| Editorial August 2009
Summer Reruns and Other Impossible Tasks
 Here it is, the dead of
summer. The dog days, as they’re sometimes called. There are fewer new releases
coming out on DVD and Blu-ray until the fall, so it’s a perfect time to catch up. I
don’t know about you, but as a reviewer I put interesting but not perhaps essential
releases in a stack to view at a later time. And because this stack has a way of growing
until it looks positively daunting, August is a good time to reduce it.
It’s also an excellent month to set up all the series
viewing I’ve been meaning to do, such as the complete James Bond movies in
chronological order, all three Spider-Man movies on consecutive nights, a week of Star
Wars, or perhaps a season of a favorite television show so I can be up to speed
when the new season starts in September. I also keep meaning to do festivals focused on
one star or director, such as a James Cagney week or two weeks of John Ford movies. Ideas
for August viewing are only as limited as your imagination.
I listen to a lot of old-time radio on XM in my car, and
this week they’re doing Christmas in July, a week of shows that would normally be
aired in December. That got me thinking about honoring the seasons or specific holidays.
Christmas and Halloween are pretty well covered, but how about movies devoted to themes
associated with Secretary’s Day, Bastille Day, or Labor Day? I came up with a list of
my favorite movies pertaining to summer and one that I watch every Labor Day. Perhaps it
will inspire readers to create their own lists and weather the dog days of August in
entertaining style.
For Labor Day there simply isn’t a more tuneful,
enjoyable experience than The Pajama Game. The hit Broadway show revolving around
friction between labor and management was beautifully captured in one of the best
stage-to-film translations in the history of cinema. Doris Day, brought on board to
provide a name draw, does an admirable job as both an actress and a singer. Coupled with
Broadway’s John Raitt and backed by a cast of lovable goofs, Day makes this film
sparkle. It will soon be a Blu-ray must, but for now it’s available only as an
excellent Warner Brothers DVD.
As for the rest of summer, my list includes the following
films.
 The Endless Summer
(Image Entertainment DVD)
One of the greatest surfing movies ever made, The
Endless Summer lets me fantasize about the sport without putting myself in harm’s
way. Director Bruce Brown follows two surfers around the world as they search for the
perfect wave. The stunning photography and rhythmic soundtrack -- devoid of the typical
Beach Boys songs -- are well presented on the Image disc, though here again you’ll
hope they’re thinking Blu-ray soon. The movie is a perfect salute not only to the
summer but also to the ’60s.
 Jaws (Universal DVD)
This is my favorite summertime movie. I first saw it at the
beach (no kidding), and it mirrored the beach scenes outside the theater -- minus the
shark, which made it not only a great beach movie but also a fantastic horror film. This
movie perfectly captured the sand, bright blue skies, and everything else about the beach.
I hope it’s due for Blu-ray soon, but in the meantime the last Universal DVD release
looks splendid on a good upconverting DVD player.
 Suddenly, Last Summer
(Sony Home Entertainment DVD)
Who can forget Elizabeth Taylor in her stunning white
swimsuit, or the grisly last scene in which we learn the cause of the unseen
Sebastian’s mysterious death? It’s a shocker even today, though the censorship
standards of its time (1959) required that it be watered down. The performances are good
all around, but it’s Taylor you’ll remember. The black-and-white photography is
grayed out a tiny bit in the Sony transfer, so it’s time for a re-mastered digital
version.
 Summer Stock (Warner
DVD)
Judy Garland’s last movie for MGM paid homage to
summer theater. It’s remembered more for a few special moments than for its entirety,
but what moments they are! Judy, in her black jacket and fedora, sings the ultimate
version of "Get Happy," and she and Gene Kelly turn a square dance into a
tap-dancing duel. Kelly shows us just what a genius he was in using elements at hand, in
this case a squeaky floorboard and a newspaper. Warner’s DVD looks quite good when
upconverted.
 Summertime (Criterion
DVD)
Summertime is the archetypal romance movie. Spinster
Katherine Hepburn finds love in Venice with a married man (Rossano Brazzi), only to have
things wane as fall approaches. The gorgeous Technicolor photography looks fine on the
Criterion DVD; it’s one of their best color transfers. Hepburn’s performance is
also one of her best, and almost anyone will relate to the story.
Summer’s a big topic, so I’m sure every reader
will have a different list. But those are my favorites, revisited just about every August,
and they stand up over time. I wonder if that "to view at a later time" stack
will do the same. At the rate it’s growing, it might reach the ceiling by Christmas.
There’s only one solution -- I need two or three Augusts.
. . . Rad Bennett
radb@hometheatersound.com |
