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Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection (Cafe Metropole/Girls Dormitory/Johnny Apollo/Daytime Wife/Luck of the Irish/Ill Never Forget You/That Wonderful Urge/Love Is News/This Above All/Second Honeymoon) 
Actors : Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, Simone Simon, Herbert Marshall, Ruth Chatterton
Director : Walter Lang, Henry Hathaway, Anatole Litvak
Studio : 20th Century Fox
by 20th Century Fox
Brand : TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
Release Date : 2008-07-29
Publisher : 20th Century Fox
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 5
EAN : 0024543523444
UPC : 024543523444
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 11 reviews)
List Price : $49.98
Our Price : $23.39
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Description |
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Disc 1: CAFE METROPOLE '37 + GIRLS DORMITORY '36 Disc 2: JOHNNY APOLLO '40 + DAYTIME WIFE '39 Disc 3: LUCK OF THE IRISH '48 + I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU '51 Disc 4: THAT WONDERFUL URGE '48 + LOVE IS NEWS '37 Disc 5: THIS ABOVE ALL '42 + SECOND HONEYMOON '37 |
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Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection |
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Some early work by the charismatic Power,three with Loretta Young in 1937,along with seven other memorable films.My favorites are CAFE METROPOLE,the underrated LOVE IS NEWS,JOHNNY APOLLO,and the enchanting THE LUCK OF THE IRISH.Fox has commentary on most of their DVD's,but only four featurettes here.Still,the price can't be beat!Leading ladies also include Linda Darnell,Dorothy Lamour,Gene Tierney,Joan Fontaine,Anne Baxter,Ann Blyth and Simone Simon(debut)-quite a stable of beauties!Not much filler here,so pick this one up. |
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Good package but many mediocre films |
Tyrone Power was once quoted as saying that many of his films were a "monument to public patience", a telling remark hinting at the frustration which he often felt as a matinee idol rather than a highly respected actor. This DVD collection contains many examples of the former and a couple which give evidence of a talent of greater depth. The films also are a monument to the skill with which Daryl F. Zanuck promoted Power as a box office idol.
First off is 1936's "Girl's Dormitory", not a Power film at all but one in which his cameo role created such comment that Zanuck quickly promoted him to leads. This is one of those forgotten little films which every now and then surface and surprise. Exquisitely directed by Irving Cummings and with a superb collection of great actors including Herbert Marshall and Ruth Chatterton, the film in fact was the American debut of French actress Simone Simon who never made the impression in America she did in France. Set in a European finishing school, what first seems to be a sappy and predictable melodrama about the crush of a pupil for the head of the school becomes a touching drama with a surprising ending. The film is beautifully photographed and paced and there are some great visuals. The sets are perfect. Look for Lyn Bari among the pupils.
The next 3 films, all released in 1937, capitalised on the physical beauty of Power and paired him with his female equivalent, the radiant Loretta Young. "Love is News" and "Cafe Metropole" are lightweight romantic comedies with good supporting casts, slick direction and sometimes amusing screenplays. The former leans towards screwball, the latter towards sophisticated comedy. "Second Honeymoon" is easily the weakest with a slap dash script and poor direction. It looks like it was put together very cheaply. "Cafe Metropole" also contains 2 deleted dance sequences of Bill Robinson but you will have to watch one of the Hidden Hollywood DVDs to learn why they were deleted (racism, of course).
In 1939, 16 year old Linda Darnell landed at Fox and "Daytime Wife" showcases her with Power in a nasty little comedy of double standards in marriage. There is not one likeable character, including a very cheap Wendy Barrie as a secretary on the make and Binnie Barnes as an obnoxious divorcee. Darnell squeals most of her lines and Power mugs and tries to be funny but the material and the inexperienced immature Darnell do him in. Joan Davis as sleazy Warren William's receptionist gets all the good lines. This maybe the worst film in the set and one wonders why the censors allowed the screenplay to exist at all.
In 1940, Zanuck was keen to give Power a more rugged image and "Johnny Apollo" is a change of pace as he plays a college boy who joins the gang of underworld figure Lloyd Nolan. Dorothy Lamour, on loan out from Paramount, plays a moll and she is much more brittle than usual. She spits out her lines and is riveting. Nolan always was a top actor and with the shadowy photography and an excellent plot, this is a dark and disturbing film, a pre-cursor of film noir and only let down by an unconvincing tacked on ending. Nolan's attraction to Power definitely has undertones which snuck under the censor's nose. Incidentally, Power is very convincing as ivy league gone to the dogs.
By 1942, with America now involved in World War 2, all the studios produced films which cemented the link with the UK. "This Above All" was Fox's contribution to the epic romances which appeared at the time, films such as "Random Harvest" and "The White Cliffs of Dover". Based on a popular novel, the filmed (mis)cast Power as an English (no accent) soldier, a hero in warfare but a socialist deserter, looking for the meaning of fighting. He falls for Joan Fontaine, an aristocrat who has joined the WAAFS (very unconvincing). Fontaine is touching and carries the romance. Power gives a sincere but "one note" performance. His conversion from deserter is unconvincing but this was still some of his best acting to date. The film was a mammoth production and Anatole Litvak directs with feeling even if the depiction of England is artificial with the usual condescension (warm but tolerant) view of the working classes. As a depiction of England at war, the film is absurd but as propaganda submerged in romance, it is touching and effective.
The next 2 films are romantic comedies released in 1948, the sorts of films which spelt high returns at the box office but not much challenge to Power. First off is "The Luck of the Irish", a romantic comedy which benefits from Anne Baxter as a softly spoken lassie and Jayne Meadows as a very sophisticated New Yorker. The theme is one that was used much later in films such as "Local Hero", the capitalist New Yorker learning of the simpler things in life, this time from a leprechaun played by Cecil Kellaway. The whimsy is laid on pretty thick and Kellaway gives an excellent performance in an impossible role.
The second film, capitalising on the success of "The Razor's Edge", reteamed Power with Gene Tierney in a dreary remake of "Love is News" called "That Wonderful Urge". Neither star was known for comedy technique and the film lacks the glow and energy of the earlier film. This was exactly the sort of film Power wanted to leave behind and while he doesn't quite walk through his role, he certainly lacks vitality - a boring film and the second dud of the set.
The last film in the set is the long unseen "I'll Never Forget You". In 1951, Power and Ann Blyth filmed in England a remake of "Berkeley Square", an enigmatic story about a scientist switching roles with his ancestor, a story of lost love and evocative of the more recent "Somewhere in Time". The film is beautifully made and Power and Blyth make a convincing team, mainly due to her sensitive performance. There is an excellent British supporting cast, great sets and good colour. As in all the dramas in this set, Power makes a stolid hero.
The DVD contains some worthwhile extras. All of the films contain advertising material, production stills and in most cases the original trailer. "The Luck of the Irish" has an alternate tinted version, green for Ireland, which is odd to look at. I flicked back to the black and white version very quickly. Jayne Meadows is interviewed too and has vivid memories of the film.
There are a couple of short documentaries. Loretta Young's daughter (the one whose father was Clark Gable) appears, speaking of the affection her mother held for Power. Young certainly glowed in their films together. Also Power's three children speak of their father in voice over with many images from their childhood or otherwise. Since none of them knew or remember him in person, this is more of a tribute than a personal recollection but since each seems a charming person, who cares? Lastly, there is a more detailed documentary on Power's career which certainly captures his frustration as a box office star rather than actor.
The prints of all the films are excellent, often preserving that great look which so many Fox films possessed and the set is good value even if the comedies are generally weak. |
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Matinee Magic |
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Talk about getting your money's worth. Perhaps one of the best purchases you'll ever make. It's not just Power (who is excellent), but the fact that these are purely entertaining well-scripted enjoyable films. Great transfers. Any 5 (of 10) films here would be worth the price. Joan Fontaine, Ann Blyth, Loretta Young, Gene Tierney Dorothy Lamour, Anne Baxter, Linda Darnell and others- all beautiful, all wonderfully cast. A must-have! |
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Tyrone Power -Forgotten Matinee Idol |
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Tyrone Power was from a reknown acting family. This collection focuses on movies not often showed on tv. Girl's Dormitory was merely a walk-on at the end of the picture but it was enough to catch the interest of the female preview audiences and set Power on his way as becoming the top male star of 20th Century Fox Studio. Both Johnny Apollo and This Above All showcase Power's acting abilities that were often not used by his studio. These films have great supporting actors, such as Loretta Young, Linda Darnell, Dorothy Lamour and Joan Fontaine. This is must for any Power fan. |
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Good for hollywood vintage comedies fans |
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I really appreciate this box with the loveliest Tyrone Power. The comedies are charming and amusing, and Tyrone is so handsome. For fans only. |
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