classic-movie-archive: July 2009

Friday 31 July 2009

Biograph Presents Jerome Kern: Classic Movie & Broadway Show Tunes From Rare Piano Rolls

Hey There, It's Yogi Bear

Studio: Hanna Barbera Release Date: 12/02/2008 Run time: 89 minutes Rating: G
Customer Review: Beautifully made movie
Great story. Cute songs. Wonderful voice actors. Smooth full-animation. Handsomely rendered backgrounds. I've been waiting for this since 1964! One of Hanna Barbera's best efforts! My one tiny complaint is the theme song; it sounds very similar to "Here Comes Santa Claus", which also sounds very similar to "Ain't We Got Fun?". Even if you're not a little kid anymore, you'll probably want to watch this marvelous film more than once!
Customer Review: A fun film for the kids (& kid in all of us!)
I remember this film when I was a kid. I mostly remember how much I loved the music. Some great songs - even one sung by James Darren! A silly film, of course, but just plain fun as only Yogi Bear can be. I can't wait to see it again - and on DVD!

War of the Worlds (1949)

After the success of 1950's Destination Moon and 1951's When Worlds Collide, visionary producer George Pal brought the classic H.G. Wells story of a Martian invasion to the big screen, and it instantly became a science fiction classic and winner of the 1953 Academy Award for Best Special Effects. It's a work of frightening imagination, with its manta-ray spaceships armed with cobra-like probes that shoot a white-hot disintegration ray. As formations of alien ships continue to wreak destruction around the globe, the military is helpless to stop this enemy while scientists race to find an effective weapon. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson play the hero and heroine roles that were de rigueur for movies like this in the '50s, and their encounter with one of the Martians is as creepy today as it was in '53. It finally takes an unseen threat--simple Earth bacteria--to conquer the alien invaders, but not before War of the Worlds has provided a dazzling display of impressive special effects. As memorable for its sound effects as for its spectacular visions of destruction, this is a movie for the ages--the kind of spectacular that inspired little kids such as Steven Spielberg (not to mention Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, whose Independence Day cribs liberally from the plot) and still packs a punch. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Review: EXCELLENT GENE BARRY VEHICLE
The story is updated to the 1950s for this film, and the setting is moved from the environs of London to southern California. Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry), a world renowned physicist, is on a fishing vacation in Pine Summit when a giant meteorite lands in the hills above the nearby town of Linda Rosa. Along with the residents, he goes to investigate. At the impact site, he meets Sylvia van Buren (Ann Robinson) and her uncle, Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins (Lewis Martin). Finding the meteorite too hot to examine closely, he decides to wait in town for the meteorite to cool down. Later, after most of the people have gone home, the meteorite (actually a Martian spacecraft) unscrews and opens, disgorging a Heat-Ray device. When the three men who remained behind approach in friendly greeting, it kills them without warning. Forrester and the sheriff are also attacked when they return, but survive. Amid reports of numerous other meteors landing throughout the world, a regiment of United States Marines arrives and surrounds the Martian ship. The meteorite deploys three war machines. Pastor Collins approaches the Martians in peace, but they kill him with their Heat-Ray without attempting to communicate. Afterwards, the Marines pellet the Martians with shells and artillery; however, the Martians are revealed to have an impenetrable forcefield protecting them. After enduring the assault, the Martians fight back with their Heat-Ray and disintegrator rays, vaporizing most of the forces surrounding them and move out. Forrester and Sylvia flee, along with the rest of the civilians. After their plane crashes, they take shelter in a nearby abandoned farmhouse. They are trapped in the basement when another meteorite crashes into the house. The couple comes in contact with a Martian when the creature leaves its war-machine to look around. They manage to fight it off and escape to Los Angeles, eventually rejoining Forrester's co-workers, who are trying to find a way to defeat the aliens. With a sample of Martian blood and an electronic eye from the war machines, the scientists learn a good deal about Martian physiology; particularly, they learn that they are highly intelligent, but physically weak and anemic creatures. They then leave to observe the United States Air Force drop an atomic bomb on the Martians advancing on Los Angeles. This also fails to destroy the machines and the government initiates large-scale evacuations of cities in danger of attack. Refugees head for shelters set up in the Rocky Mountains while the army plans to hold them off for as long as possible. However, widespread panic among the general populace scatters the research group and their equipment is wrecked. In the confusion, Forrester and Sylvia become separated. All seems lost, with humanity helpless before the onslaught. Forrester frantically searches for Sylvia in the burning ruins of a Los Angeles under attack. He finally finds her with other survivors awaiting the end in a church. Suddenly, they see an approaching Martian war machine crash. Upon investigating, Forrester realizes that the seemingly all-powerful invaders are dying. As in the book, they have no defense against Earth's viruses and bacteria. The film opens with a prologue in black and white and switches to Technicolor at the opening title sequence. George PÃ¡l originally planned for the final third of the film to be in 3-D to correlate with the final attack by the Martians. The plan was dropped prior to actual production of the film, presumably being deemed too expensive.[1] World War II stock footage was used to produce a montage of destruction to show the worldwide invasion, with armies of all nations joining together to fight the invaders. Wells had used the second half of his novel to make a satirical commentary on civilization and the class struggle. Lyndon did not write the satire into the movie, though he did add a religious theme (in contrast to Wells original novel), to the point that the Martians begin dying shortly after blasting a church. The city of Corona was used as the shooting location for the town of "Linda Rosa". Join the Gene Barry Group hi-5.com
Customer Review: Great Movie
This movie is one hour and twenty-five minutes long and war released on August 26, 1953. The story begins Linda Rosa, California where a comet like ball crash lands on Earth. A physicist comes to investigate the comet, but can do nothing til morning. Meanwhile he is attend a sqaure dance with the local villagers when the power goes out. He goes back to investigate the comet and lo and behold flying saucers emerge from it and Earth is now under attack. It ends with the aliens not being immune to Earth's viruses and bacteria. The special effects are great. Though the soul alien in the movie did not get much air time, it did look a pretty scary for an alien of the 1950s era. The movie won an Academy Awards for Best Special Effects (1954). The would make a great addition for anybody sci-fi collection.

Star Trek Federation and Alien Ship 6 piece (Set A Blue Box) by Furuta

These plastic toys are highly detailed and simple to assemble, just snap the pieces together. These ships are prepainted. This set comes with USS Excelsior, Galileo Shuttlecraft, USS Grissom, Phoenix and Spock Bust. Looks exactly like him. Skill level 1. Each kit comes with detailed display base and measures 3 and 4 inches long. High quality items. Boxes were opened just to identify each item. 5 kits in the set plus 1 bonus kit for a total of 6.

Music, Moonlight and Memories

Music, Moonlight and Memories
3 CD set released by Reader's Digest Music containing 60 songs from Jackie Gleason and His Orchestra. Song listing: 1. I Only Have Eyes For You 2. Im In The Mood For Love 3. Body And Soul 4. Ive Got A Crush On You 5. Dream A Little Dream Of Me 6. Hello Dolly 7. Hey There 8. Ive Grown Accustomed To Her Face 9. Who Can I Turn To 10. People 11. Somebody Loves Me 12. I Left My Heart In San Francisco 13. Time On My Hands (Youin My Arms) 14. Yesterdays 15. Once In A While 16. Tenderly 17. My Funny Valentine 18. Misty 19. (It Willhave Todo) Until The Real Thing Comes Along 20. Softly As I Leave You 21. Love Theme From Romeoand Juliet 22. Call Me Irresponsible 23. Moon River 24. Terrys Theme 25. More 26. Melancholy Serenade 27. Strangers In The Night 28. Serenade In Blue 29. Ill Be Seeing You 30. Autumn Leaves 31. Maria Elena 32. Dansero 33. Brazil 34. Desafinado 35. The Girl From Ipanema 36. Dancing In The Dark 37. Dancing On The Ceiling 38. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes 39. Lets Face The Music And Dance 40. The Last Dance 41. Shangri-La 42. I Love Paris 43. On A Slow Boat To China 44. April In Portugal 45. Arrivederci Roma 46. Ruby 47. Marie 48. Stella By Starlight 49. Laura 50. Tangerine 51. For Once In My Life 52. Goin Out Of My Head 53. Cant Take My Eyes Off You 54. This Guys In Love With You 55. Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head 56. Because Of You 57. Too Close For Comfort 58. On The Street Where You Live 59. It Had To Be You 60. Breezin Along With The Breeze
Customer Review: HOW SWEET IT IS...
This 3 disc set is a nostalgic treasure for anyone fascinated by the musical side of Jackie Gleason. Record buyers of the 1950's must have been baffled when picking up albums with sleek eleagant ladies and gleason himself looking dapper on the front cover. How could such a clown(of Ralph Kramden fame)inspire LPs of lush romantic seduction. Jackie was a hopeless romantic and he used his fame to pull off selling millions of such records. Despite his love for jazz, he never learned to read music or play an instrument. This did not stop Gleason as he figured like the romantic leads in Hollywood, ordinary slobs needed music to seduce women. His first vision was a large string orchestra with a single trumpet playing melody, later expanding this idea with other instruments and even a wordless chorus. Capitol records with a $1000 advance to Gleason was the only label to offer him a chance. It paid off in spades, with his first 1953 album "Music for Lovers Only" selling 500,000 coppies. Gleason's involvement was sketchy. It was he who selected the songs, but he revealed it was Bobby Hackett who was the chief arranger and conductor. The orchestras consisted of some of the jazz greats of the day as well as moonlighting session men and various classical players from noted symphonies. The program is arranged in themed segments on each particular disc. Each features a cluster of songs with headings like "Bright and Brassy", "Soft and Tender Moments","That Girl" etc. Gleason's own "Melancholy Serenade"(theme to the Jackie Gleason's "Honeymooners")is lushly orchestrated. This is a great place to start for any serious Gleason collector. There is hardly a hint of age in the remastered sound and the set comes with a informative biography. Grab this and see how Jackie Gleason beat Mantovanni and Andre Kostelanetz at their own game!

Nero Wolfe - The Complete Classic Whodunit Series

Twenty episodes from the A&E series NERO WOLFE are collected on this release. Nero Wolfe (Maury Chaykin) and Archie Goodwin (Timothy Hutton) are a crime-fighting team whose methods differ wildly. But when they are together Wolfe and Goodwin always get results with the dynamic duo bringing a variety of miscreants to justice.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/CLASSICS Rating: NR UPC: 733961748260 Manufacturer No: AAE-74826
Customer Review: Nero Wolfe - The Complete Classic Whodunit Series Rocks!
I had the fortune of catching this series back when it was on the A&E Channel originally. I really liked it then, and decided to buy it for my Dad for Christmas after hearing how sick he was of the new shows that are on now a days. I don't know why, but if you buy the complete series it turns out to be cheaper than getting them separately. I highly recommend these DVDs.
Customer Review: Nero Wolfe-complete series
I am extremely pleased with the quality and price of this purchase. Thank you!

Woman of the Year

About the grand bumpy romance between a meat-and-potatoes sportswriter and a world-renowned political pundit. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 12/07/2004 Starring: Spencer Tracy Katharine Hepburn Run time: 114 minutes Rating: Nr
Customer Review: Silver Screen Magic
Talk about sparks! They were flying all over the place between Tracy and Hepburn. For the viewing public it's a definite treat to watch. I think the subject matter of Woman of The Year is still relevant to women of today. It's still a challenge to most women trying to find that balance with career and family-and I am glad that the suggestion of her being Harding-Craig meant that she didn't have to stop being herself. For a minute I was fearful that they were going to have the message that a woman's place was in the kitchen. It does feel a little long in places but overall, it's still a highly entertaining film.
Customer Review: Perfection!
I think this is the best of the Tracy-Hepburn films. It was also the first. It revived their fledgling careers and made them fresh and fun. It is a very romantic film about a woman who acts like a "man" - callous, indifferent, busy away from home, neglectful to her spouse, while the husband, a sports writer, is forced into the woman's role of waiting at home constantly for a spouse who is away, dependent on her attention and lonely most of the time. A wonderful insightful story about the sexes.

Chalkdust Memories - Classic Classroom Films

Studio: Koch International Release Date: 07/17/2007 Run time: 196 minutes
Customer Review: Great Nostalgic Fun!
What a blast from the past! Here's a breakdown of what's on it: KNOW FOR SURE (1941) - An Italian shop owner (J. Carroll Naish of Beau Geste) discovers he has syphilis. Samuel S. Hinds (The Raven) is the doctor and Tim Holt (Treasure of the Sierra Madre) also appears. Directed by Lewis Milestone(All Quiet on the Western Front). 13:20 SOCIAL-SEX ATTITUDES IN ADOLESCENCE (1953) -Eisenhower-era approach to explaining love, dating, sex and other facts of life to adolescent kids. 18:30 FACTS OF LIFE (1966) - An illustrated lecture on what not to do on your wedding night, impotence, and birth control, aimed at drive-in audiences. 15:30 DUCK AND COVER (1951) - Legendary animated and live-action guide to helping you survive a nuclear attack by following a few, simple steps. 8:45 SURVIVAL UNDER ATOMIC ATTACK (1951) - Actual newsreel footage of mushroom clouds and Hiroshima are used to scare us into keeping a well-stocked fallout shelter. 8:30 RED NIGHTMARE (1962) - A man dreams the Russkies have taken over America. Hosted by Dragnet's Jack Webb. Robert Conrad (Wild Wild West) plays a Commie factory worker. Directed by George Waggner (The Wolf Man). 29:00 TOMORROW'S DRIVERS (1954) - James Stewart narrates this offbeat driver-safety film featuring young children in kiddie cars, learning how to be safe and courteous drivers. 11:00 SMITH SYSTEM OF NO-ACCIDENT DRIVING (1956) - Aim high in steering. Get the "big picture." Leave yourself an out. Is it all coming back to you? 8:30 FINAL FACTOR (1968) - In each of five traffic-themed vignettes, a "final factor" triggers an automotive accident. 14:00 HOOKED (1967) - Cautionary comments from drug addicts about how they do whatever they have to in order to get their hands on the hard stuff. 18:00 WEED (1971) - The Encyclopedia Britannica's approach to scaring kids straight with dire tales of what happens if you start smoking pot. Also looks at marijuana throughout history, with clips from Reefer Madness. 23:30 LSD: INSIGHT OR INSANITY (1968) - Sal Mineo (Rebel Without a Cause) narrates this psychedelic look at the brain-scrambling dangers of dropping acid. Bad trip, man. 28:00 Total: 3 hrs. 16 mins.

Thursday 30 July 2009

2004 Sweet Spot Classic 124 Larry Doby FF (Baseball Cards) Cleveland Indians (Serial #'d to 1947)

2004 Sweet Spot Classic 124 Larry Doby FF (Baseball Cards) Cleveland Indians (Serial #'d to 1947)
2004 Sweet Spot Classic 124 Larry Doby FF (Baseball Cards) Cleveland Indians (Serial #'d to 1947)

50 MYSTERY CLASSIC MOVIES - 4 DVD Collection - Electronics > DVDs

This DVD is only for the horror movie enthusiast. These compelling classics feature major motion picture stars such as Edward G. Robinson, Mickey Rooney, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, Bonita Granville & Bela Lugosi. Sharpen your skills of deduction and enter the dark underworld of mystery, suspense and deception. Never has such a comprehensive collection of great classic mystery features been assembled in one exciting passage for an amazingly low price!

Features include:

Over 36 Hours
Original Screen Editions
4 DVDs
Old School Mystery Action

All the King's Men [2006 Movie Tie-In Edition]

Set in the 1930s, this Pulitzer Prize–winning novel traces the rise and fall of Willie Stark, who resembles the real-life Huey “Kingfish” Long of Louisiana. Stark begins his political career as an idealistic man of the people but soon becomes corrupted by success. Generally considered the finest novel ever written on American politics, All the King’s Men is a literary classic.

