Before the economy went crashing to its knees, several exciting classic titles were announced for DVD. With disposable income cut however, DVD sales took a precipitous downturn, including catalog titles. Unfortunately, these previously announced titles are now MIA.
Rumor has it some of the Fox titles were fully restored, and even had audio commentaries recorded, so I can’t see Fox not releasing them. Surely they want some return on their investment? While Fox has currently all but abandoned its classic titles line, it’s my hope some of these previously announced titles from Fox and other companies will see the light of day.
A search through my increasingly faulty memory banks has come up with a few of these titles.
Several years ago we got a Betty Grable Vol. 1, but never a Vol. 2. Rumor has it poor sales for the first put the kibosh on the second. But I do recall reading that “The Shocking Miss Pilgrim” (1947), a delightful film where Betty plays the first woman secretary in Boston at the turn of the century, was fully restored and had an audio commentary recorded. The Gershwin songs make this a natural for release.
I hope it makes its way soon, either as a stand alone title or the aforementioned Vol. 2. (Fox, put out a box set with “Shocking Miss Pilgrim” and include “Mother Wore Tights” (1947) and “Coney Island” (1943) and watch that set go flying off the shelf.)
Several years ago, Fox announced the DVD release of its Technicolor John Philip Sousa biography “Stars and Stripes Forever” (1952) starring Clifton Webb, Robert Wagner and Debra Paget. For several years I thought it would come out around July 4, but it has yet to happen. I think Fox would be surprised at how well this would sell. It would make a welcome holiday screening alternative to “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1942), as magnificent as that film is.
Fox also announced a Ritz Brothers set, and God help me, but yes, I would have bought it. I have fond memories of their hillbilly comedy “Kentucky Moonshine” (1938) and their ”Life Begins in College” (1937) gets pretty good reviews. I don’t think the excellent Alice Faye/Don Ameche musical “You Can’t Have Everything” (1937) was listed for that set, but maybe Fox was saving that for a third box set of Alice Faye titles. I can dream, can’t I?
Getting away from Fox, Warner Bros. had announced a fully restored version of their George Gershwin biography “Rhapsody in Blue” (1945), with added footage not seen since its original release. If memory serves, there was a longer, or a different version, prepared for U.S. servicemen, much like “The Big Sleep” (1946). The footage not seen stateside was to be included. I have not heard a peep about this title for several years, but if Steven Spielberg does get his proposed Gershwin biography off the ground, this would be a natural tie-in. That may be a bit down the road, but we’ve waited this long, what’s another few years?
Warner’s great version of “The Sea Wolf” (1941), with Edward G. Robinson unforgettable as Captain Wolf Larsen, has been rumored for years to be coming, also with missing footage not seen since its original release. With all the restoration going on with this title, I can’t see this going the WB Archive route. However it gets released, I can’t wait to see it. As far as I’m concerned, they can take all the time they need to do this one right.
I have vague memories of a special two-disc edition of “The Man Who Would Be King” (1975) being announced, but that was years ago and I haven’t heard anything since. Again this is a title fully deserving the two-disc treatment and I sincerely hope it will come true some day.
Readers, please let me know what titles I’ve missed or if you’re aware of the status of any of the above. Thanks.
