Press Release Warner Archive Press Release: The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[richardburton84]

I've always thought the film score to E & E has never gotten the attention it deserves. When Charles Gerhardt recorded those great Classic Film Scores albums in the 70's, he only did a small part of this score, and he truncated that noble and beautiful main title theme. Fortunately Carl Davis recorded the entire score and Andre Previn did a longer suite of the score.

I have the Gerhardt album where Elizabeth and Essex is the headliner (not sure if that’s the specific album you’re referring to as he also recorded an excerpt of the score for his Bette Davis album), and the liner notes say that the suite on that album was specially prepared by Korngold himself to serve as an overture for the film’s premiere, so any complaints you have about the suite’s presentation of the themes you’ll have to take up with the composer.

 

[Matt Hough]

Those Gerhardt albums were fabulous. I played many of them to near-extinction.

 

[Mark McSherry]

Nick Redman (Twilight Time) was a producer of the complete score of The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, released on CD in 1992. You can download this at Amazon for $10

 

[Trancas]

The new transfer is so sharp and steady that in the opening scene with the cannons blasting, you can see that the man on the far right is a mannikin.

 

[Alan Tully]

Yeah, a film that's over 80 years old has no right looking that good (downright amazing). Fantastic work by Warner.

 

[Robert Harris]

Yeah, a film that's over 80 years old has no right looking that good (downright amazing). Fantastic work by Warner.

With a bit of help from Sol Polito and Technicolor.

 

[JimMiller]

Well, I love this film and I'm happy to have get a great transfer (as I know it will).

 

[RICK BOND]

The new transfer is so sharp and steady that in the opening scene with the cannons blasting, you can see that the man on the far right is a mannikin.

WOW ! That looks simply Gorgeous, Amazing, and Fantastic ! I wish The Adventures of Robin Hood looked that good ! It's too bad that The Sea Hawk was Not made in Technicolor. All those Beautiful costumes in Black and White.

 

[marcco00]

wow yes i will be getting this one!! love that warners is mixing it up!!

 

[JoeDoakes]

Strangely, this is one of the few Errol Flynn titles I don't like.

Oh, I'm sure it will look tremendous (obviously better than the DVD, which I acquired as part of a set and gave away), but it just left me cold. Something that none of the the other Flynn titles do.

Now Captain Blood is my #1 wish (among all titles).

Too much private life, too little action and humor for me

 

[B-ROLL]

Too much private life, too little action and humor for me

Anytime Ms. Davis is on the screen - there's plenty enough action for me !

Sadly the mouse house has no interest in licensing out Fox titles As I'm sure The Virgin Queen would look amazing on a Region A blu-ray. Even though the picture was intended to be a vehicle for Alexis Carrington-Colby-Dexter-Rowan ...

 

[Matt Hough]

Isn't it ironic that the first two color films Bette made found her playing the same character.

 

[Andrew Budgell]

Anytime Ms. Davis is on the screen - there's plenty enough action for me !

Sadly the mouse house has no interest in licensing out Fox titles As I'm sure The Virgin Queen would look amazing on a Region A blu-ray. Even though the picture was intended to be a vehicle for Alexis Carrington-Colby-Dexter-Rowan ...

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It was released on Blu in France last November. I haven’t had a chance to pick it up yet so I can’t speak to its quality, but it’s on my wish list!

 

[David_B_K]

I have the Gerhardt album where Elizabeth and Essex is the headliner (not sure if that’s the specific album you’re referring to as he also recorded an excerpt of the score for his Bette Davis album), and the liner notes say that the suite on that album was specially prepared by Korngold himself to serve as an overture for the film’s premiere, so any complaints you have about the suite’s presentation of the themes you’ll have to take up with the composer.

No, my complaint is that the album did not include the main title (which can be heard 3 posts after yours in the film excerpt). I don't care who arranged the suite that was chosen for Gerhardt's album, and I don't need to "take it up" with anyone. If Korngold arranged it as an overture for the premiere, that's fine. But I wanted to hear the main title that was used in the film. My point was that the score is a great one and was not represented well on disc until Carl Davis recorded the entire score (that CD is linked to by Mark McSherry) and Andre Previn recorded a longer suite: Previn Conducts Korngold.

Incidentally, the entire Classic Film Scores series by Gerhardt can be had on a set of 12 CDs for under $30 at Amazon. That is a steal: Classic Film Scores.

 

[Matt Hough]

No, my complaint is that the album did not include the main title (which can be heard 3 posts after yours in the film excerpt). I don't care who arranged the suite that was chosen for Gerhardt's album, and I don't need to "take it up" with anyone. If Korngold arranged it as an overture for the premiere, that's fine. But I wanted to hear the main title that was used in the film. My point was that the score is a great one and was not represented well on disc until Carl Davis recorded the entire score (that CD is linked to by Mark McSherry) and Andre Previn recorded a longer suite: Previn Conducts Korngold.

Incidentally, the entire Classic Film Scores series by Gerhardt can be had on a set of 12 CDs for under $30 at Amazon. That is a steal: Classic Film Scores.

Thank you so much. I hadn't bothered upgrading my LPs to CDs but now I have and at a budget price, too. Couldn't be happier.

 

[Randy Korstick]

Strangely, this is one of the few Errol Flynn titles I don't like.

Oh, I'm sure it will look tremendous (obviously better than the DVD, which I acquired as part of a set and gave away), but it just left me cold. Something that none of the the other Flynn titles do.

Now Captain Blood is my #1 wish (among all titles).

Me too. I think this one and Escape me Never are the only 2 I don't like of his.

 

[Bartman]

C'mon WB give us BLU of Northwest Passage!!!!!! Off the OCN's

Northwest Passage & Captain Horatio Hornblower on Blu-ray, please.

Oh, and for modern films how about David Mamet's Spartan on Blu-ray?

 

[OLDTIMER]

Not one of my favorite Flynn movies either, but when I saw the clip above of the beautiful Technicolor restoration I just have to have it. Did you notice Nanette Fabray (then called Fabare I think) looking out of the window with Bette? I always enjoyed her role in THE BAND WAGON.
Edit: I meant Olivia, not Bette. And thanks to Bujaki, it's Fabares.

 

[rojobin]

Yes, that's what I'm thinking. The film is no masterpiece (far from it), but the Warner production is top notch, & it's my favourite Korngold score, & looking at that YouTube clip...wow! It looks amazing.

...&, er...more swashbucklers please Warner.

More Swashbucklers, like 'Scaramouche'??

 

[bujaki]

Not one of my favorite Flynn movies either, but when I saw the clip above of the beautiful Technicolor restoration I just have to have it. Did you notice Nanette Fabray (then called Fabare I think) looking out of the window with Bette? I always enjoyed her role in THE BAND WAGON.

Fabares.