DVDBeaver Newsletter for the Week of June 7th, 2021
http://www.dvdbeaver.com
THIS WEEK RELEASES include Criterion Masaki Kobayashi epic!, Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones goes 4K UHD!, Ken Burns' Baseball, double Philippe de Broca with hunky Jean-Paul, Stanley Kwan with Maggie, Robert Altman with Basinger, 50's The Giant Claw and a Werewolf, Paul Naschy pushes the envelope, Euro cult revenge, 70's Monsters, Arrow does more excellent Indie, Mankiewicz with Kirk D. and Hank Fonda, François Ozon pure cinema, Silent Dietrich!...
THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS: Indicator does another Essential Hammer Boxset!, Basil Dearden does Benny Hill, 80's Slasher schlock, Masumura femme fatale, Robert Wiene silent era crime-horror-sci/fi-mystery, Jacqueline Bisset spy-spoof, Claudia Cardinale swashbuckling adventure comedy.... and more.
Enjoy,
Gary

RELEASES the WEEK of June 7th, 2021 (Recommended titles have "**")

Alpha Dog [Blu-ray] (Nick Cassavetes, 2006) NBC Universal
US: https://amzn.to/3aVZy15
CAN: https://amzn.to/3z8IIGT
COMMENTS: They grew up together in the suburbs of LA, living their own version of the American dream, with every day a blur of partying and looking for the next thrill. Johnny (Emile Hirsch) is the leader in their sordid world of drugs, greed, power and privilege. But when he is double-crossed by another dealer, things quickly begin to spiral out of control, and an impulsive kidnapping leads to a shocking conclusion. Justin Timberlake, Sharon Stone and Bruce Willis co-star in this powerful and controversial film.
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Assault on VA-33 [Blu-ray] (Christopher Ray, 2021) Paramount Studios
US: https://amzn.to/3fYfZeP
COMMENTS: Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints) stars as decorated army veteran Jason Hill. While on a routine visit to the local VA hospital, organized terrorists infiltrate the building and take hostages, including a decorated general, and Hill’s wife. The highly trained veteran is outnumbered and the last line of defense, taking on a building full of armed insurgents before it’s too late.
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Baphomet [Blu-ray] (Matthan Harris, 2021) Cleopatra
US: https://amzn.to/3seWDaq
CAN: https://amzn.to/34RmkDI
COMMENTS: BAPHOMET tells the tale of an American family (the Richardsons) celebrating their daughter's pregnancy, but things begin to go awry when Satanic cult leader, Henrik Brandr unexpectedly visits their ranch. Henrik offers to pay the family a large sum for ownership of their land, claiming it is sacred to his congregation. Jacob Richardson, the father, rejects the offer due to the sentimental value of his ranch. Henrik, displeased, begins to put curses on the Richardsons, trying to force them off of their own land - even if it means murdering them. After suffering unexplainable tragedies created by the curses, the Richardsons seek help from Marybeth, a white witch high priestess. They soon discover a terrible secret about their house, revealing why their land is so scared to the cult. They realize that they must protect their house from the cult at all costs, and a violent battle between good and evil ensues.
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**Baseball: A Film By Ken Burns** [Blu-ray] (1994–2010) PBS
US: https://amzn.to/3ahuI1P
CAN: https://amzn.to/2T1cRY6
COMMENTS: Here is the story of Americas national pastime from master storyteller Ken Burns. It is an epic overflowing with heroes and hopefuls, scoundrels and screwballs. A saga spanning the quest for racial justice, the clash of labor and management, the immigrant experience, the transformation of popular culture, and the enduring appeal of the national pastime. Producers:Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, David McMahon. Author: Ken Burns, Geoffrey C. Ward, David McMahon, Lynn Novick. Narrator: John Chancellor, Keith David
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**Cartouche** [Blu-ray] (Philippe de Broca, 1962) Kino
US: https://amzn.to/2SYshfI
CAN: https://amzn.to/3ci3Mke
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/cartouche_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Kino Lorber's 4K restoration of Philippe de Broca's "Cartouche" (from the original camera negative) is impressive despite the heavy green leaning. The film's gorgeous sets and costumes are worth seeing here in 1080P, not to mention the swashbuckling comedy that Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale (and a cast of fantastic character actors) provide. The commentary on Kino's Blu-ray from Simon Abrams is full of valuable contextual information, and the inclusion of the documentary "Adventure with a Capital 'C'" will be of interest to many. Certainly recommended. - Colin Zavitz
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**Center Stage** [Blu-ray] (Stanley Kwan, 1991) Film Movement
US: https://amzn.to/3u53vr2
CAN: https://amzn.to/3z98HxA
COMMENTS: International superstar Maggie Cheung (In the Mood for Love) embodies tragic screen siren Ruan Lingyu, known as the 'Greta Garbo of China' in this unconventional biopic by Hong Kong New Wave master Stanley Kwan (Rouge). Praised for her moving and emotive onscreen presence, Ruan’s private life, which was frequent fodder for the vicious Shanghai tabloids, began to mirror the melodramas which brought her fame, culminating in her suicide at age 24. Kwan and Cheung paint a kaleidoscopic yet intimate portrait of the ill\-fated actress, deftly blending lush period drama, archival footage, and metatextual documentary sequences of Cheung reflecting on Ruan’s legacy. The result is, much like the films of Ruan Lingyu themselves, “tender, vivid and almost overwhelmingly moving” (Time Out).
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City of Lies [Blu-ray] (Brad Furman, 2018) Artisan / Lionsgate
US: https://amzn.to/3xItWWD
COMMENTS: Russell Poole and Jack Jackson investigate the murders of rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.
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Contraband & Fear - Mark Wahlberg Double Feature [Blu-ray] MillCreek
US: https://amzn.to/2Pw7I8w
CAN: https://amzn.to/3wSM3rA
