Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

I would get those Glamour Collections for Mae West and Carole Lombard. The Warner Bros. Clark Gable set also has 4/5 of his movies from the 30s.

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

George Burns & Gracie Allen 3 Movies: Here Comes Cookie (1935) / Love in Bloom (1935) / Six of a Kind (1934)

Love Me Tonight (1932)

The Busby Berkeley Collection
- 42nd Street (1933)
- Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
- Footlight Parade (1933)
- Dames (1934)
- Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
- The Buby Berkeley Disc

Complete Thin Man Collection
- The Thin Man (1934)
- After the Thin Man (1936)
- Another Thin Man (1939)
(also includes some 40's films)
- Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)
- The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)
- Song of the Thin Man (1947)

Mr. Moto Collection Volume 1 - Cinema Classics Collection
- Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937)
- Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937)
- Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (1938)
- Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938)

Mr. Moto Collection - Volume 2 - Cinema Classics Collection
- Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938)
- Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1939)
- Mr. Moto in Danger Island (1939)
- Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation (1939)

Half-Shot at Sunrise (1930)

Hook, Line & Sinker (1930)

Dixiana (1930)

Twentieth Century (1934)

Classic Comedies Collection
- Bringing Up Baby - Two-Disc Special Edition (1938)
- Dinner at Eight (1933)
- Libeled Lady (1936)
- Stage Door (1937)
(plus these from the 40's)
- The Philadelphia Story - Two-Disc Special Edition (1940)
- To Be or Not to Be (1942)

Astaire and Rogers: The Complete Film Collection - Ultimate Collector's Edition
- Top Hat (1935)
- Swing Time (1936)
- Follow the Fleet (1936)
- Shall We Dance (1937)
- Flying Down to Rio (1933)
- The Gay Divorcee (1934)
- Roberta (1935)
- Carefree (1938)
- The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)
(and one from the 40's)
- The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)

My Man Godfrey - The Criterion Collection (1936)

Trouble in Paradise - The Criterion Collection (1932)

Cary Grant Box Set
- Holiday (1938)
- Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
- The Awful Truth (1937)
(and these from the 40's)
- The Talk of the Town (1942)
- His Girl Friday (1940)

Cary Grant: Screen Legend Collection - The Franchise Collection
- Thirty Day Princess (1934)
- Kiss and Make Up (1934)
- Wings in the Dark (1935)
- Big Brown Eyes (1936)
- Wedding Present (1936)

Mae West: The Glamour Collection - The Franchise Collection
- Night After Night (1932)
- I'm No Angel (1933)
- Goin' to Town (1935)
- Go West Young Man (1936)
(with this from the 40's)
- My Little Chickadee (1940)

Carole Lombard: The Glamour Collection - The Franchise Collection
- Man of the World (1931)
- We're Not Dressing (1934)
- Hands Across the Table (1935)
- Love Before Breakfast (1936)
- The Princess Comes Across (1936)
- True Confession (1937)

Attack of the 30's Characters
- Congo Jazz (1930)
- In Wonderland (1931)
- Bars and Stripes (1931)
- Lady, Play Your Mandolin (1931)
- Noah's Outing (1932)
- In the Bag (1932)
- Is My Palm Read (1933)
- Funny Face (1932)
- The Mad Doctor (1933)
- Jolly Good Felons (1934)
- Little Black Sambo (1935)
- The Merry Kittens (1935)
- Beachcombers (1936)
- To Spring (1936)
- Porky's Railroad (1937)
- The Paneless Window Washer (1937)

