Tales of Wells Fargo - Out Next Week

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Tales of Wells Fargo July 14th Timeless Media Retail: $69.98, Our: $39.99

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Timeless Media has Tales of Wells Fargo hitting the streets next week. The 6-disc set will be a "Best of" collection containing 46 episodes. The sole bonus feature, and a good one it is, is an interview with Dale Robertson. More details below.

It will retail for $69.98, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $39.99.

SYNOPSIS:
The 1950s ushered in the Golden Era of the TV Western, one of the most popular genres ever produced for the small screen. Every network had numerous westerns on the air, ranging from children's Saturday afternoon fare to adult prime time dramas. At on time over 32 hours of western entertainment were available on 3 networks! One of the most memorable of all, Tales of Wells Fargo, premiered on NBC Television in 1956, instantly rising to #3 in the ratings in its fist season.

When people think of Tales of Wells Fargo, images of rearing horses and blazing guns comes to mind, and of course, the one and only Dale Robertson as Agent Jim Hardie, troubleshooter for the Wells Fargo stage coach line. Not a typical heartthrob, Robertson managed to portray a rough and tough lawman and a gentle and sympathetic soul at the same time, winning over both male and female viewers with each exciting half-hour episode.

The Wells Fargo Stage Line played a heroic role in the history of the West, ferrying passengers and cargo from Missouri to California over a harsh and sometimes hostile land. in Tales of Wells Fargo, Agent Hardie faced weekly tests of will and character, as he protected the stage coaches from outlaws, bandits and Indian raiders, seeing them safely through their journey.

Each week, a great line-up of guest stars joined Robertson on the road west, including some of the best actors in hollywood. The list includes Chuck Connors (The Thin Rope), Lee van Cleef (Alder Gulch), Michael Landon (Sam Bass), Denver Pyle (Renegade Raiders), Jack Elam (The Hijackers) and one of Steve McQueen's first appearances on network TV (Bill Longley)!

In the tradition of its best selling releases of Wagon Train and Laredo, TMG and NBC Universal are proud to present the best of the first five seasons of Tales of Wells Fargo, 46 episodes of the very best in classic television westerns. So saddle up and hit the trail!

DVD Release Score Card - Second Quarter

In our quarterly assessment of classic titles released on DVD, there's no other way to put it -- it stinks. Last quarter's Score Card showing a 20% decline in output even looks good when compared to the second quarter.

Classic releases on DVD are down 133% between April and June this year when compared to last and down 68% for the year overall. The top chart (below) compares releases during the second quarter this year and last. The bottom chart compares releases for the first six months of 2009 with 2008.

In brief:

Major Labels

• Only Sony was up last quarter, but isn't exactly blazing a trail. Although their Jack Lemmon Collection was a welcome release last month.
• Universal stayed even, but only thanks to the release of their Pre-Code Collection.
• MGM's seven releases don't look so bad, except when compared to last year's thirteen.
• Paramount is down, but at least seven are on the schedule for the next three months.
• Warner is down drastically, but the stats do not take into account the Warner Archive Collection which at present sits at 198 titles.
• Most abysmal is Fox which only released Man Hunt this quarter and has a grand total of only three titles released so far this year.

Smaller Labels

• VCI is down this quarter, but up for the year overall. They're also set well for for the third quarter with 20 titles already on schedule.
  
• Infinity is doing well with it's TV releases and should keep a steady pace the rest of the year.
• Criterion is down with the Korda Eclipse Collection being their only recent release.
  
• Kino is far behind and looks to have set their pace at one release per quarter.
• Shout! Factory is behind, but has Mister Ed - Season 1 and The Patty Duke Show - Season 1 due out.
• Timeless Media had a goose egg this quarter, but will catch up with a couple of more TV shows and a couple of western features on tap.

