New Warner Archive Silents Released Today

dr.giraud · Post by **dr.giraud** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:09 pm

moviepas wrote:
Under a Texas Moon is mentioned in Barios and he laments that Monte Blue was replaced as the lead just before shooting by Frank Fay who he cannot stand in any film. He also refers to Murphy's Law that such a film was miraculously saved, restored and in color.

That's interesting. I wonder if it was Blue's rather high-pitched voice not matching his towering leading-man look that was a problem. (And does he tower over Frank Fay, Noah Beery et. al. in SHOW OF SHOWS.) Not a bad voice--he has that nice scene as the sheriff in KEY LARGO--and Warners certainly gave him bit work into the late 40s. But kinda high for a leading man.

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:42 pm

It's interesting to note that Monte Blue and Jack Mulhall followed an amazingly similar trajectory in the early 30s: after the WB-FN merger, both stayed until about the middle of 1930, then were apparently dropped. Both continued to get decent roles into 1931 (and both worked at Columbia at least once), but by '32 were playing leads in poverty-row programmers. By late 1934 Mulhall was playing mostly uncredited bits or low-billed parts; Blue did a little better in this respect, playing second leads in Westerns and medium-billed roles until he also began doing bit roles by 1938. Both ended their careers in 1959-60, Mulhall taking a job with SAG.

I've probably seen some of Monte Blue's credited roles in talkies (he's the FBI fingerprint examiner in G-Men) but I don't recall what his voice was like.

-Harold

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:09 pm

In 1929 Jack Mulhall starred in a film called Dark Streets which may have been the first dual-role performance in a talkie.

bobfells · Post by **bobfells** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:26 pm

Harold Aherne wrote: I've probably seen some of Monte Blue's credited roles in talkies (he's the FBI fingerprint examiner in G-Men) but I don't recall what his voice was like.

-Harold

Monte Blue sort of rebounded in the late 40s. He had a nice role as the sheriff in 1948's KEY LARGO with Bogie and Bacall. He was also the jailer in Errol Flynn's 1949 ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN, though it was a smaller role.

Robert Warwick was another veteran from the silents who descended into relatively small roles in the 30s and 40s, only to start appearing in substantial supporting roles in the 50s. In fact, he had a major supporting role in ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN.

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:57 pm

Warwick has a great role in Bogart's In a Lonely Place.

FrankFay · Post by **FrankFay** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:27 pm

Daniel Eagan wrote:
moviepas wrote:For many years I had read that Viennese Nights was a 'lost' film but recently I located it as having been restored and in color...

Under a Texas Moon is mentioned in Barios and he laments that Monte Blue was replaced as the lead just before shooting by Frank Fay who he cannot stand in any film.
I was lucky enough to see both during the "Dawn of Sound" series at the Museum of Modern Art. Viennese Nights I found a little poky, but I'm not a good audience for operetta. I know a lot of people trash Under a Texas Moon but I thought it was charming. I guess it helps that I like the song, but the plot makes good use of Fay's overwhelming ego, and Raquel Torres and Myrna Loy are unbelievably beautiful. I think it's the first Technicolor sound Western shot on location.

I'm a Frank Fay Fan (obviously) but he's one of those entertainers who Hollywood should never have tried to make into a star. His spotty acting talent and huge ego combined to spell disaster. In addition he was something of a heel. That said, there are flashes of brilliance in some of his films and his wit is sharp in SHOW OF SHOWS. I wish that he had been given the opportunity to play Elwood Dowd on screen, but I think a little of the character shows up in his last film LOVE NEST where he (for once) does not overplay.

dr.giraud · Post by **dr.giraud** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:22 pm

FrankFay wrote:
I'm a Frank Fay Fan (obviously) but he's one of those entertainers who Hollywood should never have tried to make into a star. His spotty acting talent and huge ego combined to spell disaster. In addition he was something of a heel. That said, there are flashes of brilliance in some of his films and his wit is sharp in SHOW OF SHOWS. I wish that he had been given the opportunity to play Elwood Dowd on screen, but I think a little of the character shows up in his last film LOVE NEST where he (for once) does not overplay.

I like that song intro he does, where he talks about his dream: "We were all dressed in rags--it was futuristic."

FrankFay · Post by **FrankFay** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:03 am

dr.giraud wrote:
FrankFay wrote:
I'm a Frank Fay Fan (obviously) but he's one of those entertainers who Hollywood should never have tried to make into a star. His spotty acting talent and huge ego combined to spell disaster. In addition he was something of a heel. That said, there are flashes of brilliance in some of his films and his wit is sharp in SHOW OF SHOWS. I wish that he had been given the opportunity to play Elwood Dowd on screen, but I think a little of the character shows up in his last film LOVE NEST where he (for once) does not overplay.
I like that song intro he does, where he talks about his dream: "We were all dressed in rags--it was futuristic."

