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December 23, 2021
Includes HD debuts of We're in the Money, I've Got to Sing a Torch Song, and Pettin' in the Park
As just reported, today Warner Archive announced a few of their upcoming 2022 Blu-ray releases. Another of their reveals was for the Busby Berkeley classic Gold Diggers of 1933. The second sound entry in the Gold Diggers series--and arguably the most well known--the racy musical is making its HD debut with this release. Although Warner Archive's Facebook page did not specify a street date, their official store on Amazon is listing a February 8 release.
Among the disc's special features are three early Merrie Melodies that have gone hand-in-hand with Gold Diggers of 1933 on most of its previous DVD releases: We're in the Money, I've Got to Sing a Torch Song, and Pettin' in the Park.
Although Money and Torch had long been remastered for the Golden Collection series's sixth and fifth volumes (respectively), Park had only previously appeared on disc as an unremastered, off-the-shelf copy. This Blu-ray will be using the newly remastered, HD version of Pettin' in the Park currently seen on HBO Max (with un-tinkered-with titles, for once!). The other two cartoons will also be making their HD debuts on this disc, neither of which at press time are available on HBO!
Gold Diggers of 1933 is scheduled to be released on February 8 on Blu-ray only and will retail for $21.99. Pre-order it now on Amazon.
December 23, 2021
Includes HD debut of To Duck....or Not to Duck
While there unfortunately was no news of note from Jerry Beck last night on Stu's Show, today Warner Archive revealed a few of their classic-movie titles coming to Blu-ray in the early months of 2022. One announcement involved the wartime Errol Flynn adventure Edge of Darkness. Co-starring such other Hollywood icons as Ann Sheridan, Walter Huston, and Ruth Gordon(!), this story about a small Norwegian town banding together and rising up against Nazi aggression is making its HD debut with this release. Although Warner Archive's Facebook page did not specify a street date, their official store on Amazon is listing a January 18 release.
Of interest to Looney Tunes collectors is the inclusion of Chuck Jones's To Duck....or Not to Duck as a special feature. Depicting the first face-off between Daffy and Elmer, the cartoon was originally remastered in high definition for the Golden Collection Volume Six DVD. Although the HD version can currently be seen on HBO Max, this Blu-ray will mark its debut on disc.
With no new dedicated cartoon collections on deck (as far as we know), a completist may need to consider picking this one up in order to mark one more HD short off their list.
Edge of Darkness is scheduled to be released on January 18 on Blu-ray only and will retail for $21.99. Pre-order it now on Amazon.
December 12, 2021
Deadline for e-mail questions is December 19
It's the end of the year. Celebrations. Peace on Earth. Chilly weather. And of course, cartoons.
Yep, it's that time again...and we're not referring to any seasonal holidays. On Wednesday, December 22, Jerry Beck will be returning for an appearance on Stu's Show, the online series hosted by pop culture/television historian Stu Shostak. The show is a video/audio simulcast, so you can either listen or watch it as it premieres. The show will air at 7PM EST and is available as a free stream for those who tune in (afterward, fans can purchase a "rerun" of the episode online). Information on the various ways to access the show can be found on its web site: www.stusshow.com.
Unlike the live Stu's Show episodes of old, this will be Jerry's first pre-taped appearance on the series--but the format will remain the same with media news, discussions, and three Thunderbean-restored classic cartoons at the end. Stu will also be reading viewers' e-mail questions to Jerry during the show like always, BUT there is now a deadline to get them in by the time the show is taped. So if you want your question read during the show, you need to e-mail Stu no later than December 19. Questions can be e-mailed to: comments@stusshow.com
An extra special guest on this episode will be Arnold Leibovit, who will be giving an update on his in-production The Puppetoon Movie Volume 3.
As we always stress, remember that Jerry only works as a consultant for Warner Home Video (and other labels) on select projects. He does not have final say on programming, remastering, or release matters; he can only try to comment on situations as best as he can...and even then, he is sometimes contractually required to not say anything about certain upcoming releases. The information he gives is never meant to be inferred as any sort of official statement from a studio and that they can and do change plans on a whim without telling him. Anything Jerry is authorized to reveal will be said during the show, so please do not barrage Stu and Jerry with "When will this cartoon or show come out on DVD?" questions.
And speaking of Jerry and Stu's Show, throughout the month of December you can also watch a free rerun of Jerry's December 2019 appearance on the new Stu's Show 24/7 streaming channel. The episode airs on a daily basis at 6:50AM, 2:50PM, and 10:50PM. All times are EST.
We will be posting news updates on our Facebook page as the new episode airs. If there is any major DVD or Blu-ray news announced, we will of course report it here after the show.
But by all means, tune in yourself for another Jerry Christmas as Mr. Beck returns to Stu's Show December 22!
November 18, 2021
Includes remastered, HD debut of I Like Mountain Music
Back in the good old days, studios would announce when their upcoming home media releases were planning to come out, so that consumers could pre-order them and such. Now with the fate of physical media in a constant state of flux and the operations at Warner Bros. seemingly changing from month to month, the best a division like Warner Archive can do is, "Well, here's what we've released in the last few weeks." Such was the case this week when the Archive belatedly announced the November 9 Blu-ray release of the Barbara Stanwyck prison drama Ladies They Talk About. Based on the play by Dorothy Mackaye and Carlton Miles, the 1933 pre-code rarity is making its high-definition debut through the Archive's official shop at Amazon and other online retailers.
Previously only available on home video in the United States through the Archive's Forbidden Hollywood Volume 5 DVD boxed set, the Blu-ray boasts a brand new 2021 "4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative." A few special features are also present, including the 1933 Merrie Melodies classic I Like Mountain Music. The Archive's announcement specifies that the cartoon will be making its HD debut on this disc.
I Like Mountain Music had only previously been made available as an unremastered special feature on past Warner Home Video DVDs (including the Golden Collection Volume Six), so this Blu-ray means the cartoon is also making its debut as a remastered short.
BUT (and you probably know where we're going with this)....
The remastered HD version of the cartoon had been prepared for streaming on HBO Max (at press time it is not currently on the service). Although the main body of the cartoon is in excellent shape, its opening titles are another victim of the "Photoshopping" that was done to numerous Looney Tunes titles for HBO Max.
It's another case of artificially extending the visual information around the title card. While certainly not the most egregious example of the needless tinkering done to the titles for HBO Max, for the purists out there we definitely wanted this to be known before they decide to purchase the disc.
Ladies They Talk About is now available online on Blu-ray only and retails for $21.99. Order it now on Amazon.
October 5, 2021
Includes disc debut of The Crackpot Quail...RESTORED!
Today's the day, cartoon fans! You can finally add to your home video library one of the true classics of animation history...Space Jam: A New Legacy!
Ahem.
Seriously, the actual news is that Warner Archive has released the (very) recently announced third volume in its Tex Avery Screwball Classics series of MGM cartoon compilations. Quietly assembled over the summer and one of the first projects George Feltenstein completed upon his return to the Archive, Tex Avery Screwball Classics Volume 3 is now available on both Blu-ray and DVD through online retailers.
The main program consists of the following....
Blitz Wolf (1942)
The Early Bird Dood It! (1942)
One Ham's Family (1943)
Happy-Go-Nutty (1944)
Jerky Turkey (1945)
The Shooting of Dan McGoo (1945)
Swing Shift Cinderella (1945)
Wild and Woolfy (1945)
Northwest Hounded Police (1946)
Slap Happy Lion (1947)
King-Size Canary (1947)
What Price Fleadom (1948)
Little 'Tinker (1948)
Señor Droopy (1949)
Cock-a-Doodle Dog (1951)
Rock-a-Bye Bear (1952)
Little Johnny Jet (1953)
Billy Boy (1954)
Deputy Droopy (1955)
Cellbound (1955)
Now, we need to stress that there are no reviews posted anywhere, so at press time we do not know if these cartoons have been newly remastered for this release or if these are the same HD masters that were prepared overseas for HBO Max or what. It would be great to hope for the best, but considering the rocky quality control on the second volume, unfortunately anything's possible.
For the Warner Bros. cartoon collector, one particular highlight is the disc's lone special feature: 1941's The Crackpot Quail. Making its DVD/Blu-ray debut, Feltenstein and Jerry Beck were able to restore the film's original soundtrack, in which the wiseguy quail character blows raspberries. For whatever reason, the repeated sound effect was considered inappropriate and was replaced with a whistling sound for the title's general release. This original soundtrack featured on the disc came from what is believed to be Warner's initial answer print, stored at the UCLA film archive. Beck and Feltenstein had been trying to get this original version released onto home video as far back as the final Golden Age of Looney Tunes laserdisc set in 1997!
(The restoration, it should be noted, might only consist of the soundtrack. At least one screen grab online suggests that the film image on the disc might still be from the HD HBO Max master, with the "Photoshopped" title card.)
Tex Avery Screwball Classics Volume 3 is now available online. Order the Blu-ray for $21.99 or the DVD for $19.99 on Amazon.
September 7, 2021
Includes The Crackpot Quail RESTORED!
The big news this week has been the (hopefully) grand return of classic animation releases from Warner Archive. After half a year where it seemed as if the very future of the Archive was in real jeopardy, a major corporate about-face has occurred and things will soon return to something resembling normal. First up was the completion of one title that was in a state of limbo for most of the year, the long-awaited Tex Avery Screwball Classics Volume 3. Production has finally wrapped up and twenty classic MGM Avery cartoons will now be making their HD debut on disc, with both Blu-ray and DVD editions coming out on October 5.
Today Jerry Beck revealed the contents on Cartoon Research. The collection will contain the following....
Blitz Wolf (1942)
The Early Bird Dood It! (1942)
One Ham's Family (1943)
Happy-Go-Nutty (1944)
Jerky Turkey (1945)
The Shooting of Dan McGoo (1945)
Swing Shift Cinderella (1945)
Wild and Woolfy (1945)
Northwest Hounded Police (1946)
Slap Happy Lion (1947)
King-Size Canary (1947)
What Price Fleadom (1948)
Little 'Tinker (1948)
Señor Droopy (1949)
Cock-a-Doodle Dog (1951)
Rock-a-Bye Bear (1952)
Little Johnny Jet (1953)
Billy Boy (1954)
Deputy Droopy (1955)
Cellbound (1955)
As if twenty newly remastered Avery cartoons wasn't enticing enough, for a bonus Warner Archive has finally done something many fans had been hoping since the first Tex compilation: using Tex Avery's earlier Warner Bros. cartoons for special features.
In this case, it's only one Warner Bros. cartoon, but oh what a cartoon! Included will be 1941's The Crackpot Quail, Tex's attempt to try to replicate the success he had the year before with A Wild Hare. Not only is Quail making its disc debut with this release, but Jerry and George Feltenstein went one step better by presenting it with its original soundtrack! Originally the titular bird made raspberry noises throughout, but shortly before the film's general release all of the razzes were replaced with (often grating) whistling sounds. Jerry and George had been trying to release this original version ever since the final Golden Age of Looney Tunes laserdisc set, and now this version of the cartoon will be making what is believed to be its first ever public showing.
As for the few remaining MGM Avery cartoons that have yet to find a home in this series, among other material, all Jerry would say on his site is, "Hang onto your blu-ray players."
Despite the lukewarm reception the second Tex volume received because of the garbled HBO Max masters, we're cautiously optimistic about this third collection. There's some prime-cut Avery material on here, and the chance to own the original Crackpot Quail is another of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for classic cartoon fans. And the fact that Jerry and George are already looking toward future releases makes one hope for the best.
