Madigan, Matt Helm, Mrs. Columbo and The Sixth Sense (Elephant Films)

[OceanBlue]

Thought it would be a good idea to start a separate thread for the French releases of TV series Madigan, Mrs. Columbo and The Sixth Sense, away from the Werewolf thread.

A fellow poster reminded me this week about the French DVD releases of Madigan and The Sixth Sense. Can you only get these from Amazon.fr, or does Elephant Films have their own website? I don't want to get these series, only to see a Blu-ray release happen in another country afterwards (anthology series Ghost Story/Circle of Fear had an Australian Blu-ray release).

[greenguy]

I think Amazon France is the only place to purchase those 3 titles. At least it was 2 or 3 years ago. I've wanted all 3, but just never ordered them
because of the high shipping cost. I caved in the past for Gemini Man, and the Elephant blu ray sets of Black Sheep Squadron, and the Blue Thunder TV series.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by greenguy

I think Amazon France is the only place to purchase those 3 titles. At least it was 2 or 3 years ago. I've wanted all 3, but just never ordered them
because of the high shipping cost. I caved in the past for Gemini Man, and the Elephant blu ray sets of Black Sheep Squadron, and the Blue Thunder TV series.

I have both MADIGAN and THE SIXTH SENSE and recommend them very highly. Because they are both kind of forgotten series, I think we're lucky they were released at all, even on DVD. I had waited years to see them again uncut and in decent, presentable shape, which these are. I know the shipping cost is high from Amazon.fr, but I would hate for you to miss out on them before they go OOP. I share OceanBlue's hope that they make it to Blu someday, but I really think it's a longshot given that they are relatively unknown commodities these days.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I have both MADIGAN and THE SIXTH SENSE and recommend them very highly. Because they are both kind of forgotten series, I think we're lucky they were released at all, even on DVD. I had waited years to see them again uncut and in decent, presentable shape, which these are. I know the shipping cost is high from Amazon.fr, but I would hate for you to miss out on them before they go OOP. I share OceanBlue's hope that they make it to Blu someday, but I really think it's a longshot given that they are relatively unknown commodities these days.

Have come across this week another older series (from the seventies) which Elephant Films released on DVD a few years ago, a short-lived private detective series starring Anthony Franciosa called Matt Helm.

Recently, I decided to get a Blu-ray title off Amazon.fr (the complete series set of Channel Zero, based on a fellow poster's recommendation), the first time I've decided to get anything off there. There was a minor dent in one corner of the side spine of the slipcase, and a crease running along part of the bottom face of the slipcase. But nothing major.

Finding out about the German releasse of Paper Dolls this week as well (referring to finding out about Matt Helm) has been a good mental boost. I'm undecided still about whether to get Elephant Films' release of The Sixth Sense, because I'm wondering if Kino Lorber might do another Universal deal and release The Sixth Sense on Blu-ray.

[OceanBlue]

Double-checked my previous posts and I can't see it mentioned. In the end, I decided to get late last year Elephant Films' complete series DVD release of Mrs. Columbo (from Amazon.fr).

I think it's looking more likely now that I'll get Elephant Films' DVD release of Madigan. Can't see it getting a physical media release in another country, and I'd be interested to know if materials exist for a Blu-ray release. Looking forward to the (likely) UK-only Blu-ray release of the film Madigan (Powerhouse Films/Indicator have been doing dual territory releases the past few months, but Kino Lorber released it in the States).

[OceanBlue]

Thought some here who wanted to get Elephant Films's complete series DVD boxset of The Sixth Sense, might be interested in this. Think it was by accident how I found this out, but while checking Amazon.fr for the current price of this Elephant Films DVD title, discovered that currently (don't know for how long this price will stay the same, being as it's a 'flash price') The Sixth Sense: The Complete Series is 40 Euros (not including shipping) from an Amazon.fr marketplace seller (their average feedback score is strong).

Late last year, Blu-ray.com DVD listings were added to the database for a few Elephant Films DVD boxset titles, including The Sixth Sense:

https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/The-Sixt...es-DVD/266082/

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I have both MADIGAN and THE SIXTH SENSE and recommend them very highly. Because they are both kind of forgotten series, I think we're lucky they were released at all, even on DVD. I had waited years to see them again uncut and in decent, presentable shape, which these are. I know the shipping cost is high from Amazon.fr, but I would hate for you to miss out on them before they go OOP. I share OceanBlue's hope that they make it to Blu someday, but I really think it's a longshot given that they are relatively unknown commodities these days.

Hopefully someone else who reads this post will be able to offer some help with this query: do Amazon normally state when flash sales/offers end? I've had a look at a couple of Elephant Films DVD series sets of older TV series and saw a Flash logo.

The price of The Sixth Sense: The Complete Series has come down a further 5 Euros since I purchased my copy a few months ago. The price of Elephant Films' DVD release of Matt Helm: The Complete Series looks to have been discounted since I last checked Amazon.fr for it (probably when I purchased The Sixth Sense), as has western series The Outcasts. Is their DVD complete series set of The Quest now out-of-print though (can't see it available for purchase on Amazon.fr)?

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Hopefully someone else who reads this post will be able to offer some help with this query: do Amazon normally state when flash sales/offers end? I've had a look at a couple of Elephant Films DVD series sets of older TV series and saw a Flash logo.

The price of The Sixth Sense: The Complete Series has come down a further 5 Euros since I purchased my copy a few months ago. The price of Elephant Films' DVD release of Matt Helm: The Complete Series looks to have been discounted since I last checked Amazon.fr for it (probably when I purchased The Sixth Sense), as has western series The Outcasts. Is their DVD complete series set of The Quest now out-of-print though (can't see it available for purchase on Amazon.fr)?

Near as I can tell the current Flash Sale that includes some of the Elephant Films TV series DVDs was supposed to end yesterday, May 9, 2023, but the discounts are still showing up today so I'm not sure. As you know these TV series releases from Elephant rarely go on sale, so it's a good time to pick them up, though they are still relatively pricey.

I highly recommend both MADIGAN and THE SIXTH SENSE if you can get them even at a minimum discount. Both series are excellent and I can't imagine they will get released anywhere else. Also note that the TV series for MADIGAN was re-released in a box set in France which includes the original 1968 theatrical film, though only on DVD.

I was interested in the complete series of IRONSIDE, but I could not determine if the set has complete unedited episodes or if they are time sped/cut. The only thing I found out from an Amazon review is that it does not have the complete pilot movie included.

I also want to add that none of the Elephant Films releases have burned in French subtitles.

Here's the listing for THE QUEST, but unfortunately it is not part of the current sale:

THE QUEST DVD

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Near as I can tell the current Flash Sale that includes some of the Elephant Films TV series DVDs was supposed to end yesterday, May 9, 2023, but the discounts are still showing up today so I'm not sure. As you know these TV series releases from Elephant rarely go on sale, so it's a good time to pick them up, though they are still relatively pricey.

I highly recommend both MADIGAN and THE SIXTH SENSE if you can get them even at a minimum discount. Both series are excellent and I can't imagine they will get released anywhere else. Also note that the TV series for MADIGAN was re-released in a box set in France which includes the original 1968 theatrical film, though only on DVD.

I was interested in the complete series of IRONSIDE, but I could not determine if the set has complete unedited episodes or if they are time sped/cut. The only thing I found out from an Amazon review is that it does not have the complete pilot movie included.

I also want to add that none of the Elephant Films releases have burned in French subtitles.

Here's the listing for THE QUEST, but unfortunately it is not part of the current sale:

THE QUEST DVD

It appears (having checked Amazon.fr) that the flash sale/offer is still on (Matt Helm and The Outcasts still have the Flash logo beside the price for example).

When my copy of The Sixth Sense arrived from the Amazon.fr marketplace seller (it wasn't available directly from Amazon.fr), when I saw what it arrived in (think it was one of those medium-large cardboard envelopes/mailers) I was dreading that it would have some damage (eg. dents on the edges and in the corners). However, having looked all over the boxset, if there was anything it was minor (the usual areas, on the edges (a slight curved look) where the DVD case comes out of the slipcase).

Thanks for posting the link to the Amazon.fr listing page for The Quest. Via the Blu-ray.com search results page in the DVD database section here, it doesn't appear to be available currently.

I didn't get anything in Powerhouse Films/Indicator's most recent sale (but the majority of what I wanted to get was after the latest cutoff point). So I decided to leave getting the other Blu-ray titles which included the film version of Madigan. However..the last time a stock update was released by Powerhouse, Madigan was under the Very Low Stock heading (which has taken me by surprise as this Powerhouse release hasn't been out that long).

[cutback73]

Thank you Professor Echo and OceanBlue for the posts and heads up on the flash sale.

I ordered the movie on blu ray and the TV episodes separately as both were in the flash sale). The only delivery option was "vite vite" so on the order from France on Friday, arrived on my doorstep in Grande Bretagne on Sunday!

Watched the movie this evening. It's kind of typical Don Siegel, but you must remember this predates Dirty Harry so it's not really a cliche because it is before the cliche actually existed.

