Shearer, Stanwyck and Chatterton Highlight Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume 2

DVD Times is reporting the March 4th release of TCM Archives: Forbidden Hollywood Volume 2. This time we have 5 precode classics along with an all-new documentary, "Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood." Here's the much-anticipated lineup of films:

Norma Shearer in "The Divorcee" and "A Free Soul" on Disc One.

Bette Davis, Ann Dvorak, and Joan Blondell make "Three on a Match" along with Ruth Chatterton's racy business exec in "Female" on Disc Two.

And Disc Three brings us Blondell with Barbara Stanwyck and a menacing Clark Gable in "Night Nurse" along with the original documentary on pre-code films!

Warner Home Video has upped the ante this time with some additional extras, including two commentaries and original trailers for some of the movies.

Artwork and pricing to follow.

More "Forbidden Hollywood" DVD Sets Coming!

In a chat held the other night at the Home Theater Forum, Warner Home Video executives confirmed we can expect to see more Forbidden Hollywood DVD sets featuring the best Pre-Code films. Direct from the chat transcript:

[WayneH] I'm wondering if there will be more FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD sets and what flicks might make it in future volumes? Many folks were also saddened by the lack of extras in the first. Great movies, though!

[WARNER] Yes. FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD #1 was a huge success. We were disappointed that we couldn't add extras either. We had planned to include a documentary that turned out to have clearance issues which prevented its inclusion. As you are aware, we always try to release discs that are full with great extras, so we were bummed. We hope to make it up to you with this year's release, which we plan to have include SIX features, plus a brand-new pre-code documentary that we at WHV are producing right now as we speak. We hope to have two FH releases per year starting in 2008


Great news, and it also addresses the concern over the lack of features on what seemed to be a hurried Volume 1 release. It seems we will get at least one Norma Shearer title in this year's six feature set. Can't wait to find out what the lineup will be.

Previewing the "Forbidden Hollywood" Collection

LA Times writer Susan King offers a nice summary and sneak preview of the forthcoming TCM Archives "Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 1." King explains how desperate studio executives got around the lax content guidelines in place in the early thirties.

All three films in the set (the newly restored "Baby Face," James Whale's "Waterloo Bridge" (pictured above), and "Red Headed Woman") will air on TCM on December 4th, the evening before the official release of the DVD set. As a bonus, TCM will also air three other Pre-Code gems, including Stanwyck's "Night Nurse," "Union Depot" which pairs Joan Blondell with the dashing Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and the seedy sounding "Under 18" with our favorite cad of the era, Warren William.

The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)

Recently screened this frequently censored MGM early horror film starring Myrna Loy at her vampiest in one of her last "bad girl" roles. Though the film is quite dated with its racially insensitive dialogue and stereotypes, it is nicely filmed and fun to see MGM give the picture what had to be considered big-budget treatment for its time.

Boris Karloff (buried under makeup) is sufficiently sinister, hissing most of his lines. Karen Morley attempts hysteria as the hero's girlfriend who is often in peril, though she comes off quite flat here. I remember Karen was honored at the 1999 San Francisco International Film Festival, but she was unable to attend. Wished I could have seen her - her career was effectively ended by the Red Scare in the late 40s and early 50s. Morley died in 2003.

The film is part of the superb Warner "Hollywood Legends of Horror Collection" featuring six classic screamfests, most with entertaining commentaries and trailers. The DVD features a fully restored uncut version of the film. And if you are squeamish - never fear, this is no "Saw III."

The Premiere Frank Capra Collection

Sony finally gives celebrated director Frank Capra his due with "The Premiere Frank Capra Collection," a six-disc box set featuring five of his classic films. Of interest to pre-code fans is the inclusion of "American Madness," an early collaboration with writer Robert Riskin about a run on a bank in the Depression era. Of course, his most famous pre-code, 1934's "It Happened One Night," is also represented, as well as "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," and "You Can't Take It With You." Each film includes a commentary as well as a brief featurette from his son, Frank Capra, Jr.

And if that wasn't enough to make your life wonderful, the set includes a 96-page scrapbook and a bonus disc with interviews with Frank Capra Jr., Frank Capra documentarian Ken Bowser, and Capra archive curator Jeanine Bassinger, as well as archival footage and the 1997 documentary "Frank Capra’s American Dream."

The Capra collection hits the shelves December 5th, with a suggested retail of $59.95.

TCM Archives: Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume 1 in December

Warner Home Video has officially announced its first collection of Pre-Code films, a 2-disc set featuring the original theatrical and uncensored versions of "Baby Face," Jean Harlow's "Red Headed Woman" and the rarely-seen 1931 release "Waterloo Bridge," directed by James Whale.

No art work has been released yet, but the MSRP is $39.98, and this long-awaited set will hit the street on December 5th. Not much in the way of extras, though Robert Osborne shows up for some intros. The full press release is at DVD Times.

Though I will be one of the first in line for this set, I am a little surprised at the list price for a three-film set, considering how many of Warner's sets offer such great value. They obviously believe interest will be limited. Hopefully, future volumes will offer more titles and better extras at a competitive price.

Joan Is Busting Out All Over

Sorry I have been remiss about posting to my blog. I could make up an excuse that I didn't have a lot of pre-code news to report or movies to review, but that is not necessarily the case (I have a backlog of TCM movies on my TiVo and a Busby Berkeley box set to get to). So as long as you accept my apologies, I will move on!

Joan Crawford is (perhaps unfairly) remembered more for her alleged failings as a mother (see this month's "Mommie Dearest: Hollywood Royalty Edition") or her camp classics (see the new 2-Disc Special Edition of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?"). While both films are entertaining to say the least, I think Joan would rather we remember her when she was young and beautiful and one of MGM's biggest stars. We get a glimpse of that Joan in the pre-code musical "Dancing Lady" (available on DVD 6/20 both individually and as part of the new "Clark Gable: The Signature Collection" box set). Though I have not yet seen the film, I love seeing early Clark Gable films since the studio didn't quite know what to do with its rising star, casting him in "heavy" roles instead of suave leading man. Here, he gets to show a comedic side in this backstage musical featuring Crawford's future husband Franchot Tone as his romantic rival. This film features an amazing supporting cast: Fred Astaire (in his first sound feature), May Robson, writer Robert Benchley, Eve Arden (in a bit part), and even The Three Stooges! If that lineup is not incentive to seek out this film, I don't know what is!

And speaking of Joan, I bet she would also be quite proud of her Oscar-winning performance in "Mildred Pierce." This noir classic will be shown at a very special screening on July 21st at The Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Hold on to your pie plates, because this benefit screening will feature a live appearance by Ann Blyth (who played Veda, Mildred's ingrate daughter, to perfection)! Noir czar Eddie Muller will interview Miss Blyth prior to the screening in what promises to be a fascinating evening. Tickets are available by calling 415-863-0611 or at ticketweb.com. Hope to see you there!