For ages — after all of the “miracles” Shout! Factory has made happen with rights to movies that the owners (Sandy Frank) swore “Over my dead body” – I’ve thought of suggesting a weekend survey of “What movie/episode would you almost bet money Shout! Factory will never be able to get the rights to release?”
Between the movies that Rhino screwed up with (Amazing Colossal Man, Godzilla vs Megalon), the way things go in and out of copyright (the “Robot Rumpus” short) and the fact that some of the movies are owned by corporations who think the movies are decent or at least still money-makers (Space Travelers), you keep thinking there’s at least one that’s going to end up being impossible.
My guess was always Revenge of the Creature. Because even though it’s not one of the studio’s best efforts, Universal is notorious about protecting the image of their Monsters – even the minor ones. I thought there was no way we’d see that on home video…
Yes, another miracle.
So what episode do you think will never get released on home video?
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Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster after what happened with Godzilla vs. Megalon. However I never thought I’d see a Gamera episode and look what happened there!
Village of the Giants.
Gorgo, seeing as we only got it one time cause Sci Fi screwed up. That and Deathstalker III, Pumaman, Thing That Wouldn’t Die, and Diabolik.
Just keep naming those titles. I’m sure at least half of them will appear in Volume XXVI.
I wish someone would find decent copies of the KTMA shows and present them as bonus features in future DVDs.
Roger Corman is the biggest hold-out. So I say TEENAGE CAVEMAN, THE VIKING WOMEN AND THE SEA SERPENT and THE UNDEAD.
@smirkboy- it would be nice to have commercial releases of KTMA eps- if only for historical perspective. That said, I’ll add those 21 efforts to the never will be released list.
Well first off none of the KTMA movies. I was going to say the Roger Korman movies but at least two have been done but the others are going to be tough but I always hold out for miracles!
As matthew redwine (#1) mentioned, of all the episodes, I’d place money–though, with Shout! Factory’s track record, not a lot of money–on never seeing “Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster” or any re-release of “Godzilla vs. Megalon.” For one thing, I believe Media Blasters now owns the North American rights to “Megalon,” and for another, Toho is notoriously litigious when it comes to its most famous intellectual property. Even a company that wants to release one of their Godzilla films to DVD or Blu Ray in the most straightforward, respectful manner possible has to jump through hoops, and even then occasionally gets bitten after the fact (see the previously mentioned Media Blasters). So, while I would dearly love to see some Big G goodness on a Shout! MST release, I wouldn’t hold my breath. :-(
I’ll agree that the Godzilla movies are highly unlikely. I’d also put “Marooned” (a.k.a. “Space Travelers”), an Oscar-winning film, on that list. In all likelihood, the Corman and/or Susan Hart-owned titles, too.
Still, this is show business. 98% of the time, the most prized and cherished properties can be bought for the right price at the right time.
As for the KTMA shows, the Brains themselves aren’t interested in releasing them, beyond occasional clips, so I’d say they’re out. A more likely scenario for those would be CT or RT getting the rights to some of them and re-riffing them for release. I wouldn’t mind seeing that.
The majority of remaining episodes are owned by one of the six major studios (MGM, Universal, Warner, Sony, Lions Gate, and Paramount) and the estates of Samuel Z Arkoff and James Nicholson. The rest are Public Domain or owned by smaller groups. The toughest eps to get on dvd are generally considered to be Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster and the four Nicholson titles, now owned by Susan Hart, with other thoughts of Gorgo, the Paramount titles, a pair of Corman-owned titles, and Puma Man, the latter more a case of not finding the rights holders than too high a price. Of course, the KTMA eps are probably not coming, since BBI isn’t on board with offering them. My vote would be Godzilla, mainly because Toho already knows about Rhino’s release of Vs. Megalon, so they’ll be more careful over leasing their property to someone who could sublease to Shout.
The Million Eyes of Sumuru. Not so much as because it is a KTMA, but I can’t imagine they want some the racist riffs from that episode resurfacing.
GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER….Nuf Said.
How about they just release the host segments and sketches from Green
Slime on as extras????
Like “Marooned” (aka “Space Travelers”), “Squirm” is a pretty well-known B-movie. I’s owned by MGM, right? Yeah I know we’re now getting some MGM releases, but doesn’t Leiberman (the director), partially own the film? If so, you can bet he’s not going to let the MST3K episode ever resurface.
Gorgo, Godzilla, Marooned/Space Travelers and Diabolik seem to be the most likely to never get released.
The Diabolik DVD put out by Paramount is really nice, for what it’s worth. Would still like to see the host sequences/skits released, because, after all, it’s the end of the show.
In my comment I meant to say on to the end of the KTMA era.
Green Slime host segments you say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5f-yqtl7l4&feature=plcp <– Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrG6j8pnXhA&feature=plcp <– Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=622ToYSqk2k&feature=plcp <– Shameless self plug for a riff a friend and I did before RT and CT launched
It seems to me that the Godzilla films and the movies owned by the Hart/Nicholson estate will be the most problematic.
