Adele Mara

Average customer rating:

A Realistic Portrayal of WWII Pacific Combat
War is Hell
TorpanInternational
Hypnotic in its flag-waving way...
Daughter of an Iwo Vet

Sands of Iwo Jima
Starring: John Wayne , John Agar , Adele Mara , Forrest Tucker , and Wally Cassell
Director: Allan Dwan
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Green Berets
The Fighting Seabees
In Harm's Way
Flying Tigers
Operation Pacific

ASIN: 0782010040
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Amazon.com essential video

John Wayne's old studio home, Republic, made this 1949 drama about the heroic capture of an important island in the Pacific by marines in World War II. Director Allan Dwan (Brewster's Millions), a pioneering filmmaker from the silent days of cinema who easily crossed over into sound, handles the action sequences like a consummate pro, while Wayne works hard as the tough sergeant molding new recruits into fighters. John Agar plays a contentious surrogate son to Wayne, though the relationship is hardly the stuff of Red River. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.com

This classic World War II actioner has Wayne as a tough but compassionate Marine Corps sergeant, John M. Stryker. Tough name, too. Stryker's job is to turn a bunch of raw recruits into a fighting machine. His no-holds-barred approach causes a great amount of friction, not to mention a running subplot concerning his personal life that makes him something of an enigma to his men. The mystery of his past is not fully resolved until the very ending, by which point Stryker is decidedly a war hero. The supporting roles of those who hate Stryker's guts, and who are inevitably won over, are played handsomely by John Agar and Forrest Tucker. Veteran film director Allan Dwan helmed this one, and used real war footage and three of the surviving soldiers who raised the flag on Mt. Suribachi to reenact that momentous event. An engrossing and entertaining war flick all around, boasting one of the Duke's finest, most measured and layered performances. The DVD includes a wonderful making-of featurette hosted by Leonard Maltin, interviewing Wayne's son, John Agar, and some of the military personnel who served as advisors on the film. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

A Realistic Portrayal of WWII Pacific Combat.......2007-05-30

Sergeant Stryker (John Wayne) must prepare his men for combat. He does! He subjects his men to rough bayonet drills and other forms of combat.

Many modern war movies are sanitized of the realities of war. Not this one! There are numerous scenes of soldiers suffering and dying. There is a scene where a Jewish soldier says his last prayers in Hebrew. There is no happy ending for Sergeant Stryker himself.

The viewer sees the progression of the US island-hopping campaign. The islands of Tarawa and Iwo Jima are seized from the Japanese. In each case, there first is the "softening" of Japanese positions by massive bombing by airplanes and shelling from battleships. Then comes the invasion by amphibious craft. The US soldiers are under constant fire. They must crawl from one hiding place to another in their advance against Japanese positions. The Japanese have a habit of jumping out of their hiding places in caves and attacking unsuspecting Americans from behind. The entrenched Japanese have to be driven out by bazookas and flame throwers. Some of the latter are hand-held, whereas others are tank-mounted. Old-fashioned field phones are used for communication.

This old movie includes actual combat footage!

War is Hell.......2007-05-14

John Wayne is at his best as Sargeant Striker, the veteran Marine who must whip his young marines into a fighting unit. The tough wayne never lets up and is the leader to the end. One of the few films that Wayne dies in. A strong cast and story that takes you into the life of a WWII marine. This one made Wayne a star. Must see.

TorpanInternational.......2007-03-15

John Wayne gave the portayal of that type of soldier from all over the world ,giving his full all against tyrany in WW2.All the cast potrayed human sides of characters with the same objective.The film is a credit to ,also ,the behind the scenes crew producing it.

It is one I could see many times again.10 out of 10 or 5 stars.

Hypnotic in its flag-waving way..........2007-01-13

For 'Sands of Iwo Jima,' Wayne won his first Academy Award nomination in a role that presented him again as a ruthless leader of men, this time the toughest leatherneck, hated and then loved for his hardness:'In boot camp you learned the book. Out here, you gotta remember the book and learn a thousand things that have never been printed, probably never will be. You gotta learn and you gotta learn fast. And any man that doesn't want to cooperate, I'll make him wish he hadn't been born. Before I'm through with you, you're gonna move like one man and think like one man. If you don't, you're dead.'