Silver Lining

Most understand that precipitaing the reduction of classic film releases are the overall reduced demand in the marketplace for DVDs and, of course, the economy. But, as mentioned above, Warner has released 198 Archive titles and has turned a bad situation into a boon for classic film fans. Through Archive, Warner will release at least 300 Archive titles by years end. Most of which would probably not make it to a standard DVD release.

Even more encouraging, if the 198 were added to the numbers below, overall releases would be up this year 314 to 195 over the first six months. There are no bells and whistles, and they're not restored, but at least they are out of the vaults. Hopefully the other major studios will follow suit shortly.

Criteria

• Only titles that are new to DVD are counted (no "Special Editions" or Blu-ray)
  
• Boxed sets count the tiles in the set and not the set itself (ex. The recently released Doris Day Spotlight Collection counts as 5 and not 1)
  
• Re-released titles don't count, except ones that are were out of print (ex. Rembrandt in the recent Korda Eclipse Collection)
• Not included here are PD labels like Alpha
• Warner Archive titles are not included
  
• Yellow is for studios behind last year's pace. Green for ahead.

DVD SCORE CARD - Second Quarter:

DVD SCORE CARD - Year to Date:

WARNER ARCHIVE: 13 More in Al Jolson / Elizabeth Taylor Wave

WBShop has just listed thirteen more Warner Archive titles as available for pre-order in what we're dubbing their Al Jolson / Elizabeth Taylor wave.

You can find them HERE in the Recent Additions section. There are six Jolson titles including The Singing Kid (1936) and Wonder Bar (1934) and four Taylor titles inlcuding Love is Better Than Ever (1952). The remaining three are It's a Big Country (1952), The Story of Mankind (1957) and Weekend at the Waldorf (1945).

All are now available for rent, but will be a couple of weeks before they are available for shipment.

NOTE: Mammy (1930) which we listed as released has been removed from Warner's site. We're still keeping it available as we expect for them to re-list it in the near future. Also listed briefly at WBShop yesterday, then pulled, was Rhapsody (1953) and The Story of Three Loves (1953). We haven't listed them yet, but will as soon as they're back up and available at Warner.

Saturday Morning Cartoons - 1960's, Vol. 2 in October

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Saturday Morning Cartoons - 1960's, Vol. 2 October 27th Warner Home Video Retail: 26.98, Our: $20.99

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Warner has announced an October 27th street date for Saturday Morning Cartoons - 1960's, Vol. 2. This follow up to volume 1 which was released in May will also be a 2-disc set.

Details are down below, but are subject to change. Bonus features are also sketchy, but it looks like commentaries and featurettes are in store as well.

New material looks to be about 40/60 with new to DVD episodes from the likes of Johnny Cypher and Herculoid. The majority, however, are made up of titles already on DVD (Flinstones, Jetsons, etc.).

It will retail for $26.98, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $20.99.

EPISODES:

• Johnny Cypher in Dimension Zero:
  • Attack from Out of Space
  • Rhom Super Criminal
  • The Eye of Ramapoor
• Peter Potamus: Fe Fi Fo Fun
• Flintstones: The Flintstones Flyer
• The Porky Pig Show:
  • Scaredy Cat
  • Baton Bunny
  • Feather Dusted
• Frankenstein Jr. & The Impossibles:
  • The Shocking Electric Monster
  • The Bubbler
• Adventures of Aquaman:
  • Menace of the Blanc Manta
  • The Rampaging Reptile-Men
  • The Return of Nepto
• Herculoid:
  • The Beaked People
  • The Raider Apes
• Space Ghost & Dino Boy
  • The Heat Thing
  • The Worm People
  • Zorak
  • Superman: The Force Phantom
• The Jetsons:
  • A Date with Jet Screamer
• The Road Runner Show:
  • Beep Beep
  • Satan's Waitin
  • Chili con Carne
• Magilla Gorilla: Gridiron Gorilla
• Tom & Jerry Show:
  • No Bones About It
  • An Ill Wind
  • Beach Bully

BONUS FEATURES:

• Audio Commentaries
• Featurette

VCI: British Cinema - Renown Pictures Comedy Collection in August

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE: TITLES:

British Cinema - Renown Pictures Comedy Collection August 25th VCI Retail $29.99, Our: $19.99 Where There's a Will (1955), Down Among the Z Men (1952), Love in Pawn (1953), Those People Next Door (1953), No Smoking (1955), Not So Dusty (1956)

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VCI has announced an August 25th release date for British Cinema - Renown Pictures Comedy Collection. Titles in the set include: Where There's a Will (1955), Down Among the Z Men (1952), Love in Pawn (1953), Those People Next Door (1953), No Smoking (1955) and Not So Dusty (1956).

The two-disc set will retail for $29.99, but is available at Classicflix.com for only $19.99. Bonus features will be trailers. Details below.

Where There's a Will (1955, 79 min.)
A trio inherits a ramshackle Windrush Farm Devonshire leading to mystery & humor! The two sisters, Amy and Maud are all for selling the farm and returning to their beloved London. However, Alfie sees the opportunity to fulfill his dreams of becoming a farmer. Complications arise when Alfie learns that the mortgage has been secretly purchased by a neighboring farmer who has had a running feud with the dead uncle for years. From one hilarious event to another and in steps the Ministry of Agriculture stating that the farm is being commandeered! It hasn’t been worked according to government regulations. Then, one more “kink!” Annie discovers that she is nominated as the sole beneficiary. The farm is hers – then she has no problem persuading Alfie to stay and help her run the farm as her husband.

Down Among the Z Men (1952, 68 min.)
An absent minded professor loses the top secret formula in the Grocery shop. When it is found by “Bats of the Yard” he proudly attempts to return it to the professor. Crazy comedy ensues.

Love in Pawn (1953, 81 min.)
A British comedy about a struggling artist and his wife living on a houseboat. To raise money she pawns him! His new family takes a liking to him – particularly the daughter! The wife tries to redeem her husband but finds she has lost the pawn ticket. In a short matter of time, the whole incident becomes a national sensation. Eventually, the husband arrives back at the houseboat just in time to prevent the wife from leaving him.

Those People Next Door (1953, 77 min.)
Sam Twigg is bothered by the escapades of two troublesome daughters and a son – and, the Germans. The older daughter falls for a RAF officer, son of titled parents. Things begin to get interesting between the families just as the flier is reported shot down. When he then arrives with a broken leg, the families unite.

No Smoking (1955, 72 min.)
A simple country chemist invents a pill that stops people smoking. An ex-GI persuades him to market the pill with him as the high-pressure publicity agent boosting the project.

Not So Dusty (1956, 80 min.)
Dusty and Nobby are a pair of dustmen who come into possession of a valuable book.

BONUS FEATURE:

• Trailers

Laramie - The Final Season in September

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Laramie - The Final Season September 15th Timeless Media Retail: $69.98, Our: $39.99

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More news from Timeless Media as they've set a September 15th release date for Laramie - The Final Season. The 6-disc set will include all of season four's color episodes. Bonus features are not yet known.

It will retail for $69.98, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $39.99.

NOTE: Timeless has now released season's 3 & 4, but season's 1 & 2 are still unavailable on DVD. They have informed us that their intention is to release them, but that they are still missing some episodes from those seasons so they are unable to put together a complete season for either. If there are any collector's out there that may have access to good prints from episodes in either season's 1 or 2, please contact Timeless Media Group at 1-800-547-6014.

SYNOPSIS:
The 1960's were a boom time for television westerns, with over 32 hours of prime time every week, on just three channels! One of the most watched and beloved of those shows was Laramie, which ran from 1959 to 1963, and is considered by many to be one of the best family westerns of all time. Now, TMG and NBC Universal bring you all 32 episodes of Laramie - The Final Season in color on six DVD discs.

