Austin, William

The Gay Divorcee

In one of their best loved most charming song-and-dance comedies Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers demonstrate just how they became best known as America's greatest dance team. Includes the Academy Award(R) winning hit "The Continental." Year: 1934 Director: Mark Sandrich Starring: Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers Alice BradyRunning Time: 105 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS UPC: 053939756920 Manufacturer No: T7569

The year before, in 1933, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had grabbed America's attention in Flying Down to Rio, even though they were the second bananas in that film. The duo had a certain chemistry--Fred with his lighter-than-air elegance, Ginger with her moxie--and studio heads gambled that they could carry a starring vehicle of their own. Nobody guessed there would be another eight movies together after The Gay Divorcee, which turned into a huge success for RKO Pictures. The plot is the usual silliness, with Ginger a divorce-minded gal in England, Fred a dancer whose sincere interest in her is mistaken for something else. But plots never mattered much in these affairs, and this one achieves a kind of free-floating bliss. Astaire had starred in the stage version of the story, titled The Gay Divorce. The censors forced the extra e to be added to the title because surely no divorce could be portrayed as a happy one (this frothy movie's evidence notwithstanding). Only one song was carried over from the stage show, Cole Porter's smash hit "Night and Day," which forms the basis for a sublime pas de deux between Fred and Ginger. A tune, "The Continental," written for this film won the first Oscar ever awarded in the best-song category. --Robert Horton

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Set in the Victorian Age and regarded by many as the finest of the fourteen films in the Sherlock Holmes/Basil Rathbone series "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" was originally released in 1939 by Twentieth Century-Fox. Professor Moriarty (George Zucco) has at long last been brought to trial for murder but the "Napoleon of Crime" is acquitted after the court finds a lack of sufficient evidence. Moriarty wastes no time in plotting his next crime but in order to be successful he must divert the attention of the Great Detective. Intimidating anonymous letters sent to young socialite Ann Brandon (Ida Lupino); the murder of Miss Brandon's brother; and threats to the security of a priceless gem consume the attention of Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his companion Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce). Are these mysterious occurrences simply erroneous distractions? Are they clues to a case irrelevant to the exploits of the evil Professor Moriarty? Or are these portents of disaster inexorably linked to the master criminal's plan to commit a crime that will shake the very foundation of the British Empire? It is for Holmes and Watson to sort out these mysteries and hopefully eliminate the menace of Professor Moriarty.System Requirements:Starring: Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Running Time: 82 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/CLASSICS Rating: NR UPC: 030306758190 Manufacturer No: DVD7581

One of the most engaging features from 20th Century Fox's Holmes series, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is also of historical interest as it based on a hugely popular, early 20th century stage play written by and starring William Gillette. Basil Rathbone cuts a fine figure as the lean, hawkish Great Detective, drawn into a complicated conspiracy by fiendish Dr. Moriarty (George Zucco) to distract Holmes while quietly preparing to steal the Crown Jewels. Nigel Bruce is on board as a buffoonish Dr. Watson, and British-born Ida Lupino is very good, and quite gorgeous, as a young woman who may be the target of a family curse. True-blue Sherlockians know that very little of Gillette's tale, and next to nothing about Zucco's or Bruce's performances, have anything to do with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's sacred canon. Still, this is a handsome production to enjoy on its own terms. --Tom Keogh

The Return of the Vampire

Bela Lugosi stars as a vampire stalking the streets of World War II London when German bombing releases vampire Armand Tesla (Lugosi) from his grave. Aided by a werewolf named Andreas (Matt Willis) and opposed by Lady Jane (Frieda Inescort) who operates an asylum Tesla goes in search of young ladies to supply him with blood.System Requirements:Running Time: 69 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: NR UPC: 043396078727

The Private Life of Henry VIII

PRIVATE LIVES OF HENRY THE VIII THE (DVD MOVIE)

'It' Plus Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl

It is famous for turning cutie-pie Clara Bow into, as critic David Thomson described her, "the first mass-market sex symbol." Somewhat overshadowed by this phenomenon is the fact that It is also a terrifically entertaining picture, an effortless cruise through the manners and morals of the flapper era. Bow plays a shopgirl who sets her saucer eyes on her boss (Antonio Moreno); it isn't terribly hard to land him, since she possesses dazzle, charm, spunk... in a word, "It." And if we're still not sure what "It" is, there's a moment of high camp hilarity when matronly author Elinor Glyn, who penned the original definition of "It," strides through the movie and delivers herself of its meaning. Actually, Bow's delightful performance does more to define "It" than anything else, and her unabashed sexiness (which didn't play well after sound came in) clearly sets the future course for Marilyn Monroe and Madonna. --Robert Horton

It

It is famous for turning cutie-pie Clara Bow into, as critic David Thomson described her, "the first mass-market sex symbol." Somewhat overshadowed by this phenomenon is the fact that It is also a terrifically entertaining picture, an effortless cruise through the manners and morals of the flapper era. Bow plays a shopgirl who sets her saucer eyes on her boss (Antonio Moreno); it isn't terribly hard to land him, since she possesses dazzle, charm, spunk... in a word, "It." And if we're still not sure what "It" is, there's a moment of high camp hilarity when matronly author Elinor Glyn, who penned the original definition of "It," strides through the movie and delivers herself of its meaning. Actually, Bow's delightful performance does more to define "It" than anything else, and her unabashed sexiness (which didn't play well after sound came in) clearly sets the future course for Marilyn Monroe and Madonna. --Robert Horton

Corsair

A Wall Street broker plies his ability to the high seas and becomes a pirate.

Corsair

John Hawks (Morris), fed up with the heartlessness and corruption of Wall Street while working for his girlfriend's ruthless father Stephen Corning, decides to go into business for himself, highjacking rumrunners' ships bound to Prohibition America and selling the cargo to Corning. John gains his revenge due to the fact that the stolen rum belonged to gangster Big John (Kohler), who turns out to be working for his ex-boss Corning. Big John is understandably angry, and goes on a murderous rampage with his own men, who had conspired against him. However, John Hawks manages to keep his upper hand against the gangster and manages to prove to Stephen Corning that he is as equally cunning as him, and more than worthy of his daughter Alison (Todd).

Private Life of Henry VIII