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Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

post #1 of 29
6/20/09 at 8:06am
Thread Starter 
I know I am not imagining this. Some time back it was mentioned Paramount would be bring these and other catalog titles to Blu-ray, but I've seen no info. since. I wonder if their quietly backing down on these plans.
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post #2 of 29
6/20/09 at 8:14am

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick
I know I am not imagining this. Some time back it was mentioned Paramount would be bring these and other catalog titles to Blu-ray, but I've seen no info. since. I wonder if their quietly backing down on these plans.
I don't remember such talk about these titles. With that said, I have serious doubts about Paramount releasing classic films onto Blu-ray based on their activity with SD DVD releases.





Crawdaddy
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post #3 of 29
6/20/09 at 11:29am

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
I don't remember such talk about these titles. With that said, I have serious doubts about Paramount releasing classic films onto Blu-ray based on their activity with SD DVD releases.


The Digital Bits Rumor Mill - Current Posts
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post #4 of 29
6/20/09 at 12:14pm

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

I would also be interested in Sunset Boulevard. I bought the DVD without ever knowing anything about it. It is one of my favorite films now.
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post #5 of 29
6/20/09 at 1:08pm

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

I would buy both films. I believe Sunset Boulevard was an earlier Lowry Digital effort (2001-2002?) that was only done at 2k and suffers a bit from "over scrubbing", similar to Citizen Kane. They'll probably need to do it again for a proper release.

Also, Paramount won't be releasing its first pre-70s film on Blu-ray until November with It's a Wonderful Life. They're by far the most hesitant studio, both on DVD and Blu-ray, in releasing their older catalog titles. I don't see them rushing to release many films of similar vintage, such as an early 50s classic like Sunset Boulevard.
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post #6 of 29
6/20/09 at 2:35pm

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

I thought The Elephant Man was going to be released in September? I haven't read anything about Sunset Blvd. and if it needs a new restoration, that makes sense.
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post #7 of 29
6/20/09 at 4:58pm

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

Elephant Man was on HD-DVD in Europe. I got a copy. I'd reckon that it's a much more beloved film in the U.K. and France than here in Estados Unidos, si.....my copy came from France and it was released by Studio Canal, oui. You'd think it'll be on Euro BD before too particularly long? That'd be the place to watch for it, I'd reckon.

Paramount released Zulu in the U.K. on BD but couldn't even be bothered to make it available in America de norde. That decision might just give some insight into how they think...? I'd quess they think Elephant Man has only modest sales potential on this side of the pond, so, why bother.

The Studio Canal HD-DVD looks purr-dy good to me and has stereo DTS Master audio....
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post #8 of 29
6/20/09 at 6:17pm

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

These are two titles I'm looking forward to as well. Elephant Man will look great, and if I'm not mistaken, would be Lynch's first Blu-Ray title - something that is FAR overdue.

There's a Blu-Ray disc of TEM being released overseas, soon. Hopefully, the R1 counterpart will follow quickly. I think the artwork is up at DVDBeaver and it looks great.

Naturally, Sunset Boulevard is a must-buy for many of us. I'm just hoping that these movies didn't get delayed like a lot of Paramount's catalog seems to be...

I'd rather have The Conversation than Apocalypse Now but I'm probably alone in that.
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post #9 of 29
6/21/09 at 9:04pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elijah Sullivan
I'd rather have The Conversation than Apocalypse Now but I'm probably alone in that.

APOCALYPSE NOW was another of the rumored Blu-ray titles for this year...
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post #10 of 29
6/22/09 at 1:21am

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

Hi - Elephant Man is coming to region B land - released by Optimum Releasing in UK.
Don't know if they release region free.

The Elephant Man [Blu-ray] [1980]: Amazon.co.uk: Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Hannah Gordon, David Lynch: DVD

September 28 2009.
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post #11 of 29
6/22/09 at 6:14pm

Re: Has Paramount abandoned p;lans to release ELEPHANT MAN and SUNSET BLVD. on Blu?

The European HD-DVD of THE ELEPHANT MAN looks fantastic but suffers from the "audio pitch" problem that plagued several European HD-DVDs released by Studio Canal. Hopefully the Blu-ray corrects this error.

As for David Lynch on Blu-ray, there's a French Blu-ray of DUNE if that counts.

Vincent
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post #12 of 29
7/13/09 at 4:57am
The German "The Elephant Man" Blu-ray from Kinowelt / StudioCanal (release date: 09/18/09) will certainly contain these extras:

  • David Lynch Interview (engl. mit dt. UT) [24:47 Min.]
  • Interview with David Lynch by Mike Figgis (engl. mit dt. UT) [19:47 Min.]
  • John Hurt Interview (engl. mit dt. UT) [20:10 Min.]
  • Joseph Merrick: The Real Elephant Man (engl. mit dt. UT) [19:48 Min.]
  • The Air is on Fire: Interviews with David Lynch (engl. mit dt. UT) [14:48 Min.]

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post #13 of 29
7/13/09 at 6:44am
I note that in the 'company credits' section of Once Upon a Time in The West on IMDB under 'dsitributors' it now says:
  •  Paramount Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
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post #14 of 29
7/13/09 at 8:45am
That would be awesome.
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post #15 of 29
7/13/09 at 10:29am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Rachael B View Post

Paramount released Zulu in the U.K. on BD but couldn't even be bothered to make it available in America de norde. That decision might just give some insight into how they think...? I'd quess they think Elephant Man has only modest sales potential on this side of the pond, so, why bother.

 

I'm pretty sure that Paramount doesn't have North American rights to Zulu.  I think it's MGM.
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post #16 of 29
7/13/09 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Adkins View Post




I'm pretty sure that Paramount doesn't have North American rights to Zulu.  I think it's MGM. 
 

More than 12 months ago (IIRC), it was claimed by Dr Sheldon Hall that Paramount had gained worldwide rights for the film; despite that the MGM/UA DVD remains in print.
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post #17 of 29
7/13/09 at 12:39pm
Paramount would make a lot of people happy with Blu releases of Once Upon a Time in the West, The Elephant Man, Sunset Blvd., Chinatown and Apocalypse Now. They could pretty much take the rest of the year off after that. I'd probably buy all of them if it didn't break the bank...
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post #18 of 29
7/13/09 at 12:51pm
I would buy all of them, bank account be damned.
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post #19 of 29
7/17/09 at 8:35am
Id be all over Chinatown and Once Upon a Time in the West like a cheap suit.

Never seen Elephant Man but Id like to. Prob pick it up as well.
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post #20 of 29
7/17/09 at 3:59pm
I wish Paramount woulkd start digging deeper into thier Classic Titles for Blu ray.  To Catch a Thief, Sunset Boulevard, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and 70's titles like Days of Heaven, Marathon Man and Heaven Can Wait
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post #21 of 29
7/18/09 at 12:35am
I'd expect Days of Heaven from Criterion?
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post #22 of 29
7/18/09 at 2:21am


Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson View Post

I'd expect Days of Heaven from Criterion?

If Paramount were smart they would've got the rights to use Criterion's HD transfer for their own Blu-ray.
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post #23 of 29
7/18/09 at 7:02pm
I'd expect Days of Heaven from Criterion, but I wouldn't complain if Paramount beat them to it. (Having The New World on Blu in September is a great start, but I'd love to see all of Malick's work on Blu. Badlands was an early DVD title, I'm bummed it hasn't come out yet. And there has to be interest in The Thin Red Line. It never had a Special Edition DVD and it's a very important film.)
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post #24 of 29
1/30/10 at 8:34pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Elijah Sullivan View Post

Paramount would make a lot of people happy with Blu releases of Once Upon a Time in the West, The Elephant Man, Sunset Blvd., Chinatown and Apocalypse Now. They could pretty much take the rest of the year off after that. I'd probably buy all of them if it didn't break the bank...

If done right by Paramount (unlike the Star Trek 1-6 films set) this would be a very impressive run of releases... 

I just watched Sunset Blvd on DVD. Great one. 
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post #25 of 29
1/31/10 at 9:56am
The Elephant Man is currently available from Studio canal in the UK. It's coded for regions A-B, so it will play on US Blu-ray players. It's received pretty good reviews and has a plethora of bonus material.

I would be surprised if Paramount topped the Studio Canal package.
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post #26 of 29
2/1/10 at 5:28am
I just got a brand new book of interviews with David Lynch and in one dated 2004, I think, during the interview they go into David's studio where a technician is working on a sound remaster of 'The Elephant Man', so there must be some plan to re-release it. I'm guessing that when he does have an opportunity to be involved in restoring or remastering his films, he just fusses over them forever. That certainly was the case with Eraserhead.
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post #27 of 29
2/1/10 at 2:44pm
That was probably Lynch working with John Neff, and The Elephant Man did get a new mix and HD transfer around that time.  It's excellent and it's up to Paramount to just release it on Blu, untampered with.

Eraserhead did take a while, but the results were also excellent (for 2001-2002).  This one would probably need a new HD transfer and digital cleanup. 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holer View Post

I just got a brand new book of interviews with David Lynch and in one dated 2004, I think, during the interview they go into David's studio where a technician is working on a sound remaster of 'The Elephant Man', so there must be some plan to re-release it. I'm guessing that when he does have an opportunity to be involved in restoring or remastering his films, he just fusses over them forever. That certainly was the case with Eraserhead.



Edited by Felix Martinez - 2/1/10 at 2:57pm
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post #28 of 29
2/3/10 at 9:56am
So what, Paramount's version of The Elephant Man will be the remastered version? If so, I'm holding out for that one when it eventually comes.
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post #29 of 29
2/3/10 at 9:59am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Haxton View Post

I just watched Sunset Blvd on DVD. Great one. 

I watched it the other night and it upconverts beautifully on my PS3. A Blu-Ray, if done right, should be stunning.
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