- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,750
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
Up until today, I don't think I have given much thought to who
might be my favorite actor of all time. Up until this moment, one
could have asked me that question and I could have spilled out
a half dozen different names, not really committing to its worth.
Over the past few months I have had the pleasure of watching
some really sensational classic films for the very first time on the
Blu-ray format. They include The Unforgiven and Elmer Gantry
(Kino), Judgment at Nuremberg, The Train and Bird Man of
Alcatraz (Twilight Time). Of course, the one thing all these films
have in common is Burt Lancaster.
I find myself completely in awe of every performance that the late,
great Burt Lancaster has given to these films. I never knew Mr. Lancaster
personally, but could only hope that his onscreen persona matches the
man he really was in life - a gentle giant of a man.
I have only seen a half dozen of Mr. Lancaster's films. It's kind of funny
that I first became aware of the man from his performance in Twilight's
Last Gleaming. From there I moved to From Here To Eternity, and then
to the four films I mentioned above.
Yes, not many films to judge by, but having just watched Bird Man of
Alcatraz, I feel as if I just watched the single best performance of his lifetime.
I feel so very proud of what Mr. Lancaster accomplished in that film. One
only has to watch this film once to have it burned in the mind forever. It is
a film that I will never forget.
One of the greatest films of all time? You betcha!
Twilight Time is always very careful about the films they choose to license.
When you pay a premium for their product, you know you are getting a quality
transfer. Bird Man Of Alcatraz looks sensational on Blu-ray. Obviously, an
effort was put forward to make it shine on this format.
I am always intrigued by included commentary from Nick Redmond, Julie
Kirgo and Paul Seydor. I wish I had the time to rewatch this film and listen
to it all, but instead, I took the opportunity to listen to certain portions of
their dialogue. As expected, it's a very delightful discussion that seems to
have been done with little undertaking --- just a bunch of friends watching
the film and discussing its history, and their opinions of its production. I
rather enjoyed the fact that Mr. Seydor gave a little history of Robert Stroud's
childhood, how he came to killing his first victim (a bartender who mistreated
Stroud's prostitute), and found himself in Leavenworth prison. As always, it's
such a soothing pleasure to hear Julie Kirgo's voice interacting with her male
counterparts. At one mark in the film, Julie really hits home the point of how
the prison system stripped these prisoners of their individuality --- one of the
major issues that I think director John Frankenheimer was attempting to relay
with this movie.
This has been a spectacular month for Twilight Time releases. Having just
watched Bird Man of Alcatraz and Judgment At Nuremberg, I feel as if I have
discovered two of the best kept secrets in cinematic history. Why it took so long
to get these gems out on Blu-ray is beyond me, but thankfully they have been
handed over to Twilight Time who has given considerable care to them both in
their overall presentation.
Both titles belong in every home collection!
might be my favorite actor of all time. Up until this moment, one
could have asked me that question and I could have spilled out
a half dozen different names, not really committing to its worth.
Over the past few months I have had the pleasure of watching
some really sensational classic films for the very first time on the
Blu-ray format. They include The Unforgiven and Elmer Gantry
(Kino), Judgment at Nuremberg, The Train and Bird Man of
Alcatraz (Twilight Time). Of course, the one thing all these films
have in common is Burt Lancaster.
I find myself completely in awe of every performance that the late,
great Burt Lancaster has given to these films. I never knew Mr. Lancaster
personally, but could only hope that his onscreen persona matches the
man he really was in life - a gentle giant of a man.
I have only seen a half dozen of Mr. Lancaster's films. It's kind of funny
that I first became aware of the man from his performance in Twilight's
Last Gleaming. From there I moved to From Here To Eternity, and then
to the four films I mentioned above.
Yes, not many films to judge by, but having just watched Bird Man of
Alcatraz, I feel as if I just watched the single best performance of his lifetime.
I feel so very proud of what Mr. Lancaster accomplished in that film. One
only has to watch this film once to have it burned in the mind forever. It is
a film that I will never forget.
One of the greatest films of all time? You betcha!
Twilight Time is always very careful about the films they choose to license.
When you pay a premium for their product, you know you are getting a quality
transfer. Bird Man Of Alcatraz looks sensational on Blu-ray. Obviously, an
effort was put forward to make it shine on this format.
I am always intrigued by included commentary from Nick Redmond, Julie
Kirgo and Paul Seydor. I wish I had the time to rewatch this film and listen
to it all, but instead, I took the opportunity to listen to certain portions of
their dialogue. As expected, it's a very delightful discussion that seems to
have been done with little undertaking --- just a bunch of friends watching
the film and discussing its history, and their opinions of its production. I
rather enjoyed the fact that Mr. Seydor gave a little history of Robert Stroud's
childhood, how he came to killing his first victim (a bartender who mistreated
Stroud's prostitute), and found himself in Leavenworth prison. As always, it's
such a soothing pleasure to hear Julie Kirgo's voice interacting with her male
counterparts. At one mark in the film, Julie really hits home the point of how
the prison system stripped these prisoners of their individuality --- one of the
major issues that I think director John Frankenheimer was attempting to relay
with this movie.
This has been a spectacular month for Twilight Time releases. Having just
watched Bird Man of Alcatraz and Judgment At Nuremberg, I feel as if I have
discovered two of the best kept secrets in cinematic history. Why it took so long
to get these gems out on Blu-ray is beyond me, but thankfully they have been
handed over to Twilight Time who has given considerable care to them both in
their overall presentation.
Both titles belong in every home collection!
