Editorial Review

You won't need a bottle of rum to enjoy Read more

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Reviews (1916)

Quest for the Pearl
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) arrives at Port Royal things begin to happen.The story concerns Captain Sparrow, the Governor, his daughter, the daughter's intended (a Commodore), and the local blacksmith who owes his life and heart to the Governor's daughter.Jack manages to save the life of the Governor's daughter, but that is not enough to save him from jail.Then she is kidnaped by a band of pirates sailing the Black Pearl.This prompts the blacksmith to team up with Sparrow to go and rescue her.This they set out to do after embarrassing the Navy.
johnny depp does the flying spaghetti monster proud
Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is a rogue pirate. He was exiled from his crew and left on an island. Jack managed to escape the island and is now looking for revenge and wants his ship back. Jack's former crew invade the town of Port Royal looking for a medallion that could rid them of their curse. They kidnap Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and her childhood friend, Will (Orlando Bloom), sets out to rescue her with the help of Jack Sparrow.
Har!The best pirate movie since `The Crimson Pirate'.
Let's face it, has there been a more fun and memorable pirate movie since 1952 when Burt Lancaster and his silent sidekick Ojo swashbuckled bad guys, slid down awnings, and saved the girl?Go ahead, search your brain.
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Subjects:  1. Action    2. Action / Adventure    3. Adventure    4. Feature Film-action/Adventure    5. Movie   

Editorial Review

The short life and passionate music of romantic composer Frédéric Chopin provide the foundations for this 1945 drama, which proved influential in its gaudy, undeniably watchable formula of historical exaggeration and shrewdly simplified motives for its principals.In an Oscar-nominated performance, Cornel Wilde presents the Polish native as a passionate nationalist driven by his love of his native country and his hatred of its czarist regime, a thematic focus that can be forgiven in light of the political backdrop at the time of the production.Already a prodigy in his native land, where he's mentored by a shamelessly scenery-chewing Paul Muni as Professor Elsner, Chopin flees to Paris where his flashing eyes, dark nimbus of curls, and florid technique earn him stardom, while his involvement with the writer George Sand (a beautiful Merle Oberon, even when draped in then-provocatively masculine garb) introduces a romantic crescendo.Still, the tortured pianist-composer pines for his homeland, frets about its political fate, and begins to wither under the rigors of his new career as ur-superstar; in a typically over-the-top but riveting image, we see drops of blood spatter across the keyboard as he thunders through a recital, gallantly ignoring his failing health to spread his music and, by extension, awareness of Poland's fate.Numerous subsequent musical dramas (including two more Read more

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Reviews (11)

Several Moments to remember.
This is the earliest movie rendering of the Chopin/Sand affair I have seen to date. However, in this, Sand is more of an impediment to what Chopin must do--raise funds for his Polish rebel friends.This is something that has been neglected to a degree, in the other two movies I have seen on this subject (Impromptu, Desire for Love). Both acknowledge his Polish-ness and one does even show his rushed departure from his beloved homeland.
A SONG THAT I'LL CERTAINLY ALWAYS REMEMBER
A few days ago, thanks to Amazon and a kind gentleman named Ernest who had one to sell, I FINALLY became the proud owner of A Song to Remember on VHS - a little more than 56 years after I saw the actual movie. They say if something's good enough to want, it's good enough to wait for, and this is certainly true where this sublime movie and most treasured memory of my childhood is concerned.In 1946, at the age of 9, my well meaning parents (back home in Wales, U.K.) took me to see this movie, without telling me that their main reason was 'the hope that it would encourage me to put more effort in to my piano lessons'.To their dismay, they soon discovered that, in that respect, they had failed miserably because - after seeing this movie and being introduced to the life and beautiful music of Frederic Chopin, through the incredible combination of Cornel Wilde's good looks (and excellent acting) and the superb performance of the music itself by Jose Iturbi, I promptly came to the conclusion that if I couldn't play that well, then I didn't want to play at all. Not long afterwards, my long suffering piano teacher was relieved (in every sense of the word) of her duties.But from the moment I sat enraptured through that movie, I fell in love with Chopin and his music and made the vow that 'when I grow up, I'm going to go to Poland and listen to a Chopin recital in the country where it all began'.More than forty years later (and having moved to Canada in the meantime) I achieved that ambition and what a joy it was to hear this wonderful music played by a leading exponent of Chopin's music from the Warsaw Conservatory.My other ambition was to somehow 'acquire' this memorable movie for myself.But I found that to be easier said than done, as all my enquiries came up with an 'out of print' response. Then just over a week ago, I saw that Amazon did indeed have one for sale - 'used'. I knew it was a risk to fork out money for a product that I couldn't even be sure was in great condition.But I wanted this movie so much, that I 'boughtit' immediately, before anyone else could pounce on it.My movie arrived a few days later, just in time for it to be 'a special birthday gift to myself'.Today was my birthday and one of the biggest treats of my day was to curl up in comfort and watch A Song to Remember in my own home at long last.Oh what memories watching it brought back, and what joy is gave me to finally have this wonderful movie in my possession to play and watch for ever more. I am also happy to say that this 'used' tape turned out to be in superb condition, with its picture and sound as good as new.This is one happy movie owner and my thanks to Amazon and Ernest for finally making it possible for me to fulfil a lifelong dream. It means more to me than you would ever imagine!A Song to Remember made it a Birthday to Remember too!!

Magnificent music and drama
Saw this film when I was a young gal. My friends and I gathered around the popcorn this past week and watched it-enthralled by the amazing finger placement by Cornell Wilde. So believable! Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, Read more

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Reviews (479)

pretty good
This movie was pretty good. I liked the witch.She is my favorite character because she is a pretty bad villain and I like villains. The parts of the movie that I liked best were the parts with the Wizard and the Munchkins.Once Dorothy and the scarecrow, lion and tin man reach Oz, it gets very interesting.You finally get to see the place they've been following the yellow brick road for.It's cool.I am six.

The Best Version of the Wizard of Oz yet
Known to all,this is the story of Dorothy Gale and herjourney to the magical land of Oz. She meets a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a cowardly lion who desperately needs courage.The most popular film of all time , seen by over a billion people. It's timelessness is proof enough of its value . Certainly flawed when scrutinized and written about for 56 years, but still most beloved. In 1998 rereleased on the big screen: magic. And admittedly the most important film of my life: As a child I was obsessed with the film and only a little less now.

It Never Gets Old
"The Wizard Of Oz" is a film truly worthy of the title timeless. No matter how many times, you can't help but be amazed by the sense of wonder and inspiration this film creates. Even after 67 years, it's still one of the most impressive and uplifiting moments in cinema.
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Movie    3. Musicals   

Editorial Review

One is compelled to say, in these Politically Correct times, that Read more

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Reviews (18)

Northwest Passage - The Movie's Version.
I first saw this picture when I was 10 or 11 years old (shortly after it was released). I thought it was great. I had not, at that time, read Kenneth Roberts' book, so I didn't realize how much they had changed it in order to make the movie. After reading the book (shortly after seeing the movie), I enjoyed the book even more. Re-seeing the movie at intervals through the years I have not felt that it was diminished by the changes made for the movie.
A great gritty movie!
This is a highly realistic, action packed film that delivers.Tracy is great, Walter Brennan is terricif and Robert Young was never better.The action is superb, the cinematography excellent and the story compelling.A must see gem!

