Day Of The Triffids (1963) (2 Viewers)

[disctrip]

What is the best copy out there for this film? I know there is no Blu-ray yet, but am looking for a widescreen edition.

 

[jayembee]

As far as I know, the only releases that exist are bootlegs. Recommending one would be against HTF rules (and they're probably all crappy anyway).

 

[BobO'Link]

The "best" DVD I've found is from a quasi-bootleg company called "Cheesy Flicks" (they claimed everything they released was PD - but... no, it wasn't). It's flat WS (aka non-anamorphic), is in "good enough" shape (read - watchable but only a marginal improvement over any of the P&S releases I've seen), and is long OOP. You can find that transfer on youtube.

Glenn Erikson (aka cinesavant) has some information here (and mentions that "Cheesy Flicks" release):

DVD Savant Revival Screening Review: The Day of the Triffids (1963)

and, sadly, a report of the passing of Mike Hyatt, who was personally restoring the film, here:

CineSavant Column – CineSavant

cinesavant.com

I've not seen anything else but absolutely know if a new, remastered, release comes out he'll be the first to trumpet its arrival.

I own a copy of the BBC mini-series mentioned in the above link but haven't yet watched it.

 

[EricSchulz]

It’s so sad this hasn’t gotten a proper release. It’s a classic! I need to check out the BBC version as I seem to recall it was available to stream a while ago.

 

[disctrip]

Maybe Kino or Arrow?

 

[SD_Brian]

I could have sworn Day of the Triffids had been released, but now realize I was confusing it with Night of the Lepus.

 

[Douglas R]

As an Allied Artists film, isn’t it part of Warner Bros library (for the US)?

 

[EricSchulz]

If you’re interested:
The original movie is streaming on Tubi and YouTube, the 1981 BBC version is apparently on Pluto and the 2009 TV version (BBC?) is on YouTube.
Has anyone ever read the original story by John Wyndham?

 

[disctrip]

I picked up a copy (DVD) Widescreen, on Amazon France today. Hopefully it will be a decent transfer. It says it is a Special Edition. We shall see.

 

[disctrip]

There is also an Italian Edition on Amazon Italy.

 

[Robert Harris]

Mike was my assistant on two projects, and I could never have asked for a more dedicated or professional comrade.

He owned Triffids and had been working tirelessly to clean the OCN for the past decade - by hand. He was a perfectionist, who would not go digital.

He will be incredibly missed.

 

[Charles Smith]

I was so sorry when I heard he had died, and I hope there's a way for his work to proceed.

The Wyndham novels are wonderful.

 

[KeithDA]

Has anyone ever read the original story by John Wyndham?

Yes! I was first introduced to 'Triffids' at school and went on to read many more of his particularly British stories. This foray into Sci Fi led me to Asimov and Clarke and is probably why I enjoy so many Sci Fi films....

 

[TheSteig]

He wanted a lot of money for Triffids which is why nobody went for the dangling fish on the pole unfortunately. I really hope someone will release the film in his memory someday

 

[Capt D McMars]

Mike was my assistant on two projects, and I could never have asked for a more dedicated or professional comrade.

He owned Triffids and had been working tirelessly to clean the OCN for the past decade - by hand. He was a perfectionist, who would not go digital.

He will be incredibly missed.

So Robert, what happened to all of his work? Is someone else picking up the torch and running to complete it in Mikes name? That seems like the thing to do, to not let all of Mikes work go for naught!!!

 

[Robert Harris]

So Robert, what happened to all of his work? Is someone else picking up the torch and running to complete it in Mikes name? That seems like the thing to do, to not let all of Mikes work go for naught!!!

Don't know what his situation was. No family of which I'm aware. His brother passed away several years ago.

 

[aPhil]

He owned Triffids and had been working tirelessly to clean the OCN for the past decade - by hand. He was a perfectionist, who would not go digital.

Sometimes "perfectionist" is mental illness.
I hope the film gets to good hands and finally comes to light again.
I last saw it a few years ago when Monster Bash in PA showed the laserdisc of the film.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Mike Hyatt was a wonderful man and a dear friend for thirty years. He was a sweet, kind, and gentle soul.

We first met in 1994 when he was at Goldwyn Studios working on MY FAIR LADY and had so many great times together over the years.

Here's Mike with Jack Theakston and myself in 2010 when he visited New York to premiere his work-in-progress 35mm restoration of DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS at MoMA. And later in 2017 with Greg Kintz during a delightful day spent sightseeing in Griffith Park. There were fascinating conversations about film, restoration projects and always lots of laughs. He had a wonderfully dry and infectious sense of humor.

His sudden passing came as a shock to all of us. He is missed.

Rest assured; he made his wishes known on TRIFFIDS. Please ask no questions as I can say nothing further at this time.

May he rest in peace.

 

[Robert Harris]

Mike Hyatt was a wonderful man and a dear friend for thirty years. He was a sweet, kind, and gentle soul.

We first met in 1994 when he was at Goldwyn Studios working on MY FAIR LADY and had so many great times together over the years.

Here's Mike with Jack Theakston and myself in 2010 when he visited New York to premiere his work-in-progress 35mm restoration of DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS at MoMA. And later in 2017 with Greg Kintz during a delightful day spent sightseeing in Griffith Park. There were fascinating conversations about film, restoration projects and always lots of laughs. He had a wonderfully dry and infectious sense of humor.

His sudden passing came as a shock to all of us. He is missed.

Rest assured; he made his wishes known on TRIFFIDS.

Please ask no questions as I can say nothing further at this time. May he rest in peace.

Ahhh, Mike—

Wonderful guy, great and passionate assistant. And yes, his sense of humor.

We once brought him to a meeting with studio execs - half women - and someone asked me how we were able to handle certain problems.

Before I could speak, he averred “We can rotoscope. If you like, during the scene at the water with Kirk, we can have lightning bolts coming out of Jean’s nipples.”

Umm, okay…

 

[Bob Furmanek]