I was doing a presentation on this film for my Uni class and someone from my group called the film company and they said they are re-releasing this film in 2007 for its 30 year anniversary. I can't wait. I loved this film!
shareThat's great news! Thanks for posting.
shareThe disco songs on the soundtrack must cost a fortune to license these days, which is probably what made Paramount reticent about releasing a DVD in the past - coupled with their general laziness in regard to their older films. I really hope that we see a DVD sometime in 2007.
"We find ourselves like a hollow glass globe, from the emptiness of which - a voice speaks."
I love the soundtrack--I hope we don't get it released with generic "ba bum" beat music instead.
Still--it's pretty ridiculous such a well known title is still not on DVD so any release is good I guess
I am so glad to hear this news! I have been waiting for years. Thank you for the information.
shareIt's about time. I have been looking forward to seeing this movie again for years.
sharePlease let me know when it has been released. I´d love to see this film again. I saw it only back in the late 70s!
shareCool, i don't have to use my vhs copy again after the dvd comes out.
shareIt's 2009 and there's still no DVD. What happened?
A sociolpath is a moralist without an excuse.
I read that the primary factor holding back the film's release is licensing issues with the music. They don't want to supplant the original soundtrack with generic songs nor do they want to shell out the beaucoup bucks required for the rights to the soundtrack. So it's just sitting in distribution limbo.
shareI think the licensing issues make sense. Goodbar has one of the best soundtracks ever, IMO. As a disco soundtrack, it is near perfect, even better than Saturday Night Fever, I think. Songs like Love Hangover by Diana Ross and Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston (both from Motown Records), Lowdown by Boz Scaggs, Backstabbers from the O'Jays and the Donna Summer songs obviously would not come cheap, since they were all big hits back in the day and have become enduring classics.
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They should have paid for the rights to the soundtrack. Why do you think studios get so cheap when the music was amazing and added so much to the movie. I can't believe that people would not want to produce the DVD of this movie that firstly was directed by the extremely talented Richard Brooks who did "In Cold Blood","Sweet Bird of Youth" and "Elmer Gantry" to name a few.
It starred Richard Gere in a role that started to catapult him to superstardom. Diane Keaton won her Academy Award the year before for Annie Hall and had many amazing movies ahead of her after this, Tuesday Weld, Tom Berenger, William Atherton, Richard Kiley...such a fine cast. I lived in NYC during this time so it is a very timely and scary important movie for me. I have the VHS that I've never opened and assume I can have this transferred to DVD, but I think it would be incredible to have this backed by a studio with extras and commentaries. I know the subject matter is disturbing, but there are movies out on DVD incredibly more disturbing than this. Did they not think they would make a fortune releasing it on DVD? I can't imagine this DVD not being a blockbuster, unless someone like Diane Keaton does not want to see this released now that she has children. She's not the type of person who would just do it for the money, so maybe that's the holdup.
One of Diane Keaton's finest dramatic hours. If they can't make it with the original soundtrack then they should not even bother. The music was so integral that it would be getting a second hand product. I am just grateful that although I don't even have my VCR anymore I have the unopened tape and something told me to keep it. Now I just have to find a place to have it converted which shouldn't be too difficult.
What a silly reason to hold back the DVD distribution of such a good film! Such idiotic TV shows and movies have made it to DVD, yet LFMG can't get released because of issues with the soundtrack?! Unbelievable! I am truly disappointed to hear this.
Bitch about the greedy music rights companies, NOT the movie company or the other movies that it releases.
shareI found a good copy on VHS on E-Bay. The tape was released in 2000. What I don't get is DVDs were becoming the hot item back then, I don't know why they did not release it at that time. If it was on VHS, the music is all original, why couldn't Paramount put on DVD then? I don't think we'll ever see this on DVD or Blu Ray.
shareYour VHS was released in 2000? Is this a bootleg, by chance? I don't think there were any "official" VHS releases of this film since the '80s. Otherwise, the same music licensing issues would have been in effect.
shareThere was a VHS version released either in the late '90s or 2000 as the previous poster stated. The cover features Richard Gere and Diane Keaton on the cover, superimposed by a pic of Keaton alone. It was an official release. And I wonder, like the previous poster, why it wasn't also released on DVD since DVDs were becoming popular at the time.
shareThanks for the details. I thought my VHS was older, but it has a 1997 copyright, a bit before DVDs became all the rage. This is the cover, which is what you described:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2925698560/tt0076327
I wonder if the licensing issues could have been different for VHS and DVDs? I'm surprised that so many films from the '70s and '80s are released with their original soundtracks, but this one seems to be held up. I realize it may not be in as much demand as films like "Saturday Night Fever," but it would certainly have its audience, and the songs can't be that expensive – or can they?
What specifically are the songs that are holding it up? "Don't Leave Me This Way"? Hopefully not "Don't Ask to Stay Until Tomorrow," which fits this film perfectly and can't be that much in demand.
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When they *finally* come out with this DVD/Blu-ray, they'd better have all the bells and whistles on board to make up for the long wait! I want commentaries from the Director and stars (I have no real preference - whoever's available to give input on the movie), behind-the-scenes documentaries, production stills, trailers, everything.
Any time now, Paramount... *crosses fingers, hops from foot to foot* LOL!
I've never heard Diane Keaton do a commentary before. Maybe this will be the first.
shareI know that scheduling has a lot to do with which stars are able to make it to the recording studio, if any. The director is almost always there for commentary, and when the stars aren't available, they instead bring in people like the director of photography, the screenwriter, etc. Sometimes they even bring in the score's composer! It's rare, but it happens.
shareIt would be ridiculous to do the commentary without Keaton. Though I've rarely, if ever, heard her say anything even vaguely intelligent or interesting about any of her movies.
All she ever said about 'Goodbar' is that it embarassed her father or something like that.
but only for about a third...
must be paramount is cheap about the music rights as stated in other posts.
diane keaton would never hold up this release because of embarrassment.
the first vhs had the original poster, the second edition, "the controversial classic" used richard gere to good effect on that cover. both had all the music...so, i cannot fathom this holdup...
Well, I think the rights negotiations and contracts vary for different home video formats. The songs were cleared for release on VHS long before DVD even existed, and the movie has been available for streaming and it's been shown on TV. I wouldn't say that Paramount is being cheap. They aren't going to make a DVD unless they think it will make money -- DVD production is, after all, a business. A DVD of Looking for Mr. Goodbar would probably sell well, but it won't sell a million copies. If the music companies want so much money for the songs that it would prevent Paramount from profiting, then there isn't going to be a DVD. It's probably better to not release the film at all than to change the iconic soundtrack to generic music. Let's just hope somewhere down the line Paramount can negotiate a reasonable deal for the music and finally release this film ASAP.
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Having director Richard Brooks do a commentary might pose a bit of a challenge as he died in 92.
[insert very clever movie quote here]
Didn't know. Thanks for the info.
shareI believe the author of the book is still around though....whoops, no she died in 2005....if they are going to do it they might want to hurry up as the list of people who we would want to record a commentary track is rapidly dwindling.
There's always Steven Prince who provides some rather interesting and well informed tracks for Criterion.
[insert very clever movie quote here]
Widescreen, really? What kind of quality is it? Is it transferred from videotape? I assume it has no bonus features, right?
sharegawddamnit where's the friggin DVD?!?! all i have is this crappy vhs-quality torrent. thank god i have it though, otherwise i would never have seen this fantabulous flick featuring one of the most funkiest soundtracks of all time.
shareWhen are they bringing this out on region 2 dvd. It's an amazing film and I love it so much. I suppose it's too much to expect the soundtrack as welll...Any news?
shareHBO and Cinemax were showing this quite regularly about 4 years ago, and I happened to make a DVD copy. But I want to see WS, not the pan and scan of LfMGB. I gotta bad feeling this will never make it to DVD.
Last Movies Watched: A Hard Day's Night 8; Waitress 7; No Country for Old Men 9
Looks like the entire film is now streaming on the Netflix website. You can sign up for a free trial membership and watch it right now. However I cannot promise that it hasn't been edited or how/if they got around the soundtrack licensing rights for the digital media.
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Excellent. I think it was a very recent addition to their online collection or maybe I wasn't paying very good attention when I signed up :-)
share@ ubiquitousX
I don't think it's that you didn't notice...that it was available on Netflix "watch instantly" (online streaming). Netflix changes the availability of many of the watch instantly titles. I have learned that if you see something available, watch it while you can.
Patryk: So true about instant streaming on Netflix. I missed out on 2 great non DVD titles that are gone: "The Whisperers," and "Madame Sousatzka." So, this is what I am watching tonight!
The film is sadly no longer available on Netflix instant streaming... this can mean two things. Netflix has lost the rights to stream it (actually, this is probably correct on both counts), or Paramount is ready to announce the release (or a contractor is ready to announce its release). I hope Criterion gets it...
shareLooking for Mr. Goodbar is now available to view online via Amazon's Video on Demand:
http://www.amazon.com/Looking-for-Mr-Goodbar/dp/B0035LOIIQ
With my laptop's slow processor, though, these streaming movies look more like slideshows, so for me it's not worth the time or the three dollars. I really want a DVD release!
Kills me...I mean if Columbia can finally pony up for the music rights to Heavy Metal over fifteen years ago to get that film released on VHS, LD and eventually DVD then I'm sure Paramount can pay for the rights to a few* disco songs from the 70's....especially for a fairly well known and appreciated film like this.
* (I'm well aware that's it's more than just a few but the point still stands)
[insert very clever movie quote here]
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I´ve been waiting for the dvd for years as well... are they like NEVER going to do this or what? Can´t we sign some petition or something?
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good grief, this is ridiculous. all the crap they put out on DVD and they can't pony up a few bucks for licensing fees? exactly how much would the licensing cost? i come across this excuse all the time--are we talking millions of dollars? and i agree, don't blame the studios, its the tricked up music publishing folks.
shareIts not even available on instant anymore.
Kramer: ...he was very impressed with what I do.
Elaine: What you do? You don't do anything!
A similar thing happened with the release of the first season of WKRP in Cincinnati (one of my all-time favorites). They ended up releasing the dvd with awful canned music, replacing the familiar classics of the day. Whether they felt it wasn't in their budget or other reasons, they have yet to release subsequent seasons of the show. What frustrating hold-ups!
sharehttp://www.santaflix.com/loformrgo.html Yes, I bought it, and yes, it is a very good transfer with the original songs intact.
shareDoes it have a menu and is it better than vhs quality? Thinking about purchasing.
shareI really want to see this film again, but can't because it's not on DVD. Moreover, it's not even available to be seen via Netflix.
I am the Duke of IMDb bio writers! I am A#1!
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