I’ve learned a lot from the outpouring of reader response to my two recent columns — 64 clips of movies you can’t find on DVD and Even more clips (70, in fact) of flicks you can’t find on DVD — about movies you can’t find on DVD.
Based on my e-mail and response on social media, practically everyone seems to have a list of movies they want to own on DVD — if only they were made available.
“How ’bout a shout-out to ‘Lost Films of George Peppard’: “Pendulum,’ ‘P.J.,’ ‘House of Cards,’’ tweeted Eddie in Baltimore.
My blogger friends Lauren and Kristen in California are clamoring for unavailable films with ’40s icon Veronica Lake. Others are begging to be be able to buy titles with Ronald Colman, Claudette Colbert and many other stars.
And they don’t want to pay through the nose for an out-of-print title, or purchase an import DVD than also requires a pricey region-free player to watch it. Also, a lot of readers are just not interested in (or lack the bandwidth to handle) streaming online, which is the only way some of these titles are currently available.
So here is a final (I promise) and largely crowd-sourced list of titles you’d think would be on DVD but aren’t — as well where they are available, in some cases, to the best of our knowledge, and our best guesses why some aren’t circulating at all. In the meantime, as a thank-you for your suggestions, I’ve tracked down clips from them:
‘The Experts’ (1989)
John Travolta completists are clamoring for this barely-released, Dave Thomas-directed comedy about a pair of entertainers who are kidnapped by the KGB to train their agents to pose as “hip’’ Americans. Streaming only at Amazon.
‘The Whales of August’ (1987)
The legendary Lillian Gish made her final screen appearance playing Bette Davis’ sister in this touching drama with great late performances by Vincent Price and Oscar-nominated Ann Sothern. An out-of-print DVD will cost you $60 and up.
‘Only When I Laugh’ (1981)
Marsha Mason, Joan Hackett and James Coco all received Oscar nominations — and Kristy McNicol a Golden Globe nod — for Neil Simon’s dramady about an alcoholic actress, which is available only to stream at this point.
‘An Unmarried Woman’ (1978)
This Oscar-nominated Paul Mazursky feminist classic, with a terrific Jill Clayburgh, has been out of print. Copies go for as much as $380 on Amazon.
‘Moment by Moment’ (1978)
Lily Tomlin and John Travolta are lovers in this legendary flop directed by Tomlin’s longtime partner Jane Wagner, which does not even seem to have had a VHS release in the US.
‘Farewell My Lovely’ (1975)
Robert Mitchum plays legendary sleuth Philip Marlowe in a well-regarded remake of “Murder My Sweet’’ that’s available only for streaming, as well as on an Asian import DVD.
‘Sleuth’ (1972)
Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s first screen version of a famous stage thriller. Out of print for years, available only as an import.
‘Justine’ (1969)
George Cukor’s cult adaptation of a Lawrence Durrell novel set in 1938 Alexandria, with French actress Anouk Aimée, never made it past the VHS format, where a pan-and-scan copy sells for $70.
‘The Appointment’ (1969)
Another international production with Aimée, this one directed by Sidney Lumet. Warner Archive has been remastering this for widescreen.
‘Where Were You When The Lights Went Out?’ (1968)
Several Doris Day fans wrote to remind me that this comedy inspired by the 1965 New York blackout is her only film that’s never been on DVD. The Warner Archive Collection has said on its Facebook page that there are rights issues blocking a release.
‘P.J.’ (1968)
George Peppard movies like this private-eye thriller were once ubiqutious on TV, but fans have been having trouble finding them on DVD. Also: “What’s So Bad About Feeling Good?” (1968), “House of Cards” (1968), “Pendulum” (1969).
‘After the Fox’ (1966)
One of Peter Sellers’ funniest films — written by Neil Simon, directed by Vittorio De Sica, with Victor Mature and a catchy score by Burt Bachrach — is also out of print, and commanding $72 and up.
‘Penelope’ (1966)
Natalie Wood fans have been waiting for decades for a video release of this comedy — about a kleptomaniac who robs her husband’s bank — which is apparently blocked by rights issues.
‘John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!’ (1965)
Sometimes a studio buries a legendary mistake — “Ishtar’’ skipped over DVD entirely and went straight to Blu-ray a couple of years ago (though Warren Beatty may have been partly responsible for that). That maybe is the case with this William Peter Blatty-written comedy starring Shirley MacLaine as a reporter who goes undercover in a Middle East harem after the Notre Dame football team is obliged to play there.
‘The Alphabet Murders’ (1965)
MGM-British’s Miss Marple mystery features have been on DVD for eight years, but we’re still waiting for that studio’s sole outing with Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, which stars Tony Randall. A pan-and-scan VHS fetches $50 at Amazon.
