Before we get too deep into the review, Weeds has nothing to do with the Showtime series Weeds. Weeds should not the be confused with the Jack Nicholson film Ironweed which also came out in 1987. Weeds meant something to me since it was one of the last films released by legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis’s De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG). During the mid-80s, he built the DEG studios in Wilmington, North Carolina and made the state a regular filmmaking destination. Among the films DEG made at the studio was Blue Velvet, Trick Or Treat, From The Hip and King Kong Lives. DEG went belly up after less than two years. Weeds was one of the last releases. While the other films were picked up by other studios for home video distribution, Weeds seemed to vanish into…well the weeds. The film starred Nick Nolte during his glory times that included 48 Hours, Extreme Prejudice, Cape Fear and Prince of Tides. After decade of being trapped in a film vault, Weeds is finally out on Blu-ray.
Lee Umstetter (Nick Nolte) has been given a lifetime sentance for armed robbery without a chance for parole. Lee has no plans to spend decades behind the prison walls. He isn’t going to escape. He twice attempts to kill himself, the second time he’s stopped by his cellmate Claude (Red Dawn‘s Lane Smith). He breaks out of this desire to end it all through reading literature. He becomes engaged in the entertainment at the prison such as Charlie Rich (the real Charlie Rich) dropping by to perform the classic “Behind Closed Doors.” Things really change when Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is performed for the prisoners. He is artistically awakened. He not only types up a play of his own, Lee puts together an acting company behind the prison walls. Reporter Lillian Bingington (Steal Big Steal Little‘s Rita Taggert) attends a performance and finds herself on a crusade to release Lee. After a lot of doing, he gets his sentence commuted by governor. Lillian takes care of him. He wants to take his prison play to the free world. He unites with his actors that have been released to do a tour of colleges. His group of actors include William Forsythe (Devil’s Rejects), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), Lane Smith, John Toles-Bey (Waterworld) and Mark Rolston (The Shawshank Redemption). They travel around in a camper and do their best to not revert to their criminal ways.
While it would be easy to scoff the plot of Weeds off as unrealistic, John D. Hancock based it on the true story of playwright Rick Cluchey. He was doing life without parole in prison when Hancock met him while doing acting classes inside the wall. Cluchey was inspired by watching Waiting For Godot and began writing his own plays. He was able to get his sentenced commuted by Governor Pat Brown. Eventually he met Samuel Beckett and became his assistant on the play. A female reporter was significant to his release and they married. But Weeds is not exactly his life story which allows Hancock to not have to worry about “that’s not the way it really happened. Nick Nolte is able to play his own character without impersonating Cluchey. He just knows that Lee’s life is not unrealistic.
Ernie Hudson ought to be convicted of stealing the spotlight quite a few times. The scene where he charges onto the stage to get the truth out of his castmates cranks up the drama and wakes up the audience in the theater. It’s great that Weeds is getting a second chance to find an audience after being in DEG jail for what seemed like a lifetime.
The Video is 1.85:1 anamorphic. The transfer is a director approved 2K HD scan and restoration from 35mm film elements. Prison life looks rough. The Audio is LPCM 2.0 Stereo. Optional English Subtitles
John Hancock Interview (15:10) is a recent chat with the director. He gets into how his theater background played into the film included attending performances at San Quinton. Turns out the story is based on a true story since Hancock did find a playwright behind bars and helped them get paroled. He wanted it with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. De Niro did sign up for it, but they fell out over casting in preproduction. De Niro didn’t want Gene Hackman as his cellmate. He was working on a different project with Nick Nolte when he got interested in the script. He took a second mortgage on his house to work on the film. Hancock enjoyed working with Nick Nolte. He talks about a prisoner that escaped when they disguised as a crew member. He explains how the negative was lost and then the film became legally lost after DEG went bankrupt and kept selling the “rights.” Hancock is thrilled that he can finally release the film on DVD and Blu-ray.
John Hancock & Stuart Shapiro (25:16) is a tele-chat between the two. They are in the process of finishing the new restoration and transfer. Shapiro among many things was the guy behind Night Flight on USA (which is now a streaming site that features my series Danger! Health Films with the Real Cowboy from the Village People). Hancock mentions he was fired from Jaws 2. He talks about going from 35mm to digital as a filmmaker. He talks about being happy about making films in his career.
Photo Gallery (1:45) includes the press photos sent out by DEG, color shots, international posters and VHS box.
“Sticky My Fingers… Fleet My Feet” (23:28) is an Oscar Nominated Short Film (1971) directed by John Hancock. Is about a guy clinging to his glory days by playing touch football in Central Park with his pals. Things get out of whack when one of the players brings a young kid. The film stars Val Bisoglio, best known as John Travolta’s father in Saturday Night Fever and the restaurant owner on Quincy M.E. Also on the field of play is Charles Durning (Tootsie) and Marshall Efron (voice of Sloppy Smurf). After this fun film, Hancock made Let’s Scare Jessica To Death.
Trailer (1:10) is the DEG trailer from the video.
MVD Marquee Collection presents Weeds: Special Edition. Directed by John D. Hancock. Screenplay by John D. Hancock & Dorothy Tristan. Starring Nick Nolte, Ernie Hudson, Lane Smith, Mark Rolston, William Forsythe, Joe Mantegna, J.J. Johnston and Rita Taggart. Running Time: 119 minutes. Rating: Rated R. Release Date: October 28, 2025.
