"My Fair Lady" -- any news of a Blu-Ray release??

[Ponder Stibbons]

Hey everyone,

I'd love to pick up My Fair Lady on DVD, but since buying a blu-ray player, I've been holding off on picking it up, because I think it'd make a smashing blu-ray release!

Anyone have any idea if this title is on the planning board anywhere?? And if not, are there any potential issues blocking its release?

And if no blu-ray release is imminent, which of the regular DVD releases is recommended??

Cheers,
Ponder

[Rizor]

They might be waiting for the remake that's in development right now.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by Ponder Stibbons

Hey everyone,

I'd love to pick up My Fair Lady on DVD, but since buying a blu-ray player, I've been holding off on picking it up, because I think it'd make a smashing blu-ray release!

Anyone have any idea if this title is on the planning board anywhere?? And if not, are there any potential issues blocking its release?

And if no blu-ray release is imminent, which of the regular DVD releases is recommended??

Cheers,
Ponder

No word yet on a BD release. The DVD rights passed from Warner to Paramount just last year (CBS, who produced the original Broadway musical, owns the film); Paramount decided to issue it only on DVD.

The most recent film restoration of MFL (1994) has already deteriorated in some places, as shown in subsequent DVD releases; that's why the 1997 WB snapper-case DVD (made shortly after the restoration) is often considered better than the 2004 WB 2-disc "40th Anniversary" DVD. However, Paramount's DVD transfer is considered better than the 2004 one as well.

The best odds for seeing it on BD anytime soon are if Paramount decides to give it the Sapphire Series treatment; but that will likely require another major restoration, similar to The African Queen or The Coppola Restoration of Godfathers I & II. (If those are any indication, Paramount will contract that out to MPI, which ironically is owned by WB.)

Remember, this is an Eastmancolor negative, like every Best Picture since 1956 (except The Apartment and the majority of Schindler's List, both B&W). Early (pre-1970's) Eastmancolor negatives are the hardest kind of film to restore due to fading and poor archival techniques. That, plus the financial troubles of MGM (who owns half the Best Pictures of that decade), is why *NO* Best Picture from the 1960's has made it to BD yet (though The Sound of Music is supposedly coming this year). The only other Oscar decade not yet represented on BD is the 1920's (and even that one is if you count Sunrise's "Unique & Artistic Picture" Oscar as a Best Picture).

[Ponder Stibbons]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

No word yet on a BD release. The DVD rights passed from Warner to Paramount just last year (CBS, who produced the original Broadway musical, owns the film); Paramount decided to issue it only on DVD.

The most recent film restoration of MFL (1994) has already deteriorated in some places, as shown in subsequent DVD releases; that's why the 1997 WB snapper-case DVD (made shortly after the restoration) is often considered better than the 2004 WB 2-disc "40th Anniversary" DVD. However, Paramount's DVD transfer is considered better than the 2004 one as well.

The best odds for seeing it on BD anytime soon are if Paramount decides to give it the Sapphire Series treatment; but that will likely require another major restoration, similar to The African Queen or The Coppola Restoration of Godfathers I & II. (If those are any indication, Paramount will contract that out to MPI, which ironically is owned by WB.)

Remember, this is an Eastmancolor negative, like every Best Picture since 1956 (except The Apartment and the majority of Schindler's List, both B&W). Early (pre-1970's) Eastmancolor negatives are the hardest kind of film to restore due to fading and poor archival techniques. That, plus the financial troubles of MGM (who owns half the Best Pictures of that decade), is why *NO* Best Picture from the 1960's has made it to BD yet (though The Sound of Music is supposedly coming this year). The only other Oscar decade not yet represented on BD is the 1920's (and even that one is if you count Sunrise's "Unique & Artistic Picture" Oscar as a Best Picture).

Thank you for that detailed response, as well as the reasons for the film's deterioration (which I had heard about to an extent).

The version of My Fair Lady that I'm considering, appears to be the "Warners snapper case" from 1997, and it's still sealed in its original shrinkwrap, for $5.00. Is the sound quality of this one considered to be superior to the other two releases, like the picture quality is, do you know?

Cheers,
Ponder

[SpaceDog]

I'm sorry to hear that this is in Paramount's hands. I would imagine we'd get a lush, fully restored special edition if WB were in charge. With Paramount, they don't seem interested in bringing catalog to blu-ray much at all, and their track record is only so-so in terms of quality.

[Batman1980]

Come on Criterion, save us! This is one catalog I'd be willing to pay $30 for!

