Here are some highlights of the recent releases to the Warner Archive Collection. DVD’s and Blu-rays are manufactured on demand. They also have a streaming service. Before you visit Warner Archive to check out their selection, check out the selections below an a few of my thoughts.

Oscar Nominees & Winners

Our primary reason for highlighting each week’s selections is to showcase new and reprints of Oscar nominees and winners. Below are the Archives most recent releases in this class.

Jeanette McDonald & Nelson Eddy Collection, Volume One (1935-38)
Although they were already stars in their own rights, when Hollywood paired Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy up for the first time in 1935’s Naughty Marietta, it was an alchemical equation that made for true movie magic. In this first volume of a two-volume celebration of the duo you’ll find yourself singing along with the pair as they woo and feud from colonial New Orleans in Naughty Marietta (1935), the Canadian wilderness with Rose-Marie (1936), Napoleonic Paris in Maytime (1937) and the frontier with The Girl of the Golden West (1938).

Naughty Marietta (1935)
Best Picture (Nominee)
Best Sound Recording (Winner)

Maytime (1937)
Best Music Score (Nominee)
Best Sound Recording (Nominee)

Jeanette McDonald & Nelson Eddy Collection, Volume Two (1938-42)
Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy continue to make melodic magic in this second volume collecting their cinematic pairings. First we present the Technicolor backstage spectacle of Sweethearts (1938), continue with the song-filled swashbuckling romance of New Moon (1940), followed by the poignant, tragic Bitter Sweet (1940) – also in Technicolor – and finally, they reach for the heaven in I Married an Angel (1942).

Sweethearts (1938)
Best Music Score (Nominee)
Best Sound Recording (Nominee)
Color Cinematography (Honorary Oscar)

Bitter Sweet (1940)
Best Color Cinematography (Nominee)
Best Color Art Direction (Nominee)

Other Films

Here are other notable film releases coming to Warner Archive Collection

Murder, My Sweet (1944)
on Blu-ray! Dick Powell reinvents himself from musical man to hard-boiled hero in high style in this classic film noir adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s “Farewell, My Lovely”. Murder My Sweet sees world-weary knight errant Philip Marlowe take a job looking for Moose Malloy’s (Mike Mazurki) girlfriend Velma. But a simple missing-person case becomes much more twisted than Marlowe ever anticipated leading to a complex web of deceit, bribery, perjury and theft. Murder My Sweet remains one of the purest versions of Chandler ever committed to film. Now experience director Edward Dmytryk’s seminal piece of dark cinema in all its chiaroscuric glory in stunning 1080p HD. Special features include a commentary track by film historian Alain Silver and the original theatrical trailer.

Television

The occasional television program or series is released in Warner Archive Collection. Here are this week’s offerings.

Jack and the Beanstalk TV Special (1967)
Gene Kelly paired up with animation powerhouses (and familiar friends) William Hanna and Joe Barbera to produce this magical, musical blend of live action and animation. Chockfull of showstoppers courtesy of composers James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, Gene lends his talents to the proceedings as Jeremy, the magical bean seller. Bobby Riha debuts as young Jack, while Ted Cassidy lends his voice to the Giant. With costume design courtesy of Alex Toth, production design by Theobold Holsapple, and with Hal Mohr handling the camera for the live-action sequences, viewers’ disbelief is charmingly suspended with delight. And Gene’s song and dance numbers don’t hurt!