Upcoming DVD Releases?

colbyco82 · Post by **colbyco82** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:01 pm

I was just wondering if anyone has some "insider information" concerning upcoming silent films of DVD releases maybe in the fall or for Christmas?

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:58 pm

Nothing to speak of that's been announced so far. WINGS and THE LAST COMMAND are both pending from Paramount. That basically means that they apparently have plans to release those two titles eventually. Two more Paramount Silents have been leased out to Criterion UNDERWORLD, and THE DOCKS OF NEW YORK.

As for Warner's? Same old, same old. You can forget about THE BIG PARADE until at least the Fall of 2010. But I was told the same thing last year that it would definitely be out by the Fall of 2009, so I have just about given up hope that the restored version will ever be released. Warner's said the same thing back in late 2004. Sometime in 2005. Never happened. Even though the film restoration was completed. In 2002, a couple years prior to the 2004 restoration being finished, the excuse was "being restored". So not much has changed in 8 years. I honestly don't think any project should take priority over THE BIG PARADE. I don't care what film it is or who made it. Certainly not Jolson's MAMMY! THE BIG PARADE is as good or better than anything else that has yet to be released on DVD, and better than 90% of the films that presently are on DVD. Not just Silent movies. It's time to quite stalling and get busy!

Lon Chaney Two Collection? Much more of a rumor than fact for the last three years.

But now we at least have two more restored features in MOCKERY and THE BLACKBIRD. Any thought of a Marion Davies collection was probably nixed when Warner Archive released THE RED MILL a few months ago?

Penfold · Post by **Penfold** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:04 pm

Gagman 66 wrote:Nothing to speak of that's been announced so far. WINGS and THE LAST COMMAND are both pending from Paramount. That basically means that they apparently have plans to release those two titles eventually. Two more Paramount Silents apparently have been leased out to Criterion UNDERWORLD, and THE DOCKS OF NEW YORK.

Woo. Woo, and indeed, Hoo. Four of my favourite silents in the comfort of Penfold Towers...eventually....but I've learnt to be patient....no news of release dates, I take it???

rudyfan · Post by **rudyfan** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:11 pm

Having just seen Underworld, I would gladly add that to the home library.

Gagman, I know you are impatient about Big Parade, dammit, be grateful for Bardelys, it's so much more fun!

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:14 pm

Penfold,

At least that is according to dvdaf.com. They list those titles and several others. I looked for CHILDREN OF DIVORCE, but it is not there.

I forgot to mention that Milestone promised some new to official DVD Mary Pickord features. And the 2006 LOC restoration of SPARROWS with a Fresh score by Jeffrey Mark Silverman. Others expected were POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL, and THE HOODLUM. I don't know if this is still going to happen or not? The 30th Anniversary of Mary's death back in 1979 was this past May. If they were going to release something it probably would have been out already a couple months ago?

If nothing else, maybe, just maybe Milestone could get TCM to premier the new SPARROWS? Are you listening Dennis?

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:30 pm

Rudyfan,

BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT is good, but it is certainly not THE BIG PARADE or even close. I enjoyed MONTE CRISTO too. Now, how about a follow up of CAMEO KIRBY/HIS HOUR?

Would give anything for a nice Talmadge Sisters Collection from Flicker Alley. KIKI is just to good and to funny not to release. One of the great forgotten comedies of the 1920's. And I like Constance even better than Norma. A Colleen Moore set is long, long overdue. Maybe FA can get HER WILD OAT out of Warner's clutches? And what about an early Marion Davies collection of films that Warner's does not own? I'm rather surprised no one has released anything yet.

buskeat · Post by **buskeat** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:22 pm

Gagman 66 wrote:Nothing to speak of that's been announced so far. WINGS and THE LAST COMMAND are both pending from Paramount. That basically means that they apparently have plans to release those two titles eventually. Two more Paramount Silents apparently have been leased out to Criterion UNDERWORLD, and THE DOCKS OF NEW YORK.

THE LAST COMMAND was actually also licensed to The Criterion Collection where it will be packaged with UNDERWORLD and DOCKS OF NEW YORK in a boxed set, probably in their Eclipse line.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:29 pm

Yes, I thought so too, but that is not what had I read on dvdaf.com. And what about CHILDREN OF DIVORCE??? I've seen those other three several times a piece. Never have seen CHILDREN OF DIVORCE, and it's restored. Plus with both Gary Cooper and Clara Bow that should give it more marketability than the other three combined. Betty Compson, and Evelyn Brent don't have nowhere near as large of a cult following. And hey, the movie has Esther Ralston too.

Post by **Danny Burk** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:17 pm

Gagman 66 wrote: Yes, I thought so too, but that is not what had I read on dvdaf.com. And what about CHILDREN OF DIVORCE??? I've seen those other three several times a piece. Never have seen CHILDREN OF DIVORCE, and it's restored. Plus with both Gary Cooper and Clara Bow that should give it more marketability than the other three combined. Betty Compson, and Evelyn Brent don't have nowhere near as large of a cult following. And hey, the movie has Esther Ralston too.

They're being released because they're directed by von Sternberg, not because of their stars.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:31 pm

Danny,

So? Wasn't CHILDREN OF DIVORCE completed by Sternberg?

I actually like Compson and Brent allot. But Clara Bow will sell better, and so Will Gary Cooper over George Bancroft and Clive Brook. Or even Emil Jannings. Yeah, THE LAST COMMAND does have William Powell.

I just finished watching seeing the 1939 sound remake version of BEAU GESTE on TCM. I had not seen it before. I have to say that I much prefer the original Herbert Brenon 1926 Silent version. The story is far more gripping. And Coop's Beau is a completely different character than Ronald Coleman's. I also like the supporting cast in the 1926 version too. Although the Character of Isobel is a toss up between Mary Brian and Susan Hayward. Both were certainly extremely beautiful Woman. Hayward at that young looked amazing. But to say she was prettier than Mary Brain is not an easy thing to do either.

Post by **Danny Burk** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:03 pm

Yes, von directed scene(s) for CHILDREN OF DIVORCE so it could marginally be considered one of his films. I've been eager to see it for years, but haven't yet had a chance. Perhaps I should request it for next year's Cinesation!

colbyco82 · Post by **colbyco82** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:41 pm

I really hope The Last Command ends up in Criterons hands. Paramount would probably take forever to release it. (After all, we consumers definately need another release of the Audrey Hepburn films before any old silents get brought out of the vaults haha) I also heard that Criteron might obtain the rights to Wings, but apparently that was just a hopeful rumor.

Children of Divorce is a film I havent heard much about, but after doing some reading I would love to see this film make it to DVD. Criteron should put it in the von sternburg collection just to get it out there.

Peter Kalm · Post by **Peter Kalm** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:11 pm

Grapevine plans to release the entire 11 reel version of Lucrezia Borgia (1922) on DVD. Jack told me that this film was found up here in Canada and he borrowed it from a collector. Before this print was found, only an incomplete copy was known to exist and as far as I know (the experts here can correct me), this film has not been shown since the 1920s and has never been available on video or DVD.

precode · Post by **precode** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:39 pm

Gagman 66 wrote:Rudyfan,

BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT is good, but it is certainly not THE BIG PARADE or even close.

Perhaps, but I guarantee you'll wanna watch BARDELYS more often than PARADE, which, let's face it, is quite the downer.

Mike S.

azjazzman · Post by **azjazzman** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:45 pm

Perhaps, but I guarantee you'll wanna watch BARDELYS more often than PARADE, which, let's face it, is quite the downer.

Mike S.

Huh

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:01 pm

I echo that statement.... HUH????

precode · Post by **precode** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:00 pm

Gagman 66 wrote:I echo that statement.... HUH????

What, you're telling me PARADE is a barrel full of laughs?

Mike S.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:21 pm

precode,

Recent comments from a friend of mine onTHE BIG PARADE:

About an hour ago, I finished THE BIG PARADE--and wow! I can see why you've been so passionate and vocal about the film being released on DVD, as it is easily one of the most beautifully crafted and emotionally taxing war films I've ever seen. Gilbert and Adoree are both wonderful in this film, as are the supporting players, and Vidor's direction does an excellent job of capturing the grim, gritty realism of WWI. In fact, it's incredible to think that the same strict realist also made the wildly formalist THE CROWD! By the time the conclusion rolled around--where the wounded, psychologically scarred Gilbert returns home--I knew that this film was worth the years-long wait. I had actually planned to watch another film right after, but couldn't because this film was too powerful to follow up with anything else.

I'm glad you brought up DUEL IN THE SUN and THE FOUNTAINHEAD--oh, boy, what a pair of stinkers! King Vidor's silents are, from what I've seen, some of the best films of the twenties, but his reputation has been tarnished due to the availability of his subpar talkies. Like Abel Gance, Vidor's reputation has been based for too long on mediocre, patched-together talkies instead of their superior silents. I've read too many criticisms of Vidor that treat him like a sort of joke, basing this assessment solely on the weaknesses of his post-1929 work (which is, unfortunately, all that's available). With that said, I would personally place THE BIG PARADE and THE CROWD side-by-side as some of the best films of the silent era -- and, as I said, they both excel for very different reasons. It's incredible that BAREDLYS will be the first Vidor silent released domestically on DVD; it's shameful that it's taken this long, honestly! I would also love to see HIS HOUR and TWELVE MILES OUT, but I'm not holding my breath.

With that said, I will agree with you that the chemistry between Gilbert and Adoree is palpable and very real, perhaps more than it is with Gilbert and Garbo. In THE COSSACKS and THE BIG PARADE, their romance works splendidly as the center-piece of the films. Again, I am biased toward THE BIG PARADE -- I think their chemistry comes across even better when the two characters are struggling to communicate past the language barrier, leading to some very funny and romantic moments.

coopsgirl · Post by **coopsgirl** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:37 am

I will pee my pants if Children of Divorce is ever shown on TCM or released on dvd

. There is no other movie that I want to see more. I love Cooper, Bow, and Ralston with the first two being my all time favorites. Thanks to Jeff I was able to see the clip of this film that’s in the Hollywood series and I literally got goosebumps all over seeing my two faves Gary and Clara, interact together on screen.

I’m glad to hear about the other Paramount releases. I like Criterion’s Eclipse line and maybe one day we’ll see some of Clara’s films finally released through something like that.

Post by **Mike Gebert** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:22 am

If people could see The Stranger's Return, they wouldn't feel that all of Vidor's talkies were a comedown from silent days.

The reality as well is that if you're going to blame him for the multi-directored, producer-dominated Duel in the Sun, then you really ought to give him credit for the Kansas scenes in The Wizard of Oz, which he gave a sensitivity of feeling and homespun authenticity that was probably beyond either Fleming or LeRoy, and which sets the rest of the picture up so beautifully.

Post by **Danny Burk** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:05 am

Mike Gebert wrote:If people could see The Stranger's Return, they wouldn't feel that all of Vidor's talkies were a comedown from silent days.

True - it's a lovely film, and as far as I know, it's never been on TCM. I can't imagine why not...as far as I know, there are no rights problems. It really needs to get more exposure.

Penfold · Post by **Penfold** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:25 am

coopsgirl wrote:I will pee my pants if Children of Divorce is ever shown on TCM or released on dvd . There is no other movie that I want to see more. I love Cooper, Bow, and Ralston with the first two being my all time favorites. Thanks to Jeff I was able to see the clip of this film that’s in the Hollywood series and I literally got goosebumps all over seeing my two faves Gary and Clara, interact together on screen.

Well, we all have our little problems. Last year at Bologna we had a complete retrospective of Von Sternberg's silents - well, his Hollywood ones - and I hate to tell you this, that they were uniformly interesting, some were absolutely fantastic, a couple are on my must-see-again-immediately list. But Children of Divorce was just interesting - in how unlike a Von Sternberg it seemed, how such a fabulous cast on paper failed to catch fire on film, and how thoroughly miserable Clara looked....but then it is a pretty dispiriting story. Really, it looks OK, but don't get your hopes up.

greta de groat · Post by **greta de groat** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:50 am

I thought Children of Divorce was pretty good, and definitely interestingly downbeat. Though i'm sure Judith Rosenberg's score was a big help. I thought Clara did a very good job playing a needy, manipulative character but still managing to generate some sympathy for her.

greta

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:54 am

Mike Gebert wrote:If people could see The Stranger's Return, they wouldn't feel that all of Vidor's talkies were a comedown from silent days.

