When are MGM going to start releasing catalogue titles again!

[wdaub1]

Just wondering why no one has released Tom Jones 1963 Best Picture Oscar winner. It is MGM so I would think Kino may have the rights. This is one of 2 Best picture Oscar winners never to see DVD. The other being The Lost Weekend 1945 which I think is a Universal Studios title.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by wdaub1

Just wondering why no one has released Tom Jones 1963 Best Picture Oscar winner. It is MGM so I would think Kino may have the rights. This is one of 2 Best picture Oscar winners never to see DVD. The other being The Lost Weekend 1945 which I think is a Universal Studios title.

Criterion has Tom Jones. I'd expect a release next year, which is also the film's 55tth anniversary.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by wdaub1

Just wondering why no one has released Tom Jones 1963 Best Picture Oscar winner. It is MGM so I would think Kino may have the rights. This is one of 2 Best picture Oscar winners never to see DVD. The other being The Lost Weekend 1945 which I think is a Universal Studios title.

"Tom Jones" was released on DVD twice, one for each cut. "The Lost Weekend" had numerous DVD releases. Not sure what you mean -- if you mean Blu, there are several other Best Picture winners without a Blu release.

[ParamountChris]

Originally Posted by redribbon

Just give it up MGM! if you can let "The Graduate" slip, you can let Silence slip out of your fingers! Hopefully MPEG-4 and would love for Criterion to snatch The Man With No Name Trilogy, In The Heat Of The Night (love a version with that old colorful UA Transamerica logo), "Midnight Cowboy", "The Wild Child", "The Hospital", "Last Tango In Paris", "Platoon" and "The Usual Suspects" to be issued under Criterion with new transfers.

That would be amazing to see more UA catalogue titles actually restoring their United Artists logos, I love how Kino's Blu Ray of The Good The Bad and The Ugly has that colorful 1967 UA logo (which didn't last long due to Transamerica changing their logo next year, I wonder if this logo was also on the International prints of The Graduate since this was a UA release) yet most UA titles either have the 2000's UA logo or just MGM, would've been still better if they used the 1982, 1987 or 1994 United Artists logos when it comes to plastering since you don't see those in HD much, lot like MGM catalogue titles from Orion and UA like The Hoodlum Priest and Riot on Sunset Strip for example.

[Mikezilla3k]

So, since Fox's deal with MGM seems to have expired, will Warner Bros or Universal distribute MGM titles that were released by Fox?

[DocMario90]

Originally Posted by Mikezilla3k

So, since Fox's deal with MGM seems to have expired, will Warner Bros or Universal distribute MGM titles that were released by Fox?

According to this Deadline article from June 2016, the deal doesn't expire for another month.

[Geoff D]

And we've got no idea who'll take the reins, if at all because MGM's suits are actively trying to sell the studio and so they might not want to tie up the home video distribution rights before that happens. I don't think it's a coincidence that they're hawking it around town just as the Fox home video deal is about to expire, though I could be wrong and someone's already waiting to take over home video duties.

Universal have distributed several recent MGM features, yes, but they're parlaying their handling the foreign theatrical rollout for X film in exchange for the global home video rights, even while the Fox deal was still active, so it's not the same thing as just taking over the home video dept. wholesale. Universal already do a lot of distributing for other studios around the world and agreed to do swapsies with Warners (being an effort to consolidate, not conglomerate) and I dunno if they'd want to take on MGM full time. Unless they just bought the studio outright

[somethingblu]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

And we've got no idea who'll take the reins, if at all because MGM's suits are actively trying to sell the studio and so they might not want to tie up the home video distribution rights before that happens. I don't think it's a coincidence that they're hawking it around town just as the Fox home video deal is about to expire, though I could be wrong and someone's already waiting to take over home video duties.

Universal have distributed several recent MGM features, yes, but they're parlaying their handling the foreign theatrical rollout for X film in exchange for the global home video rights, even while the Fox deal was still active, so it's not the same thing as just taking over the home video dept. wholesale. Universal already do a lot of distributing for other studios around the world and agreed to do swapsies with Warners (being an effort to consolidate, not conglomerate) and I dunno if they'd want to take on MGM full time. Unless they just bought the studio outright

Wasn't this over 10 years ago they were looking for a buyer? They just names a new chairman and have already announced a new direction for the studio's slate of films. I also believe they stated they would have an new video distribution deal this summer after it lapses with Fox.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by somethingblu

Wasn't this over 10 years ago they were looking for a buyer? They just names a new chairman and have already announced a new direction for the studio's slate of films. I also believe they stated they would have an new video distribution deal this summer after it lapses with Fox.

They've been in financial trouble for so long they've always been looking for a way out, 10 years ago was just the last time they got bailed out after Sony failed to turn them around. But the installation of a new chairman comes off the back of rumours of them having had preliminary talks with Apple and Netflix about a buyout, and while some may see his appointment as part of a new direction for the company, others see his hiring as the board fattening up the goose as best they can before selling it on.

[somethingblu]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

And we've got no idea who'll take the reins, if at all because MGM's suits are actively trying to sell the studio and so they might not want to tie up the home video distribution rights before that happens. I don't think it's a coincidence that they're hawking it around town just as the Fox home video deal is about to expire, though I could be wrong and someone's already waiting to take over home video duties.

Universal have distributed several recent MGM features, yes, but they're parlaying their handling the foreign theatrical rollout for X film in exchange for the global home video rights, even while the Fox deal was still active, so it's not the same thing as just taking over the home video dept. wholesale. Universal already do a lot of distributing for other studios around the world and agreed to do swapsies with Warners (being an effort to consolidate, not conglomerate) and I dunno if they'd want to take on MGM full time. Unless they just bought the studio outright

Very interesting read! Thanks for sharing. It would be quite a twist of fate is Warner actually acquired MGM (for sentimental reasons).

[Nailwraps]

We know Apple is interested in being next in line.

Honestly, I would love it also for Universal or Warner to take the torch because both have a connection with MGM. If it were me, I would pick Warner since they have the pre-86 library and would be great, even for a little while, for the whole MGM library to be back under one roof again.


I do agree with Somethingblu however, Warner acquiring all of MGM would be another dream come true.

[kristoffer]

I just hope someone that has any interest in releasing UHD BDs discs gets the catalogue! Apple would be a disaster.

[DR Herbert West]

Fingers crossed for Universal (Warner would be nice, but it feels like a long shot).

[ParamountChris]

I would love to have Sony handle the back catalogue again. I also wouldn’t seem to mind if Lionsgate handled a bunch of the catalogue for reprints as long as they let boutique labels do their share of MGM titles. That’s my point of view, you guys may hate me for saying Sony or Lionsgate.

I do wonder how the MGM-connected Annapurna films (e.g. Detroit, Booksmart, Vice) would be affected.

[Robert Siegel]

I just hope whoever it is, they are interested in blu-ray releases of catalog titles more than we got through Fox.

[IndyMLVC]

In addition to the 4K aspect, I wonder if a Movies Anywhere studio got control if the MGM movies would suddenly be included there. Or would that still be different?

[ParamountChris]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

In addition to the 4K aspect, I wonder if a Movies Anywhere studio got control if the MGM movies would suddenly be included there. Or would that still be different?

Some digital rights are different from Video rights. The Graduate is an example, where the digital rights were with Lionsgate but the video rights were with Fox. I wonder what logos appear on the Lionsgate version.

It’s also the fact that Bill and Ted’s rights are split with Paramount for digital and television and MGM for video. May be different outside of North America where StudioCanal is also involved.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

I just hope whoever it is, they are interested in blu-ray releases of catalog titles more than we got through Fox.

MGM told Fox what to release, Fox had no control over that. When it changes hands again, MGM will still have a say.

[cloudnine]

When are MGM going to start releasing catalogue titles again!

Never. Stupid Thread.

[bigbadwoppet]

To be honest, MGM have never released a BD. Fox released some on their behalf for a while and a lot more have been licensed. I still have some dvd's that open with the MGM logo. Do you own ANY disc that opens with the words MGM BLU-RAY? Didn't think so.

MGM is caught in a trap of their own making. They need a big profile distributor (another studio) but studios have their own product to release. MGM will never be a priority for them. Not having commited to manufacturing/releasing their own product, MGM can choose not to release at all through their distributor.