PAINLESS -- DVD Review by Porfle

You'd think that being unable to feel physical pain would be a blessing, but it's a curse for Henry (Joey Klein) in writer-director Jordan Horowitz' absorbing drama PAINLESS (Indican Pictures, 2017).

Henry gains our sympathy from the very start because we can see how lonely and isolated he is from society as he labors alone in his apartment, which has been converted into a makeshift research laboratory, to find a cure for his condition.

He can't allow himself any kind of relationship lest it take away precious time from his research.  We see how desperate he is by the measures he takes to purchase what he needs--selling illicit narcotics he's concocted to a small-time dealer, switching price tags on equipment at the store, pressuring his beleagured doctor (Kip Gilman) to procure forbidden drugs and even stem cells for him, etc.

Henry has suppressed his emotions for so long that they're almost as dead as his physical responses.  Fortunately, he runs into that most mythical of creatures seen only in movies--the beautiful, single woman who's currently unattached and chooses the nerdiest loner dude on the subway to practically throw herself at.

This gave me my first reservations about PAINLESS, fearing an obligatory romantic angle to the story which had done quite well without one up until then.  But it's handled well, with minimal sappiness, and is actually important to Henry's character development. Their odd "meet cute" involves her spilling scalding coffee on his hand, another instance where he can't discern how badly hurt he is.

Henry's involvement with Shani (Evalena Marie) yields one really good scene, in which their coffee shop date is interrupted by Shani's cretinous former coworker blatantly hitting on her right at their table.  I won't go into what happens, but it highlights the disadvantages of not being able to use pain in gauging how badly hurt you are.

A welcome comic aspect to Henry is the way he's learned to instantly diagnose the source of anyone else's pain--he's a Sherlock Holmes of medical deduction. This lends a bit of lightheartedness to what is basically a sober, melancholy drama that invites us to share Henry's emotional pain and desperate yearning to heal himself.

While Henry's goodhearted doctor tries to help him, a shady research scientist named Andrews (Pascal Yen-Pfister) lures him into a dicey experiment that could benefit both of them.  Andrews, it turns out, has the opposite problem--he feels constant pain for no reason.  They're like the main characters in UNBREAKABLE, one susceptible to nothing, the other to everything.

The conflict between these characters intensifies when Andrews' true unscrupulousness is revealed and Henry starts to feel like a human guinea pig.  It forces him to question his own ruthlessness in achieving his goal, and makes him wonder if it's worth depriving himself of other forms of happiness.

It all comes to a head when Henry's true moment of truth arrives and we discover what kind of a person adversity has made out of him.  As straight, no-frills drama, PAINLESS is confidently done in all aspects, and deeply engaging. 


Tech Specs
Runtime: 82 min
Format: 1:78 HD
Sound: Dolby Sr.
Country: USA
Language: English
Captions: English
Website: www.IndicanPictures.com
Genre: Thriller
Extras: Director's commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette, trailers

PAINLESS -- DVD Review by Porfle

"PAINLESS" -- Intense Thriller Based On Real Medical Science, Available Today on VOD + DVD

"PAINLESS"

AVAILABLE ON DVD + ALL MAJOR VOD PLATFORMS TODAY

A film by Jordan Horowitz

Starring Joey Klein, Evalena Marie, Kip Gilman, and Pascal Yen-Pfister

Henry Long was born with a rare condition that leaves him unable to feel physical pain. Life for him is a daily struggle, never knowing when he might become seriously injured without realizing it, or worse, die from an internal injury he never knew existed. He lives in a constant state of fear and is completely alienated from those around him who cannot relate to his daily struggles.

Barricading himself in a world of science, Henry has dedicated his life to finding a cure so that he can one day know what it’s like to feel ‘normal.’   His only temporary reprieve from this isolation is Shani - the one person that draws him out of this world. When he discovers a promising drug that he is unable to obtain on his own, he gets involved with a dangerous scientist with a dark past and his own secret agenda. Henry must decide if his need for normalcy is worth paying the ultimate price before it’s too late.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Based on actual medical science, PAINLESS looks at the dark side of life with a rare condition and the challenges both symptomatic and social that people with these conditions face.

Director Jordan Horowitz’s previous film ‘Angel of Nanjing’ won Best Documentary at 13 film festivals before receiving a worldwide release, and became an Internet sensation when NowThisNews posted a story about it that was viewed over 23 million times. Jordan has also directed and produced content for MTV and VH1, and his short films have been referenced in the book Making It Big in Shorts: The Ultimate Filmmaker’s Guide to Short Films.

