BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

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swo17
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BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#1 Post by swo17 » Thu May 20, 2021 12:30 pm

Early Universal Vol. 1

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The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present three early silent features from Universal Pictures, all fully restored as part of the studio's ongoing restoration program.

Skinner's Dress Suit (dir. William A. Seiter, 1926) – Reginald Denny stars as a shy clerk who asks his boss for a raise at the urging of his wife. His request is rejected, but he lies to his wife, who immediately goes out and buys an expensive suit, an act that upends his once-ordered life.

The Shield of Honor (dir. Emory Johnson, 1927) – The LAPD has a new method of fighting crime, the Air Police! Their newest recruit, young hotshot pilot Jack MacDowell (Neil Hamilton), is tasked with catching a gang of jewellery thieves.

The Shakedown (dir. William Wyler, 1929) – Dave Roberts (James Murray) is a fighter better known for taking falls in fixed fights than for taking home the prize money. But then he falls head-over-heels for a fiery waitress (Barbara Kent) and a rough-and-tumble orphan (Jack Hanlon), and he begins to dramatically alter his life inside and outside of the ring.

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Limited Edition O-Card slipcase [2000 copies]
• 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from restorations undertaken by Universal Pictures (Skinner's Dress Suit and The Shakedown restored in 4K, The Shield of Honor restored in 2K)
Skinner's Dress Suit – score by Leo Birenberg
The Shield of Honor – score by Alex Kovacs
The Shakedown – score by Michael Gatt
• Audio Commentary tracks on all three features
• A collection of additional materials from the early era of Universal Pictures, with complimentary analysis by silent film experts and historians
• A collector's booklet featuring new writing on the films included in this set

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What A Disgrace
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Re: BD 250-252 Early Universal Vol. 1

#2 Post by What A Disgrace » Thu May 20, 2021 12:43 pm

I'm wondering if this series will only be devoted to more 'obscure' films. Anyway, very excited.

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TMDaines
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Re: BD 250-252 Early Universal Vol. 1

#3 Post by TMDaines » Thu May 20, 2021 1:50 pm

Sounds like a great series.

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L.A.
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Re: BD 250-252 Early Universal Vol. 1

#4 Post by L.A. » Thu May 20, 2021 2:53 pm

I’m willing to bet some Tod Browning will be represented as well later; Outside the Law (1920), Drifting (1923) and White Tiger (1923) have been restored and are available from Kino.

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Drucker
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Re: BD 250-252 Early Universal Vol. 1

#5 Post by Drucker » Thu May 20, 2021 2:58 pm

Would love if Whale's Kiss Before The Mirror also got a release.

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swo17
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Re: BD 250-252 Early Universal Vol. 1

#6 Post by swo17 » Thu May 20, 2021 3:00 pm

Another title already on Blu-ray from Kino. I would love some more Whale though

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zedz
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Re: BD 250-252 Early Universal Vol. 1

#7 Post by zedz » Thu May 20, 2021 4:44 pm

Never heard of the other two films, but The Shakedown is terrific.

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knives
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Re: BD 250-252 Early Universal Vol. 1

#8 Post by knives » Thu May 20, 2021 6:36 pm

If only for the Wyler this brings me more joy than could be thought possible.

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swo17
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#9 Post by swo17 » Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:03 am

Another 2-disc volume coming in October, fingers crossed for some Edward L. Cahn

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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#10 Post by What A Disgrace » Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:05 pm

I'm guessing one of the films is 1916's 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, a prestige project which clocks in at 86 minutes and was released by Kino. Volume 2 is 4 hours and 7 minutes, according to Amazon, so if I am correct, this means the other two films will average 81 minutes each. A meatier set than the first one, anyway.

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swo17
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#11 Post by swo17 » Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:26 pm

Well that runtime and the listing of actors (Allen HOLUBAR, Jane GAIL, Hoot GIBSON, Virginia Browne FAIRE, Reginald DENNY) are new since I posted the link

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Finch
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#12 Post by Finch » Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:32 pm

Amazon is listing four actors in the specs for the new set, the first two of which are featuring in 20000 Leagues under the Sea so your guess seems spot on. One of the other actors, Hoot Gibson, did several one hour westerns in the 1920s.

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swo17
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#13 Post by swo17 » Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:33 pm

Here are three Universal films I've never heard of starring both Hoot Gibson and Virginia Browne Faire

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Finch
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#14 Post by Finch » Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:40 pm

Well, The Thrill Chaser from 1923 has both Hoot Gibson (as the lead) and Reginald Denny in it, and runs one hour according to imdb.

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Finch
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#15 Post by Finch » Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:41 pm

Burning the Wind has Karloff in it so if it doesn't end up in this set, I imagine at least it had to have been in contention.

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knives
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#16 Post by knives » Thu Jul 29, 2021 10:07 am

This has officially been announced with the further two mystery titles being The Calgary Stampede and Whatever Happened to Jones.

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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#17 Post by What A Disgrace » Thu Jul 29, 2021 12:39 pm

So, I'm just gonna come out and say it, what's the deal with David Kalat and Reginald Denny? He's given commentaries on both of the Deny films in these sets (replacing Anthony Slide, whose commentary for 20,000 Leagues was similarly excised in favor of a Kim Newman video piece), and he's not exactly the kind of guy you call on to give commentaries for something he isn't a passionate admirer of. Should I be excited about Reginald Deny?

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L.A.
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#18 Post by L.A. » Mon Aug 02, 2021 9:06 am

Due to unforeseen circumstances the release date of EARLY UNIVERSAL VOL. 1 has been pushed back to 13 September 2021.

We apologise for any disappointment this may cause, and we hope to bring you the best possible versions of these films.

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knives
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#19 Post by knives » Tue Aug 03, 2021 9:19 pm

Any word on what the region code for these will be?

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therewillbeblus
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#20 Post by therewillbeblus » Tue Aug 03, 2021 9:28 pm

knives wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 9:19 pm
Any word on what the region code for these will be?
I believe MoC are always region B but occasionally unlocked and region free. I'm not sure if they ever announce this in advance, as I've only ever found out when reviewers start testing whether a disc is locked

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dwk
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#21 Post by dwk » Tue Aug 03, 2021 9:40 pm

Being a major studio license, barring a mistake by MoC, there is no chance these are anything but region B locked.

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knives
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#22 Post by knives » Tue Aug 03, 2021 9:53 pm

Dang and thanks.

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L.A.
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#23 Post by L.A. » Mon Sep 20, 2021 4:36 am

DVD Compare for the first one.

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therewillbeblus
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#24 Post by therewillbeblus » Sun Apr 03, 2022 10:04 pm

Has anybody picked up either of these, who can speak to the quality of the films? I see zedz views one film from the first set favorably, but I haven't heard anything about the other two, or the second set at all

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Drucker
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Re: BD 250-255 Early Universal Vols. 1-2

#25 Post by Drucker » Sun Apr 03, 2022 10:17 pm

I made it through set 1 and it was fine. Skinner's Dress Suit is definitely a minor gem, and one I would re-watch. Shield of Honor was painful, but I concede that the politics rubbed me the wrong way, taking me out of the film early on (though if you like silent film special effects/miniatures, you may enjoy it.) I did enjoy the Shakedown, but not as much as the first film.

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