It's like Walt Disney Home Video went fishing!

[merlinjones]

Gee, without any newly released Walt Disney era titles on DVD or Blu-Ray all most this whole year - - it seems like Disney Home Video went on vacation this summer!

With no Exclusives or Treasures or even Classics to enjoy, discuss or speculate on, seems like Walt's fans have been left to seek out used aftermarket copies of things missed. Sure those documentaries are coming, but that's not the rest of Walt's library...

I've noticed postings seem slower around here too. Guess we need a little Walt and Annette and Ludwig -- with all their title and restoration choices, edits and aspect ratios -- to spice things up.

[Escapay]

I'd rather WDHE be out fishing than releasing crappy barebones Disney Movie Club DVDs, limited-printing Treasures that scalpers buy up by the dozen, or Animated Classics with underwhelming supplements.

It's not just affecting Disney, anyway. Every movie studio is cutting down, especially on catalogue releases. Warner has the Archive Collection rather than pressed-to-disc general release titles. 20th Century Fox more or less halted their Cinema Classics Collection line. Columbia's really the only major studio to step up and release some good catalog material, likely because they've got Martin Scorsese spearheading most of them (the "Collector's Choice" sets).

Bitching and moaning about it here won't make any difference.

And I don't care for Annette anyway.

albert

[merlinjones]

>>I'd rather WDHE be out fishing than releasing crappy barebones Disney Movie Club DVDs, limited-printing Treasures that scalpers buy up by the dozen, or Animated Classics with underwhelming supplements.<<

Better than nothing!


>>It's not just affecting Disney, anyway. Every movie studio is cutting down, especially on catalogue releases. Warner has the Archive Collection rather than pressed-to-disc general release titles.<<

Good thing film and TV buffs still have Shout Factory! and MPI and the direct market archive titles from Warner Bros and Universal.... but that doesn't help Walt any.


>>Bitching and moaning about it here won't make any difference.<

Couldn't hurt since nothing is going on on a message board about Walt Disney DVDs when there aren't any, anyhow! : )


>>And I don't care for Annette anyway.<<

Your loss! Still, there's plenty of unreleased classic Walt era character animation left to get out regardless of America's sweetheart. And who doesn't like that?

[Escapay]

>>I'd rather WDHE be out fishing than releasing crappy barebones Disney Movie Club DVDs, limited-printing Treasures that scalpers buy up by the dozen, or Animated Classics with underwhelming supplements.<<

Better than nothing!

Better than nothing, but not good enough.

>>And I don't care for Annette anyway.<<

Your loss!

Eh, not really. My own personal Disney fandom is better off without her.

albert

[DiscoDan]

The last half of the year is going to be worth it, though

- James and the Giant Peach
- Beauty and the Beast
- Crimson Wing
- Oceans
- Fantasia

Then there's going to be those lame recent things like Christmas Carol and Tinkerbell, probably that Sorcerer business if you really want to be technical

[merlinjones]

But of all those only Fantasia is a Walt movie - - and it's been out before (but it will be nice to get on Blu-Ray).

[mdnitoil]

The last half of the year is going to be worth it, though

- James and the Giant Peach
- Beauty and the Beast
- Crimson Wing
- Oceans
- Fantasia

Then there's going to be those lame recent things like Christmas Carol and Tinkerbell, probably that Sorcerer business if you really want to be technical

I guess we have different ideas of "worth it". The only classic title(s) are re-releases and the other stuff is, well, not exactly Walt-era. I guess it's great for all those folks who somehow missed the previous umpteen releases of this material on home video.

[disneyboy20022]

The last half of the year is going to be worth it, though

- James and the Giant Peach
- Beauty and the Beast
- Crimson Wing
- Oceans
- Fantasia

Then there's going to be those lame recent things like Christmas Carol and Tinkerbell, probably that Sorcerer business if you really want to be technical

Don't Forget Toy Story 3 and possibly Finding Nemo on Blu ray....

[DiscoDan]

What titles are on your wishlist?

Hasn't Disney just about released Everything from the Walt years by now? Other than a spring diamond collection I'm not sure how this year's release calendar is any different...

