BCI-Navarre has quietly released a set of 8 Crown International films on DVD in a set. The package is titled DRIVE-IN CULT CLASSICS, and is available from Amazon and probably other sources. Some of the films have been previously released in the Welcome to the Grindhouse series, but a few of them are new to DVD. The set includes:

CINDY AND DONNA
THE STEPMOTHER
BEST FRIENDS
THE SISTER IN LAW
THE TEACHER
TRIP WITH THE TEACHER
PICK-UP
MALIBU HIGH

I've only watched CINDY AND DONNA, which is letterboxed at 1:85-1. It isn't remastered, but it's great to have this rare film available. The DVD has an extended sex scene that was truncated when the film aired on Toronto's drive-in classics channel.

Now, I hope that BCI will someday release DVD transfers of a couple other "missing" Crown titles, namely THE BABYSITTER (1969) and THE YOUNG GRADUATES (1971), the two films that star Seattle's own Patricia "Patty" Wymer.

The eight films are spread over two discs, with each side containing two films. The price is a bargain $9.98 for the entire set.

I have been trying with no luck to find this at a brick and mortar store. DVD Planet, Best Buy and Fry's all let me down. I also tried ordering it at the Borders where I work. Distributor Baker & Taylor showed it in stock but never sent the product. In short, I am annoyed.

Try Deep Discount. I just received this last week, and I paid just $5.99 for it, which is really the only reason I got it. I've previously seen THE STEPMOTHER and THE TEACHER, and they aren't very good. I suspect the other films in the collection aren't a lot better, though I've heard good things about TRIP WITH THE TEACHER and MALIBU HIGH. Crown International was no New World, that's for sure. If anyone can recommend any of the films in this set, please do.

I got my copy of the set from Amazon.com, with no problems. It streeted this last Tuesday.

I enjoy CINDY AND DONNA, as a prime example of the early seventies drive-in fare. It has a wonderfully insipid "shock" ending, which I won't reveal here.

I have previously seen TRIP WITH THE TEACHER and MALIBU HIGH, and both of those are thematically "darker" than the typical female-oriented hi-jinks flicks.

I hope they release a similar set in the future, with THE BABYSITTER and THE YOUNG GRADUATES. That's speculation on my part, I should clarify. THE BABYSITTER is another one that is darker than one might expect.

I just ordered a set, I forgot about these coming out until this thread reminded me. I have long been curious about BEST FRIENDS and am psyched to finally get to see it. I don't expect too much but it does feature mega babe Susanne Benton ( COVER ME BABE, THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK ) in a rare lead role.The only title in here I have seen is THE TEACHER ( although I have a copy of TRIP WITH THE TEACHER but never got around to it ).

Great photo and lobby card, thanks!

While well worth the trifling price, this set is a mixed bag.

Good news: four films (I think) new to R1 DVD, CINDY AND DONNA previously on R2 now at correct 24 fps speed, MALIBU HIGH doesn't cut off abrubtly near end of credits as it did when paired with TRIP WITH TEACHER.

Bad news: the films seem to suffer from more compression issues then they did on the "Grindhouse" double feature DVD's (particularly TRIP WITH THE TEACHER) and, of far less significance, CINDY AND DONNA appears to be missing a couple of frames at the beginning, which makes for an abrupt start during the theme song.

I got my set yesterday and at 75 cents a film, this has got to be one of the best deals ever. I sat down with BEST FRIENDs yesterday which was far more serious than I had expected. That "Ravaged Victim of a Century of Revenge " from the lobby card was just advertizing hype, but this movie generated a good amount of suspence and gave me that uneasy feeling that something bad was going to happen, but not sure when, where or how. The plot goes a little awry at the end, dragging out a final confrontation a bit too long, and perhaps ending on a poorly chosen moment. Susanne Benton's performance elicited my sympathy for her character, and she even has a nude scene!

One down, Seven to go.