Wayne plays Sergeant Stryker, a battle-hardened U.S. Marine training a company of raw recruits in New Zealand... He is merciless to his men... They are consistently kept on the go ('If you're nervous, count your toes. I'll do the masterminding around here.'), and they detest him...

The conflict focuses on Stryker and Private First Class Conway (John Agar) who in the end will assume Stryker's position...

At the Battle of Tarawa, one of the bloodiest fights of the whole Pacific campaign, director Allan Dwan establishes his ground rules for describing combat, mixing authentic combat footage with shots of his actors... The few casualties in Stryker's company justifies his methods, and the men begin to respect him...

Allan Dwan's 'Sands of Iwo Jima', anticipated the new vogue for action-packed war movies... His film is quite hypnotic in its flag-waving way...

Daughter of an Iwo Vet .......2007-01-06

The product results in John Wayne playing the same role he always played, just in a different setting, and the script not being true to life. The reality of the battle is not there - the movie is mostly fantasy peppered with a few facts to give it some credibility. How do I know it was not true to life? My father was there. He was a John Wayne fan but was disgusted by the movie.

Average customer rating:

One of the best John Wayne films
Wake of the Red Witch
Duke 1, Squid 0
Worth Viewing but Not Remembering
Garland Roark's Novel Brought to the Screen

Wake of the Red Witch
Starring: John Wayne , Gail Russell , Gig Young , Adele Mara , and Luther Adler
Director: Edward Ludwig
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Reap the Wild Wind
Flame of Barbary Coast
Legend of the Lost (1957)
The Fighting Kentuckian
Dark Command

ASIN: B00005B205
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

John Wayne stars as a 19th-century sea captain out for revenge against a wealthy shipping magnate in this interesting and unlikely 1948 offering from Republic Pictures. Wayne plays the wronged Captain Ralls with a convincing bitterness that foreshadows his later work in the John Ford classic The Searchers, and his grim portrayal of Ralls hits a high point when Ralls purposely wrecks his enemy's prize treasure ship. The painfully beautiful Gail Russell costarred with Wayne only the year before in The Angel and the Badman and delivers a memorable performance as the tragic Angelique. Gig Young also stands out as a crewman who eventually learns the truth about Ralls. Wake of the Red Witch shares similarities in both character and climax to an earlier Wayne picture, C.B. DeMille's Reap the Wild Wind, but this film has a more direct approach in exploring the complex motivations of its characters. --Mark Savary

Customer Reviews:

One of the best John Wayne films.......2007-02-25

I first saw this movie in a theater in the early 1950's [movies stayed on the circuit for years then - big cities, first runs, small towns, then part of double features, etc.]. I was under 10 and it was an amazing movie then. I have seen it many times since and I like it even better now. Sure, the special effects now seem clumsy and dated. But the story is a good one and the battle of wills between Wayne's character and Luther Adler's character is still one of the better done of this type plot device. Wayne was consistently underestimated for years by his peers and critics but the public knew better. Yes, among the hundreds of movies he's in, a good percentage of them are B specials. But, starting with Angel and the Badman [w/ the same lovely Gail Russell as in "Wake..."], he didn't have to bow to anyone. "Wake..." is one of his best along with [imho]: The Cowboys, The Shootist, The Quiet Man, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and maybe True Grit. Even the more venerated and more decorated actors of Wayne's era made clunk movies. And, not all the blame could be cast at the writers/directors... I'll be adding a DVD version of "Wake.." to my Wayne collection. It's a good one! {I'll enjoy watching this one with my grandson in a couple of years.}

Wake of the Red Witch.......2006-11-03

A very interesting and exciting sea picture that involves intrigue, danger, adventure, and romance. What more do you want? In addition to all of the previously mentioned offerings you have a sea monster, ie; a giant squid which is only one of many obstacles that John Wayne has to battle to retrieve valubles located in a sunken freighter.

This John Wayne film is different and unusual in that John Wayne is not the all encompassing heroe that he usually portrays in films. He starts out as a somewhat greedy, deceptive person out to get what he feels he deserves from a former employer and rival, but in the end he finds redemption from his love interest, the very beautiful, Gail Russell, who starred with Wayne in "The Angel and the Badman", another fine Wayne western. Also, in the film is Gig Young, a great, "in my opinion", underrated actor who does a fine job as the character with redeaming qualities, and a friend of John Wayne in the film.

They don't make'm like this anymore! I'm sure you'll enjoy this film, pure adventure, and a film you don't have to analyze, just enjoy!

I recommend purchasing this film. You won't be disappointed!

John E. Matty, Springfield, VA.

Duke 1, Squid 0 .......2005-06-16

WAKE OF THE RED WITCH has it all: An island full of half-naked Polynesian islanders, carved stone heads that stand twenty-feet high, a scuttled schooner laden with gold, the pearl god Tara-Tatu, breathless Euro chicks steaming it up beneath the vines and palm fronds on the RKO backlot, a succession of improbable flashbacks and John Wayne going mano-a-mano with a giant squid.
This movie is a high seas, wooden-ships-and-iron-men costumer that spends most of its time tracking the tempest tossed romance `tween the Duke and Gail Russell, and the bitter rivalry between Wayne and the skullduggerous Luther Adler.
WAKE OF THE RED WITCH is decently unmemorable in all respects, non-essential viewing for even the hardiest of John Wayne loyalists. It's filled with useless posturings and is based on a popular forgotten novel of the day. Others may find it riveting, but I spent most of my time trying to figure out how Wayne kept his toupee in place during the underwater scenes.

Worth Viewing but Not Remembering.......2005-04-18

I am a big John Wayne fan. I love watching his movies. I enjoyed this one as well even though it is not a particularly good effort of his. It was entertaining but did not really catch the imagination.

If I remember correctly, this film is a semi-remake of one he did jsut a few years earlier. Compared to that horror, this one is excellent but don't try to compare it to some of his greater works like "The Quiet Man", the cavalry trilogy or even "Donovan's Reef". Those are great and memorable; this one is merely an afternoon's mindless entertainment, soon forgetten in the detail if not the minutiae.

THe story revolves around two men with a feud over a woman. In this case, both men are involved in shipping in the South Pacific in the days of sail. Wayne commits an act of barratry (piracy conducted by a ship's own crew) against the ship of his rival. The rival wants revenge but so does the Duke. In the end, the sea sorts it all out.

Purchase this movie if you are a diehard John Wayne fan who must have all his work. Otherwise, rent it.

Garland Roark's Novel Brought to the Screen.......2005-03-30

This seemingly obscure 1949 movie produced quietly during some of John Wayne's greatest years of stardom is an overlooked excellent and well written drama. The movie ties into the original story and actually opens the original book and begins the narration of Chapter one at the hands of the first mate. The story revolves around scuttling a sailing vessel "The Red Witch" that contained a cargo of five million in Gold Bullion. There is competition between the owners and Captain Ralls (John Wayne) who plays an ambivilant character who sides with whatever group is most advantageous at the time. The story is told from the perspective of the first mate and utilized the "flashback" technique similar to "Casablanca" but spends considerable time filling you in on how the present situation developed. Although this is in glorious B&W, the island scenery and romance of the age of sail work wonders along with casual romances and adventure to make this a great and interesting film to watch.

Average customer rating:

More of Fred at his best .
Fred Astaire
You Were Never Lovelier
Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer...And "I'm Old Fashioned"
What a Great Comeback!!

You Were Never Lovelier [Region 99]
Starring: Fred Astaire , Rita Hayworth , Adolphe Menjou , Isobel Elsom , and Leslie Brooks (II)
Director: William A. Seiter
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( Y ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

You'll Never Get Rich [Region 99]
Cover Girl [Region 99]
Broadway Melody of 1940
Silk Stockings
Gilda [Region 99]

ASIN: B0001LJCRA
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com essential video

The devil is in the details when it comes to this effervescent Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth musical. The slight storyline is a hook upon which to hang dance sequences, bits of humor, and songs by Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer. Set in Buenos Aires, it's a remake of an Argentine feature from the previous year and followed You'll Never Get Rich. Astaire stars as a professional hoofer and Hayworth is Adolphe Menjou's second oldest daughter. The wealthy businessman won't let his youngest daughters marry until Maria (Hayworth) ties the knot. She couldn't care less--until a case of mistaken identity leads her to believe that Robert (Astaire) is in love with her (he's just looking for a job at her father's club). Highlights include a tap dance set to "Shorty George" and the Oscar®-nominated "Dearly Beloved," which is sung by both leads (with Hayworth dubbed by Nan Wynn). --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

More of Fred at his best ........2007-06-10

No introduction needed for this movie.
The MAN does more of it all for our eyes to feast on.
WE are all very fortunate Mr Astair shared so much of himself with us.

