Dead DVD Titles! (1 Viewer)

I read a recent thread that People have had problems playing back certain dvd's after not using them for quite a time. Mainly Universal's R1 Apollo 13 CE.
There are reports of people saying that they have no scratches or marks on their discs and their dvd players wont play them back.

I thought I would start a thread deditacted to this problem. If there already is a thread, I apologise.

My machine will not play back

A Night No Remember Criterion Edition
Apollo 13 CE R1

So, obviously Universal titles are renowned for this problem.

Wow! You won't believe what happened to me just the other day. The Thing died. No, not my player - the Universal movie! I just haven't done anything about it yet.

Earlier this year, my copy of 'The Jackel' crapped out on me too. I had to email them twice, but after that I just sent it back to them and they sent me a new one. Apparently, they had a bad pressing on some titles, which they fixed by releasing it again the following year.

Gotta look that one up.

Glenn

I mentioned this before, but my Psycho and Vertigo DVDs that I bought in 1998 will no longer play. And a co-worker told me that her original Carlito's Way disc has the same exact problem .
It seems most of the problem titles were from Universal

I've had 4 titles in my collection stop working over the last couple years. 2001, Heathers SE, Psycho(1960), and The Pianist. The latter two were Universal titles and Heathers was due to a bad pressing by Anchor Bay.

I hope this isn't a widespread problem with Universal DVDs since I own quite a few of their discs. Does anyone have their contact information?

The first DVD I ever bought was "Daylight" from Universal when their discs were still being made in Japan, and it still plays fine. The only disc I had die on me was Halloween 4, which played fine when new but a year later lost its gold color and would no longer read. It was a dual-layer disc made by Crest National.
"Kentucky Fried Movie" is another title famous for rotting, but I bought that the first week it was out and it's still fine.

hmm, I have Psycho but I bought it in 2002. Think it has the smae problem or will it in another four years?

DVDs were supposed to last FOREVER, consarnit!

Universal had some bad programmers/machines, or whatever, that has caused a lot of their 1997 releases to just die out. You should make sure that you have a '97 release and not a later one if you are going to contact them. This is from the Digital Bits:
Universal Studios Home Video
70 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
(818) 777-4400

Web site: http://homevideo.universalstudios.com/
E-mail (form on site): http://www.universalstudios.com/home...gi?email_id=10

The last time I emailed them and got an address to send the disk to. They sent back the 'newer' model. Explain that it is a '97 release, and that you have heard of this happening before.

Glenn

My "The Thing (Collector's Edition)" won't play in any of my players, so I called the number that Glenn posted and was transferred around finally to the guy in charge of DVD's, Rene. He wasn't in, so I left my phone number and a short message. Eddie from Customer Relations called back
(972-293-5903) and gave me instructions on who to mail the disc back and give a brief description of the problem. Since I bought it when it first came out, they said only new or recent purchases would they send a pre-paid mailer.
Since it was in 1997 or 1998 when I bought it, I could understand their reasoning. Anyway, he said it would probably take 4-6 weeks, and if I haven't received it by then, to give him a call at the phone number. He was pleasant hopefully I will receive a disc that works. My "Apollo 13" and "Psycho" discs that I bought in 1997 or 1998 still work though. Go figure. Hopes this helps if you are going to try and get a working disc.

Nice, Terry! I have yet to call them about my copy of 'The Thing'.

Anyway, just get a 6" x 9" envelope. The ones I get have the bubbles inside. It makes for a really tight fit but it works! Then just 5 regular stamps on it.

Of course, then you wait!

Glenn

I have talked with eddie a few times from the universal costomer service.. he is a really good guy..I would recommend talking with him if you have a problem or whatever.

JACOB

I just received my fixed copy of "The Thing" in the mail today, and it plays fine. Took over 6 weeks, but Universal replaced it and I am pleased that they took care of me. It was the original release since I don't care that much about special features to upgrade to the new 2 disc set.

why do the discs stop working?

My Criterion Collection dvd of Federico Fellini's
AMARCORD doesn't run anymore. I have tried it on 4 different players, and i don't see any damage to the disk.

K

I watched Apollo 13 about 6 months ago after not seeing it for about 2 or 3 years and it played fine.

Jason it has to do with the glue that holds the two layers together. Sometimes it just dries up and wears out.

My copy of Stakeout died, played at least twice before with no problems. Now isn't recognised by any dvd player :frowning:

All my old Universal titles still play and hopefully stay that way

I also have a couple of discs that play in dvd-rom drives but not in dvd players. Maybe because they need the better error correction

Just discovered that my copy of Satan in High Heels (from Something Weird Video) no longer plays. I tried it in my desktop computer, my laptop computer, and my DVD player to no avail.

My copy of the first Spy Kids just won't work, but I had it about 4 months before even putting it in. Figure they won't do anything about it now.

Mike

Interesting thread...gotta check out my copies of any discs that are mentioned as possible candidates.

Last year my copy of Carlito's Way stopped playing in any of my players (since I was wanting to upgrade to the new release I just trashed the old one and picked up the new one)...a few days ago I caught a few minutes of Casino on t.v. which made me want to watch the dvd later that evening...this disc also would not play in any of my players.

Thanks for the info in getting replacements

I have had about 4 or 5 titles stop working for me. Heathers, Kentucky Fried Movie, Blues Brothers and a Hammer movie title that escapes my mind. I also have heard that L.A. Confidential will go bad on you.