Batman Movie 1966 Adam West question?

[kennermike]

I should have posted this under comic books? anyways why has this movie been out for years the tv series in underlockdown at 20th Century Fox with no release date in sight I though the same people owned the rights to both

[mego73]

It all has to do with the way contracts were made back in the day.

The Batman movie was made with the realization that they would eventually market super 8 films and 16mm rental films (that small groups or schools used to rent) of the movie for domestic use so the language of the agreements allowed for that. That language made it possible to do video releases.

Not so with the series, Fox owns the series and Warner owns the character and there was no forward looking agreements for home distribution

[Mikey]

I kind of think the best time to release them has alreday past about 3-4 year ago.

The powers that be missed the boat on this one.

If they were released tomorrow they'd sell well, but nowhere near as well if they were sold in the mid 2000's.

[palitoy]

I think it's deeper than just Fox/Warners, there are so many hands in that cookie jar we may never see it on home video.

[DocDrako]

Would they have to get signed releases from all the guest stars or their estates in order to put out the series?

[The Toyroom]

^ I think that's just hearsay....All of that was work for hire....Why should guest-stars have to sign off? Do you think the guest-stars on say, Perry Mason or Columbo had to sign off for those DVDs to be released?

[DocDrako]

I wasn't sure how that all worked with guest stars. There were so many famous actors playing villains. But that's why I asked. I wish they would just release the show. My son would wear the DVDs out.

[TrueDave]

I think if they release HONEST Non CGI episodes in thier original entiretity today they would be a hit.

They are real and unique. I think people are so exhaustive they would like them .

And they are entertaining and watchable for a wide audience.

[johnmiic]

This article on TVshowsonDVD is very good and in-depth. Especially scroll down to the bullet points. Very interesting reading:

Batman DVD news: Reports about a Watchmen-for-Batman Deal | TVShowsOnDVD.com

Also related is this article on The Dean Martin Show which has even more intricate problems preventing it's DVD release. Some of which are similar to Batman's problem:

Whose Show Is It Anyway? The Golddiggers

[Meule]

I think it's deeper than just Fox/Warners, there are so many hands in that cookie jar we may never see it on home video.

BINGO... sadly

[The Toyroom]

Everyone should do themselves a favor and get one of the multi-disc bootleg sets.....sure no new features like you'd find on an official release but considering the few stars who are left to do such a thing anyway I'm not sure how many features we'd actually get. And I really don't want to hear George Barris talking anymore about how he designed the Batmobile

[MIB41]

If the series makes it to DVD before Adam West is in the ground, I will be amazed. And that's a shame. But I also think that is why he's moved foreward and recorded his own thoughts to DVD which you can purchase on his site. Might be a good investment at this point.

[TrueDave]

If the series makes it to DVD before Adam West is in the ground, I will be amazed. And that's a shame. But I also think that is why he's moved foreward and recorded his own thoughts to DVD which you can purchase on his site. Might be a good investment at this point.

Ghoulish but true.

I am just so happy to have it on bootleg.

My uptight nephew got freaked when I bragged the dvd we were going to watch was "illegal"

Look at the upside . Its underground. A lot of Batfans dont like the show, it's "exclusive" and all that makes us an elite bunch of cool kids.

The people who say they don't like it are the guys who havent scored thier black market copy yet and theyre bitter!

[JimCem99]

Everyone should do themselves a favor and get one of the multi-disc bootleg sets.....sure no new features like you'd find on an official release but considering the few stars who are left to do such a thing anyway I'm not sure how many features we'd actually get. And I really don't want to hear George Barris talking anymore about how he designed the Batmobile

Where's the best place to get one? Ioffer? Megostore?

[david_b]

If the series makes it to DVD before Adam West is in the ground, I will be amazed. And that's a shame. But I also think that is why he's moved foreward and recorded his own thoughts to DVD which you can purchase on his site. Might be a good investment at this point.

I know he recorded audio tracks for an eventual series release, and will most likely just stay with his estate until someone decides to release them either as commentary (and pay his fees..), or perhaps as another release with stills or something.., after he passes on.

david_b