Theatrical Release Date:December 2, 1938 Release Date:July 31, 2006 Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days Shipping:Expedited shipping available Shipping:International shipping available Condition:BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
Editorial Reviews:
Product Description Studio: Video Communications Inc. Release Date: 06/27/2006 Run time: 274 minutes Rating: Nr
Customer Reviews:
Heeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy!!!December 29, 2008 It's not Joe E. Brown's best work, but it's not his worst, either. Until SOMEBODY unlocks the Warner Brothers vault and puts out Joe's best (as a lead actor, that is--I'm not talking about Showboat and Some Like It Hot), namely Alibi Ike and Elmer the Great, this will have to do.
Clean, Nearly Slapstick Comedy from Another EraOctober 12, 2008 I bought this set because I saw Earthworm Moving Machine on TV years ago and LOVED IT! IT truly is one of the most hilarious, uproarious comedies I've ever watched. If you love old movies, can handle black and white and don't mind the lesser quality and occasionally unstable movement of older filming, you will be engrossed in very fine, nearly slapstick comedy. Joe Brown acts the part of the inflated ego driven, bumbling idiot as well as any actor who ever lived. He is zany Lucy in masculine form. The other comedies in this series may fall along these lines as well but could lack some of the sheer vigor of EMM. These movies represent the typical era mini dramas of falling in love, trying to impress the girl of your dreams (clean enough for children of all ages) and eventually succeeding...but perhaps not with the girl of your dreams but a real dreamgirl. Earthworm is amazing because there do not appear to be any stuntmen or standins and to see what these actors were willing to do for a laugh is shocking. Some of the footage is so riotously funny you may literall split a gut laughing. I borrowed this film to my sister, a nurse, who played it for a friend who had undergone surgery...she literally split her stitches laughing. That's my only caution, otherwise enjoy it in good health!
Public domain copies of some rare Joe E. BrownJuly 13, 2008 VCI has assembled three post-Warner Brothers films by Brown plus "Earthworm Tractors." I like Brown a lot, and his personality certainly carries these films, which for the most part are in the B-movie category in my opinion. Still, any lover of comedy and especially Brown should have this in their collection, or at least rent it to view them. The quality is fair - not bad really, but no real restoration seems to have been made here (in fact "The Gladiator" was taken from a 16mm print released by Nu-Art Films). In spite of the lack of real bonus material (though the bios are nice references), the movies contain little gems of routines in them sprinkled here and there. I might have given it three stars if it weren't for Brown's performances, otherwise the quality of both the copies and the original productions is just fair.
Wating For Another Title.April 30, 2008 Quite some time ago (40+ years), I was watching afternoon TV, and the film ALIBI IKE came on, and I remember enjoying it very much. Prehaps set three, could include this title.
"The King of B-Westerns & Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ Joe E. Brown Comedy Collector's Set"July 22, 2006 22 out of 22 found this review helpful
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)
