Excellent film series for those who enjoy Harold Peary and Gildy!
925326
The quality is nice for these.  They are not restored, of course, but as good or better than the TCM airings.
Harold Peary is an acquired taste these days.  Somehow I got hooked on the Gildersleeve radio show and fell in love with all these characters after going through all those episodes.  I had  a vague memory of watching the short lived TV show, but the original radio episodes are excellent.
The films do not seem to have the flavor of the series at first, but by the second film GILDERSLEEVE'S BAD DAY and with the original Mr. Peevy on board, these movies just took off for me.  I ended up wanting more.  There are a few films not in this set which had Peary as Gildy more or less as a gust star.  SEVEN DAYS LEAVE is one of these and it's here.
GILDERSLEEVE'S GHOST was a lot of fun for me.  If you like TOPPER RETURNS and the excellent ape suit from MONSTER AND THE GIRL, this is a must!
But again, this is not something you go into cold.  I enjoyed at least 8 seasons of the series before watching these so they were gold to me.
By the way, all the existing radio shows are easily found all over the internet.  Put them on a cdr and play them in your car on the way to work and you will get hooked like I was if you give it a chance.
2021381
These Michael Shayne Mysteries are vastly-enjoyable b-pictures, with fun mystery plots and lots of humor.  Lloyd Nolan is great as gumshoe Michael Shayne.  This collection includes sparkling prints and some entertaining special features.  It's just a pity that they never issued Volume 2 with the other three Shayne films.  Still, this is very-reasonably-priced and worth every penny.  Highly recommended, especially for fans of the "Lone Wolf", "Boston Blackie", "Falcon", "Saint", and "Nick Carter" series.
3806051
I may be wrong--I tend to think the things Kreskin had done were faked, but who cares. I mean the guy does a lot of CARD tricks. But it was wonderful to see his program. This is a beautiful set--a solid box that houses three DVDs, and a cool pendulmn, which is pretty enough to wear as a piece of jewelry.

The first show was guest SYBIL LEEK!!! What a rare treat.  I'm a big fan of Sybil Leek as she was a marvelous highly imaginative writer, who died in 1983, but I never seen her on television. I got to see her interviewed. I was delighted. It was worth it just to see that one interview.

IF YOU CAN FIND THIS DVD COLLECTION, TRUST ME IT IS WORTH GETTING!!!
4817091
Excellent series! Rich characters, idyllic English countryside and compelling story lines made this an entirely entertaining viewing experience. One can easily overlook the minor discrepancies mentioned in other reviews, like the distance from Lark Rise to Candleford, who cares!
466584
Excellent Series, can't wait for next film!
2402028
A quality oldie goldie movie which should be enjoyed by all who select to view it!
3471646
I am a huge fan of FX master Ray Harryhausen and I love all of his films! I've seen all of the films between 50 and 100 times and I was leery of a colorized version of any of his classic black and white movies. The first one I watch was '20 Million Miles To Earth' which I thought was amazing! the color (which was over seen by Harryhausen) only enhanced the film.

This film is also a treat, but the color does show the imperfections of the print more than in the previous picture I mentioned. What's great about this edition is that you get both black and white and color versions and they can be switched back and forth while viewing.

The DVD also has some excellent features including commentary with Ray Harryhausen and a couple of feature-ettes, stills gallery, etc. Some of these feature are carried over from the other new color DVD's, but it's a nice set regardless. It would have been smart if they included the features from the older editions of these film so we could discard them, but those features appear on a number of Harryhausen DVDs, so I guess it's not too big a deal.

There are some who feel these films aren't classics, but please remember that Mr. Harryhausen did all of the effects himself! He created and built the figures, the sets, did the story boards, the lighting, the back plates, the photography and much more.

Yes! what would take a 100 or more people to do in films now, was done by one man and he did it on a very small budget, so small they could only afford a six armed Octopus! Not only that, there was very little known back then about these effects, so Ray had no where or anyone to turn to when presented with a technical problem. He also invented some film processes that are still used today.

