Pre-Code Universals

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Pre-Code Universals
Topic Started: Jan 22 2009, 01:31 PM (328 Views)
Laughing Gravy	Jan 22 2009, 01:31 PM Post #1
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook! Posts: 11,459 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	Our friends at ClassicFlix are reporting that Universal is going to be initiating a new "backlot" series of vault titles, beginning with a six-pack of pre-code films. (Although these are from Universal, I think they're all Paramount films, aren't they? Universal owns the Paramounts of that era.) Titles include The Cheat (1931, with Tallulah Bankhead), Merrily We Go to Hell (1932, with Fredric March and Sylvia Sidney), Hot Saturday (1932, with Cary Grant, Randolph Scott, and Nancy Carroll), Torch Singer (1933, with Claudette Colbert), Murder at the Vanities (1934), and Search for Beauty (1934, with Buster Crabbe and Ida Lupino)! Great stuff. http://www.classicflix.com/artwork-added-universal-precode-hollywood-collection-a-406.html



The Batman	Jan 22 2009, 01:54 PM Post #2
Charter Member Posts: 5,924 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: September 4, 2005	Excellent news, LG. Can't wait!



Frank Hale	Jan 22 2009, 03:45 PM Post #3
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 922 Group: Members Member #59 Joined: October 6, 2005	They are all Paramounts, but I imagine it would be pretty easy to come up with a similar Universal set. Wouldn’t you pay good money to see, say, “Love, Honor, and Oh, Baby!”? Hope this signals a change in attitude toward the “deep catalogue” over there at Universal.



Chandu	Jan 22 2009, 04:25 PM Post #4
Champeen of Justice and Seeker of Knowledge, but rascal at heart! Posts: 12,015 Group: Members Member #297 Joined: October 19, 2007	There have been some "Universal Paramounts" showing up on TCM lately too, I've noticed. I can't think of any titles right off hand, but I've seen a few.
	Not plane, nor bird, nor even frog. It's just little ol' me...


Black Tiger	Jan 23 2009, 12:15 AM Post #5
Charter Member Posts: 1,900 Group: Members Member #50 Joined: September 15, 2005	If Universal is opening their vaults, maybe they can let the serials out for a little air and remastering for dvd.



panzer the great & terrible	Jan 24 2009, 09:23 AM Post #6
Mouth Breather Posts: 11,168 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: September 3, 2005	This is wonderful news. Paramount was the pre-eminent studio in the early Thirties, and there are still vital movies that never have been released to video in Region 1. The Universal catalogue from the period is even more of a secret. If there was somebody there who was smart enough to do a John M. Stahl box, we would have a new director to rave about, and the Sirk people would finally shut up. (Their guy was just a cheap imitator, and a snob to boot).
	We Wear Short Shorts Flying Purple People Eater


mort bakaprevski	Jan 24 2009, 12:56 PM Post #7
Arrangin' Balconeer! Posts: 1,654 Group: Members Member #73 Joined: January 1, 2006	panzer the great & terrible Jan 24 2009, 09:23 AM If there was somebody there who was smart enough to do a John M. Stahl box, we would have a new director to rave about, and the Sirk people would finally shut up. (Their guy was just a cheap imitator, and a snob to boot). I still think Gravy should have a Sirk Night for his FNF crowd!!
	One martini is all right. Two are too many, and three are not enough.


panzer the great & terrible	Jan 24 2009, 02:12 PM Post #8
Mouth Breather Posts: 11,168 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: September 3, 2005	The one with Boris Karloff is worth watching because it's set in Europe, but most of his flickers are wrecked by Sirk's condescending attitude towards Americans. He had the social consciousness of a headwaiter and the morals of a rat. Nasty, gutless little man. Bit the hands that not only fed him but also saved him from the Nazis. Maybe we'll get to see the rest of Sternberg with the Universal Paramounts. They would make great FNF fodder, especially Shanghai Express.
	We Wear Short Shorts Flying Purple People Eater


Laughing Gravy	Mar 31 2009, 04:45 AM Post #9
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook! Posts: 11,459 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	The DVD Savant gives his take on the Universal set... Be sure to skip the "spoiler" footnote but to read the one about what MCA did to the Paramount films they acquired... http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2874code.html



panzer the great & terrible	Mar 31 2009, 08:31 AM Post #10
Mouth Breather Posts: 11,168 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: September 3, 2005	Excellent stuff. Only trouble, now I want the damn set.
	We Wear Short Shorts Flying Purple People Eater


Cartoonguy	Apr 3 2009, 04:38 PM Post #11
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 112 Group: Members Member #548 Joined: August 18, 2008	A great review from DVD Beaver.com; http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews45/pre-code_hollywood_collection.htm



panzer the great & terrible	Apr 3 2009, 07:12 PM Post #12
Mouth Breather Posts: 11,168 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: September 3, 2005	I did buy the set because I want to encourage more releases of films from this period, but this emphaasis on the lurid will just lead to disappointment. These movies aren't gross enough to get all het up about.
	We Wear Short Shorts Flying Purple People Eater


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