Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[RiFiFi1955]

I think Twilight Time should put together a release for Gilda like they did with The Big Heat. It's another Sony title so getting the rights shouldn't be an issue. I would love to see this movie makes it way to blu-ray.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

My latest Twilight Time order arrived the other day and the first thing I checked, of course was THE BLUE LAGOON --

[Show spoiler]at least all of the unusually generous supply of bonus features plus most of the movie with the first commentary. Amazing-looking picture quality, pretty much what I remember from seeing it in 1980, and the commentary adds a lot more to appreciate about the film. And while the acting may not be great, it's certainly appropriate for the characters and situation.

I'm saving that one for last Blu-Velvet...no reason, except that my Blu-ray in hand has suddenly turned into a Christmas gift. Another one is on the way though.

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

[Show spoiler]I'll probably watch THE RAINS OR RANCHIPUR in early January a couple of weeks from now, as an antidote to the mid-winter cold (not to mention Olive's TAXI FOR TOBRUK and films like SOUL SURFER and SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, and maybe even THE BLUE LAGOON).

I plan to hold off on BELOVED INFIDEL until I can run it as a second feature with the upcoming Blu-ray of the 1974 version of THE GREAT GATSBY. If it's anywhere close to THE WAYWARD BUS, which I really liked a lot, or THE SOUND AND THE FURY, which I found more than satisfactory, I'll be happy with it.

Both The Wayward Bus and The Sound and the Fury were adaptations of the works of first rank American authors, whereas Beloved Infidel was bio. What they have in common though, apart from the obvious literary connection, is a distinct mid-to-late 50s style of widescreen production, which for expedience I always refer to as "Adler era 'Scope" because of the hand that Fox chief Buddy Adler had in shaping (some would say bowlderizing and homogenizing) these ambitious literary projects. During this period, Hollywood was moving (being dragged kicking and screaming) toward the code-smashing 60s, but was not quite there yet. So modern sensibilities might find much of this stuff overly chaste and circumspect, even corny, but it was very good in its way. Just not for everyone's tastes, which is why I'm always cautious when recommending such titles. Personally, I'm a fan of these pictures mostly because they feature some intriguing 'lost' A-list performances and past-master scores, with routinely top tier production values.

BTW, The Rains of Ranchipur is just spectacularly weird fun, and somewhat Noir-ish to boot, so I think it will play with just about anything. Why not pair it up with Our Man Flint? Same dam bursting.

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

As I try to run at least semi-related double-features most of the time, BONJOUR TRISTESSE is one I may hold off to run with either some other Preminger or Jean Seberg movie (haven't yet ordered Olive's Preminger collection, mainly because the films seem to be his lesser works). Maybe it's time to look at BREATHLESS again or revisit AIRPORT.

I'd definitely go with something from the French New Wave...mainly for counterpoint. Bonjour Tristesse has basically the same type of characters and storyline, but Preminger's approach to such material was a collision of styles...Hollywood vs. Continental...for want of a better term, I call it "Franken-style". Although I still enjoyed this movie very much, never was this filmmaker's 'wanting it both ways' approach more evident than during my recent viewing of this Blu-ray. I guess I've just seen too many native French New Wave films not to be aware of the strange 'limbo' feel.

[P@t_Mtl]

I am surprise with the bonus content for Lost Horizon, it's probably the most bonus stuff I have yet seen on a Twillight release, in those that I got I mean

[HDMe]

I didn't buy it... but I saw the first Twilight Time movie to make it back to my local used book/movie store.

They had Demetrius & the Gladiators... and it was $20... which means someone traded it (or sold it) to them for no more than $10... so it seems these are slowly making their way into the lower-priced used market now.

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by HDMe

I didn't buy it... but I saw the first Twilight Time movie to make it back to my local used book/movie store.

They had Demetrius & the Gladiators... and it was $20... which means someone traded it (or sold it) to them for no more than $10... so it seems these are slowly making their way into the lower-priced used market now.

