This Is The Army (1943) - Which Version to Get? (1 Viewer)

[Eric Huffstutler]

This Warner Brothers, Irving Berlin extravaganza which was nominated and won some Academy Awards is now pubic domain? I see UCLA has preserved this movie but wonder which is the best version on DVD to get? I currently have the Ovation version which is scuffed and dark.

 

[Steve...O]

I am holding out for WHV to rescue this from public domain jail. A fine film such as this deserves a proper release. Maybe it wouldn't be commercially viable on its own, but perhaps as part of a box?

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

But until WHV (if ever) comes out with it.... which is the best DVD currently on the market?

 

[Robert Harris]

Wait!

 

[Steve...O]

That's all I need to know

Thanks Mr. Harris.

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

Hmmm... sounds promising?!?!?!

Does that me we will be seing it as a solo soon or part of a box set - maybe an Irving Berlin box or a Ronald Reagan box set?

Being that the movie has some politically incorrect moments (the minstrel show number, the Harlem number, segregation, and men in drag), it is a wonder it will come out but it is one movie that will make you proud of your service men. A movie from an era when patriotism meant something completely different than today - and it is a fun movie to watch.

Eric

 

[dana martin]

i have the same copy and thought that it would have come out in the Reagan set , what i am surprised at is that it went in the PD hell, WB is so good at keeping they catalog that it surprised me.

 

[Charles H]

I think that I read that Jack Warner's favorite WB films were THIS IS THE ARMY and LIFE WITH FATHER. He physically (and contractually) owned the films and upon his death both slipped into pd hell. Does anyone know if UCLA ever attempted a restoration on the films? AMC trumpeted a restoration of THIS IS THE ARMY back in the eighties or early nineties but the quality of the print was undistinguished and truncated.

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

This is from the Film Foundation site at UCLA...

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

Even TCM links to the Ovation version to purchase but wonder how the Platinum version looks? The Ovation copy has a soft and dark look due to color changes with age and there are moments where the film seems to drag just enough to make the soundtrack slow down and drag too.

 

[Charles Ellis]

I remember that TCM showed the UCLA restored print and I was in shock at how good it looked- why wasn't it included in the recent Warners Ronald Reagan Signature Collection? Mr. Harris- can I suspect an upcoming release in the future- if not by Warners, then by say, Criterion?

 

[dana martin]

Warner has stated that they do not use third party (Criterion) for their films, but this being in the PD might change that? actual how many other Reagan films does WB own, maybe the possibility of a second set??

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

I am sure any RKO pictures will also be considered as Warner holdings but there were other studios inbetween. Here are the movies Ronald Reagan played in...

RONALD REAGAN FILMS

1937

Warner Brothers First National

Love Is on the Air*

Submarine D-1 (RR part cut; not in credits)


1938

Warner Brothers First National

Hollywood Hotel (RR not credited)

Warner Brothers

Swing Your Lady

Sergeant Murphy*

Accidents Will Happen*

Cowboy from Brooklyn

Boy Meets Girl

Girls on Probation*

Brother Rat (with Jane Wyman)


1939

Warner Brothers Cosmopolitan

Going Places

Warner Brothers

Secret Service of the Air*

Warner Brothers First National

Dark Victory

Warner Brothers

Code of the Secret Service*

Naughty But Nice

Hell's Kitchen

Angels Wash Their Faces*

Smashing the Money Ring*


1940

Warner Brothers

Brother Rat and a Baby (with Jane Wyman)

An Angel from Texas (with Jane Wyman)

Murder in the Air*

Knute Rockne-All American

Tugboat Annie Sails Again* (with Jane Wyman and featuring Neil Reagan)

Warner Brothers First National

Sante Fe Trail


1941

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The Bad Man


Warner Brothers

Million Dollar Baby

Nine Lives Are Not Enough*

International Squadron*


1942

Warner Brothers

Kings Row

Juke Girl*

Warner Brothers First National

Desperate Journey


1943

Warner Brothers

This is the Army


1947

Warner Brothers

Stallion Road*

That Hagen Girl*

The Voice of the Turtle*


1949

Warner Brothers

John Loves Mary*

Night unto Night*

The Girl from Jones Beach

It's a Great Feeling (cameo)


1950

Warner Brothers

The Hasty Heart

Universal-International

Louisa*

Warner Brothers

Storm Warning*

Universal-International

Bedtime for Bonzo*


1951

Paramount

The Last Outpost*


1952

Paramount

Hong Kong*

Warner Brothers

She's Working Her Way Through College*

The Winning Team*


1953

Paramount

Tropic Zone*

Universal-International

Law and Order*


1954

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Prisoner of War*

RKO

Cattle Queen of Montana*


1955

RKO

Tennessee's Partner


1957

Columbia

Hellcats of the Navy* (with Nancy Davis)


1961

United Artists

The Young Doctors (narrator)


1964

Universal

The Killers


* Denotes Ronald Reagan as Male Lead

 

[Steve...O]

There are plenty of quality Reagan films left for a Vol 2 should Warners decide to do one. Four titles that legitimately deserve a release:

DESPERATE JOURNEY
VOICE OF THE TURTLE
THIS IS THE ARMY
BROTHER RAT (perhaps coupled with its sequel as a double feature)

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

Any word yet as to when this one will be out via Warner Mr. Harris?

I noticed another movie that fell into PD entitled "Till The Clouds Roll By" was released by Warner late last year. I have a Treasure Box version of that MGM title which isn't a bad transfer so can only imagine what the restored version looks like! Hope Warner gives Army the same treatment with all of their wonderful theater experience extras.

Eric

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

I got the Delta DVD version, paired with Santa Fe Trail. The Delta TITA copy is very poor and barely serviceable. The sound isn't too bad, but the color is washed out and there are many faults in the print used.

Also check out this thread: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...d.php?t=162207 .

 

[Matt Hough]

Yes, the official Warner version of TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY looks beautiful, and I'm sure THIS IS THE ARMY (and LIFE WITH FATHER which looks dark and soft on the PD-DVD I have) could also shine on an official Warner DVD.

 

[Steve...O]

I'm hoping we'll find out something about this (and maybe SANTE FE TRAIL) in a little over a month

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

Hey Robert Harris...

Back in December you hinted to "wait" on this title for an official release as though one is coming soon. Most release schedules up to June at lease have been posted but still not seeing it. Any idea when? Thanks.

Eric

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

Actually a good DVD would include a song left out of the film version....Irving Berlin's paen to defense contractors.


Did they film this song and cut it from the released picture? The tune is used as background music in one place, but the song itself is missing. If footage exists for this song it would be a great extra on a DVD.