Paramount are renowned for not licensing their film OST and scores to other labels that wish to release them, they also seem not to have any interest in releasing soundtracks themselves (in expanded or full formats). Many greats soundtracks are still unreleased due to Paramounts non-efforts such as Beverly Hills Cop 1-2 and Top Gun to mention a few!

neilandrewdalby, November 21, 2007; 11:21 AM

Paramount seems to have a strange policy when it comes to releasing OST's or films they (partly) own the rights to, but just don't care about.

Why is Argento's 4 Flies On Grey Velvet still not available on DVD? Argento holds 50% of the rights and wants to release it badly, while Paramount isn't interested in releasing the film, but won't give up their 50% share either...!

I'm afraid it's the same deal with soundtracks: they don't care about them being released, but won't let anyone else do it either. So who wins in this stalemate situation... nobody.

rinse_dream, November 21, 2007; 11:26 AM

The "Four Flies On Gray Velvet" thing sounds political. If an American business interest has 50% of the control over the film and for some mysterious reason refuses to let go, it must have something to do with the political climate aka political correctness.

I was watching an exerpt from the old Jackie Gleason show. A skit with a black entertainer with jokes and barbs about "soul food" and such. Pretty damn funny really. Seemed almost surreal in this day and age. The mainsteam media in this country would go all out in an attempt to destroy someone for that type of humor nowadays.

It's enough to make a person disgusted. The way the mainstream American media so obviously are playing people for nothing more than fools and chumps. And then they spread their corrupt and bias quackary worldwide.

And these words come from an American who in no way wishes to be represented by such a piss poor system of hypocrisy and fraud.

victoravalentine, November 21, 2007; 12:37 PM

Interesting post: I can't imagine what a big studio would find politically objectionable in a giallo from the 70's, especially a film by Argento, an Italian director whose films rarely touch upon political matters or conspiracies. If anything, most of his films deal with social issues involving sexual inadequacies, which for their time might have been taboo, but not so much now in the current sex-obsessed culture. I can see Paramount side-stepping a DVD release of "Mandingo" for political reasons since the film involves the exploitation of enslaved Blacks, and, upon its release, the Catholic Church condemned it--an honor not yet achieved by the William-Castle-inspired-Argento.

Personally, I think if Dario gave up his 50% share of the rights, the suits at Paramount would be more inclined to release "Four Flies on Grey Velvet." So, in the case of this movie, I think greed is the motivator. I can picture a studio executive dismissing the idea with a flick of a wrist before saying, "Why should we give this Italian guy a 50% share of a movie we released way back in the 70's? Not to mention the fact that we have deal with both American and Italian legalities--and for what (?)-- just to re-release some obscure cult film that will cost us a fortune? Bah! We have bigger block busters to make. Let Argento have pasta for all I care...Next topic of the day please!"

Still, I agree with you, Knives, about the political correctness that seeps through our media. It's like people are afraid of being human. Instead of getting in touch with our prejudices we feel the need to hide them, or pretend that they never existed. Therefore, all these giant corporations shield us from ideas, old or new, that might cause us to think or dissent from the herding mentality they encourage in order to sell their products.

And I hate to say it but academia is the same way; I shudder when I think of my undergraduate experience: I had professors lecture on and on about how these negative things found in literature and movies should be abolished, and without them we can live in a world of utopian peace through universal love, positive energy, and deep understanding. And much to my surprise, many students bought this idiotic philosophy because it's so infused in pop-culture.

As for me, I think it's all b.s. It's a dualistic world, and if you try get rid all the bad then the good will be completely impotent without its contrast. We should not shun literature like "Huckleberry Finn," "Of Mice and Men, or "Intruder in the Dust" because they present us with themes that are deemed unacceptable by the corporate, intellectual, or political elite; nor should we ban shows or films like "Amos and Andy" because, like the aforementioned books, depict real-life situations that many people do not want to acknowledge. Good films and good literature have one thing in common--they make the observer step back and ask, "What if?" Sadly, in today's world, people are no longer asking "What if?" Now, people are being told what if.

Best,
Jeremy

Jmicpilars, November 21, 2007; 8:57 PM

FYI...

IN HARM'S WAY was released legitimately on CD by the Japanese SLC label:

Soundtrack Listeners Club SLCD 1007

Country
Japan
Format
CD
Release Date
1990

http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/cd/large/In_Harms_waySLCD_1007.jpg


American.Nightmare, November 22, 2007; 12:49 AM

Fantallusion, I agree with what you are saying. Personally I feel people are best off avoiding the mainstream American news media. They are the biggest instigators of ignorance and narrow mindedness.

victoravalentine, November 22, 2007; 9:15 PM