1980 Best Picture Ordinary People Blu-ray - Blu-ray Forum

micktravis1979 · 09-21-2016, 06:20 PM

Respectfully request for anyone in the Blu-ray.com community to take the time to read and consider signing my petition to Paramount Pictures and the Sundance Institute to remaster and release the 1980 Best Picture, Robert Redford's ORDINARY PEOPLE on Blu-ray with some serious bonus features, ideally through Criterion. The link can be found here:

https://www.change.org/p/paramount-p...people-blu-ray

Here's a copy of the petition for all of you to read here:

I have never met Mary Tyler Moore. All I know is my father was a huge fan of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in the 1970s, back when she was known as the Queen of American Comedy, and that I will always know her as the coldest, most unloving mother in cinematic history in the 1980 Best Picture winner ORDINARY PEOPLE. When my father and I watched ORDINARY PEOPLE in the late 1990s, I just remember him saying during the film, "I don't like Mary when she's a *****!" He was joking, of course, but he also really emphasized what a brilliant dramatic performance she contributed to Robert Redford's masterful film, adapted by Alvin Sargent from Judith Guest's best-selling 1976 novel, which is still read in English classes today.

I had always planned to launch this petition on September 19, the day that ORDINARY PEOPLE opened in theaters back in 1980, to respectfully request Redford, Paramount and Criterion to join forces for remastering the film in high definition and releasing it on Blu-ray with bonus features. When I recently read about Moore's personal tragedy only three weeks after the film's release, however, I broke down and cried. Like I said, I never met the woman and I'm sure in real life, as Donald Sutherland emphasizes in the film to Judd Hirsch, "she's a wonderful woman." And it blows my mind that this could have happened to her considering the plot dynamics of the movie and the novel. Thus, it more or less explains why ORDINARY PEOPLE has hardly been seen in the past 35 years, except by teachers that are able to get the school's approval with the extremely light R-rating. We never seem to see the film on television, even with the minimal profanity excised, at all and Paramount's DVD is now so old and, well, ordinary that it depresses me.

We are now living in an era in which everything including 1970s pornography has made it to Blu-ray. If RAGING BULL can have three Blu-ray releases alone, then why can't we have just one Blu-ray of ORDINARY PEOPLE, a film which not only earned the studio Oscars and prestige but also millions at the box office: nearly $55 million (in addition to another $35M+ more in rentals) on a $6 million dollar budget??? I don't give a damn if cinephiles think RAGING BULL is "better" or "was robbed" or whatever when there are millions of reasons right there why Paramount should give attention to ORDINARY PEOPLE and soon. That being said, it probably would be more ideal to license the film over to Criterion, like Paramount did with their previous classics IF.... and HAROLD AND MAUDE. I would also strongly recommend and request that Paramount give the same Blu-ray treatment to their other huge 1980 critical hit, David Lynch's equally powerful THE ELEPHANT MAN.

One thing that Paramount and/or Criterion must keep in mind is practically all of the major cast and crew members of ORDINARY PEOPLE are still with us today. Novelist Judith Guest, screenwriters Alvin Sargent & Nancy Dowd (uncredited), director Robert Redford, producer Robert L. Schwary, cinematographer John Bailey, editor Jeff Kanew, and cast members Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, Elizabeth McGovern, Dinah Manoff, Frederic Lehne, James Sikking, Basil Hoffman and, of course, Adam Baldwin, are all still with us today. Whether its Paramount or Criterion, isn't it possible to get interviews with as many of them as possible for Blu-ray bonus features, or even multiple commentaries recorded? I'm sure those who love the film, myself included, would be eternally grateful. But most of all, can we at the very least remaster in HD or even get it scan the entire film in 4K for future preservation?

I don't care if ORDINARY PEOPLE is not in AFI's top 100 films or even the top ten like RAGING BULL. The point I'm making is that ORDINARY PEOPLE, like Guest's novel, is still very relevant, still very important, and still as powerful as it has ever been. I've been watching and writing about movies for 25 years and everybody I have shown ORDINARY PEOPLE to have had strikingly similar reactions, complete with a lot of tears and and lot of discussion. Thus, I respectfully request for Paramount Pictures, and the Sundance Institute (along with Criterion, if Paramount is willing) to answer the call and give us a Blu-ray release for ORDINARY PEOPLE with some serious bonus material. I'm sure it wouldn't cost much, and I'm also sure most, if not, all who worked on the film would be more than willing to participate and talk about the movie. Thank you very much for reading and your support! And, finally, Mr. Robert Redford: whenever you get wind of this petition, all I want to say is THANK YOU, thank you so much for making one of my favorite movies, as it's been a treasured part of my collection ever since Paramount released their DVD almost two decades ago. Hopefully you Sir, of all people, will agree it's time for an upgrade!

Thanks very much for reading and for your support!

cinemacrash · 10-06-2016, 12:10 AM

Petition signed! This movie is a masterpiece. As a movie addict, I have seen thousands of movies, both local and foreign, and this movie remains as my most watched movie because of its relatability and universal themes. It's ridiculous how all these stupid and irrelevant movies are being released on blu ray but this classic may never get the grand release it deserves. It is a damn best picture winner, and I don't care if others feel differently about it winning because it truly is one of the best American movies of all time!

oubukibun · 10-06-2016, 12:15 AM

Shoot, I'd take a Twilight Time release at this point! Signed!

spaceball-one · 10-06-2016, 12:16 AM

Signing this!
Honestly, the lack of a BD release for this has perplexed me for a quite a while now.

micktravis1979 · 10-06-2016, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oubukibun

Shoot, I'd take a Twilight Time release at this point! Signed!

Someone contacted me via email because they "heard rumblings" that Twilight Time was going to release it. Then I contacted Twilight Time myself, and they have confirmed they are not licensed to release any Paramount titles, thus they are not doing it. I love Twilight Time, they are about to release the 1956 version of MOBY DICK hopefully in the original aspect ratio and widescreen theatrical presentation and I'm about to take advantage of their 7 Blu-ray for $70 deal, but I really think ORDINARY PEOPLE should be a Criterion release.

micktravis1979 · 10-29-2016, 09:10 PM

Update on my ORDINARY PEOPLE Blu-ray petition here: https://www.change.org/p/paramount-p...people-blu-ray.

Please share with as many people as possible! So far it has 17 signatures, requires 83 more before being sent to Paramount, Sundance and Criterion. In addition, I'm grateful to get signatures to get two signatures from 2 people who worked in/on ORDINARY PEOPLE:

"Many people can't sit through Citizen Kane. I've never met anyone who doesn't love Ordinary People!" --- Editor Jeff Kanew

"I'm thrilled to sign this petition. I was so fortunate to play a tiny role in this film as Young Conrad, but as a fan of cinema I have truly admired Ordinary People on so many levels ever since I was a kid. It's one of the greatest films of all times, and it should be preserved and enhanced for generations to come. Good luck with your petition!" --- actor Michael Creadon

Fred Sliman · 10-30-2016, 05:09 AM

Glad to be the 20th signature but it's frustrating to have to depend on a petition for a major critical and commercial hit and Best Picture winner to be released. This should be a no-brainer for Paramount but a number of in-demand films from the era sit unreleased. Despite deals with Olive, Criterion and the Warner arrangement in recent years, classics like OP, Hud, Black Sunday and the music rights entangled Looking for Mr. Goodbar have been denied us. I know there has been some backlash over the years that this film "robbed" Raging Bull of a best picture win but the same situation stands for Dances With Wolves and Goodfellas. I highly doubt that plays a part in Ordinary's BD abscence, just part of the studio's perplexing through-the-cracks holdings. This great film needs and demands a release; beautifully shot, its images would finally be done justice on a newly mastered blu-ray and will hopefully before much longer.

micktravis1979 · 10-30-2016, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Sliman

Glad to be the 20th signature but it's frustrating to have to depend on a petition for a major critical and commercial hit and Best Picture winner to be released. This should be a no-brainer for Paramount but a number of in-demand films from the era sit unreleased. Despite deals with Olive, Criterion and the Warner arrangement in recent years, classics like OP, Hud, Black Sunday and the music rights entangled Looking for Mr. Goodbar have been denied us. I know there has been some backlash over the years that this film "robbed" Raging Bull of a best picture win but the same situation stands for Dances With Wolves and Goodfellas. I highly doubt that plays a part in Ordinary's BD abscence, just part of the studio's perplexing through-the-cracks holdings. This great film needs and demands a release; beautifully shot, its images would finally be done justice on a newly mastered blu-ray and will hopefully before much longer.

Thank you so much for your support Fred! Yes, its frustrating, but what else can we do? Sure, there are still many great films that haven't gotten the BR/HD treatment, but ORDINARY PEOPLE is an unusual and unique case.
Robert Redford said in a EW article (which I never read) in January 2016 that he says the film "belongs to the public now." That's why I've been wondering for the longest time: what IS the hold up on this film? I still think the fault lies with Paramount and their "slipping-through-the-cracks" laziness.

Also, here's some delicious irony for you: in 1980, Paramount also released the mother of all slasher movies with FRIDAY THE 13TH. Say what you will about F13, but at least Mrs. Voorhees loved her own son!

Guydowood · 10-30-2016, 12:00 PM

Signed, sealed and tweeted.....

BluBonnet · 10-30-2016, 02:41 PM

Paramount is pretty bad with most catalog titles. At least you can get the HD version of the movie on iTunes!

Oscar Rothman · 10-30-2016, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micktravis1979

in 1980, Paramount also released the mother of all slasher movies with FRIDAY THE 13TH.

not even close. dude.

Cremildo · 10-30-2016, 02:47 PM

Signed.

Cremildo · 10-30-2016, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

not even close. dude.

Yeah, apparently the guy never heard of Psycho and Halloween.

micktravis1979 · 10-31-2016, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guydowood

Signed, sealed and tweeted.....

Thank you, love your profile pic also. Superman getting drunk and turning into a real ******* was the highlight of that film for me.

Musicguy · 11-01-2016, 06:37 AM

From what I've read there are a lot of changes going on at the top of Paramount. Earlier this year Sumner Redstone executive chairman of CBS & Viacom which owns Paramount Pictures was forced to step down after going to court.

Last week it was announced some of the older Paramount blu-rays are being released by Paramount themselves and not through Warner in January.

It's possible with all the top changes at Paramount the studio may start putting some catalog on Blu-ray in 2017.

Many of their catalog titles including "Ordinary People" "The Elephant Man" "Roman Holiday" and "Paper Moon" already have a DCP from which a blu-ray can be made.

As a result, the petition probably won't help, and titles will start being released once again. In the next few months we may know more.

Of course take all this with a grain of salt, it just speculation

Tommy0807 · 01-25-2017, 09:17 PM

Rest in Peace, Mary. Now we need a Blu-ray release of Ordinary People more than ever.

BlueCotton · 01-26-2017, 08:30 AM

Yes. Just incredible that this masterpiece has not been on blu yet. On this very sad occasion of Mary Tyler Moore's passing, perhaps it will put it higher demand with increased interest. I see that Mary's shows along with Ordinary People have entered the Top 100 Best Sellers list in 'Movies & TV' on Amazon since last evening.

cinemacrash · 05-10-2017, 08:53 PM

Any update on this? It's upsetting that so many terrible movies have been released on blu rays but this one doesn't seem to have a release date.

stvn1974 · 05-10-2017, 09:55 PM

No release for Ordinary People yet Raging Bull has been released 7 different times.

ElectricPeterTork · 05-26-2017, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stvn1974

No release for Ordinary People yet Raging Bull has been released 7 different times.

And if Paramount owned Raging Bull, it probably wouldn't have been released once.

Pretty in Pink, Roman Holiday, Ordinary People, hell, they can't even get anything but 10-year-old masters of the Star Trek films released.

