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Universal Restoration Article

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gjpatry	Universal Restoration Article	Lead	[-]
Feb 28 12 5:16 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Great article on the Universal restorations on thedigitalbits.com http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/adamjahnke/jahnke022812.html Gary
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Camps		#1	[-]
Feb 29 12 9:30 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	"Inside the Vault at Universal"?? Really??!! When was the last time these guys even entered their vault? Same ol' same ol' from them every time. 5,000 movie titles in their vault and they keep re-releasing the same 50 every few years. How many new restorations of "Pillow Talk" am I supposed to get excited about??!! MAYBE Universal will take this 100th anniversary occasion to make an effort to cough up some of the stuff they've never ever unearthed from their vaults -- like the classic Paramount horrors, and other unaired/unreleased Universal films of the '30s-'50s. Or let Criterion do the job (like they did with "Island of Lost Souls")! Or at least license them to Netflix Streaming or to TCM (if you're not going to get around to launching your own classic movie channel -- note I said "classic"...) If these untouched films are tied up in rights hell, then do a little publicity about that fact (maybe we can write to the heirs to stop depriving us). But "Congratulations to Universal on its 100th Anniversary. The best part is that it looks like we'll be getting all the presents." Really??!! Puh-leeze... Last Edited By: Camps Feb 29 12 9:40 AM. Edited 1 times.
mdnitoil		#2	[-]
Feb 29 12 6:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well, the Bits has long been famous for being a studio suck-up. About the only time they grow a spine is when Lucas screws around a little more with Star Wars...and even then they quickly recover from the experience. My DVD Collection
rvoyttbots		#3	[-]
Feb 29 12 6:40 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Universal still had the uncut SON OF FRANKENSTEIN in their vaults when the VHS was released. But they didn`t use it for the VHS and it has reportedly been destroyed in the last fire at Universal a couple years ago.
Wich2		#4	[-]
Feb 29 12 7:25 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The article largely reads like a transcription of the in-house video puff piece we already saw from Uni.
pulp novelties		#5	[-]
Feb 29 12 8:43 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It pretty-much confirms that the only Uni-horror on Blu you should expect is FRANKENSTEIN, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, DRACULA, & THE BIRDS. I Imagine weather or not the buck stops there will depend on sales, or if other labels sublease. I was hoping they'd get to VERTIGO, but I suppose that was technically a Paramount originally.
TServo4		#6	[-]
Feb 29 12 8:53 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Universal still had the uncut SON OF FRANKENSTEIN in their vaults when the VHS was released. But they didn`t use it for the VHS and it has reportedly been destroyed in the last fire at Universal a couple years ago. This is not the case. The longer version (which was a international cut) still exists. Original film elements were not destroyed in the fire and didn't even reside in the same state at the time. When was the last time these guys even entered their vault? Same ol' same ol' from them every time. 5,000 movie titles in their vault and they keep re-releasing the same 50 every few years. How many new restorations of "Pillow Talk" am I supposed to get excited about??!! Sorry to be curt, but what rock have you been under? This question is asked every time some new video format comes out, and the answer remains the same—some films justify the cost of their video production in home video sales, and others don't. Why look a gift horse in the mouth when you're getting HD transfers of things like ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, FRANKENSTEIN, DRACULA, PSYCHO and the like? As much as I would like to see something obscure like A HOUSE DIVIDED turn up on Blu-Ray, it ain't gonna happen, and that's not even in the scope of what they're trying to do here, which is celebrate the studio's greatest hits. J. Theakston Capitol Theatre, Rome, NY
Camps		#7	[-]
Feb 29 12 10:16 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	TServo4 wrote: Sorry to be curt, but what rock have you been under? This question is asked every time some new video format comes out, and the answer remains the same—some films justify the cost of their video production in home video sales, and others don't. Why look a gift horse in the mouth when you're getting HD transfers of things like ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, FRANKENSTEIN, DRACULA, PSYCHO and the like? As much as I would like to see something obscure like A HOUSE DIVIDED turn up on Blu-Ray, it ain't gonna happen, and that's not even in the scope of what they're trying to do here, which is celebrate the studio's greatest hits. Hello, curt. Actually, I've been under the same rock from whence I happily bought Uni's Bela Lugosi Collection, Boris Karloff Collection, Dracula Legacy Collection, Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection (Vols 1&2), Universal Horror Classic Movie Archive and Universal Cult Horror Collection, as well as numerous individual Uni titles. Whoever was calling the shots at Uni Home Video when those collections were produced deserves kudos. But since the Cult Horror Collection (at least 3 years ago), nada on the genre front... other than a couple of MODs (Death Takes a Holiday, House of 7 Gables) and re-treads (Dr Cyclops, Incredible Shrinking Man). Believe me, I can appreciate as well as anyone the importance of a willing marketplace before a studio cranks up the DVD burners. But the folks at Warner have shown us all that the MOD model is a reasonable alternative. (And please, this is not an invitation for some people to bellyache about MOD prices; if you don't want to pay them, don't. I will.) I repeat, Uni Home Video: Don't let the other 4,450 Uni and classic Par titles rot in the vault; license them to TCM or Netflix; start a real MOD program or throw your lot in with Warner (as have Columbia and MGM). Trust me, you'll find willing customers out there, and profits. The other studios seem to have... (And you can be curt with me anytime, TServo... ) Last Edited By: Camps Feb 29 12 10:18 PM. Edited 1 times.
Joe Karlosi		#8	[-]
Mar 1 12 9:23 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Not to be curt either, but it's always the same thing -- "but it won't justify video sales!!"... but then something comes along like Criterion's ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, so who can say for sure? I think Universal at least realizes that their classic monster series is popular. "Guy named Squeamy got thrown from the fifth floor. He's deader'n a mackerel."
Camps		#9	[-]
Mar 1 12 10:08 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well said (or I guess I should say, "written"), Joe. All I'm saying is that I'm frankly done with buying upgrades of the same Uni monster flicks (the Frankensteins, Draculas, Wolfmans, Mummies, Creatures -- unless they produce a 3-D DVD) which I've already purchased from them on DVD. Others may be lining up for Blu-Rays of each of these, and that's fine. But what I'm waiting for (and I believe Uni would be making the right bet if it gambled others were waiting like me) are titles never before released on any format, nor to TV in recent memory (and/or for which, frankly, there are no really decent boots ). To wit: Classic Paramount horrors/mysteries: MURDER BY THE CLOCK, TERROR ABOARD, MENACE, DOUBLE DOOR, MAD DOCTOR, AMONG THE LIVING, MAN IN HALF MOON STREET, NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Universal mysteries: GREAT IMPERSONATION, the CRIME CLUB series, MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET Universal '50s "B" pics: THING THAT COULDN'T DIE, GIRL IN THE KREMLIN, NIGHT RUNNER If these films are tied up in Rights Hell, or if they're lost in the recent fire, then the next Digital Bits article should be about THAT -- not about the umpteenth reissue (regardless of format) of oft-seen titles.
TServo4		#10	[-]
Mar 1 12 12:03 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Not to be curt either, but it's always the same thing -- "but it won't justify video sales!!"... but then something comes along like Criterion's ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, so who can say for sure? I think Universal at least realizes that their classic monster series is popular. Oh Joe, you're such a devil's advocate... There's a huge difference between the business model Criterion uses and the on Universal uses, that's why. Again, the point of these releases is that U is putting out their "big hits" to celebrate their 100th Anniversary. MUMMY'S TOMB ain't that. For what it's worth, don't be surprised if you eventually get your wish. MOD is the new business model for catalog titles. I'm sure Universal will follow that route shortly. J. Theakston Capitol Theatre, Rome, NY
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Wich2		#11	[-]
Mar 1 12 12:05 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	And by the way - Jack, do we know what kind of numbers IOLS has done for Criterion?
Joe Karlosi		#12	[-]
Mar 1 12 12:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Even if Criterion did not do good numbers, that's beside the point to me. In fact, it speaks even more positively if it didn't do knockout sales... because it was decided to release the disc and do well by the film anyhow, even if it wouldn't make enough. Plenty of other more successful titles take up that slack. Again, the point of these releases is that U is putting out their "big hits" to celebrate their 100th Anniversary. MUMMY'S TOMB ain't that. I can agree there, if that's the criteria. For what it's worth, don't be surprised if you eventually get your wish. MOD is the new business model for catalog titles. I'm sure Universal will follow that route shortly. This is a small solace. But I still feel the studios have discovered they could make money by dictating the MOD route for consumers; not that the consumers forced their hand that way. "Guy named Squeamy got thrown from the fifth floor. He's deader'n a mackerel." Last Edited By: Joe Karlosi Mar 1 12 12:27 PM. Edited 2 times.
luisj40		#13	[-]
Mar 1 12 2:21 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Camps wrote: Well said (or I guess I should say, "written"), Joe. All I'm saying is that I'm frankly done with buying upgrades of the same Uni monster flicks (the Frankensteins, Draculas, Wolfmans, Mummies, Creatures -- unless they produce a 3-D DVD) which I've already purchased from them on DVD. Others may be lining up for Blu-Rays of each of these, and that's fine. But what I'm waiting for (and I believe Uni would be making the right bet if it gambled others were waiting like me) are titles never before released on any format, nor to TV in recent memory (and/or for which, frankly, there are no really decent boots ). To wit: Classic Paramount horrors/mysteries: MURDER BY THE CLOCK, TERROR ABOARD, MENACE, DOUBLE DOOR, MAD DOCTOR, AMONG THE LIVING, MAN IN HALF MOON STREET, NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Universal mysteries: GREAT IMPERSONATION, the CRIME CLUB series, MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET Universal '50s "B" pics: THING THAT COULDN'T DIE, GIRL IN THE KREMLIN, NIGHT RUNNER If these films are tied up in Rights Hell, or if they're lost in the recent fire, then the next Digital Bits article should be about THAT -- not about the umpteenth reissue (regardless of format) of oft-seen titles. And MONSTER AND THE GIRL is MIA too. Come on Universal give us some new releases. Luis
Camps		#14	[-]
Mar 1 12 2:31 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	TServo4 wrote: For what it's worth, don't be surprised if you eventually get your wish. MOD is the new business model for catalog titles. I'm sure Universal will follow that route shortly. From your lips to God's ears, TServo4. Whatever it takes to get those vaults pried open a little further to let the obscurities escape. If you have any friends in Burbank, please pass along the word: We have some ready customers here....
