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This 1930 film, No. 54 on the AFI's Top 100 list, still holds up as a surprisingly forceful and honest antiwar drama. Indeed, the modern sensibility is almost as startling as the sometime stagey acting of Lew Ayres, which can be excused by the fact that, three years after the introduction of sound, actors were still applying stage techniques to talking pictures. Ayres plays a German college student during World War I, who is brainwashed into enlisting in the Army (along with the rest of his class) by a zealously inspirational college professor. Once in uniform and on the front lines, however, he quickly discovers that the glory of the Fatherland is of little concern to a soldier dodging bullets and explosions, whose comrades are dying in his arms. As powerful in its way as Platoon almost 60 years later, it remains a classic tale of young soldiers' confrontations with the possibility of imminent and arbitrary death. Director Lewis Milestone shows a surprising range of techniques in this film from the formative years of moviemaking with sound. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Best Picture Winner of 1929-1930
'All Quiet On The Western Front' was released in 1930 and won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1929-1930. When you watch it, you will see why.

The films leading star is Lew Ayres, and he gives a very fine performance as a German college student who enlists in the Army during the First World War, along with the other students in his class, because of the professor at the college who makes them all want to become brave soldiers. We then watch the brilliantly shot action scenes, which are very realistic and sad to watch, as they go to fight on the front lines. They certainly discover the horrors of war, while we watch it. The movie is directed by Lewis Milestone, and has a very powerful, and sad ending, that you wont forget it.

Now for this Universal Region 1 DVD. Sadly, the print and sound quality are not really too great in all honesty. However, the film is very old, and still, even if its not in the condition some might like it to be, it is still very watchable. Overall, the DVD is not too bad.

This is an absolute must-have for classic film fans. So if you can pass by the fact that the print used here on this DVD is not brilliant, you will absolutely love this movie.

A heart-breakingly honest portrayal of war
Upon returning to his hometown school from which he had enlisted into duty in WWI, Paul Baumer (Lew Ayres) tells prospective recruits: "When it comes to dying for one's country, it's better not to die at all." This is the essence of "All Quiet..." In the film, war is stripped of all its glory, all its valor, all its heroism, and shown in its true state: a hell in which men are taught to kill each other and become animals, fighting not for a cause, but for survival. The film's most powerful scene is its very last, when Paul reaches out of his trench for that beautiful butterfly, a vain attempt to recapture some sense of humanity amongst the horrors that surround him. Notice that many scenes in the movie begin with director Lewis Milestone showing us marching lines of soldiers and flag-waving crowds framed by windows or doorways. This is cinematography at its finest: we see the war not as a part of humanity, but as something foreign, something unknown, like the monster that lurked in your closet when you were a child. Only this monster is real. It is war.

A generation of men destroyed by war
For a movie in the 1930's, Lewis Milestone's adaptation of All Quiet On The Western Front, based on Erich Maria Remarque's novel, follows the book reasonably well. However, rather than starting with the soldiers lining up to get the cook Ginger's stew per the novel (that part comes later), it starts with Paul Baumer's school teacher telling him and his fellow students that they are the light of the Fatherland, the iron men of Germany, the brave heroes who will repulse the enemies when called to do so. In other words, he's exhorting them to enlist, which they do, pressed into patriotism in what was initially thought to have been a quick war with small losses.

From the start, the recruits are eager to get into uniform and to the front, and are puzzled by the behaviour of burned-out experienced soldiers like Tjaden and Kat. This latter, a large, pleasantly ugly man has a knack for scrounging for food and finding enough for the group, and soon, all the recruits stick with and respect this man, especially after their first bombardment. When one of the recruits realizes he has wet his trousers, Kat tells him not to worry about it, as it's happened to better men.

The stages of attacking, the bombardment, attack, counterattack, and repulse, is presented in graphic detail for that period, with the shots of men dying by artillery shells, being bayoneted, or machine-gunned. Some recruits go crazy waiting in the bunker during the bombardment, and one of them rushes outside, only to get cut down by bullets. And the aftermath isn't pretty for some. Franz Kemmerich ends up in the infirmary and has his leg amputated. From the grueling experience of phantom limb pain to the realization that one has lost his limb, the greed of some like Muller who wants Franz's nice boots, to the unconcern of the doctors who see Franz's death as another free bed, war is hell.

War changes people's perspectives. Paul fights and stabs a French soldier at close quarters in a foxhole, and he pleads and apologizes to the dying man, telling him that without these uniforms, they could be friends, and promising to write to his wife. And on leave, Paul is clearly alienated from the older civilians who have no clue that war has burned out his soul, and just keep telling him to give those Frenchies a licking and push on to Paris. I'd go for Tjaden's solution to war: get the politicians and generals wearing just their underpants into a big field and fight it out with clubs. But the discussion of the soldiers yields something still relevant: manufacturers want a war to sell more arms.

The subplot involving the butterflies is new, but the shot of the soldier reaching for the butterfly before being shot by a sniper symbolizes a soldier's whose burned out soul is suddenly heartened as seeing something beautiful, and suddenly thus illuminated within, reaches toward it.

All Quiet On The Western Front deservedly went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, in the US. However, Joseph Goebbels' antics in Berlin demonstrates how Germany was in a state of war denial. The incident at a theatre of the second night showing of the movie involved Goebbels' men starting disturbances and yelling anti-Semitic epithets that resulted in the film's termination after ten minutes. Goebbels hadn't even seen the film; he merely wanted to demonstrate Nazi power in Berlin and discredit Albert Grzesinski, Prussia's Interior Minister who was a Social Democrat. When the film was banned by the Board of Censors because it "endangered Germany's image abroad", the headlines of Goebbels' newspaper Der Angriff (German for The Attack) read "Grzesinski Defeated."

One of the few war films I'll watch due to its pacifist message, denouncing the glorification of war. The prologue at the movie's beginning, taken from Remarque's book, says it all: this story is neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all, an adventure. For death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men, who even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war.

Pitch Perfect Adaptation of the Best War Novel Ever
For only $12, this movie is a steal. AGOTWF won the academy award for best picture the year it came out and, over 70 years later, it is easy to see why. A blistering indictment of war as wasteful and tragic. The way the movie captures the enthusiasm and innocence of the boys as they fight and die for reasons they don't understand is brilliant. Note the progress of the prized pair of boots as it goes from soldier to soldier. Especially relevant movie in our troubled times.

The only true anti-war movie
It would be a mistake to think of this movie as a war movie rather it is the only true anti-war movie I've ever seen. Unlike most so-called anti-war movies there is no glory, no heroics and no over-dramatized deaths in this movie, it is perhaps the most realistic movie I've seen about war, or to put it more aptly, the most likely depiction of war. Put that doesn't mean this movie is boring or an escapade of Art, no this movie is both entertaining and chilling and it is definitely a movie you should see before you die, otherwise you'll regret it, as it will probably be one of Gods favorites, lousy hippie. ... Read more

Description

Through no fault of his own, artist and lady's man Richard Nugent finds a love-besotted teenage girl curled on his sofa. Through no fault of his own, the teen's sister is a judge who "sentences" thunderstruck Richard to date the girl until her schoolgirl crush wanes. Circumstances aren't kind to Richard. But they certainly are hilarious when Cary Grant plays Richard, Myrna Loy is the judge and Shirley Temple is the teen. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Funny, 40's Screwball Comedy
The Bachelor & The Bobby Soxer is an amusing, feather-light comedy about a playboy artist (Cary Grant) who to avoid jail is commended by a judge (Myrna Loy) to date her seventeen year old sister (Shirley Temple) who has a major crush on him. The move is made to curb the playboy excesses of Mr. Grant and to help get him out of Ms. Temple's system. Mr. Grant shows off all his comedic skills as he plays up the part by dressing like a teenager, adopts the slang of the day and makes a fool of himself in athletic events. For those use to seeing Ms. Temple as a preteen, will be surprised to see her as almost an adult. Ms. Loy is a bit too icy and stern in her role, but she's such a good actress, you can look past that. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Sidney Sheldon who would go on to create I Dream Of Jeannie and become a best-selling novelist.

"The Power of Whoo-doo!"
I rented this movie and watched it last night--hadn't seen it in close to thirty years since I was a little girl--and nearly freaked from the deja-vous experience of hearing the "You remind of a man/what man?/the man with the power/what power?/ the power of whoo-doo". And my older sister knowingly said, "Yes, TutorGal, this is where that comes from." I used to chant and chant that as a kid! So much for memory lane; now down to business about "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer." The movie has a bit of a slow start, with pretty static direction, up until the point when high school student Shirley Temple sees ladykiller artist Cary Grant at high school assembly delivering a lecture. Pow! she sees him as a knight in shining armor and is off to corral him. She doesn't know of course that big sis judge Myrna Loy has just had him in her courtroom and has formed a low opinion of his reputed womanizing. Shirley even finds a way to gain access to the unknowing Cary's apartment, where he then unjustly gets slammed with a jailbait charge. Hey, where's this going? Well, Myrna and her assistant DA beau Rudy Vallee decide that the only way for Shirley to get over Cary is for him to date her and probably bore her with his adult ways. And of course, nothing works out like anyone has planned, least of all smug Myrna. As I wrote above, the movie really picks up after about 15-20 minutes and then becomes quite hilarious, with Rudy Vallee particularly good as an eccentric WASP, the sort of thing he does so well . Cary appears to be genuinely enjoying himself, and Shirley has certainly grown to be a real cutie. Myrna's okay, but nothing spectacular this time around. Make a date to watch "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer" and see the whoo-doo first hand!

Witty and Fun
I simply adore this movie. It's pure silliness and you'll want to watch it with a friend so that you can occasionally tell them "You remind me of a man..." Pick it up to see a teenage Shirley Temple and to laugh out loud at the wit and ridiculousness of it all. A guaranteed smile. :0) If you like this, you'll want to watch "I was a Male War Bride" as well.

Amiable, Slight
A rather uninspired but harmless enough movie that goes around the world and back again to establish its goofy premise. Cary Grant gets many chances to show off his flair for physical comedy, Shirley Temple is no less grating as a young adult than she was as a child, and Myrna Loy (who I watched this for) is in the movie a lot, but never given very much to do.

Grant fans will probably enjoy this one, but fans of Loy can find vehicles that better display her talents.

Grade: B-

1940's Revealed
Want some insight into what titillated movie-goers in the post-war 1940's? This 1947 RKO production is a good place to start. There's the marquee value of a seductively handsome Cary Grant coupled with that spunky symbol of all-American innocence Shirley Temple, enough at the time to draw in ticket-buying throngs with its naughty innuendo of daring departure and forbidden pleasure. In fact, the underage subtext lingers beneath much of the movie's plot and humorous settings, but in a totally innocent manner, proving that this is not yet the more permissive 1960's. One slip, however, and this light-hearted souffle could easily have become burnt-toast of the most tasteless variety. Fortunately, there are no slips.

Once the pace picks up, this comedy sparkles as brightly as any other Cary Grant madcap, which is to say, about as good as comedy gets. The night club scene is an absolute triumph of timing, staging, and scripting. The laughs build as the party table becomes more and more chaotic, interrupted by one petty annoyance after another, finally reducing the worldly Grant to speechless exasperation. This is the type of soaring comedic architecture that requires real artistry, but has been sadly replaced in contemporary film by a dumbed- down world of bathroom jokes, insult gags, and other cheap forms of humor that appeal mainly to juveniles. The movie itself, directed by an unheralded Irving Reis, is literally brimful of bounce and charm, leaving no one in doubt that the big war is over and America is ready for the future even if its libido is showing. With: a slyly endearing Ray Collins, a bemusedly prim Myrna Loy, a pompously befuddled Rudy Vallee, and a well-deserved Oscar for writer Sidney Sheldon, along with a final scene that could not be more apt. Despite the shift in public mores, audiences now as then should find this a highly entertaining ninety minutes of expert movie-making. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Available uncut for the first time, the five episodes of DavyCrockett that aired on Walt Disney's "Disneyland" show (1954-55) launchedone of the great pop culture crazes of the '50s. An estimated $300 million worthof Crockett merchandise was sold during the first eight months of the craze,including 10 million "coonskin" caps. Disney didn't spend a lot on theoriginal episodes, but as host Leonard Maltin observes, the colorful locationand matte shots distinguished Davy Crockett from the cheesy-lookingwesterns of the 1950s. The three original episodes were later recut into thetheatrical feature Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955); themore comic adventures from the second season that introduced the flamboyantriverman Mike Fink (Jeffrey York) became Davy Crockett and the RiverPirates (1956). Tall and ruggedly handsome, if somewhat limited as an actor,Fess Parker was effective as the laconic frontiersman. The more experiencedBuddy Ebsen (playing sidekick Georgie Russel) carried many of their scenes.Fifty years later, Davy Crockett remains an engaging example of nationalmyth making. Younger viewers may be surprised to find this straightforward heroretains much of his appeal in an uncertain time. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Davy Crockett: Nearly 50 years old and still good.
I was born nearly 20 years too late to enjoy the Crockett Craze, but I still enjoy this DVD set. I have seen the movie versions; seeing them as originally presented, but colorized, was a treat. I find the 2nd Disc better than the first, as I prefer the Davy/Fink relationship as well as the beautiful river scenery. It does seem odd when the show slips from color to an odd black & white, but I feel it just reminds people of how it was originally shown.

I was disappointed in the Fess Parker interview. Perhaps Fess was not up to it the day he talked.

I did enjoy the talk about the Crockett Craze, as I found it fascinating. I did feel it was too short, however.

I also don't understand how come 2 discs were necessary; 1 disc should have held all 5 episodes plus the additional commentaries.

Still, a wonderful DVD.

Now, if only they will releaee "Follow Me Boys" on DVD.

Fantastic DVD with all five episodes
The Walt Disney Treasures- The Complete Davy Crockett Television Series is a great DVD that is a must have for fans of the show. Telling the adventures of frontiersman Davy Crockett and his sidekick Georgie Russel, the five episodes follow the two men through the Creek Indian War, Davy's trip to Congress, the battle of the Alamo, a keelboat race with Mike Fink, and a showdown with river pirates. All five episodes look great. I never saw the original episodes so after seeing Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier for so many years, it was great to see the episodes as they were originally presented. This is a great DVD that tells the story of a larger than life frontier hero.

Fess Parker is the image many people think of when they hear the name Davy Crockett and its for a reason. Parker's performance is truly great as the frontiersman, hunter, adventurer, and Congressman, Davy Crockett. Equally as good is Buddy Ebsen as Georgie Russel, Davy's loyal sidekick. The relationship the two men have is what holds all of these episodes together. The series also starred William Bakewell as Major Norton, Basil Ruysdael as Andrew Jackson, Pat Hogan as Chief Red Stick, Mike Mazurki as Bigfoot Mason, Hans Conreid as Thimblerig, Nick Cravat as Busted Luck, Kenneth Tobey in two roles as Jim Bowie and Jocko, and Jeff York as Mike Fink. The DVD offers all five episodes(Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter, Davy Crockett Goes to Congress, Davy Crockett at the Alamo, Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race, and Davy Crockett and the River Pirates), introductions by Leonard Maltin, an extensive photo gallery, an interview with Fess Parker, and a mini-documentary about the Crockett craze. Fans of this great tv series should have this DVD in their collection. Check out this DVD!

