Home Movie Reviews

"The Gypsy Moths" (1969) is fabulous! I recommend it highly if you like a movie that's both exciting and "deep." The movie shows the tension created when three skydivers mix with the locals of a small Kansas town. The skydiving stunts are quite impressive --- and real. The subtle building of tension is masterful. Yes, Lancaster, Kerr, and Hackman are very good, but so are Scott Wilson, William Windom, Bonnie Bedelia, and Sherry North. The character development and the themes of mature adult relationships, the choices we make in our lives, and a behind the scenes look at the lives of ''performers'' make the movie more than an action picture. In the DVD extras, Frankenheimer calls "The Gypsy Moths" one of his personal favorites, and says out of the 194 movies and live television shows he has done, "The Gypsy Moths" ranks in the top 2 or 3. That's high praise given Frankenheimer's resume (which includes The Manchurian Candidate, The Train, Birdman of Alcatraz, Seven Days in May, and Seconds). Frankenheimer gives a full-length feature interview on the making of the "The Gypsy Moths," including comments on his frustration when the movie was strangely dropped by MGM in its theatrical realease in a management change (because the movie "didn't fit with the kind of new 'exploitation' pictures the new management wanted to make"). Also in the DVD extras, is a thrilling promotional movie trailer, and a behind the scenes making of the movie called "The Skydivers," featuring the work by the stunt skydiving team that made over 1300 jumps to catch the aerial sequences, and interviews with Frankenheimer, Lancaster, and Kerr. All in all, "The Gypsy Moths" is a major film, and a brave one for Frankenheimer, who allows the time for the characters to develop and build the subtle tension, and then explodes it with the skydiving performance and it's aftermath. "The Gypsy Moths" has a kind of cult following, which should only grow now that the movie has been reissued on DVD and VHS, and the movie will surely become a classic.

One of Frankenheimer's most satisfying films. I really like the spare dialogue. The acting is first-rate, and the filming has a free-wheeling feel lacking in Frankenheimer's later efforts. Bonnie Bedelia, Sheree North and Debra Kerr bracket the female spectrum in one of the few Frankenheimer films to depict women as interesting as the men.
Gene Hackman's performance is memorable. Simply terrific.

Three barnstorming skydivers come to a small midwestern town to put on a show. "The Gypsy Moths" has great skydiving stunts that were actually performed by a real skydiving stunt team; and the movie is so much more than just an action film. The characters are very interesting and complex, and the backstage look at the lives of "performers" makes this movie a classic! Lancaster is powerful; Kerr, Sheree North and Bonnie Bedelia provide interest and sexual tension; Hackman should have gotten an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor; and director John Frankenheimer has done a superb job of weaving the action and interpersonal drama tightly. "When the ground comes up at you like a sledgehammer, and the sweat freezes on your brow; when jumping isn't only a way to live, but a way to die, too... you're a Gypsy Moth." The ending makes this movie an existential masterpiece!

I was very happy to see the release of DVD Volume 8 containing 4 more episodes from the first season of the classic television series "I Love Lucy", which aired on television for six seasons between 1951 and 1957. Lucy Esmeralda MacGillicuddy Ricardo (Lucille Ball), Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), Ethel Mae Roberta Louise Potter Mertz (Vivian Vance) and Fred Mertz (William Frawley) have more hilarious hijinx occur in the four episodes presented in thid DVD:

Episode 28: "Cuban Pals" (April 21, 1952). Lucy and Ricky are visited by two of Ricky's Cuban friends (Alberto Morin and Rita Convy), as well as a dancer named Renita Perez (Lita Baron), whom Ricky used to perform with when she was a little girl. Lucy's jealousy of Renita leads to some classic hijinx at the night club.

Episode 29: "The Freezer" (April 28, 1952). Lucy and Ethel want to save money by getting a freezer to store a lot of meat that they could purchase wholesale. Ethel can get a freezer essentially for free from a relative, so Lucy orders some meat; but it's a bit more meat than Lucy & Ethel realize when three delivery men arrive (Frank Sully and Bennett Green). After they try to sell some of the excess meat, Lucy learns the true meaning of popsickle. Fred Aldrich played the butcher.

Episode 30: "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (May 5, 1952). This is one of the best known and most beloved episodes of all time. In this episode, Lucy finagles her way into doing a TV commercial during a show that Ricky has been invited to perform in. The TV commercial is for that well-known elixir, Vitametavegamin; but the director (Ross Elliott) and Joe (Jerry Hausner) fail to mention that it has a lot of alcohol in it. After several takes, Lucy gets a bit tipsy.

Episode 31: "The Publicity Agent" (May 12, 1952). Concerned that Ricky isn't getting enough publicity, Lucy poses as a princess from the fictional country of Franistan who has travelled to NYC just to hear Ricky sing. Ethel poses as her consort. Peter Leeds, Bennett Green, Richard J. Reeves and Gil Herman guest star in this episode.

If you are debating whether to purchase any of the episodes on DVD, you won't be disappointed if you are a long-time fan of "I Love Lucy". As with the other seven volumes released so far, picture quality of the episodes is superb; and being able to watch the episodes uninterrupted and uncut is fantastic. I rate these 4 classic episodes with 5 out of 5 stars!

I LOVE LUCY continues on DVD with this 8th volume of episodes from the historic first season.

"Cuban Pals" - Lucy is delighted to meet a troupe of Cuban performers, touring through America, who are old friends of Ricky's. But when she discovers that the beautiful, lithsome dancer Renita Perez will be dancing with Ricky, Lucy sets out to replace her as the "Lady in Red", with hilarious results...

"The Freezer" - Lucy and Ethel decide to buy a freezer, stocking it with more meat than they can eat...or pay for! But with Lucy's brush with the meat 'black-market' turning into a dismal failure, the girls have to go home and face the boys...

"Lucy Does a TV Commercial" - Lucy decides to appear on Ricky's new television special, advertising a rather-suspicious health tonic called Vitameatavegamin. The tonic is largely made of alcohol, and Lucy bombs (and gets bombed) as she samples the elixer during multiple "takes"!

"The Publicity Agent" - Ricky's career is in the doldrums, so Lucy decides to shake things up in the press by masquerading as the 'Maharincess of Franistan', who has come to America just to hear Ricky singing in his club!

Starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley. The DVD includes restored elements, special footage, a bonus episode of the "My Favorite Husband" radio show, flubs, guest-cast information and audio supplements. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

Volume 8 of Season One of "I Love Lucy" on DVD includes what has been universally recognized as the funniest episode of the classical sitcom. Need a clue? How about one word: Vitameatavegamin (and it's tasty too!). Even without that biggie the other three episodes by writers Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. are way above average as well:

Episode 28, "Cuban Pals" (April 21, 1952) finds Lucy insanely jealous about the gorgeous Latin dancer (Rita Convy) who was Ricky's dancing partner back in Cuba. Whatever will the redhead do about this floozy?

Episode 29, "The Freezer" (April 28, 1952) contains another classic "I Love Lucy" sight gag. Lucy and Ethel have a new walk-in freezer that is not as big as think. As a result, the girls have to go into the meat business. Meanwhile, there is that walk-in freezer with a lock on teh door and that can only mean one thing with Lucy around.

Episode 30, "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (May 5, 1952) is an absolute classic. Lucy has been trying to get into showbusiness and she may have finally found her opportunity as a TV pitchwoman for Vitametavegamin, a cure-all tonic (that is only 23 percent alcohol). What is interesting is that Lucy is pretty good when she starts practicing. But with each rehersal using the actual product she descends into a drunken stupor and ascends to the heights of hilarity. Note: Lucy appeared in the 1946 MGM movie "Ziegfeld Follies," in which Red Skelton did a burlesque routine in which he was peddling a product called Guzzler's Gin. Whether this was indeed the inspiration for this "I Love Lucy" episode or not, it indicates the Lucille Ball's gift was not in originality but in performance.

Episode 31, "The Publicity Agent" (May 12, 1952) has Lucy "helping" Ricky's career by posing as a Middle Eastern princess who is Ricky Ricardo's biggest fan. Of course, no publicity stunt by Lucy goes unpunished.

During the first season of "I Love Lucy" in 1951-52 the show had a Nielsen rating of 50.9, which means on Monday nights literatlly half the television sets in the United States were on and tuned to CBS at 9:00 p.m. (and the show only finished THIRD in the ratings). However, the next year the show would make it to the top spot in the Nielsens with a rating of 67.3 as Lucy, both the actress and the character, gave birth. Today you can take the ratings from the four main networks and probably throw the two minor ones into the mix and still not come close to that number during any hour of the week. This is why there is "I Love Lucy" and then the rest.

