DVDizzy Forum

I would like to know if anyone knows of any plans for Disney to release a Special Edition version of The Rescuers. I know there is a Sword in the Stone Special Edition being released this Summer, so why that then a superior film?

I'm curious too, i'm holding off on buying the cheap version b/c i'm waiting for the superior version that will be coming out of the Rescuers and it's sequel. All I have to say is it better be 2-disc and there had better be a new interview w/Newhart on it and some background info about how Rescue Rangers was originally going to star the cast of the Rescuers. I want pre-production art and all the goodies if it ever got past just the talk-about stage. This was one of Disney's better movies during the 70's and I hope it gets a good work-up.

No way it will be a two disc set, unless Disney decides to include both movies in it. Love the film, but I doubt Disney will ever see fit to give it a decent release.

I'd be content with a one disc Special Edition, it's just I'm holding back buying the Gold Collection DVD because I want a slip covered restored version.

Dudealadude wrote:I'd be content with a one disc Special Edition, it's just I'm holding back buying the Gold Collection DVD because I want a slip covered restored version.

Yes, because what the film needs the most when it gets re-released is a tree-killing DVD condom hanging off of its case.

SHJ wrote:No way it will be a two disc set, unless Disney decides to include both movies in it. Love the film, but I doubt Disney will ever see fit to give it a decent release.

It'll probably get the following treatment:

-The two movies put on one disc a la "Classic Caballeros Collection" and given a boring name like "The Rescuers Collection"

-A minor in-house restoration which will cause minor forum discussion over which transfer is better even though both will still have less effort than a Platinum title.

-The following bonus features:
--The Rescuers Scrapbook (49 stills, on the R1/R2/R4 DVD)

--The Rescuers Down Under Scrapbook (54 stills, on the R2/R4 DVDs)

--The Making of The Rescuers Down Under (10:35, on the R2/R4 DVDs)

--Bonus shorts: "Three Blind Mouseketeers" (currently on The Rescuers DVD), "Mickey Down Under", and "Daddy Duck" (currently on The Rescuers Down Under R2/R4 DVD)

-The redundant "Disney Song Selection" for The Rescuers.

-A silly game, either the already-existing "Ultimate Case" and "Outback Rescue", or something stupid like "Fun with Languages: Australian Lingo".

-Just to provide something new, we'll probably see a minor featurette regarding one or two of the deleted songs from The Rescuers, despite the fact that there are six: "(Sittin' in My Fav-o-rite Position Doin' Nothin' Is) Doin' What I Really Do Best", "I Never Had It So Good", "All I Ever Do Is Think of You", "Rescuers Aid Society" (original lyrics), "Swam Volunteers March", and "The Need to Be Loved".

-And of course, the trailer for The Rescuers Down Under will be dropped, and since it was a no-show on The Rescuers, Disney will figure no one will miss it anyway.

Oh boy, I can't wait.

Albert

I would expect it next year. All the stores in my area (stores that never, EVER carry catalog titles re-released more than a year ago) have been receiving copies of this and a few other films in need of a new (and hopefully better) editions and selling them for far less than they usually would. While it isn't concrete fact, I have noticed that Disney catalog titles show up in this stores and go on sale and then a few months latter go OOP. It happened with Robin Hood, Caballeros, Fox and the Hound, Sword in the Stone and Dumbo to name a few and now it is happening to The Rescuers, The Rescuers Down Under, The Great Mouse Detective and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (it's sequel is also showing up, but nobody cares) and to a lesser extent, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad and Atlantis: the Lost Empire (the store I work for didn't get them, but two other major retailers in my area did).

That to me is a good sign that a re-release is on the horizon. I would expect something like this as Disney's 2009/2010 schedule. It's a bit crowded, but with the lack of any DTV sequels for currently in print films that have yet to be released/re-released and no new ones in production Disney's gonna need something to rake in the cash next year.

Feb 09: The Rescuers: Special Edition (The Rescuers is very popular and will sell (unlike the Caballeros films, a cheap combo of the two movies would be a lost opportunity to make money).

March 6th, 2009: Pinocchio: Platinum Edition (already on the schedule).

Apr 09: Bolt (needs it's DVD release).

May/Jun 09: The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Topsy-turvy Edition (I really hope it gets treated better than this, but I doubt it).

Aug 09: The Rescuers Down Under: Special Edition (The typical summer sequel release).

October 6th, 2009: Fantasia: Platinum Edition (The Princess and the Frog can be used to sell merchandise this Christmas, so Fantasia can be released ala The Jungle Book last year and Snow White can be saved for a year without a princess movie).

October 30th, 2009: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad: 60th Anniversary Edition (would be a great Halloween tie-in).

Nov 09: The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2: Worst Excuse for a Movie Ever Edition (Fits the Fall sequel release).

January 1st, 2010: Fantasia/2000: 10th Anniversary Edition (if they miss this release date opportunity they are idiots).

Feb 10: The Great Mouse Detective: Special Edition (typical moderate selling Feb title).

TBA 10: Atlantis: the Lost Empire: Atlantis Found Edition (I don't know where to squeeze this in).

It's all just speculation for now, but I can easily see that happening.

Widdi, that sounds about right. The only thing I'd change is putting The Black Cauldron in the February 2010 spot for it's 25th anniversary and Great Mouse Detective in 2011 for it's 25th anniversary.

Hopefully some of these re-releases will be on Blu-ray and Cauldron will get a 16x9 transfer.

It would be nice if "Ichabod and Mr. Toad" would get some extras, like Walt's opening from the TV show for both segments - - and The Story of Washington Irving material that preceeded Sleepy Hollow on TV.

Also, why not put the Halloween shorts on there... The Mad Doctor, Lonesome Ghosts, Pluto's Judgment Day, Donald and the Gorilla, Trick or Treat...

I agree, I think we will be seeing a Special Edition of "The Rescuers" in the near future. Hopefully early next year, perhaps even late this year (though it is doubtful because Disney has been rather good to us this year in terms of Animated Classics). I've only been collection Disney films since 2004 and I've only been buying new releases (except for some backtracking to complete my Platinum Edition collection) and The Rescuers movies are among the few good films that I still need in my collection, along with The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, and Oliver and Company. I'm really hoping they DON'T choose to do an Anthology or a two-disc set. I would really like for each film to have their own separate release - I think they each deserve their own separate release. I think The Rescuers will be on its way soon.

I just bought The Resucers not too long ago. I don't know if I'd buy it again, but I would definitly buy The Rescuers Down Under.

This would be a dream come true for me, considering The Rescuers is easily my favorite of the Animated Classics. But unfortunately, I really don't see it happening, at least not on DVD. It's just not worth Disney's time and effort, considering it's probably one of the least popular Animated Classics and wouldn't sell very well.

It's quite sad, really. The film just doesn't get the credit (nor DVD treatment) it deserves. Maybe we'll have better luck with the eventual Blu-Ray release.

Prince Ali wrote:This would be a dream come true for me, considering The Rescuers is easily my favorite of the Animated Classics. But unfortunately, I really don't see it happening, at least not on DVD. It's just not worth Disney's time and effort, considering it's probably one of the least popular Animated Classics and wouldn't sell very well.

It's quite sad, really. The film just doesn't get the credit (nor DVD treatment) it deserves. Maybe we'll have better luck with the eventual Blu-Ray release.

Not popular?

When the Rescuers came out on DVD it sold out everywhere. It is a very popular movie. Far more popular than The Sword in the Stone or Robin Hood which both have or will received new editions. Hell even the package films are getting re-released. You will see a new Rescuers DVD. It's only a matter of time.

Widdi wrote:

Prince Ali wrote:This would be a dream come true for me, considering The Rescuers is easily my favorite of the Animated Classics. But unfortunately, I really don't see it happening, at least not on DVD. It's just not worth Disney's time and effort, considering it's probably one of the least popular Animated Classics and wouldn't sell very well.

It's quite sad, really. The film just doesn't get the credit (nor DVD treatment) it deserves. Maybe we'll have better luck with the eventual Blu-Ray release.

Not popular?

When the Rescuers came out on DVD it sold out everywhere. It is a very popular movie. Far more popular than The Sword in the Stone or Robin Hood which both have or will received new editions. Hell even the package films are getting re-released. You will see a new Rescuers DVD. It's only a matter of time.

Seriously, and with releases like the Classic Caballeros Collection and the 45th Anniversary of The Sword in the Stone, I would say that all of the animated classics too get some sort of an upgrade in DVD treatment.

Simba3 wrote:Seriously, and with releases like the Classic Caballeros Collection and the 45th Anniversary of The Sword in the Stone, I would say that all of the animated classics too get some sort of an upgrade in DVD treatment.

Well, the Classic Caballeros Collection didn't really get any upgrade, and while we have yet to hear about "The Sword in the Stone", I'm not exactly holding my breath. Let's hold off before we classify them as "upgrades".

SpringHeelJack wrote:

Simba3 wrote:Seriously, and with releases like the Classic Caballeros Collection and the 45th Anniversary of The Sword in the Stone, I would say that all of the animated classics too get some sort of an upgrade in DVD treatment.

Well, the Classic Caballeros Collection didn't really get any upgrade, and while we have yet to hear about "The Sword in the Stone", I'm not exactly holding my breath. Let's hold off before we classify them as "upgrades".

True. However, upgrade or not, they still got re-releases, and The Rescuers hasn't received an update in a while, and I would say it's turn is nearing.

Yuh, but if all we're getting is another short and a slipcover as opposed to a much-needed improved transfer, I don't care one way or the other.

I can seriously see Disney holding off on releasing this film for another year or so. They could use it to release on Blu-ray and further solidify it's place as a format for release. That's kind of what they did when the DVD came out too, or i could imagine it that way.

The fact is that this film like Hercules, Lilo & Stitch, and Hunchback are all relatively strong films and are in need of a newer release. Disney knows this, and I think they are going to play it towards their advantage over the next two years.