I don’t remember when it was, but last time I looked the cheapest available version was like $25. I’m sure that fluctuates. In any case it’ll be available again soon.
What movies should be on DVD? All of them. Duping a film to DVD can’t possibly cost all that much. The rights holders for every film or TV show should by now be offering their product on an on-demand basis.
Legally, no. The copyright owner may turn a blind eye if someone else is making a title available, but it’s within their rights to write a cease and desist letter.
Personally, I think a person has a *moral *right to make a rarity available if the copyright owner is asleep the switch, but that doesn’t mean there’s a legal right.
I agree a zillion percent. I give this speech at least once a day. They should at least be available for download.
The Bishops Wife (it may be on DVD, but not in Australia)
I’ve seen it twice; once in a theater,and once on VHS. Truly a remarkable movie.
Is a European disc playable on my DVD player? Is it prohibitively expensive? I would consider buying one as well, although I really cannot afford frivolities right now.
Wanted to add: The Uninvited. Heckova good ghost movie.
It depends on the player. Some, like my Phillips DVP642 and Oppo OPDV971H play just about anything. All regions all formats. But I’ve got a couple of Sony’s that balk at anything that’s not right up the straight and narrow.
Americathon. It was out on VHS, but apparently hasn’t made it to DVD yet. It was made in 1979, but set in about 1998, when the US has mortgaged itself. When the note is called home, how does President Chet Roosevelt (John Ritter) raise the money to pay it? He puts on a telethon! Plenty of laughs, and if memory serves, somewhat prophetic in many ways–for example, China embraces capitalism.
Another that apparently has made it to DVD, although seems to be no longer available, is The Big Bus. I’d love to see this one again–it was a disaster movie spoof long before Airplane, and was (IMHO), somewhat better.
Flash Gordon needs to be re-released on DVD.
Dogs in Space. Dammit.
Robinson Crusoe on Mars.
Rediscovering George Washington.
Oh yeah, while I’m on the subject of great Robert Mitchum performances: put Farewell My Lovely back into print!
The uncut Masada miniseries. It’s the second best miniseries ever made (next to Shogun), and I’m mystified as to why it wasn’t out on DVD years ago.
The following are not currently available in Region 1 DVD format:
Civilization (1916), The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917), Tih Minh (1918), La Roue (1923), The Big Parade (1925), The Patent Leather Kid (1927), Seventh Heaven (1927), L’Argent (1928), The Docks of New York (1928), High Treason (1928), The Last Command (1928), The Racket (1928), Street Angel (1928), The Wedding March (1928), Condemned (1929), Thunderbolt (1929), The Trespasser (1929), The Valiant (1929), The Wonderful Lies of Nina Petrovna (1929), The Dawn Patrol (1930), Holiday (1930), East Lynne (1931), Mädchen in Uniform (1931), The Forgotten Frontier (1931), ¡Que viva Mexico! (1932), La Nuit du carrefour (1932), Berkeley Square (1933), Liebelei (1933), Morgenrot (1933), Crime Without Passion (1934), Escape Me Never (1935), Naughty Marietta (1935), The Scoundrel (1935).
I have to ask: have you seen these recently? *Shogun *did not age well. At all. AT ALL. It was brilliant in its day but it works best as camp now.
Becket just came out; I already got it for my girlfriend. Check Barnes and Noble.
Peter’s Friends