Glenn Ford : Warner Archive misses the boat AGAIN!

Warner Archive misses the boat AGAIN!

There are still a number of Glenn Ford films missing from DVD, and since Warner controls several of these, today (Tuesday, May 1, 2012, the 96th anniversary of Ford's birth) would have been an ideal opportunity to release several of them on their Warner Archives label (whose new releases always come out on Tuesdays).

Not that I really expected anything, but...the new titles were announced, and -- nothing.

In particular, I've been hoping for The White Tower, Terror on a Train/Time Bomb, Trial, Ransom! and Torpedo Run. Especially Trial, which among other things was MGM's "prestige film" of 1955, but which for some inexplicable reason has never been released on any form of home video.

What is the problem with Warner in not issuing these (and other) Ford titles on DVD? They've released many others of his films, some frankly less good. His birthday would have been the perfect occasion to do so.

Warner's persistent refusal to release these films is utterly baffling. They were all major productions with great casts. This simply makes no sense whatever.

I assume they wouldn't issue them on standard DVDs, but Archives titles are of very good quality and would certainly be the optimum venue for the studio to release them. Better than continuing to have them unavailable altogether.

Re: Warner Archive misses the boat AGAIN!

Could be a rights issue or films in need of restoration they have done great releasing obscure films be patient.

Re: Warner Archive misses the boat AGAIN!

It's not a rights issue -- Warner owns all the libraries and films in question, and all these movies turn up on TCM from time to time.

But since my original post I've been told that WA is indeed working on many if not all of these films and has loose plans to release some of them in 2013. (I understand they do need major restoration work on Torpedo Run at least, which somewhat surprises me as the print shown on TCM looks very good.) Of course, this is no guarantee that they'll actually be released, but that's the word as of a couple of months ago.

Even so, you'd think WA would look to get such major releases starring a top actor out sooner than they have, since, as you point out, they have released many more obscure titles. But I suppose patience is our only recourse! Thanks for posting.
Top