Warner Brothers Archive Collection Blu-rays

[fdm]

^This is getting frustrating for sure,I think Mr.Feltenstein has said many times that they want to do some silents but that they require alot of work and that they are "looking for better elements".Personally I´m starting to believe that someone at WB thinks that silents are not going to sell on disc, or sell enough to justify the expensive restorations.

^Also has something to do with costs for recording scores for films needing them.

[Peacock]

Are late 20s black and white silents really that much more expensive to scan in HD than early 30s black and white sound films? Or Technicolor releases? Does WB not still own the rights to any of the scores for the silents they released on DVD?

I understand some of these films probably need a lot of work to put out to a decent standard… but all of them?

The fact Feltenstein doesn’t even mention the 1920s in the quotes above makes me think it’s more likely they got burned on The Big Parade and would rather focus on the sound era… I’m hoping if he does one of the silent Garbos and it sells that maybe they’ll feel safer touching another some other silents.

[ianthemovie]

The random hope that I'm clinging to, at least with regard to the long-rumored Greed, is that it's being saved for 2024 in order to mark its centennial.

[Maltic]

The fact Feltenstein doesn’t even mention the 1920s in the quotes above makes me think it’s more likely they got burned on The Big Parade and would rather focus on the sound era… I’m hoping if he does one of the silent Garbos and it sells that maybe they’ll feel safer touching another some other silents.

Seems bizarre The Big Parade would sell so poorly compared to all those filler talkies they put out, but what do I know.

Btw, another hurrah Gentleman Jim. \:D/

[domino harvey]

Dance, Fools, Dance (1931)

This contains a new (for this film, at least) rather big extra feature:

Hollywood: The Dream Factory (50:36) - Newly restored in HD from original film elements, this 1972 made-for-TV documentary shares an abridged history of MGM during Hollywood's Golden Age. Directed by Irwin Rosten with narration by Dick Cavett, it's a thoughtfully-produced and entertaining production that includes ample film clips from some of MGM's best-known works as well as insight about the studio system of that era, behind-the-scenes still and footage, and coverage of many different aspects of filmmaking, from actors and musicians to landscapers, publicists, and gourmet chefs. A delight, and possibly worth the price of admission alone.

[ianthemovie]

Dance, Fools, Dance (1931)

This contains a new (for this film, at least) rather big extra feature:

Hollywood: The Dream Factory (50:36) - Newly restored in HD from original film elements, this 1972 made-for-TV documentary shares an abridged history of MGM during Hollywood's Golden Age. Directed by Irwin Rosten with narration by Dick Cavett, it's a thoughtfully-produced and entertaining production that includes ample film clips from some of MGM's best-known works as well as insight about the studio system of that era, behind-the-scenes still and footage, and coverage of many different aspects of filmmaking, from actors and musicians to landscapers, publicists, and gourmet chefs. A delight, and possibly worth the price of admission alone.

This is also included as a special feature on the most recent Warner Archive edition of Meet Me In St. Louis, even though it's oddly not listed on the back cover with the other special features. I'd have to go back and check whether it is restored in HD though. (And yes, it's a great documentary.)

[jheez]

The HD restoration is indeed new, and an update from the old master on Meet Me in St. Louis

[Ovader]

Movie Zyng currently has a Warner Holiday Buy 2 get one free sale but I could not find how long that sale lasts. Admittedly it is not as great of a sale as their 4for$49 sale but worthwhile to investigate for those impatient for the next 4for$49 event.

[fdm]

No newer titles beyond what they had in previous sales? Looks like.

[yoloswegmaster]

January releases:

FAITHLESS (1932)
CABIN IN THE SKY (1943)
JOE'S APARTMENT (1996)
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (1937)
ROVER DANGERFIELD (1991)
A DAY AT THE RACES (1937)

[FrauBlucher]

[Finch]

That's not a bad lineup actually. More pre-code, Minnelli's debut, more Flynn and the Marx Brothers. I haven't seen any of those but now I'm curious.

[domino harvey]

If they’ll do that Marx Brothers movie, maybe they’ll release the two blackface Garland/Rooney musicals too

[Finch]

That's where the disclaimer they used for Looney Tunes will come in handy.

[Furstemberg]

Faithless excites me not only as much-needed Tallulah representation, but because I finally can ditch the “Robert Montgomery Collection” WAC DVD set which I bought specifically for that title. The seven other titles in that set… I can’t part with them fast enough.

[Finch]

George Feltenstein said in the latest podcast that strong customer support for WAC has not gone unnoticed by the WBD head honchos so WAC should remain safe for the foreseeable future. Rover Dangerfield and Joe's Apartment have been TV and VHS favorites and two of the most requested titles, so there you are. More Marx Brothers likely coming if A Day At The Races sells as well as Night at the Opera did.

[Peacock]

100 year anniversary next year for Greed. [-o<

[felipe]

More Marx Brothers likely coming if A Day At The Races sells as well as Night at the Opera did.

What do you suppose "sell well" mean for a WAC release? Like, 3k copies?

[Finch]

I've never seen George quote actual numbers.

[FrauBlucher]

HTF reviews Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol 2.... There is one short that has a sync issue

[videozor]

WA Sale:

Buy up to 3 single disc Blu-rays for $12.99 each thru December 31, 2023

https://www.moviezyng.com/sale-items

[senseabove]

WA Sale:

Buy up to 3 single disc Blu-rays for $12.99 each thru December 31, 2023

https://www.moviezyng.com/sale-items

Coupon code is NEWSLETTER, can only be used for 3 titles, and does stack with multiples (i.e. if you want 6 titles, you have to place two separate orders of 3 each).

[swo17]

But shipping is $2 per order plus $1 per item, so having to place separate orders is less than ideal. Some titles that are better deals on Amazon right now:

Little Women
Border Incident
Queen Christina

Nice explanation of the shipping charges on their website:

Our customers ask us – do we really ship for just $2.99? The answer is YES! We want to be your favorite place to shop and buy...

Now you can order just the DVD you want, and not worry about trying to get to some magic number just to take advantage of the free shipping opportunity.

[Matt]

Oh my, this is stunning...bluray.com.... The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

I’m late to the game as usual, but the WAC Blu-ray of Elizabeth & Essex really does look incredibly good. The Technicolor is vivid but skin tones look accurate: Flynn looks tanned and youthful, Davis is a pale pink rose as Elizabeth.

There was some controversy at the time of the disc’s release about revisionism regarding the color, some saying it was too yellow (or maybe not yellow enough, I don’t remember). I don’t find that to be the case. Most scenes are set in interiors “lit” by fireplaces and candlesticks, so some warmth in the color temperature is surely intentional. The rare “sunlit” scene has an appropriately cooler quality. But the blues here are blue, not teal. The reds are red, not orange. And Davis’s white Orry-Kelly gowns look appropriately virginal white, not ivory. And there is infinite variation in tones of pinks, greens, yellows, purples, etc. None of the comic-bookish garishness and sameness you see in existing transfers of The Adventures of Robin Hood.

This restoration surely looks better than it could ever have looked originally, even in a top-notch dye transfer print. There would always have been some slight misregistration of the three Technicolor strips. The precision with which digital tools can perfectly align them now means the image never has that reddish Technicolor halo around things you might see otherwise.

Of course, none of this makes it a great film. It’s still a talky, studio-bound stage adaptation, but it’s a classic of its type and now even more beautiful to look at. I’ve always had an inexplicable affection for it, but now maybe it’s a little more explicable with this edition.

[FrauBlucher]

TheExtras podcast year end review with George Feltenstein

A few things of note...
-More Westerns in 2024 (I wonder if this also includes Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid coming from Criterion. Feltenstein did tease The Roaring Twenties without mentioning CC)
- Their 2 Looney Tunes releases rank 1 and 2 amongst top sellers. Can't say I'm surprised
- This is WAC 15 year anniversary, so expect big things