The Errol Flynn Signature Collection
directed by Michael Curtiz and Raoul Walsh
USA 1935 -
1941
Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City
out
of
DVD Review: Warner Home Video Boxset - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC
|
CLICK logo to order |
|
| Distribution | Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC |
| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) |
| Subtitles | English, Spanish, French, None |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Video Aspect
Ratio: Edition Details: |
|
Comments: |
These DVDs are encoded for Regions 1 - 4 NTSC. Each individual release here is strong with
excellent subtitles, good transfers, original
mono audio and all have featurettes (as well as 'Warner Nite at the
Movies'). Marginal film grain is visible.
'Captain
Blood' is the only one the films really marked by
extensive scratches and damage. The color on "The
Private Lives of Windsor and Essex" looks a shade washed
out. It is 'normal' for 'The
Sea Hawk' to go deep sepia from 1:04:50 to 1:23:11 as a
description of geographical change. Overall another essential boxset from Warner. 'The
Sea Hawk' and 'They
Died With Their Boots On' look particularly sharp and
stunning.
NOTE: The "The
Adventures of Errol Flynn" DVD is only included in the
boxset and is 1:26:36 in length. It is quite interesting.
Warner have really been stupendous lately and have raised the bar for
DVD Production. I should note the wonderful menus utilizing the older
marketing art from the era of the films. Strange the menus are
widescreen anamorphic when the films are all 1.33.
NOTE
Great job Warner !
|
out of
directed by Michael Curtiz
USA 19
35
Captain Blood marked the beginning of the golden age of Swashbucklers (yes, every genre has an era known as its golden age; just go with it). Before it, the complications in recording sound while filming the movement inherent in the genre made these films impractical. Sure, a silent Douglas Fairbanks could leap off a mast, but sound swashbuckling heroes had to settle for a lot of talking and just a little fencing in a confined space. Pseudo-Swashbucklers like The Scarlet Pimpernel or my own listed The Count of Monte Cristo contained more sitting than acts of daring-do. With Captain Blood, that changed, though it is a slower paced movie than most people remember.
It was a film of firsts. It was the first "talkie" based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini. It was the first film with a score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who is arguably the greatest composer to ever work in Hollywood. It was Errol Flynn's first starring role, a part he picked up only after Robert Donat backed out due to poor health. It boasts both the first pairing of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (they would have seven more) as well as the first swordfight between Flynn and Basil Rathbone (they would meet three years later in one of the great filmed swordfights in the finale of The Adventures of Robin Hood). It was also the first Swashbuckler for director Michael Curtiz and his first film with Flynn and de Havilland. There would be many more.
It was Curtiz who made Captain Blood more than a B pirate romp. He rarely receives the credit he deserves because he worked in the studio system. More independent directors are lauded over for expressing their personal artistic vision without considering their actual skill to direct. No one could get a better performance from an actor, choose the proper actor for a role (and he did fight for actors when he knew he was right), and create a better shot, than Michael Curtiz.
Excerpt from Matthew M. Fosters review at Foster on Film
Posters
 |
 |
Theatrical Release: December 19th, 1935 - USA
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
|
Cover and Individual purchase link: |
|
|
CLICK logos to order:
|
|
| Runtime | 1:59:00 |
| Video |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Chapters : 32 |
| Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
DVD Menus
 |
 |
 |
 |
S
ubtitle Sample
 |
Screen Captures
 |
 |
 |
directed by Michael Curtiz
USA 1939
(aka "Elizabeth and Essex" or "Elizabeth the Queen" or "The Knight and the Lady ")
Bette Davis and Errol Flynn in the title roles, shot in brilliant Technicolor. Bette Davis was then one of the biggest stars of Warner Bros. studios at the time. Errol Flynn was a popular action/adventure stud. His roles (especially in this boxset) would usually pair him with the beautiful Olivia de Havilland, because their onscreen chemistry was easily evident. Curtiz again is the glue holding this less-active period piece together, but we would see so much better work from him and Flynn when we throw Miss de Havilland into the mix.
out of
Posters
 |
 |
Theatrical Release: September 27th, 1939 - USA
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
|
Cover and Individual purchase link: |
|
|
CLICK logos to order:
|
|
| Runtime | 1:46:08 |
| Video |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Chapters : 27 |
| Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
DVD Menus
 |
 |
 |
 |
S
ubtitle Sample
 |
Screen Captures
 |
 |
 |
directed by Michael Curtiz
USA 1940
(aka "Beggars of the Sea" )
The Sea Hawk is a well-filmed, well-acted adventure yarn of pseudo-pirates and romance on the high seas, based, in name only, on a Rafael Sabatini novel. Errol Flynn plays privateer Geoffrey Thorpe with the charisma and bravado that was his trademark in the 30s and 40s. For two hours, we are taken into the Swashbuckling world where Thorpe and his loyal crew of misfits sink Spanish ships, free English galley slaves, attack a gold caravan, and foil a traitor's plans, all for Queen and country. It's all great fun, and very familiar.
