A STAR IS BORN (1937) (Restored) from WAC

[Akijama]

A Star Is Born Blu-ray

COMING SOON!
NEW 2022 1080p HD Master from 4K scan of its original Nitrate Technicolor Camera Negatives!
A STAR IS BORN (1937)-RESTORED EDITION
BD50
Color
Aspect Ratio 16x9 1.37 with Side Mattes
Audio Specs DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 MONO
111 Minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES: Two Lux Radio Theater broadcasts; Janet Gaynor and Robert Montgomery (9/13/37) Judy Garland and Walter Pidgeon (12/28/42) [audio only]; Classic WB cartoon- "A STAR IS HATCHED" (1938) (HD); Classic WB shorts: "MAL HALLETT & HIS ORCHESTRA" (1937) (HD); "TAKING THE COUNT" (1937) (HD); "ALIBI MARK" (1937) (HD); Original Theatrical Trailer (HD)

[redxrebellion]

Sweet. Been putting off picking up this version. Glad I waited.

[Hammerlover]

More restored Selznick International movies, please!

[Gacivory]

Day 1!!!!!! Then my Star is Born collection is complete!!!!!! Glad I ended up not getting the Kino version.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Day 1!!!!!! Then my Star is Born collection is complete!!!!!! Glad I ended up not getting the Kino version.

So how did WB end up with it if the Kino wasn’t licensed from WB?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

So how did WB end up with it if the Kino wasn’t licensed from WB?

I don't know. I didn't mean to imply that I knew the history of the rights of this movie with my post. Just happy that I'm not double buying the movie. You would have to ask someone more familiar with the history of the movie and the rights to it.

[bongozoid]

They really should just do a box set of all versions.

[Flapperdame16]

Isnt the '37 version in the public domain? Perhaps that's how WB and Kino have acquired it

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

So how did WB end up with it if the Kino wasn’t licensed from WB?

Well, it's complicated. As you know, the film was originally distributed by Selznick Productions and was later on sold to Warner. Some time after the first remake, Warner failed to renew the copyright registration and as a result, it entered to the public domain. That's how Kino managed to release their blu-ray. However, the original camera negative remained with Warner. That's why the first blu-ray from Kino came from a 35 mm Technicolor print given by the George Eastman House Motion.
As I said the original camera negative remained with Warner, a recent restoration was done with funding from Warner and thus this release was born.

[kevin87]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Day 1!!!!!! Then my Star is Born collection is complete!!!!!! Glad I ended up not getting the Kino version.

A Collection is Born

[SpaceBlackKnight]

In the late '40s Warner bought all copies of the 1937 film from Selznick himself with the intent to remake it, which lead to the 1954 version with Judy Garland and 1976's Barbra Streisand version. Warner later discovered that Selznick didn't own the copyright to the 1937 version and that it was actually sold a couple years earlier to a firm called Film Classics. Film Classics later became Eagle-Lion Films and then United Artists acquired their assets in the early 50s. In the early '70s, United Artists failed to renew the copyrights to several titles they controlled, which lead to most of the Eagle-Lion catalog (including a Star is Born 1937) lapsing to the PD.

As Star is Born '37 is PD, most releases come from a 35mm Technicolor print held by the George Eastman House. When Warner acquired copies from Selznick, they also got the 35mm nitrate OCN as part of the sale. Since it was PD, Warner didn't do much with the 1937 OCN for the longest time which caused it to develop deterioration issues.

[GeoffOliver]

Since I haven’t gotten around to getting the Kino edition, I may as well wait for this. I do prefer Kino’s cover though, and I wonder how the bonus features on this will compare.

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

Since I haven’t gotten around to getting the Kino edition, I may as well wait for this. I do prefer Kino’s cover though, and I wonder how the bonus features on this will compare.

KINO:

- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Gallery
- Wardrobe test

WAC:

-Two Lux Radio Theater broadcasts: Janet Gaynor and Robert Montgomery (9/13/37) Judy Garland and Walter Pidgeon (12/28/42) [audio only]
- Classic WB cartoon- "A STAR IS HATCHED" (1938) (HD)
- Classic WB shorts: "MAL HALLETT & HIS ORCHESTRA" (1937) (HD); "TAKING THE COUNT" (1937) (HD); "ALIBI MARK" (1937) (HD)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (HD)

[WaverBoy]

The only thing missing from this release is the original poster art. But that’s not a dealbreaker, obviously. Restored from the original OCN. Truly rescued from PD hell at last. I’ve never seen this in its entirety, and this will be my first purchase of this film on any format. I’m kinda glad I saved myself!

[Matt89]

Nice, another WAC 4K restoration from the nitrate Technicolor negatives. This should look incredible. Surprised they didn't go with the original artwork given Warner Archive's usual practice, but I'm just glad it's been restored. I also never ended up getting Kino's disc, so I'm definitely gonna grab this one.

I'd also love for the 1954 remake to hit UHD, it's probably the best version.

~Matt

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Matt89

Nice, another WAC 4K restoration from the nitrate Technicolor negatives. This should look incredible. Surprised they didn't go with the original artwork given Warner Archive's usual practice, but I'm just glad it's been restored. I also never ended up getting Kino's disc, so I'm definitely gonna grab this one.

I'd also love for the 1954 remake to hit UHD, it's probably the best version.

~Matt

I think there could be many reasons for the artwork. It's possible that WB did not have had access to the original promotional materials, since it wasn't their film originally. The public domain status could also be a factor, limiting the budget for the Blu-ray and preventing WAC from acquiring original artwork to (presumably) clean it up digitally for the Blu-ray. Most of the original artwork for this film is disappointingly garish, anyway, and while there are a couple of quad posters that look all right, I'm not sure if they could be squeezed onto a Blu-ray cover.

I like the image of Gaynor and March they chose, it's just the plan background and the title and credit fonts that are disappointing. But again, as this is public domain, I'm not sure we could ask for additional efforts beyond what can be put together simply.

[UnionJackMix]

Sorry but the wiki page artwork is is pretty perfect resolution to print on a BD-sized insert!
Whatever the reason, the current one is dire.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Star...rn_(1937_film))

[Matt89]

Yeah, I don't think the film being in the public domain has anything to do with them not using the original artwork. Also, Warner are the ones who actually own the film (seeing as how they are the only studio with the OG negative), so there should be even fewer hurdles in that regard.

Like I said, not a big deal at all, just surprised they didn't use the poster art as that tends to be their MO. The design looks very similar to their 4-disc Bogart & Bacall collection.

~Matt

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Matt89

Yeah, I don't think the film being in the public domain has anything to do with them not using the original artwork. Also, Warner are the ones who actually own the film (seeing as how they are the only studio with the OG negative), so there should be even fewer hurdles in that regard.

Like I said, not a big deal at all, just surprised they didn't use the poster art as that tends to be their MO. The design looks very similar to their 4-disc Bogart & Bacall collection.

~Matt

WB didn't own the film originally, though, they bought it from Film Classics in 1953, years after the fact. That's why I questioned if they even have any original promotional materials for it, because who knows if they got any or even wanted any at the time. Unless I'm mistaken, WB have never released the film themselves before now and they certainly didn't intend to release the film when they bought it.

[Matt89]

Why would they need to own promotional materials in order to use the poster for the cover of the blu-ray when the film is in the public domain anyway? All they’d need is a high quality JPEG (like the one on Wikipedia) for the cover. Unless I’m mistaken, that shouldn’t matter due to the film’s public domain status.

~Matt