VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED (LionsGate Home Entertainment): One of World War II’s most depressing stories is dramatized in this engrossing, if imperfect, 1976 adaptation of the bestselling book, depicting the fateful voyage of the SS St. Louis in 1939. Just before war breaks out in Europe, a group of nearly 1,000 Jews secures passage aboard the ocean liner bound for Cuba, but unaware that the entire trip is a propaganda stunt by the Nazis. When Cuba refuses them safe haven, the passengers are forced to confront the very possible (and very deadly) reality of being sent home to Germany.
Max Von Sydow plays Capt. Schroeder, a decent man attempting against all odds to do the decent thing, while the starstudded passenger and crew list includes Oskar Werner (in his final film), Jonathan Pryce (in his first film), Faye Dunaway, Malcolm McDowell, Sam Wanamaker, Maria Schell, Nehemiah Persoff, Lynne Frederick and Lee Grant (who earned an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress). Onshore, Ben Gazzara plays the representative for an international refugee group who realizes — much to his consternation — that no country (including the United States) wants anything to do with the St. Louis or its passengers.
Too often the film lapses into episodic melodrama, in part to accommodate its mammoth cast. Although some actors stand out, particularly Victor Spinetti as a father attempting to secure the freedom of his two daughters onboard, many others — including James Mason, Orson Welles, Katharine Ross, Jose Ferrer, Julie Harris, Fernando Rey, Janet Suzman, Paul Koslo, Wendy Hiller, Luther Adler, Leonard Rossiter and Denholm Elliott — tend to get lost in the shuffle. Although not the great film it might have been, it is a noble and effective one, all the more so because it’s based on a true story. Additional Oscar nominations for adapted screenplay and original score. Rated PG. ***
ALSO ON DVD
“8 SIMPLE RULES FOR DATING MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER” — SEASON TWO (LionsGate Home Entertainment): All 24 episodes from the 2003-’04 season of the prime-time ABC-TV situation comedy starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal as a harried suburban couple dealing with two teenage daughters (Kaley Cuoco and Amy Davison) and precocious pre-teen son (Martin Spanjers). Ritter, who earned an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, died unexpectedly after four episodes, necessitating an immediate overhaul of the series including the addition of James Garner and Suzanne Pleshette as regulars. Emmy winner for outstanding cinematography for a multi-camera series (for the episode “Goodbye”). This three-disc boxed set retails for $29.98.
“CAPRICA” (Universal Studios Home Entertainment): An intriguing, absorbing combination of technology, theology and political paranoia that is structured as a “prequel” spinoff to the “Battlestar: Galactica” television series and is set 50 years beforehand, with the advent of what would become the creation of the Cylon race. This is the uncut version of the pilot episode, with the series scheduled to premiere next year. Eric Stoltz and Esai Morales head the cast. ***
THE CHOKE (Velocity Home Entertainment): This low-budget shocker about a rock ‘n’ roll band’s final gig gets a boost from energetic direction by Juan A. Mas and an eager young cast (including gorgeous first-timers Brooke Bailey, Wonder Russell and Bee Simonds). Rated R. **
FRANKENHOOD (LionsGate Home Entertainment): Mary Shelley goes urban in this lowbrow comedy about two morgue attendants (Jasper Redd and coexecutive producer DeRay Davis) whose chances in a neighborhood basketball tournament are greatly improved with the addition of a giant (Bob Sapp) who’s been resurrected from the dead. The debut feature of director “Blaxwell Smart” (is that a pseudonym, or what?) too often goes for the obvious, but Sapp is plenty funny as “Frankie.” Rated R. **
“GUNSMOKE” — THE THIRD SEASON, VOLUME 2 (CBS DVD/Paramount Home Entertainment): James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon upholds the law in Dodge City — on a weekly basis, no less — in the second 20 episodes from the 1957-’58 season of the long-running, prime-time CBS-TV Western. Other regulars include Milburn Stone as “Doc,” Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty, and Dennis Weaver as the faithful deputy, Chester. Emmy Award winner as Best Dramatic Series (the only time it ever won) and editing (for the episode “How to Kill a Woman”), with additional nominations for Actor in a Leading Role (Arness), Actor in a Supporting Role (Weaver), and teleplay (for the episode “Born to Hang”). This boxed set retails for $36.98.
HARLAN COUNTY USA (The Criterion Collection): A special edition of filmmaker Barbara Kopple’s 1976 feature debut, which traces the impact of a bitter coal miners’ strike in a small Kentucky town that began in 1972 and lasted over a year. Academy Award winner as Best Feature Documentary. This special-edition DVD, which includes audio commentary by Kopple and editor Nancy Baker and a retrospective documentary, retails for $39.95. Rated PG.
