TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Dramas – DVD Review

By June L. Feb 16, 2009, 14:25 GMT

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE: In one of the most influential performances in movie history, James Dean plays the new kid in town whose loneliness, frustration and anger mirrored those of postwar teens and still reverberate today. Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo were Academy Award nominees for their achingly true performances. EAST OF EDEN: A wayward Salinas Valley youth (James Dean) vies for the affection of his hardened father (Raymond Massey) with ...more

Turner Classic Films has gathered some of the most ground breaking romantic dramas from the 1950’s in a single set including new material in the special features.

Watch again Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, and A Streetcar Named Desire: The Original Director’s Version and marvel at the performances of Marlon Brando, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.

Rebel Without A Cause was one of the first films to address the idea of teen isolation and frustration.  What is now a standard theme in movies was new ground when this film hit the screens. 

A story filled with angst, pain and violence is unflinchingly portrayed by James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo.

Rebel Without A Cause is in color with a running time of 111 minutes.  This presentation includes a film commentary with Doughlas L Rathgeb, Author of The Making of Rebel Without A cause, and the original theatrical trailer.  The film is available in English and French audio, with English, French and Spanish subtitles.

East of Eden bring to the screen the heart rending story from John Steinbeck’s novel.  Starring James Dean again as a wayward youngster who is in competition with his brother (Richard Davalos) for his father’s affection (Raymond Massey) we see the angst and torment of adolescence.  Julie Harris and Jo Van Fleet also star in the film.

East of Eden is in color with a running time of 118 minutes, and has English and French audio tracks and English, French or Spanish subtitles.  Special features include a film commentary with Historian/Filmmaker Richard Schickel, and the original theatrical trailer.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is the film adaptation of Tennessee William’s Pulitzer Prize winning play.  After losing beloved and honored actor Paul Newman last year, it is wonderful to see his films again, in sets preserving his work for the coming ages. 

Elizabeth Taylor stars as Maggie the Cat, a Southern Belle whose frustration with her disillusioned ex-athlete husband (Paul Newman) does not change her deep love.  Even though this was the 1950’s the chemistry between these two actors produced a smoldering, on the edge passionate story.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is presented in widescreen version and in color, with a running time of 108 minutes.  Special features for this film include a commentary by Tennessee Williams biographer Donald Spoto, a featurette Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: Playing Cat & Mouse, and the original theatrical trailer. 

Again the feature is available in English and French audio, and English, French or Spanish subtitles.

A Streetcar Named Desire :  The Original Director’s Version .  This film won four Academy Awards, three of which were for the acting.  Again a Pulitzer Prize winning play by Tennessee Williams is brought to the screen through the skill of actors Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski, and Vivien Leigh as his spacey sister in law Blanche DuBois. 

This director’s version contains a commentary with Karl Malden and film historians Rudy Behlmer and Jeff Young.  There is also an Elia Kazan movie trailer gallery, French and English audio tracks and English, French or Spanish subtitles.

The set contains two discs with side A and B format, illustrated with stills from the films and program notes. 

This is a nice addition to any film fan’s collection, or for people interested in the history and progression of Hollywood stories.  Three of the films are rated PG-13, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is not rated.

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romantic Dramas is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.