Warner Archive Discussion Thread (FEEDBACK)

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

There are many good titles on the list, but the one that is calling out to me saying "buy me" is the worst (and probably one of the worst films ever):THE BIG CIRCUS. Overbearing, melodramatic, heavy-handed, Victor Mature and Gilbert Roland, Vincent Price and Peter Lorre as red herrings, Kathryn Grant in a trapeze performer's outfit, Irwin Allen's weird perception of Red Buttons as a romantic lead...is there anything this film doesn't have?

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

It would be a generous (typically for HTF'ers) offer, but even then a quick calculation - saying each DVD costs no more than $19.95 - a single shipment is going to work out at around £18. Well past the cost of your basic 'Essential Art House' disc, and deep into 'lovingly prepared' Criterion territory. Cost, with a plunging £, would be a huge factor here.

Personally, I'd be a tad uncomfortable relying on the generosity of others, no matter how well intended; you know how the British hate to put anyone to any bother...

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I guess we have to wait till tomorrow to get some more clarification about the whole situation and Warner's general approach towards classic movies in the future.
I have this bad feeling that they are going to cut the normal releases in favor of this new line. I hope I am wrong about this.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

After having had time to let it all sink in, this is my greatest fear as well.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Yup; that's my thinking too.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I think someone pointed out somewhere that more would be coming, so I expect some of those will be covered.

But, as I pointed out earlier, THE TEMPTRESS has been released in the US and yet is included, which seems to contradict the spirit of the scheme. Or does it means that successful titles might end up being released as mainstream releases later on? I think some of their titles (some of the pre-codes and some of the Crawford and/or Gable ones) could easily fit in a Gangsters/Forbidden Hollywood/Signature/TCM archive/TCM Spotlight Collection and sell. Surely they aren't that much harder to market than a William Wellman set as a Forbidden Hollywood Collection.


I think you might be right. And if this isn't a success, what happens next? Sorry for being a bit doom and gloom.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I've seen a number of these titles, and the quality is fine. Each master was vetted, many by Mr. Feltenstein himself. All are proper aspect ratio, and stereo where applicable. Any titles that did not make spec were eliminated until newer transfers become available. In this regard the list has been changing over the past few months as test discs were created.

This is a HUGE effort which has been in the works for a long time, and is the only viable means of offering films to the public via DVD in short runs. Films such as the silents, early Garbo / Gable MGM efforts would have otherwise remained in the vaults.

The discs themselves are burned, not pressed. None that I've seen have had any problems, and press vs. burn should not be a controversy.

I'm certain that there will be more news coming from tomorrow's chat, so stay tuned.

RAH

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Yes, but with respect, the European market (and, additionally, the Japanese one) is somewhat larger and more profitable than the Australian one.


Yes, but the intent was there: it still is. If it weren't, you wouldn't have the whole idiotic business starting all over again with Blu-Ray region coding. DVD region coding was really very easy to circumvent: as far as I'm aware, it is not for BD. I am fairly sure that you can't buy or modify a Region B player to play Region A discs (and somewhat cunningly, they have placed Japan in the same region as America, this time round). "Multi region BD players" just mean they are standard DVD multi-region: not BD multi-region. If you want a Region A ability, you have to import a Region-A player.

The studios just want the ability to totally control what customers can buy, and when they can buy it.

You will note that NO major studio that sells direct will ship to international addresses. Nor will any of them offer replacements for faulty discs to non-domestic customers.


If they could think of a way of doing it, they would. Even now non-domestic sales are limited so the studios just accept it - but they don't like it.

If they didn;t mind, we wouldn't have to go through the whole region-coding stupidity again with BD.
Although, I accept that the majority of BD discs have been released with no region-coding.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

That goes without saying...

I don't think I'll make further comment on this until, at least, after the chat and WB lays out their plans.


Not wishing to go off track, but yes, you can (at a price). And, apparently there is a genuinely out-of-the-box all regions player currently on offer from an Australian manufacturer.

They will, I am sure, become more commonplace as the technology matures.

Re: I am boycotting Warners!

did you place an order and have it rejected?

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

If the Australian market isn't as profitable, wouldn't that mean prices in Australia would be higher not lower than Europe? But anyway, 75%+ of DVD sales are of films made within the last 15 years, so I don't think it makes a difference.

