Search - Bagdad Cafe on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Brief Nudity, Nudity, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1987 DVD Release: 07/24/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 32 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 11 Genres: Comedy Drama, Americana, Ensemble Film

This West German film is set in the California Desert. A husband-and-wife pair of Bavarian tourists become stranded when their car breaks down; after a quarrel, the wife, Marianne Sagebrecht, gathers her luggage and stalks off. She stops at the Bagdad Cafe, a fleapit truckstop run by outspoken C.C.H. Pounder, who is also having husband problems. The Cafe has become a magnet for some of truly odd character: temperamental Hispanic cook George Aguilar, tattoo artist Christine Kaufmann, and onetime Hollywood set designer Jack Palance. Despite obvious personality differences, Sagebrecht and Pounder become friends. Bagdad Cafe was later adapted into a short-lived American sitcom starring Jean Stapleton and Whoopi Goldberg. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Marianne Sägebrecht - Jasmin Munchgstettner
CCH Pounder - Brenda
Jack Palance - Rudi Cox
Christine Kaufmann - Debbie
Monica Calhoun - Phyllis

Percy Adlon's quirky Bagdad Cafe comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include the original theatrical trailer. MGM/UA deserves credit for releasing this little gem of a film to DVD with such high picture quality. Anyone looking for something outside of the Hollywood mainstream should certainly give this disc a look. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide