question about "The High and the Mighty"
 

A friend of mine asked me about John Wayne’s “The High and the Mighty” today, and if it had ever been released. I haven’t found any info of it being out on dvd, which didn’t surprise me, but I also found no instances if it on VHS, is this tangled in some rights issues or something. I even did an ebay search, and I couldn’t find anything. Just wondering and I figured someone out there will know…

Nick

All through the VHS years, this title was one of the missing, and yes, it was for legal reasons. But now it appears that the long wait will be over...


<u>Variety report 12/14/03</u>

<b>Wayne pix to be restored
'High and Mighty,' 'Island' to get homevid release</b>

By MICHAEL FLEMING

<b>The estate of John Wayne has made a deal with Cinetech and Chace Prods. to update and restore two of the actor's 1950s hits, "The High and the Mighty" and "Island in the Sky."
The films were made by Batjac, the company founded by the actor and run by his heirs.

Arrangement was made by Gretchen Wayne, the widow of the actor's late son, Michael. Move came as the result of a volume of calls by fans who wanted to see the films.

Both of the William Wellman-directed films will be released on homevideo sometime next year.

"The High and the Mighty," which starred Wayne and Robert Stack, was originally released in 1954. "Island in the Sky," which starred Wayne, Lloyd Nolan and James Arness, was released in 1953.

Batjac owns many of Wayne's best-remembered films. Michael Wayne presided over the distribution of those films until his death earlier this year.</b>