Warner Archive Announcements Thread (10 Viewers)

[Robert Crawford]

IYO. It's a decent film, so I guess better than mediocre. But, IMO, not by much.

To each his own!

 

[benbess]

As we've know, 2023 is the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros., and apparently Warner Archive has a blockbuster year in store for us when it comes to blu-ray releases. But while we wait, what Warner Archive blu-rays from the past are still on your wish list? And which Warner Archive blu-rays that you already own have you watched the most? Here's a helpful list....

Warner Archive Blu-Ray Releases

Feature films and telemovies released by Warner Archive on Blu-ray, up to April 30, 2024.

letterboxd.com

Over the years I've bought about a hundred or so Warner Archive blu-rays, but I still have a dozen or more on my wish list, including Murder My Sweet, The Big Sleep, Brigadoon, Gun Crazy, Each Dawn I Die, etc. Even more than usual, however, I've been overspending on blu-rays lately, and so I'm not sure when or even if I'll get these titles.

When it comes to Warner Archive blu-rays I've watched the most, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Shop Around the Corner, and Angels with Dirty Faces come to mind, but there are others. My yet-to-be-opened Warner Archive blu-rays include Gaslight, The Bells are Ringing, Quick Change, and In the Good Old Summertime, and so I'd better catch up and watch them before I get more.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

But while we wait, what Warner Archive blu-rays from the past are still on your wish list?

I still need to pick up Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and Stage Fright. Shelf space and extra cash have been a little tight so I’m waiting to get them until I’m in the mood to see them again. I had seen each pretty recent to when the disc came out so I didn’t feel the need to get them on day one. I think there’s one or two more also in my “saved for later” list but I don’t remember what they are - probably a sign that I don’t need them this second

 

[jayembee]

IYO. It's a decent film, so I guess better than mediocre. But, IMO, not by much.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "mediocre". A lot of people seem to use it to mean "bad" or "poor", which is its secondary definiton. It's primary definition is "average".

 

[Capt D McMars]

As we've know, 2023 is the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros., and apparently Warner Archive has a blockbuster year in store for us when it comes to blu-ray releases. But while we wait, what Warner Archive blu-rays from the past are still on your wish list? And which Warner Archive blu-rays that you already own have you watched the most? Here's a helpful list....

Warner Archive Blu-Ray Releases

Feature films and telemovies released by Warner Archive on Blu-ray, up to April 30, 2024.

letterboxd.com

Over the years I've bought about a hundred or so Warner Archive blu-rays, but I still have a dozen or more on my wish list, including Murder My Sweet, The Big Sleep, Brigadoon, Gun Crazy, Each Dawn I Die, etc. Even more than usual, however, I've been overspending on blu-rays lately, and so I'm not sure when or even if I'll get these titles.

When it comes to Warner Archive blu-rays I've watched the most, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Shop Around the Corner, and Angels with Dirty Faces come to mind, but there are others. My yet-to-be-opened Warner Archive blu-rays include Gaslight, The Bells are Ringing, Quick Change, and In the Good Old Summertime, and so I'd better catch up and watch them before I get more.

See on Amazon
See on Amazon

 

[Dick]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "mediocre". A lot of people seem to use it to mean "bad" or "poor", which is its secondary definiton. It's primary definition is "average".

Personally, it's just, as you suggest, "average."

 

[Dick]

To each his own!

Yup! And I am one opinionated "each"! So aren't we all.

 

[ScottHM]

But while we wait, what Warner Archive blu-rays from the past are still on your wish list?

There aren't very many. Mark of the Vampire, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, The Adventures of Don Juan, and Show Boat are the only ones that come to mind. I try to stay on top of my WA purchases.
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[Nick*Z]

I wouldn’t call Flying Leathernecks a mediocre war film!

It's like suggesting 'The Sound of Music' is an 'okay' Nazis and nuns musical.

 

[benbess]

A war movie I'd like to see someday from Warner Archive is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. This hit from 1944, closely following the book written by one of the participants in the Doolittle raid, won an Oscar for best special effects, and was nominated for best cinematography. Doolittle and others served as technical advisors, and in addition to model work, several planes of a type very similar to those involved were filmed. Since the pilots who volunteered for the mission had to crash land in China, and then make their way back to the US over a few months, that part of the story takes up something like a third of the film. It's fairly realistic as movies of the time go, and comparatively unmarred by racism, in contrast with some other war films of the era. Director Mervyn LeRoy, as everyone here likely knows, was a key producer on The Wizard of Oz, and also directed Random Harvest, Madam Curie, Quo Vadis, Mister Roberts, Gypsy, and several other good movies.

 

[Alan Tully]

If we're talking old b/w war films from Warner Archive, I'd like to put in a word for what I think of as the 1943 trilogy: Air Force, Bataan & Destination Tokyo.

 

[Robert Crawford]

If we're talking old b/w war films from Warner Archive, I'd like to put in a word for what I think of as the 1943 trilogy: Air Force, Bataan & Destination Tokyo.

Three films I absolutely love and not just as war films.

 

[Gerani53]

I'd be interested to read about this too.

As far as I know, the Ultra Resolution process for recombining 3-strip Technicolor negatives is a proprietary thing owned by Warner. I imagine Warner would lend their expertise and tools at an affordable price to another company as a professional courtesy, and in the interest of film preservation, but they might not give it away for free. I think at this point Warner Archive has even gone beyond the Ultra Resolution process of a decade ago, and they no longer call it that. But I noticed that on a recent Extras podcast that George F. referenced the Ultra Resolution process. But by whatever name, the Warner Archive 3-strip Technicolor releases that use the OCN have been beyond compare for the past few years.

I think you're right about all of the above... most importantly, your suspicion that the special recombine process is a "proprietary thing owned by Warner." When I first heard that the three original PHANTOM '43 negs had survived, and were being recombined for this new 4K release, I just assumed (ah, that word!) that the result would be comparable to what WAC was doing. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Universal's new PHANTOM is indeed beautiful, but beautiful in the way "old" three neg combines were beautiful a short while ago, comparable to that first wave of A-film releases like THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE BAND WAGON, etc.

But as we know, starting about 2021, WAC's three-negative recombine process improved to the point of being jaw-dropping. Not only were the colors vibrant and healthy, but WAC somehow replicated the day-glow/dimensional look of Technicolor IB, which these earlier state-of-the-art presentations did not. That's why this year's BD of THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN looks so much more "Techy" than THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, and why IVANHOE has three-strip dimensionality and inner-glow, while comparable MGM epic QUO VADIS from a few years back does not. They all look gorgeous; but the new ones done by WAC magically capture the three-strip IB "you are there" ambience, which is a good deal more than gorgeous.

PHANTOM '43 was processed at Universal's home facility, and clearly, these fine folk haven't hit upon the "secret formula" that enables WAC's three-neg recombines to dazzle in a dye-transfer-like way. Ironically, I'm happy to still have Universal's original version of PHANTOM '43 on Blu-ray, as that was transferred from nitrate IB material back in the '80s.

Keep in mind that I only watched half of this new PHANTOM, and really shouldn't be saying anything until I've checked it out fully, and compared it to the earlier release. But, what the heck, these were my first impressions. Frankly, I'd love to get Robert Harris' view on this subject...

 

[RobertMG]

He didn't promise anything about Northwest Passage. However, the film elements exists if they decide to release it on Blu-ray. If they do, it's probably 2024, at the earliest.

Just for fun someone sent me this - he owns one of the costumes from the film

 

[RobertMG]

I still need to pick up Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and Stage Fright. Shelf space and extra cash have been a little tight so I’m waiting to get them until I’m in the mood to see them again. I had seen each pretty recent to when the disc came out so I didn’t feel the need to get them on day one. I think there’s one or two more also in my “saved for later” list but I don’t remember what they are - probably a sign that I don’t need them this second

Never tire of watching Blandings -- surprised no Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer yet!

 

[RobertMG]

Never tire of watching Blandings -- surprised no Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer yet!

Also where is Mr Lucky --- one of Grants best!

 

[RobertMG]

Just for fun someone sent me this - he owns one of the costumes from the film View attachment 158179

Also where is Mr Lucky --- one of Grants best! View attachment 158375

I know it aint happening BUT man if WAC let KINO release some of these we would get a lot more than otherwise and it seems like even plain old dvd's of the best available materials have stopped

 

[timk1041]

Also where is Mr Lucky --- one of Grants best! View attachment 158375

Can't go wrong with almost any movie with Cary Grant.

 

[Ed Lachmann]

Well, I sure loved the HD Ivanhoe as well as the Quo Vadis, which is an all time favorite of mine. Still hoping and dreaming for Helen of Troy and Land of the Pharaohs. The WB standard DVDs just don't do them justice and HD releases would probably be stunning.

 

[Capt D McMars]

I know it aint happening BUT man if WAC let KINO release some of these we would get a lot more than otherwise and it seems like even plain old dvd's of the best available materials have stopped

B, I feel your frustration, but to be honest they haven't even released Gunga Din on restored BD yet!!!