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

Savant's new reviews today are:

Jon Voight disguises himself as an older SS sargent to help track down a Nazi war criminal. Good direction by Ronald Neame, fine performances by German actors and excellent cinematography on European locations make this fanciful thriller worthwhile -- that and the fact that it helped bring about the end of the real escaped SS man it was based on. In Blu-ray from Image Entertainment.
5/15/12

The Big Heat
Blu-ray

Fritz Lang's furious film noir cop saga sees Glenn Ford as a hell-bent avenger out to bring down an entire syndicate for the death of a loved one. Gloria Grahame is an alluring playgirl in what might be her best role, alongside Lee Marvin, Jocelyn Brando and Alexander Scourby. A top-rank noir considered by many to be Fritz Lang's best American film. In Blu-ray from Twilight Time.
5/15/12

Silver City
Blu-ray

Do you enjoy colorful, romantic, unpretentious westerns? Edmond O'Brien stars with Yvonne De Carlo in an action-ful, intelligent thriller about thieves and cheats in a Colorado mining camp. With Kasey Rogers, Barry Fitzgerald and Richard Arlen; directed by the capable Byron Haskin. In Blu-ray from Olive Films.
5/15/12

and

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Blu-ray

Sony's new disc of the Pythons' funniest film gives the wild comedy a terrific HD transfer; an excellent set of extras does the rest. Co-directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, who also make silly faces with all of the key Pythons at the top of their form: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle. Remember to watch out for Moose bites. In Blu-ray from Sony.
5/15/12

Greetings!

Craig Reardon forwards something truly fantastic. It's a demonstration of a camera that takes digital pictures that re-focus wherever you want them to. If that explanation isn't good enough, the brief text and the demo picture at The Next Digital Revolution will make it clear. I don't know about you, but this really excited me. I've had dreams in the past about a fantasy device that "refocuses" out-of-focus negatives. This invention doesn't do that, but it does go partway to being the fantastic omni-view camera from Ridley Scott's Blade Runner.

When writing about my new all-region BD player, I mentioned having only one actual Region-B disc to play on it. I was wrong -- a reader's suggestion reminded me that I had been given a French BD of Matinee a couple of years ago, called Panic sur Florida Beach. I don't get the title change, isn't "matinee" a French word? I had accepted that the disc would remain a handsome souvenir, a reminder that the U.S. DVD had no extras. Now I can actually look at it.

This French pressing has attractive designs and a humorous presentation that remind me of American discs made ten years ago, when even ordinary releases tried to look like special collectables. Not only does the film look great in HD, the extras include the entire uncut "Mant" mini-movie glimpsed in fragments during the feature itself, along with a lengthy (31 minute) interview featurette with director Joe Dante. Just cancel out the French sous-titres and you're there. Let me ask: U.K. correspondent Lee Broughton already reviews titles not available here, and I've received no complaints from readers, just thanks. I have a new Arrow horror film that I might cover -- should I fully review it or just write it up like this in the Savant column?

I hope the Savant reviews lately point out pictures you might not have heard of, and want to give a try ... in the next week I'll have a couple more "Savant obsessive" titles -- and pressed by Craig Reardon, I'm going to plunge into another Jerry Lewis / Frank Tashlin comedy. Thanks for reading! Glenn

Savant's new reviews today are:

Too Late Blues
Blu-ray

John Cassavetes' all but forgotten excellent jazz-world drama combines the director's talent with actors, with an ensemble of terrific performances. Bobby Darin is quite good as a bandleader-composer with personality issues; Stella Stevens has her best role ever as a woman convinced that she has nothing to offer men but "a good time". Intense relationships among a group of jazz musicians reach the breaking point, in the night world of " the drifters and dreamers, the floaters, the chicks, the smilers, the hangers-on, the phonies." A powerful show hot for rediscovery, in Blu-ray from Olive Films.
5/12/12

Hot Millions

A favorite show for many, this comedy about a jolly embezzler both stars and was co-written by the great Peter Ustinov. Playing opposite is Maggie Smith as the clumsy Cockney who captures his heart. An accounting genius bluffs his way into Karl Malden's big corporation and programs a supercomputer to steal. Filmed in London, ripe with nods to the Mod era but also very witty and endearing. From the Warner Archive Collection.
5/12/12

and

The Last Mile

Mickey Rooney tries to out-do James Cagney in this ultra-nihilistic remake/update of the 1930 Broadway play. "Killer" Mears leads his Death Row cellmates on a murderous revolt against the sadistic prison guards. Rough stuff for 1959, and fairly uncompromising -- and Rooney carries the show with his violent rage. Also with Frank Overton as a grim priest; from the MGM Limited Edition Collection.
5/12/12

Hello!

Well, I never thought this would happen... I mentioned buying an all-region BD player a couple of instalments ago, and so far I've received 9 requests asking which one and where. I have a mind to ask the company for a finder's fee! Or, a better idea might be to remind Savant readers that I simply bought a player recommended by a friend, and that I am not an expert of any kind on video hardware. If my new player drops dead in two weeks, I'd rather not have angry mob at my door. Oh, and I have exactly one foreign-region Blu-ray to play!

When Olive Films announced Invasion of the Body Snatchers last week, I took it as very encouraging news. I think the first thing I wrote was a list of other Viacom/Republic-owned pictures that might come out, which included Nicholas Ray's Johnny Guitar. And whattaya know, the title shows up not five days later in an Olive Email, set for a July 7 release. The only question is what aspect ratio it will have. I've kept a TCM HD cablecast copy that's open-matte 1:33, when the main titles and other clues suggest it should be 1:85. However, the movie looks really good at the Academy ratio as well. Perhaps AR authorities Bob Furmanek or Jack Theakston (they've done the research) can answer the question -- did Republic hold out longer than other studios against the new widescreen framing?

Coming up, more Jean Rollin from Kino, Byron Haskin from Olive, and a top early gangster show from the Warner Archives collection. Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson

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