Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[captveg]

Originally Posted by jshaide

https://twitter.com/Scream_Factory/s...73463401938944

It's worth noting that Criterion has also had to be more coy about their WB licensing agreement than they have about their agreements with other studios. So it's likely a rather specific mandate that WB makes since they so rarely sub-license in the first place.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by WesReviews

What's the story with Abby?

Abby was a surprise box-office smash. It earned nearly $4 million in its first month of release (Abby's budget was approximately $100,000, though Girdler inflated figures for both the profits and the budget). In its day, Abby was a larger theatrical hit than Blacula. Girdler was very honest about the inspiration behind his film, and naively told the Louisville Courier Journal prior to the lawsuit, "Sure, we made 'Abby' to come in on the shirttail of 'The Exorcist.'"

Abby was not the only Exorcist-inspired film targeted by Warner Brothers. Italian-made flicks such as Beyond the Door and House of Exorcism also prompted lawsuits. Abby was the only movie withdrawn under the ominous WB threats. As it appears, Warner Brothers and Sam Arkoff of AIP struck a bargain in which WB would release the frozen revenue generated by the film to Girdler and company. In return, Arkoff and Mid-America agreed never to air or distribute the film without WB's permission. Girdler saw no profits from the film. The case was settled a few weeks before he died.

http://www.williamgirdler.com/kentucky.html

About the lawsuit: exactly how and when did that go down? How long had Abby been out? What was Bill's reaction to the suit?

Abby had been out quite a while when Warner Brothers decided to sue. In fact, we'd already made the big splash in major markets. Bill and I discussed the prospects of a suit before the movie was ever made and had concluded that we felt we had a defensible position, so didn't fear an 'after-the-fact' suit. No question the theme was close, but we didn't use their dialogue, locations, or actors, so it would be difficult to win on the general theme. I remember telling Billy, "If they win against us no one will ever be able to make a World War II movie again!" (As they all borrow the same theme, etc.)

Billy was amused more than angered by the suit. I think it gave him a feeling of "we're in the big league now," -- as everyone in Hollywood sues at the drop of a hat - or did back then. He'd "ARRIVED" if his works were visible enough to bring suits from the "big boys".

Our lawyers in Louisville handled the suit - other than taking our depositions, we had little to do with the course of the case. Bill did more talking to the lawyers than the rest of us, other than perhaps Dave, but I had all but forgotten it after awhile. I didn't receive my share of the money from the movie until 1980 or 81. I was living in Kansas City at the time - having divorced Bill's sister after his death - so the settlement phase didn't take place until after he died. I don't recall when the litigation actually ended.

For some reason, Abby wasn't part of the AIP catalog sold to Orion, then later bought by MGM. Who holds the copyright?

I thought Sam Arkoff (AIP) owned Abby. I'll have to look into my records on that, but I know his company put up most of the money for it. William Marshall was on loan from Sam at the time. Same with Sheba Baby.

http://www.williamgirdler.com/abby4.html

This puts Shout! in the unique position of having active licensing agreements with MGM, Warner Brothers and the Arkoff estate (The Final Terror and Hellhole). Between the three of them, they should be able to put something together, assuming usable film elements still exist.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

I was about to mention having an Arnold Schwarzenegger commentary track, but then I realized I mixed this up with "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot"..

That wasn't Schwarzenegger either...

[BarnDoor]

Between their MGM and new Warner deal if Scream could work out something to release Abby it would be some achievement.

[GasmaskAvenger]

Originally Posted by captveg

That wasn't Schwarzenegger either...

If you're aware of the history "Stop! Or My Mom...", then a Schwarzenegger commentary track would be incredible.

Its a similar reason to why a Paul Rudd/Conan O'Brien commentary for Mac and Me would be awesome.

[WesReviews]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Judgement Night with a bonus CD soundtrack would be pretty neat.

Isn't Judgment Night with Universal?

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by captveg

It's worth noting that Criterion has also had to be more coy about their WB licensing agreement than they have about their agreements with other studios. So it's likely a rather specific mandate that WB makes since they so rarely sub-license in the first place.

Sure. I just feel that things might be slightly premature at this exact moment. But people tend to get excited.

[BagheeraMcGee]

Originally Posted by WesReviews

Isn't Judgment Night with Universal?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's a Largo Entertainment film, which are at Warners. Same with Point Break, The Getaway (1994) and Unlawful Entry (the latter two which haven't been released on Blu-ray yet either).

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's a Largo Entertainment film, which are at Warners. Same with Point Break, The Getaway (1994) and Unlawful Entry (the latter two which haven't been released on Blu-ray yet either).

Correct.

[returnofthemack]

Exciting, if even a quarter of the titles on that list come to pass then the glory days of this label are back.

[Lacrimosa]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

I wouldn't expect them until 2019/2020 anyway. That'd probably be a massive project and its way too soon to expect much movement on it.

Man, it wasn’t long ago that I was questioning whether or not the label would even survive ‘til 2020.

Now we’re throwing out possibilities of Nightmare on Elm Street collector’s editions being out by then.

[gpn]

Originally Posted by Respectjuice

Quick Question. I've never ordered from Scream before and was wondering when you preorder do they charge immediately or when the item is going to be released? Was going to make my order for "It's Alive" since I don't see it on Amazon yet. Thank you.

If you pay by PayPal, you'll be charged immediately. If you pay with a credit card they charge when they ship.

[AnthonyGG]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dre

Do we hope this is an exclusive deal with Shout/Scream or do we hope other horror boutiques can also get in on the WB treasure? I’m sort of unsure at the moment.

As far as I'm concerned, the more Warner product, the better. Warner Archive has been releasing stellar blu's for a while now and if labels like Arrow, Kino, Olive, etc can also latch on, that's only for the better for us fans. Warner owns the entire RKO-Radio Pictures features library as well as pre-1986 MGM titles. Even if Scream got the bulk of the Horror films, there are fans out there like me who would scoop up stuff like Laurel & Hardy or Bob Hope comedies from the '40s (MGM) to RKO B-movies from the '30s, etc etc. My inner hippie says spread the Warner love around!

[Member-222782]

As exciting as this development is I'm still not entirely convinced there's an actual deal in place so I'm taking my excitement down a notch for now. Now, if the next announcement is another Warner title then I'll start dreaming again

[BarnDoor]

Isn't Split Second with Warner in the US? The European releases could certainly be improved upon.

[jmat91]

Return of the living dead part 2 and Critters box please next shout factory!

If this warner bros deal is legit!!

[Respectjuice]

Originally Posted by gpn

If you pay by PayPal, you'll be charged immediately. If you pay with a credit card they charge when they ship.

Thank you. That's what I thought, but I wasn't 100% sure. And couldn't find the answer on their site through the FAQ.

[Mystic]

Would prefer that Warner Bros. handle their library of films in terms of future blu ray releases. There's never been any Audio/Video issues with any of their blu ray releases that I'm aware of, which can't be said about Scream.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

Doesn't that Razorback blu-ray have lossy audio though?

A CE of Razorback with lossless audio would be cool.

I'm not sure since I don't own it but they also have a 4k remaster of it coming out.

[tylerc904]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Alice Sweet Alice
He Knows You're Alone
Alone in the Dark
Deadly Friend
Killer Party
House on Haunted Hill
Valentine
Eight Legged Freaks
The Hitcher
Nightmare on Elm Street Series
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (Unrated?)
Jason X
Freddy vs Jason
Deep Blue Sea
Final Destination

So many day one purchase possibilities!