Get ‘Em Before They’re Gone

Class Act: One of the great exploitation flicks of the 1980s has been unearthed, and Movies Unlimited has it. A limited number of VHS copies of Class Of 1984 have made their way into our hands, so act now if you want to snag this rare find. Perry King plays the idealistic new teacher who butts heads with the punks who rule his new high school. Roddy McDowall is a fellow teacher who eventually loses his wits in class, and students are played by the likes of Timothy Van Patten and Michael J. Fox. Propelled by Alice Cooper’s song I Am the Future, Class Of 1984, released in 1982, doesn’t hold back in its brutal depiction of a high school from hell. It’s kind of like To Sir With Guns, Knives And Switchblades.

Universal Fright Finds: Three Universal horror rarities have flown their way onto our shelves, but if you’re interested, you better act soon. We now have the DVDs of Frankenstein with Boris Karloff, Dracula with Bela Lugosi and Creature From The Black Lagoon in stock. Long discontinued, these movies feature great bells and whistles: Frankenstein spotlights an original documentary, commentary, production notes and more; Dracula offers the Spanish version of the 1931 film, a “making of” documentary, audio commentary, and more; Creature showcases a “making of” docu, commentary, trailers, and more. Act now—if you’re not scared! Also, for all horror devotees who are in the market for an extremely hard-to-find item, we've come into a limited supply of the 1990 shocker Clownhouse on DVD. This terrifying tale of three brothers (including a young Sam Rockwell) being menaced by a trio of escaped homicidal maniacs disquised as circus clowns has a big cult following. How'd they all fit into that tiny hearse?

War Story: One of the most popular TV miniseries ever, the epic The Winds Of War adapted Herman Wouk’s dramatic novel set just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Robert Mitchum starred as career naval officer “Pug” Henry, heading an impressive cast including Ali MacGraw, Jan-Michael Vincent, Polly Bergen, and Ralph Bellamy. Now in stock are ultra-rare copies of the 14 ½ hour series on VHS, on seven tapes.

Girls On Film: If you’re hankering for a memorable performance by an actress, we’d like to suggest the following films, all available for a limited time on VHS. The roles vary from the serious to the silly, from the musical to the miraculous. But act now, because these movies with all these great gals aren’t going to be around for long.

Working Girl (1988): Melanie Griffith was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in this sophisticated comedy from Mike Nichols, playing a secretary who gets an opportunity to make impressive moves—both in business and in romance—when wicked boss Sigourney Weaver breaks her leg. Harrison Ford also stars.

Xanadu (1980): This blast from the disco past stars Olivia Newton-John at her most gorgeous, playing the incarnation of a Greek goddess who helps artist John Beck realize his dreams and gets involved in opening a roller skating rink. With Gene Kelly as an old-time musician who befriends Beck; music by Electric Light Orchestra.

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962): Sibling rivalry at its most demented and darkly comic, with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford as actress sisters who battle the bottle, the cost of fame, and each other in this classic psychological gothic tale from Robert Aldrich.

Sweet Charity (1969): Fellini’s Nights Of Cabiria inspired a Broadway musical and its cinematic adaptation, with Shirley MacLaine as a dance hall hostess engaged in adventures with the opposite sex. Directed by Bob Fosse, the high-kicking, high-energy film also stars Chita Rivera, Ricardo Montalban, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Where Angels Go…Trouble Follows (1968): In the sequel to The Trouble With Angels, Rosalind Russell returns as the Mother Superior who had her hands full with precocious youngsters and the arrival of young, open-minded nun Stella Stevens to the cloister. Binnie Barnes, Mary Wickes also star.

Mount Pleasant: Paramount Pictures kicked a bunch of VHS movies off their mountain, but Movies Unlimited caught them, and they’re now stock. But while they’re priced to sell, they’re going fast. Among the titles are: Barefoot In The Park, Broadway Bill, Chinatown (both regular and letterboxed), Serpico, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Serial, King Kong (’76), and Marathon Man. Is it safe? Only if you buy now.

Stay tuned to the next Movie Buzz for more collector suggestions.

Archives