Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

That promo code never worked for me up here in Canuckland SpartanIre. I think it might be a U.S.-only perq.

For International buyers, the big advantage of multiple combined purchases from SAE is it dilutes the per unit shipping cost, plus pretty much guarantees a nicely padded box. To date, I haven't have one shipment damaged-in-transit-by-dogsled.

It worked for me, and I'm in the great white north, thou you can't tell today

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by JoeDeM

It worked for me, and I'm in the great white north, thou you can't tell today

Then it must have been a checkout glitch like oildude experienced. But the promo code never worked for me after that Joe, so I guess we all get one electronic shot at it, and I blew it...

On the other hand, I happened to be placing an order when SAE went live with TT's FREE 1-of-100 director-signed Fright Night Blu-rays for any purchases totalling $100. So I think that bit of serendipity more than made up for not being able to use the $10 off AMAZON code.

Karma is good that way sometimes...

[SpartanIre]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Then it must have been a checkout glitch like oildude experienced. But the promo code never worked for me after that Joe, so I guess we all get one electronic shot at it, and I blew it...

On the other hand, I happened to be placing an order when SAE went live with TT's FREE 1-of-100 director-signed Fright Night Blu-rays for any purchases totalling $100. So I think that bit of serendipity more than made up for not being able to use the $10 off AMAZON code.

Karma is good that way sometimes...

Nice. I was a little ticked when that deal went live since I had ordered Fright Night already. I had a few titles I would have ordered. Oh well. Congrats to all that took advantage. I pre-ordered Bell, Book and Candle and Desiree today. I also broke down and snagged Rapture and Picnic. After reading the interview links that you so kindly provided I decided that I wanted to do my part and help Twilight Time succeed. I think this is a fantastic way for catalogue titles that normally would not see the light of day find a release on blu-ray. I love cinema. While I am not as learned as many of the posters on this website concerning cinema knowledge, I am interested in the HUGE amount of movies I have yet to see...

[oildude]

Originally Posted by SpartanIre

Nice. I was a little ticked when that deal went live since I had ordered Fright Night already. I had a few titles I would have ordered. Oh well. Congrats to all that took advantage. I pre-ordered Bell, Book and Candle and Desiree today. I also broke down and snagged Rapture and Picnic.

Nice. Rapture is my favorite film they have released so far. Sort of a blind buy (I did preview the first nine minutes on YouTube). It is the best "lost" film I have discovered in ages. Such a shame it disappeared into the vault for over 40 years except for occaisional appearances on network TV. I suspect Rapture could become the rarest of TT's current releases when it finally sells out, because I have my doubts Fox will re-release it on physical media anytime soon after the exclusive licensing period expires. I think it likely Fox will relegate it to HD streaming only.

But I hope I am wrong about that. Rapture deserves to be seen and heard as it is on TT's excellent blu-ray, with its lush Cinemascope visuals and haunting score.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by SpartanIre

Nice. I was a little ticked when that deal went live since I had ordered Fright Night already. I had a few titles I would have ordered. Oh well. Congrats to all that took advantage. I pre-ordered Bell, Book and Candle and Desiree today. I also broke down and snagged Rapture and Picnic. After reading the interview links that you so kindly provided I decided that I wanted to do my part and help Twilight Time succeed. I think this is a fantastic way for catalogue titles that normally would not see the light of day find a release on blu-ray. I love cinema. While I am not as learned as many of the posters on this website concerning cinema knowledge, I am interested in the HUGE amount of movies I have yet to see...

I'd still like to see links to both of those Redman interviews included in the OP...they explain so much about this label and its approach. And now that we're 'pinned', perhaps a gallery of covers linked to reviews like the Criterion and KINO threads? Guess that would be up to larry47591 though, due to the ongoing maintenance required.

