TV Gold

Over the past seven years I’ve gradually picked off titles from my sixteen year old video tape collection replacing them with DVD releases but now I’m getting to the point where what is left are those precious but hard to find items that infuriatingly remain difficult to locate.

I guess part of the reason I want to ‘get on my soapbox’ and ‘have a moan about this’ relates to it taking an astonishing twenty-four years to finally get, musically speaking, that 80s classic “Electric Dreams” an official DVD retail release.

In my opinion obviously the next title, from a Human League fan perspective, is going to be “Hunting Venus” which, now coming up to its tenth anniversary of its ‘one-and-only’ broadcast irritatingly remains ‘permanently locked in the archives’ despite a strong ground swell of fan appreciation as indicated in various music forums, imdb forum and its inclusion on the raretelevision.com company website.

So what else would we dearly love to see on retail release???

Well I’ll kick the subject ball off with a glance through my video tape collection with the following…

“Timestalkers” – a marvellously entertaining time travel tale with a history teacher helping in tracking down a future criminal intent on changing established chronology in the old Wild West of the 1880s. Although recently repeated a number of times of the Sci Fi channel this 1986 film I can only find an official VHS title for a heavily overpriced £24.99! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094154/

“Battle Beyond The Stars” – yeah it might have a kitsch comic strip look and feel to it but it’s good wholesome family fun featuring Robert Vaughn and George Peppard (‘The A Team’) in the cast. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080421/

“Moon Zero Two” – This first and only Hammer Films sci-fi feature was a commercial disaster at the box office but I personally feel it’s an endearingly charming marvellous cult classic with an impressive star studded cast which truly deserves to shine once more on a polished DVD re-release! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064691/

I’d also toss in a strong desire to see the entire US television series of “Crazy Like A Fox” and its feature length UK location filmed spin off movie (titled “Still Crazy Like A Fox”) as a DVD box set title. The wonderful sparing chemistry between the regulars particularly John Rubinstein and Jack Warden (as father (detective) and son (lawyer) pairing) makes this, for me at least, stand out from the usual American detective series of the mid 80s. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086691/ & http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094040/

I’m currently really disappointed with the official ‘classic television’ series output on offer at present which is why I’ve been taking a few diversions into ‘bootleg title’ territory by nabbing BBC’s “Spender” (seasons 1 & 2) and at present wading through the “Man From Atlantis” series both from raretelevision.com.

Am I the only person whom still has a continuing fondness for the five season Gene Roddenberry series “Earth : Final Conflict” and would dearly love to see extras loaded box sets of the entire run instead of merely the pathetic first season ‘episodes only’ offering from a few years ago!

Additionally there are a few great titles which although part of my wish list have so far only been released as Region 1 titles, which for those of us, (particularly from my perspective in the UK) unable to afford multi-region players means they remain tantalisingly out of reach.

For me, I initially refer to the fantastically enjoyable, imaginative classic “Time After Time” with Malcolm McDowell’s 19th century ‘HG Wells’ pursuing David Warner’s ‘Jack The Ripper’ to 1979 San Francisco where along the way he meets and falls in love with Foreign Currency Bank Clerk Amy played by Mary Steenburgen. I’m indeed frustrated to hear that there is a mouth-wateringly appealing commentary with McDowell, Warner and (writer/producer) Nicholas Myer, plus making of documentary and trailers which we in the UK continue to be maddenly denied! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080025/

I would also love to see the extras on offer for the ‘Bill and Ted’ box set, a couple of likeable family movies backed up by some intriguing items which again we in the UK are still being prevented from witnessing!

I wish there was some way potential customers like myself could petition those whom decide what we get (retail labels, companies whom hold copyrights etc) but at the moment all I can do is state my feels on forums like this.

Anyway enough of my moans and opinions, anyone else got any thoughts or hoped for (television or film) titles they would love to see released???

Well i guess i have a sort of wish list in that from time to time i suddenly think of a programme from days gone by and get the urge to purchase it, only to find that it hasn't been released yet (or at least hasn't been released in region 2).

Programmes off the top of my head that i would like to be able to purchase are -

Soap - the 70's/80's American series that was a spoof of daytime soap operas. This was a hilarious show full of eccentric crazy people and i am certain that it would still be as funny today as it was back then. It is available on Region 1 but hasn't arrived here yet.

The High Chaparral - A 60's/70's western TV series that i have very fond memories of.

Match of the 70's & Match of the 80's - A series of programmes each one covering an English football season. Dennis Waterman presented the programme and each contained a soundtrack of chart songs from the day. I have VHS tapes that were issued, but they are incomplete - highlights rather than the full shows. This is crying out for a DVD release.

The Other One series Two - Okay this is a bit obscure i know. This is a forgotten 70's show starring Richard Briers and Michael Gamdon. I recently bought series one and i have to admit that it is a little patchy quality wise but has good moments. The concept is good but for some reason it doesn't deliver as well as it should do. However i am a fan of Briers and the completist in me wants to purchase this.

If we are including films too then as a western movie fan i would love to see the Bud Boetticher boxed set released on Region 2. It contains 5 westerns that the director made in the 1950's starring the legendary Randolph Scott and it would be a joy to be able to purchase it here.

bullshooter wrote:The High Chaparral - A 60's/70's western TV series that i have very fond memories of.

Well no sign of an 'official' release however you might be interested in these...

http://raretelevision.com/all-rare-dvds-1/the-high-chaparral-1967-season-01-dvd-238.html
http://raretelevision.com/all-rare-dvds-1/the-high-chaparral-1968-season-02-dvd-239.html
http://raretelevision.com/all-rare-dvds-1/the-high-chaparral-1969-season-03-dvd-240.html

with best wishes!

Thanks for that Sarah, very interesting.

Just in case you missed it.. Electric Dreams is officially available now.

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/8852274/Electric-Dreams/Product.html