New Releases for March 25th, 2008 (Full List)
Contour San Francisco tour guide Law (Eric Jacobus) lives a secret life as a hired thug. When he blows a routine heist, he's thrown into a race against time to recover a highly sought-after videotape. With a group of tourists as his unwitting posse, Law must punch and kick his way through the San Francisco underworld, putting his kung fu skills to the test. Can this two-fisted antihero survive the onslaught?
Kiltro Award-winning Chilean stuntman Marko Zaror stars as Zamir, a street fighter in love with the lovely daughter of a tae kwon do master. When her father is threatened, Zamir must learn to control his fighting skills in order to protect them all. Written and directed by Ernesto Díaz Espinoza, this energetic kung fu tale of honor and revenge also features Caterina Jadresic and Miguel Angel De Luca.
Noble House With his bitter rivals angling to execute a hostile takeover of the British-Asia trading company he heads, Ian "Tai-Pan" Dunross (Pierce Brosnan) dives headfirst into a dangerous world of deception, espionage and murder to survive. Set amid the high-stakes boardrooms of Hong Kong business, this entertaining miniseries is based on the writings of novelist James Clavell, the mind behind the landmark Shogun series.
Sharpshooter Special Ops sniper Dillon (James Remar) is about to retire until his government contact (Mario Van Peebles) persuades him to take on one last case. It's supposed to be the straightforward infiltration of a nuclear arms deal, but it quickly spirals out of control. Dillon finds himself on the run, targeted by black marketeers and sinister double agents, and desperate to find out who set him up. Bruce Boxleitner and Catherine Mary Stewart co-star.
Arthur: Big Brother Binky Big changes are afoot at the home of Arthur's best friend, Binky Barnes. The Barneses are going to China so they can adopt a baby, which means Binky will become a big brother! In this spinoff of the animated hit "Arthur," young Binky adorably faces the challenges of learning a new culture as well as preparing for life with a kid sister. The program can also be a humorous and entertaining way of introducing kids to this complicated topic.
Arthur: Season 10 More life lessons are in store for 8-year-old Arthur Read, the world's most celebrated aardvark, in this 10th season of the Daytime Emmy-winning series based on Marc Brown's children's books. In this collection of episodes, Arthur and Buster regret watching a horror film; Francine and Arthur make a bet to see who can conserve the most water during a drought; and Arthur launches an investigation after he's suspected of breaking a crystal platter.
It's a Big, Big World: Be Healthy and Happy Join Snook the sloth and his menagerie of animal friends -- including Madge the map turtle and sibling monkeys Smooch and Winslow -- for colorful lessons about living a happy and healthy life, no matter what species you are. Over the course of four episodes, kids will learn about the value of exercise, why it's important to eat a balanced diet, how the heart works and why keeping the planet healthy is good for everyone.
It's a Big, Big World: Everybody's Different Charming sloth Snook and friends explore the world around them in this entertaining collection of episodes from the eco-minded children's program. Among their adventures are celebrating the World Tree's birthday, discovering different animals' eating habits, learning about amphibians, seeing things from an insect's perspective, and running an unusual relay race. As the pals find out, it takes all kinds of animals to make up this unique community!
Black Legion Passed over for a promotion, disgruntled autoworker Frank Taylor (Humphrey Bogart) joins a white supremacist group hell-bent on terrorizing blacks and foreigners. As Frank's involvement deepens, so, too, does the pain he causes his family. Bogie, in one of his first starring roles, shines as the conflicted anti-hero in this hard-hitting melodrama, which also stars a fine Dick Foran as Frank's honorable best friend.
Brother Orchid After nearly escaping a hit by up-and-coming mob boss Jack Buck (Humphrey Bogart), orchid-loving gangster John Sarto (Edward G. Robinson) hides out in a monastery led by Brother Superior (Donald Crisp). There, Sarto lives a monk's life while planning his revenge. Two of the silver screen's greatest tough guys face off in his crime comedy, which also stars Ann Sothern as Sarto's ex-flame and Ralph Bellamy as a kindly rancher.
Kings of the Sun Yul Brynner and George Chakiris star as rulers of two rival cultures who are forced to form an alliance against a mutual threat. Young king Balam (Chakiris) leads the Mayan people out of Mexico to escape a hostile clan in hot pursuit. When an Indian tribe attacks, Balam captures their leader (Brynner) and the two slowly grow toward mutual respect. But can the partnership withstand the attack of Balam's old rivals?
Lady Killer James Cagney stars in this classic tale of crime and showbiz. After a theater usher (Cagney) loses his job, he finds his true calling as a crook. But when the police start to close in, he escapes to Los Angeles and stumbles into the movie business. Going straight, he's also surprised to find himself shooting straight to the top. But will he stick to the rules when his former associates come knocking, threatening blackmail?
Picture Snatcher James Cagney stars as Danny Kean, a reformed gangster turned paparazzo who now channels his aggression and disregard for the law into capturing the perfect controversial shot that will make him a bigwig in the world of tabloid journalism. Inspired by the infamous New York Daily News photo of convicted murderess Ruth Snyder being executed at Sing Sing Prison, Lloyd Bacon's film is a prescient look at media gone awry.
Smart Money Silver-screen icons Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney star in this classic drama as Nick and Jack Venizelos, two brothers whose fateful trip to the big city to do a little gambling results in a tragic turn of events. Directed by filmmaker Alfred E. Green, this film marks the only time in Robinson and Cagney's historic careers that the pair would team up on-screen.
Solomon and Sheba One of the last films of legendary director King Vidor's storied career, this stunning biblical epic stars Yul Brynner as the wise King Solomon and Gina Lollobrigida as the beautiful queen of Sheba. After he inherits the kingdom of Israel from his father, David, Solomon is targeted by the Egyptian pharaoh, who conspires with Sheba in an effort to bring down the benevolent king.
The Mayor of Hell Former gangster Patsy Gargan's (James Cagney) appointment as deputy commissioner was supposed to be mere window dressing. But when he learns of the brutal treatment endured by the boys sent to a local reform school, he finds himself compelled to get involved. Cagney reteams with frequent collaborator co-director Michael Curtiz, who also directed the Hollywood legend in classics Yankee Doodle Dandy and Angels with Dirty Faces.
Bad Meat At a junkyard in Butcher's Mill, Ill., lovable losers Buddy and Earl (Lance Barber and Billie Worley) cook up a scheme to kidnap a congressman (Chevy Chase). But when the politician has an accident at the local meatpacking plant, their plan turns rotten fast. High jinks abound in this crazy cult comedy written and directed by Scott Dikkers, the editor in chief of The Onion humor magazine. Judah Friedlander ("30 Rock") co-stars.
Jesus, Mary and Joey Still living at home with his big Italian-American family, Joey (Vincent Pagano) runs into former classmate and cancer survivor Mary (Marley Shelton), who attributes her recovery to a miracle. Joey finds himself slowly attracted to Mary -- and her beliefs. Director James Quattrochi's likable indie romantic comedy, written by Pagano, boasts an impressive supporting cast including Olympia Dukakis, Jennifer Esposito, Stacy Keach and Tess Harper.
John Witherspoon: You Got to Coordinate John Witherspoon -- an actor-comedian who's perhaps best known as Ice Cube's outspoken father in the Friday trilogy -- delivers a hilarious stand-up set in this live performance titled for one of his catchiest catchphrases. You'll have to coordinate your urge to laugh out loud as Witherspoon sounds off on a variety of topics, shouting "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" in the process and leaving no joke left untold.
Pauly Shore's Natural Born Komics Sketch Comedy Movie: Miami Pauly Shore and his gang of comic cohorts stir up gut-busting laughs and outright chaos in this outrageous comedy collage of hidden camera gags, biting satire skits, music videos and on-the-street interviews. In addition to actress Vivica A. Fox and singer, songwriter and producer T-Pain, Shore's guests include Charles Q. Murphy, Ruben Studdard, Steven Bauer, Ari Shaffir, Ian Edwards, Kirk Fox and Justin L. Levine.
The Sasquatch Gang Sci-fi lover Gavin (Jeremy Sumpter) sparks a media frenzy when he discovers evidence that Bigfoot lives nearby. While Gavin sets out to find the creature, a local loser (Justin Long) tries to cash in, and Bigfoot authority Dr. Artimus Snodgrass (Carl Weathers) arrives to investigate. The small town buzzes as the press descends, rumors swirl, hawkers sell souvenirs and Gavin, Snodgrass, a reporter and a cop try to uncover the truth.
Eve of Understanding Donna (Rebecca Lowman) embarks on a road trip through the American Southwest to make peace with her family's past and deliver a trunk full of mementos inherited from her recently deceased mother. As the traveler finds homes for each of the items, she uncovers family secrets and comes to a deeper understanding of her tumultuous upbringing. Can her ultimate goal -- to scatter the ashes of her mother -- lead to a whole new life?
PU-239 While staving off a power plant disaster, Russian worker Timofey (Paddy Considine) is exposed to radiation and blamed for the accident. With days to live, he steals some plutonium and tries to sell it on Moscow's black market in an effort to provide for his family. Along the way, he gets help from a low-level thug, with whom he forges an unlikely connection. Radha Mitchell co-stars in this gripping HBO adaptation of Ken Kalfus's short story.
Serenades A young woman born of two disparate cultures is torn by love and family in this drama set in 19th-century Australia. Jila (Alice Haines) is the child of an Afghan father and an Aborigine mother who grows up with her mother's family. But fate places her under the control of her devout Muslim father, who opposes her love of a kindly minister's son --and uses the laws of his faith to force Jila into an arranged marriage. Will true love win out?
Socket When surgeon Bill Matthews (Derek Long) is struck by a bolt of lighting, he's treated at the hospital where he works and strikes up a relationship with sexy intern Craig (Matthew Montgomery), who invites Bill to join a strange underground group of lightning-strike survivors. But Bill is shocked to find that his new friends actually enjoy and seek out the thrill of being electrocuted, and it's not long before he becomes addicted as well.
The Four Horsemen After finding victory on the high-school football field, four friends seek victory on the battlefield in Iraq, but when not all of them come home, the survivors experience a painful re-entry into civilian life. Haunted by events in Iraq, they feel a compulsion to rejoin their fellow leathernecks in combat in this compelling drama based on the story of wounded U.S. Marine Cpl. Mark O'Brien, who appears as Eric.
The Kite Runner Years after fleeing the Taliban and immigrating to the United States, an Afghan man (Khalid Abdalla) returns to his war-ravaged homeland to try to repay his debt to a childhood friend whose trust he betrayed. Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster's Ball) directs this touching story of family, friendship and bravery, based on the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini.
April Fool's Day One year after the gorgeous Milan Hastings (Sabrina Aldridge) dies in a prank devised by slithery socialite Desiree Cartier (Taylor Cole), members of Desiree's upper-crust clique start dying in mysterious -- and often grisly -- ways. While the hunter's attacks grow increasingly frequent and vicious, it's a fight for survival for the spoiled heirs in this jumpy horror treat, co-starring Scout Taylor-Compton, Josh Henderson and Jennifer Siebel.
Fingerprints A small town lies in limbo some 50 years after a horrific accident that saw a train plow into a school bus filled with children. Can a troubled teen (Leah Pipes) fresh out of rehab unlock the truth about what caused the terrible tragedy? Lou Diamond Phillips and Kristin Cavallari of MTV's "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" co-star in this supernatural thriller from screenwriting brothers Brian and Jason Cleveland.
Shrooms On a trip to rural Ireland, a group of sexy American college kids devour hallucinogenic mushrooms and soon find themselves engulfed in nightmarish visions. Are they really being stalked and killed, or is it all just drug-induced paranoia? Who are the creepy locals who show up, and what about that abandoned jail in the woods? Directed by Paddy Breathnach, this gory slaughter-fest stars Lindsey Haun, Jack Huston, Maya Hazen and Alice Greczyn.
The Haunting of Rebecca Verlaine A killer wipes out all members but one of the Verlaine Commune on an idyllic Christmas Eve. The lone survivor is Rebecca (Natacza Boon), who falls into a long coma. When she awakes two years later, she finds her mind blocked from the tragedy. As her memories slowly resurface, she begins to understand that the spirits of her lost family have unfinished business.
The Mist After a brutal thunderstorm pounds a small town, the residents discover a malevolent mist hangs over their homes, killing anyone who remains outside. Trapped in a grocery store, a band of survivors must make a stand against the deadly fog. Based on a story by horror maestro Stephen King and directed by multiple Oscar nominee Frank Darabont, this spine chiller stars Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden and Andre Braugher.
Joel Schlemowitz: Short Experimental Films Experimental filmmaker Joel Schlemowitz's many talents are showcased in this compilation of 45 of his short films. Known for his quirky avant-garde style, Schlemowitz creates vibrant, visually poetic pieces that resonate on an emotional level. Using a variety of cinematic techniques, the award-winning, New York-based artist's bold films range from playful to provocative and meld the qualities of light and motion to create unique compositions.
