Re: The Warner Archive
Posted: April 19th, 2011, 3:31 pm
This Week's Releases on the Warner Archive includes several rare Myrna Loy Movies ! They also felt compelled to toss some of the '60s films that tried to transfer teenager's interest in pop and rock music to the movies. See for yourself if it lost anything in translation:
MGM RECORDS ON SCREEN
By the mid sixties Rock and Roll was more than king, it was the emperor of entertainment, and so MGM's film division was tasked with bringing MGM Records' new crop of rockin' recording artists to the silver screen. Entrusted to Sam Katzman, helmer of quickie hit B pics like The Giant Claw, the resulting films are high on exuberance and verve, if a little short on plot and logic.
HOLD ON! (1966) REMASTERED Long before it gave birth to the likes of Oasis and The Stone Roses, England's "Madchester" music scene produced the stateside hit-making sensations Herman and the Hermits (aka Herman's Hermits). Signed to MGM, the musical combo found itself in uncharted waters - very real musicians being forced into a pre-fab pop-friendly frame - as if The Beatles were marketed as The Monkees. In their first starring vehicle, the children of the US vote to have a space capsule named after the band (forty years before Stephen Colbert!) and a nervous NASA assigns a scientist to tail them while on tour. Includes the Hermits' chart-topper's "Hold On!" and "A Must to Avoid." 16x9 WIDESCREEN
MRS. BROWN YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER (1968) REMASTERED Produced sans Sam Katzman's loving care, this film finds Herman's Hermits on more familiar territory - Manchester and London - as the lads journey down to play some gigs in order to raise entrance fee money to race their prize greyhound, Mrs. Brown. Even saddled with that sketchiest of plots, the film exudes a freshness and freedom that thoroughly captures the time and the band, more so than the more staid and pre-fab confection that was Hold On! Stand out songs include the title track and "There's a Hush All Over the World" (years before the Carpenters covered it!). 16x9 WIDESCREEN
THE FASTEST GUITAR ALIVE (1967) REMASTERED Celebrate Roy Orbison's 75th birthday on April 23rd in style with his solo screen outing, which finds Roy strumming a bullet blasting guitar (decades before El Mariachi's melody of mayhem!) while playing a Confederate spy out to steal Union gold in a Musical/Western. The film's score boasts seven original songs written and performed by Orbison -including the astounding title track - creating enough sonic sweetness to settle any scores. 16x9 WIDESCREEN
GET YOURSELF A COLLEGE GIRL (1964) REMASTERED Forty years before a certain teen sensation played a pop star with a secret identity, Mary Ann Mobley played a girl who leads a similar double life. Prim and proper Co-ed Terry Tyler is secretly libber rock and roll songstress Joanie Harper. When her secret gets leaked during her senior year at staid Wyndham College, she beats a hasty Christmas break retreat to Sun Valley, where rock and romance awaits. Co-starring Nancy Sinatra and featuring performances by Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto (a lush "Girl From Ipanema"), The Dave Clark Five ("Thinking of You"), and The Animals (covering Chuck Berry's "Around and Around"). 16x9 WIDESCREEN
MORE MYRNA, MORE JOY
By far one of the Warner Archive Collection's most popular stars, we are pleased to be bringing you more Myrna Loy - just as you demanded! Join us in saluting her grand legacy with this set of new releases that spans twenty years of her career, and witness her surprising artistic evolution, from exotic femme fatale supporting parts to sophisticated quipster leading ladies.
THE SQUALL (1929) Alexander Korda helms this torrid tale of a virtuous family torn apart by the temptress in their mist. Nubi, the gypsy girl (Myrna Loy), finds sanctuary from the wrath of her angry lover in the bosom of the prosperous Lajos clan, Hungarian farmers. The Lajos women discover they've clasped a viper to their breasts when the seemingly irresistible Nubi creates a destructive path of seduction and betrayal with every man in sight. Also featuring Zasu Pitts and a teenage Loretta Young.