Yes, Northwest Passage Is P.I. with a big however.We
must not judge this movie on our terms. It is what it is. It involves three distinct eras. The movie takes place, in the 1750's. It was made in 1940 & we are viewing it today more than 60 years after that. The colonists, Americans, were subservient toBritish rule of law.Colonist in turn, hated most Indians & treated them as less than human, a nuisance to be eliminated. It appears that the movie got Major Robert Rodger correct. He was a bloodthirsty butcher of Indians. Why? Because they fought back. What choice was there? Anyway, did Spencer Tracy ever make a bad movie? He is superb. Did Rodgers have a vision of Manifest Destiny, on his own, 50 years before the Founding Fathers, as the movie suggests? Probably not. His men, Rodger's Rangers, were cutthroat Indian killers, independent & not fit for polite society. They made money on the number of scalps, men, woman, children or French they could sell to the British. They were loyal to Rodgers & would die for him. Robert Young does a good job also. He is a bit of a cipher & he joins the Rangers as an outsider. Historically I'm not sure his character ever existed but he moves the story forward. Walter Brennon does his usual fine work as the sidekick.
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Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Feature Film-action/Adventure    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

It's tempting to call this harrowing picture a World War II version of Read more

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Reviews (164)

Up there with Das Boot
Compelling story from a "small cadre of individuals" perspective. Stalingrad
The movie was true. It was to the point. People nowdays may not what is really true.One of best.Outstanding.

Classic World War 2 Film
This film is a must for anyone interested in creating a 'collectors' library on World War 2 films. The film is an unbiased view into the sufferings and agony of both German and Russian soldiers during Hitler's famous assault on Stalingrad.
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Subjects:  1. Foreign    2. Foreign Film - German    3. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    4. Movie   

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Reviews (19)

Grace Kelly in a charming performance
Grace Kelly is a radiant presence in this beautiful adaptation of Ferenc Molnar's play THE SWAN.This film was made to capatalise on Miss Kelly's engagment to Prince Rainier of Monaco, and was one of the biggest box office attractions of 1956.
The princess and the commoner
Wonderful Movie
A bittersweet romance with a pinch of humor.I love it!The acting is amazing.The story is classic and believable.Grace Kelly shines in her role.I entirely recommend this movie! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

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Reviews (1)

Timeless, operates at two levels
This movie is so well-known and so much-reviewed (see the other released versions), that I will say little in the standard way of a review: "The Wizard of Oz" is a colorful, musical, enchanting fairy tale that was done as well as any movie ever was.It overflows with color and whimsy, the bad guys are abhorrent (as they should be), and you want the good guys (and girls) to move into your neighborhood.Everyday pieces of reality are enhanced and patched together into a fantasy land that looks part abstract and part American primitive art.This is one of the few movies that can be watched yearly (or more often) without viewers getting tired of it.
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Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Movie    3. Musicals   

Editorial Review

Gus Van Sant's often-beautiful 1991 film stars River Phoenix as a narcoleptic, Seattle male prostitute and Keanu Reeves as the rich friend who agrees to help him find his mother. After a solid hour or so of the two traveling on this quest through Idaho and Italy, Van Sant throws a wrench into the works by conjuring a gay version of Shakespeare's Read more

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Reviews (94)

I Love You, And You Don't Pay Me.
My Own Private Idaho is Gus Van Sant's 1991 art house motion picture featuring Keanu Reeves and the late River Phoenix; it is an extremely loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I & II. Long before his critically applauded Drugstore Cowboy, Van Sant had wanted to produce My Own Private Idaho, but studios would not even read the script due to its possible debate. However following the success of Van Sant's 1989 Drugstore Cowboy, curiosity was shown towards the project generally because of Van Sant's attachment and his earlier triumph. The filmmaker received a $2.5 million budget from New Line Cinema and even got the two male leads he had anticipated, Reeves and Phoenix. Both of the actors' agents were fiercely adamant against their participation in the picture, but both were ready for the challenge. Like others in the genre, the feature didn't get a suitable release and went mostly unnoticed by mainstream audiences, only recognizing it for its taboo subject matter.
Have A Nice Day
An interesting film that looks at the lives of two street kids and their travels to find a true home and adoration.The cast is wonderful with River Phoenix (Mike) giving a heartbreaking performance as a nomad in search of his mother, and the deep longing for love and acceptance from a slumming rich kid, Scott (Keanu Reeves).The direction is mellow and passive in rich oranges and pastels with shots framed on the subject matter in bare form.The film never bows down to a perfect ending nor does it make victims or violators of the characters.It was a breakthrough art film that has aged well and avoided stereotypes immersing itself in the human characteristics everyone shares.

Phoenix is good, but the script is not.
Look, that part where the hustlers and low-lifes hang around in their abandoned building and quote Shakespeare and jump around making theatrical gestures, that part's just terrible. Especially when the Shakespearean lines are punctuated by profanity, come on, that's just a sign of a bad screenplay. Sure, you can use a seedy setting to illustrate a Shakespearean theme. But actually lifting whole passages just creates an air of artificiality, it forces the symbolism and looks really silly. Some years ago, I knew this guy who really wanted to be a film maker, more than that, he believed in art and wanted to make thoughtful, meaningful art films. But the thing was, he had nothing to write about, so he'd just take bits and pieces from Shakespeare's plays or other far superior stories, and then he'd move them to a modern setting and add lots of trendy pop culture references. That's what this reminds me of, even when the actors caper around and recite the lines, it's like a film student's idea of what Shakespearean acting is like.
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Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, Read more

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Reviews (479)

pretty good
This movie was pretty good. I liked the witch.She is my favorite character because she is a pretty bad villain and I like villains. The parts of the movie that I liked best were the parts with the Wizard and the Munchkins.Once Dorothy and the scarecrow, lion and tin man reach Oz, it gets very interesting.You finally get to see the place they've been following the yellow brick road for.It's cool.I am six.

The Best Version of the Wizard of Oz yet
Known to all,this is the story of Dorothy Gale and herjourney to the magical land of Oz. She meets a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a cowardly lion who desperately needs courage.The most popular film of all time , seen by over a billion people. It's timelessness is proof enough of its value . Certainly flawed when scrutinized and written about for 56 years, but still most beloved. In 1998 rereleased on the big screen: magic. And admittedly the most important film of my life: As a child I was obsessed with the film and only a little less now.

It Never Gets Old
"The Wizard Of Oz" is a film truly worthy of the title timeless. No matter how many times, you can't help but be amazed by the sense of wonder and inspiration this film creates. Even after 67 years, it's still one of the most impressive and uplifiting moments in cinema.
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Editorial Review

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Reviews (198)

Finding Forrester
I never get tired of watching this. Sean Connery is brilliant as a reclusive author. Rob Brown debuts as a high school student in the ghetto who is secretly a damn intelligent author in his own right. There's so much in this movie that's about writing and so much that isn't. Many themes I don't feel like spoiling, and you can find another review if you want plot spoilers. The writing is sharp, the language is clever, the characters are brilliantly portrayed, the dialogue is witty and observant, and the plot is surprisingly enjoyable to watch. F. Murray Abraham shines as a teacher I prefer not to emulate, and perhaps he got many of the best lines. This DVD is just perfect. Go get it.
In search of an own voice in the middle a noisy and trivial world!

**** for Anna!
If jamaal was actually going to teach Sean Connery something he should of mentioned some other poets that were not European. There should have been some comment from his mother about poets of color to create yet another dilemma in his world. Anna Paquin is a fine young lady but, I wish that interest would have developed only slightly more. She was obviously attracted to him for being the new phenomenon at the school as it is in real life.
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Reviews (4)

Open Range vs. Barbed Wire....Kirk To The Rescue
Directed by King Vidor, "Man Without A Star"(1955) is a Western lover's Western. Kirk Douglas stars, as a drifter with no particular star to follow. He moseys into town, after saving the life of a young cow-poke wannabe, and we are treated to his fun side and lots of smiles as he whoops it up with saloon gal-pal Claire Trevor.
THE MAN WITHOUT A STAR
ONE OF THE BEST WESTERNS OF OUR TIME, KIRK DOUGLAS REALLY SHOWS HIS ACTING RAGE HERE. ALOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS FILM BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH ISSUIES LIKE WHAT IT REALLY TAKES TO BE A MAN, OR GUN OR TWO FISTS. FRIENDSHIP, RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN A WOMAN. DRIFTER WHY HE DRIFTS TOWN TO TOWN. AND LAST HONOR. I WISH HOLLYWOOD WOULD WAKE AND SMELL THE COFFEE AND PROCLAIM THIS FILM OF ONE OF THE FINEST OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!

Very good, under-rated western.
This is probably my favorite Kirk Douglas western. Although it has plenty of action this is not just another action western. Rather it deals with the implacable transition of the west from open range available to all to individually-controlled patches of range that are fenced off with barbed wire. Dempsey Rae (Douglas' character) loves open range and keeps drifting north to avoid the barbed wire which destroys it. Finally, however, he realizes that the small ranchers must fence off the range to protect themselves from the massive herds of a greedy rancher and her ruthless foreman and helps string and protect the wire that he hates so thoroughly. I love this under-rated western. ... Read more

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Reviews (16)

A historic masterpiece
I'll keep this short, since I have not seen this film in 25 years, but I am buying it here today again.
Whats all the fuss?
I thought this would be a great first silent movie.Unfortunately, despite its excellent reviews, I didnt care for it.
"Take it from me, marriage is not a word...it's a sentence."
Even by today's standards THE CROWD is still relevant and easy to watch.A lot of the older films no matter how historically important are tedious and a chore to watch.THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII nearly did me in.
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Reviews (28)

Excellent
I couldn't be more pleased with this seller's service: fast delivery, & a quality product.

A Western the way it should be
This is a well done, made-for-TV Western based on the Louis L'Amour novel of the same name.There is so much to like in this movie.This is not some grand epic like `Dances with Wolves', the scale and scope of the action are small, and the plot straightforward.The casting and acting are great.Sam Elliot was put on this Earth to play the role of L'Amour's quiet loners.He has such a great voice and presence.Katherine Ross, his love interest in this movie and his wife in real life, is also outstanding.Conagher has some great lines in this movie, as other reviews have alluded to.Ken Curtis (Festus!) also has an important role in this movie.Any Western with Festus can't be bad.The cinematography is terrific.Beautiful shots of the wilderness, the badlands, and the open sky.This movie is also full of atmosphere.Without trying to describe what atmosphere is in a Western, the best Westerns (such as John Wayne's Rio Bravo, and including this film) have it.There is also a certain gritty realism to this movie that is lacking in many Westerns made in the past twenty years.The characters get dirty and tired.One small point about this film that I really found compelling was that the shots and lever actions of the Winchesters sound as they really do.Most gunshots in movies don't sound like real gunshots.This is a small but important detail for realism, and it really adds to the experience of being part of the action, not just a distant observer.The only reason that I don't give this movie five stars is that the editing and transition between scenes are horrible.Perhaps this is an artifact of TV (commercial breaks) or perhaps it indicates that there were more scenes initially shot that were cut from the finished film, I don't know.Scenes just abruptly end, and there are discontinuous, seemingly random jumps, in time and space in the film.It makes the final product somewhat choppy in my opinion.This is a great (and underappreciated) Western in any case, and a worthy addition to any collection.

Great movie - caution to parents
I really think this is a great movie, Very little swearing, some fist-fights and gunslinging. Clean enough for my 8 and 11 year old boys to watch.However, be careful parents, because on the DVD, the preview to other movies contains frontal nudity.(accessible through the main menu)You might want to store it out of their reach.
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Reviews (13)

Absolutely terrible picture quality.
None of theAmazon reviewers noted any problems with the picture quality on this DVD version of Solomon And Sheba, so I decided to take a chance. Big mistake. This DVD was made in Taiwan, probably dubbed off a crummy VHS copy in somebody's garage. I ordered this from an Amazon Merchant. I won't do that again. Some of these "Merchants" have no idea what they are selling. Some internet DVD review sites gave this movie a favorable review for picture quality so maybe there is more than version available, but don't order this DVD from Amazon.

A movie worth watching
The movie sheds light on ancient Israel's King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.In the process it deals with the dangerous fanatics of the time like Solomon's greedy brother and the power hungry "prophets."
What movie were these people watching?
I just finished watching "Solomon and Sheba" on the Trinity Broadcast Network and it made Paul and Jan Crouch look believable.This is one of worst movies I've ever seen.The acting, script, sets, costumes -- everything -- is totally laughable.It's completely hokey, even by overblown 1950s Biblical movie standards.These other reviewers have to be planted by United Artists in an attempt to recoup some money on DVD sales from this disaster. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

All film noirs need deceit, betrayal, dialogue hard as diamonds--and dames even harder than that. But Read more

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Reviews (55)

"Hate is a very exciting emotion!"
Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford star in Gilda, a noir thriller set in Buenos Aires.Ford plays Johnny, a down on his luck gambler who is picked up by a casino owner.Johnny quickly becomes the casino owner's right-hand man--with a pact that women and gambling don't mix.Then Johnny's boss comes back from a trip with a new wife, Gilda,played incandescently by Rita Hayworth.Gilda is a typical noir femme fatale.She acts fast and loose but is actually just trying to get her guy jealous.Of course, her guy isn't her husband--its Johnny.
Film Noir's Best
This is a Film Noir starring Rita Hayworth.She's absolutely gorgeous, breathtakingly beautiful, and she can act.The tension between her and Glenn Ford is sizzling. The romance of love and hate is summed up by Gilda (perhaps not a diret quote but goes something like this) "Johnny I hate you so much I think I'll die from it" ..it has a superb cast and directed by Charles Vidor.It's a wonderful Film Noir!

Wow
I'm 37 years old and far from an old time movie buff.I like noir movies though and have started collecting them for a while now.I also managed to get this movie for $9.99 at Tower Records because somebody goofed and put the wrong price on it, it was supposed to be $19.99.BONUS!!!
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Reviews (5)

The heroism has multiple faces!
Inspired in the unforgettable Ibsen `s work : "An enemy of the people" , a rural medic, despite all the hostilities from his colleagues and the miners attended by him, he will rather be in the town instead of to accept a promissory social position.
What's Up Doc?
"Citadel" is an interesting movie that explores the motivation of the medical profession.We see a young doctor report to his first job at a Welsh coal mining town.He has many challenges in his practice; ignorance, poverty, lack of support, etc..Yet he finds not only confidence is being out there pretty much on his own, he also discovers real purpose in his profession.He researches what appears to be black lung disease and finds that no one will show any interest in his early findings.Still, he has discovered a new level of purpose and realizes that he must relocate to the city to pursue it.I guess I don't want to give away the whole plot of the movie.However, suffice it to say that money gradually becomes the motivation and we see a moral lesson evolve.The movie concludes with a summation of the issues.
Money Isn't Everything
Robert Donat, an excellent actor who made too few films, stars as a young English doctor who enters the profession with many ideals and dreams, but loses them along the path of his life.Rosalind Russell stars as the schoolteacher he marries that loves his ideals, while Ralph Richardson and Rex Harrison are doctors he befriends at different points in his life.Richardson believes in helping the regular man and that money is not important, while Harrison treats wealthy hypochondriacs in between fancy lunches and golf games.The message of the film is pretty obvious, and there are some slow parts.But the acting is fine, with special praise to Richardson who has a number of showy moments.It's one of those stories that reminds us that money isn't everything. ... Read more

