Interviews with family and friends of the stars, outtakes, and backstage material help to paint a revealing portrait of the men who made up the hugely popular comic trio. **NON STANDARD PRICING**

Customer Reviews:

Complete overview of the Stooges.......2007-03-09

This DVD is great in being brief, but descriptive, in the stooges. It follows the development of their act and all the people that made it happen. Perfect for the casual fan looking for an inside story of these bozo's.

Great extras, very good documentary.......2006-09-04

This is basically an extended version of the A&E Biography on the boys from some time back. The only difference is that it's now padded out with a lot of great extras. Though they're essentially the same but for the bonus features, it's kind of confusing how reviews for both 'The Men Behind the Mayhem' and the old VHS of the original documentary are showing up on one another's review pages instead of being separated.

I agree that there are very few clips shown, and the only Columbia shorts shown via clips are 'Disorder in the Court' and 'Sing a Song of Six Pants,' but the title of this documentary is 'The Men Behind the Mayhem,' not 'The Mayhem Behind the Men.' If one wants something that's little more than a glorified clipshow, there's always the dreadful 'Stop! Look! And Laugh!' It also seems to work under the premise that the majority of viewers are already quite familiar with the shorts, so they won't need to see endless clips of them paraded out. However, while I did enjoy this documentary and found it really good, I just wish it had been longer and gone into more depth about some things. There wasn't a lot of information here that I didn't know already.

The photographs used both during the documentary and included as one of the bonus features (grouped into memorabilia, pix of the boys in character, and rare photos from Lyla Fine Budnick's personal photo album) are a real treasure trove. I think that most people who move beyond being casual fans into more serious interest in the boys and their careers find it really fascinating, sometimes even touching, how off-camera they were devoted family men and a far cry from their crazy screen characters. The pictures of Curly (with a full head of hair) and his daughter Janie, from the last few years of his life, were particularly touching. Janie herself was interviewed, and had nothing but good things to say about her parents' marriage, which was shortlived but very happy, and the father who adored her in the short time he had with her.

Other extras include an appearance Moe, Larry, and Shemp made on 'The Comedy Caravan' (hosted by Ed Wynn) in 1950, the 4 public domain shorts ('Brideless Groom,' 'Disorder in the Court,' 'Sing a Song of Six Pants,' and 'Malice in the Palice'), an interactive DVD-ROM webpage created by Bob Bernet, "Me and My Pal Moe" (full of personal letters, photographs, newspaper and magazine obits, and memorabilia), radio interviews, extended interviews with Billy West, Nate Budnick, and Lyla Fine Budnick, and movie trailers. The television appearance is somewhat amusing, but not really fall-down funny, and it's hampered by the poor print quality. It's far from unwatchable, but still not crystal-clear. (It's also shocking how it's sponsored by Camel cigarettes and even contains a skit where Ed is putting up a display of them and then selling them to customers; how far we've come since 1950!). And speaking of poor print quality, the public domain shorts weren't much better. 'Brideless Groom' in particular had very bad pictorial quality. I've seen much better prints of them, so it's not like these shabby prints were the only ones to choose from just because they're public domain. The radio interviews are also great, even though we hear Moe perpetuating the apocryphal legend about Joe DeRita being their first choice to replace Shemp (an urban legend which thankfully is corrected in the documentary itself) and that Shemp left the group in 1932 to play Knobby Walsh in the Joe Palooka series. Shemp was doing Vitaphone shorts in 1932; the Joe Palooka series wasn't until 1936. The first half of the final interview is with Larry, about two weeks before he passed away; because of the strokes he'd suffered, his speech is kind of slow and he doesn't sound like his old self, so one has to listen carefully for that one.

All in all, there are a lot of good things on these two discs. The only reason I can't give it a full 5-star rating is because, as aforementioned, the best possible prints were not used, and as great and informative as it is, I just wish it had gone into some more depth in certain areas instead of reading like a succinct biographical profile of these 6 men and their lives and careers. The new or casual fan probably won't mind, but people who are more serious fans will want a lot more than just the basics with some elaborations.

Mediocre.......2006-07-23

The Three Stooges shorts are some of the best loved comedy films of all time, and yet many people do not know anything about the men behind the act. They each played a role in keeping the act together for over twenty years and led lives outside of the Stooges.

This biography attempts to shed some light on the subject. It describes how the Stooges were put together by Ted Healy, their decision to leave him, and the reasons for many replacement stooges.

The information found here is easily found in books about the trio, so one would expect something extra special in documentary form. There is nothing really, however. Aside from interviews with good sources like Larry's sister, Ted Healy Jr., and the Stooges fan club president, there is hardly anything to savor. Hardly any clips are used from the many shorts made by the Stooges and what is shown is in bad condition.

This is an acceptable documentary, but it is by no means groundbreaking or highly watchable.

Top Notch Addition to any Stooge Collection.......2006-02-07

I was impressed with the quality in this DVD presentation. This documentary succeeds in many ways and preserves for all time some integral interviews of those who knew the Stooges. Some of the rare photography (including much from the Larry Fine family) was amazing, to say the least, and the DVD is well worth the purchase. It's much better than any previous or current documentaries on the comedy team or Ted Healy. The radio interviews with the Stooges add a nice touch as supplemental materials.

The best 3 stooges bio dvd .......2005-07-06

This DVD set is worth every penny just for the bonus interviews alone - you really get a good look into personal life of Larry Fine with some very interesting stories told by his sister and brother-in-law. Also to have Larry and Moe's last radio interviews included in this set is priceless. Granted, their classic film clips are missing from the documentary, but you can't beat the historical record of the interviews - not to mention the photo libraries containing personal photos of the stooges off screen as well as an archive of movie posters. I'd rather have all this than a documentary of film clips, voiced over with information heard many times over.

And if it's film footage you're after, the bonus disc takes care of that - film trailers, The Ed Wynn Show with Shemp, the 4 public domain shorts.

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