Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by Ned Brainard

It's probably a matter of a rights situation with either the source material or music. There are a number of films in the Warner library out of official circulation due to such problems (Perfect Specimen, Letty Lynton, Escapade, Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?, Ceiling Zero, The Trial of Mary Dugan, etc.). Sometimes the rights can be sorted as was seen a few months ago with Angels with Dirty Faces, but I wouldn't necessarily count on that happening with all of these "rights hell" titles.

It took 69 years for the rights to Night Flight to be cleared (another Porgy and Bess situation).

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

That reminds me, I was trying to get hold of 1953's 'Remains To Be Seen' (June Allyson and Van Johnson in a comedy noir with songs!), and it's never had ANY commercial release, not even a WAC DVD! Could be one of the most obscure MGM musicals of all, as it isn't on any of the (inaccurate but widespread and seemingly taken as gospel now) online masterlists of them. Wonder why it's never the bride.

You probably already know it but it aired once on TCM in 1995. The copies of the movie floating around are from that broadcast.

[SanCarolina59]

Originally Posted by Ned Brainard

It's probably a matter of a rights situation with either the source material or music. There are a number of films in the Warner library out of official circulation due to such problems (Perfect Specimen, Letty Lynton, Escapade, Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?, Ceiling Zero, The Trial of Mary Dugan, etc.). Sometimes the rights can be sorted as was seen a few months ago with Angels with Dirty Faces, but I wouldn't necessarily count on that happening with all of these "rights hell" titles.

Originally Posted by Aclea

It took 69 years for the rights to Night Flight to be cleared (another Porgy and Bess situation).

There's also The Constant Nymph and Annie Get Your Gun which got their rights resolved in recent years (although from the last official WAC podcast, Annie Get Your Gun still apparently has streaming rights unresolved, preventing them from putting it up on streaming with the other TCMFF 2021 films, which led them to dub it as an unofficial "physical media exclusive" for the time being).

[SoundOfSilence]

Originally Posted by Ned Brainard

It's probably a matter of a rights situation with either the source material or music. There are a number of films in the Warner library out of official circulation due to such problems (Perfect Specimen, Letty Lynton, Escapade, Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?, Ceiling Zero, The Trial of Mary Dugan, etc.). Sometimes the rights can be sorted as was seen a few months ago with Angels with Dirty Faces, but I wouldn't necessarily count on that happening with all of these "rights hell" titles.

It's possible.

Though MGM films don't usually suffer from this. As far as I am aware. But not out of the question.

Another possibility is that it could be a lost film?

According to IMDB, at least, there is no history of distributions rights after 1954.

Odd that it didn't get to a television broadcast at least.

Maybe it was just overlooked.

[SoundOfSilence]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Not sure if you saw this thread last year.

https://twitter.com/nickfalacci/stat...QHvaGK3pLRLRrQ

It looks very familiar.

But I wouldn't have seen it on Twitter.

[gudemameshiba]

Originally Posted by SoundOfSilence

It looks very familiar.

But I wouldn't have seen it on Twitter.

It also ran (with attribution of course) on Wellesnet.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Yes, $17.99 is a common Amazon price point for WAC blu rays. If you’re patient they’ll likely have even lower drops. The trick is determining when to pull the trigger. It’s kind of like playing the stock market.

The Clock went down to $17.99 now. It looks like For Me and My Gal is the only Garland title left for next month at over $20, at $22.49. I was about to debate cancelling my pre-order of The Clock but now I won't, especially because its the one I was looking forward to the most. I can hold out for the other two when their prices drop more.

[Nailwraps]

Speaking of MGM, it looks Warner WILL be launching MGM's own titles in their Archive soon. According to a Vinegar Syndrome employee, Ghoulies 1 and 2 are with Warner via their MGM deal:
https://www.facebook.com/dvdnewsflas...16188871780869

Why is this relevant? Because earlier, this week someone at DiabolikDVD stated a new release of the films will be announced soon (possibly for Blu-ray):
https://www.facebook.com/dvdnewsflas...13455458720877

[Ned Brainard]

Originally Posted by SoundOfSilence

It's possible.

Though MGM films don't usually suffer from this. As far as I am aware. But not out of the question.

Another possibility is that it could be a lost film?

According to IMDB, at least, there is no history of distributions rights after 1954.

Odd that it didn't get to a television broadcast at least.

Maybe it was just overlooked.

As noted in a previous post, it did air once on TCM back in 1995, and I would wager that it likely aired once or twice before that on TNT. In the early days of TCM, a few of these "rights situations" films aired once or twice before they were flagged. That's likely what happened with Remains to be Seen. As for MGM, while I wouldn't say it's the norm, there are some titles out of circulation for rights issues - Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the White House, Florian, Port of Seven Seas, Christopher Bean, and It's a Wise Child are a few additional examples from the MGM library. My guess is that rights issues probably affect the MGM catalog as much as any other studio. It is likely more obvious when an MGM title is out of circulation than it is for a contemporary title from Paramount or Fox thanks to the proliferation of the MGM library on TCM.

[SoundOfSilence]

Originally Posted by Ned Brainard

As noted in a previous post, it did air once on TCM back in 1995, and I would wager that it likely aired once or twice before that on TNT. In the early days of TCM, a few of these "rights situations" films aired once or twice before they were flagged. That's likely what happened with Remains to be Seen. As for MGM, while I wouldn't say it's the norm, there are some titles out of circulation for rights issues - Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the White House, Florian, Port of Seven Seas, Christopher Bean, and It's a Wise Child are a few additional examples from the MGM library. My guess is that rights issues probably affect the MGM catalog as much as any other studio. It is likely more obvious when an MGM title is out of circulation than it is for a contemporary title from Paramount or Fox thanks to the proliferation of the MGM library on TCM.

I wasn't aware of the screening on TCM.

I saw the post after I had made mine. Didn't bother to edit it.

I was wondering why the Marion Davies' film hadn't been released. It's one I have been looking for.

This may be of interest.

https://www.copyright.gov/orphan/com...24-Langdon.pdf

According to the author of the letter it seems that MGM obtained a license only allowing limited screening rights for their own film. That would surprise me. But perhaps Hearst had some say in the contract.

Though I note from IMDB that it was a joint production with Cosmopolitan Productions. So perhaps that is where the rights are tied up. Either with the Hearst estate or perhaps Paramount.

To me this seems more likely.

But anything is possible.

[SoundOfSilence]

Speaking of MGM, according to IMDB Warner acquired the rights to distribute an 80th Anniversary edition of GWTW including an UHD package.

Obviously this never occurred (unless I somehow missed it).

I would be curious as to the reason this project was shelved.

Speculating, I wonder if it had anything to do with the 'woke' criticism that the film was receiving around 2019.

HBO removed it for a period.

And, if memory serves, I think this film was only broadcast after a health warning. Where some enlightened film critic explains, in excruciating detail, why you're a bad person for watching it.

[gudemameshiba]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

Speaking of MGM, it looks Warner WILL be launching MGM's own titles in their Archive soon. According to a Vinegar Syndrome employee, Ghoulies 1 and 2 are with Warner via their MGM deal:
https://www.facebook.com/dvdnewsflas...16188871780869

Why is this relevant? Because earlier, this week someone at DiabolikDVD stated a new release of the films will be announced soon (possibly for Blu-ray):
https://www.facebook.com/dvdnewsflas...13455458720877

I think this VS employee made an error.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by SoundOfSilence

Speaking of MGM, according to IMDB Warner acquired the rights to distribute an 80th Anniversary edition of GWTW including an UHD package.

What rights, exactly, would Warner need to "acquire" for this?

[SoundOfSilence]

Originally Posted by koberulz

What rights, exactly, would Warner need to "acquire" for this?

Distribution rights.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031381...?ref_=tt_dt_co

It may be just an intergroup transfer payments agreement as part of tax planning. Or other reasons.

I was more interested in why the UHD was never released. According to IMDB it was licensed.

[koberulz]

Warners owns the film outright, they don't need to licence jack shit.

[Rayjg]

George diehard Ghoulies fan had Zaslav claw it back? Crazy man

[Matt89]

Originally Posted by SoundOfSilence

Distribution rights.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031381...?ref_=tt_dt_co

It may be just an intergroup transfer payments agreement as part of tax planning. Or other reasons.

I was more interested in why the UHD was never released. According to IMDB it was licensed.

Warner's owned the film outright since 1996.

~Matt

[SoundOfSilence]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Warners owns the film outright, they don't need to licence jack shit.

Not true.

Last I checked the film rights are held by Turner Entertainment Co.

Distribution rights for the 75th anniversary blu ray were licensed by it to Warner Home Video.

These are legally recognized as two separate legal entities. Warner Home Video does not have the legal right to distribute the film without a license.

Would it get sued if it did?

Likely not.

But it would be tomfoolery for any legal adviser to recommend such a course of action.

It needs a license.

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by SoundOfSilence

Not true.
Last I checked the film rights are held by Turner Entertainment Co.

Warner bought Turner in 1996.

[SoundOfSilence]

Originally Posted by whiteberry

Warner bought Turner in 1996.

I know.

But under law they are still two separate legal entities.

Turner's property does not become Warner's.

Of course Warner has control over it through voting rights and control over the board.

But it does not acquire legal title to Turner's property. It would be unlawful for Warner to act as if it did.