Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

http://www.amazon.com/French-Connection-Five-Star-Collection/dp/B00003CXA3
I heard from reviewers that this 2001 “Five Star Collection” edition of the movie
(now out-of-print) is far superior to the recent Blu-Ray edition. So much for Blu-Ray
(that I will not bother to buy)!
This is good but gritty crime caper involving French narcotics smuggled into New
York City. I am not much of a fan of William Friedkin but he did have an energetic
movie here with two great stars, Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider. There are two
commentaries in this dvd, one by the director (good information here) and specific
commentary by the two main stars, starting off with Hackman, telling us this was a big
break picture for him. Many people give it a “classic” status, but normally this is not my
cup of tea. It’s close to being a four-word movie (“UGLY”) in terms of directing style,
the subject nature of the film (crime/killing/narcotics), the roughshod interaction between
people, innocent people being killed, and so forth. The last year of truly great Best
Picture Oscar contenders was 1982 (Gandhi won then, but also nominated were E.T.,
Tootsie, The Verdict, and Missing). French Connection of course won in 1971 but the
other contenders were not all that terrific. The Sting won in 1973, and I consider that a
worthy Best Picture winner in the genre of crime movies—it’s light, easy on the nerves,
quite entertaining, appealing stars, and so forth. The French Connection is no On the
Waterfront in terms of high caliber material regarding the crime genre. And it certainly
does not come close to The Godfather the next year (1972).
The music by Don Ellis is hard-edged and fragmented. My initial impression
upon hearing it again was, “Is this a Terminator movie?!” You will hear no love themes
in this score!
************************
-Adventures of Sir Galahad (1949) * 1/2
http://www.lovingtheclassics.com/The-Adventures-of-Sir-Galahad-1949-
DVD/prod_69.html
This laughable 15-chapter serial starring George Reeves (shortly of Adventures of
Superman fame) was a cheap Columbia Pictures production from Sam Katzman. It’s so
bad it’s humorous to watch. It seems that every chapter Sir Galahad and his sidekick are
always going back to evil Sir Ulrich’s camp! I cannot recommend this dvd although I like
George Reeves. I am glad he finally became successful and famous for Superman,
although perhaps it was reluctant fame in that role.
**********************
-Peking Express (1951) ** � [music ***]
http://www.lovingtheclassics.com/Peking-Express-1951-DVD/prod_1992.html
This Paramount Pictures movie starring Joseph Cotten is no The Third Man by
any means but it’s a diversionary melodrama for Cotten fans. And it’s no Murder on the
399