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

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

Also as someone else pointed out I think a bigger problem with mixed sets would be seeing a young slip and sach playing a ganster film, then seeing a much older slip and sach acting goofy and like little kids and then seeing a film and Slip is suddenly gone and replaced by Stanley Clemens and then going back to a young slip and sach in a ganster film. Thats a bit jarring and bound to happen in more than one set if they did them all in a best of release.

They could always include a small booklet, explaining the changes in cast members and such. Or even better-audio commentary by people familiar with the series-Brent Walker, David Hayes, etc.

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

My first exposure to the Bowery Boys were at one of our local theatres in the early '60s. Each year, the theatre would have one of those corny monster stage shows at Halloween along with a double feature. One year, HOLD THAT HYPNOTIST was paired with HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL and the next year it was SPOOK CHASERS with THE HYPNOTIC EYE. I loved both of the films...I thought Stanley Clements was great with Huntz Hall.

Around 1965, a local TV station began airing the BB series every Sunday evening. The first film scheduled was LOOSE IN LONDON and my first exposure to Leo Gorcey in the "leader" role. Even at my young age, I knew that Gorcey was superior in every way to Clements.

The following week, ANGELS IN DISGUISE was the second film to air. I could tell from the opening credits that this was something different as the film begins with Slip and Sach being beaten up in an alley as the police arrive to capture their attackers followed by Slip telling the story in flashback.

This continued for many years as the BB series continued airing on a weekly basis veering back and forth from the '40s crime stories to the '50s slapstick entries...and I have always enjoyed watching them in this fashion. I pulled out one of my old WGN tapes and watched the following 4 titles in this order...JUNGLE GENTS, TROUBLE MAKERS (one of my favorites), IN FAST COMPANY and DIG THAT URANIUM. I enjoy the variety and the different approaches and I still have a fond place in my heart for HOLD THAT HYPNOTIST as my first exposure to the Boys.

In my own rambling way, I do hope the films are released in some form sooner rather than later. I'm not getting any younger and would love to own all 48 films. Thanks to Warner Brothers for considering all of this...

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

In my opinion, the comments in this thread are more helpful than the raw vote. There are many comments in here that indicate that the membership would tolerate certain films being skipped to allow time for better prints to be found. Thus Warners could proceed with their chronological releases as originally planned with only certain titles being deferred. Less than 100 people have voted which makes the vote of not much value anyway.

My earliest memories of Leo/Huntz stem from Saturday mornings in the early 70s and cable TV. For years I thought it was the BB but later I realized it was the East Side Kids (Muggs vs. Slip). These films were a staple of TV then and proved so endearing that I enjoy them to this day. My love of classic B films were cemented in those years. Tarzan, Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chan, Roy Rogers et al were all prominent as Saturday morning/afternoon fare at our house. A decade later the "classic" AMC stepped in and showed these films all over again.

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

Mine was NY television too, Ron.


As Steve...O said -- I would suggest that Warner pay most attention to what has been written in the thread itself, and not just by looking at the poll numbers. Being a natural born paranoiac (well, to me this just means "acute awareness!") I wouldn't be surprised if some indifferent people are voting somewhere with no real stake in this, and may just want to have some fun or try to even the score! Or maybe not.... but either way, with all due respect to HTF, there are many more Bowery Boys fans out there who don't even know about this board!

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

But why not just release them chronological and skip the problem films and avoid the hassle of a book that is the option people seem to want even though we can't vote for it.

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

As I predicted, some people are obviously just trying to "even out" the voting results. It won't be long now before the vote is 50-50.

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

I am not surprised that the poll results are so close as my vote was a tough one to make because neither option is what I want. I would like them to be released now in chronological order, skipping Mister Hex or any other titles that are still being searched for better elements.

The wording "best of" scares me and since I am not sure all the titles will eventually be released under such a banner, I voted for the second option.

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

I did the same for exactly the same reasons.

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

It's funny. I voted for the first option because I want them sooner rather than later, but isn't it interesting that ALL THREE of us in actuality want the same thing! -- "Chronological order but skip MR. HEX"...! I really think the poll as worded is confusing people. Warner can still start releasing them soon and chronolgically, except for the occasional buggy apple in the bunch which may be skipped.

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

Ron,

After a month this thread seems to have run its course with a lot of varying and interesting opinions being shared and a surprisingly low number of votes being cast. Did WHV indicate a timeframe as to when a decision might be made based on the feedback posted on this thread? The raw vote is pretty useless, but the posted comments should provide WHV a sense of what consumers want.

Thanks,

Steve

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

Well, the poll is now, unsurprisingly, at 50-50. I've been watching this for some time, and personally I have to wonder how interested or sincere many of the 96 voters are (and who haven't commented here).

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

"Also as someone else pointed out I think a bigger problem with mixed sets would be seeing a young slip and sach playing a ganster film, then seeing a much older slip and sach acting goofy and like little kids and then seeing a film and Slip is suddenly gone and replaced by Stanley Clemens and then going back to a young slip and sach in a ganster film."

