*** DVD CORNER ***

[ghost of miles]

I just watched Otto Preminger's Fallen Angel twice on DVD recently, a film that stars the still under-appreciated Dana Andrews in perhaps his most morally ambiguous role, Linda Darnell in her first iconic bad-girl turn, and Alice Faye in her dramatic debut after years of starring in musicals. An underrated "Film Noir" that was Preminger's follow-up to the classic Laura. The second time through I watched it with the commentary by noir expert Eddie Muller, accompanied by Dana Andrews's daughter. One of the best DVD commentaries I've ever heard. Muller really makes you appreciate Preminger's fluid camera and superb use of actors, while Andrews's daughter gives intriguing insights into her father's personality and acting style.

Wow--when did this come out on DVD? I was looking for it a year or two ago... I do think that Andrews is just a tad underappreciated. (Just saw LAURA yet again, this time at our oldtime downtown theater--one of those films I can watch over & over again.)

[ghost of miles]

Kalo---you really think Dana Andrews is still under-appreciated?

Certainly compared to folks like Bogart, Gregory Peck, or even Alan Ladd. I guess that's what he gets for dying relatively young (not to mention being under contract at Fox, usually considered to be the corny, hick studio in comparison to the other majors).

83 is relatively young??? He made some damn good films in the 40's, too bad he wasn't given the same quality of roles later on....Did ya know his brother is Steve Forrest of S.W.A.T. Fame????

My mistake. I somehow assumed that the fact that he wasn't in a noteworthy film after the 1950s meant he died early.

I read up a bit on Andrews when I was on a kick for him a year or two ago... he had a pretty bad drinking problem that may have contributed to his commercial decline. He did manage to eventually stop completely through AA.

[BruceH]

I just watched Otto Preminger's Fallen Angel twice on DVD recently, a film that stars the still under-appreciated Dana Andrews in perhaps his most morally ambiguous role, Linda Darnell in her first iconic bad-girl turn, and Alice Faye in her dramatic debut after years of starring in musicals. An underrated "Film Noir" that was Preminger's follow-up to the classic Laura. The second time through I watched it with the commentary by noir expert Eddie Muller, accompanied by Dana Andrews's daughter. One of the best DVD commentaries I've ever heard. Muller really makes you appreciate Preminger's fluid camera and superb use of actors, while Andrews's daughter gives intriguing insights into her father's personality and acting style.

Wow--when did this come out on DVD? I was looking for it a year or two ago... I do think that Andrews is just a tad underappreciated. (Just saw LAURA yet again, this time at our oldtime downtown theater--one of those films I can watch over & over again.)

Me too. I can't count how many times I've watched Laura. Makes me a little reluctant to buy it on DVD, though I know I will eventually.

[Kalo]

I just watched Otto Preminger's Fallen Angel twice on DVD recently, a film that stars the still under-appreciated Dana Andrews in perhaps his most morally ambiguous role, Linda Darnell in her first iconic bad-girl turn, and Alice Faye in her dramatic debut after years of starring in musicals. An underrated "Film Noir" that was Preminger's follow-up to the classic Laura. The second time through I watched it with the commentary by noir expert Eddie Muller, accompanied by Dana Andrews's daughter. One of the best DVD commentaries I've ever heard. Muller really makes you appreciate Preminger's fluid camera and superb use of actors, while Andrews's daughter gives intriguing insights into her father's personality and acting style.

Wow--when did this come out on DVD? I was looking for it a year or two ago... I do think that Andrews is just a tad underappreciated. (Just saw LAURA yet again, this time at our oldtime downtown theater--one of those films I can watch over & over again.)

The DVD was in the latest batch of the Fox Noir series (spine No. 14; Laura was spine No. 01). Preminger's Whirlpool, with the delectable Gene Tierney and the suavely villainous Jose Ferrer as a corrupt hypnotist, was also released in this series. These retail for about 15 bucks, which means that discount places sell them for about $10!

[BruceH]

$10 is good!

[BruceH]

But doesn't Whirlpool have the Richard Schickle (sp?) commentary? Or should I say "non-commentary"?

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

'The Cave' last night. It's good 'n scary.

[Kalo]

But doesn't Whirlpool have the Richard Schickle (sp?) commentary? Or should I say "non-commentary"?

Schickel's commentary is basically unlistenable, lots of gaps, lots of just describing what we're seeing onscreen, and he makes a major mistake in the first few minutes, calling Preminger's Angel Face one of the "Fox Five," when actually it was made for RKO. An Embarrassment.

The movie, on the other hand, is quite worthwhile.

[BruceH]

But doesn't Whirlpool have the Richard Schickle (sp?) commentary? Or should I say "non-commentary"?

Schickel's commentary is basically unlistenable, lots of gaps, lots of just describing what we're seeing onscreen, and he makes a major mistake in the first few minutes, calling Preminger's Angel Face one of the "Fox Five," when actually it was made for RKO. An Embarrassment.

The movie, on the other hand, is quite worthwhile.

I'll have to see it sometime.

Just watched Somewhere In the Night. It was one of the earliest "amnesia" noirs (GI doesn't remember who he is, tries to find out on his own, gets deeper and deeper into Nefarious Plot.) It was made before that became a laughable cliche, and directed by Joe Mankiewicz, one of his early forays into directing, when he was just starting to learn what to do with the camera. Not the finest noir ever made, but there are enough good scenes and interesting performances to make it worth a look. And a commentary by Eddie Muller doesn't hurt, either.

[Aggie87]

Amazon has some of their Criterion DVDs at 45% off at the moment. Free shipping on orders over $25, too....

45% off sale

I finally broke down and ordered "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas".

[Matthew]

Young Mr. Lincoln is so tempting....... John Ford & Henry Fonda, it's sooooo tempting........

[BERIGAN]

Fox classics 47% off at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/featu...3840050-9667929

Edited May 17, 2006 by BERIGAN

[BruceH]

Fox classics 47% off at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/featu...3840050-9667929

Hmmm....perhaps now is the time to finally pick up The Ox-Bow Incident. (I just love Dana Andrews in that.)

[Adam]

Criterion is bringing out their redone versions of Playtime, Seven Samurai, and Amarcord this fall. Here's the link to Playtime:

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=112

Seven Samurai will become a big 3 disc edition:

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=2

I also read that they are redoing their 3 disc Brazil edition. It seems almost ridiculous.

Edited June 17, 2006 by Adam

[ejp626]

Criterion is bringing out their redone versions of Playtime, Seven Samurai, and Amarcord this fall. Here's the link to Playtime:

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=112

Excellent news! I have the UK version, but this one is based off the 65 mm print and should be much, much better. They claim it is coming in Sept. Oct. is a bit more likely, and I'll probably ask for it for Xmas.

[BruceH]

Very much looking forward to that new edition of Seven Samurai.

[Kalo]

Playtime! Finally!

Might be my favorite movie (definitely in my personal top ten).

[BruceH]

Playtime! Finally!

Might be my favorite movie (definitely in my personal top ten).

Nice soundtrack, too.

[ghost of miles]

Picked up a new DVD reissue of a film that I have fond memories of watching with my father when I was a boy:

Emperor of the North

Incredibly violent but compelling Depression-era train tale made in the early 1970s, with Lee Marvin as a superlative bum, Ernest Borgnine as a sadistic railroad employee, and Keith Carradine as a hobo-wannabe just bordering on punk (in the prison sense of the term).

Edited June 26, 2006 by ghost of miles

[Free For All]

Picked up a new DVD reissue of a film that I have fond memories of watching with my father when I was a boy:

Emperor of the North

Incredibly violent but compelling Depression-era train tale made in the early 1970s, with Lee Marvin as a superlative bum, Ernest Borgnine as a sadistic railroad employee, and Keith Carradine as a hobo-wannabe just bordering on punk (in the prison sense of the term).

Ernie was a great badass in this one.

[BERIGAN]

More shows....

Something I may not want to own, but damn I watched it all the time as a little kid. Came out 6-27

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EXZFS...&v=glance&n=130

[BERIGAN]

Never knew about this....6-27

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EXZFR...0-9667929?n=130

[BERIGAN]

July 11th....you'd never guess from the box it was in B&W

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F48D0...&v=glance&n=130

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EU1QB...0-9667929?n=130

Edited July 7, 2006 by BERIGAN

[BERIGAN]

Man, didn't hear anything about this coming out!(Or if I did, I forgot about it- I probably mentioned it back 20 pages ago ) Comes out today. Did anyone watch this when it came out?? Surely some here did. Granted, every show was not gold, but when it was good, it was very good. Ones that stick out were shows like a very funny one where a guy is playing a mummy in a film shooting at night, when he hears his wife has gone into labor. So, he rushes to be with her, still all mummified. Much funnier than I can describe with people freaking out when they see him gas up, etc....Another show has a perfect asshole get his comeuppance when a meteor strike turns him into a human magnet. There were serious shows as well...they just haven't stuck in my mind like the humorous ones. At least they were trying to do an entertaining, intelligent anthology show, when there was little worth watching on TV. Checking the reviews, it looks like one of the more famous shows, The animated The Family Dog, was the first show on the second season. Can't wait to see the series again, to see how well it holds up 20+ years later.

Edited July 18, 2006 by BERIGAN

[ghost of miles]

Excited about this one, which came out this week... both for Peter Lorre and the cinematography (THANK YOU, MR. MOTO in particular was said to be an influence upon the look of CITIZEN KANE):

Mr. Moto V. 1