"A Christmas Story" - 20th Anniversary Edition to be released in widescreen!

[AKA]

This is from a chat a few weeks ago at TheDigitalBits.com:

[Warner] Ho Ho Ho. It's XMAS in April. Yes, we have a new 16x9 20th Anniversary CHRISTMAS STORY special edition coming in time for the holidays.

If you listen closely, you can hear collective cheers from forum members.

[Jamie Tate]

This is the sound of my hands clapping. CLAP! CLAP!

I'm so happy they decided to release this in WS. As long as they destroy that last transfer. Nasty looking, warbly, glitchy transfer.

[Ken_McAlinden]

Just because I love to nit-pick, the chat was sponsored by the Home Theater Forum, but the Digital Bits provides a link to the transcript. It is located here. (http://www.hometheaterforum.com/files/warner03.txt) For you "just the facts, ma'am" types, I attempted a summary of all of the titles mentioned for release this or next year in a post in the "Movies that need to be released on DVD" thread in this forum.

Regards,

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by Ken_McAlinden
Just because I love to nit-pick...

Regards,

Do you really? Hadn't noticed:laugh: ;) :D And with regards, too, can't beat that....

Good news, anyway; let's see if they can spruce up that picture, too, and maybe a Bob Clark commentary.

ED:cool:

[Chaney]

Terrific news.

How about commentary by Peter Billingsly?

Anyone seen Peter lately?

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by Chaney
Terrific news.

How about commentary by Peter Billingsly?

Anyone seen Peter lately?

Didn't he join a religious cult or something? Has anyone seen this guy since this film? I can't remember.....

ED:cool:

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by Chaney
Anyone seen Peter lately?

He recently produced film called "Made" with John Favreau and Vince Vaughn.

[Michael]

Wow! Great news...Finally all the moaning about the wavyness will cease...I'll take that wonderful movie on any format...It's not about the width, it's about the season...A family favorite! I'm happy...

[Michael]

Originally posted by Ed Bishop


Do you really? Hadn't noticed:laugh: ;) :D And with regards, too, can't beat that....



ED:cool:

:laugh: Yup! Say it with a slap...

[Jamie Tate]

Also in this (http://www.hometheaterforum.com/files/warner03.txt) article:



Anything you can tell us about your plans for Looney Tunes
(hopefully uncensored)?

OK here we go. All of the LOONEY TUNES cartoons are being remastered from
new film elements made from the original negatives. We have an extensive program
planned that finally unites both the pre-'48 Turner-owned cartoons and the WB cartoons.
The first big release will be later this year and contain oodles of extras directed
towards the classic animation fans. Several respected animation experts are
participating on the special features as we speak. Fans of THE GOLDEN AGE OF
LOONEY TUNES LD sets will not be disappointed!



Why are we getting Tom & Jerry best-ofs when Japan has all of the
"good" (non-buddy) ones at a very low price in both censored and uncensored versions,
and now the UK is getting the same discs? I will import them if i have to, I'd much
rather have yours. Also, Tiny Toons and Animaniacs, when? Thank you!

TOM & JERRY collections will arrive with uncut, complete theatrical
version cartoons starting next year. This will include all the cartoons made by
Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera for MGM between 1940-1957. No plans for Tiny toons
or Animaniacs

And FINALLY!!!!



Thanks for coming here tonight. I have only 2 words: MARX BROS? Honk!
"Make that 3 hard boiled eggs!"

HERE YOU GO. The Marx Bros. arrive in '04. NIGHT AT THE OPERA, DAY AT
THE RACES and many more.

[Michael]

Originally posted by yesman
This is the sound of my hands clapping. CLAP! CLAP!

I'm so happy they decided to release this in WS. As long as they destroy that last transfer. Nasty looking, warbly, glitchy transfer.


I dunno...I never saw those warbly, etc stuff on my DVD edition???...Maybe Santa brought me a special one? or just my love for the movie made me happy enough to ignore the defects? I'm looking forward to the new improved version...I believe it was shot OPEN MATTE though...so goodbye to the extra info Top & Bottom extra's we're used to viewing every year...Gotta fill those 16 X9's...

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by Michael
I dunno...I never saw those warbly, etc stuff on my DVD edition???



The music score is pretty warped. Right after Ralphie gets the bad grade on his theme and Scott Farcus hit in the face with that snowball the music is very warbly. The picture throughout shimmies, although some sort of digital stabilization is going on so it looks more stable.

[Michael]

Originally posted by yesman




The music score is pretty warped. Right after Ralphie gets the bad grade on his theme and Scott Farcus hit in the face with that snowball the music is very warbly. The picture throughout shimmies, although some sort of digital stabilization is going on so it looks more stable.

I see your point, I found it quite humorous though that peolpe were complaining about wavyness that actually was part of the movie itself...
Hopefully, the upgrade will correct all flaws...

[AKA]

Trivia: What role did Zack Ward, who played Scut Farcus in "A Christmas Story," grow up to play?

Answer: Red Dog in "Almost Famous."

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by AKA
Trivia: What role did Zack Ward, who played Scut Farcus in "A Christmas Story," grow up to play?

Answer: Red Dog in "Almost Famous."

I always thought the brother on Titus looked like Scott Farcus. Is that him too?

[AKA]

Originally posted by yesman


I always thought the brother on Titus looked like Scott Farcus. Is that him too?

Good eye! 'Tis him!

[aceman400]

Great News. My patience is rewarded. I've been holding off getting this until it was done right.
Thanks,
Aaron

[AKA]

So how much of MGM's catalog does Warner own?

[Ken_McAlinden]

Warner has all the pre-1986 MGM titles. I can't remember if that is inclusive or exclusive of 1986 itself (but I think it is exclusive). There may be speciifc exceptions, but that's the rule of thumb.

(They could, conceivably, do a "Nearly Complete Tex Avery" box set since they have both his Warner and MGM cartoons in their library. That's a piece of vaporware that I would pay for!)

Regards,

[AKA]

Originally posted by Ken_McAlinden
Warner has all the pre-1986 MGM titles. I can't remember if that is inclusive or exclusive of 1986 itself. There may be speciifc exceptions, but that's the rule of thumb.

Wow, I didn't realize the purchase was that extensive. Does this include all the Tom & Jerry cartoons and the pre-1986 Bond movies?

[Ken_McAlinden]

MGM holds the rights to the United Artists, Orion, Cannon and Polygram catalogs, which includes the James Bond and Rocky franchises. Most of the pre-80s catalog DVD releases from MGM are UA films, which include a lot of great stuff.

WB also has the complete RKO catalog.

Regards,

[guy incognito]

Warner> TREASURE, YANKEE DODLE DANDY and THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD are all
getting the WB double-disc deluxe treatment this year. TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT &
HIGH SIERRA are on their way as well before year's end.


:goodie:

[Chris R]

Originally posted by AKA
This is from a chat a few weeks ago at TheDigitalBits.com:

[Warner] Ho Ho Ho. It's XMAS in April. Yes, we have a new 16x9 20th Anniversary CHRISTMAS STORY special edition coming in time for the holidays.

If you listen closely, you can hear collective cheers from forum members.
Excellent news Brad. :thumbsup:
Originally posted by yesman
Also in this (http://www.hometheaterforum.com/files/warner03.txt) article:
OK here we go. All of the LOONEY TUNES cartoons are being remastered from new film elements made from the original negatives. We have an extensive program planned that finally unites both the pre-'48 Turner-owned cartoons and the WB cartoons. The first big release will be later this year and contain oodles of extras directed towards the classic animation fans. Several respected animation experts are participating on the special features as we speak. Fans of THE GOLDEN AGE OF
LOONEY TUNES LD sets will not be disappointed!.
:goodie: :goodie: :righton: :thumbsup: :nauga:
I was somewhat aware of the Warner cartoons coming to DVD, but did not know how much was being put into them. Impressive!
Originally posted by yesman
TOM & JERRY collections will arrive with uncut, complete theatrical version cartoons starting next year. This will include all the cartoons made by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera for MGM between 1940-

Tom and Jerry. Very impressive as well. Nice to hear the Warner guys actually say the MGM cartoons will be uncut. But I did notice the Warner guys did not say anything specific to the question about the uncensored Looney Tunes cartoons. Kind of concerns me. I just hope we don't get the ABC Saturday morning versions of the Warner cartoons.

There is an extensive discussion of the ethnic and racial humour used in the Warner cartoons from 1930 to 1945, including the war cartoons, in both editions of the Warner Brothers Cartoons book by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald. Wonder if any of these cartoons or ones that are not politically correct, will end up in the DVD series such as Warners' last cartoon in 1969, Bob McKimson's "Injun Trouble", "Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips" (April, 1944), Tokyo Jokio (May, 1943), Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs (Decenber,1942), or a cartoon that I have on tape, "Congo Jazz". It's Waner's second cartoon from early 1930, starring "Bosko" Warners answer to Mickey Mouse. In this cartoon Bosko charms the smiling jungle animals with his musical abilities and teaches them to make music using their own bodies. That part of the cartoon is OK, but in the middle, Bosko spanks a little monkey. Not to PC in my books. I've seen a couple of other cartoons where little ones get spanked. It's weird now when you view that.

BTW, is Warner releasing the Merrie Melodies cartoons as well? There was about a 50/50 split between Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons.

[Ken_McAlinden]

Warner PR folks refer to the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons interchangeably as "Looney Tunes". I expect the cartoons released to be uncensored, but I don't expect some of the more controversial titles (Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips, Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs, etc.) to be among them. We shall see.

Regards,

[stereoptic]

miike wrote: There is an extensive discussion of the ethnic and racial humour used in the Warner cartoons from 1930 to 1945, including the war cartoons, in both editions of the Warner Brothers Cartoons book by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald. Wonder if any of these cartoons or ones that are not politically correct, will end up in the DVD series


yes, that book is an invaluable reference. I used it extensively for cross-referencing when I was avidly taping the cartoons in the late 80's off of TNT (they used to air them very early in the morning!), Nickelodeon, ABC-TV (Saturdays), local WOR-TV. Actually TNT used to air the Inki cartoons (so did the syndicated "Bugs and Daffy") before they removed from them from rotation, and also censored some of the non-PC segments fom other toons.

BB Nips the Nips, and the Inki's made it to Laser Disc, but Coal Black did not AFAIK.