Search - Shadows on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1959 DVD Release: 03/24/1998 Format: DVD - Black and White Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 21 mins Studio: Geneon Members Wishing: 5 Genres: Drama, Romance, Psychological Drama, Ensemble Film See Also: Shadows [Criterion Collection]

Shadows was John Cassavetes' first directorial effort. Like his later critically acclaimed films Faces and Husbands, Cassavetes fills the screen with probing, unflattering closeups. Unlike his other films, however, Shadows zips along at 87 minutes, avoiding the pitfall of putting the director's nonfans to sleep. The film is a straightforward account of a biracial romance (a far less common film subject in 1960 than today). Light-skinned African-American Lelia Goldoni falls in love with a white man Anthony Ray, who spurns her when he meets the rest of her family. Far from subtle, Shadows benefits from the undisciplined energy of its direction and the excellence of its individual performances. Costing a scant $40,000 (less than the average half hour TV episode of the era), Shadows won the Critic's Award at the Cannes Film Festival and led to more expensive studio assignments for John Cassavetes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lelia Goldoni - Lelia
Ben Carruthers - Ben
Anthony Ray - Tony
Hugh Hurd - Hugh
Rupert Crosse - Rupert

John Cassavetes' directorial debut Shadows comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions on this release. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, but this Pioneer release is worthwhile for anyone with an interest in American independent cinema. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide