Description

A wholesome young woman gets swept into the world of the rich and famous when a romantic business tycoon falls in love with her simple country ways. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Even Doris Complained About It
Yes, in her autobiography, Doris Day complained that co-star Cary Grant just wasn't into his role here. I call this incarnation "Wink Cary" because towards the end of his movie career, Cary always seemed to be screwing up his eyes as though staring into the sun; I interpret this as his growing dissatisfaction with the movie roles offered him. "Wink Cary" never has proper interaction with his co-stars and is apparently waiting to be told to go home, as if he were on jury duty. In "That Touch of Mink", Cary plays a wealthy man whose limo splashes the dress of Doris Day. One thing leads to another, and he tries to launch an affair with her, only to be foiled repeatedly by various things, including her breaking out into a rash at the thought of fornication, even with Cary. Adequate supporting work by indignant Audrey Meadows and misidentified Gig Young, who keeps getting slapped by Meadows who thinks he's the guy trying to breach Doris' honor. There's better Doris and better Cary movies out there; see them first.

A delightful and witty sex comedy
"That Touch of Mink," directed by Delbert Mann, is a delicious 60's sex comedy about the romantic duel between Cathy Timberlake (played by Doris Day), an unemployed working girl with small-town roots, and Philip Shane (Cary Grant), a rich businessman. Along for the ride are Audrey Meadows as Cathy's fiercely protective roommate Connie and Gig Young as Philip's wisecracking employee Roger.

"That Touch" is absolutely hilarious and delightful from start to finish. Day is irresistible--wholesome and innocent, yet feisty. Grant is charming and funny. Meadows and Young get lots of comic mileage out of their marvelous supporting roles.

The film is also a joy to look out. The sets and costumes are marvelous (there's even a fashion show); the screen bursts with color. The script combines witty dialogue, zesty social satire and goofy physical comedy with a cleverly structured plot. There are also some fun cameos by recognizable faces--I won't spoil the fun by revealing them. And it's all nicely complemented by a playful musical score. "That Touch" is one comic battle of the sexes that really holds up after all these years.

Not bad, but not as good as the Hudson/Day/Randall comedies
Watching _That Touch of Mink_ is like watching something from an alternate universe where instead of the formulaic early '60s romantic comedy where you had Rock Hudson as the desirable yet unavaliable bachelor, Doris Day as the perpetual virgin and Tony Randall as the neurotic and closeted best friend you had Cary Grant as the desirable yet unavailable bachelor, Doris Day as the perpetual virgin (apparently no other actress approached Doris Day's iconic status as a virgin) and Gig Young as the neurotic and closeted best friend. Talk about "through a glass darkly"!.
All of this is very cute but the problem with Grant and Young is that they can't pull off the Rock Hudson/Tony Randall dynamic. Hudson had a boyish charm that Grant, a more substantial actor, didn't, and the dynamic between Hudson and Randall is a lot more playful than the one between Grant and Young, and of course when it came to playing neurotic closetcases no one can even hold a candle to Tony Randall. I mean really, if they had ever had an Academy Award for "Best Portrayal of a Neurotic Closetcase" they would have awarded it once, in 1961 for _Lover Come Back_ and then retired it forever.
Doris Day is of course virginal, amazing that someone with so little talent was able to make such a career out of the supposed possession of a hymen. You might dispute as to whether or not virginity is a good thing but regardless of your opinion you have to admire Day for making so much out of hers.

Sweet romantic comedy
Doris Day plays Cathy Timberlake, an unemployed girl next door from outta town. Cary Grant plays the suave and sophisticated Phillip Shane Managing Director of a successful company. On a rainy day in Manhattan Phillip Shane's car accidentally splashes Cathy Timberlake who is standing on the edge of a kerb. Later from his office he spots Cathy on the street and he sends his assitant Gig Young to apologise and to give her money to compensate for her ruined dress. Cathy is not impressed and says to Gig Young that she wants to throw the money back in Philipp's face so she goes up to his office but instead of telling him off she falls for his good looks and charm. She is then whisked off to a meeting of board directors, flies on his private jet, attends a UN speech and ends the day attending a baseball match. Cathy is thoroughly smitten by Phillip and he is really impressed by her so much that he asks her to go away with him for the weekend to Bahamas.

Being Doris Day, Cathy is of course all virtuous and is in a dilemma as to whether she should go away on her dirty weekend with Phillip. She decides no but is finally persuaded to do so because Phillip goads her into do so. She has a wonderful time until the night arrives and is faced by being seduced by Phillip at which point she is so stressed that she develops a rash all over. So poor Phillip is left playing cards on the terrace with another man who's wife "is not well". So Cathy returns to New York with her virtue in tact. She tries to lure Phillip away again and the second time is so drunk that she falls off her balcony. Phillip decides to not woo her any longer and finds her a job in a credit card company only for her to mess up the company's entire filing system. In the end, to win back Phillip, Cathy and her roommate, Audrey Meadows think up of a plan for her to go away with the sleazeball who works at the local benefits office and for Phillip to chase after them which inevitably he does.

This film is a bit dated ie Cathy being virtuous and shy but it's a great comedy. If you love vintage clothing from the sixties there's even a catwalk run thrown in. The colours are wonderful and the lines delivered by the actors are sharp. Doris Day is her usual bubbly self and you couldn't get smoother guy than Cary Grant. Fun film to watch on a rainy day in.

Lealing

That Touch Of Mink
This is a marvelous comedy classic Starring Doris Day and Cary Grant in this marvelous Universal Comedy Classic ! But released onto Video by Republican PIctures! Cathy Timberlake (Doris Day) is a poor out of work New Yorker that gets run into herself with mud by a limousine owned by Philip Shayne (Cary Grant) well they end up falling in love and go to Brazil together and have all and a lot of fun! Great classic family movie! They get married at the end and have a happy life together! ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A Well endowed portray of the classic novel/movie
As the 70's came to a close, nobody exactly knew what was beyond the horizon of the 80's...much to say it's taste in TV movies. "All Quiet on the Western Front", a 1979 made-for-tv movie, said it all. You have your all-star cast of "The Waltons" Richard Thomas, academy award winner Ernest Borgnine, cult fave Donald Pleasence and British actor Ian Holm. Unlike it's 1930 counterpart, which places itself in the hall of fame of war epics, this update gives more and askes for little.

Much like the book and the original movie, the story takes place in 1914 central Germany at the eve of World War I. Many schoolboys (and yes, just like the original film, they oddly speak English with American and British accents, yet its...Germany?) are destinted to join up with the Kaiser's army and fight for the "Fatherland". Paul Baummer (Thomas) is an eager young boy who doesn't exactly look like the fighting type (truth be said, Thomas is giving into too much of his John-Boy image from "Waltons", but nevermind that), in fact he gets distracted easily. But he and his school buddies join the resistance. After going through harsh training with anal Himmelstoss (Holm), they are sent to the frontlines of France. There, they meet Katczinsky (Bognine) AKA "Kat", a seamlessly old warhorse that takes the boys in and teaches them how to fight. And unless you haven't read the book or just know the story like everybody knows the Cinderella story, one-by-one the boys die horrible deaths in the trenches and it's to a point where even some lose their minds. Paul is sent back home because of injuries but returns because he feels like the trenches are his home. Only for his to find out that he's the only remaining of his group aside from Kat, who dies a long and painful death after being hit by shrapnel and being carried a mile or so by Paul to safety. Ouch. Once again, Paul is distracted by something and thus we have "All Quiet on the Western Front"

The tv movie won a Golden Globe for Best Made-For-TV Movie and it definately deserved it. The production vaule was superb and you can tell. I merely wonder if the director intended the film to be released theatrically, because it's quite well shot and pretty high on special effects scale...that is for the 70's. One such thing that would bug a lot of history buffs is just how not a single word of German is spoken throughout the entire movie...and it takes place in Germany! It would be like an American movie were everybody speaks French, but it's Southern California! Right up along side "Enemy at the Gates" (Russians speak with British accents, Germans speak with American?) it's a well endowed movie and a perfect selection for a history class.

Very tough movie
This is a very good and tough movie. It is a big improvement from the 1930 version.

Great film but would have been better without the editing.
As most of the other reviews have noted, this is a great movie. What disappointed me though was that a lot of little parts were edited out. I saw this movie on TV several years ago and recorded it. I thought it was excellent and eagarly purchased the DVD. I wish now that I had kept my tape. Because although the edited parts did not take away much from the story as a whole, those same parts added so much more to it. For example in the unedited version, during training Paul Baumer comes to the aid of one of his comrades who has fallen into the mud. For this he is punished by Corporal Himmelstoss. Later at the front, Paul and his platoon mates are sitting in their dugout and discussing why Himmelstoss received the Iron Cross. By this time Himmelstoss is behaving more human and when he enters the dugout he is no longer taunted. In fact Kat moves over on his bunk to make room for him. These are only 2 examples. There was much more.

Still a good movie, but because of the editing I rate it only 3 stars.

Getting There
Having done a college thesis on this book and the two movie versions, I feel qualified to write reviews. Acting is far better here than in the version of 1930, and so are the special and sound effects. The reason is clear enough: in 1930, actors were new to the concept of sound in films. However, just looking at the DVD cover you know you will have to take this one with salt: he hasn't even got the right helmet on- that one is more WWII than WWI. Apart from things like that which only sticklers such as myself will actively object to, this is an excellent adaptation of a wonderful book. buy it, unless you hold a degree in German Militia in which case all this will do is annoy you. This means you, Mikhail.

Best antiwar movie ever made!
Thank God there are some people in Holywood who can create masterpieces. It is the first movie ever created with such realism about the horrible WW1. It doesn't have any Rambos killing everybody without even sweating. It is more believable than any other war movie, even if it's only a novel. Maybe because it is seen through the eyes of a German soldier. Who knows! Anyway I recomend this movie to everyone who is tired of watching action heroes combined with ...(true stories)??? ... Read more

Description

Rock Hudson and Doris Day are together again!Jerry Webster (Hudson) and Carol Templeton (Day) are rival Madison Avenue advertising executives who each dislike each other’s methods.After he steals a client out from under her cute little nose, revenge prompts her to infiltrate his secret "VIP" campaign in order to persuade the mystery product’s scientist to switch to her firm.Trouble is, the product is phony and the "scientist" is Jerry, who uses all his intelligence and charm to steal her heart in this outrageous comedy of mistaken identity, co-starring the ever-delightful Tony Randall. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

They don't make 'em like this anymore!
Funny, charming, romantic, is what I have to say about this film. "Doris Day" was a smash. "Rock Hudson" was suave and debonair, he played his roll very well. And what a handsome gent he was. "Tony Randall" was a hoot. He was the funniest of them all. Mr. Webster played by: "Rock Hudson" makes up a phoney Idea called, VIP; to throw "Doris Day" off his track in a business deal. He creates a commercial with a show girl, and calls her the VIP girl. "Doris Day" finds out that the product VIP wasn't a real business deal, and demands that Mr. Webster prove his product exists or face the court for false advertisement. A very funny romantic comedy. I recommand it for the whole family to watch.

The Best of Day and Hudson
I think that Lover Come Back is the best of the Doris Day/Rock Hudson romantic comedies. The humour is sharper and more adult, and all the actors nail their characters down perfectly. Day and Hudson are rival advertising executives, with Day using the by-the-book approach, and Hudson wining, dining, and providing female companionship to lure and sign clients. Through the kind of mixups you expect from one of their movies, Day comes to believe that Hudson is a client, and then things become complicated. Tony Randall plays Hudson's boss, an insecure man that wants to protect himself above anything else, but who ends up paying the price over and over for Hudson's antics and schemes. The dialogue has a lot of funny lines and innuendos, and the three leads play it with relish. The supporting cast of Edie Adams, Ann B. Davis, and others, all add to the fun. Director Delbert Mann has a sure touch and keeps the film moving along briskly, and even though you can pretty much guess the conclusion, it's a lot of fun getting there.

Boy, have things changed!
I found this video in the stores recently. Now, mind you, I have already seen this movie when it was in the theaters. Then it seemed like a light hearted romp. By today's standards, it is virtually archaic in the acting and the script. Still, it is DEFINITELY a PG film.

An incredibly sexist film...Disappointing for Doris Day fans
Oh. My. Gawd. I mean, for years and years and years, we've all heard the feminist critiques of how Doris Day was an example of the retrograde sexism of her times -- the Eisenhower era and the early, pre-feminist Sixties, blah blah blah -- but in movie after movie, I've seen her portray a capable, cheerfully assertive participant in the battle of the sexes -- no doormat here! The Doris Day-as-antifeminist icon thing seemed like a bum rap to me. This film, however, is the first one of the classic Doris Day-Rock Hudson bouts I've seen in which Day is, pure and simple, a victim and a sap. Hudson co-stars as a rival advertising executive, who uses tacky boy's club tactics to steal Doris's clients out from under her. Rock takes a guy out drinking, provides a few call girls and --zingo!!-- he lands the MagnaSoap contract. Doris stammers and clenches her fists, struggles to give him a piece of her mind, while he in turn jeers at her, calls her frigid, and flaunts his sexual mastery at all possible junctures... Of course, their first battle is fought, as in "Party Line," over the phone, so she hasn't had a chance yet to see what a hunk he is. In Round Two, Doris assertively hauls him in front of the review board of the chamber of commerce, a decisive act that boomerangs when, with a nudge and a wink, Rock makes a fool out of her in front of the all-male panel and walks away unscathed. From that moment on, he's got Doris under his thumb, besting her at every turn, and, finally, gets her so drunk that she beds him, winds up pregnant and is forced to marry him and live, um, happily ever after.

The script is peppered with the most aggressively sexist dialogue of any of their films -- it's as though, after having set the formula and worked through it in several previous films, the Hudson-Day producers felt they had to one-up themselves and make it more extreme, punchier, harder. The humor has an underlying mean-spiritedness and misogyny, a lack of balance that's exemplified by the Hudson character's near-complete lack of growth. You assume, early on, that during his seduction of this hapless female, that he will unwittingly fall in love with her and become a better person, but througout the course of the film, the only moderation in his behavior comes at the very end, when he realizes he would rather stay married to her than not. Nonetheless, he's never actually contrite or abashed, Hudson's still pretty much a jerk when the curtain closes and it's up to Day to recognize that her physical attraction to him trumps their past history. Plus, she's all knocked up: what's a good girl to do? As a result, the film isn't as enjoyable or as pleasant and frothy as other Doris Day films, in fact, I found it a bit jarring, although the glimpse back at old-school male chauvinism can be pretty instructive.

On a more entertaining note, this has some of the most delectable and blatant homoerotic/demi-gay undertones of any of Hudson's films. The scene in which Hudson cradles Tony Randall's head in his hand (to help swab some dye off his face) is charged with erotic power; in the next scene, we find that Randall has spent the night at Rock's apartment, and not long after that, Hudson announces that he's giving up New York and is going to move to San Francisco(!) It's all semi-coincidental, of course, but pretty rife with campy thrills, given the later disclosures about Hudson's private life. In sum, this film is super-retro and Neanderthal, not as much fun as early versions of the same material, but it does have considerable camp value, if that sort of irony-laden anti-notalgia is your kinda thing.

I Enjoyed Watching This DVD!
Okay, I know I reviewed this movie before but that was before I got the DVD and I thought I should review it again. I bought the new boxset that contains all three of Doris and Rock's movies in amamorphic widescreen and Lover Come Back is a very good movie and my second favorite with my #1 favorite being Pillow Talk and while the new anamorphic widescreen DVD for Pillow Talk was botched with misframing flaws the Lover Come Back DVD seems to be fine. Yes the picture quality could be a little better but it's a vast improvement over my video tape which was defective from the moment I opened the plastic wrap and found that the tape was damaged and wrinkled which made it difficult to watch so I really enjoyed watching the DVD and I just wish I had bought the Lover Come Back DVD seperately instead of the boxset with the botched Pillow Talk DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

One of the most suspenseful films
This is one of the most suspenseful films ever made, even more so because it is a true story. I was back in the small town when the two families were preparing the balloon. Some of my friends in Poessneck knew them. The film actually captures the run down town, the anguish of the people living there and the absolute terror of the wall. This is one film everyone who loves freedom should see.

Fantastic!!!
I showed this movie in my American History class during the Cold War Unit. My seventh graders loved it!!!!!!

Excellent!
Wondrful movie of a daring escape from East Germany. True story. Very engrossing. Worth the watch.

Amazing!!!
I loved this movie it was full of excitment, suspence and when I first saw it I couldn't believe how terrific it was to see the famlies escape. I knew the story becaues I had heard if it before but to actually see them go across the boarder at MIDNIGHT and with guards and watchtowers everywere that was truly a amazing. I enjoyed this movie alot and I hope you will to.

A True Story of Courage
I remember when Night Crossing was first released in the theaters. It was a pleasant surprise from Disney Studios. What especially appeals to me about this movie is the fact that in the face of defeat and what seemed to be a hopeless situation, two families refused to give up, and with great determination and courage accomplished the impossible. I never forgot this movie and have long awaited its release on DVD. It is a welcome addition to my library. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Originally broadcast as a 50-minute drama on Philco Television Playhouse in 1953, Marty ensured Paddy Chayefsky's status as one of the greatest writers of television's golden age. When Chayefsky, director Delbert Mann, and actor Ernest Borgnine reunited for this 90-minute film version, the play had been polished with extra scenes, further perfecting Chayefsky's timeless study of loneliness and heartbreak. And the film, in which Borgnine excels as the single, 35-year-old "fat and ugly" butcher Marty Pilletti, received well-deserved Oscars® for Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Screenplay. Although Chayefsky's central theme is the pain of being unwanted (as felt by Marty himself as well as his elderly Aunt Catherine, who's become a burden to her married daughter), the film is never somber or depressing, and achieves a rare quality of honesty, humor, and hopefulness without resorting to artifice or sentiment.

Marty's just about given up on love when he meets plain-looking Clara (Betsy Blair), a 29-year-old teacher who's endured similar cycles of rejection. Much of Marty explores the simple decency of these characters, their admirable qualities and mutual connection, and the slow escalation of self-esteem that will hold them together. Marty is a supremely compassionate film, but it's also an entertaining one, trimmed (like a good butcher's meat) of any dramatic fat. And although Blair (who earned an Oscar nomination) is superb in her role, it's worth noting that she's more conventionally "attractive" than Nancy Marchand (late of The Sopranos), who played Clara with arguably greater authenticity in the original 1953 telecast. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Moving, Yet Simple Story
MARTY is as revelant today as it was in 1955, when the film was originally released. Based on a brilliant teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky, that aired as an episode of the "Philco Television Playhouse" in 1953, MARTY is the type of story in which almost anyone can relate.

On the surface, MARTY seems to be merely a sweet little story about a lonely man named Marty Piletti (Ernest Borgnine) who all but has given up on love. However, beyond its sweet exterior, the film reveals how cruel and shallow people can be. An excellent example is an early scene in which Clara (Betsy Blair) appears at a night club. She's fixed up on a blind date with a man that looks like a younger version of Richard Nixon or Bob Dole. What he does to her is vicious.

The later scenes involving Marty and Clara ring so true in their simplicity. Although fully clothed and with sexuality tame by modern standards the main characters are emotionally naked. You really feel like you are eavesdropping on real people and not watching a movie.

Chayefsky, who also wrote the feature length film, wisely added a series of subplots to add depth and texture to the story. One involves rising tensions between Marty's cousin (Jerry Paris), his wife and his mother that all live under the same roof. Another involves Marty's business aspirations.

The result is a multi-layered film that also has a powerful emotional kick. It's hard not to be emotionally moved by this film. MARTY is straight forward filmmaking at its best.

MARVELOUS MARTY WINS EVERYONE'S HEART!
"Marty" is an oddity in Academy Award winning history. It is the first and only time a movie based upon a popular television show has won Best Picture. It stars Ernest Borgnine as the title character, a lonely and shy butcher who finds unlikely romance with wallflower, Betsy Blair (Clara Snyder). The film examines their quiet and unassuming relationship as that of two outcasts in a society where everyone has someone to love except them. Esther Minciotti costars as Marty's mother. Her concern over her son's bachelorhood is quite comical, referring to girls as "tomatoes" and suggesting that her son "pluck one" that is ripe for the picking at a local dance. Joe Mantell and Jerry Paris costar as Marty's well meaning friends, who inadvertently confuse Marty into dropping Betsy because she isn't attractive enough.

MGM/UA has presented "Marty" in a very nice looking full frame transfer. The B&W picture exhibits a relatively solid and stable gray scale that is nicely balanced. Contrast and shadow levels are adequate. Film grain is a bit heavy at times but does not distract. There is a lack of digital anomalies, except for a hint of edge enhancement that crops up now and then. The audio is mono but exceptionally well balanced. Only occasionally does it have a strident or tinny sound. There are no extras.

There is someone for everyone
This romance yarn played out in the Bronx may be dated but has meaning for men and women everywhere who question their self-esteem and doubt their ability to attract members of the opposite sex for a worthwhile relationship. When two lonely people meet and seem to find a balance and sense of belonging with each other, well-meaning relatives and friends find fault with the man's date, dismissing her as a plain Jane and unworthy of his attention. Marty Piletti is torn between his loyalty to his buddy and his feelings for spinster Clara Snyder who he meets at a dance. The irony is that Marty's mother nags at him to get married, and then decides she doesn't like Clara because she isn't a nice Italian girl with whom Marty can settle down. Pal Angie resents Clara for coming between him and Marty and is jealous of Marty because he has a date for Saturday night while he has to prowl the neighborhood looking for girls by himself. Family squabbles also play a part in this drama but Marty knows he has found someone special in the unassuming but sensitive schoolteacher.

An acting tour de force by Ernest Borgnine.
This is a simple, unadorned but effective mellowdrama. Marty is a plain, chubby, good guy. He is a "mama's boy" & is approaching middle age, alone. He has met nothing but rejections fom women. He meets a plain jane, also rejected & as lonely as he. They bond through simple conversation & find they have a lot in common. His mother, afraid of losing her boy to another women trys to break them up. He best friend afraid of losing his "buddy in misery", as a another reviewer put it, tries to break them up. They almost succeed.
Marty realizes that this is his last best chance for love & happiness. He's found a woman who sees beyond the physical & really likes him. He makes the right choice with a heartwarming finish. They are not "the dogs that people call us". 41/2 stars

See Martin Asiner's review for the plot

Martin Asiner wrote a fine review of the plot, posted September 7, 2003 on this website. It is hard to improve on.

