Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell' - Page 2

Sean Richardson · 03-09-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

"Rights hell" to me would withhold a film from both TV airings and home video.

I would disagree with this personally; studios have been negotiating TV rights for a much longer time than home video rights, so it is likely that there are plenty of movies for which they still own the rights to show a movie on TV, but did not secure the rights to release the film for sale on video/DVD. If these rights are unobtainable (which, of course, is open to interpretation), I would think that would qualify as "rights hell", at least with regards to a DVD forum.

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Dan McW · 03-10-2007, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Richardson

I would think that would qualify as "rights hell", at least with regards to a DVD forum.

I think I had the TCM thread in my head as I was making that post here. The TCM thread has much to do with why that channel can't run certain films, although most of the films in question on that thread have never been on home video either.

To connect my last post more with this thread--I'd say those Abend-decision films I mentioned are in rights hell for DVD. Darren's mention of The Cat and the Canary sounds like a typical Abend issue.

JulianK · 03-10-2007, 01:44 AM

The Stepfather is available in R2, from Carlton.

Danny Burk · 03-10-2007, 09:14 AM

The 1927 version of CAT AND THE CANARY has been out on DVD for a long time (in several versions, in fact). The film itself is PD; does the Abend decision only affect films back to a particular date?

Radioman970 · 03-10-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulianK

The Stepfather is available in R2, from Carlton.

Cool! I just noticed it's pretty cheap at amazon UK, about $14 delivered.

When I get a multi-region player this'll be one of the first 2 I order.

Corey · 03-10-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Caps

Beyond the Forest, is, indeed, held up because of literary rights problems.
the same goes for The Wayward Bus and The View from Pompeys Head.

I think whatever issues with Beyond the Forest have been taken care of. Amazon has the title as saying "not yet released" and taking votes. We all know by now, that it usually mean it's in the pipeline, so here's hoping to BD Vol 3.

Dan McW · 03-12-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny Burk

The 1927 version of CAT AND THE CANARY has been out on DVD for a long time (in several versions, in fact). The film itself is PD; does the Abend decision only affect films back to a particular date?

That's a tricky question. Maybe there's nothing the heirs of the playwright can do if a derivative work becomes PD, but perhaps they can still have a stake in a work that's not PD, like the 1939 film version. I assume the original Cat and the Canary play itself is PD, as it's now 85 years old.

It does seem odd that a Bob Hope film, from a period in which virtually all of his feature-length films have hit VHS and/or DVD, is still unavailable legally in R1.

WadeM · 03-12-2007, 09:32 PM

I think Swiss Family Robinson (1940) has rights issues too.

It's too bad that any Bob Hope movies have issues.

JonZ · 03-12-2007, 11:07 PM

Previously mentioned Hardware. Id love to have that disc.

Also whatever happened to the Dir Cut of From Beyond???

Richard M S · 02-01-2008, 09:01 PM

I know it was released on VHS, but isn't there also an issue with the James Cagney film Ceiling Zero?

Bruce Morrison · 02-02-2008, 05:49 PM

'Taking Off' (Milos Forman's first American film) is owned by Universal, but has never appeared on DVD. In this case, the problem appears to be with music rights, as there are a lot of songs on the soundtrack (part of the film takes place at a girls' singing talent contest). It's a shame that a DVD release has been held up so long, as it's a wonderful film.

Dave Danek · 02-05-2008, 08:05 AM

Anyone know about John Sayles' Baby It's You? Is that one in music rights hell? I recall the VHS and LD being on Paramount, and I know the film featured some Springsteen songs (Sony). I wonder if music is the problem. . .

Jon Martin · 02-05-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Danek

Anyone know about John Sayles' Baby It's You? Is that one in music rights hell? I recall the VHS and LD being on Paramount, and I know the film featured some Springsteen songs (Sony). I wonder if music is the problem. . .

Sayles and Springsteen have worked together since (he directed the GLORY DAYS video) so I would think Springsteen could make an exception if that was the case.

But Sayles was never happy with the way Paramount treated the film (even though it is very good). They still have plenty of films on the shelf, so they probably aren't in any rush to release it.