DVD Venues for Classic Movies
CLASSICS ON DVD TO RENT OR OWN
Whether it’s due to lack of familiarity or licensing problems, many classic films rarely make it to revival houses or cable channels, if at all. Nevertheless, if the movie is in print, then it’s most likely available on DVD (although I’m still waiting for one of my favorite Henry Koster films, Come to the Stable to make it).
However, when it comes to classic films, some video venues are better than others. Large chains will of course have some old movies, but they usually provide a rather limited selection (Netflix being the notable corporate exception).
Name brand vendors are perfectly adequate for an initial exploration. But, their limitations do make it difficult to find anything beyond the very well known and the most popular films of all time. If you’re like me then your favorites may not be on either of those two lists.
For greater variety, it is the small, independent store that is likely to offer a broader overall selection of classic films, often championing the more obscure movies of your favorite genre, actor or filmmaker. I attribute this to the more knowledgable staff independent stores tend to employe.
Listed to the right are some of the best opportunities for finding the most varied classic cinema available for rent (or to purchase) in Los Angeles.
FEATURED DVD: THE BEST OF WARNER BROS.
I have a collection of all the Best Picture
winners produced at Columbia Pictures.
I love that collection. Not only is it very
convenient to have all these films in one
place but it’s so much easier to buy one
box set rather than hunting down each
DVD and buying them one at a time. If
only all of the old studios would be so
accommodating. Well Warner Bros is.
You can get a box set called Best of
Warner Bros 20 Film Collection: Best
Pictures. Besides having all of the best
picture winners the studio produced
from Broadway Melody in 1929 thru
The Departed in 2006 you also get the
Best Picture winner of 1939, Gone with
the Wind which was independently
produced by David O. Selznick but
later purchased by Warner Bros. If you
happen to be a big fan of the studio
you can also get the Best of Warner
Bros 50 Film Collection and even the
Best of Warner Bros 100 Film Collection.
Many of the Best Picture winners are in
both of these larger collections, but not
all. So, be sure to check the list of films
in each not only to be sure that you get
the films you’re looking for but to avoid
getting duplicates. My choice would be
for the 100, but that is a lot of money
at almost $400. The Best Picture set goes
for the much more reasonable cost of
around $80. Oddly enough if you break
it down you actually get a better deal
per film with the smaller collection at
about $3.55 each vs. $3.86. Either way,
you’re going to get a great collection
with a ton of iconic films representing the
best a studio like Warner Bros has to
offer. And that’s pretty good.
