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The new Wheeler and Woolsey 9 film set is available for pre-order from Warner Archive for $34.95.

Dorothy Lee: The Life & Films of the Wheeler and Woolsey Girl by Brotherton & Okuda
(Mcfarland & Co) will be published on April 2 and can be pre-ordered now from Amazon.

AMAZON PRE-ORDER DISCOUNT IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE (see below)

moviepas wrote: (2/27/2013) Yes, I ordered this book but it is $39.95 at Amazon.com the same as McFarland but better international postage at Amazon. Maybe it will come down by publication date.

Thanks very, very much for leading people to the Commentary Track website. Every Amazon purchase you make through the site helps me out a little. Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow.

Much obliged.

OH Man seriously props to this

Bob Furem wrote:The new Wheeler and Woolsey 9 film set is available for pre-order from Warner Archive for $34.95.

Is there a link? Failing that, could you let me know if this set has captioning? Warner Archives has never captioned anything, but in the wake of the settlement of the captioning lawsuit that was filed against Netflix, I am hopeful WA took note and decided to comply with the precedent without waiting for a similar suit to be brought against it.

Jim
(ever optimistic)

I have all their movies anyway on DVD-R so I can't see why I would pay for another burned DVD set. If WA sets had subtitles or any kind of extra features it might be worthwhile, but I'm not tempted right now. Unless an uncut Africa reappears but that was Columbia, wasn't it?

Jim Roots wrote:

Bob Furem wrote:The new Wheeler and Woolsey 9 film set is available for pre-order from Warner Archive for $34.95.

Is there a link? Failing that, could you let me know if this set has captioning? Warner Archives has never captioned anything, but in the wake of the settlement of the captioning lawsuit that was filed against Netflix, I am hopeful WA took note and decided to comply with the precedent without waiting for a similar suit to be brought against it.

Jim
(ever optimistic)

http://shop.warnerarchive.com/product/w ... rom=Search" target="_blank" target="_blank

Here is the link, Jim.

Big thanks for the link, Bob.

Rats, no captioning. Guess they did not get the memo from Netflix.

And although it says shipment is restricted to the USA, tonnes of their releases are available at Sunrise in Toronto, and I fully expect to find the W&W set there on my next visit.

You can't imagine how torturous it is to see the stuff they have out there, and none of it is captioned. The Philo Vance set. The Torchy Blaine set. The short talkie comedy sets. The Jean Harlow set. Damn, damn, and double damn!

Jim

I've noticed that too of a lack of subtitles with the MOD DVD releases. Apparently the distributors hedge their bets on these old movies and don't spend any more than they have to for their releases. Not sure how expensive subtitles are to add to a DVD release.

Talking about low budget releases---I've noticed most FOX MODs are not new sharp transfers--varying degrees of muddy image, typical of 1980s and early 1990s TV transfers.

Hmmm...very tempting. No Peach O'Reno or Diplomaniacs, but I'm assuming those have come out already. (EDIT: Ah, Peach was in a double feature with Girl Crazy, and Diplo got a disc all its own.)

Of course Warner Archives doesn't ship to Canada, or even send us their email newsletter it seems, but I've been able to order their titles from Movies Unlimited and Oldies.com without any difficulty or increase in cost. Sometimes I get their titles from Deep Discount DVD, but they don't get them in as soon as they're out, it seems.

Jim Roots wrote:

Bob Furem wrote:The new Wheeler and Woolsey 9 film set is available for pre-order from Warner Archive for $34.95.

Is there a link? Failing that, could you let me know if this set has captioning? Warner Archives has never captioned anything, but in the wake of the settlement of the captioning lawsuit that was filed against Netflix, I am hopeful WA took note and decided to comply with the precedent without waiting for a similar suit to be brought against it.

Jim
(ever optimistic)

The Netflix settlement only pertained to streaming.

[quote="Marr&Colton"]I've noticed that too of a lack of subtitles with the MOD DVD releases. Apparently the distributors hedge their bets on these old movies and don't spend any more than they have to for their releases. Not sure how expensive subtitles are to add to a DVD release.

I can't speak to the precise expense of adding subtitles, but it is far more expensive to have optional subtitles than subtitles that are burned in.

Bob Furem wrote:

Marr&Colton wrote:I've noticed that too of a lack of subtitles with the MOD DVD releases. Apparently the distributors hedge their bets on these old movies and don't spend any more than they have to for their releases. Not sure how expensive subtitles are to add to a DVD release.

I can't speak to the precise expense of adding subtitles, but it is far more expensive to have optional subtitles than subtitles that are burned in.

I'm not quite clear what you are referring to, Bob. Subtitles for foreign-language films?

Captioning is not burned in. It is always optional. You can turn them off from the "Languages" menu, or simply use the "CC" button on your remote.

Jim

azjazzman wrote: The Netflix settlement only pertained to streaming.

That is correct, but see this thread on N'ville: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14300" target="_blank" target="_blank

In case the URL doesn't come through (it didn't on my first try), it's the thread in Talkie News called "Warner Archive Instant Streaming"

Jim

Jim Roots wrote:

azjazzman wrote: The Netflix settlement only pertained to streaming.

That is correct, but see this thread on N'ville: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14300" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

In case the URL doesn't come through (it didn't on my first try), it's the thread in Talkie News called "Warner Archive Instant Streaming"

Jim

I've watched a number of films on the beta version of Warner Archive Instant. While some of the films have a Closed Caption button, when trying to activate it, at least on my Mac, nothing happens.

From their FAQ:
Which content on Warner Archive Instant has Closed Captions?
In accordance with FCC implementation timelines, Warner Archive Instant is actively working to expand closed captioning of its online video programming. More information about the FCC’s online closed captioning requirements and timelines, including archival content, can be found here. Warner Archive Instant continues to work with its technology and distribution partners to enable this support as soon as possible.
I have specific questions about closed captions. How do I get help?
For specific inquiries regarding closed captioning on programming delivered via Warner Archive Instant, you may contact customer support by clicking here or you may contact:
Judi Cowell
Director, Digital Media Operations and Customer Support
818-977-5972
3300 W. Olive Ave MS 4054
Burbank, CA 91505

---------------------------------------- CLICK TINY LINKS TO HEAR SHOWS----------------------------------------
Bing Crosby Chesterfield Show 05-02-1951 Guests - Walter O'Keefe and Bert Wheeler
http://otrrlibrary.org/OTRRLib/Library% ... heeler.mp3

Bing Crosby Chesterfield Show 06-13-1951 Guests - Bert Wheeler and Teresa Brewer
http://otrrlibrary.org/OTRRLib/Library% ... Brewer.mp3

Bing Crosby Chesterfield Show 11-21-1951 Guests - Bert Wheeler and Alexis Smith
http://otrrlibrary.org/OTRRLib/Library% ... 0Smith.mp3

Bing Crosby Chesterfield Show 12-12-1951 Guests - Bert Wheeler, Alexis Smith
http://otrrlibrary.org/OTRRLib/Library% ... 0Smith.mp3

Dorothy lee Book
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Price: $39.95
Price: $26.96 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping.
Deal Price: You Save: $12.99 (33%)

Yes, I ordered this book but it is $39.95 at Amazon.com the same as McFarland but better international postage at Amazon. Maybe it will come down by publication date.

moviepas wrote:Dorothy lee Book
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List Price: $39.95
Price: $26.96 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping.
Deal Price: You Save: $12.99 (33%)

Yes, I ordered this book but it is $39.95 at Amazon.com the same as McFarland but better international postage at Amazon. Maybe it will come down by publication date.

I have noticed recently that Amazon seems to have shortened the length of time when one can pre-order cheaply. It used to be almost until release date. Now it seems that if you don't pre-order in the first week or so, the price often jumps quickly to something near list price. My advice is to pre-order quickly. You don't have to pay till it ships and you can always cancel if you've ordered too much stuff (and who on this esteemed website would order too much stuff).

I took a quick peek at the W&W discs that came in the mail.

1) These are MOD discs. Not pressed.

2) While WAC officially lists this product as not being remastered, I think many of the movies in this collection went through a recent complete or partial remastering/restoration process. However, some of the films like Hook, Line, and Sinker (1930) appear to be very soft transfers which probably came from old laserdisc masters.. I can understand why WAC wouldn't spend the money remastering a title in the public domain like Hook, Line, and Sinker (1930).

3) The color levels on all the films are a little dark. Which I don't mind too much because it's pretty easy to tweak the brightness and contrast. It's better than releasing them too bright.

The set gets a review in this weekend's New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/movie ... d=all&_r=0" target="_blank

Bob Furem wrote:I have noticed recently that Amazon seems to have shortened the length of time when one can pre-order cheaply. It used to be almost until release date. Now it seems that if you don't pre-order in the first week or so, the price often jumps quickly to something near list price. My advice is to pre-order quickly. You don't have to pay till it ships and you can always cancel if you've ordered too much stuff (and who on this esteemed website would order too much stuff).

One other thing about pre-ordering on Amazon: you get the item at whatever the lowest price is between when you ordered and when it ships.

moviepas wrote:Dorothy Lee Book.....
Yes, I ordered this book but it is $39.95 at Amazon.com ......
Maybe it will come down by publication date.

BOOK PRICE ON 4/15/2013 FROM AMAZON
Dorothy Lee: The Life and Films of the Wheeler and Woolsey Girl [Paperback]
List Price: $39.95
Deal Price: $28.76
You Save: $11.19 (28%)
The book can be ordered now from Amazon.
And, if you first go to http://www.thecommentarytrack.com/ ,
and then click from there on to the Amazon site...
According to the Commentary Track site:
"You can help support The Commentary Track in different ways.
First, if you click through to Amazon through this site, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase --
and it won't cost you an extra cent.
There's a banner below {at http://www.thecommentarytrack.com/}

Though I've always watched W&W principally for opportunities to ogle sparkling Dorothy Lee, it's still a bit surprizing that a publisher has believed interest in her great enough to sell this book; but I'm delighted to discover there is, evidently, & hope it's a sell-out.

Robert Moulton wrote:The set gets a review in this weekend's New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/movie ... d=all&_r=0" target="_blank" target="_blank

Dave Kehr is a big fan of William A. Seiter. I'll take Eddie Cline any day.