Top 5: Why Aren’t These On DVD?
by John NolteThe story behind why some films get a DVD release and others don’t must help to make some sense of it all, but the format is into its second decade and if something doesn’t change soon regarding these five I just might have to hold my breath.
1. The Stone Killer (1973) – The Mighty Charles Bronson made some classic urban thrillers in the 1970s but this is far and away the best. Brutal action, tough dialogue, expertly paced and loaded with some of the best sleazy character actors of the era: Paul Koslo, Ralph Waite (pre-Pa Walton), Alfred Ryder and Stuart Margolin. My VHS copy was recorded off of Cinemax when Reagan was in office. The entire Pauly Shore canon has been available on DVD for years, but one of the best genre films from one of our greatest movie stars…
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2. The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960) – When this finally comes out on DVD you’re all coming over to the house for popcorn, root beer, Mike-and-Ike’s and a screening of a magnificent adult drama that perfectly casts Robert Preston and Dorothy McGuire as a married couple struggling through tough financial and emotional times. This is the kind of film Hollywood would never make today. It’s about what it means to be a man – about pride and masculinity and being appreciated for both. It’s also a beautiful, beautiful film I haven’t seen in twenty years and have never forgotten. Read the quotes and you’ll see what I mean. Robert Preston — brother they don’t make ‘em like that anymore.
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3. The Stepfather (1987) – Believe it or not, right next to the Pauly Shore collection are all the crappy “Stepfather” sequels, but not the original. Maybe the upcoming remake will finally get this little gem out of Illogical DVD Prison. Whenever people praise this intelligent slash-fest they credit Terry O’Quinn because he’s remarkably good as a serial killer who marries into ready-made families and then cuts them into small pieces when the perfect harmony he expects begins to break down. But Quinn’s also in the sequel, which is remarkably bad. “The Stepfather” rawks thanks, yes, to O’Quinn but also a very well structured script and a number of impressively directed scenes.
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4. Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979) – (aka “Head over Heels”) John Heard plays Charles, a Salt Lake City bureaucrat emotionally undone by his unrequited love for Laura (Mary Beth Hurt). The wintry atmosphere, locations, and the criminally under-appreciated Peter Riegert as Charles’ ne’er do well best friend make for a subtle, funny, and bittersweet look at a guy who just can’t get over the one who got away. As an added treat Gloria Graham has a memorable supporting role as Crazy Mom.
Readers who have been following me around for a while know I’ve been complaining about this not getting a DVD release for years now. But the film has important fans. TCM’s own Robert Osbourne once programmed five films for an evening, and this was one of those choices. Considering the library available to him, that’s quite an endorsement. Then again, my buddy Andrew Klavan gave it a look based on my recommendation and didn’t much care for it. So there you go…
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5. The Outfit (1973) – If a low-level criminal hell-bent on revenge working his way up the mob food chain sounds familiar it’s because both this and “Point Blank” are based on novels by Donald E. Westlake. Granted it’s hard to top Lee Marvin on the hunt and Angie Dickinson naked, but “The Outfit” has Robert Duvall’s tough, moody edge and the wonderful Joe Don Baker livening things up. Like “The Stone Killer” you also have a terrific assortment of supporting actors including Robert Ryan, Joanna Cassidy, Elisha Cook Jr., Henry Jones, Richard Jaeckel, and especially Sheree North (much sexier here in her early forties than the pseudo-Marilyn days) in a small but memorable role.
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The Stepfather also benefitted from Jill Scholen, an amazingly beautiful, girl-next-door type, who never found her niche in Chicago (but I hopelessly fell for her in her debut, the silly comedy DC Cab).
The Stepfather also benefited from Jill Scholen, an amazingly beautiful, girl-next-door type, who never found her niche in Chicago (but I hopelessly fell for her in her debut, the silly comedy DC Cab).
The Stepfather also benefited from Jill Scholen, an amazingly beautiful, girl-next-door type, who never found her niche in show business (but I hopelessly fell for her in her debut, the silly comedy DC Cab).
I LOVE DC Cab. I'm actually working on a top 5 under-rated comedies now and it's in there. Fabulous little ensemble comedy. Even Bill Maher's funny. Gary Busey steals the show, though.
Wow… three terrific films here. 'Stone Killers' is definitely Bronson's best (action) film, far superior to the 'Death Wish' series. 'The Stepfather' is also terrific, and O'Quinn does deserve credit. However, it's more because it was a one trick pony than anything else… the direction was by rote and so was the script.
'The Outfit' is probably the best of the bunch; great source material and performances, and one day Joe Don Baker will get his due. I would add 'Charley Varrick' to the list as well, not sure if it's available or not.
'Varrick', 'The Outfit' and 'Point Blank' would be a heckofa triple feature… popcorn, anyone?
Could it be the same thing that kept "The High and the Mighty" from being held up from release for so long? Wasn't that movie held up in litigation because the ownership was under contention?
Well, I nominate the film Mike Long recommended….Sex Drive. I'm not sure if it's considered underrated, but I can't remember laughing that hard at any movie in years (plus it was kind of sweet at the end and featured brilliantly demented performances by James Marsden and Seth Green).
I'm still waiting for Chimes at Midnight to be released. Orson Welles was born to play Falstaff. Another movie I've wanted on DVD, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, is supposed to come out in May. Hurrah!
The only one of those I've seen is The Stepfather, so I'm rooting for the others to come out on DVD.
My top unreleased five:
1) They Might Be Giants – Why should any George C. Scott film be on the shelf? He plays a deluded man who believes he is Sherlock Holmes. Joanne Woodward IS Dr. Watson.
2) Without a Clue – I'll stick with the Holmes theme for the moment. Michael Caine is an incompetant Holmes and Kinsley is a competent Watson. I remember this as being quite funny and I'd like to see if I was right.
to be continued.
the others:
3) The Fuller Brush Man – When I was a kid, the ABC affliate played Abbott and Costello films that alternated with other comedies and Red Skelton was one that kept me as happy as A & C. (Francis the Talking Mule and Ma And Pa Kettle were fine but not on their level.)
4) Wings – Go to Amazon DVDs and what comes up? Not the first film to win an Academy Award but that lame NBC sitcom with the guy from Monk. The film is a little dated, but that's the point, isn't it? Preserving the history.
5) Song of the South – Yeah, it is racist. But the animation is wonderful. And again, the preseving the history thing.
I have wanted to see "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" for some time now, but didn't know it wasn't available on DVD. Is it not even available on VHS? I looked on Amazon, but couldn't find it.
I wish the Charlton Heston "Treasure Island" would be released on DVD. My kids would love it. Unfortunately, I think it's owned by Ted Turner, who probably wasn't much of a Heston fan.
I would put Ernst Lubitsch’s 1934 The Merry Widow at the top of the list. In fact, every single Lubitsch film that is not on DVD should be. Right freaking now.
6) Path to 9/11
that Clinton thugged into suppression
My favorite 70s Bronson film is "The Mechanic". I don't remember the Stone Killer. I may have missed that one. Now I want to see it. The Outfit was cool. There's a bunch of 70s crime movies I would like to see again but can't like the Nickle Ride.
I managed to find a rare VHS copy of Tell it to the Judge http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=27747 with Rosalind Russell and Bob Cummings, and would love to see it come out on DVD. It's wet your pants funny.
I second The Mechanic, with Bronson and Jan Michael Vincent. Last I heard, a remake was in the works starring Sly Stallone.
Grrr … was just about to post on this very topic! Solid picks … I have good memories of watching "Stepfather" during its initial VHS release.
Here's one more – "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" with Kim Darby. I remember it being a creepy horror film with a shock ending … wish I could see it again but it's not available.
