Blu-ray Review A Few Words About A few words about…™ The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu & The Return of Fu Manchu – in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[RobertMG]

As I said I apologize if I was not very smart in the expression of thoughts my mind still wanders due to my health and I do have problems with what I try to relay. Thanks for your patience Will

MGM was the first to take a chance on Chan! https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/11168/charlie-chan-chanthology/ Now back to the THREAD I just ordered this great KINO release!!!!!!!!!

 

[Will Krupp]

MGM was the first to take a chance on Chan! https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/11168/charlie-chan-chanthology/

It's just too bad they were the lousy ones, lol

 

[Josh Steinberg]

It's just too bad they were the lousy ones, lol

They have a certain charm - there are a couple of those that rank higher than the Fox ones for me

 

[RobertMG]

It's just too bad they were the lousy ones, lol

I got the set after I had gotten all the Fox sets Oh no here I go again I like the corny Monograms ever since I became a Eastide Kid fan. Monogram made some fun films they were the films that all tv stations played in the 1940's-80's to keep the lights on! I do remember any stations airing the Oland Fu Manchus and I grew up when PBS Channel 13 showed tons of Paramount's WISH we will see 1935s The Glass Key --- one of my faves.

 

[Will Krupp]

They have a certain charm - there are a couple of those that rank higher than the Fox ones for me

 

[Will Krupp]

I got the set after I had gotten all the Fox sets Oh no here I go again I like the corny Monograms ever since I became a Eastide Kid fan. Monogram made some fun films they were the films that all tv stations played in the 1940's-80's to keep the lights on! I do remember any stations airing the Oland Fu Manchus and I grew up when PBS Channel 13 showed tons of Paramount's WISH we will see 1935s The Glass Key --- one of my faves.

I'm just giving you both a hard time, lol

 

[Camps]

Coming up in 2 weeks. Anyone seen a review with screengrabs? Don't see anything on DVD Beaver.

 

[ScottHM]

But still, you have to watch these with understanding of where and when these were made, and not by todays standards. Even as recent as 70s series like Kung Fu, it was David Carradine that got the lead role.

I'm surprised we're even able to watch fiction anymore, and not just documentary entertainment where the characters all play themselves. But I'm sure that day is coming.
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[Will Krupp]

But I'm sure that day is coming.
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Well, at least it would give the perpetual whingers something to legitimately whinge about so it might be refreshing at that.

But considering that I don't believe any of us can name a single title that's actually been banned as yet, (hell, you can even buy Birth of a Nation in 4K and have it delivered to you in a matter of days) I think we have a fair amount of time to wait.

But still, you have to watch these with understanding of where and when these were made, and not by todays standards. Even as recent as 70s series like Kung Fu, it was David Carradine that got the lead role.

Agreed, just so long as we can also agree that neither film nor television exists in a vacuum. These are living, breathing slices of our past that people still watch and are still going to have ever changing opinions about.

MORE discussion about film is not inherently bad and learning that other people might be coming at something from a different lived experience shouldn't do anything other than help us each to grow.

Glenn (CineSavant) Erickson told the story on his blog years ago about showing Mildred Pierce to a female friend of his who was African American. He wasn't expecting her to have any issue with it at all but she went immediately cold at the Butterfly McQueen role. It never occured to him beforehand as he didn't live her same experience. Did it make him reject Mildred Pierce? No, why would it? What it did do was make him realize that there are other perspectives out there and they aren't automatically bad just because they force us to see other experiences besides our own.

(Jumps off Soapbox)

 

[ScottHM]

But considering that I don't believe any of us can name a single title that's actually been banned as yet, (hell, you can even buy Birth of a Nation in 4K and have it delivered to you in a matter of days) I think we have a fair amount of time to wait.

Many films have been banned in various places at various times for a variety of reasons. Just because something is available today doesn't mean it wasn't banned somewhere in the past. And just because something is available today doesn't mean it won't be banned in the future. None of which addresses my (attempted) implication that too many people today are lacking in imagination and tolerance.
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[Robert Crawford]

None of which addresses my (attempted) implication that too many people today are lacking in imagination and tolerance.
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That's a discussion for another thread as I think we need to get back on topic in this particular thread.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Well, at least it would give the perpetual whingers something to legitimately whinge about so it might be refreshing at that.

But considering that I don't believe any of us can name a single title that's actually been banned as yet, (hell, you can even buy Birth of a Nation in 4K and have it delivered to you in a matter of days) I think we have a fair amount of time to wait.



Agreed, just so long as we can also agree that neither film nor television exists in a vacuum. These are living, breathing slices of our past that people still watch and are still going to have ever changing opinions about.

MORE discussion about film is not inherently bad and learning that other people might be coming at something from a different lived experience shouldn't do anything other than help us each to grow.

