Knight at HOME at the Movies
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TV Time
Four box sets of TV on DVD - enough to keep you in front of the boob tube until spring FINALLY arrives are in this edition of DVD
Recommendations.
Four box sets of TV on DVD - enough to keep you in front of the boob tube until spring FINALLY arrives are in this edition of DVD
Recommendations.
Dark Shadows-The Beginning (Collection 3)– From MPI Home Video. Before the
ghosts and witches and other spectral spirits entered the picture - even before the 175
year-old vampire Barnabas Collins arrived to turn this much beloved soap opera into a
phenomenon - Dark Shadows was a very entertaining diversion from the usual daytime
sludge. The first episodes pretty much follow in the well-trod path of the Gothic Romance
Novel Supreme, "Jane Eyre," and the storylines are character-driven rather than driven by
the supernatural, albeit they take place in the rather spooky though sumptuous
surroundings of the Collinwood mansion. These early episodes pre-date the arrival of
Barnabas but emphasize Joan Bennett as the matriarch of the Collins family, her fey,
prissy brother Roger (father of the prankster pulling brat David), the innocent governess
Victoria Winters who sets the story in motion, the tough cookie waitress Maggie Evans,
and other characters (especially the first heartthrob on the show, Joe Haskell played by
Joel Crothers who I have a special "thing" for). The storylines move at a snail's pace, as
with all daytime dramas (not much has changed in that area since these first aired over
40 years ago) but here again Dark Shadows is given an edge with its creepy settings, the
inventive music by Robert Cobert, and the good to great playing of its cast. True fans of
the show can be grateful to MPI for bringing out these pre-Barnabas episodes on DVD and
those that haven't seen them - well, what are you waiting for? A LOT happened before
Jonathan Frid knocked on the front door of Collinwood. This set also marks the first time
a ghost appears in the series, a precursor of things to come. Stay tuned, more volumes
(including the frankly strange Phoenix plot line) to follow! This 4-disc set includes 35
episodes and three new interview featurettes with surviving cast members.
Twin Peaks Gold Box Edition (the Complete Series) – From Paramount Home
Video. For about 15 years I didn't watch much series TV (though I certainly spent a great
deal of time watching movies on television) so I missed a lot of great TV shows but Twin
Peaks wasn't one of them. It was one of the few shows that I eagerly waited for every
week and from the second or third episode, also attended a regular viewing party with a
group of friends. Now this was a show! Between the riveting main storyline which followed
FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) who arrived in Twin Peaks to solve the murder
of Laura Palmer to the myriad of bizarre sub-plots, there was never a dearth of the new,
weird, and fabulous to discuss after each episode. Featuring one of the greatest (and
most beautiful) casts ever assembled for a weekly drama, David Lynch and Mark Frost's
show was top drawer from the pilot forward. For my circle of gay friends, naturally, it only
helped that SO many of the cast members were drop dead gorgeous guys and that many
of the ladies were equally beautiful and nasty to boot (always a good combo!). I've
actually been re-watching this set slowly, slowly (it arrived months ago) as the first season
episodes and the start of the second are to be savored. Once the show went off into
really whacked out territory, however, it started to lose its way (as Lynch and Frost have
admitted) and, honestly, I usually stop watching a few episodes after Laura Palmer's
murder is solved (though I tried to sit through them again, I confess I didn't make it to
the end).
This 10-disc set, beautifully packaged with keepsake booklet, postcards, and rare bonus
footage, has all the episodes (all re-mastered), the pilot, alternate pilot ending, the
original log lady intros on the episodes (some of which hold up, some which, um, don't)
and a full disc's worth of special features that include enough stuff to sate any true Twin
Peaks fan (there's a cherry pie's worth, to say the least). The new making of
documentaries are my favorites - it's great to see cast members as they are today and
hear their behind the scenes stories. Lynch himself reunites with MacLachlan and
Maedchen Amick over a hot cup of Joe and some of that mouth watering cherry pie for an
amusing look back at the series (this is a great featurette among many). For fans of the
show and for those that never took the drive to the strangest town on television, this is a
set worth getting lost in the woods with.
