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Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

post #1 of 62
8/11/07 at 7:35pm
Thread Starter 
MAN WITH A CAMERA: The Complete Collection, is showing at DeepDiscount.com($21.34) and ccvideo.com($27.98),with a November 20,2007 release date.

Man With A Camera starred Charles Bronson, as free-lance photographer,and sometime detective, Mike Kovac. It was a two season show on from Oct. 1958 to Feb. 1960. I don't recall ever seeing this show, but I do remember seeing a clip from an episode where Bronson is leaping down a staircase at a bunch of thugs like Jim West. So I guess it was an action packed half-hour.

The Internet Movie Data Base has an incomplete listing for this show in terms of the number of episodes. So, does anybody know how many episodes of Man With A Camera were produced?

This is coming from the Infinity Entertainment Group. They are also re-releasing,on Nov.20th: DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT: The Complete Collection.
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post #2 of 62
8/11/07 at 8:21pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

I've seen at least 2 complete episodes of Man with a Camera, which was Charles Bronson's first regular TV series (and his only one in the lead role). The show wasn't very good, and its low budget didn't help. But I'm a Bronson fan, so I might still buy this set eventually.

The show actually was produced for two partial seasons of 26 episodes (according to TV.com). The first season of 14 episodes aired on ABC from October 1958 to January 1959. The back 12 were shown from October 1959 to January 1960. So there were no episodes actually filmed in 1960.
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post #3 of 62
8/11/07 at 9:15pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Nice catch, Bob -- I'll definitely check this one out.
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post #4 of 62
8/12/07 at 1:59am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

29 episodes.
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post #5 of 62
8/12/07 at 12:33pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Whoa, pass the smelling salts. What's next, a complete dvd-set to "Meet McGraw?" I'd just been introduced to the series a few days ago, via Mill Creek's "TV Detectives" set (which contained two apparently p.d. episodes). I certainly would never have expected an official release, especially considering how this series remained so forgotten and un-revived for years, even during the heighth of Bronson's later popularity. The two episodes I just viewed were quite decent and serviceable, and I'm entirely primed to see more. Bronson always made a somewhat offbeat hero, and that adds to the proceedings. I love these out-of-left-field dvd announcements! I'll be grabbing this set the moment it comes out.

The listing of the episodes' guest-casts looks pretty typical (if even a tad on the weak side, perhaps reflecting the show's low budget). But, a lot of familiar faces nonetheless... like Angie Dickinson, Sebastian Cabot, Ruta Lee, Lawrence Tierney, Jesse White, etc.
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post #6 of 62
8/12/07 at 6:40pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

One old police drama from that era (late 1950s / early 1960s) that I'd like to see is THE DETECTIVES starring Robert Taylor. Years ago in my VHS tape trading days I caught a few of the 1/2 hour episodes and one of the hour shows from the final season (when Adam West played one of Taylor's men).

It was one of the better series from Four Star Productions complete with some great jazz music and the show was fairly realistic for its time.
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post #7 of 62
8/15/07 at 1:33pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

I can give you guys some heads up as to what else is on the way in this vein. After Camera, the next show up will be Code 3 from 1957. After that, look for season sets of Racket Squad. Both of these series, although PD will be coming from the original fine grain negatives. In addition, Mr. Peepers will be continuing with the next set out some time in early 2008 with two more coming after that, most likely one a year. They are doing some extensive work on the kinescopes and will actually be re-releasing a better quality version of the first set as well.
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post #8 of 62
8/15/07 at 2:25pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Great new, Hank. I'm in for all those sets!!

Gary "anything from the 50's and early 60's is going to be a sure purchase in my book" O.
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post #9 of 62
8/15/07 at 6:39pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Great to hear, Hank -- I don't know why I get such a kick out of Racket Squad, but it's definitely a guilty pleasure.
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post #10 of 62
8/16/07 at 5:25am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank Dearborn
In addition, Mr. Peepers will be continuing with the next set out some time in early 2008 with two more coming after that, most likely one a year. They are doing some extensive work on the kinescopes and will actually be re-releasing a better quality version of the first set as well.

Boy, I hope so. The audio on the first Peepers set was extremely low-level.
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post #11 of 62
8/16/07 at 12:26pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by docdoowop
Boy, I hope so. The audio on the first Peepers set was extremely low-level.

UCLA, which provided the prints, felt the same way, hence the improvements that will be made in subsequent volumes.
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post #12 of 62
8/20/07 at 5:33am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Wow . . . . . a week away from the boards and this great news . . . . . thank you, Bob Gu, for this information. Like Bert, I've only seen the two PD episodes and enjoyed them both . . . . . there's enough in the two episodes that I want to see the series' entire run. This will be a very welcome addition and looks like it might be released right around the time of DeepDiscount's 20% off sale (assuming they continue the sale).

