The Wonderful World of Disney Signature Movie Edition

[mdnitoil]

Thank you very much. So it isnt widescreen and it doesnt really have any bonus material. Considering it was a mistake to send the disc in the first place I guess we cant say that this is the way future releases in this series will be presented. It looks like they are first offering the titles that already are/have been released in the correct aspect and have bonus features?

Do you guys think it would be benefitial for all of us to get together and call the number and actually make requests on what titles we would like to see included in this series? Let them know that a number of people arent going to want to double dip on titles they already own and that by releasing unreleased content they are setting themselves up for much better sales? Iv been waiting long enough for Escapade in Florence and The Horsemasters to come to DVD. Oh and dont forget Sammy the Way Out Seal!

While it certainly couldn't hurt to make requests, what I am really starting to think is that this line's primary purpose is to move existing product off the storage shelves. At the very least, they'll continue this strategy until they've built up a big enough subscription base. I would be stunned if we saw much of anything new over the course of the first year until they've built up a customer base large enough to justify the expense. Unfortunately, when I say new I also mean fixes to old releases.

[a-net-fan]

Thank you very much. So it isnt widescreen and it doesnt really have any bonus material. Considering it was a mistake to send the disc in the first place I guess we cant say that this is the way future releases in this series will be presented. It looks like they are first offering the titles that already are/have been released in the correct aspect and have bonus features?

Do you guys think it would be benefitial for all of us to get together and call the number and actually make requests on what titles we would like to see included in this series? Let them know that a number of people arent going to want to double dip on titles they already own and that by releasing unreleased content they are setting themselves up for much better sales? Iv been waiting long enough for Escapade in Florence and The Horsemasters to come to DVD. Oh and dont forget Sammy the Way Out Seal!

While it certainly couldn't hurt to make requests, what I am really starting to think is that this line's primary purpose is to move existing product off the storage shelves. At the very least, they'll continue this strategy until they've built up a big enough subscription base. I would be stunned if we saw much of anything new over the course of the first year until they've built up a customer base large enough to justify the expense. Unfortunately, when I say new I also mean fixes to old releases.

Yea im no marketing specialist but to me it would be better to launch this new series by offerning something that hasnt been released before or since the 80s. Something ppl dont have already. THAT will build a subscription base and will show the true demand for these kinds of movies. I would imagine you are right tho that they are cleaning their stockrooms of the movies that have been released previously in extended or special editions first and are working on restoring and making bonus features for other films that havent previously been given propper care and treatment in their previous releases. I dont know what to do yet but I think for now I will just sit and watch and see what becomes of this.....

I think it would be good for all of us to call in tho and show our interst in the series but make sure they know many of us have no intention on double dipping and paying for films we already own.

[blackcauldron85]

what I am really starting to think is that this line's primary purpose is to move existing product off the storage shelves.

I wouldn't be surprised about that. The Disney Movie Club put some titles in tin cases (the 1-disc Lilo & Stitch, Treasure Planet, Hercules, etc.), surely just to sell more copies, instead of releasing new editions (even though L&S does have a new edition now).

So, I think that there might be a good chance that these movies, like the DACs that the DMC put in tins, will have new releases coming in the near future; get extra money by getting rid of the old stock of DVDs in the new cases, and then put out new, hopefully snazzy, editions.

[kaijueguy]

It's great to see the comments this topic is generating. I just wish the execs at Disney Home Entertainment Marketing would spend a little time on EBay and see what some of the titles that keep popping up in this discussion can bring. Older VHS tapes, even previous store rentals where the cover art has been cut to fit standard cases for titles like Escapade in Florence carry high prices because of the demand for the title.

I'd prefer to see them remaster everything and make sure it's in the correct aspect ration but heck, I'd settle for having them reopen the VHS library and make a lot of those titles available. The feature length Texas John Slaughter and Elfego Baca Movies, The Mooncussers, Menace on The Mountain, Child Of Glass and a score of others.

When I think of what's sitting in the Disney Archive and just collecting dust or worse-deteriorating because of neglect, it makes me cringe. When I think about what I've done in converting my old VHS tapes to DVDR in the last two years compared to what Disney's made available, it can really frustrate me.

Seeing this series become available is a breath of fresh air from Disney that I haven't felt since the launch of the Exclusives line at DMC.

[kaijueguy]

My Swiss Family Robinson disc arrived yesterday. I must say that the tin is a vast improvement over the Treasures line and if that line continues, they should adapt the structure of these tins to that line.

