Collection ID 683
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Peggy Ashcroft, Ivor Barnard, Wilfrid Brambell, Madeleine Carroll, Frank Cellier
Genre: Mystery & Suspense
Studio: Digiview   Release date: 1935   Rated: Unrated   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: This tremendously entertaining spy film from director Alfred Hitchcock's British period set the standard for all man-on-the-run films. Based on John Buchan's novel of an innocent Canadian tourist in Britain thrust unexpectedly into the world of spies, it's hard to find a better one than this.

Robert Donat is the Canadian, Richard Hanney, who gets more than he's bargained for when a woman named Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim) in fear for her life is killed in his flat after revealing to Hanney that she is a Secret Agent protecting the secrets of her country from a dangerous network of spies known only as the 39 Steps.

With a murder charge hanging over his head he must heed her words and make his way to Scotland and get to the bottom of the 39 Steps in order to clear his name. But when a misguided guess leads him right into the hands of the dangerous head of the network, Professor Gordon (Godfrey Tearle), the hunter now becomes the hunted.

He is helped along the way by a few kind souls who believe in his innocence. Peggy Ashcroft is memorable as a lonely farmer's wife who risks everything to help him escape. A kiss given by Hanney for her kindness is a poignant moment in a film both enjoyable and exciting. When he and a much more reluctant young woman named Pamela (Madeleine Carroll) are hancuffed together there is a shift in the film's tone as romance enters into the story.

The classy Carroll was a perfect match for Donat and the back and forth between the two is still enjoyable today. Sneaking off into the night while he is sleeping she overhears the men after him and comes back to help him, finally believing his colorful story of murder and spies. A tune stuck in Hanney's head will finally lead him to the "Memory Man" and a grand finale.

This is most definitely a film classic. Another good screenplay from Charles Bennet and good work from photographer Bernard Knowles, who always made the most of the sometimes meager budgets given he and Hitchcock in Britain, enhance a story with both tension and a dash of romance. A must see film.
My Rating:
My Review: An Alfred Hitchcock espionage thriller. Produced in 1935, this black and white movie is a great spy thriller. If only the sound production was better. The acting was pretty good (for the time). With Robert Donat and Madelline Carroll playing in the lead roles. These two complemented each other nicely, and they played more than one role in the movie. Robert Donat actually played four different characters! The story begins in a somewhat contrived manner, but it gets better in a hurry. Foreign agents are planning to smuggle vital secrets out of the country, and someone's got to stop them. A thrilling mystey, and grand adventure across the length and breadth of Great Britain. The secret reveal makes for a fantastic ending twist.

Collection ID 1154
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle, Peggy Ashcroft
Genre: Mystery
Studio: Gaumont British Picture Corporation   Release date: 1935   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: A man in London tries to help a counterespionage agent, and is soon finding himself in one jam after another.

This tremendously entertaining spy film from director Alfred Hitchcock's British period set the standard for all man-on-the-run films. Based on John Buchan's novel of an innocent Canadian tourist in Britain thrust unexpectedly into the world of spies, it's hard to find a better one than this.

Robert Donat is the Canadian, Richard Hanney, who gets more than he's bargained for when a woman named Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim) in fear for her life is killed in his flat after revealing to Hanney that she is a Secret Agent protecting the secrets of her country from a dangerous network of spies known only as the 39 Steps.

With a murder charge hanging over his head he must heed her words and make his way to Scotland and get to the bottom of the 39 Steps in order to clear his name. But when a misguided guess leads him right into the hands of the dangerous head of the network, Professor Gordon (Godfrey Tearle), the hunter now becomes the hunted.

He is helped along the way by a few kind souls who believe in his innocence. Peggy Ashcroft is memorable as a lonely farmer's wife who risks everything to help him escape. A kiss given by Hanney for her kindness is a poignant moment in a film both enjoyable and exciting. When he and a much more reluctant young woman named Pamela (Madeleine Carroll) are hancuffed together there is a shift in the film's tone as romance enters into the story.

The classy Carroll was a perfect match for Donat and the back and forth between the two is still enjoyable today. Sneaking off into the night while he is sleeping she overhears the men after him and comes back to help him, finally believing his colorful story of murder and spies. A tune stuck in Hanney's head will finally lead him to the "Memory Man" and a grand finale.

This is most definitely a film classic. Another good screenplay from Charles Bennet and good work from photographer Bernard Knowles, who always made the most of the sometimes meager budgets given he and Hitchcock in Britain, enhance a story with both tension and a dash of romance. A must see film.
My Rating:
My Review: An Alfred Hitchcock espionage thriller. Produced in 1935, this black and white movie is a great spy thriller. If only the sound production was better. The acting was pretty good (for the time). With Robert Donat and Madelline Carroll playing in the lead roles. These two complemented each other nicely, and they played more than one role in the movie. Robert Donat actually played four different characters! The story begins in a somewhat contrived manner, but it gets better in a hurry. Foreign agents are planning to smuggle vital secrets out of the country, and someone's got to stop them. A thrilling mystey, and grand adventure across the length and breadth of Great Britain. The secret reveal makes for a fantastic ending twist.

Collection ID 1194
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle, Peggy Ashcroft
Genre: Mystery
Studio: Gaumont British Picture Corporation   Release date: 1935   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: This tremendously entertaining spy film from director Alfred Hitchcock's British period set the standard for all man-on-the-run films. Based on John Buchan's novel of an innocent Canadian tourist in Britain thrust unexpectedly into the world of spies, it's hard to find a better one than this.

Robert Donat is the Canadian, Richard Hanney, who gets more than he's bargained for when a woman named Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim) in fear for her life is killed in his flat after revealing to Hanney that she is a Secret Agent protecting the secrets of her country from a dangerous network of spies known only as the 39 Steps.

With a murder charge hanging over his head he must heed her words and make his way to Scotland and get to the bottom of the 39 Steps in order to clear his name. But when a misguided guess leads him right into the hands of the dangerous head of the network, Professor Gordon (Godfrey Tearle), the hunter now becomes the hunted.

He is helped along the way by a few kind souls who believe in his innocence. Peggy Ashcroft is memorable as a lonely farmer's wife who risks everything to help him escape. A kiss given by Hanney for her kindness is a poignant moment in a film both enjoyable and exciting. When he and a much more reluctant young woman named Pamela (Madeleine Carroll) are hancuffed together there is a shift in the film's tone as romance enters into the story.

The classy Carroll was a perfect match for Donat and the back and forth between the two is still enjoyable today. Sneaking off into the night while he is sleeping she overhears the men after him and comes back to help him, finally believing his colorful story of murder and spies. A tune stuck in Hanney's head will finally lead him to the "Memory Man" and a grand finale.

This is most definitely a film classic. Another good screenplay from Charles Bennet and good work from photographer Bernard Knowles, who always made the most of the sometimes meager budgets given he and Hitchcock in Britain, enhance a story with both tension and a dash of romance. A must see film.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho (1960), Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), The Lady Vanishes (1938)) in 1935. Screenplay by Charles Bennet (Screenplays: Foreign Correspondent, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) and Ian Hay. This movie is loosely based on the novel (same name) of 1915 by John Buchan. It's the first screen adaptation of the novel. There are others; four listed in IMDB (one in development). This is one of my all time favorite movies. I have multiple copies (different cuts/reproductions) of the movie and I hope the movie in development turns out well. The movie is an Alfred Hitchcock espionage thriller. Produced in 1935, this black and white movie is a great spy thriller. If only the sound production was better (I should get a Criterion copy - They've produced at least two different restored versions of this movie - Sounds like a great Christmas gift for someone I know…). The acting was pretty good (for the time). With Robert Donat and Madelline Carroll playing in the lead roles. Robert Donat actually played four different characters in this movie. The story begins in a somewhat contrived manner, but it gets better in a hurry. Foreign agents are planning to smuggle vital secrets out of the country, and someone's got to stop them. A thrilling (pre WWII) mystery, and a grand adventure across the length and breadth of Great Britain. The secret reveal makes for a fantastic twist at the end. I give this movie a 4 out of 5 (I need a better copy).

Collection ID 1466
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle, Peggy Ashcroft
Genre: Thriller, Classics
Studio: Gaumont British Picture Corporation   Release date: 1935   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: Richard Hannay is a Canadian visitor to London. At the end of "Mr Memory"'s show in a music hall, he meets Annabella Smith, who is running away from secret agents. He agrees to hide her in his flat, but she is murdered during the night. Fearing that he could be accused of the murder, Hannay goes on the run to break the spy ring.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho (1960), Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), The Lady Vanishes (1938)) in 1935. Screenplay by Charles Bennet (Screenplays: Foreign Correspondent, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) and Ian Hay. This movie is loosely based on the novel (same name) of 1915 by John Buchan. It's the first screen adaptation of the novel. There are others; four listed in IMDB (one in development). This is one of my all time favorite movies. I have multiple copies (different cuts/reproductions) of the movie and I hope the movie in development turns out well. The movie is an Alfred Hitchcock espionage thriller. Produced in 1935, this black and white movie is a great spy thriller. If only the sound production was better (I should get a Criterion copy - They've produced at least two different restored versions of this movie - Sounds like a great Christmas gift for someone I know…). The acting was pretty good (for the time). With Robert Donat and Madelline Carroll playing in the lead roles. Robert Donat actually played four different characters in this movie. The story begins in a somewhat contrived manner, but it gets better in a hurry. Foreign agents are planning to smuggle vital secrets out of the country, and someone's got to stop them. A thrilling (pre WWII) mystery, and a grand adventure across the length and breadth of Great Britain. The secret reveal makes for a fantastic twist at the end. I give this movie a 5 out of 5 (The Criterion Collection version (Which I now own) is far better quality than all my other copies. I'm glad I bought it).

Collection ID 1504
Director: John Frankenheimer
Starring: Roy Scheider, Ann-Margret, Vanity, John Glover, Robert Trebor
Genre: Action
Studio: Cannon Group   Release date: 1986   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A secret fling with between a man and his mistress leads to blackmail and murder.
My Rating:
My Review: An excellent action-thriller starring Roy Scheider (as Harry Mitchell), John Glover (as Alan Raimy) and Ann-Margret (as Barbara Mitchell). Directed by John Frankenheimer, this movie is filled with great acting, excellent plot structure and great editing. This movie has a dense, slow burning plot, with excellent twists. Harry Mitchell is a morally ambiguous businessman with a small business, a faithful wife, and a girlfriend on the side. No one would suspect his resolve when a group of conniving crooks smell blood in the water and decide to turn Harry's philandering into their paycheck. What starts out as your typical kidnap and extortion scenario, quickly devolves into a chaotic game of high stakes chicken.The casting and acting are outstanding and the pacing perfect. The deviation from standard plot lines and rich characters make this movie a hidden gem. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 2
Director: John Frankenheimer
Starring: Roy Scheider, Ann-Margret, Vanity, John Glover, Robert Trebor
Genre: Action
Studio: Cannon Group   Release date: 1986   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A secret fling with between a man and his mistress leads to blackmail and murder.
My Rating:
My Review: An excellent action-thriller starring Roy Scheider (as Harry Mitchell), John Glover (as Alan Raimy) and Ann-Margret (as Barbara Mitchell). Directed by John Frankenheimer, this movie is filled with great acting, excellent plot structure and great editing. This movie has a dense, slow burning plot, with excellent twists. Harry Mitchell is a morally ambiguous businessman with a small business, a faithful wife, and a girlfriend on the side. No one would suspect his resolve when a group of conniving crooks smell blood in the water and decide to turn Harry's philandering into their paycheck. What starts out as your typical kidnap and extortion scenario, quickly devolves into a chaotic game of high stakes chicken.The casting and acting are outstanding and the pacing perfect. The deviation from standard plot lines and rich characters make this movie a hidden gem. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 675
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Vincent Regan
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video   Release date: 2007   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, Spanish, French (USA)
Summary: Like "Sin City" before it, "300" brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler ("Beowulf and Grendel", "The Phantom of the Opera") radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of "The Lord of the Rings", Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralize the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae.
More engaging than "Troy", the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, "300" is also comparable to "Sin City" in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylized look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as "Sin City" was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder ("Dawn of the Dead") and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, "300" delivers. "--David Horiuchi"
My Rating:
My Review: Release date 2006? Yes, this movie was originally released 9 Dec, 2006. At the Austin, TX 'Butt-Numb-A-Thon' film festival. I've been waiting for this movie for some time. I own 'The 300 Spartans', and I've read a few books about this event - Including the more recent 'Gates of Fire' by Steven Presfield. The movie opened this weekend (9 Mar 2007), and Kim and I went to see it at the theater. This movie was truly amazing, a visually perfect movie. Every scene could be ripped from the movie and made into a movie poster. The overanimation introduced in 'Sin City', reaches it's ultimate conclusion in this movie - Perfection. It was highly artistic, but not too comic like. It gave the viewer some distance when the scenes became gory, and they did, quite frequently. The acting was outstanding, the action tremendous, the music perfectly matched, the sets, costumes, cgi, animation, Wow! Frank Miller's vision is transformed into actual mythology at the hands of Zack Snyder. A pantheon of characters so powerful, an enviornment so rich, and reactions so visceral it felt as if I lived it. While this movie had a few historical problems (seemed to blend the war aims/efforts of Darius and Xerxes into a single campaign, didn't cover the other Greek warriors very well (focussing primarily on the Spartans)), it contained a very clear message, and it was fairly accurate in a historical sense. The story isn't new, it isn't original, but it has never been seen in this way. While politicians haggle over authority, financial ramifications and political expediency, 300+ free Greek warriors make a desparate stand to hold off an invading horde of Persians intent on conquering the entire world. This movie will stand out for decades to come as a masterpiece in a new style. The blending of cgi, animation and live action was flawless. Each complemented the other like no other film I've ever seen. The movie comes at a time where some may be asking 'What price for freedom? and Why do we fight?' While this movie may become a lightning rod for those questions, it is undeniably a sublime visual masterpiece, and I for one hope to see it stand in that light before any debate regarding the 'supposed' political ramifications. As a twenty year veteran of the armed forces, this movie connected with me on a level I doubt some could understand.

Collection ID 1369
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Vincent Regan
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video   Release date: 2007   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, Spanish, French (USA)
Summary: Like "Sin City" before it, "300" brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler ("Beowulf and Grendel", "The Phantom of the Opera") radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of "The Lord of the Rings", Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralize the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae.
More engaging than "Troy", the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, "300" is also comparable to "Sin City" in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylized look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as "Sin City" was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder ("Dawn of the Dead") and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, "300" delivers. "--David Horiuchi"
My Rating:
My Review: Release date 2006? Yes, this movie was originally released 9 Dec, 2006. At the Austin, TX 'Butt-Numb-A-Thon' film festival. I've been waiting for this movie for some time. I own 'The 300 Spartans', and I've read a few books about this event - Including the more recent 'Gates of Fire' by Steven Presfield. The movie opened this weekend (9 Mar 2007), and Kim and I went to see it at the theater. This movie was truly amazing, a visually perfect movie. Every scene could be ripped from the movie and made into a movie poster. The overanimation introduced in 'Sin City', reaches it's ultimate conclusion in this movie - Perfection. It was highly artistic, but not too comic like. It gave the viewer some distance when the scenes became gory, and they did, quite frequently. The acting was outstanding, the action tremendous, the music perfectly matched, the sets, costumes, cgi, animation, Wow! Frank Miller's vision is transformed into actual mythology at the hands of Zack Snyder. A pantheon of characters so powerful, an enviornment so rich, and reactions so visceral it felt as if I lived it. While this movie had a few historical problems (seemed to blend the war aims/efforts of Darius and Xerxes into a single campaign, didn't cover the other Greek warriors very well (focussing primarily on the Spartans)), it contained a very clear message, and it was fairly accurate in a historical sense. The story isn't new, it isn't original, but it has never been seen in this way. While politicians haggle over authority, financial ramifications and political expediency, 300+ free Greek warriors make a desparate stand to hold off an invading horde of Persians intent on conquering the entire world. This movie will stand out for decades to come as a masterpiece in a new style. The blending of cgi, animation and live action was flawless. Each complemented the other like no other film I've ever seen. The movie comes at a time where some may be asking 'What price for freedom? and Why do we fight?' While this movie may become a lightning rod for those questions, it is undeniably a sublime visual masterpiece, and I for one hope to see it stand in that light before any debate regarding the 'supposed' political ramifications. As a twenty year veteran of the armed forces, this movie connected with me on a level I doubt some could understand.

