Movie Questions Answered From Margie To Rosie

07.21.10 | Irv Slifkin | Ask Movie FanfarePrint this Post

Question: Will the movie To Each His Own ever be released on DVD? I fell in love with it and haven't been able to find it.

Answer: Olivia De Havilland won an Oscar for her performance as Jody Norris, a woman who becomes pregnant by a soldier during World War I, then gives the baby up for adoption. She eventually encounters her grown-up son during World War II in this well-liked 1946 effort from "womans' director" Mitchell Leisen (Easy Living, Midnight) and frequent Billy Wilder writing partner Charles Brackett. The Paramount picture is now owned by Universal; if Uni has no immediate plans, there's hope for release with Turner Classic Movies issuing Paramount/Universal library titles of late through their manufacture-on-demand DVD program.

Question: Are there rights problems with the Fox film Margie from 1946? Are there are many requests for this film to be shown and/or released on DVD?

Answer: We don’t think there is a rights problem with the Roaring ‘20s-set comedy starring Jeanne Crain. We just think Fox has sadly overlooked it in their library and doesn't recognize the amount of people interested in this nostalgic delight.

Question: Is The Awakening, starring Charlton Heston and Stephanie Zimbalist and concerning an Egyptian curse, going to be released?

Answer: The 1980 mummy movie was slated for to be available to us on DVD in June by way of the Warner Archives, but those plans were set aside. Directed by Mike Newell (Prince of Persia, Four Weddings and a Funeral), the film has a huge following, and we've received many calls for it.

Question:  Looking for these movies…Why aren’t some movies released on DVD or whatever..? Thanks…Pepe (Cantinflas); Doctor, You've Got To Be Kidding! (Sandra Dee); The Art Of Love (Dick Van Dyke, James Garner).

Answer: The 1960 all-star comic romp Pepe, which was calculated to turn Cantinflas into a big American star after the success of Around The World In 80 Days, never really caught on with audiences, although the Columbia/Sony film remains a much-requested title. While we've heard nothing in terms of a release in the near future, we would love to see the longer 190 min. road show version that hardly ever runs—even when TCM broadcasts it. 1967's Doctor, You've Got… starred Dee as a pregnant rock star and George Hamilton, Bill Bixby and Dwayne Hickman as those potentially responsible. It's an MGM movie, and we believe it’s now owned by Warner, so look for it as a potential Warner Archive title at some point. 1965’s Art Of Love, with Garner, Van Dyke, Elke Sommer and Angie Dickinson happens to be another Universal title that has slipped through the cracks; no date yet.

Question: Is there ANY chance of James Whale's One More River being released? Three reasons why it should: It ranks with Show Boat as Whale's best non-horror film; Whale has a cameo appearance in the film, and it's the only chance we have to hear him speak; It is also one of Colin Clive's best non-horror performances.

Answer: Wouldn't it be great to see Whale's 1934 drama (and Jane Wyatt's film debut) on DVD? Universal owns it, and they have been getting better with their archival material of late, but we have not heard anything concrete regarding this title. As Whale fans, we'd sure like to see this River flow, as well as other entries from his storied yet hard-to-find non-horror output.

Question: Is there any word on future release to DVD/Blu-Ray of The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) and Island Of Lost Souls (1932)?

Answer: Warner is supposed to be working on a deluxe edition of Ambersons that will include stills from the missing footage, documentaries, etc. The release date is still anybody's guess as it is still a work in progress. Island Of Lost Souls is conspicuously absent on DVD, and we're not sure why. This classic film certainly deserves a release and remains one of the most requested titles out there. It's Universal that owns the Paramount title; there’s been a long-floating rumor of its being licensed to the Criterion Collection, but that’s never materialized. Criterion, Universal, TCM—Anybody want to step up to the plate?

Question: When will the movie Harlow with Carroll Baker be released on DVD?

Answer: The 1965 bioflick on the Platinum Blonde, co-starring Martin Balsam, Angela Lansbury and Peter Lawford was licensed to Olive Films as part of their deal with Paramount. Late word is official; it’s slated for release late this September.

