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77 of 78 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dead for 50 Years, Tyrone Power is Still Big Box Office, April 26, 2008
Tyrone Power died on November 15, 1958. In 2007, 20th Century Fox released a five-disk set of Power's swashbuckler films and was overwhelmed by its success - so overwhelmed, in fact, that a year later, they are following it up with 10 more films, the majority of which are from Power's early days at the studio where he spent about 17 years of his 22-year career. In addition, Power's anniversary is due to be celebrated at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles in November, with tributes at the Film Society of Lincoln Center and in his home town of Cincinnati to follow. It's probably not enough for a tremendous star who doesn't benefit from Turner Classic Movies network or books because TCM doesn't own his films, and it's definitely not enough for this highly underrated actor whose breathtaking looks received most of the reviews.
This second collection, the "Matinee Idol" collection consists of Girls Dormitory, in which he has a small role but received most adulation on the preview cards. It's said that Hedda Hopper sat through the film twice to make sure she had his name right. Next is Love is News, a wonderful film showing Power's ability at comedy; Cafe Metropole, a delicious Lubitsch-like comedy; Second Honeymoon, a "Private Lives" takeoff about the beautiful people - Love is News, Cafe Metropole and Second Honeymoon all co-star Loretta Young; Daytime Wife, costarring a very young Linda Darnell, a rather flimsy comedy also starring Warren William (this light film is said to be Power's punishment for defying the studio and marrying his first wife, Annabella). Gangster drama Johnny Apollo rounds out the '40s, Power costarring with the lovely Dorothy Lamour.
This Above All was based on the best-seller by Eric Knight, and although all the hot sex was removed from the film, it still holds up as a war drama and wonderful acting vehicle for Power and Joan Fontaine. Jeanine Basinger, author of "The Star Machine" feels this film could have helped Power turn a corner into more dramatic acting had not World War II intervened. Post-war, a remake of Love is News with Gene Tierney, That Wonderful Urge; Luck of the Irish, a sprightly comedy popular around St. Pat's Day, and I'll Never Forget You, which hasn't been seen in decades due to legal problems. It has been one of the most requested films to be put on DVD for several years.
Features include a career retrospective, a scene cut from Cafe Metropole, Judy Lewis talking about her mother Loretta Young's relationship with Tyrone Power, and a film narrated by two of Power's children.
Discontented with Hollywood, Power went on to distinguish himself in theater in London and on Broadway. He made some of his best films away from 20th Century Fox, particularly Witness for the Prosecution, Abandon Ship, The Eddy Duchin Story and The Long Gray Line. It is estimated that his films grossed $1 billion during decades when films cost a nickel, a dime, a quarter and at the time of his death, an average price of $.68. That's a lot of people - and a lot of popcorn.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Long-Awaited Classic Highlights New Power Collection!, August 11, 2008
"Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection" may lack the opulence of the first Power ("Swashbuckler") collection, but it does offer the legendary star at his most handsome, as well as one of his most 'in demand' titles, "I'll Never Forget You", a generation after it's last television screening...which makes the collection a must!
There are 5 discs in the boxed set:
DISC 1:
"Girls Dormitory" (1936): In less than 3 minutes on-screen, in a minor role, the astonishingly handsome Power 'steals' this melodrama! A rather tame love triangle between middle-aged, bachelor professor Herbert Marshall, his devoted co-worker (Ruth Chatterton), and a barely-legal nymphet (Simone Simon, in her American debut), becomes every 'dirty old man's' fantasy, with it's off-kilter resolution...2 stars (out of 5)
Special Feature: Brief look at Power's life and acting career...
"Café Metropole" (1937): Delightful sophisticated comedy that marked Power and Loretta Young's third teaming. Penniless Power must repay a debt to Parisian club owner Adolph Menjou by pretending to be a Russian count, to fleece heiress Young. Sly and funny, this screwball tale is silly without losing it's charm... 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)
Special Feature: Two deleted Dance Sequences featuring Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson...
DISC 2:
Two versions of the same story, each starring Power...
"Love is News" (1937): Glib, muck-raking reporter Power is given a taste of his own medicine when heiress Loretta Young falsely announces they are engaged. In their second of five films together, both seem too young and 'nice' for their roles, but the comedy benefits immensely from Don Ameche's energized 'take' as Power's boss, and grand support by George Sanders and Slim Summerville. Great fun! 3 1/2 stars (out of five)
Special Feature: A look at Power and Young's five films, with recollections by Young's daughter (by Clark Gable)...
