MovieChat Forums > King of the Hill (1993) Discussion > Does anyone have info about this coming ...

Does anyone have info about this coming out on DVD?

posted 19 years ago by moviematt71
97 replies | jump to latest

I can't find any info anywhere.

Thanks.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

apparently Soderbergh wants to work on one but is bogged down with current projects. I can't wait for its release on DVD, I own it on VHS at the moment. Unfortunatley this is a forgotten masterpiece, and that forgotten part means little to no care by any money making person to pump a DVD out asap.

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

thanks for the reply. what a shame...everywhere you read about this film you see glowing and rave reviews so you would think it would come out. also, the film was distributed by a now defunct studio...gramercy I think. maybe it's legal issues.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

yeah. plenty of movies from back in the day are released to dvd w/o a problem, from studios no longer in existence (Citizen Kane-RKO, for example) I agree, I don't understand why its on the wait list either, an academy award winning director shouldnt have a problem getting a movie of his transfered to DVD.
I really just wanna see special features if it has any, of them filming in and around my home town, that'd be super cool.
Commentaries also would be superb.

the creepy thing about this movie is spalding grey's character killing himself...then he does too like 10 years later!
*shivers*

[–] noodlepie54 19 years ago

if you go on amazon.com and search for king of the hill on dvd it brings up a page but says 'this dvd is not available for release yet' but it gives you an option to put your email on a list so amazon can contact you as soo as the dvd you want comes out, and apparently, they send of a list of how many people wanna be informed about these dvds, to the companies who make em so they know how big the demand is and work faster on the dvd...i love this film and i really want to see it on dvd so i suggest everyone who wants it out too do this and get all your friends to do it thatst way it'll hopefully come out soon!!

some people are just amateur Taco eaters

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

thanks for the tip!

[–] noodlepie54 19 years ago

no problem...i was gonna say 'aint no thang' but then i rembered that i wasnt an african american female police detective

some people are just amateur Taco eaters

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

thanks for the info everyone...nice to see many fans of the pic as well. I wish there was a way to contact the director to start a petition. Geez, if one guy can do it for "sleepaway camp," they can do it for this one.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

true that. maybe if we start a really long thread that'll help!

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

definitely slave! I'm ready.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

we need more than just four people though!

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

Definitely...

[–] ZZZZ-4 19 years ago

Now you've got five people.
I don't know how much bonus footage might still be available for a DVD, but a commentary from Steven Soderbergh and Jesse Bradford would be amazing. Insight from the author, A.E. Hotchner, would be interesting too, as he lived it. Obviously, he's getting on in years, so the time to make this DVD is ASAP.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

you kno whats super weird....my physics teacher is (no joke) 93 years old...old enough to be Brody's character!
I live in St. Louis...I'm gonna ask him how it was like back then, heh

[–] PaoloMalo 19 years ago

Hello there!
I'm the 6th man! Anyway, thanks everyone for the info and let's keep our fingers crossed; someday, hopefully soon, it will be on DVD (along with Kafka). To all other people who would like to join in this thread, it should be obligatory to register your address on amazon. It can't hurt...

"Let it be known that a dog is no horse." -- anonymous tired doggie

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

most definitley

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

Cool, at least we have 6 people! I tried looking for Sod's info online but found a website/fansite that doesn't have direct contact with him.

Anyone have any ideas?

[–] syrpentinefire 19 years ago

im in. i love this movie! my 11th grade english teacher played this for us in school i fell in love with the movie! i cant wait for it to come out on DVD!!!

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

i first saw it when I was like 8 yrs old and I liked it then but didnt get a lot of it...watched it about two years ago and it just hit me so hard, it was such an amazing movie and totally under the radar. i loved it when they talked about streets and his school and I'm like HOLY CRAP I'VE BEEN THERE! Us st. louians hardly get that goofy movie feeling you know!

