Gary Cooper MGM Movie Legends Collection (1926)

Super Cooper?

If you think of Gary Cooper, the movies that probably come immediately to mind are films like High Noon, Pride of the Yankees, Meet John Doe or Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. The MGM Movie Legends Collection for Cooper offers none of these movies, but instead some lesser known Cooper flicks that are still quite watchable.

Chronologically, the first in the foursome is The Winning of Barbara Worth, a late silent film which actually has Cooper in a supporting role, albeit a major one. The title character is an orphan taken in by a man who envisions bringing the water of the Colorado River to the desert. As an adult, Barbara will be wooed by two men: Cooper, the friend she grew up with, and Ronald Colman, who will help develop the critical dam. When the main financier behind the dam refuses to pay for reinforcing it, disaster ensues.

The Cowboy and the Lady has Cooper as a blind date for poor-little-rich-girl Merle Oberon. They fall hard for each other, but she has concealed the fact that she is wealthy since he hates the rich. Eventually, he will find out, and (comic) disaster ensues. In The Real Glory, Cooper is a doctor assigned to a military squad in the post-Spanish American War Philippines. The American troops are there to train the locals so they can protect themselves from raids by the local bandit tribe. As people start being picked off by assassins and cholera, it's up to Cooper to lead a mission to save the day.

In Vera Cruz, Cooper is an ex-Confederate mercenary who goes to Mexico to fight its Civil War for whichever side pays the most. He eventually joins Burt Lancaster and his gang (which includes Charles Buchinsky, later known as Charles Bronson as well as Ernest Borgnine and Jack Elam). Cooper and Lancaster will lead an escort that is taking a countess from Mexico City to Vera Cruz; hidden in her carriage is $3 million in gold, and soon everyone is playing games against each other to get the money.

With one movie made in the 1920s, two in the 1930s and one in the 1950s, this set shows the evolution (and aging) of Cooper the actor and demonstrates why he is one of the biggest names in Hollywood for decades. There are no extras to speak of in the set, and the movies themselves range from near-great (Barbara Worth and Vera Cruz) to good (The Cowboy and the Lady) to just okay (The Real Glory). Overall, I rate this one four stars; it's a good chance to see some lesser known Cooper movies. August 25, 2008

For Silent Fans , BARBARA Is WORTH It.

I must confess that even though I am a silent film enthusiast with quite a collection of silent films on VHS and DVD (and a number of reviews on Amazon), I had never heard of THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH. Now that I have seen it the surprise is even greater. Made by Samuel Goldwyn in 1926 and featuring Gary Cooper in his first credited film appearance, this movie is an outstanding example of a late American silent film. Not a classic but a well constructed, well acted and well photographed film presented here in a pristine print with color tints and a score performed by legendary organist Gaylord Carter. The speed transfer is occassionally too fast but never enough to detract from what you're watching. The director was Henry King who made the silent classic TOL'ABLE DAVID in 1921 and whose career lasted well into the sound era with other classics such as THE SONG OF BERNADETTE, TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH, and THE SUN ALSO RISES. The casting shows what silent films were truly capable of. Joining Cooper are Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky as the romantic leads which would have been impossible in the sound era as Hungarian actress Banky could barely speak English and Colman's voice was much too urbane to be believable in a Western setting. The story of Western boom towns and the building of a faulty dam which results in massive flooding is based on the novel by Harold Bell Wright and is still relevant today. Director King knows how to handle both the action scenes and the quieter moments which were his real specialty. THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH is part of the 4 DVD set GARY COOPER: MGM MOVIE LEGENDS COLLECTION which features 3 sound features THE COWBOY AND THE LADY, THE REAL GLORY, and VERA CRUZ which was directed by Robert Aldrich. If you love Cooper then by all means get this set for your collection. If you just want the silent then look for used copies of BARBARA WORTH elsewhere on Amazon. November 28, 2007

Terrific!: Gary Cooper Movie Legends Collection

In my opinion, Gary Cooper was one of the finest actors America has produced. The films in this set are excellent examples of his work. One, in particular, however, caught my attention and I have have watched it many times since buying the set. "The Real Glory" is seldom seen on TV, but has immense relevance to today's news. Set in roughly 1900 in the Phillipines, it describes the impact of a US Government decison to draw down US occupation forces in that country (following its occupation during the Spanish-American War in 1898) at a time when the indigenous Moro (Moslem) peoples were fighting viciously to drive the occupying American forces out. The movie begins with a US Army officers' discussion of a newly received order to withdraw, with a discussion amongst the US Army officers present of the likely murderous effect of withdrawal by the US forces on the non-Moro Phillipino inhabitants. Filmed in the late 1930s, the comparisons to today's headlines are remarkable. I HIGHLY recommend the set, if only for this one movie. August 24, 2007

