THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans (UPDATE 4/19:... - Page 10

Re: THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans

This is a pretty long thread, but has there been any discussion about bringing out the five remaining Dead End Kids movies (ON DRESS PARADE, HELL'S KITCHEN, an official THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL, CRIME SCHOOL, and ANGELS WASH THEIR FACES) on dvd?

Re: THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans

Years now, years later, and still waiting on this, and I can honestly say that hopefully one day this will come about , remember watching a lot of these on Saturday afternoons as a kid. Back when local stations still took over the programming around 10 am. And while not the biggest BB/ESK/DEK fan I will say that what I am looking forward to is finally seeing some legitimacy come to some of Lugosi’s Monogram 9 “Ghost On The Loose” and “Spooks Run Wild” but this will help in the “B’ collection.

Re: THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans

Maybe as a consolation for the much delayed nature of this set, WHV will treat us to "official" releases of the East Side Kids pictures. That particular series is perhaps my favorite of the various Leo/Huntz incarnations.

Question for experts (Bob Furmanek?) - were all of the BB films after "Meet the Monsters" intended to be widescreen? The not-so-reliable imdb shows some as widescreen and some as academy.

Re: THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans

The first widescreen Bowery Boys is either CLIPPED WINGS (possibly) or PRIVATE EYES (definitely-- was listed in advance of shooting as being in widescreen). Everything after that is 1.85, per Allied Artist's photographic policies.

Re: THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans

Thanks, Jack! Much appreciated.

Re: THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans

"Clipped Wings" began production in late May 1953. Most likely, it was the first Bowery Boys film composed for AA's new 1.85 ratio.

THE 'WIDESCREEN' FILM RELEASES!!!!!!

So assuming that every subsequent THE BOWERY BOYS film was similarly filmed in a widescreen 1:85 aspect ratio after CLIPPED WINGS (1953) then that means this will translate into the following:

The Leo Gorcey Series Widescreen Releases

01) CLIPPED WINGS (1953)
02) PRIVATE EYES (1953)
03) PARIS PLAYBOYS (1954)
04) THE BOWERY BOYS MEET THE MONSTERS (1954)
05) JUNGLE GENTS (1954)
06) BOWERY TO BAGDAD (1955)
07) HIGH SOCIETY (1955)
08) SPY CHASERS (1955)
09) JAIL BUSTERS (1955)
10) DIG THAT URANIUM (1956)
11) CRASHING LAS VEGAS (1956)

The Stanley Clemens Series Widescreen Releases

01) FIGHTING TROUBLE (1956)
02) HOT SHOTS (1956)
03) HOLD THAT HYPNOTIST (1957)
04) SPOOK CHASERS (1957)
05) LOOKING FOR DANGER (1957)
06) UP IN SMOKE (1957)
08) IN THE MONEY (1958)

Sounds great! Surely this will require going back to the original 35mm print negatives to strike these widescreen digital transfers.

Remember (where ever possible) we would further like a side-order of the original theatrical trailers!

Before Warner Brothers Home Entertainment turns it thoughtful attention to some of the other related screen series (ie. The Dead End Kids and The East Side Kids) let's get this main and already promised DVD release started first.

Jeff T.
Edited by JeffT. - 7/3/2009 at 08:58 am GMT

Re: THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans

That's accurate Jeff, but be careful of your wording. They were composed for 1.85 widescreen but also protected for 1.37 academy. That was the standard practice at the time.

I have all 48 Bowery Boys movies, most of them I recorded from WGN TV Chicago when they aired the movies on Monday mornings at 3 AM during the early and mid 80's. A few titles I obtained thru other collectors, I remember News Hounds was a hard one to find. I also have the 22 East Side Kids films. All of these are recorded on VHS-SP, I've recently started transferring the movies to DVD's. The quality is very nice, most are 8/9 on a scale of 10.