This review refers to the "Little House on the Prairie 4 Pack Collector
Series" DVD edtion by GoodTimes DVD/NBC Home Video.....

Watch any one of these classic TV episodes included in this wonderful selection from the Little House series and you'll get a wonderfully nostalgic feeling. Even if you are just discovering these programs(maybe you were home
sick from work, and caught them on TV), you'll want to rewatch them on these great DVDs(without all the commercials, or having to take another day off to catch part 2!).

Here's the drill...10 minutes in you'll already be trying to hide that lump in your throat...by 20 minutes, you'll be grinning ear to ear...and by the 30 minute mark..fahget about it, you are one huge basketcase..but don't worry by the end you are smiling once again.

The set includes these great episodes...

"The Premiere Movie"..a double length feature that will introduce you to the Ingalls family and their harrowing journey to make a better life for themselves. You'll also meet Jack the dog and Mr. Edwards(Victor French) for the first time. When Charles says "Caroline..were home...".have the kleenex ready! It stars Michael Landon(who also directed many of the episodes), Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson.

Next up, everbody's favorite(also double length) "The Lord Is My Shepard". When little Laura thinks she had "bad thoughts" about her little baby brother, who tragically dies, she runs away to try and make things right with God. The great Ernest Borgnine guest stars as "Johnathon" who cares for her.

In "The Collection" there are more terrific guest stars to be found. Johnny and June Cash co-star in this one. Johnny pretends to be a minister and all of Walnut Grove join in in helping him take up a collection for the "needy". Will he see the light and do the right thing in the end?..well..you know....

And finally, in yet another double length feature, see the touching story of how Laura becomes Mrs. Alamanzo Wilder in "Laura Ingalls Wilder". Laura and Almanzo are having trouble making ends meet, and Almanzo doesn't want to marry until he can provide for his bride to be. Meanwhile Almanzo's sister Eliza Jane(Lucy Lee Flippen)is also having romantic problems of her own and makes a supreme sacrifice to see her brother and Laura happily married.It guest stars James Cromwell and this one will really tug at your heartstrings!

Goodtimes DVD has done a nice job of transfering these 70's TV classsics. They look great. Nice color and sound. There is some occasional flickering but a very enjoyable view overall. To buy them in this set is the most economical way to go(you know you won't be able to stop at just one).It's nice to be able to enjoy them whenever the mood hits. And "GOODTIMES"...that is often so let's have some more sets like this one! I have a few suggestions...Maybe the one where Carrie falls down the mine shaft, or how about when the Ingalls adopt Albert, or the blind kids making the trek to the new school, oh I could go on and on...more Please!

You'll laugh, you'll cry!...enjoy...Laurie

"Little House On The Prairie" was a very successful tv series in the late 60's and early 70's. It starred Michael Landon as Charles "Pa" Ingalls and Melissa Gilbert as Laura. It was based on the many novels by Laura Ingalls, who grew up in the prairies of Kansas in the 1860's. The historic work of fiction was very personal to Larua, recalling her childhood, moving from the forests of Wisconsin to the plains of Kansas, and the wholesome family life that survived despite hardships of living in a primitive frontier society.

The series ran long, and on this DVD, you do'nt get all the episodes but the highlights. The episode that most gripped audiences with its emotional, touching message on family love was the episode in which Laura's parents have a new baby. Laura becomes jealous of the new addition to the family, and she is upset she loses the affection of her parents. No longer the center of attention, she refuses to pray for the baby when the baby is struck with an illness. The baby eventually dies. Stricken with guilt and thinking she has caused the death of the baby, Laura journeys into the heart of the forest. There she meets a man she mistakes for God- a sainty, good natured hermit who teaches her a life lesson.

Michael Landon, a tv actor formerly Little Joe in Bonanza, was a 70's hunk and a man with whom I had a crush on as a young girl. He was the paragon of manhood- he was a great provider as a father, or so the character of Charles Ingalls made him out to be as well as sex symbol- he was muscular, strong, athletic and chiseled with rugged handsome looks. The music to the series was very beautiful, and the dialogue and the visuals very true to life, at least, that is, in the 19th century mid West America. I believe this DVD is a must have for the fans of the show.

My wife and I have been to many of the historical sites related to Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. There is a special place in our hearts for her books and if you grew up during the seventies and early eighties you were touched many times by the "stories" of a young pioneer family traveling across your television screen, destination Walnut Grove Minnesota. For this we can only say, "thank you!"

