Fun City Editions

[jah13]

We've discussed JOYRIDE and UNHOLY ROLLERS, but I was not aware that there might be some music issues with WHERE THE LILIES BLOOM.

As to DEMENTIA 13, didn't realize that had been restored recently, thanks.

Originally Posted by Jobla

Aside from JOYRIDE, i believe that there are music issues with UNHOLY ROLLERS (Chuck Berry?) and WHERE THE LILIES BLOOM (The Earl Scruggs Review?).

UNHOLY ROLLERS has been released on DVD, but with the original songs replaced by Kendall Schmidt's synth score).

I'd like to see the 2018 4K restoration of DEMENTIA 13 (1963) ,but i think it's owned by American Zoetrope rather than MGM.

[Jobla]

MGM has a vault print of DEMENTIA 13 that includes the rare D-13 test prolog sequence, a sequence I haven't seen since 1963.

MGM loaned their film elements to American Zoetreope for a 4K restoration in 2018. The restored version has played in a few film festivals, but that's it.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Even though MGM possesses the film elements to the extended cut of Dementia 13, it's copyrighted to American Zoetrope and they probably licenced it to Lionsgate like they did with Apocalypse Now and Tucker.

A piece of work that has different footage (the rare D-13 test prolog sequence) than what was released theatrically can qualify for a completely new copyright under current laws. The theatrical version of D-13 remains PD and can still be released by anyone and their 3rd cousin if they use battered ol' 35mm prints or shitty VHS masters. MGM nor AZ or Lionsgate have any say or involvement unless one of these PD labels use an IP or Interneg of the theatrical version for their releases, which MGM does hold film elements for.

[bergman864]

I keep trying to come up with titles to inquire about but I don't have a most wanted list to check. The few I might want I don't know if they'd fit your model or if the rights would be an issue. The other problem is if I do think of a title it's probably already out on Blu-ray.

With that said I do have a really wanted title that I want to ask as many boutique labels about. Terence Davies' The Neon Bible (1995).

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by bergman864

I keep trying to come up with titles to inquire about but I don't have a most wanted list to check. The few I might want I don't know if they'd fit your model or if the rights would be an issue. The other problem is if I do think of a title it's probably already out on Blu-ray.

With that said I do have a really wanted title that I want to ask as many boutique labels about. Terence Davies' The Neon Bible (1995).

I love Terence Davies! I’ve wanted that and House of Mirth!

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Even though MGM possesses the film elements to the extended cut of Dementia 13, it's copyrighted to American Zoetrope and they probably licenced it to Lionsgate like they did with Apocalypse Now and Tucker.

A piece of work that has different footage (the rare D-13 test prolog sequence) than what was released theatrically can qualify for a completely new copyright under current laws. The theatrical version of D-13 remains PD and can still be released by anyone and their 3rd cousin if they use battered ol' 35mm prints or shitty VHS masters. MGM nor AZ or Lionsgate have any say or involvement unless one of these PD labels use an IP or Interneg of the theatrical version for their releases, which MGM does hold film elements for.

If it is a release of the PD theatrical version, it does not matter if a copy is made from a transfer from someone who paid to use the IP or even negative as a source, it does not matter if the source was a restoration of a damaged print or even a colorized version. At the moment they are all still considered Public Domain and it has so far been held up in the courts. New laws can be passed changing that but it could be a difficult fight to get the people who can change the copyright act to do so.

It gets tricky if there is a different version as the extended cut may not be public domain. If it was never officially released, it probably can be granted a new copyright. Each situation for different films can be different, and sometimes it takes a court case to set a legal precedent.

I should add that I remembered George Romero did find his copyright papers for Night of the Living Dead and could prove that it was copyrighted but the copyright office screwed up on listing it, he said. I think this happened in the 90s. By that point I guess he felt it was too late to do much about it.

[Atomic Frog]

Originally Posted by Mose Harper

Joyride has music licensing issues. Kino apparently passed on it because of that.

Some years ago I blind bought the DVD, found it while pawing through in the $1.99 rack at BuyBacks. It looked right up my alley and boy was it! I watch it pretty often. Best 2 bucks I ever spent.

The same thing with Jeremy except ut was $3 at Big Lots. I'm gonna use my VS $5 off coupon on it. I never thought I would see it come to Blu.

