Universal Vault Series (Amazon.com exclusives)

[dx23]

It seems that Universal has join the trend of studios releasing catalog titles through a DVD-R program. The list comes from Criterionforum.org:

Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain (1995)
The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
40 Pounds of Trouble (1963)
Gambit (1966)
Resurrection (1980)
The House of Seven Gables (1940)
The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)
Pure Luck (1991)
A Bronx Tale (1993)
Stick (1985)
Dragnet (1954)
The List of Adrian Messinger (1963)
The Black Shield of Falworth (1954)
The Perfect Furlough (1958)
A Good Man in Africa (1994)
Kitten With a Whip (1964)
Spawn of the North (1938)
Shout (1991)
Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)
Shoot Out (1971)
Tell Them Willie Boy is Here (1969)
The Brass Bottle (1964)
Death Takes a Holiday (1934)
The Chalk Garden (1964)
Blue Collar (1978)

I'm really surprised that A Bronx Tale, Death Takes a Holiday and Blue Collar are being re-released in this format, since I think they would sell well if they got a proper release.

[12thmonkey]

The List of Adrian Messenger (1963)

[dkedvd]

YAY! More over priced DVD-Rs + shipping! Woo hoo!

[mdnitoil]

How does everyone like the fact that some of these were pressed discs that have gone OOP? Lovely.

The irony, of course, is that in another thread folks are worried about whether Blu-ray is going to take over and put DVD out to pasture. Yeah, 'cause all these DVD-R titles are going to be flying off the shelves in Blu.

[NoirFan]

So much for a Criterion disc of Blue Collar.

[Ash Ketchum]

Originally Posted by dx23

It seems that Universal has join the trend of studios releasing catalog titles through a DVD-R program. The list comes from Criterionforum.org:


40 Pounds of Trouble (1963)
Gambit (1966)
The House of Seven Gables (1940)
The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)
Dragnet (1954)
The Black Shield of Falworth (1954)
The Perfect Furlough (1958)
Kitten With a Whip (1964)
Spawn of the North (1938)
Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)
Shoot Out (1971)
The Brass Bottle (1964)

Desired titles.

DRAGNET (1954) is in color and it's pretty amazing stuff. Think L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, but filmed on location when it actually took place and really really streamlined.

PERFECT FURLOUGH is a comedy with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh and directed by Blake Edwards. I'm not a fan of Edwards' later stuff, but I think this is one of his funniest.

BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH - Tony Curtis as a Bronx-accented knight. "Yonduh lies da castle of my fadduh." (He never said this line, but it's often attributed to this film.) Janet Leigh (his wife at the time) is in this too and looks gorgeous. I enjoy this movie a great deal.

THE BRASS BOTTLE - a movie about a genie with Barbara Eden that came out the same year "I Dream of Jeannie" premiered.

[wd40cloud]

Originally Posted by dx23

A Bronx Tale (1993)

Since when is A Bronx Tale a Universal release? If it is indeed the DeNiro film and it's anamorphic, I'll be all over it regardless of the price.

[gmanca]

I had a feeling Stick and The Incredible Shrinking Woman were to be on DVD soon since they have been in rotation on MAXHD. A bit overpriced, but I'll buy Stick for sure.

[Brian T]

Great to see this stuff finally getting released. Would be nice if the initial price was in the $10 range, which is what all of these burned versions should be selling for, instead of $19.99, but I'm sure they'll get there some day. Probably only a matter of time before other studios start doing this to. I'm continually amazed at some of the rare and offbeat stuff Warner has put out through its Archives—stuff that never would've sold on pressed DVDs—so it'd be nice to see all the studios offer this option for as long as the disc-based formats will allow. Pairing with Amazon seems like a logical step as well, where these do count toward free shipping. Still, that price . . .

[wd40cloud]

Originally Posted by wd40cloud

Since when is A Bronx Tale a Universal release? If it is indeed the DeNiro film and it's anamorphic, I'll be all over it regardless of the price.

http://www.amazon.com/Bronx-Tale-Amazon-com-Exclusive/dp/B0033PSH4U/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1263345998&sr=1-13

Damn, it really is the DeNiro film. Completely shocked considering it does seem to have somewhat of a following. Universal probably acquired it and didn't know what to do with it.

[cranberries fan]

Resurrection (1980)--(Ellen Burstyn) now this movie is a must own (I have it on VHS) I just hope it's widescreen as it full-screen on VHS.
It was on Sundance Channel a few months ago and it looked remasterd and really pop-off the screen!

[RobCA]

The only two on that list I'd be remotely interested in are The Incredible Shrinking Woman, which I already have on a DVD-R, and Death Takes a Holiday, which I already have on the Meet Joe Black Ultimate Edition.

Rob

[Pizza]

DVD-Rs. The trend continues I'd really like to get the brass bottle, too. Oh, well.

[g]

They should have put Dragnet on as an extra on the tv set released. I dont like these DVD-R programs at all.

[dx23]

Originally Posted by wd40cloud

Since when is A Bronx Tale a Universal release? If it is indeed the DeNiro film and it's anamorphic, I'll be all over it regardless of the price.

I would suggest that you get the OOP version, which is pressed and cheap to find.

[riotinmyskull]

ugh. i want BLUE COLLAR and A BRONX TALE.

[MTRodaba2468]

I'm genuinely surprised about A Bronx Tale. I frequently have people ask about that film at work. I guarantee that Universal could press copies of it and it would sell.

[droidguy1119]

I just watched Pure Luck on hulu the other day.

[Zen Peckinpah]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

So much for a Criterion disc of Blue Collar.

Yeah, really. I would have KILLED for one.

[Josh-da-man]

Originally Posted by mdnitoil

The irony, of course, is that in another thread folks are worried about whether Blu-ray is going to take over and put DVD out to pasture. Yeah, 'cause all these DVD-R titles are going to be flying off the shelves in Blu.

This is most likely going to be the future. We'll be seeing more things going to "burn on demand" and the number of material on pressed discs decrease.

Several factors at play here, chief among them declining DVD sales and decreasing shelf space. The latter is a big one; we've seen chains like Circuit City and Suncoast go under, which only leaves Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy as national chains that carry significant numbers of DVDs. And Wal-Mart and Target aren't going to carry everything, and even Best Buy seems to be decreasing the area of their stores that carry DVDs, Blus, and CDs. At the Best Buys near me, a fairly significant chunk of the area once devoted to CDs is now home to phones.

Before long, the only things that will be available on DVD and Blu-ray are new releases, A-list titles, evergreen titles, and cult classics.

[wd40cloud]

Originally Posted by dx23

I would suggest that you get the OOP version, which is pressed and cheap to find.

It might be cheap, but it's not anamorphic. Still no word on if the new release is going to be though.

[salamander2]

Originally Posted by wd40cloud

It might be cheap, but it's not anamorphic. Still no word on if the new release is going to be though.

If its the same master, then I would stick with the OOP version, at least it woun't be a DVD-R!

[wd40cloud]

Originally Posted by salamander2

If its the same master, then I would stick with the OOP version, at least it woun't be a DVD-R!

Universal seems to be pretty good about remastering titles for rereleases. I'm not buying it until there is some confirmation from either Universal or Amazon on the disc's specs.

[Tarnower]

Are these purchase only? Or will Netflix eventually offer them?

[Silverscreenvid]

Originally Posted by Tarnower

Are these purchase only? Or will Netflix eventually offer them?

I'm sure that Netflix (or any rental outfit) can buy them and then rent them out. If there's a market, Netflix will eventually carry some copies.