Pineapple Despondent after his unfaithful wife leaves him and fights for custody of their young daughter, Andrew (Steven Chester Prince) seeks comfort from his new friend, an exotic dancer. But as their relationship develops, she drags him into her world of drugs and lurid sex. Soon, Andrew finds himself becoming deeply enmeshed in this disturbing and depraved world. Eliza Swenson and Lee Tergesen also star in this erotic drama.
Smokers The search for a good bag of weed leads Wichita, Kan., transplant Aaron (Mike Hull) on a wild ride through the dangerous streets of New York City, where he meets an unforgettable cast of characters and fellow pot enthusiasts. Featuring eye-popping camera work and a pulsating soundtrack, this low-budget urban adventure also stars R. Ernie Silva, Wilfredo Morales, Ryan Moore and Aida Angotti.
Tooth and Nail: Film and Video 1970-74 by Dennis Oppenheim Experimental artist Dennis Oppenheim explores the relationship between physicality and performance, using his own body as part of his art in this collection of films and videos from the early 1970s. Oppenheim also draws on his relationships with his son and daughter to examine themes of communication, physical transformation and personal risk in this series of works that have become known as the Aspen Tapes.
Trip Out The lives of four suburban high schoolers collide on one fateful night in this provocative drama. When class slut Sasha (Eco Lopez) invites three guys over for an evening's fun, drugs, sexual frustration and pent-up hostility turn the party into a nightmare. Sasha's guests include introverted misfit Tommy (James M. Hausler), Tommy's overachieving brother Richard (Michael Mandell) and Richard's hip-hop wannabe friend Colby (Christopher Clark).
Wristcutters: A Love Story Trapped in an alternate world populated by suicide victims, a band of souls tries to find an escape route in Goran Dukic's quirky fantasy. Although he took his own life, Zia (Patrick Fugit) isn't ready for such a grim hereafter, particularly when he learns that his ex-girlfriend also killed herself. On a quest to find her, he befriends a jaded hitchhiker and a Russian rocker, and together, they set out in search of a more appealing afterlife.
Divine Intervention A fundamentalist Baptist church gets an injection of flashy faith when its longtime pastor suffers a stroke and the young Rev. Robert Gibbs (Wesley Jonathan) steps in as his substitute. The congregation embraces his methods, but the stodgy Rev. Matthews (James Avery) isn't sold. The plot thickens when Rev. Gibbs falls for a pretty schoolteacher (Jazsmin Lewis), who just so happens to be Rev. Matthews's daughter.
Tripping the Rift: The Movie Jenny McCarthy and Stephen Root lend their voices to this feature-length animated adventure from the Sci-Fi Channel in which Chode and the Jupiter 42 crew try to protect a princess and wind up the target of a time-traveling killer. But that's not all they face on the mission: Chode, Gus, Six, T'nuk, Whip and Bob have their hands full as they fend off indestructible clown hit men, desperate housewives and other nefarious villains.
Extraordinary Rendition This gripping drama follows the kidnapping of a suspected terrorist (Omar Berdouni) from the streets of London and his hellish journey through isolation, secret prisons, interrogations and torture at the hands of a pitiless government agent (Andy Serkis). Even if he is eventually released, will he ever again be free? Inspired by true events, this film also features Ania Sowinski, Jimmy Yuill and Hugh Ross.
Loaded Jesse Metcalfe stars in this hard-hitting thriller as Tristan Price, an obnoxious trust fund kid whose charmed life gets turned upside down when he's targeted by a conniving drug addict (Corey Large). Chace Crawford, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Johnny Messner and Monica Keena head up the supporting cast in this suspenseful tale from director Alan Pao.
The Living and the Dead When Lord Brocklebank (Roger Lloyd-Pack) leaves Longleigh House on business, he hires a caregiver (Sarah Ball) to look after his sick wife (Kate Fahy) and mentally ill grown son, James (Leo Bill). But James wants to be the man of the house for once, so he locks the nurse out. Becoming increasingly delusional, James creates a terrifying world for his mother as the situation spirals out of control in this visually arresting and macabre drama.
Kite Liberator Monaka seems to be an average high school girl. But she has a dark and terrible secret linking her past to a murderous police detective and her future to a fatal duel with the one person she loves most in the world. All the while, the mysterious Angel of Death walks the city streets exacting pain on unsuspecting victims who've asked for it. This anime is the sequel to Yasuomi Umetsu's controversial Kite.
Ragnarok: The Animation: Vol. 3: Third Quest In a land inhabited by shape-shifters, sages, monks, witches and an army of monsters, Roan's dangerous mission heads into a thrilling climax when he's caught in a life-and-death struggle upon the return of the Dark Lord. In eight episodes, Volume 3 follows young swordsman Roan, Yufa, Maya, Takius and the rest of the brave band to the end of their long battle against the Dark Lord and his ruthless minions.
Ranma 1/2: Season 6: Random Rhapsody In Season 6 of the anime series, the skills of teenager Ranma and his dojo classmates are put to the test when a monster kidnaps Akane, a cartoon panda stalks Ranma and a yeti puts Furinkan in a deep freeze. The adventures seem endless for the young martial arts students this season as Genma and Ranma engage in a bitter battle, Gosunkugi becomes Ranma's rival for Akane's affections, Pantyhose Taro seeks revenge against Happosaiand much more.
XXXholic Haunted by spirits that are inexplicably attracted to him, hapless high schooler Kimihiro Watanuki seeks help from a mysterious "time-space" witch who calls herself Ykko Ichihara and claims she can grant his wish to never be bothered by ghosts again. In exchange for her services, Kimihiro agrees to take a job working in Ykko's shop until he's earned enough money to pay her back for her magical powers.
1968 with Tom Brokaw Television news legend Tom Brokaw takes a penetrating retrospective look at 1968, a pivotal year in American history that saw the assassinations of MLK and RFK, the Tet Offensive, a sea change in pop culture and more. Including rare archival footage, recent interviews of key players and the perspective of four intervening decades, this provocative documentary brings to life the tragedies and triumphs of the sixties' most memorable year.
American Experience: Grand Central Discover the origins and history of New York's Grand Central Station in this fascinating documentary, part of PBS's "American Experience" series. Millions of travelers and tourists have passed through the renowned hub, which first opened in 1913. Born out of a 1902 tragedy when two trains collided in New York's Grand Central Depot, the station was constructed in response to the need for greater safety and quickly became world-famous.
Baby Mammoth / Raising The Mammoth After Siberian miners discover a frozen baby mammoth, the world's top paleontologists employ cutting-edge forensic science to learn more about the Pleistocene pachyderm in this fascinating Discovery Channel documentary. Most interestingly, the scientists conclude that cloning the animal may be a possibility in our lifetimes. A bonus feature, Raising the Mammoth, follows the excavation of a full-grown woolly mammoth.
Cats of Rome Narrated by Keith Burberry, this heartrending documentary chronicles the story of Rome, Italy's enormous population of stray cats -- which number more than 200,000 -- and their endless struggle to survive. Filmmaker Michael W. Hunt spent six months at an Italian cat sanctuary where workers toil tirelessly to care for the city's homeless felines, whose Egyptian ancestors were brought to Italy thousands of years ago.
Combat Zone Each of the 13 episodes in this absorbing Military Channel series tells the story of a single armed conflict -- some famous, some little-known -- between 1950 and 2005 from the perspective of the participants. These tales of valor include Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the invasion of Grenada in 1983, a patrol boat rescue in Vietnam in 1969, the Battle of Najaf in Iraq in 2004 and the Battle of Inchon in Korea in 1950.
European Muslims and Eastern Christians: The Broken Mirrors In this thought-provoking documentary, filmmaker Jacques Debs uses his experiences as a Christian who grew up in Lebanon to shed light on two often overlooked religious groups: Muslims living in Europe and Christians living in the Middle East. Along the way, he reveals the complex realities of life in the modern Mediterranean world and the social and cultural differences that often lead to conflict.
Frontline: Growing Up Online Take a look inside the lives of the most Internet-savvy generation ever with this PBS "Frontline" program that investigates teens and their cyber-existences. The kids and their parents discuss both the realities and the risks of this new frontier. As parents deal with their teens' drastically different ideas about privacy, the kids confront cyber-bullying, Internet predators, YouTube fame and many other issues new to their generation.
Frontline: The Medicated Child This fascinating program from PBS's "Frontline" series explores the realities and controversies surrounding the increasingly frequent prescription of behavior-modifying medication for children as young as 2 years old. Numerous experts, including psychiatrists, government regulators and scientific researchers, discuss both the dangers and the benefits of the various drugs being used to treat children with behavioral problems and mental illnesses.
Hell Up in East Harlem This fascinating documentary examines one of the most notoriously drug-infested and violent city blocks in the country in the 1970s and '80s. But rival gangs, racial tensions and rampant drug use here were tempered by the rise of a new art form: rap. As the criminal element on the block waxed and waned, what started as an alternate form of competition came to be a bona fide alternative lifestyle for the area's youth.
Jimmy Carter: Man from Plains Prolific Hollywood director Jonathan Demme tackles the documentary form in this intimate portrait of Jimmy Carter that explicates the former president's view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by shadowing him on his national book tour. During this publicity junket, Carter is accused of being a liar, bigot and anti-Semite. But it's his candid responses to the controversy and criticism that reveal the Nobel Peace Prize winner's true character.
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II The F-4 Phantom II, one of the true go-to fighter-bombers of the Vietnam era, is the topic of this thrilling documentary that gives you the full scoop on the design and deployment of the legendary aircraft. Featuring archival footage, a complete walk-around of an F-4B and a special peek inside the jet's powerful engine, this program also includes jaw-dropping demonstrations of the plane's incredible abilities, such as rolls and attacks.
Missing in MiG Alley: Nova Through archival footage, expert commentary and eyewitness accounts, this installment of "Nova" chronicles the Korean War story of the 30-plus U.S. and British pilots who went missing in MiG Alley, a perilous corridor between Korea and China. Veteran pilots describe flying through the airspace, and previously sealed Soviet archives reveal new data about missing fliers, giving closure to some families decades after their loved ones disappeared.
Office Tigers Documentary filmmaker Liz Mermin examines an American-owned company that trains young Indian professionals the rules of Western business in this fascinating look into outsourcing and the contemporary blending of cultures. Headquartered in conservative Chennai, India, Office Tigers serves clients including the world's top investment banks. Mermin looks into the lives of the workers and the changes being wrought by their new opportunities.
Skid Row Ever wondered what it would be like to live on Skid Row, where about 11,000 homeless live, in downtown Los Angeles? Pras Michel (of hip-hop group the Fugees) went undercover as a homeless person for nine days. His eye-opening social experiment was captured on film as he was given a dollar a day to live and had to find ways to beg for more. Pras's worldview is shattered as he sees firsthand the violence, drugs and fight for survival on the streets.
Strange Culture On the eve of his new exhibit, artist and professor Steve Kurtz was shocked by the news that his wife had died of heart failure. The medics on the scene became suspicious of Kurtz's artistic media, which includes genetically modified foods, and the FBI accused him of bioterrorism. This disquieting true story is brought to life by actors Tilda Swinton, Josh Kornbluth and Peter Coyote in Lynn Herschman Leeson's chilling dramatic documentary.
The Iraq War This series of programs from the History Channel explores various aspects of the Iraq War, investigating the conflict from both political and military perspectives. Interviews with politicians, journalists and military experts shed light on the controversial war, and weapons used for the first time -- such as the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and Stryker combat vehicles -- are examined.
The Life of Million Dollar Babies Follow the struggles of eight women as they train to fight in the 2005 National Golden Gloves boxing competition, a contest that didn't allow women to compete until 1995. Chronicling the dramatic history of women's boxing and profiling a group of scrappy young fighters, filmmaker and boxer Leyla Leidecker delivers a knockout documentary experience. Leidecker was a sparring partner for actress Hilary Swank as she prepared for Million Dollar Baby.
The Mystery of Eva Peron Despite becoming a pop-culture icon and a household name, Argentinian leader Eva Peron remains a fairly mysterious historical figure. This documentary uses interviews, rare film clips and academic insight to trace Peron's rise to power in the 1940s. Covering aspects of her life overlooked by other accounts, the program offers a balanced view of Peron's legacy and reveals how she remained a powerful public figure even long after her death.
The West's Land-Based Fighters & Bombers The West's most powerful military aircraft put on a jaw-dropping display of aerial action in this film recorded during actual training runs. See Britain's Harrier, France's Mirage 2000 and America's B-52 Stratofortress take to the runway. The special also includes amazing footage of the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-4 Phantom II, the F-15 Eagle, the Rockwell B-1B, Israeli Aircraft Industries' Kfir and many more.
Tokyo Streets Experience the vibrant world of Tokyo fashion with this unique documentary that examines the outrageous and extreme flair exhibited by the residents of this ultra-hip metropolis as they strive to express themselves. The creative designers of fashionshow.ch spent a month gathering images of the eccentric urban flair they discovered in Tokyo, then set their footage to the beat of a hard-driving musical soundtrack.
