Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[hammer99]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

None of the titles that sold out here in the last 2 days are going to be going for $100 on eBay.

I wouldn't think so either, but you never know, depends how scarce it gets over time. The Egyptian is not a good movie at all and was pretty obscure/low profile when announced by TT, but that's really hard-to-find.

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by hammer99

A lot of titles are selling out at TT no doubt... but I believe SAE has always had considerably more copies in comparison. I can see a flash sale with at least similar pricing popping up there before too long.

Why? SAE can sit on those as long as they don't rot or become obsolete. Basic supply and demand.

SAE sells CDs for astronomical prices. They have a niche product with a niche customer base.

I would love for them to prove me wrong since I have a few wants that are now OOS at TT.

On a related note, if TT wasn't in a hurry to offload merchandise due to payroll and other overhead, I wonder if they would have made more money if they just announced they would be going out of business but no price cuts from the $15 pricepoint.

[UnionJackMix]

Originally Posted by octobercountry

Perhaps part of the problem with the Grable titles is that they aren't particularly good transfers, due to the fact that 20th Century Fox destroyed all their Technicolor negatives back in the 1970s? Blu-rays of Fox Technicolor films are never going to look anywhere near as good as the Technicolor stuff from MGM or Warners.

Wasn't it a fire, and not destroyed on purpose as this post makes it sound?

Originally Posted by lilboyblu

Gotcha. The few reviews I found on Letterboxd basically said the same. Easy pass, then.

No! Don't pass on Woman Obsessed! If you even wonder about enough to post here you must have some interest, hopefully in Susan Hayward. I thought it would be a bore. I first bought the Spanish dvd, I watched the movie and loved it! So much that I also bougt the TT one. Don't pass on it, sometimes bad reviews are just of people who didn't like it, doesn't mean you won't.

[somethingblu]

Originally Posted by xochipilli

Yeah, we all knew this was coming. It was just a matter of time and, I assume, getting everything in place for the current blow-out, looks like it's a real free for all over there. Again, many thanks to misters Redman, Jamieson, Kirgo and company, for their love of classic film and music and all the great titles they put out.

I think what stings many here the most is that TT probably had the strongest relationship with FOX, which is now under what seems to be an uncaring bloated giant. Hopefully the current situation knocks Disney down a few pegs so we may get to see them either selling the catalog to someone else (I don't think I'm the only one to find it just plain stupid to buy one of the biggest studios in existence just for distribution rights to a 70s sci-fi flick and two or three comic book properties, just a reckless display of unchecked power that seems to have shot them in the foot), or maybe become more open to licensing. Who knows?

Aaaanyway... Wound up with these from the 10 for 115 selection:


The first nine were from my must-have list, and Untamed was from the lesser priority list. I still have another nine must-haves, and after that I'll still try to get some titles I'm interested in (mostly FOX stuff). I still have a bunch of sold out titles i hoped to acquire from secondary sellers, but some comments here make it sound like that will only get much harder going forward. Oh, well...

Nice to see someone mention “Untamed”. This was a Susan Hayward film that evaded me until about a decade ago when I bought a Spanish release. It’s use of African locations is really a standout reason to recommend. It’s a compelling watch and I think you’ll be glad to have it in your collection. I have the Blu-ray but haven’t spun it yet.

[octobercountry]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Wasn't it a fire, and not destroyed on purpose as this post makes it sound?

What Fox stupidly did with their film library in the 1970s is absolutely one of the greatest tragedies in the world of film preservation. You can read a little about it here: Destruction of Fox Nitrates

I think it was primarily MGM material that was destroyed in the Eastman fire.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Will G

That's not necessarily true. For instance copies of At Close Range have sold for as much as $129.44 in the last few months. Maybe not tomorrow, but in a few months from now...

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...rt=nc&LH_All=1

Wow. Ok. You are correct.

That title also sold 5 times recently at around $45 or slightly less, so you have to be a smart shopper, too.

[hammer99]

Originally Posted by Dollar Colonel

Why? SAE can sit on those as long as they don't rot or become obsolete. Basic supply and demand.

SAE sells CDs for astronomical prices. They have a niche product with a niche customer base.

I would love for them to prove me wrong since I have a few wants that are now OOS at TT.

On a related note, if TT wasn't in a hurry to offload merchandise due to payroll and other overhead, I wonder if they would have made more money if they just announced they would be going out of business but no price cuts from the $15 pricepoint.

Why? Because they have a lot more copies to sit on than TT, and I think a lot of the titles left (especially the 'uninspiring' more recent releases from the last 2 years or so) are going to collect dust at $15 a pop + shipping, let alone $30. I could be wrong, sure wouldn't be the first time.

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by Page14

In an unintended way, I ended up with 3 copies of Journey to the Center of the Earth. The first copy was one of those Pat Boone autographed promos from the early days of TT. I wanted to save that copy as it's one of my all time favorite movies, so I bought a 2nd copy to actually play. Then TT came out with another release with a better transfer, so I bought that one too.