Wonderful adaptation of the Michael Dobbs "House of Cards" trilogy. Ian Richardson plays Francis Urquhart, Chief Whip of the Conservative Government, who schemes his way to Number Ten through blackmail, backroom deals, and sheer gall. The second volume, "To Play the King" shows Urquhart up against the newly crowned King (Michael Kitchen, who does a wonderful take on Prince Charles, really stealing the show) with Britain not big enough for the two of them. "The Final Cut" shows Urquhart hanging on against the wiles of the younger generation, while Diane Fletcher, as Urquhart's loyal, Lady-Macbeth-like wife, has her greatest acting moments.

Well cast, well directed, and with three thrilling political stories. However, this series would be nothing without Richardson, who amazes. Perhaps the best moments are when he breaches the fourth wall by talking to, or simply raising an eyebrow to, the viewer. While we could never approve of the things "F. U." does, it is hard not to love the character, as brought to full-color life by Richardson.

The only extra given on the DVDs, other than cast biographies, is a short BBC segment discussing the controversy over "To Play The King", or, to be more specific, over a line which some felt implied that the King used to send out for prostitutes (in context, it clearly does not, it implied he sent out for well-born ladies who would feel it their duty to come).

Each DVD contains four 50 minute episodes, so it is a good buy.

Recommended.

Superb acting combined with great writing, make this trilogy one of the most outstanding pieces of political fiction to have ever come out of Great Britain. The main character - Francis Urquhart - is Machiavellian to the core, but ads a layer of complexity to his character that is Shakespearian to the end.

I've seen the entire trilogy 4 times (as well as read all 3 novels upon which the films are based), and I've not even begun to tire of it yet.

I came to this series blind, knowing only Ian Richardson's other work. In The Dark Origins of Sherlock Holmes and there he was stunning. Likewise here. It is more fun than you can imagine watching him do his dirty tricks and still keep you on his side all the way up to the very surprising ending. This is BBC at its best and television being the wonderful instrument it can be now and then. Don't hesitate here. Incidentally, the "Murder Rooms: The Dark Origins Of Sherlock Holmes," as it was known in its PBS 2-part May 2000 broadcast, has been released on DVD and is available here on Amazon, but has been renamed "Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle, The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes". Don't know if that was the original name or not.

The third and final chapter in the life and times of that charming psychopath, Prime Minister Francis Urquhart. The end of his career is drawing nigh, and he's haunted by ghosts (not only Mattie Storin who perished so sadly in the first installment, but also a pair of young Cypriot soldies during Francis' military service). But he musters his strength for one last battle for the leadership of the party. Can he solidify his place in British history? F.U. has proved that he can do whatever he sets his mind to.

Made major changes from the novel, that is--and for my mind made it that much stronger a screenplay(sorry to novelist Michael Dobbs,who was supposedly royally ticked at this adaptation).Ian Richardson is again brilliant as the Shakespeare-quoting politician/murderer/con man whom you love to hate, and the underrated Dianne Fletcher is equally good as the scheming Mrs. Urquhart(a good example of the old saying that the female of the species is often more deadly!). In strong supporting roles, look for Isla Blair and Paul Freeman as an ambitious aide to FU and a would-be Prime Minister, respectively--this relationship has some parallels to the highly political union of the Urquharts.

The final days of our once loveable villain, FU, are, it would seem, rapidly approaching. He is quite prepared to foment an international incident to stay in power and to keep his not so little retirement nest egg intact. But time wounds all heels, and in the end even he cannot quite pull it off. His wife, though, the most cunnning of all the shrewd and political women that have surrounded him, finds a way to pull his chestnuts out of the fire, as it were - and what a surprising and most satisfactory ending it all makes. Top notch acting all round, especially by Richardson, and exciting and devious twists of plot make this (as well as the rest of the trilogy) an excellent performance and an enjoyable evening. See them all if you can.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tape on the old, traditional hulas of Hawaii. You won't find the popular, swaying palm Waikiki-type hulas with grandmas strumming ukes, but the chanting/percussion hulas of antiquity. There are some good interview with kumu hula's, or master teachers of hula, and the only drawback is that they are a bit competitive with one another. Everybody pushes their own hula school. But this is the real deal hula, a dying art, and it's inspiring. About 20% of the tape is narration and kumu hulas being interviewed, and all the rest is the dancing.

