Chances of Woody Allen films getting good treatment on Blu? - Blu-ray Forum

kinko · 06-14-2011, 11:20 PM

Hey guys,
I was having a read of this article the other day:
http://tiny.cc/wcf6k
It reminded me of something I already knew and found remarkable about this fine film maker; he never returns to a film once it has been released. Never even watches it again if it's on TV and he's nothing better to do!
So with this in mind what do the folks here on the forum think the chances are of us ever seeing the likes of 'Annie Hall', 'Sleeper' or 'Manhattan' get a really good Blu Ray treatment given that Allen would more then likely be absent from the process.
When directors take an interest in the remastering of their previous work (Apocalypse Now, Memento) the end product has always benefited, in my opinion.
I've no doubt that Woody Allen's back catalogue will become available on the format eventually but, how long do you think it will take? Will some titles never make it? And what will the quality be like?
For my own part I recon we will be waiting years for only the more popular titles to make it to Blu and then they will only be bare bones, and less then stellar transfers, which I think is a shame given the strength of Allen's body of work.

chip75 · 06-15-2011, 12:52 AM

I had the same thought a few days ago. I wouldn't hold out much hope as I'm sure the studios aren't bothered about releasing Woody Allens back catalogue (Vicky Cristin Barcelona is out though). I think he only uses mono tracks as well. Quality wise I'm not sure, his films are never big budget pieces but I'd imagine the'y look great if treated sympathetically.

We didn't even get Scoop on DVD and that was partfunded by the BBC (although Australia has the Blu). It also featured Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson in their swimming costumes so it had something for everyone....

I remember he was on a BBC show with the back to the screen when they talked his films, I guess he puts so much into post-production that once the films are released all he sees are faults but he can't change.

I'm reading a book at the moment Conversations with Woody Allen by Eric Lax. It's a good book with lots of insights into Allens career.

rock, stone · 06-15-2011, 02:27 AM

I think it is going to take someone in the right position of power who decides to make it a passion project. And I think that is probably unlikely.

Allen was never even treated very well by dvds. My copy of Annie Hall has the subtitles missing from the "comedy subtitles" moment on the rooftop, unless you manually turn on the regular subtitles for the duration of the scene.

I think that the lack of Woody Allen blu is as egregious a hole in the blu ray catalog as anything.

of course I would say that, I imported Scoop and Match Point from Australia even.

VoodooSamurai · 06-15-2011, 02:52 AM

I think we'll see them all sooner or later, right now we're just getting the new releases. WA has lots of fans. Also he's worked with the best cinematographers in the biz, they will all be worthwhile HD images

Bruce Morrison · 06-15-2011, 07:51 AM

As most of his films are relatively short and he doesn't want any extras to be added for home video releases, I think the best chance would be for MGM to release a box set of his best films for them (e.g. Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hannah And Her Sisters, Crimes And Misdemeanors, etc.) with two films per disc.

I doubt whether it will happen any time soon though.

duggie walker · 06-15-2011, 10:16 AM

MANHATTAN would look absolutely gorgeous on Blu-ray. If they'd give us just that, I'd be happy. I'm sure it'll happen eventually.

I did read that BULLETS OVER BROADWAY is getting a European release - France, I think.

Dosto · 06-15-2011, 03:48 PM

The French will probably end up releasing a few of his movies on HD. He's always been treated better in France than in the USA.

NHassell18 · 06-15-2011, 05:07 PM

Oh my god, I wish Annie Hall would just be released, like, now!

Melodious Thunk · 06-15-2011, 08:46 PM

I was just watching Broadway Danny Rose last night. A wonderful, underrated Woody Allen film. I'd love some classic Woody on BD. We can but dream...

manicsounds · 06-16-2011, 01:36 AM

One of the biggest reasons I never bought Allen movies were the lack of extras. Rentals fine, but not for purchase.

chip75 · 06-16-2011, 02:19 PM

I watched "Play It Again, Sam" last night on DVD, great fun with some hilarious scenes.

