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I am – Hercules!!
The Film Crew: Giant of Marathon is the fourth and last of the scheduled Film Crew releases masterminded by “Mystery Science Theater 3000” vet Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett. It is not a TV show, but I love it anyway.
1959’s “La Battaglie di Maratona” is a historical actioner about, among other things, 100 Greek warriors who must defeat the entire Persian army. It stars Steve Reeves, the former Mr. Universe who had just found stardom with the budget Euro-actioner, 1958’s “Le Fatiche di Ercole,” a.k.a. “The Toils of Hercules” a.k.a. “Hercules.” (“Maratona” is presented here letterboxed! Did they ever do that on “MST3K”?)
Those mocked in the boys’ aftermarket “commentary track” include Dan Haggerty, Dracula, Sylvester Stallone, Star Trek, The Joker, Chris Kattan, Phil Spector, Ben Hur, Creatine, Rod McKuen, Spinal Tap, Michael Stipe, Oliver Reed, Woodstock ’99, the Keebler Elves, CSPAN, Jeff Lynne, Mr. Peabody, Tiger Balm, the Planet of the Apes, Steve Martin, Maria Shriver, Mr. Ed, tuna, s’mores, slaves, notaries public, Celine Dion and Michael Bay, among many others.
Bonus features include an apology to ancient Persians from Mike Nelson (2:53) and a commentary by “retired electrician and Korean War vet Walter S. Ferguson,” who claims to have been a (very versatile) extra in “La Battaglie di Maratona.” (7:30).
ABC’s 1977 “Roots” miniseries was an unprecedented rating phenomenon (its finale is still the third-highest-rated TV show ever), which necessitated the creation of 1979’s “Roots: The Next Generations,” which followed the Kinte family from the abolition of slavery to the civil rights movement, and even included a nice chunk of “Roots” author Alex Haley’s “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” for good measure.
The original “Roots” cast included Yaphet Kotto, Brion James, Tracey Gold, Yvonne DeCarlo, Chuck Connors, Todd Bridges, Burl Ives, Lloyd Bridges, Richard Roundtree, Ian McShane, George Hamilton, Scatman Crothers, Carolyn Jones, Roxie Roker, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Sandy Duncan, Vic Morrow, Lynda Day George, Lorne Greene, Robert Reed, Louis Gossett, O.J. Simpson, Ed Asner, Ji-Tu Cumbuka and Maya Angelou.
The “Next Generations” cast trumped the original by getting a post-“Godfather” Marlon Brando to play American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell. It was Brando’s first and only TV role since 1949, and he won an Emmy for his seven seated minutes onscreen. He flings around the n-word, sings race-baiting ditties and sprays James Earl Jones (as Haley) with what looks like air freshener.
Besides Jones, Brando’s co-stars in “Generations” include “Apocalypse Now” co-star Albert Hall, as well as James Earl Jones (as Haley), Gerald McRaney, J.A. Preston, Henry Fonda, Andy Griffith, Ernie Hudson, Kim Fields, Harold E. Rollins, Bobby Short, Norman Fell, James Broderick, Paul Winfield, Robert Culp, Rosey Grier, Bernie Casey, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Irene Cara, Harry Morgan, Greg Morris, Olivia de Havilland and Marc “Beastmaster” Singer.
Al Freeman Jr. plays Malcolm X, and it’s fascinating to compare his mannered, low-key approach to the one favored by Spike Lee and Denzel Washington.
Twilight Zone: The Movie hits Blu-ray and HD-DVD for the first time today. The movie is an indispensable part of any collection because 1) it put “Mad Max” mastermind George Miller to work directing John Lithgow in “Terror at 30,000 Feet,” and 2) its six-minute prologue featured comedy ubergenius Albert Brooks at his hands-down funniest, trying to scare Dan Aykroyd with gravel-beds and headlights (“There could be nuns up there; we wouldn’t seem ‘em!”), making up lyrics to the “National Geographic” theme song and explaining why he bought a second pair of glasses.
TV-on-DVD Calendar
Last Week
Criminals Minds 2.x
Entourage 3.x Vol. 2
Felix The Cat: The Complete 1958-1959 Series
Galapagos (Blu-ray)
Galapagos (HD-DVD)
Glen Campbell Good Times Again
Godzilla Vol. 3
Hee Haw: A Salute
How I Met Your Mother 2.x
I Love New York
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Vol. 5
Jericho 1.x
Little People, Big World 1.x
Metalocalypse 1.x
The Sarah Silverman Program 1.x
The Secret World of Alex Mack 1.x
Shark 1.x
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Complete Series
The War: The Complete Miniseries
This Week
Alfred Hitchcock Presents 3.x
Ben 10 2.x
Creature Comforts America 1.x
CSI New York 3.x
CSI New York 1.x-3.x
DeGrassi High: The Complete Series
Everybody Hates Chris 2.x
Family Ties 2.x
The Film Crew: Giant of Marathon
Ghost Hunters 3.x Vol. 1
Girlfriends 2.x
Hannah Montana Vol. 3
Jericho of Scotland Yard 1.x/2.x
The Lair 1.x
Little Women: The Complete Series
Marple 3.x
Meerkat Manor 1.x
Michael Palin: Pole To Pole
Murder, She Wrote 7.x
Only Fools and Horses: Complete Collection
Only Fools and Horses: The Specials
Robin of Sherwood Vol. 2
Roots: The Next Generations
Roots: The Complete Collection
Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series
Twilight Zone: The Movie
Twilight Zone: The Movie [Blu-ray]
Twilight Zone: The Movie [HD-DVD]
The Vicar of Dibley: Happy Ending
War & Peace
Whose Line Is It Anyway 1.x
Whose Line Is It Anyway 1.x Vol. 2
Next Week
Absolutely Fabulous: The Complete Series
Absolutely Fabulous: White Box
Charlie & Lola Vol. 6
Ironside 2.x
Jonathan Creek 2.x
MacGyver: The Complete Series
Masters of Horror 1.x Vol. 1 [Blu-ray}
Masters of Horror 1.x Vol. 2 [Blu-ray]
Masters of Horror: The Damned Thing
Medium 3.x
Medium 1.x-3.x
Mythbusters Vol. 2
Roseanne 9.x
Squidbillies Vol. 1
Studio 60: The Complete Series
That '70s Show 7.x
Waking The Dead 2.x
Wanted: Dead or Alive 3.x
October 23
The Adventures of Aquaman: The Complete Collection
American Gangster 1.x
Clive Cussler's Sea Hunters 1.x/2.x
The Company: The Complete Miniseries
The Company: The Complete Miniseries [Blu-ray]
Hamish MacBeth 3.x
I Love Lucy: The Complete Series
Jupiter Moon: New Frontier Vol. 1
The L-Word 4.x
Mind of Mencia Uncensored 3.x
Monarch of the Glen 7.x
Monarch of the Glen: The Complete Series
NCIS 4.x
NCIS: Four Season Pack
Route 66 Vol. 1
Ruth Rendell Mysteries Vol. 2
The Sopranos 6.x Vol. 2
The Sopranos 6.x Vol. 2 [Blu-ray]
The Sopranos 6.x Vol. 2 [HD-DVD]
Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
Tales From The Crypt 7.x
Veronica Mars 3.x
Veronica Mars: The Complete Series
Voyage To The Bottom of the Seas 3.x Vol. 2
Young Indiana Jones Vol. 1
October 30
Angel: Complete Series Collector's Set ($97.99!!)
Avatar 3.x Vol. 1
Benny Hill: Complete Collection
Biography: Saturday Night Live
Checkmate: Best of 1.x <--- NEW!!
Cimarron City: Best Of 1.x <--- NEW!!
CSI Miami 5.x
CSI Miami 1.x-5.x
Dark Shadows: The Beginning Vol. 2
Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Series
Family Affair 4.x
Family Guy 1.x-5.x Party Pack
Laredo: Best Of 1.x <--- NEW!!
Looney Tunes: Golden Collection Vol. 5
Magnum P.I. 7.x
Miami Ink 1.x
Hey Mulligan: Best of 1.x <--- NEW!!
My So-Called Life: The Complete Series
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Vol. 12
October Road 1.x
Outer Limits Vol. 3
The Real McCoys 2.x
Restless Gun: Best of 1.x <--- NEW!!
Riverboat: Best of 1.x <--- NEW!!
Scrubs 6.x
Sgt. Preston of the Yukon: Complete Collection
Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue Vol. 1
Suspense: The Lost Episodes Vol. 2
The Tall Man: Best of 1.x <--- NEW!!
TV Animation Giftset <--- NEW!!
Twin Peaks: The Complete Series
November 6
The Andy Williams Show: Best Of
Beetle Bailey: The Complete Collection
Bob Hope: The Ultimate Collection
The Captain & Tennille: The Specials
The Colbert Report: Best Of
The Cosby Show 5.x
The Cosby Show 6.x
Day of the Triffids: The Complete Miniseries
Doctor Who 3.x
Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity
Doctor Who: Time-Flight
Flight of the Conchords 1.x
Full House 8.x
Full House: The Complete Series
The House of Venus 1.x
The King of Queens: The Complete Series
Martin 3.x
Martin 1.x-3.x
McLeod's Daughters 4.x
MXC: Most Extreme Eliminatiion Challenge 3.x
The Munsters: Scary Little Christmas
The Pink Panther: Pink Christmas
Project Runway 3.x <--- NEW!!
Seinfeld 9.x
Seinfeld: The Complete Series
Sesame Street: Old School Vol. 2
The Tonight Show: Definitive Collection
TV SciFi Bundle <--- NEW!!
Wildfire 2.x
Wings 5.x
Wings 1.x-5.x
The X-Files: Ultimate Collection
November 13
The Addams Family: The Complete Series
Black Books 3.x
Black Books: The Complete Series
Captain N & The New Super Mario World
DaVinci's Inquest 2.x
DuckTales Vol. 3
Gilmore Girls 7.x
Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series
The Littles: The Complete Series
Masters of Horror 1.x Vol. 3 [Blu-ray]
Masters of Horror: Dream Cruise
Melrose Place 3.x
Melrose Place 1.x-3.x
Miami Vice: The Complete Series
Northern Exposure: The Complete Series
Perry Mason 2.x Vol. 2
Prison Break 1.x [Blu-ray]
South Park Christmas
SpongeBob SquarePants: Atlantis SquarePants <--- NEW!!
TaleSpin Vol. 2
The Young Ones: The Complete Series
Zorro: Return to the Future
November 20
The Batman 4.x
Bozo's Big Top Vol. 2
Care Bears: 25th Anniversary
Chappelle's Show: Complete Series
Charles In Charge 2.x
CSI 7.x
CSI 1.x-7.x
Dangerous Assignment: The Complete Collection
The Doris Day Show 5.x
Doris Day Today
Dr. Katz: The Complete Series
Ice Road Truckers 1.x
Inside The Actors Studio: Johnny Depp
Legend of Bravestarr Vol. 1
Little Britain: Abroad
Little Britain: The Complete Collection
Love American Style 1.x Vol. 1
Mission: Impossible 3.x
Mission: Impossible 1.x-3.x
Queer As Folk: The Complete Series
Star Trek 1.x [DVD/HD-DVD]
Tales of Tomorrow Vol. 3
Teen Titans 4.x
The Wild Wild West 3.x
November 27
Futurama Movie I: Bender's Big Score
Happy Days 1.x-3.x
The Land Before Time Vol. 1
Laverne & Shirley 3.x
Mork & Mindy 3.x
The OC: The Complete Series
Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive Vol. 3
Wish Gone Amiss
December 4
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Vol. 5
Battlestar Galactica 1.x [HD-DVD]
Battlestar Galactica: Razor
Crank Yankers: Best Of
Daniel Boone 6.x
Dante's Cove Gift Set <--- NEW!!
Diagnosis Murder 3.x
Diagnosis Murder 1.x-3.x
Highlander: The Complete Animated Series
House of Payne Vol. 1
Law & Order SVU 4.x
New Street Law 1.x
Saturday Night Live 2.x
Seventh Heaven 5.x
Seventh Heaven 1.x-5.x
Tom & Jerry Tales Vol. 3 <--- NEW!!
Touched By An Angel 4.x
Touched By An Angel 4.x Vol. 2
24 6.x
Will & Grace 7.x
The Wire 4.x
December 11
Beverly Hills 90210 3.x
Beverly Hills 90210 1.x-3.x
Big Love 2.x
Dirt 1.x
Flight 29 Down Vol. 3
Flight 29 Down Vol. 1-3
Frasier 10.x
Frasier: The Complete Series
Gomer Pyle USMC 3.x
Gomer Pyle USMC 1.x-3.x
Lost 3.x
Lost 3.x [Blu-ray]
Voltron Vol. 5 <--- NEW!!
December 18
The Bronx Is Burning: World Championship Edition <--- NEW!!
The Mod Squad 1.x Vol. 1
One Tree Hill 4.x
Rawhide 2.x Vol. 2
The Simpsons Movie
The Simpsons Movie [Blu-ray]
Sonic Underground
Underdog: The Complete Series
Young Indiana Jones Vol. 2
December 26
Galactica 1980: The Complete Series
January 2
The Tudors 1.x
January 8
The All-New Superfriends Hour
Between The Lions 1.x
Gunsmoke 2.x Vol. 1
Lovejoy 2.x
MI-5 Vol. 5
The Naked Brothers Band 1.x
Rob & Big 1.x/2.x
Two and a Half Men 2.x <--- NEW!!
Two and a Half Men 1.x/2.x <--- NEW!!
The Waltons 6.x <--- NEW!!
What's New Scooby-Doo 3.x
January 15
'Allo 'Allo 7.x
Medabots 1.x
Royle Family 2.x
January 22
ER 8.x <--- NEW!!
Swamp Thing 1.x
April 15
The House of Venus Show 2.x
Selected season-sets containing
some of Herc’s all-time favorite TV!!
$10.49 Wonder Showzen 2.x (eight episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$11.99 Dinner For Five 1.x (10 episodes)
$17.99 ER 1.x (26 episodes)
$19.99 Rocky & Bullwinkle 1.x (26 episodes)
$19.99 The Bob Newhart Show 1.x (24 episodes)
$19.99 Curb Your Enthusiasm 1.x (10 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$21.99 Soap 1.x (25 episodes)
$21.99 The Mary Tyler Moore Show 1.x (24 episodes)
$21.99 Northern Exposure 3.x (23 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$21.99 The Tick: The Complete Series (9 Episodes)
$22.99 The Venture Bros. 1.x (13 Episodes)
$23.49 The Tick Versus 1.x (12 episodes)
$23.99 Veronica Mars 1.x (22 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$24.99 The Andy Griffith Show 5.x (32 episodes)
$24.99 Moonlighting 1.x/2.x (25 episodes)
$24.99 Futurama Vol. 2 (19 episodes)
$24.99 South Park 1.x (13 episodes)
$26.99 Friends 1.x (24 episodes)
$27.99 Murder One 1.x (23 episodes)
$27.99 Angel 5.x (22 episodes)
$27.99 Hill Street Blues 1.x (17 episodes)
$27.99 Oz 1.x (eight episodes)
$28.49 St. Elsewhere 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.49 Newsradio 1.x/2.x (29 episodes)
$29.49 The Rockford Files 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.49 Columbo 1.x (nine TV-movies)
$29.98 Cheers 1.x (23 episodes)
$29.99 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 4.x (22 episodes)
$29.99 The Simpsons 2.x (22 episodes)
$29.99 Wonderfalls: The Complete Series (13 episodes)
$30.49 The Larry Sanders Show 1.x (13 episodes)
$31.49 Taxi 1.x (22 episodes)
$31.99 The Office 3.x (24 episodes)
$32.99 The OC 1.x (27 episodes)
$33.99 Kung Fu 2.x (23 episodes)
$34.99 Mission Impossible 1.x (28 episodes)
$35.49 The Wild Wild West (28 episodes)
$35.49 Seinfeld 3.x (23 episodes)
$39.99 The Dick Van Dyke Show 1.x (31 episodes)
$39.99 24 1.x (24 episodes)
$39.99 Gilmore Girls 4.x (22 episodes)
$39.99 The West Wing 1.x (22 episodes)
$39.99 Firefly: The Complete Series (14 episodes)
$39.99 The Wire 1.x (13 episodes)
$40.49 Brideshead Revisited (11 hours)
$41.99 Lost 1.x (24 episodes)
$42.49 Fawlty Towers: The Complete Series (12 episodes)
$44.99 Battlestar Galactica 1.x (13 episodes plus miniseries)
$44.99 Undeclared: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
$44.99 Six Feet Under 1.x (13 episodes)
$44.99 The Sopranos 1.x (13 episodes)
$45.99 Alias 1.x (22 episodes)
$48.99 My So-Called Life: The Complete Series (17 Episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$50.49 Star Trek: The Next Generation 3.x (26 episodes)
$50.99 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 3.x (26 episodes)
$53.99 Rome 1.x (12 episodes)
$54.99 Once and Again 1.x (22 episodes)
$54.99 Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (18 episodes)
$54.99 From The Earth To The Moon (12 episodes)
$58.49 SCTV Network 90 Vol. 1 (Nine 90-minute episodes)
$59.98 Carnivale 1.x (12 episodes)
$64.99 Monty Python's Flying Circus: The Complete Series (45 episodes)
$64.99 Twin Peaks: The Complete Series (30 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$67.49 Star Trek 2.x (26 episodes)
$67.99 Deadwood 1.x (12 episodes)
$69.99 The Twilight Zone 1.x (36 episodes)
$76.49 The Prisoner: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
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