9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Three gems & a flop!, November 30, 2004
This review is from: Civil War 4 Movie Pack (DVD)
For the money, this is a nice collection of lesser-known Civil War movies. First, you've got the 1951 classic, "Drums in the Deep South", starring Guy Madison, James Craig, and Craig Stevens as three close friends that are divided by the Civil War and find themselves on opposite sides facing one another during the bloody Atlanta Campaign of 1864. To further complicate things, James Craig & Guy Madison are also in love with the same woman (Barbara Payton)! James Craig and Craig Stevens play Confederate soldiers that are given the task of defending a mountain with only one artillery battery and a handful of troops. The goal is to slow Union Gen. Sherman's advance as much as possible. Guy Madison plays the Union officer who's ordered to clear the Rebels off the mountain, but he's torn between his loyalty to his old friends and his duty. This movie is my personal favorite of the four.
Next, you have the 1969 Civil War movie disguised as a "spaghetti" western, "Hellbinders", also known as "The Scavengers", starring an aging Joseph Cotten as the crazed leader of a ruthless band of Confederate raiders, all of them his own sons. The plot is simple: even though Gen. Lee has already surrendered, Joseph Cotten and his sons rob a Yankee payroll in hopes of reviving the Confederacy. Their escape is hampered by Mexican banditos, however, leading to a violent showdown. This is one of the better low-budget, Italian-made "westerns" of the 1960's.
Next, you have the horrible 2000 flop, "Blood and Honor", which makes "Plan 9 From Outer Space" look like a masterpiece. No, seriously. It has a worthless plot, poor script, horrible, amateurish acting, and is filmed like a elementary school play. Don't waste your time on this one!
Finally, you've got the forgotten 1936 film, "Hearts in Bondage", directed by the great Lew Ayres (from 1930's "All Quiet on the Western Front"), and starring James Dunn and Mae Clark. The plot is standard 1930's melodrama and revolves around the story of the 1862 naval battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimac. It's not terribly exciting but is nevertheless enjoyable, especially the battle at the end, which is recreated using miniatures. It's just as good, in my opinion, as the 1991 made-for-tv movie "Ironclads". So, with this dvd you get three enjoyable movies for a very reasonable price. Highly recommended for Civil War buffs.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The uncivil war, January 18, 2008
This review is from: Civil War 4 Movie Pack (DVD)
CONTENTS of CIVIL WAR 4 Movie Pack:
BLOOD AND HONOR-- Low-rent soaper has little to recommend it. Battle scenes aren't believeable and the characters garner little sympathy despite their woes. Featured in the small-name cast is Michelle Bauer, former Playmate centerfold whose screen credits include roles in "Bimbo Penitentiary," "Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama," "Wet Shots: Girls Who Dig Girls #2," "Jane Bonda's Bizarre Workout," "Wine Me, Dine Me, 69 Me" and other (ahem) classics.
DRUMS IN THE DEEP SOUTH-- Fictional story based in fact: the siege of a mountaintop gun position during Sherman's Georgia campaign. Two best friends are artillerymen on opposite sides in the war. Events have them squared off in what may be a deadly duel that the woman who loves both of them tries to avert. Starts slow, but momentum builds to an ending unconventional for 1951. Director W.C. Menzies also worked on "Gone With the Wind."
HEARTS IN BONDAGE-- Directed by Lew Ayres (Dr. Kildare in movies), who was a conscientious objector during WWII. Fictional characters are placed within the USS Monitor vs. CSS Virginia events. Fine cast is well-used here. (Look for Oscar-winner Hattie McDaniel's sister Etta as "Mammy.")
HELLBENDERS-- Spaghetti western concerning an ex-Confederate officer who plans to steal old cash destined for burning so he can finance a revival of the "late unpleasantness" (the war).
For more films set in 19th Century America, check out
REAL STORIES OF THE OLD WEST 4 Movie Pack, also from BCI / Eclipse.
BRENTWOOD's 4-fers are nicely priced movie bundles. Video and sound quality of these digitally unrestored public domain films is generally fine. Discs are dual-side recorded.
Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.
(2.3) Blood And Honor (2000) - Maria Ortiz/Miles O'Keeffe/Rena Watts/Michelle Bauer
(5.9) Drums in the Deep South (1951) - James Craig/Barbara Payton/Guy Madison/Barton MacLane/Craig Stevens (uncredited: Denver Pyle)
(6.3) Hearts in Bondage (1936) - James Dunn/Mae Clarke/Charlotte Henry/Fritz Lieber/Irving Pichel/Ben Alexander/Edward Gargan/George 'Gabby' Hayes/Etta McDaniel (uncredited: Smiley Burnette/Lane Chandler)
(6.9) Hellbenders (Italy/Spain-1967) - Joseph Cotten/Norma Bengell/Al Mulock/Julián Mateos
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