COMMENTS: Mark Whalberg headlines this thrilling combo of career-defining performances including Reese Witherspoon’s psychotic boyfriend in Fear and an ex-smuggler caught in a drug war in Contraband. CONTRABAND - To protect his brother-in-law from a drug lord, a former smuggler heads to Panama to score millions of dollars in counterfeit bills. FEAR – A teen girl’s first romance takes a deadly turn when her new boyfriend begins to exhibit a violently possessive side to his personality.
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**Ferris Bueller's Day Off** [Blu-ray] (John Hughes, 1986) Paramount
US: https://amzn.to/3vdGWBq
CAN: https://amzn.to/2T7vrhi
ALT-BEAVER REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews45/ferris_buellers_day_off_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: “Bueller…Bueller…?” Sorry, not here! Instead, high-schooler Ferris Bueller (Mathew Broderick), his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), and his best bud Cameron (Alan Ruck) are off on the spontaneous romp through Chicago known as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. You’ll also enjoy righteous bonus materials that give you an insider’s peek at this hilarious comedy hit from John Hughes (Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Sixteen Candles). So, barf up a lung, forge a “sick note” from the parents, and tag along on the funniest adventure to ever sweep through the Windy City. What are you still doing here? Save Ferris!
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Flashback [Blu-ray] (Christopher MacBride, 2020) Artisan / Lionsgate
US: https://amzn.to/3dqHA8H
COMMENTS: After a chance encounter with a man forgotten from his youth, Fred literally and metaphorically journeys into his past.
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**Fool for Love** [Blu-ray] (Robert Altman, 1985) Kino
US: https://amzn.to/3iiNNpN
CAN: https://amzn.to/3fPUGxl
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/fool_for_love_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Fans of Robert Altman will want to indulge in Fool For Love. It's filled with his telltale, naturalistic, style but a difficult task to adapt the Sam Shepard play that feels best suited to the stage. Dialogue can be less convincing although excellent performance from Kim Basinger, and underplayed Shepard, all-knowing Harry Dean Stanton and confused Randy Quaid to carry the film. Damaged characters, incest, a lonely night etc. set expertly in a dusty backwater that exudes Americana. There is so much here to love and great to see a Scorpion / Kino Blu-ray surface. Absolutely recommended!
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The Giant Claw / The Werewolf [Blu-ray] (Fred F. Sears, 1956-57) Umbrella
US: https://amzn.to/3c46ee8
ALT-BEAVER REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/blu-ray_reviews_79/the_giant_claw_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Engineer Mitch MacAfee (Jeff Morrow, Kronos) spots a UFO while directing a study at the North Pole. But when the Air Force arrives, they cannot find anything visually or on radar, throwing Mitch's reputation into doubt. Soon, though, many airplanes are reporting attacks by a UFO, which turns out to be a giant speeding bird from outer space. Along with mathematician Sally Caldwell (Mara Corday, Sudden Impact), Mitch tries to determine a way to stop the bird, which has a force field that renders all weapons useless.
A stranger (Steven Ritch, Plunder Road) shows up in town, not knowing who he is or where he came from. When a local tough guy threatens him, the stranger’s anger comes out, and he turns into one of the most terrifying creatures of legend — the werewolf — killing the hooligan. As locals try to understand the unusual murder, we learn the origin of the werewolf, created by two diabolical doctors who gave the stranger an unusual serum.Meanwhile, the part-man, part-beast hides in the woods, trying not to let his curse hurt others.
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Howl of the Devil [Blu-ray] (Paul Naschy, 1988) Mondo Macabro
US: https://amzn.to/3uL7wkM
CAN: https://amzn.to/3g4CCyq
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/howl_of_the_devil_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Paul Naschy seems to have pushed the envelope with Howl of the Devil. It's easily his most misogynist film and there is some gruesomeness that is beyond the predictable. Like, with a lot of his work, there are underlying cohesive themes about family relationships and his frequent homage to the Universal horror films he adored even offering a dedication to Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, and make-up artist pioneer Jack Pierce. Although in this later effort Naschy is not filling the credits with the best Spanish babes, the addition of green-eyed Caroline Munro more than makes up for it. I seem to get more out of Paul Naschy's oeuvre the more I view it. Many in this cult-Euro niche space will be thrilled to have the Mondo Macabro Blu-ray with commentary, interview and documentary all adding more value to the stellar a/v presentation. Certainly recommended!
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**The Human Condition** [Blu-ray] Masaki Kobayashi - No Greater Love(1959), The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961) and The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity - Criterion
US: https://amzn.to/3bTcMMM
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/blu-ray_reviews_74/the_human_condition_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: The upgrade in the HD presentation and audio (parts 5 + 6) will make Region 'A'-locked fans extremely pleased. The Criterion is the best package although Arrow has very worthy extras (also from Philip Kemp who has done the liner notes for the Criterion.) Masaki Kobayashi's The Human Condition can be achingly grim, from the cruelty of war to the heights of love and survivalism... but its draining viewing makes it nonetheless an absolute masterpiece that every cinephile must see. It's beautifully shot and the Criterion image is jaw-dropping - further heightening the film's powerful impact. This must be owned and the Criterion Blu-ray package, watched to be fully appreciated. Don't hesitate - our highest recommendation!
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**Hunting Ground** [Blu-ray] (Jorge Grau, 1983) Mondo Macabro
