The Last Laugh (DVD) Digitally Mastered from 35mm Archive Materials One of the most brilliant of all German silent films, Murnau`s THE LAST LAUGH uses a constantly moving and subjective camera to capture the emotional anguish of a man whose life is suddenl...
One of the most brilliant of all German silent films, Murnau`s THE LAST LAUGH uses a constantly moving and subjective camera to capture the emotional anguish of a man whose life is suddenly devoid of meaning. Because of his age, an elderly doorman at a hotel finds himself ignominiously demoted to washroom attendant. Particularly galling to the poor man is the loss of his uniform, which gives him pride and prestige. Crestfallen, he spends the day wandering the city, getting drunk and dreaming of suicide, mourning the loss of his dignity, and trying desperately to hang on to a shred of hope.
NR"
Director: F.W. Murnau
ACTORS: Emil Jannings, Maly Delschaft, Emilie Kurz, Hans Unterkirchner, Olaf Storm
Miracle of the Marcellino (VHS)
In this Italian remake of the 1955 film of the same name, a baby is abandoned on the steps of a 16th century monastery during wartime. The friars raise the boy, whom they name Marcellino, until he is 6, at which time he is taken in by a wealthy Count and his wife. Marcellino is lonely there, and when the Count takes him on his first hunt, the violence causes the boy to run back to the monastery. On the way back, he is caught in a storm and is injured, only to awaken in a loft on the monastery grounds. While recovering, he finds comfort in Christ. This religious film is ideal for family viewing.NR"
Director: Luigi Comencini
ACTORS: Didier Benureau, Sergio Bini Bustric, Alberto Cracco, Fernando Fernan Gomez
Applause (DVD)
Kitty Darling (Helen Morgan), a burlesque entertainer, fears the impact her lifestyle will have on her daughter April (Joan Peers), so she sends the girl to a convent for proper rearing. Years later, an adult April returns to her mother`s life, and the two must forge a new relationship. Complications in the process arise when Kitty finds balancing motherhood and her fading career difficult, and April must fend off advances from her mother`s lover at the same time she explores her first love. This musical drama fits nicely into the backstage musical and melodrama category, which explores the ups and downs of entertainers` lives when they`re not performing, but the deft direction of Rouben Mamoulian helps the film exceed its place in the genre. Made just as American cinema begins to move from silent films to talkies, Mamoulian manages to transform a soapy story into a sophisticated and moving portrait of the life of an aging performer who trades on her beauty. This heartrending musical possesses even more significance given its pre-code status - a film made prior to the institution of the self-censorship of sex, violence and other controversial content that began formally in 1934 and lasted until the late 1960s.NR"
Director: Rouben Mamoulian
ACTORS: Helen Morgan, Joan Peers, Henry Wadsworth
WOW Hits 2002 (DVD)
Some of the biggest stars of the Christian music world--in both the gospel genre and the more youth-oriented genre that is Christian Contemporary Rock--are featured on this compendium of religious hits. Included are tunes from rappers DC Talk, gospel star CeCe Winans, and soul singer Michael W. Smith.NR"
Angelique Kidjo - Amazon (DVD)
African-born pop musician Angelique Kidjo`s genre-hopping brew of funk, soul, salsa, jazz, and traditional African music has garnered her worldwide popularity. This video release sees her performing a sampling of her songs with her signature passion, as well as documenting her homecoming to West African nation Benin after a 13-year absence.NR"