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING

SEAN PENN

JUDE LAW

KATE WINSLET

JAMES GANDOLFINI

MARK RUFFALO

PATRICIA CLARKSON

and

ANTHONY HOPKINS

Customer Review: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore
And maybe that's good. This American classic and Pulitzer winner is wonderful and absolutely worth reading if you like your books to have depth and girth and that they be truly literary instead of merely entertaining for the plane ride, the beach, et al. Nothing wrong with that, if you do. But be warned: it is, even, I dare say, for its time, way overwritten and the writer's writing, the literary pyrotechnics, stands out in front of the story, often burying it in its spent ordinance and soot. Yes, Warren's a literal poet, and there are jaw-dropping turns of phrase on nearly every page. The reason I give a 4 and not a 5 is because it is turgid, overwritten, overwrought and purple as hell. There's too much time spent in Jack's head reflecting, thinking and philosophizing for my taste. But these are gorgeous flaws and, in the end, I found the writing too good to worry about the fact that there's too much of it. Also, the novel-within-the-novel regarding Cass Mastern was not needed and really dragged the already slagging story to a halt. The book did not need that background, per se, but it is what it is. It ain't a breathless thriller. It's hundreds of thousands of words of shimmering prose. Tap in and drink it with relish. They just don't make them like this anymore. Why? Because no house would publish it because they know nobody will read it in the numbers necessary to make it remotely profitable. Books are products; books must show sales growth potential or they get snuffed out. Sixty years ago, before the world 'o screens we live in now, this book was fodder for actual conversations at the proverbial water cooler. Now it's mostly seen as a "book to read before you die" or something inane like that, like climbing El Capitan or something. Sad really. -- If you are a reader who intends to that land of "Well-Read," read it. If you are a dabbler who wants only something to pass the time, and that's no crime, then you really don't want to bother.
Customer Review: Why did I wait?
I was assigned this book in an undergrad political science class. I began it and didn't finish it--I suppose because of immaturity. Thirty years later I decided to give it another try. In short, this is one of the best novels I've read, and one of the few books that I want to re-read.

Peanuts - A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Things get off to a bumpy start. First, Charlie fails to make anything profound out of the cloud formations above, just a "ducky" and a "horsy." (But that's always been one of his best qualities--he calls them as he sees them.) Then he has a disastrous kite experience, followed by further humiliation on the baseball field (with its dandelion-covered pitching mound). Just when it seems as if things couldn't get much worse--they don't. Charlie finds something he's good at. Lucy, Violet, and the rest of the Peanuts gang doubt that his spelling bee winning streak can possibly last, but Charlie proves them all wrong and makes it to the national championships in New York City. His best pal, Linus, and free-spirited pooch, Snoopy, arrive shortly afterwards and provide their support. Granted, this rare, full-length feature film ends just as it began, with one more small humiliation, but it's Charlie's achievement that leaves the bigger impression. There are even a few lessons to be learned, but the tone is never preachy or condescending. Along the way, there are numerous pleasures to enjoy: Vince Guaraldi's classic Oscar-nominated score (featuring lyrics by Rod McKuen), the brightly hued, clean-lined animation (which occasionally erupts into impressionist and pop art flights of fancy), Schroeder's lovely rendition of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata, Snoopy's ice-skating escapade at Rockefeller Plaza, and Linus's Fred Astaire-inspired dance with his long lost blanket. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Customer Review: Charlie Brown
Great content for kids of all ages. Product was fine, service was fine, shipping was fine - all as advertised.
Customer Review: Animation is primitive, music is bad and tedious, not funny at all, and climax does not make up for two hours of pain.
Man, I know I'm going to get roasted for this 1* review. Because I know that you may not read my entire review before giving me an "unhelpful" vote, please consider this up front: This review is my honest, sincere opinion. The reason the internet exists is so that we may all get exposed to a variety of viewpoints. I have tried my best to explain in detail why I honestly did not like this movie. As such, I hope that my review will be helpful to all, fans (many) and critics (few) alike. I invite you to rebut my opinion in the "comments" section, but in as much as my review helps you to understand why someone may not like this movie, I respectfully ask you to give me a "helpful" vote or no vote at all, even though you may disagree with me. Remember, nothing can please everyone. I'm an adult seeing this for the first time, and I have an adult viewpoint. Simply not good. Animation is primitive, music is bad and tedious, not funny at all, and the weak climax does not make up for two hours of painful situations. Charlie, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and Schroeder are decently colorful characters. The rest don't even make it to cartoon quality. I did grow up reading Charlie Brown comic strips in paperback form, and I liked it. But it loses its charm in this format. 2 hours is way too long, forcing time killing extended sequences. Overuse of the "Linus and Lucy" theme gets tedious and shows a lack of diligence. Overuse of the minor key "Linus and Lucy" theme got annoying. It's not funny at all. There is one funny opening joke, and then Snoopy gets just a few funny bits, and that's it. You're in severe pain for 90+% of the movie. That's not entertainment. Way too mean with name calling and ridicule. Personally I find name calling and ridicule very offensive in any situation, even more so when it's this extensive. I just don't see the payoff in this movie. CB is a loser, a dumb, dull, unliked, untalented kid that ends up losing and "the world doesn't end." I don't see how that's a worthwhile lesson to anyone. The lesson is: no matter how much people call you names, ridicule you, no matter how much you lose in life or no matter that you can't seem to do anything right, somehow it's ok. There may be a nugget of truth in there, but basically having the moviemakers essentially preach to me for two hours that I share those qualities - that's a little condescending, isn't it? But anyway, even if the message were worthwhile, the ending message is so weak and watered down that it doesn't give me a good feeling and erase all the misery I've experienced in the last two hours. It always felt like they were killing time with extended animation exercises. Extended segments: spelling rules, Linus looks for blanket, Snoopy ice-skating, and the Beethoven segment. Except for the spelling rules segment, the other extended segments did not move the story along, with Snoopy and Beethoven completely superfluous. These segments also came across like animation experiments, "Let's see how realistically we can make Snoopy appear to glide over the ice." "Let's make an extended high art collage set to Beethoven's music." That said: The Beethoven segment was very good and was the highlight of the movie. In fact, it's the only portion I saved for repeated viewing. As a short animation segment it's great, but as far as moving the story of a 2 hour movie along, especially for kids, no. I can't see anyone learning spelling rules from this movie - so educational value is not much. Show this movie to any kid and then see if he can recite even the I before E rule, I don't think so. Music was no good - the spelling bee song was not good. I know it's apples to oranges, but this 1969 movie compared to the work and storytelling that Disney was doing as far back as 1937 (Snow White)? Like Rembrandt vs. kids with crayons. Climax did not even come close to paying off, or making up for all the setup. The climax is two lines: "The World didn't end," and "Welcome home Charlie Brown." That simply doesn't cut it.

Bass Silent Men Classic Movie Poster Silent Men Movie Poster - 41" H x 27" W

Bass Silent Men Classic Movie Poster -1933 Movie poster -"Silent Men" -Dimensions: 41" H x 27" W Features -Genre: western -Starring: Tim McCoy, Florence Britton -Director: D. Ross Lederman About the Artwork Bring the golden age of Hollywood into your home with this reproduction print of Silent Men 1933 movie poster starring Tim McCoy.

The Blues Brothers Classic Comedy Movie Film 106 Miles To Chicago Adult Black Tee T-shirt

Officially Licensed

Studio Classics - Best Picture Collection (Sunrise / How Green Was My Valley / Gentleman's Agreement / All About Eve)

Sunrise (1927)
There are those who rate Sunrise the greatest of all silent films. Then again, some consider it the finest film from any era. Such claims invite a backlash, but do yourself a favor and give it a look. At the very least, you'll know you've seen a movie of extraordinary visual beauty and emotional purity. This universal tale of a farm couple's journey from country to city and back again was the first American film for F.W. Murnau, the German director of Nosferatu and The Last Laugh whose everyday scenes seemed haunted by phantoms and whose most extravagant visions never lost touch with reality. Hollywood afforded him the technical resources to unleash his imagination, and in turn he opened up the power of camera movement and composition for a generation of American filmmakers. You'll never forget the walk in the swamp, the ripples on the lake, the trolley ride from forest to metropolis. This movie defines the cinema. --Richard T. Jameson

How Green Was My Valley (1941)
John Ford's beautiful, heartfelt drama about a close-knit family of Welsh coal miners is one of the greatest films of Hollywood's golden age--a gentle masterpiece that beat Citizen Kane in the Best Picture race for the 1941 Academy Awards. The picture also won Oscars for Best Director (Ford), Best Supporting Actor (Donald Crisp), Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography; all of those awards were richly deserved, even if they came at the expense of Kane and Orson Welles. Based on the novel by Richard Llewellyn, the film focuses its eventful story on 10-year-old Huw (Roddy McDowall), youngest of seven children to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan (Donald Crisp, Sarah Allgood), a hardy couple who've seen the best and worst of times in their South Wales mining town. They're facing one of the worst times as Mr. Morgan refuses to join a miners union whose members have begun a long-term strike. Family tensions grow and Huw must learn many of life's harsher lessons under the tutelage of the local preacher (Walter Pidgeon), who has fallen in love with Huw's sister (Maureen O'Hara). As various crises are confronted and devastating losses endured, How Green Was My Valley unfolds as a rich, moving portrait of family strength and integrity. It's also a nod to a simpler, more innocent time--and to the preciousness of memory and the inevitable passage from youth to adulthood. An all-time classic, not to be missed. --Jeff Shannon

Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Elia Kazan directed this sometimes powerful study of anti-Semitism in nicer circles, based on Laura Z. Hobson's post-World War II novel. Gregory Peck is a hotshot magazine writer who has been blind to the problem; to ferret it out, he passes himself off as Jewish and watches the WASPs squirm. Seen a half-century later, the attitudes seem quaint and dated: Could it really have been like this? Yet the truth of the story comes through, in the wounded dignity of John Garfield, the upright indignation of Peck, and the hidden ways bigotry and hatred can poison relationships. That's particularly true in the Oscar-winning performance of Celeste Holm, who finds more layers than you'd expect in what seems like a stock character. --Marshall Fine

All About Eve (1950)
Showered with Oscars, this wonderfully bitchy (and witty) comedy written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz concerns an aging theater star (Bette Davis) whose life is being supplanted by a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing ingenue (Anne Baxter) whom she helped. This is a film for a viewer to take in like a box of chocolates, packed with scene-for-scene delights that make the entire story even better than it really is. The film also gives deviously talented actors such as George Sanders and Thelma Ritter a chance to speak dazzling lines; Davis bites into her role and never lets go. A classic from Mankiewicz, a legendary screenwriter and the brilliant director of A Letter to Three Wives, The Barefoot Contessa, and Sleuth. --Tom Keogh

Customer Review: An Absolute MUST for Film Lovers
Put simply there is no better deal in all of DVD-dom than this 4-disc box set from 20th Century Fox. What you get is 3 masterpieces and one good film all restored to pristine visual and audio quality as well as a ton of extras in a nice keepsake box. SUNRISE - 1927; Directed by F.W. Murnau EXTRAS: -Audio Commentary by John Bailey (ASC Cinematographer) -Outtakes with Optional John Bailey Commentary -Original scenario by Carl Mayer with annotations by Murnau -Murnau's Lost film: Four Devils -Original Four Devils Screenplay -Original Sunrise Screenplay -Theatrical Trailer -Aspect Ration 1.20:1 -Original movietone score (Mono) -Alternate Olympic Chamber Orchestra score (Stereo) REVIEW: One of the most influential films of all time, Sunrise is perhaps master director Murnau's most enduring masterpiece. Filmed in the last year of silent film it remains one of the pinnacles of that lost art. It is undoubtedly one of the most poetically beautiful films ever shot. The stunning visuals reveal the lack of modern films' visual substance. Cold CGI can hold nothing to the organic purity of Sunrise and many other unforgettable silent films. The story is simple enough; a man from the country is tempted by a woman from the city to drown his wife and come away with her (there are no names given to characters in the film). The man struggles with the thought and the action of doing so while Murnau expresses his inner conflict with visuals that would come to be termed German Expressionism and would later serve as the visual basis for film noir. This is a case where what is said isn't nearly as important as how it's said. The acting is melodramatic, indicative of the classical silent era. The story is so simple that it requires almost no discussion. But Murnau's visuals express everything that is unsaid louder than 1000 pages of dialogue ever could. Yes, watching this film is like watching a moving painting. It is indeed closer to classical visual arts than narrative driven films. It's because of this that it lingers in the memory long after viewing it. It's simply as beautiful, poignant, poetic, and haunting a film as you'll ever see and it deserves a high place on any list of the greatest films ever made. The extras are plentiful and all very welcomed. Four Devils, however, is not an actual film, but rather a kind of recreation using the art designs and screenplay. The commentary has wonderful insights to Murnau's visual techniques. The screenplays are excellent to those wondering how a masterpiece begins its life. HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY - 1941; Directed by John Ford EXTRAS: -Audio Commentary by Anna Lee Nathan and film Historian Joseph McBride -AMC Backstory Episode; "How Green Was My Valley" -Still Gallery -Theatrical Trailor -Full Frame Format (Aspect Ratio 1.33:1) -Audio: English Stereo, English Mono, French Mono, Spanish Mono -Subtitles: English, Spanish REVIEW: This infamous film is perhaps best known as the movie that beat Citizen Kane for Best Picture in 1941. But seeing as how Welles was a huge fan of Ford and revered him as THE film master, it's appropriate that this film more than any other should've bested the film widely considered best ever. Ford also took home best director and Donald Crisp best supporting actor. Valley was often cited as Ford's favorite film, and it's not difficult to see why. It's a beautiful and sentimental film about a Welsh family of coal miner's struggling in their small town. The cast is uniformly superb, including a young Roddy McDowall in one of the finest child acting performances ever. But more than anything, it's Ford's traditionally and consistently wondrous visuals that perfectly create a sense of environment and the vivid people in it. The characters are all superbly conceived and each brings the story of their various struggles to life. Whether it's Mr. Morgan (Crisp) trying to hold his family together in the face of socialist union uprising, Huw (McDowall) growing up and dealing with sickness as well as other childhood problems, the unrequited romance of Angharad (Maureen O'Hara) and Mr. Gruffydd (Walter Pidgeon), or Mrs. Morgan's (Sara Algood's) ability to be the vocal and strong cornerstone. It's difficult to lend much insight into the poetic and, at times, spiritual tone that Ford exhibits and maintains in the film. It's really something that simply must be seen to be appreciated, and it's often the details (such as his carefully timed moving camera, or his ability to know when and when not to cut to close up) that give the film that extra something. The music is among the best ever used in a Ford film and together with the visuals, story, and characters creates a marriage that's entirely poignant. The ending (without giving too much away) is quite sad. But Ford elevates the film above maudlin sentimentalism with both the lyrical images and the heartfelt final speech. It's heartbreaking but also spiritually refreshing. Since its release people have disagreed just where Valley ranks among the other masterpieces in Ford's oeuvre. Some think it's one of his weakest "great" films, while others think it's among his best. For me, it's a notch below the absolute classics (Searchers, Clementine, Grapes) and falls somewhere in the second tier of masterpieces along with Stagecoach and Liberty Valance. Valley is a film that can put you off for a number of reasons such as the stilted romance or the obvious sentimentality. It's also not as complex as Ford's later films. But it's one that is full of possible poignancy, and if it happens to hit you then it might just become a favorite. The extras are nice, but not as robust as with Sunrise. The commentary is very good as is the AMC backstory episode. GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT - 1947; Directed by Elia Kazan EXTRAS: -Audio Commentary by Celeste Holm, June Havoc, and film Critic Richard Schickel -AMC Backstory Episode: "Gentleman's Agreement" -2 Fox Movietone Newsreels -Stills Gallery -Theatrical Trailer -Full Frame Format (Aspect Ratio 1.33:1) -Audio: English Stereo, English Mono, French Mono, Spanish Mono -Subtitles: English, Spanish REVIEW: This is easily the least substantial film of the 4 in this set. This 1947 film was full of zeitgeist, dealing with anti-Semitism and bigotry directly. It's the story of a journalist, played by Gregory Peck in an Oscar nominated role, assigned to write an article on the subject. Needing an angle, he poses as a Jew and begins to experience intolerance first hand. Dorothy McGuire plays his romantic interest, and Dean Stockwell his son. Even though this film handles an important subject with the seriousness it deserves, the problem is mostly not with the message but the delivery. The audience is essentially allowed passage into the subject through the son, and treated with as much respect. This film really seems shallow and naÃ¯ve today. Its lack of a visual voice doesn't give it the aesthetic pleasures of the two above films, and its often awkward dialogue makes it pale in comparison to Eve. That said, the film is still good if taken on its own. It's perhaps one of the best films about bigotry. Its unadorned style allows for nothing to get in the way of the ideas. Gregory Peck also does as well as could be in the role, and makes even the most cringe worthy parts watchable. The extras are plentiful, though due to my lack of interest I haven't viewed either the documentary or the commentary. ALL ABOUT EVE - 1950; Written and Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz EXTRAS: -Audio Commentary by Celeste Holm, Christopher Mankiewicz, and Kenneth Geist (Author of "Pictures Will Talk: The Life and Films of Joseph L. Mankiewicz) -Audio Commentary by Sam Staggs (Author of "All About `All About Eve'") -AMC Backstory Episode: "All About Eve" -Original Interviews with Bette Davis and Ann Baxter -4 Movietone Newsreels (Movie Premiere and Award Shows) -Restoration Comparison -Theatrical Trailer -Full Frame Format (Aspect Ratio 1.33:1) -Audio: English Stereo, English Mono, French Mono, Spanish Mono -Subtitles: English, Spanish REVIEW: Widely considered the best screenplay ever written, Joseph L. Mankeiwicz incomparable masterpiece is one of the few `talky' films ever to win over cinephiles as much as audiences. It's not difficult to see why; the dialogue is endlessly witty and sharp, but the delivery by the cast - truly one of the best ensembles ever - makes everything work with a razor sharp precision. This may be Bette Davis's best performance, the role that resurrected her career and seemed to have her written all over it. She is riveting as the aging Broadway actress/diva Margo Channing. The titular Eve, played by Ann Baxter is her seemingly charming and naÃ¯ve but actually devious successor that seeks to usurp Margo's place. In a way, Baxter had a much tougher role to play in the film, needing the audience to fall in love with her early - echoing Margo and her group's acceptance - and slowly realize her conniving ways. The supporting cast including Celeste Holm as Karen Richards (in perhaps her best performance), Gary Merill as Bill Simpson, Hugh Marlowe as Lloyd Richards, and George Sanders as Addison DeWitt are all outstanding as well. For many this film will be the centerpiece of this collection, and not unjustifiably so. Its story is as timeless as theater itself, and its themes speak on everything that deals with the nature of fictional theater in all its inner workings and parts, and its relationship with reality. It is simply the most intelligently written film about an age-old subject. It's equally cynical as it is funny, as biting as it is charming, as enjoyable as it is artful, and it is undoubtedly one of the finest films cinema has ever produced. The extras are, again, plentiful and all welcomed. The two commentaries are a bit overkill, as most everything of note is given in one of them (ether, really). The backstory episode is very nice and the rest of the extras provide nice looks at the film for its fans. CONCLUSION: Overall, this set may be the best ever produced of its kind. I'll just repeat the title and say that every film-lover should own this. At this price, I may buy two just to protect my invaluable copy of Sunrise.
Customer Review: Sunrise is Worth the Price Alone
This is one of the first box sets released and it has three of the greatest films ever plus one really good film. But the main thing is that this is the only way you can get Sunrise. Sunrise has the distinction of being only film to win the Oscar for Most Creative Film (The original classification of Best Picture). This is a very interesting silent film. But what makes this DVD a great deal are the extras. It has outtakes with commentary, scenarios and screenplays but the best is a recreation of Murnau's final film Four Devils. This appears to be a lost masterpiece. I say appears because it is only a recreation but what is recreated is fantastic. Add to this 20th Century Fox's greatest film All About Eve. This is Bette Davis' greatest film. She creates the indelible Margo Channing, a fading Broadway star who takes a fan under her wings, Eve. But Eve has plans of her own. It features Cleste Holm, George Sanders and the incredible Thelma Ritter. This film has the classic line "fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night". Then you have John Ford's classic How Green is Your Valley. This is probably his most complete film. It is the story of one family who live in a Welsh mining town. It stars Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara and Roddy McDowell. Finally, there is Gentlemen's Agreement. This is problably the one film that has not held up like the others but you can understand why it was a success. This is one of the first films about the unspoken Anti-Semitism in America. This stars Gregory Peck as a reporter who poses as a Jew to explore the segregated society with in America but gets a surprise closer to home. Dorothy McGuire costars as his girlfriend and Celeste Holmes won her Oscar for this film. Even if you have all the other films buy this just to get Sunrise!

