Reviews (8)

He Was Her Man
A simple movie that can be enjoyed by all ages. (Which is rare today) The songs and great looks of Elvis make this one enjoyable.

Change of pace in time for Elvis!
"Frankie and Johnny" is based on the old song about two lovers where Johnny is on a losing streak and decides he can change his luck with Nellie Bly. A jealous Frankie shoots her man because "he was doin' her wrong". This movie is sort of based on the song. Everything is true except the shooting part in the end, but it comes very close to actually happening. "Frankie and Johnny" is quite enjoyable no matter how "obscure" you people might find it. It's a real top-notch and every Elvis fan must see it. By the way, we need more reviews on Elvis' movies and music please.

Frankie and Johnny
Elvis appeared in this lighthearted musical based on the folk song, "Frankie and Johnny". In the original song, the title characters are lovers whose romance goes awry when red-headed Nellie Bly steals Johnny away from Frankie. Frankie gets revenge by shooting Johnny dead. The movie lightens the tone of the tale by adding a few details and changing the downbeat ending. In the film, the song has been especially written for riverboat performers Frankie and Johnny, played by Donna Douglas (The Beverly Hillbillies) and Elvis Presley. Johnny is a gambler whose bad luck changes when dancer Nellie Bly, played by Nancy Kovak, joins the troupe aboard the riverboat. Each night, the three perform the number "Frankie and Johnny" onstage. As Johnny's interest in Nellie increases, so does Frankie's jealousy. One night, someone loads real bullets into Frankie's prop gun, and Johnny is shot during the performance. As luck would have it, Johnny is saved by a charm that he wears around his neck.

The film did benefit from the juicy secondary roles played by a seasoned cast of character actors which keep the film from being any less interesting. Harry Morgan, who later gained recognition on the TV series M*A*S*H played Cully the piano player. Robert Strauss, the burly villain in many crime dramas, played Blackie, the boss's stooge and Sue Ane Langdon portrayed Mitzi, the girl who is always edged out in the romance department.

Produced for United Artists by Edward Small. Released March 31, 1966. Color.

Boy what's wrong with you people?
Like other Elvis Presley movies, he gets into fights. But he seems to have lost his luck in most of the 60's then he had starting in the mid to late 50's. As the movie opens, Johnny (Elvis Presley) is a riverboat singer and gambler nad his sining partner named Frankie (Douglas) won't marry him until he gives up gambling. So Johnny decides to end his losing gambling ways by getting help from a fortune teller. She tells him to get a lucky red head. And Johnny does find one in a redhead (Nancy Kovack).

Typical mid-60s Elvis musical
FRANKIE AND JOHNNY is better than the previous two films (TICKLE ME and HARUM SCARUM), but that doesn't mean that it succeeds on all levels.

Elvis looks quite comfortable in the costumes he wears in this picture, but the lousy dialogue and dumb plotline are anything but brilliant.

The songs are okay, but nothing outstanding. Only "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" could succeed on it's own.

It's not as bad as some of the other Elvis pictures of the era, but it's not an essential addition to anyone's collection. ... Read more

Description

Recognizing that wealthy cattle rancher Craig Belden's son, Rick, is one of his wife's killers, Morgan travels to Gun Hill to arrest him.Belden refuses to hand his son over, and Morgan is determined to capture Rick and take him away by the 9:00 train but he is trapped in the town alone, with Belden and all his men now looking to kill him. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Last train from gun hill
The movie is wonderful but in my opinion the quality made by STARMAKER is really bad. I purchased 3 movies titled The last train from gun hill by Starmaker hoping to get a good one and the quality ranges from bad to worse.

One of the best westerns of all time!!!
This film is extremely exciting and full of many "murderous" problems, such as the evil person at the beginning that murdered that poor young and beautiful Indian woman!!{I do not agree with that old reviewer that gave this movie only two stars}. I saw this movie for the first time on AMC. I made an attempt to tape it on the VCR that I had at my house, but failed, although I wanted the movie so badly, I really would hunt for it after that miserable failure!!! Several months later, I found it in the newspaper and knew they were planning to show it again, finally!! I set everything up, this time correctly, and found it at the back of the 8 hour tape that I had used to tape it with on "American Movie Classics". But, two months later, I taped it AGAIN, this time without all the other movies that I had on the other taping tape!! So, this movie is about Kirk Douglas chasing down the Belden family for the murder of his wife!!! And without further ado, I am calling this one of the best westerns of all time!!Also recommended: The Bravados, True Grit, The Sons Of Katie Elder, and River Of No Return...

You can't be serious?
This has got to be the WORST attempt at masquerading as a western I have ever seen, and I've seen some bad westerns. This one is inching pretty close to Billy the Kid Meets Dracula for just pure bad acting. Great story-pitiful script. You want spoilers...OK. Well, Kirk Douglas plays a Sheriff whose wife was just raped and murdered. The clue to the identity of the killer comes from a saddle he recovers while in pursuit. Oh yeah, he knows who the owner is right off cause it belongs to his best friend from the good old days, one Anthony Quinn-who is more comfortable playing Greek fishermen and Mexican banditos. Not much intrigue here folks. Anyway, ole Kirk just saunters into Anthony Quinn's ranch (aka. Saddle Owner) just grinnin' and yucking it up like old times. I suppose that's where this thing lost me.

There was a reason I'd never heard of this turkey and missed this for the last 40 years. Just pathetic. 2 spurs

I am taping this movie on AMC on October 25th! I cant wait!
I am making an attempt to tape this film on October 25th! I do not know how much longer I can wait to get this out-of-print masterpiece on tape! I just hope the TV Magazine is correct in saying that it comes on at seven thirty AM! Please do not let me down, magazine! Ok now, enough with that! This movie is about a man who is tracking down the criminal that murdered his wife. But the owner of the town, Craig Beldan, is covering up for his son that commited the murder! I do not want to tell you the climax, you will love it!! Recommended!!

I am taping this movie on AMC on October 25th! I cant wait!
...This movie is about a man who is tracking down the criminal that murdered his wife.But the owner of the town,Craig Beldan,is covering up for...I do not want to tell you the climax,you will love it!! Recommended!! ... Read more

Reviews (29)

One of the Funniest Movies Ever
(...)This film is not as cohesive between scene to scene as their other films, but there are much more laughs yielded per scene without expectations. Some of the brilliant scenes that reviewers have neglected to mention: the wrestling scene where Cheech and Chong fight an imaginary wrestler shows their brilliant ability for physical comedy, Tommy Chong's great impersonation of an old blues man (couldn't understand what he was saying for awhile), their impersonation of two gay performers bickering before their show, and many more. Throughout all the scenes, they travel through many facets of comedy and even drama. (...)I highly recommend this film to open-minded comedy fans not looking for a traditional narrative comedy.

It's so stupid...
...but not funny. I don't even know how Cheech and Chong fans could like this movie, because this movie is really different from "Up in Smoke" or their other movies. In "Up in Smoke" there was at least some direction to the movie, but in this movie most of it is composed of lame comedy gimmicks that were entirely not funny unless you are high off your ass or have an I.Q. less than 20. They don't even smoke in this movie! The closest thing they do to drugs is eat some marijuana leaves... how stupid do they think we are? Stay away from this one!

