Monsters, John! Monsters from the id! Warners 'Forbidden Planet SE' R1, & R2 June '07

John Hodson · 20-07-2006, 08:24

A few more details on those Forbidden Planet releases, coming in R1 November, revealed late yesterday. From 'USA Today':

Forbidden Planet will be released by Warner Bros. Nov. 14 in two DVD editions to mark its 50th anniversary. The two-disc special edition ($27) includes the restored film, three documentaries and other programs featuring Robby the Robot. A collector's edition ($60) comes with a Robby action figure and lobby cards.

Damn! I'm strangely tempted - though I think I'll resist - to own that 'Robby action figure'. I had one as a small child (well, didn't everyone?)

A little more courtesy of the HTF:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art_AD

Some Specs per Variety:
Warner Home Video is expected to announce today that what many film historians consider the most influential sci-fi film ever made will arrive Nov. 14 in two DVD editions: a two-disc special edition and an ultimate collector's edition. For both editions, the movie, in a new widescreen version, has been digitally transferred from restored film and audio elements, while the soundtrack has been remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1.

Extras include commentaries, additional scenes, three documentaries and two subsequent programs featuring the movie's celebrated Robby the Robot: the 1958 MGM feature film "The Invisible Boy" and the "Robot Client" episode from TV's "The Thin Man."

jonathan.e · 20-07-2006, 15:11

I guess Robby completists will have to shell out for a season of Columbo if they want to add that Mel Ferrer ep to their collection as well. Be interested to see what kind of quality that Robby toy is. There are several superb Japanese models (I have one!) available but they start at like $200 so if it’s not just some throway tat I could be persuaded to add it to my pile of "stuff I should have grown out of decades ago"!

I’m assuming one of those commentary tracks will feature Leslie Nielsen? As one of the few surviving key players it is vital his memories of the production are captured. They‘re missing a trick not bundling a further set with the groundbreaking soundtrack. Most afficionados will have it already but it would have been nice to see it get a wider audience.

the thing with no name · 20-07-2006, 15:20

can't wait for this, one of my favourites when i first got into 50's sci-fi when i was young. Not sure about the collectors edition, if the only difference is the toy, it would need to be a damn good one to start me thinking about customs etc etc, not to mention another 'toy' to annoy the missus!

Spectre07 · 20-07-2006, 18:46

Fantastic News. I have no reservations about purchasing the collectors edition. Once I almost spent £250 at a collectors fair on a Robbie the Robot figure. A lot of money in the late 80's and me a poor student. I was £90 short and the seller wouldn't budge from his price by more than 20 quid. The figure was from the 60's and I've rarely seen them for sale but the last I saw one was 8 years ago and the asking price was £1450.

anephric · 20-07-2006, 19:08

If he authentically replicates booze, I'm in.

Spectre07 · 20-07-2006, 20:43

booze is overated, but if you flicked the antenae(sp) on the side of the head with your fingers they spun round right good.

Wes Moynihan · 21-07-2006, 07:18

The brilliant and creepy soundtrack is available here, essential for lovers of experimental electronica...

anephric · 21-07-2006, 07:30

...and looking at that Amazon listing and related products, I never knew that Jack Dangers composed an alt. score for Forbidden Planet (which is embarrassing, since I used to be quite a big Meat Beat Manifesto fan). Has anyone got it?

John Hodson · 21-07-2006, 08:30

A little more from Davis DVD:

Quite possibly one of the most influential sci-fi films of the last century, Warner Home Video revisits Forbidden Planet in a new two-disc 50th Anniversary Edition due on November 14th. The 1956 film arrives with a brand-new anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 track, each digitally restored and remastered from original CinemaScope film and audio elements. Bonus materials will include audio commentary tracks, additional deleted scenes, three documentaries, the 1958 MGM feature film "The Invisible Boy" and an episode from "The Thin Man" TV series ("Robot Client"), both featuring Robby the Robot.

Also available will be a Forbidden Planet: Ultimate Collector's Edition, featuring a Robby the Robot action figure, a portfolio of lobby card reproductions, a mail-in offer for a theatrical one-sheet and steelcase packaging. Retail is $26.99 for the two-disc set, $59.92 for the Collector's Edition.

the thing with no name · 21-07-2006, 08:49

ahhhhhhhhhhhh - steelcase packaging on the collectors set?
If i've said it once i've said it many times - I just looove steelbooks (how shallow am I?)

John Hodson · 21-07-2006, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by the thing with no name

ahhhhhhhhhhhh - steelcase packaging on the collectors set?
If i've said it once i've said it many times - I just looove steelbooks (how shallow am I?)

It's a humongous tin; there's a (poor) pic floating around, but you'll get the idea - here.

Boink! · 21-07-2006, 09:07

God, that's just given me a semi!

jonathan.e · 21-07-2006, 09:23

Tin set looks cool. Nice and retro. The care being lavished on this is heartwarming to see but it does point out the iniquity of the equally beloved "This Island Earth" being tossed out onto disc within a few months of FP without even a trailer as far as I’m aware. How I wish that too was a Warners property.

the thing with no name · 21-07-2006, 10:34

wow- that is a big tin - looks like the kind of things that ezydvd are doing as 'exclusives'. Maybe as big as the King Kong tin, but a bit wider by the look of it.

Person A · 21-07-2006, 11:08

With all this love of steel, somebody should start a tin fetish thread.

I'm normally an avid avoider of overpackaged, overpriced 'collector's editions' but I must say that Forbidden Planet set does look enticing.

John Hodson · 21-07-2006, 11:22

I think I'm doomed; and this is why.

jackal · 21-07-2006, 11:47

Somehow I've managed to go my whole life never having seen a second of Forbidden Planet (a curious achievement given my fondness for sci-fi), so I can't resist this. The only question is whether I can keep myself from shelling out on UCE, and right now I don't fancy my chances ...

Frank Maher · 21-07-2006, 11:49

You're doomed? Aren't we all!

There'll be some calculating done between now and November on how to get that cannister through the post!

jcgreen · 21-07-2006, 12:09

I'll probably get the SE, unless someone offers an awfully good price on the UCE. I barely have space for my DVDs, much less action figures.

jackal · 21-07-2006, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathan.e

I guess Robby completists will have to shell out for a season of Columbo if they want to add that Mel Ferrer ep to their collection as well.

I just watched Mind over Mayhem again today and it's a pretty good Columbo. Ole' Robby is "MM7", built by a boy genius (did he stand on a stepladder?) and used by the murderer to provide an alibi. And in keeping with the sci-fi theme, Robert Walker Jr (Star Trek's Charlie X) also guest stars.