Classic Film Collections: Part One

Since the inception of the digital video disc, classic film has seen a vital rebirth thanks to the high-profile releases of obscure, nearly forgotten cinema. The most exciting aspect of this rebirth has been the thoughtfully assembled multi-disc collections centered around a vague theme.

For this installment, I've brought together the best of the hard-boiled noirish/gangster film collections - and added a couple of grand box sets of films based on literary classics. There are a wealth of other collections, including the "Signature Collection" line and a heap of musical box sets - some of which will feature in the next installment.

As one might expect from Warner Bros, the presentation of these sets is impeccable. As a general rule, the titles released prior to 2007 come packaged in standard dvd cases. For the ones released during or after 2007, such as the Literary Classics Collection, they are packaged in the slimcase format. I personally prefer the standard size dvd cases, but the slimcase format is definitely a "greener" way to go.

All of the films are on a single disc and packaged in standard dvd cases with some notable exceptions. The Film Noir Classic Collection Volume Four has ten films on five discs (two films are on each double-sided disc). Also, both the Film Noir Classic Collection Volume Three and Literary Classic Collection are packaged in slim dvd cases.

Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume One

1) The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Introduction by John Huston derived from an Archival Interview.

Commentary by Auther/Film-Noir Specialist Drew Casper & Co-Star James Whitmore

Theatrical Trailer

2) Gun Crazy (1950)

Commentary by Auther/Film-Noir Specialist Glenn Erickson

3) Murder My Sweet (1944)

Commentary by Author/Film-Noir Specialist Alain Silver

Theatrical Trailer

4) Out of the Past (1947)

Commentary by Author/Film-Noir Specialist James Ursini

5) The Set-Up (1949)

Commentary by Director Robert Wise and Martin Scorsese

Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume Two

1) Born to Kill (1947)

Commentary by Eddie Muller, author of The Art of Noir

2) Clash by Night (1952)

Commentary by Filmaker Peter Bogdanovich

Theatrical Trailer

3) Crossfire (1947)

Commentary by Film Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini

Featurette - Crossfire: Hate is Like a Gun

4) Dillinger (1945)

Commentary by John Milius, director of the 1973 Dillinger

Theatrical Trailer

5) The Narrow Margin (1952)

Commentary by Filmaker William Friedkin

Theatrical Trailer

Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume Three

1) Border Incident (1949)

Commentary by Film Historian Dana Polan

Theatrical Trailer

2) His Kind of Woman (1951)

Commentary by Film Historian Vivian Sobchack

3) Lady in the Lake (1947)

Commentary by Film Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini

Theatrical Trailer

4) On Dangerous Ground (1952)

Commentary by Film Historian Glenn Erickson

Theatrical Trailer

5) The Racket (1951)

Commentary by Film Historian Eddie Mueller

Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume Four

1) Act of Violence (1948)

2) Mystery Street (1950)

Film Historian Commentaries by Dr. Drew Casper on Act of Violence and Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward on Mystery Street

New Featurettes - Act of Violence: Dealing with the Devil and Mystery Street: Murder at Harvard

Theatrical Trailers

3) Crime Wave (1954)

4) Decoy (1946)

Commentaries by James Ellroy and Film Historian Eddie Mueller on Crime Wave and Writer Stabley Rubin and Film Historian Glenn Erickson on Decoy

New Featurettes - Crime Wave: The City is Dark and Decoy: A Map to Nowhere

Crime Wave Theatrical Trailer

5) Illegal (1955)

6) The Big Steal (1949)

Commentaries by Nina Foch and Film Historian Patricia King Hanson on Illegal and Film Historian Richard B. Jewell on The Big Steal

Vintage Behind the Cameras segment with Edward G. Robinson from the Warner Bros. Presents series

New Featurettes - Illegal: Marked for Life and The Big Steal: Look Behind You

Theatrical Trailers

7) They Live By Night (1948)

8) Side Street (1950)

Commentaries by Farley Granger and Film Historian Eddie Mueller on They Live By Night and Historian/Critic Richard Schnickel on Side Street

New Featurettes - They Live By Night: The Twisted Road and Side Street: Where Temptation Lurks

Side Street Theatrical Trailer

9) Where Danger Lives (1950)

10) Tension (1949)

Film Historian Commentaries by Alain Silver and James Ursini on Where Danger Lives and Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward with Audrey Totter on Tension

New Featurettes - Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie and Tension: Who's Guilty Now?

Theatrical Trailers

TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume One

1) Baby Face (1933)

2) Red-Headed Woman (1932)

3) Waterloo Bridge (1931)

Introduction by Robert Osborne

Baby Face Theatrical Trailer

TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume Two

1) The Divorcee (1930)

2) A Free Soul (1931)

3) Night Nurse (1931)

4) Three on a Match (1932)

5) Female (1933)

Documentary Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

Commentaries on The Divorcee and Night Nurse by Film Historians Jeffrey Vance and Tony Maietta

Theatrical Trailers of Female, Night Nurse, and Three on a Match

Warner Gangsters Collection: Volume One

1) The Public Enemy (1931)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1931 with Newsreel, Comedy Short The Eyes Have It, Cartoon Smile, Darn Ya, Smile and Theatrical Trailers

New Featurette - Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

Commentary by Film Historian Robert Sklar

1954 Rerelease Foreword

2) White Heat (1949)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1949 with Newsreel, Comedy Short So You Think You're Not Guilty, Cartoon Homeless Hare and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - White Heat: Top of the World

Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Drew Casper

3) Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1938 with Newsreel, Musical Short Out Where the Stars Begin, Cartoon Porky and Daffy and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say?

Commentary by Film Historian Dana Polan

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Production with Films 2 Stars

4) Little Caesar (1931)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1930 with Newsreel, Spencer Tracy Short The Hard Guy, Cartoon Lady Play Your Mandolin and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero

Commentary by Film Historian Richard B. Jewell

1954 Rerelease Foreword

5) The Petrified Forest (1936)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1936 with Newsreel, Musical Short Rhythmitis, Cartoon The Coo Coo Nut Grove and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert

Commentary by Bogart Biographer Eric Lax

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Adaptation Starring Bogart, Tyrone Power, and Joan Bennett

6) The Roaring Twenties (1939)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies with Newsreel, Musical Short All Girl Revue, Comedy Short The Great Library Misery, Cartoon Thugs with Dirty Mugs and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - The Roaring Twenties: The World Moves On

Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Lincoln Hurst

Warner Tough Guys Collection (a.k.a. Gangsters Collection: Volume Two)

1) Bullets or Ballots (1936)

Warner Night at the Movies 1936 with Newsreel, Musical Short George Hall and His Orchestra, Classic Cartoon I'm a Big Shot Now, and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Gangsters: The Immigrant's Hero

Commentary by Film Historian Dana Polan

How I Play Golf by Bobby Jones No. 10: Trouble Shots

Breakdowns of 1936: Studio Blooper Reel

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show with Robinson, Bogart and Mary Astor

2) City for Conquest (1940)

Warner Night at the Movies 1940 with Newsreel, Oscar-Nominated Short Service with the Colors, Classic Cartoon Stage Fright, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films

Commentary by Richard Schnickel

Breakdowns of 1940: Studio Blooper Reel

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show with Alice Faye and Robert Preston

3) Each Dawn I Die (1939)

Warner Night at the Movies 1939 with Newsreel, Documentary Short A Day at Santa Anita, Oscar Nominated Classic Cartoon Detouring America, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Stool Pigeons and Pine Overcoats: The Language of Gangster Films

Commentary by Film Historian Haden Guest

Breakdowns of 1939: Studio Blooper Reel

Bonus Cartoon Each Dawn I Crow

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show with George Raft and Franchot Tone

4) "G" Men (1935)

Warner Night at the Movies 1936 with Newsreel, Comedy Short The Old Grey Manor starring Bob Hope, Classic Cartoon Buddy the Gee Man, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Morality and the Code: A How-to Manual for Hollywood

Commentary by Film Historian Richard Jewell

How I Play Golf by Bobby Jones No. 11: Practice Shots

Breakdowns of 1935: Studio Blooper Reel

5) San Quentin (1937)

Warner Night at the Movies 1937 with Newsreel, Oscar Nominated Broadway Brevity Short The Man Without a Country, Classic Cartoon Porky's Double Trouble, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Welcome to the Big House

Commentary by Film Historian Patricia King Hanson

Breakdowns of 1937: Studio Blooper Reel

6) A Slight Case of Murder (1938)

Warner Night at the Movies 1938 with Newsreel, Oscar Nominated Drama Short Declaration of Independence, Classic Cartoon The Night Watchman, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Prohibition Opens the Floodgates

Commentary by Film Historian Robert Sklar

Warner Gangsters Collection: Volume Three

1) Smart Money (1931)

Warner Night at the Movies 1931 with Newsreel, Musical Short George Jessel and His Russian Art Choir and The Smart Set-Up, Classic Cartoon Big Man from the North, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini

2) Picture Snatcher (1933)

Warner Night at the Movies 1933 with Newsreel, Musical Short Plane Crazy, Classic Cartoon Wake Up the Gypsy in Me, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historians Jeffrey Vance and Tony Maietta

3) The Mayor of Hell (1933)

Warner Night at the Movies 1933 with Newsreel, Musical Short The Audition, Classic Cartoon The Organ Grinder, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historian Greg Mank

4) Lady Killer (1933)

Warner Night at the Movies 1933 with Newsreel, Movie Retrospective Short The Camera Speaks, Musical Short Kissing Time, Classic Cartoon The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Drew Casper

5) Black Legion (1937)

Warner Night at the Movies 1937 with Newsreel, Musical Short Hi De Ho with Cab Calloway, Technicolor Historial Short Under Southern Stars, Classic Cartoon Porky and Gabby, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historians Patricia King Hanson and Anthony Slide

6) Brother Orchid (1940)

Warner Night at the Movies 1940 with Newsreel, Musical Short Henry Busse and His Orchestra, Classic Cartoons Busy Bakers and Slap Happy Pappy, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Robinson Biographer Alan L. Gansberg and Bogart Biographer Eric Lax

Literary Classics Collection

1) Madame Bovary (1949)

Vintage Pete Smith Specialty Short Those Good Old Days

Classic Cartoon Out-Foxed

Theatrical Trailer

2) Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Vintage Oscar Nominated Short My Country 'Tis of Thee

Classic Cartoon Captain Hareblower

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show Adaptation with Gregory Peck and Virgina Mayo

Theatrical Trailer

3) The Three Musketeers (1948)

Vintage Fitzpatrick Traveltalk Short Looking at London

Classic Cartoon What Price Freedom

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Promo

Theatrical Trailer

4) The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 & 1952 Versions)

Pete Smith Specialty Short Penny Wisdom

Cartoon The Wayward Pups

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Adaptation with Ronald Colman

Fitzpatrick Traveltalk Short Land of the Taj Mahal

Oscar Winning Cartoon Johann Mouse

1952 Theatrical Trailer

5) Billy Budd (1962)

Commentary by Terence Stamp and Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh

Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection

1) David Copperfield (1935)

2 Vintage Technicolor Musical Shorts: Pirate Party on Catalina Isle and Two Hearts in Wax Time

Classic Cartoon - Poor Little Me

Audio-Only Bonus "Leo is on the Air" Radio Promo

Theatrical Trailer

2) Marie Antoinette (1938)

2 Vintage Shorts: Another Romance of Celluloid and Hollywood Goes to Town

Theatrical Trailer

3) Pride and Prejudice (1940)

Oscar Nominated "Crime Doesn't Pay" Short Eyes of the Navy

Classic Cartoon The Fishing Bear

Theatrical Trailer

4) A Tale of Two Cities (1935)

Oscar Nominated Short Audioscopiks

2 Classic Cartoons: Hey Hey Fever and Honeyland

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show Adaptation Starring Colman

Theatrical Trailer

5) Treasure Island (1934)

Vintage Dramatic Short The Spectacle Maker

Oscar Nominated Short Strikes and Spares

Classic Cartoon Tale of the Vienna Woods

Theatrical Trailer

Sigur Ros

Since the late nineties, Sigur Ros have established themselves as the premier purveyors of delicate orchestral melodies ripe for feature film soundtrack inclusion. Who among us can forget the lilting piano strains that signal the beginning of "Hoppipolla" or the explosion of sound that "Saeglopur" bursts into mid-stride?

If nothing else it's impossible to forget the titles. The band themselves are nearly as inscrutable as their music, particularly since the members are notably boorish in dealing with the press.

Case in point: last years disastrous NPR interview (which can still be seen online, replete with "director's commentary") during which the band is somewhat polite yet awfully reticent for radio.

One wonders why they even agreed to render the interview. Publicity? Contractual obligations? Free coffee at the studio?

Granted, the majority of the questions are approaching inane, yet there's little question the band could have been more gracious. Instead they come off as bleary-eyed sedative addicts.

Though, personally, I wouldn't have it any other way. It is so very droll to read the comments of the fans as they blindly defend their precious heroes and decry the career choice (among other things) of the interviewer.

But I digress.

Since news of Hvarf/Heim broke mid-2007, it's been no secret the band has been crafting a new record for months. So it was with great fanfare that the band recently released the first single from the new album on their website, titled "Gobbledigook".

Believe it or not, I spelled that correctly. "Gobbledigook". I really wish this was an April Fools post, somehow that would make this whole entry even more amusing.

The album cover and music video are also readily available on the web. Sigur Ros has a grand tradition of gorgeous disc packaging and thoughtfully crafted video clips. So what majestic aesthetic are we presented with this time?

Naked people running and/or dancing. Lots of naked people.

Why? Because we all know naked bodies equal poetic art. By this logic the AdultCon conventions should be worthy of highbrow review in the New Yorker.

Were he still with us, I'm sure Helmut Newton would love this new direction. As for me, I'm simply pleased to behold a group so wonderfully bizarre.

Thanks Sigur Ros, for providing beautifully eclectic music with a hearty serving of unintentional hilarity. What will you guys think of next?

Wait, don't tell me. I want to be surprised.

"Gobbledigook" from Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (2008)

[Yeah, I had to copy and paste that title.]

Al Stewart

Today we honor two vastly different English gentlemen: the well-read modern troubadour Al Stewart and the Elizabethan naval commander Richard Grenville.

In 1976, Stewart released his song "Lord Grenville", which somewhat fictionalized the final days of Grenville's life in addition to touching on the specifics.

Though the accounts of Grenville's exploits and inevitable demise are somewhat speculated upon, depending on the source, the following is the version from Al Stewart's own website:

Sir Richard Grenville (1542-1591)

English Naval commander. He was sent with a fleet of 13 ships to intercept a Spanish treasure ship in the Azores. On August 31 they received news that 53 Spanish ships were headed out to meet the treasure ship. Other ships in the fleet weighed anchor and headed out to sea.

Grenville's ship, the Revenge, was delayed and cut off. The ship was becalmed in the lee of a large galleon. After a hand to hand battle lasting 15 hours, involving 15 ships and 5000 men, the Revenge was captured. Grenville was carried aboard the Spanish flagship, where he died a few days later. The exploit is commemorated in a poem by Tennyson titled "The Revenge".

The following excerpt from Cornwall Calling offers a few more details:

On August 31st 1591 the Revenge with about a hundred men fought a battle against some fifty Spanish ships. Battle ceased as darkness fell, and the next day the Spaniards were surprised to see the Revenge still floating. Its mast and sails were gone, its holds were flooded. Grenville ordered his chief gunner to sink the Revenge to stop it falling into enemy hands, but the survivors wanted him to surrender.

Grenville agreed provided the Spanish would grant them full honours of war, and return them to England immediately. The Spanish commander agreed and the battle ended. The Revenge was captured, and Grenville, mortally wounded, was taken on board the Spanish Admiral's ship San Pablo, where he died a few days afterwards. Shortly afterwards an enormous storm sank the Revenge and 14 Spanish ships.



"Lord Grenville" from Year of the Cat (1976)

Gus

"Floodlights" from Word of Mouth Parade (1999)

Curtis Stigers

Adult contemporary radio stations briefly flirted with Curtis Stiger's album Time Was back in '95, as they had three years earlier with his self-titled debut, but ultimately mainstream stardom was to elude Mr. Stigers.

Aside from being a quite talented saxophonist with an ear for crafting radio-friendly pop melodies, Mr. Stigers also possesses a distinctive voice most notably suited for jazz. Today we revisit his finest album with two time-related tracks culled from the aptly titled Time Was.



"This Time" from Time Was (1995)

"Time Was" (Duet with Shawn Colvin) from Time Was (1995)

Sam Cooke

British singer James Hunter once recounted a story concerning the universal appeal of Cooke's music:

"I was on a train once, uh, comin' home from somewhere that night. And there was a few - lots of tired commuters, and somebody a few seats down had a... a whatcha call it...a little stereo playin' Sam Cooke stuff really softly on it there. And normally when somebody's got music going on in the train somebody gets irritated. But that trip, no one, there wasn't anyone on the train that didn't dig it."

I hardly need re-tell the oft-told tales of the legendary life of Sam Cooke. One only need initiate a brief search engine jaunt to bring up detailed articles of his life, career, and untimely death.

Still, even if unfamiliar with the specifics of Cooke's life, who hasn't heard his work? Classic tracks like "Bring it on Home to Me" and "Chain Gang" are mainstays on oldies radio. Here, however, we'll focus on lesser-known but equally sublime masterpieces from Cooke's storied canon.




"Just For You" from Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 (2003)




"Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" from The Man Who Invented Soul (2000)

"Sugar Dumpling" (Original Version) from The Man Who Invented Soul (2000)

The Alan Parsons Project

What better way could there be to kick off the 2008 Memorial Day weekend than with the first two cuts from Eye in the Sky by progressive rock band The Alan Parsons Project?

The first three cuts?

Absolutely!