50 Classic Collector's Movie DVD Set

50 Classic Collector's Movie DVD Set, ON SALE! Your choice of 3 Sets: 50 Cowboy Movies on 5 DVDs for over 37 hours of ridin', ropin' and shooting. Or 50 Ganster Shows on 4 DVDs for over 36 hours of crime, law enforcement and gunnin'. Or select 50 Action Movies on 4 DVDs for over 40 hours of viewing. Well-known stars. Mixed black / white and color format. State Set. Order Today! 50 Classic Collector's Movie DVD Set

The Sea Fairies

Trot, is a little girl who lives on the coast of southern California. Her father is the captain of a sailing schooner, and her constant companion is Cap'n Bill Weedles, a retired sailor with a wooden leg. Trot and Cap'n Bill spend many of their days roaming the beaches near home, or rowing and sailing along the coast. One day, Trot wishes that she could see a mermaid; her wish is overheard, and granted the next day. The mermaids explain to Trot, and the distressed Cap'n Bill, that they are benevolent fairies; when they offer Trot a chance to pay a visit to their land in mermaid form, Trot is enthusiastic, and Bill is too loyal to let her go off without him.
Customer Review: Adventure shared with your best friend
This book was written establishing relationships between a curious girl and a family friend. They set off on a day trip that becomes a journey of good and evil. There are surprises of all types. New friends are made throughout the ocean and some lost contacts are found. I do recommend this book. I do see an element of the Wizard of the underwater OZ.
Customer Review: Suffers only in comparison to Oz
It's Not Oz L Frank Baum is perhaps one of the finest children's authors ever to have lived with his WIZARD OF OZ series occupying an honored place in the canon of juvenile literature. He wrote other books as well, though, and THE SEA FAIRIES is one of these. It has no connection at all to the OZ stories in its original issue. Oz fans will recognize, however, the two main characters of Trot and Capt. Bill. This book was their fist literary appearance. Later on, they were integrated into the Oz milieu. This story, I am sorry to say, is not one of Baum's best efforts. That being said, he sets such a high standard that this one is still pretty good. It is just not as good as his Oz books. The story seems a bit more simplistic but it still shows his love of wordplay and vivid imagination. The plot is a simple one. Trot and Capt. Bill are taken by mermaids for a visit to their magical, undersea kingdom. They go not as prisoners but as honored guests. While there, they are temporarily given the tails of mer-beings to allow them to get around easier. They tour the realms of the Mermaid Queen and see some of the queer inhabitants of her domain. While on the way to visit her overlord, however, they are abducted by an evil wizard and must devote their energies to staying alive until they are either rescued or find a way to escape. It is a good and uplifting story. It suffers only in comparison to Oz.

Battlestar Galactica Classic: Colonial Warriors Minimates Box Set

Presenting the best of the worst from the original Battlestar Galactica series, this all-new Cylon Empire Minimates box set delivers a virtual army of unstoppable robots and their allies -- just in time for the 30th anniversary of the classic series! Including Dr. Baltar, the Imperious Leader, Lucifer, a Cylon Centurion and a Cylon Commander, this set contains enough firepower to wipe out a Battlestar! Sculpted by Art Asylum, each two-inch Minimate features 14 points of articulation and accessories from the classic series.

Misty

Studio: Koch International Release Date: 11/25/2008 Run time: 91 minutes Rating: G
Customer Review: A HORSE STORY MOVIE FOR KIDS AND OLDER FANS OF THE BOOK
This film brings all the excitement found in the book "Misty" (by Marguerite Henry) to the screen. It is beautiful in its setting near the Atlantic. It is safe for any age child. It is a nostalgic rush for those of us who read the book as a youngster. I'd forgotten about the film even though I saw it on TV in the 1960s. It is a great DVD way to see and hear the story of Maureen and Paul Beebe (Pam Smith and David Ladd) in their struggle to raise the funds to buy Phantom, who had never been captured before, and now her foul, Misty. It's a fund-raising event of the Chintoteague community to catch the wild horses and sell off the yearlings to aid the local fire department. A huge challenge for the youngsters. Here's a story for children to learn values, the work ethic, and just plain enjoy a good (one of the best ever) horse story. The film is as classic as the book.
Customer Review: "Misty (1961) ... David Ladd ... Koch Vision (2008)"
Koch Vision and 20th Century Fox presents "MISTY" (4 June 1961) (91 ins/Color) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- It has a very Disney/family style, a very solid, down-to-earth plot, a lot of focus on animals and nature, a realistic style, subtle humor, smart pieces of dialog, a well meshed plot, a warm family feeling, and a happy ending --- the film is educational, in the same way that Disneyland used to be educational in the early 1960s: endless tidbits of knowledge are imparted via the dialog, such as that a "hand" is equal to four inches, or that a foal should not be fed sugar since that turns the horse into a biter, or that "breaking" a horse is different than "gentling" a horse --- It's hard to come away from the film without having learned more about horses, or without having developed more of an appreciation of horses. Also, the locations and history of the annual pony roundup are authentic, so a bit of geographical and historical knowledge is imparted, as well --- This is a solid family film that should still be enjoyable for all ages, especially for horse lovers. Under the production staff of: James B. Clark - Director Robert B. Radnitz - Producer Marguerite Henry - Book Author Ted Sherdeman - Screenwriter Lee Garmes - Cinematographer Leo Tover - Cinematographer Paul Sawtell - Composer (Music Score) Bert Shefter - Composer (Music Score) Frederick Y. Smith - Editor Duncan Cramer - Art Director Maurice Ransford - Art Director Stuart A. Reiss - Set Designer Walter Scott - Set Designer Bernard Freericks - Sound/Sound Designer Ben Nye, Sr. - Makeup Stanley Hough - First Assistant Director Story line and plot, Every year the Chincoteague fire department rounds up the wild ponies of Assateague. island, and then auctions off the colts and yearlings to thin out the herd. A young brother and sister, Paul and Maureen Beebe, have set their hearts on owning one particular wild three-year old pony, The Phantom --- Only they have to earn the money, as the Phantom has to be captured in the roundup, and then they have to outbid everyone else for her in the auction --- And even the Phantom herself has a surprise for Paul and Maureen: a foal named Misty --- The scenery is breathtaking, with sandy beaches, sand dunes, coastal pine forest, and open fields with horses running free --- Has that small town feeling with its carnival and everybody knowing everybody --- Other than the old-fashioned clothes and hair styles, this film seems a lot more modern than its 1961 release --- still stands up well in this modern era without seeming excessively sweet or having ridiculous humor --- There are also some gender equality issues thrown into the plot, which makes it ahead of its time.. the cast includes: David Ladd ... Paul Beebe Arthur O'Connell ... Grandpa Beebe Pam Smith ... Maureen Beebe Anne Seymour ... Grandma Beebe rest of cast listed alphabetically: Duke Farley ... Eba Jones SPECIAL FEATURES: BIOS: 1. David Ladd Date of Birth: 5 February 1947 - Los Angeles, California Date of Death: Still Living 2. Arthur O'Connell Date of Birth: 29 March 1908 - New York City, New York Date of Death: 18 May 1981 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California 3. Pam Smith Date of Birth: Unknown Date of Death: Unknown 4. Anne Seymour Date of Birth: 11 September 1909 - New York City, New York Date of Death: 8 December 1988 - Los Angeles, California Great job by Koch Vision --- looking forward to more high quality titles from their film market --- order your copy now from Amazon or Koch Vision where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch releases --- where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector. Total Time: 91 mins on DVD ~ KOCH Vision ~ (11/25/2008)

Wednesday 29 July 2009

Dawn Of The Dead Classic Horror Thriller Movie Walk The Earth Adult White T-Shirt

Gone with the Wind Entertainment Art Poster Print, 20x28

AllPosters.com is the world's #1 seller of posters, prints, photographs, specialty products and framed art. We're dedicated to bringing our customers the best selection of high quality wall dÃ©cor that is perfect for their home or office. Browse our catalog of over 300,000 items that include entertainment and specialty posters, decorative prints, and art reproductions. Whether you're looking for your favorite movie or music poster, a framed Monet reproduction, or a print of the Eiffel Tower you will find it at AllPosters.com. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/allposters to find Special Offers and search by subject category or artist. AllPosters.com provides unmatched service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your home today with your favorite pictures.

Gone With The Wind Entertainment Poster Print, 36x24

The Firm - Firm Parts: Tough Tape (Classic Workout Series)

This is an excellent muscle-endurance workout, full of challenges and variety. Instructor Tracie Long is superb, cueing seamlessly while giving plenty of technique tips and modifications to make the moves easier or more difficult. There's no annoying pep talk, whooping, or counting--just straightforward instruction to make your workout more effective. This 45-minute weight workout switches constantly between lower and upper body (sometimes doing both at once). Long sensibly gives stretches every so often to relieve muscle tightness. You'll need a barbell, an assortment of free weights, and a tall (12- to 14-inch) step or equivalent. The tape box and introduction claim that this workout includes a 26-minute high-intensity sequence, but this 45-minute tape did not have a cardio sequence. No abdominal routine, either. Although the routine ends with the words "more to come," the only "more" was a long commercial. --Joan Price
Customer Review: Awesome!
This is the best workout tape! I have 3 kids, 3 and under and this is the only thing I used to help me lose the weight all three times. I lost all my pregnancy weight in less than 5 months, each time, and I didn't even start working out until sometimes as late as 3 months after their births. Anyway, more importantly, it works! I look better than I did in high school!
Customer Review: Short, tough workout...
This is one of the most sought after Firm videos that are out of print. It is a compilation of the strength segments of the Tortoise and the Hare which are also out of print, but without the ballroom aerobics. Tracie Long leads this workout (as she led both Tortoise and Hare) plus there snippets of her in between segments letting you know what is coming up. There are several sets of leg presses in this workout, one of the sets has 18 reps per leg, while another one has alternating sets on each leg 7 reps each side twice, then 3 reps each side twice, very tough. All the muscle groups are covered well, in addition to the many sets of leg presses you will see squats, lunges, dips and plie squats for lower body. The upper body exercises include upright rows, overhead presses, tricep kickbacks, french presses, pushups, pec flies and bicep curls. A barbell is used for a lot of the exercises, but dumbells are easily substituted if you do not have a barbell. A good short challenging workout for those with limited time. Unfortunately it is hard to find though, but worth the money if you can find a copy. Tracie Long is an excellent instructor, and you can tell that she is working hard along with you. Susan Harris (of Volume 1) appears as a background exerciser which is an interesting tidbit. Worth looking for for die hard Firmies.

Classics at the Movies: Love

Classic Movie Love Songs

Classic Movie Love Songs
Classic Movie Love Songs. Treasured melodies by FTD. Performed on solo piano, this collection of movie love songs captures some of the most memorable romantic scenes from the silver screen. Contains 14 tracks totaling 53:32. First: Can You Feel the Love Tonght from the Lion King. Second: The Rose from the Rose. Third: When I Fall in Love from Sleepless in Seattle. Fourth: Do You Know Where You're Going To. etc.

Clint Eastwood Poster ~ The Good, The Bad and The Ugly ~ Classic B&W Spaghetti Western Movie Poster ~ 24x36"

Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Scriabin, Rachmaninov, Chopin, Bach, Brahms: Alexis Weissenberg - Classic Archive

Weissenberg was at the beginning of his substantial international career in these films, mostly made by French television in the 1960s. The one exception is a 1965 version of Stravinsky's Three Movements from Petrouchka renowned in its time for attempting to mirror the music's rhythms and moods. Directed by Ã…ke Falck and filmed in a Stockholm studio, the camera is a creative partner with composer and pianist. So all kinds of odd angles are employed. If you want to see what Weissenberg's chin looks like from the vantage point of the keyboard, here's your chance. Lighting and backgrounds change often, but there's an element of art-house kitsch to the film that today seems dated. In a bonus track, Weissenberg speaks about how the film was made and the difficulties of matching finger movements to the prerecorded sound track while he "played" the work on a specially built silent piano, whose inner plumbing is an important visual element here. As for Weissenberg's playing, this difficult piece is red meat for a virtuoso of his caliber and he's predictably impressive, although the piano tone can get glassy in the treble and the considerable pounding the piano gets can leave you feeling pummeled. A wild ride perhaps, but a worthwhile one. The remainder of the solo part of the program consists of Weissenberg favorites: an example of Age of Iron Prokofiev via his Sonata No.3, a Scriabin Nocturne that shows the pianist's lyric side, a Chopin set offering well-played, interpretively squeaky-clean pianism that needs more tonal bloom than the various engineers could supply at the time. Weissenberg programmed a lot of Bach and some of his best playing comes in the Chromatic Fantasy (here shorn of the Fugue). Bach that looks filmed in a dark celler at midnight, Myra Hess' famed transcription of Jesu, joy of man's desiring gets a steel-fingered rendition. The biggest piece on the disc, Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, with the French Radio Orchestra led by a heavily perspiring George PrÃªtre, features grainy video and compromised sound that should have been better for its 1969 date. But pianophiles will be interested in this record of a famed virtuoso at his peak. --Dan Davis
Customer Review: One of the Most Extraordinary Piano Films Ever Made
My title applies primarily to the 1965 black & white film of Alexis Weissenberg playing Stravinsky's Three Movements from Petrushka, amazingly creatively filmed in Stockholm by Ã…ke Falck. I remember seeing this film on TV almost forty years ago and the memory of it has stayed with me ever since. I am so pleased finally to have a copy of that marvelous film. Weissenberg was in his early thirties at the time and at the very height of his considerable form. The views provided by Falck are highly unusual but each has a clear intention of adding to our enjoyment of the music by showing us in closeup both the hands of Weissenberg and the movements of the mechanism of the piano; the camera actually almost climbs inside the piano. The whole thing is filmed with high-key contrast. This is one of the great piano films ever made. But that's not all (as they say on late-night TV infomercials): also included on this 150 minute DVD are black & white films of performances of Prokofiev's Third Piano Sonata, Op. 28 and Scriabin's Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op. 9, No. 2; Rachmaninov's Prelude, Op. 23, No. 6 in E Flat (in color); the Largo from Chopin's Third Piano Sonata (B&W), as well as his Nocturne Op. Posth. in C Minor and Ã‰tude Op. 25, No. 7 in C Sharp Minor (the latter two in color). Then, rounding out the DVD are the Chromatic Fantasy, BWV 903 (B&W), Bach's Sixth Partita (color), Myra Hess's arrangement of 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' (color), and to top it all off, a performance of Brahms's Second Piano Concerto with the Orchestre National de l'ORTF under George PrÃªtre (B&W). All of these were recorded for French television in 1966-1969. Each of these performances has something to say about the music, but most especially I responded to the Chopin nocturne, the brilliant Prokofiev sonata and although the sound especially of the orchestra for the Brahms was not quite as good as for the rest, I thought Weissenberg's performance was both thoughtful and moving. (That long and soulful cello solo in the third movement was gorgeously played by the orchestra's unnamed principal; unfortunately the bassoonist bobbled his commentary after the cello theme's first statement.) There is also an eleven minute interview with Weissenberg about Petrushka, apparently filmed recently. Among many other things he says that when he first saw the piano score for the Petrushka 'I couldn't even look at it, it was like poison, some kind of hell on paper'. And he does on to supply fascinating details about how the film was made. If for no other reason, you owe it to yourself to see and hear Weissenberg's sensational performance of the Petrushka movements; it is truly a classic film of a classic performance. Running time: 150mins; Format NTSC 4:3; Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0; Bonus language: French, with English subtitles; Region code 0 (worldwide). Scott Morrison
Customer Review: Must buy
If only for the Stravinsky, but it! Whether you're a fan of super-humanly difficult piano playing, strikingly original filming technique or simply want a great copy of a fabulous composition, this is a must. The other videos are uninspired in terms of the video part, but you still get to see AW providing memorable interpretations or core piano repertoire.

