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This was added to the Warner Archives Collection today:
Here’s the copy from the e-mail:
Meet Warren William, “King of the pre-Codes,” whose acting epitomized the amoral scoundrel found in movies before the imposition of the Production Code. Michael Curtiz directs William alongside the great Walter Huston in the 1931 romantic naval drama THE WOMAN FROM MONTE CARLO; Errol Flynn makes his cinematic splash in his first substantial role playing alongside William in 1935’s crime caper DON’T BET ON BLONDES; and in 1936’s TIMES SQUARE PLAYBOY, an adaption of a George Cohan comedy, William shares the screen with Gene Lockhart whose sparkling comedic performance threatens to steal the whole picture. Crime, Romance, Comedy – only a few of the facets found in the acting jewels seen on display in the crown of the pre-Code King. 3 Disc Collection.
And the synopsis from their web page:
If 1930s Hollywood needed a man’s man who was at ease mixing a martini at a penthouse, the call could go out for Warren William. The star shows his range in three flicks that helped audiences forget the Depression. In The Woman from Monte Carlo, William plays a lieutenant who hides his commander’s wife in his stateroom. Courtroom thrills ensue. Then, insurance conman William has advice for New Yawk’s guys and dolls: Don’t Bet on Blondes. He tries to woo a fair-haired stage star he’s guaranteed won’t head for the altar from the arms of marriage-minded Errol Flynn. And William gets more laughs as the Times Square Playboy, whose bumpkin pal does not approve of the sophisticate he’s about to wed. Of these three brash and breezy Warner Bros. gems, you’ll heartily approve.
My take:
These titles feel like they were drawn out of a hat and if I was the one doing the picking I wouldn’t feel like a winner.
Okay, The Woman from Monte Carlo is a good draw–it’s only one of two Warren William films that I don’t consider lost that I’ve yet to see (Midnight Madonna is the other). That’s right, never seen it, so I’m a definite buyer for this set.
Personally I like both Don’t Bet on Blondes and Times Square Playboy, but would I use either to sell anyone on Warren William? I’ve already said no.
I’m scratching my head a little when Warner’s recognizes Warren William as “King of the Pre-Codes” and then includes one pre-code on a 3 movie disc. The tougher part for me is since I’ve never seen The Woman from Monte Carlo I can’t even tell you if it’s a representative choice, though I do have strong doubts.
There’s a lot of good here beginning with a very reasonable $24.95 price, but more importantly:
- 1) Warner Archives finally recognizes Warren William and did so with not one but three more films of his than I expect with any of their release announcements.
- 2) There are some very good titles available for a Volume 2 (and 3…)
- 3) If I haven’t seen The Woman From Monte Carlo, you probably haven’t seen it either. If I recall an email with Warren William biographer
John Stangeland he did see it, but he had to go to some lengths to do so (correct me if I’m wrong, John). It’s just recently received enough votes (6) to be ranked on the IMDb (5.2/10).
- 4) Hey people can somewhat easily see Don’t Bet on Blondes and Times Square Playboy now, that is a good thing.
But if you’re like me I get the feeling you’re probably a little disappointed.
Purchase The Warren William Collection from the Warner Archive.
*The original title of this post was “Warner Archives releases The Warren William Collection … of middling films,” but I decided not to be that harsh. Hopefully after the initial disappointment passes I’ll concentrate more on those good points and perhaps think of a few more.
Available on Amazon for just $2.99 -
Sure, I’d like to have that in my collection, but you’re absolutely correct. These are not the major titles to “sell” WW.
I watched “The Woman from Monte Carlo,” but, seriously, I feel that my life is poorer for having done so–I mean, for having taken an hour and ten minutes that was set aside with difficulty to watch something I could hope to enjoy, and watching this instead. I’m not saying it’s a bad movie; I can’t even judge whether it’s good or bad, because it’s just not the kind of movie I have any interest in seeing. I just shouldn’t have let my excitement about WW finally getting his own official DVD release(s) draw me into persisting with it after the first few minutes had made that clear. (But I wonder how Dr. Monica will like it?)
Oh boy, Jeffers, you’re scaring me. I actually haven’t ordered yet but will be soon–my movie money has been a little tied up at the other end of the spectrum with a bunch of Freddie Bartholomew purchases lately to help with my bio of him over on my other site. But I definitely will be a buyer on the Warren William Collection, how could I not be: 1 new movie and 2 upgrades for my collection, I’m in! Will I be recommending it … probably not so much.
It’s a difficult admission, guys, but I’m not going to purchase the WW set. None of the pictures is very interesting (although I do enjoy Don’t Bet on Blondes), and I’m stupified by their choices. You would figure that they would pair one of these with other more iconic titles, especially if they plan further releases. Sadly, this set will never sell enough to warrent any others – and they’re certainly not building a new fan base on these movies.
As to the Woman From Monte Carlo, I had to drive up to a screening room at the Wisconsin Sate Historical Society in Madison to see it, so it is nice that it’s now available. It does have that awesome moment when Warren shoots John Wray dead in the middle of a packed courtroom, but not much else.
It’s a very slight step, and maybe not even in the right direction. Cliff – maybe we can convince them to let US program the next set…
Hi John,
I was stunned such a set wouldn’t include Employees’ Entrance and Skyscraper Souls. I thought it was a no-brainer.
I know there must be licensing and other issues involved in choosing whichever titles they release, but since those two had had the VHS (and I believe laser disc) release back in the 90’s I figured they were slam dunks.
Thanks for mentioning the Monte Carlo screening–I was pretty sure I had that story right, but wasn’t sure which of the Monte Carlo titled movies it was!
Cliff
I saw the set and I was very mildly tempted and a bit offended by the selection. I bought the George Arliss set instead. Either WA is holding out for another Forbidden Hollywood set (to appear in a few years or decades, whichever), or they’re testing our limits of abuse. If they’d inserted Smarty, we’d have known the set was a perverse joke. I may buy the set when Employee’s Entrance and Goodbye Again get released, but certainly not before. I’ve got a good TCM copy of Skyscraper Souls so I can live without that one for a bit longer.
Well, the cover is beautiful, anyway.
They do some nice covers when they care to. On the other hand, there’s the cover for Beauty and the Boss.
Heavens, they paired Smarty with Merry Wives of Reno! A good set to buy if you need to clear a room. The only reason to see either film is to note Hugh Herbert’s relationship with “Eloise” in the latter.