- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
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- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
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Do Sony own those?Hmmm, did “Movie” and “Caper” get UHD releases, I don’t recall. If not why start with Manhattan?
Hmmm, did “Movie” and “Caper” get UHD releases, I don’t recall. If not why start with Manhattan?
Do Sony own those?
Hmmm, did “Movie” and “Caper” get UHD releases, I don’t recall. If not why start with Manhattan?
Correct. The only Muppet or Muppet-adjacent properties under Sony control are Manhattan, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Muppets From Space. The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper were originally released by AFD [North American film distribution arm of ITC ultimately absorbed by Universal], but rights reverted to Henson sometime in the 90s and these were included in the sale of Muppet properties to Disney. The Jim Henson Company retained The Dark Crystal and granted distribution rights to Sony, following a brief release by Disney under its Henson label on VHS and LaserDisc. Both Manhattan and Labyrinth were TriStar releases and retained by Sony.I believe they are with Disney.
Labyrinth was licensed to Nelson Entertainment for home video (even though Tri-Star handled theatrical distribution), which then was absorbed by New Line (pre-Warner acquisition). When that license ran out, it was then licensed to Sony. The Tri-Star logo was removed by Nelson Entertainment and was not restored until Henson Associates licensed it to Sony. I just wish Sony had restored the exit music that was included on the New Line laserdisc release (an extended mix of Underground).Both Manhattan and Labyrinth were TriStar releases and retained by Sony.
And, as we know, Disney cares zip about their catalog, even important ones like the Muppets. We're still waiting for "When Love Is Gone" to get into the blu of "Muppet Christmas Carol."I believe they are with Disney.
The recent gorgeous restoration of Cinderella for its 4K release indicates that at least some people at Disney seem to care about their catalog. I don't have a 4K player and even I was stunned at how much better the remastered Blu-ray looked as compared to its original release.And, as we know, Disney cares zip about their catalog, even important ones like the Muppets.
I think they added this sequence to the version on Disney+ last year. Of course, that's not the same as physical media. But it's better than nothing.We're still waiting for "When Love Is Gone" to get into the blu of "Muppet Christmas Carol."
They have no choice about the major animated classics. Otherwise, they don't care about the huge catalog they now own. Don't look for any of the Fox archive to show up, nor even their own releases like Mr. Holland's Opus, a Touchstone release I have on blu only because MGM owns the home video rights in Australia. As for Disney+, not going for their cash grab.The recent gorgeous restoration of Cinderella for its 4K release indicates that at least some people at Disney seem to care about their catalog. I don't have a 4K player and even I was stunned at how much better the remastered Blu-ray looked as compared to its original release.
Obviously, you are correct that catalog releases haven't really been a priority for them for the last several years. But as evidenced by Cinderella being so excellent, they can still put out high-quality stuff when properly motivated. Whether that passion would extend to Muppets stuff under their care is another question.
I think they added this sequence to the version on Disney+ last year. Of course, that's not the same as physical media. But it's better than nothing.
Correct. The only Muppet or Muppet-adjacent properties under Sony control are Manhattan, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Muppets From Space. The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper were originally released by AFD [North American film distribution arm of ITC ultimately absorbed by Universal], but rights reverted to Henson sometime in the 90s and these were included in the sale of Muppet properties to Disney. The Jim Henson Company retained The Dark Crystal and granted distribution rights to Sony, following a brief release by Disney under its Henson label on VHS and LaserDisc. Both Manhattan and Labyrinth were TriStar releases and retained by Sony.