[merlinjones]

>>What titles are on your wishlist? Hasn't Disney just about released Everything from the Walt years by now?<<

There is tons of great Walt era stuff left that has never been on DVD at all, exclusive, limited or otherwise (especially wanted are those features with classic Disney stars or animation):

Song of the South (Bobby Driscoll)
The Sword and the Rose (Richard Todd)
The Light in the Forest (James MacArthur, Fess Parker)
Escapade in Florence (Annette, Tommy Kirk)
The Horsemasters (Annette, Tommy Kirk)
The Prince and the Pauper (Guy Williams)
Sammy, the Way Out Seal (Robert Culp, Billy Mumy)
Mosby's Marauders (Willie and the Yank) (James MacArthur, Kurt Russell)
Johnny Shiloh (Kevin Corcoran)
Westward Ho, the Wagons! (Fess Parker)
The Sign of Zorro (Guy Williams)
Zorro the Avenger (Guy Williams)
Almost Angels
(Plenty more features and TV/foreign release features unreleased)

A handful of Walt's classic animated shorts and featurettes have yet to be released (titles in other threads). Right now we have an incomplete set.

Very few of the Walt era original anthology TV hour shows have been released at all. Especially desired by Walt watchers are the cartoon compilation shows hosted by or starring various Disney characters, which feature original animation by the studio, especially the 18 Ludwig VonDrake shows, Ranger Woodlore's 4 shows, the many Donald Duck and Jiminy Cricket shows, Chip n Dale's show and various others including a few total originals like Moby Duck and expansions like It's Tough to be a Bird - - then there are the remaining Disneyland related shows like Disneyland Around the Seasons, Disneyland Showtime and From the Pirates of the Caribbean to the World of Tomorrow. And the heroic serial shows like the rest of Swamp Fox, et al. Not to mention the Moochie shows and even more Walt hosted animation hours and some more Kurt Russell TV shows. And we haven't even begun with the animal shows.

Let's not forget Jiminy Cricket's educational cartoons, the Disney animated commercials of the 50's and the park attraction and pre-show films, many of which are animated.

Also -- none of the People and Places featurettes have been released.

Plus we need properly formatted upgrades and special editions for big musicals like Babes in Toyland, etc. and unedited versions of the 40's animated package films. And also there are a number of popular post-Walt films needing release like Child of Glass and Charley and the Angel or all those Disneyland anniversary specials.

We haven't even touched The Mickey Mouse Club, save the first week and serials (and even then we haven't received all of the serials - - there are two more Spin and Marty adventures - - this time with Annette, Darlene and Moochie!, a second Hardy Boys mystery and a few others) - - plus The Mouse Factory, The New Mickey Mouse Club -- and Disney Family Album.

Not to mention Blu-Ray releases of all the animated and live-action classics - - why are they missing the Alice in Wonderland train? And they haven't even started with Blu on the big Walt live-action classics like Swiss Family Robinson, Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues, Parent Trap, etc. etc.

Yep -- this year we got nothin' but reissues of Alice (DVD only), Dumbo on Blu (from Mexico only) and Fantasia all over again -- plus the two documentaries.


>>Other than a spring diamond collection I'm not sure how this year's release calendar is any different...<<

This year: No new Walt era live-action releases, Walt Disney Treasures sets, Disney Movie Club Exclusives or Walt era cartoon compilations at all (at least some of these have always appeared throughout the year ever since Disney Home Video began on VHS and Beta in the early 80's) - - and we haven't had any comprehensive Walt era TV series best of compilations or season sets on DVD at all except for (the excellent) Zorro sets that sold out last year. Not even former exclusive titles made accessible to retail.

It's a Walt Disney drought.

Hey, you asked! ; )

[Luke]

<img src="http://www.signedrock.com/arts/DS162.jpgsamp">

Many movie studios go easy on new releases in July* and this isn't new for Disney, but yeah this is taking it to the extreme. Not even an <i>Ice Princess</i>!

* - An odd practice, because I would think that outdoors adventures would be canceled out by kids/families spending more time together in stores on vacation and prepping for them. I guess the numbers say otherwise, but you'd think a studio would be smart to take advantage of the light competition. Like say, releasing a TV season set in July across from nothing instead of in September on the same day as five other major shows.

[milojthatch]

Did we forget the re-release of "The Great Mouse Detective" this last Spring or "The Black Cauldron" this Fall? Just saying...

[merlinjones]

>>Did we forget the re-release of "The Great Mouse Detective" this last Spring or "The Black Cauldron" this Fall? Just saying...<<

Those aren't Walt Disney's films. Just sayin'...

[Escapay]

Those aren't Walt Disney's films. Just sayin'...

The world and Walt Disney Home Entertainment doesn't begin and end with material from 1923 to 1966.

Just sayin'...



albert

[merlinjones]

>>The world and Walt Disney Home Entertainment doesn't begin and end with material from 1923 to 1966. Just sayin'... <<

No, the company just EXCLUDES that at present.

Walt Disney was a man, an actual filmmaker with a specific point-of-view and aesthetic, not just a "brand." His personal films and later product made by the company bearing his name are simply not one and the same thing in terms of content.

Those who want the rest of Walt's library have no interest in substitutions -- it's a specific (and positive) interest. It's like saying to Alfred Hitchcock admirers that they should buy M. Night Shamalyan films instead of hard-to-get films from Hitch's library.

[Rudy Matt]

The Black Cauldron - w/anamorphic enhancement
Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition
The Boys
Walt and El Grupo / Saludos Amigos Uncut
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Fantasia: Diamond Edition
Fantasia/2000: Diamond Edition
Fantasia World
James and the Giant Peach
Toy Story 3
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

All of that is within 140 days or so. I know only Saludos and Fantasia are Walt-produced films, but it's going to be a busy schedule for the rest of the year.

By the way, I'm all for releasing every film ever produced by Walt, as soon as possible, in as high quality as possible. The prints used for Third Man on the Mountain, The Story of Robin Hood, Rob Roy the Highland Rogue, etc. are an embarassment.

[merlinjones]

>>I know only Saludos and Fantasia are Walt-produced films<<

Well, that was the point of this thread. There is little to no Walt Disney on the schedule this year, so there's nothing new to get for Walt watchers at present.

It's like they closed shop.

[Escapay]

Honestly, I've grown to respect Walt fans less and less because of how maniacal they can be on this forum.

I'm well aware that Walt the Filmmaker is different from Walt Disney the Brand Name. It's the people who only consider one over the other (often subtly insulting the company by never referring to them by name and only calling them "rights holders", lest Walt come down from Heaven and smite them ) that annoy me. The "Save the Treasures" thread was spammed with that damn list over and over again to the point that I wanted WDHE to release ANYTHING just to get merlinjones to shut up.



albert

[merlinjones]

>>Honestly, I've grown to respect Walt fans less and less because of how maniacal they can be on this forum.<<

You should respect Walt's films, not his "fans."


>>I'm well aware that Walt the Filmmaker is different from Walt Disney the Brand Name.<<

Can't tell from your posts.


>>It's the people who only consider one over the other (often subtly insulting the company by never referring to them by name and only calling them "rights holders", lest Walt come down from Heaven and smite them ) that annoy me.<<

At least you are paying attention. Nothing wrong with new releases, they simply aren't the same thing. The point is that Walt Disney's own film and TV library deserves more respect than the current rights holders are giving it and the material should be readily available to the public.


>>The "Save the Treasures" thread was spammed with that damn list over and over again to the point that I wanted WDHE to release ANYTHING just to get merlinjones to shut up.<<

Excellent! ; )

[Escapay]

>>Honestly, I've grown to respect Walt fans less and less because of how maniacal they can be on this forum.<<

You should respect Walt's films, not his "fans."

I do. But in a messageboard filled with Disney fans, that particular group is becoming more frustrating than engaging when it comes to reading what they say and replying to it.

>>I'm well aware that Walt the Filmmaker is different from Walt Disney the Brand Name.<<

Can't tell from your posts.

I talk about Filmmaker Walt when I'm in a discussion about Walt material.

I talk about Brand Name Walt when I'm in a discussion about post-Walt material.

If you can't tell the difference, maybe you need to work on that.

>>It's the people who only consider one over the other (often subtly insulting the company by never referring to them by name and only calling them "rights holders", lest Walt come down from Heaven and smite them ) that annoy me.<<

At least you are paying attention!

There's nothing else to pay attention to. It's like reyquila and his "I'm buying" posts. Might as well just have a robot post the same thing on daily intervals.

albert