DVD Review: ‘Turner Classic Movies: Greatest Classic Films Collection’

CHICAGO – Turner Classic Movies continues their collection of some of their greatest films in four-movie sets, three of which were recently released and distributed by Warner Brothers Home Video under the label “Turner Classic Movies: Greatest Classic Films Collection” with sub-labels of “Romance,” “Marx Brothers,” and “Sci-Fi Classics”.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

The gigantic partnership that has released dozens of classic films in themed groups continues a series that serves to satisfy both serious film buffs and casual fans who may just be starting to build a library of classic films.

The latest three installments in the “Greatest Classic Films Collections” features a set timed well to Valentine’s Day and two collections of classics that never grow old.

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romance was released by Warner Brothers Home Video on February 2nd, 2010.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers

The “Romance” edition of the “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collections” features timeless stars like Natalie Wood, Warren Beatty, Audrey hepburn, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, and Bette Davis in “Splendor in the Grass,” “Love in the Afternoon,” “Mogambo,” and “Now, Voyager”.

All four films in the “Romance” two-disc, double-sided set are presented in their original theatrical exhibition with “Splendor in the Grass” and “Love in the Afternoon” being displayed in widescreen with “Mogambo” and “Now, Voyager” in standard form. All are presented with a mono track.

As for special features, “Splendor in the Grass” features the classic cartoon “Beep Prepared” and the film’s trailer; “Love in the Afternoon” includes “Cast/Director Fillm Highlights” and the film’s trailer; “Mogambo” includes just the film’s trailer; “Now, Voyager” includes “Scoring Session Music Cues Audio Track,” “Cast Film Highlights,” and the film’s original trailer.

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Marx Brothers was released by Warner Brothers Home Video on February 2nd, 2010.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers

The “Marx Brothers” edition of the “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection” features four of the brothers’ best films including the beloved “A Day at the Races,” “A Night in Casablanca,” “Room Service,” and “At the Circus”. All four films are presented in standard form with mono tracks on double-sided discs.

“A Day at the Races” is packed with special features including a commentary by “The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia” author Glenn Mitchell, “On Your Marx, Get Set, Go!,” a vintage Robert Benchley short titled “A Night at the Movies,” classic cartoons (“Gallopin’ Gals,” “Mama’s New Hat,” and “Old Smokey”), musical outtake “A Message from the Man in the Moon,” radio promo “Leo Is on the Air,” and the film’s theatrical trailer.

Special features on the other three films include the vintage Joe McDoakes short “So You Think You’re a Nervous Wreck”, classic cartoon “Acrobatty Bunny,” vintage short “Party Fever,” classic cartoon “The Daffy Doc,” vintage short “Dog Daze,” classic cartoon “Jitterbug Follies,” and trailers for “Room Service” and “At the Circus”.

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Sci-Fi Adventures was released by Warner Brothers Home Video on February 2nd, 2010.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers

Finally - and perhaps most enticingly - is the “Sci-Fi Adventures” set which includes B-movie classics “Them!,” “The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms,” “World Without End,” and “Satellite in the Sky”. The first two are presented in standard form with the latter two coming home in widescreen presentations. All four films feature mono tracks.

Special features on the “Sci-Fi Adventures” are kind of light with “World Without End” and “Satellite in the Sky” being absolute bonus-free. “Them!” includes “Behind-the-Scenes Archive Footage Showing How Giant Ants Operate,” “Bug Movies Productions Notes,” and the film’s trailer. “The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms” includes “The Rhedosaurus and the Roller Coaster: Making the Beast,” “Harryhausen & Brsdbury: An Unfathomable Friendship,” and the Giant Monsters Trailer Gallery.

[16]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [17] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [16]