DVD Collectors Online

East of Eden, a review by Antares

East of Eden (1955) 4.5/5 - For many years I've never understood the iconic appreciation for James Dean. I had seen both Rebel Without a Cause and Giant, but I had seen the sullen, brooding performance in the former, done better by Montgomery Clift in a couple of films, and Dean's performance in the latter film is only half good. Meaning he's great in the first half as the loner, wildcatting his way to a fortune, but when that fortune is achieved and the screenplay advances him in age, he looked lost in the role. So I've always avoided East of Eden because I thought I was going to get more of the same out of him. I now admit that I was wrong in prejudging him and this film. From the get go, his moody absorption into the troubled life of Cal is a breath of fresh air in what was a sea of by the book type acting in Hollywood. His scenes with Raymond Massey highlight this very well. It's like watching the old school butting heads with a revolution. Now I've never read East of Eden, the travesty of which I'm soon going to remedy, so I would have liked to have had a bit more exposition as to why the brothers were so different and why the mother wasn't there. But from what I've read, the film only covers about the last 70 or so pages of the book. Maybe this was a blessing for me, as I wasn't jaded by having read the book first. There are probably many out there who don't care for this film because of that fact, but until I finish reading it, the film is a success for me.

(From Antares' Short Summations on February 27th, 2012)

Road House, a review by Antares

Road House (1948) 3.5/5 - Ahhhh, Ida Lupino... if I could have just one woman from the Golden Age of Hollywood, it would be her. No one could play the bad girl types like she did. She had that waifish look, a melodic, warbling voice and the smoking sensuality that made good guys go bad. In Road House, she plays a chanteuse at a lounge owned by Richard Widmark. Widmark's character is completely smitten with her, but when she falls for his good looking friend and manager of the lounge (Cornel Wilde), his jealousy overcomes him and he frames him for embezzlement. He has the judge parole him into his custody, just so he can drive a wedge between the two lovers as he makes his life a living Hell. But this only bonds the two closer, and when the trio go on a trip together, Wilde and Lupino make a break for it, with Widmark in psychotic pursuit.

Not a great film, but it delivers the goods. Once again, Richard Widmark plays the lecherous type to perfection. As I've written before, Mitchum was the God of noir, but Widmark is the Beelzebub.

(From Antares' Short Summations on November 3rd, 2011)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Three's Company: Season One (1977/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Anchor Bay Entertainment (United States) Length: 146 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles:

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Plot:
In the spring of 1977, ABC network executives gave a six-episode "trial" run to a new sitcom called THREE'S COMPANY. Almost overnight, it became one of the biggest hits of the entire season and more than twenty-five years later, it remains one of the best-loved TV series of all time.

The beloved John RitterJoyce DeWitt) and dim-bulb blonde Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers). Along with their sexually frustrated landlords the Ropers (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) and Jack's fast-talking pal Larry (Richard Kline), these three outrageous roommates tripped and jiggled through a world of slapstick pratfalls, sexy misunderstanding and some of the most scandalously titillating comedy America had ever seen.

THREE'S COMPANY - SEASON ONE features the original six episodes - including the classic pilot - that started it all, now collected on DVD for the first time ever!


Three's Company
Season 1.01 A Man About The House
Writer: Don Nicholl (Writer), Michael Ross (Writer), Bernie West (Writer), Johnnie Mortimer (Original Characters By), Brian Cooke (Original Characters By)
Director: Bill Hobin
Cast: John Ritter (Jack Tripper), Joyce DeWitt (Janet Wood), Suzanne Somers (Chrissy Snow), Audra Lindley (Helen Roper), Norman Fell (Stanley Roper), Kit McDonough (Patricia Crawford)

I really like the first season of this series. It is quite funny. Later on it gets a little tiring. Also I think Janet looks really hot in the first season (much better than the cover suggests). As far as I remember her hairstyle changed in the second season which I didn't like.
I never quite understood why Jack was lusting after Chrissy. I always preferred Janet. Both in looks and personality.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on November 11th, 2012)