Sony launches Columbia-Classics website

I like the Women of Noir set they are bringing out in 2010. Pretty cool.

At first I thought it would be their version of the Archive, but that doesn't seem to be the case. It sounds like a more interactive effort designed to facilitate communication about what and, importantly, how film fans would like to see classics delivered. I like that they say "restoration" and "DVD" here. From what I can tell, A+ concept.

I am thrilled that Sony has enough faith in the classics to put together a web site such as this.  It looks as if it will not only be to push the films, but informative as well.  I am already a fan of the blog and look forward to more bits of Columbia history.

This is a welcomed addition in these days.

More noir! Jippieh!  Thanks for the link. Added a new bookmark. Thanks Sony. 

It is cool to have the site... I have to say I have passed on all the titles they have listed such as the Jack Lemmon set the Michael Powell set, Husbands, Last Picture Show, Strange One etc all because of Blu-Ray... I hope they start releasing more classics on BD. I did pass on their double feture release of IN COLD BLOOD / Capote on BD because they paired the films together with bad cover art. I would rather buy them both as sep releases in their own respective cases and cover art. Esp since the price of them is the same as buying two BDs.

Crossing fingers for more BD releases.

Oh thanks for letting me know about the website; I especially like the style with which the blog is written. And most importantly their upcoming slate of films sounds very promising!

I hope they release the 12 B movie musicals Ann Miller made at the studio before she left for MGM. They may not be as spectacular as her MGM films, but they were fun.

Another vote on the Ann Miller musicals.

Great news!
I'll buy the Sam Fuller collections as well as the Rita Hayworth and Stanwyck/Capra ones. Not to mention the Film Noir Vols. 1 and 2!
This this Girl of noir collection just made my day! Can't wait for that.

Hopefully Sony will release more volumes for the Screwball comedies collection, since there are tons of undiscovered treasures in its vaults starring the likes of Joan Crawford, Loretta Young, Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Ginger Rogers, Mae West, Marlene Dietrich, Jean Arthur, Rosalind Russell, Lucille Ball, Melvyn Douglas...so many films I want to see.

Also, what about a double feature including Craig's Wife (Rosalind Russell) and Harriet Craig (Joan Crawford)?

And another vote here for the Ann Miller B musicals here!

Columbia has its fair share unheralded precodes that might not sell individually, but boxed together with a precode theme could be pretty nifty -- things like "Child of Manhattan" and "The Guilty Generation."

And here's another vote for Ann Miller -- especially "Reveille with Beverly"!

Rafael,

Has Capra/Stanwyck box been announced?  I didn't see it on the website, but I would be thrilled to get that one!

Jay

Great site. Thank you for the heads up. I have bookmarked it. Sorry to hear Rita Hayworth set is not coming until next year as I thought it was to be released this fall. Anyway at least it is coming.

Edited by Garysb - 8/26/09 at 2:23am

It's really none of my business, but if you're limiting yourself to only blu then there is a very real possibility that you will never see most of these titles.  I'm not trying to start some sort of SD vs Blu thing here, I'm just suggesting that your approach is severely confining, particularly with regards to catalog titles.

As to the topic at hand, kudos to Sony...I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm saying that.  They're really picking up this ball and running with it.

Excellent news.  Glad to see one studio still believes in the classics.  My DVD purchasing dollars will be heading Sony's way as a result.

I would like to add my vote for a Ann Miller set.

Jay, the set was not announced, but Mr. Schlesinger from Sony said it is indeed coming in early 2010. So, it is one of the most antecipated sets in my list.

Thanks for the information, Rafael!  It shoots immediately to the top of my must-have list.  I have been revisiting the Capra box set this week and pining for the Stanwyck titles after viewing the American Dream documentary again. 

And, oh how I wish we could get Criterion or some other reputable company to put out a quality DVD release of Meet John Doe using the great print that features so prominently in the documentary.  It looks so nice, and I cannot bring myself to buy any of the crummy public domain releases.

Jay

Incredible!  Thanks to Sony for proving that DVDs of classic films are still marketable.  My money which use to flow directly in to WB's coffers will now be diverted in to Sony's.

THE KILLER THAT STALKED NEW YORK... FINALLY!!!  


I can't believe it's finally getting a release as I've been requesting it on these forums for years!  This calls for a dancing banana smiley!!!


Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you and Thank you again, Sony!!!!

I absolutely cannot wait for the upcoming noir collections and this "Bad Girls of Noir" set is a must have too!

I'm only spending my earnings on one studio this year and it's Sony all the way!!!


woohooo!!!

Btw, do we have cover art yet for the upcoming Fuller set or the "New Hollywood" box set?? What about the Hayworth and noir collections??


I have to say that if there's any constructive critisicm that I can offer here, it's that the studio really needs somebody new in their art dept. If they could throw out some original poster art and a couple of Columbia Pictures cartoon shorts as extra with each of these wonderful announcements... there'd be no stopping them!!!

(But seriously - the Powell, Boetticher and Icons of Screwball sets were truly hideous in this regard; especially the latter!)

DVD Empire has the cover art up for the Film Noir - Vol. 1 collection due in November.

Oh no... it looks just like the Powell and Boetticher digipaks complete with unexplainably ugly lens flares and bad screen caps. Looks terrible!


Still can't wait for it to come out though... but seriously Sony, do something about your covers!

Movies Unlimited has the cover art for the Sam Fuller collection and it is much like in the same way of the Collector's Choice previous releases.

I don't care that much about the cover art. What really matters to me are the transfers and the fact that a lot of real treasures are finally coming to dvd, some of them never before relased on any home video format.

I agree of course, but just look at those Icons of Screwball covers... it would be nice to at least attempt to attract buyers who might not be hip to these sets, no?

Kudos to Sony for it's commitment to the classics, especially as it relates to Film Noir. 

While I'm extremely grateful to Sony, does anyone else find it odd that of the three film noir sets either announced or planned, containing some 18 films, Human Desire or My Name is Julia Ross, two iconic and better known Columbia noirs, are not included?  The Bad Girls of Noir collection that is currently in production is culled from a 12-film repertory series from the UCLA archive that included these two films in new restorations, so it really seems strange that unless Sony plans a second volume of bad girl noirs with the remaining six films from this series they would neglect to release these two gems.  Unfortunately, there is no indication on the website that this set is the first of a two volume series.

   

Rita was pushed back because there was a glut of releases in the fall and it was felt they might cannibalize each other. I suggested moving it to February to market it as a Valentine's Day gift suggestion, and they agreed.

BTW, the "CBC" blogpost was written by yours truly (except for the grammatical and spelling errors, which are the sole responsibility of the copy editor).

Mike S.

Is anyone familiar with the Blog software they're using for the site? How can one leave a comment?

But how? ;)

Mike,
Is there any possibility that Sony might release some more of the Columbia serials like The Shadow and The Spider's Web? The two Batman titles are perhaps the best releases any serial has gotten on DVD and I would love to see more.

Does Sony even have decent film elements on many of their serials? Particularly the pre-war and WWII era ones? 

My understanding are that Sony has elements on most, if not all of their serials, but that they only licensed the characters for a period of time.  When they put THE SHADOW out on VHS (in order to cash in on the Alec Baldwin film), they were disappointed by sales.  So unfortunately, I don't think a DVD release is eminent.