Studio: Gaiam Americas Release Date: 02/03/2004 Rating: Nr Read the rest of this entry

The life of Christ got an excessively long treatment (260 minutes, later trimmed to 195) in this 1965 film directed by George Stevens (The Diary of Anne Frank). Max von Sydow does beautiful work as Jesus–his spontaneous mourning at discovering his friend Lazarus has died is not like anything in other New Testament epics–and Stevens renders the familiar tale with a handsome authenticity. But the project is nearly undone by an unwise gimmick in which seemingly half of Hollywood’s living stars at the time make brief (often very brief) cameo appearances, some of which are ridiculous. But there is a lot to like in the film, and Von Sydow’s sensitive nobility sticks in the memory. –Tom Keogh Read the rest of this entry

KELLYS HEROES They were goldbricks until they found out about the gold bricks a fortune in Nazi-confiscated bullion! Clint Eastwood reups with the director of his Where Eagles Dare for this alternately action-filled and tongue-in-cheek tale of GIs who decide to get something extra out of the war. Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland and Don Rickles co-star. THE DIRTY DOZEN Lee Marvin portrays a tough-as-nails major volunteered in the Army way to command a squad of misfits on a suicide mission against Nazi brass. Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Trini Lopez, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland and Clint Walker are among the 12 jailbirds who will earn their freedom if they survive. WHERE EAGLES DARE The mission is clear. Get in. Get the general. Get out. Commandos charged with freeing a U.S. general from an Alpine fortress should also be told to trust nothing including the search-and-rescue orders just issued. Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood are in command in this tw (more…)

EASTER PARADE Strolling along 5th Avenue or bumming around as A Couple of Swells, Judy Garland and Fred Astaire lead a parade of music (17 Irving Berlin tunes and an Academy Award-winning adaptation score) and gotta-dance fun in this neverending delight co-starring Ann Miller and Peter Lawford. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS She’s in love with the boy next door. And movie fans are forever in love with her Judy Garland in a nostalgia and humor-filled tale of life with the Smith family in 1903 St. Louis. Songs include The Boy Next Door, The Trolley Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. SINGIN IN THE RAIN Considered by many to be the greatest movie musical ever! Silent movies are giving way to the advent of sound and a Hollywood matinee idol (Gene Kelly) is caught in that bumpy transition, as well as his buddy (Donald O’Connor), prospective sweetheart (Debbie Reynolds) and vocally-challenged co-star (Jean Hagen). THE BAND WAGON Fred Astaire dazzles in a train station (By My (more…)

The Game is on Blu-ray disc: Now you can experience Walt Disney Pictures crowd-pleasing underdog epic in the stunning clarity and up-close-and-personal magic of high definition. Shia LaBeouf (Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, Transformers) stars as amateur golfer Francis Ouimet. Armed with nothing but talent, the working-class youth has a seemingly impossible dream: to compete against the world s greatest player, his idol Harry Vardon. Soon, with the help of his spunky, 10-year-old caddy Eddie, Francis boldly breaks down all barriers with a thrilling display of unrivaled drive, skill and heart and challenges the golf pro for the U.S. Open Championship! You ll feel the breathless anticipation of the crowd and practically smell the grass on the green as you immerse yourself in the action. Based on an inspirational true story, The Greatest Game Ever Played is an adventure in courage that will entertain your whole family as never before in Blu-rayTM high def (more…)

THE SEARCHERS John Wayne plays an ex-Confederate soldier seeking his niece, captured by Comanches who massacred his family. He wont surrender to hunger, thirst, the elements or loneliness. And in his five-year search, he finds the unexpected: his own humanity. This 12th John Wayne/John Ford collaboration resulted in a universally acclaimed cinema landmark. FORT APACHE The soldiers at Fort Apache may disagree with the tactics of their glory-seeking new commander. But to a man, theyre duty-bound to obey even when it means almost certain disaster. John Wayne, Henry Fonda and others familiar players from director John Fords “stock company” saddle up for the first film in the directors famed cavalry trilogy. RIO BRAVO On one side is an army of gunmen dead-set on springing a murderous cohort from jail. On the other is a sheriff (John Wayne), two deputies (Dean Martin and Walter Brennan), an unseasoned, trigger-happy youth (Ricky Nelson) and a woman with a past (Angie Dickin (more…)

Classic cartoon fans will delight in the bevy of classic Tom and Jerry animated shorts, each of which ends in the proclamation “Made in Hollywood, U.S.A.,” and most of which are from the ’40s. Fifteen episodes (totaling more than an hour) are featured. Included are: “The Cat Concerto,” “Johann Mouse,” “The Little Orphan,” “Yankee Doodle Mouse,” “Salt Water Tabby,” “Tee for Two,” “Solid Serenade,” “Zoot Cat,” “Johann Mouse,” “Dr. Jekyll” and Mr. Mouse,” “Mouse in Manhattan,” “Kitty Foiled,” “The Little Orphan,” and “Jerry’s Diary.” It might surprise more mature viewers, with fond recollections of the adventures of the gray cat and the little mouse, how relentlessly violent (albeit cartoon violence) the ‘toons are. This video, a collection of chase-centric films, is notably chock full of head bangin’, body bashing, poisoning, and all-around disorder. The absolute highlight are two shorts low on smashin’ and high on entertainment: “The Cat Concerto” and “Mouse in (more…)