Film-buff heaven: DVDs of many classic movies are being released in earnest
Especially Warner Home Video, which, last year, released an enormous number of older films on DVD. Other major studios dusted off some great titles, too, but in terms of sheer numbers of classic movies, Warner seems to have taken the lead.
Among them were multiple film "collections" featuring Charlie Chaplin, Lon Chaney, Humphrey Bogart and the "Looney Tunes" gang as well as such oft-requested titles as "The Adventures of Robin Hood," "What's Up, Doc?" "Giant," "Silk Stockings," "The In-Laws," "Day For Night," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "Mildred Pierce," and the horror films "The Thing from Another World," "The Haunting" and "Wait Until Dark," among others. And many of them were chock-full of enticing "extras."
Then, to cap off the year, Warner (in conjunction with AOL Movies and Turner Classic Movies) also put up a Web site for movie fans to vote for their favorites. Twenty titles were listed, some 160,000 people voted and the five titles that received the most votes were released this week (actually six, since one disc has two film versions of the same title):
In the spirit of such great film noirs as "Double Indemnity" (1944) and "Out of the Past" (1947), "Postman" is as gripping as ever and far surpasses the later remake with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange.
The story has amiable but aimless Frank (Garfield) taking a job at a remote roadside diner owned by Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway), and being blinded by the beauty of Nick's wife Cora (Turner). It isn't long before Frank and Cora begin an affair, which leads to their plotting Nick's murder. But there's a lot more to this one, and in the end, an ironic twist of fate. The postman does indeed ring twice.
Excellent from beginning to end, with nice support from Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames and Audrey Totter. And the bonus features include a very good biographical documentary about Garfield.
Extras: Full frame, Garfield documentary, introduction (essentially a brief making-of featurette), trailers, photo gallery, etc.
"Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" (Warner, 1931/1941, not rated, b/w, $19.98). This is a double-sided disc, with Paramount's 1931 version on one side and MGM's 1941 version on the other. To his credit, however, film historian Greg Mank, during his audio commentary on the '31 film, does talk about both productions.
Comments
- Logan canal breaks; people missing 3:58 p.m.
- Man's body found 3:47 p.m.
- 'Love advocates' plan 'kiss-in' 3:46 p.m.
- Many-splendored container garden 3:29 p.m.
- California's $26B deficit 3:25 p.m.
- Eat your squash and blossoms 3:21 p.m.
- Searchers shovel seeking giant worm 3:18 p.m.
- Crash kills Arizona woman 3:13 p.m.
- Lost crab pots 2:56 p.m.
- Lightning delays shuttle launch 2:54 p.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- 10 years after the flood
- LDS seminary principal arrested
290 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
183 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
143 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
99 - Fairness of BCS debated
83 - Letters: Single-payer system best
76 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
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Nice Turns, Tatiana! Nice behind too ;)




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