Music, Thrills, Mystery, Comedy & Suspense on Video & DVD

By John Howard Reid

Wonderful movies for every taste are now available on DVD. This book examines a rich selection from "As Good As It Gets" through "You'll Never Get Rich". Musicals include "The Dolly Sisters" and "Wonder Bar", noir thrills take in "Out of the Past" and "T-Men", mysteries include "Crossfire" and "Song of the Thin Man", comedies explore classics such as "Another Fine Mess" and "Fun on a Weekend", suspense thrillers take us on a "Pursuit to Algiers" with a "Special Agent". Other genres are well represented too. For example, quirky humor can be found "Alice" and "Broadway Danny Rose"; romance in "The Garden of Allah" and "My Heart Is Calling"; horror in "The Thing" and "White Zombie"; big budget drama in "City for Conquest" and the spectacular "Noah's Ark"; nostalgia in "The Sun Shines Bright" and "I Found Stella Parish". And then there are series pictures: The complete "Thin Man" movies and all the "Torchy Blane" titles are dealt with in detail. In fact, the only major category of movies not included in this book are westerns. And the good news is that most of these DVDs can be purchased outright from the listed stores, manufacturers or distributors for less than it costs to rent current releases.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Howard Reid
• Release date: Jun 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458161895

John Howard Reid

Author of over 100 full-length books, of which around 60 are currently in print, John Howard Reid is the award-winning, bestselling author of the Merryll Manning series of mystery novels, anthologies of original poetry and short stories, translations from Spanish and Ancient Greek, and especially books of film criticism and movie history. Currently chief judge for three of America's leading literary contests, Reid has also written the textbook, "Write Ways To Win Writing Contests".

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Music, Thrills, Mystery, Comedy & Suspense

on Video & DVD

by John Howard Reid

Smashwords Edition Copyright 2011 by John Howard Reid

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OTHER TITLES IN THIS SERIES

Mystery, Suspense, Film Noir and Detective Movies on DVD

Silent Movies & Early Sound Films on DVD

WESTERNS: A Guide to the Best (and Worst) on DVD

British Movie Entertainments on VHS and DVD

MUSICALS on DVD

Table of Contents

Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950)

About Face (1952)

Advice to the Lovelorn (1933)

Affairs of a Gentleman (1934)

Against All Odds (1984)

Alice (1990)

The Ambushers (1967)

An Angel from Texas (1940)

Another Fine Mess (1930)

Arch of Triumph (1948)

Arizona to Broadway (1933)

As Good As It Gets (1997)

Border Town (1934)

Break of Hearts (1935)

Bride of the Gorilla (1951)

British Intelligence (1939)

Broadway Bad (1933)

Broadway Danny Rose (1984)

Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1958)

Cat People (1942)

Church Mouse (1934)

City for Conquest (1940)

The Clock Watcher (1944)

The Company She Keeps (1950)

Crossfire (1947)

The Crowd Roars (1943)

Doctor Kildare Goes Home (1940)

The Dolly Sisters (1945)

Fifth Avenue Girl (1939)

Fly-Away Baby (1937) Torchy Blane series

Forbidden (1931)

Fun on a Weekend (1947)

The Garden of Allah (1936)

The Gay Divorcee (1934)

The Ghost Ship (1943)

The Harder They Fall (1956)

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

I Found Stella Parish (1935)

I Know Where I’m Going (1945)

In Caliente (1935)

In This Our Life (1942)

The Iron Major (1943)

It’s Love Again (1936)

Jack of All Trades (1936)

Jumping Jacks (1952)

June Bride (1948)

The Kennel Murder Case (1933)

Ladies in Retirement (1941)

Lady Luck (1946)

The Lamp Still Burns (1943)

The Last of Mrs Cheyney (1937)

The Last Outpost (1935)

Macao (1952)

The Mad Genius (1931)

Mandalay (1934)

Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934)

Man’s Favorite Sport? (1963)

Marie Galante (1934)

Marriage on the Rocks (1965)

Men in White (1934)

Music Is Magic (1935)

Mutiny in the Big House (1939)

My Heart Is Calling (1934)

My Reputation (1946)

Navy Blues (1929)

Neighborhood House (1936)

Noah’s Ark (1929)

No Way Out (1950)

Oil for the Lamps of China (1935)

Out of the Past (1947) Build My Gallows High

Private Detective 62 (1933)

The Purchase Price (1932)

Pursuit to Algiers (1945)

Separate Tables (1958)

She Had To Say Yes (1933)

Song of the Thin Man (1947) Thin Man Series

So You Want To Play the Horses? (1946)

Special Agent (1935)

Spite Marriage (1929)

The Sun Shines Bright (1953)

Sweet Aloes (1936)

The Thing (1951)

T-Men (1947)

The Trouble with Harry (1955)

We Were Dancing (1942)

White Zombie (1932)

Wonder Bar (1934)

You’ll Never Get Rich (1941)

Young In Heart (1938)

Young Widow (1946)

You Were Never Lovelier (1942)

Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950)

Bud Abbott (Bud Jones), Lou Costello (Lou Hotchkiss), Patricia Medina (Nicole), Walter Slezak (Sergeant Axmann), Douglass Dumbrille (Sheik Hamud El Khalid), Leon Belasco (Hassam), Marc Lawrence (Frankie), Tor Johnson (Abou Ben), Wee Willie Davis (Abdullah), Fred Numey (commandant), Sam Menacker (Bertram), Henry Corden (Ibrim), Paul Fierro (Ibn), Jack Raymond (Ali Ami), Dan Seymour (Josef), Guy Beach (Saleem), Alberto Morin (lieutenant), David Gorcey (newsboy), Charmienne Harker (Arab girl), Jack Shutta, Ernesto Morelli, Chuck Hamilton (thugs), Ted Hecht (proprietor), Buddy Roosevelt (orderly), Mahmud Shaikhaly (referee), Bobby Barber (man), John Cliff (bit). Narrated by Jeff Chandler.

Director: CHARLES LAMONT. Screenplay: John Grant, Martin Ragaway, Leonard Stern. Original screen story: D.D. Beauchamp. Photography: George Robinson. Film editor: Frank Gross. Art directors: Bernard Herzbrun, Eric Orbom. Set decorators: Russell A. Gausman, Ray Jeffers. Special photography: David S. Horsley. Technical advisor: Mahmud Shaikhaly. Music director: Joseph Gershenson. Make-up: Bud Westmore. Hair styles: Joan St Oegger. Sound recording: Leslie I. Carey, Robert Pritchard. Producer: Robert Arthur.

Copyright 11 August 1950 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. A Universal-International picture. New York opening at the Criterion: 12 August 1950. U.S. release: August 1950. U.K. release: 14 August 1950 (sic). Australian release (as a support, cut to 69 minutes): 13 July 1951. 80 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: A slapstick comedy about the misadventures of a pair of wrestling promotors who unwittingly become entangled with slave girls, warring Arabs, a French spy; and the Foreign Legion.

— Copyright entry.

NOTES: In 1951, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello enjoyed a moment of glory when voted by British cinema exhibitors into second place as the previous year’s top money-making stars. Only Bob Hope sold more tickets in 1950. The distributor had quickly adjusted to the team’s sudden surge of popularity and began releasing A&C efforts such as this one as well-promoted A features. In Australia, the absolute reverse was happening, whilst on their American home front, A&C were still raking in good money but not the windfalls of the early 1940s. [Available on an excellent Universal DVD].

VIEWERS’ GUIDE: Okay for all.

COMMENT: After a none-too-promising opening, this Abbott and Costello comedy gets into stride once the comedians reach the land of Lost in a Harem. Charles Lamont’s direction improves, the script becomes genuinely amusing, the photography is A-1, and we are introduced to two very personable villains, admirably portrayed by Walter Slezak and Douglass Dumbrille. There is a good climax, starting with a wrestling match which the comedians deftly turn into a free-for-all before the villains’ dumbfounded eyes and ending with a glorious chase in which our heroes in a stolen jeep are pursued by a commendable number of dress extras mounted on camels. Although the sets are nowhere as lavish as those in Lost in a Harem, art directors Bernard Herzbrun and Eric Orbom have created settings that are reasonably beguiling. Love the towels in the Sheikh’s bathroom: a great big His and numerous small Hers.

OTHER VIEWS: Although the 1950’s excursions of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are not highly regarded by professional critics, I found this one beautifully produced and often delightfully funny! Any film with Walter Slezak can’t go too far wrong. I mention Douglass Dumbrille in the same breath too! Plus the attractive Miss Medina and many equally appealing harem girls! Our comedians are given plenty of mirthful opportunities to shine, what with verbal gags, slapstick, wild chases and mishaps galore. We love Costello loose with a machine gun and all the other Beau Geste legionnaire mayhem. Yes, plenty of action. A fast-paced, brightly photographed 79 minutes. And it’s all stylishly narrated by Jeff Chandler! What more could any fan ask?

About Face (1952)

Gordon MacRae (Tony Williams), Eddie Bracken (Boff Roberts), Dick Wesson (Dave Crouse), Phyllis Kirk (Alice Wheatley Roberts), Virginia Gibson (Betty Short Long), Larry Keating (Colonel Long), Aileen Stanley Jr (Lorna Carter), Joel Grey (Bender), Cliff Ferre (Lieutenant Jones), John Baer (Hal Carlton).

Director: ROY DEL RUTH. Screenplay: Peter Milne. Based on the 1936 Broadway stage play Brother Rat by John Monks Jr., Fred F. Finklehoffe. Technicolor photography by Bert Glennon. Film editor: Thomas Reilly. Art director: Charles H. Clarke. Set decorator: Lyle B. Reifsnider. Costumes: Leah Rhodes. Make-up: Gordon Bau. Technical advisor: Sergeant August Kunkel. Songs by Charles Tobias (lyrics), Peter De Rose (music): Reveille (MacRae, Bracken, Wesson, and male chorus), S.M.I. (chorus, reprised chorus, reprised chorus), Tar Heels (chorus), If Someone Had Told Me (MacRae, Bracken, Kirk), Wooden Indian (MacRae, Wesson, chorus), Spring Has Sprung (Wesson, Gibson), They Haven’t Lost a Father Yet (MacRae, Bracken, Wesson), I’m Nobody (Grey), The Rhythm of Piano, Bass and Drums (MacRae, Wesson, Stanley), There’s No Other Girl For Me (MacRae). Orchestrations: Frank Perkins. Choral supervisor: Norman Luboff. Music by Peter De Rose, directed by Ray Heindorf. Musical numbers directed by LeRoy Prinz. Technicolor consultant: Mitchell Kovaleski. Sound: C.A. Riggs, David Forrest. Producer: William Jacobs.

Copyright 10 May 1952 by Warner Bros Pictures Inc. (In notice: 1951). New York opening at the Warner Theatre: 23 May 1952. U.S. release: 31 May 1952. U.K. release: 3 November 1952. Australian release: 26 March 1953. 94 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: A musical comedy featuring three cadets in a Southern Military Academy. [Available on an excellent Warner DVD].

COMMENT: Although M-G-M and Fox musicals generally, and Warner Brothers’ efforts with Doris Day were extremely popular abroad, About Face would be lucky to land top spot on a midweek double bill around capital city suburbs. Its main selling point for Oz audiences was Technicolor. Gordon MacRae had a small following. None of the other players had any box-office pull whatever. Audiences expecting an ultra-lavish M-G-M clone would be very disappointed.

What we have here has been produced on an obviously moderate budget (which even relies on some stock footage), yet worse it comes across as very much a filmed stage play, as evidenced by all the talk in confined sets.

True, there are occasional break-outs into the unexpectedly spectacular like the final surprise tap-dance production number. This is the best choreographed of the numbers, though Joel Grey’s delightful solo runs it a close second for sheer energy, vitality and cleverness.

