The Pirates of Penzance (1983) - August 14, 2018

[Akijama]

https://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Penza...n%3A2650305011

[Qaenos]

Yes!

Been waiting for this one for a long time. Great musical. I think my 3-year old daughter will really enjoy it! She loves live-action musicals like Annie and Babes in Toyland.

[rikraq]

I wish they'd put out The Pirate Movie.

[gambit64]

I've been waiting for this one (The Pirates of Penzance), too.

[octobercountry]

Oooo, now this I'll have to get. I do enjoy the film very much, despite the fact that it is basically "The Pirates of Penzance for Dummies" (or if you prefer, "The Pirates of Penzance lite").

The presentation is made in a sort of modern, "jokey" style which I could have done without (Frederic imitating Elvis---really?). But the real drawbacks are the fact that a number of the songs have been shortened somewhat, and that it's been given a new synthetic scoring, instead of the traditional orchestrations.

Still, it's a lot of fun, and here we get to see Linda Ronstadt in her prime---quite lovely and in perfect voice. (So sad, that she can't sing anymore.) This was really as close as she ever came to appearing in a traditional film musical. Oh, and Rex Smith certainly was dreamy back in the day, wasn't he.

So, yeah---not a perfect production by any means, but one that I enjoy and I'll be happy to purchase a copy of the blu. (Plus, I'm sorry---I always get a laugh out of the dove flying into the sky-painted canvas backdrop and plummeting like a stone; I'm so juvenile...)

[OneWayFilms]

CRAP! I guess I'm happy this is coming out, but I would MUCH PREFER THE PIRATE MOVIE!!!! It's funnier, more entertaining, sexier, better music, and all around a BETTER film.

MAN, I hope this opens the door for The Pirate Movie. UUUUGGGGHHHH!!!

Mable: "You'll Be Hung!"

The Pirate King: "Oh I am. I am. And very well thank you!"

[Maggot]

It's a terrible movie altogether. Painful to watch. The Pirate Movie is better, even though that is bad too. You buy this movie if you're a Ronstadt fan, which I am, just to hear that voice and see that cutie-pie.

[octobercountry]

Originally Posted by Maggot

It's a terrible movie altogether. Painful to watch. The Pirate Movie is better, even though that is bad too. You buy this movie if you're a Ronstadt fan, which I am, just to hear that voice and see that cutie-pie.

I certainly agree about Ronstadt---she's just gorgeous in this production, and her voice is perfect.

The news of this release reminded me that I'd like to obtain a more traditional version of The Pirates of Penzance. But glancing through the Amazon listings, I see there are several different productions available on DVD. Can anyone make a recommendation as to which is the best version to buy?

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I bope it comes to Canada.

[Robert Siegel]

I almost fell off of my chair when I saw this announced. I have been writing Universal nearly every month for many years on their website under "contact us" suggesting 3 older musicals for blu-ray, FLOWER DRUM SONG, SWEET CHARITY and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE but every single time I also mention this movie which is one of my all-time favorite films. I remember buying on day 1 the pan and scan laserdisc and I played it probably over a hundred times. And it took almost 10 years into the DVD format to get a DVD version. The music is fantastic, the singing top notch, and I have no trouble with these orchestrations, yes they were modernized for 80's audiences and I really like what they did. If you prefer the older symphonic orchestrations, there are plenty of versions available on home video.

The soundtrack to this movie is outstanding. Whoever did the recording on this film really knew what they were doing, even the dialogue and singing throughout the entire movie are all panned left to right, as are every sound effect, and the recording of the music is top notch. I saw this recently on cable and it was a newly restored version (I know the picture and sound of this movie inside out and it was beautifully remastered), so I am so anxious to hear this in lossless audio and with no picture compression. Thank you Universal, you made my day, my week and my month!

Just a short note, I don't know how people can compare this in any way to The Pirate Movie. To each their own I guess.

[Robert Siegel]

Does anyone know was this officially delayed? On the Deep Discount site, it says it is a manufactured on demand title. On Amazon it shows shipping in 1-3 days yet it's way past release date and now it says early to mid September.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

Does anyone know was this officially delayed? On the Deep Discount site, it says it is a manufactured on demand title. On Amazon it shows shipping in 1-3 days yet it's way past release date and now it says early to mid September.

Have you ordered it? There’s nothing on the Deep Discount site to suggest they don’t have it in stock. They had Lonely Guy in stock day of release and that’s another Universal MOD title.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

I almost fell off of my chair when I saw this announced. I have been writing Universal nearly every month for many years on their website under "contact us" suggesting 3 older musicals for blu-ray, FLOWER DRUM SONG, SWEET CHARITY and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE but every single time I also mention this movie which is one of my all-time favorite films. I remember buying on day 1 the pan and scan laserdisc and I played it probably over a hundred times. And it took almost 10 years into the DVD format to get a DVD version. The music is fantastic, the singing top notch, and I have no trouble with these orchestrations, yes they were modernized for 80's audiences and I really like what they did. If you prefer the older symphonic orchestrations, there are plenty of versions available on home video.

The soundtrack to this movie is outstanding. Whoever did the recording on this film really knew what they were doing, even the dialogue and singing throughout the entire movie are all panned left to right, as are every sound effect, and the recording of the music is top notch. I saw this recently on cable and it was a newly restored version (I know the picture and sound of this movie inside out and it was beautifully remastered), so I am so anxious to hear this in lossless audio and with no picture compression. Thank you Universal, you made my day, my week and my month!

Just a short note, I don't know how people can compare this in any way to The Pirate Movie. To each their own I guess.

I'll happily join your campaign to get FLOWER DRUM SONG, SWEET CHARITY and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE released on bluray. These are WAAAAY past due. But can you PLEASE add The Pirate Movie to your short list?

[Spotty]

Has anyone ordered this yet? I am very interested, but hesitant about the video quality and was hoping for a review....

Also is this title only being sold as a BD-R? Or are Universal MOD bluray pressed discs like Warner Archive MOD blurays?

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Spotty

Has anyone ordered this yet? I am very interested, but hesitant about the video quality and was hoping for a review....

Also is this title only being sold as a BD-R? Or are Universal MOD bluray pressed discs like Warner Archive MOD blurays?

They are pressed.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

Does anyone know was this officially delayed? On the Deep Discount site, it says it is a manufactured on demand title. On Amazon it shows shipping in 1-3 days yet it's way past release date and now it says early to mid September.

No delay at all at nonAmazon. It's just yet another Amazon issue and the same issue with pretty much every MOD title from Universal, Sony, or WA

Bullmoose has the same issue with new release MOD titles , but at least they have an excuse and a $15.97 price. They almost always say 1-2 weeks but rarely take that long

It's available immediately for shipping at BN ($17.50 with 20% code), Deep Discount (19.73), Best Buy ($20)

add your own Shipping and Tax variations and how fast you want delivery

[Spotty]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

They are pressed.

Thank you! That is a releif to know!

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

I'll happily join your campaign to get FLOWER DRUM SONG, SWEET CHARITY and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE released on bluray. These are WAAAAY past due. But can you PLEASE add The Pirate Movie to your short list?

I am sorry I can't with good faith add The Pirate Movie as one of my wanted blu-rays, as I am in love with "The Pirates of Penzance" from Universal, saw it over 10 times in the theater when it came out. Perhaps I would like The Pirate Movie now, as I have not seen it since it came out. I certainly will give it a new watch if they release it.

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by Spotty

Has anyone ordered this yet? I am very interested, but hesitant about the video quality and was hoping for a review....

Also is this title only being sold as a BD-R? Or are Universal MOD bluray pressed discs like Warner Archive MOD blurays?

I have seen the new master on Turner Classic Movies and also on Reteroplex cable channel and it is gorgeous, and the sound has been remastered too and it should be an incredible release. I've waited so long for a blu-ray of this film, which is on my top 10 movies of all time list.

One of the things I love about the sound mix, which I think was quite an expensive mix, is that all vocals are panned, if they are singing on the left side of the screen that's where you hear them. This was beautifully mixed.

[Qaenos]

Ordered this on Amazon on Aug 26. Arrived today (Sept 1).

- Extremely bare bones. Just the movie. No extras. Plain packaging (no booklet or anything). No slip.

- I can confirm this is a pressed disc. Not burned.

- DTS-MA stereo soundtrack. Sounds great to me.

- Excellent picture quality. 2.35:1 aspect ratio. If you told me it was from a 4K scan, I'd beleive it. Solid colors. Note, there was one 5 sec scene where the quality dips to DVD like resolution. Not sure why this happened. Perhaps the elements were damaged at that part and they had to patch in the scene from an old scan.

- Includes optional SDH English subtitiles.

Great release if you just care about picture and sound quality. Buy with confidence.