Garv’s Pick of the Week: The Little Rascals: The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 2 (ClassicFlix)
For the release week of August 3rd:
Garv’s Pick of the Week: The Little Rascals: The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 2 [Blu-ray / ClassicFlix]: ClassicFlix has undertaken an ambitious multi-volume project to scan and restore all of the sound-era Our Gang comedies produced at Hal Roach Studios between 1929 and 1938. Since the shorts are being released on Blu-ray in chronological order, this second volume does not contain the familiar line-up of Spanky, Alfalfa, Darla, Buckwheat, etc. Instead, it contains the second group of eleven talkies, from Pups is Pups (1930) to Dogs is Dogs (1931). Like the last set, the “Gang” in these shorts includes Allen ‘Farina’ Hoskins, Bobby ‘Wheezer’ Hutchins, Norman ‘Chubby’ Chaney, Mary Ann Jackson, and Jackie Cooper. This group of shorts also introduces Matthew “Stymie” Beard, Dorothy “Echo” DeBorba, and June “Miss Crabtree” Marlowe. Expect a full review a little later this month.
Additional Titles of Interest —
Randolph Scott Western Collection [Blu-ray/ Mill Creek]: The good news is that twelve classic Westerns are coming to Blu-ray in this 6-disc set. The bad news is that they’re coming from Mill Creek, who have a spotty reputation in terms of quality. Included here are The Desperados (1943), The Nevadan (1950), Santa Fe (1951), Man in the Saddle (1952), Hangman’s Knot (1952), The Stranger Wore a Gun (1953), A Lawless Street (1955), The Tall T (1957), Decision At Sundown (1957), Buchanan Rides Alone (1958), Ride Lonesome (1959), and Comanche Station (1960).
Django [4K UHD/ Arrow Video]: Arrow Video’s restoration of Sergio Corbucci’s Django looked pretty stellar on Blu-ray, but they are providing a further upgrade to 4K UHD. This package also includes the bonus Franco Nero Western, Texas, Adios (1966) in regular HD. The set was delayed from an earlier date. Let’s see if it actually comes out this week.
The Daimajin Trilogy [Blu-ray/ Arrow Video]: A giant statue of an angry god comes to life in this popular Japanese Kaiju series. Included are Daimajin, Return of Daimajin, and Daimajin Strikes Again (all 1966).
Union Pacific [Blu-ray/ Kino Lorber]: I haven’t seen this popular Western (mainly due to the fact that I find C.B. DeMille incredibly overrated as a director). Still, the cast is stacked with actors I love, including Joel McCrea, Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Preston, Akim Tamiroff, and Brian Donlevy.
Arise, My Love [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: Kino Lorber releases a couple of romantic comedies starring Claudette Colbert this week. This one was Ms. Colbert’s favorite of her own movies, and it was co-written by Billy Wilder & Charles Brackett.
No Time For Love [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: The second is a more middling rom-com co-starring Fred MacMurray.
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