The Wedding Night is another good one. There's an underlying sense that it's straining hard against the Production Code, but it never breaks and by the time one reaches the end--very unexpected and very moving--all is forgiven. After watching it, one also becomes curious why Anna Sten was treated as such a joke in the mid-30s; her acting is beautiful and she displays a wide range of emotions.

Something else that's worth thinking about with Vidor's career: about 98% of his silent reputation is based on 15% of his silent output (Parade, Bohème, Crowd and Show People). True, Wild Oranges, Bardelys, and The Patsy have been able to reach a wider audience in recent years, but there hasn't been enough time for them to be incorporated in a complete re-evaluation of Vidor. And several of his early pictures for Robertson-Cole and/or starring Florence Vidor do exist, but they haven't been sufficiently accessible to allow one to evaluate their overall place in his output. The definitive survey of Vidor films probably has yet to be written.

By contrast: between TCM and home video, almost all of his talkies can be seen without difficulty (save for The Stranger's Return and maybe So Red the Rose). Having such a lopsided percentage of one's work available probably throws a more glaring light on the workaday titles from later in Vidor's career because the workaday ones from earlier aren't seen very often.

-Harold

Penfold · Post by **Penfold** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:23 am

greta de groat wrote:I thought Children of Divorce was pretty good, and definitely interestingly downbeat.
greta

I'd agree.....just 'Pretty Good'. When compared with - the same week - The Last Command, Docks of New York, even The Salvation Hunters.....it's a bit of a comedown.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:39 am

Harold,

Yes, several of King Vidor's films are still awaiting re-evaluation. I have seen WINE OF YOUTH, which I really enjoyed. I haven't seen PROUD FLESH yet, and almost nobody has been fortunate enough to see HIS HOUR so far. So these films are all in need of reappraisals. I do have a copy of THE JACK-KNIFE MAN, but haven't watched it.

Greta,

I have a couple of friends who saw CHILDREN OF DIVORCE in Chicago last year, and loved it. Now they are people who don't know each other, so they were not influenced by either ones views of the film.

coopsgirl · Post by **coopsgirl** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:53 am

I have read some very good reviews of Clara’s performance in CofD (from the film’s initial run and more recent screenings) and any more films (especially ones that have been restored and are in good quality) I can get of hers will be great. Also there aren’t that many of Esther Ralston’s silents that have survived and this is the only one that’s still around out of the three she made with Gary which brings me to the main reason I want this film so badly. This part was one of his earliest lead roles and he was so bad that at one point he got fired. The guy they replaced him with was worse so they had to track Gary down and rehire him.

He had done mostly bit parts in westerns and war pics throughout ’25 and ’26 and a couple lead roles in B westerns earlier in ’27 and having to play a rich, playboy type got him completely flummoxed. They had to do around 30 takes of one party scene because he kept spilling his champagne he was so nervous. In an interview with him from the mid 50s, he talked about that scene and how he was supposed to walk through the party very casually and every time they started it over, that walk seemed to get longer and longer. He thought his career was over but then they put him in another western where he felt more comfortable and he did pretty good from then on

. He was such a great actor who was able to work well in many genres, that I’m very curious to see a bad, unsure performance from him.

myrnaloyisdope · Post by **myrnaloyisdope** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:00 pm

The Stranger's Return is excellent, somehow it's been almost completely neglected. I think Miriam Hopkins is due for some recognition (and some DVD love), her pre-code work is consistently strong.

If you're talking Vidor's sound films, well Hallelujah is pretty engaging as well as being one of the more daring films ever made by a first-rate director for a major. Street Scene is a simple but artfully made little film. Our Daily Bread is wildly uneven, but the climactic Dovzhenko-esque sequence is among the best things Vidor ever filmed. Oh and his version of Stella Dallas is quite good too.

His talkie career is pretty fascinating because he wasn't tied to one studio, or any particular star, or any genre. So he was bouncing all over the place doing solid-to-great work, but you couldn't really pin him down, as even from picture to picture he was doing wildly different things. He worked at every major studio, and even did independent films, but he always maintained his reputation as an elite director.