Classics aplenty dominate this week’s new releases. So let’s jump right in and see what’s doin!
The Wild West gets even wilder when W.C. Fields and Mae West team up in this comedy classic. He’s Cuthbert Twillie, con man and “notions seller,” and she’s Flowerbelle Lee, the shame of her community. Together they clean up a lawless town, capture the notorious Kissing Bandit, and toss off the fastest array of one-liners you ever heard. With Joseph Calleia, Dick Foran, Margaret Hamilton.
Sweethearts
The time-worn stage chestnut is a “play-within-a-film” for this frothy Jeanette MacDonald / Nelson Eddy musical comedy, written by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell. MacDonald and Eddy play a married acting couple who plan to leave Broadway for Hollywood, but impresario Frank Morgan plots to stop them. With Ray Bolger, Florence Rice, Mischa Auer.
Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher star in this sizzling romantic comedy from director Ivan Reitman. She’s an overworked doctor who doesn’t believe in love. He’s an aspiring scriptwriter on the rebound after being dumped. Their “friends with benefits” arrangement seems like a perfect scenario for both of them-until an unexpected emotional involvement threatens to ruin the whole affair. With Cary Elwes, Greta Gerwig, Lake Bell, and Kevin Kline.
This stark and realistic examination of the dissolution of a marriage features heartbreaking performances from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as a young couple unprepared for the challenges of their union. Told out of sequence, the presentation chronicles six years in their lives and deftly demonstrates how the relationship went from happy to their uneasy realization that people can change and that it can create an inner void impossible to overcome.
The Mexican Spitfire Collection
Lupe Velez is “The Girl from Mexico” (1939), the hot-tempered Carmelita Fuentes, a south-of-the-border showgirl who sets her exquisite eyes on marrying an American publicity agent (Donald Woods). This diverting comic musical that launched a subsequent series for RKO co-stars Linda Hayes, Leon Errol. Errol plays a hilarious dual role in “Mexican Spitfire” (1940), which picks up the saga of Velez and Woods as newlyweds; “Mexican Spitfire Out West” (1940), finds Velez planning a surprise for her husband, but suddenly suspects he’s cheating on her; “Mexican Spitfire’s Baby” (1941) brings a 20-year-old orphan into the household; “Mexican Spitfire at Sea” (1942) mines laughs from the couple’s second honeymoon; “Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost” (1942), which makes for many spooky laughs; “Mexican Spitfire’s Elephant” (1942) turns on a wild jewel heist; and “Mexican Spitfire’s Blessed Event” (1943) makes for the purr-fect capper to the series.
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
From YouTube sensation to global superstar, Justin Bieber has won the hearts of fans wherever he goes. Shot during his 2010 tour, this documentary/concert film features Bieber performing his biggest hits and encountering such celebrities as Miley Cyrus, Jaden Smith, Usher Raymond, and Boyz II Men while retaining his core values and never letting fame go to his head. Got Bieber fever? You do now! LOL OMG!
Madcap comedy from writer/director Preston Sturges stars Dick Powell as an office clerk and radio contest buff. When his co-workers trick him into thinking he’s won a $25,000 coffee slogan contest, Powell goes on a wild shopping binge, with hilarious complications. With Ellen Drew, William Demarest, and Raymond Walburn. They don’t make ‘em funnier than this gem, so check it out if you somehow have missed this one!
In his best-remembered role, Philadelphia’s own Mario Lanza portrays early 20th-century opera star Enrico Caruso, who many say was the world’s finest voice. Selections from famous operas highlight this beautiful screen biography that loosely follows Caruso’s life from Naples, Italy, to New York City’s renowned Metropolitan Opera. Songs include “The Loveliest Night of the Year,” “Celeste Aida,” “La Donna e Mobile,” and many more. Ann Blyth, Dorothy Kirsten, Jarmila Novotna also star.
America’s oldest teenager” Dick Clark made his starring film debut as a dedicated big-city teacher in this “relevant” high school drama. Clark becomes an important role model for his troubled young students while romancing the pretty school secretary. Tuesday Weld, Victoria Shaw, Michael Callan, and Doug McClure also star; features musical performances by James Darren, Duane Eddy, and (an uncredited) Bobby Rydell.
For details and availability of more of this week’s new releases, click here.
Here’s last week’s DVD and Blu-ray releases.