DVDs Missing in Action
Too many great titles are still missing from DVD. Here are a few random choices that I would love to see on DVD. Perhaps the less obvious are more interesting. Do you have any favorites missing in action? You can add your suggestions directly to the DVDMIA database by clicking DVDMIA and filling in the form.
The Master List By Decade
1910-1949
1950-59 1960-69 1970-79 1980-89 1990-Present
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Alphabetical Listing
June 18, 2001
In Lust for Life (1956) Kirk Douglas paints one of his greatest performances as Vincent Van Gogh. Joel Greenberg of Sydney, NSW, Australia thinks it surely deserves a DVD release. Joel also notes that Billy Wilder's underrated The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) is still a DVDMIA.
Back when Brooke Shields was barely breaking her teens she made the outstanding Louis Malle film Pretty Baby (1978). Rick Nevin in Washington, Pa. notes its conspicuous absence on DVD.
How about a DVD release of Seconds (1966), wonders Austin Cramer in Mokena, Illinois. The excellent John Frankenheimer thriller stars Rock Hudson.
Walter Mahoney in Atlanta, Georgia would like to see a DVD release of the George Roy Hill directed Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Julie Andrews stars as the roaring twenties flapper.
In Flensburg, Germany Michael Glemnitz has a hankering for Clint Eastwood in Firefox (1982).
The debut feature of Peter Bogdanovich Targets (1968) has yet to see the light of DVD notes Piers Ortega in Melbourne, Australia.
June 3, 2001
One of the many classics miring in the old MGM vaults (now Warner), Northwest Passage (1940) is a sweeping adventure film starring Spencer Tracy as Major Robert Rogers, the commander of Rogers Rangers. Filmed in Technicolor©, the film is conspicuously absent from DVD notes Seth Jadson in Greensboro, North Carolina. Jennifer Pyrtle in Winston Salem, North Carolina and Katie Mason, also from North Carolina, second the nomination for a DVD release.
Juan Dem in Stockholm, Sweden cites an interesting film absent from DVD: Taxi from Tobruk (1960), an exciting action film from France starring International stars Hardy Krueger and Lino Ventura.
Shirley MacLaine survives a series of husbands in the dark comedy What a Way to Go (1964). The effervescent MacLaine has plenty of fun surviving Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin and Gene Kelly. Erika Connell in Fort Meyers Florida would like to see MacLaine bare it all on DVD.
May 18, 2001
Whoops! DVDMIA strikes out. Graeme Shiomi was kind enough to point out that Ken Burns' Baseball, incorrectly sited as missing, is indeed on DVD from Warner released last October.
Where is Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves (1984) wonders Bernd Prager in New York City. The director's skewed fairy tale would make an excellent special edition DVD.
Flight of the Intruder (1990) has yet to take off on DVD notes Robert Vicari.
Kevin Kline soars as the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance (1983), missing from DVD notes Steve Meyer of St. Louis, Missouri.
Graham Greene filtered through sophisticated Hollywood stylist Joseph Mankiewicz sounds like a can't miss project. The Quiet American (1958) starred Audie Murphy and would make an interesting DVD release, especially considering a remake is underway directed by Phillip Noyce.
April 20, 2001
How about a series of Ealing comedies from some resourceful DVD distribution company? Canadian David Davies is a one man Ealing campaign at DVD MIA citing such missing in action DVDs as The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949). Let's not forget the hilarious Man in the White Suit (1951). Alec Guinness is brilliant in all three comedies. Wouldn't it be loverly if we could see them transferred from pristine prints.
Now that baseball is under full spring steam, Ken Whitcomb in Indianapolis, Indiana takes note that Ken Burns' The Civil War (1990) has not yet been released on DVD.
Looking for a good cry? Amy O'Meara in Jacksonville, Florida thinks Joy Luck Club (1993) would provide just the right stimulation on DVD.
Not all relatives are the same observes Don Webb in Seattle, Washington. The In-Laws (1979) takes you where no other relatives have taken you before and the hilarious film has yet to find a DVD release.
April 18, 2001
Never a bad day for Bad Day at Black Rock (1955). Spencer Tracy slugs his way through one of the two best one arm fights on film. George Ellsworth in Duluth, Minnesota thinks Bad Day should be a DVD contender.
Two great Akira Kurosawa films, Throne of Blood (1957) and Kagemusha (1980) are missing from DVD observes Rico Thong in Malaysia.
Brett Farkas in Akron, Ohio would like to see Kevin Costner pull the trigger as Wyatt Earp (1994) on DVD.
Some folks can't wait for the DVD sun to rise on Near Dark (1987). Mads Madsen in Denmark can almost taste the blood.