US: https://amzn.to/2SXPDll
CAN: https://amzn.to/3if0eDl
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/hunting_ground_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Things are mostly sedate through the majority of Jorge Grau's Hunting Ground laying a base for the moral conflicts that arise - but the film ends with some excessive, sadistic, violence. While that is unpleasant, to say the least, the premise of the thriller story and its evolution is intelligently realized. Perhaps when we are all facing the test, will we lose our moral compass? I found that angle exceptionally interesting and you really don't know where the film will end up going. "Shocking' might be an answer. Overall this is another unique film brought to us my Mondo Macabro and the Blu-ray is up to their usual high standard. Adventurous fans of Euro-cinema should be keen about this one.
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**Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection [4K UHD Blu-ray]** - Paramount
US: https://amzn.to/3cdiKsj
CAN: https://amzn.to/3psYA2d
UK: https://amzn.to/2Ppi1vA
COMMENTS: Relive the unforgettable exploits of world-renowned, globetrotting hero Indiana Jones in spectacular 4K Ultra HD when the INDIANA JONES 4-MOVIE COLLECTION arrives in a new 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray(tm) set and on Digital to Download & Keep from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Entertainment. The cinematic classic that started it all - Raiders of the Lost Ark - celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, having first introduced audiences to the man with the hat on the 12th June, 1981. Forty years later, the legendary hero continues to captivate new generations of fans. Now, for the first time ever, all four films are available together in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision(r) and HDR-10 for ultra-vivid picture quality and state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos(r) audio*. Each film has been meticulously remastered from 4K scans of the original negatives with extensive visual effects work done to ensure the most pristine and highest quality image. All picture work was approved by director Steven Spielberg.
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Killer Elite [Blu-ray] (Gary McKendry, 2011) Universal Pictures
US: https://amzn.to/2RedFrt
CAN: https://amzn.to/3x6Zuo1
COMMENTS: Jason Statham (The Italian Job), Academy Award nominee Clive Owen (Closer) and Academy Award winner Robert De Niro (Raging Bull) star in Killer Elite, "one of the best action thrillers of the year!" (Richard Roeper). When two of the world's most elite operatives – Danny, a retired contract killer (Statham), and Hunter, his longtime mentor (De Niro) – go up against the cunning leader of a secret military society (Owen), their hunt takes them around the globe from Australia to Paris, London, and the Middle East. As the stakes rise along with the body count, Danny and Hunter are soon plunged into an action-packed game of cat-and-mouse where no one is what they seem. Based on a shocking true story, it's an explosive, no-mercy thrill ride where the predator ultimately becomes the prey.
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Lake Mungo [Blu-ray] (Joel Anderson, 2008) RB UK Second Sight Films
UK: https://amzn.to/2Rq895i
COMMENTS: Sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer tragically drowns while swimming in the local dam and, in the days that follow, her grieving family begin to experience a series of strange and inexplicable events. Seeking the help of a parapsychologist, their search for answers reveals that Alice had been living a disturbed life and hiding secrets. Something had haunted Alice and the terrifying truth awaits at Lake Mungo.
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Like Father Like Son (Rod Daniel, 1987) Sony
US: https://amzn.to/2TvyzUf
CAN: https://amzn.to/3fWtHA9
COMMENTS: Chris Hammond (Kirk Cameron) is a typical school senior pursuing his general education: girls, carsand music. His father, Dr. Jack Hammond (Dudley Moore), is a successful heart surgeon, on the verge of being named Chief of Staff at a leading hospital. They're about as close as a father and son can get...but they're about to come even closer. In one split second, father and son accidentally change bodies, resulting in a chaotic change-of-lifestyle for both of them. The son gets the Jaguar, the Gold card and the boss' wife. His father gets the allowance, the biology final and the fake ID!
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Lover of the Monster [Blu-ray] (Sergio Garrone, 1974) Full Moon Features
US: https://amzn.to/3bAuPGw
CAN: https://amzn.to/34RRAT9
COMMENTS: Legendary German actor Klaus Kinski (CRAWLSPACE, NOSFERATU: PHANTOM DER NACHT) stars as Dr. Alex Nijinksy, a troubled scientist who retires to his long suffering wife Anijeska's family castle in search of a fresh start. Already under pressure, Nijinsky's rage begins to boil when his lady starts spending time with her ex-boyfriend and, after he discovers a hidden laboratory in the castle belonging to his mad scientist father-in-law, he unleashes the living incarnation of his rage. Soon, Nijinksy is up to no good, sexually assaulting women and murdering them, all the while making his wife's life a living hell. Filmed back to back with writer/director Sergio Garrone's equally Gothic Italian/Turkish thriller THE HAND THAT FEEDS THE DEAD, LOVER OF THE MONSTER features much of the same cast and crew, including the gorgeous Katia Christine (RIOT IN A WOMEN'S PRISON) as well as having Kinski play a same-named (though totally different) mad scientist named Nijinsky
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**Le Magnifique - aka The Man from Acapulco** (Philippe de Broca, 1973) Kino 
US: https://amzn.to/3caQlT2
CAN: https://amzn.to/34IcVyg
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/le_magnifique_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: I had never seen Le Magnifique and had no expectations - but it's a hoot with surprisingly deep layers, reminding me, at times, of the show Archer, which I adore - adult and violent but funny. It has plenty of over-the-top sequences. There is a sexual assault reference in the conclusion that sensitive viewers may object to today. I would love to see more of Philippe de Broca (The King of Hearts) films reach Blu-ray. This was a real romp, that ended up being quite touching. Miss Bisset is at her usual sexy best and kudos to Belmondo who doesn't take a backseat in that area. It's a film I was very pleased to see via the Kino Blu-ray and the added commentary really bolstered my appreciation. This film has a lot more going for it than you might imagine. Absolutely recommended!
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Micky Flanagan: Peeping Behind the Curtain [Blu-ray] (Mike Reilly, 2020) RB UK Spirit Entertainment
UK: https://amzn.to/3sNd79k
COMMENTS: Unlike anything else you’ve ever seen him in, this is an intimate feature length documentary that reveals how Micky Flanagan went from performing in backrooms in pubs to creating an arena run that became the world’s biggest stand-up tour in 2017. From early raw material to the 02 Arena, this film reveals the man behind the laughter and invites the audience into the rarely seen world of a master comic at work.
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Nouchka van Brakel Trilogy [Blu-ray] (The Debut, A Woman Like Eve, The Cool Lakes of Death) Cult Epics
US: https://amzn.to/3tfK7XQ
COMMENTS: THE DEBUT (Het Debuut) tells the delicate story of the impossible love between a teenage schoolgirl (played by Marina de Graaf) and a middle-aged married man (Gerard Cox). Arthouse LGBT favorite A WOMAN LIKE EVE (Een Vrouw als Eva) is a drama about a wife (Moniek van de Ven) who leaves her husband (Peter Faber) for another woman (Maria Schneider), with the consequences of losing her children. THE COOL LAKES OF DEATH (Van de Koelen Meren des Doods), one of the masterpieces of Dutch cinema, is a melodrama that tells the tragic story of a wealthy woman (Rene Soutendijk) whose sexual desires lead to a life of mental illness, drug addiction, and prostitution on the streets of Paris during the 1880s. Both A Woman as Eve and THE COOL LAKES OF DEATH were the Dutch entries for 'Best Foreign Language Film' at the Academy Awards.
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Play Dead [Blu-ray] (Tetsuya Taketodo, 2009) Dark Side Releasing
US: https://amzn.to/3fVQaxO
CAN: https://amzn.to/3fVltbC
COMMENTS: Rapid waves of modernization come to a country town and affect the clan craftsman Gonzo, his wife, and the governor Zenzo, creating friction between them. Gonzo leaves to begin a new business in Osaka. On his way along the road banks, Gonzo sees a dead woman inside a small house, lying on a futon. But when he investigates further, he finds that she is not dead after all, and soon everything becomes a strange game of sex and overwhelming desire.
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Puzzle [Blu-ray] (Duccio Tessari, 1974) VCI
US: https://amzn.to/3seXO9Q
CAN: https://amzn.to/3x0RLHP
COMMENTS: Stranded in London with no memory and no identity that he can recall, a man who believes his name is Peter (Luc Merenda) struggles with amnesia after a car accident. With little information to help him solve the puzzle of who he is, an attempted murder and a strange series of events lead him to the discovery that his name is in fact Ted and that he has a beautiful wife, Sara (Senta Berger), waiting for him in the world-famous Italian resort town of Portofino. Traveling to Italy in the hope of unravelling the mystery of his identity, he finds that the hurt, lonely Sara - believing that she had been abandoned by her husband knowingly - has made tentative steps to rebuild her life with the help of her best friends Whiskey the dog and Luca (Duilio Cruciani), the straight-talking and slightly infatuated young child to whom she lives next door to. With the Hitchcockian flair of the absolute best gialli from the 1970s
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Scream [Blu-ray] (Byron Quisenberry, 1981) Code Red
US: https://amzn.to/3vWdzUM
CAN: https://amzn.to/3icW4LV
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/scream_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: What has long been touted as one of "the worst slasher films ever made", and split audiences between the so-bad-it's-good and the so-bad-it's-just-bad camps. Regardless of which camp you may fall into, Code Red's new(er) Blu-ray of "Scream" touts a 2K Scan from the original negatives, with a much better image than older DVD versions.....recommended to only the brave bad movie fans. - Colin Zavitz
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**Some Kind of Wonderful** [Blu-ray] (Howard Deutch, 1987) Paramount
US: https://amzn.to/2PXPihm
CAN: https://amzn.to/2RuTCpm
COMMENTS: A young tomboy, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith (Eric Stoltz), run deeper than just friendship when he gets a date with the most popular girl in school, Amanda, (Lea Thompson). Unfortunately, the girl's old boyfriend, Hardy (Craig Scheffer), who is from the rich section of town, is unable to let go of her, and plans to get back at Keith.
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**Son of the White Mare** [Blu-ray] (Marcell Jankovics, 1981) Arbelos Films
US: https://amzn.to/3tL9PE9
CAN: https://amzn.to/34QjFu8
COMMENTS: Legendary Hungarian animator Marcell Jankovics created a definitive masterpiece of world cinema with this psychedelic adaptation of Hungarian fairy tales. Traversing an otherworldly canvas, SON OF THE WHITE MARE follows mythic folk heroes Treeshaker, Stonecrumbler and Irontemperer as they descend into the perilous Underworld on an epic quest to battle the forces of ancient evil and save the cosmos. By turns astonishing and meditative, this kaleidoscopic medley of path-breaking animation styles is given its first-ever U.S. release here in a new 4K director approved restoration. Rounding out this collection is a comprehensive survey of Marcell Jankovics' famed early work including a new restoration of JÁNOS VITÉZ, the first Hungarian animated feature film, and three landmark short films.
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**The Stylist** [Blu-ray] (Jill Gevargizian, 2020) Arrow 
UK: https://amzn.to/3uT7M0Y
US: https://amzn.to/3gdSleu
CAN: https://amzn.to/3vStljJ
