Billy Wilder on Blu-ray

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

I believe that is the logic that people have applied, but Warner Archive has been repeatedly asked over the years and they always say they don't have it. Not "we have no plans" or "inferior elements". I think they said they don't know who does, but that might be my memory embellishing. (Not sure when the last time anybody tried was.) I think sometimes there are movies that fall into a limbo where nobody wants to bother to spend the money it would take to hire a few lawyers to track it all down and figure it all out, especially if they might wind up spending money just to prove they *don't* own something.

True, and it's especially tough if the film in question was an infamous flop that its director disowned. After watching the Spanish bootleg DVD, the film is truly dreadful, there's no way around it. That said, it's bizarre for a film from an important filmmaker, with two major stars, to have been absent from US home video since VHS. There are plenty of FAR worse films readily available.

I just looked it up on eBay, and the old VHS tapes were through MGM/Turner:

[Show spoiler]

And then through Warner:

[Show spoiler]

The box stayed the same, the Warner label only got added to the actual cassette, this is the back of both:

[Show spoiler]

So I suspect you're right, and Warners may control it.

However it's always possible that MGM's distribution rights were for a limited window, and that has now ended, and the film has reverted back to its financiers. The VHS tapes credit it to © 1981 Heron Productions Limited, I can't seem to find anything about them online associated with any other film, presumably it was a company formed to make this one film. Tracking down who actually owns the film today could be a nightmare.

[bluray_and_cds_fan]

I've only seen "Sunset Boulevard", but that was a work of genius.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by bluray_and_cds_fan

I've only seen "Sunset Boulevard", but that was a work of genius.

You have a lot to look forward to.

[Dailyan]

Billy Wilder-penned "Arise, My Love" coming soon from Kino.

[jonjanjohn]

Does anyone know if the 2017 Paramount Pictures release of Sunset Boulevard is the same as the 2012 release?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jonjanjohn

Does anyone know if the 2017 Paramount Pictures release of Sunset Boulevard is the same as the 2012 release?

It should be. As well as the 2013 release by Warner, when they had the distribution deal with Paramount.

[Dailyan]

Kino's release of "Avanti!" will be going OOP.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Kino's release of "Avanti!" will be going OOP.

A wonderful, underrated film. It's not really a comedy, though it has some funny bits, it's more a lovely romance dealing with the realities of time and aging. It has a bit of the vibe of the Before trilogy, which I adore. Highly recommended.

[Dailyan]

“The Emperor Waltz” coming from Kino:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...6#post18901506

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

“The Emperor Waltz” coming from Kino:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...6#post18901506

I'll be glad to replace my French BD. It has forced French subtitles for all onscreen text and all song lyrics, though at least not for the dialogue.

It doesn't say it's a new 4K transfer, which is a bit disappointing. The transfer on the French disc, which I assume they'll re-use, is pleasing but dated.

[Dailyan]

Kino Lorber will be re-releasing "The Fortune Cookie":
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...8#post18909758

[BluProofie]

Great news.

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Kino's release of "Avanti!" will be going OOP.

This little nugget of information just turned into a $100 Kino order, oops!

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

Great news.

I do wish it was going to be a newer master but the current one on the Twilight Time disc is one of the better pre-supplied MGM masters.

[Dailyan]

Billy Wilder will make his UHD debut with "Some Like It Hot" courtesy of Kino Lorber:

Coming Soon on 4KUHD!

Some Like It Hot (1959) Starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O’Brien & Joe E. Brown – Co-Written & Co-Produced by Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond (One, Two, Three) – Directed by Billy Wilder (Witness for the Prosecution).

[Dailyan]

"The Apartment" coming to UHD via Kino Lorber:

Coming Soon on 4KUHD!

The Apartment (1960) Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray & Jack Kruschen – Shot by Joseph LaShelle – Written by Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond – Directed by Billy Wilder

Winner of 5 Academy Awards Including Picture, Director & Screenplay!

[CelestialAgent]

Haven’t watched the film yet but having just checked the disc I can recommend the French release of Kiss Me, Stupid, though copies seem to be drying up on Amazon which is why I ordered it.

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

My order of the French release of Kiss Me, Stupid (Embrasse moi, idiot) released by Rimini arrived from amazon.fr and I can confirm it has the option of playing the film in English without forced subs, in addition to the option of French.

Unlike the barebones Olive Films release, it has several extras, including a French language booklet, trailer (2:33, English), Conversation entre M. Macheret & F. Mercier (36:07, French), Billy Wilder, La perfection Hollywoodienne (54:19, English with forced French subtitles, though some of Wilder’s interview excerpts are in German) - features interviews with Tony Maietta, John Landis and Paul Diamond, and Billy Willder - I.A.L. Diamond, ecrire à quatre mains (21:33, English with optional French subtitles) - interview with Paul Diamond.

Other notable Rimini extras for English speakers:

The Fortune Cookie features the second half of the Diamond interview from this disc
One, Two, Three features an hourlong 1970 masterclass with Wilder (audio only)

[Dailyan]

Kino's "The Apartment" 4K cover art and specs:

Coming March 8th on 4KUHD & Blu-ray!
https://www.kinolorber.com/product/t...t-4kuhd-4k-uhd
https://www.kinolorber.com/product/t...rtment-blu-ray

The Apartment (1960)

4K Disc 1:
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Bruce Block
• 5.1 Surround & Original 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Triple-Layer UHD100 Disc

BD Disc 2:
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Bruce Block
• Inside The Apartment - Documentary (29:36)
• Magic Time: The Art of Jack Lemmon - Featurette (12:47)
• Theatrical Trailer
• 5.1 Surround & Original 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles

[Dailyan]

"Double Indemnity" to be released on 4K by Criterion:

Special Features

New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
In the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
Audio commentary featuring film critic Richard Schickel
New interview with film scholar Noah Isenberg, editor of Billy Wilder on Assignment
New conversation between film historians Eddie Muller and Imogen Sara Smith
Billy, How Did You Do It?, a 1992 film by Volker Schlöndorff and Gisela Grischow featuring interviews with director Billy Wilder
Shadows of Suspense, a 2006 documentary on the making of Double Indemnity
Audio excerpts from 1971 and 1972 interviews with cinematographer John F. Seitz
Radio adaptations from 1945 and 1950
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

New cover by Greg Ruth