Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

If I win the Powerball, I will be making Warner an offer they can't refuse in order to get The Devils, (and a few other films I am dying to see), out on blu-ray.

[Areyakiddin]

Originally Posted by tangerinewolf

Yeah, we got only three out of six last October. Three didn’t seem like a lot to me.

Which is ignoring the Val Lewton double feature from Criterion. Both movies were constantly requested over and over again in this thread for the first half of '24. And it ended up being a very good release.

And of course Warner Archive also released The Mask of Fu Manchu that year as well.

I will never understand the constant complaining about how "bad" '24 was for Warner's catalog of horror, especially when all the picks ended up being solid choices.

[montgomery]

Originally Posted by tangerinewolf

Yeah, we got only three out of six last October. Three didn’t seem like a lot to me.

Pretty sure we got even less the preceding two Octobers. I’m not saying I like it — I spend plenty of time on here sighing heavily at what this label releases versus what they have in their library — I’m just pointing out getting an entire slate of horror titles from them is very unlikely. Unless you know of a Joan Crawford, Technicolor musical, or 1950s western horror that hasn’t been released yet.

[darrellmaclaine]

The way some go on here you'd think Warner were sitting on this goldmine of classic horror films. Basically all the big ones that were left (with the exception of She, pretty much) have been done over the last 3 years either though WAC or Criterion, it's really dregs left, there isn't some limitless pipeline.

They *are* sitting on a lot of musicals, Westerns, thrillers, comedies, war pictures and melodramas. That's just how the numbers work. There were dozens of these kinds of films every year from the studios that WB's library represents. That just isn't the case for horror, gangster films, animated features or other genres that get bemoaned on here for their absence - they were less prolific categories so they are less prolific in the preservation pipeline and less prolific in the slate.

[Brad1963]

You all crack me up with your conspiracies regarding labels sitting on titles. Like they are purposing holding back releases just to piss you all off, instead of perhaps, maybe the films are just not ready for a proper blu-ray release.

[Ned Brainard]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

You all crack me up with your conspiracies regarding labels sitting on titles. Like they are purposing holding back releases just to piss you all off, instead of perhaps, maybe the films are just not ready for a proper blu-ray release.

So you're telling me that the Illuminati and the purple people eater aren't in cahoots with Feltenstein to prevent me from getting my favorite titles upgraded to blu-ray? I'll have to discuss with this with George Noory tonight.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

You all crack me up with your conspiracies regarding labels sitting on titles. Like they are purposing holding back releases just to piss you all off, instead of perhaps, maybe the films are just not ready for a proper blu-ray release.

In the above context, I refer to Warner "sitting on" titles as to mean that those films are waiting in their library and as yet unrestored and unreleased on modern formats, not that they are being 'purposely held back'.

My point is that their to-do list is a hell of a lot shorter for horror, gangster pictures and animated features despite the constant requests for them to speed up those genres.

[Ned Brainard]

One pool of horror/quasi-horror titles that hasn't been discussed much are the Lon Chaney films. Yes, I know some of the potential issues - they're silents, public domain, music scores, etc. All true considerations, but since we have seen a handful of silent titles from WAC, it's not totally implausible to see some of them. Here are the ones in the Warner library that (A) have aired on TCM and (B) have musical scores attached to them:
The Ace of Hearts
He Who Gets Slapped - probably not likely given the Flicker Alley release, but still not totally impossible a la A Star Is Born.
The Monster
The Unholy Three - I believe that both silent and sound versions still exist in the camera negative. It would make for a great double feature a la the Three Godfathers release.
The Blackbird
Tell It to the Marines - not a horror title at all, but it does have a music score.
Mr. Wu - again, not really horror, but it does have a score.
Mockery - same comments as the previous two films.
Laugh, Clown, Laugh - same as the previous three.
West of Zanzibar - back to quasi-horror territory and Tod Browning
Where East Is East - sort of rehash of the previous film with Browning again directing. The last two films would make for a great double feature.

[Watershipdownisgood]

Originally Posted by Bruhingtonbruh

Predictions for October

Assuming they don't just go with Curse of Frankenstein 4K, There will be Another Hammer Title, Likely She (1965) as Warner owns that one and it has yet to have gotten a Blu Ray.

Then in terms of the cartoon release I imagine it'd be one of the many Scooby Doo rip off shows, High bets on Goober and The Ghost Chasers as that seems to be on the more infamous side of their rip offs.

For an older selection, I think a film like Cry Wolf (1947) would be a good choice, has a dark atmosphere and did really well as a Warner Archive DVD.

Of course all the films won't just be spooky, it'd be a harder selection to make but maybe a film like Angus (1995) would work, not only did the 30th Anniversary of it pass, It's also a popular Warner Archive DVD & would also fit the demand for post-80s films which WAC has recently been slow on.

Bruhingtonbruh why Goober and the Ghost Chasers? When Funky Phantom exists I'd rather get Fangface, or Speed Buggy over that show. Goober and the Ghost Chasers just sucks I have never enjoyed that show whatsoever. Also the dog character is really dang annoying gimme Casper and the Angels instead. Casper actually fits a WAC release slate much better than Goober and the Ghost Chasers.

Also I think a new to Blu-Ray animated film is coming most likely either Quest for Camelot, or The Halloween Tree.

I'm going with two new to Blu-Ray horror titles most likely She, and Nightwatch.

