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Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

post #1 of 157
7/1/08 at 2:03pm
Thread Starter 
The HK and Cult Film DVD News blog has published a marvellous and informative interview with Sony's Mike Schlesinger in which he talks enthusiastically about upcoming titles - some interesting stuff in the works!

Look out for news on Film Noir sets from Sony, a Peter Lorre set, the upcoming Boetticher / Scott set and more.

The full interview is here. Note the important message:

"Keep buying this stuff! I know it sounds crass, but that is truly the best way to keep the flow of classic titles coming—by letting them know there is a real demand for them..."

"Besides voting with ones wallet, how can our readers to Sony of their happiness with these releases and their desire for them to continue?"

"They can send any notes to me at michael_schlesinger@spe.sony.com and I guarantee they’ll be forwarded to the Powers That Be. Even a handful of letters can indeed make an impact."

No Warner chat? Looks like Sony is dying to talk...
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post #2 of 157
7/1/08 at 2:31pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

John,
Which Peter Lorre films are they talking about? Except for his Mr. Moto films with Fox, most of his best films belong to Warner through original Warner productions and some MGM productions.
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post #3 of 157
7/1/08 at 2:39pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
John,
Which Peter Lorre films are they talking about? Except for his Mr. Moto films with Fox, most of his best films belong to Warner through original Warner productions and some MGM productions.

"Is there any word on when the Peter Lorre set will come out and what titles will be part of the set?"

"Probably 2010. It would contain CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN and FACE BEHIND THE MASK. That’s all we got left!"
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post #4 of 157
7/1/08 at 2:48pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Skimming through the article...first impressions...OMG!!!!!!!!!

Boetticher out this fall? Noir 1 AND 2??? Can I contain my joy???!!!

ANY company that releases ANY (preferably MANY) classic films has my full throated endorsement! Sony, welcome my son! Fatted calf, start sweating!!!

Overjoyed am I!!!
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post #5 of 157
7/1/08 at 2:49pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
"Is there any word on when the Peter Lorre set will come out and what titles will be part of the set?"

"Probably 2010. It would contain CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN and FACE BEHIND THE MASK. That’s all we got left!"
I don't remember seeing any of these films? Have you?
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post #6 of 157
7/1/08 at 2:51pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
No Warner chat? Looks like Sony is dying to talk...

As I've said before, Co. vs. Co. snide remarks are so unecessary. The important thing is the films are released. Blessings to whoever's house does so.
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post #7 of 157
7/1/08 at 2:53pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
I don't remember seeing any of these films? Have you?

No, I'm almost certain I haven't; but I intend to.

I'm also going to email Mr Schlesinger with a small wants list (topped, I think, by 'Gideon's Day')
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post #8 of 157
7/1/08 at 2:56pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by ted:r
As I've said before, Co. vs. Co. snide remarks are so unecessary. The important thing is the films are released. Blessings to whoever's house does so.

It wasn't intended as 'snide', it intended as a minor prompt to, well, whoever, that Sony - Mike Schlesinger or Grover Crisp - could be persuaded to take part in some form of contact - interview or chat - with members here or elsewhere.

But take it as you will.
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post #9 of 157
7/1/08 at 3:02pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
It wasn't intended as 'snide', it intended as a minor prompt to, well, whoever, that Sony - Mike Schlesinger or Grover Crisp - could be persuaded to take part in some form of contact - interview or chat - with members here or elsewhere.

But take it as you will.

Maybe my cynicism meter is set way to high But I will take you at your word...and welcome any Co. that cares to chat here.
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post #10 of 157
7/1/08 at 3:55pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Hey,

My name is Ian and I conducted the interview with Mike, I'm happy you all enjoyed it. Mike is always a pleasure to interview and full of great and wonderful information. I'm just happy my questions did an alright job of getting some great answers. I always like to be as wide ranging as possible, as it seems to be silly to only focus on one area when people often want to know so much more (hence asking about that HP program, which I hope comes to fruition)

We also have one with Media Blasters coming up too, same style (lots of questions about a lot of different things).

I would have posted it hear, but I didn't know if one could post links here. (we also have info on the new Inglorious Bastards DVD, among other stuff )
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post #11 of 157
7/1/08 at 4:44pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Grover Crisp showed us a clip from the HD master of one of the Boetticher-Scott films Sony is working on at this years EMA Home Media Expo In Las Vegas last week. He used it to illustrate an artifact inherent to the film's opticals (a white glow around high contrast edges that looks like a heavy amount of edge enhancement - exactly like one sees in the Warner DVD for "Giant"). I believe the film was either "Ride Lonesome" or "Comanche Station", but I do not know them well enough to be sure. Other than the artifact in question, which is inherent to the film and would have appeared in theatrical prints as well, it looked quite good.

Regards,
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post #12 of 157
7/1/08 at 4:48pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_McAlinden
Grover Crisp showed us a clip from the HD master of one of the Boetticher-Scott films Sony is working on at this years EMA Home Media Expo In Las Vegas last week. He used it to illustrate an artifact inherent to the film's opticals (a white glow around high contrast edges that looks like a heavy amount of edge enhancement - exactly like one sees in the Warner DVD for "Giant"). I believe the film was either "Ride Lonesome" or "Comanche Station", but I do not know them well enough to be sure. Other than the artifact in question, which is inherent to the film and would have appeared in theatrical prints as well, it looked quite good.

Regards,
Ken,
I think there's alot of those artifact incidents which are being mistaken as EE.




Crawdaddy
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post #13 of 157
7/1/08 at 6:55pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Thanks John.

Stooges fans should be happy to hear that it appears that Sony is intending to release all the shorts. The original goal was by the end of 2009 but it isn't clear if that is still the case.

Ian Friedman - thank you for interviewing Mr. Schleslinger and making this available to your readers. I know your focus was horror, but did any of your conversation (that didn't make it into print) delve into the many B movie series that Columbia has? Mr. S. has been quoted on the classic horror board in the past hinting at possible collections of Jungle Jim, Lone Wolf et al collections.
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post #14 of 157
7/1/08 at 8:05pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Wonderful news about the noirs (I hope the wisecracking noir parody "I Love Trouble (48)" will be included)!

I will have to write to ask for more Rita Hayworth movies among other missing favorites.

Thank you for the great interview!
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post #15 of 157
7/1/08 at 8:51pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve...O
Thanks John.

Stooges fans should be happy to hear that it appears that Sony is intending to release all the shorts. The original goal was by the end of 2009 but it isn't clear if that is still the case.

Ian Friedman - thank you for interviewing Mr. Schleslinger and making this available to your readers. I know your focus was horror, but did any of your conversation (that didn't make it into print) delve into the many B movie series that Columbia has? Mr. S. has been quoted on the classic horror board in the past hinting at possible collections of Jungle Jim, Lone Wolf et al collections.

Thanks


Not really all the questions asked made it into print, but I think at CHFB, he mentioned that they may be in the cards, but I think thats too far down the road yet (except JJ, for some reason I think that is coming sometime in the near future (6 to a year).
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post #16 of 157
7/1/08 at 9:22pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Bring on the Stooge sets!!!!!!
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post #17 of 157
7/1/08 at 11:45pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Actually it looks like they still are trying to get the Stooges shorts out by 2009. According to what was said, the releases of Stooges shorts will be accelerating to try and meet that schedule. That would explain the very short window between the release of the second and third volumes.
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post #18 of 157
7/2/08 at 3:13am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Great to finally see some news about Mothra, Battle in Outer Space, and especially H-man. Also good to see they're FINALLY releasing Mothra 3.
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post #19 of 157
7/2/08 at 4:32am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Great news, especially about the Noir sets, H-Man, Boetticher / Scott set, Lorre set and the happiest news of all for me, These Are the Damned!!!

What a turnaround for Columbia, which just a year ago was at the bottom of the class when it comes to releasing catalog titles.
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post #20 of 157
7/2/08 at 4:38am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Great interview! Lots of stuff for me to get excited about aside from the upcoming Hammer Horror set.

The Boetticher/Scott set The Toho set with both uncut OSL and US versions The Peter Lorre set which is well worth it for Face Behind the Mask plus I've wanted to see Island of Doomed Men for years.

and 2 Noir sets including Human Desire and Knock on Any Door. Hopefully The Dark Past, The Crimson Kimono, Underworld USA, The Lineup, Tight Spot, 711 Ocean Drive, Convicted, Framed and Scandal Sheet will make it in.

Wow. Columbia has really turned things around with their catalog titles.
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post #21 of 157
7/2/08 at 5:19am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K
Great interview! Lots of stuff for me to get excited about aside from the upcoming Hammer Horror set.

The Boetticher/Scott set The Toho set with both uncut OSL and US versions The Peter Lorre set which is well worth it for Face Behind the Mask plus I've wanted to see Island of Doomed Men for years.

and 2 Noir sets including Human Desire and Knock on Any Door. Hopefully The Dark Past, The Crimson Kimono, Underworld USA, The Lineup, Tight Spot, 711 Ocean Drive, Convicted, Framed and Scandal Sheet will make it in.

I hope you send all these recommendations to the email address!


The Boetticher and Noir sets appeal to me the most.

I just hope they price they boxes reasonably. I consider under US$10 including postage fair. Warner are usually around US$8 per film once you include postage. Fox are about to set a new value for money benchmark with the Power 2 and Chan 5 sets (about $4 - 5 per film).

Columbia has a history of way over priced classic films on single DVDs. I hope they take a close look at what Warner and Fox have been doing. If they provide good value on the boxes they will probably shift more units, which will enable them to release more.
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post #22 of 157
7/2/08 at 5:45am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

I'm not worried about pricing with these upcoming sets.

The Hammer Adventure set cost me $20 ($5 per film) and I've got the Hammer Horror set pre-ordered for $17 ($4.25 per film). I'd expect the other sets to be along the same lines.

Plus given the excellent transfers on the Adventure set I think we're in for a treat with these.
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post #23 of 157
7/2/08 at 6:16am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Wonderful news about the Boetticher/Scott and Noir sets, but no questions about the impending A Matter of Life and Death release? Glenn Erickson recently pointed out that the R1 release showed up on Amazon and was almost immediately pulled, leading to me believe that it's on the way sooner rather than later. I'm DYING to know when this is coming.
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post #24 of 157
7/2/08 at 10:18am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark VH
...I'm DYING to know when this is coming.
Take it easy, Mark. A Matter of Life and Death is not a matter of life and death.

Regards,
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post #25 of 157
7/2/08 at 10:25am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Great stuff!

I was one of the few optimistic people around here regarding Sony's takeover of the MGM catalog (which is strange because I'm normally a pessimist). I knew that it couldn't get any worse though.

I'll definitely be picking up the Boetticher and Noir sets and others will be on a case-by-case basis.
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post #26 of 157
7/2/08 at 11:03am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more.

Indeed, great news about the Boetticher/Scott westerns, which have long been my 'holy grail' on DVD.

Thanks to John for posting the link to the HK AND CULT FILM DVD NEWS site.

With the comments at the HK ... site following on the heels of Mr. Crisp's recent comments (in a link posted by Simon H.), I am truly encouraged the Boetticher/Scott westerns will in fact be released. I just wish we had an official release date.
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post #27 of 157
7/2/08 at 11:38am

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

If Columbia/Sony owns the right, will Scott's "Tall T" be included in this fall's releases and if so, will it be in a box set like the recently released Stanley Kramer Collection?
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post #28 of 157
7/2/08 at 11:42am
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Quote:
Originally Posted by haroldS
If Columbia/Sony owns the right, will Scott's "Tall T" be included in this fall's releases and if so, will it be in a box set like the recently released Stanley Kramer Collection?

From another thread:

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson
Over at the Classic Horror Film Board, Sony insider Mike T. says that the Sony set will comprise The Tall T, Decision At Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome and Comanche Station. He adds:

The set will be rounded out by A MAN CAN DO THAT, the Eastwood-produced doc that originally aired on TCM. Expect it before the end of the year..

Nice.
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post #29 of 157
7/2/08 at 4:06pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

THIS IS THE BEST DVD NEWS ALL YEAR!

I'm so happy that Sony is finally exploiting their vaults! There's so many unreleased classics in all genres, but I'm especially looking forward to the noir and western releases!!
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post #30 of 157
7/2/08 at 4:18pm

Re: Sony's Mike Schlesinger talks; Boetticher/Scott, Toho, Hammer, Peter Lorre, more...

Great to hear about the Westerns and specially about the noirs.
And I would another one to add my wishes to the remaining titles from the Rita Hayworth Llbray.
Also I would like to Columbia to release some of its classic comedies starred by Irene Dunne, Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Arthur Loretta Young and Rosalind Russell. Also the Joan Crawford vehicle "They All Kissed the Bride" and Ginger Roger's "It had to be you".
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