While I'm not a pin collector, the two pins that came with the set are very nice. There was no companion guide with my shipment.

The booklet that contains the disc is an excellent, if brief, background into Swiss Family but considering I can buy double 14mm cases in bulk at around 20 cents a piece, not putting the discs in a case inside the tin doesn't seem very practical and would certainly ensure longer life for the discs.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the release and it was certainly more than worth the introductory price.

I really want to give this line a chance and hope to see future unreleased titles available. At the same time, I can see where this line is going to be a hard sell especially since I just came back from a trip to Best Buy and saw that Swiss Family Vault Edition is back on the shelves at 12.99 and the special edition of Apple Dumpling Gang is selling at 15.99 on Amazon so basically, with these titles back in the stores Disney is basically asking us to spend the extra money on the collection solely for the tins.

If this line is going to succeed, there is going to have to be more to it than just the tin case. Frankly, the packaging isn't why I buy this material. I don't watch the case, I watch the movie. I have committed to stay with the line for a year. If by the end of that time, nothing unique appears in this line, I'll probably discontinue it (if it survives that long) and once again Disney will have made a nice chunk of change off me as I re-purchase things already in my collection. Having a back-up copy of Swiss Family is nice. Having a Cinemascope release of Westward Ho The Wagons would be a whole lot nicer especially if it contained the companion Anthology episode.

As stated by others The Horsemasters and Escapade in Florence are sorely in need of a release. There's also Emil and The Detectives, Almost Angels, Johnny Shiloh, The Magnificent Rebel, Ballerina, Sammy The Way Out Seal, For the Love Of Willadean, Mystery In Dracula's Castle, the 5 feature length theatrical releases of Texas John Slaughter or the Theatrical Versions from the Elfego Baca series. There's the 2 "Moochie" little league and Pop Warner films. There are countless 2 and 3 part anthology episodes like Barry of the Great St. Bernards, Snow Bear, High Flying Spy and I can go on.

The possibility and potential is greater than what we are being offered and in view of what's out there today in the name of family entertainment, even the weakest of Vintage Disney material is better than the current D Channel line-up.

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway." Walt Disney

[a-net-fan]

I really want to give this line a chance and hope to see future unreleased titles available. At the same time, I can see where this line is going to be a hard sell especially since I just came back from a trip to Best Buy and saw that Swiss Family Vault Edition is back on the shelves at 12.99 and the special edition of Apple Dumpling Gang is selling at 15.99 on Amazon so basically, with these titles back in the stores Disney is basically asking us to spend the extra money on the collection solely for the tins.

If this line is going to succeed, there is going to have to be more to it than just the tin case. Frankly, the packaging isn't why I buy this material. I don't watch the case, I watch the movie. I have committed to stay with the line for a year. If by the end of that time, nothing unique appears in this line, I'll probably discontinue it (if it survives that long) and once again Disney will have made a nice chunk of change off me as I re-purchase things already in my collection. Having a back-up copy of Swiss Family is nice. Having a Cinemascope release of Westward Ho The Wagons would be a whole lot nicer especially if it contained the companion Anthology episode.

As stated by others The Horsemasters and Escapade in Florence are sorely in need of a release. There's also Emil and The Detectives, Almost Angels, Johnny Shiloh, The Magnificent Rebel, Ballerina, Sammy The Way Out Seal, For the Love Of Willadean, Mystery In Dracula's Castle, the 5 feature length theatrical releases of Texas John Slaughter or the Theatrical Versions from the Elfego Baca series. There's the 2 "Moochie" little league and Pop Warner films. There are countless 2 and 3 part anthology episodes like Barry of the Great St. Bernards, Snow Bear, High Flying Spy and I can go on.

The possibility and potential is greater than what we are being offered and in view of what's out there today in the name of family entertainment, even the weakest of Vintage Disney material is better than the current D Channel line-up.

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway." Walt Disney

I think you need to call them up and share your intentions with them. Actually you could just read to them what you wrote there. In the mean time if I were you I woudnt double dip on any of the titles you currently have...unless you really want to. Returns on releases that have been offered in various ways time and time again will certainly send a clear message.

[disneyrecordfan]

My Swiss Family Robinson disc arrived yesterday. I must say that the tin is a vast improvement over the Treasures line and if that line continues, they should adapt the structure of these tins to that line.

While I'm not a pin collector, the two pins that came with the set are very nice. There was no companion guide with my shipment.

The booklet that contains the disc is an excellent, if brief, background into Swiss Family but considering I can buy double 14mm cases in bulk at around 20 cents a piece, not putting the discs in a case inside the tin doesn't seem very practical and would certainly ensure longer life for the discs.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the release and it was certainly more than worth the introductory price.

I really want to give this line a chance and hope to see future unreleased titles available. At the same time, I can see where this line is going to be a hard sell especially since I just came back from a trip to Best Buy and saw that Swiss Family Vault Edition is back on the shelves at 12.99 and the special edition of Apple Dumpling Gang is selling at 15.99 on Amazon so basically, with these titles back in the stores Disney is basically asking us to spend the extra money on the collection solely for the tins.

If this line is going to succeed, there is going to have to be more to it than just the tin case. Frankly, the packaging isn't why I buy this material. I don't watch the case, I watch the movie. I have committed to stay with the line for a year. If by the end of that time, nothing unique appears in this line, I'll probably discontinue it (if it survives that long) and once again Disney will have made a nice chunk of change off me as I re-purchase things already in my collection. Having a back-up copy of Swiss Family is nice. Having a Cinemascope release of Westward Ho The Wagons would be a whole lot nicer especially if it contained the companion Anthology episode.

As stated by others The Horsemasters and Escapade in Florence are sorely in need of a release. There's also Emil and The Detectives, Almost Angels, Johnny Shiloh, The Magnificent Rebel, Ballerina, Sammy The Way Out Seal, For the Love Of Willadean, Mystery In Dracula's Castle, the 5 feature length theatrical releases of Texas John Slaughter or the Theatrical Versions from the Elfego Baca series. There's the 2 "Moochie" little league and Pop Warner films. There are countless 2 and 3 part anthology episodes like Barry of the Great St. Bernards, Snow Bear, High Flying Spy and I can go on.

The possibility and potential is greater than what we are being offered and in view of what's out there today in the name of family entertainment, even the weakest of Vintage Disney material is better than the current D Channel line-up.

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway." Walt Disney

Ditto everything you said! The night I ordered, I asked the operator if this was a limited series or if other things that hadn't been released might be forthcoming. She told me it was her understanding that if the line succeeds, there would be titles like the Annette TV movies included at some point.

But, I'm like you - I'll give it a timeframe and if it's nothing but double-dipping, I'll pull the plug as well.

I also like the tin design better than the Treasures. The hinged lid is pretty neat and the title printed on the left spine is just awesome for a shelf! I'm always pulling out Treasures to see which is which!

[disneyboy20022]

Hey I got my replacement disc of The Apple Dumpling Gang....only thing this disc art....isnt' anything what's on the typical wal-mart release...




I havn't checked the disc for content.....but it came in the same folder that the Apple Dumpling Gang sequel came in....and a letter of a apology...

Sorry for the lack of quality....its off of my Nintendo DSi




and now I have teh picutre working

[a-net-fan]

Hey I got my replacement disc of The Apple Dumpling Gang....only thing this disc art....isnt' anything what's on the typical wal-mart release...




I havn't checked the disc for content.....but it came in the same folder that the Apple Dumpling Gang sequel came in....and a letter of a apology...

Sorry for the lack of quality....its off of my Nintendo DSi




and now I have teh picutre working

Thank you for the update. Maybe this collection isnt a overpriced warehouse liquidation after all!!

Please let us know the content of the DVD and a small review of it. I wonder if Ultimate Disney will also cover and review these releases as well???? It would be nice.

[kaijueguy]

I received my replacement DVD of The Apple Dumpling Gang on Friday along with a letter apologizing for the wrong DVD in the tin. Since we hadn't actually received the tin yet, we made a call and I expressed the sentiments from my previous posting.

The Cast Member was enthusisatic while reaffirming that we are basically going to be getting recycled/repackaged material to launch the series but that they hope to include unreleased titles in future editions. I'm feeling very much like the horse chasing the dangling carrot right now though. Is this the sales pitch to keep us in the club where they sell the same movies you can now buy at Walmart for less money, albeit without the tins?

We were told our Apple Dumpling Gang tin wouldn't be shipped until the first week of April. I did a quick scan of the DVD and it appears to be the same as the Vault Disney Edition which was later repackaged as a double release with Apple Dumpling Rides Again and has now been repackaged again as a double release and is selling at our Walmart for $14.95

Without the error on Disney's part we would paying $19.95 for one movie in the tin in comparison and, while I like the tin, I can't escape the feeling that I'm being taken advantage of.

I guess I'm just going to have to wait and see what's #3 in this series and if I can buy that one at Walmart,like I could The Apple Dumpling Gang and Swiss Family for less money, letters and phone calls will be made asking for justification for this. If Disney really needs the money that bad, maybe Iger could do something about his 8 figure (after perks) salary.

[disneyrecordfan]

I got my replacement disc, too. It was nice to see artwork for this series, but the disc appears to be a reissue of the Vault Disney version.

With the passing of Fess Parker, I couldn't help but notice Bob Iger's statement that he enjoyed Davy Crockett as a kid and even had a coonskin hat.

If he's sincere, and those were his sentiments, not written by a PR person, I'd very much like to send him a letter asking him if he also remembers Texas John Slaughter, Elfego Baca, the Swamp Fox, or even Ludwig Von Drake, because just in case he's forgotten, there are unreleased episodes with those characters that many of us loved then - just like he loved Davy Crockett.

At least Davy Crockett is fairly accessible on DVD; it would be nice to see other characters that Bob Iger should also remember. Maybe up in his CEO office, he just ASSUMES that all of us lowly fans are out there with access to them? Do you think he even knows or has the Home Video Division on his radar enough to even discuss it? I doubt it, but if he can make the Fess Parker connection between childhood memories, it would be nice to come full circle and fondly remember the rest of Walt's creations!

[pvdfan]

Without the error on Disney's part we would paying $19.95 for one movie in the tin in comparison and, while I like the tin, I can't escape the feeling that I'm being taken advantage of.

It's how all of the installment series run. Prices are jacked up on stuff you can elsewhere, but with better packing.

[disneyrecordfan]

My third installment arrived today. It's Follow Me Boys. Like the replacement disc for "The Apple Dumpling Gang," the DVD label/print reflects the Signature Movie Edition line-up art.

This one is my favorite booklet from the first three releases, with a lot of quotes from some of the actors who played Lem's Boy Scouts.

The downside is that the disc dupes what was on the standard release a few years ago in terms of bonus features. It's full screen.

The commercial for these mentioned Darby O'Gill, The Boatniks, and Big Red, so I imagine they're next, and will probably be douple-dips there, too.

The commercial did have a clip from a film that I'm not familiar with, where for a fleeting moment, there was a boy and a dog, not readily apparent which film, and a dad who looked like Earl Holliman, perhaps, but it was definitely not Jody Whittaker from The Biscuit Eater. I'd be open to guesses as to which it was, and I hope it's a TV movie.

[justcuttinhair]

Now that really is a shame...so basically..they are probably just repackaging overstocked titles......that's sad! I still can not believe it's nearly April and the DMC..still has not released a new exclusive yet.

[disneyrecordfan]

It is definitely a shame that there have been no new exclusive releases for months now but we have some doubledips that haven't even been promoted that heavily.

I'm curious as to why Disney isn't making these exclusives available through the DMC, or if these releases - timed with the lack of DMC exclusives - means that the otherwise non-retail releases are moving in this direction?

You'll be hard-pressed to find many people in life who profess to be "Universal" or "Paramount" fans, but Disney fans number so many that I've been baffled for years as to why the Home Entertainment division isn't more responsive to people like us. Even their generic "thank you for writing" regarding title release requests or information about the Treasures is pretty dismissive.

I got an online survey from the Disney Store the other day and one of the things I noted was that 20 years ago when those were starting, there were so many grown-up collectibles or exclusives that I wanted to buy, but as a college student then, I had to be pretty choicy. Now I have more disposable income and can't find much to buy there or anywhere else from the company, outside visits to the parks. If a DVD exclusive were sold at the Disney Store, perhaps I'd set foot in one and buy something else, if they sold things for me.

But I have been able to spend those disposable dollars on Warner Archives or Universal direct-to-DVD titles lately. Wonder what shareholders would think if they heard us say that we want to spend money with Disney but can't find much to buy in terms of the multitude of the anthology series or MMC episodes that are unreleased?

Even for the Treasures, I would have bought them if they had released two or three waves a year!

Oh, well. Maybe with this Signature series, they have some sort of plan to build it or market it and then we'll get some unreleased titles...

[a-net-fan]

My third installment arrived today. It's Follow Me Boys. Like the replacement disc for "The Apple Dumpling Gang," the DVD label/print reflects the Signature Movie Edition line-up art.

This one is my favorite booklet from the first three releases, with a lot of quotes from some of the actors who played Lem's Boy Scouts.

The downside is that the disc dupes what was on the standard release a few years ago in terms of bonus features. It's full screen.

The commercial for these mentioned Darby O'Gill, The Boatniks, and Big Red, so I imagine they're next, and will probably be douple-dips there, too.

The commercial did have a clip from a film that I'm not familiar with, where for a fleeting moment, there was a boy and a dog, not readily apparent which film, and a dad who looked like Earl Holliman, perhaps, but it was definitely not Jody Whittaker from The Biscuit Eater. I'd be open to guesses as to which it was, and I hope it's a TV movie.

This title strikes me as one that should have been released in Widescreen???? Am I correct everyone? If so this is bogus. With Widescreen TVs being the norm now movies that were shot that way need to be presented that way on DVD. IT SO DISCOURAGING that the same bonus materials are there as well. You are right....its just all a shame....a shame they have people who are willing and wanting to buy this material and they cant put together a proper presentation of it. I dont get why Disney has to be like this...I really dont.

I wish Ultimate Disney would review this newly released series. I would like to know what they had to say about this...

[merlinjones]

>>I got an online survey from the Disney Store the other day and one of the things I noted was that 20 years ago when those were starting, there were so many grown-up collectibles or exclusives that I wanted to buy, but as a college student then, I had to be pretty choicy. Now I have more disposable income and can't find much to buy there or anywhere else from the company, outside visits to the parks. If a DVD exclusive were sold at the Disney Store, perhaps I'd set foot in one and buy something else, if they sold things for me. But I have been able to spend those disposable dollars on Warner Archives or Universal direct-to-DVD titles lately. Wonder what shareholders would think if they heard us say that we want to spend money with Disney but can't find much to buy in terms of the multitude of the anthology series or MMC episodes that are unreleased? Even for the Treasures, I would have bought them if they had released two or three waves a year!<<

This is a common feeling among Walt Disney fans.

[disneyboy20022]

I've had to cancel my membership or my continuation with this...a financial emergency came up and as much as I would like to stay in it....I can't...so I canceled it but I did tell them how I would love to see the Walt Disney Treasures Line continued and the lady said she would pass that along.....thats the second time someone has told me that when I called Disney whether its just about a movie issue or DMR....and very like happy voice when they say that....perhaps IF people call Disney....on the 1-800 number...voice your concerns....I always tend to thought your voice can make more of an effect than words on an email or paper....that's why I prefer to call them than email them....its better clarification for me and them....

[merlinjones]

>>I always tend to thought your voice can make more of an effect than words on an email or paper....that's why I prefer to call them than email them....its better clarification for me and them....<<

Most consumer complaint advisors agree that polite physical snail mail to the most relevant executives at any company, the higher positioned the better, have a much better chance of making an impact than directing comments to lower level consumer complaint phone handlers. The letters are then managed from the top down, not the bottom-up.

[disneyfella]

My third installment arrived today. It's Follow Me Boys. Like the replacement disc for "The Apple Dumpling Gang," the DVD label/print reflects the Signature Movie Edition line-up art.

This one is my favorite booklet from the first three releases, with a lot of quotes from some of the actors who played Lem's Boy Scouts.

The downside is that the disc dupes what was on the standard release a few years ago in terms of bonus features. It's full screen.

The commercial for these mentioned Darby O'Gill, The Boatniks, and Big Red, so I imagine they're next, and will probably be douple-dips there, too.

The commercial did have a clip from a film that I'm not familiar with, where for a fleeting moment, there was a boy and a dog, not readily apparent which film, and a dad who looked like Earl Holliman, perhaps, but it was definitely not Jody Whittaker from The Biscuit Eater. I'd be open to guesses as to which it was, and I hope it's a TV movie.

This title strikes me as one that should have been released in Widescreen???? Am I correct everyone? If so this is bogus. With Widescreen TVs being the norm now movies that were shot that way need to be presented that way on DVD. IT SO DISCOURAGING that the same bonus materials are there as well. You are right....its just all a shame....a shame they have people who are willing and wanting to buy this material and they cant put together a proper presentation of it. I dont get why Disney has to be like this...I really dont.

I wish Ultimate Disney would review this newly released series. I would like to know what they had to say about this...

It should have been released in widescreen. When originally shown in theatres, "Follow Me, Boys!" was in the aspect ratio of 1.75:1. There have been NO home media formats releasing the film in its original theatrical aspect ratio.......but there are literally hundreds of other films in this situation too (including "Mary Poppins"!).