Our Picks Reviews - Page 45

Beatles fans will flip their wigs to find this under the Christmas tree—the positively fab DVD re-release of the group’s classic 1965 feature film, a witty Technicolor romp full of clever gags, gorgeous scenery and tuneful Beatles songs like “Ticket to Ride,” “Another Girl” and “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.” Includes a bonus disc with a missing scene, cast and crew memories, and a 30-minute making-of documentary, plus a movie poster, lobby cards and a 60-page book with rare photos from the set. (Rated G)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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In 1965, Bill Carlson—now a professional photographer and cinematographer—was a 17-year-old high school kid with a camera and, as improbable as it sounds, a press pass to cover The Beatles. Now presented together for the first time, along with newspaper accounts of the event and memories from others who were present, Carlson’s 150 photos of the day John, Paul, George and Ringo came to Bloomington, Minn., on their North American tour depict the frenzied, flashpoint moment in time when mop-top mania swept through the Midwest on its march across America.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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University of Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant was a giant of the game whose influence reached far beyond the playing field. With a hard-charging, no-nonsense style grounded on solid moral bedrock, he guided hundreds of young men to learn about confidence, courage and teamwork. Sports broadcaster Eli Gold profiles Bryant’s impact on 36 former players, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Joe Namath and John Hannah, all offering living proof how the Bear’s “Crimson Tide” shaped them profoundly and prepared them for the bigger game of life.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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The big black-cat daddy of all vampire movies—in which Bela Lugosi imprinted the character of Count Dracula onto pop culture for all time—gets a hi-gloss Halloween resurrection in this bonus-packed commemorative DVD. In addition to the beautifully re-mastered 1931 masterpiece, there’s also two making-of documentaries, commentary by a film historian and a Dracula expert, a 1937 Spanish version of the enduring vampire legend and a pop-up “Monster Tracks” feature that feeds you tidbits of toothy trivia throughout the entire film. (Not rated)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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As the American manager of the Beatles’ Apple Records label during the 1960s, Ken Mansfield had a ringside seat for one of the wildest rides in the evolution of popular music. In this candid, conversational biography (packaged just like The Beatles’ classic 1968 so-called “White Album”), his colorful tales of cavorting with the Fab Four, plus many other rock, pop and country titans of the day, make for a fascinating tour of the era with one of its ultimate insiders as your guide.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Guess what? Negative political campaigning is nothing new. In 1876, Democrats spread rumors that Rutherford B. Hayes shot his own mother in a fit of rage; in 1836, Davy Crockett accused Martin Van Buren of wearing women’s underwear; in 1864, Abraham Lincoln’s opponent, George McClellan, described him as a “well-meaning baboon.” This fascinating, fun and fact-filled look at the many dirty tricks, stinging slurs, below-the-belt potshots and other shady strategies and smear tactics in U.S. presidential campaigns includes a wealth of wonderful, obscure information you probably didn’t learn in history class.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Can you become addicted to carrots? Who invented the shopping cart? What movie inspired the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan? This latest edition in a four-decade-long line of compellingly comprehensive compendiums has the answers—and a lot more. A browser’s delight with 18 categorized chapters and thousands of factoids, it’s the perfect gift for someone who seems to think he already knows everything—as well as everyone else who admits they don’t.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Movie buffs will love this roundup of five films with powerful, career-fueling performances from some of Hollywood’s most talented actresses. Joanne Woodward stars alongside Henry Ford in A Big Hand for the Little Lady, a comedic western from 1966; Susan Hayward received an Oscar nomination for her searing portrayal of the tragic life of singer and actress Lillian Roth in I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955); Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen play two friends whose relationship is put to the test in Rich and Famous (1981), which also features the screen debut of a young Meg Ryan; Shoot the Moon (1982) stars Diane Keaton and Albert Finney as a couple undergoing a life-shattering divorce; and Sandy Dennis officially became a leading lady with her role as an idealistic teacher in Up the Down Staircase (1967). (Rated PG/R)
—Neil Pond, American Profle

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Oregon’s Roloff family, consisting of a pair of “little people” parents, just over 4 feet tall, and their four kids, copes with a world where most everything is oversized in this award-winning TLC television reality series. As the Roloffs deal with family drama, work headaches, a household of growing children, and the ups, downs and humdrums of everyday life, the way they rise to the occasion—with good humor, irrepressible optimism and boundless determination—is a poignant reminder of how everyone can stand tall, no matter how big or how small.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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Thousands of films have been made about, or revolving around, athletes and athletic competition. Here are 100 of the best, presented in “countdown” order with an informative, authoritative synopsis of plots, key moments, stars, the “inside” story behind each film, and expert commentary about their places in the cultural pantheon. Sports fans and movie buffs alike will be reminded of the multitude of ways that Hollywood has relied on baseball, basketball, billiards, boxing, bull riding, football, racing, skiing and other contests of skill, strength and stamina to produce box-office gold.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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