United Artists Best Picture Collection

No Description Available.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NR
Release Date: 16-OCT-2007
Media Type: DVD Product Description

United Artists' Best

This collection includes the director's cut of Tom Jones, West Side Story and the two black and white motion pictures: The Apartment, and Marty.

I purchased this collection for Tom Jones. A single Tom Jones DVD or VHS tape alone often sells for more than the entire price I paid for this collection. None of the extra material such as interviews or out-takes is included with this collection. If you are interested in these movies at an economical price, you might consider this alternative.

I enjoyed Henry Fielding's longish novel. I purchased the BBC / A&E production as well. Each of these motion picture versions has its merits. Some Amazon reviewers have criticized the UA version's format that in my opinion imitates the scene narration format used in the original novel. My only wish is that Sophia Weston's admonishment of Tom Jones shown at the end of the A&E version were also in the UA version.

While the less sexually graphic UA version was self-censored by the restraints of 1960 film production environment, I think it is a product that I can show to my teenage children with less concern for censorship. The A&E production has some nudity that that is gratuitous in my opinion.


Younger adults might be jaded by color motion pictures but only at the risk of missing great performances by actors of the 1960's motion pictures. The stories in both the black and white offerings are still relevant as when they were made.

West Side story is still a great musical despite our culture's desensitization to gang violence and overall loss of innocence.

This is a good collection. It offers good value at an economical price that can be enjoyed for as long as you have this collection. June 3, 2008

Good except for the fullscreen version of West Side Story

The following is a brief synopsis of each of the four films included in this collection.

Marty (1955) - This is one of my favorites and has a very simple plot and premise. Marty is a plain looking bachelor in New York City who works as a butcher. He has a group of bachelor friends he goes out with regularly, and he lives with his widowed mother in the house in which he grew up. One night he meets a plain looking girl, and they connect. However, his friends object because they think she's not pretty enough, and his mother objects because she is afraid of being shoved aside if Marty marries.

The Apartment (1960) - This film was groundbreaking in the sense that it dealt with sexual harrassment in the workplace in a way that was quite realistic for 1960. All the women are in menial jobs at the insurance company where Jack Lemmon's character works, and all of the executives are men. The executives look at their female workforce as one big harem and won't let a little thing like the fact that they are married and intend to stay that way interfere with their fun. This is where C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) comes in. He trades the use of his apartment to these executives in return for promotions and perks. However, Baxter has an attack of conscience when he comes face-to-face with the collateral damage that one of these executives is doing in the person of Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine).

West Side Story (1961) - A great musical that, unfortunately is once again being presented in a Best Picture collection in fullscreen. There is a two-disc version in widescreen, and I wish it had been included. Many people complain because they feel it is too dated to still be entertaining. However, tryng to give a time-transcending realistic view of urban gang violence is not what this film is about. The real attractions - the romance and the music and dancing - are as great as they were almost 50 years ago.

Tom Jones (1963) - This film hasn't been available on DVD in recent years unless you bought it used. This is the directorial cut which has about ten minutes trimmed from what was in the original theatrical release. There's much argument as to whether this film should have won Best Picture or not. It is true to the original literature of Henry Fielding and there is much tongue in cheek dialogue going on. It is also one of those period pieces with much going on for it artistically in addition to the screenplay, which does get complex. Finally, a very young Albert Finney brings the rascally but good natured Tom to life.

Don't expect Warner Home Video here - there are no extras on any of the films other than the occasional trailer. The real advantage to this collection is being able to get a copy of Tom Jones on DVD in widescreen that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. September 11, 2007

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