Yeah? And was there a "problem" with Cagney having a moustache in TORRID ZONE but not having one in the other films in his Signature Collection? This is dumb. There is no "big problem" with collections of films that aren't in chronological order, save for the anal.

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

Thank you.

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

And besides, as I pointed out elsewhere, even in strict chronological order the Bowery Bpys' films sometimes shifted back and forth from "dramatic" to "comedy"!

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

Thanks, but that's a tough spot Ron; I don't want to be the individual to speak definitively for everyone else! I acknowledge that I have been rather vocal here on this subject, but it's just been my personal opinion. It seems to me that most people who have participated in this thread favor a compromise from the two poll choices -- that is, Warner may want to go right ahead soon and release these films as close to chronologically as they can, skipping MR. HEX or the occasional troublesome print for the time being and then perhaps go back to those at a later date (similar to what Fox did with the Charlie Chan movies). From what I gather here, most fans seem happy with that idea. This decision would probably make both "sides" content. Anyone else...?

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

I agree with Joe...this approach would preserve the integrity of the chronological releases while not holding up the overall release for a small number of problematic titles. The only thing I would add is that if this approach is used the title should be "Vol X" as opposed to "Best of". Some have posted that the latter may turn off potential buyers.

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

Yes, chronological releases and release them as "volumes" and not as "Best of".

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

Very bad comparison. This is not a film collection but a film series. A better comparison would be to a T.V. series. Is it ANAL to want a T.V. series season presented in order? And why does it bother you if fans want them presented in chronological order? This thread was about what fans wanted. You can still watch them mixed up if you want.
I have problem at all with any Cagney, Flynn, Wayne etc. collections being out of chronological order because they are different films and different characters. The Bowery Boys films are a series and they are playing the same characters. Also supporting characters change as the series goes along and the characters change so there is alot of reason to have them in order.

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

Right - I forgot to mention that too in my last post... "Volume #", not "Best Of"! Everyone should be pleased with this.... we get the series released pretty quickly; done chronologically excepting an odd movie or two here and there when the elements aren't in the best of shape, and the "volume #'s" let everyone know there will be more forthcoming down the road. How can everyone not be happy with this? If anyone is still thinking that Warner ought to hold out as long as it takes just to find an immaculate copy of MR. HEX (or a few other sticklers) keep in mind that this could take years and even then they may not find great elements.

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

You got my vote Joe!

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

Boy oh boy those episodes, back in the 60’s were great, now most of us that remember them are in our mid 50’s to early 60’s, if Warner doesn’t bring them out soon enough who will remember the Bowery Boy’s? to buy them.

ONLY 'GOOD' VIDEO TRANSFERS PLEASE!!!!!!

I don't understand any of this.

The catalogue of 48 BOWERY BOYS films was first released to television in 1960 and the original 35mm print negatives and tv syndication dupes were in fine shape. Just what the heck has happened to this material in the intervening years?

I am only interested in video transfers that are taken from good quality source elements so if there is a problem with certain films in the series then just pass over them until something can be done to correctly remedy the situation.

Whether Warner Brothers Home Entertainment understands it or not there is going to have to be a situation where they go back to the original 35mm print negatives and make new video transfers. In the long run these newly restored transfers will pay for themselves through future DVD releases (from one generation to another) and in the expansive tv syndication distribution of these films.

Absolutely NO bad video transfers please...just skip them for now! I would much rather have a few pristine film copies from this marvellous comedy series on DVD than none at all. But I reiterate please DO NOT market any garbage prints!

Let's not repeat THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN tv series DVD release fiasco (see "The Stolen Costume" and the poor quality of the colour episodes).

Jeff T.

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

I would love to see the Bowery Boys ASAP. I remember seeing them on a local channel, usually on Saturday afternoons. I loved the way they misused words. I still use one of them today. In one movie they were going to coordinate when they would attack. One of them looked at his watch and said "Let's simonize our watches". Classic stuff!

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

"You can't do that. That's sacrelerious."

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

I like the idea of numbered volumes, and just skipping the volume with "Mr. Hex" until satisfactory source material is found.

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

Despite me chosing the "wait" option in this poll, I do agree that the ideal way to approach these films is to release them chronologically and in as comprehensive a collection as possible, skipping over only the few titles which are not up to par quality-wise, until better prints can be located. If and when such elements turn up, perhaps Warner could find a way to integrate them into the packaging (leaving available space for certain MIA titles which fit in chronologically).

This would get my vote.

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

I would definitely agree to that. When I grew up in the Chicago area, WGN always showed BB movies on Saturday mornings (its Saturday line-up included Three Stooges and Andy Clyde shorts, the Andy Hardy movies, Bowery Boys, and Abbott & Costello movies in the afternoon). I'd like to see the BB movies released soon, but I'd also like to see them released in a smart, logical manner. That's why I've held off for years on buying the Three Stooges on DVD (hopefully, the new chronological sets will set that right).