Unreleased Warner Bros Titles

[Highway 61]

They are still looking for Orson's cut of the film in the archives of South America....

This really is the only explanation for the delay. If it were problems with the film elements, they could have done a full restoration and theatrical tour by now. I doubt they'll find anything, but I at least hope they're producing a documentary about their search. Kane's 70th anniversary is next year, and I imagine we'll know more about their plans for the film then.

[perkizitore]

Please unleash your fury here
I specifically mentioned silents, Magnificent Ambersons and The Devils.

[onedimension]

Is Warner seriously looking for Ambersons footage in South America, or was that a joke? That would renew my faith in humanity.

[Finch]

clydefro at DVDTimes has written up a nice piece about titles that Warner should release proper:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id/72 ... -been.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jsteffe]

They are still looking for Orson's cut of the film in the archives of South America....

A contact of mine at Warner didn't mention anything about that. He indicated that it really was more a question of finding the best surviving elements for doing a new transfer of the only version known to exist. They *are* working on it, and it should come out before too long. I'm assuming that its release is planned for the 70th anniversary. And yes, it will be a special edition--and not a Warner Archive title--basically what Warner Home Video has said they were planning to do all along. My guess is that it may also have been delayed some due to the market downturn.

[jsteffe]

Aren't most Maria Montez titles held by Universal? Intriguing reply, though.

[mfunk9786]

Whoa, Show People was on TCM and it's delightful! Is it out anywhere in the world on DVD? Not sure how a gem like this has been overlooked.

[Erikht]

clydefro at DVDTimes has written up a nice piece about titles that Warner should release proper:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id/72 ... -been.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Sydney Greenstreet & Peter Lorre Collection would be my greatest wish.

[tojoed]

Whoa, Show People was on TCM and it's delightful! Is it out anywhere in the world on DVD? Not sure how a gem like this has been overlooked.

You can buy, probably a DVD-R from this site. I've never used them myself, so I can't vouch for the quality.
Alternatively, you can get one from this guy, who I can vouch for.
Order from here.

[HarryLong]

Aren't most Maria Montez titles held by Universal?

One that isn't is one I've been most curious to see for awhile: SIREN OF ATLANTIS. That one probably is WB.
(And yes, much of this curiosity is thanks to Gore Vidal's MYRON.)

[Matt]

SIREN OF ATLANTIS. That one probably is WB.

Probably not. It was originally distributed by United Artists.

[HarryLong]

The library-selling gets very confusing...

[big mouth]

So now the once "upcoming" blu of the Spike Lee joint "Malcolm X" has just been canceled in time for black history month. Good planning WB! If this was supposed to come out next week, and today they are having "musical rights" issues, what the hell do they do with the digibooks they must have printed up? ... and music issues? the sdvd has been out for years. Do blu's have to go through another set of lawyers? I smell a conspiracy.

[captveg]

So now the once "upcoming" blu of the Spike Lee joint "Malcolm X" has just been canceled in time for black history month. Good planning WB! If this was supposed to come out next week, and today they are having "musical rights" issues, what the hell do they do with the digibooks they must have printed up? ... and music issues? the sdvd has been out for years. Do blu's have to go through another set of lawyers? I smell a conspiracy.

Yes, Blu's do need to go through their own rights clearances. Obviously someone didn't read the fine print well enough, and now Warner is losing six-figure type money with the delay. Not exactly intentional, as it would be the most idiotic conspiracy from a financial standpoint ever.

As for the physical product, it'll be stored until they can release it after paying the music rights holders the amount they deem acceptable, per number crunching profit/cost figuring.

[beamish13]

Not an unreleased title, as the studio-sanctioned cut is out on the Archive label, but I asked WB about possibly putting out the original cut of James Bridges' MIKE'S MURDER (1984), which was intended to be MEMENTO-like in its structure. Unlike SWING SHIFT, an intact print actually survives. This is the reply that I got:

"Unlikely due to cost, but maybe someday...who knows?"

Better than nothing. I'm glad the people in charge of their Facebook page respond to most queries.

[kneelzod]

Better than nothing. I'm glad the people in charge of their Facebook page respond to most queries.

Yes, it's nice that they responded and even left the door slightly ajar. Big fan of this film and I was disappointed not only in the lack of Bridges' initial cut being made available alongside the theatrical cut, but also with the fact that the WA disc image quality leaves a lot to be desired. Framing appears off in a few scenes and the detail and color actually compare unfavorably with the included theatrical trailer.