Harry Caul · 06-17-2011, 10:48 AM

I know that at least Annie Hall and Manhattan where shown in HDTV versions.
Most of the times it's a good indicator what's upcoming as a Blu-ray.

Soze · 12-31-2011, 10:08 AM

Annie Hall and Manhattan are being released on blu ray in the US at the end of january. I can't find any news as to whether they're region encoded or not although it does appear they're both being remastered.

Marienbad · 12-31-2011, 02:21 PM

Seven of Woody Allen's later films were released on BD in Scandinavia, this autumn. The films are Celebrity, Everyone Says I Love You, Hollywood Ending, Bullets over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite, Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Small Time Crooks.

I just got Everyone Says I Love You and had a quick look at the beginning of it. Sound is lossy which of course is bad. Newer Woody films only have 3.1 channels at the most, but even the older mono tracks improve with lossless audio. Especially this one would have deserved it, since it's a musical. Well, DVD audio quality aside, picture quality was OK with a few speckles showing here and there. Maybe I'll submit a user review when I've seen it proplerly. I don't know about region coding, it might be region B only.

I don't have much faith in this distributor, since they often have diappointed me audiowise, but at the moment this is the only way of getting these Woody titles anywhere, as far as I know. I'll post if I order any more of these.

ZoetMB · 12-31-2011, 03:06 PM

Woody Allen's films may sometimes be released in 3.1, but they're still mono. All Woody Allen films are in mono (unless a local distributor has played games). Woody has never liked stereo.

Kuros · 12-31-2011, 06:20 PM

Sigh.

It should have been hilarious, the fact that 14 posts into a thread posted on the United Kingdom board, 14 posts into a thread titled "Chances of Woody Allen films getting good treatment on Blu" posted on the United Kingdom board, that there hasn't been even a peep of a mention that Midnight in Paris doesn't look like it will be getting a Blu-ray release in the United Kingdom; Midight in Paris, Woody Allen's newest film, Woody Allen's most highly regarded film in years, a brand spanking new and highly regarded Woody Allen film that would appear not to be getting a BD release in the United Kingdom, a new and highly regarded Woody Allen Film seemingly getting a Blu-ray release in every major market in the World other than the United Kingdom.

Yes, all the above would have been highly hilarious, had it not been just so deeply depressing.

Melodious Thunk · 12-31-2011, 06:27 PM

Sigh indeed. Looks like I'll be getting the German release of Midnight in Paris then, since the US release is region locked and the French one has forced French subtitles.

VoodooSamurai · 12-31-2011, 09:09 PM

We will get all of them. Allen is a huge international name. Every film person worth their salt seeks them out, and new generations discover him. He is also still going. No WA on bluray would be like no hitchcock, impossible

Soze · 01-01-2012, 01:06 PM

I must admit I had just presumed Midnight in Paris would be out on blu ray in the UK. That's staggering. Why on earth is it not being released here? It's my film of the year.

ShellOilJunior · 06-25-2012, 11:21 AM

Overall, I think the UK has more Woody Allen films on blu-ray.

06-14-2011, 11:20 PM	#1
kinko Member Member since:Jan 2011	Chances of Woody Allen films getting good treatment on Blu? Hey guys, I was having a read of this article the other day: http://tiny.cc/wcf6k It reminded me of something I already knew and found remarkable about this fine film maker; he never returns to a film once it has been released. Never even watches it again if it's on TV and he's nothing better to do! So with this in mind what do the folks here on the forum think the chances are of us ever seeing the likes of 'Annie Hall', 'Sleeper' or 'Manhattan' get a really good Blu Ray treatment given that Allen would more then likely be absent from the process. When directors take an interest in the remastering of their previous work (Apocalypse Now, Memento) the end product has always benefited, in my opinion. I've no doubt that Woody Allen's back catalogue will become available on the format eventually but, how long do you think it will take? Will some titles never make it? And what will the quality be like? For my own part I recon we will be waiting years for only the more popular titles to make it to Blu and then they will only be bare bones, and less then stellar transfers, which I think is a shame given the strength of Allen's body of work.