I wonder who would do that? Maybe it was given to them as a gift, like an older person who didn't know how to use Ebay or something.

[HDMe]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

I wonder who would do that? Maybe it was given to them as a gift, like an older person who didn't know how to use Ebay or something.

No telling... I find lots of good stuff that always surprises me. IF it were one of the Twilight Time releases I have wanted, I would have picked it up for $20 without thinking... so I'm still hoping to see some of the others eventually.

I'm always hopeful because, as an example, I picked on a Star Trek Next Gen Season One Blu-ray set (with slipcover) for $48 there... and that was including sales tax.

I've learned that IF I am willing to wait, good things show up there eventually.

[LucasM2012]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

I wonder who would do that? Maybe it was given to them as a gift, like an older person who didn't know how to use Ebay or something.

Possibly a 'blind buy' that the person wasn't enthralled by.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I am surprise with the bonus content for Lost Horizon, it's probably the most bonus stuff I have yet seen on a Twillight release, in those that I got I mean

They're definitely getting more from both Sony and Fox. Just look at the features on TT's Flint disc this month...whoa!

Anyway P@t, I finally saw Lost Horizon '73 in all (or most) of its roadshow glory last night, and...well...hey...I guess it wasn't so bad after all. At least I'm now better able to appreciate what others have seen and continue to see in it. A misguided project? Certainly. Miscalculated? No doubt. But a razz-worthy total failure? Nah, just rather awkward and uneven. Too much 'in one hand out the other'.

From where I sat, the biggest twin whammies limiting this picture's effectiveness were Charles Jarrott's direction and Hermes Pan's choreography...I mean, if it's possible to have a 'tin eye' or a 'tin foot', then that about sums up their respective contributions here. The former never seemed to know where to place his camera, especially during the musical numbers, and the cheesiness of the latter's Vegas-style moves were shown up every time the camera did manage to bring them into view. The quality of the book and lyrics varied, but were somewhat better than remembered, especially the actual score underpinning it all, which I might actually listen to isolated someday. It was obvious that a lot of creativity went into the production details, including the art direction and even the cinematography (whenever Jarrott wasn't instructing Surtees to linger too long on the wrong things from the wrong angles). Generally, the disc looked and sounded lovely too...not a showstopper, but no substantial complaints from a technical standpoint.

So on balance LH73 was a decent enough moooovie. It certainly had its charming and engaging moments. Didn't love it or hate it...enough of the good got through.

[Clark Kent]

Anyone know how many remaining copies of Blue Lagoon are left to be sold? It was broadcast in HD on Lifetime this weekend (completely chopped up and even blurred in a couple of spots) and I wonder if that will motivate its sales.

[Rooper]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Anyone know how many remaining copies of Blue Lagoon are left to be sold? It was broadcast in HD on Lifetime this weekend (completely chopped up and even blurred in a couple of spots) and I wonder if that will motivate its sales.

Over 2000 according to their website

[Zen_Amako]

Well, The Blue Lagoon just came out. I also would not expect it to sell as quickly as a cult horror title. It's not Fright Night or Christine. Plus it's over $30 shipped and considered by many to be a bad movie despite the cinematography and the score. I think it will sell out eventually but not right away.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

Well, The Blue Lagoon just came out. I also would not expect it to sell as quickly as a cult horror title. It's not Fright Night or Christine. Plus it's over $30 shipped and considered by many to be a bad movie despite the cinematography and the score. I think it will sell out eventually but not right away.

Plus this is also the time of year when holiday sales are going on all over the place. Personally, a lot of my money went to the blurays on sale, as I concentrate on those before going for something that I know will pretty much be the same price at any time of the year.

[arcadeforest]

I'm getting so far behind with my TT purchases - not trying to have a complete collection but I've passed on a few titles that I want do to other purchases with the mentality that I will get that next week or month. As a result I still need to grab Desiree, The Big Heat, Enemy Mine, Bite the Bullet, Rapture, Blue Lagoon and possibly a few others. The problem is there are quite a few titles coming up that are going to the front of the list.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Page14

Plus this is also the time of year when holiday sales are going on all over the place. Personally, a lot of my money went to the blurays on sale, as I concentrate on those before going for something that I know will pretty much be the same price at any time of the year.

I think this is true for a lot of folks Page 14. The sales this holiday season were just schtooopid...so far below any reasonable value that it clearly became a battle for market share not profits. I mean, at one point, Amazon.ca had The Sound of Music UCE box set for $12.99! Even though I can't stand the movie, at that price point I couldn't resist picking up a couple of them as gifts. I mean, this is a collector's box set which originally listed for almost $100 bucks! With Amazon's free domestic shipping, there's no way they made a dime on those sets...obviously they were just clearing them out to free up warehouse space.

But with that kind giveaway market craziness, is it any wonder so many buyers have had their hands full (and wallets empty) trying to keep up with all the serial sales? Of course, it's nice for consumers, but those 'through-the-floor' deals hurt demand for everything else, especially the pricier, lower volume, more specialized stuff. It'll take months for some normalcy (and common sense) to return to the Blu-ray market. Some folks are likely cutting-up their credit cards as I write...

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by arcadeforest

I'm getting so far behind with my TT purchases - not trying to have a complete collection but I've passed on a few titles that I want do to other purchases with the mentality that I will get that next week or month. As a result I still need to grab Desiree, The Big Heat, Enemy Mine, Bite the Bullet, Rapture, Blue Lagoon and possibly a few others. The problem is there are quite a few titles coming up that are going to the front of the list.

So many I've had to pass on as well, with all the sets that had come on near the end of this year: Universal Classic Monsters, Bond50, and the Hitchcock set...along with a few Criterions I couldn't pass up...there seems to be no end in sight for catching up at this point...so I'm playing the 500 left game...when I get the email saying there is only 500 left...that's when I'll be biting on these. Other than that another neat idea would be if they could boxed them all together into a set of say Twilight Time collection vol.1 or something for a discounted price...I would maybe bite right away and get them all...for now I have to be nit picky...at least till Christine comes out...that's a title I know will sell fast like NOTLD!!!

[arcadeforest]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

So many I've had to pass on as well, with all the sets that had come on near the end of this year: Universal Classic Monsters, Bond50, and the Hitchcock set...along with a few Criterions I couldn't pass up...there seems to be no end in sight for catching up at this point...so I'm playing the 500 left game...when I get the email saying there is only 500 left...that's when I'll be biting on these. Other than that another neat idea would be if they could boxed them all together into a set of say Twilight Time collection vol.1 or something for a discounted price...I would maybe bite right away and get them all...for now I have to be nit picky...at least till Christine comes out...that's a title I know will sell fast like NOTLD!!!

I'm with you as far as keeping an eye out for the 500 left alert. Will most likely break this though for the two Flint films coming - never seen these but they look so like something I would love. The Bond 50 is high on my list as well.

[Member-222782]

What are the odds of a Piranha II release thru Twilight Time? I know most people dismiss the film as junk but I think it has plenty of good entertainment value for what it is (plus the soundtrack is nice). The fullscreen DVD is watchable but a Blu would be so much better.

[broganreynik]

To get the 500 alert do you just sign up for the mailing list or what?

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by arcadeforest

I'm with you as far as keeping an eye out for the 500 left alert. Will most likely break this though for the two Flint films coming - never seen these but they look so like something I would love. The Bond 50 is high on my list as well.

I will be getting the 2 Flint movies for sure. I'd love to see the Matt Helm movies on Blu-ray as well (which are even better IMO).

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

To get the 500 alert do you just sign up for the mailing list or what?

Yep, just sign up for the mailing list. However, you may see the announcement reposted here first since the newsletters sometimes arrive a few days after it was posted online.