In Frank Capra's bright, funny and beautifully paced satire Mr Smith Goes to Washington political heavyweights decide that Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), an obscure scoutmaster in a small town, would be the perfect dupe to fill a vacant US Senate chair. Surely this naïve bumpkin can be easily controlled by the senior senator (Claude Rains) from his state, a respectable yet corrupted career politician. Capra fills the film with Smith's wide-eyed wonder at the glories of Washington, all of which ring false for his cynical secretary (Jean Arthur) who doesn't believe for a minute this rube could be for real. But he is. Capra was repeating the formula of a previous film, Mr Deeds Goes to Town, but this one is even sharper. Stewart and Arthur are brilliant, and the former cowboy-star Harry Carey lends a warm presence to the role of the vice-president. Mr Smith Goes to Washington is Capra's ode to the power of innocence--an idea so potent that present-day audiences may find themselves wishing for a new Mr Smith in the halls of power. The 1939 US Congress was none too thrilled about the film's depiction of their august body, denouncing it as a caricature; but even today, Capra's jibes about vested interests and political machines look as accurate as ever. --Robert Horton, Amazon.com
Ballet in two acts from the Th''atre Royal de la Monnaie Brussels. Based on Nutcracker and Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann. For his witty and audacious Nutcracker award-winning choreographer Mark Morris uses Tchaikovsky''s original score but his story is closer to E.T.A. Hoffmann''s more grisly original Nutcracker and Mouse King than the cosier traditional versions of the ballet. It was filmed at the Th''''tre Royal de la Monnaie Brussels in 1992 and American cartoonist Charles Burns'' pop art set provides the backdrop. As in Hoffmann''s story there is a party at the Stahlbaum''s but this one is set in 60s America with vicious sibling rivalry a stifling marriage and clashing agendas of the campest bunch of guests in town. The Dance of the Snowflakes is a highlight and a Morris masterpiece with men and women in tutus spraying handfuls of snow and sweeping up on pointes. The national dances are funny and inventive with Morris as an Arabic woman in flowing robes. This is Morris at his most entertaining. The Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Th''''tre Royal de la Monnaie is conducted by the theatre''s Musical Director Sylvain Cambreling.
Robert Beatty plays an Italian Bank clerk bullied by his wife (Jean Kent) and mother in law (Margaret Rutherford). When a gang of robbers discover that he is a perfect double for their leader they kidnap him and the two men switch places. The result is a wild confusion of mistaken identities. With original music composed by Nino Rota.
John Russell (Scott) a composer and music professor loses his wife and daughter in a tragic accident. Seeking solace he moves into an old mansion unoccupied for twelve years. But a child-like presence seems to be sharing the house and trying to share its secrets with him. Through research into the house's past and a seance held within Russell discovers the horrific secret of the house's past a secret that the presence will no longer allow to be kept...
One of France's greatest screen stars Michel Piccoli plays Gilbert Valence a grand old theatre actor who is given the shocking news that his wife daughter and son-in-law have been tragically killed in a car accident. Some time later and over the worst of his grief Valence busies himself with his daily life in Paris turning down unsuitable roles in low brow television productions and caring for his nine-year old grandson. But when an American filmmaker (John Malkovich) absurdly
This special DVD and audio collection looks at the incredible career of a true super star featuring 20 superb songs and the full length feature film 'At War With The Army'. At War with the Army is a zany comedy starring the irrepressible Dean Martin and his long time film partner Jerry Lewis set in a WWII army training camp. The guys are the best of buddies in civvy street but it just isn't the same when they enlist in the army. The smart and streetwise Vic Puccinelli (Dean Martin) is given an elevated rank of 1st Sergeant whereas the 'challenged' Alvin Korwin (Jerry Lewis) has to settle for the lesser rank of private. The object of the training camp is to beef up be ready for combat and be able to take orders without question. Alvin is not going to be good at this as he soon discovers. His best friend Vic is no longer the guy to share a joke...he doesn't laugh any more he only shouts! Will Alvin ever get the hang of this 'soldier' thing - will he ever see his friend Vic again? A great knockabout comedy in typical Lewis style with the added laid back humour of the brilliant Dean Martin...marvellous! DVD tracklisting: 1.Santa Lucia 2.Oh Maria 3.Everybody Loves Somebody 4.If I Knew Then 5.If You Were The Only Girl In The World 6.I Wonder Whose Kissing Her Now 7.My Lady Loves To Dance 8.Because You're Mine 9.On A Slow Boat To China 10.Rambling Rose 11.About A Quarter To Nine 12.Somewhere Along The Way 13.Takes Two To Tango 14.The Glow Worm 15.The Night Is Young And You're so Beautiful 16.Till Then 17.Which Way Did My Heart Go 18.Why Don't You Believe Me 19.Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye 20.Deep Purple
Jerry Lewis plays hapless Pvt. First Class Alvin Corwin and Dean Martin is First Sgt. Vic Puccinelli in this barrack room comedy set in the U.S. around World War 2. Alvin and Vic grew up in the same neighbourhood and Vic watched out for his pal then and still is! All the military stereotypes you would expect are here - a loudmouth drill sergeant a conniving supply Sergeant and a bumbling company commander. 'At War With The Army' was Lewis and Martin's first teaming together.
The Comedy Classic That Shot Martin and Lewis to Stardom. After co-staring as comedy relief in 'My Friend Irma' and 'My Friend Irma Goes West' the legendary team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis had their first lead roles in this hilarious service farce that sealed their success. You'll see why when the boys wind up as army recruits Sgt. Victor Puccinelli (Martin) and PFC Alvin Korwin (Lewis) in the most disorganized unit into the armed forces and Lorwin tries to get home to see his new baby. Dino sings and romances the girls Jerry serenades Sgt. McVey (Mike Kellin) in drag and both give a dead-on impersonation of Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald from 'Going My Way' in the company's talent show. With director Hal Walker (who also led the boys through their next two films 'That's My Boy' and 'Sailor Beware') firmly in command this 1950 classic helped put them among the biggest boxoffice draws in history. Please note: This is a NTSC disc.
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