Extra Scoop
'On the Waterfront' a DVD contender
By Jordan Riefe
Special to The Advertiser
"ON THE WATERFRONT" (Columbia Pictures) 1954
Not rated
108 minutes
Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Steiger, Lee J. Cobb, Karl Malden
A small-time boxer on the docks of Hoboken, N.J., finds his loyalties divided between a crime boss controlling the docks and the woman he loves.
They just don't make them like this anymore. Winner of eight Academy Awards, including best picture and best actor for Brando, the film alone is worth the price of the disc.
Columbia Tristar, however, has gone the extra mile, providing added features such as an entire documentary dedicated to the making of a single scene. "You don't understand, I could have had class, I could have been somebody, I could have been a contender!" says Terry Malloy to his brother, Joey. "Instead of a bum, which is what I am." The scene is arguably among the best ever shot and in "Contender: Mastering the Method," Rod Steiger, James Lipton and Time Magazine critic Richard Schickel tell us why.
An interview with master director Elia Kazan sheds light on the rigors of the shoot and the difficulties of working with producer Sam Spiegel. Commentary by Schickel and Kazan biographer Jeff Young is informative and provides insightful historical perspective.
"MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL" (Columbia Tristar) 1975
PG
90 minutes
John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle
Comedic look at the Arthurian legend of the pursuit of the Holy Grail.
It was a classic in its time and remains so today. Their first and best film, Britain's premiere comedy troupe of the 1970s hit a home run with "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and Columbia Tristar has given it the royal treatment with a new two-disc set.
Disc one features the film along with a screenplay option so you can read while you watch. Commentary from Python members John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin is a surprisingly sober affair while a second track from directors Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones focuses on logistics of getting their first film in the can.
Disc two is loaded with extras, including three singalongs with lyrics provided to musical numbers. "Quest for the Holy Grail Locations" is a documentary following co-director Terry Jones and actor Palin on a visit to some of the film's original locations.
"FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN" (Columbia Tristar) 2001
PG-13
106 minutes
Voices of Ming-Na Wen, Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Donald Sutherland
Set in 2065, a group of scientists collect spirits in the hope of creating a force powerful enough to destroy an alien presence threatening the world.
What the heck is this movie about? You won't find the answer in this two-disc special edition from Columbia Tristar. What you will find is a stylish "making-of" that takes a comprehensive look at how this ground-breaking, fully digital, created-in-Honolulu film came to be. A "Shuffler" section allows viewers to re-edit a "Conference Room" sequence using 12 clips.
Other featurettes look at matte art and composites, showing how action scenes are built in the computer one element at a time. A joke reel is a bit creepy as the animated figures break character, exhibiting the same tendencies humans do when they flub a line.
A hidden feature includes the cast and aliens performing a parody of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video. If you're a fan of the film, this disc is a must. For others, the film is noteworthy for its cutting-edge rendering of synthespians, or digital actors.
"DR. DOLITTLE 2" (20th Century Fox) 2001
PG
87 minutes
Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wilson, Jeffrey Jones, Kevin Pollak
Sequel to the 1999 hit in which a veterinarian who can talk to animals helps the forest creatures save their habitat.
"There was one time they wanted me to come on set when there was an alligator," says Eddie Murphy in the disc's "making-of" doc. "I said, Hey, man, I'm not doing anything with an alligator!'" In fact Murphy hardly worked with any animals, filming his scenes alone with talking beasts added later. HBO's "making-of" chronicles much of Murphy's career, including clips from his various films and stand-up routines. It is promotional as well as insightful, as is the "Animal Planet" doc on his co-star, Tank the bear.
Commentary from director Steve Carr and co-producer Heidi Santelli is mostly self-congratulatory, lauding the film and all those involved.
"DUMBO" (Disney) 1941
G
64 minutes
Children's story of an outcast baby circus elephant who discovers his ability to fly.
Newly restored for its 60th anniversary, this children's classic is a must for the kiddies.
A short doc, "Celebrating Dumbo," is just that, a featurette that celebrates the film with figures such as Leonard Maltin and Roy E. Disney reminiscing about what makes "Dumbo" great. A collection of original art from the pic is worth a look, but the music video of Michael Crawford singing "Baby Mine" is not.
Footage of Walt Disney introducing the film from its television debut is extraneous, as is the strictly promotional "exclusive" look at "Dumbo II," a direct-to-video sequel. Eminently watchable are two animated shorts from the 1930s, "Elmer Elephant" and "Flying Mouse," and two singalong numbers from the film, "Look Out For Mr. Stork" and "The Flying Mouse."
Jordan Riefe is a Los Angeles-based writer and West Coast radio correspondent for Variety magazine.
