Technical specifications of the discs: All six DVDs are coded for regions 1 in the NTSC standard and the five feature films are dual-layered and progressively transferred. The widescreen features are anamorphic. Each have original English audio and options for English (CC), or Spanish subtitles in a yellow font (for the black and white films) and white with a black border for The Virgin Queen (the only color film). Each film is supplemented by different extra features (listed above).

Image: The aberration here is, obviously, Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte being moved from 1.66 (original Studio Classics DVD) to 1.85:1 and having some, unnecessary, brightness boosting. I, personally, feel it is a step back (see full comparison HERE). From memory, All About Eve looks about the same as the older edition - not especially sharp but decent contrast levels. I wouldn't say it's a vast improvement anyway. The Virgin Queen shows superiority over the, corresponding, Region 2 - PAL release (see full comparison HERE), and although I don't own it, I expect the same for the PAL The Nanny as this new transfer looks quite strong with excellent detail. Lastly, we come to a Shelly Winters film, Phone Call from a Stranger, an odd inclusion into this set, with Davis in a more minor onscreen role later in the film. Regardless, I like this noirish film and it has a very strong visual appearance - very good detail. The screen captures below should give you a good idea of how these discs will look. 

Audio - All original (to my knowledge) with the The Virgin Queen having a 4.0 channel and Hush... Hush, offering both 2.0 and mono - dialogue was always clear and consistent. I noted no excessive gaps, pops or hisses and there are optional English or Spanish subtitles for each production. 

Extras - Aside from the plethora on the 2-disc All About Eve with 2 (count'em 2!) separate commentaries (I only sampled and both appeared informative) and mucho featurettes for that 'star attraction' film, each have some minor fluff including restoration comparisons (that show me VERY little, to be honest), isolated score tracks, trailers, TV Spots, galleries - i.e pressbook, poster, stills and lobby Cards - and such things as a vintage promotional short narrated by Joseph Cotten (?!?!). There are decent, if short featurettes on (Hush,. Hush Sweet Joan: The Making of Charlotte) and a longer one on The Virgin Queen (Virgin Territory: The Making of the Virgin Queen) plus 'Dern Remembers' but overall I'd prefer one decent commentary on each film and I especially like, and perhaps feel spoiled by, the Warner Night at the Movies style on The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 3. I encourage Fox to adapt similar or perhaps spread the supplements a little more uniformly. I know I should be happier than I am as it's great to have this package with all the frills, but I am just a little under-whelmed. 

Overall impression: As they are released so close together a comparison with The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 3 seems appropriate and I enjoyed the films, presentations and supplements more in the Warner's release than this Fox package. Tack onto that - 4 of the 5 here have been on DVD previously, albeit 2 of which on PAL, with no dramatically huge image improvements. I'm kind of chuffed to have Phone Call from a Stranger on DVD though. Some may wish to get that and The Nanny depending on how keen they might be... although dollar-wise it's like the 'Value-Meal' getting the whole package and the stuff you may not be desperate to possess for only pennies more. If I sound overly negative I shouldn't - this boxset will make Davis fans very happy - nice vintage art covers and menus to boot.          

Gary W. Tooze