This is not only an entertaining film, but this film also respectfully helps to preserve the culture. The kumus are wonderful sources of knowledge, the scenery and dancing are beautiful, and the dancers themselves are really beautiful each in their own way.

This documentary gives the viewer, whether they see Hula for the first time, or are involved in Hula, a perfect example of what Hula was in ancient times in the days of the Kapo'e Kahiko(people of old) and what it is today. Kumu Hula(Hula Master, Vicki Holt-Takamine, the Producers and Directors went beyound the call to portray a very important part of our cultural connection to the Hula, which was one of the only means to transcribe with dance and Oli(chants, the history of our past. Our Hula Halau(Hula School)Pukalani Hula Hale of Maui was proud to participate in the making of this film. Mahalo a nui loa(thank you very much)for making it available to the world.

Kahu(Reverand)Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr., Pukalani, Maui Hawaii

I just rented this fabulous DVD about Canadian novelist/poet/singer/traveller Leonard Cohen and am so glad I did... it is a little gem of a movie, giving us a first-hand look into the young Cohen as he, in his quiet, attractive way, lives and learns and laughs about life, in whatever order the day seems to bring him.

Filmed in Black & White and released in 1965, the film was made as a 'documentary,' and as such takes us 'behind-the-scenes' into a slightly-staged version of Cohen's day-to-day life, complete with scenes of him waking up, bathing, shaving, hanging out at the local bar or a friend's house with his closest friends, at a book signing, and walking in the Montreal park where he played as a child. The film was shot before he became famous as a singer, and as such it focuses mainly on his work/career as a poet and novelist.

The film was made by the Canadian National Film Board, and as such has a dated, now-quite-funny voice-over about Cohen. At the same time, the people behind the film definetely "got" Cohen -- the film is made with the same type of quiet humour that Cohen himself possesses. I think one of my favorite moments in the film shows Cohen being interviewed by a stern, older man who insists that Cohen couldn't possibly be a poet without things that "bother" or upset him. The man kind of insinuated that Cohen must have a mission of some sort, something deep -- that by being a poet, he must have been trying to address some wrong in the world and do something which would help correct it. But Cohen would have none of that. Looking like he does for much of the film: quiet, a bit smug, self-consciously attractive and intelligent, Cohen quietly responds, in a soft-spoken manner similar to that of B&W footage I've seen of fellow '60's poet Jim Morrison, "well, what I'm really interested in is a state of grace. When I wake up in the morning, I have to know that things are in balance...." The interviewer gives up completely then, and instead of getting any more miffed or confused, finally says, "okay, now you've lost me." And then you know it's Score One, Cohen and Film; Score Zero, Stuffy Clueless Interviewer.

I Highly Recommended this film to fans of Cohen's music, his writing, or others of the wanna-be beatnik variety. There are plenty of black turtlenecks, steaming cups of coffee, intently gazing eyes, sly comic humour, stern black glasses, and seductively charming lines. His deadpan sarcasm and semi-stand-up comedy routines work just as well in 2001 as they did in 1964. His dashing, quiet, tongue-in-cheek humour reminds me much of a reading I saw recently of fellow Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood. They both had me laughing in the aisles. But it was smart laughter, if that makes sense.

Better than a trip to the local coffehouse for that poetry slam -- well, just as good, but this one gives you a glimpse of history. I found it captivating. Forty years later, the Man still has It.

Leonard Cohen may well be guilty in the first of carnality and celebrity but this quaint, arcane Canadian documentary of the fameless sixties absolves him of everything. He works, as his biographer Ira Nadel states, as a minituarist, painstakingly chronicling the life of the heart. Here is the scroll of his beginnings, a sepia-tinted fusion of poetry, vanity and cynicism made great by a corner-of-the-eye self-consciousness that already spies the future. Cohen's father Nathan was a keen amateur filmmaker who documented much of his children's activities and sections of this footage reveal a boy already in love with the captive image. The film is wonderfully portentous and immediately evocative of old streets, old books, the verities. There is a little of Brassai here, nothing of MTV. If this documentary could be twinned with the terrific BBC film of the "Tower of Song" 1988 world tour, which returned the poet to Hydra (whatever happened to that film?), the span of Cohen's growth and importance would be finally coherently charted. Which is not to say "captured". No one who reads or listens to Cohen believes that the silence of Mt Baldy is his final statement. Watch this. And wait for the curve ball.

