Amazon.com

Novelist Evan Hunter burst America's postwar bubble when he described an inner-city school terrorized by switchblade-wielding juvenile delinquents. Director-screenwriter Richard Brooks's 1955 adaptation of Blackboard Jungle still packs a tremendous wallop (even if it was shot mostly on the back lot). A forerunner of Rebel Without a Cause and West Side Story, this black-and-white classic--set to Bill Haley and His Comets' "Rock Around the Clock"--is part exposé, part melodrama, part public-service announcement. "It is the frankest, the toughest, the most realistic film since On the Waterfront," ballyhooed MGM at the time.

Glenn Ford, at his slow-to-rile best, plays Richard Dadier, an incoming English teacher at North Manual High School. An idealist who knows how to handle himself in a dark alley, Dadier stands his ground and earns the begrudging respect of school thugs led by Vic Morrow and Sidney Poitier. Anne Francis plays Ford's especially vulnerable wife; Richard Kiley (later in Brooks's Looking for Mr. Goodbar) is the timid math teacher with the priceless jazz-record collection; Louis Calhern and John Hoyt are among the more cynical North Manual High veterans. See if you can ID Jamie Farr and director Paul Mazursky as gang members. The film was nominated for four Oscars. --Glenn Lovell ... Read more

Reviews (15)

More Exploitation Than Exploration of Juvenile Delinquency
"The Blackboard Jungle" raises many interesting questions about the root causes of student apathy and delinquency in the inner-city schools.At the same time it seems to wallow in the most extreme behavior of students i.e. a near rape of an attractive female teacher, multiple assaults on teachers, a student brandishing a switchblade in the classroom.One character is enigmatic to me, the Artie West character played by Vic Morrow.Not to say that Morrow doesn't play the character well because he is sufficiently menacing but it seemed over-the-top for the film.There is much to recommend in this film particularly the starring role of Richard Dadier played by Glenn Ford.Ford's solid acting keeps the film from veering into melodrama.A young Sidney Poitier as Gregory Miller, a gifted student whose superior intellect is wasted in this apathetic environment, does a charismatic turn.In a note of irony, in 1967 Poitier portrayed a teacher attempting to make a difference in an inner-city school in what I feel is a superior film, "To Sir, With Love".

"Jungle" vs. "Rebel"
"Blackboard Jungle" vs. "Rebel Without A Cause". The two most provocative films of juvenile delinquency from the same year. Both have their own identity and attitude. Here's how they compare in the "Tale of the Tape(or DVD)":

Turf:

Jungle: Mean streets of New York.
Rebel: Squeaky-clean 'burbs of L.A.

Advantage: Jungle. Couldn't be grittier.

Targets of Hostility:

Jungle: Teachers
Rebel: Parents

Advantage: Jungle. It got funny when Kotter's Sweathogs did it.

Future Movie Icon:

Jungle: Sidney Poitier
Rebel: James Dean

Advantage: Dean. Too fast to live, too young to die.

Future Doomed Supporting Player(s):

Jungle: Vic Morrow
Rebel: Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Nick Adams

Advantage: Rebel. At least Natalie won an Oscar and married Robert Wagner.

Future Director:

Jungle: Paul Mazursky
Rebel: Dennis Hopper

Advantage: Hopper. "Easy Rider" was the 60s "Rebel Without a Cause"

Future Sitcom Support Player:

Jungle: Jamie Farr(Klinger)
Rebel: Jim Backus(Thurston Howell III)

Advantage: Farr. So that explains the dress!

Favorite Class Clowning:

Jungle: Mr. Dadier(Glenn Ford)'s kids calling him "Daddy-O"
Rebel: Jim Stark(James Dean)'s "moo" noise at the planetarium.

Advantage: Jungle. It inspired the Coasters' lyric, "Who calls the English teacher 'Daddy-O'? Charlie Brown..."

Any other comparisons?

Those "Rock around the clock" times!
This film announced from another angle the enormous no satisfaction social disseminated in several social spheres. This generation who was born just at the beggining of the WW2 expressed with the characteristic rage the rules. This behavior has been an eternal ritornello. The ingenuity innocent , the continue defy to the Status Quo has prevailed always, but specially in those hopeless and confused ages when the radical changes in the whole world even drew new expectations and questions: the rock was an important mass phenomena and somehow allowed to overthrow a good portion of cumulate tensions. In the other side of the Atlantic Ocean the New Wave was born with similar proposals.

The familiar conflicts, the huge number of orphans, the alcoholism , the obvious fear to the ghost of the nuclear weapons, the presence of the Cold War needed some answers but most of the adults ignored them , which it meant a major social effervescence.

Blackboard jungle works out as a frenetic emblem of the miscarried youth, orphan of love and spiritual guides.

Vic Morrow and Sidney Poitier were particularly effective. Glenn Ford's tour de force acting lead this movie with special credibility.

By these destiny's ironies , ten years after Poitier would be just in the other side of the classroom in "To sir with love".

Awakening a Generation
Restless post-war youth may have hit the road on Brando's motorcycle, but it wasn't until this film that they found their sound. From driving downbeat to throbbing close, Bill Haley's title tune promises a party around-the-clock -- from twelve midnight to broad daylight -- to which teens of the day responded with uncaged delight, raucous cheers, and spontaneous twirling in the aisles. A full year before Elvis, a new generation was on its feet, the legendary youth culture was born, and Rock and Roll was here to stay. America would never be the same -- a mighty heavy load for one modest B-movie from famously conservativeMGM!

Needless to say, the film is an absolute must. Minimize the story line which veers from 50's-style social realism to mild reassurances from writer-director Richard Brooks, (this was, after all, the height of the Cold War and the restrictive production code). Instead, concentrate on the seminal images and associations, so vividly presented, whose residue continues to the present day: Rock-music -- unruly youth -- alcohol and violent sex --menacing urban underclass. And in two of the most symbolic scenes -- thetrashing of Richard Kiley's record collection and thethrusting arms through the iron bars --there are serious overtones of barbarians at the gates, against which Glenn Ford's reflex liberalism appears tellingly inadequate. From this point on, only communism was more feared than the spread of Rock-and-Roll and its seditious offspring, juvenile delinquency.

