Movie Info:
Writer: Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Al Lettieri, Diane Keaton, Abe Vigoda, Gianni Russo, Rudy Bond, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Lee Strasberg, Michael V. Gazzo, G.D. Spradlin, Gastone Moschin, Tom Rosqui, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, Sofia Coppola, Raf Vallone, Franc D’Ambrosio, Donal Donnelly, Richard Bright
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: Direct to DVD
DVD Release Date: September 23, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $61.95

The first time I watched The Godfather I was hooked. It became my favorite movie at that time and has held that spot ever since. Movies have come and gone, but no matter how many times I watch this it never gets old. Sure, some might say that’s because it’s The Godfather and something this amazing couldn’t get old, but I think it’s more than that. I think it’s that the first and second movies were so much more than movies.

I think it’s safe to say that these first two films were art, serving as examples of what Hollywood used to produce and isn’t as frequent to offer anymore. The Godfather has been reviewed by countless critics and is one of the most loved movies of all time. It’s almost loved more than The Godfather II.

When you think about it, what isn’t there to love about this series? The young (at the time), emerging talents were all involved. Distinguished names like James Caan, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire (Coppola’s sister) and many others are present and accounted for. Al Pacino was practically unknown when he was given the role of Michael Corleone, a role that would change his career and launch him into stardom. Despite the fact that the role did that, he earned it.

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Movie Info:
Writer: Mario Puzo
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Al Lettieri, Diane Keaton, Abe Vigoda, Gianni Russo, Rudy Bond, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Lee Strasberg, Michael V. Gazzo, G.D. Spradlin, Gastone Moschin, Tom Rosqui, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, Sofia Coppola, Raf Vallone, Franc D’Ambrosio, Donal Donnelly, Richard Bright
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 23, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $62.99

This is probably one of the hardest reviews that I have ever had to write. What does one say about The Godfather that hasn’t already been said in the past? This is one of the best movies of all time and is certainly the best movie series of all time. The story is addicting, the acting is engaging, and the direction is flawless. I shy away from calling any movie perfect, but I fail to see how these movies could have been any better than they are.

Marlon Brando was just one of the men considered for the part of Don Vito Corleone. Francis Ford Coppola wanted him or Laurence Olivier, who could not do the role, from the beginning. However, the studios looked at several other options including Ernest Borgnine, Edward G. Robinson, Orson Welles, Carlo Ponti, and George C. Scott. Burt Lancaster was never considered, but he did lobby for the role.

And then there was old blue eyes. Frank Sinatra was against both the novel, as a whole, and the idea of a movie being made, but at one point after he had talks with Coppola, he offered himself for the role. Coppola was adamant about Brando though and it’s obvious how that turned out. The studio paid him a paltry sum for the film, but that would not be something that changed the course of the film for the viewers.

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TV Show Info:
Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Curly Howard
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Sony Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Original Air Dates:1940-1942
DVD Box Set Release Date: August 26, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon

When you are a kid there is just something funny about grown men smacking, bumping, kicking, and poking each other in the eyes. Over 20 years later (in my case, for others it could be much longer), it is still pretty hilarious. As a huge Stooges fan I look forward to each of these compilations as they come. Despite the fact that I have already had the chance to see a large number of these classic shorts, it is great to be able to revisit them. It’s even better to see them preserved in such good quality. Now I can watch them whenever I want, which is an extra special treat, considering these are rarely, if ever, shown on television these days.

The heyday for The Three Stooges was between 1934 and 1947. Prior to then, Curly was not a member of the group and Shemp Howard was the third Stooge. Curly replaced Shemp in 1934 and amused audiences until 1947 when he had a stroke. Shemp came back on the show at that time, with Curly’s blessing, until he would be able to return. Unfortunately, he never got back to the point where he was strong enough to handle the demands of filming. However, his contributions to comedy are still celebrated today, in sets such as this. This particular set pays close attention to the years 1940 to 1942.

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Movie Info:
Writer: John Hughes
Director: John Hughes
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Edie McClurg, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: June 11. 1986
DVD Release Date: August 5, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $8.99

One of the first 80s movies I ever really remember watching is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I was five years old when the movie debuted in theaters, so who knows if I saw it in the theater or not. I do remember owning the VHS copy of the movie and watching it on television every time it was on. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was one of those movies that was snarky enough to get kids and teens into it, but not so bad that parents wouldn’t complain about their kids watching it. I had very odd parents who had weird rules about what we could and couldn’t watch, so knowing I watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and even owned a copy of the VHS says a lot.

What’s not to like about Ferris? I was a good kid in school. At home, that’s another story. I was afraid of the authoritative figures at my school, so I minded my p’s and q’s. When I used to watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off I couldn’t help but be envious of Ferris. Here is a guy who can fool a whole town into thinking he’s sick, trick his parents into letting him stay home, and then go out and have a heck of a day in Chicago. What kid doesn’t dream of having a day all their own with no teacher or parents harping on them?

I have to say that even as a good student I did try putting my thermometer against a light bulb once or twice, to try to get out of going to school (I said I was a good student, not that I enjoyed school). I guess when my temperature read 107 my parents thought I was either fooling them or I was miraculously awake while my brain was frying in my head. That definitely didn’t mean I got to stay home. I ended up having to fake some other illness the next day. Even then, all I could do was hang around the house and watch TV all day, since there really wasn’t anything exciting going on around the small village of Walbridge, Ohio.

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Movie Info:
Writers: Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr.
Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, John Stockwell, Barry Tubb, Rick Rossovich, Tim Robbins, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Whip Hubley, James Tolkan, Meg Ryan,Adrian Pasdar
Rating: PG
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: May 16, 1986
DVD Release Date: August 5, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $8.99

Growing up in the 1980s, I had the chance to see some of the coolest movies. The 80s was filled with plenty of movies now deemed classics. Among them is the movie Top Gun. Before Tom Cruise was a freaky Scientologist who lost the ability to act and all sense of reality, he was the super cool Maverick, a hero of 80s children everywhere. Boys wanted to be Maverick. Girls wanted to be with him. This is just one of the roles that Tom Cruise had in the 80s that made him a big star. In the 80s, Tom Cruise was it.

It’s funny how a person can change in 20 or so years. Today, Tom Cruise is still making movies. In fact, he is rich and could retire tomorrow easily. Unfortunately, he really isn’t the box office draw he was back in the day when Top Gun was at the theaters. His erratic behavior, obsessive love for Scientology and his somewhat same-sex (Katie is looking more and more like a guy with every haircut she gets) relationship with Katie Holmes have made many of his fans reconsider whether Tom really is all that. He’s changed and with it, he’s chosen less desirable movie roles that just aren’t what they used to be.

I hate to spend this whole review talking about how Tom Cruise is a freak, who no longer gets the respect he once had. So, I’ll stop while I’m ahead. Top Gun is a great movie because it has all the elements that make an action-packed movie (80s movies especially) worth watching again and again. There is a cool story that is going to draw in both men and women. There’s romance. There’s high paced adventure. There is plenty of in the air action with Maverick and his class flying fighter planes as they train at a Navy Fighter Pilot Flying School, the TOPGUN School. Finally, there is an interesting back story that frames who Maverick is and why he acts the way he does

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Movie Info:
Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, Adolphe Menjou, Don Ameche, Herbert Marshall, Ruth Chatterton, Dorthy Lamour, Joan Fontaine, Anne Baxter, Gene Tierney, Ann Blyth, Michael Rennie, Dennis Price, Linda Darnell
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release:Varies based on Movie
DVD Release Date: July 29, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon: $34.99, Walmart: $34.86

Classic movie buffs like to believe that Hollywood was set to a higher standard than it is today. In some ways that may be true, but you still see some rushed through productions and mismanaged celebrities. Sure, things seemed better back then but the grass always seems greener, doesn’t it? Still, there are celebrities that stand out from the pack in any generation. In the past, we have reviewed sets by class acts such as Barbara Stanwyck and Bette Davis. Now it’s time to look at Tyrone Power.

Funnily enough, the first time I ever heard the name Tyrone Power, was during the fabulous Bette Davis performance in All About Eve. It would be much later before I knew he was real and then later still until I had seen some of his work. From 1925 to 1959, Power starred in over 50 movies. Many people would consider him one of the most romantic leads of his time. Those who claim that would probably be right. Power had a very charismatic, old Hollywood charm about him that is sadly lost from today’s talented brood. Still, in sets like this you have a chance to look back and remember the most talented for what they did and the joy it brought people.

Power is part of an acting legacy that continued on with his children, but the acting bug in the Power family started with at least two Tyrones before him. When it comes to him specifically, he led a full life, known for not only his romantic word play, but the swordplay that came with his swashbuckling roles. He served in WWII as a pilot and eventually made his way onto the cover of a Beatles album (Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band). In 1959, Power had a heart attack while shooting, Solomon and Sheba and died. His legacy lives on to this day in all of his films and the sets they’re made available in, such as The Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection .

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Literary Illusions is proud to be giving away three copies of High Noon: 2-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition on DVD. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one. Comments are moderated to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

To enter you need to be 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible. Winners will be announced here. If we do not hear from you within 3 weeks from the date the winners are announced you forfeit your prize and we will select another winner. Prizes will be shipped within 45 days from the day you win.

We will begin choosing winners for this the week of July 8, 2008, which means you have until July 7, 2008 at 11:59 to enter.

