Warner Archive Discussion Thread (FEEDBACK) - Page 48

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

The program has a lot of positive aspects, but why do I think a film like CITY FOR CONQUEST, which was released onto DVD with a longer version found in the vaults, would if released today, probably be an archives release.

More than anything else, I miss the discoveries, such as longer versions and musical outtakes. The box sets contained numerous extras - as did their laser discs.

For example, did the alternative ending make it onto IDIOTS DELIGHT? It is on my laser disc, which I am now glad I did not sell.

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The fact that Warners isn't selling movies that are fully restored through their Archive can be seen positively, as a sign that they haven't given up yet on classic films for the mass consumer market; that they are reserving their fully restored titles just for that market.

But if they want to separate restoration from their Archive titles, they definitely need to drop the price point, or make it much clearer that when you pay the high price, you're contributing to the title's eventual restoration.

From this point of view, the Archives can be seen as a stopgap measure, a way of enjoying films that haven't been restored yet. "Yet" is the key phrase here. If the Archives become the last burial ground of these titles; if that's it, no hope for these titles ever getting the full restoration treatment, it's just a bad idea and sets a terrible precedent. Temptation to follow this worst case scenario is always going to be there for them now that they set the Archives up, especially if the mass consumer market for classic titles really bottoms out. In which case, I really do hope they switch the Archives to carrying only films that are fully restored.

When all is said and done though, it's really not clear what Warner's intentions are with their Archive. Is it for just unrestored films that they intend on restoring one day? Is it just films as is, restored or not, with no other work ever being done on them? I would like to see Warner's clarify this issue and put all concerns to rest.

Hopefully the Archives is just a stop-gap measure until these films get restored; the key word "until." If not, I hope they convert the Archives to fully restored movies.

For me, restoration is less a case of burned or pressed discs; more a matter of the masters that they are working with to make the discs to begin with; an unrestored video master vs. a digital master with some work done.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

The alternate ending found on the laserdisc is not included in the archive release. Just the movie as released in the US plus the trailer.

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On another note, I managed to pick up a copy of Outland at my local Biglots for $3.00. Biglots also had a number of the classic Cagney titles as well.

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Those are fightin' words. Don't you be dissin Esther. :smile:

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I agree.

You don't have to package them as a Garfield set, just as a noir set.

I must admit I was fairly shocked when Warner said a second Esther Williams set was coming out.

I like my men tough, my sets dark and shadowy and my dames seductively bad.

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Ditto for the Garbo "Love"-no alternate (in this case "sad") ending included.

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Sometimes when titles get pulled from the archieve as in the above example it is not always a bad thing.

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Quite the reverse, in fact.

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What exactly is "The Big Leaf"? Is that some kind of tobacco industry noir?

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Yes, it is the film where Lee Marvin throws a handful of pipe tobacco in a girl's face causing her to sneeze uncontrollably. For that, she kills him.

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I thought it was just a typo and they meant that biblical epic "The Fig Leaf."

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Ain't It Cool News says that FREEBIE AND THE BEAN (1974) will be released in the next wave on May 5.

Mr. Beaks Has Big Warner Archive News! Find Out Which '70s Cult Classic Is Available At Last! Also, 10 Free Discs Up For Grabs! -- Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

This.

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what does it mean, "this"?

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"This" is the UK title of "The Big Leaf".

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It's new net lingo when someone agrees with a previous comment, but is too lazy to type out a proper sentence saying so.

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I've been reading this huge thread and it looks like Warner is charging $20, with occasional discounts that don't work for everyboy, for a DVD product that is of an average mediocre quality through a website that many users seem to have frequent difficulty with. And we still haven't heard anything official from Warner regarding the progressive scanning issue which should be the easiest issue to resolve.

Have I missed anything? I know the program is a way to get obscure titles into the hands of collectors but Warner should have thought the program out a bit more before launching it. From the numerous reviews and comments on HTF, these $20 DVDs are generally $5.99 DVD quality.

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This.



Sorry, I couldn't resist!

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The main reason why I haven't ordred any yet.
On Borrowed Time is the only one I'll get as it is my favorite movie, I would love to take a chance on a handful of the other movies ut not for $20 each.


sorry Warner nice idea but it needs to be rethought and relaunched
already.

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Nuts, another movie that I would have purchased has fallen into the Archives abyss. Looks like I better get used to this.

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Why is it that every time new titles are announced, I'm actually relieved when they are movies that I don't want. That surely is not the intent of this DVD-R program, is it? I don't care much for FREEBIE personally, but it is a popular catalog title that could have done very well on a real DVD release. The forecast looks very bleak ahead as far as WB goes. RIP.

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The hyperbole in this thread is bordering on the surreal.

The program is what it is. Encouraging it become the best it can be is commendable and something worthwhile. All other comments seem counterproductive.

The market is changing, and Warner is adapting to it. Retail space for catalog titles is getting smaller and smaller. Would people rather Warner do what MGM is doing - completely stop releasing catalog titles?

The program will get better. Give Warner some actual time to make the tweaks as those who are in the know, such as Mr. Harris, have stated are happening.

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Actually I was so tired when I quoted that post I didn't notice it said "Big" Leaf and not Bright Leaf. "Bright Leaf" is a very good movie with Gary Cooper, Lauren Bacall and Patricia Neal that Gary Cooper insiders have told me is coming out in a Gary Cooper Vol 2 box set some time in the distant or not so distant future. No date has been given to me so you can take this all as a rumor although my sources are high on it's definate release sometime. I do not know about any other actor or actresses box sets as I am strictly a Gary Cooper specialist and hear about stuff on him before most others do and ussaully hear about other releases after everyone else knows about them.

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So that is the only choices Warner has, stop releasing catalog titles or dump them into Archives???...talk about surreal.

I'm fine with the concept of the archives and I think that it is a great way to get obscure films out on DVD-R that wouldn't ordinarilly make it out onto regular DVD. But when I start seeing titles like the Garfield films and Freebie and the Bean, I start to think otherwise...and get very scared of what the future may hold.

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It really depends on how Warner treats this. If Karine's right and this is just for films that never, ever would have been released otherwise, then it's definitely a project of merit.

If OTOH Warner treats it as a way to avoid releasing catalogue titles with proper restorations and extras, then I'll be pissed.

We'll see which way they go.

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Yes, people are jumping to conclusions when it's probably best to wait until we see how Warner is going to proceed with future releases through the normal retail channel or with their Archive program.

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Warner has spent millions upon millions of dollars on film restoration, and millions more on basic clean up to prep films for home video. I don't see them ending that at any time because it is against their interest to do so, and they employ some with some measure of control that have a personal interest to continue such practices. However, with the market for catalog shrinking and the films becoming more obscure to the general public Warner may need to tighten the belt a bit, and/or increase the revenue per title. These things can't be done in a bubble of infinite resources.

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Surely they will continue to restore and clean up the core classic titles, but it appears now that they will leave off from doing that for the more obscure titles, including ones that previously would have been worked on and put into box sets. It will probably become much harder to convince top management to spend money on anything but their classics. If there's any doubt at all about recovering their costs they'll just say "put it on the Archive, as is."