markfp2

Oh pattypancake. How could you? Do I detect a touch of guilt in your post? Are you looking for redemption for your horrible deed? The tar is being heated and the feathers are being plucked over at TCM. Repent before it's too late. I haven't watched AMC since they made the switch, and I won't in the future, but deep down inside, I know there are "closet" AMC fans right here on this very forum. (We must hunt them down and destroy them to keep them from multiplying.) I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've even caught my wife watching AMC and it drives me up the wall when we happen to have the same movie on a beautiful uncut DVD just feet from where she's sitting. I'm gong to miss her. Seriously, if it makes you happy, enjoy yourself.

To the best of my recollection, it never has been shown on TCM. Since it's also not available on DVD and, as far as I know, has ever been released on VHS, I doubt that the rights are available in the United States. It's much like the TCM situation here in North America. While most of the films run on TCM in the U.S. are also run on TCM in Canada other films can't be because TCM doesn't have the Canadian rights to those films. Every now and then, I look at the UK schedule and always see a few choice titles running there but not here. I really wish they could be.

I go along with ignoring them. Trolls post to get a rise out of people. If they don't get relies they'll get bored and go to some other site. At least for the time being, I'd rather we dealt with them instead of having the boards closely monitored. I know sometimes it's easy to be fooled by a troll and reply, but once we realize our mistake just stop replying.

What you're looking for is not the "original' version. That was the classic made in 1953. The one you're talking about is the 2005 version directed by Timothy Hines. It appears to have been rushed out just before the release of the Tom Cruise film. I bought it in Wal-Mart for about $7.00 because it follows the original book much closer than the other movies. However, even at that price I feel I overpaid. It's very poorly made, with very primitive special effects and I've seen better acting in high school drama clubs. Haven't seen it in any other store and I'm pretty sure Wal-Mart doesn't still stock it. If you really want to see it, you might try some of the internet movie stores starting with TCM's "shopping" link at the top of this page. I hope you enjoy it, but don't say I didn't warn you.

First, let me say, that I do not condone censorship in any form. However, that said, I don't think we should lay the blame on TCM. After all, they are a relatively small part of the Time-Warner conglomerate. No doubt, the TCM executives have to follow orders from the bosses up in "corporate". Remember, TCM is the channel that recently showed one of the most racist films ever made "The Birth of a Nation". I imagine there was a lot of discussion at various levels of T-W over that one and thankfully it was shown. I'm sure there are executives in upper management who would prefer TCM to only show edited films because it's the "safer" way to go. TCM has never shown a pattern of censorship and, as we all know ,most every film shown is shown uncut. To me, it's a matter of perhaps losing a battle, but still winning the war.

Hey, welcome to the boards. TCM does show films of the stars you mentioned, but you have to remember that 80% of all silent films no longer exist. The studios destroyed them decades ago because they thought that, in those pre-tv days, the films no longer had any commercial value. It was a true disaster. There may be some others where a single print may still be around, but usually it's in an archive or private collection and not available to TCM to show. However, I hope what they do show will keep you interested.

I'm not going to try to change your thinking since I agree with it. I've stopped worrying about remakes. I don't go see them. Besides, most of them bomb at the boxoffice anyway. If producers want to throw away their money on remakes instead of hiring creative writers to do original movies, I don't feel sorry for them.

Well, I have no problem watching movies many times over. However when it comes to watching films from the middle, it depends on whether I've seen it before or not. If I've seen it before, I'll jump right in, but if I've never seen it I'll just sample a few minutes and then make a note to catch it the next time. Of course, there's always an exception if something really catches my interest, but usually I'll wait. It's funny though, when I was a kid and all the theatres ran continuously, we thought nothing of going in after the film started. At various points in the movie, you would always hear somebody say "let's go, this is where we came in".

If your cable company told you it was done at TCM's request they're lieing to you. The tcmprogrammer indicated, in a post a week or two ago, that TCM has no control over where cable companies places them (including Time-Warner), that they don't get a cent extra from the cable companies and it actually hurts them when a move like yours is made. However, it is a fact that the government is requiring all channels to be digital by 2009 so the cable companies are trying to get folks to switch now by moviing favorite channels to the digital tier. Of course, that also allows them to charge you more now instead of waiting another two years. As said, TCM can't do a thing about it, if you want TCM in those other rooms, your only choice is to go digital and pay the extra fee. What is really sad is all the senior citizens who's only joy is TCM, but are on a limited income and can't afford to switch. In fact, they won't even be able to watch over-the-air channels without buying a special converter box for a couple of hundred bucks. How many will lose tv completely?

You may very well be correct. I know people say "it must be available 'cause it's never shown", but that's not always true. When a movie package is leased to a channel, be it cable or local, it's usually for several years. Most likely all of the films are run at least once, but after a time, certain films just don't get rerun. Perhaps, the reaction wasn't good to it, or it doesn't fit the current programming style or maybe the program manager just doesn't like it. So it ends up sitting on the shelf for who knows how many years and nobody else can show it. It's very possible this is the case with the titles you mentioned. Another thing that's been discussed here many times is the fact that just because TCM and Warner Bros. are owned by the same company, TCM doesn't have access to every WB movie ever made. I sure wish they did. Message was edited by: markfp2

If you're on the east coast, "Cinefest" happens every March in Syracuse, NY. It's four days of rare silents and early talkies most of which you won't find outside of archives and private collections. Go to our website at www.picking.com and then click on "Cinefest 2007". The schedule is still a "work in progress" and isn't posted yet, but you can get other details. You can also click on last year's schedule and get an idea of the types of films we show. Join us, you'll have a ball.

Bravo, Anne. There are a lot of folks here who will never accept any change at all on TCM and that's really too bad. The surest way for TCM go over to the "dark side", like AMC did, is to allow it to go stale. When management says that they have no intention of going that route I believe them. However, it's a fact of broadcast life that to keep "healthy" TCM has to grow its audience and get and keep younger viewers. I'm reminded of the old "Lawrence Welk Show". It's average viewer well over 60 years old. Although it was an extremely popular program, for something like 20 years, its ratings kept dropping each year. Was it that folks didn't like the show anymore? No. The simple fact was that it's audience was literally dying off. I'd hate to see that happen here someday. Do I like every change? Of course not, but if giving up a few hours a week for programs I'm not interested is what's required to keep the rest of the time the way we like it, I'm fine with that. There has never been a network that has done a fraction of what TCM has for lovers of classics films. It's time for those of us who appreciate TCM's efforts to stand up and be counted. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, TCM!.

If memory serves me right, I think they did run it several years ago. It would be a good one for them to show again if it's still available to them.

Good idea. If they have enough of her films, I wouldn't be surprised if they do a tribute. It usually takes them a week or so to work it into the schedule.

Personally, I've always preferred Christopher Lee over Bela Lugosi. "Horror of Dracula" has always been my favorite.

I'm sure that TCM would love to play some of the classic Disney shorts and features, but as others have said Disney keeps a very tight control over them. It reminds me of the classic animated segment in "Anchors Aweigh" where Gene Kelly dances with Jerry the Mouse. Originally, MGM wanted to "borrow" Mickey Mouse from Walt Disney. A common procedure when it came to live actors. Disney is quoted as saying "Mickey Mouse works for me, and will never work at another studio". I guess that still goes today.

I'm sure your intentions are good, and I think it's time for everybody who hasn't gotten a DVD recorder yet to do so, but from past experience, I would be cautious of buying one so cheaply. Phillips is a well-known name and usually doesn't sell at such a low price so it leads me to believe that they might be "seconds" or "factory refurbished" returns.

Welcome to the boards. The first thing you might try is clicking on "shopping" at the top of this page. This will link you to one of the largest sources of videos and DVD in the country. You can search the titles your're interested in. If they don't have them, chances are they are not available.

Welcome to the boards. As most of us here are very thankful for, TCM only shows movies and movie related specials including the Dick Cavett interviews with movie legends. Considering the flack they took for even showing those, I doubt that TCM would ever go the old series route. I'm quite sure, however, if channels that specialize in older TV shows like Nick at Nite or TV Land wanted to show the series you mentioned, Time-Warner would be very happy to take their money. With those two channels doing so well, I'm not sure T-W would care to make the large investment needed to start another classic TV channel.

Both have run on TCM, although it was several years ago. I believe that both were also released on VHS, but I know they've never been released on DVD. They really should be. Another Doris Day film that needs a DVD release is "The West Point Story". She's her usual terrific self in it, but in my opinion the movie is stolen by a dancing James Cagney. It would be great to release all three as a set.

You're correct. "Shane" is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30th at 10:15pm eastern time. Judging from the other films TCM has leased from Paramount, I'd say it will be shown many times.

Although not as old as "The Picture Snatcher", a favorite newspaper film from the '50s is "-30-" which Jack Webb starred and directed. I haven't seen it around in a number of years although I think it was out on VHS at one time. It's a Warner Bros. film, so maybe it will show up on TCM someday. In case you're wondering, newspaper reporters would put -30- at the end of their stories as an indication to their editor that it was finished. I don't know how that started. -30-

Yes, it's possible that a whole batch of them were bad, but coming from Warners I'd be a little surprised that it wasn't caught. I'll check with a couple of other forums I go to and see if anyone else has the same problem.

Remember, that was the over 40 years ago and plastic surgeons couldn't perform the miracles they do today.

Maybe there are others, but the one I'm familiar with is the L. Jeffery Selznick School of Film Preservation at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York. It's a fine program. I work with some of students at a classic film convention I'm involved with every year and they're always a very impressive group. For information go to eastmanhouse.org then click on "education" and then "advance programs". I envy you and them. I wish there was such a school when I was your age. Good luck.