Ladd, David

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Jonathan is sick and tired of the boring life in his sea-gull clan. He rather experiments with new always more daring flying techniques. Since he doesn't fit in the elders expel him from the clan. So he sets out to discover the world beyond the horizon in quest for wisdom.System Requirements:Running Time: 109 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: G UPC: 097360872347 Manufacturer No: 087234

There isn't a lot of middle ground when it comes to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which comes to DVD in 2007, 34 years after it was released theatrically, 15 years after it appeared in the VHS format, and nearly 40 years after the first publication of Richard Bach's novella. One person's poetic is another's pretentious; while many find inspiration and enlightenment in its allegorical message of self-realization and fulfillment, many others are repelled by its sophomoric, superficial moralizing. There is, however, one aspect of director Hall Bartlett's film that pretty much everyone agrees on: it's beautifully photographed, and richly deserving of its 1974 Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography, with shot after breathtaking shot of the titular bird and his flock on the wing (and done without CGI or other modern technological trickery, other than the use of some radio-controlled models). Still, even an ornithologist would grow weary of endless shots of seagulls soaring and swooping, and when they start to talk, well, that's where the battle lines are drawn. James Franciscus, speaking in a hoarse, urgent whisper, supplies the voice of Jonathan, a young gull obsessed with flying higher, faster, and "without limits." This doesn't sit too well with the conformist stiffs who run the show, and the rebellious Jonathan finds himself an outcast… at least until he hooks up with some other, more evolved birds, who show him an existentially higher place and encourage him to return to his flock (who have names like Kirk Maynard, Judy Lee, and Charles-Roland) and share his profound life lessons with the others. If all of that sounds a bit sententious, that's because it is; while there's no arguing with the film's positive gist (basically, that it's good to be yourself and take a few risks), it's hammered home with all the subtlety of a Thomas Kinkade painting. Neil Diamond's music doesn't help, either, as the songwriter (with collaborator Lee Holdridge) delivers some of the most cloying songs of his career, somehow managing to sound sentimental and grandiose at the same time. In the end, perhaps the best solution is to watch Jonathan Livingston Seagull with the sound off. --Sam Graham

The Wild Geese (30th Anniversary Edition)

Mixing action, humor, sentiment, and even a few righteous moral convictions, The Wild Geese is good, rousing fun. Released theatrically in 1978 (oddly, this 2005 DVD release is referred to as the "30th Anniversary Edition"), director Andrew V. McLaglen's film depicts the adventures of a group of British mercenaries hired by a shady multinational corporation to free the benevolent leader of an African nation held captive by a ruthless dictator. Led by the caustic, no-nonsense Col. Allen Faulkner (Richard Burton), these soldiers of fortune are all stout fellows out to earn a big payday and restore a good man to his rightful place of power (the underlying message of universal racial brotherhood is effective, if somewhat simplistic), and they do their job swiftly and efficiently... at least until they're double-crossed by their venal, perfidious employers, at which point the film becomes a tale of survival and revenge. The cast, which also includes Richard Harris, Roger Moore, and a host of other fine veteran actors, is first-rate, the story-telling efficient, the dialogue entertaining (with occasional bursts of profanity), and the action reasonably exciting and not overly graphic. And even if the pace is somewhat leisurely by new millennium standards (we're nearly an hour into it before the actual mission starts), The Wild Geese is a very enjoyable ride. Bonus features include a profile of producer Euan Lloyd and commentary by Lloyd, Moore, and journalist Jonathan Sothcott. --Sam Graham

Misty

This 1961 family film, based on the novel by Marguerite Henry, inspired a generation of children to name their pet dogs, cats, turtles, and so on after the lovely colt of the title. Set on Virginia's coastal island of Chincoteague, the film begins on "Pony-Penning Day," an annual celebration that involves rounding up for auction wild ponies on neighboring islands. Two young children, a brother and sister (David Ladd, son of Alan, and Pam Smith), capture an elusive mare nicknamed Phantom and hope to take ownership of her colt, Misty. A stranger has other plans, however, setting his mind on buying both animals, and the disappointed kids turn to their sympathetic townspeople to find a way out of the dilemma. A great-looking film shot on location, Misty is an effusive adventure about that special, even mythic, bond between children and wild creatures. Performances are strong, the scenery is splendid, and the film lingers in the memory for a long, long time. --Tom Keogh

The Klansman

Raw Meat

This horror classic dishes out "genuine thrills" (Chicago Tribune) when a flesh-eating mutant emerges from his lair beneath the streets of an unsuspecting London.System Requirements:Starring: Donald Pleasence Norman Rossington David Ladd Sharon Gurney Directed By: Gary Sherman Running Time: 88 Min. Color Copyright 2003 MGM Studios.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: NR UPC: 027616888563 Manufacturer No: 1004829

The Proud Rebel

This psychological, romantic drama stars Alan Ladd as Civil War Veteran John Chandler. He roams the frontier in search of a doctor who can cure his young son, who has not spoken a word after a traumatic shock during the war. Along the way, Chandler runs afoul of a sheep herder and he and his son end up boarding with a farmwoman. He falls for the farmwoman and vows to protect her land from the sheep baron and his sons. Starring Alan Ladd, Olivia DeHavilland, Dean Jagger and David Ladd. Directed by Michael Curtiz. (1958 99 min Color)

A Dog of Flanders

The Proud Rebel

The Proud Rebel

The Proud Rebel

Proud rebel Alan Ladd doggedly wanders the land looking for a doctor who can cure his mute son. The warmth of a father's love and faith, the devotion of a boy for a dog, and the understanding of a strong woman (Olivia deHaviland) combine to make this a gr Year: 1958 Director: Michael Curtiz Starring: Alan Ladd, Olivia deHaviland, David Ladd