Damages (Season One) – From Sony. Glenn Close heads up this intense, smart
legal drama that centers on her law firm and the newest hire to that firm, the fresh out of
law school Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne). The web of deceit that spins around Ellen's joining
Close's firm and the big, class-action lawsuit she is handling provides enough intrigue to
fill up the 13 episodes (spread out over 3 discs) and then some. From the opening
moments this is anything but a typical courtroom drama, as Ellen is thrown into the deep
water and viewers are dropped right along with her down the rabbit hole wondering which
way is up. The plot is told in flashback after Ellen's boyfriend is murdered and much else
has happened. The trick is in seeing the pieces of the past join with the present - and
future - and then trying to reassemble them. Ted Danson, as a REALLY evil captain of
industry plays Close's nemesis and is also riveting. The twists and turns, the excellent
performances and the stellar cast (just about every role is played by a well known
character actor from the theatre) - not to mention Close who gets to play such a
commanding character - makes for great television. This set includes commentaries
(including one by Close), deleted scenes, a 30-minute making of documentary, and other
extras. Great fun.
Doris Day Today – From MPI Home Video. After Doris Day concluded her successful
sitcom series in the early 70s she shot one more television special, this 1975 effort in
which the iconic film and TV star teamed up with John Denver, Tim Conway, and Rich Little
who impersonates Day's famous film co-stars (Cary Grant, Jack Lemmon, Jimmy Stewart,
etc.) while she sings memorable songs from those movies. The highlight of the special
has to be the "Sunshine Medley" with Day and Denver giving their all to a bevy of perky
pop songs, Day's lilting rendition of "Day By Day" from Off-Broadway hit "Godspell" and a
heartfelt version of "The Way We Were." This perfect little hour is a microcosm of late
60s-early 70s era variety television - something that is sorely missing from the small
screen today (I love that like the best of these one-off specials from that era, it's
completely "plastic" yet has an inner heart). Day, the consummate professional, gives it
her all, and this special is energetic and holds up well. MPI includes a very nice bonus -
Day's guest appearance in a parody skit during a John Denver special. All in all, a perky
walk down memory lane. And did I mention this includes Day singing "Midnight at the
Oasis?" You gotta see it!
ghosts and witches and other spectral spirits entered the picture - even before the 175
year-old vampire Barnabas Collins arrived to turn this much beloved soap opera into a
phenomenon - Dark Shadows was a very entertaining diversion from the usual daytime
sludge. The first episodes pretty much follow in the well-trod path of the Gothic Romance
Novel Supreme, "Jane Eyre," and the storylines are character-driven rather than driven by
the supernatural, albeit they take place in the rather spooky though sumptuous
surroundings of the Collinwood mansion. These early episodes pre-date the arrival of
Barnabas but emphasize Joan Bennett as the matriarch of the Collins family, her fey,
prissy brother Roger (father of the prankster pulling brat David), the innocent governess
Victoria Winters who sets the story in motion, the tough cookie waitress Maggie Evans,
and other characters (especially the first heartthrob on the show, Joe Haskell played by
Joel Crothers who I have a special "thing" for). The storylines move at a snail's pace, as
with all daytime dramas (not much has changed in that area since these first aired over
40 years ago) but here again Dark Shadows is given an edge with its creepy settings, the
inventive music by Robert Cobert, and the good to great playing of its cast. True fans of
the show can be grateful to MPI for bringing out these pre-Barnabas episodes on DVD and
those that haven't seen them - well, what are you waiting for? A LOT happened before
Jonathan Frid knocked on the front door of Collinwood. This set also marks the first time
a ghost appears in the series, a precursor of things to come. Stay tuned, more volumes
(including the frankly strange Phoenix plot line) to follow! This 4-disc set includes 35
episodes and three new interview featurettes with surviving cast members.
