Search - The Cecil B. Demille Classics Collection on DVD

BOYCOTT THIS ITEM

K. Lundy | Mason, MI United States | 04/19/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The versions of deMille's silent films that appear on this product are those preserved and prepared for video by Film Preservation Associates and they are used here WITHOUT permission or blessing of Film Preservation Associates. Please don't reward those who steal the work of others."

Avoid if you love movies

Waldo | New York, NY USA | 04/22/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"There's nothing illegal about this offering, since all of the films are in the public domain, but it is VERY sleazy. The publishers have effectively stolen the hard work and expenses of the man who brought these films to video -- David Shepherd, who releases his films through Image Entertainment. Supporting this kind of PD "bootleg" will severely diminish the chances of other rare films being restored for DVD.



Waldo"

Pirated copies of another company's videos

Darren M. Nemeth | saginaw, MI United States | 04/26/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This type of bargin bin video is the kind that has given Silent Film a bad name.



This DVD set poorly presents another video company's video releases, too.



Some of the movies are even sourced from old VHS tapes.



Absolute junk.



This boxed set will turn off any first time viewer of silent films.



I recommend to just stay away from this."

Are You Ready for YOUR Closeup, Mr. DeMille?

Jack | Walnut Creek, US, Canada | 11/20/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The good news is that sixteen early Cecil B. DeMille features have been made available in a DVD boxed set, many of them for the first and only time, at a reasonable price, and at least one of them (The Volga Boatman) is worth the price of the entire package. But there's plenty of bad news. Image quality varies tremendously, from unacceptable (The Road to Yesterday) to excellent (The Volga Boatman), most of them falling in the middle ground a lot of viewers have long been trained to describe as "acceptable" or "better than nothing". The canned musical scores run the gamut from inappropriate (Rimsky-Korsakov for Joan the Woman!) to miscued (Romance of the Redwoods). Color tinting and toning, which enhanced the films at the time of their original release, and which still adds to their visual impact today, if properly utilized, is totally absent. Bottom line: serious film enthusiasts should seek better copies elsewhere; Image Entertainment has already released several of them in far superior, but more expensive, versions. But since most of them have not yet made available by more reputable sources, these will have to do until something better hopefully comes along. On the other hand, if you want to save money, and only plan to give the films a single viewing, this provides a fast and cheap fix, an easy way to get them under your belt. However, it is not, repeat NOT, a good way to introduce silent filmmaking to an uneducated viewer, and most certainly an inadequate and unworthy representation of a legendary filmmaker."