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The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 2 (REGION 1) (NTSC)


Our Price: £48.63 (subject to change)

Best Actress Ever
Review date: 2007-12-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

After Waiting in the U.K for over a year for this set to be released in Europe I decided that I should just buy the R1 set anyway and hope it plays on my DVD Player, I'm so glad I did as it does with no problem at all.

This collection like Vol 1 is excellent and packed with rarities but somehow I cant help thinking there are some classics missing though.

Classic Bette Movies that in my opinion should be considered for future release are

"The Great Lie"
"The Sisters" with Errol Flynn
"A Stolen Life"
"The Old Maid" with Miriam Hopkins

all of which show Bette performing at her very best, lets hope these are released in some future set.

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Reviews


What a package!
Review date: 2006-07-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

This package represents excellent value for money when you price up the individual films.

The extras are many and interesting. Each of the four older films has a new featurette about the film, and a cartoon (I kid you not), which helps to evoke the period when the films were made.

The most recent film 'Whatever...' is a two disc set packed with extras, including a lengthy feature about Bette's career, narrated by Jodie Foster. There is yet another disc with yet another 88 min profile of Bette, narrated by Susan Sarandon.

These discs play on region 2 machines as well. I advise anyone who enjoys classic drama films to buy it. The picture quality is outstanding, and the sound is good, considering the age of the films.

I wont say much about the films, but just look at her eyes in 'Jezebel' when she realises that her old beau has married. That is what Kim Carnes sang about. Bette Davis is a one-off.


There is a Volume 3 due out in 2007 featuring five more films:
'All This And Heaven Too'
'Dangerous'
'The Corn Is Green'
'Watch On The Rhine'
'In This Our Life'

I can hardly wait.

Another handful of classics
Review date: 2006-06-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

This second volume of Bette Davis films is a treat for her fans. It includes MARKED WOMAN, JEZEBEL, THE MAN WHO CAME FOR DINNER, OLD ACQUAINTANCE and a two-disc special edition of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE plus a feature-length documentary on the life and career of one the screen's most admired actresses.

MARKED WOMAN is a gangster film unusually focused on a female figure and with Humphrey Bogart. It tells the story of a club hostess that seeks revenge from a gangster.

JEZEBEL was Davis second Oscar-winning performance. It's the story of a southern belle and is with OLD ACQUAINTANCE my favourite of the lot. The latter is the story of rivalry and friendship between two women in the course of twenty years. Co-staring (and overacting) with Davis is Miriam Hopkins, but the film is mostly Bette's.

The same can not be said of THE MAN WHO CAME FOR DINNER, which is an ensemble piece adapted from a broadway play, and where Davis has an unusual subdue performance compared with leading actor.

And then there's BABY JANE. Anything said about it might spoil what is one of the greatest gothic films, with great performances from both Davis and Joan Crawford. Nowadays most people talk about the film in relation of the feud between the two actresses, but it still stands on its own.

All discs are full of extras - probably more than last year's volume one - there are three commentaries, including one with director Vincent Sherman in OLD ACQUAINTANCE, all films have featurettes, the best of which has to be JEZEBEL's and most have trailers. But BABY JANE has the most extras, including a vintage Joan Crawford interview and my personal favourite, a profile of Davis presented by Jodie Foster called ALL ABOUT BETTE. The Bette Davis/Joan Crawford profile was a bit of a disappointment as I was expecting a making of the film.

European customers even have the advantage that despite this being an american release all discs are coded for regions 1 and 2.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Monty Woolley
Bette Davis
Ann Sheridan
Joan Crawford
Henry Fonda

Creators:
Bette Davis (Primary Contributor)
Joan Crawford (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 0012569753372
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 6
Format: Box set, Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2006-05-30
Universal product code (UPC): 012569753372
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 643 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1962-10-31
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)

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