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With its series-finale episode, Dawson's Creek summed up its six-year run on the WB Network with a sweet and sad tale of reunion and farewell for old friends, soul mates, and lovers.The friends are now 25 and living new lives: Dawson (James Van Der Beek) is in Hollywood executive-producing The Creek, obviously based on his own life and considered "the new hit teen soap at the WB"; Joey (Katie Holmes) is a book editor in New York with a serious beau; Jen (Michelle Williams) is a single mother; Pacey (Joshua Jackson) is the relatively respectable owner of the reborn Icehouse Restaurant; and Jack (Kerr Smith) is teaching at the high school and struggling with his relationship.A wedding brings everyone together in Capeside, but tragedy strikes, and the remaining friends are left to consider their lives and what they want to do with them. Whether or not you agree with the final choices, of course, probably depends on who you've been rooting for.

The extended cut of the finale runs 104 minutes, about 16 longer than when it was broadcast in May 2003.Unlike deleted scenes on movie DVDs, each addition seems like a useful part of the story, and the DVD borrows a helpful feature from the Lord of the Rings extended editions by designating on the chapter menu which scenes are new or extended.Some differences are minor, but there are significant new scenes with Joey at work, Joey and her boyfriend (Jeremy Sisto of Six Feet Under), Joey and Dawson's reunion in Capeside, and Pacey's conversation with old flame Andie (Meredith Monroe).

As they did for two episodes of Dawson's Creek: The Complete First Season, creator Kevin Williamson (who co-wrote the finale) and executive producer Paul Stubin provide a commentary track in which they discuss the new scenes and which characters were originally intended to end up together.There are also four scenes that were filmed for the original pilot presentation (not the finished pilot shown in season one) then reshot. There's a small but important difference in the last scene, Pacey meets Tamara Jacobs in a different video store, and Dawson's dad is played by a different actor before the role was recast with John Wesley Shipp. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (97)

All Good Things Must Come to an End
I caught the series finale on the original air date on the WB. It was both fantastic and heart breaking. It brings the 6 friends back for a wedding. But soon the heart warming reunion turns sour with the news of a friend harboring a heart breaking secret. When the secret is revealed it makes the friends look at themselves.

When Jen tells her daughter to believe in God, is the most powerful scene in the whole show. This coming from a girl who would avoid churches and any mention of God. Jen has difinitely changed throughout the six season on the WB.

Joey resides in NY with her current boyfriend. But when she makes an unexpected return to The Creek, old feelings rise up again. But in the end she gets what she wants without feeling guilty about hurting anyone else.

Although this show is called Dawson's Creek, I don't believe that means Dawson should get the girl. Although he doesn't get the girl, he gets a highly sucesessful show and gets to meet is all-time favorite film maker.

Pacey still gets in trouble with older women, and owns the new Ice House. Pacey is another example of a character that has changed throught the airing of this show. He goes from a troubled-slacker, to someone who has things figured out, for the most part.

Jack finally gets his man! But in the end loses the most important person in his life, Jen. They were, in my eyes, soulmates. Not as lovers, but as life long friends. He is also in a relationship with a secretly gay man (Who knew is would be Deputy Doug. Didn't he claim to be a straight man all these years?)

In the end, they all get what they wanted. And figured some things out along the way. Joey made the right choice. Pacey was the right man for her. He made her happy, and they both had strong feelings torward eachother. Dawson was her soulmate, as a friend. He got what he wanted either way.

We left these 6 friends on TV, but we now can have them on DVD!! GET THIS DVD!! This will be a great UNCUT version of what was aired. Andie should have been apart of the airing of the show, but we still get to see what she turned out like on the DVD. I wish they could have brought all the rest of the characters through out the years back, like Audrey, Drue, and Gretchen. But either way, it is a great ending to a GREAT show!!

Pacey and Joey: True Love
First of all i have to say that I have been a Dawsons Creek fan since the first episode. Granted there were some episodes i didnt really like, i watched them anyways. I never missed one. I think that the finale show was brilliant. Honestly, you can't tell me that Dawson and Joey just make a terrible couple. They are best friends and have always been best friends. You can't throw them at eachother and make it work. When they were together when the show first started, they spent more time trying to come up with reasons why they should be together, than just being happy together. All Dawson did was complain about everything and cried like a little baby. Come on, i know that all the girls around the world would agree with me that they would rather be with a guy like pacey. A guy who acts like a real man. Pacey and Joey have always found a way back to eachother. Plus, he was her "first". At the ski lodge, is when i knew pacey and joey were meant for eachother, just by the way she was talking to him, and also i knew when he turned that girl down because he knew he loved joey. Yeah, Pacey turned a girl down... for true love. One of the best episodes was when Joey left Dawson that summer to go with Pacey. Right there tells you that she loves him more than anything, and most of all more than Dawson. Joey and Pacey ending up together was the best way to end the show not just because it gave the fans a twist, but because its true love, and true love conquers all. great ending to and awesome show!! great job kev

Best Series Finale of Any Show I Have Ever Seen
When I saw this episode when it first aired, I was blown away. It was the best 2 hours of television that I have ever seen.

It takes place four years in the future, which I thought was a great idea. It let us see our favorite characters in the real world after college, and it was good.

Joey's now an editor, Jack's an English teacher, Dawson is the writer and director of his own show The Creek, which was based on the indepedent movie he made during the second season of the show. Jen is a mother to a beautiful baby girl, Amy. It's said that her boyfriend knocked her up and then left her. I would assume that the boyfriend wasn't Jensen Ackle's character, who we last saw her with because he seems like too nice of a guy to do that, but they never really say who it was.

The gang is in town for Dawson's mother's wedding, and the first hour has to do with the death of one of the cast, which is very heartbreaking, I cried many times, while the second deals with the love triangle that is Pacey, Joey and Dawson.

I loved the finale when it aired in May, but when I heard that there were deleted scenes in the dvd, I had to buy it even though I had the other on tape. It was well worth it, if just for the return of Meredith Monroe as Andie. The best addition was at the very end when they show clips of all of the most important scenes of the last 6 years. It's very touching.

I would definitely recommend buying this whether you saw it when it aired, or if you have yet to see it.

It is an excellent episode.

All Good Things Must Come To An End...
All in all, the series finale for Dawson's Creek is quite satisfying. Excellent performances, interesting storylines/scenarios, suspense, sheer conflict and resolution. In terms of entertainment, it portrayed what a true finale should be. It brought things full circle and didn't seem rushed. One thing did irk me, though, and this bothers me with any show: the re-writing of history (example: Joey always knew? Um, I thinketh not..) It truly is an issult to viewers who've watched a show non-stop. It's sloppy, and very poor writing. But nothing's perfect, and the finale definitely could've been a lot worse considering the last few lackluster seasons of 'DC'. It closed things out, at least. Maybe not in the best way, nor with the best tactics... but closed it out nonetheless.

Huge Disappointment
It was bad enough that in the beginning, after Joey's longtime feelings for Dawson, their first kiss and their move into a relationship, she starts having doubts and breaks off the relationship.

But we could let this pass in the name of teenage angst, or "let's find new plot twists to make show interesting".

But ending the show with Pacey and Joey getting together, when there was so much magic and chemistry between Dawson and Joey, is just bad writing.

We watch these types of television shows to escape, and to get the happy ending that we perhaps did not get in real life. The main guy always gets the girl.....But more than that, Dawson and Joey, that was something special....

Had this been the ending I would have bought all the seasons. As it is, I will not waste my money. ... Read more

Description

The Slipper and the Rose is a grand musical adventure in the tradition of The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady. This lavish production features Richard Chamberlain in a spirited retelling of the classic Cinderella fairy tale, and the Academy Award-nominated score is provided by the Oscar-winning song-writing duo the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). The Slipper and the Rose is a brilliant mix of fantasy and realism that will enchant viewers of all ages. No musical collection would be complete without this romantically delightful film.Audio commentary by director Bryan Forbes (The Stepford Wives, King Rat). Video interview with the Sherman Brothers. Promotional featurette--Cinderella Story: The Making of "The Slipper and the Rose." Available for the first time on home video in its complete, full-length version. 143 minutes. AC-3 Soundtrack. 16x9 anamorphic widescreen transfer. ... Read more

Reviews (93)

Better than Roger's and Hammerstein's!
I found this movie one day on the Disney Channel while flipping throug the channels. I only saw the last hour or so, but I was enthralled. I have looked for it for 2 years. Then I discovered it's finally on video. I bought it at once, naturally. This is the most romantic version of the famous tale that I've ever seen. Richard Chamberlain does an outstanding performance as the prince. He's handsome, charming and witty. I'm surprised more of the princesses didn't agree to come to the bride finding ball. Gemma Cravens is the perfect Cinderella: beautiful, sweet, and kind. A princess in her manner and character. Edward and Cinderella are the perfect couple. Their love is touching. And I like all the twists and turns in the story that leave you wondering if maybe the prince won't marry his beloved Cinderella. But of course he does, but the two go through a lot. They have their problems and separations. It's not all roses for them. Though this is a fairy tale, it doesn't seem like it. It's all very believable. And very well done. It didn't lack anything at all. It's just a wonderful, romantic tale, and a joy to watch. Love really does find a way!

HOORAY! A must have for every video library!
I, like most viewers, saw this years ago, and it has been in my heart ever since! I am so thrilled that it is finally being released and others will become acquainted with, what I consider, the greatest Cinderella story ever! The casting is absolutely superb, Richard Chamberlain and Gemma Craven are the epitome of this famous prince and his leading lady! Equally enjoyable is the fairy godmother, whose character is like icing on the cake! The story is very romantic, but also very believable, as each character deals with the demands of protocol. The scenery and musical score speak for themselves! Absolutely superb! I've been singing the songs for years! ("Once I Was Loved", "Rainbows Raced Around The Room," and "The Family Crypt song," which is hilarious, are favorites!) Buy this movie today! It's one you don't want to miss!

A SECRET KINGDOM.....FAR -A-WAY.........SOMEWHERE!
THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE was one of the last of the great romantic musicals. It is an enchanting production, produced on a grand scale;with lavish, detailed costumes, a talented, all-star cast, and a marvelous academy award-nominated musical score, by the famous Sherman brothers. The musical is pitched as a Cinderella story; but no one pays much attention to Cinderella, as this version focuses mostly on her Prince. Richard Chamberlain steps up to the plate and steals the show; with his stately good looks, beautiful baritone voice, and graceful dance routines. From the very first scene, when he rides up to the castle on his magnificent horse, all eyes remain fixed on this amazingly talented actor; who was born to play royalty. He and the famous Christopher Gable, deliver an unforgetable song and dance routine in the royal family crypt, that is not only a visual delight, but a challenging athletic endeavor as well. Bryan Forbes directed this fanciful, witty, production with his usual "eye for detail". He treats his audience to majestic snow scenes, stately castles and cathedrals, romantic gardens, and a Cinderella ball scene that has "rainbows racing around the room, and shooting stars that begin to zoom"! Gemma Craven is an acceptable Cinderella, but her mediocre talents are overshadowed by the amazing talents of her co-star, Richard Chamberlain. This is a fun, visually pleasing, romantic Cinderella story, told from the Prince's perspective. As always, the regal, romantic Richard Chamberlain, rounds up his audience, and very capably whisks them away to a Secret Kingdom ......far-away....Somewhere!

Very disappointing.
After winning an autographed copy several years ago, I had to wait a long time to unite this DVD with a DVD player. I have always enjoyed the Sherman Brothers' work, from Mary Poppins to 1776, even the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. I was also looking forward to finally watching Michael Hordern onscreen, after falling in love with his voice in the BBC's radio version of The Lord of the Rings (he was a spectacular Gandalf). Now, after all that buildup, what a tremendous letdown. I'm about 40 minutes in and bored out of my skull. The jokes are flat, the lyrics monosyllabic and predictable, the melodies are entirely forgettable, and the acting is entirely two-dimensional.

Not recommended for anyone over the age of 5.

With the best Fairy Godmother ever
I remember seeing this when I was young, but couldn't remember the name of it. I was delighted when I found it again. While some of the songs in this are not the best work ever in a musical, ("Proticoligorically Correct" comes to mind, which in my opinion drags the movie down a bit), the acting of the cast in the rest of the film more than makes up for it. The showstopping song and dance of "Position and Positioning" is particularly fine, and does bring back memories of the rooftop dancing from "Mary Poppins," which was also the work of the creative team on this film.

Even those actors who don't have any lines to speak of add to the fun, including the Queen mother of "the other bride," whose facial expressions while her husband and the King of Euphrania discuss the problem of their disobedient children make me laugh every time I see it.

The leads do a wonderful job in this, particularly Richard Chamberlin, who portrays a very kind and thoughtful prince. As with many veteran actors, you can almost see what he is thinking when he is onscreen. (Veteran, indeed; I still find it hard to believe that he was 40 when he played this role!) The fact that we actually get to know the prince is one of the things that make this retelling of the tale superior to others. He has at least as much screen time as does Gemma Craven, and it adds to the richness of the story.

Gemma Craven, as the main character, does a fine job, managing to stay just this side of sappy. Often with the Cinderella story, I feel the urge to slap the girl silly, most often because the actress in the role is sort of "parroting" goodness. Ms. Craven's performance leaves you believing that Cinderella is simply a noble being, willing even to sacrifice her own happiness for the good of the people in her homeland, and trying to ensure that the man she loves will not be miserable when he finds she has done so. You can't help being delighted for her when things turn out right in the end.

The best performance by far, though, in this movie is that of Annette Crosby as the Fairy Godmother. Rather than the sugary-sweet version that we are served up in the other versions of the Cinderella story, Ms. Crosby's performance is delightfully tart and very funny. This version also finally explains the reason for the "leave before the stroke of midnight" stricture, which has always been an irritating point in the classic fable. *Why* does Cinderella have to leave before midnight? The explanation in this version at least makes sense.

For fans of the Cinderella myth, this is a good version to choose. ... Read more

Reviews (162)

Gordon Gekko gets his comeuppance--big time!!!
Less than a full year before A PERFECT MURDER (1998) was released, Michael Douglas starred in THE GAME (1997), which is not simply a Michael Douglas movie, it's a David Fincher film-and you know what that means! From a screenplay by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris, THE GAME is classic Fincher: dark, mysterious and with a constant sense of brooding danger in which lets you know that somehow, somewhere, something is not quite kosher.

In THE GAME, Douglas is Nicholas Van Orton; a man of great wealth and power and totally devoid of any human compassion (as evidenced by the cold and callous way in which he fires a longtime employee). If this sounds like Gordon Gekko to you, it's because Michael Douglas, at this stage in his career, plays cold callousness like no one else. Call it typecasting; I call it brilliant acting ability and being smart enough to stick with what works. However, Gordon Gekko in the legendary Oliver Stone-directed WALL STREET (1987) didn't have a younger brother; Nicholas Van Orton does. On Nick's 48th birthday (the same age at which his father died, hint hint), his black-sheep-of-the-family brother Conrad, as brilliantly played by Sean Penn, visits him in his sprawling, cherry-wood office and hands his older sibling his birthday present: a business card with the name Consumer Recreation Services (CRS) on it. "What is this," Nicholas cynically asks. The sly answer given by Penn is one of my favorite lines in the film, and one that tells us that his elder bro's life will never be the same, once he begins to play THE GAME.

Along the way, Nicholas Van Orton encounters CRS and its primary spokesman (or so he thinks) Jim Feingold (played with disarming confidence by character actor James Rebhorn), a mouthy cocktail waitress (Deborah Kara Unger) who seems to hold the secret to THE GAME, and a spooky-looking full-size inanimate clown who appears to watch everything he does. Also along the way are near-brushes with death that culminate with Conrad Van Orton's tearful admission that he "didn't know what the $#@! he had gotten them into" when he had signed his brother up for THE GAME. But that's still just the beginning...

Everyone is superbly cast in this film, including BABY DOLL (1956) herself, Carroll Baker, and the always-watchable Armin Mueller-Stahl. But the real star here is David Fincher; he is so adept at guiding us down a labyrinthic path of which only he knows the end, that all we can do is hang on and enjoy the rollercoaster ride on which he breathlessly takes us. He primarily relies on small, subtle signs of foreboding to generate suspense, as opposed to full-blown violence and gore. Although this is one of those films that relies on first-time viewers' lack of knowledge of what to expect, and thusly loses something on repeated viewings, it is still a very good film to re-visit on occasion, if only to experience Fincher's unique style (this film and A PERFECT MURDER are miles apart in this respect, believe me), Douglas and Penn's acting and the production values, which are first-rate.

See and experience THE GAME for yourself.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

CULT MOVIES 57
57. THE GAME (thriller, 1997) On the day of his birthday millionaire businessman Nicholas (Michael Douglas) is visited by his brother Conrad (Sean Penn) with a gift. The gift involves Nicholas signing up for a mysterious company which offers a 'game', which in turn offers the participants a series of surprises that "provides whatever is lacking" in their lives. Though a rather pessimistic and somber individual Nicholas accepts in the hopes of escaping the memory of a solitary childhood and witnessing his father's suicide. When the surprises the 'game' issues become seriously deadly Nicholas wants out. But this particular game offers no escape.

Critique: Nerve-wracking, high wire act of a movie directed with guile precision by David Fincher ('Seven', 'Alien 3'). So far all of David Fincher's films have been good which is rare for someone who has been dubbed as a purely commercial director. The sort of tagline that is a deathnail for anyone seeking true legitimacy in Hollywood. Michael Douglas is good in the role of another heartless tycoon type character in the mold of Gordon Gekko from 'Wall Street'. Douglas gives the character just a slight insidious turn and taking him into Twilight Zone territory. It's also good seeing Sean Penn in a first rate mainstream movie for a change. Film is made in such a way that every detail has to be dissected in order to make a logical progression of events. Which otherwise would seem chaotic and purely coincidental. Towards the climax it all makes perfect sense and provides a most welcome escape ending. When the credits roll and you know it is truly over it is strangely satisfying and disappointing.

QUOTES: Conrad: "What do you get for the man who has everything?"

The initiation of a millionaire
Nicholas Van Orton (Douglas) thinks that he has everything - this is true only is we consider material possessions (a vast house, millions of dollars, an enviable reputation, etc.). What he is lacking is the access to the sacred and to his true Self. CRS is there to help, courtesy of his brother Conrad (Penn). But Van Orton will have to get rid of all that he previously stood for and accept to lose himself in the unknown. While some viewers have objected to the film's outrageous events and progression, this is precisely what draws me to it: its willingness to dispense with 'believable' developments makes Van Orton's quest all the more powerful. The movie could have been subtitled 'The initiation of a millionaire', because Van Orton undergoes numerous archetypal trials: he is stuck in a car underwater (in the belly of the monster); he is buried alive; his descensus ad infernos is such that he (literally) has to make a death-defying jump in a garbage dump; he has to find his way through mazes and use secret keys; most scenes take place in darkness. By the time he becomes a new man late in the movie, he has already died three or four times! Perceptive viewers will discover far more than a strandard thriller here, if they allow themselves to dig under the surface... a remarkable film.

Birthday that you'll never forget
Can you imagen a movie with no victims and yet it's one of the best thrillers ever made?! When I heard that director is David Fincher who is responsible for hits such as Seven or Fight Club and that Michael Douglas has leading role, that was more than enough for me to buy it. And I didn't regret it: This film is one wild ride through every aspect of your mind. Just in the moment you think - It's all clear now, next one will leave you with your mouths open. Every scene is one big surprice for you and for main character Nicholas, who is cold rich businessman, who cutted all bonds between him and his family and friends just for power and more money. But his brother's present for his birthday will change everything. One moment, he's on the top of the world, next one he is down in rags, fearing for his life; confused and with no confidence in anyone. That is the price when you are in The Game. Michael prooved that he worths dozen Oscars and Sean Penn is also very good. If you like fast, confusing and surpricing thrillers, this is a movie for you. Note: Ending is unforgetable!!!

Where's The Director's Cut????
This was a great movie with an excellent story to go with it. It's too bad the dvd shares the same fate of others with weak features and no behind the scenes or commentary. This is one dvd that deserves an overhaul like the one that panic room received. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Rio Grande finest of much vaunted "Ford Cavalry Trilogy"
Rio Grande, shot in glorious black and white, is in a way the most colorful of the three cavalry movies that John Ford made with John Wayne. As in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" Wayne is in the starring role but a fetchingly mature Maureen O'Hara is able to hold her own with Wayne and become as powerful a figure in the story. Much of the fun of watching this picture is the on screen chemistry of Wayne and O'Hara, they are totally believable as lovers and as equals. It must be duly noted that they are supported by the John Ford stock company and they are seldom showcased as well as this. Of particular note are superb efforts by Harry Carey, and Ben Johnson who carry their parts in an easy and natural style, and Victor Mclaglen who reprises his Sgt. Quincanon from "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon". The DVD edition was digitized from the original negative and it is indeed beautiful. The soundtrack is also clear although a trifle shrill at times. Wayne, with mustache and crumpled hat never looked better, Victor Young's score is rousing, and Ford is at his sentimental and poignant best in this "must see" western classic.

A John Wayne Western Only A Woman Could Love
The director John Ford and the actor John Wayne made three of the most remarkable Westerns ever made. Critics refer to them as the "Calvary Trilogy and they center on the life and times of horse soldier Nathan Brittles, who "Never apologizes because it's a sign of weakness" but does manage to make amends to the wife he wronged (O'Hara) in spectacular style. The chemistry between Wayne and O'Hara is amazing, all the more so because they kiss only twice in the film. Both are middle-aged when they meet again, but communicate a passion and sexuality which puts any modern screen pairing in the shade. The film is remarkable because O'Hara is truly Wayne's equal, a feminist in hoop skirts and even more suprising, not the only one in the film. Rounding out the cast are Ford's "stock company" a group of some of the finest character actors ever to grace the screen. If you're female and you've never been able to get into Westerns, this is the one that will get you there. It's funny, touching and features a female lead who is far from passive and years ahead of her time.

THE TRILOGY'S SUNSET RIDE
RIO GRANDE nicely finishes off the John Ford Cavalry Trilogy. While not as intense as FORT APACHE, or touching as SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON, RIO GRANDE earns its stripes with the trademarks of the trilogy: luminous direction, straight forward story telling and solid work from The Duke, Maureen O'Hara and of course, Victor McLaglen, who steels the first 20 minutes of the film. "Welcome home, darling," he bows to O'Hara as she's escorted into the fort by The Duke, to which she replies: "I see you still have that ox with you." Pappy and The Duke have the regular Ford/Wayne troop still with them and it works. The Sons of the Pioneers offer a new song book, but the band still plays "The Girl I Left Behind Me" when the cavalry marches out. There's a lot to be said for the old ways.

A Trilogy Completed
This is the third of Ford's films which focus on the U.S. Cavalry and its violent encounters with the Apache. Wayne's role in each is quite different. He is a subordinate officer in Fort Apache, a commanding officer about to retire in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and again a commanding officer in this film but estranged from his wife Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), and son Jeff (Claude Jarman, Jr.) among the men he commands. Lieutenant Kirby Yorke (Wayne) resembles Woodrow F. Call in Lonesome Dove (played by Tommy Lee Jones) who refuses to show any favoritism or even affection whatsoever to his son. (In fact, Call denies his fatherhood.) Of course, Ford ensures that husband and wife are reunited by the end of the film; also, that father and son become close after Trooper Yorke plays a key role in helping to rescue children captured by the Apache and thereby earns his commanding officer's (and father's) respect. A similar relationship exists in Red River except that the conflict is resolved without a brawl. Personally, I would have preferred less reliance on Irish ballads, the focus on Yorke's marital conflicts, and what I view as the macho element of which Ford was so fond. Nonetheless, Wayne's performance is outstanding and the sequence by which the children is rescued is brilliantly portrayed. In additional to much improved sound and image, this DVD version also offers several excellent supplementary features which include a scene-specific commentary with Maureen O'Hara, a mini-documentary "Along the Rio Grande with Maureen O'Hara," and "The Making of Rio Grande" hosted by Leonard Maltin.

John Ford's Triumphant Conclusion to Cavalry Trilogy!
'Rio Grande', the last of director John Ford's 'unofficial' Cavalry Trilogy, has often been unfairly judged the 'weakest' of the three westerns. Certainly, it lacks the poetic quality of 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon', or the revisionist view of a thinly-disguised reworking of the events surrounding the death of George Armstrong Custer ('Fort Apache'), but for richness of detail, a sense of the camaraderie of cavalrymen, an 'adult' (in the best sense of the word) love story, and a symbolic 'rejoining' of North and South conclusion that may have you tapping your toe, 'Rio Grande' is hard to beat!

It is remarkable that 'Rio Grande' ever got to the screen; Ford hadn't planned to make it, but in order to get Republic Pictures to agree to his demands for 'The Quiet Man' (he wanted the film to be shot on location in Ireland, and in color), he had to agree to do a 'quickie' western that would turn a quick profit for the usually cash-strapped studio. This is, perhaps, a reason why the film is held in less esteem than it deserves. 'Rio Grande' may have not been born with high expectations, but with John Ford in the director's chair, and John Wayne and the Ford 'family' in the cast and crew, the potential for something 'special' was ALWAYS present!

A few bits of trivia to enhance your viewing pleasure: Yes, that IS Ken Curtis, singing with The Sons of the Pioneers, in the film...while uncredited, he made a favorable impression with Ford, and soon became a part of his 'family'...Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr, and Claude Jarman, Jr, actually did their own stunts while performing the 'Roman Style' riding sequence (Carey said in interviews that they were all young, and didn't think about the danger of it; a production would lose their insurance if they 'allowed' three major performers to do something as risky, today!)...Did you know that O'Hara, playing Jarman's 'mother', was barely 14 years older than her 'son', and was only 29 at the time of the filming?...Harry Carey barely had any lines in the script; most of what you see in the film was ad-libbed!...the popular ditty, 'San Antoine', sung by Jarman, Carey, Johnson, and Curtis, was, in fact, written by Mrs. Roy Rogers, herself, Dale Evans!

Whether you're viewing 'Rio Grande' for the first time, or have sat through many viewings, the film has a richness and sense of nostalgia for a West that 'may never have existed, but SHOULD have'. It would be a proud addition to any collector's library! ... Read more

Description

James Wilby (Gosford Park) and Juliet Aubrey (Middlemarch)portray the reluctant royals who became king and queen of England whenEdward VIII gave up the throne for the woman he loved, on Bertie &Elizabeth. Albert, Duke of York, called Bertie, married Lady ElizabethBowes-Lyon in 1923 after a storybook courtship. Expecting a life ofgenteel obscurity, they were thrust into the limelight in 1936 whenBertie's older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated to marry thetwice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. Shy, modest, and ahabitual stutterer, Bertie was crowned King George VI just as hiscountry faced the onslaught of World War II. With the help of hisdevoted Elizabeth, he rose magnificently to the challenge. Bertie &Elizabeth also stars Alan Bates (Love in a Cold Climate) as Bertie'sfather, King George V; Eileen Atkins (currently starring with Bates andWilby in Gosford Park) as his mother, Queen Mary; Charles Edwards asEdward VIII; Amber Rose Sealey as Wallis Simpson; David Ryall as Winston Churchill;Robert Hardy (Lucky Jim) as President Franklin Roosevelt; and CorinRedgrave (Persuasion) as General Bernard Montgomery. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The love story of King George VI and the Queen Mum
There was never supposed to be a Queen Elizabeth II sitting on the throne of England, anymore than there is ever supposed to be a second Queen Victoria.When the Duke of York, the second son of King George V, married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the first commoner to marry into English royalty since Anne Boelyn, it was not of any concern because his older brother David would inherit the throne as Edward VIII.When the couple had their first daughter, they named her Elizabeth and I always thought it was because he wanted to honor his wife.So when Edward VIII gave up his throne for the woman he loved, the American divorce Wallis Simpson, the Duke of York became King George VI, his wife became Queen consort, and their daughter would one day be Queen Elizabeth II.

"Bertie and Elizabeth: The Reluctant Royals - The Story of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth" begins the story right before they meet in 1920 and ends it after his death in 1952.Of course, Elizabeth then became the "Queen Mum" and the most beloved woman in England and there is some indication of why in this Masterpiece Theater movie.During the Nazi Blitz during World War II when it was suggested that the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret be taken to Canada for safety, it was the Queen consort who insisted that the family stay in London just like all of the other citizens who had no place to go.There is some indication of the affection their subjects had for the King and Queen, but mostly the scenes are set in the castles out of the public's sight.Of course, that is the attraction of such biopics.

James Wilby ("Gosford Park") and Juliet Aubrey ("Middlemarch") play Bertie and Elizabeth, with Alan Bates as King George V, Eileen Atkins as Queen Mary, Charles Edwards as Edward VIII and Amber Rose Sealey as Wallis Simpson (note: the two brothers are actually named Albert and Edward although they are called Bertie and David respectively by family and friends).This movie enhances the reputation of the title characters and they end up replacing the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as one of the great love stories of Twentieth Century.The Prince of Wales was a playboy who lied to his family, neglected his duties, and made fun of his brother's stutter.His future wife was a snob and when she puts down Elizabeth it is Wallis Simpson whose reputation takes a major hit. Of course, any and all such hits are historically justified by the objective evidence regarding the infamous couple.

Ultimately, this movie is a testament to how King George VI, considered a shy, dull-witted, colorless man married to a hopelessly plain wife, became heroic figures by their actions during the war.Edward VII and Wallis Simpson were style, but George VI and Elizabeth had substance.Even though she is another minor character in the story, the Princess Elizabeth (Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh), can still easily be seen as the product of her pragmatic parents.Queen Mary has a couple of nice scenes, as does Winston Churchill (David Ryall), but overall this is a history light version of these interesting times.That is because the emphasis is on the Reluctant Royals and the peculiar dynamics of the House of Windsor. Yet, even against that troubled backdrop the simple bonds of affection between the last King of England and the woman he loved.

A raher sugary telling of history.
This Film tells the story of the current Queen Elizabeth's parents. Many remember well her late Mother who died very recently aged 101, her Faher is remembered for taking over the role of King from his wayward Brother who abdicated in order to marry Wallace Simpson (the divorced American, shock horror!) It plays the couple as blissfully happy young people, madly in love and not interested in royal life.
It plays the Queen Mother as a sweet girl, badly treated by the nasty Mrs Simpson.
It places all the major historical events in context, the abdication, WW2, the birth of Princess Elizabeth (now the Queen) and Princess Margaret (the Queen's late Sister).
I'm just not sure it is as truthful as it could be, King George had a very bad stammer and was highly anxious of public speaking, he was damaged by the cruel treatment of his Father and no doubt by years at Public School; not one jot of that information is played out here. In contrast, many historians suggest that Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, or the Queen Mother as she later was, was quite keen to not persue nor accept King George, preferring his Brother who later abdicated.
The reported poor relationship between she and Mrs Simpson (later the Duchess of Windsor) was 2 way street, the Duchess reportedly teased the Queen Mother about her robust figure and was aware of her jealously of her, and it was generally reported the Queen Mother treated the Duchess with comtempt and like a cheap harlot. Again the film glosses over this, maybe the makers had to be careful to keep lawyers off their back, this was screened in Britian just after the Queen Mother's death so it may help to explain it's historical engineering work and the general feeling that you are viewing a J M Barrie adaptaion, I was waiting throughout for Peter Pan to appear!; it really was that fancifull at times.
Not great but worth a look, the central actors are pretty wet and unconvincing too but that seems to be a script fault.

Great Costume Drama, But Historically A Bit Lacking
Bertie and Elizabeth is the story of the courtship and marriage of Prince Albert, Duke of York and second son of King George V, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.This has historical significance in that Bertie and Elizabeth became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in December 1936 upon the abdication of Bertie's older brother King Edward VIII, who became Duke of Windsor.George VI and his Queen led the British monarchy through World War II and the beginning of the dissolution of the British Empire before the King died in his sleep in 1952.