Question: PLEASE...does ANYONE know how to get a copy of Natalie Wood's Driftwood (1947)?

Answer: The nine-year-old Natalie shined in this drama about a collie that may be the key to halt the spotted fever ravishing a Nevada town. The movie was released back in the day by Republic, so it’s probably currently owned by Lionsgate; sadly, there is no planned DVD release on the horizon from the studio.

Question: Any news about the movie Edward, My Son ever being released to DVD?

Answer: Other than showing on Turner Classic Movies, this unusual 1949 film has been rarely seen of late. It's an MGM, so Warner would own it, and we figure an Archive release is a possibility. Spencer Tracy is the ruthless businessman who looks back on the life of his WWII casualty son—who we never see over the course of the film—and we witness the cutthroat lengths that Tracy went to in order to preserve the young man’s future. The Oscar-nominated Deborah Kerr plays Tracy’s wife, while George Cukor directs. In some ways, a perfect Father's Day film and in other ways, an anti-Father's Day film.

Question: The Flame (1947)—Any news of this coming out on DVD?

Answer: The 1947 crime film in which duplicitous dame Vera Ralston and boyfriend John Carroll plot to get his ailing brother's loot was distributed by Republic, which means it is now owned by Lionsgate. So it's unlikely we'll see it soon, based on their infrequent library releases.

Question: I was wondering about some of the films that were in theaters when I was in my first year of high school, 1973. Some of them, like The Harrad Experiment with Don Johnson, were off limits—being 14 at the time, we were not allowed to see such films. I remember seeing the lobby cards and posters for other more suitable films that we were allowed in to see. My question is, are films of this nature available on DVD? I am 52 now and still have not seen this film. I saw a poster in a shop in Toronto and it jogged my memory of all the "inappropriate" movies that my friends and I never did get to see.

Answer: We're about the same age, and I managed to sneak into the theater to catch The Harrad Experiment. It was quite an experience to say the least. Today, the film (yes, we have it) remains somewhat campy in its views of partner-swapping and sex, but it is fun to watch and offers Johnson and the late Bruno Kirby in early roles along with Laurie Walters, later a star of the TV show Eight Is Enough. Oh--Ted Cassidy, who played Lurch in The Addams Family, was the co-writer!!!!

Question: Help! Can anyone tell me how to get a US-compatible DVD of the movie Jump! with Patrick Swayze? I know it's available in other countries but not for USA equipment.

Answer: Wow! We never even heard of this one, one of the late actor’s final films. It seems like it had no theatrical distribution in the U.S., and still has not been picked up by an American DVD company. There could be legal entanglements, but frankly, we're in the dark here. For the record, the 2007 film tells a true story, set in 1920s Austria where the seeds of Nazism are being planted. A young Jewish man is accused of killing his father while on a hiking trip, leading to a dramatic trial. Mr. Swayze plays the Jewish defense lawyer who comes to realize that his client has no shot at a fair hearing.

Question: I am looking to find a copy of a movie, probably around the mid-eighties at the latest. I may have the name incorrect, but the film set in Italy and starred Daniel Massey—the female star, I do not remember. Please oblige if you can shed some light for me.

Answer: Sound to us like Love With The Perfect Stranger (1986), which co-starred Marilu Henner. Unfortunately, this British TV production has never been on DVD.

Question: Are there rights problems with Porgy And Bess, Lydia Bailey, Son Of Sinbad, and The Deep Blue Sea with Vivien Leigh?

Answer: The absence of 1959’s Porgy And Bess is due to the less-than-enthusiastic response from both producer Sam Goldwyn and the Gershwin estate about the final film. It is also in need of major restoration. Lydia Bailey (1952, Fox), Son Of Sinbad (1955, RKO/Warner), and Deep Blue Sea (1955, Fox) don't seem to have problem, other than apathy from their respective rights holders.

Question: I really enjoyed the movie American Hot Wax. Are there any plans to release it on DVD? There are probably problems securing the rights to all the songs and groups. Have you heard anything about this movie?

Answer: Ah, one of the great underseen rock music movies of all time--and, sadly, it will remain that way! Paramount owns the 1978 picture, and music rights for it are a mess-and expensive to clear. So much so that the biopic about ‘50s disc jockey Alan Freed (brilliantly played by Tim McIntire) never made it to VHS, other than an early-in-the-video-era rental release through Photomat (remember them?). So, we don't to see this exciting, terrifically entertaining film on DVD anytime soon.

Question: The Lucky Stiff--Dorothy Lamour. I've been searching for years. VHS or DVD, I don't care. I just want it.

Answer: The 1949 mystery-comedy was independently produced (by Jack Benny, of all people), so no studio may actually own the film. Which makes for a problem; if the rights are not controlled, then only an indie company can put it out. While Ms. Lamour was a big star, most indie outfits go for more famous films, so we don't expect it anytime soon. Brian Donlevy and Claire Trevor also starred.

Question: It's great to read other's queries regarding movies, etc. being released on DVD. I have two in mind, one a TV miniseries starring Elizabeth Montgomery. It concerns the settlement of the country moving westward through Ohio. It starts out with a man and his children (a daughter being played by Montgomery) after his wife dies; they are very poor and live very sparsely off the land, clearing the trees, etc. It ends with Montgomery being a wealthy landowner somewhere along the Ohio River and reveals how she built her "empire" from nothing. I think this was one of Elizabeth Montgomery's best roles. The other was a movie about a bunch of people in "paradise" where everything seems to be perfect but it turns out they are actually in hell. Don't remember any actors or the title. I think I saw it sometime in the 80's. Hope someone remembers these.

Answer: Your miniseries sounds like 1978’sThe Awakening Land to us. Based on the Conrad Richter books, the multiple-Emmy nominee co-starred Hal Holbrook, Jane Seymour and a young William H. Macy. We’ve got it available, courtesy of the Warner Archives. As for your other request, we can’t seem to pin down a title. If we can find it, we'll let you know.

Question: Two movies I would like to see on DVD, both with Alan Ladd—Appointment With Danger, Chicago Deadline. Any hope?

Answer: Great news!  1951’s Appointment With Danger is on its way in late July, one of the first batch of titles from Paramount licensed by Olive Films. Unfortunately, we have had no word on the newspaper drama Chicago Deadline, a 1949 offering co-starring Donna Reed and June Havoc. A shame, because we love great newspaper movies!

Question: When will the 1944 classic The Uninvited be released on DVD? What about the George Hamilton flick Zorro The Gay Blade?

Answer: The classic Ray Milland-Ruth Hussey ghost story The Uninvited is owned by Universal, part of the deal the studio struck to acquire older Paramount films. We think we'll see it out before long, probably as part of a set, perhaps through a licensee. As for the 1981 Hamilton spoof Zorro, it had been available from Fox, but is right now off the market. No word on its reappearance, sorry.

Question: How come nobody has any movies of the actress Gloria Jean????

Answer: There’s precious little available on DVD that features the ‘40s-era Universal singing ingénue. 1940’s If I Had My Way can be found on the Bing Crosby Screen Legends Collection, and 1941’s Never Give A Sucker An Even Break is on W.C. Fields Comedy Collection Vol. 2, but that’s about it for her films. 1947’s Copacabana has gone out of print, and 1961’s The Ladies’ Man (where her role was trimmed) is headed that way.  Ms. Jean was also in many TV shows like Annie Oakley and Death Valley Days before she retired from show biz in 1963, but they seem to be unavailable as well.

Question: I've been trying to find out the name of a movie I saw with Rosalind Russell and Sandra Dee.  Ms. Russell was a wealthy woman and Ms. Dee was her granddaughter.  Ms. Russell’s daughters were trying to put her in a home so they could take over her fortune.  It ended with a courtroom scene where Ms. Russell pretends to faint after being questioned, all in a charade to expose her daughters’ true motives.  I cannot recall the name of this movie.  Can you help me please?

Answer: The movie is called Rosie!, a 1967 film that also featured James Farentino, Audrey Meadows, Leslie Nielsen and Brian Aherne. Unfortunately, Universal has never put it out on DVD.