Ashley, John

2001 - A Space Odyssey (Two-Disc Special Edition)

When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon

When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon

A space mission that could reveal man?s destiny is jeopardized by a malfunctioning shipboard computer. A dazzling journey that tops them all ? and showed the way for other effects-packed films that followed.

Hud

Newman plays a man at odds with his father, tradition and himself. His father is an old-line cattle rancher and Newman is the son whose only interests are fighting, drinking, hot-rodding and womanizing.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NR
Release Date: 2-DEC-2003
Media Type: DVD

Based on a Larry McMurtry novel, this Martin Ritt film was a testament to the sex appeal of the young Paul Newman. Playing the title character--a total rotter who, by the end of the film, has double-crossed or screwed over everyone he knows, including his hard-working father and brother--Newman turns him into an intriguing antihero. Things are tough on the ranch and Hud's dad (Melvyn Douglas) needs help, but Hud is too busy looking out for number one, even as things fall apart. And guess who's going to land on his feet? Beautiful black-and-white cinematography by James Wong Howe won an Oscar, as did performances by Douglas and Patricia Neal. --Marshall Fine

Beach Blanket Bingo / How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (Midnite Movies Double Feature)

Beach Blanket BingoSink your toes in the sand and get ready to rock and roll with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello in this prequel to How to Stuff a Wild Bikini that s full of "fun frolic and song" (The Film Daily)! With a cast of comedy legends including Don Rickles and Buster Keaton this surfin' singin' sand-fest is "a surefire winner" (LA Herald Examiner)!Running Time 97 MinHow to Stuff a Wild Bikini"Young bodies splash and frolic against a background of fun and fantasy" (The Film Daily) in this '60s bash filled with "excitement romance side-splitting comedy" (Boxoffice) and an all-star cast that includes Annette Funicello Frankie Avalon Dwayne Hickman Buster Keaton and Mickey Rooney!Running Time 93 MinSystem Requirements: Running Time 190 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 027616910790 Manufacturer No: 1006938

Beach Party/Bikini Beach

Beach PartyIt's the bash at the beach that launched them all! This original Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello outing defined the California generation and introduced surfing bikinis and a whole lotta hip-shakin' rock 'n' roll to a shocked America. Co-starring Bob Cummings Dorothy Malone Harvey Lembeck and Morey Amsterdam and featuring the legendary surf band Dick Dale and the Del-Tones Beach Party is "downright yummy" (The New York Times)!Bikini BeachFrankie and Annette welcome Harvey Lembeck Don Rickles Stevie Wonder and Boris Karloff to the beach for this fun-filled full-swing party of a film! When charismatic Brit-pop idol Potato Bug sends the girls swooning a jealous Frankie challenges the English crooner to a drag race resulting in a picture packed with "surfing speed slapstick and sex" (Motion Picture Herald)!System Requirements:Running Time 198 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 027616910806 Manufacturer No: 1006939

Beach Blanket Bingo

Zero Hour!

Passengers on an airplane become food-poisoned causing a major emergency. This film is what Airplane! is based upon.Runtime: 81 minFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 085391145127 Manufacturer No: 114512

How to Make a Monster/Blood of Dracula

How to Make a Monster When a monster makeup artist is fired by the studio he uses his creations to exact his revenge.Blood of DraculaA vampire stalks a local university preying on the student body. Where did this vampire come from? Who is behind the killings?System Requirements:Running Time: 144 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR UPC: 031398186113 Manufacturer No: 18885

Frankenstein's Daughter

FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER The Frankensteins Are Keeping Up the Family Business Calling himself "Oliver Frank," Dr. Frankenstein's grandson (Donald Murphy) is up to the old tricks while developing a wonder drug with kindly Carter Morton (Felix Locher). After using Carter's niece, Trudy (Sandra Knight), as his unwitting guinea pig, secretly transforming her while she sleeps, Oliver graduates to creating a new horror from scratch. Teen idol John Ashley, who later produced and/or starred in a series of lurid, low-budget horror movies shot in the Philippines, appears here as Trudy's boyfriend, Johnny Bruder. Director Richard E. Cunha (Giant from the Unknown) and screenwriter H.E. Barrie also collaborated on two other cult favorites, She Demons and Missile to the Moon, that year. Approximately 85 minutes Black and White

The Blood Island Vacation (Brides of Blood / The Mad Doctor of Blood Island / Beast of Blood / Brain of Blood)

Ahoy, there's terror straight ahead on Blood Island! Go back to the days of drive-ins and damsels in distress with this quartet of scream-filled classics. Upon arrival, you'll be escorted by your tour guide John Ashley and the lovely Brides of Blood, who are all lined up by the island chiefs for sacrifice to a horribly mutated monster living in a jungle filled with an assortment of ghastly beasts. Then stop off for a visit with the Mad Doctor of Blood Island, whose experiments combining plant and man have resulted in green-blooded fiends bent on destruction, with only Mr. Ashley and the lovely Angelique Pettyjohn capable of stopping this blood-soaked rampage. And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the island's resident Beast of Blood, a headless creature who swipes human noggins for its own gruesome ends. Can Ashley and beautiful Celeste Yarnall make it to the forbidden Valley of Doom before it's too late? Before you leave, feast your eyes on an evil dwarf, a lumbering monster, a basement filled with chained women, and the wicked Brain of Blood used in nightmarish transplants resulting in a whirlpool of horror. So come and stay on Blood Island for a while; it's the vacation getaway of your wildest screams!

Beach Party

Pop star Frankie Avalon and former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello inaugurated the beach movie proper (after Gidget tested the waters) with this celebration of surf, sand, rock & roll music, and, of course, sex. Frankie carries Annette (named Doris in the film) over the threshold of a beach cabin as she whispers "It's just like we're married." "Exactly!" he smiles before tripping over a dozen friends camping out on the floor. Well, not quite, as it turns out in the boys-against-girls contest of one-upmanship and jealous tantrums. Frankie woos the pneumatic Scandinavian Eva Six and Annette flirts with frumpy anthropologist Bob Cummings (wearing a beard that would scare Grizzly Adams). Meanwhile he secretly studies the mating rituals of the beach tribe with his eternally frustrated assistant Dorothy Malone. Harvey Lembeck (from Stalag 17) is the aging juvenile delinquent Eric von Zipper, a spastic motorcycle gang leader, while Morey Amsterdam recites silly beat poetry in a Chinese mask and surf rocker Dick Dale plays bongos and wears a gold earring. Look for bit parts by Beach Boy Brian Wilson (as a surfer) and Peter Falk (as a biker) and a cameo by Vincent Price. This first beach romp is about as sophisticated as a Keystone Kops farce (it ends with a slapstick free-for-all that wouldn't be out place in the silent era), but it's dumb, fluffy fun with lots of hunky boys and pretty bikinied girls shaking their booties and making out. --Sean Axmaker