Like so many great American films of the era, A Letter to Three Wives has a touch of trash at its core. Writer/director Joseph L. Mankiewicz crafts well-rounded characters, thoughtful explorations of class via small-town postwar America, and snappy dialogue to spare. But this is still a story that really kicks off when three women receive a letter from another claiming to have run off with one of their husbands, timed to a daylong excursion where she knows they can’t do a damned thing about it. Not that there’s anything wrong with that at all.
The bulk of the movie takes place in flashback, as each woman reflects on the more tumultuous moments in their relationships, and why each husband would be motivated to abandon ship for the highly-desirable Addie Ross. Addie seems to have gotten around often enough to have gotten around to those same husbands in some capacity.
The bulk of the movie takes place in flashback, as each woman reflects on the more tumultuous moments in their relationships, and why each husband would be motivated to abandon ship for the highly-desirable Addie Ross. Addie seems to have gotten around often enough to have gotten around to those same husbands in some capacity.
- 7/30/2015
- by Scott Nye
- CriterionCast
There is a sumptuousness and exotic look and feel to the Ancient Egyptian culture that I have always been drawn to. The clothing, décor, architecture – it has always been utterly fascinating and their monarchies and dynasties are as rich as any in Europe. One of the best biographies I read in the last few years was Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra, which mined all known existing records about the Queen and attempts to weave together the most likely version of her storied life and death.
On the other hand, the 1963 spectacle of the same name merely adapted Plutarch’s version of events. Today, Cleopatra has become shorthand for a bloated misfire of a film and is always cited as the one that nearly caused 20th Century-Fox to crumble. The studio survived and has had the last laugh, making a fortune off the film ever since. Out now is the overdue Blu-ray...
On the other hand, the 1963 spectacle of the same name merely adapted Plutarch’s version of events. Today, Cleopatra has become shorthand for a bloated misfire of a film and is always cited as the one that nearly caused 20th Century-Fox to crumble. The studio survived and has had the last laugh, making a fortune off the film ever since. Out now is the overdue Blu-ray...
- 6/4/2013
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
More and more great films keep coming to the blu-ray format and details and dates for two classic films have been released, as well as details on the more recent film, Gangster Squad. Come inside to check out all the details on the latest films coming to the blu-ray format.
It's hard to believe, but it's been fifty years since Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra film released in theaters. In order to commemorate the milestone Fox is releasing a special 50th Anniversary blu-ray with never before seen footage and a slew of other features, on May 21, 2013. Read the press release below for full details:
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is proud to announce that the four-time Academy Award® winning* classic Cleopatra, will be released on Blu-ray Disc for the first time May 21 in a special golden anniversary edition and is available for pre-order at major retailers.
In honor of the iconic film’s 50th anniversary,...
It's hard to believe, but it's been fifty years since Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra film released in theaters. In order to commemorate the milestone Fox is releasing a special 50th Anniversary blu-ray with never before seen footage and a slew of other features, on May 21, 2013. Read the press release below for full details:
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is proud to announce that the four-time Academy Award® winning* classic Cleopatra, will be released on Blu-ray Disc for the first time May 21 in a special golden anniversary edition and is available for pre-order at major retailers.
In honor of the iconic film’s 50th anniversary,...
- 3/8/2013
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is proud to announce that the four-time Academy Award winning classic Cleopatra, will be released on Blu-ray Disc for the first time May 21 in a special golden anniversary edition and is available for pre-order at major retailers.
In honor of the iconic film's 50th anniversary, the 243-minute premiere version of Cleopatra has been meticulously restored and presented on Blu-ray for a stunning high definition in-home viewing experience. Artfully packaged with a full-color book featuring rare images from the making of the film, the 2-disc Blu-ray edition is packed with dazzling bonus materials featuring never-before-seen exclusive content including Cleopatra's lost footage, commentary from Christopher Mankiewicz, Tom Mankiewicz, Martin Landau and Jack Brodsky, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more. Additionally, fans can watch footage from the film's original theatrical premieres in both New York and Los Angeles.
To kick-off a global celebration commemorating the film and its special edition Blu-ray release,...
In honor of the iconic film's 50th anniversary, the 243-minute premiere version of Cleopatra has been meticulously restored and presented on Blu-ray for a stunning high definition in-home viewing experience. Artfully packaged with a full-color book featuring rare images from the making of the film, the 2-disc Blu-ray edition is packed with dazzling bonus materials featuring never-before-seen exclusive content including Cleopatra's lost footage, commentary from Christopher Mankiewicz, Tom Mankiewicz, Martin Landau and Jack Brodsky, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more. Additionally, fans can watch footage from the film's original theatrical premieres in both New York and Los Angeles.
To kick-off a global celebration commemorating the film and its special edition Blu-ray release,...