I’m certain ‘Gorgo’, ‘Squirm’, ‘Marooned’, ‘Diabolik’, much of Roger Corman’s crap, the KTMA era and especially the two ‘Godzilla’ episodes will never see the light of day. Then again, Shout! has accomplished many miracles since they took over the home video distribution of the show.
However, I would never question Toho not letting the ‘Godzilla’ episodes being released ever. They’re too proud of that property. So to those who still own the rare Vol. 10, make sure you never wear that disc out!
Godzilla vs. Megalon
Godzilla vs. the Seamonster
It Conquered the World
The Day the Earth Froze
Gorgo
The KTMA ones
But then again, a couple years ago, I would have said we would never see the Gamera ones on DVD, SO KEEP HOPE ALIVE! :)
Kylehg, isn’t “Night of the Blood Beast” part of “Corman’s Crap?”
If they could get that out on DVD, I’m sure Corman can be persuaded to part with the others (hopefully). After all, he likes money.
I’m kind of surprised Travis Hosey hasn’t chimed in on this discussion, let alone updated his Ward E list.
Speaking of Ward E, does anyone else want to see Stranded in Space come out?
Not that long ago I would have said the Universal monster movies, but Revenge of the Creature has (thankfully!) changed that. Given that “Snow Thrills” has shown up on the latest set, then, I now have my doubts that It Conquered the World will see the light of day (which sucks). I also have my doubts about Earth Versus the Spider (which happens to be one of my all-time favourite episodes).
Personally (and to state the obvious), I hope we all lose our wagers.
“Speaking of Ward E, does anyone else want to see Stranded in Space come out?”
*Doing my lousy Ron Pallilo/Horshack impression* (RIP)
Well, put agent mom! I would love to see Shout go for an all-Corman set! Call it the Corman Crap Trap? Hmmm, maybe not…
After the jaw-droppers that were the Gamera set & other Sandy Frank films, and now Revenge Of The Creature (I never thought ANY of those eps from the first half of season eight would be seen officially released, let alone the Gill Man; It’s for that reason that I’m especially stoked for this latest set), I almost want to say pretty much anything’s possible, as long as enough money is shelled out.
That said, Godzilla Vs. Megalon and Godzilla Vs. The Sea Monster definitely seem the least likely. I would LOVE to see Sea Monster offically released since it’s a somewhat unqiue version (thanks Film Ventures!) that to the best of my knowledge never had any kind of video release. Toho is pretty tight with their properties, but then, if Universal can be persuaded…
Gorgo would be nice just to ‘get out there’, given the fact it only aired for one day; It’s a pretty good episode, even though I’ve always disliked the film, even in the days when I was all about giant monster movies (I’ll never understand the relative high marks it receives from some, *cough* Leonard Maltin *cough*). I don’t go the unofficial route anymore (there’s such a wealth of good stuff being released that I just don’t feel the need to), but even so, the DVD copy I received awhile back is one I do treasure. Still hate Gorgo, though.
Who knows, the Brains may even come around on the KTMAs. I know it’s been mentioned before, but even just the host segments would make nice bonus features. Of course, if that didn’t happen with the Gamera set, I don’t know if it ever will. I know the season is seen as very primitive, and of course it is, but there is some good stuff there, especially in the second half, and there are KTMA eps I prefer to some in S1 (sorry, Aztec Mummy). Of course, it’s entirely up to the the Brains (and from how I understand it that the films were never properly secured, correct?).
Still, at this point, never say never.
I wouldn’t count Deathstalker III out. Shout! Factory released the first two movies, along with two others, in a DVD set. If they get around to the third movie, they might make a deal for MST3K as well.
The most difficult, but not impossible, episodes to get on video are Godzilla vs. Megalon and Godzilla vs. the Sea Serpent.
Never say never concerning Shout! Factory.
Corman Crap Trap! I love it!
Radar Secret Service :)
The Mamie Van Doren episodes? I’ve never heard anything regarding how she feels about them, or even if she has seen them; never heard the cast and crew of MST3K talk about them, and thats why I’m probably thinking that.
#30 Stoneman: You can ask Mamie yourself – she is on Facebook (as am I).
Untamed Youth and Girls Town (made by MGM) are both owned by Warner Brothers. If Shout! can make a deal with Universal, then hopefully WB and the other major studios will join in.
I want to see if any more Universal films make it, now that ‘Creature’ has made it. Mainly my all-time favorite, Riding With Death.
Since Riding With Death is one of the all-time greatest episodes and it is a Universal, that would be my nominee. If an all-time great episode like Riding with Death hasn’t made it yet, it’s looking bleaker as time goes on.
After that I throw in two other great episodes that are also Universal Films, The Mole People and The Deadly Mantis.
Mole People, Screaming Skull, Space Children, Terror from the Year 5000, She-Creature, Deadly Mantis. I wish they would all be released in the same collection!
Puma man, Gorgo, the two Godzillas, Colossal Man and Beast, Marooned, the Corman ones and the KTMA’s. (I hope to see the Day the Earth Froze soon just to finish off the Russo-Finnish films)
To the poster of the topic:
Sandy Frank never said anything to the effect of “Over my dead body.” He hasn’t owned the movies since 1996. Please let this rumor die.
The main issue with the KTMA episodes is that Joel and Jim don’t consider them “official” episodes of the show, and wouldn’t want to put out a KTMA episode when so many official ones either haven’t had a DVD release or are out of print. I believe that if Shout Factory goes up to around Volume XLV and all the official ones are either in print or deemed currently impossible to release due to legal issues, then they MIGHT shift their focus to the KTMA episodes, presumably as an exclusive through the Shout Factory website. I doubt that Best Brains would want to give the KTMA episodes wider distribution than that since they are a niche market within MST3K’s own niche market. Not to mention the whole issue of who owns the movies shown in the episodes.
I thought Mamie Van Doren attended one of the MST3K conventions.
To quote Roxanne, the least likely to see the light of day: “Godzilla.”
If anyone from “The MSTieCast” happens to be reading this, a good person to interview would be Jordan Fields from Shout Factory. He did a Q&A article for Satellite News, but that was a few years ago and you could ask him lots of more current questions concerning MST3K distribution in light of the new releases.
Going to play contrarian here and be optimistic and say that ALL the episodes will eventually see release on DVD. After some of the recent releases that seemed shocking (gamera set, revenge of creature, etc) I have the utmost confidence that Shout! Factory will come through. Sure some of them seem improbable (Godzilla movies) but I doubt that anything is impossible. By the end of this decade, all episodes (sans the KTMAs) will find a commercial release. Have faith fellow MSTies, have faith.
#39
We’d love to have him. We have some other people in mind but we will definatly try to aks get a hold of him for a future episode.
The Screaming Skull might be a tough episode to release because of the Robot Rumpus short. Didn’t they make a joke or two about the Gumby short being expensive? But if anybody could get this episode for us, it’s Shout! Factory.
While I’m not usually an optimist when it comes to these releases, I have to say I’m tending to agree with the couple of folks here who suggest that all of these may see the light of day this decade.
The main difference between the past and now is that media delivery is changing — whereas in the past studios were very cautious about releasing films in any form, then slowly came to see they could make some money on tape (and then disc) we’re just turning the corner of having *everything* available for streaming. I see lots of studios are saying “we know the content will be out there — let’s see how much money we can make from it”.
I see this even in things like Fox’s licensing of many of their catalog titles to Twilight Time for blu-ray release. They don’t want to do it themselves, but they do want the money, and don’t have any particular problem letting another company take some of their best work (recently “Bye Bye Birdie”) and doing what they will with it.
In any case, while I have doubts about the Godzilla titles it still wouldn’t surprise me to see them in a few years — Japan needs money just as much as any country (outside of China). More than anything, though, I think it’s clear the folks at Shout are committed to trying, and that’s the best news for all of us.
The Amazing Colossal Man and War of the Colossal Beast spring to mind. At times it’s hard to find the whole episode on the internet because of whoever owns those movies going after the people that they can’t show the first ten minutes – which don’t even include any of the movie, so you’re still seeing all of it that’s on the show. Figure out that logic.
Gotta agree with Godzilla.
Why haven’t they gotten the other two Hercules movies?
I still can’t believe Revenge of the Creature is coming out. I seriously put that as less likely than the Godzilla ones. I kept reading the list over and over thinking “I must have misread that”.
My Godzilla vs. Megalon disc is kept in a very safe place and I only watch one of the copies I made for my personal backup use.
One would think that these studios would be willing to make a reasonable deal regarding films that are otherwise worthless to them.
If Shout! can get universal to release revenge of the creature who knows what wonderful dvd sets await us in the future.:eek:
Personally the way Shout Factory’s been going with releases I think every episode will find its way onto DVD. Assuming they keep going at the same pace it should take about 5 years to release the entire series on DVD. I think at that point, or at least once we get close to that point the KTMA episodes may become a reality, too.
Don’t forget to check out the Likelihood for Release List, which has a breakdown of almost all of the episodes and which company owns the rights.
http://forrestcrow.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mstchat&action=display&thread=6297
:D
I guess we’ll apparently never get “The Day the Earth Froze” or ” The Attack of The The Eye Creatures”…though for the life of me I can’t figure out why. What’s taking so long, I love them both.
As noted in previous thread, the Bride of AIP still holds the Colossal Man hostage. :(
And if Shout Factory had gotten hold of Classic Media, we might have gotten that other Godzilla (or both, for those who weren’t on the ball when Vol. 10.1 came out), but nope, Dreamworks’s got Classic Media and all the 60’s-UPA Godzilla dubs now, and doubt they’ve ever watched MST3K in their lives. I just don’t see Jeffrey Katzenberg as having that much of a sense of humor…
Then again, I had given Robot Holocaust up for dead, so ya never know. :)