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post #121 of 506
2/6/08 at 1:02am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Koc
HOW THE WEST WAS WON in HD!!!!!! (Hopefully smileboxed)
I am very excited about Natalie Wood apparent boxset including SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS SE, GYPSY SE, and INSIDE DAISY CLOVER.
Martin Hart of widescreenmuseum.com fame has suggested in rec.arts.movies.tech that Warner are going to offer both a smilebox and regular letterboxed version of the film.

Maybe the Ultimate Edition will offer both transfers, whereas the S.E. will only have the letterboxed version?

Either way, the Ultimate Edition is a no brainer for me. I hope it is the centerpiece of the Western Classics Collection.
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post #122 of 506
2/6/08 at 1:05am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Will there actually be a chat with the guys from Warner this year, too? The last one was in February 07, wasn't it?
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post #123 of 506
2/6/08 at 1:07am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Now, if somebody could tell me the content of these box sets - are these all new titles ?

• “Errol Flynn Westerns”
• “Western Classics Collection"

And hopefully Clint Eastwood started to record audio commentaries for the Dirty Harry movies (but I doubt it).
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post #124 of 506
2/6/08 at 1:38am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by Opi
Now, if somebody could tell me the content of these box sets - are these all new titles ?

• “Errol Flynn Westerns”
San Antonio has been announced.

Apart from that, there aren't many Flynn Westerns left that are unreleased. Those left unreleased, and owned by Warner, are:

Virginia City
Santa Fe Trail (this has been released on public domain junk copies)
Silver River
Montana
Rocky Mountain

I just noticed that some of these seem to have new cover art on IMDB.COM, with a "Warner Bros. Westerns" banner see here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Opi
• “Western Classics Collection"

It will possibly include How the West Was Won Ultimate Edition, but none of the others have been announced.
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post #125 of 506
2/6/08 at 1:53am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Hmmm... there are some good things in this announcement, but most of the announced special editions have already been done as special editions - how much more "special" can they get? On the other hand, whatever happened to the promised 10th anniversary special edition of 'LA Confidential'?

I was also hoping they might have mentioned plans for special editions of 'Far From The Madding Crowd' (not yet released on DVD), 'Cabaret' and 'The Man Who Would Be King'. Maybe they are in the works, but I wonder...

I must admit I feel slightly disappointed with this announcement after such a build-up.
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post #126 of 506
2/6/08 at 2:19am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

The puzzling thing is this part of the release:

Quote:

with an initiative that will debut more than 50 new-to-DVD feature films

This implies that Warners' output will be significantly reduced this year. I highly doubt that will be the case but it begs the question as to why this number was quoted in the press release and why so many repackages and previously announced titles are included.

Perhaps this is a typo?

Aside from this, the centerpiece does sound very exciting as does the Flynn Westerns. Getting an authorized version of Sante Fe Trail would be most appreciated.
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post #127 of 506
2/6/08 at 2:45am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

@Simon Howson
Thanks for the quick and interesting reply

BTW - your link doesn't work --> better would be Montana (1950)
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post #128 of 506
2/6/08 at 2:58am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod J
Speculation!
They will repackage some already released some titles with 85th anniversary covers and no remastering (like the John Wayne anniversary discs).

I stick with my prediction..

At least they're saving us a lot of money..
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post #129 of 506
2/6/08 at 4:32am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:

Q1 - Oscars and Warner Gangsters

• Bonnie and Clyde UCE, Special Edition
• GoodFellas: Special Edition
• Heat: Special Edition
• Once Upon a Time in America: Special Edition
• True Romance: Special Edition
• Film Noir Classics Collection: Volume 1
• Film Noir Classics Collection: Volume 2
• Film Noir Classics Collection: Volume 3
• Film Noir Classics Collection: Volume 4
• Warner Bros. Tough Guys Collection (6-Pack)
• Warner Gangsters Collection (6-Pack)


Am I missing something? Apart from Bonnie & Clyde, haven't all of these been released already?

Not on High Def they haven't (except Goodfellas) Hmm...... now that would be a Blu-ray motherload

I'm down for all of the above titles that come out on Blu-Ray (the ones just repackaged on standard DVD, forget it), the Horror set (Kongo please!), The Dirty Harry set (Blu-Ray), Batman set (Blu-ray), the Flynn Westerns and maybe the Western Classics depending on the titles included (hopefully it includes The Hanging Tree and The Devils Doorway)

Not interested in the Sinatra and Musical sets.

Surprised at no mention of L.A. Confidential and The Man Who Would Be King which I'd double dip on Blu-ray and no 5th Noir set which I'd settle for on standard DVD.
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post #130 of 506
2/6/08 at 4:50am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Is Cool Hand Luke supposed to be out on Blu-ray as well? Funny that wasn't mentioned. The old man has bee n bugging me to find out about that one.
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post #131 of 506
2/6/08 at 4:53am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
I just noticed that some of these seem to have new cover art on IMDB.COM, with a "Warner Bros. Westerns" banner see here.

That will be from the old VHS version.
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post #132 of 506
2/6/08 at 4:56am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:

Is Cool Hand Luke supposed to be out on Blu-ray as well? Funny that wasn't mentioned. The old man has bee n bugging me to find out about that one.

It's mentioned in the Bits article as getting the SE treatment, I'd be surprised if a Blu-Ray version doesn't get a day/date release. Warner is pretty good with giving their SE discs a BD release.
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post #133 of 506
2/6/08 at 5:21am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Positively thrilled about Sinatra collections we heard about in the past few days, the Errol Flynn westerns, the Western Collection and also some of the titles hinted at: "Gold Diggers of 1937" is probbaly part of a second Busby Berkeley set mentioned during last year's chat, "Thank Your Lucky Stars" must be part of all-star musical set, the Warner Holiday Collection hopefully includes "Holiday Affair"????

I thought it was very clever to name just a few titles or collection titles that now have us anticipating the rest with great trepidation!

Once more, so much to be thankful for!!!!!

Looking forward to the American Masters documentary!!!
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post #134 of 506
2/6/08 at 5:28am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
San Antonio has been announced.

Apart from that, there aren't many Flynn Westerns left that are unreleased. Those left unreleased, and owned by Warner, are:

Virginia City
Santa Fe Trail (this has been released on public domain junk copies)
Silver River
Montana
Rocky Mountain

VIRGINIA CITY is also mentioned in the press release.
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post #135 of 506
2/6/08 at 5:32am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

The Digital Bits has some additional info (and pictures) of last night's press event:

3rd Quarter will see a Music promotion featuring new special editions of An American in Paris and Gigi

more horror releases from Val Lewton and Joel Silver's Dark Castle label, re-promotion of Kubrick's The Shining and a number of new Raw Feed direct-to-DVD and Blu-ray titles
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post #136 of 506
2/6/08 at 5:36am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by CinéKarine
the Warner Holiday Collection hopefully includes "Holiday Affair"????

Yes!! Holiday Affair is a terrific little movie. Wonder what else will be released with it?

Agree with being thankful, CineKarine. All these classics being given wonderful treatment every year. This year is no exception. I have pre-ordered most of Warners announcements already.
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post #137 of 506
2/6/08 at 5:47am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

In the Warner announcement posted by Simon Howson it states that a number of other new to DVD special editions and thematic box sets from Warner's Classic MGM and RKO collections will also be featured in the year long anniversary. This could drop in Jean Harlow/Spencer Tracy/the promised silents/Andy Hardy/and others. Warner still knows how to go deep into my wallet month after month. Word also was out that Lana Turner and Lon Chaney collections were coming soon. They don't tell all at any one time.
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post #138 of 506
2/6/08 at 5:50am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

From the looks of this article at IFMagazine.com, there isn't a whole lot more coming that what was initially listed in the press release. I wonder if the classic DVD market has gotten that soft that they needed to pull back.

If new to DVD releases are truly going to be a bit more than 50 in number I will be grateful for, and will support, what is coming but I also can't help but wonder what the status of Film Noir 5, the Bowery Boys and so many other projects that were hoped to come out this year.

The Sinatra titles alone take up a sizable chunk of the 50 titles and the previously announced Bette Davis, Forbidden Hollywood 2, Musicals sets are another dozen or so titles. Throw in the Westerns, Flynn, Karloff, and Lorre sets and the 50 slots are used up pretty quick.

For those who are into Hi Definition Media this was the only concrete info I saw in the article:

Quote:

Finally, Warner’s announced that the film WOODSTOCK, THE WIZARD OF OZ, GONE WITH THE WIND and NORTH BY NORTHWEST will be going on moratorium, in anticipation of a special re-release next year which will include them finally coming to Blu-Ray.
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post #139 of 506
2/6/08 at 5:53am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

I must admit I feel slightly disappointed with this announcement after such a build-up.

Yeah I feel the same way. It seems a lot of releases are westerns and gangsters/noir. I don't really care for those.
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post #140 of 506
2/6/08 at 5:58am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
For those who are into Hi Definition Media this was the only concrete info I saw in the article:

I'm going by the bits article.

The Digital Bits - Celebrating Film in the Digital Age

The Dirty Hary set and Batman Anthology were confirmed. Other High Def specific release info is forthcoming. Titles such as Heat, Cool Hand Luke, True Romance, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, L.A. Confidential, Exorcist, etc have been hinted at as coming in 08 for a while. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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post #141 of 506
2/6/08 at 6:18am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve...O
From the looks of this article at IFMagazine.com, there isn't a whole lot more coming that what was initially listed in the press release. I wonder if the classic DVD market has gotten that soft that they needed to pull back. I will be grateful for, and will support, what is coming but I also can't help but wonder what the status of the many projects that were hoped to come out this year.
I agree - and worry most about more "fringe" (to WB) titles like silents. The event with Beatty, Schikel and others was more yawn-inspiring than exciting. I hope Warners surprises me but we're already in February...
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post #142 of 506
2/6/08 at 6:25am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

I never bought that 85 years of Warner Bros. meant anything and from what I can tell Warner agrees with me. This year doesn't look any more ambitious than prior years.