HOLLYWOOD: THE DARK SIDE — FRANK SINATRA AND MARILYN MONROE (Little Dizzy Home Video): Two of the 20 th century’s most enduring showbiz icons are profiled in this fluff-piece documentary that includes testimonials from the likes of Gay Talese, Robert Loggia and the indomitable Pat Cooper. **
HOMER AND EDDIE (LionsGate Home Entertainment): On the road with James Belushi (he’s mentally retarded) and Whoopi Goldberg (she’s got a brain tumor) in director Andrei Konchalovsky’s poorly conceived 1989 comedy/drama.
Along the way, they briefly encounter the likes of Karen Black, Beah Richards, Anne Ramsey, Tracey Walter, Vincent Schiavelli, Nancy Parsons, John Waters and Fritz Feld (in his final film appearance). A total misfire from beginning to end, although Belushi tries hard. Rated R. *
THE LAST TEMPLAR (RHI Entertainment/Genius Products): Mira Sorvino and Scott Foley embark on a globe-trotting adventure to uncover an ancient conspiracy with direct ties to the Vatican in this mini-series adaptation of Raymond Khoury’s best-selling novel. This special-edition DVD, which includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, retails for $19.95.
“THE MOD SQUAD” — SEASON 2, VOLUME 2 (CBS DVD/Paramount Home Entertainment): The second 13 episodes from the 1969-’70 season of the popular ABC-TV prime-time crime series about three young rebels (Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III) who act as undercover police officers for the LAPD. Guest stars that season included Lee Grant, Richard Dreyfuss, Margot Kidder, Gloria Foster (then married to Williams in real life), Edward Asner, David Cassidy, Martin Sheen and Sammy Davis Jr. Lipton earned an Emmy nomination as outstanding lead actress in a drama series. This boxed set retails for $39.98.
THE NIGHT BEFORE (LionsGate Home Entertainment): In this hit-or-miss 1988 teen variation of After Hours, Keanu Reeves has an early starring role as a high-school kid who gets lost on the mean streets of Los Angeles taking Lori Loughlin to the prom — then spends the rest of the night trying to get her back. George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars are on hand to do a few numbers. Rated PG-13. **
THE RULES OF THE GAME (LA REGLE DU DEU) (The Criterion Collection): Writer/director Jean Renoir takes aim at French society in this satirical 1938 drama that was one of the most controversial films of its time — it was banned in its native France and the original negative destroyed during World War II — but has since become one of the most acclaimed films of the 20 th century. The cast includes Roland Toutain, Marcel Dalo, Nora Gregor and Renoir himself. This two-disc special edition, boasting a new high-definition digital transfer with restored sound and image, as well as a variety of DVD special features, retails for $39.95.
SAVAGE GRACE (Genius Entertainment): Julianne Moore gives another fearless performance in this dark, chilling adaptation of the non-fiction best-seller based on the life of socialite Barbara Daly, who married Brooks Baekeland (Stephen Dillane), heir to the Bakelite plastics empire, and her complex, ultimately tragic relationship with their troubled son, Antony (Eddie Redmayne). This auspicious, often audacious feature debut for director Tom Kalin again proves the old adage that money doesn’t buy happiness — it just buys a different kind of misery. ***
“TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 25 TH ANNIVERSARY: SEASON 7” (LionsGate Home Entertainment): A selection of four special-edition DVDs encompassing the entire series of episodes from the 1993-’94 season of the CBS-TV animated series following the adventures of four heroic turtles and master martial artists. Each DVD ($14.98 retail) includes six episodes in chronological order, along with a collectible action figure of one of the title turtles.
TIN MAN (RHI Entertainment/Genius Products): Zooey Deschanel plays “DG” in this updated, revisionist version of L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of Oz, originally broadcast (to huge ratings) on the Sci-Fi Channel, in which the intended destination is the once-beautiful “OZ” (Outer Zone). Also along for the ride: Richard Dreyfuss, Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough, Raoul Trujillo and Kathleen Robertson. Emmy winner for Outstanding Makeup for a Mini-series or Movie, with additional nominations for Outstanding Mini-Series, art direction, costumes, sound editing, sound mixing, hairstyling, visual effects and single-camera picture editing. This two-disc collector’s edition retails for $24.95.
TRIBUTE TO HEATH LEDGER: THE UNAUTHORIZED STORY (Infinity Entertainment Group): The life and career of the late actor Heath Ledger (1979- 2008) are explored in this lightweight documentary that’s clearly aimed at his fans. **
“WILL AND GRACE: BEST OF LOVE & MARRIAGE”/”WILL AND GRACE: BEST OF FRIENDS & FOES” (LionsGate Home Entertainment): A special selection of episodes from the long-running, Emmy Award-winning NBC-TV situation comedy starring Eric McCormack and Debra Messing as best friends and roommates, with Sean Hayes and Megan Mullaly as their neighbors. Each two-disc set ($19.98 retail) includes 16 episodes.
Mark Burger can be heard Friday mornings on the “Two Guys Named Chris” radio show on Rock-92.
Copyright 2009, Mark Burger
