STACK #216 October 2022

MOVIE FEATURE

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NORTH DALLAS FORTY (1979) This authentic look at American pro football is based on the novel by former Dallas Cowboy Peter Gent. Nick Nolte shines as a veteran player who realises there's more to life than football and clashes with the team's management. Extras include a new audio commentary, and more.

A nuclear nightmare, militant coal miners, romantic dramas and American pro football comprise this month's Blu-ray bundle. Words Glenn Cochrane & Scott Hocking

PRETTY BABY (1978)

Starring Susan Sarandon and a 12-year-old Brooke Shields, director Louis Malle's controversial and poignant period drama is a portrait of a bygone era that explores taboo subjects in a tasteful and restrained manner. Extras include new interviews and audio commentary. Director John G. Avildsen's exploration of moral conflict stars Jack Lemmon in an Oscar-winning performance as a disenchanted war veteran who runs a fashion house while struggling with the complexity of modern life. Extras include new interviews and audio commentary. Based on the novel 711 - Officer Needs Help by Whit Masterson, this character-driven crime thriller stars David Janssen as a suspended LAPD Sgt. who must fight to clear his name after being charged with manslaughter. Extras include a new audio commentary. Written for the screen by Tennessee Williams, this romantic drama stars Anna Magnani in an Oscar-winning performance as a Sicilian widow who finds happiness with a happy go-lucky truck driver, played by Burt Lancaster. Extras include a new audio commentary and interview.

SAVETHETIGER (1973)

Testament (1983)

T he idyllic American suburban landscape is illuminated with blinding light in the chilling 1983 film, Testament . An atomic bomb has been dropped on the eastern seaboard, and those who live far from the impact suffer a slow and excruciating demise from the fallout. No cautionary tale of nuclear fear has been captured so vividly; Testament ’s haunting images of a hidden killer sear themselves into the minds of all who see it. This powerful film has now been given a stunning Blu-ray release from Imprint, and

WARNING SHOT (1967)

nominated performance from Jane Alexander, and is also notable for being Lucas Haas's debut feature film at the tender age of six. “How grateful I was," she says of casting Haas. "I didn't have experience working with child actors, and I was also lucky because he had cooperative parents. In fact the secret to child actors is their parents. If they're rotten and ambitious, you have problems.” Peter Weir's 1985 film Witness is often wrongfully cited as being Haas's first film, and Littman explains how she played a part in his casting.

THE ROSETATTOO (1955)

STACK caught up with director Lynne Littman to discuss the film and what it means to her decades later. “Well, unfortunately we're probably in the same political jeopardy now as we were all those

“Peter Weir is an idol of mine and I've loved his work forever. Ed Feldman was the producer of Witness and they had spoken to me about the film, and I gave them Lucas." Recalling Testament ’s

COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA (1952) Broadway star Shirley Booth won an Oscar for her film debut in this adaptation of the titular play. She plays a wife trapped in a loveless marriage, whose world is shaken up by the arrival of a handsome young lodger. Extras include a new audio commentary, and more.

initial release, Littman shares a memorable moment with us. “The first time my editor

years ago,” she muses with a sense of irony. “I'm glad we're talking about it.”

and I saw the film was at the only screening we did, and at the end it was dead silent. We were sitting outside in the lobby thinking, ‘oh my god.’ We were sure we'd failed. There was no response and we were rather desperate, until the audience came pouring out crying, which was nice.” Testament is one of only four feature films Littman has made, and when reflecting on her work she has zero regrets.

Casting her mind back to the film's origins, Littman recalls reading the original three-page story. “It was published in Ms. magazine and when I read it, it took my breath away. That's always a good reaction to discover what you're passionate about.” Recalling what inspired her to adapt it into a film, she says, “It wasn't my experience as a documentary filmmaker that drew me to it. It was my experience as a mother. At about that time there seemed to have been some kind of active threat about nuclear possibilities, and my son was four, and I was terrified.” Testament is led by an incredible, Oscar

THE MOLLY MAGUIRES (1970)

Sean Connery and Richard Harris star in director Martin Ritt's gritty drama that presents a sympathetic view of the 19th century terrorist campaign undertaken by Irish miners working in the Pennsylvanian anthracite coal mines. Extras include a new audio commentary and the trailer.

“[After Testament ] I got offered every lousy movie that got made. I was treated beautifully for a short while until I started turning everything down. I didn't understand why you would make a movie if you didn't like or respect it.” Glenn Cochrane • Available Oct 26 for a limited time only (while stocks last).

34 OCTOBER 2022

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