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THE BOWERY BOYS on DVD: continuing discussion of Warner's eventual release plans (UPDATE 4/19:... - Page 16

Poll Results: How would you prefer THE BOWERY BOYS to arrive on DVD?

 
  • 40% (63)
    Release them now as a "Best Of" effort with features
  • 59% (91)
    Wait for better elements to arrive for a chronological release
154 Total Votes  
post #451 of 747
5/20/10 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randy Korstick View Post


I know its your 1st time viewing the series and sometimes a 2nd look will change opinions and maybe the series is just not for you but thats an interesting ranking.



 

 

My thinking is that I can enjoy any type of good movie. I've seen so many "B" and "Z" grade pictures in my life and I was rather shocked to see how many of these films I've enjoyed. For "B" movies with less than talented writers, directors and actors, I'd say that the majority of them have been "good enough" to make them worthy time killers. I don't think anyone goes in expecting CITIZEN KANE as, to me, none of these films can even measure up to A&C, L&H and those types of comedies. I've yet to find a film here I'd call a classic or an important title. That's not to say these films are bad. They're just what they are and that's "B" movies.

 

Overall I'd say the series has exceeded my expectations. Even if the majority are only getting ** stars, that's a lot better than some films from my favorite filmmakers.

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post #452 of 747
5/31/10 at 1:16pm

Seems no "new" BOWERY BOYS on TCM in July or August!

 

Hopefully they'll pick up where they left off in September.

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post #453 of 747
5/31/10 at 3:59pm



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeWilson View Post

Seems no "new" BOWERY BOYS on TCM in July or August!

 

Hopefully they'll pick up where they left off in September.



They are on in July.  However, in August, they're doing the Summer under the Stars program in which each day is dedicated to one movie star.

 

 

 

Quote:
 1.) Basil Rathbone, 2.) Julie Christie, 3.) Steve McQueen, 4.) Ethel Barrymore, 5.) Woody Strode, 6.) Ingrid Bergman, 7.) Errol Flynn, 8.) Bob Hope, 9.) Warren Beatty, 10.) Kathryn Grayson, 11.) Walter Matthau, 12.) Norma Shearer, 13.) Robert Ryan, 14.) Gene Tierney, 15.) Margaret O'Brien, 16.) Lauren Bacall, 17.) Robert Stack, 18.) Ann Sheridan, 19.) Walter Pidgeon, 20.) Katharine Hepburn, 21.) Paul Newman, 22.) John Mills, 23.) Elizabeth Taylor, 24.) John Gilbert, 25.) Maureen O'Hara, 26.) Lee Remick, 27.) Olivia de Havilland, 28.) Peter O'Toole, 29.) Henry Fonda, 30.) Thelma Todd, 31.) Clint Eastwood

 

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post #454 of 747
6/1/10 at 10:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post


They are on in July.  However, in August, they're doing the Summer under the Stars program in which each day is dedicated to one movie star.

  



Yes, but the films running in July have already run :)

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post #455 of 747
6/1/10 at 11:00am

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeWilson View Post



Yes, but the films running in July have already run :)



That only applies to the July 23 marathon.

 

Each Saturday at 10:30AM Eastern, TCM continues its chronological screenings; July 3 is BLONDE DYNAMITE (1950).

 

Only August's Saturdays are pre-empted.

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post #456 of 747
6/1/10 at 12:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent S View Post

 



That only applies to the July 23 marathon.

 

Each Saturday at 10:30AM Eastern, TCM continues its chronological screenings; July 3 is BLONDE DYNAMITE (1950).

 

Only August's Saturdays are pre-empted.

 

How could I have missed that! :)

 

But are we sure they are comming back in September? :)

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post #457 of 747
6/2/10 at 7:18am


Why would you think they wouldn't come back in September?
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeWilson View Post



 

How could I have missed that! :)

 

But are we sure they are comming back in September? :)

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post #458 of 747
6/3/10 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randy Korstick View Post


Why would you think they wouldn't come back in September?
 


 

 

Well, wouldn't be the first time when TCM ran only part of a film series.

 

I've lost track - how many films will have aired at the end of July.
 

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post #459 of 747
6/7/10 at 5:32pm

The 21st film- Bowery Battalion, is scheduled for July 31st. Perhaps in September they'll resume the Saturday schedule of Bowery Boys airings. I hope so because there are a couple films from the later period that I would like to upgrade for my collection.