There's not much new in The Sea Hawk, but then there's not much wrong either. This is Captain Blood, all grown up, or Robin Hood at sea. There is nothing wrong with repeating something that worked, as originality isn't the only factor that makes a movie worthwhile.
Excerpt from Matthew M. Fosters review at Foster on Film
Posters
 |
 |
Theatrical Release: July 1st, 1940
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
|
Cover and Individual purchase link: |
|
|
CLICK logos to order:
|
|
| Runtime | 2:07:28 |
| Video |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Chapters : 34 |
| Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
DVD Menus
 |
 |
 |
 |
S
ubtitle Sample
 |
Screen Captures
 |
 |
 |
directed by Raoul Walsh
USA 1941
(aka "To the Last Man')
The movie, "They Died With Their Boots On", has all the hallmarks of greatness so lacking in many Hollywood productions.
I am well aware of Hollywood's tendency to play fast and loose with the facts and call it history, this movie is no exception. Hollywood calls it artistic license and it's done all the time. In their defense, I think it is often necessary to use artistic license to make a tellable story.
Still, historical inaccuracies aside, the purpose of a movie to me, is first and foremost, to be entertaining. Therefore, I won't dwell on what may or may not have happened or who did or did not do what! Rather, I will ask myself, "was I entertained?" The answer is, a resounding YES!
Errol Flynn IS George Armstrong Custer! The film is lovingly crafted, by Director Raoul Walsh. The script, the cast, the cinematography, the soundtrack, all combine to make a film of rare power.
The characters walk and breathe, brought to life by the fine veteran actors so well chosen for their roles. Who can forget Queens Own Butler? Or California Joe? Or General Winfield Scott? Or the despicable character, Sharp, that Arthur Kennedy played so well? Anthony Quinn as Crazy Horse was another inspired casting decision.
out of
Excerpt of George Chabot's Review located HERE
Pos
sters
 |
 |
 |
 |
Theatrical Release: November 21st, 1941
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
|
Cover and Individual purchase link: |
|
|
CLICK logos to order:
|
|
| Runtime | 2:19:25 |
| Video |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Chapters : 39 |
| Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
DVD Menus
 |
 |
 |
 |
S
ubtitle Sample
 |
Screen Captures
 |
 |
 |
directed by Michael Curtiz
USA 1939
The western is a genre that has been very much overlooked
for the past few decades. Unlike today, the western was once a staple of cinema
and received more releases than most other genres such as comedies and romance.
Kids used to play cowboys and Indians and want to be a Cowboy when they grow up.
Now it's much more likely that a youngin' wants to be an FBI agent when they
grow up. It's not really for the worse, it's just a different attitude for a
different time.
Dodge City is a 1939 western that was filmed in Glorious Technicolor
starring Errol Flynn. Errol stars at Wade Hatton, the well rounded, slightly
mysterious cowboy. Since the end of the Civil War, Hatton has traveled around
the world and back to find himself in his current role, becoming the modern
equivalent of a contractor for the US Army. He hunts buffalo for to feed the
Army in it's westward movement. In his travels he has watched the evil, dark hat
wearing Jeff Surrett kill Buffalo on Indian grounds and turns him over to the
local Sheriff. Thus the final confrontation is set.
Excerpt of Matt Fuerst's review at JackassCritics.com located HERE
Posters
 |
 |
 |
 |
Theatrical Release: April 1st, 1939
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
| Cover and Individual purchase link |
|
|
CLICK logos to order:
|
|
| Runtime | 1:43:48 |
| Video |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Chapters : 28 |
| Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
DVD Menus
 |
 |
 |
 |
S
ubtitle Sample
 |
Screen Captures
 |
 |
 |
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
DVD Menus
 |
 |
|
|
|
Mail cheques, money orders, cash to: or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!
|
Gary Tooze
|
|
Many Thanks...
Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn Captain Blood The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Sea Hawk They Died with Their Boots On Dodge City The Adventures of Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection Michael Curtiz DVD Review Warner Errol Flynn The Errol Flynn Signature Collection
