Producer Gabriel Pascal brought the undiluted wit and wisdom of Bernard Shaw to world cinemas, and the world is grateful. But for all Shaw's philosophical irreverence and bracing ironies, as a screenwriter he had a lot to learn about structure and movement. Major Barbara made the transition to film less fluidly than Pygmalion (1938). Production took a year and a half. Pascal made himself director but left the real work to assistants Harold French (acting) and David Lean (visuals). The initial designer and cameraman had to be replaced, one actor died (Donald Calthrop), and oh yes, there were German air raids. Still, what a dream cast: Wendy Hiller as Salvation Army crusader Barbara; Robert Morley as her arch-fiend millionaire father Undershaft, preaching the gospel of money and munitions; Rex Harrison as Barbara's classics-professor suitor, Adolphus Cusins; plus Robert Newton, Emlyn Williams, Marie Lohr, and 18-year-old Deborah Kerr as sweet Jenny Hill. -Richard T. Jameson Laced with ironic humor and social satire, this well-known classic film is the story of Barbara Undershaft, daughter of a wealthy munitions manufacturer and an ardent member of the Salvation Army. Filmed in war-torn England, Gabriel Pascal's screen translation of George Bernard Shaw's play is brilliantly directed and magnificently acted.

A big slice of show-biz cheese, The Eddie Cantor Story follows the Broadway legend from childhood, when he narrowly escaped delinquency, through his youth in vaudeville to his years of success as the star of Florenz Ziegfeld's smash revues. Impersonated with eye-rolling hamminess by Keefe Brasselle (who hosted a brief-lived variety show in the 1960s), Cantor is an archetypal go-getter, a relentless workaholic who sacrificed his family life to sing Tin Pan Alley classics like "Makin' Whoopee" before an adoring crowd. The cliches fly fast and furious; the best bit is when a venomous actress (film noir queen Marie Windsor, The Killing, The Narrow Margin), sick of Cantor upstaging her, tries to sabotage Cantor by pretending to arrange an audition for him. Along the way are overdone imitations of Jimmy Durante and Will Rogers telling Cantor how great he is. Contemporary audiences are apt to be startled by the cheerful performances in blackface, which the movie blithely embraces as good-natured fun. This ends up being The Eddie Cantor Story's most intriguing aspect, though more for sociological interest than entertainment value. -Bret Fetzer Musical biopic featuring the vocals of Cantor himself during the musical numbers. Cantors greatest hits are featured, including Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider, If You Knew Susie, Potatos are Cheaper, Margie, and Ichr(39)d Like to Spend Each Sunda With you. Jac.

Masterpiece Theater released this six-hour version of Dickens's Oliver Twist in celebration of its 30th anniversary on the air. Host Russell Baker sums up this production of the classic tale well when he warns viewers they are about to embark on a convoluted story full of "thieves, hypocrites, and psychopathic killers"-that there will be lush period costumes and on-location shooting of meticulously breathtaking locations goes without saying. This retelling of the novel starts slowly, with nearly two hours of "prequel" delving into Oliver's unwed mother's doomed romance-a subplot given only minimal attention near the novel's end. But once this foundation has been laid, the story becomes utterly captivating, as charming waif Oliver Twist dredges through the seamy underbelly of 19th-century British society without ever losing his determination to rise above his lot in life. There are odd moments of comedy, mostly supplied by the aptly named workhouse foreman Mr. Bumble, and a few captivating scenes as Fagin (played with foreign flair by Robert Lindsay) awes his stable of children thieves with sleight of hand and street magic. Mostly, however, we're treated to voluptuous melodrama, proving the memorable characters and social commentary of the classic novel can still captivate a modern audience. From the philanthropic Mr. Brownlow to the brooding killer, Bill Sikes, to Oliver's warped half-brother, Edward "Monks" Leeford, the fantastic personalities of Dickens's characters are brought vividly to life by an extraordinarily talented cast. Keep an eye out especially for young Sam Smith, whose steely-eyed innocence is perfect for the part of Oliver, one of the best-loved heroes of English literature. [+]

Noel Coward's favorite play was certainly a departure for David Lean, best known for adapting Dickens in the '40s. While it's the director's only comedy, the result is a delightful gem. Rex Harrison is an acerbic author haunted by the ghost of first wife Elvira (Kay Hammond), who tries to seduce him all over again. This throws his second wife (Constance Cummings) into a panic, second-guessing her lack of passion. It's a celestial sex romp that hasn't lost its bite. Margaret Rutherford, as always, steals the show as the sardonic medium. -Bill Desowitz.

The Most Dangerous Game is a classic, one of the first talkies to get pictures moving after five very static years following the birth of sound. The plot finds resourceful hero Joel McCrea and heroine Fay Wray being hunted on the island of the insane Zaroff (Leslie Banks). One of the grandfathers of the summer blockbuster, the film's setup has been reworked many times since, notably in John Woo's Hard Target (1993). By modern standards it's technically primitive, though still gripping stuff, complete with the jungle set built as a test run for King Kong (1933) and graced by Max Steiner's prototype of all Hollywood action scores. -Gary S. Dalkin.

Heartfelt comedy, with an Academy Award-nominated story, stars Victor Moore as a New York City hobo who makes his winter home in a vacant 5th Avenue mansion whose owner, millionaire Charlie Ruggles, has gone south. Moore winds up taking in ex-G. I. Don DeFore and runaway Gale Storm, who, unknown to him, is Ruggles' daughter and plays matchmaker for the pair. With Ann Harding, Alan Hale, Jr. 116 min. NOTE: This movie has been manufactured by a small but reliable supplier and is 100% guaranteed. While this movie has not been digitally restored and may not be nearly as good as a big studio restoration, it is the only print available and collectors ask us for it, regardless of quality.