Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[rip63]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

I said this before, but I'd love to have JULIUS CAESAR (1953) with Marlon Brando released.

Yes!

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

I'd also like Danny Kaye in THE INSPECTOR GENERAL (1949). I think it's still in the public domain, but I'm sure it would look great if WAC released it.

I'm hoping for this too! I'd love Merry Andrew as well. Sadly the rest of his stuff is all Goldwyn or awkward studios I think.

[Winslow Leach]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

I'm hoping for this too! I'd love Merry Andrew as well. Sadly the rest of his stuff is all Goldwyn or awkward studios I think.

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY opens with the Miramax logo now; I'm sure the other Goldwyn titles do too. Films such as KNOCK ON WOOD and ON THE DOUBLE were released years ago, and could use fresh updates.

[rickmiddlebrooks]

Maybe this year we'll get the 40th anniversary edition of The Right Stuff on UHD and Blu-ray.

Rick

[dvining]

Originally Posted by rickmiddlebrooks

Maybe this year we'll get the 40th anniversary edition of The Right Stuff on UHD and Blu-ray.

Rick

Well, I did finally order the Blu-ray at the reduced $6 price point.

So, expect the announcement any day now.

[MechaFresh82]

I just suddenly had the thought that it would be cool if Warner especially for the 100th anniversary, that they would consider releasing the Jim Kelly classic, Black Belt Jones (1974) and its sequel. Would love to have those on blue or 4K for that matter.

https://www.youtube.com/supported_br...tube.com/watch

[BadBart]

Black Belt Jones and the sequel are great fun (and I love Blaxploitation in general) but do you really think there are many titles from the genre that would warrant 4K?? Bring 'em on!!

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY opens with the Miramax logo now; I'm sure the other Goldwyn titles do too. Films such as KNOCK ON WOOD and ON THE DOUBLE were released years ago, and could use fresh updates.

Warner has home video rights, Miramax (now Paramount?) has/had streaming/TV rights.

Knock on Wood and On the Double are Paramount titles, which have had Olive Films Blu-rays released years ago.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Egbert Souse

Warner has home video rights, Miramax (now Paramount?) has/had streaming/TV rights.

Knock on Wood and On the Double are Paramount titles, which have had Olive Films Blu-rays released years ago.

Amazon appear to have exclusive streaming rights to the Goldwyn library in the UK. No idea why!

[TServo2049]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

Amazon appear to have exclusive streaming rights to the Goldwyn library in the UK. No idea why!

Perhaps Amazon assumed international rights that MGM inherited from The Samuel Goldwyn Company?

I remember that in the 2000s, it seemed like MGM had a lot of the U.S. TV and video rights to the Goldwyn back catalog, and I just assumed they had full ownership of them via purchasing the assets of the Samuel Goldwyn Company (the one that Sam Goldwyn Jr. founded in the 1970s). I’m actually out of the loop of why they’re connected to WB or Miramax at all; did Samuel Goldwyn Sr.’s estate actually retain the copyrights the whole time, and MGM’s (formerly TSGC’s) domestic distribution agreement simply expired?

[Filmtastic1939]

Goldwyn estate owns the films still his family grandchildren etc

[BluPat]

I would be ecstatic over a 4K release of The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). I just adore that movie.

[Cooper67]

Originally Posted by BluPat

I would be ecstatic over a 4K release of The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). I just adore that movie.

Unless warner is restoring it, i dont think it is in good enough shape for a 4k release which is the case for another William Wyler film Friendly Persuasion. I would be estatic just to see that one released on standard blu ray.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Cooper67

Unless warner is restoring it, i dont think it is in good enough shape for a 4k release which is the case for another William Wyler film Friendly Persuasion. I would be estatic just to see that one released on standard blu ray.

It's kind of surprising Friendly Persuasion still hasn't been released. The materials must be in bad shape.

Originally Posted by BluPat

I would be ecstatic over a 4K release of The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). I just adore that movie.

The restoration was completed in 2021, so hopefully soon.

https://www.film-foundation.org/the-road-back-kj

[BluPat]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

It's kind of surprising Friendly Persuasion still hasn't been released. The materials must be in bad shape.



The restoration was completed in 2021, so hopefully soon.

https://www.film-foundation.org/the-road-back-kj

Oh wow! Awesome! Maybe soon!

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by Cooper67

Unless warner is restoring it, i dont think it is in good enough shape for a 4k release which is the case for another William Wyler film Friendly Persuasion. I would be estatic just to see that one released on standard blu ray.

Casablanca's 4K restoration primarily used an original nitrate print and it looks excellent on UHD.

[SanCarolina59]

Take this potentially with a grain of salt, but from HTF, someone who’s on a private FB group founded by Tim Millard from The Extras, mentioned that a “former TCM employee” divulged that of the RKO Astaire & Rogers films, only Top Hat has a surviving OCN, apparently in “brittle and rough shape”. It was previously mentioned on a WAC or The Extras podcast that only 1 of the 9 RKO Astaire & Rogers films has a surviving OCN, and if accurate, seemingly it’s Top Hat. No plans were stated as to if this was in the works from WAC or not. I’m not a member of that group, so I can’t see the post myself, so take it as you will.

[cloudnine]

Why is PORGY & BESS (1959) not on DVD or bluray?

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by cloudnine

Why is PORGY & BESS (1959) not on DVD or bluray?

I think there are rights issues with that movie. Something to do with the Gershwin estate. Can't remember all of the details, but it's something along those lines.

[randian]

Originally Posted by SanCarolina59

Take this potentially with a grain of salt, but from HTF, someone who’s on a private FB group founded by Tim Millard from The Extras, mentioned that a “former TCM employee” divulged that of the RKO Astaire & Rogers films, only Top Hat has a surviving OCN, apparently in “brittle and rough shape”.

Probably explains why so many Astaire/Rogers films don't have blu-rays, if you want them in HD you have to buy from streaming platforms i.e. iTunes/Vudu. I have a couple and while they aren't terrible they could look so much better. I wish all old B&W films could look like Kino's 4k of Some Like It Hot. The shiny blacks are striking. If that's what these films would have looked like when first released I'm shocked, I'm so used to faded-to-gray and print damage.

Of those without an OCN, do they even have a low-generation print to work with? Studios were as nonchalant in preservation of first-gen prints as they were of their negatives.