Tex Avery Screwball Classics Volume 3 is scheduled to be released on October 5. Pre-order the Blu-ray for $21.99 or the DVD for $19.99 on Amazon.
July 28, 2021
The latest cartoon news!
As we approach the end of summer, we can only be reminded of how it's been a very long year for fans of classic animation. What better oasis can there be than an appearance by one of cartoon fandom's favorites?
That's right, he's back! Next Wednesday, August 4, Jerry Beck will be returning for an appearance on Stu's Show, the online series hosted by pop culture/television historian Stu Shostak. The show is a video/audio simulcast, so you can either listen or watch it live. The show will air at 7PM EST and is available as a free stream for those who tune in live (afterward, fans can purchase a "rerun" of the episode online). Information on the various ways to access the show can be found on its web site: www.stusshow.com.
Jerry will be offering his take on Space Jam: A New Legacy, HBO Max's Jellystone series, and much more. And hopefully he'll have news of upcoming cartoon-related books and home video releases. Regardless, be sure to stick around until the end of the video simulcast of the show to catch three rarely seen classic cartoons.
As we always stress, remember that Jerry only works as a consultant for Warner Home Video (and other labels) on select projects. He does not have final say on programming, remastering, or release matters; he can only try to comment on situations as best as he can...and even then, he is sometimes contractually required to not say anything about certain upcoming releases. The information he gives is never meant to be inferred as any sort of official statement from a studio and that they can and do change plans on a whim without telling him. Anything Jerry is authorized to reveal will be said during the show.
You can send questions via the web site linked above, and Stu may or may not read them to Jerry during the show. And of course, as we say every time Jerry appears, do NOT bug the show with "When will this cartoon or show come out on DVD?" questions. Again, anything video-related that Jerry's allowed to reveal will come up during the show.
We will be posting live news updates on our Facebook page. If there is any major DVD or Blu-ray news announced, we will of course report it here after the show.
But by all means, tune in to see Jerry Beck on Stu's Show August 4!
April 27, 2021
Includes (SD) cartoon extras
As the home video industry is still apparently trying to mentally sort out the recent merger of facilities between Warner Home Entertainment and Universal, Warner Archive continues to increase its catalog of classic films on Blu-ray, such as with today's release of Each Dawn I Die. The James Cagney classic is making its high-definition debut through online retailers (most notably Amazon, which has taken over duties as the Archive's "official" online store).
Carried over from Die's original DVD release are two Warner Bros. cartoons as extras: the Oscar-nominated Tex Avery travelogue Detouring America and Friz Freleng's eerie Elmer Fudd short Each Dawn I Crow. No published reviews have turned up anywhere yet, but in all likelihood neither cartoon has been remastered and both are very likely only in standard definition. So be aware!
Each Dawn I Die is now available online on Blu-ray only and retails for $21.99. Order it now on Amazon.
March 24, 2021
Includes (SD) cartoon extras
While rumors abound about the future of Warner Archive, the label is continuing to announce new titles--and eventually some of them even come up for pre-order. Earlier this month Warner Archive announced the Blu-ray release of the James Cagney classic Each Dawn I Die, and the title is now finally available to pre-order at least on Amazon. (WBShop is not listing a pre-order yet, but considering the upcoming split between the studio and its retail vendor, that's not too surprising.) The Blu-ray is set for release on April 27.
Like on a variety of recent Warner Archive Blu-rays of classic movies, special features are being carried over from the film's original Warner Home Video DVD release. Among these are two Warner Bros. cartoons: the Tex Avery travelogue Detouring America and Friz Freleng's eerie Each Dawn I Crow, in which a rooster is convinced that farmer Elmer Fudd is plotting against him.
Though this release will mark both cartoons' debuts on Blu-ray, Warner Archive's technical specs are not making any mention of either being in high definition. Neither cartoon has even shown up remastered for HBO Max or MeTV, so there doesn't seem to be any go-to HD copy of either one available. This could certainly change and Warner Archive could very well have a trick up its sleeve, but please don't count on it. If you're only going to be getting this Blu-ray for the cartoons, then be prepared for unremastered versions in standard definition.
Each Dawn I Die is scheduled to be released on April 27 on Blu-ray only and will retail for $21.99. Pre-order it now on Amazon.
March 12, 2021
With special extra guest Steve Stanchfield!
St. Patrick's Day usually means drinking, partying, cabbage-eating, and green-heavy parades that movie protagonists hide into when being chased...but this year, it will also mean cartoons.
Yep, you guessed it (or read the headline). On Wednesday, March 17, Jerry Beck will return for an appearance on Stu's Show, the online series hosted by pop culture/television historian Stu Shostak. The show is a video/audio simulcast, so you can either listen or watch it live. The show will air at 7PM EST and is available as a free stream for those who tune in live (afterward, fans can purchase a "rerun" of the episode online). Information on the various ways to access the show can be found on its web site: www.stusshow.com.
It's only March and already we've seen a rehashed scandal involving Pepe le Pew, an unwatchable Tom and Jerry movie arriving, layoffs and overhauling at Warner Archive, the impending release of Space Jam: A New Legacy, new shows announced for HBO Max and Disney+...AND we're still in the middle of a global pandemic! As if all of that wasn't enough for Jerry to talk about, then he will hopefully also have news on book releases and maybe even home video.
Speaking of which, Jerry will once again bring along an extra special guest, this time with Thunderbean Animation's Steve Stanchfield making his first appearance on the show. Steve will likely be talking about some of the Thunderbean animation releases in the works and will provide three more rare cartoons to screen.
As we always stress, remember that Jerry only works as a consultant for Warner Home Video (and other labels) on select projects. He does not have final say on programming, remastering, or release matters; he can only try to comment on situations as best as he can...and even then, he is sometimes contractually required to not say anything about certain upcoming releases. The information he gives is never meant to be inferred as any sort of official statement from a studio and that they can and do change plans on a whim without telling him. Anything Jerry is authorized to reveal will be said during the show.
You can send questions via the web site linked above, and Stu may or may not read them to Jerry (and Steve!) during the show. And of course, as we say every time Jerry appears, do NOT bug the show with "When will this cartoon or show come out on DVD?" questions. Again, anything video-related that Jerry's allowed to reveal will come up during the show.
We will be posting live news updates on our Facebook page. If there is any major DVD or Blu-ray news announced, we will of course report it here after the show.
So perhaps we will all be the lucky ones when Jerry O'Beck and Steven O'Stanchfield pay a wee visit to Stu's Show on March 17!
February 23, 2021
HD debut of classic Bugs and Doris Day dance sequence
In addition to On Moonlight Bay, another Doris Day film arriving on Blu-ray from Warner Archive today is the 1949 kinda-sorta-classic My Dream Is Yours. Co-starring Day and Jack Carson and of course featuring a memorable sequence in which the two stars dance alongside an animated Bugs Bunny, the musical comedy is making its high-definition debut through WBShop.com and other online retailers.
(For those wondering, Bugs's earlier appearance in a live action movie, Two Guys from Texas also starring Jack Carson, is not yet on Blu-ray.)
In addition to having the delightful Friz Freleng-directed sequence in HD, among the disc's extras will be the classic Goofy Gophers short A Ham in a Role. Like with On Moonlight Bay, Warner Archive's announced specs for the Blu-ray are not indicating whether the cartoon is also in HD...but you can easily find it presented that way on Blu-ray already on the Platinum Collection Volume Three, so no biggie.
My Dream Is Yours is now available online on Blu-ray only and retails for $21.99. Order it now on Amazon.
February 23, 2021
Includes Blu-ray debut of A Hound for Trouble
In the middle of a pretty eclectic month of Warner Archive Blu-ray titles--offering everything from classics like San Francisco to the Christian Slater drama Pump Up the Volume--today the label releases two Doris Day musicals. One of those films is On Moonlight Bay, a sort of Meet Me in St. Louis retread that is making its high-definition debut through WBShop.com and other online retailers.
In addition to boasting a brand new 4K scan of the feature film, the Blu-ray carries over all of the special features from the movie's original DVD release. This includes the Charlie Dog cartoon A Hound for Trouble, which will also be making its debut on the format with this release.
While Warner Archive's official specs for the disc are suggesting that the cartoon will be the same-old unremastered version in standard definition, at least one outside review is stating that the cartoon is in fact in HD. We have not reviewed any copy yet nor have we personally heard from any trusted source, so PLEASE use caution in purchasing this Blu-ray if you were only after the cartoon...and for one very good reason
IF A Hound for Trouble is in fact in high definition, then it would be the same newly remastered transfer currently available for streaming on HBO Max. The problem here is that unfortunately Hound is one of the shorts with a badly Photoshopped "new" title sequence, and it is actually one of the notorious HBO remasters with a lazy graphic "fix":
So artificially extended title cards aside (note the area to the left of Charlie's butt), Chuck Jones's own director credit has been fooled around with, seemingly to correct some otherwise insignificant piece of film dirt or blemish. The rest of the cartoon on HBO Max is in fine shape, but for some fans and collectors something like the above might be a dealbreaker. So again, BE WARNED, you're either getting an unremastered SD copy or an HD copy with the "new" title sequence. Good luck!
(On a side note, another recent Warner Archive Blu-ray release is of the 1935 A Tale of Two Cities, which features the MGM color Bosko cartoon Hey-Hey Fever as an extra. Again, Warner Archive is not indicating if this is in high definition.)
On Moonlight Bay is now available online on Blu-ray only and retails for $21.99. Order it now on Amazon.
January 17, 2021
Include cartoon extras
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Of course, My Dream Is Yours has the famous animation/live action sequence where Bugs Bunny dances alongside Doris and Jack Carson to the song "Freddie, Get Ready," set to the tune of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. Directed by Friz Freleng, there's even a Tweety cameo for good measure. It wasn't Bugs's first appearance in a live action movie, nor was it even his first appearance alongside Jack Carson, but it's the one people seem to remember more, and it's finally making its HD debut.
In addition to the obvious, what may also interest Looney Tunes fans is that each Blu-ray is scheduled to contain a classic cartoon as an extra. Just like with the movies' original DVD releases, My Dream Is Yours will include the Shakespearean Goofy Gophers epic A Ham in a Role, while On Moonlight Bay will feature Charlie Dog's swan song in A Hound for Trouble. The latter is making its debut on Blu-ray.
BUT!
It needs to be pointed out, though, that Warner Archive's announced technical specs for each Blu-ray are indicating that the bonus cartoons are NOT in high definition. Now, the label's specs in the past have sometimes been incorrect when it comes to special features (especially cartoons), so they could very well end up in HD after all, BUT we would not recommend pre-ordering either title based solely on that possibility. Err on the side of caution and trust the label's announced specs on this.
A Ham in a Role is already available on Blu-ray in HD on the Platinum Collection Volume Three, which should already be in your collection anyway if you're trying to own all of the shorts on Blu-ray. A Hound for Trouble, meanwhile, has only been released on disc unremastered. A remastered version is available on HBO Max, but it is one of the notorious shorts with a badly Photoshopped "new" title sequence (even marring Chuck Jones's director credit). Since Archive titles have been utilizing HBO Max transfers as of late (Tex Avery), consider yourself fully warned: you're either getting an unremastered copy or a Photoshopped copy.
My Dream Is Yours is scheduled to be released on February 23 on Blu-ray only and will retail for $21.99. Pre-order it now on Amazon.
On Moonlight Bay is also scheduled to be released on February 23 on Blu-ray only and will also retail for $21.99. Pre-order it now on Amazon.
