The Phantom Creeps (1939) 2k Restored Special Edition - January 21, 2020 - Page 2 - Blu-ray Forum

jimqk · 01-24-2020, 11:40 PM

It's the end of the week and still no word. Everywhere online it's either unavailable, back-ordered, or out of stock. Wish somebody at VCI would let us know what's happening.

drat · 01-26-2020, 03:24 PM

I'm sure VCI pushed the date back to make sure they have enough time to get everything about the release perfectly wrong.

jimqk · 02-04-2020, 06:17 AM

Still nothing. It would have been nice to have this. On vacation this week and could have fit the whole thing in.

smithb · 02-05-2020, 12:09 PM

Looks like VCI is having issues with certain releases. I ordered blu-ray's of The Phantom Creeps and Gordon of Ghost City a month or so ago from DeepDiscount. Both were supposed to be released two weeks ago. Both showed backordered after the release date. Now both have been removed from DeepDiscount all together. One removed and the other reported as unavailable from Amazon. I have a feeling these have been delayed indefinitely.

Maybe an issue with elements or possibly sales have not been good enough to continue with HD serial releases. Too bad, I was looking forward to buying more, and hoping we would eventually get to bigger name titles.

jimqk · 02-05-2020, 02:12 PM

What sucks is VCI says nothing about it. They tell you they're going to release something on a certain day, you pre-order it, the day arrives and nothing happens. A little one-sentence explanation detailing the reason for the delay would have been nice. Instead, you're left to guess as to what happened.

InGen · 02-05-2020, 05:27 PM

I messaged them in January but haven't heard back. If I ever get an update I'll post here.

smithb · 02-06-2020, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InGen

I messaged them in January but haven't heard back. If I ever get an update I'll post here.

I sent them a message asking about the releases a few days ago. However, I'm not expecting much in response.

jimqk · 02-12-2020, 05:03 PM

Received a message from Deep Discount today. They canceled my order of The Phantom Creeps. I'd really like to know what happened with this.

jrcasey1960 · 02-12-2020, 07:15 PM

Yeah, Amazon hasn't cancelled, but they no longer have a release date and list it as unavailable. I did get the MYSTERIOUS MR. M in yesterday, so VCI is still releasing serials on blu. Hopefully, PC isn't cancelled, but I know it was previously stated that there are element problems with this particular title. Apparently, only 6 episodes could be salvaged from the fine grains and they are having to obtain the other episodes from secondary sources. PC is a popular serial and should do well if they would get it out!

InGen · 02-14-2020, 10:14 PM

Amazon hasn't cancelled mine yet either. I'll just leave it there until they do.

Ned Brainard · 02-15-2020, 01:37 AM

There are reports over at the Monster Kid forum that the material Universal supplied VCI was significantly compromised- missing footage, severe nitrate decomposition, etc. At the moment, they're hoping to get approval to access material on deposit at the Library of Congress. I do agree that there should be some official announcement. At the moment, I'll just let my Amazon order stand.

InGen · 02-15-2020, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned Brainard

There are reports over at the Monster Kid forum that the material Universal supplied VCI was significantly compromised- missing footage, severe nitrate decomposition, etc. At the moment, they're hoping to get approval to access material on deposit at the Library of Congress. I do agree that there should be some official announcement. At the moment, I'll just let my Amazon order stand.

Geez, if that's the case they shouldn't have had pre-orders available last fall! Thanks for pointing out that forum though, shame we have to dig up offhand insider hearsay to get such simple information.

Edit: They messaged me! They said basically the same as above, except that they're working to get the footage from Sony Pictures.

jimqk · 02-18-2020, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InGen

Geez, if that's the case they shouldn't have had pre-orders available last fall! Thanks for pointing out that forum though, shame we have to dig up offhand insider hearsay to get such simple information.

Edit: They messaged me! They said basically the same as above, except that they're working to get the footage from Sony Pictures.

I wonder how Sony (Columbia) ended up with the footage?

InGen · 03-07-2020, 01:52 AM

This probably means absolutely nothing, but my Amazon order is now saying "Expected by Mar 24." The release date is still listed as Jan 21 on there. If they were still hunting down the footage a couple weeks ago there's no way it's actually being shipped, just an odd development. I'm interested in what Amazon's gonna do when March 24th rolls around.

InGen · 03-18-2020, 04:48 PM

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

https://www.vcientertainment.com/the...ation-project/

Quote:

We have had many inquiries from our fans, about when the heck will our 4K restoration of THE PHANTOM CREEPS finally be released on DVD & Blu-ray? Here is the scoop on why it has been delayed so long.

When we started working on the restoration early last year, we discovered that 6 of the 12 chapters, of the original film elements we received from Universal Pictures, had many issues. Some reels were missing, and some were on nitrate film and had deteriorated terribly. Fortunately, we found more complete original film elements stored at the Library of Congress. We have requested access to those film elements, however we were informed that film was actually owned by Sony Pictures (FYI, Sony actually is the owner of Columbia Pictures, who had a license in the 1950’s to distribute several Universal serials via their TV syndication division, Screen Gems, and that’s how they came to have these film elements). Since we discovered this, we have been negotiating with Sony’s legal department to give us permission to access and scan this film, which would allow us to finish our restoration. This process with Sony began last July, and so far, they have been cooperating, but still haven’t given us their permission. We feel confident that Sony will give us permission, but we just can’t say when. This is a very high priority project to VCI, but unfortunately it is not as important to Sony, so we remain on hold.

We could have taken some short cuts and used some inferior film elements to finish our restoration, but that’s not the way we work, and believe THE PHANTOM CREEPS certainly deserves a complete 4K restoration. We think most fans will agree, that it will be worth the wait.

Mystic · 03-18-2020, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InGen

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

https://www.vcientertainment.com/the...ation-project/

Well, that answers the mystery surrounding the delayed release. Let's hope that Sony lets them finish the restoration, and that it will be worth the wait when the project is finished.

InGen · 03-23-2020, 05:15 PM

The original link has since been updated with screenshots.

https://www.vcientertainment.com/the...ation-project/

Nailwraps · 06-05-2020, 07:34 AM

I just found out about this! I'm glad VCI is going up the ante by giving this 4K restorations!

Well done VCI.

Rich65 · 06-05-2020, 07:47 AM

This is great news. I have the serial on 2 dvds and it’s watchable but I can’t wait for this release.

Duke_45 · 06-29-2020, 07:51 PM

Watching the MST3K riffing on this now, and it really makes me can’t wait to get this release! Anything with Bela in it is worth a purchase.

02-14-2020, 10:14 PM	#30
InGen Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2014 4K collection:61 Blu-ray collection:1555 DVD collection:1813 MA collection:164 Digital collection:192	Amazon hasn't cancelled mine yet either. I'll just leave it there until they do. Last edited by InGen; 02-14-2020 at 10:21 PM.

01-24-2020, 11:40 PM	#21
jimqk Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2012 Location:Pennsylvania 4K collection:7 Blu-ray collection:975 Blu-ray reviews: 4	It's the end of the week and still no word. Everywhere online it's either unavailable, back-ordered, or out of stock. Wish somebody at VCI would let us know what's happening.

01-26-2020, 03:24 PM	#22
drat Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2014 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	I'm sure VCI pushed the date back to make sure they have enough time to get everything about the release perfectly wrong.

02-04-2020, 06:17 AM	#23
jimqk Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2012 Location:Pennsylvania 4K collection:7 Blu-ray collection:975 Blu-ray reviews: 4	Still nothing. It would have been nice to have this. On vacation this week and could have fit the whole thing in.