FILM HISTORY LESSON REQUIRED

The title "Gary Cooper MGM Movie Legends Collection" is totally midleading here. Gary Cooper was never a part of MGM's hammy stable of contract players in the traditional sense although he did do some films for that studio. The films here aren't among them. "Vera Cruz" was released through United Artists. The other 3 titles were Samuel Goldwyn films also released through United Artists. Sam Goldwyn was never part of MGM. Film history readings will explain, to those interested, how his last name wound up as part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
In my opinion, MGM has always been about self-aggrandizement and I guess they'll get it any way they can take it. That's too bad as it can create confusion for even arm-chair film researchers studying the old studio system of filmmaking. I always think of post-Thalberg MGM as the "blow-hard" studio with its process packaged films (although there are a healthy number of exceptions).
This Gary Cooper/United Artists collection features 4 terrific films that I highly recommend. I saw a clean print of the rare "The Winning of Barbara Worth" on the big screen a couple of years ago and Cooper's star quality is instantly apparent.
I highly recommend this set. July 30, 2007

An Entertaining 'Look' at Legendary Gary Cooper!

It's a shame that Gary Cooper, today, is largely remembered for only "High Noon", his Hawks and Capra films ("Sergeant York" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town"), and as Lou Gehrig in "The Pride of the Yankees"; in his day, he was as sexy and popular as Clark Gable, and more esteemed as a cowboy star than John Wayne!

"Gary Cooper MGM Movie Legends Collection" offers a selection of titles that will, hopefully, spark renewed interest in this most charismatic American 'Original'. While, sadly, the collection offers little in bonus features, and, with the exception of "Barbara Worth", appears to be unremastered (which is why I only give it 4 stars), each film is very entertaining!

"The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1926), was, of course, Coop's breakthrough role, after three years of stunt work and bit parts, and is a bona fide classic. As 'Abe Lee', the young cowboy/surveyor suitor of Vilma Banky, his sexy, natural style would steal the film from star Ronald Colman (in Colman's defense, his role was more restrained, and less interesting). The film, based on a best-selling novel about harnessing the Colorado River to irrigate the desert, garnered great reviews and box office, and gave Coop a spectacular 'start'... (5 stars out of 5)

"The Cowboy and the Lady" (1938), a 'modern-day' Western comedy/romance, presented Coop the way 1930s' audiences loved him best, as a slow-talking, incorruptible cowboy irresistible to women, but a 'gentleman', in the best sense of the word! Falling for the daughter of a Presidential hopeful, posing as a maid (Merle Oberon), he marries her, discovers the charade, then storms into a posh political dinner and speaks so much 'common sense' that her family moves to his ranch! With life-long friend Walter Brennan as his sidekick, this is a real charmer! (5 stars out of 5)

"The Real Glory" (1939), released shortly after his classic version of "Beau Geste", another 'action-oriented' adventure, though lacking the "Geste" polish and style. Coop is a military doctor in the 1906 Philippines, who, with friends David Niven and Broderick Crawford, attempts to help the Filipinos fight off an army of insurgents. Action was never producer Sam Goldwyn's forte, and the film lacks the warmth of a "Gunga Din", although it does offer a rousing climax... (2 1/2 stars out of 5)

"Vera Cruz" (1954), produced by Burt Lancaster and Harold Hecht, is a spectacular, large-scale western, filmed in Mexico. Ex-Confederate Cooper and bandit Lancaster are uneasy partners guarding Denise Darcel and millions in gold, during the Mexican Revolution. While the aging Coop wasn't well during production, he still gives a solid performance, although overshadowed by Burt's flashy portrayal; the film offers a
fabulous supporting cast, including Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Cesar Romero, and Jack Elam. "Vera Cruz" was a major influence on Sergio Leone, and has achieved legendary status, among fans of the genre! (5 stars out of 5)

There is a LOT to enjoy, in this Gary Cooper collection! June 15, 2007

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