Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[Arkadin]

may just start referring to TT as "Sony West" or something, as Sony seems set on only releasing the absolute highest profile catalogs in their library from this point forward. I wonder if TT has inquired about releasing "From Here To Eternity", "On the Waterfront", or The Way We Were" on bd?
I have really reached the boiling point of anger that Sony has not released these 3 films on bd yet, and seemingly have no intention of doing so.
it's really driving me crazy at this point.
Anyway, thank god for TT.
they are really rockin' the 50's releases and I can't wait for more.
(will be pre-ordering the next 2 releases today)
and very psyched about Desiree.
Brando ftw!

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

may just start referring to TT as "Sony West" or something, as Sony seems set on only releasing the absolute highest profile catalogs in their library from this point forward. I wonder if TT has enquired about releasing "From Here To Eternity", "On the Waterfront", or The Way We Were" on bd?

Well, I'm sure TT asked. Not so sure that SPHE would let any of those titles go to a cottage label limited to only 3000 unit runs. Then again, I didn't think they'd go that route with Mysterious Island either, and especially Fright Night.

Originally Posted by Arkadin

Anyway, thank god for TT.
they are really rockin' the 50's releases and I can't wait for more.
(will be pre-ordering the next 2 releases today)
and very psyched about Desiree.
Brando ftw!

Ditto. Ditto. And more! More! Considering what TT has delivered so far in terms of quality, releasing 3 or 4 new Blus each month wouldn't be at all unwelcome...assuming of course that they can nudge their output up without the quality suffering.

[Blu-Velvet]

I debated whether or not to order FRIGHT NIGHT, as I'd enjoyed it when it came out but it was never a favorite, but I waited too long and missed out. However I do have THE EGYPTIAN, MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, and the excellent RAPTURE (which I'd never heard of before), and just ordered PICNIC (a long-time favorite) and THE ROOTS OF HEAVEN, which I've never seen but sounded intriguing despite some mixed reviews. I plan to order pretty much all of the titles announced so far for the next few months.

Even with their usually sparse bonus features, Twilight Time is rapidly becoming my second or third-favorite label after Criterion and maybe Kino, with the stunningly beautiful transfers and the eclectic choice of off-beat titles that are always interesting and worth multiple viewings, even if they're not likely to become favorites. The pamphlets of program notes are also very welcome and help make up for lack of on-disc bonus featurettes.

I certainly hope their business plan pays off and they go on for a long time to come, increasing their output each month. Maybe somebody at the major studios will learn a lesson that small but steady sales on numerous products can be just as profitable as huge but brief sales on just a few products. It just takes more patience and forward-thinking business sense instead of settling for a quick buck.

[Yankees0222]

Originally Posted by bluskies

Here's a quick rundown of stock left (based on trying to order 3,000 copies of each):

The Egyptian Blu-ray is now down to only 286 copies left out of the original 3,000 print run.

Picnic, which was on pre-order and only released yesterday, is already almost half sold-out of the 3,000 run, with 1,653 copies left. And that should go fairly quickly since it got a great review today.

The Roots of Heaven, a 1958 Errol Flynn film, which was also just released yesterday, has only 1,700 of its 3,000 print run left.

Rapture, the 1965 film with Melvyn Douglas, is down to 603 copies.

Mysterious Island is down to 1,344 copies.

Is that method of checking stock really accurate? I though I read somewhere that it wasn't..... I could be mistaken though

I also find it hard to believe they sold that many copies of those new releases already

[GxyExpress999]

Oh no not that debacle again...

[Show spoiler]

Looks like it's not accurate.

Originally Posted by whitesheik

I know for sure. How's that? Screen Archives handles my company and I know exactly how they work and you cannot play the shopping cart game with them - it's that simple. But, this IS the Internet and you will argue needlessly just because it's fun.

I already gave the only example you need: The Egyptian - go seek out the thread and you will see people playing this exact game - only it WASN'T REAL. According to the game players it was close to 2300 units sold or something like that because of what was shown remaining playing the cart game. So, I asked specifically how many had been sold and at that point the number was about 1200. BIG difference, don't you think?

Originally Posted by whitesheik

[Show spoiler]You're relentless It's really none of your business why they do what they do or how they work - I'm sure you can see this.