Tornado Hunters Journey into the heart of the storm with this nerve-jangling British documentary on tornadoes and the thrill-seekers who risk their lives to chase the destructive funnels. Terrifying footage demonstrates the power of these awesome storms as "Twister Sisters" Melanie Metz and Peggy Willenberg race to intercept them. In the lab, scientists such as David Arnold and the University of Chicago's Ted Fujita analyze twisters and how to avoid them.
War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death Based on Norman Solomon's revealing book and narrated by actor Sean Penn, War Made Easy exposes the government's and the media's purported history of deceiving the American people and leading us into war after war. Using archival footage of past presidents, including Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and both Bushes, and media correspondents like Walter Cronkite, the documentary sheds light on propaganda pushing and draws parallels between the Vietnam and Iraq wars.
Weaponology From the simplicity of a Molotov cocktail to the awe-inspiring power of a nuclear missile, follow the history of weapons technology with this comprehensive documentary produced for the Military Channel. Each segment explores a different offensive or defensive armament, using archive footage to reveal its use in combat. Military historians describe the impact of the featured weapon and how arms evolved from one military conflict to the next.
Who Is Henry Jaglom? In this offbeat documentary, filmmakers Henry Alex Rubin and Jeremy Workman explore the world of auteur Henry Jaglom, writer and director of such films as Sitting Ducks and New Year's Day. Interviews with actors and other filmmakers who've worked with Jaglom (including Candice Bergen, Orson Welles and Dennis Hopper), behind-the-scenes footage and Jaglom's own home movies combine to create a portrait that's as polarizing as Jaglom's films.
Who Killed Martin Luther King? Winner of the CableACE Award for International Documentary Special, this 1989 film looks back at Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968, and the lingering theories that his shooting death may have been part of a conspiracy. Archival footage and interviews with convicted killer James Earl Ray, Martin Luther King III and former law enforcement agents piece together a disturbing picture of what actually may have happened.
Greatest NBA Rivalries & Upsets: Vol. 1 Emotions run high on the hardwood in this collection of highlights of some of the NBA's most celebrated rivalries. The Miami Heat go toe to toe with the Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs face off against the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers get into it with the Sacramento Kings. Some of pro basketball's most jaw-dropping upsets are also revisited, among them the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors defeating the Mavericks.
IFL Championship 2007 Bringing team competition to the world of mixed martial arts, the International Fight League showcases its first full season with this collection of highlights from the gnarliest match-ups of 2007. In the bouts featured, the Quad City Silverbacks square off against the New York Pitbulls for the championship; Carlos Newton and Matt Lindland go head to head in a knock-down, drag-out battle; and more.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 1988 World Series Relive the L.A. Dodgers' thrilling 1988 championship run with this inside look at the team and its biggest playoff games. Underdogs heading into the post-season, the Dodgers relied on strong pitching and balanced power to defeat the Oakland A's. Watch as injured slugger Kirk Gibson makes baseball history by hitting a game-winning home run against pitcher Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the World Series.
NHL All-Access (2008) Get up close and personal with some of the biggest names in hockey with this behind-the-scenes look at the NHL and the players who make the league the best collection of talent in the entire world. In profiles of players ranging from up-and-coming stars such as Sidney Crosby to Stanley Cup champs like Chris Pronger, you'll learn what drives these exceptional athletes to be the best, as well as what they do when they're not on the ice.
The Breakout Witness the first all-female mixed martial arts competition in history as five matches separate the women from the girls. The world's No. 1 MMA female fighter, Megumi Fujii, tops the card in her second appearance in the United States. Kelly Kobold, Adrienna Jenkins, Shayna Baszler and Ginele Marquez also set out to crunch the competition. You'll also get a look at the fighters' lives outside the ring and commentary by UFC and Pride stars.
Triple H: The King of Kings: There Is Only One See why "there is only one" as you experience highlights from 14 of Triple H's greatest matches. The 11-time world champion known as the King of Kings discusses his greatest triumphs as the clips roll, documenting one bone-crushing win after another. The program features more than six hours of WWE mayhem, including behind-the-scenes clips and previously unreleased matches.
UFC 79: Ultimate Fighting Championship: Nemesis The Ultimate Fighting Championship explodes in this event from Las Vegas's Mandalay Bay, as Matt Serra defends his UFC welterweight championship against fellow Ultimate Fighter coach Matt Hughes. Other bouts include Chuck Liddell finally facing Brazil's Wanderlei Silva in the light heavyweight category, Rich Clementi taking on Melvin Guillard, Machida battling Sokoudjou, and Eddie Sanchez squaring off against Soa Palelei.
UFC: The Best of 2007 Relive the hardest-hitting moments of the year with this Ultimate Fighting Championship retrospective. The thrilling footage includes bouts shown only on Pay-Per-View, such as Liddell vs. Jackson, Silvia vs. Couture and St. Pierre vs. Hughes. Additional never-before-seen interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses demonstrate the all-out brutality that defined the UFC in 2007.
WWE: No Way Out 2008 WWE's No Way Out returns to Las Vegas for the first time in three years, gathering together superstars from the Raw, SmackDown and ECW wrestling franchises for more intense bouts of explosive action. The event's showpiece is the Elimination Chamber, 10 tons of steel and two miles of chain that only the best will survive.
Day Break: Season 1 Detective Brett Hopper (Taye Diggs) is having one of those days, but unlike most people, he'll end up charged with murder at the end of it. With his alibi in question and his family's safety on the line, he tries to flee. But when he awakes the next day, he finds himself reliving the same horrible 24 hours. So begins a cycle that will continue until he finds out who framed him and why in this ABC series co-starring Adam Baldwin and Joe Nieves.
Frisky Dingo: Season 1 In this animated series from "Sealab 2021" creators Matt Thompson and Adam Reed, a bored villain and a superhero who refuses to retire square off over the former's plan to destroy the world. As Killface deals with the unpleasant bureaucratic details of eliminating the planet, Awesome X -- the superhero alter ego of billionaire action figure maker Xander Crews -- contemplates coming out of retirement in this clever superhero spoof.
Midsomer Murders: Hidden Depths Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and Detective Sgt. Dan Scott (John Hopkins) must put their heads together to determine whether solicitor Nick Turner's fatal dive from a rooftop was suicide or murder. Complicating the case is the gruesome death of Turner's rival -- a lawyer named Otto Benham (Oliver Ford Davies) -- who was drugged and used for a particularly sinister type of target practice.
Midsomer Murders: Midsomer Rhapsody Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) can't help but notice that more people than ever before seem interested in the work of long-dead composer Joan Alder, who wrote the well-known song "Midsomer Rhapsody." First, Alder's former music teacher turns up dead, and an early draft of her most famous piece is found among his possessions. But the plot thickens when Alder's long-lost daughter, Sarah, comes back into town.
Midsomer Murders: Sauce for the Goose Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and Detective Sgt. Dan Scott (John Hopkins) are left with a bad taste in their mouths when they catch wind of a gruesome murder that took place inside Plummer's Relish Factory. As it turns out, the dead body belongs to the executive of Fieldway Foods -- one of the Plummers' biggest rivals. But Mrs. Plummer has also been receiving threats from an unknown source.
Midsomer Murders: Second Sight Faith and science collide when Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and Detective Sgt. Dan Scott (John Hopkins) arrive in Midsomer Mere to investigate a bizarre murder that left its victim with scorch marks on his head. The situation grows stranger still when Barnaby and Scott learn that the townsfolk have the ability to see into the future, and Barnaby can't shake the feeling that he's seen one of them somewhere before.
Mike Douglas: Moments and Memories Relive some of the greatest moments in TV history with this unforgettable compilation of clips from "The Mike Douglas Show," as the affable host welcomes an all-star roster of names onstage for engaging conversation and memorable performances. Highlights include John Lennon backing up Chuck Berry; golf great Tiger Woods making his first appearance on TV; and a remarkable appearance from civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.
Painkiller Jane: Season 1 After uncovering top-secret information, drug enforcement agent Jane Vasko (Kristanna Loken) is forced to join a clandestine government unit in this sci-fi series' debut season. Blessed with powers that enable her to heal from any injury, Jane and her fellow operatives hunt down destructive, superhuman mutants known as neuros. The show also stars Rob Stewart as operations leader Andre McBride and Sean Owen Roberts as computer ace Riley Jensen.
Party of Five: Season 3 Life without parents continues to be an upward climb for the close-knit Salinger siblings. In Season 3, Charlie (Matthew Fox) faces Kirsten's depression, Julia (Neve Campbell) and Griffin rekindle their spark, and the entire clan tries to help Bailey (Scott Wolf) beat alcoholism. But no matter how hard things get for the Salinger five without parental guidance, they always have one another. Lacey Chabert and Jennifer Love Hewitt also star.
Sliders: Season 4 In the fourth season of the popular sci-fi series, home remains elusive for physics genius Quinn (Jerry O'Connell) and his cohorts Wade (Sabrina Lloyd), Rembrandt (Cleavant Derricks) and Maggie (Kari Wuhrer), who find countless adventures as they "slide" through time and space. In this season, O'Connell's brother Charlie joins the cast as Quinn's long-lost brother Colin. Guest stars include Shane West and Malcolm Jamal-Warner.
Suburban Shootout Suburban adversaries Camilla Diamond (Anna Chancellor) and Barbara Du Prez (Felicity Montagu) take their rivalry to new heights in this satirical British series. These ladies of seemingly sedate Little Stempington don't flinch at a little homicide if it will help them get their way. When new chief constable Jeremy Hazeldine (Ralph Ineson) and his wife, Joyce (Amelia Bullmore), arrive in town, they're soon drawn into this vicious catfight.
The Best of The Price Is Right Come on down! You're the next viewer of these classic episodes of "The Price Is Right," culled from a half-century's worth of material from the popular game show. Longtime host Bob Barker -- whose excited contestants rarely hold back their affections for him -- presides over the majority of the installments, and the series' original host, the bespectacled Bill Cullen, appears in the 1950s segments.
The Catherine Tate Show: Series 2 One-woman laugh machine Catherine Tate takes on all variety of eccentric personalities in this British comedy series. Spewing catchphrases left and right, Tate depicts such colorful characters as argumentative teen Lauren and foulmouthed granny Nan. Other oddballs in Tate's repertoire include xenophobes Janice and Ray and the ambiguously gay Derek Faye. Guest appearances by comedy stars Peter Kay and Jill Halfpenny contribute to the hilarity.
The Invisible Man: Season 1 Con man turned covert ops specialist Darien Fawkes (Vincent Ventresca) submits to a top secret government invisibility experiment in this sci-fi series. As he adjusts to his new life of invisibility and the physical outbursts that are an unfortunate side effect, Fawkes takes on shady spy networks, assassins and exotic weapons systems. Paul Ben-Victor and Shannon Kenny co-star as the invisible man's intrepid cohorts.
The Vice: Season 1 In this gritty British series, a group of undercover agents led by Detective Inspector Pat Chappel (Ken Stott) investigate London's criminal underworld, delving daily into cases involving corruption, human trafficking and murder. Chappel and his fellow operatives Joe Robinson (David Harewood), Dougie Raymond (Marc Warren) and Cheryl Hutchins (Caroline Catz) struggle to maintain normal lives at home as their work threatens to consume them.
Upright Citizens Brigade: ASSSSCAT Improv group Upright Citizens Brigade performs their famous "Asssscat" show live, with original members Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, Matt Besser and Matt Walsh. Based on one-word suggestions from the audience, the troupe -- with assistance from comics Andrew Daly, Sean Conroy, Chad Carter and Horatio Sanz ("Saturday Night Live") -- creates unrehearsed, on-the-spot hilarity that's as smart as it is funny.
Wings: Season 6 Brothers Brian (Steven Weber) and Joe Hackett (Tim Daly) and best friend Helen (Crystal Bernard) return to the trials and tribulations of operating a small airport in Nantucket, Mass., in Season 6 of this popular situation comedy. With new guest stars popping aboard, Sandpiper Air once again flies high on laughs. The sixth season is the final one for cast member Thomas Haden Church and the first for Amy Yasbeck.
Othello (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Production) Eamonn Walker turns in a searing, critically acclaimed performance as Othello in this 2007 London production at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, which co-stars Zoe Tapper as Desdemona and Tim McInnerny as Iago. Shakespeare's immortal meditation on betrayal and jealousy recounts the tragic tale of Othello, the Moor of Venice, who seeks vengeance after his subordinate Iago convinces him that his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful.
Astor Piazzolla: Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival Astor Piazzolla performs an evocative set of tangos at the 1984 Montreal Jazz Festival. Lovingly restored by Piazzolla's former student Richard Galliano, this footage captures seven songs by the renowned accordionist. Born in Argentina in 1921, Piazzolla proves his talent for injecting a range of emotions into his songs, which include "Lunfardo," "Muerte del Angel," "Adiós Nonino," "Resurrección del Angel," "Chin Chin" and "Otoño Porteño."
David Oistrakh: Remembering a Musician This compelling documentary features renowned Russian violinist David Oistrakh performing several powerfully emotional pieces, including "Intermezzo" from Lalo's "Symphonie Espagnole" and an excerpt from "F minor Sonata" by Prokofiev. Drawn from the Soviet Union's video archives and narrated by Erick Friedman, this program also features Oistrakh playing selections from Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerti, from Schumann and more.
Discovering Masterpieces: Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, one of the world's oldest orchestras, performs Richard Strauss's "Eine Alpensinfonie" -- or "An Alpine Symphony" -- a musical journey through the Bavarian Alps. Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts the concert, recorded live in Dresden in September 1998. The program is preceded by a half-hour introduction, which acquaints the viewer with the history of the piece and its esteemed composer.
Herbert von Karajan: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 Renowned 20th-century conductor Herbert von Karajan leads the Berlin Philharmonic and the Berlin Deutsche Opera House Choir through a command performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony no. 9, the final completed symphony by the composer. Recorded live in Berlin in December 1977, the concert features solos by soprano Anna Tomowa-Sintow, contralto Agnes Baltsa, tenor René Kollo and bass José Van Dam.
Holst and Debussy: The Planets and La Mer The skies and the seas provide the vast musical inspirations of this 1977 performance of Gustav Holst's "The Planets," op. 32, and Claude Debussy's "La Mer," recorded live at Philadelphia's Academy of Music. The Mendelssohn Club choir of Philadelphia joins the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of acclaimed Hungarian-American conductor Eugene Ormandy, who served as that orchestra's musical director for 42 years.
John McLaughlin with Zakir Hussain: Remember Shakti: The Way of Beauty John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain bring their unique style of Indo-Western jazz to audiences in Montreux and Mumbai in this three-concert compilation, which also includes a documentary chronicling Shakti's history. In addition to two separate performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1976 and 2004 and a Mumbai show in 2000, this tribute to Shakti features footage from the group's 2004 "Remember Shakti" concert in Paris.
Johnny Griffin and Richie Cole: from Village Vanguard Two masters of the jazz saxophone take center stage at New York City's Village Vanguard for this pair of scintillating 1981 performances. First, Johnny Griffin and his quartet rock the house with "Blues for Gonzi," "A Monk's Dream" and "56." Then, the explosive Richie Cole Group plays through "Hi Fly," "I Can't Get Started," "Punishment Blues," Charlie Parker's "Yardbird Suite" and "Red Top."
Kremer Plays Mozart Two Mozart works highlight this 2002 performance led by acclaimed Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer and his Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra. Recorded live in Salzburg, Austria, the program includes Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K. 364, and Serenade no. 6 in D Major, K. 239 ("Serenata Notturna"); Pärt's "Mozart-Adagio"; Schnittke's "Moz-Art à la Haydn"; and Teddy Bor's "McMozart's Eine Kleine Bricht Moonlicht Nicht Musik."
Leonard Bernstein: Symphony no. 9 and Manfred Overture Great American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein takes on Schubert and Schumann in two separate performances from the mid-1980s. In Munich in 1987, Bernstein leads the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra on Franz Schubert's Symphony no. 9 in C Major, D. 944 ("The Great"). Two years earlier, he visits Austria to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic in a smashing performance of Robert Schumann's Manfred Overture, op. 115.
Leonid Kogan: Interpretations This remarkable program narrated by Erick Friedman features internationally renowned violinist Leonid Kogan giving stunning performances of selections such as "Melodie" and "Valse Scherzo" by Tchaikovsky and a set of Paganini variations. Violin aficionados will especially appreciate the master's interpretations of excerpts from Bizet's "Carmen," the "Scherzo" movement by Brahms, and other selections from Glazunov and Kreisler.
Lindsey Buckingham: Live at the Bass Performance Hall Musician Lindsey Buckingham treats a Texas audience to songs from 2006's "Under the Skin," his first solo album since 1992. Buckingham performs 16 songs (including some Fleetwood Mac hits) and tosses in his own behind-the-scenes footage as a bonus. Songs include "Never Going Back," "Go Your Own Way," "Secondhand News," "Tusk," "Under the Skin," "Holiday Road," "Shut Us Down," "Go Insane," "I Know I'm Not Wrong," "Big Love" and more.
N.Y.H.C. New York City's hard-core music scene during the summer of 1995 is the focus of this groundbreaking documentary that features live performances and interviews from seven groups that defined the movement. The bands include Madball, 25 ta Life, Vision of Disorder, Crown of Thornz, 108, No Redeeming Social Value and District 9. Extras include never-before-seen footage and new interviews with Sick of It All's Lou Koller and H20's Toby Morse.
Patience (Gilbert and Sullivan) Gilbert and Sullivan's sparkling comic opera comes to life in this superb production recorded at the Sydney Opera House in 1995, starring Christine Douglas, Heather Begg and Anthony Warlow. Aesthetic poet Bunthorne owns the hearts of every woman in his village. Just one problem: His heart belongs to a milkmaid named Patience -- who doesn't have feelings for him. Enter Grosvenor, a fellow poet who just happens to be Patience's childhood crush.
The Dvorak Cycle At Germany's Alte Oper Frankfurt, three prominent Czech conductors lead the Prague Symphony Orchestra in a selection of spellbinding works by composer Antonín DvoYák. Petr Altrichter conducts Symphony no. 7 in D Minor, Jirí Belohlávek leads the Slavonic Dances and Libor Pesek directs Romance in F Minor for Violin and Orchestra." Guest soloists include violinist Ivan Zenaty.
Alix Lambert's: The Mark of Cain Exploring the violent world inside Russia's brutal prison system, filmmaker Alix Lambert's intensely gritty documentary examines how tattoos play a role in marking the status of the most hard-core prisoners. With jails so overcrowded that inmates must decide who will stand while others sleep, a well-defined hierarchy has developed where rank is determined by details of crimes committed and amount of time served.
Andhaa Kaanoon This Hindi-language action/crime drama follows a forestry official's struggle to clear his name after he's wrongfully imprisoned for a murder. When he sees the real criminals living the good life, his thoughts turn to revenge, and he enlists help to strike a forceful blow to this corrupt power. This topical film contains more food for thought -- and fewer catchy ditties -- than most escapist Bollywood features.
