Amazon.com

This 1970 concert documentary captures Elvis Presley midway through afateful transition, seeking to reclaim his musical primacy after a decade ofself-imposed exile from concert stages. Sidelined by his big-screen career,eclipsed by rock's mid-'60s transformations, the King had begun his return twoyears earlier with the relatively lean attack of his fabled network televisionappearance, '68 Comeback Special. Now the Memphis legend was poised toreposition his performing profile by pursuing the top rungs of headliner statusin Las Vegas, a career choice that seems even more ephemeral in hindsight thanit already did at the time.

Elvis: That's the Way It Is follows the show's genesis from rehearsal tostage, with the performance footage that provides its inevitable climax shotover six nights. The rehearsal footage, expanded for this special edition,offers further proof that Presley's band was simply superb: stripped of theorchestrations and lush choral arrangements that would be grafted onto the stageshow, the sextet sounds both tough and nimble. In performance, we're treated toa mostly riveting glimpse of Presley in top vocal form, poised at the brink ofbombast. This is Elvis before the onset of portentous Richard Strauss overtures,karate kicks, and tossed scarves, kicking off the show with the classic "That'sAll Right." If he risks undercutting the punch of his early songs with self-deprecating clowning, he attacks two Ray Charles classics with gusto. Thespecial edition also boasts digitally remastered visuals, crisply remixed Dolbyaudio, alternate versions that replace the original performances of severaltracks (including the extended vamp of "Suspicious Minds"), a theatricaltrailer, and a new documentary on the restoration of the film. --SamSutherland ... Read more

Reviews (114)

A Dinner Date With Elvis In Vegas
ELVIS: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS is a great documentary about Elvis' classic stage show in Vegas. Actually, there are several parts to it. The first half is devoted to the practice sessions. In July of 1970 we see Elvis at the MGM studios in Culver City with his band (James Burton- Lead guitar; John Wilkerson- rhythm guitar; Ronnie Tutt- drums; Glenn Hardin- Piano; Charlie Hodge- acoustic guitar/vocals, water & scarves) going through various numbers. Elvis had just completed a marathon recording session in Nashville, and we hear Elvis & band honing these tunes for the stage show. Elvis is apparently having a lot of fun, joking around with his friends and musicians. He had an amazing personality & presence that really comes through here. By August 1970, Elvis moved into his residency: the International Hotel (now known as the Hilton). After a few weeks of further rehearsals (he is now joined by backup singers The Sweet Inspirations, Imperials, Millie Kirkham), the Elvis Summer Festival starts. The second half of the film is the stage show, recorded August 10,11 & 12 1970. Elvis sings these songs: THAT'S ALL RIGHT, I'VE LOST YOU, PATCH IT UP, LOVE ME TENDER, SWEET CAROLINE, I JUST CAN'T HELP BELIEVIN, TIGER MAN, POLK SALAD ANNIE, ONE NIGHT, HEARTBREAK HOTEL, YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN FEELIN, BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER, SUSPICIOUS MINDS, CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE. It is obvious that Elvis was still passionate about the music. He was in good shape, and still young in appearance. I love those classic white jumpsuits. A few more notes: The opening credits sequence of the original movie was filmed at the Phoenix Coliseum on September 9, 1970. I hope that more footage of this can be found, there does seem to be a bit more excitement going on there than the formal confines of the International Hotel. Check out ELVIS: THE LOST PERFORMANCES for additional footage from this movie, and ELVIS ON TOUR (1972).

The updated 30th anniversary edition contains a lot of alternate footage, which is welcomed, but the new presentation does NOT replace the original 1970 That's The Way It is, which remains the ultimate Seventies Elvis documentary.

Elvis - TTWIS Special Edition Beyond Description!
I first watched the new edit of Elvis - That's The Way It Is On Turner Classic Movies. I also ordered the video from Amazon and had it rush delievered. This movie is so exciting and fresh that it's beyond description. Elvis never sounded better or looked better, and this movie takes advantage of previously unused footage and milks the Elvis experience for everything it's worth (and that's a heck of a lot). Long gone are the previously included interviews and odd fan moments. This movie is pure Elvis. The movie starts with rehearsals and works its way through a Vegas performance. The first 30 minutes are rehearsals and Elvis backstage, providing a glimpse of Elvis rarely seen. Elvis is seen goofing around, and he is seen instructing his band and backup singers in the fashion of a true master. The last hour of the show is an Elvis Vegas performance from start to finish (spliced together from 6 different shows). The Vegas shows culminates in a performance of Suspcious Minds that is alone worth the price of admission. This is a must have. The price is low. The sound and picture quality is excellent, and the editing and production value is first rate. This video is Elvis - the way it really was. Be aware that the TCM tv presentation was in wide screen. The video is available in wide screen and full screen / normal. If you like wide screen be sure to order the correct version of the video package. But either version you get - you will play it over and over and over. It's beyond comprehension! It's so fresh and alive you'll almost forget it wasn't recently filmed. The fade outs and the camera angles are excellent. Hats off to Turner and Warner Brothers for this delightful video!

Turner Travesty
This is a Turner Entertainmnet/AOL/Time/Warner film. It is NOT the MGM film. Turner has destroyed my memory of the original film. There's lots missing, nothing has been added except a (for the most part) horrible sounding soundtrack. A travesty. Stick with the old MGM VHS.

Elvis That's The Way It Is DVD
This Music dvd of the king is fantastic. In the beginning there are some studio takes, and the group from elvis with james burton, john wilkinson, ronny tutt and others are practice for the concert he give in 1970 known as that's the way it is. The concert is flawless, Elvis sings so very good here you should almost forget that it is live recorded. One thing you can say about elvis if you hear this dvd. He was really THE KING

THE GREATEST PERFORMER IN HISTORY
What can I really say about this documentary ?.Just buy it and see for yourself. Absolute magic from start to finish !!!!!!!.Ive never seen such an incredible performance by a singer before.BUY IT NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Explosive performances by Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Santana, the Staple Singers, and others power Soul to Soul, the filmed documentary of a 1971 concert by American artists in Accra, Ghana. There's some great music here, with versions of "Land of 1000 Dances" (Pickett), "When Will We Be Paid" (the Staples), and "The Price You Gotta Pay to Be Free" (jazzmen Les McCann and Eddie Harris, who also feature the amazing African musician Amoah Azangeo) that are as good or better than anything found on other concert films from the period, including Wattstax and Woodstock.But witnessing this predominantly black group of Americans as they respond to being in Africa for the first time is fascinating and moving as well (check out the uncontained emotion of Ike Turner, just one of the nine folks who supplied voice-over commentary for the DVD, to see just how profound an experience it was), to say nothing of the sometimes bemused, often ecstatic response of the African audience. 5.1 surround notwithstanding, the sound can be a little dodgy, but the remastered, restored film, which includes plenty of non-concert documentary footage (including a trip to a seaside "castle" from which slaves were shipped across the Atlantic) looks good, and what's on the film looks first rate. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Solid intro for Redford, but Saxon is the real star...
This is an obviously low-budget affair, but don't let that dissuade you from at least screening this film.

Set in the waning days of the Korean War, the story revolves around a new replacement (Robert Redford), who joins an infantry unit on the front lines. As he experiences the bitter taste of war, he tries to understand the meaning of it all. Meanwhile, he is concerned over the psychotic lone wolf in the outfit (John Saxon), and his bizzare attachment to a young Korean kid. Saxon's character is a successful killing machine, but unaccustomed to fitting in with people.

The main selling point is, of course, the film debut of Robert Redford. Redford is excellent here, even at a relatively young age. Redford has always been good at playing honest, good-guy straight shooters, and his debut as Pvt. Roy Loomis is no exception. However, it really has to be said that, for as good as the young Redford is, it is John Saxon who steals the show as the brooding, psychotic killing machine, Endore. If you don't believe me, just check out the scene when Redford confronts him, and Saxon shows us a murderer using every ounce of control at his command to master his anger and keep from killing.

Gavin MacLeod and Tom Skerritt play fellow soldiers in the squad, and the stark black & white photography assists in setting the proper mood for the story.

John Saxon as bad guy ?
very heavy war story but great in that we get to see a VERY young Robert Redford and the ever handsome John Saxon as the bad guy .. good battle scenes ... but dark brooding and violent ! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A series of rare depth, power & humanity
It's astonishing to watch these stories, created during the early 1960s, and realize just how much TV was capable of providing when talented writers, actors & directors were allowed to tell real stories. Even with the restrictions of the culture in general & the networks themselves, TV could produce true quality that both entertained & left the viewer with food for thought.

It's a treat to see so many gifted actors at the beginnings of their careers, especially with such literate material. Let me especially single out "Hold For Gloria Christmas," the story of a dying poet struggling to send a precious gift to the future; and "The One Marked Hot Gives Cold," a poignant & heartbreaking tale of the inevitable betrayals & disappointments that come with growing up. Robert Duvall is remarkable as an angry, wounded, yearning man searching desperately for the father who abandoned him, while acting in turn as a surrogate father & friend for a sensitive 12 year old girl, knowing that she's going to be hurt, knowing that he's prolonging her fairy tale, but hesitant to destroy it even as he tries to prepare her for the end of childhood innocence.

But every episode is equally worthy, each one more like a small film than a weekly TV episode. I hope that the entire series is eventually released on DVD. If only TV could be this good today!

Highly recommended!

my favorite TV series all-time
Not only was this a groundbreaking series for such hits as "Hill Street Blues", but it had a profound effect on me as an adolescent, with its humanistic view of cops and criminals alike, its bittersweet and emotional musical theme, all the NYC locations, and especially the great scriptwriting. There is no doubt in my mind when I say that "Naked City" is my favorite series of all.

It featured so many actors who would go on to become superstars like Redford, Hackman, Duvall, Hoffman, Coburn, Hopper, and so many great character actors, but it was the regular cast of eminently likeable characters that held the show together week after week.

Now there are 4 dvds with 4 episodes each available, and should be in the collection of anyone who values fine drama, period. PLEASE BUY THESE DVD'S SO THEY WILL RELEASE MORE!!! There were 99 episodes in all (before it was mysteriously cancelled while still high in the ratings) so there is still a treasure trove of classic television drama for Image Entertainment to choose from...

Don't miss this DVD if you love New York
This is a must-buy for anyone who loves New York, and particularly the vastly different city of the late 50's and early 60's. If you like NYPD Blue, you'll go crazy over this gritty but heartwarming TV series. For fans of Diahann Carroll who stars in one of the episodes, it is a memorable experience as she protrays a teacher of blind children, one of whom is lost during a field trip. He must rely on his instincts and fortitude to make it back to his home in Brooklyn from mid-town Manhattan.

Another of the four memorable episodes in this single DVD stars a young Robert Duvall who finds that his naive kindness toward a young girl lands him in trouble with the police.
When I was growing up, I watched Naked City on a snowy black and white TV. The clarity of this DVD is outstanding. The poignancy of the stories, the beauty of New York, and the excitement of city life caught by the cameras resulted in my moving to the city as fast as I could get there.

A great anthology!
This is the latest of four DVDs that have been released for one of the most outstanding TV series of all time.
This particular DVD has one of the best of the Naked City series--"Hold for Gloria Christmas"--and in and of itself warrants a purchase of this DVD. It stars Burgess Meredith as a Greenwich Village poet, with the famous theatrical personality Sanford Meisner in a very rare supporting role. The episode was written by the blacklisted writer Arnold Manoff, under the pseudonym Joel Carpenter. It is not only a literate, mesmerizing and powerful drama but also a time capsule of New York City in the early 1960s.
Other episodes on this DVD feature Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall, with the other--a real gem--about a blind child's journey home from Midtown Manhattan.
Priceless stuff. ... Read more

Description

In "Portrait of a Painter" a struggling artist (Star Trek's William Shatner) awakens to find his wife has been murdered. He swears that he didn't do it, but Detective Flint is not convinced. In "Alive and Still a Second Lieutenant" a frustrated junior executive erupts with anger when a man named Mr. Binks (Deliverance's Jon Voight) taunts him. In "Don't Knock it Till You've Tried It" a stressed psychologist (The Odd Couple's Walter Matthau) seeks solace in a Las Vegas dancer who kidnaps him and threatens to kill him if he doesn't marry her. In "The Tragic Success of Alfred Tiloff" Lifelong failure Alfy Tiloff (Quincy's Jack Klugman) tries for a big payoff when he kidnaps a little girl, but his scheme's success may have a price he can't afford. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Dramatic and Nostalgic
This and the other DVDs of the early 1960s TV show "Naked City" are all excellent.

The New York locales give the episodes a distinct look. It was very nostalgic for me to see what the city that I grew up in and still work in looked like in 1961.

The stories are interesting and unique in that the guest star/criminal is on camera more than the policemen investigating the case.

I especially liked the Walter Matthau episode in which he's kidnapped by a Las Vegas showgirl who threatens to kill him unless he makes good on his promise to marry her. The humor of this situation makes this episode a nice light-hearted change of pace from the other more dramatic and poignant ones that are on this disk, such as the Jack Klugman episode revolving around the kidnapping of a little girl.

I can't wait for the next batch of "Naked City" DVDs to be released. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are eight million stories in the Naked City, and this disc compiles four of them from the ABC police drama that should please vintage TV fans with its gritty stories, noirish photography, and New York locations. The quartet included here is culled from the series' second season (1960-61), which was distinctly different from its 1958-59 debut. Stars John McIntire and James Franciscus were replaced by Paul Burke and Horace McMahon as the lead detectives; the half-hour program had also been expanded to 60 minutes. Untouched, however, were the complex, character-driven scripts, powered by stellar actors and directors. Among those featured on this disc are actors Eli Wallach and Walter Matthau, writers W. R. Burnett (High Sierra) and Stirling Silliphant (also the series' story consultant), and directors Arthur Hiller and John Brahm. Viewers under 40 may find the hard-boiled dialogue old fashioned, but cop show aficionados will appreciate the serious tone and action. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Absolutely terrific! I want more!
Fortunately there are now four DVDs available for this magnificent old series, and hopefuly the manufacturer will produce more as demand requires.

What can I say? They simply don't get better than this. A great cast, fascinating guest stars (Eli Wallach, Robert Duvall, Robert Redford), and above all, superb writing. With great location footage of New York in the early Sixties.

So if you like this DVD as much as I do, be sure to buy the rest as they come available--to ensure that all the Naked City episodes are eventually recorded on DVD.

Magnificent! Bring on the rest!
One of the great TV dramas of all time, finally available on DVD. Superbly acted and beautifully written. My only beef is that there are only two DVDs available. Where are the rest?

Meanwhile, be sure to get these DVDs. Only one of the eight episodes on these two DVDS seemed a bit below par. That was an episode with Steve Cochran playing the world's least credible Sicilian gangster, and Lois Nettleton as the least believable Sicilian woman on earth. But don't let that dissuade you--these are terrific DVDs!

Yippee, Finally, Hooray!
There are eight million stories in the Naked City and here is your opportunity to view some of the best. Don't miss watching this series of hard hitting dramas, all filmed in New York City in the late 50's and early 60's! Many poignant stories that will break your heart or warm it. Realistic story lines and fantastic acting by many stars who went on to "make it big." A New York City that still exists in our memories is the real star of this series. One can only hope that more episodes will be released as they are uniformly incredible.

GREAT OLD TV SHOW
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SHOW ON DVD,I WAS 13 YRS OLD WHEN THIS SHOW WAS ON TV.ITS GREAT TO SEE HOW THESE GREAT ACTORS OF TODAY GOT STARTED.WHAT EVER HAPPEND TO PAUL BURKE.THE PICTURE QUALITY IS FANTASTIC,ITS GREAT TO SEE A TV SHOW 51MINS LONG NOT 39 MINS TODAY.TV SETS ARE FANTASTIC TODAY BUT THE COMMERICALS ARE REDICULOUS,TODAYS TV STARS WORK MUCH LESS THEN THOSE OF YEARS AGO AN MAKE SO MUCH MORE MONEY.I HOPE IMAGE VIDEO COMES OUT WITH MORE OF THESE OLD TV SHOWS,MABEY M SQUAD MR LUCKY,THE DEFENDERS,GREAT JOB IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT.

