"The Day The Earth Stood Still". A Review Of The 1951 Sci-Fi Classic And The CINEMA RESERVE DVD Series.

Before the review, a little about the Cinema Reserve series from 20th Century Fox (this issue is one of those titles).

"Cinema Reserve" is the title given to Fox's "premium" issues and releases started in February 2006 & are on-going. The blurb inside each tin promises best digital transfers, best audio, best extras, dedicated and unique booklet - and all of it wrapped up in a rather delicious metal tin exterior with slightly altered artwork. The series is numbered on the spine of the tin - from 001 on upwards (see list below). Most are 2DVD sets where the standard issue or Studio Classics issue is often only 1 disc. (Some of the doubles in this series are the 1st UK release of already released doubles in the USA on Region 1.)

I mention all of this because when you type in "Cinema Reserve" into the Amazon search engine, you get only 2 entries - "The Seven Year Itch" and "The Fly". No one at Fox seems to have alerted Amazon of the releases nor provided them with all of the proper artwork. Amazon's system has most of the titles available (not all) but they're not highlighted or recognised as "Cinema Reserve" releases. (The unique artwork is an easy way to spot them). It looks like the series will contain almost 20 titles by the end of the year. I've bought 6 others to date and 2 of them do have stock faults despite the "pristine transfer" claims in the booklet (more of those in later reviews). Still, if most are like this title (superb), then you may want to start saving! And the tin effect looks soooo good too - craftily geared towards the collector in us all!

For those interested, I've compiled an alphabetical list with the Series Number, Film Title, Film Release Date and finally the Cinema Reserve Release Date (including forthcoming titles):

1. Number 003: All About Eve (1950) (26 Feb 2006)
2. Number 013: Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970) (12 Feb 2007)
3. Number 007: Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (1969) (22 May 2006)
4. Number 019: Cleopatra (due 2007 - never appeared)
5. Number 001: The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) (26 Feb 2006)
6. Number 009: The Fly (1986 Remake) (3 July 2006)
7. Number 010: The Hustler (1961) (18 Sept 2006)
8. Number 011: Kagemusha (1980) (27 Nov 2006)
9. Number 004: Laura (1944) (27 Feb 2006)
10. Number 005: Lifeboat (1944) (27 March 2006)
11. Number 018: The Magnificent Seven (1960) (due 2007 - never appeared)
12. Number 016: Midnight Cowboy (18 June 2007)
13. Number 002: My Darling Clementine (1946) (27 Feb 2006)
14. Number 006: Patton (1970) (24 April 2006)
15. Number 008: The Seven Year Itch (1955) (19 June 2006)
16. Number 017: Some Like It Hot (1959) (23 July 2007)
17. Number 012: Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) (18 Dec 2006)
18. Number 015: Valley Of The Dolls (1967) (14 May 2007)
19. Number 014: The Verdict (1982) (19 March 2007)

Back to this release. The film itelf is on Disc One and is a fully restored print in black and white - and looks just sensational. There's a scene where the seven-foot seven actor Lock Martin (formerly a doorman at a Hollywood Theatre) who plays GORT THE ROBOT has to pick up Patrica Neal in his cumbersome silver suit. It was impossible to do. So they had string pullies yank her up - the restoration shows us the strings as she gallantly lets out one of those blood-curdling screams that only Fifties women seemed to do in Nineteen Fifties Sci-Fi movies - which is both funny and cute!

Michael Rennie, superbly majesterial as Klaatu the interstellar messenger, was new to American screens. After being manhandled by the army and jailed by Washington types who take his requests to meet all leaders of the world as being impossible to achieve, Gort blasts a wall and helps him escape. He meets an understanding widow and her family in a boarding house he takes refuge in. Helen (Neal) and her son Bobby (played by Billy Gray - interviewed on Disc 2) say that Klaatu must meet the smartest man in the world, Doctor Barnhardt (veteran actor Sam Jaffe, an obvious ringer for Einstein). The Doctor says the world still won't listen; Klaatu tells them there will be a sign of his race's power; he stops everything at twelve noon one day. Great stuff!

For a movie that could have so easily descended into the clunky and even preachy, all the dialogue was superbly handled. The script was clearly one of the reasons why the film got made. And the great "message" given by Klaatu at the end of the movie about the Human Race growing up or the world will destroy itself could be quoted word-for-word now and not be out of place. Throughout the film Rennie calls himself Mister Carpenter and the inference to Jesus was subtle but deliberate by the screenplay writer.

After the movie, there are a few superfluous Movietone News Events of 1951 on Disc 1 that seem irrelevant to the movie really (but part of the movie experience of the time).

However, the real goodies start on Disc 2 with an 80-minute featurette on the Making Of the film. Although short on actual on-set footage, there are stills and fascinating features on each of the actors. Patricia Neal openly admits that she couldn't stop giggling in a lot of scenes at the poe-faced seriousness of it all - but the endlessly patient Rennie took it. There are interviews with the producers about the politically difficult times in which it was made. The downside is that Fox clearly don't have interviews with Rennie or Jaffe or Martin - and footage of the actual shoot is practically non-existent, so many of the interviews are peppered only with a photo of what/whom is being discussed - when you long for more.

Cinema cards, the iconic posters, the cinema stands at the premier are all talked of - even ownership of the prop that was the flying saucer is touched upon. There's the nervous preview screening where the audience giggled at the opening army shots of trucks rushing to the scene -much to the terror of the film makers who thought they might have a turkey on their hands. There's a bit on the restoration process, a trailer, stills gallery - all very good.

And then there's Bernard Herrmann's score - ripped off by every Sci-Fi movie ever since - a huge part of the scare factor. Astonishingly ahead of its time - and so on the money.

All in all, this is a superb issue of a ground-breaking movie. Sure it'll be boring to some of our CGI saturated kids, but watching it all the way through now - some 55 years after the event - it's astonishing how relevant it was then - and still is.

So puny Earthlings, in the words of your friendly alien, "Klaatu Barada Nikto". Indeed!

PS: The above review was posted in May 2007; it's September 2008 now and many of you will have noticed that numbers 18 and 19 in the series haven't turned up at all - and given the transition to HD/Blue Ray - they're unlikely too. I bought "Some Like It Hot", 17, the last number issued - so it looks like the entire series and its excellent packaging has been unceremoniously dumped. Having said that, if you're still prepared to fork out, I've noticed many of the titles are now available at greatly reduced prices - and all bar "The Lifeboat" (terrible print) are worthy of your attention. I've amassed 12 of the 17 and will try to post reviews of them in the near future. The black and white print on "The Hustler" in particular is spectacular...

"Von Ryan's Express". A Review Of The Film Now Reissued On A 2007 2DVD Set As Part Of 20th Century Fox's 'CINEMA CLASSICS COLLECTION' Series.

This release is part of 20th Century Fox's ongoing series called "CINEMA CLASSICS COLLECTION". Initially Fox's re-issues were called "STUDIO CLASSICS" in the States (as they still are here in the UK), but they've been superseded with these. It's important to note that the CCC series is AMERICAN/REGION-ONE ONLY - and will therefore require A MULTI-REGION PLAYER to play the title.

(In the UK, Fox's premier series is/was called CINEMA RESERVE - see my review of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" for the full UK list).

Having just received 2 CCC titles in the post ("Von Ryan's Express" and "Fantastic Voyage") and having enjoyed them so much and loved their shiny new transfers, I feel sure other movie buffs will want to know what's available/forthcoming. So here goes!

The CINEMA CLASSICS COLLECTION series houses most of their titles in card wrap covers clearly marked as such at the top of the box. The artwork usually reflects the original poster art of the movie (the Studio Classics series tended to reflect the old video covers of the 70's & 80's). The DVD inside has the same artwork in its jewel case. The card wrap is a nice touch and lends the issue a classy feel. Some of the titles are 2DVD sets, all are restored transfers in one way or another - many exemplary (some have been criticized in minor ways) and some of the sets (like this one) come with lovely Lobby Card Postcards reproducing the original promotional shots of the film. Some even have a poster. The Card Wraps are NOT numbered or sequenced in any way (both the Studio Classics series and the Cinema Reserve series ARE numbered on their spines). Each CCC issue has a dedicated inlay - usually 2 or 3 pages - and each is full of great info about the shoot - the stars - the release - it's legacy etc. The discs themselves are loaded with fascinating extras, re-mastered soundtracks, archive material etc.... Fox has to be praised for this. The series is clearly building momentum in the States and is gaining the respect among collectors and lovers of film that say the WARNER BROTHERS SIGNATURE COLLECTION boxes have.

As a lover of oldies and classics, I thought I'd compile a list of these for fans here in the UK; many of these tiles are obscure and are REGION 1 only. I've cobbled this list together from several sources and the obvious sites for Fox, but if there are inaccuracies/additions/subtractions, then please feel free to point them out.

Titles in the Series are listed as follows:
Film Title (Principal Actors), Original Year of Release, DVD Year Of Release, No. of Discs and Any Other Relevant Info.
(Titles That Are Only Available As Part Of A Box Set Are Also Included):

1. A-Haunting We Will Go (Laurel and Hardy), 1942 (available only as part of the Laurel & Hardy Collection Volume 2 box set)
(Hemingway's) Adventures Of A Young Man (Paul Newman), 1962 (available only as part the Hemingway Classics Collection box set)
2. The Agony & The Ecstasy (Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison), 1965, April 2005, 1 Disc
3. Ambassador Bill (Will Rogers), 1931 (available only as part of the Will Rogers Collection Volume 2 box set)
4. Anna Karenina (Vivien Leigh and Ralph Richardson), 1948, April 2007, 1 Disc
5. Bedazzled (Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Raquel Welch), 1967, April 2007, 1 Disc
6. Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (Russ Meyers), 1970, June 2006, 1 Disc (see also Valley Of The Dolls) (also available on the CINEMA RESERVE series in the UK)
7. The Bible...In The Beginning (Richard Harris and George C Scott), 1966, 1 Disc
8. The Big Noise (Laurel and Hardy), 1944 (only available as part of the Laurel & Hardy Collection Volume 1 box set)
9. The Black Camel (Warner Oland and Bela Lugosi), 1931, August 2007 (only available as part of the Charlie Chan Volume 3 box set)
10. The Black Rose (Tyrone Power, Orson Welles and Jack Hawkins), 1950, May 2007, 1 Disc (also available as part of the Tyrone Power Collection box set)
11. Blood And Sand (Tyrone Power and Rita Hayworth), 1941, May 2007, 1 Disc (also available as part of the Tyrone Power Collection box set)
12. Blue, White & Perfect (Lloyd Nolan), 1941 (only available as part of the Michael Shayne Mysteries Volume 1 box set)
13. The Bullfighters (Laurel and Hardy), 1945 (only available as part of the Laurel & Hardy Collection Volume 2 box set)
14. Call Of The Wild (Clark Gable and Loretta Young), 1935 (only available as part of the Clark Gable Collection box set)
15. Caprice (Doris Day and Richard Harris), 1967, June 2007, 1 Disc
16. The Captain From Castile (Tyrone Power, Jean Peters and Cesar Romero), 1948, May 2007, 1 Disc (also available as part of the Tyrone Power Collection box set)
17. The Chairman (Gregory Peck and Anne Heywood), 1969, November 2006, 1 Disc
18. Charley's Aunt (Jack Benny and Kay Frances), 1941, June 2007, 1 Disc
19. Charlie Chan Collection Volume 1 (Warner Oland as Chan), (Box Set containing 5 films, Charlie Chan In London, Charlie Chan In Paris, Charlie Chan In Egypt, Charlie Chan In Shanghai and Eran Trece) (Titles Not Available Individually), June 2006
20. Charlie Chan Collection Volume 2 (Warner Oland as Chan) (Box Set containing 4 films, Charlie Chan At The Circus, Charlie Chan At The Olympics, Charlie Chan At The Opera, Charlie Chan At The Race Track) (Titles Not Available Individually), Dec 2006
21. Charlie Chan Collection Volume 3 (Warner Oland as Chan) (Box Set containing 4 films, Charlie Chan's Secret, Charlie Chan At Monte Carlo, Charlie Chan On Broadway, The Black Camel) (Titles Not Available Individually), August 2007
22. Cinderella Liberty (James Caan, Marsha Mason and Eli Wallach) 1973, March 2007, 1 Disc
23. Clark Gable Collection Volume 1 (Box Set containing 3 films, Call Of The Wild, Soldier Of Fortune, The Tall Men) (Titles Not Available Individually), August 2006
24. The Dancing Masters (Laurel and Hardy), 1943 (only available as part of the Laurel & Hardy Collection Volume 2 box set)
25. David Harum (Will Rogers). 1934 (only available as part of the Will Rogers Collection Volume 1 box set)
26. Deadfall (Michael Caine and Nanette Newman), 1968, October 2006, 1 Disc
27. Demetrius & The Gladiators (Victor Mature, Susan Hayward and Michael Rennie), 1954, due October 2007, 1 Disc
28. Do Not Disturb (Doris Day and Rod Taylor), 1965, January 2007, 1 Disc
29. Doubting Thomas (Will Rogers), 1935 (only available as part of the Will Rogers Collection Volume 1 box set)
30. Eran Trece (Warner Oland as Charlie Chan), 1931 (only available as part of the Charlie Chan Volume 1 box set)
31. Fantastic Voyage (Edmond O'Brien, Donald Pleasance and Raquel Welch), 1966, June 2007, 1 Disc
32. Flint (James Coburn) - see Ultimate Flint Collection
33. Fox Horror Classics Collection (Box Set containing 3 films, The Lodger, Hangover Square, The Undying Monster)
34. Francis Of Assisi (Bradford Dillman and Stuart Whitman), 1961, February 2005
35. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Marilyn Monroe), 1953, May 2006, 1 Disc (also part of The Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Edition box set)
36. The Girl Can't Help It (Jayne Mansfield), 1956 (only available as part of the Jayne Mansfield Collection box set)
37. The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing (Joan Collins and Ray Milland), 1955, July 2007, 1 Disc (see also part of The Joan Collins Collection box set)
38. Great Guns (Laurel and Hardy), 1941 (only available as part of the Laurel & Hardy Collection Volume 1 box set)
39. Hangover Square (Laird Cregar), 1945, due October 2007 (see Fox Horror Classics box set)
40. In Like Flint (James Coburn), 1967 (only available as part of the Ultimate Flint Collection)
41. In Old Kentucky (Will Rogers), 1935 (only available as part of the Will Rogers Collection Volume 1 box set)
42. Island In The Sun (James Mason and Joan Fontaine), 1957, Jan 2006, 1 Disc
43. Jane Eyre (Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine), 1944, April 2007, 1 Disc
44. The Jayne Mansfield Collection, August 2006 (Box Set containing 3 films, The Girl Can't Help It, The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?)
45. The Jeeves Collection (Arthur Treacher and David Niven), 1936/1937 (Thank You, Jeeves!, Step Lively, Jeeves!), June 2007, (1 Disc with 2 films, 1 on either side)
46. Jesse James (Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda), 1939, March 2007, 1 Disc
47. Jitterbugs (Laurel and Hardy), 1943 (only available as part of the Laurel & Hardy Collection Volume 1 box set)
48. The Joan Collins Collection (Box Set containing 5 films, The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing, Rally `Round The Flag, Boys!, The Sea Wife, Seven Thieves, Stopover Tokyo)
49. John and Mary (Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow), 1969, March 2007, 1 Disc
50. Laurel and Hardy Collection Volume 1 (Box Set containing 3 films, Great Guns, Jitterbugs, The Big Noise), April 2006, 3DVD set
51. Laurel and Hardy Collection Volume 2 (Box Set containing 3 films, A-Haunting We Will Go, The Dancing Masters, The Bullfighters), September 2006, 3DVD set
52. Les Miserables (Frederic March and Charles Laughton) 1935 Version and (Michael Rennie, Robert Newton and Debra Paget) 1952 versions, April 2007, 2 Disc Set
53. Let's Make Love (Marilyn Monroe), 1960 (also part of the Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Edition box set)
54. Life Begins At Forty (Will Rogers), 1935 (only available as part of the Will Rogers Collection Volume 1 box set)
55. The Lodger (Merle Oberon, George Sanders and Laird Cregar), 1944, due October 2007 (see Fox Horror Classics box set)
56. The Longest Day (Henry Fonda, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum), 1962, May 2006, 2 Disc set
57. Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley), 1956, February 2006 (Colorized version), 1 Disc
58. The Magus (Anthony Quinn, Michael Caine and Candice Bergen), 1968, October 2006, 1 Disc
59. The Man Who Wouldn't Die (Lloyd Nolan as Michael Shayne and Marjorie Weaver), 1942 (only available as part of the Michael Shayne Mysteries Volume 1 box set)
60. Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Edition (Box Set, 6 discs containing 5 films and a 2001 Retrospective, The Seven Year Itch, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Niagara, River Of No Return, Let's Make Love, Marilyn: The Final Days)
61. Michael Shayne Mysteries Volume 1, 1940/1942/1941/1942 (Lloyd Nolan as Michael Shayne), March 2007 (Box Set with 2 discs containing 4 films, Michael Shayne: Private Detective, The Man Who Wouldn't Die, Sleepers West, Blue, White and Perfect)
62. Move Over Darling (Doris Day, James Garner, Polly Bergen and Chuck Connors), 1963, January 2007, 1 Disc
63. Mr. Moto Collection Volume 1, 1937/1938/1938/1938, August 2006 (Peter Lorre as Mr. Moto) (Box Set with 4 discs containing 4 films, Think Fast, Mr. Moto, Thank You, Mr. Moto, Mr. Moto Takes A Chance, The Mysterious Mr. Moto)
64. Mr. Moto Collection Volume 2, 1938/1939/1939/1939 (Peter Lorre as Mr. Moto), February 2007 (Box Set with 4 discs containing 4 films, Mr. Moto's Gamble, Mr. Moto In Danger Island, Mr. Moto Takes A Vacation, Mr. Moto's Last Warning)
65. Mr. Skitch (Will Rogers), 1933 (only available as part of the Will Rogers Collection Volume 2 box set)
66. Mysterious Mr. Moto, 1938 (see Mr. Moto Volume 1)
67. The Neptune Factor - An Undersea Odyssey (Ben Gazzara, Yvette Mimieux and Walter Pidgeon), 1973, June 2007, 1 Disc
68. Niagara (Marilyn Monroe), 1953, May 2006, 1 Disc (also part of the Marilyn Monroe Collection box set)
69. O. Henry's Full House (Howard Hawks, Charles Laughton, Monroe and many others), 1952, November 2006, 1 Disc
70. The Other Side Of Midnight, 1977, March 2007, 1 Disc
71. Our Man Flint (James Coburn), 1966 (only available as part of the Ultimate Flint Collection)
72. Patton (George C Scott), 1970, May 2006, 2 Disc Set [same as CINEMA RESERVE issue but US artwork is different]
73. Peeper, 1975, October 2006, 1 Disc
74. Pinky, 1949, January 2006, 1 Disc
75. Prince Of Foxes (Tyrone Power), 1949, May 2007, 1 Disc (also available as part of the Tyrone Power Collection box set)
76. The Quiller Memorandum, 1966, November 2006, 1 Disc
77. Rally `Round The Flag, Boys!, 1959, July 2007, 1 Disc (also part of the Joan Collins Collection box set)
78. The Return Of Frank James, 1940, March 2007, 1 Disc
79. River Of No Return, 1954 (also part of the Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Edition box set)
80. The Robe (Richard Burton, Jean Simmons and Victor Mature), 1953, 2005 Repackaged Artwork (outdated artwork on Amazon), 1 Disc
81. Royal Flash, 1975, April 2007, 1 Disc
82. The Sand Pebbles (Steve McQueen), 1966, June 2007, 2 Discs (Theatrical Version and the famous "Roadshow" Version (But In Poor Quality - There's Been Complaints!))
83. Sea Wife (Joan Collins), 1957, June 2007, 1 Disc (also part of the Joan Collins Collection box set)
84. Seven Thieves (Joan Collins), 1960, July 2007, 1 Disc (also part of the Joan Collins Collection box set)
85. The Seven Year Itch (Marilyn Monroe), 1955, May 2006, 1 Disc (also part of the Marilyn Monroe Special Anniversary Edition box set)
86. The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw, 1959 (only available as part of the Jayne Mansfield Collection box set)
87. Sleepers West, 1941 (only available as part of the Michael Shayne Mysteries Volume 1 box set)
88. The Snows Of Kilimanjaro, 1952, March 2007, 1 Disc (also part of the Hemingway Classics Collection box set)
89. Soldier Of Fortune, 1955 (also available as part of the Clark Gable Collection Volume 1 box set)
90. Son Of Fury, 1942, May 2007, 1 Disc (also available as part of the Tyrone Power Collection box set)
91. S*P*Y*S, 1974, April 2007, 1 Disc
92. Steamboat `Round The Bend, 1935 (only available as part of the Will Rogers Collection Volume 1 box set)
93. Step Lively, Jeeves!, 1937 (see Jeeves Collection (2 films on 1 DVD)
94. Stopover Tokyo, 1957, July 2007, 1 Disc (also part of the Joan Collins Collection box set)
95. Stormy Weather, 1943, January 2006, 1 Disc
96. The Sun Also Rises, 1957, March 2007, 1 Disc (also part of the Hemingway Classics Collection box set)
97. The Tall Men, 1955 (also available as part of the Clark Gable Collection Volume 1 box set)
98. Thank You, Jeeves!, 1937 (see Jeeves Collection (2 films on 1 DVD))
99. Thank You, Mr. Moto, 1938 (only available as part of the Mr. Moto Collection Volume 1 box set)
100. The Three Musketeers, 1939, June 2007, 1 Disc
101. Think Fast, Mr. Moto, 1937 (only available as part of the Mr. Moto Collection Volume 1 box set)
102. Too Busy To Work (Will Rogers), 1932 (only available as part of the Will Rogers Collection Volume 2 box set)
103. Tora! Tora! Tora!, 1970, May 2006, 2 DVD set [also in the CINEMA RESERVE series in the UK with different artwork]
104. The True Story Of Jesse James, 1957, March 2007, 1 Disc
105. Twelve O'Clock High (Gregory Peck), 1949, June 2007, 2 Disc Set
106. The Tyrone Power Collection, May 2007 (Box Set with 5 Films on 5 Discs, Blood And Sand, Son Of Fury, Black Rose, Prince Of Foxes, The Captain Of Castile (their is a UK counterpart to the this box but the cases are all slim jewel cases)
107. Ultimate Flint Collection (James Coburn), November 2006 (Box Set with 2 films Our Man Flint, In Like Flint and a 3rd disc of extras)
108. Under My Skin, 1950 (only available as part of the Hemingway Classics Collection box set)
109. The Undying Monster, 1942 (only available as part of the Fox Horror Classics box set)
110. Valley Of The Dolls (Russ Meyers), 1967, June 2006, 1 Disc (see also Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls)
111. Von Ryan's Express (Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard), 1965, 2007, 2 Disc set (+ Lobby Card Wallet)
112. Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea (Global Warming Edition), 1961, June 2007, 1 Disc (+ Lobby Card Wallet)
113. Will Rogers Collection Volume 1 (Box Set containing 4 films, Life Begins At Forty, Steamboat `Round The Bend, Doubting Thomas, In Old Kentucky)
114. Will Rogers Collection Volume 2 (Box Set containing 4 films, Ambassador Bill, David Harum, Mr. Skitch, Too Busy To Work)
115. Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (Jayne Mansfield), 1957 (available as part of the Jayne Mansfield Collection box set)

Yikes! That took me a few hours!

Now back to this issue.
Disc 1 has the movie and the transfer and restoration is gorgeous - great colour - very little if any scratches - score in 5.1 - Isolated score Track with Commentary by three knowledge types.

Disc 2: (a) Reliving The Adventure Of Von Ryan's Express, 2007 featurette with great on-set footage of Sinatra and Howard and filming in the mountains, rewrites of the script etc (about 30 minutes)
(b) Hollywood & The War, 2007 Featurette on War Movies in General (including Von Ryan) - a little superfluous to requirements, but interesting nonetheless (about 20-25 minutes)
(c) The Music Of Von Ryan's Express, 2007, probably the most pointless piece on it - it consists of Jerry Goldsmiths excellent score being highlighted as parts of the film are played - that's it - just bits of the film being played with his music in it - any fool could have made this and it smacks of filler. Far better is...
(d) Bringing Movies To Life: The Legacy Of Jerry Goldsmith, 2007 featurette on the legendary composer with superb family footage and interviews, clips from Planet Of The Apes and how he revolutionized how movie music was used - his drums and piano runs on Von Ryan literally carrying the action along.
(e) Original trailers and (f) TV Spots (g) Stills Gallery. Unfortunately, Disc 2 feels like it could easily have been fitted onto Disc 1. Still, there is stuff here for lovers of Sinatra, Howard, Goldsmith and the movie itself.

The booklet is very informative and the envelope of Lobby Cards an absolute treat (why don't they have these in ANY of the UK CINEMA RESERVE releases??)

A Sunday Afternoon classic then - it's not The Great Escape or The Battle Of Britain for sure, but it is entertaining. I'll definitely be collecting more titles in this series. And the print was just superb - that's what I want most - good films presented to me - Joe Public - in a good way.

"The Namesake". A Review Of The Mira Nair Film Now On DVD.

"For Our Parents Who Gave Us Everything..."

Mira Nair's third film "The Namesake" deals with Bengali families both in their native India and abroad (USA) - and I have to say is one of the most satisfying and beautiful watches I had the pleasure of sitting down to in ages. To an Irishman of 49 and typical multiplex type, I'd admit that most of the cast is unrecognizable to me, but that makes no odds, because all are uniformly superb. And I love the insights the film gives into a culture as fascinating as theirs.

It begins in 1977 when a young Bengali man (who has been to study in the USA since 1974) is back in his native Calcutta to meet his new bride - one that is picked out for him whether he likes her or not. He is Ashoke, an engineer with prospects - played subtly and gently by a fantastic Irrfan Khan. Ashoke gets real lucky - his bride is the quietly beautiful Ashima (it means limitless, played by the gorgeous Bollywood star Tabu). Waiting with her parents, Ashoke looks uncomfortable but resigned - its been done this way for centuries. Before Ashima goes into the room to see him for the first time - she tries on his American shoes he's left outside the room - they fit and she likes them - a good sign. Ashima takes them off and meekly enters - ultra respect to her elders. Ashoke is not traditionally handsome, but his big soppy bug-eyes and equally studious glasses tell you that this is a good man - and an intelligent one. They marry in full traditional dress and custom. Ashima waves her family goodbye at the airport and then on to New York.

Life in America is foreign to her, but she adapts. Besides, something else is happening that makes it all bearable; Ashima is slowly but surely falling in love with her 'chosen' husband. It's in these scenes that the film shows it true charm - it's so beautifully and realistically handled (many scenes returned to later in flashback to flesh out dialogue that is important and pivitol to the story). Their relationship is an evolving love, away from need and initial awkwardness into a mutual respect for each other. The believability of the two lead actors here is crucial - and you can feel their drawing together - year after year after year.

The story continues to both of their kids being born (a boy and a girl), then young, then grown up and full of New Yawk attitude and difficulty with the 'old ways' - even with their names. 1st born - and most rebellious - the boy's name is Gogol (played by Kal Penn), which he hates with a passion until he finds out why his father called him that (a train journey and a passenger who changed his life). Gogol and his sister's dual identities cause them both conflict and even heartache. They endure racism, work, snobbery, meet potential partners, they marry - and on it goes - to sad and joyful surprises as their life journey progresses. It's set across 25 years and there's a lot crammed in. (Gogul's sister Sonia is played by Sahira Nair)

The Namesake is as much about Indian culture (then and now) as it is about the power and pull of family - that one thing that unites us all with love and misery in equal measure! I can't recommend this movie enough - in my Top 20 with a bullet. A gentle and beautiful surprise I heartily recommend.

P.S.: Like Gustavo Santaolalla's music in "The Motorcycle Diaries" and "Babel", Nitin Sawhney's music is one of the reasons the movie has such slow and majestic power - an absolutely gorgeous soundtrack - and one I'm going to buy pronto!

P.P.S.: The title of this review is from the dedication in the credits.

Why Is The Word "Tribute" Associated With This Half-Hearted Souless Effort?

Mother of God! But the great lady deserved better than this! What were these twats thinking!!

Joni's masterpiece "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns", stands beside Bob Dylan's "Blood On The Tracks" as one of those albums from the mid 70's that never dates - and grows with each listen - to a point where you wonder why everyone everywhere isn't running around like headless chickens raving about it.

So what do we get? We get the 3 best tracks from "Hissing" chosen by Bjork (Boho Dance), Brad Mehldau (Don't Interrupt The Sorrow) and Elvis Costello (Edith & The Kingpin) and each is slaughtered, I mean absolutely wrecked - all subtlety, melody, lyrical brilliance lost to "reinterpretation". You have to hear what squeeky screwball Bjork has done to The Boho Dance - absolutely dire! And then we get a souless piano plinking instrumental of Don't Interrupt The Sorrow with the production value of a cat pissing in a bucket. Costello does jazz on Edith and it's just laughably bad!

It isn't all crap of course. There are moments. Prince's "A Case Of You" is done with soul by a soulster - and I love it - because you can at least feel his joy at her in it - and he doesn't do what most of the others have done - chosen pretty songs and wrecked them or made them banal. Emmylou Harris does a sterling version too of "Magadelene Laundries" and gets Joni's indignation and hurt for the girls in the song just right. Free Man In Paris fares worse, a jazz/US indie noodle tossfest from Sufjan Stevens and Annie Lennox (an artist I adore) does little but synth up Ladies Of The Canyon - again killing a lovely song. The album finishes with a workmanlike rendition of River by James Taylor - but it doesn't move you - and you only want to rush back to the originals to get this lame cack out of your head as soon as possible.

What's fundamentally wrong here is the ham-fisted way most of these artists have approached the songs. Which is unbelievable given the calibre of the people involved! And then what could have been? The choices missed, not even tried. How about Paul Simon doing a soulful rendition of "The Circle Game", Me'Shell Ndegeocello doing a slow funk version of "Car On The Hill", Gordon Lightfoot doing an acoustic "Urge For Going", Linda Ronstadt & Don Henley doing a modern heartbreak production of "How Do You Stop", Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush re-united for a delicate version of "Conversation", Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama doing acapella on "Shadows and Light", Ryan Adams and Norah Jones dueting on a country version of "Both Sides Now", Mark Hollis & A Choir doing a gospel version of "For Free", Tinariwen and Willie Nelson doing an Eastern/World version of "Lakota"?? You get the picture! With a little imagination and effort - what a project this could have been!!

I would say - check the tracks out by short listens first - but apart from a few of them - avoid the whole project.

"Songbird" by WILLIE NELSON featuring RYAN ADAMS and THE CARDINALS.

Other reviewers have commented on the lack of writing credits on this album - and I agree. It's astonishing that there isn't any - nor even a booklet supplied. The CD is housed in a card gatefold digipak and the inner flap lists production credits (Ryan Adams) and recording venues, a list of the band who played on it (The Cardinals) and some other minor details on Addtional participants - and that's it! No lyrics! No idea of who wrote what or why!

