"DEADWATER FELL"
David Tennant won countless hearts and minds with his delightfully quirky portrayal of the Doctor on "Doctor Who." Since then he has often ventured into far darker psychological territory, as in "Broadchurch" and "Des." He again proves to be unforgettable in the four-part British crime/mystery drama "Deadwater Fell." The miniseries is now available, from Acorn, on Blu-ray and DVD.
It's set in a quaint, picturesque, seemingly idyllic little Scottish town. After a deadly fire rips through the home of a doctor and his family, terrible secrets begin to emerge. Their home life had appeared to be perfect. But appearances can be deceiving.
The series, created by Daisy Coulam ("Grantchester," "Humans"), proves to be riveting, thanks to strong direction, astute writing and terrific performances. Tennant takes his time in peeling away the layers beneath the doctor's impeccable surface. Who is this man? Of what is he capable? Tennant keeps us guessing just long enough. The supporting cast, including Cush Jumbo ("Vera," "The Good Fight"), Matthew McNulty and Anna Madely, also finds the complexities in the characters.
The Acorn release offers, as a bonus, a brief promotional, behind-the-scenes featurette. The miniseries itself will haunt you.
"20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA"
Many movie buffs fondly remember Disney's lavish 1954 film of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," starring James Mason as the tragic villain, Captain Nemo. But numerous adaptations of the Jules Verne novel preceded that one. Kino Classics has released, on Blu-ray and DVD, the 1916 silent version, perhaps the most historically important one. It features an astonishing new 4K restoration from a 35mm nitrate print.
It was originally made by Universal at an enormous cost for the time. The studio trumpeted it as the "First Submarine Photoplay Ever Filmed."
On Bl-ray, it looks sensational for a film that's more than 100 years old. Written and directed by Stuart Paton, the movie itself is also impressive, incredibly innovative for its revolutionary underwater photography and special effects. Brothers Ernest and George Williamson shot the undersea sequences.
In the film, the vengeance-seeking Nemo rescues naval vessel passengers after sinking them with his monstrous sub. A subplot develops as a hot air balloon crashes and the surviving Civil War soldiers aboard find a feral young woman.
The plot is a muddle, drawing from Verne's "Mysterious Island," as well as "Leagues." The pace is plodding. The acting proves hammier than any Hormel product. Yet the film, shot on location in the Bahamas, as well as on Universal sets, remains engrossing, because of its remarkable technical achievements.
The Kino release includes an effective musical score by Orlando Perez Rosso and an informative, often droll commentary track by silent film historian Anthony Slide. He offers interesting tidbits about the filmmakers and cast, as well as the technological accomplishments.
"REGINALD DENNY COLLECTION"
Movie buffs fondly recall Reginald Denny's memorable portrayals in dozens of classic films, including "The Lost Patrol," "Of Human Bondage," "Romeo and Juliet," the "Bulldog Drummond" movies, "My Favorite Brunette," "Rebecca," "Around the World in 80 Days" and "Cat Ballou." His credits ran all the way through 1966, with an appearance in the Adam West-starring "Batman."
But not all aficionados realize that the sophisticated, often wonderfully amusing Denny was a big star in the silent era. That may be remedied with the new Kino Lorber, two-disc Blu-ray or DVD release that provides three of the British actor's charming, 1920s Hollywood comedies.
The romantic side of Denny gives a winning quality to "The Reckless Age." In this one, he plays an insurance agency employee. He gets entangled in the case of a bounder who's trying to wed an heiress to snare a chunk of her father's wealth.
In "Skinner's Dress Suit, directed by William A. Seiter (who also helmed Laurel & Hardy's "Sons of the Desert"), Denny is a clerk lacking in confidence. His wife (the prepossessing Laura LaPlante) insists that he demand a raise. He meekly requests one, is brusquely refused, but tells his spouse he succeeded. She goes on a spending spree that includes an expensive tuxedo. That suit changes his attitude... and his life. Watch for clever bits featuring Hedda Hopper, as well as a young Arthur Lake, who went on to stardom as Dagwood Bumstead in the popular "Blondie" B-movie series.
Denny milks all the hilarity from the wonderfully silly situations of "What Happened to Jones?" In this fabulous farce, he's a man who makes the mistake of joining an illegal poker game the night before his wedding. When a police raid sends the chips flying, he flees into a Turkish bath, winds up in drag and then in the cloak of a clergyman. The ensuing chaos and confusion generate tons of chuckles. Marian Nixon plays his bride-to-be and Zasu Pitts has some funny moments as an eager-to-please maid.
The Kino release features 4K restorations of these Universal features. The disc includes informative and often amusing audio commentaries from film historian Anthony Slide, who puts everything into perspective, both in terms of the films themselves and the overall careers of those involved. Jaunty musical scores also enhance viewing pleasure.
"HELL BENT"
When the topic is classic westerns, certainly one of the first names to spring to mind is John Ford. His knack for capturing the lyricism of the old west dates back even farther than you might know. More than 20 before his classic 1939 movie "Stagecoach," the director was already etching noteworthy features depicting that era of American history. That is demonstrated with the Kino Lorber's release, on Blu-ray and DVD, of 1918's "Hell Bent."
The movie stars one of Ford's actors, the lean, laconic Harry Carey. He brings a quiet intensity and sincerity to every frame.
In the cowboy yarn, restless Cheyenne Harry (Carey) drifts into town and falls for an innocent girl (Neva Gerber) whose no-account brother forces her to become a dance hall entertainer. Harry comes into conflict with the outlaw gang that runs the town, but things become complicated, when he learns that her brother has joined them.
The film has benefitted from a new 4K restoration. Long considered to be lost, "Hell Bent" was found in a Czech archive. Briskly paced, romantic, with touches of humor, it proves to be a treasure.
As in later Ford efforts, one of the key elements is the use of locations. A desert chase is one of the most exciting sequences. The director creates striking visuals with arresting vistas and creative use of camera set-ups and angles.
One of the important bonuses on the Kino disc is a 1970 audio interview with a curmudgeonly, nearly deaf Ford, conducted by Joseph McBride. There's also an audio commentary track by this author and film historian, who is an expert on the director. One of the insights provided is the fact that Ford was influenced by western painters, particularly Frederic Remington. One of the artist's works, "A Misdeal," is seen in the beginning of "Hell Bent" and Ford brings it to life to draw the audience into the story. It's an impressive special effect.
But it's the human drama, well conceived and executed, along with the picturesque settings, that make "Hell Bent" heaven for devotees of Ford, silent films and westerns.
"THE SIN OF NORA MORAN"
The 1933, pre-code melodrama "The Sin of Nora Moran," directed by Phil Goldstone ("Gun Shy"), is the tragic tale of a fallen woman whose nobility of spirit lifts her high above those who have dragged her into the depths. Film Detective has just made this intriguing movie available on Blu-ray and DVD.
The work began as a short story, then was adapted into a stage play. As the film adaptation opens, following a killing, damning love letters have been discovered and our protagonist is on death row, awaiting her execution. Flashing back, we see that Nora endured tragedy early with the death of her parents and the loss of her inheritance. Having fantasized about performing, she subsequently joined the circus. She becomes the lion tamer's assistant. Unfortunately, one drunken night, he rapes her.
Still trying to unburden herself of the trauma, Nora seems to find true love. But the man, a politician, is married. His position makes it difficult for him to extricate himself without ruining his career. He commits manslaughter and Nora takes the rap, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Unwilling to reveal the actual details of the crime, she is convicted of first-degree murder. The horror of electrocution can't shake her loyalty.
The dramatic tale is told through more flashbacks and imagined sequences. Nora's dreams give the audiences insights into her psyche. Even though it was made by Majestic, a small, Poverty Row studio, the movie's direction, cinematography and editing are inventive and highly effective.
What really makes the film haunting, disturbing and riveting is the performance of Zita Johann ("The Mummy") as Nora. She projects the suffering and inner purity of a condemned, oft-wronged woman.
The 4K restoration, performed by UCLA from the original 35mm camera negative, makes viewing the film an even more vivid experience. The Film Detective release includes several notable extras, including a collector's booklet about the film, plus a featurette on Johann's unusual career path.
