What’s the Czech word for eccentric?  Oldrich Lipský’s comic fantasy ribs 1890s thriller conventions in a story that combines gothic romance, sci-fi marvels and serial thrills. Welcome to the weird world of Czech filmmakers, and their affection for silly characters, low comedy and operatic delirium. We aren’t surprised that it was never imported . ….

The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming Blu-ray Kino Lorber 1966 / 2:35.1 / 126 Min. Starring Alan Arkin, Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint Written by William Rose Photographed by Joseph Biroc Directed by Norman Jewison Cape Cod can’t catch a break, before there were sharks, there were Russians. Though the Russians were considerably…

The little studio Eagle-Lion Films was at the forefront of noir violence in 1948, skating on the edge to tell the story of a particularly vicious real-life bandit. Richard Basehart excels as the trigger-happy psycho killer whose antisocial estrangement evokes an eerie noir vibe of existential amorality. The filmic approach pioneers the semi-docu style that…

Michael Cimino must have impressed Clint Eastwood — the screenplay for this tough guy crime caper was so good, Eastwood didn’t mind interrupting his progress as a director. Also great fun for Jeff Bridges fans, the show is writer-director Cimino’s least problematic picture — its only aim is non-stop action and agreeably vulgar comedy. And…

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Criterion 2022 / 1:85.1 Starring Ewan McGregor, Gregory Mann, and David Bradley Written by Guillermo del Toro and Patrick McHale Photographed by Frank Passingham Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson “It’s alive!” cried the alchemist when he saw his creation move for the first…

We kids ogled the ’60s pocketbook covers that promised forbidden adult content, but a full-blown sword & sorcery Conan film adaptation wouldn’t come along for twenty years. Dino De Laurentiis’ second stab at a Star Wars– style franchise hit paydirt: body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger became a bona fide star as the Cimmerian swordsman, ‘fleshing out’…

The Prince and the Pauper Blu-ray Warner Archive 1937 / 1:33.1 Starring Billy and Bobby Mauch, Errol Flynn, Claude Rains Written by Laird Doyle, Catherine Chisholm Cushing Photographed by Sol Polito Directed by William Keighley Errol Flynn is featured prominently on the poster but he doesn’t arrive till the 53 minute mark of 1937’s The…

This isn’t a new disc; you might not even be able to find a copy. We’re reposting a 2015 review because its original page was taken down. Samuel Fuller’s Japan-filmed thriller is a fanciful vision of Yankee crooks functioning on the streets of Tokyo. As pulp fiction it can’t be beat — Robert Stack is…

The homicide detective in Pietro Germi’s classic thriller knows the score: “A crime investigation is like when you lift a stone and find worms underneath.” The murder of a beautiful woman coincides with an unsolved burglary, and every inquiry reveals another layer of sordid wrongdoing, criminal and moral. Germi plays the lead as an exemplar…

Jean-Louis Trintignant’s reluctant gambler and Roy Scheider’s professional hit man shoot it out in the streets of Los Angeles in Jacques Deray’s loopy crime-time travelogue from sunny 1971. Ann-Margret and Angie Dickinson join some old noir favorites and Georgia Engel — yes, that Gloria Engel — for a mob double cross that pits an amateur…

Danza Macabra Vol. 2 – The Italian Gothic Collection Blu-ray Severin Films 1963-72 / 1:33.1, 1:85.1 Starring Barbara Steele, Rosalba Neri, Adolpho Celi, Giorgio Albertazzi Written by Gianni Grimaldi, Corrado Farina, Giorgio Albertazzi Photographed by Riccardo Pallottin, Antonino Modica Directed by Antonio Margheriti, Corrado Farina, Giorgio Albertazzi The conspicuous success of Mario Bava’s Black Sunday…

Fans of Brit war fare will like these mid-’50s look-backs at daring exploits in uniform, directed by Lewis Gilbert. Albert R.N. is a little-seen but rather good POW tale taken from real life. Anthony Steel, Jack Warner, Robert Beatty & William Sylvester try out a brilliant but risky escape plan, utilizing a ‘new’ prisoner in…

One of the most entertaining musicals ever, MGM’s ‘All Black’ Broadway extravaganza wins over audiences with its big heart, tuneful song list and wickedly funny comedy. The all-star cast bursts with unique talent: Ethel Waters, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, Lena Horne, for a fantastic Film Blanc morality play. Additional musical magic is provided by Duke Ellington…

