It may seem odd for a newsletter that specializes in recommending movies on demand to devote a post to movies that you can’t *get* on demand, but it’s a slow January.
There are also the "almost as bad as unavailable to stream" edge cases. I'd like to stream Wong Kar Wai's 2046 but, right now, you can't purchase or rent digital copy, even if you can stream it with ads on on Pluto TV. Which would be a really horrible way to watch a Wong Kar Wai film.
Sometimes I stumble across a rarity that I may have seen at TIFF which is only available in SD--not unwatchable on a phone, but not usually what I'm hoping for.
MISSISSSIPPI MASALA, MRS PALFREY AND LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN are available on DVD at Netflix. For those willing to deal with DVDs and pay a modest monthly fee, you can also get movies that would cost you something at, say, Amazon.
Malcolm McDowell plays an imitation Mick Jagger named Reggie Wanker, Lou Reed is cast as a Bob Dylan clone named Auden, Bobby Sherman and Fabian play goons, and Howard Kaylan of the Turtles is “Captain Cloud,” a.k.a Jerry Garcia.
🤩 wow I’m hooked, crappy or not YouTube here I come…
Ty, I checked the first five on your list and they're available from the Netflix DVD service. Frequent bonus features on the discs: interviews and "the making of" featurettes. 10 bucks a month for one disc borrowed at a time. The delivery service is very quick.
Other films I can't stream: "The Sure Thing" from 1985 with John Cusack and "Come and See", a 1985 iconic Russian war movie by Elem Klimov. Any ideas where to find them?
I have a zone-free player and finally found a copy of TMD, one of the grails... got to see Leave Her to Heaven in nitrate a few years ago at TCMFF at the Egyptian, which had recently reopened its rehabbed nitrate projection booth. All off limits since Netflix bought that august theater for its own events, nixed it from TCM’s festival venues, and started removing palm trees from the courtyard... What nitrate I’ve seen was always at the festival, and LHTH was perhaps the most magical—well, that and Black Narcissus. Nitrate is spectacular with natural light, and the vibrant colors in both films...it was old movie geek bliss.
Thanks Ty! I am now DYING to see Get Crazy!! The one that's not streaming that upsets me the most is The Unbelievable Truth. I wanted to show my family it after watching Adrienne and it's only available through Hoopla. The other is the crazy "sequel" to Rocky Horror, Shock Treatment (1981), which I actually enjoy more than the original.
A wonderful (if frustrating) list - I'd add the Ned Beatty charmer, Hear My Song, an Irish film that boasts a spectacular soundtrack (probably the main reason this lovely, funny film never even made it to DVD) and great performances, and a sweet, happy story.
Truly, Madly, Deeply is one of my all-time must-sees. (My husband and I saw it in a theater on it's original release.) I didn't realize it had slipped through the streaming cracks—what a shame!
One recommendation: As a dedicated DVR user, I set up wishlist searches for certain films. Often Turner Classics runs hard-to-find movies that you can record and enjoy at your leisure.
Act of Violence is my favorite noir. I record it and other films I know aren't often available and save them to my DVR. Eddie Muller's intro is priceless.
But if your local public library is connected to a larger library network, you can easily find most of these films.
There are also the "almost as bad as unavailable to stream" edge cases. I'd like to stream Wong Kar Wai's 2046 but, right now, you can't purchase or rent digital copy, even if you can stream it with ads on on Pluto TV. Which would be a really horrible way to watch a Wong Kar Wai film.
Sometimes I stumble across a rarity that I may have seen at TIFF which is only available in SD--not unwatchable on a phone, but not usually what I'm hoping for.
MISSISSSIPPI MASALA, MRS PALFREY AND LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN are available on DVD at Netflix. For those willing to deal with DVDs and pay a modest monthly fee, you can also get movies that would cost you something at, say, Amazon.
Malcolm McDowell plays an imitation Mick Jagger named Reggie Wanker, Lou Reed is cast as a Bob Dylan clone named Auden, Bobby Sherman and Fabian play goons, and Howard Kaylan of the Turtles is “Captain Cloud,” a.k.a Jerry Garcia.
🤩 wow I’m hooked, crappy or not YouTube here I come…
Ty, I checked the first five on your list and they're available from the Netflix DVD service. Frequent bonus features on the discs: interviews and "the making of" featurettes. 10 bucks a month for one disc borrowed at a time. The delivery service is very quick.
Other films I can't stream: "The Sure Thing" from 1985 with John Cusack and "Come and See", a 1985 iconic Russian war movie by Elem Klimov. Any ideas where to find them?
On second thought 🥺 just saw the trailer…don’t think I’ll Get Crazy today.
Truly Madly Deeply? I wondered why no one ever mentions this heartfelt little gem....Alan Rickman was reportedly a great guy to work with as well.
I have a zone-free player and finally found a copy of TMD, one of the grails... got to see Leave Her to Heaven in nitrate a few years ago at TCMFF at the Egyptian, which had recently reopened its rehabbed nitrate projection booth. All off limits since Netflix bought that august theater for its own events, nixed it from TCM’s festival venues, and started removing palm trees from the courtyard... What nitrate I’ve seen was always at the festival, and LHTH was perhaps the most magical—well, that and Black Narcissus. Nitrate is spectacular with natural light, and the vibrant colors in both films...it was old movie geek bliss.
Loving the watch list, but I do miss the general culture columns you used to do for the Globe. Any chance you’ll mix in some of that?
All That Jazz!
Thanks Ty! I am now DYING to see Get Crazy!! The one that's not streaming that upsets me the most is The Unbelievable Truth. I wanted to show my family it after watching Adrienne and it's only available through Hoopla. The other is the crazy "sequel" to Rocky Horror, Shock Treatment (1981), which I actually enjoy more than the original.
A wonderful (if frustrating) list - I'd add the Ned Beatty charmer, Hear My Song, an Irish film that boasts a spectacular soundtrack (probably the main reason this lovely, funny film never even made it to DVD) and great performances, and a sweet, happy story.
Truly, Madly, Deeply is one of my all-time must-sees. (My husband and I saw it in a theater on it's original release.) I didn't realize it had slipped through the streaming cracks—what a shame!
One recommendation: As a dedicated DVR user, I set up wishlist searches for certain films. Often Turner Classics runs hard-to-find movies that you can record and enjoy at your leisure.
The Flamingo Kid is so underrated. Great performances all around. Solid recommendation.
Act of Violence is my favorite noir. I record it and other films I know aren't often available and save them to my DVR. Eddie Muller's intro is priceless.