Product Details

• Actors: Burl Ives, Charles Boyer, Dorothy Malone, Gena Rowlands, Joseph Cotten
• Directors: Douglas Sirk, Nathan Juran, Robert Aldrich, Robert Mulligan
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: November 14, 2006
• Run Time: 526 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000HA4WSO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,781 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Rock Hudson Screen Legend Collection (The Golden Blade / Has Anybody Seen My Gal? / The Last Sunset / The Spiral Road / A Very Special Favor)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This three-disc, five-film set spans a decade (1952-62) in Rock Hudson's career. It is not the ideal introduction to the strapping, ruggedly handsome leading man who, in his prime, was among Hollywood's top five biggest box office stars for eight years running. But his fans will want to add these more obscure and admirably diverse films--each making its DVD debut--to their collections. The most entertaining film, Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952) is an amusing trifle set in the 1920s, but it does mark Hudson's first film with Douglas Sirk, who would direct Hudson in some of his best films, including Written on the Wind, All That Heaven Allows, and Magnificent Obsession. Hudson is cast in a small but pivotal role as a poor but honest soda jerk in love with Piper Laurie, whose social-climbing mother does not approve. Charles Coburn is the real star as an eccentric millionaire who teaches the family that "it's not money that makes a person happy." Look for an uncredited James Dean at the soda fountain counter. Hudson was perhaps best known for his romantic comedies opposite Doris Day, and what a difference Day's absence makes in the somewhat icky A Very Special Favor (1965). Womanizer Hudson brings "fulfillment" into the life of career woman Leslie Caron at the request of her father (!), portrayed by Charles Boyer. The Arabian Nights adventure The Golden Blade (1953) is pure escapism with a questionably cast Hudson as Harun, who becomes embroiled in Baghdad palace intrigue as he searches for his father's killer. He is armed with the magical Sword of Damascus, which only seems to work when he wields it.

The most provocative film in this set is the 1961 Western The Last Sunset, co-starring Kirk Douglas as a killer sheriff Hudson has sworn to bring in to be hanged. But first, they agree to help Joseph Cotten drive his cattle across the border from his Mexican ranch. Dorothy Malone costars as Cotten's wife and Kirk's lost love, whose 16-year-old daughter's true parentage will cause Kirk some disquieting problems after he romances her. The Spiral Road (1962), very long at nearly three hours, stars Hudson as an arrogant, upstart doctor who seeks to advance his career by working in the Borneo jungle with Brits Jansen (Burl Ives), whose groundbreaking work with leprosy Hudson wants to chronicle. While none of these films rank among Hudson's most essential work, it is a Rock-solid collection that charts the development of an old-school movie star. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

Handsome, witty and extremely talented, Rock Hudson was the embodiment of the Hollywood leading man during his illustrious film career. Join this iconic actor as he lights up the screen with five of his most impressive films in the Rock Hudson: Screen Legend Collection. Featuring co-stars Piper Laurie, Leslie Caron, Kirk Douglas and Burl Ives, these films highlight the diverse career of an actor whose status as a screen legend will live on in cinema history. Set includes: Has Anybody See My Gal, A Very Special Favor, The Golden Blade, The Last Sunset, and The Spiral Road.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Underrated actor November 12, 2006

By St Ives

Format:DVD

It is great to see Universal release more of Rock Hudson's films to dvd. And thankfully the three discs in this collection are single sided. I thoroughly enjoyed The Spiral Road - a very good drama set in and around Borneo in 1936 and which also stars Burl Ives. Both are doctors and surprised I had never heard of it until now. By the way, three of the films, including Spiral Road, are presented in their OAR of 1:85 ( widescreen )and are Anamorphic. The label on the dvd incorrectly lists Spiral Road as 2:35. If you are a fan of Rock Hudson don't hesistate to pick up a copy.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the wait... November 20, 2006

By RKA VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Finally, The Spiral Road is available on DVD, and that alone is worth the cost of this collection. Amazon indicated the format was standard and I was prepared to accept that. Thankfully, it was issued in widescreen. I agree this is an obscure title, but an excellent movie. Grab it while you can.

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Five Films in this Screen Legend Collection are....... September 21, 2006

By James from the Hudson Valley

Format:DVD

From another site, these minor films of Rock will be included

Screen Legend Collection - The Franchise Collection

- Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952)

- Very Special Favor, A (1965)

- Golden Blade, The (1953)

- Last Sunset, The (1961)

- Spiral Road, The (1962)

Five stars for honoring this legend. Let's have more and better RH films on DVD!!