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/the_stylist_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: I really enjoyed Jill Gevargizian's The Stylist. It is creative and has a unique intense quality - very subtly expressing the horror story ('Sweeney Todd' overtones) with both gentle and harsh tones. It really works well even beyond being a lower budget effort. The score handles moods with irony and it is definitely creepy. This gal, Claire, really need help - maybe a partner. I look forward to more from Gevargizian! The Arrow Blu-ray is stacked (commentary, visual essay, booklet etc.) and at their usual level of exceptional a/v. I like that they are supporting these lesser-seen films (A Ghost Waits and The Bloodhound) and this get s a strong endorsement.
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**There Was a Crooked Man...** [Blu-ray] (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1970) Warner Archive
US: https://amzn.to/3hMZLrM
COMMENTS: Arizona Territorial Prison inmate Paris Pitman, Jr. is a schemer, a charmer and quite popular among his fellow convicts – especially with $500,000 in stolen loot hidden away and a plan to escape and recover it. New warden Woodward Lopeman has other ideas about Pitman. Each man will have the tables turned on him. Academy Award® winner* Joseph L. Mankiewicz cleverly lassos a twisting, turning Wild West tale of brawls, chases, shootouts and wry wit, courtesy of a script by David Newman and Robert Benton (Bonnie and Clyde). Kirk Douglas as Pitman and Henry Fonda as Lopeman headline a sterling cast, with Hume Cronyn, Burgess Meredith, Warren Oates and Lee Grant among the solid support. Boisterous yet blistering, lighthearted yet lacerating, There Was a Crooked Man is, throughout all its moods, devilishly entertaining.
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**Toy Story 1-4 Collection [4K UHD Blu-ray]** - UK Disney and Pixar
US: https://amzn.to/3lIEAqG
OUR REVUEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews17/toy_story_dvd_review.htm
COMMENTS: Experience a hilarious fantasy about the lives toys lead when they're left alone. Woody, an old-fashioned coyboy doll, is Andy's favourite. But when Andy get Buzz Lightyear for his birthday, the flashy new space hero takes Andy's room by storm! Their rivalry leaves them lost with a toy's worst nightmare - Sid, the toy-torturing boy next door. Woody and Buzz must work together to escape, realising along the way that they've got a friend...in each other!
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**Under the Sand** [Blu-ray] (François Ozon, 2000) Kino
US: https://amzn.to/3yaPNG9
CAN: https://amzn.to/2SdMf62
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_138/under_the_sand_blu-ray.htm
OUR COMMENTS: François Ozon's Under the Sand is one of my favorite French films and I have even included it in an article "A Favorite Opening Scene, Thirteen Memorable Conclusions and a Wonderful Credit Sequence" written 18-years ago. Under the Sand was extolled extensively by the great Ingmar Bergman! It's a film involving one woman’s bereavement and inability to cope after losing her spouse. The film is staunchly unsentimental in its portrayal of Marie and her situation. A complete emotional withdrawal only heightens her insupportable delusions of his potential existence. It evokes Rohmer, Akerman and the very best of 'slow cinema'. I feel totally confident in throwing away my ancient DVDs at last. The Kino Blu-ray has a significant a/v upgrade and includes a Kat Ellinger commentary. I strongly urge you to see François Ozon's Under the Sand.... wow.
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The Unhealer [Blu-ray] (Martin Guigui, 2020) Shout! Factory
US: https://amzn.to/3exoAq3
CAN: https://amzn.to/2T78GcY
COMMENTS: Kelly has a compulsive eating disorder which has him bedridden. When his single mom witnesses a faith healer perform a miracle, she hires him to lay hands on Kelly. The healing ritual works, and Kelly gains unexpected supernatural powers; any pain inflicted on him is instead felt by his aggressor. When his lifelong tormentors run Kelly over in their car, his powers transfer the injuries to the driver. Kelly's bullies blame him for their friend's death and concoct a prank to settle the score which goes horribly wrong. Kelly's rage takes him on a murderous revenge spree and the horror escalates. When his powers become uncontrollable, no one around Kelly is safe, not even the girl he loves.
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**The Woman One Longs For** [Blu-ray] (Curtis Bernhardt, 1929) Kino
US: https://amzn.to/3eMaOiO
CAN: https://amzn.to/3vXYXEF
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_138/the_woman_one_longs_for_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: There are a few wonderful things about The Woman One Longs For. The obvious is that it has Marlene Dietrich, the second is that there is so much regarding the characterizations and plot that are left to our imagination. I loved the suggestions and distractions; sinister ne'er-do-wells, compromised women, corporate arranged marriages, deceit, infatuation... it's almost Noir-ish. The Kino Blu-ray restored by the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Stiftung not only looks great and has a super score, but is an arresting film experience. I doubt I ever would have seen this without this package and the Gaylyn Studlar commentary adds even more value. Certainly recommended!
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Zeroville [Blu-ray] (James Franco, 2019) MVD Marquee Collection
US: https://amzn.to/3c6HzES
CAN: https://amzn.to/2RtzVhJ
COMMENTS: Vikar (Academy Award Nominee James Franco, 127 Hours) is a lost soul journeying through a land of myths, beauty and monsters Hollywood, 1969. The studio system is in decay, and a new generation of brash filmmakers are on the rise. With his shaved head marked by a tattoo from his favorite film (1951's A Place in the Sun) Vikar is a bizarre presence even amid the freaks and dreamers. He finds work first building sets, then as an apprentice editor obsessed with wielding the power of moving images. As his involvement in the creative process deepens, so does his fascination with a tragic screen goddess named Soledad (Megan Fox, Transformers). Together they discover just how hard it is to live in the blurred boundary between reality and fantasy.
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LATEST CALENDAR UPDATES:

