DVD Review: The Henry Fonda Film Collection Dan Koelsch, May 6, 2013 Henry Fonda is one of the most iconic film actors in American Cinema, though he didn’t receive a Best Actor Academy Award until a few months before his death. Fortunately, the appreciation for his work has only grown over the years, which leads us to tomorrow’s DVD release of The Henry Fonda Film Collection. Check out my review after the break. I won’t bother reviewing the movies themselves from this set, since they are all over 30 years old (some are even older than my parents). Suffice to say, these are all classics, some of which hold up better than others. Interestingly, my favorites of the collection are the 1939 western Jesse James and 1968 thriller The Boston Strangler. They are very different films in very different times, but it’s the performances of Tyrone Power and Tony Curtis, respectively, that stand out in these pictures. See the total list of films below. Volume 1: Jesse James Drums Along the Mohawk The Grapes of Wrath The Return of Frank James Immortal Sergeant The Ox-Bow Incident Volume 2: My Darling Clementine Daisy Kenyon The Longest Day The Boston Strangler If you are a fan of Fonda or just classic cinema in general, you might notice some glaring omissions to this collection. Two of Fonda’s best performances were in 12 Angry Men and On Golden Pond (for which he received the above-mentioned Oscar). Another more recognizable film of Fonda’s that is not seen here is Once Upon a Time in the West. I’m sure the reason these great films were excluded had to do with Fox Home Entertainment not having the rights, but it does make the collection feel hollow. The set reminds me of Fox’s Forever Marilyn collection, which had a similar style and also omitted some of Monroe’s more notable films. The collection has a nice look, but there aren’t many special features. Each DVD has a few clips from the era and sometimes a behind the scenes featurette. It’s also disappointing that this was not a Blu-ray release. I would have loved to see some of these classics really cleaned up for an HD experience. Still, if you’re a Henry Fonda fan, this is probably your best bet for anthology of his work. Reviews Henry FondaThe Henry Fonda Film Collection
LAFF 2013 Review: “Short Term 12” Is A Deeply Soulful & Profoundly Heartwarming Film That’s Filled With Emotional Laughs June 17, 2013August 21, 2013 No matter how inundated the summer movie season is with blockbusters and other giant tentpole films, it’s always a nice change of pace to see something like Short Term 12 come along and balance it out. The film has been making waves during its run on multiple film festival circuits,… Read More
Movie Review: The To Do List July 25, 2013 You may want to take a break from the superhero blockbusters of Summer. You might want to see a raunchy comedy instead. Well, then you possibly want to see The To Do List, which opens in theaters tomorrow. Read our review after the break. Read More
Movie Review: The Muppets November 20, 2011November 20, 2011 I love the Muppets. I thought I should get that out of the way. The original The Muppet Movie is one of my favorite movies of all time, and by watching it again a few years ago, I gained a new appreciation for the Muppet universe as an adult. After… Read More