Cactus Flower

Description

Walter Matthau stars as Julian Winston, an easy-going bachelor dentist whose delicately balanced scheme crumbles under some unexpected circumstances. Winston is stringing along his dizzy blonde mistress, Toni (Goldie Hawn), by telling her he has a wife and children. When he learns that Toni has tried to commit suicide over him, however, he promises to marry her. Toni, refusing to be a homewrecker, insists on meeting Winston's wife. He convinces Stephanie (Bergman)--his starched, no-nonsense receptionist--to pose as his wife, and there are unforeseen twists and surprises for everyone.

Customer Reviews:

The Most Beautiful Flower.......2007-01-04

It may be sacrilegious to say, but CACTUS FLOWER is a much better picture than those that Billy Wilder was making at roughly the same time. We watched this, then THE FORTUNE COOKIE in rapid succession, and this one wins by a country mile. I bring in Wilder's name because in some quarters CACTUS FLOWER has been looked on as a flimsy Billy Wilder rip-off, due to the use of Walter Matthau and also to the scenarist I A L Diamond, who worked wonders on the original Broadway play script to CACTUS FLOWER and really makes it bloom on the screen. (Only in the cramped dentist set do you feel that you're watching a play transferred to the screen. Could that set have been any smaller, sometimes you watch Ingrid Bergman try to figure out what to do with her hips as she nears a desk or filing cabinet.) Diamond squeezed this one in during the long wilderness years for Wilder, between the ragged comeback that was THE FORTUNE COOKIE, and the 1970 megaflop that became THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. Those two shows seem absolutely dour next to the radiance of CACTUS FLOWER. Maybe Diamond felt freed up from his own impossible to live up to legacy, and he could just be really dumb.

Well, CACTUS FLOWER has a Wilder sort of mise-en-scene anyhow, as Walter Matthau plays a swinging dentist who pretends to be married in order to deceive his young girlfriend, Goldie Hawn. All the actors play this out as though it were perfectly normal for a 60 year old guy to be "dating" a 21 year old hippie girl. Last week we watched Clint Eastwood's BREEZY where the exact same situation is played out as a problem picture, nearly a tragedy, and yet here it is a sex romp. Of sorts. Basically Matthau doesn't understand that his own nurse, Stephanie Dickinson, has been devotedly in love with him for years and years. And that she, Ingrid Bergman, is the woman for him.

I wonder if there's a code of reception for audiences in which we mentally dislike the pairing of the old and the young, so we're prepared for Matthau to switch his affections from Hawn to Bergman, and to let Hawn find romance with the kooky writer next door who saves her from a suicide attempt at the beginning of the film (shades of Diamond's APARTMENT script!) . . . What's great about Columbia producing this film is all the commercial tie-ins, the product placement which must have seemed super grating and cheesy in its day, but now floats somewhere in the comfort zone. For example, Goldie works in a Village record shop, and every album on the racks seems to be -- by Columbia records! (I should say, the majority of them are, but here and again a non-Columbia LP is shown, which must have been a triumph of artistic integrity.) And my favorite scene is the disco evening, where Ingrid Bergman invents a new dance called the "Dentist." Listen to the parade of Muzaked chartbusters playing in the background while the beautiful people show it off on the dancefloor--everyone of them a Colgems tune--"I'm a Believer," "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight," really, if the Monkees had made an appearance I wouldn't have blinked an eye. It's a fantastic scene, worthy of Max Ophuls, let alone Billy Wilder.

Adorable 60's comedy... .......2006-04-16

This is a really sweet little film that is completely and thoroughly 60's. It stars Walter Matthau as a dentist who is dating Goldie Hawn, a young free spirit. He's told her that he's married so he won't have to marry her, but, when he decides he wants to marry her after all, he has to produce a wife. He turns to his faithful nurse, played by Ingrid Bergman (!), who has worked for him for ten years. Hawn's character feels pity for Bergman, and events escalate to the point that the dentist is using one of his patients to play the role of his "wife's" lover.

There's some really witty dialogue in here, and Goldie Hawn, in her first movie role, is irrepressibly adorable. Ingrid Bergman also gives a fabulous performance, once you get over the shock of seeing her in something that isn't Casablanca, looking almost matronly. (But, at age fifty-four, still beautiful.) Walter Matthau also gives a great performance as the sneaky but loveable dentist, and there are a couple of scenes in a dance club that are too great for words.

If you like good ol' Classic films, you'll love this one.......2006-02-07

Classic Walter Matthau film. I enjoyed it very much because of the easy & believeable relationship between Matthau & Hawn, the suppressed attraction between Bergman & Matthau & the sweet storyline. This film was made during a time where special effects didn't fill in for weak plots; instead the story actually makes its point. Well done.

As bachelor dentist Dr. Julian Winston, Matthau tries to convince his mistress, Toni, (Goldie Hawn) that he has a wife who won't divorce him because they have children. Toni's had enough: she fires off a letter (yes, actually walks across the street in her nightgown to deposit the letter in a mailbox)to Julian, telling him she's committed suicide. Her young writer-neighbor, Igor (Rick Lenz), smells gas in the apartment hallway, breaks in & saves Toni.

When Julian receives the letter at his office, he storms off to Toni's apartment, only to find her alive & in the company of Igor. This little stunt persuades Julian to ask Toni to marry him -- he'll get a divorce no matter what. The catch is now Toni wants to meet Julian's wife, she has to get to know her so that Julian's wife won't think of Toni as a home-wrecker. Enter Ingrid Bergman as Miss Stephanie Dickinson, Dr. Winston's long-suffering, never-married dental assistant. Julian convinces Stephanie to pose as his wife for Toni.

What ensues is a calamity of coincidences & misunderstandings that cause true feelings to be revealed. Ingrid Bergman is such a joy to watch, she effortlessly steals the show.

If you want light-hearted entertainment that will leave you with a smile on your face, this film is for you.

An Adroit Matthau, a Fresh Goldie and a Fun-Loving Bergman Provide Lift to a Frothy Farce.......2006-02-02

Aside from the discotheque scenes that epitomize the swinging sixties (especially with everyone dancing to instrumental versions of Monkees hits), I am surprised how well this lightweight farce holds up 37 years later, but indeed it does thanks to the breezy execution of its deception-based plot and the sharp interplay of the three leads. Directed by the redoubtable stage-to-screen expert Gene Saks, this 1969 comedy is about Julian Winston, a successful Manhattan dentist and confirmed bachelor, who pretends to be married in order to avoid long-term commitment with his young girlfriend of a year, Toni. In response to Toni's half-hearted suicide attempt, Julian agrees to marry her, but Toni first insists on meeting his wife to alleviate her conscience. Enter Julian's devoted nurse Stephanie to play the wife, and the inevitable complications ensue with white lies growing into major whoppers that lead to presumed couplings and de-couplings.

As Julian, a relaxed Walter Matthau dexterously plays the deceptive dentist in his typically sardonic manner, but he lets his two female co-stars walk off with the picture. In her big screen debut, a pixyish 24-year old Goldie Hawn is still retaining her giggly "Laugh-In" persona but provides unexpected savvy and depth as Toni. She and Matthau have great, unforced chemistry in their scenes together. Screen legend Ingrid Bergman, still serenely regal at 54, is obviously having a ball playing Stephanie, initially starchy and quick-witted but blossoming into a liberated spirit as the story evolves. I particularly like how casual she appears after her overnight romp. There is nice supporting work from Rick Lenz as Toni's bohemian neighbor Igor and Jack Weston as Julian's smarmy actor buddy Harvey. Billy Wilder's longtime collaborator, I.A.L. Diamond, provides the sparkling screenplay and opens up the story beyond its stage-bound origins for Saks, who is not the most cinematic of directors. Other than a couple of trailers, there are no significant extras with the DVD.

Frothy romantic comedy.......2004-02-21

Peace and love, but not quite this much. Romantic comedy "Cactus Flower" is flirty, frothy and very amusing (not to mention it's nice to see a gal in her fifties shown as being attractive by the movie industry). It's predictable and lacking in twists, but it's entertaining by itself.

Bachelor dentist Julian Winston (Walter Matthau) met the ditzy but sweet Toni (Goldie Hawn) a year ago, but to avoid the looming threat of commitment, he claimed he was married with three kids. But Toni tries to commit suicide -- a faulty attempt botched by her attractive playwright neighbor Igor (Rick Lenz). When Julian learns of it, he decides to marry her, and pretends that he's getting a divorce from the wife he doesn't have. Small problem: Toni wants to meet her personally.

Julian tries to convince his straightlaced nurse Stephanie (Ingrid Bergman) to pretend to be his wife. At first she says no way, but then agrees (partly because she is secretly in love with him... of course). Except then Toni thinks that Stephanie is still in love with Julian, and that his kids will be traumatized by the divorce. So then Julian tries to recruit a fake boyfriend for his fake wife, to give an excuse for the fake divorce... and the web of nonexistant lovers starts to spread.

This film is a fun film, not a great film; it's froth, and pretends to be no more. In fact, I guessed the outcome of the movie (give or take a cactus and mink stole) within the first ten minutes. But getting there is half the fun. It's cute to see the little web of lies getting worse and worse, right down to the womanizing pal Harvey telling his idiot girlfriend that he's an agent for the CIA.

The trappings of "Cactus Flower" are a bit dated now -- the dancing, the store of vinyl records, the clothing, the hippie putting flowers on people's windshields. Fortunately, the script has aged pretty well if you know what "square" means. The cluelessness of Hawn's character starts to grate on the nerves (surely NO ONE can be this dim), but it has some funny dialogue.

Ingrid Bergman usually got stuck in dramatic, often melancholy roles, but here she gets to bust loose with plenty of acid-tongued barbs, the "dentist" dance, not to mention a funny, sexy dance with Igor and a mink stole. Matthau does an excellent job as the increasingly uptight, habitual liar Julian, whom we like despite his jerkishness. Hawn is merely okay; she spends a little too much time biting her lip and looking fawnish, and Lenz is extremely funny, charming and quite underrated.

Customer Reviews:

Amazon Extremely Slow To Deliver.......2007-03-08

Item purchased Jan 30th 2007 and as of March 8th it still has not been shipped.

The Duel At Silver Creek 1952.......2006-04-26

Celebrated war hero Audie Murphy (1924-1971) packs a two-fisted punch in this action filled western adventure , which also features legendary Oscar winner Lee Marvin (1924-1987) in one of his screen appearences . Stephen McNally (1913-1994) is lightning , the quick-drawing Marshal of Silver City wh?s intent on capturing a ruthless gang of claim jumpers that have been terrorising and murdering local miners -including his best friend . After losing the of his famed trigger fingers in a shootout , Lighting deputizes the sharp-shooting Silver Kid (Murphy) , whose own father was killed by the gang to help bring
the outlaws to justice . But their plans are complicated when Lighting falls for beautiful new lady in town ( Faith Domergue 1924-1999), whose interest in the Marshal is a thin disguise for her own dangerous agenda , in this unforgettable drama brimming with puls-ponding thrills , danger-tinged romance and Gun-Blazing glory ! . This is a classic and well done plot ! . High Quality digital transfer . Highly recommended

Great Little B Western.......2004-09-10

We're not talking classic here but this is a good example of the solid little B westerns the studios were churning out in the fifties. There's a ton of action crammed into the modest 77 minute running time, from the opening montage of violent killings through to the final gun battle between the baddies and the town posse. Audie Murphy is his usual average self as The Silver Kid (yeah, it's that kind of western where charcaters get saddled with dumb names like Brown Eyes and Sombrero), but Steve McNally is good as the sherrif (making a change from his role as the villainous brother in the classic Winchester 73) and Lee Marvin adds solid support in a small role as a town heavy (it's never really made clear whether he's in league with the bad guys or not). Don Siegel who would go on to make Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Dirty Harry and The Shootist, directs with an eye for tough action (this is one of those rare fifties westerns where you actually see blood on the guys who are shot). Universal has come up with a beautiful full screen print. Sure, there's not much in the way of extras (theatrical trailer and that's it), but it's not really the sort of film you can say a lot about. Good, modest entertainment that I'm sure western lovers will enjoy.

The only time I draw is when I'm crowded.......2004-06-28

I've been avoiding Audie Murphy for years, copping the attitude Howard Cosell had for the Frank Giffords of the world. Cosell devoted a good portion of at least one book attacking "jockocracy," the invasion of the professional broadcasting booth by unqualified ex-jocks. Audie Murphy was a war hero but the bits and clips I've seen of his work always made it look like he was in over his head. Murphy's appearance in a movie meant one unemployed real actor.
So I was a little trepidatious when I hit the play button on DUEL AT SILVER CREEK. I hung with it through the slow opening exposition scenes (a pod of claim jumpers are terrorizing silver miners, forcing them to sign over their deeds and then shooting them.) By the time Murphy's pa was kilt and he morphed into the poker playing Silver Kid I was hooked. DUEL AT SILVER CREEK is a fun little flick.
Look, this movie made me laugh at things decent folks don't laugh at, but I believe these elements were put in deliberately. This is director Don Siegel's first western and his first Technicolor production. He would go on to work with the likes of Clint Eastwood (Dirty Harry) and John Wayne (The Shootist.) Siegel knew what he was doing.
One of the humorous elements, to me at least, was the proliferation of nicknames. Murphy's Luke Cromwell is the "Silver Kid," or just "Kid." Sheriff Stephen McNally is "Lightning," there's a character called "Rat Face." Lee Marvin plays a heavy nicked "Tinhorn." The lovely Faith Domergue (Opal Lacy) is nicked "Brown Eyes" early on by "Lightning."
Then there's mondo-heavy Eugene Iglesias, who plays Johnny Sombrero. I honestly couldn't refrain from laughing every time he was on screen. Dressed in red and white striped pants and wearing an impossibly large sombrero pushed back off his head he was a caricature of... something. How can a guy in candy stripe pants and a balloon hat intimidate?
Wisely the film-makers don't overload Murphy in this one. Although he's the nominal star, McNally does most of the heavy lifting. Murphy is along more as a wise-cracking (!?) sidekick. My uninformed take on Murphy was that he was a Roy Rogers/Gene Autry type. Squeaky clean, you know. Siegel gives the Silver Kid an edge, and to Murphy credit that edge remains sharp. Still and all it was a bit of a surprise to see Lightning and The Kid interrogating Brown Eyes and hearing The Kid impulsively say "I bet I can get it out of her." Heeheehee. I was half expecting The Kid to call her a punk and ask her if she was feeling lucky.
DUEL AT SILVER CREEK is a dandy little horse opera. It will satisfy without offense those who love traditional westerns, and sate those with less conventional tastes.

Overlooked but very good...........2003-09-23

I had forgotten just how enjoyable this little Audie Murphy Western was until I recently purchased this handsome Universal DVD release. Murphy in this venture is "the silver kid," and his co-star Stephen McNally actually steals the show. The action is fast-paced and believable, the plot way above average. There are shoot outs, claim jumping, and some humor thrown in--Audie has some droll lines. Universal-International made a number of fine Murphy Westerns in the 1950s into the mid 1960s. DUEL AT SILVER CREEK is one of the better ones. Now let's hope that Murphy's finest outing in the genre, NO NAME ON THE BULLET, and some of his other, better films---RIDE CLEAR OF DIABLO, GUNSMOKE, SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN, TUMBLEWEEDS, get the nod from the engineers at Universal.

Average customer rating:

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... The Singing Hill (1941) ... Image Ent."

The Singing Hill
Starring: Gene Autry , Smiley Burnette , Virginia Dale , Mary Lee , and Spencer Charters
Director: Lew Landers
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000NO23SU
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Description

RANCH FOREMAN GENE AUTRY MUST TAKE UNUSUAL MEASURES TO PREVENT A SPOILED SOCIETY GIRL FROM SELLING HER INHERITED RANCH TO A RUTHLESS BANKER AND THUS CAUSING UPSET FOR THE NEIGHBORING RANCHERS. WHETHER IT'S MASQUERADING AS MUSICIANS WITH HIS SIDEKICK FROG MILLHOUSE AND ORPHAN PATSY, OR GETTING THE HEIRESS DECLARED INCOMPETENT WITH THE HELP OF A FRIENDLY OLD JUDGE, GENE DOES WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT THE RANGE. IN BETWEEN THE ACTION AND COMEDY GENES SINGS A FEW SONGS INCLUDING "BLUEBERRY HILL" AND "THE LAST ROUND-UP." CENTENNIAL BONUS! PHANTOM EMPIRE CHAPTER THREE: "THE LIGHTNING CHAMBER" PLUS! REPUBLIC PICTURES- GENE AUTRY BRITISH ISLES PERSONAL APPEARANCE THEATRICAL TRAILER 1939

Customer Reviews:

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... The Singing Hill (1941) ... Image Ent.".......2007-08-14

Republic Pictures present "THE SINGING HILL" (26 April 1941) (75 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- relive those thrilling days when the "First Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry took us down the dusty trails with hard riding and straight shooting hitting the bull's eye with excitement every time --- the Gene Autry series of B-Westerns were a staple of Saturday matinees in the 1930s and 1940s --- The Following Segments are from the "Melody Ranch Theater", which originally aired on the Nashville Network in 1987 --- Hosted by Gene and longtime sidekick Pat Buttram the program showcased many of Gene's classic motion pictures and featured personal anecdotes about how the films were made --- Information on costars and significant happenings in Gene's personal life and career. --- don't miss any of the Singing Cowboy's features loaded with action and songs that will leave you wanting more of Gene Autry's B-Western Adventures --- The sale of this DVD will further the educational and cultural mission of the renowned "Autry National Center in Los Angeles".

Under Lew Landers (Director), Harry Grey (Producer), Olive Cooper (Screenwriter), Jesse Lasky, Jr. (Screen Story), Richard Murphy (Short Story Author), William Nobles (Cinematographer), Les Orlebeck (Editor) - - - - - - Our story line and plot, head of the Cattlemen's Association is Gene Autry and his saddle pal Smiley Burnette brings some great action, good songs and a good chase scenes --- Gene, with the help of his old friend Judge Starrbottle, has Jo declared incompetent and Gene appointed guardian of her affairs, much to Jo's great indignation --- George Meeker is the head villain trying to grab up all the grazing land --- can Gene and Smiley stop Meeker and help Jo Adams (Virginia Dale) and Patsy, Orphan Girl (Mary Lee) --- don't miss the stampeded cattle, crash trucks into the dam, flooding of the canyon --- will the ranchers lose their homes --- only Gene can bring George Meeker and his henchmen to justice and give this oater the happy ending it deserves ----- some wonderful tunes, "PATSY'S BIRTHDAY ROUTINE" (Mary Lee), "I'LL GO RIDIN' DOWN THAT OLD TEXAS TRAIL" (Gene Autry, Mary Lee, Smiley Burnette, and Cactus Mack), "TUMBLED DOWN SHACK IN HAVANA" (Virginia Dale), "BLUEBERRY HILL Gene Autry), "LET A SMILE BE YOUR UMBRELLA" (Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Mary Lee, and Extras), "SAIL THE SEVEN SEAS" (Mary Lee and Smiley Burnette), "THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED HOEDOWN Gene Autry), "LAST ROUND-UP" (Gene Autry and Studio Singers), "THERE'LL NEVER BE ANOTHER PAL LIKE YOU" (Gene Autry), "I''LL GO RIDIN' DOWN THAT OLD TEXAS TRAIL" (Gene Autry, Virginia Dale, Smiley Burnette, Mary Lee and Extras - - - - - - some Autry fun facts, Gene always preferred his sponsor's product, Wrigley's Doublemint Gum, to smoking.

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette ... Frog
Virginia Dale ... Jo Adams
Mary Lee ... Patsy, Orphan Girl
Spencer Charters ... Judge Starrbottle
Gerald Oliver Smith ... Mr. Dada, the Butler
George Meeker ... John R. Ramsey
Wade Boteler ... Pop Sloan
Harry Stubbs ... James Morgan
Cactus Mack ... Cactus Mack
Jack Kirk ... Flint
Art Dillard ... Henchman
Sam Flint ... Rancher
Monte Montague ... Rancher
Jack O'Shea ... Rancher
Hal Price ... Rancher
Al Taylor ... Rancher
Forrest Taylor ... Rancher
Dan White ... Rancher

BIOS:
1. Gene Autry
Date of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, Texas
Date of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, California

Special footnote, Orvon Gene Autry was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television --- Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, he and Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures Corp. "In Old Santa Fe" as part of a singing cowboy quartet; he was then given the starring role by Levine in 1935 in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" --- Shortly thereafter, Mascot was absorbed by the formation of Republic Pictures Corp. and Autry went along to make a further 44 films up to 1940, all B westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his horse Champion, had Burnette as his regular sidekick and had many opportunities to sing in each film --- Autry became the top Western star at the box-office by 1937, reaching his national peak of popularity from 1940 to 1942. His Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show debuted in 1940 --- Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce --- Radio, Films, Recordings, Television and Live Theater.

2. Smiley Burnette (aka: Lester Alvin Burnette)
Date of Birth: 18 March 1911 - Summum, Illinois
Date of Death: 16 February 1967 - Encino, California

Second special footnote, Lester Alvin (Smiley) Burnette an American singer-songwriter who could play as many as 100 different musical instruments, was a successful comedy actor in Western films over three decades --- The popularity of Burnette's Frog Millhouse character, with his trademark floppy black hat, was such that when Autry left for World War II service he did sidekicks duties with Eddie Dew, Sunset Carson and Bob Livingston, plus nine other films with Roy Rogers. After leaving Republic Pictures in 1944, Burnette became the sidekick to Charles Starrett at Columbia Pictures in the long Durango Kid series. Starrett starred in the series from 1944 until 1952, and that pairing resulted in more than 50 films. After the Starrett series was over, Burnette joined Autry for his final six films, all released by Columbia Pictures in 1953.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Reminiscing with Gene Autry and Pat Buttram at the "Melody Ranch Theater"
2. "Don't Touch That Dial", Gene Autry is on the air - excerpts from the Original "Melody Ranch Radio Show"
3. Production and Publicity Stills
4. Horseplay
5. Poster and lobby Card Art
6. Trivia and Movie Facts
7. Original Press Kit Material

Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "GENE AUTRY WESTERNS" (Hardcover) - by author Boyd Magers, like no other book on Gene Autry --- all of Gene's Mascot, Republic and Columbia westerns included, as well as his half-hour TV Episodes --- each segment contains the release date on each film ... major production credits ... complete cast (including character played) ... all songs included, songwriter and who performed them in the film ... running time of each film ... dates of the filming ... bios on the cast and major players (Smiley, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys, Herbert J. Yates, directors, leading ladies, songwriters and various heavies, etc.) ... locations that were used ... budgets and negative cost ... stunt people involved ... analysis and synopsis on each film ... notes and comments (including film and cast background info, salaries paid, working titles, etc) ... comments from Gene and many other cast members on each film ... theater exhibitors comments at the time of the films release ...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under DVD Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Image Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 75 min on DVD ~ Image Video #3988 ~ (1/20/2004)

ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) - The Best of Cactus Jack

Average customer rating:

