Kyrsten Brad
Senior HTF Member
Brad here. Well this represents a first for me in several ways. First and most important, I've officially have gone region-free (the Cool Kids Club) as I have set up my new Sony BDP-S7200 region free player on the 70. And as of yesterday, (right before being taken to see Star Trek - Beyond (2016) as a birthday gift (I can now safely read that thread), I screened my first Region B locked Blu-ray, I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978). This was the first time I had seen this movie since 1978 when as a fresh-faced 18 year old, I took my then girlfriend Patti (15) for our first date. The catch, I had to take both her little sister Penny (13) and Denise (12) along as well (had my mom's luxurious 75 Olds Cutlass Supreme). Oh what a "fun" first date that was (precious memories).
(This film is now available on Amazon UK. Mr. Epstein, feel free to insert a HTF purchase link here).
And now some notes on this film (and a Wiki Page link):
Imagine a film being made by a team of Steven Speilberg, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. Imagine too that this film had full rights to about 17 original Beatles songs (how they managed this I have yet to discover as how Fabulous Films managed to obtain these same rights for this UK Blu-ray release. Needless to say music rights would make it very difficult , and expensive for a U.S. release). And imagine despite all this, the film was a box office flop. Incredulous???
Well one might also categorize this film as everyone has to start out small somewhere and this was definitely true for future film producing legends Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale at this time (1978) in their careers.
Quite a few plot devices in IWHYH found their way into future Zemeckis/Gale films including most notably Back To The Future (1985). One example, note the similarity between Doc Brown's lightning storm adventure at the clock tower in BTTF and character Tony Smerko's TV tower adventure 7 years earlier in IWHYH).
A few then-unknown actors & actresses got a start in this film. Wendie Jo Sperber (later seen as Marty McFly's sister in the BTTF films) got top billing as Rosie Petrofsky, one of the main characters (sadly Wendie passed away in 2005). Also getting top billing was Theresa Saldana (whom we sadly lost recently in June 2016) as Grace Corrigan.
Playing himself was noted DJ and radio personality from the 50s, 60s and 70s, Murray Kaufman (Murray the K) who would sadly pass away only 4 years after this film was made.
Eddie Deezen, playing Richard "Ringo" Klaus, a nerdish male Bealtes fan who would play nerd-type characters in other films, notably Wargames (1983) and 1941 (1980).
One minor role of note, playing a young-looking hooker was future Meatballs (1979) and Cheerleaders Wild Weekend (1979) star (and one of my biggest actresses crushes from the days of my youth), Kristine DeBell. Kristine is still quite active in the entertainment industry today (see her public FB page).
As I mentioned earlier, how Fabulous Films got full music rights for this Blu-ray release I do not yet know but I get the impression that music rights issues are much easier to deal with in the U.K. as opposed to the U.S. (witness music rights for the U.K. release of the TV series Quantum Leap as opposed to the U.S. releases). Interesting too how Bob Gale & Robert Zemeckis got rights to use Beatles music in their film back in 1978, perhaps both had a friendship with one or more of the Beatles (all were still alive at this time). Also consider that The Beatles and their music was a central part of this story. As this film has never seen any U.S. release that I know of (VHS, LD or DVD, someone educate me if I'm wrong) I don't anticipate a U.S. release soon. You'll have to go region-free in order to enjoy this quite entertaining film and first effort from Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale.
Technical Notes on the Blu:
Viewed on: Vizio 70 E-Series (2013) from a Sony Region-free BDP-S7200.
PQ 4.75 out of 5. Very excellent transfer. Not much I can add to that.
Audio: Quite excellent as well but I'd love to hear some expert audiophile opinions from any experts who get to see this Blu.
Recommendation: Highly Recommended.
=======================================================================
Wiki Page (Spoiler alert)
=======================================================================
(This film is now available on Amazon UK. Mr. Epstein, feel free to insert a HTF purchase link here).
And now some notes on this film (and a Wiki Page link):
Imagine a film being made by a team of Steven Speilberg, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. Imagine too that this film had full rights to about 17 original Beatles songs (how they managed this I have yet to discover as how Fabulous Films managed to obtain these same rights for this UK Blu-ray release. Needless to say music rights would make it very difficult , and expensive for a U.S. release). And imagine despite all this, the film was a box office flop. Incredulous???
Well one might also categorize this film as everyone has to start out small somewhere and this was definitely true for future film producing legends Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale at this time (1978) in their careers.
Quite a few plot devices in IWHYH found their way into future Zemeckis/Gale films including most notably Back To The Future (1985). One example, note the similarity between Doc Brown's lightning storm adventure at the clock tower in BTTF and character Tony Smerko's TV tower adventure 7 years earlier in IWHYH).
A few then-unknown actors & actresses got a start in this film. Wendie Jo Sperber (later seen as Marty McFly's sister in the BTTF films) got top billing as Rosie Petrofsky, one of the main characters (sadly Wendie passed away in 2005). Also getting top billing was Theresa Saldana (whom we sadly lost recently in June 2016) as Grace Corrigan.
Playing himself was noted DJ and radio personality from the 50s, 60s and 70s, Murray Kaufman (Murray the K) who would sadly pass away only 4 years after this film was made.
Eddie Deezen, playing Richard "Ringo" Klaus, a nerdish male Bealtes fan who would play nerd-type characters in other films, notably Wargames (1983) and 1941 (1980).
One minor role of note, playing a young-looking hooker was future Meatballs (1979) and Cheerleaders Wild Weekend (1979) star (and one of my biggest actresses crushes from the days of my youth), Kristine DeBell. Kristine is still quite active in the entertainment industry today (see her public FB page).
As I mentioned earlier, how Fabulous Films got full music rights for this Blu-ray release I do not yet know but I get the impression that music rights issues are much easier to deal with in the U.K. as opposed to the U.S. (witness music rights for the U.K. release of the TV series Quantum Leap as opposed to the U.S. releases). Interesting too how Bob Gale & Robert Zemeckis got rights to use Beatles music in their film back in 1978, perhaps both had a friendship with one or more of the Beatles (all were still alive at this time). Also consider that The Beatles and their music was a central part of this story. As this film has never seen any U.S. release that I know of (VHS, LD or DVD, someone educate me if I'm wrong) I don't anticipate a U.S. release soon. You'll have to go region-free in order to enjoy this quite entertaining film and first effort from Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale.
Technical Notes on the Blu:
Viewed on: Vizio 70 E-Series (2013) from a Sony Region-free BDP-S7200.
PQ 4.75 out of 5. Very excellent transfer. Not much I can add to that.
Audio: Quite excellent as well but I'd love to hear some expert audiophile opinions from any experts who get to see this Blu.
Recommendation: Highly Recommended.
=======================================================================
Wiki Page (Spoiler alert)
=======================================================================
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