Stewart Granger Collection [DVD]

This collection is certainly value for money. Only two of the films are in technicolour, Caesar and Cleopatra (read Marjorie Dean's book 'Meeting at the Sphynx', which deals with the making of the film) and Blanche Fury. Granger has a minor role in the former and is outshone by Valerie Hobson in the latter. The rest of the collection is a melange of good and bad. Madonna of the Seven Moons is as bad and ridiculous as they come, and as for Waterloo Road, can we really imagine Granger as a spiv and being bested by John Mills. A pity that the collection didn't replace one of these turkeys with Saraband for Dead Lovers whose production is described in detail in a book of that name (price 10/6d). Granger was at his best in the 50s when he starred in the most lavish technicolour productions (Scaramouche, the Prisoner of Zenda, Beau Brummell, King Soloman's Mines). It's about time that a boxed collection of these came on the market. But I would certainly recommend this set for those who wallow in nostalgia, sentimentality and the downright implausible, and are prepared to put up with the amateur dramatics of Phyllis Calvert.

Others have very helpfully listed all the films in this collection, although they are now detailed in the product description. But I thought it was important to point out that the films include optional subtitles for the hard of hearing - a rarity these days, at least for vintage movies. I bought the whole collection just to get 'While the Lamp still Burns' starring Granger and Rosamund John, a Forties tear-jerker about a nurse who has to choose between Granger and her vocation as a nurse. I watched most of the other films too, and enjoyed them, particularly 'Adam and Evelyne' with Granger acting with wife, Jean Simmons. I have never seem him behaving so naturally, and they both look very happy together. Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains are the stars of the 1945 'Caesar and Cleopatra', and although it's a fine film, Granger has a relatively small role. However, it's a colour movie and he looks terrific with a deep tan and gold earring. Would make a great Christmas present for someone who likes Granger.

12 Discs, 12 films, all (actually I have only watched 5 so far, but enthusiasm overcame patience) very good quality transfers (4.3 ratio), excellent colour - BLANCHE FURY - plus clear crisp B/W and good sound...and SUBTITLES for the following. Apart from "Blanche" I have seen FANNY BY GASLIGHT a ripe melodrama we made so well, CAPTAIN BOYCOTT a page of dramatised history, with a cast of hundreds, well, a lot, many names at a tender age, ADAM and EVELYNE a charming romance with Jean Simmons at her loveable beautiful best (which I should say lasted many years!), and WATERLOO ROAD, perhaps my favourite even to Stewart has 3rd billing. This set is not for everyone. I expect it will appeal to viewers of a certain age, and lovers of British Cinema often at it's best. If you are familiar with "Gainsborough films" you know what to expect even tho they aren't all from that wonderful studio. A package to be treasured.

i fell in love with stewart granger as a teen and these dvds are an absolute joy to watch and to add to my other SG collection

What a pleasure to find such obscure films as 'Madonna of the Seven Moons' and 'Caravan' and 'Love Story' All acted as if life depended on it, as I suppose it did, for these films were part of world war 11. The were what thousands of people qude to see to take themselves away from the horrors going on all around us. they were pure escapism as they were ment to be, and despite there absurdities and sentimentality, are an important part of British film history It is a pity they have not been remastered and there is no information with any of them,and no cast lists on the actual films, but nonetheless a joy to have

Excellent.

What a great collection! Have thoroughly enjoyed watching all of them except Waterloo Road (and only this because the subject matter did not really attract me). Wonderful array of memorable actors and actresses, some in cameo parts, to show me a generation of acting lost to the new style which but rarely comes up with anything approaching what one sees in these older films. When in the late 60s I first saw him in King Solomon's Mines, followed by The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau as Rudolf Rassendyll with James Mason and Deborah Kerr, I did not know that he had made so many earlier films, so I could not resist buying the collection.

A great collection of Stewart Granger’s early films