Just a real quick heads up to anyone interested in the movies produced by Edison. I alerted the group a few months ago about a massive and comprehensive DVD set coming in March and provided the press release. Well yesterday (Edison's 158th birthday!) I got my advance copy and to say this is FANTASTIC is an understatement. It was produced in cooperation with the Museum of Modern Art - which holds the most complete collection of Edison films (acquired in 1940) plus many Edison Kinetoscope films which they got from the Henry Ford Museum.
They also transferred many of the paper prints held by the Library of Congress. Anyway the set is 4 DVDs each running over 3 hours and it includes 109 (I think.. I have the set downstairs) films PLUS over 2 hours of interviews and commentary by authorities from Library of Congress, Paul Israel of the Edison Papers Project, Edison Film expert Charles Musser and two archivists from the MOMA. The interviews preface each section and really add depth to the background. And the films can be run separately without commentary. There is now music accompaniment by Phillip Carli and others. As I said, I've only made it through the first hour so far - and it will not be available to public until March but I wanted to suggest that you plan on getting one if it is in your interest. The packaging is great and there are lots of rare stills and notes added to the set. This is a fantastic tribute to the Edison Company. Steve Ramm
