Warner chat at HTF 2006

[Derek Estes]

Two films I'm dying for Warner to release are John Ford's Wagonmaster, and 7 Women. Both of which are great films that I would have thought to being the coming Ford set, but are oddly missing.

[Lino]

Are they going to release Jan Troell's The Emigrants and The New Land?

[tavernier]

Are they going to release Jan Troell's The Emigrants and The New Land?

That would be the ultimate DVD double feature, so it probably won't happen.

[Lino]

One more:

Are they going to release The Illustrated Man?

P.S. I know a lot of these questions will not have a chance to be asked but I do hope some of them are.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I would like to know if they are going to release the 1929 version of The Letter, which due to a rights glitch did not appear on the DVD of the remake.

[Lino]

This is it, guys! Tonight's the big night. Like I said above, I know that many of our questions won't have a chance to be asked but please make sure that all the main ones get, ok? I won't be attending the chat (I'll be sleeping) so here's hoping that some will and ask them.

[Gigi M.]

Please don't forget to ask about a 2 Disc Special Edition of Bonnie and Clyde. Is it due this year or next year for it's 40th anniversary?

[justeleblanc]

Yes and don't forget to ask about Ken Russell titles (The Devils, The Boy Friend, Lisztomania) or Lubitsch titles (The Merry Widow, his silent films).

[tavernier]

And Jan Troell's Emigrants and New Land!!!!!

[bjeggert82]

And Gentleman Jim, Northern Pursuit, and Uncertain Glory, along with other much needed Eroll Flynn titles!!!

[swimminghorses]

someone please ask what happened to last years promise of Performance

[cafeman]

And ask if they plan on releasing 3 Godfathers normally, widely.

[Gregory]

I'm going out to see two films tonight and therefore am unable to participate. It's a bit of a shame for me because with TV and animation questions off limits, there will be far more opportunities to find out about regular feature films than in past chats. Good luck, all, and don't forget to review the list of questions from last year (linked in the first post of this thread). There are still many excellent questions remaining to be asked this time.

[Jeff]

here is the login page at HTF that has all of the details about the chat. I would suggest using an IRC client, though.

Connect to irc.shadowfire.org and join #htf.

[kblz]

Well, I finally won the right to ask a question at this year's chat, and I was going to ask about the silents, but of course someone just ahead of me beat me to it (was that you by any chance, FilmFanSea)? So I went ahead and asked about noir -- here were the responses to both questions:

19:22 <+BrianPB> Thanks for coming back. Warner continues to sit on a unrivaled cache of silent masterpieces which are begging for release. Examples would include von Stroheim's GREED (which made a respectable showing--9th--in DVD Decision 2004, and is currently the top vote-getter in TCM's poll of "most requested films not on DVD"), Victor Seastrom's THE WIND and THE SCARLET LETTER, King Vidor's THE BIG PARADE (restored in 2004), THE CROWD, and SHOW PEOPLE

19:24 <@Warner> Every one of the films you mentioned will be released either at the end of this year or during 2007. We recognize their importance and are certainly doing more with our silent films than any other major studio. We have 6600 films in our library and only so many release slots per year, so bear with us. DONE


19:33 <+ChrisHagen> Hi! Other than Lady in the Lake, can you say (or at least hint) at what titles will be included in the next Noir collection, and, if there will be any more noir titles coming soon outside of the Noir Vol. 3 box, can you tell us what those will be? (End)

19:34 <@Warner> Well, if we told you what they were, we'd be spoiling all the fun. I will say there's at least one nifty Mitchum RKO film, and an MGM film you might not expect. DONE
19:35 <@Warner> There will also be another NOIR set following #3 this year.DONE

[carax09]

I've narrowed down the Mitchum field to six: His Kind of Woman, Angel Face, Macao, Where Danger Lives, The Big Steal, and Blood On the Moon as the dark horse (pun intended). I'd love to see The Big Steal, but it's a long-shot because I think it's more of a heist film and Warner recently did a Mitchum/Greer. If I had to guess, I'd say they were referring to Angel Face. Any guesses on the MGM?

[FilmFanSea]

Well, I finally won the right to ask a question at this year's chat, and I was going to ask about the silents, but of course someone just ahead of me beat me to it (was that you by any chance, FilmFanSea)?

Yep, that was me: Sorry. That same think happened to me at a previous Warner chat & I had to scrample to compose a different question. I'm just glad to hear some positive news about those silents.

[Anonymous]

I just tuned into it a few min ago did anyone ask about aspect ratios on the upcoming kubrick re-releases yet?

[kblz]

FilmFanSea: no problem at all! I was glad to hear the good news too. Also, to follow up on the noir news, it was also mentioned that Caged would be on the way in 2007, and that Anthony Mann's Side Street was a likely candidate for inclusion in Noir Set Vol. 4.

About Kubrick and aspect ratios:

20:10 <+VincentP> You guys are the best major studio for DVD releases. There's just one real improvement I'd like to see, especially with the upcoming SE of A Clockwork Orange. I'd like to know when is Warner going to start doing 16x9 enhancement for 1.66:1 films?

20:12 <@Warner> Thank you, Vincent. Your wish has been granted. We haven't had to release a 1.66 film since GIANT, and since then, company policy is now to release 1.66:1 films with side bars within the 16x9 frame. So yes, CLOCKWORK is being remastered in HD as we speak, and the new transfer will have the proper aspect ratio . No more 4x3 slight letterboxed DVDs of 1.66 from WHV. They have gone the way of the Snapper! DONE

[Anonymous]

doh I just re-asked it

[Jeff]

The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut were specifically mentioned as being "1.77" on the upcoming discs.