Joel Grey is a one-man dance team and it is gratifying to see him acquit himself so well in a major part so early in his career. The rest of the players are not quite in his league, though Mr Wesson makes his usual game try.

The girls (Kirk, Gibson and Stanley), though over-made up in typical mid-fifties style, are stylishly dressed and differentiate their characters amusingly.

Alas, poor old Eddie Bracken has more than his share of the hokey plot to carry. His heart isn’t in it. Even his pratfalls seem contrived and anticipated.

On the other hand, Cliff Ferre is especially adept despite some obvious wigs. Keating and Baer also contribute their share to the fun. If only there wasn’t so much talk. There’s even a half-hour near the end where’s so much plot, even the songs don’t get a look in. They are a pleasant if unmemorable lot, some of them quite lavishly (if not particularly inventively) staged.

Del Ruth’s direction is competent enough and other credits are A. There’s quite a lot of added material that’s not in the original stage play and film, including the running gag with the hair dye.

OTHER VIEWS: Warners were re-working their comedies as musicals at this stage. One of the Gold Digger films turned up as Painting The Clouds With Sunshine, Male Animal as She’s Working Her Way Through College. This is a version of Brother Rat. It’s in color and, like the others, a pleasant but inferior re-hatching.

Advice to the Lovelorn (1933)

Lee Tracy (Toby Prentiss, alias Miss Lonelyhearts), Sally Blane (Toby’s girlfriend), Sterling Holloway (Toby’s assistant), Jean Adair (Toby’s mother), Paul Harvey (Toby’s boss), C. Henry Gordon (racketeer), Isabel Jewell (racketeer’s ex-friend), May Boley (real Lonelyhearts), Thomas Jackson, Wade Boteler (feds), Charles Lane (circulation manager), Jimmy Conlin (radio man), Matt Briggs (Richards), Adalyn Doyle (Miss Curtis), Judith Wood (Cora), Etienne Girardot (Horace), Ruth Fallows (Miss Howell).

Director: ALFRED WERKER. Screenplay: Leonard Praskins. Based on the novel by Nathanael West. Photography: James Van Trees. Film editor: Alan McNeil. Art directors: Richard Day, Joseph C. Wright. Music director: Alfred Newman. Costumes designed by Gwen Wakeling. Associate producers: William Goetz, Raymond Griffith. Producer: Darryl F. Zanuck.

Copyright 1 December 1933 by 20th Century Pictures. Released through United Artists: 1 December 1933. 7 reels. 62 minutes.

COMMENT: Aside from its main idea, this movie bears little resemblance to Nathanael West’s celebrated novel. That’s actually most fortunate, because while the book is certainly most stylishly written, you can’t translate literary finesse to the screen. You need more than an intriguing central character. You need a well-defined supporting cast, and above all, an attention-grabbing plot, set in motion by your lively, fascinating characters. All this, the Praskins screenplay abundantly supplies. And when you add charismatic players to give color and life to your script and a skilful director to make it move on the run, plus a producer who is prepared to spend top money to ensure everything impacts as breathtakingly real, you’re in seventh heaven. Lee Tracy has one of his best roles, Sally Blane looks great, Isabel Jewell makes her mark, and even Sterling Holloway contributes an appealing characterization. The DVD from VintageFilmBuff rates 9 stars, in my opinion. And it’s available as a double disc with Lee Tracy’s 1934 You Belong To Me.

Affairs of a Gentleman (1934)

Paul Lukas (Gresham), Leila Hyams (Mrs Durland), Patricia Ellis (Jean Sinclair), Onslow Stevens (Durland), Phillip Reed (Vaughn), Dorothy Burgess (Nan Fitzgerald), Lillian Bond (Carlotta), Joyce Compton (Foxey), Murray Kinnell (Fletcher), Dorothy Le Baire (Gail Melville), Richard Carle (Bindar), Sara Haden (Gresham’s secretary), Charles Wilson (inspector), Marcia Remy (Bindar’s secretary), Gregory Gaye (Bela), Wilfred Hari (Sato), James Flavin (Donovan), Walter Miller (Damon).

