James Whale's The Road Back? (1 Viewer)

[Bryan Tuck]

I was just wondering if anyone knew if this film had ever been released on any home format. Does Universal still hold the rights? Has the film been lost?

Of course, this is the film that the studio took away from Whale and hacked to bits. But it still would be interesting to see, I think. Of course, the ultimate would be if they were able to find Whale's original cut, but I'd settle for the theatrical version right now.

Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[MatthewA]

I don't think the film is available in any form. Halliwell's guide says the rights reverted to Erich Maria Remarque and it was lost. That's all it says.

 

[Charles Ellis]

Really? Check out the IMDB entry- the film still exists! So, there may be some hope for a restoration of Whale's original film, like what Universal had done a few years ago for Touch Of Evil.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0029491/

 

[Mark Zimmer]

I'd like a DVD release of Whale's version of Show Boat too, while we're making wish lists, and Journey's End and Waterloo Bridge, while we're at it. The man is sadly underrepresented on DVD.

 

[RayG]

Does anyone know if Turner Classic Movies has ever shown this?

 

[ChrisPearson]

Yes. Along with Ernst Lubitsch, Mitchell Leisen and Josef von Sternberg – other directors of the period much of whose best work is owned by Universal.

 

[John Morgan]

Well, it certainly is not lost, as I have a bootleg VHS copy that isn't too bad.

Anyway, back when GODS AND MONSTERS came out, I was hoping that Universal would have released a few of Whale's non-horror films...at least on VHS. That would have been the time, but I guess even with a Whale bio-pic playing, that was still not enough incentive for Universal.

 

[Eric Peterson]

HMMMM! Is it a coincidence that Universal holds all of these? I think not. I have strong interest in the Lubitsch titles, Leisen (primarily because Wilder wrote several of them), and Von Sternberg.

Paging Arthur to defend Universal!!!!!

 

[Charles H]

Does anyone know if Whale's PORT OF SEVEN SEAS (1938) still exists? It's an MGM film starring Wallace Beery and Frank Morgan, Maureen O'Sullivan, John Beal in a Preston Sturges screenplay based on Pagnol's "Fanny." I don't believe that TCM has ever shown it.

 

[John Morgan]

Ray...
As best as I remember, I got this title many years ago
from Teakwood Video. They are a company
that has many films that seem never to be on video or
on television anymore.
I can't find my old catalog, but they usually
advertise in CLASSIC IMAGES every month. I believe
they put things on DVDR too. So, if you check that
periodical for their contact information, I am sure
you will find it. And, although not pristine, the ROAD
BACK looks and sounds pretty good for the source.
Good luck,
John