Columbia Classics

[JimboF]

I noticed the lady from shanghai and cover girl in the sales. So are they any good? Is there anything else in the range worth picking up (I've already got, and loved, His Girl Friday).

[John Hodson]

There are quite a few; though Columbia's output and treatment of its classics of late has been a bit hit and miss. This article (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/barriemaxwell/maxwell043003a.html) from Barrie Maxwell should point you in the right direction, albeit that it relates to R1.

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So many films, so little time...

[Mike]

"Lady From Shanghai" is an excellent disc. I'll be reviewing it for DVD Times in due course but don't have any hesitation in buying it. I don't know about "Cover Girl" but the other Columbia classics I've seen - "On The Waterfront" and "In A Lonely Place" - were very good transfers. The latter film is one of my favourite Bogart movies and I've not seen it look this good before.

[John Hodson]

I should also point out (as if I need to...) that not all R1/R2 discs from the same company are created equal, as this comparison (http://207.136.67.23/film/dvdcompare/hisgirlfriday.htm) of His Girl Friday shows. I was persuaded by this to buy the R1.

I was also a little disappointed with Lost Horizon; although it had undergone an extensive film restoration, I think that since this was done, the technology is available to do a far better job - that doesn't stop me recommending the disc to you however; a wonderful film.

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So many films, so little time...

[Groucho]

Originally posted by John Hodson
...

I was also a little disappointed with Lost Horizon; although it had undergone an extensive film restoration, I think that since this was done, the technology is available to do a far better job - that doesn't stop me recommending the disc to you however; a wonderful film.



After listening the commentary and watching the documentary i was really happy with the fact that they managed to get the film to look as "good" as it does now.

Truly a magical movie!

[JimboF]

I have to confess to have never heard of In A Lonely Place or Lost Horizon before (I'm a complete pre-1970 movie novice, though I am trying to watch more stuff)! Both look good though, so I shall pick them all up I think!

Is Arsenic and Old Lace any good as well? Or indeed any other classic cinema recomendations (I have been keeping an eye on the searchers thread, but it has now become a bit unwieldy for classic cinema recommendations!).

[Wezzy]

You must check out "It happened one night" starring Clark Gable & the delightful Claudette Colbert - this film runs rings around many of the movies that today pass for romantic comedies.
Also, "You can't take it with you", "Holiday" , "The Awful Truth" & "Bell, Book & Candle" are worth a punt - all available for about £6.99 in the sales.

[Mike]

I'll give you some suggestions which I've enjoyed recently.

<b>The Searchers</b> - John Ford's greatest achievement, John Wayne's best performance and a film which has been endlessly influential.

<b>Treasure of the Sierra Madre</b> - a superb adventure movie which gives Humphrey Bogart his best ever role and has some scenes and dialogue which have become legendary. It's a great disc on R1 too - the upcoming R2 is not as impressive.

<b>Touch Of Evil</b> - Orson Welles's classic thriller which is packed with great technique and works very well as a compelling suspense movie.

<b>The Hustler</b> - Paul Newman's first really great performance, for my money, in a riveting drama about pool sharks which is beautifully filmed in black and white. The R2 Special Edition is excellent.

<b>Rio Bravo</b> - Probably the most sheerly entertaining Western ever made and a fine showcase for Howard Hawks, combining his skill with comedy with his talent for suspense.

<b>Notorious</b> - My favourite Hitchcock film, 'nuff said. Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant are luminous, Claude Rains steals the film and it's got the best kiss in movie history.

[John Hodson]

Originally posted by JimboF
Is Arsenic and Old Lace any good as well? Or indeed any other classic cinema recomendations

How long have you got? ;) Trawl through the Barrie Maxwell and Robert Harris columns at thedigitalbits.com, check out DVD Savant at dvdtalk.com and Glenn Erikson's excellent reviews.

Arsenic and Old Lace is quite fabulous and an excellent transfer; but if I stick to Columbia Classics, I'll add Mr Smith Goes to Washington to those already recommended.

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So many films, so little time...

[John Hodson]

BTW, Mike's being a little modest; but also check out his reviews at DVD Times:

The Searchers (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=4809), Notorious (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=4766) and Rio Bravo (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=4949).

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So many films, so little time...

[JimboF]

I've seen notorious, rio bravo and touch of evil before. Really enjoyed notorious and rio bravo - though I watched el dorado last night and had a bit of a deja vu feeling! james caan was so much better as the young member of the group that I would hesitate to try to decide between the movies.

I shall now be controversial and say that I did not really care for Touch of Evil. It was excellent technically (the opening shot is amazing) and Welles bady guy was good, but other aspects of it had dated so much, and a lot of the stuff happening was so forced that I didn't really enjoy it.

