The week’s DVDs begin in Lake Tahoe:
DVDs for Sept. 2 by Boo Allen
This week we begin in Lake Tahoe:
Out of the Past (****)
On Demand Warner Archives gives a Blu-ray release to director Jacques Tourneur’s 1947 film noir classic. The celebrated drama features tough Robert Mitchum as Jeff Bailey, a seeming patsy drawn into a web of escalating intrigue. Jane Greer plays Kathie, the quintessential femme fatale whose double and triple-crosses reach the ceiling (Greer appeared in the 1984 re-make, Against All Odds). Kirk Douglas is evil Whit, the Lake Tahoe gambler who sets everything in motion by hiring Bailey to find Kathie after she shoots him, steals a large sum of money, and then disappears. Bailey follows her to Mexico, finds her, and then naturally falls for her. They return to live in San Francisco but discover they never lose Whit or his army of dangerous thugs. Tourneur highlights Nicholas Musuraca’s evocative cinematography with its accentuated angles, deep shadows, and rich chiaroscuro. Daniel Mainwaring, under the pseudonym Geoffrey Homes, wrote the screenplay from his novel “Build My Gallows High,” with uncredited assistance from noir master James M. Cain.
Not rated, 97 minutes.
Extras: commentary from film noir historian James Ursini.
A Promise (***), Young and Beautiful (***1/2)
IFC Films releases two fine, unrated works from a pair of France’s most acclaimed directors. Patrice Leconte directed the English language A Promise (98 minutes), based on Stefan Zweig’s novel “Journey into the Past.” In 1912 Germany, Friedrich Zeitz (Richard Madden, Game of Thrones) begins work for metal industrialist Karl Hoffmeister (Alan Rickman), married to much younger Charlotte (Rebecca Hall). Zeitz quickly advances professionally while also becoming friendlier with Charlotte. When the fatally sick Karl suspects a building romance, he sends Zeitz to Mexico to handle the new mining concern. Zeitz and Charlotte make a pledge, a promise, they will delay their inevitable union until his return. But World War I strands Zeitz and crashes the couple’s plans. Leconte lets his rhythm sag at times but deftly chronicles the building sexual tension. Francois Ozon (The Swimming Pool) continues his investigation of sexual non-conformity with the beguiling Young and Beautiful (93 minutes). Seventeen year-old Isabelle (Marine Vacth) loses her virginity on her summer vacation with her parents. When she returns to the city, she proves a fast learner and begins moonlighting as a prostitute. She keeps her side-line a secret from everyone until an inevitable disaster occurs. She throws her parents into confusion by showing no remorse, but instead an awareness of what she has done with an inclination to learn and even profit from it. Ozon presents Isabelle as a fascinating, fully formed figure, a girl already a confident young woman.
Both discs are movie-only.
Richard Lewis: Bundle of Nerves
This two disc collection features the best of the high energy Lewis, including his HBO stand-up special “Magical Misery Tour,” the TV movie Diary of a Young Comic, co-written by and starring Lewis, and the movie Drunks, featuring Lewis.
Not rated, 305 minutes.
Extras: commentaries, introductions from Lewis, and a new documentary on Lewis, House of a Lifetime.
And, for kids this week:
The Magic School Bus: Space Adventures
Four episodes of the highly regarded TV series appear in this package that also includes a 70 page book focusing on space exploration. Based on books from Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, the animated series features the lovable teacher Ms. Frizzle as she instructs her class on the planets, their atmospheres, and much more.
Not rated, 78 minutes.
Extras: the episode “Plays Ball.”
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume 3
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment continues releasing from their vault some of the most entertaining cartoons ever. This two disc, eleven hour plus collection from the 1930s to the 1960s includes 50 remastered cartoons from Warners maven Chuck Jones and his gifted crew of animators. Twenty-five entries star Bugs Bunny, including the Oscar winning “Knighty Knight Bugs.” Others lovable characters from the Warners’ stable also make appearances: Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote, Yosemite Sam, Tweety and Sylvester, and, my favorite, Foghorn Leghorn (I say, I say, girl).
Not rated, 344 minutes.
Extras: commentaries, featurettes on “The Art of the Gag,” Bugs Bunny (“Ain’t He a Stinker?”), Robert McKimson’s art work, Mel Blanc, Frank Tashlin, and about a dozen more segments detailing the legendary work done at the Warners’ studio.
And, finally, from this week’s TV arrivals:
Haven-season four
This popular Syfy series rolls along with this release of 13 episodes, on four discs, from their eventful fourth season. Based on Stephen King’s “The Colorado Kid,” the series takes place in fictional Haven, Maine (although filmed in Canada), whose inhabitants have “troubles,” or, supernatural curses. This season begins with Audrey (Emily Rose), after sacrificing herself in season three’s finale, working as a bartender in Boston, not knowing who she is or why she is there. Duke (Eric Balfour), before being released by one of the season’s new characters, Jennifer (Emma Lahana), resides cuffed to the bed in a mental ward. Nathan (Lucas Bryant) seeks Audrey while encountering his own series of conflicts. Syfy regular Colin Ferguson guest stars as a mysterious stranger who seemingly knows Audrey and wants to help her.
Not rated, 572 minutes.
Extras: commentaries, thirteen, five minute “Inside Haven” featurettes, three interviews with the cast, three separate Haven Panel Highlights totaling more than an hour, a four minute “behind the scenes” featurette, a 12 minute blooper reel, episodes from the webisode series “Darkside Seekers,” and more.
Portlandia—season four
Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein created, along with Jonathan Krisel, this consistently oddball comedy set in Portland, Oregon. Armisen and Brownstein also wrote many of the episodes while starring as two locals, Dave and Kath, a pair who continue to find themselves intertwined with such local personalities as the often spacey mayor (Kyle MacLachlan) as well as their environmentalist friend, Ed (Ed Begley Jr. ). The season has guest appearances from, among many, Kirsten Dunst, Duff McKagan, Michael Nesmith, Dan Savage, Olivia Wilde, Jeff Tweedy, Nick Swardson, k.d. lang. Ten episodes come on two discs.
Not rated, 220 minutes.
Criminal Minds—season nine
The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit returns in 24 episodes on six discs. The team, headed by David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), faces a series of new homicides and various challenges while using their analytical skills to uncover a season’s quota of deranged characters, including, in the season’s premier case covering two episodes, grown twin brothers who grew up apart but both became serial killers. Thomas Gibson returns as head analyst Aaron Hotchner. With Shemar Moore, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Matthew Grey Gubler,
Not rated, 16 hours, 58 minutes.
Extras: every episode includes a “behind-the-scenes” featurette, usually running from three to eight minutes. Plus: deleted scenes and a brief gag reel.
Also on DVD: American Promise, For No Good Reason, God’s Horses, Night Moves, They Came Together.