Reviews

Caught part of this film on Cinemax. I'm not even sure what the plot was--something about a dude running a massage parlor. What I do know is that there was a series of absolutely stunning women naked. Since this is a T&A film of the "Skinemax" genre, I'd have to say it's a damn good one. Not only are all the women gorgeous, but it looks like all of them have NATURAL large breasts! If you like beautiful women naked, this is a good film to see.

This film is a documentary of the Shackleton Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914. Shackleton's ship was trapped in pack ice and later destroyed, leading to a two-year struggle for survival on the frozen seas. The film is a mixture of live-action movies and still photos from the expedition. It is as much a nature documentary as a record of the voyage, with the latter portion especially paying more attention to the Antarctic wildlife than the struggles of the explorers. It is also incomplete, skipping some important parts of the story, like the fate of the expedition's dogs. Those who want to learn about the voyage might be better served reading Alfred Lansing's "Endurance", or Shackleton's memoir, both of which are still in print. Still, "South" is an interesting video record of the early days of polar exploration.

John Gilbert was the highest paid actor in Hollywood in 1929, the year silent films breathed their last. By 1933 he was through with movies and by 1935 he was dead. Lots of people believe bad things about him, mainly that he had a high squeaky voice or that he was a ham who couldn't adjust to talkies. In "Downstairs" he proves that both of these myths are false. The film is a splendid little drama--"little" being the only kind of movie MGM would cast him in by then--about a scheming chauffeur who blackmails or steals from practically everybody at the mansion he works at. Paul Lukas, years from stardom, plays the head butler, and Virginia Bruce (who married Gilbert in real life) plays the butler's new bride. The script and story are flawless, and Gilbert, playing very much against type, shines as the amoral chauffeur. "Downstairs" is a sophisticated drama that could not have been made a few years later after the censors cracked down on Hollywood, but more importantly, it is a testament to John Gilbert, who might have had a successful career in the talkies if he had been given a chance.

A well-done erotic film. Good erotic movies have an interesting story to go along with the sexual content. This one tells the story of a painter who changes his models' lives while reviving his moribund marriage. The sex scenes are tasteful, and the exquisitely beautiful Kristen Knittle makes this film worth watching all by herself. For those who enjoy erotica, "Siren's Kiss" is a good choice.

The power of this film is undiminished 80 years after its release. It is undeniably racist, but anyone who is able to ignore the message of the movie can appreciate it as sheer cinematic genius. It has splendid cinematography and fine acting, especially from Lillian Gish, one of the greatest actresses ever to appear on a movie screen. One appreciates Griffith's genius even more when one views other films from 1915 and realizes how many light years he was ahead of his time.