Harold Lloyd Library Acquired
Submitted by jim on Thu, 10/21/2004 - 07:36
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The entire Harold Lloyd film library has been acquired:
Sony Pictures Releasing (SPR) has acquired domestic theatrical rights to the films of legendary film comedian Harold Lloyd, it was jointly announced today by SPR and The Harold Lloyd Trust. The transaction includes virtually the entire library: shorts and features, silents and talkies. This is the first comprehensive deal for the Lloyd pictures since the early 1970s, when Time-Life briefly distributed re-edited versions of the classic comedies.
Theatrical engagements will begin in early 2005, with retrospectives in major cities, after which the pictures will be available to theatres on an individual basis.
No word on a DVD deal, but hopefully those will follow from these restored negatives.
I spoke to the PR lady at my local art-house about hosting a Harold Lloyd retrospective. She's going to suggest it to the higher-ups. She says it's hard to find first-run movies they can afford to show during the fall, because all the good ones are going to bigger theatres. Now's a good time to show classic movies.
Nice! I'm impressed you thought to suggest it, and I'm glad they're considering it. I often get complacent and believe such things (which movies play where) are predetermined and immutable.
I just happened to see her at the theatre when I was there taking tickets last night. I volunteer for first-run shows in exchange for free admission. She said that the film choices for January are just now being considered, so it looks like they don't schedule them too far ahead, eh?