Some actors and actresses look like they were meant to grace the silver screen with their chiseled cheekbones and impeccable skin complexions. It’s as if they were created solely for the purpose of being put up on a glamorous pedestal of perfection. If ever a figure of classic cinema measured up to that description, it is beyond a shadow of a doubt Grace Kelly. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment recently released the Grace Kelly Collection, a spectacular new box set featuring six of Kelly’s most memorable performances assembled in one DVD collection for the first time ever, as well as a rare TV interview with Pierre Salinger that was recorded right before her tragic death in 1982. Warner Bros. graciously provided CliqueClack a review copy of the collection.

The Grace Kelly Collection features Mogambo (1953), The Country Girl (1954), The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), Dial M for Murder (1954), To Catch a Thief (1955) and Kelly’s last film High Society (1956). This collection also includes the Princess Grace de Monaco: A Moment in Time documentary/interview, as well as numerous other bonus features, including documentaries about the two included Alfred Hitchcock films, radio spots for High Society, a Droopy cartoon from MGM, a documentary about Edith Head’s Paramount Years, special commentaries and trailers for all six films. The leading men in this box set are also among Hollywood’s finest: Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, William Holden and Mickey Rooney all give outstanding performances opposite Kelly.

Just about every genre is represented, from the suspenseful film noirs of Hitchcock (Dial M for Murder and To Catch a Thief) to compelling dramas (The Country Girl and The Bridges at Toko-Ri) to the sweeping epic adventure of an African safari and a forbidden love affair (Mogambo) to the delightful, musical whimsy of Cole Porter (High Society). One really couldn’t ask for a better set to showcase Kelly’s many talents and sophisticated beauty. The only two Kelly films that are notably missing from this collection are High Noon and Rear Window, but it’s doubtful different studios would share their films. The set also includes beautiful artwork/lobby cards from all six films and a reprinted letter written by Bing Crosby in 1976 in which he calls Kelly, “one of the nicest ladies I have ever known.”

Crosby goes on to state, “She has taste, style, very good instincts, dignity, and most respectable principles. In addition to this, she is very beautiful, as everyone knows. But what really endeared her to me was her sense of humor. She really enjoyed having fun on the set – little improvised bits or gags. Something going pretty near every day. Grace was also kind, considerate and thoughtful of everybody connected with the films – from the actors right on down to the grips, the electricians, and the boys from the Mail Room. She was always concerned about their families, their children, their birthdays, etc. I just have to consider her a most perfect person.”

It’d be hard for me to pick a favorite film out of the ones included in this collection because Kelly is pretty much perfect in each and each has its own unique merits. To Catch a Thief and Mogambo are stunning in that the backdrops come alive and tell just as much of the story as the dialogue does. Whether it’s the French Riviera or the vast African plains, one gets the chance to go on an epic adventure alongside Kelly. Kelly received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role as a married woman in love with a big game trapper with an even larger-than-life personality in Mogambo. While Kelly and Gable do sizzle on screen together, it’s really a young Ava Gardner that makes this film so unforgettable.

In The Country Girl, Kelly turns in a solid performance as the tortured wife of alcoholic actor/singer Frank Elgin (Crosby). When Frank is given a second chance for redemption with the lead role in a new Broadway play, drama enfolds as we learn what drove Frank to drink and about the complex relationship with his wife who seems to enjoy being the one in control. Kelly is almost unrecognizable in the role that earned her first win for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Kelly turns in another strong performance as the wife of a Navy fighter serving in the Korean War who struggles between honor and duty and preserving time for his family.

High Society is an enjoyable romp that satires the lives of the rich and famous, as socialite Tracy Lord (Kelly) prepares for her second wedding with her first husband (Crosby) and magazine reporters (Sinatra and Celeste Holm) in tow. When it comes to musical romantic comedies, Crosby, Sinatra and Kelly set an impossibly high bar. Its hijinks set a welcomed change of pace after viewing the included dramas. Also look for Louis Armstrong as a highlight of its unique storytelling.

Dial M for Murder is Hitchcock suspense at its finest. One doesn’t know if they should be rooting for adulteress Margot (Kelly) or her villainous husband Tony (Ray Milland) throughout the plot’s many twists and turns. However, if forced to pick a favorite, I think I prefer Kelly paired with Cary Grant’s retired cat burglar John Robie in To Catch a Thief. There is such a natural chemistry between the two, heightened in the breathtaking kissing scene with the fireworks. In all its VistaVision glory, To Catch a Thief is the crowning jewel of this star-studded collection. I don’t think anyone will ever be sexier on screen than Grant in that striped shirt, slinking along the rooftops in pursuit of the copycat burglar. Le sigh.

The interview with Pierre Salinger is interesting, in that the topics range from acting to motherhood to how Kelly’s life changed when she married Prince Rainier to the dangers of the paparazzi. The interview gives a rare glimpse into the life of Hollywood and foreign royalty, but I don’t know that I would’ve accurately called it a documentary. I expected more out of this than just a recording of the interview. However, if you’ve never seen it and are a great admirer of Kelly’s work, it’s definitely worth watching.

While Kelly’s career didn’t last as long as many other starlets, there’s no question she left a vivid mark on Hollywood. It’s certainly easy to see why Kelly was one of Hitchcock’s favorite actresses to direct, as well as one of Edith Head’s favorites to dress. America still has a fascination with Grace Kelly even 30 years after her death because she epitomizes a real-life fairy tale, in that she went from a Hollywood leading lady to a bona fide princess. And we all love a seemingly happily-ever-after ending. Check out the Warner Brothers Classics Facebook page for more information about this stunning collection.

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