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Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

#31
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1/31/08 at 3:22pm
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

I give Warner Bros the award for continually releasing classic and sometimes very obscure films to DVD. They release a lot more than any other studio with Fox coming in a far second. I have supported their efforts by digging into my wallet and buying just about every set and collection they have released the past few years and will continue to do so. The announcements for 2008 for the Gangster Series, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and Musicals from the Dream Factory have made me run for cover and trying to decide should I go without food or drink to get these (just kidding.)

All of that being said, I do wish I could read the announcements for Quo Vadis, How The West Was Won, Raintree County and Goodbye Mr. Chips (1969). I would love a box set of the Andy Hardy films, Jean Harlow and more Esther Williams and RKO Tarzan.

I believe that these titles are coming and will look forward to the expected announcements in the coming week. Thank you Warner Brothers.
“For God's sake don't say yes until I've finished talking.” - Daryl F. Zanuck  
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#32
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1/31/08 at 6:05pm
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
Okay, Easter isn't here yet and next week something special is going to happen so maybe a little more patience is in order from you.

If you're going to keep teasing us like this, can you make this your profile pic:

My Blog
Les Miserables Volume 1 with my reading of "Four and Four"
Librivox Short Story Collection 34 with my reading of Jack London's "War"
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#33
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1/31/08 at 6:28pm
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Quote:
Originally Posted by seanOhara
If you're going to keep teasing us like this, can you make this your profile pic:
Geez, what more do you want, I already spelled it out for you guys. To what extent Warner is going to share with the general public, I have no idea so we just have to wait until they make their annoucement.
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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#34
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2/1/08 at 12:37am
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertGr
Thank you Robert, you might be right and if Warners finally gets to blow the dust off of QUO VADIS I will be the first to pre-order the title! By the way I am a man of my word and I purchased Nancy Drew the minute is was annouced via DDD. So again the point is last year was a bit disappointing and to be honest their are many great films sitting in the vaults!
Another point to consider is Warner has been invested in releasing HD DVD and Bluray format releases. That could have had some effect over the sd dvd releases getting pushed or postponed and such.

" I think it's time we go to plan B". "What's plan B?" "That's the one where we don't do something stupid".

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#35
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2/1/08 at 3:46am
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Quote:
Originally Posted by troy evans
Another point to consider is Warner has been invested in releasing HD DVD and Bluray format releases. That could have had some effect over the sd dvd releases getting pushed or postponed and such.
I doubt it, there are probably different budgets for SD DVD versus HDM. I think it has more to do with a marketing strategy change that was finalized sometime last year in which Warner decided to shift some of those 2007 titles to this year's 85th Anniversary promotion.
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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#36
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2/1/08 at 5:48am
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Let me add my voice to the chorus of those perplexed by the original poster's "venting". He seems upset because Warners isn't releasing the titles HE wants fast enough. For some of us, Warners steady pace of releasing classic and catalog items on DVD each month remains the yardstick for all other studios to follow. I, for one, am not interested in the upcoming vol. 2 of gangsters nor was I interesed in The Jazz Singer among other classic product put out by Warners but hey, that's just me, I would never complain that Warners was sleeping on the job because they weren't releasing titles on MY wish list which is several long pages! No, Warners didn't quite make the 200 mark last year but by my calculations they got pretty damn close what with something like 180 titles ... so I'm not going to crucify them because they fell 20 short!

It's like complaining that the goose that's laying those golden eggs isn't doing it fast enough! It's not enough that those eggs are gold, we've become jaded and want the goose to crank those eggs out double time.
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#37
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2/1/08 at 5:57am
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas T
It's like complaining that the goose that's laying those golden eggs isn't doing it fast enough! It's not enough that those eggs are gold, we've become jaded and want the goose to crank those eggs out double time.
...It's more specifically like complaining that the goose that just established the world record for annual golden egg production should have done more.

Regards,

Ken McAlinden
Livonia, MI USA

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#38
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2/1/08 at 8:21am
  • Joined: March 2005
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Thomas T - show me where I am crucifying Warners - if you go by the quote I posted from Barrie Maxwells great column of 2006 November Warners plans were not followed through on. And it might indeed be that they focused on HD and that might have affected their plans. My original post seems to be spot on that their announced hype fell short in reality and it is shown in the fact I made far fewer Warners purchases last year. And it is not because a few of my hoped for titles were not announced.

I have puirchased


Tough Guys Collection
Mickey - Judy Collection
Masters of Horror
Sgt York
The Two Fred and Ginger Boxes
The Flynns boxes
Busby Berekley 1
Bogart (war movies and Maltese Falcon)
As gifts I received THIN MAN BOX


As you can see some of them have been out for more than a year - where is the long talked about Andy Hardy set - that is why won't buy LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY indvidually. Where is the longgggggg talked about AN AMERICAN IN PARIS - where is the longggggg talked about Spencer Tracy box - he was one of the best if not best MGM actors and he has been neglected via the box treatment. So because I raise a very valid point I am crucifying them, hey we are told nothing is perfect so we can indeed raise a very valid point the hype did not meet the reality and wow who cares if it is 20 or 30 titles off the statement was true! And if by a miracle QUO Vadis is announced in the next two weeks (considering Easter is very early this year on March 23) I will not only pre-order the one copy I have been waiting for three years to order but I will by another and eat it!
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#39
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2/1/08 at 8:33am
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

For a little perspective, this thread kept tabs on the 'Warner 200' (and whether this meant only classics and didn't include re-releases, upgrades etc. is something only Barrie or Warners can answer) right up until early August of last year. The first post had a list of films released (only counting those made prior to 1970, note):

Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey
Thought it would be nice to keep them organized. I'm only counting films before 1970.

1.Macao
2.Home From the Hill
3.Angel Face
4.The Sundowners
5.The Good and Bad Guys
6.Madame Curie
7.Band of Angels
8.Angels in the Outfield
9.The Clock
10.A Summer Place
11.The Arrangement
12.Miracle in the Rain
13.The Three Musketeers
10.Captain Horatio Hornblower
11.Madame Bovary
12.Billy Budd
13.The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)
14.The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)
15.The Adventures of Don Juan
16.Dive Bomber
17.The Charge of the Light Brigade
19.The Dawn Patrol
16.Gentleman Jim
17.Romance on the High Seas
18.My Dream Is Yours
19.Lucky Me
20.On Moonlight Bay
21.By the Light of the Silvery Moon
22.I'll See You In My Dreams
23.Captain of the Clouds
24.West Point Story
25.Torrid Zone
26.The Bride Came C.O.D
27.The Fighting 69th
28.Dragon Seed
29.Without Love
30.Morning Glory
31.Undercurrent
32.Sylvia Scarlett
33.Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
34.Command Decision
35.Air Force
36.The Hill
37.36 Hours
38.Hell to Eternity
39.Nancy Drew, Detective
40.Nancy Drew, Reporter
41.Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter
42.Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
43.Critic's Choice
44.Dance, Girl, Dance
45.DuBarry Was A Lady
46.The Big Street
47.Reunion in France
48.Without Reservations
49.Tycoon
50.Trouble Along the Way
52.Big Jim McLain
53.Allegheny Uprising
54.Rio Bravo
55.The Cowboys
56.Caged
57.Queen of Outer Space
58.Trog
59.The Big Cube
60.The Giant Behomoth
61.Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
62.The Prodigal
63.Land of the Pharaohs
64.Colossus of Rhodes
65.Hot Rods to Hell
66.Zero Hour!
67.Performance
68.The Loneliness of A Long Distance Runner
69.The Pirate
70.Words and Music
71.Royal Wedding
72.The Belle of New York
73.That Midnight Kiss
74.The Toast of New Orleans
75.Easy to Wed
76.Bathing Beauty
77.Neptune's Daughter
78.On An Island With You
79.Dangerous When Wet
80.Act of Violence
81.Illegal
82.Mystery Street
83.Crime Wave
84.Decoy
85.The Big Steal
86.They Live By Night
87.Side Street
88.Where Danger Lives
89.Tension
90.Manhattan Melodrama
91.Evelyn Prentiss
92.Double Wedding
93.Love Crazy
94.I Love You Again
95.Romeo & Juliet (1936)
96.Midnight Summer's Dream (1935)
97.Othello(1965)
98.Tickle Me
99.Charro
100.Kissin Cousins
101.Girl Happy
102.Live A Little, Love A Little
103.Stay Away, Joe
104.Jailhouse Rock
105.Viva Las Vegas
106.Babes In Arms
107.Strike Up the Band
108.Babes On Broadway
109.Girl Crazy
110.The Jazz Singer
111.Annie Oakley
112.My Reputation
113.To Please A Lady
114.Jeopardy
115.Executive Suite
116.East Side, West Side
117.Executive Action
118.The Flame and the Arrow
119.His Majesty O' Keefe
120.South Sea Woman
121.Jim Thorpe-All American
122.Lolita
123.2001: A Space Oddysey
124.I'll Cry Tomorrow
125.Big Hand For the Little Lady
126.Up the Down Staircase

Not too dusty.
So many films, so little time...
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#40
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2/1/08 at 8:34am
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

You seem to be repeating yourself. You've made your point while many others disagree with that point. What else needs to be said that will change that disagreement?
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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#41
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2/1/08 at 8:54am
  • Joined: May 2001
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  • Post Count: 7,230

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertGr
Thomas T - show me where I am crucifying Warners - if you go by the quote I posted from Barrie Maxwells great column of 2006 November Warners plans were not followed through on. And it might indeed be that they focused on HD and that might have affected their plans. My original post seems to be spot on that their announced hype fell short in reality and it is shown in the fact I made far fewer Warners purchases last year. And it is not because a few of my hoped for titles were not announced.

I have puirchased


Tough Guys Collection
Mickey - Judy Collection
Masters of Horror
Sgt York
The Two Fred and Ginger Boxes
The Flynns boxes
Busby Berekley 1
Bogart (war movies and Maltese Falcon)
As gifts I received THIN MAN BOX


As you can see some of them have been out for more than a year - where is the long talked about Andy Hardy set - that is why won't buy LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY indvidually. Where is the longgggggg talked about AN AMERICAN IN PARIS - where is the longggggg talked about Spencer Tracy box - he was one of the best if not best MGM actors and he has been neglected via the box treatment. So because I raise a very valid point I am crucifying them, hey we are told nothing is perfect so we can indeed raise a very valid point the hype did not meet the reality and wow who cares if it is 20 or 30 titles off the statement was true! And if by a miracle QUO Vadis is announced in the next two weeks (considering Easter is very early this year on March 23) I will not only pre-order the one copy I have been waiting for three years to order but I will by another and eat it!

Well, the only choice for Warner to make to please you would have been to rush out the titles without doing any work on them. I'm sure that re-using old transfers would go over well. But at least it would be out, right?

So what if they planned to put out 200 titles when they were planning in 2006? We know they've had a lot of trouble with the poor condition of the RKO and Monogram libraries they own, and it's not like 3-strip Technicolor films are easy to restore properly. Combined with the fiasco that the HD format war has become, is it really that surprising that they didn't get anniversary editions of Bonnie & Clyde or Cool Hand Luke out in 2007?

I'm let down that they are taking so long to put out more silents, but they have already said they need to do more work on them. I'd rather wait for proper DVDs than something rushed out so they can meet a rough figure they estimated a year ahead of schedule.

We know that they're working on this stuff, but not exactly when. So we have to wait a few more months or maybe even another year. Big deal. We had to wait 24 years from the first announcement of the Popeye cartoons on video (a never-released 6-short compilation VHS in 1983 by UA/CBS-Fox) to the actual release by WB.

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!
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#42
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2/1/08 at 10:15am
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

USA Today stated that Warner’s is unleashing 22 Frank Sinatra movies in five DVD collections. This is to be sometime in May in honor of Sinatra’s tenth anniversary of his death. I would have to guess that some of these films will be from the RKO library along with MGM’s. I would also guess some of the films will be reissues or re-mastered such as High Society and Robin and the 7 Hoods.

On another note for Sinatra fans, the article also said the MGM/Fox would be releasing Sergeants 3. I guess the rights issue has finally been solved on that one.

Along with the above, a slew of CD’s and a Turner Classic Movie special are also in the works for May.

I am guessing that this is the announcement from Warner’s. I will certainly look forward to formal announcement with titles.
“For God's sake don't say yes until I've finished talking.” - Daryl F. Zanuck  
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#43
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2/1/08 at 10:38am
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Robert

It is interesting that even these people who are disagreeing are also adding that they too are waiting for certain titles. It seems that too many people on the board get their underwear in a wedgie when you say anything bad even if it is not bad about Warners. They are all getting defensive and really getting a bit snarky and rude because you say something that they disagree with. I really do not put people down because their opinion might be different from mine. Each post they stand by thei defense - mention titles they are waiting for and usually make a inane remark. Bottom line you can see everyone is still waiting for more classics. And if you do not believe my love of all that is classics ask Ron what I am trying to assist in and he will tell you.
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#44
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2/2/08 at 9:24am
  • Joined: May 1999
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Quote:
Originally Posted by soop.spoon
Until they release The Hellstrom Chronicles and Captain Nemo And The Underwater City, I will curse them every day.

Except that THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE, a fine insect documentary that way-y precedes MICROCOSMOS, is a Columbia/Sony property, so you can just about forget about a domestic DVD. It won the Documentary Oscar in 1971 but, right along with other worthy films like WHO'S MINDING THE MINT and THE GORGON and GOOD NEIGHBOR SAM, it is being ignored by its parent company in favor of third or fourth DVD releases of more "popular" titles. Sony has no balls anymore. CAPTAIN NEMO was an MGM film, and so resides now with Fox. Perhaps you knew this already, which would explain the smiley's.
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#45
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2/2/08 at 3:50pm
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick
Except that THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE, a fine insect documentary that way-y precedes MICROCOSMOS, is a Columbia/Sony property, so you can just about forget about a domestic DVD. It won the Documentary Oscar in 1971 but, right along with other worthy films like WHO'S MINDING THE MINT and THE GORGON and GOOD NEIGHBOR SAM, it is being ignored by its parent company in favor of third or fourth DVD releases of more "popular" titles. Sony has no balls anymore. CAPTAIN NEMO was an MGM film, and so resides now with Fox. Perhaps you knew this already, which would explain the smiley's.
Warner is in control of the classic MGM library. Fox through Sony controls the "modern" MGM films plus the classic UA library.

Regards,

Ken McAlinden
Livonia, MI USA

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#46
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2/3/08 at 7:12am
  • Joined: June 2000
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Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

If what Crawdaddy is hinting at is true, I hope that QUO VADIS? is released on BD day and date with the regular DVD.
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