RT: 81 Minutes / Not Rated
Website:       https://www.painlessmovie.com/
IMDB:            https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3412738/
Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/pg/painlessmovie/posts/
Twitter:          @PainlessMovie
Instagram:     @painlessmovie

About Indican Pictures
Indican Pictures acquires and distributes feature films to a broad range of entertainment outlets. Our business model enables us to directly provide a diverse selection of independent film content (action, art-house, comedy, documentary, drama, family, foreign language, horror, rom-com, sci-fi, thriller, western) through our strategic partnerships, into all media platforms (theatrical, VOD/SVOD, home video, TV/broadcast, ancillary, educational), for consumer enjoyment. Indican Pictures presence throughout the foreign market and territories, include: AFM, Berlin/EFM, Cannes, Hong Kong International Film & TV, MIPCOM, MIPTV, NATPE and Toronto.

"PAINLESS" -- Intense Thriller Based On Real Medical Science, Available Today on VOD + DVD

"ERNIE KOVACS: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION" -- On 11/13, Join Shout! Factory to Celebrate the 100th Birthday of Television's Original Genius

THIS NOVEMBER, JOIN SHOUT! FACTORY AS IT CELEBRATES THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL GENIUS

"ERNIE KOVACS: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION"

Across 9 DVDs, Fans of Classic TV and Comedy Will Thrill to 22 Hours of Landmark Hilarity and Bonus Features

This Holiday Season, Shout! Factory Will Also Offer Limited Edition Sets of Never-Before-Available-or-Seen Lithographs by Ernie Kovacs, Starting at $250

This November, to kick off the 2019 100th birthday celebration of Ernie Kovacs, television's original genius, Shout! Factory brings together the riotous DVD set, ERNIE KOVACS: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION. Combining the previously released volumes of groundbreaking, rule-breaking, surreal and charmingly silly comedy of the beloved and iconic comedian, the singular set features over 22 classic hours of decidedly offbeat entertainment from across Kovacs many television shows and specials. It will be available on ShoutFactory.com or wherever DVDs are sold on November 13, 2018.

Across the 9 discs of ERNIE KOVACS: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION , home audiences will find a cornucopia of Kovacs' greatest and most memorable "hits", showcasing an utterly unique sensibility that has influenced such comedy institutions as Monty Python and "Saturday Night Live" including episodes from his local and national morning shows, episodes from his NBC prime-time show, his five ABC-TV specials, the rare color version of his legendary silent show, "Eugene", 3 complete episodes of his offbeat game show "Take a Good Look", "A Pony for Chris", Kovacs' rarely-seen pilot for "Medicine Man" co-starring Buster Keaton, the only existing filmed solo interview with Kovacs himself, his award-winning commercials for Dutch Masters Cigars, a collection of short films, tributes rarities and much more!

Limited Edition Never-Before-Available-or-Seen Lithographs

While best known as "Television's Original Genius", Kovacs' groundbreaking work in the early days of television has been his legacy, though he also starred in movies, recorded LPs, hosted radio shows, wrote novels, and worked as a columnist for his hometown paper, "The Trentonian". Many of his fans, however, may not know that the creative giant was also an artist, never without a pen and paper -- and the chronic insomniac often worked well into the night.

Early in his career, one of Kovacs' favorite TV segments was his "Illustrated Profuselies". And during this "visual improv" set to music, the viewing audience got to watch his fertile mind at work, as he quickly sketched doodles. Frequently drawn in pencil and sometimes using colors, these abstract, sometimes surrealistic images soon took shape and were eventually revealed on camera.

Now, just in time for the holiday season, Shout! Factory is proud to present exclusive lithograph sets - never before-seen-or sold -- featuring 10 limited edition sketches, originally born as "Profuselies" and later recreated. They are available either professionally framed ($1000) or unframed ($250) and bring to rich life Kovacs fertile creativity as never before available.

ERNIE KOVACS: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION digs deep into a goldmine of comedy and Kovacs' fans, both longtime and new, will marvel at the sheer invention, wit and goofy charm of these milestone programs from the Golden Age of TV. A creative force of nature, this specially-curated collection of his riches -- historic, unique and endlessly entertaining -- will help to seal his legacy forever.

ERNIE KOVACS: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION Bonus Programming:

1987 ATAS Hall Of Fame Induction
Andy McKay 8mm Home Movies
Audio Lost
Baseball Film
Charlie Clod In Brazil
Dutch Masters Commercials
Ernie's Opening Monologue
Home Movies: Golf With Edie And Ernie
Howard, The World's Strongest Ant on "A Hot Date" and "Howard's Campground"
Interview: Algernon Gerard, Archaeologist
Interview: The World At Your Doorstep
Introducing Coloratura Mimi Cosnowski
Irving Wong: Tin Pan Alley Songwriter
J. Burlington Gearshift
Making Of "Baseball Film"
Martin Krutch, Public Eye
Matzoh Hepplewhite
Miklos Molnar's Glue
Muriel Cigars Commercials Featuring Edie Adams
Original Theatrical Trailers: "Wake Me When It's Over" And "Five Golden Hours"
Our Man In Havana" Behind-The-Scenes Footage
Percy Dovetonsils : "Ode To A Housefly", "Ode To Electricity" and "Ode To Stanley's Pussycat"
Remembering Ernie With George Schlatter And Jolene Brand
Rock Mississippi In "Fingers Under Weskit"
Silents Please
Skodney Silsky, Hollywood Reporter
Strangely Believe It: Writers To Blame
Superclod Test
Surprise Audience Member
Take A Good Look: "Clues" and "Sales Film"
The Kapusta Kid In Outer Space Meets Olivia Scilloscope
The Mysterious Knockwurst
Trailer For "Operation Mad Ball" - "It Happened To Ernie"

About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory's entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast entertainment distribution network which delivers culturally relevant programming, movie and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America and across multiple platforms. Shout! Factory owns and operates Shout! Studios, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory Kids, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Shout! Factory TV. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Los Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.

"ERNIE KOVACS: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION" -- On 11/13, Join Shout! Factory to Celebrate the 100th Birthday of Television's Original Genius

Pieced-Together Monster Suit: "The Monster of Piedras Blancas" (1959) (video)

The Monster's suit was created by Jack Kevan, who also worked on "Creature From the Black Lagoon" and "The Mole People."  

The feet and lower torso were recycled from the Metaluna Mutants of "This Island Earth" (1955).

The claws were recycled from "The Mole People" (1956).

In 1965, the Monster's head was used in a "Flipper" episode, "Flipper's Monster."

It was directed by Ricou Browning, who played the Creature From the Black Lagoon.

Ricou even wore the suit.


(Here's our REVIEW of the movie.)


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Pieced-Together Monster Suit: "The Monster of Piedras Blancas" (1959) (video)

Lon Chaney's Fireproof Mystery Shirt in "Indestructible Man" (1956) (video)

Outlaw science has turned Lon Chaney's "Butcher Benton" virtually indestructible.

A bazooka and a flame thrower finally injure the rampaging killer.

His face is horribly burned as the fire engulfs his torso...

...but his fireproof mystery shirt isn't even singed.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Lon Chaney's Fireproof Mystery Shirt in "Indestructible Man" (1956) (video)

Is That A UFO Behind John Wayne In "Rio Grande"? (1950) (video)

Many believe that during this scene with Duke and Maureen O'Hara...

...the camera accidentally caught a distant UFO in the upper left corner.

Viewers still disagree over whether the scene was shot on location...

...or on an indoor soundstage with a painted backdrop.

What do you think?


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Is That A UFO Behind John Wayne In "Rio Grande"? (1950) (video)

"THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES" Brings Together their Biggest Nyuks in One Exclusive Time Life Collection, AVAILABLE NOW!

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, TIME LIFE BRINGS TOGETHER THE STOOGES BIGGEST NYUKS IN AN EXCLUSIVE SLAPSTICK COLLECTION WORTHY OF ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREAT COMEDY TEAMS!
 
THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES
 
AVAILABLE NOW, EXCLUSIVELY AT THREESTOOGESDVDS.COM
DVD SRP: $99.95

Across 13 Hilarious Discs, Lovers of the Three Stooges Will Find Over 45 Incredible Hours of Content, Including All of the Columbia Pictures Shorts (1934-1945), Four Feature Films, Vintage Animated Cartoons, the 9-Part Documentary Series "Hey Moe! Hey Dad!," a Collectible, Full-Color Memory Book and More!

WATCH THE TRAILER:

"Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk...Why I Oughta..." 

For over 50 years, The Three Stooges presented a brand of pie-throwing, eye-poking and head-bonking routines that cracked up multiple generations. They were the masters of mirth, merriment and mayhem, turning slapstick comedy into an art form. And, with a body of work including over 300 films, television, stage shows, cartoons and more - they're forever ingrained in popular culture. Now, one of the greatest comedy troupes of all time is here to poke, smack, slap and bonk their way onto your screens with THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES!

With this riotous DVD set, Time Life has brought together the Stooges greatest hits in one exclusive collection, priced at $99.95 and available only at ThreeStoogesDVDs.com. Across 13 uproarious discs, viewers will yuk it up with over 45 hours of knee-slapping content brought together for the very first time, including:

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES: COLUMBIA PICTURES SHORTS 1934-1945 -- These two volumes feature 87 hilarious short films from 1934 to 1945. Witness the rise of these comedy icons in this high-spirited collection containing the first of the iconic Columbia Pictures Shorts. Watch as the Stooges hit their stride and began to settle into their definitive roles- Moe as boss, Larry the middleman, and Curly as their foil -- and experience what has become regarded as the high point in the Three Stooges career - the Golden Age! (8 Discs; 1496 mins) 

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES: SHORTS, CARTOONS, & FEATURE FILMS -- From feature-length films to rare cartoons and vintage shorts - this collection is sure to leave a smile on your face and a bump on the back of your noggin! It includes Shemp Howard Comedy Shorts (14 classics from the '30s & '40s); Joe Besser Comedy Shorts (10 side-splitters from the '40s & '50s), Joe DeRita Comedy Shorts (4 smackers from the '40s), Feature Films (The Three Stooges (2000, biopic); Have Rocket, Will Travel; The Outlaws Is Coming and Rockin' in the Rockies; The Three Stooges Cartoons, inludingBon Bon Parade (1935), Merry Mutineers (1936), A Hollywood Detour (1942), as well as the bonus 9-part documentary series "Hey Moe! Hey Dad!," which takes fans behind the scenes with the family of The Three Stooges as they share never-before-seen footage and photos. (5 discs; 1309 mins)

About Time Life
Time Life is one of the world's pre-eminent creators and direct marketers of unique music and video/DVD products, specializing in distinctive multi-media collections that evoke memories of yesterday, capture the spirit of today, and can be enjoyed for a lifetime. TIME LIFE and the TIME LIFE logo are registered trademarks of Time Warner Inc. and affiliated companies used under license by Direct Holdings Americas Inc., which is not affiliated with Time Warner Inc. or Time Inc.

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES

Type: DVD/13 Discs
Running Time: Approximately 2805 mins.
Genre: TV DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 & 1.78:1
Audio: Stereo & Dolby Digital 5.1

"THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES" Brings Together their Biggest Nyuks in One Exclusive Time Life Collection, AVAILABLE NOW!

Shemp's Ad-libs Delight Christine McIntyre In "Of Cash and Hash" (3 Stooges, 1955) (video)

"Of Cash and Hash" was Christine McIntyre's final appearance with the Three Stooges.

At the end, Shemp gets to demonstrate the boys' affection for her as a leading lady.

Although the shot is over, Shemp continues to ad-lib...
...much to Christine's obvious surprise and delight.

By the fadeout, Christine's genuine fondness for Shemp is apparent.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Shemp's Ad-libs Delight Christine McIntyre In "Of Cash and Hash" (3 Stooges, 1955) (video)

Shemp Gets Slapped Silly For Real In "Brideless Groom" (3 Stooges, 1947) (video)

A case of mistaken identity gets Shemp in trouble with Christine McIntyre.

The script called for her to lay into him, but she was afraid of hurting him.

Several takes with Christine's tentative slaps were wearing Shemp out.

So he finally told her to go for it without holding back, and get it over with.

Which she did!


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Shemp Gets Slapped Silly For Real In "Brideless Groom" (3 Stooges, 1947) (video)

Criswell's Nuttiest Moments From Ed Wood's "Orgy of the Dead" (1965) (video)

This bizarre 1965 horror/sexploitation film was written by Ed Wood.  

Famous faux psychic Criswell stars as the Emperor of the Night.

"Monsters to be pitied! Monsters to be despised!"


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Criswell's Nuttiest Moments From Ed Wood's "Orgy of the Dead" (1965) (video)

Mirror POV Trick in "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" (Fredric March, 1932) (video)

How do you shoot a POV mirror shot without showing the camera?

The camera lens represents Dr. Henry Jekyll's first-person point of view.
The "mirror" is actually a clear-glass window in the wall.

On cue, Fredric March (Jekyll) approaches it from the far side...
...in a reverse-duplicate room. 
Then his butler Poole (Edgar Norton) joins him in the mirror-room "reflection."

Later, the same window technique is used to give us another POV "mirror" view of Jekyll...
...and then, of his savage alter-ego, Hyde.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Mirror POV Trick in "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" (Fredric March, 1932) (video)

Opening Scene: "The Flesh Eaters" (1964) (video)

"The Flesh Eaters" is a low-budget horror flick starring Martin Kosleck.

The gore FX for this lurid thriller were pretty horrific for 1964.

But the first scene kicks the film off in pleasantly goofy (yet morbid) style.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Opening Scene: "The Flesh Eaters" (1964) (video)

Reacts To Gunshot Before He Gets Shot: "Bloody Mama" (Roger Corman, 1970) (video)

"Bloody Mama" (Roger Corman, 1970)

Ma Barker (Shelley Winters) and her sons wade through a dense hail of police bullets.

One of the Barker boys is so distraught...

...he reacts to a gunshot before it hits him. 


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Reacts To Gunshot Before He Gets Shot: "Bloody Mama" (Roger Corman, 1970) (video)

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

It's a well-known fact that many of us worship rock stars.  Even rock stars worship other rock stars, and one of their favorite activities seems to be getting together in huge gatherings in order to worship, entertain, and bore each other.

The "entertaining" part is what makes Time-Life's new 2-disc Blu-ray set ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE worth watching if you happen to like some of the many stars on hand to perform during the four separate induction ceremonies (2010-2013) that it documents.

The "worship" part gets a bit cloying at times as those chosen to induct certain stars into the hallowed hall tend to gush at length over the seemingly godlike objects of their slavering admiration.

That's also where the "boring" part comes in and hits hard--these people are musicians, not speakers, and their amateur efforts to wax both humorous and profound are the stuff fast-forward buttons were made for.

The same goes, unfortunately, for many of those artists' sleep-inducing and sometimes self-important acceptance speeches.  The best one, in fact, is given by lead guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush, whose entire speech consists solely of the words "blah, blah, blah" expressed with varied emphasis and intonation, which serves not only to liven things up a bit but also to spoof the overall dullness of the event's endless speechifying.

Naturally, your interest in said speeches will vary with your degree of devotion to each particular musician.  What really counts, however, is the musical performances by the inductees themselves or by other artists' covering their most popular songs.

This 2-disc set is jam-packed with musical performances which should have fans rocking and rolling Hall-of-Fame style.  I couldn't stand many of them (strictly personal tastes, of course) but the audience seemed to find them highly "entertaining."  I responded likewise to some of my old faves.

The list of inductees and musical performers includes: Rush, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donovan, Heart, Alice Cooper, John Mellencamp, The Hollies, Leon Russell, Dr. John, Iggy and the Stooges, Abba, Genesis, Phish, Paul Shaffer, Tom Waits, Darlene Love, Small Faces/Faces, Beastie Boys, Freddie King, Randy Newman, Albert King, Quincy Jones, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, Public Enemy, and several others.

An illustrated booklet contains the entire program for each of the four ceremonies.

Image and sound quality on the two Time-Life Blu-ray discs are fine, so your enjoyment of ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE will depend entirely on how excited you get perusing the list of participants.  For some it should be of sporadic interest. For others, it will provide hours of pure entertainment.

Street Date: September 21, 2018
BD/DVD SRP: $39.99/$34.99

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper in Monkees' Film "Head" (1968) (video)

A young Jack Nicholson co-wrote the Monkees' wildly surrealistic film "Head."

He even made a brief cameo appearance...
...along with future "Easy Rider" co-star Dennis Hopper.

The bizarre film was similar to the 1967 Nicholson-penned "The Trip" (1967) with Peter Fonda.

But Monkees' teenybopper fans didn't know what to make of it, and it helped deep-six the band.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper in Monkees' Film "Head" (1968) (video)

Film Movement Classics' Third Steamy Release in the Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series: CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, SIN IN THE SUBURBS & WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES On 10/2

"[Sarno is] one of the true pioneers if celluloid erotica and one of sexploitation's most sincere and critically-acclaimed stylists" -- Anthology Film Archives.

THIS OCTOBER, FILM MOVEMENT CLASSICS DELIVERS THREE BRAND NEW HD RESTORATIONS IN ONE STEAMY BLU-RAY IN THE JOSEPH W. SARNO RETROSPECT SERIES

CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE
&
SIN IN THE SUBURBS
&
WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES

These Celluloid Classics Make their Blu-ray Debut in a Collection Featuring
New 2K Theatrical Masters and Exclusive Bonus Features Such as Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas, Joe and Peggy Sarno and More!

Street Date: October 2, 2018
BD/DVD SRP: $39.95/$29.95

SYNOPSIS
A pioneer of sexploitation cinema, American film director and screenwriter Joseph W. Sarno's (1921-2010) prolific career spans the evolution of the genre. "One of the true pioneers of celluloid erotica [1]," he was also dubbed the "Chekov of soft-core" by The Village Voice.  Film Movement Classics has partnered with Film Media and Something Weird to debut three new Sarno classics, remastered in HD and on Blu-ray for the very first time with the third installment in the Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series with CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE & SIN IN THE SUBURBS & WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES. Packaged together for the first time, this exclusive collection featuring specially-produced extras, audio commentary and more, will be available for cineastes everywhere on both Blu-ray ($39.95srp) and DVD ($29.95srp).

Sarno first explored the dark side of the American dream in his 1964 drama SIN IN THE SUBURBS, hailed by DVD Drive-In as "a ground-breaking masterpiece." 10 years later, his return to this theme resulted in one of the most critically and commercially successful films of his career, CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE. Presented with these two major works is Sarno's immediate follow-up to SIN IN THE SUBURBS, WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES.

In CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, New York sophisticates Carole and Eddie spice up their sex life by swapping partners with their close friends, Anna and Pete. An unexpected visit from Carole's young, attractive and recently widowed mother, Jennifer, throws a temporary wrench into their plans.

Confessions of a Young American Housewife Trailer

SIN IN THE SUBURBS stars Audrey Campbell as Geraldine Lewis, a lonely housewife and mother who distracts herself with racy friends and a secret affair.  Discovered in the arms of another man, Geraldine immerses herself in a secret sex club, only to make a shocking discovery!

Sin In the Suburbs - Official Movie Trailer

And, a sultry snapshot of Times Square in the early '60s, WARM NIGHTS AND HOT PLEASURES follows three ambitious college girls eager to make their mark on Broadway. After renting a room from a men's magazine model, the girls are immersed in a lurid world of wild parties, risqué men's clubs and sleazy casting couches. Soon, each one must decide how far she is willing to go for stardom.

Joe Sarno's Warm Nights and Hot Pleasures - Teaser

BONUS FEATURES
Sin in the Suburbs -- Commentary by Tim Lucas, Commentary by Joe and Peggy Sarno, Michael Vraney and Frank Henenlotter
Confessions of a Young American Housewife -- Commentary by Tim Lucas, Mini-commentary by Joe Sarno, Deleted scenes    

ABOUT JOE SARNO
Director and screenwriter Joseph W. Sarno's (1921-2010) career spans the genre. His early black and white films are praised for their chiaroscuro lighting and their complex psycho-sexual plots, but it was his more explicit art-house film, INGA, shot in Sweden in 1968, that brought him international attention. Never a fan of explicit triple-X filmmaking, Sarno continued to write and direct adult films through the 1970s and '80s, often working under a pseudonym or offering his director's credit to the film's female lead. Among his most noted films are SIN IN THE SUBURBS, INGA, ABIGAIL LESLIE IS BACK IN TOWN, and CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE. Recently, Sarno's work has been the subject of retrospectives at several noted institutions and festivals, including Anthology Film Archives, New York Underground Film Festival, the Lake Placid Film Festival, the Vienna Filmmuseum, The Cinemateque Français, The Turin Film Festival, and the Warhol Museum.

ABOUT THE JOSEPH W. SARNO RETROSPECT SERIES
Through Film Movement's partnership with Film Media, a preservation and restoration company dedicated to outstanding independent cinema shot on film, new 2K theatrical masters are being created for the Joseph W. Sarno film library. For years, only poorly-preserved prints were available for retrospective screenings; now, cinema aficionados will be able to screen Sarno's classics, restored to a pristine state for optimal viewing.

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Type:  Blu-ray/DVD
Running Time: 234 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen
Audio: Stereo

About Film Movement
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. It has released more than 250 feature films and shorts culled from prestigious film festivals worldwide.  Film Movement's theatrical releases include American independent films, documentaries, and foreign art house titles. Its catalog includes titles by directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Maren Ade, Jessica Hausner, Andrei Konchalovsky, Andrzej Wajda, Diane Kurys, Ciro Guerra and Melanie Laurent. In 2015, Film Movement launched its reissue label Film Movement Classics, featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on Blu-ray and DVD, including films by such noted directors as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway, Bille August, Marleen Gorris, Takeshi Kitano, Arturo Ripstein, Sergio Corbucci and Ettore Scola. For more information, please visit www.filmmovement.com.

Film Movement Classics' Third Steamy Release in the Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series: CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, SIN IN THE SUBURBS & WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES On 10/2

Olive Signature Announcement: "INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS" (1956) On Blu-Ray 10/16/18

LIMITED TO 5,000 BLU-RAY UNITS 

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS – OLIVE SIGNATURE

KEVIN McCARTHY
(Death of a Salesman, The Misfits, Innerspace)
DANA WYNTER
(Airport, Sink the Bismarck, The Crimson Pirate)
LARRY GATES
(Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, In the Heat of the Night, The Sand Pebbles)
KING DONOVAN
(The Defiant Ones, The Enforcer, The Hanging Tree)
CAROLYN JONES
(The Bachelor Party, A Hole in the Head, TV’s The Addams Family)

Directed by
DON SIEGEL
(Dirty Harry, The Shootist, Jinxed)

Don Siegel’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers features the talents of Academy Award® winner Ted Haworth (Best Art Direction, Sayonara – 1958) along with nominees Kevin McCarthy (Best Supporting Actor, Death of a Salesman – 1952), Carolyn Jones (Best Supporting Actress, The Bachelor Party – 1958) and Ellsworth Fredericks (Best Cinematography, Sayonara – 1958).

YEAR: 1956
GENRE: SCI-FI
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (with optional English subtitles)
LABEL: OLIVE FILMS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 80 mins
RATING: N/R
VIDEO: 2.00:1 Aspect Ratio; B&W
AUDIO: MONO

OLIVE SIGNATURE FEATURES
New High-Definition digital restoration
Audio Commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith
Audio Commentary by actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, and filmmaker Joe Dante
"The Stranger in Your Lover's Eyes" – A two-part visual essay with actor and son of director Don Siegel, Kristoffer Tabori, reading from his father's book A Siegel Film
"The Fear is Real" – Filmmakers Larry Cohen and Joe Dante on the film's cultural significance
"I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wanger" – Film scholar and author Matthew Bernstein discusses the life and career of the film's producer
"Sleep No More: Invasion of the Body Snatchers Revisited" –  Never-before-seen appreciation of the film featuring actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, along with comments from film directors and fans, John Landis, Mick Garris, and Stuart Gordon
"The Fear and the Fiction: The Body Snatchers Phenomenon" – Never-before-seen interviews with Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, along with film directors John Landis, Mick Garris and Stuart Gordon, discussing the making of the film, its place in history, and its meaning
1985 archival interview with Kevin McCarthy hosted by Tom Hatten
“Return to Santa Mira" – An exploration of the film's locations
"What's In a Name?" – On the film's title
Gallery of rare documents detailing aspects of the film's production including the never-produced opening narration to have been read by Orson Welles
Essay by author and film programmer Kier-La Janisse
Original theatrical trailer

“They’re already here! You’re next!” With these chilling words, Invasion of the Body Snatchers sounded a clarion call to the dangers of conformity, paranoia, and mass hysteria at the heart of 1950s American life. Considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, Invasion of the Body Snatchers stars Kevin McCarthy (Academy Award® nominee, Best Supporting Actor, Death of A Salesman – 1952) as Miles Bennell, a doctor in a small California town whose patients are becoming increasingly overwrought, accusing their loved ones of being emotionless imposters. They’re right! Plant-like aliens have invaded Earth, taking possession of humans as they sleep and replicating them in giant seed pods. Convinced that a catastrophic epidemic is imminent, Bennell, in a terrifying race for his life, must warn the world of this deadly invasion of the pod people before it’s too late.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, directed by the accomplished Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, The Shootist) and co-starring Dana Wynter (Airport), Carolyn Jones (A Hole in the Head), Larry Gates (The Sand Pebbles) and King Donovan (The Enforcer), was photographed by Academy Award nominee Ellsworth Fredericks (Best Cinematography, Sayonara – 1958) with production design by Academy Award winner Ted Haworth (Best Art Direction, Sayonara – 1958).

US+CANADA
STREET: 10/16/18
CAT: OS018
UPC: 887090601801
SRP: $39.95

Copyright © 2018 Olive Films, All rights reserved.

Olive Signature Announcement: "INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS" (1956) On Blu-Ray 10/16/18

One of Shemp's Funniest 3 Stooges Scenes: "Sing a Song of Six Pants" (1947) (video)

"Sing a Song of Six Pants" (1947)

Shemp Howard is at his best in this memorable scene...

...as the Three Stooges play the world's worst tailors.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

One of Shemp's Funniest 3 Stooges Scenes: "Sing a Song of Six Pants" (1947) (video)

LOST CHILD -- DVD Review by Porfle

Capturing the green, light-dappled ambience of the Ozark backwoods in all its sometimes blissful, sometimes ominous solitude is just one of the things co-writer (with Tim Macy) and director Ramaa Mosley does to a turn in the quietly riveting psychological thriller LOST CHILD (2018).

Mosley also takes advantage of the local color in casting as well as giving us leads who convincingly portray these pastoral characters with hardly a hint of stereotyping.  The rich characterizations help propel the languidly-moving story which, in an almost stream of consciousness style, slowly swirls around us and draws us in like an undertow.

Leven Rambin (THE HUNGER GAMES) plays Fern, seperated from her brother Billy after a childhood trauma and now, after fifteen years in the military, returning home to search for her errant brother.  Haunted by PTSD and unsure about her future, she moves into her deceased father's backwoods hovel and tries to track Billy down when she isn't boozing herself into forgetfulness and looking for love in all the wrong places.

The film takes its time settling us into a laconic pace that gives things plenty of time to unfold.  Some of these include Fern's encounters with a shotgun-wielding hermit who orders her away from his crumbling shack and another isolated loner who likes to start fires.  His knowledge of local supernatural legends will come into play later on in a big way.

Just when we've been properly acclimated to LOST CHILD's aura of slow-burning tension, out of the shadowy woods comes the title child, a scruffy but sweetly needy little boy named Cecil (Landon Edwards).  Cecil seems to have no home or family, at least none he cares to divulge, but in no time he latches onto Fern with a heartrending hint of desperation.

The last thing Fern wants is a dependant, but she takes him in for the night and, after some encouragement by young social worker Mike (Jim Parrack, SUICIDE SQUAD, "True Blood"), with whom she recently shared a one-night stand, lets him live with her until a foster family can be found.

The story starts getting really good when the more superstitious locals inform Fern of the legend of the "Tatterdemalion", a childlike forest wraith who latches onto people and drains them of their lifeforce.  Her growing affection for the boy clashes with an even stronger suspicion that the stories are true when she starts getting sick and other strange things start to happen.

What could've easily devolved into a lower-grade horror story is deftly handled here, with touching human drama intermingling with the constant presence of an eerie, unsettling unknown that gradually settles in until we start feeling those tingly chills.

It's a delicate balance, and one which director Mosley manages to maintain with the help of a top-notch cast.  Especially impressive is young Landon Edwards in his screen debut as Cecil--he nails the role with utter conviction and a natural intuitiveness.

His exchanges with the equally talented Leven Rambin as imperfect but likable Fern, whether they're bonding emotionally or clashing over his strange, inexplicable behavior at times are richly compelling.  As for the rest of the cast, their effortless authenticity offers unyielding support.

The DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures is in 2.39:1 widescreen with English Dolby 5.1 sound. Closed captioned but not subtitled.  Extras include four behind-the-scenes featurettes and trailers for this and other Breaking Glass releases.

LOST CHILD works as a creepy campfire tale at times, but one that leads us through a gamut of feelings and impressions.  It's ultimately an engaging human story that's light and dark in turn, like a nightmare that's so captivating that you'd rather see how it plays out than wake up from it.

THEATRICAL: September 14, 2018
New York - Cinema Village
Los Angeles - Laemmle Monica
Missouri - Glass Sword

DVD/VOD RELEASE: September 18, 2018

LOST CHILD -- DVD Review by Porfle

Bridesmaid Blooper in Bela Lugosi's "The Corpse Vanishes" (Monogram, 1942) (video)

In the Bela Lugosi thriller "The Corpse Vanishes"...

...a young bride dies moments after her vows.

Naturally, the bridesmaids are totally grief-stricken.

Well, maybe not totally...


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Bridesmaid Blooper in Bela Lugosi's "The Corpse Vanishes" (Monogram, 1942) (video)