Retitled TV prints of theatrical films

[Hal Erickson]

While perusing some old TV GUIDES, I noticed that a number of Hollywood films had been given new titles for TV play, in order to avoid confusion with other films or TV series bearing the same titles. Here's a rundown of a few of these. Can anyone think of any more?

ABSINTHE (originally MADAME X, 1929 version)
PARISIAN BELLE (originally NEW MOON, 1930 version)
EASY GO (originally FREE AND EASY, 1930 version)
ELEVEN MEN AND A GIRL (originally MAYBE IT''S LOVE, 1930 version)
FLIGHT COMMANDER (originally THE DAWN PATROL, 1930 version)
DANGEROUS FEMALE (originally THE MALTESE FALCON, 1931 version)
SCARED (originally WHISTLING IN THE DARK, 1933 version)
FORBIDDEN ALLIANCE (originally BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET, 1934 version)
MIRACLEIN THE DESERT (originally THREE GODFATHERS, 1936 version)
INDIAN LOVE CALL (originally ROSE MARIE, 1936 version)
THE BATTLING BELLHOP (originally KID GALAHAD, 1937 version)
SKYSCRAPER WILDERNESS (originally THE BIG CITY, 1937)
STRANGE SKIRTS (originally WHEN LADIES MEET, 1941 version)
ORIENTAL DREAM and/or ALLAH BE PRAISED (originally KISMET, 1944 version)
MEETING AT MIDNIGHT (originally BLACK MAGIC, 1944).
IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER (originally STATE FAIR, 1945 version).
THE WYOMING KID (originally CHEYENNE, 1947)
THUNDER CLOUD (originally COLT .45, 1950)
SWIRL OF GLORY (originally SUGARFOOT, 1951)

[CoffeeDan]

THE LADY DANCES (originally THE MERRY WIDOW, 1934 version)
ONE FATAL HOUR (originally TWO AGAINST THE WORLD, 1936)
ONE FOR THE BOOK (originally THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE, 1948)

[bradleyem]

ADVENTURES IN AFRICA (originally BRIGHT LIGHTS, 1930)
TOPS IS THE LIMIT (originally ANYTHING GOES, 1936)

[Richard Finegan]

Dozens if not hundreds of Republic features were re-titled (and edited) for TV.
I believe one of the Jack Mathis books on Republic Studios includes a list (or partial list) of them.

[R Michael Pyle]

So many British films have been retitled in the US that it would make a list so long it would fill this screen from top to bottom...

[MikeH0714]

SPOTLIGHT SCANDALS (Monogram 1943) was retitled SPOTLIGHT REVIEW.

Michael

[moviepas]

MGM 1930 New Moon. Retitled Parisian Belle for TV. Never seen that one as far as I know. The 1940 use of the title is really a story based on Naughty Marietta.

Like Republic, Monogram had many title changes but this was meant to fool the theater owners not for TV.

There were also films that had titles changed or shortened to get rid of year date in a film title. Like Republic's Change of Heart was Hit Parade of 1943 originally.

[Harlowgold]

Dorothy Lamour's ST. LOUIS BLUES (1939) was retitled BEST OF THE BLUES so not to be confused with the 1958 film however it seemed to be a waste of effort considering how rare Universal bothered to market this old Paramount film to tv like most of their archives.

Madeleine Carroll's HONEYMOON IN BALI (1939) was curiously retitled MY LOVE FOR YOURS, which TV Guide would always mistakenly list as MY LOVE OR YOURS.

[Jay Salsberg]

Hemisphere Pictures were notorious for importing foreign films, retitling them for theatrical release, and retitling them again for TV. It's not uncommon to find Hemisphere releases hiding under 4 or 5 different titles.

Philippino imports (original titles not listed)
The Blood Drinkers (US theatrical)/ The Vampire People (TV)
Mad Doctor of Blood Island (US theatrical)/ Tomb of the Living Dead (TV)
Brides of Blood (US theatrical)/ Island of Living Horror (TV)
Beast of Blood (US theatrical)/ Beast of the Dead (TV)
Brain of Blood (US theatrical)/ The Creature's Revenge (TV)

British Imports
Theatre of Death (GB)/ Theater of Death (US theatrical)/ Blood Fiend (TV)
Revenge (GB)/ Terror from Under the House (US theatrical)/ Inn of the Frightened People (TV)
Assault (GB)/ In the Devil's Garden (US theatrical)/ Tower of Terror (TV)

European Imports
Die Schlangengrube und das Pendel (Germany)/ The Blood Demon (US theatrical)/ Blood of the Virgins (US rerelease)/ The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism (TV)

[antoniod]

I remember a TV print of one of the 30s British Edgar Wallace "Frog" movies retitled "Nobody Home", with no credits. It was part of a whole package of PD films shown on Boston TV in 1977, and included things like "A Crazy Affair" , made in Austrailia in the 30s with one Georgie Wallace, and some other British or Austrailian oddities.

[Frederica]

Hemisphere Pictures were notorious for importing foreign films, retitling them for theatrical release, and retitling them again for TV. It's not uncommon to find Hemisphere releases hiding under 4 or 5 different titles.

Philippino imports (original titles not listed)
The Blood Drinkers (US theatrical)/ The Vampire People (TV)
Mad Doctor of Blood Island (US theatrical)/ Tomb of the Living Dead (TV)
Brides of Blood (US theatrical)/ Island of Living Horror (TV)
Beast of Blood (US theatrical)/ Beast of the Dead (TV)
Brain of Blood (US theatrical)/ The Creature's Revenge (TV)

British Imports
Theatre of Death (GB)/ Theater of Death (US theatrical)/ Blood Fiend (TV)
Revenge (GB)/ Terror from Under the House (US theatrical)/ Inn of the Frightened People (TV)
Assault (GB)/ In the Devil's Garden (US theatrical)/ Tower of Terror (TV)

European Imports
Die Schlangengrube und das Pendel (Germany)/ The Blood Demon (US theatrical)/ Blood of the Virgins (US rerelease)/ The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism (TV)

I discern a thematic trend.

[SteppenBow59]

Hemisphere Pictures were notorious for importing foreign films, retitling them for theatrical release, and retitling them again for TV. It's not uncommon to find Hemisphere releases hiding under 4 or 5 different titles.

Philippino imports (original titles not listed)
The Blood Drinkers (US theatrical)/ The Vampire People (TV)
Mad Doctor of Blood Island (US theatrical)/ Tomb of the Living Dead (TV)
Brides of Blood (US theatrical)/ Island of Living Horror (TV)
Beast of Blood (US theatrical)/ Beast of the Dead (TV)
Brain of Blood (US theatrical)/ The Creature's Revenge (TV)

British Imports
Theatre of Death (GB)/ Theater of Death (US theatrical)/ Blood Fiend (TV)
Revenge (GB)/ Terror from Under the House (US theatrical)/ Inn of the Frightened People (TV)
Assault (GB)/ In the Devil's Garden (US theatrical)/ Tower of Terror (TV)

European Imports
Die Schlangengrube und das Pendel (Germany)/ The Blood Demon (US theatrical)/ Blood of the Virgins (US rerelease)/ The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism (TV)

I discern a thematic trend.

Blood is the rose of mysterious union.

[Richard Finegan]

I remember a TV print of one of the 30s British Edgar Wallace "Frog" movies retitled "Nobody Home", with no credits. It was part of a whole package of PD films shown on Boston TV in 1977...

On Channel 38, shown overnight, right?

[ajabrams]

MGM 1930 New Moon. Retitled Parisian Belle for TV. Never seen that one as far as I know. The 1940 use of the title is really a story based on Naughty Marietta.

The funny and weird thing about the title "Parisian Belle" is that the 1930 version has absolutely nothing to do with Paris or France. MGM ditched the original stage plot in the 1930 "New Moon" (with Lawrence Tibbett and Grace Moore) and changed the locale to revolutionary Russia. Actually the 1940 version is a lot closer to the original stage version than the earlier film. This all makes me think that whoever retitled the 1930 film for TV probably didn't even watch the older version and just based the title on the newer version's plot (or a description of it).