Modern blockbuster cinema came of age with the release of three huge science fiction/fantasy extravaganzas in the late 1970s. In 1978 Superman was the last of these, a gigantic hit unfairly overshadowed by Star Wars (1977) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Christopher Reeve is completely convincing as both Superman and mild-mannered alter ego Clarke Kent, sparking real chemistry with Margot Kidder's fellow reporter Lois Lane. Very much a film of two halves, the opening tells the origin of Superman from the apocalyptic fate of Krypton to his nostalgically rendered boyhood in the mid-West. After a wonderful sequence introducing the Fortress of Solitude the film changes gear as the adult Clarke Kent arrives in Metropolis and Superman battles arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman). Though the tone becomes lighter and introduces comedy, Superman succeeds because Donner plays the titular character straight. From Marlon Brando's heavyweight cameo to the surprisingly wrenching finale, Superman unfolds as an epic modern myth, a spiritual fable for a secular age and a fantastic entertainment for the young at heart. With breathtaking production design, still special effects, gorgeous cinematography, thrilling set-pieces, wit, romance and John Williams' extraordinarily rich music score, Superman has the power to make you believe a man can fly.On the DVD: Superman is presented in an extended director's cut which adds eight minutes to the theatrical original. The restored material is so artfully integrated many viewers may not even notice, but it would have been nice to at least have the opportunity to watch the original via seamless branching. The sound has been remixed into extraordinarily powerful Dolby Digital 5.1--the superb main title sequence is worth the price alone--and the anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 image is, except for some unavoidably grainy effects shots, pristine. The commentary by Richard Donner and writer Tom Mankiewicz reveals more about the background than all but the most dedicated fan will ever need to know, while film music aficionados will revel in the opportunity to listen to John Williams' score isolated in Dolby Digital 5.1. On the second side of the disc are a eight alternate John Williams music cues, a selection of deleted scenes and the screen tests of a variety of would-be Lois Lanes, introduced and with optional commentary by casting director Lynn Stalmaster. These are fascinating, and show how right for the part Margot Kidder really was. A DVD-ROM only feature presents the storyboards plus various Web features, while the real highlight is a 90-minute documentary divided into three sections covering pre-production, filming and special effects. The picture quality on all the extras is very good indeed. An enthralling package, DVD doesn't get much better than this. --Gary S Dalkin
A box-office smash, an Academy Award-winner and a fan favourite since it first flew into theaters, Superman: The Movie assembles a cast and creative contingent as only a big movie can. As its heart (and for three sequels) is Christopher Reeve's intelligent, affectionate portrayal of a most human Man of Steel. Reeve, Marlon Brando (Jor-El), Gene Hackman (Lex Luthor) and Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) give performances that fuel the film's aura of legend. Watching Superman isn't just like being a kid again. It's better. Includes theatrical version on both 4K and remastered Blu-Ray Disc. Extras: Commentary by Director Richard Donner and Creative Consultant Tom Mankiewicz Taking Flight: The Development of Superman Making Superman: Filming the Legend Screen Tests Music-Only track Theatrical Trailers and TV Spot.
Decades before blockbuster Extended Cuts were common, Superman proved a true Man of Tomorrow. Superman: The Movie received an ahead-of-its-time makeover for its television premiere - nearly 40 more minutes of story, creating a two-night television event. Audiences had already been swept off their feet by Christopher Reeve's Last Son of Krypton, and now there was more to enjoy. Unseen in decades, this version is paired here with Richard Donner's definitive vision of his film, the Special Edition Director's Cut (2000), to create a supersized celebration of Metropolis' favourite son that preserves the director's intent while feeding superfan demands. Extras: (On Superman: The Movie Special Edition Disc); Commentary by Director Richard Donner and Creative Consultant Tom Mankiewicz, 3 Documentaries: Taking Flight: The Development of Superman, Making Superman: Filming the Legend, and The Magic Behind the Cape, Screen Tests, Restored Scenes, Additional Music Cues, Music-Only track
A HARD COP AND A SOFT DAME IN A BRASS-KNUCKLE THRILLER! Fritz Lang's iconic film noir masterpiece is an uncompromising exploration of corruption and violence at the dark heart of small-town America. Glenn Ford is the good cop in a bad town, who single-handedly takes on local mobsters headed by Alexander Scourby and his psychotic right-hand man Lee Marvin. Extras High Definition remaster Original mono audio Audio commentary by film historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman Tony Rayns on Fritz Lang and 'The Big Heat' (2017, 34 mins): a newly filmed appreciation and analysis by the film historian Martin Scorsese on The Big Heat (2009, 6 mins) Michael Mann on The Big Heat (2009, 11 mins) Isolated score: experience Henry Vars' original soundtrack music Original theatrical trailer Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
A star-studded World War II drama about the great air and naval battle in which the underdog Americans - outnumbered by the huge Japanese flotilla - won American military supremacy in the Pacific. Leading them to their heroic victory is Admiral Nimitz and Captain Matt Garth (Heston) the latter a junior officer whose life is complicated by his son's romance with a Japanese-American girl...
Eureka Entertainment to release HUMAN DESIRE, a hard-edged and chilling film-noir from legendary filmmaker Fritz Lang, starring Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame, as a worldwide premiere on Blu-ray in a definitive Dual Format edition as part of The Masters of Cinema Series from 11 February 2019. A startlingly dark, late film noir masterwork by director Fritz Lang, Human Desire reunites Lang with his hero Glenn Ford and femme fatale Gloria Grahame from the previous year's The Big Heat and the screenwriter of Lang's 1952 noir Clash by Night, Alfred Hayes. Like those two classics, Human Desire finds Lang casting a pitiless eye on all of the human weaknesses that define film noir: deception, infidelity, passion, and murder. Adapted from the same Ãmile Zola novel previously filmed by Jean Renoir in La Bête humaine (1938), Lang's gripping thriller has Ford as train engineer Jeff, just home from the Korean War. He's instantly attracted to passenger Vicki (Grahame), not yet realizing that she's the abused wife of Jeff's alcoholic railroad yard superior Carl (Broderick Crawford) -- or that Vicki was just entangled in a jealousy-fuelled murder committed by Carl. As Jeff and Vicki embark on a steamy affair, she tells him about the crime, and Carl's blackmail hold on her. If only Carl could be taken out of the picture The only thing that's not pitch black in this noir are the ethical shades of grey inhabited by all its characters. Yet its placid small town setting also offers a unique perspective on the genre, with Lang uncovering sinister secrets on these quiet streets that could rival any big city immorality. The Masters of Cinema is proud to present one of this brilliant filmmaker's most underrated films for the first time ever on Blu-ray. Special Features: 1080p presentation on Blu-ray (with a progressive encode on the DVD) LPCM Mono audio Optional English SDH subtitles A new and exclusive interview with film historian Tony Rayns PLUS: A Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film alongside rare archival imagery
Put-upon dentist Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay) is long suffering husband to Susan (Zoe Wannamaker) and father to three very different and often difficult children - nice but dim Nick (Kris Marshall) shopaholic student Janey (Daniela Denby-Ashe) and prodigy Michael (Gabriel Thomson). The episodes: 'A Serpent's Tooth' 'A Pain In The Class' 'Droit De Seigneur Ben' 'The Last Resort' 'A Farewell To Alarms' 'Death Takes A Policy' 'The Awkward Phase' and 'Much Ado About Ben'.
Happy Birthday to Me typifies the horror genre prior to the self-reflection and irony that saturated the genre in the late '80s and '90s. A solid cast, decent acting, a well-written script, and relatively high production values result in a solid movie that is engaging on its own in addition to offering a glimpse into the history of '80s horror. The plot follows the rules of the genre (later parodied in such films as the Scream and Scary Movie series). A number of teenagers (played by actors who appear visibly older than their characters) from an elite prep school get into mischievous sexual situations fueled by alcohol and pot smoking. As teens start to disappear, murdered in a variety of violent ways, the film suggests a number of suspects. Is the killer the troubled star played by Melissa Sue Anderson who lost her overbearing, social-climbing mother in a car accident that she survived? Or is it the stern school mistress, the wacky, cool social clown, the social misfit, or none of the above? The film keeps you guessing until the final scene. Happy Birthday is a must-see for serious fans of the horror genre and this release is a solid digital mastering of the movie. Hardcore fans should note that the DVD release was not able to secure the rights to the original soundtrack so this version features an alternate soundtrack of largely nondescript '80s electronic music. --Brian Saltzman
"When cattle rancher Shep Horgan (Ernest Borgnine) finds Jubal Troop (Glenn Ford) half-dead in a mountain pass, he rescues the drifter and offers him good honest work on his ranch. Shep is a good man - but his beautiful young bride Mae (Valerie French) is pure poison. She's been catting around with ranch hand Pinky (Rod Steiger) - and now she's got eyes only for Jubal. When Jubal is appointed ranch foreman, Pinky swears revenge. He convinces Shep that Jubal is sleeping with his wife. For a proud man like Shep, there's only one thing to do - pick up his Winchester and sort things out man-to-man..."
An all-star dramatization of the Japanese attack on the island of Midway in 1942, which saw US forces finally wresting control of the waves and staving off the threat of its West Coast being invaded. Henry Fonda heads the cast as Pacific Fleet Commander Chester W. Nimitz.
Recreating the famous sea battle between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy, Midway finds director Jack Smight (Airport 1975) confidently handling epic battle scenes and a stellar cast which includes Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Mitchum, and Robert Wagner. Midway is presented here with a wealth of extras, as well as in an extended, two-part TV version which features additional scenes. INDICATOR STANDARD EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES High Definition remasterOriginal mono and 2.1 Sensurround audio tracksAlternative two-part TV version (101 mins and 92 mins): the rarely seen extended TV cut, containing unique scenes, reframed to 4:3 and presented in Standard Definition, as originally broadcastAudio commentary with film historians Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin (2021)The Guardian Interview with Robert Wagner (1983, 71 mins): archival audio recording of the film and TV star in conversation with Joan Bakewell at the National Film Theatre, LondonThey Were There! (1976, 7 mins): Charlton Heston presents this archival documentary featuring interviews with three combatants who survived the battleThe Making of 'Midway' (2001, 39 mins): documentary looking at the film's productionSensurround: The Sounds of 'Midway' (2001, 5 mins): a look at the film's use of the Sensurround audio systemSuper 8 version: original cut-down home-cinema presentationThe Battle of Midway (1942, 18 mins): award-winning documentary directed by John Ford relaying the battle with footage shot by Navy cameramenOriginal theatrical trailerTV spotsRadio spotsImage gallery: promotional and publicity materialNew and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
3:10 to Yuma is a tight, taut Western in the High Noon tradition. Struggling rancher and family man Van Heflin sneaks captured outlaw Glenn Ford out from under the eyes of his gang and nervously awaits the prison train. Adapted from an Elmore Leonard story, this tense thriller is boiled down to its essential elements: a charming and cunning criminal, an initially reluctant hero whose courage and resolution hardens along the way and a waiting game that pits them in a battle of wills and wits. Glenn Ford practically steals the film in one of his best performances ever: calm, cool and confident, he's a ruthless killer with polite manners and an honourable streak. Director Delmer Daves (Broken Arrow) sets it all in a harsh, parched frontier of empty landscapes, deserted towns and dust, creating a brittle quiet that threatens to snap into violence at any moment. --Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com
Gilda, are you decent? RITA HAYWORTH (The Lady from Shanghai) tosses her hair back and slyly responds, Me? in one of the great star entrances in movie history. Gilda, directed by CHARLES VIDOR (Cover Girl), features a sultry Hayworth in her most iconic role, as the much-lusted-after wife of a criminal kingpin (Paths of Glory's GEORGE MACREADY), as well as the former flame of his bitter henchman (3:10 to Yuma's GLENN FORD), and she drives them both mad with desire and jealousy. An ever-shifting battle of the sexes set on a Buenos Aires casino's glittering floor and in its shadowy back rooms, Gilda is among the most sensual of all Hollywood noirs. BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES: New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack Audio commentary from 2010 by film critic Richard Schickel New interview with film noir historian Eddie Muller Appreciation of Gilda from 2010 featuring filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Baz Luhrmann Rita Hayworth: The Columbia Lady, a 2000 featurette on Hayworth's career as an actor and dancer Trailer PLUS: An essay by critic Sheila O'Malley
Reversal of Fortune focuses on one of the most intriguing criminal trials of the 1980s, that of Claus von Bülow, who was accused of sending his rich wife Sunny into a permanent coma with an overdose of insulin. Director Barbet Schroeder, working from Nicholas Kazan's evocative, darkly humorous script, turns the story into both a look at the lives of rich folks with too much time on their hands and a whodunit, as lawyer Alan Dershowitz (Ron Silver) prepares to defend von Bülow (Jeremy Irons) in court. Irons won an Oscar for his spooky, knowing performance, which hints at depths of degeneracy without ever putting a dent in a veneer of bored elegance. The contrast between the hard-charging Dershowitz and his eager-beaver Harvard law students and the eternally languid von Bülow adds unexpected humour. --Marshall Fine
""Somebody's going to pay...because he forgot to kill me."" Ruthless criminals a dedicated honest cop sultry women and a gripping plot - all the elements of a classic police action-drama are here in full force. Police Sergeant Bannion (Glenn Ford) is investigating the apparent suicide of a corrupt cop then is suddenly ordered to stop - and The Big Heat is on. Driven to unravel the mystery Bannion continues probing until an explosion meant for him kills his wife. He
Recreating the famous sea battle between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy, Midway finds director Jack Smight (Airport 1975) confidently handling epic battle scenes and a stellar cast which includes Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Mitchum, and Robert Wagner. Midway is presented here with a wealth of extras. Special Features: High Definition remaster Original mono and 2.1 Sensurround audio tracks Audio commentary with film historians Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin (2021) The Guardian Interview with Robert Wagner (1983): archival audio recording of the film and TV star in conversation with Joan Bakewell at the National Film Theatre, London They Were There! (1976): Charlton Heston presents this archival documentary featuring interviews with three combatants who survived the battle The Making of Midway' (2001): documentary short looking at the film's production Sensurround: The Sounds of Midway' (2001): a look at the film's use of the Sensurround audio system The Score of Midway' (2001): film composer John Williams discusses his work on the film Selected scenes from the extended TV version The Battle of Midway' (1942): Oscar-winning documentary directed by John Ford relaying the battle with footage shot by Navy cameramen New video essay by film historian Tag Gallagher on John Ford's acclaimed documentary Super 8 version: original cut-down home-cinema presentation Original theatrical trailer TV spots Radio spot Image gallery: promotional and publicity material New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Lee Pfeiffer and Dave Worrall, archival articles on the film and the events that inspired it, an overview of critical responses, and film credits Limited edition of 3,000 copies All extras subject to change
Popular high school senior Virginia Wainwright (Melissa Sue Anderson) survives a freak accident, but suffers from memory loss and traumatic blackouts. As she attempts to resume a normal life, something terrible is happening - her friends are being ruthlessly murdered one by one. But will she be the next victim or is she the killer? Director J Lee Thompson's classic shocker was made during the period before the horror genre drenched itself in irony and self-reflexivity, and instead revels in the effective staging of the terrifying set-pieces which drive it towards its climax. Extras: HD restoration Original mono audio Alternative 5.1 surround sound track Alternative score: experience the film with the controversial re-scored electronic music soundtrack, as used on the 2004 home video re-release Audio commentary by The Hysteria Continues team: Justin Kerswell (author of Teenage Wasteland: The Slasher Movie Uncut) Joseph Henson, Erik Threlfall and Nathan Johnson Image gallery: on-set and promotional material Original trailer and TV spots New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearin
Impoverished Broadway peddler ""Apple Annie"" (Bette Davis) has a problem. Her daughter Louise (Ann-Margret) educated abroad since infancy is coming for a visit and bringing her wealthy fianc with her. The problem is that Louise has believed all her life that Annie's a wealthy dowager and the poor old woman doesn't know what to do! Enter ""Dave The Dude"" (Glenn Ford) - a big-hearted racketeer - who enlists aid to pass Annie off as a high-society grande dame so Louise can marry her fa
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