From the Press Release:

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Writers: George Lucas, Phillip Kaufman, Lawrence Kasdan, Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz, Meno Meyjes, Jeffrey Boam
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Paul Freeman, Jonathan Ke Quan, Kate Capshaw, Alison Doody, Ronald Lacey , Alfred Molina, Wolf Kahler, Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Phillip Stone, Roy Chiao, Raj Singh, David Yip, Ric Young, Julian Glover, River Phoenix, Michael Byrne, Kevork Malikyan
Rating: PG
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: May 13, 2008

I grew up in the 1980s. What kid in the 80s didn’t play Indiana Jones? We’d go on our own adventures in my friend’s backyard (or in my mobile home park, running down the path between the two homes on each side) and pretend we were in a swampy place, trying to avoid whatever creatures, especially snakes, we could. We even played Indiana Jones at the local pool. With so much water playing a role in all three movies, it was easy to relive any of Indy’s adventures. Well…at least in our imaginations.

George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are the ultimate team. I don’t know why so many people seem to hate George Lucas. I’m thinking they all must be LOTR fans. Well, I’m not one of them. Nobody owned the 80s like Spielberg and Lucas. This is proof positive since the two have been listed in the top 400 richest Americans with a net worth for Lucas of over $3 billion and Spielberg, slightly below that. That’s a feat Peter Jackson (or any other Hollywood filmmaker) has yet to dream of accomplishing.

Release Information:
The Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection is made up of the original, three Indiana Jones movies. The first movie is Raiders of the Lost Ark. This movie premiered in theaters on June 12, 1981. Spielberg and Lucas had always intended for there to be five films in the Indiana Jones series, so after the success of Raiders, the follow up was Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which debuted in theaters on May 23, 1984. Finally, what was believed to be the last in the series, since disputes over the fourth film caused Lucas and Spielberg to move on to other projects, is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This movie was released into movie theaters on May 24, 1989.

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Writers: Homer Brightman, Ralph Wright, Roy Williams, Harry Reeves, Dick Huemer, Joe Grant, Aurora Miranda, Carmen Molina, Dora Luz, Starling Holloway, Joaquin Garay
Cast: Fred Shields, José Oliveira, Pinto Colvig, Walt Disney, Clarence Nash, Frank Thomas
Rating: G
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Release Date: April 29, 2008

I never understood why parents were so worried about cartoons smoking cigars. First, it’s pretty unrealistic to think of a duck or a parrot smoking cigars. Second, when I was a kid, I thought seeing my favorite cartoons with stogies was kind of funny looking, but never something I’d want to try myself. I don’t know why anyone thinks Jose Carioca with a stogie shoved in his mouth is glamorous because to me, it’s not, but I guess that is a major reason why Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros aren’t as readily available as other Disney productions. People are just too PC these days.

In the early days of the Disney studio, Walt Disney did some fun and experimental movies. One of those movies involved a trip to Latin America. The Disney studio traveled the region and then made several short films about their exploits. This was the basis for Saludos Amigos. This movie was shown in Latin American countries during WWII to promote relations with the countries, in hopes of their allegiance against Nazi Germany. So, the movie has quite an interesting history.

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Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Eleanor Powell, James Stewart, Virginia Bruce, Una Merkel, Sid Silvers, Buddy Epsen, Ann Sothern, Robert Young, Lionel Barrymore, John Carroll, Red Skelton, Jack Benny, George Murphy, Binnie Barnes, Jane Powell, Tony Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Walter Pidgeon, Ann Miller, Russ Tamblyn, José Ferrer, Merle Oberon, Helen Traubel, Doe Avedon, Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Dolores Gray, Vic Damone, Monty Woolley, Ann Sothern, Barry Sullivan, Carmen Miranda, Louis Calhern, Ricardo Montalban, Ann Harding
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Bros.
Release Date: April 8, 2008

I love musicals. There are romantic musicals. There are entertaining musicals. There are cheesy musicals. They really don’t make musicals like they did in the old days. Many big name actors have starred in musicals and while not every storyline for a musical is logical nor does it make a lot of sense the entertainment value of the singing, acting and dancing are what make these movies worth watching.

I had never seen any of the musicals in the Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3 box set collection. While I had heard of many of the actors and seen most of them in other movies, I’d only heard of Kismet out of the nine movies included in this box set. I figured the set couldn’t be all that bad. With names like James Stewart, Jack Benny, Lionel Barrymore, Eleanor Powell, Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Richardo Montalban, and Red Skelton, it is hard to argue about the quality of the acting, but I have realized that I should be prepared for anything. Luckily, while this certainly is a diverse group of films to put together in one set, I wasn’t too disappointed with what I found in this set.

Release Information:
The nine movies that are included in the Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3, were all originally released from dates that range from the 1930s-1950s. Hit the Deck was released in March of 1955. Born to Dance was released in November of 1936. Lady be Good was released in September of 1941.

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