Some of RD’s films are available in several DVD incarnations of varying quality and sadly, some are not available at all. Here’s Jenny’s expert guide to what is currently out there and, where there are several versions on the market, what we think you need to know.
The ‘fan-made versions’ we refer to are generally dubbed from TV broadcasts, sold by reputable websites where the website and seller have been in business for some time and where we are able to vouch for the quality of their merchandise. We mention them because, sadly, in some cases, this is the only way to see a decent print of RD’s films (or even, sometimes, to see the film at all).
Gill will endeavour to add UK specific information where she can.
Please be aware: we make no money whatsoever through any of these recommendations, nor from this website as a whole.
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That Night in London (1932) not available on DVD
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Men of Tomorrow (1932) lost entirely, apart from a few stills held at the BFI
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Cash (1933) Reasonable print and sound. Not great but I felt lucky just to find the movie. Region 1 DVD, Distributed by Kartes Video Communications. You can view a copy of this print for free on Youtube on our Complete films page. No guarantee as to how long those will stay up and of course you may lose some quality in compression to flash format. There is a fan-made version of Cash available from a reputable seller on Bonanza. There is also a DVD of Cash, available from Firecake Entertainment. I have other titles from Firecake which are fine, but not great. This particular title has one very negative review on Amazon, but I’d take that with a grain of salt. People have gotten used to restored classic films on DVD but the vast majority of films from this era are sadly in a state of decay and it shows.
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The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) Available as part of Criterion’s Alexander Korda’s Private Lives boxed set. If you don’t want to buy the whole boxed set, you can stream the film at Huluplus. This is the only restored version of the film that I know of. Don’t confuse with the Netflix Instant stream which is of an unrestored version of the film. The current Youtube stream is also unrestored. There are also fan-made versions of the film and several unrestored DVDs. I have a fan-made version, recorded from TCM, but it is not a patch on the Criterion version.
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The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) We’re excited to announce a restored version of The Count of Monte Cristo will soon be available. We’ll do an in-depth review when we get our copy! Before the Hen’s Tooth release, the only official DVD of this film was as part of Firecake’s Robert Donat collection. I haven’t seen this particular DVD but again, I have other Firecake titles which are reasonable for unrestored films. Also included in collection are The 39 Steps and The Ghost Goes West as well as the three radio versions of these films! If that’s not enough there’s a pdf of Count so you can read the book before or after watching the movie. Wait for our review on the Hen’s Tooth DVD to see if it’s worth the money.
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The 39 Steps (1935) Criterion Collection, restored version with extras, booklet and commentary. This is an excellent DVD, probably the best Robert Donat product available. Beware that a lot of DVD sellers on Ebay and the like will use pictures from Criterion discs and then send you a lesser version of the film. Available from various reputable places for around $30. A more affordable, (around $10) restored version of the film is available from Criterion as part of their Essential Art House Collection. Minus the bells and whistles, but a nice, clean copy of the film. There are of course numerous fan and unrestored versions around the internet, but I would avoid them especially when a good copy can be had for the same price!
If you are in UK and have access to one of the public libraries which houses a BFI Mediatheque, you can see this film free of charge at the moment.
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The Ghost Goes West (1935) Criterion is currently streaming a really good print of this at Huluplus which is what I used for the source for my screencaps. No word as to an official release. TGGW is part of the afore-mentioned Firecake Donat Collection. There are several fan-made versions floating around. I own the MovieCat version: It isn’t too bad. The Huluplus version is superior though. If you simply must have hard media or can’t get Huluplus (it’s not available in the UK), then this is the way to go I think.
Region 2 version from Network DVD has an image gallery and a PDF of the script as extras. The picture quality is okay for a film of its age, but the sound quality isn’t great, sadly.
LoveFilm (UK film hire site) is currently streaming this film.
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Knight Without Armour (1938) Criterion is streaming a restored print at Huluplus. No word on an official release. The Firecake release is unrestored, but at least you get to see the movie which is sensational!
LoveFilm (UK film hire site) is currently streaming this film.