The remastering quality is excellent, to my eyes, vibrant colours and great detail. Henry Fonda was getting older at this point, as was Richard Widmark, and their faces have a beautifully lived in detail, the kind of thing that really shows when a print is of good quality.

Whilst I have seen the original movie a few times, I only have a very vague memory of watching a UK TV broadcast of the TV movies which must have been long ago (80s or 90s), and am looking forward to revisiting the 6 stories, 3 of which were filmed in Europe as that was Widmark's "condition" for making them. London, Lisbon and Naples in 1972/73 were very different looking compared to today.

[harry o]

Part of the mystery movies series , I recall watching them as a young lad in the seventies on ITV didn't have the success as Columbo sadly shaft got the same treatment.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by harry o

Part of the mystery movies series , I recall watching them as a young lad in the seventies on ITV didn't have the success as Columbo sadly shaft got the same treatment.

I know there were something like two or three nights on NBC in the States back during some years of the seventies various rotating TV series/rotating TV film series, and I'm sure I remember reading that Shaft was shown in rotation with the James Stewart-starring series Hawkins. Not 100% certain about Shaft, but Hawkins had a manufactured-on-demand DVD release by the Warner Archive Collection ten and a half years ago (called Hawkins: The Complete TV Movie Collection).

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

Thank you Professor Echo and OceanBlue for the posts and heads up on the flash sale.

I ordered the movie on blu ray and the TV episodes separately as both were in the flash sale). The only delivery option was "vite vite" so on the order from France on Friday, arrived on my doorstep in Grande Bretagne on Sunday!

Watched the movie this evening. It's kind of typical Don Siegel, but you must remember this predates Dirty Harry so it's not really a cliche because it is before the cliche actually existed.

The remastering quality is excellent, to my eyes, vibrant colours and great detail. Henry Fonda was getting older at this point, as was Richard Widmark, and their faces have a beautifully lived in detail, the kind of thing that really shows when a print is of good quality.

Whilst I have seen the original movie a few times, I only have a very vague memory of watching a UK TV broadcast of the TV movies which must have been long ago (80s or 90s), and am looking forward to revisiting the 6 stories, 3 of which were filmed in Europe as that was Widmark's "condition" for making them. London, Lisbon and Naples in 1972/73 were very different looking compared to today.

Glad the posts have been of some help etc. Sounding like a cracked grammophone record here (ie. I've said this on the forum a few times during the past few weeks), but I don't want to jinx this, but I'm going to (hopefully) get a copy of Powerhouse's Blu-ray release of the film Madigan sooner rather than later (not going to chance it and wait until this autumn's Powerhouse Films/Indicator sale (last year I think it took place around September/October) as (and I'm not a fan of FOMO) I think the limited edition release will sell out before then. Off the top of my head, I don't think there is much difference between the Kino Lorber and Powerhouse Films Blu-ray releases of the Madigan film (transfer, extras etc.), based on the comments, observations and reviews I've read.

I'd be interested to read your comments Cutback on the transfers in Elephant Films' DVD boxset of the Madigan TV series/TV films series.

[harry o]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I know there were something like two or three nights on NBC in the States back during some years of the seventies various rotating TV series/rotating TV film series, and I'm sure I remember reading that Shaft was shown in rotation with the James Stewart-starring series Hawkins. Not 100% certain about Shaft, but Hawkins had a manufactured-on-demand DVD release by the Warner Archive Collection ten and a half years ago (called Hawkins: The Complete TV Movie Collection).

I remember the various series that rotated in the London area back in the day "cool million" "the snoop sisters" " tenafly" oh and "hec Ramsay" oh failed in the ratings sadly.

[OceanBlue]

Visited Elephant Films' website earlier to check if their DVD boxsets of The Outcasts are still available. They are, but are not among the titles that are in the current sale on their website. Their current prices on the website:

The Outcasts: The Complete Series (a nine-disc DVD boxset) - 49.99 Euros
The Outcasts: Volume 1 - 29.99 Euros
The Outcasts: Volume 2 - 34.99 Euros.

Matt Helm also isn't in the sale. It's current price is 34.99 Euros.

Among the titles in the sale:

Whiz Kids DVD set - 27 Euros
The Sixth Sense DVD boxset (nine discs) - 32 Euros.

[OceanBlue]

Have gone through the sale section properly on Elephant Films' website (five pages in total), and I noticed that also included in the current sale are:

The Law & Harry McGraw: The Complete Series - 24 Euros
Mrs. Columbo: The Complete Series - 24 Euros.