Fox to distribute MGM library

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The Fanciful Norwegian · Wed May 31, 2006 4:04 am

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. on Tuesday unveiled new plans to revitalize the movie studio by ending video and DVD distribution pacts with Sony Pictures Entertainment and reestablishing a TV sales division.

MGM said it signed a new worldwide video and DVD distribution pact with 20th Century Fox to consolidate sales efforts under one company. Previously MGM split video and DVD distribution between Fox overseas and Sony in domestic arenas.

Sony is possibly the most hated studio when it comes to DVD and Fox (at least nowadays) is one of the most respected, so this is probably good news. And we may well see Criterion handling some MGM titles in the future...

justeleblanc · #2 Post by **justeleblanc** » Wed May 31, 2006 4:37 am

MGM post 1986, right? I forget which is Warner and which was Sony (now Fox).

Feast on me · #3 Post by **Feast on me** » Wed May 31, 2006 5:40 am

Could this mean a chance for some of the OOP Criterion titles that where part of MGM to be rereleased?
Fox has had some good relations with Criterion in the past.

Gordon · #4 Post by **Gordon** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:16 am

Eh? How were MGM in the position to negotiate a deal with Fox after being bought out by Sony? Also, doesn't this simply mean that MGM/UA Home Video will still produce their own DVD, but that Fox handles distribution?

FilmFanSea · #5 Post by **FilmFanSea** » Wed May 31, 2006 7:02 am

Gordon McMurphy wrote:Eh? How were MGM in the position to negotiate a deal with Fox after being bought out by Sony? Also, doesn't this simply mean that MGM/UA Home Video will still produce their own DVD, but that Fox handles distribution?

According to a post at the DVD Talk Forum, Sony is a minority shareholder in the consortium that purchased MGM/UA:

My understanding is MGM is up and running itself again, and Sony is a minority shareholder. Here's a breakdown of who spent what in the MGM-Sony deal. In short, sounds like Sony's screwed up.

Providence Equity Partners - $525 million
Texas Pacific Group - $350 million.
Sony and Comcast Corp - $300 million each.
DLJ Merchant Banking Partners - $125 million
JP Morgan Chase - leading a bank syndicate to provide as much as $4.25 billion more in senior debt financing together with Credit Suisse First Boston.

Gordon · #6 Post by **Gordon** » Wed May 31, 2006 8:14 am

Ah, I see. Thank you.

Narshty · #7 Post by **Narshty** » Wed May 31, 2006 8:16 am

Thank god for that. I wonder if Sony knew their distribution was only a short-term thing? It would explain their smash-and-grab policy of not putting out anything other than upgraded re-releases of popular catalogue titles.

This deal certainly explains how Criterion are apparently getting Salo back. It'd be great if they also got to do proper versions of "difficult" MGM catalogue titles like Fellini Satyricon, Darling, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Burn! and Last Tango in Paris.

dx23 · #8 Post by **dx23** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:32 pm

This is a great kick in the nuts for Sony. Take that you assholes, for continously re-releasing XXX, The Mask of Zorro and making Charlie's Angel your first Blu-Ray title.

These news give great possibilities for Criterion-Fox-MGM working together and sharing commentaries, featurettes and other extras. Too bad that Buena Vista ended owning those Hitchcok films that were going to be released 2 years ago by MGM, but it give great chances for restored David Lean films.

Cinesimilitude · #9 Post by **Cinesimilitude** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:07 am

oh man, does this mean Spinal Tap could be rereleased? I would go berserk if they could get their hands on the bootleg 4 1/2 hour cut going around and get reiner to OK it. I would do very immoral things to make it happen.

Gordon · #10 Post by **Gordon** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:40 am

Night of the Hunter: Criterion Collection? =P~

djali999 · #11 Post by **djali999** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 6:43 am

Gordon McMurphy wrote:Night of the Hunter: Criterion Collection? =P~

I actually sent them a title suggestion on this as soon as I heard Fox was distributing MGM titles. I'm sure they like the idea too, having released it on laserdisc. A fat special edition packaged with Grubb's novel would probably cause things too wonderful for words to happen over here.

Derek Estes · #12 Post by **Derek Estes** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:55 am

Now, Park Row could be included in Criterion's upcoming collection of Samuel Fuller's independent features!
I second Night of the Hunter!
Also,Sweet Smell of Success!

Narshty · #13 Post by **Narshty** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:08 pm

MGM forwards vid deal to Fox

This extract from the above article seems to confirm the suspicions:

When the MGM board, which includes Sony representation, met Tuesday to consider the issue, Fox was touted as a better alternative because it has invested heavily in third-party distribution, making it a potentially more favorable purveyor of MGM fare.

Fletch F. Fletch · Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:08 pm

Derek Estes wrote:Now, Park Row could be included in Criterion's upcoming collection of Samuel Fuller's independent features!
I second Night of the Hunter!
Also,Sweet Smell of Success!

Aigh, don't even get me started... a Criterion edition of Sweet Smell of Success would be amazing! And, of course, all those others which are faves. Hey, maybe following on the heals of Equinox Criterion could pick up Stuart Gordon's From Beyond which has been hanging in DVD limbo as MGM owns it.

Gregory · #15 Post by **Gregory** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:59 pm

This is good news, of course, but I wish I hadn't bought quite so many MGM discs.

justeleblanc · #16 Post by **justeleblanc** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 3:31 pm

Gregory wrote:This is good news, of course, but I wish I hadn't bought quite so many MGM discs.

MGM discs were actually quite cheap. They were bare bones, but for 6 bucks on DDD, it's hardly a dissapointment.

Honestly though, with so many films that need better restorations or any DVD release, I'm hardly drooling over a chance that Criterion might release NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, or THE APARTMENT, or KISS ME DEADLY. I'm perfectly happy with my MGM discs.

pzman84 · #17 Post by **pzman84** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 4:31 pm

A movie is made by United Artists, its rights are now owned by MGM, and when released (or rereleased) on DVD, it is produced by Criterion and distributed by Fox. So many companies to get one film on a decent DVD. Just some food for thought.

richast2 · #18 Post by **richast2** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:05 pm

this means that Criterion could finally release a Trilogy of Life box set.

FINALLY.

Gregory · #19 Post by **Gregory** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:13 pm

I expect Fox will keep a lot of the best stuff to themselves rather than licensing it to Criterion, at least at any price Criterion would be able to pay. Also, Criterion's production schedule being what it is, I'm trying not to get my hopes up for anything more than a trickle of these titles.

FilmFanSea · #20 Post by **FilmFanSea** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:18 pm

I understand from a confidential source that the Sony consortium, still reeling from MGM's new distribution deal with Fox, is in negotiations with Matt to become the new site owner/administrator.

tryavna · #21 Post by **tryavna** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 6:26 pm

I wonder if this deal had anything to do with those four or five MGM/UA films that BFI released on DVD going OOP? (Touch of Honey, Long-Distance Runner, etc.) Or maybe BFI's period of time was up. At any rate, a few of those DVDs are still floating around and are worth picking up for the extras -- regardless of how soon they may be (re)issued in R1 land.

Gordon · #22 Post by **Gordon** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:47 am

"The Criterion Collection proudly presents Midnite Movies, a series of horror, science fiction and fantasy cult classic."

Eclisse · #23 Post by **Eclisse** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:21 am

First MGM title that comes to my mind is William Wyler's masterpiece 'Dodsworth'.

#24 Post by **Matt** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:12 pm

I should probably start a new thread for this, but... here's some good news for you Stuart Gordon freaks from Cinematical.

Scott Weinberg wrote:Like any young movie geek who was madly in love with Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator, I was eagerly anticipating his follow-up, From Beyond, when it first debuted on VHS. And the result ... let's just say that I loved the gore, but I didn't "get" the plot. (Hey, I was 14.) And since the flick has yet to be released on DVD, I haven't been able to give it the second chance it obviously deserves. But get this: On June 10th, a network (I don't have) called Monsters HD will be presenting a fully-remastered and extra-splattery Director's Cut of From Beyond. Cool! That means a DVD can't be far behind!

This news has been percolating at the horror sites for quite some time, but hey, June 10th is next week, right? Go check your cable or satellite listings to see if you get Monsters HD. (Then be sure to record the flick and send me a copy!) In the meantime, here's a trailer for the Director's Cut presentation, and if your cubicle resides next to someone who can't stand goopy monsters with forehead tentacles, then it's probably not work-safe.

Based on the short story by H.P. Lovecraft, and starring the likes of Jeffrey Combs, Ken Foree, and Barbara Crampton, From Beyond was not the smash-success follow-up that Re-Animator could have yielded, but there's a large legion of gorehounds who dig it all the same.

toiletduck! · #25 Post by **toiletduck!** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:29 pm

matt wrote:I should probably start a new thread for this, but...

God, I bet that felt good.

-Toilet Dcuk

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Fox to distribute MGM library