DVD Savant, Glenn Erickson's Review Column at DVD Talk

Savant's new reviews today are:

Released and then practically buried by MGM, this gritty, exploitative, unpleasant and at least 50% fully justified post-apocalyptic thriller rubs our noses in the eco-disaster predicted to result from our pollution of the planet -- in 1970. Probably not all that shocking compared to today's pix. Director-producer Cornel Wilde puts Nigel Davenport and Lynne Frederick into the middle of a breakdown of law and order. A Remastered Edition from the Warner Archive Collection.
1/24/12

Wings
Blu-ray

The very first Academy Award winner for Best Picture is also the first major aerial epic, packed with real WW1 airplanes doing real stunts, like purposely crashing into the ground at high speed. William A. Wellman directs Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Clara Bow and Richard Arlen, and the new restoration and HD remaster is terrific. With some nice featurette extras, too. In Blu-ray from Paramount.
1/24/12

and

On the Buses:
The Complete Omnibus Edition

From UK correspondent Lee Broughton comes a giant box of the British comedy TV series, all 1850 minutes of it, including a handful of feature spinoffs produced by Hammer Films. This is a PAL Region 2 DVD set, from Network DVD.
1/24/12

Greetings!

Hokey smokes -- just a couple of hours to get these reviews out!

My one special link this week is to Dick Dinman's new radio shows on West Side Story, in response to the recent Blu-ray. In Part One Dick's guest George Chakiris opens up on the subject of the filming, the Jerome Robbins - Robert Wise debacle, and his own career. Part Two sees Mr. Chakiris discussing the chemistry and direction issues between Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood, and then discusses Yul Brynner and Richard Widmark in the context of one of his later starring films. Dick Dinman has a long list of film-oriented radio shows at his DVD Classics Corner On the Air Archive.

And I once again need to mention the book signing I'll be doing at the Dark Delicacies Book and Gift Store on Magnolia Blvd in Burbank, between 2 and 3 on Saturday, February 11. The book is of course my Sci-Fi Savant which came out in late November. I've been told that it's going to be a regular party -- besides star Julie Adams autographing an English reprint of the novelization to the original Creature from the Black Lagoon, and author and friend David J. Schow will signing copies of his new thriller novel Upgunned, actor and mime Doug Jones (Pan's Labyrinth) will be there too, inscribing his new book, titled Mime Very Own Book. Read the Dark Delicacies site carefully -- at Hollywood book signings I believe the book must be bought at the store ....

Thanks for reading! Glenn

Savant's new reviews today are:

The Roots of Heaven
Blu-ray

John Huston's intense tale of an eco-activist going militant against ivory poachers and elephant hunters is an unusual and inspiring tale of conservation. A terrific cast brings Romain Gary's novel to life: Trevor Howard, Juliette Greco, Errol Flynn, Orson Welles, Eddie Albert, Friedrich Ledebur. With terrific restored color and an Isolated Music Score track. In Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
1/21/12

The Iron Rose
Blu-ray

The late Jean Rollin took a break from nudie vampire romps for this morbid piece of poetry about a pair of young lovers who find themselves trapped and lost in a creepy cemetery at night. The movie has its good points and the presentation will certainly please Rollin fans: the HD transfer is outstanding. With an insert booklet essay by Tim Lucas. In Blu-ray from Kino Lorber / Redemption.
1/21/12

and

Branded to Kill
Blu-ray

Seijun Suzuki confirmed his rebel credentials by getting fired for making this frantic, stylistically bizarre meta-genre epic about a chipmunk-cheeked hit man with a strange thematic relationship with butterflies. Crazy continuity and eccentric, frequently absurdist visuals abound; Nikkatsu studios was not amused. With excellent extras, including an interview in which the star Joe Shishido explains why he had his face surgically distorted "to make him acceptable as a leading man in Japanese films". In Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
1/21/12

Greetings!

Well, I've taken the plunge and will be signing copies of my book Sci-Fi Savant between 2 and 3pm on Saturday, February 11 at the Dark Delicacies Book and Gift Store on Magnolia Blvd in the revitalized Burbank. I'm thankful to my publisher Juha Lindroos and Dark Delicacies' Sue for help with this, and also to Gary Teetzel for twisting my arm and making me do it. Now I hope I get to meet a couple of Savant readers face to face!

There will be plenty of activity at the store that day, and I certainly don't expect to be the big draw. Star Julie Adams will be there autographing an English reprint of the novelization to the original Creature from the Black Lagoon, and author and friend David J. Schow will be signing copies of his new thriller novel, Upgunned. I met David about a year ago when I screened a rare film item for him at my place; he's a fun guy with a big personality and it will be great to join him there under these circumstances. If I sign a book or two, all the better. Expect to see frequent references to this signing in the next couple of weeks. I have to self-promote to some extent ... out here in Hollywood, it's the law.

I've screened the new Criterion Godzilla Blu-ray and have nothing but positive things to say, from the packaging to the extras -- I was floored by the DVD set four years ago and learned as many new things about Big G from this disc too. Although I'm just writing it now, my review will be up first at TCM Online, so I'll try to remember to point readers there when it shows up.

Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson

Advertise With Us