Marlon Brando 4-Movie Collection (The Ugly American / The Appaloosa / A Countess from Hong Kong / The Night of the Following Day)

I bought this dvd mainly to see a long forgotten classic film, "The Ugly American". Although the film somewhat alters the focus of the great novel as written by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer, the power of the story remains. Well directed by George Englund and well acted by an excellent cast this film (as well as the novel) revealed the dark side of the US Government's efforts to win hearts and minds. It is a film that was important for the times and is all the more so significant for today.Brando is excellent in a difficult role as the American ambassador to Sarkan (a fictional state posing for Indonesia).Fine performances are turned in by veteran actors, Pat Hingle, Arthur Hill and Jocelyn Brando among others. But the stand out performance in the film is by "Kukrit Pramoj, a prominent Thai newspaper publisher, former Thai Finance Minister, and, as fate would have it, future Prime Minister (1975-76). Speaking in Bangkok the day after its world premiere, the film's star, Marlon Brando, brought forth gasps by labeling his precocious co-star a "dissembler, liar and thief." Before shock could turn to indignation, Brando, straight face intact, quickly broke the stunned silence. "Mr. Kukrit told me he couldn't act, and then proceeded to prove he could act and, in fact, acted me off the screen. He stole the whole show.""This is a movie you should not miss.The other films in this rare collection also include a few lesser known Brando films during the time when Brando was considered a persona non grata by studio bosses. These films were far better than perceived at the time. The Appaloosa is a good western film. The plot is simple but intense, the cast is excellent as is Brando. A Countess from Hong Kong came with great expectations. Sophia Loren and Marlon star with Charlie Chaplin directing. The movie suffers somewhat from the huge difference in styles. Chaplin's approach to every aspect of filmmaking was always extremely detailed and labored with many takes. The magic of Chaplin was that he despite this there was in his classic films an air of spontaneity and improvisation. Brando looked forward to working with this genius but was not aware of how external and extremely pain staking Chaplin's approach was. Chaplin would often try to direct the actors by actually acting out the parts in front of the actors; not something that appealed to Brando. But despite the difficulties there are still many humorous moments in the film.The final film and least known is The Night of the Following Day. A low budget, independent film directed in part by Hubert Cornfield (who also directed the classic film, Pressure Point) and Richard Boone. It's a quirky and interesting film with an excellent cast including Brando, Boone, Rita Moreno and Pamela Franklin. Also well worth viewing.

