CD-Charts Position 1
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Yankee Doodle Dandy [1942] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Mel Blanc, Billy Bletcher
directed by: Carl H. Lindahl, Friz Freleng, John Rust, Lewis Seiler, Mervyn LeRoy

Release Date September 30, 2003
This is the best film ever but try as I might I can not get hold of it for region 2. If anyone knows where or how I can find this film to play on my DVD player, here in England, I would be grateful.
Same goes for "My Beautiful Son" AKA "Strange Relations" in the American market.

CD-Charts Position 2
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The Busby Berkeley Collection [1933] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Warren William
directed by: Bernard Brown, Busby Berkeley, Earl Duvall, Friz Freleng, George Bilson

Release Date March 21, 2006
I've been looking for these films for years, they are just so wonderful, just the thing to O.D. on when you've had a hard day at work !
Escapism Rules !

CD-Charts Position 3
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Gentleman Jim [1942] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, Mel Blanc, Jack Carson, Alan Hale
directed by: Del Frazier, Friz Freleng, Raoul Walsh

Release Date March 27, 2007
Gentleman Jim is another case of print the legend, with Errol Flynn playing the legendary boxer as a brash but charismatic social climber in a rollicking entertainment that barely stops for breath. It's as pointless looking for historical accuracy here as it is in Flynn's The Charge of the Light Brigade - this is sheer hokum with all the stops pulled out, filmed on a surprisingly lavish scale and given a real sense of energy by Raoul Walsh's vivid direction. Flynn is still at the height of his powers (you'd never guess he suffered a mild heart attack during the production), with Alexis Smith a beautiful romantic sparring partner and perpetual sidekick Alan Hale along for good measure, this time as Flynn's father (Jack Carson takes sidekick duties ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Each Dawn I Die [1939] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: James Cagney, George Raft, Mel Blanc, Arthur Q. Bryan, Jane Bryan
directed by: Bobby Connolly, Friz Freleng, Tex Avery, William Keighley

Release Date July 18, 2006
this film started quite promisingly, but then suddenly slowed down and then picked up. rather an uneven film but still has good scenes.
james cagney simply steals the film with another riveting performance but with a different style as well.this time, he isn't quite so keen to get involved in any shady dealings.(i would have thought he'd have enough on his mind with trying to prove his innocence)
there is certainly a gritty, uncompromising atmosphere, especially in the prison scenes; corrupt prison officials, mentally unbalanced convicts.who wants to do time?
teaming up cagney with george raft was a good move. they work well together. a shame raft didn't make it to the A list of stars; not the best actor i've seen, but good enough. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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The Joan Crawford Collection, Vol. 2 (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Melvyn Douglas, Michael Wilding, Zachary Scott
directed by: Charles Walters, Clarence Brown, David Miller, Frank Borzage, Friz Freleng

Release Date February 12, 2008
Joan's 2nd collection is another very good package-not quite up to the quality of the first region 1 collection- I rate these movies as:
1 Flamingo Road 5 stars
2 Sadie Mckee 4 stars
3 A Woman's Face 3 stars
4 Strange Cargo 3 stars
5 Torch Song 3 stars
If you're a fan of Joan's camp movies though, Torch Song is def top of the pile- finally- a plea to the makers of the documentaries- please do not include that nasty daughter of Joan's in any future DVDs-don't they realise that Joan's fans hate that woman?

CD-Charts Position 6
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The Adventures of Don Juan [1949] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Errol Flynn, Viveca Lindfors, Robert Douglas, Mel Blanc, Alan Hale
directed by: Friz Freleng, Richard L. Bare, Saul Elkins, Vincent Sherman

Release Date March 27, 2007
Errol Flynn had already hit a steep decline when Don Juan was eventually made. Origionally slated for 1939 (after the success of Robin Hood), it was held up by the war and was eventually made in 1948. By this time Flynn had been hit by a number of scandals, a life of hollywood hedonism, and a decline in his popularity at the box office due in large measure to him walking through his roles in the late 40s with and no longer caring about the scripts he was getting.

Thus it is a older, but thankfully still recognisable Flynn that was called to once again don period costumes after a break of eight or nine years where he hadn't made a single swash-buckler. And he really gives it his all. This is a first rate film, and perhaps the last great film ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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My Dream Is Yours [1949] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Jack Carson, Doris Day, Lee Bowman, Adolphe Menjou, Eve Arden
directed by: Friz Freleng, Michael Curtiz

Release Date April 10, 2007
Errol Flynn had already hit a steep decline when Don Juan was eventually made. Origionally slated for 1939 (after the success of Robin Hood), it was held up by the war and was eventually made in 1948. By this time Flynn had been hit by a number of scandals, a life of hollywood hedonism, and a decline in his popularity at the box office due in large measure to him walking through his roles in the late 40s with and no longer caring about the scripts he was getting.

Thus it is a older, but thankfully still recognisable Flynn that was called to once again don period costumes after a break of eight or nine years where he hadn't made a single swash-buckler. And he really gives it his all. This is a first rate film, and perhaps the last great film ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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The Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1: Pranks in the Pink (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Mel Blanc, Rich Little, Paul Frees, Henry Mancini, Dave Barry
directed by: Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt

Release Date January 31, 2006
Errol Flynn had already hit a steep decline when Don Juan was eventually made. Origionally slated for 1939 (after the success of Robin Hood), it was held up by the war and was eventually made in 1948. By this time Flynn had been hit by a number of scandals, a life of hollywood hedonism, and a decline in his popularity at the box office due in large measure to him walking through his roles in the late 40s with and no longer caring about the scripts he was getting.

Thus it is a older, but thankfully still recognisable Flynn that was called to once again don period costumes after a break of eight or nine years where he hadn't made a single swash-buckler. And he really gives it his all. This is a first rate film, and perhaps the last great film ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Warner Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Mel Blanc, Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, Robert Morley, Lou Fleischer
directed by: Chuck Jones, Dave Fleischer, Friz Freleng, Joseph Barbera, Maurice Noble

Release Date February 12, 2008
Errol Flynn had already hit a steep decline when Don Juan was eventually made. Origionally slated for 1939 (after the success of Robin Hood), it was held up by the war and was eventually made in 1948. By this time Flynn had been hit by a number of scandals, a life of hollywood hedonism, and a decline in his popularity at the box office due in large measure to him walking through his roles in the late 40s with and no longer caring about the scripts he was getting.

Thus it is a older, but thankfully still recognisable Flynn that was called to once again don period costumes after a break of eight or nine years where he hadn't made a single swash-buckler. And he really gives it his all. This is a first rate film, and perhaps the last great film ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Looney Tunes Golden Collection [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Mel Blanc, Arthur Q. Bryan, Vincent Price, Stan Freberg, Billy Bletcher
directed by: Abe Levitow, Arthur Davis, Chuck Jones, Constantine Nasr, Friz Freleng

Release Date October 28, 2003
What a treat to be able to watch such pristine presentations of these great cartoons without a network logo stuck in the corner of the screen.
The Region 2 release of this DVD is an HMV exclusive, so at the moment your options are to either buy it there or order the US edition.
At least two of the discs are available seperately but these do NOT include the extras. (Although most of the featurettes are indeed quite short there is at least one substantial documentary, about 'lost cartoons', which is almost an hour long and contains some fasinating stuff including the pilot cartoon for the 'Bosko' series - very dated now in many ways but fascinating - and a complete 'Private Snafu' cartoon).
Yes, there are some notable omissions including ... Read More: