Tag: twilight time sale

Twilight Time Sale Recommendations – 20th Century Fox

In yesterday’s post I picked 12 Essentials from the Twilight Time sale and I happened to included a few of the 20th Century Fox catalog titles. I won’t repeat those in today’s list because 1) you’ve already heard me wax effusive about them and 2) I get to pick more movies that I like. Therefore, in today’s post I definitely won’t mention Stormy Weather, Two for the Road, The Bravados, or Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? other than to say that you should most definitely stop what you’re doing and place an order that includes Stormy Weather, Two for the Road, The Bravados, and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?

I should also mention that none of us know for sure what Disney will do with the 20th Century Fox catalog titles. I wrote about my thoughts in this post, but we’re all playing a wait and see game. It would surprise no one if these titles never appeared on another form of physical media. For anyone that rightly distrusts those gatekeepers promising “everything available all the time” this is no doubt disconcerting because their “everything” does not consist of the mid-century classics that make up 90% of the Twilight Time catalog.

Remember sale prices are ongoing through the month of September and most titles are available at both ScreenArchives.com and Twilight Time — but some are only available at ScreenArchives.com.

Keep in mind that I’m just one guy and I haven’t seen all of the 20th Century Fox movies in this catalog — so I’m likely missing some gems. If you have a surefire recommendation leave it in the comments or hit me up at @007hertzrumble on Twitter and I’ll broadcast it to the Twatterverse.

12 (more) 20th Century Fox Titles Worth Picking Up from the Twilight Time sale

Dragonwyck (1946)

A dream blends into nightmarish reality as Miranda Wells (Gene Tierney) movies to New York to live with her rich cousin. The Tierney and Vincent Price combination doesn’t sound natural on paper, but handsome 1940’s Vincent Price has charm, pizazz, and an undercurrent of something nefarious. This is gothic fare of the highest order and reminds immediately of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca. Who needs soft focus when you have Gene Tierney?

The Snake Pit (1948)

Also available on an Indicator series Blu-ray in the UK. You might call her Queen O. Or Her Highness Livvy of Havilland. It doesn’t much matter how you worship, but worship you shall. Olivia de Havilland’s a force of nature as a disoriented woman who finds herself in a mental hospital with no explanation and no memory of her new husband. Dr. Kik works with her to unlock memories through electro-shock therapy. The suppressed memories come trickling out, building suspense and keeping the viewer guessing. A potent time capsule of our unfortunate views on mental illness.

Inferno 3D/2D (1953)

An alcoholic millionaire (Robert Ryan) breaks his leg falling off his horse and is left to die by his philandering wife (Rhonda Fleming) and her lover (William Lundigan). Ryan’s at the peak of his powers. This story about survival against the odds takes place amidst immaculate desert landscapes and Rhonda Fleming’s highly articulate eyebrows. If you have the ways and means, view the 3D version, but if you don’t the 2D will do just fine.

Don’t Bother to Knock (1954)

And speaking of Roy Ward Baker… I caught Don’t Bother to Knock on TCM last year expecting a silly little one-note thriller notable for being an early dramatic vehicle for Marilyn Monroe. This hotel-bound melodrama gripped me from reel one. Richard Widmark plays Jed, a skeezy airline pilot (Widmark can’t not skeeze) trying to get some rest in a hotel when a young woman catches his eye — she’s babysitting for a wealthy couple, but he’s not so sure she’s exactly capable. Monroe shows great range, the film always feels off-kilter, and you won’t worry about predicting where it’ll end up.

Warlock (1959)

I could try to sell with the story or Edward Dmytryk or 2.35 : 1 Deluxe color cinematography — but instead I’ll just list the cast and let you ponder things. Richard Widmark (again!). Henry Fonda. Anthony Quinn. Dorothy Malone. Deforest Kelly. Richard Arlen. Frank Gorshin. You want to see this movie now, don’t you? Naysayers would call this a generic genre film, I’d call this an old-fashioned star-fueled Western saga about a weary town turning to hired guns for salvation — a year before the release of The Magnificent Seven.

Morituri (1965)

I chose this spy-oriented thriller over the (at times overly) languid The Quiller Memorandum because this is a movie that not even genre aficionados have heard about. And truth be told, I only watched this because someone pestered me for a month. Director Bernhard Wicki’s (The Longest Day) Morituri features surprisingly layered performances from Marlon Brando and Yul Brynner and Conrad Hall B&W cinematography. When you think the movie’s going to ride the standard wartime narrative, it becomes something more interesting — a character study aboard a grim, claustrophobic merchant ship that manipulates its inhabitants like a puppetmaster.

