There may not be much class or style left in Hollywood (most of the glamorous movie premieres are relegated to Leicester Square in London), but happily these attributes are alive and well in the home video business. I'm often reminded of this when the daily shipments of review copies of videos from studios arrive. Every now and then, there is a title released that is packaged like a movie lover's dream. Last year, Fox released The Great War Movies video set accompanied by a companion hardcover coffee table book (which I'll humby note was written and designed by Cinema Retro). Now, Warner Brothers can take a bow for releasing some classic movies with the kind of innovative content and packaging that will make movie fans drool. Today I received an advanced set of the Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition DVD Set. Obviously, I haven't had the opportunity to review the films and features themselves, so consider this a general notice about the collection's release and contents, which is impressive on every level.
Here is a summary of what you'll find inside:
- Digitally remastered editions of Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact and The Dead Pool.
- Dirty Harry special features including commentary track by noted film critic and Clint Eastwood official biographer Richard Schickel, the featurettes The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry, Dirty Harry: The Original, and Dirty Harry's Way; interview gallery with Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, John Milius, Ted Post, Andy Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Urich; the TV special Clint Eastwood:The Man From Malpaso; trailer gallery for all five films.
- Magnum Force special features including commentary by writer John Milius; the featurettes A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry and Harry Callahan/Clint Eastwood: Something Special in Films
- The Enforcer special features including commentary by director James Fargo; featurette The Business End: Violence in Cinema
- Sudden Impact special features including commentary by Richard Schickel and the featurette The Evolution of Dirty Harry
- The Dead Pool special features including commentary by producer David Valdes and cinematographer Jack N. Green plus the featurette The Craft of Dirty Harry
(All of the DVDs include the trailer gallery and certain featurettes appear on multiple DVDs because they are also sold individually.)
If that isn't enough, try these juicy bonus extras on for size:
- 40 page DVD-size hardback book containing rare photos and production memos
- A 19"x27" poster detailing the San Francisco locations that Scorpio sends Harry to in his quest to rescue a kidnapped girl
- Bonus DVD of the PBS American Masters TV special, Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows
- A memo from Eastwood reflecting on his memories of the franchise
- A packet of 5x7 postcards featuring posters from each film plus Warner Brothers production memos
- A small wallet containing a replica of Harry's police ID card and his shield
The above is enough to make any punk feel lucky.
Warner Brothers has done a superb job in designing the set, but I also want to take the unusual step of also recognizing The Lippin Group, the publicity firm that has also distinguished itself by creating the eye-opening bonus extra that was included in my review set: a full size, Dirty Harry .44 Magnum - in milk chocolate! (Don't send letters to your retailer complaining you didn't get yours- it's not part of the consumer set!) It's a brilliant gimmick- and was even thoughtfully packaged with a freeze pack to prevent it from melting. I only wish it had arrived in time for Valentine's Day. After all, nothing says "I love you" to that special someone in your life like a chocolate version of a gun that "could blow your head clean off!"- Lee Pfeiffer
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