Garbo Shines on DVD, Hollywood to Take on Looters and Music Musings
Burbank, California—See why all the fuss over the silver screen's luminous Greta Garbo (who would have turned 100 on Sept. 18) on Warner Home Video's generously boxed set, Garbo: The Signature Collection, a feast of Miss Garbo's greatest movies. Her transformation from sexless communist to an exalted woman in love in director Ernst Lubitsch's splendid Ninotchka (later remade into a Fred Astaire musical called Silk Stockings) leaves a lasting impression about the Silent Film star's hypnotic allure.
This ten-disc treasure contains endless extra features and her most enduring performances. Here's Miss Garbo as an ex-prostitute in her first talking picture, Anna Christie—flip the disc for the German version—as a ballerina in Grand Hotel, as Sweden's queen, masquerading as a boy, in Queen Christina, as a German spy in Mata Hari, as Alexander Dumas' irresistible Marguerite in Camille, and as a wife and mother in one of several adaptations of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.
Besides bonus features on each of the seven movie discs, the Centennial tribute set also includes a new, original documentary by Kevin Brownlow for Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Garbo, and Garbo Silents from TCM Archives, featuring The Temptress, The Mysterious Lady and Flesh and the Devil. Retailing at under $100, this package is a high-caliber treatment of one of Hollywood's most radiant, intelligent actresses. Among the extras: BBC's Garbo television program, hosted by Miss Garbo's Grand Hotel co-star, Joan Crawford, extensive commentaries, historiography, alternate endings and newsreels.
Studios Unite Against Piracy
If Hollywood still produced newsreels, this week's New York Times report that major studios pledged to pony up $30 million a year in a unified effort to stop movie piracy would lead the reel. The ad hoc Motion Picture Laboratories (dubbed MovieLabos) will fund technology research to create home entertainment without compromising intellectual property rights. If Hollywood spends a fraction of that amount adopting a serious, affirmative defense of individual rights as its sacred mission—as against limiting their efforts to loud denunciations of piracy—they will beat the looters.
And the looters are out there, preying upon those who haven't been properly introduced to property rights, as I was recently reminded by a couple of parent pals. When I dropped over for a nightcap, the house was still buzzing with the sound of children excited by whatever was on the tube. They showed me what their kids received as party favors at a children's' birthday gig: illegally copied DVDs of several motion pictures still playing in theaters. Here's hoping Hollywood mounts an unyielding defense of their products.
Musical Notes
CD favorites: Rachel Portman's music for the child and mutt movie, Because of Winn-Dixie; an upbeat soundtrack for when I'm missing my dog, who died this year. I still find his hair everywhere in the house and, when that happens, my heart sinks, and her friendly, familiar strings get me whistling Winn-Dixie in no time—as irresistible as a wagging tail. Another fall favorite: cancer survivor Melissa Etheridge's new Greatest Hits CD, The Road Less Traveled, a 17-tune collection with two new tunes that's jammed with solid rock-n-roll, including "I Want to Come Over," "Come to My Window" and a reverent version of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Refugee" that holds its own. Her early songwriter's hit, "No Souvenirs", also holds up, and I must admit I like her style better now than I did then.
For clear and clean pop music from brighter days, don't miss the soundtrack from The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio starring Julianne Moore. Composer John Frizzell's main theme is a lovely, soft instrumental melody to match the motion picture, and his blend of Podunk pop—culled from old ditties and new stuff—is a magical mix of bluegrass, doo-wop and rock. This is good, driving-to-work music that recalls an era of chipper inventiveness that's bound to bring out a smile. This is for everyone from Grandpa to the neighbor kid who likes playing piano. Frizzell's soundtrack features Sara Watkins on fiddle, Sean Watkins on guitar and a band called Nickel Creek. It'll keep your chin up and your toes tapping.
This ten-disc treasure contains endless extra features and her most enduring performances. Here's Miss Garbo as an ex-prostitute in her first talking picture, Anna Christie—flip the disc for the German version—as a ballerina in Grand Hotel, as Sweden's queen, masquerading as a boy, in Queen Christina, as a German spy in Mata Hari, as Alexander Dumas' irresistible Marguerite in Camille, and as a wife and mother in one of several adaptations of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.
Besides bonus features on each of the seven movie discs, the Centennial tribute set also includes a new, original documentary by Kevin Brownlow for Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Garbo, and Garbo Silents from TCM Archives, featuring The Temptress, The Mysterious Lady and Flesh and the Devil. Retailing at under $100, this package is a high-caliber treatment of one of Hollywood's most radiant, intelligent actresses. Among the extras: BBC's Garbo television program, hosted by Miss Garbo's Grand Hotel co-star, Joan Crawford, extensive commentaries, historiography, alternate endings and newsreels.
Studios Unite Against Piracy
If Hollywood still produced newsreels, this week's New York Times report that major studios pledged to pony up $30 million a year in a unified effort to stop movie piracy would lead the reel. The ad hoc Motion Picture Laboratories (dubbed MovieLabos) will fund technology research to create home entertainment without compromising intellectual property rights. If Hollywood spends a fraction of that amount adopting a serious, affirmative defense of individual rights as its sacred mission—as against limiting their efforts to loud denunciations of piracy—they will beat the looters.
And the looters are out there, preying upon those who haven't been properly introduced to property rights, as I was recently reminded by a couple of parent pals. When I dropped over for a nightcap, the house was still buzzing with the sound of children excited by whatever was on the tube. They showed me what their kids received as party favors at a children's' birthday gig: illegally copied DVDs of several motion pictures still playing in theaters. Here's hoping Hollywood mounts an unyielding defense of their products.
Musical Notes
CD favorites: Rachel Portman's music for the child and mutt movie, Because of Winn-Dixie; an upbeat soundtrack for when I'm missing my dog, who died this year. I still find his hair everywhere in the house and, when that happens, my heart sinks, and her friendly, familiar strings get me whistling Winn-Dixie in no time—as irresistible as a wagging tail. Another fall favorite: cancer survivor Melissa Etheridge's new Greatest Hits CD, The Road Less Traveled, a 17-tune collection with two new tunes that's jammed with solid rock-n-roll, including "I Want to Come Over," "Come to My Window" and a reverent version of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Refugee" that holds its own. Her early songwriter's hit, "No Souvenirs", also holds up, and I must admit I like her style better now than I did then.
For clear and clean pop music from brighter days, don't miss the soundtrack from The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio starring Julianne Moore. Composer John Frizzell's main theme is a lovely, soft instrumental melody to match the motion picture, and his blend of Podunk pop—culled from old ditties and new stuff—is a magical mix of bluegrass, doo-wop and rock. This is good, driving-to-work music that recalls an era of chipper inventiveness that's bound to bring out a smile. This is for everyone from Grandpa to the neighbor kid who likes playing piano. Frizzell's soundtrack features Sara Watkins on fiddle, Sean Watkins on guitar and a band called Nickel Creek. It'll keep your chin up and your toes tapping.
