Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[RalphoR]

Love Bernard Herrmann......surprised I don't have this but will rectify next order. Thanks for the nice review!

[Jobla]

I don't think that GARDEN OF EVIL or CAT BALLOU were part of the recent SAE sale, but maybe they'll be included in the next sale. I will pull the trigger (no pun intended) on both of those, if they are.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by Page14

I watched Cat Ballou a couple of nights ago. Great movie. If you're a Lee Marvin fan, you already own it (or will soon enough)

I'm an enormous Lee Marvin fan and I think Cat Ballou is awful.

[krasnoludek]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

During the last Screenarchives sale, I had ordered both Woody Allen films...Love and Death and Broadway Danny Rose. Both came in a clear case. These titles weren't repressed, so does anyone know why they came in a clear case? Just curious.

I noticed in my most recent haul (which was from April, I think) that a movie I was sure came in a blue case arrived instead in a clear case. I don't know which one and I can't check now because I'm not at home this weekend.

I think they started switching out cases on some older releases that they still have in stock. It may not be all of them, but it certainly would be smart of TT if they switched out the 10 or so releases that were issued in Eco cases (the printer switched cases without TT's knowledge). They got a lot of flak for that, boiling down to the incongruity of collector's items being in cheapo Eco cases. TT handled it well and switched their new product to the clear cases. Likely to nip any future complaints in the bud, they have silently taken the trouble to replace the Eco cases on those past releases with clear ones.

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching my Twilight Time Blu-ray of Garden of Evil.

Garden of Evil is one of the most beautiful-looking westerns ever made, and, if you do not own it, then you are doing a tremendous disservice to yourself and your collection. This is a sprawlingly scenic CinemaScope movie that benefits from wise use of matte paintings and sunlit vistas. A soaring Bernard Herrmann music score blends well with the colors and spaciousness of the widescreen images.

<snip>

This Twilight Time Blu-ray sports a great-looking transfer to my eyes, even if the audio presentation deservedly earns more acclaim. An informative set of short documentaries rounds out the title, along with another one of Twilight Time's good-natured and fact-filled commentary tracks.

Garden of Evil is a superb title. Hopefully, more of you will buy this one, spread the word, and help me get it to the 3,000 sell-out mark.

The Herrmann's score & the restoration of his music on Blu-ray are detailed here.

http://www.twilighttimemovies.com/ne...rmanns-garden/

This one is worth a read. This is a great film, and the Blu-ray looks & sounds great. This was a blind buy for me, but I'm glad to have bought it!

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching my Twilight Time Blu-ray of Cat Ballou.

In this comedic western, Jane Fonda plays a refined and educated young woman who discovers her outlaw side when she decides to avenge her father's death by hiring a legendary gunfighter, played by Lee Marvin, only to discover that he is an alcoholic has-been. She takes on the corrupt town owners with her bumbling team in tow, as Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye provide some outstanding musical interludes. Lee Marvin, who was normally a tough guy actor for movies like Point Blank and The Dirty Dozen, won an Academy Award for his mesmerizing performances here, since he also plays a second part as a villain gunman. Jane Fonda, of course, has an incredibly radiant beauty in this film.

Cat Ballou has a distinct ahead-of-its-time vibe, because it was one of the early comedy entries in the western genre, and, as such, it may remind contemporary viewers of the many subsequent good-natured action films that would follow in the 1980s. It's a great flick where everything comes together in terms of comedic timing, action, and occasional pathos.

As usual with these Twilight Time westerns, the picture quality rules all, and images are nearly flawless. The audio presentation comes through in style, as is especially apparent during the musical numbers.

It took me a while to go through all of the extras, but I'll give an easy five stars for the extras content here. Both of the commentary tracks, in particular, are engaging.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

I'm an enormous Lee Marvin fan and I think Cat Ballou is awful.

Really??? I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that Cat Ballou was awful before. But that's okay ... I know there are films out there that seem to be universally loved that I don't understand why, too. So in a way I can relate. (But awful? Lol).

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by krasnoludek

I noticed in my most recent haul (which was from April, I think) that a movie I was sure came in a blue case arrived instead in a clear case. I don't know which one and I can't check now because I'm not at home this weekend.

I think they started switching out cases on some older releases that they still have in stock. It may not be all of them, but it certainly would be smart of TT if they switched out the 10 or so releases that were issued in Eco cases (the printer switched cases without TT's knowledge). They got a lot of flak for that, boiling down to the incongruity of collector's items being in cheapo Eco cases. TT handled it well and switched their new product to the clear cases. Likely to nip any future complaints in the bud, they have silently taken the trouble to replace the Eco cases on those past releases with clear ones.

Yes, I ordered several older releases and had them come in clear cases. I would assume they did not package all 3,000 for release day and package at least some of them as needed.

[StLouisRibs]

Love and Death always came in the clear case, though. It was in the weird period where there was two months of art being posted still with blue cases even though they were being produced with the clear ones.

[oildude]

I don't routinely post the inside booklet covers to upcoming releases, but I think these two are pretty sweet.

Theatre of Blood




Tony Rome double feature

[Jobla]

I liked the earlier posting of the booklet cover for HARDCORE, which shows George C. Scott in front of adult theaters and bookstores.

Most wanted BDs: HOMICIDAL, THE INCIDENT, WILD IN THE COUNTRY, PRIVATE PROPERTY, THREE WORLDS OF GULLIVER, BLUE DENIM,
EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS, PRIVATE PARTS (1972), THE GLASS MENAGERIE (1987), OBSESSION (1976), SHOCK TREATMENT (1964).

