Moon in the Gutter is devoting the month of February to films yet to become available on DVD (Region 1 format). This is a subject I've been harping about since I've started this blog - there's a bunch of great films and TV shows out there that for some unforgivable reason haven't been put on DVD yet!
Once upon a time, you either watched the movie when it came to your local theater of you were SOL. You might catch it on TV years later, but it was edited and intermixed with beer and tampon commercialism, so it just wasn't the same.
Then came HBO and the other premium channels, but the chances of catching something obscure was still remote. In other words, if you missed Superman in theaters, you probably could count on seeing it on HBO next year (that is, unless your parents were like mine and refused to pay for a TV channel). However, if you missed Humanoids from the Deep when it came to the theater, you just knew that you'd missed your only shot too see it.
VHS and Beta came along and suddenly many of these movies were available to watch again. Not only the mainstream films, but some so-called "video nasties" and a lot of other fringe films were retrieved from the pop culture dustbin.
Then came the mighty DVD, which yielded a flood of previously unreleased movies and TV shows... and now we're totally spoiled.
Well, I may be spoiled and a man of precious little patience, but the following films/TV shows NEED to be released ASAFP! There's no excuse for releasing entire seasons of crap like Charmed and The L Word on DVD and not release The Wonder Years! There's no excuse to release garbage like The Honeymooners remake and Battlefield Earth and not release the classic I Was a Teenage Werewolf!
So, here's a list of movies and TV shows still unavailable on DVD that really stick in my craw.
1. Deadly Blessing (1981)
Yes, a tattered old VHS like the one on the left is the best you can hope for. Never mind that it's directed by Wes Craven and stars a young Sharon Stone.
Once upon a time, you either watched the movie when it came to your local theater of you were SOL. You might catch it on TV years later, but it was edited and intermixed with beer and tampon commercialism, so it just wasn't the same.
Then came HBO and the other premium channels, but the chances of catching something obscure was still remote. In other words, if you missed Superman in theaters, you probably could count on seeing it on HBO next year (that is, unless your parents were like mine and refused to pay for a TV channel). However, if you missed Humanoids from the Deep when it came to the theater, you just knew that you'd missed your only shot too see it.
VHS and Beta came along and suddenly many of these movies were available to watch again. Not only the mainstream films, but some so-called "video nasties" and a lot of other fringe films were retrieved from the pop culture dustbin.
Then came the mighty DVD, which yielded a flood of previously unreleased movies and TV shows... and now we're totally spoiled.
Well, I may be spoiled and a man of precious little patience, but the following films/TV shows NEED to be released ASAFP! There's no excuse for releasing entire seasons of crap like Charmed and The L Word on DVD and not release The Wonder Years! There's no excuse to release garbage like The Honeymooners remake and Battlefield Earth and not release the classic I Was a Teenage Werewolf!
So, here's a list of movies and TV shows still unavailable on DVD that really stick in my craw.
1. Deadly Blessing (1981)Yes, a tattered old VHS like the one on the left is the best you can hope for. Never mind that it's directed by Wes Craven and stars a young Sharon Stone.
2. Skatetown U.S.A. (1979)
Let me get this straight - it's a roller disco movie starring Scott Baio and Maureen McCormick and it's NOT on DVD. There must be some kind of mistake. (see earlier post)
3. Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
Controversial and raw, this film stars Diane Keaton in her prime and a young Richard Gere. Its chilling ending is legendary; this type of movie is simply not made anymore. It is beyond me why in 2009 we are STILL LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR!
4. Phantasm II (1988)
Whose idea was it to release Phantasm I, III, and IV, but leave out II? I liked the second one... too bad I can't watch it unless I move to Europe. What's the logic behind releasing it on Region 2 and not Region 1? I think they're just taunting us. (see earlier post)
5. I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)This landmark film catapulted horror films back into the drive-ins. The "I Was a Teenage ________ (fill in the blank)" has been so often imitated and parodied that it has become a part of our cultural vocabulary. For horror and B-movie buffs, this is like not releasing Citizen Kane on DVD.
6. Carry On Screaming (1966)
The Carry On films, always derided by critics as nothing more than juvenile cheeky British horseplay, but who cares? These films are hilarious... in that Benny Hill/Are You Being Served? kinda way. I've always been curious about the Carry On take on horror films - I picture this one being a bit like The Fearless Vampire Killers. I guess I'll never know.
7. Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
I feel like I keep coming back to this film on Retrospace, but I'll beat this dead horse one more time. Let's get this straight once and for all: (1) Rock Hudson is a psychopath gym coach who pimps out teachers, (2) Star Trek director Gene Roddenberry wrote the script and produced it, (3) Barbarella director Roger Vladim directed it, (4) Angie Dickenson plays a seductive whore teacher,... do I really need I go on? For a full length rant see an earlier post.
8. James at 15 (TV)
I barely remember this coming of age show starring Lance Kerwin, but what I do recall is that it literally oozed '70s goodness. I don't recall James at 15 (later called James at 16) ever being shown in reruns, so I've never had a chance to recharge my memory. I refuse to believe this wonderful show is lost for good.
9. The Wonder Years (TV)
My understanding is that it's the music licensing that's holding up this DVD release. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a bit tired of these greedy bastards messing with classic TV shows. One of my first posts was a belligerent rant on this subject.
10. Gas (1981)
This film pokes fun at the gas shortage; a must see for all retro hounds out there as perfect slice of life circa 1981.
11. Lady... Stay Dead! (1981)
This Australian slasher movie scared the living shit out of me back in the early eighties. I'd love to get the chance to see if it was really that good, or was I just a wimp.
12. The Gong Show Movie (1980)
Directed by Robert Downey Sr. and features a very early appearance by Phil Hartman, this film has become notoriously hard to come by - it wasn't even released on VHS or Beta. What exactly is behind the secrecy here?
13. The African Queen (1952)
I cannot comprehend a scenario that could justify this Humphrey Bogart/Katherine Hepburn classic being on Region 2 DVD but not Region 1.
14. Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
This movie was so-so; but what gets me is that Sonia Braga's earlier film, Gabriela, is also missing in action. Is there some international conspiracy to rid the world of Braga movies?
15. Saturn 3 (1980)
Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett and Harvey Keitel in space. Enough said.
16. Little Darlings (1980)This one probably pisses me off more than any on this list. Kristy McNichol, Tatum O'Neil, Matt Dillon, and The Bellamy Bros. "Let Your Love Flow" at the end.... how could this possibly still be off limits? I'll tell you why - Yoko @#%*ing Ono. There's a John Lennon tune in the film, and Yoko wants to get paid!