THE GREAT DIVIDE (1929) After 15 years Stephen Ghent (Ian Keith) sells his stake in a mine and heads south of the border to celebrate. At a nightclub, he discovers that the flapper floozy (Ruth Jordan) he's dancing with is the daughter of his long dead partner. Determined to save her from her lax, city ways, Ghent kidnaps her and attempts to countrify her. Loy co-stars as Manuela, Ghent's none-too-pleased Mexican 'fiancée.'
NEW MORALS FOR OLD (1932) Pre-code family drama about the generation gap of 1932. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas (Lewis Stone & Laura Hope Crews) are distressed to see their children (Robert Young & Margaret Perry) behave in 'modern' ways. One becomes an artist in Paris, the other openly has an affair with a married man. The father attempts to shrug it off as a symptom of the times, but the children eventually discover that the gap is much smaller than they thought. Loy co-stars as Myra, a lady with distinctively modern morals.
THE PRIZEFIGHTER AND THE LADY (1933) Fight fans take note! This comedy romance pairs future heavyweight Max Baer with Myrna Loy! Washed up rummy fight manager Professor (Walter Huston) discovers pugilistic prodigy sailor Steve Morgan (Baer) smashing his way through a local dive. He takes him to the country to clean up and learn the ropes. When sailor Steve comes to the rescue of Belle (Loy), a gangster's moll, he finds himself at the center of a love triangle. Also features boxing greats Primo Carnera & Jack Dempsey with a spectacular prize fight finale. Directed by WS Van Dyke (The Thin Man) with an uncredited assist from Howard Hawks.
THIRD FINGER, LEFT HAND (1940) Margot Sherwood Merrick (Myrna Loy) wants nothing to do with romance, so she invents what she thinks is the ultimate suitor shield - an imaginary husband. Unfortunately for her, smitten Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas) calls her bluff and starts to pose as the fictitious Mr. Merrick. So how do you legally separate from a fib come to life? Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
SO GOES MY LOVE (1946) Fictionalized adaptation of Hiram Percy Maxim's memoir, A Genius in the Family, about his relationship with his father, Hiram Stevens Maxim (Don Ameche), the inventor of the modern machine gun. Country girl Jane Budden (Myrna Loy) heads to the big city intent on capturing a good prospect, but unfortunately for the wannabe gold-digger, her heart is bigger than her avarice and she falls for the hapless inventor. Blood, sweat and toil follow, as does a family, and eventually success.
MGM RECORDS ON SCREEN
By the mid sixties Rock and Roll was more than king, it was the emperor of entertainment, and so MGM's film division was tasked with bringing MGM Records' new crop of rockin' recording artists to the silver screen. Entrusted to Sam Katzman, helmer of quickie hit B pics like The Giant Claw, the resulting films are high on exuberance and verve, if a little short on plot and logic.
HOLD ON! (1966) REMASTERED Long before it gave birth to the likes of Oasis and The Stone Roses, England's "Madchester" music scene produced the stateside hit-making sensations Herman and the Hermits (aka Herman's Hermits). Signed to MGM, the musical combo found itself in uncharted waters - very real musicians being forced into a pre-fab pop-friendly frame - as if The Beatles were marketed as The Monkees. In their first starring vehicle, the children of the US vote to have a space capsule named after the band (forty years before Stephen Colbert!) and a nervous NASA assigns a scientist to tail them while on tour. Includes the Hermits' chart-topper's "Hold On!" and "A Must to Avoid." 16x9 WIDESCREEN
MRS. BROWN YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER (1968) REMASTERED Produced sans Sam Katzman's loving care, this film finds Herman's Hermits on more familiar territory - Manchester and London - as the lads journey down to play some gigs in order to raise entrance fee money to race their prize greyhound, Mrs. Brown. Even saddled with that sketchiest of plots, the film exudes a freshness and freedom that thoroughly captures the time and the band, more so than the more staid and pre-fab confection that was Hold On! Stand out songs include the title track and "There's a Hush All Over the World" (years before the Carpenters covered it!). 16x9 WIDESCREEN
THE FASTEST GUITAR ALIVE (1967) REMASTERED Celebrate Roy Orbison's 75th birthday on April 23rd in style with his solo screen outing, which finds Roy strumming a bullet blasting guitar (decades before El Mariachi's melody of mayhem!) while playing a Confederate spy out to steal Union gold in a Musical/Western. The film's score boasts seven original songs written and performed by Orbison -including the astounding title track - creating enough sonic sweetness to settle any scores. 16x9 WIDESCREEN
GET YOURSELF A COLLEGE GIRL (1964) REMASTERED Forty years before a certain teen sensation played a pop star with a secret identity, Mary Ann Mobley played a girl who leads a similar double life. Prim and proper Co-ed Terry Tyler is secretly libber rock and roll songstress Joanie Harper. When her secret gets leaked during her senior year at staid Wyndham College, she beats a hasty Christmas break retreat to Sun Valley, where rock and romance awaits. Co-starring Nancy Sinatra and featuring performances by Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto (a lush "Girl From Ipanema"), The Dave Clark Five ("Thinking of You"), and The Animals (covering Chuck Berry's "Around and Around"). 16x9 WIDESCREEN
MORE MYRNA, MORE JOY
By far one of the Warner Archive Collection's most popular stars, we are pleased to be bringing you more Myrna Loy - just as you demanded! Join us in saluting her grand legacy with this set of new releases that spans twenty years of her career, and witness her surprising artistic evolution, from exotic femme fatale supporting parts to sophisticated quipster leading ladies.
