Amazon.com

Federico Fellini's breakthrough film, the 1953 I Vitelloni, is one of the cinema's seminal stories about slacker males, and a highly entertaining one at that. Following the unfortunate failure of his comedy The White Sheik, Fellini prepared to shoot La Strada (he would release that early masterpiece in 1954), but decided at the last minute to make an autobiographical feature about mischievous, drifting, 30-ish losers in a small, seaside town. I Vitelloni clicked with international audiences and remains an obvious influence on such later classics as Breaking Away and Diner. But there's nothing like Fellini's almost self-mocking fusion of gritty neo-realism with the audacious, illusionary style he would later be entirely linked. The ensemble comedy follows the ever-diminishing fortunes of five young men who can't define, let alone jump-start, their dreams, particularly the caddish Fausto (Franco Fabrizi), who thinks nothing of molesting the wife of his father-in-law's best friend. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Description

Night Train Murders

You can tell yourself it's only a movie... but it won't help!

It was released as SECOND HOUSE ON THE LEFT, NEW HOUSE ON THE LEFT and TORTURE TRAIN. The ads screamed, "Most movies last less than two hours! This is one of everlasting torment! It remains one of the most graphically fiendish films in exploitation history, the story of two teenage girls traveling through Europe, forced into a nightmare of sexual assault and sadistic violence. Irene Miracle (MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, INFERNO), Flavio Bucci (SUSPIRA), Macha Meril (DEEP RED),and Marina Berti (WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO OUR DAUGHTER'S) star in this depraved shocker directed by Aldo Lado (SHORT NIGHT OF THE GLASS DOLLS, WHO SAW HER DIE?) and featuring a haunting score by Ennio Morricone. Experience evil gone off the rails: NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS is now presented uncensored with all-new Extras for the first time ever in America. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Luchino Visconti's adaptation of the Thomas Mann novel is the very definition of sumptuous:the costumes and sets, the special geography of Venice, and the breathtaking cinematography combine to form a heady experience. At the center of this gorgeousness is Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde in a meticulous performance), a controlled intellectual who unexpectedly finds himself obsessed by the vision of a 14-year-old boy while on a convalescent vacation in 1911. Visconti has turned Aschenbach into a composer, which accounts for the lush excerpts from Mahler on the soundtrack (Bogarde is meant to look like Mahler, too). Even if it tends to hit the nail on the head a little too forcefully, and even if Visconti can test one's patience with lingering looks at crowds at the beach and hotel dining rooms, Death in Venice creates a lushness rare in movies. For some viewers, that will be enough. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Visconti's heart-breaking vision of unrequited love
When I saw "Death In Venice" I was haunted by it's images for weeks. To this day, I cannot think upon this film without again experiencing some of the original feelings that it inspired. This is not, without question, an easy film to watch. The dialogue is sparse and the music is basically limited to Mahler's gorgeous Adagietto from Symphony No. 5. Notwithstanding, never has the marriage of music and film been more vital or more atmospheric. Mahler's haunting music was seemingly composed for this film and the effect is chilling. Dirk Bogarde is perfection as the bitter, vitriolic Gustav Aschenbach, a man so consumed with what he considers ideal beauty that he welcomes his own destruction for a moment in it's company. The young Bjorn Andresen is, too, equally captivating as the object of Aschenbach's obsession. Even though his role is essentially a non-speaking one, what he achieves within the lmiits of the role is extraordinary. The beautiful and elegant Silvana Mangano is on screen too infrequently for my taste, but her contribution is nonetheless wonderful. At times I found myself enveloped by this film, as if though I were a guest of the grand hotel quietly seated on a wicker chair watching these events unfold before me. Venice has never been more tangible on film than it is here. Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece of a film. One warning, though; "Death in Venice" is a devastating film and it takes it's toll on the viewer. Watch it in the company of loved-ones and on a beautiful, sunny day.

Impressive and brave
I have recently re-visited Visconti's Venice after an absence of too many years and I am reminded again of what an impressive - not to mention brave - piece of cinema this was for its time, and continues to be.

Adapting this novella to film was never going to be easy, yet Visconti did a superb job, so, too, his actors. There are some changes from the book, with the first sixteen or so pages omitted, and I also found the film Tadzio to be more flirty than his novel counterpart, but these changes do not jar within the film.

What I found truly frustrating was that the video I have is not in wide-screen format and I did feel I was missing something happening out of shot - and I hate to miss anything in this wonderful movie.

This is not a movie for those with the attention span of a house-brick, but if you're in the market for thought-provoking and have a love for all things beautiful, this is a must-see. While the film runs for just over two-hours, it's not the sort of 2hr movie that has you checking your watch after the first hour.

Should the distributors see fit to release a wide-screen version on video - yes please, I'll have a copy of that, too.

MASTERPIECE!
Luchino Visconti's 1971 film adaptation of Thomas Mann's novel "Death in Venice" is nothing short of a masterpiece in every sense of the word. The more I watch this film, the more I realize how perfect it is.

For those unfamiliar with Thomas Mann's 1911 novel of the same name, there are a few differences. No movie that I'm aware of follows its original book to a "T". But the changes that Italian director Visconti adds to the story are intriguing and beautiful. I don't mind his personal touches in the slightest. Indeed, the film wouldn't be nearly as good otherwise.

The intuition to make the Aschenbach character really be Jewish/Austrian famed composer Gustav Mahler and set the movie's soundtrack to that of Mahler's 3rd and 5th symphonies was brilliant. I can't say if Thomas Mann originally intended the Aschenbach character to truly be Mahler in the novel or not?

Having the main character be a tired, worn out Gustav Mahler is a brilliant masterstroke of pure genius. We're left with a film that condenses everything brilliant that is Europe. Using Mahler's own music creates a depth and haunting realism to the film as well.

The casting in this film is extraordinary! You could not have casted a better cast to play these characters anywhere. The young man who plays the beautiful Tadzio looks like a Norweignean version of a sculpted Apollo youth. His features are those of a god. His silouette against the backdrop of the sparkling sea pointing out over the waters is one the most erotically charged scenes I've ever seen in a movie. It's breathtaking really, and one almost forgets the possibly taboo homoerotic connotations such a scenario is from the standpoint of the aged Aschenbach.

I have seen many films shot in and around Venice, Italy ("the Italian Job" most recently), but none have come as close to this as personifying the city and showing it as beautifully. In my opinion, Visconti's "Death in Venice" is to Venice what Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" is to Rome.

Foreign film lovers should not miss this classic. Travelers who've been to Italy, or dream of visiting one day, also should not miss this beautiful film. I may not recommend the film to younger audiences who probably aren't ready to understand why a dying man would entertain fantasies of a physical passion for a teen boy. In such cases, I would say the film is probably unsuitable for viewers under the ages of 15 or so.

The DVD has a nice picture in 16x9 widescreen for widescreen televisions and is compressed lightly with low grain and nice blacks and contrast. The sound is stereo and in the English language, so subtitles aren't necessary. The film is also shot in glorious color in a vivid but controlled manner. When I first saw this film I was sorry that it wasn't filmed in black & white, but now that I think on it, this story works better in color and the colors of this film are gorgeous. Venice always photographs well, but I have rarely seen the old city look so sumptuous as it does here. Some grade-A, top-notch cinematography went into the making of this rich and luxurious movie.

Obsession in the Time of Cholera
Based on Thomas Mann's famous novella, Luchino Visconti's DEATH IN VENICE is the account of a middle-aged man and his obsession with a teenage boy. Gustav Aschenbach, a German composer, (Dirk Bogarde) on holiday in Venice in 1911, sees the young Tadzio and his Polish family at the hotel where they are staying and becomes sexually obsessed with him. Visconti has the difficult task of keeping the viewer interested in this sometimes slow-moving film since there is very little dialogue here. (The man and boy never speak.) What Aschenbach is thinking must be shown by facial expressions and body language. Both director and actor, however, are superb in conveying what is going on inside Aschenbach's head.

DEATH IN VENICE is a beauty to behold. The opening scenes of the city are lush and beautiful; however, as the film progresses and Aschenbach begins his frenetic attempts to find out why many of the visitors are leaving Venice-- the city fathers are afraid they will lose the tourist lira if they are aware of a cholera outbreak-- the scenery takes on a sinister, deathly quality as the city becomes deserted. Visconti leaves no stone unturned in his attention to detail to create the mood and time period of this movie. Gustav Mahler's music (Bogarde looks a little like the composer) adds the final touch on this nearly flawless production.

Visconti is a master director.

Thank you for the DVD
This had been one of my favorite movies when I had seen it years ago in the theatre, but I was only able to get a VHS tape 6 months ago. Unfortunately it was a full screen version and while the movie was recognizeable, it lacked the impact that I remembered from the theatre.