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Jobla

Most wanted BDs: HOMICIDAL, THE INCIDENT, WILD IN THE COUNTRY, PRIVATE PROPERTY, THREE WORLDS OF GULLIVER, BLUE DENIM,
EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS, PRIVATE PARTS (1972), THE GLASS MENAGERIE (1987), OBSESSION (1976), SHOCK TREATMENT (1964).

???? Why did you post that? Not to mention, some of these are already available in Region A-compatible form! (Homicidal and Obsession, at least)

[dsman71]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

???? Why did you post that? Not to mention, some of these are already available in Region A-compatible form! (Homicidal and Obsession, at least)

And Homicidal just came out a few weeks ago from Mill Creek !!

[HitchcockLang]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

Love and Death always came in the clear case, though. It was in the weird period where there was two months of art being posted still with blue cases even though they were being produced with the clear ones.

I can confirm that my copy of Love and Death came in a blue case.

[Brad1963]

TT used Blue cases up until early last year when they switched to clear. It appears they repackaged the older titles to clear cases.

[Jobla]

I want TT to release BDs of HOMICIDAL and OBSESSION because they would provide isolated audio tracks for the great musical scores by Hugo Friedhofer and Bernard Herrmann.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Jobla

I want TT to release BDs of HOMICIDAL and OBSESSION because they would provide isolated audio tracks for the great musical scores by Hugo Friedhofer and Bernard Herrmann.

You were just told a couple of postings ago that Homicidal was just released on BD by Mill Creek. Which means that Twilight Time ain't going to be releasing it in the foreseeable future.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Jobla

I want TT to release BDs of HOMICIDAL and OBSESSION because they would provide isolated audio tracks for the great musical scores by Hugo Friedhofer and Bernard Herrmann.

Fair enough. I don't really remember the Obsession score, just the very alarming one to Sisters. I guess I should watch it again.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Jobla

I want TT to release BDs of HOMICIDAL and OBSESSION because they would provide isolated audio tracks for the great musical scores by Hugo Friedhofer and Bernard Herrmann.

I highly recommend getting this if you want the Obsession film score. I have it and can attest it is excellent, with beautiful sound quality.

http://www1.screenarchives.com/title...-3000-EDITION/

One of Bernard Herrmann's finest achievements. This really is one of those standout soundtracks that sticks with you long after you hear it. You can add it to your next TT order at SAE

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[Show spoiler]I just finished watching my Twilight Time Blu-ray of Garden of Evil.

Garden of Evil is one of the most beautiful-looking westerns ever made, and, if you do not own it, then you are doing a tremendous disservice to yourself and your collection. This is a sprawlingly scenic CinemaScope movie that benefits from wise use of matte paintings and sunlit vistas. A soaring Bernard Herrmann music score blends well with the colors and spaciousness of the widescreen images.

Three American adventurers, played by Gary Cooper (High Noon), Richard Widmark (Pickup on South Street), and Cameron Mitchell (Blood and Black Lace), stop by a Mexican village while on their way to California for the gold rush. Their plans change when the gorgeous Susan Hayward (Valley of the Dolls) recruits them, along with a Mexican tough guy, played by Víctor Manuel Mendoza (Cowboy), to rescue her husband, who is trapped in a gold mine in the "Garden of Evil", a beautiful remote area in hostile native American territory. These men and one woman are all driven by different motivations, and one of the joys of the film is watching how they all interact as they get to know one another better. When the husband, played by Hugh Marlowe (The Day the Earth Stood Still), turns out to be alive and capable of riding out, the story changes focus to observe the flight of these characters from the native American hunters.

This film takes jabs in present-day reviews for not delving farther into the greed angle that The Treasure of the Sierra Madre explored, but I rather appreciate the fact that the vibe of that bleak film is combined somewhat with the more adventure-matinee-esque feel of movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark. There's even a distinct "bros before hoes" moment that is a pleasant surprise. Early in the film, the sexy Rita Moreno (West Side Story) has a memorable cameo as a barroom singer.

This Twilight Time Blu-ray sports a great-looking transfer to my eyes, even if the audio presentation deservedly earns more acclaim. An informative set of short documentaries rounds out the title, along with another one of Twilight Time's good-natured and fact-filled commentary tracks.

Garden of Evil is a superb title. Hopefully, more of you will buy this one, spread the word, and help me get it to the 3,000 sell-out mark.

I watched my copy a couple of months ago but still need to finish the commentary track. It is a very good western, led by Cooper and Hayward, while helped greatly by the fine use of CinemaScope and multi-channel stereo that really require projection onto a big screen with a decent sound system for proper appreciation. GARDEN OF EVIL's theme of lust for gold is handled even better in Fox's YELLOW SKY, recently released on Blu-ray by Kino, again featuring Richard Widmark but this time starring Gregory Peck and a young Anne Baxter. I still need to watch that one with the commentary.

Widmark also shows up in the memorable BROKEN LANCE, another fairly recent Twilight Time release that would pair well with MAN FROM LARAMIE as both are loosely inspired by Shakespeare's KING LEAR, or with FLAMING STAR, as both center around the prejudices against a half-breed son of an influential rancher. Lots of classic and unjustly overlooked westerns now available from Twilight Time (as well as Kino) and I hope more will be coming.