tcm remembers jackie cooper

As you all know, classic movie legend, Jackie Cooper, passed away last week. This coming Friday, May 13th, Turner Classic Movies will alter their schedule to honor Jackie Cooper by featuring several films. This is the official announcement and schedule I received from TCM in my email:

"Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will remember the life and career of actor-director Jackie Cooper on Friday, May 13, beginning at 6 a.m. (ET). The special tribute will showcase nine films from Cooper’s days as one of Hollywood’s most popular child stars. Included in the lineup are O’Shaugnessy’s Boy (1935), Treasure Island (1934) and the heart-wrenching boxing classic The Champ (1931), all three co-starring Wallace Beery. The day will also feature The Devil Is a Sissy (1936), co-starring Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney, and Tough Guy (1936), with Rin Tin Tin Jr.

The following is a complete schedule of TCM’s May 13 memorial tribute to Jackie Cooper (all times Eastern):

6 a.m. – Dinky (1935), with Mary Astor and Roger Pryor.
7:15 a.m. – Divorce in the Family (1932), with Conrad Nagel, Lewis Stone and Lois Wilson.
8:45 a.m. – O’Shaughnessy’s Boy (1935), with Wallace Beery, George “Spanky” McFarland and Henry Stephenson.
10:15 a.m. – Boy of the Streets (1937), with Maureen O’Connor, Kathleen Burke and Emmett O’Connor.
11:45 a.m. – Gallant Sons (1940), with Bonita Granville, Gene Reynolds and Gail Patrick.
1:15 p.m. – Tough Guy (1936), with Joseph Calleia, Harvey Stephens and Rin Tin Tin Jr.
2:45 p.m. – The Devil Is a Sissy (1936), with Freddie Bartholomew, Mickey Rooney and Ian Hunter.
4:30 p.m. – Treasure Island (1934), with Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger and Lewis Stone.
6:30 p.m. – The Champ (1931), with Wallace Beery, Irene Rich and Roscoe Ates."


Cooper was one a few exceptional child stars from the classic era, of course as one of the members of "Our Gang": The Little Rascals, but he also later transitioned into television and of course is much loved and remembered by myself and others as Perry White to Christopher Reeve's Superman in the 1970s and 80s. What is really impressive to me is his service to our country during WWII and after. He served in the US Navy and remained in the reserves for many years- diligently working in the reserves training other servicemen and in public relations. In fact, other than James Stewart, he was one the higest uniform ranking hollywood stars.

TCM also posted their always exceptional short video tribute, TCM Remembers Jackie Cooper:


Also for some added memories with Jackie- doing a hilarious fake voice- here he is as the celebrity guest on one of my favorite classic game shows, What's My Line:




Now listen to me, I tell you boys and girls - whichever one of you gets it out... is going to wind up with the single most important interview since... God talked to Moses!

long time, no see

...and brother, I mean that in so many ways. It has been a long "unintended" sabbatical for us here at the Shelf, but we've been itching to get back at it. There may be more breaks here and there, due to an increased teaching and work schedule and certain other constraints, but for now, bear with us and stick with us. We've missed you, missed our blogging friends, and missed being here. But let's dive into the order of the day.

Over the past few months, more and more films have been piling up on my DVR; my poor, poor DVR. I've had nary a chance to view many of them, but I take the time every now and then to check the TCM schedule and program several titles to record to watch later. It's always been the "watch later" part that has eluded me, especially of late. So I've decided to try and rectify that and make room on the old DVR for other movie goodness. Not by deleting them, but watching them (and then deleting those not worthy to be saved) and telling you about it. This will be a new feature that I have cleverly titled: "From the DVR Files". Short reviews, maybe a note or two about the film and then a final verdict: Do I save it on the DVR for additional viewing, Watch and Delete or Don't bother, Delete now. Or maybe I need to have it in my permanent library on DVD. Who knows? We'll find out today. And then you can chime in with your own opinion in the comments section.

Today's inaugural installment of "From the DVR Files" will kick off with perhaps a lesser known title from some famous stars.


Casefile #1: The Jackpot
Stars: James Stewart, Barbara Hale, James Gleason, Natalie Wood
Directed by Walter Lang
Studio: 20th Century Fox

The Film: Stewart and Hale play average suburban couple Bill and Amy Lawrence. They are the average couple- a house, two kids, a dog and neighbors to socialize with in the 'burbs. By day, Bill is an executive at a department store with a very demanding boss, trying to get the big promotion. Like everyone else, they have financial concerns, and maybe a little ambition to keep up with their neighbors. Then one evening, Bill receives a call from a radio show asking him to be home during a certain evening to take part in a contest over the phone with the chance to win a huge jackpot: $24,000. The Lawrence's friends and neighbors turn out to witness Bill answer the questions correctly and win the jackpot! Even though things are looking up, soon Bill, and eventually Amy realize that the "jackpot" isn't all it's cracked up to be; it's not $24,000- it's cash and prizes valued at $24,000. And the prizes don't always fit neatly into their average suburban home, or neighborhood for that matter. Some of the prizes are nice and useful, and some of them are downright crazy. Eventually the Lawrences figure out that this jackpot may end up costing more than they realize, as they have to sell some of the prizes to pay off the taxes. Sometimes your "lucky day" becomes a big pain!

This is a neat little film that fits perfectly into the era in which it was made, the 1950s- suburbia, radio quiz shows, teenagers (Natalie Wood plays the Lawrence's teenage daughter) always on the phone: it's almost like a page right out of 1950's culture. We tend to remember Stewart now more for the Westerns or War pictures, and especially for those classics like The Philadelphia Story or It's a Wonderful Life. But he was also well known and loved by audiences in comedies were he played the slightly harassed, slightly exasperated, yet lovable and earnest family man. This is such a film. A light comedy that moviegoers of the 1950s would've readily identified with, The Jackpot is an enjoyable B film that almost seems like an extended episode of a show like Father Knows Best or even I Love Lucy. (Indeed the plot has been visited again in many a sitcom, most memoriably in The Andy Griffith Show, when Aunt Bee won a Game Show and had to sell many of the prizes to afford the taxes and fees.) Stewart is pitch perfect as Bill Lawrence and in some ways the chartacter almost seems like a typical "Jimmy Stewart" character. Barbara Hale is equally fun and shows some comic flair as Amy. Hale, of course, would go on a few years later to play her most famous role as Della Street in the Perry Mason show and movies.