Tuesday 28 July 2009

I Dreamed of Africa

At the age of 25, Kuki Gallmann moved to Kenya with her future husband, where they established a vast ranch. But Africa's beauty does't come without a price, and when tragedy struck, Kuki found herself pregnant and alone with her young son and 90,000 acres of Africa to oversee. 32 pages of photos, half in full color.
Customer Review: I Dreamed of Kuki's Africa-so I went
I did volunteer work at Kuki's Ol Ari Nyrio in 11/07 and it was the most amazing experience of my life. I also had dinner with Kuki and she is an artist- attentive, creative, intelligent, and misses nothing. Africa is a place like no other-you cannot expect the norm - truth is always more interesting & stranger than fiction, remember. Kuki is an amazing person and the work she has done for the people & animals in the area, without spoiling the natural habitat or trying to change the people's ways, is well told. The death of her son and husband, so tragic, has led her to different levels in life, where so much work has been done for the good of generations to come. Read her books-they are wonderful!
Customer Review: A captivating story of Africa, personal courage and love
I Dreamed of Africa is a fascinating, compelling story of an indominatable, larger than life individual, Kuki Gallman, and her life's journey from aristocratic beginnings in Italy to settling in the Great Rift Valley area of Kenya, Africa, with her adventuring, glamorous second husband, Paolo and her son Emanuele. The book is a personal and touching story of discovery, transformation, overcoming major tragedy, and the land, dreams and hopes of Kuki's Africa.

The Viceroy of Ouidah

In this vivid, powerful novel, Chatwin tells of Francisco Manoel de Silva, a poor Brazilian adventurer who sails to Dahomey in West Africa to trade for slaves and amass his fortune. His plans exceed his dreams, and soon he is the Viceroy of Ouidah, master of all slave trading in Dahomey. But the ghastly business of slave trading and the open savagery of life in Dahomey slowly consume Manoel's wealth and sanity.

"This is Conrad's Heart of Darkness seen through a microscope." --The Atlantic Monthly

"Dazzles and mystifies, with its lush anger, its impacted memory, its gorgeous desolation." --The New York Times
Customer Review: Destroyed by the night
I came to Chatwin's The Viceroy of Ouidah by way of Werner Herzog's (very loose) film adaptation of it, "Cobra Verde." Herzog's film doesn't quite work. At the end of the day, it's rather fragmented. Chatwin's novel does work. The storyline is simple, and ultimately, I think, not as important as the mood the novel creates. Francisco Manoel da Silva is an early 19th century Brazilian sharecropper who sails to the west African kingdom of Dahomey, makes a fortune in the slave trade, but is eventually brought low and dies penniless and mad. His descendants, wanting desperately to think of themselves as white and Brazilian, fetishizing their ancestor's memory, and nostalgically harkening back to the day when the da Silva name meant something in Dahomey, congregate annually to commemorate him. At the annual gathering that opens the novel, Eugenia, the only suriving child of Francisco, is dying. She's well over 100 years old. None of this is remarkable. What's so powerful about The Viceroy of Ouidah (not an especially good title, by the way) is the mood it creates. Even better than Joseph Conrad, Chatwin draws a portrait of the dark and unfathomable forces of nature--both human and nonhuman--that we "civilized" folks who confront them can't even begin to imagine. We may think for a while, as Francisco does, that we're their master. But in the long run, to cite an unsettling scene in the novel, the night will slay us. The night will destroy us. Paralleling the wild, insane, destructive forces of nature in the novel is the equally destructive slave trade that Francisco engages in. One reviewer has remarked that we gain no insight into Francisco's psychology, and I think this is an accurate statement. He remains opague to the reader. But this may be intentional on Chatwin's part: in his own way, Francisco is part of the very darkness that destroys him, and that darkness is too inky, too swamp-like, for clarity. An extraordinary allegory. Not as rich as the author's later Utz, but well worth reading.
Customer Review: difficult read
very hard to get into; it reads like a college literature assignment that you are supposed to decipher (not fun); not recommended

Ferruccio Tagliavini in Opera and Song vol. 2

Ferrucio Tagliavini is remembered as one of Italy's greatest lyric tenors, following in the tradition of Gigli and Schipa. His operatic career began in Florence, in 1938, when he debuted as Rudolfo in "La Boheme.", the role of his La Scala and Metropolitan Opera debuts (in 1942 and 1946, respectively). Tagliavini made a number of appearances on the "Voice of Firestone" programs. These rare television performances capture the tenor in his glorious prime, bringing his magical vocal charm to many of the world's most beloved songs and arias, in Italian, French, and English.

The Devil's Rejects Classics Action Horror Movie Tiny Stand Adult Black T-Shirt

Oliver Twist & Keystone Cops (2pc) (Silent)

The Rolling Stones TATTOO YOU Classic Logo Adult Shirt

The perfect shirt to show your Rolling Stones pedigree!! A true rock classic and a MUST HAVE for any Stones fan. Everyone will see you know your rock-n-roll when you wear this sweet Stones logo shirt. Superb graphics with rich colors. Super-high-quality silk screening on these 100% cotton, pre-shrunk shirts. OFFICIALLY LICENSED.

James Bond ~ Includes Several of the Classics Bond Movie Covers All on One Poster Print ~ The Excitement Never Dies! ~ Movie Poster Approx 24 x 36 inches

This James Bond "The Excitement Never Dies!" movie poster is approx. 24'' x 36''

Inside Gilligan's Island: A Three-Hour Tour Through The Making Of A Television Classic

Join the creator of Gilligan's Island for a three-hour tour!

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful show,
That started as just one man's dream,
A long, long time ago.

That man was a mightily wily guy,
With smarts enough for eight.
If the brass upstairs let him be,
The program would be great.
The program would be great.

The meddlesome executives
Blew up a mighty storm,
If not for the courage of the fearless man,
The program would be lost.
The program would be lost.

The show's preserved in the leaves of this
Terrific kooky book.
With anecdotes, synopses too,
Rare photographs and drawings.
The whole story
And lots, lots more
Are here Inside Gilligan's Island!

Find out: Where the Howells got all those clothes!
Learn: Did Gilligan and the Skipper ever get hurt when the coconuts hit them on the head?
Discover: What was "Lovey's" real name?
Imagine: What kind of a pet the studio almost gave Gilligan!
Sing: The original lyrics to the theme song!