Smoke-Less Ashtray Provides More Laughs
Cheech & Chong are scraping the bottom of the barrel in this brain-dead dragged-in-by-the-hair story of unknown "Hollywood Stars" crashing an Amsterdam Film Festival, repeatedly being mistaken for "Mr. Burt Reynolds and Miss Dolly Parton". This is non-stop unamusing non-sense. The side-plot of E.T. (which was at the time the #1 film in the world), the "extra testical" couldn't have been less funny.

Fans of the classic comedy duo know the REAL reson these two would want to spend time in Amsterdam of all places on the globe (duh!). To have sexy blonde Hotel maids (and bell hops) go goo-goo-gaa-gaa over these two aging dope glorifiers is not credible at all.

The bite and spontaneous humor we remember from their original cult classic "Up In Smoke" is completely missing from this stupid follow-up. The 70s comedy albums are still "the s*it" today, with laughs every 10 seconds. "Still Smokin'" is about as dumb as a film gets. Why not revive the Three Stooges to save the day? Put out your butt and forget this DOA stinker!*

Still Smokin After 20 years.
This was a good performance by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. This takes place in Amsterdam,Holland. Cheech and Chong try to make money dealing hash legally in Holland but the job turns backwards on them.There are some suggestive scenes like when they police fly over a beach and see some dutch women who take their bikinis off. Good movie of you are over at least 16.

terrible!
Still Smokin' is too bad for the first half,then it goes [down the drain].It becomes unfunny and uninteresting.The stand up is horrible.If you want Cheech and Chong doing their comedy routine buy one of their CD's instead of this film.If you're looking for a good Cheech and Chong movie check out "Up in Smoke" or "Nice Dreams". ... Read more

Description

Intensely personal and yet universally appealing, AVALON follows immigrant Sam Krichinsky and his extended family as they seek a dream called America in a place called Avalon. From poverty through prosperity, the Krichinsky family faces their changing world with enduring humor and abiding love. Even when squabbling over a failed business or adjusting to a new land, Levinson never fails to find the comedy and immediacy of their immigrant experience. A superb cast, led by Armin Mueller-Stahl, Aidan Quinn and Elizabeth Perkins, perfectly captures the vibrant love and laughter of this quintessentially American family.The coming-of-age story of an entire nation, AVALON is a "tapestry of American life so rich and perfect it could hang in a museum."(Rex Reed) ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Changing times in America.
As an avid science fiction buff, "Avalon" seems to be an unusual film for me to really enjoy. When I saw it with a nice couple I knew back in Pittsburgh in 1990, I fell asleep in spots. But I was tired. That wasn't a reflection of the film. I saw it again on video later on and found it to be a wonderful portrait of family life. In a nutshell, it basically chronicles the lives of a Jewish immigrant family here in America during the early part of the 20th century and the generations that come after. It's beautifully told and a bit of a tear-jerker as well. This was my first film seeing Elijah Wood and I have admired him since. I also was captivated by the family patriarch Armin Mueller-Stahl and his desperate attempts to keep the family together and faithful to the old ways despite a changing world. Eventually, the invention of television comes into the picture which also has an adverse effect on family "quality time". I really love this movie and it's a SHAME that it isn't on DVD yet! We are waiting Mr Levinson! I find stories and films about the whole immigrant experience during turn of the century America to be fascinating. If you care about human drama and want to see a beautiful portrait of less complicated times, see this film. Excellent!

Mr. Levinson at the top of his game!
Great performances by Armin Mueller-Stah, Aidan Quinn, Kevin Pollak, Elizabeth Perkins, Joan Plowright, and a nine year old Elijah Wood anchor this beautiful love letter to the days of oral storytelling, the immigrant experience, and the Baltimore of director Barry Levinson's childhood.

As in most of Mr. Levinson's work (including HOMICIDE), where this piece shines is in the dialogue. And the by play between Mr. Mueller-Stahl, Mr. Quinn, and Mr. Wood - portraying three generations of the same family - provides for some truly touching verbal interaction. And the film plays these themes in other ways as well, primarily by contrasting the oral storytelling technique preferred by Mr. Mueller-Stahl and the television, preferred by the slightly snake-oily dreamer played by Kevin Pollak.

While the overall "look" of the film, as created by Allen Daviau and Mr. Levinson, may be a little sugary I hope that this won't stop you from enjoying the great script, some truly wonderful images, and top notch acting that is AVALON.

A Hidden Classic
I only heared about Avalon in Febuary 2004, by reading reviews on amazon. Let me just say that if you by this DVD you will not be disapointed. This movie has a great story line, the actors are fantastic, and the movie hasnt dated one little bit. This movie has everything from the very funny parts, to the tearjerker parts. The movie is a real rollercoster ride. But one The whole family would be sure to enjoy. I highly recomend that everone should see this movie at least once.

another sickening immigrant story
This movie is too slow and full of immigrant sentimentality.

touching
This movie is a slow paced movie that genuinely touches the soul. The acting is great,especially adian Quin. Brilliant! The characters are multifaceted. I recomend this movie to anyone above the age of 14, only becouse youger people would have difficulty understanding the symbolism that is at its core. ... Read more

Reviews (110)

The Rookie
This movie had everything. It is the first movie I've seen in a long time that there were no swear words, no sex scenes, no violence. It was a wholesome movie, good for all ages. It was based on a true story which made it all that much better. Here's a great guy, who teaching great kids, not foul mouthed like I hear so much of coming out of the mouths of kids everywhere, in the malls, on the streets, in the movie theatres.
This teacher loves his wife, his kids and baseball, and in that order. And the director or whoever hire the lead knew what he was doing. We just don't see enough of Dennis Quaid. He is the very best actor on the scene today. You guys out there in Movieland. Let's see more movies like this and much,much more of Dennis Quaid.

The Rookie
The best movie I have seen in years. It's not just another sports movie. This one transcends multiple levels to make it an outstanding, must-see movie. The direction is superb with surprising yet appropriate scoring. Believability is where most sports-topic movies fail. Not this one. The casting and acting make each character so realistic that you feel every emotion.

It is about time!
It is about time that we have a great family movie for children and grown-ups to equally enjoy that is rated G with no violence or foul language! I highly reccommend this movie for you and your family! You will enjoy it immensly!

The Rookie
Amazing that Hollywood can make a good movie with no sex, violence and/or bad language. Very well done movie but could have been 15 to 20 minutes shorter. Dennis Quaid is remarkable. A must see for the whole family. A movie with a message!

Nice for all who have a Dream.
This was a wonderful movie. It's about a man named Jimmy Morris who had a dream of playing pro-baseball. His father is in the army and they are constantly moving. He moves to TExas where there is no baseball, after a while, when he grows up he is a baseball coach in a highschool.
He is now married and has children. His son his almost like a member of the team even thought he is only around 7, 8, or 9. He has his own uniform and is always at practices and the games. He also has a daughter around the son's age and another son around the age of 1.
One of the team members discovers how good Jim pitches, he then does it at practice and he makes a deal with the team that if they start winning and win the highest game or something like that, that he has to try out for the major leagues.
They win and he has to go and try out..........

The rest I won't say, See the movie to find out what happens :). It's a great movie for anyone who ever had a dream that they wanted to accomplish. :) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Love those McCoys!
I loved the McCoys as a kid...and hadn`t seen them for over 40 yr.s till I got this DVD.Now I love them even more.This is a great DVD.Real values are always relevant and I`m amazed at the values this TV program has to share.Buy this DVD and see what love,forgiveness,generousity,kindness,humility,compassion and more are all about.You won`t be dissapointed and like me,perhaps want to buy as many episodes as possible. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With its synth-pop soundtrack and Eurotrash attitude, No Man's Land is the slick 1987 equivalent of 2002's The Fast and the Furious. Instead of Asian-import "rice rockets" and hip-hop street gear, it's got Armani suits and Porsches--the latter being the specialty of ace car thief Ted Varrick, played by Charlie Sheen in a trashy break between the successes of Platoon and Wall Street. Fresh-faced D.B. Sweeney plays the undercover cop assigned to infiltrate Varrick's chop shop, and the predictable screenplay (by Dick Wolf of Law & Order fame) asks all the expected questions: Will Sweeney's loyalties turn? Will Varrick's sister (vacuous newcomer Lara Harris) learn his true identity? Will Charlie's hair remain perfectly groomed? The Faustian formula provides a few moments of standard suspense, and Sheen's bemused remark about "lifestyles of the rich and aimless" carries a sharp note of retrospective irony. Otherwise, you're better off with an episode of Miami Vice. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Movie That Brought Car Theft To Hollywood
'No Man's Land', a high-octane drama from 1987 was another one of those movies that fell past the back burner to the floor behind the stove. Charlie Sheen fans flocked to this movie, and girls fell in love with a young DB Sweeney (The Cutting Edge)..but that kind of promotion takes away from what a good movie it is. Sure there are technical errors that people who sit glued to TV screens all day love to point out, but for us normal people who don't mind if a gun is on a table one second and then disappears the next...its' safe to say this movie laid substantial ground for the types of car chase movies there are today. Basil Poledouris' musical score is creepy, and the drama between Sheen and Sweeney is great as a young rookie detective who gets thrown into the mix of a slick car theif's (Charlie Sheen) world and finds that the worst mistake he makes...is making a friend. No doubt inspired by 'Miami Vice', 'The Boys Next Door' and even '48 HRS.', 'No Man's Land' is an exciting movie to see once and then never see again. I only say that because if you see it once and then forget about it, you'll never find yourself picking apart the plot or comparing it to today's trashy car-theft, car chase, car sex...blah blah blah movies usually thanks to directors of teenaged 'movie stars'. Rated R for a few uses of the F-word, mildly explicit violence and adult themes..'No Man's Land' earns the respect I have for movies like 'Lethal Weapon', 'Beverly Hills Cop' and 'The Karate Kid'. Once its' been done, its' almost impossible to do it just as well twice.

Great movie DVD couldn't live up.
This is one of the great action film in 80's.
Unfortunately, it only comes with full screen version
and stereo surround. It does not have any extra such as
interview, deleted scines, nor making of.
I just have to say "What were you thinking MGM?

thee porsche movie of all time
This is the greatest late-80's car-chase movie ever. With Sheen in his heyday, and other classic elements that made this movie THEE PORSCHE MOVIE OF ALL TIME. The chases were not clumsy Miami Vice style don't-hurt-the-Ferrari fare, but INTENSE, throttle&corner, jumping, flying and ramming with the sweetest Porsches of the 80's. Add the backdrop of "Less than Zero" production similarities and late-night 80's escapades, woo-hoo! This is the genre for gen X probably, but you may enjoy it otherwise. It's a timeless piece and thoroughly watchable for action fans.

Many years ago I ordered the VHS of "No Man's Land" only to receive some skiing documentary. Horrified, I learned it was gone, "out-of-print". I don't know when it was produced last, and it may not be again so if your a collector it's something to consider.

Decent Entertainment
This movie has two very good-looking stars (Sheen and Sweeney) and beautiful fast cars, and a decent plot. That's enough for an entertaining movie. Charlie Sheen is one of those actors who can play the bad guy with such charm that you want to root for him. This one is worth a look.

Underrated buddy action film
Tense and atmospheric, this is a fine action film featuring the young Charlie Sheen and D.B. Sweeney. An undercover cop (Sweeney) infiltrates the auto theft racket masterminded by the smug, manipulative Sheen and, in no time, he finds himself spiralling into the love of parties, Porsches and, most crucially, Sheen's sister, played by Lara Harris. Though the acting is in a somewhat minor key, the film builds up to a number of absorbing and suspenseful episodes, in addition to containing a subtext on the morals of loyalty and friendship. Altogether, this low-budget thriller, as a car film, easily exceeds in quality the noisier, bigger, but less interesting "Gone in 60 Seconds" with Nic Cage. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Stephen Vincent Benet's timeless 1937 short story gets the red-carpet treatment on Criterion's feature-packed DVD of The Devil & Daniel Webster. William Dieterle's inspired film remains the classic it always was, proving that Citizen Kane wasn't the only cinematic marvel to appear in 1941. It's a sturdy, stylish rendition of Benet's original narrative, beginning when a luckless farmer (James Craig) strikes a Faustian bargain with the devil incarnate Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston at his devious best), trading his soul for seven years of prosperity, during which he grows corrupted, despised, and regretful of his mistake. To Scratch's chagrin, legendary orator Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) intervenes with a triumphant defense, and Dieterle's brilliant direction gives the proceedings a light, economical touch of supernatural mischief.

To complement the cleverness of the film adaptation, this delightful DVD also includes a playfully expressive reading of Benet's original story by Alec Baldwin, and vintage radio performances of two of Benet's three "Daniel Webster" stories. The film and radio plays were scored by legendary composer Bernard Herrmann, whose Oscar®-winning film score is examined in an interactive essay by Herrmann expert Christopher Husted. Excerpts from an earlier preview version of the film (then titled Here Is a Man) reveal creepy, negative-image shock-shots of Mr. Scratch that were later removed, but they further demonstrate Dieterle's willingness to experiment. With additional essays and archival materials, Criterion's superb DVD shows how a great story can lend itself, with consistent success, to a variety of mediums. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (22)

THE DEVIL and DANIEL WEBSTER is a "heavenly" movie treat!!
When it was first released in 1941, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER (originally released as ALL THAT MONEY CAN BUY) found itself buried under the controversial shadow of Orson Welles' classic film, CITIZEN KANE, which came out at the same time. Adding insult to injury was the fact that this classic adaptation of the Stephen Vincent Benet tale would suffer cuts and trims that would dissipate the film's impact. Now, thanks to a first-class restoration effort by Criterion, this stylish quick-witted film can be seen in all its original glory.

The film tells the story of Jabez Stone (James Craig), a struggling New Hampshire farmer, who curses his ill-luck to the point of offering his soul to the devil. No sooner does he voice his wish, when a sinister little man named "Mr. Scratch" (Walter Huston) appears. Needless to say, the seven year deal for good luck and money is struck and the kindly farmer is soon corrupted, despite the best efforts of his wife and his mother. Eventually, Jabez comes to bitterly regret his deal and it is up to famed orator Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) to defend him in a hellish court before a jury of the damned.

