PLAY.COM Online Home Entertainment Report

25th May 2005 for w/c 30th May



Play.com is the UK’s favourite online home entertainment retailer and has over 30 per cent market share for DVDs, Games and Music (Hitwise data).

All the information contained is based on actual PLAY.COM sales.



Next week online

Launch of the “TVD”

Bored of watching Celebrity Love Island? Next week sees the release of a plethora of “TVD’s”. The Complete League of Gentlemen Box set, Alias (Season 3), Dawson’s Creek and Nip and Tuck are all released next week with another batch released the week after.

DVDs

Last week’s PLAY.COM Top Ten Best Sellers.

1. Meet the Fockers

2. Team America: World Police

3. Meet the Fockers/Meet the Parents – Box set

4. The Phantom of the Opera - 2004

5. Star Wars Trilogy Box set - (4-D)

6. The Sponge Bob SquarePants Movie

7. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menance

8. Sideways

9. House of Flying Daggers – (2 disc set)

10. DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story

New releases to watch out for w/c 23th May

1. The Complete League of Gentlemen Box set (5 discs)

2. Alias – Season 3 (Box set 6 discs)

3. Dawson’s Creek – Complete Season 5 Box set

DVD Feature

Team America

South Park maestros Trey Parker and Matt Stone (along with co-writer Pam Brady) came up with this shameless satire of pea-brained Hollywood action flicks and even smaller-minded global politics, so don't expect subtlety or even a hint of good taste. If Trey and Matt tickle your fancy then check out the other DVD’s available written by these comic geniuses:

1. South Park – Bigger Longer Uncut

2. South Park Series 1 Box set (3 discs)

3. South Park Series 4 Box set (4 discs)

4. Orgazmo!

5. South Park Series 5 Box Set

The Classic Movies Weekly Newsletter
May 29, 2005


This week: Updated tributes to Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis, plus a brand new 75th birthday tribute to Clint Eastwood, and a Memorial Day salute to World War II movies.

Our condolences to the families of actor Stephen Elliott (May 21, age 86), actor/director Howard Morris (May 21, age 85), actor/voiceover talent Thurl Ravenscroft (May 22, age 91), producer Ismail Merchant (May 25, age 68),
and actor Eddie Albert (May 27, age 97), all of whom passed away during the past week.

Celebrating birthdays this coming week, in addition to Tony Curtis and Clint Eastwood, are Rene Auberjonois (65), Michael J. Pollard (66), Morgan Freeman (68), Sally Kellerman (69), Keir Dullea (69), Edward
Woodward (75), Clint Walker (78) and Andy Griffith (79). Check out our
birthday calendar: http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/eae951de72/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7


--------------- New/Updated Features --------------

**A Tribute To Tony Curtis**
He began life as a Jewish boy named Bernie Schwartz, a tough kid from the Bronx, and ended up with the name Anthony Curtis, appearing on film opposite the likes of Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Burt
Lancaster, and Henry Fonda, and, incidentally, outliving them all. Happy birthday, Tony!
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/09bbbe5b7b/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute To Clint Eastwood**
He went from B-movie actor to TV star to spaghetti western star to Oscar-nominated director and living legend, constantly reinventing himself along the way. We salute Dirty Harry and The Man With No Name on his 75th
birthday. (This tribute article may not be live before June 1.)
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/c0672829a5/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute To Marilyn Monroe**
We offer an updated and expanded tribute to Marilyn Monroe on what would have been her 79th birthday. One of the most consistently popular sections of this site.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/afb625560d/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**WW II Movies**
No event in world history has inspired more movies than World War II. Here are the ones you can't afford to miss, in honor of Memorial Day 2005.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/07a0c628fc/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to Bob Hope**
We celebrated the centennial birthday of one of America's greatest entertainers on May 29th, 2003, and two months later he passed away. We revisit the tribute on what would have been his 102nd birthday.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/2e87b788f8/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to Vincent Price**
Although known primarily as the star of numerous gothic horror films, Vincent Price was also an accomplished art historian, writer, and gourmet
chef.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/0f2cdc99a7/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to John Wayne**
A tribute to the beloved "B" movie, western, and war film star who became an American patriotic icon.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/7311ceb542/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**A Tribute to Laurence Olivier**
Affectionately dubbed "Sir Larry" by his many fans, Laurence Olivier is widely recognized as the greatest English-speaking actor who ever lived.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/8ef415cdf1/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