Bedazzled (1967)

The story of the hapless schmuck who sells his soul to the devil for seven wishes he uses to woo the beautiful Raquel Welch. This Dudley Moore / Peter Cook classic necessitates viewing on Blu. Who knew this film could look so vibrant? (Though Adam Tyner at DVDTalk.com raised questions about a possible stretching situation.) Bedazzled remains an essential — albeit one constructed more like a sketch-show than a cohesive feature film. The schtick works for the old comedy team of Moore and Cook and this is one Twilight Time disc fans of British comedy shouldn’t be without.

The Incident (1967)

The tagline for Larry Peerce’s subway-bound thriller is “Hits like a switchblade knife!” — which causes me to think about West Side Story gangs throwing switchblades jabs in between jetes. Then of course there’s the reality of this gritty psychological drama about two thugs terrorizing a subway train. Martin Sheen makes his screen debut as one of the two hellraisers aiming to make your blood boil — and boil it will.

Pretty Poison (1968)

Only in the 1960s did studios dare to release a pop-art rom-com psychological thriller that’s as much Psycho as it is Bye Bye Birdie. Anthony Perkins convinces a smalltown girl (a radiant Tuesday Weld) that he’s a secret agent. He’s not, of course, and that sets this movie off in all kinds of surprising directions.

Next Stop Greenwich Village (1976)

Paul Mazursky doesn’t always get the love he deserves because he directs low-key dramedies about fully formed human characters. His movies feel nostalgic and ponderous about the crazy human condition. Speaking of craziness, this story about an aspiring Jewish actor that moves to bohemian Greenwich Village in 1953 features Shelley Winters, Christopher Walken, Bill Murray, Lois Smith, and Jeff Goldblum among many other familiars. A wonderful card to have in your back pocket for “Six Degrees.”

Black Widow (1987)

You might have expected the 1954 Film Noir Black Widow, but no! That’s a fine but unexceptional entry in the canon. Meanwhile this Black Widow from 1987 boasts Debra Winger and Theresa Russell playing a wicked game of cat and mouse — plus appearances by Dennis Hopper, Nicol Williamson, and Lois Smith (again!). Starts slow and probably needed a stronger finale — and yet this oh-so-80’s entry entertains due to the strength and screen presence of its two female leads.

Rapid Fire (1992)

Sure — this is just another 1990s actioner, but it’s the final Brandon Lee actioner before an on-set accident on The Crow cut his life tragically short. Rapid Fire dispenses with downtime and just serves martial arts and shoot-em-up set pieces. This movie is pure disposable fun — and Power Boothe villainy! — and I’m still shocked someone had the wherewithal to release this gem on Blu-ray. Hopefully Brandon Lee’s oeuvre gets another wave of appreciation.

The master list of EVERY Fox-distributed Twilight Time title currently in print!

(Italics denotes titles on my short list for my highest recommendation. Titles listed in order of Twilight Time release.)

Violent Saturday (1955) – DVD
Woman Obsessed (1959) – DVD
Beloved Infidel (1959)
Royal Flash (1975)
Che! (1969)
The Vanishing (1993)
Flaming Star (1960)
Stormy Weather (1943)
April Love (1957)
The Best of Everything (1959)
Black Widow (1987)
Broken Lance (1954)
The Detective (1968)
From the Terrace (1960)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
Julia (1977)
Garden of Evil (1954)
Panic in Needle Park (1971)
The Gang’s All Here (1943)
Tony Rome / Lady in Cement (1967 / 1968)
Pretty Poison (1968)
The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
Two for the Road (1967)
Kiss of Death (1947)
Peyton Place (1957)
How to Steal a Million (1966)
Inferno 3D/2D (1953)
Hell and High Water (1954)
State Fair (1962)
The Long, Hot Summer (1958)
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
Captain From Castille (1947)
Doctor Doolittle (1967)
Forever Amber (1947)
My Cousin Rachel (1952)
Dragonwyck (1946)
The Incident (1967)
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972)
The Seven-Ups (1973)
Don’t Bother to Knock (1952)
No Down Payment (1957)
Blue Denim (1959)
Next Stop Greenwich Village (1976)
Hilda Crane (1956)
My Gal Sal (1942)
Let’s Make Love (1960)
The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956)
Cinderella Liberty (1973)
Rapid Fire (1992)
The Hot Rock (1972)
The Other Side of Midnight (1977)
The Bravados (1958)
Black Widow (1954)
The Adventures of Hajji Baba (1954)
The True Story of Jesse James (1957)
Satan Never Sleeps (1962)
A Man Called Peter (1955)
Untamed (1955)
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)
Bedazzled (1967)
The River’s Edge
The Quiller Memorandum (1966)
Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
Stagecoach (1966)
The Snake Pit (1948)
Warlock (1959)
Morituri (1965)
Bandolero! (1968)
Pin Up Girl (1944)
Mother Wore Tights (1947)
Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943)
Ten North Frederick (1958)
The President’s Lady (1953)
The Chairman (1969)
Whirlpool (1949)
Wild in the Country (1961)
The Tall Men (1955)