This dvd makes all the difference. The sets and camera work are largely what make this movie work and the pan and scan used with the tape just about destroyed it. Now with the DVD, I can see that virtually every shot, set-up I think it is called in the business, is a work of art of composition and color. This is a film from Italy, a nation with a preeminent tradition in the visual arts and Death In Venice shows this visual sense to perfection. I have never seen another movie as artistically shot as this.

The plot and story line are very much underplayed and frankly many people I know don't get this film. The story developes, more than is told as in a conventional film. Rather than watching it, you live this movie. You watch it in delight at the what you are seeing and experiencing of being in Venice at the turn of the century. The story just sort of unfolds around around this visual experience, rather like real life.

While the picture quality of the DVD is very much better than the VHS tape, the sound is only somewhat better. Nevertheless there is less wow and flutter than in the tape or than I remember from the theatre. Unfortunately the movie predates the general adoption of stereo sound, let alone Dolby surround. Given the extensive use of music, especially Mahler's 5'th symphony, one can only dream as to what this movie would be like with modern sound. ... Read more

Description

The darkest days of World War II set the backdrop for this epic story about the turbulent life and death of Benito Mussolini (Bob Hoskins, Mona Lisa, The Long Good Friday), Italy’s fascist dictator known as Il Duce. This compelling, historic drama takes place in war-torn Italy and traces Mussolini’s vacillating relationship with his son-in-law, Count Galeazzo Ciano (Academy Award®-winner Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs), whose anti-Nazi sentiments place him, his family and Il Duce in great jeopardy. Academy Award®-winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking, Thelma and Louise) plays Edda, the spoiled yet passionate daughter of Il Duce, who is torn between her love for her husband and her father. Pressed by his advisors and Germany’s Hitler to rid himself of the rebellious Ciano, Il Duce is forced to sign the order for his son-in-law’s arrest for high treason. But Edda holds Ciano’s incriminating diaries that can spell doom for Il Duce and his fascist cause. This four part factual drama reveals the dictator as a complex but flawed leader – a hero to his people, a traitor to his country and a loving father who allows politics to force him to doom the son-in-law whom he loves dearly. Most telling is the dictator’s admiration of Hitler – the flaw that eventually seals his fate. ... Read more

Description

In Fellini's sardonically humorous, yet powerfully dramatic "Il Bidone," three small-time crooks impersonate priests in Rome to con poor people out of their money. Academy Award winner Broderick Crawford is extraordinary as the group's world weary leader, whose chance meeting with his daughter opens his eyes to his wrongdoing. Too late, he suffers a crisis of conscience in this absorbing tale of hope, desperation and, finally, redemption. One of Fellini's most realistic films, "Il Bidone" begins as an Italian comedy of errors, its swindles reminiscent of "The Sting," yet there is true sting in its harsh portrayal of greed and squalor. The middle chapter in Fellini's "trilogy of loneliness" between "La Strada" and "Nights of Cabiria," this classic film will tug at your heart and astonish you with its aching sense of compassion. Music by Nino Rota (The Godfather, Rocco and His Brothers). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great DVD transfer of a disappointing Antonioni movie...
If you are a fan of the great Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni, you have never heard of "Le Amiche" and are buying this DVD because of the director, you are in for a disappointment. There are good reasons why you haven't heard of this film! Sporting a great black & white DVD transfer by Image, the movie is an early effort that goes nowhere and is ultimately unsatisfying. While the acting is adequate, and it is amusing to get a good view of Italy in the 1950s, the story is poor and superficial (the film is based in a story "The Girlfriends.") Ostensibly dealing with the same subjects that Antonioni will continue to revisit in later movies, this one fails to get into any of them with any depth.

In summary: The movie gets ** two stars, the DVD quality gets **** four stars. If you can rent it cheaply, give it a try, otherwise pass.

