It’s hard to complain too loudly when Warner Home Video finally brings out one of their many movies people have been waiting to see on Blue Ray and DVD. Yet, the way Warners has been carelessly dropping film gems on the marketplace without any advance publicity, is rather disheartening, to say the least. Such classics as this week’s release of John Ford’s Wagonmaster and Peter Bogdanovich’s documentary, Directed by John Ford, are perfect examples. It simply makes you wonder about the effectiveness of the Warner PR operations.
As it turns out, it appears they have “fired” their longtime PR firm of Carl Samrock, and hired a new company, but rather ironically, nobody at the studio seems to be able to confirm whether this is actually the case!
As a result, I wasn’t even aware that WB had finally brought out such important titles recently as Michelangelo Antonioni’s Zabriskie Point and John Boorman’s Beyond Ragoon, just to name two movies that obviously could use a little help from some internet publicity. So, many thanks to Greg Boozell for letting me know about WB’s release this week of two important John Ford films.
Orson Welles magnificent narration truly enhances Directed By John Ford, as it is clearly done straight from his heart, as is related by Peter Bogdanovich in his new introduction to the movie, which can be seen on YouTube HERE
You can also see an album of Monument Valley photos, including John Ford Point, at my Facebook page HERE.
Unfortunately, the way WB is handling it’s “product” only makes one rather alarmed at whatever their mysterious plans may be for the release of The Magnificent Ambersons and Journey Into Fear on DVD. Given how badly their so-called “experts” botched the “over-restoration” and supplemental disc on Citizen Kane, one does not hold out much hope for whatever they will eventually deliver to supplement The Magnificent Ambersons, but at this point, I suppose just getting a bare-bones DVD is about the best that can be hoped for!
In the meantime, you can see some of the cut scenes from The Magnificent Ambersons at the Wellesnet Facebook page HERE.