I suspect that Max Baer Jr. got a contractual stipulation from WB that when he licensed MACON COUNTY LINE to them (after the Anchor Bay deal expired) that it and ODE would go out through WHV proper, and since the Warner Archive didn't exist then, they stuck to that contract to keep him happy; a similar situation likely occurred with Fraser Heston when he licensed MOTHER LODE to them and they gave it a full retail release despite their otherwise diminished interest in catalog product at the time.
As to why it's taken so long for ODE to come out when MACON was so long ago, I suppose it was unexpected problems with the Bobbie Gentry song and/or Michel Legrand score that have mercifully been resolved. Looking forward to picking this up either way!
Have to agree with that. But ODE TO BILLY JOE "was" announced at least 3 yeears ago with an Amazon preorder page.
I do not think Baer has rights to RETURN TO MACON COUNTY. Very frustratinfg this never made it to dvd or archives. Im sure MGM controls it-which would explain its no show only recently.
DVD Empire has ODE TO BILLY JOE back up for Pre-order for March 12, 2013. Not sure if there is a Blu Ray release...but probably not. Heres hoping we actually see it released this time.
Totally missed this news until yesterday, along with the fact that CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER was recently released as well. Teaches me I need to visit the DVD forum here much more often than I do these days.