For all you people who got to know Leonard Cohen after his 1988 album "I'm your man" this should be a must see video. You will find out that this living legend received a very classical training and was groomed for a high position in the Canadian world of poetry. Instead of course he threw it all away for "an education in the world" and became a pop singer. This is an important video that almost didn't happen. The documentary was supposed to be made about five poets but Cohen was the youngest and least stuffy of them all and the director wisely focused on Cohen and saw the genius in the bard of Montreal. All of this is news to the new fans of Cohen but for the old timers like me this is ancient but never the less pleasant history. Anything by Leonard Cohen is welcome. Yes, he is that good.

This review refers to the Goodtimes DVD of "Little House on the Prairie - The Lord Is My Shepherd"....

Michael Landon always knew how to touch our hearts and inspire us with these wonderful tales of the Little House series. This one is definitive of the spirit of the stories and one that focuses on the importance of family and the love shared within.

In this vintage episode from 1974, the Ingalls learn they are expecting a new arrival. Pa's need for a son becomes obvious to everyone and when his hopes are fulfilled, he can hardly contain his joy.He devotes all his attention to the new baby boy,leaving Laura feeling jealous and neglected. The joy in the household soon turns to sadness as the baby falls ill and there is no hope for him. Laura can not even bring herself to pray for her brother's recovery, and when tradgedy strikes, she blames herself and runs away to be closer to God in hopes of a miracle. She is cared for by Johnathan, a stranger whose wisdom helps her see the light.

Melissa Gilbert(Laura) and Michael Landon(Pa), will tug at your heartstrings, as father and daughter realize how much they love each other. And Landon always seems to get just the right guest stars for the parts.The great Ernest Borgnine plays Johnathan, the reclusive mountain man with a heart of gold. It was written and directed by Landon and as always the music of David Rose adds greatly to the story.

Goodtimes does a good job in transfering these old television episodes to DVD. There are a couple of scenes that look a bit scratchy, but overall the view is as nice to watch as the story.The picture is clear and the colors are bright. The sound is in Dolby Digital2.0(Mono), and is very good. This double length episode(without all the commercials) may also be found in a four pack here, which includes, "The Priemere Movie","Laura Ingalls Wilder", also both double length, as well as "The Collection" a touching episode guest starring Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.

Share these touching and inspiring stories with a new generation.There are not to many programs around any more that the family can enjoy together.These stand the test of time.
Get the Kleenex ready and enjoy....Laurie

THIS IS THE 2 HOUR LITTLE HOUSE MOVIE ABOUT CHARLES AND CAROL
INGALS HAVING A BABY BOY.LAURA INGALS GETS JELOUSE BECAUSE SHE
THINKS HER PAW HAS FORGOTTON ABOUT HER AND WON'T PRAY FOR THE
BABY.THE BABY GETS SICK AND DIES AND LAURA RUNS AWAY BECAUSE
SHE FEELS GUILTY AND GOES UP ON JOHNATHON'S MOUNTAIN TO PRAY
FOR GOD TO TAKE HER AND BRING HER BROTHER BACK.THIS MOVIE IS
AS SAD NOW AS IT WAS DURING 1974 WHEN IT CAME OUT.IT IS NOW
ON DVD.THIS LOOKS BETTER NOW ON DVD THAN IT EVER DID ON VHS
OR TV.THERE IS SOME OCCASIONAL GRAIN THROUGH OUT THE SHOW BUT
IT IS ONLY OCCASIONAL.THIS IS A VERY BARE BONED DISC.ALL YOU
GET ON IT IS THE MOVIE AND SCENE SELECTION WITH CHAPTER STOPS.
THE SOUND IS MONO BUT STILL SOUNDS OK ON A TV SET.THIS IS A
SINGLE LAYER DVD AND IS 93 MINUTES LONG WITH NO COMMERCIALS.
I HIGHLEY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE.IT IS A FOR THE FAMILY AND IS
A CLEAN MOVIE LIKE THEY USE TO MAKE.CLEAN FAMILY MOVIES ARE
HARD TO FIND IN THIS DAY AND TIME.I ALSO RECOMMEND LITTLE HOUSE
ON THE PRAIRIE REMEMBER ME FROM 1974 ALSO ON DVD.

If you see no other episode in the "Little House" series, see this one! As an avid Little House on the Prairie fan, this was one of the first shows I saw, and it has gone down as one of my very favorites for many reasons, a few including the superb acting, the strong morals, the love portrayed, and the power of forgiveness. The plot is simple enough while at the same time possessing emotional depth and complexity that makes it all the more beautiful. Little Laura Ingalls faces a very real dilemma when her mother has a baby who, in response to her father's obvious wishes, is a boy. Knowing how much her Pa wanted a son, Laura feels somewhat of a push to the back. She is used to being her Pa's special "half pint," and now that she is getting much less attention, she experiences jealousy that is so thick, she refuses to pray for her baby brother when he becomes very sick. The infant dies, leaving Laura swamped with overwhelming guilt that takes over her life until she runs to the mountains in search of an answer. With the sincere belief that her brother is dead because of her, she asks God to take her instead of the baby and sets her mind insistently on making it so. Something extremely hopeful and amazing brings a strange yet loving man into her midst. As he takes care of her on her journey, he gradually comes to help her face her tragedy and follow through with what she truly needs to do. It is an overall beautiful film that should not be missed. You will truly feel for Laura as she is brought to an emotional challenge in her young life, and Melissa Gilbert does a great job at bringing this historical heroine to life. She truly was an amazing child actor. Michael Landon delivers what I believe to be his most incredible, realistic, and emotionally charged performances as Laura's extremely loving Pa who learns just as much as she does from the whole experience in this story. Landon was an actor that I hope people remember for the rest of time, because as far as his acting and the qualities of his shows go, there's nothing that more inspiring or worthy of being modeled.
"Little House on the Prairie" is an excellent pick if you want something sweet, innocent, and comforting to watch. Just as it is an amazing show for adults to love for years to come, so is it for children. If you are a parent, I highly recommend that you introduce this series to your children because it was because of my mother that I discovered the magic and the wonder of these shows. You can't go wrong with them; no matter how much time passes, they will never get old because their quality and the uplifting messages of every single episode will always serve as an example and a comfort to society. The Ingalls family represents what family love should be all over the world, and although the entire series is praisworthy family material, "The Lord is My Shepherd" is a standout and truly a milestone in the show's overall success.

I am a huge fan of Lizzie McGuire and I will be happy when this comes out on DVD. I have been a fan of the show for a long time and I just wish that they would let it come out sooner! :)

This DVD features the episodes:

Last Year's Model

Best Dressed For Much Less

Just Like Lizzie

Just One of the Guys (an unreleased episode as of now)

Honestly, I can't wait to this DVD to come out. Too bad it not a complete season though. I love Lizzie McGuire. I'm a huge fan of Ms. Hilary Duff for awhile. She's so adorable. I just don't understand why people hate her. I think she is very talented actress and not a bad singer either.....HILARY ROCKS!!!

i agree with most of horiuchi's review except i found feinstein's narration to be irritating. he's too earnest and has a rather plastic smile, and i found myself fervently wishing that they had replaced his performances (of which there are too many, esp in the second section) with real footage. the pacing is a little rushed b/c of the large amount of territory covered, and a bit confusing in the way the film jumps back and forth between composers b/c everything is presented chronologically. clips are generally great, but ultimately disappointing because usually they just show the verse and the first chorus and then sometimes they skip to the finale, i.e. less than 1/2 of the actual song. in other words, all in all it's good as an introduction to this genre, but for many of these you'll want to see the movies the clips are from.

This wonderful DVD features songs written by the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jerome Kern & Dorothy Fields just to name a few composers and lyricists. A big plus is that the entire musical numbers are shown, but not just short clips. If you love great American songs, this DVD is for you. Highly recommended.

The Great American Songbook is one of the best recent Documentaries about the songwriters and the music of America. Short Bio's of Porter, Berlin, Gershwin and a slew of others. The best parts of this program are the clips of stars Like Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman singing "Anything Goes", Ray Bolger, Fred Astaire, Sophie Tucker singing "Some Of These Days" from (Broadway Melody Of 1938) My favorite clips were of Judy Garland performing with Mickey Rooney "I Wish I Were In Love Again" from (Words And Music) "Easter Parade" with Fred Astaire and Singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" to little Margaret O'Brien in (Meet Me In St. Louis) special feature includes Judy's 1942 appearance in the MGM short film "We Must Have Music"
It was only disappointing that Deanna Durbin, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe were not featured as they sang songs from these great songwriters. also featured was Mel Torme, Dinah Shore, Ann Sothern, And the list is endless. Michael Fienstein hosts this 176 minute program. It is truly the best re-telling account of American popular song and the music EVERYONE loves.