Director William Dieterle (who previously helmed the classic 1939 version of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME) does a wonderful job in presenting his tale through the powerful use of shadow and contrast. Bernard Herrmann compliments the film with a stellar score which won him the Academy Award that year. The acting, for the most part, is also top-notch. While not the best actor in the world, James Craig is solid enough as the hapless Jabez. Ann Shirley is equal parts warmth and steel as his loving wife. Jane Darwell, who earned praise as Ma Joad in the classic THE GRAPES OF WRATH, is solid in another "salt of the earth" role as Ma Stone. Simone Simon is absolutely sexy and appropriately sinister as Belle, the demon lady that Scratch recruits to keep Jabez in line. Edward Arnold, who replaced Thomas Mitchell after an on-set accident, is top-notch as the larger-than-life Daniel Webster. Used to playing ruthless businessmen and pompous fathers, Arnold makes the most of this plum role, and his final speech to the unholy jury is a definite highlight. When all is said and done, however, it is Walter Huston's marvelous portrayal of the Devil that will remain in the memory long after film's end. With a folksy, puckish demeanor, Huston creates a fun-loving, even likable character. However, when Jabez tries to wheedle out of the deal, Huston drops the smiling facade, showing us the true nastiness of his character. It is a definitive performance.

As with many of Criterion's DVD releases, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER has extras that will please both fans of the film and the original story. Along with an informative film commentary by noted film historians, there is a wonderful audio recording of the original tale read by Alec Baldwin, along with 2 old radio dramas covering both the original and another, "Daniel Webster and the Sea Serpent." There is also an excellent essay feature focusing on Bernard Herrmann's wonderful score which uses clips from the film to highlight certain points in the essay.

Overall, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER is a classic that definitely is a must-have for your film collection and one that I highly recommend. It's a "hell" of a movie!

Classic DEVIL film gets classic DVD treatment
When it was first released in 1941, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER (originally released as ALL THAT MONEY CAN BUY) found itself buried under the controversial shadow of Orson Welles' classic film, CITIZEN KANE, which came out at the same time. Adding insult to injury was the fact that this classic adaptation of the Stephen Vincent Benet tale would suffer cuts and trims that would dissipate the film's impact. Now, thanks to a first-class restoration effort by Criterion, this stylish quick-witted film can be seen in all its original glory.

The film tells the story of Jabez Stone (James Craig), a struggling New Hampshire farmer, who curses his ill-luck to the point of offering his soul to the devil. No sooner does he voice his wish, when a sinister little man named "Mr. Scratch" (Walter Huston) appears. Needless to say, the seven year deal for good luck and money is struck and the kindly farmer is soon corrupted, despite the best efforts of his wife and his mother. Eventually, Jabez comes to bitterly regret his deal and it is up to famed orator Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) to defend him in a hellish court before a jury of the damned.

Director William Dieterle (who previously helmed the classic 1939 version of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME) does a wonderful job in presenting his tale through the powerful use of shadow and contrast. Bernard Herrmann compliments the film with a stellar score which won him the Academy Award that year. The acting, for the most part, is also top-notch. While not the best actor in the world, James Craig is solid enough as the hapless Jabez. Ann Shirley is equal parts warmth and steel as his loving wife. Jane Darwell, who earned praise as Ma Joad in the classic THE GRAPES OF WRATH, is solid in another "salt of the earth" role as Ma Stone. Simone Simon is absolutely sexy and appropriately sinister as Belle, the demon lady that Scratch recruits to keep Jabez in line. Edward Arnold, who replaced Thomas Mitchell after an on-set accident, is top-notch as the larger-than-life Daniel Webster. Used to playing ruthless businessmen and pompous fathers, Arnold makes the most of this plum role, and his final speech to the unholy jury is a definite highlight. When all is said and done, however, it is Walter Huston's marvelous portrayal of the Devil that will remain in the memory long after film's end. With a folksy, puckish demeanor, Huston creates a fun-loving, even likable character. However, when Jabez tries to wheedle out of the deal, Huston drops the smiling facade, showing us the true nastiness of his character. It is a definitive performance.

As with many of Criterion's DVD releases, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER has extras that will please both fans of the film and the original story. Along with an informative film commentary by noted film historians, there is a wonderful audio recording of the original tale read by Alec Baldwin, along with 2 old radio dramas covering both the original and another, "Daniel Webster and the Seas Serpent." There is also an excellent feature focusing on Bernard Herrmann's wonderful score which uses clips from the film for emphahsis.

Overall, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER is a classic that definitely is a must-have for your film collection and one that I highly recommend. It's a "hell" of a movie!

The clever devil challenges you
Walter Huston as the devil gives a knock out performance in this classic film. Filmed in the middle of the WW2 , the film is a well made adaptation of the famous Fausto , but set in a little town, where the greed and the ambition transforms the soul and the character of a very good farmer.
The script turns around the hunger for power who lives in all human being. He makes a contract with the devil and the promise will allow him seven years of richness . Suddenly he changes his old habits and becomes cruel and insane mood , he becomes in a no mercy pawnbroker and he reachs the peak like the most hated man of the town.
The story will lead us to a twist of fate about a famous politician (who else?) who will have his verbal duel with the devil in an unforgettable and surrealistic place with a weird jury. Wonderful defense with a powerful reasoning.
This picture became in a cult movie due his expressiveness and his flamboyant rhytm .
This one may be the best achievement of Willam Dieterle as film maker.
The ending sequence is anthological!

What Doth It Profit a Man...?
If you could summon old Beelzebub up from the pits of Hell and trade your soul for seven or so years of wealth and good luck, would you do it? And if you DID do it but later had second thoughts, would you have any course of redress? These are the questions that--on the surface, at least--are explored in the 1941 cinematic masterpiece THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER (originally released as ALL THAT MONEY CAN BUY and shown to preview audiences as HERE IS A MAN).

Based on the popular 1937 short story by Stephen Vincent Benét, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER extends far beyond the scope of its source material to become more than just a facet of the legend of larger-than-life U.S. 19th-century American statesman and orator Daniel Webster. The film is actually a satire of Depression-era perceptions of unfettered capitalism and moneylender institutions like banks, mortgage companies, and pawnbrokers, and it even manages to take a few jabs at blind patriotism and the idealistic American conception of personal freedom. The character of Webster, though important to the plot, is ancillary to the film's overall Populist message.

The movie covers a slice from the life of one Jabez Stone (James Craig), a mid-19th-century New Hampshire farmer who seemingly has no respite from his perpetual run of bad luck. Under the shadow of the impending foreclosure on his farm, Jabez enters into a Faustian agreement with a certain "Mr. Scratch" (Walter Huston), who promises the farmer seven years of good luck and prosperity in exchange for his soul.

Jabez takes to his newfound wealth like a fish to water, and it isn't long before his lifestyle and behavior mirrors that of the greedy moneylenders he once so despised. But as the end of his 7-year contract draws nigh, he starts to worry about his ultimate fate. When his wife, Mary (Anne Shirley), senses that something evil is tormenting her husband, she appeals to the famous statesman and lawyer Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) for help. Always willing to assist a fellow New Englander, Webster rises to the occasion and engages Mr. Scratch vis-à-vis in the most hellish court of law ever assembled. But can Daniel Webster save Jabez from eternal damnation, or has the great agrarian champion and statesman finally met his match?

Excellent performances from the cast, especially the great Walter Huston's portrayal of Mr. Scratch and Edward Arnold's depiction of Daniel Webster; beautiful cinematography, which includes a combination of new, groundbreaking camera techniques with lighting styles that hearken back to German Expressionist cinema; clever, stylish special FX that still stand up well, even against today's CGI stuff; a fantastic musical score that includes elements of Americana folk music and experimental electronic techniques; and a well written script all serve to elevate THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER to the level of a minor masterpiece. Yet despite this fact, the film was an unfortunate box-office flop during its initial release.

