Home Theater Forum  ›  Forums  ›  Entertainment and Media  ›  SD DVD - Film and Documentary  ›  IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

#1
Rating: 0
8/19/06 at 9:17am
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Post Count: 41
Many e-tailers including amazon are already listing this release for october 31st, however,there's still no cover art or any mention of the special features. Has anyone heard anything?
Export to Wiki
#2
Rating: 0
8/19/06 at 12:16pm
  • Joined: August 2002
  • Post Count: 3,522

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Sounds a bit fishy. I'll believe it when Paramount announce it.
Export to Wiki
#3
Rating: 0
8/19/06 at 1:32pm
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Post Count: 41

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

They're already taking preorders at amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&s=dvd


There isn't anything remotely fishy about it
Export to Wiki
#4
Rating: 0
8/19/06 at 4:40pm
  • Joined: August 2002
  • Post Count: 3,522

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

You're right, Rick. We'll probably see an official announcement from Paramount next week, no doubt. Way overdue, though much appreciated. 1951 Scrooge needs an optimal new transfer and extras, too.
Export to Wiki
#5
Rating: 0
8/19/06 at 5:00pm
  • Joined: March 2002
  • Location: Waterloo, ON
  • Post Count: 713

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gordon McMurphy
1951 Scrooge needs an optimal new transfer and extras, too.

I agree. Barry Sandrew, from Legend Films, said that Scrooge is in the works for a new colourized print. Hopefully that means the film itself will be restored and not just re-colourized.

Andy
Elizabeth Taylor Resource
Export to Wiki
#6
Rating: 0
8/20/06 at 1:58am
  • Joined: August 2002
  • Post Count: 3,522

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Doesn't Legend Films always offer the restored black and white original in addition to the newly colorized version?
Export to Wiki
#7
Rating: 0
8/20/06 at 10:06am
  • Joined: January 2002
  • Post Count: 4,609

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

they better!
http://www.myspace.com/franbro
Export to Wiki
#8
Rating: 0
8/20/06 at 1:11pm
  • Joined: March 2002
  • Location: Waterloo, ON
  • Post Count: 713

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gordon McMurphy
Doesn't Legend Films always offer the restored black and white original in addition to the newly colorized version?

Yes, they seem to have a good track record for that. I hope we'll see this supposed restoration/colourization by Christmas 2007, with some appropriate bonus material.

Andy
Elizabeth Taylor Resource
Export to Wiki
#9
Rating: 0
8/20/06 at 2:38pm
  • Joined: May 2001
  • Location: Georgia, USA
  • Post Count: 7,216

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Budgell
I agree. Barry Sandrew, from Legend Films, said that Scrooge is in the works for a new colourized print. Hopefully that means the film itself will be restored and not just re-colourized.

Andy

While I'm not a fan of colorization, LF has always done an incredible job with not only making the color look realistic, but also tasteful. The sample of a Shirley Temple film on their website is so close to looking like Technicolor from that period. I'm also impressed by their image remastering. Little Shop of Horrors was apparently shot on 16mm, but you can't even tell on their DVD.

Tell The Weinstein Company to release Richard Williams' animated masterpiece The Thief and the Cobbler on DVD in Panavision widescreen and uncut! See and hear what you're missing from their Bitsy Award winner of Worst Standard Edition DVD of 2006 on YouTube!
Export to Wiki
#10
Rating: 0
8/20/06 at 7:38pm
  • Joined: May 2001
  • Location: Waterford, MI
  • Post Count: 2,123

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

*sigh* I guess I shouldn't admit I've never seen "It's a Wonderful Life"? Does that automatically qualify me for the "Must Get This Disc" category?
Export to Wiki
#11
Rating: 0
8/20/06 at 8:03pm
  • Joined: April 2000
  • Post Count: 2,650

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Yes, Jason..it does! And you'll love it too!
Export to Wiki
#12
Rating: 0
8/21/06 at 5:18am
  • Joined: August 2001
  • Location: Chicago Suburbs
  • Post Count: 2,543

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Paramount would have to pull something pretty spectactular out of their rear in order to get me on board for this release.

Normally, I would jump all over this, but with their recent decisions to virtually drop catalog releases and to continue letting Lion's Gate handle the Republic library, I'm pretty pissed at them. The current release isn't all that bad, so I'll save my money for a company more worthy like WB, Fox, or even Universal (who have finally figured it out).
"Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award."
Billy Wilder

"This business has come a long way in the last 30 years, but why should I depress you"
I.A.L. Diamond on the Movie Business (1986)
Export to Wiki
#13
Rating: 0
8/21/06 at 6:22am
  • Joined: July 1997
  • Post Count: 3,008

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

All this anger. I just want a version of IAWL with good video and sound. I don't care what company releases it.

- Steve
Export to Wiki
#14
Rating: 0
8/21/06 at 7:41am
  • Joined: August 2001
  • Location: Chicago Suburbs
  • Post Count: 2,543

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

All this anger. I just want a version of IAWL with good video and sound. I don't care what company releases it.


