Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

So, SWEET & LOWDOWN; PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM; and DECONSTRUCTING HARRY are the other ones left to release from Woody Allen?

Oh, and MELINDA AND MELINDA and CASANDRA'S DREAM are also left out so far.

Maybe SWEET & LOWDOWN and MELINDA. The others are not available to Twilight Time.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

So, SWEET & LOWDOWN; PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM; and DECONSTRUCTING HARRY are the other ones left to release from Woody Allen?

Oh, and MELINDA AND MELINDA and CASANDRA'S DREAM are also left out so far.

Match Point also needs a US BD release.

[Aclea]

A cross between a backstage musical and a service comedy, You’ll Never Get Rich isn't one of either Fred Astaire or Rita Hayworth's greats, but it nestles rather comfortably in the middle of their c.v.s as the kind of glossily executed forgettable studio fare that fills in an hour-and-a-half more than pleasantly enough thanks to their undeniable screen chemistry. The title sequence is probably the most imaginative thing about it - the credits appearing as roadside signs - and the initial mistaken identity plot could have just as been tailored for Fred and Ginger, but Hayworth is particularly stunning to look at in the film that turned her into a major star and there’s no hiding the sheer joy she has in their duets, nor Astaire’s admiration for a partner who he doesn’t have to make look good: it’s said that she was his favourite onscreen dancing partner, and you can easily believe it.

Robert Benchley offers good comedic support as our hero's duplicitous and lecherous Broadway producer who sets the plot in motion when his wife (a coolly acerbic Frieda Inescort) finds the diamond bracelet he thought would win over Hayworth and to avoid a costly divorce tries to pass it off as something he actually bought for Astaire to give her, derailing their fledgling romance and sending the hoofer happily into the army to hide when he gets drafted. And, wouldn’t you know it, his stint as a permanent resident of the glass house is broken up when it turns out Rita is staying near the camp at the same time Benchley turns up planning to put on a show for the boys – and give his latest bit on the side the lead. Cue even further plot machinations to keep Fred and Rita apart until the last reel. Yes, the plot’s a trifle, and the film at times threatens to become more of a service comedy than a musical – the stars only share three numbers, one of them quite brief – but one that’s been cooked up by decent chefs even if it isn’t Gordon Bleu.

Columbia's general stodginess with many of their musicals is not quite so apparent here, although with the exception of a guardhouse solo the numbers do lack the panache of the RKO or MGM films, but when Fred and Rita are in the foreground practically floating on air, who cares? The film may not be up to its stars’ level but nonetheless, it's still light and amiable formulaic entertainment that goes down very easily. Twilight Time’s limited edition region-free Bluray offers a nice transfer with the original trailer – kicking off with a dozing Benchley having a great dream that turns out to be the picture he’s co-starring in – isolated music and effects track and a booklet as extras.

[Alfredlynch]

Manhattan Murder Mystery is one of my favorite Allen movies, so that's a given. Curious about another Twilight Time release that actually is listed as sold out... Bunny Lake is Missing... is it worth a blind buy?

[HaroldnMaude]

Originally Posted by oildude

HARRY AND WALTER GO TO NEW YORK (1976) BLU-RAY - February 20th

[/B]

Geez, just bought the Sony dvd-r in September as had never seen this. Has a few funny moments. Sort of a lesser caper type flck trying to for the sort of old-timey nostalgia factor that made The Sting a big hit. Yet not quite succeeeding.

[cropduster]

Definitely in for Gamma Rays and The Incident.

[Rory]

Originally Posted by Alfredlynch

Curious about another Twilight Time release that actually is listed as sold out... Bunny Lake is Missing... is it worth a blind buy?

I'm a fan of Bunny Lake, from its black and white photography, its setting, mood, its cast, and a lovely score, and I can recommend it.

[Widescreenfilmguy]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

So, SWEET & LOWDOWN; PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM; and DECONSTRUCTING HARRY are the other ones left to release from Woody Allen?

Oh, and MELINDA AND MELINDA and CASANDRA'S DREAM are also left out so far.

Play it Again Sam wasn’t directed by Woody and is a Paramount title so I doubt we will see it anytime soon

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by Widescreenfilmguy

Play it Again Sam wasn’t directed by Woody and is a Paramount title so I doubt we will see it anytime soon

Yes, and neither is The Front. I read a review on another page from someone saying they wish Woody Allen had directed it.

Allen was only hired as an actor to help tell a very personal story of director Martin Ritt and others involved who were also part of The Blacklist.

[GregBlu5]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Yes, and neither is The Front. I read a review on another page from someone saying they wish Woody Allen had directed it.

Allen was only hired as an actor to help tell a very personal story of director Martin Ritt and others involved who were also part of The Blacklist.

And THE FRONT was released by Twilight Time.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

And THE FRONT was released by Twilight Time.

Yes. It was a disc I bought right away when it went on sale.

[PowellPressburger]

Just watched Chilly Scenes Of Winter with John Heard. It was so good. Really great relationship movie. If you like films about breakups this one is one of the best. It’s from 1979 so it’s from a different time for sure but spot on.

[Jobla]

The original theatrical cut of it, entitled HEAD OVER HEELS, had a very different ending.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Jobla

The original theatrical cut of it, entitled HEAD OVER HEELS, had a very different ending.

Surprised they couldn’t have that alternate ending as a bonus feature. I’ll listeb to the audio commentary in the next few days. I assume they talk about it.

[mja345]

New Line's catalog is with Warner now, so perhaps Warner Archive will put out "Deconstructing Harry".

[Laserguy]

Count me in for The Incident and Harry and Walter Go to New York. I watched the latter film several times when it played on HBO back in 1977. I haven't seen it since then. Curious how it will hold up to my childhood memories.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

So, SWEET & LOWDOWN; PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM; and DECONSTRUCTING HARRY are the other ones left to release from Woody Allen?

Oh, and MELINDA AND MELINDA and CASANDRA'S DREAM are also left out so far.

The following are the WA-directed titles not released yet on Blu-ray, and who owns them:

Don't Drink the Water (remake made for TV; ABC)
Anything Else (DreamWorks)
Curse of the Jade Scorpion (DreamWorks)
Hollywood Ending (DreamWorks)
Match Point (DreamWorks)
Small Time Crooks (DreamWorks)
Deconstructing Harry (Warner [Fine Line Features])
Scoop (Universal [Focus Features])
Melinda and Melinda (Fox Searchlight)
Bullets Over Broadway (Miramax)
Celebrity (Miramax)
Everyone Says I Love You (Miramax)
Mighty Aphrodite (Miramax)
Sweet and Lowdown (Sony)
Cassandra's Dream (The Weinstein Company)

Given TT's current studio contracts, Sweet and Lowdown and Melinda and Melinda would be the only ones that could possibly come from TT in the future.

[mja345]

FWIW, "Anything Else", "Curse of the Jade Scorpion", "Hollywood Ending", "Match Point", "Small Time Crooks", "Scoop", "Bullets Over Broadway", and "Mighty Aphrodite" all have region-free releases and I'm not sure if they'll ever be released on BD here given they're all with Miramax or Dreamworks. I think the two that will definitely come at some point in the US are "Deconstructing Harry" and "Sweet and Lowdown".

[HitchcockLang]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Don't Drink the Water (remake made for TV; ABC)

And ABC is Disney. I believe it was speculated in the Kino thread that Don't Drink the Water may come from Kino on blu as Kino secured a number of TV moves in a deal with Disney per MisterLime.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by Jobla

The original theatrical cut of it, entitled HEAD OVER HEELS, had a very different ending.

How did the endings differ? Can't seem to find the specifics from a quick google search.