Reviews (131)

Jennifer's The Graduate Review
The film The Graduate is a classic 1967 release that is directed by Mike Nichols and released by Embassy Pictures. The film earned $50 million in 1968, which is number one money maker in that time.
Director, Nichols, won the Academy Award for Best Director. The film was also nominated for 6 other Awards, Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. The soundtrack featuring songs by Simon and Garfunkel was gold in 1968 and "Mrs. Robinson" was number one on the charts for four weeks.
College grad (Dustin Hoffman) does what his parents and other people tell him to do including family friend Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who tells him to have an affair with her. Then he falls in love with her daughter Eliane Robinson (Katherine Ross), and finally finds something he wants to do with his life.
I give this film 4 stars because I thought Dustin Hoffman did a good job. I thought that the music complimented the movie nicely as well. It was a good film.

always relevant no matter what year you graduated!
This movie put Dustin Hoffman on the map -- it is the tale of Ben (Hoffman) and his uncertainty about what to do with his post-collegiate future (despite his neighbor's advice that the future is in plastics.) At his graduation party, he meets up with longtime family friend Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who proceeds to seduce him ("I think you're the most attractive of my parents' friends, Mrs. Robinson.") They have a secret affair for quite some time.

Then, Ben's parents think it would be nice if he dates Elaine, that nice Mrs. Robinson's daughter! They set up the date, paying no attention to Ben's wishes against it. He acts like a complete jerk during the date so Elaine won't like him, then ends up falling for her anyway. This ends up with him proposing to her later, even when she has decided to marry someone else. The wedding scene is dramatic, and has been parodied on everything from Wayne's World 2 to The Simpsons.

The writing is hilarious, and Hoffman's delivery is great - upon seeing Elaine's finacee approaching them, he gives the sarcastic praise: "He's a good walker!" I love Ben's mom's over-the-top scream of delight when Ben announces he is getting married -- though he hasn't actually asked Elaine yet. And in the scene at the zoo, when Ben is left alone watching Elaine walk off with her fiancee, the camera cuts from the actors to a pair of monkeys grooming each other, and then to a lonesome gorilla. (I think they were trying to be dramatic but I found it funny.)

The Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack is great, and the acting is superb. Ben's father is played by William Daniels, also known as the voice of KIT on the 80s show "Knight Rider" and Mr. Feeny on "Boy Meets World". Ben's landlord at a boarding house is Norma Fell, Three's Company's 'Mr. Roper' (does he always play a landlord?). A great film!

THE Coming of Age Movie
This one is fantastic and very relevant even now a days. Dustin Huffman's breakout film has wonderful performances by all of the actors, a great story, beautiful filmography and a fantastic sound track by Simon and Garfunkle.

Bad movie, no donut
I was 21 when this came out, it was pointless then and still is.
Hoffman was no actor and still is not.

A Beautifully Crafted Film
This movie is a classic example of how good films were even as recent as the 1960's. The plot itself is not so original (young man has an affair with older married woman), however the movie is done in such an artistic way that the affair itself is put in the backseat for most of the film. If this movie were to be remade today, it would have been very sexualy charged and raunchy will the majority of the content focusing on the actual affair itself. However because this movie was made during a time when true quality and craftsmanship was appreciated, the themes are delicate and subtle. It really makes you use your imagination and look deeper into the storyline, rather than just the obvious. The backdrop (Southern & Northern California), the wonderful musical score (Simon & Garfunkel) and great cast made this movie very worthwhile to see as well. If you enjoy movies made with thought and care behind it, you should definitely check this one out! ... Read more

Amazon.com

San Francisco has been the setting of a lot of exciting movie car chases over the years, but this 1968 police thriller is still the one to beat when it comes to high-octane action on the steep hills of the city by the Bay. The outstanding car chase earned an Oscar for best editing, but the rest of the movie is pretty good, too. Bullitt is a perfect star vehicle for cool guy Steve McQueen, who stars as a tenacious detective (is there any other kind?) determined to track down the killers of the star witness in an important trial. Director Peter Yates (Breaking Away) approached the story with an emphasis on absolute authenticity, using a variety of San Francisco locations. Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Duvall appear in early roles, and Robert Vaughn plays the criminal kingpin who pulls the deadly strings of the tightly wound plot. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Bullitt Hits The Mark
1968's Bullitt is best known for its classic car chase scene that is still considered by many to the best of all time. The movie is worth watching for that scene alone as Steve McQueen's fastback Mustang chases down a Dodge Charger for a tense ten minutes through the streets of San Francisco. Even without that memorable scene, Bullitt is a classic 60's film. Mr. McQueen's performance as steely police detective Frank Bullitt is one of his best and the forerunner of the anti-heroes that would dominate films of the 70's. The plot revolves around a seemingly routine job for Bullitt and his men to protect a mob informant (Pat Renella) who is set to testify before a Senate subcommittee. When two hitmen break into the safe house and fatally wound the informant and injury another detective, Bullitt begins to have questions and takes up investigating the case on his own with the help of fellow detective Delgetti (Don Gordon). Fighting them at every turn is ruthless and ambitious senator Chalmers played with unctuous smarm by Robert Vaughan. Jacqueline Bissett co-stars in one of her first roles as Bullitt's girlfriend and Robert Duvall has a bit part as a cabbie. Director Peter Yates crafts a gritty look to the film and editor Frank Keller won the Academy Award for his superb work.

Steve McQueen scorches the streets of San Francisco
Arguably the best crime film of 1968, and certainly one of the most influential films of the genre...."Bullitt" established new directions in the mood and style of crime thrillers, and firmly established McQueen as one of the key anti-hero stars of the 60's. Based on the gritty novel "Mute Witness" by Robert L. Pike, this was the first, and only, time McQueen portrayed a police officer (albeit a maverick one) in his movie career. In 1968 Steve was then riding high on the success of his previous crime film, "The Thomas Crown Affair", and "Bullitt" just propelled his star even higher into the heavens !

The plot is tight, economical and well crafted....taciturn, moody Detective Frank Bullitt (McQueen) is charged with the protection of a key witness vital to an upcoming trial involving Mafia connections. Whilst hidden away in a supposed secure location, the witness and his police guard are brutally gunned down by unknown assailants. The heat is turned up on Bullitt by his tough Captain (Simon Oakland) and the manipulative, opportunistic politician Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) to come up with the right answers fast ! Between the draining investigation, Bullitt struggles to maintain his relationship with his cultured, sensitive girlfriend, Cathy (Jacqueline Bisset)

Primarily coming from a TV series background, Englishman Peter Yates (directing his fourth movie) did a commendable job as director on "Bullitt"...producing a complex, intense crime thriller with a unique style that would ultimately influence many other films. Yates would later to go onto direct Robert Mitchum in the excellent "sleeper" crime film "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" !

And of course "Bullitt" is reknowned for it's now legendary car chase between Frank Bullitt's 390 GT Mustang and the two hitmen in their black, Dodge Charger 440 Magnum barrelling through the city streets and highways of San Francisco....just don't pay too much attention to how many times they pass that slow-moving, green VW Beetle !!

The DVD transfer is excellent in both sound and picture quality, and the Limited Edition Set with the extra goodies (Single sheet poster, shooting draft, lobby cards etc.) is a real bonus for keen film fans !!

One of my favourite cop thrillers....McQueen sizzles on screen !!

Put on a Sweater
This detective drama aimed to be the essence of cool, and succeeded, in fact it's a little too cool, can somebody turn up the thermostat? Barely anybody in the picture is allowed to show any genuine emotion, although one of the hoods looks a little upset before he's shotgunned. Director Peter Yates apparently planned to tell the whole story with action and came up with a near-classic. In fact his spectacular staging of McQueen's car pursuit of two Mob assassins is usually blamed for the countless imitation car chases that have blighted American movies ever since. It's certainly one of McQueen's signature roles, but why give him a hokey name like Bullitt?

McQUEEN COOL!
Ignore the paisley pajamas, Steve McQueen was an icon of cool and BULLITT is the proof. Peter Yates has a smart thinking man's cop drama, bolstered by (yes) the best chase scene on film. Great locations in San Francisco. Superior acting by McQueen, Robert Vaughn as a sinister U.S. Senator and Don Gordon, as McQueen's partner. Why didn't Don Gordon become a bigger star?

The good, the bad, and the pretty
"Bullitt" is highly regarded by many for either "the chase", or the drama.

The good and the bad: True, there is a high-speed car chase in part through the hilly streets of San Francisco. Is it "the best ever" chase? Depends on how you look at it. Plus - It was very high speed. Plus - It had a cool-looking Mustang fastback vs a big GTO. Negative - They pass the same VW 4 times, and another car 2 times (why? if not intentional, then very poor continuity) Negative - double-shifting or not, there are about 97 too many gear changes, and some of those are at top speed on the flat stretch near the end. Neg - the bad guys lose too many hubcaps. Still, it's fairly exciting. However, though not car vs car, I think the chase in "The French Connection" is as good if not better.

As for the drama, some of it seemed a bit drawn out. Lt. Frank Bullitt is supposed to protect the state's witness "Ross" against the Chicago "Organization". Ross and one cop are shot, and Ross is later killed in the hospital, where Bullitt is hanging out. Bullitt does not want the prosecutor who gave him the assignment (Robert Vaughan) to know Ross died, so he will have time to find the killers. Turns out Ross may not be who the cops think he is, and this leads to a good foot-chase across the airport runways and the airport itself.

Some of the police procedure as portrayed in the movie is rather shoddy - such as handling a lot of evidence, then asking for it to be fingerprinted, etc.

The pretty: Bullitt has a girlfriend played by Jaqueline Bisset, who gives him grief for his callous attitude. This sets up the final scene of the movie where Bullitt ambiguously questions his existence. Otherwise, her appearance in the movie is useless.

Good acting by McQueen and Vaughan. Look for Robert Duval, Georg Sanford Brown, Norman fell, Simon Oakland and a few other names.

The jazzy score by Lalo Schifrin sounds like a bad TV movie. Wide-screen movie has decent picture and sound quality. DVD extras include a short behind the scenes documentary, text-based cast/crew/location info, list of awards, and a trailer.

In short - Not the best cop movie, not the best McQueen movie, and not the best chase. Watchable but not a stand out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

San Francisco has been the setting of a lot of exciting movie car chases over the years, but this 1968 police thriller is still the one to beat when it comes to high-octane action on the steep hills of the city by the Bay. The outstanding car chase earned an Oscar for best editing, but the rest of the movie is pretty good, too. Bullitt is a perfect star vehicle for cool guy Steve McQueen, who stars as a tenacious detective (is there any other kind?) determined to track down the killers of the star witness in an important trial. Director Peter Yates (Breaking Away) approached the story with an emphasis on absolute authenticity, using a variety of San Francisco locations. Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Duvall appear in early roles, and Robert Vaughn plays the criminal kingpin who pulls the deadly strings of the tightly wound plot. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (115)

Chases, as they were... Oh, and good style too.
Many people remember this for the ever-famous chase scene, which still is more impressive, and more realistic than most modern chases.However, there is more to the movie then that, although having no stunt doubles for the chase wasn't a bad start.

First of all though the story: McQueen's character is Lieutenant Bullitt, and he is given what seems like a routine protection job of a high-profile witness; however, the witness is shot, and McQueen decides that maybe this is not such a small issue after all.

The story I felt was pretty good, but really the style is where the most effort was put and achieved.For example, the camera shots are used to quite good effect.At the same time though, the "realness" achieved is also pertinent.My only problem, and I promise not to spoil, is that the ending is all too reminiscent of the end of Chinatown (no specifics on how).

Overall though, with nice style as I said, a decent plot, and McQueen, the movie is rather enjoyable.

Excellent and Enjoyable Original Film
Finnaly the most original film bought to a two-disc special edition! Yes I loved this film I saw when I was 4 years old and was fascinated with it! I hope you enjoy this film.

Bullitt is more taciturn than Calvin Coolidge
There's a story about a man who introduced himself to president Calvin Coolidge by telling Coolidge that he had made a bet with a friend that he could get the famously taciturn Coolidge to say more than three words."You lose," replied Coolidge.Steve McQueen has little more dialogue in this visually told police procedural drama.The fact that there isn't alot of stupid chatter makes the movie seem smarter and tighter than it is.I kept thinking I had missed something because the plot didn't make sense too me.I didn't miss anything; the plot doesn't make sense.Which doesn't matter a bit, because Steve McQueen is one of the coolest actors who ever worked in Hollywood and Jacqueline Bisset is a gorgeous girl, and this is a cool movie.

And what a car chase!This clearly is the best car chase ever filmed.Oh, and what muscle cars we had in the late 1960s!Pure, raw power, undamped by catalytic converters or the need for fuel efficiency.This movie, and specifically this car chase (which is the main reason to buy the movie), set the tone for cop movies and TV shows for decades to come.

As car chases go...
I like Bullitt. I even like the quiet times when he is at a restaurant and picking up his girl at her work. I think these touches add to the 'matter-of-fact' attitude prevelant
in the film. I even like the fact they left in the scene where the emt remarks about the ambulance door not being left open
and the 'keep it rolling' attitude of Steve McQueen, as he opens the door and they keep filming.
And while I think the car chase ranks near the top, why do we have to see the same places over and over, but from different vanatge points?I mean, even the skid marks are already there...and what's with the recurring green VW 'Bug'?
Heck, maybe no one really cares.

I especially like the casting of the hit men. Actors not remembered by many. (And Don Gordon, who played Bullitt's partner...) One thing for sure, when they are on the job,
they rule.

After nearly forty years, still powerfully effective
BULLITT is today an easy film to underrate, partly because so many films in the seventies embraced a similar narrative and visual style.This lends the film a sense of familiarity that it didn't have for most viewers in 1968.Instead of a direct, involved form of narrative, the film employs an indirect, detached one.Unlike most film where the action takes place at firsthand, much of the action in this one takes place at secondhand, such as when Bullitt and a hotel employee knock on the door of a room, to cut away to a long shot of his girlfriend sitting in her car, her attention soon called to a police siren and running police officers, letting her and us know that something is amiss.Or the action will often be squeezed to the side, with the screen dominated by something other than the actors, such as the chase near the end on the airport runways, where an airliner will dominate the frame, while one of the actors will be on the periphery.The whole technique is so cool and detached that one expects the Dave Brubeck Quartet to break out at any point.The film is also enhanced visually by a complete lack of dissolves through out.Instead, each shot cuts directly to another, giving the film an almost undefinable crispness.The whole film is, in fact, a technical delight, with everyone trying to remake as many rules as possible.

The film is most famous, of course, for what is quite probably the greatest car chase in movie history.The only other contender for the slot is not quite a car chase, but the car chasing the subway in THE FRENCH CONNECTION, a film that was profoundly influenced by BULLITT in a host of ways.There have been dozens of chase scenes since then that are more spectacular in their stunts and effects, so what makes this one remain so compelling?First, there is the balance to the whole thing.It builds beautifully, first with two hit men in their Dodge Charger trailing Bullitt in his Mustang, then their losing him, only to rediscover him in their rearview mirror.Although they are at this point at normal speeds, the effect if riveting, and when the driver of the charger takes a moment to put on his seatbelt, you know you are in for something special.1968 was before the 1973 oil embargo, so gas efficiency was of secondary concern.Instead, a string of cars were made with power their main concern, and although these were modified automobiles, they nonetheless seem almost alien with their massive engines.But what really makes this car scene extraordinary is the devotion to realism.Most subsequent car chases feature cars vaulting other vehicles, making impossible leaps over bridges, performing astonishing stunts on two wheels or doing an entire rotation, and in every instance landing back on all four wheels with minimal damage.In this scene, they literally wreck the cars.Yeah, they vault over a hill, but when they land, you can feel the shock to the chassis.Also, the speeds are simply incredible.A lot of scenes feature slower cars that they then enhance in the editing room to make them seem faster.There are reports that the two cars in this one often exceeded 110 mph.I don't doubt it for an instance.In defense of other car chases, one reason they have to resort to pyrotechnics and gimmicks and absurd stunts is that in a sense BULLITT took what it was possible to do with two cars chasing each other as far as it could go.Whenever I rewatch this chase scene, I can't help but thinking that I will never see its like again.

This isn't a film that is going to appeal to everyone.Many are going to feel uncomfortable with its detached style, with its refusal to bring all the salient parts of the action to the foreground.But I find its attempt to do something new and original enormously exhilirating.

This is rightfully regarded as one Steven McQueen's best films, if not his best.It is certainly one of the more laconic performances one will see in the genre.Although Clint Eastwood would later travel much of the same ground (literally, since the films were also set in San Franciso in the Dirty Harry movies, both Frank Bullitt and Harry Callahan were loosely based on the same real life detective), nothing like his grimaces or taglines can be found in McQueen's performance.

My one complaint with the film is what I consider to be a rather large hole in the plot.When Bullitt and his partner go to the airport to pull Ross off his flight, only the two of them go.It has always been police procedure to undertake such operations in force.It is simply inconceivable that only two detectives would attempt such an action.They would go in with substantial backup.For me it is one of the only misfires in an otherwise superb film. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

For a movie: BEST MOVIE Compared to book: NO CONTEST
I read 'Catch-22' first, and it instantly became my favorite book (as soon as I finally got through it). When I heard of the movied version, I was estatic, but in wonderment. How can such a complex book with no linear structure ever be adapted to movie form? My expectations were high, but weary...

First of all, casting was excellent. Alan Arkin played a perfect Yossarian, as well as Jon Voigt as Milo, and so on. The settings were great, really convincing from what I read from the book.

As far as the comparison to the book. If it stands true for one instance, the book is worlds better than the movie. As a reader, you get so much more out of Joe Heller's sardonic universe. The complex plot, the meticulous descriptions (in which he used words I never knew existed...either have a dictionary with you when you read 'Catch-22', or have a vast vocabulary!), and all the rest...

The movie does attempt to follow Heller's complex plot structure, hopping back and forth to unravel plot points with each pass. The movie does this well with Yossarian's epidemic with Snowden. Most of the ingeniously clever dialogue is brought to the screen, but that's what makes the book/movie so great.

At any rate, I highly recommend this movie, as well as anything from Joe Heller...the best writer of the 20th century.

an excellent dvd
"Catch-22" is a beautifully designed, shot and executed movie that, in the end, doesn't really work. However, it's too elaborately staged and too ambitious to be considered a "bad" movie. And the extra features that accompany the DVD help the film transcend a "thumbs up/thumbs down" rating.

First and foremost, it looks amazing. I loved this film when I initially saw it on tape in 1990, but it was only recently that I was able to see it in a widescreen format -- letterboxing reveals what a brutal disservice pan-and-scan does to the compositions of "Catch's" 2.35:1 aspect ratio. If you've only seen this movie in fullscreen, you haven't really seen this movie.

The transfer is also incredible. I'm so used to seeing the grainy print of my VHS copy that I hadn't realized how great a lot of the cinematography is. The use of front-projection during the air-combat scenes is astonishing and the detail and color really surprised me.

But the main reason to get this DVD is the commentary. Director Mike Nichols is joined by Steven Soderbergh to talk about "Catch-22" and through their discussion, one really gets a sense of how Nichols (who had just directed back-to-back hits with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and "The Graduate") took on this project with the best intentions and inspiration... and quickly got swallowed up by the massive project and even bigger budget. Soderbergh is, in my opinion, one of the best directors doing commentary these days (he gives a perfect mix of technical details and storytelling) and he really knows his "Catch-22" ---though I find it a little incredible that he never noticed the changing portraits in Major Major's office, as he claims while watching the scene.

This movie is a great mix of Fellini, Laugh-In, Welles and Salvador Dali. Some may feel there's not enough Joseph Heller here but it would take a mini-series to cover all the bases of such a deep, rich novel. At times, this movie can try your patience (like most Catch-22's often do) but it's definitely worth seeing and hearing in this new format.

A change
I take back most of the things I said. This is a great movie, and Milo is good.

A good film that should have been better
First, I was upset to see that the Hungry Joe's character from the book was all but not used, and that he didn't even die because of the cat, but instead suffered Kid Sampson's death from the book. Now...

I do admit, this movie is better than I thought it would be. I'm especially happy with Bob Newhart's Major Major, the Chaplain, and Major Danby. My only problem is that many of the characters aren't portrayed to the best of their abilities, considering how well the book fleshed them all out. The best example is Balsom's take on Colonel Cathcart. In the book, Colonel Cathcart is prim, proper, and insane. In the movie, he is simply a crude, crusty old soldier, reminicent of Ernest Borgnine in "All Quiet on the Western Front." Though he is good when interacting with Dreedle. Orr is good in this, but maybe just a touch creepier than he should be. Milo is just wasted, and a little bland. Orson Welles is surprisingly good, but that is in direct effect of the good writing of his scenes.
Alan Arkin gets off to a slow start, but becomes very good as the film picks up speed. The Snowden films are great.

My main problem with the film, however, is that two very important characters from the book are completely and utterly not in the movie: Clevinger and Dunbar. Clevinger, while only in the first few chapters of the book, had a lot of very interesting things to say about Yossarian's behavior, and would have just been a good character to have. Dunbar, on the other hand, actually had a very large part in the book, serving as Yossarian's side-kick. He also delivered the classic monologue about boredom being the key to a seemingly-longer life. A great piece of writing that would have worked well with the rest of the film.
All in all, I suppose the main thing that would have made this movie better is an extra half-hour, so that more of the classic scenes could have been used. But still, surprisingly good.

It's not the book - what movie is?
I read Catch-22 many years ago. Loved it. I've seen Catch-22 the movie several times. Loved it. But they are different. You are not going to get every nuance of the complex, convoluted book into the movie, but it is a good approximation. The movie works on its own, mostly due to the collection of oddball characters and circumstances. The long list of big named actors did a good job. However, the cinematography may be the star, here. As an "anti-war" comedy, this ranks near the top.

The reasonably-priced DVD has a so-so commentary by director Mike Nichols with Steven Soderbergh. ... Read more

Description

Charley Varrick is a small-time crook who outfoxes the Mob in this fast-paced offbeat thriller directed by Don Siegel. Academy Award winner Walter Matthau stars in a rare dramatic role, along with the powerful Joe Don Baker, as a tough Mafia hitman. Charley robs small banks with small payrolls. That keeps him out of trouble until he stumbles onto the Mob's secret stash. The chase is on as the Big Boys go after the "Last of the Independents." It's a heart-pounding ride that builds to a fiery airborne climax as Charley makes his last desperate run for the Mexican border and safety. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Thriller-diller from one of the masters
Walter Matthau and Joe Don Baker, two actors I can usually take or leave, are brilliant as evenly matched adversaries with very different styles in director Don Siegel's marvelously entertaining thriller. Matthau is Varrick, a rumpled but very resourceful hustler whose take from a small town bank heist turns out to be laundered Mafia money. Baker is the glib, no-nonsense gorilla hired to recover the bucks. Siegel makes flawless use of Southwestern locales as his stars engage in a fascinating game of cat and mouse that has the brutish Baker (he insults friendly whores, abuses a wheelchair-bound gun merchant and smacks sexy photographer Sheree North around before bedding her) always just a baby step behind the ingenuity of Matthau's likeable anti-hero. The junk yard-set climax, a masterfully choreographed battle pitting Matthau's crop-duster against Baker's car, is pure, edge of your seat Siegel. Who wins? Suffice to say, the ending packs one wallop of a surprise, but you will NOT be disappointed. Very highly recommended.

Siegel+Matthau=Near Gold!
An odd combo: cult director Don Siegel, who forever changed the "Lone Cop" genre with "Dirty Harry", and provided Duke Wayne with his final film "The Shootist"; mixed with Oscar-winning comedian Matthau, who personified Oscar Madison in "The Odd Couple" and the Sleazy Brother-In-Law/Lawyer in "The Fortune Cookie". But it works. Don Siegel brings his trademark hard-edge and mean-sprited characters, while Matthau borders on deadpan thru the whole thing as a bank robber who unwittingly knocks over a Mob-controlled bank in the middle of rural New Mexico. There's also a lean, mean hitman on his trail played by Joe Don Baker, and one of the 60's and 70's best sleazeball white collar villians: John Vernon. Add in the beautiful Felicia Farr (Jack Lemmon's wife), the "Blow-torch and Pliers" line that Quentin Tarantino "borrowed" for "Pulp Fiction", and a great denoument, and you have a cracker-jack action-drama, with a hint of comedy-similar in tone to Matthau's "Taking Of Pelham 1,2 &3", which came out a year or so after this. In short, a quintissential 70's cult movie: memorable, tough, and near-great.

The Last of the Independents
Matthau steals a huge load of money from a rural new mexico bank only to find out it was mob money. the ensuing chase from mafia tough guy john doe baker is amazing and makes for a great game of cat and mouse that finally allows crime to pay. this adaptation is fantastic, and although not readily available, charley varrick is a must see.

Charley Varrick
Bad Guy Walter Matthau? Serious part, a good/bad guy, good direction, script, minimum dialog, pure acting/action.
A TRUE SLEEPER!

A Neglected Gem
This is an off-beat film in which Walter Matthau stars as a small-time thief who, with accomplice Harman Sullivan (ably played by Andrew Robinson), robs a money laundering operation which is cleverly disguised as small-town bank in New Mexico. (Had streetsmart Varrick known of the Mob's involvement, he would not have robbed the bank.) Of course neither the Mob nor the police are pleased with the loss of about $750,000. With that in hand, Varrick and his partner struggle to decide what to do next. Meanwhile, the Mob has assigned one of its ablest representatives, Molly (Joe Don Baker), to locate the thieves, eliminate them, and recover the money. Credit director Don Siegel with selecting Matthau to be Varrick. I have always thought that Matthau's talents as a serious actor were under-appreciated. He is brillliant in this role. All other members of the cast are first-rate, notably John Vernon (Maynard Bock) and Sheree North (Jewell Everett). Siegel makes a brief appearance as Murph. Those who enjoy this film should check out The Outfit (1973) in which Baker also appears as well as The Getaway (1994). ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Killers (1946)
This 1946 adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's short story adds well over an hour of new material to the original tale. The reason is, while director Robert Siodmak, star Burt Lancaster, and an outstanding supporting cast are faithful to Hemingway's work, his story only takes up about 15 minutes of screen time. Burt Lancaster plays the doomed man sought by hired guns in a small town. Hemingway's bruisingly concise dialogue makes an early sequence set in a diner quite unnerving, but after the killers dispense with their prey, Siodmak turns to an insurance investigator (Edmond O'Brien) who looks into the reasons behind the murder. An exemplary film noir (complete with a fickle femme fatale played by Ava Gardner), The Killers is all mood and fatalism.

The Killers (1964)
The 1964 remake (of sorts) by Don Siegel builds another whole world around Hemingway's narrow, if intense, premise. The two assassins of Siegel's film (Clu Gulager, Lee Marvin) go in search of their intended victim--a teacher (John Cassavetes) at a school for the blind--and find that he not only recognizes his fate when they show up, but seems entirely resigned to it. Curiosity leads the killers to seek out the party who hired them and discover why Cassavetes's character didn't run or fight. Soon the facts tumble into place--the dead man had once been a top-drawer racer who fell for a glamorous woman (Angie Dickinson), the latter gradually pulling him into the orbit of a criminal villain (a convincingly evil Ronald Reagan)--and the film becomes increasingly dark and dangerous. Originally shot for television but rejected for its violence, Siegel's film is a blistering experience of swimming against the currents of fate for one's survival--and losing. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (15)

HEMINGWAY X 3
More than sex, food or survival, we are creatures driven to find meaning in our lives (or so it's said by those who claim to know such things). A recent film that taps into that mindset, with varying degrees of success, is now available in a fine digital edition.

Ernest Hemingway's famous short story, THE KILLERS, appears in three incarnations on this loaded Double Disc Special Edition. Robert Siodmak's 1946 version is best remembered for the luminous presence of Ava Gardner and the striking black-and-white cinematography of Woody Bredell. The essence of Hemingway's story about why Ole The Swede (Burt Lancaster) would passively accept his execution at the hands of hired killers takes up about 15 minutes of screen time. The rest is a look at the back story via an insurance investigation of his death.

This moody film whirls around an amoral central theme as all those connected to The Swede ironically seek meaning in his death. Also here is Don Siegel's 1964 movie Ernest Hemingway's The Killers, although not much of Hemingway's story remains. The cast features a menacing and unmannered young Lee Marvin and the last film appearance of Ronald Reagan in his only role as a heavy. And he's great.

Over 16 bonus features include Andrei Tarkovsky's 1956 student film of The Killers. Criterion is to be commended on the exquisite digital transfer of Siodmak's film.

unlikely pairing -- rewarding package
Despite the commonality of the source material, one would not expect these movies to be joined at the hip like Siamese twins. The 1946 Siodmak is definitive noir: black and white, contrasty, artfully lit, with William Conrad and Charles McGraw in the title roles, played almost as extras -- shadowy figures spouting Hemingway dialogue in an Eisneresque diner in a mythical New Jersey. The 1964 Siegel version, brightly-lit in color, casts the killers as the central characters, played not-quite-for-laughs in over-the-top characterizations by a prime-of-life Lee Marvin and Clu Gulager, (a very funny actor, who has also recorded a sensitive commentary) the philosopher hit-man and the health-food nut -- precursors perhaps of the Travolta and Jackson characterizations of Pulp Fiction. There's an excellent and knowledgeable reading of the Hemingway story by Stacy Keach, a poorly read excerpt from Don Siegel's autobiography, an interview with Siegel's biographer, a radio play with Lancaster and Shelley Winters (!) and for completists of Tarkovsky, a risible but competent student film. All in all a grab-bag that even includes an uncredited appearance of Charles "Ming the Merciless" Middleton as the farmer in the 1947 version. Marvin is hot, Gulager is a hoot, Lancaster a hunk and Ava a beauty. Then there's an Edmund O'Brien performance that's as subtle as the one he would give in The Wild Bunch. And for the political, John Cassavetes decks Ronald Reagan, who gives a cold, professional performance, and gets to slap Angie Dickinson. A great package, the sum worth more than the parts.

First rate Film Noir
The Killers from 1946, Burt Lancaster's debut movie, is fantastic. It is one of the finest in the noir genre. Ava Gardner is a truly devilish femme fetale. The plot is full of twists and turns. The film begins with the ending so to speak, like Sunset Boulevard. The mise-en-scene is stylish and dark. I highly recommend this film for fans of film noir.

The DVD is an excellent print. It is sharp and the soundtrack is well restored.

The "remake" for TV (1964) starring Lee Marvin and co-starring Ronald Reagan (as a heavy no less) is included. It bears little resemblence to the original. The film focuses on the killers this time, rather than an insurance detective. The killers are a preview of the kind of characters we would see thirty years later in Pulp Fiction.

Gritty film noir at its best!
Why would a man, who knows he's about to die, not care enough to save himself when he has the chance? This question lies at the centre of Ernest Hemingway's short story, "The Killers." It would be a question that would inspire three filmmakers to create their own cinematic adaptations of Hemingway's tale. The folks at Criterion have collected all three versions of The Killers and presented them in a comprehensive two-DVD set.

The first DVD, with the 1946 version, features an impressive introduction into the film noir genre. Author and screenwriter, Stuart Kaminsky is interviewed at length about the origins of film noir and the similarities and differences between the 1946 and 1964 versions and how they compare to Hemingway's original short story.

In an amazing bit of cinematic archaeology, Criterion found Russian filmmaker, Andrei Tarkovsky's take on The Killers. It's very minimalist in style and set design but is quite faithful to Hemingway's story.

Another highlight on this disc is writer-director, Paul Schrader's seminal essay, "Notes on Film Noir." Schrader outlines and defines the characteristics of film noir and puts it into a historical context.

The second disc, with the 1964 version, doesn't feature as many extras but does present a fascinating look at how Siegel's film evolved from a made-for-TV movie to a theatrical release. Some of the highlights include a hilarious memo from NBC's Broadcast Standards Department as they outline all the objectionable material they found in the screenplay. It becomes readily apparent that Siegel ignored all their suggestions and kept in all the offending material!

For fans of film noir this is an essential purchase as these two films are given the deluxe Criterion treatment. The prints of both films have been lovingly re-mastered and have never looked better. The wealth of extras entertain and educate, making this set an excellent primer for anyone interested in learning more about film noir.

A Must have for any collector of classic entertainment.
What more can I add to the reviews below? The Clu Gulager interview is absolutely fantastic. He reveals some very interesting facts regarding the filming and makes strong positive comments about his co-stars and the director. The Stacy Keach reading is also excellent. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

GOD MAKE ME A BETTER SWIMMER
this is one of the funniest movie of all time. it was crazy but cute. if anybody is reading this do yourself a great favor and buy this on dvd or rent it first because it is very funny.

I wish it would end!
What did I think was so funny about this movie back in the 70's?....must have been the substances I was on....this movie stinks....it's just bad!.....I couldn't wait for it to end!(actually couldn't make it all the way through!)

Funny but Not For The Easily Offended!
The End is a dark comedy about a man played by Burt Reynolds who has had a extremely bad day including being told by his doctor that he has a terminal ilness and is going to die so he tries to kill himself but is discovered by a cop and taken to a mental hospital where he meets a deranged patient played by Dom Deluise.

Burt Reynolds was very good and of course so was Dom Deluise in his hilarious scene stealing performance and also very good are Joanne Woodward as Burt Reynold's ex-wife, Sally Field as his ditzy girlfriend and Kristy McNichol as his daughter but unfortunately she only had a tiny cameo.

The subject matter of this dark comedy may offend some people so I would definitely not buy this or recommend this to anyone who you think may get upset at the humor in the movie and have a hissy fit, but anyone who likes a good dark comedy should be able to enjoy it.

Side-splitting hilarity abounds
I have not laughed this hard in ages. Ok the premise is that a man is dying and wants to spare his family, by killing himself. On the surface that's not funny, but this movie had me in stitches. Burt Reynolds plays bumbling very well. Joanne Woodward is a riot as the liberated ex-wife! Her scenes are not to be missed. ~ (comedy, drama, the woman is a genius!) Sally Field is neurotic and kooky. Dom Deluise is deranged. Oh boy did I have a ball. Recommended viewing for those with a twisted sense of humour.

An underrated masterpiece
Burt Reynolds directs and stars in this much underrated black comedy which also features Dom DeLuise, Sally Field and Carl Reiner. Reynolds plays Sony Lawson who is diagnosed as having a toxic blood disease. From this rather bleak premise stem a series of hilarious sequences, including the diagnosis itself by a very unsympathetic doctor, and Reynolds confessing his sins in church to a juvenile priest. Adamant that he'll die with dignity, Reynolds resolves not to tell his daughter, parents, girlfriend or ex-wife about his terminal illness, and he tries to cope with it himself by committing suicide. But his plan goes wrong and he finds himself in a mental hospital where he meets DeLuise (in a performance tour de force)who agrees to 'help' him. The resulting scenes of DeLuise's failed attempts to kill Reynolds are brilliantly executed moments of comedy. Tiring of these failures, Reynolds escapes from the mental hospital and again decides to do the job himself. It is really quite a shame that this film has been virtually forgotten. The concept of someone facing such monumental adversity is a universal theme, and this work is much better and more intelligent than higher-profile Burt Reynolds outings such as 'Smokey And The Bandit'. Perhaps this video release (is a UK version in the works?) and Reynolds' recent success in'Boogie Nights' will help gain this film more than just a cult following. It certainly deserves it. And there's even some atmospheric music from Frank Sinatra and Glen Campbell to enjoy too. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

It's All About the Swagger, Baby!
People argue about "cool." Some say John Coltrane is cool. Other say Clapton, Dylan, or Lennon are "cool." Lenny Bruce is "cool" to some, and Miles Davis epitomizes "cool" for others. For me, there isn't a man who has EVER lived who personified "cool" more that Mr. Sinatra. You can see what I mean here in the first motion picture that casts the infamous "Rat Pack" in major roles, "Oceans 11." Playing an ex-WWII soldier, Sinatra's Danny Oceans plans the greatest heist in history: Rob five Las Vegas casinos at once on New Year's Eve. It's a bold plot for a bold cast. There's Frank with his "I own the world" charisma. There's Sammy Davis Jr. with his usual flair for the song and dance routine. "Deano" Dean Martin also croons in the picture, and Peter Lawford, the only non-singer of the four main Rat Packers, still holds the audience with his charm and wit.

This film shows what Las Vegas was like when it was an "adults only" city. This was when Sinatra and his boys ruled Vegas, and we should be thankful that they had the foresight to put some of the flavor of the times on film.

Now, where's my martini? I'm late for my craps game.

Nostalgic Fun
OCEAN'S 11 is a real time-capsule classic. The ultimate "heist" movie, starring The Chairman of The Board, Dino, Sammy, Joey, Peter, and the rest of The Rat Pack, this one is worth seeing just to watch "the boys" hanging out together and getting into trouble.

The late Fifties All-Adult ambience of Vegas is priceless, as is the hep cat cool which just oozes off the screen. Let's face it: How many men could get away with calling the President of the United States "Chickee Baby"? Well, Frank called JFK precisely that. Even Bill Clinton was never that swingin'!

The storyline is a standard potboiler involving a group of old Army buddies setting up the biggest theft in American history, five Vegas casinos. Frankie ain't doin' no singin', and the film's a bit slow moving in spots. They're playing it a little too straight and serious,and there are less laughs than chuckles, and no sex, but the film was a product of it's times (1960) and still had to get past the censors in those days. Peter Lawford is over the line as a forty year old Mama's Boy trying for the Big Score.

No matter how good the Clooney remake is, he won't touch this one at all...There's only one Rat Pack!

great
an excellent movie that has action and a little bit of comedy also great stars such as sammy davis jr. dean martin and of course frank sinatra

A Very Cool Movie!
Ocean's 11 is a cool movie with a topnotch cast that includes Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis JR, Cesar Romero, etc.

It's a very cool movie that I watched long before the remake!

The remake is alright but not anywhere near as good as the original 1960 version which is an awesome movie and that twist ending is great!

Two stars is a gift
The GOOD:
- Some nice historical shots of Las Vegas during its golden age
- Sammy's musical / dance number

The BAD:
- Comes across as just a pure star ego project (which apparently it was)
- Silly dialog
- Lots of non-value added characters (remember this was a full employment project for Frank's buddies)

BOTTOM LINE:

The folks giving this movie 4-5 stars have definitely drunk the nostalgic Rat Pack cool aid. I honestly think they are reviewing the idea of this movie, rather than the film itself. If you not one of these fans, then I would recommend

- Wait for the original to appear on late night TV
- Get the "remake" - much better ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Goodbye Suzanne
The 1980-81 season,the fifth for Three's Company began late due to an actors' strike. The strike began in the summer and ended in the early fall. TC's spinoff The Ropers got the Nielsen axe but would appear for the very last time at one point during this season. Here we see Jack(the late John Ritter) entertaining four different women in three different apartments(his,his buddy Larry Dallas's(Richard Kline) and landlord Ralph Furley's(Don Knotts). Jack being harrassed on the job at a diner by his female boss(Jack thought that but actually he was fired due to unsatisfactory performance and misconduct). Chrissy's(Suzanne Somers) high school friend staying at the trio's apartment because her(the friend's) hotel lost her reservation. Jack,Janet(Joyce DeWitt),Larry and Ralph spending the weekend at a ski lodge. Jack working as a mechanical man in a department store window(in that episode Jack falls in love with a woman whom he delivers flowers to as a favor to Janet. The woman is Larry's girlfriend also with three other boyfriends!) Jack working as a busboy in a fancy French restaurant. Jack and Janet welcoming Chrissy's clumsy but beautiful cousin Cindy Snow(Jenilee Harrison) to the apartment(here is where Harrison begins her tenure with TC. She would appear first during the end credits while Somers continued appearing in name and face during the opening montage). Cindy would fill in for Chrissy at her place of employment as a typist/secretary. So in the next episode,her(Cindy's) boss temporarily fires her,thinking she's tired of running errands for him. Jack takes a chef's job at Angelino's restaurant,under the name David Miller(Jack would be fired and rehired several times from this point on. Also Jack's tenures at Angelino's led to his opening of Jack's Bistro in late 1982). An elderly widow practically adopts Jack(she washed the trio's dishes,cleaned their oven and mended two pairs of Jack's pants). Janet on a date with Jack's girlfriend's widowed father. Janet's parents visiting the trio and Jack and Janet pretending to be a married couple to please the parents. Cindy trying to escape the clutches of a wife-hungry millionaire(Jeffrey Tambor,late of The Ropers). The millionaire was married five times before,and as a matter of fact,the third marriage didn't last one day! After Ralph loses his apartment to his termination as landlord,he stays with the trio but ends up winning back his apartment and job(Ralph's brother Bart Furley appears for the first and only time during the series). Jack and Larry "trade places",but the arrangement fails. Not even one day,and Jack missed Janet and Cindy sorely. Jack teaching culinary arts at the L.A. technical college,where he graduated with a degree in that subject in the final episode last season(this is a reunion between Jack and Dean Travers(William Pierson) who ran the college. One of Jack's students is Travers' beautiful niece Betty Jean. And another is Janet!). Thinking Cindy is pregnant,Jack proposes marriage. Who's actually pregnant is Kelly,one of the Regal Beagle's waitresses. The father is Doug Cooper(John McCook,late of the CBS daytime serial The Young & The Restless and who would later become one of The Bold & The Beautiful cast),a fashion phtographer Cindy was dating. The late Norman Fell and the late Audra Lindley reprise their respective roles of the trio's former landlords Stanley and Helen Roper for the very last time when they visit the trio while celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. It turns out after a heated argument,Helen strayed from Stanley. Helen and Stanley stay at Ralph's apartment,exactly where they lived before. Ralph was supposed to be away for the weekend and ended up coming back home after a disappointing experience. Jack pretending he has a twin brother named Austin from Texas(Austin dresses exactly like Jack. Jack performs the pretense for Ralph's beautiful visiting niece Veronica. When Ralph leaves his apartment,Jack goes back to his real self in front of Veronica). A jealous man plans to kill Jack for involving himself with his(the jealous man's) girlfriend. Jack fakes his death so Max,the jealous man wouldn't have to kill him. In real life,Ritter died in September 2003 following a heart disorder. Also,Jack and Janet think Cindy has been kidnapped but Cindy was with her father. While Jack and Janet were at the movies,Cindy's father showed up at the trio's apartment,and the pair took off immediately. Jack and Janet found Cindy and her father at a motel. Also,Jack learns that honesty is not always the best policy. Jack's honesty led to a break-up with his girlfriend,Larry breaking up with his girlfriend and a heated argument between Janet and Cindy. In several episodes,Chrissy was seen on a telephone in Fresno where she was taking care of her ailing mother,talking to either Jack or Janet. Just before this season began,Somers requested a raise in her weekly salary. After the request was denied,she threatened to sue and spitefully didn't show up for work. Also,Ritter and DeWitt were upset with Somers and at the end of this season,she was officially fired. At the beginning of the 1981-82 season,Harrison stayed on,thus appearing in the opening montage. But she'd move out of the apartment to attend UCLA(University of California at Los Angeles).

