- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,426
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Take a tour of cinema history, and especially series of films featuring the same lead character, and the list is not necessarily a short one.
Most recently, we were made aware of the 50th Anniversary of James Bond, and via that celebration were treated to all 23 of the Eon productions on Blu-ray, ranging from stellar quality to embarrassments when linked to anything celebretory. But it was many the secondary characters which remained in place over the years.
Readers can help with the list.
There are the Tarzans. Quite a few over the decades, with a myriad of different actors in the lead. There's the Thin Man series, but that's only six films. Mr. Chan may top the list. Warner Oland was featured in 16, while Sidney Toler bested him with 22.
But consider one of the most wholesome and beloved family series, which had basically the same cast over 22 years and 16 films.
The Great Family Hardy.
Beginning in 1937, based upon a stage play, and with Lionel Barrymore as Judge Hardy, the series continued non-stop through 1942, then slowed down for the final three visits with the family in 1944, 1946 and the homecoming in 1958.
Starring one of the greatest, and most popular actors in the youth segment, Mickey Rooney, the films seemed more to be A- or B+ productions, taking advantage of some contract players who may have had a few days to kill between bigger pictures (Judy Garland), or introducing others, such as Kathryn Grayson to to the screen.
The Warner Archive didn't have an easy job bringing these to market.
Volume 1, which gives us six films (You're Only Young Once (replacing Lionel Barrymore with Lewis Stone) - 1937, Judge Hardy and Son - 1939, Out West with the Hardy's - 1938, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante - 1940, Andy Hardy's Private Secretary - 1941 and Life Begins for Andy Hardy - 1941, seemed to release what was relatively easily available at the time.
Volume 2, which is 10 films on 5 discs, completes the series, returning to the original, A Family Affair - 1937, and then jumping to the third film, Judge Hardy's Children - 1938, Love Finds Andy Hardy - 1938, The Hardy's Ride High - 1939, Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever - 1939, The Courtship of Andy Hardy - 1942, Andy Hardy's Double Life - 1942, Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble - 1944, Love Laughs at Andy Hardy - 1946, and the finale, bringing together Mickey Rooney, Fay Holden, Sara Haden and Cecilia Parker, two decades later in Andy Hardy Comes Home - 1958.
The problem bringing these films to the public has been elements.
Every original nitrate negative in the series, fifteen films, was lost in a nitrate fire. What survived are fine grain masters. But strangely, where masters would normally have little wear, these seemed to have been a bit over-loved. That on top of exhibiting a bit of wear that would have been found in the nitrate original negatives, when protection elements were produced.
I was expecting serious problems, but have come away, not only pleased by what has been released, but rather shocked at the generally fine quality. As these have all been produced from pre-print material, gray scale and grain are very acceptable, with decent blacks and shadow detail. A bit of minus density here. An errant light scratch there. But nothing to cause any problems.
The 16 films are currently available via Amazon for under $95. That's under $6 per disc. They're a bit more direct from WB.
Image - 3.75 (average)
Audio - 4.5
Recommended.
RAH
Most recently, we were made aware of the 50th Anniversary of James Bond, and via that celebration were treated to all 23 of the Eon productions on Blu-ray, ranging from stellar quality to embarrassments when linked to anything celebretory. But it was many the secondary characters which remained in place over the years.
Readers can help with the list.
There are the Tarzans. Quite a few over the decades, with a myriad of different actors in the lead. There's the Thin Man series, but that's only six films. Mr. Chan may top the list. Warner Oland was featured in 16, while Sidney Toler bested him with 22.
But consider one of the most wholesome and beloved family series, which had basically the same cast over 22 years and 16 films.
The Great Family Hardy.
Beginning in 1937, based upon a stage play, and with Lionel Barrymore as Judge Hardy, the series continued non-stop through 1942, then slowed down for the final three visits with the family in 1944, 1946 and the homecoming in 1958.
Starring one of the greatest, and most popular actors in the youth segment, Mickey Rooney, the films seemed more to be A- or B+ productions, taking advantage of some contract players who may have had a few days to kill between bigger pictures (Judy Garland), or introducing others, such as Kathryn Grayson to to the screen.
The Warner Archive didn't have an easy job bringing these to market.
Volume 1, which gives us six films (You're Only Young Once (replacing Lionel Barrymore with Lewis Stone) - 1937, Judge Hardy and Son - 1939, Out West with the Hardy's - 1938, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante - 1940, Andy Hardy's Private Secretary - 1941 and Life Begins for Andy Hardy - 1941, seemed to release what was relatively easily available at the time.
Volume 2, which is 10 films on 5 discs, completes the series, returning to the original, A Family Affair - 1937, and then jumping to the third film, Judge Hardy's Children - 1938, Love Finds Andy Hardy - 1938, The Hardy's Ride High - 1939, Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever - 1939, The Courtship of Andy Hardy - 1942, Andy Hardy's Double Life - 1942, Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble - 1944, Love Laughs at Andy Hardy - 1946, and the finale, bringing together Mickey Rooney, Fay Holden, Sara Haden and Cecilia Parker, two decades later in Andy Hardy Comes Home - 1958.
The problem bringing these films to the public has been elements.
Every original nitrate negative in the series, fifteen films, was lost in a nitrate fire. What survived are fine grain masters. But strangely, where masters would normally have little wear, these seemed to have been a bit over-loved. That on top of exhibiting a bit of wear that would have been found in the nitrate original negatives, when protection elements were produced.
I was expecting serious problems, but have come away, not only pleased by what has been released, but rather shocked at the generally fine quality. As these have all been produced from pre-print material, gray scale and grain are very acceptable, with decent blacks and shadow detail. A bit of minus density here. An errant light scratch there. But nothing to cause any problems.
The 16 films are currently available via Amazon for under $95. That's under $6 per disc. They're a bit more direct from WB.
Image - 3.75 (average)
Audio - 4.5
Recommended.
RAH
