Columbia Classics

[senseabove]

I don't think any of the titles in them have had standard, widely available releases. A few have had Best Buy LEs (e.g. Lawrence of Arabia) or Criterion (Last Picture Show) releases, and there were placeholder-page-inspired rumors of some EU standalones, but I don't think they ever actually materialized.

[therewillbeblus]

It would no doubt be fiscally beneficial for Columbia to put out some of these individually or license them to certain boutique labels, but their system seems to be trying to hook people into buying expensive sets based off an interest in one or two titles (there isn't exactly a running theme within the sets that indicates 'If you like this movie, you'll surely enjoy the others!'). So unless they change their business model or sales are sluggish, I'm not optimistic they'll prioritize solo releases

[M-A]

I don't think any of the titles in them have had standard, widely available releases. A few have had Best Buy LEs (e.g. Lawrence of Arabia) or Criterion (Last Picture Show) releases, and there were placeholder-page-inspired rumors of some EU standalones, but I don't think they ever actually materialized.

Dr. Strangelove does. Also Gandhi, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Jerry Maguire, but only in select countries for those 3.

[senseabove]

Ah! Thanks for the correction. I remember hoping for some of the EU standalone releases for vol 3 and guess I just assumed they were all vapordisc when none of those materialized. Still, erratic choices and expensive imports, Strangelove aside... Given that each Classics box has progressively dropped to lower and lower all-time-lows (just checked on Amazon: $90, $85, and $72 respectively), here's hoping this one'll get down in the $60s eventually.

[Blip Martindale]

Meanwhile, the Taxi Driver UHD is constantly north of $100 on eBay. They can't see the demand for an individual release? I want specific titles, not poorly curated, scattershot collections "for the whole family."

[captveg]

Sony is releasing a BD of The Luzhin Defence (2000) on 2/20/24, and both Cocktail Hour (1933) and Shadow Magic (2000) on 3/19/24. A rather eclectic series of choices lately, which also included Pollock (2000) on 12/12/23.

[therewillbeblus]

Anyone know if Columbia does disc-replacement? My copy of vol. 4 arrived with several scratched discs, and the idea of returning the whole thing seems daunting

[jheez]

Anyone know if Columbia does disc-replacement? My copy of vol. 4 arrived with several scratched discs, and the idea of returning the whole thing seems daunting

They do, try emailing consumer@sphecustomersupport.sony.com

[therewillbeblus]

Thanks!