Garv’s Pick of the Week: Swing Time (Criterion)
For the release week of June 11th:
Garv’s Pick of the Week: Swing Time [Blu-ray / Criterion]: Watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance together is about as magical as the movies get, and this is one of their best. The Jerome Kerns/Dorothy Fields score includes the standards “Pick Yourself Up,” “A Fine Romance,” and “The Way You Look Tonight.” However, new viewers should be warned that the film also contains the “Bojangles of Harlem” blackface number (which Astaire meant as a tribute to the great African American dancer).
Additional Titles of Interest —
Frankenstein Created Woman [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: The films in Hammer Studios’ Frankenstein series (especially those entries directed by Terence Fisher) are well made, effective, and surprisingly thought-provoking. And, of course, Peter Cushing is never short of excellent. This film was previously released on Blu-ray, but the old disc is out-of-print and the Scream Factory release features a new, more colorful transfer.
They Might Be Giants [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: George C. Scott is a retired judge who thinks he’s Sherlock Holmes and Joanne Woodward is his psychiatrist, coincidentally named Dr. Watson. This special edition Blu-ray includes extra footage not seen in the original release. I will post a full review in the near future.
The Girl Most Likely To… [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: This 1973 TV Movie features a teleplay by Joan Rivers and a breakthrough performance by Stockard Channing. I remember that this used to be a staple on the ABC 3:30 Movie.
The Entity [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: You may feel a little dirty after watching this supernatural molestation movie. However, Barbara Hershey is reliably excellent.
Kidnapped [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: Everyone’s second favorite Robert Louis Stevenson novel gets a film adaptation with Michael Caine.
Piranha [Limited Edition Steelbook] [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: This Scream Factory release of the Joe Dante classic features a new 4K remaster.
Jonny Quest: The Complete Original Series [Blu-ray / Warner Archive]: All 26 episodes of the legendary animated adventure series are collected in this 3-Disc set.
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