Fred Astaire.......2007-05-10

As a historian on the movie industry, it is always good to have copies of the great musicals and other movies to refer to from time to time.

You Were Never Lovelier.......2006-07-31

Really good film. If you like Fred Astaire films then you will enjoy this one. Songs are very soothing and, of course, the dance scenes are great.

Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer...And "I'm Old Fashioned".......2006-04-04

In some of Fred Astaire's movies there's only one excellent reason to watch, and that's to watch Fred Astaire. In You Were Never Lovelier there are three other excellent reasons. Rita Hayworth. Jerome Kern. Johnny Mercer. The four of them have concocted a romantic and funny South American fable that features some great dancing by both Astaire and Hayworth and some memorable songs by Kern and Mercer.

Eduardo Acuna (Adolphe Menjou), a wealthy Buenos Aires businessman, has four beautiful daughters, and in the Acuna family they must marry in age order. The eldest fulfills her responsibilities and the two youngest have beaus they're now anxious to share vows with. But the second eldest, Maria (Rita Hayworth) is in no hurry. She wants romance and charm and the men she meets are just panting boys. Then she sees Robert Davis (Fred Astaire), a very charming, down-on-his-luck dancer, singing Dearly Beloved at her elder sister's wedding. He tries to chat her up; she stares him down. Then the plot intervenes. Before long she knows what she wants. Robert knows what he wants. Eduardo Acuna knows what he doesn't want...a down-on-his-luck dancer in the family. From then on it's songs, dances, romance and misunderstandings, which moves into songs, dances and romance. The plot feels sluggish at times and there's way too much Xavier Cugat and his orchestra, but Astaire and Hayworth are at their peak, Kern has written some memorable melodies and few could top Mercer at lyric writing, none in Hollywood.

Hayworth not only was a gorgeous creature, she was a gifted dancer; many think she was the best Astaire worked with. Technically, she not only handled the steps Astaire created, she did so without a hint of effort. After you've watched the dances a couple of times, go back and watch again, but this time concentrate on her face and her hand and arm action. She gives every indication of being utterly relaxed and enjoying herself, even in the fast tap routines. She seems naturally to find the most graceful attitude for an extended arm, a turn of her head, a raised hand. She may not be quite as good as Astaire, but she's good enough.

Among the stand-out routines are:
--The Audition Dance. Robert shows up at Acuna's office and demands a chance to show his stuff as a dancer. From there Astaire takes off on a fast tap routine that takes him all over the floor, onto Acuna's desk, the sofa and chairs. He works into the dance a cane, a rug, the drapes and Acuna's head.

--I'm Old Fashioned. This is probably the best romantic wooing dance Astaire did. It's all fluid motion and spontaneous recognition, danced on the elegant, polished outdoor landing of Acuna's mansion. Rita Hayworth is a vision, and matches him step for step. We move from Maria declaring with humor and assurance that Robert's the man for her, to Robert's protestation that he's just a guy from Omaha, Nebraska, to the dance that brings them closer and closer together until we know through the dance that a love match has just happened. The funny exit through the doors and back into the living-room, bumping into each other, each giving way, bumping again and then going in together arm in arm hits just the right note. The dance works so well in part because Kern and Mercer came up with a classic:
I'm old fashioned,
I love the moonlight,
I love the old fashioned things.
The sound of rain
Upon a window pane,
The starry song that April sings.
This year's fancies
Are passing fancies
But sighing sighs, holding hands,
These my heart understands.
I'm old fashioned
But I don't mind it.
That's how I want to be,
As long as you agree,
To stay old fashioned with me.

--The Shorty George. This fast tap routine starts out with Maria visiting Robert at a rehearsal. He sings The Shorty George and she takes a couple of lines. He looks surprised that she knows the song. He starts to dance and invites her to join him. Hayworth stays right with Astaire and looks like she's having the time of her life.

