Fun City Editions

[beamish13]

Originally Posted by Yami

Downey's Pound should be with MGM, not Paramount. I don't know what issues could be holding that one back

Right. Pound and Deadhead Miles were on Amazon Prime briefly, but vanished. Widely bootlegged from rare cable screenings, but I have no clue as to what the status is of them

[Jobla]

One made-for-TV film I'd love to see released is the remake of WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE starring the Redgrave sisters and John Glover in the Victor Buono role.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by beamish13

The Terrence Malick-scripted Deadhead Miles starring Alan Arkin would be tremendous. Still Paramount. Same with Robert Downey’s Pound (which I’ve heard just can’t be released for unknown reasons)

Deadhead Miles was planned for a US theatrical release by Paramount but never came to fruition (they probably did release it overseas through Cinema International Corporation). Paramount reportedly sold the film to one of the top TV networks and later debuted as a TV movie. Unless Paramount doesn't acknowledge the film or no one bothered to renew the copyrights, it might be Public Domain nowadays.

Pound was released by United Artists, and might still be with MGM if airings with the 1990s UA logo are to go by.

[jah13]

Thanks, both of these have been looked into.

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Deadhead Miles was planned for a US theatrical release by Paramount but never came to fruition (they probably did release it overseas through Cinema International Corporation). Paramount reportedly sold the film to one of the top TV networks and later debuted as a TV movie. Unless Paramount doesn't acknowledge the film or no one bothered to renew the copyrights, it might be Public Domain nowadays.

Pound was released by United Artists, and might still be with MGM if airings with the 1990s UA logo are to go by.

[Sternhalma Weinstein]

The World's Greatest Sinner

[beamish13]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Deadhead Miles was planned for a US theatrical release by Paramount but never came to fruition (they probably did release it overseas through Cinema International Corporation). Paramount reportedly sold the film to one of the top TV networks and later debuted as a TV movie. Unless Paramount doesn't acknowledge the film or no one bothered to renew the copyrights, it might be Public Domain nowadays.

Pound was released by United Artists, and might still be with MGM if airings with the 1990s UA logo are to go by.

Interesting. Like Bill Gunn’s Stop, I thought Paramount gave Deadhead a tiny, non-coastal “tryout” in America to basically justify sinking it/fulfill contractual obligations.

I think Paramount/CBS also has Downey’s incredibly controversial and unseen for years Sticks and Bones. The NY Public Library, which holds Joseph Papp’s archives, has tapes of raw footage from it and a more violent ending. Amazing how American network television could once even conceive of airing something so subversive.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Bill Gunn’s Stop was never released theatrically in the US, despite being heavily cut by Warners down from a X rating to make it more marketable. Warner probably still has the elements for it, but hairy legal stuff could be holding it back from any proper release.

1973's Sticks and Bones was produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival. CBS picked it up as a TV movie, but 94 of the big CBS stations refused to air it due to it's controversial subject matter and only aired in a few areas. Paramount probably doesn't have any ownership or rights to it, and could be held by Joseph Papp and/or David Rabe himself as the NY Public Library archives indicate.

[DukeTogo84]

Watched Alphabet City and enjoyed it overall. Great presentation and entertaining film.

I liked the menu screen as it reminded me of Vinegar Syndrome's intro screens with the who go to reel 1, 2, etc.

[beamish13]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Bill Gunn’s Stop was never released theatrically in the US, despite being heavily cut by Warners down from a X rating to make it more marketable. Warner probably still has the elements for it, but hairy legal stuff could be holding it back from any proper release.

1973's Sticks and Bones was produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival. CBS picked it up as a TV movie, but 94 of the big CBS stations refused to air it due to it's controversial subject matter and only aired in a few areas. Paramount probably doesn't have any ownership or rights to it, and could be held by Joseph Papp and/or David Rabe himself as the NY Public Library archives indicate.

Stop still ended up getting an X, as indicated by the bootleg I have. Such a damn shame they were too chickenshit to release something that special. I have heard that there was never a truly definitive cut of it. It was a title the WB Archive folks really wanted to make happen, but soundtrack problems prevented it. I’d love to see the print that screened occasionally at museums decades ago, and was apparently last seen after Gunn passed away in 1989.He’s having something of a resurgence as of late due to Losing Ground’s rediscovery and Personal Problems being restored.

That gives me hope about Sticks and Bones, which I have with a timecode overlay

[jah13]

I may be mis-remembering, but I believe this is owned by Carey's son, who has a very hefty price tag on it.

Originally Posted by Sternhalma Weinstein

The World's Greatest Sinner

[Jobla]

Probably true. I once had a business dealing with Romeo Carey, and it was not a pleasant transaction at all.


