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Gary Cooper Signature Collection is a 6-disc, 5 film boxed set.
Gary Cooper is one of our country's best actors, he had a long career that stretched from the silent era on up into the late 1950's, and he left us with an impressive body of work
To those of you who are Gary Cooper fans I shouldn't have to tell you what a good cross-section of his films are included in this set. For those of you not that familiar with Gary Cooper and his career, this is a good start if you are in the process of starting your DVD film library. It is a good representation of the movies he left us - from the earlier SERGEANT YORK to THE FOUNTAINHEAD. And THE WRECK OF THE MARY DEARE, his next to last film. This set will make a nice addition to anybody's collection. In this set you get five films starring this legendary actor who never gave a bad performance. Even in some of his lesser films he seems to rise above the material with his performance.
Sergeant York (1941) -
Alvin C. York (Gary Cooper) is a hell-raiser until he meets the love of his life Gracie Williams (Joan Leslie). Alvin straightens out and through great effort wins the money to buy some rich farmland that will make him a suitable husband. When the seller reneges on the deal Alvin seeks revenge but is stopped by a bolt of lightning; he finds religion and humility under the guidance of his pastor (also the general store owner) Rosier Pile (Walter Brennan). Then the war comes and the Army rejects York's application as a conscientious objector. The commanding officer (Stanley Ridges) helps Alvin with his pacifist conflict, and in combat he faces up to his greatest fear -- the necessity of killing.
Alvin York's Mother (Margaret Wycherly) sums up the stubborn, humble rural American attitude in a prayer: "And help us not to be beholden to anybody." That's all the Yorks ask for, even though Mother is overjoyed when her boy knuckles down and determines to better their lot by getting a better piece of land. Alvin York was heaven-sent as a representative of the need for a complacent America to once again go to war in Europe: A Christian in the last war who overcame his pacifist beliefs, saved his command in a daring and bloody single-handed exploit, and became the most decorated hero of the day. York's story had everything: Pacifism versus combat service, Godly rural values against the political mire of war. And the real York had himself remained a fervent pacifist.
Special Features:
The Fountainhead (1949)
Ambitious version of Ayn Rand philosophic novel, spotlighting an idealistic architect's clash of compromises of society. The Fountainhead shows how too many people are content to live blind, bland uninspired lives steeped in a purposefully ignorance that in time saps their creative souls. The Fountainhead is as much about art as it is about architecture. It is more than a movie about love between a man and a woman and it speaks to the human heart of man and why he creates. This film is excellent! It's like the Classics Illustrated version of Rand's novel. Rand did a great job honing her epic novel down into a workable screenplay. Cooper is excellent as Roark as are Patricia Neal and Raymond Massey. Adding great dimensions to the film are the crescendo-filled music of Max Steiner, the deep shadows in Robert Burks' masterful cinematography, and the almost expressionistic sets by Edward Carrere and William L. Kuehl.
Special Features:
Springfield Rifle (1952)
Major Lex Kearney, dishonorably discharged from the army for cowardice in battle, has actually volunteered to go undercover to try to prevent raids against shipments of horses desperately needed for the Union war effort. Falling in with the gang of jayhawkers and Confederate soldiers who have been conducting the raids, he gradually gains their trust and is put in a position where he can discover who has been giving them secret information revealing the routes of the horse shipments.
Special Features:
The Wreck of Mary Deare (1959)
In the English Channel John Sands, captain of a small rescue ship, finds the freighter Mary Deare drifting. Although there's only a little fire, the whole crew seems to have left the ship. John's already looking forward to a large salvage fee, but then he finds first officer Gideon Patch still on board, who sends him away. Although he doesn't understand yet what happened on the Mary Deere, Sands allows Patch to persuade him not to talk about what he saw on board and to drag out the official investigation of the incident.
Special Features:
Dallas (1950)
Gary Cooper and a marshal change identities, since they both agree Cooper would be more efficient facing the outlaws. What is remarkable in this film are the costumes, both the marshal´s and Steve Cochran´s who is the bad guy. Cochran wears his guns backwards, probably to be able to crossdraw. The film starts quite excitingly with a showdown with Wild Bill Hickok. Ruth Roman, looking very pretty is the marshal´s fiancee. There is plenty of action, never a dull moment, but you have to concentrate, because the story is a bit complicated. Good entertainment.
Special Features:
There are two film clips relative to this boxed set. It is recommended that you have a high-speed internet connection to view these clips, a dial-up connection will take a lot more loading time. These movie clips will open as default in Windows Media Player.
Disc 1
Disc 2
Two insightful documentaries:
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Sergeant York
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The Fountainhead
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Two of the films in this boxed set can also be purchased separately, just click the image below.
 Sergeant York 2-Disc Edition |
 The Fountainhead |
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