Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[EVOLVIST]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

None of those 'cuts' from the German version seem like censorship, going from that comparison - nearly all seem like pacing cuts, ie longer scene transitions, or are related to on screen letters - ie they have a German version of written letters/newspapers.

Oh, I'm just going by the article, which speaks of censorship from the US side. I don't know whether it's a fact. I know very little about this film.

[Akibiyori]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

yes, that is the ONE thing I hate about WAC blurays, those abysmal large yellow subtitles. I can't even turn them on - they ruin the film for me.

You could just turn the color on your TV down for B&W films.

[EVOLVIST]

This is maybe a stupid post, but wouldn't a WAC release of King Kong (1933) with a more thorough restoration and a proper encode go over well?

Even if it's not WAC. Next year marks 90 years.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by EVOLVIST

This is maybe a stupid post, but wouldn't a WAC release of King Kong (1933) with a more thorough restoration and a proper encode go over well?

Even if it's not WAC. Next year marks 90 years.

At the juncture it’s rumored that Criterion has it (based on the fact they’re the only ones with a Warner deal and Warner let all releases go out of print). If so they’ll probably release it next year for the 90th.

[Mushi Minion]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

At the juncture it’s rumored that Criterion has it (based on the fact they’re the only ones with a Warner deal and Warner let all releases go out of print). If so they’ll probably release it next year for the 90th.

Or in 11 years for the 100th.

[tangerinewolf]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

You really need to watch the 1941 version. Even with the cuts, it's still an excellent, extremely underrated film, and a fine example of the highly polished MGM style ("the Tiffany's of motion picture studios," with "more stars than there are in the heaven") of the early 1940s. In addition to that, the new WAC Blu-ray really is a thing of beauty and deserves to be seen.

Agreed. I guess I'm a bit late to the party here with the discussion of the censored 1941 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I never realized how much the censors butchered this film. I knew (or thought) there were a few cuts. But after looking and reading the article that Frankinho007 provided, I was shocked. It's really sad. By today's standards, none of those cuts would have been necessary.

So, yeah, I think WAC should have restored them, even through some of them seem to be only for timing purposes. But that's really petty. I realize that this film is longer than most horror films of this era, but it was directed by Victor Fleming who had those two "longer" films from 1939.

I wonder though, if these scenes were never cut, would those who are staunch opponents to the 1941 version, would have liked it more. I guess we'll never know.

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by tangerinewolf

Agreed. I guess I'm a bit late to the party here with the discussion of the censored 1941 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I never realized how much the censors butchered this film. I knew (or thought) there were a few cuts. But after looking and reading the article that Frankinho007 provided, I was shocked. It's really sad. By today's standards, none of those cuts would have been necessary.

So, yeah, I think WAC should have restored them, even through some of them seem to be only for timing purposes. But that's really petty. I realize that this film is longer than most horror films of this era, but it was directed by Victor Fleming who had those two "longer" films from 1939.

I wonder though, if these scenes were never cut, would those who are staunch opponents to the 1941 version, would have liked it more. I guess we'll never know.

I think the most damaging cuts are to the dream sequences, causing them to lose a good deal of their style and punch, as well as essentially butchering Franz Waxman's music cues for these scenes. You raise an interesting question about the people who disike this film and consider it "stodgy" when compared to the 1931 version; let's just say that I think some of those folks might very well change their minds if they could see the full-strength 1941 version as it was meant to be seen. Alas, Warner Archive did not provide us with this opportunity...and that, for me, is "the most unkindest cut of all."

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Mushi Minion

Or in 11 years for the 100th.

Wonder what their Very Reasonable (TM) price baseline will be by then. Start saving now, folks!

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

I think the most damaging cuts are to the dream sequences, causing them to lose a good deal of their style and punch, as well as essentially butchering Franz Waxman's music cues for these scenes. You raise an interesting question about the people who disike this film and consider it "stodgy" when compared to the 1931 version; let's just say that I think some of those folks might very well change their minds if they could see the full-strength 1941 version as it was meant to be seen. Alas, Warner Archive did not provide us with this opportunity...and that, for me, is "the most unkindest cut of all."

Speaking for myself, I doubt it. I compare the 2 versions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the same way I compare the 2 versions of The Phantom Of The Opera (1925 and 1943). The earlier version is raw and terrifying, the remake is prettier but lifeless, with the elements of terror stripped away (again, in my opinion)....

[xochipilli]

Robert Meyer Burnett called up George Feltenstein on his podcast for the first time in a long while, and while he kept things close to the chest, not revealing so much as a hint regarding future releases, there were a couple of interesting tidbits buried in the conversation:

• Regarding Zaslav coming in as the new owner, he says that while they're not quite sure what that means yet as far as the Archive is concerned, "all indications are very positive". He's also very excited about his new office on the lot, as it's the first time he's worked there as opposed to an office building across the street.
• He reiterates that the sales of The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm have been and continue to be "quite robust".
• He says they've got a lot of nitrate sitting around the studio in various external facilities, which are all being scanned in 4K ("long overdue"). Once again, it'll be releases both in black and white and colour, from every decade including more recent titles.
• Round Midnight was actually licensed to Criterion five-six years ago, but the release was delayed due to a lot of "legal spaghetti" which had to be worked out.
• All three June titles are, as you'd guess, 4K scans of the best preservation elements.
• They're currently putting the finishing touches on the '31 Jekyll and Hyde, so it'll most likely be done in time for Halloween.
• The Mosquito Coast is a very likely title for the near future, now that they have a long-term deal with the Saul Zaentz company.
• Amadeus-while some conversations here on the forum seem to take it as granted that the film is already in the works, possibly both versions licensed to Criterion, from the way George talks about it it seems like they haven't even discussed the project. Since it's a high-profile 4K release he's only involved in an advisory role, but it looks like it's still a ways off.
• He brings up next year's 100th anniversary celebration of the studio, and how he's had to hold people back from focusing too much on the MGM titles they own, rather than promoting actual Warner Brothers titles that should be the focus.
• Regarding 4K releases from the archive, while they haven't even had the first discussion yet, George believes it's coming eventually, seeming more optimistic than even a few months ago. He says it's just a matter of picking the right title to start with, making sure it makes sense financially and then keep supporting the format at a nice cadence.

It starts at 2:32:00 and ends at 3:02:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2qlnhZF2UY

[Mr. Thomsen]

I wish he had asked George about why WAC would release the same cut version of Jekyll '41, when an uncut dupe negative exists.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

I wish he had asked George about why WAC would release the same cut version of Jekyll '41, when an uncut dupe negative exists.

Does WAC have easy access to that version?

[Alfredlynch]

Ooh finally The Mosquito Coast may come - that's exciting.

[gudemameshiba]

Originally Posted by xochipilli

He says they've got a lot of nitrate sitting around the studio in various external facilities, which are all being scanned in 4K ("long overdue"). Once again, it'll be releases both in black and white and colour, from every decade including more recent titles.

This sounds like reiteration of his "preservation on steroids" quip, rather than new information, although given the tumult at Warner's over the last couple years, I am happy to have that commitment seemingly reconfirmed.

[Mose Harper]

Originally Posted by Mushi Minion

Or in 11 years for the 100th.

The 40th anniversary of their original laserdisc release will be 2027.

Five years is a blink of an eye in Criterion terms.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Does WAC have easy access to that version?

The listing for it in the BF collection catalogue does say that access is restricted. But one would think that as the rights-holders Warner would be one of the few who would automatically be entitled to access. At least that is how it usually is for other archives, like Library of Congress.

Of course BFI would probably insist on any scanning of the dupe-negative to be done locally, so as to not take any chances of it getting lost or damaged in transit. And on top of that there is the whole question of what condition the dupe-negative is in.

All in all, I can definitely see it being a money issue. But then at least tell us that. Right now one can't really help to think that maybe they are not even aware of its existence.

Knowing that it exists has really bummed me out, because you know that this may very well be the very last physical release of it ever.

[Shanghai Express]

If the '31 Jekyll & Hyde is near completion, I hope they release it as soon as its finished rather than wait for Halloween.

[Benoit Blanc]

Originally Posted by xochipilli

Robert Meyer Burnett called up George Feltenstein on his podcast for the first time in a long while, and while he kept things close to the chest, not revealing so much as a hint regarding future releases, there were a couple of interesting tidbits buried in the conversation:

• Regarding Zaslav coming in as the new owner, he says that while they're not quite sure what that means yet as far as the Archive is concerned, "all indications are very positive". He's also very excited about his new office on the lot, as it's the first time he's worked there as opposed to an office building across the street.
• He reiterates that the sales of The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm have been and continue to be "quite robust".
• He says they've got a lot of nitrate sitting around the studio in various external facilities, which are all being scanned in 4K ("long overdue"). Once again, it'll be releases both in black and white and colour, from every decade including more recent titles.
• Round Midnight was actually licensed to Criterion five-six years ago, but the release was delayed due to a lot of "legal spaghetti" which had to be worked out.
• All three June titles are, as you'd guess, 4K scans of the best preservation elements.
• They're currently putting the finishing touches on the '31 Jekyll and Hyde, so it'll most likely be done in time for Halloween.
• The Mosquito Coast is a very likely title for the near future, now that they have a long-term deal with the Saul Zaentz company.
• Amadeus-while some conversations here on the forum seem to take it as granted that the film is already in the works, possibly both versions licensed to Criterion, from the way George talks about it it seems like they haven't even discussed the project. Since it's a high-profile 4K release he's only involved in an advisory role, but it looks like it's still a ways off.
• He brings up next year's 100th anniversary celebration of the studio, and how he's had to hold people back from focusing too much on the MGM titles they own, rather than promoting actual Warner Brothers titles that should be the focus.
• Regarding 4K releases from the archive, while they haven't even had the first discussion yet, George believes it's coming eventually, seeming more optimistic than even a few months ago. He says it's just a matter of picking the right title to start with, making sure it makes sense financially and then keep supporting the format at a nice cadence.

It starts at 3:32:00 and ends at 3:02:30:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2qlnhZF2UY

Um, don't you mean that the other way around?

EDIT: lol It starts at 2:32:00.

[xochipilli]

Originally Posted by Benoit Blanc

Um, don't you mean that the other way around?

EDIT: lol It starts at 2:32:00.

Oops. Edited.

[Rayjg]

I'm surprised they only released the short version of Jekyll '41. I understand why they did with the Colossus of Rhodes but Jekyll '41, being an MGM film, you'd think would be a lock for a full restoration.