DVD News

Warner Bros. launches new site offering 150 titles never before on DVD

By Patrick Luce Mar 24, 2009, 19:05 GMT

“WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION” offers movies never before available on DVD; 150 Titles at launch including “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” “The Citadel” and “All Fall Down.”

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has opened the doors to the “world’s largest film vault” with the launching of the “Warner Archive Collection” – which already features 150 titles never before available on DVD.

Spanning more than 60 years of filmmaking, the world’s largest film and television vault gives film fans a chance to purchase authentic DVD and digital downloads of more than 150 classic titles for the first time drawn from Warner Bros. Entertainment’s unparalleled film library consisting of pre-1986 MGM, RKO Radio Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures films. 

In a press release, Warner Bros.’ George Feltenstein stated: ““Whether it’s an Academy Award® -winning classic from Hollywood’s Golden Age, a Sci-Fi cult favorite from the ‘70s, or a silent rediscovery from the ‘20s, the Warner Archive Collection has something for everyone.  This unprecedented initiative represents a tremendous effort from Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and is representative of the company’s continued dedication to film preservation.”

To order the movies, fans simply visit WarnerArchive.com, select their titles, and upon purchase, a state-of-the-art manufacturing on demand (MOD) system creates a made-to-order DVD indistinguishable in quality from a standard pressed DVD.  The system places the DVD into a hard plastic Amaray case featuring custom artwork; shrink wraps it and ships the finished package to the customer which arrives in approximately five days.  The cost per title is $19.95, plus shipping. 

Movie fans also have the option of purchasing digital downloads of these classic films to enjoy immediately on their PC.  The cost for a digital download is $14.95 per title.   

The films range from “Sunrise at Campobello,” “The Citadel,” and “Mr. Lucky” to “Possessed,” “Once Upon a Honeymoon” and “All Fall Down.”

Every month approximately 20 classic films and television programs will be added to the site – which is expected to offer more than 300 titles by the end of the year. Movie fans can also help out by offering Warner Bros. their opinions on which titles should be added next. Fans can visit the site and vote for a number of the next 20 titles that will be offered in April. 

As a companion to the Archive Collection, Warner Bros. has launched a new podcast series titled the “Golden History of Hollywood” which will be available on iTunes  and several other online sites for free. The new series features archival recordings from the studio’s vault including behind-the-scenes interviews with stars, radio editions of movies and much more.   

For a complete list of current titles visit WarnerArchive.com.