What's new

Paramount and Lindsay Anderson's IF........ (1 Viewer)

Joined
Jul 14, 2001
Messages
28
When Mr. Martin Blythe asked the HTF community what they wanted Paramount to put on DVD, the film IF... came up on a couple of lists from posters here. Are there any plans to issue this film on DVD anytime soon? I saw a new print of it at New York's Film Forum back in January, so there's still an interest in it. Possible features could be:
-a new widescreen (1.78:1) transfer from the original
negatives, enhanced for anamorphic televisions
-Dolby Digital 5.1 and DD mono mixes
-Commentary with star Malcolm McDowell (he'd do this in
a flash), and screenwriter David Sherwin
-Original UK and US theatrical trailers
-a documentary containing cast and crew who are still alive
-photo and poster gallery
-original shooting script and CRUSADERS the very first
draft
I can't think of anything else to add to these suggestions. Hope Paramount accepts these ideas for a perfect presentation of this ground-breaking classic.
------------------
"I... am not a racialist!"
-Mr. Hilter (from Monty Python)
 

Jeff Ulmer

Senior HTF Member
Deceased Member
Joined
Aug 23, 1998
Messages
5,582
Yes, with Anchor Bay releasing Brittania Hospital, If.. would be a great companion piece.
Now if we could also get my favorite of the three, O Lucky Man!, I'd be a happy camper.
PS. I always spell Brittania wrong...
------------------
Link Removed | Burt Lancaster is Link Removed | dOc
[Edited last by Jeff Ulmer on August 12, 2001 at 09:45 PM]
 
Joined
Jul 14, 2001
Messages
28
Well, I for one found BRITTANIA HOSPITAL to be on the weak side and will only buy Anchor Bay's upcoming DVD for completeness and to see it in it's original aperture ratio. And also since IF... and O LUCKY MAN are owned by major studios, the chances of Anchor Bay issuing them on DVD are practically nil. It's just a matter of pressing our entreaties to Warner Brothers (when they have their chat here in October) and Paramount (since if their classics division went to the time and money to strike a new 35mm print for theater exhibition, a DVD would be quite feasible).
------------------
"I... am not a racialist!"
-Mr. Hilter (from Monty Python)
 

Jay E

Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 30, 2000
Messages
2,483
I was hoping that this title would one day end up on laser, but it never did. Now I'm hoping that it shows up on DVD as I would buy it in a heartbeat.
 
Joined
Jul 14, 2001
Messages
28
For your information, Paramount issued IF... on laserdisc sometime ago. However, the disc is hard to find and is only in pan-and-scan. I REALLY want an OAR DVD of IF.... more than anything.
------------------
"I... am not a racialist!"
-Mr. Hilter (from Monty Python)
 

Rain

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2001
Messages
5,015
Real Name
Rain
I would buy both ...if and O Lucky Man in a heartbeat.
------------------
RainHTFpic.jpg

"People always clap for the wrong things." - J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
 

Jay E

Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 30, 2000
Messages
2,483
I did not know that If was out on laser at one time! I had never seen a laser of this movie in any of the stores I use to frequent. And here I am, "Mr know it all", thinking I knew every movie that was put out on laser.
 

Bruce Morrison

Supporting Actor
Joined
May 16, 2001
Messages
545
When I was a student in the late 60's, If... was the film that opened my eyes to the possibilities of cinema as more than just good entertainment for a Saturday evening. I went back to see it three times in the first week of its run (and it wasn't just to figure out why the chaplain was in the drawer!). It's remained a firm favourite ever since those heady days, and I really hope Paramount can find a way of releasing it on DVD. Frankly I wasn't sure how the film would have been received in the States as it has such a very English setting, so it's good to know that it appears to have a significant following across the pond. (By the way, the laserdisc was an early 80's effort and was totally unwatchable!)
 
Joined
Jul 14, 2001
Messages
28
Yes, IF... was a huge influence on me, even extending to my taking the nickname of Mick after Mick Travis. I know that the laserdisc from Paramount in the early eighties was a very crappy print. It's similar to the VHS release as it is rather dark and cropped. To add insult to injury, it's the version with the rear nudity inserts. The print I saw at New York's Film Forum back in January was the one with the full-frontal nude shots and an excellent print to boot. I feel that if Paramount's Classics division took the time and trouble to create a new print, it shouldn't take an act of God to get a decent DVD release.
------------------
"I... am not a racialist!"
-Mr. Hilter (from Monty Python)
 

Kevin Leonard

Supporting Actor
Joined
Mar 11, 2001
Messages
919
I'd take O Lucky Man! first, but if... is just as good. Hearing either being put on DVD in its OAR would make my day.
------------------
Have you ever noticed anyone driving slower than you is an idiot? And anyone driving faster than you is a maniac!! - George Carlin
ICQ: 55259446 (or just search for "John Shaft"...can you dig?)
[Edited last by Kevin Leonard on August 13, 2001 at 08:22 PM]
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Forum statistics

Threads
356,813
Messages
5,123,609
Members
144,184
Latest member
H-508
Recent bookmarks
0
Top