Independent U.S. distributors Olive Films have announced that they will add a number of new titles to their catalog in July. Amongst them are: Jerry Schatzberg's
Street Smart, Martin Campbell's
Criminal Law, and Tony Richardson's
Ned Kelly.
Ned Kelly
Photographed by the talented cinematographer Gerry Fisher (The Accident, Fedora, Wolfen), the New York Times would write "Filmed in lovely colors on authentic Australian locales, 'Ned Kelly' shimmers fitfully with varied beauties."
Ned Kelly, director Tony Richardson's (Tom Jones, Joseph Andrews, Blue Sky) evocative period drama features Mick Jagger (Performance, Freejack), the charismatic lead singer of the Rolling Stones as the title character.
In peaceful pursuit to live off of the land, but harassed by both the law and his neighbors, bushranger Ned Kelly eventually turns to a life of crime when his mother, (Clarissa Kaye, Salem's Lot) unjustly accused of attempted murder, is sentenced to prison.
The Outback outlaw, with a renegade gang at his side, will set out on a spree that will become part of Australian folklore in Ned Kelly.
Ned Kelly features supporting performances by Mark McManus (Two Thousand Weeks), Allen Bickford (It Takes All Kinds, The Killing of Angel Street), Nigel Lovoll (Wherever She Goes, The Ambitious One) and Robert Bruning (The Intruders, Sunday Too Far Away) in a film written by Tony Richardson and Ian Jones.
STREET DATE: JULY 7.
Street Smart
Five-time Academy Award-nominee Morgan Freeman (including a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his Street Smart performance) would eventually claim the prize, taking home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Million Dollar Baby in 2005.
A New York magazine reporter on the verge of losing his job, Jonathan Fisher (Christopher Reeve, Superman) fabricates a story about prostitution that reignites his career and brings unwanted attention to a powerful pimp, Fast Black (Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby). The police, believing the story is true, feel they are closer to putting the notorious pimp behind bars. As pressure mounts for Fisher to reveal the identity of the lead in his story, he's unaware that Fast Black has plans of his own for the writer who's jeopardized his business in the gritty, urban drama Street Smart.
Street Smart, directed by Jerry Schatzberg (Scarecrow, The Panic In Needle Park), from a screenplay by David Freeman, co-stars Kathy Baker (Clean and Sober, The Glass House), Mimi Rogers (The Rapture, Someone To Watch Over Me), Andre Gregory (My Dinner With Andre, The Last Temptation of Christ), Rick Aviles (Carlito's Way, Ghost) and Jay Patterson (A Million Ways To Die In The West, City of Angels). STREET DATE: JULY 7.
Criminal Law
Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman (Best Actor, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Golden Globe winner Kevin Bacon (Best Actor for TV movie Taking Chance) star in the tense crime thriller from Martin Campbell (the director of Casino Royale), Criminal Law.
Ben Chase (Gary Oldman, The Dark Knight) is an on-the-rise Boston attorney currently defending a wealthy client in a high profile murder case. Martin Thiel (Kevin Bacon, Footloose) is the wealthy young man on trial for a particularly brutal murder. The verdict sets Thiel free. Within 24 hours another grizzly and all-too-familiar murder has taken place with striking similarities to the first crime. As suspicions mount, Thiel contacts Chase to once again defend him. Realizing his culpability in having allowed Thiel to walk free after the first trial, Chase inexplicably agrees to act as his defense attorney; but this time it will be to gather evidence that will put away his client for good. But who's manipulating who in this edge-of-your-seat thrill ride?
Criminal Law co-stars Tess Harper (Tender Mercies), Karen Young (9 1/2 Weeks) and Joe Don Baker (Walking Tall) in a film directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye) from a screenplay written by Mark Kasdan.
Roller Boogie
Academy Award-nominee Linda Blair (Best Supporting Actress, The Exorcist) would show her playful, competitive roller-skating side in the romantic-musical-drama, Roller Boogie.
Roller Boogie is the film that asks: can a classical flautist and a roller skating dude find true love and happiness in the California sun while boogying on skates to 70's disco tunes? Roller Boogie stars Linda Blair (The Exorcist) as Terry Barkley, a genius flautist (and Juilliard hopeful) and Jim Bray (real life roller skating phenomenon) as Bobby James, a maniac on skates with all the right moves and his sights set on becoming an Olympic Roller Skater.
Starting with a traditional cinematic "meet cute" scene (Bobby saves Terry from a skating accident at the local roller rink) Roller Boogie is kicked into high gear when a ruthless mobster plans to buy Jammers, the local roller rink, for nefarious reasons. Will Terry give up on her dreams of playing classical flute at Juilliard to team up with Bobby and enter the Jammer's roller disco contest? Will Bobby see his Olympic skating dreams come true? Will the mobster really buy Jammers? Where's the parental supervision?
For the answers to these and other burning questions watch Roller Boogie.
Roller Boogie, with its amazing choreography and on-the-skate-floor acrobatics, is directed by Mark L. Lester (Class of 1984), from a screenplay by Barry Schneider, features a soundtrack stuffed with disco tunes including Hell On Wheels performed by Cher, The Roller Boogie written by Mavis & Bob Esty, Boogie Wonderland written by Jon Lind and Allee Willis and the Bob Esty & Michael Brooks songSummer Love. STREET DATE: JULY 7.
Wild Thing
Combining action-packed set pieces and the daring-do heroics of the Batman, Spider-Man and Tarzan films, Wild Thing is modern day fable of might for right.
In this update of the Tarzan story, Kathleen Quinlan (Apollo 13) stars as Jane, a social worker whose attraction to Wild Thing (Robert Knepper, Hitman), a modern day hero who doles out street justice to protect the weak, will place them both in grave peril. Maneuvering through the concrete jungle in search of the drug dealer who killed his parents, Wild Thing will find an extremely dangerous, and equally adept opponent in the villainous Chopper (Robert Davi, License To Kill).
Directed by Max Reid (In The Eye Of The Snake), from a screenplay by John Sayles, Wild Thing co-stars Betty Buckley (Another Woman, Carrie), Maury Chaykin (Harry and Son), Cree Summer (TV's Bay Coven, Hearts of Fire) and Clark Johnson (S.W.A.T., The Sentinel). STREET DATE: JULY 7.
King of the Gypsies
Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Pope of Greenwich Village) makes an auspicious film debut as the King of The Gypsies.
Adapted for the screen from the best-selling novel by Peter Maas, director Frank Pierson weaves a compelling tale of New York's "gypsies" and their criminal underworld. Dave (Eric Roberts), the grandson and heir apparent to the dying "King" (Sterling Hayden), is torn between his legacy and the outside world, and is soon faced with a decision that will forever alter his life and the lives of those around him.
Photographed by famed cinematographer Sven Nykvist, King of the Gypsies is a tale of love, rivalry, jealousy, murder and intrigue, and features first-rate performances by a supporting cast that includes Susan Sarandon, Annie Potts, Annette O'Toole, Brooke Shields, along with Hollywood royalty Shelley Winters and Sterling Hayden. STREET DATE: JULY 14.
Baby, It's You
Baby It's You, written and directed by two-time Academy Award nominee John Sayles (Best Screenplay - Passion Fish; Best Screenplay - Lone Star) stars BAFTA winner Rosanna Arquette (Best Actress – Desperately Seeking Susan).
Rosanna Arquette (After Hours) and Vincent Spano (Rumblefish) star in writer/director John Sayles' romantic-drama, Baby It's You. Set in 1966 New Jersey, middle-class high school senior Jill (Arquette) finds herself inexplicably drawn to a suave, blue collar bad boy (and aspiring singer) known as "The Sheik" (Spano). Exuding mystery and danger, "The Sheik" woos Jill until she succumbs to his charms, which baffles her friends and horrifies her parents and teachers. Baby It's You recounts the ups and downs of the lead characters from young love to hook-ups & break-ups to college life and the toll of unfulfilled dreams. With his extraordinary ear for dialog, John Sayles (Lone Star, Eight Men Out, Return of the Secaucus 7) fashions a period piece with contemporary relevance. Featured in supporting roles are Tracy Pollan (TV's Family Ties), Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) and Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit). STREET DATE: JULY 14.
Hell's Five Hours
Just three years after his riveting performance in Blackboard Jungle, Emmy-nominated actor Vic Morrow (TV's Combat) would mesmerize audiences with his performance as the disgruntled, bomb-wielding psychopath in Hell's Five Hours.
Tension builds as the clock ticks towards Hell's Five Hours. When a bitter ex-employee Nash (Vic Morrow) takes action against a rocket-fuel manufacturing plant, he sets in motion a series of events that could bring down an entire community in the crime-drama Hell's Five Hours. Mike Brand (Stephen McNally), Nash's level-headed former supervisor, will need all of his strength as he races against time to persuade Nash to surrender, while emptying the company's fuel tanks in order to prevent an impending catastrophe.
Nash ups the ante when he abducts Brand's wife, Nancy (Coleen Gray), and son Eric (Ray Ferrell), to use as pawns in his quest for revenge. STREET DATE: JULY 14.
Adventures of Captain Fabian
Errol Flynn lost none of his swagger when it came to portraying Captain Fabian paying homage to his previous roles as Peter Blood in Captain Blood, and Captain Thorpe in The Sea Hawk.
Errol Flynn brings considerable machismo to the role of the Captain Michael Fabian in Adventures of Captain Fabian, a romantic, swashbuckling adventure filled with intrigue.
Set in 1860 New Orleans, Adventures of Captain Fabian tells the story of Lea (Micheline Presle) a French Creole maid who seeks revenge against the Brissac family, monied bluebloods who have wrongfully framed her for murder. Coming to her aid is the handsome and daring Captain Michael Fabian (Errol Flynn), whose personal animus propels the plot toward a spectacular finale.
Vincent Price is cast as George, the weak willed Brissac nephew, with Agnes Moorehead, playing against type, providing comic relief as Lea's confidant, Aunt Jezebel. STREET DATE: JULY 14.
The Eternal Sea
Sterling Hayden (as Admiral John M. Hoskins) was no stranger to military service having served in the U.S. Marine Corp during World War II as a private, lieutenant and later as a captain. He was awarded the Silver Star by Yugoslavia's Marshal Tito for his bravery in the face of battle.
Selected scenes were shot aboard the naval ship USS Kearsarge.
A dramatic, biographical World War II tale, The Eternal Sea is the story of Admiral John M. Hoskins (Sterling Hayden), a decorated naval officer who wages a personal battle against the powers that be to continue his military service despite an injury that would cost him his leg. Staunch at his side is his wife Sue (Alexis Smith), his equal in love and loyalty.
An able supporting cast includes Dean Jagger, Hayden Rorke and Virginia Grey. The Eternal Sea, one of Republic Pictures' most ambitious productions, boasts impressive behind-the-scenes talent including cinematographer John L. Russell (Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Orson Welles' Macbeth), art director Frank Hotaling (John Ford's The Searchers, The Quiet Man and William Wyler's The Big Country) and Elmer Bernstein (The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence). STREET DATE: JULY 14.
Man of Conquest
Featuring performances by Academy Award-winner Joan Fontaine (Best Actress for Suspicion 1942) and Academy Award-nominee Richard Dix (Best Actor for Cimarron 1931), Man of Conquest was nominated for three Oscars -- Best Score, Best Sound, and Best Art Direction.
Inspired by Maurice James' Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of the famed Texas soldier and politician, Man of Conquest tells the tale of Sam Houston (Richard Dix), one of the founding fathers of Texas, tracing his adventurous life up through the famous Battle of the Alamo. A slice of Americana, Man of Conquest traces Houston's storied career, from fighting alongside the future President (Andrew Jackson played by Edward Ellis) to his friendships with Jim Bowie (Robert Armstrong) and Davy Crocket (Robert Barrat), as well as his romantic relationships with Eliza Allen (Joan Fontaine), who would become his first wife, and Margaret Lea (Gail Patrick) who would become the third Mrs. Houston.
Boasting superb technical contributions, including those of cinematographer Joseph H. August (William Dieterle's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, John Ford's The Informer), the Oscar nominated Man of Conquest (score, art direction and sound) is historical storytelling at its best. STREET DATE: JULY 14.
DVD ONLY RELEASES:
Relentless Justice
Actor Vernon G. Wells, no stranger to action films, having gone mano a mano with heavyweights Mel Gibson in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando, is evil personified as the human-hunting Mayor in Relentless Justice.
Victoria Dev Ries' (Leilani Sarelle) life is thrown into chaos when her daughter (Mimi Michaels) fails to return home from a camping trip. As a single mother, and former Australian Intelligence operative, Victoria springs into action, stopping at nothing to find her daughter. Victoria's past training becomes an asset when she's forced to fend off a group of townspeople who hunt humans for sport. Rounding out the cast in an intense thriller that pays homage to Deliverance, Surviving The Game, and The Osterman Weekend, are Eric Roberts, Ted Prior, Sonia Curtis, Vernon G. Wells and Lisa Langlois.
Relentless Justice is written and directed by action film maestro David A. Prior (Deadliest Prey, Raw Justice, Invasion Force). STREET DATE: JULY 21.
Dark By Noon
Inspired by sci-fi films from around the world, directors Alan Leonard and Michael O'Flaherty have creatively mastered the genre with their innovative feature film debut, Dark By Noon.
Dark By Noon, an action packed, time-travel thriller stars Patrick Buchanan (Belfast Story) as Rez, a man who has found the ability to leap across time and space where he has witnessed a future apocalypse. Jumping back to his own time-line, and with events now spiraling out of control, Rez has only eight hours to discover the cause and save a city – a city that's unaware of it's impending doom.
Directors Alan Leonard and Michael O'Flaherty weave a taunt, sci-fi thrill ride with Dark By Noon co-starring O'Flaherty (Money Kills, Lycanthropy) and Lesa Thurman (Passenger 57, How To Be Happy). STREET DATE: JULY 21.