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post #460 of 747
6/12/10 at 12:59pm

http://www.tcm.com/schedule/month/?cid=N&timezone=EST&oid=9/1/2010

 

Good news! The Bowery Boys series resumes September 4th with "Ghost Chasers"

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post #461 of 747
7/6/10 at 5:48pm

I just discovered something interesting. The TCM airing a few years back of "Feudin Fools" contains an edit. What's missing is a 35 second sequence of dialog with Slip and the gang while they are hiding out inside the cabin. The scene occurs between 9 and 10 minutes into the movie. I have Feudin Fools recorded uncut from WGN in Chicago, this dialog scene is intact in the WGN airing but is absent in the TCM airing. This is another reason I'm glad I recorded the Bowery Boys movies from WGN in the 1980's, they aired most of the films in the series during this time.

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post #462 of 747
7/17/10 at 7:48am

Stop it Lecagr you make me jealous. Let's just hope that (as one poster said) when TCM went over to Warner to get these films they grabbed whatever was the shelf and didn't look for the best (uncut) print sitting on that shelf.

 

I was hoping that TCM & Warner would come out with 'The Bowery Boys, The First Ten' In a box set, that would have been nice.

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post #463 of 747
7/18/10 at 7:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by puck30 View Post

Stop it Lecagr you make me jealous. Let's just hope that (as one poster said) when TCM went over to Warner to get these films they grabbed whatever was the shelf and didn't look for the best (uncut) print sitting on that shelf.

 

 

Well, consitering the print they used for MR HEX, I couldn't believe that was the only 16mm print of that film kicking around.

 

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post #464 of 747
7/20/10 at 5:56pm

I haven't seen TCM's print of Mr. Hex, I recorded my copy from WGN, it looks and sounds good to me 63 minutes uncut.

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post #465 of 747
7/23/10 at 6:41pm

Yes, I completely agree!  Glenn Strange could definitely act!!  Also loved him in Abbott & Costello's "Comin' Around The Mountain" from 1951.  Just the way he'd say "WEEEELLBURT" (Lou Costello played Wilburt) was absolutely priceless!!

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post #466 of 747
7/23/10 at 6:47pm

TCM is resuming airing Bowery Boys movies on Saturday, September 4 with Ghost Chasers from 1951.  Too bad they aren't doing a summer under the stars theme for Leo Gorcey or Huntz Hall!

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post #467 of 747
8/30/10 at 6:05pm

In my opinion, A&C and L&H are overrated. For unknown reason, the Bowery Boys have never got a fair shake from the critics. Maybe part of it is due to the fact their films were made at low budget studio Monogram Pictures. But regardless of budget it's a very good series of films, the best ones are among the funniest movies I've seen. I think the Bowery Boys deserve a star on the hollywood walk of fame, at least Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall deserve one along with Leo's father Bernard. The three of them were a great team, they created some funny and memorable characters.

 

Did anyone catch Bowery Battalion on TCM on July 31st? I don't know where TCM got their print, but it's not an original. In the opening titles, it says Allied Artists instead of Monogram Pictures. And the ending just has a generic "The End" instead of the familiar closing with the Monogram logo. Fortunately, my copy of Bowery Battalion has the original Monogram opening and closing.

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post #468 of 747
8/31/10 at 3:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lecagr View Post

In my opinion, A&C and L&H are overrated. For unknown reason, the Bowery Boys have never got a fair shake from the critics. Maybe part of it is due to the fact their films were made at low budget studio Monogram Pictures. But regardless of budget it's a very good series of films, the best ones are among the funniest movies I've seen.



I enjoy the Bowery Boys, but they're not in the same league as A&C, L&H, or most other great comedy teams. It doesn't surprise me that they've never received much praise; some of their movies are fun intheir way, but none of these comedies are very good, really.

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post #469 of 747
8/31/10 at 9:10am

It's a matter of personal opinion. Another thing I like about the Bowery Boys is the format of the series varied over the years so the series never got stale. The early films were a mix of drama and comedy, while the later films were all out comedy. Of the 48 movies, maybe 6 or so aren't that good but the other ones are very entertaining.

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post #470 of 747
9/5/10 at 3:51am

IMO, the films did get stale quick during the latter 48. They became incredibly repetitious, at least. This is just me being objective, as I still enjoy them for what they are and wish they'd all come to DVD so I can own them just the same! 

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post #471 of 747
9/5/10 at 12:37pm

The series started running out of steam when Stan Clements took over for Leo Gorcey. Of those seven films, Fighting Trouble and In The Money are pretty bad. Looking For Danger isn't too good either but it does have some funny moments. My favorite Clements entries are Hot Shots and Hold That Hypnotist. Spook Chasers and Up In Smoke are pretty good also. Of the Leo Gorcey films, maybe 3 or 4 are a little lackluster but the others are very good.

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post #472 of 747
9/6/10 at 7:58pm

So is the general consensus that a retail release of the Bowery Boys is not going to happen?  Or is the membership remaining optimistic?

 

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post #473 of 747
9/7/10 at 4:32am
Thread Starter 

I don't think it's a matter of not happening.

 

It simply stopped happening for the moment.

 

There are those within the studio that want to

see these films released.  The problem is that

the economic climate has dramatically effected

the world of DVD over the past few years and

what was prioritized then is no longer a priority.

 

I suppose that is the best way I can put this.

I know it won't sit well with everyone but this 

kind of problem exists at every studio who is

being very selective about what they put out

based on what they think will sell.

 

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post #474 of 747
9/7/10 at 8:30am

This is just my opinion but I don't see them coming out.  With the lack of releases all around and pretty much everything going to DVD-R, I'd be shocked if these 48 movies were officially released.  I think there are just way too many movies to see get released.  I'm guessing that something like the film noir or gangster sets would sell better yet you've seen titles from both, some with very big A-list stars, that are going to the Archive.

 

You could mix this thread with the streaming one but times are simply changing.  I'm just glad the studio and TCM are showing all the films on TCM,

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post #475 of 747
9/7/10 at 1:38pm

I'm not conserned about any delay in the release of these films - we know the studio has been working on restoring the prints,and they will evenually do something with them - even an archive release won't be so bad. Atleast they've started in the Monogram chans.

 

In the meantime, TCM continues to run 'em,and for the most part,the prints are nice - even if the widescreen films will be cropped.

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post #476 of 747
9/9/10 at 3:54am

I agree with Michael. You can only go by what you're seeing (or not seeing, as this case may be) and the feeling I'm getting is that these 48 films will just not come out on DVD, sadly. I hope I'm wrong -- I really do. And I can't stress to Warner enough what I've been saying for so long -- that the time to move on these is ASAP, if they intend on making any money from them on DVD sales. The core audience for these older movies are going to mainly be older people like myself -- those who say them on TV regularly in the old days, or even those who saw them in theaters. These people are just not getting any younger. These people are your target, key audience!

 

Incidentally, perhaps now that they're being shown on TCM, that may actually help a little to get other casual viewers interested in purchasing the films on "official" DVD. 

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post #477 of 747
9/12/10 at 1:07pm

Some good comments above. I'm still torn on this. On the one hand, Warners, either directly or indirectly (thru HTF) has made it known that they realize there is a market for these films and they want to do something with them. Other the other hand, if these films were truly as "highly requested" as they say they are, we likely would have seen more movement on these in the 5 1/2 years since WHV first (March 2005) publically announced plans to release these starting in 2006.

 

Another fear I have is that the TCM showings are no doubt being captured digitally by bootleggers.  Absent from any concrete and verifiable info from WHV the BB fans who didn't already record these themselves are probably going to look to these alternatives rather than wait for "official" releases that may never come.  Joe is correct, the time is now, not later. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #478 of 747
9/12/10 at 1:12pm

I think the biggest problem is that there are 48 movies to get released.  I doubt think all the majors together have released 48 regular pressed disc let alone one studio releasing an entire series like this.  None of us know for certain but I do wonder if the TCM thing was them throwing us a bone since an official release can't happen (at this time or near future).

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post #479 of 747
9/12/10 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve...O View Post


Another fear I have is that the TCM showings are no doubt being captured digitally by bootleggers.  Absent from any concrete and verifiable info from WHV the BB fans who didn't already record these themselves are probably going to look to these alternatives rather than wait for "official" releases that may never come.  Joe is correct, the time is now, not later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


This.  It's my dads all time favourite series.  He's been asking me about when the DVDs are coming since they've been rumoured for so long.  He's currently dealing with health issues, so I tracked down the TCM copies so he can have the set to watch.  If these ever do get a legitmate release, it's going to have be a pretty good combination of special and affordable to get me to bite.  Before, it was a guaranteed buy for me.

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post #480 of 747
9/12/10 at 4:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve...O 

 

Another fear I have is that the TCM showings are no doubt being captured digitally by bootleggers.  Absent from any concrete and verifiable info from WHV the BB fans who didn't already record these themselves are probably going to look to these alternatives rather than wait for "official" releases that may never come.  Joe is correct, the time is now, not later. 


They have been going around for years - so rerunning on TCM isn't goting to make a different of any more/less in the "underground" circut.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Elliott View Post

I think the biggest problem is that there are 48 movies to get released.  I doubt think all the majors together have released 48 regular pressed disc let alone one studio releasing an entire series like this.  None of us know for certain but I do wonder if the TCM thing was them throwing us a bone since an official release can't happen (at this time or near future).


What are you talking about? There are 100's,1000's of regular pressed discs of classic titles and film series - Look at The 3 Stooges shorts and Abbott and Costello films, for example - or the Warner & Colpix film Noir series.

 

At running times of 60-75 minutes would be eazy to put 4 on a dual layered disc with not much compression,so It could be over 12 discs.


 

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