Universal To Celebrate 100 Years in 2012 - Page 10

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Originally Posted by Johnny Angell 

I've heard rumors of this for years. Is production actually under way? Who's making it?

I've read director/writer Gary Ross is interested in doing the remake and he happens to be the son of Arthur Ross who wrote the screenplays for the Creature films.  There is a rumor about Channing Tatum being the lead actor. 

Crawdaddy

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Originally Posted by Robert Crawford 

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Originally Posted by dana martin 

 Really at this moment in time I don’t know if I am more pissed off, or just plain upset with the way things seem to be heading with this Universal 100^th celebration; I mean I could look at it this way I am sure going to save a lot of cash, because well fellas I am not going to fork over a dime for a repackage with a nice fancy banner across the top. I expected more, a lot more oh I don’t know maybe let’s try 100 BD titles from the universal vault. Every Best Picture winner, true classics like Touch of Evil, Cape Fear 1962, but instead it looks like we are getting DVD’s of these, who the hell is in charge of this, the same kind of minds that was working ENRON.

 

You know when this original announcement came out and then some of the films mentioned that had gone through the restoration process, my word, I was so hyped, I thought that this was finally going to be the windfall that classic film buffs have been waiting for. Looks like we might just be dealing with the same old same old.  And if someone from Universal is checking this board, let me state the following I own a BD player and a 1080P TV, you think maybe, just maybe I would like to see a 1080P picture.

 

Most of all of the films you have listed on your 100^th site at this moment for me is this way, no BD, no sale.

It's easy to just blame the studio, but the fact of the matter is there just not enough of us classic film buffs willing and able to buy enough of these classics on BRD.  Perhaps we get some later in the year since it's still January, but I can't blame the studio if it's not profitable for them to release these titles on BRD if they can't sell enough units to justify such releases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crawdaddy

 

Crawdaddy nailed it.  Catalog, especially classic catalog just doesn't sell on Blu-ray.  If Universal released 100 classic titles on BD, they would take a huge bath on that, and that's assuming they had 100 classic titles in shape to release.  Like it or not that's just the way it is.
 

ok i would settle for a quarter of that 100, as long as they were solid releases

pillow talk is a step in the right direction

Yes, Pillow Talk fills the May slot for the monthly mega-deluxe release and we already seem pretty certain Jaws has August I believe.

So, for the 13 movies initially announced, we have:

Jan. - To Kill a Mockingbird

Feb. - All Quiet on the Western Front

March - Out of Africa

April - Buck Privates

May - Pillow Talk

So, waiting and seeing for what remains. IF Universal is doing the Monsters for Halloween, Dracula, Frankenstein, Dracula (Spanish), and Bride of Frankenstein will all have to get there releases before October. Just have to see.

The only film that I can think of that I'd like Universal to release is Skippy (1930-31), or any other Best Picture nominees that they haven't yet released.

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Originally Posted by Kevin EK 

The schedule we've seen indicates Hitchcock movies in September, and monsters and ET in October.  November and December appear to be group packages of the earlier titles.  (Like a 100th Anniversary Gift Package in November - on sale in time to be under people's Xmas trees the following month)

Well, the reason why I seem so myopic about the one-a-month thing is when Universal announced their 100 Year program, they did the list of 13 special restoration titles including the three monster titles. To this point, Universal seems to be cranking those out at the rate of one a month. Now, I certainly believe the sources others have access to, but it is worth noting that none of the Hitchcocks nor ET was on that list. Now, Universal most likely WILL keep those dates for those titles, but the special restorations will have to come before October or you have three titles running $25 plus and/or the box. That's a lot of money to be tying up so close to the holidays on a niche area.

I'm probably worrying over nothing, but I'm just trying to solve the puzzle of Universal's release plan, especially so I know how much of my money they'll be getting at certain times. Christmas this year looks to be big anyway, just would like to know how many pieces Santa's bankbook is going to be broken into.

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Originally Posted by Rick Thompson 

I see Flower Drum Song on the borderline-useless Universal 100th list. Does that mean a Blu, just a repackaged DVD, or that someone typed "Flower Drum Song" for the sake of something to type?

No, if it's on the list, it will get a rebrand of some kind. Worst case scenario, it'll be a DVD+digital copy with a new banner. Flower Drum Song is not in either the January or March blocs, so have to see about the next cycle of releases.

I would think that they would want to add the Monsters in September, in order to give people a chance to buy them before Halloween, with Hitchcock titles to follow in October.

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Originally Posted by JoHud 

Strange thing about Skippy is that it was slated to be released during the last wave of Amazon MOD titles last Fall, yet was never actually released on the release date. The Amazon listing remained static for 3 months as a "preorder" at $19.99 before they removed the listing last Tuesday. Disappointing because I wanted to see Skippy released, and I know they won't bother giving it a general retail release.

Um, What? It was to be released and I didn't know about it? Darn! Now I'm dissappointed they won't release it... yet. I love the movie. Only saw it once, but thought it was terrific. :(
 

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Originally Posted by MattPeriolat 

The list of 13 special restoration titles including the three monster titles.

I never heard... what are the "13 special titles?

They are couting two Draculas, because they are two different films.

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Originally Posted by Kevin EK 

Based on the advance schedule list, the distribution of these titles appears to be:

 

January - To Kill A Mockingbird

February - All Quiet on the Western Front

March - Out of Africa

April - Buck Privates

May - Pillow Talk

June - The Sting

July - -----

August - Jaws

September - The Birds

October - Dracula, Dracula (Spanish language version), Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein

November - 100th Anniversary Giftset

 

2013 - Schindler's List

Interesting, wonder why they are skipping July. Thanks for the information on the release waves also. But man, October is gonna hurt...

That 100th Anniversary Giftset raises my eyebrows too. What is that supposed to be, all 12 of the special restored movies or something more? Like to know in advance, especially if they're going to include something more. If they do and I have already bought those blus, I will be most unhappy with Universal.