Talk about digging deep, Warner Brothers. The Romance Classics Collection digs up, what I’m classifying as, a bunch of B-Grade romance films aimed at teenagers of old. While I watched them there was a part of me that had to roll my eyes as many of the sentiments are quite dated. Poodle skirts and good ol’ fashioned soda fountains as iconic pieces of youth culture faded long ago – so where does one find modern value in material whose epochal values have vanished? Granted, love stories have and probably will be a staple of film forever – but it’s the ancillary elements of the story that make a given tale a truly entertaining experience. With that said, The Romance Classics Collection must be viewed with a grain of salt and can’t really be considered too seriously.
Parrish (1960)
The titular character played by Troy Donahue represents that age-old archetype of the “go-getter”; the guy who’s able to keep 5 items juggling in the air and make it work. Not only is Parrish poised to make something of himself in spite of his humble origins, but he’s got the eye of many ladies (Connie Stevens among them). Involved with an introvert, an extrovert and a dominatrix in the making (sorta) Parrish, by all modern definitions, would be called “the man” by his peers. Little stands in Parrish’s way besides the obstacles his behavior create for himself and the local head honcho Judd Raike (Karl Malden). Parrish, easily my favorite in the bunch, is all kinds of cheesy. With girls swooning and guys spouting generic tough talk you sometimes wince at how simple it all is; though it’s that simplicity which makes it a testament to its era of filmmaking.
Palm Springs Weekend (1963)
You know those teenager-aimed flicks where, by the final big dance scene, everyone’s fallen in love with somebody? Even the dumpy adult that provided the “what have I gotten myself into?” humor? Considering Palm Springs Weekend is one of those beach films so often parodied in modern television shows I had to try really hard not to laugh. You’d think that would be easy considering the movie has about 5 different love stories going on – but the problem persists. As if that wasn’t enough here is a list of names of characters from the movie: Bunny, Stretch and Biff. Again, teen idols of their time Troy Donahue and Connie Stevens star with Ty Hardin, Stephanie Powers and Robert Conrad.
Susan Slade (1961)
Surprise! More Troy Donahue and Connie Stevens! I’d say the pairing was making me nostalgic if that didn’t require some form of time travel on my part. Now before I go too far, I should add that Susan Slade is closer to many modern day love stories than most of the others in this collection due to more serious thematic elements. Susan Slade (Stevens) finds her life spinning out of control when her boyfriend dies leaving her to be courted by two other men – while pregnant with her ex-beau’s child. The description sounds very soap operatic – and to be honest there are strong similarities but remember this came about before amnesia, being pregnant with an ex-lovers child and witches became common soap opera staples. So bear with it. As a whole, the film isn’t bad per se – it’s on the lines with a good number of the films that come out today – Box Office filler.
Rome Adventure (1962)
I know what you’re thinking “Rome Adventure – why does that title sound familiar and yet wrong?” Well, there’s no denying that Rome Adventure owes its existence, in very large part, to the success of Hepburn’s Roman Holiday of nine years before. Rome Adventure is a repackaging of Rome and the Italian countryside’s memorable locales for use in another teen romance. As you can probably guess, however, it never earned the same stature as its Hepburn inspiration. In fact the performances in Rome Adventure stand-out among the others in The Romance Classics Collection. Troy Donahue gives one of his better performances (I say that based on having watched the other three movies before this one….ha) and Suzanne Pleshette, the lead, is quite good. Especially worthy of note is Angie Dickinson’s role as Lyda Kent – personally, I think she made the movie work.
DVD Bonus Features
Okay, there’s really nothing to be said here. Each DVD features the Theatrical Trailer for its respective film and beyond that only gives you choices for language and subtitle tracks.
The quality of The Romance Classics Collection falters not because of poor sound or picture transfer or even the more pertinent qualities like acting or writing. The material is just dated. You have to take the films with a grain of salt and accept that the standards and expectations were different. For those of you who actually remember these films from growing up – my review should mean very little – as you’re far more familiar with the actors and films than I’ll ever be. But, so this review wasn’t utterly worthless to you I will tell you that all four films received good transfer treatment from their original film to DVD. So, enjoy.
"The Warner Brothers Romance Classics Collection" is on sale January 27, 2009 and is rated NR. Romance. Directed by Delmer Daves, Norman Taurog. Written by Earl Hamner, Jr., Delmer Daves. Starring Karl Malden, Troy Donahue, Angie Dickinson, Suzanne Pleshette, Connie Stevens, Ty Hardin, Stefanie Powers, Claudette Colbert.
