DVD SPOTLIGHT: Fox Home Entertainment

Tony Rome, Lady in Cement, and The Detective

Ol' Blue Eyes. The Voice. Chairman of the Board. Swoonatra. Many names but they all mean the same damn thing: Frank Sinatra, musical legend/movie star. In the late 60s, during the brief two year period that he was married to Mia Farrow, Sinatra made three detective films with director Gordon Douglas. There have been many great trilogies in the history of movies -- The Godfather trilogy, the first three Star Wars films, the Ghoulies saga -- but this isn't one of them. Actually, it's not even an official trilogy: Sinatra plays a different (but similar) character in the third film. Still, there's just enough sleaze and late 60s pizzaz to make this trio a worthy rental or a medium-risk, low-priced purchase.

Director Gordon Douglas wasn't the most distinguished filmmaker working in Hollywood during the late 60s but he had a few notable achievements to his credit, namely Them! and In Like Flint. For Gordon Douglas, directing was a job, not an artistic passion. He cranked out nearly 100 films between 1928 and 1977 then enjoyed a lengthy retirement before his death in 1993. He clearly wasn't an exacting auteur, seeking innovation and perfection, and that shows in his work. But he was competent -- these films certainly aren't bad -- and he was obviously popular with the Chairman of the Board.

This series is almost, but not quite, Frank Sinatra's answer to the Bond films. Unfortunately, it feels troublingly like a TV show -- in spite of the widescreen photography -- and there just isn't much flair to the filmmaking. In any case, the first film in the series is probably the most entertaining. Named after Sinatra's private detective protagonist, Tony Rome tells an elaborate story involving the daughter of a prominent businessmen, Rome's assignment to escort her home from a potentially controversial night of hedonism, and a missing jewell. Rome gets blamed, one of his friends is found murdered, and his boat gets trashed. Did I mention that Tony Rome lives on a boat?

Tony Rome has plenty of redeeming qualities. Like all three films in the series, its co-stars are interesting. In this case, we get Faces-era Gena Rowlands and Lolita herself, Sue Lyon, all grown up. The film's bizarre POV zooms of girls' butts are also a near-asset (no pun intended). Overall, the film has subdued but swinging late 60s atmosphere. There's also a jammin' theme song and a score that instantly places you in a giddy, late 60s frame-of-mind. Sinatra's performance is kind of appealing but, at times, he can also be flat, dull, and unappealingly minimal. It's probably best to go into the series prepared for this.

The second film in the series, Lady in Cement, is neither a significant step forward nor a significant step backward. It's more of the same. This time around, the jaded Rome goes diving for treasure and, instead, finds a dead woman with her feet in cement. If that's not bad enough, a shark attacks. But Rome's no dummy. He kicks the shark in the head -- yes, we see him do it -- and then proceeds with business as usual. That business involves finding a missing girl for a big scary dude named Gronsky. Of course, the always perceptive Rome suspects that this woman and the "lady in cement" are one and the same. Uh-oh. I smell trouble.

Other than the aforementioned shark-kick-in-the-head scene and a few more butt zooms, the best thing about this movie is the supporting cast, particularly Richard Contie and Racquel Welch. And who could forget Dan "Bonanza" Blocker, "the jolly green giant" (at least that's what they call him in the trailer)? I'm assuming Bonanza veteran Blocker also did time as the big man in green. Anyway, it's a colorful cast -- what's up with these puns? -- and, even if the film is a little drab at times, the actors liven things up.

As I've already mentioned, the third film in the series isn't officially a Tony Rome film. This time, Frank Sinatra plays Joe Leland, a police detective, and he doesn't live on a boat. He's too busy working for the man. Based on a Roderick Thorpe bestseller, this is the most serious film in the series. It deals with the then even-more-taboo-than-it-is-now topic of homosexuality. The son of an influential citizen is murdered and the homophobic police force blames this on his partner-roommate who is soon convicted and fried on the electric chair. Leland puts the pieces together and soon realizes that the wrong man may have been sizzled.

This is a tough one to call. On one hand, it's a fascinating time capsule of Hollywood's primitive attitude toward gay issues in 1968. The Detective also has the best cast and crew of any film in the series. Lee Remick and Jacqueline Bisset compete for Leland's affections and he works alongside both Jack Klugman and Robert Duvall. Plus, the score is by always-interesting movie legend Jerry Goldsmith.

Now for the down side. Calling this movie homophobic is like calling the KKK racist. It's a severe understatement. With all kinds of bizarre gay stereotypes, this plays like the 80s version of the ultimate guilty pleasure, William Friedkin's Cruising. But not as good. The Detective basically portrays homosexuality as a murderous disease with symptoms not unlike schizophrenia. Leland makes a half-hearted, last minute plea for tolerance but its impact, coherence, and sincerity are debatable. The film also makes an anti-death penalty statement that appears to be accidental.

The anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) transfers are strong on all three discs but the features are minimal: all we get is a selection of trailers. The ideal intro to this series is to get Tony Rome, watch the movie, and take a look at the trailers for the other two. In addition to trailers for the films in this series, we also get a selection of Racquel Welch trailers -- due to her Lady in Cement role, I assume -- including Mother, Juggs, and Speed, a terrific Peter Yates action-comedy from the 70s that is significantly better than any of the Sinatra-Douglas films.

You can probably go on living without ever seeing these films but serious Sinatra fans should definitely get their hands on these inexpensive, nicely-presented discs. Plus, if nothing else, the Tony Rome "trilogy" confirms that Frank Sinatra had a bizarre, oddly feminine running style. -- Jonathan Doyle

The Best of Everything

In all fairness, The Best of Everything is a competently made, reasonably amusing film that includes some really nice color photography, fab pre-sixties set designs, and some suave attire. Perhaps regrettably, the snazzy sets, costumes, and vibrant Cinemascope photography are probably the best aspects of this film, which comes across as a pretty long-winded soap opera in the vein of Peyton Place but not quite as accomplished. On the other hand, it's definitely better than Return to Peyton Place.

The story centers around three young women who work at a publishing company in the big apple. We follow their ups and downs in and out of the workplace. Of course, it's mostly the horny and corrupt men who provide the "downs" -- those beasts. Truth be told, the film is entirely watchable and perhaps others will think it's a delightful melodrama. But I think Fox Studio Classics can do a bit better than this. At least we get to see Robert Evans as a young playboy.

With this release, we are given some pretty worthwhile extras. The commentary provided by author Rona Jaffe and historian Sylvia Stoddard is decent, although there's a little too much talk about the film's fashion sense. Thankfully, the commentary goes into more amusing territory with Jaffe discussing her own publishing house stories. The DVD is also equipped with the film's theatrical trailer -- which contains the classic "you and your rabbit-faced wife can both go to hell!" -- and brief (but appreciated) footage of the film's premiere. -- Neil Karassik

Leave Her to Heaven

Based on the best-selling novel by Ben Ames Williams, Leave Her to Heaven is a surprisingly disturbing and stylish little gem. It may start out all pleasant and tra-la-laaa but that's the ploy. It's a slow-burning descent into evil-hood. Boy, does it get wicked. Lets give credit where it's due: Gene Tierney owns this movie and it's no surprise that she was nominated for an Oscar back in '45 for this strong performance. I mean, she is nasty...as in she watches her disabled teenage brother in-law drown in the lake and then, later on in the film, she even kills her own unborn child. And it gets worse from there.

Gorgeous Oscar-winning cinematography greatly enhances the film, as do the sets and overall skillful art direction (also Oscar nominated). The DVD comes with a few bells and whistles that may persuade fans of the film, genre, or Fox catalogue to make the purchase. Darryl Hickman -- who plays the disabled brother in-law -- provides a fairly good commentary which (fortunately?) contains some controversial accusations about Gene Tierney. The always welcome Richard Shnickel also contributes to the commentary. In addition, there's blink-and-you`ll-miss footage from the film's premiere and Oscar presentations. We also get the obligatory restoration comparison, still gallery, and theatrical trailer. -- Neil Karassik

A Letter to Three Wives

Here's the best film and DVD of the bunch. It's no surprise that Joseph L. Mankiewicz went on to win an Oscar for best direction and screenplay for this effort (the film was also nominated for best picture). This post-war film is filled with excellent dialogue that is also extremely well delivered thanks to several wonderful performances. Oh, and it has Kirk Douglas. A Letter to Three Wives follows three upper-class women who go off on a boating trip. As they depart, the women read a letter by an old female friend who claims to have stolen one of their husbands, although the letter doesn't specify who. Now, each woman has to do some good ol' soul searching (ie. flashbacks) and come to terms with what may have occurred. That is, until the boat trip ends and the truth is exposed.

This DVD is packed with very informative and entertaining bonus material. For starters, we get an overly descriptive but ultimately fascinating commentary by Mankiewicz's son Chris, and two Mankiewicz biographers: Keneth Geist and Cheryl Lower. The main highlight is, without a doubt, the informative and entertaining full length A&E Biography episode on Linda Darnell. Also included is ultra-brief Oscar presentation footage (still not complaining...it's certainly better than nothing), a restoration comparison, and the film's theatrical trailer. -- Neil Karassik

A NOTE ABOUT AUDIO/VIDEO: All three Studio Classics DVDs include gorgeously restored transfers and first-rate audio. The Best of Everything comes in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with 4.0 surround. Leave Her to Heaven and A Letter to Three Wives come in 1.33:1 with their original mono sound. -- NK