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1940
 Massey considered this not only his finest film but a part he was "born to play." Correct on both counts, this Hollywood biography follows Lincoln from his log cabin days to his departure for the White House. The Lincoln-Douglass debate scene and Massey´s post-presidential election farewell to the citizens of Illinois are nothing short of brilliant. Written by Sherwood from his Pulitzer-Prize winning play. Contrasted with the well-known "Young Mr. Lincoln" (Henry Fonda), its relative anonymity is perplexing. 110m/BW VHS. Cast: Raymond Massey, Gene Lockhart, Ruth Gordon, Mary Howard, Dorothy Tree, Harvey Stephens, Minor Watson, Alan Baxter, Howard da Silva, Maurice Murphy, Clem Bevans, Herbert Rudley; Director: John Cromwell; Writer: Robert Sherwood; Cinematographer: John Cromwell; Music: Roy Webb.', 'The African Queen  1951After Bible-thumping spinster Hepburn´s missionary brother is killed in WWI Africa, hard-drinking, dissolute steamer captain Bogart offers her safe passage. Not satisfied with sanctuary, she persuades him to destroy a German gunboat blocking the British advance. The two spend most of their time battling aquatic obstacles and each other, rather than the Germans. Time alone on a African river turns mistrust and aversion to love, a transition effectively counterpointed by the continuing suspense of their daring mission. Classic war of the sexes script adapted from C.S. Forester´s novel makes wonderful use of natural dialogue and humor. Shot on location in Africa. 105m/Color VHS. Great Britain Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Theodore Bikel, Peter Bull, Walter Gotell, Peter Swanwick, Richard Marner; Director: John Huston; Writer: John Huston, James Agee; Cinematographer: Jack Cardiff; Producer: United Artists, Horizon Romulus Productions.', 'All the King´s Men 1949Grim and graphic classic set in the Depression follows the rise of a Louisiana farm-boy from angry and honest political hopeful to powerful but corrupt governor. Loosely based on the life (and death) of Huey Long and told by a newsman who´s followed his career (Ireland). Willy Stark (Crawford, in his break-through role) is the politician who, while appearing to improve the state, rules dictatorially, betraying friends and constituents and proving once again that power corrupts. In her first major role, McCambridge delivers a powerful performance as the cunning political aide. Potent morality play based on the Robert Penn Warren book. 109m/BW VHS, DVD. Cast: Broderick Crawford, Mercedes McCambridge, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, John Derek, Anne Seymour, Shepperd Strudwick; Director: Robert Rossen; Writer: Robert Rossen; Cinematographer: Burnett Guffey; Music: Louis Gruenberg; Producer: Robert Rossen.', 'An American in Paris 1951Lavish, imaginative musical features a sweeping score, and knockout choreography by Kelly. Ex-G.I. Kelly stays on in Paris after the war to study painting, supported in his efforts by rich American Foch, who hopes to acquire a little extra attention. But Kelly loves the lovely Caron, unfortunately engaged to an older gent. Highlight is an astonishing 17-minute ballet which holds the record for longest movie dance number--and one of the most expensive, pegged at over half a million for a month of filming. For his efforts, the dance king won a special Oscar citation. While it sure looks like Paris, most of it was filmed in MGM studios. 113m/Color VHS, DVD, 8mm. Cast: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Nina Foch, Georges Guetary; Director: Vincente Minnelli; Writer: Alan Jay Lerner; Cinematographer: John Alton; Music: George Gershwin; Lyrics: Ira Gershwin; Producer: MGM.', 'Anatomy of a Murder 1959Considered by many to be the best courtroom drama ever made. Small-town lawyer in northern Michigan faces an explosive case as he defends an army officer who has killed a man he suspects was his philandering wife´s rapist. Realistic, cynical portrayal of the court system isn´t especially concerned with guilt or innocence, focusing instead on the interplay between the various courtroom characters. Classic performance by Stewart as the down home but brilliant defense lawyer who matches wits with Scott, the sophisticated prosecutor; terse and clever direction by Preminger. Though tame by today´s standards, the language used in the courtroom was controversial. Filmed in upper Michigan; based on the bestseller by judge Robert Traver. 