And he continues...... "The leading lady called to me- "My Stalwart Youth!" . . . . .("I was heavily made up")

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:55 pm

The long-awaited Mammy is up for pre-order and scheduled for release on 6 April:

http://www.wbshop.com/Pre-Orders/ARCHIV ... lt,sc.html

-Harold

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:07 pm

Considering that they used to "colorize" entire films, it seems that filling in or computer enhancing scenes should be do-able. Yes it'll be interesting to hear what people think.

kndy · Post by **kndy** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 1:41 am

Greetings everyone,

I was wondering if anyone can recommend the following titles from the archive. I wish I could judge more from the trailers and with imdb reviews but here are titles I was considering. But can anyone give me insight on how the print quality is for these films and which titles were your favorite (if you had to pick 5)? [Please note as the first 5 on top of the list were the ones I was considering of buying...but wanted to get some feedback from those who have purchased them].

- The Patsy
- Souls for Sale
- The Red Lily
- A Lady of Chance
- Exit Smiling
- A Lady of the Night
- The Red Mill
- La Boheme
- Wild Orchids
- West Point
- The Trail of '98
- Scaramouche
- Speedway

moviepas · Post by **moviepas** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 2:50 am

The Patsy
The Red Mill
Trail of '98

I have all three at this point and I like all these titles and find the picture quality is more than excellent.

My mother thought the comedy in The Red Mill from Marion Davies was very funny and she is extremely hard to please at the best of time. She was born around the time these films were in production so probably never saw them before.

The other titles I can select any from as I have yet to order them and it is hard here because I have to wait until they are availale from export on-lines and this takes time.

FrankFay · Post by **FrankFay** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:33 am

I bought Souls for Sale and The Red Lilly. Both are very good quality and have the TCM scores.

I've seen most of the films on the list and would recommend any of them.

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:19 am

for my money you can't go wrong with Marion Davies and William Haines.

Post by **Christopher Jacobs** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:50 pm

Well, they're all good and certainly worth seeing. As for buying, I'd start with EXIT SMILING, which is an hysterical look at theatre life and TCM had a great score commissioned. RED LILY is very good, and SOULS FOR SALE is fun, as is THE PATSY. If you like outdoor epics, TRAIL OF 98 is one of the classics of the genre.

--Christopher Jacobs
http://hpr1.com/film
http://www.und.edu/instruct/cjacobs

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 12:02 pm

Newest additions include:

Their Own Desire (29)
Mammy (30), previously mentioned
Paid (30)
This Modern Age (31)
No More Ladies (35)
Torchy Blane Collection (37-39)
Escape (40)
Susan and God (40)
Above Suspicion (43)

-Harold

rudyfan · Post by **rudyfan** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 12:04 pm

Ooh! I love This Modern Age! Pauline Frederick and Joan as a blonde. Yay!

IA · Post by IA » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:14 pm

kndy wrote:Greetings everyone,
I was wondering if anyone can recommend the following titles from the archive....

I can definitely vouch for three: The Patsy is still very fresh and funny (funnier than anything currently playing in the multiplexes), Wild Orchids is a hot and heavy Southern gothic, and Scaramouche is an excellent and intelligently directed swashbuckler that's quite different from the 50s romp. It's much closer to Sabbatini's novel.

colbyco82 · Post by **colbyco82** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:01 pm

I love the new cover art on "Mammy" and the Crawford and Shearer titles. Makes me wish they would go back and make new covers to replace the rather bland older ones like "Private Lives" and "Chained" and especially the dreadful "Say it With Songs."

Harlett O'Dowd · Post by **Harlett O'Dowd** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:18 pm

colbyco82 wrote: especially the dreadful "Say it With Songs."

*nothing* can be done to make Say It With Songs any less dreadful.

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 7:15 am

New additions today include four Joe E. Brown titles: Going Wild (30), Sit Tight (31), The Tenderfoot (32), and Alibi Ike (35), along with Red Skelton's three "Whistling in..." films.

-Harold

CoffeeDan · Post by **CoffeeDan** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:40 am

I put all those titles on my Warner Archive wishlist today, but I noticed that FIVE STAR FINAL, which had been previously announced for release today, was not there.

I asked why in a post on the Warner Archive Facebook page, and got this reply: "Unfortunately, FIVE STAR FINAL had to be pushed back to later in June for technical reasons."

Well, okay. I waited this long for FIVE STAR FINAL to be released on DVD, so I guess I can wait another two weeks . . .

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:10 pm

The New York Post reports that the following are planned for release on 15 June (as always, some last-minute changes and delays may occur):

Navy Blues (29)
Eleven Men and a Girl (30) [originally titled Maybe It's Love]
Bureau of Missing Persons (33)
Fog Over Frisco (34)
The Girl from 10th Avenue (35)
The Golden Arrow (36)
The Gorgeous Hussy (36)
Conquest (37)
Come Live With Me (41)

and a series of remake-themed double features:
Hell's Heroes (29)/Three Godfathers (36)
Make Me a Star (32)/Merton of the Movies (47)
Love Is On the Air (37)/You Can't Escape Forever (42)

I hope they remember Five Star Final as well...

-Harold

moviepas · Post by **moviepas** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:47 am

Nice to see those Warner doubles(some could be triple & quads in that archive as we all know full well with Warners policy of recycling scripts) but they did not do this with Small Town Girl which not warners of course, originally).

DeepDiscount has a good deal on Warner Archive this week for titles they have available at this time. One is the 9 xTorchy Blane box for about $30 & the singles under $15(25%off with use of a 25MORE Coupon code). I ordered a few with some good Blu Ray deals. but a pity I already have some new Blu Rays titles at a much higher price.

myrnaloyisdope · Post by **myrnaloyisdope** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:19 am

Make Me A Star is a Paramount property so a bit surprised it's being released by Warners. Anyways it has Joan Blondell as the sassy girl with a good heart, a bunch of cameos from Paramount stars, and Stuart Erwin giving an impossibly sincere performance as the deluded Merton. It's pretty brilliant, and I love how the ending doesn't wrap up nicely or neatly.

Highly recommended.

buskeat · Post by **buskeat** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:32 am

myrnaloyisdope wrote:Make Me A Star is a Paramount property so a bit surprised it's being released by Warners. Anyways it has Joan Blondell as the sassy girl with a good heart, a bunch of cameos from Paramount stars, and Stuart Erwin giving an impossibly sincere performance as the deluded Merton. It's pretty brilliant, and I love how the ending doesn't wrap up nicely or neatly.

Highly recommended.

MGM likely bought the rights to Merton of the Movies for its 1947 remake from Paramount which gave it the rights to Make Me a Star, and the pre-1986 MGM library is Warner's.

Remake rights are also why Universal's Waterloo Bridge (1931) and Paramount's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932) are in the Warner library.

CoffeeDan · Post by **CoffeeDan** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:33 am

myrnaloyisdope wrote:Make Me A Star is a Paramount property so a bit surprised it's being released by Warners.

Paramount filmed MERTON OF THE MOVIES twice: in 1924 with Glenn Hunter and Viola Dana (now a lost film), and in 1932 as MAKE ME A STAR. When MGM remade the film again in 1947 as a Red Skelton vehicle, they not only bought up all the rights, but the previous two film versions as well. It was a common practice at the time, so the previous versions wouldn't compete with the new film. That's how MAKE ME A STAR ended up in the Time Warner library -- and as a Warner Archive release.

myrnaloyisdope · Post by **myrnaloyisdope** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 10:06 am

MGM likely bought the rights to Merton of the Movies for its 1947 remake from Paramount which gave it the rights to Make Me a Star, and the pre-1986 MGM library is Warner's.

Remake rights are also why Universal's Waterloo Bridge (1931) and Paramount's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932) are in the Warner library.

I was thinking it had to do with that. Thanks for the response.

FrankFay · Post by **FrankFay** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:16 am

myrnaloyisdope wrote:Make Me A Star is a Paramount property so a bit surprised it's being released by Warners. Anyways it has Joan Blondell as the sassy girl with a good heart, a bunch of cameos from Paramount stars, and Stuart Erwin giving an impossibly sincere performance as the deluded Merton. It's pretty brilliant, and I love how the ending doesn't wrap up nicely or neatly.

Highly recommended.

When he's not required to play a naive but lovable boob Erwin could turn in an excellent straight performance, as in "The Party's Over" where he's wearing himself to a frazzle supporting his worthless relatives until Joan Blondell convinces him it's time to think of himself.

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:00 pm

MGM seems to have acquired a number of Paramount silent properties (and a few talkies). Offhand I can also think of The Show-Off, which was remade in 1930 as Men are Like That and which TCM has aired. The copyright on the original '26 version was apparently not renewed (neither was the '24 Merton). I'm guessing they also acquired The Swan as they remade it in 1956.

-Harold

New Warner Archive Silents Released Today

Re: Warner Archive Collection

Re: Warner Archive Collection

Re: Warner Archive Collection

Re: Warner Archive Collection

Warner Archive Collection

Warner doubles