New on DVD: You Never Can Tell (1951)
There's fantastic DVD news this week from ClassicFlix: YOU NEVER CAN TELL (1951), a very funny, rarely seen comedy starring Dick Powell, has just been released in Amazon's Universal Vault Series.I reviewed YOU NEVER CAN TELL a couple of years ago and found it to be absolutely delightful. It's a fantasy in which a murdered dog comes back to life in the form of Dick Powell in order to solve his own killing.
It's a noteworthy film for Dick Powell fans as, according to his costar Joyce Holden, Powell was essentially the film's uncredited director. There are more details on that aspect in my review, taken from an excellent interview with Holden in FILMS OF THE GOLDEN AGE.
Other new releases in the Universal Vault Series include:
FLESH AND FANTASY (1943) with an all-star cast including Charles Boyer, Barbara Stanwyck, Bob Cummings, and Edward G. RobinsonLITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW? (1934), a Margaret Sullavan film directed by Frank Borzage which I reviewed in 2010
THE THING THAT COULDN'T DIE (1958) with William Reynolds and Andra Martin
FOR LOVE OR MONEY (1963) with Kirk Douglas and Mitzi Gaynor
My experience with Universal Vault releases has been very positive; titles such as TOMAHAWK (1951), FLAME OF ARABY (1951), and SEMINOLE (1953) have all been beautiful prints sure to make any collector happy.
posted by Laura @ 10:00 AM
4 Comments:
This is a wonderful film. Amusing and heartfelt. Leading lady Peggy Dow still with us in Oklahoma City.
Had forgotten Peggy Dow's life and career had been addressed in prior posts regarding I Want You.
The Universal Vault series does seem to be gaining momentum.There is SO much that I want to see issued on that imprint plus of course all the pre-1949 Paramount titles that they own. On the previous thread we mentioned SLIM CARTER; a Universal Vault release of that film would be beyond wonderful.I totally agree Laura that the remastering on the Vault titles that I have seen so far has been top-notch. Its funny how the Vault series suddenly "appear" rather like the Fox Archive series.
Speaking of Fox Archive they have just released CRY OF THE CITY a wonderful Noir already out in Europe.Also MOSS ROSE a film I know nothing about but Wow! what a cast.
Returning to Universal Vault I also notice they are releasing THE THING THAT COULD'NT DIE and trash addict that I am thats one for me. The film is a hoot and is more (very) silly than scary but at least its highly original and scores points for sheer audacity!
I'm glad you reminded everyone of Peggy Dow, Barrylane, she is wonderful in this and it sounds as though she's had a great life since she left the screen.
John, I was very happy when CHINA was recently released in the Universal Vault series, not just for the film itself but as I am hopeful this is a sign we'll be seeing more of the '40s Paramount films released in the future. There are a lot of film fans out there anxious to buy nice-looking prints of hard-to-see films with favorites such as Ray Milland, Alan Ladd, Gail Russell, Fred MacMurray, and Paulette Goddard, to name just a few.
Best wishes,
Laura
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