Allan King: The Actuality Dramas, Eclipse Series 24, 5-Disc DVD Set

Eclipse Series: Allan King’s The Actuality Dramas of Allan King collects five documentaries spanning 1967 to 2005, from intimate portraits of teenagers and a marriage to films about palliative and geriatric care. The set is listed as five discs with a total runtime of more than nine hours, and its subjects and unhurried documentary style may make it a demanding watch.

At a glance

Five Allan King documentaries follow people in emotionally intense situations, including a group home, a marriage, a farm community of teenagers, a palliative-care center and a geriatric home.
The set spans films released from 1967 through 2005 and is described as cinéma vérité-style documentary filmmaking without narration or interviews.
Individual film details give runtimes from 95 to 143 minutes and identify aspect ratios and monochrome or color presentation.

Price

$34.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$69.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Collects five films across several decades in one listed five-disc set.
The supplied descriptions identify each film’s subject and provide individual runtimes and aspect ratios, useful for choosing what to watch.

Cons

The described material includes psychological distress, terminal illness, dementia and conflict, which may be emotionally difficult to watch.
A single film can run over two hours, so the collection calls for a substantial time commitment.

Technical specifications

15 specifications

Edition and format
Series	Eclipse Series 24
Number of discs	5
Media formats	Black & White, Box set, Color, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Widescreen
MPAA rating	NR (Not Rated)
Release date	September 21, 2010
Studio	Criterion Collection
Listed runtime	9 hours and 7 minutes

Films and runtimes
Warrendale	1967 - 101 minutes – Black/White - Monaural - 1.33:1 aspect ratio
A Married Couple	1969 - 96 minutes - Color - Monaural - 1.33:1 aspect ratio
Come on Children	1972 - 95 minutes - Color - Monaural - 1.66:1 aspect ratio
Dying at Grace	2003 - 143 minutes - Color - Monaural - 1.77:1 aspect ratio
Memory for Max, Claire, Ida and Company	2005 - 112 minutes - Color - Monaural - 1.78:1 aspect ratio

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 14.08 ounces

Credits
Director listed in product details	Alan King
Actors listed	Alan Dunikowsky, Antoinette Edwards, Billy Edwards, Claire Mandell, Dr. Martin Fischer

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing is inconsistent about the director’s name: the title and film descriptions say Allan King, while product details say Alan King. The five individual runtimes add up to 547 minutes, whereas the listed collection runtime is 9 hours and 7 minutes, a 33-minute difference. Treat these as listing discrepancies rather than confirmed product defects.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers interested in cinéma vérité and Canadian documentary history.
Collectors seeking a multi-film set of Allan King documentaries from 1967 to 2005.

Less suited to

Viewers seeking light or easy background viewing, given the serious subjects and emotionally intense descriptions.
Buyers who prefer short films, as the supplied runtimes range from 95 to 143 minutes each.

Allan King: The Actuality Dramas, Eclipse Series 24, 5-Disc DVD Set · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.2 / 5 · 20 ratings

5 stars66%66%
4 stars10%10%
3 stars15%15%
2 stars0%0%
1 star9%9%

Aggregate ratings lean positive overall, but also include a meaningful spread of middle and low ratings. They indicate varied reception rather than explaining what viewers liked or disliked, so they offer limited guidance on whether the serious subject matter and long runtimes will suit a particular viewer.

Frequently asked questions

Which films are included?

The collection lists Warrendale, A Married Couple, Come on Children, Dying at Grace, and Memory for Max, Claire, Ida and Company.

How long is the collection?

Product details list a total runtime of 9 hours and 7 minutes. The five individual runtimes total 547 minutes, so the listing gives conflicting runtime information.

What subjects do the documentaries cover?

The descriptions cover emotionally troubled children and their caregivers, a marriage, teenagers living on a farm, terminally ill patients, and older adults with dementia or memory loss.

Is the material emotionally intense?

Yes. The supplied description says the films depict distress, conflict, terminal illness and dementia, and warns that the subjects can be extremely sad.