Movie Movie

[filkertom]

There's nothing released on DVD today that I care about. On the other hand, Mark Evanier points to an article in The Moonie - er, Washington Times that I actually agree with: Movie Movie is way overdue for a DVD release.

I've mentioned this film a few times here, I'm sure. It's a parody/pastiche/send-up of the ol' Saturday Double Feature -- the first half is a b&w boxing movie, the second a Technicolor musical. There's even a preview for a WWI dogfight epic in the middle.

Part of the charm is the tight and funny script by Sheldon Keller and Larry Gelbart (that's why Evanier mentioned the movie; apparently Mr. Gelbart may have suffered a stroke, and we wish him all the best there were rumors going around that Mr. Gelbart had suffered a stroke, which I am happy to say are completely unsubstantiated). There's also the incredible cast, doing double (or even triple) duty -- George C. Scott, Red Buttons, Eli Wallach, Barry Bostwick, Harry Hamlin, Trish Van Devere, Ann Reinking. And there's the fourth-wall shattering of that style of movie in general; for instance, each of the mini-films opens with the same establishing shot, using the same set, with Art Carney essentially playing the same role.

If I ever get a digital bootleg of it, I'm putting it up online until a DVD is released, so that all of you can see it. That's how good it is.

What movies haven't been released to DVD that you really, really want? My other biggie is the film version of Joe Papp's The Pirates of Penzance, with Kevin Kline, Rex Smith, Angela Lansbury, and Linda Rondstadt.

ETA: Link to the IMDB Quotes page for Movie Movie.

ETA2: Larry Gelbart didn't have a stroke. I got this from the horse's mouth -- see two threads up. :D

Comments

[ericcoleman]

Max Headroom, both the movie and the series ...

Oh, and George Rose is one of the best Major Generals ever. The stage schtick was great. When they asked him to do the patter song "real fast" the orchestra would end up rebelling cause they couldn't keep up.

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

I'm with you all the way on Pirates. The first title that comes to mind isn't for me. My mother would love a copy of Yentl.

I recently picked up a copy of My Favorite Year, but had to buy it second-hand. It's out of print, which is a shame.

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

The 1984 Giorgio Moroder version of Metropolis. I have the DVD with the silent edition, but I grew up with Moroder, and it's one of my favorite soundtracks of all time. I have the VHS of the '84 version, but I want a spankin' new pretty DVD one.

And I'm SOOOO psyched about the lost Metropolis footage they found...

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

"The Year of the Comet"
for television series: "Doctor, Doctor," which conveniently continues the theme of double titles you introduced with "Movie, Movie."
There are also several Danny Kaye films that have not been released on DVD.
"Let It Be," which I think is only available in the UK.

I'm a huge G&S fan, but the film of Papp's Pirates has always left me cold.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Heh. Between the Max Headroom mention above and Doctor, Doctor, there seems to be an unconscionable lack of Matt Frewer on DVD.

Re: Penzance -- Comprendé. Different strokes. I've got the DVD of the live performance, and I love it, but I thought the movie, with Angela Lansbury as Ruth, was simply amazing. Part of it was the refinement of some of the jokes and shtick from the show -- e.g., after the "Really Doesn't Matter" patter song stolen from Ruddigore, Frederick wails in horror, and the Pirate King and Ruth both go, "What's the matter?" And part of it is a slightly better showcase for the late Tony Azito as the lead constable.

[kender42.livejournal.com]

I for one, would also kill for Doctor Doctor on DVD.

There's a few eps on YouTube, but not enough.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

I have all the episodes of "Doctor, Doctor," with one exception, on old video tapes. Unfortunately, the quality isn't good enough to do a transfer.

[faithwallis.livejournal.com]

"Cast a Deadly Spell" is one I'd like on DVD. I saw it at Chambanacon one year and loved it.

[droewyn.livejournal.com]

Seconded! This movie is one of the few remaining reasons we still have a VHS player.

The sequel was kinda crap, though.

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

2nd on the Pirates of Penzance movie. There's a DVD of the NY stage production the movie was based on (with Kevin Kline, Rex Smith and Linda Rondstadt), but while it is fun to watch, the sound quality of the recording is crap.

