Shock (Fox Film Noir)

I watched this via a very poor copy housed in a box with other left for dead B-movies[Mill Creek Entertainment).The voices on the soundtrack seemed to get garbled after a while which really tried my patience.
But it looked good enough to see if there was a better copy of it out there and there IS.
Fox Film Noir has produced a crisp, clear copy of this film. Also included are trailers for other Fox Film Noir: Boomerang!,House of Strangers,Laura,I Wake Up Screaming,Vicki and Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Vincent Price is excellent in Shock as the psychiatrist/doctor who slays his wife so he can be with his lover-on a full time basis. Only trouble is the slaying is witnessed by a woman played by Anabel Shaw, who reminded me of actress Emma Watson.

There is a good dream sequence and good acting by Shaw and Lynn Bari as the sexy and conniving love interest.
Just wanted to add one observation and that is language that is becoming extinct and is used several times in this film(as I'm sure in many other pictures of the period). To wit, when a character in the movie thanks someone, you will hear replied from the other person "Not at all". I just find it interesting and wanted to mention this rarely used expression.
After you've watched the film you can re-watch it with a special commentary by film writer and historian John Stanley.
And I mean a THOUROUGH commentary as John delves into EVERYONE associated with this film-the producer,screenwriter,composer,director and each of the actors/actresses appearing in the film.
His knowledge of this film and of the actors who appear and his overall discussion of film past and present was very impressive and all served with a bit of humor as well.
Very good movie, excellent acting, a clutch of trailers from the period and John Stanleys' commentary make this a happy purchase.
The dvd box also contains a very nice 4 page booklet with 3 memorable photographs from the film and 4 short essays discussing different aspects of the film:"The Lineup", "The Look", "The Story" and "The Scoop".

The Film Crew:Wild Women of Wongo

Dance!!!!!!!
This disc starts off with a nice summation of Shout Factory's collection of the 4 Film Crew catalog-highlights from all 4 films. Very enjoyable-a real good editing job. Very good promo.
There is also a Zack Galifinackas promo for his stand-up show which made me want to see it.
"My brother has ADD...he drives a Ford Focus"
And then the main feature.
Being a fan of Mystery Science Theater, this was my first foray into Film Crew land so I was a little concerned.
Well, of course, gone are lovable Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot and gone is the iconic front row sillouette where they and Joel/Mike would sit subjecting themselves to all means of cinematic trash.
Gone too are the patented MST between movie skits that made the stink-weed films go down easy.
Instead, we have The Film Crew-3 humans(Bill, Mike and Kevin-the 2nd MST crew)voicing their comments for the film from off-screen rather than nestled comfortably in a row of theater chairs.
Even though there are no Tom Servo or Crow and no comforting front row sillouette this is STILL excellent MST material. Both in the film itself for being such PERFECT riff-fodder and Bill's, Mike's and Kevin's cruise-control expert ribbing of this turkey.
The funniest,craziest scene in WWoW,about half way through,involves a trance-like tribal dance by the Wongo women under the spell of a high priestess who repeatedly screams at them to "DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!" and then "DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!" yet more. The women are helpless to resist. She yells yet again "DANCE!!!!!!!!" with Bill throwing back a "Ok, right, because right now we're balancing our check books, waddaya THINK we're doing!"
There is a annoying parrot featured throughout the film that isn't CUTE anymore:"Go to parrot hell"-Kevin.
But the funniest thing I have EVER seen in ALL of MST history takes place on WWoW's bonus feature where we witness Mike, Kevin and Bill forced to D A N C E by the movie's high priestess as she shrieks "DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!".
I can honestly say I am now a fan of The Film Crew with a viewing of their Hollywood After Dark cementing the deal.
The Film Crew are the next best thing to the grand daddy of them all-Mystery Science Theater 3000

Ladies and Gentlemen The Rolling Stones

Wanted to watch this to pay particular attention to Mick Taylor and there is a generous amount of footage trained on him.
While the film saturates the screen time with Jagger and Keith, the film makers do manage to swing over to Charlie and Bill from time to time as well as horn players Keys and Price. There is a 2 second shot of pianist Nicky Hopkins if you don't blink.
Which is a crime. But the film makers weren't thinking of Nicky back then.
Their focus was on Mick and Keith which is not illogical.
So, the amount of screen time given to Taylor is very much appreciated.
Observing his demeanor and stage presence is facinating.
Taylor and Richard split time between rhythm and lead guitar.
I love how after the first few high energy songs, Jagger introduces Love In Vain with "Here's some blues for you" and the atmosphere is de-escalated dramatically.
Taylor's guitar solo in Love in Vain is one of the highlights of the concert.
As a matter of fact, the performance of Love in Vain was outstanding while I would have to declare the highlight of the entire concert to be Midnight Rambler with its weaving textures and rhythm changes fast to slow to fast to slow and Jagger's expressive harp playing.
Toward the end of the show the Stones dust off Bye Bye Johnny which we learn later in the 2010 interview with Jagger they used to close their shows with in the '60's at the Crawdaddy club.
The bonus feature is a rehearsal filmed in Switzerland in what looks like a television studio, with just the five Stones in a close knit circle.
In a change of pace we get to watch Jagger minus all the over the top stage theatrics-standing with just a microphone in front of him.
This section of the disc I liked perhaps more than the main film because it was easier to hear the separation between Keith and Mick's guitars.
The two interviews, past and present, with Jagger are wonderful.
It never fails to delight me to watch Jagger so enthusiastic and boyish with an easy laugh and smile.