A steal!
I'm delighted that Image has begun releasing NAKED CITY episodes. This disc (and "Button in a Haystack") includes 4 episodes from the show's first hour-long season. With 4 episodes on one side of the disc, I worried about compression -- but picture and sound quality are actually quite fine. It's a treat to see & hear these episodes in a 51-minute, uncut format. Here's hoping that Image releases more episodes soon! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Well, Smother Me In Marshmallow Cream!
INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS is one of my favorite movies of all time! Yes, horrible / beautiful Bee Girls are attempting to take control of earth by seducing, mating with, and killing the poor males of our species! They are also recruiting human females to increase their horrid numbers! Beware! They wear big sunglasses and cover future members (gorgeous naked women, of course) in white, creamy, bee-goo! You could be next! On second thought, no, I'll be next. I hereby volunteer to save you by sacrificing myself to these nasty insectile ladies. If you don't own this film, how will you ever defend yourself against their onslaught?? Buy it now, for safety's sake...

a weird film
This is a movie that could`ve only been made in the 70s.Its a weird movie,but has some tasteful nudity and a slow sensuous eroticism.Some attractive ladies with nice breasts in this flick.

Sexual sirens in stinging sexy sci-fi
Sec'y State- Security: Attn: Investigation
Obit: John Grubowsky, Brandt Research
Peckham, CA., 52-XYE, Dept. MD
Bacteriology, Clearance: Top Scret
Cause of Death: Undetermined
Investigate. Supvision Sec'y State
End of Message.

The above message sends Neil Agar, a Special State Investigator, because of top secret research done at the Brandt Research Center. However, eight men die in three days, all with the same symptoms, coronary thrombosis induced by sexual intercourse nearby. When that last is mentioned at a meeting, the residents snicker. Agar works with Captain Peters, the local police chief, and Grubowsky's assistant and presumably last person to see him alive, the bookish and too serious Julie Zorn. Presumably is right, as later, Ms. Grubowsky gets a call from the last person to see her husband alive.

All the deaths are men, and there is no occupational correlation. However, it's a remark by Peters on the victims that plants a seed in Agar's mind: "They're dropping like flies." The tension felt among Peckham's residents boil up to an attempted rape.

One scene in particular turns from idyllic to shocking. A naked girl alights from a motorcycle and goes to a guy waiting for her. The couple slowly roll down the hill. A loud buzzing sound meshed with a weird keyboard synthesizer rises to a crescendo. The guy's dead body is revealed, a sickly white colour, his mouth gaping open. A dramatic chord then sounds on cue, as it does with each corpse revealed.

The sexiest scene hands down has to be the transformation of a woman into a Bee Girl. And the sight of Bee Girls dressed in nothing but shades and lab coats, some of them partially open, bare legs on display, as well as the siren-like female chorus on the soundtrack make this a scene worth remembering.

William Smith plays Agar with self-assured confidence and competence. Victoria Vetri (Julie Zorn) was 1968's Playmate of the Year, then named Angela Dorian, and is clearly capitalizing on that accolade. I remember her in only one other film, Hammer's campy caveman romp, When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth.

The sultry, long and dark-haired, dark-eyed Anitra Ford (Susan Harris), possessing some really long stems and the sexiest scene in the movie, is one of the film's assets. She also appeared in The Big Bird Cage. The Bee Girl with short reddish-brown hair I recognized as Rene Bond, the queen of many underground sexploitation films of the late 60's and early 70's. The sunglasses hide her eyes but those chipmunk cheeks of hers are recognizable.

Despite its low-budget feel and slow moments inbetween deaths, it's an interesting look at the male reaction to the times.
The concept of a feminist plot to take over the world is ridiculous, but consider. The Roe v. Wade ruling came out, the move to push the ERA was in full swing, as was the feminist movement. The idea of swinging and extramarital trysts is supported here. Other chauvinistic overtones include Agar's initial brusque exchange with Julie, Dr. Herb Kline's lies to his wife of having extra work when actually he is having dinner and an affair with a co-worker, and Kline's remarks to Agar, "Domestic bliss. They gotta know where you are every second."

A Great Bee Movie
Anitra Ford stars as Dr. Susan Smith, an entomologist who has discovered a method for cross-pollinating women with bees. The process is very elaborate. A woman who is large-breasted and sexy is chosen to be their next inductee. She is lured into Dr. Smith's laboratory, a bee hive of activity as her assistants swarm about. Their latest victim is drugged, stripped naked and covered with a honey-like substance. She is then placed in a sealed chamber and zapped with radiation. Hundreds of bees are released in the chamber until they cover every inch of her body. A switch is thrown, the bees magically disappear, and the woman is removed from the chamber. The honey-like goop, which has hardened into a rubbery texture, is peeled off her body. Another switch is thrown and flashing lights swirl all around her. All of the women in the lab start exposing and fondling their breasts. Anitra Ford goes up to the naked inductee and plants a big, wet kiss on her. The woman then opens her eyes, which have become pitch black. She has been transformed into a lethal honey - a bee girl!

The bee girl's sole purpose in life is to mate with every available male. However, their sting is deadly. Every man who makes love to one dies of a massive heart attack after climaxing. Why Dr. Smith has created this race of mutant bee girls, and what their ultimate purpose is, remains a mystery. I found watching beautiful, buxom women making love to overweight middle-aged men to be entertaining enough for me, without searching for a deeper meaning. Too bad government agent Neil Agar, the original cigarette-smoking man, has to investigate the mysterious deaths and ruin all the fun. Sure, several men died, but at least they died happy! This film has the class to have "Also Sprach Zarathustra" play as the end credits roll. I hope they release this movie on DVD soon, before I break out in hives. Like "The Sting," it's a honey of a movie!

Definitely a drive-in make-out movie
This is the kind of movie that always got lower-billing when double-features used to play at the local drive-in...back when there were double-features and drive-ins (*sigh*). Teenagers would usually watch the first movie and then make-out during the second, which usually wasn't worth watching anyway. This movie, however, is a bit of an exception. As far as I know, it is the only movie William Smith was the lead in (he's the kind of bit actor whose face everyone knows, but not his name). The movie is campy, and because of that, really pretty funny. It fits Joe Bob Briggs' description of a good movie-- "blood, beasts, and breasts." It's not bad enough to be a cult movie or on MST 2000, but it's good enough to see. Once, at least. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A memorable show
In its earlier half-hour series starring James Franciscus "Naked City" was a pretty conventional cop show, but when it was expanded to an hour's length and recast with Paul Burke it became more like an anthology series, with its famous "eight million stories" taking in the ordinary people and eccentric characters of New York City. Gradually it developed a unique tone and style, mixing action with sentiment, humour, and occasional moments of the surreal - how many other cop shows, then or now, would begin an episode with a voice-over meditating on the meaning of the Talmud? These DVDs feature episodes from the hour series, chosen in seemingly random order, a wise move as many of the best episodes came later. Picture quality is excellent, showing the atmospheric New York locations to great advantage. I've bought all the discs released to date and am keenly looking forward to future volumes.

Incredible vintage TV
I cannot praise this late 50's, early 60's series too much. This DVD contains four episodes. By far the best is "A Case Study of Two Savages" starring a young Rip Torn and Tuesday Weld as two hillbillies with virtually no ethics. The acting is superb and heart wrenching. Another episode, "The Night the Saints Lost Their Halos," stars Martin Sheen and a pimply Peter Fonda as two young boys who have tried to rob a store and must pay the messy consequences. Two additional powerful episodes make this a must buy for fans of film noir and gritty reality. The real star, of course, in this tough and totally realistic series filmed on location is a black and white New York City with finned cars, stores, snowy streets and a smoggy skyline vastly different from today's. It is an entrancing step back in history for lovers of New York City and reality TV.

One of the best dramatic series ever made
Like "The Twilight Zone" without the fantasy element, "Naked City" is a superby crafted television series from the golden age. "The Hot Minerva" is a bit too comical for the overall series concept, however "New York to L.A." and "The Nights the Saints Lost Their Halos" are heady stuff, far more thought provoking than the current crop of tv fluff. Observe Frank Sutton and Robert Blake in "NY to LA", this is what dramatic method acting is all about. Like the other fine episodes in the remaining volumes, characters are multi-dimensional, beset with inner conflicts, flaws and ambiguities that make for a top notch series. "Dragnet" had its straight forward good guy vs. bad guy approach but "Naked City" was far more complex and nebulous in its portrayal of the human condition. Let's hope Image Entertainment releases all 99 episodes of this superlative show. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Well, Smother Me In Marshmallow Cream!
INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS is one of my favorite movies of all time! Yes, horrible / beautiful Bee Girls are attempting to take control of earth by seducing, mating with, and killing the poor males of our species! They are also recruiting human females to increase their horrid numbers! Beware! They wear big sunglasses and cover future members (gorgeous naked women, of course) in white, creamy, bee-goo! You could be next! On second thought, no, I'll be next. I hereby volunteer to save you by sacrificing myself to these nasty insectile ladies. If you don't own this film, how will you ever defend yourself against their onslaught?? Buy it now, for safety's sake...

a weird film
This is a movie that could`ve only been made in the 70s.Its a weird movie,but has some tasteful nudity and a slow sensuous eroticism.Some attractive ladies with nice breasts in this flick.