The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky (1982)

1) "Sirius"
2) "Eye in the Sky"
3) "Children of the Moon"

The Pogues

The Pogues debut record Red Roses for Me signaled a new era in Irish pop music with its brilliant fusion of traditional Irish folk music and the youthful potency of punk music.

Though the novelty was certain to eventually wear off, as such things are wont to do, The Pogues continued to reinvent their style with two successive albums.

Rum, Sodomy, & the Lash is unquestionably their greatest achievement, boasting both heartbreaking ballads ("A Pair of Brown Eyes") and raucous drinking songs ("The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn").

Third effort If I Should Fall from Grace with God maintains a close second position to the previous album. Though not quite as memorable, it contains the Pogues most cherished entry in their canon - "Fairytale of New York".

"Streams of Whiskey" from Red Roses for Me (1984)

"A Pair of Brown Eyes" from Rum, Sodomy, & the Lash (1985)

"Fairytale of New York" from If I Should Fall from Grace with God (1988)

Josh Ritter

American folk singer/songwriter Josh Ritter built a steady following on the strength of his first two albums, but his artistic growth did not reach copious fruition until the release of Hello Starling in 2003. Second track "Kathleen" has become such a prominent icon that Ritter's handwritten lyrics were recently auctioned on eBay for charity.

"All the other girls here are stars, you are the Northern Lights" brilliantly introduces the track, though it is true the album is also suffused with sharp subjective thought as well. The solemn lamentations of "Man Burning" illustrate that quite well: "I regret the things I've done, bitter words and fiery tongues."

In 2005, Hello Starling was re-released with an extra disc that contained a four song live set including "Kathleen", "Golden Age of Radio", "You Don't Make It Easy Babe", and "Snow Is Gone." It's highly recommended, as Mr. Ritter is legendary for his colorful live performances.

When The Animal Years appeared swiftly on the heels of that re-release, pre-release samples from the album were snapped up faster than doughnuts at a weight loss convention. Mr. Ritter suddenly featured in multitudes of music periodicals, including a grand write up in Paste - and there was bounteous reason for this fervor.

"Girl in the War" fronted a delicate, yet brutally honest anti-war stance, "Wolves" featured a rolling piano intro and called to mind a successor to Neil Young's throne might be at hand, while the lyric "Best for the Best" suggested a burgeoning songwriter who has the chops to rival Dylan.

As if the world needed any more proof of Ritter's inimitable talent, fourth record The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter arrived in stores in August of 2007. The minute the jangly, excited guitar strum of "To the Dogs or Whoever" strikes the eardrum, it promises something ambitiously extravagant. It is distinctly Ritter, name dropping historical figures and following it up with profoundly mystic lines like "The stain of the sepia the butcher Crimea."

"Right Moves" could have been a hit single were the masses not hopelessly superficial, "Empty Hearts" contains one of the most accessible singalong choruses of the year, while "The Temptation of Adam" serves to exemplify Ritter's songwriting prowess.

The track is a distillation of a romance between a soldier and a woman named Marie hunkered down in a missile silo, described as a "top secret location three hundred feet under the ground." The lyric is hauntingly beautiful as it treads the course of the courtship amidst the foreboding intonations of "W.W.I.I.I.", the soldier's answer to Marie's question of "what five letters spell apocalypse?"

Occasionally, in order to fully understand an artist, it is helpful to read a bit about their background and lifestyle. Writer Josh Jackson, in the aforementioned Paste article, assists with this sufficiently with the following excerpt:

"With his curly mop, scraggly beard, sweater and secondhand corduroy jacket, Ritter looks more like a college professor than either of his parents, who both teach neuroscience at Washington State University, just across the state line.

Though he left Idaho after high school, he’s at home in the woods of the Northwest, where he first began writing songs. He points out the different types of trees—enormous cedars, cottonwoods, ponderosas, willows and Douglas firs.

Further up the mountain from Ritter’s childhood home, his best friend Rocky Weitz’s family owns hundreds of acres.

'I could disappear into those woods for hours,' Ritter says. 'Just take a book and spend the day by myself.'"

"Song for the Fireflies" from Golden Age of Radio (2001)

"Kathleen" from Hello Starling (2003)

"Wolves" from The Animal Years (2006)

"The Temptation of Adam" from The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (2007)

BONUS TRACK

"Peter Killed the Dragon" from Live at the Record Exchange EP (2007)

The Hiatus Comes Full Circle

The long wait is over. After being lulled into a coma by now resolved circumstances (the particulars of which are protracted and uninteresting) HHDC is back and ready for semi-regular postings!