Disneyland USA: One to Really Look Forward To!
Walt Disney Treaures Review 4 of 11

Sorry, no easter eggs on this set. (hidden DVD features)

Disneyland USA, the fourth and final volume of wave 1, is probaly the most important. Here, as with all the others, the DVD is enclosed in a numbered tin, along with a lithograph of the poster for Autopia, and a program booklet with a list of features and a letter from Leonard Maltin, the host of the series. On disc 1, we trace the early years of Disneyland with two complete episodes from the original TV show. Each have an intro by Maltin

The Disneyland Story: The very first episode of the Disneyland Television series, which give clips of whats to come in each section of the Disneyland television series anthology. There is a sneak peek of Disneyland, a peek at the new Davy Crockett series, and a tribute to Mickey featuring two entire cartoons.

Dateline Disneyland: Join your hosts Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Cummings as they cover live, the inagural day at Disneyland, with the late Reagan covering the dedication. This is the most important of the set, and is a treat for Disneyland film buffs and fans alike.

On disc two, there are two more shows in full color, with intros by Maltin.

Disneyland After Dark: Here, we get to meet amazing stars from the sixties, journey through Disneyland after dark, and meet a couple of the famous "Mouseketeers," including Annete Funicello.

Disneyland 10th Anniversary: This piece has two parts. One showing new attractions at Disneyland, mainly the then in progress Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Manision and Its a Small World. Then the history of the park, during construction, new attractions and a lot of other juicy stuff.

Finally there are the bonus features.

The Magic Kingdom and the Magic of Television: This documentary gives a short history of the park and the Disneyland TV Show with Leonard Maltin

Gallery: A gallery of photographs and posters, as well as merchandise.

The smallest of the four in wave 1, Disneyland USA could have a little more material. However, that is a small price to pay for the historical broadcasts in this wonderful set. I'll write the reviews for Wave 2 tomorrow. See you then.

List of Reviews of Walt Disney Treasures:

Silly Symphonies
Mickey Mouse in Living Color
Davy Crockett
Disneyland USA
Mickey Mouse in Black and White
The Complete Goofy
Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Studios
Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume 2

The Chronological Doand Volume 1
On Front Lines
Tomorrowland

All with the complete list of features, including Easter Eggs! (hidden DVD features)

Davy Crockett: The Complete Televised Series
Walt Disney Treasures Review 3 of 11

This review tells you where to find the Easter Eggs! (hidden DVD features)

The third Walt Disney Treasure of Wave 1 is Davy Crockett, the Complete Televised Series. Here, there is a showcase of the complete episodes, with Walt's intros on the set. As all of them, this set features a limited numbered tin, a lithograph of the movie poster Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier, and a program booklet with the list of features and a letter from Leonard Maltin, host of the series.

On disc 1, there is an into that both discs share, then the fun begins. Each episode includes an intro by Leonard. Most of the show is in color, but there are parts where color footage could not be located.

Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter: This is the show that started it all. Basically all Davy does in this episode is fight indians, which results in piece with the Creeks at the end.

Davy Crockett Goes to Congress: Here, Davy tends to be more peaceful towards the indians. His whole amazing career begins when moving to find a cabin, buys the land, and fights Bigfoot Mason, who stole a piece of indian land. He gets elected to the state legislature and later to congress. He defends the indians in his brief stint there.

Davy Crockett at the Alamo: Walt admitted he would not kill of his hero here if he didn't know how popular he would be. This is one of the most accuracte portraits of a great moment of American history. (Unlike the crappy new Alamo Disney pumped out)

Well, that's disc one. 3 hours of fun. On disc 2, we get into a couple of legends of Davy.

Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race: The first of two films with Mike Fink, King of the River, Crockett race Fink to keep his furs he hunted for over a year that his partner, Russel, bet they could win while drunk.

Davy Crockett and the River Pirates: The indians are going to hit the warpath if they do not find out who the pirates hiding out in the cave are. Davy, along with Mike Fink, set out to kill the pirates.

EASTER EGG! On the bonus features menu, click on Davy's hat and see a clip from "The Disneyland Story" TV Show about Crockett.

The Davy Crockett Craze: Maltin is joined by Paul Anderson, auther of the book The Davy Crockett Craze, and talk about how successful and amazing the series was.

A Conversation with Fess Parker: At his winery in California, Leonard joins Fess Parker, the actor who played Davy in the series, to talk about his role in the series and the history of it.

Gallery: As with the otheres, here is a gallery of production photos and merchandise.

That is a smaller DVD and didn't take up as much space. I could tell you one thing, the quality is stunning, and the features are amazing. Now onto the final set in Wave 1.

Definitive Disney Entertainment!!
Davy Crockett is sometimes cheesy but it never fails to entertain. It has that Disney magic to it that we dont see anymore and probably never will see again from Disney. This collection of all of Davy's adventures gets its deserving treatment in the Walt Disney Treasures series and it truly is just that. I will admit, I bought this really to just complete my Treasures collection, but when I first saw it I was wowed. I was born a long time after this first aired, yet I could imagine what it would have been like. A great hero of American history coming to the tv screen on Sunday night back in the 60's. Davy Crockett, played by Fess Parker, starred in 5 features, all presented uncut as they were seen then, only now they are in color. That is a good thing though. All of the features have the original Walt Disney introduction from "Frontierland" and it is great to see classic footage restored this beautifully. The episodes included are:
Davy Crockett Indian Fighter
Davy Crockett Goes to Congress
Davy Crockett at the Alamo
Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates

Davy dies in the third installment, only to return in two more adventures. Walt Disney explains why this is, as he was brought back due to the popularity of the character. This, along with the extras make this a great set to own, or at least watch once. Extras include:
"A Conversation with Fess Parker" Leonard Maltin & Fess Parker
"The Davy Crockett Craze" with Leonard Maltin
Easter Egg: "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"
Still Gallery

Normally I dont like watching cowboy/frontier/indian movies but I instantly loved these episodes. It is pure and simple entertainment that you wont see in today's more complicated time. But this is a great set, and also has a cool collectible tin to hold the case. This is a nice set, and although out of print you can find this without paying too much for it. No complaints on this dvd from me though, and I highly recommend it to Disney fans or anyone else in general. All I can say is check it out for yourself. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the truly oddball artifacts of the early talkie era, either acockeyed fluke or a surrealist masterpiece. Producer-director Roland West hadalready done a silent film version of The Bat (1926), Mary RobertsRinehart and Avery Hopwood's creaky stage melodrama about a fiendish criminalhaunting a lonely Long Island mansion. The coming of sound cued a remake--nowThe Bat could whisper as well as skulk. And in a stroke of genius worthy of hismad mastermind, West added yet another dimension: The Bat Whispers wouldbe one of a handful of 1930 features shot in widescreen, with a compositionalemphasis on forced perspective and inky shadow play.

The plot is lunacy, but there are images here that seem to have escaped from thecollective unconscious. Some of the miniature work, like a plunge down askyscraper that then tilts and cuts "subliminally" into a real-life streetscene, is easy to spot, yet chances are you'll find yourself enchanted all thesame. And there's a chase during which the widescreen angles suddenly drop thefloor right out from under one character, and you feel it in the pit of yourstomach.

Like 1930's other pre-CinemaScope experiments , The Bat Whispers was shot in two versions--the 65mm Magnifilm production and one in the conventional "square" 35mm format. Deprived of the widescreen's radicallyunsettling asymmetry, West's movie became just another old-dark-house picture.You can see both on the DVD, and compare the standard version against the lustrous widescreen restoration by the UCLA Film and Television Archive (different cameramen, different setups, and occasionally different rhythm and action). On the other hand, why not just click on the realmovie and prepare to go batty? --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Bat Whispers...will you listen?
Take a trip to yesteryear with me and enjoy a thrilling ride from a time when sound was just making its' way onto the silver screen, adding a whole new dimension to the entertainment we now take for granted. In this remake of his 1926 silent film The Bat, director Roland West gives his characters voices in The Bat Whispers (1930), which is based on a novel by Mary Roberts Rinehart. Not having seen the silent original version, I am unable to provide a comparison of the two films, but I found much to like in this 'talkie' version.

The movie opens on a lovely miniature of Gotham at night, with a lush matte paining backdrop. A slow pan down a large building leads us to policemen waiting outside the front of the building, and then we move inside through a lighted window. The cinematography is quite exquisite here, worth watching more than once. Inside the room is a man reading a letter, one written by The Bat, a criminal who claims he will steal a valuable necklace at 12 midnight, and dares the man to be alone in the room. With police just outside the door and surrounding the building, The Bat manages to pull off an impossible caper in a unique and interesting way.

Soon we cut to a darkened bank, and someone opening the large safe, and making a hasty departure. The fellow is followed to a large house, one occupied by an older woman, her maid, and a creepy caretaker. The man who robbed the bank makes his way into the house, and is soon followed by a great number of characters.

First of all, let me just say this is one of the crazier plots in a movie I've seen in while. Throughout the entire first half of the film, there were characters coming and going in the great, spooky house with secret passages, moving paintings, hidden rooms, and lights that fail almost on cue. Some characters had formal introductions, some didn't, and confusion ran rampant. It was like every five minutes or so, I found myself asking, "Now who the heck is that?" Eventually everyone is made known, some not until the end of the film, as the plot threads untangle themselves. This is basically a crime/mystery/thriller with a dash of horror (the house is supposed to be haunted) and touches of comedy. You see, there is a large amount of money hidden in the house, and various characters are trying to locate it, each for reasons of their own. Not only that, but throw in a police detective, a private detective, a suspicious gardener, a man with amnesia, and arch criminal The Bat, and you've got quite the stew. The red herrings certainly do begin to fly fast and furious as the plot barrels along to its' final act, to which I was highly satisfied as all was finally revealed.

In a nice touch, after the story ends, the film doesn't, as the audience is asked not to reveal the identity of The Bat, first as a plea, and then as an ominous warning, that if you do spill the beans to your friends, The Bat will haunt you up good. While the acting in the film may never win anyone awards and such, it does fit with the characters and the story. The under lit sets are wonderful, along with the cinematography, adding the moody atmosphere, playing with the light and darkness to create spooky shadows that serve well to send a chilling tingle up your spine. And throw in the occasional thunder and flash of lighting and you've got all the makings of a suitably hair-raising thriller from an age long ago.

Available here are two versions of the film, one in the standard full screen 35 mm print, and another in a 65 mm 'Magnifilm' format, providing a rare wide screen presentation of a pre-1950's film. The wide screen format we are used to seeing nowadays wasn't really utilized throughout until the early to mid 1950's. Both versions look really great, despite the fact that the film is 70 plus years old, and do suffer speckling and slight deterioration due to age. The sound is a bit soft, but, again, given the age, one has to be somewhat generous in not being overly critical. Along with basically two versions of the film, also included is extensive liner notes on the fold out cardboard cover of the DVD case. The product information page here lists deleted scenes and alternative endings also available, but I didn't see those features. Could be that I missed them, but the menu options on the disc are limited to choice of which format you want to watch and chapter stops. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone, but if you like old films and have the patience to hang in there, you will be rewarded at the end.

Cookieman108

The Inspiration For Batman.
THE BAT WHISPERS is Roland West's 1930 sound remake of his 1926 version of Mary Roberts Rhinehart's long running comedy/mystery play THE BAT. While the earlier version had the benefit of a better all around cast including Jack Pickford and Louise Fazenda, this version was shot in an early widescreen process called Magnavision (65mm) which allowed director West the opportunity to employ a startling array of visual tricks that still have the power to impress today. Chester Morris gives a strong performance as the detective who holds the key to the mystery. Una Merkel plays the heroine in one of her earliest roles and William Bakewell (the twin monarchs in Douglas Fairbanks' THE IRON MASK) acquits himself nicely in the thankless role of the wrongly accused fiance'. The story of a masked killer on the loose in an old dark house was already old hat by the time this film was made. The performances are deliberately over the top in accordance with the creakiness of the story which only adds to the fun. There is even a plea at the end to not reveal the killer's identity to future patrons. What makes THE BAT WHISPERS so remarkable is its stunning cinematography, its expressionistic use of light and shadow and its innovative use of sound. The bat costume, though not as striking as in the 1926 version, is said to have been the inspiration for Bob Kane when he came to create BATMAN over 10 years later. Roland West was a premiere visual stylist and quite an innovator for his time. He was forced to give up directing in 1935 after the high profile death of his girlfriend actress Thelma Todd for which he is now believed responsible. The DVD from Image Entertainment contains both the 65mm and 35mm versions shot by different cameramen as well as outakes, deleted scenes, etc. If you enjoy old movies and want to see a little pop culture history as well then you can't afford to pass this one up. If you like this one then check out Roland West's other available film ALIBI. For 1929 it's truly amazing and it also stsrs Chester Morris.

odd macabre thriller
THE BAT WHISPERS is an odd macabre thriller, with enjoyable performances and is very good.

Starring Chester Morris, Una Merkel, Maude Eburne, DeWitt Jennings and Chance Ward, THE BAT WHISPERS was filmed in 70mm widescreen (very odd since widescreen wasn't patented until the 1950's), an experimental move that works to the film's advantage.

The story of the search for a demonic, depraved killer known as The Bat is a wonderfully entertaining piece of whimsy, with Merkel and Eburne in top form.

Directed by Roland West.

Excellent!!!
Everyone else has said it all. So here is my 2 cents worth. Get the movie if you like 30's films and in particular old house and mystery films. The video quality is very good but i agree, the sound is a little low but hey, its great to have it. Now, this got me thinking, I like Chester Morris and wish i could find some Boston Blackie movies.

Interesting movie, but...
I am a huge fan of 1930's films, so it was with great anticipation that I sat down to watch this DVD. Unfortunately it was not the exciting film I had expected. Firstly the good points: The picture quality for a film over 70 years old is amazingly good. The 65mm widescreen print is fairly speckled but boasts superb sharpness and contrast. The full frame version is less speckled but not quite as sharp. Nevertheless I was very impressed by the print quality for both versions. There is also frequent use of highly imaginative model shots and camera work throughout the movie. Now the bad points: Whilst the picture quality is terrific, this is another Image Entertainment DVD that suffers from lower than usual sound level - so be prepared to turn up the volume on your TV. The film itself contains some of the worst acting I have ever seen. Chester Morris gives a laughable performance and the rest of the cast aren't much better. As for the plot - what plot? We spend at least an hour watching various people climbing in and out of windows, opening and closing doors, shouting, crying, screaming, dying - leaving the viewer totally bemused as to what is supposed to be going on. Perhaps this was director Roland West's intention, but I think the audience would have been better served by fewer aimless characters and a stronger storyline. I take my hat off to Image Entertainment and other video companies for releasing these vintage films for everyone to enjoy. 'The Bat Whispers' is a very interesting piece of film history which has sadly dated quite badly. This movie is a film buff's dream but others may feel less enthusiastic. So if you want to watch strange goings on at an old dark house I recommend you check out Universal Picture's 'The Old Dark House' instead. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

one of the top 5 greatest silent films
This is a magnificent film that has been overlooked for too long.It's Fairbank's shortest swashbuckler and this really helps.
The film just flies by and is not bogged down by too much pagentry or an inane love story. The brief wooing of Constance by D'Artagnan is adorable and the musketeers only "defeat" - though pure slapstick - is simply wonderful. There are other bits of comedy but this a is a very dark film. At the end, eight of the films ten leading characters have died and only one by natural causes Director Dwan has you really caring for Constance and the Musketeers and their deaths are very moving. And best if all is the conclusion - one of a handful of greatest in all film. Only the hardest soul could not shed tears yet feel the warmth as the four great friends go on to "greater adventure."

