WB Archive Collection: Discs On Demand!

[gaastra]

Not WA but these were leaked month ago. Nice to see them confirmed.

https://www.awn.com/news/3-classic-cart ... nd-digital

[Randall]

Attack of the 50 Foot Woman officially announced! Yes!

And now my collection will be complete.

For now.

[Daniel]

January titles:

Rancho Notorious
The Long, Long Trailer
Our Dancing Daughters
Wife vs. Secretary
Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Love Long, Long Trailer! The scene where they're trying to go uphill with all the rocks was the best. Already own it in the movie collection, but if I didn't I would go for it! Hilarious!

[Ben]

I’m down for Chips — lovely film, lovely performance — but will wait for the next sale. I may go for trailer too, although I’m not sure if I’ve seen it! Your mention of the rocks and going up the hill jogged my memory, but I can’t remember if it felt like one I needed. Likewise with Rancho: I like me some Fritz Lang but not sure I need the disc, though I’ve added all three to my theoretical wish list! But Chips is a definite…in the next sale.

[Randall]

None of these five are essential for me (with Chips coming in last for me in terms of interest, actually), but it's great to see some of those actors' names! Lots of MGM stars in this batch. I could go for Wife vs. Secretary on star power alone, and I've always meant to watch Trailer - and doing a Being the Ricardos/Lucy and Desi double feature off of Prime last week has placed me in the mood. And any Lang film is worth a look, too.

[Daniel]

More details:

I had the opportunity to speak with George Feltenstein this morning. A few things that I wanted to relay here...

First, all the newly announced archive titles are new masters from 4k scans from new elements.

RANCHO NOTORIOUS and LONG TRAILER are Technicolor restorations of the original negatives.

LONG TRAILER is being presented for the first time in its proper widescreen ratio of 1.75

You'll also notice upticks in the quality of the audio presentations as the studio firmly believes that a bad audio presentation ruins the visual as well.

As you have noticed, there has been a significant ramp-up in announced titles this month and it is indicative of what you should expect from the studio in 2023.

Long Trailer will also have the MGM cartoon "Dixieland Droopy". Those fleas were on fire!

[Ben]

I think I’ll add Lomg Trailer to my next sake pickup…it seems to be getting a lot of appreciative comments online. Good news about George, too! Yay for '23!

[Randall]

I have a feeling that WA will be my main label in 2023. The other boutique labels are running out of the best titles to license from the other studios, but Warner still has a very deep catalog to exploit.

[Daniel]

Especially with the promise of more classic animation. Can't wait to see what's coming!

[Ben]

Tom And Jerry V2 would be nice for starters!

[Daniel]

Year in review podcast with George Feltenstein. Good listen. The goal for 2023 will be one release a week!

[Ben]

Our wallets will hurt and our shelves will creak…!

[Daniel]

Mailbag podcast with George! Some answers:

Are any Warner silents coming out this year or are they all from MGM?
Several silents are in the queue but I'm not going to give any more clues than that. Very few Warner Brothers silents survive, more MGM silents survive than any other studio's library of silents.

Any more Greer Garson coming in 2024? What about MGM musicals?
There are some MGM musicals coming. I think by 2024 it's likely there will be more Greer Garson.

Any plans for Blu-ray upgrades of other 1930s Clark Gable films?
I can't be title specific but I can say there will be more of the King of Hollywood coming from Warner Archive on Blu-ray.

Any chance of some more Esther Williams titles on Blu-ray?
You will see more Esther Williams on Blu-ray in 2023 from Warner Archive in Technicolor.

[Ben]

Aaaand…animation…?

[Randall]

Good news on MGM musicals and Esther! I've been tempted to pick up the Esther DVD sets, but I'll be patient for more Blu-rays. (I'd just like at least a couple more of her water musicals.)