| NEWS! At last, this collection is available on DVD (release date, February 21, 2006.) Robert Benchley & The Knights of the Algonquin reviewed by Gordon Ernst, Director, Robert Benchley Society and author of Robert Benchley: An Annotated Bibliography --This collection contains the following Benchley shorts: The Witness | The Trouble with Husbands | The Man's Angle | Crime Control | The Sex Life of the Polyp | The Treasurer's Report | With the exception of the last two, these titles are from Benchley's later work at Paramount. The picture quality of the shorts is generally good, although some of them were transferred from re-issue prints, and so lack the original titles. The two shorts from 1928 are interesting for their historical significance (and for preserving two of Benchley's best known routines), but the print for The Treasurer's Report has specks of lint in it which obscure the picture for at least half of its 10 minute running time. The video also contains the shorts Traffic Control and Humorous Flights by Donald Ogden Stewart; and Mr. W's Little Game by Alexander Woollcott. |
| Almost as welcome as a shaker full of martinis, The Complete Thin Man Collection represents an eagerly awaited DVD milestone for fans of the fizzy MGM movie series. The best film in the series came first: The Thin Man (1934), W.S. Van Dyke's marvelous adaptation of a Dashiell Hammet novel. The movie gods were in a generous mood when they paired William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, the upper-class sophisticates whose sleuthing escapades somehow joined the classic form of the whodunit with the giddyup of screwball comedy.Contains six films on seven DVDs: The Thin Man, After The Thin Man, Another Thin Man, Shadow of the Thin Man, Song of the Thin Man, and The Thin Man Goes Home Extras: Alias Nick & Nora bonus documentary disc includes "William Powell: A True Gentleman" and "Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To"Trailer galleryRobert Benchley comedy short: How to Be a DetectiveRobert Benchley comedy short: Why Daddy?Classic cartoons: The Early Bird and the Worm, The Bookworm, Screwball Squirrel, The Goose Goes South, Slap Happy LionRadio show with Powell and LoyLeo Is on the Air radio promoMusical short: Love on TapVintage short: The Tell-Tale HeartPassing Parade short: A Really Important Person"Darling, I Loathe You: The Thin Man" TV series episode starring Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk |
| Contains seven films on five DVDs: A Night at The Opera, A Day at The Races, A Night in Casablanca, Room Service, At the Circus, Go West, The Big Store Extras: Commentary by Leonard Maltin on A Night at the OperaCommentary by "The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia" Author Glenn Mitchell on A Day at the RacesAll-New Documentaries "Remarks On Marx," "On Your Marx, Get Set, Go!"The Hy Gardner Show (1/1/61) excerpt featuring Groucho Marx Vintage Shorts: "Fitzpatrick Traveltalk's Los Angeles: Wonder City Of The World""Sunday Night At The Trocadero"Robert Benchley's Academy Award-Winning "How To Sleep" "Pete Smith Specialty Quicker 'N A Wink""Flicker Memories"Joe McDoakes's "So You Think You're A Nervous Wreck""Fitzpatrick Traveltalk Cavalcade Of San Francisco"Robert Benchley's "A Night At The Movies"MGM Cartoons: "Gallopin' Gals," "Mama's New Hat," "Jitterbug Follies," "Old Smokey," "Officer Pooch," and "The Milky Way"Looney Tunes Cartoons: "The Daffy Doc" and "Acrobatty Bunny"Our Gang Comedy Shorts: "Party Fever" and "Dog Daze"Audio-Only: Musical Outtake A Message From The Man In The Moon (performed by Allan Jones), "Where There's Music," and an MGM Radio Promos "Leo Is On The Air"Theatrical Trailers |
| Re-creating the role she originated in Philip Barry's wickedly witty Broadway play, Katharine Hepburn stars as the spoiled and snobby socialite Tracy Lord in this sparkling 1940 screen adaptation of The Philadelphia Story, one of the great romantic comedies from the golden age of MGM studios. DVD Features Disk 1: Digitally Remastered Movie with Commentary by Film Historian Jeannine Basinger George Cukor Movie Trailer Gallery DVD Features Disk 2: Two Insightful Documentaries About the Star and Director: Katharine Hepburn: All About Me - A Self-Portrait and The Men Who Made the Movies: George Cukor Robert Benchley Short "That Inferior Feeling" Cartoon The Homeless Flea Audio-Only Bonus: Two Radio Adaptations Featuring the Movie's Three Stars. |
| Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, in a world of marital confusion. Presuming his wife to be dead, Grant remarries--on the same day that his bedraggled spouse (that's Dunne) returns. DVD Features: All new digital transferRadio production starring Cary Grant and Irene DunneRobert Benchley's short subject "Home Movies"Theatrical Trailer |
Complete Listing of Benchley's "Short Subjects" |
EC* | Title | Year | Studio | Directing by | Writing by | Acting by | Notes |
F1 | Boogie Woogie | 1945 | Paramount | Noel Madison | Ray E. Spencer | Robert Benchley, Roland Dupree, Darryl Hickman, Frank Cook, Jerry James, John Kelly, Frank Faylen, Carmella Bergstrom, Barbara Matthews, Ann Shoemaker | Color |
F2 | Courtship of the Newt, The | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F3 | Crime Control | 1941 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee | --- |
F4 | Dark Magic | 1939 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | --- | Robert Benchley, John Scarne | --- |
F5 | Day of Rest | 1939 | M-G-M | Basil Wrangell | --- | Robert Benchley | --- |
F6 | Evening Alone, An | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Lees and Frederic I. Rinaldo | Robert Benchley | --- |
F7 | Forgotten Man, The | 1941 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | --- | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee | --- |
F8 | Furnace Trouble | 1929 | Fox | James Parrott | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F9 | Hollywood Victory Caravan | 1945 | Paramount | William Russell | --- | Robert Benchley et al. | --- |
F10 | Home Early | 1939 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | --- | Robert Benchley | --- |
F11 | Home Movies | 1940 | M-G-M | Basil Wrangell | --- | Robert Benchley et al. | --- |
F12 | Hour for Lunch, An | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Lees and Frederic I. Rinaldo | Robert Benchley | --- |
F13 | How to be a Detective | 1936 | M-G-M | Felix E. Feist | Robert Lees and Frederic I. Rinaldo | Robert Benchley | --- |
F14 | How to Behave | 1936 | M-G-M | Arthur Ripley | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F15 | How to Break 90 at Croquet | 1935 | RKO | Leigh Jason | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F16 | How to Eat | 1939 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F17 | How to Figure Income Tax | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F18 | How to Raise a Baby | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Ricardo Cezon, Paul Clark, Robbie and Rolly Jones | --- |
F19 | How to Read | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F20 | How to Sleep | 1935 | M-G-M | Nick Grinde | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | Academy Award Winner |
F21 | How to Start the Day | 1937 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Lees and Frederic I. Rinaldo | Robert Benchley | --- |
F22 | How to Sub-Let | 1939 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F23 | How to Take a Vacation | 1941 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee | --- |
F24 | How to Train a Dog | 1936 | M-G-M | Arthur Ripley | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F25 | How to Vote | 1936 | M-G-M | Felix E. Feist | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F26 | How to Watch Football | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Joyce Compton, John Butler, Eddie Acuff, Diane Cock | --- |
F27 | I'm a Civilian Here Myself | 1945 | U.S. Navy | Harry Joe Brown | --- | Robert Benchley | --- |
F28 | Important Business | 1944 | M-G-M | Will Jason | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee, Connie Gilchirst | --- |
F29 | Keeping In Shape | 1942 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F30 | Lesson Number One | 1929 | Fox | James Parrott | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F31 | Man's Angle, The | 1942 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee | --- |
F32 | Mental Poise | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, John Butler | --- |
F33 | Music Made Simple | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F34 | My Tomato | 1943 | M-G-M | Will Jason | Paul Girard Smith | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee, Monty Collins | --- |
F35 | Night at the Movies, A | 1937 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Lees and Frederic I. Rinaldo | Robert Benchley, Gwen Lee, Hal K. Dawson, Frank Sheridan, Jack Baxley, Ricardo Cezon | Nominated for Academy Award |
F36 | No News Is Good News | 1943 | M-G-M | Will Jason | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Lon Poff | --- |
F37 | Nothing But Nerves | 1942 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F38 | Opening Day | 1938 | M-G-M | Roy Rowland | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Harlan Briggs, John Butler | --- |
F39 | Romance of Digestion, The | 1937 | M-G-M | Felix E. Feist | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F40 | See Your Doctor | 1939 | M-G-M | Basil Wrangell | Robert Benchley, Harry Parke | Robert Benchley, Hobart Cavanaugh, Monty Woolley, Helen MacKeller, Claire DuBrey | --- |
F41 | Sex Life of the Polyp, The | 1928 | Fox | Thomas Chalmers | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | National Film Registry, Library of Congress - 2007 |
F42 | Spellbinder, The | 1929 | Fox | Thomas Chalmers | --- | Robert Benchley | --- |
F43 | Stewed, Fried and Boiled | 1929 | Fox | James Parrott | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Sylvia Field, Virginia Sale, Edward Brady | --- |
F44 | That Inferior Feeling | 1940 | M-G-M | Basil Wrangell | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Mary Lee, John Butler, Jack Mulhall | --- |
F45 | Treasurer's Report, The | 1928 | Fox | Thomas Chalmers | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
F46 | Trouble with Husbands, The | 1940 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee | --- |
F47 | Waiting for Baby | 1941 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | --- | Robert Benchley | --- |
F48 | Why Daddy? | 1944 | M-G-M | Will Jason | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee, Fred Brady (Quiz Show Emcee), Richard Hall (Bobby) | --- |
F49 | Witness, The | 1942 | Paramount | Leslie M. Roush | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley, Ruth Lee | --- |
F50 | Your Technocracy and Mine | 1933 | Universal | --- | Robert Benchley | Robert Benchley | --- |
NOTE. "EC" is a reference to the code assigned each film in Robert Benchley, an Annotated Bibliography, by Gordon E. Ernst, Jr.RETURN TO SOB | RETURN TO HOME |