More Buster Keaton from Kino - Battling Butler/Go West (1926/1925)

[bluskies]

The release date is 9/27.



Battling Butler / Go West Blu-ray

Battling Butler / Go West Blu-ray Review

http://www.classicflix.com/battling-...y-p-11375.html

[RipleyLV426]

That's great and all, but what's with all the love for Buster ( I think that's 6 releases already, and some are double features or a shorts collection) and only 2 feature film blu releases for Charlie (Chaplin)?

[Show spoiler] sorry I sit in the Charlie lovers camp

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by RipleyLV426

That's great and all, but what's with all the love for Buster ( I think that's 6 releases already, and some are double features or a shorts collection) and only 2 feature film blu releases for Charlie (Chaplin)?

[Show spoiler] sorry I sit in the Charlie lovers camp

I agree. But I'll take as much Keaton as I can get. Hopefully, we get a couple of more Chaplin flix by Criterion by the end of the year.

[Arkadin]

Criterion will be releasing all the Chaplin and unfortunately they are sticking with this absurd graduated release schedule, while all the main films are already released everywhere else.
really frustrating imo, and I really wish Criterion had just released an all inclusive boxset instead of the torturous release schedule they have embarked upon.
Kino has all the Keaton rights, and they are doing a great job so far.
I really didn't expect to see such an aggressive release schedule, but more power to them.
I will buy every release for sure.

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

Criterion will be releasing all the Chaplin and unfortunately they are sticking with this absurd graduated release schedule, while all the main films are already released everywhere else.
really frustrating imo, and I really wish Criterion had just released an all inclusive boxset instead of the torturous release schedule they have embarked upon.
Kino has all the Keaton rights, and they are doing a great job so far.
I really didn't expect to see such an aggressive release schedule, but more power to them.
I will buy every release for sure.

Who owns the rights to Chaplin's shorts (Mutual/Keystone/Essanay/First National)? Btw, I agree with you that Criterion should have released a nice box set.

[yojoeski]

Trust me when I tell you that Criterion cares nothing about you or anyone else wanting more of Chaplin's works. I've learned that with wanting Kurosawa's library on blu. There is no excuse for at least his major classics all not being on blu right now if not his entire library as owned by Criterion. At least they've not lost rights any of Chaplin's work a month before release like they did with Kurosawa's Ran(and made no effort at all to get them back). I wish Kino had more Kurosawa other than Dersu Uzala.

[GuyOfOwnage]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

Who owns the rights to Chaplin's shorts (Mutual/Keystone/Essanay/First National)? Btw, I agree with you that Criterion should have released a nice box set.

Well, I know that Flicker Alley released all of Chaplin's Keystone work on the 4-disc "Chaplin At Keystone" DVD. Not sure if they own the rights or if the shorts had lapsed into public domain. As far as Essanay, Mutual, and First National, those are all currently OOP, but the last company to release them to DVD was Image Entertainment. Not sure if they still have the rights or someone else does, but that's where they all stood the last time they were released. Frankly, I'd welcome a Blu-ray release of Chaplin's Essanay/Mutual/First National work with open arms, but I'm not sure if they're in good enough condition for high-def. The Mutual short "The Rink" was presented in 1080i on the Modern Times Blu-ray, and didn't even look close to being HD.

Back on topic, I'm also thrilled with more Keaton on Blu. I have all the discs released up until this point and have next month's Shorts Collection on pre-order. I have to say, the sets must be selling really well, because Kino seems to be tripping over themselves trying to get as much Buster on Blu-ray as possible.

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by GuyOfOwnage

Well, I know that Flicker Alley released all of Chaplin's Keystone work on the 4-disc "Chaplin At Keystone" DVD. Not sure if they own the rights or if the shorts had lapsed into public domain. As far as Essanay, Mutual, and First National, those are all currently OOP, but the last company to release them to DVD was Image Entertainment. Not sure if they still have the rights or someone else does, but that's where they all stood the last time they were released. Frankly, I'd welcome a Blu-ray release of Chaplin's Essanay/Mutual/First National work with open arms, but I'm not sure if they're in good enough condition for high-def. The Mutual short "The Rink" was presented in 1080i on the Modern Times Blu-ray, and didn't even look close to being HD.

Back on topic, I'm also thrilled with more Keaton on Blu. I have all the discs released up until this point and have next month's Shorts Collection on pre-order. I have to say, the sets must be selling really well, because Kino seems to be tripping over themselves trying to get as much Buster on Blu-ray as possible.

I bought the 4-disc Keystone set back in Oct and it's still unopened. Hopefully, I will get to it soon. I've seen everything else Chaplin has done. I had that 90th Anniversary set for the Mutuals, as well as the Essanays, but sold them thinking they would eventually come to blu. But u may be right. Considering the condition, who knows now. Damn! And that Mutual set is OOP now. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

Yeah, can't wait for these Keaton shorts and Battling Butler/Go West blus. What do u think about THE CAMERAMAN and SPITE MARRIAGE. I like those two a lot as well. Doesn't TCM still hold the rights to those?

[GuyOfOwnage]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

I bought the 4-disc Keystone set back in Oct and it's still unopened. Hopefully, I will get to it soon. I've seen everything else Chaplin has done. I had that 90th Anniversary set for the Mutuals, as well as the Essanays, but sold them thinking they would eventually come to blu. But u may be right. Considering the condition, who knows now. ! And that Mutual set is OOP now. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

Yeah, can't wait for these Keaton shorts and Battling Butler/Go West blus. What do u think about THE CAMERAMAN and SPITE MARRIAGE. I like those two a lot as well. Doesn't TCM still hold the rights to those?