June 28th, 2021

Walking the Edge (Norbert Meisel, 1985) Fun City Editions
https://amzn.to/3wKcks8

July 19th, 2021

The Brotherhood of Satan (Bernard McEveety, 1971) - Imprint
https://amzn.to/34JsNRr

**The Charge of the Light Brigade** (Tony Richardson, 1968) RB UK Final Cut Entertainment
https://amzn.to/34zYMmE

**Hammer Horror: Four Gothic Horror Films** - Countess Dracula (1971), Hands of the Ripper (1971), Twins of Evil (1971), Vampire Circus (1972) - Imprint
https://amzn.to/3yIngIx

Haunted (Lewis Gilbert, 1995) Imprint Records
https://amzn.to/3wNG8Ef

August 2nd, 2021

**The Sergio Martino Collection** (The Case of the Scorpions Tail, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, The Suspicious Death of a Minor) Arrow UK
https://amzn.to/34sRkd8

August 16th, 2021

**The Front** (Martin Ritt, 1976) Region FREE UK Indicator
https://amzn.to/2RODM9m
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film4/blu-ray_reviews_61/the_front_blu-ray.htm

Inseminoid (Norman J. Warren, 1981) Region FREE UK Inidcator
https://amzn.to/3fyVxm3
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews55/inseminoid_blu-ray.htm

**Little Murders** (Alan Arkin, 1971) RB UK Indicator
https://amzn.to/2R5BxxP
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews27/little_murders_blu-ray.htm

**Modern Romance** (Albert Brooks, 1981) Region FREE UK Indicator
https://amzn.to/2SDWgcG
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews32/modern_romance_blu-ray.htm

Prey (Norman J. Warren, 1977) Region FREE UK Indicator
https://amzn.to/2Ts726a
ALT - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/dvd_reviews_67/prey_blu-ray.htm

**A Tale of Two Sisters** (Jee-woon Kim, 2003) Arrow UK
https://amzn.to/3i4bzG0
ALT - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/blu-ray_reviews_77/a_tale_of_two_sisters_blu-ray.htm

Terror (Norman J. Warren, 1978) Region FREE UK Indicator
https://amzn.to/3fB1fE1
ALT - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/dvd_reviews56/terror_blu-ray.htm

August 23rd, 2021

**All About Eve** (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1950) Criterion UK
https://amzn.to/3vzNafn
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews53/all_about_eve_blu-ray.htm

**Blind Beast** (Yasuzô Masumura, 1969) Arrow UK
https://amzn.to/3p3wRoC

August 30th, 2021
The Brotherhood of Satan (Bernard McEveety, 1971) Arrow UK
https://amzn.to/2R42fXE

**Dune 4K UHD** (David Lynch, 1984) Arrow UK
https://amzn.to/3c4BR7k

**Dune** (David Lynch, 1984) Arrow UK
https://amzn.to/3uyRwCq

**Lawman** (Michael Winner, 1971) RB UK Final Cut Entertainment
https://amzn.to/2RPK0FY
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/blu-ray_reviews_78/lawman_blu-ray.htm

September 27th, 2021

**Three Coins in the Fountain** (Jean Negulesco, 1954) RB UK Signal One Entertainment
https://amzn.to/3fVSL9h
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Monica Vitti:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/monica_vitti_photo_archive.htm
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Paul Newman:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/paul_newman_photo_archive.htm
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Susan George:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/susan_george_photo_archive.htm
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Jacqueline Bisset:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/jacqueline_bisset_photo_archive.htm
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Suzanne Pleshette:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/suzanne_pleshette_photo_archive.htm
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THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS:

**Irezumi** BD
UK: https://amzn.to/3cnUsvf
US: https://amzn.to/3z5SzNx
CAN: https://amzn.to/3im75uM
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/irezumi_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Yasuzô Masumura's Irezumi puts the 'fatale' in 'femme fatale'. It's an Edo period film but disimilar to Arrow's previous Blu-rays of 'Toei pinky violence' (Inferno of Torture, Orgies of Edo or Horrors of Malformed Men, although I am really looking forward to their Blind Beast Blu-ray,) although there is less-obvious sexual assault and other, more pronounced, violence - occasionally against women. The premise is extremely appealing; "A seductive woman gets kidnapped into prostitution. After getting a spider tattoo made on her back, she grows vengeful, leaving several men in her path." Delicious. I would say it is very satisfying especially with the Desser commentary, Rayns introduction and Miyao visual essay. The Arrow Blu-ray a/v is at their exceptional level and it is filled with appreciated supplements. Strongly recommended!
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**Cartouche** BD
US: https://amzn.to/2SYshfI
CAN: https://amzn.to/3ci3Mke
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/cartouche_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Kino Lorber's 4K restoration of Philippe de Broca's "Cartouche" (from the original camera negative) is impressive despite the heavy green leaning. The film's gorgeous sets and costumes are worth seeing here in 1080P, not to mention the swashbuckling comedy that Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale (and a cast of fantastic character actors) provide. The commentary on Kino's Blu-ray from Simon Abrams is full of valuable contextual information, and the inclusion of the documentary "Adventure with a Capital 'C'" will be of interest to many. Certainly recommended. - Colin Zavitz
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**The Stylist** BD
UK: https://amzn.to/3uT7M0Y
US: https://amzn.to/3gdSleu
CAN: https://amzn.to/3vStljJ
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/the_stylist_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: I really enjoyed Jill Gevargizian's The Stylist. It is creative and has a unique intense quality - very subtly expressing the horror story ('Sweeney Todd' overtones) with both gentle and harsh tones. It really works well even beyond being a lower budget effort. The score handles moods with irony and it is definitely creepy. This gal, Claire, really need help - maybe a partner. I look forward to more from Gevargizian! The Arrow Blu-ray is stacked (commentary, visual essay, booklet etc.) and at their usual level of exceptional a/v. I like that they are supporting these lesser-seen films (A Ghost Waits and The Bloodhound) and this get s a strong endorsement. Recommended!
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Howl of the Devil BD
US: https://amzn.to/3uL7wkM
CAN: https://amzn.to/3g4CCyq
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/howl_of_the_devil_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Paul Naschy seems to have pushed the envelope with Howl of the Devil. It's easily his most misogynist film and there is some gruesomeness that is beyond the predictable. Like, with a lot of his work, there are underlying cohesive themes about family relationships and his frequent homage to the Universal horror films he adored even offering a dedication to Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, and make-up artist pioneer Jack Pierce. Although in this later effort Naschy is not filling the credits with the best Spanish babes, the addition of green-eyed Caroline Munro more than makes up for it. I seem to get more out of Paul Naschy's oeuvre the more I view it. Many in this cult-Euro niche space will be thrilled to have the Mondo Macabro Blu-ray with commentary, interview and documentary all adding more value to the stellar a/v presentation. Certainly recommended!
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**Fool For Love** BD
US: https://amzn.to/3iiNNpN
CAN: https://amzn.to/3fPUGxl
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/fool_for_love_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Fans of Robert Altman will want to indulge in Fool For Love. It's filled with his telltale, naturalistic, style but a difficult task to adapt the Sam Shepard play that feels best suited to the stage. Dialogue can be less convincing although excellent performance from Kim Basinger, and underplayed Shepard, all-knowing Harry Dean Stanton and confused Randy Quaid to carry the film. Damaged characters, incest, a lonely night etc. set expertly in a dusty backwater that exudes Americana. There is so much here to love and great to see a Scorpion / Kino Blu-ray surface. Absolutely recommended!
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**Hunting Ground** BD
US: https://amzn.to/2SXPDll
CAN: https://amzn.to/3if0eDl
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/hunting_ground_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Things are mostly sedate through the majority of Jorge Grau's Hunting Ground laying a base for the moral conflicts that arise - but the film ends with some excessive, sadistic, violence. While that is unpleasant, to say the least, the premise of the thriller story and its evolution is intelligently realized. Perhaps when we are all facing the test, will we lose our moral compass? I found that angle exceptionally interesting and you really don't know where the film will end up going. "Shocking' might be an answer. Overall this is another unique film brought to us my Mondo Macabro and the Blu-ray is up to their usual high standard. Adventurous fans of Euro-cinema should be keen about this one.
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**Le Magnifique** BD
US: https://amzn.to/3caQlT2
CAN: https://amzn.to/34IcVyg
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/le_magnifique_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: I had never seen Le Magnifique and had no expectations - but it's a hoot with surprisingly deep layers, reminding me, at times, of the show Archer, which I adore - adult and violent but funny. It has plenty of over-the-top sequences. There is a sexual assault reference in the conclusion that sensitive viewers may object to today. I would love to see more of Philippe de Broca (The King of Hearts) films reach Blu-ray. This was a real romp, that ended up being quite touching. Miss Bisset is at her usual sexy best and kudos to Belmondo who doesn't take a backseat in that area. It's a film I was very pleased to see via the Kino Blu-ray and the added commentary really bolstered my appreciation. This film has a lot more going for it than you might imagine. Absolutely recommended!
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**The Hands of Orlac** BD
UK: https://amzn.to/3fHfBm1
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/the_hands_of_orlac_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Robert Wiene's The Hands of Orlac is very enjoyable as a silent era crime-horror-sci/fi-mystery in the vein of Fritz Lang. Many will enjoy and appreciate the expressionist touches and precisely realized film. It is hauntingly moody and is pioneering of one of the frequently -repeated tropes involving switched body parts controlling the mind; include the iconic Frankenstein and Georges Franju’s horror classic Les Yeux sans Visage (Eyes Without a Face, 1959) plus many more. I was extremely pleased to see this reach Masters of Cinema Blu-ray. The Hands of Orlac is very creepy and best seen in this 1080P restoration. The detailed commentary, video essay, and booklet make this a strong recommendation!
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Scream BD
US: https://amzn.to/3vWdzUM
CAN: https://amzn.to/3icW4LV
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/scream_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: What has long been touted as one of "the worst slasher films ever made", and split audiences between the so-bad-it's-good and the so-bad-it's-just-bad camps. Regardless of which camp you may fall into, Code Red's new(er) Blu-ray of "Scream" touts a 2K Scan from the original negatives, with a much better image than older DVD versions.....recommended to only the brave bad movie fans. - Colin Zavitz
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**Captain Clegg** BD
Hammer Studio's "Captain Clegg" Blu-ray - Peter Cushing - part of Indicator's Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows Blu-ray package @indicatorseries
UK: https://amzn.to/3cdbzjV
INDICATOR: https://www.powerhousefilms.co.uk/collections/frontpage/products/hammer-volume-six-night-shadows-le?utm_source=DVDBEAVER&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=HAMMER-VOLUME-SIX-NIGHT-SHADOWS-LE
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film4/blu-ray_reviews_62_/captain_clegg_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Despite the less-frequent pirate sequences, this is still a historical (18th Century) swashbuckler adventure with all the Hammer charm we love with reference to the mysterious Romney marshes. It's based on Russell Thorndike's novel, "Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh". It's a superior adaptation to the Disney version focusing on the good/evil paradigm and anti-hero protagonists. It has Peter Cushing and is another essential part of Indicator's Hammer boxsets. This is easily the best Blu-ray edition offering both versions, an uptick in video, original mono audio and the girth of supplements including the valued Nasr commentary plus other new extras including, Kim Newman, Hammer's Women, 3+ hours with the director etc.. How can Hammer fans resists Indicator's Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows Blu-ray Set? Strongly recommended!
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**The Shadow of the Cat** BD
UK: https://amzn.to/3cdbzjV
INDICATOR: https://www.powerhousefilms.co.uk/collections/frontpage/products/hammer-volume-six-night-shadows-le?utm_source=DVDBEAVER&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=HAMMER-VOLUME-SIX-NIGHT-SHADOWS-LE
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/the_shadow_of_the_cat_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: The Shadow of the Cat has grown in stature and its appreciation seems to have advanced over time. Gilling may have been difficult but was able to craft a solid film (The Flesh and the Fiends, The Plague of the Zombies, Pickup Alley, The Reptile, The Mummy's Shroud etc.) with maybe a couple of unnecessary 'killing'. Indicator's Blu-ray of The Shadow of the Cat has superior video and a host of new extras keeping the valuable commentary. It's another wonderful addition of their Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows package. Absolutely recommended!
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**Nightmare** BD
UK: https://amzn.to/3cdbzjV
INDICATOR: https://www.powerhousefilms.co.uk/collections/frontpage/products/hammer-volume-six-night-shadows-le?utm_source=DVDBEAVER&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=HAMMER-VOLUME-SIX-NIGHT-SHADOWS-LE
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/nightmare_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Nightmare is firmly within Hammer's psycho-thrillers sub-genre - with creepy dreams inside an insane asylum. Jimmy Sangster's script is adeptly directed by Freddie Francis with prototypical Hammer charm. Another important part of Indicator's Blu-ray Hammer boxsets. This is easily the definitive 1080P edition of Hammer's Nightmare and we strongly recommended it, looking for ward to the other three films, The Shadow of the Cat, Captain Clegg, and The Phantom of the Opera, in Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows. Essential for fans of the studio.
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Who Done It? BD
US: https://amzn.to/3p6AwC7
CAN: https://amzn.to/3vEuonl
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_139/who_done_it_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Basil Dearden's Who Done It? is pretty much what you might expect - far less cheesecake (unlike how some posters may portray) than Benny Hill's TV show and without Boots Randolph's Yackety Sax theme, but a real genre-mix with the slapstick and sight-gags filling the time. It's certainly dated, getting tiresome quickly, and I can't really find appealing comparisons. The Kino Blu-ray offers an excellent a/v presentation and the inclusion of the commentary and comedic short give it value. There would be some nostalgic value as well. Many may not appreciate the film today.
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