Official KINO Insider Announcements Thread: STRICTLY MODERATED: READ GUIDELINES (1 Viewer)

[MisterLime]

It will probably never happen, but I would love to see the Hallelujah Trail (MGM/UA) released on Blu-ray in the full Ultra Panavision 2.76:1 AR (same as 1962 Mutiny on the Bounty) and 5.1 sound.

Like you said, it'll most likely never happen, and if they ever got the needed funds, The Alamo would be first.

 

[MisterLime]

Just to clarify the MGM/Studio Canal rights issue on "Lion In Winter"...after the Embassy Pictures company was sold in the mid-80s, the assets were split. Embassy Television (which kept the broadcast rights to a majority of the studio's theatrical library) eventually ended up with Sony Pictures Television, which is why whenever you see "Winter" on your local TV station or network you would see the SPT logo at the end. The underlying rights shifted from one company to another. Currently those rights are with StudioCanal. Not all of these films ended up with StudioCanal, however. (Examples: "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians", among some '60s films, is in the public domain, "Time Bandits" is with a company called RLJ [successor to Image Entertainment], the Brut co-productions are with WB/Turner, the ITC co-productions are with ITV, "Caboblanco" is with some indie company but Embassy still holds the copyright). The theatrical rights, currently, are with Rialto Pictures.

Which brings us to the video rights to "Winter". This was among the package of StudioCanal/Embassy films whose video rights were bought by MGM, which are now, of course, leased for this new release to Kino. There is another package of StudioCanal owned Embassy films (such as "Mad Monster Party" and "Savannah Smiles") whose video rights were purchased by Lionsgate and thus can be found through the latter company. Lionsgate also holds certain digital rights to the Embassy library, depending on which platform.

There's Embassy 101 for you. MisterLime, if I am wrong, you can clarify this info at anytime.

Per agreement between MGM/Studio Canal, MGM got to keep the North American home video rights to all AVCO/Embassy titles they had previously released on DVD (The Producers, The Onion Field, The Lion in Winter, etc) and lost the rights to the ones they didn't (Winter Kills, Soldier Blue, etc).

Lionsgate through a licensing deal controls the North American rights to the complete Studio Canal library with a few exceptions, through a licensing deal, they did not purchase them.

 

[trajan007]

Mister Lime--Any chance of CARNAL KNOWLEDGE and RICH IN LOVE from MGM?

 

[Konstantinos]

Mister Lime--Any chance of CARNAL KNOWLEDGE and RICH IN LOVE from MGM?

I remember Criterion having phantom pages for Carnal Knowledge's cast (it was one of the guesses from phantom pages in the other forum in some past month), but I'm not sure if they will release it eventually.

 

[MisterLime]

After our announcement of the Sergio Leone masterpiece, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, some fans shared their concerns regarding the "yellowishness" of the 4K restoration. We looked into this issue and here are some split screen of the before and after work.

 

[Matt Hough]

Immense improvement!

 

[Dave S.G.]

Thank you! This was my only stumbling block. Can't wait to finally retire my DVD.

After our announcement of the Sergio Leone masterpiece, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, some fans shared their concerns regarding the "yellowishness" of the 4K restoration. We looked into this issue and here are some split screen of the before and after work.

View attachment 37461 View attachment 37462 View attachment 37463 View attachment 37464 View attachment 37465 View attachment 37466

 

[Poya Eivazmohammadi]

After our announcement of the Sergio Leone masterpiece, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, some fans shared their concerns regarding the "yellowishness" of the 4K restoration. We looked into this issue and here are some split screen of the before and after work.

View attachment 37461 View attachment 37462 View attachment 37463 View attachment 37464 View attachment 37465 View attachment 37466

Not to sound ungrateful but it could still use some more work. The blacks are still crushed and the yellow tint is still there; it just looks teal now. Keep up the good work, though.

 

[Lil Brutto]

Not to sound ungrateful but it could still use some more work. The blacks are still crushed and the yellow tint is still there; it just looks teal now. Keep up the good work, though.

Agreed. It's a step in the right direction but there's a long way to go in correcting the colors and other aspects of the image. I suspect that there's only so much your people can correct the "yellowish" 4K master.

Don't retire that 20-year old DVD just yet.

 

[PMF]

There are Posts concerning the Sound on "The Lion in Winter" and the Color Palate tweaks on "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly".
I believe that if these two films got definitively nailed within their due corrections, then this could become Kino's opportunity and calling card to rivaling the Olive Signature series; ala "High Noon" and "The Quiet Man".
And if such warranted tweaks and adjustments were to lead to an announced delay, then no shame;
as I am altogether certain that we will all gladly wait, be patient and be supportive.
And what if it become mandatory for Kino to do a market price increase for such restorative work?
Well, then, that would have to require our support, as well.
HTF members, please hit the "Likes" button if you agree to this sentiment; as nothing is for free.
Wishing Kino success on these two transfers.

 

[deepscan]

Misterlime, question about the Selznick library...now that we know you acquired (or rather sub-licensed) the second portion of the Selznick library from ABC/Disney, the door is pretty much open to a definitive collection of nearly all the major films, except, of course, "Gone With The Wind" (now with WB/Turner) and the 1957 version of "A Farewell To Arms" (now with Fox, although your current deal with Fox leaves the door open for the latter film to be issued through your label). Does this mean you will now access from Disney the restored original elements to two films that are in the public domain ("Nothing Sacred" and "Made For Each Other"--unless the copyright on the latter film is still owned by ABC/DIsney)? I do understand the Selznick/PD titles you issued before were authorized by Selznick's estate and the Library of Congress. Also, will you also issue the two versions of "Gone To Earth", assuming Disney has this too?

