DVD Pick of the week: A Study in terror (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
This forgotten 1965 gem was the first film to pit Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper — and may well be the best.
John Neville plays the Great Detective and Donald Houston his Dr. Watson, prowling the fog-shrouded streets of 1888 Whitechapel in search of the elusive killer, backed by a rich supporting cast including Robert Morley (an utter delight as Sherlock’s brother Mycroft), Frank Finlay (as Inspector Lestrade), Anthony Quayle, John Fraser, Adrienne Corri, Cecil Parker and Judi Dench, here playing the ingenue.
Finlay (reprising Lestrade) and Quayle would return for Murder by Decree, the better-known, more star-studded of the Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper films, but there’s much to be said for this fast-moving, shrewdly written (by Derek and Donald Ford) and beautifully photographed (by Desmond Dickinson) mystery. It’s a little classic in its own right, and a must for Holmes buffs.
A Study in Terror is one of a series of rare titles available through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s new “Screen Classics by Request” series. Log onto www.Columbia-Classics.com for details. Each title retails for $19.94 plus shipping.
ALSO Available’70s DRIVE-IN HORROR DOUBLE FEATURE (VCI Entertainment): A self-explanatory DVD twin-bill ($14.99 retail) including the lowbudget 1976 thriller Kiss of the Tarantula (rated PG) and Curtis Harrington’s enjoyable 1977 chiller Ruby (rated R), starring Piper Laurie (in the title role), Stuart Whitman, Janit Baldwin and Roger Davis.
ALTITUDE (Anchor Bay Entertainment): Kaare Andrews’ feature directorial debut sees a group of teenaged friends on a collision course with destiny when their private plane encounters supernatural phenomena. The claustrophobic premise and visual effects are okay, but characterization is rudimentary at best. This is yet another concept that might have worked better as a segment in a multi-story anthology format. Rated R.
THE AUSTRALIAN STORY (VCI Entertainment): Maureen O’Hara and Peter Lawford headline this 1952 melodrama of mistaken identity, chicanery, heroism and romance, set against the backdrop of the 1910 drought on the title continent. This marked the first Technicolor feature shot there, but it’s no great shakes. A minor work from director Lewis Milestone, although the cast (including Finlay Currie and the always-welcome Richard Boone) tries hard and there’s an impressive cattle stampede late in the game. Originally released in the US as Kangaroo.
THE BIBLE STORIES (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): A pair of made-for-TV films dramatizing the lives of Biblical heroes: Ben Cross plays the title role in “Solomon” (1997), co-starring Vivica A Fox (as the Queen of Sheba), Anouk Aimee and Max von Sydow; and Patrick Dempsey plays the title role in “Jeremiah” (1998), co-starring Klaus Maria Brandauer and the indomitable Oliver Reed. Each DVD retails for $14.94.
CHLOE (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): Director Atom Egoyam’s tale of sexual manipulation stars Amanda Seyfried in the title role, a young prostitute hired by Julianne Moore to determine if husband Liam Neeson is being unfaithful… but that’s just the beginning of the story. This English-language remake of the French art-house hit Nathalie (2003) is erotic and well-acted, but also emotionally distant and detached. Rated R.
DEFENDOR (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): In an award-winning (and -worthy) performance, Woody Harrelson plays an unbalanced blue-collar working stiff who thinks he’s a superhero and makes it his business to fight crime and corruption — all the way to the top. This uneven combination of comedy and pathos is a nice try, but goes askew. Good supporting cast includes Kat Dennings, Michael Kelly, Elias Koteas, Clark Johnson and Sandra Oh. Rated R.
THE DEMON (VCI Entertainment): An uncut, widescreen version of writer/producer/director Percival Rubens’ puzzling, pedestrian 1979 chiller, involving kidnapping and a series of brutal murders. Jennifer Holmes and Cameron Mitchell head the cast. Filmed in South Africa. Despite the title, it’s never clear if the murderer is of supernatural origin. Not that it matters. Rated R.
“LOS ANGELES LAKERS: 2010 NBA FINALS SERIES COLLECTOR’S EDITION” (Image Entertainment): LA’s professional basketball franchise notched the 16th title of its history, winning the championship in seven games against the Boston Celtics. The DVD boxed set retails for $79.98, the Blu-ray boxed set for $89.98.
“MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE 3000”: VOLUME XIX (Shout! Factory): The latest selection of episodes from the long-running, awardwinning series sees the Satellite of Love crew riffing on such grade-Z schlock as Robot Monster (1953), Ed Wood’s Bride of the Monster (1955), Devil Doll (1964) and Devil Fish (1984). This boxed set, which includes a collectible Gypsy figurine and bonus interviews, retails for $69.97.
THE ONLY WAY (VCI Entertainment): A Jewish family (including Jane Seymour, in her film debut) seeks to escape from the Nazis in 1943 Denmark in this earnest but curiously flat 1970 melodrama, inspired by true events and filmed on location. Rated G. RUST (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): Corbin Bernsen wrote, produced, directed and stars in this earnest drama about a minister who, suffering a crisis of faith, becomes involved in a hometown mystery. By placing its faith-based message in the context of the story, this is a decent attempt to expand the parameters of faithbased filmmaking. Rated PG.
SHERLOCK HOLMES DOUBLE FEATURE (MPI Home Video): Well before A Study in Terror (see above), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic literary creation was immortalized in a series of popular films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This DVD twin-bill ($19.98 retail) includes Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943), based on Conan Doyle’s The Musgrave Ritual, and Sherlock Holmes in Washington (also ‘43), which sees the Great Detective battling Axis spies during World War II. Both films were directed by series staple Roy William Neill, and all of them remain good fun.
SONDHEIM! THE BIRTHDAY CONCERT (Image Entertainment): The title tells all in this musical commemoration of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday, hosted by David Hyde Pierce and filmed live at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City in March, featuring performances by such luminaries as Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, George Hearn, Elaine Stritch and others. The DVD retails for $24.98, the Blu-ray for $29.98.
“TAPOUT”: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Image Entertainment): All 20 episodes from the entire run (2007-’08) of the reality series, originally broadcast on Versus, following the “TapouT Crew,” which fashioned apparel for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events and encountered various fighters, both professional and amateur, on their travels. This DVD boxed set retails for $29.98.
TORMENTED (IFC Films/MPI Media Group): After the suicide of the class misfit (Calvin Dean), a British prep school rocked by a rash of bizarre killings of a supernatural origin in this visually arresting combination of black comedy and horror. Nice work by first-time director Jon Wright and first-time leading lady Tuppence Middleton. Rated R.
TOY STORY 3 (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment): Pixar/Disney score again with the third in the popular animated franchise, with Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn and John Ratzenberger reprising their voiceover roles, joined this time by Michael Keaton, Timothy Dalton and Ned Beatty. A pleasure for all ages. To date, the most successful animated feature in film history. Available as a single-disc DVD ($29.99 retail), a two-disc Blu-ray ($39.99 retail), or as a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack ($45.99 retail). Rated G. “UFC” (Anchor Bay Entertainment): The ongoing series of devoted to the Ultimate Fighting Championship unleashes “UFC: Ultimate Submissions” ($19.98 DVD retail, $29.98 Blu-ray retail), a collection of 30 bouts featuring the heavy-hitting likes of Georges St-Pierre, Kenny Florian, BJ Penn, Anderson Silva and others; “UFC 117” ($19.98 DVD retail) includes the world middleweight championship bout between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, the welterweight match between Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves, and more; “UFC 118” ($19.98 DVD retail) boasts the UFC lightweight championship rematch between Frankie “The Answer” Edgar and BJ Penn.
