The Marlon Brando Collection DVD Credits:

Region: 1

The Marlon Brando Collection DVD Release Date: 7th November 2006

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The Marlon Brando Collection DVD Review:

Arguably one of the most influential actors in the history of American cinema, Marlon Brando’s career is certainly something to marvel at. Although the Marlon Brando Collection doesn’t feature any of his extremely popular roles, there are a few remarkable films and a variety of roles featuring the star. From his attempt at Shakespeare to playing a Japanese interpreter Brando always takes the role on completely and this can be seen in each of the films chosen for the collection. It spotlights the performer with a number of somewhat enjoyable films.

Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
This epic adventure is 185 minutes long and is split onto two discs in the Two-Disc Special Edition. The photography is as magnificent as it has ever been and there are a number of great moments in the classic telling of the novel written by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. The slow burning tale centers around a mission to retrieve breadfruit trees from Tahiti, and the true story involving a mutiny against Capt. William Bligh by first officer Fletcher Christian. Brando plays Christian in the second adaptation of the novel, which was highly praised for all for the technical achievements when it was released.
The film is long enough to have an intermission, which is justified reason enough to split the film onto two discs. As well as a new digital transfer restored from 65mm elements, there are a number of special features. There are four vintage featurettes about the film as well as one new featurette. There is also an alternate prologue and epilogue sequence which was not shown theatrically.

Julius Caesar (1953)
Working directly from Shakespeare’s written word, this version of Julius Caesar takes Brando out of his traditional roles to play Mark Antony, giving one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues. It is a slow moving and at times a violent tragedy with a great deal of dialogue for the actors to get through. The performances are all spectacular although the film may be somewhat lengthy for anyone who isn’t entertained enough by good performances. The DVD includes a new introduction by TCM host Robert Osborne and has a new featurette, “The Rise of Two Legends”.

Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)
This tightly bound melodrama based on the novel by Carson McCullers is a star studded complex film that may not be for everybody. Directed by John Huston it is a subtle film about repressed homosexuality and betrayals in a Southern Army base that is seeing no action. Marlon Brando is a high ranking military official who is having more personal problems than he would ever admit. His wife, played by Elizabeth Taylor, is having an affair with another soldier, and she has also become an unsuspecting victim of voyeurism from yet another. It is a slightly unbelievable and intricate web of melodrama, but the performances are fantastic and Huston is dependable as always. The special features include a vintage collection of behind-the-scenes footage as well as a trailer gallery as the other DVDs include as well.

The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)
This is a difficult one to judge, but not because the film is bad. Based on the prize-winning play by John Patrick it is a great script and plenty entertainingly led by Glenn Ford, but Marlon Brando takes the supporting role of Sakini with some difficulty. The story has post-war American troops going into a small village to try and bring civilization, but instead the soldiers are all romanced by the simple ways of the village. Brando is the interpreter for the American soldiers. Some might have a problem with his comedic abilities which are contingent upon his ability to play Japanese convincingly. The DVD includes a vintage featurette and a trailer gallery.

The Formula (1980)
Made in 1980 this film could be made again today and paired perfectly with Syriana. The relevance is still remarkable even as utterly outdated as many other elements are. The theories and paranoia about the oil industry seems a constant issue which only grows as time goes on and The Formula deals with a secret formula for a synthetic fuel which could instantly replace oil, but this formula is kept a secret. A tough Los Angeles detective begins investigating until his investigations take him on a chase around the world. George C. Scott stars as the detective who is up against the powerful Adam Steiffel, the oil mogul. There are a few great scenes in this confusing political thriller that falls flat with an anti-climactic ending. The DVD contains a commentary track by director John G. Avildsen and screenwriter Steve Shagan.

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The Marlon Brando Collection DVD review written by: Ryan Izay