The proud. The few. No not the Marines. This is something MUCH more important -- the MUST
HAVE DVD boxed set super duper razzle dazzle special spectacular editions of movies and TV
shows that I've been waiting forever for. Everyone has a list of their own long awaited titles --
from the obscure (Eyes of Fire is one of mine) to the "okay, Hollywood, c'mon already" (the
Batman TV series to be specific). Here are some (Hallalujah!) titles that have finally been given
the Cadillac treatment. Don't think twice. Buy 'em all NOW. New boxed sets added for the
holidays! More DVD gift suggestions HERE and HERE
the hilarious parody of disaster flicks, 1980's Airplane! the "Don't Call
Me Shirley" Edition. The movie owes a great debt to the Mel Brooks
parody films and also takes the blame for the gross out comedies that came in
the following decades. Taken by itself, it's hard to resist the endless silliness in
which the jokes (literally) come flying from every direction. Watching the film
again (for probably the 25th time -- this is a particular guilty pleasure of my
family's) I was struck, as always, by the pitch perfect timing of the late gay
actor Stephen Stucker who plays Johnny, the gayest airport controller
imaginable. Stucker's performance is a modern day version of all those Franklyn
Pangborn "sissy" roles with a lot of sass. Sadly, the comic actor with the
lightning fast wit (apparently much of his dialogue was improvised) died of AIDS
in 1986 -- a career cut sadly short. Here's a link to a brief tribute to Stucker:
Stucker remembered.
As for the extras in this edition of the film, they are creative but somewhat
irritating. Instead of the normal, accessible alone "Making of" documentaries,
the producers have put together a long haul version which utilizes the
branching technique. Cast (minus Julie Haggerty for some reason) and crew,
deleted scenes and even inspirational source clips from original airplane
disaster movies, are interspersed throughout this version. Many of the stories,
deleted scenes, etc. are a lot of fun but the constant back and forth gets
tedious and I longed to be able to watch it all separately. There's also a
hilarious parody of those inflight "safety precaution" disaster cards and some
animation in the menu for the disc.
This transfer of the film is also much better than the previous edition. Now, if
we could only get a soundtrack CD of Elmer Bernstein's wonderful
tongue-in-cheek score.
Diana Ross has given one great film performance and one camp one. The latter
is as the super model/clothing designer Mahogany and the former is in the
biography of Billie Holiday. Now Paramount Home Video, has released Lady
Sings the Blues in another long overdue Special Edition. Though the film
turns jazz singer Holiday's life into the standard biopic (and a very old
fashioned one at that), it's compensated by the instinctive work of Miss Ross,
the confident acting of Billy Dee Williams, the self-described "black Clark Gable"
as her protector/lover and the wonderful interplay between Ross and Richard
Pryor in one of his first screen roles. Ross chooses not to imitate Holiday's
singing (a wise decision) but nevertheless recalls her lazy, knowing vocal style
-- a triumph of feeling over technique.
The disc includes a new making of documentary that includes Ross, Williams,
costume designer Bob Mackie and others. It's long on praise for Motown's
Berry Gordy (who stepped in with financing when Paramount's confidence in the
project faltered) and somewhat short on the actual nuts and bolts of the
production. Michel LeGrand, who wrote the film's score, isn't mentioned nor is
there much about recording those all important musical numbers or other
members of the cast. A few deleted scenes and a commentary are included.
The film's release in 1972 was a personal triumph for Ross -- but it was eclipsed
by Liza Minnelli's in Cabaret and Liza took home the Oscar. In another year,
with less stellar competition, Ross certainly would have had her Academy Award.
lots of snow (which I like) and lots of DVD boxed sets (which I LOVE). A good
example of the former (about 7" on the ground and counting) is taking place in
Chicago as I write this, a great example of the latter is yet another winner from
Warner Home Video. Their 3-disc Classic Holiday Collection contains
one of my favorite holiday films and two other stellar releases making their DVD
debuts.
Barbara Stanwyck stars in Christmas in Connecticut, the delightful 1945
holiday comedy in which she plays a sophisticated urbanite writing a magazine
column of her supposedly bucolic country life. Sort of an early variation on
Martha Stewart. When publisher (and food-o-holic) Sydney Greenstreet
decides he wants to spend the holidays with the fictional "Elizabeth Lane,"
Stanwyck goes to comedic lengths to come up with a husband, baby, sweet
country house, and all the Christmas trimmings to deceive the boss (and get a
fur coat in the process). Handsome songbird Dennis Morgan plays a WWII vet
who has also been invited to spend the holidays. Nimbly acted and directed,
this is a very welcome edition to DVD (I can now toss my ancient vhs copy). A
vintage short and theatrical trailer also included.
MGM's lavish 1938 version of A Christmas Carol is the second disc in the set.
Often unfairly compared to the 1951, Alistair Sim version, I'm in the Reginald
Owen Scrooge camp seen here. Actually, both movies offer ample
compensations but Metro's deluxe budget certainly takes the prize. If you're
looking for a hyped up sentimentalized edition of this Dickens classic, this is the
one for you. It's also presented in its original glorious black and white and the
disc has a number of holiday themed extras (including a short with Judy Garland
singing "Silent Night.") Beautifully realized.
The final disc in the set isn't a holiday movie but has been a holiday traditional
for many since it's release in 1938. Boys Town, the story of Father Flanagan's
home for troubled boys in Nebraska is mawkish, almost cloyingly so but in the
hands of Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney and the boys, it's also irresistible. Tracy
took the Best Actor Oscar but Rooney's work is just as strong. A nice
assortment of extras as well. Each of the discs are sold separately as well but
the entire set is a bargain at less than $20. Next year perhaps Warner will see
fit to release two more of my favorite (but somewhat obscure) holiday classics:
the 1940 Barbara Stanwyck-Fred MacMurray vehicle Remember the Night and
1949's Come to the Stable, in which nuns Loretta Young and Celeste Holm let
nothing get in the way of their dream of building a hospital in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvnia.
included) with the release AT LONG LAST of Barbra Streisand: The
Television Specials. This five-disc set includes just that. In the initial and
multi-Emmy Award winning “My Name Is Barbra” (1965) and “Color Me Barbra,”
(1966) specials, it’s just Babs alone in three carefully planned sequences that
still dazzle. “A Happening In Central Park,” (1968) was still Barbra alone – with
300,00 thousand fans performing on a humid New York night taking a break
from filming “Funny Girl.” These have been available in vhs versions released in
the 80s (and the original Streisand introductions have been kept). The real
news (other than having all of these on DVD) is the debut of “The Belle of 14th
Street” (1967), the infamous “flop” Streisand special that recreates a 1920s
music hall and features guest stars including Jason Robards, Jr. Based on the
evidence, the carping by critics at the time was unfair – it’s a very creative,
colorful special in which Barbra is funny and in great voice. The other
unreleased special, “Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments” (1973) is
more problematic but has its share of glorious moments. Babs duets with Ray
Charles and performs a sublime version of “I Never Has Seen Snow.” None of
the discs has extras but a handsome booklet is included and the set is
beautifully packaged – naturally, as Streisand herself is credited with art
direction.
mega monster multi hit from 1997 Titanic. Paramount Home Video has finally
complied with this handsomely packaged three-disc set. There have been
complaints that the film (presented in wide screen, of course) has been sullied
by being spread out over two discs, forcing lazy-ass couch potatoes without
multi-disc players (read: all but the most fanatical) to get up and change the
disc. I had the reverse response. I was happy to have the enforced break to
answer the call of nature and stock up on more junk from my own personal
snack bar. That's the beauty of watching a movie at home on DVD, right?
There's also been some contention about the "branching" effect in which key
scenes allow you to explore the film in greater depth. I watched two or three
of these but then stopped as they broke up the continuity of the movie for me
but I'm sure at some point I'll sit through all of them.
Onto disc three and all those extra goodies. This is naturally where I started
out once I got the package open. Eight years of waiting for deleted scenes (29
in all) is a long time. I started out watching them with Cameron's optional
commentary but soon jettisoned that -- having seen the film many times before
I wanted the "pure" experience. I immediately see why many of the scenes
were cut (especially the Rose "breakdown" stuff early on) but think that the
film, even at its epic length, could have used a few of these snippets (like the
one with Captain Smith being ignored when ordering the half empty lifeboat
that Kathy Bates is in to come back for more passengers, for example).
The alternate ending is interesting but happily not used. The rest of the set is
rounded out by the exhaustive "making of" featurettes that are packed to the
smokestacks with lots of useless but kinda fun information. And naturally Ms.
Dion's video is included.
I was happy to set sail with Jack and Rose once again -- and recall the time
period (reflected by the now quaint digital effects) and all the Titanic madness
of 1997.
Wizard of Oz was for Warners' ultra-resolution process applied to the film.
True to other MGM classics that have received this treatment (Meet Me In St.
Louis, Gone with the Wind, etc.), the results are breathtaking. The ruby slippers
were never this ruby red, Glinda's pink taffeta never sparkled quite so brightly
and one definitely needs a pair of sunglasses to look at that yellow brick road
for any length of time.
But it took me a couple of days to get BEYOND the packaging of the three-disc
set! Here -- at last for Oz fanatics (and I'm a big one) were reproductions of
the movie's 1939 premiere ticket and booklet at Grauman's Chinese, as well as
other memorabilia including an MGM employee newsletter about the film. Who
knew?
After digesting that, it was time to sit through the film (still my all time favorite)
once and then once again (this time with Garland historian John Fricke's
encyclopedic commentary for the Oz neophytes). Honestly, I've seen the movie
over a hundred times and it never fails to thrill.
I thought the movie's original DVD release had tapped out all the possible
special features (and they're all here) but a new documentary unearths even
MORE Oz trivia and footage of various festivals, etc. I also loved the inclusion of
the early silent versions which I'd never seen. Fascinating, entertaining stuff.
This one gets the highest recommendation.
time favorite television program, the comedy sketch show "SCTV." Last year I
recommended Volume 1 and Volume 2 (and grab 'em if you haven't yet) and this
year what could make the discerning comedy fan on your list happier than both
SCTV Volume 3 and SCTV Volume 4? In Volume 3 (the 5-disc set
released last Spring) the impossibly talented cast performed their hilarious
parody of awards show, The People's Global Golden Choice Awards" that
featured Andrea Martin as Linda Lavin, Martin Short as Jamie Fox, etc. This set
(which introduced Short to the cast) also includes Short's dead-on Jerry Lewis
take-off, the "Days of the Week" soap opera parody, and perhaps my favorite,
the Battle of the PBS Stars with John Candy's Julia Child in the boxing ring
against Mr. Rogers (predating "Celebrity Death Match" by decades). The
episodes, as usual, include wonderful extras for the SCTV maniacs (like myself).
With SCTV Volume 4, we've reached the point in the series where Martin Short
tries hard to replace the irreplaceable Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, and Rick
Moranis who had departed. Short introduced characters Ed Grimley, Jackie
Rogers Jr. and Troy Soren -- for starters -- and did his memorable best. The
writing (especially the "Melonvote" episode) was tighter and Andrea Martin is
never short of fabulous. This set also includes the hilarious "Towering Inferno"
parody and a lot of guest star turns (including Robin Williams). This was the
fifth season of the series -- when the show was still 90 minutes and running on
NBC. There are the usual assortment of extras and Shout! Factory has learned
that detailed episode guides are essential in the packaging. If one is to
convince skeptics (and there are actually a couple out there) of this, it's
important to be able to jump IMMEDIATELY to the sketch in question. A nice
assortment of Memory Lane commentaries and supplements round out this
gotta have right now essential viewing DVD set!
overdue special edition releases of the Batman films, 1989-1997. The
awkwardly titled Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology
1989-1997 set includes the two initial Tim Burton entries: Batman, Batman
Returns, and Joel Schumacher's latter two, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.
The latter two, in which Chris O'Donnell steps into the role of Robin, the "Boy
Wonder" adds a distinct gay subtext between Batman and Robin to the
proceedings. But even without the plethora of covert gay and lesbian material
in the four films (Catwoman and Poison Ivy are nothing if not confused about
their relationship with men), these are great fun.
I'm not as big a fan of the Tim Burton's Batman (and yes, Jack Nicholson
desperately over shadows Michael Keaton) but I DO love his follow-up, Batman
Returns with Michelle Pheifer as the alternately sexy Catwoman and the mousy
Selena Kyle. Chris Walken is at his droll best as Max Schreck (an in-joke -- the
character was named for the actor who played the title role in the silent version
of Nosferatu). Danny DeVito is great as the Penguin and small but memorable
support is given by Jan Hooks, Paul Reubens, and Michael Murphy. This is also
the most beautiful film in the series -- and that's saying something.
The openly gay Schumacher took over with Val Kilmer stepping into the title role
(thus the BIG gay subtext between he and O'Donnell) for Batman Forever, the
least successful entry in the series. Perhaps because Jim Carey and Tommy Lee
Jones as the Riddler and Two-Face are over the top annoying (it's Jones' worst
performance).
I seem to be the only person in existence who actually LIKED Batman & Robin,
with Schumacher again at the helm. Uma Thurman as the delectable Poison Ivy
with her poisoned lips and Arnold Schwarzenegger as a scenery-chewing Mr.
Freeze were terrific, comic book villains. And Alicia Silverstone is an enthusiastic
Bat Girl. I also think George Clooney was hands down the best Batman of all
and he handles the role with an easy authority. Schumacher also made the film
that most successfully resembles a comic book -- a huge complaint at the time --
what with all the excessive, not to be believed action sequences -- but these
set the course for what has followed in the action genre (X-Men anyone?)
Each of the films are packaged in nice two-disc editions with copious extras
(and each contains plenty of Dark Knight stuff for the comic book fans). Lots
and lots of fun.
Finally, it just makes sense to pick up Warners new edition to the series, 2005's
Batman Begins the prequel in which the mega-hunk Christian Bale steps
into the title role. This guy doesn't even need the fake rubber six-pack --
though he wears a version of it. The movie comes in either a two-disc edition
with the usual assortment of behind the scenes featurettes or a movie only
disc. A good start toward a future boxed set MUST HAVE.
OF SPECIAL NOTE: Warner Home Video has also gotten into the habit of
creating special, detailed web sites for these fabulous boxed sets. Both the
sites for The Wizard of Oz and the Batman Anthology can be reached by click on
the links above. They're great fun and worth checking out. The other links are
to purchase directly from Amazon.
