Garv’s Pick of the Week: King of Jazz (Criterion)
For the release week of March 27th:
Garv’s Pick of the Week: King of Jazz [Blu-ray / Criterion]: Before there was full color film, there was two-strip Technicolor, a process that basically provided four colors — black, white, teal, and pink. One of the landmark productions in this process, The King of Jazz (1930) gets the Criterion treatment, with a load of extras. However, even if there were no special features, this release would get my endorsement as the week’s top video pick. This musical revue captures precious performances by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, a very young Bing Crosby, and other variety acts of the time. Included is a performance of portions of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue by Whiteman’s band, who originally premiered the piece back in 1924.
Additional Titles of Interest —
The List of Adrian Messenger [Blu-ray / Universal]: Eleven men on a list are being murdered, and it is up to George C. Scott to figure out why. This trifle from John Huston’s filmography is best remembered for the terribly unconvincing make-up worn by the disguised supporting cast — Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Burt Lancaster, and Frank Sinatra.
The Egg and I [Blu-ray / Universal]: Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert star in this romantic comedy, but the film is remembered for the supporting performances by Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride as Ma and Pa Kettle. This is the film that spawned the long-running movie series.
The Thrill of it All! [Blu-ray / Universal]: This Doris Day comedy is smarter than most, because it was written by Carl Reiner and Larry Gelbart.
Women in Love [Blu-ray / Criterion]: Cinema madman Ken Russell adapts D. H. Lawrence with a stellar cast, including Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed, and Alan Bates.
Outer Limits Season 1 (32 Episodes) [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: “There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to… The Outer Limits.”
Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi [4K UHD / Disney]: Sorry, haters. I think it was the best Star Wars movie to date.
){kind=link}