Customer Review: GILLIGAN'S ISLAND
If you're going to buy this you probably want the inside scoop on how the show came to be made and what it was like while it was being made. That's what you get. ON the downside, I found the writing style to be very strange. If I was critiquing this as a story someone had written and submitted for review online, I probably would have moved on and critted another story because this one would have seemed a hopelessly huge undertaking to crit. There was one part where there were some frogs near a door. In a normal story maybe you'd read a mention of this once but in this story he keeps going on and on about the frogs. Its just really weird in its style. But it tells the story of the show and that's why I got it so I'm giving it 5 stars for accomplishing what I wanted it to do.
Customer Review: A terrific look inside the television industry.
Sherwood Schwartz makes no high-culture claims about "Gilligan's Island." It is a fantasy sit-com (albeit one with an underlying theme of diversity and community). This book takes a wonderful look at what Mr. Schwartz went through to get his vision (like it or not, the concept was created by Mr. Schwartz, and Mr. Schwartz alone) on the air. From network executives who tried to change everything about his show, to casting, to scoring and more. Whether you like "Gilligan" or not, you have to admire Mr. Schwartz's guts and tenacity in seeing his idea through to fruition. Thanks for reading.

Beverly Hillbillies / TV Show

Included in this box are the following:

Volume 1: The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills/The Clampetts Meet Mrs. Drysdale
Volume 2: Jethro Goes To School/ The Giant Jackrabbit
Volume 3: The Race For Queen/ Elly Needs A Maw
Volume 4: Granny's Spring Tonic/ The Clampetts In Court
Volume 5: Jed Throws A Wedding/ Jed Becomes A Banker
Customer Review: Very Funny!!!
This 5 tape, 10 episode collection is a must for all BeverlyHillbillies fans! Every episode is hillarious. When I saw the lowprice I just had to buy this collection and I am happy I did.

Monday 27 July 2009

Woyzeck (A Methuen Theatre Classic)

Written in 1836, Woyzeck is often considered to be the first truly "modern" play. The story of a soldier driven mad by inhuman millitary discipline and acute social deprivation is told in splintered dialogue and jagged episodes which are as shocking and telling today as they were when first performed, almost a century after the author's death, in Munich 1913.This volume contains an introduction and notes by Michael Patterson
Customer Review: It's an IB life for us
Well, this play sure was unique, I'll give it that. I had to read it for the Theatre Arts International Baccalaureate Exam (2001). It was one of three choices (the other two were by Dario Fo and Lorraine Hansberry which explains their listing on the "people who bought this also bought" list) and it seemed the most interesting. Basically, Woyzeck is a soldier in 1830s Germany. He has a girlfriend whom he discovers is cheating on him with a higher-ranking official. All the while, he is humiliated by his superiors and the townspeople. One day, he buys a knife and murders his girlfriend. The author, Georg Buechner, died while writing the play, so it ends, rather ambiguously, with Woyzeck wading into a pond into which he will throw the murder weapon. This was an interesting play to analyze for IB inasmuch as it provided a good deal of material for me to work with and I had good ideas about how the play ought to be produced. Still, the plot was very strange.
Customer Review: Fast-Paced and Gripping
(I always wanted to say that.) Woyzeck is a designer's nightmare but an actor's dream: a tragedy of immediate imagery, almost written for the MTV generation. Scenes that last at most two pages flicker around archetypes like the overbearing Major and the menacing Doctor, while the play's more human characters find themselves caught in between. There are searingly tragic moments (as befits the genre). There are also darkly funny ones: Woyzeck's conspiracy theories, Andres's childish songs, the Scholar's politically incorrect comments. Buchner left the world young, and if this play is any indication, that's a tragedy too. As a reader, an actor or a (shudder) designer, you'll enjoy being swept along by his work.

Nanook of the North

In 1920, exploring American anthropologist Robert J. Flaherty traveled alone, with camera in hand, to the remote Canadian tundra. There, for over a year, he lived with Eskimos, documenting their daily lives and returning to his editing studio with the raw footage. The result of his rigorous study was groundbreaking; with Nanook of the North, Flaherty pioneered both a new cinematic genre, the narrative documentary, and created a timeless drama of human perseverance under the harshest of conditions. Flaherty obviously understood the charisma of one Eskimo in particular, Nanook, and much of the film's warmth, humor, and charm come from the mutual respect and sympathy between the filmmaker and his subject. Flaherty possessed an acute eye for simple detail and his presentation of the stark climate and unique culture remains breathtaking. Flaherty also had a knack for editing and manipulation, and along with pioneering a new cinematic form, Nanook too raised all of the problematic ethical dilemmas that still face documentarians. Many of the famous sequences--the seal hunt, the building of the igloo--were actually staged for "authenticity" purposes, thus starting debates on whether documentaries could truly capture truth or reality. Then there's the presence of the camera and whether that in itself alters or disrupts the natural behavior of its subjects. Yet, despite Flaherty's tamperings, there's no denying the film's power, its wondrous sense of adventure, and the touching portrait of one of cinema's truly courageous heroes. --Dave McCoy
Customer Review: A flawed, but invaluable film.
If you have any interest in documentary filmmaking, indigenous film, ethnography, or a related field, you should absolutely see 'Nanook.' Having said that, I'm always shocked at how little context the average viewer has before they take this film in. Sure, maybe a first viewing of a film that sets so many precedents should be undertaken unprejudiced, but any meaningful understanding of this film can only take shape with some basic knowledge of the debates and discourses that surround it. The movie, as I'm sure many reviewers before me have explained, is ostensibly an ethnographic document of an Inuit hunter named Nanook's struggle to survive with his family in the area around Hudson Bay. The film documents a number of activities that, depending on your level of cynicism, either represent the Inuit lifestyle at a particular period in time, or are selected for their potential novelty to members of the film's eventual audience. Either before or after your first viewing of the film, know this: the wildly inaccurate intertitles aren't the most misleading thing about this film. Rather than be exhaustive about the film's inaccuracies, I'll let you seek out your own information. I will mention that by the time Flaherty was making this film, Inuit hunters were using rifles. Also, Nanook's family aren't exactly his family. They're really just the most photogenic Inuit that Flaherty could find to fill the roles. Flaherty argued that he was trying to document a set of Inuit cultural practices that were in danger of slipping into the ether. Whether this is entirely sincere or not, who knows. But beyond deciding whether or not you like the movie (which is a more basic and personal consideration), you need to know this so you can try to understand what Flaherty's getting at here and see the cinematic world he presents in its own, highly specialized and hybrid context. The film itself is a delightful watch. It continues to be entertaining, regardless of whether or not you're into silent film. Criterion's print looks fantastic and the music they've put it to is appropriate. That's all bonus, though, because the movie will always be the foundation upon which so much important work was built, so as soon as you know it exists and is relevant to your interest, you should watch it. Just be sure to dip into the discourse surrounding it at some point during the window of time when the film is occupying your thoughts. You'll see the film and its many, diverse successors more clearly for having done so.
Customer Review: Opinion
An interesting film that tries to capture the Inuit Culture, while today it would be hailed as a Mockumentary given the information latered learned about "Nanook" being more modern than presented it is still informative and interesting.

The Goonies Truffle Shuffle State Champ Classic Comedy Movie Adult Green Tee T-shirt

Available up to 2XL!

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life
One of the great all-time classics, with Stewart as the small town guy with big city dreams, who is forced by his father's death to take over the family business, keeping it out of a tyrannical banker's hands. When a financial error threatens everything with ruin, Stewart wishes he was never born, and tries to end his life. A novice angel saves his life and reveals what his town would have become if he had never existed, proving his life's good impact.

100 Standard Black Single DVD Empty Replacement Classic "Ace Cases" with Wrap Around Sleeve #DVBR15ACE (15mm)

These are BRAND NEW DVD "Classic Ace Case" boxes with full wrap-around sleeve so you can put the papers on the outside of the case. The "Ace Case" unique patented design firmly holds a DVD in the space of a standard sized 15 mm DVD case. The cases also have the little clips inside so booklets can still be held in the case with the DVD! What makes the Ace Case unique is its unique design that holds the discs by the edges instead of in a center hub. This design makes it impossible to people to tamper with the DVDs and take them out of the case without opening the packages all the way (unlike hubs where the disc can be popped out and removed without ever breaking the bone).These are perfect for store use!

Friday 31 July 2009

Thursday 30 July 2009

Wednesday 29 July 2009

Tuesday 28 July 2009

Monday 27 July 2009

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