Three early silent features from legendary studio, Universal Pictures

Eureka Entertainment is to release EARLY UNIVERSAL VOL. 1, three early silent features from the legendary studio fully restored, on Blu-ray as a part of The Masters of Cinema Series for the first time on home video in the UK from 16 August 2021. The first print run of 2000 copies will be presented with a Limited-Edition O-card Slipcase.

The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present three early silent features from Universal Pictures, all fully restored as part of the studio’s ongoing restoration program.

Skinner’s Dress Suit (dir. William A. Seiter, 1926)

Reginald Denny stars as a shy clerk who asks his boss for a raise at the urging of his wife. His request is rejected, but he lies to his wife, who immediately goes out and buys an expensive suit, an act that upends his once-ordered life. (4K Restoration)

The Shield of Honor (dir. Emory Johnson, 1927)

The LAPD has a new method of fighting crime, the Air Police! Their newest recruit, young hotshot pilot Jack MacDowell, is tasked with catching a gang of jewellery thieves. (2K Restoration) (Worldwide Debut on Blu-ray)

The Shakedown (dir. William Wyler, 1929)

Dave Roberts is a fighter better known for taking falls in fixed fights than for taking home the prize money. But then he falls head-over-heels for a fiery waitress and a rough-and-tumble orphan, and he begins to dramatically alter his life inside and outside of the ring. (4K Restoration)

SPECIAL TWO DISC BLU-RAY EDITION CONTAINS

  • Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase
  • 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from restorations undertaken by Universal Pictures (Skinner’s Dress Suit and
  • The Shakedown restored in 4K, The Shield of Honor restored in 2K)
  • Skinner’s Dress Suit – score by Leo Birenberg
  • The Shield of Honor – score by Alex Kovacs
  • The Shakedown – score by Michael Gatt
  • Audio Commentary tracks on all three features
  • A collection of additional materials from the early era of Universal Pictures, with complimentary analysis by silent film experts and historians
  • PLUS: A Collector’s Booklet featuring new writing on the films included in this set