Yes, the co-owner of TT is one of my best friends and Screen Archives are not only friends, they handle my company's products. What sort of proof are you looking for? And even if you got it, you'd still - LOL (really!) - not believe it. SAE doesn't get all the copies because they don't necessarily want to store them and in some cases, TT may not press all of them at once, depending on what the preorders are. There are many reasons for everything, and those reasons are on a title by title basis.

[Show spoiler] All you need to know is that they will not be silent when this title gets down to about 500 units. But they are not there yet, despite the dire warnings of everyone on the various boards that this would sell out the first day of pre-orders. Almost three weeks later that is still not what's happened and I suspect it won't happen until early next year.

[bluskies]

Originally Posted by GxyExpress999

Oh no not that debacle again...

[Show spoiler]

Looks like it's not accurate.

Okay, based on that, I have deleted my post.

[Sinbad75]

Twilight Time also has "Major Dundee" in the cue (not sure of release date yet), the controversial Sam Peckinpah western staring Charlton Heston. For those familiar with the film, it suffered tremendous production delays and over runs resulting in the studio (Columbia) removing Peckinpah, chopping the director's original cut/vision to shreds, and dumping the truncated results, along with a most curious Mitch Miller choral soundtrack and narration, onto a rather disinterested public back in the sixties. Dvds of both the original release, and a re-cut, re-scored version are around, with generally good (for SD) quality. Twilight Times indicates on their Facebook page that their Blu-Ray release will at least have the longer, re-cut, re-scored version, and maybe the original as well. This is great news for film lovers and will be worth discovering by those who love westerns, the work of Peckinpah and Heston, and the story of a great Hollywood debacle rising from the ashes!

[jaaguir]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Well, I'm sure TT asked. Not so sure that SPHE would let any of those titles go to a cottage label limited to only 3000 unit runs. Then again, I didn't think they'd go that route with Mysterious Island either, and especially Fright Night.
Ditto. Ditto. And more! More! Considering what TT has delivered so far in terms of quality, releasing 3 or 4 new Blus each month wouldn't be at all unwelcome...assuming of course that they can nudge their output up without the quality suffering.

Right now it seems to me Sony would be glad to get rid of more films, since they don't seem to want to release any themselves. The thing is, are TT's sales good enough to support this going on in time.

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

Even with their usually sparse bonus features, Twilight Time is rapidly becoming my second or third-favorite label after Criterion and maybe Kino, with the stunningly beautiful transfers and the eclectic choice of off-beat titles that are always interesting and worth multiple viewings, even if they're not likely to become favorites. The pamphlets of program notes are also very welcome and help make up for lack of on-disc bonus featurettes.

I certainly hope their business plan pays off and they go on for a long time to come, increasing their output each month. Maybe somebody at the major studios will learn a lesson that small but steady sales on numerous products can be just as profitable as huge but brief sales on just a few products. It just takes more patience and forward-thinking business sense instead of settling for a quick buck.

+1. I second all pro-TT sentiments expressed in several posts here.

Originally Posted by Sinbad75

Twilight Time also has "Major Dundee" in the cue (not sure of release date yet), the controversial Sam Peckinpah western staring Charlton Heston.

This should be their Sony release for either May or June. The other one would be "The big heat"(1952). Then, who knows. If this batch of titles sold well I'm sure they'll strike a new deal with Sony (and there are so many movies they could do, it's head-spinning). Or nothing.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by jaaguir

Right now it seems to me Sony would be glad to get rid of more films, since they don't seem to want to release any themselves. The thing is, are TT's sales good enough to support this going on in time.

Considering the profit margin is so high compared to normal catalog releases and Sony has already created HD masters for the films. Its a win-win for Sony.
They can always release the same movies later if they see a profit in it.

[benbess]

I now have 3 Twilight Time titles--Picnic (stunning transfer, pretty good movie), Mysterious Island (just started it, a lot of fun so far) and The Egyptian, which I have not yet opened but have heard about for decades...

What blu-ray titles are coming out from TT in the future? Do they have their own website?

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by benbess

I now have 3 Twilight Time titles--Picnic (stunning transfer, pretty good movie), Mysterious Island (just started it, a lot of fun so far) and The Egyptian, which I have not yet opened but have heard about for decades...

What blu-ray titles are coming out from TT in the future? Do they have their own website?

They're on Facebook benbess. You might find some 'hints' there.

But this thread is as good a source as any. Upcoming TT releases get posted here almost as soon as they are announced (see first page).

[benbess]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

They're on Facebook benbess. You might find some 'hints' there.

But this thread is as good a source as any. Upcoming TT releases get posted here almost as soon as they are announced (see first page).

Thanks. I've "liked" them there and it seems like a live page. A real person from TT seems to be commenting on suggestions for future movies, etc...

Started watching The Egyptian. Like it so far. I teach this era of history in my art history survey classes at my college, and so I'm quite interested in it...

[ROclockCK]

I haven't seen these posted anywhere yet:

Cover for Demetrius and the Gladiators:



...and the inside booklet artwork:



Plus the cover for Bite the Bullet:



All I can say is, "WOW"! I'm there for pre-orders of both Monday Feb. 13th.

[rkolinski]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

I haven't seen these posted anywhere yet:

Cover for Demetrius and the Gladiators:

[Show spoiler]

...and the inside booklet artwork:

[Show spoiler]

Plus the cover for Bite the Bullet:

[Show spoiler]

All I can say is, "WOW"! I'm there for pre-orders of both Monday Feb. 13th.

That cover art for "Demetrius and the Gladiators" is amazing and I can't wait to own this on BD; debating in my head about "Bite the Bullet" because I've been ordering so many classics on BD from overseas lately. Twilight Time does such a great job on their BD releases so there are just 2 releases which I don't own; "Fright Night" and "Rapture."

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by rkolinski

That cover art for "Demetrius and the Gladiators" is amazing and I can't wait to own this on BD; debating in my head about "Bite the Bullet" because I've been ordering so many classics on BD from overseas lately. Twilight Time does such a great job on their BD releases so there are just 2 releases which I don't own; "Fright Night" and "Rapture."

You can still get Rapture. Although I wasn't burning to see that one when announced - heck, I had to look up the title on IMDb because I'd never even heard of it - Rapture turned out to be a great addition to TT's collection. Its superb B&W 'Scope transfer gives me hope that Fox will let these guys do Jack Clayton's The Innocents, or they'll eventually get Columbia/Sony's Experiment in Terror.

I haven't missed any of these TT Blu's yet because I pre-order same day, and if necessary, will let some other non-limited mainstream release slip a few weeks to ensure I get into SAE's queue...because with only 3000 available, you just never know. I mean, it was obvious that a cult pop 80's horror title like Fright Night would go pretty quickly - that was a freight train many of us saw coming - but other stuff like Demetrious and the Gladiators could also be a fairly early sellout. This is a sequel to The Robe, a title which Fox manufactured and distributed worldwide in the hundreds of thousands, so there is a considerable built-in global fanbase. Of course, not in the millions...or even hundreds or tens of thousands...but probably enough to create higher than usual demand for this puny 3000 disc Blu-ray run. Especially since all DVD versions to date were letterboxed, if I recall correctly. So going out on a limb here, I'm predicting the window of availability for this one to be 6 months or less, depending on how much of an improvement it represents over previous DVD versions (original 2.55:1???).

As for Bite the Bullet, I missed that one both theatrically and on home video, so it's a total blind buy. I like its pedigree though - a seasoned writer/director like Brooks, with a solid (and sort of funky) cast, plus a score by Alex North.

[SolidBlu]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

I haven't seen these posted anywhere yet:

Cover for Demetrius and the Gladiators:



...and the inside booklet artwork:



Plus the cover for Bite the Bullet:



All I can say is, "WOW"! I'm there for pre-orders of both Monday Feb. 13th.

have to pre-order these babies before they run out

[SolidBlu]

not yet listed in SAE

[SolidBlu]

Originally Posted by HyperRealist

SWAMP WATER and PAL JOEY will both be available for Pre-Order on Monday, Jan 16th, only at http://www.screenarchives.com

pre-ordered both (using express shipping method) hope SAE will ship earlier than Tuesday

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by SolidBlu

not yet listed in SAE

They go up Monday. Usually noon or shortly thereafter.

Other than Fright Night, none of these TT Blu's has caused a server-crashing rush, so I'm sure we've got some wiggle-room on the pre-orders...

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by SolidBlu

pre-ordered both (using express shipping method) hope SAE will ship earlier than Tuesday

I think they do with domestic orders SolidBlu. At least sometimes.

But I'm International, and so far all of my shipping notices have been dated a day or two after the official release. Factoring in dogsled delivery to the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, I'm usually among the last on these boards to see new TT releases each month.

Always worth the wait though...