This movie should be on DVD - The Earthling (1980) Discussion

[–] Jana-20 18 years ago

I agree.
I even e-mailed an involved production company in Austrailia about the possibility, but got no response. I don't really know how to go about getting the parties that own the original master (whoever they are) interested in making the DVD. I'm sure Rick would be happy to provide some input here as his naming a son after Bill Holden would imply. Hello out there. We need some help here!

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[–] TheBrownBunny66 16 years ago

Well i'm pretty sure when i saw this as a kid i watched it on betamax tape which is really good quality, a lot better than vhs. I'm pretty sure there would be betamax tapes out there. Sure its not dvd, but its far better than vhs, if you've got a tape deck! I know i had willow on beta max which i transferred to blue ray for my personal use which holds up really well.

I AGREE THOUGH, PLEASE RELEASE ON DVD!!! Would be great if they could find an original print and transfer it properly!?

I recently watched the original Wicker Man Directors cut, and the VHS transfer for the deleted scene's was horrendous!!!

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[–] nscheno 18 years ago

Agree totally!! This is an outstanding movie. Schroder's best next to "The Champ" and it should definitely be on DVD. When will that happen.

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[–] mcargent 18 years ago

It should be on DVD. I remember this movie from when I was a kid, and I have to say I'm disappointed its not on DVD yet. It may not officially be a classic, but it should be.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jarth-2 18 years ago

Hey, prick, I know all about your bootlegging, Lawrence Xander. I'm going to get your little operation shut down.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] woof2804 18 years ago

YES this should be on DVD...I want a legal copy.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] peter241 18 years ago

If the production company doesnt want people making bootleg copies then why dont they release it on DVD themselves, then we all can BUY it!!! If it isn't commercially available to buy then what other option is there??? Surely they realise that VHS tapes have a limited life. What, do they want the movie to eventually disappear for good??? Pretty soon the bootleg copies will be the only copy of this movie in existence. If it were up to me, every movie ever made would be available to buy on DVD, thus ensuring that EVERY movie is available to buy and be preserved. Then the royalties to the producers/actors will continue. So who's ripping off who here?? I thank you.

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[–] cannescrwrtr 17 years ago

I also made the mistake of purchasing this dvd and a few others on-line, which were not an original. The obvious vhs-to-dvd copy was absolutely terrible. They were sent along with the persons credentials to the Oregon FBI office, where perhaps they round-filed the discs.

["It’s never too late to do the right thing."]

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Nick-269 17 years ago

I hope many more videos aren't released on DVD. The problem being that the resolution was so low. Most of all that 20th-century home recording and playback stuff is equally bad (especially the wax Edison cylinders.) While most new DVD players that you can buy will (so-called) "upconvert," and I admit that the result is usually better than the various VHS qualities (what were they: EP, SP, ESP, EL-VIS?) but I'd rather see the old shows remastered into a modern digital format like Blu-Ray. In round numbers, I'd guess the best quality VHS I've ever seen showed about 50,000 unique resolution units per picture frame, "upconverted" DVD maybe twice that. Blu-Ray looks much better than any of those old formats, say maybe a million or two, of which (so-called) "Real Life" is only a billion or so.

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[–] cannescrwrtr 17 years ago

If you truly believe you have an authentic dvd release of "Earthling", why not look on the back of the dvd box and tell us who distributed the dvd. Or better yet, give us the UPC code which will immediately give information as to the credibility/authenticity of this particular 'dvd'.

["It’s never too late to do the right thing."]

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[–] Starduster 15 years ago

Gosh! Let me get my violin!
IDIOT!
Your profile says that you are a cannes screenwriter.
What the #*!! did you THINK you were buying, when you bought movies that were not available in a factory produced legal foremat. Did this person some how or another DECEIVE you as to what you were buying?
Now IF this person really DID deceive you somehow, I definitely apologize for my irate comments, but it sounds to me like you KNEW that the movies were not available in a factory produced copy; so AGAIN, what did you THINK you were buying.
Now perhaps you overpaid, or where unhappy with the quality, but that is another matter. Did you even tell him/her or try to work it out? Remember YOU were a party to the transaction as well and you too are guilty if you knew what you were buying, or should have known what you were buying.
Please read my other post on this subject and it will explain my thoughts on bootlegging and why it is an unfortunate market which is driven by the people who refuse to LEGALLY release the movies we want. If they were legally available, there would be no market for bootlegs.

