Penny Serenade/His Girl Friday

Rating:
Summary: Cary, Irene and Roz: What more could you ask for?
Review: My memories of "Penny Serenade" far surpassed the reality of viewing it again recently on this DVD. Unfortunately, even though the cast is very strong and the director, George Stevens went on direct such classics as "Giant," the film is very dated in it's form and exposition specifically. The old hoary device of using records spinning on a turntable to recall and propell scenes has not aged well. In fact it was a surprise to me to see that the movie was released in 1941, not 1931! But the interplay between Cary Grant,Edgar Buchanan and Irene Dunne is classic film acting that still stands up well and Grant's scene in the judges office is a classic tearjerker as powerful as any in film history. But Baby Trina dying off camera? What is with that? I mean if your going to be a tearjerker isn't this scene obligatory? George Stevens was a perfectionist by all accounts: are there scenes missing in this print, do you think? The Ultra Contemporary and still hilarious "His Girl Friday" directed by Howard Hawks is also in this set and it's once again a pleasure to see the sparks fly between Grant and Rosalind Russell. And "His Girl Friday" was released a year BEFORE "Penny Serenade." A note about the transfer to DVD: below average at best. The contrast between black and white is mostly non-existent making everything grey. Not Good. Laserlight shame on you.

Rating:
Summary: Cary, Irene and Roz: What more could you ask for?
Review: My memories of "Penny Serenade" far surpassed the reality of viewing it again recently on this DVD. Unfortunately, even though the cast is very strong and the director, George Stevens went on direct such classics as "Giant," the film is very dated in it's form and exposition specifically. The old hoary device of using records spinning on a turntable to recall and propell scenes has not aged well. In fact it was a surprise to me to see that the movie was released in 1941, not 1931! But the interplay between Cary Grant,Edgar Buchanan and Irene Dunne is classic film acting that still stands up well and Grant's scene in the judges office is a classic tearjerker as powerful as any in film history. But Baby Trina dying off camera? What is with that? I mean if your going to be a tearjerker isn't this scene obligatory? George Stevens was a perfectionist by all accounts: are there scenes missing in this print, do you think? The Ultra Contemporary and still hilarious "His Girl Friday" directed by Howard Hawks is also in this set and it's once again a pleasure to see the sparks fly between Grant and Rosalind Russell. And "His Girl Friday" was released a year BEFORE "Penny Serenade." A note about the transfer to DVD: below average at best. The contrast between black and white is mostly non-existent making everything grey. Not Good. Laserlight shame on you.

Rating:
Summary: A Good movie paired with a cheesy one
Review: Penny Serenade is total cheese. Added to it, you get a preview by Tony Curtis - Mr. Cheese himself. This not one of Cary Grant's better movies to say the least.
However, His Girl Friday is an excellent movie. The pace is very fast for a black & white. Rosiland Russell is super and the banter between her and Cary is classic. Definately a must see. Buy the package and throw away Penny Serende.