Having grown up listening to the original cast version of the Rogers and Hammerstein “Cinderella” (with Julie Andrews and Jon Cypher), I’ve always wanted to see the original telecast. Unfortunately, because of a problem with Richard Rogers’ estate, I doubt it will ever be seen again. For similar reasons, I doubt “Porgy and Bess” (with Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey and others) will ever be on video or DVD.
Another example is “Wee Geordie”, a movie about a little Scottish lad who bulks up to become an Olympic hammerthrower. I DID find a video copy, obviously taped off someone’s TV, and ended up paying an exhorbitant price for it. Spouse had seen it back in his youth, and it had made a big impression. I wanted a copy for him, and finally found one for Christmas last year. I’ve never seen it on TV, it has never been released on video, I stumbled across the only copy on Ebay and headed into a huge bidding war. (But it was worth it!!)
So, Dopers – Which movies would you like the chance to see again, but which you probably never will?
Otto Premingers’ Bunny Lake is Missing 1965 - creeped me out big time when I saw it (the only time) on TV ages ago, not on video, long since gone from theaters, haven’t seen it on TV since. (stars Carol Lynley, Keir Dullea, Sir Laurence Olivier. Few movies have surprised me as well, or had such a long lasting sense.
My husband will every so often complain that no way would Disney ever release “Song of the South” on video. I think he’s right. I may have seen it when I was a wee lass, but that’s out of memory range now.
A Matter of Life and Death- Considered by some to be the best film by the director Michael Powell & producer Emric Pressburger team. What makes it worse is that I’ve never seen this one before. I can see it, if I want to spend $50 on eBay. For VHS?..Blaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!
I’ve got the Japanese laserdisc which has been known to go for $200+ on E-bay. The movie is also available in the PAL format in Europe and, although I believe it’s out of print, it’s also available on E-bay.
Will the Mouse release it here? Who knows. When asked, Disney is quick to clam up.
Citizen Kane is currently being rereleased in theatres. At least at the El Capitan in Hollywood, the theatre where it originally premiered to some controversy.
My friend Brian, an avid video collector, is currently looking for an old Sinbad movie, featuring Jane Seymour in a topless scene. I forget the specific title. But I’d buy that for a dollar!
Drawing Flies- View Askew answered my inquiry, 2 years ago, as to why you can’t get it on VHS or DVD because they can’t find a video company that will release it. Since film festivals rarely visit New England, I’ll probably never see it.
The Shining mini series- Why can you get it on DVD in England, but not in the US(not on video either)? It was made in the US! Good thing I taped it, I guess.
Marc Summers Mystery Magical Special- one of the best halloween specials ever, which hasn’t aired in at least 8 years.
It’s Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, the last of the Harryhausen Sinbad flicks (and the next-to-last Harryhauen movie), released in 1977. Jane Seymour is not topless, but she’s covering p awkwardly. The only Harryhausen movie with true nudity is his last, Clash of the Titans (1980)
I agree, I don’t think it’ll ever be released in the States as long as the current PC paranoia continues. Disney’s just a little too skittish about the reaction of some people to that film.
I went to Ireland several years back and bought a copy, then transferred it to a good ol’ American videotape. Neat shtuff.
For some reason, I thought Koyanisquatsi was already on tape. I could be misremembering, though…
The one movie I wanted to see for years as Two-Lane Blacktop, but that did eventually come out.
Siddhartha directed by Conrad Rooks, based on the novel by Hermann Hesse. I saw it in a repertory theater back in the 70s, and it has been AWOL ever since then. The Hermann Hesse home page keeps hinting that the video will be or is being released in Germany. But I never get a response to my inquiries. I’ve been dying to see that great film again for years.
By the way, I have to add this: There are plenty of films that people probably think aren’t out yet on video or that are hard to find. Try The Home Film Festival. You can rent the films online, they’re delivered to your door, you get them for three days or so, and then you mail them back in the postage-paid box they provide. It’s a great place if you’re looking for a hard-to-find film that your local store does not carry. They have a large catalog, too, including many forgotton classics.
Koyaanitsqatsi certain has come out on tape – I own a copy – but that doesn’t mean that it’s currently being produced. These things come and go. Until its recent re-release on DVD and Video, David Lynch’s Dune was unavailable and reportedly highly sought after.
The original Bedazzled (1967), with Dudley Moore and Peter Cook, was finally released on video after the crappy Brandon Frasier version hit the theaters last year.
As I’ve mentioned in another thread, I’d love to see the 1956 Nicholas Ray movie Bigger Than Life, with James Mason and Walter Matthau. It’s a bizarre little domestic suspense film about a suburban Dad who starts taking an experimental drug for a heart condition, and it begins to fuck with his mind…sposed to be scary as hell.
Well, I don’t know anything about these new-fangled BVDs, whatever they are . . . But one movie I’d love to get on video is my favorite John Waters flick, “Female Trouble.” Even better than “Pink Flamingos,” and Divine’s best showcase! Who can forget classic lines like,
• “Acid does what Eterna-27 cannot!”
• “I don’t like this neighborhood—I’m afraid rats are gonna jump out and bite my new nylons!”
• “Oh, Gator, I do wish you’d turn nelly and get a nice hairdresser boyfriend!”
and the classic,
• “I wouldn’t suck your miserable little dick if I was suffocatin’ and there was oxygen in your balls!”
I can’t wait until The Producers is released on DVD. It should happen soon, what with the Broadway show going boffo. Ahhh, Springtime for Hitler is all of its digital glory…