The first segments of this story are well done but a bit thinin historical detail.I would like to have seen more of the difficult relations between Bertie and his parents, and I feel personally that the character of Edward VIII was drawn to be crueler than he deserved. (While there is no doubt that the Duke of Windsor was self-absorbed, he was kinder to his siblings, particularly Bertie and his stuttering problems, than this film depicts.)I also think Elizabeth's character comes off as superficial too much of the time, and that Wallis Simpson is made out to be far nastier than she deserves (I don't have much use for the Duchess of Windsor, but most of her missteps were out of ignorance rather than malevolence.) I enjoyed the scenes showing Elizabeth's working to help her husband overcome his stammer, though I rather doubt they really spent much time on the floor of the doctor's office.

The Abdication scenes and the early years of George VI's reign are well done, particularly the Royal Visit to President Roosevelt in 1939, but things get skimpy again in the World War II years.I don't understand why Elizabeth's famous comment that she could at last look the East End in the face after Buckingham Palace was bombed was left out. I also don't quite see the point of spending so much time focussed on Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and her wartime travails. Some of the characterizations ofgenerals and politicians are very well done indeed, particularly Montgomery and Churchill. (Its nice to be reminded of Churchill's sense of humor!!)The last few segments showing the King's final years are also nice.Queen Mary's shocked reactions are used to good effect to emphasize the advent of change in the late 1940s with the election of a Labour Government. (Clement Attlee is also very well done.) I also thought Elizabeth Dermot Walsh's portrayal of Princess Elizabeth (the present Queen) as a cool headed pragmatist extremely well done.

My only real disappointment with this film is that it istoo short.A six hour mini series would have covered the period with far more detail and historical accuracy.But this film does reveal the humanity and courage of a King who did his duty and of the Queen who loved and supported him.Its a nice reminder these Windsor-bashing days. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

So Many Favourites In One Film!!
Henry Fonda stars in one of his most famous roles as Mr. Roberts, an officer on board a cargo ship, a man who underestimates his importance and the respect he is shown by an appreciative crew. The reason they admire him so much is because he stands up to their dictatorial captain, played ferociously by James Cagney. Fonda brings a lot of dignity and quiet strength to his character. The great William Powell is Fonda's confidant and ship's doctor, and Powell plays him with wisdom and class. Jack Lemmon, as Ensign Pulver, gets many of the film's best laughs, as he broadly plays the officer who is a lot of talk, but not much action. Mister Roberts combines humour, honesty, and drama very well, giving the viewer a real sense of the camaraderie onboard the ship. We also see how the human spirit can triumph under difficult conditions. And it's also a great chance to see four of Hollywood's greatest actors in one film, each one showing what they did so well. This is one to watch.

Thank you, Mr. Roberts
When Henry Fonda received the Kennedy Center honors in the late 70's, as part of his tribute, the Naval Academy glee club sang. Red River Valley saluted Grapes of Wrath, but the highlight was Anchors Away, when the Midshipman director of the glee club turned about face, saluted and said "Thank you, Mr. Roberts." As each Middie left the stage, he saluted and former Lt (jg) Fonda returned each one. Mr. Fonda was reported to have said that that was the greatest honor he received in a truly distinguished career.

This movie has that impact--it is a salute to "all those brave men who sailed from Apathy to Tedium, with an occasional side trip to Monotony" (I hope I have this right). When he died, the network news tribute was a dark screen and the sound track as Dolan and the others, having learned just what Mr. Roberts had done for them, each repeated those magic words "Good night, Mr. Roberts."

This is my favorite movie, one which I have watched at least 100 times. With marvelous performances by William Powell (Doc), James Cagney (the Captain), and Jack Lemmon (Ensign Pulver), as well as a fine supporting cast, this is a "must have" selection.

Review is of DVD - Not the movie
Given the "classic" status of this movie, it seems meaningless to discuss the content for this review. Thus, I will stick to reviewing Warner Brothers DVD release of the film.

First, I commend them for the inclusion of the excerpt of an Ed Sullivan "Toast of the Town" (1948) tribute episode featuring the movie's stars. This was really interesting viewing.

However, for the movie itself....this is the worst Warner release I have seen since "National Velvet". The picture frequently becomes out of focus, and the picture is often very undefined throughout the whole movie. There are a couple of places in the movie where the picture jumps, as if the film from which the transfer was taken "skipped a sprocket".

Overall, this is an embarassing release of a classic movie....despite the great extras which are included. Warner needs to go back to the drawing board on this one.

I love this movie!
The film "Mister Roberts" has everything.

Great Story, great cast, great meaning. If I had my choice of only a dozen movies to recommend to anyone, this would be one of them.

After fifty years, it's still an inspiring story of how sometimes small, seemingly insignificant details and the consideration of the human factor contribute to effective leadership.

In fact, this film is still in use as a motivational tool in the U.S. Naval Services.

I highly recommend this movie.

One of my favorite movies
I loved this movie when I saw it many years ago, it's timeless and still funny after all these years. I'm so glad it's available on DVD and now part of my movie collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This landmark 1939 Western began the legendary relationshipbetween John Ford and John Wayne, and became the standard for all subsequentWesterns. It solidified Ford as a major director and established Wayne as a charismaticscreen presence. Seen today, Stagecoach still impresses as the first matureinstance of a Western that is both mythic and poetic. The story about a cross-section oftroubled passengers unraveling under the strain of Indian attack contains all of Ford'sincomparable storytelling trademarks--particularly swift action and socialintrospection--underscored by the painterly landscape of Monument Valley. And what anensemble of actors: Thomas Mitchell (who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as thedrunken doctor), Claire Trevor, Donald Meek, Andy Devine, and the magical John Carradine.Due to the film's striking use of chiaroscuro lighting and low ceilings, Orson Welleswatched Stagecoach over and over while preparing for Citizen Kane. --Bill Desowitz ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Classic western with great characters and beautiful scenery
"Stagecoach" is a landmark film in so many ways. While probably not the very best western ever created this stunning production is memorable as being one of the first of the genre where just as much emphasis was placed on character development as action. It also marked the breakthrough role (and first collaboration with frequent director Ford) for a young John Wayne after a decade of appearing in countless B films, and the first time that director John Ford used his most favourite location of Monument Valley, Utah for shooting which gives this film an almost out of this world ,mythical quality.

Produced in the magical year of 1939 "Stagecoach" more than holds its own with all the other great classics produced in that year. Honoured with two Academy Awards for its musical score and the beautiful performance by Thomas Mitchell as the drunken doctor travelling on the stagecoach the film tells a very simple story of the intertwined lives of a group of people travelling through dangerous Indian territory on a stagecoach and how each effects the others lives in different ways. Ford assembled a sterling cast of performers here and apart from Wayne as the wrongly convicted outlaw the Ringo Kid we have the before mentioned Thomas Mitchell (in the same year that he played Scarlett O'Hara's father in "Gone With The Wind"), as the drunken doctor who is forced to deliver a baby on route, Claire Trevor in a superb performance as the "scarlett lady" Dallas, run out of town for her morals who forms an attachment to Wayne's character , Andy Devine as the coach driver and John Carradine as the shady gambler Hatfield. Donald Meek also registers as the fumbling spirits salesman who keeps having his samples raided by Mitchell. Louise Platt also does some memorable work as the very pregnant Lucy Mallory, travelling on the stagecoach to join her husband who gives birth during the journey and with help from Dallas learns a good lesson in understanding and tolerance of other's failings. "B" movie cowboy veteran Tom Tyler also makes a rare appearance as the Ringo Kid's nemesis Luke Plummer who is involved in a shoot out with Ringo at the finale.

"Stagecoach" contains many memorable moments, the most outstanding without a doubt being the lengthy and cleverly filmed Indian attack on route which contains some of the most amazing stunt work seen in films up till then. It is the work of stuntman genius Yakima Canutt who doubled for John Wayne in all the complicated action sequnces such as when the Ringo Kid takes control of the horses leading the stagecoach when it is attacked. These stunt scenes became re-used footage in countless westerns over the succeeding years so brilliant they were and are still considered.

