Warner Archive May Announcement: 7 Classic Films & Looney Tunes PLUS a Special Update

WEBVTT
00:00:12.129 --> 00:00:13.809
Hello and welcome to the Extras.
00:00:13.809 --> 00:00:19.969
I'm Tim Millard, your host, and joining me is George Feltenstein to announce the May Blu-ray releases from the Warner Archive.
00:00:19.969 --> 00:00:21.089
Good morning, George.
00:00:21.410 --> 00:00:23.890
Good morning, Tim, and hello world.
00:00:23.890 --> 00:00:25.089
Good morning, world.
00:00:25.089 --> 00:00:27.250
Great television show, by the way.
00:00:27.570 --> 00:00:31.250
Well, uh uh another loaded month here in May.
00:00:31.250 --> 00:00:39.009
You have eight releases actually covering eight films and one animated series, so lots to talk about.
00:00:39.009 --> 00:00:45.649
And uh you're also going to give us a little update on the status of Looney Tunes Collector's Vault.
00:00:45.649 --> 00:00:50.049
So that will be fun to get to a little later in our discussion today.
00:00:50.049 --> 00:00:53.570
But there's a lot we should just dive right in.
00:00:53.570 --> 00:00:57.089
And this first one, I'm very excited about.
00:00:57.089 --> 00:01:03.409
I know a lot of people have been requesting this film, and that is the Seven Faces of Dr.
00:01:03.409 --> 00:01:05.170
Lau from 1964.
00:01:05.170 --> 00:01:07.890
What can you tell us about this film?
00:01:08.689 --> 00:01:12.129
Well, this has always been a cult favorite.
00:01:12.129 --> 00:01:12.849
Yes.
00:01:12.849 --> 00:01:25.250
And early in the DVD history at this company and the history of the medium, uh, this came out in 2000 on DVD.
00:01:25.250 --> 00:01:33.810
We have not done any new work on the film in twenty-six years, so it had been highly requested.
00:01:33.810 --> 00:01:44.610
It's very popular, it's a very, very entertaining fantasy film that really doesn't fit into any pat genres.
00:01:44.610 --> 00:01:55.889
It it's comic, it's fantasy themed, and there's also just a buoyant sense of fun to it.
00:01:55.889 --> 00:02:02.370
It's one of those films that people remember seeing when they were kids and loving it.
00:02:02.370 --> 00:02:06.849
It's from director George Powell, who has quite a following.
00:02:06.849 --> 00:02:07.330
Right.
00:02:07.330 --> 00:02:25.250
So this seemed like a perfect opportunity as I've been seeing in recent podcasts that our lineup of what's in the queue is going to be heavily populated with films that people really want.
00:02:25.250 --> 00:02:27.330
Seven Paces of Dr.
00:02:27.330 --> 00:02:47.969
Lau now has the pedigree of being George Powell's work, which we are fortunate enough to own several of his features in our library, but it also is a showcase, very different showcase for Tony Randall, who plays Dr.
00:02:47.969 --> 00:02:48.610
Lau.
00:02:48.610 --> 00:02:56.290
They have him in makeup that probably would not go over well in the current environment.
00:02:56.290 --> 00:03:00.450
I don't think it's going to be offensive.
00:03:00.450 --> 00:03:04.370
For example, it's not Mickey Rooney and Breakfast Tiffany's.
00:03:04.370 --> 00:03:18.849
And Randall is known, you know, people know him from, of course, the Odd Couple television show, or they know him from, you know, being the second banana with Doris Day and Rock Hudson.
00:03:18.849 --> 00:03:42.770
But he never really had films where he was the focal point, and he embodies multiple characters, multiple visages, and the makeup is makeup is so remarkable that it ended up getting a special Oscar for Bill Tuttle, William Tuttle, who was the head of the MGM makeup department for decades.
00:03:42.770 --> 00:03:45.569
This is a 4K scan off the camera negative.
00:03:45.569 --> 00:03:53.409
I know I sound like a broken record talking about that, but this means the Blu-ray is going to look fantastic.
00:03:53.409 --> 00:04:03.490
We have added, in addition, of course, to the trailer, we added a Chuck Jones, Tom and Jerry cartoon of the era, The Cat Above and The Mouse Below.
00:04:03.490 --> 00:04:12.930
And we have a featurette that MGM prepared specifically to promote the film and the makeup work that went into it called King of the Duplicators.
00:04:12.930 --> 00:04:19.649
So people get a real inside behind the scenes view of the making of Seven Faces of Dr.
