MovieChat Forums > Last Summer (1969) Discussion > DVD Campaign to Warners-Need Help Now!!!

DVD Campaign to Warners-Need Help Now!!!

posted 16 years ago by Ziegfeldman
16 replies | jump to latest

Warners is having a very big year in celebration of its 85th anniversary. So please take a look here http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=12039

The time is really ripe to get a massive letter writing campaign to George Feltenstein at Warners on behalf of "Last Summer," and I hope to have your help and other IMDB people.

Here are some salient points regarding a DVD restoration and release:

(1) Besides the Key Video edition that is always on Ebay, I have another edition which I think is Lorimar. I don't have the original box, but the label doesn't have the info. Regardless-it doesn't matter. The two editions are identical. The "cable" version which I taped off of STARZ is the worst of all-completely butchered. I believe there is a laserdisc version, I don't have it, but it's undoubtedly the same.

(2) Here are the edits that I found which are definitely looped if you watch carefully.

--Towards the beginning (after the bird is picked up off the beach)

Sandy: Watch him I'll be right back
Dan: How old?
Peter: She's just a kid
Dan: Talks older. How can you tell if it's a male or female? (re: the bird)
HERE'S the EDIT:
Peter: Oh, males have pr**ks, same as you and me.
In looking at the tape, I'm not sure what word is substituted, but the loop is there.

---In the "bird training" scene when the bird bites Sandy

Sandy: Isn't that something? Isn't he brilliant?
He's trained....THE BIRD PECKS HER....Oh, you *beep* idiot.

Again, probably looped to "frigging." Hard to tell, but watch her lips.

_____In the "escape" scene as they leave the drunken Anibal

1st Boy: Hey, there's long legs!
Sandy: Stop them, Annabelle, they're after Rhoda!
Peter: Come on!
Rhoda: Help! Someone help!

GENERAL AD LIBS OF CONFUSION

Dan: Shut up, we don't want the cops!
Sandy: You *beep* idiot!
Peter: Let's get out of here.

Sandy's line is heard offscreen as "Friggin'"

The biggest problem is the infamous "rape scene" which is really a masterpiece of editing, but what was edited out? I don't know.

Well, I am glad to go through the trouble of putting this together, since as we all get older, a forty year old classic becomes more distant.

"Last Summer," for those who remember, for those who have only heard of it, deserves a proper restored DVD treatment.

I will never forget the look on Richard Thomas' face as they leave the beach. The whole movie is in that look.

George has this on the back burner. I read that in a fairly recent live chat with Warners, but he is interested. He told me himself, as I was lucky enough to get him on the phone in 2005. I've sent him all this info, plus some brief deleted dialogue, not racy, from the beach scene between Peter and Rhoda. Why that was removed, I can't imagine.

As I said, the time is ripe for a big push--will you help me?

Please leave your posts here, show me your interest, and let's get something finally going.

Thank you

[–] avtiger 16 years ago

GJD...would love for "Last Summer" and "Red Sky at Morning" to be available on DVD. Both these movies star Richard Thomas. I wrote Warner Bros. explaining that i would appreciate if they could release these films on DVD but never received a reply.

[–] Ziegfeldman 16 years ago

Avtiger:

Momentum is building. I met Robert Osborne (TCM) the other night at a screening and pitched "Last Summer" to him and gave him a video copy to refresh his memory. His help will be invaluable and very much appreciated. I may get a formal petition going as well.

In the meantime, I appreciate your help and everyone elses.

Please resend your letter to

Mr. George Feltenstein
Warner Home Video, Inc.
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522

He is the man!!

Thanks

[–] avtiger 16 years ago

GDJ...i will surely mail a letter to Mr. Feltenstein very soon. Thank you for the address. By the way, are you also fond of another Richard Thomas movie called "Red Sky at Morning"? This is another flick that has never been on VHS or DVD. A formal petition sounds like a very good idea. It is amazing how some very good films from yesteryear are placed on the shelf and forgotten.

Thanks again.

Avtiger

[–] miriamwebster 16 years ago

I saw this movie numerous times during its original 1969 release and it was then rated X (although policing of underage customers became considerably more lax when it hit second-run drive-ins).

Interesting that you mention those specific pieces of blurred dialog because my friends and I were never able to make out exactly what the actors were saying, even during its initial theatrical run. (The muffled line about the bird's genitals, in particular, invariably caused someone to remark "What'd he say?") It sounded to me that they'd bleeped the line before it was even released.

In early 1980,a Phoenix television station ran the movie during a late-night movie slot; I was amazed to discover it was an unedited print, complete with nudity and the entire rape scene intact. Still wonder how that got by.

[–] Ziegfeldman 16 years ago

Hi Miriam:

Thank you for your response. I never saw the X-rated version, only the R rated in 1969 (just once) and the same version on VHS which does have the nudity and a fairly graphic rape scene. I've read that for the R version, besides the bleeped words, the rape scene was altered, but in no way can I tell. I cannot see how it could be any more graphic or disturbing.

X or R really doesn't matter to me, as long as the film makes it to DVD.

You are one of the very few people I've encountered who have a lasting impression of the film FROM its initial release.

