Max Fleischer Superman cartoons on Blu-ray October 9th !

[Alhlan Ain Ajeeba]

Max Fleischer's Superman Blu-ray

The strange thing is its not coming from Warner, but Vivendi. Saw this news on hidefdiscnews.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by Alhlan Ain Ajeeba

The strange thing is its not coming from Warner, but Vivendi. Saw this news on hidefdiscnews.

I'm pretty sure the Fleischer cartoons are public domain. There were multiple releases of these cartoons by multiple companies on DVD.

[obscurelabel]

Originally Posted by Alhlan Ain Ajeeba

The strange thing is its not coming from Warner, but Vivendi. Saw this news on hidefdiscnews.

They're all public domain, so anyone with access to film elements to scan can release these.

[edit]What zbinks said [/edit]

[Alhlan Ain Ajeeba]

Im not sure, but if this blu is from the same company that destroyed the classic Gullivers Travels, ill wait for Warner to release it some time.

[GuruAskew]

Originally Posted by Alhlan Ain Ajeeba

, ill wait for Warner to release it some time.

Warner owns the Superman character but Warner's claim to the films themselves is no better than Vivendi's.

These were released by Paramount so if any company would do an "authorized" or "official" release it's them.

It's similar to how Sony owns the Batman serials, Fox owns Batman: The Movie, MGM owns Swamp Thing etc. For the most part everything DC falls under Warner now (the Watchmen film rights were a little more complicated for example) but it certainly hasn't always been that way.

[Deciazulado]

It's up for pre-order in DVD Empire:

http://www.dvdempire.com/exec/v4_ite...mpaign=de_free

Max Fleischer's Superman Blu-ray

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Alhlan Ain Ajeeba

Attachment 47948

The strange thing is its not coming from Warner, but Vivendi. Saw this news on hidefdiscnews.

Very interesting. I am happy this animation is coming out on Blu-ray, it was considered the most expensive animation ever produced (and looks it) until Disney surpassed it in the 50s. Vivendi has been a very hit-or-miss distributor on Blu-ray, some of their discs have been less than spectacular. As others before me have said, the Fleischer Superman slipped into the public domain by accident and can be released by anyone. The definitive edition on DVD was the release by Image/Bosko.

Warner does own the best extant copies of the film prints but they've done no restoration work to them, so their release of this series has been derided as a little sloppy.

[Fett]

Am definitely looking forward to this. hopefully its a good scan cause these cartoons deserve it. I bought a few $1 DVDs of these a few years ago at some dollarstore so an upgrade is desperately needed

[bigshot]

If it isn't the Warner restorations offnthe original film elements, I don't want it. I've seen enough faded prints and cut copies of Terror on the Midway to last a lifetime.

[NoirFan]

For what it's worth, the cover says 'digitally restored'.

[Dan_Shane]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

For what it's worth, the cover says 'digitally restored'.

Which means absolutely nothing, since everything on a Blu-ray disc is digital. The various GULLIVER'S TRAVELS discs all make the same trite boast.

[P@t_Mtl]

Like others mention, I will wait for more details before jumping up and down with joy about this one

[HDMe]

Umm... aren't these already on Blu-ray in the Ultimate Superman Blu-ray set?

Now, IF someone finds that these actually are from HD transfers of the original film... then that's fine... but it could very well be what already exists on Blu-ray in the Ultimate Superman set from a couple of years back.

[Alhlan Ain Ajeeba]

Originally Posted by HDMe

Umm... aren't these already on Blu-ray in the Ultimate Superman Blu-ray set?

Now, IF someone finds that these actually are from HD transfers of the original film... then that's fine... but it could very well be what already exists on Blu-ray in the Ultimate Superman set from a couple of years back.

While those looked good and Warner restored them, they were NOT H-D.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by GuruAskew

Warner owns the Superman character but Warner's claim to the films themselves is no better than Vivendi's.

These were released by Paramount so if any company would do an "authorized" or "official" release it's them.

It's similar to how Sony owns the Batman serials, Fox owns Batman: The Movie, MGM owns Swamp Thing etc. For the most part everything DC falls under Warner now (the Watchmen film rights were a little more complicated for example) but it certainly hasn't always been that way.

RE: Paramount

They released the film, but the rights (and presumably the original film elements) reverted back to DC (then National Comics) who, as Clark Kent indicated, failed to renew the copyright.

Warner Bros. would technically be the source of any "authorized" or "official" releases going back to Kinney National Company's 1972 purchase of Warner Bros.-Seven Arts and the subsequent formation of Warner Communications.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by bigshot

If it isn't the Warner restorations offnthe original film elements, I don't want it. I've seen enough faded prints and cut copies of Terror on the Midway to last a lifetime.

Then you will not be owning HD versions of these cartoons on Blu-ray. Warner Bros. has no interest in lending out their film elements or doing the necessary work themselves for release.

There are a number of audio problems with the current WB release on DVD.

[PuppyJonathan]

I only like these releases when they come from the official studio, regardless of copyright

[Nissen]

I have a bad feeling about this...

All common sense points toward these being sourced from less than ideal elements, perhaps even uspcaled standard-def video like Gulliver's Travels.

I'd be very happy to be proven wrong, though.

[Clark Kent]

Film elements do exist outside of Warner's control. I can't believe they would release upscales on Blu-ray at this point.

[joltman]

Count me in the 'wait-and-see' group. I'd love to see this in HD, but since it's not Warner we'll have to see what the quality is like. Although, I must admit, I'd have been kind of upset if it was Warner releasing these in HD by themselves after releasing them SD on the Superman Anthology.