This is a listing of videos you can check out at the library.
These videos have been reviewed over the last few years by Audio-Visual
staff member, Bob Statzer. List of titles
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ABSOLUTELY
FABULOUS
American fans of British comedy have
been around for several decades, ever since the likes of THE
GOON SHOW, MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS and DOCTOR IN THE
HOUSE arrived on these shores. And just as the audience for “Brit-Wit”
has grown, so has the selection of titles, courtesy of video.
One of our newest arrivals is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, chronicling
the misadventures of Edina and Patsy, two London fashion consultants
whose job description seems to read “Professional Party-Crashers.”
Sporting clothes so loud that they can’t hear their biological
clocks ticking, the girls cling to a firm belief that wine and
champagne are two of the four major food groups...a concept conceived
in their college days some twenty years ago. Edina (played by
series creator Jennifer Saunders) is the fashion editor for a
major magazine, while her pal Patsy (actress Joanna Lumley)...well,
no one seems to know for sure exactly what she does, on that
it’s very important. Occasionally, their schedules even
allow the two of them to show up at work for an hour or two.
The series has become such a hit here that one of its biggest
fans, Roseanne Barr, is considering doing an American version
of it for U.S. television. During the 1996 Halloween episode
of her own show, ROSEANNE, Saunders and Lumley even put in a
guest-appearance as their AB-FAB characters. This latest BritCom
is now available through our Audio-Visual Services Department.
THE
ABYSS
While on maneuvers, an American nuclear
submarine encounters an unidentifiable object far beneath the
waves. Moving faster than any known creature or naval vessel,
the mysterious force overtakes the submarine, and this “Close
Encounter” leaves the craft crippled. The navy, in conjunction
with deep-sea specialists, begins an emergency rescue mission,
finding themselves in a race against time before storms and tidal
waves drive them back into port. But the forces of nature are
not the only obstacles to the operation, as sabotage and undersea
civilization add to the terrors of the deep.
Working against studio deadlines, writer/director James
Cameron (the TERMINATOR series, TRUE LIES and the upcoming TITANIC)
found himself forced to release what he considered an “unfinished”
film. However, this special edition video contains nearly a half hour
of material not seen in theaters, finally completing Cameron’s
epic adventure. The added bonus of a “behind-the-scenes” documentary
brings this tape’s total running time to nearly three hours of
non-stop thrills and chills.
AMOS
‘N ANDY
Having specialized in making people
laugh ever since the silent days of motion pictures, Hal Roach
Studios (who gave us such classic comedy teams as Laurel &
Hardy and the Little Rascals) turned their attention to the new
medium of television with AMOS ‘N ANDY. Starting years earlier
as a radio show, then as a successful series of movies, AMOS
‘N ANDY already had an established audience of fans. The
popular—albeit controversial—sitcom has been analyzed
and criticized during the decades that followed, but many forget
the fact that until the 1970s (with such shows as SANFORD AND
SON, THE JEFFERSONS and GOOD TIMES), no other single television
show offered so many opportunities to black performers. Currently
in our collection are three volumes of AMOS ‘N ANDY, with
two episodes each, including “The Rare Coin,” the pilot
show that introduces the cast to the viewers at home. Join Andy,
the Kingfish and Sapphire in a trip in time back to the age of
vintage video.
THE
ART OF BUSTER KEATON
Mention silent comedy classics, and
the image of Charlie Chaplin’s “Little Tramp”
usually comes to mind. A few people might even remember that
Laurel & Hardy and the Little Rascals (aka Our Gang) got
their start in the pre-”talkies” era. But one often
overlooked genius of the silent screen was the stone-faced Buster
Keaton. Born Joseph Francis Keaton (the nickname “Buster”
was given to him as a youth by master magician Harry Houdini),
he was nurtured on comedy—his parents were vaudeville performers
who had introduced him to the stage by the age of three. Like
Chaplin, Keaton wrote, directed and starred in a series of successful,
satirical shorts and features which made full use of his acrobatic
abilities. Now, for the first time in years, these films have
been fully restored and released in three boxed sets under the
banner THE ART OF BUSTER KEATON. Volume 1 contains THE SAPHEAD,
THE HIGH SIGN, ONE WEEK, THE THREE AGES, THE GOAT, MY WIFE’S
RELATIONS, OUR HOSPITALITY and SHERLOCK, JR.. Volume 2 brings
us THE NAVIGATOR, THE BOAT, THE LOVE NEST, SEVEN CHANCES (which
includes an early Technicolor sequence), NEIGHBORS, THE BALLOONATIC,
GO WEST, THE SCARECROW, THE PALEFACE, BATTLING BUTLER, THE HAUNTED
HOUSE and THE FROZEN NORTH. Finally, Volume 3 presents THE GENERAL,
THE PLAYHOUSE, COPS, COLLEGE, THE BLACKSMITH, THE ELECTRIC HOUSE,
HARD LUCK, STEAMBOAT BILL JR., CONVICT 13 and DAYDREAMS.
Whether fighting the forces of nature
or tackling technology, Keaton’s determination (and exasperation)
never left him. Sit back with Buster, and enjoy the ageless antics
of someone who lived to make us laugh.
AUSTIN
POWERS
Not since 1967’s CASINO ROYALE
has a spy spoof been made on such an epic scale! AUSTIN POWERS,
INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY is England’s greatest secret
agent since James Bond...although he seems to have more in common
with Peter Sellers than Sean Connery. Scripted by SATURDAY NIGHT
LIVE alumni Mike Myers, the film is a nostalgic nod toward the
mod styles and hip hijinks of the ’60s. And just as agent
007 had his arch-enemy, Blofeld, to keep him busy, Austin (played
by Mike Myers) has his own foe to foil—the sinister Dr.
Evil (also played by Myers). Set at the height of ’60s chic,
Dr. Evil decides to outwit Austin by having himself frozen...to
be thawed out in the future when his rival is retired. Not to
be outdone, Austin is also put into suspended animation. When
the two are revived some 30 years later, they find the 1990s
are almost as challenging to them as they were to each other!
Elizabeth Hurley, Mimi Rogers, Robert Wagner and Michael York
co-star.
THE
AVENGERS
Perhaps one of the most popular imported
icons in the Swinging ’60s was the suave and witty AVENGERS.
Already a hit with adventure audiences in Great Britain, this
imaginative and inventive espionage series found a welcome second
home here in the States in 1966, earning an Emmy Award nomination
after its second season. Starring Patrick MacNee as the dapper,
dashing John Steed, and Diana Rigg as the lovely and lethal Emma
Peel, THE AVENGERS was one of the first television shows to portray
its male and female leads as equals. This tradition would be
carried on after Rigg left the series, to be replaced by Linda
Thorson as daffy but deadly Tara King. “The Cybernauts”
was the first episode to be broadcast in the U.S., and introduced
us to the title villains, robotic assassins as unstoppable as
THE TERMINATOR. This mechanical menace was so popular with viewers
that the Cybernauts would return throughout the series, evening
turning up in the 1970s revival, THE NEW AVENGERS. Other outings
include “Escape In Time,” in which criminals use time
travel to elude the authorities; “Game,” where Steed
finds himself involved in a deadly round of cat-and-mouse, and
“Forget-me-Knot,” the episode which marked Diana Rigg’s
departure from the series and introduced her successor, Linda
Thorson. (Actually, Rigg’s character of Emma Peele was Steed’s
second partner. Originally he had been paired with Honor Blackman
as Kathy Gale prior to the show’s American debut. Just as
Blackman left avenging to join James Bond in GOLDFINGER, Rigg
also left to the series to join 007, in ON HER MAJESTY’S
SECRET SERVICE...a film which featured future NEW AVENGERS star
Joanna Lumley.)
It’s been over twenty years since
we last saw the image of John Steed, armed with his bowler hat
and umbrella, stalking across the tube on a new assignment. However,
all that is about to change: Coming to the big screen this year
is an AVENGERS feature, starring Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman and
Sean Connery.
BAMBI
Unavailable on video for eight years,
BAMBI has finally been reissued by the Walt Disney company in
honor of the film’s 55th anniversary. Digitally restored,
and remastered in the THX process for superior sound and picture,
this classic cartoon looks even better now than it did during
its original 1942 release. Based on the book by Felix Salten,
BAMBI tells the tale of a young deer destined to become the new
Prince of the Forest. He, along with his friends Flower (a skunk)
and Thumper (a rabbit), face the dangers and delights of growing
up in the wild, as well as the challenge brought on by the changing
seasons. As an added bonus, after the feature is over, Disney
Studios have included a special look at the making of this legendary
movie, including rare test footage and commentary by Walt Disney
himself. This is one of those rare family films that time has
not touched.
BATMAN:
THE ANIMATED ADVENTURES
For fans of the Dynamic Duo who can’t
stand the standard two-year wait between Batman movies, television
has offered BATMAN: THE ANIMATED ADVENTURES. But this isn’t
the usual cartoon fare dished out by the small screen studios.
Unlike other animated shows seemingly cranked out like sausage,
this new version of the Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder has a
strong visual style that almost rivals the best of feature film
animation. With rich graphics, crisp writing and pulse-pounding
brass orchestration, the Warner Bros. series has attracted adult
and adolescent alike to the tube. The response was so strong
that—in contrast to TV shows based on a hit movie—the
cartoon spawned a successful theatrical animated feature, BATMAN:
MASK OF THE PHANTASM. Now, for Bat-fans everywhere, this feature
film and eight volumes culled from the series are available on
video. Each volume (BATMAN, ROBIN, THE RIDDLER, TWO-FACE, THE
JOKER, POISON IVY, THE PENGUIN and BATMAN: FIRE & ICE) contains
two complete episodes, highlighting historical moments in the
crimefighter’s career.
The dedication to quality in this series
extends to the careful casting of each of the characters. In
addition to the regular and semi-regular voices of Kevin Conroy
as Batman, Mark Hamill as the Joker and Adrienne Barbeau as Catwoman,
such guest stars as Dana Delany and Abe Vigoda lend their talents
to the ‘toon. Even former television Batman Adam West is
on hand, his distinctive tones providing the voice of “The
Grey Ghost.” The attention to detail lavished on the show
by its producers has paid off, as a second animated feature—BATMAN
& MR. FREEZE: SUB-ZERO—will be heading our way this
fall.
BEAUTY
AND THE BEAST: THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS
A holiday follow-up to the original
Disney classic, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS
brings back all the original cast members for a yuletide tale
that’s destined to become a family tradition. Mrs. Potts
recalls the first Christmas Belle spent at the Beast’s castle,
and how the young girl tried to teach the Beast that the holiday
was a time for sharing and caring. Enlisting the aid of Lumiére
the Candelabra and Coggsworth the Clock, Belle decides to decorate
the castle...in spite of the Beast’s orders that Christmas
never be celebrated again. Also working against Belle and her
friends is Forté, an ominous pipe organ who wants the
atmosphere of gloom at the castle to continue so he can play
his moody music. When Forté realizes Belle has the power
to redeem the Beast, he plans a performance to literally bring
the house down. Full of music, magic and adventure, audiences
of all ages will be entertained by this feature-length animated
Christmas present.
BEN-HUR
One of the classic epics American cinema
seemed to specialize in during the ’50s is BEN-HUR, the
1959 spectacle starring Charlton Heston. It tells the story of
Juda Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince, and his life-long friend, Messala,
a Roman soldier. As Judea comes under Roman rule, tension and
unrest tear the country apart, turning the two friends into mortal
enemies. As the years pass, their hatred grows, culminating in
the climactic chariot race...a fierce competition that carries
with it both victory and death.
Based on the novel by General Lew Wallace
(an Indiana native!), BEN-HUR was one of the last sprawling Hollywood
epics. For those with a preference, we offer it in either full-screen
or letterbox. This special widescreen edition also includes the
documentary BEN-HUR, THE MAKING OF AN EPIC. In addition to showing
a behind-the-scenes look at the film, it also includes screen
tests for the various actors under consideration for the lead.
(Stephen Boyd was not the first choice for the role of Messala,
and one of the actors tested was Leslie Nielsen, in his pre-NAKED
GUN days.) Also on hand in this documentary are rare clips from
two silent productions of the tale, one of which used an early
Technicolor process for key scenes. And it was an early adaption
of the book that established the proper procedure for bringing
best-sellers to the screen. Made without authorization from (or
compensation to) the author, the first silent version of Wallace’s
novel became the center of legal debate. Finally it was ruled
that this new art form called “the movies” would have
to purchase the rights to any dramatic property in order to put
it on the screen.
BETTY
BOOP: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION
Originally created as a canine cabaret
star, Betty Boop (the “Queen of the Animation Screen”)
appeared in over 100 cartoons during the 1930s. Nearly all those
films are here in this new eight volume set. In the course of
this collection—over 15 hours of animated antics—you’ll
see Betty carry on with cartoon co-stars, perform with the musical
legends of the day, as well as appear in adaptions of favorite
fairy tales. The product of animation pioneers Max and Dave Fleischer,
many of these films have not been seen in several decades. Often
overshadowed by the output over at Disney’s studios, the
Fleischer brothers have only recently been recognized for their
innovations in animation. As Walt Disney turned his attention
more and more to full-length features, the Fleischers focused
on several series of short subjects, bringing to the screen Betty,
the original Popeye and even Superman (in his first film appearance!).
Based in New York and born of the Depression era, the Fleischer
films had a texture all their own, and that style found the perfect
home in Betty Boop. (For those who want still more Betty, A&E
Home Video have dedicated an episode of their BIOGRAPHY series
to the “Boo-Boop-A-Doo Girl,” which can also be found
in our collection.)
THE
BLUE CARBUNCLE
Mystery and ghost stories have long
been a part of English tradition at Christmas time. In keeping
with the custom, it seems only natural that—having made
his debut with “A Study in Scarlet” in the December
1887 edition of Beeton’s Christmas Annual—the familiar
figure of Sherlock Holmes should be found following footprints
in the snow at this time of year. Based on a story by Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle, THE BLUE CARBUNCLE features the late Jeremy Brett
as the celebrated sleuth of Baker Street. When a mysteriously
misplaced Christmas goose shows up at the detective’s doorstep
in time for the holidays, the poultry proves to be the prelude
to fowl play. As Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, prep`re
to sit down and enjoy their meal, a recently stolen diamond known
as the Blue Carbuncle is discovered in the bird’s digestive
tract, and Holmes sets out to track down the perpetrator of the
yuletide jewel heist. The quirky, classic performance of Brett
as Holmes opposite David Burke as the long-suffering Watson provide
a chemistry between the characters that is as entertaining as
the tale itself, making this a true Christmas treat for mystery
fans.
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