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Release: August 18, 2020

$7.99

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The Terror: Infamy, chronicles a series of bizarre deaths that haunt a Japanese American community.

Release: December 15, 2020

$6.99

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The USS Reluctant carries cargo along World War II's forgotten Pacific seaways. Beyond the horizon, the real war passes its stir-crazy crew by. Mister Roberts, directed by John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy, is the classic story of men fighting to survive -- not war's dangers, but its indignities. Henry Fonda's reprise of his Tony -winning Broadway role returned him to movies after seven years away. Jack Lemmon won his first Academy Award * as hapless, lecherous Ensign Pulver. James Cagney's petty, scrappy Captain makes a fierce adversary. In his final film, William Powell makes world-weary Doc a sage for the ages. Mister Roberts has moments of unforgettable humor. But sadness tempers the comedy. No shot is fired. No blood is spilled. Yet Mister Roberts endures as one of our most truthful war sagas.

Release: February 24, 2026

$7.99

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A Broadway showgirl stranded in the African jungle; Eloise is more suited for the urban jungle. Yet one look at safari guide Victor Marswell and she knows exactly where she wants to be. Times change but the fun remains when Clark Gable portrays man's man Victor in a sassy, vibrant remake of Gable's 1932 hit Red Dust.

$7.99

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Filmmakers follow a young tiger in India's Ranthambhore reserve and retrace the mysterious journey that led to his death far from home.

Release: August 7, 2018

$7.99

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Frank Sinatra told the director to give the newcomer a break .John Sturges (The Great Escape) obliged, providing favorable camera angles for Sinatra’s young costar. In his first big-budget film, Steve McQueen was ready to grab the movie world’s attention. McQueen plays Bill Ringa, one of the O.S.S. combatants harassing the enemy in World War II Burma. Sinatra is Capt. Tom Reynolds, leading the guerilla fighters and risking court-martial while doing so. Also among Never So Few’s many are Charles Bronson, Peter Lawford and, in her first Hollywood film, Gina Lollobrigida. About McQueen, the New Y

Release: July 25, 2017

$7.99

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Brand New 4K Restoration in 2.55:1 Cinemascope! In this post-WWII suspense thriller, an American GI is abducted by the Soviets in West Berlin. Screen legend Gregory Peck (The Big Country, Duel in the Sun) plays Col. Van Dyke, a CIA officer stationed in Berlin who is put in charge of the case. The GI is the son of an influential industrialist (Broderick Crawford, Big House, U.S.A.) who demands that something is done immediately. But this is not a simple exchange; the Soviets in return are asking for the Americans to turn over an elderly anti-Nazi activist couple to the East Germans, who ll most likely execute the couple. Writing great Nunnally Johnson (The Dirty Dozen, Three Faces of Eve) wrote, produced and directed this exciting espionage adventure featuring Anita Björk (Miss Julie), Buddy Ebsen (Barnaby Jones), Peter van Eyck (Shalako) and Marianne Koch (A Fistful of Dollars). SPECIAL FEATURES: Interview with Cecilia Peck, Carey Peck and Anthong Peck | Trailers

Release: August 11, 2009

$6.99

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A shady New York book dealer tries to track down the last remaining copies of 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows', a demonic manuscript written in collaboration with the devil. He finds himself drawn into a web of occult horror and supernatural terrors that could open the gates of Hell and lead to the end of the world...

Release: August 11, 2009

$7.99

Description

A shady New York book dealer tries to track down the last remaining copies of 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows', a demonic manuscript written in collaboration with the devil. He finds himself drawn into a web of occult horror and supernatural terrors that could open the gates of Hell and lead to the end of the world...

Release: August 11, 2009

$8.99(Not Free for Subscribers)

Description

A shady New York book dealer tries to track down the last remaining copies of 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows', a demonic manuscript written in collaboration with the devil. He finds himself drawn into a web of occult horror and supernatural terrors that could open the gates of Hell and lead to the end of the world...

Release: September 26, 2017

$6.99

Description

Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, alias OSS: 117, first appeared in the 1957 film OSS 117 n est pas mort (OSS 117 Is Not Dead). After the highly successful 1962 release of Dr. No, the character was brought back into action in the 1963 film OSS 117 se déchaîne (OSS 117 Is Unleashed) starring Kerwin Matthews (Jack the Giant Killer) as the suave secret agent, the first of the 5 films in this beautifully restored collection and co-starring Irina Demick (The Sicilian Clan). A year later Matthews returned as OSS 117 in the 1964 film Banco à Bangkok pour OSS 117 (OSS 117: Panic in Bangkok) which co-starred Robert Hossein (Cemetery Without Crosses) and Pier Angeli (The Silver Chalice). In 1965 Frederick Stafford, the star of Hitchcock s Topaz, took over the OSS 117 role in the film Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117 (OSS 117: Mission for a Killer) and reprised the role in the 1966 film Atout coeur à Tokyo pour OSS 117 (OSS 117: Mission to Tokyo). After a one-year hiatus OSS 117 returned in the 1968 film Pas de roses pour OSS 117 (OSS 117 - Double Agent) starring John Gavin (Psycho, Spartacus) as the deadly agent with Curt Jurgens (Karl Stromberg of The Spy Who Loved Me), Margaret Lee (Secret Agent Super Dragon), Luciana Paluzzi (Fiona of Thunderball), George Eastman (The Unholy Four) and Robert Hossein appearing in his second OSS 117 film. In French with optional English subtitles OSS 117 Is Unleashed (B&W 1.66:1) OSS 117: Panic in Bangkok (Color 2.35:1) OSS 117: Mission For a Killer (Color 2.35:1) OSS 117: Mission to Tokyo (Color 2.35:1) OSS 117: Double Agent (Color 2.35:1) - Trailers for OSS 117 is Unleashded | OSS 117: Panic in Bangkok | OSS 117: Mission for a Killer

Release: September 26, 2017

$6.99

Description

Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, alias OSS: 117, first appeared in the 1957 film OSS 117 n est pas mort (OSS 117 Is Not Dead). After the highly successful 1962 release of Dr. No, the character was brought back into action in the 1963 film OSS 117 se déchaîne (OSS 117 Is Unleashed) starring Kerwin Matthews (Jack the Giant Killer) as the suave secret agent, the first of the 5 films in this beautifully restored collection and co-starring Irina Demick (The Sicilian Clan). A year later Matthews returned as OSS 117 in the 1964 film Banco à Bangkok pour OSS 117 (OSS 117: Panic in Bangkok) which co-starred Robert Hossein (Cemetery Without Crosses) and Pier Angeli (The Silver Chalice). In 1965 Frederick Stafford, the star of Hitchcock s Topaz, took over the OSS 117 role in the film Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117 (OSS 117: Mission for a Killer) and reprised the role in the 1966 film Atout coeur à Tokyo pour OSS 117 (OSS 117: Mission to Tokyo). After a one-year hiatus OSS 117 returned in the 1968 film Pas de roses pour OSS 117 (OSS 117 - Double Agent) starring John Gavin (Psycho, Spartacus) as the deadly agent with Curt Jurgens (Karl Stromberg of The Spy Who Loved Me), Margaret Lee (Secret Agent Super Dragon), Luciana Paluzzi (Fiona of Thunderball), George Eastman (The Unholy Four) and Robert Hossein appearing in his second OSS 117 film. In French with optional English subtitles OSS 117 Is Unleashed (B&W 1.66:1) OSS 117: Panic in Bangkok (Color 2.35:1) OSS 117: Mission For a Killer (Color 2.35:1) OSS 117: Mission to Tokyo (Color 2.35:1) OSS 117: Double Agent (Color 2.35:1) - Trailers for OSS 117 is Unleashded | OSS 117: Panic in Bangkok | OSS 117: Mission for a Killer

Release: May 28, 2019

$6.99

Description

Selina D'Arcey is blind, yet she sees the world anew through the eyes of kindly Gordon Ralfe (Academy Award winner* Sidney Poitier). An awkward Cinderella raised by a bigoted, abusive mother, Selina is white. She does not know that the man helping her learn to dial a pay phone or find the restroom is black. Elizabeth Hartman's luminous screen debut as Selina earned her a Golden Globe Award as Most Promising Newcomer. On the veteran side as Selina's blowsy, bitter mother, Shelley Winters won her second Oscar. ** As directed by Guy Green (Oscar -winning cinematographer for Great Expectations, 1947), the performances are timeless in A Patch of Blue. So is this fine film's heart-soaring impact.

Release: February 28, 2023

$6.99

Description

Everyone's favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline, Puss in Boots, returns in a new adventure from the Shrek universe as the daring outlaw discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star on his grandest quest yet. With only one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: Kitty Softpaws. They are joined in their journey by a chatty and cheerful mutt named Perro. Together, our trio of heroes will need to stay one step ahead of the fairy tale realm's craftiest crooks including Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Bonus Content: Includes Blu-ray, DVD and a digital copy of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.) The Trident Deleted Scenes A Cast of Characters In the Beginning Jack Horner's Line-O-Rama "Fearless Hero" Lyric

Release: February 28, 2023

$7.99

Description

Everyone's favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline, Puss in Boots, returns in a new adventure from the Shrek universe as the daring outlaw discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star on his grandest quest yet. With only one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: Kitty Softpaws. They are joined in their journey by a chatty and cheerful mutt named Perro. Together, our trio of heroes will need to stay one step ahead of the fairy tale realm's craftiest crooks including Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Bonus Content: Includes 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a digital copy of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.) Features High Dynamic Range (HDR10) for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color The Trident Deleted Scenes A Cast of Characters In the Beginning Jack Horner's Line-O-Rama "Fearless Hero" Lyric

Release: October 25, 2016

$6.99

Description

OLIVE SIGNATURE FEATURES Mastered from 4K scan of original camera negative Audio commentary with John Ford biographer Joseph McBride ribute to Maureen O'Hara with Ally Sheedy, Hayley Mills, and Juliet Mills

Release: February 28, 2023

$7.99

Description

Director John Ford's Oscar-winning rouser stars John Wayne as Irish-born, American-raised ex-boxer Sean Thornton. Returning to Ireland to claim his family's estate, Sean falls for and weds feisty village beauty Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O'Hara). But after he's branded a coward for refusing to fight her ruffian brother Red (Victor McLaglen) for her dowry, Sean finally relents and takes on Red in a classic screen brawl. With Barry Fitzgerald, Mildred Natwick, Ward Bond. 129 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English.

Release: September 30, 2025

$7.99

Description

*This listing is for the standard edition version and does NOT come with a limited edition slipcase!* The lives of three residents of Redlands, California, intersect and ultimately collide in this claustrophobic exploration of radical creativity, sexuality and violence in America. Vienna (Nicole Fox’s, America’s Next Top Model) is a young “alternative” nude model who lives with her musician boyfriend Zack (Sam Brittan) in Redlands, California – a bleak Inland Empire city sixty miles east of Los Angeles. Controlling and hypocritical, Zack uses Vienna’s earnings to further his own musical career as Vienna attempts to build a creative life of her own. Their lives are forever changed when Vienna meets Allan (Clifford Morts), a balding middle-aged amateur glamour photographer; unemployed and recently divorced, Allan’s unassuming behavior camouflages his feelings of inadequacy and his building resentment toward others. John Brian King’s unflinchingly nihilistic neo-noir is…"Artfully evocative – of alienation, the constraints on ambition and the danger of unexpressed anger – and profoundly disturbing.” (Michael O’Sullivan, The Washington Post) Bonus Features: 1. Extended scene 2. Deleted scene 3. Additional Short films by John Brian King: Model Test (2016); Night/Day (2016); Evidence (2016); Night / Day (2017); Desert Mass (2017); nada (2018); Phoenix (2019); Yolanda (2019); blue (2021); Locus (2021); The Spider in My Brain (2023) 4. English captions 5. Original Theatrical Trailer 6. Booklet containing a discussion between John Brian King and Dekanalog co-founder Elijah Drenner Top Similar From the Brand Reviews Redlands

Release: November 17, 2020

$7.99

Description

Rio Grande, the third and final installment in John Ford’s loosely-conceived Cavalry Trilogy (preceded by Fort Apache and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon) stars John Wayne as Lt. Col. John Kirby Yorke (the role he inhabited in Fort Apache) alongside Maureen O’Hara (in the first of five films she’d co-star in alongside Wayne) as his estranged wife, Kathleen, a woman set on keeping their son, Jefferson (Claude Jarman Jr., The Yearling), now under Yorke’s command, out of harm’s way. Filmed throughout Moab, Utah and the majestic Professor Valley – photographed in exquisite gradations of black and white by Stagecoach cinematographer Bert Glennon – Rio Grande offers nuanced observations on love, family, and honor, while firmly adhering to the western genre, showing Ford at his most measured and mature as a storyteller. Written by James Kevin McGuinness (Men of Boys Town) based on the Saturday Evening Post story by James Warner Bellah, Rio Grande features J. Carrol Naish and a supporting cast of familiar faces, many of them from the Ford stock company of actors including Harry Carey, Jr., Ben Johnson, Victor McLaglen, Chill Wills, and Grant Withers." "OLIVE SIGNATURE FEATURES - New High-Definition digital restoration - Audio commentary by Nancy Schoenberger - ""Telling Real Histories"" – Raoul Trujillo on representations of Indigenous Americans in film - ""Songs of the Rio Grande"" – Marc Wanamaker on the Sons of the Pioneers - ""Strength and Courage"" – Patrick Wayne on his father - ""Bigger Than Life"" – with Claude Jarman, Jr. - Visual essay by Tag Gallagher - ""The Making of Rio Grande"" – with Leonard Maltin - Essay by Paul Andrew Hutton - Theatrical trailer RIO GRANDE (OLIVE SIGNATURE)

$7.99

Description

A battle-hardened cavalry officer faces Apaches, military duty and a strained reunion with his estranged wife at a Texas outpost.

Release: January 27, 2026

$7.99

Description

Sparkling reworking of the 1954 favorite, featuring Julia Ormond as Sabrina Fairchild, the beautiful chauffeur's daughter in love with playboy David Larrabee (Greg Kinnear), the irresponsible, engaged member of a wealthy family. When Sabrina returns from Paris, Linus (Harrison Ford), David's workaholic brother, tries to woo her for business reasons, only to wind up falling for her himself. With Angie Dickinson, Richard Crenna; Sydney Pollack directs. 127 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English DTS 5.1, DTS Lossless stereo; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; theatrical trailer.

Release: December 20, 2024

$6.99

Description

Working together for the 12th time, John Wayne and director John Ford forged The Searchers into a landmark Western offering an indelible image of the frontier and the men and women who challenged it. Wayne plays an ex-Confederate soldier seeking his niece, captured by Comanches who massacred his family. He won't surrender to hunger, thirst, the elements or loneliness. And in his five-year search, he encounters something unexpected: his own humanity. Beautifully photographed by Winston C. Hoch, thrillingly scored by Max Steiner, and memorably acted by a superb ensemble including Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Natalie Wood and Ward Bond, The Searchers endures as a great film of enormous scope and breathtaking physical beauty (Danny Peary, Guide for the Film Fanatic). Named the greatest American Western by the American Film Institute in 2008, The Searchers was among the first 25 films deemed culturally or aesthetically significant by the U.S. Library of Congress in 1989, when it was inducted in its National Film Registry. Now meticulously restored from its original negative, this new presentation of The Searchers presents this masterpiece with unparalleled image quality, accompanied by an impressive array of special features.

Release: December 20, 2024

$7.99

Description

Working together for the 12th time, John Wayne and director John Ford forged The Searchers into a landmark Western offering an indelible image of the frontier and the men and women who challenged it. Wayne plays an ex-Confederate soldier seeking his niece, captured by Comanches who massacred his family. He won't surrender to hunger, thirst, the elements or loneliness. And in his five-year search, he encounters something unexpected: his own humanity. Beautifully photographed by Winston C. Hoch, thrillingly scored by Max Steiner, and memorably acted by a superb ensemble including Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Natalie Wood and Ward Bond, The Searchers endures as a great film of enormous scope and breathtaking physical beauty (Danny Peary, Guide for the Film Fanatic). Named the greatest American Western by the American Film Institute in 2008, The Searchers was among the first 25 films deemed culturally or aesthetically significant by the U.S. Library of Congress in 1989, when it was inducted in its National Film Registry. Now meticulously restored from its original negative, this new presentation of The Searchers presents this masterpiece with unparalleled image quality, accompanied by an impressive array of special features.

Release: August 18, 2026

$7.99

Description

In 1866, new fighting units are formed within the U.S. Cavalry: the courageous 9th and 10th regiments. History, judging from the regiments' list of Medal of Honor winners, calls them heroes. Against this backdrop, Sergeant Rutledge (Woody Strode), is a 9th Cavalry officer on trial for rape and murder. Lt. Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter) defends Rutledge as witnesses give testimony (relived in flashbacks) revealing the sergeant's gallantry -- and the shocking truth behind the alleged crimes.

Release: June 7, 2016

$6.99

Description

A masterpiece of mood and heroics, this second film in director John Ford's renowned cavalry trilogy (Fort Apache and Rio Grande are the others) features one of John Wayne's most moving performances, as a cavalry officer in his final week of service on the frontier. Under makeup aging him some 20 years, he inhabits the role of a wily veteran who knows the sting of war and vows to make his last mission one of peace. The ritual of outpost life, the sweep of battle, the advance of the patrol beneath ominous skies: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, an Academy Award"' winner* for its color cinematography, paints a memorable portrait of the honor, duty and courage in the finest tradition of the cavalry. And of Ford filmmaking.

$6.99

Description

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark - Get ready for edge-of-your-seat thrills in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Indy (Harrison Ford) and his feisty ex-flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) dodge booby-traps, fight Nazis and stare down snakes in their incredible worldwide quest for the mystical Ark of the Covenant. Experience one exciting cliffhanger after another when you discover adventurewith the one and only Indiana Jones. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom brings you non-stop thrills and excitement like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Indy (Harrison Ford), his sidekick Short Round (Ke Huy Quan), and nightclub singer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) go from high-flying action above the Himalayas to a nail-biting runaway mine car chase and finally a spine-tingling escape from a fortress-like mine in India. Hang on tight as the world’s ultimate action hero takes you on a heart-pumping roller-coaster ride of adventure that’s guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - There’s nothing more exciting than trying to keep up with the Joneses in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade . Indy’s Nazi enemies are back and have kidnapped his father, Professor Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery), to get help in their search for the Holy Grail. Following a trail from America to Venice to the deserts of the Holy Land, it’s up to Indy (Harrison Ford) to save his father, save the Grail and save the day in this non-stop, action-packed adventure the whole family will treasure. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - STEVEN SPIELBERG and GEORGE LUCAS bring you the greatest adventurer of all time in an "action-packed family comedy" (Metro) that's packed with "adrenaline surging entertainment" (Daily Star). Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull finds Indy (Harrison Ford) trying to outrace a brilliant and beautiful agent (Cate Blanchett) for the mystical, all-powerful

Release: June 2, 2020

$7.99

Description

Italian neorealism meets the coal-mining country of southeast Ohio in this little-seen wonder of 1960s American independent cinema. Director J.L. Anderson, a film professor at the University of Ohio, utilized non-professional actors, on-location photography, a shoestring budget, and a passionate knowledge of international film to create what Richard Brody of The New Yorker calls a tense, myth-drenched drama of liberation and retribution. Carl (Ted Heimerdinger) and Jessie (Larue Hall) are half siblings who feel trapped by the existential and economic pressures of living in the small mining town of Canaan, Ohio. Their shared rebellion soon takes on the form of an illicit love affair depicted in interwoven sequences of lusty poeticism and ethnographic vérité. When Jessie becomes pregnant, the tension between the couple s youthful vitality and the dire realities of rural society leads to consequences both despairing and hopeful. Bumped from its premiere slot at the 1968 New York Film Festival to make room for John Cassavetes Faces, the fate of Spring Night Summer Night was nearly sealed when its original distributor insisted that it be recut as an exploitation film under the title Miss Jessica Is Pregnant. Fortunately, thanks to the brilliant restoration efforts of Peter Conheim and Ross Lipman along with the generous support of director Nicholas Winding Refn s byNWR the film was scanned in 4K resolution from the 35mm camera negative, and carefully reconstructed according to J.L. Anderson s original vision. BONUS MATERIALS INCLUDE: The Bluegrass Trilogy - Three early short films from director J.L. Anderson and Franklin Miller: Football As It Is Played Today (1961), How Swived (1962), and Cheers (1963). In the Middle of the Nights: From Arthouse to Grindhouse and Back Again (2020) - Ross Lipman presents Spring Night Summer Night in contrast to the recut exploitation film, Miss Jessica Is Pregnant. I m Goin to Straitsville (2020) - Peter Conheim explores the locations of Spring Night Summer Night fifty years later. 16mm Behind-the-Scenes Footage (1967) - Rare and previously unseen material from the film s production (featuring an optional commentary track by producer and co-writer Franklin Miller). Spring Night Summer Night: 50 Years Later (2020) - Glenn Litton interviews cast and crew of Spring Night Summer Night, discussing the legacy of the film and the challenges it faced theatrically. Cleveland Cinematheque Q&A (2016): Blu-ray only - A panel discussion with original cast and crew before its 2016 Cleveland, Ohio screening. Slideshow Gallery - Images by photographer Jon Webb taken during production. Collector s Edition Souvenir Booklet - Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Ian Mantgani, Glenn Litton s memories of director Joseph Anderson, Peter Conheim on the film s restoration, a look at the career of distributor Joseph L Brenner, an overview of critical responses, and film credits. Subtitles: English SDH.

$6.99

Description

Bonus disc for The Force Awakens featuring behind-the-scenes documentaries, deleted scenes, and production extras.

Release: July 14, 2020

$7.99

Description

Straight Shooting (1917) is a landmark in the history of the Western. It is the first feature directed by the legendary John Ford (here credited as Jack Ford), who revived the career of Harry Carey, one of his greatest stars, to a rough-and-tumble performance as a hired gun of cattle rustlers. “Cheyenne Harry” is a role Carey would play into the 1930s, an amiable antihero who pals around with outlaws but who really has a heart of gold. In Straight Shooting Harry is hired by rancher Thunder Flint (Duke Lee) to intimidate the kindly Sweetwater Sims (George Berrell) off of his farmland, but has a change of heart after getting to know Sims’ family. It becomes a war of ranchers against farmers as Flint organizes a siege of Sims’ property, with Harry and other local farmers banded together against them. It is a thrilling adventure that proves John Ford was born to film the American West. Special Features: -Audio commentary by film historian Joseph McBride, author of Searching for John Ford -Hitchin' Posts (1920, directed by John Ford, fragment preserved by the Library of Congress) -Video essay by film critic Tag Gallagher -Booklet essay by film critic Tag Gallagher

Release: August 21, 2018

$7.99

Description

Film legend Joan Crawford gives a terrific performance in this chiller from pioneer horror movie producer William Castle. Crawford plays Lucy Harbin, a woman who goes berserk when she finds her husband in bed with another woman. With her three-year-old daughter accidentally witnessing the grisly act, Lucy axes the couple to death. She spends twenty years in a mental institution for the double murder. After she is released, she moves in with her brother (Leif Erickson), his wife and her own daughter (Diane Baker), now twenty-three. Her nightmare is over…or is it? When a spate of ax murders start occurring suddenly in the neighborhood, police think Lucy has reverted to her old ways. The truth is finally revealed in a rousing, blood-chilling finale. Bonus Content: Audio Commentary with Film Historians Steve Haberman, David J. Schow, and Constantine Nasr Joan Had Me Fired - An Interview with Anne Helm On the Road with Joan Crawford - An Interview with Publicist Richard Kahn Battle-Ax: The Making of Strait-Jacket Joan Crawford Costume and Makeup Tests Ax-Swinging Screen Test Theatrical Trailer Still Gallery

$7.99

Description

An aging Kentucky judge dispenses homespun wisdom and compassion amid small-town conflicts.

