Warner Home Video And Turner Classic Movies Partner For “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection”
(November 10, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, the studio with the world’s largest film library, is beginning an exciting new partnership with the authority in classic film, Turner Classic Movies. The two companies – sister divisions of Time Warner – plan to introduce the “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection,” starting in early 2009. The partners will release a collection of 60 top films in 15 themed groups. The films will be available on DVD and promoted on TCM, starting February 3 with the first of four waves.
The launch of the “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection” stands as the largest-ever partnership between Warner Home Video and TCM. The initiative combines the strengths of the companies in serving both serious film buffs and a new generation of movie lovers. The “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection” is meant to whet the appetite of a wide range of film fans, giving them an easy way to build a personal library of classic films.
For the “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection,” Warner Home Video has selected some of the greatest American films from the past 85 years and grouped them by themes. The films are packaged in four-title sets with each set affordably priced at $27.85 SRP.
The first installments in the collection arrive February 3, 2009, with three genres timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day and the Oscar® season. They are “Romantic Dramas” (“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” “East of Eden”); “Romantic Comedies” (“A Philadelphia Story,” “Bringing Up Baby,” “Adam’s Rib,” “Woman of the Year”); and “Oscar Best Pictures” (“Casablanca,” “An American in Paris,” “Gigi,” “Mrs. Miniver”).
The 12 films in these three debut sets have been honored with 32 Oscar wins. Featured stars include James Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Bergman and Leslie Caron. The films are bundled in premium keepcase packaging. Orders are due December 30.
Later in 2009, the “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection” will grow to include many other genres, including musicals, westerns, war films, mysteries, science fiction, horror, holiday and family films. A complete listing is included below.
Warner Home Video, which owns the world’s largest film library, is the market leader in classic DVD sales, with a 24% average market share. Warner has more Best Picture Oscar® wins (22) than any other studio and its films have garnered more than 300 Academy Awards®.
Turner Classic Movies is currently seen in more than 75 million homes and will support Warner Home Video and the new collection with extensive marketing. TCM’s marketing plan includes on-air promotional spots, coverage during TCM Classic Movie News and TCM Shopping, print ads in TCM’s popular Now Playing guide, and ads at tcm.com. TCM’s on-air mentions will include the network’s renowned primetime host, Robert Osborne.
The “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection” builds on the success of previous joint initiatives between TCM and Warner Home Video, including the “TCM Archives” series and the “TCM Spotlight” series. The launch of “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection” promises to be successful, thanks to the considerable resources offered by both partners.
“Research confirms that 70% of catalog buyers are positively influenced to buy a DVD after seeing the movie on television, so we feel this partnership with our terrific sister company is a natural,” said Jeff Baker, Warner Home Video’s executive vice president and general manager, theatrical catalog. “TCM’s airings and promotions reach a broad audience and will most definitely boost awareness of DVD availability. Also, because catalog titles are often purchased in multiples, this will be a great opportunity for classic film fans to build their libraries relatively inexpensively and quickly.”
Molly Battin, senior vice president of brand development and digital platforms for TCM and sister networks TNT and TBS, said the “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection” is a great way to serve film fans and to enhance the network’s history of collaboration with Warner Home Video. “TCM reaches an audience of film lovers that includes longtime fans and newcomers,” Battin said. “Warner Home Video’s expertise will be a huge plus as we introduce this new collection to our viewers.”