THE SQUALL (1929) Alexander Korda helms this torrid tale of a virtuous family torn apart by the temptress in their mist. Nubi, the gypsy girl (Myrna Loy), finds sanctuary from the wrath of her angry lover in the bosom of the prosperous Lajos clan, Hungarian farmers. The Lajos women discover they've clasped a viper to their breasts when the seemingly irresistible Nubi creates a destructive path of seduction and betrayal with every man in sight. Also featuring Zasu Pitts and a teenage Loretta Young.
THE GREAT DIVIDE (1929) After 15 years Stephen Ghent (Ian Keith) sells his stake in a mine and heads south of the border to celebrate. At a nightclub, he discovers that the flapper floozy (Ruth Jordan) he's dancing with is the daughter of his long dead partner. Determined to save her from her lax, city ways, Ghent kidnaps her and attempts to countrify her. Loy co-stars as Manuela, Ghent's none-too-pleased Mexican 'fiancée.'
NEW MORALS FOR OLD (1932) Pre-code family drama about the generation gap of 1932. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas (Lewis Stone & Laura Hope Crews) are distressed to see their children (Robert Young & Margaret Perry) behave in 'modern' ways. One becomes an artist in Paris, the other openly has an affair with a married man. The father attempts to shrug it off as a symptom of the times, but the children eventually discover that the gap is much smaller than they thought. Loy co-stars as Myra, a lady with distinctively modern morals.
THE PRIZEFIGHTER AND THE LADY (1933) Fight fans take note! This comedy romance pairs future heavyweight Max Baer with Myrna Loy! Washed up rummy fight manager Professor (Walter Huston) discovers pugilistic prodigy sailor Steve Morgan (Baer) smashing his way through a local dive. He takes him to the country to clean up and learn the ropes. When sailor Steve comes to the rescue of Belle (Loy), a gangster's moll, he finds himself at the center of a love triangle. Also features boxing greats Primo Carnera & Jack Dempsey with a spectacular prize fight finale. Directed by WS Van Dyke (The Thin Man) with an uncredited assist from Howard Hawks.
THIRD FINGER, LEFT HAND (1940) Margot Sherwood Merrick (Myrna Loy) wants nothing to do with romance, so she invents what she thinks is the ultimate suitor shield - an imaginary husband. Unfortunately for her, smitten Jeff Thompson (Melvyn Douglas) calls her bluff and starts to pose as the fictitious Mr. Merrick. So how do you legally separate from a fib come to life? Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
SO GOES MY LOVE (1946) Fictionalized adaptation of Hiram Percy Maxim's memoir, A Genius in the Family, about his relationship with his father, Hiram Stevens Maxim (Don Ameche), the inventor of the modern machine gun. Country girl Jane Budden (Myrna Loy) heads to the big city intent on capturing a good prospect, but unfortunately for the wannabe gold-digger, her heart is bigger than her avarice and she falls for the hapless inventor. Blood, sweat and toil follow, as does a family, and eventually success.