Vincent shows his scary side; Judy and Mickey put on a show
In "The Witchfinder General," a 1968 British film making its debut on DVD, Vincent Price appears as you rarely see him - genuinely scary.
Price starred in dozens of horror films, but when you think about it, he was rarely a threatening figure. Even in movies like "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" or "Theater of Blood," where he kills several people, he's clearly playing the part with a wink in his eye. He's so darned charming, you can't help but like the old ham.
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Some DVDs out this week …
"The Jazz Singer"
"Macgyver - The Complete Series"
"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - The Complete Series"
"Treasures III: Social Issues in American Film, 1900-1934"
And CDs …
Eve, "Here I Am"
Jimmy Eat World, "Chase This Light"
Toby Keith, "A Classic Christmas"
Angie Stone, "The Art of Love and War"
Dan Wilson, "Free Life"
Underworld, "Oblivion With Bells"
Sources: dvdtalk.com, tophitsonline.com
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But in "The Witchfinder General," Price is downright terrifying. He plays Matthew Hopkins, who roams the British countryside, looking for innocent folks he can accuse of witchcraft, then try and (usually) execute them. It's nice work if you can get it, given the paranoid, superstitious mood of the time. The other villagers are more than happy to support Hopkins, just so they don't get accused themselves.
Though Price was known for overacting, here he underplays his role and is all the more effective for it. All around him, people are begging for mercy and shouting out accusations, but Hopkins remains the calm, cool center of the chaos he's helped create. It's a chilling performance that makes "The Witchfinder General" a memorable - and genuinely disturbing - horror film.
Mickey and Judy
Here's a DVD set that's not as scary as "The Witchfinder General" but is arguable even stranger: Warner Bros. new "Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland Collection."
Decades ago, as a team, Judy and Mickey were major stars. Major stars. We're talking box office record-breakers.
Between 1939 and 1943, the duo starred in "Babes in Arms," "Strike Up the Band," "Babes on Broadway" and "Girl Crazy." The four musical comedies - all directed by the legendary Busby Berkeley - followed the same formula: Serious Judy and goofball Mickey would get into some troublesome situation, and the only solution would be to "put on a show." Audiences back then couldn't get enough of their all-American charm and ultraclean images. They're a couple of real pros, executing difficult musical maneuvers without breaking a sweat or losing the smiles pasted on their faces.
Watching these movies 60 years later is a strange - but fascinating - experience. The world has changed so much (and teens have changed even more) that seeing people behave like the characters in these movies feels like science fiction. All four films are fun to watch, and the musical numbers are still impressive, but there's a disconnect with the era that keeps the viewer at a distance. The most dramatic example of this comes at the big finale of 1941's "Babes on Broadway." The musical number "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" features a cast of dozens - including Judy and Mickey - in blackface. It was no big deal in 1941 (the scene was even shown on the poster), but it's downright disturbing in 2007.
If nothing else, this DVD set proves they really don't make 'em like they used to. Sometimes, that's a good thing.
Will Pfeifer writes about new DVDs on Tuesdays and older ones on Sundays. Contact him at 815-987-1244 or wpfeifer@rrstar.com.