Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[onetet]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just watched The Other online, and am impressed. It's an understated horror film that gets under the skin all the more because of its subtlety.

I'm going to hold off on purchasing this movie, because I've got some bigger fish to fry at the moment, but it's a cool choice for a Twilight Time release.

This will definitely be my next TT title ordered. Probably with Sexy Beast as well.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by onetet

This will definitely be my next TT title ordered. Probably with Sexy Beast as well.

The old Great Owl would have gone straight to SAE after the end credits of this movie, and ordered the Blu-ray. Right now, though, I'm going to marinate on it for a while and decide whether or not this is a film that I'll watch over and over to the extent that I revisit movies like The Big Heat or The Driver.

[onetet]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The old Great Owl would have gone straight to SAE after the end credits of this movie, and ordered the Blu-ray. Right now, though, I'm going to marinate on it for a while and decide whether or not this is a film that I'll watch over and over to the extent that I revisit movies like The Big Heat or The Driver.

THE DRIVER is definitely the TT title with the most replay value for me. And THE DISAPPEARANCE, in offering multiple cuts, also becomes a contender.

I'll look forward to hearing how THE OTHER lingers in your mind over time.

[The Great Owl]

My initial impression of the 1945 John Stahl film, Leave Her to Heaven, after seeing it for the first time this evening, is that the movie must have been the cinematic equivalent of a candy-coated salt pill at the time of its release. I can imagine audiences venturing to the theater to see this film and expecting a melodrama paving the way to the American Dream life that these viewers, in the months immediately following the conclusion of World War II, were hoping to enjoy. Leave Her to Heaven is certainly an eye candy film in every regard, with its heavy actor makeup and Technicolor splendor, which is translated adeptly to this Blu-ray in light of source material limitations. The beauty of the film, however, belies some aggressive curveballs in the form of two chilling scenes that pushed the Production Code envelope back then and can still put one's hair up on end today in 2013. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film, and it is a quintessential addition to my collection of both film noir thrillers and Technicolor marvels, but it's a cinematic oddball, to say the least.

Gene Tierney excels as an early incarnation of the classic film noir femme fatale, and the stunning allure of her appearance commands the viewer's attention in the same way that her character strives to command the attention of those whom she loves. The camera adores Tierney, and it is a testament to the talent of her co-stars that they are even remembered alongside her in hindsight. Cornel Wilde, in one of his early roles long before his directorial work in one of my favorite adventures, the 1966 film, The Naked Prey, is good-natured to the point of naivety as the writer Richard Harland, and the fact that the intense non-texture film style makes him look like one of the mannequin robots on the cover of a Kraftwerk album during early scenes simply adds to the earnestness of his character. Vincent Price, in an early non-horror role, is memorable in his role as a jilted prosecutor, although his rather animated courtroom scenes may come off as parody to present-day viewers. Jeanne Crain is radiantly lovely, and her straightforwardness works well as a character foil of sorts against Tierney's insidious schemer. The settings of New Mexico, Maine, and Warm Springs, Georgia (just miles away from where I grew up) come across convincingly well given mostly California film locations. The engaging music by Alfred Newman sounds quite good on this Blu-ray, and an isolated score is a welcome feature.

I listened to the audio commentary track immediately after watching the actual film, and the insights from Richard Schickel and actor Darryl Hickman are enlightening, especially with Hickman's anecdotes about his time as a child actor. The liner notes by Julie Kirgo are wonderfully informative and engaging.

[bluknight1]

Originally Posted by cmleidi

I wonder if LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN didn't sell out because of the problematic aspects to the existing elements, and since there is the cheaper Fox dvd release, some potential buyers decided not to bite. I bought it this week, but I had avoided buying it for a long time for this very reason.

The color on the disc is certainly not what it could have been. The DVD I feel is actually a bit more accurate, aside from the color fringing.

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

The film does make nice use of color and freatures a great over the top lead female performance. For those reasons alone I'd possibly consider this release if it was significantly cheaper, but not at TT prices.

This would have been a significant release for Fox's Studio Classics series. I can't at all understand why it was licensed to Twilight Time since far weaker films with far more problematic elements have been released under the Studio Classics banner. This is one film above all others Twilight Time has released that should have been put out by the home studio. I'd appreciate it if Fox did a superior reissue in 2016, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

The color on the disc is certainly not what it could have been. The DVD I feel is actually a bit more accurate, aside from the color fringing.

This would have been a significant release for Fox's Studio Classics series. I can't at all understand why it was licensed to Twilight Time since far weaker films with far more problematic elements have been released under the Studio Classics banner. This is one film above all others Twilight Time has released that should have been put out by the home studio. I'd appreciate it if Fox did a superior reissue in 2016, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

I have no past experience with Leave Her to Heaven from which to form a credible opinion, but I liked what DVD Savant had to say about this release. Not sure if it's a faux pas here to quote another site's review, but here goes...

"The Twilight Time Blu-ray of Leave Her to Heaven showcases a superb digital restoration of this 3-Strip Technicolor film. I've seen original IB Tech prints and can say with enthusiasm that the disc makes Heaven look as good, if not better. In 1945 Technicolor still had a slightly unreal intensity to its hues, with warm face tones and (at 20th Fox) strong blues and greens. What would prove the perfect medium for candy-colored musicals sometimes seemed a bit much for ordinary narrative pictures, but seems entirely appropriate for this hyper-intense morbid soap opera. Tierney and Wilde, probably buried in makeup and carefully lit in close-ups, look amazing. The older DVD only hinted at the film's original look but this Blu-ray nails it. Forget what you've seen on TCM, even in recent cablecasts -- I took a look a day or two ago and what they're showing does not appear to be the new restoration."

[Sporkies]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

The color on the disc is certainly not what it could have been. The DVD I feel is actually a bit more accurate, aside from the color fringing.

This would have been a significant release for Fox's Studio Classics series. I can't at all understand why it was licensed to Twilight Time since far weaker films with far more problematic elements have been released under the Studio Classics banner. This is one film above all others Twilight Time has released that should have been put out by the home studio. I'd appreciate it if Fox did a superior reissue in 2016, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

I don't think there is anything more that can be done with the film given the condition (and lack) of the original elements. Given that this release was of Fox's restoration of the film, I doubt a 2016 Fox release would be any different. Here are Robert Harris's words on the release and the film's elements: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/topi...en-in-blu-ray/

[bluknight1]

Originally Posted by Sporkies

I don't think there is anything more that can be done with the film given the condition (and lack) of the original elements. Given that this release was of Fox's restoration of the film, I doubt a 2016 Fox release would be any different. Here are Robert Harris's words on the release and the film's elements: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/topi...en-in-blu-ray/

I am well aware of the state of the original elements. The color timing could still be improved with a bit of digital tweaking, or use of an IB Tech print as opposed to that crap CRI.

[bluknight1]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have no past experience with Leave Her to Heaven from which to form a credible opinion, but I liked what DVD Savant had to say about this release. Not sure if it's a faux pas here to quote another site's review, but here goes...

"The Twilight Time Blu-ray of Leave Her to Heaven showcases a superb digital restoration of this 3-Strip Technicolor film. I've seen original IB Tech prints and can say with enthusiasm that the disc makes Heaven look as good, if not better. In 1945 Technicolor still had a slightly unreal intensity to its hues, with warm face tones and (at 20th Fox) strong blues and greens. What would prove the perfect medium for candy-colored musicals sometimes seemed a bit much for ordinary narrative pictures, but seems entirely appropriate for this hyper-intense morbid soap opera. Tierney and Wilde, probably buried in makeup and carefully lit in close-ups, look amazing. The older DVD only hinted at the film's original look but this Blu-ray nails it. Forget what you've seen on TCM, even in recent cablecasts -- I took a look a day or two ago and what they're showing does not appear to be the new restoration."

Not only do I not trust DVDSavant's reviews, I can be certian that this overly cool and brown look is not entirely accurate. Actual Fox Technicolor would explode in your face and have an almost indescribable velvety texture. There would also be far warmer and more pronounced reds. This disc IMO fails to satisfy these criteria. It wouldn't be possible to recreate the look exactly without scanning the studio nitrate IB print or another IB Tech print made from seps which were made from the OCNs prior to junking. If they still wanted to use the same faded CRI, then the color could have been more accurately timed.

[I KEEL YOU]

Hoping for these movies:

Pollock (Sony) - Ed Harris
Birdy (Sony) - Nicolas Cage, Matthew Modine
The Panic in Needle Park (Fox) - Al Pacino's debut
My Bodyguard (Fox) - Matt Dillon

[klauswhereareyou]

It'll be great to finally find out what the January titles will be.

[ABaglivi]

Blueknight1 is right on target. I am familiar with IB prints of Leave Her to Heaven and
the recent Blu-ray is far from what it should look like. Robert Harris at Hometheatreforum is of a similar mind.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Hoping for these movies:

Pollock (Sony) - Ed Harris
Birdy (Sony) - Nicolas Cage, Matthew Modine
The Panic in Needle Park (Fox) - Al Pacino's debut
My Bodyguard (Fox) - Matt Dillon

No chance for Birdy. Mill Creek has that title.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by retablo

You guys know that TT retains the right to re-license their titles when the 3-year run is up, right? Any title that sells out (with the exception of NOTLD, because of the transfer) will automatically get renewed for another 3-years/3000 copies. In fact, several of their sold out titles have already been renewed.

We're still waiting on a source for this statement.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

We're still waiting on a source for this statement.

The source would be Nick. I don't make up information.

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Source = retablo .

Cute.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by retablo

The source would be Nick. I don't make up information.

Okay, can you provide a link/quote? No one else here seems to recall such a statement.

[Blu Titan]

Any information regarding the label should come from the label itself or a verifiable source (link to a post, interview, or article) where the information is posted by the people who control Twilight Time DVD Label.

[HyperRealist]

[nycomet]

Does anyone know when the preorders will start for the upcoming Sinbad movies? I don't want to miss out.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by nycomet

Does anyone know when the preorders will start for the upcoming Sinbad movies? I don't want to miss out.

Release date is Dec 10th; pre-orders go up 25 days in advance IIRC, so some time in November. If you follow them on Facebook, they usually send out a notification when the pre-orders are about to go up.