These are all coming the Tuesday before the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday. It looks like they will be tying these in as a historical refrence in the history of African Americans in film. No mention of a box set here, which is strange for Warner. Here's to hoping. I missed this a few days back, and after a search it seems several others did as well.

from davis dvd

Just announced from Warner Bros are a number of new-to-DVD catalog titles. Arriving January 10th, 2006 are Buffalo Soldiers, the great Cabin the Sky (with commentary by Dr. Todd Boyd, Dr. Drew Casper, Evangela Anderson, Eva Anderson and Fayard Nicholas with Lena Horne, the 1946 MGM short "Studio Visit," "Ain't It the Truth" audio outtake, trailer), Freedom Song, The Green Pastures (commentary by LeVar Burton, Herb Boyd and Ed Guerrero, 1933 WB short "Rufus Jones for President," 1935 Vitaphone short "An All-Colored Vaudville Show," trailer), Hallelujah (commentary by Donald Bogle and Avery Clayton Pie, 1932 WB short "Pie Blackbird," 1936 Vitaphone short "The Black Network," trailer) and Heat Wave. Retail is $19.97 each.

Great! Now someone needs to release Stormy Weather, Gone Are The Days, and some other gems.

It's too bad they aren't including this as an extra:

i thought about that myself. Warner does seem to add cartoons, and its early on....that would be a good way to test the waters.

Big for Cabin in the Sky.
Big for Todd Boyd being included on it.

from davis dvd

Just curious, what's your beef with Boyd? He and Casper are professors of mine, and I think they're pretty entertaining.

Can't comment on Boyd myself, as I don't remember hearing a commentary from him. But I really despise Casper's commentaries. His commentary for White Heat was deadly dull, an almost unbelievable feat for such an exciting movie. It was unfocused, uninformative, conjectural, vague, and boring. (I have to say that Casper's voice annoys me, too. Sort of like scraping fingernails on a blackboard.)

lol Have to agree with you there. I still haven't finished that commentary yet. Sorry, but whenever he would pause from speaking, I would expect him to talk about the wardrobe or make-up (He sounds JUST like that fashion designer that you might've seen on "I Love The 80's")

I've heard Boyd's commentary on Superfly and didn't really mind it. Though I can see where the detractors come from. Just check out the review of it over at ratethatcommentary.com

On topic, I haven't seen Cabin yet, but I liked Pastures...Despite some agonizing lines, "You's a good tricker, Moses". Still might get it.

I had a personal incident with him that soured my opinion of him. I'll just leave it at that, because it wouldn't be fair to get into it without his side of the story.

I wouldn't mind if he was on a track of his own, but I'd rather not hear him on an edited group commentary, of a movie I love, when other, better qualified, less self-serving, more knowledgable commentators are available.

I love Cabin In the Sky I stop and watch it whenever I see it on.

I listened to him on Joan Crawford's POSSESSED last week .... and apparently he's consistent. It was one of the few times I nearly nodded off while listening to a commentary. Other adjectives that would seem appropriate: dreary, pedantic, dry and vapid.

same...Casper knows his stuff, no doubt. But his speaking voice leaves much to be desired. It can really detract from an audio track.

I suppose I can understand the irritation to Casper's voice on a commentary track. I've never heard either of them on a commentary, but it's the physical interaction in class that makes the two professors interesting. Casper especially, who is unpredictable and often breaks out into song and dance, though a bit frustrating to take notes on as he's all over the place. Boyd-- he is of very strong opinion. Again, often entertaining in person just because he's so outlandish.

Boyd actually showed Cabin in the Sky in his History of African American Cinema class that I took and he had some very interesting things to say about the racial stereotypes prevalent in the film. And since him and Casper are notorious for disagreeing, it should be quite an entertaining commentary.

William, I'm sorry you had an incident with Boyd, but having taken several classes taught by him I have to say he is one of the best professors I've ever had.

I'm glad you and filmerp have had good experiences with him, really. My original comment was a knee-jerk reaction, I probably shouldn't have mentioned it.

Anyway, I'm really excited about Warner Bros. stepping up and releasing these titles. It would've been easy for them to sweep them under the rug (I'm looking at you, Disney).

After having helped get this thread a little off-topic, I thought I ought to mention something about the upcoming releases that I forgot to say in my earlier post:

Hallelujah was directed by the great King Vidor, an important director whose work for MGM has been trickling out very slowly from Warners to date. Personally, I'd love to see his work be made their choice for their next Silent Archive project. Three of his films -- The Big Parade, La Boheme, and The Crowd -- rank among the finest films directed by an American during the 1920s. I'm particularly pleased to see Warners include a commentary, but I'd really like to encourage them to explore their large collection of silents more seriously.

thats some of the best off topic discussion i have seen in a while, good to hear from all of you. Agreed, that King Vidor needs more exposure on dvd, i hope that he not only works into a silent collection but a signature set as well.

Great news. My dad loves Green Pastures and this comes out just in time for his birthday!

still no mention of a box set but here is some cover art for the aboce mentioned titles

Great cover art for Cabin in the Sky.

I'd buy Cabin in the Sky and Halleujah on the strength of the cover art alone. The other cover art is atrocious. I can't make out what's happening on the cover of Buffalo Soldiers. Is that a tunnel in the shoulder of a Mount-Rushmore-size Danny Glover which the soldiers are riding out of?

agreed on the cover art...

fox is on board with Pinky, Stormy Weather and Island in the Sun

and original cover art is coming



i could have swore that these had their own thread, but i couldn't find it. feel free to link me if so. someone asked for stormy weather earlier...so there ya go

courtesy of davis dvd