Warner Archive's George Feltenstein and I talked about their month-old Warner Archive Instant (WAI) service, misreporting on the internet (ahem), and a ton of great rare and hard-to-find movies and TV shows from Warner Archive Collection (WAC).
The following movies and TV shows were discussed or mentioned during episode 35 of Screen Time, "Movies Are Not Screwdrivers". Almost every single one of these can be found on Warner Archive Instant, which US readers/listeners can try free for two weeks.
The embedded YouTube trailers are almost all user-uploaded versions and don't reflect the (exponentially higher) actual product. Where possible, I used Warner's own clips or trailers from YouTube. The individual WAI pages for each title feature much better trailers in most cases.
Across the Pacific
Instant (HD) / DVD (part of The Humphrey Bogart Collection)
Bogart plays an artilleryman who is court marshalled out of the service in late 1941. While in Panama, he learns of a plot to bomb both the Panama Canal and...Pearl Harbor.
The Adventures of Superman (Season One)
DVD (S1 is ~$15)
The classic series starring George Reeves looks wonderful, even in Standard Def. I eagerly anticipate the rest of this series arriving on Instant.
The Phantom Tollbooth
Instant / DVD
Milo is one of the most-bored kids in history. He travels to a world of wonder and adventure in this super-odd movie, which they showed us in school just after we'd read the book. The best thing about it for me as an adult is the wonderful later-career writing and direction from Chuck Jones and the excellent voice work from Mel Blanc.
Brewster McCloud
Instant (HD) / DVD
In one of the weirdest movies from Robert Altman (and the 1970's), the titular hero lives in the bowels of the Astrodome and wants to make wings that will let him fly. This one had a long road to DVD, but I'm glad it got remastered and is now on Instant in HD.
Sybil
Instant (HD) / DVD
The miniseries is a lost art now, it seems. Tremendous multi-character work from Sally Field in the lead is reason alone to get sucked into this just-over three-hour series.
Salem's Lot
Instant (HD) / DVD
Millenials and post-Millenials probably don't even know this exists, but just throw the reduced pitch at them and dare them not to try it: vampires, New England, a horror writer, and a horror fan.
Hurricane Smith
Instant / DVD
An under-appreciated Carl Weathers vehicle, this finds him playing an oil field worker searching for his missing sister in Australia.
Gun Crazy
Instant (HD) / DVD (part of Film Noir Classics Vol.1)
George called this his favorite film noir by a country mile (colloquialism mine). Gun-loving Bart meets and falls for equally gun-lovin', carnival sharpshooter Annie. They get hitched, and when times get tough, Annie convinces Bart to go on a cross-country bank robbing spree. Bart grapples with his discomfort with the idea of hurting people with guns and his overwhelming love of a woman who's not just crazy about guns...but probably just crazy. This is a great, great, great movie I can't recommend more enthusiastically.
The Jimmy Stewart Show
Instant
On for one season from 1971-1972, I don't think many people have ever seen this, myself included. Stewart makes his TV series debut in a domestic sitcom about the home life of a college professor.
Warner Archive's preview clip for Red Dust
Warner Archive's preview clip for Hold Your Man
Warner Archive's preview clip for The Secret Six
Red Dust // Hold Your Man // The Secret Six
Dust: DVD
Hold Your Man: DVD
The Secret Six: DVD
These are the three Jean Harlow picture (the first one in particular) that George said fans excoriated Archive for not releasing alongside a previous wave of Harlow movies. At the time, the elements were simply not in a condition that allowed such a thing without a great deal of time and expense being invested that simply weren't in the cards at the time. These did finally get cleaned up and released, and to considerably less fanfare than the preceding "scandal" invented by enthusiastic (but angry) Harlow die-hards. The time and effort was worth it, as these look better than they have since their original release in theatres.
Gypsy // Deathtrap // The Hudsucker Proxy
see links above for Blu-ray
The first two constituted WA's entry to the Blu-ray market in 2012, with the third arriving earlier this year. Long-requested by fans of each, I was most excited by the announcement of Hudsucker, the first studio movie from the Coen Brothers. George mentioned that they had to "send Hudsucker back to the cleaners a few times" to get it right.
Five Johnny Weismuller Tarzan Movies
"Johnny at RKO", as George put it, are among the most iconic screen versions of Tarzan.
The Unfinished Dance
DVD
A movie about a psychotic ballerina, which hit WAC DVD right around the time that Black Swan arrived in theatres. The timing was entirely coicidental, and they couldn't have planned it as perfectly.
Sincerely Yours
DVD not yet available
George gave me an exclusive on this one, which they did plan this way, so that Liberace's massive flop first starring movie would be available just as Behind the Candelabra hits HBO.
The Music Man
Instant (soon) / Blu-ray
This one will return "soon" to WAI, according to George.
The Candidate
Instant
One of Redford's standout performances, I'm saddened that it's dropped off the public consciousness a bit.
A Face in the Crowd
A Face in the Crowd
Instant (HD) / DVD
My favorite Andy Griffith performance finds him more terrifying than in any other role. As small-town hick con-man Lonesome Roads, he ascends to the throne of being televised icon of his time, driving people's fears and habits from a bully pulpit. This was the first WAI movie I watched during the beta, and it was a hell of a way to start.
Disorderlies
Instant
The Fat Boys are not exactly classic comedian, but this movie is a lot of fun. I agree with George's half-joking that it's mostly thanks to Ralph Bellamy.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Instant / DVD (complete series in a metal briefcase)
An outstanding series, it's the source material for a movie that someone will make sometime. If I were a betting man, I'd say WB wants this to be their version of Paramount's spy success with Mission: Impossible.
Jericho (1966)
Instant / DVD
This is a show I hadn't heard of before it arrived on Instant. The half season they made before it was cancelled is set during WWII, and follows a team of three special Allied operatives firghting the good fight across Europe.
Giant
East of Eden // Rebel Without a Cause // Giant
These three classics are all being fully restored and remastered for Blu-ray release by Warner Home Video. The existing (and I think OOP) DVD Special Editions were overseen by George in his most immediate past life before raising the tower that is now Warner Archive.
Next week's episode of Screen Time features an interview with Giant co-star Jane Withers, one of the last people to see James Dean alive. She still has his pink shirt. Listen next week for the story.
Forbidden Hollywood Category on WAI
This includes any and all Forbidden Hollywood/Pre-Code movies WAI has at a given time. As of this writing, they include titles from various FH DVD sets, including Baby Face, The Divorcee, A Free Soul, Lady Killer, The Mayor of Hell, Midnight Mary, Night Nurse (trailer above), Red Headed Woman, and Wild Boys of the Road.
Warner Archive's preview clip for Skyscraper Souls
Warner Archive's preview clip for Employees' Entrance
Warner Archive's preview clip for The Hatchet Man
Warner Archive's preview clip for Ex-Lady
Skyscraper Souls // Employees' Entrance
DVD (included in Forbidden Hollywood Vol.7)
These Pre-Code sizzlers both look like a lot of fun. A copy is on its way to me as I type. You'll see me dig into the Forbidden Hollywood series soon in this very space. I added the preview clips for the other two movies above. Here's WAC's synopsis:
Loose women. Unscrupulous heels. Adulterous husbands. Unfaithful wives. Pre-Code Hollywood had them all, with most sins going unpunished. Starring Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, Loretta Young and quintessential screen scoundrel Warren William in two of his best, Forbidden Hollywood: Volume Seven shines the spotlight on four of the era's most scandalous sizzlers. The Hatchet Man (1932): A Tong executioner (Robinson) allows his wife (Young) to run off with a gangster only to learn she's been sold into prostitution. Skyscraper Souls (1932): A financier (William) stops at nothing to gain control of a 100-story office building and a "naïve" Maureen O'Sullivan. Employees' Entrance (1933): A tyrannical department store manager (William) chases after profits and Loretta Young. Ex-Lady (1933): An artist (Davis) who doesn't believe in marriage reluctantly weds her lover (Gene Raymond) only to discover he's seeing another woman.
Black Legion
Storm Warning
George's WAI Double Feature Recommendation
Black Legion // Storm Warning
Legion: Instant (HD) / DVD
Storm: Instant / DVD (as part of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Collection)
A themed double feature of movies focused on race and featuring the KKK, with the latter starring Ronald Reagan.
America America
A Face in the Crowd
The Americanization of Emily
George's WAI Triple Feature Recommendation
America America // A Face in the Crowd // The Americanization of Emily
America: Instant (soon) / DVD
Face: Instant (HD) / DVD
Americanization: Instant / DVD
What began as a double feature of the first two was extended to a triple feature, generally themed along the notion of liberty and freedom (which really are two different things). As of this writing, America, America is due to arrive back on WAI "soon" according to George.
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
The Green Slime
Moisés' WAI Double Feature Recommendation
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms // The Green Slime
Beast: Instant (HD) / DVD (double feature disc with Them!)
Slime: Instant (HD) / DVD
From a monster from the depths of the sea to an alien menace from outer space, this pair of monster movies is perfect for a weekend afternoon or a late-night popcorn-munching good time. Harryhausen's Beast from 20,000 Fathoms was recommended prior to his death, which happened shortly after we recorded this episode. This is a great one that not enough people have seen