This is a capture of the play done by the immortal Stratford Shakespeare festival group. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation filmed each year's performances and ran them on TV, for many successive years. This one is in the Festival Theatre, which is barely large enough for the large cast and many scene-changes. In fact, the lights going down while the Jawas move furniture and sets, creates a second 'story' to watch. Done very cleverly, and with just enough levity and charm to carry through the paper-thin plot. It's quite a workout for the lead actors, and some of the lines end up shouted-out breathlessly rather than with proper control, but this also adds to the audience involvement.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Un animale chiamato uomo
(1972)
Pleasant Fluff
28 May 2008
Two guys who seem like bums, yet have the lazy skills to stand up to a town gang, and out-shoot and outfight all comers. They have a goofy charisma, and even though the plot doesn't go anywhere, it's fun to watch. The leader of the two; someone must have told him he looks like Henry Fonda - he keeps trying for the pursed-lips, square-jaw, far-sighted look. His sidekick has the good old goofy Italian clown look, and is forever moaning about being put upon. They keep getting handed bundles of bank-notes, which don't look very much like US currency; and always unbelievably fresh and clean-looking, like every town in the Old West had in abundance. And everyone has squared-off well-kept teeth that look like the make-up boss made everyone chew on teabags before filming. It's a bizarre look.
The Shadow
(1994)
Not all there
22 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I just bought this DVD and watched it with a great deal of interest. In the ending credits, there is a listing for 'Voice of Phurba'.
(Spoiler) The Phurba is the flying three-sided Tibetan dagger with a Demon's toothy face in the pommel - aside from miscellaneous snarls and hisses, it doesn't have any dialog. But maybe it did have before editing. By the way, you can buy your own Phurba in a specialty martial arts shop - real ones don't fly.
Also, the same credits list 'Insect Wrangler'. Try as I may, I can't remember any insects featuring in this story. Another mysterious loss in the editing.
Maybe only major films, that make a lot of money, get released in a 'Director's Cut'. And maybe if there were such a thing, we'd be able to see the Entire Movie.
An excellent vehicle for Alec Baldwin - he always plays the good/bad/slightly nutso characters well.
And it's interesting to see the kind of work Neelix did before he was Neelix.
(Spoiler) The Phurba is the flying three-sided Tibetan dagger with a Demon's toothy face in the pommel - aside from miscellaneous snarls and hisses, it doesn't have any dialog. But maybe it did have before editing. By the way, you can buy your own Phurba in a specialty martial arts shop - real ones don't fly.
Also, the same credits list 'Insect Wrangler'. Try as I may, I can't remember any insects featuring in this story. Another mysterious loss in the editing.
Maybe only major films, that make a lot of money, get released in a 'Director's Cut'. And maybe if there were such a thing, we'd be able to see the Entire Movie.
An excellent vehicle for Alec Baldwin - he always plays the good/bad/slightly nutso characters well.
And it's interesting to see the kind of work Neelix did before he was Neelix.
The Wheeler Dealers
(1963)
Not on DVD
1 August 2005
One of my favorites in the 'old comedy' genre. I bring it out for friends and relatives for comfort evenings.
Jim Garner at the top of his form, not long after his Maverick character became a household name, but before Rockford.
Lee Remick looking great, in an intelligent role for a beautiful woman.
It's worth the time just to see the terrific supporting cast of old faces (now mostly passed away.)
The only problem is my VHS version is just about worn out, and it's not available on DVD. Who do we complain to?
Jim Garner at the top of his form, not long after his Maverick character became a household name, but before Rockford.
Lee Remick looking great, in an intelligent role for a beautiful woman.
It's worth the time just to see the terrific supporting cast of old faces (now mostly passed away.)
The only problem is my VHS version is just about worn out, and it's not available on DVD. Who do we complain to?
- - - Art
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