Sure, there are better films from that era than Blackboard, maybe even better teen movies. But, arguably, none are more significant to the course of popular culture. For a brief accidental moment, a little movie from Hollywood not only reflected emergent trends from deep within society, but mobilized them as well. With: a grimly determined Glenn Ford, an arrogantly sinister Vic Morrow, a decidedly unthreatening Sidney Poitier, and in a usual thankless supporting role, the great John Hoyt, whose memorably cruel face was born to preside over either prisons or high schools, take your pick.

The Rock and Roll Era Begins
I saw this movie in 1955. It was one of the best in that age in the genre about alienated youth, dealing as it did with ghetto kids and minorities rather than the spoiled brats of "Rebel Without a Cause."

Most of all, the movie introduced me and a million other kids to Rock and Roll.I remember listening spellbound to "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets at the end of the movie.Something, I perceived in my little noodle brain, had changed -- and nothing would ever be the same again. ... Read more

Description

Sam is no ordinary dog. He is the son of Yeller, the four-legged hero who won your heart in Walt Disney's classic adventure, OLD YELLER. With his two young masters Travis and Arliss Coates (Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran), gentle Sam faces even greater dangers than Yeller did. From the ferocious attacks of wolves and wildcats to the hostile actions of renegade Indians, Savage Sam presents a heartwarming story of love, devotion, and trust set in the sprawling pioneering days of the untamed West. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Little Secret Found!!!!
I first caught this movie on the television and had no idea there was a sequel to Old Yeller. Although I haven't yet figured out how he turned out to be a blue tick coonhound, it is a wonderful movie. Seeing the boys from Old Yeller back at it and into things is wonderful. I couldn't wait to add it to my collection and was tickled that it was already on DVD when I looked for it. We need more movies like this! It is full of adventure and if you own coonhounds, it does them justice. I hate to say much about the movie because you need to watch it and I hate to know the ending or too much about one when I get one, but the saying boys will be boys is true for Arlis. There is nothing like the love of a child and his dog!!

Interesting Kirk/Corcoran vehicle
Disney cast Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran as brothers 3 times, the younger Kevin tough, spunky, and "masculine," the older Tommy shy, sensitive, "feminine"...Here they are teenagers living alone in the Old West, visited from time to time by next-ranch neighbor Marta Kristen, who can't seem to remember that she's in a Disney movie, and stares at Tommy as if she's a moment away from ripping his clothes off.

All three are abducted by Indians, who intend to make Tommy a slave, Kevin a brave, and Marta a squaw (they leave Tommy and Marta pretty much alone, but their voracious manhandling of little Kevin would certainly be censored today) When Tommy is accidentally left behind, he teams up with the dog, Savage Sam, to rescue the others (although the fragile little thing loses consciousness at the drop of a hat). Eventually a posse of white men joins them, and they shoot the Indians and go home.

Aside from the anti-Indian prejudice, "Savage Sam" is superior...in plotting, characterization, and suspense. I loved Uncle Bill. . .um, I mean Uncle Beck (Brian Keith) strutting around in his flamboyant pink shirt as if daring us to draw conclusions about his character...

Fine, no frills presentation
Disney's "Savage Sam" is an entertaining and authentically staged presentation of the Fred Gipson story. It's presented in square-screen format, but since Disney films of this type were produced with eventual TV airings in mind, the cropping of the image is minimal and no action is lost. The quality of the image is good. It's not a "Vault Disney" piece like the other Gipson story, "Old Yeller," but it's worth having even without bells and whistles.

One thing that didn't age as well as the rest of the film is the title song. Really hokey. But after that's over, the story is told in a no-nonsense style. It dramatizes something Texas settlers contended with for four decades: the abduction of children in an Indian raid.

As befits a family film, "Savage Sam" soft-pedals the realities of such raids. Tommy Kirk's character, a teenage boy, would have been treated more harshly. Torture on the trail and a horrendous death upon arrival at the tribe's base camp would have been his fate. The teenage girl would have been raped right off. But Kevin Corcoran's character, a young child, would have been taken for adoption, just as the film shows, and the Indians' good-humored toleration of his combativeness is right in line with that.

All in all, a serious depiction of a slice of history that few Americans learn about in school anymore.

Glad to hear this movie is on dvd
I was excited when I heard that this movie would be released on DVD. It is another great dog movie by Disney and stars Tommy Kirk and Brian Keith with Sam(who looks like a bluetick coonhound). I would like to know about the picture quality of this dvd before I buy it. If anyone has seen this dvd, please let me know if it is worth buying.

Great Old Movie
One of the best old movies out there. I cant wait for it to come out on DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bill Murray is in his early-career, shambling glory as Hunter S. Thompson, the gonzo journalist with a fondness for Wild Turkey and firearms. While Murray does not do as exact an impersonation of Thompson as Johnny Depp (in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), he does capture Thompson's dazed, anarchic nature. Unfortunately, the movie around him is just anarchic:a series of episodes (true or invented) from Dr. Thompson's career, circa 1968-72. The haphazard structure is probably meant to suggest the spirit of the counterculture or something, but it's just flabby storytelling. Thanks to Murray's blissful delivery, there are scenes that have a stoned giddiness to them:Thompson and his attorney (Peter Boyle) terrifying an unsuspecting hitchhiker, or Thompson alone in a men's room with Richard Nixon. Neil Young contributes some music, and Murray warbles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" while drunkenly piloting a plane. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Good Cross Section of the True HST
OK, so the soundtrack was remastered and apparently the glory of the original work has disappeared, but I wasn't one of the lucky few to experience the original work. The soundtrack was still respectable although horribly mastered, but enough of that drivel.

I like this movie because it gives the viewer a snapshot of the real HST and the looniness he lived in. It resides more on the non fiction side of things as compared to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which clearly seems to be a work of fiction (although there is no doubt he lived it). This film dips heavily into Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 to draw its chief material from. It details the life of Thompson in the years between the late 60's and early 70's, seemingly at a time when he was writing for Rolling Stone (although the magazine is called "Blast" that he is writing for ).