161m/BW VHS, DVD. Cast: James Stewart, George C. Scott, Arthur O´Connell, Ben Gazzara, Lee Remick, Orson Bean, Eve Arden, Duke Ellington, Kathryn Grant, Murray Hamilton, Joseph Welch; Director: Otto Preminger; Writer: Wendell Mayes; Cinematographer: Sam Leavitt; Music: Duke Ellington; Producer: Otto Preminger.', 'Au Revoir les Enfants 1987During the Nazi occupation of France in the 1940s, the headmaster of a Catholic boarding school hides three Jewish boys among the other students by altering their names and identities. Two of the students, Julien (Manesse) and Jean (Fejto), form a friendship that ends tragically when Jean and the other boys are discovered and taken away by the Gestapo. Compelling and emotionally wrenching coming of age tale based on an incident from director Malle´s childhood is considered to be his best film to date and quite possibly the best he will ever make. In French with English subtitles. Other 1987 movies with similar themes are "Hope and Glory" and "Empire of the Sun." 104m/Color VHS. Great Britain, Germany Cast: Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejto, Francine Racette, Stanislas Carre de Malberg, Philippe Morier-Genoud, Francois Berleand, Peter Fitz, Francois Negret, Irene Jacob, Pascal Rivet, Benoit Henriet, Richard Leboeuf, Xavier Legrand, Arnaud Henriet, Jean-Sebastien Chauvin, Luc Etienne; Director: Louis Malle; Writer: Louis Malle; Cinematographer: Renato Berta; Producer: Nouvelles Editions de Films, MK2, Stella, NEF, Louis Malle.', 'Andrei Rublev 1966A 15th-century Russian icon painter must decide whether to record history or participate in it as Tartar invaders make life miserable. During the black and white portion, he becomes involved in a peasant uprising, killing a man in the process. After a bout of pessimism and a vow of silence, he goes forth to create artistic beauty as the screen correspondingly blazes with color. A brilliant historical drama censored by Soviet authorities until 1971. In Russian with English subtitles. 185m/Color VHS, DVD. Russia Cast: Anatoli (Otto) Solonitzin, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolai Grinko, Nikolai Sergeyev; Director: Andrei Tarkovsky; Writer: Andrei Tarkovsky, Andrei Konchalovsky; Cinematographer: Vadim Yusov; Music: Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov; Producer: Mosfilm.', 'An Angel at My Table 1989New Zealand TV miniseries chronicling the life of Janet Frame, New Zealand´s premiere writer/poet. At once whimsical and tragic, the film tells of how a mischievious, free-spirited young girl was wrongly placed in a mental institution for eight years, yet was ultimately able to cultivate her incredible storytelling gifts, achieving success, fame and happiness. Adapted from three of Frame´s novels: "To the Is-land," "An Angel at My Table," and "The Envoy From Mirror City." Highly acclaimed the world over, winner of over 20 major international awards. 157m/Color VHS. New Zealand Cast: Kerry Fox, Alexia Keogh, Karen Fergusson, Iris Churn, K.J. Wilson, Martyn Sanderson; Director: Jane Campion; Writer: Laura Jones; Cinematographer: Stuart Dryburgh; Producer: Hibiscus Films, New Zealand Film Commission.', 'Angels with Dirty Faces 1938Rousing classic with memorable Cagney twitches and the famous long walk from the cell to the chair. Two young hoods grow up on NYC´s lower East Side with diverse results--one enters the priesthood and the other opts for crime and prison. Upon release from the pen, famed gangster Cagney sets up shop in the old neighborhood, where Father O´Brien tries to keep a group of young toughs (the Dead End Kids) from following in his footsteps. Bogart´s his unscrupulous lawyer and Bancroft a crime boss intent on double-crossing Cagney. Reportedly they were blasting real bullets during the big shootout, no doubt helping Cagney´s intensity. Adapted from a story by Rowland Brown. 97m/BW VHS. Cast: James Cagney, Pat O´Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, George Bancroft, Billy Halop, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, Bernard Punsley, Gabriel Dell, Adrian Morris; Director: Michael Curtiz; Writer: John Wexley, Warren Duff, Rowland Brown; Cinematographer: Sol Polito; Music: Max Steiner.', 'Angi Vera 1978Naive 18-year-old Angi (Papp) is living in 1948 Hungary during the early days of socialism. Sent to a re-education school, she falls in love with her married Party leader but gradually loses her personal integrity to a corrupt system. Hungarian with subtitles. 96m/Color VHS. Hungary Cast: Veronika Papp, Erszi Pasztor, Eva Szabo, Tamas Dunai, Laszlo Horvath; Director: Pal Gabor; Writer: Pal Gabor; Cinematographer: Lajos Koltai; Music: Gyorgy Selmeczi.', 'Apocalypse Now 1979Coppola´s $40 million epic vision of the Vietnam War was inspired by Joseph Conrad´s novella "Heart of Darkness," and continues to be the subject of debate. Disillusioned Army captain Sheen travels upriver into Cambodia to assassinate overweight renegade colonel Brando. His trip is punctuated by surrealistic battles and a terrifying descent into a land where human rationality seems to have slipped away. Considered by some to be the definitive picture of war in its overall depiction of chaos and primal bloodletting; by others, over-wrought and unrealistic. May not translate as well to the small screen, yet worth seeing if for nothing more than Duvall´s ten minutes of scenery chewing as a battle-obsessed major ("I love the smell of napalm in the morning!"), a study in manic machismo. Stunning photography by Vittorio Storaro, awe-inspiring battle scenes, and effective soundtrack montage. Both Sheen and Coppola suffered emotional breakdowns during the prolonged filming, and that´s a very young Fishburne in his major film debut. Available in a remastered version in letterbox on VHS with a remixed soundtrack that features Dolby Surround stereo. In 1991 a documentary detailing the making of the film, "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker´s Apocalypse," was released. 153m/Color VHS, DVD, Wide. Cast: Francis Ford Coppola, Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms, Scott Glenn, Albert Hall, Laurence "Larry" Fishburne, Harrison Ford, G.D. Spradlin, Dennis Hopper, Cynthia Wood, Colleen Camp, Linda Carpenter, Tom Mason, James Keane, Damien Leake, Jack Thibeau, R. Lee Ermey, Vittorio Storaro; Director: Francis Ford Coppola; Writer: Francis Ford Coppola, John Milius, Michael Herr; Cinematographer: Vittorio Storaro; Music: Carmine Coppola; Producer: Francis Ford Coppola, United Artists.', 'The Awful Truth 1937Lucy (Dunne) and Jerry (Grant) Warriner are a young couple who discard their marriage made in heaven and go their separate ways in search of happiness. Meticulously sabotaging each others´ new relationships, they discover they really were made for each other. Grant is at his most charming with dead-on comic timing while Dunne is brilliant as his needling ex. The scene where Dunne poses as Grant´s prodigal fan-dancing sister who pays a surprise cocktail-hour visit to the family of his stuffy, upper-class girlfriend (Lamont) is among the most memorable screwball vignettes of all time. And don´t miss the custody battle they have over the family dog (Asta of "The Thin Man" fame). Based on Arthur Richman´s 1922 play. Preceded by 1925 and 1929 versions; remade in 1953 as "Let´s Do it Again." 92m/BW VHS. Cast: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D´Arcy, Cecil Cunningham, Molly Lamont, Esther Dale, Joyce Compton, Robert "Tex" Allen, Robert Warwick, Mary Forbes; Director: Leo McCarey; Writer: Vina Delmar; Producer: Columbia Pictures.', 'The Ballad of Narayama 1983Director Imamura´s subtle and vastly moving story takes place a vague century ago. In compliance with village law designed to control population among the poverty-stricken peasants, a healthy 70-year-old woman must submit to solitary starvation atop a nearby mountain. We follow her as she sets into motion the final influence she will have in the lives of her children and grandchildren, a situation described with detachment and without imposing a tragic perspective. In Japanese with English subtitles. 129m/Color VHS. Japan Cast: Ken Ogata, Sumiko Sakamota, Takejo Aki, Tonpei Hidari, Shoichi Ozawa; Director: Shohei Imamura; Writer: Shohei Imamura; Cinematographer: Maseo Tochizawa; Music: Shinichiro Ikebe; Producer: Toei, Shochiku Company.', 'The Battleship Potemkin 1925Eisenstein´s best work documents mutiny aboard the Russian battleship Potemkin in 1905 which led to a civilian uprising against the Czar in Odessa, and the resulting crackdown by troops loyal to the Czar. Beautiful cinematography, especially the use of montage sequences, changed filmmaking. In particular, a horrifying sequence depicting the slaughter of civilians on an Odessa beach by soldiers coming down the stairs leading to it is exceptional; many movies pay homage to this scene including "The Untouchables" and "Love and Death." Viewers should overlook obvious Marxist overtones and see this film for what it is: a masterpiece. 71m/BW VHS, DVD. Russia Cast: Alexander Antonov, Vladimir Barsky, Grigori Alexandrov, Mikhail Gomorov, Sergei Eisenstein, I. Brobov, Beatrice Vitoldi, N. Poltavseva, Alexandr Levshin, Repnikova, Korobei, Levchenko; Director: Grigori Alexandrov, Sergei Eisenstein; Writer: Nina Agadzhanova Shutko, Sergei Eisenstein; Cinematographer: Eduard Tisse; Music: Dimitri Shostakovich; Producer: Goskino.', 'Beauty and the Beast 1991Wonderful Disney musical combines superb animation, splendid characters, and lively songs about a beautiful girl, Belle, and the fearsome and disagreeable Beast. Supporting cast includes the castle servants (a delightful bunch of household objects). Notable as the first animated feature to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Destined to become a classic. The deluxe video version features a work-in-progress rough film cut, a compact disc of the soundtrack, a lithograph depicting a scene from the film, and an illustrated book. 84m/Color VHS, DVD, Wide. Voices: Paige O´Hara, Robby Benson, Rex Everhart, Richard White, Jesse Corti, Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, Bradley Michael Pierce, Jo Anne Worley, Kimmy Robertson; Director: Kirk Wise, Gary Trousdale; Writer: Linda Woolverton; Music: Alan Menken; Lyrics: Howard Ashman; Producer: Walt Disney Studios.', 'The Big Parade 1925Wonderful WWI silent, considered to be one of the best war flicks of all time. Gilbert and Adoree are exceptional as lovers torn apart by the conflict. Interesting and thoughtful picture of the trauma and trouble brought to men and their loved ones in wartime. Battle scenes are compelling and intense; Vidor´s masterpiece. 141m/BW VHS. Cast: John Gilbert, Renee Adoree, Hobart Bosworth, Claire McDowell, Claire Adams, Karl (Daen) Dane, Robert Ober, Tom (Thomas E.) O´Brien, Rosita Marstini; Director: King Vidor; Writer: Harry Behn; Cinematographer: John Arnold; Music: William Axt, David Mendoza; Producer: Irving Thalberg, MGM.', 'The Big Sleep 1946Private eye Philip Marlowe, hired to protect a young woman from her own indiscretions, falls in love with her older sister while uncovering murders galore. A dense, chaotic thriller that succeeded in defining and setting a standard for its genre. The very best Raymond Chandler on film combining a witty script with great performances, especially from Bogart and Bacall. 114m/BW VHS, DVD. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, John Ridgely, Martha Vickers, Louis Jean Heydt, Regis Toomey, Peggy Knudsen, Dorothy Malone, Bob Steele, Elisha Cook Jr.; Director: Howard Hawks; Writer: Jules Furthman, Leigh Brackett, William Faulkner; Cinematographer: Sid Hickox; Music: Max Steiner; Producer: Warner Bros.', 'The Blue Angel 1930Tale of a man stripped of his dignity. A film classic filled with sensuality and decay, which made Dietrich a European star and led to her discovery in Hollywood. When a repressed professor (Jannings) goes to a nightclub hoping to catch some of his students in the wrong, he´s taken by Lola, the sultry singer portrayed by Dietrich. After spending the night with her, losing his job, and then marrying her, he goes on tour with the troupe, peddling indiscreet photos of his wife. Versions were shot in both German and English, with the German version sporting English subtitles. 