Knox, Alexander

Khartoum

Set in the expanse of the Sudan desert in the midst of holy war, Khartoum (1966) plays like an attempt to work the Lawrence of Arabia magic on the (mostly) true story of eccentric British general Charles "Chinese" Gordon in 1884 North Africa. The magnificent opening desert battle suggests David Lean's epic sweep, at least until the film settles into a more modest story of political games, military standoffs, and a battle of wits and wiles between two fierce leaders. Charlton Heston plays the wily Christian soldier as cocky, unconventional maverick, and Laurence Olivier (behind heavy make-up and a thick black beard) is almost as good as his cagey nemesis the Mahdi, the Islamic holy warrior on a mission of annihilation. More talk than spectacle, the film falls short of Lawrence but is nonetheless a compelling story of colonial politics, cynical maneuvering, and the unconventional heroics of another colorful British maverick abroad. --Sean Axmaker

Academy AwardÂ(r) winners* Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier face off in this epic, stirring drama of two men and two empires. Filmed in glorious CineramaÂ(r), with stunning desertbattles staged by the creator of the Ben-Hur chariot race, Khartoum is a "magnificently staged action spectacle [with] outstanding portrayals" (Boxoffice) and breathtaking cinematography. In 1883, British Prime Minister Gladstone (Ralph Richardson) dispatches General Charles Gordon (Heston) to Khartoum, Sudan, where thousands of civilians are threatened by a Muslim fanatic, the Mahdi (Olivier), and his army of followers. Gordon gains the Mahdi's respect but can't prevent the Mahdi's men from laying siege to the city. Now, as history hangs in the balance, Gordon faces the fight of his life defending the ancient city of Khartoum. *Heston: Actor, Ben-Hur (1959). Olivier: Actor, Hamlet (1948); Lifetime Achievement (1978); Outstanding Achievement as Actor, Producer and Director on Henry V (1946)

The Vikings

Kirk Douglas produced the trendsetting barbarian epic The Vikings and took the showiest, most aggressive role: lusty Viking prince Einar, the "only son in wedlock" of King Ragnar (a cackling, wild-eyed Ernest Borgnine). With jagged scars down his face and a milky-white blind eye that almost glows in his skull, Douglas has a rowdy time battling defiant slave Tony Curtis (the long-lost heir to the British throne) for the hand of the beautiful princess Janet Leigh. It's pure Hollywood hokum, sure, but spectacular hokum: the great cinematographer Jack Cardiff turns his Norway locations into a lush Valhalla on earth. Faced with an absurd story, journeyman director Richard Fleischer goes for the gusto in brawling Viking parties, furious sieges, and clanging broadsword battles. An enormous hit, the film spawned a huge wave of Viking movies, some perhaps smarter but none as much fun. --Sean Axmaker

Hollywood legends Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine and Janet Leigh dazzle in this epic chronicle of brutal rivalry and bloodthirsty ambition. Roaring through the 9th century with powerful performances and "brilliant visual drama" (Cue), The Vikings is a riveting "spectacle of have-at-'em action" (Los Angeles Examiner)! Bitter hatred divides two brothers. Prince Einar (Douglas) is the son and heir of a savage Viking chieftain. Prince Eric (Curtis) is his unknowing half-brother, the bastard offspring of Einar's father and an English queen. When the Vikings kidnap a princess (Leigh), her beauty inflames the desires of both men, forcing a bloody duel thatdecides their fate and the future of the English throne.

Man in the Middle

Despite its exotic WWII locations, Guy Hamilton's Man in the Middle is a courtroom drama with Robert Mitchum as a military lawyer urged by his superiors to cover up the facts behind a civilian murder committed by a military officer. Set in 1944 India, Mitchum plays a lieutenant colonel assigned to defend American soldier Keenan Wynn after he murders a British civilian; Mitchum quickly discovers that everyone involved in the case, from top general Barry Sullivan to British medical officer Alexander Knox, wants him to fall in line with a rush to execute Wynn and save face, despite his obvious insanity. Mitchum is typically solid in the lead, and the supporting cast, which includes France Nuyen as his semi-love interest and Sam Wanamaker as an army psychiatrist, offer fine performances; Hamilton, who would direct Goldfinger the following year, handles the legal fireworks with finesse. The DVD includes the original trailer as well as a gallery of promotional photographs (which play up the barely-there romance between Mitchum and Nuyen). -- Paul Gaita

A U.S. officer defends an insane U.S. officer for killing a British sergeant in World War II India.System Requirements:Runtime: 94 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 024543432890 Manufacturer No: 2243289

Operation Amsterdam

Oscar® winner* Peter Finch (Network) Eva Bartok and Tony Britton lead an all-star cast in this "brisk and exciting" (The Film Daily) WWII thriller that plunges headlong into the dangerous world of espionage!In a daring life-or-death mission three British agents enter Amsterdam to take as many of the city's industrial diamonds as they can before the impending Nazi invasion. As the bombs drop and the clock ticks will these brave agents complete their mission and bring the diamonds to Mother England or will they find themselves trapped in a volatile city full of enemies with no means of escape?*1976: Actor NetworkSystem Requirements:Running Time: 105 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR UPC: 027616885784 Manufacturer No: 1004527

Gorky Park

Martin Cruz Smith's bestselling mystery novel seemed ideally cast for this movie version, but director Michael Apted and the usually reliable writer Dennis Potter couldn't solve the problem of taking the story from the page to the screen. William Hurt plays Renko, a Cold War-era Moscow police detective who must cope with both crooks and Communist party protocol as he tries to solve a murder case in the middle of one of Moscow's public parks that leaves three faceless corpses. The strands of the mystery involve corruption, American money, and the fur trade and, ultimately, take Renko to New York. But the tension is never all there, despite a deliciously menacing performance by Lee Marvin as the bad guy and Brian Dennehy as an American cop who becomes Renko's ally. --Marshall Fine

Murder, seduction and intrigue in the Kremlin! Written by Dennis Potter (Brimstone and Treacle), from a Martin Cruz Smith novel, Gorky Park is a gripping and brilliant classic! StarringWilliam Hurt, Lee Marvin, Brian Dennehy, and Joanna Pacula, this "crisp intricate thriller" (TheNew York Times) takes you behind the iron curtain! When three murder victims are discovered in Moscow's Gorky Parktheir faces and fingertips removeddetective Arkady Renko (Hurt) isdetermined to identify the bodies and find the killer. But as a picture of the victims takes shape,the clues point toward involvement not only of the KGB but also of the woman he loves, Irina (Pacula). Now, hunted by the secret police and confronted by an intricate web of deception and treachery reaching to the highest political levels, Renko will stop at nothing to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justiceeven if it means guaranteeing his own destruction and losing Irina forever.

Shalako

Saddle up for a raucous and robust western adventure (Variety) that packs strong action (Film & TV Daily) and the crackling chemistry of screen icons Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot! Based on the novel by Louis L Amour Shalako is a handsome (Variety) rousing western (Motion Picture Herald) that delivers nonstop thrills with both barrels blazing!Gutsy gun-slinging Shalako (Connery) is a loner who looks out for number one until he finds himself rescuing and falling for a beautiful countess (Bardot) under attack by Apache Indians. But when Shalako discovers that the countess is part of a European hunting party that refuses to be led to safety he must summon all his courage to fight the Apache and save the woman he loves or die trying!System Requirements: Running Time 113 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: WESTERN/MISC. Rating: PG UPC: 027616905796 Manufacturer No: M102769

Modesty Blaise

A pop-art explosion that makes Austin Powers look demure, Modesty Blaise is a bizarre relic from the heyday of Swinging London. Based on a comic book, the movie is strong on psychedelic art direction, long on camp (especially Dirk Bogarde's aristocratic, white-haired villain), and thin on plot--and what plot there is cannot possibly be deciphered. Italian actress Monica Vitti, the ennui-weary star of many Antonioni classics, makes an odd choice for stylish spy Modesty Blaise (a female 007 without portfolio), especially given her uncertain command of English. The gifted director Joseph Losey, not noted for his humor, apes various New Wave techniques in his approach, even allowing Vitti and costar Terence Stamp to warble an off-key song. But the most coherent contribution is the jazzy swing of John Dankworth's score, which you won't be able to get out of your head, even if you want to. --Robert Horton

Man in the Saddle

In MAN IN THE SADDLE we see Randolph Scott in an archetypal role as Owen Merritt a man of few words unerring aim and unbreakable principles who swallows his pride when the woman he loves marries for wealth. But when her wildly jealous husband vows to ruin Merritt's ranch Merritt strikes back. A satisfying combination of action romance and breathtaking high-desert scenery MAN IN THE SADDLE also features Tennessee Ernie Ford in a rare movie appearance.System Requirements:Running Time: 86 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: WESTERN/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 043396091252 Manufacturer No: 09125

Though well short of the classics he would go on to make with Budd Boetticher (Seven Men from Now, The Tall T, et al.), Man in the Saddle is measurably superior to most of Randolph Scott's other '50s Westerns. The script has enough characters, criss-crossed revenge subplots, and tortuous romances for a miniseries; yet somehow, within a B-movie running time, director André De Toth manages to give all of them enough attention so that the movie makes sense, even threatens to get really interesting. He also finds distinctive ways to stage standard set pieces like, say, a saloon shootout. And there's a cumulatively amazing fistfight that starts in a mountain cabin, totally uses up that set, then spills downhill through snowfield and waterfall. Randy's character is a more complicated fellow than usual, and the Scots-Canadian actor Alexander Knox, best known for his Oscar®-nominated turn as Woodrow Wilson, makes a creepily compelling range baron. --Richard T. Jameson

Tokyo Joe

It's hard to imagine nowadays that someone so innately bitter and cynical as Humphrey Bogart could be a major movie star--but he was, and the movies were richer for it. In Tokyo Joe, Bogart plays an Air Force colonel who returns to Tokyo after World War II to reclaim a nightclub he'd had to abandon. When he discovers that his former lover, a Russian refugee, is still alive and now married, he sets out to win her back--but in the process gets drawn into a fraudulent air freight scheme that may endanger the stability of post-war Japan, as well as a child he never knew he had. Tokyo Joe isn't a classic, but when the camera catches the lightning in Bogart's eyes or his calm voice twists into a snarl, it's a powerful jolt. His dark persona makes his virtuous acts all the more compelling. --Bret Fetzer

Cry of the Innocent

CRY OF THE INNOCENT (DVD MOVIE)