Warner Random Speculation

[shearerchic]

What's the last Ultra-Resolution title we had? The Wizard of Oz in October 2005? I know the process is expensive and time-consuming, but jeez. Then again, if An American in Paris and Showboat (and possibly The Pirate finally emerge this year...

And Quo Vadis and hopefully Gigi next year.

[lord_clyde]

Come on, Bonnie and Clyde! Special editions of The Exorcist (2 disc featuring both cuts) and Clint Eastwood films would be nice too. But that's just me.

[justeleblanc]

Special editions of The Exorcist (2 disc featuring both cuts)....

Heads up

[ByMarkClark.com]

Perhaps, like me, Lord Clyde would prefer to see the original EXORCIST in the SE it deserves without having to suffer through all the dreadful sequels and prequels.

[lord_clyde]

Perhaps, like me, Lord Clyde would prefer to see the original EXORCIST in the SE it deserves without having to suffer through all the dreadful sequels and prequels.

Exactly. I am however impressed with how cheap that box is, you can imagine the last three films as bonus features.
I'll stick with my out of print theatrical cut dvd for now, unless the picture quality is significantly better.

[Ashirg]

Angels in the Outfield will be released to other stores on May 1.

[Close The Door, Raymond]

From this year's chat, Warner, in 2007/2008, is releasing upgraded special edition versions of Bonnie and Clyde, Deliverance, Cool Hand Luke, How the West was Won , The Candidate (with Redford commentary), The Man Who Would Be King and Splendor in the Grass.

I hope they consider upgrading the following:

Minnelli's musicals such as Gigi (current DVD has poor transfer and mediocre sound; no extras), Brigadoon and An American in Paris, which should be a 2-disc special edition.

Arthur (it's too late for a Dudley Moore, John Gielgud or writer-drector Steve Gordon commentary, but Liza's still kickin'; it would be nice to finally see it in widescreen too)

Tracy-Hepburn films Woman of the Year, Adam's Rib, etc. (Would be great to have special editions with commentary on these titles especially since so much has been written about the couple)

Judy Garland in A Star is Born (should have a commentary detailing the restoration and a lot more extras). This definitely deserves a 2-disc special edition. Currently the only extra is TV footage of the premiere. This was one of the first DVDs that Warner released.

Mister Roberts (Jack Lemmon did a commentary, but more can be added such as the sequel, Ensign Pulver on a second disc). The current DVD features excerpts of documentaries, not a full-length one. Come on! This was Fonda's movie comeback, Powell's final film, and don't forget Cagney. The transfer looks weak, too.

Camelot (Current DVD has serious quality issues regarding picture and sound) The botching of the audio mix on this DVD is well known by fans of this movie. Would be nice to have commentary, documentary on the history of the stage version and how it got adapted into a film, etc.

Gypsy (Current special feature is two deleted numbers) There should be more extra features. Even though the film is not a classic, the musical itself is considered the greatest American theatre musical. Maybe part of a Natalie Wood box set? A commentary by Stephen Sondheim would be extraordinary.

Mrs. Miniver (Current DVD has no extras. Could be paired with sequel, The Miniver Story on a second disc) Maybe war propaganda documentary? Commentary would be nice. Part of a possible Greer Garson box set?

Bridges of Madison County (Current DVD is fullscreen only) Warner chat says Clint is working on special projects with them to be released within the next 2 years.

[patrick]

I wish WB would revisit their early Hammer titles, like Horror of Dracula. Hopefully that'll happen with the uncut print of Horror of Dracula playing at Cannes. It's a shame that the presentation of Dracula AD1972 is leaps and bounds better than Horror of Dracula.

[patrick]

Old news, but it looks like The Hand is coming later this year or sometime next year according to the HTF chat.

[justeleblanc]

Old news, but it looks like The Hand is coming later this year or sometime next year according to the HTF chat.

Does anyone else think THE HAND is really just the last scene from CARRIE spread out for 100 minutes?

[dx23]

No 2007 DVD Decision yet? Let's see if Greed gets finally released.

[Person]

I wish WB would revisit their early Hammer titles, like Horror of Dracula. Hopefully that'll happen with the uncut print of Horror of Dracula playing at Cannes. It's a shame that the presentation of Dracula AD1972 is leaps and bounds better than Horror of Dracula.

