DVD Collectors Online

Don't Answer the Phone!, a review by Jimmy

Title : Don't Answer the Phone! (1980)

Overview
A Vietnam veteran/photographer terrorizes Los Angeles by going around strangling young women in their homes while taunting psychologist Lindsay Gale by calling her radio call-in show to describe his misogynistic ways. Meanwhile, the police detectives are close behind the psycho hoping he'll slip up and make a mistake.

My Impression
Another personal favorite of mine, it's the movie I've bough the most often (five times : the original VHS released, the first dvd released by Rhino (the only dvd I've thrown in the garbage with all the violence and nudity cut), an uncut bootleg on dvd-r, the uncut version released by Deimos Entertainment and, finally, another uncut version in a 8 movies set). This is the kind of movie that doesn't had a lot of blood, in fact the mood of the film is created by the great performance of Nicholas Worth (who had sadly died not too long after the released of this dvd). No blood doesn't mean that this movie isn't violent, in fact I seriously doubt that you will appreciate it if you are a woman (all the victims are women and their killing is not really pleasant). Like I've said Nicholas Worth made this movie by his interpretation of the murderer (he can switch really fast to a good guy to a creepy guy to a complete psycho). It was also great to see James Westmoreland again in a first role (he is credited as Rad Fulton in The Undertaker and His Pals one of the first movie I've reviewed here). of course a lot of beautifull women appear also like Pamela Jean Bryant (Playboy Playmate of the month of april 78), Susanne Severeid, Denise Galik, ... Another note worthy cast member of this film is Chuck Mitchell, the name probably doesn't ring a bell for you but if I say that he had played Porky Wallace I'm sure that you know who he is.

Certainly not a bad film and a must in every film collection if you are a fan of crime horror film.

Rating :

(From Jimmy's 2009 Horror Marathon on October 24th, 2009)

Rope, a review by Jon

Rope (1948)
4 out of 5



Farley Granger and John Dall play two friends who have committed an audacious murder in their own apartment, shortly before a party with several friends and relatives of the recently deceased David, who is hidden inside a chest which they have made the centre-piece. Amongst the guests is James Stewart, the moral but unwitting inspiration for the plan.

In Rope, Hitchcock set himself a challenge by using a single set (the apartment) and one camera. He also intended to use one take, but as Achim already mentioned, was limited by 10 minute reels. But you have to look for the joins to spot them and they are very clever. Far from a mere experiment, Rope is a dark little moral tale that’s great fun to watch unfold.

So overall, it feels like a play, though far more dynamic and Hitchcock doesn’t waste a second. The screenplay (by Hume Cronyn) and actors are so good that the story would have worked if the camera was static, but he moves it around like an invisible guest, treating the chest with the body inside like an axis. Every time it is in shot the tension is tightened, none more so than when the maid starts to clear it towards the tail end of the evening.

The screenplay is brilliant at following two broad themes: the murderers getting a thrill from hiding David and the others considering David’s role in their lives and where he could be, subconsciously turning detective between them. The camera works to smoothly switch the emotional focus between the discussions and uses the chest to twist the audience’s perceptions.

Key to this is Rupert (James Stewart in his first Hitchcock role). While there are scenes similar to earlier films like Lifeboat, which overlap dialogue, he is the only one who can join in on both sides, especially as he has the least connection to David. He wonders where he is, but can consider all the evidence rationally, and it’s his own theories Brandon (John Dall) has used as inspiration for the murder; that it is ones moral right to kill someone inferior. So it is he who makes the link between his hosts’ strange behaviour and the possibility of a crime. Rupert is the closest character for the viewer and probably the director himself. While the subject could become pompous, he is a safety net for the audience in more ways than one. He enjoys the idea of murder, but could he actually go that far? Stewart is fantastic, quickly establishing himself as an intelligent, but rather manipulative and mischievous character (the discussion about Grant and Bergman is particularly funny).

The rest of the cast are excellent too, but Granger and Dall are particularly good because they are so different. They sort of represent each other, with Dall enjoying the thrill and Granger falling apart, while only hinting that they share the emotions. Interestingly it is Granger that actually did the throttling.

Rope is an excellent example of cinema and demonstrates how well all the elements can blend. Acting, writing and direction have to balance for a film like this to work. By restricting the action to one set, there’s no room for prevarication or indulgence, yet it is so much fun.

I thought it a nice touch that all the credits were centred on the most important character: David’s friends, David’s Aunt, David’s this, etc.


(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on July 20th, 2009)

The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Space: Above and Beyond



What's the show about?
In the year 2063 we see the adventures and the fights of the 58th squadron, the "Wildcards", a United States Marine Corps Space Aviator Cavalry (USMC SAC) squadron. Until the beginning of the show mankind believed to be alone in the universe. But then everything changed and suddenly mankind is at war with a race they call "Chigs". Later it comes out that some of the Earth based companies knew that the Chigs were out there but they were arrogant enough to not to care and they desecrated the Chigs' holy grounds, which probably started the war.

"Pilot"
Humans believe to be alone in the universe. Nathan West was supposed to go on the Tellus mission with his girlfriend Kylen. But he must leave behind, while she goes. Nathan joins the USMC SAC to have a chance to see Kylen again because the USMC also protects the colonies. But then something goes wrong. Both the colony on Vesta and Tellus are attacked and completely destroyed by an alien race. Nathan becomes a hammerhead pilot. His comrade-in-arms have enlisted for several reasons and they are a wild mix, including an InVitro (humans bred in tanks to fight against the A.I.s).

My Opinion
This is a very dark show and that is meant both metaphorically and literally. Too bad it ended in a heavy cliffhanger.

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on January 4th, 2008)