Warner Archive Collection New Releases March 11: Emily Stuns in Blu-ray
A 50th Anniversary Blu-ray
THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY (1964) Arthurs Hiller’s deft and delightful anti-war satire continues to charm the pants off audiences a half century after its original release. The American Film Institute selected this classic as one of the most important American films ever made thanks to director Hiller’s stewardship, a wise and witty script by Paddy Chayefsky, crisp B&W camerawork from Philip Lothrop, magical music from Johnny Mandel and a sparkling cast headed by James Garner and Julie Andrews that includes Melvyn Douglas, James Coburn, Keenan Wynn and William Windom. And hats off to producer Martin Ransohoff! In the film, Garner plays Lt. Cmdr. Charles Edward Madison, the best dogbody the services have ever known. Whatever supplies and sumptuaries are desired by his commanding officer, Admiral Jessup (Douglas), Madison has the guile to get ’em. But when his irresistible charm comes up against the immovable beauty of British war widow Emily Barham and the sparks start to scorch, Charlie, a devote pacifist, is given a true suicide mission – filming the first serviceman that will die on the beaches of Normandy – and make sure to make sure it’s a Navy man!
Classics International Style!
THE BIG HOUSE TRIPLE FEATURE (1930) Setting the standard for all prison pictures to come, The Big House’s message resonates as strongly today as it did yesterday. And now you have a chance to sample that powerful message in three different flavors with this special international triple feature edition of The Big House. When a convict falls for his cellmates’ sister, her stoolie brother threatens to spoil the peace by ratting on their third cellmate’s prison break plans. Joining the acclaimed English language version of the film, directed by George Hill and starring Chester Morgan, Wallace Beery and Robert Montgomery are the seldom seen since French and Spanish language versions, shot at the same time but with different director and different casts. Cinephiles will want to note, for example, the presence of a young Charles Boyer in the French version (under the direction of Paul Fejos), or perhaps ruminate on the very different dramatic approach of the Spanish version. With chapter stops synchronized across versions ardent cinema students are encouraged to go full Comp Lit on this cinema classic. Newly Remastered
TV Dramedies and WOW MoWs!
EIGHT IS ENOUGH: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON (1980-1981) We bid adieu to Bradford clan and learn that eight is no longer enough in the show¹s fifth and final season. Tom (Dick van Patten) and Abby (Betty Buckley) have their hands full running their bursting household as they gear up for their fifth anniversary, as life keeps throwing the curveballs. First up, Susan (Susan Richardson) and Merle¹s (Brian Patrick Clarke) baby girl raises the stakes in And Baby Makes Nine, then a young Ralph Macchio takes it all the way to ten, joining the clan as Abby¹s nephew, Jeremy. David¹s (Grant Goodeve) and Janet¹s (Joan Prather) union goes asunder, Nancy¹s (Diane Kay) modeling career takes off, and Tommy (Willie Aames) gets serious about love as in marriage! Meanwhile, Nicholas (Adam Rich) gets a horse, Joanie (Laurie Walters) goes undercover video-dating, and Elizabeth (Connie Needham) falls for a friend and one of Mary¹s (Lani O’Grady) patients falls for her. But when Jeremy¹s father suddenly returns, the clan¹s happiness is threatened.
THE DELPHI BUREAU: THE MERCHANT OF DEATH ASSIGNMENT (1972) Laurence Luckinbill stars in the TV pilot for the short lived lo-fi spy series The Delphi Bureau. Luckinbill plays Glenn Garth Gregory, a researcher for an amorphous government agency that does research for the President. Gifted with an eidetic memory, Garth has all the resources he needs to get to the bottom of some missing military surplus. It’s a good thing he’s got the goods since his Delphi Bureau contact, DC socialite Sybil Van Lowreen (Celeste Holm), doesn’t give him anything to go on, not even an office!
THE GIRL IN THE EMPTY GRAVE (1977) Andy Griffith stars as Chief of Police Abel Marsh in this gripping made-for-TV murder mystery that combines the small town eccentricities of the Andy Griffith Show with more Matlock-ian plot machinations. One year after a young girl fatally drives her car off a mountain road, Abel and one of his deputies sees her driving around town. As Abel digs deep to decipher this spectral roadster riddle, he uncovers a deep and deadly secret. Also stars James Cromwell and Jonathan Banks.
THE ROSE AND THE JACKAL (1990) Christopher Reeve and Madolyn Smith Osborne star in this sweeping TV period romance that pits a dashing Union agent against an enchanting Confederate spy. Original Secret Service agent Allan Pinkerton (Reeve) is charged with stopping the flow of confidential information from the North to the South in the early days of The Civil War, and he tracks it to a beautiful southern belle (Osborne). As the two opponents circle each other, their hearts trap them in a web that their duties compel them to destroy. Reeve is rugged, dashing, bearded and brilliant.
DUEL OF HEARTS (1991) Barbara Cartland’s Romance novel comes alive in this small screen adaptation that captures all the page-turning pleasure, adventure and romance of her bodice rippers. Alison Doody stars as Lady Caroline Faye, a fiery headstrong aristocrat who finds herself burning with desire for the dashing Lord Bracon (Benedict Taylor). But a terrible secret stand between them – a secret that Lady Faye is determined to uncover. Also stars Michael York and Geraldine Chaplin.
BEYOND BETRAYAL (1994) Susan Dey and Richard Dean Anderson star in this riveting made-for-TV suspense thriller. Dey plays Joanna, a woman on the run from her psychotic, abusive husband Bradley (Anderson in full on terrifying Terminator mode). After she meets an eccentric toy maker (Dennis Boutsikaris), she lets her guard down and the devil rushes in. And Joanna can’t turn to the law for help – since her husband IS the law. Also stars James Tolkan.