Then why not keep the current version? Personally, I think it's pretty damn good, and it's widely recognized as the best transfer of all the Republic titles on DVD. Hardly a title that's screaming for an upgrade, unlike the other titles that Paramount so careless discarded to the trash bins at Lion's Gate.
"Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award."
Billy Wilder

"This business has come a long way in the last 30 years, but why should I depress you"
I.A.L. Diamond on the Movie Business (1986)
Export to Wiki
#15
Rating: 0
8/21/06 at 8:04am
  • Joined: August 2001
  • Post Count: 182

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramo

The Republic release, Silver Screen Classics was very good. How much better can they make it? Great sound and a great print. Nice crisp b&w. Plus it has extras. What else could they do to this film?
Export to Wiki
#16
Rating: 0
8/21/06 at 9:27am
  • Joined: April 2000
  • Post Count: 2,650

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

They could fix the bad splice when George gets tossed from Nick's. It's not like that on other versions.
Export to Wiki
#17
Rating: 0
8/21/06 at 9:40am
  • Joined: February 1999
  • Post Count: 2,866

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Paramount has been doing restoration work on Wonderful Life.

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

Export to Wiki
#18
Rating: 0
8/21/06 at 9:52am
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Post Count: 41

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

There are several parts in the film where some frames are missing. Many jump cuts that have no sense. But iv'e heard that the film pretty much always had many frames missing when seen on TV and video. However, i've also read that the scene where they're tossed from the bar is indeed a bad splice that only appears on the DVD.
Export to Wiki
#19
Rating: 0
8/21/06 at 11:08am
  • Joined: January 2002
  • Post Count: 4,609

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

True. Watched it on TV a couple of years ago, waited for that odd splice/jump cut and it wasn't there, was clean.

http://www.myspace.com/franbro
Export to Wiki
#20
Rating: 0
8/28/06 at 1:09pm
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Post Count: 41

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

The artwork for the upcoming Paramount edition of IAWL is already being displayed at amazon
Export to Wiki
#21
Rating: 0
8/28/06 at 8:17pm
  • Joined: September 2003
  • Post Count: 4,682

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramo

And it's in color!


I hope that's not an indication of anything to come...



PS - Too bad they couldn't have used this for the cover art:

Export to Wiki
#22
Rating: 0
8/28/06 at 9:36pm
  • Joined: April 2000
  • Post Count: 2,650

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

I like that poster as well. But with a popular title like this, they have to appeal to the broadest audience of the film. And the famous shot of the family hugging is more likely to be noticed by average consumers.
Export to Wiki
#23
Rating: 0
8/29/06 at 7:59am
  • Joined: April 1999
  • Post Count: 1,406

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

I currently have it on pre-order from Amazon. I'm hoping there's a review of it before it's released so I can decide if I really want this new edition.
Export to Wiki
#24
Rating: 0
9/13/06 at 5:55pm
  • Joined: August 2006
  • Post Count: 497

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Davis DVD is reporting today that the extras on IAWL are going to be the exact same extras already on the Silver Screen edition. So the only reason to upgrade is if restoration Robert referred to fixes the previously mentioned problems, which obviously we won't know until it's released. Too bad they couldn't include something like the audio version of the short story "The Greatest Gift" by Phillip Van Doren Stern--that would seem more fitting for a 60th Anniversary of a great movie like this. Oh well, I guess I'll keep the one I have.
Export to Wiki
#25
Rating: 0
9/13/06 at 7:15pm
  • Joined: December 2002
  • Post Count: 2,034

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

I'm just hoping this version is properly letterboxed this time and not the pan & scan travesties that have been issued before.


(waits for it)

Ha! Gotcha!

PeterTHX

Export to Wiki
#26
Rating: 0
9/13/06 at 7:46pm
  • Joined: October 2000
  • Location: Pacific NW
  • Post Count: 1,280

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

In all fairness, the existing DVD isn't bad at all.
They're round, they're shiny...
Export to Wiki
#27
Rating: 0
9/14/06 at 5:18am
  • Joined: August 2001
  • Location: Chicago Suburbs
  • Post Count: 2,543

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

Wow! If that's true about the extras, Paramount has dipped to a new low.

Good job guys! Keep up the good work!
"Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award."
Billy Wilder

"This business has come a long way in the last 30 years, but why should I depress you"
I.A.L. Diamond on the Movie Business (1986)
Export to Wiki
#28
Rating: 0
9/14/06 at 10:11am
  • Joined: March 2002
  • Location: Waterloo, ON
  • Post Count: 713

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

I agree. I have the old DVD, and I usually watch it on TV instead anyway. NBC (and CBC here in Canada) play it every year, and there's something sort of traditional about watching it on TV. If Paramount gave us more bonus material, I'd have no problem upgrading. Especially considering it's the 60th Anniversary!! But as of now, I'll stick with the one I own. No sale for me.

Andy
Elizabeth Taylor Resource
Export to Wiki
#29
Rating: 0
9/14/06 at 10:33am
  • Joined: November 1998
  • Location: GA
  • Post Count: 462

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

I am hoping for an HD DVD release.

"It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care."
- Office Space

---------------------------------------
My DVD Collection

Export to Wiki
#30
Rating: 0
9/23/06 at 6:08am
  • Joined: January 2001
  • Post Count: 402

Re: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION) coming October 31 from Paramount!

I hope someone gets a review copy soon. I don't see a reason to double dip for this one over the Silver Screen edition, which in my opinion is very good. However, if they have truly done a restoration on it, I would then double dip.

-Rodney

Export to Wiki
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread