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Don Waites · Guest

I agree with Ken Mullin on "House of Bamboo." It lacks the atmosphere of a real film noir thriller and it is shown up for what it is by the 1948 original
"The Street With No Name." But there is one very unusual thriller - which could be termed film noir - John Brahm's wonderful "Hangover Square" (1944) which boats a superb score by Bernard Herrmann and a really chilling performance by the formidable Laird Cregar.

Dominic McHugh · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 11:24 am Post subject:

Re the Rodgers and Hammerstein set, it's an outrage that they didn't use the remastered version that was already available in America when the UK set was released. I already had copies of The King and I and Sound of Music and they didn't even bother to change the packaging on these films in the UK boxset. The picture quality on Oklahoma! is abominable. Of course I'm glad that a better version is to available, but I don't know why they had to pull such a stunt.

I do hope we get the Miller films and Daddy Longlegs in special editions.

Preferably Laureate ones!

Dominic
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Dominic McHugh

mgcroadster · Guest

mgcroadster · Guest

BTW, you probably know the extras for Laura:

Two commentaries: (1) David Raskin & Janine Basinger Commentary (2)Rudy Behlmer. Biography : Jean Tierney Vincent Price, Restoration Comparison, Theatrical trailer, Movie Tone News and more.

James LM · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 32 Location: Croydon

That is so cool (about Laura). I tried eriting to Fox suggesting they employ David Raksin for the audio commentary. I did this shortly before his death. I guess the task had already been completed before I suggested it. DOes anyone have an email address for Fox in the states so I can forward my other suggestions?

mgcroadster · Guest

James LM · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 32 Location: Croydon

I have tried to email them at that address but my emails 'failed to deliver'. I will try again.

Ron Bassett · Guest

Looking through the message board on Fox, I've noted that they will be releasing two previously unissued Marylin Monroe films. Do you happen to know the titles ?

Also the news about the U.S. DVD of "Laura" is particularly good news.
Will it be issued in Region 2 ?

A 50th Anniversary Special Edition of "Daddy Longlegs" seems to be the hot favourite. I would certainly look forward to this as well as the two films with the Glenn Miller band.

F. Lofthouse · Guest

A 50th Anniversary DVD of "Daddy Longlegs" sounds like a great idea. I'm certainly up for that.

Talking of anniversaries, next year marks the 70th Anniversary of Fox's wonderful 1935 screen version of "Les Miserables" with Fredric March and Charles Laughton- which is easily the finest screen adapatation of this much-filmed story. I saw it not too long ago at a friend's house ( he had an American laser disc of it ) and it is still as powerful as ever. So there's one to consider.

Elsewhere, I'll go along with most of the other requests that have popped up over the last few days.

Mark Rodman · Guest

I'm happy to learn that "Laura" is finally coming to DVD with some suitable extras. I recently bought the Warner Brothers Classic Film Noir box set - which I enjoyed immensely. If Fox in London would like to do a box set devoted to their fabulous Film Noir thrillers ( which are among the best ever made ) maybe they could bypass the awful "House of Bamboo" and concentrate on more worthwhile items like Henry Hathaway's "Kiss of Death" and Jules Dassin's "Thieves Highway."

I also like the suggestion of a DVD of Hathaway's "23 Paces to Baker Street." Van Johnson was very good in that and the picture had a good sense of mystery despite the wierd geographical goofs in its coverage of London.

Scott Dolce · Joined: 25 Jul 2004 Posts: 17 Location: Bedford UK

Well I say--forget Fox, let's get after Paramount an' get "Let's Dance" released, it's 65th anniversary is coming up! Come on kens, get behind me on this! Whoopee!!!!

Ron Patmore · Guest

Hi Scott,

Don't you mean FIFTY FIFTH anniversary ?

Frankly, I'd much rather have "Daddy Long Legs" than "Let's Dance."
But if Ken can talk to Paramount then OK - let's have both movies.

Jean Wilson · Guest

I am 18 and was recently introduced to the films of Fred Astaire when my boy friend bought me the Fred and Ginger box set and Holiday Inn ( both Ken Barnes-Laureate productions). Now three of my friends are also hooked on Fred. We've never seen Daddy Long Legs but it must be good if everyone is requesting it, so put me and my friends down for a copy.

Since it's the only musical that Fred made for Fox I'm surprised it's not been released on DVD.

Chris Daniels · Guest

"Daddy Longlegs" is Fred Astaire's only musical for Fox and hasn't been given the DVD treatment. But how about Alfred Hitchcock's "Lifeboat,"
Hitch's only film for Fox ? Shouldn't this be on DVD too ?

If Fox are finally doing a box set of Shirley Temple, isn't it time they paid a similar tribute to Betty Grable ? In her hey day, she was farbigger at the box office than Marilyn. Who said so ? Darryl F. Zanuck. And he ran the studio when both of them were under contract.

OK, so maybe Betty isn't remembered as fondly today. But she was a dynamite performer and her work deserves to be seen.

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

Hi Mark,

I must say I'm really pleased at the response to the willingness shown by Matthew Cherry, Fox's head of catalogue in London, to consider the requests of Laureate's website visitors and members. In fact, I'm overwhelmed that in just five days, this subject has had over 230 "hits"
44 messages and 28 e-mails.

It was placed on the Astaire section because most of the requests were - and still are - for "Daddy Long Legs." ( I agree that requests for this and the Glenn Miller films have become monotonously repititious ). But the more the subject of the Fox catalogue gained momentum the wider the requests became.

Matthew Cherry - who was good enough to inform me that forthcoming box sets include a refurbished Rodgers and Hammerstein Collection, Shirley Temple and more Marilyn Monroe ( including two never before issued films - which surprised me because I thought the magnificent Diamond Collection had covered all her major Fox films - except "The Prince and the Showgirl").

Mr. Cherry - who strikes me as being the right man in the right job - contacted me yesterday to say that he is making a note of the most requested titles and contacting Los Angeles to see if they are available
( obviously some films could have territorial or contractual restrictions).
He explained to me that this could be a long process. So don't expect fast results. Moreover, once the titles have been cleared it will be a case of assessing the cost of restoration along with the commercial marketability
of certain titles.

In the past a certain amount of criticism has been aimed at Fox from visitors to the Laureate website. Current and forthcoming releases would suggest that most of this was unjustified. From recent conferences that I have attended, I'm picking up vibes suggesting that Fox are aiming to be THE No. 1 video company in the industry ( this year maybe "Star Wars " alone could achieve that ). Happily, it isn't just the new product that they are interested in. There is an increasing desire - both here and in the USA - to maximise efforts to promote their wonderful back catalogue ( as Warners have done of late ). Though I don't know yet if there are any plans for Hitchcock's "Lifeboat". But in view of the huge success that Warner's current Hitchcock Signature Collection is enjoying, they must get to it sooner or later. After all, it's their ONLY Hitchcock film.

So I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to put forward their views on the Fox catalogue. I'm sure there'll be more to come and you can all rest assured that I'll pass your requests on to Matthew Cherry.
20th Century Fox are listening.

Ken