The week’s DVDs begin in Czechoslovakia:

DVDs for May 1 by Boo Allen

This week we begin in 1960s Czechoslovakia

Pearls of the Czech New Wave: Pearls of the Deep, Daisies, A Report on the Party and Guests, Return of the
Prodigal Son, Capricious Summer, The Joke.

The Criterion Collection has assembled these six unrated films, on four
discs, into one of their no-frills Eclipse collections. The six,
released from 1966 to 1969, represent the flowering of the ingenious
and indigenous Czechoslovakian film industry, when they turned out
some deliciously subversive films and subtle satires under the noses
of their communist oppressors. Pearls of the Deep (107
minutes) presents five engaging stories from seminal Czechoslovakian
author Bohumil Hrabel (who cameos in all five), as five new young
directors contribute, including 1967 Oscar winner Jiri Menzel
(Closely Watched Trains). Daisies (76
minutes)–anti-authoritarian allegory disguised as a whimsical
experimental film about two free-spirited sisters.
A Report on the Party and Guests (70
minutes)–what starts out as a taut psychological thriller turns into
a surreal, Bunuel-esque satire on bourgeois conventions.
Return of the Prodigal Son (103 minutes)–a depressed man fails at suicide, enters a mental hospital,
is released, and then quickly relapses, releasing even more
existential angst for everyone connected.
Capricious Summer (76 minutes)–deadpan comedy by Menzel based on Milan Kundera’s first
novel about a magician/rope walker (Menzel) and his lissome assistant
who arrive in a small village and erupt the lives of a trio of men.
The Joke (81 minutes)–a political polemic against the reigning authorities
disguised as a revenge saga about a man still angry over the
consequences of a youthful indiscretion.

W.E. (***)

Madonna directs, ably enough, this drama about the oft-called “Romance of the Century.”
She and Alek Keshishian wrote the troublesome, choppy script, as two
stories take place simultaneously, with the more familiar being that
of England’s Edward VIII (James D’Arcy). In 1936, he gave up his
throne to marry American Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough). But in
current day Manhattan, unhappily married Wally Winthorp (Abbie
Cornish) indulges her life-long obsession by attending several days
of a Sotheby’s auction of the royals’ possessions. Wally flashes back
to the courtly intrigue, fleshing out and contrasting her current
story with the historical one. The repetitive flip-flops and a
surplus of subplots deny the film a rhythm, causing the narrative to
jolt rather than compel. Still, one half of the film contains a story
that never seems to stale, while the entire film looks spectacular
with an Achievement in Costume Design Oscar going to Arianne
Phillips.

Rated R, 119 minutes. The DVD, in all formats, includes a 23 minute “making
of” featurette.

The Red House (***)

Edward G. Robinson stars in this creepy 1947 psychological thriller making
its blu-ray debut. He plays Pete, a seemingly kindly farmer who lives
with his sister Ellen (ever weird Judith Anderson) and his adopted
teen ward Meg (Allene Roberts). He warns Meg and her friends about
venturing into the nearby woods, telling them never to wander close
to the red house. Of course, the kids eventually go into the area,
and, as they do, farmer Pete seems to grow more and more unhinged.
Veteran director Delmer Daves admirably builds the suspense while
creating an ominous atmosphere.

Not rated, 100 minutes. The DVD, in all formats and various combo packs,
offers commentary and the original movie art postcard.

Haywire (***)

In this fast paced thriller, mixed martial arts star and
impressive newcomer Gina Carano plays Mallory, a rogue governmental
agent. She seems to have enemies everywhere, and they all come in the
form of handsome men. She travels to several picturesque foreign
countries to wipe the floor with an ever changing cast, including
Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum, and Michael
Fassbender. Michael Douglas also appears but manages to escape
Mallory’s fury as she uncovers who betrayed her. Steven Soderbergh
directed, with an eye for action that supersedes any need for
narrative examination.

Rated R, 93 minutes. The DVD, in all formats, holds a 16
minute featurette on Carano’s training methods, and six minutes on
the film’s impressive male cast.

Strip Strip Hooray (**)
This oddest of offerings includes two discs of three
episodes taken from vintage burlesque shows. Seen are not only some
grainy, black and white bump-and-grind footage, but also some truly
groan-making sketch comedies from deservedly forgotten comics. Filmed
between 1949 and 1953, and mostly in Los Angeles, the episodes
feature long-forgotten louche strippers, whose acts today seem tame,
comedians, chorus lines, and mediocre musical acts. These time
capsules might well capture the dying breaths of Vaudeville. Some of
the stars of these extravaganzas were Sunny Knight, Boo LaVon (my
favorite), Amber Dawn, Blaza Glory, Mae Blondell, and Gilda, the
Golden Girl who was once the “Little Rascals” child-star Shirley
Jean Rickert.

Not rated, 432 minutes.
Also on DVD: Joyful Noise, Mystery of Edwin Drood, New
Year’s Eve.