Anyone know what's going on with the release of MGM's CLOWNHOUSE? It appears some copies were released although I've read where it was cancelled.

I've read where it was delayed.

From http://www.horrordvds.com/ :

I don't think any copies were released commercially -- it's still before its intended release date, anyway -- though screener copies were distributed to some reviewers, including DVD Talk.

I thought I had read something about the director and child star involved in some questionable activities thus the cancellation due to legal issues.

Well, those issues are pretty well-known and have been for years and years. It's nothing that would've leapt up and caught MGM by surprise. Dunno the specific reason, but Amazon's been selling this movie on VHS for a while as an Amazon.com exclusive, and I would imagine that any legal concerns that would've affected this DVD would have affected the VHS release as well.

this post is 100% rumor (so don't go flaming me)

I read on a Horror Board that MGM decided to wait until to do a DVD release of a Jeepers Creepers: Ultimate Collection DVD set next year, with Clownhouse as a Box Set exclusive & new disc of both Jeepers Creepers films, this release will probally come 6 months after the first JP2 DVD

A box set sounds fine to me.

I need me clownhouse!

I agree - this issue never fails to pop up whenever there is a theatrical or dvd release from director Victor Salva. The first mention of it I remember was when Powder was released theatrically several years ago. There was a pretty big stink from the victim's family about it if I remember correctly - several groups picketed the film and threated boycotts (though I don't remember if any major boycotts actually materialized). It came up again when the dvd was released (read any review of a Victor Salva film/dvd and it is almost alway brought up).

The story popped up again a few years ago when Jeepers Creepers was released, and again was brought up regularly in the theatrical/dvd reviews. So, it's not as if MGM is unaware of this. If they were overly concerned about the controversy, I doubt they would have tapped him to direct Jeepers Creepers 2. Especially since it didn't seem to hurt the original, which was well-reviewed and a decent sized money-maker.

JC2 is a fairly high profile film, so if they aren't worried about this, I don't see why they would be concerned about a 15-year old catalog title like Clownhouse.

Then again, the incident actually occurred during the production of Clownhouse, so they very well may have gotten cold feet about releasing it, but I doubt it. I agree with the other posters that it was just delayed for some unrelated reason.

In any case, even though I think what he did was abhorrent, I think Salva is a talented director and have enjoyed his films. He was convicted and did his time (not that that makes it right or excuses what he did) - but at least he didn't run away like, say, Roman Polanski, who was just rewarded with an oscar.

That being said, I have never seen Clownhouse and was looking forward to the DVD release, so I'm sorry to see it has been delayed.

if the box set rumor is true, maybe it will be a way to release this DVD, which apparantly was already printed up and ready to ship (some have said they found it in stores and review copies were sent out), in a way that it is a "free bonus disc" and MGM wont look like theyre capitalizing and profiting on this film and the infamy behind it.

contrary to what some people say, i think MGM totally forgot about the controversy around this film and their memory was refreshed after the DVD was announced and the threads started up, or maybe the victim found out and contacted them. i have no evidence of this, its just what i think happened.

personally i want this DVD, i enjoyed the movie at one time, and though it will be awkward to watch now, i would still like to own it. and i will not buy it in a $40 box set with 2 movies i have no interest in. hopefully Clownhouse will come out as a solo disc at some point, but if it doesnt, i wont complain too much, i think its understandable.

I find it hard to believe the cancellation has anything to do with Salva's sordid past. All of his other films are in print. And he has the #1 film in the country right now. I think a last minute decision was made to yank it for the sole purpose of making more money on it. Take a look at ebay. Some poor sap paid a staggering $351 for the DVD! Talk about a loser! That has to be the highest price ever paid for a single DVD--especially for an 80 minute film with only a theatrical trailer for an extra. Salva's story has been very public since Powder was released in 1995. My guess is a more deluxe edition will be released some day. And what has been printed will only be added to the infamy surrounding the film, something that MGM will profit from indirectly. It's a sick world we live in.

I'm pretty sure that the CC edition of "Salo" could beat this price -- a few years ago, after it went OOP, people were just MAD for it. I bought a copy in London just to see what all the hype was about and ended up selling a Region 2 edition in the US for $300. There were many on ebay that got more though...

Again, doubtful, considering MGM/UA's high-profile releases of the two Salva-helmed Jeepers Creepers flicks, many press mentions of which made note of Salva's past.

There is a discernible difference since Clownhouse, unlike his other films, actually stars the victim of the molestation. The law prohibits the publishing of any image of an abused child. Would this carry over to something like this esp if the victim is now an adult and the images are 15 years old?

I think the law probably prohibits publishing an image of an abused child AND identifying him/her as such, which the film doesn't do.

If the law simply prohibited publishing an image - that would be pretty broad and would cover everything from newspaper articles to yearbook photos.

I got notice today from DVDEmpire that this release has been cancelled. Ditto for "Duel." They'd been listing the titles as delayed previous to today....