Fred_C Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 Does anyone know why Viva Zapata has not been released on DVD in the US? This is an Oscar winner with Brando, Quinn, Elia Kazan directing. This is an important film and should be available. Why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzcutter Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 I believe it is because of rights issues. I think it was once released on DVD but is now out of print. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephan55 Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 Who knows what guides the mindset of the powers that be??? I too, am a big fan of this film, and consider it one of Brando's and Kazan's best collaborations. It should be as readily available as "A Streetcar Named Desire," and "On The Waterfront." Why it is not, is hard to fathom. As far as I know, it has never been domestically released in DVD format, but once was in VHS format. Some of the purchasers of the import DVD's have complained that they have been unacceptably "re-edited" by those suppliers, deleting portions of key scenes that help to give the film a greater meaning. Here is an Amazon link to what's out there. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_wl?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Viva+Zapata&x=14&y=21 I may be forced to order the older VHS and and make my own DVD from it, if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_C Posted April 20, 2008 Author Share Posted April 20, 2008 Yes, I also heard that some re-editing had been done, at least on the Korean versions. Not sure about the Portuguese version. But your view on dubbing from VHS may be the best way to keep the truest form of the film, if indeed the VHS version is the full film, and suffer with VHS quality. If that was released in the US, I would think the odds are better that it is the full theatrical version or the closest you could get. Somebody at Fox must know the details of the obstruction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChelseaRialtoStudios Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I have Fox's Region 2 DVD, but I've never compared it to my 16mm print of the original US release. Of course, the running time is shorter because PAL transfers film at 25fps. The Steinbeck estate has been blocking a US DVD. They are officially displeased with the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_C Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 I guess that means the Steinbeck's still have some ownership in the film. It's amazing to me that this did not get resolved for the initial release but comes up now for DVD release and only in the US. I remember seeing this on TV in the 70s and must have been aired at other times. How come the Steinbecks didn't have clout then. Maybe this is just the estate having a problem and not that Steinbeck himself had a problem? He died in 1968. So does that tell us there was not a problem before his death and that with the advent of new mediums for new sales, VHS and DVD, the estate finds a way to claim displeasure. My belief is that this is art and that it should be available to the public, as almost all movies are. But, I digress to my soapbox. I wonder if Fox sees the possibility of dollars here to keep pressing the issue. We can only hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzcutter Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Fred C, It may be that the studio does not have the rights in perpetuity or that the contract with Steinbeck (and now his estate) did not take into account any known and future media (meaning VHS and/or DVD). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L'Angelo Mysteriouso Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Look what happened with "It's a Wonderful Life." Capra's heirs let the copyright expire and, for a few years, it was everywhere on TV. Then the heirs succesfuly proved in court that they still held the copyright on the original script. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_C Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 At least we got to see, and I believe we can buy/rent copies of "It's a Wonderful Life". With "Viva Zapata", it's seems to be a different story. Like no one cares to press the issue for an Oscar winning film with stellar cast and directing, not to mention the writing. So, is this really a case where the Steinbeck estate is so upset with the treatment of the book that they wish to deny public access to the film. According to IMDB, Steinbeck got writing credits, but since I don't have the film, I don't know if he worked on the screenplay at all. Does anyone know if there was a controversy at the time the film was made as to Steinbeck's dissatisfaction with it? I'll be the first to admit I don't know the specifics, and Hollywood can be ruthless, but it just LOOKS like the Steinbeck estate is folding its arms and snubbing the American film art community. Maybe a movement will come to FREE ZAPATA! We'll all be wearing T-shirts with Marlon Brando in his sombrero and mustache. Then someone powerful will yell "What's your name?!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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