Classic Betty Boop Cartoons (Platinum)
- Betty Boop's Rise to Fame (1934)
- I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You (1932)
- Snow-White (1933)
- Betty Boop's Bamboo Isle (1932)
- Morning, Noon and Night (1933)
- Chess-Nuts (1932)
- The Old Man of the Mountain (1933)
- Betty in Blunderland (1934)
- Be Human (1936)
- Betty Boop's Big Boss (1933)
- Parade of the Wooden Soldiers (1933)
- Not Now (1936)
- She Wronged Him Right (1934)
- Betty Boop and Grampy (1935)
- Minnie the Moocher (1932)
- Musical Mountaineers (1939)
- Stop That Noise (1935)
- Swat the Fly (1935)
- Betty Boop and the Little King (1936)
- Happy You and Merry Me (1936)
- House Cleaning Blues (1937)
- The Impractical Joker (1937)
- Betty Boop and Little Jimmy (1936)

Cartoons That Time Forgot - From the Van Beuren Studio
- Molly Moo Cow and the Butterflies (1935)
- Bold King Cole (1936)
- It's a Greek Life (1936)
- Molly Moo Cow and the Indians (1935)
- The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg (1936)
- Toonerville Trolley (1936)
- Cupid Gets His Man (1936)
- Molly Moo Cow and Robinson Crusoe (1936)
- A Waif's Welcome (1936)
- Trolley Ahoy (1936)
- Opening Night (1933)
- In a Cartoon Studio (1931)
- The Tuba Tooter (1932)
- Candy Town (1932)
- The Sunshine Makers (1935)
- Piano Tooners (1932)
- Molly Moo Cow and the Rip Van Wrinkle (1935)
- Wot a Night (1931)
- Neptune Nonsense (1936)
- Christmas Night (1933)
- Toonerville Picnic (1936)

Lonely Wives (1931)

W.C. Fields Comedy Collection
- You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939)
- It's a Gift (1934)
- International House (1933)
(with these from the 40's)
- The Bank Dick (1940)
- My Little Chickadee (1940)

W.C. Fields Comedy Collection - Volume 2
- You're Telling Me! (1934)
- The Old Fashioned Way (1934)
- Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935)
- Poppy (1936)
(With this from the 40's)
- Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941)

Marlene Dietrich: The Glamour Collection - The Franchise Collection
- Morocco (1930)
- Blonde Venus (1932)
- The Devil Is a Woman (1935)
(with these from the 40's)
- The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
- Golden Earrings (1947)

All Over Town (1937)

Country Gentlemen (1936)

The Gorilla [1939]

Industrial Strength Keaton
(Among other things from the 20-s to the 60's)
- Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931)
- An Old Spanish Custom (1935)

The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938) / College Swing (1938)

The Stand-In (1937)

Premiere Frank Capra Collection
- American Madness (1932)
- It Happened One Night (1934)
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
- You Can't Take It with You (1938)
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

I'm rather sceptical about the 30s especially the second half with its standardized Hollywood products and the other European countries stiiffled by dictatorships. Nevertheless I've seen quite a lot and the following ones strike me as especially good, almost all are available on DVD:

All quiet on the Western Front 1930
City Girl 1930
Der blaue Engel1930
Menschen am Sonntag 1930
Morocco1930
Westfront 1918 1930
Mädchen in Uniform 1931
À nous la liberté 1931
City Lights 1931
Der Kongreß tanzt 1931
Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde 1931
Le Million 1931
M 1931
Das blaue Licht1932
I am a fugitive from a Chain Gang 1932
Love me tonight 1932
Scarface 1932
Trouble In Paradise 1932
Counsellor at Law 1933
Design for Living 1933
Ekstase1933
Liebelei 1933
Queen Christina1933
The Merry Widow1934
The Scarlet Empress 1934
Twentieth Century 1934
We live again 1934
Bride of Frankenstein 1935
Captain Blood 1935
Peter Ibbetson 1935
The Devil is a Woman 1935
Fury 1936
Modern Times 1936
Swing Time 1936
The Petrified Forest 1936
Une Partie de campagne 1936
Pépé le Moko 1937
Stage Door 1937
You only live once 1937
Bringing up Baby 1938
The Adventures of Robin Hood 1938
Daughters Courageous 1939
Ninotchka 1939
Of Mice and Men 1939
Only Angels have Wings 1939
Stagecoach 1939
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1939
Wuthering Heights 1939

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

Tory's post looked pretty comprehensive, but it actually omitted what would be one of my first choices, Universal's "Gary Cooper Collection" which includes "Design for Living", "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer", "Peter Ibbetson", "The General Died at Dawn", and "Beau Geste". In terms of quality of titles, this is my favorite of the actor-themed collections from Universal.

Regards,

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

I only listed things I owned and not mentioned by the topic creator, mostly comedies. I do want the Cooper set and other films of the era.

I love Wheeler & Woolsey, unfortunately their best films are not yet on DVD. If ever they are released, please be sure to get them and make it a priority to watch Diplomaniacs (1933), Cockeyed Cavaliers (1934), Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934), Peach-O-Reno (1931), and Cracked Nuts (1931) (RKO). Until then make do with the public domain Alpha DVDs of Hook Line & Sinker and Half Shot at Sunrise plus the Roan Group Dixiana.

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

From my collection and good recommendations from others. I'm also including some 1927-1929 films that go well with the rest of 1930s films:

1929:
Blackmail
The Cocoanuts
Applause
Hallelujah!

1930:
All Quiet on the Western Front
Hell's Angels
Soup to Nuts
Animal Crackers
Feet First

1931:
Frankenstein
M
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
City Lights
Beau Hunks

1932:
Freaks
The Old Dark House
Horse Feathers
Movie Crazy
The Mummy

1933:
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Sons of the Desert
The Invisible Man
Duck Soup
International House
King Kong

1934:
It Happened One Night
The Thin Man
It's a Gift
The Cat's Paw
The Black Cat

1935:
Mutiny on the Bounty
Bride of Frankenstein
Werewolf of London
The 39 Steps
Captain Blood
Top Hat
A Night at the Opera

1936:
Modern Times
Dracula's Daughter
My Man Godfrey
Sabotage
Fury

1937:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Awful Truth
Way Out West

1938:
Bringing Up Baby
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Lady Vanishes
You Can't Cheat an Honest Man
Alexander Nevsky

1939:
The Wizard of Oz
Gone with the Wind
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Stagecoach
The Rules of the Game
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Can't go wrong with any Laurel & Hardy talkies and I love the 1930s Looney Tunes, Betty Boop, Popeye (coming to DVD this summer!), and the 1930s Disney cartoons.

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

A few I didn't see listed:

Renoir's La Bete Humaine (1938) and The Lower Depths (1936)
L'Atalante (1934)
Gunga Din (1939 - loads of fun)

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

Don't forget about the two excellent Charlie Chan boxed sets from Fox:

Charlie Chan Collection Volume 1
-------------------------------
Charlie Chan in London (1934)
Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)
Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935)
Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)


Charlie Chan Collection Volume 2
-------------------------------
Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936)
Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)
Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)
Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)

---------------

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

I absolutely HAVE to add "The Young In Heart" (1938, with the fantastic Billie Burke and Roland Young, Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) An absolutely thoroughly marvelous film, sweet and funny and just damn perfect. Marie Dupree's line of beauty being needed to be share with someone else has haunted me since I first saw it. As does Billie Burke's wonderful line about her children's birthplace.

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

That is certainly correct as the most important collection of the 30's movies was left out bar none with the Gary Cooper collection as he was the biggest and highest paid actor of the 30's and all the best movies went to him.

Actually he was not only the highest paid actor in 1939 but he had the highest income for that year than anyone in the entire country. He could pick and choose any movie he wanted and any movie he wanted to star in was his for the choosing. He turned down Gone with the Wind that year as Red Butler deciding that the part was not for him, which of course it wasn't.

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

Many movie viewers are drawn to the so called pre-code era (1929 - 1934) before the Hays censorship code had been instituted and ruled the morality of the American cinema for almost 30 years - the code was abolished in 1968. The pre-code cinema is a completely different world - the movies were honest, uncompromising, adult, cynical, provocative. Nothing like this was ever created before or since. Just compare the two endings of Baby Face - the original pre-code and the other one to please the censors. What a difference!

I would also recommend the following titles:

Marlene Dietrich (try her Glamor Collection http://www.amazon.com/Marlene-Dietri.../dp/B000E6ESXK)

Greta Garbo (her 10-DVD Collection is fantastic) http://www.amazon.com/Garbo-Signatur...dp/B0009S4IJM).

Warner Brothers gangster movies:
http://www.amazon.com/Gangsters-Coll.../dp/B0006HBV3M

Farewell to Arms (Gary Cooper, Helen Hayes ):
http://www.amazon.com/Farewell-Arms-.../dp/B00068NWLU

The Bela Lugosi Collection (with famous Black Cat) - http://www.amazon.com/Lugosi-Collect.../dp/B0009X770E

Some more interesting pre-codes:

Svengali - http://www.amazon.com/Svengali-John-.../dp/B00004YS6J

Attorney at Councellor-at-Law - http://www.amazon.com/Counsellor-at-.../dp/B00006LPEP

Animal Kingdom - http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Kingdom.../dp/B0001ZMXAY

Sin Takes a Holiday - http://www.amazon.com/Sin-Takes-Holi.../dp/B0001ZMWTQ

Cleopatra, Sign of the Cross by Cecil B. Demille - http://www.amazon.com/DeMille-Collec.../dp/B000E8JO32

Also, try some 'hidden treasures':

1. 1932 Scarface (part of the 2-DVD gift set):
http://www.amazon.com/Scarface-Delux...qid=1170445090

2. Death Takes a Holiday (1934) (as a special feature in this Meet Joe Black Ultimate edition. Meet Joe Black was a remake of Death Takes a Holiday):
http://www.amazon.com/Meet-Black-Ult.../dp/B00005JCAA

3. The Maltese Falcon (1931) and Satan Met a Lady (1936) (in this 3-DVD Maltese Falcon Set):
http://www.amazon.com/Maltese-Falcon.../dp/B000GIXLW0

If you can view multi-region DVD recordings, I would also recommend:

Bitter Tea of General Yen and Miracle Woman (directed by Frank Capra, with Barbara Stanwyck) in this set from the UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barbara-Stan.../dp/B000B7VZN8

Shanghai Express (1932)with Marlene Dietrich in this set from the UK -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000FZDGWY

Desire (1936 - with Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich) - available in Belgium/Netherlands - http://www.proxis.be/

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

The Marlene Dietrich Glamour Collection mentioned above is, of course, essential, but also look for three of her classics in other releases:

THE BLUE ANGEL (available in German language and English language editions)

THE SCARLET EMPRESS (Criterion)

THE GARDEN OF ALLAH


The Deanna Durbin Sweetheart Collection contains a couple of her best films, two from the 1930s:

THREE SMART GIRLS

FIRST LOVE

And Fox has four box sets of Shirley Temple films of the period, many of which are very enjoyable and all made in the 1930s.

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

The quality of Glamor and Franchise Collections I have seen so far is great and the price is unbeatable.

Here are some reviews:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...dvd_review.htm

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...dvd_review.htm

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...dvd_review.htm

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...collection.htm

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...collection.htm

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDre...collection.htm

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

Universal's Glamour Collections for Dietrich and Lombard both have excellent picture quality.

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

The ones that have problems are usually source element related. I have not encountered any that suffered due to insufficient bitrate. I personally have had good luck with the DVD-18 discs when used.

Regards,

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

The Shirley Temple movie pack "Little Darlings" has a very good movie with Gary Cooper and Carole Lumbard which Shirley Temple just happens to be in and is a good movie on its own merrits even for those that are not Shirley Temple fans.

I hope another Marlene Dietrich set comes out with the other movie she did with Gary Cooper Desire. It was released in Region 2 in the big box set on her but all we got in the states is the smaller box set. I think she really deserves a Vol 2 box set more so than May West and maybe even Carole Lumbard.

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

Marlene Dietrich's Desire was also issued as a single DVD in Belgium in R2. It's a great movie and it definitely deserves a recognition in R1. The Song of Songs with Marlene Dietrich was also issued as a single DVD in France and as a part of a 18 DVD set in the UK. Again, hopefully it will get released in R1 soon.

The Legends of Horror is a great set of 1930's horror movies including the great The Devil-Doll by Tod Browning:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...collection.htm

Nothing Sacred (1937) -
http://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Sacred.../dp/B0000639EG

Behind Office Doors -
http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Office-.../dp/B000286S3I

Platinum Blond (1931) -
http://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Blond.../dp/B0000CBL7Z

Pre-Code Hollywood Set -
http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Code-Holly.../dp/6305436339

Pre-Code Hollywood Set 2 -
http://www.amazon.com/Pre-code-Holly.../dp/B00002E20F

Dancing Lady (1931) -
http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Lady-J.../dp/B000F7CMPO

Bette Davis Collections 1 & 2 -
http://www.amazon.com/Collection-Ske.../dp/B0008ENIOI
http://www.amazon.com/Collection-Jez.../dp/B000EU1Q40

Wife vs Secretary (1936) -
http://www.amazon.com/Wife-vs-Secret.../dp/B000F7CMS6

Lady For A Day (1933) -
http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Day-Warre.../dp/B00005OCL4

Lost Horizon (1937) -
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Horizon-R.../dp/6305416222

Dodsworth (1936) -
http://www.amazon.com/Dodsworth-Mary.../dp/B00005PJ6U

The Good Fairy (1935) -
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Fairy-Mar.../dp/B00006LPEO

Topper (1937) -
http://www.amazon.com/Topper-Returns.../dp/B00008ZZ7B

Come And Get It (1936) -
http://www.amazon.com/Come-Get-Edwar.../dp/B0006TPDZ2

Stella Dallas (1937) -
http://www.amazon.com/Stella-Dallas-.../dp/B0006TPE0Q

No Man Of Her Own (1932) - (to be released on May 22)
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Her-Own-Cl.../dp/B000N3T0FK

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

The Classic Comedies collection is one of the best sets of movies WB has put together. Stage Door is an especial favorite

You might also like this thread, which was a long running discussion of great films from the 30s.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...ad.php?t=84516

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

Lubitsch Musicals
(The Love Parade / The Smiling Lieutenant / One Hour with You / Monte Carlo)

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 3
(Charlie Chan's Secret / Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo / Charlie Chan on Broadway / The Black Camel)

Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection
(David Copperfield 1935 / Marie Antoinette 1938 / Pride and Prejudice 1940 / A Tale of Two Cities 1935 / Treasure Island 1934)

Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection
(Cafe Metropole/Girls Dormitory/Johnny Apollo/Daytime Wife/Luck of the Irish/Ill Never Forget You/That Wonderful Urge/Love Is News/This Above All/Second Honeymoon)
(Only about half of the Tyrone Power films are from the '30s, but you can get all ten for less than $30 so it's hard to go wrong.)

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Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

they have the original flash gordon serial on dvd. with buster crabbe. each chapter is about 20 minutes long. there are like 13 on the first one and 14 on the second.. there is also a third movie. I would recommend that.

Jacob

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

Anything with James Cagney - the Warner stuff looks great! Also the WB musicals "Footlight Parade" and other Berkley musicals

Try the gangesters box sets there are four volumes and each is filled with classic films - Bogart, Cagney, Ewdard G Robinson - you can't go wrong

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

GREAT list! I'm particularly pleased to find Daughters Courageous on there (Michael Curtiz is reputed to have considered it his most underrated film--and I quite agree!)--it's not on DVD though, is it? (I only ask because I WISH it was!!!)

Re: Recommendations of 1930s Films on DVD

I wasn't expecting them to look much better than PD releases when I bought them, but they actually have really nice transfers!

no extras, but very affordable--I really wish they'd come out with more of these!