Every person who is making or doing effects in films now was inspired by Ray and his fabulous creations! OK, I know Willis O'Brian invented the stop motion technique, but Ray certainly advanced it to another level.
3999553
Yes, these are OLD films that many today would find lacking in gunfire, car chases, explosions and gratuitous sex...but IMO these are classic films. They are well done and Warner Oland IS Charlie Chan. The dialogue is clever if not stilted by today's standards of profanity and ethnic laced material. All of the films are in decent shape. Clearly having been restored...so the picture in not digital quality but it is very watchable. Each film has a different setting and were as interesting to me today as they were when we watched them on Charlie Chan Theatre as kids. Well worth the purchase if you like these older detective mysteries.
3998383
Warner Archive is true to their word, Volume Two is right on schedule. Believe me the prints here look EXCELLENT! It seems all the films are from 35mm prints. The Bowery Boys films have changed hands several times. The last time was when Warner Brothers bought the television rights back in the early 1970's. Most prints are several generations away from the camera negatives, yet this collection looks beautiful. Even "Spook Busters" (which has always been a problem) looks better than ever.

An extra bonus is having "The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters" & "High Society" in their original 1.85 Scope versions! It's an absolute joy!

Support Warner Archive, and get this set. BRING ON VOLUME THREE!!!
123841
I enjoyed and liked very much to watch all the episodes in this series. The quality of the DVD is excellent.  I recommend this series to those who are fond of mystery films.
1390028
The first entry in this collection ("Death on the Nile") starts off a little slowly, but the pace picks up about midway through, and there is real suspense as the story unfolds.  As for the other three films ("The Hollow," "Five Little Pigs," and "Sad Cypress"), they are vintage Poirot: as richly atmospheric and enjoyable as any of the earlier Poirot films, with David Suchet in top form as the eccentric Belgian sleuth.

Also, these latest Poirot mysteries have terrific production values, as you'd expect: the elegant sets and costumes provide lots of period detail that delight the eye.  If you're a fan of stylish whodunits, this is definitely a worthwhile addition to your film library!
3482519
Others are commenting on the poor quality of this DVD and I'll definitely take them at their word because I have my OWN copy (of beautiful quality) and I won't bother to mention how I happened to get my particular DVD *.* -- but it's not THIS DVD, nor is it a copy thereof.

As for the movie itself, it's in color, letterbox format, and it's just spectacular! It's a combination of two film genres, mixing a WW II film with a murder mystery -- and the scenes, setting, scenery, casting, special effects, storyline, soundtrack, and cinematography are all spot-on, terrific!

The story is about a Nazi officer (a really ethical guy!) who is assigned to investigate (like a regular policeman) the murder of a prostitute and to bring the perpetrator to justice. He soon discovers that very similar depraved murders have occurred in the past and, due to one terrified witness glimpsing the red stripe down a uniform trouser leg, a uniform feature which was exclusive to Nazi generals, the investigator knows that this will definitely be a difficult case to resolve.

He soon narrows the suspect generals down to three men, all of whom had both the bad temperment as well as the opportunity to kill and mutilate these women. But soon, most of the focus begins to center on one VERY strange general in particular (one of the three). All this takes place during an aggressive and brutal Nazi purge of "dissidents" in the town and that is the war side of the film. There's a lot more to the story, sub-plots, etc., but I don't want to convey any spoilers.

So, I guess I'm saying that if you can somehow obtain a good copy of this most excellent film, then go for it! My highest recomendation.
2572261
I couldn't wait to get this set.  I think Harold Lloyd is a true genius and this set provides you with the chance to view some rare & early Harold Lloyd films.  Some great stuff with Bebe Daniels and Snub Pollard and later with Mildred Harris.  My favorite so far is:  Are Crooks Dishonest? (1918).