Once HTF gets the transcript posted, I'll update the forthcoming thread and annotate the first post of this thread.

[justeleblanc]

Dah, no one asked about The Merry Widow! But thank god there's a special edition of Grumpier Old Men coming out..... wtf?

[Lino]

Chat transcription:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/chat/warner2006.txt

Overall, I think that the titles we have all been waiting for are being sidetracked in favour of that blasted Superman boxset. That's my take on it, anyway. And prepare to wait another year for The Devils and Performance...

[dx23]

And the summary from it, directly from the link above:

Yakuza is coming shortly and 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.

Warner will be releasing most of the following before year's end: Mad Love, Mask of Fu Manchu,
Mark of the Vampire, The Walking Dead, Doctor X, Frankenstein 1970 and Attack of the 50 FT Woman.

They found the orig. neg for Mark of the Vampire and Mask of Fu Manchu. Warner described the
restoration as stunning. Also, the censored scenes from Mask of Fu Manchu have been restored.

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.

No plans for Altered States or Brainstorm. 2007 is a possibility for Dark of the Sun.

Warner is not revealing much on Film Noir Volume 3 except to say at least one Robert Mitchum
title and one MGM title is involved. Also, there will be another Volume after 3.

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.
HBO controls 3 Amigos while Warner is their distributor so they will pass on that request
to their sister company.

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

Grumpy Old Men films will hopefully be released in OAR and nice packages this year.

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.

Warner doesn't own The Stranger. They're still talking about Zabreiske Point.

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

Looking at more Kazan films such as America, America and The Arangement.

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

Clark Gable boxset coming out in June with Dancing Lady included. There will be more
Gable and Harlow films. Also, looking at Ginger Rogers films from RKO.

Crossing Delancey before the end of the year. Also, another Doris Day boxset.

No plans for My Fellow Americans, Action Jackson or Class Act.

More Kubrick films besides the four that's been announced.

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

Paul Newman collection coming this year with Harper and The Drowing Pool.

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

Risky Business SE for 2008.

No more non-anamorphic releases for film with 1.66 OAR. First up Clockwork Orange.

Looking at a John Grisham boxset.

Warner still looking at Gangster Volume 2 might be single releases.

Looking at revisiting Little Shop of Horrors, also a SE of Beetlejuice
and still talking about Blade Runner.

James Cagney and Robert Mitchum boxsets for 2007.

More westerns besides those from John Ford and John Wayne.

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

Warner looking at Glenn Ford boxset.

The Shining and Eyes Wide shut will be released in 1.77 aspect ratio.

No SE for some Bogart films that's been previously released with restorations
from the orig. camera negative.

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 Summer Place is a possiblity next year as well as a Natalie Wood boxset. They acknowledged
that Excalibur, Arthur, Outland and Year of Living Dangerously need better looking dvds. Acutally,
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. No plans for Looker.

No plans for Wheeler and Woosley films. Some of them are controled by Columbia.

The Warner Gangster Volume 2 will be officially called the Warner Tough Guys Collection.
City for Conquest is one of the titles. Won't reveal any other titles except to say that
Edward G. Robinson, Cagney and Bogart films are in it. Each film has been restored from
orig. camera negative elements.

Private Benjamin OAR release might be a possibility. Warner doesn't own High Road to China.
Going in Style is already released in OAR. No plans for The Man Who Saw Tomorrow or Grandview U.S.A.

A double feature dvd with the Dark Shadows films next year. No Delmar Daves collection,
but looking at releasing some of his films.

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.

Gremlins and Gremlins II possibly released in Hi-def in 2007. 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.
Thinks The Picture Snatcher and Enemy of the People is a hard sell for dvd release.

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.

2-Disc SE of The Green Mile this year.

Singles, Dreams and Three Kings not being revisited at this time.

Bonnie and Clyde's 40th birthday next year so watch out for a SE. Brewster McCloud needs a
new anamorphic transfer. Performance coming out within a year. No plands for Fearless.

Mann's Side Street a possibility for Film Noir #4. No plans for Desperate at this time.

Poltergiest SE Silver Anniversary on target for next year.

A Tale of Two Cities along with David Copperfield being prepared to be released at the same time.
Looking at Little Dorrit.

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

Looking at Angus.

Warner doesn't own RKO's short library only RKO's feature films. No plans for a dvd release with
short-only collection.

No plans for Vitaphone short films. Some might be included with other feature film dvds.

Warner doesn't license out their material to other companies. It's a strict company policy.

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.

No definite release date for the Superman 14-disc collection except that it's before X-Mas.

An American in Paris SE pushed back to 2007. Need to revisit Rio Bravo. No plans for Persumed
Innocent or Arsenic and Old Lace.

The Hill coming out in 2007. Don't own Wonder Man with Danny Kaye.

Work is still being done on the Superman films so no definitive answer on the longest possible
run times for all those films.

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

No plans for Electric Dreams, Blue Skies Again and Reckless.

Superman Returns will be a part of the 14-disc Superman collection.

Warner releasing Spirit of St. Louis in the Stewart boxet. Doesn't have rights to Wilder's
Fedora and Buddy, Buddy.

Man Who Would Be King SE for next year. Looking at, but no definite plans for Mad Max beyond
Thunderdome, Michael Collins, Ladyhawke, Outbreak and Maverick.

Still looking at releasing 1951's Angels in the Outfield.

Looking at Twice Upon a Time.

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

[Ashirg]

Any guesses on the MGM?

I think it's going to be Party Girl. It's being released in France in March, so maybe region 1 release will be in film noir boxset.