A lavishly packaged collection of films starring John Ford, including a wealth of bonus features.
The films:
The Whole Town's Talking (John Ford, 1935) The Long Gray Line (John Ford, 1955) Gideon's Day (John Ford, 1958) The Last Hurrah (John Ford, 1958)
A showcase for some of the most unexpected and surprising turns in the great director’s prolific career: The Whole Town’s Talking is a screwball comedy about a law-abiding man (played by Edward G Robinson) who happens to be the doppelganger of Public Enemy No. 1, ‘Killer’ Mannion; The Long Gray Lineis a Ford military picture with a difference, focusing its attentions away from the battlefield and onto the fifty-year career of an Irish immigrant who rises through the ranks at West Point; The Last Hurrah is a star-studded political drama boasting the talents of Spencer Tracy, Jeffrey Hunter, Pat O’Brien, Basil Rathbone, Donald Crisp, and John Carradine, and; Gideon’s Day takes us on a twenty-four journey in the life of Jack Hawkins’ titular London-based detective.
The films:
THE WHOLE TOWN’S TALKING (John Ford, 1935) THE LONG GRAY LINE (John Ford, 1955) GIDEON’S DAY (John Ford, 1958) THE LAST HURRAH (John Ford, 1958)
All four films are presented for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK, with The Long Gray Line making its world Blu-ray premiere. This collection is strictly limited to 6,000 numbered units.
Extras
The Whole Town's Talking
4K restoration
Original mono audio
Cymbaline (2020, 7 mins): video essay by Tag Gallagher, author of John Ford: Himself and His Movies
Leonard Maltin on ‘The Whole Town’s Talking’ (2014, 6 mins): archival appreciation by the film critic and historian
A Trip Outside Ford Country (2020, 23 mins): new appreciation by academic and film historian Sheldon Hall
No Rules But Her Own (2020, 18 mins): writer and critic Pamela Hutchinson discusses the life and career of actor Jean Arthur
Lux Radio Theatre: ‘The Whole Town’s Talking’ (1941, 53 mins): vintage radio adaptation, starring Jim Jordan and Marian Jordan
Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet with a new essay by Farran Smith Nehme, an extract from W R Burnett’s Jail Breaker, extracts from Edward G Robinson’s autobiography, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray
The Long Gray Line
4K restoration
2-channel stereo and 3-channel stereo audio tracks
Audio commentary with film historians Diana Drumm, Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme (2020)
Living and Dead (2020, 17 mins): video essay by Tag Gallagher, author of John Ford: Himself and His Movies
Leonard Maltin on ‘The Long Gray Line’ (2014, 6 mins): archival appreciation by the film critic and historian
The Red, White and Blue Line (1955, 10 mins): rare promotional film for the US Treasury Department, featuring the principal cast of The Long Gray Line
Original theatrical trailer
Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Nick Pinkerton, archival interviews with John Ford, an extract from Maureen O’Hara’s autobiography, an overview of contemporary critical responses, Anthony Nield on The Red, White and Blue Line, and film credits
World premiere on Blu-ray
Gideon's Day
4K restoration
Original mono audio
Two presentations of the film: Gideon’s Day, with the original UK title sequence, and Gideon of Scotland Yard, with the alternative US titles
Audio commentary with film historian Charles Barr (2020)
The BEHP Interview with Freddie Young (1987, 91 mins): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the celebrated cinematographer in conversation with Alan Lawson and Roy Fowler
Milk & Sugar (2020, 10 mins): video essay by Tag Gallagher, author of John Ford: Himself and His Movies
Meet the Wife (2020): continuity supervisor Elaine Schreyeck recollects her time working with Ford
Leonard Maltin on ‘Gideon’s Day’ (2014, 4 mins): archival appreciation by the film critic and historian
A Day to Remember (2020, 29 mins): appreciation by Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London
John Ford and Lindsay Anderson at the NFT (1957, 5 mins, silent): rare footage of Ford visiting London’s National Film Theatre during the production of Gideon’s Day
Gideon’s London (2020, 4 mins): video guide to the film’s locations
Original UK theatrical trailer
Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Robert Murphy, an interview with producer Michael Killanin, an extract from Jack Hawkins’ autobiography, an extract from Lindsay Anderson’s About John Ford, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray
The Last Hurrah
2K restoration
Original mono audio
True Blue (2020, 8 mins): video essay by Tag Gallagher, author of John Ford: Himself and His Movies
Leonard Maltin on ‘The Last Hurrah’ (2014, 5 mins): archival appreciation by the film critic and historian
Super 8 version (20 mins): original cut-down home cinema presentation
Original theatrical trailer
Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Imogen Sarah Smith, John Ford on The Last Hurrah, screenwriter Frank S Nugent on John Ford, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
