Eureka Entertainment is to release Early Universal Vol. 1, a trio of silent features from the studio’s early days, on 16 August. All three films have been restored as part of the studio’s ongoing program.
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On the collection are:
Skinner’s Dress Suit (dir. William A. Seiter, 1926) – Reginald Denny stars as a shy clerk who asks his boss for a raise at the urging of his wife. His request is rejected, but he lies to his wife, who immediately goes out and buys an expensive suit, an act that upends his once-ordered life. (4K Restoration)
The Shield of Honor (dir. Emory Johnson, 1927) – The LAPD has a new method of fighting crime, the Air Police! Their newest recruit, young hotshot pilot Jack MacDowell (Neil Hamilton), is tasked with catching a gang of jewellery thieves. (2K Restoration) (Worldwide Debut on Blu-ray)
The Shakedown (dir. William Wyler, 1929) – Dave Roberts (James Murray) is a fighter better known for taking falls in fixed fights than for taking home the prize money. But then he falls head-over-heels for a fiery waitress (Barbara Kent) and a rough-and-tumble orphan (Jack Hanlon), and he begins to dramatically alter his life inside and outside of the ring. (4K Restoration)
Special Features:
- Skinner’s Dress Suit – score by Leo Birenberg
- The Shield of Honor – score by Alex Kovacs
- The Shakedown – score by Michael Gatt
- Audio Commentary tracks on all three features
- A collection of additional materials from the early era of Universal Pictures, with complimentary analysis by silent film experts and historians
- Collector’s Booklet featuring new writing on the films included in this set