02-05-2020, 12:09 PM	#24
smithb Power Member Member since:Oct 2010	Looks like VCI is having issues with certain releases. I ordered blu-ray's of The Phantom Creeps and Gordon of Ghost City a month or so ago from DeepDiscount. Both were supposed to be released two weeks ago. Both showed backordered after the release date. Now both have been removed from DeepDiscount all together. One removed and the other reported as unavailable from Amazon. I have a feeling these have been delayed indefinitely. Maybe an issue with elements or possibly sales have not been good enough to continue with HD serial releases. Too bad, I was looking forward to buying more, and hoping we would eventually get to bigger name titles.

02-05-2020, 02:12 PM	#25
jimqk Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2012 Location:Pennsylvania 4K collection:7 Blu-ray collection:975 Blu-ray reviews: 4	What sucks is VCI says nothing about it. They tell you they're going to release something on a certain day, you pre-order it, the day arrives and nothing happens. A little one-sentence explanation detailing the reason for the delay would have been nice. Instead, you're left to guess as to what happened.

02-05-2020, 05:27 PM	#26
InGen Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2014 4K collection:61 Blu-ray collection:1555 DVD collection:1813 MA collection:164 Digital collection:192	I messaged them in January but haven't heard back. If I ever get an update I'll post here.

02-12-2020, 05:03 PM	#28
jimqk Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2012 Location:Pennsylvania 4K collection:7 Blu-ray collection:975 Blu-ray reviews: 4	Received a message from Deep Discount today. They canceled my order of The Phantom Creeps. I'd really like to know what happened with this.

02-12-2020, 07:15 PM	#29
jrcasey1960 Active Member Member since:Aug 2015 Location:USA	Yeah, Amazon hasn't cancelled, but they no longer have a release date and list it as unavailable. I did get the MYSTERIOUS MR. M in yesterday, so VCI is still releasing serials on blu. Hopefully, PC isn't cancelled, but I know it was previously stated that there are element problems with this particular title. Apparently, only 6 episodes could be salvaged from the fine grains and they are having to obtain the other episodes from secondary sources. PC is a popular serial and should do well if they would get it out!

02-15-2020, 01:37 AM	#31
Ned Brainard Power Member Member since:Sep 2015 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:1845	There are reports over at the Monster Kid forum that the material Universal supplied VCI was significantly compromised- missing footage, severe nitrate decomposition, etc. At the moment, they're hoping to get approval to access material on deposit at the Library of Congress. I do agree that there should be some official announcement. At the moment, I'll just let my Amazon order stand.

03-07-2020, 01:52 AM	#34
InGen Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2014 4K collection:61 Blu-ray collection:1555 DVD collection:1813 MA collection:164 Digital collection:192	This probably means absolutely nothing, but my Amazon order is now saying "Expected by Mar 24." The release date is still listed as Jan 21 on there. If they were still hunting down the footage a couple weeks ago there's no way it's actually being shipped, just an odd development. I'm interested in what Amazon's gonna do when March 24th rolls around.

03-23-2020, 05:15 PM	#37
InGen Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2014 4K collection:61 Blu-ray collection:1555 DVD collection:1813 MA collection:164 Digital collection:192	The original link has since been updated with screenshots. https://www.vcientertainment.com/the...ation-project/

06-05-2020, 07:34 AM	#38
Nailwraps Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jun 2012 Location:USA 4K collection:61 Blu-ray collection:884 DVD collection:1828 Digital collection:3	I just found out about this! I'm glad VCI is going up the ante by giving this 4K restorations! Well done VCI.

06-05-2020, 07:47 AM	#39
Rich65 Blu-ray Knight Member since:Feb 2011 4K collection:335 Blu-ray collection:1554 Trading Score:3	This is great news. I have the serial on 2 dvds and it’s watchable but I can’t wait for this release.

06-29-2020, 07:51 PM	#40
Duke_45 Expert Member Member since:Jun 2012 Location:Upstate, NY	Watching the MST3K riffing on this now, and it really makes me can’t wait to get this release! Anything with Bela in it is worth a purchase.

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