Jean Arthur collection from TCM on 17 October

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:53 pm

This could legitimately be called a surprise--TCM will be releasing four of Jean Arthur's Columbia films on the 17th of this month in one of their exclusive collections, all new to DVD:

The Public Menace (1935)
Adventure in Manhattan (1936)
More Than a Secretary (1936)
The Impatient Years (1944)

Further details:
http://shop.tcm.com/jean-arthur-comedy- ... _pre-order

-HA

Michael O'Regan · Post by **Michael O'Regan** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:24 am

Nice. I shall be purchasing, though I would've liked "The Devil and Miss Jones" in there too.

Ray Faiola · Post by **Ray Faiola** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:35 am

DEVIL is in the NTA group, owned by Paramount. The others are Columbia/Sony.

bobfells · Post by **bobfells** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:17 am

I would have liked to see HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT (1937) in the Jean Arthur Collection. This seems to be an "orphan film" today. It was produced by Walter Wanger and released through UA. A number of years ago, Warner Home Video issued it on VHS in mediocre quality. Recently, I found a region free dvd edition sold by a Portuguese video company. The print quality is an improvement over the old Warner version but it would never be confused with the camera negative. The dvd automatically defaults into Portuguese subtitles but they can be turned off with a couple of clicks. I'd say that Jean Arthur gives one of her best performances and she and Charles Boyer have some real chemistry together. Colin Clive is great as Jean's nutcase husband and all but steals the film. And Leo Carrillo nearly steals it from the other three! Nice Alfred Newman score too. An excellent tragicomedy that deserves a better video fate.

Michael O'Regan · Post by **Michael O'Regan** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:18 pm

Ray Faiola wrote:DEVIL is in the NTA group, owned by Paramount. The others are Columbia/Sony.

So it is. So it is. I didn't read the initial post properly.
Thank's for correcting me

Flyin' A · Post by **Flyin' A** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:09 pm

Yeehaw!

Best news I've heard on Nitrateville in a long time!

Frederica · Post by **Frederica** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:15 pm

bobfells wrote:I would have liked to see HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT (1937) in the Jean Arthur Collection. This seems to be an "orphan film" today. It was produced by Walter Wanger and released through UA. A number of years ago, Warner Home Video issued it on VHS in mediocre quality. Recently, I found a region free dvd edition sold by a Portuguese video company. The print quality is an improvement over the old Warner version but it would never be confused with the camera negative. The dvd automatically defaults into Portuguese subtitles but they can be turned off with a couple of clicks. I'd say that Jean Arthur gives one of her best performances and she and Charles Boyer have some real chemistry together. Colin Clive is great as Jean's nutcase husband and all but steals the film. And Leo Carrillo nearly steals it from the other three! Nice Alfred Newman score too. An excellent tragicomedy that deserves a better video fate.

It had a laserdisc release, but I stupidly never bought it. I love the film.

Richard Finegan · Post by **Richard Finegan** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:38 pm

The highlight in this set, for me anyway, has to be the very rarely seen THE PUBLIC MENACE (1935). The others are good, too (naturally, they're Jean Arthur!) but THE PUBLIC MENACE is the rare one.
It was scheduled on TCM last March 20 but then pulled and not shown.
Capitolfest attendees did get to see it (in nice 35mm) at Capitolfest 2007 and I'll be happy to see it again in this new DVD set.

Thanks Sony/Columbia! More Jean Arthur please!

BixB · Post by **BixB** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 3:06 pm

Frederica wrote: It had a laserdisc release, but I stupidly never bought it. I love the film.

I'm very grateful that I did pick up the LD. Found it in a discount bin. Sure would love to see a proper DVD release on this one. A big favorite.

azjazzman · Post by **azjazzman** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:57 pm

BixB wrote:
Frederica wrote: It had a laserdisc release, but I stupidly never bought it. I love the film.
I'm very grateful that I did pick up the LD. Found it in a discount bin. Sure would love to see a proper DVD release on this one. A big favorite.

I have a DVD of HIMAN that was issued in South America. Brazil, IIRC. Don't know if it is still available or not, but I got it off Amazon. Decent quality.

bobfells · Post by **bobfells** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:41 pm

azjazzman wrote:
BixB wrote:
Frederica wrote: It had a laserdisc release, but I stupidly never bought it. I love the film.
I'm very grateful that I did pick up the LD. Found it in a discount bin. Sure would love to see a proper DVD release on this one. A big favorite.
I have a DVD of HIMAN that was issued in South America. Brazil, IIRC. Don't know if it is still available or not, but I got it off Amazon. Decent quality.

I just checked Amazon and it's available for $25. I bought it a couple of years ago for 8.

CliffordWeimer · Post by **CliffordWeimer** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:58 pm

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) are joining forces on a new line of DVDs to be made available as part of the TCM Vault Collection. The offerings will include first-time DVD releases of classic films from the Columbia Pictures library. Among the DVD sets on tap will be a four-film collection of comedies starring Jean Arthur and introduced by TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz; a five-film set starring Humphrey Bogart; a large selection of cartoons from the United Productions of America (UPA) Jolly Frolics series, which includes the debut of the one-and-only Mr. Magoo and a special introduction and audio commentaries by film historian Leonard Maltin; as well as an intriguing collection of film noir thrillers, presented in partnership with The Film Foundation.

Like all films in the TCM Vault Collection, the new sets from SPHE are digitally remastered and include extensive on-screen bonus materials, including photos, posters, lobby cards and more. TCM Vault Collection sets are presented in beautiful gatefold packaging and available exclusively through TCM’s online store at http://shop.tcm.com" target="_blank.

The following sets from TCM and SPE are coming soon to the TCM Vault Collection:
• Jean Arthur Comedy Collection – This four-disc set featuring the winsome leading lady includes the gems The Public Menace (1935), Adventure in Manhattan (1936), More Than a Secretary (1936) and The Impatient Years (1944). TCM weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz provides a special introduction. Street date: Oct. 17, 2011.

• Humphrey Bogart Columbia Pictures Collection – This spectacular set includes five Bogie classics, including the early Bogart rarity Love Affair (1932) and his final film, The Harder They Fall (1956), a powerful story about a cynical press agent. Also included are Tokyo Joe (1949), Knock on Any Door (1949) and Sirocco (1951). Street date: November 2011.

• Film Noir Classics III – This third volume of the popular film noir collection, a collaboration with The Film Foundation, presents a slate of Columbia Pictures’ titles never before available on DVD, available for the first time through the TCM Vault Collection. The set includes Nina Foch and George Macready in My Name is Julia Ross (1946), Mickey Rooney and Dianne Foster in Drive a Crooked Road (1955), Broderick Crawford in The Mob (1951) and Brian Keith and Ginger Rogers in Tight Spot (1955) and Dan Duryea and Jayne Mansfield in The Burglar (1957). Columbia Pictures’ previous two film noir collections are also available through TCM’s online store. Street date: early 2012.

• UPA Jolly Frolics – This amazing DVD set includes, for the first time ever, 38 cartoons created by United Productions of America (UPA) and originally distributed by Columbia Pictures. The Jolly Frolics series began in 1949 with Ragtime Bear, which introduced audiences to the hilariously myopic Mr. Magoo. Included in this set are the Academy Award®-winning cartoon Rooty Tooty Toot (1952) and the Oscar®-nominated Madeline (1952) and Christopher Crumpet (1953). This set includes an abundance of bonus features, including introductions and audio commentaries by film historian and critic Leonard Maltin, who has written extensively on the history of animation. Street date: early 2012.

Post by **Christopher Jacobs** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:50 pm

Are these all going to be actual pressed DVDs (which all the bonus features make it sound like), or just slightly more elaborate than usual additions to the line of MOD DVD-Rs?

Roseha · Post by **Roseha** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:48 pm

I would have liked to see HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT (1937) in the Jean Arthur Collection. This seems to be an "orphan film" today.

I saw that one in a theater and would love to see it again. Amazing ending.

Richard Finegan · Post by **Richard Finegan** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:57 am

CliffordWeimer wrote:Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) are joining forces on a new line of DVDs to be made available as part of the TCM Vault Collection.......
UPA Jolly Frolics – This amazing DVD set includes, for the first time ever, 38 cartoons created by United Productions of America (UPA) and originally distributed by Columbia Pictures.....

Okay, if they're going to start including cartoons in these Vault Collections, how about shorts? WHERE is the Columbia Charley Chase shorts set that was reportedly just about to come out a few years ago?

Please put them out...we'll buy them!

buskeat · Post by **buskeat** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:51 pm

bobfells wrote:I would have liked to see HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT (1937) in the Jean Arthur Collection. This seems to be an "orphan film" today. It was produced by Walter Wanger and released through UA. A number of years ago, Warner Home Video issued it on VHS in mediocre quality. Recently, I found a region free dvd edition sold by a Portuguese video company. The print quality is an improvement over the old Warner version but it would never be confused with the camera negative. The dvd automatically defaults into Portuguese subtitles but they can be turned off with a couple of clicks. I'd say that Jean Arthur gives one of her best performances and she and Charles Boyer have some real chemistry together. Colin Clive is great as Jean's nutcase husband and all but steals the film. And Leo Carrillo nearly steals it from the other three! Nice Alfred Newman score too. An excellent tragicomedy that deserves a better video fate.

HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT will be coming from the Criterion Collection. They're streaming it at Hulu Plus: http://www.hulu.com/watch/254171/histor ... e-at-night.

Phillyrich · Post by **Phillyrich** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:58 pm

This is great news, as I'm a Jean Arthur, Bogart and Noir fan, but given the prices TCM and Criterion often charge--I'll have to get a copy of "Mr. 880" first.

radiotelefonia · Post by **radiotelefonia** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:37 pm

On San Perón's day!!!!!!!!

Jim Roots · Post by **Jim Roots** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:27 am

CliffordWeimer wrote: • Film Noir Classics III – This third volume of the popular film noir collection, a collaboration with The Film Foundation, presents a slate of Columbia Pictures’ titles never before available on DVD, available for the first time through the TCM Vault Collection. The set includes Nina Foch and George Macready in My Name is Julia Ross (1946), Mickey Rooney and Dianne Foster in Drive a Crooked Road (1955), Broderick Crawford in The Mob (1951) and Brian Keith and Ginger Rogers in Tight Spot (1955) and Dan Duryea and Jayne Mansfield in The Burglar (1957). Columbia Pictures’ previous two film noir collections are also available through TCM’s online store. Street date: early 2012.

A film noir set featuring Mickey Rooney, Ginger Rogers, Dan Duryea, and Jayne Mansfield? Those icons of noir? Those people whose names are the very first that spring to mind whenever the term "film noir" is mentioned?

I've never heard of any of these films, but on the basis of cast listing, I'd say there is a bit of a credibility concern here.

But it won't stop me from buying the set!

Jim

Phillyrich · Post by **Phillyrich** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:00 am

As much as I like old movies, I do have to wonder with some of these sets that films are being included--that noone would want to buy as stand alones. The sets are given nice packaging and sold at an inflated price. You buy them to get one or two films you really want. That's okay for a budget price, not full price. I mean, we are in a very bad economy.

The Bogart set has a couple of nice films: a fully restored (I hope) "The Harder They Fall," for instance, that I think went out of print. But "Sirocco...Tokyo Joe" are not so hot. It would be nice if they could have included "Deadline USA."

Two years ago a set came out with Karloff's "The Walking Dead," (1936, WB, dir- M. Curtiz)) a fine, odd combination of a gangster/horror film.... and three film dogs, like "Frankenstein 1970". So you had to buy a four-film set to get the one decent film.

Frederica · Post by **Frederica** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:52 am

buskeat wrote: HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT will be coming from the Criterion Collection. They're streaming it at Hulu Plus: http://www.hulu.com/watch/254171/histor ... e-at-night.

And to that I respond with a hearty: "Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Richard M Roberts · Post by **Richard M Roberts** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:25 am

The Bogart set has a couple of nice films: a fully restored (I hope) "The Harder They Fall," for instance, that I think went out of print. But "Sirocco...Tokyo Joe" are not so hot. It would be nice if they could have included "Deadline USA."

Nice, but unlikely, Twentieth Century-Fox owns DEADLINE USA, not Sony/Columbia.

Two years ago a set came out with Karloff's "The Walking Dead," (1936, WB, dir- M. Curtiz)) a fine, odd combination of a gangster/horror film.... and three film dogs, like "Frankenstein 1970". So you had to buy a four-film set to get the one decent film.[/quote]

Funny, I bought that set just to get FRANKENSTEIN 1970.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Michael O'Regan · Post by **Michael O'Regan** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:04 pm

Richard M Roberts wrote:
The Bogart set has a couple of nice films: a fully restored (I hope) "The Harder They Fall," for instance, that I think went out of print. But "Sirocco...Tokyo Joe" are not so hot. It would be nice if they could have included "Deadline USA."
Nice, but unlikely, Twentieth Century-Fox owns DEADLINE USA, not Sony/Columbia.

Two years ago a set came out with Karloff's "The Walking Dead," (1936, WB, dir- M. Curtiz)) a fine, odd combination of a gangster/horror film.... and three film dogs, like "Frankenstein 1970". So you had to buy a four-film set to get the one decent film.

Funny, I bought that set just to get FRANKENSTEIN 1970.
Yes, I would also buy it for this film. Is this set still available?