If you're looking for an inexpensive way to view some early shorts, this is it.  Passport has some nice quality prints here but my one minor complaint is a persistent logo in the bottom right hand corner of the screen saying "Smiles & Spectacles - The Harold Lloyd Treasury".  It's a very faded/pale logo and is really only noticeable when the screen shows black or dark areas.  A small price to pay for viewing some great early HL shorts.  I would definitely recommend this set as a supplement to the 2 Kino Harold Lloyd DVDs and the Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection.

Worth the price!
210631
I have to admit that I was initially a bit skeptical of this version of Evil Under the Sun, as my brother and I grew up watching the Peter Ustinov film with ridiculous frequency. And while the Ustinov has a more infectiously energetic feel and campy, amusingly over-the-top humor, I actually ended up loving this version of Evil Under the Sun even more.

As a couple of other reviewers have mentioned, this is among the sadly few full-length Poirot movies to feature Hastings, Inspector Japp AND Ms. Lemon. (Most films feature only one of the three; sadly, a handful of the films don't include any of them.) These three supporting characters are not just likable and amusing in their own right, but they serve to humanize Poirot to an invaluable degree. Their mere presence here adds a subtly warm and humorous camaraderie that makes this movie eminently rewatchable. Suchet is, as always, the quintessential Poirot. Hastings is his usual sweet, amiable and amusingly clueless self, played with underrated excellence by Hugh Fraser. The mystery itself isn't an all-time favorite of mine, but even comparatively mediocre Christie mysteries are (in my Christie-adoring opinion, of course) better paced and plotted than the vast majority of what's out there, and this one is more than sufficiently engaging. The scenery and costumes are, as is typical of this series, absolutely superb.

I've drastically cut down on my DVD buying, but this is among the rare mystery movies that I'll rewatch frequently despite already knowing 'whodunit.' Enjoy!
4471515
I am a middle school drama teacher that has been using Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" on video cassette for years to observe the pure genius of Chaplin's mime. This set not only includes three other classic films on DVD (Yes! No rewinding!), but includes a DVD with each movie on particulars in both the history and the making of that particular film.

If you are the least bit interested in Charlie Chaplin this is a wonderful set to add to your collection - with four classic films, an additional DVD with each movie and a very fair price you really can't go wrong!

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Chaplin-Collection-Vol-1-Modern-Times-The-Great-Dictator-The-Gold-Rush-Limelight/dp/B000096IBS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Chaplin Collection, Vol. 1 (Modern Times / The Great Dictator / The Gold Rush / Limelight)</a>
2340515
Warner Archives give us another William Haines movie - thanks God! I have never seen it before but its really a nice one movie. Of course, William Haines acting is a little bit overacted (comes direct from the silent movie era) and this a early talking movie. Its relative short with only 65 minutes but very entertaining.

The most funny / charming scene is this, when William is leaving the store, running after the woman where is sitting now in her car. She want drive away and he is holding up the car (kneeling) with his finger.

The Story: read the product description or on wikipedia / imdb.

The DVD:

The Picture quality: is not restored / remastered but pretty good!!!!!

The Sound: for a early talking picture and not restored one, not bad!

The only minus point I have with those Warner Archive Collection: no subtitles for deaf hearing people
2588151
Warner Archive has done it again by releasing yet another of its famed film series on DVD.  All 9 of the MGM films are included across 5 discs. I purchased mine directly from the Warner Archive for $10 less than here. My set is pressed, not burned. Trailers are included as is a failed tv pilot (30 mins) from 1961 with Lee Ayres returning to the role as a more mature Kildare. These films are great fun and Lionel Barrymore steals every one of them. Loaded with MGM up and comers like Lana Turner.

I hope Warner gets around to the Barrymore/Dr. Gillespie films made after Ayres was unfairly sacked from MGM as a conscientious objector during WW II (he served with distinction as a non-combat medic 1942-46).

Warner is also releasing the Richard Chamberlain tv series from the early 60s to DVD.  The series is much more serious than these early films. I purchased season 1 from Amazon, and to my shock the set was also pressed and not burned!