Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[KJones77]

I apparently had a coupon that took $2 off every item so it wiped out shipping plus a little for me and when combined with the $10/115 offer, I went a little crazy...but it's only $119 for all this so...



Only seen the first two. Sorry to see Twilight Time go.

[Coatchief]

I went all in on titles I wanted and mixed in a few of the Classic Flix titles too. Almost all of these are movies I can watch with the wifey though, so at least I have that going for me.

[Show spoiler]

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

Anyone have thoughts on any of the titles below? I'm undecided.

Angel (aka Danny Boy)
Gilda Crane
Hell and High Water
The Keys of the Kingdom
Untamed

"Hilda Crane" is a decent 50s melodrama. "Hell and High Water" isn't Fuller's strongest from his Fox output but it's a fun cold war thriller. The 5.1 track is amazing. I didn't really care much for "Untamed". The African landscapes are a treat to look at in CinemaScope but I didn't really like Hayward's character and disappointed that Power isn't in much of the film.

[gobad2003]

Had to pick up a few on my wants list, probably go back for more before the sales over

[Egbert Souse]

Just ordered my last batch of titles, sad to see a label go, but I can't imagine it being the same after Nick Redman passed.

I will say that out of all the TT discs I've bought, my all-time favorites...

Bedazzled
Two for the Road
A Man for All Seasons
Stormy Weather
The Gang's All Here
Love and Death
Our Man in Havana

[hariseldon]

Items flying off the site right now. I can't even get through updating my low volume list before I have to re-do it. Either all the TT fans hit at once or there's some speculators and maybe Indie Movie buyers that are scarfing up item 5-10 units at a time - esp the 4/7 titles..

Most Beautiful Woman - SOLD OUT completely

Since this morning -- all of these are now OOS at TTM
Seven Ups SOLD OUT AT TTM
Brutal Tales of Chivalry SOLD OUT AT TTM
Absolute Beginners SOLD OUT AT TTM
Cutters Way SOLD OUT AT TTM
Cowboy SOLD OUT AT TTM
Another Woman SOLD OUT AT TTM


Low stock and some moving very fast
Comes a Horseman 20
I Want to Live 20
New Centurions 25
Alexander the Great 27
Stone Killer 30
Gun Fury 3D 35
Everything You Always ..... 40

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

Sad, if expected, news. Been buying TT titles since they first launched. Feels like a lifetime ago.

Thinking about grabbing a last few titles in this sale but the timing really sucks with the Vinegar Syndrome sale only two weeks away.

Anyone have thoughts on any of the titles below? I'm undecided.

Angel (aka Danny Boy)
Gilda Crane
Hell and High Water
The Keys of the Kingdom
Untamed

Angel is great. Solid early indie movie, you can easily see it as a stepping stone to Mona Lisa & The Crying Game. Can't believe it's still so cheap.

[captainsolo]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

They were over expensive and their discs came out elsewhere normally cheaper and some times better.
It's sad but the business model was obviously not sustainable.

This was always my issue and why I've never gotten a TT to date. The pricing was noticeably higher and the specialty sites charges more shipping much like the specialty soundtrack CD labels have to do. (and its why I usually can't afford those amazing CDs.) Every title I was interested in usually came out in a cheaper or better release from another label or I had waited in hopes of it happening. There are a number I would like to and will pick up though but these will indeed shoot up on the used market.

It's still really sad to see one of the labels go. I wish they could have had greater success.

[RetroGuy]

Just placed my final order with Twilight Time. I'm sure going to miss them.

3 Worlds of Gulliver
A Man Called Peter
Admirable Crichton
Anne of the Thousand Days
Bedazzled
Born Free
Kid Galahad
Mother Wore Tights
My Cousin Rachel
My Gal Sal
Peyton Place
Take A Girl Like You
Three Coins in the Fountain
Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn
Whirlpool
The Whole Town's Talking
Wild in the Country
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?

[RalphoR]

Super sad news for me. Say what you will about their business model but I always cherished (no, really!) the good old days of helping bring down their internet site at exactly 2:59 pm trying to make sure I got my order in on release day. It was fun afterwards posting what we each got and ticked when we missed out. RIP Twilight Time. You certainly will be missed by me

[TravisTylerBlack]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Items flying off the site right now

No surprise there. Combo of the closure news and the sale prices enticing people to get what they can while they can. I doubt TT will have a ton of stock left for SAE a month from now.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by Aclea

For those who haven't seen it:

IT’S TWILIGHT TIME FOR US!

After nine years of successful operations in which 380 motion pictures from the 1930s to the 2010s have been released on DVD and Blu-ray disc, the home video label Twilight Time founded by veteran Hollywood studio executives and filmmakers Brian Jamieson and the late, dearly celebrated Nick Redman, will not release any further titles and we will be winding down operations this summer. A changing market, the rising costs of title acquisitions and the passing of longtime partner and company spokesman Nick Redman, are key reasons for the closure.

As part of our winding down process, there will be a one-time reduction in prices to $3.95,$6.95 and $11.95 as of Monday, May 11th at https://www.twilighttimemovies.com/. Cinemagistics/TwilightTimeMovies.com will continue to sell titles while available through June 30th, at which time they and Twilight Time will cease operations.

Remaining inventory will be acquired and distributed exclusively by Screen Archives – effective July 1st 2020.

