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Universal To Celebrate 100 Years in 2012 - Page 3

post #61 of 326
11/22/11 at 6:41am



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete York View Post



TCM has nothing to worry about. I recently saw that Fox Movie Channel, starting in January, is adding commercials and recent movies in an attempt to...whatever, do something. Make money, clearly.



I never thought that FMC would ever be a threat to TCM.  They just never seemed to try hard to be what they should be or could be.  However, I think we did benefit with the great DVD transfers of some of the classic Fox films in the great days, for they used the new transfers on the Fox channel.  Also on the channel they used the special features that were on the discs.  A win-win for everyone.  Some of the new transfers in the Universal MOD program are from transfers made for TCM. 

 

I am looking forward to seeing what Universal puts out for their anniversary.  I would really like to see Airport, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Earthquake.  Midway can also be thrown in the batch.   Along with the Hitchcock's and Spielberg's. 

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post #62 of 326
11/22/11 at 2:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahollis View Post


I never thought that FMC would ever be a threat to TCM.  They just never seemed to try hard to be what they should be or could be....



BINGO.

 

I went back and looked for the story I read, so for clarity's sake, here it is.

 

 

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post #63 of 326
11/23/11 at 9:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahollis View Post



I hope your correct, but they were one of the purchasers of MGM with Sony before the last Chapter 11 and did nothing with that library except to put some of the titles ON DEMAND.  I thought Comcast's interest's lies in the cable channels and NBC.  The film library along with the amusement parks seem to be just tag-a-longs. 

 

Universal needs to start licencing their back catalog, all those Paramount/Universal movies of the '30s, '40s and '50s, to someone like Olive Films, Kino or Twilight Time (Criterion's pickings, like "Design for living" now, are just not enough).
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post #64 of 326
11/29/11 at 5:15am
Thread Starter 

There are separate threads for each of these, but I thought I'd mention within this one that the first two big catalogue titles have been announced:  To Kill A Mockingbird and All Quiet on the Western Front.  These appear to be upgrades of the previously existing DVD editions.  There are new featurettes listed about the 100th anniversary and restoration.  To Kill A Mockinbird also gets a new "Scene Companion" function while All Quiet on the Western Front comes with the silent version of the movie.  The other bonus content looks like it comes from the earlier DVDs.

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post #65 of 326
11/29/11 at 5:19am

The last release of To Kill a Mockingbird upconverts like a dream on my equipment; I watched it again last week, so this new Blu-ray should be something to see.

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post #66 of 326
11/29/11 at 8:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaaguir View Post

Universal needs to start licencing their back catalog, all those Paramount/Universal movies of the '30s, '40s and '50s, to someone like Olive Films, Kino or Twilight Time (Criterion's pickings, like "Design for living" now, are just not enough).

The strange thing is that in Europe Universal is licencing their back catalog to small, independant producers and in many cases the results are first class.
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post #67 of 326
11/29/11 at 1:09pm
Would love to see The Airport Series as well as Earthquake get inculded in this celebration, but I doubt it will.
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post #68 of 326
11/29/11 at 1:29pm
Tons of Universal product I would love to see hit Bd in a quality (not "expedited") fashion, but I anticipate this anniversary being about as impressive as Fox's was a year or two back. In other words, many press releases, not much actual product.
That sad, All Quiet... is an interesting choice to release - hopefully that means the studio is interested in presenting it's historically significant product on the format all through next year- not just it's most commercial.
That would seem to suggest we will finally get some Universal Monster films (which I hope at least includes Bride of Frankenstein).
It's possible we might also see representative stuff like Imitation Of Life (50's melodrama), Pillow Talk (60's sex comedy), Airport (70's blockbuster/disaster), etc
Every year I keep hoping to see Sorcerer released properly- maybe next year will be the charm. They've supposedly had a new transfer and supplemental features for it ready to go for four or five years now.
At least one Hitchcock is a given (The Birds), but just like with Fox and their Marilyn Monroe and Warner with James Dean, we're so far into the formats lifespan already that I wish that when these finally do show up, these give us a nice box set with more than one film- rather than just parceling out one title a year or less.
I'd say The Sting is also a lock for 2012
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post #69 of 326
11/29/11 at 2:24pm
I know Universal has been working on a major restoration of THE KING OF JAZZ. With these other Blu-Ray announcements, I would think Blu-Ray would be the final destination for this title.