It's funny about this "support the label" thing SpartanIre. That honestly never occurred to me, because I tend not to embrace or endorse companies that way (except my own, of course ). In retrospect, it seems very out of character for that to have happened with this home video label, because you have no idea how skeptical I was when I purchased The Egyptian totally blind last July. When I first popped that disc into my player, I had absolutely no idea what to expect, had never even visited these boards for that sort of information - Blu-ray.com was simply a site I hit occasionally for its upcoming release schedule. So suddenly here was this 'moment of truth' after spending roughly $60 bucks (with International shipping) on a single Blu-ray from this rinky-dink label with zip, zero, zilch history in the format, I thought, "What was going through your head when you clicked 'Confirm' for this thing?" "What if it's just another sloppily upscaled DVD port?" However, this was also a point when I hadn't purchased a single Blu-ray in several weeks because none of the stuff I was really interested in was even available via local retail. So on some level, my expectations and hopes for the Blu-ray format as a collector medium were as close to rock bottom as you could get. Would this expensive, rather desperate, mail order buy be the final insult? Were standard def DVDs and MODs really it for this vintage stuff?

Thankfully, after that moment of panic and doubt, the movie itself burst across my screen in the full 2.55:1 'Scope I remembered from my first viewing...and it was not merely okay or acceptable, it was gorgeous. At that point, I just had to know more about this label and its plans for Blu-ray, because I felt this was work genuinely worth celebrating and encouraging. And it's that enthusiasm which eventually brought me around to these boards. So although it seems like I'm a "label supporter", it's really just been a natural fallout from what TT has delivered in terms of content and quality. And then Mysterious Island proved that The Egyptian wasn't merely a fluke or one-off...it was clear these guys were serious about the Blu-ray catalogue collector market in a way the studios had not yet embraced except for their highest profile mainstream classics. I was just thrilled that someone out there had finally found a way to 'crack the vaults' and get some of the stuff I really wanted on Blu, and cared enough to do it so well. If my worst enemy ran this label, I would still support it.

So if I seem rather passionate about Twilight Time, what you're really hearing is enormous gratitude. I mean, this time last year, I thought the Blu-ray format had devolved into a dead end for catalogue collectors. This year, just about every postal pick-up is a beautiful new adventure*.

* With great stuff arriving regularly from KINO and Criterion, and even some of the better handled Olive titles too.

[PowellPressburger]

Not sure if these two SONY Columbia Titles have been mentioned but anyone know if Twilight Time would be releasing THE SWIMMER or WALK ON THE WILD SIDE w/ Jane Fonda?

I love THE SWIMMER and the DVD is OOP which I own a copy, but would love to see a Blu upgrade.

[Arkadin]

if they're smart they'll get The Swimmer, and it has been mentioned on here previously.
that movie has a definite cult film base it seems. I have long wanted the dvd, but it's just too much on the seller's market.

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

if they're smart they'll get The Swimmer, and it has been mentioned on here previously.
that movie has a definite cult film base it seems. I have long wanted the dvd, but it's just too much on the seller's market.

If you don't want to wait for a BD release, yes the crazy Amazon Marketplace sellers think they'll get some fool to pay $100+ for the OOP US DVD, but Amazon UK has the region 2 PAL DVD for under £4. It's from Sony/Columbia and the quality is very decent, I included it an order a year or so ago.

[benbess]

Just watched The Roots of Heaven. Fairly good pq on this interesting and off-beat film. I imagine they lost a lot of money on this one back in 1958, because it's just not really commercial. I liked all the players as well as theme about environmental preservation. It reminded me of a novel with similar themes by one of my favorite writers: Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg.

[Arkadin]

yeah I have considered getting the PAL dvd, but I never have because my friend has the ntsc dvd and always claims he'll make me a copy.
for people who can play region 2 dvds it is certainly the best option at this point.

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Not sure if these two SONY Columbia Titles have been mentioned but anyone know if Twilight Time would be releasing THE SWIMMER or WALK ON THE WILD SIDE w/ Jane Fonda?

I love THE SWIMMER and the DVD is OOP which I own a copy, but would love to see a Blu upgrade.

I'd buy anything with Jane Fonda in it, I would love to see Cat Ballou, but it's a little different than what TT is releasing so I don't expect to see it but it would be nice.

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

I was just thrilled that someone out there had finally found a way to 'crack the vaults' and get some of the stuff I really wanted on Blu, and cared enough to do it so well. If my worst enemy ran this label, I would still support it.

TT is turning into my favorite Label, even thou I don't buy all their titles, I've been really happy with what I bought, and I really want them to succeed.

[HonestJohn]

Anyone get their copy of Bite The Bullet yet? Thought is was a pretty safe although expensive blind-buy. Bought this one after reading a bit about the movie and also a fan of most of Gene Hackamn's work. Looking forward to getting it soon as I'm only a state away from where they ship from.

Also you were quite right about Mysterious Island, ROclockCK. PQ was outstanding. I also now have an all new appreciation for this movie which I hadn't seen in at least 30 years and it was like watching it for the first time. Really the only thing I remembered about it from my viewing as a teen or maybe even pre-teen were the special effects.

[Arkadin]

the J. Fonda movie I want Criterion to get from MGM is They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
that movie is amazing.
btw: what my friend found in his yard.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

if they're smart they'll get The Swimmer, and it has been mentioned on here previously.
that movie has a definite cult film base it seems. I have long wanted the dvd, but it's just too much on the seller's market.

It's a Columbia/TriStar picture with a cult following worldwide, so I don't see why TT couldn't or wouldn't do it.

Actually I sold my own DVD of The Swimmer when the aftermarket price hit $50. So by my math, I wouldn't be at a loss if I purchased it again on Blu from TT.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

the J. Fonda movie I want Criterion to get from MGM is They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
that movie is amazing.
btw: what my friend found in his yard.

TSHDT was a UA title, so MGM has it Arkadin. I agree that Criterion would be the likliest best hope for that one.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by benbess

Just watched The Roots of Heaven. Fairly good pq on this interesting and off-beat film. I imagine they lost a lot of money on this one back in 1958, because it's just not really commercial. I liked all the players as well as theme about environmental preservation. It reminded me of a novel with similar themes by one of my favorite writers: Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg.

[Show spoiler]

I'm still amazed that The Roots of Heaven even got made back in 1958. Even more astonishing, Huston managed to convince the studio to spend $4,500,000 on it (the *official* budget was $3.3 mil.), which was definitely an A+ production in those days. Must have been some serious poker losses settled via the greenlight for that one!

Very good movie though, which I'm getting in the mood to see again (

[Show spoiler]I still haven't been able to figure out what Errol Flynn mumbled as his dying line - any ideas?

). I just really liked the richness of the characters and the small backstories given room to breathe within the 'Scope frame. Although it's a second rung title compared to some of the others in the collection, I'm glad TT did it, because it was an entirely new experience for me, including an interesting Welles supporting performance I never knew existed. I was too young to see The Roots of Heaven in theatres, and don't recall it playing on TV much in the 60s and 70s. Then it just vanished for decades...although apparently there was a Spanish DVD available for awhile.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by JoeDeM

I'd buy anything with Jane Fonda in it, I would love to see Cat Ballou, but it's a little different than what TT is releasing so I don't expect to see it but it would be nice.

Is Cat Ballou really that different Joe? I mean, TT did the Novak movies.

Personally, I'd rather see The Chase or Walk on the Wild Side done first.

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Is Cat Ballou really that different Joe? I mean, TT did the Novak movies.

Personally, I'd rather see The Chase or Walk on the Wild Side done first.

I think of Cat Ballou as more main stream, than the Novak films, but I would take The Chase or Walk on the Wild Side as well.

[Arkadin]

I want The Chase bad. That movie is so entertaining, I think it would be a perfect TT choice.