WHEN DINOSAURS come to DVD?


With Hammer Films' ONE MILLION YEARS BC now on DVD, and since Warner Bros. have released THE BLACK SCORPION, VALLEY OF GWANGI and THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, it would be nice to see Warner release this (and THE GIANT BEHEMOTH) to DVD as well. Maybe they could even make it a Hammer double feature and pair it with MOON ZERO TWO. Hammer titles seem to be doing well on DVD for Warner, MGM and Anchor Bay.... There was a promotional featurette shown in theatres for WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH, taking us on location and behind the scenes, as well as letting us have a look at Victoria Vetri, which would make an excellent extra. (This pops up on a number of trailer compilations for dinosaur and Hammer Films.) In addition, there was several minutes of footage cut from this for U.S. release in order to get a tamer rating. Since Warner Bros. recently released Hammer's TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA to DVD, with additional footage for that film (cut for American distribution for the same reason), there's no reason why Warner could not give the same treatment to this Jurassic classic. Maybe stop-motion animator Jim Danforth could even provide commentary on the DVD. The effects expert has long been overlooked and underappreciated.

reply

I hope when they do release this on DVD, it would have Vettri's nude scenes in it.
ROWR!!

reply

Non-nudity, yet nice Japanese transfer on eBay...

reply

I still have the American version, from when they aired it on AMC (back when AMC was still good). If an uncut version ever becomes available, I'll be in line to snatch it up. I'm surprised this isn't available in the UK, either.

By the by, did anyone know that David Allen, one of the stop motion directors on this, created test footage for an aborted Hammer/King Kong project?

No, no, no, don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to.

reply

I would really like to see thie movie on DVD. If they released One Million Years BC, why not this one? The cavewomen in this movie are much hotter! And the stop motion is great too.

reply

[deleted]

Does anyone have any idea if a legitimate dvd release of this movie is being planned?

reply

I simply don't understand the fuss about the nude scenes, particularly today! There are FAR worse movies freely available out there (and i don't mean the porno ones) I just don't see the big deal with this movies nudity. It is long overdue for release and has some of the best stop motion ever put on film. I desperatly would love the have an official release of this so WARNER PULL YER FINGERS OUT!

Marc

reply

I've seen pics of the nude scenes, and they don't look offensive at all. it's just eyecandy, nothing more. But I would like to see them on the DVD. A 2-disc special edition would be great.

reply

How about a rated and an unrated version?



Dream big. Live the life.

reply

Still no word of a dvd release.Anybody know when it's happening?

reply

No. I just hope it will be happening at all. If they released One Million Years Bc, they really should release this as well.

Just be patient I guess.

reply

they should bring When dinosaurs ruled the earth to DVD

have it released singal, n rated versions n all
then release it with one million bc
a double dvd

thev donbe that wit movies, 2 in one, and five

reply

Still not on DVD...

...But Monsters HD recently aired it uncut (nude scenes intact) and it looked great.

No, no, no, don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to.

reply

What's Monsters HD? Was there other new material besides the nude scenes (which I would love to see of course)?

reply

Monsters HD is part of Dish Network's HD line up (that they purchased from the defunct Voom). You can check it out here: http://www.monstershd.com/

The nude scenes (there's a bit with one of the other cavegirls) were the only thing that I noticed being different, so I'm not sure if there was any additional dino action. I don't think there was.

It just so happens they're airing it again on March 4th and 5th.

No, no, no, don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to.

reply

Interesting. A shame I can't watch that channel, since I live in the Netherlands and don't have access to American channels.

Thanks anyway. I'll just hope for the DVD release some more.

reply

You would think with the increasingly massive interest in Hammer films (two books released recently on the history of the studio and numerous websites)that the film companies would be trawling through their back catalogues to release Hammer products. So ,i ask again, Warner bros. get your finger out and give this dino/stop motion classic an official dvd release!!!

reply

I think people are more interested in the Hammer horror movies. This is more fantasy.

But it deserves a DVD release anyway.

reply

It gets a huge mention in the book 'Hammer Films-the elstree studios years' by Wayne Kinsey. Just wish they would release it, the stop motion is superb,and with all the bootlegged copies for sale someone is obviously making money that warner bros. could be getting, so it makes sound financial sense.

reply

With the stellar cut playing on Monsters HD, I can't see why they're not. Seems they have 3/4ths the work already done, with a digital transfer. Tack on some extras and you've got a DVD.

No, no, no, don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to.

reply

Anybody know a good website where we can complain about this not being on DVD? I've seen such a site for TV series (I lobbyed for Star Trek: The Animated Series there, along with a lot of other people, and now it's on DVD. It's probably not because of us, but it made me feel good anyway), but I'm not sure whether there's a movie equivalent.

reply

Warner Bros. owns the distribution rights.

No, no, no, don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to.

reply

That's not what I asked.

reply

Oh...sorry...I thought you might be wanting to petition the company itself.

You could try www.petitionspot.com or www.petitiononline.com

No, no, no, don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to.

reply

Thanks. But I'm too lazy. I never start petitions. I only support them like the hypocritic bastard I am. But it's nice to know such sites exist for those people who actually care enough about something to stop whining and do stuff about it.

reply

Well , The Giant Behemoth has finally been pencilled in for a dvd release in June,so maybe we can now expect this other dino classic to be released by Warners in the very near future, as this would also be regarded as a camp classic in certain circles.Keep up the good work, Warner Bros!

reply

Cool! I need to get that one too. Any interesting special features? Is it the full length movie or the edited version?

It probably won't be released in Holland though...

reply

A commentary by Dennis Muren on The Giant Behemoth

reply

Really?! That's cool! Not something you would expect for such a movie.

reply

[deleted]


Oh God, here we go again with the "religious right is controlling Hollywood" bullcrap. Can't we ever keep anything on topic? Oh yes, conservatives are running Hollywood. Not everyone is as clueless as you are. Yet you have to turn a discussion about a fun cavewoman/dinosaur flick from 1970 into an angry political rant which ends in you accusing people you disagree with with promoting child molestation.

Nice, really nice.

When you come down from your acid trip, you will once again realize that LIBERALS run Hollywood nowadays. Big revelation! That's why there are no Arabic terrorists and so much criticism of the War on Terror in Hollywoodland. The reason we no longer get any boobies or sex in Hollywood is because of extreme feminist political correctness. You just have to be blind not to see that.

Religious groups had much more influence on culture in the 60s and 70s. Yet we had much nudity back then. And there was no nudity and sex in feature films throughout the Clinton years either. So you obviously don't know anything about history.

Besides, you never see politicians saying that the government needs to interfere, and that's because the ratings system works and it is policed well enough by the MPAA (which has nothing to do with the government). Everyone knows the R from the PG, etc.

How many times do you see online liberal geeks complaining about how Hollywood "objectifys" women by focusing on their bodies? You never see many people complaining about it because it's against their religion.

The women in today's Hollywood act just like men. They are as strong as men, and are all just as tough in action scenes. In the meantime the men have become all pretty boys. It's called androgyny. Because classifying men and women into two different behavioral patterns is "sexist", because according to modern political correctness men and women are exactly alike and if you don't show them to be exactly alike then you are just showing an evil stereotype.

I think the women are tough in WDRTE, but they are also very glamorous and effeminate. And one of them is a shhhh....Playboy Playmate!

It's called POLITICAL CORRECTNESS goofball. And these are Hollywood's politics we are playing with here. Don't go blaming Hollywoods strange views of the world on Middle America. That just isn't fair to anyone, and you're not going to fix anything in Hollywood by not holding *them* responsible for the movies they make.

Anyway, we've seen many nudity filled movies from the 70s released on DVD throughout this decade. This movie doesn't have that much nudity anyway, so why you're using this for your crusade against the establishment, I don't know.

The reason it hasn't been released is because there is only so much demand for this type of movie because this type of movie isn't so popular anymore because modern Hollywood has convinced us that it is wrong to be entertained by beautiful women walking around in next to nothing for a whole movie. They don't make movies like this anymore. Because if you're looking at her boobs, then you're not thinking of her brain. Blahblahblah. All their women are just skin and bones and silicone and wouldn't look that great anyway.

This is all anal Hollywood's decision, not the evil, child molesting, war mongering Republicans. You can't blame Republicans and Christians for all the problems in the world.

reply

[deleted]

Agreed.

It probably won't happen though. I think if it gets released, it will be the edited movie only, no extra features or anything.

reply

Come on, give this movie a dvd release!!!

reply

Yeah!!!

reply

I don't think an American president or the US Congress or the religious evangelists have anything to do with the content or release of 99.9999999% of any films on DVD. It all comes down to the profit expectations by the film's potential distributor. Unfortunately, we fans of Hammer's films are rabidly loyal but we are still a very small minority of the potential DVD buying public in the minds of most American companies. Some previous Hammer releases with bigger names involved have not been robustly successful (financially) even though they were warmly received by us loyal fans. Petitions, letters, e-mails, heighten public awareness of the demand for these titles will all help to provoke fully uncut versions on DVD. Good luck.

Derek Ho

reply

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]

I agree being 25 & a huge Stop-Motion Fan. This Sci-Fi Classic is long overdue on DVD. The Giant Behemoth (1959) already came out this past June 26, 2007 even though The Audio Commentary Track with Effects Experts Dennis Muren & Phil Tippet isn't all as good as it should. It has the trailer & otherwise got great treatment with The Ferry Boat Sequence intact that was missing in The old Warner VHS. On that VHS The U.K. Version was released which they cut that sequence out of their version so. The U.S. Version which was released first runs 79 mins. & 40 some seconds clocking to almost 80 mins. I am guessing more scenes were cut with the neck & head atop water shots cause that whole Ferry Boat Sequence couldn't have been 9 mins. & 40 some seconds. I have yet to watch The U.K. Version which I have on DVDR & got a while back. Anyway back to When Dinosaurs Warner needs to put it out on DVD I have The Pan & Scan Version 1.33:1 U.S. Version which runs 96 mins. I also have an Extended Version in 1.66:1 Widescreen which I got on eBay last year & it also includes the trailer. Still I don't think it's The Director's Cut cause it is missing Victoria Vetri's nude scenes. But it runs 99 mins. 3 mins. longer then The U.S. Cut Version. The Director's Cut which I am guessing it runs 100 some mins. The one I have plus Miss Vetri's Nude Scenes that version needs to be released on DVD. Yes an Audio Commentary by Jim Danforth would be awsome afterall it has some of the best Stop-Motion Sequences ever. Danforth also won his well deserved Oscar for it. Too bad Val Guest died last year cause he should be on the audio commentary with Danforth. Unless just maybe they recorded a commentary with Danforth & Val Guest before he died I don't know Guest died at age 95 he lived to be pretty old so. He is on the Audio Commentary for the top rate British Sci-Fi Classic "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" (1961) DVD from Anchor Bay & it is a great commentary he remembers alot for being 90 years old. Great stuff! Also that was one of the first Audio Commentaries I ever heard on a DVD. I wouldn't count on that they recorded an Audio Commentary for this with Guest & Danfoth it would been nice though. The next opition would be Victoria Vetri & Jim Danforth on the audio commentary track with maybe Patrick Allen too. I don't know how good that would go with Actors & a Special Effects Expert. Even just Jim Danforth alone on an audio commentary track would be well deserved. The Original Theatrical Trailer. A Video Interview with Jim Danforth. Image Galleries. Also if there are any T.V. Spots add those. Also some nice Stop-Motion Test Footage. Warner Home Video will probably issue it on DVD which I don't know when though. I doubt all those extras will happen. At least the trailer a video interview & an audio commentary would be nice all with Danforth. If u ask me they should load it up with extras. Too bad it's 30th Anniversary already passed in 2000. Cause it should of been released by Warner then with a 30th Anniversary Treatment. If they wait till 20010 they could release it for it's 40th Ann. It should of been released in 2005 for it's 35th Anniversary if u ask me it's long overdue. The Black Scorpion (1957) another Stop-Motion Sci-Fi Classic was released by Warner on DVD & loaded up with nice extras. I really don't wanna wait till 20010 for this to come out on DVD. So even a Special Edition loaded with extras would be nice. Any day now Warner Home Video.

reply

I agree, we've waited too long for this movie on dvd!

reply

Wish they'd get a move on- with another upcoming extensive release of more movies from Hammer's back catalogue it is a constant source of bemusement to me why it hasn't been released yet. I would say it's probably one of their best known movies.

reply

Almost 3 1/2 years after the first posting, still no DVD release of WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH (WDRTE). I dusted off my laserdisc copy of this movie (bought at a now-gone Tower Records store) and made a DVD-R copy. Watching the movie, I can see why Warners has hesitated to release it, talk about cheapness. The color is washed out, the make-up budget's main item must have been peroxide so there would be blonde cavewomen and Jim Danforth's stop motion animation looks rushed.

It is too bad there is not a DVD release of this movie with voice over commentary by Victoria Vetri. But this movie does not hold a candle to One Million Years B.C. Even with no dialogue, almost no costumes or sets, a has been director (Val Guest) at the helm and a visual effects guy working with a low budget, it is still hard to see how WDRTE could have turned out worse. In repeating the raft rescue scene at the start with a similar raft escape scene at the end, Guest may have thought he was being budget minded, maximizing the rental cost of the water tank (probably in Malta) used to film these scenes. Guest was just being consistent, by 1969 he was a hack director so worried about being replaced by someone competent that he was more concerned with Hammer's bean counters than with making a quality product.

I can't get over how bad the Technicolor looked on this picture compared to One Million Years B.C., even on a 500 line laserdisc source. Before Warners releases this movie on DVD it will have to spend a chunk of money on a digital intermediate transfer, so it can correct all the color timing errors.

reply

One Million Years BC and WDRTE are on the same level story and FX wise to me. But thanks for your technical info, it might explain why we've not been given a DVD release (yet).

reply

Warner Bros. celebrate their 85th anniversary next year. Is it too much to ask that along with the slew of classic releases they will be putting onto dvd that thay release some of the more quirky examples of their back catalogue, for example, this movie? Here's hoping!

reply

Good news! Someone put the entire movie on Youtube (in parts though), and it's the uncut version too! Now we can at least see the movie (and the nudity). It's not as good as a DVD, but an adequate substitute.

reply

How do we all go about organising an online petition for the dvd release?

reply

Dunno...

reply

No need for a petition; it hits Region 1 DVD tomorrow, paired with Hammer's MOON ZERO TWO, as a Best Buy exclusive.

reply

Wow! Any pics of the DVD? Extra features? Uncut version?

Need more info!

reply