Renoir’s classic RULES returns on Blu-ray:
DVDs for Nov. 29 by Boo Allen
This week we begin in a French chateau:
The Rules of the Game (****1/2)
The Criterion Collection has given a high definition
digital transfer of a fine grain master print for this Blu-ray debut
of Jean Renoir’s 1939 masterpiece. Neglected upon release, the film
has gained icon status, with its withering look at the hypocrisy
always residing near the surfaces of French society. A group of
privileged upper-class types gather at a chateau outside Paris. And
all of the assembled couples seem to be having affairs with one
another. These entanglements, even among the staff, lead to sharp
changes from drama to comedy and from tragedy to social satire. The
inevitable sticky situations give rise to fist fights, shootings, and
a rising level of chaos, all deftly orchestrated by Renoir for
maximum satirical effect.
Not rated, 106 minutes. The remastered disc also
contains about three hours of supplements, including both the
shortened theatrical version along with Renoir’s eventual director’s
cut. Plus: an analysis of two scenes, a 31 minute TV interview with
Renoir, an hour long documentary on Renoir, three interviews with
various cast and crew, a 40 page booklet with articles by Renoir,
Francois Trauffaut, Bertrand Tavernier and others.
Safe in Hell (**1/2), Lafayette Escadrille (***), My Man and I (***)
On Demand Warner Archives showcases three films from
motion picture pioneer and bona-fide legend William Wellman. Director
of the first Oscar-winning Best Picture (Wings), Wellman
developed a reputation in his forty years or so in Hollywood for
action films, conflict with studio bosses, and for creating a variety
of daring fare. His pre-code Safe in Hell (1931, 74
minutes), long unavailable, still looks lurid in its tale of a New
Orleans call girl (Dorothy Mackaill) who accidentally kills a client
before being whisked off and then left on a Caribbean island by her
sailor-boyfriend (Donald Cook). There she enchants the male residents
of her shabby hotel before being jailed on a trumped-up charge which
leads to the film’s nihilistic ending. In Lafayette Escadrille
(1957, 93 minutes), Wellman’s final film, the former flyer
tackled familiar and personal territory of Americans flying in the
French air corps during World War I. Tab Hunter stars as a hot-headed
Yank who goes to France to fly and fight with a group of buddies,
including young Bill Wellman Jr. substituting for his dad. Of course
he lands in more trouble, falls in love with a French woman, but
eventually returns a hero. Clint Eastwood takes a supporting role as
one of the gangly American flyers. Ricardo Montalban stars in the
uncharacteristically melodramatic My Man and I (1952,
92 minutes) as a Mexican immigrant newly granted his American
citizenship. He finds work with a farmer (Wendell Corey) and his
combative wife (Claire Trevor) and also falls for a boozy lounge
lizard (Shelley Winters). When the farmer cheats him out of his
wages, he learns first-hand about the vagaries of the American
justice system. Often uneven film based on work from noted cult
novelist John Fante.
Alleged (**)
This bland film about the infamous 1925 Scopes trial in
Dayton, Tennessee plays like a broad TV-movie, with everyone speaking
loudly and registering emotions with popped eyes and broad gestures. Lovers and budding young
journalists Charles (Nathan West) and Rose (Ashley Johnson) become
entangled in the feud created when John Scopes stands trial for
teaching evolution. Famous lawyer Clarence Darrow (Brian Dennehy)
defends him, and William Jennings Bryan (Fred Thompson) sits in for
the prosecution. Famous newspaperman H. L. Mencken (Colm Meaney)
reports on the events.
Not rated, 94 minutes. Also on Blu-ray.
PabloFrancisco: They Put it Out There
More stand-up comedy, this time from Pablo Francisco
as he brings his high energy act to a recorded
performance.
Not rated, 76 minutes. The DVD includes outtakes, a
photo shoot and several related featurettes.
And, for kids this week:
Friendsand Family
Thomas and his friends, Bob the Builder, Barney, Kipper,
and Angelina Ballerina appear in eight episodes along with two bonus
segments.
Not rated, 46 minutes.
TimmyTime: Go Kart Timmy
Timmy Time, the new creation from Aardman Animation,
returns in five fun episodes along with bonus Timmy Tune and Shaun
the Sheep additions.
Not rated, 45 minutes
Thomas and Friends: Steam Team Collection
Thomas the tank and his buddies appear in four feature
segments on four discs in this holiday collection.
Not rated, 190 minutes.
Shaun the Sheep—season two
The complete forty episodes of Aardman’s popular
creation, Shaun the mischievous sheep, appear on these two discs
along with multiple bonus features, including a look
behind-the-scenes.
Not rated, 280 minutes.
The Littlest Angel
In this animated feature based on Charles Tazewell’s
novel, a boy goes to heaven only to return to earth on a mission.
Rated G, 83 minutes.
Disney Home Entertainment has lined up several new
appealing holiday-themed titles for youngsters:
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s
Magical World
Enchanted Christmas brings together the
original Beauty and Beast voice cast as
Mrs. Potts recalls a tale about the court composer, Forte, scheming
to keep Belle and Beast apart. In Magical World, Belle
joins Beast, Cogsworth, Lumiere and others to clean up the palace for
a holiday redecoration.
Christmas:
Rated G, 71 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, in Combo Packs and
available on download, offers a behind the scenes featurette, a music
video, Disney’s sing-along mode, and a chance to sing along with
Belle.
Magical World: rated G, 92 minutes. The DVD, also available on download, offers a song
selection, a dinner game, and also another opportunity to sing along
with Belle.
Prep and Landing
In this North Pole tale, a group of elves make sure
everyone in the world is ready for Santa. But grumpy Wayne (Dave
Foley) throws a fit when overlooked for his promotion. He goes on a
Christmas adventure with rookie elf Lanny (Derek Richardson).
Rated G, 22 minutes. The DVD includes two short animated
features, and the Prep and Landing Academy Training Videos.
Also on DVD: Another Earth, Cave of Forgotten Dreams,
Friends with Benefits, Smallville: tenth season, The Smurfs:
Christmas Carol, Thirty Minutes or Less.