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The Citadel (1938) Available from Warner’s buy and burn “Archive Collection” A bare bones release with no extras, but a decent copy of the film. It is comparable to the version I dubbed off TCM which was excellent. Happily this is available on Region 1 DVD from Amazon, now. Not too long ago it wasn’t available at all in the UK because the Warner store wouldn’t ship overseas! (What is this, 1993?)
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Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) Restored picture and sound with no extras. Can usually pick it up under $20 if you shop around.
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The Young Mr. Pitt (1942) Movie Cat’s version is decent, but for some reason my computer doesn’t like this particular disc and I can’t make screencaps from it. Sad face. Anyway, it plays fine in my DVD player so at least I can watch it. There is also a Firecake version.
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The New Lot (1943) (uncredited) Short made by Carol Reed for the war department. Is available as an extra on the DVD of “The Next of Kin” by DD Home Entertainment as part of the Imperial War Museum Collection. I just recently purchased this DVD after years of searching for it. Quality is quite good, with a bit of grain to the picture, but with clear sound and decent contrast. (See screen captures). I picked it up on Ebay for less, but Langton Info Services is a reputable seller and I’ve bought a number of rare British film DVDs from them.
This film is available to watch at the Imperial War Museum website. The quality isn’t great but it is free to view.
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The Adventures of Tartu (1943) I own the Alpha Home Entertainment version of the movie. It is a decent but unrestored version. At least it is the complete film! There is a version on Youtube which is comparable (and possibly just a rip of this DVD). Avoid the horrible Synergy Entertainment version: a chopped-up unrestored version taken from an edited for TV print. Boo! Beware there are many rips of the Synergy version floating around online. Huluplus is currently streaming the chopped version.
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Perfect Strangers (1945) (aka Vacation from Marriage, USA) The Firecake release according to reviews has decent picture and audio. For a comparable price there is a fan-made version available. But I don’t know anything about the seller and haven’t seen the print. The seller has a good feedback rating though, and most of the people who do this simply recover their costs to support their labor of love.
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Captain Boycott (1947) From Amazon’s new on demand service. Similar deal to Warner Archives where they burn a DVD-R after you pay. You get a bare bones DVD from the best available source with no bells and whistles. I haven’t tried this out yet, but none of the reviews for the film mention the copy being exceptionally bad. Movie Cat has a version available for considerably less. I haven’t seen this print, but Movie Cat is a reputable seller. Might be worth it since RD’s part in this one is pretty small. Also available as part of the Stewart Granger Collection. Pricey but worth it I suppose if you are wild about Stew. Region II only, Americans will need a region free player for this.
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The Winslow Boy (1948) The Studiocanal version is Region II, only.
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The Cure for Love (1949) not available on DVD, but is not lost. The BFI has a print because they showed it in 2008. Hopefully some day this will see the light of day.
Clips of this film can be viewed on the BFI website from public libraries and educational establishments in the UK.
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The Magic Box (1951) available from Studiocanal, Region II only. For Americans without the region free player there is a version from moviedetective.
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Lease of Life (1954) Loving the Classics is a reputable dealer in fan-made products. I’ve ordered many discs from them over the years. I’ve only seen the film when it was available on Youtube. I’ll be ordering this version soon and report on the quality.
Gill says: I now have this DVD. It’s been recorded from Channel 4 (UK commercial tv channel) some years ago, pre-digital broadcasts. So there are breaks in the film where the commercial breaks would have been. The quality is all right considering its origins and it is watchable. Nonetheless, for an Ealing film starring Robert Donat to be unavailable on commercial DVD does not seem right.
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The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) A restored print on the Fox DVD gives the picture and sound quality a big budget technicolor epic deserves.
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Please let us know if you have any information to add.
Robert Donat 
The Cure for Love film was a very funny northern comedy I wish they would release on dvd. There are far more obscure comedy films released these days which are far inferior.As well as Robert Donat the film also had Thora Hird & Dora Bryan. I think the film was more of a hit in the North than in the South of England, this may be one of the reasons it has’nt been released on dvd.I think it has only been shown once on TV. Still we can only live in hope.
I quite agree, Ray, about the 1949 Donat film “The Cure for Love”. I saw it in the early fifties, and have never forgotten it — it is very funny, very British and very Northern. The characters are brilliantly observed. I have never been able to get a copy of the film, but I’m still trying, after more than sixty years !!!
I quite agree and would love to see it again.
I too have been searching for a copy asmy uncle is in it Fracis Wignall is in it he plays Claude
How wonderful! Sadly, there are no plans for a DVD copy at the moment.
The little boy in the film was my uncle Francis.
That’s wonderful! I’d love to hear any of his memories of being in the film.
Hi Gill, I can ask my Aunty, as he died before I was born.
Thank you Eddie, much appreciated.
Love this film – want to buy a copy
Please convert “The Cure for love” into a DVD NOW with all the wonderful gadgets about some one must be clever enough to do this!!!!
I agree someone must be able to produce a dvd of this great fim. I have been looking for a copy for 40 years. Surely it could be shown on TV too somehow.
I am 86, and still remember “The Cure for Love” as the funniest film I have ever seen. Dora Bryan’s performance was superb. As a 20 year old Australian in Melbourne in 1950, I was not in the least deterred by its North England setting, and would dearly love to see this hilarious comedy again. Sadly, it doesn’t even appear in most listings of film appearances by Dora Bryan. The film is an absolute gem ! How can it be lost to us ?
As far as I am aware, the only print of the film is held by the BFI in their film store. It is badly degraded and would need a lot of restoration. It’s also on highly flammable filmstock so that when it was shown by the BFI for their season commemorating the centenary of RD’s birth, it had to be shown in a special projection room in case it burst into flames. It is a sweet, funny little film and such an important part of Robert’s story since it was such a labour of love. I hope one day it will be restored, but the BFI tell me they have no plans to do so at present.
There are probably 16mm copies of this film around, and they would be on safety stock (non flammable). The film was listed for rental in the Gaumont British Library Catalogue for 1951. The company at that time was owned by Rank.
PLEASE, PLEASE., PLEASE can you somehow release this film on dvd. I totally agree with the above comments. My mother will be 80 years old next year , and I would dearly love to give her this as a present along with an original movie poster which I have been able to locate.
My mum saw this film when it was first released in 1949/50 and speaks of it often saying that it was a brilliant film. My mum comes from Manchester. PLEASE HELP. Thank you
With a bit of research on the internet, you should be able to alter your DVD player settings to Region 0. I live in the UK, which is Region 2 and PAL. I was able to find a code online for my player, so I could set it to Region Free; I can now play any DVD including NTSC.
Please can you fulfil my 85-yr-old Mother’s dream to see her favourite old movie again? She’s recovering from a serious stroke and gets such pleasure from watching the movies from her youth. I’m trying to buy a DVD of “The Cure For Love” starring Robert Donat. Condition is not an issue. I can see that there are clips available to see at a public library but she’s desperate to see the whole movie again.
Please, please can you help? It would mean so much to her. If you can, please support me in writing or emailing the BFI to release this as a old movie as DVD!!!
http://www.bfi.org.uk/form/bfi-player-enquiry
BFI offices:
21 Stephen Street
London W1T 1LN
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7255 1444
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road
South Bank
London SE1 8XT
Tickets office: +44 (0)20 7928 3232
BFI IMAX
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk
London SE1 8XR
Tickets office: +44 (0)330 333 7878
Thank you!
Please please please can you release “the cure for love” on dvd
I wish I had the power to make this happen. You’re not alone in wanting to see this much-beloved film.
There has been so much demand for a copy of this film, why, if it is available, can it not be put on DVD for those of us who’d love to see it, part of our youth
It’s a good question, Joan, and I wish I could make it happen!
I heartily agree with many of the other posts-I hope they will find a way to put the Cure for Love on DVD-I have never seen it, but like all of you, I am a tremendous Robert Donat fan!