Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[benbess]

Originally Posted by oildude

I had forgotten about King of the Khyber Rifles, China Gate, and Journey to the Center of the Earth when I posted my most wanted Fox catalog wishlist on the Demetrius and the Gladiators thread. It appears ROclockCK and I share a few. Fox has so many classics in their vault I am eagerly hoping will go blu, including many I have never seen but would buy if released since I am interested in them.

Here is my updated Fox list, all except one from the Cinemascope era (1953-1967), although not all of these were shot with Cinemascope lenses.

The Blue Max (1966) by John Guillermin, who also directed Rapture - I thnk it was his next film.
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
Von Ryan's Express (1965)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
Sink the Bismarck (1960)
The Young Lions (1958) one of Brando's best roles
The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
North to Alaska (1960)
The Enemy Below (1957)
The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952)
Journey to the Center of the Earth
King of the Khyber Rifles
China Gate

I think Fox is likely to release some of these on their own, like The Agony and the Ecstasy, but I would have said the same think about Demetrius and the Gladiators. I am hopeful that between Twilight Time, other labels, and the studios, good times are ahead for classic movie fans wanting to see films in the best possible presentation.

EDIT: I just did a Google search on Cinemascope. Oh man, Fox's catalog is deep. There are a lot of great films in there that I was not aware were from the Cinemascope era (including The Day of the Triffids, I last saw that one on TV when I was a kid. One of my favorite childhood monster movies). I need to Google the Columbia catalog to see which of my favorites are also in there.

Another great list. I heard they did the HD scan of The Agony and the Ecstasy something like 3 years ago--but decided not to release it! I like the movie, but I can see why. It's very good, and more or less based on real history, being adapted from a huge novel by Irving Stone, but it is sometimes slow and episodic. One tiny problem with it is that they based it of necessity on what the Sistine chapel ceiling looking like at the time--covered in centuries of grime, which obscured the brilliant colors used by Michelangelo. As you know, they cleaned the ceiling in the 90s, revealing wonders almost beyond imagining in terms of the amazing colors. Still, it's a worthy movie, with fine performances by Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison.

[benbess]

Originally Posted by HyperRealist

Doesn't TT send out screeners? I'm still looking for reviews of Swamp Water and Pal Joey before I order them.

I think they do send out a few. But I think there was a glitch at one of their factories, which delayed the production of one of them for a couple of weeks. In other words, I think the screeners only just shipped. We should have reviews in a few days...

[SpartanIre]

Just received Pal Joey and Swamp Water today. Pal Joey had a magnet while Swamp Water did not. Wonder why that is?

[benbess]

Originally Posted by SpartanIre

Just received Pal Joey and Swamp Water today. Pal Joey had a magnet while Swamp Water did not. Wonder why that is?

If you're willing to, please give us some brief reviews at some point.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by SpartanIre

Just received Pal Joey and Swamp Water today. Pal Joey had a magnet while Swamp Water did not. Wonder why that is?

Since TT started releasing 2 Blu's per month, it appears as if they've been treating one title as the 'A' release (read: likely to be most popular among the general buying public), and the other the 'B' release (read: more obscure, predominantly appealing to hardcore collectors). 'A's get the magnet, and 'B's don't...after all, the primary purpose of this fun little marketing gimmick is to promote the series. I doubt TT ever expected these things to become desirable - even anticipated - as collectibles in their own right.

So based on that crackpot theory, here's my short range prediction: next month Demetrius and the Gladiators will be the 'A' (pop) release, so it will get a magnet, and Bite the Bullet won't. Then in April, Bell Book and Candle will likely get the magnet, not because Desirée is perceived to be less popular, but just because the other Novak Blu's got one.

Or, I've got it all wrong, and it's simpler than that...TT just goes with whichever release has the most striking artwork, best reproduced in cameo form.

Or, it's even simpler than that...they just flip a coin.

[SpartanIre]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Since TT started releasing 2 Blu's per month, it appears as if they've been treating one title as the 'A' release (read: likely to be most popular among the general buying public), and the other the 'B' release (read: more obscure, predominantly appealing to hardcore collectors). 'A's get the magnet, and 'B's don't...after all, the primary purpose of this fun little marketing gimmick is to promote the series. I doubt TT ever expected these things to become desirable - even anticipated - as collectibles in their own right.

So based on that crackpot theory, here's my short range prediction: next month Demetrius and the Gladiators will be the 'A' (pop) release, so it will get a magnet, and Bite the Bullet won't. Then in April, Bell Book and Candlewill likely get the magnet, not because Desirée is perceived to be less popular, but just because the other Novak Blu's got one.

Or, I've got it all wrong, and it's simpler than that...TT just goes with whichever release has the most striking artwork, best reproduced in cameo form.

Or, it's even simpler than that...they just flip a coin.

Ah, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable explanation... Thank you. Although, the artwork for a Swamp Water magnet would have been bad ass!

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by SpartanIre

Ah, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable explanation... Thank you. Although, the artwork for a Swamp Water magnet would have been bad ass!

Let me see..."Jean Renoir" vs. "Kim Novak"...

