When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

I'd love to get my hands on a R1 version of this title, or even a non-R1 version that doesn't have forced foreign subtitles. In the mean time I usually watch my WS Laserdisc when I want to see this film.

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

How about an espionage box set with this and upgraded versions of Ice Station Zebra and Where Eagles Dare.

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

I forgot about this film until seeing it mentioned here and since I have been turning my attention to Region 2 films not released here I will definitely purchase the one decent Italian release in widescreen, Dvd Basen had one English language review link and they had a few screen shots as well. Since it may never see the light of day here I am actually going to buy the Oppo HD981 just for the Region 2 films. No use missing out!

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

I have the Italian DVD and it was great to this film in 2.35:1 anamorphic at long last !

I would rate picture quality as slightly below average. The colours are OK, but detail is low.

The Italian subtitles are forced (on the English soundtrack). However, I managed to turn them off, after some fiddling with the languages on my DVD Player setup.

The packaging says distributed by MGM Home Entertainment.

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

I'd buy it.

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

I plan on buying this to replace my present, but aging multi-regional PAL-to-NTSC DVD player. I have the Italian DVD too. I wonder if the Oppo will be able to get rid of the forced Subtitles? My present multi-regional PAL-to-NTSC DVD player does not seem to be able to.

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

Come on M-G-M / FOX let's put this title on DVD!

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

I just recorded it off TCM on Wednesday morning and burned a DVD-R for myself. Naturally, we really need an anamorphic widescreen release, but as it's a United Artists film, I'm not holding my breath for MGM to issue one.

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

It'd make marketing sense to me if MGM released a wave of their remaining unreleased-in-R1 catalog espionage flicks (both the serious and the silly), in October/November, to coincide with the theatrical release of QUANTUM OF SOLICE. Then, maybe we could get our hands on:

THE SATAN BUG (1965)
DANGER ROUTE (1967)
MASQUERADE (1965)
THAT MAN FROM RIO (1964)
HOT ENOUGH FOR JUNE (1964)
OPERATION KID BROTHER (1967)
SOME GIRLS DO (1969)
MATCHLESS (1967)
THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU (1967)

For that matter, Warner could do likewise, with:

TELEFON (1977)
THE DOUBLE MAN (1967)
THE VENETIAN AFFAIR (1967)
WHERE THE SPIES ARE (1965)
THE LIQUIDATOR (1966)
A MAN CALLED DAGGER (1967)

Columbia:

MAN ON A STRING (1960)
OUR MAN IN HAVANA (1959)
THE DEADLY AFFAIR (1966)
A DANDY IN ASPIC (1968)
THE LOOKING GLASS WAR (1969)
KISS THE GIRLS AND MAKE THEM DIE (1966)
HAMMERHEAD (1968)

Universal:

ARABESQUE (1966)
AGENT FOR H.A.R.M. (1966)

Paramount/Legend Films:

FRAULEIN DOKTOR (1969)
INNOCENT BYSTANDERS (1972)

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

The Italian release doesn't have forced subs. Or at least they don't pop up on my computer. I don't have a pal player.

Doug

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

You must have a different DVD than I have then.

I recorded it the other day too. Now I have that DVR recording & my Laser.

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

The Italian DVD definitely has forced subtitles, however as said above this can be disabled with a few makes of DVD player, also some PC based DVD player software.

Is this actually Warner or MGM now as the UK VHS was a Warner release in the same way as a lot of the older MGM films of that era, which are now Warner on DVD as well.

The DVD however is very cheap so worth getting even if you can't disable the subtitles.

Re: When Will John Sturges The Satan Bug Be Released On Region 1 DVD?

My understanding is that this is one of the few titles that stayed with MGM, mainly because it was UA/Mirisch along with the Pink Panther movies.

Doug

Well, it'coming to R-1. I'm amazed no one has yet posted the DVD Drive-In link. Here it is:

 

http://www.dvddrive-in.com/ 

 

Scroll down a little ways the announcement about "MGM's limioted edition" MOD program. Apparently, THE SATAN BUG will be in the initial wave,

THE SATAN BUG is available for preorder at the TCM website, tcm.com. Price is $19.99 plus shipping, with a shipping date of 12/15/10.

THE SATAN BUG is available for preorder at the TCM website, tcm.com. Price is $19.99 plus shipping, with a shipping date of 12/15/10.

Pre-ordered from the TCM site Saturday. Can't wait to get my hands on it!

Release date for "The Satan Bug" on TCM website is 12-29-10

The Satan Bug is an excellent and unusual suspense thriller. Imaginatively shot by John Sturges. It could have been better if it had followed Alistair MacLean's novel more closely. It is hard to get used to some of the casting if you know the novel. I'll definitely order this MOD.

Yes, great film. Very cool opening titles.

 

My favourite scene is where Basehart is describing the Satan Bug: "within moments, everyone in this room would be dead. In an hour, California would be a tomb...nothing, nothing can stop it"

I sure do hope so.  With MGM/Fox it is your guess.  They have been hit and miss for several years and the Amazon collection was some yes and most no.  I am going to wait to order until I hear some reviews.

 

The Satan Bug was filmed in Panavision with the 2:35 to 1 ratio and I am sure it will presented in the proper ratio as the laserdisc was, but I do hope it is anamorphic.  This film along with The Hawaiians are really the only two from this group of titles that I want, but I want them anamorphic.  Hears to hoping.
 

If it is not an anamorphic transfer, there are going to be some horrendous aliasing problems to deal with in viewing. Even with anamorphic enhancement, there will likely be some artifacts with a standard resolution image, but without it, prepare for the worst. (I say this because I made a DVD-R copy off either TCM or the Fox Movie Channel - can't remember which one), and all of the fences were alive with jaggies.

 

I remember that the laserdisc had some problems and they would have been really annoying if the movie was not so good. 
 

 

That may be the "Release" date posted, but my order won't SHIP until 2/2/11!

 

Has anyone found another source for ordering. I'd like to get it in my hands FASTER! I'll cancel my TCM order if I can get it elsewhere faster. Thanks for your help.

Besides TCM/Movies Unlimited - Movies Unlimited is handling the TCM orders, I think - I haven't found another source for the MGM MOD discs and yes, the upcoming batch of new titles, was apparently pushed back to 02/02/2011.
 

I guess I wait.

Has there been a disc released last bunch of years, that wasn't just a repack, not been anamorphic?

Yep - MGM/Amazon Exclusive - The Best Man, Fitzwilly, The Group, Cold Turkey, Two For A Seesaw and House Of Long Shadows just to name a few and these were released earlier this year.  The scary part is that this was the trial test for the MGM/Fox recently announced.  The Universal/Amazon program included The Chalk Garden non-anamorphic.