While not being a huge fan of the western genre I do love this film for its intelligent writing and attention to character development often not seen in alot of westerns. The beautiful location photography adds a tremendous boost to the overall look of the film and really sets the mood for the whole piece. It is such a landmark film in so many ways already mentioned however for sheer entertainment value for those that like action adventure tales it is unsurpassed. I dont feel you even need to be a western lover to enjoy it so well crafted are the characters and the action story that they are involved in. For stirring western excitement you can't go past John Ford's memorable classic "Stagecoach".

The film that catapulted The Duke into stardom
Before 1939, a young actor named John Wayne had been starring in b-movie Westerns for years. The western genre wasn't taken very seriously, and neither was the young, sauntering cowboy who starred in them. Stagecoach changed all that. Director John Ford knew talent when he saw it, and with this film one of the greatest alliance/friendships in Hollywood history was formed--that of John Wayne and John Ford. Out of this memorable alliance several wonderful films came, but this was the first.

Shot in Utah's beautiful Monument Valley, Stagecoach follows the adventures of a group of unlikely traveling companions as they cross the stage route in an effort to stay clear of Geronimo and his band. Along the way, the group picks up the Ringo kid (Wayne), a confirmed killer. As the journey progresses, the group's true colors come forth, a young prostitute who was driven from her home (played by Claire Trevor) becomes the true heroine, and the stuck-up aristocratic woman, the banker, and the whiskey peddler are forced to learn a valuable lesson--that true inner character is far more important than social status.

The movie itself is a masterpiece, from the brilliant storyline to the climactic ending with the Ringo Kid's battle in the street. The cinematics are spectacular (especially for that time), and Ford's directing is flawless. There have been many, many Westerns since this one (a great deal of them starring John Wayne), but no Western has ever changed the face of the motion picture industry like Stagecoach did.

AWESOME!
John Wayne's first major role, "Stagecoach" is both exciting and poetic! A great addition to anyone's western film collection! Grade: A+

Only Western that I Actually Liked
We had to watch this movie in one of my college courses and I absolutely loved it. a young John Wayne does a stellar job in his role as an outlaw with a good heart and the rest of the cast is exceptional as well. Even if you don't like Westerns you will love Stagecoach.

READ MORE
1939 WAS COSIDERED THE BEST YEAR FOR MOVIES. AND HERE ARE ALL THE TOP MOVIES FOR 1939. DARK VICTORY,GONE WITH THE WIND[WHICH WON BEST PICTUE AND IS CONSIDERED ONE OF OR MAYBE THE GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME]GOODBYE MR.CHIPS,LOVE AFFAIR,MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINTON,NINOTCHKA,OF MICE AND MEN,THE WIZARD OF OZ,WUTHERIG HEIGHTS, AND STAGECOACH WINNER OF ACADEMY AWARDS INCLUDING BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR THOMAS MITHCELL, AND BEST SCORE NOMINATED FOR I THINK FOUR ACADEMY AWARDS INCLUDING BEST PICTURE MADE JOHN WAYNE A STAR ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF CHARCTAR AND COMICAL ANDY DEVINE. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Out of the era where craziness reined supreame
Out of the late 70s and through the earliy eighties came some of the greatest comedies that man kind has ever known. Amoung them the Sequel to Airplane. A satire film dedicated to mocking disaster films (like Airport), and in this case, space disasters as the cast and crew are off to the first settlement on the moon when a sabature reeks havick on the computer system. The computer goes hayware and once again Stryker must save the day. Although the plot of this movie is pretty much the same as the first there is a slugh of new gags, plus some old ones revisited that makes this movie a great companion to the original. Like the first the movie is filled with many-a-hillarious moments that will keep just about anyone laughing. There are a few time sensative gags that some might not understand if they were not around for that era, but not as many as the original or other movies from this era. I was very happy when I got this DVD. However a warning to parents: although this movie is rated PG it does feature some brief nudity and a lot of PG-13 level jokes. This movie is not appropriate for children despite its PG rating.

Lack of New Material Lets it Down
Two years after the hilariously funny, and new comic styled original came the sequel (inevitably I suppose) and sadly was nowhere near its predecessor in comedy or durability. Perhaps the lack of the Zucker team at the helm helped steer this vessel on to the rocks, as it certainly dived at the box office pretty rapidly. Don't get me wrong, this is still funny, but is really only a reworking of the original movie, only this time using a Space Shuttle as the doomed aircraft. The main characters are all back to reprise their roles with the addition of William Shatner (who's presence and role are one of the high points of the movie), but unfortunately the director just went with the same formula, and the lack of fresh material, makes the movie lumber. Fans of the genre will no doubt find plenty here to keep themselves amused, and the budget price means that your home collection can be completed quite inexpensively if you have the original, but otherwise this is a bit of a let down. I desperately wanted to give more but 3 stars is a stretch.

Nowhere Near As Good As The Original, But It's Still Funny!!
The redundantly-titled (on purpose, of course) AIRPLANE 2 - THE SEQUEL (1982) follows the rapid-fire, gag-a-second style of the original AIRPLANE! (1980) so well that, although it doesn't come close to matching the original for laughs, it's amazing that it was made without any input at all from the ZAZ boys (Jerry Zucker-Jim Abrahams-David Zucker) whatsoever---no writing, no directing, nada! It was in fact written and directed by just one man: none other than Ken Finkleman. I know, you're probably asking, Ken Who? Well, it seems that good ol' Ken is rather famous---more like *infamous*---for two mega-bombs of the '80's: GREASE 2 (made the same year, actually---1982) and WHO'S THAT GIRL? (1987). The fact that he took a beloved comedy that was still fresh in the minds of the audience members and dared to follow it up with his own vision, and made it this funny, is just amazing. (Now, if he only could have done that good a job with GREASE 2...)

Of course, AIRPLANE 2 - THE SEQUEL couldn't live up to the lofty expectations set by its predecessor, but that's okay, as there are some big-league laughs here. Robert Hays returns as the stone-faced, hilariously serious Ted Striker as he tries to prevent disaster on the First Passenger Space Shuttle To The Moon. Along for the ride, literally, are Julie Hagerty as Elaine, the flight attendant and Striker's ongoing love interest from the first film. Also making a return is (believe it or not) Lloyd Bridges as old Steven McCrosky (who must've picked a bad time to start guiding space shuttles), and Peter Graves as Capt. Clarence Oveur (thankfully, little Johnny didn't board this flight). Too bad Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) didn't come back for this trip; however, joining the crew in AIRPLANE 2 - THE SEQUEL are Chuck Connors as The Sarge, Raymond Burr as Judge D.C. Simonton, and William Shatner as Commander Buck Murdock. Shatner steals the show and gives what is easily the funniest performance in this film. Unless you've never seen Star Trek, you're bound to get the endless jokes!

In short, this is a really short movie. At only 85 minutes, with at least five of those minutes showing flashbacks to the first AIRPLANE!, this sequel doesn't give us very much. However, it still gives us plenty of hilarious moments, such as what happens at the end of a line of people, each one exclaiming "Striker," "Striker," "Striker...!" Also, it gives us Sonny Bono as the villain---c'mon, you can't possibly hate a movie that does that---plus, we get brilliant cameos by Rip Torn, Hervé Villechaize, and James Noble (the Governor on the TV show "Benson" for those who don't recall the name). Not only that, but David Leisure is back! (Although, instead of playing "First Hare Krishna" he's playing "Religious Zealot #1.")

Listen, I wouldn't recommend spending the proverbial arm & a leg on this DVD, especially because, like its predecessor, it offers absolutely nothing in the way of extras. But, at the price for which it's being offered on Amazon, I'd say that it's well worth it.

RECOMMENDED
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF AIRPLANE!

