TCM Vault Collection

[Stefan Andersson]

Mike Schlesinger, who works with Sony, posted on HTF that Grover Crisp, who restores Sony titles, did a long search for censored trims from Shopworn. They were not found. So Shopworn is a rerelease cut.

[Frankinho007]

Five Early Frank Capra Gems Coming to DVD for First Time,

From Turner Classic Movies, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

and The Film Foundation

Set Includes Video Introductions by TCM's Robert Osborne and

Filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard and Michel Gondry,

Along with Audio Commentaries from Noted Film Historians

Frank Capra is one of the most popular and beloved filmmakers of all time, but many of his earlier films have never been made available on DVD. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) are joining forces with The Film Foundation on Frank Capra: The Early Collection, a box set of five 1930s pre-code Capra classics coming to DVD for the first time on Monday, Sept. 3. Among the collection's many special features are video introductions by TCM host Robert Osborne and OscarÒ-winning filmmakers Martin Scorsese (Best Director,The Departed, 2006), Ron Howard (Best Director, A Beautiful Mind, 2001) and Michel Gondry (Best Original Screenplay, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004), as well as audio commentaries by film historians Jeanine Basinger and Jeremy Arnold.

Frank Capra: The Early Collection will be available exclusively through TCM's online store (http://shop.tcm.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) as part of the TCM Vault Collection. The set includes re-mastered editions of Rain or Shine (1930), and four early collaborations with his legendary leading lady Barbara Stanwyck: Ladies of Leisure (1930), The Miracle Woman(1931), Forbidden (1932) and The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1933). The collection also includes extensive on-screen digital bonus materials including production stills, behind-the-scenes photos, lobby cards, movie posters and more.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/32257 ... st_3954097" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regarding the missing Dirigible

According to Mike S on Nitrateville earlier today......."Grover's still working on it."

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/32257 ... st_3954053" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HerrSchreck]

This is good stuff... I'll never forget the first time I saw YEN, a couple years ago-- a latecomer to that film, I was totally blown away by what could have easily turned into stringy melodrama. These are all really good films-- Miracle Woman is awesome, as is Shopworn, etc.

[domino harvey]

Nice to see some actual extras like commentaries-- this is even better than the rumored Stanwyck-only set in that we get a fifth non-Stanwyck title

[Finch]

Is this set worth a blind buy if I've been very indifferent to Capra except for It's A Wonderful Life and Mr Smith Goes To Washington?

[Murdoch]

I'd say go for it. I'm not much a fan of Capra, but Bitter Tea... blew me away. Not only is it the best Capara I've seen, but I'd rank it among the best films of that decade. Going in I expected a stereotypical and orientalist approach to the material with the wholesomeness I came to expect from watching the two Capras you cited, but here the film manages to be in league with Sternberg's Shanghai Express in terms of expressionist portrayals with visuals that feel Sternberg-esque in some sequences, and it creates a great sensuality and amibguity around the General and Stanwyck's character that doesn't fall into a simplistic West vs. East dichotomy. Definitely a must see for anybody regardless of your views on Capra.

[swo17]

I've only seen Miracle Woman and General Yen but based on those two alone (especially the former) I'd say so. Miracle Woman is somewhat similar in theme to Nightmare Alley, and not what you might typically associate with Capra, in case that helps.

[Finch]

Thanks folks.

[triodelover]

Miracle Woman also harkens forward to Elmer Gantry, particularly the closing scenes. I have to agree with all the comments concerning Yen. I agree with Murdoch that's it's among the best Capra, light years better than the treacly It's a Wonderful Life and a far better Stanwyck vehicle than John Doe.

[triodelover]

The great thing about Yen is it's so clearly under the thrall of Sternberg. Capra never made another picture like it (more's the pity.)

I had seen all of Capra's later ouevre by the time I finally got around to Yen. I had to double check the credits. That Frank Capra? Really? I just wish it was coming on Blu.

