‘Joan Crawford Collection’ Blu-ray Review (Warner Archive)
For many, the name Joan Crawford instantly evokes the book and film Mommie Dearest – a work her youngest children have long insisted was a distortion of the truth. Yet despite the controversy that clings to her legacy, there’s no denying Crawford’s immense talent and towering place in Hollywood history. Near the turn of the century, the American Film Institute ranked her at #10 on its list of the greatest female stars of classic American cinema. She also appeared at #84 on the “100 Sexiest Women of the 20th Century,” underscoring her lasting cultural impact.
Warner Archive Collection has been steadily celebrating iconic actresses with curated Blu-ray releases, recently showcasing sets for Bette Davis and Judy Garland. Now, they turn their spotlight to Joan Crawford with a newly released four-film Blu-ray collection honouring her enduring screen legacy, which includes:
- Grand Hotel (1932) – A group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas. ***
- The Women (1939) – A study of the lives and romantic entanglements of various interconnected women. ***
- Possessed (1947) – After being found wandering the streets of Los Angeles, a severely catatonic woman tells a doctor the complex story of how she wound up there. ***
- The Damned Don’t Cry! (1950) – A New York socialite climbs the ladder of success man by man until a life among rich gangsters gives her what she thought she always wanted. ***
Like the other releases in the “Collection” range, these four films each receive their own dedicated Blu-ray disc. The films are transferred in 1080p and are presented in 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The audio tracks are English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Finally, there is the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. As with every Warner Archive Blu-ray release, these releases look great. Presented in black and white, the image is crisp and clean. This old-school term “in glorious black and white” is perfect for the prints featured here. In addition to a great restored picture, Warner Archive added some great bonus features to these Blu-rays:
Grand Hotel Bonus Features
- Commentary with Jeffrey Vance and Mark A. Vieira
- Checking Out: Grand Hotel
- A Newsreel of Hollywood Premiere of Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s Grand Hotel
- Nothing Ever Happens: A musical parody of Grand Hotel
- Just a Word of Warning Theater Announcement
- Trailers: Grand Hotel and Week-End at the Waldorf
The Women Bonus Features
- Another Romance of Celluloid
– From the Ends of the Earth: A 1939 promotional short for MGM and its upcoming movies.
– Hollywood: Style Center of the World - One Mother’s Family: Classic cartoon of a protective mother hen and her chicks.
- Alternate Fashion Show Sequence
- Scoring Stage Sessions
- Trailers: The Women and The Opposite Sex
Possessed Bonus Feature
- Commentary by Film Historian Drew Casper
- Possessed: The Quintessential Film Noir
- Trailer
The Damned Don’t Cry! Bonus Features
- Audio Commentary with director Vincent Sherman
- The Crawford Formula: Real and Reel
- Screen Director’s Playhouse – Radio Broadcast (April 5, 1951) Starring Joan Crawford and Frank Lovejoy.
- Theatrical Trailer
Joan Crawford was the epitome of Hollywood Glamour. In every film she was in, she exuded class – including in the four movies here, which are all a great representation of Joan Crawford’s career; and the bonuses lift this release even higher, with awesome commentaries, great featurettes, radio plays, cartoons and more. If you are a fan of Classic Hollywood or Joan Crawford, this collection of four of her best films on Blu-ray is a must-own.
***** 5/5
The Joan Crawford Collection is out now on Blu-ray from Warner Archive.
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