On the cover, you'll be struck by the poster artwork. It was painted by the famed Alberto Vargas, renowned for the pin-up works he created for Esquire magazine. In a "Willie Wonka" sort or promotion, Film Detective has placed a gold certificate in one of the limited-edition Blu-rays. It entitles the ticket holder to a framed one-sheet litho of the poster. But even if you end up only with the disc, you'll consider yourself a winner. This innovative little film is well worth experiencing.
"LAUREL & HARDY: THE DEFINITIVE RESTORATIONS"
If you're looking to start a collection of classic comedy -- or to expand one -- look no further than this new, four-disc Blu-ray set from MVD Visual/Kit Parker Films/The Sprocket Vault. It includes a fabulous array of Laurel & Hardy material -- two feature films, 21shorts (silent and talkies), plus loads of great bonus features.
The "Sons of the Desert" movie might remind "Honeymooners" fans of Ralph and Norton trying to sneak out to attend a Racoons lodge meeting. In the other feature film, 1937's "Way Out West," Stan and Ollie head to a small western town to deliver the deed to a goldmine.
The shorts involve the priceless pair in a myriad of misadventures. In the 1927 silent, "The Battle of the Century," Stan prances around a boxing ring (where, according to the audio commentary, a young Lou Costello can be scene for an instant as one of the extras in the crowd), then the boys turn a minor mishap into a colossal comic extravaganza. They set off one of the most monumental pie fights in cinema history. With all the mayhem, it's a subtle, but hilarious reaction by a passing prim woman (Anita Garvin) who steals the scene, when she slips and sits on a pie.
Stan and Ollie risk life and limb installing a radio antenna on the roof in 1930's "Hog Wild." It's a delight to watch them play their own children in "Brats." They portray their own sisters in "Twice Two," released three years later. In "Their First Mistake," they adopt a baby... and it leads to countless amusing mistakes.
"The Music Box" contains the duo's attempt to move a piano up a seemingly endless flight of stairs. The circus provides a wild setting in "The Chimp." The boys play clueless cops in "The Midnight Patrol." In "County Hospital," Laurel triggers one disaster after another. But he shows he needs very little in the way of set-up or props to create mirth, making the eating of a hard-boiled egg a laugh riot.
You even get to see Laurel and Hardy in color, in the 1943 public service short, "The Tree in a Test Tube," a wartime effort produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and distributed by the U.S. Forest Service. Stan and Ollie show us just how many everyday items are made of wood byproducts.
Each of the four discs offers special features galore. There are numerous interviews, including producer Hal Roach and a brief, but charming one with Ollie himself. There are fun and illuminating audio commentaries and galleries that brim with on-set, behind-the-scenes and promotional stills, as well as script pages, lobby cards, posters and more.
And this package isn't called "The Definitive Restorations" for nothing. The features and shorts look fantastic, thanks to 2K and 4K restorations from original 35mm nitrate.
"WHAT SHE SAID: THE ART OF PAULINE KAEL"
Film criticism has devolved over the years. But there was a time when it was truly an art form. And one of the most original, insightful, influential and respected voices belonged to Pauline Kael. Her reviews were personal and uncompromisingly honest. Rob Garver's revealing documentary celebrates Kael's life and career. It's now available on Blu-ray and DVD from MVD Visual/Juno Films.
Kael was known for the reviews she wrote for the prestigious New Yorker magazine, as well as for the many books she authored. She wasn't one of those critics who was simply in love with her own writing. She genuinely loved films. She was passionate about them. She could be glowing, when a movie moved her, or vitriolic, when one disappointed her. But she was always thought-provoking.
Her criticism sparked endless debates. Often deliberately out of step with other critics, she never shied away from controversy. She expressing loathing for such classics as "West Side Story," Chaplin's "Limelight," Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" and Alain Resnais' "Hiroshima Mon Amour," while raving about "Bonnie and Clyde," helping to make the movie a sensation. She championed Martin Scorsese, all the way back to "Mean Streets." She also put a spotlight on Robert Altman, Brian De Palma, Francis Ford Coppola and Sam Peckinpah, believing these not-yet-acclaimed filmmakers all deserved attention.
