Usher, Guy

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece)

Disk 1: CHARLIE CHAN IN LONDON (1934) *Full Screen Feature *The Legacy of Charlie Chan Featurette (15:00) *Theatrical Trailer

Disk 2: CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS (1935) *Full Screen Feature *In Search of Charlie Chan Featurette (20:00) *Charlie Chan In London Trailer

Disk 3: CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT (1935) *Full Screen Feature *The Real Charlie Chan Featurette (20:00) *Charlie Chan In London Trailer

Disk 4: CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI (1935) *Full Screen Feature *ERAN TRECE Fullscreen Feature (79:00) *Eran Trece Theatrical Trailer *Charlie Chan In London Trailer

Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 2 (Bright Eyes / Baby Take a Bow / Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm)

Disc 1: "Baby Takes a Bow" Disc 2: "Bright Eyes" Disc 3: "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm"

Buck Rogers

While it lacks the baroque, fantastical quality of the previous Flash Gordon serials (which also starred Buster Crabbe), the Buck Rogers serial still exemplifies the freewheeling spirit of pulp-magazine space opera of the 1930s. Crash-landing in the Arctic in the 20th century, Buck Rogers and his sidekick Buddy Wade (Jackie Moran) use a special gas to induce suspended animation, only to be awakened 500 years later when the world is ruled by the evil Killer Kane. We are told that Kane's ascendancy is a direct result of the 20th century's failure to solve the problem of crime. But luckily, Buck Rogers is here to fight Kane's evil domination of mankind, which involves making obedient robots out of folks by strapping an "amnesia helmet" on their heads. (The helmet looks like the sawed-off end of a cheesy rocket ship, complete with fins.) Most of the episodes deal with invasion forces from the planet Saturn and whose side they're going to take, Killer Kane's or Buck's, affording plenty of opportunity for spaceships to zip back and forth, propelled by sparks and rising smoke. All the trappings and tropes of space opera abound: ray guns, space travel, villainous political figures, alien civilizations. In a way, the flaws seem quaint--the wooden acting, the cheesy costumes and sets, the flimsy space crafts, the similarity between the surface of Saturn and certain California deserts, and the way Buck needs no learning curve after traveling 500 years into the future. It's great adolescent fun. --Jim Gay

Preserved in a state of suspended animation for 500 years by the Nirvano gas in the gondola of their dirigible wrecked in the arctic ice wastes, Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe) and Buddy (Jackie Moran) are rescued by scientists in the year 2500 to find the world under the despotic rule of Killer Kane (Anthony Warde) and his super gangsters. Using an arsenal of fantastic weapons created in Dr. Huer's (C. Montague Shaw) clandestine laboratory, the group attempts to seek aid from the planet Saturn to oust the tyrannical ruler only to find that his henchmen have already taken over control of the Prince of Saturn. After several harrowing adventures with the Zugg men, Buck and Buddy return to Earth only to be shot down, imprisoned and finally rescued to participate in a spectacular air battle to wrest control of the Universe from the sinister intergalactic despot.Approximately Released by Universal Pictures. Bonus Features: Animated Menu| Scene Selection| Photo Gallery| Bonus Serial Trailers. Specs: DVD9; Dolby Digital Mono; 241 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1939; SRP - $19.99.

Born to Be Bad

Cary grant stars as a dairy farmer whose kindness towards and unmarried woman (loretta Young), and her son results in betrayal. Malcolm Trevor (Grant) and his wife (Marion Burns) are unable to conceive a child of their own. So when Malcolm's truck accidentally hits Letty's (Young) son (Henry Travers) and Letty is declared an unfit mother, the couple gladly take the boy into their own home to raise as their own. Determined to take advantage of Malcolm's riches, however, Letty tries to blackmail him. In the end, selfless love and charity are celebrated in this heartwarming well-made classic.

