Three Brynner Movies
Expressrune | 12/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This 3 Signature Classic Collection starts with the movie Port of New York. 1949 B&W this is one of Brynner's first movie appearances wherein he plays a ruthless drug smuggler. His role is not the dominant character in this movie, but it's enjoyable and entertaining considering the year and subject matter. Death Rage is the next movie in this collection and typical 1976 mob style with '70's music and subject matter done to death. Brynner is his best in this type of role. The ultimate tough man with not too complicated a dialogue. Foll. this is Poppies Are Also Flowers, the subject matter similar to Port of New York but interestingly it opens in Afghanistan. Some things never change. Brynner's role in this movie is very small, with two other primary characters dominating."
Public domain Brynner
Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 08/08/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Mr. Brynner stars in one of the movies on ST. CLAIR's YUL BRYNNER SIGNATURE SERIES and lends support in the other two. Also included is a poster gallery.
SYNOPSES--
DEATH RAGE-- Brynner plays an ex-Mafia "button man" called out of retirement to avenge his brother's murder. Director Antonio Margheriti also specialized in horror, sci-fi and swords & sandals epics.
POPPIES ARE ALSO FLOWERS-- Narcotics agents irradiate a shipment of heroin, hoping to trace it to the main distributor. U.N.-made film aimed at stopping the illegal drug trade is top-heavy with stars and light on plot, despite a story by Ian Fleming.
PORT OF NEW YORK-- Two narcotics agents pursue a violent gang of drug dealers who traffic via NYC's harbor. Brynner is one of the bad guys in his motion picture debut.
ST. CLAIR's DAVID NIVEN SIGNATURE COLLECTION consists of three movies, plus a 1950's TV drama episode.
Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film research website.
(4.8) Death Rage (Italy-1976) - Yul Brynner/Barbara Bouchet/Martin Balsam
(5.1) Poppies Are Also Flowers (France/Austria/USA-1966) - Senta Berger/Stephen Boyd/Yul Brynner/Angie Dickinson/Hugh Griffith/Jack Hawkins/Rita Hayworth/Trevor Howard/Trini López/E.G. Marshall/Marcello Mastroianni/Anthony Quayle/Gilbert Roland/Omar Sharif/Barry Sullivan/Eli Wallach/Grace Kelly
(6.2) Port of New York (1949) - Scott Brady/Richard Rober/K.T. Stevens/Yul Brynner/Arthur Blake (uncredited: Neville Brand/Ann Doran/Chet Huntley-narrator)"