As the crisp fall weather FINALLY hits Chicago, so have a harvest full of terrific DVD releases. As
always, everything on this list is worth at least a cursory perusal, if not hours and hours of your
leisure time. And, as usual, I've tried to put together an off the beaten path list of
recommendations to choose from, though there's an emphasis on my personal favorite category
with this collection, CLASSICS. Click on the highlighted title to order online. Categories in this
edition are CLASSICS, ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS, TV ON DVD, of course GAY AND LESBIAN, and
one title from the RECENTLY IN THEATRES category. Something for everyone! I'll be back with
a Halloween Edition shortly and a Late Fall Edition soon after that.
title is the exclusive property of Greta Garbo. To honor her 100th
birthday next year, Warner Bros. Home Video has released the 10-disc
boxed set Garbo: The Signature Collection. Essentially a Garbo
Greatest hits package, the set includes three of her silents -- The
Temptress, Flesh and the Devil, and my favorite, Mysterious Lady. In
these films Garbo's highly erotic nature instantly cast a spell over
American audiences. As film critic Pauline Kael noted, Garbo went after
her men like no one else. She was an instant sensation but almost
immediately Garbo's reclusive personality, the "I want to be alone" stuff
converged with her on-screen characters.
Worried about her heavy Swedish accent, MGM waited as long as
possible before announcing on billboards, "Garbo Talks!" in 1930's
Anna Christie (her opening line is "Gimme a whiskey with a ginger ale
on the side and don't be stingy, baby"). Like many early talkies, the
film is slow going and static and is saved by Marie Dressler's comic
supporting role as the drunk. Interestingly, the set includes the
simultaneously filmed German version with Salka Vertiel (later Garbo's
lover and mentor) in the title role. It's of momentary interest.
The all-star Grand Hotel with the Swedish Spinx as the exhausted
ballerina was next in 1931. The lady with the vapors role (in which she
actually says, "I want to be alone") set the stage for the rest of her
aborted film career, and life. Audiences loved seeing Garbo in this
tragic light (and didn't mind her dying over and over on camera) and
MGM took full advantage. The set includes an interesting, all new
documentary about the film.
The silly, immensely entertaining hokum of Mata Hari (1932) came next
followed by the lesbian classic Queen Christina (1933) in which Garbo
set a thousand Sapphic hearts aflame with her declared intent to stay
a "bachelor girl." The black and white photography is perhaps the
most sumptuous of her career and it is in this film (and the famous
close-up that ends it) that THAT FACE reaches its apex.
Anna Karenina (1935), another tragedy and Camille (1936), her best
remembered film followed. In the former she paired beautifully with the
poignant child star Freddie Bartholomew, in the latter, with the
impossibly beautiful Robert Taylor. Clarence Brown was Garbo's
favorite director but she gave her usual masterful performance for gay
director George Cukor as the doomed Parisian courtesan. WBHV has
also thoughtfully included the 1921 Nazimova-Valentino version.
Finally, MGM realized it was time for a change and proudly announced
"Garbo Laughs!" in Ninotcha (1939), Lubitsch's light as a feather
comedy that brought a breath of fresh air to her career.
But just two years later, after the disastrous Two Faced Woman (not
included), Garbo retired and never returned to the screen. This and
much more are revealed in a new TCM documentary narrated by Julie
Christie and chock full of rare footage -- including never before seen
1949 screen test footage that is absolutely riveting.
The documentary alone (and the other extras) would be reason
enough to buy the set. Having the best of Garbo collected (and
beautifully transferred) is to once again fall in love with the elusive
mystery that was She -- and will certainly add luster to her legend.
Warner Home Video has another winner in it's exhaustive 4-disc
release of Ben Hur (1959). This William Wyler epic, the Academy
Award record holder until Titanic, is top notch entertainment -- and
knowing that screenwriter Gore Vidal purposely added the gay subtext
between Charlton Heston as Ben Hur and his spurned, childhood lover
Messala (Stephen Boyd) adds greatly to the fun. MGM spent just
about every last dime they had and it shows -- every scene captures
the enormous spectacle yet Wyler's famous way with actors brings
poignancy to the story of a family stripped of everything. Charlton
Heston caps off his 1950s gallery of noble portraits with this, his best
and he is ably supported (Hugh Griffith is of particular note). Framing
all this is Miklos Rozsa's triumphant musical score -- which provides a
gorgeous love theme, Roman marches, and everything in between.
The first two discs are set aside for the four hour film -- prepare to
settle in for a long stay -- while the still spectacular silent version
(starring the gay Ramon Navarro) takes up a third disc. Finally, a
fourth disc includes pretty much everything you'd ever want to know
about the making of the movie (including a Leslie Nielsen screen test!).
And a reprint of the original booklet from the film's premiere, tucked
inside the packaging, makes this a collector's dream.
Fox Home Video hasn't exactly been idle either and fans of Hollywood's
Golden Age will be thrilled that little Shirley has arrived on DVD with the
first of several boxed sets. The Shirley Temple Collection, Vol.
1 contains the little moppet at her best: Curly Top, Heidi and Little
Miss Broadway. As little Shirley danced and sang and pouted and cried
her way through the Depression era 1930s, she found a place forever
in the hearts of millions. Having grown up on these films -- which were
a staple of my mother's childhood -- I fondly recalled the simple
pleasures of these classics as I rewatched them. Fox seems to have
cleaned them up a bit and taken care with the "colorizing" and,
thoughtfully, included the original black and white versions. This neat
trick should silence critics and honestly, my niece wasn't interested
until I put the colorized versions back in the player. The films don't
include extras aside from the trailers and a documentary or two on
Shirley-mania (and the Fox channel is always playing one so I know
they've got one in their vaults) would have been nice for the grownups.
Fox has also released on DVD-- at long last -- one of Alfred
Hitchcock's most inventive films, Lifeboat (1944) -- and the wait was
worth it. 60 years after its release, the film, which follows a group of
shipwreck survivors aboard a lifeboat after a German U-Boat has blown
up their ocean liner, is still tightly paced and well acted. Naturally,
gay/lesbian icon Tallulah Bankhead takes top honors. This was her one
great film performance in her one good movie and as the fur coated
journalist who falls for rough trade John Hodiak, she's great stuff.
Walter Slezak as the conniving German sailor is not far behind.
Though Fox hasn't given the movie -- which is confined to the one set
-- the beautiful restoration it deserves (because the print doesn't
exist?), they've made up for it with an informative, new making of
documentary and a scholarly commentary by film historian Drew
Casper.
with three more titles. The first is one near and dear to the hearts of
all self-respecting gay audiences: Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte
(1964). This follow-up to the spectacularly successful Whatever
Happened to Baby Jane? started out as a Bette Davis-Joan Crawford
vehicle but Davis finally got the best of her nemesis and Mommy
Dearest ended up in the hospital with a "mystery illness." The film,
filled with murder and intrigue, and set on a once grand southern
plantation, was released with Olivia De Havilland replacing Crawford.
She and Davis do some of their best acting -- ably supported by
Joseph Cotten, Mary Astor (in her last film appearance), and the camp
Agnes Moorehead as Velma Cruthers, Miss Charlotte's maid and
companion. This Grand Guignol is lots of fun though I would dearly
have loved to have had a behind the scenes making of documentary
and some of that Crawford footage included.
I'm also a big fan of the epic In Old Chicago (1938), with the
impossibly beautiful (and off-screen bi-sexual) Tyrone Power and Don
Ameche as warring brothers who finally resolve their differences
against the backdrop of our fair city's terrible disaster. Alice Faye is
her usual knowing self, the kind of gal that can take it on the chin but
it is Alice Brady as the mother of the lads that took home the Oscar for
Supporting Actress. Fox has given us an extended road show version
of the film and an A&E Biography of Don Ameche that are very
welcome extras. This is my personal favorite of the three editions to
the Classics series.
The not well known Gregory Peck vehicle The Man in the Gray
Flannel Suit (1956) is a lesser installment in the series but
interesting nonetheless as a rare 1950s study of a businessman
unsatisfied with the corporate life. Based on the Sloan Wilson
bestseller, highly reminiscent of the John Cheever stories to come. A
few extras round out the disc.
childhood, Oliver! (1968) was a part of mine and my sisters. Tiny put
upon Mark Lester, whether it be asking for "more" gruel at the
workhouse, wondering wistfully, "Where Is Love?" in song or finally
finding a bit of joy with "Who Will Buy?" is a wonder in the title role.
He is magnificently supported on all counts by the English cast. The
film won a well deserved six Oscars and Ron Moody's loss as Fagin still
defies logic. This is a very old fashioned Hollywood musical, encased in
the artifice of studio "magic" and may be part of the reason why I
treasure it. Even with all the terrible things that befall our young hero,
we know that he's going to turn out alright -- this being a soundstage,
after all!
Though the new Columbia Tristar Home Video release of the film is
virtually the same disc that's been on the market for sometime, they've
smartly packaged it with the premiere CD of the movie's highly
hummable score -- reason enough to add it to your collection if you
haven't already. Perhaps for the film's 40th anniversary in 2008 we'll
see a Special Edition but this will suffice for now.
Columbia Tristar should look no further than Disney's exhaustive
premiere DVD release of Cinderella (1950). The animated classic --
while not the strongest of Disney's animated efforts -- has been given
an eye-popping restoration that fills the screen with brilliant color and
arrives with a second disc that's jam packed with extras for both the
kiddies and their adult kids at heart counterparts. I especially loved all
the vintage extras while "The Cinderella That Almost Wasn't," a
documentary that includes deleted footage was my niece's favorite. A
beautiful presentation that makes one reconsider the film itself.
performances by Jane Fonda. With all the buzz about Fonda's return
in the less than hilarious comedy, Monster-in-Law, Warner Home Video
has issued several other Fonda films from their catalogue. The
Morning After (1986) contains a very complex Fonda performance
that easily surpasses the murder mystery plot her character is involved
in. Playing a drunken, over the hill actress, Fonda's work is superb and
she is matched by the oddly written role handed to Jeff Bridges. The
film quickly disappeared upon its release and its nice to have it back. A
Fonda commentary, paired with director Sidney Lumet, is a nice extra.
too.
Then of course, there's Fonda's Oscar winning role as Bree Daniels the
call girl in Klute (1971). It stands as a testament to Fonda's
extraordinary performance that she was at the height of her
unpopularity for her stance on the war in Viet Nam when she took
home the Oscar. Academy Award voters, notoriously conservative,
just couldn't ignore her riveting portrayal. Bree Daniels is being
stalked by a serial killer of call girls and its only through the help of
Donald Sutherland as John Klute, a private investigator, that she
stands a chance of surviving. Here the mystery deepens the
characters and the film is filled with arresting, haunting images of "all
the sin and glitter" of wicked New York City. Director Alan J. Pakula's
work has never received the credit it deserves -- nor has film composer
Michael Small (who died this year). Small's score for the film was his
best -- with a haunting love theme, icy, scary music for the suspense
scenes being just a few highlights. A highly coveted LP promo has
passed for years from collector to collector as the music was never
officially released. Hey, Warner Bros. -- isn't it time that Small got his
due with a soundtrack release of this and his other scores? (FYI --
Fonda mentions the music in her commentary track -- that's how good
it is). A vintage documentary is also a great bonus.
since Clueless (1995) and believe it or not, 20 years since Harrison
Ford went underground in Amish territory in Witness (1985).
Now Paramount has released anniversary DVD editions of all three
films with a nice assortment of extras and price points that make
these worthy editions to your collection.
First up, The Truman Show, available previously in a bare bones
edition, has two making of documentaries that include cast members
from Jim Carrey on down, deleted scenes, trailers, and such. The
film made a big splash upon its release with Carrey's performance
showing that he could handle a serious leading role. The fascinating
high conceit of the film was an interesting prelude to all the reality
junk TV shows that have followed and I've often wondered if the
performance by Ed Harris as the horribly narcissistic director has
inspired some behind-the-scenes machinations.
Truman Show director Peter Weir had his first big, big hit with the
crowd pleasing Witness. Harrison Ford played a tough but likeable
cop on the run from his corrupt fellow officers in order to protect an
Amish child who has witnessed one of them committing a murder.
Kelly McGllis found 1980s stardom as the recently widowed mother
of the little boy (the huge-eyed Lukas Haas). The thriller/action stuff
is interrupted by a forbidden romance middle section set in Amish
country that helped give the film depth (aided by Maurice Jarre's
synth score). Ford turns in one of his most charming performances
and he is ably supported by none other than Broadway belter Patti
LuPone, dancer Alexander Gudonov and in a teeny tiny role, his film
debut, Viggo Mortensen. The anniversary disc includes a 75-minute
5-part making of documentary that's new and quite interesting.
Finally, Cher and her gal pals have returned in Clueless: the
"Whatever" Edition. Alicia Silverstone as the pampered Beverly
Hills teen with the heart of gold is very winning though the
obnoxious Brittany Murphy as Cher's personal make-over is less
welcomed back. In director Amy Heckerling's capable hands,
however, the frothy movie chugs along agreeably. Though
Paramount's packaged this many times in the past, there are many
new delights to be savored (especially the Suck-n-Blow party game
explanation) though Silverstone's lack of participation is sorely
missed.
previous devotion to "Sex and the City" and as the world knows, it's
because of a certain group of women who live on Wisteria Lane.
Now, thanks to the folks at Buena Vista Home Entertainment,
there's lots more Wisteria Lane intrigue to indulge in. Desperate
Housewives - The Complete First Season is a 6-disc set
that is packed to the attic with not just the complete 23 episodes
from the debut year of the show but more extras than you can
shake a mop at. There's everything from deleted scenes, extended
and unrated episodes, to commentary from the housewives and gay
creator and writer of the show Marc Cherry. There's also a slew of
publicity segments done for the show -- including Oprah's hilarious
"New Neighbor" piece from her show. In short, EVERYTHING for at
least two or three D.H. themed viewing parties.
The original "I Love Lucy" episodes remain the pinnacle of sitcom
television more than fifty years after their first airing. And
Paramount's careful packaging of the show is helping to keep the
legend alive for new generations. Now they've released the 4-disc I
Love Lucy - The Complete Fifth Season. The 26-episodes
of that justly famed season include the end of Lucy and Ricky's
Hollywood shows and the Ricardo's and Mertz's trip to Europe
(highlighted by the grape stomping episode). The set includes the
original openings, and a few other interesting extras. I'm thrilled
that Paramount has finally repackaged the show into these complete
season boxed sets. They've never looked better or sounded
funnier. Lucy and company are still the best.
I think "Will & Grace" hit its peak in Season Four and Lions Gate
4-disc compilation set proves it. This was the year (2001) that
Grace ended her creepy relationship with Nathan (Woody Harrelson),
Will had the flirtation with Matt Damon, "Just Jack" tangled with Cher,
and Megan Mullally got into bed with Rosario. The guest star
quotient in the 25 episodes of the season was very high (Debbie
Reynolds, Suzanne Pleshette, Glenn Close, AND Michael Douglas
playing gay) and the writing and performing was at its best. Not
that it was all downhill from there, just not quite as fall down funny.
Minimal extras but as always, having the episodes packaged together
if you're a fan of the show (what gay person isn't?) makes the price
a bargain. Will & Grace - Season Four is available now.
For grown up kids (and grown kids WITH kids) one of life's little
pleasures has been "The Muppet Show." Now, Buena Vista Home
Video has completely restored and remastered The Muppet
Show - Season One (Special Edition) and presents all 24
episodes of the 1976 debut year of the show on 4-discs. They're
like mini variety shows (at 30 minutes apiece) and the camp factor
commingles beautifully with the innocent kid stuff. The shows hold
up amazingly well and are fun to share with nieces, nephews or by
yourself. And the line up of hosts in the initial season -- from Ethel
Merman to Vincent Price and Kaye Ballard -- make this a must have
for gays and lesbians and are like a microcosm of 1970s celebs (Ruth
Buzzi! Jim Nabors!). Fabulous and fun, the set also has a lot of
extras that include creator Jim Henson's original pitch reel and the
pilot. And the green felt box cover, with a swatch of Kermit's yellow
neckerchief is too cute for words. Get it already ya big Piggy!
show debuted in 1975 it was stunning to see such a hip, hilarious
group of folks on TELEVISION. I still vividly recall watching the first
night and being amazed. These were like my college friends --
funny, edgy, with an obvious liberal bent, and plenty stoked up to
boot. So to say that I love SNL - First Five Years from Lions
Gate is an understatement. Now to warn potential viewers expecting
nothing but a Greatest Hits compilation, this is NOT that disc. It is,
however, a terrific documentary of the first five years of "Saturday
Night Live" that contains clip highlights and is funny and informative
at the same time. A wonderful trip to the past.
This has been a great year for TV on DVD for me. My two all time
favorite TV shows, "Night Gallery," and "SCTV" have FINALLY started
finding their way to the format. Though the "Night Gallery" series
could use some extras, the folks at Shout Factory have been doing a
great job with their seasonal SCTV compilations. I'm waiting with
bated breath for the original half hours to debut.
In the meantime, and to kick start the holiday season, they've
brought out Christmas with SCTV which features two of the
holiday themed episodes of the show. The disc features all the
original cast members of the comedy sketch show (except Harold
Ramis) -- and what a cast! Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, John
Candy, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Joe Flaherty, Rick Moranis, and
Dave Thomas. All the characters that longtime fans of the show
know and love are here -- Lola Heatherton, Bobby Bitman, Edith
Prickley, Ed Grimley, Johnny LaRue, etc. This goes right to the top
of my holiday gift giving list. It's been an annual holiday tradition but
at long last I can toss my old vhs tapes for this sparkling new DVD
edition.
and they're, indeed compelling. Beautiful Boxer, out from TLA
Releasing, was actually my personal favorite from Chicago's Reeling
2004 GLBT fest. The disc does not feature any bonus features but is
worth picking up as the film tells a highly unusual story (about a
transgendered kick boxer!) in a very respectful way. Click HERE to go
to my original review of the film.
Here's what I had to say about Naked Fame, when it screened here
last year:
Is there life after porn? The documentary Naked Fame, while tracking the attempts of
porn star Colton Ford to pursue a singing career, surreptitiously explores that question. At
the outset of the film Ford and his boyfriend Blake Harper, another porn star, are
preparing to leave behind the industry that has given them prominence. Ford’s attempts
to break into the music business via a solitary dance track (and not a very good one –
though he’s a terrific singer) are much less interesting than scenes that focus on the
couples attempts to return to “normal” life and their struggles with fans who still want
them to be nothing more than the porn stars they masturbate to.
Ford obviously still has a bad case of the stardust syndrome and it doesn’t seem like it
would take much to get him back in front of the porn cameras. More interesting is
whether Harper, who had the longer career and apparently struggled with drug addiction,
would do the same. We glimpse him working again as a nurse, his pre-porn career, and
the sight of Harper clothed in the loose fitting uniform and somewhat heavier immediately
raises questions that are much more interesting than whether or not the 40-something
Ford gets a record deal. As adult film director-drag queen Chi Chi LaRue wisely points
out, there is no real escape from a career in porn and one wonders about the social and
emotional repercussions – and perhaps, regrets?
Rewatching the documentary I had that same reaction -- more behind
the scenes stuff would have been great, more of Ford's interaction
with his accepting parents and above all, I wish an update had been
added to the disc instead of still shots of Ford in a bathtub -- sexy
though he remains. Worth checking out.
Gate and honestly did so on purpose. I knew that its story of
characters intersecting in Los Angeles on a brutally hot night and day,
it's questions of race -- obviously not to be resolved -- would be a
difficult cinematic experience. But I also knew I wanted to see the
movie and that's been one of the best things about home viewing --
being able to experience a film like Crash when you have the time to
deal with its reflective questions.
This is a movie that will resonate for days after you see it and director
Paul Haggis (who does a brief intro on the DVD) has assembled a
gifted cast to perform it. Sandra Bullock plays against type, while Don
Cheadle, Ryan Phillippe and the suddenly hot Terrence Howard add
strong support. Most suprising is the complex performance turned in
by Matt Dillon. His second encounter with Thandie Newton is
absolutely riveting (Newton also turns in amazing work).
An intense but unforgettable film. The disc has a short behind the
scenes making of documentary as well. Highly recommended.