Bill Murray gives a great performance as Thompson, and his physical mannerisms have gradually manifested themselves in my head and taken the place of Johnny Depp's performance in Fear and Loathing. He is highly believable as Thompson, and his performance seems highly underrated compared with the rest of his career.

Carl Laszlo, Esq. played By Peter Boyle obviously is Oscar Zeta Acosta, Thompson's lawyer in the late 60's and early 70's, and is in fine form as the intimidating, often crazy Latino activist and lawyer.

Overall, this is a great movie to enjoy with the proper atmosphere (hopefully with a full bowl of ice and bottle of bourbon nearby). It might not be for everyone, but any true fan of HST will have a good time with this one again and again - it is done in the true spirit of Gonzo.

Lots of Drugs, Alcohol & "Bad Craziness" in the Nixon Era
With the recent death of 'Gonzo' journalist/writer, Hunter S. Thompson I started going through my dusty book shelves and skimming through my ragged paperbacks, enjoying his anarchic works once again. In the same time period, I was also delighted to find that my local chain store was stocking widescreen DVD editions of "Where the Buffalo Roam", the (unfairly) unheralded 1980 movie, who's subtitle reads "based on the twisted legend of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson". For anyone, who dosn't know, the good Dr. pioneered the ideal of 'Gonzo Journalism' in which the journalist not only covered and wrote stories about news and events, but actually became an active participant and the focus of the writing. Since Thompson's career came to the forefront in the 'counter-culture' sixties and the 'Me-Decade/Watergate' seventies, his adventures were fueled by a massive intake of alcohol & drugs, which were most condusive to a mental state he termed "bad craziness". The episodic film comedy, "Where the Buffalo Roam" picks and chooses passages from various Thompson works. It mainly follows Thompson (played to a T by comedian, Bill Murray) as he views with a jaundiced, journalistic eye the various adventures of his lawyer and good friend, Carl Lazlo Esq (played with gusto by Peter Boyle). As the film begins, Thompson follows his crazy, radical lawyer as he tries to work within 'the system' to protect the rights of America's young counter-culture. With 'Wild Turkey' in hand, Thompson recounts how Nixon's right wing, "law & order" establishment beats down and rebuffs Lazlo's every attempt at true justice in the courtroom. The film then jumps to 1972 as we watch Thompson hilariously cover his deranged version of America's "greatest", sporting event, The Superbowl. After much drug & alcohol intake and hotel carnage, Thompson once again meets up with Lazlo, who has now abandoned 'the system' and is convinced that true change can only come through force by a bunch of looney gun-runners and half-baked, pseudo-revolutionaries he has hooked up with. The film finally ends with Thompson's view of the infamously corosive, 1972 Presidential campaign trail. We watch as Thompson goes up against the Washinton Press Corps and the Nixon administration. In the film's most hilarious (and frightening) scene, a disguised Thompson makes a a philosphical speech in which allegorically he describes America's underclass as "the Doomed". In probably the film's only semi-serious moment, Nixon's short retort is "F**k the doomed!" I think it is a very difficult task to transfering Hunter Thompson's ideals and writings to celluloid. Yes, sure the film may also owe little bit to Gilbert Shelton's 'the Fabulously Furray Freak Bros.' and even to the Three Stooges. But I think both the script and the actors get across the point of Thompson's critical view of American culture and it's politics of the time. To tell you the truth, the film's 'Us Vs. Them' view point my be more timely then ever with the way modern politics have been unfolding in the early part of this new century! Bill Murray is simply wonerful as he seems to almost channel Hunter Thompson's personality and mannerisms. (Only once or twice do you catch him going into his usual SNL schtick.) Peter Boyle also does a great job with the inspired lunacy of his character. This film is really a wonderful comedy that perfectly mirrors a recent, but now rapidly fading part of American history. In retrospect it is a wonderful, characterization of a talented writer who inhabited and made his stamp on that era. A very funny movie! Highly recommended!

Just Allright
Bill Murray plays a form of Hunter S. Thompson in this mediocre film. A lot of people see this after seeing "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" which sets up their reason for not liking it. These movies have no connection whatsoever besides the fact they're both inspired by the same person. In "Fear and Loathing"
the main characters are Raoul Duke and Dr.Gonzo as played by
Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro. In this movie the characters are Hunter S.Thompson and Carl Lazlo as played by Bill Murray and Peter Boyle. While "Fear and Loathing" is based on a semi-fictional book of the same name, this movie (while not mentioned) is more or less inspired by Thompsons book Fear and Loathing in America.Another factor is this film was made 17 years before "Fear and Loathing". Anyway we begin with Thompson in what appears to be his house writing a story (his deadline for it is 19 hours) and sicking his dog on a dummy of Richard Nixon. Then he's in a hospital locked up in one of the rooms when his attorney Carl Lazloshows up and then they're in a court room arguing cases for people who are accused of dealing in marijuana. The plot (if you can call it that) is a bit jumpy.
It's a bit like Thompsons writing, it's scattered and void of plot. But that's not the reason I gave it three stars, it's because the movie can be boring. It's a pretty good film overall but there are scenes where Lazlo disappears for seemingly no reason. But the movie is certainly not a waste of time, but I still recommend it. C+

Didn't Get What I Was Hoping For
I've been a fan of Bill, Peter & Hunter for years and have always loved this movie (WTBR) - especially with the original soundtrack of CC&R, the Temps, Jimi, etc.

I'd rented the movie a year or two ago from a local video store to watch with a friend who hadn't seen it.What a shock to find the soundtrack had been whimped out on.Luckily, I have the original LP which is in great condition.We could, at least, listen to it after watching the flick.

Taking advice from an Amazon contributor last month, I purchased the VHS version with the bat and typewriter on the front.It was promoted as having the original soundtrack.It also cost $30+, not including shipping, which made me believe it was the real McCoy.Well, it wasn't. Only some of the original music is on the tape.The only soundtrack solace is that they didn't mess up the rest of the movie with bad replacement music.

So, a warning to all you Hunter T. and WTBR fans who continue seeking the real deal.There are plenty of shifty, souless "Nixonites" out there waiting to take your money & leave you wanting for what you really sought in the first place.No doubt Hunter would've have commented, that may be life but that's just dead-a** wrong.

"To better days ..."
"Where the Buffalo Roam" is a cinematic tribute to the life and legend of Journalist Hunter S. Thompson (Bill Murray). When the film begins, Thompson is writing--or attempting to write a story about his relationship with his attorney, Lazlo. Thompson reminisces back to 1968 when he was holed up in a hospital room along with a semi-dressed nurse. Thompson has the door barricaded, but that doesn't stop Lazlo (Peter Boyle) from climbing up through the window, and rescuing Thompson. Following their escape, Lazlo represents several defendants on various narcotics charges in San Francisco. Thompson, who takes a margarita and a stick of celery along for the ride, covers the trial.

The character of Lazlo, who is based on Thompson's real-life attorney Oscar Acosta, reappears in pivotal moments in Thompson's life. During the course of the film, he hijacks Thompson on three separate occasions, and in each incident, Thompson is scheduled to provide important newspaper stories. The final incident takes place in 1972 during the Presidential campaign. Thompson is assigned to the "Zoo"--a plane that is full of lesser journalists (those not favoured by Nixon's campaign manager) and various technicians. Thompson, however, wants to get on Nixon's plane, and he doesn't allow the fact that he's not invited to stand in his way. Richard Nixon makes a great appearance when he is confronted by Thompson in a bathroom, and Thompson asks Nixon "what is this country doing for the doomed?" Nixon's terse reply and the statement "I'm the President of the United States, and I can do anything I want" creates a hilarious moment. This episode is the meatiest part of the film.

The film is structured to represent the legend of Thompson rather than the person behind the larger-than-life persona. Naturally, this leads to some fantastic tale telling--including fringe-dweller revolutionaries, gun-runners, madness and mayhem. How much is true? For that answer, read "When the Weird Get Going" by Peter O. Whitmer. But in the meantime, enjoy the film for what it is--one of Bill Murray's best roles in his portrayal of a talented man who was no respecter of rank or privilege.

Regarding the DVD itself--I watched the Universal DVD (the one with Murray and Boyle behind him making a gesture), and the picture quality is excellent. As for the soundtrack ... we get Murray singing "Lucy and the Sky With Diamonds" and CCR's "Chooglin", but that's it--so don't give away your old VHS tape of the film. There are no extras, but this is a low-priced DVD--displacedhuman ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Lady in a Cage, Olivia de Havilland plays an aging, wealthywidow who is recuperating from a recent hip operation and is forced to use anelevator to get from one story of her home to the other. While she's headed forthe upper story of the house, a power failure occurs that leaves her stranded in the elevator car 12 feet off the ground. The elevator's alarm bell arouses the curiosity of a passing wino, who comes in and helps himself to the widow's wine cellar. The transient and a friend beginlooting the house until they are one-upped by a trio of feral, neobeatnik thugs (led by a very young James Caan). All the invaders merely ignore the widow's pleas for help as they toss her house in an orgy of violence. The thugs torture and kill the wino and hold his friend hostage along with the widow, until the tables are turned on them once again. For 1964, this is a surprisingly harsh and overwrought movie, easily 10 or 15 years ahead of its time; its nasty view of human nature and graphic violence led to its being banned in Britain entirely. James Caan, in his second movie role, is chillingly convincing as the pack leader whose violent streak comes as casually as, say, tying his shoelaces. Fans of Paul Schrader, Scorsese,or Tarantino films should especially take notice: Lady in a Cage is a nerve-racking viewing experience, one that still packs a noxious punch, with anending that's a real jaw-dropper. --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Intense Campy Fun
I love this movie.It's sort of like a whacked-out version of "Panic Room."The DVD presentation looks very good.But come on Paramount, when are you going to start living up to the standards set by Warner Bros.?This film is crying out for a campy commentary, or a featurette, a trailer, something.We are all glad that this is finally available on DVD at a resonable price and that it looks so darn good, but start including Enhanced Content on your DVD releases.Please!!!

LADY IN A CAGE - One of the great camp shockers of the 60's
At least four films deserve to be enshrined in the "camp shocker" hall of fame:"Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" (Davis and Crawford), "Die! Die! My Darling" (Tallulah Bankhead), "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte" (Davis and De Havilland), and the just-released-on-DVD, "Lady in a Cage," with Olivia de Havilland. The cage is a private, in-home elevator. De Havilland is trapped between floors during a power outage, and a number of low-life characters enter her home to steal, terrorize and make our caged lady's life a living hell. The young James Caan is one of the really bad guys, and the wonderful Ann Southern is one of the exploiters who ends up being terrorized by Caan and company.The titles are 60's brilliant and the film score does the suspense proud. De Havilland is over-the-top hammy in many scenes and quite good in others;that's the beauty of these shockers when they have serious performers of a certain age and era doing a little Grand Guinol number. This one runs a tight 94 minutes and the time really flies, which is a tribute to the skill of director Walter Grauman. Here's a wonderful black and white camp shocker that is quite creepy in retrospect. De Havilland, who is around 88 today, is the only surviving female lead of the four films I mentioned above. I would have loved to see Davis, Crawford, Bankhead and De Havilland on Inside the Actor's Studio discussing these masterpieces of the macabre, because they truly don't make actresses or films like these any longer. Give "Lady in a Cage" a try.You'll be glad you did.

HOLIDAYOFTERROR.....
On a sweltering July 4th, a careless power failure traps a wealthy woman recovering from a broken hip in her home elevator. Her son has just left for the holiday and when she sounds the alarm, she unwittingly summons the scum of the earth as the town celebrates outside. First a wino gets in eager to rob her house and sell the goods to a fence, then he brings his hooker friend in to help him stay sober long enough to pull off the job. But three psycho hoods crash the party and terrorize everyone while the trapped woman is forced to watch helplessly. Olivia de Havilland plays the woman at the mercy of mindless thugs James Caan, Rafael Campos and a spaced out Jennifer Billingsly. Jeff Corey is the wino and Ann Sothern is the hooker. All are excellent in this truly gripping suspense thriller. As if watching the mayhem weren't enough, a letter from her son is found by the thugs and read aloud---revealing the true nature of their relationship as Caan mercilessly taunts her with it. Strong stuff from 1964 and surprisingly rough. Filmed in b&w, this just adds to the starkness of the story which takes place in bright daylight. As much a commentary on the dehumanization of society as a thriller, one watches as the animals run amok and the human is caged. The ending is pretty graphic for the time as well.Worth watching and very recommended.

