My Fair Lady in October

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

My Fair Lady (1964) October 6th Paramount Retail: $19.99, Our: $14.99

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Formerly in Warner's hands, with several releases including a 2-Disc Special Edition, My Fair Lady (1964) is being given a brand new release from its new rights holder Paramount.

All new special features are listed below, but at this time remain vague. It will retail for $19.99, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $14.99.

NOTE: It is rare that we keep two versions of the same film as we usually stick with the superior version of any DVD. However, in this case we'll keep the 2-Disc Special Edition available for rent as it holds many bonus features that this release will not.

EDITORIAL NOTE: With the DVD market flooded with the film, it may seem premature for Paramount to release My Fair Lady. However, it is likely they are trying to gauge consumer reception for a potential Blu-Ray release.

SYNOPSIS:
At one time the longest-running Broadway musical, My Fair Lady was adapted by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe from the George Bernard Shaw comedy Pygmalion. Outside Covent Garden on a rainy evening in 1912, dishevelled cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) meets linguistic expert Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison). After delivering a musical tirade against "verbal class distinction," Higgins tells his companion Colonel Pickering (Wilfred Hyde-White) that, within six months, he could transform Eliza into a proper lady, simply by teaching her proper English.

The next morning, face and hands freshly scrubbed, Eliza presents herself on Higgins' doorstep, offering to pay him to teach her to be a lady. "It's almost irresistable," clucks Higgins. "She's so deliciously low. So horribly dirty." He turns his mission into a sporting proposition, making a bet with Pickering that he can accomplish his six-month miracle to turn Eliza into a lady.

This is one of the all-time great movie musicals, featuring classic songs and the legendary performances of Harrison, repeating his stage role after Cary Grant wisely turned down the movie job, and Stanley Holloway as Eliza's dustman father. Julie Andrews originated the role of Eliza on Broadway but producer Jack Warner felt that Andrews, at the time unknown beyond Broadway, wasn't bankable; Hepburn's singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon, who also dubbed Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961). Andrews instead made Mary Poppins, for which she was given the Best Actress Oscar, beating out Hepburn. The movie, however, won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Harrison, and five other Oscars, and it remains one of the all-time best movie musicals.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Commentary
• Vintage 1963/4 Featurettes, Footage & Audio
• Alternate Audrey Hepburn Vocals
• Show Me Galleries
  
• Comments on a Lady

MORE BLU: Miracle on 34th Street (Blu-Ray) in October

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Miracle on 34th Street (Blu-Ray) October 6th Fox Retail: $34.99, Our: $27.99

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Fox is continuing today's Blu theme by announcing an October 6th release date for Miracle on 34th Street (Blu-Ray). Bonus features below are from the most recent "Miracle" release and will presumably be carried over to this Blu edition.

It will retail for $34.99, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $27.99.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Feature Commentary By Maureen O'Hara
• AMC Backstory: Miracle On 34th Street
  
• Fox Movietone News Footage: Hollywood Spotlight
  
• Miracle On 34th Street TV Version
  
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Floating In History Featurette
• Promotional Short
• Poster Gallery

Gojira (Blu-Ray) in September

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Gojira (Blu-Ray) September 22nd Classic Media Retail: $29.93, Our: $20.99

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Classic Media has put Gojira (Blu-Ray) on the schedule for a September 22nd release date. Whether it will contain just the original version or both the Japanese and "Americanized" version is not yet known. No further details are available at this time.

It will retail for $29.93, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $20.99.

Casablanca (Blu-Ray) - Single Disc Version in September

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Casablanca (Blu-Ray) September 15th Warner Retail: $28.99, Our: $23.99

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To the well again goes Warner, this time for a single disc release of Casablanca (Blu-Ray). Released in December as an Ultimate Collector's Edition, it will presumably have the same features (below) that were on disc one of the U.C.E.

It will retail for $28.99, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $23.99.

NOTE: This release will retire the U.C.E. as a rental and replace it with this release.

Casablanca (Blu-Ray)
Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if your name is on the Nazi's most-wanted list. Atop that list is Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henried), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one... especially Victor's wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. So when Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo's safe transport out of the country, the bitter Rick must decide what's more important - his own happiness or the countless lives that hang in the balance.

BONUS FEATURES:

• 2 Feature-Length Audio Commentaries: One by Film Critic Robert Ebert, the other by Film Historian Rudy Behlmer
• Introduction by Lauren Bacall
• Additional Scenes and Outtakes
• Lauren Bacall Hosts the Retrospective You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca
• Bacall on Bogart Documentary
  
• As Time Goes By: The Children Remember Featurette with Pia Lindstrom and Stephen Bogart
  
• Newly Discovered Additional Scenes and Outtakes
• Homage Cartoon Carrotblanca Starring Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes Gang
• Premiere Episode Who Holds Tomorrow? from the 1955 TV Series Adaptation of Casablanca
• Screen Guild Players Radio Broadcast of Casablanca Featuring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid
  
• Scoring Session Gallery
  
• Production History Gallery Includes Photos, Press Materials, Studio Correspondence, Memorabilia and More
• Original and Reissue Theatrical Trailers

The Wolf Man (Special Edition) in September

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

The Wolf Man - Special Edition (1941) September 15th Universal Retail: $26.98, Our: $19.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

The Wolf Man (1941) September 15th Universal Retail: $14.98, Our: $10.99

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Universal has announced a September 15th release date for The Wolf Man - Special Edition (1941). The newly remastered classic will be a two disc set with all new bonus features on the second disc.

They are also re-releasing a single disc version, presumably with an upgraded print. The Special Edition will retail for $26.98, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $19.99.

Contents of the various versions available are below. Asterisks (*) indicate bonus feature is on old and new single disc release. The only feature missing from the special edition, that is on the single disc edition, are the production notes.

The Wolf Man - Special Edition (1941) - NEWLY ANNOUNCED

BONUS FEATURES:

DISC 1:

• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver *
• Monster by Moonlight *
• The Wolf Man Archives *
• Trailer Gallery *

DISC 2:

• The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth (NEW TO DVD)
  
• Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney Jr. (NEW TO DVD)
• He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce (NEW TO DVD)
• Universal Horror (NEW TO DVD)

The Wolf Man (1941) - SINGLE DISC RE-RELEASE WITH SAME BONUS FEATURES AS PRIOR RELEASE

BONUS FEATURES:

• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver *
• Monster by Moonlight *
• The Wolf Man Archives *
• Production Notes *
• Trailer Gallery *

Wolf Man Legacy Collection - 2004 RELEASE WITH FOUR FILMS ON A 2-DISC SET

The Wolf Man (1941, 70 min.)
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1942, 73 min.)
She-Wolf of London (1946, 61 min.)
Werewolf of London (1935, 75 min.)

BONUS FEATURES:

• Van Helsing director Stephen Sommers hosts an exclusive behind the scenes look at how these original classic werewolf films inspired his motion picture event.
• Monster by Moonlight: An Original Documentary
• Tom Weaver Commentary on The Wolf Man

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