DVDizzy Forum

Is France the only country where the movie is available in an anamorphic transfer?

Widdi wrote:A well made special edition of The Black Cauldron could become one of the best Disney DVDs ever. I don't think there is an animated classic with more history behind it than this one.

Ah but do you see the flaw in your thinking? A "well made special edition"? From Disney? On DVD? Now?

Too bad all Disney cares about is the $$$.

Oh I apologise. You did see the flaw.

No, there's one in Korea, and that one's NTSC (so no speedup)

I'm gonna buy that version once it comes back in stock, and I'll put screenshots up for any of you considering buying it yourself.

I was hoping for another Disney Animated classic on DVD near the end of the year, but I definitely wasn't hoping for this one. I would probably purchase it for the sole purpose of having it in my collection, though. I'd like to have all the DAC's at some point on DVD.

I'm thrilled about this possible re-edition. I'm hoping for confirmation and a major worldwide release.

Disney should stop keeping this film in the shadows. Its time to shine and be known might be now, in the time of emo kids and their nostalgia for 80s cartoons. Haha don't get me wrong, but if they market it properly, and they include thorough documentaries about its making, it could be a proper hit.

I did notice a bunch of Gold Collection DVDs hit the shelves at the local Walmart, so I wonder if they are trying to get rid of these. The movies I saw on the shelves are:
The Black Cauldron
The Adventures of Ichobad and Mr. Toad
Hercules
Melody Time
Fun and Fancy Free

Barbossa wrote:I did notice a bunch of Gold Collection DVDs it the shelves at the local Walmart, so I wonder if they are trying to get rid of these. The movies I saw on the shelves are:
The Black Cauldron
The Adventures of Ichobad and Mr. Toad
Hercules
Melody Time
Fun and Fancy Free

Well it totally makes sense that these movies are next in line for possible re editions, as they got their last one 7/8 years ago. Although personally, i'm keeping my fingers crossed that when they do rerelease them, they opt for the Blu Ray format. I think with the upcoming canon releases of Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio in this format, they should start backing up their catalogue just as they did back when Disney DVD started in 2000 with these same films you mention.

Actually, every Animated Classic deserves a 2-disc Special Edition, filled to the brim with bonus material and other stuff, but Disney doesn't do those, for some reason.
The Black Cauldron is a flawed film. I have only seen it once, but I liked it then. I have to see it again sometimes soon. Yes, it is dark. But so is Dumbo. I actually thought Dumbo was much darker and tragic than The Black Cauldron was, so I don't really understand all the fuss about it.
Of course, the story behind the film alone warrants a special edition, but I wouldn't count on it. But hey, I would be glad enough if it was only remastered.

KubrickFan wrote:Actually, every Animated Classic deserves a 2-disc Special Edition, filled to the brim with bonus material and other stuff, but Disney doesn't do those, for some reason.
The Black Cauldron is a flawed film. I have only seen it once, but I liked it then. I have to see it again sometimes soon. Yes, it is dark. But so is Dumbo. I actually thought Dumbo was much darker and tragic than The Black Cauldron was, so I don't really understand all the fuss about it.
Of course, the story behind the film alone warrants a special edition, but I wouldn't count on it. But hey, I would be glad enough if it was only remastered.

I agree. Disney has released very dramatic features... "The Rescuers" comes to mind.

According to this site it is informed by Disney Home Entertainment Latin America that there will be a 25th Anniversary Edition DVD of The Black Cauldron and it may be released on Blu-ray. They speak of a full screen release (?) and bonus features like interviews and some deleted scenes. Also there will be a game named "Escape the Gwythaints". I don't know if this is a reliable source or anything, but they say their source is Disney Home Entertainment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed if this is true!

L&E wrote:According to this site it is informed by Disney Home Entertainment Latinamerica that there will be a 25th Anniversary Edition DVD of The Black Cauldron and it may be released on Blu-ray. They speak of a full screen release (?) and bonus features like interviews and some deleted scenes. Also there will be a game named "Escape the Gwythaints". I don't know if this is a reliable source or anything, but they say their source is Disney Home Entertainment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed if this is true!

I wouldn't be surprised if Disney USA is testing the waters first in international territories to see if a major promotional campaign would be worth it for a R1 release. Being from Mexico myself, I'm thrilled to know that apparently Latin Disney is "confirming" the release (although that depends on how reliable that site is), but I'm also hoping for a full-on campaign to bring the film forward to new audiences who might embrace it.

But if they release it in full screen you really can forget it!

Will Barks wrote:But if they release it in full screen you really can forget it!

I guess like other superwide screen releases (SB, L&TT, BB) they mean widescreen and full screen together. If they do, it *may* push the release into a 2 disc release, which means we *may* get something worthwhile for the SE rather than games and... more games!

Or they mean it's letterboxed

Was there a laserdisc release that had a bunch of special features?

Once they come back in stock, I'm gonna order a copy of the Korean DVD... and that's anamorphic and has some special features (just not enough to have 2 discs).

I can't see Disney releasing this on DVD solely in fullscreen- that makes no sense.

I think that the GC of this was great for a GC, but it'd be awesome if they added a really good making-of documentary...I'd love to see the deleted footage, but I just don't know if Disney would do that...but it'd be great!

There is one super-unique aspect of "The Black Cauldron" so far as animated features go... there are about 20 minutes of actual trims and deleted scenes.

Most animated features are so expensive that very few scenes are animated, then discarded - - cuts usually happened in story reel before animation, or before ink and paint at least. There are a few exceptions, such as "Snow White" - where several cut sequences exist.

But "Cauldron" was different in that, when management changed just prior to its release in 1985, Eisner, Katzenberg and Roy E. Disney ordered cuts to "The Black Cauldron" in order to sharpen and improve it - - and an editorial "film doctor" came in to trim and reorder the existing footage. So about 20 minutes hit the cutting room floor. I've seen the trim reel, and while nothing that was cut is a thrill - - and makes little difference to the overall picture, it is interesting to see what was cut.

This should all be on the DVD for historical interest.

merlinjones wrote: and an editorial "film doctor" came in to trim and reorder the existing footage.

Yeah, named Jeffrey Katzenberg.

merlinjones wrote:I've seen the trim reel, and while nothing that was cut is a thrill - - and makes little difference to the overall picture, it is interesting to see what was cut.

How have you seen it?!?!?! Where?!?! When!?!?!

Years and years ago they dug out all the old footage to consider a recut or additions for the first reissue, but nothing came of it except more trims for foreign versions. I saw it back then.

merlinjones wrote:Years and years ago they dug out all the old footage to consider a recut or additions for the first reissue, but nothing came of it except more trims for foreign versions. I saw it back then.

Did you work for Disney? If not, where did you see it?