Customer Reviews

Murnau, Borzage and Fox Box Set

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am noy going to comment on the contents - it's fabulous and a dream come true! I would like to express my extreme dissatisfaction with the packaging. Why make it so huge? What is the hidden reason? At the same time, the disks are not placed in individual sleeves and are prone to scratches. On top of it, the disk with 7th HEAVEN was defective - it would not play on both sides. I had to ca;l Amazon to ask for replacement. Also, I have to return the original package that literally weighs a ton. I did not expect this sloppiness from FOX.

This is the biggest, heaviest, most pretentious, and worst box set packaging I have ever seen. It leaves the DVDs exposed to abrasion and scratching. Virtually all of the discs came pre-scratched, smudged, and abraded. The set weighs in at about 7 pounds, out of which only 8 ounces accounts for the DVDs. The contents come in a huge faux-leather, two-piece slip-case, which contains an over-sized cloth-bound binder measuring approximately 12 by 13 by 2 3/4 inches. It contains two coffee-table sized paper-back books slipped into pockets on the inside of the front and back boards of the binder. In between are pages with cardboard backing and short cardboard pockets into which the discs are tightly jammed. The playing surface of the discs are directly against cardboard. Three of the discs are the dual-sided variety, leaving BOTH sides exposed and subject to abrasion. The pockets are half the size of the discs, leaving them half in, half out. The dual-sided discs have an abrasion line worn straight across the middle of the playing surface, due to the rough edge of the top of the pocket. The damages to the discs are not limited to abrasion. Some have multiple long parallel linear scratches, looking very much like a cat tried to sharpen its claws on the playing surface. My guess is that some of the disc damage may have been from mishandling even before they were inserted into the pockets, although the rough pocket edges or debris could also be the problem. There are also smudges on the playing surfaces, so these discs may have been hand inserted, rather than by automated machinery. The pocket design is totally inappropriate. I found it impossible to extract a disc without having to touch the playing surfaces. Also, I found it impossible to extract and re-insert discs without inflicting a little more abrasion damage, since the surface must be dragged against the cardboard when removed or replaced. I'm really surprised and disappointed at the poor packaging. The last Fox box set I got was the early John Ford films, and they housed all of those appropriately in the thin half-sized plastic keep-cases, and every disc was in perfect shape. Since the Fox Murnau/Borzage Box Set retails between $180 - $240, shouldn't they have housed the discs in appropriate protective packaging? Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a near-term solution at hand. For now, I'm going to send this set back to Amazon for a refund. I will be waiting and hoping that Fox will eventually re-release these DVDs with the discs appropriately housed in keep-cases, or perhaps they will put them out individually. Anyone who is interested in purchasing this set BEWARE! On the other hand, if you don't mind paying $180 - $240 for 12 DVDs which look like beat up rental discs, then go for it!

This collection contains 2 F.W. Murnau films and 10 films directed by Frank Borzage from the late silent through the early talkie era. Many of these have long been unavailable.

Silent Films:

Murnau's entries include:
Sunrise (1927) - The story of a farmer ready to forsake his wife and home for a city woman on vacation in their village. She suggests that the husband drown his wife and make it look like an accident. Beautiful visuals make you sorry the silent era ever ended. Already available on DVD in the Fox Best Picture Collection. This film won the only Oscar ever awarded for best artistic film.

City Girl (1930) - This film exists in a sound and silent version. I hope this version is the silent one I saw. Charles Farrell plays the son in a farming family sent to sell the family wheat crop. He doesn't get the money the family hoped for plus he returns with a city girl as wife. This film doesn't show life on the farm as the ideal, but shows the harsh economic reality of farming. As usual, Murnau will thrill you with his excellent visuals.

Borzage films:
Lazybones (1925) - A man knicknamed "Lazybones" raises a homeless girl. After she is grown, he begins to love her as a woman. This story may sound familiar, but Borzage throws some curves in along the way so don't expect the conventional ending or conventional journey to that ending.

Seventh Heaven (1928) - One of several popular pairings of Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor. Janet Gaynor plays a girl beaten almost to death by her sister who is rescued by Farrell, who plays a sewer worker who has become an atheist. The romance is interrupted by war. Farrell becomes a soldier, Gaynor becomes a munitions worker. Remade in the sound era, this silent version is much better. One of three films that won Janet Gaynor a Best Actress Oscar.

Street Angel (1928) - Janet Gaynor plays an Italian girl accused of being a street walker who hides from the police by joinig a traveling circus. There she falls in love with a vagabond artist played by Charles Farrell. Full of splendid visuals.

Lucky Star (1929) - Janet Gaynor is again teamed with Charles Farrell in this late silent era film about a man who is left in wheelchair as a result of injuries suffered in World War I. This film gives Farrell more of a chance to show his acting abilities than his previous teamings with Janet Gaynor, although she gives a good performance too.

Talking films:

They Had to See Paris (1929) - Borzage directs Will Rogers' first talking picture. Will Rogers plays a homespun man who comes into money via an oil well. His wife decides they must go abroad to get some culture into their life. This film is a little stiff as are most early talkies, but it is still full of Will Rogers' unique brand of humor.

Liliom (1930) - Early talkie adaptation of the play with Charles Farrell in the title role. The sound on the prints I've been exposed to in the past has been terrible. Let's hope that part of the reason for the cost of this set is cleaning up the sound.

Song O' My Heart (1930) - Mainly made to exhibit the singing talent of John McCormack. Also, this is the film debut of Maureen O'Sullivan. The sound on this film the last time I saw it was terrible. It will be great to hear McCormack as others heard him eighty years ago.

Bad Girl (1931) - Won two Oscars - one for Borzage's direction and another for adapted writing. This film is really about a struggling young couple's ups and downs. I really have no idea why it is named "Bad Girl" unless it was because tantalizing titles sold tickets in the era of the precode film. Like the stars of many early talkies, the stars of this film did not have distinguished careers.

After Tomorrow (1932) - Charles Farrell stars in a genuine precode with lots of racy language. At heart, though, it is a melodrama like so much of Borzage's work. Not well known probably due to its lack of exposure on TV or home video.

Young America (1932) - Spencer Tracy in a very early role. Tracy plays a druggist whose wife wants to adopt a kid who is constantly getting in trouble. His last brush with the law involves stealing medicine from Tracy's drugstore.

This set also includes a documentary on Murnau, whose career was cut short by his death in a traffic accident in 1931, and Borzage, whose career as a director was quite active into the 1940's. Other announcements have claimed that what fragments exist of Borzage's 1929 film, "The River", shall also be in this set as an extra feature. That report is as of now unsubstantiated.

Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish.

After combing through the previously posted reviews, I guess I have the great fortune to possess a flawless set of discs. And there's no way it's going on eBay. It'll never leave my library. The staff at Fox is to be congratulated on a complete triumph. This Gift Set definitely befits the films it showcases. The prints are universally in excellent condition given the fact that nearly 80 years have lapsed since most of them premiered. The one exception is the print for 7TH HEAVEN, which is only fair. However I defer to the studio when they say it is "from the best surviving source available."
Overall this is an exceptionally strong array of late silent/early sound films by A-List directors FW Murnau and Frank Borzage. A few notes on the line up, most of which have rarely been seen by modern-day audiences:

