The Twilight Time News and Info Thread (2 Viewers)

[Adam Gregorich]

That’s probably an indication at how quickly physical media sales are declining. I remember when TT didn’t have any sales and their rationale was that if they started having sales, then everyone would simply wait for one and people would stop paying full price for their discs. I think that’s probably what’s happened. But I’m not sure they had a choice because they’re in a very tough market and everyone else runs sales all the time.

My minor point of irritation was over American Buffalo. I did a blind buy on that one years ago because TT said that they had lost the license and were being ordered to destroy all unsold inventory after 30 days. They made it very clear that it was the last chance to buy it so I did. Then I saw the movie, hated it, and couldn’t even give it away. And yet, TT continues to sell it years later. That’s the one and only time I personally feel taken advantage of by them, not because I didn’t like it, but because they said they’d be destroying unsold copies after 30 days and clearly that didn’t happen. Lesson learned, not falling for that one again.

I remember that. They were initially told they were going to need to destroy inventory, but were given a reprieve by the studio.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Yeah, I think maybe “taken advantage of” was harsh on my part. I don’t think they acted in bad faith.

 

[Rick Thompson]

Paramount has a policy of not licensing anything for blu ray that has been previously released on DVD. Just a couple of exceptions for Criterion to this.

Which is quite the Catch-22 for video: "We won't license for blu-ray anything we've released on DVD, so we can release them, except we won't."

 

[PMF]

[...]American Buffalo.
[...]I saw the movie, hated it, and couldn’t even give it away.
[...]And yet, TT continues to sell it years later.[...]

American Buffalo was the worst adaptation of a David Mamet play ever to be put to film.
BTW, Josh, even Twilight Time can't seem to give it away;
sale after sale after sale;
which has provided a bit of fun in watching just how long it may take.
Nonetheless, I'm rooting for TT on this current sale; as its now down to 5 bucks.

Now with that said, I recommend this disc;
not for the film, itself, but for the commentary track with Nick Redman and Julie Kirgo.
I recommend it for those who hold interests in David Mamet;
in stage to film discussions;
in how Al Pacino and Robert Duvall could own the role and Hoffman somehow could not;
and in why American Buffalo is not as foolproof a production as many may think.
For that, I felt it was well worth my 15 bucks;
and now its for all others who remain to have it for only 5 easy dollars.

 

[B-ROLL]

American Buffalo was the worst adaptation of a David Mamet play ever to be put to film.
BTW, Josh, even Twilight Time can't seem to give it away;
sale after sale after sale;
which has provided a bit of fun in watching just how long it may take.
Nonetheless, I'm rooting for TT; as its now down to 5 bucks.

Now with that said, I recommend this disc;
not for the film, itself, but for the commentary track with Nick Redman and Julie Kirgo.
I recommend it for those who hold interests in David Mamet;
in stage to film discussions;
in how Al Pacino and Robert Duvall could own the role and Hoffman somehow could not;
and in why American Buffalo is not as foolproof a production as many may think.
For that, I felt it was well worth my 15 bucks;
and now its for all others who remain to have it for only 5 paltry dollars.

BTW, I was blown away to hear Julie Kirgo speak of the Pacino production she saw in 1981;
as it was the same one I had attended, as well. Her reminiscences were accurate.

i AGREE execpt I liked the film as well ...

 

[Dick]

Which is quite the Catch-22 for video: "We won't license for blu-ray anything we've released on DVD, so we can release them, except we won't."

It's bullshit. All bullshit. Paramount sucks.

 

[PatrickDA]

That’s probably an indication at how quickly physical media sales are declining. I remember when TT didn’t have any sales and their rationale was that if they started having sales, then everyone would simply wait for one and people would stop paying full price for their discs. I think that’s probably what’s happened. But I’m not sure they had a choice because they’re in a very tough market and everyone else runs sales all the time.

My minor point of irritation was over American Buffalo. I did a blind buy on that one years ago because TT said that they had lost the license and were being ordered to destroy all unsold inventory after 30 days. They made it very clear that it was the last chance to buy it so I did. Then I saw the movie, hated it, and couldn’t even give it away. And yet, TT continues to sell it years later. That’s the one and only time I personally feel taken advantage of by them, not because I didn’t like it, but because they said they’d be destroying unsold copies after 30 days and clearly that didn’t happen. Lesson learned, not falling for that one again.

I bought "American Buffalo" for the same reason and feel BURNED big time as a result!!

 

[SeanSKA]

Which is quite the Catch-22 for video: "We won't license for blu-ray anything we've released on DVD, so we can release them, except we won't."

And ironically . "Catch-22" (1970) is one of the films lost from a blu-ray release

 

[Rodney]

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings

It's funny how many of us (myself included) share the same feeling about American Buffalo, but I have to chastise myself for feeling that way, as I don't believe they were deliberately trying to mislead us. If nothing else, this should educate us on how we impulse shop.

It isn't as if TT put a gun to my head, or made it a requirement to buy AB if I wanted to purchase a certain title, or anything like that. They told me (and the rest of us) that they were losing their rights to sell it, which nudged me to buy it. There are probably a myriad of reasons (last chance, opportunity to re-sell at a higher price, etc) why we pulled the lever on this title, but it was our decision.

 

[Worth]

Which is quite the Catch-22 for video: "We won't license for blu-ray anything we've released on DVD, so we can release them, except we won't."

Seems they're finally reversing that policy. Shout Factory just announced a number of Paramount titles that have been released on DVD.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie OOP?

 

[Robert Crawford]

Is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie OOP?

Mike,

Yes, it sold out!

@Mike Frezon

 

[Rodney]

Is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie OOP?

Mike: There is a great thread here that shows all the available and sold out Twilight Time titles:

 

[Rick Thompson]

Seems they're finally reversing that policy. Shout Factory just announced a number of Paramount titles that have been released on DVD.

Which ones are they? Anything well-known?

 

[Bryan^H]

Yeah, I think maybe “taken advantage of” was harsh on my part. I don’t think they acted in bad faith.

Yes, I thought the same thing back then, but my gut instinct told me every thing Twilight Time has done since the beginning has been exceptional. From the quality of the films they pick to the presentation, right down to the packaging/shipping. They couldn't treat their customers that way, after all everything they have achieved was because of us in the first place.

I'm glad to find out I was wrong about that aspect of their business model.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Yes, I thought the same thing back then, but my gut instinct told me every thing Twilight Time has done since the beginning has been exceptional. From the quality of the films they pick to the presentation, right down to the packaging/shipping. I'm glad to find out I was wrong about their destruction of remaining inventory.

Agreed.

I learned a valuable lesson - I no longer make blind buys solely because a title that is available in multiple formats (DVD, Blu-ray, streaming, etc) is going out of print in one of those formats.

 

[willyTass]

Just saw

Peyton Place
The Rivers Edge (Ray milland/ Anthony Quinn)
The revolt of Mamie Stover
Satan never sleeps

All blind buys for me . Can’t believe the quality of theses transfers , all look like 4k scans to me
Great movies too

I see people at other sites with the siege mentality of “ill buy when they hit” $9-95

I feel sorry for twilight time management investing so much time and money into these transfers and having people complain about the price

 

[Worth]

Which ones are they? Anything well-known?

I wouldn't say there's anything amazing, but it's a start...

Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
Prophecy (1979)
The Fan (1981)
Silver Bullet (1985)
Body Parts (1991)
Pet Sematary II (1992)

 

[Mike Frezon]

Mike: There is a great thread here that shows all the available and sold out Twilight Time titles:

Thanks, Rodney. I knew that inf/list was SOMEWHERE...and was surprised that it wasn't this thread.

 

[B-ROLL]

UPDATE Twilight Time.com states that "Hardcore" has been sold out