In Old California

Picture, if you will, a regulation old-time Western saloon, teeming with colorful frontier types and about to be knocked into kindling by a galoot with a fearsome toothache. At this moment, through the swinging doors appears a pilgrim from the East--Boston, to be precise--outfitted with top hat, frock coat, a courtly manner, and a medical bag filled with the miracles of modern (i.e., 1849) pharmacology. He will cure the ruffian's toothache. He is a druggist. He is also John Wayne.

In Old California qualifies as one of Duke's quirkier assignments during his indentured servitude at Republic Pictures, and he makes a game stab at the sort of arch light-comedy heroism more typically left to his Reap the Wild Wind costar Ray Milland. Unfortunately, he has to do so without discernible assistance from director William McGann. Moreover, the script, which is incoherent even by Republic standards, absentmindedly omits any prospect for menace till half the running time has elapsed. Saloon songstress Binnie Barnes may or may not be kept by her employer, the loutish empire builder Albert Dekker, who resents her attraction to Wayne almost as much as he wants to hog California for himself. Fortunately, the gold rush comes along to provide opportunity for civic hysteria, an outbreak of fever, several varieties of unlikely heroism, and a climactic shootout of surpassing silliness. Edgar Kennedy and Patsy Kelly handle the comic relief... but where does it begin? --Richard T. Jameson

Baby Take a Bow

A classic convict-turned-good-guy story, this DVD rendition of the 1934 Baby Take a Bow has been nicely restored in its original black and white format as well as colored and remastered for a whole new look. Viewers choose whether to watch in color or black and white, but no matter which is chosen, Shirley Temple shines as the adorable Shirley Ellison, an ex-con's daughter who's full of sweetness, energy, and a touch of the mischievous. As Eddie Ellison (James Dunn) and his prison pal Larry Scott (Ray Walker) try to earn an honest living and make a new life with the women they love (Claire Trevor and Dorothy Libaire), they're constantly harassed by private investigator Welch (Alan Dinehart) and are unwillingly dragged into a crime by a just-released convict Trigger Stone (Ralf Harolde). A comic and suspenseful game of hide-and-seek sweeps viewers along to the conclusion of the film, punctuated by Shirley's rooftop birthday party where she and her father perform the memorable vocal-tap duet "On Account-A I Love You." Though the plot is aimed at adult audiences and the film dated by various details like Shirley's unattended play on the sidewalk and the distinct lack of child-proofing in her home, Baby Take a Bow is a classic film that's appealing to modern audiences ages 6 and older. --Tami Horiuchi

Shirley's father is an ex-con trying hard to make an honest living by working as a chauffeur, But he runs into trouble when appears necklace disappears form his employer's home and the detective on the case decides he's guilty. Luckily, Shirley finds the pearls and winds up the case in short order. But not before she engages her father and the detective in the film's most enjoyable scene a hilarious game of hide and seek.

Adam Had Four Sons

Classic romance! A governess falls for her boss after his wife passes away and she stays to help raise his four sons. Stars Academy Award ® winners Ingrid Bergman, Susan Hayward and Warner Baxter, along with screen legend Fay Wray.

Gene Autry Collection - Rovin' Tumbleweeds

Dust off your best ten-gallon hat and polish up your spurs as America's first and favorite singing cowboy gallops across the silver screen into your living room! Gene Autry, star of TV, records, radio, rodeo and film, invented the musical Western, capturing America's hearts as a gun-toting, guitar-slinging good guy. Riding his magnificent trick stallion, Champion, he became a beloved American hero whose popularity remains strong today. Now, for the first time on DVD, these rollicking big screen adventures and unforgettable tunes are brought home in these Western classics fully restored and uncut from Autry's personal film archives. Rancher Autry takes a job singing on the radio to aid farmers and ranchers whose lands were destroyed by raging floods. Blaming crooked politicians, he goes to Washington and tries to put through a flood control bill and finds he has a lot to learn. In this classic release, Gene introduces his immortal theme song, "Back in the Saddle Again," which has gone on to become a piece of American history.

Hold That Woman

The Devil Bat