Jeremy Richey's Moon in the Gutter blog is dedicating the whole month of February to movies that have yet to get released on DVD, or at least here in what we at the Temple refer to as "Region 1." Instead of linking to my case files (which spotlight movies that have apparently fallen into a pit somewhere, never to be seen again), I decided to do a Top 10 list of films that maybe play on TV occasionally or perhaps received a VHS release twenty plus years ago but have yet to resurface on DVD. However, that Top 10 list grew into a Top 25 list, blew up into a Top 50, then a Top 100, and finally... I don't even know how many are here. 105? 110? I could've gone to 125 easily; there are at least four Jerry Lewis flicks that didn't make it. Anyway, after you drag yourself through this 100+ alphabetical list, make sure you swing by Moon in the Gutter to see some of Jeremy's picks. And in case I'm wrong and one or two of these slipped past me (that HICKEY AND BOGGS bootleg doesn't count!), send me an e-mail and I'll give you a shout-out.
23 comments:
An incredible post!!! Thanks so much for participating and for linking back to Moon in the Gutter. Frankly, you really kicked out the jams here. Just awesome...
It's not enough.
"Idaho Transfer" is available on R1 DVD
The IDAHO TRANSFER disc is a bootleg.
Your post is an embarrassment of riches, but the fact that none of these is on an official Region 1 disc is just an embarrassment. Thanks for an extraordinary effort.
Maybe when all Movies are available over the Internet (like Netflix streaming) these titles will become available.
Hi all! Thanks so much for the great comments regarding this list. I thought for sure we'd have THE FORTUNE, ROLLING THUNDER and some of these others on DVD by now. Incredibly, many of the films here -- including THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, THE SPLIT, THE GRAVY TRAIN, LEADBELLY, LOLLY MADONNA XXX -- never even made it to VHS. And how the heck did Celestial restore all those Shaw Brothers titles for 5 years and NOT get to THE KILLER (SACRED KNIVES OF VENGEANCE), KILLERS ON WHEELS, VIRGINS OF THE SEVEN SEAS (THE BOD SQUAD) or THE DEADLY ANGELS?!? A crime, I tell ya.
chris p.
An amazing post and I anxiously await part two! Can't believe all those Jerry Lewis films are MIA. A lot of Stacy Keach pics too it seems! I'm on record (on my blog) as saying KILL, KILL, KILL was one of the worst movies I've ever seen.SACRED KNIVES OF VENGEANCE on the other hand was certainly one of the better chop-socky Shaw Bros. pics!Never heard of THE FABULOUS FANNY and IMDB says it's THE BOOB TUBE STRIKES BACK re-issue title. I note the poster shows TV actress Murphy Cross in the credits although IMDB does not. Probably a tiny role played up (or perhaps re-inserted)due to her 1980 TV series. (I am all about the trivia!)
This is an extraordinary site!! I feel like I logged on and tapped into a parrallel universe, where all my favourite actors have appeared in an inordinate number of films I have never seen, or know nothing about!! There is the odd one- I love 'hide in plain sight', and have 'brewster mcleod' on laser, but I have to say, despite the fact that I thought I was some shit hot film buff, I am ashamed to say most of these I have never heard of!! If I am in a parrallel universe, then thank you for for introducing me to a large quanitity of movies that are not avaialable anyway! And if this is not a parrallel universe, then I ought to be ashamed of myself, and will slink off, head hung low, and come back another time to pan through this veritable treasure trove of hidden wonders, and slaver over what I cannot watch! Well done you!! (BTW, I picked up a French version of 'The Fortune' in a thrift shop here in Australia, so I am tipping although it is deleted, should theoretically be available on ebay europe. Sadly and unfairly underrated film)
Wow, what a fantastic site you have. I came here for the MIA list and now I think I'll stay.
Honestly, I think the only film I've seen on here is Report to the Commisioner, which is definitely one of my faves. In a way, I wish it wouldn't get a DVD release, because I think the grainy vhs transfer just adds to the grit of this fantatic movie. But then again, I live in vhs. It's so 1985 over here, it's ridiculous!
This is a great post, that took a lot of love and effort and I thank you for taking the time to open my eyes!
Hi everone! Thanks again for all the wonderful comments.
Booksteve -- We did a "Lost and Still Not Found" about THE FABULOUS FANNY, which was originally titled THE COMING OF SEYMOUR. There was new footage shot for the film when it was re-released as THE BOOB TUBE STRIKES AGAIN. I don't think any version has been seen in close to 30 years.
No love for KILL KILL KILL, huh? And that's not the only Romain Gary movie on the list!
Stacy Keach is one of our greatest living actors, and appears in at least three movies on the list. We also really dig James Coburn, who is in a few of the MIA titles, including one I just added. Dorothy Dandridge, who didn't make many movies to start with, has three on the list; I should also add TAMANGO, which is only available as a crappy looking bootleg. In fact, one of the first movies I thought of for the list was THE MURDER MEN, starring Coburn AND Dandridge, but it's so obscure I couldn't find any images to use!
Mandingo -- This isn't a parallel universe, but please don't be ashamed of yourself. Many of these movies were released on VHS and can probably be found through trades with other movie lovers online, while others turn up on TV. By the way, Man (can I call you Man?), I should add the sequel to your namesake to the list, since that too has only been released on region 1 DVD as a shabby full-frame bootleg of the old Lightning VHS transfer (We need a special edition 2-disc set with all the Burt Kennedy footage put back in!).
Amanda -- We live in 1985 as well, and still treasure that grainy VHS of REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER. Welcome to the Temple!
Everyone -- check the list every couple of days, because I'm slipping in new titles every so often as I think of them.
Holy crap that was a fun browse...Just that sequence of movie posters alone is a tribute to some terrific design from the older days.
You must be psyched for May 19th since I'm assuming you've seen the news from Criterion about "The Friends of Eddie Coyle".
Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to start at the top of that list again and start jotting down some of these titles on my "must see" list. Thanks for the hard work...
I am so impressed with this post, not just because of your thoroughness and obvious knowledge, but the fact that you were actually able to find posters for all of your choices.
I've not seen them all but I do have my own copies of some via TV over the years to tape and now to disc.
Scrolling through those posters is a great way to bring back memories! If you get the chance, one can find Fonda's "The Idaho Transfer" on disc. It's a decent film with some great ideas, but not as good as "The Hired Hand", his debut. And FYI... a few of these films ("Harry In Your Pocket", "Play It As It Lays" and I believe some of the Jerry Lewis) have been popping up on some great new HD channels with my Time Warner cable package. I watched "Harry In Your Pocket" and it's indeed fun.
Joseph, the IDAHO TRANSFER disc is a bootleg that surfaced around the time Fonda was touring with his restored print of THE HIRED HAND. It doesn't look as good as the VHS from MPI, which was official and featured an introduction by Fonda. During a Q&A at the Egyptian after a screening of THE HIRED HAND, Fonda said he had the rights to IDAHO TRANSFER and was going to restore that one also.
Outstanding post. Such beautiful posters for so many films I'd love to discover.
I do own The Pyx on R1 DVD (http://tiny.cc/Rfm1E). The quality is for shit, but better than nothing at all.
Freebie and the Bean just was made available via the Warner Archives. Widescreen even.
You're right. It's time to update this again. DOC, THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, FREEBIE AND THE BEAN, DUSTY AND SWEETS MCGEE...
This list is brilliant, BTW. I've found a lot -- but only on crappy bootleg.
Before the world starts going off half-cocked about Blu-Ray, can we at least get all of these out on regular DVD first? :)
BAD is available on R1 DVD. At least according to Netflix...
The Last Run turns up a lot on basic cable in the UK and is pretty good in a sort of Walter Hill, sub-Jean-Pierre Melville way. I have to say I saw Kill Kill Kill on tv years ago and loved it, and have always wished I'd taped it... it's a psychotronic oddity for sure. Great post - great posters! I'm holding out for a proper DVD release of one of my favourite movies, 92 in the Shade, with the ending restored (my crappy old VHS and all the versions I can find online have a weirdly cropped and reframed ending, apparently to remove an Act of Violence - boo!). Great post - great posters too.
This is a great post. I think I was one of the few people who saw The Nickel Ride when it was released, and thought it was excellent. I saw a boot of The Last Run, but it was full-screen.
You forgot Abby!
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