The question "Why the Hell isn't THIS on DVD yet?" has happily become outdated for two more of The Horn Section's most wanted, thanks to MGM's answer to the Warner Archive, the MGM Limited Edition Collection.
COLD TURKEY (1971), which was review # 19 in our series, is available for pre-order at Amazon.com. Here is the original review for Norman Lear's one and only feature film as director. You'll have a lot of fun counting the familiar faces from Lear's later TV efforts, including Jean Stapleton, Vincent Gardenia, Barnard Hughes, Tom Poston, Paul Benedict and Barbara Cason. TV legends Dick Van Dyke and Bob Newhart star, and Edward Everett Horton makes his final film appearance---and beats BLAZING SADDLES to onscreen flatulence by three years.
Perhaps the finest film of the 1970's that had been excluded from DVD, and arguably one of the decade's top 20 films, Hal Ashby's THE LANDLORD (1970), is also among MGM's initial Limited Edition releases. Here is the original review of this unsung classic, which boasts considerable talent behind the camera. Ashby would go on to direct HAROLD AND MAUDE, THE LAST DETAIL, SHAMPOO and BEING THERE, and screenwriter Bill Gunn would go on to direct, write and star in the highly original vampire flick GANJA AND HESS (1973). THE LANDLORD stars Beau Bridges, Marki Bey (SUGAR HILL), Oscar-nominated Lee Grant, Pearl Bailey, and, in perhaps her finest screen performance, Diana Sands (pictured).
Happy shopping! # 44 in the series is coming up.
Both of these movies are particular favorites of mine, and while I'm not wild about their MOD status it's nice to see that they will be accessible to a movie-buying public.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I saw your girl (Ms. Sands) the other morning (Saturday) in an Outer Limits rerun ("Mice") on our local station and immediately thought of you.
Hi, Ivan, glad you're feeling better. That OUTER LIMITS is also available for instant viewing on Netflix. Also a good early role for Henry Silva too. With you on the MGM releases; I'd like to see an extra here and there. Commentaries would be nice for both, but like you, I'll gladly take the wide availability given how hard these two were to see for years. At least Showtime has aired both films in recent years--fairly frequently in COLD TURKEY's case.
ReplyDeleteExcellent choices, Hal!
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing "Cold Turkey" on network TV when I was a squirt. My sister and I spent the whole time pointing and saying "Hey, it's that guy/woman!"
I saw "The Landlord" at a fairly young age, too, but it kept me glued to the screen. You can't go wrong with a Hal Ashby film. My wife thinks I'm nuts, but I could watch "Harold and Maude" on an endless loop.