Warner Archive Discussion Thread (FEEDBACK) - Page 90

BradleyS, I love film noir but am not familiar with many titles on the Warner Archives site. Can you recommend to me the best noir titles on that site?
Thanks

It's sad that stuff like The Tall Target is ending up in the Archive. In previous years, it might have made a film noir box set, remastered, as part of a double feature. Now we'll just have the old video version of it, at about half the price of a film noir box set no less..

Yeah Tall Target is a very disappointing addition to the Archive treatment as is Berlin Express another of Warners better remaining Noirs.

So I guess this bundle of Archives constitutes some of the the planned mythic 5th Noir set which is looking like it was scrapped. 

Well, if these films were originally intended to be part of a 5th Noir box set, we can hold out hope that decent transfers were made before the release was halted.

I don't think they were planned for a set and I still believe, we'll see a 5th noir set. There are still plenty of good Noirs left for a final(?) set even though it's disappointing to see so some potential titles being released as a Archive title. Nevertheless I'm still quite optimistic, because Warner kept their "promises" from the chat (Karloff&Lugosi, Esther Williams for this year and we don't know how soon a soon from Warner is). I'll start getting pessimistic when The Mask of Dimitrios or The Two Mrs. Carrols are being released as Archive titles. ;)

Story of Mankind is full frame - and shouldn't be.  It should be 1.85:1 - which is very obvious to anyone who watches the open matte transfer.  So much for doing all these in their original aspect ratios.

The Tall Target has Dick Powell playing a character named John Kennedy who's trying to prevent an assassination attempt on Lincoln in 1861! It deserves a bigger audience than what the Archive can give. A lot of the films in the Archive do.

 "Deserve's got nothin' to do with it."--Clint Eastwood, UNFORGIVEN (not an Archive title) 

Very strange description of the film 'Cattleman" from the Westerns bundle

Cattletown
Amid fantastic realms and unending dangers, Sindbad battles to save both the princess he loves and the downtrodden people of exotic Baristan from the cruel clutch of a tyrant who possesses the power of dark sorcery. Geysers of flame, giant crocodiles, hordes of sword-wielding palace guards, a hydra-headed monster and an invisible, bloodthirsty behemoth – all are part of this thrilling tale directed with gusto by Byron Haskin (Treasure Island, Long John Silver). Sail into excitement with Captain Sindbad!

 

Obviouly the wrong film.

Sorry but as far as MASK OF DIMITRIOS is concerned, i'd rather see it as part of a Peter Lorre boxed set. I'd also would want it pressed not burnt to a disc,  This is one of my all time favorites and would like to see it done properly.  It also follows closely to the book COFFIN FOR DIMITRIOUS by Eric Ambler.  Highly recommended reading by the way.

I've tried it with Firefox and IE6 and IE 7 and the Archive site is virtually unusable with both, even over a T1 connection.  It's ridiculous.  It's as if this thing was still being run by AOL.  Maybe it is.....

I have tried both REWARD25 & A469T2X and neither work.  This is a new account I just opened and I am trying to order the Our Gang set.  Do these codes not work since it is a box set?

Actually, nothing works with the Warner Archive website.

I still recommend waiting three months after the titles are "released," because they are then supposed to be available through Movies Unlimited.  MI is a company that knows how to process orders.

 Exactly. $34.95 is already a discount for an Archive package.

No, that VHS edition was released when Warner had a licensing deal with what was Filmways and their American International library, which of course became Orion and is now part of MGM's holdings.  It's up to MGM to release this Charles B. Pierce classic.

Reward25 works for other titles but for some reason not OUR GANG.

Last Thursday I went to the Warner Archievs website and ordered The Dick Powell/Ruby Keeler set, THE PRIDE OF THE MARINES, IT'S A GREAT COUNTRY, and THE STORY OF THREE LOVES.

I used the code Reward25 and got a 25% discount and free shipping so the cost average was about $10 a disc. I received the package yesterday, Wednesday September 2. I have not checked each disc yet though.

In any case, I usually note when there is a problem, but to be fair, for this transaction their website, the cost and the shipping were perfect.

