Lupino, Ida

The Trouble with Angels

Actress-writer-director Ida Lupino got one of her unfortunately rare opportunities behind a camera making this 1966 family comedy about two mischievous students (Hayley Mills, June Harding) making life difficult for the nuns at a girls' convent school. Rosalind Russell has a fine part as a mother superior vexed by their pranks and outwardly chilly until the girls catch her in a more private moment of emotional release. The script has an anecdotal structure--it's sort of one thing after another with Mills's and Harding's troublemakers--but there is a rising sense that these two kids gradually develop some awareness of the pain and sacrifices of others. A fun and touching movie all around, with a nice twist at the end. --Tom Keogh

Hayley Mills and June Harding act up in this affectionate comedy as two juvenile pranksters at the St. Francis Academy for Girls. It is up to Rosalind Russell, starring as the patient and understanding Mother Superior, to show them the right path. Starring Rosalind Russell and Hayley Mills.

Gilligan's Island - The Complete Second Season

Forget about a three-hour tour--Gilligan's Island fans can sit right back and enjoy all 32 episodes of the much-loved television comedy and even a few extras with this three-disc set. GI aficionados will probably argue which episode deserves to be called the best in the series' three-year history until the end of time, but few will disagree that its sophomore season (1965-66) contains some of its funniest and best-remembered episodes. For starters, season 2 marks the show's debut in color, as well as the first time the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) were mentioned in the opening theme song (all of this occurs in the season opener, "Gilligan's Mother-in-Law"). But it also includes such classic episodes as "Hi Fi Gilligan" (Gilligan picks up radio signals in his mouth), "Don't Bug the Mosquitos" (faux Brit rockers land on the island), "Mine Hero" (a WWII mine washes up on the beach), "Meet The Meteor" (space debris makes the castaways age prematurely), and "The Friendly Physician" (a mad scientist's experiments cause the castaways to swap bodies), all of which have lost none of their laughs or pure entertainment value. The supplemental features, though slight, include an introduction by Johnson and series creator Sherwood Schwartz, as well as commentary by Schwartz on his favorite episode, "The Little Dictator." --Paul Gaita

All 32 episodes are in color as the castaways continue to struggle to survive disasters--both natural and man-made--but never stop trying to find a way to escape in this wonderfully wacky comedy series. Special guest stars include Zsa Zsa Gabor as Erika Tiffany Janos Prohaska as The Lion and Vito Scotti as Dr. Balinkoff.Running Time: 674 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 053939692624

Bewitched - The Complete Sixth Season

Yes, yes, we've heard it before: Bewitched jumped the broom in season six when Dick Sargent replaced Dick York as Darrin Stevens, the most infamous cast switcheroo in TV history. But if you don't purchase this set, be advised that you will miss what Quentin Tarantino, when he hosted Saturday Night Live, proclaimed to be "the single greatest moment in television history": Serena's rendition of "I'll Blow You a Kiss in the Wind" in the episode "Serena Stops the Show." Beyond that, this season shows there was still plenty of magic left in this supernatural series. Over the course of the first five seasons, Bewitched replaced Louise Tates and Gladys Kravitzes, so why not Darrin? Besides, Sargent was originally tapped to star as Darrin (but he was contractually bound elsewhere). However, Marion Lorne, who won an Emmy as endearingly addled Aunt Clara, was irreplaceable. So when she passed away, a new character was introduced this season; Esmeralda (Alice Ghostley), a shy witch whose lack of self confidence caused her to fade when she got nervous, and whose good-intentioned spells invariably backfired. If this season suffers from anything, it's more a sense of been there, twitched that. There is yet another Halloween episode that battles the "ugly witch" stereotype, and several in which a spell gone awry is explained away as a concept for one of Darrin's ad campaigns (why else would there be a unicorn in the Stevens' backyard in the episode, "Samantha's Yoo-Hoo Maid"). And Endora (Agnes Moorehead) continues to cast embarrassing spells on Darrin, like transforming him into a yes-man in "You're So Agreeable," or compelling him to speak in nothing but clichés in "The Phrase is Familiar." But the writers did conjure up some fresh situations. In a two-parter, Darrin's newfound magic powers go to his head. In "Samantha's Secret is Discovered," Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) finally reveals to her mother-in-law (Mabel Albertson) that she is "a cauldron-stirring, card-carrying" witch. And this season, Samantha gives birth to warlock infant Adam. The adorable Erin Murphy, as daughter Tabitha, gives the show some added kid appeal with her misguided uses of her budding powers. In the season opener, she switches places with Jack (Family Affair's Johnny Whitaker) to climb the beanstalk and confront the Giant. In another episode, she creates a double of Samantha so she can go to the park. In addition to Montgomery's groovy dual role as Serena, this season offers the always-welcome return of Paul Lynde as practical joker and insult zinger Uncle Arthur and Bernard Fox as the cantankerous and contemptuous Dr. Bombay. This set's extras are limited to two random "minisodes" of The Partridge Family and I Dream of Jeannie. --Donald Liebenson

The magic on Morning Glory Circle continues as Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) Darrin (Dick Sargent) and Endora (Agnes Moorehead) return in Bewitched - The Complete Sixth Season. Notable for being Dick Sargent's first season as Darrin. Samantha a powerful member of the society of witches that has lived apart from (and disdained) humanity for many centuries falls in love with a mortal Darrin Stephens. Much to the disgust of most of her family she vows to give up witchcraft and become an ordinary suburban housewife raising a family (bearing Tabitha and Adam). Never able to give up her heritage completely the friction between the matriarchal moneyless society of her birth and the patriarchal capitalist society of modern advertising drives the comedy over eight seasons and 256 episodes from 1964 to 1971.System Requirements:Running Time: 760 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 043396246973 Manufacturer No: 24697

Gilligan's Island - The Complete First Season

Despite critical barbs as sharp as a Maroobi spear, Gilligan's Island has proven unsinkable. Its first season was 1964's top-rated show. The expository theme song is one of television's most quoted, and its characters--the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.), first mate Gilligan (Bob Denver), the millionaire (Jim Backus) and his wife (Natalie Schaefer), a movie star (Tina Louise), "and the rest" (Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells, as the Professor and Mary Ann, wouldn't get their opening credit props until season two)--are pop culture icons. Revisiting the first season's 36 episodes is a not-guilty-at-all pleasure. Some sure and surprising hands piloted these inaugural episodes, including Ida Lupino, Jack Arnold (The Creature from the Black Lagoon), Christian Nyby (The Thing), and Richard Donner (who went on to direct Superman and Lethal Weapon).

The "seven stranded castaways" from the ill-fated S.S. Minnow (slyly named for former Federal Communications Commission head Newton "vast wasteland" Minow) received memorable visits from the likes of Hans Conreid as errant pilot Wrong Way Feldman, a young Kurt Russell as Jungle Boy, and Larry Storch as a Cagney-esque bank robber. But these were mere diversions from the heart of the series; the no-man-is-an-island social microcosm that creator Sherwood Schwartz conceived as an anti-war parable (this courtesy of his optional commentary during the fabled unaired series pilot). In the Christmas episode "Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Talk," Santa Claus himself drops in to lift the disheartened castaways' spirits. "You could have been enemies," he tells them, "instead of a family group who all learned to get along." This is they key to this series' enduring popularity. That, and the unending debate: Ginger or Mary Ann? --Donald Liebenson

After a three-hour pleasure tour the SS Minnow is washed ashore on an uncharted South Pacific island leaving behind what would become TV's most famous castaways.Running Time: 916 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 053939673425

Bewitched - The Complete Fifth Season

Elizabeth Montgomery plays Samantha a witch who trades in her magical powers for marriage--or tries to anyway--in this classic sitcom from the 1960s. A witch who inherited her powers from her feisty mother Endora (Agnes Moorhead) Samantha agrees not to use her powers anymore when she decides to marry mere mortal Darrin Stephens (Dick York)--both of which actions disappoint her mother greatly. Not to worry though because most of the time Samantha just can't help herself using her magic and creating many a hilariously sticky situation for Darrin especially with his boss Larry Tate (David White). This release includes the fifth season in its entirety including episodes where Endora gives Darrin the world's biggest ego Uncle Arthur (Paul Lynde) transports Napoleon into the future and Samantha goes back in time to the streets of New Orleans in 1868.System Requirements:Running Time: 638 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396195097 Manufacturer No: 19509

Gilligan's Island - The Complete Series Collection

Seven stranded castaways shipwrecked on an uncharted South Pacific island struggle to survive the outdoors as well as one other in this wonderfully wacky comedy series. System Requirements:Running Time: 999 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 053939796124 Manufacturer No: 1000033416

Bewitched: The Complete First Season

Elizabeth Montgomery stars as Samantha Stephens a pretty typical American housewife who just happens to be a witch in this beloved comedy classic. Included in this magical DVD collection is the Emmy ® Award-winning series entire first season- 36 episodes that introduce one of the funniest ensemble casts in TV history: Dick York as Samantha s mortal husband Darrin Agnes Moorehead as his witch-of- a-mother-in-law Endora Alice Pearce as nosey neighbor Gladys Kravitz George Tobias as her oblivious husband Abner and Marion Lorne as dotty Aunt Clara. Join them and a who s who of 60s pop icon guest stars- Adam West Raquel Welch Peggy Lipton and Arte Johnson- in this enchanting charming and hysterically funny look at the suburban lifestyles of the witch and famous.System Requirements:Starring: Elizabeth Montgomery Dick York Agnes Moorehead David White Alice Pearce George Tobias Marion Lorne Running Time: 917 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/CLASSICS Rating: NR UPC: 043396110366 Manufacturer No: 11036

My stars! The first, and perhaps most magical, season of Bewitched still casts an enchanting spell. For escapist fantasy, this series, no doubt inspired by the play Bell, Book and Candle, broke significant television ground. The Stephens were sitcoms' first mixed marriage. Advertising executive Darrin Stephens (Dick York) was mortal, and wife Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) was a witch. According to a retrospective segment included on this four-disc set, the Stephenses were also the first couple to sleep in one bed! And Samantha's mother, Endora (the venerable Agnes Morehead), and father, Maurice (Maurice Evans, most popularly known as Dr. Zaius in the original Planet of the Apes, were TV's first separated couple. Surely, Darrin did for advertising what Dick Van Dyke's Rob Petrie did for comedy writing. And nose-twitching Samantha certainly gave Mary Tyler Moore's Laura Petrie a run for the money in the sexy suburbanite sweepstakes. This high-concept series' saving grace was that Darrin insisted that Samantha not engage in any "hocus-pocus." But in this first season, she would be compelled to use her extraordinary powers to right social wrongs (such as derogatory-witch stereotypes in the Halloween episode "The Witches Are Out"), champion the underdog (a lonely boy whose overprotective mother won't let him play baseball in "Little Pitchers Have Big Fears"), or to restore a troubled boy's Christmas spirit ("A Vision of Sugar Plums"). Or, she might just want to turn the tables on an insulting former girlfriend of Darrin's (the pilot, "Darrin, Take This Witch, Samantha").

York and Montgomery had palpable chemistry. They also received able support by a stellar ensemble of character actors. Alice Pearce and Marion Lorne would earn Emmys for their signature roles as busybody neighbor Mrs. Kravitz and dotty Aunt Clara, respectively. George Tobias portrayed oblivious. long-suffering Abner Kravitz, with David White as Darrin's boss, Larry Tate. In today's more PC climate, Bewitched may offend the "ban Harry Potter" crowd. But for baby boomers especially, this inaugural set will happily conjure up vintage television memories. --Donald Liebenson

Gilligan's Island - The Complete Third Season

Though Gilligan and his fellow castaways will remain forever marooned in syndication, the series' network run actually did come to an end in 1967 after a three-year run and 98 episodes. The final 30--which for Gilligan fanatics, include many of the show's best--are compiled in this three-disc set, along with input from creator Sherwood Schwartz. It's not known if Schwartz knew that the series was headed for cancellation, but he and the writers definitely appear to pour on the steam in season 3 to produce some of the series' most imaginative episodes, many of which break out of the island sets through dream sequences; these include the season kickoff, "Up at Bat" (after being bitten by a bat, Gilligan dreams of being a vampire); "Pass the Vegetables, Please" (the castaways gain extraordinary powers after eating radioactive produce); "The Producer: (Phil Silvers guests as a Hollywood director whom the castaways attempt to win over with a musical production of Hamlet); "The Invasion" (the discovery of a government briefcase leads to Gilligan dreaming about spy capers); "The Secret of Gilligan's Island" (a stone table leads to a caveman dream), and so on. A cruise ship's worth of engaging guest stars (Don Rickles, Rory Calhoun, Strother Martin) and amusing performances by the always-game cast make this final season a worthwhile addition to any Gilligan groupie's collection. And doubling its value is commentary by Schwartz on "The Producer" (arguably, one of the best episodes of the entire series), and a featurette about the show's impact on pop culture. --Paul Gaita

A family classic returns with the final season set offering! Gilligan's Island: The Complete Third Season features all episodes in color and the continued adventures of the castaways as they struggle to survive disasters--both natural and man-made--but never stop trying to find a way to escape in this wonderfully wacky comedy series.Running Time: 780 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 053939733129

Bewitched - The Complete Second Season

There's magic in the heir when Samantha and Darrin welcome their new baby, Tabitha, in the second sensational season of BEWITCHED. Starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York and Agnes Moorehead, these 38 classic episodes also include a host of famous guest stars including Charlie Ruggles (Bringing Up Baby), Robert Strauss (Stalag 17) and Oscar® winner Richard Dreyfuss (Best Actor, The Goodbye Girl, 1977). Highlighted by the hilarious first appearance of Paul Lynde as Samantha's Uncle Arthur and Alice Pearce's final performance as hysterical neighbor Gladys Kravitz, BEWITCHED: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON is an enchanting comedy collection no witch can twitch her nose at.

The Twilight Zone: Vol. 2

Episodes: "Time Enough at Last" (Ep. 8, November 20, 1959) - A bookworm (Burgess Meredith) yearns for more time to read--then a nuclear holocaust leaves him alone in the world with lots of time, plenty to read, and one ironic twist! "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" (Ep. 22, March 4, 1960) - Inexplicable events cause the residents of quiet Maple Street to erupt into rioting. The residents suspect an alien invasion has occurred. If so, where are the alien monsters? "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" (Ep. 123, October 11, 1963) - A salesman (William Shatner) recovering from a nervous breakdown spots a gremlin on the wing of his plane. When he attempts to alert the others, his nightmare truly begins! "The Odyssey of Flight 33" (Ep. 54, February 24, 1961) - Flight 33 picks up a peculiar tailwind and is blown off course. After apparently correcting the problem, the flight arrives at its destination--a billion years ahead of schedule!