**100 Years...100 Movie Quotes**
The American Film Institute (AFI) will broadcast its "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes" program -- counting down the 100 greatest quotes from American movies, as chosen by experts of the motion picture community
-- in a three-hour television event on CBS on June 21, 2005. Here's the current scoop on the nominees, plus a list of sound files for likely winners.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/1b318ca8f0/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7


--------------- New on DVD -------------------

More brand new DVD releases, including a complete collection of James Dean's major films and Frank Sinatra's detective series from the late 60s:

The Complete James Dean Collection - In no other case is it possible to
have the complete works of one of Hollywood's most celebrated stars in a
single DVD package. This six-disc set includes the two-disc special
editions of "East of Eden," "Rebel Without a Cause," and "Giant." Also
includes new and vintage documentaries, commentary tracks, publicity
materials, and even the infamous "Drive Safely" commercial spot Dean
filmed shortly before his death in an auto accident. Due to be released on
May 31.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/446ac630fd/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

"Drums Along The Mohawk" (1939) - Elements of rich period detail and high
adventure are masterfully blended with humor and romance in this
staggering historical drama from John Ford. Henry Fonda and Claudette
Colbert are newlywed homesteaders in upstate New York during the American
Revolution, fending off marauding Indians and the British. Co-stars Edna
May Oliver, John Carradine.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/2fc2ed7b43/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

"Forty Guns" (1957) - Written and directed by Samuel Fuller ("Pickup on
South Street"), this stunning western follows tough rancher Barbara
Stanwyck as she rules over a small Arizona town with the help of 40 hired
gunmen. After U.S. marshal Barry Sullivan and his two brothers arrive to
bring order to the community, Stanwyck finds herself falling for the
avowedly non-violent lawman--which leads to a dramatic confrontation. With
Dean Jagger, John Ericson.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/2e35e33b3d/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

"Tony Rome" (1967) - Frank Sinatra's ultra-cool, Miami-based private
investigator gets mixed up with murder, mayhem, stolen diamonds and a
beautiful, troubled young girl in this slick detective yarn. With Jill St.
John, Sue Lyon, Richard Conte and Gena Rowlands.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/e8e0eef2fa/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

"The Detective" (1968) - Gritty crime drama stars Frank Sinatra as a cop
assigned to investigate the murder of a prominent gay man. After the
confession and execution of the victim's roommate, Sinatra uncovers
evidence that links the killing to a seamy underworld of sex and drugs, an
elaborate real estate scam, and deep-seated police corruption. Lee Remick,
Jack Klugman, William Windom, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Duvall co-star;
based on the novel by Roderick Thorp.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/cbbf2410e0/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7

"Lady In Cement" (1968) - Wise-guy private eye Tony Rome (Frank Sinatra)
is back in this intriguing mystery. The trail to catch the murderer of a
woman found on the ocean floor leads Rome into a world of high-priced
double-crosses, killings-for-hire and the rackets game. With Raquel Welch,
Richard Conte, Lainie Kazan and Dan Blocker.
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/f2a963f472/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7


--------------- Best New Links ------------------

More best new links (new to us, anyway) were added to the Classic Movies
site this week:

**Every Little Breeze: The Louise Brooks Page - Tribute to a dancer,
actress and writer of the 1920s who never achieved great fame in her day,
but who has been rediscovered by modern audiences.

**Bwaanaman's World - Not only is Roar Skaug Larssen an excellent and
tasteful Web designer, but he has great taste in actresses, as you will
see from his tributes to Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth and Brigitte
Bardot.

**Hollywood - Movie Capital of the World - This in-depth guide to
Hollywood offers a huge amount of information on its celebrities and
tourist attractions.

**Last Link on the Left: Final Credits - This section of Stuart Bayens'
new mega-site contains an amazing collection of well-written obituaries
for people who have contributed to modern culture in some significant way.

**Movie Jewels - This huge repository of movie scripts (1500) is available
by subscription only, but the cost is minimal (less than $1 a month!).

**Henry B. Walthall - As silent film historian Anthony Slide, quoted on
this site, once said, "There is no other player from the silent era so
closely associated with one screen role than Henry B. Walthall."
http://r.vresp.com/?ClassicMovies/32ec84476a/340438/6108ff7f32/7a363d7


----------------Parting Words -------------------

Next week: Updated tributes to Ronald Reagan and Judy Garland.

Brad Lang
Classic Movies
classicmovies.org

A KNIGHT'S ROUND TABLE - A MAGNET FOR THE STARS OF HOLLYWOOD

A remarkable table-top, which belonged to the legendary movie star Sir Dirk Bogarde until his death in 1999, is to go under the hammer in London this summer. The 19th century Italian specimen marble and micro-mosaic top was mounted as a coffee table and was a centrepiece in Bogarde's homes from the early 1960s. It has passed by descent through the family, and is expected to fetch up to £12,000 at Bonhams' sale of Fine English & Continental Furniture and Works of Art on 12 July.

Bogarde, who is remembered today as one of cinema's most important and intelligent talents, found fame playing Simon Sparrow in 'Doctor in the House' (1954), and later in varied film roles in Basil Dearden's 'Victim'
(1961), Joseph Losey's 'The Servant' (1963), John Schlesinger's 'Darling' (1965), Luchino Visconti's 'The Damned' (1970) and 'Death in Venice' (1971) and Liliana Cavani's 'The Night Porter' (1974). During the 1970s Bogarde worked less, finding fewer projects that interested him, and embarked on a second career as a writer producing an acclaimed series of autobiographies as well as six novels.

Bogarde's appreciation of beauty was reflected by the succession of large and attractive country houses in which he lived during the 1950s and 1960s, and also by the choice items of furniture and art with which he furnished
them. It is not known for which of these houses this table-top was purchased, but it is visible in photographs of the interior of Nore, where he lived from 1962-5. The table was then moved to all of his successive homes, most notably his beloved house in France where he lived from 1970 until 1986.

Guy Savill, Director of Fine Furniture at Bonhams, is delighted to have such a remarkable piece in the sale: "Not only is this item a beautiful piece in its own right, but it has the added advantage of having such an incredible
history," he says. "We know that while Bogarde had the table, his list of visitors reads like a 'Who's Who' of entertainment royalty. Among others, John Schlesinger, Ingrid Bergman, Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, Barbra
Streisand, Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner, Vivien Leigh, Richard Attenborough, Charlotte Rampling and Elton John visited him from the early 1960s, and would more than likely have sat around this table. Lauren Bacall,
unwittingly his final visitor, did so for certain on the afternoon before he died."

The table-top itself, at almost one metre in diameter, is remarkable in its quality and intricacy. Its centre is a micro-mosaic panel of a drake swimming amongst reeds, while the radiating sections are made of marble and
semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, malachite, siena and portor marbles. While the decorative qualities of marble have been admired since antiquity, it was not until the early 18th century that the use of marble
and other precious minerals in table-tops became familiar in the fashionable homes of the English aristocracy. English travellers who embarked upon the Grand Tour wished to acquire beautifully hand-crafted and unusual pieces that reflected the glories of the classical world as seen on their travels. Micro-mosaic tops, from Florentine workshops in particular, were also popular 'souvenir' pieces, and the above lot combines the two techniques.