Part of this failure was due to bad timing. CITIZEN KANE (1941) was released only a few months before, and the hype and controversy generated by Orson Welles' magnum opus pushed many other great films to the background. In addition, the film was simply ahead of its time. The subtle left-wing subtext, the sometimes enigmatic depiction of the supernatural, the strange lighting, and the obvious allusions to blasphemy and infidelity were not as common in that era as today, and critical reviews of the era indicate that THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER's literate script was over the heads of the average moviegoer in 1941. Nonetheless, Walter Huston was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the bedeviling Mr. Scratch, and though he didn't win, the film DID beat out CITIZEN KANE in the category of best musical score.

(Film buffs might be interested in the following bits of trivia: Both CITIZEN KANE and THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER were scored by Bernard Herrmann, so he was competing against himself for the 1941 Oscar. Herrmann also later scored Hitchcock's VERTIGO (1958) and PSYCHO (1960), as well as numerous other films and TV shows. The film editor on THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER was Robert Wise, who would later go on to direct genre greats like THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951), THE HAUNTING (1963), and THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (1971), among others. And more recently, this film was also parodied in an episode of TV's THE SIMPSONS entitled "The Devil and Homer Simpson.")

In later years, the film was heavily cut for re-release, and this butchery pared the original 106-minute running time down to approximately 84 minutes. Of course, that much loss of screen time made the film's plot confusing and vague, and THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER never received the appreciation it deserved.

But now, thanks to the wonderful Criterion Collection release, contemporary audiences can see the film as the filmmakers intended. Cut elements, many of which were once thought to be lost, have been replaced and the film cleaned up as much as possible, and this restored version is what is now available via DVD. Some minor wear is still noticeable, but overall the DVD transfer is beautiful. Extras include a fascinating commentary from film historian Bruce Eder and composer Bernard Herrmann's biographer Steven C. Smith, actor Alec Baldwi's cool reading of Benét's original short story, old-tyme radio dramatizations of the story, and much more! This is a disc that all lovers of great classic films or fans of older, milder horror films should add to their collections.

The Best Big Screen Satan
Who is YOUR favorite on-screen devil? Surely not John Ritter or George Burns? Not when there's Max Von Sydow in "Needful Things" and Al Pacino in "The Devil's Advocate." Yet these two recent superb performances pale beside Walter Huston's "Mr. Scratch" in "The Devil and Daniel Webster." Huston is a jolly Scratch, one who never misses an opportunity for petty sin, be it swiping a pie or a bunch of carrots, guzzling hard cider, or encouraging a bit of lethargy. Through it all he never forgets his big mission of corruption and soul-gathering. He also takes his losses in stride.
As he battles for the soul of one Jabez Stone, a hapless New Hampshire farmer, he must battle a stern but likeable Daniel Webster, ably played by great character actor Edward Arnold. The culminating trial by 'the quick and the dead' is eerie and touching.
The film has an awesome Bernard Herrmann score and effects and cinematography that still look good over half a century later.
This film is profound yet intensly witty, much like the original Stephen Vincent Benet short story.
This is one film you should have no hestitation in buying. You will want to watch it again and again. ... Read more

Description

Acclaimed director John Badham delivers a winning combination of action, suspense, comedy, and romance! Convinced that a dangerous escaped convict (Aidan Quinn) is headed for his ex-girlfriend's (Madeleine Stowe), a pair of Seattle detectives (Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez) stakeout her apartment. The watch remains routine until one of the detectives begins a high-risk romance with the woman under surveillance -- jeopardizing not only the partners' careers ... But also their lives! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Movie but the DVD offers nothing!
I awaited this DVD release along with the sequel and Down and Out in Beverly Hills. All three (3) of these movies offer nothing, not even the trailers were on these DVD's. Very dissapointing. Instead they put 2 trailers of other releases they have coming out.

Anyhow, even though the DVD's have no special features what so ever, they do however have pretty good picture and sound. Stakeout has always been one of my favorite movies for it's campy-ness and I'm glad Touchstone finally dedicated to release it.

5 Stars for the Movie
4 Stars for the Picture & Sound
1 Star for the Special Features

If you haven't seen this movie, pick it up.

An funny action-packed film.
When a dangerous Psychopath (Aidan Quinn) has escape from Prison. Two Inept Seattle Cops (Oscar-Winner:Richard Dryfuss & Emilio Estevez) are sign to protect an attractive woman (Madeleine Stowe) from the Psychopath. But one of the cops has fall in love with the woman.

Directed by John Badham (Wargames, Short Circuit, Nick of Time) brings an Engentic Action Comedy. Terrific Performances by Dryfuss and Estevez. Written by Jim Kouf (The Hidden, Another Skakeout). A winning film. Grade:A-.

When It Puts You In Hysterical Pain...Its a Good Comedy
There have been lots of movies that Ive seen that have made me laugh from time to time while watching, but 1987's "Stakeout" with Richard Dreyfuss was one of the best comedies of the 80s. Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez play two joking and bumbling police detectives, who are assigned to a seemingly boring stakeout of the house of an escaped criminal's girlfriend. After Dreyfuss though, broken up after his wife leaves, falls in love with the focus of their investigation...he digs a hole for himself so deep he finds it hard to be a lover AND a cop at the same time. Its a perfect scenerio, when Dreyfuss does his best to keep his relationship across the street from the eyes of his collegues, and himself out of trouble. The only one who knows of this escapade is Estevez, who watches the hilarious antics of his partner through a camera across the street. Until I saw this movie I never took notice of Richard Dreyfuss, and I saw the Emilio Estevez of the 80s in many troublemaking roles of hard-core youth kinda movies like "That Was Then, This Is Now". Needless to say this hysterical movie is was a different and perfectly played out comedy...that worked so well they HAD to make a sequal: "Another Stakeout". The 1998 movie "This Is My Father"'s Aidan Quinn was the perfect bad guy in "Stakeout", this time without the heavy brogue. What can I say, it's a great movie, give it a try if you like the actors.

Entertaining and watchable
Forget about the lack of ethics of Dreyfuss' character, the immaturity of all of the cops involved, and the predictability of the story ... the film is just a real pleasure to watch.

Richard Dreyfuss is really funny. The scene where he starts doin' his stupid little dance to The Rhythm is gonna Getcha just had me crackin' up.

Aidan Quinn is surprisingly effective as an escaped convict and do I need any words to describe how good Madeline Stowe looks... I didn't think so.

You'll laugh a whole lot.

Stakeout is about two hilarious cops on a stakeout.
Stakeout was an excellent movie about two police officers who are assigned on a stakeout. Neither wished to sit around and do nothing so they decided to break a few rules. Of course this resulted in many problems and their solution had me and my friends in stitches. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a hilarious cop movie. Recommended age: 13-125. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The enormous story of Irish emigration is well told in this documentarythat mixes an adept historical overview and deeply touching personal storieswith well-chosen archival material and gorgeously filmed modern footage. Thetroubled history of Ireland is covered by way of explaining why millions fledtheir homeland, and deserved attention is given to the uprising of 1798 and theGreat Famine of the 1840s. The flood of poor Irish to the New World and theirstruggles to assimilate and eventually triumph is told with excerpts of letters,some of which are beautifully read by the noted playwright John B. Keane.Musician and folklorist Mick Moloney appears frequently to offer apt anecdotesand appropriate snatches of song, and historians provide perspective on thepoverty and political repression at home that forced the Irish to cross adangerous ocean to find a better life. Representative 19th-century Irishimmigrants who found new lives in places as diverse as Massachusetts and NorthDakota are profiled, and the contributions made in American society by thedescendants of the millions who left Ireland are noted. As a striking blend ofsolid history and resonant personalities, Out of Ireland is a thoughtfulpresentation that also happens to be a pleasure to watch. --Robert J.McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent History Of the Irish in America
The journey of Irish men and women forced from their own homeland to avoid starvation, religious discrimination and slavery by the British. Even when arriving to America they were treated as second class citizens and forced to fight in Lincolns' dirty little war. It's the story how an uneducated group of people who were once slaves, helped build a great nation, ran major cities built great canals and populated the country side. It's a must for any Irishman Or woman to pass down to their children to keep the history of the green alive. Also pick up the soundtrack to this DVD it's great too.

