- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,424
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Some fifteen months ago, I wrote of Preston Sturges work...
"Preston Sturges was not a prolific director, although his hand as a writer can be found credited and not, in a number of other director's projects.
For those unfamiliar with the dozen or so films left to us by Mr. Sturges, or those who may have only seen Sullivan's Travels because of its earlier availability on DVD, I can only suggest that you attempt to catch up with [those] currently available on DVD."
Universal Home Video has given us our wish.
First to concept and packaging.
There have been numerous comments regarding Universal's use of DVD-18s, and the occasional player problems encountered for some of their budget priced collections. I have never had a problem with them, and these collections give the classic film collector incredible value for their investment.
With the Sturges Collection the studio as taken a totally different position, not only listening to the public, but literally going 180 degrees in the opposite direction.
With running times as short as 68 minutes, and topping out at 101, Universal has served up some of the greatest, most literate comedy classics of the 1940s, each on its own individual DVD. In addition, the entire collection has been placed in a beautiful fold-out box, which unseals at the center, and then further opens to reveal the seven discs protected within.
Seven Preston Sturges classics on seven DVDs.
Quality is what one would expect of films derived from secondary elements, the originals, to the best of my knowledge, no longer surviving.
Image quality is totally acceptable on all seven films. It has not been scrubbed, processed or shorn of grain. The films look much like their 35mm film counterparts, and there should be no complaints. Savor what is being delivered.
As to the films themselves, those new to DVD are extremely important and welcome additions to the availability of the work of Mr. Sturges oeuvre.
I decided when beginning this piece that I was going to neither gush nor overstate the case about this collection.
I'll say it in extremely simple terms.
Universal's aptly named Preston Sturges: The Filmmaker Collection is not only one of the most important studio classic offerings of 2006, it takes an immediate position of one of the most important since DVD first appeared almost a decade ago.
It will be one of the most welcomed Christmas gifts for the savvy cinephile, and an even greater gift from the knowledgable gift giver to those who have not yet discovered the wonders of Mr. Sturges work.
If one were to use a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most important or "best," Universal's Preston Sturges: The Filmmaker Collection, scores a full 10!
This is a collection that could not be recommended more highly.
For those unfamiliar with Mr. Sturges work, don't think, simply jump in, grab this set on-line, at your local brick and mortar, or head for the DVD section at your nearest Costco.
Priced streeting at around $42, that is $6 per film, this is a consummate "no-brainer."
While you're at it, pick up Paramount's release of The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (re-made as Rock-a-Bye Baby) as well as Unfaithfully Yours via Criterion. Hopefully, Fox will give us Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend in the near future.
RAH
"Preston Sturges was not a prolific director, although his hand as a writer can be found credited and not, in a number of other director's projects.
For those unfamiliar with the dozen or so films left to us by Mr. Sturges, or those who may have only seen Sullivan's Travels because of its earlier availability on DVD, I can only suggest that you attempt to catch up with [those] currently available on DVD."
Universal Home Video has given us our wish.
First to concept and packaging.
There have been numerous comments regarding Universal's use of DVD-18s, and the occasional player problems encountered for some of their budget priced collections. I have never had a problem with them, and these collections give the classic film collector incredible value for their investment.
With the Sturges Collection the studio as taken a totally different position, not only listening to the public, but literally going 180 degrees in the opposite direction.
With running times as short as 68 minutes, and topping out at 101, Universal has served up some of the greatest, most literate comedy classics of the 1940s, each on its own individual DVD. In addition, the entire collection has been placed in a beautiful fold-out box, which unseals at the center, and then further opens to reveal the seven discs protected within.
Seven Preston Sturges classics on seven DVDs.
Quality is what one would expect of films derived from secondary elements, the originals, to the best of my knowledge, no longer surviving.
Image quality is totally acceptable on all seven films. It has not been scrubbed, processed or shorn of grain. The films look much like their 35mm film counterparts, and there should be no complaints. Savor what is being delivered.
As to the films themselves, those new to DVD are extremely important and welcome additions to the availability of the work of Mr. Sturges oeuvre.
I decided when beginning this piece that I was going to neither gush nor overstate the case about this collection.
I'll say it in extremely simple terms.
Universal's aptly named Preston Sturges: The Filmmaker Collection is not only one of the most important studio classic offerings of 2006, it takes an immediate position of one of the most important since DVD first appeared almost a decade ago.
It will be one of the most welcomed Christmas gifts for the savvy cinephile, and an even greater gift from the knowledgable gift giver to those who have not yet discovered the wonders of Mr. Sturges work.
If one were to use a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most important or "best," Universal's Preston Sturges: The Filmmaker Collection, scores a full 10!
This is a collection that could not be recommended more highly.
For those unfamiliar with Mr. Sturges work, don't think, simply jump in, grab this set on-line, at your local brick and mortar, or head for the DVD section at your nearest Costco.
Priced streeting at around $42, that is $6 per film, this is a consummate "no-brainer."
While you're at it, pick up Paramount's release of The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (re-made as Rock-a-Bye Baby) as well as Unfaithfully Yours via Criterion. Hopefully, Fox will give us Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend in the near future.
RAH