Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[Gacivory]

Wasn’t gonna get anything, but Twilight Time going out, I had to do a last purchase. I’ll miss Twilight Time. I like their packaging, and any company that releases Fat City deserves my support.

I went with:

Julia
Inserts
Chilly Scenes of Winter
Our Man in Havana
Effects of Gamma Rays
Return of Frank James
Morituri

[Page14]

10 years ago ... before Twilight Time came along, I was extremely frugal in how much I would pay for any blu-rays at all. The only company I allowed myself to go over $10 per title with was Criterion (during their 50% off sales ... with Barnes & Noble coupons to get the cost down even farther). That all changed with Twilight Time ... big time. For whatever reason, Twilight Time hit the sweet spot for me in films that I was interested in. When I opened my wallet up a little bit with TT, it led to buying from other companies more and more. I have no regrets ... other than not having the room to display all of the titles properly.

I wonder how much influence Twilight Time had on other companies ... and how much good fortune those other companies have reaped because of Twilight Time being in existence.

I placed an order for 16 titles with Twilight Time yesterday. I haven't received an email confirmation yet, so I'm hoping my order made it through their system okay. I plan on making at least one more order with SAE. Now that the word is official that TT will be no more, my main concern is that $calpers don't scoop up the remaining stock before the people who really want the movies can have a chance to buy what's left.

Thank you Nick Redman, Brian Jamieson, Julie Kirgo and all the people behind the scenes at Twilight Time. It was a very good run ... you made a lot of people very happy.

[traths]

I had no idea Twilight Time was shutting down. I was wondering why no new titles have been announced for a while.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by Page14

I wonder how much influence Twilight Time had on other companies ... and how much good fortune those other companies have reaped because of Twilight Time being in existence.

Somebody earlier pointed out how game-changing TT was when it came to licensing from major studios, which I agree with.

On another point, were they the first company to use clear cases en masse? I know others used them sporadically, and Criterion had their own version of them long before, but they seemed to boom in popularity shortly after TT officially switched over to them.

[hammer99]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

If you’re on the fence about BANDOLERO, MY SISTER EILEEN, MORITURI, THE BOSTON STRANGLER and HOUR OF THE GUN, jump off and order all of them!

You can thank me later, but just in case you wind up not liking them and demand I refund your money, I will add you to my Ignore list. Win-win!

You could always import it, but I would say Bananas is by far the best title still available. A true classic, loaded with laughs from start to finish, back when Woody Allen was making funny movies.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Those titles, plus tons more are undisputed classics, highly praised cult favourites, and movies that are significant from an historical perspective. When I look at all the stuff they put over the years it makes my head spin how great their output was.

I couldn't agree more. I've bought many of their titles since joining this forum, and I'm especially pleased with their western releases, including Broken Lance, Bandolero, The True Story of Jesse James, and one of my all time favourite westerns Warlock. None of these have had UK releases so far, so thank you to Twilight Time for putting these classics out.

I must include the Gregory Peck classic The Bravados too - another excellent western.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

Now is the time to jump on any film you have had your eye on. Things have been selling out and the prices will probably never be this low again. Time to stock up

I’m curious: Once SAE takes over the remainder of the stock at the end of June is there anything preventing them from selling the leftovers at any price they want?

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by hammer99

You could always import it, but I would say Bananas is by far the best title still available. A true classic, loaded with laughs from start to finish, back when Woody Allen was making funny movies.

Bananas is hilarious. It's his funniest movie IMO. Many of the movies he's made in the past ten to fifteen years or so have been pretty funny too though. Not as wacky as his early 70s stuff, but he's generally moved away from the super-serious Bergman inspired dramas he did from the late 70s to the early 90s.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I’m curious: Once SAE takes over the remainder of the stock at the end of June is there anything preventing them from selling the leftovers at any price they want?

I don't know, but they still have a handful of technically OOP titles that they are selling back at the full $29.95 price, such as Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Rizor

But I'd say I only really care for about 15-20 of the movies they've put out. It seems about 50% of their titles are just curiosities or largely forgotten middle of the road type movies.

And that’s precisely WHY I will miss them and mourn their loss. I don’t need another rerelease of GONE WITH THE WIND just because it includes a facsimile of Margaret Mitchell’s snot rag or a 16k version of THE EVIL DEAD.

TWILIGHT TIME went where no man has gone before with their choices and I for one worship their eclecticism. Cinephiling isn’t just about trying to replicate a NYU class at home, it’s every bit as much about watching THE ADVENTURES OF HAJJI BABA while cozying a couch on a cold, snowy afternoon.

Both TWILIGHT TIME and KINO understand that. The more we lose the “curiosities and middle of the road type movies” the more we lose parts of our history and culture and ourselves.

[Bradsdadg]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I’m curious: Once SAE takes over the remainder of the stock at the end of June is there anything preventing them from selling the leftovers at any price they want?

I have a feeling they will keep them in the 20-30 range outside of sales. They were asked on Facebook and just said their pricing is different then what is available now with the OOB sale on TT

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

I have a feeling they will keep them in the 20-30 range outside of sales. They were asked on Facebook and just said their pricing is different then what is available now with the OOB sale on TT

They just sent an email out saying their prices ($15 top tier) will remain in effect through 5/31.

[somethingblu]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

And that’s precisely WHY I will miss them and mourn their loss. I don’t need another rerelease of GONE WITH THE WIND just because it includes a facsimile of Margaret Mitchell’s snot rag or a 16k version of THE EVIL DEAD.

TWILIGHT TIME went where no man has gone before with their choices and I for one worship their eclecticism. Cinephiling isn’t just about trying to replicate a NYU class at home, it’s every bit as much about watching THE ADVENTURES OF HAJJI BABA while cozying a couch on a cold, snowy afternoon.

Both TWILIGHT TIME and KINO understand that. The more we lose the “curiosities and middle of the road type movies” the more we lose parts of our history and culture and ourselves.

I'm always curious by the notion a film is "forgotten". By whom? Which age group? There are movies that I remember watching on TV in the 70s and 80s that might be unknown by a generation but I question whether they are "forgotten". I remember them. That was the beauty of Twilight. Their niche was largely films we may have seen a long time ago, or maybe even owned before, but we know them well enough to want to pay $30 for them. When I was "The Rains of Ranchipur" was available years ago on TT I was ecstatic. That film may not ring a bell to mainstream audiences but kids plastered in front of the TV as a kid in the 70s or 80s likely recall this from a Sunday afternoon showing on the local TV station. That's how I got my earliest film "education". It was validating to see it available again and yes, I shelled out $30 for it because I wanted to visit it again.

[Bradsdadg]

Just got that email as well. We will have to wait and see what they do with the prices once TT is no longer in play...? But for now, best to grab what you really need/want while there is still a chance

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

Just got that email as well. We will have to wait and see what they do with the prices once TT is no longer in play...? But for now, best to grab what you really need/want while there is still a chance

Hard to say, but they won't be as hard-pressed for cash as TT is. SAE is sitting on tons of niche CDs that are probably low volume sales.

[Ruined]

Twilight Time started off a really great label.

I bought nearly 100% of their releases the first few years. The last couple of years though the content they picked was of less interest to me.

Still, sad to see them go and I picked up the last few recent releases that I had some interest in.

[zw94]

Remember when they were gonna release Panic Room, but then didn't because Sony wanted to release it themselves, but then Sony didn't release it at all and instead just licensed the old DVD-era master to some random Australian company?

Good times.

[geomon]

It was good while it lasted.

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

Just got that email as well. We will have to wait and see what they do with the prices once TT is no longer in play...? But for now, best to grab what you really need/want while there is still a chance

I just ordered 2 from them. Not going to take a chance of missing out again.

[spatafore]

The shut down means that Indicator could have more opportunity to release some of his titles?

I don't have any TT, any recommendation titles from the Sale?