Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD! - Page 2

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Before this thread, I was not aware of the these different Keaton presentations. I've owned The Art of Buster Keaton on both laserdisc and DVD, but I am interested in these new and different editions, and have a few questions.

1.) Does the MoC version of the shorts use the same scores as The Art of Buster Keaton? (The quality of the French version actually looks better in the DVD beaver captures, but apparently the titles are in French.) If not, are they good?

2.) John Hodson had a link to a new version of The General, as well as a set that features the Carl Davis version. Apparently, the video quality of the Carl Davis version is scarcely better than VHS. However, I am interested in that newer BBC version. I realize it does not have Davis' score, but does it have a good one? I already have THIS VERSION which has (IMO) a poor score but a great transfer. The Robert Israel version in the Kino set has a decent score but a fairly poor transfer. I'm just looking for the best version.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

The transfer of the 'Cinema Club' The General is exactly the same as the Mk2 French version reviewed at DVD Beaver; you have a choice of scores, Robert Israel's mono score recorded in 1995, or a quite fabulous new score in 5.1 surround by Joe Hisaishi, one of the most charming, sympathetic new silent film scores I've yet to hear.

Add to that an unrivalled list of extras, a beautiful transfer, and you the best presentation of the film extant.

Disc 1:
A fully restored High Definition version of film
Introduction by David Robinson (5 mins)
'Movie Restoration' featurette (3 mins)
'Recording The 2004 Score' featurette (8 mins)
Disc 2:
An extract from the tinted version of the film (7 mins)
'The Railroader': a follow up film to 'The General' (25 mins)
'Buster Keaton Rides Again' documentary (55 mins)
'Filming The General' featurette
'Orson Welles Presents The General' featurette (11 mins)
'Return Of The General' short film (11 mins)
'The Iron Mule' short film (13 mins)
'Alice's Tin Pony': a Walt Disney cartoon (6 mins)
'Filmography' featurette (11 mins)
'The Great Locomotive Chase' trailer

BTW, the transfers on the other R2 'Cinema Club' Keaton set are just as impressive.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Another vote here for Hollywood. A truly wonderful series and the opening credits combined with the score are extremely moving.

I watched The Unknown Chaplin and thought this an intersting piece too.

I own most of Chaplin's work on DVD, but nothing of Keaton or Harold Lloyd. I have ordered The General (2 disc edition with the 5.1 score), but could someone indicate what other collections I should buy/are worthy of buying (in terms of quality of presentation). I am not so much interested in whether a film is thought to be better or worse than another one, but more in terms of the transfers.

Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

This thread may help Nick.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Yesterday I finally got hold of the R2 WB Vol 2 Charlie Chaplin Collection for a bargain price. I know what I'll be watching

Oscar

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Thanks for the link John.

So, if I am reading you right, you say that you got rid of the Network set in favour of the Masters of Cinema 4 disc edition?
A quick run through of the titles available on the Network set reveals the following not on any of the other sets you mentioned: The Saphead, Our Hospitality, Sherlock Jr, The Navigator, Seven Chances, Go West, Battling Butler and the documentary The Great Stone Face. Have I read that right and if so is the Network edition not worth having for these titles alone (ie the Network set and the other DVDs you mention?).

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

I weighed it all and figured that something better had to come along at some time and it simply wasn't worth the shelf space (which is at a premium). I'm a patient guy. I got a decent price for the Network set, and I'll pick the MoC set up somewhere down the line.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Absolutely you should rush out and get the Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection box from New Line as soon as possible. The films for the most part are in spectacular shape. It really is one of the best DVD sets I've ever seen, and it contains most of Lloyd's features and many shorts too, along with some great extras. I was always a Chaplin guy, but after buying the Harold Lloyd box, I think I've grown to like him the best of all the silent comedians.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

I second the Lloyd recommendation. If quality of transfers matters, you will be impressed by the collection. Lloyd and his heirs did a great job of preserving his films, and the versions in the set have great musical scores by Robert Israel and Carl Davis.

I also agree that I sort of like Lloyd's films more than Chaplin's. Lloyd is not funny per se, as are Chaplin and Keaton (that is, Lloyd's characters are not peculiar little guys with a funny walk, strange costume, etc), but the stories, situations and gags are funny (and often quite thrilling).

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Yesterday, I received the MK2 version of The General from Amazon.UK. It really is a remarkable special edition, with lots of great bonus material. The film itself was wonderfully restored, IMO, and looked more like it was shot in the 40's or 50's rather than in 1926. I've never seen such a sharp and blemish-free presentation of this film before.

However, I was not overly fond of the music score. It sounded great in 5.1, and was, for the most part, servicable, but I strongly disliked the "main theme" which is heard in the opening sequence when the train is returning to the station. I expected some sort of Americana theme, as would be apropos in a film set in Georgia during the American Civil War. The composer gives us a rather heavy handed waltz theme in a minor key that simply does not fit this film (it sounds rather like Khatchaturian's Masquerade waltz). The theme probably would have sounded great in a costume film set in Europe in the 19th century, but seems incongruous (to my ears) in a Civil War comedy/adventure. Fortunately, this theme is used sparingly, mainly at the beginning and end of the movie. The rest of the score is OK.

Luckily, they thoughtfully included Robert Israel's 1995 score, which works fine for me. It would have been nice to have the Carl Davis score, but, considering how great the film looks, Israel's is certainly good enough, and does not distract from the visuals, so it's all good.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Back to the original idea of this thread on documentary series about Hollywood history: I'm surprised no one's even mentioned the syndicated 1976-82 series That's Hollywood! which was narrated by Tom Bosley and featured many a classic film clip (with emphasis on material from Fox, which produced the show!). This show, along with the Brownlow documentary really started my interest in Hollywood history. Does anyone else remember That's Hollywood!?

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

I remember THAT'S HOLLYWOOD very well. The episodes were WAY too short to be as substantial as they should have been, but the show was wonderful.
It was reminiscent of a more modern HOLLYWOOD AND THE STARS, largely because Jack Haley, Jr. did both of them. There was only one season of the show in 1976, part of Jack Haley's move to Fox from MGM after the mega-success of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT in theaters. Then, the 2nd season was done several years later so that they had more episodes for syndication.

The reason we don't see the show anymore, and probably never will again, is likely due to the clip licensing situation. Although each THAT'S HOLLYWOOD episode was drenched in Fox clips, and shows were built around themes where the Fox library had strength, they did license clips from UA often, and I believe there may have been some Columbia clips, too. Those licenses now have surely expired and would cost a fortune to renew.

I am fortunate to have taped many of them off the air during the "return" season made up of old '76-'77 shows, and new ones as well. They are fun to watch.

Interestingly, many of those shows, ended up being recycled by those cheapjack documentaries that FOX's little unit was making for A&E and AMC. I believe they no longer are in operation. But those more recent pieces lifted ideas and even narration right out of the Haley THAT'S HOLLYWOOD shows!

Meanwhile, to get back on topic, the world is waiting for the return on video for Messrs. Brownlow and Gill's magnificent HOLLYWOOD mini-series.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Any updates on this title?

I searched my local library system and found that I can rent the VHS tapes through them. So, I'm going to start watching them later this week, and figured that will most likely trigger the release of these on DVD.

I broke down and bought the Keaton documentary on Laserdisc, but this title is out of my price range whenever it shows up on Ebay.

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Hi-

I've read this thread with interest, and want to know if anyone knows of someplace I can purchase the comp[lete Hollywood set on VHS?

Though obviously not my medium of choice, since it's not on DVD I'd like to get my hands on it somehow-

If anyone wants to unload their tapes, or can point me in a general direction, I would appreciate it-

Thanks-
Jack

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

Jack,

The set appears on Ebay pretty regularly for between $50-$100 on VHS.

Here's one listing. They have an extremely high "Buy It Now", but I'll bet you can get it for the $99 that they have it listed for and I've seen it go cheaper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HOLLYWOOD-Celebr...QQcmdZViewItem

Re: Kevin Brownlow's HOLLYWOOD and UNKNOWN CHAPLIN coming to DVD!

I continue to look for this set... A laserdisc set just sold for 307.00 on Ebay. I would love to own it, but the price is just too steep. Any more movement on a DVD release?