Kevin Brownlow's "Hollywood"

Phillyrich · Post by **Phillyrich** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:35 pm

I keep hoping and waiting for the greatest series on the silent film, Kevin Brownlow's 1980, 13 part series: "Hollywood," will eventually find its way to dvd. When I saw it on PBS 30 years ago, it really changed the way I thought about film and film history.

I have heard nothing though, in the last few years. I suppose a critical issue would be the remastering of all the film clips that were used, from the best possible sources using the latest technology. An expensive proposition.

Is there any news out there...any hope that this process is underway?

telical · Post by **telical** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:19 pm

I believe you are wanting to get a copy on DVD.

Just in case you didn't know, the full series is on YouTube.

Nathan Ensoll · Post by **Nathan Ensoll** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:29 am

Yes it is available on YouTube - all except for episode 10 I think.

I just watched episode 11, which is about cameramen of the period, Glass shots, Hanging miniatures - just fascinating stuff. Of course the best part of the overall series is the interviews with stars of the period. Lillian Gish, Gloria Swanson & Colleen Moore are still great (even in their old age), I'm looking forward to Janet Gaynor & Louise Brookes in last 2 episodes. It's real shame they couldn't have interviewed Garbo.

Rodney · Post by **Rodney** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:14 am

telical wrote:I believe you are wanting to get a copy on DVD.

Just in case you didn't know, the full series is on YouTube.

So, you can't get it in a better medium than VHS, but you can get it in a version that's much worse.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:11 pm

Thames HOLLYWOOD was also released on Laser-disc, which is much better quality than VHS. Rights issues to so many studios and archives have prevented the series from getting a proper DVD, and now Blu-ray release thus far. But another factor is that Kevin Brownlow's own Photoplay Productions does not own the rights to the series.

I agree that it a great tragedy that this outstanding series has been withheld from the public for the better part of a decade. And minus the TCM showings about 10 years ago, more like the past 15 years or so.

Jim Reid · Post by **Jim Reid** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:18 pm

I think the main reason it won't come out is the incredible expense to upgrade the quality from the late 70s video production.

sepiatone · Post by **sepiatone** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:30 pm

If it does come out on dvd I hope all of the episodes UNEDITED will be presented. I had known of the VHS tapes but never rented them from B'Buster or other because I had taped the series off of WOR Secaucus New Jersey back in '86. I did not know at the time that the episodes were heavily edited. Then PBS got around to playing some episodes, and again there seems to have been editing. Somebody has recently posted many of the episodes on Youtube and I went over the scandal episode, the one concerning Fatty, William D. Taylor and Wallace Reid's deaths, Alma Rubens drug addiction, Davies /Hearst shacking up unbeknownst to the public. This particular episode had a lot of Colleen Moore interview and at some point near the end Moore talks about how many of the girls coming to Hollywood had to be turned back and sent home shattering their dreams of stardom. Then the episode had a quick sequence discussing how some of the girls turned to prostitution to pay bills etc and showed scenes from an actual stag film. ...I had never seen this sequence before in any of the tv presentations because of the incessant editing of the episodes. ....So yes, DVD , complete , everything even cutting room floor stuff Kevin didn't use. If Kevin did shoot an interview with Jacqueline Logan, (but never made it to the final series), then stick it on there. Cool!

moviepas · Post by **moviepas** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:54 am

WE have discussed this on Nitrateville before and I was able to relate that the Thames owners had it scheduled for a date of March 20, what ever year it was, which is my birthday. So they must have had it at production stage at the time the release was made. I wrote to the company's DVD distributors but they told me they could not discuss their catalogue owners' release information and that was that. I sold the LP record of the score imported from DRG Records in New York at the time.

I was told it was rights' issues sometime later but it did not make much sense considering so much other material on DVD in legal release from all sorts of companies and archives. If it can happen, Blu Ray is the way to go.

If Episode 10 is missing on You Tube, one would think there was someone out there who has the Laserdisc(which I missed as it was gone when I started collecting them and highly expensive, like over $100 from people who sell such so-called Collector's items) and can transfer to You Tube would have done it. My supplier of LDs who had a shop in Lansing/MI even had one of the big-time directors in the mid-90s looking for it. It might have been Spielberg, I forget now. So there it is.

Doug Sulpy · Post by **Doug Sulpy** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:07 am

... and let's not forget the companion piece "Cinema Europe." This was available on DVD, but is long out of print (I wonder if this is one of the titles Image could bring back as a DVD-R?).

Post by **Mike Gebert** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:10 am

Rodney wrote:So, you can't get it in a better medium than VHS, but you can get it in a version that's much worse.

It looks awesome on my iPhone.

Jim Reid · Post by **Jim Reid** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:12 am

If they were to release Hollywood on blu-ray, they would have to go back and re-transfer every piece of film in HD. The movie clips they might be able to get already transferred from the studios, but they will have to pay for that, not counting any royalties. Then there's the cost of assembling the whole thing, plus putting together all the extras everybody wants. Then they will realize that at the most they might sell 2000 copies. If it does make it to market, I'll bet it will cost over $300. I'll pay that. I wonder how many of the others on this forum would pay that.

itslefty · Post by **itslefty** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:22 pm

I have the laser disc boxed set of this series and transferred them over to DVD for fear that the discs would eventually succumb to laser rot. So far they haven't. I also have the tremendous Cinema Europe DVD as well. Too bad that's out of print now. Did BUSTER KEATON, A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW ever make it to DVD? I only have that on laser disc.

Kevin2 · Post by **Kevin2** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:30 pm

A Hard Act To Follow has not been released on a region 1 DVD, but is available for region 2:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buster-Keaton-H ... 607&sr=8-1" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Rollo Treadway · Post by **Rollo Treadway** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:23 pm

Network DVD in UK (the same company that has released R2 discs of the other Brownlow/Gill documentary series on Chaplin and Keaton) had "Hollywood" slated for release back in 2006, but cancelled the release without explanation.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews ... D2QHWXRYTO

Brownlow has stated several times that the main problem is that various rights holders (MGM/Warner? Paramount/Universal?) are simply demanding too much money for the re-use of film excerpts.

Nathan Ensoll · Post by **Nathan Ensoll** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 6:31 pm

Realistically $300 is too much, especially when it's available on YouTube for free.

But yes it would be great to have it available in a high definition format. Surely there's more than 2000 silent movie fans in the "Whole Wide World" that would by this product?! (and justify a lower retail price). This hobby really is on the extreme fringes of general interest otherwise - I can't believe it's that obscure.

Roseha · Post by **Roseha** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:45 am

It's selling on Ebay right now on VHS

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hollywood-Celeb ... 43a8f3fdae

A little pricey unfortunately!

didi-5 · Post by **didi-5** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 1:28 am

Do the problems with DVD release extend to any rebroadcast of the series?

It's a shame that Network's planned DVD fell through as this is the premier series on silent cinema, for the quality of the 'talking heads' alone. Whole generations are missing out on this gem and that's such a shame.

SilentsPlease · Post by **SilentsPlease** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:17 pm

Jim Reid wrote:If they were to release Hollywood on blu-ray, they would have to go back and re-transfer every piece of film in HD. The movie clips they might be able to get already transferred from the studios, but they will have to pay for that, not counting any royalties. Then there's the cost of assembling the whole thing, plus putting together all the extras everybody wants. Then they will realize that at the most they might sell 2000 copies. If it does make it to market, I'll bet it will cost over $300. I'll pay that. I wonder how many of the others on this forum would pay that.

The chances for Blu-ray, full restoration, and bonus features are probably very remote, and I'm not sure a $300 price tag would cover all that. It would probably be a $150 barebone DVD set with unrestored (but decently preserved) picture, just like the one for the 1985 "Shoah" documentary. My guess is it won't come out at all. I thought Brownlow's Oscar victory early this year just might generate enough publicity to his work that would parlay to a possible home-video release, but nothing came of it.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:43 pm

silentsplease,

Brownlow's Oscar hasn't done a dang thing to spearhead the release of any of the Thames/Photoplay connected MGM Silents either. Especially, THE BIG PARADE and THE CROWD. Very disappointing. Derek M founder of GAOH just posted a 90 minute Podcast on THE BIG PARADE last week. Lamenting the lack of any DVD and now Blu-ray release. This in-spite of years of empty promises by Warner's. And the 2004 restoration which has never made it to TCM in almost 8 years. New broadcast transfers of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, the Silent version no less, and this Sunday with the help of David Shepard, WHAT PRICE GLORY? on TCM. Now a DVD and Blu-ray of WINGS in January. But THE BIG PARADE continues to be unavailable. And nothing has been released with ties to Kevin Brownlow or Photoplay to speak of. Instead a few of the titles that were around have recently drifted out of print.

