Unexpected Blu-Ray releases You've Been Delighted to See (1 Viewer)

Am enjoying Baenwart's recent thread "Movies You Want on HD Disc But Don't Ever Expect to See". It got me thinking that there have been a number of titles I just never figured would materialize on Blu-ray. Cherished but little discussed favorites or movies I'd been itching to see for years. What with the constant rumbles of home video's decline and the comparatively low profile of these particular movies, I was pretty much resigned to never owning them on Blu.
Then - to my delight - some company - usually an enterprising boutique label - defies the odds and suddenly pulls one of these elusive gems out of a hat.

At the top of my list would be
THE ADVENTURES OF HAJJI BABA(1954)
John Derek sword and sand adventure which arrived on Blu - quite miraculously I thought - just before the bottom fell out at Twilight Time.

CAN'T HELP SINGING(1944)
Deanna Durbin's best film and her only one in color. A big budget western musical with an original score by Jerome Kern. Kino, disappointed with sales on their initial 3 movie Durbin set , had jettisoned plans for releasing more of her films. Imagine my surprise when Universal Home Video put the thing out on their own. Not exactly sure how that happened but I'm so glad to finally have it.

JIVARO(1954)
Saturday matinee jungle adventure (with Fernando Lamas and Rhonda Fleming), a movie I've always loved. It was shot in 3D but shown flat in theaters. Kudos to Bob Furmanek's 3D Archive for restoring it and to Kino for not just releasing it on Blu - but including the 3D version. Wow! Double wow!

Others I'd add:
HOT SATURDAY(1932) Nancy Carroll, Cary Grant, Randolph Scott (Kino)
DANCING PIRATE(1936) Charles Collins, Frank Morgan (Film Detective)
AMONG THE LIVING(1941) Albert Dekker, Susan Hayward (Kino)
SUDAN(1945) Maria Montez,Turhan Bey,Jon Hall (announced by Kino as part of their upcoming Montez/Hall set)
FLIGHT TO MARS(1951) Cameron Mitchell (Monogram, Cinecolor and Outer Space, what's not to love?) (Film Detective)
POOL OF LONDON(1951) Britnoir at its best (Kino)
GONE TO EARTH(1950) Jennifer Jones, David Farrar
Thank you, Kino for giving us the original British version as a magnificent bonus feature with their release of the unfortunately re-edited American cut. Powell & Pressburger's film, as initially presented, stands as a worthy follow-up to their earlier Technicolor classics ,"Black Narcissus" and "The Red Shoes"

Beckford said:

Am enjoying Baenwart's recent thread "Movies You Want on HD Disc But Don't Ever Expect to See". It got me thinking that there have been a number of titles I just never figured would materialize on Blu-ray. Cherished but little discussed favorites or movies I'd been itching to see for years. What with the constant rumbles of home video's decline and the comparatively low profile of these particular movies, I was pretty much resigned to never owning them on Blu.
Then - to my delight - some company - usually an enterprising boutique label - defies the odds and suddenly pulls one of these elusive gems out of a hat.

At the top of my list would be
THE ADVENTURES OF HAJJI BABA(1954)
John Derek sword and sand adventure which arrived on Blu - quite miraculously I thought - just before the bottom fell out at Twilight Time.

CAN'T HELP SINGING(1944)
Deanna Durbin's best film and her only one in color. A big budget western musical with an original score by Jerome Kern. Kino, disappointed with sales on their initial 3 movie Durbin set , had jettisoned plans for releasing more of her films. Imagine my surprise when Universal Home Video put the thing out on their own. Not exactly sure how that happened but I'm so glad to finally have it.

JIVARO(1954)
Saturday matinee jungle adventure (with Fernando Lamas and Rhonda Fleming), a movie I've always loved. It was shot in 3D but shown flat in theaters. Kudos to Bob Furmanek's 3D Archive for restoring it and to Kino for not just releasing it on Blu - but including the 3D version. Wow! Double wow!

Others I'd add:
HOT SATURDAY(1932) Nancy Carroll, Cary Grant, Randolph Scott (Kino)
DANCING PIRATE(1936) Charles Collins, Frank Morgan (Film Detective)
AMONG THE LIVING(1941) Albert Dekker, Susan Hayward (Kino)
SUDAN(1945) Maria Montez,Turhan Bey,Jon Hall (announced by Kino as part of their upcoming Montez/Hall set)
FLIGHT TO MARS(1951) Cameron Mitchell (Monogram, Cinecolor and Outer Space, what's not to love?) (Film Detective)
POOL OF LONDON(1951) Britnoir at its best (Kino)
GONE TO EARTH(1950) Jennifer Jones, David Farrar
Thank you, Kino for giving us the original British version as a magnificent bonus feature with their release of the unfortunately re-edited American cut. Powell & Pressburger's film, as initially presented, stands as a worthy follow-up to their earlier Technicolor classics ,"Black Narcissus" and "The Red Shoes"

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Ken, thanks for posting this. I had read a while back that The Dancing Pirate was being restored, but had no idea it had been released on Blu-ray. I just picked it up for $13.99 on Amazon.

Also, did you ever complete your thread regarding 1940s films that should be released on Blu-ray? That was an enjoyable read.

Glad to hear my post alerted you to the "Dancing Pirate" release. Hope you enjoy it.

As for the WAC 1940's wish list thread, thanks for the kind comment. I got up to 1948 and started to feel a bit burned out. Hope to complete it eventually. Not quite there yet.

Kentucky Kernels-Warner Brothers Archive
Spider Woman Strikes Back-Kino
Face Behind the Mask-Imprint

The Kino thread would contain most the recent entries in this category for me, but the most prominent exception is Warner Archive's Santa Fe Trail. It's one of Errol Flynn's best westerns and was only available in low quality public domain releases previously. I think I sent a message to Warner Archive's Facebook page 10 years ago requesting it and then it shows up. Now that was a surprise!

Bob Gu said:

Lions Gate released five Zane Grey RKO titles, two with Robert Mitchum and three with Richad Warren. LG released three more Zane Grey's that were part of the Tim Holt/Richard Martin RKO series. Those three Holt Zane Grey titles never appeared on any of the Tim Holt Warner Archive collections.

Red Ryder, the comic strip character and Republic movie star:

Don Barry became, Don 'Red' Barry, after starring in Republic's "Adventures of Red Ryder" serial.

Barry, as 'Red Ryder'. with Vivian Austin.
View attachment 132071

Republic released 23 'Red Ryder ' features. VCI released all 23, in 12 volumes, plus the Barry serial on DVD. Some volumes are out of print. I am not sure if they all have the complete runtimes.

16 with Wild Bill Elliott.
View attachment 132074

7 with Allan 'Rocky' Lane.
View attachment 132075

VCI released the two of the Jim Bannon Red Ryders from Eagle-Lion as part of the 12 volume Red Ryder Collection.

Later VCI released all four of the Jim Bannon Cinecolor Red Ryders in a separate release.
View attachment 132076

VCI also released the Buck Jones "Red Rider"-1931, serial., in Blu-Ray and DVD. This is a different character, that predated the Fred Harman 'Red Ryder' by about seven years.
View attachment 132077

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[email protected] said:

Spider Woman Strikes Back-Kino

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Came close to including this title on my list of gratified Blu-ray wishes. Have never understood the generally underwhelming reactions so many posters and reviewers seem to have to the film. I think it's excellent. Brenda Joyce and - of course - Gale Sondergaard both play their roles to perfection.

That Bob Gu quote, somehow attached to my "Spider Woman" comment, seems to have been beamed in from another universe. I must have pushed the wrong button. Wouldn't be the first time.

just a few of the titles I thought would never see a BD release that are now in my collection just from KL are:

Capt Cheese Pro said:

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea | Kino Lorber - Experience Cinema

Epic rendering of the Jules Verne classic including a primitive submarine and the fight with the Giant Octopus. Film features the spectacular first use of underwater photography.

www.kinolorber.com

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Yes, that one definitely came out of the blue - the deep blue. So great when a semi-forgotten silent emerges on Blu-ray.

Beckford said:

Yes, that one definitely came out of the blue - the deep blue. So great when a semi-forgotten silent emerges on Blu-ray.

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And givin the love that it needed in order to save it for us and those after us!!

When I look over my blu-ray collection, and figure some of the most 'unlikely' releases, I come up with this. It's not a specific list of top favorites (although some might be), but rather a list of the most unexpected fare to have somehow surprisingly made it onto the format, of which I'm quite happy to have:

1. INTERNATIONAL LADY (1941) ClassicFlix
2. SINGING GUNS (1950) Kino
3. CHILDREN OF DIVORCE (1927) Flicker Alley
4. PIRATE TREASURE (1934) VCI
5. THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE (1958) Kino
6. S.O.S. TIDAL WAVE (1939) Olive
7. YOU NEVER KNOW WOMEN (1926) Kino
8. OUT OF THE BLUE (1947) ClassicFlix
9. DANCING PIRATE (1936) Film Detective
10. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU (1946) Olive
11. 13 WASHINGTON SQUARE (1928) Kino
12. UNDERWATER (1955) Warner Archive
13. SILVER CITY (1951) Olive
14. KENTUCKY KERNELS (1934) Warner Archive
15. MURDER IN GREENWICH VILLAGE (1937) Sony
16. A WOMAN'S DEVOTION (1956) Kino
17. THE INTRIGUE (1916) Kino
18. THE RED RIDER (1934) VCI
19. A STRANGE ADVENTURE (1956) Kino
20. THE FABULOUS DORSEYS (1947) Film Detective
21. UNDERGROUND (1928) Kino
22. LULU BELLE (1948) Olive

Bert Greene said:

UNDERGROUND (1928) Kino

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Especially nice to see this one on your list. I purchased it as a blind buy. And was absolutely delighted. Always liked Brian Aherne; hadn't realized he'd initially attained film prominence in silents. Cyril McLaglen was terrific in the movie as well. Never knew Victor McLaglen had a talented brother who also acted. Was so impressed by Anthony Asquith's direction that I sought out "Shooting Stars" from '28 (which also featured Aherne). Another winner. Most exciting of all Asquiths for me turned out to be "A Cottage on Dartmoor"(1929), which for some reason has only made it to DVD. It's a knockout of a picture that deserves to be much more widely seen.
All three are from Kino.

Two for me are 23 Paces to Baker Street and Lisbon, both 1956 and both released by KL. In particular, 23 Paces is a remarkable blu ray.

In the fairly recent past, I've been surprised and delighted to be able to purchase Blu-ray discs of Tap Roots, Step By Step, Count Three And Pray and I Wouldn't Be In Your Shoes.

I would also like to add the Thelma Todd / Zasu Pitts / Patsy Kelly Shorts-Classicflix & Kit Parker

I was absolutely delighted when Alligator, a film I've long wanted to see, but has been difficult to find for a decent price and with a decent transfer, was announced by Scream Factory, and in 4K yet! It was worth the wait, too, as Robert Forster is fantastic in it and the film itself is one of the better goofy Jaws rip-offs and chock full of classic character actors.

Almost every silent that Kino has released under license from Paramount and Universal.

Kent K H said:

I was absolutely delighted when Alligator, a film I've long wanted to see, but has been difficult to find for a decent price and with a decent transfer, was announced by Scream Factory, and in 4K yet! It was worth the wait, too, as Robert Forster is fantastic in it and the film itself is one of the better goofy Jaws rip-offs and chock full of classic character actors.

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Thanks for the tip. Didn't know Robert Forster was in "Alligator" (have never seen the film); good to hear you rate him as fantastic in it. Was just thinking today how much I enjoy this guy's work. Saw him in "Medium Cool" when it was new and he and the film blew me away. Of course, it was great to see the great resurgence of appreciation for his unique talents when he got that richly deserved Oscar nomination for "Jackie Brown" years later.
I've loved Nancy Kwan since I first saw her in "The World of Suzie Wong". But her film appearances were pretty sporadic after the 60's. So I was delighted when she and Forster teamed up in '76 for the neo-noir "Walking the Edge". It's wonderful to see just how terrific a performance the man could craft it in what were basically low budget circumstances. He and Kwan work well together. By the fade-out I was yearning for a sequel with the same two characters. Alas, it never happened. But Fun City did - quite unexpectedly as far as I was concerned - put out a Blu-Ray edition last year. I snapped it up - and - watching it again, enjoyed the picture just as much as ever.

Several Kino titles, but "A Walk in the Sun" is at the top of my list.

SOS Titanic with the original TV cut.