I've got the searchers already, but not had a chance to watch it yet (along with She Wore a Yellow Ribbon), and Treasure of Sierra Madre is already on the way. In fact I notice a load of Bogart (Dark Passage, High Sierra, They Drive by Night , To Have and Have Not ) and Cary Grant (I Was a Male War Bride, Kiss Them for Me , Born to Be Bad , People Will Talk) movies have just come out in R1 - any of these worth picking up? I've seen The Big Sleep (loved it, though I like The Long Goodbye more I think), Key Largo (OK), Casablanca (loved) and Maltese Falcon (really enjoyed).

[Mike]

To Have and Have Not is fantastic. "High Sierra" is interesting and worth a look. "Dark Passage" isn't first rank Bogart but still enjoyable. It's years since I saw "They Drive By Night".

"I Was A Male War Bride" is very funny but some critics hated it. "People Will Talk" is very wordy but quite amusing. Not seen the other too.

I reviewed "El Dorado" as well - I think it's interesting as a reworking of "Rio Bravo" with a deeper awareness of mortality. Robert Mitchum is great in it as well.

Of older Hitchcocks, I imagine you've seen these: Spellbound, Rebecca, Foreign Correspondent, Strangers on a Train. All of them get my recommendation.

Cukor's "A Star Is Born" has got a fantastic transfer from Warners although the extras aren't much.

I should also mention some of my other favourites: "Stalag 17", "Kiss Me Deadly", "Attack!" and "Mildred Pierce". The first three are barebones discs but with acceptable transfers and they are all great movies. "Mildred Pierce" has a fantastic documentary on Joan Crawford and a very good picture.

If you want older movie recommendations, you should consider getting hold of Martin Scorsese's "Personal Journey Through American Movies" which is indispensible.

[John Hodson]

I can vouch for the Bogarts; they are all excellent films, brilliant transfers and boast decent extras (but then I like Touch of Evil ;) )

Have a look at this thread (http://thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=204280&perpage=20&highlight=warners&pagenumber=1) and you may find this one (http://thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=238227) useful too for more classic movie ruminations.

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So many films, so little time...

[JimboF]

I've seen Spellbound and Rebecca, but not Strangers on a Train (I've seen the CSI homage though!) or Foreign Correspondant.

I was already thinking about Mildred Pierce - the disc got some raves on the hometheaterforum.

From the other threads Grand Hotel looks good, and I've always wated to see Blowup. Forbidden Planet is ace too! I've already got Robin Hood, which I really enjoyed.

Marx Brothers releases look tempting too, as does Destination Tokyo.

In totally unrelated classic cinema temptations I'm sort of tempted by the Chaplin stuff, but its a lot of money to spend if I then decide I dont like him! Eberts great movie column on City Lights may swing me into giving it a try though.

Anyway this thread is turning into a rather expensive one - maybe I should call it a day!

[John Hodson]

Originally posted by JimboF
I was already thinking about Mildred Pierce - the disc got some raves on the hometheaterforum.

As Mike said, it's worth it for the doco alone, and the transfer is quite luminous. Similarly, while the restoration isn't quite as perfect (it's still excellent) there's a great Lana Turner doco on The Bad & The Beautiful, and speaking of great transfers, you can't miss Now Voyager, and all the Fox Studio Classics are worth a look...

Oh, hell; there really are...

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So many films, so little time...

[Richie]

"In A Lonely Place"
is the UK dvd the same as the R1? (I think it just has a featurette or something). Been wanting to see this for ages. Taped it when it was on last year but screwed the tape up :brickwall so figured may as well get the disc! Want to get the best version available though :dork:

[Narshty]

Originally posted by John Hodson
all the Fox Studio Classics are worth a look...

Whoa, there!! Even risible trash like Love is a Many-Splendored Thing or The Inn of the Sixth Happiness? There are several films in that lineup that are classics in the sense that they were made a long time ago with some popular stars - you'd be much better off waiting until they turned up on lunchtime telly than forking out more than a tenner for each. Still, I loved both the Mankiewiczs and Fords released so far.

[John Hodson]

I'm not about to criticise anyones taste in classic movies; they may not be my taste, or yours Jon; my point is that all the FSC range of DVDs are beautifully produced and worth looking at. And yes, I've even considered buying LIAMST simply for the Bill Holden doco.

And as for paying a tenner, that, I've never done... ;)

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So many films, so little time...

[Mike]

Originally posted by Richie
"In A Lonely Place"
is the UK dvd the same as the R1? (I think it just has a featurette or something). Been wanting to see this for ages. Taped it when it was on last year but screwed the tape up :brickwall so figured may as well get the disc! Want to get the best version available though :dork:

To the best of my knowledge, the r2 is identical. It's got 2 featurettes, one on the restoration and one on the film. There's also a trailer for the Bogart Collection from Columbia.

[Richie]

Thanks, Mike :thumbs: