The Gary Cooper Collection (Design for Living / The Lives of a Bengal Lancer / Peter Ibbetson / The General Died at Dawn / Beau Geste)

The Gary Cooper Collection (Design for Living / The Lives of a Bengal Lancer / Peter Ibbetson / The General Died at Dawn / Beau Geste)
Includes: design for living the lives of a bengal lancer peter ibbetson the general died at dawn beau geste Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/31/2005
Customer Review: Superb range of Paramount features
Forget complaints about the lack of extras or the basic packaging or even the inconvenience of double sided disks, for the money, this must be one of the most interesting and entertaining DVD sets of classic films available. The set has more to offer than just celebrating the legacy of Gary Cooper. These are first rate features from Paramount, the director's studio, the studio which had the least identifiable house style. If every film is not a winner, at very least it is an interesting failure. - "Design for Living" is a pre-code (1933) talk fest directed by Ernst Lubitsch, no less. This is not Lubitsch's finest hour. The film is based on a Noel Coward play which was rewritten for the screen. It stars the adequate Miriam Hopkins and Fredric March forming a "menage a trois" with Cooper who is miscast. There is endless indulgent chatter and a few very amusing moments but the film lacks the lightness of other Lubitsch offerings. - "Peter Ibbetson" is the other unusual film in the set. This is an ethereal story of Cooper's eternal love for Ann Harding, a love which reached beyond the realms of reality. Superbly photographed and directed by Henry Hathaway, this is a film which will either bore the viewer rigid or magically stay in their memories. A teenage Ida Lupino appears as a cockney flirt. Cooper again is not ideally cast but his physical appearance makes up for his vocal gauchness and Harding is magical. The 3 remaining films in the set are pure gold, great adventures which are as exciting today as they were when first released. - "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" is also directed by Henry Hathaway and Cooper is perfectly cast again as a soldier in colonial India. This is another beautifully made film with a great supporting cast. - "The General Died at Dawn" was a box office smash in 1936 and it is a great film. Lewis Milestone directed and one can detect a link to the films of Joseph Von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich. The superb lighting, brilliant camerawork and riveting sets contribute to a moody, slightly ponderous but exciting yarn whereby Cooper plays an adventurer carrying money for the purchase of arms for rebels in China. Madelaine Carroll is the really beautiful heroine and Akim Tamiroff has the best role of his career as the General. - "Beau Geste" , released in 1939, is possible the best remembered of the set. Cooper, Ray Milland and Robert Preston star as 3 orphan brothers who join the foreign legion, till death do us part. The sentiments and heroism belong to a different era but William Wellman produced and directed this adventure and it is as riveting today as it was so long ago. A very young Susan Hayward appears as the heroine. All the prints are in great condition, far better than would be indicated by a few of the reviewers here on Amazon. Unfortunately, "General" is missing the second reel which spoils the continutiy. There is no doubt that Gary Cooper was at his best as a hero, someone for the audience to admire, and 3 of these films are fantastic examples of the adventure genre. The other 2 films placed Cooper "out" of his element but they still have their points of interest. The set is really good value because of the sheer range of entertainment on offer.
Customer Review: THE GARY COOPER COLLECTION
MY DAUGHTER & I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND PETER IBBETSON ON DVD FOR YEARS AND YEARS! I BOUGHT ONE FOR HER & ONE FOR MYSELF THIS PAST CHRISTMAS! SHE WAS VERY HAPPY TO FINALLY OWN THIS WONDERFUL CLASSIC MOVIE. I HAVEN'T WATCHED THE OTHER MOVIES IN THE COLLECTION, BUT I'M SURE THEY ARE GREAT TOO. JUST WISH THEY WOULD DO SOME DAMAGE CONTROL ON PETER IBBETSON AS THE PICTURE IS ORIGINAL AND NEEDS REPAIRED BEFORE IT'S LOST FOREVER! IT'S A MOVIE THAT ONCE YOU WATCH IT BURNS IN YOUR MIND FOREVER & YOU WILL NEVER FORGET IT!