90m/BW VHS, DVD, 8mm. Germany Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, Kurt Gerron, Rosa Valetti, Hans Albers; Director: Josef von Sternberg; Writer: Robert Liebmann, Carl Zuckmayer, Karl Vollmoller; Cinematographer: Gunther Rittau; Music: Frederick "Friedrich" Hollander; Producer: Paramount Pictures, Korda.', 'The Boys of St. Vincent 1993Outstanding, and heartbreaking, story of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy that was inspired by actual events. Divided into two segments, the drama begins in 1975 with 10-year-old Kevin Reevey (Morina) living at the St. Vincent orphanage in an eastern Canadian town. The orphanage is run by charismatic and terrifying Brother Lavin (Czerny), who it turns out has a special fondness for "his boy" Kevin. Nor is Brother Lavin alone--a fact eventually revealed by a police investigation, although the matter is hushed up by both the church and the government. Until 15 years later. In 1990, the case is reopened and Lavin, having married and fathered two sons, is returned to face charges. Now the young men must open wounds that have never truly healed and confront their tormentors in a court of law, amidst a blaze of publicity. Czerny gives a truly inspired performance as the self-loathing monster. The emotional agony is excruciating to watch and be forwarned that the depiction of the sexual abuse is unflinching. Made for Canadian TV; on two cassettes. 186m/Color VHS, DVD. Canada Cast: Henry Czerny, Johnny Morina, Sebastian Spence, Brian Dodd, David Hewlett, Jonathan Lewis, Jeremy Keefe, Phillip Dinn, Brian Dooley, Greg Thomey, Michael Wade, Lise Roy, Timothy Webber, Kristine Demers, Ashley Billard, Sam Grana; Director: John N. Smith; Writer: Sam Grana, John N. Smith, Des Walsh; Cinematographer: Pierre Letarte; Music: Neil Smolar; Producer: Sam Grana, Claudio Luca, Colin Neale, National Film Board of Canada, CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), Telefilm Canada, Les Productions Tele-Action.', 'Breathless 1959Godard´s first feature catapulted him to the vanguard of French filmmakers. Carefree Parisian crook, Michel (Belmondo), who emulates Humphrey Bogart, falls in love with gamine American student Patricia (Sebring) with tragic results. Wonderful scenes of Parisian life. Established Godard´s Brechtian, experimental style. Belmondo´s film debut. Mistitled "Breathless" for American release, the film´s French title actually means "Out of Breath"; however, the fast-paced, erratic musical score leaves you breathless. French with English subtitles. Remade with Richard Gere in 1983 with far less intensity. 90m/BW VHS, DVD, 8mm. France Cast: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Daniel Boulanger, Jean-Pierre Melville, Liliane Robin; Director: Jean-Luc Godard; Writer: Jean-Luc Godard; Cinematographer: Raoul Coutard; Music: Martial Solal; Producer: Films Around the World.', 'Bridge on the River Kwai 1957Award-winning adaptation of the Pierre Bouelle novel about the battle of wills between a Japanese POW camp commander and a British colonel over the construction of a rail bridge, and the parallel efforts by escaped prisoner Holden to destroy it. Holden´s role was originally cast for Cary Grant. Memorable too for whistling "Colonel Bogey March." Because the writers were blacklisted, Bouelle (who spoke no English) was originally credited as the screenwriter. 161m/Color VHS, DVD, Wide. Great Britain Cast: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donald, Geoffrey Horne, Andre Morell, Ann Sears, Peter Williams, John Boxer, Percy Herbert, Harold Goodwin, Henry Okawa, Keiichiro Katsumoto, M.R.B. Chakrabandhu; Director: David Lean; Writer: Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson; Cinematographer: Jack Hildyard; Music: Malcolm Arnold; Technical Advisor: Maj. Gen. L.E.M. Perowne; Producer: Sam Spiegel, Columbia Pictures.', 'Bringing Up Baby 1938The quintessential screwball comedy, featuring Hepburn as a giddy socialite with a "baby" leopard, and Grant as the unwitting object of her affections. One ridiculous situation after another adds up to high speed fun. Hepburn looks lovely, the supporting actors are in fine form, and director Hawks manages the perfect balance of control and mayhem. From a story by Hagar Wilde, who helped Nichols with the screenplay. Also available in a colorized version. 103m/BW VHS. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, May Robson, Charlie Ruggles, Walter Catlett, Fritz Feld, Jonathan Hale, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond; Director: Howard Hawks; Writer: Dudley Nichols; Cinematographer: Russell Metty; Producer: RKO, Howard Hawks.', 'The Burmese Harp 1956At the end of WWII, a Japanese soldier is spiritually traumatized and becomes obsessed with burying the masses of war casualties. A searing, acclaimed anti-war statement, in Japanese with English subtitles. Remade by Ichikawa in 1985. 115m/BW VHS. Japan Cast: Shoji Yasui, Rentaro Mikuni, Tatsuya Mihashi, Tanie Kitabayashi, Yunosuke Ito; Director: Kon Ichikawa; Writer: Natto Wada; Cinematographer: Minoru Yokoyama; Music: Akira Ifukube; Producer: Nikkatsu.', 'Casablanca 1942Can you see George Raft as Rick? Jack Warner did, but producer Hal Wallis wanted Bogart. Considered by many to be the best film ever made and one of the most quoted movies of all time, it rocketed Bogart from gangster roles to romantic leads as he and Bergman (who never looked lovelier) sizzle on screen. Bogart runs a gin joint in Morocco during the Nazi occupation, and meets up with Bergman, an old flame, but romance and politics do not mix, especially in Nazi-occupied French Morocco. Greenstreet, Lorre, and Rains all create memorable characters, as does Wilson, the piano player to whom Bergman says the oft-misquoted, "Play it, Sam." Without a doubt, the best closing scene ever written; it was scripted on the fly during the end of shooting, and actually shot several ways. Written from an unproduced play. See it in the original black and white. 50th Anniversary Edition contains a restored and remastered print, the original 1942 theatrical trailer, a film documentary narrated by Lauren Bacall, and a booklet. 102m/BW VHS, DVD, 8mm. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Conrad Veidt, S.Z. Sakall, Dooley Wilson, Marcel Dalio, John Qualen, Helmut Dantine, Madeleine LeBeau, Joy Page, Leonid Kinskey, Curt Bois, Oliver Blake, Monte Blue, Martin Garralaga, Ilka Gruning, Ludwig Stossel, Frank Puglia; Director: Michael Curtiz; Writer: Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch; Cinematographer: Arthur Edeson; Music: Max Steiner; Technical Advisor: Robert Aisner; Producer: Hal B. Wallis, Jack L. Warner, Warner Bros.', 'Commissar 1968Before the Soviet Union ended up in the ashcan of history, this film was labeled as "treason" and shelved in Red Russia. Now, even Americans can view the story of a female Soviet soldier who becomes pregnant during the civil war of 1922. The Soviet military has no policy regarding pregnancy, so the woman is dumped on a family of outcast Jews to complete her pregnancy. This film makes the strong statement that women were just as discriminated against in the U.S.S.R. as were many races or creeds, especially Jews. In Russian with English subtitles. Released in the U.S. in 1988. 105m/BW VHS. Russia Cast: Nonna Mordyukova, Rolan Bykov, Raisa Nedashkovskaya, Vasily Shukshin, Pavlik Levin, Ludmilla Volinskaya; Director: Alexander Askoldov; Writer: Alexander Askoldov; Cinematographer: Valery Ginsberg; Music: Alfred Schnittke.', 'Chinatown 1974DPrivate detective Jake Gittes (Nicholson) finds himself overwhelmed in a scandalous case involving the rich and powerful of Los Angeles. Gripping, atmospheric mystery excels in virtually every aspect, with strong narrative drive and outstanding performances from Nicholson, Dunaway, and Huston. Director Polanski also appears in a suitable unsettling cameo. Fabulous. A sneaky, snaking delight filled with seedy characters and plots-within-plots. Followed more than 15 years later by "The Two Jakes." 131m/Color VHS, DVD, 8mm, Wide. Cast: Roman Polanski, Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Diane Ladd, John Hillerman, Burt Young, Perry Lopez, Darrell Zwerling, Joe Mantell; Director: Roman Polanski; Writer: Robert Towne; Cinematographer: John A. Alonzo; Music: Jerry Goldsmith; Producer: Paramount Pictures.', 'A Christmas Story 1983Unlikely but winning comedy of Ralphie´s (Billingsley) single-minded obsession to acquire a Red Ryder BB-gun for Christmas, and the obstacles that everyday life in 1940s Indiana can throw his way. Particularly great sequence involving an impatient department-store Santa. Fun for everyone. Based on "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash," an autobiographical story by Shepherd. Followed by "My Summer Story" in 1994, also from Shepherd´s book. 95m/Color VHS, DVD. Cast: Zack (Zach) Ward, Leslie (Les) Carlson, Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, Ian Petrella; Cameo: Jean Shepherd; Narration: Jean Shepherd; Director: Bob (Benjamin) Clark; Writer: Bob (Benjamin) Clark, Leigh Brown, Jean Shepherd; Cinematographer: Reginald Morris; Music: Paul Zaza, Carl Zittrer; Producer: MGM/UA Entertainment Company.', 'Citizen Kane 1941Extraordinary film is an American tragedy of a newspaper tycoon (based loosely on William Randolph Hearst) from his humble beginnings to the solitude of his final years. One of the greatest films ever made--a stunning tour-de-force in virtually every aspect, from the fragmented narration to breathtaking, deep-focus cinematography; from a vivid soundtrack to fabulous ensemble acting. Welles was only 25 when he co-wrote, directed, and starred in this masterpiece. Watch for Ladd and O´Connell as reporters. 119m/BW VHS, DVD, CC. Cast: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Everett Sloane, Dorothy Comingore, Ruth Warrick, George Coulouris, Ray Collins, William Alland, Paul Stewart, Erskine Sanford, Agnes Moorehead, Alan Ladd, Gus Schilling, Philip Van Zandt, Harry Shannon, Sonny Bupp, Arthur O´Connell; Director: Orson Welles; Writer: Orson Welles, Herman J. Mankiewicz; Cinematographer: Gregg Toland; Music: Bernard Herrmann; Producer: Orson Welles, RKO.', 'Come and See 1985Harrowing, unnerving epic which depicts the horrors of war as a boy soldier roams the Russian countryside during the Nazi invasion. Some overwhelming sequences, including tracer-bullets flashing across an open field. War has rarely been rendered in such a vivid, utterly grim manner. Outstanding achievement from Soviet director Klimov. In Russian with English subtitles. 137m/Color VHS, DVD. Russia Cast: Alexei Kravchenko, Olga Mironova, Lubomiras Lauciavicus, Vladas Bagdonas, Viktor Lorents, Juris Lumiste, Kazimir Rabetsky, Yevgeni Tilicheyev; Director: Elem Klimov; Writer: Elem Klimov, Alex Adamovich; Cinematographer: Alexei Rodionov; Music: Oleg Yanchenko; Producer: Mosfilm, Sovexportfilm USSR.', 'Campanadas a Medianoche 1967Classic tragedy--derived by Welles from five Shakespeare plays--about a corpulent blowhard and his friendship with a prince. Crammed with classic sequences, including a battle that is both realistic and funny. The love scene between massive Welles and a nonetheless willing Moreau also manages to be both sad and amusing. Great performances all around, but Welles understandably dominates. The film´s few flaws (due to budget problems) are inconsequential before considerable strengths. This one ranks among Welles´, and thus the entire cinema´s, very best. 115m/BW VHS. Cast: Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau, Margaret Rutherford, John Gielgud, Marina Vlady, Keith Baxter, Fernando Rey, Norman Rodway; Narration: Ralph Richardson; Director: Orson Welles; Writer: Orson Welles; Cinematographer: Valery Ginsberg; Music: Alfred Schnittke; Producer: Alpine Productions.', 'Ben-Hur 1959The third film version of the Lew Wallace classic stars Heston in the role of a Palestinian Jew battling the Roman empire at the time of Christ. Won a record 11 Oscars. The breathtaking chariot race is still one of the best screen races today. Perhaps one of the greatest pictures of all time. Also available in letterbox format. 212m/Color VHS, DVD, Wide. Cast: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Sam Jaffe, Cathy O´Donnell, Finlay Currie; Director: William Wyler; Writer: Karl Tunberg; Cinematographer: Robert L. Surtees; Music: Miklos Rozsa; Producer: Sam Zimbalist, MGM.' ); echo $potd[rand (0, count($potd) - 1)]; ?> |
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