Warner Archive Collection August 11 Releases
New to Blu-ray
THE HUNGER (1983) The Vampire film, redefined, in blood-curling high definition. Miriam Blaylock collects Renaissance art, ancient Egyptian pendants, lovers, souls. Alive and fashionably chic in Manhattan, Miriam is an ageless vampire. Although “vampire” is not a word you’ll hear in this movie based on the novel by Whitley Strieber. Instead, debuting feature director Tony Scott fashions a hip, sensual, modern-gothic makeover. Catherine Deneuve radiates macabre elegance as Miriam, blessed with beauty, cursed with bloodlust. David Bowie is fellow fiend and refined husband John. In love, in life, in longing, they are inseparable. But when John abruptly begins to age and turns to a geriatric researcher (Susan Sarandon) for help, Miriam soon eyes the woman as a replacement for John. The Hunger is insatiable. Special features include audio commentary by Susan Sarandon and Director Tony Scott.
The Great Gilbert
WAY FOR A SAILOR (1930) John Gilbert pairs up with Wallace Beery in this hi-knot nautical adventure whose rousing sequences are nothing short of astounding for an early “talkie”. Unfairly maligned as part of the strange smear campaign, Gilbert’s reputation unfairly suffered following his untimely passing. Way For A Sailor, and the other three Gilbert films we are releasing this week, are well overdue for a reappraisal as is the decidedly non-reedy, non-high pitched John Gilbert. In Way for a Sailor, Gilbert plays Jack, a solid seaman fully committed to the seafaring life and tramping around with pals Tripod and Ginger (Beery and Jim Tully). That is until he meets the girl who says “no” – Joan the “Eskimo” (Leila Hyams).
REDEMPTION (1930) In this most Russian of tragic romances, John Gilbert plays Feyda, a blue-blood whose heart hides a most Gypsy soul. Romancing Masha (Renée Adorée) away from her fiancé – and his pal – Victor (Conrad Nagel), Feyda tries to set up domestic shop but fails, sliding back into drink, gambling and girls. Now Feyda must struggle with how to free the woman he loves from the hell that is life with him. Directed by Fred Niblo.
GENTLEMAN’S FATE (1931) Mervyn LeRoy directs John Gilbert in this tale of a gentleman pushed by fate from the swells of society to the scum that provides the swill. Wealthy gentleman Jack Thomas (Gilbert) is soon to be married to Marjorie Channing (Leila Hyams) when he discovers a dark family secret. He is actually Giacomo Tomasulo and his never-before-met elder brother Frank (Louis Wolheim) expects him to join the family “business” when daddy don passes on. Struggling against the bounds of crime and family, Jack realizes his former life is over and makes a play for the rackets in Montreal. But the three sisters are not done playing Jack’s loom…
THE PHANTOM OF PARIS (1931) Gaston Leroux (The Phantom of the Opera) penned the tale that provides the source for this phanto-nymous piece of adventure and romance set among the Cirque de Paris. Cheri-Bibi is the greatest escapist in the world, but when he is framed for his fiancee’s father’s murder he undertakes his most daring and wondrous escape of all – disappearing into the identity of the man who framed him in hopes of proving his innocence. With Leila Hyams, Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt and C. Aubrey Smith. Directed by John S. Robertson.
NOTE: These DVDs are Manufactured on Demand (MOD); to order, fans must visit The Warner Archive Collection, WB Shop.com, Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
