Kino to bring METROPOLIS to Blu-Ray in 2009 - Page 2

Ray_R · 06-25-2008, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon Conway

Correct. The Harold Lloyd estate has an exclusive deal with New Line.

Ah, thanks for clarification Brandon! Wife and I have been watching some Harold Lloyd films DVR'd from TCM. Might even get around to buying the boxset New Line released awhile back finally.

Glad I DVR'd this from TCM! It was a really long time since I saw this last. I believe back in film history class in college several years ago. Speaking of Kino on Video, the wife out of the blue asks me if I'd like any vampire films. I mentioned Nosferatu (1920's) and she mentioned later Kino released an Ultimate Edition. Nice. Here's hoping Kino will release a Douglas Fairbanks set too on BD!
This'll be a title I'd buy and I don't even own a Blu-ray player yet!

Um, well, I do sometimes go over to a buddies house and use his PS3 as a player...

So is this the only title for BD Kino is releasing on the format so far? It'd be a wiser choice if the company releases a wave of titles in the same vein as Criterion.

SilverWook · 06-25-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassy_w

The Moroder version is held up by music rights. Too expensive to buy the music rights for DVD.

I can understand if it was a diverse bunch of existing rock songs used in the movie like HEAVY METAL being the problem, but weren't all the songs produced by Moroder specifically for his version?

Jesse Blacklow · 06-25-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray_R

So is this the only title for BD Kino is releasing on the format so far? It'd be a wiser choice if the company releases a wave of titles in the same vein as Criterion.

They're releasing "Fallen Angels" this fall:

Blu-ray.com - Kino to Begin Releasing Blu-ray this Fall

Pete York · 06-26-2008, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Adkins

Are you sure about that? Just as all the previous DVDs and VHS versions were forced out of print, I don't see why this version would be any different. Just about every version on video was an alternate version since they all had different scores. Just because Moroder's version used a pop soundtrack doesn't really make the legal stance any different. At least thats how it seems to me, but I'm by no means a legal expert.

I have the same question. Since the rights over derivative works are inherent in a copyright and Moroder's version is derivative, as it wouldn't exist without the original work, how can there be a separate copyright? The only thing Moroder could copyright is the material that didn't already exist, in this case the soundtrack. As you said Jeff, the Murnau Foundation (owner of the images) and Moroder (or whoever is the owner of the music) would have to make an agreement.

Keith Paynter · 06-26-2008, 09:20 AM

Moroder's version also included 'new' subtitle text, original stylized intertitles and still photos. The question of who actually owns the film in this case is something I can't answer. Producers Sales Organization/Vestron is no more, and is now Lions Gate, but Image did release "Short Circuit".

Stephen_J_H · 06-26-2008, 07:42 PM

The same way that Disney holds the video rights to Kill Bill Volumes I and II and The Weinstein Company holds the rights to The Whole Bloody Affair version. It's best to look at intellectual property rights as a bundle of rights containing both copyrights and moral rights. Moral rights enjoy greater protection in the EU than in North America and give the artist greater control over how his work is presented to the public.

How does this all figure into Metropolis? Simple. The Murnau Foundation, upon restoration of the current cut of Metropolis, copyrighted that particular cut of the film. Moroder (or his backers) holds copyright over his cut of the film. The two can co-exist, but because of moral rights, another wrinkle exists with respect to the music in the Moroder version: even though Moroder and Pete Bellotte wrote all the music for their version of Metropolis, if Kino were to licence this version and include in their BD release, they'd still have to go to the artists' representatives to licence the performances for a video release. A cumbersome task in this case, since that means Freddie Mercury, Pat Benatar, Jon Anderson, Loverboy, Bonnie Tyler, Billy Squier and several others. NOT as ugly as Heavy Metal was, mind you, but close enough.

ChristopherDAC · 06-26-2008, 09:47 PM

Moroder's Metropolis has already been released on home video, though — there were LaserDiscs issued in Japan (Pioneer) as well as the US (Vestron). A Blu-Ray release would not be de novo, & there would not be this hassle as with movies or TV having music that was never cleared for home video in the first place.

Cassy_w · 06-27-2008, 09:29 AM

Like with MIAMI VICE, everything would have to be paid for all over again for DVD and BD with regards to the Moroder Metropolis, which I have on Laserdisc, by the way.

Keith Paynter · 06-27-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassy_w

which I have on Laserdisc, by the way.

As do I. It's one of the reasons I still have a player (and, judging by by ebay prices, one of the few remaining discs I still have and refuse to part with)

alexAN · 06-27-2008, 02:38 PM

I guess it's redundant, but also Moroder's cut was available on VHS (at least here in Spain) around '88-'89.