March 28, 2001
Alan Steel of Sydney, Australia and David Davies of Chemainus BC Canada added Captain's Paradise (1953) to the DVDMIA list within two minutes of each other. Is it a Alec Guinness conspiracy? DVD needs a fix of Guinness's early work in good, clean transfers.
A movement has started in the Ohio Valley led by T.L. Waq calling for more Barbra Streisand on DVD. On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970), Funny Lady (1985) and Nuts (1987)are amongst the titles noted as absent. How about Barbra? Maybe you could nudge the powers that be.
Mel Brooks and The Elephant Man (2980): a strange combination. Brooks produced the fine drama directed by David Lynch and starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins. Jeff Peyton of Scappoose, Oregon thinks this excellent film should get its DVD due.
Ang Lee's recent Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon should make it easier to please Enoch Hsu in Los Angeles who decries the absence of Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) and The Wedding Banquet (1993), two early gems from director Lee.
March 26, 2001
Wondering where Willow (1988) is? Brian Carlson and Trevor Pitt of Ohio will probably have to ask George Lucas for the answer. Enough already, George: your audience is waiting! Trevor also makes note of the missing status of Young Sherlock Holmes (1985), the excellent Barry Levinson film.
No, it's not a biography of Yakima Canutt, the amazing stunt coordinator for Ben Hur, but The Stunt Man (1980) is an excellent film starring Peter O'Toole as a director who will get the shot he wants at all costs. Ed Burns in Ferndale, Michigan wisely notes its absence from DVD.
The Last Seduction (1994) , The Last Seduction, The Last Seduction is the chant of Ron Fisher in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The excellent neo noir from director John Dahl has yet to find its DVD legs.
Is it patriotic fervor that drives Steven Lelinski of Fallsington, Pennsylvania to request a DVD release for 1776 (1972)? Maybe he just likes the music.
February 12, 2001
Throne of Blood (1957) is one of Akira Kurosawa's most devious concoctions. Tyler Jobson of Norcross, Georgia would sure like to see a DVD release. Paging Criterion.
Captain Blood (1935), Captain Blood is the cry of John Babiarz of Waterloo, New York. The splendid Errol Flynn swashbuckler surely deserves its DVD day.
Another beautiful Kurosawa painting, Dreams (1990) is still missing from DVD notes Genneva Maschler of Los Angeles, Ca.
Burt Lancaster swims across Suburbia in The Swimmer (1968). This fascinating film is still absent from the DVD pool observes Michael Blevens of Boise, Idaho.
January 22, 2001\
Not enough Clint Eastwood on DVD for your needs? Nashirok Bosk of Atlanta, Georgia thinks there's room for Clint's Firefox (1982) to zoom onto DVD.
Calling all Connery fans. We need a DVD release of Russia House (1990), so notes Clav Henson of Marietta, Georgia. I'll take a little Michelle Pfeiffer as the Russian lass myself.
Say Anything (1989) says A.B. Howe of Fairfield New Jersey. Cameron Crowe guides John Cusack through the paces of high school in the director's debut film.
January 13, 2001\
Chris Tate of Indianapolis, Indiana notes that the terrific Spencer Tracy adventure Northwest Passage (1940) still has not broken the DVD barrier.
Is it possible that no one has mentioned the absence of The African Queen (1951) before Phi Cumpston of Cottonwood, Arizona. Charlie and Rosie should be trading barbs with the greatest resolution.
The film that vaulted Bernardo Bertolucci to cinematic cinematic prominence, The Conformist (1970), is wanting a DVD release, points out Sarah Redmon of Massachusetts.
January 11, 2001\
Before you know it Spring Training will presage another baseball season, so how about Major League (1989) on DVD asks Lee Gaiteri of Syracuse, NY.
Need a good cry? The Joy Luck Club (1993) could provide some elegant tears if it got the DVD release it deserves notes Cynthia Doyle of Boston, Massachusetts.
Calling all pirates. Yellowbeard (1983) is missing on DVD. In fact, just about every Marty Feldman pop-eyed film is missing on DVD. Thanks to Len Wenzel of Toronto, Canada for pointing it out.
The American Widescreen Museum, is the ultimate resource for widescreen movie information, Martin
Hart's reliable site is a great tool for movie buffs.
Comprehensive DVD review database. Easy to use
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MRQE
Find reams of movie and DVD reviews at the Movie Review Query Engine, a index of reviews appearing on the Internet.
Lovers of Hong
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ReelClassics.com
A mountain of information on actors and
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A love of movies drives this small DVD production
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DVD Gold
specializes in Region 2 films, and spins gold about the latest DVD releases in
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DVD Informatrix is a British site providing a variety of DVD
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Black DVD
Online is a new site dedicated to black film content on
DVD. The commendable enterprise is hosted by Webmaster Samuel L. McLemore, Jr. and presented in an
attractive interface