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

That's cool Slave...it's so nice to see the movie affect so many people. I can't say that I have read or have seen a negative review of it thus far.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

an idea is maybe if a lot of people buy the VHS copies still around from Amazon.com or wherever, whoever owns the rights to the movie will take a hint...
I got my copy..where is yours?

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

I have it on VHS as well. Bought it right after I rented it when it came out.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

no one has posted in awhile, lol

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

Too bad. We could keep it going...maybe someone will read it.

I always wonder what actors/directors watch these pages and post like everyone else.

Sure wish Sod would read our diatribe and get the damn DVD released hehe.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

hell yeah... it would be nice!

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

Ok, we have to keep it going.

What is your favorite scene? Do you have the soundtrack?

My favorite scene is when Aaron's Dad leaves and he realizes when he's all alone. It just hits home for me because you know he has no one.

I was lucky to get the soundtrack on CD after I saw the film. It is my favorite soundtrack ever.

Also, questions...

Do you think Lester was living by himself? It was like he didn't want to involve Aaron in all of his "activities" and kept him out of the loop because he was young.

Did Mr. Mungo kill himself because he ran out of money? And why didn't he give Aaron a tip for delivering the package the first time. It always bothered me.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

My favorite scene is probably when Aaron goes nuts and starts throwing those glass candles at the wall and curses his father frantically, love that explosion because there is 100% empathy for him.

Hell yeah I have the soundtrack! I love "Runaway Car" and "Escape from the Empire" and "Kansas City Kitty" is good stuff!

Yeah I always felt Lester was a loner who just wanted to keep his dirty dealings on the D.L.

Yeah I think Thamyris (sp) killed himself because it was all over...he was a Great Gatsby kinda figure...a remanant of the Jazz Age on his last dollar.
Yeah i don't know about why he didn't tip him, didn't he offer at some point?

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

do you know why the first track is called Mr. and Mrs. Cliff? I'm lost on that

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

I have no idea either...that is a good question.

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

Yes, that is a good one as well...I guess it's hard to pick a favorite huh?

Good theories...I think Mungo did offer, I need to watch it again and see.

[–] cleon_adonis 19 years ago

Hi all,

One more for the DVD release ;)

[–] ZZZZ-4 19 years ago

I haven't checked here in a while, but this thread's got some serious devotion. That's one more for the DVD. Yay!!

Could it be that Mr. and Mrs. Cliff refers to the KotH Music Composer, Cliff Martinez?

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

Good call...never thought of that. maybe he couldn't think of a title for it and put that down.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

yeah thats what I was thinking...
spread the word about the DVD post people!

[–] moviematt71 19 years ago

Yes! We need to find a way of emailing/mailing Soderbergh.

[–] Ginzo87 19 years ago

what studio owns the rights to King of the Hill? find their public relations email address then idk, gather people, alot of people somehow via email, and send them instruction to email the studio's PR!
a lot easier sounding than it would be

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

I think it was a small studio that is no longer...Grammercy Pictures or something like that. Probably a reason for the hold up...a rights issue etc.

[–] jyinger1 18 years ago

Add one more.

I LOVE this film. I wonder if 7 customers will be enough to get them to release it on DVD?

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

it better be dammit

[–] Perini 18 years ago

I've been telling people about this film for years and praying it would end up on DVD. With the popularity of Soderbergh's body of work and the excellent score from Cliff Martinez, it's criminal that this movie hasn't made it to DVD yet.

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

i love the soundtrack. own it.

[–] balladhunter 18 years ago

I'm just stunned that I couldn't get this on Netflix for my girlfriend to see. I loved this film, but I guess I'll have to wait to see it again! Hurry up y'all!

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

You're in luck if you have cable. It's on this week a few times.

[–] mcgrathjared 18 years ago

I own an old laserdisc of King Of The Hill. Too bad the laserdisc player broke years ago. Here's the thing: Although Gramercy is gone, I believe Univiersal still holds the rights to video distribution as they did for the vhs and laserdisc. Perhaps contact them and see if a release is to come anytime soon. Great movie - very underrated.

[–] mcgrathjared 18 years ago

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

i went ahead and sent universal an email inquiring about king of the hill...hope they respond!

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

Hey slave2, long time no chat. I'll do the same. What is the email address?

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

http://www.universalstudios.com/homepage/html/contact_us/contact_form.cgi?email_id=10

just go there and ask whats up with King of the Hill...then spread the word! who knows, maybe it'll work.

when you read that TV writers, studios, producers, etc make changes or do stuff on account of "several fans" who all had the same idea or opinion, you wonder how many is "several"....

all I can say is Soderbergh needs to stop making crap and get to work on this!

Solaris...Bubble...and now a movie about that moron Che?!?!?!?!

but did you see hes wanting to make a movie about Spalding Gray?? Maybe that will get his gears moving to pump out King of the Hill on DVD, especially since theres major irony in Gray's character's suicide.

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

btw im slave, just a name change

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

Thanks for letting me know. Glad to have my KOTH ally back!

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

hey no problem. i aint stopping till we get this flick on damn DV freaking D!

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

amen!

[–] coolbluegreen 18 years ago

You've got six people now. I want this movie to be on dvd so much! It's one of my favorites.

[–] jabrookbank 13 years ago

"Soderbergh told a fan that he recently approved a re-mastered version of his 1993 historical drama King of the Hill. Unfortunately, he couldn’t give. a concrete release date, but hopes all studios adopt a system similar to Warner Bros.’ Warner Archives, which allows consumers to order lesser-known films on a DVD-R disc."

from: http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/08/01/cci-relativitys-panel-for-haywire-and-the-raven/

My VHS is on it's last leg!!

[–] camz09 18 years ago

lucky you, you have one on VHS... me i just happened to watch the film on LASER DISC--- i mean the BIG, ROUND laser disc and to add to my misery, i watched it when i was about nine or ten yrs old...well, how old am i now?? from then on i loved the film.. especially the food on the magazine scene.. lovely and poignant...

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

mos def.
*sigh*

[–] Volken 17 years ago

This movie is a pure treasure.

Atmosphere is fantastic with equally supplied beautiful synergy of score.

Also own it on VHS, but always when showed on TV I seem to always miss the chance to record the same.

The worst thing about this title, nice title by the way - but HORRIBLE similar with that TV show King of The Hill. Many times while disappointed, again and again when I see that this movie is still (!) not available on DVD, I hope to find some decent TV capture on P2P.

But alas, everyone that even tried to do so, knows very well the amount of episodes he will find of this TV show of the same title.

Perhaps Soderbergh should have chosen slightly more isolated title, knowing that the same exists.

Or, this is just me, angry again in 2007, due to fact that this movie is still not available on DVD :(

[–] dramatic_toast 18 years ago

I'm looking for it too and can't locate it in any store near me. My son has an acting workshop this weekend and they are doing a scene from the movie so I really wanted a copy of it so he could get the feel for the character, but no such luck and we'll never get it on time if I order it over the net. Oh well!

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

Make sure you email them about wanting it on DVD. The link is on his thread. The more of us the better. Spread the word!

[–] noodlepie54 18 years ago

i tried to email that universal address but it wouldnt let me, but if i can figure out how i definitely will!
Some one suggested a Jesse Bradford/Steven Soderbergh Commentary, that would be so so so so amazing!!!!!

My favourite scene is when Aaron figures out he's only won the award because he's the poor kid in the class, the way Jesse(cute then HOT now)plays out that scene, so subtley, god it makes me insane, he's that good!And ya know, i HATE whatsisname, Adrien Brody now, and usually when i dont like some one i cant watch anything with them in but in this film, its like he's a different person from the guy he is now, and as a result he's that much more watchable.

I rank this film together with Empire of the Sun under 'brillian underrated films with amazing child actors in them'(a mouthful i know but, meh, lol) and EotS is coming out next week (Exactly one week today im goin to town to buy it, i cant wait [fan girl SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]) and i'd love to be able to have them both in my (ever growing) dvd collection!!!It has to come out soon or i'll just
"some people are just amateur Taco eaters"

[–] porterms 18 years ago

I also tried to email that address unsuccessfully. I have been waiting for years for this movie to come out on DVD. I signed up at amazon.com to be notified when (or if apparently) it is released. I have 2 copies on VHS, but I would like to see commentary or deleted scenes. My husband and I were extras in the movie.

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

Are you guys highlighting the link and going to that page? It works for me just fine, I don't know.

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

what happened to us?

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

We are here. Well, the two of us are anyway. :)

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

Thanks for the news. Where did you hear that?
Do you have a url or contact information?

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

what news? what did that person say?

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

The person deleted it...it was something about it being on DVD.

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

damn.

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

I know, I know... :)

However, whenever I read...I play the soundtrack over and over. Sometimes when I cook too. Love it!

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

I listen to it in the car sometimes!

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

Oh yea, definitely!

[–] Volken 17 years ago

Any news about this DVD release guys?

[–] cooperonline 18 years ago

I just found and bought a Japanese version of the DVD on ebay that's supposed to be in widescreen. I haven't received it yet, so I can't vouch for the quality, but I've purchased rare discs from the seller before and they have been good (ie: Kafka). You may have to look a bit to find it, but you may want to check it out. It might have been a legit release there, or a gray market copy of the laser disc. I'll report back when I see it.

FYI

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

Thanks for the info!

[–] cooperonline 18 years ago

Well, there is good news and bad news. The disc I received from the seller is the proper ratio, but the picture quality is about vhs quality. If I had to guess, I would say the laserdisc was copied onto a DVD, and something was lost in the middle - maybe it was put onto VHS tape first. For a 20 dollar price tag, I would say its only worth it if you don't already have the full screen VHS tape.

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

Thanks. I thought the same thing after reading your post. I just need to buckle down and make a DVD version from the VHS.

[–] Ginzo87 18 years ago

That is cool, but yeah equally kind of bootleg too.
Wow this board has been up for more than a year now!

[–] moviematt71 18 years ago

Hey Ginzo...glad to see you still here hoping like me lol!

[–] jakekjohnson 17 years ago

Hey, just a thought...Universal has somewhat of a relationship with Criterion...Maybe KotH is destined to be released by the best DVD company in America! And Soderbergh's Traffic and Schizopolis have been released by Criterion as well, so both parties have a relationship with Criterion. I think we have a good chance of seeing this.

[–] isleepnaked 17 years ago

I just found out about this movie, and I am now on the waiting list at Amazon for the dvd. With such an esteemed director and some of the cast, it is surprising that it has not been released on dvd yet. I am pretty much an impatient guy with these things. I want it NOW. I guess one could send a VHS to one of the companies that transfers things to dvds, but there are probably some copyright issues with doing that. If it would just come on tv, I could digitally record it with the dvr. Oh well, I just wanted to add my two cents worth and put myself on this list of posts supporting a dvd release. Cheers.

"It's not revenge he's after. It's
a reckoning."

[–] jaycbuck 17 years ago

Hello to all! My history classes are currently watching KOH. Our school is located in St. Louis and I have found this film to be extremely popular with my 9th graders. It certainly helps kids to relate to the Depression era. I show it every year as do two of my co-workers.

Let's see....I have shown it for about the last 8 years. With the other teachers in our hall, that makes about 1500 students that have seen it. That means 1500 potential buyers of the DVD. Is anyone listening???

BTW the VHS copy is available (NEW) on Half.com for under $2.

[–] Ginzo87 17 years ago

Hey thats awesome!
Its great to hear that so many fellow st. louisans are being exposed to King of the Hill!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] stoplooking 17 years ago

According to Amazon, this DVD will be released in the UK on May 28th 2007. Good news!!

[–] johnseason 17 years ago

I was just watching Cinderella Man and thought of King of the Hill. This is truely a great film and I can't wait for it to come out on DVD in the U. S..
I just checked Netflix and they don't have it.

[–] stoplooking 17 years ago

Funnily enough I just watched Cinderella Man as well! Made me dig out Seabiscuit again and give it a watch.

Surely if there's a British release coming up, a US one won't be far behind - or before even! Worst comes to worst you can always order from Amazon UK, I'm sure they ship internationally.

[–] cameo-kirby 17 years ago

It's going to be shown soon on one of the HD channels-Starz HD on April 6th. It's happened in the past that a movie that hasn't been released on DVD shows up/is announced for release soon after it hits the HD channels-Prince of the City is a recent example. Here's hoping. What a great movie.

[–] dmalcolmjr 17 years ago

Don't give up hope, folks. There are now Region 2 DVDs from the UK and Spain (where it's titled "El Rey de la Colina") and one of these days we'll get the full-blown US treatment.

KOTH is definitely Soderbergh's best film--what a brilliant adaptation. I came across an early state of the script and it was much more slavishly faiithful to Hotchner's book. All the additions/alterations Soderbergh made are simply superb (as superb as Mr. Mungo's ivory cane "made from the tusk of a rhinoceros"). You could conduct a screenwriting workshop with the final version of the script.

It's also interesting to see how many of the young actors in KOTH have had prominent careers--Brody, Bradford, Katherine Heigl, Amber Benson, and Lauryn Hill (so amazing good as the elevator operator). That's an amazing track record for a bunch of unknown kid actors.

I saw this film about 11 times in the theatre during its run in LA in '93--word of mouth was so good that even though Universal had just dumped it out there, theatres kept picking it up for limited runs for nearly five months. Last time I saw it on the big screen was at the New Beverly Theatre in December 1993, where the place was 90% full (very unusual for the Bev at that time) and the film got a standing ovation.

Mark my words, it will eventually be seen as one of the great classics of American film.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] cameo-kirby 17 years ago

dmalcomjr is right-this will be seen as a classic. I watched it again on the HD channel and it didn't disappoint. In fact, it only reinforced my opinion that it it is a great film. It would also be a great film to show the kids of today-or even yesterday-what it was like during "The Great Depression."

[–] MrFist 13 years ago

http://www.amazon.co.uk/King-of-The-Hill-DVD/dp/B000NJXBUY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1320135318&sr=8-3

You're welcome

ALT.ERROR: SIGNATURE NOT FUNNY

[–] thecharmer 12 years ago

It's now available on Netflix as a download.

[–] jessieron 11 years ago

Is it in HD or standard definition?I find it on Amazon UK as an HD download but unfortunately it's 'currently unavailable'.....http://www.amazon.com/King-of-the-Hill-HD/dp/B008QM4T4C

Has anyone else seen it in high definition?Is the image quality significanlty better than that of DVD?I'm going to buy the DVD from Amazon but if there's a (real) HD version out there somewhere,I really don't want to waste my money on the standard definition version plus the shipping cost...Thanks in advance for any useful information.

-------------
Jessie

[–] nutsberryfarm 10 years ago

criterion just put it out.

Veneration of Mark Twain is one of the roots of our current intellectual stalemate

[–] horatiohellpop 9 years ago

Yeah, I just purchased the Criterion release available on DVD/BlueRay dual-format edition, $24.69 at Amazon. They did a great job with the quality and the packaging. Deleted scenes, interviews with Soderbergh, author A.E.Hotchner, and a bonus DVD of The Underneath. This is one of the better but lesser known films of the early 1990s.

[–] nutsberryfarm 9 years ago

cool! thx! 

🎄Season's Greetings!🎁🎅🎄