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

post #31 of 110
3/9/07 at 8:36am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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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post #32 of 110
3/9/07 at 11:00pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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.
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post #33 of 110
3/9/07 at 11:44pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

The Stepfather is available in R2, from Carlton.
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post #34 of 110
3/10/07 at 7:14am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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?
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post #35 of 110
3/10/07 at 8:33am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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.
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post #36 of 110
3/10/07 at 12:25pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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.
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post #37 of 110
3/12/07 at 3:32pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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.
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post #38 of 110
3/12/07 at 7:32pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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

It's too bad that any Bob Hope movies have issues.
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post #39 of 110
3/12/07 at 9:07pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Previously mentioned Hardware. Id love to have that disc.

Also whatever happened to the Dir Cut of From Beyond???
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post #40 of 110
2/1/08 at 7:01pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

I know it was released on VHS, but isn't there also an issue with the James Cagney film Ceiling Zero?
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post #41 of 110
2/2/08 at 3:49pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

'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.
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post #42 of 110
2/5/08 at 6:05am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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. . .
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post #43 of 110
2/5/08 at 1:51pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

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.
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post #44 of 110
2/5/08 at 4:21pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Quote:
Originally Posted by CinéKarine
Sergeants 3 (62), the Rat Pack version of Gunga Din, has been tied up for years in a legal battle between Frank Sinatra’s estate and the studios (now MGM).

Finally due on DVD in May, according the the Bits!

This has been something of a holy grail for a friend of mine, so I'll be quite excited to see it!
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post #45 of 110
2/6/08 at 6:17pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Martin
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.

Surprisingly, when BABY IT'S YOU was released on tape and laserdisc, the Springsteen songs were retained, but a rerecording of "Baby It's You" and one other '60's era pop song were substituted. The credits were crudely altered via videoburn to reflect this. I'm sure now the situation has worsened in terms of licensing that song score for DVD.
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post #46 of 110
2/6/08 at 11:53pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Maybe with Criterions new deal with Paramount, BABY IT'S YOU can be released.
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post #47 of 110
2/7/08 at 5:04am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

The 1973 blaxploitation film "Abby" was released by AIP. However, WB sued because the content of the film they considered to be a "Exorcist" rip off. There has been several bootleg copies but as I understand it, the film elements has been either destroyed or lost. The rights are undetermined.
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post #48 of 110
2/7/08 at 8:59am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Isn't "Night of the Creeps" in some kind of rights tussle as well?
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post #49 of 110
2/7/08 at 5:01pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jacob McCraw
Isn't "Night of the Creeps" in some kind of rights tussle as well?

I believe it's with Sony.
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post #50 of 110
2/8/08 at 11:16am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Quote:
Originally Posted by walter o
I believe it's with Sony.

Well then let's go! Blu-Ray chop chop!
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post #51 of 110
2/8/08 at 12:03pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Quote:
Originally Posted by flagbrothers
The 1973 blaxploitation film "Abby" was released by AIP. However, WB sued because the content of the film they considered to be a "Exorcist" rip off. There has been several bootleg copies but as I understand it, the film elements has been either destroyed or lost. The rights are undetermined.

There's a man in Louisville who worked with the director that claims to have the negative or a print close to it. I've heard Warner got the rights to the film after the lawsuit and if true I wish they'd release it on its own or as an extra on an eventual re-re-re-re-release of THE EXORCIST.
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post #52 of 110
2/8/08 at 1:39pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

I would've thought MGM held the rights because of the Orion acquisition, but if Warner does in fact hold the rights, this would make a great addition to an Exorcist uber-box set, since Warner now holds the rights to the Morgan Creek-produced sequels as well (III, The Beginning and Dominion).
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post #53 of 110
2/8/08 at 2:36pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

I'm not certain as I'm getting most of this information from the "friend" of the director. I'm 100% certain he knew the director but I'm not certain on his claims of having a print. I do know that he has countless promotional materials from various films including ABBY. There's a video store in Louisville (Wild and Wooley) that has several of the lobby cards and an original one-sheet.

Again, I'm not certain on this so take it as a rumor. I've heard that the lawsuit gave Warner control of the film and they are the ones who have buried it. If this is true, perhaps they could release it as an extra. If MGM has the rights, I'm not sure this would sell enough for them to start another legal issue over it. The two sides would have to shake hands, which seems like it should be possible since ABBY has all been forgotten about and Warner has certainly made their money from THE EXORCIST.
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post #54 of 110
2/11/08 at 2:11am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Does anyone know of the situation concerning the DVD rights to Billy Wilder's last movie BUDDY BUDDY (1981)?

There doesn't seem to be any DVD of this film worldwide, nor an announcement to release it anytime soon.

As BUDDY BUDDY is the only film absent from my collection of Wilder DVD's and since I am anxious to see it again after quite some time: Does anyone know if it's caught in rights hell at this time?
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post #55 of 110
2/11/08 at 9:46am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabian Kusch
Does anyone know of the situation concerning the DVD rights to Billy Wilder's last movie BUDDY BUDDY (1981)?

I would think that would be with MGM as they released it both theatrically and on video.
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post #56 of 110
2/11/08 at 10:53am

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Martin
I would think that would be with MGM as they released it both theatrically and on video.

As a pre-1986 MGM movie, shouldn't it be part of the Turner catalogue then and ready for distribution by Warner Home Entertainment?
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post #57 of 110
2/11/08 at 12:15pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

What about "Split Image" (1982). Originally distributed by Orion and Embassy Home Video, it no longer seems available anywhere.
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post #58 of 110
3/22/08 at 12:58pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

BABY IT'S YOU appears to be one of the Paramount titles that Legend Films will be releasing. See the "Hell Freezes Older" thread for more news.
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post #59 of 110
3/22/08 at 4:16pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Michael Winner made two great swinging '60s films in 1967 "I'll Never Forget What's 'isname" & "The Jokers". Anchor Bay released "I'll Never Forget" & as I understand it, tried to release "The Jokers" but it was held up by some music rights issue.
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post #60 of 110
3/22/08 at 4:47pm

Re: Movies not on DVD caught in 'rights hell'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabian Kusch
As a pre-1986 MGM movie, shouldn't it be part of the Turner catalogue then and ready for distribution by Warner Home Entertainment?
Warner claimed at a chat a couple of years ago that they no longer have the rights.
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