One of my favorite “reference books” is VideoHounds’ Golden Movie Retriever. This book rates movies on DVD from a high of four bones to a low of no bones which merits a “Woof!”. The index is great for accessing movies by actor, director, awards, and even category. Looking for a movie that deals with Mistaken Identity? How about Invasion of the Body Snatchers or Seconds? VideoHound has 4 columns of titles to keep you busy there. Want to see something about a wedding from hell? Head right to that category and see what’s available. There you will find among others Niagarastarring Marilyn Monroe. You can even get as narrow a search as Zombie soldiers, such as They Saved Hitler’s Brain.
While browsing through this book, keep in mind that through the Minerva system you have accesses to all other participating libraries and so can have almost any movie you can think of .
From VideoHound:
Niagara (1952) During their honeymoon in Niagara Falls, a scheming wife (Monroe) plans to kill her crazed war-vet husband. Little does she know that he is plotting to double-cross her. Steamy, quasi-Hitchcockian mystery ably directed with interesting performances.
Seconds (1966) An aging banker is frantic to escape his dead-end existence and accepts an invitation from a mysterious organization to give him a second change at life. Through surgery, his is transformed into a handsome artist (Rock Hudson) with a new identity. Uncomfortably living in Malibu, he soon finds out all his new neighbors are also “seconds” who are afraid he’ll betray their secrets. He decides he wants out of his new arrangement and back to his former life but it comes at a very high price. Eerie film manages to (mostly) overcome its plot problems, with a fine performance by Hudson.
And a small film that is a personal favorite of mine:
Strangers in Good Company (1991) A loving metaphor to growing older. Director Scott uses non-actors for every role in this quiet little film about a bus-load of elderly women lost in the Canadian wilderness. They wait for rescue without histrionics, using the opportunity instead to get to know each other and nature. Beautifully made, intelligent, uncommon and worthwhile.
Scott Handville, Assistant Director