Warner: Please consider Special Editions of Casablanca and The Searchers (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

Rain,
First off, nobody said that they're not interested, but simply feel that at this time, Warner's efforts should be focused on the hundreds of great films still not released on dvd. Secondly, discussion of your requests is not an expression of disinterest, but instead it's an opportunity to clarify the quality issues involving those two dvd titles. Thirdly, there is a major difference between thread puking and what is taking place in this thread which is nothing more than a slight difference of opinion regarding the urgency of new dvd releases for "The Searchers" and "Casablanca". I along with others want new dvd releases for both titles, but just not at this moment.

Next up, another dvd viewing of my favorite film of all-time "The Searchers" which in the last 40 years, I've seen more times than I can remembered.



Crawdaddy

 

[Scott Weinberg]

Just wanted to throw my support out there. I didn't purchase Casablanca because of the complaints I'd read.
If that film doesn't deserve a top-of-the-line DVD presentation, I don't know what film does.

 

[Rain]

I along with others want new dvd releases for both titles, but just not at this moment.

Guys, I want MORE titles from Warner's vaults released as much as anyone.
But it's not really a matter of either/or. Warner has already announced they will be releasing Special Editions of already-released titles including Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Singin' in the Rain.
My point is that if they are going to be revisiting some of their previously released titles as Special Editions anyway, then Casablanca and The Searchers should be at the top of that list.
If it were up to me, they could stop releasing most of the immensely stupid and mindless films have come out in the last couple of years and devote that time to the vault titles too. But that's not very realistic either, is it? Again, this is not an either/or situation.
This isn't about whether or not they should continue to release catalogue titles that have not previously been on DVD. Of course they should. And they will. And I'd still rather have quality over quantity.
Good work so far, Warner!
Patrick: I clicked your link and it told me I was FORBIDDEN!

 

[Patrick McCart]

Try http://pmccart.freewebspace.com and click on the same picture.
The picture, BTW, was done with simple interpolation (taking the missing parts from similar frames and dropping them in) and then "blurring" the edges to make everything fit. Not only was there a 3 frame tear, some dark speckling (possibly some kind of glue) was all over Bogie and Ingrid's faces. Blech.

 

[Rain]

Thanks, Patrick.

Those shots are a good illustration of at least one part of the film that could be improved upon.

 

[Brook K]

A year or more ago I came across an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (and posted a summary here) about either a Univ. of GA or GA. St. Prof who was granted permission by WB to work on an "interactive" Casablanca DVD. My memory is a bit fuzzy but I think it said it would be 2003-04 before it would be finished.
It sounded like a combination "pop-up video" "Infinifilm" kind of thing. So it seems likely a new edition will be out in the next couple of years.
As for The Searchers, I'd love to see an SE. In terms of extras, John Ford's gotten very little so far.

 

[Michael Harris]

I am just glad I have the Criterion LD of "Casablanca". Great commentary track, cool extras, and a neat side by side comparison of a "colorized" scene with the original. But, alas, I doubt this will ever see the light of day on DVD. Hope my LD player hold up.

 

[Scott Shanks]

I agree with Rain 100% on this one. If Casablanca were to be released for the first time ever on DVD tomorrow in its current presentation, there would be outrage. It is very passable in its current state - but given its status as one of the greatest films of all time, it deserves better than it got the first time around. In fact, Casablanca was my first DVD purchase. I didn't even own a DVD player at the time - I just watched it on my computer. But given today's transfer technology it could be so much more. The supplements could be much better, too. The short doc that accompanies the current DVD (basically its only extra besides a trailer) does not do justice to a movie of its stature whatsoever.

 

[Doug Bull]

I'm happy enough with "Casablanca" and think that the current disc is quite acceptable, however I have never been happy with the so called remastered edition of "The Searchers" The Color is way off.

My vote is for a remaster of "The Searchers"( and "How the West was Won") but for Warners to really concentrate on releasing a lot more of their huge library of classic movies for the first time, instead of revisiting titles that may not need attention in the short term.

 

[Rain]

In the meantime, if anyone from Warner is actually reading this, I offer a very sincere thanks for the upcoming SEs I've just learned about:
Giant and True Romance
as well as one I'd heard about previously, Singin' in the Rain.
I'll be buying all 3 and probably as many more as you guys care to offer.
Excellent stuff coming from your studio lately. I have no doubt all 3 of these will be stunning.

 

[Jefferson]

Yes, I too would love SE's of these two titles. Like some others here, I have avoided Casablanca because of said problems.

 

[Andrew_Sch]

I know I'm a little late, but I just got done watching the Searchers. My parents already own Casablanca, but I'd definitely pick both of these up if they were released.

 

[Joel Fontenot]

I'll throw in my vote for a new version of The Searchers. I don't know how much the color was off, but I do see in several scenes where the registration in the 3 strip Technicolor is off a bit - where objects have a little bluish tinge on one edge and a little redish tinge on the other.
I though my RPTV had the convergence go bad the first time I watched it, except that it only appears on The Searchers DVD, and the convergence was just fine when I checked it.
I've yet to compare it with my laserdisc of this movie.
Joel