A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)

Directed by George Stevens

A tragic family drama based on the novel by Theodore Dreiser : An American Tragedy which was itself based on the celebrated 1900 murder case of a man named Gillette, a poor relative of a rich family of the same name was convicted of drowning his pregnant working class girlfriend

It starred Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters amongst others

Nominated for 9 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography (Black and White), Best Costume, Best Film Editing, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score

Won 6, Best Director, Best Cinematography (Black and White), Best Costume, Best Film Editing, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score

DVD Special features:

A documentary on the legendry director, George Stevens: His Place in the Sun
with contributions from his son, George Stevens Jr, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelly Winters

Interviews on the work of George Stevens with contributions from film makers such as
Robert Wise, Alan J Pakula, Warren Beatty, Fred Zinnemann and others

Feature Length Commentary by George Stevens Jr and Ivan Moffat

CRASH (2004)

WINNER OF THE ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST PICTURE

Directed by Paul Haggis

Several stories interweave during two days in Los Angeles involving a collection of inter-related characters, a black police detective with a drugged out mother and a thieving younger brother, two car thieves who are constantly theorizing on society and race, the distracted district attorney and his irritated and pampered wife, a racist veteran cop (caring for a sick father at home) who disgusts his more idealistic younger partner, a successful black Hollywood director and his wife who must deal with racist cop, a Persian-immigrant father who buys a gun to protect his shop, a Hispanic locksmith and his young daughter who is afraid of bullets, and more.

The film attempts to explore and challenges your ability to judge books by their covers.

Nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Original Song

Won 3, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing

In what was considered one of the biggest shocks of the Academy's history, CRASH beat the favourite BROKE BACK MOUNTAIN to the years top prize


DVD Special Features:

Feature Length Commentary by Director/ Co Writer, Paul Haggis, Don Cheadle and Bobby Moresco

"Crash Behind The Scenes" - featurette

CHICAGO (2002)

WINNER OF THE ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST PICTURE

Directed by Rob Marshall

Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) is a married chorus girl with hopes of being a headliner in Vaudeville. Velma Kelly (Caterine Zeta Jones) is a former headliner. What do these two have in common? They are both murderesses. Roxie killed her lover when he walked out on her, and Velma killed her husband and sister, who were having an affair. Chicago's newspapers love the nitty-gritty and Velma is at the top of the headlines. But then Roxie comes along and Velma is old news. They find themselves competing for not only the press' attention, but also the focus of their shared lawyer, the suave Billy Flynn (Richard Gere). Add to the mix a sob sister, Roxie's hapless husband Amos (John C Reilly), and a warm prison matron who watches out for her girls (if there's something in it for her), and you have Chicago.

Nominated for 13 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Art/Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Cinematography and Best Music/Original Song

Won 6, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art/Set Decoration, Best Sound, Best Costume Design and Best Editing

DVD Special Features:

Behind the Scene Special

Deleted Musical number "Class"

Audio Commentary with Director and Screenwriter

THE ROARING TWENTIES (1939)

Directed by Raoul Walsh

After the WWI Armistice, Lloyd Hart(Jeffrey Lynn) goes back to practice law, former saloon keeper George Hally (Humphrey Bogart) turns to bootlegging, and out-of-work Eddie Bartlett (James Cagney) becomes a cab driver. Eddie builds a fleet of cabs through delivery of bootleg liquor and hires Lloyd as his lawyer. George becomes Eddie's partner and the rackets flourish until love and rivalry interfere.

Considered one of the best gangster films ever made

No Academy Award Nominations

DVD Special Features:

Documentary, The Roaring Twenties: The World Moves On

Audio Length Commentary by Lincoln Hurst