Universal Expands On-Demand DVD Slate

2 Feb, 2011 By: Erik Gruenwedel

Universal Studios Home Entertainment Feb. 2 said it is adding titles to its Universal Vault Series available through Amazon.com’s DVD manufacturing-on-demand service, CreateSpace.

The on-demand disc manufacturing process allows studios to release catalog titles based on actual market demands instead of projections, thereby reducing the percentage of returns and production run costs.

The new titles available only on DVD include: Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife (1938) starring Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper; Cool as Ice (1991), starring Vanilla Ice in his motion-picture debut; Crackers (1984), with Donald Sutherland, Sean Penn, Jack Warden and Christine Baranski; Here Come the Waves (1944), a musical comedy with Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton; It Ain’t Hay (1943), a rare early film from comedy legends Bud Abbott and Lou Costello; The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002), a documentary following the rise and fall of legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans; and McHale’s Navy (1964), a comedy inspired by the popular TV series with Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway.

Other titles include The Other Side of the Mountain (1975), starring Marilyn Hassett and Beau Bridges; The Other Side of the Mountain Part II (1978), with Marilyn Hassett and continuing the inspirational story of a critically injured world-class skier; The Public Eye (1992), starring Joe Pesci, Barbara Hershey and Stanley Tucci; Scott Joplin (1977), with Billy Dee Williams, Art Carney and Clifton Davis; The Secret War of Harry Frigg (1968), a rare comedy featuring Paul Newman; Sometimes a Great Notion (1971), Paul Newman’s directorial debut, also showcasing Henry Fonda and Lee Remick; Waikiki Holiday (1937), with Bing Crosby, Bob Burns and Martha Raye; and We’re Not Dressing (1934), a classic musical comedy starring Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard, along with the George Burns and Gracie Allen.

Other titles currently available as part of the Universal Vault Series include A Bronx Tale, Pure Luck, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Kitten With a Whip and The List of Adrian Messenger.

“We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Universal Studios Home Entertainment in bringing sought-after films from the past to DVD and ensuring that they are widely available to fans and film aficionados,” said Libby Johnson McKee, managing director of CreateSpace. “Via our unique on-demand solution, Universal and other studios are bringing a host of classic screen gems to vibrant new life.”

Last year, CreateSpace improved its Cover Creator software, allowing content owners to build professional cover and disc face artwork for their DVDs.