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03-08-2003, 12:45 PM
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#1 of 26 
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Member
Join Date: Oct 1998
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African Queen Release in R1?
Any chance we will ever see The African Queen released in R1? I understand that R2 has had this one available in pretty good form (with a commentary track) for some time.
After seeing rereleases of 2nd and 3rd rate titles in SE and Ultimate SE versions I am dismayed that there has been very little said by either the studios nor here at the HTF. Meanwhile we hear, ad nauseum, speculation about SW and IJ. Is there any doubt that either will eventually be released? IJ is already being readied for this year and SW will undoubtedly get the largest release in the format's history when it gets here. I find it curious that the best known collaboration between two American screen icons like Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburne has not evoked more interest. Does anyone have either any news or something to say about the apparent lack of discussion?
Joel
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03-08-2003, 12:49 PM
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#2 of 26
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Crawdaddy
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The lack of discussion is partly due to the confusion as to which company has the dvd rights in Region 1. If for instance, if it was well-known that Warner or MGM had the rights to this film then I'm sure there would be more discussion and pressure asserted on which ever studio own those rights.
Crawdaddy
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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03-08-2003, 02:41 PM
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#3 of 26
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Rain
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I'd be thrilled to see this movie on DVD, as it is one of my all time favourites.
Unfortunately, I cannot provide any real information.
Hopefully MGM is not the owner of this film, given their second rate treatment of "classics" on DVD.
I'm confident that Warner would do a splendid job of it if it is their property.
"Imagine all the people, living life in peace..." - Imagine by John Lennon
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03-08-2003, 03:57 PM
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#5 of 26
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Crawdaddy
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I believe the dvd rights reverted back to a production company and not a studio. Horizon which was one of the production companies of the film had several of their films released by Columbia such as the following: - The Swimmer (Being release later this month)
- Lawrence of Arabia
- On the Waterfront
- The Bridge on the River Kwai
I thought a read where a British production company had the rights to it. Maybe, Carlton.
Crawdaddy
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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03-08-2003, 04:05 PM
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#6 of 26
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The African Queen was released on LD by Fox, under the CBS/Fox banner. I'm fairly certain that in a studio feedback thread one or two years ago, Mr. Staddon indicated that Fox no longer had the rights to The African Queen and that MGM now possessed them.
As I mentioned that was several years ago, so Robert's information may be more accurate. Suffice to say, I would love to hear that it is being released, in a manner that does justice to the film.
- Walter.
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03-08-2003, 04:10 PM
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#7 of 26
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Crawdaddy
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Since, we're dealing with the academy ratio of 1.37:1 for this film at least whomever owns the rights now can't screw that up.
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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03-08-2003, 04:54 PM
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#8 of 26
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Patrick J. McCart
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Quote:
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Since, we're dealing with the academy ratio of 1.37:1 for this film at least whomever owns the rights now can't screw that up.
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Well, they can use an Eastmancolor print instead of a remastered transfer from the Technicolor separations.
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03-08-2003, 05:22 PM
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#9 of 26
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Well,
This much we do know. United Artists originally released the film in the U.S., but lost those rights when Trans-Lux acquired them sometime in the 1960s. Viacom bought the television rights in the early 1970s, so it would be Paramount that would now have the television rights. CBS-Fox video did have the video rights, but when CBS was bought by Viacom the CBS Video division went to Paramount, so Paramount (I believe) would now also have the video rights. Currently the theatrical distribution rights are also held by Paramount. Horizon Film Management (successor in interest to the Horizon-Romulus company that produced "African Queen") holds the copyright.
Any questions?
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03-08-2003, 06:38 PM
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#10 of 26
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Crawdaddy
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Quote:
| Well, they can use an Eastmancolor print instead of a remastered transfer from the Technicolor separations. |
I was specifically talking about not screwing up the aspect ratio not the transfer process.
Crawdaddy
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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