Barbara Eden

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (Global Warming Edition)

Average customer rating:

Irwin Allen's triumph now remastered with loads of extras
Relentless Action, Wonderful Miniature & Process Effects--Great Fun.
Classic Allen Sci-Fi
Science on the Brink of Destruction
Thrilling 1960's Sci Fi Drama That Spawned The Series

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (Global Warming Edition)
Starring: Walter Pidgeon , Joan Fontaine , Barbara Eden , Peter Lorre , and Robert Sterling
Director: Irwin Allen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Fantastic Voyage (Special Edition)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season 3, Vol. 1
The Neptune Factor - An Undersea Odyssey
Voyage to the Bottom of Sea - Season 2, Volume 2
Von Ryan's Express (Special Edition)

ASIN: B000O78KY2
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Amazon.com

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea gets a dose of On the Beach in Irwin Allen's visually impressive but scientifically silly Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. While the Seaview, the world's most advanced experimental submarine, maneuvers under the North Pole, the Van Allen radiation belt catches fire, giving the concept "global warming" an entirely new dimension. As the Earth broils in temperatures approaching 170 degrees F, Walter Pidgeon's maniacally driven Admiral Nelson hijacks the Seaview and plays tag with the world's combined naval forces on a race to the South Pacific, where he plans to extinguish the interstellar fire with a well-placed nuclear missile. But first he has to fight a mutinous crew, an alarmingly effective saboteur, not one but two giant squid attacks, and a host of design flaws that nearly cripple the mission (note to Nelson: think backup generators). Barbara Eden shimmies to Frankie Avalon's trumpet solos in the most formfitting naval uniform you've ever seen, fish-loving Peter Lorre plays in the shark tank, gloomy religious fanatic Michael Ansara preaches Armageddon, and Joan Fontaine looks very uncomfortable playing an armchair psychoanalyst. It's all pretty absurd, but Allen pumps it up with larger-than-life spectacle and lovely miniature work. --Sean Axmaker

Description

A routine scientific expedition to the North Pole turns into a race to save all mankind when a radiation belt in space causes a fiery inferno on Earth. Admiral Nelson (Walter Pidgeon) and the crew of the atomic submarine Seaview battle saboteurs, giant sea-creatures and attacks by enemy submarines as they race to prevent global catastrophe. Renowned disaster film producer, Irwin Allen, produces and directs an all-star cast including Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden, Peter Lore, and Frankie Avalon. The stunning visual effects and breathtaking underwater photography make this one of the most respected sci-fi adventure classics of all time.

Customer Reviews:

Irwin Allen's triumph now remastered with loads of extras.......2007-06-22

Great early 60's sci fi with some cool extras including an interesting short feature on global warming, nice gallery of theatrical posters and lobby cards, good informative commentary and some good information on the "making of".

There also is some photos of the actual props used in the film. Unfortunately the quality of the photographs is rather weak and there's really no decent close up shots. You can rotate the image, but it's really lacking in detail.

The movie's a fun thriller with espionage, giant sea creatures, believeable sets and props and some above average acting with Walter Pigeon, Peter Lorre, Barbara Eden and a large cast of lesser knowns as the crew members, including pop star Frankie Avalon.

One thing that seems rather humorous though but in retrospect also is sad at the same time is all the smoking that takes place by the cast, especially Peter Lorre who seems like he has a cigarette in his mouth in nearly every shot he appears.

All in all a very enjoyable underwater adventure film that will please any baby boomer age fan of sci fi and Irwin Allen disaster pics.

A recommended purchase especially at this low price point.

Relentless Action, Wonderful Miniature & Process Effects--Great Fun........2007-06-16

You either suspend your disbelief, or you don't. If scientific accuracy is important to you, don't invest in this movie. If colorful action, and in the main, great special effects are your cup of tea, hmmm....this might be a movie for you. Overall, Irwin Allen's best work. Unlike some of his later (big) films, he directed Voyage as well as produced it. And very unlike The Swarm (which he also directed, I hate to admit) this movie works. It cooks, in more sense than one.
The miniature special effects were brilliant for the time and still hold up today. Forget computers, all this stuff was created using miniature and process photography and is wonderful to watch. Irwin Allen was his strongest directing action scenes. Fortunately, Voyage is loaded with action, much of it far more intelligent than a lot of what is passed off today as big budget CGI potboilers.
The extra production art and photos are worth the price of admission. Barbara Eden looks wonderful, both in the film and in her interview. Hats off! Great, fun flick.

Classic Allen Sci-Fi.......2007-06-11

Nice to see Fox finally give one its sci-fi classics the DVD treatment it deserves- now I can only hope they do the same for " Journey to the Center of the Earth"

Science on the Brink of Destruction.......2007-05-05

See...the Van Allen Radiation Belt catch fire in the vacuum of space!
See...giant icebergs sink to the bottom of the ocean.
See...Barbara Eden's shapely legs.
See...Frankie Avalon sing during moments of incredible DANGER!
See...a rubber octopus capture divers as they swim by.

See it before you laugh to tears in this unintentionally funny scifi "masterpiece" of Master Disaster Irwin Allen!

A hilarious film with overacting the likes of which you rarely see. Walter "Morbius" Pidgeon plays the overly exhuberant Admiral Harriman "Crash Dive" Nelson as he takes his "have submarine, will travel to any marine disaster" to fix the Van Irwin Allen Belt!

Thrilling 1960's Sci Fi Drama That Spawned The Series .......2005-01-31

Viewing Irwin Allen's sci fi drama "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", recently after many years was like going back in time to the days when I would race home from school to see the next exciting episode of the popular series that this film spun off into. Viewed critically by viewers nowadays for the simple special effects and often absurd science on display, I see it rather as simply a very enjoyable 100 minutes of good old fashioned science fiction which for the time was very state of the art. Remarkably the film still holds up well for the most part with the great Seaview atomic submarine and the still quite frightening effects of the sky being on fire and melting the Polar Caps, being the real standouts in terms of special effects technology. For a film of this type it has a quite memorable cast in acting veterans Walter Pidgeon, Joan Fontaine, Peter Lorre, and Henry Daniell combining very well with such "younger generation" performers as Frankie Avalon, Barbara Eden and Michael Ansara.

The story opens with the new state of the art submarine, the "Seaview", captained by Admiral Nelson (Walter Pidgeon), doing some research work near the North Pole when a catastrophe of world wide significance occurs when resulting from some unusual meteorite fallings the Van Allen Radiation Belt surrounding the Earth's atmosphere catches on fire encircling the planet in a fiery mass that sends temperatures soaring up to 130 degrees. Called back to New York to a meeting on the UN Admiral Nelson with the assistance of Com. Lucius Emery (Peter Lorre), works out a scheme whereby shooting a missile from the Seaview at a certain point and time into the radiation belt will extinguish the fiery mass. Convinced of his theory Nelson meets strong opposition from most Un delegates who feel it will burn itself out when it reaches a certain temperature. Capt. Nelson decides to taking it upon himself to ensure that the missile is fired at the appointed time and taking his crew and a reluctant visitor , Dr. Hiller (Joan Fontaine), along on the dangerous mission, the Captain encounters many difficulties along the way to the North Pole. Admiral Nelson becomes increasingly tyrannical in his leadership as he contends with an increasingly cynical offsider in Capt. Crane (Robert Sterling), dangerous mine fields, a pursuing submarine sent out by the UN to hunt the Seaview down if necessary and on board an unknown saboteur who seems intent upon ruining his plans to fire off the missile. Finally after half the crew decide to go no further and attempt to return home on an abandoned ship and the remaining skeleton crew experience a tense stand off with a bomb carrying religious zealot Miguel (Michael Ansara), who they had picked up off the ice, the missile is finally shot off at the appointed time proving Admiral Nelson's theory correct that the radiation belt would not burn itself out and could only be destroyed by a nuclear blast at its centre.

While certainly no cinema classic "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", does take itself very seriously which gives the story a certain ring of authenticity despite some of the questionable science employed. Earnest performances combined with good special effects for the time greatly aid in making the story seem a bit more memorable than what probably it actually deserves. Walter Pidgeon a veteran of countless Hollywood classics takes a distinct change of pace here from his earlier famous collaborations at MGM with such people as Greer Garson, and turns in a convincing performance as the Admiral who literally shanghai's the Seaview in a mad dash to prove his theory on how to destroy the flaming Van Allen Radiation Belt. His performance turns from affable to increasing manic as the deadline for firing the missile approaches and makes for an interesting depiction of how a man's mind can snap under pressure. Fellow veteran Joan Fontaine while at times looking a trifle uncomfortable in her role of the psychiatrist who is unwillingly involved in the mission still manages to bring conviction even to the highly silly premise of when she takes matters into her own hands and Hollywood legend Peter Lorre making what must be one of his last performances as Admiral Nelson's offsider in the scheme to fire the missile, delivers his usual capable performance. Being the 1960's Producer Irwin Allen having his eyes on the booming teen market made sure that the cast was sprinkled with upcoming faces such as Barbara Eden (Pre "I Dream of Jeannie), and singing heart throb Frankie Avalon who also sings the oddly out of place theme song. At first glance they may appear slightly out of place on a nuclear submarine however Barbara Eden in particular does a reasonably good job as the young love interest to Capt. Crane while also managing very well in getting about the submarine in dangerously tall high heels! Irwin Allen did enjoy great success with his special effects in this film and the sight of the whole sky literally burning up along with the terrific underwater scenes are still highly impressive. Much ridicule has been directed at the whole premise of this story however I feel the idea of a radiation belt catching alight and frying the Earth's surface is actually quite an original and at times quite frightening idea and for the most part is handled in a quite convincing way if you ignore some of the scientific impossibilities of what the cast carry out. The addition of an unknown saboteur and the fatalist character played by Michael Ansara work well in heightening the drama and addign to the tensions along the way in the story and definately help keep up the viewers interest.

"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", is definately a trip back to a simpler time in sci fi film making but that should not be viewed as a critcism of the film. I've always felt it has a bit of the old Saturday matinee feel to it and I still find the movie great escapism for a bit over an hour and a half. Irwin Allen of course became much more famous later in the decade for his sci fi television series version of this movie and of course for "Lost in Space", but this movie was done on a more lavish scale than most of those efforts and still is worth seeing for its own merits. Try to see the original sci fi movie that became the long running series of the same name in Irwin Allen's exciting "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", soon.

Best of Route 66 - Eleven Original TV Series episodes

Average customer rating:

Good but could be better
Route 66 - A Classic Show Done Right...
Route 66 episodes that are sharp and clear....!!!
The Best of The Best

Best of Route 66 - Eleven Original TV Series episodes
Starring: Robert Redford; Robert Duvall; James Caan; Alan Alda;Stephanie Powers; Suzanne Pleshette; Boris Karloff; Peter Lorie; Walter Matthau; Martin Sheen; Leslie Nielsen; Ronny Howard; Edward Asner; Jack Warden; Deforest Kelly; Inger Stevens; Julie Newmar; Barbara Eden and more...
Director: David Lowell Rich; Arthur Hiller; George Sherman; Alvin Ganzer and more...
Manufacturer: Roxbury Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

"Route 66" The Television Series 1960 - 1964
Route 66: Return to the Road with Martin Milner
The Fugitive - Season One, Vol. 1
The route 66 TV Series
Wanted: Dead or Alive - Season Two

ASIN: B000PY51QY
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Customer Reviews:

Good but could be better.......2007-06-17

I was a bit disappointed that for the price of this set, that there was no information about which shows were on it, no booklet...etc...It was really well done as far as quality, but I really would have enjoyed being able to read a little something about each show. Also there is no way to contact whoever made this set to see if they will be making more shows available...my favorite episode ( The Thin White Line) where Todd is given LSD, was not on this set...I have tried ordering the entire series on DVD just to be told it is back ordered, or not available after paying over $100.00 for it, so this set is great to have....

Route 66 - A Classic Show Done Right..........2007-06-10

Although this is not the "offical DVD release" from Columbia House, Roxbury Entertainment did an EXCELLENT job transferring these from the original broadcast film negatives. These 11 episodes are by far the best quality transfers out there. We can only hope that when Columbia "figures it out" to release the entire series on DVD, they'll do the same. There's nothing like watching an Episode of Route 66 with the original commercials, bumpers, sponsor tags and previews intact, it transports you back (for an hour) to a time when quality television prevailed.

Route 66 episodes that are sharp and clear....!!!.......2007-06-08

I highly recommend this 2 disk DVD set of Route 66. The 11 episodes are very clear which makes all the difference. In the past, people have sold tapes or disks of Route 66 where they were just copies of copies and the picture quality was terrible! Not here. So if you grew up watching Route 66 or you love the series, this is the DVD disk you'll want to own. The collection of the 11 episodes are a fine representation of the series and they span across all four years of the show. On some of the episodes the orginial commericals are not edited out, but I did not mind that at all. As a matter of fact, it was rather enjoyable to see the espisodes as they were shown back in the 1960's. Some of my friends got a big kick out of the old commericals. I hope more Route 66 are coming in this format! Please make more!!

The Best of The Best.......2007-06-06

This is Route 66 at it's very best!! The transfers are straight from the masters with everything left in like they originally aired. Commercials, Next week previews, etc. The studios will not release the classics shows this way as they should. 90 percent of the people that buy these classics shows are collectors. And they want everything left in! The studios don't get it! Nor do they care! It's their way or no way! This is the real way to preserve are Television History! Thanks Roxbury Entertainment! We salute you and want more soon!! Don't think about it!, Buy it! This is truly "THE BEST OF THE BEST".

Average customer rating:

if you are even a tiny fan of Tony Randall, this is it!!!
Very satisfied
Randall is great!
Strange, but a true original!
Illusions of life

Seven Faces of Dr. Lao
Starring: Tony Randall , Barbara Eden , Arthur O'Connell , John Ericson , and Noah Beery Jr.
Director: George Pal
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T [Region 99]
Something Wicked This Way Comes
The Time Machine
The Circus of Dr. Lao (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)
Forbidden Planet (Ultimate Collector's Edition)

ASIN: 0790746115
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Description

A mysterious traveling circus unleashes a torrent of magic and mysticism in a dusty Arizona town. "In what may be the finest performance in a fantasy film" (Guide for the Film Fanatic), Tony Randall charms and spellbinds as ringmaster Dr. Lao and his multitude of faces, a virtuoso turn that earned a special Oscar for Outstanding Makeup Achievement. Step inside the tent...and marvel.

Customer Reviews:

if you are even a tiny fan of Tony Randall, this is it!!!.......2007-06-06

Tony Randall is this movie -- sweet, clean fun -- good for the whole family, a real lovely moral tale with the Master (Tony Randall) giving 7 different roles a most delightful spin. Enjoy!

Very satisfied.......2007-05-15

Easy to order, product delivered within a few days and I could take advantage of the free shipping offer. Top qulity DVD of one of my favorite old movies.

Randall is great!.......2007-05-14

I had seen this many times when my kids were young, and we loved it. Sure, it's corny and over the top sometimes, but it's thoroughly entertaining. Having read the book, I find they did a good job of conveying its flavor. A classic!

Strange, but a true original!.......2007-05-08

This is an unusual movie that teaches lessons in a manner unaccustomed to. It address' both basic human strengths and weakness, as well as American culture. It is movie that causes one to think about the state of humanity and the plank in their own eye. Excellent! And the whole family can enjoy it as entertainment as well.

Illusions of life.......2007-03-28

A magician who let the people of a town have a look in their heart and holds them a mirror, if the heart is vain and empty or jast deeply hurt through diaapointments.

Average customer rating:

Good Stuff!
Gift for Grandma
Striff
From the Terrace
Despite your best efforts, you often become your parents

From the Terrace
Starring: Paul Newman , Joanne Woodward , Myrna Loy , Ina Balin , and Leon Ames
Director: Mark Robson
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Long, Hot Summer
A New Kind of Love
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Deluxe Edition)
Sweet Bird of Youth
Hud

ASIN: B00008MTW0
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Amazon.com

From the Terrace is one of Paul Newman's lesser-known films, but it's a worthy showcase for the actor's developing screen persona. Like Butterfield 8, this is a slick, prestigious adaptation of a John O'Hara novel, about loose morals and forbidden love among the wealthy elite. Director Mark Robson lacks the mastery of melodrama that Douglas Sirk would've brought to this material, but he's still on target with O'Hara's tale of a prodigal son (Newman) who rejects his late father's steel mill in favor of big-business conquest, only to find his trophy wife (superbly played by Newman's off-screen wife, Joanne Woodward) straying into the arms of her former fiancé, while he falls in love with a socialite (Ina Balin) with whom he's much more compatible. A well-tuned drama of marital discord and unchecked ambition, From the Terrace was sharply adapted by Ernest Lehman between the triumphs of North by Northwest and West Side Story, and Newman's brooding performance gave him a solid boost to his iconic role in the 1961 classic The Hustler. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Paul Newman portrays a young man whose struggle for success threatens his personal happiness, in this well-scripted screen version of John O'Hara's best-selling novel. Having never known his father's love or respect, Alfred Eaton (Newman) sets out to prove himself in the business world. Marrying the "right" woman (Joanne Woodward), he works unceasingly, but is ultimately confronted with crises and choices that force him to rethink his priorities. Co-starring Myrna Loy as Alfred's alcoholic mother, Leon Ames as his embittered father, and Ina Balin as the woman who might bring him genuine happiness, From The Terrace is an absorbing tale of ambition, power and love fueled by sharp dialogue, complex characterizations and keen insight into the human heart.

Customer Reviews:

Good Stuff!.......2007-05-07

Though I'm sure this was Quite racy in its day, the ideas and ideals expressed are just as relative to today's world and people. What priorties do we set in our own lives? Who suffers from our failures? And are we prepared to accept the consequences of our actions and desicions?

Good stuff!

Gift for Grandma.......2007-03-30

My grandmother mentioned that she loves this film. Of course, I had to find it for her. She called me as soon as she received it and said she was watching it that very moment and she couldn't thank me enough.

Striff.......2007-01-19

From The Terrace is excellant. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward are always great together, but Ina Balin is sexy and very much in love with Paul. Joanne really plays the spoiled wife at her very best, and Paul drops everything for Ina. A good story, will keep you interested from the first glance. (I am a romantic!) This movie was a gift to a friend, she thanked me highly!!

From the Terrace.......2007-01-12

My favorite movie, Paul Newman at his best, Joanne Woodward a steely ice maiden.

Despite your best efforts, you often become your parents.......2007-01-12

I didn't see what other reviewers apparently saw in this film. I did not see the moral of the film so much concerning the price of success as it being that despite your best efforts, you are often doomed to become your parents. At the beginning of the film, Alfred returns home after the second World War to renounce his father because he has, in Alfred's opinion, ignored his mother while strictly attending to business to the point where his mother has become an adulterous lush. Ten or fifteen years later, Alfred has ignored his own wife while climbing the corporate ladder until his own lonely wife has become an adulterous lush. The only crime of his father's he does not commit is to produce offspring that can be dragged into the mess his life has become. One person with a more warped moral code than either Alfred or Mary seems to be Alfred's boss. While eating lunch he casually informs Alfred of Mary's affair with an old flame. When Alfred reacts by saying that he intends to divorce Mary, his boss warns him against such an action. To Alfred's boss, Mary's behavior isn't a moral failing or a cry for attention - it is an unforgivable breach of etiquette. Overall, the main characters in this film lack redeeming characteristics to the point where the movie almost becomes a film noir soap opera. There are still solid performances by both Newman and Woodward, and it is still worth seeing 47 years after it was made. After all, the idle rich and the mistakes they keep making over and over have not changed that much after nearly half a century.

Average customer rating:

Western with a difference
Flaming Star
Surprisingly good movie and performance
Only film that they let him 'act' instead of alot of singing
Flaming Star is not just a great Elvis movie

Flaming Star
Starring: Elvis Presley , Steve Forrest , Barbara Eden , Dolores del Rio , and John McIntire
Director: Don Siegel
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Wild in the Country
Love Me Tender
Change of Habit
Follow That Dream
King Creole

ASIN: B000068TQ5
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Amazon.com

Definitely a contender for the underwhelming title of Best Elvis Movie, this handsomely shot Western actually makes Elvis act, rather than coast on his personality. (As though to underscore the point, the two obligatory songs are dispensed with under the opening credits and in the first scene.) Don Siegel was probably the best director the King ever worked with, and he draws a quietly smoldering performance from Elvis, who was still undeniably raw. Even better, Siegel captures an existential starkness to homestead and town, and calmly makes a pro-Native American case without preaching (Elvis plays a half-breed caught between sides in an Indian vs. settlers dustup). Yes, this was 30 years before Dances with Wolves--there were actually quite a few such movies during this era. All in all, a decent picture, and an indication of where Elvis's career might have gone if he hadn't given himself over to fluff. --Robert Horton

Description

West Texas in the years after the Civil War is an uneasy meeting ground of two cultures, one white. The other native American. Elvis portrays Pacer Burton. The son of a white rancher (John McIntire) and his beatiful Kiowa Indian wife (Dolores DelRio). When fighting breaks out between the settlers and natives, Pacer tries to act as a peace maker, but the "flaming star of death" pulls him irrevocably into the deadly violence.

Customer Reviews:

Western with a difference.......2007-03-29

For Elvis fans this shows the King in a serious role as a half caste neither accepted by his white counterparts or the Indian comunnity. For its time it is a good account of how predudice can influence the opions of all. For classic movie lovers it is well worth seeeing as the cast in general is excellent (Steve Forrest, Dolores del Rio) and the story does have merrit. It is a good western and for Elvis fans a tear jerker as "Pacer" rides off in the sunset to die. 97 mins of entertainment.

Flaming Star .......2007-03-08

This is one of Elvis's best movies. A movie the whole family can enjoy on a Saturday night.

Surprisingly good movie and performance.......2007-02-02

I can only concur with all the praise I am reading in these other reviews. I was completely unprepared for how good this movie is. I watched it only because it was an Elvis movie. During the credits, I wondered that there were only 2 songs listed. "How can that be?" But the songs were over 5 minutes into the film, and the rest was a masterful and suspenceful drama that I absolutely didn't expect to see.

The actors are all excellent. There wasn't anyone who seemed to be faking it or just going through the motions. Elvis is very believable in this role, and there are no excuses or apologies made for the feelings of anyone in the movie. This movie shows very much the ugliness that can happen when things go wrong and people band together based on color or background. Pacer, his mother, and their whole family are basically victims caught in the web of prejudice and hatred from *both* the white settlers and the Native-Americans who are protecting their land.

Despite the standard day-for-night shooting, there are some wonderful images in the film, such as the sequence where Pacer's wounded mother struggles across the windy and bare fields near their house. It seems almost allegorical the way the wind and dirt swirl and impede her progress, and she stumbles and struggles to push her way forward, across land that in previous scenes seemed friendly and bucolic. When her husband rushes out to look for her, I felt actual physical pain in my chest from his terror that she would be lost and dying in the bare soil of this land that he had tended for 20 years, and that now seemed like an enemy to him for it hid from him what he loved. Truly an amazing sequence from an excellent director.

Only film that they let him 'act' instead of alot of singing.......2006-10-08

This film showed Elvis's ability as an actor, the only one that ever did. Most of his films were chasing women, and singing. This and Blue Hawaii, to me, are the best. The theme 'Flaming Star', I really felt applied to him at his death...think of his life, and listen to the words....

Flaming Star is not just a great Elvis movie.......2006-08-13

It's a great movie, period! I just saw it in Cinemascope at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood last night and I was stunned by its excellence. I've often heard that this movie proved that Elvis could "act" but I've always been skeptical. I assumed the movie would be full of histrionic treacle and have studiously avoided it.

Big mistake. This movie is first rate, of the highest order. Elvis has gotten knocked over the years for not making more movies like "Flaming Star". But, when you really think about it, NO ONE made movies like "Flaming Star", in any era!

The movie starts tragically and continues it's ever-widening downward spiral until the very end! There's not a light moment in the picture (excluding the very first scene) and it's to be commended for not pulling any punches. Shakespeare didn't write tragedy any better than this.

That is why "Flaming Star" is so satisfying. It stands apart from just about any film you can think of. I LIKE tragedy and would like to see more of it. But, evidently, tragedy doesn't sell and that's why Hollywood stays away from it.

Not only does Elvis play the role of the half-breed Pacer perfectly but he is well-suited to the part. Marlon Brando would not have been a good choice. Elvis looks the part of a half-breed and resembles his Indian "brothers" as much or more than his "real" white brother.

Not enough has been said here at Amazon about the superb perfomances by John McIntire and Steve Forrest in this film. I've seen both of them a million times in films and it's hard to get excited about either one of them. But, in "Flaming Star", their performances are dead-on. They are well-cast and letter perfect in their roles.

Barabara Eden and Delores Del Rio are also superb. Don Siegal knew what he wanted out of all of the actors in this picture and he got what he wanted, in spades.

GREAT film! You don't have to be an Elvis fan to admire it.

Average customer rating:

Ride the Wild Surf
A Beach Movie with Character and Depth - One of the Best
Well made but I still like the Endless Summer better!
Fabian, Tab & Peter Half Naked and Wet - What's Not To Like?
"RIDE THE WILD SURF" SHOOTS THE CURL

Ride the Wild Surf [Region 99]
Starring: Fabian , Shelley Fabares , Peter Brown , Barbara Eden , and Tab Hunter
Director: Don Taylor
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Beach Party/Bikini Beach
Beach Blanket Bingo / How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (Midnite Movies Double Feature)
Muscle Beach Party/Ski Party
The Complete Gidget Collection (Gidget / Gidget Goes Hawaiian / Gidget Goes to Rome) [Region 99]
Where the Boys Are

ASIN: B0006D3HCY
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Customer Reviews:

Ride the Wild Surf.......2007-05-12

Great fun movie with a lot of the stars we remember growing up.
Barbara Eden is particularly amusing with her large rocket she
wants to light for the 4th of July celebration.

