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Wednesday, 24 January 2007 |
The Premiere Frank Capra Collection
 The Premiere Frank Capra Collection
We’ll be honest and say that It’s a Wonderful Life isn’t our favorite of films—no, our tastes run more to where the protagonist strives not against himself, but the “machine.” So there’s plenty to enjoy in this box set, whose five titles consist of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; You Can’t Take It with You; Mr. Deeds Goes to Town; It Happened One Night; and American Madness. Each has the greatness of the human spirit as part of its pedigree—and as only Capra can portray. (OK, maybe Night is a bit more zany than most, but are you gonna dis Gable and Colbert?) The films may seem simple, but it’s only through convolution and deceit that problems become insurmountable—Capra wouldn’t have any of that. Sure they are from the past, but dated? Never. And Gary Cooper has never been as earnest as he is here. Well mastered for video and properly equalized for sound is all that one needs to know about these discs.Box sets usually have lots of extras, and it’s true here: There’s a bonus disc packed with all-new interviews, archival footage, and the documentary Frank Capra’s American Dream, hosted by Ron Howard (produced by Frank Capra, Jr.)—plus commentaries for each film and a bit of paper for the analog lovers, a 96-page Movie Scrapbook with lots of detail and insights.
| Studio: |
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
| Format: |
Full Screen, Dolby Digital Monophonic |
| Audio Quality: |
B- |
| Video Quality: |
B- |
| Ratting: |
Not Rated |
| Running Time: |
665 minutes | |
