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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: PT 109 Released on DVD
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All,

I received a datalog from Critics Choice Video today and PT 109 on DVD is featured on the back page. Given the fact my VCR eat my VHS of this movie I am pleased to see the DVD released.

Bill Smallshaw

Posted By: smallwi | Posted on: Apr 30, 2011 - 5:47pm
Total Posts: 134 | Joined: Jun 21, 2007 - 3:02pm

Thanks, Bill -- this is great news!

Researching Bill's information, it appears "PT 109" will finally enjoy an official Warner Bros. commercial DVD release, in its original widescreen format, on May 10th, 2011.

Critic's Choice Video has it listed for $22.91, and Amazon has it (initially) listed for $24.49. Finally -- at long last!

"PT 109" is also scheduled for another broadcast on Turner Classic Movies on Saturday, June 4th, 2011, at 5:30 pm (EST).

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Apr 30, 2011 - 6:08pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Great News. The movie that launched my love for PT BOATS when I was a Kid is finally on DVD. a BIG YAHOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Apr 30, 2011 - 9:28pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

I just pre ordered from WBshop.com. $25 delivered. I'm very pleased to see the movie released in its original wide screened version. I think I'll have a PT-109 party!
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: May 1, 2011 - 8:06pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

A PT-109 Party sounds great to me. I will order the DVD this coming week. I look forward to seeing this movie on my big screen. Hope it was done well.............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 2, 2011 - 4:04am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

According to the Warner (Bros.) Archives website;

"This Warner Archive Collection presentation of 'PT 109' has been sourced from a recently-created HD 1080p master, derived from newly-manufactured film elements. The feature is presented in 16x9 Letterbox format, preserving the film's original 2.40 theatrical aspect ratio."

You can order the DVD from their website for $19.95 plus shipping & sales tax.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 7, 2011 - 8:14pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Drew,

I wonder if that means they are going to release the film on Blu-ray as well. Maybe I should have waited, ratehr than ordered the DVD.

Bill

Bill Smallshaw

Posted By: smallwi | Posted on: May 8, 2011 - 9:51am
Total Posts: 134 | Joined: Jun 21, 2007 - 3:02pm

Don't know, Bill. If the initial release sales numbers are high, maybe they will in the future -- and Warner Bros. Home Video usually offers straight mail-in trades for new Blu Ray versions of their films, if you send them a regular copy of the same film.

The "Warner Archives" section of Warner Bros. Home Video has traditionally burned individual, per-order DVD copies of films from the WB catalog not given normal, mass-market commercial releases.

I understand these special-order films are packaged in thin, plastic CD-like "jewel cases," not the thicker, regular vinyl "keep-cases" or "snap-cases" like most commercial DVDs.

However, from the photo of the "PT 109" DVD on the Warner Archives website, it looks like it will be a standard commercial release, packaged in a regular, sturdy "Amary"-type keep-case.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 9, 2011 - 8:27pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Thanks Bill, Drew, David and Frank!
I just ordered my copy from WB archives. It was $19.95 plus $2.50 shipping fee. Total of $22.45. I already had an Argentina Version I obtained last year, you had to select "Play in English" from the DVD title screen, but other than that it plays pretty good on DVD. I hope they issue it in the Soft Plastic "keeper" shell instead of the hard plastic "jewel" case, like Drew mentioned. I plan on playing the movie on board the PT Boat at the Portland Rose Festival, when we have the PT658 on display at the sea wall. I think that would be an appropriate venue to play PT109. OK here is looking forward to great movie viewing! Jerry PT658 Portland

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 10, 2011 - 9:29am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Oh no! What about all those $20 VHS's on eBay!

Glad to hear...I wonder what took so long?

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: May 11, 2011 - 5:32am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

When I've asked the "why so long" question over the years of those supposedly in the know, the answer was always "rights problems."

Usually someone, or someone representing the estate or the heirs of someone connected with the film, holds things up legally. Even though "PT 109" was commercially released years ago on Beta and VHS video tape, something was apparently holding up the release of the film in the DVD format.

I recently learned the Turner Classic Movies cable channel has a seperate department to research and clear the legal rights of all the films they broadcast. Although TCM "owns" the entire MGM film library, they presumably still have to do this. Similar rights problems could holding up the release of my other favorite film not released commercially onto DVD -- "Northwest Passage" (1940).

As I told my wife, now both Hollywood theatrical films on PT boats -- "They Were Expendable" and "PT 109" -- are finally on DVD.

Now all I need is a good (color) DVD copy of "Devil Boats!"

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 11, 2011 - 8:42am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

For a color copy of Devil Boats:

[url]http://www.militaryvideo.com/index.cfm?film=detail&titleID=PTBOAT&do=detail&search=pt,boats[/url]

also on ebay: [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/PT-Boats-World-War-II-Training-and-Operations-/200584249383?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item2eb3c0c027[/url]

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: May 11, 2011 - 12:48pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

DVD Case photo from Drew . . .

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Drew%20Cook/PT_109_DVD.jpg[/image]

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: May 13, 2011 - 6:18pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Hi all, have any of you received your DVD copy. If so can you comment on quality and where you bought it. I see amazon has it listed Not In Stock, but they want $24.95. But WB has it at 19.95. thanks.
SH

Posted By: Hadly | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 8:49am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I just got my copy today. I am watching it now. I received one of the nice "Keeper" style cases. The quality of the picture is fine as far as I can see. I ordered mine online from WBarchive collection for 19.95 plus 2.50 shipping. I am one satisfied customer. Thanks to you all for letting me know it was available. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 3:55pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Okay. I see my new post showed up so I'll try replying one last time to this thread.

My concern with this DVD release isd that it's in Letterbox format which often gives an image that isn't very high even on a 27" television set. How high is the image in this DVD on the sets you people are using? Is there a "This film has been formatted to fit your televsion screen" version also on the DVD?

Thanks and cheers from Peter

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: May 14, 2011 - 7:13pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm

Hi Peter Tare Builder and all,

I got my long-awaited DVD copy of "PT 109" the other day, and the quality of the DVD is sharp and clear, as sharp and clear as the broadcasts of the film on the Turner Classic Movies cable channel were over the last year or so. I'm sure that the higher-quality the screen of the particular TV the DVD is shown on, the better the picture will look.

I have a 27" screen Panasonic TV, and the widescreen, or "letterboxed" DVD picture area of "PT 109" is approximately 9 & 1/2" from top to bottom -- plenty of picture, if you ask me. Of course, the entire picture, as presented in the theater, is present.

To specifically answer Peter Tare Builder's question -- no, there is no "Standard," or "This version has been formatted to fit your television screen" version on the disc -- only the widescreen, or "letterboxed" version. Standard TV formatting, as I'm sure you're aware, chops off both ends of the picture to focus on the center of the frame.

The "PT 109" DVD disc contains the film and the theatrical trailer, or coming attractions "preview" of the film that was shown in theaters (also in widescreen format), introduced by Cliff Robertson in costume as JFK.

It would have been nice if a commentary track of some kind or a behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film were included, but -- no such luck.

Unlike most DVDs, there isn't a "chapter" or "scene selection" option on this disc, so you'll have to either fast-forward or reverse to get to a particular scene, if so desired.

Overall, I'd give my new DVD copy of "PT 109" a picture-quality grade of "A." I'm sure on a newer, higher-definition TV screen it would probably be an "A+."

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 15, 2011 - 5:35pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Thanks Drew.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: May 15, 2011 - 9:20pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm