WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

That's your opinion, but I want to see more facts to back it up before I accept it as something Warner has adopted as their new policy regarding classic films.






Crawdaddy

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

Well I guess I'm not one to coin every pre-1970 (or pre-whatever) catalog title a classic. When you throw the term around too much it tends to lose all meaning.

classic

–adjective

of the first or highest quality, class, or rank: a classic piece of work.

of enduring interest, quality, or style.

of literary or historical renown

definitive

–noun

an artistic production considered a standard.

a work that is honored as definitive in its field

something noteworthy of its kind and worth remembering


Labeling You'll Find Out, Zombies on Broadway and Frankenstein 70 as "classics" is a bit of a stretch. But that's me.

Of course YMMV

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

A classic is also in the person's mind. I do consider them classics in their own right. While you don't, that does not mean I don't. If you saw the other Kay Kyser or Carney & Brown films, then you might be led to belive that these titles are the definitive in their field and I also find them noteworthy and worth remembering. I have the Laserdisc of both and even today in the land of DVD's, I pull it out and watch them, because they are funny and enjoyable to me so again they are of enduring interest, quality and style.

I do look forward to these classics being released on DVD and each to their own.

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

What a relief!

Not one title from the top of my list though but great news nevertheless...

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

I'd generally tend to agree with you, Jim. But by the definitions you've provided here, at least the one that says "of enduring interest" would apply to these titles you've mentioned. If merely for the presence of Karloff and Lugosi (hence the title of the set!).

THE WALKING DEAD isn't exactly a one of the "greats" either, y'know, just cuz you like it (I enjoy it too, but I'm just saying)...

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

I said it once, i'll say it again. I like horror comedy movies from the 30s and 40s. I like both You'll find out and Zombies On Broadway. If i remember correctly, they even have the zombie from I walk with a Zombie in ZOB. Add in Lugosi and Karloff and for me they are classics. I understand that not everyone would put them in that category. But i'm speaking for myself here . No one else.

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

I don't know the specific legalities, but in brief, producer Alfredo Leone has in effect proclaimed himself the owner of almost all of Mario Bava's films, and part of that involves his assertion of copyright on both BLACK SUNDAY and BLACK SABBATH, or at least their original pre-AIP incarnations (alternate English dubs and music scores). MGM still owns the AIP editions, and is allowed in perpetuity to play them on TV, but is hamstrung from putting them on DVD; Leone is a particularly litigious individual who once seized and destroyed a collector's print of TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE that he discovered playing at a repertory theatre without clearing through him.
It boils down to two parties who each have a certain amount of claim to the movies, but do not want to cooperate with each other.

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

FWIW - I just meant to vent my semi-disappointment that this wasn't a more comprehensive collection of vintage titles. Also knowing this is probably the last chance for a pressed classic horror set from Warner and the additional titles I desired are most likely headed for an obscenely over-priced/low-quality presentation ala the Archive dumping grounds.

Here I was misdirecting my frustration and ragging on a trio of movies that others enjoy.

Just disregard my previous post, I was acting like a dick.

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

No you were't. What is so great about this forum over many others, is that people can say what they think and not feel they are going to be bashed about it. Which I consider is the quailty of the posters here. The world would be a very boring place if everyone thought and said the same thing. Three cheers for independent thoughts.

Re: WHV Press Release: Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics

This is the only way I'll support releases, Warners!!

THANK YOU.

Now if only great films like WS Van Dyke's 1933 "Penthouse" and others could be pushed out in this medium instead of relegated to the archives, I'd have a lot less money to spend right now!

This box set will be mine on release day!

The Beaver has a review: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews47/karloff_lugosi_horror_classics.htm

what the hell is with this studio and interlaced transfers?!?!

how difficult is it to encode progressively... sometimes I wonder if the people who master these discs ever graduated from trade school and have any idea what they're doing. there are several people on this forum that could do a more competant job. it's so disappointing that whv, even when releasing proper dvds, still continue to disappoint with quality control issues that could so easily be corrected with no additional cost and little effort. I'm still looking forward to receiving my pre-order but I'm so sick of combing artifacts on warners products. I complained about this in it's own separate thread over two years ago and it got little attention. I guess I'm one of the few who is bothered by this practice but it's entirely frustrating to me. It really ruins the viewing experience. At least these aren't $30 dvd-r's I guess...

Unfortunate yet hardly surprising given this studios modus operandi these days are all about cutting costs. 

The interlacing seems to be only with Zombies and honestly I'm only getting this for The Walking Dead so the soft, muddy and no restoration comments on that title have me more concerned.  

Though I do sympathize with those that were looking forward to ZOB.

nearly everything from their hanna barbera tv sets to tcm documentary extras, theatrical shorts collections, archive releases, etc are always full of combing artifacts. There's no reaon for it, cost isn't even a factor. It's just sloppiness or lack of technical adeptness maybe, but there's really no excuse. Anyone who works in digital mastering should know how to do it properly and a simple preview before sending the discs to press would seem like an obvious step, no?

With Warner DVDs, isn't it usually the case that the only thing that's progressive is the film, with theatrical trailers, cartoons, and other shorts are usually interlaced?

yes, except in such cases as this, the archives, certain tv releases, or when the "film" itself happens to be a cartoon. There's just no reason that anything should be interlaced.