Guest Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 Well, I finally decided to start living in the 21st century and finally acquired a dvd player. The first movie that I've enjoyed has been The Adventures of Robin Hood(1938). What a treasure trove of extra features this contains! There's a documentary about the making of Robin Hood, a history of technicolor, a fascinating commentary by Rudy Behlmer, original costume and set design drawings, and even a short film about Errol Flynn's adventures on a yacht, (no, it's not about that--believe it or not, Flynn was an amateur ichthyologist--where did he get the time?!). And more! It's taken me a week to start to look at all this and I didn't even mention the Technicolor beauty of the print! Are there any other classic movies from the '30s and '40s that contain such riches? I'd love to read your recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwtwbooklover Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 Congrats on your DVD player and your find of The Adventures of Robin Hood-I love that movie. Our DVD player quit so I have to use the Playstation 2 which is picky about what it will or won't play. Like I bought the 68 Comeback Special with Elvis Presley and it won't show the 2nd disc but it will the other 2 discs. You do know that now that you bought the DVD Player they'll come up with another way to render the movies improve the technology LOL I hear you about coming into the 21st century but I still love my 8-track player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 I've only had a DVD player for about four months now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomagain77 Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 Hey moirafinnie14........get the Wizard Of Oz DVD........I believe it has the best extras of any DVD I've ever purchased. tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 Thanks Tom, I'll borrow the "Wizard of Oz" from my library. Sorry GWTWbklover, but I'm not a big Elvis fan, but I do appreciate the info about the possibility of viewing dvds on other devices. I gave up on 8 tracks but I'm still holding out for Betamax video players to make a comeback . Does anyone know of any good Film Noirs on dvds with some interesting extras? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harlowkeatongirl Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 I thought I was really joining the 21st century with my DVD player, which I've had less than a year... but try TiVo on for size. I just got that and.. well.. if I thought I was spoiled before.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Moira, I'm happy for you that you are now the proud owner of a DVD player. I can't help you with suggestions from Film Noir, but if you'd enjoy a musical with great "extra's" on a second disk, go for "West Side Story". I'll try to think of some others, too. Good to see you here again...I've really missed you recently. :)ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenwal34 Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Moira, Try the kino.com and vci.com websites.They have some film noir titles on dvd that might interest you.Also ,since you are new to dvd, try LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, ROBIN HOOD and AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS. Be sure that they are the latest WB releases. ALL ARE LOADED WITH EXTRAS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenwal34 Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 In my last post I mentioned Robin Hood then saw that you had it.Try Frankenstein,Bride of Frankenstein,The Mummy, and The Wolfman. All from the Universal Monsters Collection.Beautiful film transfers, digital sound and many extras. Also include Dracula on the list.This has the original,the Spanish version and the version with a new music soundtrack,all on one disc,plus other extras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Ken, thanks so much for reminding me about the riches to be found at Kino.com. I've since found that the Criterion.com site also has some exceptional dvds, among them many English, French, Italian and American classics as well. I also like that their site gives a good description of the features of the dvds. It is sometimes startling that some dvds, such as David Lean's classic adaptation, Great Expectations(1946), should have been issued with such meager extra features and no commentary about a splendid work by a cinema giant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie71664 Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 one thing that I've learned about DVD's is that if you can spend the extra buck to get the quality version and stay away from the foreign made materials. They rarely carry the extra goodies that I look forward to. Eddie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenwal34 Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 You are right about some of the great classics having no extras." SUPERBIT" processed dvds for example,have no extras,but use the extra space for enhanced sound and picture quality . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 For DVD's with some fun extras I like: The Bad Seed [interesting interview with Patty MacCormack concerning the stage version of the play] Beauty and the Beast [Cocteau version with alternate Philip Glass score which though some consider travesty, I find makes the whole film seem different] The Dark Shadows boxed sets [each one has interviews with former cast members like Frid, etc.] Carnival of Souls [Criterion edition -great interviews with cast members and background on the industrial film career of Herk Hervey] City of the Dead aka Horror Hotel [fun interview with Venetia Stevenson, famous for being married to Russ Tamblyn, then Don Everly, by whom she had a daughter hence making her later the mother-in-law of Axl Rose] I, Claudius boxed set [contains additionally the tv documentary done on the aborted Korda version, with interviews with those involved like Oberon and hosted by Dirk Bogarde] The boxed set with How Green Was My Valley, Gentleman's Agreement and All About Eve, has the extra film, Sunrise as a bonus. Rashomon has the original story on the disc, from which the idea was adapted, and other Kurosawa features. Knife in the Water has some early Polanski short films, like Two Men and a Wardrobe Louisiana Story has a long interview with Robert Florey's widow Que Viva Mexico has the whole background with participants of the Eisenstein saga making and then abandoning the film Strangers on a Train has both the British version, with a longer meeting scene of Guy and Bruno and the American version, and with different alternate endings. This is Spinal Tap [hilarious outtakes from the movie] I buy loads of cheapie B-films, but if something cultish does show up on alternate company listings, i would go for the more expensive one. For example I already had two versions of Carnival of Souls, but when I saw Criterion was putting out a special version, I bought it and was not disappointed, due to all the extras and outtakes. Enjoy your new DVD player, Moira! Don't be like me...I bought almost a hundred DVD's in about three months when I first got mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithFromKC Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 therealfuster, I also enjoy the Philip Glass soundtrack for LE BELLE ET LA BETE (Beauty and the Beast). The dvd (and the film itself) is pretty amazing. I saw Philip Glass and an ensemble of musicians and vocalists perform this soundtrack live during a screening of the film here in the mid-90's and it was simply incredible. I know Philip Glass is an acquired taste, but I enjoy his unusual approach to music. I love his soundtrack for KOYAANISQATSI, as well as his take on David Bowie's album, 'Heroes' (Heroes Symphony), amongst other works. You also have some really good dvd picks on your list. I picked up that Boxed set that includes ALL ABOUT EVE and HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY, just so I could get the SUNRISE dvd, as it's one of my all-time favorite films. Anyway, like you, I am a big fan of dvd extras......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 Thanks for the advice, Keith & realelf! I'm glad to hear that someone else is a fan of Koyaanisqatsi, which I'd love to see on dvd sometime. I have, thanks to a great public library system, caught up with Cocteau's La Belle et La Bete on dvd, but I'm sure that some of the other dvds mentioned such as Strangers on a Train & Sunrise would also interest me. If you haven't seen it already, I'd recommend dvds of the Powell & Pressburger films, I Know Where I'm Going and Black Narcissus, both of which are surreally lovely. Don't worry about my spending too much on dvds during my first days as a novice dvd owner. All my Christmas gifts this year--even ones for myself--will need to be purchased from the bargain bin at the drugstore! I can't afford to actually buy dvds for me and mine this Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 I stupidly said in my post below that "Louisiana Story" has a long interview with Robert "Florey's" widow. Obviously, I should have said Robert Flaherty's widow. Duh! Pardonnez-moi, all! Very embarrassing and I apologize to Flaherty, who was an amazing filmmaker and should not be confused with anyone. Last night I watched my new dvd of "Nanook of the North" which is a Flaherty masterpiece, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes wants to see a real adventure yarn. It also has some nice extras and is definitely worth the money...around 25 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 Moira, you have given me a new name I think, but I like it...realelf! A real elf would be appropriate for this season, so I may change my user name. I'm assuming that you know that "Koyaanisqatsi" which you've seen and like, is available on dvd and is reasonably priced. I've seen it for like max...$14.99 at Borders, and sometimes cheaper. That's where I got my copy. I am so happy to see there is a fellow Powell & Pressburger fan here. Their films are masterpieces and defy description. Just the beginning of "Black Narcissus" is like a Vermeer painting, with the nun at the window and Kerr is wonderful in the film, plus the cinematography is so much better than one sees in modern films. The Criterion version of "Peeping Tom" is well worth the money also. I have "Tales of Hoffman" on a VHS copy, but would like to see it on DVD. Even in the bargain bin, if that's where you shop till after the holidays...one can find some treats. I found "Strangler of the Swamp" in a bin for $5.99, and was thrilled. Keith, wow...you are so lucky to have seen Glass and orchestra perform "BATB" live. Now I am envious! I keep looking for the rerelease of "Dracula" with his alternate score, but have not been able to find it recently. I realize now, that I probably liked the films "Candyman" and "Suspiria" somewhat because of Glass and his contributions, but did not even know who he was at the time. Bizarrely, Glass is mentioned on IMDb as an "acknowledgement" to the film, "Being John Malkovich" so I may have to rewatch my copy to see where he fits in. Some people hate that movie, but I find it incredibly entertaining and think by the year 2050, it will be in the top ten cult hits of all time list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithFromKC Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 therealfuster, The DRACULA dvd that has the philip Glass score is really good. It's the version I own and I forgot to mention his soundtrack for that film earlier, which is wonderful. The KRONOS QUARTET do a brilliant job with Glass' score for the film. The dvd also has a good commentary by author/Tod Browning expert David J. Skal, who also does the commentary on the FREAKS dvd. The dvd also includes the spanish language version of DRACULA, which were filmed on the same sets as the U.S. version at night, after the American cast left for the day! Definitely unusual.... I used to see many copies of the dvd with the Philip Glass score, until the new LEGACY collection dvd of DRACULA was released, but according to AMAZON.com it also includes the Glass soundtrack. I hope you find a copy....and yes, seeing Philip Glass live was incredible. He was touring the country performing 'La Belle et la Bete,' and being a fan of his work, as well as the film, I paid a pretty lofty price to see the show at a small Arts theater here. I got to the show an hour and a half early, as anyone with a ticket was invited to come in and watch a speech Glass gave for a group of music students. He only spoke for a half hour or so, but he was absolutely brilliant. It was truly a memorable night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 17, 2004 Share Posted December 17, 2004 Therealfuster, I apologize about my giving you a new name. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer at 3AM, then again I'll never be ms. cutting-edge at any other time either. Again, thanks Keith, "Real Elf" et al for your input. BTW, have you fellow Philip Glass fans seen Martin Scorsese's Kundun? Fascinating, almost hypnotic Tibetan- influenced music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithFromKC Posted December 17, 2004 Share Posted December 17, 2004 I'm ashamed to say that I've never seen KUNDUN, moirafinnie14. I will add it to my rental list. I knew that Philip Glass did the score, but I just never got around to the film. I've read mixed reviews for it, but of course, it's always best to see a movie and form your own opinion. Even if I don't like the film, I'm sure I will find the music interesting...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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