criterionforum.org

swo17 wrote:I need three disc-based rental services to survive at this point

ClassicFlix, Netflix, and... BushDVD?

Worse, Blockbuster.

Perkins Cobb wrote:Initial reports of a Beta version of Warner Archive streaming.

My initial reaction was, "puke!" -- but then I noticed the claim that some titles will be streamed in 1080p. Notwithstanding the reliability issues that turn me off to streaming in general, that would have to be a formidable upgrade if they make any titles available in HD beyond the handful that have appeared on Blu-ray so far.

Just got an invite today. I'll report on how it compares to Netflix & Hulu when I get a decent chance to check it out....

You can sign up here to be "considered" for the beta.

A Warner Archive streaming service spunds like a dream come true, after spending $30 a month for ClassicFlix's slow service.

Signed up for the beta today and there's quite a lot of HD titles that, as far as I can tell, will play on your TV in HD through Roku. Thankfully, I'm sufficiently equipped. This should make this Northeast snowstorm more tolerable.
Non-members can view the WA Instant collection here.

Got my beta account too and finally saw Blonde Crazy - enjoyed it immensely, it's possibly my favorite Cagney film of the '30s.

I'll probably check out The Cameraman and They Live by Night next, but the appearance of Wagon Master is disheartening - it's available on DVD and I was hoping for a Blu-Ray upgrade. It streams in HD on the site, but I've never been a fan of the 'thin' bit rate of HD streaming.

I can't find anywhere on the site that mentions how much the service will cost per month. Anyone?

Applesauce wrote:Signed up for the beta today and there's quite a lot of HD titles that, as far as I can tell, will play on your TV in HD through Roku. Thankfully, I'm sufficiently equipped. This should make this Northeast snowstorm more tolerable.
Non-members can view the WA Instant collection here.

I wonder if we can take it that anything available in HD is going to show up on blu, whether in an actual release or through the Archive. Seems noteworthy that there are HD releases of The Fearless Vampire Killers, Death in Venice, and Blow Up (as well as every Bogey movie I see in there.)

Someone asked Warner Archive on their facebook page about a The Fearless Vampire Killers Blu-ray and they said:

Not WAC, but maybe through WHV in the future.

Some of the HD streaming titles are already on BD - The Bad Seed, The Music Man, Soylent Green, to be specific. It appears the streaming site will have a mix of Warner Archive and Warner Home Video titles, so that may make it difficult to determine which may be slated for future catalog releases from one or the other.

My frustration with it right now, aside from only having HD on the roku, is that there's no approximation of a queue.

It seems to not just be Archive titles streaming here. A lot of catalog titles that are still available on pressed disk. It seems to be more of a classic Warners streaming service, including at least three Kazan's in HD. Having just seen The Wind, in a theatre on Wednesday, I was really excited to see Sjostrom's Scarlet Letter on here. I wouldn't be surprised if both Greed and The Crowd show up soon as films really deserving of loaded pressed releases on their own merit, but not commanding the sales to warrant it.

The only issue I had was with Fuller's Run of the Arrow which the film is both letterboxed and pillar boxed...

albucat wrote:My frustration with it right now, aside from only having HD on the roku, is that there's no approximation of a queue.

Make sure you let them know. This is a beta and that's exactly the kind of feedback they need to hear.

I got the beta invite today and just logged in. A mish-mosh of titles as other here have noted -- a lot of these seem readily available (not just on Warner Archive discs), although I haven't checked very thoroughly. Also, the selection seems quite small (173 titles), so unless it grows by a lot I don't think I'd really need a queue feature. I don't think I'd pay much for it unless they plan to add more titles regularly.

htshell wrote:I can't find anywhere on the site that mentions how much the service will cost per month. Anyone?

When I signed up, they basically said something to the effect that "it's free right now, but it'll cost *something* per month once it gets out of the Beta stage", so I guess the fee hasn't even been determined yet.

waxcylinder wrote: -- a lot of these seem readily available (not just on Warner Archive discs), although I haven't checked very thoroughly.

There definitely are some things not readily available in region 1 (that I know of) elsewhere on the streaming service including Fuller's Run of the Arrow, Sjostrom's Scarlet Letter, and Wender's Until the End of the World (albeit in the butchered short version)...

jwd5275 wrote:

waxcylinder wrote: -- a lot of these seem readily available (not just on Warner Archive discs), although I haven't checked very thoroughly.

There definitely are some things not readily available in region 1 (that I know of) elsewhere on the streaming service including Fuller's Run of the Arrow, Sjostrom's Scarlet Letter, and Wender's Until the End of the World (albeit in the butchered short version)...

Also:

Alphabet Murders
Best House in London
Born Reckless
Charge at Feather River
Die Laughing
A Fan's Notes
George Washington Slept Here
Norman, Is That You?
Where the Spies Are

edited

Ace of Hearts is in Lon Chaney Collection
Fighting Frontier is in Tim Holt Western Classics Collection, Vol. 1
Gun Law Justice and Texas Lawmen are in Monogram Cowboy Collection, Volume 1
Invisible Boy is in Forbidden Planet releases
To Kill a Man is on The Lieutenant - The Complete Series, Part 2

Ashirg wrote:Ace of Hearts is in Lon Chaney Collection
Fighting Frontier is in Tim Holt Western Classics Collection, Vol. 1
Gun Law Justice and Texas Lawmen are in Monogram Cowboy Collection, Volume 1
Invisible Boy is in Forbidden Planet releases
To Kill a Man is on The Lieutenant - The Complete Series, Part 2

Thanks. I thought Ace of Hearts had been released, but didn't immediately see it when I did a quick search on Amazon.

Also, Cosa Nostra is actually a couple of episodes of FBI, which is on DVD, so you can scratch that off too. So, really, there a few oddball rarities here and there, but not a whole lot to get excited about.

Watched Blonde Crazy yesterday on the beta streaming service. I was impressed with both the quality of the stream and the movie itself, an involving, funny and ultimately tragic pre-code gem not available currently on R1 disc.

As for the quantity of the library, I think 173 titles is quite impressive for a service still in beta testing, and I'm sure Warner will be able to create quite the selection considering the amount of material they own. I could see myself signing up for this regularly, especially considering the price of WAC pressed disc compared to their rewatchability (lack of extras, etc).

krnash wrote:Watched Blonde Crazy yesterday on the beta streaming service. I was impressed with both the quality of the stream and the movie itself, an involving, funny and ultimately tragic pre-code gem not available currently on R1 disc.

I agree about the film. Blonde Crazy has been available from the iTunes Store for almost 3 years now for $9.99, which is half what the Archive is likely to charge for an eventual DVD-R.

I'd really like for Blonde Crazy to be the pre-code title that Criterion mentioned. Just putting that out there.

What A Disgrace wrote:I'd really like for Blonde Crazy to be the pre-code title that Criterion mentioned. Just putting that out there.

That would be great. Of course, I'd pony up for any pre-code title with Joan Blondell in a major role that got the CC treatment.

The streaming service is open to subscribers now, $10 a month with a free 2-week preview. That's a little pricey for the limited selection of titles available right now, but it looks promising. Several high-profile titles in HD (via Roku).

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