A Beach Movie with Character and Depth - One of the Best.......2007-01-04

Unlike other beach movies that were typified by silly slapstick buffoonery, muscles and bikinis RIDE THE WILD SURF was the antithesis of such tomfoolery. Still keeping the muscles and bikinis RIDE THE WILD SURF took itself serious and played it straight. Basically three buddies from California (Fabian, Tab Hunter and Peter Brown) travel to Hawaii during school break looking for the challenge of the truly big waves each with own motivations and reasons. They are not alone in their quest and that sets up the dynamics of this good film as they vie not only to be the best but to win the hearts of the three females (Barbara Eden, Shelley Fabares and Susan Hart) who become enamored with them. In their way are other surfers (including James Mitchum and Roger Davis) looking for that perfect wave as well. This all intensifies the competition, develops the camaraderie and shows the true character and sportsmanship of the surfers. Technically the surfing and cinematography are outstanding. Jan & Dean play the title song that stands toe to toe with anything the Beach Boys did in the musical genre. This is a great film.

Well made but I still like the Endless Summer better!.......2006-08-08

Best one of the beach blanket bingo
type surf movies! Very good cast but
too haole! A few more Hawai'ian locals,
like the kind that always appeared in
Hawai'i Five-0 would have helped. Don't
bother with the DVD widescreen, I hate
'Em...Get this on VHS and watch it with
your girl on a big screen T.V! Better
than Blue Crush!

Fabian, Tab & Peter Half Naked and Wet - What's Not To Like?.......2006-06-17

I remember watching this movie on TV when I was a kid. When I found it while surfing (no pun intended) through the DVD section of Amazon.com I bought it. What a sentimental blast from the past! Three fabulous looking hunks, Fabian, Tab Hunter and Peter Brown, use their winter break from college to spend one last time together in Hawaii to surf Waimea, before they all head in different directions, due to issues explained later on in the movie. By the first evening they all meet the perfect girl who will eventually help them deal with and solve their issues while sitting prettily on the beach in the most fabulous bikinis, with hair that barely moves in the wind, even when they stand up to wave at their beautifully physiqued, half naked, wet men. Yummy! Responsible Tab meets obligation-ridden Dolores Hart. A curiously blond over-cautious Peter meets curiously dark haired free spirited Barbara Eden. Untrusting, angry Fabian meets cautiously-trusting, sweet, Shelly Fabares, who in my book wins the award for best bikini - a while lace number that doesn't look like it would survive a puddle spashing, nevermind a dousing from the Wild Surf. While on the surface (again no pun intended) there is a fraternal feeling of comraderie and respect between the surfers, below the surface there is an undertow (I'm not going to apologize for this pun) of serious competition, as the winner of the contest, no only becomes known as the best surfer, but earns enough money to remain job free for a year to practice for the following year's competition - a dream come true for all of them. The panoramic surfing scenes, accompanied by hawaiian drum beats, are actual films of real surfers and are fantastic, and there are plenty of them. The close ups, while the talking scenes were filmed, are shot while the guys sit on the boards in water where I've seen bigger waves in my son's wading pool. I read in Tab Hunter's book recently, that the close ups of them "riding the waves" were filmed while they were kneeling in red rider wagons, after being spashed with buckets of water. However, it works well enough and is a lot of fun to see. In this movie, the surf is the star, and is not like those dopey Annette Funicello/Frankie Avalon movies where surfing is an after thought. The romances are sweet, there's comedy, drama, beautiful scenery and everybody's good looking - so hush little baby - don't you cry! I highly recommend this movie for a little nostalgic fun, if nothing else.

"RIDE THE WILD SURF" SHOOTS THE CURL .......2006-03-19

A fun "sun and surf" flick of the mid 60's - this is certainly one of the better offerings of that genre. With a good cast that includes Tab Hunter, Shelley Fabares and Fabian, this entertaining flick moves well,contains some fairly innocuous love scenes, and actually has some nice surfing footage. Perhaps not surprisingly, it has a good message for teens and it's fun to watch too. The title song was actually a hit tune as well - cute movie.

Average customer rating:

Barbara Eden Was Excellant
Very enjoyable and sweet
HARPER VALLEY PTA
Comedy at its best
cute fluff-ball comedy

Harper Valley P.T.A.
Starring: Barbara Eden , Ronny Cox , Nanette Fabray , Louis Nye , and Audrey Christie
Director: Ralph Senensky , and Richard C. Bennett
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Television | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

I Dream of Jeannie - The Complete Third Season [Region 99]
I Dream of Jeannie - The Complete First Season (Color) [Region 99]
9 to 5 - Sexist, Egotistical, Lying Hypocritical Bigot Edition - Widescreen
Take This Job and Shove It
The Woman Hunter

ASIN: B0007TKNDS
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Description

What happens when Stella Johnson and her daughter Dee come up against the unwelcome wagon of the Harper Valley P.T.A.? Hilarious comedy that's fun for the entire family!

Customer Reviews:

Barbara Eden Was Excellant.......2007-04-21

This picture hit the theaters in 1978 starring Barbara Eden as Stella Johnson, Ronny Cox as Willis Newton and Nanette Fabray as Alice Finely. The pictured opens with the song that we come to know and hear along with a view of the school district where the whole thing gets started. As the song continues to play, they keep showing views of the school and the town. After the song is over Stella Johnson is in her house singing and dancing when her daughter Dee, comes home from school and can't even get in the front door. Therefore, Stella opens the door and Dee goes straight to her room without even speaking to her mom. Stella goes and checks on Dee and is given a letter that is address to her from the Harper Valley PTA. The letter states that if Stella doesn't change her ways they will take the proper measures to have her daughter expelled from school. Therefore, Stella and Alice sit down and have a nice long talk with Alice telling Stella every dirty secret that she has on every member of the Harper Valley PTA board. It just so happen that very afternoon the PTA was holding its annual meeting. Therefore, Stella and her daughter go to that PTA meeting and Stella was loaded with dirty secrets that were just waiting to come out. The next day when Dee comes home from school her entire front yard is covered with toilet paper. That's when Will Newton enters! Will is a construction worker who's building the schools new gym. Will helps Stella clean up her front yard and then later that night while Stella and Dee were eating someone throws a rock through the dining room window. Therefore, Stella goes to see Alice and now it's time for war with every member of the PTA. I like this movie because of the comedy and the acting of Barbara Eden. It was nice to see her in another role other then Jeanine. I give this movie 5 weasel stars.

Very enjoyable and sweet.......2006-12-04

I loved the series back in the day. When I was a little girl, I idolized Barbara Eden. I watched Jeannie whenever I could (which wasn't easy back in the day of one black and white tv with rabbit ears!). I still remember my parents turning it off because of bad reception and I was so upset because I'd never seen the episode in question.

Anyway, Barbara Eden is charming in this. I look at the young crop of actresses today and very few of them have the charm of Barbara Eden. I personally think that Days of Our Lives should have hired her to play "Jo Johnson" after Joy Garrett died - the physical resemblence is amazing, and Barbara has the same sweet vulnerability that Joy had.

HARPER VALLEY PTA.......2006-03-24

I have always loved this movie. It came out when I was just a kid and at that time it was a little raunchy. I am so glad it is available on DVD.

Comedy at its best .......2006-03-04

Comedy at its finest, today's comedy have nothing over this.
I love this movie so much.

cute fluff-ball comedy.......2005-12-20

HARPER VALLEY P.T.A. is a cute comedy, based on the chart-topping country song from Jeannie C. Riley (written by Tom T. Hall).

Barbara Eden plays the vivacious Mrs Stella Johnson, who walks to the beat of her own drum, much to the horror of her strait-laced neighbours and the members of the Harper Valley P.T.A. One afternoon Stella's daughter Dee (Susan Swift) comes home from school with a letter from the secretary of the P.T.A. which threatens to expell Dee if Stella does not conform. Stella and her wacky best friend Alice (Nanette Fabray) decide that a little revenge is on the cards...!

This film is very much a one-note caper comedy, but the performances of Barbara Eden and Nanette Fabray are so wonderful that they greatly enliven the limitations of the material. Susan Swift is lovely as Dee, and the formidable president of the P.T.A. is played by Audrey Christie in her best fashion. Also featuring Louis Nye, Ronny Cox, Pat Paulsen and John Fiedler.

HBO's new DVD release contains a crisp anamorphic print.

Average customer rating:

Five Weeks In A Balloon
Excellent Action/Adventure/Comedy!!!
A Charming Tale of Adventure
Five Weeks in a Balloon
Could, and should have been much better.

Five Weeks in a Balloon
Starring: Red Buttons , Fabian , Barbara Eden , Cedric Hardwicke , and Peter Lorre
Director: Irwin Allen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Black Swan
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Season 1 Vol. 2
The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller, Vol. 2 (Tarzan Triumphs / Tarzan's Desert Mystery / Tarzan and the Amazons / and the Leopard Woman / and the Huntress / and the Mermaids)
The Time Tunnel Vol. 2
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea: Season One, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000CNE09M
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Description

Let your spirits soar with this lighter-than-air adaptation of Jules Verne's classic tale. A ragtag crew of such unlikely associates as Fabian and Sir Cedric Hardwicke races across uncharted African territory in a unicorn-shaped balloon. Accompanied by Red Buttons as a playboy American reporter, the explorers are sidetracked, snared and drawn into battle with slaves, sneezing sultans, and sandstorms. Along the way, they meet up with a beautiful missionary (Barbara Eden). And an equally lovely slave girl (Barbara Luna) whom Fabian takes under his wing. With its excellent cast and breathtaking backdrops, Five Weeks In A Balloon is a buoyant blend of romance, adventure and laughter that adds up to grand family entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

Five Weeks In A Balloon.......2007-06-09

The premise of the movie is to explore deepest darkest Africa and come back alive. In reality the Balloon would probably scare the crap out of the natives. I bought because of Red Buttons and Barbara eden. Ms. Eden later would be a Jinn. Red Buttons is Red Buttons.

Excellent Action/Adventure/Comedy!!!.......2006-12-25

This is an excellent movie! Overall I would rate it:
Theme Song-5 Stars
Characters-5 Stars
Plot-5 Stars
Humor-5 Stars

Overall-5 Stars

I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys old movies!

A Charming Tale of Adventure.......2006-04-17

I remember seeing Five Weeks in a Balloon when the film was released and I was about 10 years old. Over the years I have remembered the title song so when I discovered that the film was available on DVD I got a copy.

Obviously, this is a very free adaptation of Jules Verne's novel. The story centers around the marvelous balloon invented by Fergusson) played by Sir Cedric Hardwicke) that comes to be used in a race to beat a group of slavers to establishing a base of operations in West Africa. All Fergusson has to do is plant the British flag to stop them. The crew consists of Fabian (who pilots the balloon), Red Buttons (as a playboy/reporter who is taken along as a witness and to get a story) and Richard Haydn (who dryly plays a British general who is an African expert). Along the journey, they pick up a beautiful slave girl (Barbara Luna), a very intelligent chimpanzee, a missionary about to be sold into slavery (Barbara Eden) and an unscrupulous slave dealer (Peter Lorre). In the smaller roles are some outstanding English actors. Herbert Marshall has a scene as the Prime Minister, Reginald Owen plays a Consul and Henry Daniell, always a villain, plays a Sheik who captures most of the crew allowing Red Button's to rescue everyone.

The adventures of the crew are more comic than dangerous and one is convinced there never is any serious trouble that Fergusson and company cannot get out of. Even Peter Lorre's character, who has the potential for double-dealing, helps to save the day in the end. Five Weeks in a Balloon is perfect for children with a nice mix of adventure and comedy that will hold their interest. Adults may find the story a little too unbelievable, bordering on the silly. After so many years, I found the movie interesting for the performances and funny in many places but, also, at times stretching the comic a bit too thin: the music is still memorable. Still, it is a charming film that is worth a look.

Five Weeks in a Balloon.......2005-03-28

I love this movie. Not only is it exciting and adventurous, it also has a rather catchy theme song. This movie also has an allstar cast (well, at least they were big stars in 1962). The characters are perfect: from the always calm and collected Professor with a dry sense of humor to the pompous general whose last request before his execution is some hot water to fill his prize teapot. I recommend this to anyone looking for a fun adventure movie.