Collection ID 581
Director: Rudolph Maté
Starring: Richard Egan, Ralph Richardson, Diane Baker, Barry Coe, David Farrar
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Fox Home Entertainme   Release date: 1962   Rated: NR   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: The futile yet inspiring stand of 300 Greek soldiers against the hugest army ever assembled in the ancient world inspired this typical example of Hollywood epic movie-making. King Leonidas of Sparta (Richard Egan, "Demetrius and the Gladiators"), prevented by political squabbling from sending his entire army to defend the narrow pass of Thermopylae, sets out with his personal bodyguard to fight off the ambitious Persian king, Xerxes. Along the way are a pair of young lovers, scantily clad dancing girls, and treachery though a secret mountain path. "The 300 Spartans", made in 1961, has an overstated cold war subtext--there's much talk of freedom vs. slavery--and there are a few too many shots of armored men marching through the Greek countryside, but the historical conflict has a fundamentally stirring quality. Also featuring Sir Ralph Richardson ("Dr. Zhivago", "Dragonslayer") as a wily Athenian politician. "--Bret Fetzer"
My Rating:
My Review: (Released in 1962) A historic epic. The story of a great battle. A battle I read about in a book called 'The Gates of Fire' by Steven Pressfield. This movie is based on an actual battle. A group of Greek warriors (appx 1,000) hold back an invading Persian army of more than 20,000. A great story with fantastic locations. Unfortunately, the acting is pretty bad, and the writting isn't the best. The sound track is terrible. This movie gets a 3 out of 5 based almost exclusively on the strength of the story.

Collection ID 1282
Director: Rudolph Maté
Starring: Richard Egan, Ralph Richardson, Diane Baker, Barry Coe, David Farrar
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Fox Home Entertainme   Release date: 1962   Rated: NR   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: The futile yet inspiring stand of 300 Greek soldiers against the hugest army ever assembled in the ancient world inspired this typical example of Hollywood epic movie-making. King Leonidas of Sparta (Richard Egan, "Demetrius and the Gladiators"), prevented by political squabbling from sending his entire army to defend the narrow pass of Thermopylae, sets out with his personal bodyguard to fight off the ambitious Persian king, Xerxes. Along the way are a pair of young lovers, scantily clad dancing girls, and treachery though a secret mountain path. "The 300 Spartans", made in 1961, has an overstated cold war subtext--there's much talk of freedom vs. slavery--and there are a few too many shots of armored men marching through the Greek countryside, but the historical conflict has a fundamentally stirring quality. Also featuring Sir Ralph Richardson ("Dr. Zhivago", "Dragonslayer") as a wily Athenian politician. "--Bret Fetzer"
My Rating:
My Review: (Released in 1962) A historic epic. The story of a great battle. A battle I read about in a book called 'The Gates of Fire' by Steven Pressfield. This movie is based on an actual battle. A group of Greek warriors (appx 1,000) hold back an invading Persian army of more than 20,000. A great story with fantastic locations. Unfortunately, the acting is pretty bad, and the writting isn't the best. The sound track is terrible. This movie gets a 3 out of 5 based almost exclusively on the strength of the story.