Seen The 1959 Hercule's Threads - But does anyone really know who has the US rights to the film? (3 Viewers)

[RobertMG]

Yes seen the thread about 1959's Steve Reeves Hercules but a simple question - does anyone know who has the USA video rights MGM said they do not - Cristaldi Films said they do not DOES anyone really know. Is it PD? Because tons of companies sell it on DVD all in terrible quality copies which can only be used as mini frisbees!

 

[Capt D McMars]

Yes seen the thread about 1959's Steve Reeves Hercules but a simple question - does anyone know who has the USA video rights MGM said they do not - Cristaldi Films said they do not DOES anyone really know. Is it PD? Because tons of companies sell it on DVD all in terrible quality copies which can only be used as mini frisbees!

With such a wave of 6th gen coppies out there, maybe it's gone PD??? I know I'd love to see a remastered 2K BRD of Hercules vs the Moonmen!!!

 

[Konstantinos]

Because tons of companies sell it on DVD all in terrible quality copies which can only be used as mini frisbees!

The French DVD reportedly has the best picture:

"Hercules" DVDY Films - Region 0 - PAL vs. Extreme Digital Media - Region 0 - NTSC

 

[RobertMG]

The French DVD reportedly has the best picture:

"Hercules" DVDY Films - Region 0 - PAL vs. Extreme Digital Media - Region 0 - NTSC

I know originally it was a joint Italian and French production Levine bought the film for US distribution starting to think it is PD in the states

 

[Capt D McMars]

I know originally it was a joint Italian and French production Levine bought the film for US distribution starting to think it is PD in the states

I just wonder who might have the best film materials/elements to work with?

 

[RobertMG]

I just wonder who might have the best film materials/elements to work with?

Trying to figure that out

 

[Stephen PI]

Titanus, Italy?

 

[Brent Reid]

People are conflating two entirely different concepts: essentially, no post-1925, non-US works are public domain in the US – or anywhere else for that matter.
This film belongs to somebody 100%; what remains to be seen is whether they claim(ed) their copyright and intend to enforce it.

 

[Paul Penna]

Thread title sent me on a fruitless search for a Poirot film I thought I might be unaware of.

 

[Capt D McMars]

Yes seen the thread about 1959's Steve Reeves Hercules but a simple question - does anyone know who has the USA video rights MGM said they do not - Cristaldi Films said they do not DOES anyone really know. Is it PD? Because tons of companies sell it on DVD all in terrible quality copies which can only be used as mini frisbees!

Joseph E. Levine acquired the U.S. distribution rights to this film, which he retitled "Hercules", for $120,000. Levine called it, "One of the worst pictures I ever saw, but I knew it had great appeal. There was a market for anything then." Levine publicized it on TV and it grossed a million dollars in its first ten days.
The film was passed over by the major U.S. distributors. An employee of MGM told former exhibitor Joseph E. Levine about it, and Levine flew to Italy to see it. He liked what he saw and acquired the U.S. rights. It became a smash hit and started the craze for Italian-made muscleman spectacles. His breakthrough came the following year 1958, with Hercules,starring Steve Reeves and released by Warner Bros.. Levine invested $120,000 on dubbing, sound effects and new titles and spent $1.25 million on promoting the film. It was one of the highest-grossing films of the year, with rentals of $4.7 million.

 

[RobertMG]

Joseph E. Levine acquired the U.S. distribution rights to this film, which he retitled "Hercules", for $120,000. Levine called it, "One of the worst pictures I ever saw, but I knew it had great appeal. There was a market for anything then." Levine publicized it on TV and it grossed a million dollars in its first ten days.
The film was passed over by the major U.S. distributors. An employee of MGM told former exhibitor Joseph E. Levine about it, and Levine flew to Italy to see it. He liked what he saw and acquired the U.S. rights. It became a smash hit and started the craze for Italian-made muscleman spectacles. His breakthrough came the following year 1958, with Hercules,starring Steve Reeves and released by Warner Bros.. Levine invested $120,000 on dubbing, sound effects and new titles and spent $1.25 million on promoting the film. It was one of the highest-grossing films of the year, with rentals of $4.7 million.

WB has nothing to do with the film now though.

 

[Capt D McMars]

WB has nothing to do with the film now though.

no telling where Hercules and Hercules uncained are, made under Embassy 1958/1959, later Avco Embassy films in 1967, they were bought out by Paramount 1963, a series of companies, Newline EG, MGM/Orion, WB seems to be mother to the rebooted New Line Cinema Distribution under NLEnter. 1994 I'm seeing Turner's name coming into the picture...Levine left in 1974.

 

[Capt D McMars]

There was a French "uncut widescreen edition" now oop, and Retromedia used the french version as thier copy. here is som chatter about the new remastered BRD from France

Originally Posted by Joseph Goodman Well, it does promise "Master 2K Restaure" on the packaging, so maybe it will be better than the appalling Japanese set from 2019. The odd thing is, this Artus release is licensed from a different company (Movietime SRL) than the Japanese set (which came from Cristaldifilm). Back when Kino Lorber announced they were releasing HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD, they revealed that they'd looked into the Steve Reeves pair, but there were "rights issues" involved. Given the two different companies credited on the releases mentioned above, it's not hard to imagine a labyrinthine rights division across different territories. And this isn't even addressing the different English versions...

Yep, that adds up to a mess where I would imagine most boutique labels would just say it's not worth the hassle and forget about it which I can't blame them for doing so.

 

[Konstantinos]

Oh, I didn't know about this new French bluray.
Unfortunately as i see, it doesn't have English subtitles!
https://www.lalibrairie.com/dvd-blu...9.html?ctxId=643e3c82a9ecf753537e0512ecc345c5

 

[Capt D McMars]

Oh, I didn't know about this new French bluray.
Unfortunately as i see, it doesn't have English subtitles!
https://www.lalibrairie.com/dvd-blu...9.html?ctxId=643e3c82a9ecf753537e0512ecc345c5

if this exsists then there is a possibility for one with EST....if not now maybe later...

 

[Douglas R]

no telling where Hercules and Hercules uncained are, made under Embassy 1958/1959, later Avco Embassy films in 1967, they were bought out by Paramount 1963, a series of companies, Newline EG, MGM/Orion, WB seems to be mother to the rebooted New Line Cinema Distribution under NLEnter. 1994 I'm seeing Turner's name coming into the picture...Levine left in 1974.

It looks very complicated. Whoever owns the rights may not even realise they own them!

 

[RobertMG]

It looks very complicated. Whoever owns the rights may not even realise they own them!

Would be sad if the film was in Public Domain

 

[RobertMG]

Would be sad if the film was in Public Domain

This release from 2014 - has anyone seen it?? https://www.fr.fnac.ch/a6564119/Les...travaux-d-Hercule-DVD-Steve-Reeves-DVD-Zone-2

 

[RobertMG]

Artus Films messaged me the reason their release was canceled was the materials were not in good shape. They also said they do not know who has USA rights

 

[RobertMG]

This release from 2014 - has anyone seen it?? https://www.fr.fnac.ch/a6564119/Les...travaux-d-Hercule-DVD-Steve-Reeves-DVD-Zone-2

The title is now gone once u click on the link