So, please, if you can take a few moments, tell me what this film means to you today. This will definitely help in the DVD campaign.

My point of view is that this film is entirely plausible-kids on any beach at any time. Each character is multifaceted and fascinating. The look on Peter's face at the conclusion has stayed with me all these years. This film must be seen.

Please let me hear from you.

Thanks

[–] haristas 16 years ago

My father took me to this movie when it first came out. Saw it on Long Island and I remember that the story took place there too. I was only ten-years-old but I guess my father thought I could handle it. I don't recall being shocked by it, just not understanding the meanness of some of the characters. Anyway, writing letters is good because then there's something physical in the offices of these places that has to, even in the slightest way, be paid attention to, but it'll be a time before I can get around to sending a letter. In the meantime, isn't there any email address for Warner Home Video where requests for titles can be made. Also TCM may be interested in showing this movie and you can request it on their website.

[–] Oliver-50 16 years ago

I saw this movie a few years back and fell in love with it. I rented the 'R' rated Key Video release which was still pretty potent, so I'm not picky if it's the R or X version; I just want a DVD of it! I too will write to George at Warner Bros! I've also requested TCM show it and put my name down for a DVD release.

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

[–] PaulLondon 16 years ago

I'm with you! Time this little gem of a film was rediscovered.

[–] Ziegfeldman 16 years ago

Hi Paul:

Many Thanks for your interest! Not much going on in this campaign although it would help to spread the word, give some thoughts on why the film is so important to you HERE, and definitely contact George Feltenstein at Warners. On a positive note, the film is listed on DVDSAVANT.com "Wish List"-great site if you've never seen it. This tends to make things happen. Tenacity does pay off. This is going to happen. Many more obscure titles have come to DVD. "Last Summer" was a seminal film of it's time and, yes, is a gem. We NEVER give up!!

Thanks

[–] preppy-3 16 years ago

Hey GDJ

I'm sending a letter out also. I mentioned this earlier in another post on this board but...
I've never seen this in an R OR X version! It was a dreadfully edited TV print. Plenty of lines were bleeped out and the rape (a key scene) was cut completely (you HEARD it but didn't see it). It would be great if TCM showed it but don't hold your breath. It was a Warner Bros. movie and TCM is mostly MGM. Still they did show obscure flicks like "The Love Machine" and "Once Is Not Enough" so who knows?

[–] Ziegfeldman 16 years ago

Hi Preppy-3

Thanks for your reply-check out my posts on the thread "Why was it rated X" I know the TV print you are talking about; it's dreadful, I saw it on STARZ. I did substantial research on this film and you'll see the differences between the X and R except for perhaps a few seconds that were omitted from the rape scene which cannot make it any less brutal. That's only my opinion, I've only seen the R. It's worth buying the out-of-print Key Video VHS on Ebay-that's the R.

I met Robert Osborne last winter and handed him a VHS copy of the tape (and followed it up with a letter) to, perhaps expedite things, but no reply. TCM and Warners are really all part of the same comapany, Time-Warner,etc, that's why all of the DVD's that TCM promotes are all Warners...and that is exactly why I wanted Osborne in the loop. "Last Summer" is actually an Allied Artists film, but Warners owns the whole Allied library.

Feltenstein is a good man...the real problem may be that the elements of the film may need extensive restoration. Only a guess.

Your writing a letter is a very good move.

Thank you

GDJ

[–] MuzikJunky 14 years ago

Hopefully the Criterion Collection will do something. Peace.

The everyday happens every day.

[–] Nova_UB313 15 years ago

Twice a year I make my rounds to see whether or not some films have finally made it to DVD, unfortunately this one is still one of those that hasn't made the cut. Dammit!

More science, less fiction.

[–] Ziegfeldman 15 years ago

Hi Nova UB313:

Welcome to the cause:

"whether or not some films have finally made it to DVD"--c'mon, we don't wait for that to happen, we make it happen. A brilliant "How The West Was Won" was one of the 2008 DVD highlights. Warners worked on that project for ten years. It was Mr. Feltenstein's baby. So go a few posts back, drop him a line and tell him you want "Last Summer." Restored, commentary, the works,...tell him about the first time you saw it and what it means to you. The tribe is growing!!

Happy New Year

[–] freudified_n_funkified 15 years ago

Anybody looking for this needs to keep watching www.warnerarchive.com. They're doing something really cool by offering up their old movies on DVD or download. Last Summer's not part of their catalog as of yet, but definitely request it there - since they're releasing a lot of their old stuff that hasn't seen a proper DVD release, direct from the site, made to order.

They seem to be slow rolling the movies out of the vaults, but it's a pretty brilliant idea I hope every studio jumps on -- making these leser known, less popular movies available when there isn't a market for big pressings. Everything is apparently cleaned up and in it's original aspect ratio. No extras or anything, but paying $20 for a new DVD is a lot better than coughing up 50 bucks for a used VHS. Hopefully Last Summer is on it's way.

[–] harry44mag 14 years ago

Hi,
I contacted Warner Archive last night & Also followed them on Twitter.I requested the uncut version , they gave me the impression that they are fully aware of the volume of support for this movie.so it seems it's all down to you that this is finally going to be released WELL DONE!!!