Another "orphan' film I'd like to nominate for consideration is SPLIT IMAGE, starring Karen Allen, Michael O'Keefe, James Woods, and Peter Fonda. Great drama about a brainwashing cult, and it has never been released on DVD or Blu-ray.

There is a widescreen, anamorphic boot of it floating around, so it was apparently remastered by somebody at some point.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Jobla

Another "orphan' film I'd like to nominate for consideration is SPLIT IMAGE, starring Karen Allen, Michael O'Keefe, James Woods, and Peter Fonda. Great drama about a brainwashing cult, and it has never been released on DVD or Blu-ray.

There is a widescreen, anamorphic boot of it floating around, so it was apparently remastered by somebody at some point.

It’s streaming on Amazon Prime, at least here in Canada, and showing that Lionsgate owns it.

[Eschenpod]

Picked up Alphabet City as part of Target's B2G1 deal.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

It’s streaming on Amazon Prime, at least here in Canada, and showing that Lionsgate owns it.

Hmmmm...good to know. I may watch that tonight.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

It’s streaming on Amazon Prime, at least here in Canada, and showing that Lionsgate owns it.

With it being Lionsgate it's anyones guess if this will ever get a Blu-ray. I'd buy it.

[Sternhalma Weinstein]

Originally Posted by Jobla

Probably true. I once had a business dealing with Romeo Carey, and it was not a pleasant transaction at all.


Another "orphan' film I'd like to nominate for consideration is SPLIT IMAGE, starring Karen Allen, Michael O'Keefe, James Woods, and Peter Fonda. Great drama about a brainwashing cult, and it has never been released on DVD or Blu-ray.

There is a widescreen, anamorphic boot of it floating around, so it was apparently remastered by somebody at some point.

Great film!

Michael O'Keefe, like Dennis Christopher, seems strangely overlooked. Both very good actors who were in some fantastic films (and some terrible ones). I don't care for Tarantino's stuff outside of Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, but I loved watching Christopher in Django.

Films about cults had a heyday from 75-85, would love to see more. How about the great Powers Boothe in Guyana Tragedy?

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by Jobla

Another "orphan' film I'd like to nominate for consideration is SPLIT IMAGE, starring Karen Allen, Michael O'Keefe, James Woods, and Peter Fonda. Great drama about a brainwashing cult, and it has never been released on DVD or Blu-ray.

There is a widescreen, anamorphic boot of it floating around, so it was apparently remastered by somebody at some point.

Split Image is with Universal (who owns the early Polygram titles up to 1985), though Lionsgate have streaming/TV rights (inherited from Hearst Entertainment which later became part of Artisan). Kino and Scorpion had looked into releasing it with their Universal arrangements, but there were supposedly music rights and legal issues holding things up.

[jah13]

Re: Carey's son, that doesn't sound unfamiliar.

SPLIT IMAGE is streaming in HD via Lionsgate. My understanding is that home video is with Universal and there may be some rights issue.

EDIT: I see that SpaceBlackKnight has already filled us in with their post above.

Originally Posted by Jobla

Probably true. I once had a business dealing with Romeo Carey, and it was not a pleasant transaction at all.


Another "orphan' film I'd like to nominate for consideration is SPLIT IMAGE, starring Karen Allen, Michael O'Keefe, James Woods, and Peter Fonda. Great drama about a brainwashing cult, and it has never been released on DVD or Blu-ray.

There is a widescreen, anamorphic boot of it floating around, so it was apparently remastered by somebody at some point.

[jah13]

Agreed on O'Keefe and Christopher. Both very good actors of the same age, who excelled in playing adolescents or post-adolescents, but didn't get many shots at the brass ring after that.

Never seen DON'T CRY IT'S ONLY THUNDER, but it gets mentioned as an unsung gem in the Christopher catalog. BREAKING AWAY and his role in it are perfection to me.

Around the same time, O'Keefe scored with THE GREAT SANTINI (also released with several other titles).

Re: films about cults in that era, yes, absolutely agree. Boothe was great, though I never did see GUYANA TRAGEDY.

Originally Posted by Sternhalma Weinstein

Great film!

Michael O'Keefe, like Dennis Christopher, seems strangely overlooked. Both very good actors who were in some fantastic films (and some terrible ones). I don't care for Tarantino's stuff outside of Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, but I loved watching Christopher in Django.

Films about cults had a heyday from 75-85, would love to see more. How about the great Powers Boothe in Guyana Tragedy?

[dkelly26666]

Forgive me, but I am just now coming to Fun City Editions label, and this is suddenly a very exciting label to me.

I have already now ordered "Alphabet City" and "I Start Counting", and am very much looking forward to "Walking the Edge".

Wow, what a fun label.