Search - British Cinema: The Renown Pictures Literary Classics Collection (The Pickwick Papers / Tom Brown's Schooldays / Svengali) on DVD

"British Cinema ... Renown Pictures Literary Classics Collec

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 04/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"VCI Entertainment presents "BRITISH CINEMA:THE RENOWN PICTURES LITERARY CLASSICS COLLECTION" --- (1951-1954) (287 min/B&W) --- (Dolby digitally remastered) --- The titles included in the set are: The Pickwick Papers (1952) received Academy Award Nomination for Best Costume Design -- Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951) some of the filming took place on location at Rugby, giving the picture its strong flavor of authenticity -- Svengali (1954), with an outstanding performance by the three leads.



THE PICKWICK PAPERS (26 November 1952) (London) (109 min/B&W) - Noel Langley (Director)

The Pickwick Club sends Mr. Pickwick (James Hayter) and a group of friends to travel across England and to report back on the interesting things they find. In the course of their travels, they repeatedly encounter the friendly but disreputable Mr. Jingle (Nigel Patrick), who becomes a continual source of trouble for all who know him. Pickwick himself is the victim of a number of misunderstandings that bring him both embarrassment and problems with the law.



the cast includes:

James Hayter ... Samuel Pickwick

James Donald ... Nathaniel Winkle

Nigel Patrick ... Mr. Jingle

Joyce Grenfell ... Mrs. Leo Hunter

Hermione Gingold ... Miss Tompkins

Hermione Baddeley ... Mrs. Bardell

Donald Wolfit ... Sergeant Buzfuz

Harry Fowler ... Sam Weller



Extras

1. "Original Dedication" by Charles Dickens

2. Tom Brown School Days Trailer



TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS (1951) (93 min/B&W) - Gordon Parry (Director)

With an excellent cast within the inclusive Tom Brown (John Howard Davies) starts Rugby School and it isn't long before he becomes one of the victims of the school bully, Flashman (John Forrest) --- A year later, he is assigned to look after a new starter, the rather nervous Arthur (Glyn Dearman). He also becomes a victim of Flashman and together with Tom's friend East ( John Charlesworth), they help Flashman to get his comeuppance at the end and he is thrown out and the bullying stops --- Quite a collection of well known British talent here.



the cast includes:

John Howard Davies ... Tom Brown

Robert Newton ... Dr. Thomas Arnold

John Charlesworth ... East

James Hayter ... Old Thomas

John Forrest ... Flashman

Michael Hordern ... Wilkes

Max Bygraves ... Coach Guard

Francis De Wolff ... Squire Brown

Diana Wynyard ... Mrs. Thomas Arnold

Hermione Baddeley ... Sally Harrowell

Kathleen Byron ... Mrs. Brown

Amy Veness ... Mrs. Wixie

Brian Worth ... Judd

Rachel Gurney ... Mrs. Arthur

Michael Brennan ... Black Bart

Neil North ... Diggs

Michael Ward ... Master

Glyn Dearman ... Arthur



Extras

1. Tom Brown's Schooldays Color Version

2. Tom Brown's Schooldays Before and After Restoration

3. Tom Brown's Schooldays Trailer

4. Richard Gordon Remembers George Minter



SVENGALI (December 1954) (82 min/B&W) - Noel Langley (Director)

Why is Trilby O'Ferral (Hildegard Knef) is drawn to a group in the next apartment listening to the music of Svengali --- Will she meet the men and be attracted to two: Billy Bagot (Terence Morgan), a shy, sensitive, young man who obviously adores her on sight, and the dark, sinister hypnotist, Svengali (Donald Wolfit). Trilby, who poses for young artists, comes to know and like Billy, but fails to understand his primness and modesty --- Can their relationship grows under the watchful, jealous eye of the hypnotist. Finally, he comes forward, bringing Trilby under his spell completely. Billy is unable to comprehend the change in Trilby. She and Svengali develop a concert act and tour successfully, forsaking Trilby's former friends --- See in the final scenes if Billy's love can be unwavering and completely win out over the dark power of Svengali, only the last act will tell.



the cast includes:

Hildegard Knef ... Trilby O'Farrall (as Hildegarde Neff)

Donald Wolfit ... Svengali

Terence Morgan ... Billy Bagot

Derek Bond ... The Laird

Paul Rogers ... Taffy

David Kossoff ... Gecko

Hubert Gregg ... Durian

Noel Purcell ... Patrick O'Ferrall

Alfie Bass ... Carrell



Extras

1. Svengali (1934) Starring John Barrymore

2. Photo Gallery

3. Richard Gordon Remembers George Minter



Hats off and thanks to Robert Blair and his staff at VCI Entertainment --- VCI was named in Variety and Hollywood Reporter as the first company to produce and release motion pictures directly to the home marketplace --- order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch releases --- VCI are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector -- looking forward to more Nostalgic Collections.



Total Time: 287 mins on DVD ~ VCI Home Video 8512 ~ (03/31/2009)"