I would hope at least the first three FRANKENSTEIN films would make it to Blu, along with DRACULA, THE INVISIBLE MAN and THE WOLF MAN.
Also, W.C. Fields THE BANK DICK and NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK and perhaps a mini set for ABBOTT AND COSTELLO. I know BUCK PRIVATES would have to be there, but my choices would be WHO DONE IT?, ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, HOLD THAT GHOST and THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES.

And for sure, THE BIRDS and possibly SABOTEUR and SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

And the 50s sci-fi films would have to be there....THIS ISLAND EARTH, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE?

Personally, I would think Deanna Durbin should be represented as she helped save the studio, but I don't think she is well remembered today.

Well, I can dream.....
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post #70 of 326
11/29/11 at 2:45pm
Shadow Of A Doubt is my Favorite Hitchcock so I would love to own it in HD- but I think the odds aren't great it's going to be anytime soon. More likely we would see something like Rear Window (which I wouldn't mind at all either). Not a fan of The Birds, but we've known it's been coming for a while now.

My big hope for the kinds of Universal product I'd like to see most, is Criterion. Two Lane Blacktop is getting released in Region B so I won't be surprised to see Criterion upgrade their release sometime in the next two years. They also have some of the best Doug Sirk films- which would look ravishing with higher resolution and the wider HD color gamut.
I would also be very happy to see Missing upgraded.

Another big title I fully expect to see next year- Touch Of Evil. Not releasing that in a big studio anniversary, and after it's already been released in Region B, would be a major surprise to me.

Another representative title that I would LOVE to see- The Ghost And Mr Chicken. The widescreen image would certainly benefit from an HD bump.
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post #71 of 326
11/29/11 at 3:05pm
John,
so nice to see that you listed THIS ISLAND EARTH....i do wish a bit of care would be given to a new transfer...take care of the registration problems, etc. Love this movie. Belongs right up there with THE TIME MACHINE and WAR OF THE WORLDS! biggrin.gif
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post #72 of 326
11/29/11 at 4:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob kaplan View Post

John,
so nice to see that you listed THIS ISLAND EARTH....i do wish a bit of care would be given to a new transfer...take care of the registration problems, etc. Love this movie. Belongs right up there with THE TIME MACHINE and WAR OF THE WORLDS! biggrin.gif

Another vote for This Island Earth. I think it's my favorite colour 50's science fiction film, I prefer it to Forbidden Planet. The 16:9 region 2 DVD looks great, but has a lot of (very small) white sparkle throughout, so bring on the Blu-ray.
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post #73 of 326
11/29/11 at 4:47pm
The recent announcement of All Quiet on the Western Front has renewed some hope that we may see at least one or two films that have so far eluded even a DVD release. I'm thinking more along the lines of Northwest Mounted Police or The Uninvited--some long-requested titles.

However, I'm unsure if they will release from their Paramount library since the event is suppose to be Universal's (but it's Paramount's 100th too!)
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post #74 of 326
11/29/11 at 8:43pm
What a terrible disappointment Universal has been with Blu-ray. One can only hope it changes in 2012, but I will not be holding my breath.
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post #75 of 326
11/29/11 at 10:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Morgan View Post

Also, W.C. Fields THE BANK DICK


They should re-license this one to Criterion.

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post #76 of 326
11/29/11 at 10:26pm

I'd love all of the monster movies, but especially all of the Frankenstein films and Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, and Creature From the Black Lagoon.

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post #77 of 326
11/30/11 at 12:14pm

I can attest to the fact that this week all the mag elements for "Vertigo" are being digitized to Protools at Blu-Wave Audio on the Universal Pictures lot. Perhaps that's pointing to a new release of that title on Blu next year.

