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Whistle Stopper - The List of Adrian Messenger
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List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $49.88
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Starring: George C. Scott, Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis
Directed By: John Huston
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786300184015
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 6300184013
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Universal Studios
Release Date: 1994-01-12
Running Time: 98
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 1963-05-29
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Must see
Comment: An old movie but a great movie. Many appearances are not what they seem. I searched for this movie for years & am happy to finally have it in my library. If you like old movies & these actors then you must see this movie.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Be on lookout!
Comment: I just looked on Amazon UK and this movie is being released on DVD for Region 2 March 17th 2008. Hopefully we will have it soon.
Customer Rating:
Summary: list
Comment: I have a close friend whose husband is disabled. He watches a lot of T V mostaly movies he has bought or obtained somehow. He is a more clasic movie buff. He mentioned the movie and was explaining the plot and such. He wished he could see it again. I came home and found it. I gave it to him as a birthday present. He was extatic. He has watched it many times I am told. It arrived in great shape.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: DVD! DVD! DVD! DVD!
Comment: The List of Adrian Messenger is a wonderful change of pace for Mr. Huston. I wish to see it again, but my VCR went up in a ball of flame years ago.
DVD! DVD! DVD! DVD!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Looking for a DVD (and might I suggest a Re-make?)
Comment: First of all, I have no idea why this film is not available on DVD yet. You might be looking at my rating right now and thinking "He only gave it 3 stars? Who cares if it comes out on DVD!" Let me explain.
"The List of Adrian Messenger" is a standard murder mystery but it is done with a unique twist. Someone is killing off heirs to a family fortune and its a race against time to stop the killer (i know, it sounds cliche) but the twist here is that several big name stars from this era make cameo's in the film in disguise. This is in conjunction with the killer, who commits all of the murders while wearing various disguises. This is meant to throw the audience off. The viewer is supposed to wonder if the police are talking to the killer or just some innocent bystander. The only flaw here is that the make-up is not the best quality it could have been and some of the actors in disguise don't do the greatest job of disguising their voice. These were the flaws that forced me to give the movie 3 stars. It's an enjoyable film (and I do own a VHS copy) but you know who the killer is almost from the start and can usually tell when he's in make-up. Its also fun to see actors like Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, and Kirk Douglas in these make-up disguises.
On a side note, I cannot figure out why this hasn't been attempted as a remake. A director could modernize the story a bit (the original was made in 1963) but the true gold lies in the make-up techniques currently available. With the make-up techniques available today, people would be hard pressed to figure out who was in disguise. I'm sure a lot of actors would love to do a cameo. Place them in small scenes, something that takes up a day of their time (most of it in the make-up chair) and audiences would go just to figure out who is their favorite actors. The original film used five actors but a re-make could use as many as 20. See if the cameo actors would work to have their day's wages go to their favorite charities. That could be an additional incentive to get people involved. I think the film would be a lot of fun and, as far as remakes go, this one would be a winner. Watch the original and see what you think.
Hopefully the studio is working on the DVD. If not, you can probably find the tape for a cheap price.
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Editorial Reviews:
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John Huston was eager for a lightweight lark, and The List of Adrian Messenger was just the project he needed. Philip MacDonald's upper-crust British murder mystery allowed Huston to work close to his Irish estate, including fox hunting and quail shooting well suited to Huston's lord-of-the-manor lifestyle. The mystery itself is clever enough: As a former MI-5 agent, George C. Scott is lured into the case when writer Adrian Messenger (John Merivale) gives him a list of 11 names to investigate, just before Messenger is mysteriously killed. Scott combs for clues to connect the names, and the film's promotional gimmick--big-name stars disguised under Bud Westmore's expert makeup--kicks into gear. Thus you get Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum, Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas, and Frank Sinatra, barely identifiable under layers of latex, and the mystery never suffers from this playful distraction. Huston enjoyed making this film (he makes a cameo appearance, and his son Tony plays a supporting role), and that pleasure is passed along to the viewer. --Jeff Shannon
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