Dyke, Jerry Van

McLintock! (Authentic Collector's Edition)

John Wayne's most popular vehicle of the 1960s is a broad, boisterous comedy-Western and a family movie in every sense--in subject matter, casting, personnel, and the audience it aims to bear-hug. Wayne and his Quiet Man partner Maureen O'Hara reprise their large-boned lovers' quarrel in a Wild West variation on The Taming of the Shrew, while a cast of familiar supporting players do their best to avoid becoming collateral damage.

The picture is fascinating as an attempt to adjust and update the Duke as all-American icon. Rancher George Washington McLintock owns most of the town that bears his name, but James Edward Grant's screenplay is at didactic pains to establish the benevolence and socio-political enlightenment of his reign. G.W.'s former Indian foes have become his pals, he enjoys nothing so much as playing chess with his Jewish merchant buddy (Jack Kruschen), and he's tolerant--as his fellow landowners are not--of the homesteaders crowding into the territory. In what now seems like prescience about where things were headed in the 1960s, he even does his best to achieve rapport with (gasp!) impatient youth.

McLintock! was the first movie produced by eldest son Michael Wayne, and the first major assignment for director Andrew V. McLaglen (son of Quiet Man costar Victor). It steals like a bandit from a host of much better movies, but the Duke's great good humor and professionalism redoubtably anchor the proceedings. --Richard T. Jameson

The Courtship of Eddie's Father

Who will be the next Mrs. Corbett? Will it be the chic designer? The Miss Montana Pageant hopeful? The headstrong lady across the hall? It's a big decision for any boy to make for his recently widowed dad! Like father like son. You'll like 'em both when renowned child actor and future OscarO winner* Ronny Howard portrays Eddie and Glenn Ford is his dad. Vincente Minnelli (Gigi) directs using his flair for vivid colors and balancing the film's humor with the real sense of loss a family feels over a loved one's passing. Shirley Jones Dina Merrill and Stella Stevens portray the prospects under Eddie's self-appointed scrutiny. The amiable Courtship continued years later with a same-titled TV series starringBill Bixby.Running Time: 117 min.System Requirements:Running Time 117 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 012569537729

Decades may pass, but The Courtship of Eddie's Father never loses any of its abundant charm. Long before he became an Oscar®-winning director, 8-year-old "Ronny" Howard (then appearing on TV's The Andy Griffith Show) costarred with Glenn Ford in this heartwarming family classic, later adapted into a TV series (1969-72) starring Bill Bixby and Brandon Cruz. While the later show adopted a hip, late-'60s sensibility, this 1963 production is more straight-laced and, for its time, remarkably frank--and disarmingly funny--about the many questions that precocious son Eddie (Howard) has for his widower father (Ford) as they recover from the death of wife and mother. A perfect director for this delicate material (wonderfully adapted from Mark Toby's novel), Vincente Minnelli hits all the right notes of sadness, hope, and parental concern; Ford's unspoken love for a helpful neighbor (Shirley Jones) may be a foregone conclusion, but romantic subplots (and Eddie's diligent matchmaking) add plenty of domestic drama. Sweet but never saccharine, this timeless Courtship is guaranteed to make you smile. --Jeff Shannon

To Grandmother's House We Go

Julie and Sarah Thompson (Ashley & Mary-Kate Olsen) are heading for Grandma's house, even though they don't have her address--or even permission to cross the street without a grown-up! Get in the yuletide spirit as Julie and Sarah spark a madcap romp involving two lighthearted crooks (Rhea Pearlman and Jerry Van Dyke) who claim to be Santa's elves, a ransom demand, a mother's love, a million-dollar lottery ticket, pursuing cops, a would-be Santa and his reindeer, Roy Rogers-like heroics and of course, the route to Grandma's house. Sound like fun? It's more than that. It's a ho-ho-ho-lot of fun! Year: 1993 Director: Jeff Franklin Starring: Ashley & Mary-Kate Olsen, Rhea Pearlman, Cynthia Geary See more Olsen Twins favorites

McLintock!

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara were born to star in "The Taming of the Shrew," and this is the closest they ever got. Wayne plays a cattle baron whose estranged wife (O'Hara) wants a divorce. The film is basically one long, funny brawl between them, ending with a mud pit melee and Wayne publicly spanking O'Hara, which doesn't look quite so politically correct anymore. This is no great shakes--director Andrew V. McLaglen is simply hosting a party here--but it's worth a few chuckles and the stars' broad performances. --Tom Keogh

McLINTOCK! He Tamed the West--But Could He Tame Her? Cattle baron, banker, and model citizen George McLintock (John Wayne) has the world in his hands. The only thing missing is his wife, Katherine (Maureen O'Hara, who co-starred with the Duke in Rio Grande and The Quiet Man), who left him two years earlier, suspecting him of adultery. In an effort to get on with his life, McLintock saves a beautiful but impoverished widow from resettlement and hires her as his cook, welcoming both her and her two children into his home. Sparks begin to fly and McLintock's simple and serene lifestyle comes to a crashing halt as an unexpected turn of events results in brawls, gunfire, an Indian attack, the engagement of his only daughter and...the return of Mrs. McLintock! This Westernized Taming of the Shrew was produced by John Wayne's son, Michael. McLINTOCK! Starring JOHN WAYNE MAUREEN O'HARA With PATRICK WAYNE STEFANIE POWERS * JACK KRUSCHEN * CHILL WIILLS Original Screen Play by JAMES EDWARD GRANT Produced by MICHAEL WAYNE Directed by ANDREW V. McLAGLEN Music Under License from EMI This program is not authorized by the John Wayne estate or any other entity. Approximately 128 minutes Color

Annabelle's Wish

The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 08 - Final Chapter

The magnificent Judy Garland closes out her magnificent television series with the last DVD volume, Final Chapter. Episode 11 is of the usual variety format, mixing guests Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, and Mel Torme with dances and comedy. Episode 20 takes the concert format, highlights of which are the program of Americana Garland conceived of shortly after JFK's death and her songs to all her children (one for Lorna Luft had to be specially created).

Episode 26 was the last of the series, and what makes it particularly notable is not just the show as it was broadcast, but the extra disc of outtakes. Due to various problems, Garland was unable to record enough material for a complete show so segments from previous episodes were used to fill the gaps. The outtakes allow us to see what Garland had in mind for that finale, including a dance of her own devising to "Where Is the Clown." It's fascinating to watch the artist at work as she runs through multiple takes. But because the number was never finished and never aired, also not aired was the emotional "Here's to Us" finale because Garland was still in clown makeup as she bid farewell to her audience, her family, and her fellow performers. It's the finale Garland should have had, and its inclusion here is just one reason why The Judy Garland Show, as impressive as it was in 1963-64 when it presented the 20th century's greatest entertainer in a forum that best displayed her talent, is even better as it's preserved on DVD. --David Horiuchi

The Judy Garland Show Featuring Peggy Lee and Ethel Merman

Surviving Gilligan's Island - The Incredibly True Story Of The Longest Three-Hour Tour In History

While this documentary about the behind-the-scenes machinations that occurred during the production of Gilligan's Island will have its strongest appeal for fans of the TV series, even viewers with a passing interest will find some entertainment in this surprisingly deluxe DVD presentation. Based largely on the recollections of executive producer and original cast member Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), with contributions from Bob Denver (Gilligan) and Russell Johnson (the Professor), the documentary explores the many conflicts endured by the show's cast and production staff before and during the show's network run. None of the gossip is particularly damning (no fistfights or secret trysts between cast members), so viewers looking for Behind the Music-type dirt may be somewhat disappointed. But for classic TV fans and Gilligan aficionados, Surviving Gilligan's Island is a pleasant and well-produced diversion. --Paul Gaita

The Judy Garland Show Collection, Vol. 2

The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 07 - More Judy

Pioneer resumes its release of complete episodes of The Judy Garland Show with Volume 7 (due to a change in numbering, there was no Volume 6). The combination of episodes not only provides an overview of the show's brand of variety entertainment, but demonstrates why it was such a good showcase for Garland in her post-Hollywood career. Episode 14 (aired 12/29/63) features Bobby Darin's singing, some comedy by Bob Newhart (including a self-deprecating sketch with him and Garland), and a dance number, but also a number of songs by Garland. Episode 23 (3/8/64) is all Garland, as she performs a solid hour of songs from the movies, and yes, that includes "The Boy Next Door," "The Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe," and "The Man That Got Away" (but not "Over the Rainbow"). Making the DVD even better are outtakes (not just funny bloopers, but a story and a three-song sequence), extensive liner notes, and a very interesting commentary track by series producer Gary Smith (he describes the joys and frustrations of working with Garland and explains that the show tried a lot of different ideas at the network's urging in hopes of improving the ratings). A lovingly produced package all the way around. --David Horiuchi