MovieChat Forums > Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General (1968) Discussion > Sony Says 'No' to a WITCHFINDER GENERAL ...

Sony Says 'No' to a WITCHFINDER GENERAL DVD: Please Read!

posted 19 years ago by reisgeorge
25 replies | jump to latest

I have been in contact with Philip Waddilove, producer of WITCHFINDER GENERAL (aka CONQUEROR WORM). After MGM spent years and lots of dough on a pristine, restored new DVD transfer of the film, Waddilove was lead to believe that it was on Sony's October '06 schedule. Apparently, this is not the case and Sony has little interest. This is how Waddilove replied to me:

"I'm at a loss for words. Why MGM would go to the trouble of a total restoration without releasing the DVD of "Witchfinder General" is beyond comprehension. However, exactly the same fate has befallen "The Buttercup Chain", my other movie (with Columbia) now also hidden away in the vaults at Sony. On several occasions I was informed by James Owsley (Director of Restorations at MGM) that Witchfinder was definitely on their October 2006 release schedule. But, apparently, the principal at Sony doesn't greenlight DVDs of anything older than ten years!!"

Yes my friends, it's obvious that Sony's ownership of the MGM catalog is the worst thing that could have ever happened, and as editor of DVD Drive-In who spearheaded a petition to continue the Midnite Movies, I am totally fed up. The decision to put titles in the Midnite Movies series that don't fit the bill, and not continuing the fine work that the old regime had started confirms this.

If you would like to voice your opionion, outrage or make suggestions, I urge everyone who reads this who wants the Midnite Movies series to continue as it should, write to Chris Franchino, who manages MGM catalog marketing, at [email protected] .

[–] amarcordian 19 years ago

wow, that's messed up. In general, are the "Midnight Movies" going out of print?

[–] Bumblejeep44 19 years ago

(in my best Vader voice):
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Why are we in the states cursed with the omission of such films? You would expect the massive US DVD market would demand greater variety of films than the Aussies or UK (no offense to our Commonwealth bretheren).

[–] LaMcKay 19 years ago

You can buy the DVD as "Der Hexenjäger" at www.amazon.de in Germany (Region 2). It features the original soundtrack as well as a German dubbed version. I don't know if the film has been restored, but it's certainly better than nothing.

[–] redrum_ride 19 years ago

But probably there is an special edition of Urban Legend 4

[–] radioman970us 19 years ago

Damn. I've got to continue watching my lame ep VHS. :( Come on Sony!! I'll buy it...today!

[–] Thirteen89 19 years ago

Ive just rented this film from lovefilm.com and am watching it on DVD right now. Am i missing something...?

[–] viccieplum 19 years ago

I got the restored edition on Amazon.co.uk (Region 2) brand new. It wasn't at all expensive. Try the UK for it as we seem to have no problems with releases here. Also ebay.co.uk usually has a few new and used copies knocking around.

[–] ttucker-12 19 years ago

I can't play the non-U.S. versions on my DVD player becasue it won't play PAL format. Does anyone know if any of the DVD players that play both formats are any good? they certainly appear to be expensive.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] HPeep 18 years ago

Wow. Thank God I bought the laserdisc when I did. *beep* Sony!

[–] LuciaJoyce 18 years ago

(repost from another board)

And if you've got $30.00, and live near a labyrinthine faceless godless evil corporate entity whose name begins with "WALM," pick up one of their Apex AD-1800 DVD players. Cheap, pretty, plays every kind of media I throw at it (PAL, NTSC, all region)(well, not DivX/Xvid, but whadja expect for $30.00?), and outputs progressive-scan and optical PCM!

--
And of course, no surprise to see England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson in the crowd

[–] mandarin992000 18 years ago

Does anyone know if the MGM dvd release on sept. 11th will be a restored, new transfer of the film, and whether it will be cut or not?

[–] Pharaoh-in-de-Nile 17 years ago

In the UK, 'Prism Leisure' release a rather good version of the film, complete with two versions, the UK cut and the Export cut.

It also has a fair amount of special features.

I'd look for that one (on Amazon UK?)

"Nothings gonna change my world!"

[–] koppmeier_kevin 18 years ago

I just read a post on Yahoo board(from this month)that said that Sony is out of the picture and Fox will be releasing the Midnite Movie series. All may not be lost after all.

[–] cyborg264 18 years ago

Also, you don't need to buy the Apex DVD player to view various regions. Use the internet as it was meant to be. Take your dvd model number and look for a region free code. Many, not all, do have these codes and you're ready to watch.

R

[–] ttucker-12 18 years ago

Hmmm. Even with a region free code, I think the DVD has to support the PAL format. Doesn't it?

[–] Squonkamatic 18 years ago

Yes it does, and your lame VHS is showing the film in the correct 4:3 open matte ratio the movie was filmed in. ALL of the LBX transfers of this film are cropped on the top and bottom to simulate a theatrical aspect ratio. The movie is also featured in the Anchor Bay R2 Tigon Box collection, which also has BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW, though again both are cropped to a 1:85 ratio that eliminates picture info on the top and bottom. If you aren't going to frame a movie correctly, what is the point of releasing it at all.

[–] aufinger79 18 years ago

That is strange, I thought this was out on DVD because I have one. I copied it from the video tape that did not have a protected image. I would just love to sell copies but am very leery of those nasty old copyright infringement laws. Surely anyone with a good copy of "Conqueror Worm" on Orion Home Video can do as I did. I did not read all of the message board so maybe it's available now.

[–] raphael65 18 years ago

A few months ago, I bought a copy from an eBay seller in Brazil (atlantic-video). It is a region 0 DVD -- so it plays on North American machines. Although the title on the package is: "O Cacador de Bruxas" ("The Hunter of Witches" in Portuguese), it is the original American release version that is on the DVD. I did not even have to go into the menu and remove the Portuguese subtitles. Except for the chapter titles, you would swear that you were watching an MGM or other major studio release. Amazing picture quality and colour (and I am damn fussy!). In fact, there is one up for auction RIGHT now --for only $9.99 U.S.

[–] ldziub 18 years ago

Exactly, what is the point of a restoration without releasing a DVD? Makes absolutely no sense to me as well. I will definitely send be writing in. Thanks for posting.

[–] goldies97 18 years ago

Anything happening on this? I'm tired of my old VHS. Come on Sony!!

[–] wallacesawyer 18 years ago

Actually the movie is coming in through the new line MGM Midnite Movies in September, along with The Food of the Gods.

[–] Vang 18 years ago

"Exactly, what is the point of a restoration without releasing a DVD? Makes absolutely no sense to me as well. I will definitely send be writing in. Thanks for posting."

Actually, channels like TCM can play the restored version. I just watched Witchfinder General now and it was beautifully restored. TCM is showing The Pit and the Pendulum now and it is just as good a transfer as the Midnight Movies DVD so they much be getting the restorations. Oh if I only had a DVR tonight...

[–] traveljsm85 17 years ago

i got it recorded from a vhs to dvd when it came on a movie channel. it didn't have commercials so it's the whole thing!