I also checked out Raoul Walsh's In Old Arizona (1929), which was Fox's first talkie. Well I am a big fan of Warner Baxter (42nd Street anyone?), and was interested to see the film which he won an Oscar for. I thought he was pretty good. He manages to be pretty charming and funny, and he keeps his ...

The film was green-lighted by Thalberg and shot while Mayer was in Europe. The writer and driving force was Carey Wilson. When Mayer got back and saw it, he hit the ceiling. The release was delayed and Carey Wilson never worked at MGM again.

Sony (who has Columbia's film library) made a deal with HP to do something similar to this where you can get dvd's on demand. You find a movie you want on their site and then they press the dvd and send it out. Last I heard at Home Theater Forum this summer, it's still in development and if they do...

I wish I could find the post that I think David Shepard wrote a few years ago on the economics of restoration and DVD production. You really do have to sell a certain number of units to turn a profit. The studios are all owned by big conglomerates who judge everything by profit. They have to be conv...

Clara Bow was a huge star for Paramount. But it's odd that Swanson is not on your list what with SADIE THOMPSON. But it all depends on what the lists were based on.... theater owners? actual receipts? Swanson was no longer with Paramount. Sadie Thompson was produced by Swanson and released by Unite...

These lists are interesting although they are not always a sign even of the quality of work. Usually, the stars that top these lists are associated with the bigger studios with the better PR machines behind them. Marion Davies, as great as she was, also would beneift from the huge buid up she got th...

Synnove wrote:The Thames versions of the silent classics sound so wonderful. I can't understand why they haven't been released on DVD!

My guess is a combination of expired rights and film transfers that are inferior to what can be done today.