I have two copies of Journey to the Center of the Earth (the two different editions...missed out on the Pat Boone signed copy). I have two each of their Ray Harryhausen releases plus the Indicator editions. Yeah, I know...but you can never have too many Harryhausens, right?

[UnionJackMix]

Most titles in my two purchases yesterday and today were 20th Century Fox: most were movies I wasn't familiar with so I checked out the trailers on youtube but found that most had the entire movies on youtube, some as widescreen and in pristine condition.
Seeing them like that, and the masterpiece that is the studio fanfare was enough to make me purchase every single title I checked. I'm just a sucker for the Cinemascope titles from them, they usually look fantastic.
When did they stop using Technicolor? Because I think that Monroe titles and Cleopatra with Talyor, in their restored versions, look stunning, then again those are probably some of their most precious titles and might have been stored in a different way (says he, knowing all to well where they kept the Something's Got To Give reels...).

[octobercountry]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

....When did they stop using Technicolor?....

I believe the last film with a 3-strip Technicolor negative was made in 1955, though the Technicolor lab continued making prints up until 1980.

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by hammer99

Why? Because they have a lot more copies to sit on than TT, and I think a lot of the titles left (especially the 'uninspiring' more recent releases from the last 2 years or so) are going to collect dust at $15 a pop + shipping, let alone $30. I could be wrong, sure wouldn't be the first time.

Sounds like a candidate for more "10 for $xx" sales to unload batches of slow stock. I'm just pessimistic since a lot of these titles aren't going to see a physical release.

[klauswhereareyou]

Anyone know if The Long Hot Summer is low quantity at SAE?

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Anyone know if The Long Hot Summer is low quantity at SAE?

Doesn't appear to be, but with zero stock at TT I'd grab it when you can.

I had zero interest in this one after seeing it years ago, before realizing that a sudsy southern melodrama produced by Jerry Wald (Peyton Place), directed by Martin Ritt afters years in the backlist jungle, and with an all-star cast that began one of Hollywood's greatest offscreen romances sometimes just hits the spot.

You can feel the heat come off the screen with this one, and it'd be an excellent double-bill with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof some boozy, sweltering summer night. The Blu-ray is ridiculously gorgeous. I'd have been really bummed if I missed out on this one.

[trentdiesel]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Doesn't appear to be, but with zero stock at TT I'd grab it when you can.

I had zero interest in this one after seeing it years ago, before realizing that a sudsy southern melodrama produced by Jerry Wald (Peyton Place), directed by Martin Ritt afters years in the backlist jungle, and with an all-star cast that began one of Hollywood's greatest offscreen romances sometimes just hits the spot.

You can feel the heat come off the screen with this one, and it'd be an excellent double-bill with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof some boozy, sweltering summer night. The Blu-ray is ridiculously gorgeous. I'd have been really bummed if I missed out on this one.

After I saw his post I went to check and threw it in my cart along with from the Terrace and Who'll Stop the Rain. That will push me to 20 twilights in the last few days. Like you said, I dont want to regret not making a move on some of these

[ShellBeacher]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Doesn't appear to be, but with zero stock at TT I'd grab it when you can.

I had zero interest in this one after seeing it years ago, before realizing that a sudsy southern melodrama produced by Jerry Wald (Peyton Place), directed by Martin Ritt afters years in the backlist jungle, and with an all-star cast that began one of Hollywood's greatest offscreen romances sometimes just hits the spot.

You can feel the heat come off the screen with this one, and it'd be an excellent double-bill with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof some boozy, sweltering summer night. The Blu-ray is ridiculously gorgeous. I'd have been really bummed if I missed out on this one.

That's all wonderful stuff, but me... I just bought it because I'm a WELLES completist. The rest will be a bonus!

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by ShellBeacher

That's all wonderful stuff, but me... I just bought it because I'm a WELLES completist. The rest will be a bonus!

For many, Welles' is the film's biggest casualty, but if you don't take things too seriously he merely adds to the dumb, bawdy fun.

[Brandon K]

Latest update: 12/09.

I've never bought any TT titles before... I'm definitely a movie fan and collector, but my library is pretty mainstream and modern, and I don't have a lot of older films in my collection. To be honest, I've never followed the smaller labels... obviously I should have, even though the USD pricing would be expensive for me in Canada.

So given the opportunity of this sale, I initially picked up a "few" titles that I thought might interest me, mostly from TT but some from SAE as well... I then followed up those initial orders with a more thorough review of the TT catalog, placing further orders with both TT and SAE... I went to eBay for one title (which is going to be waiting for me at my US mailbox until the border opens again), and I now have a wishlist!

In the end, I placed far too many orders with both TT and SAE, between May 10th and July 22nd. Now I'm just waiting for the last orders to arrive, including a nice handful of titles from TT's July 1st limited quantity sale.

(I was also introduced to Kino and Indicator through this thread - between Indicator's limited editions with booklets, and all of the great titles Twilight Time released, I certainly regret not paying attention to the boutique labels sooner!)

- Some of my TT order #s, for reference:
- 5/10 #720xx (first order ever)
- 6/21 #797xx (last "regular" order)
- 7/01 #801xx (1st limited qty order)
- 7/01 #802xx (2nd limited qty order, 75 order # difference, 47 seconds later)
- 7/02 #807xx (last order ever)

- Out of 101 TT blind buys, so far I've watched 22 (as of July 22), and have enjoyed every one!

My TT Collection:

[Show spoiler]

My TT Wishlist:

[Show spoiler]

I have a few sealed extras... if anyone is interesting in trading and happens to have sealed copies of titles on my wishlist, please PM me! I'm open to selling the extras as well. (I have more extras as well, but these are the ones currently sold out.)

[Show spoiler]

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by bdgking

To Sir sold out today at SAE .

That is not the title I am asking about that now has SAE at 209 titles .

Anyone know ?

A few days ago your post from 5/2 said SAE had 211 titles
GunFury 3D went OOS Monday
To Sir With Love OOS this morning.


At the beginning of the sale SAE had 218 BD and 2 DVD, today 204BD and 2DVD

Since the sale started these 14 have sold out at SAE (Plus 2 - Most Beautiful Wife and The Remains of the Day that were Exclusive to TTM at the beginning so 16 items OOP this sale)
BEST OF EVERYTHING, THE (1959)
BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA (1974) (ENCORE EDITION)
COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE (1970)
GUN FURY 3D / 2D (1953)
HOW TO STEAL A MILLION (1966)
KISS OF DEATH (1947)
MISS SADIE THOMPSON (1953 / 2D and 3D)
REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS... (1985)
SCORPIO (1973)
THE DETECTIVE (1968)
THE HAWAIIANS (1970)
THE TRAIN (1964 / ENCORE EDITION)
TO SIR, WITH LOVE (1967)
TWILIGHT SAMURAI (2002)

If the SAE list is missing an item it may be another one of the non TT items they had listed by mistake. It looks like Sunshine, Holiday in Spain, and To Whom it May Concern DVD are still mixed in the list

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by xochipilli

I think what stings many here the most is that TT probably had the strongest relationship with FOX, which is now under what seems to be an uncaring bloated giant. Hopefully the current situation knocks Disney down a few pegs so we may get to see them either selling the catalog to someone else (I don't think I'm the only one to find it just plain stupid to buy one of the biggest studios in existence just for distribution rights to a 70s sci-fi flick and two or three comic book properties, just a reckless display of unchecked power that seems to have shot them in the foot)

They didn't: that was a very small part of the attraction that comicbook fanboy enthusiasm led to the media coverage obsessing over, but doesn't even come close to justifying a twentieth of the $71.3b price they paid for Fox (it's basically just X-Men and Fantastic Four, and they just grossed a combined $6b and $790m respectively). Their primary interest was in the international infrastructure, delivery systems and hugely successful TV division. Like Universal's acquisition of Polygram that saw their successful film studio closed down in the late 90s, the Fox film studio was something they weren't really that interested in but had to buy to get the rest. The fact that it consistently had the best profit margins of any studio was irrelevant when most of their output is a world away from the 'go big or go home' megabudget behemoths that are all Disney are interested in these days.

They got TV channels from all over the world (cable, satellite, terrestrial), 30% of Hulu, the TV production arm and sports and news media outlets (albeit not Fox News) and an enhanced theatrical infrastructure for Disney product (and, purely as a bonus, killed off a rival studio to theoretically increase both their market share and negotiating position). It basically saved Disney 15 years developing that level of infrastructure and worldwide delivery systems themselves (which, like creating new screen franchises themselves, they seem completely unable to do: rather than innovate the modern Disney way is to buy in proven successes). Writing off a surplus to requirements movie studio they had to buy as part of the deal for the rest was a minuscule price to pay compared to what they gained.

Disney is not a company run by film enthusiasts: It's a corporation with heavy overheads, and one which relies on growth to drive the share price and service its debt. With massive layoffs in the company's future and almost the entire Fox video staff already fired, which means the pre-existing personal and business relationships labels like TT, KL, Eureka et all have with Fox's licensing department no longer exist, licensing a 3000 copy physical media run isn't going to be something they regard as a good use of their resources. It's water off a duck's back to them because the amounts at stake barely cover the office coffee and so don't justify the management time, but for a deep catalogue boutique label like TT it's the final straw.

[mja345]

Bob Iger's not a film enthusiast? Shocking. I thought in between lighting money on fire, direct convos with Satan, and attempting to suck the soul out of humanity, he was a big 70s and 80s genre guy.