What classic films aren't out on DVD yet and deserve to be?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I was astonished to learn that The Wrong Box, one of the latest and funniest Britcoms of the golden age of British comedy, has not yet been released in Region 1.

[lavenderdiva]

1. one that I have been waiting for, for YEARS

is 'Enchanted April'. I would be happy with the original version, OR the remake. Neither have been released to DVD, and I am not holding my breath. It is such a beautiful film and wonderful story. At one point there was an on-line petition to try to convince Hollywood to bring it out on DVD. There must not have been enough signatures.... x(

[CBHagman]

2. They would be insane not to release the Mike Newell film.

The 1992 version featuring Miranda Richardson, Josie Lawrence, Alfred Molina, Jim Broadbent, Joan Plowright, Polly Walker, and Michael Kitchen is something of a modern classic. It is so lovingly filmed and acted.

I don't know what is keeping Enchanted April from DVD release, but it certainly can't be due to lack of demand (Check out the IMDB entry for genteel grumbling). I suspect there must be some sort of issue, legal or otherwise. It was made by Miramax and first distributed by Paramount, and I have no idea who holds the rights to it.

[lavenderdiva]

3. I don't get it either-

some of the crap they insist on releasing, and then re-releasing on DVD completely befuddles me. That they haven't yet released 'Enchanted April' is a mystery; especially since there's a motivated waiting line for it!

[lavenderdiva]

4. OK-- I've just done a bit of research on this film online

and came up with this info: BBC still owns the rights to this movie, and the managing director of the BBC is the one who is able to take input and suggestions. His e-mail address is: [e-mail]

if you care to send him a note.....

[Matilda]

5. "Z" - one of, if not the, greatest political dramas of all time.

Somebody on LBN referred to it during the week, and commented that it
had never been released on DVD. I checked it out, and sure enough, it's
only available second-hand on some sites on VHS.

We have it on video, taped from television many years ago, and if it's
still in good condition, I must transfer it to DVD. I haven't even seen
it on television for a long time.

When videos first came out, a huge number of titles were released, even
here (and we don't get nearly as many as you do). I thought the same
thing would happen with DVDs, but not so.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Z is out on DVD in the States

It's in my Netflix queue, about 12 spaces from the top, and is listed as "available now."

[Matilda]

10. Sadly, it was released in 2002,

so Netflix must have an old copy. There are some second-hand ones available from about $US50, which
is a big risk for a second-hand copy. Most of those little places that advertise on Amazon won't
ship to Australia anyway.

And our Quickflix doesn't have it, so I'll just have to pray for a re-release, or for it to appear
again sometime on cable.

[terrya]

6. "The Best Man"

Not the most recent film of the same name. The classic film based on Gore Vidal's play, with Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson. I'm very surprised it isn't on DVD.

[CBHagman]

7. I'm certain there are more, but I'd perhaps start with...

Hobson's Choice

Between Two Worlds

Westward the Women

[Matilda]

8. I think "Hobson's Choice" was one of John Mills' finest screen performances.

He really was delightful in the role - managed to tread a fine line between being gormless and an
idiot, and never once failed to maintain his balance.

And throw in Charles Laughton and Brenda de Banzie, and you have a winner. It appears every now and
then here on TCM, so I knew it wasn't lost.

I checked out IMDb, and there was a thread about DVD release, and apparently it's released in the
UK (Region 2), but not in the U.S., so can be bought through Amazon and played on a multi-zone
player. Why all DVD players are not multi-zone is another question altogether.