Excellent historical overview
The video "Out of Ireland" narrated by Kelly McGills presents a very informative and an excellent historical overview of the experiences of the Irish in both the United States and Ireland. The story makes an extensive overview of the good and bad events surrounding the lives of Irish Americans beginning with the Battle of the Boyne and culmunating with an examination of Irish men and women who braved the trip over on not very sea worthy ships to start a new life in America. Every aspect is examined in detail with the use of top Irish and Irish American historians, some of which are unfortunately no longer with us. This tape would be an excellent addition to any library and would be an excellent learning tool to use in American, World, or Cultural Geography course. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

FAUX HISTORICAL EPIC - FLASHY BUT INACCURATE
"The Plainsman" represents the directorial prowess of Cecil B. DeMille at its most inaccurate and un-factual. It sets up parallel plots for no less stellar an entourage than Wild Bill Hickok (Gary Cooper), Buffalo Bill Cody (James Ellison), Calamity Jane (Jean Arthur), George Armstrong Custer and Abraham Lincoln to interact, even though in reality Lincoln was already dead at the time the story takes place. Every once in a while DeMille floats dangerously close toward the truth, but just as easily veers away from it into unabashed spectacle and showmanship. The film is an attempt to buttress Custer's last stand with a heap of fiction that is only loosely based on the lives of people, who were already the product of manufactured stuffs and legends.
TRANSFER: Considering the vintage of the film, this is a moderately appealing transfer, with often clean whites and extremely solid blacks. There's a considerable amount of film grain in some scenes and an absence of it at other moments. All in all, the image quality is therefore somewhat inconsistent, but it is never all bad or all good - just a bit better than middle of the road. Age related artifacts are kept to a minimum and digital anomalies do not distract. The audio is mono but nicely balanced.
EXTRAS: Forget it. It's Universal!
BOTTOM LINE: As pseudo-history painted on celluloid, this western is compelling and fun. Just take its characters and story with a grain of salt - in some cases - a whole box seems more appropriate!

CALAMITY JANE
On September 17, 1868, while fording the south fork of the Republican River in what is now Colorado, General "Sandy" Forsyth was ambushed by 600 Cheyennes and Arapahoes. Outnumbered ten to one, Forsyth and his troops took refuge on a brushy island in the middle of the river and for nine days stood off one of the fierest charges in the history of Indian wars. The ten years which followed this gallant episode saw the final defeat of the Indians on the Northern half of the Great Plains. Some 300 battles were fought, chiefly against the Sioux and Cheyennes. In 1876, the two nations rallied to wipe out General Custer's regiment on the Little Big Horn. By 1880, Indians were no longer a power on the plains. Cecil B. DeMille, the producer of super-colassal spectacles of the thirties and forties goes the American West for THE PLAINSMAN. The film opens with a prologue shot of President Lincoln and his Cabinet, from then on compresses many actual events in the history of the Great Plains. Its hero and heroine are two of the most famous characters of the West "Wild" Bill Hickok and "Calamity Jane" ably portrayed by Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur (whose Calamity is decidedly more glamourous - with rouge and mascara applied - than was the real Martha Jane Canary!) In one segment, the Cheyennes ambush Buffalo Bill for twelve minutes ; it was considered quite an exciting climax to 1937 audiences.

The West as it SHOULD have been!
This epic western condenses "many years into an hourglass". In 1936 when it was made, it used available information & speculation, added a big dose of romance, & created a masterpiece. More recent research has rendered some of the plot devices obsolete, but for the lovers of great film, who cares? The friendship of Hickok & Cody was true enough, & the rest is good fun. Cooper & Arthur are superb, & the supporting cast is terrific. This is a must-see film for anyone.

Grand Old-Fashioned Movie-Making
The Plainsman is terrific fun, grand and old-fashioned movie-making in the best sense of the word. Gary Cooper is splendid as Wild Bill Hickok. And even though the facts are bent and twisted, there is something so honest in his portrayal of Hickok, you get the idea that he has managed to reveal the real Hickok. Jean Arthur is also wonderful, as Calamity Jane. A real flaw is James Ellison as Buffalo Bill, he throws off every scene he appears in, especially when in the same frame as the iconic Cooper. It is also less than politically correct in its treatment of Native Americans.

Fascinating Cooper
THE PLAINSMAN is probably all the things its champions and its detractors say it is. Graham Greene felt it was the best western ever made when he reviewed it in 1936. Others point to the clumsy plotting and awkward pacing. However, there are things in it which are just wonderful! Take the opening sequence, with the illegal gun runners plotting how to get around government laws. It is tightly written, bitterly ironic and flawlessly acted. Indeed, it is as up-to-date as John Le Carre's fine novel about illegal gun runners of today -- THE NIGHT MANAGER. There are beautifully handled set-pieces, especially the shoot-out on a dusty, deserted street, shot in one long take, in which Cooper kills three villains. No MTV-style editing here, no tight close-ups of guns exploding, bodies flying, etc. You aren't asking yourself after the scene is over, how did he kill all those guys? And then there is Cooper's performance -- since he knew from the beginiing that his character was to die at the end, he played throughout as if his Hickok was doomed and well knew it. The weary fatalism in the way he utters his lines, the bleak look in his eyes for most of the film, it is a very, very fine performance. A performance which isn't given its due, perhaps because it is a DeMille film. For all its flaws, this is a movie with a great deal recommending it. Try it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

6 stars for the first 0 stars for the second
Dragonheart is simply a fantastic movie. It has fantastic effects. Draco looks almost photoreal when he flys through the skys in sunlight. It is definutly a technological breakthrough. It could be easy to dismiss this movie as an effects romp but this movie has in my mind has one of if not the best fantasy storylines ever. Better then Lord of the Rings, better then Harry Potter. Dragonheart is the story of a knight named Boyan. He serves a young prince teaching him the old code of King Aurther hoping he will be a good king. When the boy is injured and dying he turns to a dragon to save him. When he does the boy becomes a tyrant. The result Boyan becomes a dragon slayer until meeting and befriending a dragon named Draco. They go on an adventure to save the kingdom and help Boyan discover the code of honer he once believed in. Sean Connarys voicework is excellent as is Dennis Quiads Boyan. All preformances are perfect. In this movie we get great effects, great story, great acting, great action, and some humor thrown in. On all levels it works. A classic. A masterpiece. It will make you believe.

