Warner chat at HTF 2007

[shearerchic]

Assuming the chat doesn't get distracted by the same SUPERMAN fans who hijacked the chat last year, can we make sure that this year Ken Russell and Lubitsch's Merry Widow (and Stroheim's for that matter) get brought up? Thanks.

You know alot of people are going to still be asking about The Devils, lol. I have someone asking about Jeanette MacDonald's solo movies with MGM, so The Merry Widow is one of them.

[Jeff]

I hope many of you will be hanging out in Criterion Forum chatroom, so that we can provide running commentary and make fun of other peoples' questions.

[denti alligator]

I hope many of you will also be hanging out in Criterion Forum chatroom, so that we can provide running commentary and make fun of other peoples' questions.

Doesn't look like our chatroom is functional. Or is that a problem on my end?

[Jeff]

Doesn't look like our chatroom is functional. Or is that a problem on my end?

Seems to be working okay for me. I'm in with Cinephrenic now.

[denti alligator]

Seems to be working okay for me. I'm in with Cinephrenic now.

You're right. My Java wasn't configured right.

[Jeff]

Warner played coy this year. There were still a few good announcements. HTF has a summary here. I'll update the forthcoming thread over the next couple of days as time permits.

[HerrSchreck]

Next Lon Chaney boxset coming in 2008 with a Tod Browning documentary. Also, some more silent films coming soon

Drats... what the hell was the holdup on Chaney? That was supposed to be late 06/early-07! The silents are prob the Vidor & Seastroms.

Greed is coming with the 1923 theatrical cut and reconstructed scenes. Release date not set.

blah blah... sounds like a dupe of the Warner box VHS of the schmidlin.

More classic horror films coming in 2007 and 2008.

Hey hey hey... Halloween probably.

Elements for The Magnificent Ambersons has been found and that film and Journey into Fear will be released in 2008. Alternate European cuts will be included for Journey into Fear. Also, the Merry Widow is on the way.

Yes momma, you know it.

etc..

[shearerchic]

this years chat was very vague. damn near everything was pushed to 2008. the only thing that excites me is that forbidden hollywood volume 2 will feature norma shearer and have 6 titles and finally an eleanor powell set is coming later this year.

[tavernier]

The Kubrick SEs are pushed back to the end of the year, and Troell's The Emigrants and The New Land seem to remain in limbo. (They renewed the rights to the Troell classics is all that was said.)

[domino harvey]

Moonfleet was good news

[Matt]

2-disc Rio Bravo SE? I'm so glad I've been lazy about picking up the perfectly acceptable release that's been out for years now.

But they're total pussies for not putting Wonder Bar in the Busby Berkeley vol. 2.

And sign me up for the Eleanor Powell and Ann Sheridan box sets.

[shearerchic]

2-disc Rio Bravo SE? I'm so glad I've been lazy about picking up the perfectly acceptable release that's been out for years now.

But they're total pussies for not putting Wonder Bar in the Busby Berkeley vol. 2.

And sign me up for the Eleanor Powell and Ann Sheridan box sets.

you're right. i'm hoping they forgot to mention that title cause not including wonder bar would be very wrong. if not that film, at least give is fashions of 1934.

[Scharphedin2]

Elements for The Magnificent Ambersons has been found...

This surely cannot mean that they have found any of the Welles footage that was cut before the initial release, or...!? I mean, that would have been the subject of an entire press conference in itself.

[HerrSchreck]

This surely cannot mean that they have found any of the Welles footage that was cut before the initial release, or...!? I mean, that would have been the subject of an entire press conference in itself.

I'm sure its the same old song with better elements.

[justeleblanc]

this years chat was very vague. damn near everything was pushed to 2008. the only thing that excites me is that forbidden hollywood volume 2 will feature norma shearer and have 6 titles and finally an eleanor powell set is coming later this year.

I agree, normally I get all excited about the Warner chats, but this year there were too many "no"s. Zabriskie, Devils, and Brewster all seem like low priorities. They appear to be punting the silent films, with the exception of Greed which they're working on, though not surprisingly at a methodical pace. And let's not forget that those other Ken Russell films all got a big "no."

I need to double check, but I remember at some point Warner mentioning in previous chats that they were working on a bunch of Ken Russell titles, including THE BOY FRIEND, LISZTOMANIA, THE MUSIC LOVERS and THE DEVILS, but now it just appears to be THE DEVILS. Really, does Russell need to go on Amazing Race?

By the way shearerchic, was that you who asked about the Norma Shearer titles?

[kinjitsu]

Official HTF Warner Chat and Discussion Thread

[tryavna]

Well, the news that O Lucky Man! is "coming this year" is a most welcome surprise. That and Criterion's upcoming release of if... make me very excited.

However, Warner once again lets us down when it comes to their silent catalogue.

What will the six all-new John Wayne films be? Reunion in France was originally released by MGM, and I think Tycoon was released by RKO.

[justeleblanc]

However, Warner once again lets us down when it comes to their silent catalogue.

I'm not as worried. True it's taking a while, but like they said, they are doing all new restorations on them. As long as I know that they are in the works, I'm not worried. Same with Ambersons. If these titles weren't even being worked on, then I'd be mad at Warner.

Even their lack of priority in the art-house features, like Zabriskie, Brewster, Devils, Performance, it's completely understandable that they are not an important part of the business model. At least they are seeing releases, even in small doses.

Still, if only a Criterion-like sub-label of Warner were to emerge that would focus on the films that I wanted released.

[Max von Mayerling]

The Ken Russell situation is unfortunate. If only John Wayne had been in a Ken Russell movie, then they'd hop to it...

[Forgotten Goldfish]

Greed is coming with the 1923 theatrical cut and reconstructed scenes. Release date not set.

blah blah... sounds like a dupe of the Warner box VHS of the schmidlin.

The full text of the chat seems to indicate that the reconstruction is indeed the Schmidlin, but at least shows that the 1923 version will be issued in unreconstructed form as well:

When we release GREED, and we promise we will, it will be both the 1923 theatrical release and the 'reconstruction' in separate presentations within a larger set. Plans are still in utero, but it won't be much longer before the water breaks!

However, if "plans are still in utero", even the most definite current intentions (including the intention to release Greed at all) could obviously change!

[kinjitsu]

Chat Transcript: Warner Home Video on HTF

[Lino]

But they're total pussies for not putting Wonder Bar in the Busby Berkeley vol. 2.

And sign me up for the Eleanor Powell and Ann Sheridan box sets.

Agreed on both counts. Maybe Wonder Bar will end up in a possible Al Jolson set. And they surely must have forgotten about Fashions of 1934. With this title, the total would be 5 films just like the previous boxset which makes sense. Anyway, very excited about more Buzz.

Biggest disappointment: Ken Russell, of course.

[justeleblanc]

Biggest disappointment: Ken Russell, of course.

Agreed. They could easily release a "cult favorites" box with all three of the Russells.

And also, there's been discussion here on the forum for which Russell titles Warner owns the rights to, so of his 1970's work:

Warner:
The Devils
The Boy Friend
Savage Messiah
Lisztomania

Sony:
Tommy

MGM/UA:
The Music Lovers
Valentino

Janus:
Mahler

[Dylan]

(re: Ambersons) I'm sure its the same old song with better elements.

They've sure spent many years looking for whatever they've found.

[Antoine Doinel]

(re: Ambersons) I'm sure its the same old song with better elements.

They've sure spent many years looking for whatever they've found.

Or they've spent just as many years cutting through legal red tape (ie. Welles' daughter) just to finally get it out. I recall reading somewhere that even though she didn't legally have the rights to Touch Of Evil she made such a fuss that Universal ended up just paying her off to go away.