I'd love to see the 1982 version of Ivanhoe (with Anthony Andrews and Sam Neill) on DVD. Can't imagine why it hasn't been released on DVD yet!

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I can watch Pirates with a straight face after seeing Mike Hightower's mixup thereof a dozen times or so. :-)

[saganth.livejournal.com]

For movies, there's pretty much only one choice for me for a DVD wish, and that is Mike Jittlov's The Wizard of Speed and Time! (I'm also looking to get a copy of the out-of-print music soundtrack from it - anyone? anyone?)

As for tv shows: Witchblade (the Yancy Butler series - I missed a couple episodes) and Megas XLR (I have avi files of them but I want to watch them on the big tv we have).

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

The Wizard of Speed and Time was definitely released to VHS, and I seem to recall a cheapie DVD, briefly. I know that somewhere around here I've got an "authorized bootleg" DVD. I was thinking just the other day that I should unearth that sucker.

ETA: ... or just find a couple of torrent (http://www.mininova.org/tor/347217) files (http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3268965/Wizard_of_speed_and_time__(wosat)). There are others out there.

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

I have one of those authorized bootlegs myself. :-)

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

An authorized bootleg DVD of Mike Jittlov's The Wizard of Speed and Time, complete with message from Mike that it is okay to share until a real release is made. I got one. Did not know there was a soundtrack.

[dave-ifversen.livejournal.com]

I actually have an official Laserdisk copy of The Wizard of Speed and Time (I found it in the remainder bin at QED Laser (mumble) years ago - I didn't realize at the time how hard it was to find.) I don't think there was ever a DVD release (but I know several people who have made DVDs from the Laserdisk version - something I will eventually do myself, rather than set up the Laserdisk player permanently).

I also have a DVD I made of most of the short films Mike did (and I have to find my copy of the Disney Channel advertisement that I have on beta, so I can transfer that to the DVD as well).

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

Witchblade just came out on DVD (http://www.amazon.com/Witchblade-Complete-Yancy-Butler/dp/B00170LCWC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1230648893&sr=1-1)...already snagged it for a couple people as gifts. :-)

[foehelm.livejournal.com]

I've been waiting for Scavenger Hunt.

[cscottd.livejournal.com]

Film: In the Bleak Midwinter (1995)

TV: The Invisible Man (1975), Logan's Run (1977), Fantastic Journey (1977), Otherworld (1985)... and other similar, short-run series.

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

Snap!

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

Personally I'd love to see Misfits of Science, Street Hawk, Automan and Manimal on dvd. Yes they were cheesy but in a good way. :)

TV on DVD

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

I'll also point out the article I published back in Argentus 6 (Argentus 8 is now available) in which I discuss several television series which should be released on DVD. Since then, two of the series I discussed, Voyagers (1982-3, 20 episodes) and Quark (1977, 8 episodes) have been released on DVD.

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

In The Bleak Midwinter, aka A Midwinter's Tale. And that Pirates one, definitely. "IT!", a version of the Golem story, starring Roddy McDowall. And yes, seconded on My Favourite Year, for the Countess. There are probably others I can't think of right now.

[kender42.livejournal.com]

The biggest release today?

Serenity on Blu-Ray.

*hugs the new Blu-Ray player*

[briansiano.livejournal.com]

God, I haven't thought of _Movie Movie_ in years. But I loved how detailed the pastiche was, even down to idiotic dialogue.

When the phone rings, I still say, "That must be the telephone."

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

You think you've got problems. Whenever someone knocks at the door I find myself reflexively muttering "Who can that be at this time of night?", sometimes adding "I'm sure we weren't followed, Doctor Klein," in a scary hunchback voice.

Todd Rundgren has a great deal to answer for.

[sunfell.livejournal.com]

I was going to say "Brainstorm", but I see that it is on DVD. Now, they just need to release my favorite tornado videos on DVD, along with that 1985 miniseries about the history of television, and I would be very happy.

[ebenbrooks.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you! Movie, Movie is awesome! I first saw it when I was very young, then managed to see it again a few years ago. It is really, really top-notch filmmaking.

"We poisoned the punch!"

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

I swear CBS must have lost or recorded over their master tapes to the amazing 1986 Dallas/Dynasty/Falcon Crest/etc. Galaxy Quest-level parody _Fresno_. So much great casting: from Carol Burnett and Dabney Coleman as a raisin matriarch and the opposing raisin magnate, the always underrated Teri Garr as Carol's shiny-nailed nymphomaniacn daughter-in-law, and Jeffrey Jones as the extra-slimy-even-by-JJ-standards Mr. Acme of the Acme Toxic Waste Company. There was even a pre-Seinfield, pre-UHF Michael Richards as one of Acme's bumbling henchmen. The script... if you had ever watched any of those night-time soaps AND had a sense of humor, they nailed *all* the cliches.

Re: "We poisoned the punch!"

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

Try this:

Fresno (http://www.notavailableondvd.com/index.php?productID=2443)

I can't speak to the quality as I just found it with some quick digging.

[pandoradeloeste.livejournal.com]

I really really want them to finish releasing "Gargoyles" on DVD. I never watched it as a kid (which is strange because I was right in their target demographic when it was out), and thanks to Netflix I've caught up with everything that's been released. Unfortunately the last episode on DVD is a bit of a cliffhanger. :-(

I'm also hoping that Vibes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096378/) comes out on DVD soon. Like "Labyrinth", it's so bad it's good.

DARIA.

[msgeek.livejournal.com]

MTV's Daria. The big problem with this is the same thing that is currently preventing a mass release of the incredible animated feature Sita Sings The Blues (http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/) -- music clearance. Paramount Home Video simply does NOT want to spend the money necessary to clear the songs that are absolutely required by the plot. MTV Networks has a blanket license from the Four Families of the Music Industry to use any song, anytime. However, it doesn't extend to MTV series on DVD.

One of the reasons why Daria is so hard to clear is because so many of the songs used on the soundtrack were there not as background music, but as a "Greek chorus" directly commenting on what was going on in the story. If the music was interchangeable and new music could be cut-and-pasted to replace the stuff that would require clearances for DVD, it would have been out by now.

It's past time the Mickey Mouse/Sonny Bono copyright bill was revisited and repealed. Copyright was NOT intended to be a corporate rent-seeking cash cow. It was intended by the founders to only be active for "limited times." Right now copyright is for all intents and purposes perpetual. And we are all the poorer for it.

Re: DARIA.

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

I think Northern Exposure has a similar problem with music.

Isn't there another one, though, that's really messed up by not being able to use the original music?

Re: DARIA.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Two. WKRP In Cincinnati took years to finally get to DVD, and when it did many snippets of classic rock tunes were transmogrified into generic noise. And Season 1 of The Muppet Show is not complete, because Disney wouldn't pay for some musical numbers.

Re: DARIA.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Three. Quantum Leap, Seasons Two and following, were released with substituted music, AFAIK. Considering the degree to which the music was relevant to the plot, I haven't bought those seasons.

[darrenzieger.livejournal.com]

Girlfriends (a gentle 1978 comedy/drama starring Melanie Mayron, Bob Balaban, Eli Walach, Christopher Guest...wonderul, naturalistic performances);

Housekeeping - 1987 adaptation of the novel by Marilynne Robinson. If I told you how great both the book and film were, you'd think I was full of shit.

----

On a slightly different note:

While the 1980 "Lathe of Heaven" adaptation was finally released (sans the original Beatles recording of "With a Little Help from My Friends," which is replaced by a cover version that inexplicably doesn't even attempt to match the original in tempo or overall sound, which completely ruins the musical/dramatic segue the recording was there to affect, etc. etc. grumble grumble grumble bitch bitch bitch...

Anyway, the 1980 version was finally released, so that's good. Now I want to start a movement to withdraw the horrifically bad 2002 version, burn all existing copies and make the reproduction and/or distribution of it a Class 1 felony.

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

Showtime had a few interesting situation comedies in the late 80's. It would be interesting to see the season or two run of Brothers or the short run Steambath brought out.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention Steambath. Not the series; the version with Bill Bixby on PBS in the 1970s. Which I just received several days ago, and am waiting for a good chance to settle in and watch, sans children and with the better half.

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

I forgot "Lock Up Your Daughters," a film conflated from two Restoration comedies.

On the good side, it looks as if "Murder Most English" is finally coming out on DVD. I've pre-ordered mine.