Originally airing in black and white, the series centered on the story of two brothers and a drifter who run a stage-stop in the Wyoming Territory of the late 1870's. John Smith (Cimarron City) plays the older brother, Slim Sherman, and Robert Crawford Jr. (brother of The Rifleman's Johnny Crawford) plays Sherman's younger brother Andy. When Jess Harper, played by the iconic Robert Fuller (Wagon Train, Emergency!), drifts into Laramie, he joins up with the brothers in their struggle against long odds.

John Smith and Robert Fuller brought great chemistry to their roles in Laramie. Their opposing temperaments and strengths complimented each other on screen like few other duos in the western television genre. It is interesting to note that the producers originally wanted the two actors to switch roles. Robert and John dug in their heels, and the correctness of their decision is immediately apparent as you watch them interact!

After two seasons in black and white, the third and fourth seasons were filmed in color.

The San Francisco Story, Treasure of Ruby Hills in August

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

The San Francisco Story (1952) August 25th Timeless Media Retail: $7.98, Our: $5.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Treasure of Ruby Hills (1955) August 25th Timeless Media Retail: $7.98, Our: $5.99

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A couple of westerns are on tap for an August 25th release date from Timeless Media: The San Francisco Story (1952) starring Joel McCrea and Yvonne DeCarlo and Treasure of Ruby Hills (1955) starring Zachary Scott, Carole Mathews and Barton MacLane.

Both are in black and white, and while The San Francisco Story will be in the original full screen, it is not yet known whether Treasure of Ruby Hills will be in the OAR of 1.85:1.

Both are single disc releases with no bonus features expected. Each will retail for $7.98, but are available at Classicflix.com for only $5.99. Details below. Artwork for Treasure to follow.

The San Francisco Story (1952)
The rip-roaring California Gold Rush city of 1850's, San Francisco comes to life in this gripping western tale of love and law and order on the Barbary Coast.

Rick Nelson (Joel McCrea), after striking it rich in the gold rush, comes to San Francisco to help crusading newspaper editor Jim Martin (Onslow Stevens) clean up the city that crooked politician Andrew Cain (Sidney Blackmer) has under his thumb. When Nelson meets beautiful Adelaide (Yvonne DeCarlo), he makes his cause personal to put Cain out of business for good!

Treasure of Ruby Hills (1955)
Ross Haney's (Zachary Scott) plans to settle down peacefully on the piece of land he just purchased are thrown for a loop when he's thrust into an epic feud with a pair of dirty cattle ranchers. Just when he thinks it can't get any worse, Haney discovers that the scheming Double V Ranch foreman is also angling to gain control over the valley.

WWII Double Feature: Jungle Patrol & The Silent Raiders in August

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE: TITLES:

WWII Double Feature August 25th VCI Retail: $19.99, Our: $14.99 Jungle Patrol (1948), The Silent Raiders (1954)

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VCI has announced WWII Double Feature for release on August 25th. It will feature a couple of B's: Jungle Patrol (1948) and The Silent Raiders (1954) .

The single disc release will retail for $19.99, but is available at Classicflix.com for only $14.99. A bonus feature included is 60 minutes of actual combat footage.

Jungle Patrol (1948, 71 min.)
Machine-gun action and suspense are the backdrop of a love story in this tense tale of eight young USAF flyers stationed in World War II New Guinea. Their orders: to intercept Japanese bombers headed for Australian objectives. Their record: An amazing 100 percent. But with a heavy formation of Jap bombers now en route and our boys hopelessly outnumbered, it looks as though their unnatural luck is about to run out.

The Silent Raiders (1954, 65 min.)
Their assignment amounted to “kill or be killed”: During World War II, just prior to D-Day, a seven-man unit arrives on the French coast with orders to help wipe out a German communications center three miles inland. There’s suspense in the Steel Helmet tradition as the men attempt to hold the captured building against the enemy and their snipers.

BONUS FEATURE:

• 60 Minutes of Actual Combat Footage