pulp novelties		#15	[-]
Mar 1 12 3:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I see zero likelihood that Universal will ever release a pressed set of deep-vault 30's, 40's, and 50's stuff any longer. Most of it needs too much work and we haven't seen these titles broadcast with masters that are less than 15 years old at this point. Maybe MOD, maybe TCM MOD. Even those are a case where a title gets some sort of TV syndication master first. Something like MURDER BY THE CLOCK may now be too obscure, and too compromised for them to see any return on creating a master. According to the fellow at Twilight Time, they don't even touch film for their releases, they just use the masters the studios provide. I'm serious when I suggest Universal should just sell-off their 30's/40's unreleased titles, but they may have waited even too long for that. When you buy the library of films, you understandably want a few cash-cows in the mix to sweeten the deal, otherwise you're just buying a lot of can of brittle acetate and crumbling nitrate, that can never make you much if any money and cost money to store. It's one thing to have bad movies to sell that at least people have heard of and another to have "OK" movies that have fallen into near-total obscurity. Even Warner who's been the best at resurrecting this stuff has never seen fit to put out an "official" release of MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, unceremoniously dumping it as an extra for the better-known remakes, and that's back when the market was hopping.
Camps		#16	[-]
Mar 1 12 5:32 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Fair enough. So it seems Universal has been a less conscientious/diligent steward of its older/ more obscure library titles than has Warner -- one obvious reason for which is that Uni did not have its own movie channel a la TCM. So it seems Uni has these choices to make: 1) Try to find buyers for its unreleased '30s-'40s titles, as you suggest, Pulp 2) Try to make a go of the MOD business -- either via their TCM-branded distribution channel or by picking up the phone and calling George Feltenstein at Warner 3) Try to interest Netflix in licensing titles for streaming (Netflix already offers a handful of Universal obscurities, like MANEATER OF KUMAON ('48)), and/or TCM for cable exploitation 4) Just leave the titles in the warehouse to literally rot 5) Throw in the towel on ANY effort ever to exploit the majority of this 5,000-title library, remove the prints they DO want to keep, and plow the warehouse and what remains there to make way for a parking lot (L.A. always needs more parking space...) Who here thinks #5 makes the most sense for Uni? (Los Angeles residents need not answer... )
TServo4		#17	[-]
Mar 1 12 5:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Nothing is crumbling. Universal has an EXCELLENT archive department and all of their films are safe and sound. Universal has masters on a number of their titles, and as they do preservation and restoration, have been upgrading many of their masters. Much of what has turned up on TCM is thanks to this practice. If you don't like MOD, you're going to just have to deal with it. It's the only inevitable option past not releasing these films at all, and frankly, you have no other option, because it isn't going to happen any other way. J. Theakston Capitol Theatre, Rome, NY Last Edited By: TServo4 Mar 1 12 5:51 PM. Edited 1 times.
gfanikf		#18	[-]
Mar 1 12 6:13 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Can someone tell me more about this international version of Son? Also didn't the US version of KKvG get tanked in the Uni fire? HK AND CULT FILM NEWS Your source for all the latest Hong Kong and Cult Films DVD News and Reviews! I actually said he was da bomb but my main man Dennis didn't peep me right.- Tom "Big Daddy" Weaver.
pulp novelties		#19	[-]
Mar 1 12 6:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	TServo4 wrote: Nothing is crumbling. Universal has an EXCELLENT archive department and all of their films are safe and sound. Universal has masters on a number of their titles, and as they do preservation and restoration, have been upgrading many of their masters. Much of what has turned up on TCM is thanks to this practice. If you don't like MOD, you're going to just have to deal with it. It's the only inevitable option past not releasing these films at all, and frankly, you have no other option, because it isn't going to happen any other way. Well, that's all good news, why they don't even do much MOD is a mystery though. Why not get some of those masters out there while anyone with a pulse and a buck can still remember they exist? I'm not sure why the whole MOD thing creaks along at such a sluggish and occasionally flawed pace. Stop me if I'm wrong, but isn't it just a big hard-drive & server that holds a digital file of movies, and poops out a disk and cover when said title is selected?
Jameson281		#20	[-]
Mar 1 12 6:27 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	gfanikf wrote: Also didn't the US version of KKvG get tanked in the Uni fire? Only the video master, and it has since been retransferred. (The studio's repertory print might also have been destroyed; not sure about that. But the original film elements are safe.)
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