Red Skelton Whistling Collection (Whistling in the Dark / Whistling in Dixie / Whistling in Brooklyn) |  | Director: S. Sylvan Simon
Actors: Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford, Conrad Veidt, Virginia Grey, Eve Arden
Studio: Warner Bros.
Category: DVD
List Price: $34.99
Buy New: $28.60
as of 9/5/2010 10:14 CDT details
You Save: $6.39 (18%)
New (7) Used (1) from $28.60
Seller: jamco2000
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 11585
Format: NTSC, Black & White, Full Screen
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD-R
Region: 0
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 3
Running Time: 239 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 883316257838
EAN: 0883316257838
ASIN: B003Q9VXTY
Release Date: July 23, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
"The screen needs smooth comics like this one," The New York Times' Bosley Crowther wrote about Red Skelton's starring debut in Whistling in the Dark [Disc 1]. What was true then is true today when Red unleashes live-wire goofiness as the Fox, a radio sleuth kidnapped by crooks wanting him to devise a perfect murder. The result? Perfect chaos! Whistling in Dixie [Disc 2] plunges Red (and Whistling trilogy co-stars Ann Rutherford and Rags Ragland) into a magnolias-and-mayhem mystery about Confederate treasure. In Whistling in Brooklyn [Disc 3], the Fox is on the lam as Suspect #1 in a murder. His path leads him to baseball's Ebbets Field, where he takes the mound. The Fox doesn't just throw screwballs, he is one!
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| Customer Reviews:
 Excellent collection from Warner Archives August 7, 2010
Tom Conner
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Red Skelton's "Whistling" collection is recorded on demand by Warner Archives and is an excellent product. The studio uses pristine masters and the results is sharp DVD-Rs that look and play just like pressed DVDs. I was thrilled when I saw Warner Video was producing this rare collection. Each movie is recorded on its own disc and the original theatrical trailer is included for each title. The plots of these hilarious comedies are simple: Red plays The Fox, a radio detective who's trying to marry his fiancé, played by Ann Rutherford. In each picture, the marriage plan is interrupted by a murder mystery and The Fox getting involved up to his ears.
 Pleasantly Surprised July 13, 2010
BreezySummerDays (USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
After buying two horrible copies of The Eve Arden Show and Our Miss Brooks Vol. 1 of the TV series, I was pleasantly surprised at the clarity and sound of the "Whistling In" trilogy. They were normal dvd quality and I'd recommend purchasing them as they're very difficult to find on dvd.
Emerging Star Skelton As The Fox August 12, 2010
Vincent T. Lynch (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It has often been written that MGM couldn't "do" comedy, and indeed, some of Red Skelton's best starring comedy roles came when he was loaned out to other studios (e.g., "The Yellow Cab Man" and "The Fuller Brush Man"). But, MGM did a decent to superb job in this trio of films. What's interesting about this trio of films -- the Whistling Collection -- is that you have an opportunity to see Skelton transformed as an emerging star. The first film in the trilogy is "Whistling In The Dark", and it's a tentative Skelton here in a fast-paced, not so smoothly written story with some cool performances by Conrad Veidt and Eve Arden. The second installment ("Whistling In Dixie") is better produced, but perhaps a tad slower, with a fine supporting role by Guy Kibbee. The gem of the trio is the third in the series -- "Whistling In Brooklyn". This film is quite polished with a great blend of snappy dialog, one-liners, and slapstick. You'll enjoy the appearance of the real Brooklyn Dodgers, including one funny scene with a young Leo Durocher. You'll also recognize Ray Collins from Perry Mason fame, although here he is the villain. The elevator scene, though far-fetched, is great slapstick, and while the baseball segment almost slows the film down a bit, it's got some great sight gags.
A constant in all three films is Ann Rutherford as Red's love interest, and you'll remember her from "Gone With The Wind" (one of Scarlett's sisters); she's a good comedy foil here. Rags Ragland is the comedy sidekick, although his roles change from one picture to the next, from villain in the first film to villain and good guy in the second film (twin brothers), to good guy in the final film. It's in the last film that the exchanges between Skelton and Ragland really shine.
But again, what's most interesting in this film series is watching Red Skelton mature as a leading comedy actor. By the third film he is clearly quite confident and, surprisingly, a smooth romantic lead, while still excelling at the comedy. You can see why Skelton was becoming a threat to top comedian Bob Hope (who gets mentioned in each of the last two films) over at Paramount. I had seen each of these films previously, but never over consecutive nights, and that was a pleasure.
The quality of the prints is excellent, including the sound, particularly in "Whistling In Brooklyn". Thanks and kudos to Warner Brothers for their Archive Collection!
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