Sexual sirens in stinging sexy sci-fi
Sec'y State- Security: Attn: Investigation
Obit: John Grubowsky, Brandt Research
Peckham, CA., 52-XYE, Dept. MD
Bacteriology, Clearance: Top Scret
Cause of Death: Undetermined
Investigate. Supvision Sec'y State
End of Message.

The above message sends Neil Agar, a Special State Investigator, because of top secret research done at the Brandt Research Center. However, eight men die in three days, all with the same symptoms, coronary thrombosis induced by sexual intercourse nearby. When that last is mentioned at a meeting, the residents snicker. Agar works with Captain Peters, the local police chief, and Grubowsky's assistant and presumably last person to see him alive, the bookish and too serious Julie Zorn. Presumably is right, as later, Ms. Grubowsky gets a call from the last person to see her husband alive.

All the deaths are men, and there is no occupational correlation. However, it's a remark by Peters on the victims that plants a seed in Agar's mind: "They're dropping like flies." The tension felt among Peckham's residents boil up to an attempted rape.

One scene in particular turns from idyllic to shocking. A naked girl alights from a motorcycle and goes to a guy waiting for her. The couple slowly roll down the hill. A loud buzzing sound meshed with a weird keyboard synthesizer rises to a crescendo. The guy's dead body is revealed, a sickly white colour, his mouth gaping open. A dramatic chord then sounds on cue, as it does with each corpse revealed.

The sexiest scene hands down has to be the transformation of a woman into a Bee Girl. And the sight of Bee Girls dressed in nothing but shades and lab coats, some of them partially open, bare legs on display, as well as the siren-like female chorus on the soundtrack make this a scene worth remembering.

William Smith plays Agar with self-assured confidence and competence. Victoria Vetri (Julie Zorn) was 1968's Playmate of the Year, then named Angela Dorian, and is clearly capitalizing on that accolade. I remember her in only one other film, Hammer's campy caveman romp, When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth.

The sultry, long and dark-haired, dark-eyed Anitra Ford (Susan Harris), possessing some really long stems and the sexiest scene in the movie, is one of the film's assets. She also appeared in The Big Bird Cage. The Bee Girl with short reddish-brown hair I recognized as Rene Bond, the queen of many underground sexploitation films of the late 60's and early 70's. The sunglasses hide her eyes but those chipmunk cheeks of hers are recognizable.

Despite its low-budget feel and slow moments inbetween deaths, it's an interesting look at the male reaction to the times.
The concept of a feminist plot to take over the world is ridiculous, but consider. The Roe v. Wade ruling came out, the move to push the ERA was in full swing, as was the feminist movement. The idea of swinging and extramarital trysts is supported here. Other chauvinistic overtones include Agar's initial brusque exchange with Julie, Dr. Herb Kline's lies to his wife of having extra work when actually he is having dinner and an affair with a co-worker, and Kline's remarks to Agar, "Domestic bliss. They gotta know where you are every second."

A Great Bee Movie
Anitra Ford stars as Dr. Susan Smith, an entomologist who has discovered a method for cross-pollinating women with bees. The process is very elaborate. A woman who is large-breasted and sexy is chosen to be their next inductee. She is lured into Dr. Smith's laboratory, a bee hive of activity as her assistants swarm about. Their latest victim is drugged, stripped naked and covered with a honey-like substance. She is then placed in a sealed chamber and zapped with radiation. Hundreds of bees are released in the chamber until they cover every inch of her body. A switch is thrown, the bees magically disappear, and the woman is removed from the chamber. The honey-like goop, which has hardened into a rubbery texture, is peeled off her body. Another switch is thrown and flashing lights swirl all around her. All of the women in the lab start exposing and fondling their breasts. Anitra Ford goes up to the naked inductee and plants a big, wet kiss on her. The woman then opens her eyes, which have become pitch black. She has been transformed into a lethal honey - a bee girl!

The bee girl's sole purpose in life is to mate with every available male. However, their sting is deadly. Every man who makes love to one dies of a massive heart attack after climaxing. Why Dr. Smith has created this race of mutant bee girls, and what their ultimate purpose is, remains a mystery. I found watching beautiful, buxom women making love to overweight middle-aged men to be entertaining enough for me, without searching for a deeper meaning. Too bad government agent Neil Agar, the original cigarette-smoking man, has to investigate the mysterious deaths and ruin all the fun. Sure, several men died, but at least they died happy! This film has the class to have "Also Sprach Zarathustra" play as the end credits roll. I hope they release this movie on DVD soon, before I break out in hives. Like "The Sting," it's a honey of a movie!

Definitely a drive-in make-out movie
This is the kind of movie that always got lower-billing when double-features used to play at the local drive-in...back when there were double-features and drive-ins (*sigh*). Teenagers would usually watch the first movie and then make-out during the second, which usually wasn't worth watching anyway. This movie, however, is a bit of an exception. As far as I know, it is the only movie William Smith was the lead in (he's the kind of bit actor whose face everyone knows, but not his name). The movie is campy, and because of that, really pretty funny. It fits Joe Bob Briggs' description of a good movie-- "blood, beasts, and breasts." It's not bad enough to be a cult movie or on MST 2000, but it's good enough to see. Once, at least. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "A Hole in the City" (Ep. 52, February 1, 1961) - After holding up an armored car, gang leader Lewis Nunda (Robert Duvall) and his cronies hide out at the home of their leader's aunt (Sylvia Sidney), where Nunda painfully confronts his past. "Button in the Haystack" (Ep. 55, February 22, 1961) - When a service station owner (Albert Salmi) fears he'll be arrested for the murder of a man found nearby, he panics and gets rid of his gun, the only evidence that can save him. "Shoes for Vinnie Winford" (Ep. 56, March 1, 1961) - When a dance hostess is reported missing, a police investigation links the club's sadistic owner (Dennis Hopper) to her disappearance. "Vengeance Is a Wheel" (Ep. 58, March 15, 1961) - Mario Licosa (Paul Stevens) seeks vengeance when the family patriarch is killed, despite his brother's (Ben Piazza) pleas to stay out of it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I want more!
After watching both available Naked City (TV) DVDs, I have only one question--where are the rest? Why aren't the other episodes available on DVD? Because, believe me, I and thousands of other Naked City devotees would snap them up.

This particular DVD has my personal favorite, an episode starring a young Robert Duvall as a homicidal maniac holed up in the Bronx. The other has Eli Wallach as a Shakespeare-quoting homicidal cop.

These wee magnificent shows, well-acted and, above all, beautifully written. These DVDs, while free of any frills or features (which would have been nice) are excellent quality. Bring on more!

Outstanding DVD
I received this DVD yesterday and watched all 4 episodes. The picture quality is outstanding. I didn't notice any distortions in video or audio quality. It was as if I were watching a first-run episode of a new tv show; not one that was over 40 years old!! I ordered the other DVD of this series and I hope that more episodes are released on DVD. This is one of my top 10 favorite shows of all time and I would purchase all 99 episodes if they came out on DVD with the same quality as the one that I just received. A must buy for true Naked City fans. ... Read more

Description

In "Spectre of the Roses Street Gang" Carroll O'Connor (All in the Family) is one of three successful businessmen who killed a boy long ago. An old friend who learns about the crime hopes to use the information for his own interests. In "Goodbye Mama, Hello Auntie Maud" a murdered woman's daughter unwittingly has a romance with the killer, the family chauffeur (The Magnificent Seven's James Coburn). In "Torment Him Much and Hold Him Long" Barney Sonners (The Godfather's Robert Duvall) is a down-on-his-luck bartender who borrows money from a crime gang to help his family, only to find himself relentlessly hounded by thugs. In "Five Cranks for Winter# Ten Cranks for Spring" Manager Gus Slate (Peter Gunn's Herschel Bernardi) turns on his boxer and helps his opponent, all for a rose. ... Read more