Region free Blu-ray players ARE starting to appear. This one and this one sold in Australia are region free for DVD out of the box, but require simple remote control codes to change the Blu-ray region. The first one is so popular at the price point (AUD$275 including postage = US$190 = 140 Euros) that it has sold out.

On your last point, there are lots of products on Amazon.com that they don't sell internationally, e.g. most hardware including iPods and other things that require a U.S. warranty.

If the DVD companies didn't want their releases sold overseas, they could enforce it by threatening not to sell internet companies any stock at all. But they don't, because overseas sales are a great source of additional revenue. It works both ways, Australian companies sell some titles not out in Europe and the U.S. as well.

People will find a way to get what they want.

If they are all burned, then I'll just back them up to ISO images when I get them.

I hope at the least they are dual layer discs. If they are simply single layer then that could be a big problem for films over 100 minutes.

But wouldn't it be CHEAPER to press discs rather than burn dual layer blanks?

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

This is great news! WB is still sitting on several horror/cult/exploitation films that I hope will be considered.

Topping the list (personally) would be NIGHT SCHOOL (1981) which is an underrated 80s slasher flick with Rachel Ward. Hopefully they'll also include the theatrical trailer (WB gave amazon access to it awhile back for their video on Demand service)

Other titles I'd purchase:

- DEADLY EYES
- TWO ON A GULLOTINE
- HOUSE OF WOMEN
- BEYOND THE FOREST
- THE AWAKENING
- NEW YEAR'S EVIL and HOSPITAL MASSACRE (if they still have the rights to these Cannon films)
- WHEN TIME RAN OUT - The Expanded version and not the cut 109 version they just released.
- MURDER BY PHONE
- THE PACK

I'm sure I am missing plenty.

I REALLY wish I could be avialable for the WB chat on Mon. Can anyone ask them about these titles in my abscence? (I can't imagine that I'd be the only one not curious about them.) Much thanks!

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Precisely. I still buy manufactured DVDs under the delusion that I don't have to ever purchase the movie again. New editions may come and go, but the disc I bought in '97 plays the same today as it did back then. I don't have quite that same level of confidence with burnt media.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I predict these will be very profitable for Warner Bros. Many of these films are appealing to us film lovers but I doubt that many of them would be big sellers at retail. This method allows the studio to offer many films that would not be profitable in an ordinary retail release.

I wonder whether we are going to see the classic Warner Bros. cartoons released in this manner. I would love to see "season sets" of the Warner theatrical cartoons (with each season covering a calendar year of releases, eg., 1946, 1952, and so forth). The Golden Collections were okay, since they included some great cartoons, but we want to see ALL of these cartoons, not just these "Best Of" compilations that have been around since the beginning of VHS. I love "One Froggy Evening" as much as the next guy, but how about some of the great Bugs Bunny cartoons that have never seen the light of DVD? (Which is Witch, Bushy Hare). Or the censored 11, at long last. Whether released in this niche market or at retail, these type of Warner Bros. cartoon chronological sets would do very well, like the Popeye and Three Stooges sets, and I am mystified that this is not being done.

Will we see WB TV shows released on DVD in this manner? I cannot believe that Maverick has never been released in season sets. Will this form of marketing permit Warner Bros. to give us some of these classics? Another poster suggested the Joe McDoakes series, and I could see these selling well in this niche, if not at retail.

If these do well for Warners, are we going to see the other studios offer some of their more obscure titles in this manner? I have been waiting years for the release of Gunn (1967) starring Craig Stevens (Peter Gunn) and Ed Asner, written by William Peter Blatty (The Exorcist), and written and directed by Blake Edwards (Pink Panther, The Party, Victor/Victoria). With this pedigree of talent, I am flabbergasted that this film has never been released on VHS or DVD. This is just one example, and there are many other films out there that deserve to be seen and released on DVD.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Put my order in 5 movies for 75 not too bad.I hope they keep those type of sales or coupons on a regular basis.Thanks for the posting of the code to get the discount.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Could this be the method in which WB finally releases "The Bowery Boys" series?
If so, sign me up!!!

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Now if other studios,are you listening Universal,would only follow this path.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I just saw the other thread about Warnes releasing classics. I was very excited to see some that ive been dying to see for along time is comming. I was so happy. That was until I saw that they wont be shipped outside US. BIG FAT SLAP IN THE FACE!
This is so rude! Im so mad! Ive been a faithful buyer of Warner Classics for 4 years now. I have given alot of my money to them, and this is how they treat me? I won't be buying anymore from them! No "Forbidden Hollywood Collection vol.3" for my money! No "Warner Gangster Collection vol 4" for my money! No "Greer Garson movies" for my money! I just download them for free!

