Stepping Out (Liza Minnelli)

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 11:00am

I've tried to get an answer on the imdb.com messageboard without success so I thought I'd try here.

Does anyone know why STEPPING OUT starring Liza Minnelli, Bill Irwin, Jane Krakowski, Ellen Greene, Andrea Martin and Julie Walters has never been released on DVD, 18 years after it's release?

The film also boasts a song written especially for it by Kander & Ebb.

Factoring in the title song written by a famous Broadway duo and its major Broadway stars, it's got a fantastic Broadway pedigree.

I love it so much, but I've only ever seen it in pan-and-scan on video.

Can any one please shed some light for me?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 11:08am

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 11:11am

Are you telling me there are hardly any prints of this Paramount film left? That is absurd.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 9:38pm

I don't know why it hasn't been released on dvd but it's available on VHS. It's crazy, but it's one of my mom's favorite films. :)

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 10:05pm

The film was a notorious flop at the time of its release and it came and went quickly. In those days, videos weren't always automatic and films usually didn't appear on cassette for the better part of a year after the initial release. STEPPING OUT disappeared without a trace and my guess is that its relative obscurity has kept it out of circulation on DVD. I'm not saying it's deserved (I've never seen the film); I'm just guessing based on its flop status.

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 3:33am

There have been lots of flops prior to home video popularity which have been released on DVD --

Ishtar
Can't Stop The Music
Head (The Monkees)
Heaven's Gate
Howard The Duck

and all of them are available on DVD.

If anyone has ANY information about this film's potential release, I'd be extremely grateful.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 10:20am

Your best bet is to just kinda hang in there. Chances are one of the major DVD releasers will put out a Liza Minnelli box set, and include this as one of the films. At that point, it'll be available.

It's kinda like the film version of Mame in that respect.

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 10:27am

Because this film has so many tap dance scenes, it really needs to be seen in its correct aspect ratio. Half the film is missing on VHS.

If you love films by Lewis Gilbert (Education Rita, Shirley Valentine), or if you love feel-good films, you will love this film.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 11:16am

A quick online search found a link where you can watch the entire film online in its original 1:85.1 (widescreen) aspect ratio. If you have a MegaUpload account, you can even download it (and transfer it onto DVD if you wish).

https://www.megavideo.com/?v=QVCGFXTO

Here are some screen caps I just made from the online film print:





And some people think the internet is just for porn.

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 11:38am

You are too kind for finding this for me. I've joined but before I pay to download, are you able to tell me if the download is better quality than what I watch for free? Thanks for all your help so far.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 11:47am

The download has about 1 hour and 20 minutes to finish so I'll let you know when its done. Generally, the quality on the online view is blurry and crappy but most of the downloads are pristine. Here's hoping this one is, too. At least its in its original aspect ratio, which was never done on any of the home video releases: BETA, VHS nor laserdisc.

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 11:53am

I so appreciate you doing this -- I'll wait to hear from you about the verdict. I've only ever seen this film on video, since its cinematic release in Sydney lasted 2 weeks. It's never been on Australian television.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 12:27pm

It took 'Howard The Duck' 22 years to get to DVD!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 1:07pm

Um, DVDs weren't around 22 years ago, boo.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 1:08pm

As if you don't know what I mean!
Boo back!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 1:38pm

There is no rhyme or reason why some films make it to DVD and others do not. The fact that Neil Simon's "Only When I Laugh", which was a box office hit, is not on DVD escapes me.

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 10/25/09 at 10:35pm

Dear BrodyFosse123,

How was the quality of the film after you downloaded it, please?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 10/26/09 at 3:02am

I find this movie so wonderful! It was made when no one was making musicals! I´m glad that musicals are big hits nowadays unlike the way it was back then.
Liza is just magical in this film. Ellen, Jane, Julie, Billy and all the Broadway stars are fabulous in this film. I think it was Shelley Winter´s last film...not sure. Anyhow, Shelley and Liza steal the movie. A must for any LIZA fan.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/26/09 at 8:22am

And some people think the internet is just for porn

For some of us, downloading obscure Liza Minnelli IS porn.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/26/09 at 11:26am

Sorry for the delay, TheKryptoniteKid.

The quality is a tad better than the online view, but not by much. Its still fuzzy (not sharp and crisp) but it is in full stereo and its the entire film -- from the Paramount Pictures mountain opening logo to the end of the credits.

Again... its in its original 1:85.1 aspect ratio so no complaints on my end.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/27/09 at 12:48am

I finally had time to watch it.

This is really good so far, and I gotta say, Liza's solo dance in the first third of the film...seemed very "Music and the Mirror."

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 10:55am

Thank you so much, BrodyFosse123. I will download it and watch it on my iMac. I don't the quality is good enough to blow it up onto my 50 inch plasma. And in the meantime, I will wait patiently for it to arrive on DVD...........

[Ozeedancer]

Posted: 11/5/09 at 7:15pm

When this movie was released on laserdisc in its widescreen original aspect ratio, I bought a copy. So, it is great to have it in a format that is high quality video and audio. I thought I would let you know because it was mentioned that it had never been released on laserdisc.
Updated On: 11/5/09 at 07:15 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 11/5/09 at 7:41pm

I have it.

[TheKryptoniteKid]

Posted: 11/6/09 at 5:41am

You are lucky to have it, Ozeedancer. The version I downloaded from the link given here is too soft to watch on my 50 inch plasma, but it's ok on my iMac if I keep the window small. I can only hope it gets released on DVD sooner rather than later.