W.C. Fields on Blu Ray?

[Uncle Claude]

I'm stymied that no here has posted anything about putting W.C. Fields' movies on Blu Ray! Do the posters here think he is not worthy? I have the 2 boxed sets that Universal put out several years ago. And DVD's both legit and bootleg of some of his other films.

Does Universal think that there isn't a sufficient demand for Blu Ray versions??

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

[colbyco82]

Kino supposedly acquired one film with Fields in it to release on Blu-ray sometime in the future as part of their new deal with Universal.

I’m not sure which forum it was on, but the Kino rep made it sound like his other films are with another label. That gives me hope that Shout Factory is preparing a box set similar to the one they recently did for Abbott and Costello.

[Scott Eckhardt]

Since many of Fields' best films were released by Paramount, perhaps Olive Films would consider releasing some on blu ray.

[FilmGauge]

Paramount sold the rights to most of its pre-1948 features to Universal, who does not release through Olive Films. It would more likely be via Kino Lorber or Criterion.

[Harold Aherne]

Kino released both It's the Old Army Game and Running Wild on Blu-ray in early 2018. Nothing else has come out...so far.

--HA

[BarneyS]

The Mack Sennett Collection Vol. 1 has The Dentist and The Fatal Glass of Beer (Both look spectacular on Blu-ray).

[s.w.a.c.]

Kino supposedly acquired one film with Fields in it to release on Blu-ray sometime in the future as part of their new deal with Universal.

I’m not sure which forum it was on, but the Kino rep made it sound like his other films are with another label. That gives me hope that Shout Factory is preparing a box set similar to the one they recently did for Abbott and Costello.

Criterion released a DVD of The Bank Dick way back when (now out-of-print). I wonder if this is the standalone film that Kino may have access to?

[Frame Rate]

Kino supposedly acquired one film with Fields in it to release on Blu-ray sometime in the future as part of their new deal with Universal.

My guess for Kino's next Fields title would be SO'S YOUR OLD MAN, since it's the only one of W.C.'s surviving silent features never given a commercial VHS, DVD or BR release.

Yes, I know it's a Paramount rather than a Universal picture, but in light of Kino's successfully dealing with the "suits" to free up two other Fields silents, there's reason for optimism. And if the rights to the film's underlying story are indeed now held by Universal (probably as a result of their long-delayed clearing of YOU'RE TELLING ME) -- that would explain why the latter studio would be involved in the deal.

[dede]

Well now we know it's Never Give A Sucker An Even Break that's coming out in July from Kino, but does anyone know anything about So's Your Old Man? That's odd that it still hasn't had a release despite being restored in 2012.

[Frame Rate]

Well now we know it's Never Give A Sucker An Even Break that's coming out in July from Kino, but does anyone know anything about So's Your Old Man? That's odd that it still hasn't had a release despite being restored in 2012.

Perhaps the delay is due to a "walking and chewing gum at the same time" situation wherein Paramount insists on being compensated for lifting its archival donor restriction on the physical source material while Universal also has an outstretched corporate hand in regard to the story rights -- and Kino has yet to negotiate an affordable, mutual agreement.

Could some Kino insider give us some info?

[Salty Dog]

Well, it's not hard to find, you can watch (and download) it at Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/SosYourOldMan1926