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The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

post #1 of 22
2/12/07 at 5:07am
Thread Starter 
From DVDTimes...

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=64075

Warner Home Video and Turner Classic Movies have announced the Region 1 DVD release of TCM Spotlight: Katharine Hepburn Collection for 29th May 2007. Together the studios will honour one of Hollywood’s legendary “grand dames” on the anniversary of her 100th birthday (May 12) with the debut of this collection which includes six films never on R1 DVD before -- The Corn is Green, Dragon Seed, Morning Glory, Sylvia Scarlett, Undercurrent and Without Love.

The first in a series of joint releases with Turner Classic Movies (TCM), The TCM Spotlight series will represent a broad group of classic films from various eras, all of which have earned an important place in film history. The selections from the Warner Bros. Entertainment library (the industry’s largest) also represent the kind of motion pictures that have become the hallmark of TCM’s classic film programming. The companies are looking forward to multiple releases under this banner in the coming year.

The TCM Spotlight: Katharine Hepburn Collection features the beloved screen legend in some of her most memorable roles, and will also include special features such as Oscar-nominated vintage shorts and classic cartoons. The films will be available all together in a collectible gift set for $59.92 SRP, or individually at $19.97 SRP.

The Corn is Green (1978)
Katharine Hepburn stars in director George Cukor’s exquisite television version of Emlyn Williams’ beloved play about a dedicated teacher who is determined to make a difference in an early 1900s Welsh mining community. This is Hepburn’s 10th and final collaboration with her dear friend Cukor.

Dragon Seed (1944)
Hepburn headlines this dramatic saga of the World War II Chinese war effort, playing heroic Chinese peasant woman Jade in this adaptation of the bestseller by Pearl S. Buck (The Good Earth). Stellar support includes Walter Huston and Aline MacMahon (Academy Award nominee for her stirring performance) as a long-married couple whose peaceful farm life is disrupted by enemy troops – and plunged into a tumult of hardships, wartime atrocities and fiery resistance.

Features include:
Vintage short Romance of Celluloid: Twenty Years After
Classic cartoon
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

Morning Glory (1933)
Hepburn earned the first of four Best Actress Academy Awards® for her portrayal of stage-struck Eva Lovelace, a role with strong parallels to Hepburn’s own theatrical beginnings. The story of an innocent country girl who seeks fame and fortune on Broadway, Eva’s story encompasses setbacks, human frailties and courage, talent and triumph.

Features include:
Oscar-nominated Pete Smith short Menu
Classic cartoon Bosko’s Mechanical Man
Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

Sylvia Scarlett (1936)
This offbeat movie marks the first of the four screen pairings of legends Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, who play half of a roving team of swindlers and performers. Hepburn’s gender-bending dual roles as Sylvia and Sidney caused consternation then, but today the film finds an avid cult following. And Grant’s performance as a ne’er-do-well cockney con artist gave him a role that showcased for the first time his wider talents.

Features include:
Vintage Fitzpatrick TravelTalk short Los Angeles: Wonder City of the West
Classic cartoon Alias St. Nick
Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

Undercurrent (1946)
This noir-styled melodrama directed with deft, screw-tightening skill by Vincente Minnelli sets a brooding tone. Newlywed Ann Garroway (Katharine Hepburn) is blinded by happiness, unable to see the true nature of her husband (Robert Taylor). She overlooks the menace that creeps into his words and trusts him when he says his mysterious, long-unseen brother (Robert Mitchum) is a psychopath. This is a suspenseful psychological thriller, with doubt and fear lurking under the surface.

Features include:
Oscar-Nominated Theater of Life short Traffic with the Devil
Classic cartoon Lonesome Lenny
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)

Without Love (1945)
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn team for the third time in the romantic comedy Without Love, playing a couple doing their part for the wartime lodging crunch by sharing her Washington DC home. Donald Ogden Stewart adapts Philip Barry’s play (five years earlier, both helped shape Hepburn’s comeback movie The Philadelphia Story). Supporting stars Keenan Wynn as a bon vivant, Lucille Ball’s wisecracking Girl Friday and Gloria Grahame’s flower girl add to the movie’s urbane wit and warmth.

Features include:
Vintage Crime Doesn’t Pay Short Purity Squad
Classic cartoon Swing Shift Cinderella
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)
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post #2 of 22
2/12/07 at 7:55am

Re: The Katherine Hepburn Collection in May

Another interesting set. I've never seen any of these films, and am only familiar with two of the names.

I'm curious as to how the TCM/WB sets are going to appear. Are these going to be simliar to the TCM archives and be a foldout with multiple movies per disc or will they be similar to the signature collections? ....or possibly some features of both?
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post #3 of 22
2/12/07 at 8:28am

Re: The Katherine Hepburn Collection in May

It's about time!

Some interesting choices (1978's The Corn Is Green is not something I was expecting!); I just wish "Sylvia Scarlett" in particular had more extrass. I would have figured there would be lots of people willing to do a commentary on that one; there's certainly enough to talk about!

...also, and I really hate being one of those people, but, the woman's name is spelled wrong in the thread title.
[edit]: thanks for fixing that. Now, I don't have to be one of those people...
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post #4 of 22
2/12/07 at 8:31am

Re: The Katherine Hepburn Collection in May

It's nice to see three of Kate's "minor" MGM's coming along. I thought UNDERCURRENT was quite good. Never saw THE CORN IS GREEN (but am very curious). The other two are not among my favourites. Still, it will probably cheaper to buy the box.

BTW who owns the rights to LOVE AMONG THE RUINS?
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post #5 of 22
2/12/07 at 8:41am

Re: The Katherine Hepburn Collection in May

Cool! That's some speedy service - I just requested "Undercurrent" in another thread, and here it comes. I wonder if this set will coincide with Spencer Tracy's box...cross-promotion and all that. A little sad 'cause I had hoped Warner would repackage the old Tracy/Hepburn snappers into keepcases (like they did with the Bogie/Bacall set), add more extras, and the other films the 2 of them made together. "Without Love" being in this solo Hepburn set kinda snuffs out that idea...but, oh well, I'm still glad to hear the news. And veeerrry curious to learn about these other TCM Spotlight releases!

Yes I'm greedy and impatient, and already speculating about a possible Katharine Hepburn TCM Spotlight Vol. 2 Christopher Strong, Quality Street, A Woman Rebels, Keeper Of The Flame, and Song Of Love would fill up another box nicely, eh?


ETA:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Peterson
I'm curious as to how the TCM/WB sets are going to appear. Are these going to be simliar to the TCM archives and be a foldout with multiple movies per disc or will they be similar to the signature collections?

Hmm...good question. I find foldouts pretty inconvenient, especially if they have overlapping discs like some of the TCM Archives sets do. So I'm hoping for keepcases or slimcases in a box...besides, then we'd get cool poster reproductions for each film's cover. It's an encouraging sign that the DVDs will be sold separately too...that seems to indicate keepcases!
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post #6 of 22
2/12/07 at 8:46am

Re: The Katherine Hepburn Collection in May

Wow we were just talkin about this set yesterday and what do you know, we get it? i definately was expecting the corn is green. i thought that was a tv movie. i'm surprised sylvia scarlett didn't get a featurette.
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post #7 of 22
2/12/07 at 9:00am

Re: The Katherine Hepburn Collection in May

Katharine Hepburn herself apparently would take any mail that had been sent with her name spelled wrong (as "Katherine") and send it back, writing "no such person" on the envelope! I always got a kick out of that story.
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post #8 of 22
2/12/07 at 2:38pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Hepburn's THE CORN IS GREEN was a made-for-TV film. She was Emmy nominated for it (Bette Davis won that year for her TV-movie with Gena Rowlands), but I don't consider it one of her better performances. I think she's a little old for the part. Still, I'm glad to have it.

