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Posted: |
Jun 13, 2019 - 12:59 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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One of the few biblical spectacles that has not had any video release is THE BIG FISHERMAN. Released in 1959, three months before BEN-HUR, THE BIG FISHERMAN was an also-ran at the box office, grossing only $8.6 million (to BEN-HUR's $59 million). Even so, the film likely broke even on its $4 million budget.
Although considered an artistic failure as well as a box office disappointment, the film probably deserves a reappraisal, if for no other reason than its pedigree. It was based on a book by Lloyd C. Douglas, his follow-up to The Robe. It was the final credited film directed by the great Frank Borzage. It had Oscar-nominated cinematography by Lee Garmes, and was the first feature shot in Super Panavision.
Unfortunately, the film has only been seen in recent decades on rare showings by Turner Classic Movies, in a pan-and-scan print. Disney controls the film today, because they provided much of the original financing and distribution.
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KEY WITNESS, the second and final feature film of recently deceased actress Susan Harrison, has never had any home video release. The film also starred Jeffrey Hunter, Dennis Hopper, and pop singer Johnny Nash ("I Can See Clearly Now", 1972). Because of its violence and sexuality, this controversial 1960 juvenile delinquent film had to undergo numerous changes in script and editing before it received a seal of approval from the Production Code Authority of the time. KEY WITNESS, sometimes referred to as the first "neo-noir" film, was directed by veteran Phil Karlson (THE PHENIX CITY STORY. THE SCARFACE MOB, WALKING TALL).
I'm not sure why this MGM film is missing from video. It was originally copyrighted by Loew's Inc. & Avon Productions, Inc. When the copyright was renewed in 1987, ownership changed to Turner Entertainment Company (as successor in interest to Loew’s, Inc.); Pandro C. Berman & Kathryn Berman; and the Weingarten Trust.
Turner Entertainment is now owned by Warner Bros. Pandro and Kathryn Berman were the film's producers. I don't know who controls the Weingarten Trust. Copyright records show that the Bermans and the Weingarten Trust also have an interest in two other films: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF and THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE. Like KEY WITNESS, those two films were Avon Productions, so it may be that the Trust or the Bermans or both are successor owners to that company. Since those other two films are on DVD, it's hard to say what the problem is with KEY WITNESS. The film has appeared on Turner Classic Movies in the distant past.
This has just been added to our board. Thanks again for all of the fascinating information provided on this title. Here is the Pinterest Board as it currently stands:
https://www.pinterest.com.au/TheCinemaCafe/the-community-chest-most-wanted-by-fans-on-dvd-or-/
Any board updates, additional suggestions or errors from any of our readers here are greatly appreciated!
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One of the few biblical spectacles that has not had any video release is THE BIG FISHERMAN. Released in 1959, three months before BEN-HUR, THE BIG FISHERMAN was an also-ran at the box office, grossing only $8.6 million (to BEN-HUR's $59 million). Even so, the film likely broke even on its $4 million budget.
Although considered an artistic failure as well as a box office disappointment, the film probably deserves a reappraisal, if for no other reason than its pedigree. It was based on a book by Lloyd C. Douglas, his follow-up to The Robe. It was the final credited film directed by the great Frank Borzage. It had Oscar-nominated cinematography by Lee Garmes, and was the first feature shot in Super Panavision.
Unfortunately, the film has only been seen in recent decades on rare showings by Turner Classic Movies, in a pan-and-scan print. Disney controls the film today, because they provided much of the original financing and distribution.
This has also been added to our board here: https://www.pinterest.com.au/TheCinemaCafe/the-community-chest-most-wanted-by-fans-on-dvd-or-/ Thanks, Bob!
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Posted: |
Jun 28, 2019 - 4:25 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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One of the forgotten films noir is the 1954 Edward G. Robinson film BLACK TUESDAY. In the film, gangster "Vincent Canelli" (Robinson) and bank robber "Peter Manning" (Peter Graves) plot to escape from Death Row minutes before their execution by electric chair. Leonard Maltin gives the film 3 stars and calls it a "throw-back to 1930-ish gangster films," with Jean Parker good as the moll.
The New York Times said the film was "like one of those smoothly-machined, old fashioned gangster melodrama's of the Cagney-Robinson era," and remarked that "Sidney Boehm's script is cryptic and literate, and Hugo Fregonese has directed the picture in taut and graphic style." Because of its violence, the film was banned by the Memphis, Tennessee Censor Board.
BLACK TUESDAY has never appeared on any home video format. The film was the first United Artists release under that company's agreement with the late Leonard Goldstein's independent production unit, then under the command of Robert Goldstein. The picture was originally copyrighted by Leonard Goldstein Productions, but when the copyright was renewed in 1982, ownership was transferred to United Artists Corporation. That would seem to make it the property of MGM. Since the screenplay was an original one, story rights should not be a problem. The only other film attributed to Leonard Goldstein Productions is the 1955 Joel McCrea western STRANGER ON HORSEBACK. VCI released that film on DVD back in 2008, and there was talk as early as 2005 that VCI would release BLACK TUESDAY, but it never happened.
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No way!
Second most ruthless Robinson- at best!
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One of the forgotten films noir is the 1954 Edward G. Robinson film BLACK TUESDAY. In the film, gangster "Vincent Canelli" (Robinson) and bank robber "Peter Manning" (Peter Graves) plot to escape from Death Row minutes before their execution by electric chair. Leonard Maltin gives the film 3 stars and calls it a "throw-back to 1930-ish gangster films," with Jean Parker good as the moll.
The New York Times said the film was "like one of those smoothly-machined, old fashioned gangster melodrama's of the Cagney-Robinson era," and remarked that "Sidney Boehm's script is cryptic and literate, and Hugo Fregonese has directed the picture in taut and graphic style." Because of its violence, the film was banned by the Memphis, Tennessee Censor Board.
BLACK TUESDAY has never appeared on any home video format. The film was the first United Artists release under that company's agreement with the late Leonard Goldstein's independent production unit, then under the command of Robert Goldstein. The picture was originally copyrighted by Leonard Goldstein Productions, but when the copyright was renewed in 1982, ownership was transferred to United Artists Corporation. That would seem to make it the property of MGM. Since the screenplay was an original one, story rights should not be a problem. The only other film attributed to Leonard Goldstein Productions is the 1955 Joel McCrea western STRANGER ON HORSEBACK. VCI released that film on DVD back in 2008, and there was talk as early as 2005 that VCI would release BLACK TUESDAY, but it never happened.
I'm so glad you posted this here because it is an upcoming Cinema Cafe Hidden Gem of the Week and I wanted to confirm with you that there was no current release on home video. Thanks for that and all of the added information, Bob! It has been posted to the "Most Wanted..." Pinterest Board: https://www.pinterest.com.au/TheCinemaCafe/the-community-chest-most-wanted-by-fans-on-dvd-or-/
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Posted: |
Jul 6, 2019 - 12:03 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Business isn’t exactly booming for private detective “Peter Joseph Detweiler” (George Peppard), better known as P.J. His makeshift office is in a bar belonging to his only friend “Charlie” (Herb Edelman), his sporadic jobs include entrapping cheating wives, and he is not above drowning his sorrows in liquor. So when wealthy magnate “William Orbison” (Raymond Burr) offers him a substantial fee to be a bodyguard for his mistress, “Maureen Prebble” (Gayle Hunnicutt), he jumps at the chance.
John Guillermin directed this action drama, which has not had a home video release on any format. There doesn't seem to be any legal reason for its absence. The film was copyrighted by Universal Pictures in 1968, who renewed the copyright in 1995. Philip Reisman Jr. co-wrote the story with long-time Universal writer-director Edward J. Montagne, and provided the original screenplay. Perhaps the film elements have been misplaced or lost in some fire or flood. The film was not particularly profitable in its day; its $2.9 million gross barely places it in the top 100 films released in 1968. But a number of lower-grossing films have been released from that year alone.
My guess is that it's just a lack of star-power for the film. The Universal Vault Series has released the lower-grossing 1968 films A LOVELY WAY TO DIE (Kirk Douglas) and CHARLIE BUBBLES (Albert Finney). But apparently George Peppard doesn't cut it. Universal has also not released its even lower-grossing 1968 Peppard film WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT FEELING GOOD? (with Mary Tyler Moore). And the lower-grossing-still 1968 Peppard film HOUSE OF CARDS (with Orson Welles; also directed by John Guillerman) has only been released outside the U.S., where Welles is the selling point. On the Spanish DVD cover, the third-billed Welles' image and name are featured above Peppard and co-star Inger Stevens:
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One more:
THE GROUNDSTAR CONSPIRACY
previously released but long oop
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