DVD Review: My Man Godfrey

The Film Detective is a new series of restored classic films that launched this month with several familiar titles, including the absolutely wonderful film My Man Godfrey, starring William Powell and Carole Lombard. This film has seen several other DVD releases, of varying quality. This new edition’s transfer is quite good, and should please fans of the film as well as newcomers.

My Man Godfrey was released in 1936, during the Great Depression, and it opens with two men gathering at a shanty town in a dump to discuss the day’s luck. One had a racket going, but the cops put an end to it. He says, “If them cops would stick to their own racket and leave honest guys alone, we’d get somewhere in this country without a lot of this relief and all that stuff.” And then suddenly some rich folks arrive, including two sisters, one of whom, Cornelia (Gail Patrick), rushes up to Godfrey and offers him five dollars to come with her as part of a scavenger hunt. In some excellent dialogue, Godfrey turns her down.

The other sister, Irene (Carole Lombard), then speaks with him. Carole Lombard is absolutely fantastic in this film, right from the start. I love her delivery, the way she rushes and laughs through certain lines, certain ideas. She has this brilliant nervous energy. This is her description of a scavenger hunt: “Well, a scavenger hunt is exactly like a treasure hunt, except in a treasure hunt you try to find something you want and in a scavenger hunt you try to find something that nobody wants… And the one that wins gets a prize, only there really is no prize. It’s just the honor of winning, because all the money goes to charity. That is, if there’s any money left over, and there never is.” After Godfrey agrees to go with Irene, to help her beat Cornelia and out of a sense of curiosity, she returns the favor by giving him a job – as the family’s butler. She quickly gains (and exhibits) great affection for him, but it is soon apparent that there is more to Godfrey’s story than is initially given.

The scene where Godfrey meets the maid, Molly (Jean Dixon), is excellent. Jean Dixon is wonderful, telling him that there are new butlers in the house all the time, not because the family is exacting, but because they’re nutty. Even what could be the weakest bit of dialogue is delivered perfectly and ends up being hilarious, when Godfrey asks, “May I be frank,” and Molly replies, “Is that your name?” Godfrey tells her, “My name is Godfrey,” and Molly responds, “All right, be frank.” Her straight delivery of “All right, be frank” totally makes the whole thing work.

Alice Brady is excellent as Mrs. Bullock. I particularly love when she says she doesn’t like pixies but doesn’t believe they should be stepped on. And you can’t help but love her great logic when she announces, “Well, I’m positive I didn’t ride a horse into the library because I didn’t have my riding costume on.” The entire cast is excellent, but Carole Lombard really stands out, delivering an impeccable performance, shining in basically ever scene. I love the scene in the morning when she first sees Godfrey as the butler. “It’s funny how some things make you think of other things,” she says thoughtfully.

My Man Godfrey is quite funny, with excellent dialogue, delightful performances, and some social commentary. It was directed by Gregory La Cava, and was released on DVD as part of The Film Detective Archive series on September 11, 2014. The DVD has no special features.

DVD Review: Boobs

Boobs is a documentary following one young woman’s journey through the breast enlargement process. It opens with Andeleana Muir (who goes by the name Precious Muir for her modeling career) saying if she doesn’t wake up after her operation that she wants her family to know she loves them. We then see her being prepared for surgery. And if it weren’t for the film’s title, we might think she was going in for a life-or-death operation. She’s not, of course; she’s getting her breasts enlarged.

The film then cuts to a commercial shoot where Precious talks about some skin product. And in voice over she says how it’s difficult to be a model in New York. She’s done teen catalogue work, but wants to take her career to the next level, and, as she says, “The only way for me to do that is to get my breasts enlarged.”

The film follows her journey, including her initial consultation, and we meet her doctors, including Dr. Haramis, the plastic surgeon who will handle her operation. In an interview, he comes across as reasonable. We also meet Guy, Precious’ boyfriend, who says he likes her breasts the way they are, but who doesn’t try to talk her out of the procedure. He admits he’d brag if his girlfriend ends up in Playboy, coming off as rather juvenile but kind.

Precious speaks candidly about her goals regarding the breast enlargement, mainly her wish to get into Playboy. It’s difficult to really feel for this woman on any sort of emotional level, or to sympathize with her. She says, in an interview: “I’m obviously a religious person. I believe in God. And I feel like I’m going against that right now.” But any religious aspect of her character doesn’t really come into play. On the day of the surgery she repeats that she is nervous. This is played up a bit much; for again, this isn’t necessary surgery. It’s vanity. So it’s difficult to care whether she’s nervous, or religious, or that she’s crying (as we see her do).

On the day of the surgery she admits to not telling her parents, and it would be great if the film delved more into her relationship with them. Later, one of the film’s most honest moments is when she finally does tell her mother about the operation over the internet. And it’s interesting that her mother was a model, and started Precious’ own career when Precious was just four years old. Again, this is a really interesting angle, and I wish the film spent more time in this area. At the very least, it would be good to have a separate interview with Precious’ mother about just why she started Precious modeling at such a young age, and how she feels about what Precious has done to her body.

The film shows us some of the actual procedure, which is interesting and, yes, a little disgusting. The doctor actually explains the procedure as it goes. And her boyfriend gives his opinion of the results while Precious is still under, which strikes me as odd. And then we see Precious as she deals with the post-surgery pains and disappointments.

The film is really about one woman’s surgery and its effects on her life in relation to her short-term goals. It doesn’t really investigate the larger social issues at play here, such as the ways in which women’s visions of themselves are created and altered by the images in the media, and also the possible gap between what is necessary for a modeling career and what feels necessary. A lot of the footage is video shot by her boyfriend and by Precious herself, so some of it is jumpy and not all that well-composed.

Boobs was directed by Jon Bulette and Stone Roberts, and is scheduled to be released on DVD on October 14, 2014 through Garden Thieves Pictures. The film, by the way, contains this opening credit: “and introducing Precious Muir,” an odd credit for a documentary.

DVD Review: NYPD Blue: Season 7

NYPD Blue is one of television’s best dramas, partly because the main characters have serious weaknesses as well as strengths, making them seem more like real people, and consequently making us care more about them. And elements and storylines from the previous seasons are not dropped or forgotten, but are forces still at work on these characters. Plus, the performances are excellent. The characters’ weaknesses certainly come into play in the twenty-two episodes of the series’ seventh season. The main cast for this season includes Dennis Franz, Rick Schroder, James McDaniel, Kim Delaney, Gordon Clapp, Nicholas Turturro, Andrea Thompson, Bill Brochtrup, and Henry Simmons.

This season sees the return of several supporting players as well, including Kevin Dillon as Neil Baker, a cop who might be involved in a fatal beating in the season’s opener. He was in a couple of episodes in the sixth season. That episode also features Erich Anderson as Don Kirkendall, Jill’s ex-husband, a character who plays a prominent part in one of the season’s main plots. I became a fan of Erich Anderson’s work years ago when he played Billy Sidel on thirtysomething, and he gives a really good performance here as well. I also really appreciate Jill’s complicated feelings regarding Don (as in episodes like “These Shoots Are Made For Joaquin”).

Also giving a good performance in a supporting role is Sheeri Rappaport as Mary Franco, an officer that Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder) becomes involved with. Rick Schroder does some excellent work in this series, and a lot of his character’s elements are explored and revealed through his relationship with Mary. His character is also explored through his relationship with J.B. (Jeff Cahill), an informant who begins using drugs again.

There are some really touching moments between Andy (Dennis Franz) and his son Theo, whom Andy must raise mostly on his own after the sixth season’s death of his wife. Debra Monk returns as Katie, Andy’s ex-wife, who also plays a significant role in this season, helping Andy with Theo and with some of his own demons. Andy and Danny also become closer this season, like in “Who Murders Sleep,” one of the best episodes (the title of which is a reference to Macbeth).

But perhaps the most interesting relationship this season is that between Diane (Kim Delaney) and Jill (Andrea Thompson), as Diane worries that Jill might be involved in the criminal activities of her ex. Kim Delaney is particularly excellent in “Bats Off To Larry,” in the scene where she tells Jill what she knows and learns a bit about what Jill may know. It’s a very tense scene, and both actors do a tremendous job with it. They are also both excellent in the season’s final episode (as is Gordon Clapp as Greg Medavoy, a character you come to really feel for this season).

There are several good guest appearances as well this season. Frank Vincent plays Dino “The Rat” in a couple of episodes. M. Emmet Walsh appears as Joe Kroft, the medical examiner, in “Roll Out The Barrel.” And it’s always great to see Richard Libertini, who plays Luciano in “Lucky Luciano.” Amy Aquino also appears in that episode.

