Nov 25 2008
DVD Releases: The Missing Pieces
There are so many genre films that are yet to be released on region one DVD. The format is over ten years old, and many circles of science fiction and horror fans have become obsessed with the prospect of getting their favorite movies in the digital format.
Among these films include Lucio Fulci’s A Cat in the Brain (1990; this was announced for release on DVD in 2001 and has not been re-scheduled), Fred Dekker’s Night of the Creeps (1986; fans have scrambled to get this released by holding online petitions – the film has been broadcast several times in high definition in recent years), and X From Outer Space (1967; this has not been released since its inclusion on the double feature laserdisc with Yongary: Monster From The Deep, but has been broadcast on digital cable in its original aspect ratio with English subtitles). Many others have not seen a video release in over 20 years. It is possible that many of the studios who own the digital rights to these films are waiting to put together a high definition release on Blu-ray after the format becomes the standard. It is more common, however, that the rights to these films are in limbo; it is also likely that the rights owners do not see the possibility of turning a profit from a DVD release.
One group of films that is missing from the region one DVD format is that of movies that were once released by American International Pictures. Many of these films are now part of the MGM library. Films such as The Incredible Melting Man (1977) have been released on region two DVD and broadcast in digital high definition, but have not been given a DVD release date. Other films include imports, specifically Japanese kaiju eiga. Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster (aka Godzilla Vs. Hedorah, 1971) is retained solely by Toho and has been licensed in its “International” version for release by TriStar/Columbia; this is the best audio-visual presentation, preserving the 2.35:1 aspect ratio and remastered in high definition. However, the original American International dub (which includes the translation of the title song “Save the Earth”) is gone. Many fans consider this dub to be the better of the two English-language dubs.
The same can be said about the Gamera films from the 1960s and 1970s. They had been re-released by Sandy Frank in the 1980s to video, laserdisc, and television from quality prints, boasting better colors and more visual clarity. The films were also presented in their uncut form. These versions vanished, presumably when the rights reverted to Daiei. They have yet to resurface and have been released to DVD from the old American International television versions.
Some of the films were once available on home video or laserdisc, where provisions were probably made specifically for those formats (in regards to rights agreements). DVD was not yet a player in the home video sales and rental market. This is most likely the biggest factor in the loss of many film clip compilations. It Came from Hollywood (1983) is one such case. So many rights owners involved in one production can be a complicated situation; people can give their consent to use footage that they own and decide not to renew when the contract runs out (or even demand a price that is too high).
It is disappointing to collectors and film enthusiasts when a film is either lost or only available in a compromised version. With any amount of effort on the part of fans and studios, some of them can be re-released and fill the holes in video collections worldwide.
