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Phil Jellicoe · Guest

We all know that Fox are a long way behind Warners when it comes to putting their classics on DVD. But I find it hard to understand why they don't do a series of their claiss musicals - things like "Diamond Horsehoe,"
"Four Jills in A Jeep," "Down Argentine Way," " Tin Pan Alley" etc.etc.

Of course, now that they're talking of doing "Daddy Long Legs" maybe things are looking up.

J.S. · Guest

Having just left a request in the "swashbucklers" section for a Ty Power box set, I thought I might as well repeat it here in the hope that someone at Fox will do something about it.

A great box set would be

The Mark of Zorro (1940) - but without Richard Schickel's pompous and opinionated audio commentary), The Black Swan (1942), "The Razor's Edge" (1946), Nightmare Alley (1947), Captain From Castile(1947) and "An American Guerilla in the Philippines" -aka "I Shall Return" (1950)

How about it Fox ?

A.Merrivale · Guest

It's good to know that Fox are,at last, planning to do a DVD of "Daddy Long Legs." It may not enjoy the reputation of the Fred and Ginger RKO musicals or Fred's MGM classics - but it has always been a favourite of mine and Leslie Caron makes a delightful co-star. And then,of course, there's the ever-brilliant "Something's Gotta Give."

Can't wait to get this one.

Jim Patterson · Guest

Good to see that "Daddy Long Legs" is finally under way. Does this mean that we'll be getting more of the classic Fox musicals ?

And what about "Sun Valley Serenade" and "Orchestra Wives" ?

James LM · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 32 Location: Croydon

It seems like Fox may be rethinking their Studio Classics series for the UK. I think it has occurred to them that the popularity of the seroes in the states is down to the special editions with commentaries etc. They have just repackaged their old titles adding vanilla versions of the films released in the US. The BBFC has just certified the extra features on the R1 release of "All About Eve", which Fox have only just re-released.. I must admit that I laughed at the new campaign when I saw that they were hoping people would pay more for vanilla versions of titles that have been released as special editions and cost less. Just what were they thinking? It is no wonder that "The Day the Earth Stood Still" tops their list on their site. This is one of only two of the Fox classics to feature an audio commentary in the UK, but even these are previously available versions. The other is "The Sand Pebbles".

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

Thanks, James, for pointing this out. I like to think that the heavy mail bag that Laureate received last year regarding Fox has something to do with this. Of course, the great success that Warners have had with their S.E. releases could not have gone unnoticed.

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

Thanks, Mark, for bringing this to my attention. As you know, there've been tons of requests for the two Miller band's films to be issued as a double feature DVD. But all of Fox's titles are planned in Los Angeles. and obviously their policy is to release on a one-at-a-time basis.A few years ago, Fox actually released both SUN VALLEY SERENADE and ORCHESTRA WIVES as a double laserdisc package. All the musical numbers on both soundtracks were originally recorded on 4-tracks and were remixed in genuine stereo. Technically, these are the best recordings ever made by the Miller band.

This looks like a very attractive release and it's good to see that they have got Ann Rutherford on the audio commentary. As for the second Miller film, I'll discuss this with the Fox people when I'm in Los Angeles next month. Maybe I'll have some good news when I get back on this and other Fox titles. They are certainly releasing some good stuff currently.
Once again, thanks for the info.

Best
Ken

basket78 · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 4

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

I don't think there's anything fishy about catering for an eager section of the market. This is something to celebrate.

Chris Marcus · Guest

Now that Ken Barnes has become involved with 20th Century Fox and there forthcoming - and long awaited DVD of "Daddy Long Legs" is there any chance of more goodies from the Fox vaults ?

Phil Jellicoe · Guest

Looking forward to next month's region 1 DVD of "Daddy Long Legs" -and it's good to notice that Fox are also releasing "Pin Up Girl" - although not my favourite Betty Grable musical, it is one of the iconic images of World War 2. Much better though would be "Diamond Horsehoe" or "Mother Wore Tights" - preferably both. But I am glad to see Fox's great series of film noir titles. I've started collecting these and they're all excellent. Maybe soon they'll catch up with Warners and do some box sets.

Looks like it could be a good 2006 for film buffs.

R.Telfer · Guest

Fox are really coming on strong. Apart from their excellent string of film noir titles ( all of which can be recommended ), I recently bought the special edition of Hitchock's Lifeboat - which completes all of the director's major films on DVD. It's an excellent DVD and carries some interesting extras. Let's hope Fox keep up the good work.

Steve Hough · Guest

I endorse R. Telfer's praise for Fox's Film Noir series. Their output in this genre is as good as any other studio and in some cases ( Laura, The Dark Corner, Kiss of Death ) it was a few notches higher.

I recently got "Somewhere In The Night" and "The Dark Corner" and found faults in the audio commentaries on both. This was not so much that the commentators didn't know the genre ( clearly they do ) but they don't know their movies. On "Somewhere", fillm noir specialist, Eddy Muller gets the names of certain bit players wrong. And on "Dark," the two film noir experts -Alain Silver & James Ursini describe Alfred Newman's "Street Scene" ( which used several times in Fox films) as having been composed by Alex North. They also refer "The Street With No Name" as being made six years after "The Dark Corner." In fact, it was only two years later. Clumsy mistakes like this tend to to make one wary of the rest of the commentary. But no problems with the films in the Fox Noir series except for the inclusion of "House of Bamboo" which is a clumsy and inept remake of "Street With No Name" in a Japanese setting. More of this marvellous series is yet to come. So, as R Telfer put it "Keep up the good work."

Phil Jellicoe · Guest

Now that we've got "Daddy Long Legs." let's hope we can get both of the Glenn Miller films issued on DVD. They have made a start with "Orchestra Wives" but when will we get "Sun Valley Serenade" ?
These two films - the best showcase ever for the sound of the Miller band -deserve to be given a Special Edition two-fer with extras. I doubt if this will happen but at least it would be good to have both films on DVD.

D.P. · Guest

I see that "Daddy Long Legs" is the first in a Fox series entitled "Marquee Musicals". The others in this initial batch are " Pin Up Girl" ( an indifferent Betty Grable musical ) and "Weekend in Havana" ( a standard Alice Faye
vehicle ). Let's hope they get around to doing classier items like " Sun Valley Serenade," "Diamond Horseshoe" and "Mother Wore Tights."

On the other hand, I have nothing but praise for their Film Noir series
which has delivered some of the finest examples of the genre. Except, that is, for the lacklustre "House of Bamboo" - which is easy to ignore when there are superb titles like "Laura," "Somewhere In The Night,"
"The Dark Corner," "Call Northside 777," "Kiss of Death" and "Panic In The Streets." All come with reasonably interesting audio commentaries and are well worth collecting.