[vsski]

Someone please remind me again, but are the Sony titles released through TCM Vault pressed discs or DVD-Rs?
The webiste says pressed, but they are not totally reliable, and I seem to remember someone saying that the Sony titles are all pressed and continue to be, while the Unversal ones are pressed initally and then DVD-Rs.

[swo17]

AFAIK, all TCM Vault releases are initially pressed but then revert to DVD-Rs, so the sooner you can purchase them the better.

[Max von Mayerling]

Along the lines of what swo17 said, I recently purchased the Dietrich set (Universal), Jolly Frolics (Sony), and the Columbia Pre-Code set (Sony), and they were all pressed. But I either pre-ordered them or ordered them soon after the release date. I have the Sirk set, which I ordered long after the release date, and it is DVD-R.

[Askew]

Billy Wilder collection with A Foreign Affair and (finally) Five Graves to Cairo.

[Frankinho007]

New TCM/Sony set in November: Joan Crawford - In The Fifties (4 DVDs)
HARRIET CRAIG (1950)
QUEEN BEE (1955)
AUTUMN LEAVES (1956)
THE STORY OF ESTHER COSTELLO (1957)

Introduction by Robert Osborne
Digital Photo Gallery including Scene Stills, Movie Posters, Publicity Stills, Behind the Scenes Photos, Lobby Cards and Publicity Art
TCMDb Article(s)

[perkizitore]

I just got my Film Noir Collection Vol. 3 from Movies Unlimited and only My Name is Julia Ross is a DVDR, all the other discs seem factory pressed.

[Dirk]

It seems that there's some release date shuffling going on again, this time with the Capra set. TCM's shop says it's now coming out on Sept. 27; Movies Unlimited is saying Oct. 6.

[domino harvey]

I just got my Film Noir Collection Vol. 3 from Movies Unlimited and only My Name is Julia Ross is a DVDR, all the other discs seem factory pressed.

Which is a scary idea indeed because the idea being floated around was that maybe it was only the Universal titles that would eventually go DVD-R

[Props55]

And even scarier is the possibility that you'll get a mixture of pressed/burned media within one set!

[triodelover]

It seems that there's some release date shuffling going on again, this time with the Capra set. TCM's shop says it's now coming out on Sept. 27; Movies Unlimited is saying Oct. 6.

If you are talking about the Early Collection, I've had mine a week or more. All pressed DVDs and so far exceeding my expectations for both PQ and audio. Have watched Forbidden and Ladies of Leisure and watching The Bitter Tea of General Yen now. I had been getting by with a download of Yen that was a VHS rip. This is a great leap forward.

[Dirk]

To be fair, I haven't ordered the set yet, so I was going off of what the website listing says. I've been waiting for the next time TCM offers a code for 20 percent off. Found out with the last one a few weeks ago that the codes no longer include preorders.

[triodelover]

To be fair, I haven't ordered the set yet, so I was going off of what the website listing says. I've been waiting for the next time TCM offers a code for 20 percent off. Found out with the last one a few weeks ago that the codes no longer include preorders.

I preordered when the set was first mentioned here and got my shipping notice on the 4th, which was the release date when I placed the order. If there's a problem with the set that would have delayed further shipments, I haven't found it yet, but I have two films to go. maybe they got a larger preorder response than anticipated, though I'll admit that seems a stretch.

[Max von Mayerling]

Odd that you have your set in hand (but glad to hear you are happy with it). I received the following email from TCM on September 7:

Dear TCM Patron,
Thank you for your recent order of Frank Capra: The Early Collection. Due to a printing error, TCM has delayed the release date of the collection. There is a reprint in progress and the new expected availability date is September 27, 2012. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate your patience in this matter.
Please be assured that your credit card will not be charged until the item has physically shipped from our warehouse.
We thank you once again for your continued support of the TCM Vault Collection.

Sincerely,

Turner Classic Movies

[knives]

Sounds like a typo on the packaging.

[Dirk]

Which is exactly what happened with the Columbia Noir III set. I think that set had an incorrect film description on the inner packaging.