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Never Compromise
Comparisons to Ayn Rand's novel can be made but the cinema and the written word are two different mediums. The gist of the story is intact in this film. The film's strength lies with Gary Cooper's performance as architect Howard Roark and the dialogue of his interaction with the film's other characters. Cooper's delivery at his trial is a screen classic. Patricia Neal and Kent Smith give very good performances. Max Steiner's score is one of his best.
Finally!!! It's about time!!!
It's about damn time they released this film on DVD!! Ignore what detractors say; this film is excellent! It's like the Cliff's Notes version of Rand's novel, which is not-- contrary to what so many here are saying--a bad thing as the novel was WAY too long! Rand did a great job distilling her epic novel down into a workable screenplay. In fact, no one else could have done it. Cooper is awesome as Roark--so good in fact that I to this day cannot imagine anyone else pulling off the part so effectively. The drama builds and builds until the payoff--Roark's epic speech. It would do a lot of people today a lot of good to hear that speech, especially the liberals who want to remove the consequences of behavior from society until all that's left are a bunch of dependent animals waiting for the government to feed them like a lab technician feeding lab rats. Raymond Massey is also excellent, as is the cinematography. Using the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings as the film's portrayal of Roark's "vision" was brilliant. This film would never be made today--just look at how long they've been swearing they're going to make Atlas Shrugged into a miniseries...decades! This film also needs to be seen to be believed, and now, on Nov. 7th, you can do both!

Objectivism aside, this is a great love story!
The "Fountainhead" is one of my favorite films for the acting and the love story, although Ayn Rand's Objectivist philosophy is a bit heavy-handed in it. I did think that Gary Cooper has a bizarre grin on his face when his character rapes Patricia Neal's Dominique; the outcome of the trial at the end is incredibly far-fetched and the elitist, condescending view towards both popular fads as well as traditional taste is annoying. Nevertheless, the romance between Roark(Cooper)and Dominique(Neal) is one of the most passionate ever captured on film, unaided byanything graphic or explicit.Much of it has to do with the incredible chemistry between the two actors. The frenzy with which Neal blows up the housing project expresses more passion than any dozen nude love scenes in a modern R-rated movie. The sacrifice of true love due to fear of being hurt is shown as well as the fact that the hero wants to be worthy of the woman he loves by not compromising his principles. The struggle of Roark to be true to his inspiration rather than give in to money is a struggle not unknown to many artists, writers, and filmmakers. While I am aware of the flaws of the Objectivist philosophy, I always enjoy this film, watch it often and recommend it as part of any classic film collection. ... Read more

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Editorial Review

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

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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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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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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

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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.
Read more

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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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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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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

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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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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

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Editorial Review

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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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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

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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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Superior over-the-top Bette performance with gusto!!
I just bought the VHS of this very recently, not having seen it for at least 25 years.
Bette Davis and Joseph Cotten take you Beyond The Forest
"The ultimate portrait in Bette Davis's long gallery of evil dames." The New York Times
It needed Virginia Mayo!
Bette Davis told Jack Warner over and over "Give this part to Virginia Mayo!" -- and, after her trampy roles in White Heat and The Best Years of Our Lives can't you see how terrific Virginia would have been in it!If Bette had wanted to leave town, she would have done so 20 years earlier.Still, it's a hoot to watch, isn't it. ... Read more

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Amazingly Frank Satire of Stalinist Russia
Many movies poke fun at the Soviets.Having traveled to Russia several times, this is my favorite.When so many misguided leftists of the 1940's were defending communism, this film courageously suggests the pervasiveness of the totalitarian government of Stalin. (It was filmed just before Russia was attacked by the Germans in World War II)
Rare Hollywood Film The Poked Fun At The Commies
This film was made at the time when the Communist Party and it's agents were trying to infiltrate Hollywood at all levels. ( "Hollywood Party" is a must companion book for this movie), given the power of the party and the communist screenwriters who were at the pinacle of Hollywood success at the time. It was brave for Gable & Lamarr to make this film. Comrade X is the only film ever made in Hollywood that ever tried to portray the harsh reality of Soviet Russia. Granted it did so in a comedic but any movie with a young Heddy Lamarr is worth watching.

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This
Coming on the heels of Garbo's "Ninotchka" this film was somewhat dismissed as lightweight, but in retrospect it is a delightfully hilarious blend of political satire and slapstick comedy from King Vidor. The writing team of Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer gave the legendary director a gem of a script, poking fun at communism while still allowing its stars, Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr, to be, well Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr. The result was a film that was much funnier and way more entertaining than "Ninotchka."
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Editorial Review

Although this is one of the minor efforts in King Vidor's filmography, it's also among the most sheerly enjoyable movies the august director ever made. Vidor was a Texan, and the scrappy story line he and his wife, Elizabeth Hill, cooked up appears to have accommodated every colorful anecdote he'd ever heard about his native state's legendary constabulary and the individual acts of heroism it spawned.Read more

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Fred MacMurray Rules in this Classic Western!!
Fred MacMurray rules in this classic western that makes it very well worth watching!! ... Read more

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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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a film that pulls no punches
the real one, not the bathetic remake with jon voight and icky schroeder.this stars wallace beery as the washed-up middleweight ex-champ (boy, does THAT strain credulity for the eyes!) and jackie cooper as the young son who is the adult figure to the man-child.both leads give great performances, and although it was beery who walked away with the oscar it was actually cooper who deserved it more (tho god forbid the academy should ever deem a kid actor worthy of such!)the movie clearly resonated with its depression audience, and holds up well today.its the rare tear jerker that stays away from mawkishness.
A Knockout
It would be easy to dismiss "The Champ" as merely a manipulative tear-jerker.Possibly, but if you're going to be manipulated at least have it done by the best.There is nothing slick here.Director King Vidor vividly captures the desolate seediness of Depression-era Tijuana.The film's climactic fight scene is very realistic.Wallace Beery won the Oscar for his role as the Champ but he could very well have shared it with young Jacki