 | Now I know why this set is never on sale
rating: 5
I'd put off getting this boxed set because it never went on sale. That is true of both this set and the Judy Garland Signature Collection. I finally did get this one, and for the past few days I've gone through the set and I can see why it's never on sale. Although I frequently see "The Women" and "Mildred Pierce" televised, it had been awhile for two of the others, and I had never seen "Humoresque" before. What a treat, what five outstanding films. You could honestly say that "The Women" and "Humoresque" are not really Joan's films. The leads are actually Norma Shearer and John Garfield, respectively. However, even in these films Joan plays a critical role I can't see going to any other actress, and that's an odd thing to say since they are both two very different films.
"The Women" is really the only film even bordering on comedy, with the other four being rather dark, and reflecting the domination of film noir during the post-WWII period. Other people have mentioned the plot details, so let me just say a few words about the extra features. WHV has consistently put out the best classic film boxed sets on the market, and this is one of them. They always pack these things with extra features, and they seem to know what kind of extra features suit each set. For example, the Warner Gangsters franchise always gets the Warner Night at the Movies treatment (a short subject, a cartoon, and a newsreel), and it fits. Likewise WHV seemed to know that humorous old MGM shorts and Bugs Bunny would just be an odd fit for Joan's films, although the humorous "The Women" does have some old 30's short subjects on its disc. Instead, we get some topnotch commentary and featurettes that focus on different aspects of the films. Well done WHV, this is a great salute to Joan.
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films with class
rating: 5
These films have a class about them that the newer generation of films do not.All though the films are in black and white the stories go along with the non color whitch i think makes this period of films classic. This way you can immagine any color of a dress that you want.There is a fashion show in The Women that was shot in color.
The Damed Dont Cry and Mildred Pierce were my favorite out of the set. I am now watching vol. 2 , Joan Crawford.She is a star with class.
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TCM Runs All of These Movies for Free
rating: 1
I know that my review will not be popular with Joan Crawford fans who simply want to put 5 stars up for their idol; however, this is a critique of the box set, not Joan Crawford. I won't buy the box set because I have already recorded all of the movies included in it for less than .25 cents a piece. Turner Classic Movies plays them repeatedly and is doing so currently. Thus, I find this collection to be old hat and too standard to get excited about at all. Plus, most of these DVDs were already available. Buying the set is certainly no financial discount either.
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Wonderful
rating: 5
Having been brought up one block from 42nd St. and two blocks from Broadway, what can I tell you? At six years old, I was totally in love with Rita Hayworth, and wanted her to wait for me, but she went off and married some older, more wealthy men. (Go figure.) I also believed that all truly beautiful women were like Joan Crawford, e.g., "handle with care" and "proceed with caution". (Ha, ha)
I can tell you that "The Joan Crawford Collection, Vol. 1" is a keeper. It features her films: "The Women" with Rosalind Russell (1939), "Humoresque" with John Garfield, "Mildred Pierce" (1945) with Zachary Scott for which she won the Academy Award in 1946, "Possessed" (1947) with Van Heflin for which she was nominated for an Academy Award in 1948, and "The Damned Don't Cry" (1950) with Kent Smith. She was a wonderful actress, a Hollywood icon, a trailblazer for American women, and yet, very much, a woman of her time and culture.
My suggestion is to watch these films in chronological order to really get more of a feel for Joan's evolution at Warner Bros. My personal favorites are "Humoresque" (great score) with John Garfield and "Mildred Pierce" with Zachary Scott (an excellent, but underrated actor, except to those in the business). Nevertheless, all the films are worthwhile examples of film noir, romance, suspense, and melodrama.
I'm not especially thrilled with the film commentaries and support material, except on "Possessed", which is more informative. Also, Director Vincent Sherman's film commentary on "The Damned Don't Cry" was disappointingly redundant. Understandably, he was along in years when he did this commentary, and, in fact, died in 2006, a year after this DVD set was released. It's a shame because he could have provided so much more about the technical aspects of his direction of the film. Regrettably, Vincent Sherman, like John Garfield, had been caught up in the "Red Scare" and House on Un-American Activities in the late Forties, which resulted in the end of his career in Hollywood. Subsequently, he went on to work as a director in television.
While not a perfect set, Joan Crawford still makes it all worthwhile and five stars.
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Joan Volume 2 - Coming 2/08!!!
rating: 5
Joan Crawford Collection Vol. 2 (R1) in February - Artwork added
Warner Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of the Joan Crawford Collection Volume 2 on 12th February 2008. Following the success of its best-selling Joan Crawford Collection in 2005, Warner brings you a new set of Crawford classics featuring some of the Oscar-winning actress' finest films - A Woman's Face, Flamingo Road, Sadie McKee, Strange Cargo and Torch Song. Drawn from her years at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros., each film has been restored and remastered for its DVD debut, with bonus material including new featurettes, radio shows, vintage short subjects, trailers, and much more. Packaged as a collectible gift set, the five-disc Joan Crawford Collection Vol. 2 will sell for $49.92 SRP.
Sadie McKee (1934)
Sadie McKee was made during the period when Crawford was queen of the box-office, and every film she made was sure to be a hit. Many of them followed a similar formula, where Crawford rises from poverty to wealth, with conflict between two suitors vying for her affections. What sets this film apart from most of her other work of the era, is the direction of the legendary Clarence Brown, whose fine talents brought out the best in Metro's stars, most notably Garbo and Crawford. Co-starring with Franchot Tone (whom she would marry the following year), Gene Raymond, and Edward Arnold, the film is also well-known for being the Crawford film her Blanche Hudson character watches on television years later in the unforgettable Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962). In addition, Sadie McKee is famous for introducing the classic Arthur Freed/Nacio Herb Brown song "All I Do is Dream of You."
DVD Special Features: (waiting confirmation from Michael Crawford)
Vintage comedy short Goofy Movies #4
Classic cartoon Toyland Broadcast
Theatrical trailer
Strange Cargo (1940)
Joan Crawford first shared the screen in 1931 with an up-and-coming young actor whose charm and machismo would soon make him a superstar. The film was called Laughing Sinners and the leading man was none other than Clark Gable. Their on-screen chemistry was undeniable, and Metro ended up teaming them in a total of eight films over the next 9 years (including Dancing Lady, also available on DVD from WHV). Strange Cargo was their 8th and final collaboration, a rugged adventure story that eschewed the usual M-G-M elegance that had been present in so many of their other films together. Under the superb direction of Frank Borzage (Seventh Heaven, The Mortal Storm), this film is the rare action-packed adventure that carries an underlying spiritual theme which further enhances the Crawford/Gable chemistry. The film co-stars a bevy of famous Hollywood character actors, including Paul Lukas and the legendary Peter Lorre.
DVD Special Features:
New featurette: Gable & Crawford
Vintage short More About Nostradamus
Classic cartoon The Lonesome Stranger
Theatrical Trailer
A Woman's Face (1941)
It was director George Cukor who helped Crawford break free of her usual screen persona in 1939's The Women, and in this dark thriller the masterful director brought out one of the leading lady's best performances. Based on the play "Il Etat Une Fois" (It was one time") by Francis de Croisset, A Woman's Face casts Crawford as a horribly disfigured woman whose inner pain motivates her to live a life of evil. A kind doctor gives her a chance to remove her outer ugliness, and shows her a path to love and happiness, but can she adjust to this after years of such darkness? This conflict allowed Crawford to show her broad range as a talented actress, a task she felt essential at that point in her career. Despite excellent reviews for the film, and especially for Crawford, Cukor, and the leading man Melvyn Douglas, the film did not succeed initially at the box-office. It was only after re-release in later years that it finally earned its place as a true classic within the incomparable pantheon of M-G-M's finest dramas.
DVD Special Features:
Vintage Romance of Celluloid Short You Can't Fool a Camera
Classic cartoon Little Cesario
Two audio-only radio adaptations with Bette Davis and Ida Lupino
Theatrical trailer
Flamingo Road (1949)
Joan Crawford's move from M-G-M to Warner Bros. in the mid-`40s, revitalized her screen career under the direction of Michael Curtiz in the smash hit that earned her the Best Actress Oscar, Mildred Pierce (1945). Crawford's Warner years continued to strengthen her stature as one of Hollywood's biggest stars, and Flamingo Road provided a reunion between Crawford and Curtiz for the first time since Mildred Pierce. Crawford plays Lane Bellamy, a dancer touring with a low-rent carnival, who finds more than she bargained for when she ends up on Flamingo Road. The impressive list of supporting players includes Sydney Greenstreet, Zachary Scott and David Brian. The film was later the basis for a 1980s television series.
DVD Special Features:
New featurette: Crawford at Warners
Classic cartoon Curtain Razor
Audio-only radio adaptation with the film's stars
Theatrical trailer
Torch Song (1953)
Joan Crawford made her highly-publicized return to M-G-M after a decade away to star in Torch Song, her first feature film entirely in Technicolor. This sudsy melodrama, directed by Charles Walters (High Society) has become a cult classic. Crawford portrays Broadway musical star Jenny Stewart, who seems to have everything in life - except someone to love. While most people `cow-tow' to her diva-like behavior, only Ty Graham (played by Elizabeth Taylor's then-husband Michael Wilding), a pianist blinded during WWII, will stand up to her. Graham's secret passion for Jenny eventually awakens her vulnerability. But will they get together for a happy ending?
This is the film that inspired Carol Burnett's famous parody Torchy Song, and an audience favorite that has been unavailable on home video for nearly 15 years. By popular demand, audiences can now watch Crawford's famous dances, and her musical emoting (with vocals dubbed by singer India Adams). Actress Marjorie Rambeau gives a memorable star turn as Crawford's beer-chugging Mom, a role that earned the venerable character actress an Oscar nomination.
DVD Special Features:
New featurette: Tough Baby: Joan Crawford and Torch Song
Audio bonus: Joan Crawford recording session
Public service announcement trailer: At Home with Joan Crawford
Vintage MGM cartoon: TV of Tomorrow
Vintage MGM short
Theatrical trailer
All films B&W and Mono, in 1.37 aspect ratio, except TORCH SONG, which is Color and 1.77 aspect ratio as originally shown in theaters.
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