Warner chat at HTF 2006

[toiletduck!]

But most importantly, I won't have to double-dip on A Walk To Remember. Whew, that's one bullet dodged.

-Toilet Dcuk

[stroszeck]

UH, just out of curiosity, did any of my earlier questions (which took a long time to put together) concerning the following titles get answered?

Compilation of DVD related questions from MANY friends:

When will the following titles be released in Original Aspect Ratios on DVD:

- SHY PEOPLE (Andrei Konchalovsky) -- Won Best Actress at Cannes

- THE DEAD (John Huston) -- The final film of a legend.

- THE NEW AGE (Michael Tolkin)

- RACHEL, RACHEL (Paul Newman) -- Newman's only directorial effort.

- TAKING OFF (Milos Forman) -- Many requests on this particular title.

- LAST SUMMER (Frank Perry)

[justeleblanc]

UH, just out of curiosity, did any of my earlier questions (which took a long time to put together) concerning the following titles get answered?

Compilation of DVD related questions from MANY friends:

When will the following titles be released in Original Aspect Ratios on DVD:

- SHY PEOPLE (Andrei Konchalovsky) -- Won Best Actress at Cannes

- THE DEAD (John Huston) -- The final film of a legend.

- THE NEW AGE (Michael Tolkin)

- RACHEL, RACHEL (Paul Newman) -- Newman's only directorial effort.

- TAKING OFF (Milos Forman) -- Many requests on this particular title.

- LAST SUMMER (Frank Perry)

Sorry Bruno, I don't think these made it into the chat. Neither did the Ken Russell and Lubitsch titles I was pushing. The chat was unfortunately hijacked by Jerry Seinfeld.

[tryavna]

Looks like HTF handled this year's chat much more effectively. It's a shame that Warner didn't get a chance to address some individual titles that got mentioned in this thread (like the ones Stroszeck lists above). Perhaps the only real surprise/disappointment for me is that people didn't ask more generally about the British and foreign language films in Warners' catalogue.

Still, I'm pleased that they're beginning to realize just how little they've done with their silents -- despite their half-assed claim that they treat silents more seriously than any other major label. (Well, duh! That wouldn't be hard since the other major labels release maybe two a year. But compared to what Image, Kino, Milestone, etc. turn out, it's pretty weak.)

[toiletduck!]

Stroszeck,

LAST SUMMER got the ambiguous "we've discussed it, but there is no date set"

RACHEL, RACHEL was mentioned in a group of films that got an umbrella answer of 'most in 2007, the rest probably in 2008'

I don't believe any of the rest were brought up.

-Toilet Dcuk

[Jeff]

UH, just out of curiosity, did any of my earlier questions (which took a long time to put together) concerning the following titles get answered?

You can now look back at the first post of this thread to see which questions were answered.

[Cinesimilitude]

so the whole transcript is here. and I'm wondering...

[JackBaxter] We know that The Maltese Falcon is getting a two-disc this year. Will The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not, or Key Largo be getting similar treatment? Also, what aspect ratios will The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut be presented in?

[Warner] We see no reason to revisit the other BOGARTS, they were restored from orig camera negative, and there really isn't much else to do that would warrant creating a new edition, THE SHINING and EYES WIDE SHUT will be 1.77 (16x9)

Aren't these two supposed to be 1.33?

[Gordon]

- RACHEL, RACHEL (Paul Newman) -- Newman's only directorial effort.

Not true: Newman directed a further five films:

Sometimes a Great Notion (1971, Universal)

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972, 20th Century Fox)

The Shadow Box (1980, ABC TV movie)

Harry & Son (1984, Orion ?)

The Glass Menagerie (1987, Universal ?)

All of them are worth seeing - if you can.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Aren't these two supposed to be 1.33?

No, not really. We know The Shining was composed for 1.85:1 and protected for 4:3; Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut were most likely handled the same way. They were presented at 4:3 on home video because Kubrick apparently preferred to have the image fill the entire television screen, but continuing to present them at 4:3 seems increasingly inappropriate in this era of 16:9 displays.

[scotty]

Oh my God. Another Kubrick aspect ratio discussion. No mention, so far, of version 3.0 of the Kubrick box set. Did anyone detect a hint that these four special editions would be part of one? Looks like they aren't going that direction. Not yet at least.

[Lino]

so the whole transcript is here. and I'm wondering...

[JackBaxter] We know that The Maltese Falcon is getting a two-disc this year. Will The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not, or Key Largo be getting similar treatment? Also, what aspect ratios will The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut be presented in?

[Warner] We see no reason to revisit the other BOGARTS, they were restored from orig camera negative, and there really isn't much else to do that would warrant creating a new edition, THE SHINING and EYES WIDE SHUT will be 1.77 (16x9)

Aren't these two supposed to be 1.33?

Warner said their intentions were to present them as they played theatrically. With that in mind, I might buy them for a superior A/V presentation but will not sell my current boxset.

[Cinesimilitude]

Yeah, I'll be buying the clockwork orange SE, but the rest I'll wait for the format war to settle.

[Jeff]

Okay, toonheads, it's your turn. HTF will be hosting another chat with reps from Warner Home Video on June 6. This time, the television and animation departments only will be in attendence, so you'll have to keep your questions confined to those topics. I'm not going to keep a list of potential questions for this one, but feel free to post your innermost thoughts about Tiny Toons and Perfect Strangers sets here anyway.

[Jeff]

Transcript of the TV and animation chat.

[Lino]

Ok, I'm feeling bored and thought of adding this list of previously promised but as for now unannounced Warner titles from this year's chat:

Up the Down Staircase maybe in 2007.

They're working on a SE for The Road Warrior.

The film Caged will be released on dvd. It got bumped from this year to 2007.

Attack of the 50 FT Woman.

Warner is still discussing The Devils for release.

Scheduled for release this year or next are the following: Greed, The Wind, The Crowd, The Big Parade, The Scarlet Letter and Show People.

Warner wanted to release The Bowery Boys in chronological order starting in January, but then saw the awful state of the masters and are now reevaluating their options as to what order they will release those films. They are still searching for better 35MM elements.

2007 is a possibility for Dark of the Sun.

Warner is trying to secure Twilight Zone: The Movie for release.

There is a legal problem with releasing Nothing Lasts Forever.

Caddyshack and Under the Rainbow are getting look at for releases. Next year might see Funny Farm and Spies Like Us.

Warner is going to release the 1922, 1937 and 1952 versions of The Prisoner of Zenda.
Lots of adventure films this year and next.

Warner still looking for better elements for The Magnificent Ambersons and will release Journey into Fear with it. Be patient this might stretch out for a couple more years.

Still working on the Charlie Chan Monogram films including The Black Camel which can only be released in the US and Canada.

Warner looking to do a SE of The Candidate and Jeremiah Johnson with participation from Robert Redford.

They're still talking about Zabriskie Point.

Warner looking at boxset for Andy Hardy films in either 2007 or 2008.

Looking at more Kazan films such as America America

More Joan Crawford boxsets including the film Flamingo Road. Look for the next release in 2007 with Flamingo Road being restored.

There will be more Gable and Harlow films. Also, looking at Ginger Rogers films from RKO.

Also, another Doris Day boxset.

Bridges of Madison County anamorphic release might be next year. Also, the Ventura films.

The Rain People, Rachel, Rachel, Far from a Madding Crowd, Shoot the Moon and Big Hand for the Little Lady this year or next.

Looking at a John Grisham boxset.

Looking at revisiting Little Shop of Horrors, also a SE of Beetlejuice .

James Cagney boxset for 2007.

More westerns besides those from John Ford and John Wayne.

Some Came Running will be in a Sinatra boxset. Also, looking at other Minnelli films like Four Horsemen of the Apocalpse.

Warner looking at Glenn Ford boxset.

Working with Andy Griffith to release No Time for Sergeants.

Looking at Stanwyck boxset and have enough titles to do 2-3 of them including The Mad Miss Manton.

Looking at Maisie and Dr. Kildare boxsets.

A Natalie Wood boxset. They acknowledged that Excalibur, Arthur, Outland and Year of Living Dangerously need better looking dvds. Actually, a new transfer has been completed of Arthur so that will probably come out soon.

The Cool Ones and The Big Cube might come out. Looking at Who's Life is it Anyway and
The Power. Man in the Wilderness will be out in 2007.

Private Benjamin OAR release might be a possibility.

A double feature dvd with the Dark Shadows films next year.

Warner is still looking for 35MM film elements for the full length 102 minutes of The Sea Wolf. They have 16MM elements of it, but will continue to look for 35MM. If not found then they'll use the missing sequence from the 16mm print.

Zsa Zsa Gabor films coming with Queen of Outer Space coming soon.

Another Errol Flynn boxset in 2007 including Gentleman Jim and The Charge of the Light Brigade.

Another Lon Chaney collection with Tell it to the Marines, He who gets Slapped and both versions of Unholy Three restored from the original camera neg.

Will look at Hey, Good Lookin.

Warner recognized the popularity of Allied Artists films. Looks good for The Giant Behemoth release.

Gold is plan for next year. Another Powell/Loy boxset in 2007. Soldier in the Rain another possiblity.

Twilights Last Gleaming will be part of a Burt Lancaster boxset next year.

Goodbye, Mr. Chips with Peter O'Toole is a strong 2007 possibility.

Bonnie and Clyde 's 40th birthday next year so watch out for a SE.

Brewster McCloud needs a new anamorphic transfer.

Mann's Side Street a possibility for Film Noir #4.

Poltergeist SE Silver Anniversary on target for next year.

Looking at Little Dorrit.

That's Dancing a possibility for next year along with some more MGM musicals.

Looking at Angus.

Executive Suite is slated for 2007.

Carbine Williams a possibility for the second James Stewart boxset.

A 2-Disc SE of Deliverance scheduled for next year.

Warner looking at releasing remainder of Weismuller Tarzan films next year followed by Lex Barker in the future.

The Picture of Dorian Gray a possibility for next year with color inserts.

Looking at releasing Garland's Star is Born for high def. Also, maybe the 1937 version too.

LA Confidential 2-Disc SE in 2007.

An American in Paris SE pushed back to 2007. Need to revisit Rio Bravo.

The Hill coming out in 2007.

No plans for Exorcist III, The Man with Two Brains and The Witches of Eastwick.

Warner releasing Spirit of St. Louis in the Stewart boxet.

Man Who Would Be King SE for next year.

Looking at Twice Upon a Time.

Prince of the City with Lumet commentary and bonus material for next year.

Please correct any info that might have escaped me.

[Antoine Doinel]

Most of these were possibilities for 2006, not promises.