No Mary Poppins on Blu-ray??

Want to make a post? Log on with a free my town account.

Brianmsmith

Feb 1, 2009 - CST 12:21 PM

Member since:
October 2007

My links

View profile »

When Disney announced the 45th Anniversary edition of Mary Poppins, the last movie that Walt Disney himself had a hand in producing, I was disappointed and a bit surprised that only a DVD version will be available. As Blu-ray gains a tenuous foothold on the market, wouldn’t you expect one of the original backers of the format to do more? What have we seen so far of the Disney classics on Blu-ray? Sleeping Beauty. OK Pinocchio is next up but then we have to wait until fall for Snow White. I don’t see the reasoning behind the snail’s pace of releases. Can anyone on the inside with some understanding of Disney’s game plan provide some insight to this?.

John J. Puccio

Feb 1, 2009 - CST 12:34 PM

says... "It's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide." --A.E. Neuman

Member since:
March 2002

My links

View profile »
View collection »

It took the Disney people almost a year before they figured out that some viewers might want a widescreen version of a movie on DVD. I remember talking to the VP of Publicity way back then and encouraging him to get the company to go widescreen rather than just pan-and-scan (they were still in VHS tape mode). Interestingly, I think it was "Mary Poppins" that was one of the studio's first widescreen releases.

In other words, I'd be patient.

John

Brianmsmith

Feb 16, 2009 - CST 3:31 PM

Member since:
October 2007

My links

View profile »

Thanks John. It is great to hear from someone who remembers that far back.

Sounds like you have had some interesting work. I agree with you to be patient. I remember Disney studios kind of dragging their feet deciding to even release their titles in DVD format. Now they are leaders in the format. Meantime, it looks like Disney’s Pinocchio Blu-ray is going to be a beautiful restoration. That should give me my Disney Classics fix for a while.

[Post edited by Brianmsmith on Feb 16, 2009 - CST 3:39 PM]