Twilight Time Sale Recommendations – The Essentials

Throughout the month of September, Twilight Time is offering a sale on all but its most recent titles. If you’re unfamiliar with its business model, Twilight Time wooed studios that were hesitant to allow the distribution of their catalog by third party distributors by capping the total available units of each title to 3,000. Nick Redman and Brian Jamieson began operation as Twilight Time in 2011 to tap into classic films from the back catalogs of major studios. Of their mission, Jamieson said, “Twilight Time will be serving both the collectible drive of film enthusiasts, and, in a larger sense, the cause of cinema literacy.”

Redman and Jamieson brokered their first deal of 20 catalog titles with 20th Century Fox, and Fox has long been a major supplier of essential Twilight Time releases. This led me to put my concerns about Disney’s acquisition of Fox on paper in this post from two days ago.

After the passing of Nick Redman earlier this year, fans of the label were concerned about Twilight Time’s future. Not only was he responsible for bringing the titles to Blu-ray but he also appeared on dozens of commentary tracks. The Disney deal further clouds Twilight Time’s future in the minds of fans and physical media enthusiasts. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if we never see any of Twilight’s Time Fox titles on DVD/Blu-ray again. Once these titles sell out, they’re probably gone for good. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the Twilight Time essentials you should consider picking up during this latest and greatest sale.

Twilight Time titles can be purchased through Screen Archives and the Twilight Time page. (Domestic shipping is slightly cheaper through Twilight Time but more titles remain available at Screen Archives.) I’ll start with my Top 11 12 Essentials (studio not considered) and focus specifically on 20th Century Fox offerings later.

Top 12 Twilight Time Sale Recommendations

(* denotes 20th Century Fox title)

**Stormy Weather* (1943) – only available at ScreenArchives.com**

A 20th Century Fox property with only limited copies available. This 1943 musical with an African-American cast is based on the life of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and features performances from Robinson, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway and Fats Waller. Fred Astaire said that the “Jumpin’ Jive” dance sequence was the greatest movie musical number he had ever seen. Stormy Weather will make you lament Hollywood never made twenty movies just like it.

Beat the Devil (1954)

This off-kilter black comedy-adventure starring Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Robert Morley, Gina Lollobrigida, and Jennifer Jones is really just a showcase for personality. Everything goes deliciously wrong for this cast of liars, thieves and scoundrels. Long available only on tragically unwatchable prints, this Twilight Time edition restores lost footage and marks a drastic improvement over the Film Foundation Blu-ray released in 2016.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)

Based on the successful Broadway play by George Axelrod, this satire starring Jayne Mansfield, Tony Randall, Joan Blondell (and many others, including a cameo from Groucho Marx), Frank Tashlin’s film skewers fan culture, advertising, and the Hollywood hype machine. Blessed with a bevy of comic talent and timing, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? is a heady movie with plenty of laugh-out-loud set pieces.

**Bravados* (1958)**

This underseen 20th Century Fox western stars Gregory Peck as a solemn and nearly silent rancher pursuing a gang of four outlaws that he believes murdered his wife six months earlier. Also featuring Lee Van Cleef, Henry Silva, Stephen Boyd, and Joan Collins. Director Henry King shot the film with Leon Shamroy in CinemaScope and the film makes the most of its gorgeous Mexican setting.

The Train (1964) – only available at Screen Archives

After a quick sell out during its first run, Twilight Time brought John Frankenheimer’s adventure thriller back for an encore performance. Burt Lancaster is a workaday World War II-era trainman charged with preventing a cargo-load of irreplaceable French art is not allowed to leave the country for Germany. Beautiful Jean Tournier black and white cinematography and Maurice Jarre score.

**Two For the Road* (1967)**

The romantic highs and lows and everything in between. Mark (Albert Finney) and Joanna (Audrey Hepburn) take annual road trips through France and the film assembles these trips non-linearly in order to tell the story of how the couple met through present day bitterness. In his commentary for the film, Stanley Donen mentioned that couples often tell him that this movie caused them to get married — but just as many say that it caused them to divorce. Bonus: Henry Mancini score and Maurice Binder title design.

Fat City (1972)

John Huston directed this naturalistic neo-noir boxing drama that might just be the American classic you’ve never seen. An alcoholic past-his-prime boxer Billy Tully (Stacy Keach) wants to get back into fighting form and spars with an up-and-coming 18-year-old kid named Ernie (Jeff Bridges). Billy puts Ernie in touch with his manager and expects the kid to rocket to stardom. Shot by Conrad L. Hall, the film’s unglamorous visuals mirror the state of its characters. This movie could easily be interpreted as a reflection of the Hollywood career of John Huston (who was also a former boxer) who, by this point in his career, had been put out to pasture by the Hollywood gatekeepers.

**The Hot Rock* (1972)**

A personal favorite heist comedy features 1972 Robert Redford, George Segal and Zero Mostel and was curiously not a success when it was released. Lighthearted and driven by a painfully clever William Goldman screenplay, The Hot Rock should be a considered a classic of the genre. The film boasts not just one big caper — but four(!) because the characters keep bungling the job. Director Peter Yates considered this one of hist best movies and superior to his driveaway success, Bullitt.

Theatre of Blood (1974)

Because @HouseofGlib says so. Also, I thought this was sold out and omitted it from my first list. Essential Vincent Price horror comedy that features Price as a humiliated actor seeking revenge upon the critics who failed to see his genius. Diana Rigg considers this her best film! The pure joy of watching Vincent Price merge Shakespeare and bloody Phibesian revenge is a gift that keeps on giving.

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) – only available at Screen Archives

Sam Peckinpah at his most raw, nihilistic, poetic and unrelenting. This is another former TT sell-out title that’s been brought back because people need to see this movie. Almost universally panned at the time of its release, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia has been reassessed in recent years. A sometime piano player (Warren Oates) and his lover (Isela Vega) discover one last chance for happiness, but that happiness slips through the fingers and leaves Bennie a shell of a man, determined to make good on promises of revenge that he doesn’t know he can keep.

Melvin and Howard (1980)

Howard Hughes (Jason Robards) loses control of his motorcycle, crashes in the Nevada desert. A nobody by the name of Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat) stops his pickup to pee and finds a disheveled stranger lying by the side of the road. Refusing to go to the hospital that stranger accepts a ride and travel-time conversation. Melvin encourages his passenger to join him in singing a Christmas song he wrote. The stranger has Melvin sing his favorite song “Bye Bye Blackbird.” Melvin drops his charge at the Desert Inn and does not reveal his identity. Some years later, a limousine stops at Melvin’s service station and hands over a copy of Howard Hughes’ last will and testament naming Melvin a beneficiary. No one believes Melvin and soon he becomes part of a media circus. Now that I’ve told you the plot, I’ll also tell you that none of it really matters because Melvin and Howard is first and foremost a beautiful character study from Jonathan Demme. Headlined by Mary Steenburgen’s Oscar-winning performance, the film’s a surprising and understated gem of a movie.

Cutter’s Way (1981)

Let’s add some more Jeff Bridges to this list. Another movie long overdue for elevation into the status of American classic. Panned and praised at the time of its release, Cutter’s Way features standout performances from Bridges and the always reliable John Heard. Czech New Wave writer/filmmaker Ivan Passer worked along Milos Forman on films like Loves of a Blonde (1965) and The Fireman’s Ball (1967) before defecting to the U.S. The financial failings of Cutter’s Way likely derailed his post-Czech New Wave career. This subtle, cynical, character-driven masterpiece reflecting the disillusionment of the post-Vietnam era deserves better.

More Essentials

(If I missed any of your essentials make sure to add them in the comments or holler at me @007hertzrumble)

The Snake Pit (1948)
Don’t Bother to Knock (1952)
Inferno (1953)
Our Man in Havana (1959)
Warlock (1959)
Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) – Screen Archives only
Underworld U.S.A. (1961)
The World of Henry Orient (1964)
The Chase (1966)
The Detective (1968)
Pretty Poison (1968)
Model Shop (1969)
Bananas (1971)
Short Night of Glass Dolls (1971)
Rollerball (1975)
The Front (1976)
The Big Fix (1978) – never before released on DVD
Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979)
Zelig (1983)
Black Widow (1987)
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)

Tune in tomorrow when I’ll highlight some 20th Century Fox titles that might warrant extra consideration.