The Bowery Boys movies are underappreciated. From the early, gangster melodrama films, to the later films which focus on farce and slapstick, most of them are very good and entertaining. To make 48 films in 12 years, they must have been doing something right. Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall deserve to rank right up there with the other great movie comedy teams.

Of the 7 films with Stan Clements, I like Hot Shots, Hold That Hypnotist, and Up In Smoke the best. Spook Chasers is pretty good also.
Edited by Lecagr - 10/14/09 at 6:45pm

Anything new on these coming out or should we now start looking for these in the archives collection? I certainly hope its not the later.

The last word on the subject was late 2010, so I wouldn't expect to see any more information at this point.

Regarding a retail DVD release, I think some of the films will probably be issued, but as far as all 48 movies being released, I'm not so sure about that. During the 90's, six of the films were issued on VHS and they didn't release any more, likely due to low sales. The Bowery Boys have a loyal but small niche audience. Whether or not DVD's come out, I'm satisfied with my private collection of the series.

The Bowery Boys might have continued into the 1960's had Leo Gorcey stayed on, but in 1955 rumor had it that Leo was tiring of the series and considered retirement. The untimely death of Leo's father Bernard soon after finishing work on Dig That Uranium contributed to Leo's decision to leave the series. Leo liked to drink, which eventually caught up with him. When looking at Dig That Uranium, there are scenes where Leo is clearly inebriated. This is also visible in Crashing Las Vegas, Leo's last Bowery Boys film. Watching Leo perform in his final Bowery Boys outing is rather sad.

Right now my real concern is more whether THE BOWERY BOYS films will be afforded a general retail market release or consigned to the exclusive U.S. shipping only Warner Brothers (Home Entertainment) Online Shop which is most definitely not what I had in mind when vigorously lobbying for this specific film property.  Even in the U.S. these things are much more expensive than would be otherwise and there is still the extra shipping charges involved.

And if these things are immediately burned-to-disc copies what is the advantage to that?!  Regular DVDs have an encoded foil which is protected by a layer of clear plastic making them much more durable...and preferable!  This alone is a "deal-breaker" for me!

I initially thought that the Warner Brothers Online Shop was going to be a depository for "special" interests who want film properties that would never stand a chance of succeeding with the mainstream DVD consumer but there are a number of titles exclusively available that should have been afforded general retail distribution like the Lex Barker-RKO Tarzan films, THE STORY OF MANKIND (1957), FROM HELL IT CAME (1957), CAPTAIN SINBAD (1963), the MGM produced OUR GANG shorts and the made-for-television CITY BENEATH THE SEA (1971).

My own fondly recollected thoughts about THE BOWERY BOYS film series was when they were telecast in the early-to-mid 1960s on a local Buffalo-based tv station WBEN-TV, Channel 4 first on Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m. E.T. then moved to Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m. E.T.  These were the condensed for an hour long timeslot incarnations and I (honestly) don't think that I have every seen these films in their respective entireties.  If I ever get a hold of this film series I intend to recreate this at home every Saturday morning!

While nobody is as good (or great) as Leo Gorcey I am still open to the Stanley Clements series (HOT SHOTS is likely the weakest entry in an otherwise enjoyable group) given the chance to buy these that is.

Lastly, I have already stated that it is my own considered opinion that this will be a revenue winning proposition for Warner Brothers Home Entertainment and (at least to the skeptics out there) will prove to be a sleeper hit.  Just wait and see!

Jeff T.

Hot Shots is actually a pretty good Bowery Boys movie. In my opinion, the best Bowery Boys film with Clements is Hold That Hypnotist, followed by Hot Shots, Up In Smoke, and Spook Chasers. The other three Clements films, Fighting Trouble, Looking For Danger, and In The Money each fall short in the laughs department.

Other than a minor edit in a couple films, all the Bowery Boys movies in my collection are uncut. All are right at or near their original run times. When I was recording the movies from WGN in Chicago, they aired them in 75 to 90 minute time slots, ample time to air the complete movie.

