Table of Contents
Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Introduction 3
1 The First Quarter Century: 1914-1939, Let Battle Commence 15
Introduction
The Reissue Bandwagon Begins to Roll
The First Reissue Boom: Chaplin Fever
Deception: The Fraud Squad
Self-Destruction: The Reissue Threat
The Last Taboo: Valentino
Reissue Phenomenon: Birth of a Nation
How Reissues Fitted the New Business Model
Talkies: The Impossible Equation
The New Horizon: Remakes and Synchronization
Intermittent Demand
Shortage Turns the Tide
Into the Record Books
Unlikely Reissue King: Charles Laughton
Financial Crisis and Looming War
Conclusion
2 The 1940s: Reissue Bust and Boom 41
Introduction
Thumbs Down to War Revivals
Longer, Shorter: New Versions of Old Movies
Reissues Unwanted Until the Shortage Bites
Drastic Action as Studios Curtail Reissues
The Growth of the Specialist Reissue Company
The Reissue Double Bill
"There's Gold in Them Thar Reissues" (Variety, April 2, 1947, 9)
Unions Demand Action
Conclusion
3 The 1940s: Case Studies-Haphazard Reissue 62
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The W.C. Fields Cult Begins
Gone with the Wind
The Wizard of Oz and the Anniversary Invention
4 The 1950s: Television Haunts the Industry 69
Introduction
Television: Opportunity and Threat
The Optimists
The Deceivers
Reissue Comebacks-Garbo and Chaplin
Victorious Defeat
The Fallow Years
King Kong to the Rescue
The Quantity Dilemma
Stretched to the Limit: Widescreen Revamps
The Drought
The Decade Ends on a High
Conclusion
5 The 1950s: Case Studies-Building a Reissue Arsenal 100
Introduction
Building a Reissue Arsenal: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1952)
The Birth of the Hitchcock Reissue Legend: The Lady Vanishes (1952)
Creating a Reissue Phenomenon: Gone with the Wind (1954)
The Lesson of Tarzan
6 1960-1963: The Jury Is Out 113
Introduction
The Second Tier Blockbuster: The Glenn Miller Story
The Exhibitor Knows Best: Friendly Persuasion
Roadshow Reinvention: The King and I
Oscars: The United Artists Rethink
Immunity: MGM and Disney
The Arthouse Hothouse
Blockbusters
Star Power
Conclusion
7 1964-1966: The Turning Point 142
Introduction
Game Changer No. 1: Bridge on the River Kwai
Game Changer No. 2-The James Bond Double Bill
Oscar Revamp
Musicals Bounce Back
Directors Exert Star Power
1966: From Famine to Domination
Four Little Films That Could: Lili, An Evening with Batman and Robin, Poor White Trash, La Dolce Vita
Conclusion
8 1967-1969: Husbandry-The "Threeissue": Reissuing the Reissue 167
Introduction
The MGM Legacy
Disney: Reissue Champ
United Artists: Play Them Till They Drop
The Bonnie and Clyde Phenomenon
A Reissue Star Is Born: Sidney Poitier
Endangered Species
Conclusion
9 The 1960s: Case Studies-Reissue Royalty, Old Retainers and Loyal Courtiers 193
Introduction
Queen Elizabeth
King Alfred
Old Masters: The Comedians
Rising from the Dead-Humphrey Bogart
The Workhorses: The Thomas Crown Affair, One Million Years B.C.
Unsung Hero: Darby O'Gill and the Little People
Conclusion
10 1970-1973: Sentence Commuted 212
Introduction
Fox on Fire
Roadshow Re-Cycle
Disney Attracts a Rival
Comedy Classics Entrenched
The Great Garbo Revival
Chaplin Rides Again
New Reissue Stars and Studios
The Other Champ Returns
Conclusion
11 1974-1979: The Rollercoaster Ride 233
Introduction
A Wall Too Far
Heavyweights Go Head- to-Head
Television Cuts the Big Four Down to Size
Tuning Up: That's Entertainment
1975: Sherlock Holmes Hits the Spot
The Classics Step Up
Fanboy Favorite: Sinbad
A New Era Beckons
Another Boom
1977: Alive to Opportunity
Classic Revival-Again
Star Wars: The Reissue "Wind Up"
1979: The "Threeissue" Epidemic
Conclusion
12 The 1970s: Case Studies-Slow Burners and Surprise Packets 260
Introduction
This Joint Is Smokin': Reefer Madness
Marx Brothers Mania: Animal Crackers
Rescued from Rejection: King of Hearts
The Oddest Love Story: Harold and Maude
Midnight Rendezvous: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Conclusion
13 1980-1999: Brave New Goldmine 271
Introduction
Video Cassette and Paycable
Thwarted Vision: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
The Greatest Reissue Story Ever Told: Napoleon
Re-Strike and Reissue Fever: A Star Is Born
Alfred Hitchcock: Reissue Poster Boy
Disney Domination
Atonement: Lawrence of Arabia, the Director's Cut
Righting Wrongs: Blade Runner, the Director's Cut
The Biggest Restoration of All Time: Star Wars
The French Are Coming (Back): Belle de Jour
The Resurrection of Orson Welles
Conclusion
14 2000-2014: Bigger Than Ever-How Did That Happen? 295
Introduction
Roadshow Redux: Fantasia 2000
Once Is Not Enough: Metropolis
The New Perennials: The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, The Polar Express and The Nightmare Before Christmas
All Join In: Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music
Reverse Reissue: It's a Wonderful Life
Epilogue or Prologue? What Next for the Reissue? 307
Appendices
A Top Reissues, 1940-1959 311
B Top Reissues, 1970-1979 312
C Disney Animated Feature Reissues, 1980-1989 313
D Pattern of Reissue Release, 1963-1979 314
E Reissues Reaching No. 1 in the Weekly Top Ten, 1960-1979 321
F Reissues in the Weekly Top Ten, 1960-1974 321
G Number of Entries Per Year in the Weekly Top Ten 323
H British Cinema Circuit Reissues, 1939-1979 324
Chapter Notes 330
Bibliography 437
Index 445
