Customer Reviews

Action Classics 100 Movie Pack

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If you're reading this, odds are you've seen the MST3K version of the cruddy Joe Don Baker cop movie "Mitchell." This DVD is the uncut version, which includes about thirty minutes of scenes not in the MST3K version, as well as some alternate footage (find out what word Linda Evans REALLY wrote on Joe Don Baker's windshield). The uncut version has more scenes of Joe Don's oily, beefy body rolling around in bed with Linda Evans, a scene where Joe Don crushes a bad guy's hand in a car door, and, in the funniest scene in the whole movie, we find out what actually happened to John Saxon (dies in a fiery dune buggy accident). Buying this disc, I was kinda hoping that the plot would make more sense, but, Saxon death notwithstanding, the movie was still a muddled and confused mess. This disc should probably be recommended only to "Mitchell" completists (a very niche audience I must say).
The DVD from Brentwood presents "Mitchell" in a cropped 1.33:1 transfer. (Gosh, pan and scan? To think we're missing up to half of the film's sumptuous photography!). The print is faded and worn-out, and at one point, the Brentwood copywrite information actually appears on screen, so purists beware. The sound is particularly bad - much of Joe Don's deep, slurred dialogue is practically inaudible. There is a supremely ugly menu that has a big, distorted Joe Don Baker picture along with some funky '70s music. There are no extras, unsurprisingly. Bring on the Joe Don Baker commentary!
This release has some of the worst DVD box art known to man. The cover has perhaps the ugliest Joe Don Baker picture in the world, along with the priceless catchphrase (and I quote), "A cop with a gun, a drink, and no friends." Talk about a sales pitch, eh?

What can be said of Mitchell that hasn't been said already? Joe Don Baker lurches through this film, straining his belt buckle with his obscene girth and grinning drunkenly at the goings-on around him. I don't know if it was the producer's intent to have the hero played as a rotgut-swilling slob, but Baker's interpretation goes beyond the pail, becoming downright disgusting. Lumbering around LA in a beer-soaked fog, bedecked in what appear to be a clown's hand-me-downs, Mitchell is slow-witted, obnoxious, and just plain gross. As for the movie, it plays like a reel of rejected scenes from a knockoff of "The Rockford Files". Marvel at the interminable scenes of Mitchell dozing on the job outside Martin Balsam's house! Watch in amazement as Mitchell lies in his bed, besodden with filth as he guzzles the 20th beer of the evening! Laugh joyously at the witty repartee between Mitchell and his obvious intellectual superior: The Kid on the Skateboard (whose skateboarding skills leave plenty to be desired, by the way)! But, most of all, hold your lunch down as Mitchell befouls Linda Evans in what has to be the most vile love scene ever filmed. See Linda wipe crumbs from Mitchell's mouth! Watch Mitchell suavely hook a sixpack with his pudgy toe! Gaze in awe and wonder at the baby oil placed strategically on the nighttable! All this while Hoyt Axton mumbles incoherently about our titular hero set to music that sounds like a calliope played by an escaped mental patient. If you haven't ridden the stomach elevator by this scene's end, you are a stronger sort than I! Overall, see this movie (or the MST3K version)! I promise you will laugh uproariously between spells of nausea. And, while watching, take the time to enjoy a triple-decker sandwich and a Schlitz. That's what Mitchell would do!

Action Classics 100 Movie Pack Alert ! This is a combination of the 50 Movie Pack Action Classics & 50 Movie Pack Suspence Classics offered by Amazon. This is not clear in the description online, nor the box. Once opened, you can only get a partial refund. I love these old movies. I haven't started watching these yet because I'm collecting so many of these Multiple Movie packs, but I expect that some will be difficult to see or hear, but it's great that these old movies have been saved. Great way for us retired middle agers to pass the time. Or even your parents will love to watch.

What's the attraction of this movie? Why do I keep popping MITCHELL into the VCR? Surely it can't be the title character, as portrayed by Joe Don Baker, is appealing. He's not. Mitchell is a complete slob. He's dim and slipshod. He slurs, he slouches. He's inert, unkempt, and lagging. Dozing at will, drinking scotch by the quart, Mitchell is the very antithesis of the classic action hero. So why do I love this movie? Episode #512 of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is arguably the funniest experiment ever unleashed by the evil Mads on poor Joel and the bots. It's through their painful struggle that we find the courage to laugh in the face of this terror. On its own, Mitchell is a bad, bad film blurred by unclear subplots and even hazier characters. As an action movie, there really isn't a whole lot of it. The sluggish car chase, for example, makes "Driving Miss Daisy look like Bullitt." And the beery sex scene between Baker and Linda Evans in which Mitchell rings a six-pack of Schlitz with his toe is easily the film's most uncomfortable, queasy moment. But in spite of these obstacles, Joel, Crow and Servo are relentless in their onslaught of insults and wise-cracks. Bloodied but unbowed, Mitchell keeps coming back for more; the abuse never stops. By movie's end, Mitchell is a broken, beaten man. Hoyt Axton's songs offer little relief. There are no apologies. That's why I love this movie. However... This is NOT the MST3K version. This is the real thing, kiddies. No bots, no Mads, just Joe Don Baker and you. Kinda scary, eh? Well, if you loved experiment #512, you've got to see this "unplugged" version if only to answer the question, "Wasn't John Saxon in this film?" There are all sorts of scenes not covered in the MST3K episode that will have you laughing and/or squirming on your daktari stool. And you can't help riffing at the TV when something stupid happens. Get it, I say, and have a party. Break out the Schlitz and porkrinds and get ready to PORKAPALOOZA! MITCHELL!

I bought this item as a Christmas gift for my father, who owns more DVDs than I can count. Within just a few days of receiving it, he and my brother have already watched at least dozen movies between them, and both are excited to watch more.

One warning: the films have not been remastered, and the picture and sound quality varies depending on which you are watching. In one movie they watched, the dialogue was difficult to understand because the sound was watery. The vast majority, however, are perfectly watchable, and any picture or sound quality issues are small enough so as not to be distracting or even noticeable.

That said, I'd recommend this item as a gift to anyone who really enjoys action movies, particularly if you're not sure exactly which ones they already own. Most of the films are relatively highly rated in Leonard Maltin's guides, and many are rare and difficult to find.

The enormous ACTION CLASSICS 100 Movie Pack is a convenient combination of MILL CREEK's ACTION CLASSICS 50 Movie Pack and SUSPENSE CLASSICS 50 Movie Pack. Details of all 100 movies are available on my reviews located on those two product pages.


The ACTION CLASSICS 100 Movie Pack is 144 hours worth of non-stop adventure and is an excellent addition to any home film library.

Also worth checking out is HOLLYWOOD CLASSICS 100 Movie Pack. It's a star-studded extravaganza of lesser-known movies, both theatrical and made-for-TV.

If you like campy, cheesey, gorgeous color and things that are absurd, you'll love this movie. I saw it for the first time (the real one movie, not the MST3K version) a few days ago and this movie is thick with great '70s style. And, it's not meant to be hilarious, but it is. Smoke and watch...

Here's your hero ladies and gentlemen: an out of shape, overweight alcoholic who spends half of the movie sitting in his car. He has a love affair with Linda Evans who he arrests whenever he feels the need. Just looking at him made me want a beer.

This review is for MST3K folks. For people who enjoy Joe Don Baker, you may enjoy this for other reasons. The bad is it is bare bones. Not that I really cared for much in terms of extras. But it is the movie and that is it, not even a menu here. For this price tho, to see the movie in it's full glory, it is worth it. There was alittle more blood, some mild language and JDB looking at a Playboy that were the things that stood out to me as different than the MST3K episode.

The Character of Mitchell is a dimwitted lush who couldn't save this nonexistant stinker from stinking as badly as it does. However the MST3K version of this movie makes even the Linda Evans sex scene almost bearable... IF YOU'RE watching this one straight ( not Mystery Science Theatre Version), then get really drunk and sloppy so you can be like Mitchell.....