Product Details

• Actors: Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Robert Loggia, John Randolph, William Hickey
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: September 16, 2003
• Run Time: 130 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00009Y3PV
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,389 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Prizzi's Honor" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

It may not seem like the most obvious kind of Huston country, but this black Mafia comedy fits perfectly with the John Huston mindset. Adapted from Richard Condon's novel, the film stars Nicholson as a none-too-bright hit man for a Mafia family who falls in love with an independent operator--a female killer played by Kathleen Turner. The two make a surprisingly funny couple, whether taking a fling at domesticity or comparing professional notes. But their romance is threatened by the woman Nicholson has jilted: the don's daughter, played by Anjelica Huston in a particularly well-etched and poisonous portrayal, for which she won an Oscar. Look for equally tasty turns by cast members William Hickey, John Randolph, and Robert Loggia. --Marshall Fine

Product Description

Get ready for a mob hit that's as "funny as hell" (L.A. Weekly), when legendary director John Huston takes aim at family values in "one of his very best films" (Roger Ebert)! With "a superb cast" (Boxoffice) led by Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner, this killer comedy scored eight Academy AwardÂ(r) nominations,* including Best Picture, and an OscarÂ(r) for Anjelica Huston. The Prizzi family's principal hit man, Charley (Nicholson), is about to discover that he and his new bride (Turner) share more than just body heat: They're both cold-blooded assassins, and their next job is to ice each other! Now Charley must choose which contract to honorthe oneto his wife or the one on his wifein this "wickedly amoral black comedy" (Screen International)! *1985: Actor (Nicholson), Supporting Actor (William Hickey), Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Costume Design

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Star-Cross'd Hit Persons, July 23, 2003

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prizzi's Honor (DVD)

Only after seeing this film can you be expected to believe that this is a charming comedy about two killers (PC: hit persons) who are deeply involved with mob families, fall madly in love, and then....

One is Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), a contract laborer for the Prizzi family headed by Don Corrado (William Hickey) on the East Coast; the other is Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner), based on the West Coast, who had already accepted an assignment from the Prizzis before meeting Partanna and then falling in love with him. The romance flourishes for a time. The complications that ensue are best revealed while viewing the film.

Previously, Partanna had ended his relationship with Maerose Prizzi (Angelica Huston), Don Corrado Prizzi 's beloved but volatile granddaughter. She is determined to regain the favor of the family's elders, especially its Don. Later, Huston received an Academy Award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role. She deserved it. Although apparently quite talented in his line of work, Charley often seems somewhat dimwitted, at least when contrasted with Irene who seems highly intelligent as well as physically attractive. Watching Nicholson play a smitten, almost schoolboyish Charlie is indeed a treat.

Director John Huston does a brilliant job of juxtaposing romantic comedy with mob-directed violence. Amidst all the laughter, people really do get killed. William Hickey certainly deserved his nomination for an Academy Award for best actor in a supporting role, won in 1985 by Don Ameche for his work in Cocoon. Hickey and other members of the cast were blessed with having an immensely clever script by Richard Condon, based on his novel. Listen carefully to Hickey's reading of his lines while also paying close attention to his masterful use of body language. Don Corrado Prizzi is indeed a lovable but deadly senior citizen. Yes, this film is highly entertaining. Witty, at times zany. However, as directed by John Huston, it also has layers of subtle menace as it examines darker regions of human nature.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bada Bing!, October 30, 2002

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Prizzi's Honor (DVD)

A young boy, in his cub scout uniform at Christmas, recieves his first pair of brass knuckles. Then as a young man we see him taking a blood oath and swearing loyalty to "The Family". "The Family" is the Prizzi's, and the boy has grown up to be their number one hit man. He is Charlie Partanna, godson to Don Corrado Prizzi, head of "The Family". Another sequel to the Godfather? NOT!
"Prizzi's Honor"(based on a novel by Richard Condon) is a comedy with it's own brand of humor, a take off of mob family style movies. Director John Huston spins us a web of loyalties, and deciets,and schemes so out there you just have to laugh.
When Charlie meets and falls for Irene, a woman outside the family,he discovers that she also is a "contractor". As a matter of fact she has done a job for the family, but has also ripped them off. Charlie doesn,t know whether to "ice her or marry her"
So he marries her.They do jobs together. All seems well. But it is not...MaeRose the grandaughter of The Don, who has loved Charlie all her life, has been dishonored in the eyes of the family due to a break up with Charlie five years earlier. She is determined to get back in with the family, and with Charlie, and she has her own way of icing the competition, no guns or knives needed. Her scheme sets into motion a chain of events that leaves the whole family not knowing who to trust,and loyalties,especially Charlie's are put to the test.
This comedy/drama has a terrific cast... Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner will blow you away with their performances as "contractors" in love, William Hickey brings his own special brand of charm as "The Don". Angelica Huston, who we first see in a black and red dress that makes you think of a black widow spider,is superb and won Best Supporting Actress for her role as the jilted Mafia Princess. Also look for Robert Loggia in his usual great style as a heavy.
The Anchor Bay DVD is great. The picture and colors are clear and bright. It looks like a new film. The sound is in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and sounded very good. Everything was distinct. It is in widescreen,with full screen on the other side.
There are no special features with this one, but I can't take anything away from the film or DVD for that. Maybe someday they'll have a special edition in 5.1 with some added features and then we'll have to go to 6 stars. I enjoyed this DVD just the way it was. If you're a Nicholson fan,you will too!
Kick back and enjoy this one..........Laurie

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars, NOT for the DVD!, June 9, 2001

By 

"rothman2619" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prizzi's Honor (DVD)

In a recent poll that Premire magazine conducted, it was picked unanimously by filmmakers worldwide, if they were allowed to revote many filmmakers would have voted Prizzi's Honor for best picture at the academy awards.Out of Africa ended up winning and no one even talks about it anymore, at IMDB.com Out of Africa rates the lowest out of the five nominies.

If you like this movie don't let it slip through your memory, let others know about so hopefully one day it will be as popular as The Graduate. The film is amazing, John Hustons direction....FANTASTIC. Jack Nicholson gives a great performance. The film is a great black comedy that you can watch over and over again. The dvd is a emmbarresment to the film, ugly transfer, no special features, and the aspect ratio is wrong. The film was shot with a 2:35:1 aspect ratio and the dvd is presented in a 1:85:1 aspect ratio.

Anchor Bay did the same thing with the Sleuth dvd,though it was only minor, the Sleuth dvd presented the film in a 1:66:1 aspect ratio. With a new release of Sleuth they're finally presenting it in its correct 1:85:1 aspect ratio.

To all of us who love Prizzi's Honor, please write to Anchor Bay and tell them to put special features and present the film in its right aspect ratio. The dvd wouldn't be so bad if it was presented in 2:35 and had a amazing transfer. Great film Not to be missed!