When launched in 2011, Twilight Time pioneered the concept of bringing rare and distinctive films of all genres to the marketplace in 3,000-unit Limited Editions, exclusively available at two website destinations: Screen Archives Entertainment and later Twilight Time Movies. This allowed devoted movie fans to obtain physical copies of highly desired titles which did not command shelf space at local brick and mortar stores. Nick aptly named the venture Twilight Time, because eventually the concept of film as physical goods would have a ‘sell-by date’ possibly sooner rather than later. Nick once said, “At the onset we never envisaged we would be around for nearly a decade before it was time for the sun to set on the company.”

During that time, the Twilight Time catalog has included fabled films from the libraries of Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures, MGM/United Artists, Universal Studios, Film 4, Protagonist Pictures, Toei Company and other entities, and showcased many Academy Award®- and international prize-winning titles. Thanks to Nick Redman’s 30+ years as an award-winning film music historian and preservationist, most releases have included synchronized Isolated Music or Music-and-Effects Tracks that provided a rare platform for the lauded and unsung composers so vital to the filmmaking process. Many offerings also provided informative Audio Commentary tracks involving co-founder Redman and a host of internationally noted film historians that expertly contextualized and enhanced the viewing experience.

From the beginning, the core Twilight Time players – essayist and commentary contributor Julie Kirgo, packaging designer Louis Falzarano, soundtrack editor/music historian Mike Matessino, disc authoring supervisor Jeff Jewett, and our project coordinator Mike Finnegan – have played essential and “best in class” roles in this unique venture. We also want to recognize the extraordinary help of our Distribution and Marketing partners at Screen Archives and Twilight Time Movies. Most importantly, from the bottom of our hearts we thank you, the appreciative film collector. You have supported us throughout this marvelous journey and will hopefully continue to do so while these “one of a kind” limited-run titles are still accessible to you.

We couldn’t have done it without you – our loyal customers!

I received the email too, and although it isn't a surprise it's also unfortunate. TT was Nick Redman and it seems no one else was interested in filling his large shoes.

[Page14]

This is the kind of news that everybody knew was coming, but still feels like a punch to the gut when the news becomes official.

Out of my current 1800+ blu-rays, Twilight Time is the most represented company in my entire collection. 'Nuff said.

Thank you Twilight Time. Your discs will be enjoyed for many years to come.

[shireguy]

I have 18 items that I would like to get... but shipping to Australia... $91.75 !!!!

Sorry not even I can justify THAT OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT

[JupiterMission]

Such a bummer. This was a fun label to keep up with, and they put out good discs. I have about 40 in my collection, and just added another nine. I'll always be very grateful to this label for putting out The Man in the Moon, one of my personal favorite movies that probably wouldn't have gotten a blu without TT.

[GeoffOliver]

Sad news, but it was only a matter of time. This might be my last TT order, and I hope I picked some good ones. All blind buys. I trust that these are worth it? I enjoy noir, crime dramas, American pop culture, and melodrama, and they were on my wishlist.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by TravisTylerBlack

No surprise there. Combo of the closure news and the sale prices enticing people to get what they can while they can. I doubt TT will have a ton of stock left for SAE a month from now.

Possible, but most of the these price are only 1-2 less than 2-3 days ago and pretty much everyone knew TTM was pretty much done. I know there's a burst with the confirmed news, but I wonder how many of these purchases are being done by Overstock/2nd Hand/Indie Movie Stores. It's just odd to see 5-10 copies per titles suddenly selling in 15 minutes.

I know there are a couple Independent stores that have been selling TT items for $5-10 more than TTM/SAE already and I could easily see them buy $4-6 titles and marking them to $15-20 since I'm guessing many customers still don't know about the direct sites.


OTOH -- there are 100+ titles with 200-250+ copies -- several over 1000 if you can trust the Cart Numbers so I'll be shocked if they suddenly sell 60000-80000 discs in a month unless they slash those $12 titles to $6. I can certainly see another 30-40 titles and maybe even 70-80 selling out at TTM in 6 weeks, but after this initially rush I suspect it will go back to a slow push.

Originally Posted by shireguy

I have 18 items that I would like to get... but shipping to Australia... $91.75 !!!!
Sorry not even I can justify THAT OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT

Just for kicks I plugged the numbers into the USPS Calculator trying to see what cost a family member could ship it -- 18 discs packed in a lightweight box is going to weigh almost exactly 4 lbs with fairly minimal packaging and not even a medium strength box (20 items gets you 4.01+lbs with virtually no packing material). Best USPS 1st Class International price for 3.99lb is $67USD though and Priority is only $69USD so it's not even like TTM is adding a lot. 4.01lbs eliminates 1st Class and pushes it to $75-85 Priority International.

[joenostalgia23]

I was hoping for a sale to get Hell of High Water for $20 and I ended up paying $11 for it... along with 46 other titles. Didn’t expect to clear my wish list all at once.

It’s sad to see this happen with Twilight Time but hopefully another distributor (Kino, Shout, Criterion?) comes along to keep the dream of physical media alive. To be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of Twilight Time’s presentation, the high cost, often mediocre cover art, lack of extras... but they still kept a lot of great movies out of obscurity and the AV quality was usually great. They will be missed.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

Sad news, but it was only a matter of time. This might be my last TT order, and I hope I picked some good ones. All blind buys. I trust that these are worth it? I enjoy noir, crime dramas, American pop culture, and melodrama, and they were on my wishlist.

[Show spoiler]

I haven't watched "Whirlpool" yet but "No Down Payment" and "Underworld USA" are excellent.

[The Great Owl]

This really is saddening news that punches me right in the stomach.

I mean, I stockpiled Twilight Time titles, and I have so many still-unwatched ones in my collection that I'll still feel as though I'm getting new purchases from the label for many years to come, but the announcement hits home nonetheless.