Wanda (1970) DVD9 and Blu-Ray Criterion Collection, DVD9, download for free

Jun21

Wanda (1970) DVD9 and Blu-Ray Criterion Collection, DVD9

by movieworld on June 21st, 2019 at 16:33

With her first and only feature film — a hard-luck drama she wrote, directed, and starred in — Barbara Loden turned in a groundbreaking work of American independent cinema, bringing to life a kind of character seldom seen on-screen.

Loden bravely subverts her own sexy (if little known) screen image to play poor Wanda, an aging little girl lost who at movie's start is sleeping on her parents' couch, having left (or been thrown out by) her husband. She shows up late in court to relinquish all rights to her children. She is fired from her factory job for being too slow on the line and is cheated out of the few meager overtime dollars due her. Having taken refuge in a movie theater and fallen asleep, she awakes to find her purse fleeced.

A bad day gets worse when she wanders into an empty bar and fails to realize that the "bartender" is actually a robber who has the real publican tied up on the floor out of view. The robber, played in a constant state of riveting paranoia by Michael Higgins, knows he can't let Wanda just walk out. And so begins their road trip through coal country and dingy motel rooms, culminating at a downtown Scranton bank.

Director: Barbara Loden
Cast: Barbara Loden, Michael Higgins, Dorothy Shupenes, Jerome Thier, Jack Ford, Milton Gittleman
Country: USA
Genre: Crime, Drama

BD50, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC 4:3 | 01:43:15 | 45.2 Gb, 7.57 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• I am Wanda - this archival documentary focuses on the production history of Wanda and the life and working methods of its creator, Barbara Loden. Included in the documentary are clips from interviews with the director, cinematographer Nicholas Proferes, and acting teacher Paul Mann. The documentary was produced Katja Raganelli and Konrad Wickler in 1980. In English, not subtitled. (63 min, 1080p).

• The Dick Cavett Show - presented here is an archival episode of The Dick Cavett Show in which Barbara Loden discusses Wanda and her background. The episode was broadcast on March 4, 1971. In English, not subtitled. (14 min, 1080i).

• Barbara Loden at the AFI - presented here is an archival audio recording in which Barbara Loden discusses her love for cinema and some of the obstacles that an aspiring young director will have to overcome. The recording comes from a session that was part of the Harold Lloyd Master Seminar series at the American Film Institute, which was held on April 2, 1971. In English, not subtitled. (62 min, 1080p).

• The Frontier Experience (1975) - Barbara Loden directed and starred in this half-hour educational film about a young woman trying to survive with her family on the Kansas prairie. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080i).

• Trailer - an original remastered trailer for Wanda. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).