Product Details

• Actors: Joe E. Brown, June Travis, Guy Kibbee, Dick Foran, Carol Hughes
• Directors: Edward Sedgwick, Frank McDonald, Kurt Neumann, Ray Enright
• Writers: A. Dorian Otvos, Arthur Sheekman, Charlie Melson, Clarence Marks
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: VCI
• DVD Release Date: July 31, 2006
• Run Time: 274 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000G0O56E
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,044 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Joe E. Brown Comedy Collector's Set" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

JOE E BROWN COMEDY COLLECTOR'S SET - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The King of B-Westerns & Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ Joe E. Brown Comedy Collector's Set", July 22, 2006

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Joe E. Brown Comedy Collector's Set (DVD)

VCI Entertainment presents "Joe E. Brown Comedy Collector's Set" --- (Dolby digitally remastered)...featuring top performances by actors to die for from the '30s and '40s with outstanding comedy and screenplays...from little known films that will leave you laughing in the aisles...so pop some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the movie.

Disc One are the first two features:

First up we have "The Gladiator" (1938) (72 min. B/W)...under director Edward Sedgwick, producer David L. Loew, novel by Philip Wylie, screenplay by James Mulhauser, Earle Snell, Charlie Melson and Arthur Sheekman, original music by Arthur Kay and Victor Young, song "On To Victory" by Walter G. Samuels...the cast include Joe E. Brown (Hugo Kipp), Man Mountain Dean (Himself, Man Mountain Dean), June Travis (Iris Bennett), Dickie Moore (Bobby), Lucien Littlefield (Professor Danner), Robert Kent (Tom Dixon), Ethel Wales (Mrs. Danner), Donald Douglas (Coach Robbins). . . . . .our story has Joe E. Brown who wins money as an attendance prize and decides to return to college...as a joke he joins the football team, but without his knowledge is given a super drug that gives him superior strength...is the novel on which this film was based one of the principal inspirations for the creation of "Superman", who made his first appearance the same year, could be!

Second film is "Wide Open Faces" (1938) (67 min B/W)...under director Kurt Neumann, producer David L. Loew, writing credits by Joe Bigelow and Pat C. Flick, Richard Flournoy, Clarence Marks and Earle Snell, music by Hugo Riesenfeld. . . . . .cast includes Joe E. Brown (Wilbur Meeks), Jane Wyman (Betty Martin),Alison Skipworth (Auntie Martha), Lyda Roberti (Kitty Fredericks), Alan Baxter (Tony),Lucien Littlefield (P. T. 'Doc' Williams), Sidney Toler (Sheriff),Berton Churchill (L.D. Crawford), Barbara Pepper (Belle), Joe Downing (Stretch), Stanley Fields (Duke Temple), Garry Owen (Pineapple), Dick Rich (Fingers), Walter Wills (Hardcastle). . . . . .our story has everything from comedy, slapstick to crime with a little suspense thrown in for good measure...what fortune is every gangster on the Columbia Picture lot searching for...our hero in this picture is Joe E. Brown a fountaineer with a photographic memory for his soda jerk orders...is there a certain innkeeper that Brown has eyes for...can he find the loot and pick up the reward at the same time...check out the final conclusion and see how everything falls into place...watch for Sidney Toler of Charlie Chan fame as the bumbling Sheriff and Jane Wyman as Brown's love interest.

BIOS:

1. Joe E. Brown

Birth Date: 7/28/1892 - Holgate, Ohio

Died: 7/06/1973 - Brentwood, California

2. Jane Wyman (aka: Sarah Jane (later known as Sarah Jane Fulks) Mayfield)

Birth Date: 1/04/1914 - St. Joseph, Missouri

Died: Still Living

BONUS SPECIAL FEATURES ON DISC ONE:

1. "Fractured Flickers Sampler #1"

2. My Little Margie Trailer

3. Chu Chin Chow Trailer

Disc Two are the third and fourth features:

Third film on the collection is "Flirting with Fate" (1938) (69 min B/W)...under director Frank McDonald, produced by David L. Loew, screenplay and story by Ethel La Blanche, Joseph Moncure March and Charlie Melson, music by Victor Young and Walter G. Samuels. . . . . .cast includes Joe E. Brown (Dixon), Leo Carrillo (Sancho), Beverly Roberts (Patricia), Wynne Gibson (Bertha), Steffi Duna (Carlita), Charles Judels (Garcia), Stanley Fields (Fernando), Leonid Kinskey (Lopez), Chris-Pin Martin (Solado), Inez Palange (Senora Lopez), Irene Franklin (Hattie), Jay Novello (Del Valle), George Humbert (Del Rio), Lew Kelly (Herbie), Anne Hovey (Ida), Dick Botiller (Renaldo), Carlos Villarias (Captain), Philip Trent (Larry). . . . . .our story has Joe E. Brown down on his luck and broke...what does a life Insurance policy and then doing away with himself with the help of Leo Carrillo...but Carrillo has no stomach for the plan...what will Brown do in the final chapter of this MGM theme with vaudeville, insurance and murder all mixed into the main ingredient...as in past performances Leo Carrillo is a scene stealer with the mispronouncing of the english language, as usual he walks away with the film.

Final film on the bill is "Earthworm Tractors" (1936) (69 min B/W)...under director Raymond Enright, produced by Samuel Bischoff, screenplay and story by Hugh Cummings, Richard Macaulay, Paul Girard Smith, Joe Traub and William Hazlett Upson, music by Howard Jackson and Heinz Roemheld. . . . . .cast includes Joe E. Brown (Alexander Botts), June Travis (Mabel Johnson), Guy Kibbee (Sam Johnson), Dick Foran (Emmet McManus), Carolyn Hughes (Sally Blair), Gene Lockhart (George Healey), Olin Howland (Mr. Blair), Joseph Crehan (Mr. Henderson), Sarah Edwards (Mrs. Blair), Charles Wilson (H.J. Russell), Irving Bacon (Taxicab Driver), Stuart Holmes (The Doctor), William B. Davidson (Mr. Jackson). . . . . . .our story opens with the most natural born salesman in the world Joe E. Brown who can sell just about anything that you don't want to purchase...can Brown sell an Earthworm Tractor to grouchy lumberman Guy Kibbee...will June Travis the daughter of Kibbee be able to keep her father at bay from tearing Brown apart...Brown is completely likeable through the entire film and keeps you guessing when and where he's going to be fired again, again and again...watch for the final scene in the tractor race and keep your eye on all the dangerous stunts performed by the studios top stunt people...but remember Brown's a natural born salesmen as Jack L. Warner of Warner Bros found out ----- there's a great deal of entertainment here for all the comedy fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features like this one.

BIOS:

1. Leo Carrillo

Birth Date: 8/06/1881 - Los Angeles, California

Died: 9/10/1961 - Santa Monica, California

2. Dick Foran (aka: John Nicholas Foran)

Birth Date: 6/18/1910 - Flemington, New Jersey

Died: 8/10/1979 - Panorama City, California

BONUS SPECIAL FEATURES ON DISC TWO:

1. "Fractured Flickers Sampler #2"

2. Edgar Kennedy Promo

3. Leon Errol Promo

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing the "Joe E Brown Comedy Collector's Set", digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more of the same from the '30s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again with a top notch easy going lighthearted humor that only VCI Entertainment (King of the Serials) can deliver...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 274 mins on DVD ~ VCI Home Video 8315 ~ (6/27/2006)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WE NEED MORE JOE E. BROWN TITLES AVAILABLE!, December 3, 2009

By 

G. Alan Hicks - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Joe E. Brown Comedy Collector's Set (DVD)

Though by far not the best of Brown's films, I have to admit that it is great to have four of his "B" comedies available on DVD. As usual, VCI have given us a very nice selection and for a very reasonable price.

So, when can we expect to see Volume 2, VCI? I'll be the first to pick it up.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Original Mr. Nice Guy in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time, September 12, 2009

By 

John Erickson (Los Angeles, CA (USA)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Joe E. Brown Comedy Collector's Set (DVD)

Joe E Brown was a great comedian in the 1930's and on usually playing the nice guy that is dragging everyone to straight to Hades with his good intentions. Mix ups, mis-heard, assumptions and trying to do the right thing has Mr. Brown crossing paths with contractors, football players, boxers and of course his girl to be. Some of it is madcap and other parts are tounge in cheek, but if you are in tune with the era you'll laugh and smile at the antics. (Also, if you're interested in vintage clothing and fashion this film has a lot to see and Joe's suits are outstanding!) There are some thrills and chills for the day but rest assured it will all work out ok. Our Gang-Little Rascals fans will spot a young Dickie Moore in the one back to college film.

If you're in tune with the time these films were made, you should have some good laughs.