The Cecil B. DeMille Collection (Cleopatra/ The Crusades/ Four Frightened People/ Sign of the Cross/ Union Pacific)
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List Price:
$59.98
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$48.99
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Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Starring: Cecil B. DeMille, Loretta Young, Henry Wilcoxon, Ian Keith, C. Aubrey Smith
Directed By: Lumsden Hare
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Universal
EAN: 0025192948725
Format: Box set
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Items: 5
Publisher: Universal Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-05-23
Running Time: 571
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 1939-05-05
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Editorial Reviews:
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Legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille earned a place in cinematic history when he helped create Hollywood’s first feature-length film, an event that established Hollywood as the motion picture capital of the world. A master of spectacular epics, his films garnered unparalled acclaim for their scope and grandeur. Now, for the first time ever, five of his most popular films are available in one premium DVD collection. Experience the breathtaking dangers and delights of ancient Rome in The Sign of the Cross; trek through a perilous jungle with Four Frightened People; thrill to the passion, suspense and intrigue of Cleopatra; journey back in time with the glorious story of The Crusades; and see how the West was really won in the explosive Union Pacific. With a glamorous roster of screen legends, including Claudette Colbert, Charles Laughton, Barbara Stanwyck, Anthony Quinn and many more, this 5-disc collection is a phenomenal reminder of the innovator who made moviemaking what it is today.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: OK value now the price has come down
Comment: This collection of 5 films from Paramount in the thirties is a fair introduction to the epic film maker, Cecil B de Mille. In a long career, de Mille's films were certainly big but that did not mean that they were good. There is some dreadful rubbish in this collection but that is actually part of de Mille's appeal. No-one could make a film so big yet so bad. The public loved the junk even when the critics swooned. Let's start with the rubbish.
In 1934, "Four Frightened People" describes the trek through the Malaya jungles of 4 passengers who have abandoned a cruise ship carrying the bubonic plague. Credibility does not even remotely arise not only in the dumb screenplay but in the generally poor acting of the principals, William Gargan and Herbert Marshal, in particular. Mary Boland, with dog in her arms and plenty of makeup, is completely absurd as a divorcee trying to curb the birth rate and Claudette Colbert plays a mousy teacher who breaks her glasses and transforms into both a leader and a beauty. Colbert actually is quite good, the best of the quartet but the film is corny and predictable. It was both a critical and box office flop in its day and it is no surprise.
In 1935, De Mille made one of his religious epics for which he was famous. This one stars the magnetic but charmless Henry Wilcoxon as King Richard and Loretta Young as his queen, the fictional Berengaria. They make an odd team. The film has far too much talk with some dreadful dialogue (one soldier says to Young "That's kinda rough on you"). As a result, it is really boring and, of course, as history, complete fiction. For the enthusiast, catch Ann Sheridan as a slave ("The cross, the cross, let me kiss the cross") and J Carroll Naish as the head of the slave market.
The next 2 films star Claudette Colbert and are good examples of De Mille's expertise with crowd scenes. They have their share of delights, mainly visual, amidst the generally ludicrous dialogue and distorted history.
Released in 1932, "The Sign of the Cross" is another religious epic with Charles Laughton's Nero fiddling while Rome burns and Colbert as a his evil wife Poppea. These 2 play it for laughs (Laughton very camp and Colbert very sexy) and elevate the film every time they appear. Unfortunately, the rest is bogged down by that prize ham, Fredric March, as the prefect of police who falls for Christian Elissa Landi, an ethereal beauty with lovely but ludicrous English diction. The film was reissued during the war and cut but we have the restored road show version here so we see Joyzelle Joyner's lesbian dance, tantalising glimpses of Colbert's torso as she bathes in ass's milk and some gratuitous violence in the Circus Maximus scenes. The film is corn but ripe corn at that so it is worth seeing.
De Mille's 1934 version of "Cleopatra" is a big improvement. Compared to the overblown Taylor/Burton opus from the 60s, this is a much more entertaining film. Warren William is excellent as Caesar and Colbert, while probably miscast, does a great job as the Queen of the Nile. There are some stunning visuals, particularly the capture of Marc Antony on Cleopatra's barge, and the usual ludicrous dialogue ("You and your friends, Romans and countrymen") but overall, this is a very entertaining biblical epic. It is also a restored print so it looks great.
The final film is the best of the set. "Union Pacific" is a rousing western set around the building of the railroad which opened up the west. A sterling cast is headed by Barbara Stanwyck at her most appealing as a rough and tumble Irish heroine fought over by Robert Preston and Joel McCrea. The film was made with the co-operation of the Union Pacific Railroad so it looks and sounds authentic.
The films are in excellent condition but there are no extras, not even original trailers. The set is now available on Amazon at a fraction of its very expensive launch price and that is just as well because the high proportion of poor films and the mediocre packaging don't warrant a high price. The lack of extras, particularly information about De Mille's place in the history of Hollywood, means too that the uninformed may be disappointed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Cecil B. DeMille Collection
Comment: He is the King of Epic Classic Movies. Claudette Colbert, Loretta Young & Barbara Stanwyck shine in this Collection. It is a must see. Enjoy
Customer Rating:
Summary: All I want is Cleopatra!
Comment: My shopping cart contains the Elizabeth Taylor version of Cleopatra, priced at $14.99. I wanted to add the Claudette Colbert version at a similar price. Unfortunately, the only DVD available is this damned ridiculously overpriced collection which would force me to buy four movies I don't want to get the one that I do. Well, I ain't gonna do it! Ever!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Cleopatra is Masterpiece - others in collection have not aged well
Comment: Mainly bought this collection because of Cleopatra - which is a 5 star masterpiece - and deserves a review on its own - the other movies all share the common issues related to their release date:
1. They are black&white + not wide format
2. There is so much dialogue and not enough action
3. All filming is done in studios & you can tell
All in all - if you love Cleopatra and want to check out more movies from that era - this is a good choice
Customer Rating:
Summary: Decent Boxed Set
Comment: These movies are good,but they don`t really represent the best of DeMilles work.Films like The Ten Commandments (1923)and the remake in 1956,The King of Kings (1928)Samson and Delilah(1949)and The greatest Show on Earth(1950)are Demilles best in my opinion.Still these movies contain the elements that make his movies fun to watch;such as lavish costumes,action,battle scenes and plenty of drama.I would recommend this set to any Demille fan.
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