Director: EDWIN L. MARIN. Screenplay: Cyril Home, Peter Ruric, Milton Krims. Based on the stage play, Women In His Life, by Edith Ellis and Edward Ellis. Photography: John J. Mescall. Film editor: Edward Curtiss. Art director: Charles D. Hall. Music: Edward Ward. Associate producer: Edmund Grainger. Producer: Carl Laemmle, Jr. A Universal Picture, copyright 12 May 1934.

U.S. release: 1 May 1934. 7 reels. 68 minutes.

COMMENT: Almost everyone knows that the position of an actor in a movie’s credits does not necessarily indicate the importance or the size of the role. But even by Hollywood standards, these credits are most unusual. Lukas is the star, that’s for sure. And a fine job he does of making the cheap, cynical author a man of stature and even sympathy. Next in importance in both size and significance is the role of the author’s publisher, superbly played here by Richard Carle who makes the most of his many sharp lines and fascinating changes of mood. And where does Carle figure in the list? Way, way down, near the bottom. Lukas’ co-star is allegedly Leila Hyams whose role is so small that if you blink, you’ll miss her at the party. True, she does return for another scene, but this time she’s over-shadowed by her escort, Onslow Stevens, who does almost all of the talking! The film’s feminine lead is actually Patricia Ellis, although she doesn’t have much to do except look radiantly beautiful, but even here she is outclassed by Lillian Bond. All the real acting on the distaff side of the ledger is done by Dorothy Burgess – surely one of the most under-rated stars of the 1930s. Sara Haden is no slouch in the acting department either. But I didn’t even spot Joyce Compton. I’m surprised to learn she was one of the faces in the crowd. And then there’s Murray Kinnell who has more lines than anyone else in the cast except Lukas and Carle!

Although the script’s origins obviously lie in a stage play, it has been cleverly opened out, and Marin keeps it moving along nicely with his extraordinarily adroit direction. Admittedly, his editor has helped him out in the important Dorothy Burgess scene by printing up some effective close-ups.

All in all, an intriguing tour-de-force, this gem of a movie is available on an excellent DVD from VintageFilmBuff.

Against All Odds (1984)

Jeff Bridges (Terry Brogan), Rachel Ward (Jessie Wyler), James Woods (Jake Wise), Alex Karras (Hank Sully), Richard Widmark (Ben Caxton), Jane Greer (Mrs Wyler), Dorian Harewood (Tommy), Swoosie Kurtz (Edie), Saul Rubinek (Steve Kirsch).

Director: TAYLOR HACKFORD. Screenplay: Eric Hughes. Based on the 1947 screenplay, Out of the Past, by Daniel Mainwaring. Photographed in Eastman Color by Donald E. Thorin. Film editors: Fredric Steinkamp, William Steinkamp. Production design: Richard Lawrence. Set decorator: Garrett Lewis. Costumes designed by Michael Kaplan. Original music: Larry Carlton, Michel Colombier. Producers: Taylor Hackford, William S. Gilmore.

A New Visions/Columbia Picture. U.S. release: 2 March 1984. Oz release: 31 May 1984. 128 minutes. [An excellent Sony DVD].

SYNOPSIS: Ex-football player takes a job to hunt down the ex-girl friend of a shady acquaintance. She’s hiding somewhere in Mexico.

NOTES: Phil Collins was nominated for his title song for both a Golden Globe and Hollywood’s most prestigious award.

COMMENT: Although the screen credits imply otherwise, Daniel Mainwaring (pronounced Mannering) had no input into this considerably augmented yet at the same time watered down remake of his Build My Gallows High (novel)/Out of the Past (screenplay), both of which he wrote under the pseudonym, Geoffrey Homes. True, the new script mirrors the original closely at times, but there are wide divergences at others. Even more annoying, Hughes has added a number of extra scenes which do nothing to advance the plot but tend to dissipate atmosphere and tension. One often has the feeling that the producers’ aim was to provide employment for as wide a number of their actor and professional friends as possible. Admittedly, this does result in some agreeable casting. It’s always a pleasure to see Richard Widmark snarling away, and a real treat to find Jane Greer, the star of Out of the Past, here cast as her original character’s mother! However, when all’s said and done, this movie runs a wearying 128 minutes. The original, on the other hand, told us basically the same story in a far more terse and involving 98.

Alice (1990)

Mia Farrow (Alice), William Hurt (Doug), Keye Luke (Dr Chang), Joe Mantegna (Joe), Gwen Verdon (Alice’s mother), Blythe Danner (Dorothy), Cybill Shepherd (Nancy Brill), Judy Davis (Vicki), Alec Baldwin (Ed), Bernadette Peters (muse), Robin Bartlett (Nina).

Director-screenplay: WOODY ALLEN. Photographed in Eastman Color by Carlo Di Palma. Film editor: Susan E. Morse. Art director: Speed Hopkins. Production designer: Santo Loquasto. Costumes designed by Jeffrey Kurland. Producer: Robert Greenhut. Executive producers: Jack Rollins, Charles H. Joffe. Prints by DeLuxe.

A Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe Production. Copyright 1990 and released by Orion Pictures Corp. New York opening: 25 December 1990. 106 minutes. [A superb DVD from M-G-M].

SYNOPSIS: A moody housewife consults a Chinese herbalist with startling results.

NOTES: Mia Farrow won the National Board of Review’s award for the year’s Best Actress.

Final movie appearance of Keye Luke. It was his 200th film.

COMMENT: Woody Allen at his very best! In fact, I’m particularly attached to this movie. When the opening credits ran by to the accompaniment of Limehouse Blues, I knew I was in for a real treat, music-wise. As it turned out, however, the superb music score was overshadowed by the delightful fantasy of the screenplay and the brilliant performances delivered all the way down the line, but most especially by Mia Farrow, Joe Mantegna and Keye Luke.

The Ambushers (1967)

Dean Martin (Matt Helm), Senta Berger (Francesca Madeiros), Janice Rule (Sheila Sommers), James Gregory (MacDonald), Albert Salmi (José Ortega), Kurt Kasznar (Quintana), Beverly Adams (Lovey Kravezit), David Mauro (Nassim), Roy Jenson (Karl), John Brascia (Rocco), Linda Foster (Linda), Penny Brahms, Kyra Bester, Lena Cederham, Ulla Lindstrom, Yumiko Ishizuka, Terri Hughes, Suzanna Moore, Karin Fedderson, Dee Duffy, Jann Watson, Marilyn Tindall, Alena Johnston, Egidia Annabella Incontrera (Slaygirls), and John Indrisano.

Directed by HENRY LEVIN from a screenplay by Herbert Baker, based on the 1963 novel by Donald Hamilton. 2nd unit director: James Havens. Photographed in Technicolor by Burnett Guffey and Edward Colman. 2nd unit photography: Jack Marta and Tony Braun. Film editor: Harold F. Kress. Costumes: Oleg Cassini. Art director: Joe Wright. Music composed and conducted by Hugo Montenegro. Title song by Hugo Montenegro (music) and Herbert Baker (lyrics) sung by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Special effects: Danny Lee. Assistant director: Jerome M. Siegel. Sound recording: James Flaster and Jack Haynes. Associate producer: Douglas Netter. Producer: Irving Allen. Set decorator: Richard Spero. Unit production manager: Howard Pine. 2nd unit assistant: Harold Lewis. Dean Martin’s wardrobe designed by Sy Devore. Make-up supervisor: Ben Lane. Hair styles: Virginia Jones. Choreography: Mary Jane Mangler. Property master: Max Frankel. Sound supervisor: Charles J. Rice. An Irving Allen Production. [Available on a Sony DVD].

Copyright 1 December 1967 by Meadway-Claude Productions. Released through Columbia