Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

one next. ….So far, after watching a half hour of this episode, I’m not too crazy about it.
The same applies to “An Exercise in Fatality” starring Robert Conrad. However, I
already know that “By Dawn’s Early Light” is good (seen it a few times before) starring
Patrick McGoohan, so I’ll watch it freshly soon! Also I did not realize until I got this set
that Kate Mulgrew played Mrs Columbo because an episode of that doomed series was an
extra in the dvd set. I liked her playing the Captain of the ultra-futuristic Enterprise
series. But as given in the link immediately below, she did not play the wife of the
Columbo we know and love:
http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/
Just click on the “Mr & Mrs Columbo” link on that site.
[Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 10:26 am]: Yes, “By Dawn’s Early Light” episode
starring Patrick McGoohan is a better-than-average episode but I would not consider it a
“classic” by my standards or enjoyment level. Incidentally, last evening at the local
Barnes & Noble I bought the Columbo complete first season set for 50% off. So I got it
for $20 plus California tax (9.75%). I also bought the special edition two-disc Forbidden
Planet for 40% off ($16.19). Last evening my wife & I watched the “Dead Weight”
episode of Columbo (1 st season) starring Suzanne Pleshette. It’s a decent episode but not
one of my favorites. Tonight probably I will watch the one directed by Steven Spielberg,
“Murder By The Book.”
-The Poseidon Adventure (1972) *** 1/2 [music ***]
http://www.amazon.com/Poseidon-Adventure-Special-Gene-
Hackman/dp/B000EHSVNW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1292995567&sr=1-1
I like this very good Irwin Allen disaster film although I must say that enjoyed
Allen’s The Towering Inferno more. Both screenplays were penned (or typed!) by
Stirling Silliphant of Route 66 fame and other shows. Both had a terrific ensemble of
actors, especially Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine—although they tended to over-act
a bit (a wee bit over-the-top!). If William Shatner in the movie as well, he would be in
good or like company with Hackman & Borgnine! Anyway, I liked the better production
values in Towering Inferno, the cleaner look, the sophistication and elegance. And I liked
the cast better—after all, we got alpha-male stars there such as Steve McQueen, William
Holden, and Paul Newman. The music is good John Williams but certainly not yet great
John Williams. That would happen in foreshadow by Jaws and then come to fruition with
Star Wars and then especially Superman and then E.T. There are a lot of special features
in this set so I recommend it: Down the hatch (into your dvd collection!).
-Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) *** [music *** 1/2]
http://www.amazon.com/Private-Lives-Elizabeth-
Essex/dp/B0007OY2O4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1292997047&sr=1-1
This is definitely a gorgeous-looking Technicolor period piece of the very late
16 th century. The ingredients of this meal (film) are excellent: You have wonderful stars,
including Errol Flynn and Bette Davis; you have a Korngold score, a top-league
285