Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[popeflick]

Originally Posted by Pirate King

Completely agree about The Blue Max. PQ is outstanding and it is a great movie. Also agree about The Desert Fox. James Mason is always worth watching.

I don't have a ton of TT blus but this is my favorite. Interesting construction - no real sympathetic protagonist - and is stunning. Also Lucas used this film as the basis for the SW dog fights. A must get IMO.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Page14

FWIW, If Major Dundee is on anybody's radar, this might be a good time to pick it up as it can be had for $24.46 (+ shipping) ... which is approximately $10 less than on the SAE website.

Thanks. Got this one plus 3 others from that site. I canceled the SAE order made during the preorder rush, since I missed out on the free copy (it was in my cart when I hit submit but disappeared when I got the confirmation). So I'll save those for next month and try again.

[hammer99]

Originally Posted by atfree

I know a little of how you feel. I was 12 when this came out in theaters. Trailers made it look very cool and action-packed, when in actuality it's a little slow and pretentious. Very 70's. I did pull the trigger on the TT release, but it was more out of nostalgia than love, I can admit that. I always felt there was a better movie in there, somewhere.

Agree with both of you. I also saw Rollerball in the theater (I was 15) & think it's garbage outside of the games, but I do enjoy the action a lot.

[jetthead]

Wow. I love Rollerball today as much as I did when I first saw it as a kid.

To each his own I guess.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by hammer99

Agree with both of you. I also saw Rollerball in the theater (I was 15) & think it's garbage outside of the games, but I do enjoy the action a lot.

It needs the balance. Back in the early days of home video, I recorded Rollerball on its initial TV airing on an early model Betamax. Because the blank tapes were so expensive, I decided to just record the game sequences. It might be counter-intuitive, but the film is really boring and one-note if you only watch the game sequences. And that's because the movie isn't about the game itself.

I used to think that Caan's performance as Jonathan was listless and uninspired, but the whole point of the movie is that he is -- for all intents and purposes -- kept in a stupor by providing him with everything he could want: drugs, women, or whatever. But over the course of the movie, he slowly awakens to the realization of how he (and his teammates) are being manipulated to in turn manipulate the masses. All of the "low-keyness" of the other scenes are necessary to show how Jonathan breaks free of his "programming".

People tend to look at Rollerball as an action/sports movie with a science fictional twist. But it's really a dystopian SF story in the vein of Nineteen Eighty-Four or Brave New World. The sports action is just dressing.

On edit: I should add that while I was recording that initial TV broadcast, my mother (who never was particularly inclined to watch SF, action, or sports movies) watched it, and found it enthralling.

[kidglov3s]

Originally Posted by jayembee

It needs the balance. Back in the early days of home video, I recorded Rollerball on its initial TV airing on an early model Betamax. Because the blank tapes were so expensive, I decided to just record the game sequences. It might be counter-intuitive, but the film is really boring and one-note if you only watch the game sequences. And that's because the movie isn't about the game itself.

I used to think that Caan's performance as Jonathan was listless and uninspired, but the whole point of the movie is that he is -- for all intents and purposes -- kept in a stupor by providing him with everything he could want: drugs, women, or whatever. But over the course of the movie, he slowly awakens to the realization of how he (and his teammates) are being manipulated to in turn manipulate the masses. All of the "low-keyness" of the other scenes are necessary to show how Jonathan breaks free of his "programming".

People tend to look at Rollerball as an action/sports movie with a science fictional twist. But it's really a dystopian SF story in the vein of Nineteen Eighty-Four or Brave New World. The sports action is just dressing.

On edit: I should add that while I was recording that initial TV broadcast, my mother (who never was particularly inclined to watch SF, action, or sports movies) watched it, and found it enthralling.

I'm happy that I was steered toward that reading being introduced to the film alongside Soylent Green and Logan's Run on TCM so many years ago, with Rollerball and Soylent Green emerging as instant favorites that remain favorites over a decade later.

[Scooter1836]

Well my next few evening are blocked out. My copy of The Train, The Man from Laramie and Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison came today.

There are so many TT titles I still want

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jayembee

People tend to look at Rollerball as an action/sports movie with a science fictional twist. But it's really a dystopian SF story in the vein of Nineteen Eighty-Four or Brave New World. The sports action is just dressing.

I first saw it in a theater and thought the non-sports scenes were a bit silly, with the trigger-happy 70's-future party guests and all--
Until I saw it with Norman Jewison's disk commentary explaining the "dystopian" theme of the plot, and then it turned tense and disturbing, right down to the casualty lights starting to multiply on the final game's scoreboards...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by EricJ

I first saw it in a theater and thought the non-sports scenes were a bit silly, with the trigger-happy 70's-future party guests and all--
Until I saw it with Norman Jewison's disk commentary explaining the "dystopian" theme of the plot, and then it turned tense and disturbing, right down to the casualty lights starting to multiply on the final game's scoreboards...

Yeah, the scene with the party guests shooting the trees is the one that does the most at putting off viewers, and I admit that I always thought it looked silly myself. But again, it helps show the moral decay of the executive level of that society under the corporate regime.

It's actually interesting watching the film again now, with the perspective of today's "class war". It gives the movie a whole new vibe.

[The Great Owl]

I placed an order for Bye Bye Birdie. I have a soft spot for these bright "color explosion" movies from the 1940s through 1960s that look wondrous in high definition, and I was hooked after I read a handful of favorable reviews.

[CraigThom]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Yeah, the scene with the party guests shooting the trees is the one that does the most at putting off viewers, and I admit that I always thought it looked silly myself. But again, it helps show the moral decay of the executive level of that society under the corporate regime.

It's actually interesting watching the film again now, with the perspective of today's "class war". It gives the movie a whole new vibe.

It reminds me of the rabbit "hunting" scene in Rules of the Game.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I placed an order for Bye Bye Birdie. I have a soft spot for these bright "color explosion" movies from the 1940s through 1960s that look wondrous in high definition, and I was hooked after I read a handful of favorable reviews.

It looks great, especially the big dance number when Birdie arrives in Sweet Apple.

[Scottie]

Cover artwork for "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" via Twilight Time's FaceBook page

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Cover artwork for "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" via Twilight Time's FaceBook page

Wonderful! I have been interested in seeing this ever since I found out about it when It's a Mad... world was released. Sounds interesting :-)

[Keyser Soze.]

That's a lot of yellow.

[Horsebot3K]

I was looking at possibly ordering a TT title (my first) before the 30% off sale ends on TCM's site in a couple hours. Does anybody know which titles are close to running out? I wanted Bye Bye Birdie, but it's no longer there. Also, are these sets elaborate enough to be worth the price? I don't want to pay $30 just for a movie. Do they have a lot of bonus features like Criterion, and do any of them have slips? Sorry for the noob questions. Thanks!

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Horsebot3K

I was looking at possibly ordering a TT title (my first) before the 30% off sale ends on TCM's site in a couple hours. Does anybody know which titles are close to running out? I wanted Bye Bye Birdie, but it's no longer there. Also, are these sets elaborate enough to be worth the price? I don't want to pay $30 just for a movie. Do they have a lot of bonus features like Criterion, and do any of them have slips? Sorry for the noob questions. Thanks!

No slips, the earlier releases were barebones, but they have been adding extras. Some titles which are low in stock (I believe) Rollerball, The Driver, Our Man Flint, Wild at Heart, My Cousin Rachel, Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by Horsebot3K

I was looking at possibly ordering a TT title (my first) before the 30% off sale ends on TCM's site in a couple hours. Does anybody know which titles are close to running out? I wanted Bye Bye Birdie, but it's no longer there. Also, are these sets elaborate enough to be worth the price? I don't want to pay $30 just for a movie. Do they have a lot of bonus features like Criterion, and do any of them have slips? Sorry for the noob questions. Thanks!

Is there a code for the 30%?

[krasnoludek]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

No slips, the earlier releases were barebones, but they have been adding extras. Some titles which are low in stock (I believe) Rollerball, The Driver, Our Man Flint, Wild at Heart, My Cousin Rachel, Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia.

My Cousin Rachel (DVD) is sold out as of yesterday. So is Stagecoach (DVD).

[Keyser Soze.]

Here's an interesting tidbit I found over on the TT facebook page. Someone was asking about a potential Mechanic blu autograph promo and here's Twilight Time's reply:



.....


So from the looks of their reply it sounds like the ~100 copies Twilight Time has signed for promotions come out of their 3,000 printed allotment.

I figured the signed blu rays were additionally printed over and above the initial 3k that are up for sale (similar to additional prints that are made as Artist Proofs when a lithograph is printed up for sale). I guess that 3,000 number is a true edition size after all.

This just pushes me to watch all my TT blus as quick as possible when I place an order. I'd hate to get a defective blu (and have them sell out of the title prior to me getting a replacement).

[Horsebot3K]

I decided I'll just wait until the next time TT does a sale. There's nothing I have to have at the moment. The Driver looks cool, but it's sold out on TCM's site.