Naked City: No Longer at Image Entertainment? (1 Viewer)

[Bob Hug]

Just checking the online TV-on-DVD catalog at Image Entertainment's web site and, save for the Criterion release of the original film which inspired the TV series, there is no reference whatsoever to any of the "Naked City" TV series releases. I'm guessing that Image's license to the series has expired. While I can't imagine that Sony would ever release this series, the question is whether or not some other independent might pick this series up, either for additional one hour episodes that Image didn't release or for the early half-hour episodes which have not been released officially on DVD.

I also checked at Amazon and it looks like save a sole single disc release, everything shown there is available only through their affiliated sellers (at some inflated prices). DeepDiscount is showing just one of the single disc releases.

 

[Jeff Willis]

Bob,
I noticed the same thing at various sites shortly after I bought all 3 of the Box Sets (at your recommendation ). The video Q for these sets is amazing considering the age of the series. As you said, it's not likely we'll see another release at least from Sony, but maybe an independent could possibly pick this one up. I remember checking the usual sites after I bought SET 1 & back then they were going OOP fast.

 

[michael_ks]

I have all the episodes that were initially released (60 in all) and am still hoping that Image will release the remaining 39 hour length shows. As Jeff stated, the video quality is exceptional and watching these gives me the impression that I'm viewing NYC by way of a time machine or something--that's how great it looks.

I would really like to see S1 released as well as I'm always ready to add a half hour drama to my vintage collection. Plus I'm very curious to see how James Franciscus handled his role as a NY policeman.

 

[Bob Hug]

Another online retailer, DVDPacific, shows the "Naked City" releases as being discontinued. I picked up all of the box sets but none of the single disc releases as I thought, incorrectly, that Image would eventually go back and bundle the six single releases in two box sets, each with three discs/12 episodes like the other box sets. Box set or single disc release, the Image "Naked City" DVD releases are now beginning to command Out of Print prices.

 

[John DeAngelis]

I similarly have all the Naked City DVDs and want to echo what's already been said about the high quality of the transfers and the amazing footage of New York City in the early 1960s that was such an integral part of the show. (Great music by Nelson Riddle and Billy May, too!)

My favorite image among all the DVD episodes is when you see someone getting off a subway train and the camera pulls back to reveal that the platform and tracks are just beyond the centerfield bleachers of Yankee Stadium, with a stunning view of the entire stadium that was eliminated when it was renovated shortly thereafter. It's a breathtaking shot, and I'm not even a Yankees fan!

I too hope that the remainder of these shows gets released. Could VCI be compelled to take a stab at it now that they've made their dubbing and widescreening mistakes with "Route 66" and have hopefully learned their lesson?

 

[Bob Hug]

I too hope that the remainder of these shows gets released. Could VCI be compelled to take a stab at it now that they've made their dubbing and widescreening mistakes with "Route 66" and have hopefully learned their lesson?

It's the Infinity Entertainment Group that's releasing "Route 66," not VCI. But VCI might be a good choice as they did a very good job with "Burke's Law" and previews for their upcoming "Honey West" release also look good.

 

[John DeAngelis]

It's the Infinity Entertainment Group that's releasing "Route 66," not VCI. But VCI might be a good choice...

Thanks for providing the correct info, Bob. Anybody know anyone at VCI?

 

[ToddR2]

Image seems to have gotten out of the vintage TV on DVD market since they were sold. If so, it's a shame as they do the best job with such releases of any company, major or minor, with the possible exception of Time Life. Their recent I Spy repackaging is the only older title they have released since the sale. I emailed Image over a year ago to ask whether they had plans to release the remaining 39 60 minute episodes, and received a "no plans at this time"-type reply. Image did a fabulous job with Naked City, and I hope that they finish releasing this brilliant series. Perhaps the older collections are going OOP so that they can reissue the series in season sets, a la I Spy. Gord or Dave, perhaps one of you can shed some light on Image's future?

 

[Bob Hug]

I don't know whether Image has left the vintage TV-on-DVD business, but they've certainly slowed output. However, in addition to "I Spy," Image still lists the following vintage series in their on-line catalog (and I'm probably missing a few):

Combat!

Dick Van Dyke Show

Gene Autry Show

Jason King

Tales of Tomorrow

Twilight Zone

And they are distributors for S'more Entertainment, which has several vintage TV-on-DVD releases, most recently season 6 of "Make Room for Daddy" released earlier this year.

What concerns me is that "Naked City" is completely missing from their catalog and that's not the case for "I Spy" which is still showing (though the three original box sets are no longer showing, replaced by the season sets). That suggests to me that the license of "Naked City" to Image may have been for a limited time and has expired, similar to the licensing situation of "The Rifleman" to MPI. I'd surely love to see more episodes of "Naked City" but it appears to be in limbo, at least for the time being.

 

[Cheetah]

Perhaps the older collections are going OOP so that they can reissue the series in season sets, a la I Spy.

That is what I have been waiting for. Too bad that Image didn't have the rights to the entire series if it is near the bottom of Sony’s priority list. From reading about the quality of the transfers and the original commercials included as a bonus it was quite tempting to get the older collections. Now with them going OOP it is obviously a matter of either getting them now or waiting even longer...taking this as a sign that full season sets may be released at some point in the not too distant future. Part of me feels I am being too optimistic and should buy the older releases before they command even higher prices. However I think that's what I will continue to do.

 

[Bob Hug]

Just reviving this thread to see if anyone has heard anything further about the status of "Naked City." I haven't heard anything about the series' status on DVD as to whether there might be some sort of reissue of previously released episodes or if any new episodes might be released. The three sets and six individual releases are all commanding high prices at Amazon these days.

 

[Charles H]

My most desired dvd complete dvd collection. I would happily rebuy all the image dvds if Shout or Infinity or VCI or S'More would bring out the complete series (including the half-hour episodes) on dvd!

 

[Mike*HTF]

Many thanks to Bob for posting this back in the day.
Because of it I was able to pick up most of the series before prices went out of hand.
A shame that they didn't finish the entire series though.

 

[WaveCrest]

I've just had a look at the Amazon.com listing pages for the three DVD sets for Naked City, and am interested in getting them, but not at the prices they're charging. I'd read about this series before but not looked at anything else on the web about the episodes. It sounds similar to Law & Order with it being shot on location in New York.

 

[oldtvshowbuff]

If you check out TV Shows on DVD website, Image is going to re-release Naked City later this year through its newly acquired Madacy Entertainment. This DVD collection is a repackaging of the earlier Image releases, albeit twenty episodes less in a 40-episode set selling for $29.98 SRP. I would have liked to see Shout! Factory acquire the rights to make it a complete series collection myself, but it ain't gonna happen. I still do cherish my out-of-print Image sets of 60 episodes from seasons 2-4.

 

[Guy Foulard]

Discussed more recently here:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/323210/naked-city-new-10dvd-set-coming-in-november