Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503230001
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That side of the business is far too large to be covered completely in a single column, but recently several catalogs have shown up promoting unusual releases, new and old.
Kino Video, for example, has just issued a series of remastered Buster Keaton films. These are silent comedies from the 1920s, with their original music, and they're remarkable. Younger videophiles, who may not be familiar with this great comedian, will be astonished by his inventive physical routines, and older viewers probably aren't familiar with all of these films. One of his best in these new releases, "Seven Chances," ends with a grand chase involving hundreds of angry women on Keaton's trail, and the famous rolling boulders sequence.
Yes, these films, even the shorter ones, do have some slow introductory scenes that kids may need to be coaxed through. They also contain some blackface humor, though the often overt racism of the times is absent. And the brilliant slapstick is just as funny now as it ever was.
Even devoted fans of early film may be surprised by the clarity of these tapes. Forget the muddy, hard-to-see prints that most people associate with silent films. These are superb. Keaton's work in early Technicolor and color tinting is carefully reproduced here. Kino's second boxed set of four tapes will be released on April 3. The third set, containing Keaton's masterpiece, "The General," is due on June 3.
Individual tapes, containing a longer film (50-70 min.) and two shorts are $29.95; sets are $109.95, available from Kino Video, (800)-562-3330.
Also new to the Kino list are "The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl," a three-hour documentary on the famous Nazi propagandist filmmaker; "Rogopag," a 1962 quartet of short films by Roberto Rossellini, Jean-Luc Godard, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Ugo Gergoretti; "The Blue Kite," a controversial Chinese film; and "L.627," a French police film from director Bertrand Tavernier.
Acorn Media (formerly Atlas Video; (800)999-0212) is branching out from a catalog based on travelogues and historical tapes. Among the label's new releases are the Brother Cadfael series ($19.95 each, set of four $79.80) starring Derek Jacobi and broadcast on the PBS series "Mystery!"; "The Cowboy Poets: Live at Elko ($19.95) with Baxter Black; "Animals of the Bible" ($14.95) for kids; and "Make Mine Country" ($19.95), about low-cost home decorating.
Facets Video (1-800-331-6197) is a Chicago sales and rental organization. Its primary focus is serious film from an international perspective. As the most recent catalog states, "we have tried to make Facets Video like no other video collection: a library of over 22,000 foreign, independent, experimental, classic American, silent, documentary, fine arts and quality children's videos and laser discs."
Sale prices for tapes are in line with the rest of the marketplace. Memberships for rental by mail begin at $25. After discounts, individual rentals are $10 plus return shipping. Facets also publishes several general and specialty catalogs. Though I have not purchased any tapes or discs through Facets, it is one of the oldest and most reputable outfits in the business. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in more challenging and unusual videos.
Video Yesteryear (1-800-243-0987) doesn't have such an extensive list of titles, but it's much more eclectic. The most recent 30-page catalog offers, for example, Richard Nixon's greatest hits - three speeches including Checkers and his resignation - for only $19.95; vintage TV shows from Jack Benny and Jonathan Winters; the 1967 Muhammad Ali vs. Zora Folley championship fight; Felix the Cat cartoons; and even a limited selection of "adult" titles.
For sales of American feature-length films, Movies Unlimited (1-800-523-0823) in Philadelphia is the biggest and best-known distributor in the country with three catalogs: general ($7.95); laser ($2.00) and adult $3.50.
Those more interested in renting, specifically in renting the more obscure and outrageous films, which they often see reviewed right here, can stick closer to home with Video Vault (1-800-VAULT66) of Alexandria. As the cover of the catalog proudly states, "Guaranteed Worst Movies In Town!!" Mail order rental memberships begin at $15, and for $19.95 plus return shipping you can get three movies for a weekend. Video Vault's selections are strong in horror, science-fiction, fantasy, exploitation, cult and "mondo" (i.e. bizarre non-fiction). The Vault also has movies for sale.
NEW RELEASE
The Specialist *1/2
Starring Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, Rod Steiger, James Woods, Eric Roberts. Directed by Luis Llosa. Warner Home Video. 108 min. Rated R for strong language, violence, nudity, sexual content.
This is an extremely funny semi-thriller, but only about half the laughs are intentional. The rest result from a massive lack of chemistry between the two stars, Sylvester Stallone, as a Miami explosives expert, and Sharon Stone, as the blonde with vengeance on her mind. Perhaps the lack of fireworks was intentional because the script is constructed in a curious way so the two are almost never on screen together. Wood and Steiger steal the film in smaller supporting roles.
THE ESSENTIALS:
Seven Chances *** 1/2
Kino Video. 56 min. Unrated, contains no offensive material. (Tape also contains "Neighbors" (17 min.) and "The Balloonatic" (22 min.)
by CNB