My earlier purchases were a nightmare. Back when they started this program the customer service was crap.Since then my orders have gone through without a hitch. Until my last one. It's been over 12 days since i put in the order. The money came out of my account on the day of the order,as usual. I called yesterday  just to check and make sure all was going well. I was told by customer service that my order was set to be shipped today. Well it didn't. So i called to see what was up. I was told that they couldn't tell when it would ship or if there was an issue. She told me that they try to get your order to you within 5-10 days from ordering.I told her that was not going to happen. My issue isn't so much the time frame.Although i still can't understand why they have to charge your card so far in advance of your shipment.My issue is why can't they get in touch with the other part of the operation that distributes the films?It leaves the customer feeling a little helpless when this happens.I'm sure they will send me my order. I just wish you could call and find out why the delay and when the issue will be fixed.Very frustrating.

When Our Gang was first listed it was on sale for $19.95 and was up for only about a half day.  I ordered it for that price along with several other titles.  That order stayed in process for longer than usual and when the title reappeared at $39.95, I felt that I was in for a problem or two.

To my delight today, I see that Our Gang and the others shipped today and Our Gang shipped at the $19.95 price.  I must say that my feelings for the WA have risen in that they stood behind their original price, whether it was a mistake or not.  Take a bow WA on this one. 

Though it shows as regular price $34.95 on the site, an email I got from them says the regular price for "Our Gang" is $49.99 and that it is on sale for $34.95. Since they consider $34.95 a sale price I am guessing they don't allow the code to be used. The same happened on the 5 for $50 deal. The coupon did not work. The code does work on the bundles. Forget what I said.
It is all confusing.

I like the idea of the program. I've been happy with what i've bought to date. But with the customer service ,lack of new bundles and inconsistency of the website. I get a headache.

The Warner Archive program would have been worthy if only each film were given at least a new telecine. As is, it's disappointing, with high prices, a flimsy website, and poor customer service just contributing to the overall negative aura. And the standards that it sets for the future of classic films on DVD are an abomination; DVD-Rs, video masters, high prices. It's a dramatic setback from where we've been.

LIONHEART (1987) was added to "New Releases" this morning.  I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES has also been added this afternoon.
Edited by Charles H - 9/5/09 at 12:20pm

Ok, I've been playing around with website and here's the covers that I saw of upcoming Warner Archive releases.
Airborne (1993)
Angus (1995)
City Beneath the Sea (1971) **
Comrade X
Crossroads (1942)
Dogville Collection (2 discs) **
Earth II (1971) **
Everybody Sing (1938)
Experiment Perilous
Flying High (1931)
Genesis II (1978) **
George White's Scandals (1934)
Heavenly Body (1944)
Ice Palace (1960)
I Take This Woman (1940)
Killer McCoy (1947) **
Men Don't Leave (1990)
Penn & Teller Get Killed
Planet Earth (1974) **
Rosalie (1937)
The Sea Gull (1968)
Term of Trial
The Bribe (1949)
The Search (1948)
The Subject Was Roses
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway

** These titles already were listed on Warner Archives web site a few weeks ago.
Looks like it got some 1990's films, more 1930's musicals and Hedy Lamarr!  I'm really surprised by Angus (it sounded like it has enough requests to get a pressed disc) and The Subject Was Roses (it won an Oscar!).

 Not to mention WRESTLING ERNEST HEMINGWAY, with three name actors and the exploitable Sandra Bullock. I'm surprised this bypassed the format. ROSES, MEN DON'T LEAVE and THE SEA GULL (with an incandescent Vanessa Redgrave performance) are welcome additions (as they would have been on standard DVD). 

'MOTHER OF MERCY, IS THIS THE END OF PRESSED DISCS?"  ---With apologies to Edward G. Robinson and Little Caesar.

 ROSALIE!

I figured that would come in one more musical set. Oh well.

All this and Hedy Lamarr too, five films - Comrade X, Crossroads, Experiment Perilous, Heavenly Body and I Take This Woman.  And yes this the beginning of the end of pressed discs.  I am disappointed concerning Everybody Sing which we were lead to believe that there would be one more Judy Garland collection with here early films. This is one of those early films so say goodbye to the collection.  Happy to see Flying High, George White's Scandals and Rosalie, for I do not think we would see those films if it was not for this program.  But to choose between Airborne and Ice Palace, oh the pain

PS - Not I am complaining, but there are a lot of made to TV titles coming out.  There is certainly something for everyone. 

Noooooo!!!

I'd been waiting forever for The Bribe!


Time to invest in a recorder and tune in to TCM, I guess... what a bummer; this whole archive thing really stinks.

More frustrating release news...I simply can't believe that a great, classic film like The Search is being released through The Archives...so my biggest complaint about the Archives continues.