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Come on Criterion, save us! This is one catalog I'd be willing to pay $30 for!

It'll never go Criterion. The assett is worth too much to whomever owns it outright.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

It'll never go Criterion. The assett is worth too much to whomever owns it outright.

That just about kills any chance we have of getting it soon or getting it without it being DNRed to death first.

[SpaceDog]

Honestly I wish Robert Harris would take up the charge to get it out on blu-ray. It was his gorgeous restoration work that resulted in the first DVD which I still treasure to this day. If they let him at it again, it would assuredly be one of my favorite blu-ray titles.

[in2video2]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

Honestly I wish Robert Harris would take up the charge to get it out on blu-ray. It was his gorgeous restoration work that resulted in the first DVD which I still treasure to this day. If they let him at it again, it would assuredly be one of my favorite blu-ray titles.

Unfortunately Mr Harris is currently occupied with the restoration of John Wayne's The Alamo - I'm sure he would want to become involved.

[Robert Harris]

Originally Posted by in2video2

Unfortunately Mr Harris is currently occupied with the restoration of John Wayne's The Alamo - I'm sure he would want to become involved.

MFL needs some work to prepare it for Blu-ray, but nothing horribly extensive.

[in2video2]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

MFL needs some work to prepare it for Blu-ray, but nothing horribly extensive.

Thank you very much for keeping us all informed.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

MFL needs some work to prepare it for Blu-ray, but nothing horribly extensive.

Thanks for the heads-up, glad to know it's at least on the agenda.

[Evra]

I am sorry for being a complete noob but who is Mr Robert Harris here? * embarrassed*

[in2video2]

Robert A. Harris is a film historian and preservationist who specializes in restoring the large-format widescreen films of the 1950s. Robert has restored and reconstructed a number of classic films including Lawrence of Arabia, Spartacus, My Fair Lady and Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo and Rear Window. He frequently collaborates with James C. Katz. Their pristine restorations of classic films have earned a great deal of respect from cinephiles and critics. Robert has recently finished restoration on The Godfather Triology for DVD and Blu-ray.

Mr Harris visits us here every now and then at the Forum. We are lucky to have his wealth of knowledge and inside information. Good to know that My Fair Lady is still in good condition when the time comes for its eventual debut to Blu.

[ScuseMe]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

MFL needs some work to prepare it for Blu-ray, but nothing horribly extensive.

Here's hoping we see it soon on BD

[Pirate King]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

MFL needs some work to prepare it for Blu-ray, but nothing horribly extensive.

Thank you Mr Harris. It is also wonderful to hear about "The Alamo".

[Musicguy]

Would Love to get this title on Blu-ray. The DVD looked good byt blu-ray should surpass it - the restoration looked great in 70MM - Wish Warner would get this back

[in2video2]

Am I the only one who can not fathom why Columbia Pictures would desire to remake a beloved motion picture which won eight Academy Awards in 1964 including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, along with another thirteen wins and ten nominations from other sources?

Movies become classics for easily recognized reasons and some actually become popular as well. It seems that not a lot has happened since the announcement on June 6, 2008 apart from Keira Knightley being spoken of informally to play the role of Eliza Dolittle made famous by Audrey Hepburn and more recently on December 1, 2009 that John Madden was approached to direct the "remake" or, as is now in vogue the "reworking" or "revisionist" version of the Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe Broadway musical based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion.

Sorry for the "angry face" but aren't we all getting very tired and jaded with Hollywood resorting to remakes of classic movies. I feel My Fair Lady should be well left alone. How can you improve upon that classic 1964 treasure is something I cannot understand. It's like trying to remake West Side Story in contemporary New York City for a contemporary audience. Why even try? It would be laughed off the screen!

Lets get on with releasing this magnificent classic My Fair Lady in a brilliant Blu-Ray transfer , but please keep Robert A Harris involved in the project. His diligent work of film restoration should be reason enough to keep him on board as a valuable resource.

With so many worthwhile Broadway musicals screaming to be committed to film why try to revive a movie genre by looking backwards? Why not try a new approach and actually implement an original idea instead? I hope I am not alone in feeling this way. Please respond one way or another as to how you view the matter. I would be the first in line to applaud any movie studio willing to take risks in any movie genre - not just musicals.

Where do you stand?

[Musicguy]

Most musical remakes have been flops - Disney tried it on tv with the awful version of "The Music Man" (the 1962 films is near perfect - why try to improve it - you can't) I feel the same way with "My Fair Lady" but it will be interesting to see what they do with it.

Where is the Blu-ray?