The support cast is excellent as well, if perhaps, underutilized, in the film. Natalie Wood has a supporting role as the young teenage daughter, Phyllis. Fred Clark plays Bill's ill tempered boss, Mr. Woodruff. Clark was a veteran character actor from many television shows, and is better known for his role as the Burns' ill-tempered neighbor, Harry Morton in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. The always great James Gleason plays Bill's newspaper reporter friend Harry Summers. The writing can be a bit tedius at times, but the script is well done and paces well- not drawing out too many gags or scenes. The one exception would be the scene where Bill is actually on the phone trying to answer the questions. It might have been drawn out to add to the tension, but Stewart and Hale add a bit of gentle comic nervousness to light the mood. You will see familiar faces, familiar plotlines and funny scenes, and familiar formulas. In fact, perhaps it is the "familiar-ness" that has made it more of a lesser known film- just another type of 50s family comedy. But sometimes it is the familiar gentle comedic film, that becomes just the right thing to enjoy on a bad day to brighten your spirits.

Even though this is almost a forgotten film in someways today, and considered a "b" family comedy, The Jackpot has an excellent cast and very good script, with many funny moments throughout the film. It may not be worth multiple viewings, but it is definitely a film to sit back and enjoy and escape with, much like you would with a favorite and familiar episode of a best loved sitcom from the 1950s. You will enjoy it the first time, and maybe revisit it years later if you catch it on television, but probably no more than that.

The Verdict: Check it out, and delete after watching.
Case closed.

Stay tuned for more from The Shelf- meanwhile visit our Facebook page and "like" us on Facebook.



They might detatch your salary.
Then I'll quit my job and live on soup.

late to the party

About a month and half ago, I was doing my daily read of Laura's Miscellaneous Musings and read a delightful post which was her answers to a "Cinema Survey" that was originally started by blogger Amanda of A Noodle in a Haystack. A pretty cool, and difficult, set of questions bound to intrigue any classic film fan. I saved the questions in a file, meaning to do the thing myself, but never got back to it. You see, this would require consideration, time and honesty and so....aw, heck- I'll admit it. I just forgot to do it.
However, I saw it on my "To Do" list several times, and finally this week, I was determined to finish it. So for what it's worth- and I know it's late, here are my answers to the survey. Maybe some of my answers will surprise you. Please be sure to go back and check out Laura's responses as well as the original post at A Noodle in a Haystack.

1. What is your favorite movie starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, excluding all of The Thin Man films?
That would have to be a draw between Libeled Lady and the highly underrated I Love You Again, although I am a fan of all their pairings.

2. Name a screen team that appeared in only one film together but are still noteworthy for how well they complimented each other.
Hmm, there are several, put how about Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant in His Girl Friday. It was like lightning in a bottle. Cary Grant really complimented so many of his costars so well, and made the pairings seem so natural.

3. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' best film together?
Shall We Dance would be my favorite.

4. Your favorite actor named "Robert"?
This will throw you- Robert Duvall. I like Montgomery and Taylor of course, but my hats off to Mr. Duvall in a tight contest. But if I were keeping this to older films, I would perhaps say Robert Montgomery.

5. An actor/actress who, when you see one of their movies, you always wish that someone else was in his/her role?
This is hard but I would have to say…Burt Lancaster, I just can’t stand him sometimes. A more current pick would have to be Renee Zellweger, (but again I have liked at least one of her movies).

6. An actor/actress that someone close to you really loves that you can't stand or vice versa?
An easy one- I love the Marx Brothers, my wife just doesn’t get them and she can’t stand the Three Stooges. She isn’t much of a classic film fan to begin with, but she loves musicals.

7. An actor/actress that you both agree on completely?
That would probably be Jane Powell for classic movies and currently, Sandra Bullock.

8. Complete this sentence: Virginia O'Brien is to Ethel Merman as...
…Freddie Bartholomew is to Mickey Rooney? Good gravy what kind of sentence is that?

9. What is your favorite film starring Ray Milland?
I love The Big Clock!

10. You had to have seen this one coming: what is your favorite movie of the 1960s?
This is impossible for me to answer, because I have really found there are so many from this time period that I love- everything from Goldfinger to Charade or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. However, I find that I keep revisiting In the Heat of the Night and find myself using it in my film and humanities class more and more. It’s a wonderful, wonderful film with so many nuances and great performances and themes. I just love it.

11. An actor/actress that you would take out of one film and put into a different movie that was released the same year?
I don’t know- this is a hard one to think about, or recall over so many I’ve seen but I would think it would be interesting to take Sean Connery out of 1969’s little known The Red Tent and plug him back into Her Majesty’s Secret Service, just to see the difference, if any, in the tone of the film (which I’ve actually grown to appreciate more over the years- strong words for a Uber-Bond fan).

12. Who was your favorite of Robert Montgomery's leading ladies?
Norma Shearer. But then, I absolutely adore Norma Shearer.

13. You think it would have been a disaster if what movie starred the actor/actress who was originally asked to star in it?
Well, given recent revelations- Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in Back to the Future

14. An actor/actress who you will watch in any or almost any movie?
Too many to choose from really, but I will pick one of each: Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. And did I tell you that I adore Norma Shearer? I think I did.

15. Your favorite Leslie Howard film and role?
Well…strictly speaking Leslie Howard isn’t one of my favorites, but I do like him an awful lot in It’s Love I’m After, a great little film, and find him insufferable in Gone With the Wind.

16. You have been asked to host a marathon of four Barbara Stanwyck films. Which ones do you choose?
Oh my, more like can I add some more to that list. Let’s see: The Lady Eve, Double Indemnity, Remember the Night and Ball of Fire. NO- wait! How about, Clash by Night, The Furies, Meet John Doe and Sorry, Wrong Number. Dang. See what I mean?

17. What is, in your mind, the nearest to perfect comedy you have ever seen? Why? Now this is hard, because in a way, no movie is perfect, and even my favorite comedies have some weak points. However, the closest I’ve seen would have to be…A Night at the Opera. Blazing Saddles for a more modern pick.

18. You will brook no criticism of what film?
I will generally concede that not every film will completely win over every single person. Impossible. But if you have something bad to say about my favorite holiday film of all time, A Christmas Story- well, let’s just say you’d better not do it when I’m in the room. You can even criticize Casablanca in my face- I’ll control myself. But don’t talk bad about my boy Ralphie.

19. Who is your favorite Irish actress?
Maureen O’Hara. Is there any doubt.

20. Your favorite 1940s movie starring Ginger Rogers?
The Major and the Minor

21. Do you enjoy silent movies?
Oh yes, very much so. I would venture to say more so in the last 10 years, but I’ve always loved them. I think one of the barriers for modern audiences is beyond the silence itself is how modern venues (DVD, VHS, etc) doesn’t always get the frame rate correct which makes it seem hurried, choppy or even static. But get the speed of the film right (which can be difficult to do) and a good preservation and remastering can make all the difference in the world. I show clips of several films in one of my Humanities class and the one they beg to see more of the most is Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid.

22. What is your favorite Bette Davis film?
You must never speak of this again in the presence of other males, but I am a sucker for All This and Heaven Too.

23. Your favorite onscreen Hollywood couple?
So many I love, but I have been going out of my way to try and see every single film Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn did together. And that’s just because I’ve seen all of the William Powell and Myrna Loy films. Several times. So tie between those two couples.

24. This one is for the girls, but, of course, the guys are welcome to answer, too: who is your favorite Hollywood costume designer?
Uhhh…umm…

25. To even things out a bit, here's something the boys will enjoy: what is your favorite tough action film?
Man! How do I choose. Sort of unfair because it could encompass many different genres – but I will play ball and say: Rio Bravo.

26. You are currently gaining a greater appreciation for which actor(s)/actress(es)?
Actor: Richard Widmark Actress: Joan Crawford

27. Franchot Tone: yes or no? Sure, in small doses.
28. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are underrated?
Mae Clarke- her soulful, subtle performance in the original Waterloo Bridge won my heart and admiration forever. I think she was talented and not only underrated, but underutilized in her films and is unjustly forgotten today. Even though a leading lady in the 1930s, she only went on to small or bit parts in films in the 40s, 50s and 60s. She was in some important films in Hollywood History, and yet is treated almost like a footnote- like "the girl who got smashed with the grapefruit." She deserves better.

29. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are overrated?
James Dean, hands down. Really. Three films and - to me - a one note performance in each of them.

30. Favorite actor?
I really have a hard time with “favorites” because I love so many different performers and for different reasons. So I don’t have one favorite. But I will say I will watch almost anything with James Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Cary Grant, and William Powell.

31. Favorite actress?
See above: Barbara Stanwyck, Norma Shearer, Myrna Loy…OK, just see this list.

32. Of those listed, who is the coolest: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, or Patrick Stewart?
Steve McQueen.

33. What is your favorite movie from each of these genres:
Comedy:
A Night at the Opera
Swashbuckler:
Robin Hood (1938-natch)
Film noir:
The Big Sleep
Musical:
Tie between Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Singing in the Rain
Holiday:
A Christmas Story
Hitchcock:
North By Northwest

As the pig says, "that's all folks." I tried to be as honest as possible, shooting from the hip in some cases. What do you think? Anything I missed or didn't consider? Got a point to argue with me? Go ahead and sound off in the comments thread.



I don't mind if you don't like my manners, I don't like them myself. They are pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings. I don't mind your ritzing me drinking your lunch out of a bottle. But don't waste your time trying to cross-examine me.

i've got plenty to be thankful for...

It's only a little over a week away from one of my favorite holidays of all- Thanksgiving. We've done our level best here at The Shelf to defend and promote Thanksgiving over the years and we think it's a wonderful holiday where the focus should be on family and gratitude for the things we have. In fact, I think in a country where we have the freedom and the Constitution that we have, it's altogether fitting that we should have a day set aside for a national day of gratitude.

It's still a little too early to break out the Christmas music for me, and I've often wished there was some sort of compliation of "Thanksgiving" music to listen to over the weeks up to the big day. So, I've sort of made something of my own little playlist of Thanksgiving episodes of Classic Radio shows (Jack Benny has some particularly funny Thanksgiving episodes), Hymns that remind me of Thanksgiving and gratitude and some classic film songs and standards that hit the mood. So I thought that perhaps this year, in the week leading up to Thanksgiving, I would share with you some of the items on my Turkey day playlist in hopes that you will enjoy them and consider letting the Holiday and the spirit of gratitude take hold before the season of giving took over. Maybe there is something to learn there folks; in order to give from the heart, perhaps we need to really learn gratitude and what means to be grateful for things we couldn't possible make happen on our own. Maybe it's the grateful heart that truly gives. That's putting the horse before the cart, so to speak.

Allow me to give you the first item on my playlist; and these are two very underrated songs because they are overshadowed by being in a Christmas film. Both of these numbers are Bing Crosby tunes from two of his classic and most loved holiday films: Holiday Inn and White Christmas. Perhaps it's cheating a little, because I have the wonderful soundtrack that contains the songs from both of these films and technically it is Christmas music, but I've placed two particular numbers into my playlist. Here I am presenting clips of the numbers from the film, but the soundtrack, which I recommend highly, has the full songs.

First: Holiday Inn. Most of you know the story: Crooner Jim Hardy (der Bingle) is in love with fellow performer Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale) and has decided to propose, but dancer Ted Hanover has wooed her away with promises of stardom and an offer to be his partner. Lila follows Ted leaving Jim with a broken heart. Ted decides to get away from show business and move to a New England farm that eventually he turns into an Inn only open on the holidays. (So much for getting away from show business). It is there where Jim meets the talented ingenuine Linda Mason (played by the lovely Marjorie Reynolds) and falls for her. Linda and Jim have a great thing going, but Ted enters into the picture again. Despite his attempts to hide Linda from him, Ted tries to woo Linda away from Jim with offers of stardom and Hollywood. Linda, mad that Jim couldn't trust her to make up her own mind, goes to Hollywood- and Jim, with a defeated attitude, just gives in. It is at this point that Thanksgiving roles around and Jim is celebrating a lonely holiday with just his housekeeper, Mamie and her kids. Then the number comes in- in the form of Jim playing his latest composition: "I've Got Plenty to be Thankful for." The song is actually quite sincere (despite Jim's lousy attitude) and it takes Maime to tell him what he needs to hear to change his attitude and go after Linda.
Here's the clip (side note- the Thanksgiving holiday briefly went back and forth being declared on different weeks, to allow more Christmas shopping, until it was finally left alone on the last Thursday of the month- hence the little cartoon at the beginning) :



How many of us have actually "heard" the song- it sort of plays in the background during this scene, but it's words have a great message- "I may not be rich or famous, but I have so much to be thankful for." Here are the words to this great Irving Berlin song:

"I've got plenty to be thankful for
I haven't got a great big yacht
To sail from shore to shore
Still I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got plenty to be thankful for
No private car, no caviar
No carpet on my floor
Still I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got eyes to see with
Ears to hear with
Arms to hug with
Lips to kiss with
Someone to adore

How could anybody ask for more?
My needs are small,
I buy them all
At the five and ten cent store
Oh, I've got plenty to be thankful for"

It's a wonderful tune and is one of the first songs on my Thanksgiving playlist.

Next is a song that comes from that wonderful holiday film, White Christmas. Filled with great performances, culminating with the famous song "White Christmas" (which actually made it's debut in Holiday Inn), our next song is actually for me one of the more beautiful in the film. The soundtrack has the full song performed by Bing, but costar Rosemary Clooney also has a lovely version on one of her Christmas albums. This song has been included in Christmas music albums before, but it has all of the earmarks of a wonderful song for Thanksgiving. Don't believe me? Have you every really listened to it? Here are the words:

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings"

In fact, our very own Mrs. Baravelli wrote a special article on how much she loves this song- why not revist that post to see why the song evokes so much about being grateful for the blessings we do have? To quote Mrs. B herself: "Somehow, however, when I heard this song again, it dawned on me – everything, even the bad, is a blessing to me. I have so many to be grateful for that I should start counting them instead of falling asleep while checking off my to-do list for the next day."
Yes, it's a perfect song for both holidays, if you ask me- gratitude shouldn't start and stop on Thanksgiving- it should tary within us all year. Perhaps it is gratitude that ties Christmas and Thanksgiving so well together.

Here is the clip- Bing's rich bass really delivers the emotion in this wonderful song:



Well, we hope you've enjoyed today's post. Stick around- we'll have more to add to our Thanksgiving playlist. Stay tuned...



You could melt her heart right down to butter, if you'd only turn on the heat!

moguls and more

It's a new month, and nevermind that we missed doing the Shelf's annual Halloween Madness, but as we mentioned a while back, we've unburdened ourselves of self-imposed strictures and and deadlines. October was a very busy teaching month - with finals and new classes and more, so while we enjoyed Halloween with classic films and cartoons and family traditions as usual, we didn't get to share much with you- but we hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween season.
I was reading our friend Laura's monthly review of the schedule of Turner Classic Movies, as you should as well, and making mental notes of what to make sure to DVR, when I remembered something important: TCM begins it's massive new documentary series, Moguls and Movie Stars this month! It is truly something not to be missed. I received an advance copy and have watched the series- and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood is a seven part series that examines the rise and fall of the studio system in Hollywood. The series is narrated by Christopher Plummer and included interviews with many Hollywood Historians as well as actors, producers and more- but what stood out for me was how they interviewed the descendants of some of the Studio pioneers for the series, which added a unique perspective and voice to the overall projects. Lots of never-before seen footage and rarely seen photographs are also featured. The series charts the very beginnings of the film industry in American and charts the beginning, the peak and the ebb of the studio system in particular.

I teach a Media in American Culture Class, and incorporated some of the information (I was not allowed to screen it for them obviously, but did ask them to watch when it premeired) I had learned from the series into my section on Film in America. It never ceases to interest me to see how little people have examined our culture and media beyond their own lifetimes. A 20-something college student often knows very little of song and film, beyond the 1980s. However, I was pleasantly surprised by my last group of students, some of whom were already classic film fans, and most of whom were very interested by the history of Hollywood. Our normal one hour interactive lecture turned into an hour and a half discussion, with many questions asked of me of how the studio system worked. One student in particular was of the opinion that perhaps we ought to go back to that way of making films. While there are pros and cons to the old studio system, no one seemed to argue that there was something missing from films today, and that is a very unique thing to hear from a group of 20-something college students. I am eager to hear what those who actually watch the series on TCM will have to say.

I highly recommend setting your DVRs, TiVos or what have you, to record the new series. It is well worth your time,- it's instructive, entertaining and important- an ambitious project that only TCM could truly pull off, and it succeeds at the highest level. Moguls and Movie Stars airs every Monday from November 1st through December 13th, with repeated airings on Wednesdays and other days as well(meaning you can still catch the first episode tomorrow night). Be careful when scheduling your DVR- some listings on the schedule have the series listed by episode title rather than series title first. So here the individual episode titles and times to look for (all times are Eastern Standard Time- check your local listings) :

Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
Episode 1- Peepshow Pioneers: Nov. 1st at 8pm (and repeated viewings, for example, Nov. 3rd at 10 pm, Nov. 6th at 12pm - check the TCM full schedule for other repeating airings during the weeks ahead)

Episode 2- The Birth of Hollywood: Nov. 8 at 8pm

Episode 3- The Dream Merchants: Nov.15 at 8pm

Episode 4- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? : Nov. 22 at 8pm

Episode 5- Warriors and Peacemakers: Nov.29 at 8pm

Episode 6- The Attack of the Small Screens: Dec.6 at 8pm

Episode 7- Fade In, Fade Out: Dec. 13 at 8pm

What is exceptional about this series, is that each week, TCM will also be airing some of the films mentioned and examined in the series- some of them rarely seen on Television or not available on DVD. For example, some of the silents and early pictures examined in the first episode will be shown this week on TCM- some of them in whole blocks of programming. D.W. Griffith at Biograph, for example, features many of his short films made while at the pioneering film studio. The rarely seen Ramona, with Mary Pickford will also be shown, as well as many of the early films of Thomas Edison and George Melies. Ramona is significant because the 1910 film is one the earliest surviving Biograph films intact with original title cards, and is one of the earliest films of it's kind with story structure and a narrative, a style that was still in it's infancy during that time, when most films were documentary in style. Griffith really helped to bring a strong visual storytelling style to film and is one of the earliest film pioneers to change films into a storytelling medium. Moguls and Movie Stars is highly recommended and definitely one series to clear a slot for on your television recording device of choice.

Item #2- Criterion Collection Sale!
Time to publish this news far and wide! Barnes and Noble is having their 50% Criterion Collection Sale! If you find yourself drooling over those fantastic Criterion Collection sets, but then quickly wiping that grin off your face when you see the price, your time has come! Check out the sale page on the Barnes and Noble site for more details. Not only that, shipping is free if you order $25 or more online. I don't work for B&N, but darn it, I know a good sale when I see one. Check it out now.



If only those who dream about Hollywood knew how difficult it all is.

hidden treasures?

For the past several years, September usually meant, among other things, a detailed look at some Holiday DVD titles. The whole system seems to be upside down- releases of classic films are few and far between, and even classic cartoon releases even worse. A lot of what is coming along seems to be "Special Edition" retreads or Blu-Ray releases of extant titles. We've been fortunate with some great surprise releases like the Columbia Noir sets, the 5th WB Film Noir set. Film buffs have also been pleased to see some excellent titles emerging from the vaults (as it were) via the various DVD Manufactured on Demand systems from WB, Universal (got my Ruggles of Red Gap copy early this year, various TCM collections and now Columbia. I've been very pleased to see Shout and Classic Media and other outfits picking up the slack and finishing up some series that were left to languish- particularly Classic Media bringing out the 4th season of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. WB's new Looney Tunes Superstar series, which was intended to replace the Golden Collections, is a great effort and one that collectors and fans will definitely pick up, but not as jaw-dropping as the 6 volume Golden Collection- either in extras or titles.


And yet, the days of going into a Big Box shop or easily found retail shop to pursue the classic film titles or even find new classic film and cartoon titles are long gone. Even sure fire sellers like the Looney Tunes are "not available in stores" and mostly available online or at dedicated retailers like Barnes and Noble where prices are, well, pricey. The internet seems to be the main retail outlet, and while in this day and age, it's not complicated or difficult, it sure is different. While I really don't need a bazillion copies of the latest bombed at the box office teen, romcom or horror film, it sure would be heartening to see some copies of Rocky and Bullwinkle on the shelves to grab and pick up for a fun evening with the kids. And while Netflix is truly a gift from the film gods, where it truly falls down is when it makes deals with studios to delay rentals or not even offer rentals of Manufactured on Demand titles. I don't want to shell out $20 bucks to own a copy of Doc Savage; I mean, it wasn't that great- but it was cheesy fun from my childhood that I wouldn't mind seeing again at least once.

So here we are: knee deep in the hoopla as the kiddies of the 80s used to say, and yet when it comes to availability and access to titles, it feels like we are taking two steps forward, and they take two steps back. And when was the last time you read a sentence with two 80s pop music references that actually made sense? C'mon, admit it, that's why you love us.

The questions remains- are we standing still? At a crossroads, in a way? Playing a media game of chicken to see which company, consumer, or studio is going to blink first and rush headlong into downloading or some other option? Are we that committed to Blu-Ray? I know very few people who own them or are converting DVD titles to Blu-Ray. A jump from VHS to DVD, many can understand, but when a Blu-Ray player can also play DVDs- why bother? The few people I do know who have them have another reason- a computer with a Blu-Ray drive or a Gaming system. Studios are playing a different game with on demand titles- almost as if they were hedging their bets. By virtue of placing these MOD programs in motion, they also are set up for Downloading- WB already sells titles that way. They know there are really only a few kinds of consumers of their products. There is the average, buy DVD every so often consumer, the film fan/collector who buy and horde DVDs and will reluctantly pay more when they have to have a certain title and then there is the casual film fan who will rent or at least wait till a DVD hits the $5 dollar bin.


I have not changed my initial stance per se, I still think the opportunity and availability of titles still outweighs the loss in store shelf real estate and the loss in extras and special features. The price of some titles still gives me pause, which is why any purchases are few and have to have more justification. However, now I think that enough players have entered the fray that I believe we are beginning to see a real poker game emerge. And I think that in this instance, the next big risk taker among the studios or companies will be the one to hold the most chips in the end. I don't necessarily like Download - there are still some things that will have to be worked out. Anyone who has lost an important file due to a computer crash or glitch knows exactly what I mean. But, I do love my DVR, and have enjoyed being able to DVR TCM films and titles that aren't available any other way, and watch them when I can.

The tech sector will have to step up the game, and I think, given Apple's recent press announcements, that they are doing just that. Portable media players have been around for a while, but players that do a little of everything and store data, rather than play discs are where we are at now. Will we a film collection reduced to a small black box (I would prefer a lovely hunter green personally) hard drive that stores and plays our media? Or will we use some sort of portable hard drive to use from player to player? Or will there be advanced development in micro storage space that makes owning a film collection on a device like an iPod Touch or Kindle a more manageable reality. I don't know for sure- perhaps all of the above. Signs are pointing in the direction of some of this already happening.


One thing is for sure, technology developments move at a lightning pace and classic film fans, by nature, usually don't. As far as availability and adaptability, studios and consumers are a couple of steps behind. Consider that it really took a couple of years to really get a large group of titles available on DVD. If you can remember that far back, it was the same for VHS. It's happening with Blu-Ray now. Predictable sellers like perennial classics such as epics Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur, Casablanca and others hit the stores first to test the waters and establish base camp. Other titles come later, or don't come at all. Other venues try to make them available, but to be honest we don't usually see the same amount of available titles with each progressive wave of technology. There were more titles available on VHS than DVD and on DVD than on Blu-Ray now. The digital download option obviously bucks that trend. The sticky widget is deliverability and price. And as invested consumers we would do well to keep an eye on the trends and see where this thing is headed. I don't see the need to convert my DVD collection anytime soon, but I sure as heck am watching the Tech sector and its developments.

A bigger concern for me is how this will all change the viewing habits of consumers and will Classic films still resonate and have growth among new viewers. You have to admit, as a community, we are somewhat inclusive, yet exclusive. We always welcome new classic film fans and hope to see more, but at the same time we roll our collective eyeballs at those who only watch new films, don't get "classic films" or can't hang in there with the rest of us when we blog our 12 part series about the intricacies of the mechanics of the Flying Monkeys on The Wizard of Oz.


My argument is that, as a community that cares about classic films as a whole, and that cares about preserving the history, the work and the heritage and legacy that classic films represent, we need to be concerned about their exposure to younger and upcoming generations and doing something to grow that appreciation and love for classic Media as a whole for the future. We are making fantastic strides in certain areas- the phenomenal For the Love of Film blogathon that raised money for film preservation is an important part of keeping that heritage alive. And I believe that the two single most influential sources for creating new classic film fans and spreading that appreciation and knowledge has been the fantastic writing from bloggers and critics on the internet and, of course, the powerhouse known as TCM.

That being said, I also notice the signs of a changing society. Classic film appreciation will always have to hurdle the barriers that some people put up to loving them. However the change in technology is not just limitless, but limiting. Quick spurts of media exposure are the order of the day: watch a film in increments on the go or better yet, watch television online or on your smart phone or gadget when you can. Our society favors the fast pace, the anxiety and the short term attention span and memory. What you cannot simply digest in a short amount of time, and understand and appreciate, requires a greater investment- something which, I fear, people are not as willing to do anymore. Social media, music, news, entertainment news, even films -are all about the sound bite explosion. People have no problem posting their "status" of the mundane on Facebook throughout the day like a Tommy gun, but sitting down to watch a film that has visions of antiquated technology such as corded phones requires not only interest, but time to sit and digest. Sure the typical classic film fan can watch a small portion of a film and come back to it later with out much of a problem, but how many of you really want to? You want to soak it all in, you get wrapped up in familiar scenes, and you tell yourself- just a few more minutes. But you know and are familiar with classic films, the stars, and already have great interest. How do we get a FB-ing, earbud wearing, quick draw thumb texting teenage generation to begin to appreciate and invest time and interest in classic media (and I actually include books in that question)? Sure it starts at home. It starts with introducing and not pushing - letting them discover treasures on their own. And nurturing the interest along the way.


Is it really all that important, you ask? Do we seriously need to consider "creating" classic film fans? Don't worry, I don't envision an evangelical approach; however, I do think we need to find ways to encourage support and create new ways of exposing others to classic media. I think we need to continue all important preservation efforts, and to record and write the history of classic films. Sensationalist biographies can be fun, but I think we can use more works that record an overview of the history, the studio system, the stars, and the appreciation for the films, without dangerously becoming too specialized and insular in tone, and thereby alienating the new fan. And by all means- all of you writing out there- don't get discouraged! Keep writing! Combine the nostalgic memories with the movies. As I tell my students, the interest in history (or in classic films) often comes as a result of some kind of personal connection with it. Once the connection is made, the journey begins.

The old caretaker of the museum may reflect, upon retiring, who will love and nourish the things of the past as well as I? Do I leave this place in danger of a coming generation who no longer finds the relevancy or the need for such things? Will this building still stand when I am long gone? The sentiment is familiar to anyone who values and cherishes the lessons and the legacy the past has to offer. After all, so many generations removed from this or that, we cared- will someone else in the future still care? The real pressing question we have to ask ourselves isn't how much do we love classic films, but instead, do we love classic films enough to pass that love on down to someone else?



A strange twilight world opened up before me, and I felt as the first man to set foot on another planet, an intruder in this mystic garden of the deep.

a few of my favorite things...

Dear Shelfers, no doubt your patience has been tried, and the wonderings about your erstwhile host has gone on for far too long. And at times, I admit to have considered closing down the Shelf altogether myself. Life outside of the tinny walls of the internet has been quite full this summer; something which many can relate to, no doubt. I make no excuse, but only, in my most Puck-ish way, ask for your hands to make amends. While putting the Shelf on an indefinite hiatus was an option considered and attractive in some ways, the unintended temporary hiatus this summer gnawed at my conscience. Many things occurred, and were seen, which, I confess, led my thoughts immediately to you: the loyal reader. When a classic film favorite passed away, a new DVD release made it our way, or just simply a nostalgic journey held sway- my first thoughts were of the necessity to share them with you.

Five years ago, this month, The Shelf was born. At that time there were some great inspirational bloggers out there, toiling away at the virtual onion skin. Classic films, nostalgia, and American culture were their beat, and I was eager to throw in my own two cents worth of thoughts (despite, prices already being inflated). While by no means was I a lone voice in the wilderness, nostalgic and Classic film blogging was still under populated to a degree and I have been so extremely proud of our "community" to see so many others get out there and get involved and make their voices heard over the intervening years. So many great and talented writers have emerged, bringing to light information, discussing the underappreciated as well as the overrated, dissecting old arguments and perhaps starting new ones; Classic films and television has enjoyed a growing awareness, popularity and appreciation over the years. That is, in no small part, due to so many bloggers, critics, and writers that have emerged over the vast interweb landscape. It is a testament to all of you that when news occurs that in someway involves classic media, the story can be found in a short period of time on many websites. Many of you have been able to break down news items and reviews and provide a unique insight in such a wonderful, and admittedly (jealous confession) frustrating way, that at times I felt it not only unnecessary, but even criminal to try and add anything to it.

This is not a complaint so much as it is a celebration and even self-examination; there are so many sites available now, that it can be difficult to see where I can add any contribution at all. At the same time however, I value my blogroll, because my daily reading has increased so much over the years that I have found so much joy and entertainment in all that I can find. A double-edged sword indeed.


As I look back over the past few years, I remember the fun and joy I have had sharing with you my thoughts and finds, and even quirky ideas and reviews. I hope you can still find some worth in the old saws still available in the archives. As I tread these creaky boards, just as old actors are wont to do, I am inspired to continue to share as much as I can- if nothing else, to satisfy my own nostalgic yearnings. I may not be the first to acknowledge the passing of a film star, nor the only person to wax philosophical on the value of old television shows, or even the only one to recklessly proclaim my devotion to an underappreciated or overrated gem from the past. No, in fact, I am glad that is the case, because the wealth of knowledge, opinion, and discussion is so valuable and great that I am grateful to be counted among you and hope that this means that the past, which we treasure so much, will not be lost and counted as dust among the cluttered remains of human ephemera.

So with this I've “undeclared” my manifesto, with which Wolf and I began this experiment- to constantly comment, to be there on the scene, to boldly challenge ourselves to push everything and anything to the forefront. No - I release myself from this burden, and hope you will indulge me in the same. I wish to share in the joy, in the discussion, to jump in when I remember or think of something I wish to share with you. When I find some little treasure, I wish to post it here and share with you. Content may be more eclectic than in the past, but with your indulgence, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. It's nothing for me, in conversation with like-minded individuals, to jump from the Three Stooges, to Dean Martin, to Cicero, to Frank Capra, to Crazy Horse, to the Pilgrims, to classic Cereal commercials without so much as losing my place. Thus, you may see short posts of favorite nostalgic commercials, DVD reviews, discussion of history and just posting favorite pictures of radio show stars - all in the same week. Call it stream of consciousness, madness, or even a short attention span- I just call it - little old me. I hope to get Wolfie back on board- he's as busy as the rest of us- but hope springs eternal nonetheless.

To begin, with the new attitude and new look (hope you like it- we will still tinker with it a little) - here is something I've discovered as of late, which I've enjoy immensely. A classic television game show, known as What's My Line (I even play a modified version of the game with my students), in which the occasional famous individual would be a contestant. Often the movie or television star would arrive and have to disguise their voice to fool the panel. Many of these clips are available on YouTube and I have really enjoyed them of late. I would like to share a couple of gems with you in honor of The Shelf 2.0, so to speak.

First up: The Shelf favorite: Jack Benny. If only Fred Allen had been on the panel...


Secondly: Dedicated to our good friend and one of our favorite bloggers, Laura: Robert Montgomery. And interesting bonus- Peter Lawford is on the panel.


And lastly I have to include, the one, the only: Groucho.(Whom, by the way, more and more has reminded me of my father's father in more ways than I've ever realized.)


Late Addition!
I thought I would add one more that I watched earlier today that I got a kick out of: the mystery guest is Walter Brennen and on the panel are Adolphe Menjou and the lovely Greer Garson. Very cool:


Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, everyone, and stay tuned for more short attention span blogging.



Maria, these walls were not meant to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live.

universal on demand: treasure island, part deux

Our friends at Turner Classic Movies have sent us word recently that this was going to happen, and today we received the official word and press release. As part of their ongoing Vault Collection series- TCM and Universal have entered into a partnership to bring to classic film fans more titles from Universal's library. These films are all digitally remastered, and will produced, akin to the Warner Vault Series, on a on a made-to-order basis. What is being now referred to as MOD (Manufactured on Demand), started with TCM's release of the RKO Lost Titles Collection earlier this year.

From the Official Press Release:
"Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) have entered into an extensive new partnership to offer classic movie fans rare vintage films, all digitally remastered, on DVD on a made-to-order basis. The TCM Vault Collection Presented by Universal marks USHE’s first foray into the manufactured-on-demand (MOD) arena. TCM began offering MOD featuring lost titles from the RKO library.

TCM and USHE are working to remaster a number of great titles never before available on DVD, with several never available on home video at all. The first titles made available include five chilling horror films, three early Cary Grant pictures and the unsung 1940 holiday classic Remember the Night, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray and scripted by the great Preston Sturges. The films will be made available by request on DVD via TCM.com for the first time during the fourth quarter of 2009. TCM host Robert Osborne will provide introductions for selected titles, which will also include supplemental materials compiled by TCM and extensive material from the TCM archives. In addition, TCM will present exclusive premieres of the movies over the next six months.

“Many terrific films have been unavailable on home video for far too long, especially the holiday classic Remember the Night,” Osborne said. “It’s wonderful that today’s movie fans will be able to enjoy these rare movies. TCM and Universal have worked hard to restore them digitally and provide historical context, bonus content and behind-the-scenes information, something DVD collectors are sure to appreciate. I’m proud to be part of this great project with TCM and Universal.”

For Universal, the agreement is a great way to reach avid film fans. “Universal is very proud of its prestigious collection of Hollywood screen gems,” said Craig Kornblau, president, Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “Like us, TCM is deeply dedicated to honoring Hollywood’s golden age. This collaboration presents the perfect opportunity to share Universal’s rich cinematic legacy and celebrate vintage works with classic film fans.”

This is welcome news, and should be to classic film fans, as this process seems to be a way to bring more titles out and available to fans - as we have discussed before. The MOD may have some drawbacks, but we at The Shelf still believe it is a great opportunity to be able to have titles in our collections that wouldn't be released otherwise.

The great difference here with TCM, is that the films will be digitally remastered, and select films will include introductions by erstwhile TCM host and all around great guy Robert Osborne, and many titles may also have extras and supplemental material from the TCM archives and library (shorts? documentaries? perhaps!) This is a great step in the right direction and classic film fans should celebrate. Word behind the scenes is that other studios may be trying to do something along the MOD lines as well- so TCM and Universal have stepped up to the plate to give us the goods, as only TCM can. TCM will also premiere some of these films on Turner Classic Movies channel, which adds them to their ever increasing library. The prices for the individual titles seem to be right around $19.99- following the bar set by WB. We hope that as this MOD system continues to prove reliable and as film fans order the sets, these prices will come down. The good news is, as opposed to WB Archive- Many of the TCM titles will include extras and bonus content- which goes a long way toward making the price more palatable.

The Universal Cult Horror Collection will be available to order Oct. 31 (the TCM website actual shows it as available for order now) and includes the following titles (description from the Press Release):
"This collection will include five rarely seen horror gems from the Universal vault, most appearing on home video for the first time. Special features include over a hundred photos, posters and lobby cards, trivia, articles and more.

Murders in the Zoo (1933) – Censors had a heyday with this horror film about a zoologist and sportsman who uses his zoo animals to kill his wife’s lovers. Lionel Atwill plays the villain, with Kathleen Burke as his wife, a young Randolph Scott as the hero and the ever lovable Charles Ruggles providing comic relief as the zoo’s press agent. Among the men playing Burke’s doomed lovers is John Lodge, who later left acting to enter politics, becoming governor of Vermont.

Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942) – Lionel Atwill plays a mad scientist who places people into suspended animation and then revives them. When he is accused of murder following the death of one of his subjects, he flees on a ship, becomes stranded on a tropical island and soon becomes revered as a god by the natives. Una Merkel, Nat Pendleton and Claire Dodd co-star.

The Strange Case of Dr. RX (1942) – A mysterious killer bumps off acquitted murderers who have all been represented by the same lawyer, played by Samuel S. Hinds. Lionel Atwill, Patric Knowles and Anne Gwynne co-star, with Shemp Howard (on hiatus from his work with The Three Stooges) providing comic relief.

The Mad Ghoul (1943) – This creepy tale follows a mad professor, played by George Zucco, who has discovered an ancient Egyptian gas that turns anyone who sniffs it into a heart-eating zombie. David Bruce plays the doctor’s assistant who gets dosed with the gas and goes on a murderous rampage. Evelyn Ankers and Robert Armstrong co-star.

House of Horrors (1946) – The legendary Rondo Hatton, whose acromegaly deformed his face and made him a frequent Hollywood villain, marked one of his last roles with this offbeat film. Martin Kosleck plays a mad artist who, after saving Hatton and making a bust of his face, uses the disfigured hulk to murder art critics. Hatton died of a heart attack the year this film was released."

The Cary Grant Titles will be available January 2010 and include (descriptions from the press release):
"The Eagle and the Hawk (1933) – This vivid World War I drama stars Frederic March as a disillusioned but fearless squadron leader and Cary Grant as his bullied gunner-observer. The gripping interpersonal drama, anti-war sentiments and outstanding aerial dogfights give this film an impact that remains vital today. Carole Lombard and Jack Oakie round out a top-notch cast. The great director Mitchell Leisen, who is billed as associate director, is believed to have directed most of this film.

The Devil and the Deep (1932) – This melodrama is headlined by Tallulah Bankhead, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant and Charles Laughton. The setting is the northern coast of Africa, where submarine commander Laughton is stationed and where his wife, Bankhead, is splitting her time between suitors Cooper and Grant. This marked Laughton’s first American film and one of his most underappreciated performances.

The Last Outpost (1935) – Cary Grant plays a British officer saved from a Kurdish tribe by fellow officer Claude Rains. But when Grant unknowingly falls in love with Rains’ wife, tragedy looms. Gertrude Michael and Kathleen Burke co-star under the dual direction of Charles Barton and Louis Gasnier."

And finally, what I suspect will be welcome news to many classic film fans, including myself, the long awaited DVD release of Remember the Night with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck! It is available starting Nov. 22, 2009, digitally remastered and with lots of bonus features!! (again, from the Press release):

"This heart-warming holiday romance – penned by Preston Sturges – marked the first of four on-screen pairings of Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck and came four years before their iconic work in Double Indemnity. MacMurray plays a prosecutor who finds himself falling in love with a shoplifter (Stanwyck) during a court recess at Christmas time. The atmospheric film co-stars Beulah Bondi, Elizabeth Patterson and Sterling Holloway and was directed by Mitchell Leisen.

Remember the Night is rarely seen and received a brief home-video release on VHS. It is being now remastered and brought back to life so it can take its rightful place as a signature holiday classic. Special features on the DVD will include an introduction by Robert Osborne; still galleries, including behind-the-scenes photos; never-before-seen interview segments on the work of director Mitchell Leisen from the TCM Archives; and the original movie trailer, trivia, biographies and more."

Now the best news of all is that as this new MOD series from TCM and Universal rolls out, they have stated "Future Universal collections and titles for rollout on DVD and TCM include vintage films from Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert, Deanna Durbin, director Douglas Sirk and many more."

It looks like an early Halloween treat for Classic Film Fans. And the more that we support efforts like these, the more we will be rewarded with more titles and more access to the films we love! The Treasure Island that started with Warner Archive is getting bigger, and as we suggested- it looks like more studios are finding this to be a great way to use their libraries and reach fans. I believe more studios will soon follow. (FOX! I am looking at you!)

Stay tuned for more Classic film news and of course, more Shelf Halloween Madness 2009!



Now there's nothing as dangerous as a square shooter. If all men were like you there wouldn't be any nice girls left.

115 years at the movies...

For 15 years, Turner Classic Movies has revitalized, encouraged and entertained classic movie fans everywhere. In 1994, Ted Turner, surrounded by Van Johnson, Celeste Holm, Jane Powell, Robert Osborne and others and threw the switch to begin a 15 year ongoing love affair with so many fans. The reasons we love TCM are too numerous to mention. The fact that it has stayed true to it's original mandate and to the fans is surely one of the most important: presenting classic films the way they were intended. Over the next week or so, we will be featuring several tribute articles to TCM, but allow us to kick off the way TCM did in 1994, with a featurette celebrating movies and, maybe- explaining why, at least visually, why we love the channel so. The original TCM 1994 featurette, 100 Years at the Movies.



We love you TCM. Here's looking at you, kid.



Life isn't like in the movies. Life... is much harder.

treasure island

(With apologies to Thrilling Days of Yesteryear-- I just realized you titled your piece on this topic Treasure Island as well. I didn't mean to swipe it from you, it didn't really see the title previously, as I was interested in what you wrote. It should however, reflect the similar attitude with both have towards this news.)

I have dreams. Oh, yes- I have dreams. When I was a kid, they used to be of the trapped-in-a-toy-store-with-endless-amounts-of-candy variety, but nowadays sometimes they tend to be more...pedestrian. I dream that I will come home from work one day and lawn has been raked and mowed, or a neighbor got one of my bills in their mailbox, but figured, "Oh what the heck. I'll pay it for him anyway." That's not to say I don't have some more fantastical dreams. Remember that Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith and the books? Nagged and bothered anytime he chose to read, one day something happens and his city is wiped out- no people anywhere. He goes to the library and rejoices that now he finally has time to read anything he wants. Then his glasses break. My dream is like that, except without the city being wiped out, glasses or books. But it does involve black and white- My dream was that somewhere there is a place, an island maybe, where I could go and ALL of the classic movies would be there and I could just pick and choose what I wanted. No hoping for studios to but them out on DVD, no searching stores for titles, or trying to DVR or catch a lucky break and see it on TV. This dream was a dream of a true Treasure Island.

I say was, because, in a way, part of it has come true. In case you haven't heard, Warner Brothers has begun a new way to provide classic films to consumers. This morning, I began my stroll down my own proverbial Allen's Alley of The Shelf Community and got the scoop from the fantastic Laura from Laura's Miscellaneous Musings, and from our pal Ivan at Thrilling Days of Yesteryear (both of whom credit the blog Something Old, Something New for the news).
In short, Warner Brothers is providing a sort of "upon order" system on their website, where you can order titles from Warner Vault, all of which have never been previously released to DVD. Let me be clear- these are many titles (as of now about 150 are listed) from Warner's massive vault that have never made it, and never will make it to traditional, retail-ready DVD. And the titles are fantastic!

You can order a DVD copy of a title for $19.99 or a digital download for $14.99 of any of these classic titles, which range from the silent era and into the 80s. In the event of a DVD order, WB will then press the DVD of the title and send it to you in a DVD case with artwork and DVD label, just as if you had purchased it in the store. This is a phenomenal move, one that took me a while to truly process the historic nature of and what it means. Ronald Epstein at Home Theater Forum also announced this today and has more details, and there will be a live chat with George Feltenstein from Warner Brothers tonight at HTF, where the will discuss this and other projects in the works. Roger has also stated: "The quality of these DVDs (and I forgot to mention these are only DVDs) are as good as anything you would expect the studio to release. Theywill be in their proper aspect ratio, 16x9, and with the necessary audiocodecs. Nothing will suffer when it comes to presentation quality."

According to sources, WB plans to add to the Archive- about 20 additional titles a month. By end of the year, there may be around 300 titles available. A quick glance at the 145 or so available now have already got the heart pumping: Private Lives with Norma Shearer, Ah Wilderness, Carbine Williams with Jimmy Stewart, the great campy superhero flick Doc Savage: the Man of Bronze, Tugboat Annie with Marie Dressler, Edison the Man with Spencer Tracy and on and on. Like I said, it's my dream of a DVD Treasure Island come to life...except for the island part or the part where it's free. But I will take it! The only disappointment, and I rate this as somewhat minor- is the fact that there will be no extras, except for the occasional original trailer when available. I do enjoy the extras and commentaries, but I would rather have this if means it's a choice of having a great print of a film on DVD or none at all. Make no mistake, this is a counter move by WB brought on by several factors, not the least of which is the economy, the increasing move to Blu-Ray (and I personally think the real new format- download), and a way to satisfy consumer demand while still minimizing the chance that some titles won't sell.

More details are continuing to emerge (so stay tuned), but all indicators are that this is a welcome offering, and I think a historic turning point in the way the content is delivered. Sure, digital download has been around, but on a scale like this from a major studio is huge news and a massive undertaking. George Feltenstein in a article in the International Tribune states: "There are still thousands of movies that we own that consumers haven't been able to get. I expect that we'll be selling thousands of copies of every title over a period of time, and making a lot of people really happy." In another article in the L.A. Times, Feltenstein further states:
"My dream has always been to find a way to get everything to everybody who wants it... No matter how obscure or arcane, there is something in the library that somebody wants. But yet you have to hit a certain threshold of sales potential to justifying making a DVD the old-fashioned way. Just the cost of authoring, compression and menus, all of that kind of thing, can run into a great deal of money, and with shelf space at retail being diminished -- there is no more Tower Records, Music Plus. . . . [Now] We can make two DVDs or we can make 2,000 [of a title]."

Did you catch the "everything" in that statement kiddies? Least you think I am still dreaming, my professional role model, Glenn Erickson, AKA The DVD Savant, wrote a piece about this news at his site, in which he received a further statement from Feltenstein himself, to wit:
"The goal is to eventually make EVERYTHING available, but obviously that will take a lot of time, and a lot of money. I set out some ground rules. Everything HAS to be Original Aspect Ratio, and 16x9 if widescreen. No 4x3 Letterbox. No Pan 'n' Scan. I also wanted consumers to be able to preview the master before the buy, so they'd understand what they were buying." See, Feltenstein told Glenn the goal is to make EVERYTHING available.

So let's show WB our support, classic film fans, by doing your consumer thang, as it were. Who knows- maybe your hard-to-find dream flick is only a few months away from being on the list. You can check out the WB Archive site here: WBshop.com, and a FAQ about the discs here. Laura and several other sources are also stating that television series may be available in this fashion as well. One question I had was if Netflix or other rental sites would be making a connection here, to provide fans the opportunity to rent any of these films, to which we will have to wait and see. However the good news is that ClassicFlix online DVD rental site has already put up and shut up if you will, and have stated that they are purchasing the WB titles and they will be available thru their service.

If anyone has more news to add, or hears of any further details, please contribute your comments in the comments section or email us at randomshelf@hotmail.com. Stay tuned...

Monday evening update: Please be sure to read the comments section folks- and add your own as well. Please note Ivan's comments (TDYY) about other studios falling suit. I agree with him; and like I said earlier- this is historic folks. I truly believe that. The beginning of a massive move. Now it may not be as historic or earth-shattering as previous breakthroughs, but I think it is rather fitting that the studio that changed the Hollywood and banked on sound films is now taking another turn to the future.




Oh, for ten toes!