FIlm=4.5 Stars/ DVD=3 Stars
For those approaching it in 'historical reverse', that is AFTER knowing the 'Trilogy' ("L'Avventura" "La Notte" "L'Eclisse") and "Il Deserto Rosso", "Le Amiche" is striking in the way it prefigures nearly all the themes the director would continue to explore in his somewhat more daring works of the 1960s. In the character of Clelia (played by the beautiful Eleonora Rossi Drago) can be seen the ancestor of Monica Vitti's Claudia in "L'Avventura": she is an outsider, curious and compassionate, who is coming to terms with her own sense of self. Gabriele Ferzetti plays Lorenzo, a frustrated artist, much like his lost architect in the same famous film. And in Rosetta (Madeleine Fisher) is prefigured the enigmatic Anna go 'goes missing' on the immortal volcanic island. Yvonne Furneaux's Momina embodies the superficial leisure class characters with whom Antonioni will continue to populate his next three or four films. And Nene (Valentina Cortese) acts out the director's great theme of forgiveness.
But it is not just in the characters that "Le Amiche" points toward the future. There are many scenes of wandering, along city streets, or beaches. Casual sexuality it presented not for its sensual or aesthetic appeal, but as an empty attempt to connect. And the great chasm of miscommunication between men and women is on full view. Yet, even in 1955 the director knows that all is not black and white. Characters of the same gender don't really understand one another either. The film is posing a difficult question: is it possible to 'be yourself' and still need others? Clelia finds a difficult answer, while Nene seems to find its mirror image.
And speaking of mirrors, the famous Antonioni 'doubling' is here in germ form as well. In the very opening shot, Clelia looks into the hotel bathroom mirror while drawing her bath: she is about to find her self divided in her feelings about her soon-to-be new friends and her old home town of Torino. Later, she regards her reflection in a shop window mirror before deciding to pursue a romance with the handsome Carlo (Ettore Manni).
Possibly most interesting of all is Rosetta, who, in attempting suicide, is trying to 'disappear'. The film makes it more than clear that this character has no real sense of self: she is dependent upon the affections of a man and the perceived loyalty of her mostly vacant friendships. There is a telling scene with Lorenzo in which she feeds off his flattery. And, in a beautifully acted scene aboard a train, Clelia tries to help her understand the importance of connection to others, never realizing how unstable Rosetta truly is.

Antonioni would in his next feature, "Il Grido", begin to streamline his technique. "Le Amiche" has far more characters than he would later prefer, and they talk constantly. There are virtually none of the characteristic, nearly silent sequences that will inform his later works. Nor does landscape play as commanding a role it will assume in the 1960s. While the two main narrative threads of "Le Amiche" (Clelia and Rosetta/Lorenzo/Nene) will be reduced to one for nearly all his remaining films.
Complex, dramatic, and visually seductive, "Le Amiche" is not just a fine early work by Antonioni, it deserves a place beside his more famous achievements.

The DVD issue of "Le Amiche" is up to the best of Image Entertainment in terms of quality of the sharp and clean transfer. There are no extras to speak of, but it well worth having such a fascinating film in the new format.

Antonioni's first significant film
Le Amiche was made in 1955, and was the first significant film from Michaelangelo Antonioni. This film follows a Roman woman named Clelia who, in an effort to improve her life, moves from the city to work at a small shop. She finds the lives of the small town is much less pleasant than she suspected. The women that she befriends are allowed to show a surprising range of emotions, especially for a film made in the fifties. The film seems to suggest that you cannot have a sense of self if you rely upon others. It definitely feels like an Antonioni film, even if it's more talky than his average work. The plot never really feels melodramatic, even though the events could easily make it feel that way. I would reccomend the film highly. ... Read more

Description

-When deported gangster Mike Madigan (Cesar Romero) dies in Italy, the United States Treasury is particularly interested in the $1,000,000.00 that Madigan owed the U.S. Government but managed to take with him. This is when agent Jason Fister (Dustin Hoffman), the CIA’s most bumbling and idiotic agent is sent to Italy to his co-workers relief to find Madigan’s Millions. Will Jason be able to hunt down the million bucks and show his fellow agents that he has what it takes or will he fail and continue to be the laughing stock of the CIA? Find out by watching Madigan’s Millions!

- Two-time Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman’s first and greatest starring role, produced before he was cast in "The Graduate!"

- With all the hi jinks of The Pink Panther and the insanity of It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World!

DVD Features

-Introduction by Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma and creator of The Toxic Avenger!

-Tromadance Film Festival essay!

-Rare interview with producer Sid Pink about his body of work!

-Medium rare original theatrical trailer to classic Sam Fuller film Shark (stars a very young Burt Reynolds)and Al Adamson’s Psycho-A-Go-Go!

-Original theatrical trailer for The Wedding Party with Robert De Niro (his first film) as well as Brian De Palma’s first directing effort.

-Radiation March!

