Warner Archive Discussion Thread (FEEDBACK) - Page 60

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$19.95 is high, but not absurd, IMO. $29.95 is absurd.

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My minority view that $19.95 was absurd for an inferior product has already been registered; it seems that the higher ups' conclusion being that no number is absurd when you're conditioned to buy. Besides, aren't the only chief losers in this price gouge primarily off-shore buyers who were doomed by Warners to begin with (like myself)?

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I have to believe that the listing or pricing is some kind of mistake. How can amazon be charging $10 more per movie. They usually are cheaper.

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No mention of them being DVD-R's on those Amazon pages either. Very fishy. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I'm sure Amazon doesn't want to deal with a bunch of returns after customers discover they just spent $30 on a cheap DVD-R that looks like a 20-year-old videotape master. Especially since they are made-on-demand and would have to be returned to Allied Vaughn? Still, as I've said before, I doubt the general consumer even knows the difference between a real DVD and a DVD-R, so go, go, go WB!!!! There are suckers born every minute. Make as much money as you can before the bottom falls out.

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The price on Amazon is probably not a mistake. It's more than likely that they figure only a few people will actually go ahead and buy it, so why not get the most they can out of those few people. It's economics.

For what it is, a transfer to DVD-R of the video master created for that movie 15-20 years ago, the product deserves only a few people buying it, if that.

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Geez. For product that was purportedly such an iffy commercial gamble, they sure are widening the distribution channels.

I guess I'm glad the Archives are doing well and I look forward to the first title to be legitimately pressed due to the great demand. However, the cynic in me suspects that what has happened is that instead of iffy titles converting to regular releases, we're now going to see borderline titles simply going straight to archives. Especially now that the distribution is getting wider. I mean, once you hit Amazon, these titles have about as much retail exposure as any other catalog release coming out these days.

I will remain hopeful that these Amazon titles are the first to get converted rather than an expansion of pushing sub-standard product at an even more inflated price.

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This is confusing. Why would Amazon even want to market an item that they must sell for almost 50% more than full retail to make the desired profit? Also, the fact that other sites are selling the same product for so much less sort of hurts Amazon's reputation as a place to get good deals---doesn't it?
You don't suppose Warners is shopping out some of these titles as exclusives to other sites---do you?
As for not mentioning that they are DVD-R, there are other companies that market their DVDs on Amazon with nothing in the description to indicate that they are DVD-R. I ordered KON TIKI and was surprised to receive a DVD-R.

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I really don't think the Warner Archive is such a booming business for them. The prices are too high and the quality isn't there. Consumers are knowledgeable, and most are strapped right now.

If by chance the Archive does becomes so, then no doubt Warners will probably start to reconsider investing so much money in restoring their films for DVD, especially from the 30s, 40s, 50s. If the collector and general public are happy buying unrestored copies of them at hugely inflated prices, then why bother investing any more money in them; release them as is. Restoration might eventually get done anyway, for TV or overseas uses. But doing it for DVD would no longer be the first priority as it has been.

That's where this whole Archives idea seriously went off the tracks, in the decision to release whatever they had as is, without working on them at all for an Archive release. Nothing good could come of it, just a lowering of standards.

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I am more disappointed that a film with James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, and Rita Hayworth can't sustain a regular DVD release. The price buying from Warner Archive direct may still be $19.99. Perhaps Warner will not sell these for less than $19.99 to Amazon.

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I still hope it's some type of mistake.

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This is crazy! Looks like they've been releasing these Amazon exclusives for a few weeks now with zero promotion or information about these discs. More titles:

Bordertown (1935)
Colorado Territory
Crime School
Doctor Ehrlich's Magic Bullet
The Male Animal
The Unsuspected
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
The Verdict (1946)

Some of these titles are very important and are on the top of my wish list, but not for such a high price ($28.98 each) and with zero information about these discs.

