To see Jill tackle The Killers (not the Hemingway novel, nor the subsequent Burt Lancaster movie of the same name) but the catch phrase given to the bastards who systematically cripple, starve and breed for murder over 100 thousand helpless horses a year for human consumption sale to France, Canada and Mexico (the remainder being tossed to dog food companies!). In effect, Jill and Tony tossed their Hollywood digs and moved lock, stock and barrel to the wilds of rural Las Vegas, where, in 2003, they founded the Shiloh Horse Rescue and Sanctuary (Shiloh being the Hebrew word for “a place of peace”). Already, in just a scant few years, Shiloh has become a near-legendary hospice for these tortured magnificent spirits, who, not only are often cured of their ails – both physically and mentally – but end up living long restful APPRECIATED lives as adopted appendages of caring humans (I know – there are a few left).
Jill and Tony haven’t stopped there. They’ve been instrumental in alerting Washington politicos and humane organizations to the nefarious workings of these horrific sales – the result being a number of bills currently in play to outlaw the auctions in the United States.
The Curtises also welcome donations – either in cash (no amount too small) or in time (Visiting the Vegas area for awhile? Spend a day at Shiloh and help out!). Really – when one considers that many of these horses are sent to the slaughterhouse for as little as seven bucks – can you afford NOT to contribute. Come on, girls – do you REALLY need that DVD of TWILIGHT? And guys – CO-EDS GONE WILD???? Are you kidding?
There’s some truly gruesome stuff here via smuggled bootlegged footage of the “painless” final journey of these poor horses. Yeah – painless for the schmucks making the dollars. The one “quick” shot to the head is often five or six – making the horse brain dead but still susceptible to the torture of being hoisted by pulley upside down gasping for air as it excruciatingly experiences the brutality of feeling its own throat cut. One inbred creep is even caught on tape at an auction feigning gratefulness that Shiloh bought his horse (can’t fool Jill though – or US, as we know that for two bucks more the crumb would have pushed the animal in the grind dumpster himself!). Other grotesques at these gatherings look so ravenous that one wonders if they haven’t brought their own bread and ketchup along to take the first bite themselves!
It’s not all that depressing – in fact, in toto, it’s all pretty uplifting, because Shiloh IS making a difference. You tour the beautifully managed grounds, meet the staff – as well as visit with Tony as he reflects on his life and marriages (five times IS the charm, T.C.). You even travel with him to a Film Con where he signs photos, posters and meets with his never-ending fan base.
In one hilarious segment, a 20-something femme fatale volunteers for duty at Shiloh – in reality to cop a chance to hang with Tony. The tip-off is the high heels and lipstick. Jill immediately puts her into manure Hell – with Tony ultimately and brilliantly consoling the wench – wryly commenting on her battle scars, the result of probably the first real day’s work in her young misguided life!
This widescreen disc, filmed in 16 x 9 anamorphic and boasting a fine 2.0 Dolby Digital surround track, has been lovingly (this is the most times I’ve ever used the word “love” in any review!) brought to DVD by writer/director Ian Ayres. It’s loaded with extras too. This isn’t merely a fascinating look at two extraordinary people – it’s essential fare that bolsters the rapidly eroding positive elements of the human condition.
YOU MUST OWN THIS DISC. If not – at least Netflix it – but donate to Shiloh (http://www.shilohhorserescue.com/). And for more on Curtis, I can’t recommend highly enough, his 2008 memoir, AMERICAN PRINCE (Harmony Publishers; go to Amazon [http://www.amazon.com/American-Prince-Memoir-Tony-Curtis/dp/0307408493]
or your bookseller); it’s simply one of the best books ever on Hollywood from the late 1940s-1980s, told with the star’s patented sarcastic no-holds-barred wit and much wisdom to boot.
So, what are you waiting for? GET GOING!!!!!!!!
- Mel Neuhaus
[SKD USA/Koch Entertainment. Color. Dolby Digital surround; letterbox [1.85:1]; 16 x 9 anamorphic; dual layer]
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