The Cecil B. Demille Collection (DVD, 2006)

This 5 disc collection is a bit pricey at retail and may dissapointed some fans. His early SIGN OF THE CROSS has been meticulously restored and the film is a fine example of a DeMille epic. However, it suffers from staginess and stilted acting by the two leads (Claudette Colbert and Charles Laughton in secondary roles are the saving grace). Get QUO VADIS if you want a spectacle with more development. FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE is a long lost gem that does not get the epic treatment but is oddly sparse considering DeMille's grandiose style. It's more a a character study of four people stranded on an island and learning how to survive. Claudette Colbert shines as the mousey school marm who blossoms into a lusty jungle flower. CLEOPATRA is one of DeMille's most famous early epics and again every movie has been beautifully restored. This is more of a DeMille flick with all the pomp and grandeur and again stars Colbert as beautiful Queen of the Nile. THE CRUSADES is an interesting, although not as grand take on a legendary subject and boasts a strong cast. Don't expect too much spectacle here. However, UNION PACIFIC is pure entertainment filled with amazing train wrecks and indian battles. It also has a nice plot and plausible romantic triangle with the always reliable Joel McCrea, Robert Preston and of course, Barbara Stanwyck (in a standout performance). This is the best of the collection and should not be missed. However do not go looking for any extras on this expensive set or you will be disappointed. The packaging is well done but spartanistic and no bonus material (including the usual trailers) are on this set. For the price it could have included another movie in that time era REAP THE WILD WIND. The box set would have benefited from with this addition. As it stands, it is for the diehard fan of DeMille's early work only. It is a historically important box set and the restoration is awesome.

These five films are the work of a master filmmaker. Any true film fan should rejoice at their release finally on dvd. Four are true classics - SIGN OF THE CROSS, CLEOPATRA, THE CRUSADES & UNION PACIFIC. And the fourth - FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE - is a very interesting change of pace starring the always enjoyable Claudette Colbert(as do the 1st two). The prints here are the best Ive ever seen or heard (with excellent close captioning). I applaud the splendid presentation of these films done by Universal/MCA .

But why are there no extras - not even trailers? even I have trailers on most of these films from AMC & TCM - why are there none on these dvds? How about publicity - photos, posters, pressbooks, photoplays, etc --there's a lot out there on these classics from the Paramount vaults that MCA could have used. Even laserdiscs from MCA had more extras than this. No film scholars' commentaries are included. It is as if MCA couldnt be bothered. It's just another lost opportunity by the clueless folks at MCA/Universal.

The early film pioneer of the grand epic, Cecil B Demille...Cleopatra, Sign of the Cross, the Crusades, and the best of the best b/w film..UNION PACIFIC which truley captured the early days of the American spirit of accomplishment. Grand in scale, grand visualy, grand presentation of the character actors who pull it all together.

An excellent collection of old and adventurous movies. My particular preference is the CRUSADES, where King Richard leads a allied force to fight the Moors. I recommend these movies.