Tis the Season to Enjoy Classic Movies! First Annual Classic Movie Madness Gift List

Want to make a Classic Movie Fan really happy this year?

Sure you do! That said, here is my first annual Classic Movie Madness List — or, in other words, some fun ‘stuff’ that would make any Classic Movie Fan jump for joy this holiday season!

BIG TICKET ITEMS (yep, those awfully nice, but quite pricey, gift sets that most fans would feel way too guilty buying for themselves!):

1A) Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection (Limited Edition) [Blu-ray]: This set features 15 iconic Hitchcock films: Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Rope, Rear Window, The Trouble With Harry, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy, Family Plot; plus over 15 hours of bonus features and an exclusive collectible book. Now, admittedly, there are lots of classics missing from this box set (i.e. Rebecca, Suspicion, Spellbound, Notorious, Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder) BUT it’s still a great collection for Hitchcock fans.

And if your Classic Movie Fan doesn’t own a Blu-ray player, you can buy this instead:

1B) Alfred Hitchcock – The Masterpiece Collection [DVD] PLUS North By Northwest [DVD]: The combination of this 15 disc collection PLUS the single North by Northwest DVD will give you the same 15 movies as above. The collection set includes 14 documentaries and 9 featurettes, plus a 36-page collectible book.

Blu-ray OR DVD Set + NxNW

2A) Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection [Blu-ray]: Okay, prepare to be scared!!! This set is perfect for Classic Movie Horror Fans! This 8-disc collection features eight of the most iconic monsters in movie history: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature From the Black Lagoon; plus over 12 hours of bonus features and an exclusive collectible book.

And for DVD Fans:

2B) Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection (DVD) : This 8-disc collection features same fabulous horror flicks as listed above, but on DVD instead.
Blu-ray OR DVD

3) Singin’ In The Rain: 60th Anniversary Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray/DVD Combo): Wow, this wonderful 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo is a Limited Edition and NUMBERED Set! Special features and bonuses include: 48-page hard cover production book, commentary (by Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Cyd Charisse, Kathleen Freeman, Stanley Donen,Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Baz Luhrmann, and Rudy Behlmer), documentaries, a featurette, and a full-size limited edition UMBRELLA!

GOOD VALUES (great movies at a great price!):

4) The Premiere Frank Capra Collection: This 6-DVD collection features five of Capra’s best films: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It Happened One Night, You Can’t Take It with You and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town; plus interviews, archival footage, commentaries, a documentary and a 96-page collectible movie scrapbook. As of this writing, about $30.

5) Tracy & Hepburn the Definitive Collection: This 10-DVD set features all of the films that Tracy and Hepburn made together, plus a documentary about Tracy hosted by Hepburn. Does it get any better than that??? Films: Woman of the Year, Without Love, Adam’s Rib, Pat and Mike, Desk Set, Keeper of the Flame, The Sea of Grass, State of the Union, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. And, as of this writing, UNDER $25!!!

6) The Doris Day and Rock Hudson Comedy Collection: You just can’t beat this one! Three delightful comedy gems! Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers! Need I say more? Well, I will — as of this writing, under $11!

7) Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood: This REALLY interesting and entertaining 3-DVD set chronicles the history of the American movie industry. It details the personalities, relationships, collaborations and conflicts that created the industry and the art form. As of this writing, under $30.

8) TCM DVD Collections: There are also all of those wonderful and well-priced TCM Greatest Classic Films Collections. My favorites?

A) TCM Greatest Classic Film Collection: Astaire & Rogers (The Gay Divorcee / Top Hat / Swing Time / Shall We Dance)

B) TCM Greatest Classic Film Collection: Legends – Errol Flynn (The Adventures of Robin Hood / Captain Blood / The Sea Hawk / Adventures of Don Juan)

C) TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Comedy (Arsenic and Old Lace / A Night at the Opera / The Long Long Trailer / Father of the Bride 1950)

D) TCM Greatest Classic Film Collection: Gangsters – Prohibition Era (The Public Enemy / The Roaring Twenties / Little Caesar / Smart Money)

A B C D

STOCKING STUFFERS (just some little odds and ends that should put smiles on some faces!):

9) Classic Movie Fridge Magnets from rickroden.com (at the time of this writing, $3 each): So many delightful magnets here, hard to choose, but here’s a sampling:

10) Dover Thrift Edition Paperbacks: These are MARVELOUSLY-PRICED editions of the classics (at the time of this writing, $1.50-$5.00 each) — perfect for Classic Movie Fans that want to read the book version of their favorite films! Again, SO MANY to choose from, but here is a sampling: