Which Cary Grant to go for?

Guest 37008 · 23-12-2004, 20:31

Anyone help me to decide what are the best options when purchasing CG sets/titles. eg R1vR2? Box setvSingle edition?
Amazon uk and dvdsoon have started a feeding frenzy in our house!
Ta
Nick

John Hodson · 23-12-2004, 20:33

In the battle of the box sets, the Cary Grant Signature Collection is the best option; the only advantage the R2 set has is a super documentary, which I believe is going to be on the upcoming R1 release of Bringing Up Baby anyway.

Also nab:

Gunga Din
Charade
Only Angels Have Wings
The Bishops Wife
North by Northwest
Suspicion (for starters)

This should be in the Classic Forum BTW

Alan b · 23-12-2004, 20:35

Moving to Classic Forum & DVD Forum

Guest 29 · 23-12-2004, 20:44

I would humbly suggest getting the R1 Hitchcock boxset because it's not that expensive and contains loads of great movies in addition to the Grant titles.

Also, the R2 budget release of Hitchcock's marvellous "Notorious" is perfectly acceptable and cheap enough to tide you over until we see what MGM make of it in R1. The Crit was, in my opinion, overrated and I got rid of it for silly money when I could.

Guest 9011 · 31-12-2004, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

Also, the R2 budget release of Hitchcock's marvellous "Notorious" is perfectly acceptable and cheap enough to tide you over until we see what MGM make of it in R1. The Crit was, in my opinion, overrated and I got rid of it for silly money when I could.

My biggest problem with the Criterion Notorious is that the first 50 minutes of the film are encoded interlaced - a huge SNAFU for Criterion and not a mistake I've ever seen them make before. Otherwise, the disc is, in my opinion, very good, and the two commentaries are most informative.

John Hodson · 07-01-2005, 17:29

A word of warning; Universal is releasing it's lack-lustre version of Bringing Up Baby, previously part of their (lack-lustre) Cary Grant box set, on Monday. If you love this film and your DVD player is multi-region modified do not buy this version.

What you do need is the brand spanking soon to be released two-disk Special Edition from Warners in R1; not only is it coming with some lovely extras, but I'm willing to bet that the transfer will be inexorably better than Universal's - it's even cheaper than the R2 at dvdsoon here.

LouBarlow · 23-12-2004, 21:33

Definitely North by Northwest - the 2nd greatest film ever made...

sleep4ever · 24-02-2005, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouBarlow

Definitely North by Northwest - the 2nd greatest film ever made...

Seconded....well maybe not the second greatest film, but an absolute corker

earl_roberts2002 · 23-12-2004, 22:58

Perhaps not to everybody's liking {somewhat bizarrely IMO

** is Arsenic and Old Lace which reportly even Frank Capra and Cary Grant themselves weren't too fond of, but I think it's Great! I'm Was A Male War Bride is another nice little comedy which is hardly mentioned.
I'm of the opinion that Grant's work with Howard Hawks is far superior to his work with Hitchcock, so what you NEED to get are Bringing Up Baby, {which is coming soon** Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, {One of my personal favourites

** the afore mention I Was A Male... and Monkey Business unfortunately these films aren't available in a set due to being put out by three different studios but the R1's seperately aren't too costly.

I've got two questions of my own for you guys, the documentary which is gonna be on Bringing Up Baby, is it any good? Also, has anybody seen Holiday and if so what did you think? Thanks!

John Hodson · 23-12-2004, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by earl_roberts2002

I've got two questions of my own for you guys, the documentary which is gonna be on Bringing Up Baby, is it any good? Also, has anybody seen Holiday and if so what did you think? Thanks!

The documentary has had rave reviews, and they've been clamouring for it in R1 land and I'm looking forward to seeing it. Holiday is an excellent Cukor comedy (that they are also clamouring for in R1 land), with an superb cast; I don't think you'll be disappointed.

BTW, another vote for Arsenic and Old Lace, one of the older Warners transfers, but still very fine.

Guest 42806 · 24-12-2004, 08:43

I'll suggest these:

-His Girl Friday
-Holiday
-Bringing Up Baby
-North By Northwest
-The Cary Grant Signature Collection
-Charade

Guest 41271 · 25-12-2004, 22:15

Although the transfer of The Awful Truth leaves much to be desired, it is still essential viewing (and can be found at a reasonable price) - one of the greatest screwball comedies, and Grant's definitive breakthrough as a significant actor.

Guest 32204 · 31-12-2004, 06:03

Has nobody mentioned The Philadelphia Story yet?

Cary Grant was "yar."

And, as previously mentioned, Arsenic and Old Lace, as well as North by Northwest.

And of course, don't forget another Hitchcock classic, Notorious!

Guest 23929 · 31-12-2004, 09:04

His Girl Friday - One of the best comedies ever made, bar none.
An Affair To Remember - Simply brilliant. They really don't make them like this anymore.

DanWilde1966 · 31-12-2004, 10:22

If I had to pick one for the desert island, it would be North by Northwest. The man got better as he got older... and this Hitchcock captures him at his peak, in my view.

Guest 1724 · 07-01-2005, 18:49

Another vote for Bringing Up Baby - my second favourite comedy of all time (after Kind Hearts and Coronets)

My sister has the French box set which is really nice (called L'Impossible Monsieur Bebe over there) as it was not available in the UK/US until fairly recently

anephric · 07-01-2005, 19:49

I'm feeling a distinct lack of love for Father Goose in this thread, which is a shame because I love it.

John Hodson · 24-02-2005, 21:12

DVD Beaver has compared the old MGM/Warner disc of The Philadelphia Story with the new Warners two-disc SE here.

Can't wait...

Guest 16217 · 24-02-2005, 22:03

I love Father Goose - I thought Cary Grant was superb in this film. I have held off buying it as its supposed to have a bad transfer and I'm waiting for a good version to be released.

If I had to buy 4 Cary Grant dvds they would be:

1. Holiday - good transfer, excellent film
2. North by Northwest
3. The upcoming - Philadelhphia Story SE
4. Notorious

Guest 41271 · 24-02-2005, 22:37

Let me put in a word for "People will Talk" - a flawed film, certainly, but with a pretty good, and very sympathetic, performance by Grant. A barebones but reasonably priced and nice-looking disk from Fox.