Lost in Yonkers (DVD) LOST IN YONKERS is Neil Simon's touching story--and Pulitzer Prize-winning play--of an eccentric New York family in crisis in the summer of 1942. On the run from a loan shark, a frightened and weak-willed father (Jack Laufer) leaves his two teenage boys, Jay (Brad Stoll) and Arty (Mike Damus), with their domineering grandmother (Irene Worth), who runs a candy store in Yonkers. The effect of the old woman's tyranny over two generations of offspring becomes evident as she coldheartedly attempts to control not only their lives but also that of her mentally challenged middle-aged daughter, Bella (Mercedes Ruehl), who desperately yearns for love and independence. The boys are forced to live by their stern grandmother's rules until their gangster uncle, Louie (Richard Dreyfuss), comes to town one night and goes into hiding in the family home. Uncle Louie ends up helping both the boys and Bella understand their aging grandmother and realize the importance of acceptance and love, despite the hardship of life in Yonkers. .
Directing: Martha Coolidge
ACTORS: Richard Dreyfuss, Mercedes Ruehl, Irene Worth, David Strathairn, Brad Stoll
Risky Business (DVD) Joel Goodson (Tom Cruise, in one of his earliest roles) is an average high school senior, apprehensive about starting college, especially with his average test scores. He decides to spice up his last high school summer by taking advantage of his parents being away and throwing a non-stop party. The next thing he know his house becomes the local brothel thanks to the kind hooker played by Rebecca deMornay and everything turns out different from what he planned.
Directing: Paul Brickman
ACTORS: Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Curtis Armstrong, Bronson Pinchot, Raphael Sbarge
Hellsing: The Complete Collection (DVD) The Hellsing Organization is a supernatural collective dedicated to protecting mankind from a war that rages in the Earth`s shadows in which humanity is only a pawn. Able to keep the dark forces at bay for so long, Hellsing has recently been coming across artificially spawned vampires so powerful that they can do nothing to stop them. So, the Organization calls in Arucard, a rogue vampire who combats this army of the undead with Seras Victoria, a female companion he rescued from death by vampirizing. Contains the complete series in a collector`s box.
A Polish Vampire in Burbank (DVD) In this comedic horror tale, the black sheep of a vampire family is pushed into using his natural talents to hold up the family name. Dupah is a shy vampire who is happy relaxing at home while the rest of the clan goes out at night in search of blood. When his father grows tired of leading the pack, Dupah is forced to do things on his own for the first time.
Young and Innocent/The Man Who Knew Too Much (DVD) A double feature of two UK produced Hitchcock classics. See individual titles for details.
Directing: Alfred Hitchcock
ACTORS: Edna Best, Nova Pilbeam, Peter Lorre
Surviving Desire (DVD) Filmed for PBS's American Playhouse, Hal Hartley's one-hour romantic comedy focuses on Jude (Martin Donovan), a Dostoevsky-obsessed English professor whose life is turned upside down when he falls head over heels for Sofie (Mary Ward), one of his best students. As Jude negotiates the precarious terrain of their relationship, he seeks the advice of his bookish friend Henry, (Matt Malloy). In one scene, Jude writes Knowing is not enough on the chalkboard of his classroom--a statement that concisely sums up the film's central theme. This engaging featurette contains many of Hartley's quirky trademarks, including clipped philosophical discussions and seemingly spontaneous actions--in this case, Donovan's character suddenly breaking into a hilarious silent dance rountine. Also included are Hartley's short films THEORY OF ACHIEVEMENT and AMBITION.
Directing: Hal Hartley
ACTORS: Martin Donovan, Mary Ward, Matt Malloy, Rebecca Nelson
