New from Warner Archives:
THESE THREE (1936):
Although Lillian Hellman's
groundbreaking drama The Children's Hour involved content (rumors of a lesbian
affair between two schoolteachers) that challenged the laws of New York State,
producer Samuel Goldwyn knew it would not arrive on the screen as-is - but
luckily he had Ms. Hellman herself on hand to deliver a modified adaptation
that remained focused on the destructive power of rumor and innuendo. Miriam
Hopkins and Merle Oberon play the schoolteachers, Joel McCrea plays the
scandal, while a young Bonita Granville delivers a terrifying tour-de-force as
the bad gal rumormonger. After college galpals (Hopkins and Oberon) set up
schoolteaching shop in the town of Lancet, Mass. they're bedazzled by local doc
Joe Cardin (McCrea). Their school gets the boost it needs when they enroll
local society scioness Mary Tilford (Granville), but Mary proves to be a viper
whose lies poison the town against the three. Directed by William Wyler. New to
DVD!
THE COWBOY AND THE LADY (1938):
Merle Oberon goes the
royalty-in-disguise route for this rousing rodeo romance alongside a rollicking
and real-sincere Gary Cooper, whose gifts for gentle character comedy are on
ample display. Poor little rich girl Mary Smith may as well live in a convent
for all the socializing her conservative presidential hopeful father (Henry
Kolker) affords her. So when she heads down to their Palm Beach estate she
decides to go slumming with the servants. Disguised as her own maid, Mary meets
cowpoke Stretch Willoughby (Gary Cooper), a too-tall glass of water whose just
the drink she's been searching for... but how's Stretch going to take to an
honest lass met under dishonest circumstance? With Patsy Kelly, Mabel Todd,
Fuzzy Knight, Walter Brennan and Harry Davenport. Directed by H.C. Potter. Back
in Print!
THE REAL GLORY (1939):
Gary Cooper leads an all-star
assemblage in a rousing war tale whose subject matter is as resonant now as it
was then (sadly). It's 1906 and following the Spanish-American War, a small
team of military advisors is tasked with training the locals up to strength to
defend against the terrors of the Moro tribesmen as the US forces start to
withdraw. But the Moro leader Alipang (Tetsu Komai) is as smart as he is
sinister, and he plays a long game of attrition picking the GI's off
one-by-one, while leading them into his jungle trap. As the leaders fall,
command descends on a military doctor, Bill Canavan (Cooper), and a young
lieutenant, the aptly named Terry McCool (David Niven), who hatch a daring plan
to save the locals caught between an order and chaos. With Reginald Owen,
Broderick Crawford, Russell Hicks, and Andrea Leeds. Directed by Henry
Hathaway. Back in Print!
MY FOOLISH HEART (1949):
J.D. Salinger's "Uncle
Wiggily in Connecticut" provides the basis for this romantic drama of
regret and reconciliation set in the gin-soaked 'burbs. A reunion between two
college friends, Mary Jane (Lois Wheeler) and Eloise (Susan Hayward) unleashes
a torrent of emotion as Eloise seeks solace in one too many sips. Daughter
Ramona (Gigi Perreau) tiptoes around her mother's emotional minefield, while
Eloise's husband Lew arrives home to announce that the marriage is finished. It
seems that once upon a time Lew was engaged to Mary Jane, and therein hangs a
tale - a tale that starts when nice college girl Eloise meets dashing bon
vivant Walt (Dana Andrews). Screenplay by Julius and Philip Epstein. Directed
by Mark Robson. New to DVD!
EDGE OF DOOM (1950):
Dana Andrews plays a priest
delivering a most unusual sermon to a younger cleric whose faith is beset by
the physical and spiritual conditions of their urban parish. Farley Granger
provides the meat of that sermon as Martin Lynn, just another disadvantaged cog
in the indifferent city, doing his best to provide for his ailing mom and do
right by his gal Rita when it all reaches a tragic breaking point. Careening
from mistake to mistake, Marty raises the stakes to ever higher tragic
consequences until the priest bears witness to a man crashing up against his
own conscience. A terrific slice of 'salvation noir' Granger and Andrews takes
us through the shadows to show us the light. Directed by Mark Robson. New to
DVD!