Olive Films in April: Auer, Ludwig, Green, Robson, Rogell
Posted February 13, 2013 05:36 PM by Webmaster
Olive Films have revealed the first five titles of their April slate of Blu-ray releases: John H. Auer's City That Never Sleeps (1953), Albert S. Rogell's War of the Wildcats (1943), Mark Robson's Champion (1949), Alfred E. Green's Copacabana (1947), and Edward Ludwig's The Fighting Seabees (1944).
Chicago cop Johnny Kelly, dissatisfied with his job and marriage, would like to run away with his stripper girlfriend Angel Face, but keeps getting cold feet. During one crowded night, Angel Face decides she's had enough vacillation, and crooked lawyer Biddel has an illegal mission for Johnny that could put him in a financial position to act. But other, conflicting schemes are also in progress. Starring Gig Young, Mala Powers, William Talman, and Chill Wills.
Cowboy Dan Somers and oilman Jim "Hunk" Gardner compete for oil lease rights on Indian land in Oklahoma, as well as for the favors of schoolteacher Cathy Allen. Starring John Wayne, Martha Scott, Albert Dekker, George 'Gabby' Hayes, and Dale Evans.
Kirk Douglass tour de performance made him an overnight sensation and earned him his first Oscar nomination for Champion, a brutal and uncompromising tale of a boxer whose fight to the top is unhampered by ethics or gratitude. A hero to his fans, his friends know him to be a selfish egomaniac who allows nothing to stand in this way... not even the syndicate. After winning a fight he was supposed to throw, the mob has him attacked. He only survives through the intervention of a woman who becomes his lover... and then just another pawn in his climb up the ladder. After alienating the people who helped him the most, he finally enters the ring to confront his biggest opponent... himself. Starring Kirk Douglas, Arthur Kennedy, and Marilyn Maxwell.
Groucho Marx and Carmen Miranda pair up for showbiz shenanigans in this screwball musical comedy set in New York's most legendary nightclub! Groucho and Carmen are an acting team in love-and out of work. Until Groucho, pretending to be Carmen's agent, books her into the dazzling Copacabana club as the singing-dancing "Brazilian Bombshell!" When the impressed club owner asks Groucho for more acts, the zany, would-be agent gives them an ad-lib song-and-dance. His brazen brainstorm: he'll have Carmen disguise herself as a different singer-"Mademoiselle Fifi!" It's twice the salary...but double the trouble. Because the Copa's owner falls head-over-heels for the phony Fifi. And suddenly it's a club-filled of comic complications as the frantic duo face the most outrageous acting assignment of their careers. Starring Groucho Marx, Carmen Miranda, and Steve Cochran.
All-American hero John Wayne takes a crew of construction workers and turns them into one of WWII's toughest fighting forces in this action-packed war classic. After having convinced the Army brass to let his civilians bear arms, Wedge Donovan (Wayne) whips his new troops into combat shape. But when he leads his unit un an all-out assault against the Japanese, Donovan is brought up on court-martial charges and must fight for his life on a new battlefield. The Fighting Seabees offers an entertaining combination of strong supporting performances by Daniel O'Keefe and ravishing, about-to-be superstar Susan Hayward; brawling, big budget action sequences; and an Oscar-nominated score - all of which led Leonard Maltin to give "3 stars" to this spirited saga turned box office bonanza. Starring John Wayne, Susan Hayward, and Dennis O'Keefe.
Copacabana! Although it makes me lament that the Marx Brothers are otherwise conspicuously absent in HD, I can't wait to pick this one up along with more John Wayne.
Champion may be worth a purchase. Another Groucho film (previous: Squidoo) announced on Blu-ray makes me somewhat sad. We're still waiting for Marx Brothers on blu-ray.