Remember, we're talking about a fridge magnet here.

[oildude]

Maybe so, but since they began releasing two blu-rays a month, one Fox and one Sony, it is the Sony release that gets the magnet. Based on that observation, I expect Bite the Bullet to get the magnet next month. But I want a Demetrius magnet, so I hope I am wrong.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by oildude

Maybe so, but since they began releasing two blu-rays a month, one Fox and one Sony, it is the Sony release that gets the magnet. Based on that observation, I expect Bite the Bullet to get the magnet next month. But I want a Demetrius magnet, so I hope I am wrong.

Gentleman's bet?

[neo_reloaded]

This is a little silly, but anyone have an Egyptian magnet they'd be willing to part with? I've gotten all the others but my order for the Egyptian didn't come with one, and I'd like to rectify that.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

This is a little silly, but anyone have an Egyptian magnet they'd be willing to part with? I've gotten all the others but my order for the Egyptian didn't come with one, and I'd like to rectify that.

This happened to me, too. In fact, I did not know there were magnets until one showed up with my order of Mysterious Island. They are a neat little extra. I emailed SAE about getting a magnet for The Egyptian and they replied that I should make a request with my next order, using the text box on the order page. I did, and the magnet showed up with my copies of Fright Night and Rapture. Not the best solution, but it is how they did it for me. Unless the magnets are all gone by now, this should work. But you can always email them to ask.

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by oildude

This happened to me, too. In fact, I did not know there were magnets until one showed up with my order of Mysterious Island. They are a neat little extra. I emailed SAE about getting a magnet for The Egyptian and they replied that I should make a request with my next order, using the text box on the order page. I did, and the magnet showed up with my copies of Fright Night and Rapture. Not the best solution, but it is how they did it for me. Unless the magnets are all gone by now, this should work. But you can always email them to ask.

Thanks - I'll check with them. However I do have a vague recollection of seeing someone post that they'd asked and Twilight Time had responded that all the Egyptian magnets were gone.

[moviebuff75]

I just wrote them. They are out of The Egyptian magnets and there won't be any magnets made for Demetrius.

[Arkadin]

finally got my 2 current bds today!
very excited to check out both films.
(can't wait to see what they have planned for the rest of the year)

[bluskies]

Originally Posted by Persianimmortal

A run of 3,000 blu-rays should sell to the people who want them, and the premium price shouldn't be a deterrent.

But it is, unfortunately. $34.95 would be hard enough, but when they add shipping, you are looking at $40.00 for one title. TT should at least offer free shipping.

[Yankees0222]

Originally Posted by bluskies

But it is, unfortunately. $34.95 would be hard enough, but when they add shipping, you are looking at $40.00 for one title. TT should at least offer free shipping.

Agreed. Or at the very least do some kind of deal like free shipping on orders $50+

But I know I'd be more inclined to buy some more of the TT releases if they offered free shipping. I know a lot of people will say it's only $5 but when you're already spending $30+ on one movie, that extra $5 hurts

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by benbess

If you're willing to, please give us some brief reviews at some point.

Pal Joey looked pretty, if a little soft at times, though I thought the colors looked great. I just love the 'look' of films from this period, and I really enjoy the film. It sounds great, too; the songs in particular as befitting a Sinatra vehicle.

I received a magnet, which was a surprise to me, as well as the extra on the disc: Backstage and At Home With Kim Novak, a ten-minute interview with the actress at her home. I say with her, but it's kinda odd: though she appears in the featurette, there are no sit-down shots of the interview, instead it's presented as voiceover covering stills and recent-shot footage of her about her home. She talks a lot about her clothes, the costume designer for the film, and leaving Hollywood to become an artist, but though there are interesting anecdotes noted (particularly one with Marlene Dietrich), I would've liked to hear more about the film.

It was great to watch this film again in glorious, colorful high-def. Glad I picked it up, and look forward to some of the label's other titles.

*Yeah, I guess free shipping would be nice - but with the extreme limited-edition-ness of this I guess it's take-it-or-leave-it.*

[benbess]

cinemach: Thanks for the great review. Makes we want to get this one!

[benbess]

More possible suggestions for TT...

A Columbia B+ Western double feature: The original 3:10 to Yuma with Glenn Ford (90 minutes) and The Tall T starring Randolph Scott (78 minutes). Both from 1957.

The China Syndrome. One of Jack Lemmon's greatest roles. Still relevant.

Old Gringo. The last great role for legend Gregory Peck.

Daddy Long Legs. Fine Cinemascope musical from 20th Century Fox starring Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron.

[dumb_dutchman]

I received my copy of Mysterious Island today, and there is all this talk about magnets. I ripped open the bubble envelope and something falls out and straight into the open kitchen trashcan. So, I'm thinking, there goes the magnet. I can't see it, but I know its in there...in there with a few dirty diapers. Damn, is it worth it? No, but I did it anyway because I'm dumb. I eventually find it, and when I pull it out it isn't even a Mysterious Island magnet. Its a generic one advertising Twilight Time. Bastards.

(and yes, I cleaned it off and put it on the fridge)