‘Of Human Bondage’ (1964)
Kim Novak fans want this third screen version of the Somerset Maugham classic on DVD (it’s currently streaming at Amazon, along with Kim’s out of print “The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders’’ from 1965), while Eleanor Parker enthusiasts would like version No. 2 from 1946.
‘The Angry Hills’ (1959)
As popular as Robert Mitchum is on DVD, there’s apparently never been a US video release for this Greek-set World War II adventure, though the Warner Archive Collection is reportedly trying to remedy the situation.
‘The Blue Angel’ (1959)
You can buy Fox’s 1962 remake of “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’’ on DVD, but not this 1959 redo of the Emil Jannings-Marlene Dietrich classic starring Curt Jurgens and May Britt (then Mrs. Sammy Davis Jr).
‘A Time to Love and a Time to Die’ (1958)
Hard-core cinephiles own the Region B Blu-ray for Douglas Sirk’s penultimate Hollywood film, a World War II story by Erich Maria Remarque. But those unwilling to take a shot on a region-free Asian import DVD have been waiting for years.
‘Damn Yankees’ (1958)
What Lola — and Larry — wants is this long out-of-print Broadway musical starring Tab Hunter and Gwen Verdon, which fetches $60 and up on Amazon. As does the authorized and similarly out of print “The Pajama Game’’ (1957), also directed by Stanley Donen and George Abbott.
‘Ten North Frederick’ (1958)
Rights to John O’Hara’s source novel about politics in the 1940s may have blocked a US video release of this late Gary Cooper vehicle, which recently surfaced on DVD in the UK.
‘Lizzie’ (1957)
This “Three Face of Eve’’-like story starring Eleanor Parker, from a novel by Shirley Jackson, airs periodically on TCM, but does not appear to have ever turned up on home video.
‘The View From Pompey’s Head’ (1955)
Interesting Georgia-set crime drama starring Richard Egan that seems to have disappeared completely from view decades ago. Probably rights issues.
‘Phantom of the Rue Morgue’ (1954)
Karl Malden toplines this horror demi-classic, one of several 3-D movies that Warners has held back from DVD in antipation of stereoscopic Blu-ray releases. Also: “Second Chance,’ “The French Line’’ and “The Charge at Feather River.’’
‘Ten Tall Men’ (1951)
This French Foreign Legion spoof, produced by star Burt Lancaster’s production company, recently surfaced on TCM after decades of unavailability. So, a DVD release may be in the offing.
‘M’ (1951)
Cult director Joseph Losey directed this Americanized version of the Fritz Lang classic, starring David Wayne, which has had some revival screenings recently.
‘Death of a Salesman’ (1951)
Fredric March stars in this long-unavailable adaptation of Arthur Miller’s play, which Sony restored a couple of years ago. Other MIA Marches: “Another Party of the Forest’’ (1948), “Victory’’ (1940), “Anthony Adverse’’ (1936), “The Royal Family of Broadway’’ (1930).
‘Mr. Belvedere Goes to College’ (1949)
Shirley Temple returned to Fox for her penultimate screen appearance, supporting Clifton Webb in the only Mr. Belvedere comedy not available on DVD.
‘Always Leave Them Laughing’ (1949)
Milton Berle’s superstardom on early TV didn’t translate to big-screen stardom, but this thinly disguised autobiography is interesting. Among his other missing films: “Radio City Revels” (1937), “Rise and Shine” (1941) and “Over My Dead Body” (1942).
‘The Sainted Sisters’ (1948)
Veronica Lake and Joan Caulfield as New York con artists on the lam in Maine. Among many other MIA Lakes: “Out of This World (1945),” “Hold that Blonde!” (1945), “Miss Susie Slagle’s” (1946), “Isn’t It Romantic?” (1948) and “Footsteps in the Snow’’ (1966).
‘Night Has a Thousand Eyes’ (1948)
Edward G. Robinson as a phony mentalist who acquires actual supernatural powers. Many people have been asking for this.
‘Ride the Pink Horse’ (1947)
Superior Mexican-set noir starring and directed by Robert Montgomery, remade for TV as “The Hanged Man’’ (1964). Other missing Montgomeries: “Hell Below’’ (1933), “Trouble For Two’’ (1936) and “Petticoat Fever’’ (1936).
‘The Farmer’s Daughter’ (1947)
Loretta Young won a Best Actress Oscar in the title role opposite Joseph Cotten, but still no DVD.
‘Private Affairs of Bel Ami’ (1947)
You can buy a remake of this with Robert Pattinson as the titular rogue on DVD, but not this version with George Sanders and Warren William. Streaming only.
It Had To Be You (1947)
Late screwball comedy, with psychiatric overtones, starring Ginger Rogers and Cornel Wilde.
