The Late George Apley

"The Late George Apley" is a true comedy classic. I held my breath when this DVD arrived hoping for a good print. I wasn't disappointed. It delivers a top-notch cast (including some of Hollywood's greatest character actors), wonderful script, excellent photography and masterful direction by Joseph L. Mankiewicz ("A Letter to Three Wives", "All About Eve"). If I have any complaints it's that a snippet of film is missing (it's the same in all the prints I've seen). In the scene where Vanessa Brown is about to play her piano waltz there's an obvious, sharp cut and when it returns Peggy Cummins is suddenly in the scene without actually having entered the room. Did some TV station cut the solo and neglect to put it back in? Regardless, anyone who buys this DVD is in store for pure entertainment. "The Late George Apley" had it's New York premiere as the Easter attracion at Radio City Music Hall and earned rave reviews. It hits Boston snobbery but always with humor and warmth. I often chuckle thinking of it paired on a double bill with "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim", a fun Betty Grable musical, with Gershwin lyrics that proclaim in Boston "even a salad must have dressing". Ignore the comments about the print. This is as good as it's going to get. Any classic film fan will appreciate this quality production. Sit back and enjoy it.

For the record I liked the Marquand book, The Late George Apley but I found it sad. Ronald Colman makes George Apley the proper, Boston Brahmin the perfect straight man for a movie that is funny and touching and never maudlin. Backing him is a cast that plays their snobbery, their irony and their family frictions such that all are believable sources of fun. Rather than give way to suggestive words it is sufficient to say that nothing is said, done or seen that would tend to embarrass any family member. This is a movie for everyone.By focusing in on the last sections of the Marquand novel we are never told that this is a biography of a man now deceased. Instead we have a lively, if stuffy, wealthy and tradition bound head of the large Apley Family, George. During the movie he will have to face snobbery at his expense, a not so close deceased relative who is so forward as to be interred in the wrong spot in the family plot. Ultimately he must deal with a daughter who is his equal in strength and independent where he is almost incapable of independence.Yet between the writers and director we see that within George Apley has the potential to break out of some habits. This keep the character from devolving into caricature.All together a relaxing and for the family movie night.

The 20th Century Fox Cinema Archives reissue of "The Late George Apley" is a fine transfer to DVD-R, as clean as when I first saw it on television. Disregard the misapplied review that claims it is an inferior transfer from videotape. That was written for a shoddy bootleg version that is no longer being sold through Amazon. You may place full confidence in this product. I'm glad to have it, because I've waited for a playable DVD version for years.

This is one of those movies I saw as a child and I never forgot it. It was a book first, then a successful play, and finally a movie with Ronald Colman perfect as the lead. My whole family quoted from this movie for many years and it was never available on any kind of release. Now, it's out and it is so enjoyable. Thanks to Fox!

No closed captions. It's a crime closed captioning isn't mandatory. This is a great film but sadly I couldn't follow the dialogue.

So beautifully written and so beautifully spoken that even though there are no closed captions (shame!) I could understand almost every word. With every re-viewing of this movie, I come to further appreciate the subtlety of the humor and the subtlety of the character development of George Apley.

I have wanted this movie for sometime. Unfortunately the tansfer to DVD from another media is amaturish, badly flawed. . . I am not a happy camper and will think twice before I buy at Amazon in the future. This DVD is not of a quality one would expect from Amazon! If I had paid $5.99 it would have been too much.

at end of chapter2 and beginning of chapter3 missing part where miss brown should be entering room. movie goes to black and all of a sudden she is there without being introduced to the rest of the people there in the room. you may find your copy with the same error.

A funny, clever story told with great panache. Fine actors and lots of fun.