I'll await their decision with interest. It's one thing when old favorites aren't released on home video; at least we can catch them on TCM or other cable outlets, but when something simply goes missing for decades, it's another story altogether.
I'm all for that... And I bet Cybill would do it. She's been pretty candid in interviews and her book...MattH. said:I'm sure a making of documentary (or a book) on this ill-fated project would be quite illuminating. Most of the principals are still around if they'd be willing to talk without letting egos and bitterness from the past color their comments..
That's my kind of fanatic. Bravo. Please tell us more. When and where did you first see this movie, and how did you come across all the different versions? I bet you've collected a lot of nifty memorabilia as well. Got any of it scanned yet? Have you ever tried to contact Fox or PB about it? I once proposed something to his top rep.mark-edk said:I'm one of those fanatics who made a 'complete' version of ALLL on S-video; I went the extra mile and did my best to sync the soundtrack stereo LP with the image so that I would have stereo sound for at least most of the songs.
Yep. The movie, for all its faults, could make for a desirable release with some thought behind making the bonus features interesting and entertaining.Originally Posted by Chas in CT /t/318244/at-long-last-love-wheres-charley-song-of-norway-status-on-musicals-misfires/30#post_3896652
Cybill Shepherd's book was a delightful read, and I agree that the prospect of a commentary by her for ALLL would be irresistible.
I wasn't suggesting Fox would want your collection, just that some people scan their ads and stuff and post it here. As for actors not keeping to the beat of the music, have you seen Evita? ugh. Had I been able to see this in theatres I probably would have liked it as much as Mame and other musicals of the day. I did buy the soundtrack album. I once met someone from Canada who was a very big fan who had gone to some lengths to get material on it, but his enthusiasm was cool (like yours) and not crazy.mark-edk said:I first saw the movie in theaters and enjoyed it a lot more than the critics, even though I know there are real problems with it. The on-site performances of the songs wreacked havoc at times. It's not so much the singers going off pitch, though there was some of that, as the rhythms. The male leads were especially bad in this regard; when the orchestral accompaniments were added in the arrangers had to add an extra beat to this measure, subtract one from another, just to keep somewhat in 'time' with the singers. Cybill was very good in this regard, though not perfect.
I don't have the original theatrical version on video; I don't think it exists in that form. I do have the soundtrack 2-LP set, which is a good guide to which songs were included and which weren't. I taped the ABC latenite tv premiere when it aired (on my trusty Betamax, which I'm pleased to say still works decades later!). And got the current version during a showing on Fox Movie Channel. I really don't have much memorabilia and stuff from the movie...I'm not that into that sort of thing beyond maybe saving a souvenir booklet, which I'm pretty sure ALLL didn't have. I don't think I have anything that Fox would be interested in. I'm sure they have the footage exclusive to the ABC cut, and even if they don't, the video quality of my old non-hi Beta tape via an off-air signal is not going to cut it anyhow. I just hope that they include the missing songs as a DVD bonus. It'd be great if they could have stereo sound, but I don't think the movie was ever released in stereo, though the songs were recorded in stereo for the soundtrack album.
Sounds like the typical production short they did for so many movies back then, from Funny Girl to Willy Wonka, often done by the same people, same narrator, writer (Jay Anson of Amityville fame). Professional Films, inc. something like that.MattH. said:I remember seeing a kind of making-of documentary for the movie that showed an electronic piano following around the stars as they sang live (out of camera range, of course, and they wore ear pieces to hear their keys). Then it was explained that the full orchestra would be added in later to accompany the previously recorded live vocals. I don't know where I saw this; possibly on some late night show, possibly on AMC or some other cable channel when the movie was first broadcast. But it was interesting to see how they did the live singing.
Don't you agree that bonus features and exceptional presentation, (added scenes, alternate cuts, roadshow elements, etc) can increase sales to people whose interest in the movie may be minimal to borderline? I have bought several movies I was not particularly interested in because of the added content. Cleopatra, Ben-Hur, Ten Commandments for the Making of features, Camelot for the premiere program, etc. Am I alone, here?MattH. said:Yep. The movie, for all its faults, could make for a desirable release with some thought behind making the bonus features interesting and entertaining.
You don't see the words CLEOPATRA and Hit in the same sentence often.Bob Cashill said:The difference is that BEN-HUR, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, and CLEOPATRA were hits, or at least well-known.
I know at least a dozen people who would happily prove you wrong on that point.Bob Cashill said:AT LONG LOVE LOST was a flop, one that's been pretty much unavailable for 40 years, and having Burt Reynolds come to would-be buyers' houses to sing Cole Porter to them wouldn't sell a single copy.
As Andrew B. would be quick to point out, CLEOPATRA was the top-grossing film of 1963. It was indeed a hit and was the "must-see" film of that year. But it's production was notoriously trouble-plagued and it cost an insane amount of money to produce. As a result it nearly bankrupted its studio. It would have had to have grossed like THE SOUND OF MUSIC just to break even. Fox did start to show a profit after its sale to television.NY2LA said:You don't see the words CLEOPATRA and Hit in the same sentence often.
I
I saw that same thing and that little documentary enticed me to go see the film. I would love to see that documentary again and if ALLL gets released, I hope it and commentaries are on it. Since it is such a boutique film, I would think Twilight Time could be all over this and SAE could release the soundtrack. Still have that double LP album but a remasterd CD would be "THE TOP"Originally Posted by MattH. /t/318244/at-long-last-love-wheres-charley-song-of-norway-status-on-musicals-misfires/30#post_3896785
I remember seeing a kind of making-of documentary for the movie that showed an electronic piano following around the stars as they sang live (out of camera range, of course, and they wore ear pieces to hear their keys). Then it was explained that the full orchestra would be added in later to accompany the previously recorded live vocals. I don't know where I saw this; possibly on some late night show, possibly on AMC or some other cable channel when the movie was first broadcast. But it was interesting to see how they did the live singing.
Yes I got that from the doc, and wonder what would have been. Have you ever read the published books about the production? I've had them on my Amazon wish list but they're still too expensive... one of the extras listed for the upcoming bluray sounds like it at least references one of the books.GMpasqua said:"Cleopatra" was filmed as Two movies, then released as one. If the two films had remained Fox might have made more money and the cost would have been split bewteen the two films - possibly earning each a profit - and giving the public two excellent films instead of one above average film