SilentsPlease · Post by **SilentsPlease** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:07 pm

On the Oscar ceremony one presenter specifically mentioned "Hollywood" as one of Brownlow's achievements so I was hoping something would come of it.

This IMDB thread mentions a couple of websites selling "Hollywood" on DVD-Rs that were transferred from laserdiscs. The prices are only $21 or so. There are screen captures as well.

Those who don't want to pay bootleggers will have to wait. My bet is it won't be on DVD, Blu-ray, or any physical medium. More likely is online streaming (for a fee, of course) on Netflix or Amazon, possibly only for a limited time as well.

mou53 · Post by **mou53** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 7:56 am

A very good DVD copy of HOLLYWOOD is available on IOffer. It is made from the laserdisc and looks great.

[Sorry, but we don't allow bootlegs of this nature to be offered or linked on NitrateVille - DB]

Phillyrich · Post by **Phillyrich** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 9:05 am

Can somebody send me this link privately?

All Darc · Post by **All Darc** » Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:01 am

The Birth of a Nation looked in Brownlow's Hollywood as came from a much better sourcer elements than the actual Blu Ray from Kino.

jjbluecaps · Post by **jjbluecaps** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:00 pm

I posted the series on YouTube, and unfortunately had my account removed by copyrights.

But i still have them on DVD (VHS/LD Rips).

siriami · Post by **siriami** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 3:24 am

At a talk he gave recently, I asked Mr Brownlow about the possibility of "Hollywood" ever appearing on DVD - he said there were too many copyright problems and that the studios were digging their heels in as well - "but there are many good copies out there" he added - without being too specific!
Alistair

Mitch Farish · Post by **Mitch Farish** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:01 am

siriami wrote:At a talk he gave recently, I asked Mr Brownlow about the possibility of "Hollywood" ever appearing on DVD - he said there were too many copyright problems and that the studios were digging their heels in as well - "but there are many good copies out there" he added - without being too specific!
Alistair

I've got my DVD-R. Of course, if the studios stop digging in, I'll be the first in line to grab the legal blu-ray. My question is, if the legal Laser discs and VHS tapes still exist, why doesn't TCM show them once in a while, the way they used to in the '90s? The same goes for Cinema Europe. TCM used to show Cinema Europe all the time, one episode after the other for hours. They haven't been on for so long, they would seem fresh now even to fans, not to mention those who haven't seen these extraordinary documentaries at all. I can't imagine anyone not being fascinated by the subject. Perhaps the current owners are refusing to allow public showings. Who does own the rights, anyway?

Post by **Mike Gebert** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:41 am

Well, TCM would show from a higher source than VHS or laser in any case, but the first question is whether or not they have the rights at a given moment, and the second is, would they prioritize it over other content to the point of wanting to show it again. It's a great series, and I'm glad I have my laserdisc set... but it's not the only thing out there even by Brownlow (I'd love to see Cinema Europe again), let alone the only thing, period.

Phillyrich · Post by **Phillyrich** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:27 am

I thought the first problem would have to be the remastering of all the film clips. Weren't they from 1980 mastering? The
technology has really moved on since then. I thought that was the issue. Technically redoing all the film to today's
standard, up to the remasters of---- The Big Parade, All Quiet On The Western Front, etc. That would be breathtaking--if the originals aren't now much further decomposed.

Brownlow seems to indicate the ownership rights issue is the problem. (Rights to use clips in a new format, maybe?)

"The first thing we have to do is kill all the lawyers." -Henry Hull.

Post by **Mike Gebert** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 2:52 pm

I think they're two sides of the same problem. Getting the rights and getting the access just to refresh a 30-year-old program. You would have to demonstrate some great market interest to justify the cost and effort-- and you still wouldn't get all the clips.

The way I look at it is, Kevin Brownlow is 75. What should he spend his time on, something new, or something that already exists and is only going to get incrementally better? Abel Gance spent his last years reworking his old movies because he couldn't make new ones. Brownlow, thankfully, is not in any such position so far as I know...

Phillyrich · Post by **Phillyrich** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:58 pm

I was thinking he could restore HOLLYWOOD, and also improve it. Maybe select more or better clips, incorporate new research, flesh out some ideas into bigger themes. Recent restorations of films like "Lonesome," give another
dimension to explore.

It would be his crowning achievement, to my thinking. But then again, is there an audience for a 12 hour+ documentary on "silents." I suppose not.

Maybe we could get Alpha Video to colorize it.....

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