Could, and should have been much better........2000-01-01

This movie is best watched in a letterboxed version, as it wasfilmed in Cinemascope. -That is, if you should bother at all. Withfantasy movies it's either hit or miss, and this comedy is a miss. Most of it, anyway. Because amongst all the embarrassing and unfunny moments; like a laughing sultan, two hysterical and screaming women, a shamelessly wasted and mis-cast Henry Daniell, the obligatory cute monkey, Peter Lorre and Fabian, it actually has a weird charm of its own which makes it wachable. -But these thrown-together characters come from nowhere, and seem to have no past, so you don't care for them at all. Less slapstick and more suspense would've been most welcome, too. It just goes to show it takes more than good will to make a decent movie of a Jules Verne story. -Barbara Eden's always lovely, though; widescreen or not.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea / Fantastic Voyage

Average customer rating:

Oldies but goodies.
Great voyage into my youth!
Two historic benchmarks in sci-fi and special effects....
Two Really Great Oldies
Sealab 2019

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea / Fantastic Voyage
Starring: Walter Pidgeon , Joan Fontaine , Barbara Eden , Peter Lorre , and Robert Sterling
Director: Irwin Allen , and Richard Fleischer
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Sci-Fi | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Journey to Center of the Earth
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (Special Edition)
The Time Machine
Mysterious Island (1961) (Ws) [Region 99]
When Worlds Collide

ASIN: B00004VVOH
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Amazon.com

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea gets a dose of On the Beach in Irwin Allen's visually impressive but scientifically silly Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. While the Seaview, the world's most advanced experimental submarine, maneuvers under the North Pole, the Van Allen radiation belt catches fire, giving the concept "global warming" an entirely new dimension. As the Earth broils in temperatures approaching 170 degrees F, Walter Pidgeon's maniacally driven Admiral Nelson hijacks the Seaview and plays tag with the world's combined naval forces on a race to the South Pacific, where he plans to extinguish the interstellar fire with a well-placed nuclear missile. But first he has to fight a mutinous crew, an alarmingly effective saboteur, not one but two giant squid attacks, and a host of design flaws that nearly cripple the mission (note to Nelson: think backup generators). Barbara Eden shimmies to Frankie Avalon's trumpet solos in the most formfitting naval uniform you've ever seen, fish-loving Peter Lorre plays in the shark tank, gloomy religious fanatic Michael Ansara preaches Armageddon, and Joan Fontaine looks very uncomfortable playing an armchair psychoanalyst. It's all pretty absurd, but Allen pumps it up with larger-than-life spectacle and lovely miniature work. --Sean Axmaker

Fantastic Voyage 2001: A Space Odyssey took the world on a mind-bending trip to outer space, but Fantastic Voyage is the original psychedelic inner-space adventure. When a brilliant scientist falls into a coma with an inoperable blood clot in the brain, a surgical team embarks on a top-secret journey to the center of the mind in a high-tech military submarine shrunk to microbial dimensions. Stephen Boyd stars as a colorless commander sent to keep an eye on things (though his eyes stay mostly on shapely medical assistant Raquel Welch), while Donald Pleasance is suitably twitchy as the claustrophobic medical consultant. The science is shaky at best, but the imaginative spectacle is marvelous: scuba-diving surgeons battle white blood cells, tap the lungs to replenish the oxygen supply, and shoot the aorta like daredevil surfers. The film took home a well-deserved Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Director Richard Fleischer, who turned Disney's 1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea into one of the most riveting submarine adventures of all time, creates a picture so taut with cold-war tensions and cloak-and-dagger secrecy that niggling scientific contradictions (such as, how do miniaturized humans breathe full-sized air molecules?) seem moot. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Oldies but goodies........2007-02-09

Adventure in the old fashioned way, special effects that were great for their day!

Great voyage into my youth!.......2007-01-04

I remember these two movies when I was a boy. The DVD and packaging are just fine. No complaints and delivery was excellent! Received everything ahead of time! No complaints on resolution quality of films. Will make a great addition to my home library. Thanks for the opportunity to buy on Amazon!

Two historic benchmarks in sci-fi and special effects...........2006-08-12

Irwin Allen may never be recognized as one of the USA's greatest film directors a la Kazan, Welles, Stevens, Coppola, or Kubrick, but he has given us some fine and truly imaginative science fiction over the 60's-70's. "Fantastic Voyage" is a case in point.

A trip thru "inner-space"--the human body--this film's premise, although strictly fantasy, was an absorbing and fascinating glimpse into the the true potential of science fiction. Despite these limitations, and the lack of drama to sustain a viable narrative, one reponds to "Fantastic Voyage" both visually and aesthetically.

While the plot is rather thin and somewhat silly, reflecting the era's cold war overtones, the film works magnificently on a purely visual level with special effects that are convincing and awe-inspiring. Richard Fleischer, a well-established director for TV at the time, bathed the sets with pulsating and multi-colored lights, giving the giant reproductions of the heart, lungs, and brain a greater sense of reality, fluidity, and movement.

As a production note, MD's inspected the sets and were consultants during the filming of the picture. Perhaps the most impressive set was that of the human heart--40 by 30 feet--with the actors suspended by "invisible wires" as they make their journey thru the human body.
As for "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," lacking both the imagination and the creativity of the former, was the inspiration for the long-running series starring Richard Basehart and David Hedison. Walter Pidgeon offers a commanding presence in the film, Frankie Avalon sings, and supporting actors (including a young and lovely Barbara Eden)also manage to keep the plot moving along nicely.

Despite a wordy and rather mundane script, there is enough action to sustain most audiences. Like in "Fantastic Voyage," the special effects--especially the $400,000 (yes, it was that expensive!) model of the submarine Seaview--are both noteworthy and impressive.

Two Really Great Oldies.......2006-06-06

Fantastic Voyage and Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea are two masterpieces of early science fiction that are just full of adventure and excitement; the kind of movies that you would sit down with your popcorn and happily kill a Saturday afternoon with.

I was especially impressed with the Fantastic Voyage. Younger folks would now consider the special effects of this movie to be "cheesey" but for 1968 they were cutting edge and you can see the influence they had in other movies of that era such as the Andromeda Strain and the Forbin Project. Whereas Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was another one of Irwin Allen's great creations loaded with action and suspense; from the movie later came the TV show and you can easily see why the television show is almost unchanged from the movie; only the lead actors are different becuse you can't improve on perfection.

I only wonder why do they always have to have such great movies in the letterbox format for DVDs. They don't do it to the videotape versions, so why do it here?

Sealab 2019.......2006-02-04

When it was released, most viewers found Fantastic Voyage, written by Isaac Asimov, compelling and visionary. In retrospect, I don't think the sets hold up very well. So why the five stars? What does hold up very well is the pilot film of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (here packaged with FV on a double sided disc). It's beautifully filmed in '60s Technicolor (which is basically four color), with wonderful lighting and sets (later used in the VTBOS series). Barbara Eden is excellent as the nurse. Walter Pidgeon is memorable in the role although I very much liked the TV show's personnel roster. Often dismissed, I find this film eminently watchable and a wonderful example of '60s sci-fi fare.

Average customer rating:

Enthusiasm- and Monsters!
Simply Great.
Lost oin Translation
The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen
An indispensable document for Sci-Fi fans

The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen
Starring: June Lockhart , Bill Mumy , Barbara Eden , Marta Kristen , and Angela Cartwright
Director: Kevin Burns (III)
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Lost in Space Forever
The Time Tunnel Vol. 1
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea: Season One, Vol. 1
Lost in Space - Season 3, Vol. 2
The Time Tunnel Vol. 2

ASIN: 6305837465
Release Date: 2000-05-30

Amazon.com

If you had a baking soda-powered Seaview submarine when you were a kid, then you're probably a fan of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, either the movie or the TV show, where that high-tech sub originated. And therefore you're probably a fan of that show's creator, producer-director Irwin Allen, the subject of this documentary. Allen is probably best known for starting the disaster film craze in the '70s with hit movies like The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno, where he earned the title of "Master of Disaster." But perhaps he's best loved for the string of TV series he made in the '60s: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel, and the bizarre Land of the Giants. The documentary glosses over Allen's film career, rightly spending more time on the TV shows, revealing Allen's penchant for monster costumes and using stock footage. We find out that Allen often filmed some sequences for black-and-white shows in color so he could use them later as stock footage. Also, when he needed to shoot a sequence that was supposed to be inside a whale, he saved a fortune by using leftover sets from Fantastic Voyage. The format of the documentary is corny, hosted by Bill Mumy and June Lockhart, along with "The Robot," all from Lost in Space, all hamming it up. But there is such a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage that any fan of Allen's TV shows will want to own this disc. Especially noteworthy is a bonus 55-minute featurette of series proposals, including lengthy footage of two shows that didn't make it, City Beneath the Sea and The Man from the 25th Century. That's worth the price of the disc. --Jim Gay

Description

An all-star tribute to the creator of "Lost In Space" and other sci-fi classics! The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen is the definitive documentary on Irwin Allen, Hollywood's famous "master of disaster" and creator of some of the most successful movies and television series of all time. This tribute to the prolific producer/director contains 100 minutes of classic scenes, never-before-seen outtakes, bloopers and behind-the-scenes glimpses from favorites like "Lost In Space," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "The Time Tunnel," "Land of the Giants," The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno! So put on your space suit and climb aboard the Jupiter 2 for this once-in-a-lifetime look at motion picture and television history hosted by Bill Mumy and June Lockhart.

Customer Reviews:

Enthusiasm- and Monsters!.......2006-03-08

_If you remember these televison shows and movies from your younger days then this is a pleasant nostalgic experience. I also found it amazing just how much of what I found interesting on TV as a boy came from one man's vision. I think this was because there was a genuine enthusiasm in Irwin Allen for the future- and for adventure and monsters. There is quite alot of biographical footage about Allen's life thrown in (it is afterall a biographical presentation) but enough clips of the television shows and movies are included to satisfy everyone. The whole show is held together well by Bill Muny and June Lockhart- not too serious and not too hammy.

The show covers the early movies: The Sea Around Us, Animal World, The Story of Mankind, The Big Circus, Five Weeks in a Balloon, The Lost World, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (I remember the last three from Saturday matinees at the movies.)

Then it moves on to the four great science fiction television shows: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, Time Tunnel, and Land of the Giants. The clips are well chosen- and there are plenty of interviews with cast members and guest stars.
There are even clips from two shows that didn't make it- "Man from the 25th Century" and "City Beneath the Sea."

The rest centers primarily around his block buster movies such The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno- as well as all the other disaster flicks that followed.

You know it is funny, even as a kid I recognised the overuse of stock film footage, and the inane dialog, and the lack of scientific accuracy in much of his work- but I still watched it. I guess that was because the dream and the enthusiasm of other worlds was still there- even if he tried to do it on a low budget.

Simply Great........2005-11-27

Basically I am doing research on TV shows and movies. Irwin Allan was one of the true characters that spanned both TV and Film.

This DVD is everything that is advertised. You also get bonus features that give you a look into Irwin Allen on the studio lot.

What I found as a great surprise in special features was the "Pitch" TV shows that didn't make it. A great lesson in blending story boarding and live action to communicate your "idea" to the people who will buy it.

Film and TV people today might laugh at the series Irwin created.. But there is much to learn from even today. Like all science fiction TV producers, Gerry Anderson, Gene Rodenbery, and others... Irwin threads the needle with his distinct vision of the future.

The music of "the worlds of" Irwin Allen is done from John Williams.. A true genius that everyone seemed to take for granted until Star Wars and Jaws. Much of the special effects and the suspension of belief that is needed to enjoy "Lost in Space" and "Time Tunnel" was the music from Johnny Williams.

If you're going to make a sci-fi Indy film, TV show or ?? This DVD should be seen and studied. This really goes for the new filmmakers that have never seen "Land of the Giants" or "Voyage to the bottom of the sea".

I would surely give this 5 stars if it wasn't part of a 1996 Sci-Fi Channel project. (seen on the sci-fi channel) If you had a Timex watch.. Give it to the "talent" at Sci-Fi and surely it would STOP TICKING.

GENE

Lost oin Translation.......2005-09-05

Great fun to re-aquaint myself with these old shows. Hilarious line from Billy Mumy, and I paraphrase, "Irwin Allen was always looking for ways to top himself." meaning to improve on his work after the The Towering Inferno. Over here it means to commit suicide...

It's a shame that most of the tv material here is not yet available as DVD boxsets. My credit card is waiting in aniticipation!

The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen.......2005-08-19

If your a fan of Irwin Allen's shows, then this dvd is a must have for your collection. It's a fun dvd.

An indispensable document for Sci-Fi fans .......2005-05-23

"The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen" (1995 - 100 minutes), is a
definitive documentary in DVD about the career of the unforgettable
producer and director the new yorker Irwin Allen, deceased on November
2 ,1991. Directed by Kevin Burns, the documentary make a tribute to the
creator of the cult TV series "Lost in the Space", " Voyage to the
Botton of the Sea", "The Time Tunnel", "Land of Giants" and classic
movies as "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno". Allen
was known in Hollywood as the "Master of Disaster". Introduced by the
actors June Lockhart and Bill Mumy and with the delicious participation
of the Robot and Johnathan Harris, the histrionics doctor Smith, the
documentary shows behind the scenes and enlightening interviews with
the main actors of the TV series and movies. An indispensable document
for all the Science Fiction fans.

(...)

Actress:

Actress

Actress