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Movie Mail lists a June 13th release date in the UK for Preston Sturges' Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) from Universal. This probably bodes well for a Region 1 release sometime this year.

The Great McGinty and Christmas in July are being released in Britain on August 15th, according to www.prestonsturges.com

On 15 August 2005, a boxed set of his films will hit the market. The boxed set will include the three films above and, in addition to these three, will also include THE GREAT McGINTY, CHRISTMAS IN JULY and THE PALM BEACH STORY.

I am happy.

Gordon McMurphy wrote:The Great McGinty and Christmas in July are being released in Britain on August 15th, according to www.prestonsturges.com

Fantastic news-- Brian Donlevy had so few lead roles that it'll be nice to finally have this great one on dvd.

I wonder if this means R1 isn't far behind... maybe they're Criterion's July releases? KIDDING

Finally Paramount plans to release The Miracle of Morgan's Creek on September 6th.

At this point, it looks to be barebones, with a price of $14.95.

Best news I've heard all week.

Well, except for being barebones. But I wasn't really expecting anything otherwise from Paramount.

What a ghastly cover, though.

This one is entitled for one of the worst covers ever designed. =D>

Yeah, it is pretty bad. It looks like the kind of cover you'd see on one of those DVDs of public domain films you can get at Walgreen's for $1.

jesus, Paramount obviously have no clue what they are doing. Do these people actually know anything about film as an art form?

Here we have one of the greatest comedies ever made, released barebones and with a cover that looks like it was designed by a photoshop-challenged 10 year old.

edit: ive done the only thing any sane, sensible person could do...ive posted the cover in the worst dvd covers...ever! thread.
http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vie ... hp?p=28613

At least do something about that piss-poor font!

Ghastly, ghastly cover, but maybe it will fool some people into thinking it's a harmless Disney movie. I'd love to hear the duped parents trying to explain the plot to their bewildered 5-year-olds.

Honestly, it would make more sense for Paramount to have a DVD cover contest among fans in place of a lame cover like this.

Though I'm confused. Since when did Paramount own their old films? I thought they sold them all to MCA?

JusteLeblanc wrote:Though I'm confused. Since when did Paramount own their old films? I thought they sold them all to MCA?

Evidently, Paramount bought back the rights from Universal so they could produce the Jerry Lewis remake, Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958).

FilmFanSea wrote:Evidently, Paramount bought back the rights from Universal so they could produce the Jerry Lewis remake, Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958).

Which isn't half-bad, actually...

Seems unlikely this will even include liner notes. With packaging like this, what's to convince someone that they wouldn't just be better off burning a copy?

They couldn't put less effort into this even if they were to just fart it out.

In fact, it's the first release of Paramount's new Fart Out Collection.

kieslowski wrote:In fact, it's the first release of Paramount's new Fart Out Collection.

lol, we have, between us, collectively redefined this paramount release.

It should of course read "Fart Out Collection" NOT "fullscreen collection".

That is all.

backstreetsbackalright wrote:With packaging like this, what's to convince someone that they wouldn't just be better off burning a copy?

You'd definitely be better off buying a copy and burning the cover.

zedz wrote:

backstreetsbackalright wrote:With packaging like this, what's to convince someone that they wouldn't just be better off burning a copy?

You'd definitely be better off buying a copy and burning the cover.

Well played, zedz. Well played.

Maybe there needs to be a thread for most annoying studio, Paramount vs Universal. Paramount at least is releasing the only Sturges film it has, although barebones and lame covered. Universal just drags its feet and ignores its Sturges, Wilder, Leisen, Lubitsch and von Sternberg films....they're too busy planning on how they can repackage the classic monster films for the nth time....

While I won't defend the cover, I find it amusing that extras and artwork or lack of seem to overshadow the films. The Palm Beach Story is a bare bones release, but a very decent transfer in my opinion (DVDBeaver and DVD Talk reviews concur) for under $10. I couldn't believe the abuse that Diary of a Country Priest took on this forum for lack of extras, in spite of having a fantastic transfer which was certainly worth the cost twice over for me. If The Miracle of Morgan's Creek has a very good transfer for under than $10, you won't hear any complaints from me.

clutch44 wrote:While I won't defend the cover, I find it amusing that extras and artwork or lack of seem to overshadow the films. The Palm Beach Story is a bare bones release, but a very decent transfer in my opinion (DVDBeaver and DVD Talk reviews concur) for under $10. I couldn't believe the abuse that Diary of a Country Priest took on this forum for lack of extras, in spite of having a fantastic transfer which was certainly worth the cost twice over for me. If The Miracle of Morgan's Creek has a very good transfer for under than $10, you won't hear any complaints from me.

I agree. The cover is ugly. But Paramount is been very consistent as far as I'm concerned, with releasing barebones discs, with beautiful transfers. I give then credit for releasing it in any cover. Besides the worst cover art in history is Columbia's release of Twentieth Century, but it still did not stop me from buying it and loving the film.

Does anybody know if the films in the R2 Universal box will be available separately? I appreciate that three will, but what about the others? Since I already have The Lady Eve and Sullivan's Travels from Criterion, as well as the R1 Palm Beach Story, I would rather not have to buy them again to get Christmas in July and The Great McGinty.