RICHARD M ROBERTS[/quote]

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:28 pm

Michael O'Regan wrote: Yes, I would also buy it for this film. Is this set still available?

Yes:
http://tinyurl.com/3gal38q

If you want fulfillment strictly from Amazon with no third-party involved at all, remember to click on "X number new" and select Amazon itself from the list of vendors with the title.

As far as the pressed-vs.-MOD question for the Jean Arthur set, TCM has had a couple of approaches for their own boutique DVDs: the RKO collection and the two Walter Wanger titles (The House Across the Bay and Sundown) have apparently been offered only as DVD-Rs from the beginning. The Universal collections are pressed up to a certain point, then afterwards are available only as DVD-Rs (as explained on the Home Theater Forum, all pre-orders are pressed as well as a few thousand beyond that, so the earlier you order the more likely you are to get a pressed disc, if that's important to you). Reportedly, single titles made available from larger collections are also DVD-R-only; pressed discs are reserved for the box sets.

All of which is a long way of saying that I don't know what their plans are for the Sony collections!

-HA

precode · Post by **precode** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 11:41 pm

Richard Finegan wrote:WHERE is the Columbia Charley Chase shorts set that was reportedly just about to come out a few years ago?

Please put them out...we'll buy them!

Still working on it!

Mike S.

Jim Roots · Post by **Jim Roots** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:05 am

precode wrote:
Richard Finegan wrote:WHERE is the Columbia Charley Chase shorts set that was reportedly just about to come out a few years ago?

Please put them out...we'll buy them!
Still working on it!

Mike S.

And need I add ... please include captions!

Jim

chorusgirl · Post by **chorusgirl** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:31 am

Just got the Jean Arthur set, being a sucker for ANY rarities that come our way from studios like Columbia, Fox, or Universal.

Watched ADVENTURE IN MANHATTAN last night. A truly fascinating failure. Almost nothing in this film works (though Arthur has some charming moments)...we sat around for nearly a half hour afterward trying to understand the motives of these characters, decipher the plot, and fill in the blanks. The film plays not one but TWO head-scratching tricks on the audience that defy all reason and common sense.

I think I almost recommend it, since it is so unusual.

Looking forward to seeing the other three films, especially THE PUBLIC MENACE...an internet search turns up practically zilch on this movie.

gjohnson · Post by **gjohnson** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:17 am

I think you may be just as underwhelmed with MORE THAN A SECRETARY, while THE IMPATIENT YEAR is an interesting look at war-time marriages. I have no idea about PUBLIC MENACE as I have never stumbled across it before.

Flyin' A · Post by **Flyin' A** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:00 pm

I received my set yesterday and watched The Public Menace. A very strange "comedy". Cassie's (Jean's character) lies continue to get Red into trouble. If it had been played more for laughs this might have worked. But it was too straight to blow by the strange actions. But I'll have to watch it again.

Mispelling of Douglass Dumbrille on the cover. (They neglected the all important second "s" in Douglass.)

ETA

I watched Adventure In Manhattan Wednesday. A much better telling of pretty much the same concept as The Public Menace. Much of that could be due to Jean & Joel rapport. As with Menace this film is NOT a comedy. However, Menace could have been improved if it had been filmed as a screwball comedy. Adventure is a just fun little film. I did notice a problem with the sound level on this film. I had to turn the volume way up. So far this has been the only disc with this problem.

I'm really enjoying this set but I'm wondering about the marketing. I'm a Jean Arthur fan and would happily buy a box set of her silent westerns. But I wonder about the appeal of this set to someone who's only passingly interested in JA or just "classic films". First, it's labeled the Jean Arthur Comedy Collection but only More Than A Secretary is a comedy. Now, Jean always adds a bit of lightness/humor into almost any part--think of the piano playing scenes in Only Angels Have Wings--but these films aren't comedies as advertised. Also, fun they may be but they are not by a long shot the best introductions to JA. But I guess TCM doesn't think it could sell the "Jean Arthur Lesser and Hard to Find Collection".

I recommend this set but the best collection of Jean Arthur is the Frank Capra set. So if you're looking for the best introduction to the wonders of Jean Arthur, get the Frank Capra box.

precode · Post by **precode** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:27 pm

We ran PUBLIC MENACE several years ago at Cinecon and the audience was laughing delightedly throughout. These may just be instances of pictures that don't seem as funny when watched alone (or with only one other person).

It's called the Comedy Collection because there will hopefully be a Drama Collection down the road if this sells well.

Mike S.

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Vault Collections - shorts?

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