Twiggy

Club Paradise

Robin Williams went through a period in the mid '80s when he looked like he'd turned into the next Richard Pryor: yet another brilliant standup comic neutered by the script mills of the Hollywood studios. Indeed, Williams seems almost like a spectator in this film, reacting to a supporting cast extremely deep in talent doing what they can with the mediocre script by Brian Doyle-Murray and director Harold Ramis. Williams plays a heroic Chicago fireman, who is injured and retires after saving several lives in a fire. He takes his insurance settlement and buys a resort on a poor Caribbean island (the film was shot in Jamaica). He spends the rest of the time playing straight man to a gaggle of guests that includes such SCTV alumni as Rick Moranis, Andrea Gross, Eugene Levy, and Robin Duke, as well as Jimmy Cliff and Peter O'Toole. Occasionally rising to the level of mild amusement, Club Paradise is, disappointingly, little more than a series of hit-and-miss sketches strung together by the feeblest of plots. --Marshall Fine

Pack your bags for Club Paradise the Caribbean resort where the good times and laughter come at you in waves. Academy Award (R) Winner Robin Williams steers their crazed course of this tropical romp as an ex-Chicago fireman who uses a sizable disability settlement to transform a remote island watering hole into a lucrative tourist waterland. Peter O'Toole Twiggy Rick Moranis Andrea Martin Eugene Levy and other comic cohorts cheerfully cavort (and Jimmy Cliff musically riffs) under the breezy direction of Harold Ramis (National Lampoon's Vacation Caddyshack) for a lark that The New Yorker's Pauline Kael judged "as pleasant as can be."Running Time: 95 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 012569734029 Manufacturer No: 73402

Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection (Broadway's Lost Treasures 1-3 & The Best of the Tony Awards - The Plays)

The Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection consists of the three volumes previously released on DVD plus a never-before-available fourth disc, The Best of the Tony Awards: The Plays. The first three discs deliver what the title promises: historic performances of great moments in American musical theater televised on the Tony Awards starting in the 1960s and into the new millennium. Unlike some other arts, theater has rarely been well-documented, so it's a treat to see these numbers performed by the original artists rather than experience them through audio recordings or tepid movie adaptations. Sure, sound and picture quality are only adequate, some of the numbers are minimally staged and some appear to be lip-synched, and some of the performances that do have excellent film counterparts seem rather lackluster here. But those are minor drawbacks compared to the chance to see Gwen Verdon performing "All That Jazz" and "Nowadays" from Chicago and "Whatever Lola Wants" from Damn Yankees; John Raitt singing The Pajama Game's "Hey There"; Alfred Drake singing Kiss Me Kate's "Where Is the Life That Late I Led"); a 33-year-old Jerry Orbach performing Promises, Promises' "She Likes Basketball"; and 12-year-old Andrea McArdle breaking hearts in Annie's "Tomorrow."

The second and third volumes feature newer, fully staged performances that are almost indistinguishable from an actual show, including scenes from splashy, high-energy revivals such as Anything Goes (Patti LuPone and company performing the title tune) and Guys and Dolls (the fabulous "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat"), and new shows such as Grand Hotel (Michael Jeter and Brent Barrett in a gloriously exuberant "Take a Glass Together"), Les Miserables ("One Day More"), La Cage aux Folles (George Hearn solo and with a chorus line in drag in "I Am What I Am"), Ragtime (the opening number), and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Kristin Chenoweth's "My New Philosophy"). The new generation of splashy dance-oriented musicals are also represented by the likes of the 42nd Street revival (the title tune and "We're in the Money"), Fosse ("Sing, Sing, Sing"), and Crazy for You ("I Can't Be Bothered Now").

The Best of the Tony Awards: The Plays features 19 of the dramatic and comedy excerpts showcased on the Tony Awards telecasts between 1969 and 2001. From 1969 are James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope and Art Carney in Lovers, and other performances include Maggie Smith and Margaret Tyzack in Lettice and Lovage (1990), John Lithgow and B.D. Wong in M. Butterfly (1988), Joan Allen and Peter Friedman in The Heidi Chronicles (1988), and Joe Mantegna and Ron Silver in Speed-the-Plow (1988). The performances aren't specifically organized by date or performer, but the collection concludes with four excerpts from August Wilson works followed by three Shakespearean works. The excerpts are brief, lasting 2-3 minutes each, and even though each segment is introduced by a narrator, this format clearly works better for musicals than it does for plays. Regardless, it remains a rare chance to see stage performances that for the most part are not available on home video. Collectors who already own the three musical volumes, however, will have to weigh how badly they want The Plays when they consider mostly duplicating their purchase with the Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection. --David Horiuchi

A comprehensive collection of great performances captured on film as part of the annual Tony Award® broadcasts. Broadway royalty and Tony® winners, including Lauren Bacall, Bebe Neuwirth, Robert Goulet, and Harvey Fierstein, serve as hosts and share their own Broadway and Tony® memories.

Produced as PBS specials, Broadway's Lost Treasures I, II, & III feature legendary stars—including Patti LuPone, Nell Carter, Jerry Orbach, Gwen Verdon, Ethel Merman, Kristin Chenoweth, Angela Lansbury, Joel Grey, and many more—performing musical numbers from legendary shows—including Anything Goes, Man of La Mancha, Guys and Dolls, Ain't Misbehavin', Chicago, Fosse, Miss Saigon, Crazy for You, and many many more.

The Best of the Tony® Awards-The Plays features acting greats, such as James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, Annette Benning, Kevin Kline, and Morgan Freeman, performing key scenes from 19 celebrated plays, including The Great White Hope, The Heidi Chronicles, Fences, Hamlet, and Long Day's Journey Into Night.

For theatre lovers, it doesn't get any better than this!

Broadway's Lost Treasures

Broadway's Lost Treasures delivers what the title promises: 21 historic performances of great moments in American musical theater televised on the Tony Awards between 1967 and 1986. (Five were not included when the program was broadcast on PBS in 2003.) Unlike some other arts, theater has rarely been well-documented, so it's a treat to see these numbers performed by the original artists rather than experience them through audio recordings or tepid movie adaptations. Sure, sound and picture quality are only adequate, some of the numbers are minimally staged and some appear to be lip-synched, and some of the performances that do have excellent film counterparts (Yul Brynner in The King and I, Robert Preston in The Music Man, Joel Grey in Cabaret) seem rather lackluster here. But those are minor drawbacks compared to the chance to see Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera perform "All That Jazz" and "Nowadays" from Chicago, or John Raitt, a stage legend who's woefully underrepresented on film, singing The Pajama Game's "Hey There." The most electrifying excerpt is from Evita, anchored by the powerhouse trio of Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, and Bob Gunton, the most surprising is Julie Andrews singing "Send in the Clowns" (she wasn't in the cast of A Little Night Music), and the most touching is a 12-year-old Andrea McArdle breaking hearts in Annie's "Tomorrow." An indispensable record of a quintessential American art form. --David Horiuchi

Joel Grey, Carol Channing, John Raitt, Patti LuPone, Yul Brynner, Zero Mostel--these greats are among the original-cast performers featured in this unique filmed compendium of Broadway showstoppers. Seen only once in their original Tony Award® telecasts (1967-1986), these 22 knock-out performances come with new introductions by some of the featured performers, including Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, and Chita Rivera. BONUS: Both DVD and VHS formats feature five extra performances not seen on PBS!

Program includes: BROADWAY DIVAS
Vivian Blaine, "Adelaide's Lament," Guys and Dolls
Patti LuPone, "A New Argentina," Evita
Angela Lansbury, "Worst Pies in London," Sweeney Todd
Carol Channing, "Before the Parade Passes By," Hello, Dolly!
Julie Andrews, "Send in the Clowns," A Little Night Music

LEADING MEN
Zero Mostel, "If I Were a Rich Man," Fiddler on the Roof
Yul Brynner, "Shall We Dance," The King and I
John Raitt, "Hey There," The Pajama Game
Robert Preston, "Trouble," The Music Man
Paul Lynde, "Kids," Bye Bye Birdie

DANCIN'
Joel Grey, "Willkommen," Cabaret
Tommy Tune, Twiggy, "Chasin' the Clouds Away," My One and Only
Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, "All That Jazz," "Nowadays," Chicago
Jerry Orbach, "Lullaby of Broadway," 42nd Street

RECORD BREAKERS
Andrea McArdle, cast, "Tomorrow," Annie
Cast, "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," Annie
Betty Buckley and cast, "Jellicle Songs," "Memory," Cats

BONUS PERFORMANCES! Both DVD and VHS formats include five additional performances not seen on the PBS pledge-special broadcasts.
Ann Miller, Mickey Rooney, "McHugh Medley," Sugar Babies
Patti LuPone, "Buenos Aires," Evita
Barbara Harris, "Movie Star Gorgeous," The Apple Tree
Bonnie Franklin, "Applause," Applause
Dorothy Loudon and cast, "Easy Street," "Tomorrow" (reprise), Annie

Bing Crosby's White Christmas All Star Show

Produced by the USO for the US troops overseas, this must-see concert film features over 50 celebrities from stage, screen and TV in an evening of music and comedy. These stars include Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Dinah Shore, Bob Hope, L

Brand New World

Break Dancing Made Simple Volume 1

If you have ever wanted to learn how to break dance, then this is the video for you. Digitally mastered for optimum quality, this program will show you all of the most popular beginner moves including isolations, top rocking, the six step, up rock, the worm, freezes, the moonwalk, kip ups, the dolphin and more. Learn why you WILL NEVER learn to Break Dance correctly unless you avoid the critical mistakes made by novice and experienced Break Dancers alike. The exact order you MUST learn the various moves in order to be a successful breaker. How to look like you have been Break Dancing for years after only a few short lessons! The three best kept secrets of the world's best Break Dancers. Why it is impossible to learn to break dance correctly from instructors who don't posses both extensive performance and teaching experience. Finally you can get expert step by step instruction that requires absolutely no previous dance experience and moves at your pace and does not get in front of you. The program uses super slow motion to break down each move second by second making it virtually impossible to miss a step. Plus, this video is one of the only on the market to be produced in crystal clear digital audio and video to make viewing an absolute pleasure. Watching the video will generate the kind of enthusiasm that makes learning to break an absolute blast!

The Doctor and the Devils

Two psychotic men need to kill. A mad scientist needs fresh bodies. Together the three terrorize England. Based on the writings of Dylan Thomas.

A Bing Crosby Christmas

Butterfly Ball

In 1973, Jonathan Cape Ltd published a children's book called "The Butterfly Ball and Grasshopper's Feast". The book then prompted this jubilant live production of The Butterfly Ball that took place at the Royal Albert Hall on October 16, 1975. This performance, magically narrated by Vincent Price, was a benefit for Bud Flanagan's Leukemia Fund and Action Research for the Crippled Child. Roger Glover, who recently departed from Deep Purple was able to get most of the artists who had taken part in the studio recordings to perform. Featuring: Ian Gillan, Twiggy, Tony Ashton, Helen Chapelle, David Coverdale, John Gustafson, Eddie Hardin, Glenn Hughes, Earl Jordan and more.

Mark Crispin Miller in A Patriot Act

Brilliant. Funny. And scathing. You might think you already know how bad the Bush administration is. But it's not just the money. It's not just the oil. It's much, much worse. A Patriot Act is a chilling indictment of their stealth movement to subvert the US Constitution and replace American democracy with religious values. Featuring renowned media critic Mark Crispin Miller - author of The Bush Dyslexicon and Cruel & Unusual: Bush/ Cheney's New World Order. Our 43rd President has a real way with words, but we can't just laugh at his verbal gaffs. Using news clips and other media sources, Miller reveals meaning behind Bush's mistakes, and uncovers the influence of fundamentalist ideology in every nook and cranny of the Bush administration. The difference between this President's goals for the U.S. and its citizens and the intentions of the Founding Fathers, is starkly clear. If you care about the Constitution, you may be shocked to learn how successfully the Bush administration has been at undermining it. And you will be even more horrified at what they have planned for America's future. Acclaimed filmmaker Lilibet Foster earned an Academy Award nomination for her documentary, "Speaking in Strings" and an Independent Spirit Award for Soul In The Hole." What audiences are saying: "It really knocked my socks off! In my opinion, it's a much more important and compelling work than "Fahrenheit 9/11." If you order it, show it to your Republican friends." "I had the opportunity to see your fantastic presentation of Patriot Act. Your presentation along with my own research have, as you hoped, made me want to go out and pick a (good) fight!" "It was incredibly moving, inspiring and helped me to further clarify my growing shock, fear and outrage at the turn this country is taking under the Bush administration."