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SUCK IT! WEBZINE IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMAZON.COM DELIVERS
Classics
Editor, Sam Sutherland
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Word for
Word
The Adventures of Robin Hood
"It's injustice I hate, not the
Normans."
--Sir Robin of Locksley (Errol Flynn) explains his guerilla mandate in Michael Curtiz's swashbuckling classic, The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).
SecondsBe careful what you wish for. The familiar caveat is given chilling impact in John Frankenheimer's 1966 fantasy, which follows the sinister aftermath of a middle-aged man's decision to inhabit a new life as a younger, sexier self with a new identity. Rock Hudson topples expectations in a riveting performance as the alter ego, and Frankenheimer's stylish black and white visuals add to the creep factor.
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Strangers on a Train (British Version)
starring Robert Walker, Farley Granger, and
Ruth Roman; directed by Alfred Hitchcock
This alternate version of the 1951 chiller actually improves on a classic. A longer edit for the director's homeland helps cast more light on the volatile temperament--and homoerotic undertow--of mysterious, murderous Bruno (Robert Walker), who proposes a "criss-cross" scheme of traded murders with tennis pro Guy (Farley Granger), then follows through in an obsessive, terrifying pas de deux. One of Hitchcock's best.
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Rio Bravo
starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky
Nelson; directed by Howard Hawks
You'll find this amiable but unforgettable film on every short list of the greatest Westerns ever made. Reputed to be its director's nose-thumbing response to the underlying pacifism of High Noon, Rio Bravo offers an aging sheriff (Wayne) who handles a showdown with steely nerves and the help of an alcoholic pal (Martin), a shy gunslinger (Nelson), and a crusty deputy (Walter Brennan). Hawks himself liked the basic outline enough to remake it--twice.
The Thing From Another World
starring Kenneth Tobey, Margaret Sheridan,
and James Arness; directed by Christian Nyby (with Howard
Hawks)
Thank this month's American Film Institute network special on classic thrillers for the long overdue return of this bona fide classic, a blueprint for all the sci-fi/horror hybrids made ever since. When airmen and scientists at a remote Arctic outpost investigate a mysterious crash, they encounter a hostile alien pilot (Arness) who feeds on their blood, a premise that this taut story (based on John W. Campbell Jr.'s classic "Who Goes There?") makes chillingly real despite modest effects. Among the first films inspired by both cold war paranoia and flying saucer sightings of the late '40s, The Thing from Another World has been digitally remastered for this edition.
What becomes a legend most? For Marilyn Monroe,
it's the string of widescreen hits that in the '50s made
her a reigning star and queen of 20th Century Fox. Now five
of her most popular movies have been bundled into
Marilyn Monroe:
The Diamond Collection, spanning splashy
musicals, romantic comedy, and her evolution as a dramatic
actress. You can also buy them individually:
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
How to Marry a Millionaire
There's No Business Like Show Business
The Seven Year Itch
Bus Stop
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Purple NoonBefore Matt Damon assumed the title role in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Alain Delon brought the amoral antihero of Patricia Highsmith's mordant novel to life in this superb 1960 French thriller. With its lush color locales, Hitchcockian direction, and Delon's icy charisma, this screen original begs a favorable comparison.
Friendly Persuasion
starring Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, and
Anthony Perkins; directed by William Wyler
William Wyler's beautifully crafted film of Jessamyn West's period novel chronicles a Quaker family's struggle to retain its identity amid the turmoil of the Civil War. A strong cast and a deft balance between a son's crisis of conscience and the unsentimental but enduring love between his parents, warmly embodied by Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire, make this special viewing.
Splendor in the Grass
starring Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood;
directed by Elia Kazan
William Inge's screenplay teeters on the edge of camp in this sometimes hyperbolic drama about Midwestern teenagers whose sexual passions bring tragic consequences against the repressive climate of the 1920s. But when the teens are played by Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood, that premise plays better than it sounds.
The weekend is approaching;
plans are being made. Everyone can agree on going to the movies, but what's
playing and where? Introducing
Amazon.com In Theaters,
a new service that fills you in on the hottest films just opening and what's
currently playing in your local theaters. Sign up now for Amazon.com's free
Weekly Showtimes e-mail, and every Thursday we'll deliver--right to your
inbox--a complete listing of the showtimes and locations of the movies playing
in your area.
You
don't need to break the bank or melt down your credit card
to build a great video collection. Just browse the
used videos in
our
Rare & Used Video
Store or look for the blue box on product detail
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You'll find great videos, features, and more in Amazon.com's Classics Store.
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