SUNRISE(1927). Winner of three Oscars in 1927: Actress Janet Gaynor, Artistic Quality of Production (the only year this award was given) and Cinematography. It was also nominated for Set Design. It is absolutely gorgeous to watch. SUNRISE is the apotheosis of silent cinema, the distillation of everything that was learned up to that time. It ranks #7 on "Sight and Sound" magazine's latest Top Ten list (compiled by over 250 leading film critics from around the world) edging out POTEMKIN. It is a film that should be in every serious film collector's library. Features both the Movietone and European silent versions, commentary by cinematographer John Bailey, outtakes and script.
CITY GIRL (1930). Murnau's penultimate film once thought lost. Beautifully photographed and a pleasure to watch. The print quality is very good. The flip side focuses on Murnau's FOUR DEVILS, presumed to be a lost film. A reimagining based on publicity stills and script notations recreate what movie buffs hope will one day be discovered.
LAZY BONES (1929). Frank Borzage. Silent film featuring the good-natured charm of cowboy star Buck Jones. Enjoyable, but one of the lesser films in the collection.
7TH HEAVEN (1927). Frank Borzage. One of the best remembered of all silents. It was a box-office triumph when it came out, making $1.8 million in rentals, enough to rank 13th among all silent films. Sure it's corny and hokey, but audiences loved it and it weaves an intoxicating spell. The first of 12 Janet Gaynor/Charles Farrell teamings, it won three Oscars: Best Actress Janet Gaynor, Directing Frank Borzage and Writing (Adaptation). Additionally, it was Oscar nominated for Best Picture and Interior Decoration. Extras include a well-researched commentary by a pair of noted film historians, the screenplay and soundtrack notes.
STREET ANGEL (1928). Frank Borzage. Beautifully photographed in a smoky chiaroscuro by Ernest Palmer, who was nominated for an Oscar for this. Also nominated for Interior Decoration. One of the trio of films winning Janet Gaynor the first Oscar. Tender love story of a girl who joins the circus while on the lam for prostituting herself. She meets artist Farrell and the movie becomes overtly romantic. It's a truly wonderful wallow. STREET ANGEL was a huge hit with audiences, coming in right after 7TH HEAVEN in box-office leaders, but is far less familiar to film audiences today.
THEY HAD TO SEE PARIS (1929). Frank Borzage. The film itself is no great shakes, but it is fascinating to see the great American humorist Will Rogers in his first talking film, especially when he disregards the camera.
SONG O' MY HEART (1930). Frank Borzage. Tenor Frank McCormack's first sound film features beautiful Irish ballads to go along with a fine story. This forgotten film was a box office hit in its time raking in $1.2 million in rentals, although according to the notes in the accompanying booklet, did not make money. Without knowing, you would think it was a John Ford film. DVD features both the full sound and music and effects version.
LILIOM (1930). Frank Borzage. Early version of the Ferenc Molnar story, later reworked as CAROUSEL, is a fine effort. Excellent visuals put this on a par with the Fritz Lang 1934 version starring Charles Boyer. Good job by Charles Farrell trying to break out of his nice-boy mold.
YOUNG AMERICA (1932). Frank Borzage. Early Spencer Tracy role in contrived, yet diverting film.
AFTER TOMORROW (1932) and BAD GIRL (1931) are both depression-era dramas helmed by Borzage. As with the rest of the films in this set, each is a privilege to view. Both have respectable acting and confront the hard times of that era in realistic fashion. BAD GIRL unexpectedly won two major Oscars: Directing and Writing (Adaptation). It was also a Best Picture nominee, losing out to GRAND HOTEL. Today BAD GIRL would be downgraded for its unconvincing screenplay, yet it connected with audiences at the time and made a sizeable profit of $336,246.
LUCKY STAR (1929) by Frank Borzage is the great find of the set. Beautiful performances by Gaynor and particularly by Farrell buoy this exquisite silent. Unfortunately, it came out when sound films were all the rage and was overlooked. Some sound bits were added, but that version does not exist. The print, recently discovered in the Netherlands and remastered, is in pristine condition; the set design and cinematography are fittingly nostalgic.
Finally, there is a reconstruction of THE RIVER (1930) which is missing the beginning and end reels. Folks, it doesn't get any steamier than this. The Production Code would make sure of that for the next thirty-odd years. Sheer fun to watch.

The set includes an excellent documentary which expertly integrates the lives of the directors and mogul William Fox. The two booklets accompanying the set are also really well done. And although the second one regarding the FOUR DEVILS is a bit redundant given the DVD attempt to recreate the film, it is a nice keepsake. The set is over-sized at 11 ¾ x 13 ¾, but there's no rule that says a DVD set has to be 5 ½ x 7 ½. Overall I spent several evenings thoroughly enjoying these treasures. Rarely have I gotten so much satisfaction from a collection of films. Regarding the numerous comments about the sleeve pockets: I pulled the discs in and out of the sleeves literally dozens of times with no harm. I really don't believe the pockets are to blame for the defective discs. Rather I believe it is a measure of quality control. (And "yes" I did have a defective disc from a different Gift Set that featured disc pockets, but when I looked at that particular disc, I noticed that it was warped, which had nothing to do with the pockets). I might recommend that if you are concerned about this feature, simply transfer the discs to jewel cases. Hopefully the Fox crew will realize that the quality control has to be of the highest order for a product like this, since the overwhelming audience will be discriminating film buffs with the highest of standards.

The bottom line is that, although pricey, this is an exciting once-in-a-lifetime collection with outstanding and immensely enjoyable feature films. It immediately takes pride of place in my nearly 600-film DVD library.

It has taken forever for the Janet Gaynor/Charles Farrell silent classics 7TH HEAVEN and STREET ANGEL to make it to DVD but here they are as part of a monumental 12 DVD package devoted to Frank Borzage and F.W. Murnau and the films they made for William Fox before he lost control of his studio and it merged with Darryl F. Zanuck's Twentieth Century Pictures. That story is covered in the special full length documentary MURNAU, BORZAGE, AND FOX. There's also a softcover book of photos and stills from the films.

Of the 12 films included only two are by Murnau. They are the well known SUNRISE (already issued as a limited edition DVD) and the rarely seen CITY GIRL (originally called OUR DAILY BREAD) which proves to be a revelation despite studio interference that caused Murnau to leave after only his third film for the studio. There is also another softcover coffee table book on the filming and story of the missing Murnau film 4 DEVILS which was set in a circus and is very similar to E.A. Dupont's German film VARIETY which was made at the same time.

While the Murnau offerings are highly prized, the 10 Borzage offerings aren't exactly chopped liver. In addition to the Gaynor/Farrell films there's THEY HAD TO SEE PARIS (Will Rogers), SONG O' MY HEART (tenor John McCormack), YOUNG AMERICA (Spencer Tracy) and the Oscar winning BAD GIRL. There's even a reconstruction of what may be his best silent feature, THE RIVER. Borzage was old Hollywood's ultra-romantic and it's great to have some of his movies back in circulation. All of the sound features are in surprisingly good condition while among the silents only 7TH HEAVEN and STREET ANGEL look rather worn but I'm sure they're taken from the best available versions.

Last but not least is the packaging. Others have commented on it and I concur. While it's great to have all this additional material, the giant scrapbook packaging and the cardboard DVD holders are totally unnecessary and will keep all but the most ardent fans (if they have the money) from seeing these classic films. Hopefully Fox will offer them separately before long so that they can reach a wider audience. Twentieth Century Fox is to be commended for finally releasing some of their pre-1936 Fox Films titles (like the earlier John Ford set) but it would seem to defeat the purpose if no one can afford to buy them.

This is a review for the MURNAU/ BORZAGE FOX BOX which was released in late 2009 to much acclaim but
probably not much sales due to the high list price of the giant DVD/book set. But with that rather high price came 13 mostly unavailable titles and two very large coffee table size books about the films and the film makers.

This box set is an extraordinary collection of films that just have not been seen in years and in fact
are so obscure as to be mostly unknown to most everyone.

There are 12 DVD discs that contain 12 complete films, one partial film (THE RIVER), and a very informative documentary about the directors, F.W. Murnau and Frank Borzage and their films. Along with the two very large
books this box set is one of the most comprehensive collections I have seen. And after watching all of it, this has to be the most satisfying film set ever put on the market.

Despite its still relatively high cost, I would hope that anyone who is interested will find some way to enjoy this remarkable set.