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Reviews (11)

King Vidor's brilliant anti-war masterpiece

Some fine moments, but sum of parts pales in comparison
Are you like me in that you are interested in seeing some movies just for their historical film value?I had read that "The Big Parade" for instance, was generally considered to be the first realistic war film.It was one of the silent era's greatest grossing films.In addition, a few of its scenes remain distinctive enough to be still spoken about even today.Having just recently viewed this film, I'd be inclined to argue, that it is these scenes---and not the film as a whole---that inclines many to classify this film as significant and/or of great value.It's the story of a naive son of privilege whose youthful enthusiasm leads him to the battlefields of France as the First World War rages. But before he actually sees combat, he meets a fetching French gal who captures his fancy.The most memorable scene of the film follows---the French girl chasing John Gilbert's convoy, and his truck in particular, her reaching for him and then hanging on to his leg, not willing to be separated from the man she apparently loves.I say apparently because, up to this point, it doesn't appear---in her scenes with him---that she is overly enamored by Gilbert's character at all.Nonetheless, their forced parting is something which lingers with you---along with a few other scenes that do likewise---but for a 2 hour film such are few and far between.The other such scenes depict men inanely marching to their death in a wooded field, continuing to press on foward as men drop from sniper fire all around them & one wherein Gilbert, having just returned home near the end of the film, is embraced by his (American) fiance.So it's a romantic film set against the backdrop of war AND it's a gritty, hostile look at war balanced and humanised by romance.The film, in short, lacks focus; the director apparently not being able to decide, to his detriment, which of these two films he wanted to make. PS: I'll have you know that I'm an enthusiastic silent film fan.So, by all means have a look at this film, if you're so inclined.Just don't assume your (possibly) high expectations will be realized herein.(04oct) Cheers!

Disappointingly naïve depiction of WWI
A tightly structured story relating one man�s life-changing experiences during WWI.The depiction of wartime that it presents is disappointingly na�ve, especially when compared with a film like All Quiet on the Western Front, released only five years later.The scenes of the American soldiers calmly walking towards the Germans as bullets whiz around them are rather ridiculous, as is the scene where dozens of German soldiers suddenly give up even though the Americans have only fired a single shot.Another weakness of the film is that the numerous comedic moments aren�t especially amusing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Movie   

Editorial Review

Despite its reputation as an oversimplified epic, King Vidor's Read more

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Reviews (32)

Tedious but Decorative
This film does have some good points. Audrey Hepburn is always worth watching. The Napoleonic era costumes are gorgeous and the splendors of the Romanov court are a fine spectacle. These points do not make up for the lack of interest, however. The plot plods along and there is very little excitement or drama.
A Highly Entertaining Hollywood Interpretation of Tolstoy's Epic Novel.
This audacious endeavor to bring Leo Tolstoy's brilliant epic novel "War and Peace" to the silver screen deserves kudos. Director King Vidor manages, superbly, to coherently condense the novel's almost 1500 pages into 208 minutes of viewing time. Here he successfully captures the flavor of Russia at war and at peace from 1805, around the time of the Battle of Austerlitz, where Napoleon and his army of the First French Empire engaged the armies of the Russian and Austrian Empires to Napoleon's invasion of Mother Russia, and Moscow itself, in 1812.
Classic story, old movie
This story revolves around Natasha Rostov.She is the daughter of Count Rostov and lives in Moscow. She is a close friend of Count Pierre BezukhovShe falls in love with the widow Prince Andrei Bolkonsky after the Battle of Austerlitz and gets engaged. After Natasha falls in love with another man, Prince Vasili Kuragine, she is forced to break up her engagement with Prince Bolkonsky. Prince Bolonsky then fights Napoleon at the battle of Bordino and gets mortally wounded. This improves Natasha's and Bolonsky's relationship before he dies. After Napoleon retreats from Moscow in 1812, Natasha returns to her family's demolished house and falls in love with the family friend Pierre Bezukhov.
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Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