Season 5 Review
In Season 5, Suzanne Somers(Chrissy Snow) appears in only two full episodes: "Upstairs, Downstairs, Downstairs," and her last full episode "A Hundred Dollars A What?." After letting success go to her head, she demanded an outrageous pay raise. After her salary demands were refused, she was absent from a few episodes(one of which had to be scrapped). As a result of her absences, Chrissy Snow is sent home to take care of her sick mother, and is cut down to a 60 second telephone scene in a few episodes.(Her telephone scenes were filmed earlier in the day and behind the show's set since the other actors no longer wanted to work with her). Meanwhile, Jenilee Harrison moves in as the third roommate, Cindy Snow, the cousin of Chrissy Snow. Cindy brings a lot of comedy to the series as Chrissy's very clumsy, but well-meaning cousin. I actually do prefer Cindy over Chrissy, just as I prefer Jenilee over Suzanne. With or without Chrissy, John Ritter's comedy is what made the show a hit, for he was(and is) the show's undisputed star. Suzanne is fired at the end of this season, and Chrissy Snow is never again mentioned. She brought everything on herself.

Funniest Show Ever
Season 5 is classic. Mr. Furley is here in full force, and the show only got BETTER and FUNNIER. Lots of great episodes in this season- don't second guess- buy it!!

Season 5's Going to be Released Too! :)
I do not think that the special features have been announced yet, but I thought I'd review this anyway as I'm sure others will fill you all in on the special features later. :)

In Season Five, Suzanne Somers leaves the trio and is replaced by Jenilee Harrison. (Chrissy's cousin, Cindy Snow) Though I must admit that I am not a big fan of Cindy and preferred Chrissy or Terri much more, this was still a hilarious year. I will mention one of my favorite episodes from this year: "Dying To Meet You"--in this episode Jack has to pretend that he is dead or else a jealous girl friend's boy friend named Max, would kill him. Although Chrissy is still not in the show, John is hilarious on his own!

We see an episode with the Ropers in "Night of the Ropers" which is very funny. So if you are a fan of the Ropers, you will want to catch that episode! I love the Ropers and always enjoy watching that episode, where Helen comes and visits "The Kids" after Stanley forgot their anniversary. Mr. Roper figures out that she has gone there, so she goes and follows her.

Jack is now a struggling chef, trying to get work, etc and we get to see his first ecounter with Mr. Angelino and Felipe in this season. (which are both, IMO, great characters)

Here is the entire list of episodes: (to those who are curious, I've added *s stars to any episodes with Suzanne Somers as part of the original trio. Although she has, a couple of times, appeared in a short phone coversation with Janet at the end of many season five episodes...)

79. UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, UPSTAIRS. * Jack has three dates in one night and also has to cook a special dinner for Janet and Chrissy.

80. AND JUSTICE FOR JACK Jack's new boss at a diner is pinching and grabbing him and he doesn't feel comfortable, so when he confronts her about it and tells her that he wants her to stop, she fires him.

81. A HUNDRED DOLLARS A WHAT? * This is the last episode where Suzanne Somers appears. (notice they don't seem to be getting along as well as usual if you pay attention closely) Chrissy's friend is a call girl.

82. DOWNHILL CHASER Jack can't skii, but he tells a lady that he likes that he can.

83. A CROWDED ROMANCE Jack and Larry find the perfect girl...but it is too bad that they're dating the same woman!

84. ROOM AT THE BOTTOM Jack was expecting to get a job as a chef, but instead he gets a job as a bus boy.

85. CHRISSY'S COUSIN Jenilee Harrison is added to the cast as Chrissy's cousin.

86. JACK TO THE RESCUE Jack tries to get back Cindy's job after she's been fired.

87. THE NOT SO GREAT IMPOSTER Jack wants to get the job as a chef, so he pretends to be some famous chef. However, it seems that this chef fooled around with many women, so Jack's life is at risk...

88. JACK'S OTHER MOTHER An elderly woman treats Jack as if he were her son--and as if he was a boy.

89. MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY Janet dates an older man who is the father of Jack's date.

90. JANET'S SECRET Janet tells her parents that she and Jack are married. Jack is eager to play along, especially when it's time for bed

91. FATHER OF THE BRIDE

92. FURLEY VS. FURLEY The trio accidently get Mr. Furley fired by his brother, who owns the building. Mr. Furley decides to move in with them since they are his friends.

93. IN LIKE LARRY Jack is getting kind of cranky at the apartment and Larry offers to switch apartments with him. Jack says 'Thanks Larry, but the girls will never go for it.' However, Janet and Cindy accept, and Jack becomes jealous of Larry.

94. TEACHER'S PET Dean Travers's niece makes a pass at Jack.

95. AND BABY MAKES FOUR Jack and Janet think that Cindy is pregnant, but it is not her who is pregnant, but a friend of hers.

96. THE NIGHT OF THE ROPERS Stanley and Helen Roper are fighting, so Helen runs away and visits the trio and Stanley also comes, looking for her.

97. DOUBLE TROUBLE Jack doesn't really have a twin named Austin, but he decides to pretend he is Austin so he can be with Mr. Furley's beautiful niece.

98. DYING TO MEET YOU.A jealous boyfriend threatens to kill Jack, so Jack pretends that he has died.

99. THE CASE OF THE MISSING BLONDE Cindy is missing, so Janet thinks that someone has kidnapped her.

100. HONEST JACK TRIPPER Jack decides to be completely honest about everything from now on. But that isn't always a good thing...


Wow! This means that so far 100 episodes will be released of "Three's Company"! Please be sure to order this season as well as Season Four, as this will get Season Six to release quicker. (which happens to be my favorite season)


... Read more

Amazon.com

The DVD release of Three's Company's first season should be a cause for celebration for fans of the wildly popular sitcom; it arrives, however, just two months after the September 2003 death of star John Ritter, and so the DVD serves as a memorial to his comic talents as well as a long-awaited collectible. Launched on a six-episode trial run in the spring of 1977, Three's Company's first season immediately won over viewers with its racy scenario--a single man (Ritter) moves in with two single women (Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers) and avoids the wrath of his landlords (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) by pretending to be gay--and double entrendre-laden gags. Regardless of whether you think it was one of TV's funniest or most puerile series, Three's Company did bring Ritter to deserved stardom and gave choice roles to veteran scene-stealers Fell and Lindley (later replaced by Don Knotts), and therefore deserves its place in television history. Anchor Bay's DVD includes unedited versions of all six episodes, as well as a featurette on Ritter. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (69)

1st Season offers 6 classics of this essential sitcom!
It was inevitable that Three's Company would be released on DVD, the only surprise is that it took this long to get here. Finally, the first 6 episodes of this landmark sitcom that aired between March & April 1977 are preserved on digital. Each episode is a classic in its own right and memorable if you know the show. Three's Company, more than anything John Ritter did, best displayed his talent for comedy, especially physical. Ritter had the ability to turn the lamest storyline into a laughfest. This also is easily his best and most popular work, other sitcoms such as "Hearts Afire" and "8 Simple Rules" hold no comparison and its obvious that the only reason those shows made it was because of Ritter's involvment. The same can be said about Three's Company to some extent, not to exclude the contributions of Joyce Dewitt & Suzanne Somers. Some are of the mindset that Chrissy was the show (maybe she just thought that), but I've always thought it was about Jack. He should've been paid more, not because he's a man, but because if he left the show, it would've ended. 8 simple rules doesn't have long believe me. Three's Company was special because all of the characters were important to the show and they each were hilarious in their own right: The Ropers (Norman Fell & Audra Lindley, Larry (Richard Kline), Mr. Furley (Don Knotts), Cindy (Jenilee Harrison), and Terri (Priscilla Barnes). The first season is so important: Its where Janet & Chrissy find Jack sleeping in their bathtub and its where we meet the Ropers and Jack tells them he's gay! And that's just the first episode! Here's the classic episodes you get:

01. A Man about the house
02. And Mother makes four
03. Roper's niece
04. No children, no dogs
05. Jack the giant killer
06. It's only money

Anchor Bay has done a great job with presenting the first season and has included a featurette on John Ritter. Yes it would've been great to have more features, but having the first 6 episodes that started it all is treasure enough! I hope they intend to release all 7 following seasons. Even though there were cast changes through out, Three's Company found a way to keep the laughter going. God Bless John Ritter for giving us so much laughter. Thanks to Anchor Bay for releasing this on DVD so we can relive it again and again! What a great show to own! The second season has 25 episodes, please don't take long to release that too!

Three's Company Season 1
Here is one of John Ritter's funniest shows from the 70's.This show featured a lot of diffent faces thru the years but was always funny.Jack Tripper was always getting into difficult situations and was very clumsey.One of my favorite episodes is when he dressed as a Grandma to enter a cookie contest to win some money.Than the Judge tried to kiss him and he coughed and got out of it.Also Jack had to pretend he was gay so he could live with two girls.The Roper's and Furly were pretty funny to.Here is the episodes from season 1.Note this was a short season and only contained six episodes.

1)A Man About The House-This was the pilot that started it all.
2)And Mother Makes Four
3)Roper's Niece
4)No Children No Pets
5)Jack The Giant Killer
6)It's Only Money

There will be no extras on this disc however season 2 early next year will have plenty of them according to Anchor Bay.Originally season 1 wasn't suppose to come out till early 2004 and Ritter was going to do a commentary but it got moved up to November.What a great way to honer John Ritter by getting this set and all future three's company seasons sets.Now if only Seinfield would hurry and come out.I also recommend the following tv dvds coming out.

Sanford And Son Season 3 Oct 7
Incredible Hulk Ultimate Tv Colection Oct 21
Little House On The Prairie Season 3 Nov 4
Honeymooners The Complete 39 Episodes Nov 11

A Great DVD Caputring One Of The Greatest Sitcoms Ever
The 1970s' marked the rise of the sitcom. There were early signs of this in the 1960s' with shows like "The Nelsons" and "The Donna Reed Show". Shows like "All In The Family" were among the first hit sitcoms, But the sitcoom boom didn't really take off untila round 1974, when "Happy Days" and "Good Times" hit the air. These shows opened the door for a long line of sitcom hits - "The Jeffersons", "The Facts Of Life", "Barney Miller" and many others to name a few. Thrown into this barrage of sitcoms was "Three's Company". It turned out to be tv gold, garnering huge ratings and making star out of Joyce DeWitt, Suzanne Somers and, of course, the late John Ritter.

"Three's Company" was first aired in 1977. Shows like the ones I just mentioned were in their peak period. But "Three's Company" was different from most. Its plotline was more risque:a man living in an apartment pretending to be gay in order to live with 3 lovely women, much to the dismay of the sexually problmeatic landlords, The Ropers (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley). But the show worked. For starters, the acting was great. The three stars had a full understanding of their charcters' characteristics. Plus, the show as well - written with many great oneliners.

The release of this dvd was bittersweet, coming out about 11 weeks after the shocking and untimely death of John Ritter from heart failure. And anyon who thinks this was a way to cash in on Ritter's death is wrong because his dvd was scheduled for release long before his passing.

The episodes here are hilarious. The first episode is the pilot, "Man About The House". This one gives a very good introduction to the characters; Chrissy, the sexy and stupid blonde who attracts all different kinds of men, Janet the plain but pretty girl who would kill to get a good man, and of course Jack, the bumbling skirtchaser who pretends he's gay to live with the two girl. Actually, at first he just wants to make it with Chrissy, but as the series goes on he grows to love Janet just as much.

The other episodes are all good except for the one entitled "Roper's Niece". I just didn't like this one. But my favorites were "No Children, No Dogs" (featuring the first appearance of richard Kline's Larry) and "It's Only Money".

Overall, a great dvd. With season 2 just released, I cn't wait for seasons and 4. However, seasons 5 - 8 I can wait for. During these years, Suzanne Somers was fired from the show and replaced with the flacid Terry played Priscilla Barnes. Jack started to become less attracted to the girls in the aprtment and focused more on his job. Pity it had to end that way. If they had kept Chrissy til the end, it could've lasted longer.

AWESOME!
One wet and sticky day, my mom asked me if I wanted to watch the "Three's Company" DVD. I reluctantly agreed, but 1 minute later, I was cracked up. Sure, this series is old, but that doesn't take away how funny it is. This is sure to live on for a long time. I just wish that there were more episodes in season one.

Threes Company
Hey everyone i have Three's Company Season 1 &2 on DVD. It's so funny. Its also cool that the Season 2 DVD has a trivia game. i absolutely love Three's Company. It used to be on Nick at Nite. I don't know what happened to it. Well thats all. I hope I was helpful with you getting this dvd! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

It's good huh!?
Transylvania 6-5000 is one of the funniest comedies ever done. With Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begely Jr. and other hilarious actors the laughs and gags continue without an end.

The movie is about two reporters who are asigned to Transylvania to write a monster story. Upon their arival they run into the craziest of characters like Faojs the castle butler, (Michael Richards) the mayor, (Jeffery Jones) and servent's Radu and Lupi (John Byner & Carol Kane)

While staying in the castle they find more than they came looking for like a vampier countess that enjoys "necking" (Geena Davis) the sane/insane Dr. Malavaqua (Joseph Bologna) and many more.

The movie is filled with funny one-liners and great comic acts. It'll have you laughing until it hurts!

This is a great Friday night movie!
Although this movie will never make it onto many people's "Top Ten" list of best movies ever made, I must confess that I love it! It's goofy, entertaining, and perfect for a late Friday night when there's nothing good on the tube.I find Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley, Jr. to both be amusing in their portrayal of tabloid journalists. Radu and his wife Lupi (played by John Byner and the wonderful Carol Kane) are two of my favorites, as the castle butler and maid. A fun time awaits you in Transylvania!!

Stealing the movie from the stars
Sometimes the funniest bits are not from the so-called stars. My husband and I love this movie only for certain parts. Forget Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley Jr! The parts featuring Carol Kane, Joseph Bologna, and John Byner are excellent and hilarious. They stole the movie! You can tell they had fun doing this one. Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley Jr and Michael Richards weren't very funny, mostly just silly. Still, this is in our collection.

Transylvania 6-5000
This is an excellent movie. I saw it years ago when it first came out. Then, after a long, exhaustive search, I found it on VHS format after it was out of print. I am thrilled to have found it on DVD format.

Proving Once Again That Jeff's Best Work Was In the 80's
This is one of many movies that proves Jeff Goldblum had magic in the eighties. Once he ditched comedy in the late 90's, his career didn't seem as steady and us 80's fans were left in the cold. Then along came the wonderful invention called DVD...

Being an 80's child I must have slept through this one because I hadn't heard of this movie before watching it. I got it on a whim and because I read it was sort of silly, I didn't anticipate much. I ended up liking it very much. The film was not corny at all but lathered in the right amount of 80's, slapstick humor. All the characters were wonderful including Geena Davis ( former Mrs. Goldblum ) who had only a few lines as a wannabe vampire. Ed Begley was as goofy as ever but that's part of his charm. He and Jeff Goldblum were a riot and it made me wonder why comedy isn't as funny these days as it was in the 80's. This was good clean, Saturday Night Live type-humor when SNL was good! Hold onto your seats with this one! It's full of chills and tip top adventures. A definite must see for comedy lovers! If you enjoyed the comedy of Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, you'll enjoy this funny buddy movie about vampire babes and hilarious monsters! ... Read more

Amazon.com

For the Boys is a lumpy attempt to create an old-fashioned backstage drama, replete with classic showbiz feuds, breakups and make-ups, and the often inexplicable adoration of fictional fans toward characters with dubious star appeal. Released under a cloud of accusations that the story was ripped off from the life of USO stalwart Martha Raye (who had been attempting to get an autobiographical film project set up), For the Boys didn't improve its public relations by being, well, not very good. Bette Midler stars as Dixie Leonard, a singer plucked from obscurity by song-and-dance man Eddie Sparks (James Caan) while on a USO tour during World War II. Their bawdy chemistry before audiences makes them a durable act through many years and wars to come. The problem is that they don't like each other very much, and here's where director Mark Rydell (On Golden Pond) drops the ball: the film never develops sufficient story grounds or the emotional complexity necessary for a high degree of conflict in what is essentially a two-character drama. It doesn't help that the script requires Dixie and Eddie to be on nonspeaking terms for most of the 50 years they know one another, or that the story culminates in a horribly contrived reunion on television, with both actors buried under enough flesh-aging prosthetics and make-up to make them look like Dick Tracy villains. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (12)

For the fans ...
The people that are going to LOVE this movie are all the die-hard Midler fans that are out there.

Basically, I bought the DVD Norma Rae starring Sally Field, and included with the extra features of that disc was a trailer of For the Boys, and the scene that was featured in the trailer was the one where Bette sings "In My Life" in Vietnam, with snippets of the rest of the movie playing over her singing, and the boys holding up peace signs at the end of the song. Well, perhaps needless to say I CRIED MY EYES OUT just watching the trailer. I found out soon after that she was nominated for an Academy Award for this movie, and I bought it cheap. At first I didn't like it at all, but after watching it a second time found it much better. Probably the worst thing about this goings-on was seeing the heartbreaking trailer before the movie; I was just expecting a better movie. Before this I thought Bette Midler to be annoying and insincere, but ... she is what she is.

If you can find this DVD on sale for cheap somewhere, go for it like I did.

Watchable, But Nothing To Write Home About
Seemingly suggested by a combination of Bob Hope's legendary USO tours and the toxic relationship that sometimes develops between comedy team partners (with the likes of Martin and Lewis a case in point), FOR THE BOYS gives us the story of Dixie Leonard (Midler), a rough and tough singer with a naughty sense of humor, and Eddie Sparks (James Caan), a secretly sexist comic. When the two meet on a World War II USO tour, it's loathing at first sight--but their audiences adore the combination.

Trouble is, you can't imagine why. Both Midler and Caan are expert performers, but they have remarkably little on-screen chemistry, and although they score points individually they never quite seem to be working in tandem. To make matters worse, while the dialogue is often witty, the plot is leaden, and it promptly goes off into a host of predictable directions as it drags its characters from World War II to Vietnam in order to make a series of well-intended but extremely obvious and over-worked comments about changing times and the wastefulness of war.

The supporting cast is strong, but like the leads they seem to be pulling in different directions throughout the film, and when all is said and done this rather lengthy film feels quite a bit longer than it actually is. Midler's songs are the only real highlight, and the thing is indeed watchable... but only just. The DVD package isn't anything to write home about either, consisting of a handful of trailers and television spots. For hardcore Midler fans only.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

For The Desperate.
This was one of those movies that really sounded great with possibilities, but just fell flat. The premise of two show-biz veterans, who have a love/hate (mostly hate) relationship, through 50 years of entertaining together in the U.S.O., television, amid changing public tastes, tragedies, ups, downs, wars, etc...should have made for a very entertaining saga. And, with Bette Midler as the musical female lead, how could it miss? Well, it did. Though it gets off to a promising start, and her number "Stuff Like That There" early in the film brings down the house in true Bette style, it went downhill from there. James Caan is opposite her as her sexist partner/nemesis, whose pairing with her, though a big success career wise, is rife with rivalry and contempt for the very success that the fluke of their pairing produces. They chew the scenery often, and certain scenes, such as when Bette's characters son is killed in front of her in VietNam, where she is entertaining, that are so stupidly overwrought that they are rendered emotionless. I actually went to a theater to see this movie, something I don't often do. What I still remember most about that experience is the collective audience reaction, of incredulous hilarity, when the "aged" Midler and Caan's characters meet after many years of non-communication for a begrudged public reunion. This is by far the worst "aging" make-up job that I have ever seen in a big budget motion picture... all the improbability of this movie came to a ridiculous head at the viewing of these supposed very elderly stars, who look more like burn victims, in mid-meltdown, than any elderly person I've ever known. This is a very over-long disappointment, the only value of which will be in a few musical clips that will no doubt be used in the inevitable retrospective of Bette Midler's career. Best forgotten, which it mostly is.

A Movie You Don't See Everyday!
For the Boys is a really good movie. This is one of my mom's favorites and I can always remember her watching it. I can also remember listening to the soundtrack. One time we got bored so my mom deciced we should watch a movie and we watched this one. The movie is about this women named Dixie Leonard and she is a singer. During WWII she goes to Europe to sing for the troops over there, with Eddie Sparks who is very famous. This movie is about there times performing together from WWII to Vietnam.This movie also has some really sad parts and this movie almost made me even cry!!! I highly recomend this movie and if you like the movie and the music I also recomend the soundtrack.

Great Musical
Musicals by the early 90s were extremely rare but this reminds one of the days when musicals were both popular and fun as Bette Midler and James Caan play two USO singers who go all the way from World War II to the Vietnam War entertaining and wowing the army boys. Along the way is the drama that they both experience as they try to court one another while James is still married. For Bette, this should have been another hit as it had a great song off the soundtrack which could have worked as a hit single EVERY ROAD LEADS BACK To YOU as well as a great performance. In fact Bette does a better job here than in BEACHES as she has to carry more of the film on her shoulders. Her sparky, brassy, witty attitude and humor are evidenced here and she and James have impecable chemistry which allows the movie to work. It also is intersting seeing them age from middle age 40-year olds to some 90 year olds receiving awards. A great movie reminding one of the old days of musicals as well as one that tugs at the heartstrings!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This gritty, grim Korean war drama presents the grueling ordeal of a platoon charged with taking a hill of no military value during the final days of the war. While diplomats and generals argue over peace negotiations (in an appropriately wordless montage under the opening credits), tough but compassionate Lt. Joe Clemons (Gregory Peck) leads a unit of 135 men up a well-guarded hill while miscommunication--and at times no communication--cuts them off from reinforcements and regimental command. Shot against a bleak, battle-scarred mountain of white dust honeycombed with black trenches, director Lewis Milestone presents the devastating battle as a meaningless sacrifice of hundreds of lives spent in a political game of chicken. Peck leads a terrific cast of young talents and character actors, many of them just starting their respective careers: Rip Torn, Harry Guardino, Martin Landau, Norman Fell, George Peppard, Gavin MacLeod, Bert Remsen, Harry Dean Stanton, plus veteran stalwarts Woody Strode, James Edwards, Robert Blake, and Bob Steele. Milestone had previously directed the pacifist WWI classic All Quiet on the Western Front and the compassionate WWII platoon drama A Walk in the Sun. Pork Chop Hill adds one more antiwar classic to his résumé, the angry power of his drama overcoming the hollow patriotic voice-over (reportedly added by Peck) that concludes the drama. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Frustration in the Final Days of the Korean War
Gregory Peck is solid as the frustrated commander of troops that are being ordered to take a hill controlled by the enemy during the closing days of the Korean War. Peck and his men know that a truce is being negotiated and that in the end, the battle may be for nothing. Miscommunication during the battle adds to their obstacles, as does political manouvering. There is also the propaganda broadcast by the Chinese at the Americans, a facet of this film I found especially memorable as I imagined it's effect on the soldiers. There are a lot of recognizable faces in the cast, long before they were stars, but that does not distract from the action. I found the movie to be slow in parts and the story required a better pacing and dramatic structure, but it's very accurate in portraying the honest emotions of the men caught between duty and their hearts. This is not a "pretty" war movie, with beautiful photography and attractive locations. It gives you a feeling of the hell that war must be, especially with a battle such as Pork Chop Hill.

Gregory Peck orders a bayonet charge
In the spring of 1953, a company of the U.S. Army was ordered to assault an otherwise unprepossessing lump of Korean real estate called Pork Chop Hill. It's only value to either side was as a chess piece in the peace talks at Panmunjon, which were stalled on the question of where to pencil-in the cease-fire line. The Americans had occupied it; the Red Chinese had overwhelmed it; and now Gregory Peck (as Lt. Joe Clemons) is ordered to take his 135-man company and re-take it. PORK CHOP HILL is ostensibly based on the actual battle, and a qualifier at the beginning even states that most of the names haven't been changed.

As the battle unfolded, I began to mentally compare the production with recent, outstanding, "last stand" epics, specifically WE WERE SOLDIERS and BLACK HAWK DOWN - both also based on true events. PORK CHOP HILL comes up short, but not by much. The obvious difference is that PCH - released in 1959 - is filmed in black and white. This mutes the gore, which, in any case, is positively negligible compared to the grisly and graphic realism of today's simulated combat footage. However, the resulting tension felt by the viewer as Joe's unit is surrounded and faced with impending annihilation is only a click less than that felt during the height of the WWS and BHD on-screen fighting. At one point, Clemons orders a bayonet charge, which, as he says, may be the last one ever carried out by the U.S. Army. Well, the last perhaps until Mel Gibson's character, Lt. Col. Harold Moore, orders his Air Cav troopers to do the same to get out of a tight spot in WE WERE SOLDIERS.

PORK CHOP HILL is anti-war to the extent that it condemns the rear echelon desk jockeys tempted to sacrifice American boys on the altar of political expediency, or just from pure incompetence. It also isn't afraid to show the demoralization within Joe's command, and that not every grunt was itching to go over the top and charge the enemy trenches. In a film made well before the Vietnam debacle, such candidness must have been some sort of cinematic milestone for U.S. audiences used to the gung-ho dramas based on the nation's relatively recent World War II victories.

My sole motivation in watching this film was to see Peck. I can't think of any actor today whose on-screen presence exudes such dignified strength and integrity. I'm so convinced of this fact that I've gone ahead and ordered a biography of the man. We are missing the likes of him (and icons Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, and Cary Grant).

Peck Preps for Navarone
I am a huge Peck fan. Here Gregory Peck matures into his battlefield role. Pork Chop Hill has plenty of conventional action, but lacks context and depth, symptomatic of the fact that the film was made just a very few years after the Korean War. For those who lived through the period circa late 50's, Pork Chop provides a very in-your-face, black and white look at the lives of soldiers in battle. Immediately we are plunged into the battlefield with very little in the way of location establish, preamble, character development, or historical context. They didn't use the word Communist even once. We just go there and fight an uphill battle against the Red Chinese, period.

The movie has a very narrow focus, narrow in time and narrow in location, that of the taking of the hill, and the very, very short scene at the negotiating table just scratched the surface of what could have been milked out of that confrontation. An occasional cutaway to the commanding officers (would have liked to have seen more of Barry Atwater, Mr. Cool Cranium) provides only brief relief from the main task of taking and holding the hill. The Leonard Rosenmann music score is used sparingly and in a utilitarian fashion.

I enjoyed the supporting cast, including Norman Fell, Martin Landau, George Peppard, and Harry Guardino. Other than that there were no surprises or unexpected plot twists. Blood and guts were kept to a relative minimum -- no use of squibs. For it's time, I'm sure it was a groundbreaking film, they even use the word DAMN a couple of times. This is straightforward storytelling that tells the story of incredibly brave men, but rather low in shock or artistic value by today's standards. They soft-pedaled the "what are we fighting for" message -- they could have hit a lot harder with that one, but seeing as this was an Army-approved production, the conclusions and emotions one draws from this film seem rather watered down.

Great War Film
Pork Chop Hill is a woefully undervalued war film, superior to some of its more heralded genre partners. The reason is that Pork Chop Hill presents a somewhat complex string of events, stretching from the battlefield to the negotiating table. It pulls this combination off flawlessly, and also delivers a poignant message concerning wars, and the men who fight them.

Pork Chop Hill is the story of a company of American GI's in the Korean War, commanded by Lt. Clemens, portrayed magnificently by a stoic and brave Gregory Peck. They are ordered to advance on a heavily defended Chinese hill, a geographical point of little consequence. Told the hill is lightly defended, Peck advances with confidence, but it quickly becomes clear that this is far from the mop up operation promised by his superiors. He takes heavy casualties, and is drawn into a fierce battle against overwhelming Chinese forces. Meanwhile, his communication to the rear is cut, and Peck is forced to make some tough decisions on his own. Shockingly, the commanders fail to understand the facts on the ground, and continue to make woefully ill informed decisions, in order to save face. Their inaction causes numerous deaths, and Peck is stuck in a battle he cannot win. The film also shows the high command, who care little about a minor battle and the men involved.

Peck is absolutely wonderful as the solid battlefield commander who will do anything for his men. When his troops falter, he is there to steel them. One of the most effective scenes in the film is when Peck is confronted by a soldier who has deserted his position and questions the worth of the ground they are on. Peck tells him the age-old battle axiom, that the lands worth is measured by the amount of blood spilled, and that you fight for your friends, nothing else. A unique point in Pork Chip Hill is the emphasis on the Chinese propaganda system, which must have been devastating, as it effects the viewer, and must have been even worse on the actual soldiers involved. It is just a great battlefield film in so many ways, a must see for fans of cinema and especially for Gregory Peck admirers.

Unforgettable!
This is a movie for people with brains....tough, gritty, makes one feel they are in the trenches with the soldiers...Peck underplays his role which makes the whole cast stand out as individuals...battle-scarred backgrounds and very human interaction....has scenes that stick in your head..one of the best! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

lots of nostalgic fun -That 70's Disney movie
Good clean Fun.Back in those days when the disney studio made a situation comedy there really was just one motive and that was to have fun. Hot of the heels after the success of the Love Bug, Boatniks tried to capture some of that rollicking sense of whimsey. Joe Flynn, Robert Morse and the entire cast are all seasoned pro's. Lots of fun

SOCIAL ISSUES?
WHAT THE HELL KIND OF SOCIAL ISSUES DOES THIS FILM TOUCH? WAS THAT OTHER REVEIWER SMOKING REEFER OR WHAT? STILLL THIS MOVIE IS JUST CHEESY ENOUGH FOR ME TO LOVE!TOO BAD DISNEY DOESN'T MAKE STUFF LIKE THIS ANYMORE.LIZZIE MAGUIRE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

boatniks
This is, by far, one of the greatest movies ever made. The deep content and social issues that it face are incredible. I would suggest that ever person in this country, that holds our freedom close to their heart, watchthis movie. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Another MGM Re-release
That's right. This disc has the same exact transfer as the 1999 Special Edition DVD. It's non-anamorphic, just like the SE, and contains the same extras that you can find on the SE, which were ported from the 25th anniversary laserdisc (if you're curious).

Buy The Graduate: Special Edition DVD, and stray away from this pointless release.

What a disappointment
Excited I was when the package arrived from it's long journey. At last, an anamorphic transfer of this classic. Yet, it was not to be. This is exactly the same transfer as the old release - non 16 x 9 and terrible at that. I'm sending mine back.

Buyer Beware
On the heels of WB's giving the finger to fans of Cabaret a few years ago (the newly released DVD claimed it was anamorphic and wasn't), we get this pointless MGM re-release on DVD of The Graduate which is not anamorphic, nor enhanced in any other special way.So why re-release it?

MGM -- it's no wonder you've collapsed. Nuts to you.

Non-Anamorphic Again
I thought that MGM was re-releasing "The Graduate" to provide consumers with an anamorphic transfer.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

If you have the original DVD from a few years ago, you may as well keep it.For some reason, MGM has chosen to provide another non-anamorphic transfer - which begs the question:Why bother to re-release the DVD?

Very disappointing.

Are you sure it's Non-anamorphic?
I just came across this apparently new release of The Graduate at the Amazon website. I own the original non-anamorphic widescreen DVD from many years ago and have been looking for an anamorphic replacement ever since. According to Amazon's technical details page, it's supposed to be in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. Is this a misprint? How come Lanny the previous reviewer has already seen it although it's scheduled for release only on April 5? Are we referring to the same DVD? I hope someone can confirm the specs because I dearly want to replace the totally deplorable non-anamorphic version MGM released earlier.

PostScript: Thanks for the clarification. Amazon has also corrected it's tech specs to Letterbox 2.35:1. MGM's own website is totally useless in providing any info on the DVD. MGM ought to be ashamed. Trying to pull a fast one on customers. Why bother releasing another non-anamorphic version when the original non-anamorphic "Special Edition" with its extras is already available at a lower price? No wonder MGM's being devoured by the Japanese. Hopefully its new owners will get things right. Here's a tip, 2007 will mark the 40th anniversary of this movie. Surely it's high time to give this classic the treatment it deserves. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A Disaster Film Classic but bad acting
I recently bought the Airport Terminal pack for myself because I always had a passion for disaster films. Before I bought the terminal pack, I wanted to see if I could rent the Airport sequels at the VHS store, they didn't have them, when I finally bought the terminal and when I saw Airport 75, I thought it was a classic for a disaster film, but for acting i though it was a joke, in the entire film, from the beginning and to the end, Karen Black who plays the Head Stewdess on a Boeing 747 that collides with a small private plane during flight looks like she has her eyes crossed, now that was hiliarious! Her acting was just as bad, it became even worse when she had to take instructins for Al Murdock ( Charlston Heston) to fly the plane, that scene was really painful to watch, and one other thing to, the man who was flying the small private who eventually crashed into Flight #409 looked like he was having a heart attack when he lost control, before that happened, if he did have a heart attack then why didn't the movie tell anything about heart problems, I guess that was just to add excitment to the movie. All in All the movie was good, the acting was a joke, esepically Karen Black's acting!

Best of the bunch
My personal favourite of all the Airport movies, Airport 1975 is a camp classic. Right from the opening credits I am whisked away to the 70's and the familiar feeling of snuggling up at the drive-in....I can almost smell the thermos coffee. Airport 1975 doesn't take itself too seriously, yet all the characters play it straight. With a cast that reads like a guest list for a post Oscars party this movie seems to be full of cliches, yet it was this movie that started the said cliches, which I suppose debunks that theory. This is the movie that Airplane (aka Flying High) stuck closest too. With the sick child (Linda Blair), singing nun (Helen Reddy) and commitmentphobe pilot (Charlton Heston) all represented in the direct spoof. The movie however belongs to Karen Black, the poor old flight attendant. The plane is rendered pilotless when a midair collision with a small plane collides with the cockpit. Ms Black then has to take control of the 747 with no experience in flying whatsoever. Entertaining and hilarious.
I was disappointed however in the DVD which was very light on features. I would have loved to see a trailer, a commentary or better yet, a feature on all four Airport movies, but alas, it was not to be. I had to settle for a filmography on the top 2 stars only and that was it.
If you want a blast from the past, or are just fond of the disaster flicks churned out in the 1970's I would heartily recommend Airport 1975.

Buy this version unless they remaster the Terminal Pack...
I won't comment on the film or the acting; it's hard to take any Airport film seriously after Airplane! skewered the genre.

However, if you appreciate the film for what it is, fun entertainment, this is certainly one of the better in the 70's disaster film genre and the special effects have held up well over the years.

If you're interested in this film, I strongly urge you to buy this copy instead of or in addition to the Airport Terminal Pack; there is a mastering error that does not fully expand the film horizontally in that collection, with the result that objects are somewhat compressed horizontally from their true proportions. Another reviewer's references to "tire ovals" and "stick people" is a bit of an exaggeration, but you'll wonder why the plane is so short and stubby and why the airport's pickup trucks look as if they have 4' beds. :-)

In short, another mastering error on Universal's part and, frankly, a somewhat better transfer on GoodTimes' part make THIS the better transfer of Airport 1975...

Superfluous from Beginning to End
I first watched this movie on NBC back in April 1977. Though edited to make it fit its two hour timeslot and allow room for commercials, I later purchased the video from Goodtimes Video to watch the parts not shown by NBC. From the beginning of the movie shot at Dulles Airport in northern Virginia, the cast who star as the crew and passengers aboard Columbia Airlines flight 409, board a Boeing 747-123 (on loan from American Airlines) and it is typical Hollywood overacting, particularly the passengers. Some of the crew, especially Erik Estrada, who plays flight engineer Julio, does quite a bit of womanizing with one of the stewardesses. I've flown a lot during my lifetime, even aboard 747s, and have never heard so much redundancy as depicted in this movie. The sound effects were a little primitive from the Boeing 747 sounding like a Boeing 707 on take-off down to the telephone gongs that are the same ones used on the beginning of the "Rockford Files". This was in the days before George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic came into the vogue. By the way, his film "American Graffiti" was the inflight movie. Some faults are present in the film. The private pilot (Dana Andrews) identifies his plane as "two-three-two-zulu" instead of the correct identitication: N9750Y. Another fault was at the time the stricken 747 lands at Salt Lake City and runs out of runway before Charlton Heston has to turn the nose tiller to make the plane go left at a high rate of speed. Here, we see the passengers get thrown to the left instead of to the right. Another fault we see is that the passengers are catching a glimpse of the daring midair transfer. In reality it would be difficult for anyone to see such an operation. If you were to watch the movie more than once, you could see all these errors.

Better transfer than the "Terminal Pack" transfer
As hard as it may be to believe, this being a "Good Times" release, the transfer on this DVD is better than that included in the "Terminal Pack". Yes, the "Terminal Pack" transfer is anamorphic, and this one has SLIGHTLY more grain....but this transfer is in the correct proportion. Tires are round and the actors don't look like stick people.

My recommendation...buy this disk to supplement your "Terminal Pack". ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The DVD Is Coming!
I read on a message board that due to the success of "Sledge Hammer!" on DVD, now Sony Home Video is planning to release Alan Spencer's dark little jem "Hexed" on DVD!I'm hoping they put out a "Director's Cut" as Alan has said in past interviews that his original version was a whole lot different than what got released.What I'm really looking forward to is some feature length commentary from Alan Spencer.His commentaries on "Sledge Hammer: Season One" were the funniest I've ever heard, so I hope he tries to top himself (without the earthquake hitting again)!

FUNNY!!!!!
I LOVE COMEDIES!! All I have to say is this is one of the funniest dark comedy films!!EVER!!!WHY cant I find it on DVD?????If you have to see it on video...DO IT!! It is worth the time!! OH YA!!!!

PS...If or when this comes out on DVD...someone PLEASE let me know!!!

VERY BAD
I made the mistake of seeing this movie eleven years ago.I made the second mistake of watching this again last week on Comedy Central.Why?It was a pleasantly forgotten, now it plagues my mind once again.
This movie forced me to revise my Worst Movies of All Time List.
I did catch myself laughing slightly in some scenes, but overall the timing is off and the writing, acting, and direction is just plain bad.
(...).

THE DVD EDITION IS LONG OVERDUE!!
I saw this movie at the theatres on opening day. Then I watched it again 2 days later with a friend who hadn't seen it. When HEXED came out on Laserdisc, I scooped it up quick and literally watched it every month or so.

I don't know why I love this movie so much, other than the casting is perfect and the dry humor is unbelievably funny There's also a bitter sense of realism right underneath all of the fake dark comedy. And Ayre Grosse is phenomenal ! I don't know why I think that, I just do!!

I guess it's safe to say it's kind of a 'dumb' movie, but... maybe THAT'S the very reason I love it so much.

Seriously, this movie MUST be relased on DVD soon!! PLEASE!! I have since sold my Laserdisc player and I NEED my HEXED fix soon!!! AHHHHH!!

"Yep, I knew that had to her here." (long pause) "That's a gun."

Hexed...you love it!
Claudia Christian gives an outstanding performance. This was one of the best roles I've seen her in. Definitely check it out!!! ... Read more

Description

When two wannabe actors named Frank travel to Hollywood to become movie stars, they unknowingly become the key witnesses in convicting a local mob boss. On the run from the Mafia, both Franks disguise themselves as women to outsmart the Mafia, cooperate with the FBI and try to get laid. Featuring one of the largest celebrity casts, "The Naked Truth" is an uproariously funny movie--and that's no lie. ... Read more