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Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

That's great news. I have asked Universal to consider a second box set of FRED AND GINGER. No response as yet.

James LM · Guest

Swing Time is being released as part of a George Stevens set. Gunga Din is another title being released.

Ryan · Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Ft Myers, FL US

I was very excited when I read about the Swing Time release. I couldn't find any mention of features anywhere. I found on this site pictures of the other DVD's being released. http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=4772 Swing Time is conspicuosly absent and somebody even left a remark about it. Hmm, who could that be? The Stevens' films are being released they say because of the 100th anniversary of his birth. Astaire has never had his own collection of DVD's released on Region 1, but he has been included in Audrey Hepburn, Cole Porter and now George Stevens collections. When will they learn he can sell 'em on his own? I don't know.

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

In response to Ryan and others who are anxious to see more justice for Fred Astaire on DVD, I can report that Warner Brothers recently flew Fred's daughter, Ava to New York to do filmed interviews for two forthcoming DVDs EASTER PARADE (1948) and THE BAND WAGON (1953).

This fact will be mentioned in our NEWS section update in a few days.

mgcroadster · Guest

Mark; where have you heard about Swingtime? There's absolutely no mention about it anywhere not even on the Warners website.

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

Thanks for this clip from the New York Post. It's a clear indication of the growing importance of presenting classic films on DVD. It also reveals in no uncertain terms why Warner Brothers are the world leaders in DVD.

While Universal have put out some interesting releases ( Abbott & Costello, Deanna Durbin, the Horror movies and Bing Crosby ) they seem averse to producing extras. Perhaps their upcoming five-film box on the Marx Brothers will show an improvement ( fingers crossed ).

It's fortunate that Laureate were able to do some worthwhile DVD editions for Universal (UK) before certain political decisions ruled against giving buyers any further extras. We have,on the other hand, received hundreds of messages praising the material we have done.

If you or any other collectors want to see Vol 2 of FRED AND GINGER, then I suggest you write to:

DVD Film Dept.
Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd.
Prospect House
80-110 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1HB

I have spoken recently with Ava Astaire McKenzie and she told me she would be delighted to work with me on a second box of Fred and Ginger.
Apart from the extras that she could bring to this venture, I have recently unearthed further goodies that would only enhance such a package.

Also a second Cary Grant box wouldn't do Universal any hard either.

Ken

mgcroadster · Guest

Unfortunately Universal's six disc set looks as though it could easily fit on three. The sixth disc of extras, according to their website, contains very little. See here:

http://homevideo.universalstudios.com/details.php?childId=34933

Ryan · Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Ft Myers, FL US

Are we sure Swing Time will be released on DVD December 7th?

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

I've heard, through a friend of mine, that Swing Time may not be part of the George Stevens package because it's going to be part of a proposede Fred and Ginger set. Sounds promising but nothing has been offcially announced yet. So...fingers crossed.

mgcroadster · Guest

Swing Time is being released as part of this fantastic looking set:

http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366000

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

Yes, this is something to look forward to. Ava told me she has already done an audio commentary for "Top Hat." But she doesn't know what else the set will contain in the way of extras. Yet if it's anything like Warner's recent box sets, it should be worth getting.

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

Thanks Mark for drawing attention to this fabulous Warner release. Simply loaded with good stuff. Ava told me that she and Larry Billman had done an audio commentary for"Top Hat."

I wish I could have persuaded Universal to do more. But they don't have the same philosophy as Warners. To be fair to Universal, they only have the RKO rights for the U.K. So I think we did pretty well with the box set I was able to produce. It did good business and, I would have thought, justified a second set. Go figure !

Happily, I have now started work on "Daddy Long Legs" for Fox (USA). and Ava and I will be doing the audio commentary next week.

This will be posted on the NEWS site as soon as we have time ( along with a new forum for Musicals )

Ryan · Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Ft Myers, FL US

Finally Swing Time on DVD, no longer only a rumor, as it was earlier on in this thread. I see they have included a John Mueller (author of the incredibly detailed "Astaire Dancing") commentary. Would this be a replay of the 13 year old laserdisc commentary, or a new one? Even if it were the same, the laserdisc would still have the Bill Robinson/Fats Waller number to itself most likely.

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

I would imagine, after all this time, Mr. Mueller would do a new commentary - although I'm sure most of it will be the same as the Criterion laser disc - rather like Rudy Behlmer's "Robin Hood" commentary which closely followed the one he had done on alser disc.

All good stuff though. And very welcome on DVD at last.