Beast of the City
Betrayed
Chained
Dance, Fools, Dance
Emma
Forsaking All Others
Goodbye, My Fancy
Homecoming
Honkey Tonk
Ice Follies of 1939
Idiot's Delight
The Kiss
Laughing Sinners
Love
Love On The Run
Mannequin
Mrs Parkington
Payment On Demand
Possessed
Private Lives
The Shining Hour
The Single Standard
Somewhere I'll Find You
Spring Fever
Strange Interlude
This Woman Is Dangerous
Three Comrades
We Were Dancing
When Ladies Meet
Wild Orchids

30x 19,95 = 598,50

They are losing 600 dollars on just 1 person. I sure hope they are reading this and that someone will take it up on the chat tomorrow! Goodbye Warnes!

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Maybe if a Warner Archive DVD sells really WHV will issue the film as a regular DVD along with extra features?

But if they want to be fair to loyal customers they should offer a trade in program so customers who already bought the Archive version would get a significant discount on the regular release.

I have a feeling that classic film fans will surprise even WHV, and that they will be inundated with orders for these DVDs, at least, for the next few months.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Amy I the only one who's been pining for LEPKE?

I was hoping WB and the other labels with large catalogs would do something like this, since my wish list is populated almost exclusively with hard-to-market obscurities.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Private Lives? Three Comrades? And The Patsy as a poll option for the next release? I may just cry. I know I will after the first bill comes in.

WHV, I love you.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I just ordered the 5 titles with the special code and the account set-up was very easy. I'll have the 5 films by 3/27. If all is well, more orders are on the way.

It was tough to pick just 5 but since I'm a western buff, I went with "Cattle Town", "A Distant Trumpet", "El Condor", "The Trail of '98" plus "I Was a Communist for the FBI".

(I can't recommend "The Trail of '98" enough...One of the most spectacular silent films I've ever seen).

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I hate to beat this horse, but since Warner is using the internet as an avenue to sell these titles then they need to address the "outside of USA" issue since the internet is a global entity.





Crawdaddy

OT shipping to Munich via Auchland

A number of times I have received packages from Amazon sent to Munich via Auckland ("Direct Letter, Auckland Mail Center, Auckland, New Zealand"). I have also received a few times things from other companies this way. It must be cheaper. I would think sending directly US to Germany would be cheaper - evidently not????

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

Furthermore, how about boycotting Fox while you're at it. Also, how about Paramount and Universal too.

At least Warner is making an effort to get out classic films to consumers even if this latest marketing effort towards those outside the USA is non-existent for the moment. Hopefully, they will find a way to service everybody in this latest endeavor.




Crawdaddy

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Exactly. My enthusiam for this series just dropped a bit. DVD-R's are just not reliable and a decent percentage of them do go bad over time. I do understand why they would be done this way and I'll still be getting some of these, but the 15 I originally was going to purchase just shrunk by half. As a collector, "archive" titles should mean that they will remain playable in a collector's personal archive. DVD-R's will play today, but what about in a year? I have had my fair share of DVD-R's going bad over time.

I don't want to rain on this though. This is still a very exciting development for classic movie fans. Even with my hesitation and lack of confidence with DVD-R's, I am still buying a bunch of them so it's all good.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I just placed an order and it appears that the standard shipping option is free. I did get charged a sales tax.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

What wonderful news!!! All these titles I've bitched and moaned about for years are finally coming to dvd. The Gable and Crawfords, the remaing Garbo silents, Gable & Turner, and more Norma Shearer!!! I would've never thought that I would see We Were Dancing. That makes me excited at the prospect of having Her Cardboard Lover, Two Faced Woman, and Page Miss Glory, too.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I'm puzzled by all the backlash on DVD-R releases. It's better than nothing and if proper quality discs are used, there's no worse longevity issues than pressed DVDs. I have DVD-Rs from 2001 that still play fine, granted I keep them in cases or folders. The only times I've had problems are some self-made DVD-Rs using cheap discs.

re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I have the funny feeling that all these titles will be available on eBay US soon; of course, the seller will ship internationally