DVD coming soon? - Wake in Fright (1971) Discussion

[–] jasong-8 19 years ago

I have heard rumour that the rights to this film have always been disputed.

I can only hope it sorts itself quckly, and we can all have access to one of Australia's best films.

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[–] leelee1969 19 years ago

The guy who made 'Wolf Creek' has just mentioned this film as an influence so maybe there's hope as its bound to gain new interest!

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[–] Oliver-50 19 years ago

I hope they release this on DVD sometime soon. Even an Australian import would be great!

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[–] rkroningi 19 years ago

If all of us who would like to see any particular film made available would bombard the rental sites and the cable channels with requests for them, perhaps it would help get them out. Surely, the powers that be need to know there is at least some interest in these older classics, given the tastes of the mass market audience these days.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] congo_bongo 19 years ago

I have one...not widescreen, *very* blurry (worse than VHS), the color is OK, and the shorter cut (not the 114 minute version). It looks and sounds like it came from a 16mm print, and a poor one at that. Better than nothing I suppose.

There was a story in the press last year that they found a whole bunch of film cans of Wake In Fright, marked for destruction. I'd been checking the Australian National Film and Sound Archive database for a couple of years - recently I noticed that they've added a number of new archive items, two copies of the original colour camera negative and the sound master negative.

So it appears they have the material. Why there isn't a DVD in the works is anyone's guess.

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[–] Oliver-50 19 years ago

Still no word on a DVD release of any kind. I keep voting on the film anywhere I can - Turnerclassicmovies.com is a good place to check it.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle needs to be released on DVD!

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[–] jentom 19 years ago

Add me to the list regarding a DVD release. Ebay has a listing for DVD copy which has come from the "public domain" but I fear that it will be the smae quality as mentioned previously "very blurry". Now that the negative has been found, let's get an official DVD release. If anyone has any news, I, along with many others would appreciate an update.

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[–] congo_bongo 19 years ago

I asked the Australian Film and Sound Archive about the status of Wake in Fright. There are no problems with the film elements, however the ownership is subject to some dispute, so until the courts resolve it they've been advised to deny access to the film. I guess it may take some time, BUT they indicated Tony Buckley hopes to get the DVD out sometime this year. A small light at the end of the tunnel!

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[–] jentom 19 years ago

Thanks Lemonski, that's great news! Have been waiting so long for this to come out for so long that to wait another 6 - 12 months is not so bad.

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[–] Oliver-50 18 years ago

Lemonski - you just made my day! Wake in Fright is regarded by many as the best Australian film ever made is more deserving of a DVD release than almost any other film I can think of. Yipee!

Straight Time needs to be released on DVD!

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[–] fossicker2000 18 years ago

I'm another waiting for this to be released on DVD. I remember seeing it many many years ago on TV.
It's a terrific film, and I want my own copy.

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[–] michaelmortlock 18 years ago

I managed to actualy see this film early last year at the Chauvel in Paddington, Sydney. It was the print they had found, and it had not been restored at all. It was such a great experience, and it was a fantastic Australian film.. but the print's condition was terrible. There was allot of dust/scratches through most of the two hours of film, and there was also many gaps and missing frames/burns.

This may be one of the reasons the DVD release is taking allot longer to be released, as the restoration process must be quite a large job.

Hope we get it soon! I can't wait to see it again!

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[–] maccauleyjoseph 18 years ago

I remember seeing it when it first came out; at the Ascot cinema, I think. This movie was terrific back in the day, as it really captured the "Aussie way". I will never forget Chips Rafferty, or the young Jack Thompson. Even as I write this post I can still almost smell the BO, feel the heat and taste the beer...how many movies give you this feeling 35 years later?

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[–] philipadams_ 18 years ago

Great comment. I only saw it for the first time last year but it also had a great affect on me. The atmosphere it created was so thick and realistic. Fantastic stuff, here is hoping for a DVD release soon.

Arrested Development > Everything Else

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[–] Possessed-like-a-Fish 18 years ago

I woul like to see it too. I have never seen it, and all Australian's films should be in Widescreen (The Outback in Widescreen is amazing).

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[–] jentom 18 years ago

Below is an extract from Wikipedia. Last sentence is of particular interest:

As of April 2007 Wake in Fright has not been released in video or DVD format.

For many years the only known print of Wake In Fright, found in Dublin in the 1990s, was of insufficient quality to transfer to DVD or video. In reaction to this, in 1994, Wake in Fright’s editor Anthony Buckley began to search for a better quality print of the film. In 2004, in Pittsburgh, Buckley found a print of Wake in Fright in a shipping container labelled “For destruction”. The film has since been restored by the Australian National Film and Sound Archive and is scheduled for re-release at the 2007 Sydney Film Festival ahead of a release on DVD.

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[–] roadkill-27 18 years ago

Lets hope so

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[–] Possessed-like-a-Fish 17 years ago

It defiently wasn't shown at the Sydney Film Festival in 2007. When the hell can we watch this.

I found a website that is selling it on DVD-R, but the quality is meant to be awful and it's edited. If I don't hear about a release any time soon, I'll buy it off that website.

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[–] congo_bongo 17 years ago

The quality is very bad, looks like a 20 year old VHS copy. And it's definitely the shorter edited version, despite what they say on the website and DVD-R label.

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[–] bazza_mckenzie02 17 years ago

I've heard about how tops this film was ever since I was a nipper, I've only ever seen clips. Hopefully one day it'll come out on dvd in Australia.

has anyone got a copy from this mob?

http://www.superhappyfun.com/forsale.cfm?whereme=1258

if they have what quality is it n cut or uncut.?

Thanks!

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[–] jentom 17 years ago

I bought the DVD from Superhappyfun and the quality is bad. Looks like it's a copy of an old VHS version and it's the cut one. Still, it's all that seems to be out there. I suspect that versions one sees on eBay from time to time are the same ones.

I'm hoping the restoration is almost finished and that an official release happens soon as has been rumoured.

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[–] puirt-a-beul 17 years ago

I've just checked the Oz Film and Sound Archive website and there's no mention of the movie at all that I could find, beyond a public screening that took place at the Chauvel (over in Paddington) in 2001.

No suggestion of it being restored or transferred to DVD -- if it was happening, you'd think they'd say something about it, wouldn't you?
Or am I expecting too much?

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

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[–] jentom 17 years ago

Reply from NFSA (National Film and Sound Archive) that I got from my email in December 2007 enquiry Re: restoration project and DVD release:

" the restoration of Wake in Fright continues and I am told that it
should see the light of day sometime in 2008.
Regards. David."

Fingers cossed!!!!

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[–] puirt-a-beul 17 years ago

Absolutely, jentom!

Many thanks indeed for the update. Cheers.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Oliver-50 17 years ago

That is awesome news jentom! Thank you for the update!

"That is the whitest white part of the eye I have ever seen; do you floss?"

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[–] jentom 17 years ago

You're welcome! Good to see there's another fan out there waiting for this great film to re-surface.

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[–] pinch_of_hope 17 years ago

Can't wait! It'll be my most anticipated DVD release along side "The Devils".

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[–] jentom 17 years ago

Yes, I have a copy of the Devils which I got from eBay which is rather good but not "official". Wake in Fright will be cause for celebration when it's finally released and a legacy Donald "Doc Tydon" Pleasence!

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[–] ftyphoon 16 years ago

What is the difference between the cut and uncut version’s?
The infamous kangaroo scene is here
Brought a copy from a shop in US on DVD-R, the quality of disc is terrible to say the least, but as it is said beggars’ can’t be choosers

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[–] splendidSheSaid 17 years ago

Do they still play this on tv.

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[–] jentom 17 years ago

Not to my knowledge, I don't think it's been on TV since about 20-25 years ago. I seem to remember the 0-10 Network (in Melbourne) used to have it on every now and then. Once I think it was introduced by Bill Collins.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] bazza_mckenzie02 17 years ago

http://www.learmedia.ca/product_info.php/products_id/114

is that the same dvd\video as the super happy one?

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[–] bazza_mckenzie02 17 years ago

Got a reply from screen sound Australia about Wake In Fright on dvd.

"Thank you for your email. There is a copyright dispute surrounding this film at the moment. An Australian company and an international company have been fighting over DVD rights for several years. Once the issues has been settled the successful party is likely to release the film on DVD. Until that time we're unfortunately unable to provide you with a copy"

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[–] congo_bongo 17 years ago

What a schemozzle. Frankly, I can't see Wake in Fright selling that many copies on DVD to be worth fighting over the rights.

Either Screen Sound or the Australian Government just need to put up the money and buy out the rights, so the public can see the film. It's pathetic really, but what would you expect from an Australian government body. I mean, god forbid anyone see a film that paints anything Australian as less than perfect.

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[–] bazza_mckenzie02 17 years ago

does anyone know what's missing from the 97 min dubbed copy that's floating around the internet.

And has anyone bought a copy of the wake in fright\outback dvd from this mob?Or any dvd from them before?

http://www.learmedia.ca/product_info.php/products_id/114

They have it listed as the 114 mins version, I sent them an a email about picture quality and they said it's a "clear but soft print"

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[–] congo_bongo 17 years ago

I bought it from learmedia.ca, it looks like it was copied from a bad VHS tape. Very poor quality - "clear but soft print" is a bit kind - but considering there aren't any alternatives it might be your only choice.

It's definitely the 97 minute version, not the 114 minute one. I emailed them about this and they ignored me. I'm assuming the cuts are as described on imdb, I've never seen the 114 min. version.

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[–] bazza_mckenzie02 16 years ago

I got so tired of waiting for them to release the film on dvd ,i went to the library and got the book the film's based on. Now i'd dying to see how the book and film compare.

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[–] Diabolik6 16 years ago

Well, It is showing at the Library of Congress tomorrow!

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[–] splendidSheSaid 16 years ago

Someone is selling a copy of this on EBAY.not many details but it's from the U.k

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[–] bazza_mckenzie02 16 years ago

I've been waiting for ages for news on a dvd release of wake In Fright, and came across this info at

http://www.nfsa.gov.au/about_us/corporate/harradine/september_harradine_report.html

08/0922 Wake in Fright - Madman Entertainment - Theatrical and DVD release of Restored Print

don't know what it means but fingers crossed madman are going to bring it out, i'll email them and the nfsa and see what the go is.

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[–] bunty0 16 years ago

The restored version of Wake in Fright will have it international premiere at Cannes on May 15 as part of the Cannes Classics program.

It is the first Australian film to be invited back to Cannes.

The film will have its Australian Premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on June 13, followed by a screening in Arc (NFSA Canberra) on June 17.

A commercial season will begin mid June with regional screenings through Big Screen later in the year.

The DVD will be launch in mid November.

**I just realised I forgot to note that these are somebody else's (edited) statements. That also explains why the whole thing seems stilted.**

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[–] splendidSheSaid 16 years ago

There is a story in this months FILMINK mag in Australia.No set date but things are ready to go.

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[–] jackson_bay_mystery 16 years ago

I just found this:

http://www.afi.org.au/AM/ContentManagerNet/HTMLDisplay.aspx?ContentID= 4867&Section=NFSA_Feature

"Work on the restoration of the classic Australian film Wake in Fright (1971) continues with a likely re-release in 2009."

No words on a DVD release, though.

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[–] bradjanet 16 years ago

The legal battles have been sorted and the restored film is to be re-released in Australian cinemas soon ... an official DVD should follow.

But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.

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[–] canedust 15 years ago

http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=11932&meth od=view

End of June. Can't wait.

It's because they're stupid, that's why. That's why everyone does everything.

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[–] bradjanet 15 years ago

In 1968 I was sent to teach in an outback town in N.S.W. Australia, I was sent to an annexe away from the main school, on the edge of town.

When I saw this film, it hit me like a freight train ...it was not popular with Australian audiences ... but by God it was near enough to the stark truth... people said it was a false, shocking portrait of outback Australia of the period ... I say it was only slightly exaggerated.

But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.

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[–] jentom 15 years ago

That's the date for the cinema release (Nova, Melbourne).

I believe the DVD will be released later this year, exact date not known.

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[–] puirt-a-beul 15 years ago

It's a pity that most of the key actors are no longer with us, to appear in extra features on the DVD release. Even Gary Bond has gone.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

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