Yeah, I put off buying the Essanay/Mutual/First National sets from Image and I immediately regretted it when I saw them all go OOP. I think you can still get Vol 2 and 3 of Essanay for a reasonable price, but that's about it. The others (Mutual and First National) cost about $200+ for a sealed copy and $100+ for a used one! Vol 1 of Essanay is getting up there, too. I better grab 2 and 3 before they get too outrageous.

I'm pretty sure The Cameraman and Spite Marriage have lapsed into the public domain, as evidenced by their availability on the Internet Archive website. If that truly is the case, I certainly wouldn't mind Kino releasing these as well! Both are classic Buster, although you can certainly see the beginnings of the MGM influence in the latter.

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by GuyOfOwnage

Yeah, I put off buying the Essanay/Mutual/First National sets from Image and I immediately regretted it when I saw them all go OOP. I think you can still get Vol 2 and 3 of Essanay for a reasonable price, but that's about it. The others (Mutual and First National) cost about $200+ for a sealed copy and $100+ for a used one! Vol 1 of Essanay is getting up there, too. I better grab 2 and 3 before they get too outrageous.

I'm pretty sure The Cameraman and Spite Marriage have lapsed into the public domain, as evidenced by their availability on the Internet Archive website. If that truly is the case, I certainly wouldn't mind Kino releasing these as well! Both are classic Buster, although you can certainly see the beginnings of the MGM influence in the latter.

Yeah, I sold of my Image Essanay dvds as well. Argghh! The prices for these titles are pretty high now. Definitely holding onto my Keystone set for sure.

I think I posted this on this forum before, but I LOVE all the Keaton silent features except THREE AGES. For some reason, that one just didn't do it for me. But I LOVE everything else. Weird. And THE CAMERAMAN and SPITE MARRIAGE I love too. Keep it going, Kino.

I hope SEVEN CHANCES is next. I love that gag where Keaton throws that love letter to the woman on the second floor of the bar. The next thing u see is the letter torn in half floating down from the second floor. Hilarious!

[retablo]

Originally Posted by yojoeski

Trust me when I tell you that Criterion cares nothing about you or anyone else wanting more of Chaplin's works. I've learned that with wanting Kurosawa's library on blu. There is no excuse for at least his major classics all not being on blu right now if not his entire library as owned by Criterion. At least they've not lost rights any of Chaplin's work a month before release like they did with Kurosawa's Ran(and made no effort at all to get them back). I wish Kino had more Kurosawa other than Dersu Uzala.

Pretty accusatory statements there... and frankly pretty hilarious. I doubt you KNOW the extent of the legalities over the rights to RAN, nor do you know the extent that they tried to get them back. Their rights lapsed and someone else owns them now - not Criterion's fault, no matter who you feel the need to blame. As far as Kurosawa- again, a misinformed statement like "There is no excuse for at least his major classics all not being on blu right now" is pretty laughable. The extent of remastering that goes into a blu-ray release takes time, and Criterion can't release 30 titles a month just to please YOU. They are not a major studio. Be happy with what you have and stop the unnecessary and immature finger pointing. I think you lost readers at "Trust me".

It's exactly statements like that that would make Criterion truly NOT care. And I wouldn't blame them, with "fans" who act that childish.

[Felipenor]

The artwork looks pretty nice.

[bigdeke]

Chaplins Mutual, Essanay and Keystone boxes are all available in the UK from BFI at very reasonable prices and these days most of us have multi-region players.

[bigshot]

In the UK, they released Gold Rush with the 1942 narrated version on blu and the 25 silent version on DVD. Exactly the opposite from the way I would want it.

[Banned User]

Even if the Keystone films are public domain you will be hard pressed to find more complete versions of these films then on the flicker alley set. The set was compiled from extensive searchs for the best elements and restoration work with the help of BFI, Lobster films & Association Chaplin in Paris, Cineteca Bologna & the L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in Italy over a 8 year period. I believe the BFI set is from the same restoration.

Considering the condition of many of the prints I doubt you will see this on Bluray.

I'm glad we are getting a lot of Keaton. So far what has been released holds up better then Chaplin's Keystone shorts IMO. Most of which consist of the same gags with plenty of brick throwing, fighting over women and pratfalls. Interesting for Chaplin fans and well worth a purchase, but no where near as good as his later stuff.

In Criterion's defense they have a lot of other great movies to release so its expected they don't release all of them at once. Although I think they are due another. Maybe for a Dec release.

[bigdeke]

Originally Posted by bigshot

In the UK, they released Gold Rush with the 1942 narrated version on blu and the 25 silent version on DVD. Exactly the opposite from the way I would want it.

And me as well but this blu ray was Park Circus NOT BFI

[Felipenor]

Has Kino announced the special features?

[Dragun]

Any chance of a Keaton Blu-Ray box set from Kino? I'd like to replace my DVD set in one fell swoop.

[g.schweet]

Originally Posted by Felipenor

Has Kino announced the special features?

Here you go:
- Go West (1923, 12 Min.), a western-themed comedy short produced by Hal Roach
- A rare 60-minute audio recording of Buster Keaton hashing out a script proposal for the western TV series "Wagon Train" (courtesy of Bob Borgen)
- Excerpts of the screenplay for an unproduced remake of Battling Butler, written by Keaton in 1947
- Gallery of photographs from the 1922 stage production of Battling Butler
- Two galleries of production stills

[atl.steven]

The preorder is 22.29 on buy.com, 2.99S&H(shipped and sold from Albris Media).
http://www.buy.com/prod/battling-but...222441835.html
I have gotten all the Keaton Kino BDs from Buy since they have always had the lower price and I have not had any problems, but I like Amazon and submitted the lower price there to see if they will to match it. Would be nice if they do, but I dont really expect them to.