Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[JMDiaz718]

Originally Posted by repulsed

I don't know if you are aware of it but Indicator has many of those released on region free (all of the Sinbad, Mad Magician, Mys. Island) editions. And if you are region free you can get a few others from Arrow (Baskervilles, Fury) and 1 from Indicator (First men). And Wild at Heart is on shout select

I realize you may want The TT releases specifically. I'd understand that but I'm hoping maybe this helps


EDIT: Posted this even though I just saw a response it or two to it as I was about to post. Thanks to all that helped. Just wasn't quick enough

Also thanks for making me aware of Kino regarding Summer Lovers. Might have to grab that soon

I honestly prefer the Indicator editions. They’re better packaged with great artwork, sturdier cases and reversible covers. They feature lots of extras and a pretty thick booklet with all types of info.

I was always underwhelmed with the Twilight Time versions. Cases were flimsy, plain white back of the covers, the disc art was bland.

You’ll love the Indicator versions, especially the box sets!

[RandCanuck]

Dang, I ordered another 12 titles today. While I thought I had already purchased all of my "musts" and "maybes," there were still a number of titles that intrigued, and I couldn't stop thinking about them. I don't generally tend towards westerns or melodramas, but a good film is a good film (or, at least an interesting one). Once I built up a head of steam, it only made sense to grab a couple of $6.95 titles, and to make sure I had 10 $11.95 titles to get the (tiny) discount.

I am hopeless. But now I am REALLY done.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

Dammit, you guys are talking me into placing another order! I'm going to need a support group (or at the very least, debt relief counseling) once this is all over.

Well, you can take heart in that there's now an upper limit to what you can buy.

[repulsed]

Originally Posted by JMDiaz718

I honestly prefer the Indicator editions. They’re better packaged with great artwork, sturdier cases and reversible covers. They feature lots of extras and a pretty thick booklet with all types of info.

I was always underwhelmed with the Twilight Time versions. Cases were flimsy, plain white back of the covers, the disc art was bland.

You’ll love the Indicator versions, especially the box sets!

Yes, love Indicator releases and their boxsets are up there with the best. I have most of them. So far only missed the Sinbad one. Wasn't on my radar for long before it sold out. I'll get the separate releases later.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I agree with both you and Aclea regarding Mill Creek. They have never been ideal and probably never will be, but they serve a purpose and sometimes do a serviceable job of it. Hardly high praise, but so what? I’ve had just as good of a time watching some Mill Creek titles as I have Criterion ones. In the end, that’s what counts for me.

Ditto. I’ll be forever grateful to Mill Creek for putting out the Noir Archive sets.

[Dollar Colonel]

Echo Bridge, on the other hand...

[UnionJackMix]

Originally Posted by JMDiaz718

I honestly prefer the Indicator editions. They’re better packaged with great artwork, sturdier cases and reversible covers. They feature lots of extras and a pretty thick booklet with all types of info.

I was always underwhelmed with the Twilight Time versions. Cases were flimsy, plain white back of the covers, the disc art was bland.

You’ll love the Indicator versions, especially the box sets!

I love most of them. What I don't like is that they never list names on front so if you don't have time to brown you won't click on the title to see who's in it or directed it.
There is much worse to be honest though. Sure the spines are all the same so you don't have the custom title that might be instantly recognisable when you check out your library but at least they are not as ugly as a lot of the Arrow ones - you'd think they only release splatter movies.

[Shanew800]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I hate to be THAT GUY, but someone has to say it:

GET ALL OF THEM!

Honestly, there isn’t a bad movie in the bunch. If you can find a way to manage it, don’t miss out on any of these.

Do me a favor if you got a sec, put these in order for me how you'd rank them, lol. Just on what I've read I was thinking the hospital is a must and I really like George C Scott. But I'd like to see how you feel, thanks!

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by Shanew800

Do me a favor if you got a sec, put these in order for me how you'd rank them, lol. Just on what I've read I was thinking the hospital is a must and I really like George C Scott. But I'd like to see how you feel, thanks!

I wasn't asked, but I'll give my order (best to worst)-- though I must omit The Incident as I've yet to see it even though I've been meaning to:

Lawman
The Seven-Ups
Edge of Eternity
The Hospital


They're all at least decent/good. No duds in the bunch.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Shanew800

Do me a favor if you got a sec, put these in order for me how you'd rank them, lol. Just on what I've read I was thinking the hospital is a must and I really like George C Scott. But I'd like to see how you feel, thanks!

All five are pretty great titles, here's my quick take on them:

The Hospital is a brilliant satire with an Oscar winning script and some great acting performances, it was a must-own for me.

The Incident is a great, very intense drama about a couple of youths terrorizing a train car full of people. It's almost like a play and feels very much like one of Sidney Lumet's gritty films of the era.

The Seven-Ups is a favourite of mine. Made by much of the same creative team as The French Connection so if you enjoy that film use it as a benchmark as to whether you'd like this one. If you like gritty 70s cop / crime flicks with an exciting car chase as its centerpiece, you should like this one.

Lawman, I found to be a fairly standard early 70s United Artists, Michael Winner directed western. It's not a bad film but I didn't find it particularly memorable or much of a standout.

Edge of Eternity is a very gripping and interesting 50s colour noir with an interesting little murder mystery at its centre and some striking locations at the Grand Canyon. The centrepiece there is an exciting climax above the canyon in a cable car.

My advice would be to prioritize the two Fox films (Seven-Ups and Incident) as they may be very difficult to find once they are sold out with Disney now owning Fox. Particularly The Incident as I don't think it ever had much of a home video release prior to the Twilight Time blu-ray.

Edge of Eternity is a Sony title though it's pretty low key and obscure so I would put that next on my priority list if I were you.

The Hospital and Lawman are both MGM films and considering their pedigree and star power I would speculate that another label such as Kino might pick them up in the future particularly as Kino have already put out a bunch of other Burt Lancaster westerns.

[bdgking]

Part of the prestige to ordering Twilight Time movies are that they are limited to 3,000 the rarity of them .

I certainly hope that SAE does not re-release these but if they do only ones that had long been sold out not recent ones .

Magnificent Flying Machines , Egyptian like those would be fine IMO to re-release ones that sold out say within the last 2 years I would not be okay with from a collectable stand point . If all they did was re-release stuff then it no longer makes stuff rarer & more collectible IMO .

Anyways titles at SAE that are on their way to being sold out at SAE are

Zelig
Cutters Way &
Alamo Bay

Neither of these are available at Twilight Time

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Shanew800

Do me a favor if you got a sec, put these in order for me how you'd rank them, lol. Just on what I've read I was thinking the hospital is a must and I really like George C Scott. But I'd like to see how you feel, thanks!

This is the order I would have right this minute (which reserves the right to change the next minute):

The Hospital
Seven-ups
The Incident
Lawman
Edge of Eternity

THE HOSPITAL has perhaps dated in some ways, but its essence is universally true. The combination of Chayefsky and George C. seems perfectly balanced.

THE SEVEN UPS is an excellent crime drama/police procedural from the mid-70's, a period rivaling only the 30's for incredibly good crime dramas. I don't think it's near BULLITT or FRENCH CONNECTION, but it's still a great time and there are some who rank it best of the three. I think it's more proof that there were very few badly made crime films from that time.

THE INCIDENT is hard hitting and intense, which some might argue negates replay value, but I think even with its confrontational shocks the film would hold up for a couple or more rewatches. Besides, there is always something cool and special about mid to late 60's black and white films.

LAWMAN is another western from a time which loved to flaunt the new fad of ultra violent westerns, this time with considerable help from a director who could never be called subtle. Still though, the sincerity of its fantastic cast makes you ignore all those zoom lens shots the director adored. I love that new bloody western movie craze from the 60's and this one fits right in. And I can't say enough about the exemplary cast, real live ADULTS surrounded by other ADULTS and dealing with ADULT themes. And not a single one of them begging for an Oscar while doing so.

EDGE OF ETERNITY is solid Don Siegel B moviemaking 101. He was one of the masters of the form and always stayed true to the experiences he had learned from films like this, never failing to incorporate the essentials of it into his "A" pictures. EDGE doesn't have a lot to it, but the locations and gorgeous widescreen cinematography and a very wild and scary climax make the film an easy, fun watch. Owning films like this are a must for me, not only because I enjoy them, but also because I fear they may not continue to survive every inevitable format change.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Funny, I haven't seen anyone (unless I missed it) saying they purchased Bob & Ted & Carol & Alice
Im not singling this one out and a stroll through what's left in the store brings up the fact that some titles are apparently not on anyone's list.