Then in 2000 some jerk decided to create a sequel. I won't give away the ending but it left no room for a sequel. Maybe if it was done right it could have been Okay but it is not done right at all. Dragonheart a New Beginning is a disaster. They took an immortal classic and turned it into a blow end kids flick. All the multilayered story and epic action sequences that I loved about the first Dragonheart is destroyed to make it for the peanut gallery. Four years of effects breakthroughs create a dragon named Drake who looks like a cartoon. The animation is a disaster. Its horrible. Universal obviously saw no need for any work to be done. He also has a very low voice quality. Nothing like the brilliant work Sean Connary did. Buy this and throw the second disc in the trash and enjoy the first classic for all its glory.

Best movies ever created (movie wich you can feel)
Many people will agree with me that "Dragonheart" is one of the best movies. It is different from all the movies with pointless war and which just based on cool graphics and explosions . This is the type of movie wich you can feel with your heart and your soul. After i saw this movie i became depressed because of the strong ending. Thnks god that there was a second movie which is not that strong but it helps after you have seen the first one. I think it is very important to see both movies. Still i wish to see the third sequel of that movie. Dragonheart will make you think. It is hard to be the onle one who is left of you kind.
I don't think it is possible to put the feelings on the paper , so it is better if you watch this. And wish for the third sequel.

PS Sorry for my English i am Russian

The first was fantastic, but the "New Beginning" lacked
The original Dragonheart is one of my all time favorite movies. It takes a cliché idea and expands on it until it is not only unique, but incredibly profound. It is a healthy blend of believable action, drama, and occasional humor. One of the best movies of all time (although many would disagree with me on this)

The second one, however, was just shameful. The way the first one ended was very final, and it was impossible to make a good sequel. The sequel should have never been made. It was poorly put together, didn't flow well, the characters annoyed me, and the drama lacked that magical touch the first one had. The clichés remained clichés instead of becoming the work of art the fist one was.

If you buy this, buy it for the original. It is rather difficult to find, and you usually have to get it used. I gave this product four stars because the first movie is still well worth the money. Take care enjoy the film. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

A joke
If it's showing on TV and you want to laugh, watch it. Just don't spend any money on it.
The plot was ridiculously banal and was completely secondary to the whole thing. The movie is just a B-film action celebration, with stupid, overplayed "round one, fight!" streetfighter kinda sound effects for every geek to love and every normal person to have a ball laughing at.

Basically, fast forward to the last half an hour or forty minutes to listen to some guy announcing the different countries and to hear the gong blast before watching some silly but cool fights. I mean, they're all pretty lame because you KNOW that the obvious ending is to see the American Van Damme fight the heartless big bad behemoth, but it's always more interesting to see what happens to the OTHER fighters...
Who wins between Russia vs Spain (a great fight)? China vs Korea? Turkey vs Holland? All the fighters are portrayed as the stereotypical image of their country and it's really quite a blast. The stand-outs are the Turkish fighter (serious Ottomon savage), Chinese (monkey-acrobatics), Japanese (fat sumo), Korean (buff asian), Spanish (flamenco dancer who hits on the only chick in the film), Greek fighter (ethical) etc. Roger Moore's presence is a joke and yeah, only if it's on TV and you're bored.

Not the best Van Damne movie,but it was good
This movie was O.K,he fights in a competition and his friend dies by a big dude.

Very Good Flick. One Of Van Damme's Best!
One of Van Damme's best films, quite similar to the best film to Van Damme's name 'BloodSport'. The Quest was enjoyable and suspenseful. Great fight scenes, very cool final fight. I would recommend buying this film on DVD.

Van Damme needs Moore plot!
This film wasn't too bad considering it was directed and cowritten by star Jean-Claude Van Damme. The movie starts off in the 1920's with Van Damme dressed as a clown wearing stilts working with street orphans to steal some money from gangsters. He escapes from gangsters before being chased by the police onto a ship. The next morning, out to sea, the ship owners chain up the stowaway and put him to work. Shortly after the ship is ambushed by British cavaliers, led by Roger Moore, which free him only to bring him to an island and sell him to the Mutai to be a fighter.

The movie quickly changes from an adventure story to a video-game movie the likes of Tekken. All of the best fighters in the world are invited to fight in a tournament at the Lost City for the prize of Golden Dragon and honor. The fighters are acted by real fighting champions from around the world. Each brings his own fighting style resulting in some satisfying matches which is the saving grace of the film.

This film would have been much improved with plot twists and more attention paid the the back story of Van Damme's orphaned past to gain a better appreciation of why the fighting is so important to him.

Horrendously funny
In my life, I've come across a few movies that were so bad, so very bad, that they entertain through sheer ridiculousness. The Quest is one such movie. There are about 15 different subplots in the movie, each one lasting about 10 minutes and each one involving Van Damme wearing an outlandish costume. Every new subplot opens up another loose end, and the different subplots are only held together with poor acting (excepted by Roger Moore) and cheesy dialogue (exemplified by Roger Moore's character). The various subplots hang until the end of the movie, when Van Damme's narration simply dismisses them all. Then the entire movie turns out to be a flashback that is in turn encapsulated in a book. It's priceless. I highly recommend watching this movie at least once for a good laugh. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Excellent
This movie was absolutely fabulous. I loved Fiennes portrayal of TE Lawrence, as well as the historical accuracy that Lean's epic lacked. It is preferrable to have a previous knowledge of the Paris Peace Conference as well as Lawrence's life as it gives the film an added depth. I recommend this for all Fiennes' and TEL fans.

How accurate is this movie?
Spoiler alert.

I just finished reading the chapter about the Arab Revolt in the book "Paris 1919," which details the events of the Paris Peace talks after the end of the Great War. There is nothing in that chapter about this letter documenting a British promise of Arab independence, which Lawrence was to have released to the press. Was that true? I would like to know.

Long overdue on DVD
Follows up on where "Lawrence of Arabia" left off. It's 1919, WWI has ended. Lawrence and Feisel travel to the Paris Peace Conference in hopes of gaining independence for the Arabs but become entangled in diplomacy and political intrigue.

This film was made for television so don't expect a majestic, wide-screen David Lean production. But what is here is very well done indeed and centers on the man behind the legend and touches on the psychological angst that drove him.

Very well written and acted. Cast includes: Ralph Fiennes as Lawrence and Siddig El Fadil as Feisal. Highly recommended.

An Unqualified Recommendation
If all we had of T.E. Lawrence were David Lean's epic "Lawrence of Arabia," we'd have fodder for generations of romantics, but despite its sumptuousness it relies heavily on the previous mythmaking of Lowell Thomas, and Lawrence's own dissembling in "Seven Pillars of Wisdom." "A Dangerous Man," offers a corrective without destroying the myth, by giving us a deeper portrait of Lawrence, and a more factual take on his desert adventures.

World War One found its raison d'etre only after the war was declared. The assassination of a Serbian Archduke was the catalyst, but the war itself became a grab for resources, and in the mid-east, a continuation of the Great Game the superpowers had been playing for years. Rather than restricting the game to Afghanistan though, the entire region opened up for a land-grab of huge proportions, and the ill-fated peace conference in Versailles became the ultimate playing field. Lloyd George and Clemenceau represented "old Europe's" wheeling, dealing, and chicanery; while Woodrow Wilson represented the somewhat bumbling, idealistic, and ridiculed ideals of American self-determination as an unrealistic alternative to a world steeped in colonization. Lawrence and his Prince Feisal were the wild cards, and they played their cards like world-class sharks.

"A Dangerous Man," is a top-notch movie, intelligently written, flawlessly directed, and superbly acted. It's one of the few celluloid histories that find fact more interesting than fiction, and it also serves as an interesting primer to recent events.

My recommendation is unqualified; this is a movie worth seeing and talking about.

A little research will help you
This movie does not have the sweeping cinematography that "Lawrence of Arabia" had, but this is still a good movie. The viewer will see what happened behind closed doors after Lawrence returned to Europe in an attempt to further the Arab independence cause.

Fiennes is a great choice for T.E. Lawrence. His expressions speak volumes of all the things running through Lawrence's head as he tried to fight the agenda of France and Great Britain. In his interaction with his Arab counterpart, you see that he does not always share what he is thinking and that his fame is beginning to cause some trouble for him.

Although a fine movie, you really need to know a bit about this time and the events to really understand it all. Mentioned in the movies is Lawrence's book "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," which would be helpful.

I would recommend watching this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Superb Epic of Ancient Rome and its decline
"The Fall Of The Roman Empire" is one of the very best of the 1960's lavish epics detailing various historical periods. Filled with eye popping historically accurate costumes, spellbinding sets (The Roman Forum was the largest set built up till that time) heavy doses of corruption and intrigue and believable performances combined with intelligent writing, this film has it all and indeed is a winner all the way.

The film makes a real attempt not to stray too far from historical fact and focuses on the beginnings of the fall of Rome after 150 years of dominating the known world. The story opens with the last troubled period of the reign of Marcus Aurelius the benevolent philosopher Emperor who spent most of his reign reluctantly fighting on the frontiers of the empire against invading barbarians, through to the succession of his son the corrupt and insane Emperor Commodus. Woven into the fictional dialogue and personal situations is a great deal of historical detail which is authentic and illustrates the research and care that went into the preparation of this production.

Movie making during the early 1960's was a time rich in many historical epics and what distinguishes "The Fall Of The Roman Empire" is its wonderful performances set against this sprawling historical canvas of the decay of the mighty power of Rome. First and foremost the late Alec Guinness shines in a superb performance as Marcus Aurelius. Being a student of Roman History I was amazed at how closely he actually is made to look like the emperor and his performance is one of the towering achievements of the film. He is at times a strong leader, a trifle world weary and concerned about his place in history. It is one of Guinness's finest performances. The main focus of the story is the love affair between Lucilla (Sophia Loren, never more beautiful than here) and the upright Livius (Stephen Boyd) and their continued conflict with the new Emperor Commodus (Christopher Plummer). While Lucilla is the heroine of the piece here in actual history she was a seasoned intriger who was executed by her brother Commodus two years into his reign for plotting his death. This historical inaccuracy aside all three are excellent in their roles, in particular Plummer who really steals the scenes he is in as the corrupt, power mad Emperor and is far and way the best performer so far to play Commodus (the more recent "Gladiator" included). He is everything one has come to expect from a Roman ruler, mad, vicious, lavish in appearances and manner. It really is an attention grabbing performance and paved the way for his very different but equally famous role of the following year in "The Sound Of Music". Seasoned performers like James Mason, Anthony Quayle and Omar Sharif (pre "Dr. Zhivago") round out the excellent cast.

"Roman Empire" benefits from some of the very best visuals lavished on a film at this time. First and foremost the recreation of the Roman Forum would have to go down as one of the truly great sets in motion picture history. Long before computers did all the work this set was actually built to life size and is amazingly accurate in its layout and design. The battle scenes that take place on the empire's frontier near modern day Vienna are exciting and well staged and are some of the best of their kind ever undertaken. The film benefits from all the extensive location shooting that took place including the battle scenes supposedly taking place in Persia that were actually shot in Spain. Ably directed by Anthony Mann who had a similiar epic in the classic "El Cid" he keeps the action moving along at a good pace and allows the romantic subplot to weave into the story at appropiate times. Combined with Dimitri Tiomkin's sublime musical score it is a beautiful production to sit through and even its long running time (Almost 3hours) doesn't detract from it.

For lovers of Hollywood epic productions and students of Roman history "The Fall Of The Roman Empire" is an excellent piece of entertainment from back in the grand old days of film making when no expense was considered too much to achieve a truly great effect on screen. Certainly this film is one of the best of its kind and I highly recommend it as an exciting and colourful insight into the grandeur that was Rome.

Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
Fans of the blockbuster hit GLADIATOR will find this film somewhat familiar as it deals with the same factual characters and events. Sophia Loren and Stephen Boyd provide attractive window-dressing as the starcrossed lovers, but the real stars are Alec Guiness, James Mason and especially Christopher Plummer whose portrayal of the evil emperor Commodous rivals the Oscar caliber work of Joaquin Phoenix in the more recent epic. Lush 70mm photography on massive sets should make this an exceptional title to add to your classics library on DVD.

The Biggest Film Set in Film History-Ever (until recently).
Re Aleaton3's comments on this film not being historically accurate and the size of the sets used. The Roman Forum set built for this film at Las Matas in Spain (just outside Madrid) was THE BIGGEST OUTDOORS or EXTERIOR FILM SET (as opposed to an INDOORS or INTERIOR FILM SET) in FILM HISTORY up until 2003 when TROY apparently claimed the title (TROY having been filmed in 2003). Refer to every edition of the Guinness Book of Records from 1965 up to 2003 to verify this. It was unique in that it was 3 dimensional (i.e. the buildings WERE 4 SIDED and HAD ROOFS-THERE WERE NO FRONTAL FACADES WITH JUST SOME SCAFFOLDING AT THE BACK AS IN NORMAL SETS. I DON'T THINK THE BUILDINGS HAD ANY INTERIORS. THE SET WAS ALSO VERY ACCURATE ARCHITECTURALLY) and THIS SET WAS DEMOLISHED SOON AFTER FILMING. I know this for sure because I visited this exact location in 1977 and was advised of this (apparently producer SAMUEL BRONSTON didn't want the magnificence of his set being used for any lesser, cheaper productions although the few remaing parts of the set that had not already been demolished were used soon after in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"-see the absolute last title card at the end of that particular film). Incidentally this exact same site ONE YEAR EARLIER had been the location for THE CITY OF PEKING in the same producer's "55 DAYS AT PEKING". That particular set was also demolished soon after filming. As for the historical inaccuracies it is true that emporor MARCUS AURELIUS never OFFICIALLY nominated anyone other than his son COMMODUS as his heir and that COMMODUS DID NOT DIE IN A DUEL TO THE DEATH BUT WAS STRANGLED BY A WRESTLER AFTER BEING DRUGGED. Also THE AUCTIONING-OFF of THE ROMAN EMPIRE at the end of this film DID NOT TAKE PLACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMMODUS DIED BUT SEVERAL MONTHS LATER! However the scriptwriters used the "'INVENT AND DESTROY" method of storytelling so beloved to Hollywood. In this theory history cannot absolutely say that there was no character such as LIVIUS (STEPHEN BOYD) or MAXIMUS (RUSSELL CROWE), that emperor MARCUS AURELIUS (ALEC GUINNESS or RICHARD HARRIS) did not secretly annoint him as his heir or that he was not intimately involved with LUCILLA (SOPHIA LOREN or CONNIE NIELSEN)) the daughter of MARCUS AURELIUS (unbeknownst to the scholars and historians of that time). Having INVENTED A PLAUSIBLE THEORY IT MUST BE DESTROYED BY THE FILM''S END SO THAT HISTORY REMAINS REALTIVELY UNDISTURBED. So LIVIUS (this film) or MAXIMUS (GLADIATOR) never actually dis