Back in December 2008, I posted my wish list of 61 movies that I wanted to see released on DVD. Today I learned that The Sterile Cuckoo, House of Dark Shadows and A New Leaf are going to be released soon on DVD, so I thought it was time to update my list. 31 of my cinematic wishes have been released on DVD in the last four years (click on titles in pink for an Amazon link), and I've added eight new films:
Act One (1963): I love this autobiography by playwright Moss Hart, so I'm curious to see the film with George Hamilton and Jason Robards.
American Hot Wax (1978): Tim McIntire, Fran Drescher, Laraine Newman, Melanie Chartoff and Jay Leno star in this rock 'n' roll film about Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed in the 1950s.
At Long Last Love (1975): Peter Bogdanovich's infamous flop musical comedy starring Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn and Eileen Brennan.
The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968): One of my favorite Shirley MacLaine films.
The Boy Friend (1971): A musical starring Twiggy, Tommy Tune and Glenda Jackson (released as a remastered DVD-R in 2011 by the Warner Archive Collection).
Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969): Anthony Newley wrote, directed and starred in this British musical, which features his then-wife, Joan Collins, as a singing Polyester Poontang.
Chapter Two (1980): A Neil Simon movie starring Marsha Mason, James Caan and Valerie Harper (released as a DVD-R in 2012 by the Sony Pictures Choice Collection).
Coffee, Tea or Me? (1973): A fun TV-movie with Karen Valentine as a stewardess juggling two husbands - one in Los Angeles, the other in London.
Cold Turkey (1971): Norman Lear's dark comedy is hysterical. The excellent cast includes Dick Van Dyke, Bob Newhart, Tom Poston, Jean Stapleton, Barnard Hughes and Pippa Scott (released as a DVD-R in 2010 by the MGM Limited Edition Collection)
Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982): Starring Cher, Sandy Dennis, Karen Black and Kathy Bates and directed by the great Robert Altman, it boggles my mind why this movie isn't on DVD.
Compromising Positions (1985): I like this comedy-mystery starring Susan Sarandon, Raul Julia and Judith Ivey.
Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970): A drama about a frustrated wife starring Carrie Snodgress, who was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award, Richard Benjamin and a sexy Frank Langella.
Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate (1971): Made-for-TV film starring Helen Hayes, Myrna Loy, Mildred Natwick and Sylvia Sidney.
Doctors' Wives (1971): I'm a sucker for a trashy, campy Dyan Cannon film, and this one also stars Gene Hackman and Carroll O'Connor (released as a DVD-R in 2010 by Sony's Screen Classics by Request).
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973): Kim Darby stars in this horror flick (released as a remastered Special Edition DVD-R in 2011 by the Warner Archive Collection).
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972): Paul Newman directed his wife, Joanne Woodward, in this effective drama.
Finnegan Begin Again (1985): Mary Tyler Moore and Robert Preston are wonderful in this sweet romantic comedy.
The Flim-Flam Man (1967): I haven't seen this film since I was a kid, but I remember enjoying the performances of George C. Scott, Michael Sarrazin and Sue Lyon (released on DVD in 2011)
For Ladies Only (1981): Gregory Harrison and Marc Singer play hunky strippers in this memorable TV movie.
Freebie and the Bean (1974): The first R-rated movie I ever saw, starring Alan Arkin, James Caan and Valerie Harper. It's raunchy, funny and violent - something for everyone! (released as a DVD-R in 2009 by the Warner Archive Collection).
Gambit (1966): Another favorite Shirley MacLaine movie, this one also stars Michael Caine (released as a DVD-R in 2010 by the Universal Vault Series).
The Games (1970): A drama about four marathon runners in the Olympic games starring Michael Crawford and Ryan O'Neal.
Garbo Talks (1984): Anne Bancroft was one of our finest actresses, and I'd watch her in almost anything. This film has a terrific supporting cast, including Carrie Fisher, Dorothy Loudon, Harvey Fierstein and Hermione Gingold (released as a DVD-R in 2010 by the MGM Limited Edition Collection).
The Gathering (1977): This TV movie stars Ed Asner, Maureen Stapleton, Veronica Hamel and Gregory Harrison, and a sequel, The Gathering Part II, was made in 1979 (both movies were released together on a DVD-R by the Warner Archive Collection, but now you can also get just the original on DVD).
Getting Away from It All (1972): One of my favorite TV movies about two city couples who move to the country, starring Larry Hagman, Barbara Feldon, Gary Collins and Vivian Vance.
Gilda Live (1979): It's Gilda Radner on the Broadway stage of the Winter Garden Theatre (released as a DVD-R in 2010 by the Warner Archive Collection).
The Group (1966): Candice Bergen, Joan Hackett, Shirley Knight and Jessica Walter star in this soapy drama (released as a DVD-R in 2009 by the MGM Limited Edition Collection).
Harlow (1965): Carroll Baker plays Jean Harlow. Also starring Red Buttons, Angela Lansbury and Peter Lawford (released on DVD in 2010).
Harlow (1965): Another Harlow bio, this one stars Carol Lynley as the actress and Ginger Rogers as her mother.
Hear My Song (1992): An Irish romantic musical comedy/drama with a very nice soundtrack (available only on a Region 2 DVD).
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (1993): A crazy comedy starring Adrienne Shelley, Sean Young and a hunky Max Parrish.
Housekeeping (1988): I adore this film starring Christine Lahti in her best performance ever (released as a DVD-R in 2011 by the Sony Pictures Choice Collection).
I Love a Mystery (1973): Ida Lupino, David Hartman and Don Knotts star in this TV movie about the search for a mysterious billionaire.
The Last Married Couple in America (1980): A light, fluffy sex farce starring George Segal, the lovely Natalie Wood and Valerie Harper (released as a DVD-R in 2011 by the Universal Vault Series).
Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977): Diane Keaton is a schoolteacher who enjoys cruising bars in this drama, which also stars Tuesday Weld, Richard Gere and Tom Berenger.
The Love Machine (1971): The film version of Jacqueline Susann's sordid tale starring Dyan Cannon and John Phillip Law (released as a DVD-R in 2010 by Sony's Screen Classics by Request).
Love with the Proper Stranger (1963): Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen. Enough said.
The Mating Season (1951): Thelma Ritter was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her performance in this comedy that also stars Gene Tierney and Miriam Hopkins.
Men Don't Leave (1990): A small gem starring Jessica Lange, Chris O'Donnell and the marvelous Joan Cusack (released as a DVD-R in 2009 by the Warner Archive Collection).
Midnight Lace (1960): A Doris Day thriller with Rex Harrison, Roddy McDowall and Myrna Loy (available only on a Region 2 DVD).
Only When I Laugh (1981): A reader reminded me of this Neil Simon flick starring Marsha Mason, Kristy McNichol, James Coco and Joan Hackett.
The Oscar (1966): A campy cult classic featuring Elke Sommer, Milton Berle, Jill St. John, Edie Adams, Ernest Borgnine and the great crooner Tony Bennett in his only feature film role.
Paris Blues (1961): A terrific film starring Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier as two jazz musicians living in Paris and Joanne Woodward and Diahann Carroll as the women they love (available only on a Region 2 DVD).
Perfect Gentlemen (1978): A TV-movie written by Nora Ephron and starring Lauren Bacall, Ruth Gordon and Sandy Dennis.
Reckless (1995): I saw the original play starring Joan Allen in Chicago many years ago and loved it--and I enjoyed this film version starring Mia Farrow, Mary-Louise Parker and Debra Monk.
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989): This sex farce about the bed-swapping escapades of a wealthy Hollywood family stars Jacqueline Bisset and Mary Woronov.
A Severed Head (1970): A reader recommended this obscure comedy with an interesting cast - the lovely Lee Remick, Claire Bloom and Ian Holm (released as a DVD-R in 2011 by the Sony Pictures Choice Collection).
Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (1975): With a great title like that, why isn't this movie on DVD? It stars Jeannie Berlin and Roy Scheider.
6 Rms Riv Vu (1974): A TV movie starring Alan Alda and Carol Burnett as two strangers who meet when they respond to a newspaper ad for an apartment.
Skidoo (1968): A cult classic with an all-star cast, including Jackie Gleason, Carol Channing, Frankie Avalon, Mickey Rooney and Groucho Marx (released on DVD in 2011).
Some of My Best Friends Are... (1971): Christmas Eve in a Greenwich Village gay bar starring Fannie Flagg, Rue McClanahan, Candy Darling, Gil Gerard and Gary Sandy.
Something for Everyone (1970): Angela Lansbury and Michael York star in this black comedy directed by Broadway producer/director Hal Prince.
Stepping Out (1991): I liked the play that this film is based on, but I've never seen the movie version starring Liza Minnelli, Jane Krakowski, Bill Irwin, Ellen Greene, Julie Walters and Shelley Winters.
The Sterile Cuckoo (1969): One of Liza Minnelli's best performances (it will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 16, 2012).
Still of the Night (1982): Meryl Streep, Roy Scheider and Jessica Tandy make this suspenseful tale worth watching (released as a DVD-R in 2011 by the MGM Limited Edition Collection).
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970): A recommendation from a reader, this film stars Liza Minnelli, Ken Howard, James Coco and Kay Thompson (from Funny Face).
Three in the Attic (1968): Three girls discover they have the same boyfriend and lock him up in the attic in this kinky '60s sex drama.
Those Lips, Those Eyes (1980): Frank Langella, Glynnis O'Connor, Tom Hulce, Jerry Stiller--the cast makes me want to see this flick (released as a DVD-R in 2011 by the MGM Limited Edition Collection).
Used People (1992): I love this warm, funny film starring Shirley MacLaine, Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy and Marcia Gay Harden (released as a DVD-R in 2011 by the Warner Archive Collection).
What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968): This was one of my favorite movies as a kid. It stars George Peppard and Mary Tyler Moore.
Welcome to L.A. (1976): Sissy Spacek vacuums in the nude in this movie, which also stars Keith Carradine, Sally Kellerman, Lauren Hutton, Geraldine Chaplin and Harvey Keitel (released as a DVD-R in 2011 by the MGM Limited Edition Collection).
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963): Another reader recommendation, this romantic comedy stars Dean Martin, Elizabeth Montgomery and Carol Burnett.
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978): I saw this fun George Segal/Jacqueline Bisset flick in the movie theater 30 years ago (released as a DVD-R in 2009 by the Warner Archive Collection).
Wild Man Blues (1998): An interesting documentary about Woody Allen and his New Orleans jazz band on a European tour.
Willie & Phil (1980): Give me Michael Ontkean and Margot Kidder together in a film and I'll watch it.
You'll Like My Mother (1972): Patty Duke and Richard "John-Boy" Thomas star in this thriller.
You're a Big Boy Now (1966): A bizarre little film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Geraldine Page, Rip Torn, Julie Harris and Karen Black in her first major movie role (released as a DVD-R in 2010 by the Warner Archive Collection).
4 comments:
I could watch THE MATING SEASON every night for a month and the pleasure would never diminish. Thelma Ritter was nominated for Best Supporting Actress but she's truly a leading actress in this film. Her only other leading role--George Cukor's THE MODEL AND THE MARRIAGE BROKER--is equally wonderful.
Great list although there are a few on there that I've seen, At Long Last Love for one, that I didn't care for.
For me The Mating Season, one of my absolute favorites, Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and Love with the Proper Stranger would be the top picks from your list. Love the TV movie suggestions too, I remember all of them fondly.
The only addition I can think of would be the 1954 ultra plush drama Woman's World with Lauren Bacall, June Allyson, Clifton Webb, Arlene Dahl Cornel Wilde, Fred MacMurray and Van Heflin. It was released years ago on video but never made the jump to DVD and it is so full of soapy goodness and acerbic wit with that golden Hollywood sheen.
Marc great post! Great choices! Men Don't Leave, one of my all time favorites the entire cast lead by Jessica Lange just clicks so well in this film. Stepping Out I just saw about a year ago I stumbled upon it late one night. It's a little gem of a film, I found it rather touching and Liza is very good ! Keep up your great work! Leo
Kevin, Joel & Leo, thanks for your cinematic comments! Glad you liked my list.
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