Release: December 9, 2008

$6.99

Description

A perpetually pathetic unit of the Vermont Highway Patrol is on the verge of being shut down due to its lackluster highway enforcement record. After losing face when the local police force investigates a murder on its turf, the Highway Troopers take it up a notch and try to solve the drug trafficking problem in rural Vermont.

Release: June 7, 2016

$6.99

Description

Supplies are dwindling. Troops are hopelessly outnumbered. But even in defeat there is victory. The defenders of the Philippines -- including PT-boat skippers John Brickley (Robert Montgomery) and Rusty Ryan (John Wayne) -- will give the U.S. war effort time to regroup after the devastation of Pearl Harbor. Director John Ford's World War II tale knows its battle-scarred topic firsthand. Montgomery was himself a Pacific PT-boat commander and a valorous Bronze Star recipient. Ford filmed the Academy Award-winning documentary The Battle of Midway. And Wayne creates a portrait of patriotic resolve as only he can. They Were Expendable salutes all who expended themselves during some of the war's bleakest hours.

Release: January 3, 2010

$6.99

Description

Product Description Horror-meister John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape from New York) teams Kurt Russell's outstanding performance with incredible visuals to build this chilling version of the classic The Thing. In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Once unfrozen, the form-changing alien wreaks havoc, creates terror and becomes one of them. Bonus Content: U-Control: Picture in Picture Feature Commentary with Kurt Russell and Director John Carpenter Review Howard Hawks's original 1951 production of The Thing from Another World can be glimpsed playing on a TV that fateful October evening in John Carpenter's blockbuster hit, Halloween (1978). A few years later, Carpenter reteamed with his Escape from New York star Kurt Russell to do a remake. But while the first movie version of The Thing was in atmospheric black and white, Carpenter's 1982 version is in widescreen, full color, and features some of the most revoltingly explicit, surreally imaginative special effects (courtesy of FX-meister Rob Bottin) that have ever been seen on the screen. Researchers in the remote Antarctic dig up the remains of a spacecraft that has long been frozen in the ice. But the alien life unthaws and infects the living (not only humans but sled dogs too), living and gestating inside them. (This horrific concept was also explored in the two versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the Alien movies.) This Thing is chilling in every sense of the word, with plenty of terrifying, adrenaline-pumping moments that build it to a powerful and shockingly nihilistic conclusion. It's a harsh and uncompromising movie (hewing more closely to the original 1930s story "Who Goes There?")--so much so that it probably never would have been given a green-light by any studio in the more cautious and doggedly upbeat 1990s. --Jim Emerson

Release: January 3, 2010

$6.99

Description

Product Description Horror-meister John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape from New York) teams Kurt Russell's outstanding performance with incredible visuals to build this chilling version of the classic The Thing. In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Once unfrozen, the form-changing alien wreaks havoc, creates terror and becomes one of them. Bonus Content: U-Control: Picture in Picture Feature Commentary with Kurt Russell and Director John Carpenter Review Howard Hawks's original 1951 production of The Thing from Another World can be glimpsed playing on a TV that fateful October evening in John Carpenter's blockbuster hit, Halloween (1978). A few years later, Carpenter reteamed with his Escape from New York star Kurt Russell to do a remake. But while the first movie version of The Thing was in atmospheric black and white, Carpenter's 1982 version is in widescreen, full color, and features some of the most revoltingly explicit, surreally imaginative special effects (courtesy of FX-meister Rob Bottin) that have ever been seen on the screen. Researchers in the remote Antarctic dig up the remains of a spacecraft that has long been frozen in the ice. But the alien life unthaws and infects the living (not only humans but sled dogs too), living and gestating inside them. (This horrific concept was also explored in the two versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the Alien movies.) This Thing is chilling in every sense of the word, with plenty of terrifying, adrenaline-pumping moments that build it to a powerful and shockingly nihilistic conclusion. It's a harsh and uncompromising movie (hewing more closely to the original 1930s story "Who Goes There?")--so much so that it probably never would have been given a green-light by any studio in the more cautious and doggedly upbeat 1990s. --Jim Emerson

Release: October 11, 2016

$6.99

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Special Features Include: -2K scan of the inter-positive supervised and approved by director of photography Dean Cundey -4.1 created from the original 70MM Six Track Dolby Stereo soundtrack -Audio Commentary with director of photography Dean Cundey -Audio Commentary by director John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell -“The Men of Outpost 31:” Interviews with Keith David, Thomas Waites, Peter Maloney, and more -“Assembling and Assimilation:” An interview with editor Todd Ramsay -“Behind the Chameleon:” Interviews with visual effects artists Peter Kuran and Susan Turner, special make-up effects artist Rob Burman, and Brian Wade and more -“Sounds from the Cold:” Interviews with supervising sound editor David Lewis Yewdall and special sound effects designer Alan Howarth -“Between the Lines:” An interview with novelization author Alan Dean Foster -“John Carpenter’s The Thing: Terror Takes Shape:” A documentary on the making of THE THING featuring interviews with John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, special effects make-up designer Rob Bottin, legendary matte artist Albert Whitlock, and members of the cast and crew (80 minutes – SD) -Outtakes (5 minutes - SD) -Vintage featurettes from the electronic press kit featuring interviews with John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, and Rob Bottin (12 minutes - SD) -Vintage featurettes “The Making of a Chilling Tale” and “The Making of THE THING” (1982 – 14 minutes - SD) -Vintage Product Reel – contains a promotional condensed version of the film with additional footage not in the film (19 minutes - SD) -Vintage Behind-the-Scenes footage (2 minutes - SD) -Annotated Production Archive – Production Art and Storyboards, Location Scouting, Special Make-up Effects, Post Production (48 minutes - SD) -Network TV Broadcast version of THE THING (92 minutes - SD) -Teaser Trailer -Theatrical Trailers (U.S. and German Trailer) -TV spots -Radio Spots -Still Gallery (behind-the-scenes photos, posters and lobby cards)

Release: October 11, 2016

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Special Features Include: -2K scan of the inter-positive supervised and approved by director of photography Dean Cundey -4.1 created from the original 70MM Six Track Dolby Stereo soundtrack -Audio Commentary with director of photography Dean Cundey -Audio Commentary by director John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell -“The Men of Outpost 31:” Interviews with Keith David, Thomas Waites, Peter Maloney, and more -“Assembling and Assimilation:” An interview with editor Todd Ramsay -“Behind the Chameleon:” Interviews with visual effects artists Peter Kuran and Susan Turner, special make-up effects artist Rob Burman, and Brian Wade and more -“Sounds from the Cold:” Interviews with supervising sound editor David Lewis Yewdall and special sound effects designer Alan Howarth -“Between the Lines:” An interview with novelization author Alan Dean Foster -“John Carpenter’s The Thing: Terror Takes Shape:” A documentary on the making of THE THING featuring interviews with John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, special effects make-up designer Rob Bottin, legendary matte artist Albert Whitlock, and members of the cast and crew (80 minutes – SD) -Outtakes (5 minutes - SD) -Vintage featurettes from the electronic press kit featuring interviews with John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, and Rob Bottin (12 minutes - SD) -Vintage featurettes “The Making of a Chilling Tale” and “The Making of THE THING” (1982 – 14 minutes - SD) -Vintage Product Reel – contains a promotional condensed version of the film with additional footage not in the film (19 minutes - SD) -Vintage Behind-the-Scenes footage (2 minutes - SD) -Annotated Production Archive – Production Art and Storyboards, Location Scouting, Special Make-up Effects, Post Production (48 minutes - SD) -Network TV Broadcast version of THE THING (92 minutes - SD) -Teaser Trailer -Theatrical Trailers (U.S. and German Trailer) -TV spots -Radio Spots -Still Gallery (behind-the-scenes photos, posters and lobby cards)

Release: September 7, 2021

$7.99

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Director John Carpenter (Halloween) teams Kurt Russell's outstanding performance with incredible visual effects to create a chilling version of the classic The Thing. Set in the winter of 1982 at a research station in Antarctica, a twelve-man research team finds an alien being that has fallen from the sky and has remained buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon it is unfrozen and unleashed, creating havoc and terror as it changes forms and becomes one of them. Bonus Content: Includes 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a digital copy of The Thing (1982) (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.) Features High Dynamic Range (HDR10) for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color John Carpenter's The Thing: Terror Takes Shape Outtakes Theatrical Trailer Feature Commentary with Director John Carpenter and Kurt Russell U-Control: Picture in Picture Feature Commentary with Kurt Russell and Director John Carpenter

Release: October 11, 2022

$7.99

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Experience one of the most significant milestones in film history like never before with To Kill a Mockingbird. Screen legend Gregory Peck stars as courageous Southern lawyer Atticus Finch—the Academy Award®-winning performance hailed by the American Film Institute as the Greatest Movie Hero of All Time. Based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel about innocence, strength and conviction and nominated for 8 Academy Awards®, this beloved classic includes hours of unforgettable bonus features. Watch it and remember why "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Bonus Content: Includes 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a digital copy of To Kill a Mockingbird (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.) 4x Sharper than Full HD with High Dynamic Range (HDR10) To Kill a Mockingbird: All Points of View Fearful Symmetry A Conversation with Gregory Peck Academy Award® Best Actor Acceptance Speech American Film Institute Life Achievement Award Excerpt from Tribute to Gregory Peck Scout Remembers Theatrical Trailer 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics Feature Commentary with Director Robert Mulligan and Producer Alan Pakula

Release: October 31, 2023

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Considered one of the more experimental films from Alfred Hitchcock, Topaz is a riveting story of adventure and international intrigue. Responding to rumors of Russian missiles and a NATO spy called Topaz, an American CIA agent (John Forsythe) hires French operative Devereaux (Frederick Stafford) to investigate in Cuba. In Havana, Devereaux's investigation becomes dangerous, leaving behind a wake of shaken governments, murder, betrayal and suicide. This lavish production from the Master of Suspense exposes one of the most explosive spy scandals ever filmed. Bonus Content: Includes 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a digital copy of Topaz (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.) Features High Dynamic Range (HDR10) for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color Alternate Endings Topaz: An Appreciation by Film Historian and Critic Leonard Maltin Storyboards: The Mendozas Production Photographs Theatrical Trailer

Release: September 29, 2009

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Product Description Twin Spirits is a unique and intimate, live theatrical performance by a chamber ensemble of actors, singers and musicians, portraying the deep and ultimately tragic love between the composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck. In this intensely moving performance of words, song and music, the Schumanns’ long separation, so formative an influence on their lives, is reflected in the division of the ensemble into male and female groups. Robert's letters to Clara are read by Sting and his songs sung by Simon Keenlyside, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Iain Burnside and Sergej Krylov. Clara's letters to Robert are read by Trudie Styler and her songs sung by Rebecca Evans, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Natalie Clein and Natasha Paremski. The narrator, Derek Jacobi, links together the letters and lyrics to complete the essential outline of the story. Conceived and directed by John Caird, Twin Spirits was first performed in June 2005 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London and has since been experienced only at private performances for charity by small audiences of all ages and interests, leaving them deeply touched and inspired. Press Reviews "Twin Spirits portrays the life and love of Robert and Clara Schumann through readings of their surviving letters. These are read by Sting and Trudie Styler, with Derek Jacobi authoritatively filling in any gaps in the story. In one sense it's a static productions, with everyone seated throughout, but it's actually quite engrossing - perfectly paced and beautifully filmed. It's impossible not to emerge with both a true empathy for the Schumanns and a renewed or awakened interest in their music. The acting stays just the right side of luvviness, with Sting and Styler delivering strong, subtly believable performances. They're supported by beautifully executed interludes from a top line-up of soloists. This is tender, moving, well put together, and supplemented by an enlightening bonus DVD." (Classic fM) "John Caird's Twin Spirits, filmed live at the Royal Opera House, is beautifully constructed and performed with extraordinary fervour… Sting and Trudie Styler's own marriage undoubtedly informs their profoundly affecting portrayal of the Schumanns… Musical choices are mostly Schumann, a bit of Clara and some evocative Mozart and Chopin... often in special arrangements. Bonus material is generous... The issues are fascinating, though. How good is Clara's music? The jury is still out." (BBC Music Magazine) Cast Sting (Actor) Trudie Styler (Actor) Derek Jacobi (Narrator) Simon Keenlyside (Tenor) Sergej Krylov (Violin) Iain Burnside (Piano) The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Production Company: Royal Opera House Stage Director: John Caird Disc Information Catalogue Number: OABD7043D Date of Performance: 2005 Running Time: 206 minutes Sound: 2.0 & 5.0 PCM Aspect Ratio: 1080i High Definition / 16:9 Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, ES, IT + EN (SONGS ONLY) Label: Opus Arte Review A Great Love Story is Told in Words and Music The nearly legendary story of Robert and Clara Schumann was staged and filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 2007. The production, titled "Twin Spirits," is now available in a 2-DVD set from Opus Arte, and it is impressive and unusual. As Narrator, Derek Jacobi has center stage. On his right are actor Sting to read from Robert Schumann's letters, baritone Simon Keenlyside to sing Schumann's songs, Sergej Krylov (violin), and Iain Burnside (piano). On his left are actress Trudie Styler to read from Clara's letters, soprano Rebecca Evans to sing selections as a solo or as a duet with Keenlyside, Natalie Clein (cello), and Natasha Peremski (piano). The first disc contains the performance, which is an expert balance of narration and dramatic readings with solos and accompaniments from the musicians. As is explained in the program notes, some of the selections were edited in various ways for theatrical effect. All in all, it provides a fascinating insight into two human beings who loved, created complex and beautiful music, and finally suffered when Robert had a mental breakdown. The second disc offers another set of insights into the genius of the two when different members of the cast, actors and players, discuss the personalities and works of the two Schumanns. The educational value of this disc alone is great. I would like to see similar formats used for other famous musicians--but only with such skilled artists as were used in "Twin Spirits." But when will art departments stop using white print over colored backgrounds in the booklets, which might please their eyes but ruin ours? -- Art Times, Frank Behrens, December 2009 Better than you'd expect. This entertainment comes out of a charity event held at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. If you don't blink, you can see Alfred Brendel schmoozing before the curtain goes up. Basically, it pairs the music of Robert and Clara Schumann with their writings to and about one another (with side trips to Mozart and Chopin). The texts and notes don't line up chronologically, but emotionally. The words, from letters and diaries (particularly the so-called "marriage" diary which they kept jointly), chronicle the couple from pre-courtship to Robert's insanity and death, with a bit on Clara's long widowhood. A whiff of the "high-class" charity event lingers a little over the enterprise. Frankly, when I saw Sting's name, I muttered, "God save us from arty rockers." However, Sting surprised me. His delivery was intelligent, understated, with just enough "characterization" that you felt the presence of another personality, perhaps even Schumann's. In other words, he convinced me. It's the professional actors -- Jacobi and Styler -- that I occasionally caught "acting." Jacobi at times became a Masterpiece Theatre compère, while Styler here and there over-emoted. Her young Clara Wieck was a little too cute. However, Jacobi's lines functioned simply for set-ups and connections, and Styler became genuinely moving as Clara bears the family catastrophe. However, the real glory of the evening lies -- don't be too surprised -- in the music and the performances. Evans does well with her songs, although she occasionally slips into opera mode. Burnside supplies sensitive accompaniments -- a pro who knows his Schumann. The cellist Natalie Clein . . . well, I couldn't concentrate too well on her music-making, she's so gorgeous -- a bit like the young Argerich. What I did get showed a fiery but musical personality. She's wonderful in chamber music. American pianist Natasha Paremski negotiated some fiendish passage-work from Clara's piano concerto with spirit and aplomb. Violinist Sergei Krylov seemed uncomfortable in a chamber setting, but he certainly set the tone of the playing. You couldn't accuse him of bland good taste or timidity. However, baritone Simon Keenlyside stood out. I've heard few better Lieder singers. Furthermore, his duet with Evans in Mozart's "Là ci darem" from Don Giovanni provided the musical highpoint of the enterprise -- silkily seductive and a better aphrodisiac than oysters (though not as tasty). It strikes me as ironic that Mozart beats out Schumann in a Schumann documentary -- home-field advantage notwithstanding. The music, for the most part, serves the drama. Sometimes, we get abbreviations or cutoffs so the readings may continue. At other times, piano pieces have been "orchestrated" for the instrumental ensemble and at least one solo song turned into a duet. However, Martin Ward displays great taste, even in a chamber arrangement of something like "Träumerei" -- a trap that can lead to sugar coma if you don't take care. Some of the best bits come from the bonus disc, which contains, among other things, interviews with the musicians and the actors as well as a short documentary made at the Schumann-Haus in Zwickau, the composer's birthplace. John Caird serves as interlocutor. As he talks with the actors, it becomes clear that the group brings contemporary cultural perspectives to the marriage. Clara becomes the put-upon mother of the brood, while Robert flits about doing as he pleases -- writing symphonies and music criticism, preparing to conduct, and so on. This really doesn't survive a moment's thought. Clara, one of the greatest pianists of her day, was the primary breadwinner (one of her tours paid the family's expenses for three years) and had plenty of domestic help. She couldn't have practiced otherwise, and she set herself challenging programs. Don't get me wrong. She had plenty to put up with otherwise from Schumann, who among other things couldn't bear extraneous noise while he worked. I don't remember how they worked it out. She may have had to practice off-premises or Schumann may have composed off-premises. At any rate, musicologist Daniel Gallagher sits in and occasionally and gently puts things right. I should point out that these are extremely informal conversations among intelligent people. My favorite moment comes from pianist Natasha Paremski, who uses the word "vibe" and then asks, "That's not too American a word, is it?" Iain Burnside replies in his Best British Manner, "It's a word, yes." For me, however, the documentary, One Heart, One Soul, counts as the most interesting portion of the bonus features. It consists of the director of Schumann-Haus, Gerd Nauhaus, a man who knows his Schumann as well as anybody, discussing the composer. He too corrects some of the misperceptions that have arisen during the other interviews. Nauhaus speaks German, but you can choose subtitles from among several languages, including English. One may very well ask what audience these discs serve. Sting provides one answer: those not normally interested in classical music can come to the genre by getting involved in the story. It is a cracking good story, if a little weepy -- a Romance novel that happens to be true. Die-hard Sting fanatics will probably want it, even though he doesn't sing. Those who know their Schumann may or may not find something to interest them. The performances all shine, but it's not a Schumann concert, after all. You'll just have to work it out for yourselves. -- Classical CD Review, Steve Schwartz, February 2010 Having brought John Dowland to the masses with his album Songs from the Labyrinth, Sting takes another shot at presenting classical music to a wider audience which has developed the infuriating habit of not taking any notice of it. In this live performance, Sting portrays the passionate and tragically short-lived Robert Schumann by reading from his letters, while his wife Trudie Styler enacts the role of Robert's spouse Clara Schumann (formerly Wieck). In between, selections from the Schumanns' music are played by an ensemble comprising cellist Natalie Clein, pianists Iain Burnside and Natasha Paremski, violinist Sergej Krylov and singers Simon Keenlyside and Rebecca Evans. "I think it's a great `in' for people who don't normally listen to classical music," says Sting. Twin Spirits was devised as a fundraiser for a variety of charities, including the Royal Opera House, so we probably have to forgive its overtones of highbrow schlock. However, our task is not made easier by Derek Jacobi's performance as narrator. Ensconced on a throne and dressed like a Victorian philanthropist, Sir Del is at his fruitiest and most orotund. Fans of Frasier may be reminded of his guest performance as Jackson Hedley, the world's most preposterous Shakespearean actor. However, although Sting has suffered his share of critical brickbats, here he keeps a straight bat and delivers his readings with a mixture of wry humour and quiet sincerity. Trudie sometimes lurches into over-emoting luvviedom, but then again, she was a member of the RSC back in the day, which is how the RSC's John Caird was recruited to direct the project. And it can't be denied that the saga of the Schumanns' doomed greatest-love-of-all is a powerful tear-jerker. "There are moments in the story that make me very fearful," Styler admits. "The idea of losing my husband confronts me when I look at Sting as Robert. There are a few moments in the script where Robert and Clara are having a good time, so I try to make the most of them, just as I do in my own life." At 90 minutes, Twin Spirits cries out for some editing scissors, but perseverance is rewarded by the quality of the musical performances. Simon Keenlyside brings thunderous conviction to his musical portrayal of Robert Schumann, and the quartet performance of Traumerei, which marks the composer's solitary and miserable death, feels lonelier than a coyote's howl. Surprisingly, the second disc of additional features contains some of the best bits, especially Caird's conversations with the participants. All the musicians offer useful insights into the music, with Iain Burnside contributing shrewd remarks about the way Robert Schumann's music demands active intervention from the performer to bring it to life. When Caird introduces musicologist Daniel Gallagher to supply commentary on the Schumanns' life and work, he's so fascinating that that even Sting and Trudie find themselves spontaneously quizzing him. Despite all this, if you really want to explore the Schumanns' work, you might consider buying a selection of CDs and playing them a lot. -- The Arts Desk, Adam Sweeting, October 1, 2009 In his lifetime, Robert Schumann remained in the shadow of his wife Clara Wieck, whose concert career as a pianist took her all over Europe while he labored as a music journalist and largely unrecognized composer. Clara's overbearing father had taught them both piano, but his callous objections to the growing romance between Robert and Clara resulted in a physical separation that -- happily for musicologists -- left hundreds of letters detailing the musical and emotional development of this fascinating couple. While in different cities, they would often arrange to play the same piece at the same time, and then write to each other about the emotions aroused; once they were finally married, they kept a joint "marriage diary" for three and half years that recorded their musical and domestic happiness. Sting and his wife, actor Trudie Styler, are joined by Derek Jacobi, soprano Rebecca Evans, baritone Simon Keenlyside, and four instrumentalists for Twin Spirits, an educational project from London's Royal Opera House that presents the lives and works of Clara and Robert Schumann. Sting and Styler portray the couple in words, Keenlyside and Evans in music. Jacobi narrates. Devised and directed by John Caird, the show was recorded live in an intimately arranged and lit studio space at the opera house. It weaves together musical excerpts, love letters, diary entries and narration to tell the story of their love and marriage, tragically shortened when Robert's mental illness forced his commitment to an asylum. The show itself, which has been given as charity performances since 2005, is both informative and affecting, with spontaneous and energetic musical contributions, especially Evans's urgent rendition of Clara's "Er ist gekommen" and Keenlyside's sweeping "Ich grolle nicht," capped by a powerful high A. Evans's controlled voicing of "Ich hab im Traum geweinet" and Keenlyside's "Stille Liebe" are also effective. Most of the musical selections are short, and many have violin and cello additions, which lend an appropriate salon atmosphere, though the opening of "Carnaval" sounds odd with strings. Because of its placement in the storyline (and the use of Chopin's variations on its tune), "Là ci darem la mano" receives an odd interpretation, but Keenlyside's and Evans's skill and naturalness