The 1952 classic movie, The Quiet Man, won two Academy Awards (for director John Ford and Cinematography) and was nominated for several others. Ford also picked up the Directors Guild of America award and, according to many, is considered one of the best directors in history. The Quiet Man reunited John Wayne with Maureen O’Hara in this tale of a retired American boxer who moves back to his homeland of Ireland.

Sean Thornton (Wayne) is dejected after an accident in the boxing ring in which he killed an opponent. He wants to change his life and live in peace so he decides to move back to a small village in Ireland with the idea of buying his family’s homestead. With his eye on the property as well, Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen) is livid when his sister Mary Kate (O’Hara) and Thornton become involved in a romantic relationship. They have a stormy relationship and an even stormier marriage as she refuses to consummate their marriage until her dowry is received, which Will is withholding. However she holds fast to her Irish tradition. This is a true love story in every sense of the phrase. Barry Fitzgerald is delightful as the Irish matchmaker.

The film was shot on location with extraordinary scenery and the lush green land of the emerald isle. The chemistry between Wayne and O’Hara makes this film as memorable as it is and heartwarming to viewers. This is one of Ford’s classic films and in the bonus features viewers have a treat with some background information in a “making of” feature hosted by Leonard Maltin.

Ford picked up his fourth Academy Award for this film. This behind the scenes feature looks at his history with the film and with the actors. The famed director insisted the movie be shot on location, which was a rarity in those days, especially for the small studio that was making the film. He also insisted it be filmed in Technicolor, something fans have definitely appreciated.

The story was originally a short story which Ford purchased for a mere ten dollars. He knew he wanted to make it into a feature film but that took plenty of effort and time. In order to make this film with the studio, Ford had to make the movie Rio Grande, which also starred Wayne, O’Hara, and McLaglen. With the success of that film he got the green light (no pun intended) to go ahead with The Quiet Man.

There is also a tribute to O’Hara with three of her co-stars – Juliet Mills, Hayley Mills, and Ally Sheedy. They describe her inner and outer beauty and say she had an “aura” about her, as well as grace and kindness. For Hayley, who costarred with O’Hara in the classic 1961 movie The Parent Trap, she said working with the actress was “a treat.” She also said O’Hara “exuded love of life.”

Another bonus looks at the vision John Ford had for the various scenes of the film.

Wayne and Ford worked together on fourteen films, including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Donovan’s Reef, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Searchers, and Stagecoach. Wayne and O’Hara teamed up in five films: Rio Grande (1950), The Quiet Man (1952), The Wings of Eagles (1957), McClintock! (1963), and Big Jake (1971).

The Olive Signature Collection of The Quiet Man is a must-have for fans of this classic film. It has been remastered in 4K. It is truly a beautiful edition of this beloved story filled with drama, comedy, and true love.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

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Kevin Spacey is purr-fect in Nine Lives, a delightful story of a gruff, selfish, businessman billionaire who discovers what is most important in life. Tom Brand (Spacey) is building the tallest tower in the northern hemisphere. He is the face of his company. He makes all the decisions. He devotes his life to the company he built while his wife (Jennifer Garner) and daughter (Malina Weissman) are delegated to second place. But things unexpectedly change.

The only thing his daughter Rebecca wants for her birthday is a cat. Tom hates cats. But he relents and goes to a cat store owned by a very strange man, Felix Perkins (Christopher Walken), who has the ability to change lives through his cats. Actually, he changes lives – period.

Tom takes the cat but during a terrible accident his consciousness is transferred to the cat when his human body is put into a coma. So, while Spacey’s body is relegated to lying in a hospital bed, his voice is still very much a part of the movie. Viewers can hear him talking but everyone else only hears cat sounds.

Fuzzypants (the name of the cat) tries everything to make people see he is actually Tom Brand, but to no avail. His daughter slowly puts the pieces together and tries to make her mother understand that the cat is her dad, but that’s really absurd. Isn’t it?

While Tom is stuck inside the cat’s body, his son David (Robbie Amell) from his first marriage to an alcoholic snotty woman (Cheryl Hines) is doing everything in his power to keep the company in tact. He is up against a conniving company executive (Mark Consuelos) who is intent on taking the company out of the hands of Brand.

This is a cute story that leads to a sweet ending. It’s great for the holiday season because, like the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life, the main character discovers things about himself that make him more aware of the things he has done. But in Tom’s case he learns that he has been an SOB and through the experience he has as Mr. Fuzzypants, he learns to be a more caring man.

Even if you aren’t a cat lover, you’ll adore Mr. Fuzzypants.

There is a bonus feature about the casting of the cat. The filmmakers had to import special cats from Russia to be Fuzzypants. He has brilliant blue eyes and an expressive face.

Another bonus looks at the making of the film with the actors and the director Barry Sonnenfeld, who, incidentally, is allergic to cats! Another interesting part of this bonus feature looks at the color palette in the film. Blues and greens are prominent and the filmmakers discuss how and why they chose those colors. And the costume for Walken’s character is eclectic, with parts from different decades and all green. This gives him an unconventional look to go with his unconventional character.

Nine Lives is a fun family film. It’s rated PG for thematic elements, language, and some rude humor. Besides the combo pack (Blu-ray, DVD, + Digital HD), the movie is available as a single DVD.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Philip Roth’s acclaimed best-selling novels have been turned into several films, including Goodbye Columbus and Portnoy’s Complaint. Now Indignation goes from the printed page to the screen with Logan Lerman leading the cast. This young man deserves accolades for his performance as he carries the show – practically every scene.

The setting is the early 1950s when the Korean War was being waged and young American men were being sent to fight and die over there. Marcus is a straight-A student and receives a scholarship to a college Ohio, quite a way from his New Jersey home. He has dreams of being an attorney and someday arguing before the Supreme Court. As a college student he is deferred from the military.

So, this young naïve Jewish boy heads out to this new life where he encounters plenty of instances that are new to him, including one very troubled but sexually experienced young woman. Olivia (Sarah Gadon) has a troubled past and plenty of emotional baggage.
Marcus buckles down to his studies and his campus job in the library. But Olivia steals his attention and he decides to ask her out. Meeting her was the thing that brought down his house of cards. He was doing all right and on his way to carry out his dreams. But young love got in the way and everything changed after their first date.

Roth’s other novels mentioned earlier also deal with young Jewish men on the brink of life. Each one of his central characters has emotional difficulties of one kind or another. They are definitely flawed to the point of life changing decisions.

While Indignation garnered praise from critics everywhere, it is definitely not a film mainstream viewers will get into. It’s slow moving, depressing, and very deep. If this kind of intense drama is something you enjoy, then this is a film you should check out.

Bonus features on the Blu-ray include a look at the characters and the actors as well as the screenwriter, James Schamus. There is also a look at the novelist and his films. The novel was released in 2008. His past novels include “Deception,” “American Pastoral,” “The Human Stain,” and “Everyman.”

Indignation is a coming of age story dealing with life in the early 1950s when sex was considered indecent. It involves flawed characters with mixed emotions and plenty of personal dramas. Lerman is in almost every scene and his talent is the only thing that takes this story from beginning to end. It’s deep, depressing, yet has something that keeps viewers interested instead of turning it off. What? I don’t know.

This is not for everyone but fans of Roth will be entertained by this production of his novel.

Indignation is rated R for sexual content and some language.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter