Fox to Release Nine Classic Films on Blu-ray for the First Time
Posted March 6, 2013 02:45 PM by Webmaster
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today the winning titles of its first-of-its-kind Voice Your Choice campaign. The unique initiative allowed film lovers to vote on classic films from each decade - from the 1930s through the 1960s - they'd like to see digitally restored and transferred to Blu-ray for the very first time.
Due to the overwhelming response, Fox has decided to release both the winning and runner-up film from each decade on Blu-ray on December 3, 2013.
The winning films are:
1930s
Jesse James (#1) - (1939) - The legend of Jesse James stars Tyrone Power as the most infamous bandit in the history of the West. Jesse James was a young Missouri farmer forced outside the law after ruthless agents for the transcontinental railroad kill his ailing mother and steal his family's land. Together with his brother Frank (Henry Fonda), Jesse forms a gang of masked outlaws to strike back at the railroad company and the banks that have joined forces to swindle the oppressed farmers.
Call of the Wild (#2) - (1935) Jack Thornton has trouble winning enough at cards for the stake he needs to get to the Alaska gold fields. His luck changes when he pays $250 for Buck, a sled dog that is part wolf to keep him from being shot by an arrogant Englishman also headed for the Yukon.
1940s
Ghost and Mrs. Muir (#1) - (1947) A romance between a young widow and a sea captain's ghost weaves a magical tale of immortal love. Determined to live her life the way she wants, newly widowed Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) declines her straitlaced in-laws demand that she live with them and moves with her daughter (a young Natalie Wood) to the seaside into a cottage haunted by the handsome, blustering Captain Gregg (Rex Harrison). A deal is struck between the two in the wee hours of the morning allowing Lucy to stay in the house and the captain to materialize only in the master bedroom. As they gradually get to know each other better, Lucy's spunk and stubbornness gains first the captain's grudging respect, then his heart. But when another man woos Lucy, both must face that her future lies with the living, not in the spirit world.
Black Swan (#2) - (1942) Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara cross romantic swords in this epic Oscar-winning swash buckler about a pirate determined to reform his thieving ways – after he steals one last heart! Recently reformed pirate Jamie Boy (Power) is supposed to be helping the new Governor of Jamaica, Captain Morgan, rid the Caribbean of black-hearted buccaneers. But when Jamie falls head over keel for the heavenly – but hotheaded – Lady Margaret (O'Hara), he gives caution the heave-ho, kidnaps Margaret and sets sail for the adventure of a lifetime! Packed with "action, excitement, thundering guns and a maiden in distress"
1950s
Carmen Jones (#1) - (1954) Powered by Georges Bizet's grand music and Oscar Hammerstein II's magnificent lyrics, this Americanized all-black version of the classic opera Carmen is "a dynamic superb show" with a positively "incandescent Carmen." (Newsweek) Oscar-nominee Dorothy Dandridge stars in the title role, a passionate, sexy creature who lures Joe (Harry Belafonte), a handsome soldier, away from his sweetheart (Olga James). Following a fatal brawl with his sergeant, Joe deserts his regiment with the sultry femme fatale. But Carmen soon tires of him and takes up with a heavyweight prize-fighter (Joe Adams). Triggering Joe's tragic revenge. Helping to set the screen on fire are Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll, part of the "sensational troupe" that makes this jubilant musical film "hard to beat."
Desk Set (#2) - (1957) Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) heads up the research department at the Federal Broadcasting Company, a major TV network. And she does her job very well, thank you very much. Assigned by the network president to introduce computers into some of the department's functions, Richard Sumner (Spencer Tracy) arrives at Bunny's well-run division to observe daily activities. Unfortunately, however, Sumner is ordered to keep his mission secret. As a result, the whole staff believes they are being replaced. To make matters worse, there appears to be more than a little electricity between Bunny and Sumner, which upsets Bunny's boyfriend Mike (Gig Young). As the tension mounts in the office, so do the laughs in this classic romantic comedy.
1960s
North to Alaska (#1) - (1960) John Wayne and Stewart Granger strike it rich in this rousing comedy-adventure set in the heyday of the Alaskan gold rush. When prospectors Sam McCord (Wayne) and George Pratt (Granger) hit the mother lode, George asks Sam to go to Seattle and fetch his sweetheart, Jennie, but she has already married someone else. Determined to bring George a new love, Sam invites a saloon dancer (Capucine) back to Nome as Jennie's replacement.
Undefeated (#2) - (1969) In the tumultuous aftermath of the Civil War, Union Calvary officer John Henry Thomas takes his heroic men west while southerner James Langdon takes his soldiers to Mexico. When their paths cross, they forge an uneasy friendship that is quickly tested as they get caught between Mexican rebels and the Emperor's forces, and find themselves fighting side by side.
Write-In
Cavalcade (#1) - (1933) The Best Picture winner offers a view of English life starting New Year's Eve 1899 through New Year's Day 1933. Presented from the point of view of wealthy London residents Jane and Robert Marryot, several historical events serve as background for the film, including the Second Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, the sinking of the Titanic and World War I. Street date for Cavalcade is August 6th.
All titles will be available for purchase on www.foxconnect.com.
It was clear early on that it was easy to circumvent the one-vote-per-day rule by clearing a browser's cookie history and that some folks were doing exactly that, so I gave up. I assume that some of the films that actually DESERVE to be released will eventually find their way onto Blu-ray.
I've got to be honest, I've never heard of most of these films (I did see Cavalcade). I am a fan of classic cinema though, so I look forward to checking them out on blu-ray.
I'm really pissed that 2 so-so John Wayne films are getting released instead of Two for the Road. Happy for Call of the Wild, Carmen Jones, Ghost & Mrs Muir, and Desk Set.
Fantastic that FOX had an "...overwhelming response"....great to see still massive interests in catalogs. Will definitely be picking up some of these...and maybe the others if there is a good sale, just because of them being classics!
Cavalcade will be released on August 6 -- *not* December 3 like the other eight films. Still, it's a big deal considering how Fox slapped Best Picture collectors in the face by only releasing it on DVD in a 75-film boxset...
I voted for none of these films. I voted for kiss of death, the bravados, the agony and the ecstacy, and put in my own titles like Niagara, Prince valiant,Warlock,One million years b.c Hammer film, and Les Miserables 1935 version. I pass on these winning films. My titles are way better films for blu ray . Boooo !! FOX
I started voting but gave up after it was clear we were going to get the 5 gajiliionth Blu-Ray release of films from a highly over-rated "actor" who shall go unnamed instead of brilliant films like "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter," "Two for the Road" and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." I am pleased about "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," "Carmen Jones," "Desk Set" and "Cavalcade" though.
And I wrote-in for "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" as well! BUT when we get it, it better have all the features from the Special Edition DVD. It's getting a little old, selling off my DVDs when the Blus are announced only to find out later that they are bare-bones or very nearly. I'd like to have great PQ PLUS special features, but I simply don't have the shelf space to keep both copies.
I only hope the poll is indication that they'll eventually get around to more of the film choices they offered, particularly from the 60's selection.
Glad North to Alaska and Desk Set made the cut though. North to Alaska appeared to be an overwhelming lock, so I voted for How to Steal a Million instead. I did vote for Desk Set a few times, since it was neck and neck with Carmen Jones. But most days/weeks I forgot about voting. I didn't even notice there being a "write-in".
I'll pass. What about Bird of Paradise, The Rains Came, The Medusa Touch?? Why is Fox letting Twilight Time release Rains of Ranchipur & The Fury, instead of doing it themselves?
The Alamo !! John Wayne 1960 no more news about the restored blu ray 50th anniversary. let's go fox mgm while i'm still young !! better than these winning stinkers. mr. joshua I agree 100%
I'm a classic movie fan and will be buying exactly none of these. I do recognize the importance of Cavalcade though so congrats to the Oscar collectors.
Wow. I love how I can never express my opinion without having it voted down until it disappears. Fine, you guys love John Wayne. And he was absolutely the best actor ever and was never ever the same in every single movie.
Absolutely wretched choices in each of the decades. Who in hell voted for these? Moron Central? In the 30s it should have been Les Miserables and Drums Along the Mohawk or House of Rothschild. In the 40s, Tales of Manhattan and The Snake Pit or Heaven Can Wait (The Black Swan was shown on Channel 4 here recently in its HD restoration: it looks wonderful, but is alas unmitigated drivel, poorly written and laughably badly acted). And I can't believe the 50s aren't represented by Bus Stop, surely Monroe's best film at Fox. Of course, my indignation is somewhat tempered by the certain knowledge that Fox won't bother to release any of these titles here in the UK anyway, as they haven't with the vast majority of their classic releases: but at least with these new ones I won't be tempted to run the usual gauntlet of import duties, taxes and holding fees, thank God.
I can't believe all the haters here. All these movies are well known, and any fan of old-movies should be pretty content with them. I can understand some may be hurt that their favorites lost. You never know what Fox will do though, maybe release them eventualy. These polls are little more than promotion gigs to let fans know these movies are coming. They can't be thought of as seriously representing consumer tastes.
I plan on getting about 4 of these. December is a long way off though. I hope Fox has other titles lined-up in the meantime.
North to Alaska, cross another off the wishlist. I see someone merely mentioning they like the Duke or one of his movies doesn't sit well with many here. I bumped you both back up a notch, Johndoe and stlcards.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today the winning titles of its first-of-its-kind Voice Your Choice campaign. The unique initiative allowed film lovers to vote on classic films from each decade - from the 1930s through the 1960s - they'd like to see digitally restored and transferred to Blu-ray for the very first time. 