Diabolically Yours After narrowly surviving a car crash, Georges (Alain Delon) spends weeks in a coma, only to wake up and discover that he has no memories of his former life. But as he's coaxed back to health by his wife (Senta Berger) and best friend (Sergio Fantoni), he slowly begins to fear that he's a pawn in their sinister game. Julien Duvivier directs in his final feature film, completed just months before he died in a fatal auto accident.
Horizontal Landscape The construction of a factory reveals an underlying current of unrest in a communist country in this award-winning feature debut from Polish writer-director Janusz Kidawa. Three construction workers hired to help build a new plant find themselves pulling together to finish the project when their foreman is fired for slacking off. While living together in a crowded apartment, they also air their frustrations about everyday life.
La Otra One of the most popular telenovelas ever, this popular series centers on Carlota (Yadhira Carrillo), the illegitimate daughter of a deceased millionaire father and a conniving, money-grubbing mother named Bernarda (Jacqueline Andere). Determined to keep the inheritance entitled to Carlota as long as she is single, Bernarda plots and schemes to destroy her daughter's relationship with the man she loves (Juan Soler).
La Piscine While on vacation at a gorgeous villa near St. Tropez, lovers Marianne and Jean-Paul (Romy Schneider and Alain Delon) find trouble when they're visited by Marianne's old flame Harry (Maurice Ronet) and his sexy teen daughter Penelope (Jane Birkin). When Jean-Paul begins to get too cozy with the nubile young guest, grave consequences follow in this dramatic thriller from prolific director Jacques Deray.
Men and Legends Kung fu masters Fok Yuen Gaap and Wong Fei Hung pool their resources to bring their knowledge to the masses. But when Fok is poisoned, one of his disciples discovers that his master's death was all part of a complex Japanese plot to attack China. Yun-tung Ho and Pin-chao Guo star in this epic kung fu saga inspired in part by Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury and the classic Once Upon a Time in China series.
Mr. Freedom Directed by groundbreaking photographer William Klein, this 1969 political satire centers on American superhero Mr. Freedom (John Abbey) and his mission to kick the Communists out of France. Pooh-poohed by the French, Mr. Freedom decides to destroy the country. Klein's send-up of U.S. imperialism co-stars veteran actors Donald Pleasence and Delphine Seyrig. Klein went on to direct the documentary Muhammad Ali: The Greatest, among other films.
PTU: Police Tactical Unit In an action-packed chaotic last-ditch mission that lands them in the middle of a gang war, Hong Kong cop Lo (Suet Lam) and a team of regulation-breaking PTU officers hunt for Lo's gun, which went missing under suspicious circumstances. Winner of multiple film festival awards, this actioner from director Johnny To melds noir style with martial arts. Simon Yam, Ho-Yin Wong, Maggie Siu and Ruby Wong also star.
Pandora Set in 1950s Greece against the aftermath of a civil war, this epic tale centers on the inhabitants of a small village and a mysterious woman named Pandora (Theodora Tzimou) who changes their lives forever. As the people of the village work to rebuild their lives, the spellbinding Pandora's schemes to seduce two local men take a costly toll on the entire community. Giannos Perlegas and Yannis Stankoglou co-star.
The Detective Forced to take on boring, safe assignments due to his poor eyesight, private investigator Tam (Aaron Kwok) finally gets the case he's been waiting for when his desperate friend Lung (Fui-On Shing) begs him to find a woman assassin before it's too late. Lung is convinced that Sum (Natthasinee Pinyopiyavid) is out to kill him, prompting Tam to begin an investigation that leads him into a tangled mystery involving one corpse after another.
The Dracula Saga The pregnant Berta (Tina Sáinz) and her husband, Hans (Tony Isbert), journey to Transylvania to visit Berta's infamous grandfather, Count Dracula (Narciso Ibáñez Menta). While Hans falls victim to some resident bloodsucking beauties, Berta learns her baby is slated to carry on the family business. Director León Klimovsky's mid-1970s Spanish horror extravaganza is an exquisite mix of blood, guts and eroticism.
The Model Couple Writer-director William Klein's strident, satirical style is exemplified in three rarely seen films: Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?, Mr. Freedom and The Model Couple. The first feature stars Dorothy McGowan as a model whose beauty threatens the public good; in the second, John Abbey is a pro-America superhero whose methods and idealism are hilariously wrongheaded; and the third finds the U.S. government molding perfect people through consumerism.
The Rabbit Is Me Banned in its native East Germany upon its 1965 release, this provocative drama follows 16-year-old Maria Morzeck (Angelika Waller), who experiences political corruption firsthand after her brother (Wolfgang Winkler) is jailed for "subversive acts" against the government. When she's openly seduced by a married judge, Maria is initially flattered -- until she discovers that his motives are as corrupt as the system that imprisoned her brother.
The Second Track In this German drama, Brock (Albert Hetterle), a railroad inspector, witnesses a robbery at a train depot. He recognizes the thief, but turning the man in would mean acknowledging he knows him, thus revealing his own complicity with the Nazi war machine. When Brock's daughter (Annekathrin Bürger) and her boyfriend (Horst Jonischkan) begin to question him about the incident, will the secret he's kept for nearly 20 years finally be exposed?
The Unknown Soldier This gripping documentary focuses on the controversial Wehrmacht Exhibition of the late 1990s and early 2000s, which challenged the traditional German belief that the regular army didn't participate in atrocities perpetrated by the SS. Renowned director Michael Verhoeven explores the appalling crimes committed during this disturbing period of his country's legacy, taking a close look at some of the newly revealed transgressions of the Wehrmacht.
The Widow Couderc In the French countryside after World War I, an affair blooms between widowed farm owner Couderc Tati (Simone Signoret) and her boarder, the handsome fugitive Jean Lavigne (Alain Delon). But their romance takes a turn when Jean meets her sister-in-law's seductive daughter (Ottavia Piccolo). The great French stars Signoret and Delon command the screen in this romantic drama based on the novel by Georges Simenon.
Them Late one night, Lucas (Michaël Cohen) and Clémentine (Olivia Bonamy) encounter strange events in their remote country home. It starts with prank calls and strange noises, but when the power is cut off and their car disappears, the terrified couple is trapped by the unseen force. Is it simply kids from the school where Clémentine teaches, or could it have something to do with a mother and daughter who mysteriously vanished the day before?
Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? Supermodel Polly Maggoo (Dorothy McGowan) is at the center of a whirlwind of publicity. As she discusses her life with a television crew, she embarks on flights of fancy that include a "Prince Charming" (Sami Frey), animated interludes and aluminum-foil clothing. This satire provides a scathing look at the fashion world as viewed by writer-director William Klein, the photographer and filmmaker who specialized in skewering the 1960s' sacred cows.