WAVE ONE -- Release Date: February 3, 2009
"TCM Greatest Classics: Romantic Dramas"
• “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”
• “A Streetcar Named Desire”
• “Rebel Without a Cause”
• “East of Eden” "TCM Greatest Classics: Oscar Best Pictures" • “Casablanca”
• “An American in Paris”
• “Gigi”
• “Mrs. Miniver” "TCM Greatest Classics: Romantic Comedies" • “A Philadelphia Story”
• “Bringing Up Baby”
• “Adam’s Rib”
• “Woman of the Year” WAVE TWO -- Release Date: May 5, 2009* "TCM Greatest Classics: Musicals" • “Singin’ in the Rain”
• “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”
• “The Band Wagon”
• “Meet Me in St. Louis” "TCM Greatest Classics: Musicals 2" • “Easter Parade”
• “Annie Get Your Gun”
• “Show Boat”
• “Kiss Me Kate” "TCM Greatest Classics: Westerns" • “Jeremiah Johnson”
• “The Outlaw Josey Wales”
• “The Wild Bunch”
• “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” "TCM Greatest Classics: Westerns 2" • “The Searchers”
• “Stagecoach”
• “Rio Bravo”
• “Cowboys” "TCM Greatest Classics: War 1" • “Kelly’s Heroes”
• “The Dirty Dozen”
• “Where Eagles Dare”
• “The Green Berets” "TCM Greatest Classics: War 2" • “Battleground”
• “Destination Tokyo”
• “Battan”
• “Back to Battan” WAVE THREE -- Release Date: September 1, 2009* "TCM Greatest Classics: Mystery" • “The Big Sleep”
• “Dial M For Murder”
• “The Maltese Falcon”
• “The Postman Always Rings Twice” "TCM Greatest Classics: Horror" • “Freaks”
• “House of Wax”
• “The Haunting”
• “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” "TCM Greatest Classics: Sci-Fi" • “2001: Space Odyssey”
• “Forbidden Planet”
• “Soylent Green”
• “Time Machine” WAVE FOUR -- Release Date: November 3, 2009* "TCM Greatest Classics: Comedy" • “Arsenic and Old Lace”
• “A Night at the Opera”
• “The Long, Long Trailer”
• “Father of the Bride” "TCM Greatest Classics: Family" • “National Velvet”
• “Lassie Come Home”
• “Flipper”
• “Incredible Mr. Limpet” *Scheduled date subject to change With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment. Turner Classic Movies is a 24-hour cable network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company. TCM presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from the largest film library in the world, the combined Time Warner and Turner film libraries, from the 1920s through the 1990s, uncut and commercial-free. The network also offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, including “Martin Scorsese Presents: Val Lewton—The Man in the Shadows,” the Emmy®-winning “Stardust: The Bette Davis Story” and the Emmy-nominated “Brando.” More information is available at tcm.com. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.# # #
• “A Streetcar Named Desire”
• “Rebel Without a Cause”
• “East of Eden” "TCM Greatest Classics: Oscar Best Pictures" • “Casablanca”
• “An American in Paris”
• “Gigi”
• “Mrs. Miniver” "TCM Greatest Classics: Romantic Comedies" • “A Philadelphia Story”
• “Bringing Up Baby”
• “Adam’s Rib”
• “Woman of the Year” WAVE TWO -- Release Date: May 5, 2009* "TCM Greatest Classics: Musicals" • “Singin’ in the Rain”
• “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”
• “The Band Wagon”
• “Meet Me in St. Louis” "TCM Greatest Classics: Musicals 2" • “Easter Parade”
• “Annie Get Your Gun”
• “Show Boat”
• “Kiss Me Kate” "TCM Greatest Classics: Westerns" • “Jeremiah Johnson”
• “The Outlaw Josey Wales”
• “The Wild Bunch”
• “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” "TCM Greatest Classics: Westerns 2" • “The Searchers”
• “Stagecoach”
• “Rio Bravo”
• “Cowboys” "TCM Greatest Classics: War 1" • “Kelly’s Heroes”
• “The Dirty Dozen”
• “Where Eagles Dare”
• “The Green Berets” "TCM Greatest Classics: War 2" • “Battleground”
• “Destination Tokyo”
• “Battan”
• “Back to Battan” WAVE THREE -- Release Date: September 1, 2009* "TCM Greatest Classics: Mystery" • “The Big Sleep”
• “Dial M For Murder”
• “The Maltese Falcon”
• “The Postman Always Rings Twice” "TCM Greatest Classics: Horror" • “Freaks”
• “House of Wax”
• “The Haunting”
• “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” "TCM Greatest Classics: Sci-Fi" • “2001: Space Odyssey”
• “Forbidden Planet”
• “Soylent Green”
• “Time Machine” WAVE FOUR -- Release Date: November 3, 2009* "TCM Greatest Classics: Comedy" • “Arsenic and Old Lace”
• “A Night at the Opera”
• “The Long, Long Trailer”
• “Father of the Bride” "TCM Greatest Classics: Family" • “National Velvet”
• “Lassie Come Home”
• “Flipper”
• “Incredible Mr. Limpet” *Scheduled date subject to change With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment. Turner Classic Movies is a 24-hour cable network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company. TCM presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from the largest film library in the world, the combined Time Warner and Turner film libraries, from the 1920s through the 1990s, uncut and commercial-free. The network also offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, including “Martin Scorsese Presents: Val Lewton—The Man in the Shadows,” the Emmy®-winning “Stardust: The Bette Davis Story” and the Emmy-nominated “Brando.” More information is available at tcm.com. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.