Reviews

For historical objectivity and academic accuracy. This documentary's historians, such as Martin Sherwin are the cream of American left-wing academia. Anyone wanting to read the true story how the second World War™ came to an end I would recommend reading. " Unconditional: The Japanese Surrender in World War II " published by the Oxford University press this is the best book to date written on the subject. It is shocking that this Peter Jennings special won a Peabody award. This documentary which came out in 1995 was the one that forever shattered my faith in the so-called mainstream media. At the time that it came out, it was, however, severely criticized for its historical and accuracies by academia across the world. And major newspapers, such as the Washington Post in New York Times.

This mini series was shown in the U.S. on the A&E Television network and it was landmark miniseries that correctly showed the turmoil effecting the catholic church after Vatican II. The story is a very Australian one in terms of how the changes going on in the church effected Catholics in Australia in the 1960s. This miniseries launched the careers of many young actors such as Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe. There is a huge amount of acting talent in Australia and they shine in this production. BOC was the performance of Brenda Flicker's career and is the one actress that stands out in the miniseries. The irony is almost half a century after Vatican II real reform seems to elude so much of the catholic church but it has reversed it's positions on so many issues since the 1960s.

You have to give the producers credit, they did unearth rare Defeo family photographs and got interviews with 3 close family friends who have not spoken about the family since 1974. The fundamental problem is the basis of this documentary is the unreliable testimony of Geraldine Defeo who may or may not have married to Butch Defeo and has been called a fraud by many authorities on the Defeo Murders. I do agree with the producers it is impossible Butch Defeo committed the crimes alone but that sister Dawn took part has been debunked by forensic science. Brigante mob ties too were long ago dismissed. Mike Brigante did have some friends who were outfit guys and may have had some dealings with them on some minor level but the half of the Buick dealership was his own earned through hard work in the automobile business since the end of WWII. The Defeo Murders were the story of a family that could have been your neighbors or mine who were all killed by their mentally disturbed son who found access to a shot gun.

This movie was Hedy's last. It was intended as her comeback film but her time had past. The plot was a rip off of Sunset Blvd. Hedy plays a aging, movie star named Vanessa Windsor who has a party girl brat adopted daughter. Ms Lamarr was 45 years old when this movie was made and she aged well. This movie is pure late 50's in theme and fashion. If you can find this film on TV which it seldom appears, ( I found a pirated copy on Ebay ) it is a worthwhile film but it pale's to Hedy's glory days of the 40's. It is always fascinating to see the stars of the silver screen of the 30's and 40's in their more mundane later work.

This movie hails from a time when MGM had fallen on hard times and was looking to relive it's glory days of the 30's and 40's by creating new versions of it's classic films. The Andy Hardy series was the role of Mickey Rooney's career. This film was a nice effort. A shame Lewis Stone who played Judge Hardy passed away in 1953, his absence really hurt this 1958 remake. Ann Rutherford's absence as Andy's old love Polly Benedict also hurt this film. This is strictly a trip down memory lane movie for old Andy Hardy fans. The problem is it is rarely shown. I saw it last one Saturday in 1987 and have not seen it since. Turner Classic Movies which owns the series does show the older Andy Hardy movies but not this one.

I loved this documentary but kinda got the impression it was somewhat biased against Tina Louise. She is portrayed as selfish and self-centered in the show and the documentary states incorrectly she never participated in any reunions and cut her ties to the show because she thought it hurt her career. She did on several occasions appear in reunions the most famous was the 1988 Gilligan's Island reunion on the David Letterman show which was the last time the entire cast was together before the passings of Jim Backus in 1989, Alan Hale Jr in 1990 then Natalie Schafer in 1991. Tina has also appeared at a few others reunions the most recent was the TV Land awards. Still this documentary sheds light on a great deal of what went on behind the scenes and a must have for anyone who grew up on this show. The story of Jim Backus' battle with Parkinsons is compelling as is the story of Natalie Schafer's battle with breast cancer.

I first saw this film in 1979 when it appeared on HBO. And it is MY coming of age movie. I found the tape recently in a video store and it brought back many happy memories. I was sad to learn Valérie Quennessen was killed in an auto accident in 1989. She was a beautiful and talented actress. Marie-France Pisier is still one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, the one actor, who in my opinion, steals the movie is the great French actor Jean Rochefort who plays Monsieur Tessier. I sometimes cannot believe 22 years have passed since I first saw this movie. A must See !!