The Original Film with a Great Score
This is actually a new issue (for 2002) of The Iron Mask from Kino featuring a new print from the Museum of Modern Art and a score written by Carl Davis. Kevin Brownlow is one of the producers. There are two brief scenes where Douglas Fairbanks speaks to the audience that has been remastered for this version of the film. The print is flawless, and it was a pleasure to see such a loving restoration. Carl Davis does an excellent job with the score; it fits the mood of the film perfectly. Even if you have the older issue by Kino you will want to see this new edition, if nothing else, for the excellent music. Having seen the 1952 re-release of this film with spoken narration by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. I much prefer the film the way it was first presented. The narration, good as it may be, is more of a distraction and an accommodation to an audience used to sound pictures. Sorry to have to correct Amazon but Fairbanks was 46 when he made this film not 43. It had been eight years since he did The Three Musketeers.

With the many positive reviews already posted for this film all I can say is that it is well cast and acted and is a memorable farewell to the silent era by one of its brightest stars.

Doug's Last Great Film
The Iron Mask is Douglas Fairbanks's last great film. It is one of those rare birds, a sequel which improves on the original. The Three Musketeers is a fine film, a fun swashbuckling romp, but The Iron Mask has a better story and has a depth which the earlier film lacks. Fairbanks was coming to the end of his career when he made The Iron Mask and seems to have put everything into it. The sets and costumes look authentic, the extras are numerous and the cast are uniformly first rate. Nigel de Brulier reprises his role as the scheming Cardinal Richelieu. He is a good villain because he is not wholly malevolent. He is the enemy of D'Artagnan, but the two respect each other and behave towards each other honourably. Richelieu is cruel but it is the cruelty of the statesman who will do anything in the interest of the state. Marguerite de la Motte is, once again, the lovely Constance. Her romantic scenes with D'Artagnan show why he will go to any lengths to save her from Richelieu's plots. Fairbanks is his usual athletic self. He performs amazing stunts, all the more remarkable because he was nearly fifty when he made The Iron Mask. But Fairbanks's performance is not merely a matter of swordplay and gymnastics. His acting shows greater depth of emotion than in some of his earlier films. This story is at times poignant, but Fairbanks has the acting skills to be equal to the changes of mood. He is wonderful as the aging musketeer full of regret, saddened and chastened by life, but still willing to give his all for his King.

The print used for this Kino DVD is wonderful. It scarcely has a blemish and the black and white photography is shown in all its glory. There are two brief talking sequences in The Iron Mask one at the start and one half way through. There is thus the chance to hear Fairbanks talk. The sound crackles a bit, but is about as good as can be expected from the sound systems of 1929. The rest of the film has a fine orchestral score by Carl Davis. This sounds great and fits the action and the mood of the film very well. Davis uses Wagnerian themes as the film darkens its mood and his score really adds to the whole viewing experience. The DVD contains a good few extras. There are three sets of out-takes, which show how Fairbanks performed some of his stunts. It is extremely rare for out-takes from silent pictures to survive so we are fortunate indeed to be able to see these. Next there is a five-minute extract from the film with Douglas Fairbanks Junior providing narration. This is interesting, but shows most of all why narrating silents does not work. There is a collection of stills from the film and a good collection of informative essays. Altogether this is a very fine DVD of one of Fairbanks best films.

The Swan Song Of The Silent Film.
This has always been my favorite Douglas Fairbanks feature as well as one of my favorite silent films. It has everything. Comedy! Drama! Spectacle! Adventure! Pathos! And in this new restoration grand sweeping music from the John Williams of the silent film score, Carl Davis. For years this film was available in an abridged 1952 version with no intertitles and voiceover narration by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. or in an extremely worn out version from the Killiam Collection. Now Kino International in conjunction with the Museum of Modern Art and Britain's Photoplay Productions have given us this beautifully restored version of the original 1929 film complete with Fairbanks Sr's original spoken introduction and interlude. A fitting end to Doug's silent film career and to silent film itself as by the time this came out sound was here to stay and an art form that was born, developed and refined within the space of only 30 years perished. Of the many film adaptations of THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK, this one remains the most compelling. The DVD comes loaded with a number of bonus features including outtakes and a portion of the 1952 reissue. Needless to say an absolute must for the silent film or Douglas Fairbanks buff and an ideal introduction to the art of the silent film for those not familiar with it. Great for kids too. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Radar Men From the Moon (DVD)
Radar Men From the Moon is one of those Republic Serials that you either love or hate. It was one of their later serials, borrowng heavily from footage of Republic's glory days. Regardless, this serial is fun to watch in any format. This DVD edition has a fine picture transfer, especially since it did not come from Republics original master. My only problem with this Roan release is that I purchsed it more than twice. Each time I purchased it I got the first 6 chapters on both sides. Until they fix their production problems I can't reccomend this edition.

great fun
Picked this up because it was cheap and gave it a look and loved it. From the reviews on here there are some awful copies out there, but mine is fine and not by Whirlwind. This is a good time and as 'hokey' as it is I really love this serial.

There are much better serials
Well, you know, a good old-time serial needs either a wonderful hero or a wonderful villain, or preferably both. The Flash Gordon series has both in the persons of Buster Crabbe and Charles Middleton. The Dick Tracy series has Ralph Byrd as the detective. The Phantom Creeps and the Return of Chandu have Bela Lugosi as a superb villain and surprisingly good good guy, respectively. I could go on. Unfortunately, Radar Men from the Moon has neither. The acting is stilted and stiff and one can hardly imagine why anyone would be afraid of the villain, the leader of the Moon who plans to invade the Earth. It has its campy moments and an occasional good special effect, like Commando Cody's frequent flying and a melting mountain, but these only make the film OK, not good. The list of better serials is long, but if you already have them, this is tolerable as background while you are answering email.

Larry Smith, the Lone Masked Guy
OK, a fun serial released the year of my birth. Moon men, Rocket ship/s, art deco design cool looking lab machines. a flying heroic scientist and inventor of the flying suit, when he wears it he is known as COMMANDO CODY, Sky Marshall of the Universe who ' flies 'in long shots by the same method created for the 1941 serial ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL, a lifesize mannequin sliding down (or up depending on the camera trick) a wire but it looks cool to me. Moon men want to invade the Earth and send their first group to prepare the way. Only ONE man can hope to stop them (since this serial does'nt have Superman, Batman or any other heroes): Commando Cody who by the way is a basic human BUT maybe more of a 007 James Bond type human so he stands a chance. Glorious B&W with slam bang action but NOT modern movie hairy chested action mind you. Kids may watch lots of R rated movies today but in 1952, there were hardly any movies like these then and Cody was a family type action adventure movie in 12 or more parts with cliffhangers. A cliffhanger was where at the end of a part, someone usually the hero or one of the hero's friends looked like they might die and so you had to see the next part to see what happens. If you ever get the chance, see KING OF THE ROCKET MEN too, the first Commando Cody serial.

Beginning of the end...
This was a reasonable attempt to keep the serial genre going, but this was when such science fiction movies as DESTINATION MOON, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, and even ROCKETSHIP XM and THE MAN FROM PLANET X were starting an era of science-fiction movies of variable quality. Also, TV was encroaching on the territory... And so Republic tried to get on the s-f bandwagon. But this serial hardly had the sense of wonder of FLASH GORDON: THE SPACE SOLDIERS, THE UNDERSEA KINGDOM, BUCK ROGERS, etc. Much of it is earthbound, and mired down in typical failed attempts of the bad guys to get the needed materials with which to conquer the world. This does belong in any serial lover's library, but there are classics that I would recommend buying first, and then include this one after you have several of the unquestionable greats. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Unka Woo, don't forget to kiss her!
A brace of Nazis arrive at a secluded rural shack. "Ve haf come for ze transmitter, Mr. Bergstrom." Bergstrom ain't selling and he ain't giving it away, either. In fact, he's running away. Not, unfortunately for him, fast enough to outpace a bullet. The Huns shoot, Bergstrom falls and is presumably ground to gruel as a tractor/tiller runs over his body. Fortunately for the plot ze transmitter is unharmed, and the Huns steal it.
Soon enough the spy bad guys are using ze transmitter to contact the submerged bad guys. Axis submarines off the American coast are alerted when American cargo ships are departing, and vital oil tankers begin sinking at an alarming rate.
And so the premise of SUBMARINE ALERT. It stars the mediocre Richard Arlen as Lew Deerhold, an electronic engineer who is recruited by the Nazis to work on ze Bergstrom transmitter. The FBI has orchestrated his firing to put him on the street, as it were, and Deerhold isn't aware those throwing all that money at him are agents of the enemy. The female lead is played by Wendy Barrie, whose trivia entries at imdb.com are much more intriguing than her on screen performance or credit list. Barrie's godfather was, we are told, the author of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie. Pan's Wendy was named after Miss Barrie. Another interesting snippet - Barrie was once engaged to the gangster "Bugsy" Siegel. Barrie plays undercover FBI agent Ann Patterson, who is assigned to Deerhold. The two leads don't necessarily strike sparks in their scenes together, but they seem to be hitting their marks and delivering their lines competently enough.
The 3-stars I gave to SUBMARINE ALERT is for fans of the sub-sub-genre Action-War-War Bond Rally movies. In other words, if you like movies that deal with war and that were churned out quickly during a war, in this case World War II, SUBMARINE ALERT will satisfy your craving. Just barely, but it'll do. You can tell this is a War Bond Rally movie because it contains a final scene with one of the leads giving a testimonial to all that is good about America and why we have to defeat the enemy at any cost.
Even fans of the genre will be annoyed by the most cloyingly cute child actress I've ever seen. Fortunately, the only reason she's in the movie is to require an expensive operation. The film trots her off to a hospital before the bad taste has a chance to set in your mouth. In other words, she gives the Arlen character an altruistic reason to need money NOW and explains his willingness to ask too few questions when approached by the disguised Germans. More annoying are some closing scenes of airplanes chasing a submarine. They must not have had any stock footage of subs or planes because this is the most pathetically obvious use of cheap models I've seen this side of Ed Woods. Finally, some scenes reveal a seriously scratched and deteriorated master print. ... Read more

Amazon.com

D.W. Griffith is hardly known for his light touch or his sense of humor, but both of these hidden talents are evident in this sexy romantic comedy. Griffith shows a smooth, fluid style and a sophisticated hand in the story of a middle-aged family man entranced by a gold-digging jazz baby. Character actor Jean Hersholt (yes, the same one the Oscars named the Humanitarian Award for) is a frumpy, bespectacled middle class husband and an unassuming Wall Street bigwig wooed by blond floozy Phyllis Haver. He's got a family and she has a boyfriend (an oily gigolo described as "the wrong answer to a maiden's prayer"), but why should that stop a little after-hours fun? This being a Griffith film, the story winds up with a melodramatic climax, but he also displays a sly wit and the winking, thoroughly modern sensibility reminiscent of Ernst Lubitsch's cultured Continental touch. From the clever and elegant introductory scene to the carnivalesque treatment of a lover's tiff to the sentimental coda, Griffith's jazz age sex comedy is lovely, luscious, and more wry than you'd expect from the old man of Victorian melodrama. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (2)

D.W. Griffith has a soul
Though cynical, this shows D.W. Griffith had a soul. This movie shows the destruction of a family. Their middle aged father throws it all away for a pretty gold digger who obviously could care less about him. This role is deliciously played by Phyllis Haver and the scene with her and a piano has to be seen to believe. The best part of the movie is the hurt displayed by the family when they uncover their father's lies. The daughter (Sally O'Neil) is the best thing of this movie. She gives it the touch of innocence it needs. Looking at her in still photographs she looks like a Gloria Swanson look alike. Her type of beauty is not captured by photos.

DVD Is A Better Buy.
The DVD version of this feature is the same as the video. The DVD is a better buy because the picture is marginally better and you can freeze frame Phyllis Haver while she's standing on top of the piano (an unparalled bit of 20's cheesecake). D.W. Griffith & Co. never imagined that 75 years later people could watch their movies frame by frame. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Sentimental story that starts out on Christmas Eve...
This is a little-known black and white movie that is, in many ways, a treasure. The story begins on Christmas Eve in a large city (NYC, I believe), with three elderly gentlemen business partners who prepare to spend Christmas Eve together. Alas...at the last minute the invited guests cancel. The three elderly men make a bet -- they take three gift wallets, placing a business card and $10 in each of them, and they toss the wallets out onto the street...just to see if anyone will return the wallet.

Needless to say, from this humble beginning two kind souls return the wallets, friendships are built, and even romance ensues.

The part I think is most interesting about the movie though, is that the story really does go "Beyond Tomorrow," following the elderly gentlemen and their opinions, interests, and concerns for their new friends, even beyond the grave -- in an uplifting way.

This is an extremely enjoyable movie. I encourage you to give it a look, especially if you are tired of watching the same line-up of Christmas specials and movies.

Top-notch holiday entertainment, though not quite in the same class as "It's a Wonderful Life" or "A Miracle on 34th Street"...both better known 5-star offerings.

Merry Christmas!

Alan Holyoak

Moral and funny at the same time
Three old gentlemen, rich and engulfed in industrial adventures, come to their last Christmas. One of them engages the others into some social caper : to invite for their Christmas dinner and subsequent follow-up events the people who will bring back the billfolds containing ten dollars that they throw in the street. It is of course two rather poor and solitary people, a young man and a young woman, who do this whereas the third billfold is carelessly thrown away by a rich girl. Dishonesty is not the main quality of this selfish girl. Of course the young woman and the young man fall in love, but the young man is a singer and he gets into business rather fast and thus gets involved with a female star who is a shark and a vulture looking for men she can eat alive and raw. The young man falls into the trap. During that time the three old men meet with some mishap in a blizzard and they come back as ghosts, waiting for their being called on the road to some eternal fate. But one of them will look after the dramatically trapped young man and will eventually get his salvation, after him being killed by the previous husband of the cannibal star, and all will end well that started well and turned sour in the middle.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Sentimental story that starts out on Christmas Eve...
This is a little-known black and white movie that is, in many ways, a treasure. The story begins on Christmas Eve in a large city (NYC, I believe), with three elderly gentlemen business partners who prepare to spend Christmas Eve together. Alas...at the last minute the invited guests cancel. The three elderly men make a bet -- they take three gift wallets, placing a business card and $10 in each of them, and they toss the wallets out onto the street...just to see if anyone will return the wallet.

Needless to say, from this humble beginning two kind souls return the wallets, friendships are built, and even romance ensues.

The part I think is most interesting about the movie though, is that the story really does go "Beyond Tomorrow," following the elderly gentlemen and their opinions, interests, and concerns for their new friends, even beyond the grave -- in an uplifting way.

This is an extremely enjoyable movie. I encourage you to give it a look, especially if you are tired of watching the same line-up of Christmas specials and movies.

Top-notch holiday entertainment, though not quite in the same class as "It's a Wonderful Life" or "A Miracle on 34th Street"...both better known 5-star offerings.

Merry Christmas!

Alan Holyoak

Moral and funny at the same time
Three old gentlemen, rich and engulfed in industrial adventures, come to their last Christmas. One of them engages the others into some social caper : to invite for their Christmas dinner and subsequent follow-up events the people who will bring back the billfolds containing ten dollars that they throw in the street. It is of course two rather poor and solitary people, a young man and a young woman, who do this whereas the third billfold is carelessly thrown away by a rich girl. Dishonesty is not the main quality of this selfish girl. Of course the young woman and the young man fall in love, but the young man is a singer and he gets into business rather fast and thus gets involved with a female star who is a shark and a vulture looking for men she can eat alive and raw. The young man falls into the trap. During that time the three old men meet with some mishap in a blizzard and they come back as ghosts, waiting for their being called on the road to some eternal fate. But one of them will look after the dramatically trapped young man and will eventually get his salvation, after him being killed by the previous husband of the cannibal star, and all will end well that started well and turned sour in the middle.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Radar Men From the Moon (DVD)
Radar Men From the Moon is one of those Republic Serials that you either love or hate. It was one of their later serials, borrowng heavily from footage of Republic's glory days. Regardless, this serial is fun to watch in any format. This DVD edition has a fine picture transfer, especially since it did not come from Republics original master. My only problem with this Roan release is that I purchsed it more than twice. Each time I purchased it I got the first 6 chapters on both sides. Until they fix their production problems I can't reccomend this edition.

great fun
Picked this up because it was cheap and gave it a look and loved it. From the reviews on here there are some awful copies out there, but mine is fine and not by Whirlwind. This is a good time and as 'hokey' as it is I really love this serial.

There are much better serials
Well, you know, a good old-time serial needs either a wonderful hero or a wonderful villain, or preferably both. The Flash Gordon series has both in the persons of Buster Crabbe and Charles Middleton. The Dick Tracy series has Ralph Byrd as the detective. The Phantom Creeps and the Return of Chandu have Bela Lugosi as a superb villain and surprisingly good good guy, respectively. I could go on. Unfortunately, Radar Men from the Moon has neither. The acting is stilted and stiff and one can hardly imagine why anyone would be afraid of the villain, the leader of the Moon who plans to invade the Earth. It has its campy moments and an occasional good special effect, like Commando Cody's frequent flying and a melting mountain, but these only make the film OK, not good. The list of better serials is long, but if you already have them, this is tolerable as background while you are answering email.

Larry Smith, the Lone Masked Guy
OK, a fun serial released the year of my birth. Moon men, Rocket ship/s, art deco design cool looking lab machines. a flying heroic scientist and inventor of the flying suit, when he wears it he is known as COMMANDO CODY, Sky Marshall of the Universe who ' flies 'in long shots by the same method created for the 1941 serial ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL, a lifesize mannequin sliding down (or up depending on the camera trick) a wire but it looks cool to me. Moon men want to invade the Earth and send their first group to prepare the way. Only ONE man can hope to stop them (since this serial does'nt have Superman, Batman or any other heroes): Commando Cody who by the way is a basic human BUT maybe more of a 007 James Bond type human so he stands a chance. Glorious B&W with slam bang action but NOT modern movie hairy chested action mind you. Kids may watch lots of R rated movies today but in 1952, there were hardly any movies like these then and Cody was a family type action adventure movie in 12 or more parts with cliffhangers. A cliffhanger was where at the end of a part, someone usually the hero or one of the hero's friends looked like they might die and so you had to see the next part to see what happens. If you ever get the chance, see KING OF THE ROCKET MEN too, the first Commando Cody serial.

Beginning of the end...
This was a reasonable attempt to keep the serial genre going, but this was when such science fiction movies as DESTINATION MOON, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, and even ROCKETSHIP XM and THE MAN FROM PLANET X were starting an era of science-fiction movies of variable quality. Also, TV was encroaching on the territory... And so Republic tried to get on the s-f bandwagon. But this serial hardly had the sense of wonder of FLASH GORDON: THE SPACE SOLDIERS, THE UNDERSEA KINGDOM, BUCK ROGERS, etc. Much of it is earthbound, and mired down in typical failed attempts of the bad guys to get the needed materials with which to conquer the world. This does belong in any serial lover's library, but there are classics that I would recommend buying first, and then include this one after you have several of the unquestionable greats. ... Read more

Description

Blast off with one of the most beloved sci-fi serials of all time! Atomicactivity on the moon leads Commando Cody on an action-packed mission to stop Retik,the moon leader, from invading Earth with his rocket-powered henchmen. Can our herostop this villain before the planet is colonized by lunar loonies? ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Radar Men From the Moon (DVD)
Radar Men From the Moon is one of those Republic Serials that you either love or hate. It was one of their later serials, borrowng heavily from footage of Republic's glory days. Regardless, this serial is fun to watch in any format. This DVD edition has a fine picture transfer, especially since it did not come from Republics original master. My only problem with this Roan release is that I purchsed it more than twice. Each time I purchased it I got the first 6 chapters on both sides. Until they fix their production problems I can't reccomend this edition.

great fun
Picked this up because it was cheap and gave it a look and loved it. From the reviews on here there are some awful copies out there, but mine is fine and not by Whirlwind. This is a good time and as 'hokey' as it is I really love this serial.

There are much better serials
Well, you know, a good old-time serial needs either a wonderful hero or a wonderful villain, or preferably both. The Flash Gordon series has both in the persons of Buster Crabbe and Charles Middleton. The Dick Tracy series has Ralph Byrd as the detective. The Phantom Creeps and the Return of Chandu have Bela Lugosi as a superb villain and surprisingly good good guy, respectively. I could go on. Unfortunately, Radar Men from the Moon has neither. The acting is stilted and stiff and one can hardly imagine why anyone would be afraid of the villain, the leader of the Moon who plans to invade the Earth. It has its campy moments and an occasional good special effect, like Commando Cody's frequent flying and a melting mountain, but these only make the film OK, not good. The list of better serials is long, but if you already have them, this is tolerable as background while you are answering email.

Larry Smith, the Lone Masked Guy
OK, a fun serial released the year of my birth. Moon men, Rocket ship/s, art deco design cool looking lab machines. a flying heroic scientist and inventor of the flying suit, when he wears it he is known as COMMANDO CODY, Sky Marshall of the Universe who ' flies 'in long shots by the same method created for the 1941 serial ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL, a lifesize mannequin sliding down (or up depending on the camera trick) a wire but it looks cool to me. Moon men want to invade the Earth and send their first group to prepare the way. Only ONE man can hope to stop them (since this serial does'nt have Superman, Batman or any other heroes): Commando Cody who by the way is a basic human BUT maybe more of a 007 James Bond type human so he stands a chance. Glorious B&W with slam bang action but NOT modern movie hairy chested action mind you. Kids may watch lots of R rated movies today but in 1952, there were hardly any movies like these then and Cody was a family type action adventure movie in 12 or more parts with cliffhangers. A cliffhanger was where at the end of a part, someone usually the hero or one of the hero's friends looked like they might die and so you had to see the next part to see what happens. If you ever get the chance, see KING OF THE ROCKET MEN too, the first Commando Cody serial.

Beginning of the end...
This was a reasonable attempt to keep the serial genre going, but this was when such science fiction movies as DESTINATION MOON, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, and even ROCKETSHIP XM and THE MAN FROM PLANET X were starting an era of science-fiction movies of variable quality. Also, TV was encroaching on the territory... And so Republic tried to get on the s-f bandwagon. But this serial hardly had the sense of wonder of FLASH GORDON: THE SPACE SOLDIERS, THE UNDERSEA KINGDOM, BUCK ROGERS, etc. Much of it is earthbound, and mired down in typical failed attempts of the bad guys to get the needed materials with which to conquer the world. This does belong in any serial lover's library, but there are classics that I would recommend buying first, and then include this one after you have several of the unquestionable greats. ... Read more

Description

"Radar Men From The Moon," one of the last of the Republic serials, follows Commando Cody, Sky Marshall of the Universe (George Wallace) as he attempt previous Republic serials, such as the excellent flying suit scenes from "King Of The Rocket Men," "Radar Men" manages to pack plenty of action into its 12 chapters. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Radar Men From the Moon (DVD)
Radar Men From the Moon is one of those Republic Serials that you either love or hate. It was one of their later serials, borrowng heavily from footage of Republic's glory days. Regardless, this serial is fun to watch in any format. This DVD edition has a fine picture transfer, especially since it did not come from Republics original master. My only problem with this Roan release is that I purchsed it more than twice. Each time I purchased it I got the first 6 chapters on both sides. Until they fix their production problems I can't reccomend this edition.

great fun
Picked this up because it was cheap and gave it a look and loved it. From the reviews on here there are some awful copies out there, but mine is fine and not by Whirlwind. This is a good time and as 'hokey' as it is I really love this serial.

There are much better serials
Well, you know, a good old-time serial needs either a wonderful hero or a wonderful villain, or preferably both. The Flash Gordon series has both in the persons of Buster Crabbe and Charles Middleton. The Dick Tracy series has Ralph Byrd as the detective. The Phantom Creeps and the Return of Chandu have Bela Lugosi as a superb villain and surprisingly good good guy, respectively. I could go on. Unfortunately, Radar Men from the Moon has neither. The acting is stilted and stiff and one can hardly imagine why anyone would be afraid of the villain, the leader of the Moon who plans to invade the Earth. It has its campy moments and an occasional good special effect, like Commando Cody's frequent flying and a melting mountain, but these only make the film OK, not good. The list of better serials is long, but if you already have them, this is tolerable as background while you are answering email.

Larry Smith, the Lone Masked Guy
OK, a fun serial released the year of my birth. Moon men, Rocket ship/s, art deco design cool looking lab machines. a flying heroic scientist and inventor of the flying suit, when he wears it he is known as COMMANDO CODY, Sky Marshall of the Universe who ' flies 'in long shots by the same method created for the 1941 serial ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL, a lifesize mannequin sliding down (or up depending on the camera trick) a wire but it looks cool to me. Moon men want to invade the Earth and send their first group to prepare the way. Only ONE man can hope to stop them (since this serial does'nt have Superman, Batman or any other heroes): Commando Cody who by the way is a basic human BUT maybe more of a 007 James Bond type human so he stands a chance. Glorious B&W with slam bang action but NOT modern movie hairy chested action mind you. Kids may watch lots of R rated movies today but in 1952, there were hardly any movies like these then and Cody was a family type action adventure movie in 12 or more parts with cliffhangers. A cliffhanger was where at the end of a part, someone usually the hero or one of the hero's friends looked like they might die and so you had to see the next part to see what happens. If you ever get the chance, see KING OF THE ROCKET MEN too, the first Commando Cody serial.

Beginning of the end...
This was a reasonable attempt to keep the serial genre going, but this was when such science fiction movies as DESTINATION MOON, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, and even ROCKETSHIP XM and THE MAN FROM PLANET X were starting an era of science-fiction movies of variable quality. Also, TV was encroaching on the territory... And so Republic tried to get on the s-f bandwagon. But this serial hardly had the sense of wonder of FLASH GORDON: THE SPACE SOLDIERS, THE UNDERSEA KINGDOM, BUCK ROGERS, etc. Much of it is earthbound, and mired down in typical failed attempts of the bad guys to get the needed materials with which to conquer the world. This does belong in any serial lover's library, but there are classics that I would recommend buying first, and then include this one after you have several of the unquestionable greats. ... Read more

Description

135 minute double feature film DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A hit and a miss
"Beyond Tomorrow" is a low budget little Christmas film that is well worth the watch. It's about 3 businessmen who are killed in a plane crash and their ghosts come back to help a young couple find love and happiness. This film will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. But...BEWARE... the second film on this disc is an adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" titled "Scrooge" that is a 61 minute abridgement of a 78 minute film. Many key scenes have been deleted. Buy this disc for "Beyond Tomorrow" but go elsewhere for the complete version of "Scrooge".

Scrooge a Classic Version!
The person that wrote the review saying that this version is missing the introduction is confusing this version with another one. This 1935 British version is a classic and is the best known print out there! Great DVD.

Christmas Carol fans beware -- 17 minutes are edited out!
I'm reveiwing the Marengo Films DVD with Scrooge & Beyond Tomorrow. These are classic films, and the quality is fine --(Scrooge is scratchy, but watchable, and Beyond Tomorrow looks quite good) -- HOWEVER, huge chunks are missing from Scrooge, starting with the original opening credits!
Originally, this began with an atmospheric sequence of someone pulling a book from a shelf and turning pages to reveal the credits. This version just has a simple title card. And the opening scene is a disaster! The original film opens with the 2 charity workers coming to Scrooge's office and being shown the door a few minutes later. Gone completly! It's a deadly cut because it removes the fact that Jacob Marley has been "dead these seven years", that he was Scrooge's partner, and that he died "this very night". In fact, Marley isn't mentioned 'til he shows up at Scrooge's house!
Also, all the dialog about prisons, workhouses and "the surplus population" is gone, so when the Ghost of Christmas Present uses Scrooge's words against him the meaning is completely lost. That's as far as I got so I'm not sure what else is gone.
I have an old VHS of the film from Front Row -- the quality is pretty poor, but the film is complete. It lists the running time as 78 minutes, this DVD is 61! So -- good films, good quality, but too much missing to be worth seeing. If you want Beyond Tomorrow, great! If you want Scrooge, keep looking.

Early British Christmas Double Feature on DVD !
I'm a die hard "A Christmas Carol" fan. This little known 1935 English (Black & White) film starring Sir Seymour Hicks is one of the first talking versions of this holiday classic. Digitally remastered from the best available masters the audio track is clean & clear. The picture quality is that of a very scratched film copy. Very dark in nature this is still a holiday treat for those "Scrooge" admirers.

The second feature "Beyond Tomorrow" (1940 Black & White)is a very nice surprise and a delightful story. This remastered copy is very good, both audio and video. The story is about 3 rich old men who are constantly betting on anything. This holiday they bet if they throw 3 wallets out the window into the street with some money in it that no one will return it. One of the old men believes that there is good in the world & someone will return it. And indeed a poor young man & woman does. The human side of society capture these old mens hearts and the holidays will never be the same.

Good value with these rare holiday treats.

A Classic DVD Collection !
I recently bought a DVD Double Feature from Marengo Films, that was billed as " A Classic Christmas " It features a 1935 version of Scrooge and a film from 1940 called Beyond Tomorrow. Scrooge is a version that I have never seen before, it is a British production and is one of the best versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol made into a film ever. Beyond Tomorrow is a total gem, seeing that I bought this DVD only for Scrooge, I was happy to discover a film that is on the same level as It's A Wonderful Life. I'm serious, this film is great! Why is it unknown? The film is about a young couple brought together on Christmas