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Those titles aren't even on Warner's site so Amazon is getting an exclusive release for now.

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I still have TCM on cable, and a DVR.

WB may be making money, but they're chasing away customers.

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How depressing! The bad news from Warners just keeps on coming.
There are a number of these I want quite badly, but not at that price and not in this form. Also this pretty much spells the end of the slim hope of seeing the Lorre/Greenstreet films get proper releases.

In the space of a few short months WHV have managed to kill stone dead all the goodwill they'd built up over the years - that's no mean feat.

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Hooray! They ship them international!

Unfortunately the ridiculous prices mean, including postage and at current exchange rates, ONE would cost me AUD$50!

I only paid AUD$62 for the third Forbidden Hollywood set, that includes 6 films, 2 documentaries, and a bunch of bonus features! If the exchange rate was what it is now when I bought that set, I only would've paid AUD$55.

Warner and Amazon need to get real. These are poorly encoded burnt DVDs, made from 10+ year old video masters. It can't be justified trying to sell Public Domain quality at Criterion Collection prices!

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I thought April the 1st had gone. I can't believe how expensive these discs are.

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It is really depressing to see such good movies like Colorodo Territory; 20,000 Years in Sing Sing; and The Verdict all get the barebones, non-restored Warner Archive treatment, not to mention The Strawberry Blonde. All of these films could easily have gone into a commercial box set, or carry their own release, as movies like Waterloo Bridge (1941), The Picture of Dorian Gray, Madame Curie, and The Clock all have. They at least deserve some sort of restoration. Has Warner's budget to restore films been severely slashed?
It really makes you wonder. Does Warner consider their Archive release of a film the definitive edition? Is there any hope for a better version?

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I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!



Are they yelling in Atlanta?

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I am utterly depressed to see those great Lorre/Greenstreet films given such shoddy treatment...I was really hoping that Warner would at least give these a regular release, but that was a faint hope after the past few months of Warner neglect to pressed catalog titles.

There is no way on earth I will pay that kind of money...I just hope hope that others will feel the same and not allow Warner to laugh all the way to the bank on the weak will and open wallets of the fans of these great films. My only hope now is weak sales will perhaps show Warner the error of their ways. I can't believe that Warner has plummeted so badly...what a shame.

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I've stayed quiet in this thread for quite some time in order to keep my pessimism in check, but I can't hold out any longer. What started as a program that excited me in numerous ways has now become something that I will avoid at all costs. Paying $20-$30 for a film with little or no restoration, questionable encoding, and no extras is something that I can easily avoid. It would take a pretty special film for me to spend that kind of money for a similar product, and I don't think that WB owns any more films that I'm willing to spend that on.

Over the past 10 years, I have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on WB DVDs, but it seems like this is coming to an end. Fortunately, it's a good time for me because I'm planning on moving in to a more expensive house this summer and my spending money will not be slashed considerably. At least now, I won't feel like I'm missing out.

It looks like it's time to upgrade my DVR, so that I can start recording even more films from TCM.

At least Sony is picking up the ball and running with it.

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That's exactly how I feel. The dumping of the Lorre/Greenstreet movies like this just plain irritates me.

And I agree 100% with the second point. If price and quality is set by the market, we need to remember that we are that market. As long as we accept it and support it that's how it will stay.

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Yes, there is yelling in Atlanta -- it's me.

I've been waiting for years for a Strawberry Blonde DVD release (I still have the old VHS... I don't think it was ever released onto laser disc though I welcome a correction on that point).

The Strawberry Blonde is a classic. And all we get is a shoddy overpriced DVD-R? I'd be happy to pay that price if it were an official pressed DVD, with a commentary and other extras I suspect are lingering in the WB vault pertaining to the movie. (Trailer, publicity, etc.)

I might be interested in a DVD-R version if it were, say, $14.95 with free shipping.

Where's the respect for this film?

Not to mention the other titles that really do deserve a regular release.

