MovieChat Forums > The Toolbox Murders (1978) Discussion > Problems with the Blue Underground DVD?

Problems with the Blue Underground DVD?

posted 19 years ago by BijouBob8mm
16 replies | jump to latest

Has anyone else experienced playback problems with the Region 1 DVD? Like their problem-plagued DVD release of CIRCUS OF FEAR (which there have been numerous complaints about), the end of the feature's credits start to break down into digital dots, the "I Got Nailed in the TOOLBOX MURDERS" featurette plays erratically during the final third, the radio spots do not always bring up the background art while playing, and the stills/poster gallery is almost impossible to navigate, with the previous image sometimes still taking up a section of the screen when the new image comes on. There are no physical defects (scratches, etc.) on the DVD to account for this. The problems here are not as bad as with CIRCUS OF FEAR (trailers and photo gallery do not play, end of the film locks up, the DVD will not start up on its own in the DVD player, etc...problems that, based on reviews, are not unique to my copy), but it's still annoying enough to decrease the viewing experience. Blue Underground has put out some incredible films with excellent extras, but there seems to be some mastering problems with a couple of their titles.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] BijouBob8mm 19 years ago

I contacted Blue Underground, via their website, about similar problems I had with CIRCUS OF FEAR, and they had me send in the old DVD for a replacement. While the TOOL BOX MURDERS isn't as bad as the CIRCUS OF FEAR DVD, it might still be worthwhile getting hold of the company about it. I do have to take my hat off to their customer service department.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Anderssen-1 19 years ago

Interesting stuff. We received a copy of the movie yesterday with exactly the same problems. The most annoying problem being that the picture started to break up before the end of the movie - so I have no idea what happened!!

[–] jjturley 19 years ago

I bought a DVD version of this movie on Ebay several weeks ago. There were problems appearing into about 20 minutes of the movie. I contacted the seller and he nicely told me that I could send it back to him and get a replacement. I did this and got another DVD... This one started failing after about 30 minutes into the movie! We are talking about the same kind of problems - - the image starts to freeze and there are white and greenish dots, and eventually the DVD player loses its thread. So, I contacted the seller and sent it back for a full refund.

The seller was sorry, and told me that he did not have the time to watch everything he gets.

I have a feeling that there are many DVD copies of this movie out there which are simply no good.

John

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] BijouBob8mm 19 years ago

Blue Underground is very good about taking care of their customers.

[–] Mr_Ectoplasma 18 years ago

Hm... that's strange. I bought the Blue Underground DVD from a local retail store and I've never seemed to have any problems with it... I'm thinking about putting it into the DVD player and seeing what happens. But from when I've used it before, I never had any problems.

---Edit---August 6, 2006---

I popped this into the DVD player yesterday and mine didn't have any of the problems mentioned in this thread. I dunno, I guess I got a good copy.

[–] GeneticSugarKane 17 years ago

When I originally bought the disc I noticed no problems with the film or the special features/menus whatsoever, but over time it's as if the disc deteriorated, and I too experienced all of the problems you guys did. I contacted Blue Underground as well, and although it took them nearly a month to reply to my original email, I did eventually get a new copy of the disc that works perfectly.

[–] eddyw78 17 years ago

I never had a problem with toolbox murders but i did with the 2 dvd special edition of salon kitty.

[–] Nomad-1968 17 years ago

I got mine from CDWOW and it took about five attempts to get a decent one that played properly - all the others just stuck about two thirds of the way through and just pixelated. Still, at least it is better than VHS!

[–] eddyw78 17 years ago

I only got abut 2mins into it before it stuck and on some attempts it stuck on the FBI warning page.I only had to change my copy once although I havent watched it for a while so maybe that one is un-playable now also!Have you seen Blue Underground are releasing a load of old out of print Anchor Bay titles such as Autopsy and Inferno.

[–] GeneticSugarKane 17 years ago

Yeah I noticed this, but unfortunately these are the exact same discs as the original Anchor Bay releases :(

~Spirit desire, spirit desire, we will fall.~

[–] eddyw78 17 years ago

It would have been nice for Blue Underground to include some new extras and remixed 5.1 soundtracks for the mono movies as they have done with some of their other releases.At least they will not cost the earth now as the OOP Anchor Bay versions do!!

[–] DeliciousFires 17 years ago

I got my copy from Sam Goody 3 or 4 years ago and have never had a problem with it.

[–] 17 years ago

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