Upcoming Betty Boop collection quesiton

[Madison Carter]

Coming out April 3 from Echo Bridge: http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Boop-Two-Disc-Collectors-Chain/dp/B000MTEFU0/ref=sr_1_13/104-2638779-7656756?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1174042545&sr=1-13

Does anyone know what to expect from this thing?

[MarkTheShark]

Coming out April 3 from Echo Bridge: http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Boop-Two-Disc-Collectors-Chain/dp/B000MTEFU0/ref=sr_1_13/104-2638779-7656756?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1174042545&sr=1-13

Does anyone know what to expect from this thing?

As I recall, Echo Bridge is a public domain label. Probably the same stuff already out there. But we'll see...

[MF TOON]

5.1 'Digitally Enhanced Audio' and a free keychain!


Oh yeah... and the same public domain prints that have been in circulation on about thirty seven DVD releases over the past ten years...

[Bricolo]

The best looking ones I have seen is the Platinum 2 disc set that has that logo in the corner and another logo between shorts with a much louder audio than the shorts.
Otherwise, import the not so great but better than nothing French incomplete complete collection based off of the laserdisc. You would have to remove the subtitles for each short manually.

[dandu]

I would love to see more PD DVDs of colorized versions myself (hugs golden age classics Betty Boop DVD).

[Jeffitarian]

I for one would like to see a decent Betty Boop compilation sans corner company logos and "enhanced" (added) sound effects. Poor Betty deserves much better treatment than the PD DVD releases I've seen and heard about...

[Ray Pointer]

Coming out April 3 from Echo Bridge: http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Boop-Two-Disc-Collectors-Chain/dp/B000MTEFU0/ref=sr_1_13/104-2638779-7656756?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1174042545&sr=1-13

Does anyone know what to expect from this thing?

Not much. While the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover," we are not dealing with a book. In this case you might want to judge a DVD by its cover. This one is good enough to get by and that's about it. Not much efffort put into the design. If the cartoons are from the 1936 and beyond period, why is the 1932 BETTY model on the cover along with Pudgy? The only reason for offering "digitally remastered sound" on what was perfectly acceptable on the original films was to enhance degraded sound on duped prints or establish this as a new version. Remember the Winstar releases and their dreadful "Feel the Sound" feature? And where are they today?

The rights to the BETTY BOOP and all other Paramount/Viacom owned cartoons have gone to Lion's Gate. Since this is not a release from them,
you can be sure that it is not official, and made up from sources already available among the PD circles. The amazing thing is that this company got
distirbution on a DVD containing cartoons that are already overexposed.

[David Gerstein]

This isn't the only Betty release from Echo Bridge. They've got two shorter volumes as well—and one of the two (https://www.echobridgehe.com/product.php?pnum=18409) is filled almost entirely with shorts that are most definitely not public domain: SNOW-WHITE, MORNING NOON AND NIGHT, etc.
The cover art looks like modern King Features callout designs (explaining the early Betty model), and it seems hard to believe they could include a Betty Boop keychain—a licensed product—without legal problems had not some kind of deal been struck.
My first suspicion was that this was a product licensed by King Features with no involvement from the film rights holders (much the same way as the owner of the Three Stooges character rights does not possess the films). But that doesn't explain the presence of copyrighted shorts on one volume.
Could Lions Gate themselves have subcontracted a small number of shorts? It sounds unlikely to me, but in that case it seems we're seeing a particularly brazen infringement in which Echo Bridge stands to lose a lot. Either they're selling unlicensed character merchandise and copyrighted shorts or they aren't.

[ltnut]

This isn't the only Betty release from Echo Bridge. They've got two shorter volumes as well—and one of the two (https://www.echobridgehe.com/product.php?pnum=18409) is filled almost entirely with shorts that are most definitely not public domain: SNOW-WHITE, MORNING NOON AND NIGHT, etc.
The cover art looks like modern King Features callout designs (explaining the early Betty model), and it seems hard to believe they could include a Betty Boop keychain—a licensed product—without legal problems had not some kind of deal been struck.
My first suspicion was that this was a product licensed by King Features with no involvement from the film rights holders (much the same way as the owner of the Three Stooges character rights does not possess the films). But that doesn't explain the presence of copyrighted shorts on one volume.
Could Lions Gate themselves have subcontracted a small number of shorts? It sounds unlikely to me, but in that case it seems we're seeing a particularly brazen infringement in which Echo Bridge stands to lose a lot. Either they're selling unlicensed character merchandise and copyrighted shorts or they aren't.

I looked at Echo Bridge's website and apparently the two shorter discs are the same as the Platinum 2 Disc set that I bought at Wal Mart from the $5.50 DVD bin a year or two back, and I believe that it's probably the same one Bricolo mentioned. It was a decent set for PD cartoons.

I also noticed that Echo Bridge's website listed several different versions of DVD sets of The Andy Griffith Show and The Beverly Hillbillies, and other TV shows and movies that were released by Platinum and sold in Wal Mart. Apparently Platinum must have changed their name to Echo Bridge and the new set that is being sold by them is just a reissue of earlier items that had already been released by Platinum, perhaps with some more PD items added.

Here's a link with the title list from their website: https://www.echobridgehe.com/product.php?pnum=50469

This set might be good if you don't already have good copies of the cartoons listed, but it looks like more of the same. I wouldn't be surprised if this set ends up being available at Wal Mart, perhaps divided in half and sold as 2 sets.

[millsie]

So does this mean that instead of having a Platinum Entertainment watermark ruining these cartoons we will have an Echo Bridge one?

I just wish that Paramount/Viacom would make an official DVD release of not just Betty but the other great Fleischer cartoons. I wonder why they haven't done so already.

[Bricolo]

I'm a little confused as to what Lionsgate is in regards to this and other 30's material. They have the rights to release Betty Boop and Hal Roach properties like Laurel & Hardy and Charley Chase but they do not. Are these licensed by them and if so, why are they neglecting them? I think I read somewhere that the head has stated hatred towards Laurel & Hardy, is this so and if so could that translate to Betty Boop hatred too? If so, then why license them unless they are not licensed and are just hand me downs from parent companies. I really know nothing of Lionsgate, could someone please explain the situation?

[Jeffitarian]

I just wish that Paramount/Viacom would make an official DVD release of not just Betty but the other great Fleischer cartoons. I wonder why they haven't done so already.

I was wondering the same thing. Betty Boop is still popular enough to warrant an official release. The fact that official Fleischer/Famous Popeye sets are coming out gives me hope that the same might happen for Betty as well.

[Ray Pointer]

I'm a little confused as to what Lionsgate is in regards to this and other 30's material. They have the rights to release Betty Boop and Hal Roach properties like Laurel & Hardy and Charley Chase but they do not. Are these licensed by them and if so, why are they neglecting them? I think I read somewhere that the head has stated hatred towards Laurel & Hardy, is this so and if so could that translate to Betty Boop hatred too? If so, then why license them unless they are not licensed and are just hand me downs from parent companies. I really know nothing of Lionsgate, could someone please explain the situation?

You might want to look at Paramount's reasons for "licensing" the cartoons to Lion's Gate in the first place--a fast buck to compensate for money wated in other areas. It's not just BETTY BOOP, but the entire cartoon library including Terrytoons, which are also of interest. The fact that a decision maker at Lion's Gate expresses a hatred of the material tells you a lot about what is wrong with the business. Such people seem to operate on a personal agenda, releasing what they like based on their own tastes or biases, forgetting that this is not their material. Such people do not seem to have a sense for wants itsensing what the public wants. I have seen several of these types of manager/buyers who respond with "I like it," or "I don't like it." That
indicates a very selfish attituted that clouds vision, and is out of touch with the public.

With all of the many bootleg releases of BETTY BOOP of varying qualtiy, Lion's Gate is sitting on a golden opportunity, having access to the original materials. On the one hand, there is the controversy of some of the cartoons that were previously transferred by Republic having DVNR effects due to overprocessing in the electronic cleaning process. Eliminating this problem would require retransfering those films under the supervision of
a highly qualified person. At the same time, there is continued concern about
the emergence of Blu-Ray and HD. This would require the outlay of capital to conduct yet another tranfer of some 85 BETTY BOOP cartoons, and supervise their assembly. Aside from a disdane for the material, I would wonder if the reluctance is over money and the lack of marketing awarenes or research.
Yet the question is why did that license the films just to sit on them? The simple fact is that BETTY BOOP is a popular subject, and Lion's Gate could easily eliminate the competition and its unofficial releases by producing a quality product that would make people forget about all the others-- if they wanted to. But this takes a special indivual with the unique talents of vision, film making, animation history, and showmanship to accomplish this. Just like everything else in the corporate world, the decision makers such as those at Lion's Gate seem unable to recognize those with these necessary qualities to make this possible.

[ltnut]

So does this mean that instead of having a Platinum Entertainment watermark ruining these cartoons we will have an Echo Bridge one?

I looked at the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis Colgate Comedy Hour DVD set which was from Echo Bridge that I have. I didn't notice it too closely before, probably because of how I loaded it and possibly did other things until it was at the menu, but the discs themselves still have the Platinum opening, so that is further proof that the company changed names. There was no bug of any kind in any corner. I don't know how that will relate to the new Betty Boop release, but I think that it could be a bug for Platinum, Echo Bridge, none at all, or some combination of them. Considering that they apparently don't worry about the old Platinum logo being on their older releases, it's no telling what will happen.

[Patrick McCart]

Paramount and Lionsgate are at least starting to license out films to The Criterion Collection, so it wouldn't hurt to request Betty Boop from them: http://www.criterionco.com/asp/ask_form.asp (check "Title Suggestion")

They've wanted to do an animation release for a while, but no opportunity has presented itself yet.

[gdX]

Paramount and Lionsgate are at least starting to license out films to The Criterion Collection, so it wouldn't hurt to request Betty Boop from them: http://www.criterionco.com/asp/ask_form.asp (check "Title Suggestion")Done... thanx for the link.

Can't think of a better place for Betty to get a facelift.

:betty:

[Jon Cooke]

I wrote about a public domain DVD release that is currently available at Wal-Mart here (http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/showthread.php?t=8249&highlight=Betty+Boop+Wal-Mart) awhile ago. Not sure if its connected with Echo Bridge/Platinum Entertainment, but it features a bunch of Boops without a "watermark" including such (non-PD) titles as "Snow White" and "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You". Nice transfers and no DVNR that I noticed. Not bad for $3.88.

[Bobby Bickert]

I would love to see more PD DVDs of colorized versions myself (hugs golden age classics Betty Boop DVD).

If you don't mind VHS, the first "official" Betty Boop VHS releases were all redrawns; I rented one in '86 or '87. I don't think there was an "official" release of the original B & W versions until the "Special Collectors Edition" 2-volume VHS and laserdisc sets.

[ltnut]

I wrote about a public domain DVD release that is currently available at Wal-Mart here (http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/showthread.php?t=8249&highlight=Betty+Boop+Wal-Mart) awhile ago. Not sure if its connected with Echo Bridge/Platinum Entertainment, but it features a bunch of Boops without a "watermark" including such (non-PD) titles as "Snow White" and "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You". Nice transfers and no DVNR that I noticed. Not bad for $3.88.

I bought that DVD set, and I couldn't find anything listed about what company relesed it except that it had an emblem that said "Family Classics" in the lower right corner in the back. I know that like you said in the earlier post, side 2 of disc 1 was exactly the same as the Treasure Box Superman DVD, which leads me to think that they're the ones who put out this set as well. I doubt if it's from Platinum/Echo Bridge.

[Madison Carter]

Thanks for the information. I was asking mainly because I don't get a lot of the PD companies wanting our site to review their DVDs, but we're on Echo Bridge's list. With them releasing some first-run direct-to-video stuff lately, wasn't sure what the deal was.