Stage Door (1937)

[Greycomm]

Anyone else waiting for a good BluRay of this? Since they're both RKO properties, how about a double feature of Stage Door and Room Service? A digital HD version of Stage Door is now being offered for sale or rent on Amazon.

[drownsoda]

I've wanted this one in HD for a long time too. I thought about buying the Warner Archive Collection DVD but opted to buy it for $9.99 on Fandango since it comes in HD. I am surprised the WAC hasn't released this on Blu-ray yet, though I envision they eventually will. It's a great film. Along with Ziegfeld Girl (which WAC did bless us with on Blu-ray), it's of my favorite old Hollywood movies about acting and fame.

[RetroRobert]

I watched this again last night. I've seen it several times over the years since the 80s. It's always a great watch with some comedy and then of course the way it all turns out (tearjerker). I still have the original DVD which is pretty rough. It starts off terribly with a lot of film wear and speckles and then gets better after a few minutes. I'm wondering if the Warner Archive dvd is any better. Is it restored?

I'm hoping it comes out on BD soon as well.

[Lost-in-time]

Originally Posted by RetroRobert

I watched this again last night. I've seen it several times over the years since the 80s. It's always a great watch with some comedy and then of course the way it all turns out (tearjerker). I still have the original DVD which is pretty rough. It starts off terribly with a lot of film wear and speckles and then gets better after a few minutes. I'm wondering if the Warner Archive dvd is any better. Is it restored?

I'm hoping it comes out on BD soon as well.

This one’s got to be with Criterion, I feel it in my bones!

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Lost-in-time

This one’s got to be with Criterion, I feel it in my bones!

It's not impossible, it's one of the greatest films of the 1930s, worshipped by all and sundry. Also, being an RKO film in suboptimal condition it would benefit Warner to outsource its restoration. So, see it in 2036 then?!

[Brad1963]

From what I gather from the George Feltenstein podcast is that the RKO assets are in bad shape. There is a lot more restoration work needed on them. I'm sure this film is on his radar. It is just a matter of time I would imagine.

[RetroRobert]

It was initially released on DVD in 2005. Then it was re-released on DVD in 2016 under the WAC label. So I'm wondering if there is any difference between the two. Or did they just re-issue the exact same DVD to keep it in print?

[Jmillbran]

Like all of you, I think this movie is a classic. I can tell you--having done the play on which it's based--that George S. Kaufman (co-writer) wasn't impressed with the adaptation. "With all those changes, they should have renamed it Screen Door".

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

From what I gather from the George Feltenstein podcast is that the RKO assets are in bad shape. There is a lot more restoration work needed on them. I'm sure this film is on his radar. It is just a matter of time I would imagine.

It's more that the restoration cost for the RKOs is too high for the typical WAC budgets, and only a finite amount of 'special projects' are allocated, so if Criterion can cover anything tricky, win win. The other thing about RKO is that Warner don't fully control the catalogue worldwide - outside of America where they control all exploitation, they have video rights only in the UK and Australia, and nothing anywhere else, so money has to be spent carefully

Originally Posted by RetroRobert

It was initially released on DVD in 2005. Then it was re-released on DVD in 2016 under the WAC label. So I'm wondering if there is any difference between the two. Or did they just re-issue the exact same DVD to keep it in print?

Same disc, always is!

[RetroRobert]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

It's more that the restoration cost for the RKOs is too high for the typical WAC budgets, and only a finite amount of 'special projects' are allocated, so if Criterion can cover anything tricky, win win. The other thing about RKO is that Warner don't fully control the catalogue worldwide - outside of America where they control all exploitation, they have video rights only in the UK and Australia, and nothing anywhere else, so money has to be spent carefully



Same disc, always is!

Thanks for that. Looks like I'll stick with the original DVD until it gets a BD. I hope that does happen. I enjoy the scenes at the Footlights Club. I initially saw this when I was younger because of Lucille Ball's part in the film. I had it on VHS back in the early 90s. I have come to appreciate this film so much more as I have seen it throughout my years growing up. I always take away something new from it.

[jiggity]

The condition of the elements may be an issue, but there seems to have been a a general lack of interest in releasing La Cava's films. Of course, we have My Man Godfey on blu from Criterion, but where is The Half-Naked Truth, She Married Her Bossand Unfinished Business? We also have Lady in a Jam from Kino, though this was made at the tail end of his career. Sarris said La Cava "is remembered now for a few interludes of antic desperation in the midst of the Depression." Still, the films La Cava made during this period are arguably some of the finest released at that time.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by jiggity

The condition of the elements may be an issue, but there seems to have been a a general lack of interest in releasing La Cava's films. Of course, we have My Man Godfey on blu from Criterion, but where is The Half-Naked Truth, She Married Her Bossand Unfinished Business? We also have Lady in a Jam from Kino, though this was made at the tail end of his career. Sarris said La Cava "is remembered now for a few interludes of antic desperation in the midst of the Depression." Still, the films La Cava made during this period are arguably some of the finest released at that time.

I think we'll get Living In A Big Way eventually from WAC, which I think is a very underrated film. It's better than Lady In A Jam anyway!

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

I've wanted this one in HD for a long time too. I thought about buying the Warner Archive Collection DVD but opted to buy it for $9.99 on Fandango since it comes in HD. I am surprised the WAC hasn't released this on Blu-ray yet, though I envision they eventually will. It's a great film.

I don't know about this STAGE DOOR, but I've noted a whole lot of 1930s/40s titles claimed to be "HD" on streaming services sure look a whole lot like uprezzed SD transfers, not new HD masters. Especially when the title doesn't have a BD or DCP release.