Mr. Sardonicus (DVD)
Gimmick maestro William Castle (HOUSE ON HAUTED HILL) delivers more hokey horror fun with this unusual film. Guy Rolfe stars as the title character, whose face has frozen into a hideous grin after digging up his father`s grave for a winning lottery ticket. Hiding his twisted face behind a mask, Sardonicus conducts bizarre experiments to restore his face with the help of his sadistic one-eyed servant Krull (Oscar Homolka) and various beautiful women. When these attempts fail he lures a doctor (Ronald Lewis) out to the castle to force him to perform surgery, with even more shocking results.
The gimmick for this one was the Punishment Poll. Audiences were given glow-in-the-dark thumb cards with which they flashed at the screen at the climax. Supposedly two different versions of the end were shot and would be played according to whether the majority of cards read thumbs up (he lived) or thumbs down (he survived). Castle was careful to make Sardonicus pretty dislikable, and no one has seen the version where he lives, if one was even shot. Screenwriter Ray Russell based this on his own story, SARDONICUS.NR"
Director: William Castle
ACTORS: Guy Rolfe, Oscar Homolka, Ronald Lewis, Audrey Dalton
Titanic: The Complete Story (DVD)
Produced for the cable`s The History Channel, TITANIC: THE COMPLETE STORY is a detailed and authoritative account of one of the most fascinating disasters in history. 6 hours in length and huge in scope, the documentary uses a combination of newsreel footage, passenger diaries, underwater coverage of the recovery mission, and even interview with survivors of the tragic event to tell a compelling true story.NR"
Star Trek: First Contact (DVD)
The Borg have once again targeted the Federation; this time, their devious plot threatens not only the present, but Earth`s past as well. While Commander Riker, Deanna Troi, and Geordi La Forge work hard on the surface of 21st-century Earth to keep history on schedule, the rest of the crew plays a desperate game with the genetically-networked attackers above the planet, matching former Locutus Jean-Luc and cybernetically-naive Data against the erotic, mechanized cunning of the Borg queen. Resistance is futile. Academy Awards nominations: 1--Best Makeup.PG-13"
Director: Jonathan Frakes
ACTORS: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn
Robotech Vol. 13: New Generation - Genesis (DVD)
At the conclusion of ROBOTECH MASTERS, the Robotech Defense had finally worked out the secret of Robotechnology, giving them a clear idea of what would be necessary to defeat these powerful aliens. The third act of ROBOTECH begins as the Earth finally succumbs to the mysterious aliens known only as the Invid. However, a small force of resistance fighters remains who have the ability to free the Earth of the Invid. In these episodes, the resistance, led by Scott Bernard, undergo a harrowing journey that forces each member to face their own fears before they face the Invid.NR"
Wolfen (DVD)
A myth and menace tale of creatures older than man living among us. Super special effects enhance this modern horror.R"
Director: Michael Wadleigh
ACTORS: Albert Finney, Diane Venora, Edward James Olmos, Gregory Hines