- 3/2/2013
- by MovieWeb
- MovieWeb
By Chris Wright, MoreHorror.com
Fatal Games (1984) Movie Review
Directed By: Michael Elliot
Written By Rafael Bunuel & Michael Elliot
Starring: Sally Kirkland (Diane), Lynn Banashek (Annie Rivers), Sean Masterson (Phil Dandridge), Michael O’Leary (Frank Agee), Teal Roberts (Lynn Fox), Spice Williams-Crosby (Coach Drew), Melissa Prophet (Nancy Wilson), Angela Bennett (Sue Allen Baines), Nicholas Love (Joe Ward), Lauretta Murphy (Shelly), Michael Elliot (Dr. Jordine), Christopher Mankiewicz (Coach Webber)
Stick with the Olympics! This movie is a game of fatally flawed, slow mayhem. Coming at the end of the slasher peaks in the 1980s, “Fatal Games” attempts to be different but is too flawed to even find enjoyable.
Michael Elliot’s direction could use polishing but this was the only movie he did thank goodness. This movie has only been released by Media Home Entertainment on VHS.
A group of high schoolers are slowly killed off at a local high school...
Fatal Games (1984) Movie Review
Directed By: Michael Elliot
Written By Rafael Bunuel & Michael Elliot
Starring: Sally Kirkland (Diane), Lynn Banashek (Annie Rivers), Sean Masterson (Phil Dandridge), Michael O’Leary (Frank Agee), Teal Roberts (Lynn Fox), Spice Williams-Crosby (Coach Drew), Melissa Prophet (Nancy Wilson), Angela Bennett (Sue Allen Baines), Nicholas Love (Joe Ward), Lauretta Murphy (Shelly), Michael Elliot (Dr. Jordine), Christopher Mankiewicz (Coach Webber)
Stick with the Olympics! This movie is a game of fatally flawed, slow mayhem. Coming at the end of the slasher peaks in the 1980s, “Fatal Games” attempts to be different but is too flawed to even find enjoyable.
Michael Elliot’s direction could use polishing but this was the only movie he did thank goodness. This movie has only been released by Media Home Entertainment on VHS.
A group of high schoolers are slowly killed off at a local high school...
- 8/17/2012
- by admin
- MoreHorror
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
It’s the quintessential Hollywood historic epic, full of over the top grandeur, decadence and glamour: and the perfect choice for a Blu-ray release! Available today, read on for our review…
Elizabeth Taylor stars as Cleopatra, the glamorous and cunning queen of Egypt in this sweeping historical epic. To secure her hold on power, she seduces the ruler of Rome, Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and uses her influence to increase Egypt’s power. As Caesar’s bride she is ruler of a grand empire, but after her husband’s murder at the hands of his own Senate, the Queen of the Nile meets her match in Mark Anthony (Richard Burton), Caesar’s devout ally. Their passionate romance could now decide the fate of the world’s greatest empire…
Last year I contributed to WhatCulture! a feature listing ten films worthy of a Blu-ray release that were not yet on Blu-ray.
It’s the quintessential Hollywood historic epic, full of over the top grandeur, decadence and glamour: and the perfect choice for a Blu-ray release! Available today, read on for our review…
Elizabeth Taylor stars as Cleopatra, the glamorous and cunning queen of Egypt in this sweeping historical epic. To secure her hold on power, she seduces the ruler of Rome, Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and uses her influence to increase Egypt’s power. As Caesar’s bride she is ruler of a grand empire, but after her husband’s murder at the hands of his own Senate, the Queen of the Nile meets her match in Mark Anthony (Richard Burton), Caesar’s devout ally. Their passionate romance could now decide the fate of the world’s greatest empire…
Last year I contributed to WhatCulture! a feature listing ten films worthy of a Blu-ray release that were not yet on Blu-ray.
- 1/30/2012
- by Stuart Cummins
- Obsessed with Film
DVD Playhouse—March 2011
By
Allen Gardner
127 Hours (20th Century Fox) Harrowing true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco, in another fine turn), an extreme outdoorsman who finds himself trapped in a remote Utah canyon, his arm pinned between two boulders, with no help nearby, no communication to the outside world, and dim prospects for survival, to say the least. Director Danny Boyle manages to prove again that he’s one of the finest filmmakers working today by making a subject that is seemingly uncinematic a true example of pure cinema. Inventive, breathtaking, funny, and horrifying, often all at once. Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara make a memorable, brief appearance as hikers who connect with Ralston during his journey. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Boyle, producer Christian Colson, co-writer Simon Beaufoy; Deleted scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 5.1 surround.
Amarcord (Criterion) Federico Fellini’s Oscar-winning, autobiographical classic might...
By
Allen Gardner
127 Hours (20th Century Fox) Harrowing true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco, in another fine turn), an extreme outdoorsman who finds himself trapped in a remote Utah canyon, his arm pinned between two boulders, with no help nearby, no communication to the outside world, and dim prospects for survival, to say the least. Director Danny Boyle manages to prove again that he’s one of the finest filmmakers working today by making a subject that is seemingly uncinematic a true example of pure cinema. Inventive, breathtaking, funny, and horrifying, often all at once. Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara make a memorable, brief appearance as hikers who connect with Ralston during his journey. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Boyle, producer Christian Colson, co-writer Simon Beaufoy; Deleted scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 5.1 surround.
Amarcord (Criterion) Federico Fellini’s Oscar-winning, autobiographical classic might...
- 3/1/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
All About Eve is regularly considered to be one of the greatest films from the annals of Hollywood’s history and with a record 14 Oscar nominations – tying it with James Cameron’s epic Titanic (1998) – and 6 wins, it’s hard to argue against it’s importance. And now with today’s Blu-ray upgrade, improving on all previous DVD releases, it’s great to see this piece of film history transformed into a slick, deserving and glossy HD presentation. If you’ve never taken the opportunity to delve into the world of back-stage dramas and one-upmanship then now couldn’t be a better time.
All About Eve follows the schemes and manoeuvres of an aspiring actress, Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter), as she attempts to inculcate herself into the life of aging, but mammoth stage star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) and her array of theatre friends. As Eve engineers herself to become indispensible to Margo,...
All About Eve follows the schemes and manoeuvres of an aspiring actress, Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter), as she attempts to inculcate herself into the life of aging, but mammoth stage star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) and her array of theatre friends. As Eve engineers herself to become indispensible to Margo,...
- 2/21/2011
- by Stuart Cummins
- Obsessed with Film
Chicago – Fox has released two of the most beloved films in their extensive back catalog of movies waiting for their HD debut and just in time for Valentine’s Day. Forget traditional flowers or chocolates and pick up the lovingly-packaged, beautifully-transferred, and bonus-packed releases of “All About Eve” and “An Affair to Remember.”
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
If I were to pick one of these two movies, it’s “All About Eve” in a walk. The winner of six Oscars, including Best Picture, “All About Eve” is a classic, featuring one of my favorite actress performances of all time in Bette Davis’ master class on how to steal not just a scene but an entire damn movie. “An Affair to Remember” features two wonderful actors at the peak of their charm — Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr — and its their talent and amazing chemistry from minute one that make the movie work as well as it does.
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
If I were to pick one of these two movies, it’s “All About Eve” in a walk. The winner of six Oscars, including Best Picture, “All About Eve” is a classic, featuring one of my favorite actress performances of all time in Bette Davis’ master class on how to steal not just a scene but an entire damn movie. “An Affair to Remember” features two wonderful actors at the peak of their charm — Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr — and its their talent and amazing chemistry from minute one that make the movie work as well as it does.
- 2/8/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Film review: 'A Perfect Murder'
Filling the shoes of those who came before you is never easy, especially when the footwear belonged to Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly and Ray Milland.
Yet "A Perfect Murder" -- based loosely on Hitch's "Dial M for Murder", which was adapted from Frederick Knott's stage play of the same name -- succeeds admirably.
A smart, classy, near-perfect suspense thriller boasting crackling performances from Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow, it's director Andrew Davis' best work since "The Fugitive".
This is a yarn in which the perpetrator's identity is shared with the audience from the start, but the tautly executed cat-and-mouse maneuvers nevertheless keep it involving.
Filling an underserved niche, "A Perfect Murder" should yield Warner Bros. some of its best boxoffice numbers of the year.
Purists may find it sacrilege to say so, but Patrick Smith Kelly's clever screenplay, rather than simply updating the action from 1950s London to '90s Manhattan, actually improves on the Knott/Hitchcock original by creating a more treacherous dynamic between the two male points of the intriguing love-hate triangle.
When wealthy industrialist Steven Taylor (Douglas in full "Wall Street" Gordon Gekko mode) realizes that his prized possession -- coming-from-big-money, U.N. multilingual-translator wife Emily -- is having a torrid affair with struggling artist David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen), Taylor plots to critically hurt the one he loves.
Revealing his discovery to Shaw after digging up a considerable criminal portfolio on the career usurper of wealthy women, Taylor blackmails him into killing Emily.
Needless to say, despite elaborate preparations, the execution goes horribly awry as Emily manages to ward off her masked attacker by stabbing him -- no, not in the back with a pair of scissors (that may have worked in the tasteful '50s), but with a carefully aimed meat thermometer to the jugular.
To make matters worse for Taylor, the unintended murder victim doesn't turn out to be whom we expected. As Taylor frantically attempts to cover his tracks, Emily's suspicions are understandably heightened, as are those of Detective Mohamed Karaman (David Suchet), with whom Emily converses in his native Arabic.
