Verhoeven

At last! All-important cue underscoring first appearance of Robocop - with dynamic first statement of main theme, right down to clanking metal - makes it to CD! ROBOCOP has hit the market twice before, but both releases inexplicably deleted important cue plus subsequent variants as Robo first goes into action with hostage crisis. Paul Verhoeven sci-fi/actioner with Peter Weller inspires Basil Poledouris to create powerful music: otherworldly for creation of Robo, emotional for Robo's memories, riveting for explosive action set-pieces. Intrada also presents first-ever assembly of complete end credits on CD, as well as restoring cues to proper chronological order. Advertisement sequences (trademarks in numerous Verhoeven films) are scored by Poledouris and included in sequence as they comment on scenes outgoing or incoming. Intrada presents complete score in vibrant stereo, newly re-mixed and re-mastered from recently-discovered original 2" 24-track session masters plus 1" 8-track electronic session mixes, all stored in mint condition, courtesy MGM. Informative liner notes from Jeff Bond complete exciting package.

"The Unknown Soldier," a documentary by Michael Verhoeven, takes on one of the comforting myths of postwar Germany: the idea that ordinary German soldiers were for the most part unaware of and uninvolved in the worst crimes of the Nazi regime. In a version of history held by many Germans, the SS and other specialized organizations conceived and carried out policies of extermination against civilians, while the Wehrmacht rank and file went about the usual business of fighting the enemy. It was thus possible, after the war, to commemorate the service of fathers and grandfathers, and even to treat them with a measure of sentimental reverence, without condoning the atrocities of the Third Reich.

Three young Dutch amateur dirt bike motorcycle racers each fall in love with a young woman who, with her brother, works at a concession stand at the races. Everyone is looking for a better life. The young woman wants out of the business and away from her brother. The motocross racers want to make their marks as professional racers, like their hero, Gerrit Witkamp (Rutger Hauer).