HE'S HARDCORE!!!
This DVD Sucked!
He's Still Hardcore, He's Still Hardcore!!!
why waste time reading reviews buy this tape right now!!!!!!
Catus Jack is the best

ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) - The Best of Cactus Jack
Starring: Joey Styles , Joel Gertner , Peter Senerchia , Mikey Whipwreck , and Jerry Lynn
Director: Ron Buffone
Manufacturer: Geneon [Pioneer]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005NX1R
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Amazon.com

Before wrestler Mick Foley became known as the lovable freak, Mankind, in the WWF, and before he became a two-time bestselling author, his crazy antics as Cactus Jack in the ECW made him legendary. The short-lived independent promotion ECW stood for Extreme Championship Wrestling, but the twisted acts Foley pulled off in the mid '90s took "extreme" to a whole new, warped level. This two-and-a-half hour-long feature highlights all of gap-toothed, one-eared Jack's most famous feuds and matches (including those with the Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, and former mentor Terry Funk) and his somewhat touching friendship with the lovable wimp, Mikey Whipwreck. You get Jack putting people through tables, Jack attacking foes with barbed wire, and Jack being pummeled with wood sticks, crutches, chairs, bottles, and even a flaming branding iron! Suffice to say, this is bloody stuff and not for the weak of heart. --Dave McCoy

Description

"Cactus Jack", the most violent of Mick Foley's personalities invoking imagery of violence, bloodshed and sheer, uninhabited brutality. He is a performer who went above and beyond the call of duty to achieve victory, leaving logic and sanity behind in order to accomplish his goals. When Cactus Jack competed, two things were guaranteed: all out mayhem and a hospital ride for his unfortunate opponent."

Whether Mick Foley was ripping apart arenas or engrossing fans with his one of a kind interviews, it was impossible to deny that there may never have been a performer who exemplified the hardcore, in your face style of Extreme Championship Wrestling.

This is, for the first time anywhere, the complete story of Mick Foley's Extreme Experience.

Customer Reviews:

HE'S HARDCORE!!!.......2006-05-28

Basically, this DVD is set up like how the old WWE videos are except they don't break "character." Narrated by Joey Styles, it goes through each storyline Cactus Jack has had during his career in ECW though match highlights, promos and footage from events. From his first ECW match with Sabu (and his controversial footage of him spitting on the WCW Tag Team title) to his unlikely World Tag Team Championship partnership with Mickey Whipwreck & feud with Public Enemy. And how a match teaming with Kevin Sullivan evolved into a feud with The Sandman & Terry Funk along with an unholy alliance with Shane Douglas...which is all based around Chris Benoit's current wife, Woman. The personal best part of this DVD includes the era where Cactus turns on Tommy Dreamer to join Raven's nest which leads to a collage of his creative "anti-hardcore" promos & how he ended his ECW career with the man he started it with...Mickey Whipwreck.

The complete matches are: Sabu (ECW debut), Terry Funk, w/Raven against Funk & Tommy Dreamer, Shane Douglas, The Sandman (Barbed Wire Match), and his last ECW match with Mickey Whipwreck.

If you're a fan of Cactus Jack, this one is thumbs up recommended...no questions asked.

This DVD Sucked!.......2005-06-01

Yo trust me this thing sucked. Don't listen to these other people for a hardcore legend who fought others. Halfway through this thing and I was asleep. I trusted what these people said and I wasted my money and my time. Sure there is a few good spots but they are so far in the dvd u fall asleep before u see it. I reccommed any thing but this!!!!!!!!!!

He's Still Hardcore, He's Still Hardcore!!!.......2003-05-24

You couldn't ask for this man to give anymore than he did for 15 years. Living in his car, going to college, training to be a wrestler, and still finding time for family, his books, and getting himself torn up in the most bloody ways possible. He may not have won many of his Japan matches but he never held back when it came down to kickin butts all over the ECW arena. Mick Foley is the modern day incarnate of Leon Batiste Alberte- a renaissance man. He was an architect, a painter, writer, musician, etc. Alberte could even stand with his feet together and actually jump straight over a man's head. If Foley hadn't fallen off the 16-foot cage, I probably wouldn't even know his name, let alone taken an interest in his career; no matter how bloody it got. It's almost impossible to imagine that Mick Foley has three children, moreso that he WROTE 2 best selling autobiographies.

I highly recommend this DVD for any Mick Foley fan who still think 'Foley is God' or just good.

why waste time reading reviews buy this tape right now!!!!!!.......2002-06-04

If your still ponduring over buying the greatest DVD ever about the best of the best wrestler ever in recent memory well here is what i have to say this tape will shock you amaze you entertain you...it might even scare you but you will be begging for more of cactus jack because if youve only been shown or have only seen cactus in wwf you dont know him at all the cactus of old is the best ever. you get his best matches in my... opinion in his entire U.S. career on this tape youll see him fight in brutal entertaining matches and see him cut the best... promos i have ever seen and ive seen lots and lots of... promos. anyways please stop reading the reviews your just wasting time when you could be closer to watching this awesome... tape, now hurry buy the...tape now!!!

Catus Jack is the best.......2002-04-01

I would really rated this a 4 1/2, this dvd is great for those who love hardcore. You will see Jack having feuds with Sabu, Tommy Dreamer,The Sandman, and the famous Terry Funk.I like this DVD for the blood and violents it has. Most of the matches I didn't really like because the wrestlers weren't really doing anything hardcored, they were just tapping each other backs with chairs.Not to much exicitment because most of the time the funs are dead. Other then that it was really Hardcored. This DVD is not for those who hate violents, cause the wrestlers use anything from a bottle to a burning iron.-ECW!ECW!ECW!

ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) - Deep Impact Uncensored

Average customer rating:

One of the best DVDs ever.
Real ECW
Stone Cold, Barbed Wire, Ring Breaking, Catfighting Action
Not the best ECW comp, but some good matches here.
It is EXTREME.

ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) - Deep Impact Uncensored
Starring: Sabu , Terry Funk , Cactus Jack , and Steve Austin
Manufacturer: Geneon [Pioneer]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000059WIW
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Amazon.com

This anthology of wrestling mayhem from Extreme Championship Wrestling promises an "emotional barbed wire hell," and it delivers. In one gory match, Terry Funk, whose specialty is taking more punishment than any sane person could stand, meets the evil and vicious Sabu in a ring surrounded with barbed wire. In their battle for the ECW World Heavyweight championship, it doesn't take long for them to be smeared with blood, beating the hell out of each other while hopelessly entangled in strands of wire. It eventually takes several men with tools to cut them free as the announcer proclaims that the action just witnessed is too brutal to ever be shown on television. In another match Steve Austin, before he became "Stone Cold" and attained primetime stardom, battles in a "three-way dance" with other notorious bad asses Mikey Whipwreck and the Sandman. And Mick Foley, in his "Cactus Jack" persona, tangles with Terry Funk and gets burned (literally).

Bonus footage includes an "aerial war" between Japanese and Mexican wrestlers that provides some diversion from the usual hardcore brutality, and in what's billed as the "Original Catfight," bad girls Beulah McGillicuddy and Francine drive the crowd wild by shedding all civility along with most of their clothing. While the production of this DVD is reasonably professional, that doesn't detract from the decidedly gnarly and low-rent feel ECW fans adore. Fans of more tame and cartoonish wrestling should be warned that the blood does flow freely in some of these matches. --Robert J. McNamara

Description

Extreme Championship Wrestling is back with the third edition of the most groundbreaking wrestling video series anywhere - "Deep Impact." Joey Styles, the voice of ECW provides exclusive commentary and insight into the minds of ECW's competitors as they take to the ring in the most brutal violent, awe-inspiring, innovative form of combat anywhere!

Customer Reviews:

One of the best DVDs ever........2007-04-19

Every match is a classic. ECW was so much better than it is now!!!! Why can't Vince grow some grapefruits and bring back at least at SMALL PART of what ECW used to be? If you like wrestling this is a MUST BUY. I have watched this MANY times over and it's still entertaining. This stuff will never be duplicated!

Real ECW.......2007-02-12

This is ECW, the way it was meant to be seen. Not a watered down version on Sci Fi. I cant understand how they released dvds and still managed to go bankrupt. WCW never released any dvds, but ECW had no money (apparently) and still released quailty action. A diffent buy if your a ECW fan.

Stone Cold, Barbed Wire, Ring Breaking, Catfighting Action.......2006-05-28

This is basically a compilation of matches from various ECW TV shows & PPV's with an introduction to each match by Joey Styles.

ECW Champion Mickey Whipwreck vs. Sandman vs. Steve Austin - This was Austin's second (and last) match in ECW & was better than his first one. The match itself was nothing much past that historical factor as it was mostly brawling between all three men.

Barbed Wire Match: ECW Champion Terry Funk vs. Sabu - This was the most brutial match in ECW history as they just got so entangled in the barbed wire that they had to be cut apart for minutes after the match. Even manager Bill Alfonzo was bleeding during this match. Certain parts of the match had Sabu's bicept ripped apart & the barbed wire was wrapped around Funk's neck to the point where he kept getting poked whenever he breathed. It's so violent that if you watched the "Bloodsport" DVD that WWE put out, Paul Heyman said (and I quote) "I never did another one because nobody could top that one...and I didn't want them to."
(Also available on "Bloodsport: ECW's Most Violent Matches")

Television Champion Taz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow - This was from Living Dangerously '98. This was really something to witness as it looked like a "david vs. goliath" match just from looking at the two but Taz did more than hold his own against Bigelow. Certain moments in the match include Bigelow punching through a piece of table straight to Taz's face & Taz being knocked out from hitting his head on the guardrail while suplexing Bigelow off the ramp into the crowd. The ending was really shocking & made a heavy impact to the point that then-WWF writer Terry Taylor openily admitted that he stole that idea & used it in WWF during an angle involving Undertaker & Big Show.
(Also available on "Rise & Fall Of ECW")

The Sandman & Terry Funk vs. Cactus Jack & Shane Douglas - This was one of the wild brawls that ECW was remembered for as they had sinapore canes, guardrails in the ring, a toolbox complete with tools, and even a flaming branding iron. A classic ECW hardcore brawl from the early days of Extreme.
(Also available on "Bloodsport: ECW's Most Violent Matches")

Masato Tanaka & Jerry Lynn vs. Mike Awesome & Justin Credible - Their seperate fueds mixed with each other for this tag team match that actually came off very well. You get a good mix of wrestling here that you would expect from Lynn/Credible along with the stiff chair & table shots that you expect from Tanaka/Awesome.

Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Psicosis - This was from the late days of ECW where Psicosis returned to the ECW arena maskless (thanks WCW!). It was a good clash here between the two which showcases why Psicosis was underused in WCW for those who have only saw him there or in WWE as one of the Mexicools. Again, a good clash but nothing really memorable.

Francine vs. Beulah McGullicuty - This was dubbed as "The Original Catfight" and the catch was that Stevie Richards (Francine's boyfriend) was the referee while at the same time, he was tag team champions with Raven...who's girlfriend was Beulah. This I can't even classify as a match as it was just a segment to have hot women stripped down to their underwear & put over a storyline between all four participants. This was really nothing special unless your fans of Francine or Beulah...or love seeing hot women in their underwear.

Beulah McGillicutty vs. Bill Alfonso (in the Extreme Moments section) - Paul Heyman has called this match "5 of the most intense minutes in ECW history" as Alfonzo was nothing more than a 150 lbs. manager/former referee was bleeding so much that he makes Steve Austin's at WrestleMania 13 look like a papercut while Beulah put on some moves herself that were very impressive for being 105 lbs. untrained female. These two put on a better 5 minute match between each other that is actually better than alot of wrestlers can put together in 10 mins.
(Also available on "Bloodsport: ECW's Most Violent Matches")

The DVD extras the "Steve-amanic" promo and a hidden "Monday Niquil" promo by Steve Austin, and a promo by Cactus Jack. There's also a collage of the "Pulp Fiction" ECW promos including J.T. Smith, the Dudley's (before D-Von), Eliminators, Tommy Dreamer, Cactus Jack & Raven, Terry Funk, Bill Alfonzo, Tod Gordon, Steve Austin, Woman & Sandman, Mickey Whipwreck, Stevie Richards, Public Enemy along with those who have passed through ECW for a short time like the Steiner Brothers, Konnan, and Rey Mysterio.

The only flop I would say on this was the Beulah vs. Francine match (unless your just a fan of girls in their underwear) so I would recommend it.

Not the best ECW comp, but some good matches here........2004-03-09

Here we go:

1. Mikey Whipwreck Vs. Steve Ausin Vs. The Sandman - 3-way elimination match - Whipwreck won the ECW Championship and a fluke and now finds himself between 2 pissed-off drunks. Should've been good, but was pretty boring and way too long. *1/2

2. Terry Funk Vs. Sabu - Barbed Wire match - Sabu wrestled this match shirtless, which is insane in a barbed-wire match. Both men get shredded like crazy with Sabu actually having to tape his arm mid-match because it was bleeding to bad. ***1/2

3. Taz Vs. Bam Bam Bigalow - Kinda slow with bug moves here and then, including a BIG move to finish the match. ***

4. Terry Funk/Sandman Vs. Cactus Jack/Shane Douglas - Wild ECW brawl that uses chairs, tables, canes and everything else they could find. ****

5. Masata Tanaka/Jerry Lynn Vs. Mike Awesome/Justin Credible - 2 feuds collide in 1 tag team match. Awesome/Tanaka is always great, but throw in Jerry Lynn and you've got a great match. ****

6. Psicosis Vs. Tajiri - Both men work the mat with Tajiri kicking the crap outta Psicosis and Psych throwing the aerial moves in between. ****1/2

7. Francine Vs. Beulah - Raven and Steven Richards are guest refs. Francine is with Steven whose with Raven whose with Beulah.. I think I have that right. Not really a match, but you almost see puppies! - DUD

8. Fonzie Vs. Beulah - (In extra section) - Fonzie must've eaten 10 asperins with his bottle of vodka cause he taps a Mutoh scale bloodbath. Like the barbed wire match, it's actually disturbing, but knowing Fonzie somehow survived a loss of most of his blood is amazing!

It is EXTREME........2003-09-02

Sandman v. Mikey Whipwreck v. Steve Austin
Slow match but there is some technical wrestling mostly from Austin. Austin eliminates Mikey with the Stun Gun. Sandman pins Austin after Woman puts Brass Knucks on the Sandman's hand and he knocks out Austin but Austin gets his foot on the bottom rope yet the ref misses. An ok match.

Sabu v. Terry Funk in a Barb wire match
If you saw the Sandman/Raven Barb wire Death Match from ECW Extreme Evolution
then this match makes that match look like a WCW Hardcore match.
You won't believe what happens to Bill Alfonzo.

The Sandman and Terry Funk vs. Cactus Jack and "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. not a bad tornado match.

Taz v. Bam Bam Bigelow
Both these guys put up a hell of a fight. A great brawl and one hell of an ending.

Masato Tanaka and Jerry Lynn v. Mike Awesome and Justin Credible
One of the better ECW tag team matches. Good match. Tanaka gets Awesome Bombed through a table.

BONUS:Yoshihiro Tajiri v. Psicosis
A great high flying, high impact match. A lot of counters and reversals. I cringe every time I see and hear one of Tajiri's kicks. He has some of the most effective kicks in wrestling today. A 5 Star match Bar none.

Description

Experience the ultimate in hardcore combat--the Yokohama Deathmatch, a.k.a. the Texas Tornado street fight. It's a six-man tag team deathmatch pitting Cactus Jack, Terry Funk and Mike Awesome against Onita, Tanaka and Kanemure in a no-holds-barred fire-breathing, branding, barbwire bat war!

Customer Reviews:

LAME DO NOT BUY.......2004-12-16

the first FMW video i got and the last... WTF is this????

the four(ya thats right more than half of the whole show) first matches were about twenty(20) seconds long.

then we have Hayabusa who i have heard so much about vs. Gonosuke

Atcually not horrible but in TNA it would be less than average let alone WWe. O by the way horrible stupid lame ending with hayabusa telling gonosuke to change his life.... really stupid **`(of five)

Six man tornado tag match no rules

kinda cool actually a cool match, i was expecting more like this. Anyway it was a treat. (****)

barbed wire no rope electric crap match- to women- Jino vs. Shark or something like that..... STUPID MATCH i found it too slow going in Fast Forward. basiclly the entire match is just two women trying to put each other in barbed wire with fake explosions... i know it sounds cool but it really isnt.................... Horrible(*1/2 for the fire spot only)

Do not get this lame stupid video it really isnt worth it(unless u want to belive the profigahnda)

FMW Yokohama Deathmatch.......2004-02-28

Not the longest FMW dvd but still very good. Basically this is good for 3 main matches. Hayabusa vs Ganosuke in a Mask vs Hair Match, not a huge Hayabusa fan but this is definitely one of his better matches it's fast paced and it doesnt drag on forever rating 8, with background story about 24 min. Cactus Jack + Terry Funk + Mike Awesome vs Onita (FMW founder) + Kanemura + Tanaka in a 6 man Texas Tornado Match, barbed wire bat's, fire, tables, rematch from the fallout of The King Of The Death Match dvd, with background story about 20 min rating 8. Megumi Kudo vs Shark Tsuchiya in a 200 Volt Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match. This match is very good even better than her last match on KOTDM which I thought was slow. Shark pulls out everything trying to rid Kudo, blood, barbed wire and dangerous fire stunts in this match, with story about 27 min rating 9.

FMW Is Hardcore.......2001-12-09

I have watched this DvD and must say that for anyone who is a fan of TRUE Hardcore wrestling they should get this. For those unfamiliar with FMW, it is the TRUE Originator in Hardcore, Extreme Wrestling. It was the first to have the King of the Deathmathc Tournamet. It originated using lightbulbs, electrified barbwire, and EXPLOSIVES!!! The matches on the tape are some of the most extreme I have ever witnessed and I have been watching and following wrestling for 20 years. If you like Extreme and want to see the Real Mick Foley, AKA CACTUS JACK, and witness one the greatest wrestlers in the world before his injury, HAYABUSA, then Get this tape because if you don't then you are truly missing out.

damn replays.......2001-08-01

I was really disappointed with this video. The main reason for my disappoitment is the stupid highlight videos (instant replays)that kept on popping up during the matches. I hated these highlight videos because they ruined the flow of the match. It wasn't like they showed the videos while the wrestlers were laying exhausted on the floor doing nothing (like after a wrestler hits a plancha and then rests on the arena floor for a little while). They would do these instant replays during the middle of heated action. I remember even missing a 2 count (u could hear the ref counting to 2 in the background) due to one of the instant replays. What made it even worse was that the same instant replays that were shown during the matches, were also shown after the conclusions of the matches. What was the point of showing the same clip twice? I really hope that FMW will get rid of the instant replays for the next tape it produces.

This is NOT "King Of The Death Match" - But its still great!.......2001-06-07

I know this has not been released yet, but I know what event it is from, reading the statment in the last lot of FMW DVD's. It is not the IWA "King Of The Death Match" like eveyone thinks its is, but it does still feature Cactus Jack and Terry Funk. What this tape is, is a copy of the Japan only released:

FMW Yokohama Arena "Megumi Kudo Retirement Show" Commercial Tape 4/29/97

The matches at the event were:

Ricky Fuji & Ricky Morton v Hido & Dragon Winger

Crypt Keeper & Flying Kid Ichihara v Tetsuhiro Kuroda & Nanjyo Hayato

Koji Nakagawa v Katsutoshi Niiyama

Kaori Nakayama & Michiko Omukai & Chikako Shiratori & Mizuki Endo & Yoko Ikeda v Miss Mongol & Eagle Sawai & Crusher Maedomari & Michiko Nagashima & Lioness Asuka

Kodo Fuyuki & Jado & Gedo v Hisakatsu Oya & Headhunters *FMW 6 Man Street Fight Tag Titles*

Hayabusa v Mr. Gannosuke *Hair vs. Mask*

Atsushi Onita & Masato Tanaka & W*ING Kanemura v Cactus Jack & Gladiator & Terry Funk *Texas Western Street Fight Death Match*

Megumi Kudo v Shark Tsuchiya *No Rope Barbed Wire Electrified Death Match*

I'm not sure which of these matches made it onto the tape (The info given says there are only 7 matches in total make it onto the DVD)

The event was a masterpiece with the last match being a true great. This one I know is on the tape, as well as the one featuring Cactus Jack, and also the match with Hayabusa - as the info in the last batch of FMW DVD's talked of Hayabusa being unmasked, along with the return of Cactus and Terry, aswell as the retirement match of Kudo.)

Customer Reviews:

Early Republic Western Worthy Of Notice........2005-12-04

Newborn Republic Pictures utilizes the solid directoral ability of Robert Bradbury, and the presence of John Wayne along with Yakima Canutt and his troupe of stuntriders to produce this strongly scripted film of 1860s vigilante efforts to rid the Far West of outlaw bands that were involved in widespread robbery and cattle rustling. Bradbury, whose skill with Westerns dates back to the early silent period, directs and edits with a solid awareness of suspense, building his typically short scenes with sparse and, at times, stilted dialogue and an eye for proper cast placement which makes excellent use of defined personalities such as Wayne, Frank McGlynn Jr., and Glenn Strange, and gives particular value to the hard-riding stunt performers, who are splendid throughout this well-made (and musical) adventure filmed in California's Owens Valley, at the base of the Sierra Nevada.

Westward Ho.......2005-03-04

I am a John Wayne fan & have over 70 of his movies in my collection. I agree with Mr. Wu's description of the plot. It is one of the better of John Wayne's grade B Republic movies. It is the only movie in which John Wayne "sang" & the dubbed in voice is definitely not John Wayne's voice. John Wayne did not want to be a singing cowboy & it allowed others like Gene Autry & Roy Rogers to fill that role. I was pleased that the film was reworked & the DVD had good audio & picture.

Westward Ho (2 1/2 Stars).......2000-04-19

The older surviving brother of a wagon train ambush, seeks revenge on the leader of the gang responsible for the murder of his parents and the kidnapping of his younger brother. Years later, he is the leader of a group of 'vigilantes' who oppose lawlessness and unknowingly confronts his 'long-loss-brother' who has since learned the tricks-of-the-trade from the outlaws.

Average customer rating:

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Ride Tenderfoot Ride (1940) ... Image Ent."

Gene Autry - Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
Starring: Gene Autry , Smiley Burnette , June Storey , Mary Lee , and Warren Hull
Director: Frank McDonald
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000C20VLY
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

Cowboy Gene Autry inherits the Belmont Packing Company and the management duties that come with it. When a rival company owned by a pretty socialite plots to force Gene to sell, a feud soon ensues between the lady, who uses her womanly wiles to take business from Gene, and the cowboy who tries to recover by using old-time rally methods, including parades and bands.

Customer Reviews:

"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Ride Tenderfoot Ride (1940) ... Image Ent.".......2007-08-03

Republic Pictures present "RIDE TENDERFOOT RIDE" (September 6, 1940) (65 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- relive those thrilling days when the "First Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry took us down the dusty trails with hard riding and straight shooting hitting the bull's eye with excitement every time ... the Gene Autry series of B-Westerns were a staple of Saturday matinees in the 1930s and 1940s --- The Following Segments are from the "Melody Ranch Theater", which originally aired on the Nashville Network in 1987 --- Hosted by Gene and longtime sidekick Pat Buttram the program showcased many of Gene's classic motion pictures and featured personal anecdotes about how the films were made --- Information on costars and significant happenings in Gene's personal life and career. --- don't miss any of the Singing Cowboy's features loaded with action and songs that will leave you wanting more of Gene Autry's B-Western Adventures --- The sale of this DVD will further the educational and cultural mission of the renowned "Autry National Center in Los Angeles".

Under Frank McDonald (Director), Betty Burbridge (Short Story Author), Connie Lee (Short Story Author), Winston Miller (Screenwriter), Jack A. Marta (Cinematographer), Harold Adamson (Songwriter), Gene Autry (Songwriter), Smiley Burnette (Songwriter), E. di Lazzaro (Songwriter), Arthur Fields (Songwriter), Fred Hall (Songwriter), Charles Kenny (Songwriter), Nick Kenny (Songwriter), Raoul Kraushaar (Musical Direction/Supervision), Mary Lee (Songwriter), Johnny Marvin (Songwriter), Johnny Mercer (Songwriter), Richard A. Whiting (Songwriter), Les Orlebeck (Editor), William A. Berke (Associate Producer) - - - - - - our story line has the theme of "Taming of the Shrew", with a western flavor --- Gene inherits a large meat packing company but finds its business life threatened by the scheming of a rival concern headed up by June Story and her conniving general manager Warren Hull --- Gene won't sell out and June uses her womanly wiles to convince Gene to sell --- June has a kid sister Mary Lee who takes Gene's side, as he uses old time methods like parades and music to build back his customer base --- will the badmen end up in jail, while the two companies merge through romance, don't touch that dial you're about to find out --- great stunt work by Joe Yrigoyen (double for Gene), Jack Kirk (double for Smiley) and Nellie Walker (double for June Storey) - - - - - - some wonderful tunes "WHEN THE WORK'S ALL DONE THIS FALL" (Gene Autry), "ELEVEN MORE MONTHS AND TEN MORE DAYS" (Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette), "RIDE, TENDERFOOT, RIDE" (Mary Lee), "WOODPECKER Gene Autry and Mary Lee), "THAT WAS ME BY THE SEA" Smiley Burnette), "RIDE,TENDERFOOT, RIDE" (Gene Autry, Mary Lee, and June Storey), "RIDE, TENDERFOOT, RIDE" (Mary Lee), "LEANIN' ON THE OLE TOP RAIL" (Gene Autry), "OH! OH! OH!" (Cindy Walker, Mary Lee and Extras), "ON THE RANGE" (Gene Autry and Extras) - - - - some Autry fun facts, Gene had the ability to take instant catnaps, awakening a few minutes later refreshed and ready for the next task.

the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Smiley Burnette ... Frog Millhouse
June Storey ... Ann Randolph
Mary Lee ... Patsy Randolph
Warren Hull ... Donald Gregory
Forbes Murray ... Henry Walker
Joe McGuinn ... Henchman Martin
Joe Frisco ... Haberdasher
Isabel Randolph ... Miss Spencer
Herbert Clifton ... Butler Andrews
Mildred Shay ... Stewardess
Si Jenks ... Sheriff
Cindy Walker ... Singer with The Pacemakers
The Pacemakers ... Singers
Bob Burns ... Deputy
Fred Burns ... Rancher Allen
Champion ... Gene's Horse
Jack Kirk ... Ranch Foreman
Cactus Mack ... Henchman
Hal Price ... Rancher
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones ... Train Porter
Slim Whitaker ... Rancher
Hank Worden ... Henry Haggerty

BIOS:
1. Gene Autry
Date of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, Texas
Date of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, California

Special footnote, Orvon Gene Autry was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television --- Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, he and Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures Corp. "In Old Santa Fe" as part of a singing cowboy quartet; he was then given the starring role by Levine in 1935 in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" --- Shortly thereafter, Mascot was absorbed by the formation of Republic Pictures Corp. and Autry went along to make a further 44 films up to 1940, all B westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his horse Champion, had Burnette as his regular sidekick and had many opportunities to sing in each film --- Autry became the top Western star at the box-office by 1937, reaching his national peak of popularity from 1940 to 1942. His Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show debuted in 1940 --- Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce --- Radio, Films, Recordings, Television and Live Theater.

2. Smiley Burnette (aka: Lester Alvin Burnette)
Date of Birth: 18 March 1911 - Summum, Illinois
Date of Death: 16 February 1967 - Encino, California

Second special footnote, Lester Alvin (Smiley) Burnette an American singer-songwriter who could play as many as 100 different musical instruments, was a successful comedy actor in Western films over three decades --- The popularity of Burnette's Frog Millhouse character, with his trademark floppy black hat, was such that when Autry left for World War II service he did sidekicks duties with Eddie Dew, Sunset Carson and Bob Livingston, plus nine other films with Roy Rogers. After leaving Republic Pictures in 1944, Burnette became the sidekick to Charles Starrett at Columbia Pictures in the long Durango Kid series. Starrett starred in the series from 1944 until 1952, and that pairing resulted in more than 50 films. After the Starrett series was over, Burnette joined Autry for his final six films, all released by Columbia Pictures in 1953.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Reminiscing with Gene Autry and Pat Buttram at the "Melody Ranch Theater"
2. "Don't Touch That Dial", Gene Autry is on the air - excerpts from the Original "Melody Ranch Radio Show"
3. Production and Publicity Stills
4. Horseplay
5. Poster and lobby Card Art
6. Trivia and Movie Facts
7. Original Press Kit Material

Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "GENE AUTRY WESTERNS" (Hardcover) - by author Boyd Magers, like no other book on Gene Autry --- all of Gene's Mascot, Republic and Columbia westerns included, as well as his half-hour TV Episodes --- each segment contains the release date on each film ... major production credits ... complete cast (including character played) ... all songs included, songwriter and who performed them in the film ... running time of each film ... dates of the filming ... bios on the cast and major players (Smiley, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys, Herbert J. Yates, directors, leading ladies, songwriters and various heavies, etc.) ... locations that were used ... budgets and negative cost ... stunt people involved ... analysis and synopsis on each film ... notes and comments (including film and cast background info, salaries paid, working titles, etc) ... comments from Gene and many other cast members on each film ... theater exhibitors comments at the time of the films release ...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under DVD Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Image Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 65 min on DVD ~ Image Video #2393 ~ (2/28/2006)

FMW (Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling): King of the Death Match

Average customer rating:

One of the best FMW DVD's I have seen.
WWE SUCKS
FMW - it's the same, almost all the time
Probably the best FMW DVD out there..
Not the best Nring psychology but down right great brutality

FMW (Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling): King of the Death Match
Director: Cactus Jack
Manufacturer: Tokyopop
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004WC7W
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Customer Reviews:

One of the best FMW DVD's I have seen. .......2007-05-17

Nanjyo vs Jason the Terrible- Nanjyo hit some impressive high impact moves. However the entire match is only 5 minutes. It wasn't violent at all, why is it on this DVD? Grade C-

Mad Dog vs Shark- This is a women's match. It stated out ok, we saw a flaming stick, a sickle, and a bull rope. It was looking decent but then a quick finish. Grade C-

Horace Boulder, Mike Awesome, Ooya vs Super Leather, The Headhunters- I was very excited about this match since I like many of the wrestlers. Horace stinks, but does an ok job. Oooya wasn't seen at all. Mike awesome put on a super match, he is truly Awesome! Super leather was very good, and the headhunters are very athletic for 450 guys. Another 10 minutes and some more fast paced action would have made this an A. Grade B-

Cactus Jack vs Kanemura- AWESOME! This is a great match, its very brutal, and goes back and forth. They use a great deal of moves on glass, barbwire and nails. Great finish! Grade A

The Mother-In Law vs Kudo- This is an electrified barbwire match. It has a lot of promise since its Mother in Law last match. The matches started out a bit tame neither of them wanting to go into the barbwire. However both of them took a few huge blows, and could barely stand. Both needed to be carried out of the ring. Grade A

Terry Funk, Mr Pogo Vs Hayabusa, Masato Tanaka- Holy S#@t!!! That is all I will say. Grade A+

Taka Michinoku vs Koji Nakagawa- Solid match. Good wrestling, but not a hardcore match. Not sure why it would be on a DVD called king of the deathmatch. Grade B-

Overall B+
The last 3 matches are just fantastic. Each one makes the DVD worthwhile. I wish they would have gotten rid of the first 2 matches, and added a few more solid matches. This easily could have been one of the top DVD's ever! Its worth getting.

WWE SUCKS.......2006-01-13

HAYABUSA AND TANAKA VS. TERRY FUNK AND MR. POGO IS BY FAR MY MOST FAVORITE MATCH OF ALL TIME ! BARB WIRE ON TWO SIDES OF THE RING AND THE OTHER TWO ARE BARE ... AND THEN THERES THE BARB WIRE BEDS OF PAIN !
.........AND IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH , IF ONE OF THEM HITS THE WIRE , THEY GET SHOCKED AND THERE'S EXPLOSIVES ON A TIMER ALL AROUND THE RING !

FMW - it's the same, almost all the time.......2004-12-22

The now-extinct Japanese wrestling company FMW tried desperately to make it's mark in the wrestling world by showcasing brutal, over-the-top violence and bloodbaths. Given, the violence and bloodbaths are delivered, bút done so with poor deliverance, and a value that's immediately dwarfed by the spread of World Wrestling Entertainment. If you're a WWE fan watching this tape, you'll probably gain the first impression that this is a much lower quality of entertainment (and it probably is), but appreciation is gathered for this DVD by watching it more than once, and admiring the cool aspects (while trying to ignore the bad ones).

The feature starts out by introducing the two announcers, John Watanabi and Eric Geller. Quite plainly said, these two are among the main reasons of why this film may seem bad. Their announcing is low-class, and consists mainly of the two of them flinging homosexual-related insults at eachother. Very little detail or background is supplied by them about the matches, sans the constant repititions that Super Leather's mask is supposedly comprised of the skin of murdered FBI agents. Their entertainment-appeal is minimal, and they hurt the quality of FMW production more than helping it. I suggest turning down the volume and making your own commentary.

The wrestling itself is a thing of either like or dislike. The bloody hardcore style is hardly ever very choreographical or skillfully executed (with the exception of the 3-minute opening match, between Nanjo and Jason the Terrible). Fans of American wrestling will be displeased at first (probably), but may find excitement in the stipulations, weapons, and hard-hitting impact. From the bloody, knife-bared feud of the Mad Dog and Shark Tsuchiya, to the closing tag-team match (featuring Hayabusa and Terry Funk) that takes place inside an explosive ring, nothing is ever pretty or gentle.

Perhaps the only flaw here would lie in the length of the matches and their disbelievability, which borders on the superhuman: if you're watching an FMW match for the first time, it will most likely seem too drawn-out, especially when Megumi Kudo kicks out for the umpteenth time after being bashed, smashed, powerbombed, and electricuted by Toyoda Mother-In-Law (even though it is a very good, emotional match).

Delivery on the weapons in minimal; the barbed wire, glass, and the blood look real enough (especially when presented by the legendary Cactus Jack), but in several circumstances, you can plainly see that the butcher knife and the chained scythe are not being used as convincingly as the wrestlers are screaming. The tables used are of poor quality for pro wrestling, as they're very narrow and don't break as easilly as they should. Blood seems to eventually smear off of Tanaka's back after he was supposedly cut open by Mr. Pogo, and one really begins to wonder how Ooya can kick out after being splashed by one of the 400-lb Headhunters.

When compared to American promotions, FMW comes up short more often than not, but fans of Japanese death matches, both old and aspiring, will find like for this DVD, despite the sorry commentating, the forgettable interviews (besides Cactus Jack's), and the messiness of the violence - give it a try, if you're willing.

Probably the best FMW DVD out there.........2004-12-04

First off this isn't the famous IWA Deathmatch tournament that had Cactus Jack Vs. Terry Funk in the finals, but from the FMW 7th Anniversy show from 96 (I think..). Except for the last 3, all the matches are MAJORLY and HORRIBLY clipped (about half the match) and the commentary is awful. Still the last 3 matches are some of the best Death matches you can find on DVD..

1. Bonus Match: Taka Michinoku Vs. Koji Nakagawa - Now were talking I.. Hey! Wha tha? They clipped everything?!! The Clipping totally messed up the pace of the match, more like a highlight reel - (DUD)
2. Jason da Terrible Vs. Nanjyo Hayato - Pretty neat spots early but it quickly becomes a typicaly quick RAW match (*1/2)
3. Mad Dog Nagayo Vs. Shark Tsuchiya - Womens Hardcore match, basically it's like seeing Mr. Pogo Vs. Cactus Jack in women's form. Typical bloody Garbage match but still OK. (**)
4. Mike Awesome, Horace Hogan & Hiskatsu Vs. The Headhunters & Leatherface - Kind of a letdown considering Awesome and the Headhunters (One of my favorite tag teams, imagine 2 Abdullah the Butchers doing moonsalts outside of the ring :-) are in it. (*1/2)

5. Cactus Jack Vs. W*ing Kanemura (Barbwire, Broken glass match) - Now the REAL DVD starts. Barbwired-Ropes on 2 sides of the ring, other sides have no ropes and boards of barbedwire/broken glass laying on the outside to fall on. Ouch! Kanemura shows he can hang with Cactus by taking some outlandish punishment and cactus, like always, seems to bring some fun originallity to a death match. (****1/2)

6. Megumi Kudo Vs. Combat Toyoda - (Women's Electrified Barbed Wire match) Best match on the DVD. This is Toyoda's retirment match against her ex-teammate/(and lover?) Kudo. The ropes are lined with barbedwire AND electrified. The last two moves are two of the NASTIEST! moves you'll ever see. With the storyline, match, aftermath AND seeing Onita cry it gets my only perfect Deathmatch rating ever :-) (*****)

7. Hayabusa & Masato Tanaka Vs. Terry Funk & "that crazy [...]" Mr. Pogo (Electricfied Barbedwire / Exploding Ring Deathmatch) - Terry Funk and Pogo don't think Hayabusa/Tanaka have the "heart" (balls) to represnt FMW so they challenge them to a ridiculouly crazy deathmatch. The ropes are electrified with more boards of barbed wire outside the ring. And of course Mr. Pogo and Terry Funk bring there own toys along. Oh, and the ring with explode in 15 min. Kind of a let down, but you definitly gets to see everything you'd thought you would, Fire, Blood, Knives, Terry Funk swinging and slipping around the ring... (****)

Not the best Nring psychology but down right great brutality.......2004-10-14

This wasnt the best FMW DVD that they have to offer.
When it comes to death matches this pretty much serves its purpose, on exception of the very first match. The rest were bloody and brutal in true death match fashion.
I have to say that the Combat "Mother in Law" Toyoda vs. Megumi Kudo match is on my personal top 10. You dont look at them as just some female competitors tryin to wrestle like the big dogs. All you see are two intense wrestlers giving their all and producing a quality death match.
Overall a good piece to add to a wrestling fans collection.

Average customer rating:

The Three Mesquiteers: Prairie Pioneers
Starring: Wheaton Chambers , Davison Clark , Guy D'Ennery , Rufe Davis , and Curley Dresden
Director: Les Orlebeck
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EYK44O
Release Date: 2006-05-23

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