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Managing Editor A great collection of classic horror and science fiction films and a terrible remake are featured in this week's DVD column. Monsters and Madmen This new two-disc set from The Criterion Collection the gold standard for DVDs features the vintage horror films, "The Haunted Strangler" and Corridors of Blood and science fiction films, "First Man into Space" and "The Atomic Submarine." Richard Gordon produced three of the films "Strangler," "Corridors" and "Space" while the fourth film was made by Richard's brother Alex back in the era in which independent producers flourished. This package is more than just four enjoyable films. It is a celebration of two movie fans who did what all fans wish they could do: actually produce films successful films no less. I've had the pleasure of knowing both of the gentlemen for many years and the distinct privilege of considering them as friends. Richard and Alex grew up in England in the 1930s and were both avid films fans. As kids they ran fan clubs in their native country Richard organized a club for Buster Crabbe (Flash Gordon of the movie serials), while Alex ran a club for singing cowboy Gene Autry and their love of films only grew with time. As young men, they decided to come to this country in the late 1940s to try their luck breaking into the industry. After a variety of show business jobs ranging from publicity to distribution, both men were able to find their niche. Alex settled in California and made most of his films at American International Pictures and along with Roger Corman was one of the principal producers of that company in the 1950s. Alex was the producer who really established the casting concept now made famous by Quentin Tarantino of giving roles to performers who were favorites from his youth and ready for re-discovery. Alex left producing in 1965 and pursued a respected career as an archivist and then a long stint working with cowboy turned businessman Gene Autry. He died in 2003. Richard established his offices in New York City and made his films in his native Great Britain. Although his last feature was made in 1981, Richard has been very active licensing his library of films for home video and television around the world. Of the many independent producers who were making films in the 1950s through the 1980s, only Richard has remained active in the business to this date. Richard's "The Haunted Strangler" and "Corridors of Blood" both star Boris Karloff and afforded the aging actor with two of his best roles in the last segment of his career. "Strangler" is a neat twist on the Jekyll and Hyde theme with Karloff as an acclaimed mystery writer trying to prove his theory about a long-dead serial killer. "Corridors" features Karloff as a doctor in Victorian England pioneering the use of anesthesia and becoming an addict in the process. Richard's third movie in the package is "First Man into Space," a movie that straddles the horror and science fiction genres. A Navy test pilot returns from an experimental flight as an encrusted monster killing people for their blood. The effective direction of Robert Day and Karloff's performances push "Strangler" and "Corridors" out of standard horror genre fare. They are both very good, solid films. "First Man" is a fast-moving exploitation film it capitalized on the very topical space race of the late 1950s and is also a lot of fun. "The Atomic Submarine" is one of Alex's most ambitious films with a large cast of sentimental favorites cowboy stars Dick Foran and Bob Steele, suave Tom Conway, among others a lot of special effects, and a timely theme of nuclear submarines. It can also boast of one of the most unusual monsters seen in a sci-fi movie. Although the film's low-budget shows at times, "Submarine" is a drive-in movie that is hard not to dislike. All of the films have great commentary tracks with author Tom Weaver interviewing Richard and Alex and Criterion includes two insightful booklets featuring essays on the films. Other extras are interviews with director Robert Day and some of the cast members from the films. This is one of my essential additions to my DVD library. For more information, log onto www.criterionco.com All The King's Men The collective memory of popular culture can be short and I'm sure the producers of the new adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's novel "All the King's Men" counted on contemporary audiences not remembering the powerful 1949 film that won three Oscars, one for "Best Picture." The powerhouse cast of the 2006 remake Sean Penn, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins and Kate Winslet is betrayed by a sloppy, sensationalized screenplay and terrible screenplay and direction by Steven Zaillian. The book is based loosely on the life and career of Louisiana politician Huey Long, who rose from obscurity to the governor's office and then to the U.S. Senate on a platform of populism and a backstage technique of hardball politics. The DVD producers included a genuinely interesting documentary on Long that only points out just how poor this movie is as a fictional version of his life. Did it ever occur to Zaillian that Willie Stark, the Long character played by Sean Penn, didn't have to flail his arms around every time he speaks? Did he realize that Penn's over-the-top performance robbed the character of any of its humanity? Penn's attempt at a Southern accent renders the dialogue almost incoherent too many times in the film. And what about that hair? Penn doesn't even resemble someone from the deep South in the 1930s. The muddle story focused so much on the love life of jaded Southern aristocrat turned reporter Jack Burden (Jude Law) that one doesn't get the chance to understand how a Stark, a nobody county treasurer is able to build up a juggernaut of political power. Ultimately, Zaillian's greatest failure is producing a movie that has no central core to its story. Is it about Stark or Burden? Is it a film about power and politics or is it a love story? Is Stark a monster or someone who has lost sight of their humanity? Hey, I don't know. I only watched this film. I want two hours of my life back. For more on this wretched production, log onto www.sonypictures.com | ||||||
