Warner Brothers Archive Collection (DVDs only)

[Michael Kerpan]

The new Lubitsch Merry Widow DVD looks pretty good (and what a great movie -- possibly the best looking film musical ever).

[bamwc2]

Big sale on Warner Archive "Americana" titles (which I guess mostly means Westerns but also The Strawberry Blonde) at Amazon.

There are few here that I would definitely recommend:

An American Romance
Devils Doorway
Edison the Man
The Enchanted Cottage
The Human Comedy
Intruder in the Dust
Northwest Passage
The Strawberry Blonde
Tell It to the Marines
Westward the Women
Wichita

However, my two biggest recommendations go to the masterpieces Abe Lincoln in Illinois and The Tall Target. Both films are about Abe Lincoln, though the second only obliquely, since it concerns a plot to kill the president (hence the title) on a train stop in the period before the civil war. The film is actually a tightly crafted thriller featuring Dick Powell in one of his all time best performances with exquisite camera work and riveting detective work. Though Henry Fonda's Abe Lincoln is better remembered today (thanks in no small part to Criterion!), Raymond Massey delivered the better performance and starred in the better film about Lincoln's pre-presidential life. There's nothing showy or flashy to the film, but what it does it does perfectly. Massey is uncanny in his role as young Lincoln and the writing superb. I can't praise either film enough. I consider both to be essential purchases.

Although I want to, I've never seen Ah, Wilderness, The Hanging Tree or The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean. I suppose that now would be the time to snap them up.

#-o :-$ (emoticons once again added by my son)

[domino harvey]

Ford's the Rising of the Moon is good but the conceit is the whole thing takes place in Ireland, so what a funny choice for an "Americana" sale!

[domino harvey]

Oh, I don't necessarily disagree with you, I just think it's a silly idea for a sale anyways-- it's also funny they didn't include films that would fit it to a tee like Small Town Girl (though Two Sisters From Boston snuck in, probably because of the title!)

[domino harvey]

Love Finds Andy Hardy latest victim of DVD to DVD-R purgatory

[domino harvey]

Sigh... and Zero Effect

[Ashirg]

Oh, stop your whining. If you want it on regular DVD you could have bought it a million times by now. Used copies are still available on Amazon for good prices.

[domino harvey]

I already have a copy. I am lamenting its future ghetto status for others. Reduction of titles like this to the Archives ensures fewer and fewer casual viewers have a change to discover some great films. But tell me more about how this constitutes whining, because that's a real productive contribution

[bamwc2]

Sigh... and Zero Effect

I died a little bit upon seeing this yesterday.

[felipe]

I already have a copy. I am lamenting its future ghetto status for others. Reduction of titles like this to the Archives ensures fewer and fewer casual viewers have a change to discover some great films. But tell me more about how this constitutes whining, because that's a real productive contribution

But Archive titles are available on a number of websites. If you try to buy the title at Amazon, you'll still be able to, even if it's an Archive title now. Of course you won't be able to buy them on brick and mortar stores, but how many of them actually had physical copies of Love Finds Andy Hardy to begin with?

[matrixschmatrix]

Casual viewers tend to be less interested in paying inflated prices for a DVD-R, and also Archive status means that there's zero chance that someone will stumble across it when not specifically seeking it out.

[felipe]

I think it can go both ways. Some friends of mine follow the Archive closely and wait anxiously for the newsletter, and have discovered in it many films they were unaware of.

[Matt]

George Feltenstein is doing a Reddit AMA on August 14. The 2013 equivalent of a HTF chat, apparently.

[domino harvey]

Not that I'd want to interact with HTF either, but this ensures 95% of the questions will be about Christopher Nolan

[Matt]

George Feltenstein is doing a Reddit AMA on August 14. The 2013 equivalent of a HTF chat, apparently.

http://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments ... rchive_at/

[matrixschmatrix]

Mr Feltenstein, any chance of Get Carter (1971), Point Blank (1967) and Salem's Lot (1979) Blu-ray releases? Thx in advance!

Two of those films are actively being considered for Blu by our friends and colleagues at Warner Home Video. You'll have to stay tuned to see what happens next. Thanks for the good question. You've got excellent taste!

I'd guess Point Blank and Salem's Lot, but seems like good news regardless (if anything ever surfaces)

edit: also relevant:

I saw that there was a screening of Nicholas Ray's THE LUSTY MEN (1952) at ll Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna earlier this year that was advertised as being "restored by Warner Bros. in collaboration with The Film Foundation and The Nicholas Ray Foundation. Restored from the original 35mm camera negative using traditional photochemical methods".
First of all, thank you for preserving and restoring films like this for audiences both present and future. Secondly, are there any plans to release The Lusty Men on DVD or (hopefully!) Blu-Ray? Thanks.

YES! There are 35mm film elements being made at the lab (photochemically!) from the original negative from which we will be remastering. The last video master was done 30 years ago (what you see on TV) so we think it's about time! Thanks!

[Calvin]

I'm eagerly awaiting THE BIG PARADE, so I have to ask: Are there anymore silents on the way (and what are they)?

There are more silent films planned for WAC. Separately, the BD of THE BIG PARADE from WHV was a very expensive project, and if it is successful, hopefully the 'high profile' silents yet to surface (THE CROWD, GREED, THE WIND, etc.) can follow in its footsteps. Thanks.

My friends, family, neighbours, local schools and libraries will all be receiving copies of The Big Parade. Whether they want it or not!

[Altair]

Even better news is a Blu-ray of Stronheim's Greed which has never got a good release. I'm surprised Kino haven't been interested in it, seeing as they recently put out Blind Husbands. And maybe one day Abel Gance's Napoleon will arrive...

[Drucker]

Even better news is a Blu-ray of Stronheim's Greed which has never got a good release. I'm surprised Kino haven't been interested in it, seeing as they recently put out Blind Husbands. And maybe one day Abel Gance's Napoleon will arrive...

The release of the rest of those MGM greats on blu is, as they've said multiple times now, entirely contingent on the sales for The Big Parade.. Don't start celebrating yet.

[neilist]

Even better news is a Blu-ray of Stronheim's Greed which has never got a good release. I'm surprised Kino haven't been interested in it, seeing as they recently put out Blind Husbands. And maybe one day Abel Gance's Napoleon will arrive...

I think you mean 'Foolish Wives'. Kino hasn't upgraded their DVD of 'Blind Husbands' as far as I'm aware...

[Ashirg]

Kino can be interested in Greed as much as they want. It's the Warner that won't let it license to other companies.

[Altair]

Even better news is a Blu-ray of Stronheim's Greed which has never got a good release. I'm surprised Kino haven't been interested in it, seeing as they recently put out Blind Husbands. And maybe one day Abel Gance's Napoleon will arrive...

The release of the rest of those MGM greats on blu is, as they've said multiple times now, entirely contingent on the sales for The Big Parade.. Don't start celebrating yet.

I suppose silent films are never the largest sellers for these companies; they're very much the preserve of film buffs, as opposed to the general public buying them (or even having heard of them).

And yes, I meant Foolish Wives...

[neeb]

Even better news is a Blu-ray of Stronheim's Greed which has never got a good release. I'm surprised Kino haven't been interested in it, seeing as they recently put out Blind Husbands. And maybe one day Abel Gance's Napoleon will arrive...

The release of the rest of those MGM greats on blu is, as they've said multiple times now, entirely contingent on the sales for The Big Parade.. Don't start celebrating yet.

I actually pre-ordered THE BIG PARADE. I'll kick myself if it shows up at a cheap price later, but not if we get more silents.

And the prices of VHS copies of GREED are at extortionate levels: GREED.

[domino harvey]

Bunch more classics (and the Korine) taken from pressed discs and relegated to Archive Hell:

Goodbye Mr Chips (1939)
Gummo
Johnny Belinda
Kitty Foyle
the Loved One
the Master of Ballantrae
Presenting Lily Mars
the Red Badge of Courage

[criterion10]

...Gummo?!

](*,) Ugh! I hate those fuckers! This literally just ruined my day.