Texas becomes a battleground for change: the law ‘n’ order image of the Texas Rangers, the attitudes of established immigrants, a soldier trying to instill older values and a teacher trying to inspire new ones. How do we deal with the controversial past, public and private? Director John Sayles’ vivid screenplay benefits from excellent performances…

And we thought we’d seen everything good from Christopher Lee!  This rarely-seen national epic gives him a highly unusual role as Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Father of Pakistan. The great man is sober and authoritative — and also sheds a tear. The well-made picture is a fast tour through postwar Indian history, that avoids total…

Tomorrow may only be ‘A Day Away,’ but the important thing to remember is that it is a bleak gamble. Harry Belafonte produces and stars in an angry, unsettling heist noir with little chance for a happy outcome. The heavy-duty race theme comes across well, and sparks fly between Belafonte’s desperate musician and Robert Ryan’s…

Wow, Severin’s killer 4K restoration boosts Antonio Margheriti’s bloodsucking ghost chiller nearer the apex of classic gothic Eurohorror. Barbara Steele seduces, swoons and shudders as one of several phantoms cursed to repeat their murderous crimes, and lure new victims to join them in undead Lust. The original Italian version is an uncensored knockout, and generates…

The Red Balloon and Other Stories: Five Films by Albert Lamorisse Blu-ray Criterion 1953-65 / 1:33.1, 2.35:1 Starring Pascal Lamorisse Written by Albert Lamorisse, Jacques Prévert, James Agee Photographed by Edmond Séchan, Maurice Fellous, Guy Tabary Directed by Albert Lamorisse The little heroes of Albert Lamorisse’s films are alone but not necessarily lonely, they’re just…

Hopefully this release is just the beginning of a new series of WAC Tarzan remasters.  The original pre-Code classic has everything we want: innocent/lustful sex in the jungle, terrific work from Johnny Weissmuller & Maureen O’Sullivan, bloody savagery . . . plus race attitudes stuck in the white supremacist 19th century. The monkey acrobatics and…

A pact with Satan!  A pop-eyed sea monster!  The lurid artwork for this fairly obscure 1961 horror double bill looks like adult fare, with a naked she-devil riding a centaur, and a giant claw hefting a typical female victim above the briny Caribbean,  🎶  or Carribbe-an Sea!  🎶  They form an anti-blockbuster Filmgroup drive-in release, and…

Cushing Curiosities Blu-ray Severin Films 1960-71 / 2.35:1, 1.66:1 Starring Peter Cushing, Bernard Lee, Patrick Macnee, Alida Valli Written by Robert Westerby, Nigel Balchin, Lewis Griefer Photographed by Arthur Grant, Max Greene, Desmond Dickinson Directed by Charles Frend, John Boulting, Roy Boulting, Quentin Lawrence Severin Films’ new Blu ray release is called Cushing Curiosities for…

The film adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s book retains the original’s richness and feeling for character, thanks to fine direction by Ted Kotcheff and spot-on supporting performances by Micheline Lanctôt, Jack Warden, Randy Quaid, Joseph Wiseman, and Denholm Elliott — and a fearless starring effort by Richard Dreyfuss. Intent on getting rich fast, the ‘pushy’ punk…

Christopher Nolan’s biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer is a welcome departure from present film trends. The story of the ‘father’ of the atom bomb prioritizes the scientist’s dilemma — the nation wants Oppie’s expertise to make a super-weapon, but won’t tolerate his opinions about the atomic future. Was there ever a 3-hour epic devoted mostly…

The Man in Half Moon Street Blu-ray – Region Free Imprint 1945 / 92 Mins. / 1.33:1 Starring Nils Asher, Helen Walker Written by Garrett Fort Photographed by Henry Sharp Directed by Ralph Murphy Just because a movie is in black and white doesn’t mean it has to be colorless, but such is the case…

An eclectic stack of B&W thrillers — Island of Doomed Men, The Red Menace, The Burglar, and 13 West Street — is given [Imprint]’s deluxe packaging treatment. The organizing factor for their fifth noir box is a star associated with noir classics: Pete Lorre, Dan Duryea, Alan Ladd, Rod Steiger and . . . Commies?…

This is a Christmas movie?  The 1980s began early with this high-concept, edgy-but-silly urban fantasy dreamed up by Walter Hill when an original realistic concept was rejected: ads about ‘Armies of the Night’ glamorizing street gangs worried the old folk, while the exhibition rollout was disturbed by violence in theaters. Essentially one long foot chase…