Even Hitchcock would have approved of the casting. Douglas revels in playing the seamy, dark side that the late, great master of suspense used to enjoy eliciting from Hollywood good guys Cary Grant and James Stewart.
And while she's not exactly Grace Kelly (who is?), Paltrow brings an intelligent wiliness to her not-so-pitiful victim. Good also are Mortensen as an out-of-his-league counter-blackmailer and Suchet as the detective who answers to a much higher authority when making judgment calls.
Technical contributions are nothing short of superb.
A PERFECT MURDER
Warner Bros.
A Kopelson Entertainment production
An Andrew Davis film
Director: Andrew Davis
Producers: Arnold Kopelson
and Anne Kopelson, Christopher Mankiewicz, Peter Macgregor-Scott
Screenwriter: Patrick Smith Kelly
Based on the play "Dial M for Murder" by:
Frederick Knott
Executive producer: Stephen Brown
Director of photography: Dariusz Wolski
Production designer: Philip Rosenberg
Editors: Dennis Virkler, Dov Hoenig
Costume designer: Ellen Mirojnick
Music: James Newton Howard
Color/stereo
Cast:
Steven Taylor: Michael Douglas
Emily Bradford Taylor: Gwyneth Paltrow
David Shaw: Viggo Mortensen
Detective Mohamed Karaman: David Suchet
Raquel Martinez: Sarita Choudhury
Sandra Bradford: Constance Towers
Running time -- 107 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Yet "A Perfect Murder" -- based loosely on Hitch's "Dial M for Murder", which was adapted from Frederick Knott's stage play of the same name -- succeeds admirably.
A smart, classy, near-perfect suspense thriller boasting crackling performances from Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow, it's director Andrew Davis' best work since "The Fugitive".
This is a yarn in which the perpetrator's identity is shared with the audience from the start, but the tautly executed cat-and-mouse maneuvers nevertheless keep it involving.
Filling an underserved niche, "A Perfect Murder" should yield Warner Bros. some of its best boxoffice numbers of the year.
Purists may find it sacrilege to say so, but Patrick Smith Kelly's clever screenplay, rather than simply updating the action from 1950s London to '90s Manhattan, actually improves on the Knott/Hitchcock original by creating a more treacherous dynamic between the two male points of the intriguing love-hate triangle.
When wealthy industrialist Steven Taylor (Douglas in full "Wall Street" Gordon Gekko mode) realizes that his prized possession -- coming-from-big-money, U.N. multilingual-translator wife Emily -- is having a torrid affair with struggling artist David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen), Taylor plots to critically hurt the one he loves.
Revealing his discovery to Shaw after digging up a considerable criminal portfolio on the career usurper of wealthy women, Taylor blackmails him into killing Emily.
Needless to say, despite elaborate preparations, the execution goes horribly awry as Emily manages to ward off her masked attacker by stabbing him -- no, not in the back with a pair of scissors (that may have worked in the tasteful '50s), but with a carefully aimed meat thermometer to the jugular.
To make matters worse for Taylor, the unintended murder victim doesn't turn out to be whom we expected. As Taylor frantically attempts to cover his tracks, Emily's suspicions are understandably heightened, as are those of Detective Mohamed Karaman (David Suchet), with whom Emily converses in his native Arabic.
Even Hitchcock would have approved of the casting. Douglas revels in playing the seamy, dark side that the late, great master of suspense used to enjoy eliciting from Hollywood good guys Cary Grant and James Stewart.
And while she's not exactly Grace Kelly (who is?), Paltrow brings an intelligent wiliness to her not-so-pitiful victim. Good also are Mortensen as an out-of-his-league counter-blackmailer and Suchet as the detective who answers to a much higher authority when making judgment calls.
Technical contributions are nothing short of superb.
A PERFECT MURDER
Warner Bros.
A Kopelson Entertainment production
An Andrew Davis film
Director: Andrew Davis
Producers: Arnold Kopelson
and Anne Kopelson, Christopher Mankiewicz, Peter Macgregor-Scott
Screenwriter: Patrick Smith Kelly
Based on the play "Dial M for Murder" by:
Frederick Knott
Executive producer: Stephen Brown
Director of photography: Dariusz Wolski
Production designer: Philip Rosenberg
Editors: Dennis Virkler, Dov Hoenig
Costume designer: Ellen Mirojnick
Music: James Newton Howard
Color/stereo
Cast:
Steven Taylor: Michael Douglas
Emily Bradford Taylor: Gwyneth Paltrow
David Shaw: Viggo Mortensen
Detective Mohamed Karaman: David Suchet
Raquel Martinez: Sarita Choudhury
Sandra Bradford: Constance Towers
Running time -- 107 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 6/1/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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