cranberries fan

OMG I think I die and went to heaven and next on my list would be BackStreet (1961).

Al_Tahoe

And 2009 is even worse!

GenPion

About time. Let's hope for a Blu-ray release to fall at the same time.

Drexl

Each year, there's a long-awaited title that comes out for the first time on both: Reds in 2006, Twilight Zone: The Movie in 2007, and then Kiss of the Spider Woman in 2008. Keep the tradition going, Paramount!

I'd actually be surprised if it wasn't released on BD.

Superdaddy

This is great news. A wonderful film; great to see it getting a major studio release in R1 at last. And it's being released four days before my birthday too. I know what will be my #1 purchase with any cash/gift cards I receive (or possibly the #1 item on my gift suggestion list).

theWitcher

I will be happily surprised if it is released on BD. Have any prior "Centennial Collection" titles been afforded a BD release? I know I haven't bothered with replacing any of the earlier DVDs with releases in this series at all, but I'm sure I would already own 'Sunset Blvd' and 'To Catch a Thief' -- at the very least -- if they had been afforded a BD release.

smashthesymbols

No. They've all been DVD only. I'm betting that will continue too. I'll be very surprised if The African Queen gets a BD release.

chris_sc77

Whine, Whine. Maybe when more people fall for the Blu-gimmick and said format actually has good sales then the studios will put out more classic films on that format. Trust me I am sure if they thought there was money to b made on this title on Blu they would release it on that format.
That said I have never seen this but I am excited to and will most likely blind-buy it. It looks like Paramount has done a good job on these Centennial disks.

Drexl

Well, unlike the other titles (presumably), this is getting a brand new master. So, I think they'll do it, since it might sell better as it's never been on DVD in the US.

islandclaws

I'm not going to be one of those guys who has to point out sales figures and whip out a flow chart to espouse the benefits of Blu-ray, but I'm finding this argument is only being made by those who don't have a BD player. Simply put, no matter how good a classic film looks on SD, the beneits once may of them hit Blu is astounding, to say the least. I have a tough time justifying the purchase of a classic film on SD knowing that a BD might follow closely behind. So, even though I'll buy African Queen on SD, if that's my only option, I'm still going to want it on BD.

GenPion

Everyone with a Blu-ray player, who has ANY interest in Blu-ray's will want a movie like The African Queen on the format. I would want nothing less myself. The technology is there and with a new remaster this is the kind of excellent film treatment I expect the film to have. It deserves to be released on both formats and at the same time. This release is an important one, and should be treated as such with both DVD and Blu-ray releases.

fumanstan

You're the last person that should be complaining about people whining. Given your 2 hour, rated R, and now ridiculous Blu-ray rants. Seriously.

PatrickMcCart

I have the quite good Carlton/ITV DVD with the Jack Cardiff commentary. It would be nice if Paramount ported it over.

It's about time they release it, but at least it'll be worth the wait. All the Centennial reissues seem to be top notch so far. A BluRay would be anything but a gimmick. If the few 3-strip Technicolor films on DVD from Warner are any indicator, The African Queen could look spectacular if handled properly.

Ethan VanSciver

Check this one off the list! Now....Magnificent Ambersons.

Let's go!

basaro

Holy crap, finally good news.

Adam Tyner

Ditto, unfortunately.

Paramount has been extremely reluctant to embrace their back catalog in high-def. I think 1975's 3 Days of the Condor is as far back as they've dug to date, and there are only a handful of their titles from the '70s and '80s on Blu-ray, period.

Maybe the goal is to get everyone to re-buy these movies in these DVD Centennial Editions and then sell them again on Blu-ray a couple of years down the line.

mdnitoil

Quite frankly, I'm guessing their strategy is wait until the market penetration is such that it isn't a waste of their time to release back catalog in Blu. Hence the second and third tier titles. Paramount isn't interested in pushing the envelope here. They're going let other studios do the heaving lifting to build the market and then release later.

Kerborus

Really? ::blink, blink:: I'll believe it when it's cold surface is in my warm sweaty hands.

TheDuke

Isn't this one of about 3 movies on AFI's list of greatest movies of all time that hasn't gotten a DVD release? Good news if it is, although I have never heard of it. I'm 18 though, so whatever.

Paul1957

I knew it was too good to be true:

Our original source regarding The African Queen was wrong and it is not on the schedule for this October. Our studio source also cannot confirm its impending release. Sorry for the hub bub.

http://www.classicflix.com/schedule-...ca4210ec5f68b7

dx23

Fuck!

islandclaws

Well, that certainly sucks.

slop101

I swear, AQ is the biggest dvd cock-tease of all time. I have the R2, but it looks like shit.

cranberries fan

dam it all to hell!!

MoviePage

That's unfortunate. Was really looking forward to it, and I guess I still will be.