"That Wonderful Urge" (1948): Padded remake of "News" offers Power, at 34, more believable as the opportunistic reporter, but his co-star, Gene Tierney, lacks Young's warmth and compassion. This time around, the heiress fibs they are married, but even with more comic opportunities, the film lacks sparkle (although Chill Wills does a nice turn in the Summerville role)...2 1/2 stars (out of five)
DISC 3:
"This Above All" (1942): Dunkirk survivor/deserter Power finds redemption in the love of WAAF Joan Fontaine, and the kindness of the British people who befriend him as he eludes the authorities. While Power's American accent is incongruous in the leading role, he is very sincere, and Fontaine is terrific, with excellent support from Thomas Mitchell and Nigel Bruce. A British flag-waving drama, to be sure, but still moving...4 stars (out of five)
"Second Honeymoon" (1937): Power and Young's fourth teaming, in a dated, silly comedy, of ex-husband Power attempting to win Young away from her boorish current spouse (Lyle Talbott). Typical 30s stereotypes (idle rich leading carefree, globe-trotting lives, alcohol abuse as funny, rather than a problem), redeemed, somewhat, by the stars' chemistry. Stuart Erwin sparkles as Power's bookish valet, and there is a cute in-joke about Power's resemblance to British star Ronald Colman (who had, in fact, co-starred with Young in three films). 2 1/2 stars (out of five)
DISC 4:
"Day-Time Wife" (1939): Lightweight fluff of suspicious wife Linda Darnell (at just 16!), taking on a secretarial job with Warren William to discover why hubby Power might be cheating with his secretary. Dumb premise, but William, an old hand at playing lecherous bosses, lifts the film above average... 2 1/2 stars (out of five)
Special Feature: Power's three children reminisce about their dad...
"Johnny Apollo" (1940): Noirish melodrama of Power turning to a life of crime to pay off his embezzler father's debts. Power is surprisingly good in the darker role, as are Edward Arnold as his father, and Lloyd Nolan, as Power's racketeer mentor. Dorothy Lamour (fresh from "Road to Singapore") makes a very sexy leading lady for Ty! 4 1/2 stars (out of five)
DISC 5:
"The Luck of the Irish" (1948): Comic fantasy of traveling journalist Power befriending a sly leprechaun (Cecil Kellaway), and a saucy innkeeper (Anne Baxter), while in Ireland, and being granted good luck that leads his ambitions awry. Sweet-natured, with able support by Lee J. Cobb and Jayne Meadows, but the film cries out to be actually filmed in Ireland, and in Technicolor, rather than just with green-tinted Irish sequences. 3 1/2 stars (out of five)
Special Feature: Jayne Meadows' memories of Tyrone Power...
"I'll Never Forget You" (1951): The much-anticipated return of the magical romantic fantasy, as modern-day nuclear physicist Power is struck by lightning, and dropped into the body of his ancestor, in Technicolor-hued 1784 London. He finds unexpected love with Ann Blyth (in one of her best roles), but is soon declared insane from his knowledge of the future! With the wonderful Michael Rennie in support, the film suffers from a dated atomic-testing sequence, and washed-out colors in the 1784 sequences, but the plot is still terrific, and would inspire 1980's "Somewhere in Time"... 5 stars (out of five)
Special Feature: Ann Blyth's photos while in London...
The collection is well-worth the price!
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUCH POWER IN THIS COLLECTION OF EARLY FOX FILMS, July 27, 2008
Tyrone Power made 52 movies, and appeared in a wide variety of radio and stage work. He died tragically in his mid-40s and at the height of his career, his haunted, almost too pretty looks, all but hiding a formidable talent. While this new collection only hints at the strength and genius to come in such films as Nightmare Alley, The Sun Also Rises and Witness for the Prosecution, these earlier films are also a fair example of the middle-of-the-road Fox releases before and after the Second World War---popular, carefully constructed illustrations of mass entertainment and escapism.
The collection contains 10 films Power made between 1938-1951 as a Fox contract player, and his steady rise to film stardom is more than apparent here. Each film suggests a decided growth in Power's talent, from supporting player in Girls Dormitory to Loretta Young's love interest in three fluffy comedies---Love is News, Cafe Metropole and Second Honeymoon. Following his success with the proto-noir Johnny Apollo, he landed This Above All, an epic wartime romance then Daytime Wife, a flick that teams Power with Linda Darnell, who's stunningly beautiful in her first leading role. In Luck of the Irish, a whimsical leprechaun played by Cecil Kellaway, helps Power woo Anne Baxter. In That Wonderful Urge, Power joins Gene Tierney for romance, and finally, he teams with Ann Blyth for the multi-period costume drama I'll Never Forget You. Power died of a heart attack in 1958, and few performers today could even think of eclipsing---or even equaling---his style, good looks or talent.
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