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Does anyone know why "Whom the Gods Destroy" has never been released on dvd or vhs?
From what I've read, it seems to be one of the major neglected films of the 1930's.

Is there a problem with the film elements? Ownership?

It is, indeed, a very fine film! Walter Connolly turns in a bravura performance. Years ago (maybe 10) I bought a copy on DVD from a company now out of business because of their releases of films still in copyright when they (the company) didn't have the right to release them. Trust me, it's still around.

I have an original 16mm print with Spanish subtitles. Columbia did a lot of these. The nice thing is, they were often struck from 35mm negatives.

I picked up a copy from a dealer at the last Cinefest, and I saw a 16mm print at Cinefest in 2000. I guess Walter Connolly-starring vehicles aren't a high priority over at Sony/Columbia.

Unfortunately the 1916 Vitagrapih version does appear to be among those destroyed, or at least missing in action. It starred Alice Joyce, Harry T Morey and Marc MacDermott.

Greta

s.w.a.c. wrote: ...I saw a 16mm print at Cinefest in 2000. I guess Walter Connolly-starring vehicles aren't a high priority over at Sony/Columbia.

I saw it at that Cinefest too, in 2000. But that's the only time. The print was part of a collection that suffered extensive water damage a few years ago and may have been one of the prints that had to be disposed of. But at least, as noted, we know it does survive in other collectors' hands, even if not being released on DVD or shown on TCM.

The ending seems really abrupt. IMDB says the film is 75 minutes but the copy I saw was 68 and seems to end without following thru ... but there is a THE END closing.... Great performance by Connolly and several terrific montages.