Not Anywhere Near The Original
Let me start off by saying I loved the first Airplane and consider it to be the best comedy ever. So I'm not a hater of the genre. When I first saw Airplane about two years ago I laughed until I cried. Just days after seeing it I was in an electronic store and saw Airplane 2 on DVD. Assuming it was made by the guys that made the original I bought it, oh how wrong I was. This is nothing but a sad attempt to copy the success of the original. Paramount asked the Zuckers and Jim Abrahams to do the sequel, when they declined saying there's not enough jokes left to do a sequel Paramount just hired some other guy to do it. The result, Airplane 2 crashes and burns.

Warning: There's Something Missing...
I won't waste time with complimenting or insulting this movie. I love it...just not as much as the origional. What really bothered me was the absence of several scenes. I kept having the funny feeling that I was missing something (I hadn't seen the movie in 10 years) and then it dawned on me. After the credits we see "Airplane III" and then it shows William Shatner say, "That's just what they'll be expecting us to do.". I had scene this snippet in a scene years ago when I watched Airplane II.

I then realized that some very funny stuff had been left out of the movie. The origional or even TV version had several more scenes that were simply deleted in the DVD version. I'm guessing maybe 10 to 15 minutes are missing. I can't even begin to comprehend why these scenes were deleted. We're obviously not worried about time constraints on a DVD.

I am very disappointed with this version simply because of the deleted material. I really enjoy this movie, but would have enjoyed it a lot more had the whole movie been included. Perhaps they should sell it with a warning stating that you're not receiving what you expect. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This latter-day sort-of Western from John Ford--falling midway between The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance--is a crisp retelling of a true-life episode from the Civil War. In 1863 a Union colonel named Grierson (Marlowe in the film, and John Wayne by any name) led his cavalry several hundred miles behind Confederate lines to cut the railroad between Newton Station and soon-to-be-embattled Vicksburg. Grierson's Raid was as successful as it was daring, and remarkably bloodless. Never fear that the screenplay makes up for that un-Hollywood lapse--as well as supplying amatory distraction for the colonel in the form of a feisty Southern belle (Constance Towers) who has to be dragged along to protect secrecy.

There's a certain amount of bombast in the running arguments about wartime ethics between Marlowe and the new regimental surgeon (William Holden), who don't take to each other at all. But Ford more than makes up for it with such tasty scenes as an encounter with a couple of redneck Rebel deserters (Denver Pyle and Strother Martin), an ethereal swamp crossing led by a cornpone deacon (Hank Worden), and above all the famous skirmish with a hillside full of grade-school cadets from a venerable military academy. The film ends rather abruptly because Ford abandoned a climactic battle scene--the veteran stunt man and bit player Fred Kennedy having been killed in a horse fall. Golden-age cowboy star Hoot Gibson, who acted in Ford's directorial debut, Straight Shooting, appears as Sergeant Brown. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (23)

My Favorite John Wayne Movie
I am an unabashed fan of John Wayne movies from "Stagecoach" to "The Shootist." Among them all, "The Horse Soldiers" is my personal favorite.

John Ford captures, in vivid, robust color, the pageantry of the Union and Confederate cavalries. With flags flying, horses pounding, and bugles blaring, Ford and Wayne create sheer movie entertainment. The musical score by David Buttolph perfectly captures the varying moods of the film and complements the stirring visual images. From "I Left My Love" to the "Bonnie Blue Flag," the music accents the film's emotions. William Holden and Constance Towers are well-cast as Wayne's nemesis. The supporting cast is bolstered with many Wayne regulars, including Ken Curtus (Festus from "Gunsmoke").

Many criticize the factual inaccuracies in John Wayne films. So what! He didn't intend to make documentaries, he intended to make rousing, entertaining movies. I will always believe this was his best...

Ford and Wayne do it again
To many who look at John Wayne as a one dimentional jingoistic actor this is likely the first film I would show them to change their mind. It is a fine war movie with some great battle scenes, yet it never fails to take away from the viewer the message that war is a terrible thing.

This film adaption of the Grierson's raid during the Vicksburg campaign gives us a close up look at the pain that war causes. Historical license it taken often Grierson the music maker becomes Marloe the engineer. Several battles are added to spice up the script, and the inclusion of the use of the Cadets harkens to a fameous battle a year later in Va.

It also give us pleanty of good subplotting in the roles, both in the ranks particlarly Sergeant Major Kirby who is loads of fun, and among the officers. It also contains some classic lines between Holden as a doctor who is regular army but a doctor first and Wayne a commander who doesn't like war, doesn't like doctors but does what needs to be done. "...the coffee tastes better when the latrines are dug downstream. How do you like your coffee Col?" as usual the actors who I refer to as the "John Wayne Guild" do their usual good supporting jobs.

In closing it is the interaction between Wayne, Towers and Holden, combined with the painting of war as something to be avoided that makes this movie a five stars classis vs just another John Wayne movie.

Great John Wayne Movie
I love this movie. John Wayne's swagger, William Holden's class, and Constance Towers' charm. They all combine to make an excellent Civil War Movie based on an actually raid that pushed deep into the South.

The movie of course isn't accurate but that doesn't matter. The drama and action are great and there isn't any silly romance to ruin things. Constance Towers' presence helps in the development of John Wayne's character but doesn't slip into any thing that distracts from the main part of the movie.

There are also some great battle scenes. My favorite is the VMI cadet charge. This was also based on a real event that apparently wasn't as big of a deal as in the movie but is still interesting to read about if you get a chance.

I recommend this movie to all John Wayne and Civil War movie buffs.

Another Ford-Wayne based on a Historical event.
This movie teams William Holden with JW and the friction between these characters holds the movie. I rate this as one of my top 10 JW movies. The movie is based on historical events and except for a battle that didn't happen, it is close to the truth.

A late John Ford classic
The Horse Soldiers is a later John Ford cavalry movie in which he joined with John Wayne. Based on a true story, the movie is about a behind the lines mission for Union colonel Marlowe and his cavalry brigade. They are sent deep into enemy territory to destroy an important depot so that the siege of Vicksburg can end sooner. There are well-done action scenes throughout as well as some humor in a few scenes.

John Wayne stars as Colonel Marlowe and is his usual great self. William Holden stars as Major Kendall, a doctor sent along on the mission who cannot get along with the Duke. It is revealed in the movie why Marlowe hates doctors so much. Constance Towers stars as Miss Hannah Hunter, a Southern belle forced to accompany Wayne and his men. Ken Curtis and Hank Worden are excellent as two of Duke's scouts with Denver Pyle and Strother Martin hilarious in a scene as two Confederate hillbillies. The DVD offers a cleaned up version with trailers added on. An excellent and exciting Duke classic well worth the price! ... Read more

Reviews (119)

Candidate for the Best Political Satire of its Time
Have you ever seen Frank Sinatra kicking a Korean man and shouting: What was Raymond doing with his hands? No? Well, here is your chance. Quite seriously though, this is one of the better movies out there. It turns out Raymond was brainwashed into becoming an unconscionable killing machine, and his hand movements were imitating a game of solitaire--the trigger for thoughtless actions, including the taking of human life.

The movie is a dark political satire that exposes politics as a game in which the lust for power is the dominant motive. Angela Lansbury is here in one of her best roles as a traitorous witch behind a bluffing, blustering, Joseph McCarthy-ite Senator. This is also one of Sinatra's better roles, as he displays quite a range of acting: from depressed aloofness to irrepressible violence. The movie has real characters, even though there was a danger it would end up with stick figures and straw men. But no, everything is done superbly, including the McCarthy-ite thug of the Senate and the liberal senator with a milk cartons. Even the Russian operative from the Pavlov Institute in Moscow is a real character.... "always with a touch of humor."

Excellent Classic Thriller
The Manchurian Candidate, starring Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh, and Angela Lansbury, is a well-acted film based on the novel about a mind-controlled assassin created to facilitate a political coup. Sinatra is the former army colleague of the man programmed for the deed, and he begins to have nightmares about the experience where his unit was captured in Korea and then brainwashed by Russian & Chinese personnel. Laurence Harvey plays the programmed killer, who is promoted as a war hero (and the other unit members programmed to praise him even though his real personality was unpleasant). Sinatra's character begins to work with military intelligence to uncover the Harvey character's memories and uncover the full plot, which involves the mother of the programmed assassin, played by Lansbury as the wife of a U.S. Senator seeking the Presidential nomination on the heels of his McCarthy-esque tirades against communists in the government. This clever plot unfolds with a smooth pace, and Janet Leigh provides a stylish role as Sinatra's romantic interest as he pursues the main mystery. The DVD has some extra commentary on the film, with Sinatra & the director providing their insights, although there could have been more bonus material and improved picture quality for the DVD transfer.

