MGM MOD: Fox Bows On Demand MGM Movies for Retailers (1 Viewer)

[GregoryMesh]

Problem is, they create HD masters for these films and some of them are getting blu-ray releases from other studios licensed from MGM - from recent announcements, Scream Factory/Shout! Factory is releasing Sonny Boy and Kino Lorber announced Miracle Beach for April. I'd rather support these studios and wait and see if they announce other titles from this lineup than purchase MGM's made-on-demand discs that gets HD upgrade right after I purchase it.

 

[Camps]

And the most prized obscurities of all: their Monogram holdings.

Boy, it's hard keeping track of who owns what titles in what library. Reportedly, Monogram's 1936-1946 titles were sold in 1954 to Associated Artists Productions, which itself was sold in 1958 to UA. Of course UA merged in 1981 with MGM and we know the many corporate asset flippings between MGM's Kerk Kerkorian and Ted Turner, etc. etc. So my understanding is that, today, Turner owns the pre-May 1986 MGM titles, and MGM retains the post-May 1986 MGM titles and "all" the UA titles, such as those things go (rights issues being what they are). Post-1946 Monogram titles of course evolved into the Allied Artists library which of course now is owned by Warner Bros., and Warner Archive is the home vid source for classic MGM titles.


Whew.


All that said, here are UA titles (if indeed held in the MGM library) that I'd like to see from the MGM Limited Edition Collection -- that, while some are available for streaming, have yet to receive an official domestic or overseas DVD release that I'm aware of:


Danger Route ('67), Matchless ('67), Ladybug Ladybug ('63), Third of a Man ('62), Flight That Disappeared ('61), When the Clock Strikes ('61), Dead to the World ('61), The Pusher ('60), Transatlantic ('60), The Lost Missile ('58), Wink of an Eye ('58), The Flame Barrier ('58), Man on the Prowl ('57; recently released on a muddy Alpha Video print; would be nice to see a better copy); Hidden Fear ('57), 5 Steps to Danger ('57), The Long Wait ('54), The Diamond Wizard ('54), Dragon's Gold ('54) -- and of course I, The Jury ('53) and Bwana Devil ('52) -- preferably both in 3D! (I know... keep dreamin' ...)

 

[Robin9]

Boy, it's hard keeping track of who owns what titles in what library. Reportedly, Monogram's 1936-1946 titles were sold in 1954 to Associated Artists Productions, which itself was sold in 1958 to UA. Of course UA merged in 1981 with MGM and we know the many corporate asset flippings between MGM's Kerk Kerkorian and Ted Turner, etc. etc. So my understanding is that, today, Turner owns the pre-May 1986 MGM titles, and MGM retains the post-May 1986 MGM titles and "all" the UA titles, such as those things go (rights issues being what they are). Post-1946 Monogram titles of course evolved into the Allied Artists library which of course now is owned by Warner Bros., and Warner Archive is the home vid source for classic MGM titles.


Whew.


All that said, here are UA titles (if indeed held in the MGM library) that I'd like to see from the MGM Limited Edition Collection -- that, while some are available for streaming, have yet to receive an official domestic or overseas DVD release that I'm aware of:


Danger Route ('67), Matchless ('67), Ladybug Ladybug ('63), Third of a Man ('62), Flight That Disappeared ('61), When the Clock Strikes ('61), Dead to the World ('61), The Pusher ('60), Transatlantic ('60), The Lost Missile ('58), Wink of an Eye ('58), The Flame Barrier ('58), Man on the Prowl ('57; recently released on a muddy Alpha Video print; would be nice to see a better copy); Hidden Fear ('57), 5 Steps to Danger ('57), The Long Wait ('54), The Diamond Wizard ('54), Dragon's Gold ('54) -- and of course I, The Jury ('53) and Bwana Devil ('52) -- preferably both in 3D! (I know... keep dreamin' ...)

So, who owns Mr. Moses?

 

[ahollis]

I think it's in limbo. There are five Frank Ross Productions, of which MISTER MOSES is one, that were released by UA but has never seen the light of DVD. I going to assume the rights returned to the producer.

 

[GregoryMesh]

February 16 titles -

 

[Camps]

So now we're down to two titles per month from the various MOD DVD programs. Depressing...

 

[Robin9]

February 16 titles -

Well, I'm a Rhonda Fleming fan so I'll buy Revolt Of The Slaves which I've never seen.

 

[Jobla]

REVOLT OF THE SLAVES is a pretty good sword-and-sandal flick. I saw it in 1962 on a double-bill with THE MINOTAUR, another United Artists peplum film that should be released on MOD as well.

I hope that the MOD release of SLAVES will be in proper widescreen.

 

[Robin9]

REVOLT OF THE SLAVES is a pretty good sword-and-sandal flick. I saw it in 1962 on a double-bill with THE MINOTAUR, another United Artists peplum film that should be released on MOD as well.

I hope that the MOD release of SLAVES will be in proper widescreen.

Well, yes. If it's not in anamorphic widescreen, I'll change my mind about buying it.

 

[Jobla]

I should receive REVOLT OF THE SLAVES by the middle of next week, and I'll post about it here when I do.

There is a gorgeous Spanish PAL DVD of THE MINOTAUR which looks to have been mastered from the camera negative. However, it is not English friendly, no English audio or subtitles.

In 1962, I saw a theatrical triple-bill of REVOLT OF THE SLAVES, THE MINOTAUR, and THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT.

 

[Robin9]

I should receive REVOLT OF THE SLAVES by the middle of next week, and I'll post about it here when I do.

There is a gorgeous Spanish PAL DVD of THE MINOTAUR which looks to have been mastered from the camera negative. However, it is not English friendly, no English audio or subtitles.

In 1962, I saw a theatrical triple-bill of REVOLT OF THE SLAVES, THE MINOTAUR, and THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT.

Yes, please do give us your opinion of the Revolt Of The Slaves disc.

That Spanish DVD of The Minotaur: is Rosanna Schiaffino in that film?

 

[Jobla]

Not only is Rosanna Schiaffino in THE MINOTAUR, she actually plays twins (one good girl, one evil queen). So, you get two Schiaffino performances for the price of one.

 

[Jobla]

The new MOD of REVOLT OF THE SLAVES is anamorphic widescreen, 2:35-1.

 

[GregoryMesh]

I guess they are now down to 1 release per month. March 8 release -

 

[borisfw]

bummer !

 

[Camps]

what he said.

 

[GregoryMesh]

April 19 title -

 

[Jobla]

Does anybody have the MGM Limited disc of THEREMIN, AN ELECTRONIC ODYSSSEY? Is it missing the Mickey Mouse Club segment about theremins, like previous home video transfers of the film?

 

[GregoryMesh]

Also released today. Hopefully, Kino picked up blu-ray rights for it..