Blurg. EVENING PRIMROSE dvd delayed again.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 1:12pm

This is the second time it has been delayed. Amazon.com just notified me by email to apologize for the inconvenience. It is set for June 29 now, allegedly. Why am I getting a bad feeling about this?

Awww, wook at widdow Sondheim. =)

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 1:21pm

You know, I've watched Evening Primrose and I've listened to the music and I just can't get into it. Outside one or two songs, which can be found on numerous CDs, I don't find it compelling. I think the anticipation of viewing something that was hard to come by far outweighed the satisfaction of watching it. I can understand the enthusiasm by completists, but it's not something I feel the need to purchase and own.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 2:45pm

I think it is a beautiful 40 minutes of entertainment and have enjoyed my crap copy for years. I have been in love with "I Remember Sky" which contains some of my favorite Sondheim lyrics. I look at Primrose as a musical Twilight Zone episode. Sure, it wears its minimal budget on its sleeve, but I think the idea of moving into a department store and discovering a preexisting society is magical. "Take Me To The World" is a lovely and expressive duet. I always dreamed Primrose would be remade as a television musical with some atmosphere-driven director at the helm. Early 90s David Lynch? I would have loved to see a younger Julee Cruise as Ella. She has that alien and ethereal quality a child-woman might have. Ella should be, in a way, a "wild child" and I would love to see how that could be interpreted in a new filmed production. The book wouldn't need to be overhauled either, just slight revisions.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 4:17pm

The delay is frustrating but it will prove worth the added wait. Apparently they found a much better copy of the film to use as a master.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 5:19pm

Well, that's a horse of a different color.

[Marquise]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 6:43pm

Wouldn't it be something if they actually came across an actual color copy of the original broadcast?

I just can't believe the total disregard for protecting and archiving material for posterity for future generations to enjoy. It also showed a lack of any regard to the people involved in putting the productions together.

What was the mind set back then? "Okay, it aired...we'll rerun it once and then let's re-use the tape for 11 0' Clock news footage..." I personally think it's sad.

If they've found better source material maybe the wait will be worth it. It may be in black and white but it may have a better resolution.
Updated On: 4/14/10 at 06:43 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 6:49pm

Yes film and Tv considered all product disposable. Don't get me started on Warner Bros for not saving at least one complete print of A STAR IS BORN. Warner even erased all the stereo soundtrack master tapes for many of the 1950's films because they thought that nonce the films were sold to TV no one would ever want to hear them in stereo again.

[Marquise]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 7:00pm

Wow....they weren't really thinking ahead now were they? Such carelessness...

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 7:18pm

Thank you for posting this twinbelters. it's knida spooky that this thread appeard. I was wondering over the weekend if this was on DVD and did a search. Didn't look on Amazon. I will keep an eye out now. I am sure it will be posted here when it is released. I am not a real completist but I love Sonheim and would love to see this!

Posted: 4/19/10 at 11:59pm

Video tape used to be terribly expensive (which is why very few full runs of suych "expendable" shows like sap operas were saved pre 1977 or so)

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 5:51pm

The subject of "lost" film and television is an interesting one. I had a good time reading this wiki article one afternoon over a year ago. Whoever wrote it has a lot of passion for the subject. It is so satisfying to hear when something has been discovered. I was thrilled when the A Connecticut Yankee original Broadway cast album was discovered and reissued on Decca Broadway.
Wiki article on lost film

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/24/10 at 12:12pm

[twinbelters]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 12:36pm

Amazon just sent me an email saying I can expect the dvd between June 3 - 22! The sooner the better.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 12:54pm

Netflix has put it up on their site. I just put it in my "saved" queue. It says release date unknown.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 5/12/10 at 12:40pm

Just received an email from Amazon stating the release has been moved to Octoboer 26 2010. I expect this won't be the last delay. Anyone got any news on this?

[twinbelters]

Posted: 10/28/10 at 4:18pm

It was not delayed again! I have the lovely DVD release at home. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended. Now that you can actually see the performances the work is even better than I had ever imagined. It has some unpolished charm to it too.