Non-horror titles
The Salton Sea
Private Benjamin
Moving, Disorderlies, or Krush Groove
Adam's Rib
The Champ original and remake
A musical of some kind
The Outfit, or Tom Horn maybe even both they've been on the WB classics channel for a while why not do both

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

In the above context, I refer to Warner "sitting on" titles as to mean that those films are waiting in their library and as yet unrestored and unreleased on modern formats, not that they are being 'purposely held back'.

My point is that their to-do list is a hell of a lot shorter for horror, gangster pictures and animated features despite the constant requests for them to speed up those genres.

It is estimated that Warner owns the rights to over 12,000 feature films. It is a process, and in order to do it right it takes time.

[Doc Moonlight]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

I watched my Warner Bros. DVD of A Big Hand for the Little Lady last night. It was later reissued as a Warner Archive DVD. I assume a Warner Archive Blu-ray will come eventually (especially since it's already HD on digital services).

I just wish they would include the original TV version, "Big Deal In Laredo" with Walter Matthau.

[Areyakiddin]

We can stop speculating about the October lineup now. Completely random Youtube channel with a text to speech voice has "revealed them" to be Lady Be Good, You'll Find Out (includes Pilgrim Porky), and I'll See You In My Dreams. Aren't reliable sources wonderful?

[Watershipdownisgood]

Originally Posted by Areyakiddin

We can stop speculating about the October lineup now. Completely random Youtube channel with a text to speech voice has "revealed them" to be Lady Be Good, You'll Find Out (includes Pilgrim Porky), and I'll See You In My Dreams. Aren't reliable sources wonderful?

To quote Daffy Duck "You're Despicable"

[BobSimms]

The Night Digger = “dregs”? Wow.

[Strumm]

I hope George cancels all the October releases at this point

[playingphysicist]

For me, last year the big one was The Walking Dead (1936). I had never seen it, and I understand it did not air on TV very often. That made last Oct totally worth it for me. Once that, and the 1931 version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde came out (couple years ago), I was pretty dang happy with their classic horror output.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

It is estimated that Warner owns the rights to over 12,000 feature films. It is a process, and in order to do it right it takes time.

I'm aware of all this and almost nobody on here is a stronger defender of WAC, their process and the way they're finding a way through the various obstacles and restrictions that the size of their library. You are dressing down the wrong person!

My only points of anxiety are (a) whether there'll ever be a viable path to bring more of the non-noir/horror RKO library to disc (because if you think Bette Davis is hard done by in HD, look at Ginger Rogers!) and (b) what is going on with Goldwyn. Everything else I'm happy to trust in George.

With RKO I was wondering whether a way to guarantee a bit more momentum might be to do them as a sequence of numbered 'RKO Vault' sets of say four at a time mixing bigger marquee titles with deeper cuts, which after the initial investment would maximise early sales and get the ball rolling a bit. I don't think anybody expects miracles with those movies, we just want them the best they can look, stabilised and minus print damage.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by BobSimms

The Night Digger = “dregs”? Wow.

As somebody who to this day is an obsessive Dahl scholar, nobody wants The Night Digger restored more than me, but I don't file it as a horror film even though you could argue it is I suppose. It's too sympathetic to be horror by my own measure - it's a melodrama with murders!

[Lost-in-time]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

I'm aware of all this and almost nobody on here is a stronger defender of WAC, their process and the way they're finding a way through the various obstacles and restrictions that the size of their library. You are dressing down the wrong person!

My only points of anxiety are (a) whether there'll ever be a viable path to bring more of the non-noir/horror RKO library to disc (because if you think Bette Davis is hard done by in HD, look at Ginger Rogers!) and (b) what is going on with Goldwyn. Everything else I'm happy to trust in George.

With RKO I was wondering whether a way to guarantee a bit more momentum might be to do them as a sequence of numbered 'RKO Vault' sets of say four at a time mixing bigger marquee titles with deeper cuts, which after the initial investment would maximise early sales and get the ball rolling a bit. I don't think anybody expects miracles with those movies, we just want them the best they can look, stabilised and minus print damage.

I love this idea, particularly since you tied it into getting Ginger Rogers filmography out. MGM is my favourite golden age studio but I find I’m always really pleasantly surprised by RKO movies when I do a blind buy on one.

[Juan de Internet]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

I'm aware of all this and almost nobody on here is a stronger defender of WAC, their process and the way they're finding a way through the various obstacles and restrictions that the size of their library. You are dressing down the wrong person!

My only points of anxiety are (a) whether there'll ever be a viable path to bring more of the non-noir/horror RKO library to disc (because if you think Bette Davis is hard done by in HD, look at Ginger Rogers!) and (b) what is going on with Goldwyn. Everything else I'm happy to trust in George.

With RKO I was wondering whether a way to guarantee a bit more momentum might be to do them as a sequence of numbered 'RKO Vault' sets of say four at a time mixing bigger marquee titles with deeper cuts, which after the initial investment would maximise early sales and get the ball rolling a bit. I don't think anybody expects miracles with those movies, we just want them the best they can look, stabilised and minus print damage.

Based on Criterion’s Swing Time, I’m not sanguine about more Astaire & Rogers. For one, it’s clearly multiple generations removed from the negative - I was immediately disappointed upon watching it the first time. I had assumed this was the first of a series but then none of the rest came out. That it even was released by Criterion and not WAC seems to me a sign that Warners decided it was either not worth it to restore to their usual standards or that a better restoration is just not possible with current technology. From what I’ve read, the RKO vault has had a rough history.