--You Were Never Lovelier. Robert declares his feelings for Maria, but more misunderstandings occur. Finally, everything is resolved. Robert shakes off some knight's armor he was wearing (there is sort of a reason) and appears below Maria's bedroom window in black tie. She rushes down...and off they go dancing while all the members of the Acuna family look on approvingly. And the Johnny Mercer lyrics and Jerome Kern music brings us to the happy end:
You were never lovelier, you were never so fair;
Dreams were never lovelier,
Pardon me if I stare.
Down the sky the moonbeams fly to light your face;
I can only say they chose the proper place.
You were never lovelier, and to coin a new phrase,
I was never luckier
In my palmiest days.
Make a note, and you can quote me, honor bright,
You were never lovelier than you are tonight.

What a Great Comeback!!.......2006-03-20

After "You'll never be rich" you may think it's difficult to come with something even better. Nevertheless this movie has a great plot, great lines, great comedy. The only thing that is missing is a little more dancing by Fred Astaire. But is usually what happens when you watch one of his films, you always want some more. Is incredible how talented Rita is, and how Fred make anyone look great.

In a word, great movie to watch with lots of fun moments for all the family.

Average customer rating:

A John Wayne double feature, can't beat that

Sands of Iwo Jima/Flying Tigers
Starring: John Wayne , John Agar , Adele Mara , Forrest Tucker , and Wally Cassell
Director: Allan Dwan , and David Miller
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Fighting Seabees/Wake of the Red Witch
Dark Command/A Lady Takes a Chance
Flame of Barbary Coast/Santa Fe Stampede
They Were Expendable
Fort Apache

ASIN: B000N4SHW6
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Description

SANDS OF IWO JIMA - John Wayne catapulted from Hollywood leading man to All-American hero with his Oscar-nominated performance as Sgt. Sryker, a hard-nosed Marine sergeant who must mold a company of raw recruits into a combat-ready fighting machine. Feared by many and hated by all, Stryker's training is soon put to the test in a full-scale assault against the Japanese on Iwo Jima - an infamous battle that will live forever in one of cinema's most famous scenes, the flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi. FLYING TIGERS - They were the terror of the sky, a small daring band of American mercenaries who soared into battle against the Japanese in defense of China's freedom. They were aces, adventurers and heroes, America's hottest fighter pilots - THE FLYING TIGERS! Possessing unmatched skill and bravery, Jim Gordon (John Wayne), the Tigers' commander, is the top gun of China's skies. But he faces a battle on the ground when his good friend Woody Jason is suspected of recklessly causing the death of a fellow pilot and is accused of stealing Jim's fiancee. Jim's fight to retain his respect for Woody while maintaining the solidarity of his pilots is an explosive battle of courage and heroism that lights up the sky with action!

Customer Reviews:

A John Wayne double feature, can't beat that.......2007-03-05

This is really great, a double feature of John Wayne's World War II classics. Both of these movies are favorites of mine and have a common theme. John Wayne is the the leader trying to develop the men of his command. Flying Tigers is the hotshot fighter pilot movie. Can John Wayne tame a hotshot pilot who is out for his own glory? John Carroll is great as the flamboyant hot shot who learns his lesson the hard way, at the cost of another's life. Sands of Iwo Jima is a classic that way an Oscar nomination for Wayne. Can he reach the son of an officer and friend? Can he find a way to make John Agar grow up? This features used actual footage to add to the realism. This is a bargain, get it now!

The Fighting Seabees/Wake of the Red Witch

Average customer rating:

The Fighting Seabees/Wake of the Red Witch
Starring: John Wayne , Gail Russell , Gig Young , Adele Mara , and Luther Adler
Director: Edward Ludwig
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Dark Command/A Lady Takes a Chance
Flame of Barbary Coast/Santa Fe Stampede
Westward Ho/The Fighting Kentuckian
Sands of Iwo Jima/Flying Tigers
Dakota/In Old California

ASIN: B000N4SHWG
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Description

THE FIGHTING SEABEES - All-American hero John Wayne takes a crew of construction workers and turns them into one of WWII's toughest fighting forces in this action-packed war classic. After having convinced the Army brass to let his civilians bear arms, Wedge Donovan ( Wayne) whips his new troops into combat shape. But when he leads his unit in an alll-out assult against the Japanese, Donovan is brought up on court-martial charges and must fight for his life on a new battlefield. THE FIGHTING SEABEES offers an entertaining combination of strong supporting performances by Daniel O'Keefe and ravishing, about-to-be-superstar Susan Hayward; brawlinlg, big budget action sequences; and an Oscar-nominated score- all of which led Leonard Maltin to give "3 stars" to this spirited saga turned box office bonanza. WAKE OF THE RED WITCH - John Wayne battles enemies above and below the waves - including a giant killer octopus - in WAKE OF THE RED WITCH. This sprawling epic adventure pits the tough-minded Captain Ralls (John Wayne) against the treacherous Captain Sidneye (Luther Adler) in a bitter rivalry on a South Seas isle. At stake is a fortune in pearls hidden in an underwater cave. At risk is the hand of the beautiful Angelique (Gail Russell), daughter of Desiax, the tyrant ruler of the island who plans to marry her off to Sidneye. In an attempt to rescue Angelique, Ralls must seize the pearls and exchange them for her freedom. The danger continues as fate holds one final test of strength and bravery for the bold Captain and the woman he loves.

Average customer rating:

Gene Autry: Twilight on the Rio Grande
Starring: Enrique Acosta , Gene Autry , The Cass County Boys , Kenne Duncan , and Nacho Galindo
Director: Frank McDonald
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

The Singing Hill
Gene Autry Collection: Home in Wyomin
The Gene Autry Collection: Gold Mine in the Sky
The Gene Autry Collection: Public Cowboy No. 1
Gene Autry Collection - Call of the Canyon

ASIN: B000PC6YP8
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Description

Gene Autry saddles up for Mexico in a fabulous fiesta of flying fists and sparkling songs the way only Gene can swing 'em and sing 'em. When his partner is killed, Gene finds himself in a border town where he must solve the murder and round up a gang of border smugglers. A beautiful Cantina singer, sidekick Pokie, the Cass County Boys, and Champion, Jr. are along for the ride in this film full of hell-for-leather action of a western combined with a thrill-packed whodunit.

Average customer rating:

A Realistic Portrayal of WWII Pacific Combat
War is Hell
TorpanInternational
Hypnotic in its flag-waving way...
Daughter of an Iwo Vet

Sands of Iwo Jima (Col)
Starring: John Wayne , John Agar , Adele Mara , Forrest Tucker , and Wally Cassell
Director: Allan Dwan
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | VHS | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | VHS | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | VHS | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | VHS | Video

Agar, John | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Baylor, Hal | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Bishop, Julie | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Cassell, Wally | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Franz, Arthur | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Jaeckel, Richard | ( J ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Tucker, Forrest | ( T ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Wayne, John | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Webb, Richard | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Dwan, Allan | ( D ) | Directors | VHS | Video

Deals Under $8 | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video

The Green Berets
The Fighting Seabees
In Harm's Way
Flying Tigers
Operation Pacific

ASIN: 6300988473
Release Date: 1995-06-22

Amazon.com essential video

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Realistic Portrayal of WWII Pacific Combat.......2007-05-30

War is Hell.......2007-05-14

TorpanInternational.......2007-03-15

Hypnotic in its flag-waving way..........2007-01-13

Daughter of an Iwo Vet .......2007-01-06

Average customer rating:

One of the best John Wayne films
Wake of the Red Witch
Duke 1, Squid 0
Worth Viewing but Not Remembering
Garland Roark's Novel Brought to the Screen

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | VHS | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | VHS | Video

Romantic Adventure | Action & Adventure | Genres | VHS | Video

Sea Adventure | Action & Adventure | Genres | VHS | Video

General | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video

Adler, Luther | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Corey, Jeff | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Daniell, Henry | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Fix, Paul | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Franz, Eduard | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Hoey, Dennis | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Russell, Gail | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Sanford, Erskine | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Wayne, John | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Withers, Grant | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Young, Gig | ( Y ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

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Reap the Wild Wind
Flame of Barbary Coast
Legend of the Lost (1957)
The Fighting Kentuckian
Dark Command

ASIN: 6301736346
Release Date: 1995-06-22

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

One of the best John Wayne films.......2007-02-25

Wake of the Red Witch.......2006-11-03

Duke 1, Squid 0 .......2005-06-16

Worth Viewing but Not Remembering.......2005-04-18

Garland Roark's Novel Brought to the Screen.......2005-03-30

Average customer rating:

Entombed for eons - turned to stone - seeking women, women, women!

Curse of the Faceless Man
Starring: Richard Anderson , Jan Arvan , Elaine Edwards , Adele Mara , and Gar Moore
Director: Edward L. Cahn
Manufacturer: Cheezy Flicks Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Vampire
The Neanderthal Man
Day the World Ended/She Creature
Cult Classics: Earth vs. the Spider/War of the Colossal Beast
How to Make a Monster/Blood of Dracula

ASIN: B0009MKA0E
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Product Description

Entombed for eons - turned to stone - seeking women, women, women! - In the excavation site scientists uncover the body of a gladiator from the ruins of Pompeii, a stone-encrusted body is found with a bronze medallion bearing a strange Etruscan inscription. Carlo Fiorillo, Italian archaeologist, speculates the robust body may hold some life; medical researcher Paul Mallon scoffs at the idea. But people left alone with the seemingly petrified "faceless man" keep dying of crushed skulls; and Paul's artist fiancée Tina starts having strange visions...

Customer Reviews:

Entombed for eons - turned to stone - seeking women, women, women! .......2005-11-29

What can be said about Curse of the Faceless Man (1958) that hasn't already been said? Apparently a lot, since I be the first to review it on the Amazon website...written by Jerome Bixby (It! The Terror from Beyond Space, Fantastic Voyage) and directed by schlockmeister extraordinaire Edward L. Cahn (The She-Creature, Dragstrip Girl, Invasion of the Saucer Men), the film stars Richard Anderson, whom most in my generation would recognize as Oscar Goldman from the mid 70s television series "The Six Million Dollar Man" (you're doing that bionic sound effect in your head right now, aren't you? Me too...). Also appearing is Elaine Edwards (Guns, Girls, and Gangsters, The Bat), Adele Mara (Sands of Iwo Jima, The Black Whip), Luis Van Rooten (The Big Clock, Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture), Felix Locher (Hell Ship Mutiny, Frankenstein's Daughter), Jan Arvan (The Sign of Zorro, The Poseidon Adventure), and Gar Moore (Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff).

As the movie begins we see a miniature volcano spewing forth its molten, steamy goodness over a miniature city, supposedly representing a reenactment of Mount Vesuvius destroying the city of Pompeii in 79 A.D., according to the narrator...well, that was kinda fun...now we're in the present, and we see some Giuseppe rooting around on an excavation site. He uncovers a golden jewel box along with man-sized, man shaped, white stone figure (actually, it looks like a man covered in lumpy, crusty gravy). Within the jewel box are some shiny trinkets, along with a bronze medallion sporting a curse of sorts. The find is taken to the museum (not before someone dies mysteriously), run by Dr. Carlo Fiorillo (Rooten) and his hotchie mama daughter Maria (Mara). Dr. Fiorillo calls in his friend, Oscar Goldman ...er, I mean Dr. Paul Mallon (Anderson), to do a preliminary investigation of the stone cold corpse. Mallon is skeptical about the curse mumbo jumbo, that is until he learns his fiancée Tina Enright (Edwards), who's an artist, has had some sort of dream about the events that transpired thus far, including the death I spoke of earlier. Anyway, seems the 2,000 year old, lumpy mashed potato man is alive, and he's got a hankering to go courtin'...and Oscar Goldman's...er, I mean Paul's squeeze seems to fit the bill...on the flipside, Tina finds herself inexplicably drawn to the creature, to which she sneaks into the museum after dark, awakening the beast, and we witness its awesoma power, particularly in smashing through cheap, balsa wood doors, before returning back to immobility. Some other stuff happens, we visit a place called `The Cove of the Blind Fisherman', the scientists perform various tests, and we finally learn that the creature has a name, along with its connection with Tina...all of which leads up to a not so climatic finish (at this point I would have taken any kind of ending).

I think I would have liked this movie better if it hadn't been so exceedingly boring. The science is exceptionally shoddy, the characters plain and lifeless (I never believed for a second Anderson was supposed to be some kind of doctor), performances drab, and the dialog just all around goofy. Below is an example as the men try to wrap their minds around the fact the stony individual is actually alive and has intent...

Inspector: It isn't possible...it has no face, no eyes, and yet it knows where to go.
Dr. Fiorillo: It can only be instinct, something that has survived from long ago to guide it, the way the blind are sometimes guided.
Inspector: But still, it cannot be alive!
Paul: Not the way we know life.
Dr. Fiorillo: It is not dead, as we know death.

What a brain trust...now imagine sitting through 66 minutes of this mind numbing hogwash. I could have dealt with a lot of the inherent faults of this movie if only had the creature been something worth hanging around for, but instead, this Mummy retread just ends up sucking wind. Visualize a man whose entire body is covered in a cast, and then try to picture him as a creature chasing you down the street. You'd probably be able to get away fairly easily, that is unless you're a clumsy clod or prone to bouts of paralyzing fear caused by the most innocuous sights (both of which seemed to be the case in this film). Even at full speed the creature, at best, could manage to move like that of an 80-year-old man shuffling around in his house slippers. The one element that annoyed me more than anything with regards to this movie was the overly expository narration, inserted at various points because either the filmmakers thought their telling of the story not clear enough, or felt the audience would not intelligent enough to pick up on the obvious (I'm leaning towards the latter given condescension is considered an artform in Hollywood). Thing is, the kind of narration present here would have fit a crime/drama type movie, but certainly not a horror film. Also, the story was about as clumsy as the creature...curses, broaches, medallions, it was often difficult to figure out what was supposed to be driving what, and the explanation near the end as for the reasoning why the creature only moved at certain times was about as hokey as one would expect, but certainly not an uncommon plot device in the 50s. I think there was an attempt to create a sense of pathos for the creature, as was somewhat common in the Universal creature features of the 30s and 40s, but it was never fully realized, so, in the end, you neither fear or emphasize with the beast. I did like some aspects about the movie...the women were very attractive, and the music was decent. The sets were okay and the film ran just over an hour (but it felt like two).

This is my first Cheezy Flicks Entertainment DVD, so I really wasn't sure what the quality would be like, but, in general, I found it to be better than expected. The full frame picture looks very clean and sharp and the audio came through very clearly. As far as extras, there are some rough looking previews for other Cheezy Flicks DVD releases like Horrors of the Black Museum (1959), The Headless Ghost (1959), Robot Monster (1953), and The Day of the Triffids (1962). Also included is four or five `Intermission' shorts, the kind theaters and drive-ins used to show to either impart information or tempt you to the snack bar. All in all I'll give two stars for the film, and one extra for Cheezy Flicks Entertainment and their better than average DVD release here.

Cookieman108

Average customer rating:

More of Fred at his best .
Fred Astaire
You Were Never Lovelier
Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer...And "I'm Old Fashioned"
What a Great Comeback!!

You Were Never Lovelier (B&W)
Starring: Fred Astaire , Rita Hayworth , Adolphe Menjou , Isobel Elsom , and Leslie Brooks (II)
Director: William A. Seiter
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Alyn, Kirk | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Astaire, Fred | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Cugat, Xavier | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Elsom, Isobel | ( E ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Hayworth, Rita | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

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Seiter, William A | ( S ) | Directors | VHS | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | VHS | Video

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You'll Never Get Rich [Region 99]
Cover Girl [Region 99]
Broadway Melody of 1940
Silk Stockings
Gilda [Region 99]

ASIN: 6302281830
Release Date: 1997-09-26

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

More of Fred at his best ........2007-06-10

No introduction needed for this movie.
The MAN does more of it all for our eyes to feast on.
WE are all very fortunate Mr Astair shared so much of himself with us.

Fred Astaire.......2007-05-10

As a historian on the movie industry, it is always good to have copies of the great musicals and other movies to refer to from time to time.

You Were Never Lovelier.......2006-07-31

Really good film. If you like Fred Astaire films then you will enjoy this one. Songs are very soothing and, of course, the dance scenes are great.

Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer...And "I'm Old Fashioned".......2006-04-04

What a Great Comeback!!.......2006-03-20

Actress:

Actress

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