The Thief of Bagdad (Raoul Walsh)

[Yami]

Trailer

Cohen Media will be releasing Raoul Walsh's The Thief of Bagdad, starring Douglas Fairbanks, on Blu-Ray in 2013 from a new 2K scan. The film will be accompanied by the Carl Davis score and the disc "also include a feature length audio commentary by Fairbanks scholar Jeffrey Vance, a featurette comprised of more than 80 behind-the-scenes photos and explanatory text, plus high resolution scans of the original 1924 souvenir booklet".

[benbess]

Originally Posted by Yami

Trailer

Cohen Media will be releasing Raoul Walsh's The Thief of Bagdad, starring Douglas Fairbanks, on Blu-Ray in 2013 from a new 2K scan. The film will be accompanied by the Carl Davis score and the disc "also include a feature length audio commentary by Fairbanks scholar Jeffrey Vance, a featurette comprised of more than 80 behind-the-scenes photos and explanatory text, plus high resolution scans of the original 1924 souvenir booklet".

Looks like fun!++

[gpn]

Cool! This is a pretty spectacular film for its time. I'd like to see the Korda Thief of Bagdad get a blu-ray release too.

[Yami]

My understanding is that Cohen are taking this from a 2K scan/restoration of the Photoplay version that Kino don't own the rights to

[BluPat]

Oh wow.....bet this will be a great Blu-ray! Great to see all these classics coming out on HD!

[Yami]

The release is dated for Feburary 19th.

[bluskies]

Thanks, OP. Looking forward to this.

One of the greatest movie posters ever released. Very much like Maxfield Parrish.

[Arkadin]

can't wait for this!

[Hyder]

This will be the true Carl Davis version so many have been waiting for, I'm so excited for this release.

[Yami]

Pre-Order

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Hyder

This will be the true Carl Davis version so many have been waiting for, I'm so excited for this release.

YES! The long-lost Scheherezade score!

One of my first experiences with silent films, seeing it on PBS in the early 80's (with the score), and I can guarantee the two will permanently associate themselves in your head, Fantasia style--
Even today, I can't hear Rimsky-Korsakov's solo violin theme without seeing the opening shot of the desert storyteller under the stars, or vice versa.

[bigshot]

Fantastic news!

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by EricJ

YES! The long-lost Scheherezade score!

Originally Posted by bigshot

Fantastic news!

It certainly is guys.

However, I have no history with this label on home video, Blu-ray or otherwise. And the only other titles I can find from Cohen Media Group were both very recent (2011), which implies ready-made HD masters. So is this the first classic restoration/remaster they've been involved in...or is someone else handling the actual transfer?

I confess my ignorance here. Until this announcement, I'd never heard of CMG.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

It certainly is guys.

However, I have no history with this label on home video, Blu-ray or otherwise. And the only other titles I can find from Cohen Media Group were both very recent (2011), which implies ready-made HD masters. So is this the first classic restoration/remaster they've been involved in...or is someone else handling the actual transfer?

The credits on the YT trailer say "Cohen Film Collection", so I'm guessing it's the new disk marketing wing of a film archive, that didn't want to muddy ownership by licensing their titles out--
The Davis/Scheherezade version was made for an archive restoration and aired on BBC (whereas Kino used their own version and prefers the original theatrical scores), and Cohen either had access to the restoration or else did the restoration and had reverted ownership.

[Yami]

From what I've gathered, they are quite a new company headed by real estate owner Charles S. Cohen. They acquired the library of the late film collector Raymond Rohauer, which includes over 700 titles.

[jrmac2000]

Originally Posted by gpn

Cool! This is a pretty spectacular film for its time. I'd like to see the Korda Thief of Bagdad get a blu-ray release too.

Agreed, I'll be picking this version up, but I hope Criterion upgrades the Korda version this year as well.

[bigshot]

Heard a little more about this... The film will include commentary by Jeffrey Vance and it was compiled from two 35mm prints. Apparently, the editing of the ending is different than the Kino version, and a few scenes are longer and a few shorter. This restored version screened recently to good reviews.

The same company will be releasing Intolerance with the Carl Davis score soon.

[Cinemach]

This is looking like a label that I'm going to have to start paying attention too. I wonder how widespread their retail availability will be, though I assume jack-squat brick&mortar-wise.

[Roy Batty]

Originally Posted by bluskies

Thanks, OP. Looking forward to this.

One of the greatest movie posters ever released. Very much like Maxfield Parrish.

Too bad they didn't use that...

[oscarmerkx]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Heard a little more about this... The film will include commentary by Jeffrey Vance and it was compiled from two 35mm prints. Apparently, the editing of the ending is different than the Kino version, and a few scenes are longer and a few shorter. This restored version screened recently to good reviews.

The same company will be releasing Intolerance with the Carl Davis score soon.

Looks like a blind purchase to me