I wanted to love this movie
I wanted so badly to love this movie, and on some level, I do. My first viewing (on DVD since I didn't get to see it when it originally came out) wasn't the best experience. I got lost. Oh, I understood the basic plot and thought it was one of the most brilliant things I've ever seen, but I missed some things. On a second and third viewing, I STILL didn't get some of the connections. As I said, I got the main idea and thought this brilliant, but some of the writing failed to connect the dots. Even if you don't like every line/connection/piece of the plot, you have to like the acting. The ending will (sorry for the pun), blow you away. Can't wait for the remake.

The original classic
The Manchurian Candidate is a John Frankenheimer directed film set in the middle of the cold war. A group of US soldiers is captured and then brainwashed by the North Koreans and returned to the US lines. Members of the patrol begin to have strange dreams which are in reality the repressed memories of their brainwashing technique.

The crux of the story is the manipulation of one of the soldiers [Shaw] by his mother who's marriage to a McCarthy like senator hides the fact she is really a communist plant. The patrol's commander, played by Frank Sinatra in a fine performance, slowly pieces togther what occurred behind North Korean lines.

Manchurian Candidate predates the Kennedy assasination and the assasination itself was a key reason that the film was later taken out of circulation until the 1980's. A masterpiece of paranoia and political intrigue, The Manchurian Candidate set the tone for a slew of like minded conspiracy films none an finely made or anywhere near as chilling. Both Sinatra and Angela Landsbury in the role of Shaw's mother, put in very fine performances.

Highly recommended.

Political satire and thriller rolled into one
"The Manchurian Candidate" was a product of its era that has managed to transcend the era that produced it. This political satire and thriller captures the sense of paranoia that existed in America during the 50's and early 60's. Frank Sinatra, Lawrence Harvey, Angela Lansbury and James Gregory all give top notch performances in John Frankenheimer's classic film of Richard Condon's novel.

A platoon of soliders are betrayed by their military guide and captured by the North Koreans during the Korean War. Their subjected to mind control techniques to make one of them the perfect assassin. When they return home, the platoon's captain (Sinatra)begins having nightmares where his Sgt. Shaw (Harvey)kills two of his men in cold blood. In these dreams they are surrounded by the enemy in a lecture hall being conditioned for the mind control experiments. It's clear that the Sgt. has been conditioned to become a "sleeper" agent--impossible to detect because he doesn't know that he's now an agent for a foreign power. Additionally, Shaw's mother (Lansbury)uses the concerns over communists in the US government to launch her husband's (Gregory)bit to be put on the ticket for the vice-presidency.

This new edition comes with two featurettes. The first features director William Freidkin ("The French Connection", "The Exorcist", "To Live and Die in L.A.")in an appreciation of Frankenheimer's career. Freidkin discusses how "The Manchurian Candidate" broke with the conventions of political thrillers of the time. The second features 15 minute interview with Angela Lansbury about working on the film.

The animated menus is also new and the features from the first disc including Frakenheimer's marvelous commentary track are kept in tact. Do you need to upgrade to this new edition? Only if you didn't purchase the previous one. The previous edition had both the widescreen and full screen versions of the film and all the features here except the two previously mentioned featurettes. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Shirley MacLaine in her greatest musical performance
This new DVD release of SWEET CHARITY is a welcome addition to any classic movie collection. Shirley MacLaine stars as Charity Hope Valentine in the celebrated film version of the Broadway hit.

Charity (Shirley MacLaine) works at the Fan Dango Ballroom, a dingy dime-a-dance hall where the girls give a lot more away than dances. Charity runs her heart like a hotel, and gives her love to one undeserving man after another. Her two best friends Nickie and Helene (Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly) are the ones who help Charity when she is ultimately betrayed by each boyfriend who comes into her life. Ever-hopeful (sometimes impossibly-so), Charity goes through life with wide eyes and wide dreams...

When Charity meets the mild-mannered Oscar Linquist (John McMartin re-creating his Broadway performance), she believes that she will finally be able to leave her sordid past and profession behind her. But will Oscar be as understanding?

Shirley MacLaine colors Charity more vividly than Broadway's Gwen Verdon did (or was permitted to do). MacLaine is especially affecting and heartbreaking in the final 15 minutes of the movie, and sings a plaintive "Where Am I Going?".

Bob Fosse's first big Hollywood film, SWEET CHARITY was a big, if not huge, success when it was first released. The choppy editing and artistic touches that audiences failed to appreciate then make much more sense now, following the success of MOULIN ROUGE. The impressive supporting cast includes Ricardo Montalban, Sammy Davis Jr. and Stubby Kaye.

This beautiful new Special Edition DVD presents the complete 'Road-Show' version of the film including Overture and Intermission. There are also many extras including the trailer, the original 'Making-of' featurette, a featurette where designer Edith Head takes us through her colorful costumes, and the alternate ending that was never used. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).

You're gonna get up, get out, and buy it!!
I'm grateful for the comments before me which explain the enigma that is "Sweet Charity." It takes a book of a relatively sad, downtrodden character and turns it into a musical (and not a happy-go-lucky one either, as is often the assumption). The film comes at the start of the stylized, mod 70's- and while some of Fosse's visuals over-saturate this point, the story is so smart that it doesn't matter. (It was Fosse's first film direction and it has his signature all over it.) And I'm glad that the VHS presentation letterboxes the musical numbers, even if it standard-screens the nonmusical portions. There's no other way to view the dance hall girls sexily draped over the barre in "Hey, Big Spender," or the film's best number- the sensational rooftop dance "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This." (This may be the most theatrical moment in the film as it allows pure, full-bodied dance by Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera, and Paula Kelly.) And those who generally dislike musicals would be surprised at the film's bittersweet ending; it's not entirely happy but it is completely triumphant, and it never ceases to bring tears (well, just one) to my eyes.

For Serious Fosse Fans Only
Ok, this movie is a clunker. The story doesn't hold up well in today's feminist or post-feminist era and MacLaine's performance made me cringe.

However, here's the great thing about DVD: use the scene selector to skip right to the fabulous dance numbers! "Rich Man's Frug" and "Hey Big Spender" are two of Fosse's best on film, and big enough that you'll want to watch them several times to catch all the details and dancers. And as a special treat to Fosse fans, the extras on the DVD include some brief segments with THE MAN himself.

Fosse newbies, skip right over this and go straight to CABARET which is a brilliant musical AND a brilliant film.

I'm amazed
I'm amazed that some studio gave Fosse the chance to direct again after this downright failure. I do have to give some of the blame (ok, most) to Shirley MacLaine who is annoying, needy, and badly acted/sung/danced. I want to sock her Charity in the nose almost ceaslessly.

The only let up from her killing the part are Fosse's dance numbers. "Rich Man's Frug" lives up to its reputation, and "Rhythem of Life" are amazing. ( My friend and I were ready to burn the tape we were watching, and then "Rhythem" came on. We stayed for the rest of the movie.) Fosse as a director also seems to care only when his signature dances, or any dances, come on. That's when the camera usage that one gets to know so well in Cabaret and All That Jazz come in. During the naratives, he seems bored with the story and doesn't put nearly enough energy into it. One is left waiting for the stars, (preferably not Ms. MacLaine) to sing and dance for all they're worth for all the movie. It is also too long. I felt the ending was not harsh enough to Ms. MacLaine's Charity. An STD would have satisfied me.

Such Fun
Shirley McCain is wonderful in this movie. Kudos to Gwen Verdon, but unlike many other movie versions or broadway shows, this movie has the ultimate actress for the role. She is strong, naive, vulnerable and eternally hopeful as well as charming.
In additions there are great musicall numbers, of which, Rich Man's Frug is the worth the price of the dvd or tape. ... Read more