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Hiya. As March hangs on for one last Tuesday, Savant is once again buried in writing work. A veritable plethora of Blu-rays came in, including Goldfinger. It's almost a week late but not so far behind that I don't want to write it up. I may also get a gander at a couple of Warner Archive titles, thanks to some helpful friends who purchased the first week.

I might also break a general rule and write a review of the first season of the old Star Trek TV show, just to see what they've done with the series in Blu-ray, and to see what the new slugged-in optional version effects look like. Unrestrained revisionism is bad for film history, but I admit that I'd like to see someone re-do all the cheesy special effects in William Witney's old Master of the World. Then again, a better-looking Albatross wouldn't improve Henry Hull's performance ...

Also, I've been doing my best to keep up with the 2009 Savant Wish List; if you should spot a title on there already available (or on the Warners' Archive list) please let me know!

Finally, run, don't walk to David Cairn's hilariously incisive review of Oliver Stone's "W." ... it's truly terrific. (It's his March 30 entry.) A day or two earlier, he has an equally funny/insightful rundown on the old favorite Fiend without a Face.

Thanks for reading, and I'll be back on Friday or Saturday --- Glenn Erickson

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Hello once again. A cohort in film reviewing and all-around great guy Mark Bourne has started up a film-related blog called Open the Pod Bay Doors, Hal. I used to kid Mark when he wrote for the extinct but legendary (and still readable) The DVD Journal; I'd practically write a book about a particular Sci-Fi DVD, while his review of the same title would do the job in six paragraphs, with funnier jokes. I'll be going over there regularly.

This was the week where nobody could stop talking about the roll-out of the Warners Archives website, which makes available quality discs of deep-library Warner product (which of course includes MGM, Allied Artists and RKO) on disc or for download, direct from the studio. Is this what is known as a New Business Plan? Whatever it is, no major studio has done it before.

The buzz so far is long on enthusiasm, with some vocal objections. The site's been functioning since Monday and people are already receiving their discs, which appear to be high-grade DVD-Rs with title-specific labels and keep case jackets. Some people are not happy that some older titles are not restored and improved, and may come from older transfers. The downloading function may not be compatible with Mac users. Also, when I checked the website a few days ago it was, to be polite, disorganized. Searching by genre yielded a crazy selection of seemingly inappropriate titles, and searching by decade didn't show everything. Things will be better when they get that straightened out, and perhaps perfect a browsing mode that doesn't require scrolling through umpteen pages. I like the quality preview function, even though it doesn't work for every title. Like anything, this is a case of caveat emptor, yet it's undeniable that Warner Home Video is trying to do something new for their consumer base. "Just give us the movies", the fans ask. Warners is listening -- and doing something about it.

No doubt other Home Video departments will follow WHV into these uncharted waters; Sony reported last year that it already has a similar system in the works. I won't be getting a first-hand look at the WB product for a few days but I'd like to occasionally review a title or two; it'll be exciting seeing what's added to the initial 150 titles in the coming months. My first recommendation is The Beast of the City, a 1932 Pre-Code with a bizarre pro-vigilante attitude toward crime starring Walter Huston and Jean Harlow. It ends with an apocalyptic shoot-out comparable to The Wild Bunch. I hope it looks good; I have an old MGM-manufactured VHS that I'd like to retire.

In other business, let me acknowledge all the friendly emails about my winning a Rondo award for "Favorite DVD Reviewer" in the Sci-Fi, Horror and Fantasy realm. It's a flattering, encouraging development; my friends and advisors have long ribbed me about not being more proactive in the self-promotion game, but who needs things like money or fame? (cough.)

I talked to David Colton, the man in charge of the awards, which will be given out in May in Louisville, Kentucky. When my Rondo Hatton statuette arrives I'll pose with it with an appropriate Savantian grin. Now to search out a Rondo bug for the top of this column, and check with my bank to see if the Rondo qualifies me for a lower interest rate!

One last item: Turner Classic Movies showed a very good, and extra-long copy of Things to Come last Thursday evening, raising hopes that it may come out on a Criterion DVD. Next Tuesday (March 31) TCM has scheduled the always welcome anti-blacklist western Johnny Guitar, but also a lineup of prime Sci-Fi, including the rare The 27th Day, the even scarcer Toho blob-fest The H-Man and the goofy The Lost Missile. That last opus contains the classic finale in which scientist Robert Loggia races his jeep to a rocket launching site, carrying the nuclear warhead that's mankind's only hope to save the world. Wouldn't you know it-- along the way the bomb is stolen by thrill-crazed juvenile delinquents! Thanks for reading -- Glenn Erickson.

Hello! Yet Another announcement, Midnight Monday:
Gary Teetzel's just written me to say that I've been voted a Rondo Award for the year's favorite DVD Reviewer. How about that? The Rondos are a coveted prize associated with the Classic Horror Film Board and voted on by Sci-Fi, Horror and Fantasy fans. Since DVD Savant isn't specifically an SF, H & F review site (although I definitely favor that direction) I wouldn't expect such an honor, so I'm doubly surprised. I guess I'll be putting one of their little symbols on my front page shortly. Many thanks to all Savant's supporters ... I'm very fortunate!

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The big surprise over the weekend was the discovery that Warner Home Video is trying out a new way of selling library product directly, on-line, in disc form and as digital downloads. The new delivery system should appeal to Savant's readers that already keep personal lists of old movies they want to see on disc. Warners is looking to goose DVD sales in an economic downturn. I think they'll please fans who desperately want a particular movie that just doesn't warrant the expense of an official release. I remember paying $90 for a subtitle-challenged Japanese laserdisc of The Mysterians once, and never regretted it.

George Feltenstein just wrote me with this: "The goal is to eventually make EVERYTHING available, but obviously that will take a lot of time, and a lot of money. I set out some ground rules. Everything HAS to be Original Aspect Ratio, and 16x9 if widescreen. No 4x3 Letterbox. No Pan 'n' Scan. I also wanted consumers to be able to preview the master before the buy, so they'd understand what they were buying."

The Warner Archive is a sales site that's not fully set up -- things are bit disorganized -- but so far they've added 150 titles, all available for $20. This could put DVD reviewers out of business, and it will put a big dent in 2009 Savant Wish List. Ten titles that happened to grab my attention are Beast of the City, Captain Sindbad, Countdown, The Crowded Sky, I Was a Communist for the FBI, The Money Trap, On Borrowed Time, The Rain People, Rasputin and the Empress and The Sins of Rachel Cade. And that's skipping over several interesting silent films.

An AP wire story on the "digital vault is here.

A WB shop FAQ on the new discs is here.

On the web radio front, Richard Dinman has sent me links to his three latest DVD Classics Corner radio shows. The first two tie in with the William Wellman Forbidden Hollywood 3 releases due on on Tuesday, March 24; the third is a controversial look at Robert Taylor's tangle with the HUAC Committees:

A Wealth of Wellman Part One

A Wealth of Wellman Part Two

Quo Vadis, Robert Taylor, Hollywood and Communism

Looking for a good laugh? Go back to Saturday March 21's entry on David Cairn's hilarious, insightful Shadowplay website to see his coverage of a Warners Pre-Code called Johnny Depot. But don't try to drink anything and read it at the same time. Cairns is the funniest film writer who still makes sense and has out-there insights to offer. Heck, David's articles are all funny, so read them all! Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson

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Hello! The big surprise of the moment is how much I'm enjoying these late winter disc releases. I never thought I'd want to see Fox's The Robe again, but Lowry's digital disintegration-reintegration makes it look incredibly good. I've also taken second looks at several of the films in Warners' The Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume 3. Other happy re-viewings in the last two weeks include Happy-Go-Lucky, Let the Right One In (pictured right), Pinocchio, What? and In the Electric Mist. Promising upcoming reviews include Quantum of Solace, Goldfinger, The Kaiser's Lackey, The Last Metro, Bolt, Seven Pounds, The 47 Loyal Ronin (Kunio Watanabe version), Il Generale Della Rovere, Travels with Hiroshi, The Universal Pre-Code Hollywood Collection and the new remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still. That should keep me plenty busy.

That reminds me: I wrote a combo review for the Blu-rays of the two French Connection movies over at Film.com. Since I already reviewed the original The French Connection I didn't post it here at Savant yet. I have now, but it will only show up in the Savant Review Index (now approaching 2900 reviews!).

Fox has announced a Blu-ray of West Side Story (Westseiten-Geschicte!) for Germany in June. That might mean that an R1 Blu-ray will be on the way soon. I base this on the fact that a German BD of The Good, The Bad and the Ugly was announced a little while before our domestic version was announced. Remember, Savant updates his 2009 Savant Wish List on a weekly basis; new title announcments this week include Blu-rays of The Diary of Anne Frank (Fox), Last Year at Marienbad (Criterion) and Children of Men (Universal).

Last note ... thanks to the several readers who wrote in with corrections. Nothing serious, just getting the names of directors wrong, little things like that (cough). I even contradicted myself rather seriously in my Let the Right One In review, and I'm not about to say how, now that reader John Kittredge has straightened me out. Without editors, copy readers or common sense, this web writing has one saving grace .... instantaneous revision! Thanks, Glenn Erickson

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Hello! Savant leads with a long review of Warners' TCM Archives The Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume 3, a revelatory disc collection of Pre-Code pictures chosen for social frankness as much as "naughty" content -- a couple of the Depression-era dramas even address the inequities in a system that bails out "banks and farmers" while citizens go hungry and families fall apart. I want to especially recommend this entertaining set!

On the subject of Pinocchio, correspondent Kyu Hyun Kim forwards a link to an amusing, expensive-looking TV spot for a Korean high speed railway ticket. He has also tossed in the URL for the uniquely talented Hyungkoo Lee, a Korean sculptor who makes strange skeletons for animated cartoon characters. Now there's a cryin' need for that!

Long-time Savant correspondent Edward Sullivan gives us several Popular Mechanix URLS for original articles on fave Savant subjects, like making your own Pinocchio puppet, a Snow White making-of article, stereo audio in Fantasia, combining animation and live-action in Three Caballeros and an old article about what makes Mickey Mouse move.

For Sci-Fi fans there's a brief article about the giant miniature in Just Imagine and a behind-the-scenes look at rubber monster making for The Creature from The Black Lagoon! Thanks, Ed, for the opportunity to run yet another picture of the beloved Gill man!

Today (Tuesday the 17th) on Turner Classic Movies they're giving us another showing of Budd Boetticher's classic The Bullfighter and the Lady (fairly early), and later in the evening will be aired the not-often shown James Cagney Irish rebellion picture Shake Hands with the Devil. Both are highly recommended!

And to end it all, I read on the Classic Horror Film Board about a site showing a complete, high quality version of Toho's original Mothra, a title we're hoping for from Sony later in the year (reportedly to be triple billed with The H-Man and Battle in Outer Space). My Mac-savvy associate Allan Peach will be coming by tomorrow night, so maybe he'll clear up my personal playback issues, but perhaps you won't have any difficulty playing it. It's at This URL at Crackle. I'm told it's a widescreen American cut with an English dub job (puke!) but that it looks great. Hopefully Sony's collector DVD will have an original Japanese version --more songs, more wonderful music. At least that's what the Sony rumors are leaning toward. Stuart Galbraith IV once showed us a Japanese laserdisc of Mothra in Perspecta Stereo sound! Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson

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Hello! Just a couple of fun notes. Correspondent and friend, Canadian animator-editor Brad Caslor and I were exchanging Emails about Watchmen a couple of days ago when he mentioned that, back in his art school days, he'd written and illustrated a 15-page comic book story that bore a couple of similarities to the Alan Moore graphic novel. Caslor's 1968 Massacre of the Innocents does some conceptual "messing around" with the pantheon of living legends, and like Watchmen focuses on the murder of comics superheroes.

Not really a follower of the world of superhero comics, I'd never heard of this before. Apparently Massacre of the Innocents, published once in 1972, is something of a legend. Brad gave me two links, one to a site where the mystery story is discussed (the author isn't even certain that the credited Brad Caslor is the same person as the noted animator Brad Caslor), and another that duplicates the entire story and is suitable for web viewing. Brad told me that his aim was to draw the comic in multiple styles to celebrate his favorite comic artists. Hopefully this isn't woefully old news to my more comics-savvy readers, but have a looksee!

Reader Darryl Pickett says that he's found a minor audio flaw in the otherwise marvelous new disc of Pinocchio:

"Hello Glenn. I just purchased the lovely new version of Pinocchio on DVD. I've seen this film many many times, so imagine my surprise when, while watching it, I caught a missing line, just one word in fact, during the song "Give a Little Whistle". At 00:20:36, just after Jiminy has advised. "if your whistle's weak, yell!" Pinocchio pipes up with a hollered "Jiminy Cricket?" In every other version I've ever seen, Jiminy yells back "RIGHT!" before continuing to sing "take the straight and narrow path." That "Right!" response is gone - mixed out of existence. A quick check on an older version confirmed what I already knew. A very small piece of Jiminy's performance is gone. (For what it's worth, this "right!" never appeared on official soundtrack recordings either. It always caught my ear when I would watch the movie, precisely because I WASN'T used to hearing that little exclamation on record, cassette or CD.) It doesn't wreck an otherwise gorgeous presentation, but it is a weird little omission, and will always bother me when I cue this disc up."

Savant doesn't print this info in any spirit other than to say, "whattaya know?"; and I'm not suggesting that any action needs to be taken because of it. The last time I remember this happening was on the first old MGM DVD of 2001: A Space Odyssey, when a couple of words from the HAL-9000 computer were dropped. In that case, HAL's dialogue was so sparse that many viewers had memorized every syllable, and immediately noticed what was missing.

Several readers also corrected my reporting of the demise of "The Talking Cricket" in the original Collodi tale Pinocchio. Geppetto doesn't squirsh the chatty bug, Pinocchio does it himself. Darryl also reminded me than an ancient Mad Magazine gag had the wooden puppet "off" the insect simply for being a pest. We wonder if Bill Gaines and Co. realized that their cynical joke was actually correcting literary history.

I've gotten PLENTY of letters about readers' Blu-ray experiences ... and, uh, didn't get around to taking the necessary ten minutes to turn them into a quick article .... I promise that it's coming up (for those who care!) Thanks, Glenn

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Greetings! The sun is shining and the clocks have all been turned ahead! A stellar line-up of reviews today, all of them great movies. A friend asked me why I haven't been reviewing more genre stuff, and all I can say is that there are fewer interesting genre titles being released by the studios. When something like The Silver Chalice comes along, I grab it.

I have a real treat right off the top. Correspondent Kevin Pyrtle points to a YouTube clip from the "Musical version" of Jack the Giant Killer, specifically the socko, show stopping musical number We've Failed, Master, We've Failed. The evil wizard Pendragon (Torin Thatcher) is given a baritone voice, while sniveling henchman Gama (Walter Burke) staggers in with the bad news. Clever cutting repeats a shot of Gama on the floor, to provide a refrain of the line "We Failed!" It's a jaw-dropping mess but also quite an achievement for some unlucky, uncredited composer- dubber- editor. Savant's original review of Jack the Giant Killer tells more of the story behind the Two Faces of Jack the Giant Killer.

Long-time correspondent and friend of DVD Savant Aitam Bar-Sagi informs me that restoration is underway on Metropolis to incorporate the uncut material found in Buenos Aires last year. The only notices he has on the effort are in German at the following links, so get your translation programs (or Deutsche - speaking friends) ready:

German language article at hr online

and

German language article at kino-zeit.

Finally, Gary Teetzel attended a special gathering in Hollywood on Sunday. I asked him if he could write up a report for DVD Savant:

"On Sunday, March 8, the American Cinematheque hosted a memorial for beloved editor, literary agent, collector and science fiction fan Forrest J. Ackerman, who passed away last December at age 92. Hundreds of friends and fans packed the historic Egyptian Theater for a heartfelt tribute to the man who, through the pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland shared his passion for fantastic cinema and thus helped bring together fans around the world, inspiring many to pursue careers in writing and filmmaking.

Writer-Director Tim Sullivan (2001 Maniacs) introduced the afternoon's speakers. First up was a visibly moved Ray Bradbury, a close friend since childhood, who recounted how Ackerman paid for his trip to the first World Science Fiction Convention in New York and helped launch his career. Director John Landis read tributes from Stephen King ("Just tell 'em I love the guy") and Ray Harryhausen, another childhood pal who met Ackerman through their mutual love of King Kong. Landis then spoke of his own close friendship with Forry, and the great kindness he had shown to his children. Bill Warren, author of Keep Watching the Skies, told of Ackerman's early, pre-Famous Monsters days as a highly opinionated writer of letters to science fiction magazines -- he once started a feud with no less than H.P. Lovecraft! -- and touchingly revealed that, at his last meeting with Forry, he had told him that he meant more to him than his own father.

Guillermo del Toro flew in from New Zealand, where he is preparing to direct The Hobbit, to share his thoughts and feelings. He recalled the tremendous impact Famous Monsters made on him as a shy, lonely boy growing up in Mexico -- he learned English by studying FM and Mad Magazine --and how he once wrote an impassioned letter to Ackerman, begging to be adopted! Director Joe Dante told of the thrill he felt seeing one of his many letters to Famous Monsters appear as a full-fledged article, and Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker revealed how his destiny was shaped by learning through the magazine that one could actually make a living creating monsters for the movies.

A montage of Ackerman's many movie cameos was screened. Further testimonials were offered by Paul Davids, the writer-director of the documentary Sci-Fi Boys; writer Brad Linaweaver, who collaborated with Ackerman on the coffee table book Worlds of Tomorrow; Rue Morgue magazine editor Jovanka Vuckovic; and Kevin Burns, the executor of Ackerman's estate. Among the notables in the audience were writer and original Twilight Zone veteran George Clayton Johnson; Phantasm actor Angus Scrimm; War of the Worlds star Ann Robinson; scream queen Brinke Stevens; writer and documentarian Ted Newsom; special effects artists Ernest Farino; and horror historian David J. Skal.

The afternoon tribute came to a close with Joe Moe, who helped care for Ackerman during the last years of his life, leading the audience in singing a version of the Al Jolson classic "Sonny Boy", with lyrics changed to "Forry Boy." As a last surprise, a video clip of Ackerman, recorded in his final days, was shown. Frail and speaking in a hoarse whisper, Forry addressed his fans and told them that they were his greatest treasure.

After the memorial, the Cinematheque continued the tribute into the evening with a showing of the Canadian TV documentary Famous Monster: Forrest J. Ackerman, and the feature film The Time Travelers (Ib Melchior, 1964), in which Ackerman makes one of his most memorable cameos."

Many thanks to Gary for the report. Thanks for reading, Glenn Erickson.

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Greetings!

I had a good time the other night at a Disney promotional event for the new Pinocchio disc. I swore off small promo gatherings years ago, after being pushed into a nightclub to see clips from a film and hear some marketing blather from a studio rep, while most of the guests from serious media outlets found their way to the door. In the old days, legend has it that I might be whisked away to a tropical destination for a night, just to attend a party promoting some new film release. Hasn't happened yet.

The venue and the hosting made all the difference. Publicist Christine Peake represents the great little Santa Monica bookstore called Every Picture Tells A Story, which specializes in fine art from children's books and films as well as the books themselves. The owner is author Lee Cohen, who frequently hosts book signings -- I believe Ray Harryhausen was there just last year -- and the place is great to drop by just to admire the artwork on the walls.

This evening they had a number of special Pinocchio artworks including original design layouts and character model sheets. A new Blu-ray ran in the back corner, and painter / Disney artist & designer Toby Bluth was present as well. Disney provided the catering, the talent and the artwork. I was impressed by the friendly atmosphere and the way Ms. Peake and her assistants greeted me -- I didn't get a hint of show-biz snobbery, which is fairly rare out here. Ms. Peake's company is called peakPRgroup.

I've been collecting Email feedback about readers' Blu-ray problems, or lack thereof, and will be presenting them next week. As I thought it would be, the news is mostly good. I'm doing this to balance out my panic over last fall's Bond Discs not playing properly. I haven't run into a playback glitch since.

For those of you who like British humor, reader Dennis Fischer sends along this link to a YouTube piece making fun of UK nature docus, Birds of Britain. It's mild but makes its points ....

Back to reviews -- thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson

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Feelin' not bad at all on a bee-yoo-teeful Sunday in the land of Oscars and bleached blondes! I'm happy to report that I'm getting good feedback from my reviews lately. Remember to check down lower on this Main Page to see if you've missed something, as the eight-a-week pace pushes older reviews down the list quickly.

I also appreciate the fun and funny links sent in by readers. I like to attribute them rather than imply that I found them all myself, so let me know if you're in a Witness Protection Program and don't want your name mentioned. I'm beginning to see many of your links pop up (usually unattributed) on web boards, etc., giving me an added indication that this page is fairly well-read. Now how to turn this immense, but curiously subdued, popularity into something rewarding beyond the spiritual plane?

It may not be all that noticeable, but I've also tried to be more neutral in my reviews of politically-loaded DVDs. I'm sure that my bias shows, but in reviews of pieces on "W." and Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired I've tried not to tout my personal opinions. Communicating a film's POV is hard enough.

On another topic, after squealing myself Blue (ray) in the face over difficulties playing back last Fall's MGM Bond discs, I haven't had a single disc fail to play since ... just two or three shows that have locked up for no good reason. In every case it's been a non-repeating phenom, a data-burp or something.

Have any of you had troubles with Blu-rays since then? How about foreign discs ... any Region coding issues? I bought two English discs and they play beautifully, even the extras.

That's it for now. I'm told that the new Blu-ray of Pinocchio will be arriving shortly. I'm sure I'll love Disney's mind-warping horror fantasy for unsupecting, impressionable children. I also hope that all of the original ink 'n' paint texture hasn't been processed away -- little pine-nosed Pinnoke' ain't supposed to look like Wall-E. Thanks for reading! Glenn Erickson