09-21-2016, 06:20 PM	#1
micktravis1979 Junior Member Member since:Jun 2015	1980 Best Picture Ordinary People Blu-ray Respectfully request for anyone in the Blu-ray.com community to take the time to read and consider signing my petition to Paramount Pictures and the Sundance Institute to remaster and release the 1980 Best Picture, Robert Redford's ORDINARY PEOPLE on Blu-ray with some serious bonus features, ideally through Criterion. The link can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/paramount-p...people-blu-ray Here's a copy of the petition for all of you to read here: I have never met Mary Tyler Moore. All I know is my father was a huge fan of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in the 1970s, back when she was known as the Queen of American Comedy, and that I will always know her as the coldest, most unloving mother in cinematic history in the 1980 Best Picture winner ORDINARY PEOPLE. When my father and I watched ORDINARY PEOPLE in the late 1990s, I just remember him saying during the film, "I don't like Mary when she's a ****!" He was joking, of course, but he also really emphasized what a brilliant dramatic performance she contributed to Robert Redford's masterful film, adapted by Alvin Sargent from Judith Guest's best-selling 1976 novel, which is still read in English classes today. I had always planned to launch this petition on September 19, the day that ORDINARY PEOPLE opened in theaters back in 1980, to respectfully request Redford, Paramount and Criterion to join forces for remastering the film in high definition and releasing it on Blu-ray with bonus features. When I recently read about Moore's personal tragedy only three weeks after the film's release, however, I broke down and cried. Like I said, I never met the woman and I'm sure in real life, as Donald Sutherland emphasizes in the film to Judd Hirsch, "she's a wonderful woman." And it blows my mind that this could have happened to her considering the plot dynamics of the movie and the novel. Thus, it more or less explains why ORDINARY PEOPLE has hardly been seen in the past 35 years, except by teachers that are able to get the school's approval with the extremely light R-rating. We never seem to see the film on television, even with the minimal profanity excised, at all and Paramount's DVD is now so old and, well, ordinary that it depresses me. We are now living in an era in which everything including 1970s pornography has made it to Blu-ray. If RAGING BULL can have three Blu-ray releases alone, then why can't we have just one Blu-ray of ORDINARY PEOPLE, a film which not only earned the studio Oscars and prestige but also millions at the box office: nearly $55 million (in addition to another $35M+ more in rentals) on a $6 million dollar budget??? I don't give a damn if cinephiles think RAGING BULL is "better" or "was robbed" or whatever when there are millions of reasons right there why Paramount should give attention to ORDINARY PEOPLE and soon. That being said, it probably would be more ideal to license the film over to Criterion, like Paramount did with their previous classics IF.... and HAROLD AND MAUDE. I would also strongly recommend and request that Paramount give the same Blu-ray treatment to their other huge 1980 critical hit, David Lynch's equally powerful THE ELEPHANT MAN. One thing that Paramount and/or Criterion must keep in mind is practically all of the major cast and crew members of ORDINARY PEOPLE are still with us today. Novelist Judith Guest, screenwriters Alvin Sargent & Nancy Dowd (uncredited), director Robert Redford, producer Robert L. Schwary, cinematographer John Bailey, editor Jeff Kanew, and cast members Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, Elizabeth McGovern, Dinah Manoff, Frederic Lehne, James Sikking, Basil Hoffman and, of course, Adam Baldwin, are all still with us today. Whether its Paramount or Criterion, isn't it possible to get interviews with as many of them as possible for Blu-ray bonus features, or even multiple commentaries recorded? I'm sure those who love the film, myself included, would be eternally grateful. But most of all, can we at the very least remaster in HD or even get it scan the entire film in 4K for future preservation? I don't care if ORDINARY PEOPLE is not in AFI's top 100 films or even the top ten like RAGING BULL. The point I'm making is that ORDINARY PEOPLE, like Guest's novel, is still very relevant, still very important, and still as powerful as it has ever been. I've been watching and writing about movies for 25 years and everybody I have shown ORDINARY PEOPLE to have had strikingly similar reactions, complete with a lot of tears and and lot of discussion. Thus, I respectfully request for Paramount Pictures, and the Sundance Institute (along with Criterion, if Paramount is willing) to answer the call and give us a Blu-ray release for ORDINARY PEOPLE with some serious bonus material. I'm sure it wouldn't cost much, and I'm also sure most, if not, all who worked on the film would be more than willing to participate and talk about the movie. Thank you very much for reading and your support! And, finally, Mr. Robert Redford: whenever you get wind of this petition, all I want to say is THANK YOU, thank you so much for making one of my favorite movies, as it's been a treasured part of my collection ever since Paramount released their DVD almost two decades ago. Hopefully you Sir, of all people, will agree it's time for an upgrade! Thanks very much for reading and for your support! Last edited by micktravis1979; 10-30-2016 at 10:41 AM.*

10-29-2016, 09:10 PM	#6
micktravis1979 Junior Member Member since:Jun 2015	17 Signatures, including Editor Jeff Kanew & Young Conrad Update on my ORDINARY PEOPLE Blu-ray petition here: https://www.change.org/p/paramount-p...people-blu-ray. Please share with as many people as possible! So far it has 17 signatures, requires 83 more before being sent to Paramount, Sundance and Criterion. In addition, I'm grateful to get signatures to get two signatures from 2 people who worked in/on ORDINARY PEOPLE: "Many people can't sit through Citizen Kane. I've never met anyone who doesn't love Ordinary People!" --- Editor Jeff Kanew "I'm thrilled to sign this petition. I was so fortunate to play a tiny role in this film as Young Conrad, but as a fan of cinema I have truly admired Ordinary People on so many levels ever since I was a kid. It's one of the greatest films of all times, and it should be preserved and enhanced for generations to come. Good luck with your petition!" --- actor Michael Creadon

11-01-2016, 06:37 AM	#15
Musicguy Special Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2010 Blu-ray collection:640 DVD collection:148	From what I've read there are a lot of changes going on at the top of Paramount. Earlier this year Sumner Redstone executive chairman of CBS & Viacom which owns Paramount Pictures was forced to step down after going to court. Last week it was announced some of the older Paramount blu-rays are being released by Paramount themselves and not through Warner in January. It's possible with all the top changes at Paramount the studio may start putting some catalog on Blu-ray in 2017. Many of their catalog titles including "Ordinary People" "The Elephant Man" "Roman Holiday" and "Paper Moon" already have a DCP from which a blu-ray can be made. As a result, the petition probably won't help, and titles will start being released once again. In the next few months we may know more. Of course take all this with a grain of salt, it just speculation Last edited by Musicguy; 11-01-2016 at 06:45 AM.

10-06-2016, 12:10 AM	#2
cinemacrash Special Member Member since:Mar 2016 4K collection:39 Blu-ray collection:583 Trading Score:453	Petition signed! This movie is a masterpiece. As a movie addict, I have seen thousands of movies, both local and foreign, and this movie remains as my most watched movie because of its relatability and universal themes. It's ridiculous how all these stupid and irrelevant movies are being released on blu ray but this classic may never get the grand release it deserves. It is a damn best picture winner, and I don't care if others feel differently about it winning because it truly is one of the best American movies of all time!

10-06-2016, 12:15 AM	#3
oubukibun Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Sep 2014 4K collection:123 Blu-ray collection:543 DVD collection:75 Trading Score:17	Shoot, I'd take a Twilight Time release at this point! Signed!

10-06-2016, 12:16 AM	#4
spaceball-one Power Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2014 4K collection:96 Blu-ray collection:792	Signing this! Honestly, the lack of a BD release for this has perplexed me for a quite a while now.

10-30-2016, 05:09 AM	#7
Fred Sliman Active Member Member since:Nov 2013 Location:Baton Rouge, LA 4K collection:199 Blu-ray collection:7979 DVD collection:2822	Glad to be the 20th signature but it's frustrating to have to depend on a petition for a major critical and commercial hit and Best Picture winner to be released. This should be a no-brainer for Paramount but a number of in-demand films from the era sit unreleased. Despite deals with Olive, Criterion and the Warner arrangement in recent years, classics like OP, Hud, Black Sunday and the music rights entangled Looking for Mr. Goodbar have been denied us. I know there has been some backlash over the years that this film "robbed" Raging Bull of a best picture win but the same situation stands for Dances With Wolves and Goodfellas. I highly doubt that plays a part in Ordinary's BD abscence, just part of the studio's perplexing through-the-cracks holdings. This great film needs and demands a release; beautifully shot, its images would finally be done justice on a newly mastered blu-ray and will hopefully before much longer.

10-30-2016, 12:00 PM	#9
Guydowood Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Location:Guydowood 4K collection:1426 Blu-ray collection:3244 DVD collection:74 MA collection:1255 Digital collection:1619 iTunes collection:1511 Prime collection:1266 Blu-ray reviews: 4275 Trading Score:53	Signed, sealed and tweeted.....

10-30-2016, 02:41 PM	#10
BluBonnet Blu-ray King Top contributor Member since:Oct 2009 Trading Score:1	Paramount is pretty bad with most catalog titles. At least you can get the HD version of the movie on iTunes!

10-30-2016, 02:47 PM	#12
Cremildo Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Jul 2011 Location:Brazil 4K collection:165 Blu-ray collection:1050 Trading Score:51	Signed.

01-25-2017, 09:17 PM	#16
Tommy0807 Active Member Member since:Jan 2013 Location:Omaha, NE 4K collection:19 Blu-ray collection:669 DVD collection:584	Rest in Peace, Mary. Now we need a Blu-ray release of Ordinary People more than ever.

01-26-2017, 08:30 AM	#17
BlueCotton Active Member Member since:Apr 2011 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:-	Yes. Just incredible that this masterpiece has not been on blu yet. On this very sad occasion of Mary Tyler Moore's passing, perhaps it will put it higher demand with increased interest. I see that Mary's shows along with Ordinary People have entered the Top 100 Best Sellers list in 'Movies & TV' on Amazon since last evening.

05-10-2017, 08:53 PM	#18
cinemacrash Special Member Member since:Mar 2016 4K collection:39 Blu-ray collection:583 Trading Score:453	Any update on this? It's upsetting that so many terrible movies have been released on blu rays but this one doesn't seem to have a release date.

05-10-2017, 09:55 PM	#19
stvn1974 Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jan 2012 Location:Earth Trading Score:18	No release for Ordinary People yet Raging Bull has been released 7 different times.

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