Reviews (8)

Good, for what they are.
You gotta be a fan of Cary Grant to like these. They are fairly typical of the romantic comedies of the time. These movies are kind of like cotton candy -- sweet and enjoyable, but not much substance.

Father Goose is, in my opinion, the better of the two, because is allows Cary Grant to stretch a bit, while still remaining true to the genre. His gruff, unshaven character is a departure from the suave, sophisticated of That Touch of Mink.

If you're a fan of these type of movies, it's a worthy addition.

Interesting combination
Pore Mr. Beasley is misaligned. (That Touch of Mink)

Everett Beasley (John Astin) is tagged as a creep. How ever, He is quite a nice guy. He goes out of his way to persuade Cathy (Doris Day) to go out with him. Because he works in the Unemployment office, he knows he does not have any money. Cathy cruelly uses him to make some one else jealous. On top of this he gets the best vehicle available (his brothers chicken hauling truck), The best wine that was affordable (Muscatel), and even gets romantic with paper cups to drink from. He even fronts for the motel room. Now how many people do you know that would go through all that trouble for you?
Even Roger (Gig Young) is mistaken for Philip Shayne. He gets slapped, bashed, and bit.
My favorite scene is where she falls out the window and is picked up. She says, " I Fell out of mister Shayne's apartment. See that I'm returned"
Look for her again in "Where were you when the Lights went out" when she says "Hello Peter, so you're here"

Goody Two Shoes and the Filthy Beast (Father Goose)

Walter Christopher Eckland (Cary Grant) A drifter, has obtained a boat from someone fleeing the oncoming war. Due to a lack of coast watchers (the "should have been" watcher getting himself eaten), Walter is pressed into service. Certain measures were taken to get him there and to encourage his participation.
On a mission to save a fellow cost watcher Walter ends up with Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau (Leslie Caron), who is escorting several schoolgirls out of harms way and was stranded. Place any man and woman on an island toss in some schoolgirls, a little liquor, snake, tie, Japanese, and you have a mixture for comedy.

One is enough
I give this collection 4 stars only because it came with another DVD instead of just Father Goose. This is my all time favorite Cary Grant movie and I would have preferred that it came separate. But, you can never have too much Cary Grant. :)

Great twin Pack
ALthough I will be honest enough to say that I would have paid the same amount just for Father Goose. There are not a whole lot of Bells and whistles which you normally associate with a DVD, but the transfer was clean, so you have a nice version of the two.

Father Goose is possibly Cary Grant's best role, if only because this is not a typical Cary Grant type of Character. The story, that of a Itenerant Beach bumb who gets dragooned into service during WW II is absolutely priceless.

I Can reccommend this twinpack just for Father Goose

Clarification of previous review
Note that in my previous review, in which I commented on the dreadful DVD transfer, I was only referring to the "That Touch of Mink" DVD. The Father Goose DVD is not that bad. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Danger Man Set 4: Gadgets and Gizmos
Patrick McGoohan returns as British secret agent John Drake in the fourth boxed set of one hour long episodes of Danger Man. Presented in black and white, are adventures in espionage around the world. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 7: (Disc 1)

Sting in the Tail (3): This episode features Derren Nesbitt, as "Rachid Noureddine", a hit man headquartered in Beirut. Drake's plan is to lure him to where he can be captured, by using his girlfriend, a nightclub singer. Drake's cover is as an artist, interested in painting the woman's picture. Nesbitt is an actor who usually has a riveting screen presence, and this is the case here. There are sparks, when he and Drake, clash swords over the woman. The plot is simple and direct, though accepting McGoohan as a romantic figure is always a challenge. This episode's title is drawn from a gadget weapon similar to those provided by Q Branch in the Bond films.

The Black Book (4): Sir Noel Blanchard has been indiscreet, and is feeling a blackmailer's bite. John Drake is enlisted to look into the situation, and is sent to Paris to investigate. Tracking the payoff money, Drake encounters a mysterious young woman, and a connection to a Russian spy network. An above average episode, that has a gritty edge. More gadgetry, this time it is a typewriter that tracks and transmits radio signals.

English Lady Takes Lodgers (4): After George Stanway, a well known local smuggler disappears, Drake is sent to Lisbon to investigate. Stanway's wife Emma, takes in boarders, and is on unusually good terms with her lodgers. Drake too becomes a guest, and is soon swept up into the mysterious affairs of the villa's occupants.

Loyalty Always Pays (4): There's trouble in an unnamed African country, where the Minister of Defense has signed a secret treaty with China. Drake is sent in to get proof the treaty's existence. Making use of the local intelligence network to get the information he needs, Drake runs a con game, forcing a security official to help him to get access to the Ministry. This is a well-written episode full of intrigue, and featuring more gadgets.

Volume 8: (Disc 2)

Are You Going To Be More Permanent? (3): The last two comptrollers in Geneva have disappeared. The three local agents are under suspicion. Prepared for a trap, Drake is sent in to ferret out a double agent. A solid, no-frills tale of espionage.

Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet (4): A couple employed at an English atomic research lab, mysteriously disappears. Seeking to discover their fate, John Drake turns up in Haiti, of all places. There he encounters a mysterious English couple, a Russian agent, an overly intrusive police official, and the owner of a mining operation with much to conceal. Forming an alliance with the Russian; Drake explores the secrets of the mine, leading to an explosive finish.

A Very Dangerous Game (4): Drake assumes the identity of a teacher on his way to take a position in Singapore. Upon arrival, Drake is contacted by Chinese spies, and instructed to help trap a British agent. Soon Drake has located the ring's base of operations, and is playing a dangerous game of deception, where the price of failure is death. A fast paced adventure with an interesting but somewhat curious resolution.

The Mercenaries (3): Once again in an unnamed African nation, John Drake's initial undercover role is as a mercenary. Uncovering a connection between the leader of the mercenaries and an unscrupulous surgeon, Drake then must prevent the death of the country's Prime Minister, and avert a forced takeover. This episode is not with some humor, featuring a native witch doctor, and a most impressive pole vault.

In Danger Man Set 4, gadgets and gizmos seem to be more prominent than in previous episodes, particularly in Volume 7. The inclusion of such devices does not detract too much, as they remain tools used within context of the stories. In summary, another solid collection that should satisfy fans of the series, and cold war espionage.

The editors at A&E might pay a bit more attention to detail, and get the location correct in the episode synopsis. Spain is substituted for Portugal, Vienna for Geneva, and Hong Kong for Singapore. Fans of Danger Man, may find my other reviews of the series of interest. Be seeing you.

More realistic than James Bond
The people involved in producing and writing this program were previously involved in early post war journalism specializing in espionage. This is what makes the program so realistic. Some liberties are taken from reality by the use of gadgets. Watching this series will give members of the X generation a feel for what the world was like a few decades before they were born. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Time travel!
What a great pleasure to watch old silent movies. The Hitchcock collection 1 provides you very good movies: The Manxman takes place in Polpero, England, and is a bit slow, but an injoyable and - as always with Hitch- sad love story. The Ring is a model for Raging Bull (Scorcese)and quite interesting, because Hitch plays with the polysemie of the word: sad love story, but great film. The more interesting film is perhaps BLACKMAIL: first english talking movie ever! And, years before the best Hitch american movies, watch the scene, after the murder, where the heroine listen a woman speaking about knive... knive...Knive. Of course, you have a boring movie (The skin game) but the pack worth his price. Images are OK and the sound is quite good for such old movies.

The Golden Era of Silent Hitchock Film
This is a tragic, woeful tale! Do not expect to leave this film unscathed by the brutal knife edge of Hitchcock. He wields the weapon of suspense and trauma even here, so very early in his career.

We are also introduced to the fine actor, Carl Brisson. His performance alone garners the worth of four stars. Each facial expression, every gesticulation is worth a thousand words in the medium of silent film, and Mr. Brisson flawlessly provides them all. He is, essentially, the backbone of this dreadully long, droll, tragedy.

You'll notice the pacing and editing of the movie are frustrating, however, in its entirety, i still believe this film works. It's a Lily in Winter: rare, rare, rare. I only wish Mr. Brisson had produced more than three films before his untimely (and early) death.

And you'll want this as a reminder that the fruits of Hitchcocks genius were in the larval stages and just absolutely fascinating to watch.

A Good Value for Hitchcock Fans
These DVDs (and The AH Collection II) are quite a good value. I'm a big Hitchcock fan, and before I bought them I had only seen cheapo VHS versions of a few of the movies (except for The Lady Vanishes and The 39 Steps, of which I had the Criterion editions). Anyway, I got the two box sets here on Amazon (they're also now available in one big set with 14 DVDs), and I've watched through all of them.
The first thing you need to know, and then promptly forget about, is that Tony Curtis provides an introduction to each DVD, and man is it brutal! There are a lot of pictures that were publicity stills for his later movies or his TV series, and Tony says things like, 'Hitch liked to shock people. You know what it's like when you have a good twist at the end of a film? Hitch had a lot of those. Shocking!' His comments rarely relate to the movie. Anyway, I watched all the intros, but it was painful.
Several of the DVDs also have trailers for later Hitchcock films, all in horrible condition. Which makes the transfers of the actual movies all that much better, since they're quite acceptable. The worst transfer is the earliest film, The Lodger, and the worst movies are The Manxman and Easy Virtue. Besides that, it was a pleasure watching them. None of the films are at the level of the two Criterion releases, and there are certainly lines and scratches throughout, but you can enjoy them. The sound is generally okay'very little screeching as I recall from the VHS copies I've seen. There's really no bass response at all, but there's not a whole lot of scratching either.
I think (a) except for the two Criterion ones, they're the best copies out there, (b) if you're a Hitchcock fan, they're required viewing and you won't be disappointed in the movies themselves, and (c) at about $... a DVD, and with three or so of the discs containing a second, silent film (none of the silents stand alone on a DVD) and two of the discs containing an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (in probably the worst condition you've ever seen them, especially if you've been spoiled by the Universal-released episodes), they're a tremendous bargain.
Note, these aren't all of Hitchcock's early movies. Several, such as Champagne and Juno and the Paycock, aren't out on DVD at all. Also note that these aren't all mystery/suspense films. The Farmer's Wife is a comedy, The Ring is a boxing/love story, Easy Virtue, Skin Game, and The Manxman are melodramas, and Jamaica Inn is a period piece. But it's neat to finish one of these and then watch, say, The 39 Steps and see an early glimpse into the director Hitch would later become.
One painful caveat: The Farmer's Wife, a silent comedy, was quite entertaining, but it was also nearly an hour longer than its 97-minute listed running time. Everytime I thought the farmer would finally choose a wife, another plot twist came up. After 2+ hours I started to consider hitting the FF button. I read somewhere that it's a common error in silent films to have them run at the wrong speed--unfortunately this one runs too slow. If you can forego the music, I'd consider watching it in a slight fast forward mode!

Wait for the new Hitchcock releases.
These DVDs are "Laserlight" releases which mean that they have very poor quality picture and sound.Wait for the new Hitchcock Box sets which have clear picture and sound plus documentaries and other extras.The superb Criterion versions are also a good choice.If it's introduced by Tony Curtis,then it's Laserlight,avoid it!

Half wonderful, all of great historical interest
Note: this review refers to the 14-DVD boxed set and not just to Volume 1.

No film buff and certainly no film major should be without the boxed set of 14 DVDs that Laserlight has issued under the umbrella title of . The DVDs are organized in no particular order, some containing only one film, some two, while two of them have a full film and an episode from the old "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" TV series of the 1950s. They all have a trailer of more recent Hitchcock films and they all have an embarrassingly bad introduction by Tony Curtis, whose connection with these films and with English enunciation is vague at best.

The gems of the collection are "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1934), "The 39 Steps" (1935) and "The Lady Vanishes" (1939). Of the earlier talkies, "Young and Innocent" has the quintessential plot of an innocent man and a girl who somehow winds up with him being chased by the police. "Rich and Strange" (1932) is not a thriller but has a shivery sequence as a couple on a sinking boat sees the water seeping into their cabin--just before it stops sinking.

"Jamaica Inn" (1939) has an over the top performance by Charles Laughton (whose dialogue is hard to follow even on this restored version) and the first appearance of Maureen O'Hara. And for once, Robert Newton plays the Good Guy. "Sabotage" (1936) is based on a Joseph Conrad tale and has the famous scene of the boy on a bus with a bomb on his lap. (Later, Hitchcock commented he should not have let it go off.) "Secret Agent" (1936) gives us a young John Gielgud as a spy who kills the wrong man, Peter Lorre in a very bizarre role (helped or hindered by his drug-taking on and off the set), and the suavest villain of them all--Robert Young!

"Number 17" (1932) is one of the films Hitchcock did not want to film, and he gave us a great spoof on the genre of the spooky houses, diamond smugglers, and derring-do. "Murder" (1930) boasts a super cool Herbert Marshall as a jurist who reluctantly says guilty at a woman's murder trial and then spends the rest of the film proving her innocent.

More fascinating is "Blackmail" (1929), which existed in silent and talking versions. We have the latter and the often commented upon scene in which Hitchcock plays with the soundtrack so that only the word "knife" can be heard during the last part of a long monologue. Another trick he was forced into was the use of a British actress reading out the lines of the foreign-born heroine.

"The Skin Game" (1931) is weakest of the talkies included in this set; and indeed the dialogue is almost impossible to understand.

Of the silents, "The Lodger" (1927) is in the worst shape but it shows very clearly the influence of the silent German film on Hitchcock's early (and later) technique. Of course the long takes of a face staring into the camera are laughable today; but this is an historical document and demands a certain degree of detachment. "The Ring" (1927) does strain credibility, while it shows Hitchcock's love for show business of any sort, even circus freakshows and boxing.

"The Manxman" (1929) is slow and predictable with its love triangle, a misreported death, and the return of the husband. "Easy Virtue" (1927) is based on a Noel Coward play, which it follows only half way through the film, and shows a sympathetic view of the "woman with a past"--in this case, a divorce--together with a condemnation of those who cannot accept her. More Social Studies than good drama here.

However, "The Farmer's Wife" (1928) is quite funny once the somewhat jerky widower offers himself to three unlikely women while his housekeeper loves him in silence and has to assist him in his wooing spree.

One feature of these DVDs you will probably not need is the ability to hear the talkies in English, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese; or to subtitle the dialogue cards in the silents in the last three languages.

A strange feature of these DVDs is that they immediately take you into the film rather than into the menu. This should be changed in future printings.

So all in all, I would guess you would want to see some of the talkies many, many times, some of the silents less often, and some of them never again. But once more, this is a very valuable set for students and just plain lovers of film history, especially the part played in that history by Hitchcock. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

fine silent comedy
Released in 1928, THE FARMER'S WIFE was a radical departure for Alfred Hitchcock. Based on a play by Eden Philpotts, the story translates perfectly to the silent-movie-medium.

Following his wife's death, farmer Sweetland (Jameson Thomas) goes in search of a new wife. He has his pick of any of the middle-aged spinsters in town, as well as an overweight hysteric and an equestrienne socialite.

Minta (Lillian Hall Davis) is his meek little maid who has loved him for many years, but now decides to make her move. But just as she is about to, the many "lovelies" in the town decide to marry him after all!

This pristine, black and white-tinted silent is backed by a colorful orchestra soundtrack, which underscores every mood and emotion shown on the screen.

A delightful silent programmer.

Wrong running time
Even though the film originally ran about 97 minutes, and even though Amazon's info shows the running time to be 93 minutes, this Laserlight's DVD version of THE FARMER'S WIFE runs 129 minutes. Apparently, the wrong film speed was used in transferring the film to DVD, stretching the film by an additional half hour. The film's tempo is therefore slowed down a great deal, and the pacing and timing of the various comedy scenes are very much ruined. The DVD does have decent picture and sound (mono) quality.

This dated and predictable film was nevertheless well-acted by Jameson Thomas as the farmer and Lillian Hall-Davis as his housekeeper. Hall-Davis also starred in another Hitchcock's silent comedy "The Ring" (a much better film), also available as a Laserlight DVD.

Imperdible...
En esta era de la tecnología y el gusto por lograr las mejores imágenes y los mejores efectos, esta colección nos lleva a darnos cuenta que las grandes obras de arte se deben edificar a partir de eso, "El Arte". Y esto es precisamente lo que demuestra este box set. El arte de la cinematografía puesta en las manos del genial Hitchcock. Ni que hablar de la producción: Siete discos, cada uno en su propio estuche, excelente sonido, y todo el material subtitulado (includo extras, introducción y trailers), además de que los discos son multizona. Cabe destacar que esto no fue obra de una gran empresa sino de LaserLight Video, pero es algo que los grandes estudios deberían tomar como ejemplo, hartos ya de ver películas con extras sin subtítulos. Si a eso le sumamos el costo del set, nos encontramos con una joya que no podemos desperdiciar. Muy recomendable.

A Hitchcock Film In Name Only That Goes On For Ever
I have nothing against silent films. In fact Clara Bow's 'It', Lon Chaney's 'The Phantom of The Opera' and Louise Brooks's 'Pandora's Box' are amongst my all-time favourites. But with the exception of 'The Lodger', Hitchcock never really got going in silent films. 'The Farmer's Wife' certainly had the potential for an easy going, enjoyable comedy, but NOT when it lasts over 2 hours. I challenge anyone to watch this film in one sitting without their eyelids feeling increasingly heavy. On the plus points, Laserlight has dispensed with one of those embarrassing Tony Curtis introductions, and has provided us with a newly recorded (and very good) score. The picture quality is also very good. If you're tempted to buy this DVD because it's a Hitchcock film, I'd say don't. It is only worth a look to anyone with an interest in silent films or a genuine Hitchcock enthusiast.

Nicely integrated package, image quality lacking
A solid collection of lesser known titles that are definitely worth the price if you are a true Hitchcock fan. Image quality and extras are lacking when compared with your typical Criterion Collection dvd but for this price you can't complain. ... Read more

Description

School's out, so run for your life! These kids know all about the three R's - racing, robbing and rioting - in five discs packed with adolescent anarchy! First, untamed girls in tight sweaters kill for a thrill in the pretty-but-deadly drive-in classic Th ... Read more

Reviews (43)

A great cast helps this movie to shine
The Dirty Dozen is one of the classic movies about World War 2 with an all star cast. Released in 1967, it tells of a mangy group of men which bands together to pull off an amazing WW2 escapade. The target is a German-controlled chateau in Reims, Brittany.

Lee Marvin is the Major that gathers the group together. The cast includes Donald Sutherland, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and many other greats. John Cassavates, who plays "Franco", was nominated for best supporting actor. The movie did win an oscar for best sound effects.

The group heads out to an English field , creates a camp, and begins to train. With a series of ups and downs during six weeks they become a strong fighting force. The test comes during divisional maneuvers in Devonshire, when they have to take on an elite force and take control of the HQ. Of course they do the job, with a good dose of cunning and subterfuge.

On to the French chateau. Amazingly, this was a huge set built just for the film that is destroyed in the finale. Indoor scenes were done at the MGM British Studios in Borhamwood, England.

While some might find the storyline unbelievable, the following year's release was a movie which told a true story of The Devil's Brigade - about a run-down group of misfits who went on to fame and glory.

High action war classic
The Dirty Dozen is one of those classics you can watch over and over again. It tells the story of Major Reisman, who has to train 12 convicts for a suicide mission behind enemy lines. We see the training and then finally the Dirty Dozen's attack on their target, a French chateau full of high-ranking German officers. The action scenes are excellent. The movie never slows down from the beginning even with a running time of 150 minutes.

The performances in the movie are great. This huge list of Hollywood notables took part in this movie. Lee Marvin is awesome as Major John Reisman with Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes, Jim Brown, Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas, Clint Walker, and Trini Lopez as some of the Dirty Dozen. Also starring are Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Ralph Meeker, and George Kennedy. This is a great movie that shouldn't be missed. The DVD transfer is perfect. Also included are a trailer and a behind the scenes documentary about the movie. If you like the movie, check out the book by E.M. Nathanson.