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post #78 of 326
12/3/11 at 3:17am
No way to attest the veracity of the information, but this post from another forum:
Quote:
Hey guys, so i have it on very good authority that the following is coming from Universal next year (skipping the Jan/Feb stuff that's already been announced):

Feb.
M.O.D.: Marlene Dietrich double feature
Standard blu:
2/14 - Johnny English
2/21 - Honey

March
Blu combo (all 3/6): The Deer Hunter, Harvey, The Nutty Professor, Parenthood, Out of Africa
DVD (all 3/6): Charade, The Egg and I, Francis the Talking Mule, The Last Temptation of Christ, My Man Godfrey, Sullivan's Travels, Three Smart Girls
repackaged blu combo & dvd (3/6): The Blues Brothers, Despicable Me, Meet the Parents
Repackaged dvd (3/6): Car Wash, The Deer Hunter*, Destry Rides Again, Duck Soup, Harvey, The Jerk, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, The Nutty Professor, Parenthood
Standard blu:
3/6 - Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat, Dragonheart, The Quest (all bd)
3/20 - American Pie, American Pie 2, American Wedding (all bd combo)

April
Blu combo (4/17): Buck Privates
M.O.D.: Joel Mccrea westerns
Standard blu:
4/3 - Evan Almighty, Life, Nutty Professor II (all bd)
4/10 - Definitely Maybe, Meet Joe Black (int'l. bd)

May: 5/1
Blu combo: Pillow Talk
Standard blu: About a Boy, Mystery Men, Sea of Love (all bd)

June
M.O.D.: 1950's melodrama
Blu combo (6/5): Back to the Future, Erin Brockovich, Sixteen Candles, Smokey and the Bandit, The Sting
Repackaged blu combo & dvd (6/5): American Pie, The Big Lebowski, Casino, The Fast and the Furious, King Kong, The Mummy '99, Animal House, Spartacus, United 93
Repackaged dvd (6/5): Back to the Future, Earthquake, Erin Brockovich, High Plains Drifter, Sixteen Candles, Smokey and the Bandit, The Sting, Winchester '73
Standard blu (6/5): Blues Brothers 2000 (int'l), Liar Liar (bd), Scent of a Woman (bd/dvd)

July
Blu combo (7/3): Born on the Fourth of July
Repackaged dvd (7/3): Born on the Fourth of July

Aug.
Blu combo & dvd (8/14): Jaws
M.O.D.: Universal rarities
Standard blu (8/7): Andromeda Strain, Jaws 3 3d (both bd)

Sept.
Blu combo (9/4): Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, Airport (also dvd), Double Indemnity, Jurassic Park (also dvd)
Repackaged blu combo + dvd (9/4): Atonement, Bridesmaids, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Out of Africa, Scarface '83
Repackaged dvd (9/4): The Birds*, Double Indemnity*, The Incredible Shrinking Man, It Came From Outer Space, Psycho*, Scarface '32, Vertigo*
Blu-ray Alfred Hitchcock set (9/4): Not certain, but thinking this will contain The Birds, Psycho, and Vertigo
Standard blu (9/4): Rumble Fish, Slap Shot, Streets of Fire (all bd)

Oct.
Blu combo & dvd (10/23): E.T. 30th
Blu & dvd classic monsters set (10/23): Not sure, but think this will have Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy '32, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Creature From The Black Lagoon and possibly The Hunchback of Notre Dame '23 and The Phantom of the Opera '25 & '43
M.O.D.: Billy Wilder collection
Standard blu (10/2): The Bone Collector, Bride of Chucky, Fear, Holiday Inn 70th anniversary (all bd)

Nov.
Blu & dvd 100th anniversary set (11/6)

Dec.
M.O.D.: film noir

* = new 1-disc dvd
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post #79 of 326
12/3/11 at 5:05am

Some nice surprises and much wanteds in there if the list is accurate.

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post #80 of 326
12/3/11 at 6:39am
If that list is accurate, I'm FURIOUS that Jaws 3 is coming out before Jaws 2. OK, maybe furious is overstating it smile.gif but Jaws 3 is so bad that it makes Jaws 2 look like the original Jaws.

I'm sure everyone could name a title that they wish was also coming but I think this list has some nice highlights. I'll get Jaws, Double Indemnity, the Hitchcock set and maybe the Universal Monster set (depending on the price).
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post #81 of 326
12/3/11 at 7:25am
Very lame if they are simply going to repackage Spartacus into a combo pack, which currently has one of the worst blu-ray transfers. I hope THAT is a mere rumour.

A long list of wants in that list however, though many of those I wish weren't combo packs.
Edited by JoHud - 12/3/11 at 7:36am
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post #82 of 326
12/3/11 at 7:39am
So the vast majority of the titles that I'm excited about are M.O.D.? rolleyes.gif
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post #83 of 326
12/3/11 at 7:49am
Thread Starter 

Assuming the information is accurate, this sounds like a very rough list and a lot of guesstimating.

 

Many of the titles sound logical, but others, particularly the re-issues, are either coming out right after another release of the same title,or don't make much sense in terms of some materials being put out again on DVD when they have not hit blu.

 

I would hope that the Jaws 3D release and The Creature from the Black Lagoon release, if they are genuine, would be 3D releases.

 

This is actually a fairly long list of possible titles, which leads me to think it's a longer draft of what they're thinking, and that some of these titles may be rearranged within the year.

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post #84 of 326
12/3/11 at 7:50am
I'm sure the "MOD" listed are the exclusive TCM sets that have so far been pressed on release day, then drift to MOD once all pressed units sell out. The inclusion of the Marlene Dietrich double feature in the list confirms this.
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post #85 of 326
12/3/11 at 8:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin EK View Post

This is actually a fairly long list of possible titles, which leads me to think it's a longer draft of what they're thinking, and that some of these titles may be rearranged within the year.

The inclusion of the silent Lon Chaneys in the Universal Horror collection is probably the most unlikely thing I find in the list. Also, I don't see Universal releasing in-print Criterion-loaned films like The Last Temptation of Christ or Charade as repackaged DVDs.
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post #86 of 326
12/3/11 at 8:22am

Well put me down for the Blu-ray's of Jaws, the Alfred Hitchcock set, the Classic Monsters set, Double Indemnity, Slap Shot, Andromeda Strain, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein and E.T.

 

also add The Deer Hunter and The Sting so I can retire 2 more of my HD DVD's
 

High Plains Drifter & Winchester '73 on Blu-ray would've been nice instead of.............Ugh repackaged DVD's rolleyes.gif


and where the hell is Touch of Evil & Silent Running?  Why do the Brits get all the good stuff?!!  DAMMIT!

The only M.O.D.'s that pique my interest in that list are the film noirs and that will depend on what titles they offer and the image quality

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post #87 of 326
12/3/11 at 9:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post

Why do the Brits get all the good stuff?!! 

Comments like that are always guaranteed to raise a smile...
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post #88 of 326
12/3/11 at 11:15am
Thread Starter 

Silent Running was probably left off due to all of its legal problems from copying Star Wars.

 

That was a joke, of course.  (The actual lawsuit went the other way...)

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post #89 of 326
12/3/11 at 11:47am

What no EARTHQUAKE on Blu-ray?   I'll boycott the whole thing!   Just joking, for there are some good titles out there.  Harvey and Airport in Blu-ray along with the Sting. Jaws, and Smokey and the Bandits as well.  Sorry they didn't try to Blu-ray Thoroughly Modern Millie and Flower Drum Song or The War Wagon and Hellfighters.  The monster collection in Blu-ray is a great one to think about, can't wait for details.  Also the TCM Vault collection Universal Rarities has my interest are we talking about films like Hellzapopin or will this be a cartoon collection?

 

Did I read that the fire at Universal in 2008 did damage to Thoroughly Modern Millie. 

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post #90 of 326
12/3/11 at 2:30pm

some seriously great titles in that mix, and some long shots as well, my biggest surprises in that whole list is the possible inclusion of the 25 Phantom, and the 23 Hunchback as possible Blu releases, already have the Milestone/Image Phantom release, could it be that Universal actually has a better version of the 25 Version? and if so why haven't they "Officially" released it before now?

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