Eddie Cantor Goldwyn Collection

For the most part the films are fun, Busby Berkeley did choreography on several of them, but they also worked into the plot a black-face number, and that aspect hasn't aged well. Enjoy them for what they are, a cross section of work from a film star whose shine has faded. Considering his popularity at the time, a general familiarity with his work brings a bit of balance when looking at cinema at the time.

I bought Roman Scandals on VHS years ago. This DVD is wonderful. "Keep Young and Beautiful" is the big dance number where Eddie is singing and running around in the Roman ladies bath... Lucile Ball is one of the slave girls who dances herself to death in the only scene that is serious. My favorite line "No, first you hold my hand. Then you will want to shuffle the whole deck!"Palmy Days, Eddie's in love with the wrong woman, until nearly the end of the film. Lots of pre-code innuendo. "You can always have your spinach on the side." George Raft plays a gangster! Are you surprised?Strike Me Pink. Ethel Merman is wonderful. I liked her and Eddie in Kid Millions, too.The Kid From Spain. Not as funny as Palmy Days, but still good. Toby Wing is one of the girls in the background. OLE!These movies are not politically correct, but funny Vaudeville shtick. A product of the times. The biggest movie of all time in the early 1930s starred a Vaudeville actor singing in black face, so MGM had to have a Vaudeville actor singing in black face. Warner had Al, MGM had Eddie. They sold tickets. These movies are still funny.If you like musical comedy movies that are heavy on singing, joking and dancing, then you will enjoy this collection.

I highly recommend this small collection. Eddie's movies took a long time to make it to DVD and I have been reluctant to make a purchase because I was concerned about the quality. This collection showcases 4 of his more memorable films at a decent price. Nice packaging and simple menus make watching these movies a breeze. Not much in the way of extras or additional information regarding the movies themselves but that's okay by me. The one really neat thing about this collection is that they are in order of release.

I was looking forward to these musical comedy's, having had some VHS copies recorded from the TV years ago. I was very disappointed in the quality of the print and the terrible sound quality, some sections having half the frequencies missing. I know these are all early thirties films and expect a few flaws, but I have many films from the same era which have been been restored to perfection.Some time needs to be spent remastering the prints.Spoilt it for me.

want a silly laugh, watch these...fun stuff

I've been waiting for "Roman Scandals" to come out on DVD for some time. Not bad quality for a 1933 film. I noticed that some of the writers on this were also involved with the Marx brothers. The weird Busby Berkley, pre code, musical numbers are wonderful, though He wouldn't perfect that format until a few years later. Never seen the 3 other films, so I'm looking forward to that.

Waited a long time for the official release, what a collection. For all Eddie Cantor fans this is a must. Excellent service, will use again.Get a copy now.John McHugh

Reviewers of these DVDs who did not warn of the very poor picture quality have done prospective buyers a disservice. I cannot believe that Warner's, who usually do such a good job, could not have accessed better quality prints than these. They are very soft and look simply awful.Although the previously issued laser discs were just as bad, to make matters worse the framing of the picture in all four films is heavily cropped.

Eddie Cantor is absolutely amazing.

This is a wonderful collection of four Eddie Cantor films from the early to mid 30s.Some of the films hold up,while others don't.Let's take a look.Palmy Days(released Oct/31)stars,among others Eddie,Charlotte Greenwood and Charles Middleton.Eddie is an employee of a crooked psychic,and not a very good one.He forces Eddie to apply for a position in a pastry and bread factory.He takes on being an efficiency expert.When the crooked psychic and his henchmen try to get their mitts on the presidents dough,Eddie saves the dough,literally and figuratively.This film was a big smash for Eddie.The opening number is typical fantasy of a Cantor film.Busby Berkeley does the dances.3 1/2-4 stars.The Kid From Spain(released Nov/32)stars,among others,Eddie,Lyda Roberti and Robert Young.The story finds Young and Cantor as school chums who don't graduate from college due to a prank gone wrong.Young goes back to his home country of Mexico, where he tries wooing his girlfriend back,but she is engaged to another man due to her father's say so.Eddie meanwhile has trouble, as he was forced by fleeing bank robbers to drive them to safety.They force him across the border to Mexico,where he eventually meets up with Young once more.Young tries to throw an American cop off the trail who is following Eddie ,by telling him he isn't who he thinks he is,but is actually a famous Spanish bullfighter.It ends up Eddie ends up having to really fight a bull.Post fight Eddie comes forth with evidence that Young's betrothed fiance is set to marry a crook.Young gets his girl,and Eddie gets the girl's friend(Roberti).Leo McCarey directs it and it has the most substantial plot of all the films herein.There are a lot of funny moments,the crossing of the border being one of the best of them.Nice choreography from Berkeley.4- 4 1/2 stars.Roman Scandals(released Dec/33)stars,among others,Eddie,Edward Arnold and Alan Mowbray.The story here centers around a town(West Rome) ne'er do well,Eddie.He is kicked out of town by a crooked businessman,who he has the dope on,and ends up falling asleep and waking up in ancient Rome.There is similar trouble in this imaginary world,as there is in West Rome,with a crooked Emperor who he must unmask.Eventually he comes back to reality and settles the score with the man who had him run out of town.With nice numbers by Berkeley,this is a drop down from The Kid from Spain, but it certainly has a lot of moments to recommend it.3 1/2- 4 stars. Strike Me Pink(released Jan/36) stars,among others,Eddie,Brian Donlevy,Ethel Merman and William Frawley.This film has Eddie running a store with a college man as a boarder,who is trying to graduate,after seven tries.He finally does,with Eddie's help,who has himself taken a DIY course on becoming firm and courageous.While the new graduate goes off the join the Navy Eddie is recruited by the guys mother, who runs an amusement park.He immediately has to deal with a mob who want to install crooked slot machines throughout the park.It seems the previous holders of Eddies position all met untimely demises when they wouldn't go along with them.Eddie eventually routs the gang and the park is safe once more.This film starts out with great potential,but about half way through it falls apart,becoming tedious and boring.The last final chase of the crooks after Eddie, devolves into plain silliness.One of the best things of this film is Merman's High and Low number.It has to be arguably the best filmed number she ever did.It is lovingly photographed and shaded.2 1/2-3 stars.The first three films feature Berkeley numbers,as noted,while the last film is Berkeley-less.In the first three Eddie eventually appears in Black Face.Al Jolson seems to have become the whipping boy for its usage,while Cantor has got off with little or no mention.Why is that? There definitely seems to be a double standard somewhere.It was the norm for many,many years in theater and is no more offensive than burnt toast,even today.Eddie Cantor was one of the supreme artists of the 20th Century along with his friend Jolson.To say they don't make them like those men anymore,is an understatement.The first three films present Eddie as giving the public of the depression era a little sex,a little smile and a song.All three are handsomely represented in each.;and them being pre code films,he gets away with a lot of double entendre's in each category.The last film is post code and it shows.Gone are much of the knowing eye winks and hidden meanings in the songs and jokes, and the dancers are more discreetly covered up.In conclusion,this is a must have set for all Cantor fans.It is,however,a mixed bag.My best pic being The Kid From Spain,while the poorest is Strike Me Pink.The other two fall somewhere in between.Eddie never fails to amuse,as he always seems to play a milquetoast kind of character, that is always likeable and quick with the jokes and songs.Eddie had a lovable style all his own and it is easy to see why he was one of the highest paid entertainers of his generation.