criterionforum.org

"How Green Was My Valley" Blu-ray is out tomorrow in the US, but still can't find a review anywhere.

For those unaware, Fox has teamed up with the Home Theater Forum to poll for which titles to release next from the 1930s-60s. You can vote for one title from each decade, including write-ins. It also looks like you can vote again after 24 hours.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/a/fox-vote-your-choice" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some to consider writing in:

1940s
My Darling Clementine
The Ox-Bow Incident
Somewhere in the Night
The Street with No Name
Yellow Sky

1950s
Fixed Bayonets
Forty Guns
The Girl Can't Help It

Those are some hilariously horrible choices for the 30s, Fox

Not even going to try going up against the folks that will vote on this every single day. Great marketing research, Fox, and yes, that huge array of 30s choices is a little ridiculous. How about just release more of the things you've already branded "Classics"?

I'm for anything that might give people a voice to suggest what they want. If it didn't have the write-in option it would be less impressive, but that makes it worthwhile, IMO.

FYI, it was also revealed on HTF that Hello, Dolly! is due on 4/2/13, as well as a couple more individual releases of Kazan titles: Panic in the Streets on 3/26/13, and Viva Zapata! on 5/7/13.

captveg wrote:Panic in the Streets on 3/26/13

Yes! Freed from that box that I am otherwise uninterested in.

captveg wrote:I'm for anything that might give people a voice to suggest what they want.

Sure, but I still remember the Warner poll in which Ice Station Zebra was one of the titles that won in a landslide over Greed, which they have still not released the better part of a decade later. The best idea would be to release things like Ice Station Zebra and Greed, because they're so different and both easily have sufficient demand to warrant being released. What I'm trying to say is not only that it seems like many of the important (IMHO) titles lose out in iffy polls like this but also that Fox should release more of all types of their "classic" titles, since they've played an over-cautious hand with Blu-ray so far.

swo17 wrote:

captveg wrote:Panic in the Streets on 3/26/13

Yes! Freed from that box that I am otherwise uninterested in.

Ditto that.

I'm gonna be optimistic about this and believe that the reason behind Fox choosing such relatively unknown/lackluster titles for this stunt is because they already have big Blu-ray plans for their bigger titles.

I for one am very impressed to see such titles as From the Terrace and The Best of Everything, two of my personal favorite glossy dramas from the studio. Definitely not among the most popular films of the Fox catalog from the era, but both are beautifully-shot melodramas that deserve blu rays.

A Letter to Three Wives is a no-brainer but where are the other Jeanne Crain films? I would love for Fox to release a Jeanne Crain box with that film, Pinky, and two unreleased but really-really wonderful titles: Apartment for Peggy (absolutely charming film!) and Take Care of My Little Girl (amazing drama about sorority life in 1950).

swo17 wrote:Some to consider writing in:

1940s
My Darling Clementine
The Ox-Bow Incident
Somewhere in the Night
The Street with No Name
Yellow Sky

1950s
Fixed Bayonets
Forty Guns
The Girl Can't Help It

I would hope these are on the docket either way. If the Kazan discs are being released singly, it's certainly possible Ox-Bow and Clementine would have blu-ray releases.

Hope being the operative word. Forty Guns and Girl Can't Help It in particular would be unbelievable in hi-def.

If you participate in the Fox survey, you receive a 20% coupon code at Fox Connect. I used it to order Laura and How Green was my Valley for $25.68 shipped.

Upcoming Fox theatrical feature BD releases:

2/26

Chasing Mavericks (2012)

3/5

Everyone's Hero (2006) (Wal-Mart exclusive)
Life of Pi (2012)
Life of Pi 3D (2012)
One Night with the King (2006)

3/12

Hitchcock (2012)
Willow (1988)

3/26

Panic in the Streets (1950) (Individual release)
Parental Guidance (2012)

4/2

Hello, Dolly! (1969)
That Thing You Do! (1996)

5/7

Viva Zapata! (1952)


There's a definite "films with exclamation points" theme happening.

The "20th Anniversary" edition of Sandlot. Man, I'm getting old.

5/21

Cleopatra (1963)

Someone on Blu-ray.com says The Verdict will be out in May, there were listings up on Amazon and FoxConnect but they appear to have gone.

May 7th:

The Verdict
Brubaker
Viva Zapata!
One Hour Photo

So, Fox's poll results are in, and they've officially scheduled both the #1 and #2 top vote recipients for Blu-ray releases on 12/3/13.

Full details at the link, including them taking into consideration the other titles and write-ins for possible 2014 releases, but the 8 films are:

(Voted #1)

· 1930s: Jesse James (1939)
· 1940s: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
· 1950s: Carmen Jones (1954)
· 1960s: North to Alaska (1960)

(Came in at #2)

· 1930s: The Call of the Wild (1935)
· 1940s: The Black Swan (1942)
· 1950s: Desk Set (1957)
· 1960s: The Undefeated (1969)

Also:

"It will come as no surprise to HTF members that the film that received the most requests via write-in was Cavalcade. Based on the overwhelming support it received Fox has decided to release it on Blu-ray this August!"

captveg wrote: "It will come as no surprise to HTF members that the film that received the most requests via write-in was Cavalcade. Based on the overwhelming support it received Fox has decided to release it on Blu-ray this August!"

That's wonderful, indeed.

Drucker wrote:

captveg wrote: "It will come as no surprise to HTF members that the film that received the most requests via write-in was Cavalcade. Based on the overwhelming support it received Fox has decided to release it on Blu-ray this August!"

That's wonderful, indeed.

I will not step on your love for this film, Drucker, but I'm guessing this one got more votes from Academy Award completists than rabid cinephiles.

I meant I was excited that write-in-based public support was able to encourage a studio to do a release!