I’m back with another installment of Unboxing the Silents. I usually reserve this feature for box sets of silent films but I decided that this single-disc release has enough content to warrant coverage here. As usual, I am reviewing the collection itself, not the individual films. Ready? Let’s go!
What is it?
The official DVD release of the acclaimed 2012 documentary on Baby Peggy, one of the first child superstars and one of the last surviving silent performers.
The disc also includes Baby Peggy’s charming 1924 feature Captain January (you can read my review here) and three of her short films. This marks the first time that Baby Peggy’s films have been made available to the general public in a high-quality, pressed DVD release.
Who released it?
The Films:
Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room, documentary (2012)
Captain January, feature (1924)
Carmen Jr., short (1923)
Peg O’ the Mounted, short (1924)
Such is Life, Short (1924)
Slideshow of Baby Peggy photos set to That’s My Baby
Packaging
The disc comes in a standard plastic DVD case.
Navigation
The menu is animated but loads quickly and is easy to get around.
Music
Captain January features a piano score by Donald Sosin. The three short films have piano scores by Guenter Buchwald. The music for the slideshow is performed by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton.
Price per Movie
The DVD has a retail price of $29.95 (though it can be found on sale from various online vendors). Counting the shorts as one film, that comes out to $10/movie.
Buy?
Yes! The documentary/movie combination is a great way to meet Baby Peggy. If you do not enjoy the child stars of the talkie era, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the charm of the silent kids.
☙❦❧
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Movies Silently 