Has the market imploded THAT much?

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Hey, "This DOES NOT replace our retail initiatives. THEY REMAIN
FULL SPEED AHEAD..." *scnr*

The situation this year is quite obvious for me. No retail relases from Warner = no money from me. Right now, all my money will be going to Sony and Universal's Backlot Series.

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I had hoped we'd see The Strawberry Blonde in a James Cagney Vol. 2 box. I guess we can cross that off the list, along with a Cary Grant Vol. 2 box and a Katharine Hepburn Vol. 2, as well as box sets devoted to Gable/Crawford, Lana Turner, John Garfield, Robert Taylor, Olivia de Havilland, Glenn Ford, Spencer Tracy, Rosalind Russell, Randolph Scott, and Lorre/Greenstreet. Have I missed anyone?

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Perhaps WB only meant that the Archives would not replace their retail initiatives for new movies and reissues of top classics, but any catalog titles below the very top shelf sellers will be Archives only. The evidence so far points that way. We'll see.

With all the negative feedback to aspects of this program already, it's amazing that WB would now allow exclusive Amazon releases at an even higher price point.

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Wow, you're right. They're up there, cover art and all, for $29.98. This is appalling - there are some great films in that list. I wonder if the high price is because Warners is charging Amazon $20 a pop?

I've ordered several batches of Archive discs, but unless something amazing comes along (or some amazing coupons), I think I'm finished. I don't feel right supporting this kind of high-price, low-quality business model. I've lost a lot of respect for WHV. Plus, on a personal note, I ordered the Lex Barker Tarzans on May 7 and still haven't received them.

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About the box sets, it's amazing to me that Warners would release a Busby Berkeley Vol. 2 set, with completely grade Z, Warner Archive worthy material, and not release a Cary Grant Vol. 2 set or any set for either Lana Turner, Robert Taylor, or John Garfield. From what I read here, they decided to do a Berkeley Vol. 2 because sales were so strong for Vol. 1. It's unfortunate they didn't decide to at least gamble on a Lana, Taylor or Garfield set; sales might have really surprised them.

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I don't care if you have a problem with Warner regarding this archive program as many of us feel the same way, but we don't need you trolling other members with such comments.





Crawdaddy

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I wonder if Warner's is only offering these titles to Amazon at retail price because they don't want to lose money with a middleman, and Amazon is setting the price. I am sure people will use the comment section to mention where to get these discs 33% cheaper, but I am sure there will be some that just clicks "buy" for a desired title.

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Before the archives came into effect, I was really hoping we would get some of these offered titles in remastered DVDs. I think I have bought about 35 titles. The latest Tarzan's haven't arrived yet.

I know the MGM Tarzan's did very well. Maybe the subsequent RKOs didn't do as well. From reading reviews here, the Barker's are not bad. I remember one of the RKO Weismuller films didn't look so good. It was dupey and was nowhere near the negative, so I think the RKO films are dicey at best.

I was really hoping we could get a remaster DVD for things like ADVENTURES OF MARK TWAIN, ROUGHLY SPEAKING, PRIDE OF THE MARINES, etc., but those hopes are somewhat dashed by these titles being offered at the Archives.

The Allied Artists/Monograms and post 50s Warner films look pretty good to me. I am sure these are newer transfers from original materials, whereas the "Turner-era" films were mostly transferred from 50s safety materials that had all sorts of problems.

One only has to compare those laser discs of the Davis, Flynn, Bogart, etc. sets to see the huge improvement when they went back to the nitrate material and did new transfers for DVD. For years, DECEPTION was unwatchable for me as the soundtrack had so much wow and flutter and picture was dark and smeary, it looked more like THE BRUTE MAN than a Warner film. The new DVD in the Davis set is superb in comparision. So my real concern are the Turner titles.

On the positive side, it is great having anamorphic on appropriate films and not having the TCM logo popping up every 10 minutes. Oh well....