PHOTOS
PHOTOS
Mike Evans
SPRING BREAK — Anchor Bay
THE GOOD: A coming-of-age cult classic finally finds its way onto DVD.
THE BAD: Perhaps the movie itself and the fact that Anchor Bay is slipping. Keep reading …
THE PLOT: Spring Break was one of those early ’80s teenage sex comedies that spawned more than a few rip-offs. It wasn’t the first, but the movie took the genre to the beach (Fort Lauderdale of course) and was the precursor to such “classics” as Hardbodies, Fraternity Vacation and Where the Boys Are ’84.
The plot is simple enough. Four guys end up having to share a hotel room in the overbooked Florida town, and the two cool dudes teach the two naïve geeks how to party. Meanwhile, one of the boys has a father running for the senate and the old man is out to ruin his son’s good time. As always is the case with these movies, there are plenty of lame jokes and bouncing boobies along the way.
What really solidified Spring Break’s place in movie history though is the fact that it was produced and directed by Sean S. Cunningham a couple of years after the man made the original Friday the 13th.
THE EXTRAS: Besides a trailer, absolutely NOTHING! A cast commentary would have been nice (rumor has it a “bootleg” commentary track is floating around the ’net somewhere). The transfer isn’t bad, but it’s as if Anchor Bay didn’t put any real effort into this release.
BUY IT?: That’s your call. If Spring Break is a bit of ’80s nostalgia nestled deep within the recesses of your grey matter, go for it. If not, this is a hardly a must-see movie.
THE PATTY DUKE SHOW — The Complete First Season (Shout Factory)
THE GOOD: It’s been a long hard trip back to Brooklyn Heights, but The Patty Duke Show is finally getting a proper DVD release, and by one of the finest companies out there — Shout Factory!
THE BAD: A bit scant on extras, but more on that later.
THE PLOT: Just sweet 16 and Patty Duke had already earned an Academy Award for her performance as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. So why not give the teen a sitcom?
Along comes writer Sidney Sheldon (before he became a best-selling novelist), director William Asher (just before beach movie and Bewitched fame) and with them The Patty Duke Show — a vehicle where Duke would play identical cousins from opposite sides of the big pond. Patty Lane was your all-American girl next door. She loved her rock ’n’ roll and a hot dog made her lose control (according to the show’s theme song). Cathy Lane was her more cultured and refined Scottish cousin, living with Patty’s American family while her foreign correspondent father traveled around the globe.
Every week, the pair would get into all kinds of kooky trouble, usually the result of some goofy scheme conjured up by Patty. And thanks to the wonderful effect of split-screen (and a double that was only shot on camera from behind), Duke brought both characters to life.
THE EXTRAS: Not much here, except a 13-minute mini documentary boasting interviews with much of the surviving cast (including Duke). However, the real reason you’re plunking down the cash is the episodes themselves. As usual, Shout Factory delivers the goods — all 36 shows uncut in their original 25-minute glory! There’s even an episode guide listing all first-run air dates and guest stars.
BUY IT?: Yes! This release is long overdue, and completists needn’t worry about a “long-term commitment.” The Patty Duke Show only lasted three seasons.
NEW RELEASES — CD
KINGS OF CONVENIENCE — Declaration of Dependence
THE ROOTS — How I Got Over