Fun City Editions

[Jobla]

Speaking of New York films, I'd love the full uncut version of WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR (1965).

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by Jobla

Speaking of New York films, I'd love the full uncut version of WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR (1965).

Isn't the UK Blu-ray from Network uncut? It's region free.

[BarnDoor]

Originally Posted by Jobla

Speaking of New York films, I'd love the full uncut version of WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR (1965).

On the Vinegar Syndrome Fan Facebook Group a while back I'm sure I recall Lee Jones suggesting this may be coming to the US, but of course I've no idea if that was from VS, Fun City or another label.

[latehong]

Originally Posted by Katatonia

Isn't the UK Blu-ray from Network uncut? It's region free.

From the UK release thread:

Originally Posted by Jobla

Network's new Blu-ray of WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR is very good overall, with fine clarity and contrast. However, it is still missing four minutes of sleaze footage.

In particular, the entire Times Square sequence is still missing footage, although a few of the images seem to have restored.

In the intervening years between Network's DVD and BD releases of the film, they surely could have located more of the missing footage. If nothing else, the missing scenes should have been offered in the disc's supplemental section.

Gray market copies of the film present the full-length 94 minute version. Network's BD runs about four minutes shorter than that.

[Jobla]

Both the Network DVD and Blu-ray, as well as the more recent MOD from Reel Vault (Oldies.com), are missing around four minutes of sleaze content.

We really need to have the uncut version (94 minutes, 21 seconds) on home video. It has never appeared on commercical home video.

Strand Releasing Corp. reissued the uncut theatrical film to repertory theaters back in 1995, but never released the film on home video.

[iamnoone]

Originally Posted by Jobla

Both the Network DVD and Blu-ray, as well as the more recent MOD from Reel Vault (Oldies.com), are missing around four minutes of sleaze content.

We really need to have the uncut version (94 minutes, 21 seconds) on home video. It has never appeared on commercical home video.

Strand Releasing Corp. reissued the uncut theatrical film to repertory theaters back in 1995, but never released the film on home video.

Geesh, I can't believe that's been 25 years already!!! And Strand's theatrical release (which I did see) coincided at the time with a big retrospective article of the film in the now-defunct "Scarlet Street" magazine.

It seemed inevitable back then that a homevideo release would follow, but I guess the DVD era hadn't even really started yet, and the VHS market wasn't as strong as it had been. Or maybe the rights owners only allowed that theatrical release, and kept homevideo rights back.

It really needs a thorough uncut restoration. Such a weird, sleazy gem. Juliet Prowse is fun, and Elaine Stritch is always a great performer. And Sal Mineo, of course - I don't think I've seen tighter pants on a male actor in a film outside of porn. It definitely has a gay audience vibe throughout, which is fun for a change.

[Jobla]

According to editor Richard Valley, it was the retrospective article in Scarlet Street Magazine that inspired Strand to acquire the rights to WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR from the Joseph Cates family. Those rights may have expired at some point.

At the time, Richard Valley also commented that Image Entertainment and Marc Walkow were considering a laserdisc release of the film, but that never happened.

[BarnDoor]

jah13 - Have you considered documentaries for the line? I guess rights are tricky but there's a few that would be great fits I think. I'm very happy to have that nice DVD edition of 80 Blocks from Tiffany's, but it's OOP now and would benefit from an upgrade. I don't believe Shotgun (1982, dir. Steven Goodman) and Ain't Gonna Eat My Mind (1972, dir. Tony Batten) have had DVD releases. From what I can gather, there's also the 'The 51st State - Youth Gangs in the South Bronx' panel show discussion of 'Ain't Gonna Eat My Mind' which accompanied a TV screening (it looks like the whole thing - presumably including the film itself - runs about 90 minutes). 'Shotgun' seems to be 25 minutes so would make for a great extra.

I'd also suggest Scared Straight and the follow-ups if they're not still with Docurama (the DVD looks to be OOP?). The original cut of Scared Straight would be very much appreciated, and the DVD lacked '10 Years Later'. The Police Tapes was another great period documentary released by Docurama. There are probably more unreleased ones I'm unfamiliar with.

[disneygeek98]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I thought of this film as a possible Fun City Edition title when I saw the announcement for I Start Counting, Deadly Strangers (the cast includes Hayley Mills and Simon Ward).

I'd love to see Deadly Strangers on Blu-ray! I personally am a huge fan of Hayley Mills, and I'm so thankful that we've gotten seven of her films released on Blu-ray since 2018. (Before 2018, Pollyanna was the only film she starred in released on Blu-ray.) I personally am shocked that Twisted Nerve has yet to come to Blu-ray and I hope that film and the rest of Hayley's films will finally come to Blu-ray sometime this decade.

