JOHN WAYNE CENTURY COLLECTION DVD cover.
© Paramount
The Duke is Tops
By: BRIAN THOMASDate: Tuesday, May 22, 2007
This week is loaded, so let’s get right into our Prize Closet – which is also loaded.
In keeping with John Wayne Month, we have two copies of the new deluxe edition of True Grit, courtesy of Paramount. To be eligible to win one, just send an email to which includes your name and address to DVD Shopping List, and put the word “ROOSTER” in the subject line.
Last week we included in the list Mill Creeks’s Horror Classics 100 Movie Pack, which contains 100 titles culled from some of their previous 50 Movie Packs, plus a few surprises. This week, we have one to give away. For this one, same instructions as above but with “HORROR 100” in the subject line.
We also have 5 copies of Actiongirls.com Volume 4: Army of the Dead, courtesy of director/writer/producer Scotty JX. You must include a statement in the body of the email for this one that you are over 18 years old, and in the subject line type “ACTION-G”.
We also have 5 copies of Actiongirls.com Volume 4: Army of the Dead, courtesy of director/writer/producer Scotty JX. You must include a statement in the body of the email for this one that you are over 18 years old, and in the subject line type “ACTION-G”.
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
John Wayne Month continues as we celebrate the Duke’s 100th birthday. Universal’s JOHN WAYNE: SCREEN LEGEND box set won’t be coming until June 12. Until then, we’ll have to make do with these releases:
(O) ALLEGHENY UPRISING (Warner Bros.) Wayne goes undercover in colonial America to intercept illegal shipments to Indian tribes. With bonus short and cartoon.
(O) BIG LIM McLAIN (Warner Bros.) 1952 action flick with Wayne as a government agent investigating terrorists in Hawaii.
(O) THE BIG STAMPEDE (Warner Bros.) 1932 western.
(O) THE COWBOYS (Warner Bros.) 1972 western with Duke as a tough rancher mentoring eleven rebellious teens. Includes commentrak, featurettes.
(O) EL DORADO / HATARI (Paramount) Duke times two.
(O) FORT APACHE (Warner Bros.) Classic 1945 John Ford siege movie with Duke and Henry Fonda defending a fort from attacking Indians.
(O) HAUNTED GOLD (Warner Bros.) 1932 western.
(O) HOW THE WEST WAS WON (Warner Bros.) All star 1962 pioneer epic.
(O) IN HARM’S WAY / DONOVAN’S REEF (Paramount)
(O) JOHN WAYNE ADVENTURE COLLECTION (Paramount) Includes Hatari, Donovan’s Reef, In Harm’s Way, Island in the Sky and The High and the Mighty.
(O) JOHN WAYNE CENTURY COLLECTION (Paramount) Includes El Dorado, Hondo, McLintock, Rio Lobo, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, The Sons of Katie Elder, Big Jake, Hatari, Donovan’s Reef, In Harm’s Way, Island in the Sky and The High and the Mighty.
(O) JOHN WAYNE COLLECTION DVD Gift Set (Paramount) Includes El Dorado, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, The Sons of Katie Elder and True Grit.
(O) JOHN WAYNE COLLECTION Volume 1 (Paramount) Includes El Dorado, Rio Lobo and True Grit.
(O) JOHN WAYNE FILM COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) Includes lesser Dukes Allegheny Uprising, Big Jim McLain, Reunion In France, Trouble Along The Way, Tycoon and Without Reservations.
(O) JOHN WAYNE WESTERN COLLECTION (Paramount) Includes Big Jake, El Dorado, Hondo, McLintock!, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, The Sons of Katie Elder, Rio Lobo and True Grit.
(O) THE LONG VOYAGE HOME (Warner Bros.) 1940 war adventure.
(O) THE MAN FROM MONTEREY (Warner Bros.) 1933 western.
(O) McQ (Warner Bros.) 1951 World War II action.
(O) OPERATION PACIFIC (Warner Bros.) 1974 attempt at making Wayne into a Dirty Harry type.
(O) REUNION IN FRANCE (Warner Bros.) 1942 war action.
(O) RIDE HIM COWBOY (Warner Bros.) 1932 western.
(O) RIO BRAVO (Warner Bros.) Ultimate collector’s edition of the Howard Hawks classic western includes commentrak with John Carpenter and Richard Schickel, featurettes and more. Also availsable in an ultimate collector’s edition that adds a comic-book reproduction, 16-page pressbook reproduction and eight lobby card replicas.
(O) THE SEA CHASE (Warner Bros.) 1955 naval adventure.
(O) THE SEARCHERS (Warner Bros.) John Ford western with Duke in his most complex role.
(O) SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (Warner Bros.) John Ford 1949 cavalry adventure.
(O) SOMEWHERE IN SONORA (Warner Bros.) 1933 western.
(O) THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER / THE SHOOTIST (Paramount)
(O) STAGECOACH (Warner Bros.) 1939 John Ford classic western.
(O) TELEGRAPH TRAIL (Warner Bros.) 1933 western.
(O) THREE GODFATHERS (Warner Bros.) Wayne is leader of an outlaw trio who find their souls while caring for an orphaned infant in this John Ford classic.
(O) THE TRAIN ROBBERS (Warner Bros.) 1972 western.
(O) TRUE GRIT (Paramount) Sassy girl Kim Darby hires hooched up over the hill gunman John Wayne to help her hunt down the man who murdered her father. Special collector’s edition of the film that won the Duke his Oscar.
(O) TYCOON (Warner Bros.) 1947 adventure drama with Duke as an engineer building a tunnel through a mountain.
(O) THE WINGS OF EAGLES (Warner Bros.) 1957 air war adventure.
(O) WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (Warner Bros.) 1946 romantic comedy teaming Duke with Claudette Colbert.
(O) BIG LIM McLAIN (Warner Bros.) 1952 action flick with Wayne as a government agent investigating terrorists in Hawaii.
(O) THE BIG STAMPEDE (Warner Bros.) 1932 western.
(O) THE COWBOYS (Warner Bros.) 1972 western with Duke as a tough rancher mentoring eleven rebellious teens. Includes commentrak, featurettes.
(O) EL DORADO / HATARI (Paramount) Duke times two.
(O) FORT APACHE (Warner Bros.) Classic 1945 John Ford siege movie with Duke and Henry Fonda defending a fort from attacking Indians.
(O) HAUNTED GOLD (Warner Bros.) 1932 western.
(O) HOW THE WEST WAS WON (Warner Bros.) All star 1962 pioneer epic.
(O) IN HARM’S WAY / DONOVAN’S REEF (Paramount)
(O) JOHN WAYNE ADVENTURE COLLECTION (Paramount) Includes Hatari, Donovan’s Reef, In Harm’s Way, Island in the Sky and The High and the Mighty.
(O) JOHN WAYNE CENTURY COLLECTION (Paramount) Includes El Dorado, Hondo, McLintock, Rio Lobo, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, The Sons of Katie Elder, Big Jake, Hatari, Donovan’s Reef, In Harm’s Way, Island in the Sky and The High and the Mighty.
(O) JOHN WAYNE COLLECTION DVD Gift Set (Paramount) Includes El Dorado, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, The Sons of Katie Elder and True Grit.
(O) JOHN WAYNE COLLECTION Volume 1 (Paramount) Includes El Dorado, Rio Lobo and True Grit.
(O) JOHN WAYNE FILM COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) Includes lesser Dukes Allegheny Uprising, Big Jim McLain, Reunion In France, Trouble Along The Way, Tycoon and Without Reservations.
(O) JOHN WAYNE WESTERN COLLECTION (Paramount) Includes Big Jake, El Dorado, Hondo, McLintock!, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, The Sons of Katie Elder, Rio Lobo and True Grit.
(O) THE LONG VOYAGE HOME (Warner Bros.) 1940 war adventure.
(O) THE MAN FROM MONTEREY (Warner Bros.) 1933 western.
(O) McQ (Warner Bros.) 1951 World War II action.
(O) OPERATION PACIFIC (Warner Bros.) 1974 attempt at making Wayne into a Dirty Harry type.
(O) REUNION IN FRANCE (Warner Bros.) 1942 war action.
(O) RIDE HIM COWBOY (Warner Bros.) 1932 western.
(O) RIO BRAVO (Warner Bros.) Ultimate collector’s edition of the Howard Hawks classic western includes commentrak with John Carpenter and Richard Schickel, featurettes and more. Also availsable in an ultimate collector’s edition that adds a comic-book reproduction, 16-page pressbook reproduction and eight lobby card replicas.
(O) THE SEA CHASE (Warner Bros.) 1955 naval adventure.
(O) THE SEARCHERS (Warner Bros.) John Ford western with Duke in his most complex role.
(O) SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (Warner Bros.) John Ford 1949 cavalry adventure.
(O) SOMEWHERE IN SONORA (Warner Bros.) 1933 western.
(O) THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER / THE SHOOTIST (Paramount)
(O) STAGECOACH (Warner Bros.) 1939 John Ford classic western.
(O) TELEGRAPH TRAIL (Warner Bros.) 1933 western.
(O) THREE GODFATHERS (Warner Bros.) Wayne is leader of an outlaw trio who find their souls while caring for an orphaned infant in this John Ford classic.
(O) THE TRAIN ROBBERS (Warner Bros.) 1972 western.
(O) TRUE GRIT (Paramount) Sassy girl Kim Darby hires hooched up over the hill gunman John Wayne to help her hunt down the man who murdered her father. Special collector’s edition of the film that won the Duke his Oscar.
(O) TYCOON (Warner Bros.) 1947 adventure drama with Duke as an engineer building a tunnel through a mountain.
(O) THE WINGS OF EAGLES (Warner Bros.) 1957 air war adventure.
(O) WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (Warner Bros.) 1946 romantic comedy teaming Duke with Claudette Colbert.
NEW RELEASES
(O) ACTIONGIRLS.COM Volume 4: Army of the Dead (Scotty JX) Ultravixens fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic world overrun with psychos and zombies, but still have time for showers. The first volume of the well-shot girls & guns series with a real plot and everything.
(O) ADIOS SABATA (MGM) Yul Brynner takes over for Lee Van Cleef in the role of the tricky gunman in the third of the popular spaghetti western trilogy, previously released as a box set.
(O) AIRWOLF Season Three (Universal) All 22 episodes of 1984 helicopter action.
(O) ALEX RIDER: OPERATION STORMBREAKER (Weinstein/Genius) Teen superspy Alex Pettyfer finds adventure cavorting with the likes of Mickey Rourke, Ewan McGregor, Alicia Silverstone, Bill Nighy and Andy Serlis. Includes featurettes.
(O) ALONE WITH HER (Weinstein) Stalker terror. Includes commentrak, deleted footage and facts about stalkers.
(O) THE APOCALYPSE (The Asylum) Faithsploitation.
(O) APOCALYPTO (Buena Vista) Mel Gibson’s hit historical action adventure set in the Mayan civilization. Includes commentrak, featurettes and deleted footage.
(O) BAD MOVIE POLICE: CRIMEWAVE (Tempe) Your hottie hostesses add caustic commentary to presentations of low-budget direct-to-VHS trash flicks! Complete box set includes Galaxy of the Dinosaurs, Chickboxer, Humanoids From Atlantis, Zombie Cop and Maximum Impact.
(O) BAD MOVIE POLICE: ZOMBIE COP / MAXIMUM IMPACT (Tempe) The girls trash talk another double feature.
(O) BALL OF FIRE (MGM) 1941 Howard Hawks romantic comedy classic with Gary Cooper leading a group of scholars writing an encyclopedia who get mixed up with gang moll Barbara Stanwyck.
(O) BATTLE FOR IWO JIMA (Warner Bros.) Learn that War is Bad with this 5-Disc “Commemorative Collector's Edition” that includes Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima in deluxe 2-disc sets, plus the bonus disc Heroes of Iwo Jima.
(O) BI CHUN MU: DANCE WITH SWORD (Tai Seng) Complete Chinese swordplay TV series on seven discs.
(O) BLACK TEST CAR (Fantoma) Yasuzo Masumura’s 1962 industrial spy satire.
(O) THE BREED (First Look) Vacationing pals on an island are menaced by a pack of killer dogs. Includes behind-the-scenes.
(O) BROKEN ARROW (Fox) Landmark 1950 western with James Stewart.
(O) C.A.T. SQUAD: Stalking Danger (Trinity) 1986 TV movie pilot adventure of the Counter Assault Tactical Squad. Directed by William Friedkin!
(O) CUTTHROAT ISLAND (Lionsgate) Notorious 1995 pirate adventure dud.
(O) DANTE’S PEAK / DAYLIGHT (Universal) Disaster twin bill.
(O) DARK CORNERS (Union Station/Starz/Anchor Bay) Thora Birch is a mortuary worker stalked by ghouls. Includes commentrak and more.
(O) DISAPPEARED (First Look) Ray Winstone hunts for his missing daughter in Europe.
(O) DORM (Tartan) A coming-of-age ghost story from Thailand
(O) EPIC MOVIE (Fox) Spoof of recent big Hollywood spectacles. Rated edition includes commentrak, storyboards, casting tapes and featurettes, while the unrated edition adds on a second commentrak, more featurettes, an alternate ending, and winner of a short film promo contest.
(O) FAY GRIM (Magnolia) Parker Posey in Hal Hartley’s spy con game sequel to Henry Fool. Includes Making-Of, deleted footage and more.
(O) FEAR / THE WATCHER / RAISING CAIN (Universal)
(O) FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (DreamWorks) Special collector’s edition includes Making-Of featurettes.
(O) THE FORMULA (Mac Filmworks) 1980 John Avildson espionage action thriller with George C. Scott and Marlon Brando.
(O) THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN (Universal) Unrated 2-disc “Double Your Pleasure” special edition includes director video diary, audition footage, roundtable discussion, outtakes, rehearsals, featurettes and a free ticket coupon for Knocked Up.
(O) FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (MGM) Sean Connery is back as 007. Includes two commentraks.
(O) FURY AT FURNACE CREEK (Fox) 1948 Victor Mature western.
(O) THE GOOD GERMAN (Warner Bros.) Steven Soderbergh’s nostalgic World War II suspense thriller starring George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Tobey Maguire.
(O) GOTHIKA / QUEEN OF THE DAMNED (Warner Bros.)
(O) GUN THE MAN DOWN (MGM) 1956 western with James Arness.
(O) HARD TARGET / SUDDEN DEATH (Universal) Van Damme twin bill.
(O) HELL AND HIGH WATER (Fox) Samuel Fuller’s 1954 submarine adventure.
(O) THE HILLS RUN RED (MGM) 1967 western.
(O) KELLY’S HEROES / DIRTY DOZEN (Warner Bros.)
(O) KUNG FU MAHJONG 3: THE FINAL DUEL (Tai Seng) Kung fu comedy.
(O) KYLE XY Complete First Season (Buena Vista) As seen on ABC Family. All 10 episodes, plus commentraks, featurettes and more.
(O) THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (MGM) 1987 007 flick with Timothy Dalton. Includes two commentraks.
(O) THE LORD OF AYUTHAYA (Tai Seng) Swordplay action.
(O) THE MAD (Genius) Zombies! Includes Making-Of and deleted footage.
(O) THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Season 2 (MGM) 1999 TV series.
(O) THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (MGM) 1974 James Bond adventure with Roger Moore.
(O) MEMORY (Echo Bridge) Thriller stars Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Billy Zane, Dennis Hopper, and Ann-Margaret
(O) MISS CONGENIALITY 1/2 (Warner Bros.)
(O) MOONRAKER (MGM) Extravagant 1979 James Bond adventure with Roger Moore.
(O) MYTHBUSTERS Collection 1 (Discovery/Image) Legends put to the test in 12 episodes, plus behind-the-scenes.
(O) PATCH ADAMS / WHAT DREAMS MAY COME (Universal) Robin Williams twin bill.
(O) THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS / SHOCKER (Universal) Wes Craven twin bill.
(O) PETER SELLERS GIFTSET (MGM) Includes What’s New Pussycat?, The Party, The Pink Panther and Casino Royale.
(O) PORKY’S (Fox) “One Size Fits All Edition” celebrating the late Bob Clark’s raunchy teen comedy.
(O) PORKY’S Ultimate Collection (Fox) Includes both sequels.
(O) RETURN OF SABATA (MGM) Lee Van Cleef is back as the slick shootist. Previously released as part of a box set.
(O) THE ROAD WARRIOR / MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME (Warner Bros.)
(O) RUSH HOUR (New Line) “Platinum Series” re-release.
(O) RUSH HOUR 2 (New Line) Infinifilm re-release.
(O) SABATA (MGM) Fun 1969 spaghetti western with Lee Van Cleef as a trick shot gunman, previously released as part of a box set.
(O) SANSHO THE BAILIFF (Criterion) Kenji Mizoguchi’s dazzling 1954 Japanese asterpiece, plus commentrak, interviews and book.
(O) SCARFACE (Universal) 1932 Howard Hawks crime classic.
(O) SCRUBS Complete Fifth Season (Buena Vista) All 24 episodes, commentraks, deleted scenes and more.
(O) THE SHADOW WALKERS (Lionsgate) Abductees in an underground lab complex with monsters.
(O) SHADOW WARRIORS (Trinity) 1999 action with Hulk Hogan, Shannon Tweed and Carl Weathers.
(O) THE SKULLS / THE SKULLS 2 (Universal) Ivy League secret society twin bill.
(O) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (Echo Bridge) 2006 TV version.
(O) THE THIRD MAN (Criterion) Carol Reed’s amazing 1949 suspense thriller starring Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles. With two commentraks, three documentaries, radio shows, alternate audio, booklet and more. Essential.
(O) THE THIRD SECRET (Fox) 1964 British murder mystery.
(O) THE TOYBOX (Maverick) 2005 psychological horror.
(O) UNCONQUERED (Universal) Cecil B. DeMille’s1947 settlers vs. Indians epic pits Gary Cooper against Boris Karloff.
(O) THE VANISHING TWIN (Tai Seng) 2000 Chinese horror thriller.
(O) WHITE FEATHER (Fox) 1955 western with Robert Wagner.
(O) THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (MGM) 1999 James Bons adventure with Pierce Brosnan.
(O) YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (MGM) 1967 James Bons adventure with Sean Connery.
HD-DVD CORNER
(O) THE COMPLETE MATRIX TRILOGY (Warner Bros.) HD editions of all three films, plus cranked tracks (called “In Movie Experience” by WHV).
(O) DISTRICT B13 (Magnolia)
(O) FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (DreamWorks) Special collector’s edition includes Making-Of featurettes.
(O) THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN (Universal) Includes director video diary, audition footage, roundtable discussion, outtakes, rehearsals, featurettes and more.
(O) LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (Warner Bros.) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (Paramount) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (Paramount) Includes commentrak, Making-Of featurettes, music video and more.
(O) SKELETON KEY (Universal) Includes commentrak, featurettes, deleted footage, Making-Of and more.
(O) DISTRICT B13 (Magnolia)
(O) FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (DreamWorks) Special collector’s edition includes Making-Of featurettes.
(O) THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN (Universal) Includes director video diary, audition footage, roundtable discussion, outtakes, rehearsals, featurettes and more.
(O) LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (Warner Bros.) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (Paramount) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (Paramount) Includes commentrak, Making-Of featurettes, music video and more.
(O) SKELETON KEY (Universal) Includes commentrak, featurettes, deleted footage, Making-Of and more.
(O) SMOKEY & THE BANDIT (Universal) Includes Making-Of, interviews and more.
(O) THE ULTIMATE MATRIX COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) The COMPLETE MATRIX TRILOGY, plus two extra discs full of bonus materials.
(O) THE ULTIMATE MATRIX COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) The COMPLETE MATRIX TRILOGY, plus two extra discs full of bonus materials.
BLU-RAY DISC CORNER
(O) APOCALYPTO (Buena Vista) Includes commentrak, featurettes and deleted footage.
(O) DISTRICT B13 (Magnolia)
(O) FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (Warner Bros.) Special collector’s edition includes Making-Of featurettes.
(O) LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (Warner Bros.) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (Paramount) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (Paramount) Includes commentrak, Making-Of featurettes, music video and more.
(O) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (Buena Vista) Includes featurettes, games, bloopers and more.
(O) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST (Buena Vista) Includes featurettes, games, bloopers and more.
(O) DISTRICT B13 (Magnolia)
(O) FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (Warner Bros.) Special collector’s edition includes Making-Of featurettes.
(O) LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (Warner Bros.) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (Paramount) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (Paramount) Includes commentrak, Making-Of featurettes, music video and more.
(O) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (Buena Vista) Includes featurettes, games, bloopers and more.
(O) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST (Buena Vista) Includes featurettes, games, bloopers and more.
NOT ON DVD CORNER
We welcome the input of Maniacs who want to share input on this section, where we highlight a different genre feature that has yet to come to digital disc format – just send your suggestions toDVD Shopping Listin an email identified with “NOT ON DVD” in the subject line.
(O) ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU (Sony? MGM?, Warner Bros.?) Last week’s death of screenwriter Bernard Gordon reminded me to look up this 1957 chiller from Edward Cahn. Despite the resurgence of interest in zombie movies, not to mention similar ideas recycled in Pirates of the Caribbean, this tale of underwater living dead guarding a sunken treasure remains neglected. It would make a great double feature with Cahn’s also missing Invasion of the Saucermen, but so far it’s NOT ON DVD.
And be sure to check back next week—and every week—for Mania’s DVD Shopping List! And don’t forget Anime Avalanche every Monday!
DVD Shopping List (© 2006 Brian Thomas) is our weekly DVD column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive book VideoHound’s Dragon: Asian Action & Cult Flicks, available now!
Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at DVD Shopping List.