There is a DVD on the way - did I read that the British Film Institute will be handling the UK edition?

Hammer's, Dracula (it's now time to drop "The Horror of", I feel) has been extremely popular over the years, and thus, the original elements (camera negative; interneg; interpositives) weren't in the best condition, though I feel that the Warner DVD is pretty good in terms of color and sharpness, though the contrast and density are wanting in places - and the 1.78:1 matting is clearly wrong and should be 1.66:1 max. My enthusiasm for the film has waned over the years, but I'd love to see this new cut ASAP.

[shearerchic]

No 2007 DVD Decision yet? Let's see if Greed gets finally released.

I was just hoping the same thing. I think we'll get some announcements from Warners next week.

[Jameson281]

Surely Warner could find a Techni IB print of the 154 minute version for the remaster.

Technicolor prints are great for projecting in a theater, but lousy as transfer elements, tending to look excesively dark and muddy. That's why the studios generally use interpositives or the original neg when making transfers--there's much more latitude in controlling contrast, color, etc., plus they are a generation better, so they have less grain and more detail.

[patrick]

I can barely wait to see what's on this year's list. From the Warner chat at HTF i'm guessing that Greed is on the slate for eventual release, so I don't think we'll see it on this year's list.

[Ashirg]

I don't trust people to vote for Greed (they blew the first chance), so I hope instead of going through Decision route, it will get released in some sort of silents promotion.

[patrick]

The quote from the chat I was referencing:

[DavidBarrios] Ok.First time attending one of these chats and I2019m glad to be here. Remembering the DVD Decision 2005 vote, I remember that Greed, Von Stroheim's masterpiece, was one of the candidates and naturally, didn't win. When can we expect a release of this masterwork and would it be a three disc special editions or what would the plans be?

[WARNER] 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!

[tryavna]

My faith in Warner's commitment to its silent catalog has been steadily declining in the past two years. Maybe they'll surprise me, but I have serious doubts that we'll see Greed, Big Parade, The Crowd, or any of their other silent masterpieces any time soon.

[justeleblanc]

My faith in Warner's commitment to its silent catalog has been steadily declining in the past two years. Maybe they'll surprise me, but I have serious doubts that we'll see Greed, Big Parade, The Crowd, or any of their other silent masterpieces any time soon.

The last Warner chat said these titles were "in the works" but that they expect to be working on it for a while, so at least a year from now if not longer.

[Cinephrenic]

Big old films with big expensive restoration. I'm sure the final product will be worth the wait. They come loaded with commentaries and extras from the best (second best, that is) DVD publishers on the market.

[patrick]

Honestly, I wouldn't fault WB if they wanted to license out silent films to a company like Criterion or even Kino, I appreciate the honesty from Warner Bros. about having to make money on other stuff before they can sink a ton into something with very limited appeal.

[shearerchic]

i really love voting for films to be released. warners should do it twice a year. i'm hoping there's an announcement within the next couple of weeks.

[justeleblanc]

i really love voting for films to be released. warners should do it twice a year. i'm hoping there's an announcement within the next couple of weeks.

Criterion should do these promotions with titles sitting in their catalog. For example, have a vote as to which Ozu title they should work on next, or which Malle title. Sometimes they can't do this, but clearly for titles we know they have and which they could start working on at any minute, why not have a vote?

[shearerchic]

i really love voting for films to be released. warners should do it twice a year. i'm hoping there's an announcement within the next couple of weeks.

Criterion should do these promotions with titles sitting in their catalog. For example, have a vote as to which Ozu title they should work on next, or which Malle title. Sometimes they can't do this, but clearly for titles we know they have and which they could start working on at any minute, why not have a vote?

That should go for Fox, Universal, and Paramount. They need to listen to the consumer to know that we will buy the classics they have in their vaults.

[shearerchic]

I'd like to know when the next Controversial Classics series will be out? For Volume 3, they should go back to old films like Vol 1. Good selections would be:

-They Won't Forget
-Up the Down Staircase
-Mission to Moscow
-Black Legion
-Wonder Bar
-Confessions of A Nazi Spy