Dennis Marks Movies
- 1994
- Add The Composers of Our Time: Hans Werner Henze - Memoirs of an Outsider to QueueAdd The Composers of Our Time: Hans Werner Henze - Memoirs of an Outsider to top of Queue
The Frankfort Radio Symphony Orchestra and The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra join with a variety of acclaimed musicians to pay tribute to composer Hans Werner Henze in this release that also features excerpts from Henze's autobiography read by Oliver Tobias. Special guests featured on this release include pianist Ueli Wiget, trumpeter Hakan Hardenberg, and the Ensemble Modern conducted by Ingo Metzmacher. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
The popular animated duo of cat and mouse team up again to appear this time on the big screen. Homeless, the 'toons end up helping out a young girl who stays with a nasty auntie while she is separated from her father. Will the young Robyn be reunited with her loving father? Will the odd pair make it on the streets? Will they find a home? Those are some of the burning questions that may plague the minds of young viewers of this fun adventure. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kind, Dana Hill, (more)
- 1991
This film presents the poignant story of the exile of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok. Bartok left his homeland during the destruction of Europe in World War II, and sought refuge in New York. The film chronicles his life there, through his own recollections, as well as through the recollections of friends and relatives. Artistically misunderstood and impoverished, Bartok lived his final five years in adversity; yet, he triumphed in creating some of his most outstanding musical compositions, including his Third Piano Concerto, the Sonata for Solo Violin, and the Concerto for Orchestra. The Budapest Symphony Orchestra perform excerpts from Bartok's works. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
Inspired by the outbreak of the Second World War, Soviet composer Sergei Prokofiev crafted his 1942 opera War and Peace - an opus based on Tolstoy's timeless novel - with his second wife, Mira Mendelson-Prokoviev), penning the libretto. Divided into two halves (comprising an epigraph and thirteen scenes) the work follows the basic narrative thrust of Tolstoy's roman, with its tale of aristocratic evolution over the course of the Napoleonic Wars. This release, War and Peace, features a film of a live onstage performance of Prokoviev's titular opera, mounted in Paris in 2000 by The Chorus and Orchestra of the Kirov Opera. Nicolai Othotnikov portrays Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Kutuzov, Alexander Gergalov plays (%Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, Yelena Prochina performs as Natalya Rostova (AKA Natasha), and Vasilli Gerrelo appears as Napoleon Bonaparte. Graham Vick handles the stage direction. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Something of a rarity - an opera redesigned for film cameras, in lieu of being a filmed stage production per se - this 1989 work from director Leslie Megahey constitutes an interpretation of Béla Bartók's one-act 1911 opera Bluebeard's Castle. The morose and macabre tale dramatizes the sinister Duke Bluebeard's return to his secluded castle, with new wife Judith in tow, and Judith's subsequent discovery of the horrors that lurk within. It stars Robert Lloyd as Duke Bluebeard and Elizabeth Laurence as Judith, Anna Buruma designed the costumes, Leslie Megahey directs, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra lends musical accompaniment under the baton of Adam Fischer. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Laurence
Hanna-Barbera's Space Age clan made the leap to the big screen in this animated feature, in which George and the family are transferred to a remote space outpost. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George O'Hanlon, Mel Blanc, (more)
- 1987
Though undoubtedly best known as a classical conductor, Briton Sir Georg Solti was in fact one of the world's most accomplished concert pianists as well, and unveils that aspect of his musical intuition in this release - a film of a now-famous session on Bela Bartok's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, with Murray Perahia on the other piano and the two percussion roles filled by David Corkhill and Evelyn Glennie. As an added bonus, the program includes a documentary about the making of the CBS Masterworks recording by the aforementioned artists of Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Evelyn Glennie, David Corkhill, (more)
- 1985
During a forest battle with the Decepticons, Beachcomber and Thrust become separated from the other Autobots. Stumbling upon a hidden lagoon, Beachcomber discovers a pool containing a large supply of Electum, which when applied to one's body renders that person invulnerable. Alas, the Decepticons also locate the pool, then coat themselves with Electum as part of a master plan to destroy the Autobots without any damage to themselves. The climax finds the Autobots and the Decepticons liberally covered with Electum -- while Beachcomber despairs over the damage and destruction that he has inadvertently brought upon the peaceful forest. Written by Dennis Marks, this aggressively pro-ecological Transformers episode first aired in America on November 4, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The title of this Transfomers episode refers to the center of the Earth, a repository of awesome energy which the Constructicons hope to plunder. In this pursuit, they run afoul of their erstwhile ally Starscream, who warns that they will destroy Earth. As it turns out, Earth may already be doomed, thanks to an out-of-control Devastator. Written by Dennis Marks, "The Core" first aired in America on October 29, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This program is part of a series that follows the history of African-American music. The series goes back to Africa, in search of the source of music that made its way to America. This first episode, Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music - Born Musicians, Music from Gambia , features music from the West African country of Gambia, where young people are immersed in music as an expression of life and spirituality. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This program is part of a series that investigates the connections between Africa and American music. This episode, Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music - West African Popular Music, looks at the worldbeat music of West Africa that has growing popularity and influence in America. Featured are Juju music of Nigeria, Afro-beat, and the Highlife from Ghana. Among the musicians whose work is presented are Segun Adewale, Koo Nimo, Smart Nkansah and the Sunsum Band, and Nana Ampadu and the African Brothers. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This program is part of a series that looks at the origins of African-American music and some of the creative forms it takes. In this episode, Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music - Caribbean Crucible, the focus is on the synthesis of West African and European music, notably from Spain and England, and the way it is expressed in the Caribbean islands. Reggae and DJ music are two of the styles the film presents. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This program is part of a series that looks at the origins of African-American music and some of the creative forms it takes. This episode, Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music - The Drums of Dagbon looks at the master Dagbamba drummers of northern Ghana, and their intricate rhythms that have influenced American music. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This program is part of a series that celebrates the origins and expressions of African-American music. In this episode, Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music - Legends of Rhythm and Blues, some of the great names in the blues idiom are presented, such as Big Mama Thornton and Lloyd Glen. It shows how the driving beat and suggestive lyrics of R&B made their way into rock & roll. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music - Sit Down and Listen, The Story of Max Roach
- 1984
This program is part of a series that celebrates the origins and expressions of African-American music. This episode, Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music - Sit Down and Listen, The Story of Max Roach, showcases this master jazz performer, composer, and educator, whose work is associated with bebop and the East Coast jazz movement. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1984
This program is part of a series that follows the history of African-American music. The series goes back to Africa in search of the source of music that made its way to America. This second episode, Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music - On the Battlefield, Gospel Quartets, illustrates the intricate African harmonies practiced by gospel quartets such as the Dixie Hummingbirds. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
This filmed stage production represents composer Mark Anthony Turnage's operatic adaptation of Stephen Berkoff's Oedipus the King, which took the famous Sophocles tragedy and updated it to a contemporary setting. Shot in 1990 at the Liverpool Warehouse, the production stars Fiona Kimm, Helen Charnock and Quentin Hayes. Peter Maniura and Jonathan Moore co-direct; The Almeida Ensemble, under the leadership of maestro Richard Bernas, provides added musical accompaniment. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Almeida Ensemble, Helen Charnock, (more)