Suspense and surprise
I love this movie. I discovered it on t.v. at 3 am back in the early 90's.

If you like Olivia DeHavilland and James Caan(a young), and love suspense movies this is a great movie.

I can't wait to add this to my dvd collection.

This movie is about an old lady that has to use an elevator to get up and down her stairs. She has a slight problem when the elevator gets stuck and is unable to get anyone's attention that will help. All she gets is some unwelcome help. If you enjoyed 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane', 'Single White Female' or 'Hand that Rocks the Cradle', this is the movie for you.

All Olivia DeHavilland fans should also watch the movie that one her an Oscar, 'The Heiress'.

Why is it so hard to find some of these movies on dvd?

The ultimate Late Night Movie ! ! !
I love this film... On one hand its quite brilliantly done... on the other hand, its morbidly sick and twisted. It is both a classic thriller, yet campy at the same time too - - ... and although the "angry juvenile deliquent", "slobbering whino", "'50s mother" and "knife wielding latino" stereotypes date it ridiculously, the disonant music and camera shots and music turn a "Donna Reed" house into the ultimate modern world gone mad... Clever "Ed Woodian" type use of stock footage, mixed in with some interesting camera shots and catchy dialogue make this a highly under-rated cult classic... The opening, seemingly disjointed sequences also let you know you're in for something quite different, though by the end they all pull together... though I missed that point the first few times I saw the film.- - Bizarre at times, yet told with the coolness of an Alfred Hitchcock film (or atleast an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents" or "the Twilight Zone") this is one film that can endureendless rewatches.... I LOVE IT !

If you like this film, one other immediately comes to mind : Whatever Happened to Baby Jane ! ! ! ... Read more

Description

Finally, the film that has it all! A mad astro-scientist ("B" horror king John Carradine) reviving corpses at his laboratory in a secluded mansion, two gore-crazed, solar-powered killer robot zombies, a bloody trail of girl-next-door victims, Chinese communist spies and deadly Mexican secret agents led by the insanely voluptuous Tura Satana (Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!) and intrepid CIA agent Wendell Corey hot on their trail and trying to figure it all out! Almost too much for one movie; must be seen to be believed! A high-powered fusion of Ed Wood, Russ Meyer and George Romero! Co-written and co-produced by television star Wayne Rogers (M*A*S*H). ... Read more

Reviews (15)

What a mess!!
This very confusing movie is about a scientist (John Carradine) who creates a bunch of "indestructible artificial men". These artificial men are to be used in space missions. However, one of them malfunctions and escapes the lab, only to begin a violent killing spree. We are later introduced to a lot of unnecessary characters (a group of evil spies, a female lab assistant, CIA agents, etc.), whose presence only help in making the movie more incoherent. Astro Zombies may have many flaws, but it still is quite an entertaining B-movie (not to mention a classic). There are some nice touches, like the creepy heartbeat sound indicating the monster's presence. The astro zombies look both cheezy and cool at the same time, and the plot is twisted enough to make most B-movie fans happy.

Saw it when I was 6 or 7
I just wanted to chime in that I saw this movie at either the theatre or the drive-in when it came out. I was born in 1963 so do the math! I hesitate to buy the dvd since I know a contemporary viewing will surely pale to the effect it had on me as a kid. I thought it was a hoot at the time and always had fond memories about it. I'm glad my parents were liberal enough to allow me to become such a demented little cuss at such a young age. Thanks mom and dad!

No! Not The Emotional Quotient Rectifier!
Oh, where to start? The movie, co-produced by Wayne Rogers (Trapper John from M*A*S*H) is a bit difficult to follow, which is not one little bit surprising seeing that it is the directorial brainchild of Ted V. Mikels. The plot is fairly typical B movie fare, but has a few subplots and distractors to keep the viewer on their toes. The movie shows off the ample talents of Tura Satana as much as possible in the lead role of ruthless Chinese spy. She and her two henchmen (one is a Hispanic man who may be supposed to be Cuban, all we know is that he likes to dance around with his switchblade a lot, the other is a cranky old coot who reminds me of Abe Vigoda with constipation) are trying to get the secrets of lunatic scientist John Carradine's Astro Zombie project. When John enters the film, the problems start.

Carradine and his conveniently mute French Igor character, 'Franchot", work in a lab in a huge mansion bringing back people from the dead. This is not a good situation. While Tura is pretty (as are the good lab assistant women we meet later), and the spies vs. the CIA subplot is kind of interesting, as soon as they show the lab I cringe because only one thing happens there: Carradine explains every painful little bit of his procedures to Franchot is pseudo-science technobabble like "We must feed this memory circuit through the emotional quotient rectifier!" This just never ends. Apparently Wayne Rogers picked up a physics textbook, flipped to the glossary and started writing. Man, the Carradine stuff is just painful. The only thing that is good about John's lab is his equipment. He has all the bubbling test tubes, of course, but when he is doing his dirty work he straps what looks for all the world like a colander to his victims head; no doubt it has something to do with the dekrelnification redundancy circuiting of the gauss plasma ion generator of the prefrontal cortex of the brain stem. (But I digress. Of course John will tell you what it's for; I must have dozed for a second during that monologue.)

Eventually, the cops get involved and start looking for the Astro Zombies, who are, of course, on a killing spree. There are many plot cul-de-sacs to be negotiated, including my favorite which involves the absolute lamest 'exotic' dance that I have ever seen in a movie; yes, even worse than in Mikels' much better "Girl In The Gold Boots", from 1969 (and notably starring the same male lead.) The three spies lug around a radio detector thing that makes the exact same sounds as Spock's panel on Star Trek, and locate Carradine's lab. The spies try to hijack the Astro Zombies, but Carradine sees the error of his ways, and the good guys show up. For some reason the head lawman (we aren't sure what agency they are from, but are led to infer the CIA) brings his girlfriend to the bust. It is a wild melee and justice is served. I particularly like the John Carradine/Tura Satana joint death scene and the zombie with a machete.