I love Natalie Wood and Dyan Cannon and bought that Dvd years ago. I watched it once and absolutely HATED it. Pure crap. I traded it in immediately....

[billy pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Shanew800

Do me a favor if you got a sec, put these in order for me how you'd rank them, lol. Just on what I've read I was thinking the hospital is a must and I really like George C Scott. But I'd like to see how you feel, thanks!

My preference:

The Hospital
Lawman
The Seven-Ups
Edge of Eternity

Lawman and The Seven-Ups are, for me, tied for second place with Edge of Eternity definitely third/fourth. EOE is good, but I would rate the other three higher. The Hospital is not to be missed and a solid #1 for me. GC Scott gives, arguably, his finest performance. His performance is on par with Hardcore, my other GC Scott favorite.

Professor Echo's description of The Hospital is absolutely accurate IMHO.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by bdgking

Part of the prestige to ordering Twilight Time movies are that they are limited to 3,000 the rarity of them .

I certainly hope that SAE does not re-release these but if they do only ones that had long been sold out not recent ones .

Magnificent Flying Machines , Egyptian like those would be fine IMO to re-release ones that sold out say within the last 2 years I would not be okay with from a collectable stand point . If all they did was re-release stuff then it no longer makes stuff rarer & more collectible IMO.

As someone who literally owns hundreds of Twilight Time titles, I've always hated the fact that they were limited to 3000 copies. If 3001 people wanted a copy, they should all have been able to get one and whether ten other people or ten thousand other people also own a copy of something that I own, it has no bearing on me in the least unless I wanted to re-sell them for a profit. I think it's total bullshit that some absolutely stellar films may never be available on blu-ray ever again because they were limited editions that sold out. At least if they were released by a label like Kino they would have been in print long enough for everyone who wanted one to get one.

[KJones77]

Originally Posted by bdgking

Part of the prestige to ordering Twilight Time movies are that they are limited to 3,000 the rarity of them .

I certainly hope that SAE does not re-release these but if they do only ones that had long been sold out not recent ones

This is such BS. I'm cool with limited editions like Arrow or Indicator do where it's just extra packaging or booklets. If they re-issue those after charging more, then that's not cool.

But the film itself (which is the only thing TT made limited)? That should be accessible to everyone for as long as possible. I can't believe somebody really wants to limit some cool titles to getting some new exposure or being bought by someone who may love it just because you like the exclusivity of being able to own it.

[DukeTogo84]

Just watched Hombre for the first time. Wow. What a movie. A solid release by TT on top of it all.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by KJones77

This is such BS. I'm cool with limited editions like Arrow or Indicator do where it's just extra packaging or booklets. If they re-issue those after charging more, then that's not cool.

But the film itself (which is the only thing TT made limited)? That should be accessible to everyone for as long as possible. I can't believe somebody really wants to limit some cool titles to getting some new exposure or being bought by someone who may love it just because you like the exclusivity of being able to own it.

you don't seem to understand a collector mentality....

[plateoshrimp]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

As someone who literally owns hundreds of Twilight Time titles, I've always hated the fact that they were limited to 3000 copies. If 3001 people wanted a copy, they should all have been able to get one and whether ten other people or ten thousand other people also own a copy of something that I own, it has no bearing on me in the least unless I wanted to re-sell them for a profit. I think it's total bullshit that some absolutely stellar films may never be available on blu-ray ever again because they were limited editions that sold out. At least if they were released by a label like Kino they would have been in print long enough for everyone who wanted one to get one.

I heard Nick Redman on podcast a few years ago and he said something about when they were starting Twilight Time their research showed that 3,000 copies was about the average amount of copies they could expect to sell of a title. Of course some titles had more demand and he admitted that they had titles that they knew would not sell well but they wanted to release them for personal reasons, films that they enjoyed themselves.

[Shanew800]

Thank you so much to everyone for the responses. I couldn't ask for a better breakdown of each one and for the ranking of them all. Seems like everyone was pretty close with their opinions so it's a big help, here we go!