Universal Backlot series still alive : Barbara Stanwyck on 4/27/10 (1 Viewer)

Universal's backlot series is alive and well and on April 27, 2010 (yes, these are pressed discs) they will issue a Barbara Stanwyck set consisting of INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY (1937), THE GREAT MAN'S LADY (1942), THE BRIDE WORE BOOTS (1946), THE LADY GAMBLES (1949) and two of Douglas Sirk's best ALL I DESIRE (1953) and THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW (1956).

You can never have too much Barbara Stanwyck... or Douglas Sirk for that matter.

Awesome! I hope through solid sales a message can be sent to Warners, Universal et al about our preferred format... It's a great collection with some terrific and long-wanted Babs pics.

Excellent! I actually get to buy some movies in April. I've had money burning a whole in my pocket, but none of the other studios want it.

Wonderful news! Must have for me!

Sounds great! Any word on extras?

INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY (1937) ,
The first film appearance of Dr. Kildaire. Joel McCrea played the part in this film. Can't wait.

Was hoping that the next Backlot collection would be Volume 2 of Pre-Code Hollywood, but some Stanwyck will appease me.

I have the Sirks in R2 but getting this nevertheless. It put a smile on my face.

YASSS!!!! This is gonna slay.

Very pleased about The Lady Gambles.

Always nice to see another studio capable of producing pressed discs.

Hopefully they get around to a Blacklot Film Noir set before the DVD market goes completely belly-up.

This is a must buy. Thank you Universal for continuing to release excellent titles on standard DVD. I will continue to your support you releases in this format.

Originally Posted by Jim_K

Always nice to see another studio capable of producing pressed discs.

Click to expand...

It's easy for us to blame the studios, but I don't think it's fair considering the state of the economy and that outside of a small segment of classic film fans, not enough people are buying these releases for them to be profitable enough for the studios.

Originally Posted by Robert Crawford




It's easy for us to blame the studios, but I don't think it's fair considering the state of the economy and that outside of a small segment of classic film fans, not enough people are buying these releases for them to be profitable enough for the studios.

Click to expand...

Yet certain studios (and boutique labels) continue to produce pressed discs in this climate, that fact can't be ignored. For most of these companies, not nearly as much as a few years ago, but that's to be expected. Since the studios/labels aren't in business to release these as a favor to us, it only stands to reason that they must be finding a way to make enough ROI to continue releasing more. How they do it in this economy, I don't know....but good for them.

No doubt that "profitable enough" varies by studio/company as well as their skill in marketing their product.

Originally Posted by Jim_K /forum/thread/297863/universal-backlot-series-still-alive-barbara-stanwyck-on-4-27-10#post_3658214

"It's easy to blame the studios..."
Well, i'm guessing the grousing would have been reduced in half at least had Warners [who initiated this shaft, er shift] not tried to sell the cheap-knock off stuff at full pressed prices. That would seem to suggest that while they're cognizant of the current economic conditions, but have no understanding that it is also effecting their customers.

The Backlot collection so far has had a decidely feminine tilt to it. Most of what was on this collection or the Claudette Colbert Colletion or the Pre-Code Collection would have been date movies at most, or purely "women's pictures" when originally released. The odd thing about it is that Universal has been releasing some fairly obscure films while many other better known films it owns have never been put on DVD. If the trend continues, I would suggest a Veronica Lake collection. Granted, she wasn't in the same league with Claudette Colbert or Barbara Stanwyck acting-wise, but it would be a great pretext for releasing The Glass Key, The Blue Dahlia, and I Married a Witch on DVD. Better yet, release a Veronica Lake-Paulette Goddard Backlot Collection, include those three films plus Paulette Goddard's two unreleased films with Bob Hope The Cat and the Canary and Nothing But the Truth (reportedly two of his best) and Goddard's Kitty (Leonard Maltin calls it one of her best roles) or Northwest Mounted Police. I am grateful for anything but a Backlot Collection with The Glass Key, The Blue Dahlia, I Married a Witch, The Cat and the Canary, Nothing But the Truth, and Kitty would be cause for a major cellebration.

Blue Dahlia and Glass Key are available from UK Universal if you have a region free player. I watched both together this afternoon. Great prints of both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim_K
Always nice to see another studio capable of producing pressed discs.

Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly.

Universal and Sony continue to release pressed discs and I'll support that first.