12-31-2011, 06:20 PM	#16
Kuros Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Nov 2008 Trading Score:45	Sigh. It should have been hilarious, the fact that 14 posts into a thread posted on the United Kingdom board, 14 posts into a thread titled "Chances of Woody Allen films getting good treatment on Blu" posted on the United Kingdom board, that there hasn't been even a peep of a mention that Midnight in Paris doesn't look like it will be getting a Blu-ray release in the United Kingdom; Midight in Paris, Woody Allen's newest film, Woody Allen's most highly regarded film in years, a brand spanking new and highly regarded Woody Allen film that would appear not to be getting a BD release in the United Kingdom, a new and highly regarded Woody Allen Film seemingly getting a Blu-ray release in every major market in the World other than the United Kingdom. Yes, all the above would have been highly hilarious, had it not been just so deeply depressing. Last edited by Kuros; 12-31-2011 at 06:24 PM.

06-15-2011, 12:52 AM	#2
chip75 Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Oct 2010 Location:Wales 4K collection:304 Blu-ray collection:3099 DVD collection:1782 iTunes collection:229 Trading Score:9	I had the same thought a few days ago. I wouldn't hold out much hope as I'm sure the studios aren't bothered about releasing Woody Allens back catalogue (Vicky Cristin Barcelona is out though). I think he only uses mono tracks as well. Quality wise I'm not sure, his films are never big budget pieces but I'd imagine the'y look great if treated sympathetically. We didn't even get Scoop on DVD and that was partfunded by the BBC (although Australia has the Blu). It also featured Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson in their swimming costumes so it had something for everyone.... I remember he was on a BBC show with the back to the screen when they talked his films, I guess he puts so much into post-production that once the films are released all he sees are faults but he can't change. I'm reading a book at the moment Conversations with Woody Allen by Eric Lax. It's a good book with lots of insights into Allens career.

06-15-2011, 02:27 AM	#3
rock, stone Expert Member Member since:Jan 2011 Blu-ray collection:- Trading Score:3	I think it is going to take someone in the right position of power who decides to make it a passion project. And I think that is probably unlikely. Allen was never even treated very well by dvds. My copy of Annie Hall has the subtitles missing from the "comedy subtitles" moment on the rooftop, unless you manually turn on the regular subtitles for the duration of the scene. I think that the lack of Woody Allen blu is as egregious a hole in the blu ray catalog as anything. of course I would say that, I imported Scoop and Match Point from Australia even.

06-15-2011, 02:52 AM	#4
VoodooSamurai Senior Member Member since:Feb 2009 Blu-ray collection:633 Trading Score:47	I think we'll see them all sooner or later, right now we're just getting the new releases. WA has lots of fans. Also he's worked with the best cinematographers in the biz, they will all be worthwhile HD images

06-15-2011, 07:51 AM	#5
Bruce Morrison Power Member Member since:Feb 2007 Location:United Kingdom 4K collection:339 Blu-ray collection:2241 DVD collection:581	As most of his films are relatively short and he doesn't want any extras to be added for home video releases, I think the best chance would be for MGM to release a box set of his best films for them (e.g. Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hannah And Her Sisters, Crimes And Misdemeanors, etc.) with two films per disc. I doubt whether it will happen any time soon though.

06-15-2011, 10:16 AM	#6
duggie walker Blu-ray Guru Member since:Feb 2011 Location:London, UK	MANHATTAN would look absolutely gorgeous on Blu-ray. If they'd give us just that, I'd be happy. I'm sure it'll happen eventually. I did read that BULLETS OVER BROADWAY is getting a European release - France, I think.

06-15-2011, 03:48 PM	#7
Dosto Banned Member since:Mar 2011 Blu-ray collection:97 Trading Score:1	The French will probably end up releasing a few of his movies on HD. He's always been treated better in France than in the USA.

06-15-2011, 05:07 PM	#8
NHassell18 Banned Member since:Jan 2010 Blu-ray collection:171 Trading Score:1	Oh my god, I wish Annie Hall would just be released, like, now!

06-15-2011, 08:46 PM	#9
Melodious Thunk Senior Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Oxfordshire 4K collection:12 Blu-ray collection:558 Blu-ray reviews:1	I was just watching Broadway Danny Rose last night. A wonderful, underrated Woody Allen film. I'd love some classic Woody on BD. We can but dream...

06-16-2011, 01:36 AM	#10
manicsounds Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Oct 2009 Location:Tokyo 4K collection:227 Blu-ray collection:4991 Blu-ray reviews: 99	One of the biggest reasons I never bought Allen movies were the lack of extras. Rentals fine, but not for purchase.

06-16-2011, 02:19 PM	#11
chip75 Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Oct 2010 Location:Wales 4K collection:304 Blu-ray collection:3099 DVD collection:1782 iTunes collection:229 Trading Score:9	I watched "Play It Again, Sam" last night on DVD, great fun with some hilarious scenes.

06-17-2011, 10:48 AM	#12
Harry Caul Active Member Member since:Feb 2009 Blu-ray collection:643 Blu-ray reviews: 4	I know that at least Annie Hall and Manhattan where shown in HDTV versions. Most of the times it's a good indicator what's upcoming as a Blu-ray.

12-31-2011, 10:08 AM	#13
Soze Member Member since:Sep 2011 Blu-ray collection:54 DVD collection:19	Annie Hall and Manhattan are being released on blu ray in the US at the end of january. I can't find any news as to whether they're region encoded or not although it does appear they're both being remastered.

12-31-2011, 02:21 PM	#14
Marienbad Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2010 Location:Stockholm, Sweden 4K collection:21 Blu-ray collection:2012 DVD collection:122 Blu-ray reviews:3	Seven of Woody Allen's later films were released on BD in Scandinavia, this autumn. The films are Celebrity, Everyone Says I Love You, Hollywood Ending, Bullets over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite, Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Small Time Crooks. I just got Everyone Says I Love You and had a quick look at the beginning of it. Sound is lossy which of course is bad. Newer Woody films only have 3.1 channels at the most, but even the older mono tracks improve with lossless audio. Especially this one would have deserved it, since it's a musical. Well, DVD audio quality aside, picture quality was OK with a few speckles showing here and there. Maybe I'll submit a user review when I've seen it proplerly. I don't know about region coding, it might be region B only. I don't have much faith in this distributor, since they often have diappointed me audiowise, but at the moment this is the only way of getting these Woody titles anywhere, as far as I know. I'll post if I order any more of these.

12-31-2011, 03:06 PM	#15
ZoetMB Blu-ray Ninja Member since:May 2009 Location:New York Blu-ray collection:172 DVD collection:27 Blu-ray reviews: 3	Woody Allen's films may sometimes be released in 3.1, but they're still mono. All Woody Allen films are in mono (unless a local distributor has played games). Woody has never liked stereo.

12-31-2011, 06:27 PM	#17
Melodious Thunk Senior Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Oxfordshire 4K collection:12 Blu-ray collection:558 Blu-ray reviews:1	Sigh indeed. Looks like I'll be getting the German release of Midnight in Paris then, since the US release is region locked and the French one has forced French subtitles.

12-31-2011, 09:09 PM	#18
VoodooSamurai Senior Member Member since:Feb 2009 Blu-ray collection:633 Trading Score:47	We will get all of them. Allen is a huge international name. Every film person worth their salt seeks them out, and new generations discover him. He is also still going. No WA on bluray would be like no hitchcock, impossible

01-01-2012, 01:06 PM	#19
Soze Member Member since:Sep 2011 Blu-ray collection:54 DVD collection:19	I must admit I had just presumed Midnight in Paris would be out on blu ray in the UK. That's staggering. Why on earth is it not being released here? It's my film of the year.

06-25-2012, 11:21 AM	#20
ShellOilJunior Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2009 Location:USA Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:10	Overall, I think the UK has more Woody Allen films on blu-ray.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals