These two low-priced re-releases feature Cary Grant at his best. In Bringing Up Baby, Grant stars as a nondescript paleontologist, whose scientific life takes a strange turn when he encounters madcap socialite Katharine Hepburn-and her surprising companion, Baby (a pet leopard). Howard Hawks, primarily known for his Westerns, directs with a sure comic hand; Grant is excellent as the evolving milksop who's at the mercy of cinema's legendary strong-willed woman, Hepburn. In Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, Grant plays an urban claustrophobic ad exec, whose dreams are realized when he purchases a rundown "historical" estate in the country, and begins the hilarious process of rebuilding. As Grant's wife, Myrna Loy nearly steals the show with her outrageously complex attempt to describe to contractors the "colors" she wants for each room. Both videos are highly recommended. (R. Pitman) [DVD Review--July 27, 2004--Warner, 94 min., not rated, $19.98--Making its debut on DVD, 1948's Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House sports a good transfer and solid Dolby Digital mono sound, as well as two radio productions of the story featuring Grant (an October 10, 1949 'Lux Radio Theater' version co-starring Irene Dunne, and a June 9, 1950 'Screen Directors Playhouse' version with Betsy Drake), the excellent Tex Avery cartoon 'The House of Tomorrow,' and a trailer gallery for 10 Cary Grant films. Bottom line: a solid extras package for one of Grant's best films, which is also available as part of the five-disc boxed set Cary Grant: The Signature Collection, along with The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, Destination Tokyo, My Favorite Wife, and Night and Day--bargain priced at $49.95.] [DVD Review--April 19, 2005--Warner, 2 discs, 102 min., not rated, $26.99--Making its first appearance on DVD, Bringing Up Baby: Special Edition comes digitally re-mastered with an audio commentary by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, the documentaries 'Cary Grant: A Man Apart' (87 min.) and 'The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks' (55 min.), the comedy short 'Campus Cinderella' (19 min.), the cartoon 'A Star is Hatched' (8 min.), and a Howard Hawks trailer gallery. Bottom line: another excellent, value-added Warner's release of one of the all-time comedy classics.]
Bringing Up Baby; Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
b&w. 102 min. Turner Home Entertainment. (1938). $19.98. Library Journal
Bringing Up Baby; Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
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