She could be cruel in her reviews and even received death threats. In the documentary, the great director David Lean recalls how Kael's lacerating comments on his works completely devastated him.
The documentary, drawing from interviews and letters, as well as her writing, gives us an understanding of how Kael's perspectives were shaped. She was brilliant, independent and courageous. Not shying away from her flaws, the documentary captures many fascinating aspects of this admirable woman.
Interview subjects in the documentary include Kael's daughter. Also offering input are Paul Schrader, Francis Ford Coppola, David O. Russell, Quentin Tarantino and Alec Baldwin. Sarah Jessica Parker reads Kael's words. TV interview segments with Kael also allow the critic to speak for herself. And Garver utilizes an abundance of brief film clips to accentuate the content.
The disc's bonus features include deleted scenes, as well as interview more excerpts with Quentin Tarantino and Paul Schrader. There's also an excerpt from Kael's never-aired audio interview with Alfred Hitchcock.
Kael, who passed away in 2001, was important not only to the art of film criticism, but to the art of filmmaking. Her imprint can still be seen today.
Garver's documentary also explores the changing landscape of the film world in the 60s and 70s, which Kael both reflected and impacted. It is a must-watch for any movie buff.
CDs
PEGGY LEE - "ULTIMATE PEGGY LEE"
With 2020 being her centennial year, it's the perfect time to revisit the work of one of our most revered pop-jazz vocalists, Peggy Lee. There's no better place to start than with the recently released "Ultimate Peggy Lee." Packed with 22 tasty tracks, it's available in digital, CD and double-disc LP formats from UMe/Capitol. The booklet accompanying set is enhanced by sheet music cover art.
Lee's vocals could be warm or deliciously cool, teasing or movingly sincere, swinging or soothing, whispery or belting.
You'll hear many of Lee's most popular tunes here. Her "Fever" will still send temperatures soaring, her scintillating vocal sizzling over finger snaps, coy drumming and enticing bass lines. Even the Elvis version couldn't come close to the understated power of this recording.
Leiber and Stoller's "I'm a Woman" may have become a signature tune for Maria Muldaur a decade later, but Lee nailed a killer version in 1963, It's another highlight of this new package.
She's fabulously feisty on the 40s recording of the bluesy "Why Don't You Do Right," backed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Lee is pleasingly playful on "Too Close for Comfort." "You Deserve" boasts one of Lee's most seductive vocals, as well as a sensational arrangement. She gives "Heart" an unexpected and alluring Latin twist and packs plenty of punch into the "Sweet Charity" showstopper "Big Spender."
Lee goes torchy on "I Wanna Be Around" and 1953's so-hot-it's-glacier-melting "Black Coffee." Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," written in 1937, was recorded by Lee in 1957. Her gorgeous version of the ballad was conducted by another pop icon -- Frank Sinatra.
She softly swings through such classics as "Just in Time" (Betty Comden/Adolph Green, Jule Styne), "I've Got The World on a String" and "Hallellujah, I Love Him So" (Ray Charles). "Alright, Okay, You Win," earned Lee a Grammy nomination for Best Female Vocal Performance. She was nominated 12 times and finally won for 1969's dramatic, talking/singing "Is That All There Is?", a cabaret style number that was one of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's most unusual songs.
The previously unreleased "Try a Little Tenderness" alone is worth the price of admission. You may have heard hundreds of renditions of this standard. But you've never experienced one to top this rendition. It's tantalizing and tender indeed, as Lee caresses each lyric and weaves gold from every melodic turn.
The set offers evidence that Lee was not only a superlative singer, but also a gifted songwriter. She co-wrote half of the catchy numbers here, including "I Love Being Here with You" and "I Don't Know Enough About You." One of the most popular, and often covered, is "It's a Good Day," penned by Lee with her then husband Dave Barbour. This 40s recording gets a boost from hot little guitar and clarinet solos. Probably best known of all is the enchanting "He's a Tramp" from Disney's "Lady and the Tramp."
With her extraordinary talent, she commanded the utmost respect. That's why she was always referred to as, "Miss" Peggy Lee. This lustrous set is certainly filled with not-to-be-missed performances.
LUCIA COMNES - "UNCAGED"
Savor some soul-baring music that will set you free -- "Uncaged." It's the latest mesmerizing album from singer/songwriter Lucia Comnes.
Raised in the San Francisco area and based in Italy, she found herself unable to return to Northern California due to the European lockdown. After a devastating marital split, she had lost everything. New songs came to her, precious little gifts gift enabling her to navigate through the pain and changes. She decided to record them remotely with her East Bay-based co-producer Gawain Mathews (Mickey Hart Band).
Comnes' breathtaking vocals and violin are perfectly complemented by Mathews' impeccably played guitars, bass, ukulele, percussion, keyboards and synths. There are eight songs and each is a ravishingly polished gem.
A transcendent rekindling shimmers through the lush and lovely "Songbird." The winsome "Nature Girl" speaks of eschewing the superficial and phony, preferring to focus on the true beauty in life. Other exquisite and moving numbers include a heartfelt "Jealousy," a fiery "Queen of the Sun," the ethereal "Protector," which recalls Dido at her unadorned finest, and "The Cage" with its stirring fiddle line.
Throughout, Comnes proves to be a touching vocalist and an eloquent songwriter. In "The Thief," co-written with Mathews, she sings, "A fist of fire mighta set her free... She locked away her temper, sealed it up like a treasure, and lost the only key." Comnes has found the key to healing -- It's her music.
The album reflects the torrent of emotions Comnes had been feeling. She reveals them poetically, sharing an uncompromising honesty in her lyrics. Captivating melodies help to make each song memorable. The performances convey all the ache, the suffering, the grief, the loss, but also a sense of reassessment, coming to terms with the past, finding liberation, empowerment... and hope. These penetrating, powerful, persuasive pieces are deeply personal, yet hold a universal resonance.
ALWAYS YOUNG AND RESTLESS:
MY LIFE ON AND OFF AMERICA'S #1 DAYTIME DRAMA
By Melody Thomas Scott [Diversion Books]
For decades, Melody Thomas Scott has been one of the queens of daytime drama. While reading her compelling memoir, "Always Young and Restless," it becomes clear how she has been able to play Nikki Newman so convincingly -- In her real life, Scott has had to overcome obstacles of soap opera proportions.
Her family was so dysfunctional it's amazing that Scott even survived. She describes it as a less adorable version of TV's "The Munsters." It was a household of hoarders and she was raised primarily by a raging grandma. Scott relates how, as a stunned seven-year-old, she and her classmates were sent home from school because of the JFK assassination. When she got to her house, Scott found grandma, grandpa and Uncle Sven celebrating the demise of the Democratic, civil rights loving, Catholic President.
Scott became a child actor and the only time she received any positive reinforcement from her abusive grandmother was when she landed a role. There was a horrible side to the pursuit, however. Scott was molested by an octogenarian pedophile who ran a children's theatre. This monster had granny's tacit permission -- anything to further little Melody's career, after all.
Film sets gave Scott the sense of community, family and home that she craved. She tells of working with a tyrannical Hitchcock on "Marnie," playing the younger version of the title character.
Puberty made the relationship with grandmother even more acrimonious. Scott was 13, when she landed a part in the Don Siegel film, "The Beguiled," starring Clint Eastwood. She had adventures shooting in Louisiana, bonding with the other girls in the cast. That ended when her witchy grandmother put a halt to any fun. Scott tells the tale of how she inexplicably stabbed Eastwood with a massive Civil War-era needle while he was playing dead.
With high school came teen rebellion. She suffered through the shock of a rape, followed by pregnancy and an abortion. But like Nikki, whatever life threw at her, the resilient Melody Thomas Scott summoned inner strength and persevered.
She enjoyed numerous movie experiences, including having Kirk Douglas braid her hair during the making of "Posse" and appearing with larger-than-life John Wayne in Don Siegel's "The Shootist," Duke's screen farewell before succumbing to cancer. While doing Brian de Palma's "The Fury," Scott became friends with Amy Irving and shared a lark with John Cassavetes. She turned down a part in "Animal House," because she didn't want to go topless.
