Honoring William Wyler With a BOX SET! (1 Viewer)

[OliverK]

Surprised no studios have co-operated to create a William Wyler Box Set think of all his films

The Best Years Of Our Lives
Ben Hur
Detective Story
Funny Girl
The Big Country
Roman Holiday
The Heiress
The Letter
Wuthering Heights
Zezebel
Dodsworth
These Three

and on and on and on!

It would be great to have such a box set from a director that so far has been passed over on Blu-ray to a higher degree - much more tempting to get a box set where a higher percentage of the movies are either remasters or new to Blu-ray.

 

[ricromeo]

It would be great to have such a box set from a director that so far has been passed over on Blu-ray to a higher degree - much more tempting to get a box set where a higher percentage of the movies are either remasters or new to Blu-ray.

4K, 4K, 4K !!!!!!!

 

[OliverK]

4K, 4K, 4K !!!!!!!

I'll take that, too!

 

[jayembee]

Just remember that there are different studios with his movies. IMO, the box sets are going to be harder to release, especially, for directors that have most of their most important films already on Blu-ray and released by different studios.

never thought about that -- there were some collections released I thought that had different studios involved

Generally speaking, no, there haven't been. The only notable exception that I can think of is a Stanley Kubrick collection that Warner put out that included MGM-owned titles (Paths of Glory and The Killing) and one Sony-owned (Dr. Strangelove). On the other hand, when Fox was acting as a distributor for MGM discs, they did tend to release sets that were a mixture of Fox-owned and MGM-owned titles (like their Coen Brothers box or their Forever Marilyn set).

Warner also managed to put out a Mad Max trilogy set (before Fury Road came out) that included the MGM-owned first film, as well as a Terminator set that included the MGM-owned first film and the Lionsgate-owned second. But those were much smaller deals than what you're proposing.

Speaking personally, I'm fine with sets when it comes to series films, but otherwise (with exceptions) tend to prefer individual releases.

Just as a PS: My late sister was a classic movie fan. At one point, she realized that a lot of her favorite movies were directed by Wyler, and he became the first director whose films she "collected".

 

[RobertMG]

Generally speaking, no, there haven't been. The only notable exception that I can think of is a Stanley Kubrick collection that Warner put out that included MGM-owned titles (Paths of Glory and The Killing) and one Sony-owned (Dr. Strangelove). On the other hand, when Fox was acting as a distributor for MGM discs, they did tend to release sets that were a mixture of Fox-owned and MGM-owned titles (like their Coen Brothers box or their Forever Marilyn set).

Warner also managed to put out a Mad Max trilogy set (before Fury Road came out) that included the MGM-owned first film, as well as a Terminator set that included the MGM-owned first film and the Lionsgate-owned second. But those were much smaller deals than what you're proposing.

Speaking personally, I'm fine with sets when it comes to series films, but otherwise (with exceptions) tend to prefer individual releases.

Just as a PS: My late sister was a classic movie fan. At one point, she realized that a lot of her favorite movies were directed by Wyler, and he became the first director whose films she "collected".

Wasn't the Kazan Collection multi studio?

 

[Patrick McCart]

A box set would be nice, but I have doubts the enormity of his body of work, not to mention having films owned by literally every major studio plus several smaller entities, would be that practical. Perhaps something for his Samuel Goldwyn films (only Dodsworth is on Blu-ray)?

 

[Robert Crawford]

Generally speaking, no, there haven't been. The only notable exception that I can think of is a Stanley Kubrick collection that Warner put out that included MGM-owned titles (Paths of Glory and The Killing) and one Sony-owned (Dr. Strangelove). On the other hand, when Fox was acting as a distributor for MGM discs, they did tend to release sets that were a mixture of Fox-owned and MGM-owned titles (like their Coen Brothers box or their Forever Marilyn set).

Warner also managed to put out a Mad Max trilogy set (before Fury Road came out) that included the MGM-owned first film, as well as a Terminator set that included the MGM-owned first film and the Lionsgate-owned second. But those were much smaller deals than what you're proposing.

Speaking personally, I'm fine with sets when it comes to series films, but otherwise (with exceptions) tend to prefer individual releases.

Just as a PS: My late sister was a classic movie fan. At one point, she realized that a lot of her favorite movies were directed by Wyler, and he became the first director whose films she "collected".

I think the home video landscape is much more difficult to navigate today, especially with each studio having their own streaming service. Studios are more inclined to protect their assets even though many of them don’t fully understand nor appreciate their film library.

 

[jayembee]

A box set would be nice, but I have doubts the enormity of his body of work, not to mention having films owned by literally every major studio plus several smaller entities, would be that practical. Perhaps something for his Samuel Goldwyn films (only Dodsworth is on Blu-ray)?

The other problem with the idea of a big Wyler set...

As some have pointed out, a number of his films are already out on Blu-ray, and Wyler fans likely already have them.

For those of his films that aren't on Blu-ray, to put them out in a box set would kind of require them to wait until all of the films are ready to be released together. If a film is restored, and ready to go, there's no reason to hold it back while other films are being prepped.

 

[SeanSKA]

Wasn't the Kazan Collection multi studio?

The only Kazan collection I could think of consisted only of his Fox films on Blu-ray (So no "East of Eden", "Baby Doll" or "On the Waterfront"). IIRC it was only available from Fox's short-lived website, and wasn't in retail B&M stores

 

[SeanSKA]

Generally speaking, no, there haven't been. The only notable exception that I can think of is a Stanley Kubrick collection that Warner put out that included MGM-owned titles (Paths of Glory and The Killing) and one Sony-owned (Dr. Strangelove). On the other hand, when Fox was acting as a distributor for MGM discs, they did tend to release sets that were a mixture of Fox-owned and MGM-owned titles (like their Coen Brothers box or their Forever Marilyn set).

Warner also managed to put out a Mad Max trilogy set (before Fury Road came out) that included the MGM-owned first film, as well as a Terminator set that included the MGM-owned first film and the Lionsgate-owned second. But those were much smaller deals than what you're proposing.

Speaking personally, I'm fine with sets when it comes to series films, but otherwise (with exceptions) tend to prefer individual releases.

Just as a PS: My late sister was a classic movie fan. At one point, she realized that a lot of her favorite movies were directed by Wyler, and he became the first director whose films she "collected".

Was that Kubrick set in Europe ? Because in America, the only WB Kubrick set included "Strangelove" as a non-WB titles

 

[jayembee]

The only Kazan collection I could think of consisted only of his Fox films on Blu-ray (So no "East of Eden", "Baby Doll" or "On the Waterfront"). IIRC it was only available from Fox's short-lived website, and wasn't in retail B&M stores

There were two Kazan at Fox collections, both of them Fox-only titles.
Volume One: Boomerang! / Gentleman's Agreement / Panic in the Streets / Pinky
Volume Two: Man on a Tightrope / A Tree Grows in Brooklyn / Viva Zapata! / Wild River

And, yes, they were only available from the FoxConnect web store.

Was that Kubrick set in Europe ? Because in America, the only WB Kubrick set included "Strangelove" as a non-WB titles

You're right. Paths of Glory and The Killing were not in the set. That set was called "Stanley Kubrick Collection", had seven films, and came out in 1999. But there was a different set, called "Stanley Kubrick Essential Collection" in 2011 with an additional two films: one was the Warner film Eyes Wide Shut, the other was the Universal-owned Spartacus.

 

[OliverK]

I think that box sets from one studio are fine and they should include at least all or at least the vast majority of movies that a director did at a certain studio or it gets silly. Still it is unlikely I would buy them as the titles I really want I have bought already and I am not into double dipping unless picture quality is improved or a more complete version of a movie gets released or something else fixed.

So my advice to studios would be to not do too much with box sets - sales may be disappointing and that is not because people do not like a certain director but because they do like him and already have most of his movies!

 

[RobertMG]

I think that box sets from one studio are fine and they should include at least all or at least the vast majority of movies that a director did at a certain studio or it gets silly. Still it is unlikely I would buy them as the titles I really want I have bought already and I am not into double dipping unless picture quality is improved or a more complete version of a movie gets released or something else fixed.

So my advice to studios would be to not do too much with box sets - sales may be disappointing and that is not because people do not like a certain director but because they do like him and already have most of his movies!

See on Amazon

 

[RobertMG]

There were two Kazan at Fox collections, both of them Fox-only titles.
Volume One: Boomerang! / Gentleman's Agreement / Panic in the Streets / Pinky
Volume Two: Man on a Tightrope / A Tree Grows in Brooklyn / Viva Zapata! / Wild River

And, yes, they were only available from the FoxConnect web store.



You're right. Paths of Glory and The Killing were not in the set. That set was called "Stanley Kubrick Collection", had seven films, and came out in 1999. But there was a different set, called "Stanley Kubrick Essential Collection" in 2011 with an additional two films: one was the Warner film Eyes Wide Shut, the other was the Universal-owned Spartacus.

Disc 2
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945): Based on Betty Smith’s novel, the film tells the story of a girl who strives for a better life, despite her family’s poverty, which is caused in part by her father’s alcoholism. Joan Blondell co-stars as free-spirited Aunt Sissy. James Dunn won an Oscar for his role as the girl’s father.