This is a 1955 black and white film that gained both Ernest Borgnine and the director, Delbert Mann, Oscars. It is a fine film, exploring the lonliness of plain people who would like to love and be loved. The motivation, acting, and casting are all superb. I could find no fault with the film as presented. The writer understood human nature, and it showed.

Betsy Blair, who played Clara, is the only possibly poor job of casting. She is certainly not a "plain" girl, as cast. She is really quite beautiful, and in fact in real life is Gene Kelly's wife. Anything but "plain Jane." But they made her as plain as possible, with makeup (or lack of same), and she played the part beautifully. As far as that goes, Borgnine himself was an attractive man at that age. He was stout, but did not apprear fat, and his features did not warrant the appelation of "ugly" by any means.

I enjoyed the show, and thought it an excellent study in human nature and self-inflicted lonliness.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books ... Read more

Description

In DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS, Anna poses tough competition to Ephraim’s bitter sons from his previous marriages, who believe they, not their new stepmother, should inherit all his land.Things heat up when Anna and Ephraim’s son, Eben spend a night of passion together. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Shallow
Loren, Perkins, and company reduce one of the American Theatre's masterworks to overwrought trivia in this lifeless adaptation of the Eugene O'Neil classic. Given the obvious talent of the cast, one expects considerably more--and although the basic story of a wife who betrays her much older husband with her step-son remains more or less intact, the film version entirely misses the spirit of the original. Those who have not seen nor read the original may find the film entertaining as soap-opera; those familiar with the original, however, will be outraged.

dark but compelling!
The tape quality is excellent and the fact that's it's in black and white enhances the somber tones of the story and stark contrast of the characters. The highlight of the film is a fine (however brief) performance by a pre-Bonanza Pernell Roberts whose portrayal of a spirited brother lifts some of the oppression that runs throughtout this tale. I've watched this film more than once for it's cinematic beauty and the quality of acting...but this is not a love story, rather a story about love at it's darkest. If I were a fan of Eugene O'Neill I probably would have given this 5 stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Terence Rattigan's pair ofone-act plays are deftly woven together into this intelligent, handsome drama, a kindof somber Grand Hotel of lonely and repressed lives at a British seaside hotel inthe dreary off-season. David Niven and Wendy Hiller earned well-deserved Oscars fortheir subdued turns, as a blustery old warhorse hiding a guilty secret and the efficienthotel proprietress, respectively. Burt Lancaster is the alcoholic American whose secretaffair with Hiller is complicated when his former wife (Rita Hayworth) breezes in andreopens old emotional wounds, and Deborah Kerr is a mousy woman whose secret lovefor Niven is shattered by scandal. Director Daniel Mann (Marty) remains true tothe good manners and quiet desperation that keeps these sad souls isolated at separatetables. He gracefully floats between the two dramas and patiently allows his repressedcharacters to open up and reveal their true feelings in their own quiet fashion. --SeanAxmaker ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Top Billing for the Entire Cast!
When Separate Tables was released, the agents of Deborah Kerr and Rita Hayworth fought for top billing in the opening credits. It's easy to understand after viewing this powerful film. Separate Tables is a great study in human nature and relationships among people who are far from faultless.

Burt Lancaster displays both intense anger and hopeless longing as his former wife Rita Hayworth comes back into his life. David Niven (who won an Oscar for this role) is superb as the military man with a past. Watch Niven as he is confronted with the truth about himself and how he interacts with his friends and those who once were his friends. The strength of the film is in its casting. In the hands of lesser actors, the film would turn into a very sappy melodrama. I am anxious to view the film again just to catch all the subtle facial expressions that these wonderful actors use to make their characters even more believable. A great ensemble, a great film.

out of the madding crowd
These separate tables and that discreet hotel I think are the equivalent to the abbeys of the Middle Age in Europe. In effect, not all people are strong enough to affront usual, daily life, with his defying , and some found by then a quiet way of life professing religion, believers or not, escaping of wars, abuses of the noblesse, etc. The lodgers of this film aren't religious, but excepting the writer played by Burt Lancaster the mundane personage of Rita Hayworth and the proprietary of the hotel, all others are people with a weak ego, unable for common life and some practically touching the tragedy, as the pathetic retired major who truly never fought, living of pure fantasy played by David Niven who has to find sex in dark cinema halls, and the poor girl represented by Deborah Kerr, annulated by her malignant castrating mother.
This movie moves me as I think people as these are more common than Herculean, steel heroes as usual, and at last, in his way, they are heroes also.

Top Billing for the Entire Cast!
When Separate Tables was released, the agents of Deborah Kerr and Rita Hayworth fought for top billing in the opening credits. It's easy to understand after viewing this powerful film. Separate Tables is a great study in human nature and relationships among people who are far from faultless.

Burt Lancaster displays both intense anger and hopeless longing as his former wife Rita Hayworth comes back into his life. David Niven (who won an Oscar for this role) is superb as the military man with a past. Watch Niven as he is confronted with the truth about himself and how he interacts with his friends and those who once were his friends. The strength of the film is in its casting. In the hands of lesser actors, the film would turn into a very sappy melodrama. I am anxious to view the film again just to catch all the subtle facial expressions that these wonderful actors use to make their characters even more believable. A great ensemble, a great film.

One of the outstanding movies based on play
Delbert Mann's "Separate Tables" is a beautiful movie based on a stellar cast of David Niven, Deborah Kerr, Burt Lancastar, Rita Hayworth, and Wendy Hiller. It is set on the seaside, "Beauregard Hotel" in England and shows the lives of different people in the hotel. David Niven plays a retired army man who lives a fictitious life of a person who has fought glamorous wars in the desert, while he has a double life of a person who has a scandalous time at a local theatre. Deborah Kerr plays the life of a shy and simple girl who is tortured by her mother, Gladys Cooper, and not given any freedom and constantly reminded of her position and the class distinctions. Burt Lancaster plays the life of a writer, John Malcolm, who wishes to forget his past in drink. His ex-wife, Rita Hayworth comes to check on him as she is getting old and does not wish to be alone. She feels that John is the only person whom she can turn to.