In order to straighten this out, the following should help:

1. Rainy Day Blues (Willie Nelson)
2. Songbird (Fleetwood Mac cover, originally on Rumours (1977) but also closely associated with Eva Cassidy)
3. Blue Hotel (written by Ryan Adams, a STUNNER, played live with the Cardinals on the recent BBC Sessions)
4. Back To Earth (Willie Nelson)
5. Stella Blue (a Grateful Dead cover)
6. Hallelujah (a Leonard Cohen cover, also closely associated with Jeff Buckley who covered it too)
7. $1000 Wedding (a Gram Parsons cover)
8. We Don't Run (Willie Nelson)
9. Yours Love (Willie Nelson)
10. Sad Songs & Waltzes (Willie Nelson)
11. Amazing Grace (the Traditional Gospel song covered a la "House Of The Rising Sun" style)

I must admit that I initially bought this solely for the "Blue Hotel" track by Ryan Adams which was played live by Adams with The Cardinals on the recent BBC Sessions. It brought a rousing cheer from the audience - most of whom knew they hadn't heard it before - and loved it. It's similar to "Everything I Do" by Whiskeytown - and has a melody and lyrics that hook you instantly and is sloppy like Faces love songs are - for all the right reasons! A classic in the making!

Special praise should also go out to Adams for his 'live in the studio' production, which adds life and vitality to all the songs and makes them feel so 'of the moment'. And praise too to The Cardinals as the house band - who play an absolute storm on all tracks and like Rick Ruben with Johhny Cash & Tom Petty's Heartbreakers - seem to be kindred spirits that produce magic when they get it right. But not all of it is right.

Nelson's cover of 'Songbird" is excellent, tender yet gruff in that way of his. But his cover of "Stella Blue" just feels too loose - shambolic almost. And his new Englishified Animals version of "Amazing Grace" has been called genius and travesty in equal measure. I'd say it's a little of both - and for me - a collector of the song - it's an aquired taste. I once did a CD-R of 18 different versions of "Amazing Grace". It takes a lot to butcher this impossibly beautiful song and I'm afraid our Willie gets too damn close!

In truth, I did find some of his own songs disappointing, where Nelson just seems to be coasting. The whole project seems hurried too - or incomplete somehow. To sum up, it's a good album - very good indeed in certain places, but it's just that you can't help but feel, that with a little more thought and better song choices - it could have been a truly great one. But then I play "Blue Hotel" again...and I'm reaching for the adjectives and looking forward to the next installment! Definitely worth your investigation.

I'm off to explore more of Nelson's recent work.

"So What" by JOE WALSH (October 2004 JAPAN-ONLY Universal CD Reissue and Remaster in Mini LP Repro Artwork Packaging) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Joe Walsh's 3rd studio albums for ABC has been on CD in the USA since the early 1990s, but sound-wise, it's an ok-only non-remastered bog standard issue with a crap slip of paper for an inlay. And for an audiophile's dream of an album (beautifully produced by Walsh and John Stronach) is a huge let down. That is until now.

 

On the 21st of October 2004 - Joe Walsh's first three solo LPs were finally reissued in remastered CD form but only in Japan. "Barnstorm" (his 1972 debut) on Universal UICY-9477 (Barcode 4988005376398), "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get" (1973 2^nd LP) on Universal UICY-9478 (Barcode 4988005376404) and "So What" (1974 3^rd LP) on Universal UICY-9479 (Barcode 4988005376411). They came in detailed mini-LP US album repro sleeves (complete with hard-card gatefolds for the first two and "So What's embossed inner sleeve) and were 24-bit remastered by HITOSHI TAKIGUCHI in Universal's Mastering Studios. Not surprisingly, they sold out almost immediately and across the next few years (with no equivalent domestic releases), they quickly became very expensive collector's items. There have been 2009 and further reissues too - but only in Japan.
 

"So What" has guest appearances from Randy Meisner, Don Henley and Glenn Frey of The Eagles with J.D. Souther and Dan Fogelberg contributing too (so sad to hear of his recent loss). "Turn To Stone", "Time Out". "Help Me Through The Night" and the gorgeous melodic rock of "County Fair" are just some of the highlights.

As Japanese imports, "So What" and the other 2 titles are not cheap for sure and you'll have to root them out to buy them (eBay/Amazon USA), but they're worth every penny. Joe Walsh and Eagles fans have been waiting for these for years.

Come on Universal - re-issue the great man's catalogue in the UK - and do it properly! Why do we have to look abroad for decent issues?

"Kingdom Of Heaven". A Review Of The 4DVD 'DEFINITIVE EDITION'.

This Extended Ridley Scott Approved Cut of his movie is far better than the released version and is now re-issued out of its 4DVD Card Box (£30 or more) and into this collector's metal tin. This "Definitive Edition" places all discs (4 in this case) in a shiny metallic embossed tin (later issues are in a card wrap) and at £10 or under - is an absolute steal. Unfortunately there's no booklet - a shame that.

The film itself is split across Discs 1 and 2, beginning with an Overture and continued on Disc 2 with an Interval - like an old style epic. In some places it's way more uncomfortable in the bloody department. When Brendan Gleeson (part mad, part catalyst for other people's evil) is unleashed on the Muslim King's village and family - it's not pretty. It's a ruse to deliberately goad him and his armies into war - and it works. There is a superb extension of the Eva Green scenes which fleshes out the story so much more (speaking of flesh - hers is quite lovely!). And right from the opening shot of men around the suicide grave of Orlando's wife, as it's a RS movie, every shot is lovingly framed. There are snowflakes wafting through the air, engrained dirt on hands and under fingernails, sweaty horses heaving under blood-stained chainmail above, swords dripping red stuff like it was the Meat Counter at Tescos. The attention to detail is fabulous. The battle sequences are awesome - thousands of extras - war machines, flaming balls smashing through turrets - unbelievable stuff. The cast - especially Liam Neeson, David Thewlis, Eva Green, Martin Csokas and Jeremy Irons - all surround Orlando with superb back-up. Liam Neeson in particular is fantastic.

On the downside though, and this may seem odd after all the praise, somehow Kingdom of Heaven just doesn't float the boat so much like Gladiator did. It's difficult to describe why, but something is missing. Unfairly Bloom got blamed for this - I don't think so - he's very, very good in it. It's just a shame it somehow doesn't grab the heart like Maximus did when clearly so much effort went into it.

The “making-of” documentaries on Disc 3 and 4 go on for hours - and are fascinating and in-depth – they make so many thrown-together DVD extras look like the utter filler crap they are. But the best bit is called “THE DOCUMENTARY” which is so long that it spreads from Disc 3 to Disc 4. It goes through the entire production of this gargantuan project – right from initial script discussions to Ridley in the editing room putting it all together. He even suggests the dialogue from the movie to go over the trailer (a suggestion they stupidly ignore). It goes into the music; the casting, the costumes, the effects, screenings of the initial cut... everything! In fact the whole process seems draining - and the people and money logistics of the production alone are mind-blowing. Then he brings it all in on budget! Unbelievable!

Is it any wonder this Director is held in such affection and awe in the industry. Ridley Scott loves film - and it shows - giving his loyal punters the goods on this exemplary 4DVD set. This is how an issue of a film should be done.

PS: How about unleashing this great film-maker on a remake of “Forbidden Planet” anyone??

“Primitive Man” later "Love In Motion" by ICEHOUSE (2002 Australian CD Remaster of a 1982 LP - Itself Reissued in 1983 With A Different Title And Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This album was originally released in 1982 in the USA and Australia as "Primitive Man". However, confusion arises because it was re-issued in the UK in 1983 as "Love In Motion" with a different track list and different front cover. The UK 1983 version had the same inner sleeve as the original 1982 issue, which is what's reproduced in the expanded CD booklet here.

This 2002 Australia '30th Anniversary Edition' CD Reissue of "Primitive Man" by ICEHOUSE on Warner Strategic Marketing/Diva Records 0927489822 (Barcode 9325583 016424) is an 'Expanded Edition' with 17 Tracks that play out as follows...

1. Great Southern Land
2. Uniform
3. Hey Little Girl
4. Street Cafe
5. Glam [Instrumental]
6. Trojan Blue
7. One By One
8. Breaking These Chains
9. Mysterious Thing
10. Goodnight, Mr. Matthews

BONUS TRACKS:
11. Over The Line
12. Glam (12" Version)
13. Uniform (12" German Version)
14. Street Cafe (Single Mix)
15. Love In Motion (USA Recording)
16. Can't Help Myself (Live)
17. We Can Get Together (Live)

If you want to sequence the original 1982 LP "Primitive Land" - uses these tracks:
Side 1. 1. Great Southern Land 2. Uniform 3. Hey Little Girl 4. Street Cafe 5. Glam
Side 2. 1. Trojan Blue 2. One By One 3. Break These Chains 4. Mysterious Thing 5. Goodnight Mr. Matthews

The 1983 UK LP "Love In Motion" tracks were:
Side 1. 1. Uniform 2. Street Cafe 3. Hey Little Girl 4. Glam 5. Great Southern Land
Side 2. 1. Trojan Blue 2. Love In Motion 3. Mysterious Thing 4. One By One 5. Goodnight, Mr. Matthews

As you can see the 11 tracks spread across both of the LP variants are all on this 17-track CD. The bonus cuts mostly gather up rare 12" single B-sides - like the German sung version of "Uniform" which is incredibly difficult to find on original vinyl - so they're all welcome inclusions here.

I bought these albums in the 80's and loved their sound then - and still do - a sort of Australian Cars meets Roxy Music meets Talk Talk meets Spandau meets Thomas Dolby meets Prefab Sprout meets...well you get the idea. Icehouse' sound is I suppose closest to the hypnotic and superb synth melody of "Heartbeat City" by The Cars. It hasn't dated either like some of the dire 80's productions.

They were re-issued in the USA at the very beginning of CD re-issuing (about 1987 and 88) and they were better than the vinyl versions then, but only ok soundwise - as most of those early CDs were.

These new IVA DAVIES remastered versions from 2002 are fabulous - superb sounding - and stacked with bonus tracks that will thrill fans (he was the principal songwriter in the band) . There's little hiss on the tracks, he's not cranked the treble for effect - in fact, they're just muscular in their sound - really great.

"Great Southern Land", "Street Cafe", the groove of the funky instrumental "Glam" - all ripe for rediscovery.

Of their albums, I recommend heartily the superb "Sidewalk" from 1984 where they seemed to hit their stride and "Measure For Measure" with the stunning "No Promises" from 1986. "Man Of Colours" too from 1987 is another peach - the 2002 reissue contains the 2 bonus 12" mixes of "Crazy" that were on initial releases of the CD + 5 more bonus tracks.

Icehouse are held in great affection - and on rehearing these albums again - in this glorious sound quality - it's easy to see why.

Great band - superb sounding re-issues with fan-pleasing extras. Way to go guys...