Sure I expect another noir set and other things to be added when they choose to say something but big whoop.

At the price point posted, I do think the Sinatra Golden years set will be a big winner.
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post #143 of 506
2/6/08 at 6:58am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Guess I'm the only one bummed about no mention of the Abbott & Costello collection that would have included "Rio Rita" and a remastered "A&C Meet Captain Kidd." And then, as others have said, to have no mention of another Film Noir release, no mention of series like the Bowery Boys, Andy Hardy, and many detective series I thought they were considering... Wow, I'm really bummed by this announcement.

Gary "Warners does own all the things I mentioned above, right?" O.
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post #144 of 506
2/6/08 at 7:38am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

The press release' only reaction can be taken from the classic WENDY'S commercial - "Where's the Beef" the press release really is a snooze so they are bragging about re-releasing the Tough Guys Collection again but under a new name of Gangster Number 2!!! Sure it is meant to be a celebration or Warner films but even in that context feels like, been there done that. How about finally clearing Dennis Morgan's THE DESERT SONG and clearing other Warner titles that would rank it as "first time seen in 50 years" etc. Where is the "Lights of New York"? what would have been a great promo was to do a decade by decade release of rare titles starring their stars like George Arliss, Cagney, Bogart, Muni, etc etc. What we are getting are repackages.
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post #145 of 506
2/6/08 at 7:58am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

What is Raw Feed?

I will mirror some wonder about Abbott and Costello though I would prefer Wheeler & Woolsey yet I would think including the original Rio Rita as a bonus for the A&C one might help in reintroducing the pair though it is not their greatest films there are some great bits in it.


Also, you all got me fearful that the bad guys might have won.
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post #146 of 506
2/6/08 at 8:18am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Has the ship sailed on the 3 film set of Showboat ? Sorry couldn't resist.

I agree the announcement so far seems to be mostly repackaging stuff that has already been released or upgrading the stuff. I am excited about "How the West Was Won" and do hope it is released in smilebox. Should look great in Blu-ray on a large monitor.

Don't know what else they could add to new releases of films such as "Gone With The Wind" and the "Wizard of Oz" other then releasing them in Blu-ray.
Hopefully the Blu ray versions will come with all the bells and whistles of the special features of the current standard editions including the making of documentaries. and not be just the films to be followed by another Blu-ray edition with the extras.

Has Classic Films From The Dream Factory Vol 3 been postponed? Per Amazon it is due for release in April. Now Warner's is saying the 3rd Quarter which would be July, August, or September.
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post #147 of 506
2/6/08 at 9:55am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

I figured that there would be a ton of whining when they announced SOME of what was coming this year and I was right.

Just to clarify, I'm talking about the people who were going to complain no matter what was announced. WB could say "We're releasing Titles W, X and Y" and some people are gonna say "I WANTED TITLE Z TOO!!!!!!!!!!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tory
What is Raw Feed?
A series of direct to video horror movies.
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post #148 of 506
2/6/08 at 10:21am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

What is amazing is the thread I posted "Not Bashing, Just Venting" and I said c'mon lets stop the remasters of GWTW and OZ and guess what the titles are being remastered again and released again on SD DVD and BD so here we go again after just dropping 40.00 on the three disc set what 2 years ago they are going to try to get us again! So I wasn't that far off in my post! To be fair to Warners the promo is Warners 85th so WB films should be the focus but howz about announcing something along the lines - "All of the different studios represented in the Warners film vaults through different acquisitions over the years including RKO, MGM, ALLIED ARTISTS etc will join in jthe celebration with additional new to dvd releases" that would have been a perfect tie in and open the door to ANDY HARDY and other series and film like a Spencer Tracy Box etc!
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post #149 of 506
2/6/08 at 10:29am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

The one glimmer of hope I have is that the 50 are films that were made originally made at Warner Bros. I hope they wouldn't release just 50 catalog titles in total.

Andy
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post #150 of 506
2/6/08 at 10:37am

Re: Speculation for Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary Celebration

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
I figured that there would be a ton of whining when they announced SOME of what was coming this year and I was right.

Just to clarify, I'm talking about the people who were going to complain no matter what was announced. WB could say "We're releasing Titles W, X and Y" and some people are gonna say "I WANTED TITLE Z TOO!!!!!!!!!!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


How right you are!

Several fellow members of this forum and I had a discussion about this very topic last week. The general consensus is that, no matter what was announced or discussed, there would me the (sadly) now-obligatory moaning and pissing.

From reading various pieces here and elsewhere, it's more than obvious that just a smattering of new information was tossed about. The fact that Warner is restoring 50 of its Warner Bros. classics for their first DVD release is an impressive feat. The fact that their press release goes out of its way to clarify that there ALSO will be OTHER films from MGM and RKO in collections separate from the WB activity seems to have fallen on very deaf ears.

I remain confident that WHV has a great year in store for us.
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