00:04:19.649 --> 00:04:20.129
Lau.
00:04:20.129 --> 00:04:22.290
So we're very excited about the release.
00:04:22.689 --> 00:04:28.769
Yeah, and I just wanted to also mention that Barbara Eden is in here of interest.
00:04:28.769 --> 00:04:31.090
She's the leading lady.
00:04:31.090 --> 00:04:32.689
Exactly, exactly.
00:04:32.689 --> 00:04:35.730
So didn't want to move on before we mentioned her.
00:04:35.730 --> 00:04:37.650
So a lot of excitement for this one.
00:04:37.650 --> 00:04:40.290
It's a great way to start off our discussion today.
00:04:40.290 --> 00:04:49.090
Well, next we have another very popular film, and that is Follow Me Quietly from 1949.
00:04:49.090 --> 00:04:51.730
What can you tell us about this noir?
00:04:52.290 --> 00:04:55.410
This is a very efficiently made film noir.
00:04:55.410 --> 00:04:56.689
It comes from Arkeo.
00:04:56.689 --> 00:04:57.889
We've talked about Arkeo.
00:04:57.889 --> 00:04:59.970
We've talked about Archaea Noirs.
00:04:59.970 --> 00:05:08.129
I think that this is such efficient filmmaking because Richard Fleischer, again, is the director.
00:05:08.129 --> 00:05:14.050
We talked about him a couple of months ago when we put out uh The Narrow Margin.
00:05:14.050 --> 00:05:20.610
He was very fond of this film, and it's got some real spooky elements to it.
00:05:20.610 --> 00:05:25.009
It's kind of a nail biter if you bite your nails.
00:05:25.009 --> 00:05:36.769
Um, but it's highly entertaining, and it just shows what a craftsman Richard Fleischer was, especially within the RKO studio.
00:05:36.769 --> 00:05:45.410
He was given a lot of basically free reign to make the kind of films that he did.
00:05:45.410 --> 00:05:53.970
And this also has a screenplay that was co-written by Anthony Mann, who we've talked about a lot on this podcast.
00:05:53.970 --> 00:05:58.129
So it's a 4K scan off the original camera negative.
00:05:58.129 --> 00:06:02.209
Again, you know, remarkable on an RKO film that we have it.
00:06:02.209 --> 00:06:07.329
People will be really impressed, I think, by how great it looks, how great it sounds.
00:06:07.329 --> 00:06:16.530
We added uh two Crime Does Not Pay shorts from the mid-40s to provide more entertainment on the disc.
00:06:16.530 --> 00:06:21.250
The feature is relatively short, uh, and we have the trailer as well.
00:06:21.250 --> 00:06:31.410
So it's a very nifty package, but I think people who buy this will really enjoy the film and be impressed with Lundigan as the leading man.
00:06:31.410 --> 00:06:36.290
He primarily is known for being a contract player at 20th Century Fox.
00:06:36.290 --> 00:06:47.170
So we don't have a lot of his films, but uh he holds the reins here well, and Fleischer again is nailing efficient filmmaking.
00:06:47.170 --> 00:06:50.610
There's no wasted frames in this movie.
00:06:50.610 --> 00:06:57.730
We're trying to get to more noirs, and uh this was next in the queue, so here it is.
00:06:57.970 --> 00:06:59.569
Yeah, looking forward to it.
00:06:59.569 --> 00:07:02.449
Just a side note, narrow margin, so good.
00:07:02.449 --> 00:07:06.850
And uh so I'm looking forward to seeing another Fleischer film.
00:07:06.850 --> 00:07:13.650
Well, next we have a Joan Crawford in Possessed, but this one is from 1931.
00:07:13.650 --> 00:07:15.889
What can you tell us about this film?
00:07:16.209 --> 00:07:31.650
Well, I I laugh because I've been racking my brain to see if there's another instance where a leading lady made two films completely different using the same title.
00:07:31.650 --> 00:07:33.730
I think it is one of a kind.
00:07:33.730 --> 00:07:44.689
If someone out there knows of something else where a major star appeared in two movies with the same title that are completely different, they can let us know.
00:07:44.689 --> 00:07:47.250
But I I don't think there's ever been one.
00:07:47.250 --> 00:07:57.329
This is really the first time that Clark Gable and Joan Crawford sizzled together on the screen.
00:07:57.329 --> 00:08:04.449
It's been alleged that at this point in time, although both Miss Crawford and Mr.
00:08:04.449 --> 00:08:12.050
Gable were married to other people, that they had an on-again, off-again affair for many, many years.
00:08:12.050 --> 00:08:19.329
We have no proof of that, but the chemistry between them on screen is truly unmistakable.
00:08:19.329 --> 00:08:23.569
It's just you could feel the electricity between the two of them.
00:08:23.569 --> 00:08:30.930
And Joan is playing almost the prototype role that kind of established her.
00:08:30.930 --> 00:08:48.209
She's the poor girl who works her way up and meets uh a guy who is the gable part, is not necessarily willing to marry her, but he's willing to give her a good lifestyle, if you know what I mean.
00:08:48.209 --> 00:08:50.769
And this is very much pre-code.
00:08:50.769 --> 00:08:56.849
This is the first time this film has been remastered in almost 40 years.
00:08:57.169 --> 00:08:57.809
Wow.
00:08:58.129 --> 00:09:11.889
And this is one of those few MGM black and white films where the original camera negative does exist, uh, and we were able to use that as the source for this new master.
00:09:11.889 --> 00:09:34.049
So the MGM look, the velvety grays, the deep blacks, the pearly whites, it just it's exquisitely photographed, Clarence Brown directing, and it really personifies the MGM look when we're working with such a wonderful element that we're so grateful exists.
00:09:34.049 --> 00:09:37.250
So a lot of people are very, very happy about this.
00:09:37.649 --> 00:09:49.489
Yeah, and I'll just clarify for those who who don't know, but the other possessed starring Joan Crawford is from 1947, and I believe that was released maybe what, a year ago?
00:09:50.209 --> 00:09:57.009
Oh no, that was released, I would say nine or ten years ago.
00:09:57.009 --> 00:09:58.129
On Blu-ray?
00:09:58.129 --> 00:09:58.769
Uh yeah.
00:09:58.769 --> 00:10:01.409
Okay as a Blu-ray from Warner Archive.
00:10:01.409 --> 00:10:10.129
Uh so this this was one of those films where there was an HD master made for DVD.
00:10:10.129 --> 00:10:16.370
It was not up to snuff for us to release on Blu-ray.
00:10:16.370 --> 00:10:21.809
So we released a new Blu-ray about nine or ten years ago.
00:10:21.809 --> 00:10:28.289
I don't know the exact date, but that was taken from a fine grain and a 2K scan.
00:10:28.289 --> 00:10:34.769
Here for this Possessed, the 1931, we have a 4K scan of the original negative.
00:10:34.769 --> 00:10:41.250
So um both films are wonderful, and I encourage people to buy both.
00:10:41.250 --> 00:10:48.209
They couldn't be more disparate, but they're very representative of the eras in which they were made.
00:10:48.209 --> 00:10:56.929
But Clark Abel and Joan Crawford made eight feature films together at MGM within a span of, I think, nine years.
00:10:56.929 --> 00:11:04.609
All of them are worth noting, but this is one of them that really, for lack of better words, rings the bell.
00:11:04.609 --> 00:11:06.929
It it hits on all points.
00:11:06.929 --> 00:11:10.449
And uh I think people are really, really gonna enjoy it.
00:11:10.449 --> 00:11:12.129
We don't have a trailer.
00:11:12.129 --> 00:11:23.089
Uh most of the very early sound era MGM films we don't have trailers for, but we've added an MGM Dogville short.
00:11:23.089 --> 00:11:24.849
People love those.
00:11:24.849 --> 00:11:32.289
And it's called Love Tales of Morocco, within it's an old Barkey, as they were promoting them at the time.
00:11:32.289 --> 00:11:38.769
And we also have a 1931 cartoon from Warner Brothers, uh Bosco the Dowboy.
00:11:38.769 --> 00:11:52.289
So it's a very full disc, a great presentation, and this is kind of an essential to add to your collection if you're a Crawford fan, or a pre-code aficionado, if you will.
00:11:52.289 --> 00:11:54.609
It's it's really, really terrific.
00:11:55.009 --> 00:11:59.329
Well, next we have It's a Wise Child from 1931.
00:11:59.329 --> 00:12:02.609
What can you tell us about this pre-code film?
00:12:03.169 --> 00:12:05.889
Well, this film has never been on television.
00:12:05.889 --> 00:12:09.889
This film has obviously never been on home video.
00:12:09.889 --> 00:12:19.729
It was out of distribution almost within a year or two of its initial release.
00:12:19.729 --> 00:12:25.729
I think one of the reasons for that is the implementation of the production code.
00:12:25.729 --> 00:12:33.729
And Marion Davies, who is terrific in this film, there's this whole plot line about an unwed mother.
00:12:33.729 --> 00:12:43.409
And there are some, frankly, some very pre-code lines in the dialogue, but it really shows off her comic skills.
00:12:43.409 --> 00:12:48.609
And uh there were legal reasons that we could not pursue a release.
00:12:48.609 --> 00:12:58.049
Finally, that moratorium, if you will, on distribution has been lifted, and uh, we're very happy to make it available.
00:12:58.049 --> 00:13:13.329
The kind people that do the Cinecon every year, they reached out to me over probably the last summer because their convention is on Labor Day, and they really wanted to show this film.
00:13:13.329 --> 00:13:21.250
So I had been in the process of trying to get the powers that be to say, yes, we can make it available.
00:13:21.250 --> 00:13:40.609
So I was able to get them the studio print to show in 35mm, and now we have this great 4K scan from our preservation elements, and the real die-hard MGM aficionados, Marion Davies fans, classic pre-code fans.
00:13:40.609 --> 00:13:46.529
This is an essential ad to your library, and it's really a good movie.
00:13:46.529 --> 00:13:53.089
Very often there are certain films that have been out of sight uh for various legal reasons.
00:13:53.089 --> 00:13:56.449
Then you look at the film and you say, Well, this film isn't very good.
00:13:56.449 --> 00:13:58.049
Not the case here.
00:13:58.049 --> 00:14:02.529
This is really a terrific film, and I think people are really going to enjoy it.
00:14:02.529 --> 00:14:07.729
And it's also a lot of people don't give Marion Davies enough credit.
00:14:07.729 --> 00:14:19.409
When they hear Marion Davies, the first thing they think of is, oh, she was William Randolph Hearst's mistress, and he made it possible for her to make those movies, and she wasn't talented.
00:14:19.409 --> 00:14:21.009
It's so unfair.
00:14:21.009 --> 00:14:30.529
She was really a gifted comedian, and I think made the transition from silence to sound films very, very well.
00:14:30.529 --> 00:14:47.089
Some people have managed to see this through, you know, maybe a screening on the MGM lot or something like that, where there'd be some privacy because technically it wasn't supposed to be shown to anyone, but there are people who have seen it and think very highly of it.
00:14:47.089 --> 00:14:52.129
Now everybody can see it, and it will no longer be inaccessible.
00:14:52.129 --> 00:14:59.329
It's something that's going to be on people's shelves as we hope all our classic films that we release will be.
00:14:59.329 --> 00:15:06.689
I think it's going to be very popular, and I'm very excited that people will be finally able to own this film.
00:15:07.009 --> 00:15:11.409
Yeah, and you put in the write-up, you called it a rarity.
00:15:11.409 --> 00:15:12.689
Yes, it is.
00:15:12.689 --> 00:15:19.889
Yeah, and I love that word because I love it whenever you and you know at the Warner Archive can bring these.
00:15:19.889 --> 00:15:23.489
Hey, you just couldn't get this, and now you can get it in HD.
00:15:23.489 --> 00:15:25.569
So it's gonna look fantastic.
00:15:25.569 --> 00:15:29.569
It's a a 4K scan of the best uh preservation elements.
00:15:29.569 --> 00:15:31.569
We're talking 1931.
00:15:31.569 --> 00:15:40.129
Again, pre-code, all of the great pre-code stuff that comes with that, but the fact that you just literally could not get this if the Warner Archive didn't release it.
00:15:40.449 --> 00:15:41.569
That's correct.
00:15:41.569 --> 00:15:55.409
And uh, you know, I'm hoping that it will appear in repertory theaters, it'll be on TCM at some point, that it will no longer be cloistered in the vault with nobody able to see it.
00:15:55.409 --> 00:16:03.329
I was able to see it many years ago by running the studio print here on the lot, and I knew it was worth fighting for.
00:16:03.329 --> 00:16:05.809
So I'm so glad the battle is over.
00:16:05.809 --> 00:16:12.049
It can now be enjoyed by the fans and the enthusiasts and the cinephiles.
00:16:12.370 --> 00:16:15.729
And George, this one has some really nice extras as well.
00:16:16.449 --> 00:16:23.329
Yes, we have two really interesting MGM short subjects from the era.
00:16:23.329 --> 00:16:33.409
Uh, one is called The Rounder, which has a very early performance from Jack Benny before he really exploded in radio.
00:16:33.409 --> 00:16:35.169
But he was gaining popularity.
00:16:35.169 --> 00:16:38.929
He had been at MGM for like the Hollywood review of 1929.
00:16:38.929 --> 00:16:47.889
So we've got that, and then we have a totally bizarre short, aptly called Crazy House.
00:16:47.889 --> 00:16:49.969
So I think people will really like that.
00:16:49.969 --> 00:17:02.609
And then to balance out, we have two Warner Brothers cartoons from the same year, 1931, both with Bosco, Bosco's Fox Hunt, and Bosco's soda fountain.
00:17:02.609 --> 00:17:05.410
So it's a really terrific presentation.
00:17:05.410 --> 00:17:16.690
I'm just so grateful because we've been working so hard to try to free up these films that are tied up in spaghetti, and it's no longer inaccessible pasta.
00:17:16.690 --> 00:17:19.170
It's ready for your consumption.
00:17:19.970 --> 00:17:21.250
Looking forward to it.
00:17:21.250 --> 00:17:27.410
Well, next we have uh a 1977 film, and that's The Late Show.
00:17:27.410 --> 00:17:30.850
What can you tell us about this uh Proto Noir?
00:17:31.650 --> 00:17:37.170
This was the kind of film that doesn't really get made anymore.
00:17:37.170 --> 00:17:44.049
This was a modestly budgeted big studio film for Warner Brothers.
00:17:44.049 --> 00:17:47.009
It opened in February of 1977.
00:17:47.009 --> 00:18:09.250
Art Carney is the lead, and uh he was coming off of a time where he was getting basically rediscovered on the big screen because everybody knew him as Ed Norton on The Honeymooners, and he was quite a talented good actor.
00:18:09.250 --> 00:18:43.570
So he plays an aging private eye in the film who's seen better days, and he meets this really kooky woman played by Lily Tomlin, whose cat has gone missing, and it ends up kind of being uh unexpected that the two of them are wrapped together into this uh web of lies and mysteries, and it's aptly and beautifully directed by Robert Benton, who had established himself as a screenwriter.
00:18:43.570 --> 00:18:50.370
He's one of the people who co-wrote uh Bonnie and Clyde, and he contributed to What's Up, Doc.
00:18:50.370 --> 00:18:52.930
He would go on to do Kramer vs.
00:18:52.930 --> 00:18:53.490
Kramer.
00:18:53.490 --> 00:18:56.370
I believe he won the Best Director Oscar for that.
00:18:56.370 --> 00:19:03.009
But this is his first film as director, and it was produced by Robert Altman.
00:19:03.009 --> 00:19:10.769
And Altman had used Lily Tomlin two years earlier in Nashville.
00:19:10.769 --> 00:19:20.130
And Lily Tomlin was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance because all people knew her from initially were her characters on Rowan Martin's Laugh In.
00:19:20.130 --> 00:19:27.730
So this established her as a prime motion picture performer and a leading lady.
00:19:27.730 --> 00:19:35.410
It's just such a well-constructed, efficiently made, beautifully executed film.
00:19:35.410 --> 00:19:53.170
And it looks gorgeous because it's a 4K scan off the camera negative, brand new master, and this is another one, not unlike, you know, we talked about last month, Private Benjamin, these films that people have been dying to get the upgrade.
00:19:53.170 --> 00:19:56.450
And this was constantly being requested.
00:19:56.450 --> 00:19:58.289
When are you going to put out the late show?
00:19:58.289 --> 00:20:01.330
Well, here it is, and it looks magnificent.
00:20:01.330 --> 00:20:03.810
I think people will really enjoy it.
00:20:03.810 --> 00:20:09.730
Uh, there's not that much we could put on this disc that was available to us.
00:20:09.730 --> 00:20:19.250
We do have an excerpt from when Lily Tomlin was a guest on the Dinah syndicated talk show for Dinah Short.
00:20:19.410 --> 00:20:19.650
Right.
00:20:19.810 --> 00:20:20.610
And the trailer.
00:20:20.610 --> 00:20:22.610
So it's a nifty package.
00:20:23.009 --> 00:20:32.450
Well, this is not the 70s, but this next film we're going to talk about is from 1969, and that is the Five Man Army.
00:20:32.450 --> 00:20:34.930
What can you tell us about this film?
00:20:35.410 --> 00:20:43.810
Well, this is a spaghetti western, and spaghetti westerns have a huge wrapped audience.
00:20:43.810 --> 00:20:56.610
MGM made arrangements uh to pick up distribution on this film that has two stars that normally people knew mostly from television at that point.
00:20:56.610 --> 00:21:06.289
Peter Graves, who was the star of Mission Impossible, James Daly, who was the star of uh co-star, I should say, of Medical Center.
00:21:06.289 --> 00:21:10.610
But also you have uh Bud Spencer.
00:21:10.610 --> 00:21:18.370
And Bud Spencer is known for a lot of the great spaghetti westerns.
00:21:18.370 --> 00:21:23.250
He was in Trinity, is my name, and various other films.
00:21:23.250 --> 00:21:26.210
His spaghetti westerns are very popular.
00:21:26.210 --> 00:21:33.570
The director was Don Taylor, so it's one of those rare spaghetti westerns that was directed by an American.
00:21:33.570 --> 00:21:39.090
The film was shot in English, and we released this on DVD as well.
00:21:39.090 --> 00:21:43.250
It's actually five minutes longer than the original theatrical release.
00:21:43.250 --> 00:21:44.930
It's 110 minutes.
00:21:44.930 --> 00:21:46.529
This is the complete film.
00:21:46.529 --> 00:21:51.810
Our DVD was the same, but the DVD came from an interpositive and wasn't a very good master.
00:21:51.810 --> 00:21:54.690
This is a 4K scan off the camera negative.
00:21:54.690 --> 00:22:03.090
But I also want to mention that the screenplay was co written by a legend, Dario Argento.
00:22:03.090 --> 00:22:08.529
And uh a lot of people really are passionate about this film because it.
00:22:08.529 --> 00:22:12.850
Of its pedigree, and it's very, very entertaining.
00:22:12.850 --> 00:22:21.970
It was very popular when we released it on DVD, so we thought a remaster with a 4K scan off the camera negative was apt for this.
00:22:21.970 --> 00:22:23.810
And I think people are going to really love it.
00:22:24.130 --> 00:22:27.890
Well, speaking of pedigree, we can't forget the composer for this film, George.
00:22:28.210 --> 00:22:30.850
Ennio Morricone, yes, of course.
00:22:30.850 --> 00:22:35.810
It's one of his most praised scores, I think.
00:22:35.810 --> 00:22:43.170
The score is actually more renowned among certain circles than the film is.
00:22:43.170 --> 00:23:04.049
We had arranged with a company run by a wonderful guy, Lucas Kendall, Film Score Monthly, uh put out a lot of CDs of soundtrack underscore recordings, and Five Man Army was one of those that did very well for them.
00:23:04.049 --> 00:23:07.490
The CD's out of print, now it's a collector's item.
00:23:07.490 --> 00:23:11.890
But the music adds so much, it's just a wonderful package.
00:23:11.890 --> 00:23:14.850
We're very excited to give it the upgrade.
00:23:15.170 --> 00:23:15.970
Right, right.
00:23:16.210 --> 00:23:38.319
Next we have the third volume of the Monogram Matinee.
00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:41.759
I'm very excited to see that coming so quickly after volume two.
00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:44.880
But what can you tell us about this new collection of films?
00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:51.920
Well, what makes me excited about these are they both starred Johnny Mac Brown.
00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:58.720
And Johnny MacBrown had started out at MGM to try to make him into a leading man.
00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:00.880
That didn't quite work out.
00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:10.960
So he started making B Westerns at various different studios and finally settled at Monogram in 1943.
00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:17.039
I think he may have made as many as 50 movies for them within like a 10-year period.
00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:20.160
Under Arizona Skies is one of these movies.
00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:25.440
That's the first movie on this two-movie monogram matinee collection.
00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:29.519
This has been completely out of view, legitimate view.
00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:33.839
And it comes from nitrate source material, so it looks gorgeous.
00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:44.079
It's very, very entertaining, very typical of what monogram did best, you know, in terms of taught storytelling.
00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:54.079
You know, most of these monogram westerns, uh, a lot of them we have put many of them out in our monogram cowboy collections on DVD.
00:24:54.079 --> 00:25:00.480
These two films were never part of that because we hadn't done any preservation work.
00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:05.279
And there were those elements were sitting there, so that work now has been done.
00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:18.480
So in Under Arizona Skies, Johnny MacBown plays uh Dusty Smith, and his compatriot in the movie is Raymond Hatton, an actor whose career goes back to the days of D.W.
00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.279
Griffith.
00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:22.880
And I loved the chemistry between the two of them.
00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:30.240
They had an initial character for Johnny McBrown to play Nevada Jack Smith, I think was his name.
00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:34.480
There were a lot of those with Raymond Hatton as his sidekick.
00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:44.559
So this is after they had kind of retired that name, that series, but they wanted to let him do some different kinds of things.
00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:51.680
But this follows the formula of the traditional monogram Saturday morning be Western.
00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.720
It's terrific.
00:25:52.720 --> 00:26:01.279
And then we also have on the same disc another one at monogram called Range Justice from 1949.
00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:08.000
But in this film, Johnny Mac Brown plays a character named Get Ready for This, Johnny Mac Brown.
00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:13.279
They they've decided to not even create a character.
00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:15.359
He's just being himself.
00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:22.160
They're just terrific because they're so efficient, they're well made, good storytelling.
00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:27.039
You recognize the underscoring music that's been repeated from other movies.
00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:43.039
There is a small group of people that remember these monogram films, not as much from theatrical exhibition, but they were sold to television very early, way before major studio productions were made available.
00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:49.200
So that's how these films gained popularity with another generation.
00:26:49.200 --> 00:27:03.039
But by I would say the late 60s, early 70s, they disappeared pretty much completely because there were more well-known big studio pictures that were available from the studios.
00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:07.119
So local stations stopped running these at a certain point.
00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:26.960
They're of no importance.
00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:36.799
And so for many, many years, it's been something I've been very passionate about is saving monogram.
00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.559
These films are important.
00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:41.599
There are a lot of different, they didn't just make westerns.
00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:55.279
So I'm hoping we can continue this monogram matinee series and to have volume three come literally a month after volume two lets you know that we're seeing great success with the sales.
00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:55.519
Yeah.
00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.039
So I hope they will continue.
00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:58.799
And people will really enjoy this.
00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.359
Yeah.
00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.759
Yeah.
00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:02.000
It's just great pure entertainment.
00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.440
So I really enjoy these.
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:06.480
That was two kind of uh Westerns back to back.
00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:09.119
So that was kind of fun to do there.
00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:14.559
Now we should turn our attention to animation for the many fans that we have out there.
00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:28.160
And you have one release that we did a separate podcast for, but I think we should reiterate what that release is here for those who maybe did not hear or watch that podcast.
00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.599
Yeah, absolutely.
00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:46.640
And I would recommend that anyone who has interest in these cartoons that we're about to talk about to check out that podcast with yourself, Jerry Beck, and myself, where we give a quick take on what these cartoons are.
00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:55.920
The title, Looney Tunes Cartoons, can be confusing to people if they don't have the background to understand.
00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:02.240
These are not the classic Warner Brothers cartoons made between 1930 and 69.
00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:09.759
These were made for HBO Max to exhibit.
00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:15.200
And there's about 17 hours worth of animated material.
00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:32.720
And these folks at Warner Brothers Animation were inspired by their love for what the great animators did during the studio's golden age with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck and Porky Pig and Elmer Fudd and so forth and so on.
00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:42.319
So these kind of have a modern influence that represents the animators who created them.
00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:49.759
And also they are clearly inspired by the works of the past.
00:29:49.759 --> 00:30:01.920
So the baton was passed, and I think it was a terrific group of animated cartoons to be available to people who were watching HBO Max.
00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:06.559
But as is often the case, people want to own them.
00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:22.400
This was a complicated series in that there was HBO Max involvement, and so we as a company were not in a place to put these out as a physical release until recently.
00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:25.440
There was only going to be a DVD release.
00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:30.480
So I campaigned and said, hey, these are made in high definition.
00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.960
They should be available in high definition.
00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:39.039
So it's a six-disc set for a very reasonable $34.98 list price.
00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:44.079
And I think people will really enjoy them if they're not familiar with these newer cartoons.
00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:50.720
The filmmakers, animators, writers, the creators, the voice talents involved all do a terrific job.
00:30:50.720 --> 00:31:02.720
And I would really urge people to listen to the other podcast where we go a little bit more in depth, and Jerry shares his personal knowledge of some of the people that worked on it.
00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:12.079
It's a nice thing to be able to do, to have something just come out as a DVD when there is an obvious audience for it for Blu-ray.
00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:14.079
We were happy to fill the void.
00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:32.079
And we also mentioned on that podcast, so I'll mention it here again, that speaking of the golden age cartoons, we did get the final financial approval to move ahead with Looney Tunes Collector's Vault Volume 3.
00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:57.519
So work is starting on that now, and it'll be available later this year with 50 cartoons, 25 of which have never been part of a Warner Brothers animation collection before, and 25 cartoons that have been part of uh DVD releases, mostly the Golden Collections or some of the single character-related iterations.
00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:01.599
But these are their debut on Blu-ray in high definition.
00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:06.880
We'll be able to talk more about what's in the set in a couple of months.
00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:10.720
So uh there's much to look forward to on multiple fronts.
00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:13.759
Yeah, yeah, that's great news for animation fans.
00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:21.359
Again, listen to or watch the other podcast on the Looney Tunes cartoons HBO Max series.
00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:30.319
We really get into that why fans of classic uh Looney Tunes may find this something they want to add to their collection as well.
00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:33.839
Well, George, we had late breaking news.
00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:41.039
So there is one more title that is not releasing in May, but I think uh we should talk about it.
00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:45.680
What can you tell us about Letty Linton from 1932?
00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.680
How much time do you have?
00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.759
I have all the time you need.
00:32:49.759 --> 00:33:08.079
A discussion could actually go on for several hours, but just to make a very, very, very long story short, one of Joan Crawford's most popular films of the 1930s, Letty Linton, which is even more famous than the movie itself.
00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:22.240
The dress that Joan Crawford wore in the film was replicated for a retail sale and became like the most popular dress of its time at places like Macy's and whatnot.
00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:27.279
But the film itself is really, really good.
00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:36.960
And it's based on a true story that happened, you know, years earlier, and there have been many iterations of that story.
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:47.759
But there were all sorts of legal things in the way for this film to be distributed that basically have made it unavailable for legal public viewing until now.
00:33:47.759 --> 00:34:05.519
It was announced to be appearing at the TCM Film Festival on May 1st, and it was announced that I will be introducing it, which I will be, and I will be doing so with Casey Lalande, a wonderful gentleman who happens to be the grandson of Joan Crawford.
00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:20.559
And given that the announcement has been made, I wanted to assure our loyal viewers, listeners, uh, all the people that support the Wonder Archive Collection that of course we are preparing the film for Blu-ray.
00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:29.039
And probably on another episode of The Extras, in not that long a period of time, we'll be able to talk about when it's coming out.
00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:29.680
Right.
00:34:29.680 --> 00:34:34.159
And we already talked about Possessed, which is from 1931.
00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:35.920
That is coming out in May.
00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:42.079
So those folks that are so excited about that now have this to look forward to sometime later in the year.
00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:46.880
And of course, if they're at the TCM Festival that we'll be screening there, you'll be there.
00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:50.400
And that will be, I think, the premiere of this new uh restoration.
00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.119
It is.
00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.000
It is.
00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:59.039
Uh, it is a uh a 4K scan off our best preservation elements.
00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:12.639
This is one of the hundreds of MGM nitrate negatives that burnt in that fire in 1978, but happily MGM did make preservation elements, and that's what we're working from.
00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:19.840
I've seen it, and it looks terrific, and it sounds amazing for a film from 1932.
00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:22.239
Uh Mirror 94 years old.
00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:25.440
Uh, people have been wanting this film for a long time.
00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:28.480
I have been trying to make it happen.
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:33.280
The last memo I found in my files goes back to 1998.
00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:33.760
Wow.
00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:37.360
Uh, but we got very aggressive around 2010.
00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:43.599
Finally, we're now at the time where it will be viewable legally around the world.
00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:58.559
But I hope that uh people who are listening or watching the extras right now and hearing us discuss it will uh be amongst those at the TCM Film Festival on May 1st when I will be with Mr.
00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:03.360
Laland introducing the film at the Egyptian theater.
00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:03.760
Yep.
00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:05.760
So it's gonna be very, very exciting.
00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:06.800
That's terrific.
00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:08.800
That's a great place to showcase it.
00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:10.800
And uh I'm really looking forward to that.
00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:13.199
So well, thanks for giving us that update.
00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:22.960
There, of course, will be a lot more detail when you officially have an announcement of a physical media release here on The Extras, and you'll be giving us all the background that we want then.
00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:28.960
But just a little foretaste of uh of that for the fans.
00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:31.360
Late-breaking, exciting news.
00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:32.960
Yes, for sure.
00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:41.679
Well, it's always great to talk to George and get these announcements of what are coming from the Warner Archive, and there's a lot of great stuff for me.
00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:53.599
No pre-orders yet, but as soon as those are made available, we will post those, with one exception, and that is for the animated title Looney Tunes cartoons, the HBO Max series Blu-ray.
00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.960
So we do have that there.
00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:58.159
The rest will be available as soon as possible.
00:36:58.159 --> 00:37:00.719
If you haven't yet subscribed, we do appreciate it.
00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:05.039
It helps the show, and that way we can get you the information you want right away.
00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:07.760
Until next time, you've been listening to Tim Large.
00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:11.360
Stay tightly test about plastic files.