This week is loaded with re-issues, some good some…well some that are .not quite my cup of tea. It is worth noting that you will, on occasion, notice non-crime titles listed here. These are simply titles that we feel are worth noting and might be enjoyed by our fellow members of the crime community.

July 18th
Adventures of Brisco County, Jr: The Complete Series Eight-disc set with 27
episodes, $99.98. Extras: “A Reading From the Book of Bruce,” “The History of Brisco County” making of documentary featuring Bruce Campbell and the show’s creators, “Tools of the Trade” interactive map that launches into mini- featurettes about the gadgets and props used in the show, “A Brisco County Writer’s Room” roundtable reunion/ discussion with the key writer/producers. (Warner).

Mr. Jordan has been waiting his entire life for this. There is some concern within the Crime
Spree family that with the release of Brisco County, Jon will be without purpose or focus. sort of like a child the day after Christmas. There will be a….I don’t think review would be an apt description, there will be a love letter on Brisco forthcoming.

The Film Noir Classics Collection: Volume 3 All new to DVD and all digitally remastered: “Border Incident,” “His Kind of Woman,” “Lady in the Lake,” “On Dangerous Ground” and “The Racket.” Available exclusively with the set will be a bonus documentary, “Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light”– a vital companion piece that contains an elucidating overview, complete with clips and expert commentary – and “Vintage Shorts”: “Women in Hiding,” “You, the People,” “Forbidden Passage” and “A Gun in his Hand.” The six-disc collection will be sold as a set only for $49.92. (Warner).
· Border Incident (1949) Dir.: Anthony Mann; Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Howard Da Silva, James Mitchell. Extras: Commentary by film historian Dana Polan, trailer.
· His Kind of Woman (1951) Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Vincent Price, Tim Holt, Charles McGraw, Marjorie Reynolds, Raymond Burr, Jim Back. Extras: Commentary by film historian Vivian Sobchack.
· Lady in the Lake (1947) Dir.: Robert Montgomery; Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames, Jayne Meadows. Extras: Commentary by film historians Alain Silver and James Ursini , trailer.
· On Dangerous Ground (1952) Dir.: Nicholas Ray; Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Ward Bond, Charles Kemper, Ed Begley. Extras: Commentary by film historian Glenn Erickson, trailer.
· The Racket (1951) Robert Mitchum, Lizabeth Scott, Robert Ryan, William Talman. Ray Collins Extras: Commentary by film historian Eddie Mueller, trailer.

This collection of restored Noir classics features Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Robert Mongomery and Ricardo Montalban. Yes, Mr. Montalban had a career prior to Fantasy Island. Each film features commentary from a noted film historian. The Racket features acclaimed crime writer Eddie Mueller. A complete review is forthcoming.

The Prentender Season 4 $39.98 Extras: Commentaries on selected episodes by Craig Van Sickle, Ethan Lawrence, Steven Long Mitchell, Tommy Thompson, Andrea Parker, Michael T. Weiss and Carlos Coto, Featurettes: Farewell The Pretender, Jarod’s Mythology Part 1, Jarod’s Mythology Part 2, Looking for Chip Greenfelt. (Fox)

Road House: Deluxe Edition (1989) Patrick Swayze, Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliott, Ben Gazzara. Extras: Commentary by Swayze, “What Would Dalton Do” featurette, deleted scenes, trivia track. (Sony).
The Patrick Swayze “classic” about a rough, tough poetic bouncer. Over the years, it has become a bit of a cult classic. Whether or not you enjoy the film depends on whether or not you enjoy Patrick Swayze.

Road House 2: Last Call (2006) Johnathon Schaech, Will Patton. (Sony).
A sequel to the Swayze film.
Not sure if this ever actually made it to the theatres. Actually, I am not sure why it was even made.

Some Like It Hot: Collectors Edition (1959) Dir.: Billy Wilder; Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O’Brien, Two-disc set. Extras: Eight-page collectible booklet, collectible postcards, commentary featuring interviews with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and more, new documentary: “The Making of Some Like It Hot,” new documentary: “The Legacy of Some Like It Hot,” “Nostalgic Look Back With Tony Curtis,” “Memories of the Sweet Sues” all-girl band featurette, “Virtual Hall of Memories,” original press book gallery. (Sony).
One of the all time great comedies, actually considered by many to be the greatest, SLIH features Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis at their very best along with Marilyn Monroe for sex appeal. Legendary Director Billy Wilder puts a pair of great actors in women’s clothes and hilarity ensues.

Warner Bros. Pictures Tough Guys Collection All new to DVD, six-disc set with “Bullets or Ballots,” “Each Dawn I Die,” “‘G’ Men,” “San Quentin,” “A Slight Case of Murder” and “City for Conquest.” All six titles have been fully restored and digitally remastered with special features including historian commentaries and new making-of featurettes. Each disc also contains an exclusive “Warner Night at the Movies” segment that recreates moviegoer attractions such as newsreels, comedy shorts, cartoons and trailers from the years each film was released. The collection will be available for $67.92; each title is also available separately for $19.97. (Warner).
· Bullets or Ballots (1936) Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Barton MacLane, Humphrey Bogart. Extras: New featurette “Gangsters: The No. 10: Trouble Shots,” “Breakdowns of 1936”: studio blooper reel, audio-only bonus: 4/16/1939 Lux Radio Theater broadcast with Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1936 short subjects gallery: vintage newsreel, vintage short “George Hall and His Orchestra,” classic cartoon” I’m a Big Shot Now,” trailer “The Charge of the Light Brigade.”
· Each Dawn I Die (1939) James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan, George Bancroft, Max ‘Slapsie Maxie’ Rosenbloom. Extras: New featurette “Stool Pigeons and Pine Overcoats: The Language of Gangster Films,” commentary by film historian Haden Guest, “Breakdowns of 1939”: studio blooper reel, bonus cartoon “Each Dawn I Crow,” 3/22/43 Lux Radio Theater broadcast, trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1939 short subjects gallery: documentary short “A Day at Santa Anita,” classic cartoon “Detouring America,” trailer “Wings of the Navy.”
· ‘G’ Men (1935) James Cagney, Margaret Lindsay, Ann Dvorak, Robert Armstrong, Barton MacLane, Lloyd Nolan. Extras: New featurette “Morality and the Code: A How-to Manual for Hollywood,” commentary by Richard Jewell, “How I Play Golf by Bobby Jones No. 11: Practice Shots,” “Things You Never See on the Screen: Breakdowns of 1935” studio blooper reel, trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1935 short subjects gallery: comedy short “The Old Grey Mayor” starring Bob Hope, classic cartoon “Buddy the Gee Man,” trailer “Devil Dogs of the Air.”
· San Quentin (1937) Pat O’Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, Barton MacLane .Extras: New featurette “Welcome to the Big House,” commentary by Patricia King Hanson, “Breakdowns of 1937” studio blooper reel, trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1937 short subjects gallery: vintage newsreel, “Broadway Brevity” short “The Man Without a Country,” classic cartoon “Porky’s Double Trouble,” “Kid Galahad” trailer.
· A Slight Case of Murder (1937) Edward G. Robinson. Jane Bryan, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly. Extras: New featurette “Prohibition Opens the Floo
dgates,” trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1938 short subjects gallery: vintage newsreel, drama short “Declaration of Independence,” classic cartoon “The Night Watchman,” “The Dawn Patrol” trailer.
· City for Conquest (1940) Dir.: Anatole Litvak; James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Frank Craven, Donald Crisp, Frank McHugh, Arthur Kennedy, George Tobias, Jerome Cowan, Elia Kazan, Anthony Quinn, Lee Patrick. Extras: New featurette “Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films,” “Breakdowns of 1940” studio blooper reel, audio-only bonus: 2/9/1942 Lux Radio Theater broadcast, commentary by Richard Schickel, trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1940 short subjects gallery: vintage newsreel, short “Service With the Colors,” classic cartoon “Stage Fright,” trailer “The Fighting 69th.”

A treasure trove of old flicks. This collection also is loaded with extras. We get vintage newsreels, cartoons and other bits that were shown with the film at the time of it’s theatrical release. A must have for fans of old cinema.

Jeremy Lynch