SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2 - Page 2

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Can I say something without repercussions? I hope so.

I'm somewhat saddened reading these complaints about the cover (which seems perfectly fine to me.)

I mean, we've bawled Sony out for years for releasing those over-priced, unrestored sets with five or six shorts on them (sometimes repeating ones that were already released) -- and then releasing colorized sets, of all the silly things -- and begged them to release all the shorts, restored, in chronological order --

And they finally start doing it --

And now we're going to complain about the cover, of all things? Which as I said, and I'll say it again, seems perfectly fine to me, anyway.

To quote the great Curly, "It's ingratitude, that's what it is!"

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

I never "complained" per say -- I just think the design looks very 'public domain' and uderstated to say the least. I want sales for this release to be as high as possible.

Despite Sony's hesitance over the years to do the Stooges right, I was never once doubtful of such a set's potential. The demand is huge and extends well beyond the internet and these forums. Everyone instantly recognizes these guys.

All I was saying is that from a purely promotional and marketing point, the design of this set is horrible. It looks like something that a budget company might've put out five or six years ago that got buried on retail shelves and now moved to the front sales rack. That's just my observation.

Do I care one way or the other?

No, not really.

However if you look at even Fox's third-rate Laurel & Hardy films, they are packaged in a way that's not only more appealing, but more distinguishable as to the product as well. I'm not even a fan of those later films, but I picked up both sets and will admit that seeing the box on shelf in the new release section was partly responsible for pulling me in.

Now if you look at this design, you could hardly say that will have the same affect on most people... am I wrong?

It's not about complaining because as I said earlier, I'm rather impartial one way or another. I just want sales to be as strong as possible and I think something more distinguishing could've been in order.

Anyways, enough about the packaging -- let's talk about the films!

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Joe, I think the question is more fittingly "can't we complain about the cover without repercussions?".

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be geting these shorts done the right way... I just never understand why people are not allowed to also voice their displeasure (aesthetically speaking) with the cover or packaging of a DVD release. It's not like we fans are NOT going to buy the product. But I think we should be able to voice our opinions of both the pros as well as the cons.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

As a big fan, these personally are my least favorites because they're kind of played out to me. But yes, these are definitely considered the "cream of the crop" to most people, and most feel you can't go wrong with the Curly shorts (especially the 30s ones). Me? I would be happy to zoom ahead to Shemp and Joe and get the Curlys later!

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

This is me correcting myself... on the small cover photo listed in post #25, it does not say "Volume One" -- but on the same cover as linked by Laurence Garvey, is IS listed. That's odd.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

I actually like that cover-art, i hope the final product says Volume 1 instead of the picture where its missing. Besides for a retail price of $24.96 ($17.50 from Amazon.com) what could they have done differently?

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Different Stoogeophiles have different opinions.

Since I'm a Curly fan, these years are not my favorites, because Curly hasn't fully become Curly yet. I think Curly hit his peak years in the early 40s.

Now, other Stooge fans don't like the years I like because they think those films focus on Curly too much and give Moe and Larry too little to do.

The first years had somewhat bigger budgets and somewhat more elaborate story lines, such as they are.

But your hardcore Stooge fans might prefer one of the cheaper shorts done during the Shemp years which have little story and just show the Stooges doing Stoogey things.

Ironically, I don't like violent movies, but I must say there's something surrealistic, bizarre and fascinating in some of the later shorts when, just to fill up two minutes of film in the cheapest way possible, we see Moe hit Larry on the head with a shovel from the fireplace about 20 times, until Larry finally passes out. For scenes like that, some people can't wait until the 1951-52 volume comes along.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Well, I'll tell ya: If we were sitting around over a few beers discussing these things, yes, absolutely. But right out here in the open for everyone, including Sony, to see?

I wouldn't blame them if they said, "You just can't please those guys," and they'd avoid ever asking the hardcore fans for their opinion on anything.

Complaining about the cover reminds me of that public service spot that ran years ago where a little girl tells her mother she did the dishes, and all the mother can say is, "Did you clean out the sink?" Even you must agree with me that there's just too much nit-picking and negativity on the Internet. (On another message board you didn't take too kindly to my nit-picking, you might recall.)

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

I hope they'll also be able to openly read how thrilled I am with getting these in the proper treatment too.


They deserve a lot of bashing for the old crappy discs they put out, though - in fact, these new chronolgical editions are very likely a direct result from the complaints. So thank God people spoke up and whined.


Depends on the circumstances and the release in question (Sony has a track record of royally screwing up their Stooges DVDs). You're not referring to the fact that you had a lot of problems with you nitpicking on the "plot" and "realism" of the movie THE BLACK CAT (1934), are you? If so, that's completely different from discussing what features of a DVD release we give pluses and minuses to; discussing an actual film is something else.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

I just feel that after all this time, and the work THEY put into restoring these shorts - that they would have enough common sense to put out artwork that will appeal to the non-fans and hardcore enthusiasts alike. It seems kind of sad considering the restoration that went into these only to have them sit on the shelf because it looks like some crappy public domain movie.. I think it would to the studio and the release itself much better justice to atleast make it look a little more professional..

As for the shorts in general, these are considered some of their best work - me personally, I'm a Shemp and Joe fan.. something about those "everyday life" shorts in the later years that always have stood out to me (or maybe it's the fact that the network I used to watch them on in the 80s primarily ran Shemp and Joe shorts), although "Punch Drunks" is my favorite short.. which seems odd, I know. Ah, well. This release can't come soon enough!

I wonder how far apart the releases will come for these?

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

I'm excited about this release, but Sony needs to create a better cover so it's not confused with the terrible public domain releases.

Besides that, the few remasters from the ChromaChoice discs look and sound fantastic. I'm a fan of both Curly and Shemp, so I'm pick up all the sets. Although, I haven't seen any of the post-Shemp stuff (even the features).

By the way, Fox's DVD for Soup to Nuts, the first-ever film appearance of the Stooges, is excellent. The image quality is great, proper 1.20:1 AR, and both original mono and a noise reduced mono track.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Absolutely. I think the cover looks fine. However, I think it really needs to feature the Columbia logo PROMINENTLY. The average person looking through the video shelves at Walmart isn't going to think too hard about why he should pay $24 for this set instead of $5 for a PD set -- he probably won't even realize that most of those PD sets contain the same 4 shorts.

They should really focus on differentiating it more. Even just slap on a sticker with something like "These films are NOT AVAILABLE on public domain discs!"

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

I'm generally not on board for artwork bashing, but this is definitely an exception. That artwork makes this look like a $2 cheapie set that you would find at Dollar General.

This release needs to look prominent and important (Because it is!). If the average Joe consumer doesn't see that this is different from the plethora of cheapo discs out there, they won't give it the time of day. If these don't sell the requisite number of copies, then we won't see further collections. In the end, my reasons for being an art snob have little to do with the art itself, but in trying to make sure that we continue to get quality releases until all of the Stooge shorts are released.

I am also curious as to the timing between sets. Hopefully, these sets will be at least twice a year if not more often than that. Even with sets of 3 years increments issued twice per year, it will still take 3-4 years to release all of them.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Looking forward to the release of the collection. Big fan of the Three Stooges

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

The artwork looks fine to me. It's better than the individual shorts collections. And I'm assuming -- and praying -- that the menus are better too! I am glad I never have to see the horrible "Pinball" or "Slot Machine" menus ever again.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Yeah, but the average person also doesn't know what "public domain" means!

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Good point, and I agree. I've always preferred the shorts where the Stooges were just "regular guys" at home instead of cowboys, knights, or what have you. GOOF ON THE ROOF is one of my favorites -- just Moe, Larry and Shemp in the house trying to install a TV antenna!

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Ron...

I'm of the opinion that just about everything with Curly right up to the point at which Curly's health took a rapid decline (circa 1944-46) is quality stuff. Granted, some of the storylines were a little too elaborate to sustain the gags...but the irreverence was high, the boys were able and (seemingly) willing to do the physical stuff (except for the dangerous stunts). They perfected their craft on vaudeville to the point that when their "short subject" career began at Columbia, they had these routines down to an art.

I would just start collecting as soon as "Volume One" is released...and keep collecting right up until the latter days of Curly's tenure. At that point, it became painfully obvious that Curly was in bad health (he looked bad and his physical comedy had slowed down considerably), and the quality of the shorts suffered as a result.

Of course, I still have a soft spot in my heart for Shemp (even though some of them were lame remakes of better Curly shorts)...and I am a completist, so I'll probably have ALL of these releases on my shelf.

Regards,

- Shane D.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

1934 is a little dodgy, with Women Haters being downright weird, but Punch Drunks and Men in Black make up for it. By 1935 they had the formula down and it's all classic stuff from there till the war at least, and arguably until Curly had his stroke.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Women haters, I believe thats the short where everyone speaks in rhyme ,throughout the entire length.In my opinion its the worst stooge short ever !Everything on this upcoming set , is great except that short.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Their "best" is found throughout the entire run of both the Curly AND the Shemp episodes.

However, the 19 that will be in this boxed set are among the most popular and widely recognized, but they are ALL great fun to watch. Shemp is a very funny comedian. I'll be buying all sets.

Like Joe Karlosi, I want the Shemps & the Joes. I've not seen most of those since I was a kid. While the Joes aren't on the same level, there's still plenty to enjoy. Heck, there's even some fun in the Curly Joe features, but it comes from Larry & Moe. Curly Joe had no personality. At least Joe Besser has a "character".

The packaging design is very "blah" & very dated looking. I think they will have better success at retail w/ a fresher design.

But if they release all sets, I'll be happy and not complain too much.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

I have to agree the the previous... I love the Curlys as much as the next, but it's the later Shemp years/Joe Bessers that I find the funniest. The atmosphere is the same screwball world that permeated THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW, where there's a total lack of regard for other human beings whatsoever.

Plus, as the budget got cheaper and cheaper, things just seemed to get funnier and funnier. You don't have gloss covering up the comedy.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Incidentally, Jack - recently I watched a TV copy of QUIZ WHIZZ (1958) and I was thinking of you, with regards to the "matting" issue. It just didn't seem that there was a lot of excess headroom on that short... either that, or maybe the whole thing was "zoomed in" tighter (or whatever the term is) on TV?

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

You raise a good point here, which we should emphasize to people who don't know the Stooges but want to try them out.

Don't go by the first one, "Women Haters." It's totally different from any that follow.

And, in that one, and a few other early ones, they weren't really "the three stooges," using their own names, but instead play characters in something of a "story," such as it is.

Personally, I think their Oscar-nominated episode, "Men in Black," is one of the most unfunny comedy short subjects I've ever seen in my life. There are more laughs in ten seconds of "An Ache in Every Stake," for instance, than in the whole of "Men in Black."

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Oy, I can't stand watching WOMAN HATERS. And while MEN IN BLACK is highly touted, I agree with Mr. Lugoff that I don't find it very funny. Just way too wild and stagy, even for a Stooges short.

I think that even if someone is unfamiliar with The Stooges, he'll still have a great time with this first set as a whole, though. It's really the one worth gauging your opinion on. That's soitenly a no-branier (nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk).

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Which one has Curly eating soup and a clam keeps popping up and squirting soup in his face? That one always cracked me up.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

Dunno. It's been a long time since I've seen it, and I've never run a print of it, and I don't like to say "definitely yes" unless I've run a print of it. But from the ones I have run on film, everything from SPOOKS! on, all of the new footage is WS. I say "new," because there are about a dozen that are remakes and rely heavily on stock footage.

My guess is that your copy is framed up or zoomed in on. That was the case when I compared some of the prints with the television transfers.

I wonder how they'll handle SPOOKS! and PARDON MY BACKFIRE, speaking of which. Will it be in anaglyph 3-D? At the very least, if SPOOKS! is flat, they should sepia tone it, as with original release prints.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

That's DUTIFUL BUT DUMB (1941).

And while we're on the subject of the early shorts, I agree that WOMAN HATERS is not the place to start for the novice Stooge fan. I may not be in the majority here, but I think MEN IN BLACK is hilarious in a surreal, Marxist (the brothers, not Karl) sort of way.

Re: SPHE Press Release: The Three Stooges Collection, Volume One: Years 1-2

That's another question -- if some 50s shorts rely on stock footage from earlier shorts made before widescreen, what will happen to that footage? Will the stock footage sections appear as over-matted in those cases?


Oh, I don't want to see SPOOKS in sepia tone. Preserving the OAR, okay - but is sepia tone really necessary in that case?