A wonderful collection!
B. Bem | Washington, DC United States | 07/23/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I now own all three collections of these films. They are splendid. The "extras" on each DVD--interviews, reviews, etc.--are also very interesting. I am so glad that these films, which supposedly were never to be released again, have appeared on DVD."
Marathon... Marathon... Mara, Mara, Marathon!
Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 06/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"KINO'S AMERICAN FILM THEATRE is a pricey, space-consuming three volume collection of 14 movies. That's the down side. The rest is all good! These stage plays (adapted to film between 1970-'75) are nothing short of superb. You get the finest works of the greatest playwrights, as rendered by top-notch actors and directors. Audio and video transfers of the restored movies is also first rate. It's a collection ideal for lovers of theater or for any fan of classy cinema. Highest recommendation!
The entire AMERICAN FILM THEATER collection (14 titles) is available in a single box set. This stage-to-film series includes works by Chekhov, O'Neill, Albee, Ionesco and others.
SYNOPSES:
GALILEO-- Adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's story of the later life of the Italian Renaissance philosopher/scientist who was persecuted by the Church for his support of the Copernican theory that the Earth revolved around the sun.
JACQUES BREL IS...-- A show woven around 35 songs written by the famous mid-20th Century French troubadour.
LOST IN THE STARS-- Kurt Weill's last stageshow is a musical influenced by Porgy & Bess. Adapted from Alan Paton's "Cry the Beloved Country" by Maxwell Anderson.
PHILADELPHIA...-- Serio-comedy about the last few hours a young man spends in Ireland prior to his emigration to America.
Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.
(6.6) Galileo (UK-1975) - Topol/John Gielgud/Patrick Magee/Tom Conti/Edward Fox/Mary Larkin/Michael Lonsdale
(6.3) Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (France/Canada-1975) - Elly Stone/Mort Shuman/Joe Masiell/Jacques Brel
(6.3) Lost in the Stars (1974) - Brock Peters/Melba Moore/Raymond St. Jacques/Clifton Davis/Paul Rogers
(5.5) Philadelphia, Here I Come! (Ireland-1975) - Donal McCann/Des Cave/Siobhan McKenna/Eamon A. Kelly"