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Two Susan Hayward films are featured here, including:SMASH UP: A popular nightclub singer turns to alcohol when she fails to cope with the myriad emotional problems she suffers from. Susan Hayward stars as Angelica Evans, a singer who is just about to break it big when she falls in love with wanna-be singer Ken Conway (Lee Bowman) and sacrifices her career in order to forward his. As Ken`s success skyrockets, the marriage starts to crumble and Angel, as Ken calls her, can`t get away from the bottle, eventually jeopardizing the life of her baby. Reminiscent of THE LOST WEEKEND and A STAR IS BORN, Stuart Heisler`s melodrama is a sensitive, insightful look at the tragedy of addiction, featuring a fine turn by the steadfast Eddie Albert as Steve, Ken and Angie`s best friend and the only one willing to see the truth. Academy Award Nominations: 2, including Best Actress--Susan Hayward, Best Original Story.TULSA: A rancher`s daughter fights a one-woman war in oil-field country. She wins the struggle and builds an oil empire.
Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005.
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Based on the novel THE DEFENSE by Vladimir Nabokov, director Marleen Gorris's THE LUZHIN DEFENCE is set in Italy in the 1920s as the world reknowned chess master Alexander Luzhin (John Turturro) from St. Petersburg, Russia, arrives for a match with his only known rival. Almost immediately after he arrives, Luzhin meets a glowing, graceful aristocratic woman, Natalia (Emily Watson), who is attending the match with her mother. Surrounded by potential suitors, Natalia is busy behaving like a lady and presenting various young men to her mother for approval. However, she is curious about the slovenly, unconventional, quirky Luzhin from their first meeting, and she sees past his social ineptitude, believing him to be a true genius. Luzhin is utterly smitten, and practically forgets his determination to win the match when he proposes marriage to Natalia. From there, THE LUZHIN DEFENCE spirals downward as Natalia becomes a maternal figure to Luzhin, who is haunted by ghosts from his past and is nearly driven insane by the nagging, torturous pressure to figure out the one move (a flawless defense) that will allow him to win the chess match.With beautiful imagery depicting the lavish Italian resort where the match is held, elegant costumes, and a triumphant, stirring classical score, THE LUZHIN DEFENCE is an evenly acted, well-paced film about love, intrigue, and going that extra mile.DVD Features:Region 1Keep CaseWidescreenAudio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Dolby Digital 2.0 - EnglishAdditional Release Material: Audio Commentary - 1. Marleen Gorris - Director Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Featurette - 1. Making of THE LUZHIN DEFENCE Deleted ScenesInteractive Features: Interactive Menus Scene SelectionText/Photo Galleries Filmographies
Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005.
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This film depicts the horrors of the Charles Manson family cult and the grisly murders of Sharon Tate and the La Bianca couple. Filmed while the trial of the Manson murderers was still in progress, THE HELTER SKELTER MURDERS was initially banned in Los Angeles, where the infamous bloodbath took place. In addition, the film frighteningly mixes drama with documentary in putting two songs performed by Charles Manson himself on the soundtrack, along with filming reenactments in the very house that the murders took place.DVD Features:Region 0Keep CaseFull Frame - 1.33Audio: Dolby Digital Mono - English
Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005.
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In this sophisticated saga, Andy Garcia (who also produced) plays a struggling author who reluctantly (at first) takes a job as a high-priced male escort to support his family. Rock icon Mick Jagger is Luther, his suave, enigmatic employer, and ex-E.R. star Julianna Margulies plays the wife kept waiting at home. It's a classic morality play given a modern twist as Byron (Garcia) winds up hired by the beautiful young wife (Olivia Williams) of famous, terminally old writer Tobias Alcott (James Coburn). Mr. Alcott is okay with the arrangement and even takes a shine to his wife's new friend. Soon Byron is a near-permanent resident at their decaying mansion, helping Tobias finish his final novel in addition to bedding his wife. But if he thinks his ship has come in, Byron has some lessons to learn about a gigolo's place in the world. Lush cinematography and profound, witty dialogue are key here, with director Hickenlooper making good use of color and composition to enhance the story. Performances are all fine, but the show is stolen by Jagger and Coburn. One campily posh, the other vibrantly crusty, the film lights up with old-school majesty whenever either is onscreen.DVD Features:Region 1Keep CaseWidescreen - 1.85Audio: Dolby Digital 5.0 - EnglishAdditional Release Material: TrailersInteractive Features: Interactive Menus Scene Selection
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Christopher Walken stars as Frank White, an ultracool crime boss, in this moody gem from director Abel Ferrara. Released from a long stint in jail, White rejoins his devoted gang, which includes the trigger-happy Jimmy Jump (Laurence Fishburne), Test Tube (Steve Buscemi), and his attractive attorney girlfriend, Jennifer (Janet Julian). Setting up headquarters in Trump Plaza, they start wiping out members of rival mobs in a bid to take back the streets and indulge in lots of cocaine and sex, but ultimately White has more noble ambitions, such as giving a fortune in drug money to charity. David Caruso, Victor Argo, and Wesley Snipes costar as a group of bitter cops who don't buy Frank's change of heart and decide to go outside the law to take him down. Poetic, sexy, funny, somber, and very violent, this critical hit cemented the rep of Ferrara and has earned a strong cult following. Bozan Bajelli serves as director of the arresting cinematography, which is full of rich shadows and gold, blue, and red hues. For fans of films such as THE GODFATHER and SCARFACE, this is essential viewing.
Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005.
For personal use only.
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