An Edge-Of-Your-Seat Style Of Movie
Are you looking for a movie with a great plot, perfectly timed action, and superb acting and directing? Look no further. This film, set in World War II, chronicles the covert operations of a group of military convicts, and their non-convict leader behind enemy lines. It is their task to sneak in and assassinate a large group of key German officials.
The movie starts with the commander (played by Lee Marvin, in arguably his greatest role) picking out some of the best, but also some of the most expendable men in the Army. He goes to the prison and gives them a deal. If they will fight, their sentences will be dismissed and they will be free. Most of these men are awaiting execution, while others have long prison terms. His first goal is to make them ready for combat, which proves to be no easy task, as these guys, who seemingly have nothing to lose, give him a hard time. But eventually, under his command, he creates an elite team of fighters. Now, the next objective is to learn the layout of the area they are to infiltrate, which is a huge French chateau, then sneak in and attack. But will they make it? Of course I will not tell you, you will need to see the movie yourself. But what I will tell you is that this is one of those films with an all star cast and loads of edge-of-your-seat action!!! Besides Lee Marvin, you have Telly Savalas, football great Jim Brown, the late VERY great Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland ( Sutherland fans will also love the movie Kelly's Hero's), Ernest Borgnine, Clint Walker ( who also starred in the film Night Of The Grizzly), George Kennedy (who co-starred in the hilarious Naked Gun films), and a host of others too numerous to mention. Besides Action, the film incorporates a delicious amount of drama, suspense, comedy (the war games part will give you a good laugh), Horror (when Telly Savalas goes off the deep end), and intrigue.

A tough-as-nails WW2 classic!
Lee Marvin was just made for this role! Being a decorated WW2 vet he wasn't just acting in this classic! Add Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas, John Cassavetes, Donald Sutherland, & Clint Walker to the mix & you've got an "elite" group of psychos & killers that even would've scared [any dictator]! The movie is 2 1/2 hours but is never dull. There's great character development, plenty of humor, & big-time slaughter of [enemies] at the end! What more could you want from a war movie! For those who love WW2 behind-the-lines suspense, this is highly recommended.

The best fun war movie ever made!
I've always thought the Dirty Dozen was and still is the most fun a person can have watching a war movie if that seems possible! Fortunately for me and by coincidence, about ten years ago, Clint Walker (Posey) became one of my best friends. I wish hollywood still made movies like this. Unfortunately, there just aren't the same kind of actors around anymore. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Not Particularly Good - But Entertaining...
I was about to write a review that so many people on this site have repeated: "Shirley Temple is SO cute in this film! She is beleivable and makes you think as a child might about the world. The film was made in lush technicolor and the sets and costumes are lavish!" Then, I thought that I should write a review, honestly stating what I felt about this film. This movie is a popular one, and a very good Shirley Temple vehicle, but it is not a particularly good movie.

I grew up with the Francis Hodgeson Burnett(The Secret Garden) book. I loved it's charm and message. The characters were priceless and the tale was brilliant, melancholy, but beautiful. The tale was about a young girl of seven named Sara Crewe, who has always had a wonderful relationship with her young and wealthy papa, Captain Crewe. When she is seven, she is left with a dissagreeable caretaker named Ms. Minchin in her seminary for 'distinguished young ladies.' As the years pass she makes friendships with the dumpy, comic, and sweet Ermangarde, and the cockny maid, Becky. She is pampered, and treated quite royaly, and is given the nickname of the 'little princess.' On her birthday, it is found out that her papa has passed away, and she is left to work as a scullery maid with nothing but a black frock, and a doll named Emily. Throughout her left as a miserable maid, she keeps her dignity, and the theme of the novel becomes not to let the hate around you make you bitter, and hateful. Sara is eventualy saved, in the end.

The plot of this movie is not at all faithful to the novel. Shirley Temple is only Shirley Temple throughout the film. Her dimples and teary eyes are, in comparison to the Sara of the novel, a baby. Sara of the novel was one 'who never cried' and was 'always dreaming and making up stories.' Temple's Sara cries often throughout the film, and it never dreams as the Sara of the book does. She is just a regular seven year old girl. The characters of Ermengarde, and Ms. Minchin's sister, Miss Amelia, have been either removed completly, or replaced with new characters. This leaves for a very miscast and confused film, that does not offer any of the beautiful lessons of the novel.

As a movie, it might seem entertaining. Throughout the film, a dance sequence with Sara and Miss Minchin's brother, Bertrand, appears. It is commonplace for Temple, also, to have a dance sequence of some sort. This has a 'fairy tale' dance sequence. The script has small bits of humor, but not anything quite so nice.

This is a nice movie, but not a good one to offer the lessons of the original book. All the same, it is best to watch it, as it will offer family entertainment. But, those who read the book will be disapointed.

A candidate for a restoration
The Little Princess remains one of my favorite childhood movie memories. Finding the DVD version was simple enough. I was unaware of how widely the quality varied between the different versions available. The first version I purchased from a Canadian group was horrible. This DVD presentation was reasonable but not striking. The image was grainy and lacked that "Technicolor" brilliance I had hoped for. All of the DVD and VHS versions seem to be made from one film transfer made from an old print. The color rendering is poor. Some scenes appear almost Black and White. Unlike "The WIzard of Oz" or "The Secret Garden" I don't think this was intentional. This version is not transfered from Technicolor stock. I wonder if it was even made from 35 millimeter film. The quality if any in this DVD is from some digital processing available to old video. It does not appear a flying spot scanner or any film restoration equipment was used to create this DVD. The only really nice color image was the cover of the DVD package. I wish someone could find the real Technicolor masters, either the negative or positive film. If you were going to restore one Shirley Temple work, this film would be the one. It is a classic of the time with a glimpse at that time. And Shirley Temple was good in this film. You wipe tears away from your eyes at least twice. And Temple sings a great little song. Did I mention she dances a little too.

watch the remake, please?
This is one of those few times when I like a remake better than the original of a motion picture. I'll confess that, based on this movie, I'm not a Shirley Temple fan (her voice alone is annoying, not to mention her acting ability). She is utterly unconvincing as Sara Crew, and that American accent! Please, can we stop making movies of British literature where all the characters except the main one are truly British? I know this is done so as to appease and appeal to the idiots on our side of the pond, but really, are we so uncultured and stupid, not to mension spoiled, that we won't watch a movie unless it has at least one American actor playing a prominent role? If I had to choose between these two movies, I'd definitely see the 1990's version of this one; at least there, all the characters are Americanized, so one doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. Lisel Matthews' performance is enchanting, and the movie all around is delightful.

Dreadful Audio
This review is of the Madacy DVD of "The Little Princess." The picture quality of this DVD is acceptable, more or less, but the audio portion is another thing. The sound is limited to a very narrow band in the midrange. Shirley's voice, for example, is quite tinny throughout the film. At times the sound volume changes abruptly or even disappears completely. One has the impression that the DVD audio engineer tried to regulate the sound volume at a single sitting by turning the knob in real time as he listened to the film. This movie has always sounded quite good on broadcast TV, which obviously wasn't playing back this Madacy disaster.

Unfortunately, it would seem that this writer's experience with "The Little Princess" is not unlike others' experiences with Madacy products. Read Doug Pratt's review of "Two Women" in his Video and DVD Guide (available from amazon.com but also readable on DVDLaser.com) and be forewarned. I now avoid Madacy DVDs.

This is one of my favorite Shirley Temple movies
Unlike some of the other reviewers, I absolutely adore this Shirley Temple movie. It is one that brings back many memories of watching Shirley Temple movies with my sister when we were little. My favorite parts are when Shirley and her little friend wake up and see all the beautiful gifts that were given to her by the Indian guy, and when she throws the bucket of soot on the snotty Clarissa, but most of all, when she finds her "Daddy" at the end,as he keeps calling "Sara, Sara."
This one is excellent, and I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The End of the Affair (1999)
"This is a diary of hate," pounds out novelist Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes) on his typewriter as he recounts the lost love of his life in this spiritual memoir (based on Graham Greene's novel) with a startling twist. It's London 1946, and Maurice runs into his achingly dull school friend Henry (Stephen Rea with a perpetually gloomy hangdog expression). Their meeting is brittle, all small talk and chilly, mannered civility beautifully captured by director-screenwriter Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), and it only barely thaws when Henry suggests that his wife Sarah (the luminous Julianne Moore) may be having an affair. Maurice's mind reels back to his passionate affair with Sarah during the war years, which she abruptly broke off two years ago, and gripped with a jealousy that hasn't abated he hires a private detective (a mousy, marvelous Ian Hart) to shadow her movements. He prepares himself for the revelation of a rival, but instead finds a deeper, more profound secret: "I tempted fate," she writes in her diary, "and fate accepted."

Jordan's cool remove captures the unease beneath formal manners but never warms into intimacy during the scenes between the lovers, even while Fiennes and Moore almost explode in repressed emotions, their faces cracking under their masks of civility and their resolve shaking through jittery body language. There's more thought than feeling behind this collision of passion and spirituality, but it's a sincere, richly realized portrait of ennui and rage against God energized by brief moments of shattering drama. --Sean Axmaker

The End of the Affair (1955)
For its first minutes, The End of the Affair looks like it's going to be a standard"two tortured souls who know they shouldn't be having an affair but are going to keep ondoingit anyway" movie. Fortunately, it gets more interesting than that. Van Johnson playsMaurice Bendrix, an American author in wartime England. While attending a cocktailparty of noble civil servant Henry Miles (Peter Cushing), he accidentally catches aglimpse of Henry's wife, Sarah (Deborah Kerr), kissing another man. Fascinated, hearranges to meet her, and the two start an affair. Maurice, unable to get Sarah's previousinfidelity out of his mind, gets clingy and suspicious; Sarah tells him they can't meetanymore and goes back to Henry, and that's that. Or is it? Maurice is unable to let go ofSarah, and as he investigates he finds out there was far more to the end of their affair thanhe thought. Kerr has by far the most difficult job of the film, playing several layers ofdeception as the coolly efficient civil servant's wife with more than one unexpectedpassion hiding just below the surface. Peter Cushing also does quietly good work,touchingly playing what could have been a thankless Wronged Husband role. Indeed,most of the usual standards are fleshed out in surprising ways in this strange and earnestlittle movie. Like its heroine, The End of the Affair takes a grim surface story andgradually reveals the unexpected passionsunderneath. (Based on the novelby Graham Greeneand remade in 1999 with Julianne Moore and Ralph Fiennes.) --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Great Dramatic Interpretation
Staying mostly true to the original near autobiographical book by Graham Greene, the director of the highly effective "The Crying Game", has produced another winner. The story of the writer Maurice Bendrix's affair with a best friend's wife is woven about the later events of his attempts to establish who his previous lover is now seeing. The main characters are strongly cast with Ralph Fiennes as Maurice and Julianne Moore as his lover. Scene setting, pace and photography are exceptional to convey the time about World War II in London. Preserving the interweaving of the srands from the book, has established a work that is constantly interesting yet still understandable. Changing one character, presumably to make the plot simpler, has lost one of Greene's messages from the book. Otherwise the other themes are there, with all the angst that Greene obviously felt in his own life and the real twist that comes at the end. With the added features of commentary by Julianne Moore and especially by the director, we can appreciate more fully the beauty of the film and the book itself. This is a great story, filmed beautifully, that will reward repeat viewing. Picture and sound quality are great.

Sadly Beautiful
Jordan's rendetion of the End of the Affair captures more of the temptous nature of Moore's character and the complexity this woman encases. Moore amazingly pulls it off while Fiennes role reprises that of the last few roles he has done... ie English Patient, Onegin, and Wuthering Heights. Fiennes plays these charactes adeptly but brings nothing new or individualistic to the role. The story wrought full of emotion sometimes bogs itself down and is slow prodding. Masterfully done, it's a maddening story but the characters emote so beautifully that you can't help but deeply appreciate it as is. The DVD version offers little else in the way of extras and the 1955 version offered little that I enjoyed.

Romanticism or Satire
This film certainly ranks highly as one of my all time favorite romantic stories. The pace is precise and builds a story that is quite involving and moving as well. The recent version is certainly presented in a much more captivating style in terms of cinematography. If you missed this film in the theatres, this is a must-have. ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Bullitt Hits The Mark
1968's Bullitt is best known for its classic car chase scene that is still considered by many to the best of all time. The movie is worth watching for that scene alone as Steve McQueen's fastback Mustang chases down a Dodge Charger for a tense ten minutes through the streets of San Francisco. Even without that memorable scene, Bullitt is a classic 60's film. Mr. McQueen's performance as steely police detective Frank Bullitt is one of his best and the forerunner of the anti-heroes that would dominate films of the 70's. The plot revolves around a seemingly routine job for Bullitt and his men to protect a mob informant (Pat Renella) who is set to testify before a Senate subcommittee. When two hitmen break into the safe house and fatally wound the informant and injury another detective, Bullitt begins to have questions and takes up investigating the case on his own with the help of fellow detective Delgetti (Don Gordon). Fighting them at every turn is ruthless and ambitious senator Chalmers played with unctuous smarm by Robert Vaughan. Jacqueline Bissett co-stars in one of her first roles as Bullitt's girlfriend and Robert Duvall has a bit part as a cabbie. Director Peter Yates crafts a gritty look to the film and editor Frank Keller won the Academy Award for his superb work.

Steve McQueen scorches the streets of San Francisco
Arguably the best crime film of 1968, and certainly one of the most influential films of the genre...."Bullitt" established new directions in the mood and style of crime thrillers, and firmly established McQueen as one of the key anti-hero stars of the 60's. Based on the gritty novel "Mute Witness" by Robert L. Pike, this was the first, and only, time McQueen portrayed a police officer (albeit a maverick one) in his movie career. In 1968 Steve was then riding high on the success of his previous crime film, "The Thomas Crown Affair", and "Bullitt" just propelled his star even higher into the heavens !

The plot is tight, economical and well crafted....taciturn, moody Detective Frank Bullitt (McQueen) is charged with the protection of a key witness vital to an upcoming trial involving Mafia connections. Whilst hidden away in a supposed secure location, the witness and his police guard are brutally gunned down by unknown assailants. The heat is turned up on Bullitt by his tough Captain (Simon Oakland) and the manipulative, opportunistic politician Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) to come up with the right answers fast ! Between the draining investigation, Bullitt struggles to maintain his relationship with his cultured, sensitive girlfriend, Cathy (Jacqueline Bisset)

Primarily coming from a TV series background, Englishman Peter Yates (directing his fourth movie) did a commendable job as director on "Bullitt"...producing a complex, intense crime thriller with a unique style that would ultimately influence many other films. Yates would later to go onto direct Robert Mitchum in the excellent "sleeper" crime film "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" !

And of course "Bullitt" is reknowned for it's now legendary car chase between Frank Bullitt's 390 GT Mustang and the two hitmen in their black, Dodge Charger 440 Magnum barrelling through the city streets and highways of San Francisco....just don't pay too much attention to how many times they pass that slow-moving, green VW Beetle !!

The DVD transfer is excellent in both sound and picture quality, and the Limited Edition Set with the extra goodies (Single sheet poster, shooting draft, lobby cards etc.) is a real bonus for keen film fans !!

One of my favourite cop thrillers....McQueen sizzles on screen !!

Put on a Sweater
This detective drama aimed to be the essence of cool, and succeeded, in fact it's a little too cool, can somebody turn up the thermostat? Barely anybody in the picture is allowed to show any genuine emotion, although one of the hoods looks a little upset before he's shotgunned. Director Peter Yates apparently planned to tell the whole story with action and came up with a near-classic. In fact his spectacular staging of McQueen's car pursuit of two Mob assassins is usually blamed for the countless imitation car chases that have blighted American movies ever since. It's certainly one of McQueen's signature roles, but why give him a hokey name like Bullitt?

McQUEEN COOL!
Ignore the paisley pajamas, Steve McQueen was an icon of cool and BULLITT is the proof. Peter Yates has a smart thinking man's cop drama, bolstered by (yes) the best chase scene on film. Great locations in San Francisco. Superior acting by McQueen, Robert Vaughn as a sinister U.S. Senator and Don Gordon, as McQueen's partner. Why didn't Don Gordon become a bigger star?

The good, the bad, and the pretty
"Bullitt" is highly regarded by many for either "the chase", or the drama.

The good and the bad: True, there is a high-speed car chase in part through the hilly streets of San Francisco. Is it "the best ever" chase? Depends on how you look at it. Plus - It was very high speed. Plus - It had a cool-looking Mustang fastback vs a big GTO. Negative - They pass the same VW 4 times, and another car 2 times (why? if not intentional, then very poor continuity) Negative - double-shifting or not, there are about 97 too many gear changes, and some of those are at top speed on the flat stretch near the end. Neg - the bad guys lose too many hubcaps. Still, it's fairly exciting. However, though not car vs car, I think the chase in "The French Connection" is as good if not better.

As for the drama, some of it seemed a bit drawn out. Lt. Frank Bullitt is supposed to protect the state's witness "Ross" against the Chicago "Organization". Ross and one cop are shot, and Ross is later killed in the hospital, where Bullitt is hanging out. Bullitt does not want the prosecutor who gave him the assignment (Robert Vaughan) to know Ross died, so he will have time to find the killers. Turns out Ross may not be who the cops think he is, and this leads to a good foot-chase across the airport runways and the airport itself.

Some of the police procedure as portrayed in the movie is rather shoddy - such as handling a lot of evidence, then asking for it to be fingerprinted, etc.

The pretty: Bullitt has a girlfriend played by Jaqueline Bisset, who gives him grief for his callous attitude. This sets up the final scene of the movie where Bullitt ambiguously questions his existence. Otherwise, her appearance in the movie is useless.

Good acting by McQueen and Vaughan. Look for Robert Duval, Georg Sanford Brown, Norman fell, Simon Oakland and a few other names.

The jazzy score by Lalo Schifrin sounds like a bad TV movie. Wide-screen movie has decent picture and sound quality. DVD extras include a short behind the scenes documentary, text-based cast/crew/location info, list of awards, and a trailer.

In short - Not the best cop movie, not the best McQueen movie, and not the best chase. Watchable but not a stand out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Road to Singapore
Here's the first trip in what would become one of Paramount Pictures' most profitable film series of the '40s. When this comedy was released in 1940, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope had separately achieved stardom, though Crosby was an established power and Hope still a hot comedian new to movies. In fact, Hope is billed third in Road to Singapore, below Der Bingle and Dorothy Lamour. The script establishes what would be a constant in the Road series: a ramshackle plot, a handful of songs, and plenty of irreverent banter between the two boys. Crosby plays Josh Mallon, scion of a wealthy family, who prefers the vagabond life to his stuffy family; his pal Ace Lannigan (Hope) is only too happy to escape. They end up sharing a waterfront shack in Singapore and vying for the affections of a sarong-clad local (Lamour), amidst stabs at conning the natives with a dubious elixir variously known as "Spot-O" (stain remover) and "Scram-O" (cockroach killer). Singapore isn't as loose as some of the wacky subsequent entries in the series, but it already shows Crosby and Hope grooving to each other's perfectly timed burlesque rhythms in scenes that clearly depart from the script. They specialized in muttered asides, show-biz in-jokes, and gratuitous insults--and this one's got a song and dance number with an ocarina. No wonder it became a franchise. --Robert Horton

Road to Zanzibar
The second Road movie from Paramount Pictures finds barnstorming con artists Chuck Reardon (Bing Crosby) and Hubert "Fearless" Frazier (Bob Hope) at liberty after their act goes haywire. (In these movies, Crosby generally lures the suckers into the tent, while Hope is always stuck getting shot out of the cannon.) A phony map to a diamond mine brings our boys into the middle of Africa, which means there's a good chance they'll end up sitting in a cauldron while natives perform a cannibal dance around them. These stereotypes would be offensive if the movie wasn't actively parodying the kind of jungle movie popular in 1941 (just as Road to Morocco would satirize the Arabian nights picture). Dorothy Lamour is along for the ride, of course, and her scene in a tight clinch with Hope established a tradition of steamy comic exchanges through the series (as she croons a love song to him, he checks to see if his wallet is still in his pocket). This is the first Road movie to actively wink at the audience; in one scene, Lamour mocks the way movies always have characters break out into song in the middle of nowhere with a full orchestra backing--which is exactly what happens next. The chatter between Crosby and Hope already feels improvised, and it should be noted that the secret of their chemistry is not a sentimental friendship but a cheerfully hostile rivalry between the two characters, a cheeky approach that must've delighted audiences used to the Andy Hardy niceness of most Hollywood movies of that era. Oh, and they do their patty-cake routine, too. --Robert Horton

Road to Morocco
Road to Morocco, number three in the series of breezy comedies teaming Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, may be the funniest of the bunch. Bing and Bob find themselves Morocco-bound ("like Webster's dictionary"), caught in an elaborately faked-up world of harems, palm trees, and other Arabian Nights bric-a-brac. Naturally, Dorothy Lamour is also there, as she was the customary target of male rivalry in the Road scenarios. There is something so loose and ingratiating about the patter between Hope and Crosby that it doesn't ultimately matter if half the jokes don't land; these guys had their own comfortable rhythm, fueled by cheerful one-upmanship. Their sense of spontaneity broke the fourth wall between movie and audience in a way only the Marx Brothers had really accomplished before, and audiences--feeling in on the joke--ate it up. Songs (including "Moonlight Becomes You"), topical references, and ancient vaudeville routines fill out the program. --Robert Horton

Road to Utopia
I feel sorry for people who can't appreciate Hope and Crosby Road pictures. This is the fourth in the series, and has the boys masquerading as the killers Sperry and McGurk, from whom they've stolen the map to a gold mine, but which really belongs to Dorothy Lamour, but which... and you know it really doesn't matter anyway. The point is they've got this thin plot on which to hang a series of hit-and-miss jokes, coming fast enough to make it just all right and a certain amount of time to see who gets Dorothy Lamour, while maintaining their fierce and friendly and wisecracking rivalry. They're in the Klondike this time around, which doesn't stop the film from working in a glimpse of Dorothy in her sarong. Along the way, animals talk, including the humorist Robert Benchley, whose thoroughly dispensable introduction and running commentary I wouldn't dispense with for anything. This is arguably the goofiest of the road pictures. My favorite joke is when Bob is bested in fishing with Bing. Bob remarks, "My worm must have B.O." Bing comes back with "Couldn't B.U." You may not care where you're going, just as long as you're with them. Put it there, pal, put it there. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Ah yes....Thank you, so much....
Pre-"Call Me Bwana" Bob Hope!! Is there anything better? NO ONE was better with a one-liner or an ad lib than old Ski-Nose! And Bing playing against him, never ceasing to amaze with his OWN ability to toss off a few!

Of the movies in this collection, "Utopia" is the best, with the slyest one liners, some fourth-wall breaking and lots of "in" jokes. And ALL the movies, at least on the VHS version, were crisp as could be!

The one thing you'll notice about the "Road" movies, is that the humor in them seems WAAAYY ahead of its time....like something you'd see in the fifties or sixties rather than the forties. Hope and Crosby were to comedy films what "Citizen Kane" and "The Wizard of Oz" were to late thirties drama.... trendsetting and exceptional! You couldn't possibly go wrong getting this set...if only it had "Hong Kong" and "Bali" in it....!

Who is ever going to replace these two guys? George Clooney and Brad Pitt? Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey? I don't think so.

We'll miss you, Bob, Bing, Orson, Audrey, Cary, Frank, Sammy, Lucy, Desi....

Somewhere in heaven, someone is being entertained royally....

OUTSTANDING - Bing is as always memorable - 5 STARS
What to say. As a younger viewer, 18, of the road to series, mostly Bing Crosby, I can only tell you that this is not only funny and sweet. It's a movie for all ages, without the needed worrying of partial nudity or inappropriate language for younger viewers, or mature viewers. Bing and Bob, Hope and Crosby : ), have excellent chemistry, they ad-lib mostly because of the fact that they work so well together. This has great picture quality, and humor for all times. I recommend this set and all others that follow. The only drawback of the pack, is that it only contains the first four, (Road to Singapore, Zanzibar, Morocco, and Utopia), it is missing the hilarious other 3, (Road to Rio, Bali, and Hong Kong), and the title being attributed to Bob Hope. I love them both, but Bing steals the scenes. For Hope and Crosby fans alike. GREEAAAAAAAAAAT!!!

Good quality- priceless entertainment
Bing Crosby and Bob Hope are hilarious together in these films. The quality of the dvds is excellent in both picture sharpness and sound. And the bonus features, of which there are several (photos from the sets put to music, sing-alongs, tribute to Bob Hope etc), are delightful. It is wonderful collection of the Road films and you would not go wrong purchasing this particular collection.

"Patty Cake..Patty Cake...Baker's Man........"
"Bake A Cake as Fast As You Can...."...because you will not want to miss one second of the first four entries in The Road Series flicks with Bob,Bing and Dorothy!

This attractively boxed "Tribute Collection" is a must have for fans of these guys. The films, all from the early fourties,all Black and White, are beautifully restored and transfered on Dual layer discs. Although each has the special feature "Bob Hope and the Road to Success", the rest of the bonus material is different on each one. There are fun "Sing-Alongs","Entertaining the Troops", "Command Performances", photo galleries, DVD ROM and more.

The films themselves, are classic laugh out loud stuff, as in each story we follow our guys on their misadventures around the world. They never get old, each "road" brings new laughs and new plots.Always on the run from the bad guys, always some new money making scheme, and of course there's always the girl..the beautiful Dorothy Lamour. Will their "patty-cake" routine help them get away, will they become rich..will Bob EVER get the girl??? It's a pleasure watching on these DVDs.

Adding to all the laughs, are the wonderful song and dance routines, the exquiste costume design and the fabulous scenery. There are also always some terrific guest stars. Keep a look-out for these famous faces..Jerry Colonna, Una Merkel, Charles Coburn, Yvonne DeCarlo and the great Anthony Quinn.

So travel The Roads to Singapore,Zanzibar,Morocco and Utopia,with this famous trio. You'll be glad you did!

One note on "The Road to Utopia"..for some reason my DVD player was sensitive to this one, and would not load it, but I tried it on another player and it played perfectly...go figure!

Go for it while the price is right!(It has already gone up a little since my purchase) Enjoy!...And...Thanks Universal for bringing us this classic piece of Hollywood in this great set!.........Laurie

Clever and Ground Breaking
If you haven't watched them. . . and you like comedy. . . on first seeing them, you will say, "Those bad boys. They have stolen my favorite comedy bits." Then you look at the dates of the films. . . and fall in love. These wonderful transfers give new life to real laughs. My kids 6-12 laughed out loud and there is some wonderful romantic music. . . which is finally old enough to be enjoyable again. Worth every penny. Skip "movies" like Charlies Angels II and spend the money on these gems. ... Read more

Description

Four of Charlie Chaplin's greatest films. "The Gold Rush." (1925, 71 min.) - Chaplin's classic comic masterpiece about the hardships of life on the Alaskan frontier, battling blizzards, bears, killers, crazed gold miners, and even gravity. "City Lights" (1931, 87 min.) - The touching story of a young blind woman who believes the Little Tramp to be a wealthy duke, and the series of comic adventures when he sets out to earn the money to pay for an operation to restore her sight. "Modern Times" (1936, 103 min.) - The Little Tramp battles technology, unemployment, jail, burglars, demanding customers, bosses and "The Gamin." Chaplin's last silent film is remarkably unsilent, featuring the only time the Little Tramp's voice was heard on film. "The Great Dictator" (1940, 125 min.) - In his first talking film, Charlie Chaplin skewers Hitler on sharp spears of ridicule, playing both the malevolent dictator Adenoid Hynkel and his lookalike, an innocent Jewish barber. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

its perl of my collection
everything o.k.,but "golden rush" better be with original
soundtrack without chaplin voice,plus c.c.

An Extraordinary Quartet
One way to learn about life is to live it. For a crash course, watch these films. Chaplin understands us human beings, our strengths and our weaknesses as a species. More gripping than any lecture on morality, on love, on technology, on government, on modern society could be. I particularly recommend that young people put aside current fashion and spend time with these films, enjoying them and thinking about them. "City LIghts" is one of those films that ends with you crying and wanting to scream at the screen, "No, don't let it end that way!" but you know there is no other way it could end. Chaplin got it right. He nearly always did.

Forget "New Comedy" and watch some classics
I was delighted to get these Chaplin films in sparkling DVD prints. These are some of the greatest comedies ever made, and the ending of CITY LIGHTS is one of the greatest shots in cinema.

The boxed set has fewer extras than I expected. Where is the shot of Chaplin rehearsing one of his scenes from CITY LIGHTS in street clothes? The footage exists, but It's not included here.

I also see no reason for an alternative soundtrack on MODERN TIMES. The original is more moving, surface noise, monaural track and all. The stereophonic sound distracts from the picture.

The only really big disappointment in this set (the other quibbles being very minor) is that they used the 1942 sound version of THE GOLD RUSH instead of the 1925 original, and Chaplin's narration just breaks in and destroys the flow of the story. Thank goodness we still have the Oceana Roll.

I can only give this set a 4 for the above reasons. And Amazon, why not pack DVDS a little better? I have gotten this set with two of the four jewel boxes completely shattered, and it's annoying having to cut up the cheap cardboard covers when transferring the discs to better cases.

Treasure Trove of Chaplin
I just finished watching the fourth of the four DVDs in this set, and all I can say is that there is not enough space to do these films true justice. Chaplin is one of the true cinematic geniuses of the twentieth century and "The Gold Rush", "City Lights", "Modern Times" & "The Great Dictator" represent some of his crowning achievements.

"City Lights" (1931)is one my top favorite films of all time--the end sequence has me blubbering like a baby every time I see it--balancing brilliant comedy (ie. the night club & prize fight scenes)w/pathos and never losing balance.

"The Gold Rush" (1925), Chaplin's Klondike epic I would rate right up there w/"City Light" with the exception that the version here is Chaplin's 1942 re-edited sound re-release, with the inter-titles cut & replaced by Chaplin's often overly coy & obvious voice-over. It also has a slightly different ending than the original. It would have been nice to have had both versions one DVD. Oh well, you still have the film itself which retains its brilliance.

When Chaplin began "City Lights" in 1928, sound films had not yet taken over, but by the time he began "Modern Times" (1936)the idea of doing a silent film was thought to be crazy-well with the exception of music, fxs & a gibberish song that's exactly what Charlie did. A farewell to the Little Tramp and a hillarious social satire, "Modern Times" is Chaplin's last masterpiece.

With "The Great Dictator" (1940), a combination of slapstick, satire and overt social commentary, Chaplin made his first venture into sound films. Filled with brilliant sequences (ie. the shaving scene & Hynkel's ballet with the globe)the blending w/the social commentary at time seem awkward. Nevertheless, Charlie's double portrayal of the Jewish barber (a variation of the Little Tramp) and Adnoid Hynkle is alternating touching, hillarious and at time more than a little frightening.

Well that is either too much or not enough, depending on how you read these things. All I can say is watch these movies and see for yourself. And if you like them, be sure to watch Chaplin's Mutual & First National comedies, "The Kid" & "The Circus"--all great film & fun.

A must for everyone
I had been wanting to buy Chaplin DVD's for some time and this boxed set provided me with the perfect opportunity. Not only did I save a substantial amount of money, but it had the four movies which are a must for every movie collector. All of them are classics including my favourite City Lights (whose last scene is described as the 'highest moment in cinema'). It's a joy to watch these timeless movies and worth every penny spent and more. The Chaplin repertoire is illustrated vividly and completely in the movies of this set with humour, humanism, feeling and sensitivity combining to form a memorable experience. Even the add-ons are great, like the interview with the person who co-scored the music of the Modern Times. All in all, the best 70 bucks I have spent. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I'm very dissapointed with this pack
I though I have made a good election but this 2 dvd pack has two lenght episodes but the sound is quite bad is very hard to hear some sentences and the most important the famous theme has been changed by a ridiculous country theme.

Gladdly I didn't pick the 5 dvd pack made by the same studio.

Don't buy this please,try something else.

Could have been much better
Good story and good acting, but audio is quite poor. The familiar theme music is missing entirely and the dialogue is spotty at best. Several sentences were hard to hear, and then the background music would blast you out of your chair. Glad I didn't buy the 5-pack. ... Read more

Description

All Day Entertainment's ongoing DVD celebration of the films of legendary indie pioneer Edgar G. Ulmer began in 1999 with two DVD volumes that have since become very hard to find collector's items. This deluxe boxed set collects these first two special edition discs, covering three complete features and a bounty of extras. Disc One includes "The Strange Woman" (99 min.), a 1946 riff on "Gone with the Wind" restaged in New England, without the Civil War, but with Hedy Lamarr as a conniving manipulator who exploits her sexual allure to destroy the men around her. "A beautifully shot melodrama with Ulmer's balletic camerawork and set design shown off their best" raves Film.com. This disc also includes the rarely seen 1939 noir musical, "Moon Over Harlem" (68 min.), which Ulmer likened to a "Black Porgy and Bess." Disc Two includes "Bluebeard" (73 min.), a 1944 horror thriller starring John Carradine as a murderous puppeteer. One of Ulmer's most highly regarded works, in a deluxe DVD edition that the San Francisco Examiner calls "very highly recommended." This disc also features never-before-seen color footage from the famous puppet opera sequence and a reproduction of the pressbook. ... Read more