[Jobla]

TWISTED NERVE would be a great selection.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

On the Vinegar Syndrome Fan Facebook Group a while back I'm sure I recall Lee Jones suggesting this may be coming to the US, but of course I've no idea if that was from VS, Fun City or another label.

There were some posts in January 2019. Lee Jones was namechecked, and it was strongly implied VS might be involved in a forthcoming release. He, himself, never commented and, obviously, the release has yet to materialize.

We (strand) still have the camera neg. Fingers crossed something will happen this year

Awesome! Was the neg used for the UK blu? I'm guessing not since it was missing footage?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3182...9242337595042/

Any updates on a possible blu for this?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3182...0104136175526/

Note: It's a private group, so the above links will only be accessible to members of the group.

[Jobla]

Interesting to see that Strand Releasing still has the camera neg for WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR. I had assumed that their rights expired years ago. I'd love to see Fun City consider this title.

[omahajon]

I Start Counting was really not what I thought it would've been. The movie features captivating performances by everyone, complex emotionality in the story, and the easy going pace of the movie kinda sucks you in.

It's a really interesting film, and while many will want to see it for just Jenny Agutter, it's a movie for the more venturous film goer.

The disc is wonderful as usual. The extras were good, especially the Agutter interview, and another nice slip. Fun City is a really interesting new sublabel of VS.

[Kincho]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I thought of this film as a possible Fun City Edition title when I saw the announcement for I Start Counting, Deadly Strangers (the cast includes Hayley Mills and Simon Ward).

Yes, please! Love that film. Also features Sterling Hayden in a nice role.

[jah13]

Thanks for your feedback, omahajon. Glad it worked for you in spite of it not being what you expected.

Originally Posted by omahajon

I Start Counting was really not what I thought it would've been. The movie features captivating performances by everyone, complex emotionality in the story, and the easy going pace of the movie kinda sucks you in.

It's a really interesting film, and while many will want to see it for just Jenny Agutter, it's a movie for the more venturous film goer.

The disc is wonderful as usual. The extras were good, especially the Agutter interview, and another nice slip. Fun City is a really interesting new sublabel of VS.

[omahajon]

Originally Posted by jah13

Thanks for your feedback, omahajon. Glad it worked for you in spite of it not being what you expected.

Great release. A movie that stuck with me long after viewing. My fault having unfounded expectations and ultimately, I'm always pleased when a movie challenges me.

[OceanBlue]

I'm not sure if this would fit as a VS or Fun City Editions title. Had never heard of this film until recently, when I saw a music video clip on a UK music programme for a song called Lily Was Here (by David A. Stewart (of The Eurythmics) feat. Candy Dulfer). Turns out it was from a film whose English translation had the same title.

Have checked it's IMDb company credits page and it doesn't appear to have had a DVD and Blu-ray release.

Would also like to throw in another suggestion (another Dutch film), whose English title is The Scorpion.

[bruce holecheck]

Based on their recent social media posts, it looks like next out of the gate for Fun City might be Arthur Barron’s JEREMY (1973), a coming of age story that made a big splash at Cannes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0voM...ature=youtu.be

[iamnoone]

"JEREMY" is a terrific film. Great news!

I sort of see a trend with coming of age titles, another good one that MGM owns is "OUR WINNING SEASON" (1978) with Scott Jacoby (Bad Ronald) and a young Dennis Quaid. I'm sure there are other excellent ones out there that deserve finding a new audience. I'd love to hear of other possibilities, especially for now with MGM, as they obviously have a leg in there.

I think a lot of labels wouldn't know what to do with titles like these, so I'm glad Fun City is cornering the market for now. I'm in for all of them! It's a refreshing alternative to all the horror/sleaze/exploitation/action/westerns all the other labels focus on. I love those, too, but it's more than covered.

Give us some excellent underappreciated (or lesser known) dramas, coming of age stories, quirky flicks, and other oddities that can't be easily pigeonholed. Alphabet City was a start, I Start Counting a giant leap, and now Jeremy is a homerun.

[Mose Harper]

Jeremy is a lovely film and another fine choice to bring to wider attention.

I had the original MGM DVD. The image looked grungy and low budget (which I'm sure it was). Enjoyed the film, but sold off the disc.

Years later I ran across it in a Big Lots for $3 and couldn't resist picking it up. Still haven't cracked the shrinkwrap on it yet, though I'd been meaning to for a while now.

It's a quality film that's worth upgrading on general principle alone- though I won't be surprised if the PQ isn't improved much, based on the limitations of the source.