Also, thanks to Hank Dearborn for posting the information on upcoming releases in the pipeline. My first exposure to "Code 3" was the recent Mill Creek detectives set and it's pretty good . . . . . also like to see more of "Mister Peepers" . . . . . I liked S'more Entertainment's first set well enough that I wouldn't rebuy it, but would like to get additional episodes beyond the 26 that S'more released. "Racket Squad" is somewhat of a surprise to me considering the number of PD episodes floating around on various labels . . . . . I really wish that someone would give the original 1950s version of "Dragnet" an official release (something that I know is not likely to happen anytime soon).
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post #13 of 62
8/20/07 at 7:09am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bert Greene
Whoa, pass the smelling salts. What's next, a complete dvd-set to "Meet McGraw?"


Thanks for giving me the idea. I will speak to the powers that be and try to get that one going for you. Any more requests? (Not owned by the majors of course)
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post #14 of 62
8/20/07 at 7:53am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank Dearborn
Thanks for giving me the idea. I will speak to the powers that be and try to get that one going for you. Any more requests? (Not owned by the majors of course)

Well, where to start Hank?
I have no idea who owns the old ZIV catalogue but 'Highway Patrol', 'Sea Hunt' spring to mind immediately along with some of their lesser offerings such as 'Man Called X' & 'Harbour Command'.
Infinity have already released the Jim Bowie Collection which was Desilu & I think owned by the Edelman estate. Perhaps they could investigate the full run of 'Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp' from the same source.
There are also the old westerns from Gene Autry's Flying A which seem to be in the public domain - Annie Oakley & Range Rider for example.
Delving into Mill Creeks 150 Best Detectives - I would like to see more of Colonel March, Michael Shayne, I'm the Law.
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post #15 of 62
8/20/07 at 8:00am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank Dearborn
Thanks for giving me the idea. I will speak to the powers that be and try to get that one going for you. Any more requests? (Not owned by the majors of course)

How about "The Wide Country." IMDB.com says the filming location was Revue Studios (Universal), but the production company is listed as Gemini Productions which, I presume, is the rights holder unless they sold the series off to Universal.

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055713/companycredits

I won't even ask about "Stoney Burke" since MGM has the rights to that, through the United Artists acquisition.
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post #16 of 62
8/20/07 at 8:18am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Hug
How about "The Wide Country." IMDB.com says the filming location was Revue Studios (Universal), but the production company is listed as Gemini Productions which, I presume, is the rights holder unless they sold the series off to Universal.
That was common even back then. For example, Alfred Hitchcock's company was Shamley Productions -- which produced both of his series at Revue Studios, which was bought by Universal before The Alfred Hitchcock Hour completed its run. Surely all series from that era are owned by Universal.
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post #17 of 62
8/20/07 at 5:34pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

After years of seeing only beat-up, scratchy prints of "Racket Squad," the prospect of nice-quality copies is almost mind-boggling. Heck, I assumed the original prints might have long since been scattered to the wind. The series itself dates back to 1950 apparently, circulating for a year in syndication before being picked up for its network run. I love how the episodes are like tight, compact b-movies (a recurring quality among early-50s series connected to Hal Roach, who certainly had decades of experience already in 'short' films). I do tend to prefer "Racket Squad" to Reed Hadley's follow-up series, "Public Defender." Hard to imagine someone like the dour-looking Hadley headlining a tv-series nowadays, but his plaintive narration and hosting duties is one of my favorite things about the series. Like Bob implied, maybe having a few spiffy-looking "Racket Squad" dvd-sets out might finally shame Universal into doing something with their 50s-vintage "Dragnet."

Altogether, some really exciting news on this thread!
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post #18 of 62
8/20/07 at 7:57pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Well, what happened with the Racket Squads was that it was being syndicated by Republic, which was the last legitimate syndicator. Code 3 was being sold by them as well. As I'm sure you know, both shows were produced by Hal Roach studios which went belly up around 1958. When the rights to these shows expired, Republic had no place to send the elements to. Unlike others companies which might have just deposited everything in the dumpster, Republic donated the shows to UCLA, including the negatives and the fine grains. Now 30 years later with companies like Infinity dying for product, they make for perfect releases.

As for the shows mentioned above:

All of the Ziv shows had their copyrights renewed by UA, who bought the Ziv catalog years ago. They are now controlled by MGM and would have to come from Fox, as that is who MGM is distributing through these days. So, in other words, no chance in hell for any Ziv series. Fox won't even consider their own older series.

Stoney Burke is also owned by MGM as well. Wide Country is Universal owned. Both series are readily available off film in collectors circles which is likely the only way they'll ever be found.

Wyatt Earp is controlled by SFM and I believe last time I spoke with them there were plans for another set of them at least. Hopefully they will be complete like the first set but with their releases you can never know, you just have to take a wait and hope attitude.
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post #19 of 62
8/20/07 at 8:13pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Hank, do you know anything about, the Kirk Douglas produced, TALES OF THE VIKINGS? I understand there are only two episodes around in fan/trading circles. I'd love to see a DVD season set of this one.
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post #20 of 62
8/20/07 at 9:40pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Gu
Hank, do you know anything about, the Kirk Douglas produced, TALES OF THE VIKINGS? I understand there are only two episodes around in fan/trading circles. I'd love to see a DVD season set of this one.
I did some research on this series (which I've never seen before either). Douglas was indeed one of the producers, although he never appeared in the show. One of the guest stars was Patrick McGoohan.
39 episodes were produced during the same season that McGoohan's Danger Man series was being filmed (1959 to 1960).
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post #21 of 62
8/21/07 at 7:32am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Gu
Hank, do you know anything about, the Kirk Douglas produced, TALES OF THE VIKINGS? I understand there are only two episodes around in fan/trading circles. I'd love to see a DVD season set of this one.


Sorry to say that it's still completely under copyright and owned by our friends at MGM, just like all of the Ziv shows. Buried with all of them I'm afraid.
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post #22 of 62
8/21/07 at 8:53am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

So then "Sea Hunt" is a dim prospect indeed--very unfortunate. Hank, for the following shows that, like "Tales of the Vikings" only lasted a season or less, are any not owned by the majors?

Five Fingers
Hong Kong
Way Out
The Dakotas
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post #23 of 62
8/21/07 at 10:46am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by michael_ks
So then "Sea Hunt" is a dim prospect indeed--very unfortunate. Hank, for the following shows that, like "Tales of the Vikings" only lasted a season or less, are any not owned by the majors?

Five Fingers
Hong Kong
Way Out
The Dakotas


FF and HK are both owned by Fox and since Buffy wasn't in either of those 2 great shows, they would not look likely. Dakotas is WB and they ignore their b/w catalog. Way Out on the other hand may be a possibility. It's owned by CBS, they have all of the kines (the show aired on 2-inch tape but those are long gone) and now that Infinity is putting out Suspense they may have opened the door with CBS. So I would say that at least there may be a chance for this great show. I had the opportunity to view them all at the Museum of Broadcasting a few years ago and some of them are so great. I really hope that this gets put out. I do know that when SciFi channel started they tried to get it and for some reason couldn't. Whether that reason would stop a DVD release, I don't know.
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post #24 of 62
8/21/07 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Thanks Hank and Jeff, for your Tales Of The Vikings info. I did not know it was a ZIV show. I thought maybe the Douglas family owned it.

Although I don't remember seeing it in 1959, I saw reruns of the show in the early '70s, and liked it and was familiar with the cast from other shows.
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post #25 of 62
8/22/07 at 1:02am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

It wasn't a Ziv show. But it was owned by UA, however, thus now MGM. Regardless, it's still buried along with the Ziv shows.
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post #26 of 62
10/12/07 at 4:36am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Cover artwork for "Man With A Camera" has been posted at DeepDiscount:

http://www.deepdiscount.com/viewprod...ctId=21528872#

DD has also raised the price a little, from $21.34 to $21.98. I don't know if DD will be again doing their November 20% off sale, but if they do and the timing is right, it may be possible to get this full series for under $18 shipped.

Edit: Better picture here at CD Universe:

http://www.cduniverse.com/images.asp...Collection+DVD
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post #27 of 62
10/12/07 at 8:47am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Even though November is bringing volumes of "Wild Wild West" and "Mission: Impossible," and that highly impressive full-series "Man From UNCLE" set, I'll be darned if I'm not just as excited at the prospect of this little oddity!
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post #28 of 62
10/12/07 at 9:53am

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bert Greene
Even though November is bringing volumes of "Wild Wild West" and "Mission: Impossible," and that highly impressive full-series "Man From UNCLE" set, I'll be darned if I'm not just as excited at the prospect of this little oddity!

Bert, I get more excited by these older, "forgotten" series getting a DVD release than I do most of the "warhorses." Many of the well known vintage series have already received, in some instances, multiple seasons and even full series runs on DVD. But when these lesser known series get a chance, it usually piques my interest. I appreciate the fact that somewhere out there, some executive at an independent releasing company has enough faith in these older series to give them a green light.
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post #29 of 62
10/12/07 at 7:18pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

I agree with you guys, Bob and Bert. There is something highly entertaining about these more obscure and short-lived series. These productions, even within the low budgets, give us good fast paced, straight to the point stories.(Heck,as strange as it was, I even would like for VCI to give us the rest of Craig Kennedy,Criminologist).

Thanks,Bob for the bigger box-art picture. Even on the smaller pic I could recognize Yvonne Craig and S.Cabot. But on the other two, I guessed wrong.
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post #30 of 62
10/12/07 at 10:47pm

Re: Man With A Camera-The Complete Collection 11/20/07

Well, hopefully this and Code 3 will sell well and that will encourage Infinity to continue in this direction. They really seem to be the main independent at this point that's interested in mining these forgotten nuggets. Smore does a good job as well but their releases seem to come out at a snails pace. There are several more goodies that Infinity could bring out if they are so inclined.
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