The TV movie often gets a bad reputation since they’re now reduced to Hallmark channel Christmas movies. But there was a time when these movies didn’t have to be tied into a holiday, a disease or a serial killing cheerleader mother. That time included the early ’80s when Leonard Hill and Philip Mandelker were producing. Fun City Editions has boxed up three of their best productions in Primetime Panic. Freedom has Mare Winningham (St. Elmo’s Fire) as a girl who leaves home to pursue her musical dreams. She ends up joining the carnival. Screenwriter Barbara Turner would later write Georgia which earned Mare a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Dreams Don’t Die is about a graffiti artist trying his best to avoid being converted into a drug dealer. Death Ride to Osaka is a tawdry tale of Jennifer Jason Leigh (Fast Times At Ridgemont High) going to Japan to sing. But she finds herself the victim of a crime syndicate that plans to sell her into slavery. Here’s the press release from Fun City Editions.
Works of cinema and music which exist outside of their time.
The prolific production duo of Leonard Hill and Philip Mandelker produced ten popular made-for-television films within their three-year partnership. It was a highly successful run, which was only shortened by the premature death of Mandelker in 1984. This was a golden age for TV movies and we are proud to present, in this collection, three of their most acclaimed productions: Freedom, Dreams Don’t Die and Death Ride to Osaka (aka Girls of the White Orchid). Each film has been restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative and is presented in both 4:3 and widescreen aspect ratios. As these films were produced for and originally shown on television in the early 1980s, they have never looked better than they do here.
Freedom In the poignant character-driven drama Freedom, free-spirited teen musician Mare Winningham wins emancipation from her mother (Jennifer Warren) and joins up with a traveling carnival. Written by Barbara Turner (Georgia) and directed by Joseph Sargent (The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3).
Dreams Don’t Die New York City graffiti writer Ike Eisenmann and his girlfriend Trini Alvarado struggle to escape their working class world, while being pressured by a drug dealer (Israel Juarbe) and a police officer (Paul Winfield) in the coming-of-age crime drama Dreams Don’t Die. Featuring the art of graffiti legend DONDI, Dreams has become a cult classic in the graffiti world. Written by Garry Michael White (Scarecrow) and directed by Roger Young (Magnum P.I.).
Death Ride to Osaka Jennifer Jason Leigh stars as an aspiring young singer who becomes a prisoner of a Yakuza-controlled prostitution ring in the neon underworld of Tokyo. Directed by Jonathan Kaplan (Over the Edge), this fact-based, tawdry thriller was a ratings sensation and offered Leigh one of the juiciest roles of her early career. Directed by: Joseph Sargent, Roger Young, Jonathan Kaplan Starring: Mare Winningham, Jennifer Warren, Ike Eisenmann, Trini Alvarado, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mako 1981,82,83 / 287 min (combined) / 1.85:1, 1.33:1 / English Mono
Additional info: •3-disc Region A Blu-ray Set •All films newly scanned and restored in 4K from their 35mm original negatives • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing DEATH RIDE TO OSAKA: •Video interview with director Jonathan Kaplan •Audio commentary with Lars Nilsen •Video essay by Chris O’Neill DREAMS DON’T DIE: •Audio commentary with Dino Proserpio and Jonathan Hertzberg •Booklet essay by Justin LaLiberty FREEDOM: •Video interview with Andrea Adams •Audio commentary with Amanda Reyes •Booklet essay by Cristina Cacioppo
Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.