This movie has some fun spots for bad movie fans like me. It has some hilarious scenes, like when the zombie holds a flashlight to the photocells in his forehead to get recharged. It also has some classic day/night confusion a la Ed Wood, and this is compounded by the fact that some of the film is way too dark, especially when the spies and CIA guys are having a shootout in the apartment complex (I may be wrong, but that apartment complex looks to me to be the exact same one from Mikels' later film "The Corpse Grinders". Did Ted live there?) The wacky plot and all it's needless but fun twists are big pluses, but I just couldn't give it more than three stars for the huge chunk of John Carradine rambling on about infusing the memory proteins in the hydrogen recombiners, or something like that. Good luck!

Not very cerebral, but entertaining.
Lets face it. The point in making a movie like Astro Zombies is not to win an Oscar, it is to take 10K$ and turn it into 50K$. The flick opens with a shapely middle aged woman driving what is now a vintage Mustang convertable through her "Malibu" neighborhood while listening to upbeat elevator music on the radio. I know this because the camera made a point to film the radio twice. Well as soon as she parks her car in the garage, even with the barking dog outside trying to warn her, an Astro Zombies' smoke alarm goes off and she gets nailed. A promising beginning eh.
We have a host of bumbling C I A men trying to track down the zombie. How we ever survived the cold war is a mystery to me. Now the spies: Satana,representing Red China. Juan, representing Cuba. Yes, and there was an Oaf from the DDR. Satana had to be the worst spy in history. The only interrogation she performed was on one of the Bumble Bureau agents. She asked him. "Who are you?" (Something Juan had already learned from his wallet ID.) When he doesn't answer she burns him with a cigarette and tells the others to kill him.Alas, cigarettes were only .30$ a pack back then, so she could afford to have a little fun. Then when she finally confronts Carradine who plays the mad scientist that created the zombies, she tells him they want his knowledge. Lo' and behold the first time he does something she doesn't like she shoots him in the back. Satanas' great looks make up for her lack of interest in James Bond Movies of the time. But, I beleive even Bubba the redneck could take one look at her and tell that, "That's a commie spy."
Now Juan, looks like a Hispanic member of the Monkees. He loves to kill folks with his switchblade. I know this because he appears to have an orgasm every time he makes a kill.
As for the German Oaf he's just there for Juan to have someone to stick when he attempts to cut Mao and Castro out of Zombie Technology.
One of the coolest characters in the film is Franchot, the Mad Scientists' assistant. Since he is mute' he doesn't have any lines.
Carradine, who has been in more movies than I can remember is contantly fidgeting with fake looking lab equipment and explaining to Franchot what is going on. He does crack me up when he tells Satana he must destroy the "crazy" astro zombie, right after re-animating it. Then he says he can focus on the astro man whos' brain is morally pure. This was five minutes after Franchot pumped Lime Koolade mixed with carbon dioxide pellets into the neck of a lovely, vibrant young woman, stapped to a slab.(Who had her whole life ahead of her.) Makes you wonder what his version of a morally sound mind is.
I first saw A Z back in my "blurred years" (early 20's)at a drive in theater. Since I was blurred, there were many gaps in the film. so I purchased the DVD.
If you are a collector of horror/gore genre. I say go for it. But, please remember you are not going to stimulate your intellect with this film.

If You See John Carradine, Go Fix A Snack...
"Astro Zombies has two major flaws. #1- Not nearly enough of Tura Satana! Of course, I could watch a 3 hour movie of her just standing around smoking cigarettes!! #2- Way, WAY too much meaningless babbling from John Carradine (as the astro-scientist)! Listening to him explain everything to his henchman "Franchot" is like watching your mother-in-law knit! His scenes (which take up like a third or more of the movie) are excruciatingly painful to both mind and body! They drag on and on until inducing a coma-like state. A limbo between suicide and hysteria. The rest of the flick is cool enough, with it's solar powered zombies, spies, thugs, cops, murder & mayhem, etc. Ted V. Mikels ain't no Hitchcock, but he just might be hitch's neighbor's brother's gardener. Enjoy... ... Read more

Description

Beto is the unchallenged prince of midnight street racing in L.A.'s concrete neon jungle. Suddenly, hotblooded passion and violent intrigue threaten to radically blow sky high his Go-Lo lifestyle. No holds barred action builds to a flashpoint climax of an all-out urban, highly juiced cruiser war in this fast and furious street-smart drama of honor, blood and love.

AMOR VIOLENTO - Se pelea por el honor y el amor. iY se paga con sangre! FERNANDO ALLENDE interpreta a un heroe del barrio este de Los Angeles, en una pelicula llena de accion y excitante realismo. Beto, el personaje central, es el rey del barrio y de las pistas de concreto en donde transcure la accion como un torbellino, culminado en una guerra callejera entre pandillas. El rey es puesto a prueba en...Amor y Violencia! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Stereo type latino
This is a streo type latino film.About cars and latinos with accents,and having no class.We all seen this before,even though the lead character seems to hav some good qualities.Apollonia which name is in front of the box is only in the movie for one minute,what a waste of money for Prince fans,this film is overly price.The film wa done in ealy 80's,since than we have seen better films with latinos.

Drive-in Classic-Latin Style!
This is a real drive-in classic! Fast, tricked out cars, a love interest, a power struggle, and even a wet-t-shirt contest. The sound isn't great during the outdoor scenes, it sounds like the actors are in a vacuum. The two things this movie has going for it is the all-latin cast, and the cars. The plot, and acting are a little on the dry side. All 'n' all though, it's not super bad movie, it's one of those, "so bad, it's good" type of flicks. The VHS copy I viewed is very clear, and was recorded on a good quality tape in SP mode. ... Read more

Description

When a crazed arch villain (Michael Ansara) plots to overthrow all the world's governments by distributing bubonic plague-infected rats throughout the population, only The Doll Squad can hope to stop him - an elite band of female commandos who are as dangerous and deadly as they are beautiful! Maverick director Ted V. Mikels' tough-girl classic has never looked better than in this brand-new transfer made from the original negative. Starring Francine York, Rafael Campos, Sherri Vernon (Blood Orgy of the She-Devils) and Tura Satana (Faster, Pussycat...Kill! Kill!), the 1970s live again in Ted's opus of female action, full-body jumpsuits and shag carpet. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Guys And Dolls (And Rats)
This movie looks like Charlie's Angels, as envisioned by Russ Meyer, although it was directed by Ted V. Mikels (The Corpse Grinders, Girl In Gold Boots). Michael Ansara (Harum Scarum) plays Eamon O'Reilly, a villain worthy of a Bond movie. He first gets the government's attention by blowing up a rocket, with astronauts aboard it, that had just been launched. The doll squad is assembled to track him down and bring him to justice. Their curvaceous leader, Sabrina Kincaide, is played by Francine York. One of her squad members, Tura Satana (Faster, Pussycat...Kill! Kill!), first appears in an all too brief scene as a stripper. Along with the other deadly dolls, they track down the island empire where Eamon and his followers are hiding out. Unfortunately, Sabrina and some of the squad are captured there before their mission gets started. Sabrina is taken alive to see Eamon. It turns out he was a spy on the same side as her before he gave in to his lust for money and power. He tells her about his unique scheme for wealth and world domination. Eamon plans to overthrow the world's governments by unleashing rats infected with bubonic plague! He and his cohorts in crime will be inoculated against the disease, ready to seize control before the world's population knew what hit it. He tries to win her over with my favorite line in the movie. "All of this will make us rich, once my rats are nibbling on flesh throughout the world!" Predictably, she turns him down. Will the deadly dolls who avoided capture manage to save the rest of their squad and foil the villain? Watch the "The Doll Squad" and find out for yourself!

The Original Charlie's Angels
Female CIA agents perform as sanctioned assassins in this Action-Adventure. Starring: Michael Ansara, Francine York, Sherri Vernon, Tura Satana, Anthony Eisley, Rafael Campos and guest stars. Produced and Directed by Ted V. Mikels. A heartless arch villain plans to overthrow all the world's governments, by distributing RATS, infected with a test tube bubonic plague virus. Enter "THE DOLL SQUAD," an elite band of female commandos who are as dangerous and deadly as they are beautiful. (Where does Ted get all these girls?) The Doll Squad is skilled in martial arts and guerrilla warfare, and they use every trick in the book when they confront the evil madman on his isolated island fortress. As the forces of good and evil collide, all hell breaks loose in this explosive action adventure thriller! See if you can spot Ted V. Mikels in a cameo role as a murderous guard. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bill Murray is in his early-career, shambling glory as Hunter S. Thompson, the gonzo journalist with a fondness for Wild Turkey and firearms. While Murray does not do as exact an impersonation of Thompson as Johnny Depp (in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), he does capture Thompson's dazed, anarchic nature. Unfortunately, the movie around him is just anarchic:a series of episodes (true or invented) from Dr. Thompson's career, circa 1968-72. The haphazard structure is probably meant to suggest the spirit of the counterculture or something, but it's just flabby storytelling. Thanks to Murray's blissful delivery, there are scenes that have a stoned giddiness to them:Thompson and his attorney (Peter Boyle) terrifying an unsuspecting hitchhiker, or Thompson alone in a men's room with Richard Nixon. Neil Young contributes some music, and Murray warbles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" while drunkenly piloting a plane. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (47)

It's the Cheese!
Note: This movie is about Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. And for those of you who already know this, I've read that Thompson was not happy with the outcome of this production. Based on other things I've read, it is my interpretation that he was unhappy with the storyline and not the acting. What you must keep in mind is that this movie was made in 1980. It was meant as a comedy and starred a cast member of SNL. But then again, Blues Brothers was a huge hit. The movie met with crappy reviews and had a short lived theater run-time. I happen to be a huge Hunter Thompson fan and love everything Thompson. I know all of Thompsons books and as much as he doesn't want to admit it, this movie is pretty much the man. This is not for everyone. Many would find it silly. In fact it is silly. I suppose the question would be: Do you Fear you might Loath this film? If that question exists in you, you simply MUST find out for yourself. If you don't understand the question, you're too late. Me? I loved it.

"It never got weird enough for me"
Supposedly Hunter Thompson said he didn't like this movie although he said he thought Bill Murray did a great job of portraying him. Something like that. I loved this movie. I barely knew who Thompson was when I saw it the first time and now I have all of his books. I couldn't believe this was on The Book of Lists 10 worst movies of all times. Screw The Book of Lists! They have the 10 worst movie reviewers of all times. Thompson has had two movies made about him already and he's still going strong. That must be some kind of record. I liked this one better than "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" although Johnny Depp did a great job in that one. And it's really interesting to me how few people even know who Hunter Thompson is. If you're a biker (motorcyle variation) you got to read "The Song of the Sausage Creation" article that he wrote for Cycle World Magazine back around 1995. Bad Craziness! They should make a movie from that article.

the funniest movie i have seen in a long time
I am a hard critic when it comes to comedy movies. This movie was one of the best comedy movies i have seen in 6 months. You will want to c this movie over and over again

I agree. DO NOT Buy the Anchor Bay release of this film!
Anchor Bay bought the rights to this film and for some reason only included a couple of the original songs. And they still advertise on the package that there is music from Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. This music was taken out! Curse their flagrant lies! The music they added is some horrible studio band. The original music is a key part to this film. Why would any respectable video release company change an origianl film, and on top of it boast an advertisement for something that is not there? Find an original version of this film and
BOYCOTT ANCHOR BAY!

Sorry, but this was a baaaaddddd movie...
First of all, I don't like Bill Murray, so the rating will automatically be dropped to three stars because of that factor. And second of all, it was just so boring! I was forced to watch this as a 'family time' event and I'll admit that I felt like poking out my eyes! Poor Hunter S. Thompson ~ I feel so bad for him for being portrayed by Murray. Had I been him, I wouldn't have been happy one bit. While it wasn't the WORST movie I'd ever seen, it was certainly on the bottom of my list. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I WANNA BE RHODA!!!!!
Don't get me wrong Mary Tyler Moore was a "nice" character, but waaaaaay overrated!!!! Rhoda was so much funnier and well deserving of her own show!!!

Although I watched this show in re-runs ( it's original run was before my time), I really enjoyed Rhoda living the single life in New York during the Sensational Seventies!!! Valerie Harper JUST PLAIN ROCKED AS RHODA! She had a great relationship with her sister Brenda, was time enough for her pain in the butt mother ( played by the very funny Nancy Walker), she had a really cool apartment, and I just loved those fabulous scarfs she wore on her head. Very Chic!!!
The 1970's was such a fantastic era for some of the best sitcoms ever created and Rhoda was among them!!! The story lines were well written and the dialogue was really funny, unlike the pathetic sitcoms currently wasting valuable network airtime today!!! I don't even bother to check the tv guide anymore, I'd rather watch Nick at Night or TV Land instead!!!
Well bad tv is an entirely different and depressing subject so I'll just say my prayers and hope the powers at be are listening and RELEASE RHODA ON DVD PRONTO!!!

First Season (1974-75)
Why is this show so hard to find in reruns?I never even saw this until Nick at Nite added it to their lineup in the 1990s, but I instantly fell in love with the show and all the characters in Rhoda's life.

After 4 years as Mary Tyler Moore's best friend on the MTM show, Rhoda moved home to Manhattan so she could be near her sister Brenda (Julie Kavner, now the voice of Marge Simpson!) and pursue a relationship with Joe Gerard (David Groh).Nancy Walker played her pushy mother Ida and Harold Gould played her dad Martin.Both had appeared on the MTM show in those characters beforehand.Heard but not seen was the drunken doorman, Carlton (Lorenzo Music, who helped create this show and then later on became the voice of Garfield the cat).

Season 1's opening credits had Valerie Harper, as Rhoda, telling about her life and why she moved back to New York while we saw several pictures fly across the screen in a mostly animated montage.This opening was dropped later on, but its my favorite of all the openings used.

Here are the first season episodes for what will eventually prove to be a great DVD set:

01 - Joe (9-9-74)
Rhoda comes home to visit her sister and meets Joe Gerard (Mary Tyler Moore guest stars).

02 - You Can Go Home Again (9-16-74)
Rhoda moves out of Brenda's small apartment back into her bedroom at Ida's place.

03 - I'll Be Loving You Sometimes (9-23-74)
Joe tells Rhoda he wants to back off from dating because of his failed first marriage.

04 - Parents Day (9-30-74)
Ida manipulates Rhoda into letting her and Martin finally meet Joe.

05 - Lady In Red (10-7-74)
Rhoda gets a job working for a book publisher, but the job doesn't last and she goes back to window dressing.

06 - Pop Goes The Question (10-14-74)
Joe asks Rhoda to move in with him, but she would rather they get married (Mary Tyler Moore guest stars again).

07 - The Shower (10-21-74)
Brenda throws Rhoda a last-minute wedding shower and invites her old friends from high school, except one of them (Linda Lavin) turns out to have been Rhoda's fierce rival.

08 - Rhoda's Wedding (10-28-74)
Ida manages to get Rhoda and Joe to hold their wedding at her apartment in the Bronx, causing catastrophe when Phyllis forgets to pick her up and Rhoda is forced to ride the subway IN HER WEDDING DRESS!Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, Gavin Macleod, Georgia Engel and Cloris Leachman from the MTM show guest star.This was a 1 hour episode but always got replayed as two separate parts.

09 - The Honeymoon (11-4-74)
Ida gives Rhoda and Joe a honeymoon cruise, but it turns out to be a cruise for old people.

10 - 9E Is Available (11-11-74)
Joe thinks it would be a mistake to move into Brenda's apartment building and Brenda thinks it's because Joe doesn't like her.

11 - I'm A Little Late, Folks (11-18-74)
Rhoda thinks she might be pregnant.

12 - Anything Wrong? (11-25-74)
Rhoda worries when Joe goes to his father (Robert Alda) for marriage advice.

13 - S'Wonderful (12-2-74)
Rhoda can't help interfering when she thinks Brenda's new boyfriend is really married.

14 - Goodbye Charlie (12-9-74)
Rhoda can't stand Joe's chauvenistic best friend and struggles to get along with him.

15 - Guess What I Got You For The Holidays (12-16-74)
Rhoda gives Joe a large sum of cash for Christmas but he loses it trying to save his demolition business.

16 - Whattaya Think It's There For? (1-6-75)
Ida insists on loaning Joe some money to save his business and is offended when he and Rhoda try to tell her no.

17 - Not Made For Each Other (1-13-75)
Rhoda fixes up her shy friend Myrna with Joe's friend Charlie.

18 - Strained Interlude (1-20-75)
Joe is jealous when Rhoda's old boyfriend wants to meet with her after being apart so many years.

19 - Everything I Have is Yours Almost (1-27-75)
Rhoda worries when she finds out Joe's been seeing a doctor.

20 - Chest Pains (2-3-75)
Rhoda and Brenda accompany Ida when she visits a doctor about chest pains (Norman Fell plays the doctor, and John Ritter guest stars as Brenda's date).

21 - Windows By Rhoda (2-10-75)
Rhoda finally rents an office to run her window dressing business, and hired Myrna as her assistant.

22 - A Nice Warm Rut (2-24-75)
Rhoda and Joe end up fighting after Brenda announces she's moving to San Francisco.

23 - Ida The Elf (3-3-75)
Rhoda and Brenda find out that Ida got a job in a hospital.

24 - Along Comes Mary (3-10-75)
Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore guest starring again!) shows up for a surprise visit just as Rhoda and Joe are about to leave for a weekend getaway.

CAN'T WAIT
I was excited about Mary Tyler Moore Season #2 and now I'm thrilled to see this will be available too.Look forward to preordering. Thank you.

HEY FOX ~ BRING ON THAT FIRST SEASON!!
This show rocked those first two years.Who cares what the critics have to say-- Rhoda as a married woman was not just funny as all getout but was a relief to see after those 4 years as Mare's chronicly single best bud.Rho deserved some happiness and that wedding episode delivered in spades!!
Hey you Fox studio suit guys, you need to put this out like you did the Bob Newhart & Mary discs!
IF YOU RELEASE IT, WE WILL BUY!!!
(PS:What about PHYLLIS??-- Mother Dexter was the best!!) ... Read more