I'm really delighted with the other choices and will look forward to adding this to my collection. They're all worthy movies.
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post #9 of 22
2/12/07 at 2:46pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Even as flippers, it would have been great to include the Bette Davis version of THE CORN IS GREEN and Sidney Lumet's remake of MORNING GLORY--STAGE STRUCK on the Hepburn set. The 1940 version of WATERLOO BRIDGE would have been relevant than offering James Whale's WATERLOO BRIDGE as an example of the pre-Production code. The remake combos that WB has offered (BEN-HUR, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, THE MALTESE FALCON, the forthcming PRISONER OF ZENDA) represent pertinent examples both of adaptation and the production years that each film had been made.
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post #10 of 22
2/12/07 at 3:16pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles H
Even as flippers, it would have been great to include the Bette Davis version of THE CORN IS GREEN and Sidney Lumet's remake of MORNING GLORY--STAGE STRUCK on the Hepburn set. The 1940 version of WATERLOO BRIDGE would have been relevant than offering James Whale's WATERLOO BRIDGE as an example of the pre-Production code. The remake combos that WB has offered (BEN-HUR, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, THE MALTESE FALCON, the forthcming PRISONER OF ZENDA) represent pertinent examples both of adaptation and the production years that each film had been made.

I think it should be standard practice to offer the remakes or sequels if possible on their classic discs. They also did this with Boys Town/Men of Boys Town and Gaslight dvds. I think the chance to get The Miniver Story and The Opposite Sex is slim since they didn't put them with Mrs. Miniver and The Women.
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post #11 of 22
2/12/07 at 3:54pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

I think some of us have been spoiled by Warner and the fine job they have done with their dvd releases. Unfortunately, Warner is still in the business of making a profit so it's impossible to offer every remake with the original version without taking in account future releases and profit margins. Case in point, "The Corn is Green" is probably earmarked for the next Bette Davis collection.




Crawdaddy
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post #12 of 22
2/12/07 at 5:31pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

I was just thinking about the exciting possibilities of this new TCM Spotlight series... I'm not exactly sure what the difference is from the Signature Collections, in terms of how they decide which actors to honour. But wouldn't it be wonderful if they decided to shine the spotlight on TCM favorites? Meaning, stars who might be somewhat forgotten by the masses today (of course this doesn't apply to Katharine Hepburn at all, so my idea is probably way off!) - but who have devoted fans among hardcore classic movie collectors/TCM viewers. Stars who have developed a new following thanks to their exposure on TCM! Actors that get a lot of requests at the TCM forums, films that have many votes at the TCM Movie Database - you get the idea!

Then we might just see boxsets devoted to TCM "regulars" and favorites like Joan Blondell, Robert Montgomery, Norma Shearer, Richard Dix, Chester Morris, Lionel Barrymore, Kay Francis... y'know, people who seem unlikely to get Signature Collections. What do you think?
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post #13 of 22
2/12/07 at 5:44pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Quote:
Originally Posted by serenapowell
I was just thinking about the exciting possibilities of this new TCM Spotlight series... I'm not exactly sure what the difference is from the Signature Collections, in terms of how they decide which actors to honour. But wouldn't it be wonderful if they decided to shine the spotlight on TCM favorites? Meaning, stars who might be somewhat forgotten by the masses today (of course this doesn't apply to Katharine Hepburn at all, so my idea is probably way off!) - but who have devoted fans among hardcore classic movie collectors/TCM viewers. Stars who have developed a new following thanks to their exposure on TCM! Actors that get a lot of requests at the TCM forums, films that have many votes at the TCM Movie Database - you get the idea!

Then we might just see boxsets devoted to TCM "regulars" and favorites like Joan Blondell, Robert Montgomery, Norma Shearer, Richard Dix, Chester Morris, Lionel Barrymore, Kay Francis... y'know, people who seem unlikely to get Signature Collections. What do you think?

And Greer Garson and Jane Powell cause they're not getting signaure sets. Sad, yet true.
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post #14 of 22
2/12/07 at 6:03pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Oh believe me, I'd love to see boxsets for Greer & Jane (and June Allyson! Sigh, I miss her) - and I don't care what banner they're released under. I just didn't think to mention them in my last post because in my mind I consider them more well-known stars than people like Kay Francis.
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post #15 of 22
2/12/07 at 10:26pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattH.
Hepburn's THE CORN IS GREEN was a made-for-TV film. She was Emmy nominated for it (Bette Davis won that year for her TV-movie with Gena Rowlands), but I don't consider it one of her better performances. I think she's a little old for the part. Still, I'm glad to have it.

And ironically, Bette Davis was too young for it when she played the part in 1945!

The really great thing about this set is that with a date for Sylvia Scarlett, I can ask a different question at the upcoming chat.
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post #16 of 22
2/13/07 at 12:34am

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Quote:
Originally Posted by serenapowell
Oh believe me, I'd love to see boxsets for Greer & Jane (and June Allyson! Sigh, I miss her) - and I don't care what banner they're released under. I just didn't think to mention them in my last post because in my mind I consider them more well-known stars than people like Kay Francis.

Aww...I miss June Allyson, too. She probably had the sunniest personalities onscreen and off. I'd love to have a set with:

-The Reformer and the Redhead
-Two Girls and A Sailor/Two Girls From Boston (double feature)
-High Barbaree
-The Opposite Sex
-The Bride Goes Wild
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post #17 of 22
2/13/07 at 5:55am

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Would LOVE a June Allyson set! To your fine list Corey, I would add Her Highness and the Bellboy and Music for Millions, 2 films I just love so much!

Which reminds me, Margaret O'Brien would richly deserve a set too:
The Secret Garden
Journey for Margaret
Lost Angel
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
The Unfinished Dance
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post #18 of 22
2/13/07 at 6:50am

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Quote:
Originally Posted by CinéKarine
Would LOVE a June Allyson set! To your fine list Corey, I would add Her Highness and the Bellboy and Music for Millions, 2 films I just love so much!

Which reminds me, Margaret O'Brien would richly deserve a set too:
The Secret Garden
Journey for Margaret
Lost Angel
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
The Unfinished Dance

Well I think of Her Higness and the Bellboy more of Hedy Lamarr movie.
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post #19 of 22
2/13/07 at 9:02am

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey
Aww...I miss June Allyson, too. She probably had the sunniest personalities onscreen and off.

Yes, I was so sad to learn of her death. She was one sweet lady... wish I could've known her, but her personality was so warm, in her movies & in interviews, that I feel like I lost a friend. It's a pity more of June's films aren't on DVD... it's even more important to preserve her memory now that she's gone.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey
Well I think of Her Higness and the Bellboy more of Hedy Lamarr movie.

Oh, nonono...that's June's movie! Sure, Hedy gets top billing, but June's character is the one you really feel for, y'see. The heart of the story! And I do believe she gets more screen-time, at least it seemed to me that she was the main focus.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CinéKarine
Which reminds me, Margaret O'Brien would richly deserve a set too

I can't believe I forgot her! (And I completely agree with your selections) Maybe the best child actress ever...yes even better than Shirley Temple, in my opinion. More natural. Did you see TCM's great Private Screening interview with Margaret and other former child stars? It was fascinating, and made me antsy to see all the movies they showed clips of... unfortunately many are unavailable to purchase. Hey, that's the sort of cross-promotion that would be perfect to advertise a TCM Spotlight collection of Margaret's films... or a general Child Stars Collection including Jackie Cooper, Dickie Moore, Dean Stockwell, etc. Too bad that Private Screening already aired before there was a TCM Spotlight series... of course there's always reruns.
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post #20 of 22
2/14/07 at 8:31am

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

I must say I think this is an outstanding box, especially for "Morning Glory" and "Sylvia Scarlett" It cuts my "first-wants" Hepburn's down to two, specifically RKO's "The Little Minister" (Vol. 2, perhaps?) and (I think) Paramount's "The African Queen".

Viva la Kate!
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post #21 of 22
4/7/07 at 11:30pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Artwork is up at DVDTimes now. It's pretty unique among Warner artwork.

Also, it's no longer the "TCM Spotlight Collection", it's the "100th Anniversary Collection"
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post #22 of 22
7/25/07 at 6:17pm

Re: The Katharine Hepburn Collection in May

Has anybody watched the Tex Avery cartoon Swing Shift Cinderella on the Without Love disc in this set?

The cartoon seems to be plagued with interlacing issues (Fortunately, the feature film plays fine.)
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