grim_tales

What was the release date for this one? Was it October?

DVD Josh

Search is your friend.

Skoobooz

Hasn't been officially announced yet.

Cameron

from Upcoming Warner SEs with Specs At HTF



The Wizard of Oz: Two-Disc Special Edition October 2005
Special Features are scheduled to include:
*New documentary on the phenomenon of Oz and its impact around the world
*Making-of documentary hosted by Angela Lansbury
*Oz composer Harold Arlen’s home movies
*Musical outtakes including the Jitterbug dance
*Filmographies, story boards, costumes, and makeup tests
*New, graduated trivia game
*Feature-length sing-a-long

Wannabe

This release sounds unnecessary.

Skoobooz

Those specs were not official...we still don't know for sure what will be on this release.

hondo21

Isn't the big attraction of this release that it will be given the "Ultra-Resolution" treatment?

Although the current DVD's transfer is already pretty good IMO.

tommyp007

No Pink Floyd audio track = no upgrade.

cloudnin

Judging from the seemingly lackluster extras, and considering how good the current transfer is (how much better can the transfer be while still on DVD?), I guess this is the beginning of the all-out onslaught of unnecessary rereleases right before high definition comes out.

I'm not a double-dipper, as I'd rather spend my money on movies I don't have rather than buying fancier versions of movies I already have, but I wonder how many regular double-dippers this appeals to and if they will be changing the frequency of their double-dipping as the release of high definition nears.

Cameron

Whoah WHoah WHoah...

The stuff i posted was tenative and does not include full specs...

also there was a great commentary on the Laser Disc that has yet to find its way to dvd.

Ultra-Resolution: if you owned the old Gone with the Wind and then saw the new dvd you will understand why this alone would be well worth an upgrade.

This is Warner Brothers people....not Universal or Fox....look at the re-releases thus far....GWTW, Casablanca, Strangers on a Train, Goodfellas, etc. I doubt they will dissapoint.

JJE-187

I was hoping for a 3-4 disc set with all the shorts and silent film versions included. WB owns the L Frank Baum Shorts I believe and the silent films a Public Domain

ReduxGuy

My guess would be about November, since it's close to Christmas and since TWoO is a big family film, it will sell like hotcakes.

HBKDinobot

Who does the commentary on the Laser Disc version?

grim_tales

Thanks
As for all the versions of the film, I've heard the 1925 silent version is pretty terrible.
I'm sure the extras will be very good, look at Warners SE of Robin Hood (which looks superb with Ultra-Resolution), the extras are good as well, not just the commentary but a couple of good documentaries and fun cartoon shorts, and vintage 30's trailers

Drexl

Yes, this is the only reason I will be buying this. The additional extras should be a nice bonus, but alone they would not compel me to get it again.

NatrlBornThrllr

I would, without doubt, jump at a release that included either/or: all versions of the film, a Dark Side of the Moon alternate audio track.

Also, does anybody know: Digipak or Keepcase?

-JP

grim_tales

Whats this about a Pink Floyd soundtrack?
I would think Digipack for the first pressing.

The DVDs not up for preorder yet but surely will be soon.

NatrlBornThrllr

http://www.ingsoc.com/waters/info/oz.html

...and I'm hoping Digipak, but they seem to be going to keepcases a lot lately.

We shall see.

-JP

Cameron

John Frickle gives commentary.

for a two disc set you will probably see a keep case with a slipcover. This has become the norm for warner lately...Big Red One, James Dean movies, bullit, chariots of fire, all of the other two disc.

Skoobooz

But there have also been rumors of this being a three disc set, in which case, I doubt it would be a keep case.

Again, nothing's been announced or set in stone (at least as far as we know). They will probably announce this within the next month or so, though.

Paul Drake

Since Warners hasn't announced this yet and everything that's been bandied about on the internet is only rumor at this point, the above is still possible especially given that WB is including the silent version of Ben Hur on that DVD.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the 1910 version included. It plays on TCM occasionally (only 1 reel survives) and looks stunning.

I've seen the '25 version and it isn't bad although it's a far cry from what most people are familiar with. It's primarily of interest because it features legendary silent comic Larry Semon (largely forgotten) and Oliver Hardy.

gjamesm

Here is what EW.com posted today:

'Wizard of Oz' DVDs set to blow into stores
By Thomas K. Arnold

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fans of "The Wizard of Oz" should be over the rainbow when the classic 1939 film is reissued on DVD on Oct. 25.

"Oz" will be available both as two- and three-disc sets, the latter boasting a new documentary about "Oz" author L. Frank Baum, Warner Home Video said Wednesday. They will be priced at $26.99 and $39.92, respectively. The film was originally released on DVD in October 1999 as a single disc.

Both versions of the upcoming "Oz" DVDs will include a new digital transfer of the original movie using Warner's proprietary "Ultra-Resolution" technology. The soundtrack has been remastered as well. Special features include a new commentary from historian John Fricke; four documentaries, including one on the restoration process; outtakes and deleted scenes; home movies made on the "Oz" set by composer Harold Arlen; and an "Oz Jukebox" of recording session materials, radio shows and promo spots.

The three-disc edition also includes four hours devoted to Baum; five pre-1939 "Oz" movies, the earliest of which dates to 1910; and reproductions of the invitation and program for the film's premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Reuters/VNU

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/reuters..._10_0_,00.html

Wannabe

Sounds good for Wizard of Oz afficianados, but I'll stick with my old release. Ultra-resolution, Superbit, or whatever you call it, still isn't hi-def. And four hours devoted to Baum - c'mon.

jmj713

For your information, Ultra-Resolution has nothing to do with HD. It's a restoration process for three-strip Technicolor films.

The Valeyard

That's right! He only created book the movie was based on. He doesn't deserve squat.


Andrew