Gift Ideas for Classic Film and TV Fans

Looking for gift ideas for the classic film and TV fans in your family or circle of friends? The Classic Film & TV Cafe is here to help! Below are some recommendations chosen by our contributors:

The William Castle Film Collection, $80.95 retail - Includes eight classics from the master of gimmicky chills: 13 Frightened Girls, 13 Ghosts, Homicidal and Strait-Jacket (both with Joan Crawford), The Old Dark House, Mr. Sardonicus, The Tingler (with Vincent Price), and Zotz! Sorry, you'll have to provide your own gimmicks. Recommended by ClassicBecky.

Gone With the Wind, 70th Anniversary Collection, 5-Disc DVD Set, $69.92 retail - This limited and numbered one-of-a-kind velvet box contains more than 8 hours of extras, including a new documentary narrated by Kenneth Branagh, “Warner Bros. Home Entertainment presents 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year,” and the featurette “Gone with the Wind: The Legend Lives On.” It also includes an exclusive 52-page hardcover production art and photo book, ten 5”x7” watercolor reproduction art prints, bonus CD soundtrack, and reproduction of the original 1939 program. Recommended by Dawn.

The Fugitive (TV Series), Season 1 and 2 Box Set, $125.98 retail – One of the greatest TV dramas of all time still makes for compelling viewing. Both seasons include several stand-out episodes, including: “The Girl from Little Egypt” which features an extended flashback to the night of Helen Kimble’s murder; “Corner of Hell,” in which Richard Kimble has to defend his pursuer, Lieutenant Gerard, from moonshiners intent on lynching the detective. If the box set is pricy, you can purchase parts 1 and 2 of each season. Note: Some of the music cues have been replaced due to issues with the rights; despite complaints from videophiles, that doesn’t detract from a great series. Recommended by Toto2.

I Spy (TV Series), Season 1, $19.95 retail – Robert Culp and Bill Cosby play international spies in this “cool” lighthearted series from the 1960s. The fast-paced episodes feature exotic locales and plenty of action…but most of the show’s charm can be attributed to the natural camaraderie between the two leads. Seasons 2 and 3 are available for the same low price. Recommended by Paul 2.

Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 1, $49.95 retail – It’s not often that a genre film collection features five truly classic films: The Asphalt Jungle, Gun Crazy, Murder My Sweet, Out of the Past, and The Set-Up. The main attractions for many film fans will be Out of the Past, the definitive film noir, and Murder, My Sweet, the best adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s detective Philip Marlowe. But the real find here is Gun Crazy (aka Deadly Is the Female), a terrific B-film with John Dall as a young man with two passions: guns and a pretty sharpshooter (Peggy Cummins) whose ambitions lead to a crime spree. Recommended by Rick29.

Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends, The Complete First Season, $21.93 retail – Journey back to Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, in this animated classic series that set the standard for clever stories that appealed to kids, but also contained satiric humor for adults. Plus, you get Fractured Fairy Tales, Mr. Peabody, and Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties! Seasons 2 and 3 are available, too. Recommended by Paul 2.

The Fantastic Films of Ray Harryhausen - Legendary Monster Series, $57.95 retail – There are several Ray Harryhausen collections available, but this one includes his two finest films: The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad and Jason and the Argonauts…plus you get The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and The Three Worlds of Gulliver. Jason’s fights with the Harpies and the skeletons in Argonauts have to be seen to be believed—no computer special effects can match them. In short, this is a box set to be enjoyed by kids from 1 to 92 (as Mel Torme might say). Recommended by Rick29.

Most of the gifts above are available for less than the retail prices through stores like Amazon, Costco, DVD Planet, and others. Through the end of November, http://www.deepdiscount.com/ is running a 40% off sale with free shipping. But be sure to check your prices at several places to ensure you get the best buy. The Classic Film & TV Cafe does not endorse any merchandise dealers.