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[–] Starduster 15 years ago

> If the production company doesnt want people making bootleg copies then why dont > they release it on DVD

Thanks Peter for the most sensible and realistic comment on this subject.
The production companies create their own problems!
Like (almost) everyone else here I too would like an original DVD copy......
of The Earthling and countless other movies. Unfortunately it seems that the production people dont care what the public wants; yet they would seemingly penalize anyone who might dare provide a bootleg copy for our enjoyment.
There are countless movies that were made in the US and employed US actors directors producers etc, yet these same movies are available on DVD in almost every civilized country EXCEPT the USA.
We here the sob stories about failing American business, and losses do to people who supposedly cheat the artists out of their material, by bootleging.
Bootlegging is generally not profitable unless there is a market. If the legitimate market supplies what people want and at a fair price, and hopefully even provides some "extras" on the DVD, the bootleg market would not have a market at all. WHO is actually to blame here. Peter, you are right; a legal market preserves the original material and the quality, and provides the royalties to the individuals that deserve them.
I admit that I have purchased bootleg copies of movies that I could not get ANY other way. It is NOT my first choice, but I also will not deprive myself of having certain movies that I REALLY enjoy but are rarely seen anymore. If and when these same movies have become available in a legal DVD foremat, I have purchased the legal copies; simple as that.
Making movies unavailable, plants the seed for a bootleg market.
Producing movies and then suddenly "cutting them out" drives up the cost of the secondary (used) market. That is how supply and demand works.
Its time for the DVD producers and the people who hold the rights to these films to WAKE UP.
I wholeheartedly support the DVD release of this fine movie
To the the people that can make that happen; ITS YOUR MOVE!

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] scidem 17 years ago

Yes, what effort can we do make this movie be on DVD? I strongly support

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[–] jarth-2 17 years ago

I even e-mailed an involved production company in Austrailia about the possibility, but got no response.

You have about as much significance as a wet fart. First of all, all "involved production companies" involved with the film are no longer in business, so eat *beep*

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Jana-20 17 years ago

So how was I supposed to know they were out of business when their websites were still online? Why should I eat "beep"for wanting to fund a DVD? Or at least spur some interest in its release as a DVD. Why this anger about something you obviously dislike and know little about?
You said "first of all". What's next?

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jarth-2 16 years ago

What's next? You're a *beep* *beep*

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[–] BoSoxRule 12 years ago

jarth, why don't you simmer down, you annoying little freak?

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

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[–] jarth-2 12 years ago

So how was I supposed to know they were out of business when their websites were still online? Why should I eat "beep"for wanting to fund a DVD?

Because most companies (production companies, in particular) register a website for one or even two decades thinking success will always follow them. When they go out of business earlier than that (as in the case of the production companies involved with the Earthling), the website still remains. Use your *beep* head.

You want to FUND a DVD? You retards online really humour me. You think you have much more power than you do as an individual. Again, you have the significance of a wet fart.

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[–] BoSoxRule 12 years ago

jarth, you an angry little pissant.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

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[–] Billa1971 16 years ago

I've just seen a different version of this movie...a "hader version":
it was the italian release and has got a slightly different story (the subplot about the indian bag is missing), no song at the end (according to Golden Boy the ending I saw is the one originally inteded by Collison), a lot of fighting between the kid's parents, a longer scene in the cafe at the village (they introduce the caracter of Fowley and his father in full detail).
Furthermore they didn't show Foley watching the accident but he "discovers" the kid when he's screaming...he falls from the hill as they reach the "secret valley" (so we understand that he actually didn't have enough time)...
This version has got a far better editing than the american version, they kept Collison's beautiful camera movement and stylistic unity...and it is simply wonderful!!!!!
I believe this was the european version, hope someone from UK or France would confirm me this...and it was closer to the original (according to the description of Golden Boy)
I found out - reading a 1980 Bill Holden's interview to the Chigago Tribune - that the original screeplay (these scenes were actually shooted) had a longer introduction: there was a brief romance between Fowley and a stewardess and when he goes to the village he says goodbye not only to his friends but also to the love of his life (played by Jane Harders: even here a short romancing - "I see you the way I want to" she sais to him - IMHO it is a real shame they deleted this scene...it gave Fowley his humanity and we had witnessed his gradual detachment from life).
I think - but I have no proof - that this scene was deleted and the scene in the hot waterpool inserted and reshooted at Hawaii in order to make the stay at the farm longer....
I'd love to see the director's cut of this movie (Foley's character was more central)...this one is slowly growing on me....Holden was simply great in it, it is a shame that they feared it was a too harsh movie and tried to soften it and sold it as a family movie...it was (and still is) a great movie dealing with a great subject...about life, death and how there's always time to make a life worth living...

This movie should be on DVD and they would try to recuperate the original one!!!

Betty: Don't you sometimes hate yourself?
Joe: Constantly.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] hazardousjen 16 years ago

Wholeheartedly agree. Lately, I've been finding that I can't find a lot of really decent older movies on DVD and have thought of petitioning for a re-release onto DVD.....then I go to Amazon or something and find VHS tape prices in the high $20s or even $30s for some of these 'vintage' films. The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper is another one.....darn it!

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[–] tapennock 16 years ago

I have a great 16mm Kodak 1980 SP theatrical print of this movie. I would like to upgrade to a print on Kodak LPP stock. I assume the 35mm theatrical prints were also struck on Kodak SP too since it was 1980. From what I understand for a William Holden retrospective it was very difficult for them to find a 16mm theatrical print of this title. I am still not sure if they ever found a print for this tribute. Still looking for an LPP to upgrade!!!

--Tom Pennock ([email protected])

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[–] bZirk 15 years ago

After watching it I wanted to replace my old VHS copy with a DVD and was very disappointed to learn that "The Earthling" isn't available on DVD. Why???

This movie should be on DVD!

I agree!

If you know all the answers, you've got the wrong questions.

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