I'll get my gripes out of the way first - the discs are labeled incorrectly. The one called Disc One has pictures of Jean Harlow and Mae Clark... but that DVD has the two versions of Baby Face (with Barbra Stanwyk). Correspondingly the DVD labeled Disc Two has a picture of Stanwyk on it but has the films Red-Headed Woman (Harlow) and Waterloo Bridge (Clark). Unfortunately, it's blunders like these that make me question the amount of effort put into the production of the boxset. Another issue - there are zero supplements. Ziltch (well, a trailer and a Robert Osborne introduction). Finally - quite a flimsy selection - although we are grateful of the three titles - Warner could have chosen many more. I suppose we can hope for more in subsequent volumes. While I'm at it - the cardboard package itself is pretty weak - no one likes overlapping disc holders. The whole thing stinks of being slapped together in a hurry.

Disc one has the two versions of Baby Face - theatrical version (1:10:30) and rediscovered longer version (1:15:48). The theatrical is almost unwatchable in comparison (see captures below) - I see no strong evidence of restoration. However the longer version looks to have been put through the Warner process and is fairly bright - as sharp as one might expect for a film of this age. There is plenty of digital nose but it doesn't affect the presentation once you settle in. Audio, although certainly not state-of-the-art, is better than I anticipated - even and no major pops.

Disc 2 shares Red-Headed Woman (1932) and Waterloo Bridge (1931) both represented well by the screen captures below. Waterloo Bridge probably looks the best of the lot, but aside from the theatrical Baby Face - there is not much between the 3 main transfers. They are as good as I anticipated.

The 3 films are wonderful in their own way - I was thrilled to see the 1931 version of Waterloo Bridge as I am such a fan of the 1940 remake. Stanwyck reputation in Baby Face is certainly deserved - ditto for Harlow in Red-Headed Woman - pure Pre-Code magic with sex surprisingly open - more than one might imagine. Still a shame that Vol. 1 is barren of supplements and leaving most craving more, but perhaps Warner/TCM will redeem themselves in Vol.2. As it stands this is a must-own for fans of vintage cinema - our patient wait for Baby Face on DVD has finally been rewarded.       

Gary W. Tooze