Garv’s Pick of the Week: San Francisco (Warner Archive)
For the release week of February 16th:
Garv’s Pick of the Week: San Francisco [Blu-ray / Warner Archive]: This 1936 romantic disaster movie, climaxing with a reenactment of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, was the Titanic of its day. Clark Gable and Jack Holt form a love triangle with Jeanette MacDonald, while tectonic plates shift and Spencer Tracy plays a priest trying to save their souls. The disc also includes the documentary, Clark Gable: Tall, Dark and Handsome, along with other extras.
Additional Titles of Interest —
Man With a Movie Camera [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: This 1929 Russian silent documentary was ground-breaking in its use of montage.
The Kid Stays in the Picture [Blu-ray / Criterion]: The audio book of Robert Evans’ memoir of his time as the head of Paramount Studios during the 1970s was turned into this highly entertaining documentary by Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen.
Filmworker [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: It’s a week of film-related documentaries. Here’s the story of Leon Vitali, who gave up a promising acting career to become Stanley Kubrick’s assistant for over 30 years.
Harley Quinn: The Complete First and Second Seasons [Blu-ray / Warner Brothers]: This animated supervillain series “for mature audiences only” is nihilistic, but it is also undeniably funny and highly entertaining.
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Garv, can you explain why the Blu-ray Of San Francisco ends with what was shown previously as an alternate ending on the DVD,, and the alternate ending on the Blu-Ray is what has been shown as the ending on every print prior to this?
I can’t speak to that, as I don’t own either disc. I can’t afford to purchase every disc I mention on the site, and I don’t feel comfortable asking for a Blu-ray screener unless I know I will have time to write a full review. Since SAN FRANCISCO is easily viewable via digital streaming and purchase, I skipped this release, as I’d rather review films that are a little more difficult to see.
You might want to ask on the Home Theater Forum. My best guess if that Warner Bros. decided that it was more historically correct to go with the current ending as authentic versus alternative and presented that, as this is probably the last record of the film on physical media.