are winning. Another huge plus is Styler's warm, expressive delivery. With her wispy hair, vulnerable face and a faraway look in her eyes, Styler embodies the romantic, artistic spirit who rejoices in her soul mate; in passages detailing the end of Robert's life, Styler makes Clara's pain palpable. Sting's spiky, contemporary look is a bit of a jolt, but his connection to the material and identification with the obsessive, suffering composer are genuine. All the artists contributed their time to the project without remuneration; only Jacobi (whose presence undoubtedly signals "class") seems arch and distanced in his narration. Several bonus offerings include lengthy, round-table discussions in which the singers, instrumentalists and actors speak of how powerfully the interaction of words and music affected their interpretations and delivery. A thirty-five-minute lecture at the Robert Schumann Haus in Leipzig provides biographical details and background on the Schumanns' careers and training, as well as on their marriage and children. All proceeds from DVD sales benefit outreach projects of the Royal Opera House Education Programme. -- Opera News Online, Judith Malafronte, Decmber 2009 Like cucumber sandwiches at high tea, this depiction of the romance between two German musicians is a uniquely English confection. It follows in the tradition of BBC radio's dramatization of biographical presentations. In this case, the extended courtship and all-too-brief marriage is rendered with convincing fidelity through an enlightened blending of the spoken word and musical examples from the respective compositions of Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck. Nobly narrated by Derek Jacobi, the dialogue is ably conveyed by Sting (when will he, as an emerging musical polymath, be granted a knighthood so that his real name may enter common usage?) and Trudie Styler reading the lovers' correspondence compiled over decades. An unusual form of entertainment, but it kept a capacity audience in rapt attention over a long evening at Covent Garden. The singers and musicians give heartfelt support to the story with immaculate performances. The set includes close to two hours of extra features. It is also available from Opus Arte on conventional DVD format. Highly recommended to admirers of the Schumanns and all collectors with a special interest in German music of the Romantic period. -- La Scena Musicale, October 2009 One of the most moving love stories in the world of music is the relationship between Robert and Clara Schumann. In 2007, the British producer David Caird put together a music theater piece called Twin Spirits at London's Covent Garden in which Derek Jacoby narrated the romantic and tragic story, with Sting and his wife Trudie Styler reading passages from Robert and Clara's letters and the remarkable diary they kept together in the first years of their marriage. Some excellent chamber musicians and singers punctuate the readings with excerpts from the works of both Robert and Clara. Twin Spirits tells the story of Robert Schumann coming to Leipzig to study with the renowned music teacher Friedrich Wieck. Wieck's daughter Clara was a piano prodigy, by far the most talented of his six children. Robert was nine years older than her. He lived with the Wiecks for a year. By the time Clara was in her mid teens, they had fallen in love. Wieck was violently opposed to this romance. Clara's career came first. He refused to permit the marriage and ultimately the two lovers went to court for permission. Clara was 21; Robert 30. Wieck eventually relented when the couple had the first of their eight children, only four of whom outlived their parents. Clara was much more famous than Robert, and traveled extensively giving recitals, which were admired by the greatest musical figures of the time. She inspired Robert -- the year before they were married, he wrote more than 100 of his greatest songs. And she helped further his career by playing his compositions. Robert Schumann suffered from periodic mental breakdowns; tragedy struck when he tried to drown himself. He was institutionalized, but Clara was forbidden to see him for more than two years, until he was actually dying. She spent the rest of her life giving concerts and performing her husband's music. In his musical selection, Twin Spirits producer/director David Caird is less concerned with chronology than with finding something appropriate for each part of the story. Purists might object to the way Caird has rearranged some of the original music for this production. But in this dramatic context, I find these new arrangements both tasteful and effective. Sting, we've come to know, has a serious interest in classical music; he's also a coolly expressive actor and reader. Trudie Styler is particularly affecting reading what Clara wrote during her final visits to Robert. The most disappointing element of Twin Spirits is the rather artificial narration by Derek Jacobi, an actor I usually admire. But the whole enterprise is a compelling and poignant retelling of the story, and the well-chosen and well-performed music make this an outstanding addition to the year celebration of Robert Schumann's bicentennial. -- NPR, Lloyd Schwartz, February 17, 2010 Sting has been taking ever braver leaps into the classical music world over the last few years. As someone who doesn't enjoy his singing, I heaved a sigh of relief that he is on speaking duty in this fascinating musical dramatization of the often difficult, artistically inspirational, romantically fulfilling relationship between composer Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck. Sting is Robert to Trudie Styler's Clara as they sit with narrator Derek Jacobi on the Covent Garden stage, surrounded by exceptional musicians, including tenor Simon Keenlyside, soprano Rebecca Evans and violinist Sergei Krylov. Excerpts from the lovebirds' letters are interwoven with Schumann's music (and a bit of Mozart and Chopin). Once you get into the slow, black-backdropped pace of the story, you come to appreciate what an amazing job director John Caird has done to make the 90-minute show absorbing. A second DVD has more than an hour of extras, including background interviews and a documentary. This is inventive classical programming at its best, though music purists might prefer to hear uncut versions of many of the pieces on the program. -- TheStar.com, John Terauds, November 17, 2009 This is an uncharacteristically small-scale production for writer-director John Caird, who is more closely associated with such spectacles as Les misérables and Nicholas Nickleby. It's a 90-minute account, through words and music, of the personal and professional relationship between Robert Schumann and his wife, née Clara Wieck, devised in 2005 for the education division of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and since then trotted out for various fundraising events with different performer rosters. This version was recorded before a silent audience in late 2007. Despite the number of artists on stage, it seems quite intimate; the actors are low-key, and the musicians, while rising to the passions of the music as necessary (particularly in the finale of Robert's Piano Trio No. 1, which closes the program), are direct and obviously under no pressure to play to a large hall. Although the proceedings are conveyed mainly through close-ups and two- and three-shots, the placement of the performers is interesting and deliberate. In the center, to the rear, on what looks almost like a throne, Sir Derek Jacobi offers bits of introduction and narrative context. Down front, at opposite sides of the stage, sit the actors portraying the Schumanns: pop star Sting, who has always struck me as more intelligent and subtle than he is generally given credit for, and Trudie Styler, best known in America as Mrs. Sting, but in England an accomplished actress with (like Jacobi) a Shakespearean background. Clustered near each of the two main actors is a trio of musicians, divided by gender. On Robert's side are a baritone and a male violinist and pianist; on Clara's, a soprano and a female cellist and pianist. The musicians do not remain segregated all the time; obviously, there's crossover in the trio movement, and both singers deliver Mozart's "Là ci darem la mano," which was important in the Schumanns' personal history. There's also an arrangement of "Träumerei" that manages to include all the instrumentalists. But for the most part, each historical figure is represented by his or her own group of musicians. As you might have guessed, the music comes in bits and pieces, mostly songs and instrumental miniatures (by both Robert and Clara), but for the most part each item is complete in itself and only occasionally, mainly in the beginning, do the actors talk over the music. The spoken lines are drawn from the Schumanns' letters; Caird has heavily edited them and mingled missives from various periods to create a coherent narrative. This overall approach will obviously not satisfy purists who seek an impartial documentary account of the Schumanns, nor music lovers who prefer to hear song cycles and chamber works in their entirety. But that's not the point of this project; it's an introduction to the general, intelligent, curious music lover of the personalities behind this music, and to Clara's essential role in Robert's life and career. If Sting and Styler, sometimes reading from scripts but often looking straight into the camera, don't fully convey the excitement of early love, they are very good at communicating the comfortable intimacy, affection, and mutual respect of an old married couple. Perhaps each is best when not speaking; they can communicate quite a lot in the cutaway shots of one watching the other deliver lines, or in listening to the musicians (who are also seen being quietly attentive during some of the spoken passages). The musical performances are quite good, even if Simon Keenlyside, like most baritones, finds Schumann's top notes taxing. Those requiring a more straightforward documentation of the Schumann situation may prefer the 35-minute documentary in which a curator from the Schumann House museum and archive speaks, in subtitled German, about their marriage and careers, repeating some material from the stage presentation but elaborating on other issues. There's also a surprisingly engaging series of chats with Caird, the performers, and musicologist Daniel Gallagher about the Schumanns and their music. Gallagher's contributions are especially good, even for non-specialists, and while the actors don't have much of substance to contribute, they do at least chime in with the occasional smart observation and perceptive question. The Blu-ray video quality is, as usual, superb, although there's nothing more technically challenging here than maintaining clarity on a rather dark stage. The aspect ratio is 16:9, and the audio options are limited to PCM 2.0 and 5.0. Subtitles are available for the songs and the German documentary. Old hands at this subject may feel that its treatment here is too superficial, but take this for what it is: an educational entertainment designed to introduce the Schumanns' music and cobiography to the uninitiated without insulting their intelligence. "Twin Spirits" surely succeeds on those grounds, most touchingly. -- Fanfare, James Reel, Mar-Apr 2010 Twin Spirits is a live theatrical performance that features narration, impersonation (in an epistolary manner), and chamber music centered on the lives and love of Robert and Clara Schumann. Evidently the work, created and directed by John Caird, toured in smaller venues before being presented at the Royal Opera House. It is indeed a unique experience, the letters of the Schumann's used as the basis for a story of their lives, dramatized here to excellent effect, and enhanced by their music. One can think of no more worthy subjects than these two hyper-romantic figures, celebrated in their day and long afterwards, with personal connections tying them into the fortunes and foibles of Brahms, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Joachim, and Chopin. Their love story is one that was well known even in their own day, and their passion for one another is marked only by the equal degree of tragedy and sorrow that graced their short time together. I will not dwell on aspects of that story here, as it is well known, and if unknown easily found in books and on the Web. Suffice it to say, the story begins with Robert's first studies with Clara Wieck's father (Robert was essentially self-taught), his aspirations as a pianist until he ruined his hands, his solicitation of love from Clara and desire to marry her (against her father's wishes), the frustration they experienced until they could get married, early bliss in their marital life and the success of each, Robert's seminal decline and mental instability, Clara's heartrending final years with Robert in an asylum, and her life after Robert's death. All of this seems like it might be too much for a stage production, but the letters have been carefully vetted in order to keep the action--such as it is--moving along. The story is given general guidelines by Derek Jacobi--superb as usual--and the parts of Robert and Clara taken by Sting and wife Trudie Styler. This might seem an odd choice at first, but Sting seems to have had a late-in-life classical-music conversion (remember his Dowland record?), and his performance as Robert is outstanding, as seasoned as from any actor I can imagine playing the part. Trudie Styler is equally affecting, and her moment of breakdown towards the end is truly distressing. But this is not a play at all--there is no dramatic movement or stage acting. Most of the time, Sting and Trudie are seated close to one another, and they often lean towards each other when speaking. Jacobi is seated pretty much center stage, and they all can be seen watching each other. Interspersed among the talkers are a series of musicians, an all-male group (baritone, violin, piano) on Robert's side, and a female group (soprano, cello, piano) on Clara's side. At different times in the "action," the music of one of the Schumanns is played by one of these groups, or a portion of each. For the most part, the performances are excellent, the singing of Simon Keenlyside being notable, along with the last selection, the Finale from the D-Minor Piano Trio, op. 63, a real barnburner and triumphant ending to an otherwise factual human misfortune that nonetheless had moments of supreme joy. But its protagonists were certainly as star-crossed as Romeo and Juliet ever were. If there is a downside, it would be the lack of more representative music on Robert's part. The very nature and intimacy of this production nixes the idea of large ensemble performances, but one feels like part of the emotional picture is missing without them. Some of the music has been doctored or altered, nothing egregious, but odd sounding to those who know it. This was probably unavoidable in order to make the music portion fuller while using only chamber pieces. The songs are what they are, and there are a few pieces pertinent to the Schumanns at certain times that are by other composers. The staging is wonderful, making it easy to follow what is happening; the sound is equally pleasing, LPCM stereo or DTS surround (my choice). The music however, is only secondary to the engrossing tale, and is chosen wisely to enhance the story where the words end. As bonuses, we get a substantial amount, the cast talks and the documentary being of more than casual interest. I enjoyed this thoroughly, and I can't imagine any music lover who wouldn't. -- Fanfare, Steven E. Ritter, Jan/Feb 2010 Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Twin Spirits: Sting performs Schumann [Blu-ray]