Finally the big opportunity arrived, though it didn't necessarily seem that way at the time. In 1979, when the original Nikki was wreaking havoc on the "Young and the Restless" set, Scott auditioned and the producers knew they had the perfect replacement. Scott had to choose -- retain a recurring role on "The Waltons," hope a sitcom pilot came to fruition or take the security of a three-year deal on the daytime drama. She opted for the soap, never dreaming that the gig would last more than 40 years.
During that time, Nikki has faced a myriad of challenges including alcoholism, painkiller addiction, homicide, getting shot, being ravaged by various diseases, not to mention those days when she worked as a stripper! In the book, Scott goes through the character's most provocative and memorable storylines. She delves into the long and winding relationship Nikki has shared with Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). Scott explains the on-screen chemistry between the two.
She also goes into her off-screen relationships -- being a single mom, her two brief, failed marriages, and raising two daughters and a stepdaughter with her husband of more than 35 years, producer Edward Scott ("The Young and the Restless," "The Bold and the Beautiful"), She also reveals the details of her battle with a confounding illness that had drastic symptoms. Another chapter is devoted to aging gracefully.
Also covered in the memoir is her rift with longtime "Young and the Restless" castmate Jeanne Cooper; an accusation made by another of the soap's stars, Victoria Rowell; the pain of losing another co-star, Kristoff St. John, who died tragically; guest shots on game shows; celebrity fans like Aretha Franklin and Muhammad Ali; as well as Melody Thomas Scott's insights into how profoundly the O.J. trial affected daytime TV.
Now 64, Scott has spent her entire adult life on "The Young and The Restless," so she has tons of great anecdotes that make this book a must-have for fans. Her inspiring story is well worth reading and a wealth of wonderful photos makes it even more entertaining.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE FEMALE BODY:
A HISTORY OF IDOLIZATION AND OBJECTIFICATION
By Stephen Handzo [McFarland; McFarlandBooks.com]
In his book, "Hollywood and the Female Body: A History of Idolization and Objectification," author Stephen Handzo not only gives readers a vivid picture of the parade of women who have enthralled movie audiences over the past century-plus, but also provides a chronicle of sex in the cinema. In the process, he displays an appreciation for his subject, an understanding of the cultural implications and a welcome sense of humor.
He delves into the silent era with the "Floradora Girl" scandal of 1906 being sensationalized on screen, as well as the curvy form of artist's model Audrey Munson being revealed in 1915's "Inspiration." Then audiences thrilled to the emergence of vampy Theda Bara and the "It Girl," Clara Bow, the epitome of the flapper. The sound era soon crashed through and Handzo discusses the rise of a new breed of stars, such as the fast-talking, sassy Jean Harlow and "Oomph Girl" Ann Sheridan.
The Catholic Church stood among those railing against the immorality of pictures unspooling on their local screens. So producers, directors and writers were soon hampered by the Production Code. Handzo details its impact.
With the 40s, came the sultry sophistication of Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner, the wartime pin-up appeal of Betty Grable and the pulchritude of Jane Russell. That segued into the blonde bombshells of the 50s, led by Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren and Diana Dors. Sexuality in films attained a startling earthiness in such titles as "Baby Doll," "Streetcar Named Desire" and "God's Little Acre."
In the 60s, male teens may have enjoyed ogling bikini-clad Annette Funicello and Sandra Dee in beach flicks, but their parents were shocked by more serious fare like "Lolita." The significance of European stars like Brigitte Bardot and Anna Magnani continued to skyrocket. Later in the decade, the climate continued to evolve, with rebellious attitudes like those in "The Graduate" and "Easy Rider."
Handzo explores the ascent of the R-rated pictures of the 70s, along with the shock of "porno chic" releases like "Deep Throat." The author takes us all the way through the current shifts in perspective, with an epilogue pertaining to Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo Movement.
In this cinematic journey spanning more than 100 years, Handzo delivers a study that's as entertaining as it is informative.