[Fred Sliman]

The first three Fun City Editions got me to thinking that this would likely become my next completist label; the announcement of Rancho Deluxe (a top ten for years in my signature wish list below) and Smile (not far behind) erased any doubt. Can’t wait to see what the future holds.

[jah13]

Thank you, Fred Sliman...some strong titles remain in your signature wish list.

Originally Posted by Fred Sliman

The first three Fun City Editions got me to thinking that this would likely become my next completist label; the announcement of Rancho Deluxe (a top ten for years in my signature wish list below) and Smile (not far behind) erased any doubt. Can’t wait to see what the future holds.

[deathshead1987]

Another movie that I believe could be a good title for FCE is "My Family Treasure" (1993). It was directed by Rolfe Kanefsky and Edward Staroselsky. The cast includes Dee Wallace and Alex Vincent (Andy from Child's Play). It was partially filmed in New York. It was only released on VHS.

[jah13]

Don't know this one, but I'll look into it, thanks.

Originally Posted by deathshead1987

Another movie that I believe could be a good title for FCE is "My Family Treasure" (1993). It was directed by Rolfe Kanefsky and Edward Staroselsky. The cast includes Dee Wallace and Alex Vincent (Andy from Child's Play). It was partially filmed in New York. It was only released on VHS.

[Jobla]

One more comment about DEMENTIA 13:

The D-13 test prolog, which runs around 7 minutes, was included in the 1963 35mm theatrical release prints. I saw the film in a theater in 1963, when it was the AIP co-feature with THE TERROR.

I don't know for a fact that Coppola shot the D-13 test sequence himself. It could have been filmed by second unit director Jack Hill, but it was definitely included in the 1963 theatrical version.

I haven't seen that sequence since then, in any home video or cable TV prints.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by beamish13

Skolimowski is a fantastic filmmaker. There is a now super-rare box of his pre-Deep End Polish features that deserves to be reissued

Agreed. I think they're all with Studio Kadr.

Most of Skolimowski's films have been neglected and I'd love to see some of the most obscure ones released as well - The Adventures of Gerard, a Conan Doyle adaptation with Claudia Cardinale and Eli Wallach, is with MGM so should be licensable to FCE if they were interested!

I have no idea who has King, Queen, Knave - his Nabokov adaptation with David Niven, Gina Lollobrigida and John Moulder-Brown released in the same year as Deep End.

I think that both Success is the Best Revenge and The Lightship will be with Shout Factory via their acquisition of Westchester Films (and themselves via Castle Hill). I'm not sure if they license out their catalog...

[El Sleezo]

Kinda ashamed I didn’t previously know about RADIO ON (1979), but it’s now one of my most anticipated releases.

[jah13]

No shame in that. That's part of the fun of releasing this kind of film here...it's really been largely unspoken for in the U.S up until now. There was a DVD many years ago via Plexifilm, but it never had a wide U.S. theatrical release, etc...mostly festivals and specialty, one-off screenings.

Originally Posted by El Sleezo

Kinda ashamed I didn’t previously know about RADIO ON (1979), but it’s now one of my most anticipated releases.

[bergman864]

Radio On has me intrigued. I do like road movies and movies with colorful characters. And that soundtrack sounds exceptional. Sounds like another excellent release.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by vortexx

I should add that I remembered George Romero did find his copyright papers for Night of the Living Dead and could prove that it was copyrighted but the copyright office screwed up on listing it, he said. I think this happened in the 90s. By that point I guess he felt it was too late to do much about it.

Romero did indeed file a proper copyright with the copyright office, but under the original Night of Anubis title. Distributor Walter Reade later changed the title to Night of the Living Dead not only without Romero's consent, but didn't put any copyright information on it or had registered it with a copyright office. This is what lead to being PD immediately and the rights issues it caused.

[jah13]

Incredible soundtrack and the songs are largely allowed to play out in full or close to it.

Originally Posted by bergman864

Radio On has me intrigued. I do like road movies and movies with colorful characters. And that soundtrack sounds exceptional. Sounds like another excellent release.

[Sternhalma Weinstein]

Radio On is great. Very hard to classify, like Quadrophenia meets JG Ballard, but somehow that's not apt at all.

[Sternhalma Weinstein]

Man, you know what you guys need to release? Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains!