Shelly_Servo3000

D.W. Griffith loved epic stories full of dangerous situations and damsels in distress. With the beautiful and talented Gish sisters, he got two damsels for the price of one. "Orphans of the Storm" is probably the most beautiful of all Griffith features. The lavish detailing of the sets is much better than "Intolerance" or "Broken Blossoms" and the costumes are magnificent. By this time in Griffith's career, his direction was already beginning to become stale and his plots too old-fashioned, but somehow he makes "Orphans" work to his advantage.

Lillian Gish is Henriette Girard and her sister Dorothy plays her "Sister" Louise. The amazing Joseph Schildkraut plays de Vaudrey, a nobleman who truly is noble. The "storm" in the title refers to the French Revolution, which is the background this story of family and romantic love plays itself upon.

As usual, Lillian Gish is wonderful in her role as the devoted sister Henriette; but it is Dorothy Gish as blind sister Louise who is truly the star of the film. Her performance drips with the pathos, pain, and longing that most people associate with her older sister. Schildkraut shines in this, his first Hollywood film role.

The frequent ridiculous scenes (Danton running to save Henriette from the executioner's blade?) and length of the film will turn most modern viewers off; but those who have a love of history, epic spectacle, and the timeless beauty of the Gish sisters will enjoy "Orphans of the Storm".

Many people believe the best Griffith film is "Intolerance"; some stand by "Way Down East" and still others believe in "Birth of a Nation" despite all its problems. However, I think "Broken Blossoms" is the Griffith film which stands the test of time and still rings true today, over 83 years from its debut.

"Broken Blossoms" is the story of two wounded, abused, seemingly hopeless individuals who find comfort and strength in one another. The Chinaman (played by Richard Barthelmess) and little Lucy Burrows (played by Lillian Gish) are as different as night is to day, however they complement each other and give each other what the other needs; Lucy gives the Chinaman respect as a human being, he in turn gives Lucy affection and love.

What happens to the two souls is, in my opinion, one of the most heartbreaking turn of events ever filmed. The brutal treatment of Lucy by her father and the ultimate sadness of the Chinaman at the end of the film always reduce me to tears.

Those who believe that silent movies are inferior to today's craft really needs to see "Broken Blossoms" and open their hearts and minds to a world that is beyond beauty and beyond pain.

This is an engaging documentary of one of the most celebrated actresses on the history of the screen, Clara Bow. The snippets of movies not available to the viewing public is at once wonderful and sad, because unless we make a trip to MoMA, we won't be able to view most of these films. The only thing that makes this less than perfect is that Courtney Love is the narrator. She has an irritating voice, and sounds as if she's falling asleep during parts of the film. I'm sure that she was picked because she's considered an It girl of today, but why not get someone with real "oomph" and warmth to their voice, like Kate Hudson? Or someone with more voiceover experience, such as Glenn Close or Holly Hunter? Love's narration ruins an otherwise excellent documentary.

*contains spoilers*

"M", Fritz Lang's first "talkie" and one of the best movies of all time, holds the viewer hostage with its creepy genius.

Peter Lorre's character, a pathetic wreck of a man, victimizes children. We never see his evil deeds, but we know what's happening because we hear his eerie, disturbing whistling of the theme from "Peer Gynt" before the child is murdered.

The entire city is in an uproar. Someone is slaughtering their innocents. The police are cracking down. The gangsters and the underworld are ticked off, too. This child murderer is making it hard for them to keep picking pockets and turning tricks! Something must be done. The criminals decide to take matters into their own hands and hunt down this killer.

Lang was a German citizen and made this film in his home country at the onset of Nazism. He was disgusted by what he felt was the coming ruination of his beloved country. He made "M" in response to the ugliness he was beginning to see in Germany. Consequently, the film was banned by the Nazi regime, although ironically they wanted Lang to be their official filmmaker, a position he refused. In what is now famous Hollywood lore, he left the meeting with the Nazi officals and fled to America on a train, leaving everything (including his wife, a Nazi sympathizer) behind.

"M" is more than a powerful statement on the human condition. It's a social satire that grows deeper and scarier on each viewing. God help us if we forget the lessons learned in "M".

Erich Von Stroheim is known for his iron-clad grip on his productions. "The Wedding March" is no exception. But his desire for perfection is one reason this movie is so wonderful. For those of you who only know him as Max von Mayerling in "Sunset Blvd." and Fay Wray as King Kong's "girlfriend", you need to do yourself a favor and watch this movie. It's touchingly beautiful and doesn't end quite the way you'd think it would.

Joan Crawford, one of the world's great movie stars, truly shines in "Mildred Pierce", a tense, prickly film noir full of suspense and drama!

Joan is Mildred, a hard working pie and chicken maven who becomes a successful restuaranteur. Ann Blyth is superb as her nasty daughter Veda, who stoops to every level to get what she wants. Eve Arden and Jack Carson are unstoppable as Mildred's friends. "Mildred Pierce" was directed by the famed Michael Curtiz, best known for his work in "Casablanca". But it is my opinion that his best work is "Mildred Pierce". The lighting, the costumes, the sets, and most importantly, the writing all help this gem of a film become a true classic.

Joan won an Oscar for her breathtaking performance, but the tour de force powerhouse in "Mildred Pierce" was Ann Blyth. Black hearted Veda was the lynch pin of this movie, and Blyth's portrayal made Veda seem all too real and frightening. Nominated for an Oscar, she should have won.

Don't miss this timeless nail-biter

My mother loved Barbara Stanwyck; in fact it was the only reason we watched "The Big Valley". But while "The Big Valley" was pure crap, "Christmas in Connecticut" is a heartwarming, fun little movie that I watched with my mother every year in the 80's and early 90's. Now it's difficult to find anywhere. I wonder why?

The gorgeous Miss Stanwyck was as good as usual, and all the other players are great. It ranks right up there with "White Christmas" as a true holiday classic. They should bring it back where it belongs.

"So Big!" has been filmed three times, once before this version (a lost film from the original flapper Colleen Moore) and once after. But this is the treatment that rings true; this is the "So Big!" that really is so big.

Barbara Stanwyck successfully ages from schoolgirl to aged mother in this film. The story is beautiful (based on Edna Farber's novel) and the acting is superb. You can't help but cry at the end! Don't miss an early screen appearance from Bette Davis!

"So Big!" is shown on Turner Classic Movies at times, but make sure it's the Stanwyck version and not the Jane Wyman re-remake. It's worth the effort.

"Moulin Rouge!" is not a see once movie. It's not even a see twice movie. This film begs to be watched many times, if only to grasp to the details. Everyone involved outdid themselves, especially the breathtaking Nicole Kidman as the tragic Satine and luscious Ewan McGregor as Christian.

There are so many songs, so many dazzling camera angles, so many gorgeous costumes that it starts turning into a wild ride beyond the scope of heaven and even hell. It's truly the embodiment of a cinematic acid trip. Incredible. Outrageous. Unbelievable. Watch it!

I'm 22 years old and yet this movie about two elderly sisters and their friends touched my heart deeply.

I must admit before I begin that I am a fan of Bette Davis and Vincent Price, and that Miss Lillian Gish is my all time favorite actress, so my view of this film may be skewed. However, I must admit and admire the sheer artistry of these actors (including the unsung Ann Sothern) and their ability to take a simple story and turn it into an engaging, emotional tour de force film of power and majesty.

Miss Gish was in the twilight of her life in this, her last film, but you could still see the same actress who touched audiences in 1919's "Broken Blossoms"...the same powerful skills which are on display in 1928's "The Wind", and the same quiet dignity portrayed in 1959's "The Night of the Hunter". Her scenes are by far the finest of the movie.

I must respectfully disagree with my fellow reviewers in their dismissal of Bette Davis's performance. Her character was supposed to be hard-headed, mean, and in bad health (why else keep harking on dying?). Bette is all of these things. I could really feel that she WAS Libby. Although her constant yelling of "SAY-rah" was a little annoying, but that's Ms. Davis for you.

Vincent Price was a revelation for those of us who have only seen him as a schlockmiester. His role as the Count, warm, friendly, scared and courtly, was probably the most sympathetic character in the film.

All in all, a touching, beautiful tribute to the legends of the screen and to the movies themselves. A lost breed of film.

A sad lament among fans of Elvis Presley is that his handlers (read: Col. Tom Parker) thought so little of him and his talents that they put him in piles of cinematic dung such as "Paradise Hawaiian Style" and turned down movies like "A Star is Born". If you've spent your life watching "Girls Girls Girls" and "Kid Galahad" then seeing a "normal" Elvis sans jumpsuit or guitar or a bevy of bikini-clad babes may jar you.

However, "Change of Habit" is not one of his mindless musicals. It is instead an attempt at a "real" movie, and Elvis fares well. It is odd to see Mary Tyler Moore as his love interest, but it's odd to see her as anything but Laura Petrie to me anyway. A little better script, maybe a different actress as his foil, and "Change of Habit" would have been a better movie. But when you compare it to "Clambake" ....well.....that's not really fair is it?

Yeah! Viva Las Vegas, baby!

Elvis and Ann-Margaret, probably the best looking couple to share the screen, whoop it up big time in Sin City. The plot is silly, but the songs are wonderful, especially the title theme. How many times have you been driving down the road when suddenly you sing "Viva Las Vegas!" and then hum that perfect guitar riff that follows?

Oh, and did I mention that Elvis and Ann-Margaret are both hot? Fun for the whole family!

G.I. Blues was filmed after our boy Elvis came back from the Army, and the savvy, slick succubus known as Col. Tom Parker wanted to milk that experience as much as he could, thus this movie.

I must say that it's not a horrible film ("Clambake" anyone?) but it's not his best (and there are so many that are better than this one).

Fun, light programming fare, with cool songs.

Vincent Price thrills and chills again in "House of Wax" - a genuinely creepy movie even without the added bonus of 3D!

The Master of the Macabre plays a wacked out wax museum curator whose obsession goes too far when he loses his collection due to a fire. In his quest to rebuild, what horrible steps will he take? Will it lead to..........MURDER?

This movie is just as good in 2D as it is in 3D. It plays frequently on AMC and TCM, and you can also buy it on video. It's wonderful and good for the whole family.

Lillian Gish's legendary career was nearly as lengthy as her life. Time and time again, she has shown audiences that she was truly one of the finest actresses who ever lived. A perfect example of her power and artistry is in "The Wind".

Miss Gish plays "Letty", a young girl from Virginia who moves to her cousin's house on the wild, open plains of Texas. The plot is very interesting and very fluid. Miss Gish is wonderful as usual (the sequence of events at the end of the movie is among the finest performances on film) but the real star of the movie is Swedish heartthrob Lars Hanson. A real delightful performance, with real charisma.

A must-see film that deserves more recognition.

If you're interested in watching a major movie studio kill a comic genius' career, then "Free and Easy" is for you. If you want to watch a movie that makes you seeth with anger, while watching your favorite star sink lower and lower into an alcoholic haze, then by all means, watch "Free and Easy". However, if you want to be entertained, by all means stay away from this movie. Its only redeeming qualities are hearing the voices of Buster Keaton and Bill Haines, and the amusing (in the lowest possible way) musical number of "Oh King" at the end. But beware the clown costume.

I rented this movie from my local library, excited because I could finally hear my all time favorite actress, Miss Lillian Gish's voice while she was still a young woman. Imagine my surprise when, instead of the quality films she had appeared in during her silent career, I find this horrible, hackneyed "melo-dramedy" not worthy of the nitrate it was filmed on.

The other comments on this page will give you a good idea about the plot of the movie. Out of 10, I gave it a four, only because of the luminous beauty of Lillian Gish, and a rare chance to hear her voice while she was still young.

Today, people think of Jack Pickford as the alcoholic, womanizing sister of Mary Pickford and the husband of tragic silent movie actress Olive Thomas. It's too bad, because Jack Pickford was a great young actor in his own right, with charisma to spare and talent to boot.

"The Man Who Had Everything" is a neatly packaged morality play. The plot is simple and predictable. However, Pickford's performance is great and lifts the movie into a touching story of one man's greed and redemption.

It's a hard movie to find, but I suggest that one looks for it.

"The New York Hat" is a short, adorable movie that stars the legends of early film (Mary Pickford and her brother Jack, Lionel Barrymore, the Gish Sisters). The plot is fun and inventive for 1912. A great bit of storytelling that doesn't grow old.

"Limelight" stinks, plain and simple. There are good things about it, most importantly the all too brief scene with my personal idol, Buster Keaton, and the great line Calvero utters ("I suppose it's just the tramp in me"), but other that that, stay away. I beg of you, if you want to watch a fine Chaplin talkie, rent "The Great Dictator".

"Trainspotting" is a modern masterpiece. The despair and hopelessness of today's drug cultured youth is on full display in this quirky English film. Ewan Macgregor is magnificent as Renton, the charismatic "hero" of the movie. There is no better drug withdrawl scene ANYWHERE in movies. Keep your eyes out for toilet scene - you don't want to miss it. The movie is heartbreakingly real, and makes no apologies.

"The Last of the Mohicans" is a glossy, romanticized version of James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel. But I mean this in a good way. Does anyone remember reading Cooper's novel in High School? No one does. No one cared. This movie MAKES you care. This movie thrusts the characters in your face, puts human emotion on display, and leaves you genuinely interested in their lives.

Daniel Day Lewis gives an incredible performance as "Hawkeye" - the white "brother" of the Mohican tribe, which, for reasons I can't remember, only consists of two members. Madeleine Stowe is superb as the Englishman's daughter, who gets caught up in the fight for American Independence. The chemistry between Daniel Day Lewis and Ms. Stowe is outstanding. There wouldn't be a better pair for this movie.

Even if you are not impressed with the performances given by the principal leads, you WILL be impressed with the breathtaking cinematography. Also, there is no more haunting and gorgeous soundtrack in existance than the score for "The Last of the Mohicans."

In short, no matter why you would choose to see "The Last of the Mohicans" - SEE IT. It's beautiful in every way.

Being the serious MSTie that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie. You cannot go wrong with this offering from Mike and the 'bots. I thought I had seen it all, but MST3K:The Movie did not fail to disappoint me. My ONLY gripe is that they decided to do "This Island Earth" - a truly distasteful piece of rubbish, but not nearly as bad as, say, "Glen or Glenda?" or my favorite B-movie of all time, "House of Wax". If you are even REMOTELY appreciative of MST3K, by all means, watch the movie.

SPOILER ALERT. What were the producer and director thinking? Were they on Prof. Leon's happy pills? Is it just me, or did Katherine Victor have a skunk on her head? "You think she rats much?" The grease-paint bat mark on the chest was a nice touch. The beach blanket bingo band with the unplugged electrical instruments was uncalled for. Did anyone ever notice that Batwoman's ranch-style house and RatFink's hideout was THE SAME HOUSE? THE SAME HOUSE! I just cannot believe that this...this....DRECK played at the Orpheum or the Roxy or the Majestic. I refuse to believe it.

*might be a spoiler, I'm not sure LOL* I truly love this movie. Both the MST3K version and the original. In fact, this is me and my fiance's "make out movie" - anyone who's watched the MST3K version know why....."Colonel Feelgood"......"But I've got a mantis in my pan-tis"........

Ah, truly a wonderful piece of 50's giant monster hysteria. Also, the most hilariously droll acting ever seen, as performed by the lackey on "Perry Mason".