-"Make Your Own Damn Movie Box Set", Film school in a box! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

unwatchable
When this DVD arrived home, I expected quality for the price.It's not that the plot was bad - it's not.Rather, it's a bumbling comedy and actually quite amusing in a clumsy Austin Powers set in Rome vs. Great Britain sort of way - if one could see the picture!As soon as the credits rolled, snap, crackle, pop! All scenes in mottled gray midnight. This looks dubbed from a VHS cassette that was overplayed.I could still see lines in the picture.This was made in someone's basement maybe.I don't know.The image will shimmy, shake, flutter and flicker and the audio is muffled.The film ran a little over one hour, forty minutes of which gave me a migraine.I returned this DVD and found a restored copy via Troma company and guess what?The picture was restored, the audio clear as a bell and about 30 minutes of deleted scenes!Now this movie makes sense.It's a silly romp, for Hoffman fans it's a neat flick to own.But, Passion Productionswanted a fast profit without working to bring this movie up to 2005 DVD standards.I can't believe it was even sold for this price.

Huh?
I found the exact same edition of this DVD brand new at a discount store for $3. When I got it home, the video was terrible, and there was no audio. The recording quality is the worst I have ever seen, and there are NO extras. Even the film description on the box is full of typos, spelling errors and incorrect grammar. There was not even a paper insert in the DVD case. This looks like a DVD someone made in their garage...and they want $25 for it? I have seen this film before, and while not remarkable it is enjoyable for Hoffman fans. That having been said, I suggest you wait until they re-release in in watchable form!

RAISING INCOMPETENCE TO NEW HEIGHTS WAS NOT THE PLAN
When a deported gangster dies in Italy, the U.S. Treasury department is very interested in the $1,000,000 Madigan owed the government, but managed to take to Italy with him.ÂThey send Jason Phister to Italy to find the money.ÂHis criteria for the job is that no one would ever guess he’s an agent for the U.S. government.

Dustin Hoffman Rules!!
Dustin Hoffman rules as an american agent in Italy investigating the million dollars that is owed to the US Treasury from a deported American gangster!!It's a must see!!

What a turkey!
Not even Dustin Hoffman's presence can save this movie. It is simply awful. A joint American-Italian effort (though 'effort' may be misleading), Madigan's Millions is utterly inane and devoid of entertainment. Hoffman looks ill at ease, and fails to convince the audience that he enjoyed making the movie. The poor chap was simply embarrassed, no doubt, at being implicated in such an abysmal attempt at film-making. Dire. ... Read more

Description

In this surreal, satirical comedy, Italian director Marco Ferreri presents his take on the classic American Western, sympathizing with the Indians instead of the cowboys. This time, the Battle of Little Big Horn, the scene of General Custer's humiliating defeat by the Indians, rages at the demolished site of a formerly thriving marketplace in Paris. Starring Marcello Mastroianni as General Custer and Catherine Deneuve as his ravishing frontier gal. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Huh?
I found the exact same edition of this DVD brand new at a discount store for $3. When I got it home, the video was terrible, and there was no audio. The recording quality is the worst I have ever seen, and there are NO extras. Even the film description on the box is full of typos, spelling errors and incorrect grammar. There was not even a paper insert in the DVD case. This looks like a DVD someone made in their garage...and they want $25 for it? I have seen this film before, and while not remarkable it is enjoyable for Hoffman fans. That having been said, I suggest you wait until they re-release in in watchable form!

RAISING INCOMPETENCE TO NEW HEIGHTS WAS NOT THE PLAN
When a deported gangster dies in Italy, the U.S. Treasury department is very interested in the $1,000,000 Madigan owed the government, but managed to take to Italy with him. They send Jason Phister to Italy to find the money. His criteria for the job is that no one would ever guess he’s an agent for the U.S. government.

Dustin Hoffman Rules!!
Dustin Hoffman rules as an american agent in Italy investigating the million dollars that is owed to the US Treasury from a deported American gangster!!It's a must see!!

What a turkey!
Not even Dustin Hoffman's presence can save this movie. It is simply awful. A joint American-Italian effort (though 'effort' may be misleading), Madigan's Millions is utterly inane and devoid of entertainment. Hoffman looks ill at ease, and fails to convince the audience that he enjoyed making the movie. The poor chap was simply embarrassed, no doubt, at being implicated in such an abysmal attempt at film-making. Dire. ... Read more

Description

Amid the artistry, enlightenment and romance of the Renaissance, the citizens of Rome must defend themselves against a brutal onslaught of rape and pillage by ruthless invaders from Spain. ... Read more