Kino-Lorber Insider Announcement Thread (Read Guidelines Post #3) (9 Viewers)

[Robert Crawford]

I once asked the Warner Archive Collection if they planned to release A Bill of Divorcement, and they mentioned they no longer owned the film rights. Through a little digging, I found that many of the David O. Selznick titles (and Kino has released several- Portrait of Jennie and Since You Went Away to name a couple) were owned by ABC Films (a.k.a. Disney). Whether this is still true or not, I don't know, but this was the case when many of these Selznick titles were licensed by Anchor Bay in 2000 for VHS (A Bill of Divorcement included) and MGM for DVD a few years after (minus A Bill of Divorcement. Hope this information proves useful. Regardless of its ownership, I'm just stoked to see this film finally surface on DVD/Blu-Ray after such a long-absence from home entertainment media.

Yeah, I thought of the David O. Selznick connection too with the Vanguard Films, Inc. as just about all of those films are being released by Kino including one of my favorites The Spiral Staircase. However, from what I can gather, A Bill For Divorcement is not a Vanguard Film production nor Selznick International Picture. Unless, Vanguard or Selznick bought its rights after the film was released. Perhaps a side deal also happened later on between Warner and those that control the rights to most of Selznick productions in which they're allowing A Bill of Divorcement to be released on disc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard_Films

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selznick_International_Pictures

 

[Justin Ray]

RKO must have sold the rights to A Bill of Divorcement-- much like Topaze. Originally an RKO film, WB doesn't own the rights for this film anymore either. Tis a Puzzlement!

 

[Robert Crawford]

RKO must have sold the rights to A Bill of Divorcement-- much like Topaze. Originally an RKO film, WB doesn't own the rights for this film anymore either. Tis a Puzzlement!

That's what I'm thinking what happened as I wonder if they sold the rights to the 1940 version with Maureen O'Hara too?

 

[Robert Crawford]

The more I think about it, the more I think RKO sold the rights of A Bill of Divorcement and Topaze to Selznick years later.

 

[Justin Ray]

Not Kino related, of course, but it would be interesting for someone to create a book that discusses the rights' trajectory of so many of these classic films no longer affiliated with their home studio... or perhaps, I'm just a nerd...

 

[J. Casey]

Someone has mentioned that BILL is from the Paramount Film Archive! How did they end up with it? Lots of confusion regarding this title...maybe Kino can clear it up! Ultimately, I am also just happy to see it released on blu.

 

[Matt Hough]

Not Kino related, of course, but it would be interesting for someone to create a book that discusses the rights' trajectory of so many of these classic films no longer affiliated with their home studio... or perhaps, I'm just a nerd...

I'd be very interested in such a book (even if I'm a nerd, too)!

 

[ahollis]

So Kino has a deal with Warner Bros ? Any details? Are these going to be mostly RKO ?

Bill Of Divorcement is not part of the Warner RKO libarary.

 

[Kino Lorber Insider]

Coming Soon on DVD and Blu-ray!
Brand New HD Master from 4K scan of the 35mm Original Negative & Finegrain by Paramount Pictures Archive!

The Bigamist (1953) Starring Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, Edmond O'Brien, Edmund Gwenn, Kenneth Tobey and Jane Darwell - Screenplay by Collier Young (Act of Violence) - Shot by George E. Diskant (The Narrow Margin) - Directed by Ida Lupino (The Hitch-Hiker)

 

[Kino Lorber Insider]

So Kino has a deal with Warner Bros ? Any details? Are these going to be mostly RKO ?

Is A Bill of Devorcement a Warners title? Or Does Warners control the RKO library?

Do you guys now have a deal with Warner as this title is an old RKO title that is own by Warner now?

No Warner deal, A Bill of Divorcement is from our Disney deal. It's a David O. Selznick production.

Warner does control most of the RKO library, some RKO titles are no longer with them and some are PD, like the ones we've acquired from Lobster films, Stingaree, Deluge, etc.

 

[Dick]

Who now has D.O.A. (1950) and NARROW MARGIN (1952)? Would sure love to see those getting released.

 

[Robert Crawford]

No Warner deal, A Bill of Divorcement is from our Disney deal. It's a David O. Selznick production.

Warner does control most of the RKO library, some RKO titles are no longer with them and some are PD, like the ones we've acquired from Lobster films, Stingaree, Deluge, etc.

Thank you that's what I thought that it belongs to ABC/Disney.

 

[ahollis]

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

Who now has D.O.A. (1950) and NARROW MARGIN (1952)? Would sure love to see those getting released.

D.O.A. is usually considered public domain, I don't know who would have elements (if they even exist).

Narrow Margin is a Warner title.

 

[TheSteig]

DOA is with Wade Williams

 

[Dick]

DOA is with Wade Williams

Oh, shit.

 

[dana martin]

Oh, shit.

just what i was thinking

 

[TheSteig]

From what Ive gathered he stopped The FIlm Detective from releasing DOA. He also has Detour, Impact and a lot of other goodies from camp to classic. - I keep hearing he might be putting some titles on Blu ray but there is no ETA or anything remotely close other than "its in the works"
We'll see..

 

[Tom St Jones]

Before I finally 'pull the trigger' on the existing edition - any chance a KL remastered/ special editn of HANG 'EM HIGH is in the offing?

 

[commander richardson]

DOA is with Wade Williams

Exactly who is Wade Williams ???....I have never heard of him ...should I have done ???