Release: October 17, 2023

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The world is a carnival of criminality, corruption, and psychosexual strangeness in the twisted pre-Code shockers of Tod Browning. Early Hollywood’s edgiest auteur, Browning drew on his experiences as a circus performer to create subversive pulp entertainments set amid the world of traveling sideshows, which, with their air of the exotic and the disreputable, provided a pungent backdrop for his sordid tales of outcasts, cons, villains, and vagabonds. Bringing together two of his defining works (The Unknown and Freaks) and a long-unavailable rarity (The Mystic), this cabinet of curiosities reveals a master of the morbid whose ability to unsettle is matched only by his daring compassion for society’s most downtrodden. TWO-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES New 2K digital restoration of Freaks, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack New 2K digital reconstruction and restoration of The Unknown by the George Eastman Museum, with a new score by composer Philip Carli New 2K digital restoration of The Mystic, with a new score by composer Dean Hurley Audio commentaries on Freaks and The Unknown and an introduction to The Mystic by film scholar David J. Skal New interview with author Megan Abbott about director Tod Browning and pre-Code horror Archival documentary on Freaks Episode from 2019 of critic Kristen Lopez’s podcast Ticklish Business about disability representation in Freaks Reading by Skal of “Spurs,” the short story by Tod Robbins on which Freaks is based Prologue to Freaks, which was added to the film in 1947 Program on the alternate endings to Freaks Video gallery of portraits from Freaks English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing PLUS: An essay by film critic Farran Smith Nehme

Release: February 22, 2022

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A small town runs into big problems when teenagers hit a growth spurt, turn into gallivanting Goliaths, lead an anti-elder rebellion and terrify anyone under seven feet tall! Featuring Hollywood teen stars Tommy Kirk (The Shaggy Dog), Johnny Crawford (TV’s The Rifleman), Ron Howard (TV’s Happy Days) and Beau Bridges (The Landlord), this fantastic, effects-laden tale delivers gargantuan, sexy entertainment loaded with rock ‘n’ roll. Eleven-year-old Genius (Howard) mixes up some super-goo with his chemistry set, turning cats and ducks into giants. When a group of wild teenagers see the results, they gobble it up too and turn into towering tyrants, challenging adults and making mayhem while the world desperately searches for an anti-teen antidote. It’s the teen scene you’ve never seen—from cult legend Bert I. Gordon, the director of The Cyclops, The Amazing Colossal Man, Attack of the Puppet People, The Magic Sword and Picture Mommy Dead. The stellar cast includes Joe Turkel (The Shining), Joy Harmon (Cool Hand Luke), Tisha Sterling (Coogan’s Bluff) and Toni Basil (Easy Rider).

Release: August 13, 2019

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The rivers are wide and rapid. The desert is vast and unforgiving. And when the trail turns craggy, men use pickaxes to dig grooves for the wagon wheels. Mother Nature can be overcome, but human nature remains deadly and unpredictable: Outlaws are using the Mormon wagon train as a hideout from a pursuing posse. John Ford's Wagon Master is one of the legendary filmmaker's personal favorites, a visually stirring celebration of Western will and cooperation set to the soundtrack crooning of the Sons of the Pioneers. Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr., Ward Bond (who would later lead TV's Wagon Train) and other familiar Ford stock company players take the reins in this glorious paean to the pioneer spirit. "Wagons west!"

Release: March 19, 2019

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A mild-mannered clerk who looks exactly like a notorious bank robber becomes the target of police and criminals alike in this fast-paced John Ford comedy-crime tale.

Release: January 9, 2018

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Few American historical figures are as revered as Abraham Lincoln, and few director-star collaborations embody classic Hollywood cinema as beautifully as the one between John Ford and Henry Fonda. This film, their first together, was Ford s equally poetic and significant follow-up to the groundbreaking western STAGECOACH, and in it Fonda gives one of the finest performances of his career, as the young president-to-be, a novice lawyer struggling with an incendiary murder case. Photographed in gorgeous black and white by Ford s frequent collaborator Bert Glennon, YOUNG MR. LINCOLN is a compassionate and assured work and an indelible piece of Americana. BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES - New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack - New audio commentary featuring film scholar Joseph McBride (SEARCHING FOR JOHN FORD: A LIFE) - OMNIBUS: "JOHN FORD', part one: filmmaker Lindsay Anderson s profile of the life and work of director John Ford before World War II - Talk show appearance by actor Henry Fonda from 1975 - Audio interviews from the seventies with Ford and Fonda, conducted by the director s grandson Dan Ford - Academy Award radio dramatization of the film - PLUS: An essay by critic Geoffrey O Brien and an homage to Ford by filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein