Tennessee Williams Film Collection (8 disc) contains A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 Two-Disc Special Edition / Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1958 Deluxe Edition / Sweet Bird of Youth / The Night of the Iguana / Baby Doll / The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone and a Bonus disc (Tennessee Williams South)


Directed by Elia Kazan, Richard Brooks, John Huston, and José Quintero
1951, 56', 58' , 61', 62' and 64'

 

  The 8-disc Tennessee Williams Collection has 6 screen adaptations of one of America's greatest playwrights (all 6 are also available separately). This includes the DVD debut's of Sweet Bird of Youth, The Night of the Iguana, Baby Doll and The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone as well as re-transfers of both A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. A Bonus disc is included that contains Tennessee Williams South - a rarely seen feature-length documentary.

An amazing package that includes those Tennessee Williams adapted titles to which Warners owns distribution rights (and those purchased from MGM). Really it is quite exceptional to have all these film in one collection - logistically absent are Joseph Losey's Boom (Universal 1968), Joseph L. Mankiewicz's Suddenly Last Summer (Columbia 1959), Peter Glenville's Summer and Smoke (1961), and Daniel Mann's Rose Tattoo - 1955 (both Paramount). With Warner's commitment to digital transfers that excel in all conceivable areas fans should be elated at this latest offering.

Gary W. Tooze

 DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

Other Individual Reviews:
Distribution Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC
Audio English (Dolby Digital 1.0), DUBs: French (Dolby Digital 1.0)  
Subtitles English, Spanish, French, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio (various)

where applicable

Edition Details:

A Streetcar Named Desire (Two-Disc Special Edition)

  • Commentary by Karl Malden and film historians Rudy Behlmer and Jeff Young
  • Elia Kazan movie trailer gallery
  • Feature-length documentary: Elia Kazan: A Director's Journey
  • Movie and audio outtakes
  • Marlon Brando screen test
  • Five new documentaries: A Streetcar on Broadway, A Streetcar in Hollywood, Censorship and Desire, North and the Music of the South, and An Actor Named Brando
  • Black and white, 1.33 aspect ratio

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Deluxe Edition)

  • Commentary by biographer Donald Spoto, author of "The Kindness of Strangers: The Life of Tennessee Williams"
  • New featurette Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: Playing Cat and Mouse
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Color, 1.78 anamorphic widescreen

Sweet Bird of Youth

  • New featurette Sweet Bird of Youth: Chasing Time
  • Vintage Geraldine Page and Rip Torn screen test
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Color, 2.35 anamorphic widescreen

The Night of the Iguana

  • New featurette The Night of the Iguana: Houston's Gamble
  • Vintage featurette On the Trail of the Iguana
  • Theatrical trailers
  • Black and white, 1.78 anamorphic widescreen

The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

  • New featurette The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone: Looking for Love in All the Dark Corners
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Color, 1.78 anamorphic widescreen

Baby Doll

  • Featurette Baby Doll: See No Evil
  • Baby Doll trailer gallery

Bonus disc: Tennessee Williams' South

DVD Release Date: May 2nd, 2006

Keep Cases inside cardboard Box

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: Peter says:
'Looks like WB goofed on BABY DOLL. Those frame grabs indicate that it's opened up on top and bottom (and likely cropped a little on left/right as a result). Should be projected 1.66 like most any WB film made after 1953 or so. Some theaters probably even would run it 1.85, but from personal experience I'd say most 1950s widescreen films look better in 1.66 because cinematographers were still shooting with the idea in mind that some theaters still ONLY had 1.37. In any case, it's clearly wrong. A strange decision on WB's part.'

***

This easily ranks as another must-own package from Warner. I've made specific comments on each DVD in their separate reviews/comparisons. If you take into account the above-average transfers, two commentaries, extensive extras (many featurettes), well-appointed subtitles, great menus, bonus disc and all at a great price, then this is another strong Warner package worth owning. Although we have yet to see Baby Doll - If I was giving separate awards for features of the Boxset so far:

Best color transfer - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (although Roman Spring looks ravishing as well)

Best black and white transfer - Night of the Iguana

Best Commentary: Malden and film historians Rudy Behlmer and Jeff Young on Streetcar although Spoto's is also solid.

Biggest Error: Baby Doll's aspect ratio

These films represent an age in US cinema often reflected upon as a form of Americana. Innovative, almost experimental performances that drove forth the essential narratives of a representational and prolific playwright who drew heavily on his, very personal, family experiences and his own alcoholism and homosexuality. The adaptations to film have received a unique and memorable place in cinema history.       

Gary W. Tooze

 


A Streetcar Named Desire

 

(Warner - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Warner (2-disc SE) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC BOTTOM)

 

 


Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

 

(Warner - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Warner (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC BOTTOM)

 

 

 


Sweet Bird of Youth
 

 


The Night of the Iguana

 

 


Baby Doll
 

 

 


The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

 

 

 

DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

Other Individual Reviews:
Distribution Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC




 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

Mail cheques, money orders, cash to:    or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Mississauga, Ontario,

   CANADA

Thank You!