TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Comedy (Arsenic and Old Lace / A Night at the Opera / The Long Long Trailer / Father of the Bride 1950)

The TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection make some terrific classic movies available for a more than reasonable price and this comedy entry can be yours for a little less than that even! It's a nice package with a sleeve containing the usual individual titles on the front and brief synopses on the back and a flip style case where the first disc is in a holder that flips over to reveal the second (instead of both discs being seated on the inside of the covers). The movies alone are more than worth the price but some extras (trailers, a cartoon, a short) are included.I'm not a Marx Bros. fan so "A Night At The Opera" is my least fav of the 4 pictures, but it is still worth looking at for the history of the MBs, to wonder how anyone could think they were funny, and Harpo playing, you know, a beautiful tune on the harp. "Arsenic And Old Lace" is a typical screwball comedy and showcase for Cary Grant and, since you've had to see a high school theater cover it on stage at some time, good chance to see if your drama club was merely trying to copy the 1944 Hollywood version. "Father Of The Bride" is a fantastic domestic comedy based on the simple premise of a bride's family preparing for a wedding - deservedly included as a classic in this collection. Spencer Tracy is one of the VERY few actors/resses in history able to really excell in any type of role and this is proof in the comedy department (though there is considerable pathos in this story). Then there is "The Long Long Trailer" as a showcase for the talents of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz; this film is underrated and kind of steps up from the wedding theme of FOTB to a honeymoon motif. If you've ever pulled a camper/trailer, tried to back one, make a turn at a tight intersection with one, level one in a downpour, or had one fly past you on the highway only to realize it's yours (yes, it happened to me! Hook up those safety chains people!) you can't help but appreciate the humor of the situations the wedded couple find themselves in trying to pull their 50' mobile home around the country! Unfortunately, the monstrosity also causes some strife for the newlyweds. Most viewers probably can't shake the "Lucy" identities of the 2 stars here so they'll see only an extended episode of ILL but this project transcends "I Love Lucy" and is a solid film comedy, oh, and one that the entire family can be invited to watch, something Ms. Ball seemed to do extremely well, and probably not often enough.Bottom line, I guess, is that these are 4 great movies at a better-than-fair price. P.S. I want Robert Osborne or Ben Mankiewicz's job!!!

Four movies in one package, have watched "Arsenic and Old Lace" and is a fantastic film, DVD is good quality as well.

A Night at the Opera is a madcap spree with the Marx Brothers. A conglomeration of music, comedy and a little insanity. Arsenic and Old Lace is a brilliant comedy. Cary Grant plays an author of books against marriage who just got married to the girl next door to his aunts. His aunts have a bad habit of poisoning elderly men with arsenic in the elderberry wine. His brother has escaped from the prison for the criminally insane, and his uncle Teddy thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt. Add a host of policemen, doctors, a judge, a reverend, and family secret and it is riotously funny. Father of the Bride is about the stress of the wedding on the father of the bride. Spencer Tracy is great. The Long, Long, Trailer is a Lucille Ball and Dezi Arnez vehicle for their comedy.

OK i am little biased as I would watch cary grant eat oatmeal, he's that interesting to me funny, handsome and no man ever has, or will, look better in a suit than him, I've had a serious crush on him since I was little and would watch old movies w/my grandmother(before dvd or even VHS, oops I just dated myself there, a local channel would have "celebrating" whoever marathons, and when it was someone she liked I'd spend the night at her house she'd make popcorn and we'd watch classics all night I knew who bette davis was before I knew who bette midler is I cherish those memories, especially now that she hasalzheimers and doesn't know who I am

The movies were great!! I have more comments about how they were packaged because it was different that I had expected.I bought these for my elderly mother who lives with me, so my review is based on using these for a senior person.The titles were in extremely tiny print stamped around the center hole. Very hard to read.The subtitles were created in white w/o a black box around them -- this made it hard to read them -- especially if the film was black and white!! Most subtitles come with a black box in which the subtitle is reversed out to white -- same as the TV -- which makes it much easier to read. Caring for a senior makes me much more aware of all the small things that affect their independence. Ease of use, larger type on the packaging and a visually enhanced subtitle would improve the use of these for that population immensely. Thanks!!

Everyone deserves a good laugh each and every day! This collection of some of the funniest of films, is a good start! Each film is a true classic in its own right, and you will not be disappointed by any of them. My particular favorite in this collection is "The Long, Long Trailer". As a family who went trailering about the country when I was a child, I can see both my mother and father in these two wonderful characters played by the incomparable Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. Many of their foibles are reminiscent of my own trailer vacation experiences! SO darn funny!!PLEASE, treat yourself to some good, clean belly laughs, and show your children what real comedy is all about!

All good movies. A treasure to have them all, finally!

I love Arsenic and Old Lace! My daughters (16 years old & 22 years old) watched it with me and thoroughly enjoyed it. My youngest thought Cary Grant was "hot". Father of the Bride is priceless and The Long Long Trailer is a hoot! I haven't watched "A Night at the Opera" yet. Great DVD! Good clean family fun. Arsenic and Old Lace is a rather dark and morbid for young children. You are dealing with murder (several of them). I would say no one younger than 12 years old just because of the dark humor.

I would have probably have given four or five stars for this product if one of the double sided DVDs wasn't defective. Unfortunately for some reason the disc containing A Night At The Opera,(which I know is excellent entertainment) plus Arsenic And Old Lace(also a classic) was rejected by my DVD player, yet played the other double sided disc which included Father of the Bride and The Long, Long Trailer. The DVDs are region 1,b(I have a multi region DVD player) but this is the first time I have any problems with DVDS from the U.S.A, and have ordered and played several titles without any problems. I have sent the discs back to the seller and am at the present time waiting for a reply + refund/exchange at the present time(8th October 2015)Of the two films that I watched to my surprise I found that The Long, Long Trailer (1954) starring Desi arnez and Lucille Ball was very, very funny and entertaining, the Anscocolor (print by Technicolor) was gleaming as was the husband and wife team of Arnez and Ball. A top notch comedy, directed by Vincente Minnelli who also was at the helm for the other movie on the disc.Father Of The Bride (1950) starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and a very young Elizabeth Taylor, was also a sparkling witty comedy with Tracy especially good as the put upon father of the title. (I would like to say that Spencer Tracy was one of the few actors on screen that could have a realistic conversation at meal-times and look like he was actually enjoying what he was eating.) A highly entertaining piece directed by the talented Vincente Minnelli. Co starring Don Taylor, Billie Burke, Moroni Olsen, Leo G Carroll and in a small role a young Russ Tamblyn. (of Tom Thumb (1958) fame) The two above movies produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.P.S. Please avoid Father Of The Bride starring Steve Martin, all that the movies have in common are the TITLE.RMM

The Marx Brothers are my favs and "Arsenic and Old Lace" a terrific takeoff on Hallowe'en scaries. Desi and Lucy and Tracey and Taylor round out a quartet that ranged from manic (Marx) to antic ("Arsenic") and family fun, (the other 2 films). It's an intro to movie comedies, and could take watchers deeper into comedy in films. Film Comedies 101, and a grand starting place. Films are nicely restored, too.

Wonderful old classic films. An interesting assortment because while Father of the Bride and The Long Long Trailer are sweet and heartwarmingly funny they are completely different to the other two films. Arsenic and Old Lace is a fabulously scary comedy - very dark humour. On the other side of the spectrum is A Night at the Opera which is slapstick silly humour at its best with the Marx Brothers. Eclectic but worth every penny.

I was able to share these movies that I watched with my mitt with my husband. It is a wonderful DVD

I really only wanted 2 of the movies in this collection to replace VHS tapes. I did enjoy the other 2 movies.