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The Centennial Collection
by Brian Tallerico
STUDIO: Paramount
RELEASE DATE: November 11, 2008
STARRING: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Humphrey Bogart
WRITTEN BY: Various
DIRECTED BY: Various
FEATURES: Enough to Spend a Weekend With (Complete List Below Review)
When you think of classic Hollywood royalty, there are a few names that immediately spring to mind - Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Gloria Swanson, Gregory Peck, and William Holden would definitely be near the top of the list. And when you think of stylish, classy, timeless movies, three that definitely would top most lists are Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and Sunset Boulevard. These aren't your standard "classic movies". They represent a glamorous time-gone-by in Hollywood. It's ironic that a movie about a fading star has become so closely identified with the cinema of better times gone by but when you see a montage of classic movies, it's almost illegal to not include Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. And when I think of the all-time great movie faces, Audrey Hepburn's always comes to mind first. One of the most beautiful women in the history of cinema, Audrey was in her prime in Sabrina and Roman Holiday, the former a nice diversion and the latter one of my favorite movies of its era. Sunset Boulevard, Sabrina, and Roman Holiday have all been re-released in gorgeous 2-disc DVD sets with extensive special features under the Paramount banner of the Centennial Collection. For classic movie fans, Christmas is here early. Movie descriptions and details on special features below:
Centennial Collection # 1: Sunset Boulevard
 Gloria Swanson gives a career-defining performance as faded silent screen star Norma Desmond in director Billy Wilder's dark and masterful film classic, "Sunset Boulevard." William Holden is Joe Gillis, the young, down-on-his-luck screenwriter whom Norma drafts to help provide her with a workable script for her planned "return" to the modern-day screen. Erich von Stroheim is Max von Mayerling, Norma's devoted servant and chauffeur, who harbors a few personal revelations of his own. Hollywood has never taken a more ominous, compelling or electrifying look at Hollywood than in this brilliant, Oscar®-winning tour de force that still mesmerizes with its witty, sardonic script, unforgettable cast, and provocative storyline. The exceptional cast also includes Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough, Jack Webb and -- as themselves -- Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper, Buster Keaton, Anna Q. Nilsson and H.B. Warner.
The Sunset Blvd. DVD will be presented in full screen format with Dolby Digital English, French or Spanish Mono and English, French or Spanish subtitles. Bonus material includes:
Commentary by Ed Sikov, author of On Sunset Blvd: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder
Behind the Gates: The Lot
The Noir Side of Sunset Blvd. by Joseph Wambaugh
Two Sides of Ms. Swanson
Mad About the Boy: A Portrait of William Holden
Sunset Blvd.: The Beginning
Stories of Sunset Blvd.
Sunset Blvd. Becomes a Classic
Recording Sunset Blvd.
The City of Sunset Blvd.
Original Morgue Prologue
The Score of Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood Location Map
Paramount in the ‘50s
Photo Gallery
Original Theatrical Trailer
Centennial Collection # 2: Roman Holiday
 There is an old saying: "See Naples and die ... see Rome and LIVE!" And Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) plans to do just that. While on a high-profile tour of European cities, this modern-day princess decides to rebel against her regimented and stifling royal obligations once her regal entourage reaches Italy. Determined to take in all the sights and sounds of The Eternal City, she sneaks off on an adventurous exploration ... one that leads to an encounter with handsome American newspaperman Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) and his affable photographer pal (Eddie Albert). Joe is desperate for an exclusive story -- and he's got a colossal one, once he discovers he's in the company of a runaway princess! Can romance be far behind? Nominated to 10 Academy Awards and the winner of three*, director William Wyler's timeless romp is an enthralling romantic comedy that will capture your heart and imagination. *Winner: Best Actress (Audrey Hepburn); Best Writing - Motion Picture Story (Dalton Trumbo); and Best Costume Design - Black & White (Edith Head), 1953.
The Roman Holiday DVD will be presented in full screen format with Dolby Digital English, French or Spanish Mono and English, French or Spanish subtitles. Bonus material includes:
Behind the Gates: Costumes
Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years
Remembering Audrey Hepburn
Rome with a Princess
Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist
Restoring Roman Holiday
Paramount in the ‘50s
Photo Galleries
Original Theatrical Teaser trailer
Original Theatrical Trailer
Theatrical Re-release Trailer
Centennial Collection # 3: Sabrina
 Isn't it romantic...Sabrina is charming, humorous and aglow with some of Hollywood's greatest stars. Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and Audrey Hepburn star in a Cinderella story directed by renowned filmmaker Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot). Bogie and Holden are the mega-rich Larrabee brothers of Long Island. Bogie's all work, Holden's all playboy. But when Sabrina, daughter of the family's chauffeur, returns from Paris all grown up and glamorous, the stage is set for some family fireworks as the brothers fall under the spell of Hepburn's delightful charms.
The Sabrina DVD will be presented in full screen format with Dolby Digital English, French or Spanish Mono and English, French or Spanish subtitles. Bonus material includes:
Behind the Gates: Camera
Audrey Hepburn: Fashion Icon
William Holden: The Paramount Years
Sabrina’s World
Supporting Sabrina
Audrey Hepburn: In Her Own Words
Paramount in the ‘50s
Photo Gallery
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