Sam Lloyd is great in a small role in “The Man With Two Right Shoes.” But the best line of that episode belongs to Tommy (Rodney Eastman), a suspect: “So if you found me in an automobile assembly plant, you’d accuse me of being a car?” Speaking of good lines, in “These Shoots Are Made For Joaquin,” Arthur Fancy says, “Keep me posted,” and Andy replies: “Are there any cases that you don’t want us to keep you posted on? I mean, what’s the point of saying that?” And I love in “This Old Spouse,” when Andy gets impatient with a computer and threatens to punch it in the face.

One other minor thing I can’t help but mention: The series uses exterior shots between scenes, and two episodes this season use the same odd shot of a car parked on the sidewalk.

NYPD Blue: Season 7 is scheduled to be released on DVD on September 30, 2014 through Shout! Factory. There are six discs in the set, containing all twenty-two episodes. There are no special features.

DVD Review: 10,000 Days

The science fiction thriller/drama 10,000 Days is a post-disaster film taking place in the near future, twenty-seven years after a comet hit the Earth, knocking it out of its normal orbit and thereby causing a new ice age. Survivors in the Rocky Mountains have split into two rival clans, the Becks and the Farnwells, and have to struggle for diminishing resources. The film has now received a digital release through MarVista Entertainment.

The film (which was originally released as a web series) opens with some folks from the Farnwell clan desperately running across a bleak winter landscape as tremors cause chasms to open around them. All but a boy lose their lives, plunging into a deep chasm in the ice. William Beck (John Schneider) later finds the boy and brings him to the Becks’ stronghold. The boy’s presence reignites arguments among clan members as to the possible worsening of their situation. Plus, they believe his presence could lead to further confrontations between the clans.

Meanwhile members of the Becks explore a cavern and discover an airplane, which might provide answers to what happened, and might provide a solution to the dropping temperatures as well.

The film does a really good job of establishing the Becks clan’s home and the ways in which it functions, without relying on too much clunky exposition. It allows the story to give us the information as it goes, with regards to medicine and rationing of food and security and so on. And after a while we see how the Farnwells live as well. The contrast is great, but the concerns of the peoples are much the same. And we learn a bit of the history of how the one clan became two.

Though the film has all the elements of a science fiction disaster story, it is really the relationships among the characters that are at the heart of this one. There is a Romeo And Juliet-type romance among members of the two clans. And there are the relationships among the generations within the Becks. Perhaps most interesting is the relationship between William Beck and his two sons, Lucas and Sam, especially as it is Lucas, not William, that is the recognized leader of the clan. It is a story about human nature in the face of the very question of survival, and is about the fears and hopes, and the risks one might be willing to take when faced with possible destruction.

I like some of the small details of this film, which make it feel real. For example, when the Becks sit down to eat, there is a slight tremor, and they all automatically put their hands over their glasses to make sure they don’t lose a drop. This shows how tight resources are, and gives you the sense that liquid has been spilled in the past due to tremors and now it’s become instinct to protect their drinks. It’s just a short moment, but it helps to give a life and reality to the world of the film. This helps especially considering that much of the film was shot against a green screen and relies heavily on computer graphics. Some of the computer graphics look a bit awkward, such as the brief shot when one character rides a snowboard down into a cavern. But again, it’s really the characters that drive this story.

This film has a good cast. In addition to John Schneider (who will of course always be known for his roles in Smallville and The Dukes Of Hazzard), 10,000 Days stars Peter Wingfield (Holby City), James Harvey Ward (Saints & Sinners), Kim Myers (A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, The Dust Factory), Riley Smith (24, True Blood), and Lisa Pelikan (Ghoulies). 10,000 Days was written and directed by Eric Small, who also wrote and directed The Dust Factory. It was released on October 10, 2014 through MarVista Entertainment.

DVD Review: The Prosecution Of An American President

When George W. Bush assumed the presidency, I lost any remaining faith I had in the political process of this country. And, as you know, things just got worse from there. George W. Bush and his associates got this country involved in the dubious war in Iraq, resulting in thousands and thousands of deaths. The Prosecution Of An American President details the possible criminal case against George W. Bush and his administration, and gives me hope that perhaps at some point those people will be held accountable.

The film opens with footage of George W. Bush speaking directly the camera: “The Iraqi regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.” Then Dick Cheney says, “There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.” There is footage of those two, along with other key members of the administration, repeating the assertion that Saddam Hussein will soon have nuclear weapons. And the comedy of Bush never quite mastering the pronunciation of “nuclear” is far outweighed by the seriousness of the deception and blatant mendaciousness of these statements.

A title card tells us, “The Center For Public Integrity has documented over 935 false statements told by Bush and his administration.” That is followed by another title card: “No weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq.” That is something we all know, and yet there has been no serious attempt to hold George W. Bush accountable.