 

[DannyLewis]

Misterlime, question about the Selznick library...now that we know you acquired (or rather sub-licensed) the second portion of the Selznick library from ABC/Disney, the door is pretty much open to a definitive collection of nearly all the major films, except, of course, "Gone With The Wind" (now with WB/Turner) and the 1957 version of "A Farewell To Arms" (now with Fox, although your current deal with Fox leaves the door open for the latter film to be issued through your label). Does this mean you will now access from Disney the restored original elements to two films that are in the public domain ("Nothing Sacred" and "Made For Each Other"--unless the copyright on the latter film is still owned by ABC/DIsney)? I do understand the Selznick/PD titles you issued before were authorized by Selznick's estate and the Library of Congress. Also, will you also issue the two versions of "Gone To Earth", assuming Disney has this too?

Excellent questions.

By the way, Kino is releasing the 1957 version of A Farewell to Arms, through their deal with Fox.

 

[Garysb]

Misterlime, question about the Selznick library...now that we know you acquired (or rather sub-licensed) the second portion of the Selznick library from ABC/Disney, the door is pretty much open to a definitive collection of nearly all the major films, except, of course, "Gone With The Wind" (now with WB/Turner) and the 1957 version of "A Farewell To Arms" (now with Fox, although your current deal with Fox leaves the door open for the latter film to be issued through your label). Does this mean you will now access from Disney the restored original elements to two films that are in the public domain ("Nothing Sacred" and "Made For Each Other"--unless the copyright on the latter film is still owned by ABC/DIsney)? I do understand the Selznick/PD titles you issued before were authorized by Selznick's estate and the Library of Congress. Also, will you also issue the two versions of "Gone To Earth", assuming Disney has this too?

That also applies to the 1937 "A Star Is Born" which Kino also released via Selznick Estate print. I guess there is a question of who has the original elements, ABC/Disney or Warner Bros. due to the rights to remake the film being sold to Warner Bros. I believe it included the rights to the original film to keep Selznick from re releasing the original film to compete with the 1954 remake. I wonder what an authorized edition from the Selznick Estate means other than they made a print they own available as a basis to produce a blu ray. The Selznick Estate has no ownership of the films.

 

[MisterLime]

Coming Soon on Blu-ray!

Death Rides a Horse (1967) Starring Lee Van Cleef, John Phillip Law, Mario Brega, Luigi Pistilli and Anthony Dawson - Shot by Carlo Carlini (The Big Gundown) - Music by Ennio Morricone (For a Few Dollars More) - Written by Luciano Vincenzoni (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) - Directed by Giulio Petroni (Tepepa)

 

[Randy Korstick]

Thank You Kino. The Mercenary and Death Rides a Horse just made my month!

 

[deepscan]

You guys answered some of my Selznick questions pretty good.

One thing I forgot to mention...either Fox or Universal Television has the elements to the original 1937 "Farewell To Arms", and Fox did the remake, but they failed to renew the copyright there. Being a pre-'50 Paramount release...

...and prints do exist with the WB logo ( they reissued the film at one point--if someone can tell me why they did, that would be great).

 

[MisterLime]

Coming Soon From Kino Classics!
First Time on DVD and Blu-ray!

Manhandled (1924) Starring Gloria Swanson, Tom Moore, Lilyan Tashman, Ian Keith and Frank Morgan - Directed by Allan Dwan

 

[PMF]

After our announcement of the Sergio Leone masterpiece, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, some fans shared their concerns regarding the "yellowishness" of the 4K restoration. We looked into this issue and here are some split screen of the before and after work.
[ref. Post # 4885 for pics]

Immense improvement!

And the anticipations remain at an altogether high.

 

[haineshisway]

Since what I see on my viewing system looks nothing like the green/yellow caps that are relentlessly posted, I'll be curious to see what Kino has done to this - listening to "fans" is not always the way to go. There has been much talk of the 35mm IB Tech print shown at the New Beverly recently and how different it looked - of course it did - it was shown with a Xenon bulb and the print was not timed for such a light source - it was timed for carbon arc projection and anyone thinking any Tech print will have any accuracy in terms of color when projected with a Xenon bulb is, well, wrong. And all the people saying "they haven't gone far enough" are basing these comments on screen caps - no, no, and no. And no again. Li'l Brutto, of course, is in possession of a Tech print and has posted clips and caps galore from it - but again, if it's not being capped and/or clipped with a light source that at least resembles carbon arc light, then it's all completely meaningless.

 

[MisterLime]

One of the main reasons we acquired THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY was to FINALLY release the beloved theatrical cut. Many of the older fans who grew up watching the original disliked and even hated the extended cut, not just because it almost ruins the masterpiece, but also because it had completely replaced the original.

We had no idea the 4K restoration had some complaints due to the overall yellowishness of the master. We decided to do our own tests and agreed that it was a bit too yellow, so we did some minor color correction to create a version we feel is closest to the prints we had all seen screened many times and we don't agree with fans who think we should've gone further to create the look of the old releases, which we felt were too blue. What we'll be releasing will be the essential Blu-ray release of the classic, it will include both cuts, include all the previously produced extras and some very cool new ones. Will everyone be 100% happy with the transfer? We hope so, but realistically we doubt it, we think most of the fans will be very happy, some may still have issues with the color, and others will just post negative comments just to get a reaction because that's what they do.