Twin Peaks Gold Box Edition (the Complete Series) – From Paramount Home
Video. For about 15 years I didn't watch much series TV (though I certainly spent a great
deal of time watching movies on television) so I missed a lot of great TV shows but Twin
Peaks wasn't one of them. It was one of the few shows that I eagerly waited for every
week and from the second or third episode, also attended a regular viewing party with a
group of friends. Now this was a show! Between the riveting main storyline which followed
FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) who arrived in Twin Peaks to solve the murder
of Laura Palmer to the myriad of bizarre sub-plots, there was never a dearth of the new,
weird, and fabulous to discuss after each episode. Featuring one of the greatest (and
most beautiful) casts ever assembled for a weekly drama, David Lynch and Mark Frost's
show was top drawer from the pilot forward. For my circle of gay friends, naturally, it only
helped that SO many of the cast members were drop dead gorgeous guys and that many
of the ladies were equally beautiful and nasty to boot (always a good combo!). I've
actually been re-watching this set slowly, slowly (it arrived months ago) as the first season
episodes and the start of the second are to be savored. Once the show went off into
really whacked out territory, however, it started to lose its way (as Lynch and Frost have
admitted) and, honestly, I usually stop watching a few episodes after Laura Palmer's
murder is solved (though I tried to sit through them again, I confess I didn't make it to
the end).
This 10-disc set, beautifully packaged with keepsake booklet, postcards, and rare bonus
footage, has all the episodes (all re-mastered), the pilot, alternate pilot ending, the
original log lady intros on the episodes (some of which hold up, some which, um, don't)
and a full disc's worth of special features that include enough stuff to sate any true Twin
Peaks fan (there's a cherry pie's worth, to say the least). The new making of
documentaries are my favorites - it's great to see cast members as they are today and
hear their behind the scenes stories. Lynch himself reunites with MacLachlan and
Maedchen Amick over a hot cup of Joe and some of that mouth watering cherry pie for an
amusing look back at the series (this is a great featurette among many). For fans of the
show and for those that never took the drive to the strangest town on television, this is a
set worth getting lost in the woods with.
Damages (Season One) – From Sony. Glenn Close heads up this intense, smart
legal drama that centers on her law firm and the newest hire to that firm, the fresh out of
law school Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne). The web of deceit that spins around Ellen's joining
Close's firm and the big, class-action lawsuit she is handling provides enough intrigue to
fill up the 13 episodes (spread out over 3 discs) and then some. From the opening
moments this is anything but a typical courtroom drama, as Ellen is thrown into the deep
water and viewers are dropped right along with her down the rabbit hole wondering which
way is up. The plot is told in flashback after Ellen's boyfriend is murdered and much else
has happened. The trick is in seeing the pieces of the past join with the present - and
future - and then trying to reassemble them. Ted Danson, as a REALLY evil captain of
industry plays Close's nemesis and is also riveting. The twists and turns, the excellent
performances and the stellar cast (just about every role is played by a well known
character actor from the theatre) - not to mention Close who gets to play such a
commanding character - makes for great television. This set includes commentaries
(including one by Close), deleted scenes, a 30-minute making of documentary, and other
extras. Great fun.
Doris Day Today – From MPI Home Video. After Doris Day concluded her successful
sitcom series in the early 70s she shot one more television special, this 1975 effort in
which the iconic film and TV star teamed up with John Denver, Tim Conway, and Rich Little
who impersonates Day's famous film co-stars (Cary Grant, Jack Lemmon, Jimmy Stewart,
etc.) while she sings memorable songs from those movies. The highlight of the special
has to be the "Sunshine Medley" with Day and Denver giving their all to a bevy of perky
pop songs, Day's lilting rendition of "Day By Day" from Off-Broadway hit "Godspell" and a
heartfelt version of "The Way We Were." This perfect little hour is a microcosm of late
60s-early 70s era variety television - something that is sorely missing from the small
screen today (I love that like the best of these one-off specials from that era, it's
completely "plastic" yet has an inner heart). Day, the consummate professional, gives it
her all, and this special is energetic and holds up well. MPI includes a very nice bonus -
Day's guest appearance in a parody skit during a John Denver special. All in all, a perky
walk down memory lane. And did I mention this includes Day singing "Midnight at the
Oasis?" You gotta see it!
