Columbia Classics

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Thanks for the confirmation. All I need now is for Sony to licence their print for a pressed DVD release on another continent - instead of MOD, maybe MOC!

well there's this...

[Jonathan S]

Thanks - I guess we'll have to wait for the reviews on that. Is Artus Films reliable with older titles and do they ever license from big studios? If correct, 84 minutes seems just a little short for a complete print even with PAL speed-up.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Thanks - I guess we'll have to wait for the reviews on that. Is Artus Films reliable with older titles and do they ever license from big studios? If correct, 84 minutes seems just a little short for a complete print even with PAL speed-up.

Artus- Bit of an exploitation/horror merchant in the old Redemption mould. But in between the SS brothels and nun romps there is an interesting looking Lugosi box and a passable version of the finnish film White Reindeer. Will keep an eye on tests and will report back. Agree that 84 mins with 4% sped up still seems a tad short

[Kauno]

This Italian release has been on my agenda for some time. But I guess Durata: 89 minuti means that the conversion to PAL is not done properly.

[Jeff]

Glenn Kenny on The Black Book / Reign of Terror.

[Jonathan S]

I appreciate your suggestion, David, but all that is beyond my technical expertise (and there are issues sharing a computer with a partner who is nervous about downloading specialist software!) I don't know anyone who visits my home expert enough and attempts to learn by e-mail have failed. Then again, I'm not sure I'd want to do it anyway, knowing collectors who have lost up to 200 films at once on their computers. I do back up my own DVDRs using a standalone duplicator, but it rejects the only MOD discs I have - one a TCM Vault/Universal title bought in the belief it would be pressed, the other a Warner shorts collection which seemed a fair use of the format.

But I suppose the bottom line is I don't want to support MOD. I'm under no illusions it will go away and indeed right from its inception I predicted on HTF (which I left after moderators interpreted my criticism of the format as trolling!) that almost everything, even previously pressed releases, would eventually be shunted to MOD... and then downloads only.

I know this is a Columbia thread but Warner started it all and when I see their advertising line, "And what is the reason you don't indulge in Warner Archive?" I wonder why they think there would be only one reason? The dubious longevity of the discs, the difficulty of obtaining them at a reasonable price if buying from outside North America, the lack of extras, the indifferent or worse quality of many titles that interest me (though I know some recent ones, mostly outside my area of interest at the asking-price, have been much better). But I haven't denied myself much that I'm really interested in, which is mainly silents and other 4:3 black & white titles that (judging from screencaps) I already own in similar quality, or can obtain from more recent broadcasts.

[Titus]

Has anybody ordered the Sony or MGM MODs anywhere besides Amazon? I've picked up a handful of them from Amazon and they've all come with adhesive on the spine that was applied so liberally it stained the artwork inside the plastic. Just wondering if this is a problem with these releases in general or if it's just an issue with Amazon.

[Jonathan S]

...The Burglar, which I've tried a couple of times and hated apart from the actual burglary sequence - a self-conscious pastiche noir, I felt, striking poses remembered from earlier and better films.

I'm relieved to find I'm not the only noir enthusiast who detests this film (in Sony's third noir set). In fact, this may be the most vituperative review of a studio-era film I've ever read on the normally easy-going Savant.

...The Burglar is a disaster. An obvious script is given weak production values, despite a lot of location shooting. The poor pacing and awkward performances may not entirely be the director's fault, but the movie is a mess just the same. Disc notes writer David Kalat tells us that it was finished in 1955 but could find no buyers; when Columbia grabbed it two years later the deal-cincher was the presence of the then-hot Jayne Mansfield....

The Burglar is excruciating. The story flops around like a fish out of water. The pain begins with a wholly extraneous newsreel opening that wants to be compared to Citizen Kane (I kid you not). Other directorial flourishes sometimes touted as artistic look more like desperation edits to do something - anything - with dull scenes. The good actor Dan Duryea spends his screen time staring dumbly, in an existential funk. While not fatal to the movie, Jayne Mansfield's acting is still awkward. The only interesting member of the supporting cast, Mickey Shaughnessy, makes an early exit. Added to this is an extended soliloquy from a fourth gang member, which may just be the most awful bit of acting in any studio noir.

It's as if everything went wrong, starting with a lot of basic production decisions. The showdown between Nat and his bad cop nemesis doesn't work because the other actor is weak and Wendkos' direction reaches too far for significance. While Wendkos searches for deeper meanings, the final violent action comes off as incompetent....

[domino harvey]

Ruh-roh: Fat City's been downgraded from a real DVD to a MOD Sony DVD-R, the first such case I know of from this label

[Arthur House]

They've also downgraded The Gene Krupa Story in this new batch of titles.

[fdm]

A few others I've run across are Die! Die! My Darling!, Gas Food Lodging and Wilder Napalm.

[Jack Phillips]

...The Burglar, which I've tried a couple of times and hated apart from the actual burglary sequence - a self-conscious pastiche noir, I felt, striking poses remembered from earlier and better films.

I'm relieved to find I'm not the only noir enthusiast who detests this film (in Sony's third noir set). In fact, this may be the most vituperative review of a studio-era film I've ever read on the normally easy-going Savant.

...The Burglar is a disaster. An obvious script is given weak production values, despite a lot of location shooting. The poor pacing and awkward performances may not entirely be the director's fault, but the movie is a mess just the same. Disc notes writer David Kalat tells us that it was finished in 1955 but could find no buyers; when Columbia grabbed it two years later the deal-cincher was the presence of the then-hot Jayne Mansfield....

The Burglar is excruciating. The story flops around like a fish out of water. The pain begins with a wholly extraneous newsreel opening that wants to be compared to Citizen Kane (I kid you not). Other directorial flourishes sometimes touted as artistic look more like desperation edits to do something - anything - with dull scenes. The good actor Dan Duryea spends his screen time staring dumbly, in an existential funk. While not fatal to the movie, Jayne Mansfield's acting is still awkward. The only interesting member of the supporting cast, Mickey Shaughnessy, makes an early exit. Added to this is an extended soliloquy from a fourth gang member, which may just be the most awful bit of acting in any studio noir.

It's as if everything went wrong, starting with a lot of basic production decisions. The showdown between Nat and his bad cop nemesis doesn't work because the other actor is weak and Wendkos' direction reaches too far for significance. While Wendkos searches for deeper meanings, the final violent action comes off as incompetent....

I think expectations play a large part in one's reception of this film. If you go in looking for a "film noir," fashioned to appear like the many American crime films produced before it, you may be disappointed. If, however, you approach it as a precursor of certain French crime films, you may find things to savor. I enjoyed the stylistic flourishes throughout, but I was particularly excited to spot moments that Melville undoutedly appropriated for Le Doulos.

[captveg]

Some more Sony catalog titles via Mill Creek double features coming 5/7:

Anatomy (2000) & Anatomy 2 (2003)
In the Cut (2003) & Trapped (2002)
Mr. Sardonicus (1961) & The Brotherhood of Satan (1971)
The Nines (2007) & Slipstream (2007)
Physical Evidence (1989) & The Anderson Tapes (1971)
Universal Soldier: The Return (1999) & Second in Command (2006)

[Minkin]

Some more Sony catalog titles via Mill Creek double features coming 5/7:
Mr. Sardonicus (1961) & The Brotherhood of Satan (1971)
& The Anderson Tapes (1971))

Sad to see the William Castle set now being separated and cannibalized. I really hope Mill Creek doesn't end up with The Tingler at least. I'm guessing Criterion passed on the Lumet (probably for good reason?). A bit surprised that Shout didn't pick up the other horror film.

I'm always disheartened when Mill Creek or Echo Bridge (or any other PD Bandit - now turned legitimate) release anything. Its basically where movies go to die. Its the studio saying "here, dump these in the Dollar Store."

[dwk]

Mill Creek is a lot better than Echo Bridge. MC's Daimajin Trilogy Blu-ray set is a steal.

I've heard positive things about their When a Stranger Calls/Happy Birthday to Me double feature, so these other Sony double features should be pretty solid.

As for Shout, they don't license from Sony and unless Sony changes its position on special features, likely never will.

[captveg]

Also, Sony preps all the transfers in house before licensing their titles out to Image/Mill Creek/Twilight Time/Criterion/etc., so there's really not too many worries here.

[Frankinho007]

04/30

Funny Girl - Blu-ray

[captveg]

Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) on 7/30/13 via Image

Sleepless In Seattle (1993) on 7/9/13 via Twilight Time

Body Double (1984) on 8/13/13 via Twilight Time

[John Doe]

From Here to Eternity - 10/1

From Sony.

[manicsounds]

DVDBeaver reviews the Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics 4 boxset

[Westwood]

DVDBeaver reviews the Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics 4 boxset

Probably a much-asked question but what is the best/cheapest way to get these TCM Vault collections if you live outside of the US?

[manicsounds]

It says the sets are sold at TCM or Movies Unlimited only.
I don't think TCM ships international, but Movies Unlimited does

[EddieLarkin]

TCM do ship international, but I recall them having ridiculous shipping fees. Something like a flat $30 starting rate.

[manicsounds]

Somehow missed this, but Sony International released the Stanley Kramer produced "The Wild One" on blu-ray in Japan, Germany, Italy, France, etc last summer.
But as most Sony catalog blu-rays, missing bonus features is a problem.
This time, the quite informative commentary track from the DVD is missing. Another big minus is that the audio is only in plain Dolby Mono.

[dwk]

TCM is releasing The Lady From Shanghai Blu-ray on Jan 27