if a nightingale could sing like you

Warner Brother’s Home Video has got to be the best studio when it comes to the Home Theater Market. They along with Criterion have won several awards from Home Theater groups and organizations in the past year or so. 2005 was perhaps their best yet. Just consider the following releases:
The Thin Man Collection
Warner’s Gangster Collection
Controversial Classics Collection
Classic Comedies Collection
Greta Garbo Collection
Errol Flynn Signature Collection

And that is just the beginning of the great release we saw in the past year. The next two years seems to be even better. Is there any doubt that Warner Brothers is unrivaled in the Home Theater Market. Not just because of sheer volume – but mainly because of the quality and care taken with each release and box set. They search the globe for the best possible quality prints, they have a love and care for their library. It is company policy not to license out to third parties, thereby preventing sub-par releases. The man in charge of Warner Brothers Home Video is not just a lover of classic film, but a film historian as well. Who could ask for more.
Look at the massive amount of classic films in their vaults. Warner Home Video owns all the Warner films, every MGM film produced before 1986, and every RKO film (not RKO shorts). Their library totals 6,600 titles, of which 1,200 of those are out on DVD. Wow.
Therefore, today’s media roundup will refrain from the usual format and we will feature some highlights from the recent presentation Warner Home Video made for the Home Theater industry. Thanks to Digital Bits for highlights and copy of the transcript. To read the entire transcript, visit Digital Bits and follow this link.

Highlights for 2006-2007

Box Set Treatment for: Jean Harlow, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper (including Sgt. York). Joan Crawford & Bette Davis (Volume 2 for both), James Cagney, and Robert Mitchum
ALSO:
Clark Gable Signature Collection in June including Dancing Lady
A William Powell-Myrna Loy set in 2007
Jimmy Stewart box including The Spirit of St. Louis
Possible Barbara Stanwyck set and Glenn Ford Box Set
Superman 14-disc set
A second Jimmy Stewart set, possibly including Carbine Williams
Warner Tough Guys Collection (The Warners Gangster Collection Vol.2) Box set rumored to include: “G” Men, Bullets Or Ballots, San Quentin, A Slight Case Of Murder, Every Dawn I Die, And City For Conquest.
A Errol Flynn volume 2 box in 2007 including Gentleman Jim and The Charge of the Light Brigade
Lon Chaney collection with Tell it to the Marines, He Who Gets Slapped and both versions of Unholy Three
Silents in 2006 or 2007: Greed, The Wind, The Crowd, The Big Parade, The Scarlet Letter and Show People. (Greed coming out on DVD restored –full version would be awesome)
A Maltese Falcon 2 disc Special Edition
A John Wayne/John Ford box set which includes a 2 disc special edition of The Searchers & Stagecoach and also Fort Apache, The Long Way Home, Wings Of Eagles, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, They Were Expendable, and The Three Godfathers.
Another John Ford Box to include The Informer, The Lost Patrol, Cheyenne Autumn, Mary Of Scotland, and Sergeant Rutledge.
Also a fantastic Forbidden Hollywood Set including Baby Face, Red Headed Woman & Waterloo Bridge
Warner is also going to release the 1922, 1937 and 1952 versions of The Prisoner of Zenda with lots of other adventure films coming out this year and next.
Also two Film Noir Boxes set for release in 2006.

TV:Top Shelf Pick of the Week
The ninth season of The Amazing Race starts Tuesday Night (check local listings for times). After the lackluster Family Edition that was the eighth season, this next season promises the exotic locales, thrills, and down to the wire tension we love. As always the mighty Phil K. will deliever the goods. Phil is a Shelf fave, and perhaps the coolest raised eyebrow since Dr. Spock. Check it out and pop some corn.


REST IN PEACE:
Just in the past five days we've lost three fine actors- men who for various roles have left an indelible mark on popular culture in film and television:
Don Knotts (Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show)
Darren McGavin (Ralphie's Dad from A Christmas Story)
Dennis Weaver (Chester from Gunsmoke and star of McCloud)
Both Mr. Knotts and Mr. Weaver were 81. Mr. McGavin was 83. God bless, gentlemen and thanks for the memories.




Well, it's like I always say: Love goes out the door when money comes innuendo.