DVD Talk Forum - The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

DVD Talk Forum (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/)

- HD Talk (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/hd-talk-55/)

- - The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/hd-talk/597580-official-twilight-time-blu-ray-thread.html)

The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

I figured it was time to give TT their own thread, instead of creating new threads for each release and/or posting them in the announcements thread. Please post all news, reviews, and speculation on future TT releases here. Also, let's try not to fill up this thread with complaints over high prices and/or bare-bones discs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twilight Time Press Release

Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 1:24 PM
By: Chris @ SAE (Member)

TWILIGHT TIME joins forces with SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT to release Blu-ray editions of classic Columbia titles

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (September 1, 2011) — Specialty label TWILIGHT TIME has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to license and release classic films from the Sony-owned Columbia Pictures library in high-definition Blu-ray editions. In line with TWILIGHT TIME’s innovative limited series concept, just 3000 units of each title will be produced, aimed at the collector/classic film aficionado market, and available exclusively online through www.screenarchives.com, the nation’s largest independent distributor of specialty soundtracks.

The November 8th Blu-ray debut of director Cy Endfield’s and special effects master Ray Harryhausen’s 1961 science fiction/fantasy classic, Mysterious Island, will be followed by a new release on the first Tuesday of each month. Scheduled follow-up on December 13th is the original Fright Night (1985), the horror/comedy cult favorite written and directed by Tom Holland and starring Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall.

TWILIGHT TIME—the label that has made a recent splash in the classic film home video pond with the release of such titles as The Kremlin Letter, Violent Saturday, and The Egyptian—is the brainchild of 30-year Warner Bros veteran Brian Jamieson and filmmaker/music restoration specialist Nick Redman. In his long tenure at Warner Home Video, Jamieson initiated and oversaw countless legacy restorations, including the films of Stanley Kubrick, Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One, and Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch. Redman, a film historian and Oscar nominee for his 1997 documentary, The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage, is also a prime mover behind Twentieth Century Fox’s pioneering series of limited edition soundtracks, the inspiration for TWILIGHT TIME’s release model.
TWILIGHT TIME, Jamieson explains, is motivated by a desire “to optimize the film enthusiast’s dream, providing long sought-after collectible and fully restored titles, in their original aspect ratios, all manufactured to the highest quality available, and at an affordable price.”

Unlike movies-on-demand offerings, each TWILIGHT TIME release is a BD or DVD (not a DVDr) properly pressed from a restored transfer. Each is accompanied by a collectible 8-page booklet complete with original essay, stills, and poster art. And each TWILIGHT TIME disc provides, whenever possible, that extra most coveted by cinemusic enthusiasts: an isolated score. Mysterious Island offers a particularly high incentive along these lines, featuring music by pantheon composer Bernard Herrmann.
Grover Crisp, Sony Pictures Entertainment's Executive Vice President for Asset Management, Film Restoration, and Digital Mastering, is enthusiastic about his studio's new partnership with the label. “Our collaboration with Twilight Time will allow us to make available for Blu-ray release some of our library's most collectible titles in a way fans have been asking for: restored and re-mastered with attention to detail and quality.”

And Jamieson concurs: “Sony and Twilight Time,” he says, “will be serving both the collectible drive of film aficionados, and, in a larger sense, the cause of cinema literacy.”

1/17/12:

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...esh1/16859.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...esh1/16858.jpg

Pal Joey - 2/14
Swamp Water - 2/14

From the HTF interview with TT's Nick Redman:

Quote:

For example, we are doing Major Dundee. I happened to be one of the participants on the audio commentary for the DVD release. So I asked if they would let me have my own commentary, and they said yes!
HTF: Speaking of Major Dundee, there’ve been rumors of a director’s cut that no longer exists. Is the one you are releasing essentially going to be the restored 2005 release?
Yes. I don’t believe that there's anything more than that.

Quote:

HTF: But you said you have released, or you have licensed ten titles from Sony so far?
So far we have locked in eight: Mysterious Island, Fright Night, Picnic, Pal Joey, Bell, Book and Candle, Bite the Bullet, Major Dundee, and The Big Heat.
HTF: Those will be just one a month for the next couple of months?
Yes, one per month.

Pre-existing threads:

Fright Night (1985): Twilight Time exclusive - 12/13/11
Harryhausen's Mysterious Island

Facebook

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

I've got Fright Night & Mysterious Island. Only had time to watch Fright Night so far.

Of what's announced, I'm definitely interested in Picnic, Pal Joey, Bell, Book And Candle, Major Dundee and The Big Heat.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

I'll upgrade my Big Heat and Swamp Water DVDs, and will likely purchase Pal Joey. I wonder if they'll port over the minimal extras from Heat and Joey. It would be nice if TT had an occasional sale or the equivalent of DVD Planet's (remember them?) frequent buyer points.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

I like the titles but think they have a somewhat limited target audience at these prices. On the other hand, maybe a 3K run is the right size. I'm probably in for Pal Joey even though that film isn't what it could have been. Picnic and The Big Heat have been on my to-watch list for years.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

I've got Mysterious Island and Fright Night. I plan on adding Major Dundee thanks to reading this thread...

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

The most important title to me mentioned in that interview is a possible Demetrius and the Gladiators. That would be incredible.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhantomStranger (Post 11056034)

The most important title to me mentioned in that interview is a possible Demetrius and the Gladiators. That would be incredible.

You won't have to wait long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TT's Facebook

DEMETRIUS AND THE GLADIATORS (1954) BLU-RAY - March 8th

BITE THE BULLET (1975) BLU-RAY - March 8th

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

For those unfamiliar with it, Swamp Water is not a gothic horror film.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...0975883519.jpg

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

I think that'll be my first Twilight Time purchase, in spite of the horrendous cover. Any Renoir is a must-buy for me.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sondheim (Post 11074900)

Any Renoir is a must-buy for me.

That's what I was thinking.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...esh1/16942.jpg

Quote:

Next month, Twilight Time will bring Pal Joey to Blu-ray. Director George Sidney's 1957 screen adaptation of the Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical, Pal Joey stars Frank Sinatra (The Manchurian Candidate) as the title character, a self-serving crooner whose desire to own a San Francisco nightclub leads him to seduce a stripper-turned-socialite (Rita Hayworth, The Lady from Shanghai); Joey's scheme, however, compromises his growing feelings towards an innocent chorus girl (Kim Novak, Vertigo).

Twilight Time's Blu-ray presents the film in its 1.85:1 original aspect ratio with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. The disc also has the following bonus features:

Isolated score track
Backstage and at Home with Kim Novak featurette
Original theatrical trailer
Liner notes by Julie Kirgo

As is the standard for Twilight Time releases, the Blu-ray has a limited 3,000 unit run.

Pal Joey streets on February 14th.

So it appears as if they are porting over the featurette but not the select-scene commentary.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

Just ordered The Roots of Heaven and am very much interested in Swamp Water (I've even been to the Okefenokee Swamp).

Mysterious Island and Fright Night were great quality. Glad to see Twilight Time is getting access to good quality transfers for these films.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

I'd love to see them release Night/Curse of the Demon.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

I really like everything this company is doing except for the insulting "limited edition" nonsense. Why must they persist with that and tarnish these otherwise stellar releases?

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctorossi (Post 11079687)

I really like everything this company is doing except for the insulting "limited edition" nonsense. Why must they persist with that and tarnish these otherwise stellar releases?

It seems like solid business sense - I doubt Fright Night would have sold 3,000 copies if it weren't a limited edition.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoirFan (Post 11079774)

It seems like solid business sense - I doubt Fright Night would have sold 3,000 copies if it weren't a limited edition.

Sadly, you're probably right.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoirFan (Post 11079378)

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...esh1/16942.jpg

So it appears as if they are porting over the featurette but not the select-scene commentary.

I like that cover

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

Now up for pre order:

Demetrius and the Gladiators -
http://www.screenarchives.com/title_...954-PRE-ORDER/

Bite the Bullet -
http://www.screenarchives.com/title_...975-PRE-ORDER/

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

Whenever I see the title 'Bite the Bullet' I am reminded of the song by Neil Young, Crazy Horse, and the Bullets. I wonder if the movie inspired the song (and band name.)

(I also wonder if that song will ever make it to blu-ray.)

I tried to watch it on TV once but I had a hard time getting into it; I think panning and scanning from scope was particularly egregious for this movie. Oddly enough, this title was among several dozen that had the widescreen side dropped when Sony rereleased the DVD for bargain bins. I almost bought it once until I read the back of the case.

I still need 'Swamp Water' and I want 'Demetrius...'. It may be (twilight) time to place another order.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

April 10

DESIREE (1954)
BELL, BOOK & CANDLE (1958)

May 8

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (1959)
THE BIG HEAT (1953)

June 12

JOHN STEINBECK'S "THE WAYWARD BUS" (1957)
AS GOOD AS IT GETS (1997)

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

As Good As It Gets? Wow. Shame that Sony (IIRC) see's such little movement in catalog they won't release a title that had 7 Academy nominations. I sure as shit won't spend $25+ on it.

Re: The Official Twilight Time Blu-ray Thread

That is a pretty telling statement about the sad state of catalog sales. I'll definitely buy Journey. Perhaps The Big Heat if TT ever has a sale. I can't justify too many $30 bare-bones upgrades.