*** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread (1 Viewer)

[Jon Hertzberg]

Thanks for the confirmation, Jeff. It's too bad because the trailer is available to view online and it's actually pretty good. I happen to have it in 35mm--an eBay purchase from about 10 years ago when that sort of thing was still sold there.

Originally Posted by JeffMc

Ya, I got that disc, too. The so-called "trailer" is just the first 3 minutes of the film. Either it was a technical goof on WB's part, or they just couldn't find the actual trailer to use for the disc.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Originally Posted by Jon Hertzberg

=============

Did Debra Winger's real life mom play her character's mom in this film?!? That'd be cool.

Oh. I see:

(Ruth Winger) Did a voice-over on an answering machine as mother to the heroine, played by her real-life daughter [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000700/]Debra Winger

in the film, "Mike's Murder" (1984).

 

[Chuck Pennington]

It isn't that. The framing is obviously wrong on the DVD. It was matted to 1.85:1, but whoever did the transfer used for the DVD did not matte it appropriately, cropping far too much at the top and nowhere near enough at the bottom.

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon ">[/url]

Maybe the trailer is not a "great barometer"...but those screencaps almost make the film look composed for 4:3 rather than those abysmally framed 16:9 caps.

Since we're talking about an '84 film (and IMDB lists 1.85:1) I'm sure the 16:9 is correct...but there are a lot of missing head tops in those two captures!

 

[Mike Frezon]

Originally Posted by Chuck Pennington /forum/thread/284170/official-warner-archive-dvd-review-thread/210#post_3597691

 

[Brandon Conway]

Definitely a Back to the Future type misframing of the matting issue on that one.

 

[Joe Karlosi]

BAD RONALD (1974)

Last night I watched the Archive DVD and it looked pretty weak, I mean to the point where it distracted me and I was constantly aware of that fact. Mostly with a brownish tint, and faded colors. There was a scene with a girl locked in a basement, and it was so dark that you could not see her facial reactions, and I distinctly remember being able to whenever I saw this TVfilm. And the sound was poor as well; had to keep turning the volume up to catch certain things, and then other noises like screams would be too loud so I'd have to go back down with the sound.

So I'd give the DVD-R of BAD RONALD a thumbs down. But then again, so would I for the movie itself. Here's an example of something that was better when you were 12.

I have to confess that I did feel kind of 'gypped' while watching this, thinking it looked like some kind of inferior bootleg. Yeah, it was only $14.95 instead of $20, but I still felt taken. I think I still have a VHS of this movie recorded off cable, somewhere. Maybe I'll check it out and compare.

 

[Kowalski]

Thanks for the review Joe. This was one I was considering but will pass on now. It's funny what you said about thinking something was good when you were 12. I felt this way about "The Lords of Flatbush" but when I rented it years later on DVD I couldn't believe how bad it was.

 

[Joe Karlosi]

I'm still a fan of THE LORDS OF FLATBUSH (I saw it at 12 also - co-featured with AMERICAN GRAFFITI), but it was always weak tea to me, even then. Still, I do enjoy it even now... more for nostalgic reasons.

 

[Ken_McAlinden]

I just posted a forum review for The Our Gang Collection, available tomorrow, at the following link:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/292269/htf-dvd-review-the-our-gang-collection-warner-archives

This is the first Archive title for which they have sent us an advance review copy.

Regards,

 

[GlennH]

Just FYI, for those who may be interested. I don't know if it's already been mentioned, but dvdtimes has posted reviews of some Warner Archive titles in the past month. Looks like there are three so far:

The Mad Miss Manton

Party Girl

The Beast of the City

 

[JoHud]

Also, while it is more a review of the film itself, Roger Ebert's review of Souls For Sale is based off of the Archives DVD amd mentions that it looks "remarkably good"


http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090729/REVIEWS08/907299989/1004

 

[Ken_McAlinden]

My official forum review of The Tall Target is available at this link:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/294334/htf-dvd-review-the-tall-target-warner-archive

I was recently sent 15 Archive titles to review including The Tall Target. I am in the process of reviewing Green Mansions, and, unfortunately, Hot Millions arrived as an unplayable coaster (you could tell it was screwed up by looking at the disc surface, and it would not play on any DVD player I own). I will list the remaining 12 titles in this thread after I get home this evening and prioritize my subsequent reviews based on the ones you indicate you want the most.

Regards,

 

[Mike Frezon]

Originally Posted by Ken_McAlinden /forum/thread/284170/official-warner-archive-dvd-review-thread/210#post_3621352

 

[RUrahrah]

My 'Hot Millions' was great, definitely better than what I taped from satellite in SP on SVHS.

 

[Ken_McAlinden]

Here are the remaining titles that I have available to review. Any preferences? I am personally leaning towards "Pride of the Marines" next, but would like your input...

• The Patsy (1928 - Marion Davies/Dir. King Vidor)
• Wonder Bar (1934 - Al Jolson)
• Pride of the Marines (1945 - John Garfield/Dir. Delmer Daves)
• The Search (1948 - Montgomery Clift/Dir. Fred Zinneman)
• Highway 301 (1950 Film noir)
• Rhapsody (1954 - Elizabeth Taylor)
• Top Secret Affair (1957 - Kirk Douglas/Susan Hayward)
• Mary Mary (1963 - Debbie Reynolds)
• Never too Late (1965 - Connie Stevens/Paul Ford)
• Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder (1987 TV mini-series - Lee Remick)
• Men Don't Leave (1989 - Jessica Lange)
• Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993 - Robert Duvall/Richard Harris/James Earl Jones)

Regards,

 

[Jon Hertzberg]

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on PRIDE OF THE MARINES.

 

[Matt Hough]

My top picks to see your reviews of would be Wonder Bar, The Search, and Mary, Mary.

 

[borisfw]

My top picks would be

Top Secret Affair

Never Too Late

Mary Mary

Wonder Bar

 

[Rob_Ray]

I'd like to hear your thoughts on:

The Patsy

Wonder Bar

Mary, Mary

 

[Ken_McAlinden]

My official forum review of Green Mansions is available at this link:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/294373/htf-dvd-review-green-mansions-warner-archives

Next up will be Pride of the Marines, Wonder Bar, and Mary Mary, although I may sneak in some reviews of good old fashioned pressed-disc releases in between as well. Even if I do not do a full blown review, I will try to post at least "spot check" comments on the A/V quality for any of the titles for which an interest is expressed in this thread.

Regards,