The Prosecution Of An American President is based on Vincent Bugliosi’s book, The Prosecution Of George W. Bush For Murder, and Vincent Bugliosi himself functions as a narrator of sorts for the film. Because his convictions are that which drive the film, we are presented with some background on his legal career, including his work on the Charles Manson trial. Vincent Bugliosi provides a brief overview of the situation with Iraq just before Bush took the country to war: “At the time of the war, we were actually Hussein’s biggest oil customer, financing his luxurious lifestyle. We had mutual enemies… In fact, we heavily supported Iraq in its eight-year war against Iran.”

The film focuses on Bugliosi’s passionate presentation of the case against George W. Bush at UCLA Law School in February of 2008. The two main lies that Bush and his administration told were that Hussein was an imminent threat to the security of the United States and that Hussein was involved in the attacks on September 11, 2001. Bugliosi provides the legal definition of murder and then presents a convincing case against George W. Bush and his administration, with plenty of evidence.

There is footage of Bush’s speech from October 7, 2002, in which he says Iraq could attack the United States at any moment. But on October 1, 2002, the CIA sent the White House its National Intelligence Estimate, which states “Baghdad appears to be drawing a line short of conducting terrorist attacks against the United States, fearing that exposure of Iraqi involvement would provide Washington a stronger case for making war.” The White House asked for a new report to be issued on October 4, 2002, in which the conclusion that Hussein was not a threat was deleted.

And there is information on the infamous Niger uranium claim, and the film includes footage of Condoleezza Rice blatantly lying about it later. The information on how Bush spoke to Tony Blair about ways to provoke Saddam Hussein into war should infuriate any viewer regardless of his or her political stance.

The film has interviews with some other people as well, including parents of American soldiers killed in the war.

Near the end, Bugliosi makes this good point: “Nothing would improve our image and restore our credibility more in the eyes of the world than bringing George Bush and his administration to justice.” I could, however, do without the overly dramatic music which plays beneath Bugliosi’s concluding remarks. The music detracts from, rather than adds to, the strength of his statements. The statements themselves are enough.

Will George Bush Jr., Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice ever face criminal charges? We can only hope so. However, early in the film former federal prosecutor Elizabeth De La Vega, having said the case could be prosecuted by a state, adds: “But actually you would need to find someone who had amazing courage. And in this day and age, I think that might be a very difficult thing to find.”

Special Features

The DVD includes six short deleted scenes, totaling approximately ten minutes. These scenes include a soldier talking about the results of his experience in Iraq, parents talking about their son who was killed in the war, and some more on George W. Bush enjoying himself at a time when he had taken the country to war.

The Prosecution Of An American President was directed by David J. Burke and Dave Hagen, and is scheduled to be released on DVD on October 7, 2014 through First Run Features.

DVD Review: The Siege Of Leningrad

The Siege Of Leningrad is a documentary recounting the events of Germany’s siege of the city during World War II, with the focus being on the hardships of those within the city and how they coped. It includes interviews with some of those who lived through the events, as well as a lot of excellent footage.

The film provides a brief description of the city and its people at the time before the siege began. The narrator tells us: “In Leningrad it was considered inappropriate to be concerned about international events and lend credence to unhealthy moods, as they were called.” In addition to interviews with citizens of Leningrad, the film includes an interview with Anna Reid, author of Leningrad: Tragedy Of A City Under Siege, who talks about how the new soldiers were given very little training and few weapons. And there is footage of citizens volunteering for military service.

But it is the footage of the citizens trying to survive within the city that is most striking, such as the shots of people desperately collecting water. On September 8, 1941, the last remaining land connection between Leningrad and the rest of the country was cut off. The Nazis bombed food storage facilities and warehouses and factories in the early days, and food reserves became scarce within a few weeks. There is a lot of specific information on the rationing of food, such as the fact that people with jobs got twice the amount of bread as those without jobs.

While battling hunger, the inhabitants also had to deal with the terrible cold of winter. And there is some interesting and depressing information on the changing behavior of citizens, as dead bodies on the streets became a common sight. The zoo animals and pets were killed for food, and some people even resorted to cannibalism. (There is one story of a mother who fed pieces of her dead son to her daughter to keep her alive.) Between January and March of 1942, approximately 300,000 people died in Leningrad. While the siege lasted until early 1944, the film focuses on 1941 and 1942.

One detail I found interesting is that immediately after the war, a large museum was opened to chronicle the siege, and that then in 1948 Stalin had it destroyed “out of fear of its power to unify the people,” according to the narrator. Decades later, a smaller museum opened, and the film includes an interview with museum curator Irina Muravjova. There is a lot of information from the diaries from the time.

One complaint I have regarding this film is that instead of including English subtitles for those interviewed, a translator provides voice over. The problem is the sound in the original language is not lowered, so it’s sometimes difficult to concentrate, because you’re hearing two voices speaking simultaneously at the same volume.

The Siege Of Leningrad was written and directed by Michael Kloft, and was released on DVD on August 26, 2014 through First Run Features. Also released on that date was Kloft’s “Fuhrer” Cult And Megalomania.

DVD Review: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: 50th Anniversary Edition

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is a 1965 made-for-television film starring Lesley Ann Warren as Cinderella, Celeste Holm as the Fairy Godmother, Stuart Damon as the Prince, Ginger Rogers as the Queen, Walter Pidgeon as the King and Jo Van Fleet as the Stepmother. It’s actually a remake of the 1957 made-for-television movie, which starred Julie Andrews. It is a musical version of the familiar tale of the poor girl who gets to go to the ball with the help of some magic from her Fairy Godmother, and this version began Lesley Ann Warren’s film and television career.

The movie is gloriously cheesy, with deliberately unrealistic sets, giving it the look of a filmed play for children. Lesley Ann Warren is adorable as Cinderella, in her first scene telling the Prince she can’t come outside. “No one is at home, and my stepmother will beat me if I speak to anyone while she is away.” Of course, this is a film aimed at children and families, so there is no beating. (There is also no cutting off of toes to fit the slipper later, as in the Grimm version.) And after the Prince leaves, Cinderella sings the first song of the film, about waiting for love.

Jo Van Fleet is perfect as Cinderella’s stepmother, and upon her entrance asks Cinderella if she’s done a long list of chores. After Cinderella answers “Yes, ma’am” to each, the Stepmother asks, “Well, couldn’t you find anything else to do, child?” And the two stepsisters are excellent when they argue, each boasting about her better qualities. The Stepmother stops this by saying, “Now, now, there is room for improvement in both of you,” which is great.

There is a goofy song in which the people of the kingdom express excitement over the news that the Prince is giving a ball and looking for a bride. The line that makes the song work is when a little girl suddenly appears, singing, “And me, I’m in the seventh grade.” It’s a funny moment.

Perhaps the most delightful song is a very short one sung by the Fairy Godmother, with lines like, “All dreamers in the world are dizzy in the noodle.” I love Celeste Holm’s delivery. And it leads to a longer song about “fools who don’t believe in sensible rules/And won’t believe what sensible people say/And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes keep building up impossible hopes/Impossible things are happening every day.” That’s a wonderful message.

It is by the cheapest effect imaginable that the pumpkin becomes a carriage and so on. And check out the goofy animation as the carriage makes its journey to the ball. It’s impossible to dislike it because it is so ridiculous.

I love that the film allows for a nice long moment as Cinderella descends the staircase when she arrives at the ball, before she and the Prince wordlessly begin to dance. It’s one of my favorite moments.

Oddly, when Cinderella runs out of the castle, the glass slipper is already there, as if it had come off her on her way in. And where is the other shoe? She is clearly barefoot. Also, there is that magical effect over the shoe, yet it doesn’t change back to anything. When the magic effect appears over her dress, it changes back to her more homely attire. So what about the shoe? Also, wouldn’t a glass slipper be terribly dangerous to wear, especially to dance in?

I did not see this film during my childhood, so it holds no nostalgic appeal for me, as it likely will for many. For me, it’s the cheap effects and the silly sets and tone, and some of the humor, which make it worth watching. But the main appeal is seeing a young Lesley Ann Warren.

For those who are wondering, yes, the overture is included on this DVD. But the DVD also offers the option of watching the film without the overture. (The overture is approximately five minutes.) Also, the CBS station identification is included partway through.

Special Feature

The DVD includes A Cinderella Story, a ten-minute featurette with interviews with cast members Lesley Ann Warren, Stuart Damon, and Celeste Holm. Lesley Ann Warren talks about her audition. Stuart Damon talks about how he had to borrow money for the plane ticket to get to Los Angeles. They both talk about how Richard Rodgers was demanding, wanting every note sung exactly as he’d written it. Celeste talks about the difficult shooting schedule. This featurette was created in 2001.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is scheduled to be released on DVD on September 9, 2014 through Shout! Factory.