The screenplay in the movie is wonderful as are the roles of quite a few people in the movie. These include David Niven, Deborah Kerr, Wendy Hiller, and Burt Lancaster. The music, though low key is appropriate for the movie. The story shows the ebbing of the class distinctions of Britain. Though the Major commits the errors, only one person is dead against it and the others are either ambivalent or are neutral about it. Gladys Cooper tries to badger others to get the major evicted from the hotel due to his bad behavior. Though some of them agree to her, the way they relent in the end is unusual.

The romance between Mrs Shankland and John Malcolm is well portrayed without overdoing anything. I felt that Deborah Kerr's role was wonderful in this. It showed the breadth of her acting style, where she shows how she feels when her trust in the Major is betrayed and the innocence in the child-woman quality of her. Wendy Hiller is beautiful in her low key role of the proprietress of the hotel and how she handles all the people and the issues in the hotel. David Niven's role is fantastic, he shows his transformation from the confident army major to the frightened culprit about to be caught to the person admitting his fault to Deborrah Kerr superbly.

The direction of the movie is very thoughtful without melodrama. Though the movie almost 50 years old, it still maintains its grace and style, which shows its timelessness. The end of the movie is subtle and lovely.

Don't Miss This One!
A great film with perfect casting. The sound track was beautiful and particularly wonderful when Rita Hayworth is introduced to the viewer. The story is unique and has such a good message: The hateful mother is a warning to those who never see the plank in their own eye but see the splinter in their neighbor's. It was good to see that the majority of the characters were able to forgive the sins and bad choices the main character had made in his life. A truly fine film. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Fish Hooks!!!?
Fish Hooks!!!?
A portly George C. Scott reprises his role from the 1970 classic Patton. Too bad this movie is awful. Briefly stated, this is a sequel that should not have been made. The flimsy dialog, poor editing, and cumbersome made-for-television format do no justice to Francis Ford Coppola's original epic. Be sure to note the expanding belt-line... only a few months in movie-time, but Scott looked like he'd been hanging out with Marlon Brando for the 16 years between films.

Great sequal to Patton
George C. Scott returns as George S. Patton in this sequal to Patton. The movie starts after World War II and shows how he could not adjust to his peacetime role as military governor of Bavaria. Then he gets in more trouble when he lobbies for war against the Soviet Union and gets stripped of his command. And their is the mystery surrounding Patton's death.

George C. Scott does a great job in his portrayal of one of the great military leaders of the 20th century. I think it is a good buy for people who like Patton or who like movies dealing with World War II.

good follow up
this movie is not a academy award winner, but documents the life after the war in germany, and general patton's need to
still be a effective leader even with the buracey of post ar germany.
this movie fill's in the gap's after the opriginal 1970
movie. the dvd is a decent version, but needs to be
cleaned upa bit.

Sad but true
George C. Scott reprises his role as Patton in the 2nd part of the movie "Patton" It picks up where the movie left off, with the end of WWII to the tragic car accident that left Patton paralyzed. Eva Marie Saint climbs aboard as Mrs. Patton. Beautifully done!

Weak film
What a waste of time. They stick fish hooks in his jaw and for two amd a half hours you get to watch G. C. Scott with fish hooks in his jaw mumble weak lines about a person he never met.
And my DVD copy is blurry. What a bore. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

My favorite Jane Eyre version.
I saw this version of Jane Eyre in China when I was a teenager in early 80's. I had read the book by then and was overwhelmed by the great performance of George Scott and Susannah York. I felt that they played Rochester and Jane just as exactly as I imagined. The music score was great throughout and it truly expressed the spirit of the characters and the story. I have never forgot the main theme for the past twenty some years. This is one of my all time favorite films.
However, I have to say that the DVD quality is terrible. At least two scenes are missing in the DVD version. The pictures are too dark and blurred. What a pity!
But, no matter what, I still love this version of Jane Eyre.

Don't Bother!
Don't bother unless you can't find the version with Timothy Dalton. I watched that version first. Then this one. This one was so poorly done in comparison that I got up and mopped the kitchen floor while it played and fast forwarded through the non-talking scenes. While the acting was good enough, the script leaves too much unsaid. It is difficult to see why the two main characters would bother falling in love with each other. The plot just wasn't developed enough to warrant it. So many key parts of the story are missing. I highly recommend the version with Timothy Dalton and Zetah Clarke, if you can find it.

Oh, come on...
Oh, come on y'all...I admit I did not read all 29 other reviews, but this is NOT the worst movie ever made. I recently bought this DVD. The last time I saw this was on TV in 1971, I think it was a Hallmark Hall of Fame production? Anyway I remembered loving it and when I saw it again I still loved it. Has there ever been a plain Jane? of course not. Scott's Mr. Rochester came across as a man who has seen a lot of wear and tear in his efforts to forget his problems. Here he gradually wakes up to the possibility of a new life. He is reluctant, conflicted but unable to resist trying somehow to win Jane and begin again.
The script dealt very well with the made-for-TV constraints. The writer did not have the luxury of using big chunks of dialogue stright from the book, as the BBC might do (there is a wonderful Timothy Dalton/Zelah Clarke version that does just that) but zips along with great concision, hitting the high points with economy and clarity. This version tries to recast the characters' concern in modern terms and I think succeeds without seeming too dated thirty years on.
An the music is beautiful. It's like another character - the theme stayed with me all these years and it is as pretty and haunting as I remember.
And yeah, it was a nice production but the quality of the DVD is not very good. But not bad enough to keep me from enjoying it.

Impossible to watch
In the first place, there is no first place. The movie starts at Lowood. (Where they cut Jane's hair instead of Helen's) The editing has us jumping from one scene to the next with the certain knowledge that we've missed the scene in between. It is so dark, it's almost impossible to watch. Susannah York is brutally bad -- Jane Eyre is not supposed to wear eyeliner and false eyelashes--I'm almost sure of that. Thornfield (as far as I could tell) was appropriately gloomy. Stick with the Orson Welles version -- He IS Rochester to me. And why do they keep remaking this in the first place? Aren't there now about 10 versions?

A Real Disappointment
I had high hopes for this film, because I could readily envision George C. Scott as Rochester. But, in the end, I think this is the very worst film version of Jane Eyre that I've ever seen.

No attempt is made to make Suzannah York plain (she is called "pretty" several times); the actress does a fair job balancing Jane's passion with her temperance, but she seems to lack any real fire. Sadly, feminist diatribes are sometimes inserted into her dialogue, which reek of the 1970s.

As Rochester, George C. Scott has potential, but he's largely hampered by the script. He can be both tender and tortured, fiery and depressed, but somehow the mix just never quite works.

The script is just terrible--often corny. Many changes were made to the story line for no apparent reason (other than, perhaps, the screenwriter thought they "knew better" than Charlotte Bronte). Worst of all, the quality of the picture is so bad, I wondered if I'd bought a pirated copy! The Lowood section of the film, in particular, is so dark that I often had a hard time making out facial expressions.

I don't know if scenes are missing from the original film, but I can say that the editing is very poor. For example, at one point Jane asks if Grace Poole is the one causing trouble at Thornfield...yet the audience has heard nothing about the character of Grace Poole up to that point.

Overall, there is nothing really to recommend this film. It is slow, boring, and disappointing. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Fish Hooks!!!?
Fish Hooks!!!?
A portly George C. Scott reprises his role from the 1970 classic Patton. Too bad this movie is awful. Briefly stated, this is a sequel that should not have been made. The flimsy dialog, poor editing, and cumbersome made-for-television format do no justice to Francis Ford Coppola's original epic. Be sure to note the expanding belt-line... only a few months in movie-time, but Scott looked like he'd been hanging out with Marlon Brando for the 16 years between films.

Great sequal to Patton
George C. Scott returns as George S. Patton in this sequal to Patton. The movie starts after World War II and shows how he could not adjust to his peacetime role as military governor of Bavaria. Then he gets in more trouble when he lobbies for war against the Soviet Union and gets stripped of his command. And their is the mystery surrounding Patton's death.

George C. Scott does a great job in his portrayal of one of the great military leaders of the 20th century. I think it is a good buy for people who like Patton or who like movies dealing with World War II.

good follow up
this movie is not a academy award winner, but documents the life after the war in germany, and general patton's need to
still be a effective leader even with the buracey of post ar germany.
this movie fill's in the gap's after the opriginal 1970
movie. the dvd is a decent version, but needs to be
cleaned upa bit.

Sad but true
George C. Scott reprises his role as Patton in the 2nd part of the movie "Patton" It picks up where the movie left off, with the end of WWII to the tragic car accident that left Patton paralyzed. Eva Marie Saint climbs aboard as Mrs. Patton. Beautifully done!

Weak film
What a waste of time. They stick fish hooks in his jaw and for two amd a half hours you get to watch G. C. Scott with fish hooks in his jaw mumble weak lines about a person he never met.
And my DVD copy is blurry. What a bore. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Compromised by (lack of) technology
As a two hour distillation of an 800-page book, this movie is much better than the Masterpiece Theatre version: all the big scenes and memorable lines are retained here. The actors are usually high-profile British actors of the 1970's: Edith Evans (Aunt Betsey), Susan Hampshire (Agnes), Ron Moody (Uriah Heep), Ralph Richardson (Micawber) and cameos by Laurence Olivier (Creakle), Richard Attenborough, Windy Hiller & Michael Redgrave. The score is composed & conducted by Sir Malcolm Arnold.

But the "fly in the ointment" is that this marvelous adaptation by Jack Pulman has not been remastered! Colors are faded, but worse, there are a number of "blips" in some scenes. So the end result is a 5-star performance compromised by the lack of technology.
The movie opens with David, grieving and upset at the blows life has dealt him, aimlessly walking the English coast. He remembers in a series of "flashbacks" the blows he has suffered. After his litany of misfortunes are recounted, the development of Aunt Betsey's & the Wickfield's current dilemmas are resolved through David's involvement in the current world, rather than his absorption in the past.
I had read (& loved) the novel about five years before I first saw this production on TV in the late '70's; other reviewers seem to have had difficulty with the series of flashbacks used in the film---I did not.

Don't Judge the Movie by the DVD
I first saw this made-for-TV production over 20 years ago, when it was bright, shiny, new, and sported a dream cast of British pros, many of whom are no longer with us. Unfortunately, there are only two DVD releases of this production and BOTH are equally wretched, whichever you choose. The DVD has extremely poor color and looks as if it were taken from an old, faded video print, with lots of serious color bleeds and other problems you'd find in a video that's ready to be discarded. Any night shots, many indoor shots, and anything in which the color red is dominant will cause your eyes to positively ache. For example, the scene where Steerforth's drowned body is discovered originally had some emotional impact, but on the DVD, the body is so unrecognizable that ones only reaction is annoyance. And the sound quality is so tinny and horrible you'll miss a great deal of the dialogue. If this production is ever released on a decent DVD, one will be able to relish some incredible performances, especially those of Ron Moody as Uriah, Laurence Olivier as Creakle, Ralph Richardson and Wendy Hiller as the Micawbers, Edith Evans as Betsy Trotwood, Pamela Franklin as Dora, and Susan Hampshire as Agnes, to name just a few. Even so, there are those who might find the non-linear approach to this story confusing, since it is told in flashbacks, but I think the real confusion here rests with the viewer's inability to see and the listener's inability to hear. When you add a non-linear structure to THAT mix, you're done for. In short, don't buy this DVD -- it's cheap but no bargain. Hope instead that some day a decent copy will be available, because this version is an insult to all the talent who originally contributed to this production.

