Hey folks, Harry here - Not much coming out this week that I can really recommend. That said what is here is fun and cool - at least by my estimation. As always the box art and titles are clickable to Amazon where you can learn more on the title - as well as purchase it, where a small portion will go to support this column. Here ya go...

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

POPEYE THE SAILOR: 1938-1940, Vol. 2

The classic POPEYE cartoons are absolute bliss. This isn’t that crap Famous Studios color stuff, but the black & white Fleischer classics which feature some of the greatest animation and animated gag work in the history of the medium. Here you get 31 classic Popeyes – including two JEEP cartoons and one of my all time faves… GOONLAND! Also on here is the color classic Popeye – ALADDIN AND HIS WONDERFUL LAMP. Also on here is a great OUT OF THE INKWELL: THE FLEISCHER STORY documentary and the feature animated classic GULLIVER’S TRAVELS – and still yet more goodies. They just need to add a few cans of spinach and a gift certificate for POPEYE’S CHICKEN.

THE SWORD IN THE STONE ( 45th Anniversary Special Edition )

I’m an EXCALIBUR freak – and love and have always loved that version of the Arthur tale – but – when Disney took their turn at it – well… it’s kinda the most adorable thing ever. The transformation battle is one of my favorite wizard battles ever – and so damn cute. It wasn’t one of Disney’s best – but damn if it isn’t fun as can be. I so can’t wait for these animated classics to begin hitting Blu Ray. But the first will be SLEEPING BEAUTY and then NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. That’ll be bliss.

FANNY

Not sure if you grew up in love with Leslie Caron… but I was. The first thing you’ll notice about this film is just how stunningly beautiful it is. A large part of that credit goes to Jack Cardiff (Cinematographer to the Gods) – That makes this film work – along with the performances by Leslie Caron, Charles Boyer and the amazing Maurice Chevalier. While it didn’t rack up the Oscars it did acquire 5 nominations – and is superior work. Really beautiful film.

THE NUDE BOMB

Quint went to see the new GET SMART movie last night… I stayed at home to watch THE NUDE BOMB – the real GET SMART movie – and ya know… I think Quint did the right thing. The original film lives better in memory than it does playing in front of you. But it is fun and goofy – and that’s good. I just wish they’d adapted THE NUDE BOMB as the main threat in the new film… because Anne Hathaway nudity is always a fine selling point.

THE CARMEN MIRANDA COLLECTION – ( THE GANG’S ALL HERE / IF I’M LUCKY / SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS / GREENWICH VILLAGE / DOLL FACE )

This is the highlight of the week. Most of you probably have never seen Carmen Miranda in a film – but instead remember Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck putting fruit on their heads – wrapping a sarong around them and doing a “Boom chicka Boom Chicka Boom” type of number in various Warner cartoons. But the real Carmen Miranda on film was a crazed concoction unlike anything we’ve ever seen before or after. She was dripping smiling latin sex made over as a dancing fruit cocktail. The gold standard of her work was Busby Berkeley’s THE GANG’S ALL HERE – which is the most phallic imaged film ever made. It’s really unbelievable. It also serves as Busby’s sole directorial and Technicolor work and it is absolutely not to be missed under any circumstances. The other films are also delightful and wonderful. These films are great with rum drinks with diced fruit. But a warning – they may lead to cross-dressing and excessive domestic silliness. You have been warned. (That means you should definitely get this!)

SUPER HIGH ME

This ridiculous documentary was beloved by Annette Kellerman at SXSW this year – and it’s silly and also oddly revealing. For you 420 friendly types only. Or aspiring 420 followers.

Pretty slow week this week, but next week is a bit more fun with FUTURAMA: THE BEAST WITH A BILLION BACKS, 10,000B.C., THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (Blu Ray), IN BRUGES, PERSEPOLIS, XANADU, JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN, THE FURIES, MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES, CHARLIE BARTLETT, BEFORE THE RAIN, STEP INTO LIQUID (Blu Ray), MAID IN SWEDEN, SECOND COMING OF EVA, GOODBYE UNCLE TOM, HELL’S GROUND & Much More!