Disc 3
Boomerang! (1947): When a local priest is murdered, a nervous drifter is fingered as the murderer. He denies committing the crime, but it’s up to a prosecutor (Dana Andrews) who believes the man is innocent to convince the court. The film is based on a true story. The film was nominated for an Oscar.

Disc 4
Gentleman’s Agreement (1947): A journalist (Gregory Peck) poses as a Jew, and soon discovers what is to be a victim of religious intolerance. The film won three Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.

Disc 5
Pinky (1949): A light-skinned black woman (Jeanne Crain) who’s been passing for white at a northern nursing school returns to the South, where she’s asked to care for an ailing white woman (Ethel Barrymore), who wants nothing to do with her. Pinky must negotiate tricky racial politics in life and love. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Disc 6
Panic in the Streets (1950): A public health worker (Richard Widmark) and a police captain (Paul Douglas) have only 48 hours to stop a pneumonic plague outbreak from spreading across New Orleans. Zero Mostel and Jack Palance co-star in the film, which won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.

Discs 7 and 8
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951): Based on Tennessee Williams’ play, Vivien Leigh stars as Blanche DuBois, a fading Southern belle who’s not quite what she pretends to be. All is revealed when she comes to New Orleans to stay with her sister (Kim Hunter) and her volatile husband (Marlon Brando). Leigh, Hunter, and Karl Malden took home Oscars for their performances.

Disc 9
Viva Zapata! (1952): Marlon Brando stars as Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata who takes on corrupt president Porfirio Diaz, topples him, and then becomes disillusioned with his brother (Anthony Quinn) who takes Diaz’s place. John Steinbeck wrote the film’s screenplay and Quinn took home a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Disc 10
Man on a Tightrope (1953): Fredric March stars in this story of a Czechoslovakian circus troop whose members are drafted into the military when the communists take over. But as they near the Bavarian border, they decide to make a break to escape to the West.

Disc 11
On the Waterfront (1954): Marlon Brando stars in this controversial film about an ex-boxer turned longshoreman who decides to stand up to his corrupt union bosses. The film won eight Oscars, including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Supporting Actress for Eva Marie Saint.

Discs 12 and 13
East of Eden (1955): Based on John Steinbeck’s novel, this film is a loose retelling of the Biblical Cain and Abel story. James Dean stars as Cal, who competes with his brother Aron (Richard Davalos) for the love of his father (Raymond Massey). Jo Van Fleet won an Oscar for her role as Cal’s opportunistic mother.

Disc 14
Baby Doll (1956): Based on Tennessee Williams’ play “27 Wagons Full of Cotton,” this film’s racy plot about a virgin bride (Carroll Baker) caught between her husband (Karl Malden) and his rival (Eli Wallach) provoked an outcry from the Catholic league. The film was nominated for four Oscars.

Disc 15
A Face in the Crowd (1957): Andy Griffith stars as Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, a drunken drifter stumbles into fame and power on a new medium called television. But will he be unmasked as a fraud?

Disc 16
Wild River (1960): Montgomery Clift stars as a Tennessee Valley Authority administrator who must deal with the racial politics of hiring black workers. He also must evict and old woman (Jo Van Fleet) from her home, but then he falls in love with her daughter (Lee Remick).

Disc 17
Splendor in the Grass (1961): Warren Beatty made his film debut in this story of a girl (Natalie Wood) who love for a local boy and pressure to be a “good girl” from her parents drives her to madness. The film won an Oscar for Best Screenplay.

Disc 18
America, America (1963): This film is the loose adaptation of the real-life story of Elia Kazan’s uncle who grew up as part of the Greek minority in Turkey. He travels to Constantinople to escape persecution, but dreams of living in America. The film was nominated for four Oscars.

 

[Robert Crawford]

See on Amazon

I bought that DVD box for $120 back in 2011. The Home Video market was a lot different then compared to now. Such a box will never happen today with Blu-ray or 4K releases because those titles are spread across multiple studios.

 

[RobertMG]

I bought that DVD box for $120 back in 2011. The Home Video market was a lot different then compared to now. Such a box will never happen today with Blu-ray or 4K releases because those titles are spread across multiple studios.

Understood but Warners if they still do Goldwyn could do a nice set of his unreleased Goldwyns etc has Wuthering Heights made it to Blu?

 

[Robert Crawford]

Understood but Warners if they still do Goldwyn could do a nice set of his unreleased Goldwyns etc has Wuthering Heights made it to Blu?

The question remains does Warner still have access to that Goldwyn library for those unreleased titles?

 

[RobertMG]

The question remains does Warner still have access to that Goldwyn library for those unreleased titles?

I know still got my fingers crossed on The Bishop's Wife which of course Goldwyn wanted Wyler to direct by he had had enough of Goldwyn

 

[OliverK]

Disc 2
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945): Based on Betty Smith’s novel, the film tells the story of a girl who strives for a better life, despite her family’s poverty, which is caused in part by her father’s alcoholism. Joan Blondell co-stars as free-spirited Aunt Sissy. James Dunn won an Oscar for his role as the girl’s father.

Disc 3
Boomerang! (1947): When a local priest is murdered, a nervous drifter is fingered as the murderer. He denies committing the crime, but it’s up to a prosecutor (Dana Andrews) who believes the man is innocent to convince the court. The film is based on a true story. The film was nominated for an Oscar.

Disc 4
Gentleman’s Agreement (1947): A journalist (Gregory Peck) poses as a Jew, and soon discovers what is to be a victim of religious intolerance. The film won three Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.

Disc 5
Pinky (1949): A light-skinned black woman (Jeanne Crain) who’s been passing for white at a northern nursing school returns to the South, where she’s asked to care for an ailing white woman (Ethel Barrymore), who wants nothing to do with her. Pinky must negotiate tricky racial politics in life and love. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Disc 6
Panic in the Streets (1950): A public health worker (Richard Widmark) and a police captain (Paul Douglas) have only 48 hours to stop a pneumonic plague outbreak from spreading across New Orleans. Zero Mostel and Jack Palance co-star in the film, which won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.

Discs 7 and 8
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951): Based on Tennessee Williams’ play, Vivien Leigh stars as Blanche DuBois, a fading Southern belle who’s not quite what she pretends to be. All is revealed when she comes to New Orleans to stay with her sister (Kim Hunter) and her volatile husband (Marlon Brando). Leigh, Hunter, and Karl Malden took home Oscars for their performances.

Disc 9
Viva Zapata! (1952): Marlon Brando stars as Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata who takes on corrupt president Porfirio Diaz, topples him, and then becomes disillusioned with his brother (Anthony Quinn) who takes Diaz’s place. John Steinbeck wrote the film’s screenplay and Quinn took home a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Disc 10
Man on a Tightrope (1953): Fredric March stars in this story of a Czechoslovakian circus troop whose members are drafted into the military when the communists take over. But as they near the Bavarian border, they decide to make a break to escape to the West.

Disc 11
On the Waterfront (1954): Marlon Brando stars in this controversial film about an ex-boxer turned longshoreman who decides to stand up to his corrupt union bosses. The film won eight Oscars, including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Supporting Actress for Eva Marie Saint.

Discs 12 and 13
East of Eden (1955): Based on John Steinbeck’s novel, this film is a loose retelling of the Biblical Cain and Abel story. James Dean stars as Cal, who competes with his brother Aron (Richard Davalos) for the love of his father (Raymond Massey). Jo Van Fleet won an Oscar for her role as Cal’s opportunistic mother.

Disc 14
Baby Doll (1956): Based on Tennessee Williams’ play “27 Wagons Full of Cotton,” this film’s racy plot about a virgin bride (Carroll Baker) caught between her husband (Karl Malden) and his rival (Eli Wallach) provoked an outcry from the Catholic league. The film was nominated for four Oscars.

Disc 15
A Face in the Crowd (1957): Andy Griffith stars as Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, a drunken drifter stumbles into fame and power on a new medium called television. But will he be unmasked as a fraud?

Disc 16
Wild River (1960): Montgomery Clift stars as a Tennessee Valley Authority administrator who must deal with the racial politics of hiring black workers. He also must evict and old woman (Jo Van Fleet) from her home, but then he falls in love with her daughter (Lee Remick).

Disc 17
Splendor in the Grass (1961): Warren Beatty made his film debut in this story of a girl (Natalie Wood) who love for a local boy and pressure to be a “good girl” from her parents drives her to madness. The film won an Oscar for Best Screenplay.

Disc 18
America, America (1963): This film is the loose adaptation of the real-life story of Elia Kazan’s uncle who grew up as part of the Greek minority in Turkey. He travels to Constantinople to escape persecution, but dreams of living in America. The film was nominated for four Oscars.

I probably have only two of these on Blu-ray so it is a very good example of a box set that I would buy if it was out on Blu-ray.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I probably have only two of these on Blu-ray o it is a very good example of a box set that I would buy if it was out on Blu-ray.

I only have "Splendor in the Grass" and "America America" not on Blu-ray. I'm hoping that WA finally releases "Splendor in the Grass" on Blu-ray in the future. I have some serious doubt about "America America".