I remember one week when WGN was scheduled to air Crashing Las Vegas. When it came time for the movie to air, it didn't come on, it was pre-empted. Boy, was I pissed! WGN didn't reschedule it but I ended up getting the movie from another collector.

We're not telling you what to do, but please don't discuss such activities on this forum, as per our forum Rules. Thanks!

I thought Waners has found better elements on MISTER HEX? 

If you read the earliest message postings in this discussion thread it originally began as Warner Brothers Home Entertainment soliciting input on just how "fans" wanted THE BOWERY BOYS films to be released on DVD and it was decided to do them in chronological order meaning the entire film series.

It was later confirmed that Warner Brothers had indeed found the original 35mm print negative to MR. HEX (1946) the absence of which was a major obstacle in commencing actual production.  Later it was confirmed that more original 35mm print negatives (many if not all in the actual widescreen format) had been uncovered as well.

While I am here Warner Brothers should "simplify" its thinking (and plans) by concentrating solely on the first batch of films to be issued on DVD rather than the entire series.  If this initial group is ready then just get them out!  Get the first volume out initially then let the actual retail sales be the determining factor in just how to further proceed.

I belatedly realized that the six (THE) BOWERY BOYS films previously issued on VHS were in there entireties which I have.

I generally like all of the Stanley Clemens entries and (personally) found FIGHTING TROUBLE (1956), LOOKING FOR DANGER (1957), UP IN SMOKE (1957) and the grand finale IN THE MONEY (1958) most enjoyable indeed.

If given the opportunity I will certainly purchase the entire series!

Thank you Ron for the encouraging update and let's hope the (forthcoming) news on this highly anticipated DVD release remains positive.

Jeff T.
Edited by JeffT. - 10/18/09 at 7:39am

I think releasing the films in order of their original release is the way to do it. 2 films per disc for 24 discs total, or 3 films per disc for 16 discs total. But my point of concern is whether Warner's would commit to releasing all 48 movies.

As a person who prefers consistency, I'd rather see all the films issued in fullscreen rather than some in fullscreen and others in widescreen.

When CRIME SCHOOL was released through the WA a few weeks ago, I broke down and bought the book "From Broadway to Bowery", which is the complete history of the series.  It was a great book and I learned a lot about the series.  I was never a huge fan of them until Warners release the couple of Dead End movies a few years ago and I picked up a few of the East Side Kids released by Alpha Video.  After reading the book, I am really looking forward to this collection and glad it will be chronological and in the proper ORA.  I hope that they sell well enough to give Universal the idea to release the Little Tough Guys.

Fullscreen is the proper format for home video purposes. Widescreen is fine for the cinemas and theaters, but it is not the appropriate format for home viewing on a TV screen.

Note: There are two similar posts from Lee as both were caught in the spam filter.  


Maybe on homevideoforum.com . Please explain that comment. 

Yeah it's proper if your tv set happens to be 50 years old!

Everything manufactured nowadays is with widescreen aspect ratio in mind so specifically making THE BOWERY BOYS films available in the original widescreen dimensions is keeping them up-to-date.

Anyways I am not going to quibble let's just started on this thing!  Don't hold up productivity any longer just because film #15 is missing or in poor shape.  We'll worry about that later when the need for it arises.

You have to admit this discussion thread has served as an excellent text book guide for Warner Brothers Home Entertainment on just how to correctly proceed.

Jeff T.

I am sorry, but OAR is the proper format for any viewing, be it home video or theatre.  Even today, the new shows on television are composed in the 16:9 widescreen format, why would we want anything different than what is composed for exhibition?

You're crazy. Now excuse me while I go watch my pan and scan copy of Lawrence Of Arabia as it's supposed to be seen on my television.

I support OAR not pan scan.  Do you really want to watch Lawrence of Arabia in pan and scan?