Barbara Stanwyck gave one of her inimitable and wonderfully enigmatic performances as a mill worker who marries her way into high society and soon experiences layers of frustration. Channeling her restlessness, she soon makes a positive though highly self-sacrificial decision on her daughter's behalf, and endures the agony of being replaced in her husband's life by an old, blue-blooded flame. King Vidor (Read more

Features

• Black & White
• NTSC

Reviews (24)

Is it a crime to have bad taste?
After reading the DVD cover, I was prepared for another "Veda" in MILDRED PIERCE. However, the grown-up Laurel Dallas (Anne Shirley) was quite the opposite -- compassionate and self-sacrificing. In fact, there was a competition for virtues between mother and daughter.
STANWYCK'S GREATEST PERFORMANCE!!!!
I read a magazine article once where the writer said Stanwyck was not an actress with the range of Bette Davis or Katharine Hepburn.With all due respect to Davis and Hepburn, Stanwyck could act rings around them.She was far more versatile than either of them (playing villainesses, comedy, drama and musicals with equal finesse) and was never hammy as Bette Davis was with her popping eyes, neck wringing and clipped speech or mannered as Katharine Hepburn was with her high patrician attitude and twittering, voice.Stella Dallas simply attests to this fact.There are so many facets to Stanwyck's portrayal and so many memorable scenes that rival the best any actress in Hollywood had to offer.1)The scene on the train with Anne Shirley where she pretends to be asleep after overhearing her daughter's friends degrade Stella, 2) the farewell at the train station where she send Laurel (Anne Shirley) to her father), 3) the scene at the Mirador Hotel where she steps out in bangles and beads and a loud dress and she is mimicked by some young boys (that ain't a woman, that's a Christmas tree), 4) the scene where Stella is attempting to get rid of Ed Munn with a plucked turkey stuffed in the oven, 5) the birthday party scene with Laurel where nobody comes, 6) the scene where she pretends she doesn't love Laurel and tells her she wants to marry Ed Munn, 7) the scene where she sacrifices Laurel to Stephen Dallas' new wife (played by Barbara O'Neil) and last but not least, the now classic scene where she watches Laurel's wedding outside in the rain and emerges triumphant knowing that Laurel will have the life she never could.Top all of this with a great supporting cast, an excellent script and an unforgettable musical score and you have Stanwyck's best movie and Hollywood magic of 1937!

Sick then, Sick today "Stay in your place young lady!"
There's something sick and very self-abusive about Americans when it comes to their low regard for the very things that help them escape the rigid class systems of their European peers and better their lives. In 1997 the film Good Will Hunting made the same point that if you're working class and you have a genius friend, you should be willing to give up your friendship so that he can be free to marry the rich girl and climb the social ladder. The film expressed a low regard for community colleges that many Americans attend before heading off to four year colleges.
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Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

When Goldie Hawn recommended Elizabeth Berkley for a small role in Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (249)

Incredibly Misunderstood and Understated 90's Film
I've always loved over-the-top films, in terms of acting, plot twists & turns, etc.The only problem?I don't know that the movie I just watched and adored was campy until someone else tells me as such.So was the case with "Showgirls", a movie I had heard so much bashing about that I was to the point where I couldn't believe it would be as bad as so many had previously labeled it.The surprise: I was right.
This is great movie
I have seen the movie several times & I love it. It is in my top 15 movies.
Ridiculous
The film itself includes a hysterical commentary by David Schmader called the greatest movie ever made, plus a pop-up trivia track that offers juicy insights such as Elizabeth Berkley's total time in the film spent naked.The rest of the box includes a collection of party games such as pin the pasties on the stripper and a pair of shot glasses and game instructions for various Showgirls-themed drinking games. It's almost as ridiculous as the movie itself.Highly recommended.Showgirls is fun
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Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie