MovieChat Forums > My Man Godfrey (1936) Discussion > Which DVD?

Which DVD?

posted 12 years ago by bleuhawaii19
4 replies | jump to latest

Since I can't seem to find this in stores anywhere and I really enjoy it, I will be ordering it from Amazon. Amazon lists a bunch of different DVD versions of the movie and I was wondering which one has the best quality. I already own a copy on a compilation set with around 15 other movies and the quality was horrendous (I tried watching it one day and just couldn't).

Amazon isn't really helpful since the reviews for the movie all combine together, no matter which version of the DVD you click on.

Years ago, I rented the DVD from Zip (online Canadian rental service similar to Netflix). I just checked my ZipList to see what version I had received and it was the Criterion version which had very good quality.

I will buy the Criterion version if need be but was hoping one of the less expensive versions had just as good quality.

Any help is appreciated.

[–] ChorusGirl 12 years ago

For years the Criterion DVD was the best. Mastered from Universal's best surviving 35mm print. Expensive but looks gorgeous...looks even better than the print TCM shows.

The DVD even comes with a blooper reel and the 1938 radio version.

This movie was in the "public domain" for decades after the rights lapsed, and most copies look terrible. Some so bad you can't even hear the dialogue.

But last year Universal released their own...as part of their 100Th Anniversary celebration. Since they own the negative it is safe to say it is mastered from the same print as the Criterion one. And its about half the price. No extras.

Follow this link: Cover should look like this:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-my-man-godfrey-william-powell/3627900?cm_mmc=googlepla-_-dvd-_-q000000633-_-25192118555&cm_mmca2=pla&ean=25192118555&isbn=25192118555&r=1

[–] bleuhawaii19 12 years ago

Thanks for the reply.

I searched Amazon and the only DVD I could find with the same cover is
http://www.amazon.com/My-Man-Godfrey-William-Powell/dp/B006TTC5UE
but it doesn't say anything on it about being apart of the 100th Anniversary celebration. It is also $9.99 as opposed to the $14.99 one on B&N.

[–] bleuhawaii19 12 years ago

I visited my local B&N a couple of days ago and was pleased they had it in stock. I found one of the other DVDs (for a cheaper price) and asked the SA if they had the 100th Anniversary edition in stock. She checked and it didn't have the 100th Anniversary part but the cover was the same otherwise (also mentioned 100 Years on the back under the 2 special features). I was also pleased that all of the classic movies were on sale for 50% off so I ended up getting it for $7.50 :)

[–] fanaticita 8 years ago

I borrowed the Criterion edition from my local library.