Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

I have been a huge fan of Warners classic releases and continue to support them already pre-ordering the Gangster collection number 3. But last year was a big let down when we were hearing about their plans to release 200 classic titles - didn't happen. Now we are about 8 weeks away from Easter 08 amd still no Quo Vadis and still no Northwest Passage. What is the dealio Warners, if you want my greenbacks you need to start coming through with the classics. Please no more remasters of "OZ" of "GWTW" of "ADV OF ROBIN HOOD" in fact why is "AN AMERICAN IN PARIS" years behind your thought of 2006 release and where are the latest Ultra Rez's!!!!!

Break upon the vaults and I will continue to support the releases!!!!

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Well I have been collecting product in Home Video since VHS, I also made the mistake of collecting CED discs and then Laser and now SD dvd that is why I will not support HD. OZ was issued once on CED two or three times on VHS I remember the 50th Anniversry edition then the "Vide-Oh" relabel. The on Laser the 50th edition then the Ultimate OZ. Then on dvd the 1998 version then the 3 disc special edition dvd which might or might not have framing issues. Now to be fair to Warners they only have 2 editions of it too date. But I have named what at least 8 versions since 1989. Northwest Passage had been on VHS once and Laser. Same with Quo Vadis. Quo Vadis was the biggest moneymaker MGM had in the films release year and listed in the top ten MGM moneymakers well into the 1960's, It was a blockbuster and Northwest Passage was considered a breakthrough film as it had a great story and was a great action film that did not depend on color as a gimmick the story stood on its own. These two films are sitting on the shelves when we see re re re masters of other retreads. In regard to Spencer Tracy his output of great films are MIA where is Edison the Man? In fact it would be a great box of films to include Northwest Passage, Edison the Man and Plymouth Adventure. I would grab that in a heartbeat!

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

You guys all make good points, but as I said I am not bashing just venting. Hey I invite you all over to my house to see the titles in my collection, they for years have been mainly Warner Home Video releases of classic titles. But the releases anticipated didn't match the hype last year. And remember Warners reportedly has sold more than 1 million units of the Thin Man Collection so there is green in them thar classics! I also remember Warner's thanks to George F pioneered the classic dvd release but there is no denying their classic releases did a fizzle last year from September through Christmas. They have some great little classics that we have been hearing about but are still not forthcoming. And it is sad when I can see QUO VADIS on TCM this Feb 18 in a pretty decent transfer but still cannot pop into my dvd player in a legit and wonderful transfer. C'mon let's be fair we all complain that Paramount still is holding tight to SAMSOM AND DELILAH and THE AFRICAN QUEEN but we cannot say the same about Warners with QUO VADIS, NORTHWEST PASSAGE and AN AMERICAN IN PARIS?


I again look eagerly to parting with some of my hard earned dough-ray-me to fill Warners coffers for more classics!

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Okay, it is January 08 please list the dozens and dozens of titles Warners has announced that fit into the the classic category

Gangster vol 3
Musical Dream factory vol 3
Leading lady (I think)
Bette Davis vol 3
Forbidden Hollywood


That is a mind boggling 5 releases!!!!! I guess that rates as Dozens and Dozens to the eager fans wanting to get these dvd's.


And to Ken that was about 9 releases from Sept to Christmas! Before that the other great collection they released was the 4 Nancy Drew movies. If are all going crazy when I clearly said I fully support the product but we were all hyped about 200 classic releases and they fell far short. Then they all complained because their yearly revenue fell for dvd's! Why the product was not released and again maybe had they released classics like QUO VADIS, NORTHWEST PASSAGE etc revenue would have been better!

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

The sad thing is the malfunction people like you have Mark because someone disagrees with you. Read my original post and you will see that I support Warners but their classic release hype did not match their releases last year. Ken okay you counted another 7 releases that that made up the 3rd quarter and the 4th quater had less releases so again that is no where near the 200 plus titles mentioned for 2007! But Ken read my post where do I throw knives at Warners? I am just saying 2007 was a disappointing year for me re: Warners purchases.

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Thank you Robert, you might be right and if Warners finally gets to blow the dust off of QUO VADIS I will be the first to pre-order the title! By the way I am a man of my word and I purchased Nancy Drew the minute is was annouced via DDD. So again the point is last year was a bit disappointing and to be honest their are many great films sitting in the vaults!

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Robert here is the quote - I believe Barrie Maxwell said it in Nov 2006 after Warners had some kind of press thing.

...I begin this column's section on new announcements with some comments that George Feltenstein, Senior Vice President of Theatrical Catalog Marketing for Warner Bros., kindly passed on to me. I've already mentioned above the hiatus in Bogart titles for 2007, but that will be more than compensated by Warners' plans to release 200 or so titles new to DVD this coming year. Although no specific titles were mentioned, classic enthusiasts can look for at least one collection and usually two each month. These will include all new-to-DVD titles except where a previously released title has been substantially upgraded in terms of master quality and supplements (such as was the case with The Maltese Falcon recently). In addition, there will be some repackagings of previously-released titles into box sets, but that will be distinct from the 200 or so new titles. There will be no sets issued that include a mixture of old and new releases. It sounds like Warner Bros. is already staking out best studio of the year status for 2007. Classic fans can only rejoice in the continued commitment!"

So what exactly did I say wrong? They clearly had other issues pop up because they did not release the product. Look at my post where did I say anything wrong, in fact I buy the product when they release it! But to me there are many other great films that could be released - How about another Gable Box with ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI I just say it on TCM and it is great little movie!

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Thanks Robert - I am NOT bashing just saying c'mon where are the classic titles? And the argument that they do not sell, I guess 1 million sets of THE THIN MAN are pitiful numbers! No they are clearly very impressive. And I hold George F, and Ned Price in the highest esteem! But they can open the vaults a little wider! I would even go for a John Garfield box especially if it had a good print of the film where he is a boxer on the lamb and the dead end kids are in it too!

Re: Not Bashing just, venting about Warners

Hey dud, if you feel it is wasting time to respond why are you responding? I feel fellow posters like CineKarne, TravisR, Ken, Robert Crawford are all adding posts that are informative on what is going on behind the scenes and why things take time. That is what the forum is all about sharing thoughts, ideas, expertise and opinions here here to all the amazing people here that make this board wonderful!