"Without a Clue" may be on what they call "moratorium" but I have a DVD copy. MARVELOUSLY funny film. You'd expect the concept to get thin fast, but it works like a top-notch Abbott and Costello film with solid character arcs.
You're right, John, I just found it at Amazon. So I'll second "Path to 9/11" mentioned below in its place.
What about "America, America" by Elia Kazan?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America,_America
The Stone Killer is on Youtube in 10 segments.
Supposedly, Paramount is working on Wings as we speak, per the Home Theater Forum. However, I wouldn't hold my breath. Unless it stars Audrey Hepburn or John Wayne or features the words "star trek" in the title, Paramount is lacking when it comes to their catalog titles (at least when compared to Fox and WB).
Mr. Nolte –
have you considered registering at the Home Theater Forum message board? I'm a member myself and it's full of knowledgeable people who might be able to help you out with regards to when certain titles are being released and why others haven't been released yet.
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/index.php
When are these going to come out on DVD?…
-Love With The Proper Stranger
-The Magnificent Ambersons
-Trial (not The Trial directed by Orson Welles based on the Kafka book, but Trial starring Glenn Ford and Arthur Kennedy, about a communist's manipulation of a law professor:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048748/
Amen to "Chimes at Midnight" (though I do have it on VHS). The DVD I'm longing for is John Huston's last film, "The Dead," from the James Joyce short story. A slow, handsome period piece with splendid dialogue, atmospheric cinematography, exquisite singing from Frank Patterson, and acting at its best from all concerned. And Anjelica Huston never looked lovelier.
Where the heck is "The Case of Lena Smith," 1929, starring The American Venus Esther Ralston and directed by Josef von Sternberg. It was a silent film released just as sound was taking over and got lost in the shuffle. I saw a very bad 16mm dupe many years ago and it was wonderful.
the ones I want
1. Bedtime Story. There is a horrible print from amazon.uk.
2. The Liquidator. Bond spoof
3. Burn Witch Burn. The scifi fan in me wants this one.
I was wondering why "WKRP in Cincinnati" had never released a DVD set. It turns out that they have some complications because of music licensing. I wonder if there is something similar holding up these films' DVD release.
My Add:
Naughty Marietta: Jeanette McDonald, Nelson Eddy. You can't get it anywhere other than overseas copies recorded off of TV.
Same for "The Wonder Years" which I would love to own on DVD. It's a tough call in those situation. The Greatest American Hero chose to replace their pop music with stuff from the guy who wrote the show's theme song — name escapes me — and it really hurts certain episodes.
"Path to Paradise" – the HBO movie about the first World Trade Center attack. The last scene when the head terrorist looks over Manhattan & swears they'll succeed next time is absolutely chilling.
What ever happened to Kim Darby?
The African Queen is the greatest movie yet to make it to DVD.
Remember the Night, an underheralded Christmas Classic (with the stars of Double Indemnity) is the second.
WKRP Season 1 is available, but they had to overdub all the music tracks with generic homemade rawk.
Dark At The Top Of The Stairs. The beginning of my first real fan crush–on Lee Kinsolving. (Black Leather Jackets, anyone?)
Anyone know why some movies are only available on DVD as an import? Are they the same and are they of good quality? Why aren't they available thru normal market? I am thinking in particular of movies like "The African Queen" – a U.S. movie.
It aired on Turner Classics in widescreen a few years ago and I made sure to make an SP copy on VHS. Amazing film. The acting is all top-notch, particularly Shirley Knight! I've always wondered whether the Inge estate was the holdup with that one.
DC Cab is one of those guilty pleasures. I don't know anyone who's seen this movie who didn't like it; nor, however, do I know anyone who'll admit to liking it.
If only Joe Don hadn't been in so many bad movies, his good ones would have gotten much more recognition.
John, don't ever give up hope. One of my favorites, Inside Moves, was finally released on DVD just two days ago.
The two movies that I would like to see on DVD would be A Thousand Clowns and a WC Fields movie called Million Dollar Legs, where WC Fields plays the ruler of a county who sends a team to the 1932 LA Olympics.
"Brutal action, tough dialogue, expertly paced and loaded with some of the best sleazy character actors of the era:"
Say, there's a good idea for a "Top 5" – Top 5 Sleaziest characters! James Woods' Lester Diamond in "Casino" would be at the top of my list.
There's a lot of good adds in here. I missed a lot of them because I have "Trial, Remember the Night, The Magnificent Ambersons" etc… on DVD. I just recorded them off TCM, so don't even think about them not being available.
There's a lot of great Fox Musicals just starting to dribble out but the best "Springtime in the Rockies," another Reagan-era VHS copy I won, still isn't out there.
I'm stunned The Magnificnet Ambersons isn't out there.
There's a lot of good adds in here. I missed a lot of them because I have "Trial, Remember the Night, The Magnificent Ambersons, African Queen" etc… on DVD. I just recorded them off TCM, so don't even think about them not being available.
There's a lot of great Fox Musicals just starting to dribble out but the best "Springtime in the Rockies," another Reagan-era VHS copy of mine, still isn't out there.
I'm stunned The Magnificent Ambersons and African Queen aren't on DVD.
Here is mine: Phantasm 2
Gee, I wonder why "Mitchell 2" never came out?
Allow me to add a move. How about "The D.I." I know people say that Jack Webb was stiff and dull. But, if you want to see how they made Marines back in the day, This is it. and with out one cuss word! ( with all due respect to R. Lee Ermey)
I got in on DVDs right at the beginning. I think at one time, I had all dozen or so DVDs available. It's always been a mystery why some movies make it to DVD and other don't. Pauly Shore is a good example.
John, not only are these movies not on DVD, but I've never seen them on TMC or even the old AMC (before it morphed into TBS).
Supposedly (there's that word again), Paramount is working on The African Queen. As I mentioned above, Paramount isn't the friendliest studio when it comes to its catalog but from what I've read, there were several legal issues that had to be resolved first before they could even start restoration work.
And as for Ambersons, I think WB might be working on this one. Every so often, someone will post on the Home Theater Forum or another website that Welles' original cut has been found (before it was edited and had scenes reshot by Robert Wise). However, this is nothing more than rumor and speculation. The Forum is hosting a chat with the WB home video folks in a couple weeks and I'm sure someone will ask about this title. (But they are prepping Citizen Kane for Blu-Ray in 2011!)
If you still have a LD player, you can track down a copy of the Ambersons LD from Criterion.
If you like Inside Moves, you might enjoy this interview with director Richard Donner, who also directed Superman, The Omen, and the Lethal Weapon flicks.
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/interviews...
the only one of these films i have even heard of is the stepfather and it has been on cable since the year it came out. it seems to be on every week. i am still waiting for the kim novak/peter finch film the legend of lyla clair. the mechanic with is the one bronson film i love.
they might be giants (brilliant!)
inside daisy clover (natalie wood and robert wagner with ruth gordon. alleged to be coming to dvd)
the legend of lyla clair (kim novak, peter finch and ernest borgnine. simply facinating relic of the 60's)
the magnificent ambersons (best movie ever made even with the studio ending)
couldn't come up with a fifth, i just hit the dvd recorder when stuff comes on the telly.
i think love with a proper stranger is coming in a new dvd box set that is supposed to have inside daisy clover in it. a natalie wood tribute set or something
Waiting for Red Dust, with Harlow and Gable!
I won't buy WKRP for that very reason. I blame the music industry and the RIAA. Bad enough they gotta screw musicians; they have to screw TV and film producers too.
I'd settle for a region 1 restored version of the African Queen on DVD, seems like a no brainer.
JD…………….
the two I sorely miss are extremely campy..
Ski School
Surf II: The End of the Trilogy
neither would qualify as quality entertainment, but they both have enough one-liners to keep the college student in me laughing for a full hour
I follow a few other blogs that have frequent laments about what isn't on DVD. What amazes me is that when VHS first came out, it seemed every lousy movie was available. Perhaps I am wrong, but it sure seemed that way.
Thank you, Scott!
Here is a link to "Don't be Afraid of the Dark", you can watch it online or download it, convert it ,and put it on DVD.
http://cultrararevideos.com/forgottenflixd.html
Restoring Welles's cuts to "Touch of Evil" transformed a middling overlong, but interesting noir flick, into a genuine American masterpiece — but I am hard-pressed to fathom how AMBERSONS could be improved upon.
Another one: Take Her She's Mine, with Jimmy Stewart and Sandra Dee.
Joe Don Baker will get his due? Not if the guys from MST3K and RiffTrax have anything to say about it! (Of course, I think they would argue that they ARE giving him his due!)
Ooh, you didn’t mention that Eve Arden and Angela Lansbury are also in “The Dark”! I’m so there. Besides, I love root beer.
Terry O'Quinn is an awesome actor. He's fantastic on Lost, but to see him there as the bald, bad-ass devout religious man, and then see him in The Stepfather (or as Howard Hughes in The Rocketeer), wow. The man is a chameleon.
He does what most actors can't do these days, which is to completely inhabit a character and make you forget all about the actor playing him.
Off-topic, but worth commenting on: Ben Affleck in Vegas at request of dying young man. http://tinyurl.com/c8u4ft
I don't know enough about the history of the film, only that Welles had to go overseas at one point and parts of the film were either cut completely or reshot after a bad test screening.
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=683&c...
There are two films are I would like to see on DVD:
1) Malone- You want to know why Burt Reynolds was such a star, watch this film and you'll see why.
2) Five Star Final- Saw this earlier this week, and liked it better than Lewis Milestone's The Front Page.
By the way, ditto what Mr. Nolte and PerfectTommy said about Without A Clue. Funniest take on Sherlock Holmes I've ever seen.
Charlie Varrick is available. You also get to see where Tarantino got the line "a pair of pliers and a blowtorch". That line was also cribbed for The Fourth Protocall in a slightly different version.
Great bunch of movies listed here, pretty much all of which I'd like to have. My biggest is (along with
"African Queen" is "Night Must Fall" — 1937, Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell & Dame May Whitty. Have caught it a couple of times on TCM and love it.
"does anyone still pay attention to Mystery Theater?"
Yup.
"We rented 'The Magnificent Ambersons,' realized that it wasn't a sequel to 'The Magnificent Seven,' & went back to watching 'The Magnificent Seven.'" – Norm from Cheers
"8 Millions Ways to Die." Hal Ashby's last film, Andy Garcia's first, starring Jeff Bridges and screenplay by Oliver Stone. An 80s evocation of 40s noir, a bit uneven but a unique feel and crackling ending with probably more profanity compressed into 10 minutes than any movie ever made. Must be a legal issue why it hasn't gone to DVD.
Add "The Hanging Tree" to the list—great Delmer Daves western with Gary Cooper, Maria Schell, Karl Malden, and George C. Scott.
You had me until you mentioned Joe Don Baker. Mitchell, enough said.
loved 'The Fourth Protocol' as well. It might be Pierce's best perfomance. The last time I saw 'Varrick' available
was in the crummy pan and scan format, which ruins films-particularly nicely shot Don Siegel films (that's a redundancy) so must fine the widescreen version… Tarantino is the Robin Williams of filmmakers- inspired, sometime brilliant, never original and always derivative…
The Duke's estate owned 'Mighty', as well as 'Wings of Eagles', 'Hondo', and one or two others. They are restoring and releasing them…
Both 'The Mechanic' and 'The Stone Killers' are Michael winner films…
Both 'The Mechanic' and 'The Stone Killers' are Michael Winner films… he did a lot of work in the mid 70's.
My God, I love 'The Liquidator'… Rod Taylor gave ol' Sean a run for his money in this hugely underrated spoof.
Got the soundtrack album (Shirley Bassey title song!) laying around somewhere…
GUNS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN
FLAP
THE WRATH OF GOD
FIVE BRANDED WOMEN
The list goes on and on….
Actually what I want on DVD is not a movie, but the original 16 episodes of BBC's 'Life On Mars'. Steven King called it the best 16 episodes in TV history- I agree- only thing we'll ever agree on- the ABC remake is lame, but the source DNA is so strong that it's still eminently watchable… looking forward to 'Ashes to Ashes' as well…
Night of the Creeps.
I've been trying to see My Sister Eileen for over thirty years now. It's a Rosalind Russell comedy, and I watched the beginning of it decades ago when I was babysitting. The parents came home and rather than finish watching it at home, I went to bed and figured it would air again on late-night tv. Well, I'm still waiting. It was made into a musical, which I've seen, but I'm still waiting to finish watching the original. I have no idea if this is a great movie or not, I just remember that I thought it was really funny and have always wanted to see the whole movie. Last month it aired on TCM, but I missed it. It's never been released on DVD, but I keep hoping it will be included in a Roslind Russell collection or TCM will air it again.
Little Drummer Girl (1984) – Diane Keaton gives a great performance as an air headed liberal (well maybe not such a stretch) caught up in a plot by Israel's Massad to kill terrorists. It is one of my favorite movies because:
a) terrorists end up very dead
b) liberal idealism is mocked
I am mystified that it was never released on DVD?
John
Why don't you start a quick contest and let's see who can guess the 25 movies that Obama gave Gordon Brown.
let's see what he or a staffer thought would be a classic set, or is this already on Amazon ?
1.Birth of a Nation 2. DAVE, no wait that wouldn't work…..
1. Superfly 2…….. uh oh….headed the wrong way here
1. Godfather 1 2. Godfather II 3. Godfather III 4. Shaft
1. Chicago 2. New York New York 3. Oklahoma 4. LA Confidential 5. Fargo
this is harder than I thot
I so agree about Dark at the Top of Stairs! Preston was wonderful. And I have several relatives that remind me of Lottie about so many things!
Stepfather might give more odd people more ideas. We honestly don't need to encourage any more mass murderers. Or give their defense attorneys any new excuses.
Yup yup.
A classic B movie with a fun storyline.
Has anyone mentioned The Harder They Fall? Bogart's last film. I've had it on my Netflix queue for a couple of years now. It should be out there.
Long Gone – and HBO film from the 80's – pre Bull Durham, and maybe the best Base Ball movie ever made.
From what I've heard, Six Million Dollar Man suffering the same fate…dammit.
Really? According to Dave Kehr, it's a lost movie:
http://www.davekehr.com/?p=163
So that's interesting.
A weird collector in West Hollywood showed me the film, but it was quite incomplete. I should have made that clear. Sorry.
I saw The Outfit on TCM Middle East so they may show it in America as well. Its nothing really to be frantic about not being on DVD. It was low end drive in stuff with memorable actors in unmemorable roles. Based on that I dont think I'll rush out to look for the otherpics except maybe the Bronson one, that sounds like its on cable TV a lot.
My Mom used to play that song Tramp Tramp Tramp over and over and over again in the old record days, its hard coded in my head. I looked for it on youtube but no one has posted it yet.
They show The Liquidator almost every month on TCM overseas, same as they show Where The Spies Are, which I liked more with David Niven. In case you were wondering where to find it.
I don't know why she didn't go on to have a big career after "True Grit." She was brilliant in that. But according to a quick Google search, she's mainly been teaching and doing some TV guest star roles.
The first two are regularly on Turner Classic Movies.
Fortunately, Ski School is available.
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