Here is a list of the films included in this box set:


LAZYBONES (1925) dby Frank Borzage. Buck Jones, Madge Bellamy, Zasu Pitts, Virginia Marshall, Edythe Chapman, Leslie Fenton. Frank Borzage's silent film about a town loafer who draws upon unknown reserves of kindness and love to help raise an unwanted litle girl who, after reaching her maturity, becomes the object of his affection. Buck Jones, nearly reprising his similar role in John Ford's JUST PALS (1920), gives yet another fine performance belieing his career as a B western star.
LAZYBONES covers over twenty years in these character's lives and does it with humor, grace and sympathy.

SUNRISE (1927) dby F.W. Murnau. George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor, Margaret Lindsay. Unsophisticated married farmer, played by George O'Brien, contemplates leaving his wife, Janet Gaynor, to take up with a hot to trot city woman, Margaret Lindsay. Eventually, the situation spirals into a possible murder plot just to get rid of the wife. Rather pedestrian plot can't disguise the fact that this startingly beautiful film is one of the supreme cinema achievements. Fox films allowed their new hire, German immigrant Murnau, to virtually take over the studio for the few months of filming and required thier established directors, Frank Borzage, Raoul Walsh, John Ford and Howard Hawks to watch the master at work. Murnau's influence was felt almost immediately, even though SUNRISE was not a box office smash. A truly great movie.

SEVENTH HEAVEN (1927) dby Frank Borzage. Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor, Ben Bard, Albert Gran, David Butler, Marie Mosquini. The famous silent romantic classic that set box office records during the last days of the silent era. It all takes place in the city streets of Paris
where a free spirited street sweeper played by Charles Farrell, falls for a waif played by Janet Gaynor, who is walking the streets to survive. Once their love is established, WWI starts and the sweeper is swept up in the war, leaving the much stronger and independant girl to fend for herself. SEVENTH HEAVEN is a work of almost blinding romanticism, with many fine studio built sets and some exciting war scenes. Directed with almost painstaking care and precision by the king of romantic films, Frank Borzage.

STREET ANGEL(1928 dby Frank Borzage. Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor, Albeto Rabagliati, Cino Conti, Guido Trento, Henry Armeta. This is Borzage's follow up to SEVENTH HEAVEN and is similar in story but not quite as intense as his previous film. But Janet Gaynor is just as great in STREET ANGEL where she plays a Neopolitan "woman of the streets" who is doing time for stealing. She escapes, joins a circus and meets Charles Farrell whose character is a painter. STREET ANGEL is usually described as lushly romantic and that is putting it mildly. A more than memorable movie, certainly worth seeking out.

THE RIVER (1929) dby Frank Borzage. Charles Farrell, Mary Duncan. All that's left of this picturesque film is most of the middle portion, the "romantic part." But included in this print is a photo reconstruction of the beginning and the end of what surely was a marvelous film.
Someone said the romance is reminscint of the romance in MAN'S CASTLE, Borzage's 1933 classic.
That's not too far off, but still THE RIVER is a movie, even if only parts of it are left, that can stand on its own.

THEY HAD TO SEE PARIS (1929).dby Frank Borzage. Oklahoman Will rogers hits it big in the oil business and his wife and daughter eventually decide to do likewise in society. Only Paris seems much more preferable than
Oklahoma City. Very early talkie still hits its satirical targets and Rogers is already making off-hand remarks
in the direction of the camera. A fine movie, enjoyable from start to finish.

LUCKY STAR (1929) dby Frank Borzage. Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor. Janet Gaynor plays a tomboy type who eventually meets and "becomes interested" in Charles Farrell's character. But WWI intervenes and when Farrell returns to his bucolic home he is missing a leg. So the road to romance meets another detour until a bully shows up and shows interest in Gaynor's character. I sometimes forget to mention the as usual astounding visuals in Borzage's films, this one qualifies
as astounding plus.

SONG O'MY HEART (1930) dby Frank Borzage. John McCormack, J. Farrell MacDonald, Alice Joyce, Maureen O'Sullivan, JM Kerrigan. "Youth, Love And Comedy Woven Into A Wistful Romance By The Golden Voice Of John McCormack." Yes, a full length movie starring legendary tenor John McCormack who does a very nice job as a former local singing star shying away from a chance at the bigtime while helping various village characters with their problems. cliches abound but this curio is worth seeing more than once. I'm surprised that I liked it so much.

LILLIOM (1930 dby Frank Borzage. Charles Farrell, Rose Hobart, Estelle Taylor, H.B.Warner, Lee Tracy. A truly amazing fantasy film and again all rests on Borzage's belief in the mystical power of love, even from beyond the grave. There are any number of reasons to see this film, but above all is the chance to witness Borzage's restatement of love conquering all. Frank Borzage was a master director and LILLIOM is just one more piece of evidence should there be any doubt. Remade by Fritz Lang in 1934 in France and eventually remade as CAROUSEL in 1956.

CITY GIRL(1930) dby F.W. Murnau. Charles Farrell, Mary Duncan, David Torrance, Edith Yorke, Anne Shirley, Jack Pennick, Guinn "Big Boy"Williams. Sort of a variation on SUNRISE but a wonderful silent film that can stand on its own. I understand that there was a partial talkie released but the silent version is the one that survives. The story concerns a farmer's son from Minnesota who comes to Chicago to sell this year's crop of wheat under strict orders to hold the price by his unyielding father. When the farmboy meets a city girl waitress, and falls in love, all plans are off and although this story seems almost defiantly old fashioned, it's one of the most enjoyable films that I have ever seen. Another beautiful film by Murnau, and his last fictional work before his untimely death in a car crash.

BAD GIRL (1931). dby Frank Borzage. James Dunn, Sally Eilers, Minna Gombell. A depression era story, yes, a romance, showing that even the lack of money can't halt "doin' what comes naturally." The titled "bad girl" is actually more defiant of social conventions than anything else. Frank Borzage won an Oscar for his direction on this really well done small scale film.

AFTER TOMORROW (1932) dby Frank Borzage. Charles Farrell, Marian Nixon, Minna Gombell, William Collier Sr. Another Depression era social drama but this one involves the entire family of the girl who is engaged to Charles Farrell, in a much improved performance than in his earlier talkies.
One thing after another hinders the would be mariage, most of the problems stem to the lack of money by almost everyone. Frank Capra's thirties movies are always associated with the Depression but Frank Borzage's characters seemed to know as much if not more about the Big Bad Wolf and exactly how many knocks their door will take..

YOUNG AMERICA (1932) dyb Frank Borzage. Spencer Tracy, Doris Kenyon, Ralph Bellamy, Tommy Conlin,
Raymond Borzage, Beryl Mercer. Teenager Tommy, the worst kid in town, breaks into a drugstore owned by Spencer Tracy's character and thus begins the journey into social drama that I'm sure
was supposed to be almost a B movie. But Frank Borzage turns this modest small scale picture into a plea for understanding of today's teenagers and hard up folks in general. Fascinating, well done glimpse of yet another angle of economic hardship and how people might try to get along as best they can.

By the way, I have decided to store the DVDs in plastic CD cases for now, at least.
Of the 12 discs I had trouble removing 3 or 4, getting my fingerprints
on the discs.


I rate the MURNAU/BORZAGE FOX BOX set five stars, although it really should be more like five hundred stars.

In addition to all the packaging miseries cited by other reviewers, I'd like to describe yet another hazard. My set had one disc inserted so deeply into its cardboard pocket, it came in contact with the adhesive attaching the pocket to the cardboard backing. Result: glue on the disc.

There's no question this set is a packaging disaster. Any rational person will immediately remove the discs and put them in safe plastic cases, and put the books on a bookshelf where they can be accessed without difficulty, at which point the set's gigantic binder, and the heavy, clumsy, case designed to hold it, become redundant. Mine are now in the attic.

If the packaging definitely rates one (or zero) stars, the movies rate five, so my rating is a compromise.

ATROCIOUS ! $179.99 for scratched dvd's, - wonderful !!!! I wanted to leave a no star rating but I cannot.... MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

Although already available (albeit in a limited way), the wider availability of Murnau's masterpiece SUNRISE (IMHO, the greatest film ever made-bar none) is but one of many strong reasons for this box set's existence. If for no other reason than to get more films by Frank Borzage out there to see, I'm glad this is coming out. Borzage was a hugely popular director from the early 20's to the mid-40's (won the first Oscar for direction) with perhaps the strongest sense of romanticism in cinema with the possible exception of Sirk or Ophuls. His 7TH HEAVEN was the GHOST of the silent era, and his follow-up STREET ANGEL contains an intertitle that best describes his sensibilities: ". . .souls made great through love and adversity." To finally have copies of LUCKY STAR and BAD GIRL in ones collection; Will Rogers first talkie SO THEY HAD TO SEE PARIS and the only starring vehicle of the great Irish tenor John McCormick in SONG OF MY HEART (along with THE BIG TRAIL, another film shot in the 65mm Grandeur process but that version appears to be lost); the first film version of CAROUSEL's origin, LILIOM; and (one hopes) a definitive doc about Borzage and Murnau-this is a great Christmas present for classic film lovers.
One caveat: I hope the pre-print of 7TH HEAVEN is complete. The print I've seen from Fox twice before is missing about 15 minutes of footage (mostly the first time the lovers communicate with each other after being separated by war and most of the war footage), so I hope they have fixed this or have gotten MOMA's archival print for this set. I'm crossing my fingers. . .

This is a wonderful set. It is certainly not as interesting as last year's FORD AT FOX set, in terms of variety and type of films. This is a mostly silent film collection; several are "all-talking," and some have the original Movietone sound and effects tracks. At least one, SONG O' MY HEART, features separate prints of both talkie and "silent" versions.

And, no, there is no talking version of CITY GIRL(1930) included in this set. In the accompanying documentation, it is stated that Murnau requested a release from his contract before his work on a talkie version could even be started. A talkie version was completed without his input, with significant changes in plot. He had become (ironically, given this set!) disgusted with Fox over increasing interference with his work. He quit after only 3 films with Fox, one of which (4 DEVILS) no longer exists (and is represented here by a 41-minute visual essay/reconstruction using script, photos, etc). So, Murnau is represented by only 2 films here--SUNRISE and CITY GIRL. Both are important works, but one strongly suspects that 4 DEVILS was the best picture of the three--aren't all lost films the greatest?

Borzage has 10 titles here, not including a 56-minute reconstruction of THE RIVER(1928)....which is missing a few scenes early on and the final reel.

The print qualities range from really great (most of the talkies), to really beaten up with some of the silents. Of course, considering that the negatives for most of these films never survived, we're lucky just to be able to enjoy them today from these extant prints (some provided by the Czech film archive, Nederlands Filmmuseum, MoMA, et al).

There are a few audio commentaries (few-maybe 2), lots of stills galleries, some text notes, screenplays, scenarios, etc. In short, lots of still image/text material. The grandest supplement is a superb 105 minute documentary produced for this set called MURNAU, BORZAGE, and FOX; presented by John Cork. In a really great way, this documentary ties together these 3 disparate characters, and explains much about early filmmaking on their journey.

The two "coffee table books" are this time out large paperbacks. One is all about the lost film 4 DEVILS (which is a little redundant given the audio essay by Janet Bergstrom on the disc) and the other contains additional info/photos RE: our three lead characters.

Overpriced? Well, this one is certainly not as extensive as the Ford box was....and doesn't have the same number or type of bonus features. In today's market, this one is certainly more "specialized" than the Ford set....so we're probably just lucky to have it at any price.

One thing is sure; this is a limited release and they will eventually sell out. The Ebay bloodsuckers are already obtaining their copies....so if you want it and have the dough now..........