Could not even finish watching it! ZERO STARS!
I would give it zero stars if I could. Despite its "illustrious cast" this movie is the worst film adaptation of any Dickens work I have ever seen. I purchased the DVD on ebay thinking "DVD" meant "quality" but I couldn't have been more wrong. The DVD picture and sound quality is so incredibly awful you think you are viewing a poorly copied video tape (one that sat in a hot car for a few hours or got lost in a sandbox!). I couldn't understand every other word and the "visual noise" (scratches, spots, lines, etc.) were so numerous and distracting it was like trying to watch a movie in a room full of buzzing insects. Besides the poor picture and sound the movie itself was simply unbearable. It was incredibly slow, dull and one of the most boring movies I ever attempted to endure. I finally gave up and called it quits. I won't even try to give away my copy. It's not even worth watching if its free. I will never purchase another DVD or video by Brentwood Home Video again!

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR...
This DVD seemed a bargain, as it was a period piece with a most illustrious cast. Being a lover of period pieces and a fan of Charles Dickens, I immediately snapped it up. Well, you get what you pay for. Despite the illustrious cast, this body of work is dead on arrival.

Robin Phillips gamely plays the part of David Copperfield. He is, however, a rather colorless chap and is not strong enough to hold this film together, which is unfortunate, as he is the linchpin around which this drama revolves. Told in a series of flashbacks, this contrivance is one of the weaknesses in the film, as it tends to be confusing and adds nothing to the film, but rather, detracts a great deal. This retropsective of David Copperfield's life shows him losing his mother at an early age and being left in the hands of an unloving stepfather. Pulled out of school to toil in a factory as a young child, he runs away and makes it to the home of his loving aunt who raises him. The viewer watches him grow up in Victorian England and sees how he fairs against the vicissitudes of life. The cast of characters with whom he interacts is vibrant, and it is they who manage to keep this two hour film somewhat afloat. Ultimately, however, it tanks.

The all star ensemble is a plethora of riches, with screen greats Richard Attenborough, Ron Moody, Lawrence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave, Dame Edith Evans, Wendy Hiller, Susan Hampshire, and Pamela Franklin lighting up the screen at different moments. Even their individual, luminous performances, however, are not enough to make this turkey work, so poorly put together and choppy is the film.

The DVD is offers some special features, such as a classic cartoon, a movie trivia game, and a DVD dictionary. The picture quality is sometimes grainy, though the sound quality is good.

Unviewable
I intend to return this video as the sound quality as well as picture quality are very, very poor. I was extremely disappointed as I have been trying to find the old BBC presentation of this story and thought this was it!! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Fish Hooks!!!?
Fish Hooks!!!?
A portly George C. Scott reprises his role from the 1970 classic Patton. Too bad this movie is awful. Briefly stated, this is a sequel that should not have been made. The flimsy dialog, poor editing, and cumbersome made-for-television format do no justice to Francis Ford Coppola's original epic. Be sure to note the expanding belt-line... only a few months in movie-time, but Scott looked like he'd been hanging out with Marlon Brando for the 16 years between films.

Great sequal to Patton
George C. Scott returns as George S. Patton in this sequal to Patton. The movie starts after World War II and shows how he could not adjust to his peacetime role as military governor of Bavaria. Then he gets in more trouble when he lobbies for war against the Soviet Union and gets stripped of his command. And their is the mystery surrounding Patton's death.

George C. Scott does a great job in his portrayal of one of the great military leaders of the 20th century. I think it is a good buy for people who like Patton or who like movies dealing with World War II.

good follow up
this movie is not a academy award winner, but documents the life after the war in germany, and general patton's need to
still be a effective leader even with the buracey of post ar germany.
this movie fill's in the gap's after the opriginal 1970
movie. the dvd is a decent version, but needs to be
cleaned upa bit.

Sad but true
George C. Scott reprises his role as Patton in the 2nd part of the movie "Patton" It picks up where the movie left off, with the end of WWII to the tragic car accident that left Patton paralyzed. Eva Marie Saint climbs aboard as Mrs. Patton. Beautifully done!

Weak film
What a waste of time. They stick fish hooks in his jaw and for two amd a half hours you get to watch G. C. Scott with fish hooks in his jaw mumble weak lines about a person he never met.
And my DVD copy is blurry. What a bore. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Taken from the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on theWestern Front is a devastating portrait by Delbert Mann (Desire Under the Elms, Marty) of a small group of German soldiers throughoutthe World War I.

The star-studded cast is headed by Richard Thomas (The Waltons) as PaulBaumer, and includes such award-winning actors as Ernest Borgnine, Ian Holm, andPatricia Neal. As both narrator and star, Thomas occasionally seems toreincarnate his familiar John-Boy persona, but creates a character that has manymore levels than that television alter ego. Watching Paul as he watches all ofhis high school buddies die is a highly emotional experience. He returns to hishome a different person, conflicted in his feelings about the Army and war,evolving from an idealistic schoolboy to a fearful and humble veteran.

The scenery and costuming in this period piece are well done, and surely contributed to its winning the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Made for TV.Also contributing to the greatness of the film are the exceptionalcinematography and special effects that, while realistically gruesome, trulyemphasize the horrors of war. --Zachary Lively ... Read more