TCM, Universal in Made-to-Order DVD Deal

ATLANTA: Turner Classic Movies is working with Universal Studios Home Entertainment to offer up vintage films, including some early Cary Grant titles, digitally remastered on DVD on a made-to-order basis.

The TCM Vault Collection Presented by Universal is USHE’s first foray into the manufactured-on-demand (MOD) space, which TCM has already dabbled in with previously-considered-lost titles from the RKO library that it acquired a few years ago.

TCM and USHE have been working to remaster a host of titles that have never been made available on DVD before; many were never even released on home video. The films will be made available by request on DVD via TCM.com beginning in the fourth quarter. TCM host Robert Osborne will provide introductions for selected titles, which will also include supplemental materials compiled by TCM and extensive material from the TCM archives. In addition, TCM will present exclusive premieres of the movies over the next six months.

"Many terrific films have been unavailable on home video for far too long, especially the holiday classic Remember the Night," Osborne said. "It’s wonderful that today’s movie fans will be able to enjoy these rare movies. TCM and Universal have put great effort into restoring them digitally and providing historical context, bonus material and behind-the-scenes information, something DVD collectors, like me, are sure to appreciate. I’m very pleased to be part of this great project with TCM and Universal."

Craig Kornblau, the president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, added: "Like us, TCM is deeply dedicated to honoring Hollywood’s golden age. This collaboration presents the perfect opportunity to share Universal’s rich cinematic legacy and celebrate vintage works with classic film fans."

The first release will be the Universal Cult Horror Collection on October 31 with five rarely seen horror films from the Universal library: Murders in the Zoo (1933), Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942), The Strange Case of Dr. RX (1942), The Mad Ghoul (1943) and House of Horrors (1946). On November 22, the 1940 film Remember the Night, with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck and penned by Preston Sturges, will be available. In January 2010, viewers will be able to order the Cary Grant Collection, featuring The Eagle and the Hawk (1933), The Devil and the Deep (1932) and The Last Outpost (1935).

Future Universal collections and titles for rollout on DVD and TCM include vintage films from Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert, Deanna Durbin, director Douglas Sirk and many more.