THE APPALOOSA [1966] is one of my all-time favorite Westerns. It should be released on DVD on its own and not as part of a collection. Largely forgotten and rarely talked-about even among ethusiasts of the genre despite having a hall-of-famer [Marlon Brando] in the lead. It was probably lost in the wake of Sergio Leone's memorable epic THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY of the same year. Ed Harris' THE APPALOOSA [2008], a pretentious, unrelated and perturbingly bad film only served to obscure the original even more. This is a slowly-paced, somber, brooding [thanks Leonard Maltin, couldn't have described it better], sensitive, and rather unconventional Western saga. There's minimal action or gunfire. You've got to have the time and be in the right mood and in the right setting to see this one---like tasting wine: let it breathe, pour it, swirl it, smell it, sip it---slowly. The film is about a dust-beaten rogue [Brando as "Mateo" or Mathew] who returns home after a long hiatus. He returns with an expensive and prized Appaloosa upon which rests his dreams of retiring, owning his own farm and of helping the poor Mexican family who raised him. The horse, however, is stolen by the leader of a gang of Mexican "pistoleros" who wants the beautiful animal as a gift for his woman. The Mex badguy [Chuy Medina] is played by John Saxon, he of 50's & 60's horror/exploitation movies fame, who is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME in no doubt the finest performance of his career. He is arrogant, mean, chisled and strong. His gal was played by Anjanette Comer, a somewhat underrated character actress often seen in numerous 70's TV movies and TV shows, who never looked better. Medina warns Brando that if he wants his horse back he will have to come to Medina's Mexican town and retrieve it. Problem is, Medina's town is a refuge for killers, fugitives, drifters, losers + outcasts, and Medina himself is carefully protected by his pistoleros. Brando, against the pleas of his Mexican family who fear that he will not return alive, decides to go after his prized horse. Director Sydney J Furie, who rarely did Westerns [if any?], did an excellent job here. His detail, great use of close-ups and nice pacing was surely influenced by Leone. Geez, you could count the number of gold caps on one of the pistoleros' teeth. And how about the gritty bartender serving Brando's drink with his 'where-have-they-been' fingers submerged half way in it. What distinguishes this film from many is the vulnerability of the lead character imparting everyday realism and sympathy for our main man. Brando, drunk during the theft of his horse, is bedraggled, humiliated and laughed at by Medina and his boys. When he reaches the Mexican haunt Medina challenges him to an arm-wrestling match with deadly scorpions on either side of the table, the winner getting the horse. Medina, physically stronger, wins the match. Brando is tossed out into the street left to die. Medina's woman, however, fed up with his possessive and demeaning treatment, and of being one of his many women, takes an obtunded Brando to local sheep man Ramos [played by Frank Silvera of HOMBRE, 1967]. Ramos gives Brando sanctuary, takes care of him, brings him back to health and conceals him. Interestingly, in Brando, Medina's lady sees an opportunity to escape the hell she's been living in. It is apparent that while Medina is physically [and numerically] stronger she has come to admire Brando's gumption, perseverance and courage---just the right person to get her out of there. Indeed, Brando is emotionally, mentally stronger than Medina---has to do with the ticker, hard bark, guts, cojones. Brando is ready to go back home without his horse, but with the lady, until Medina's pistoleros show up looking for the dame. They proceed to brutalize and kill Ramos who refused to give them any info. The plans now drastically change as Brando buries his friend and vows to return to kill Medina. It's brain over brawn this time, though, as Brando smartly uses Medina's ego and mindset against him, sending one of Medina's own boys to deliver a derogatory message intended to isolate and bait Medina away from his protecting pistoleros. Great lines here especially the deliciously prodding: "...the poison of your scorpion is weak...like the blood of the Medina". The way Brando gets Medina at the end was industrious, smart, very cool---check it out yourself. Happy ending with Brando returning home with both horse and babe. Neat how inner strength, moral courage and conviction and some level-headed thinking won out over bodies, brawn and boisterous belligerence. This has long been one of my favorite movies, Western or not. Brando gives a marvelously understated, offbeat, great performance with that unforgettable parlance. Deepest thanks to all those involved in the making of this well-crafted, atmospheric film which has given me so much pleasure over the years especially Director Furie in his FIRST Western & the actors---Brando, Saxon, Comer...and we can't forget "Squint Eye".

These four, that he made in the 1960s.I purchased the set because I had only seen one of the four before now, and I never forgot that one.The one previously seen: The Ugly American, and worth three stars all by itself. Pre-Vietnam War Asia, and a sad story of the widing gulf between two former friends--one Asian, one American (Brando)--personifying the widening gulf between America and this part of the world. Still packs a punch today.Apaloosa's interesting. Directed by successful Canadian Director Sidney J. Furie (the Ipcress File; Iron Eagle), the "South of the Border" western brings to mind Leone's "Man With No Name" trilogy in photographic style and pace--no accident I hunch, as it was made the same year as a Fistful of Dollars. It's nice to look at, with an OK story and a Golden Globe nominated performance by John Saxon as the Mexican bandit.Night of the Following Day, a crime story, is amusing only because it's very much of its mid-60s time period. Today it actually works as a "period piece" movie. Far out!I haven't seen Countess yet. Doubt that it's a match for Ugly American.

This 4-pack collection is a must for Brando fans. Enjoy watching his older works.

rubbish didn't work but I was too busy at work so I didn't send it back so just threw it away