Category Archives: Uncategorized

It is interesting to note that with all the attention paid to Mel Gibson’s PASSION OF THE CHRIST a few years back, this film version was made over 100 years ago (started in 1902 and finished in 1905). THE LIFE AND PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST was produced in France as a series of 31 tableauxContinue reading “FROM THE MANGER TO THE CROSS / LIFE & PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST: 2 Silent Versions Of The Oft Told Story”

There is a growing and welcome trend among DVD releases of classic films. If the title is a remake of a silent film version then the original is now being included along with the remake. Of course it’s the remake that gets all the headlines but that is as it should be since most peopleContinue reading “BEN-HUR: 1925 Original On DVD At Last”

THE KING OF KINGS is a remarkable film. I don’t think that I ‘ve ever seen a more reverent version (sound or silent) of the life of Jesus. It stands out among other biblical epics in that it strives not just for a retelling of events but for a recasting of them into myth. DeMilleContinue reading “THE KING OF KINGS (1927) Was Cecil B. DeMille’s Favorite OF His Films”

This 1950 film was considered quite scandalous in its day especially in America. The essential premise of characters having sex without marriage shocked conservative moviegoers even though it was done with wit and style and doesn’t show you anything improper. It was based on an 1897 play by Viennese doctor turned playwright Arthur Schnitzler calledContinue reading “LA RONDE: An All Time Favorite On DVD At Last”

As a member of a couple of film societies I’m often asked “What is your favorite film?”. To which I usually respond that I like many different films each having its own merits and I can’t really choose just one. Yet if I had to, it would probably be Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s 1951Continue reading “THE TALES OF HOFFMANN (1951): Nothing Like It Before Or Since”

I have had this performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s most popular work since the mid-1980s when it first appeared on VHS. I have always enjoyed it and have waited a long time to get it on DVD. This DVD release is dated 2000 but I have only just recently come across it, Now I can retireContinue reading “THE FOUR SEASONS As It Would Have Been Done In Vivaldi’s Time”

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to see this movie look this good. For years there were only public domain copies of the U.S. release known as THE HUMAN MONSTER with each new offering getting marginally better but nothing to compare with this Network release of the original British version. The pictureContinue reading “DARK EYES OF LONDON (1940): One Of Bela Lugosi’s Best Roles”

HELL BENT (1918) and STRAIGHT SHOOTING (1917) are two very early John Ford westerns that were recently discovered in the film archives of the Czech Republic. Both were 35 mm prints and after undergoing 4K digital restoration they look better than they ever have before. This has been much needed as the previous versions availableContinue reading “EARLY JOHN FORD WESTERNS (1917-18): Developing His Craft”

Although billed as “The Original 1984”, that distinction belongs to the 1954 BBC-TV version that starred Peter Cushing and Andre Morell and was adapted by Nigel Kneale of QUATERMASS fame. It is now available on DVD and on You Tube although the quality is certainly not up to today’s standards. However that version was takenContinue reading “1984 (1956): Not Quite “THE ORIGINAL” 1984″

I saw this 1975 film when it first came out under the English title of END OF THE GAME which literally describes what happens but is not nearly as appropriate as the original title of THE JUDGE & HIS HANGMAN. If you are familiar with Swiss playwright/novelist Friedrich Durrenmatt (THE VISIT, THE PHYSICISTS) then youContinue reading “END OF THE GAME (1975): Swiss Curio With Jon Voight & Jacqueline Bisset”