‘Till the End of Time’ (1946)
This precursor to “The Best Years of Our Lives’’ with Guy Madison, Dorothy McGuire and Robert Mitchum was on VHS.
‘Winged Victory’ (1944)
George Cukor directs this Moss Hart drama of World War II with an all-GI cast, which surfaced last year at Lincoln Center after decades of complete unavailability.
‘The Suspect’ (1944)
Charles Laughton as an unhappily married man in 1902 who resorts to murder when he falls for a beautiful young woman. Asian import only.
‘Hitler’s Madman’ (1943)
Douglas Sirk directed this drama about the infamous Nazi SS commander Reinhard Heydrich, which was originally made at Poverty Row studio PRC, then picked up and augmented by MGM.
‘The Lady is Willing’ (1942)
This Marlene Dietrich-Fred MacMurray comedy, directed by Mitchell Leisen, never made it past VHS format.
‘The Light That Failed’ (1939)
“If I Were King’’ (1938) recently surfaced on DVD via the Universal Vault Series, so maybe this other Ronald Colman vehicle will. It’s based on a story by Rudyard Kipling and co-stars Ida Lupino.
‘Zaza’ (1939)
George Cukor directed and Claudette Colbert stars as a French music hall entertainer in this remake of a Gloria Swanson silent vehicle that very briefly surfaced on TV in the 1970s.
‘Dramatic School’ (1938)
Two-time Oscar winner Luise Rainer’s Hollywood career was damaged by the flop of this Vienna-set drama, which features Paulette Goddard and a young Lana Turner. Rainer’s “Escapade’’ (1935), with William Powell, is blocked by serious rights issues.
‘Fools for Scandal’ (1938)
Musical comedy starring Carole Lombard, whose many other MIA films include “The Gay Bride” (1934).
‘Ever Since Eve’ (1937)
Marion Davies’ final feature, with Robert Montgomery, has never had a video release. Neither have two other features from her Warner period: “Hearts Divided’’ (1936) and “Page Miss Glory’’ (1935). A number of her MGM talkies are available — but not “It’s a Wise Child’’ (1931), completely out of circulation for years because of rights issues.
‘Under Two Flags’ (1936)
Rousing French Foreign Legion adventure, from a once-famous novel and the director of “Mutiny on the Bounty,’’ starring Ronald Colman, Claudette Colbert and Victor McLaglen.
‘Sweet Adeline’ (1935)
Irene Dunne in a Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical set in 1898. Other missing Dunnes include “The Secret of Madame Blanche’’ (1933), “Ann Vickers’’ (1933), “The Silver Cord” (1933 — rights issues), “Back Street” (1932) and “Never a Dull Moment’’ (1950)
‘Bolero’ (1934)
This George Raft-Carole Lombard dance musical isn’t on video; nor is the follow-up “Rumba’’ (1935) or any number of Raft’s other Paramount vehicles like “Limehouse Blues’’ (1934) and “The Trumpet Blows,’’ (1934) in which he plays a Chinese person and a Mexican, respectively.
‘Gift of Gab’ (1934)
This oddball musical has apparently never been shown on US TV, despite guest appearances by Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi that make it much sought-after by collectors.
‘Broadway Through a Keyhole’ (1933)
Columnist Walter Winchell penned this gangster story whose cast includes Paul Kelly, Constance Cummings and singer Russ Columbo.
‘Tonight is Ours’ (1933)
Elusive adaptation of Noel Coward’s “The Queen Was in the Parlour’’ with Claudette Colbert and Frederic March.
‘The Cabin in the Cotton’ (1933)
Bette Davis plays a Southern flirt who says “I’d love to kiss you, but I just washed my hair.’’ Also MIA: her breakthrough film, “The Man Who Played God’’ (1932).
‘Alexander Hamilton’ (1931)
George Arliss plays The Post’s founder in one of a trio of not-on-DVD biopics, including “Voltaire’’ (1933), “The House of Rothschild’’ (1934) and his Oscar-winner, “Disraeli’’ (1929).
‘Show Boat’ (1929)
This part-talkie version of the legendary stage show, with interpolated songs by Billy Rose, surfaced years ago on LaserDisc. A DVD release has been held up for years while Warners plots a set that would include the two other versions (1936 and 1951), both currently available.
‘The Sea Beast’ (1926)
This silent was John Barrymore’s first, and better, shot at the Melville classic. The other one, from 1930, is also missing, along with “General Crack’’ (1930), “Reunion in Vienna’’ (1933) and “Long Lost Father’’ (1934).
The Scarlet Letter (1926)
Lillian Gish stars in this Hawthorne adaptation, which recently surfaced to stream at Warner Archive instant. Which is more than you can say about another famous Gish silent made for MGM, “The Wind’’ (1928).