Last night, here in New York, I had an enjoyable evening seeing the complete/uncut version of a new documentary about Warner Brothers (they are celebrating their 90th anniversary) at the Paley Center on
W. 52nd Street. The documentary will be seen in an abbreviated form on TCM this weekend (Sat Feb 2nd at 7pm and Sunday Feb 3rd at 9am) and then in it's complete form in the Warner Brother's mega DVD anniversary set that's just come out. You can save $200 by buying the set on the WB site (normal price, $597, their price, $400). You can save another $17 by ordering it through Amazon however.
For movie fans, the documentary is solid gold - giving interesting behind the scenes information on some of the best movies of all time. Lots of studio execs and directors as well as people like Clint Eastwood (he's been on the lot for 40 years), Dan Ackroyd, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Steven Carrell all talk about their careers with the studio as do Martin Sheen and Alison Janney about their 7 years on THE WEST WING. Sheen also has a memorable story about meeting and working with Sal Mineo and bonding over their love of James Dean.
I'm not a huge fan of the movie GOONIES, but hearing director Richard Donner talking about how they got the reactions from the kids seeing the pirate ship in the flick, kind of makes me want to rent GOONIES again. And hearing director William Friedkin talk about Warner Brothers chairman Ted Ashley's volatile reaction to casting Ellen Burstyn in THE EXORCIST is out and out hilarious (Ashley said 'over my dead body' and then promptly laid down on the office floor and egged Friedkin on to step on him. Many years later when the two saw each other here in New York at the opening of the Temple of Dendur exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ashley still swore that Jane Fonda would have been a better choice).
And, because being a New Yorker not only means high rents and dealing with crazy weather, the occasional shooting and Times Square, there has to be perks - like seeing an awesome documentary and getting an even more awesomer gift at the end - and this time it was the boxed set, 20 Best Pictures Film Collection including legendary pictures like BEN HUR, THE DEPARTED and THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES.... and GONE WITH THE WIND and GRAND HOTEL which were made by other studios and bought by Warner Brothers.
You know, there are many times when I'll go to an event and get a gift bag and then use the contents for Bingo prizes.. but not this time, sorry! LOL
Recent Comments