Glenn (CineSavant) Erickson told the story on his blog years ago about showing Mildred Pierce to a female friend of his who was African American. He wasn't expecting her to have any issue with it at all but she went immediately cold at the Butterfly McQueen role. It never occured to him beforehand as he didn't live her same experience. Did it make him reject Mildred Pierce? No, why would it? What it did do was make him realize that there are other perspectives out there and they aren't automatically bad just because they force us to see other experiences besides our own.

(Jumps off Soapbox)

Time to get back on topic as this review thread is about the upcoming Kino release!

 

[Will Krupp]

Time to get back on topic as this review thread is about the upcoming Kino release!

I apologize!

I never thought these would see the light of day on blu-ray (in fact, for years I assumed they were lost films and was glad to be proven wrong.) My pre-order was in on day one.

 

[Robert Harris]

I apologize!

I never thought these would see the light of day on blu-ray (in fact, for years I assumed they were lost films and was glad to be proven wrong.) My pre-order was in on day one.

You won’t regret your decision.

 

[Arthur Powell]

Disney has unfortunately become a convenient scapegoat for whenever a film someone wants isn’t available in the format they prefer it in. There was another thread where Disney was bashed repeatedly for not putting the Chan films on Blu-ray. Nevermind that Blu-ray came into existence in 2006, and Disney didn’t own Fox until 2019, it’s as if Fox bears no responsibility for declining to release them in just format in the 13 years they could have. And then, of course, no one wants to take a moment to ask why Fox didn’t. The answer to that is simple: Fox spent a small fortunate putting their Chan films on disc with newly created masters and bonus features, and those releases failed to turn a profit, as did many catalog titles that were brought to DVD by many different studios. That is the number one reason to the question “Why is X title only on DVD?” I often wish that many titles I like would be profitable on newer formats, but unfortunately they’re not. At this point in my collecting years, I’m trying not to dwell on what we haven’t gotten and instead try to appreciate what we did.

That is interesting to read because I remember reading the exact opposite - that the Chan films did very well on DVD to the surprise of the Fox executives. If the Chan films had tanked, I don't think we would have gotten the full Fox series. Remember, Fox did pull the chord on further Betty Grable and Michael Shayne sets after those respective sets failed so it would be sort of odd that they would have permitted five separate Chan volumes if they weren't selling well. Of course, it is very possible for a DVD set to have sold well but still fail to generate a profit. I was hoping that Kino would have been interested when it could deal with Fox a few years back, but I guess that the DVDs will have to suffice.

To get a little more on topic, I do have the Fu Manchu set on pre-order and am looking forward to seeing these films. Also, I have my fingers cross that WAC can work its magic on The Mask of Fu Manchu .

 

[RobertMG]

That is interesting to read because I remember reading the exact opposite - that the Chan films did very well on DVD to the surprise of the Fox executives. If the Chan films had tanked, I don't think we would have gotten the full Fox series. Remember, Fox did pull the chord on further Betty Grable and Michael Shayne sets after those respective sets failed so it would be sort of odd that they would have permitted five separate Chan volumes if they weren't selling well. Of course, it is very possible for a DVD set to have sold well but still fail to generate a profit. I was hoping that Kino would have been interested when it could deal with Fox a few years back, but I guess that the DVDs will have to suffice.

To get a little more on topic, I do have the Fu Manchu set on pre-order and am looking forward to seeing these films. Also, I have my fingers cross that WAC can work its magic on The Mask of Fu Manchu .

You can still find some of the Fox Chans sets reasonable grab them while u can
Oldies still has that great Shayne box for 5.98! https://www.oldies.com/product-view/75368U.html
Looking forward to these films and with RAH's thumbs up even more so! Wish KINO could get Disney-Fox deal Boy oh boy!

 

[RobertMG]

Time to get back on topic as this review thread is about the upcoming Kino release!

View attachment 140329

Really did not see Jean Arthur's name until now --- WOW this makes these even better LOVE Jean Arthur!

 

[Robert Harris]

Really did not see Jean Arthur's name until now --- WOW this makes these even better LOVE Jean Arthur!

Ms Arthur began her career in 1923, so by the time Fu Manchu came along, she’d had quite a bit of experience.

 

[JoeDoakes]

You can still find some of the Fox Chans sets reasonable grab them while u can
Oldies still has that great Shayne box for 5.98! https://www.oldies.com/product-view/75368U.html
Looking forward to these films and with RAH's thumbs up even more so! Wish KINO could get Disney-Fox deal Boy oh boy!

The Michael Shayne set is terrific. The blend of comedy into the story reminded me of the Rockford Files at its best.

 

[RobertMG]

I know broadcast rights are different then video rights but wouldn't
a 91 year old film be out of copyright by now?

TCM aired

DAUGHTER OF THE DRAGON​