Godzilla 85 finally?

[Cimmerian Dragon]

On the now defunct Monsters HD channel. It's very purdy. You can find it online with a little digging..

I dig and dig...but if I found a little hint in my PM from anyone that might give me a general vicinity where I should be shoveling, I would be eternally grateful.

[Goji]

I will check with a few sources, and try to get back to you asap, Cimmerian.

[Baradagi]

Television rights to New World's 1984-1991 film library are now held by Warner Bros and Lakeshore Entertainment. Years ago, the GM of Toho's LA office told me that Lakeshore had GODZILLA 1985, and the film was shown on Monsters HD by Warner Bros. Those TV rights have now expired so Toho should have them.

This is the first I think I've heard of the television rights specifically having expired. Do you have a link or a source?

[kpa]

It really depends on the type of contract that was signed by Toho and New World back in the 80s, there could have been a clause in it that would have prevented companies like Anchor Bay to release the film.

In order to fully understand why G85/RoG hasn't gotten a proper home video release in the DVD age and now Blu-Ray age we'd have to see the orginal contract or talk to someone who has.

Exactly, unless Toho provides specifics (which they haven't) or you have access to the original contracts (which we don't), there's no way to know details like what rights may or may not have been transferable.

I'm using a completely imaginary, made-up example here... but let's say New World signed a contract with Toho granting them exclusive, non-transferable ownership of the movie for 40 years. Then legally, no one but New World could release the film and Toho wouldn't be able to do anything until the contract expired in 2025. And that's just one example of a million things that could have been written into the original contracts.

Keith are contracts usually divisible by five? What I mean is aren't they usually signed for a period of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 etc etc. and never anything like a 12 or 6 year?

The contracts would be for whatever the two sides agree to. There's no set rules about 5 year increments or anything like that. For example, Rialto's original deal with Toho for GODZILLA's theatrical rights was for seven years.

Television rights to New World's 1984-1991 film library are now held by Warner Bros and Lakeshore Entertainment. Years ago, the GM of Toho's LA office told me that Lakeshore had GODZILLA 1985, and the film was shown on Monsters HD by Warner Bros. Those TV rights have now expired so Toho should have them.

This is the first I think I've heard of the television rights specifically having expired. Do you have a link or a source?

Sure, Brad. I heard that from Toho. Also, someone on the MZ boards (I think it was KaiserGhidorah) contacted Lakeshore a year or two back and was told the rights had expired.

[omgitsgodzilla]

Hm. Looks like all we can do now is check back with Toho every so often, ruling out trying to get the deets of the contracts.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

I will check with a few sources, and try to get back to you asap, Cimmerian.

Thanks a bunch, pal.

[JoshK]

On the now defunct Monsters HD channel. It's very purdy. You can find it online with a little digging..

I dig and dig...but if I found a little hint in my PM from anyone that might give me a general vicinity where I should be shoveling, I would be eternally grateful.

I agree. I have been trying to find this one for a while. Don't have a VCR. Don't have a player that can play other regions.

So if Image now has Lakeshore's library, it doesn't surprise me that they're assuming they can release G '85.

I thought Lakeshore just had tv rights. And the rights for NWP films prior to 1984 went to Shout Factory and after 1984 went to Anchor Bay and then eventually Image Entertainment. Though I think anchor Bay kept some of the titles like Halloween 4 and 5. Of course, it has been 2 or 3 years since they last released a DVD of those films, so I could be wrong.

[Crazy Jim Films]

All this talk about Godzilla 1985 is really making me want a Dr. Pepper.

[omgitsgodzilla]

I bet you thought Godzilla 1985 was finally getting released on DVD/Blu-Ray.

NOPE!

Just Chuck Testa.

[Baradagi]

Television rights to New World's 1984-1991 film library are now held by Warner Bros and Lakeshore Entertainment. Years ago, the GM of Toho's LA office told me that Lakeshore had GODZILLA 1985, and the film was shown on Monsters HD by Warner Bros. Those TV rights have now expired so Toho should have them.

This is the first I think I've heard of the television rights specifically having expired. Do you have a link or a source?

Sure, Brad. I heard that from Toho. Also, someone on the MZ boards (I think it was KaiserGhidorah) contacted Lakeshore a year or two back and was told the rights had expired.

Thanks for the information! I do remember KaiserGhidorah’s account of contacting Lakeshore who told him their rights to G85 expired “in the mid ‘90s”. In June of ’09 you mentioned that you hadn’t heard about the television rights lapsing, but I couldn't find where you contacted Toho since then and found out 100% for sure on TV rights until yesterday.

[kpa]

My pleasure. I've emailed my contacts at Image about GODZILLA 1985, and if there's anything actually happening 'll follow up with Toho and double-check the TV status for that film.

[omgitsgodzilla]

Thanks, Keith. Hope to hear more soon; maybe we could find out who really owns it.

[Goji]

Well that would be Toho But I get what you're saying. At the very least, maybe Keith's investigation will shed some more light on the legal issues that have tied up this film getting another release here. The last time the film appeared on home video in the states was 1997...which is a ridiculous amount of time for Toho to just sweep this under the rug, just because they don't want to "deal with it".

GODZILLA 1985 got a theatrical release here, and therefore, is probably more well known to American fans/casual buyers alike. It really is in Toho's best interest to get the film released on (current) home video formats over here.

[gvamp]

I agree with Goji it's been far to long since G85/RoG got a decent release. Who knows maybe the licensing will be cleared up by now look what happend with Megalon that had legal issues just a few years ago and now we'll be getting a proper legit release with in the next few weeks.

[Goji]

Based on what Keith has been saying, it sounds like it's more of a case of they just don't' want to deal with the legal stuff..but when the film is in limo for 15 years, people are going to begin to wonder what's really going on.

[RyanClark]

Godzilla 1985 is definitely long overdue on DVD in the US, I'd really love to see it released especially because it was my first Godzilla film. As much as I'd love to see the American AND Japanese versions released in the US (as well as a long shot, the International dub), I'd settle for just the American version. It's never been released on DVD anywhere. Honestly what would intrigue me most, if the film were to be released with any extras, would be including any and all stuff related to promoting the film in the US. Such as the Dr. Pepper campaign (commercials, products, promos), the music video, trailers and TV spots, and other stuff. But then again as I said, even if it was the film itself I'd be pleased.

[Goji]

I remember getting excited when I heard Anchor Bay was planning a DVD release...and I waited...and waited...and waited. It's too bad that never came to be, because the film wouldn't be nearly as "obscure" in the States now if it had. It's a shame that both of the 80's Godzilla films are in the same boat.

[omgitsgodzilla]

Quick question, probably wrong on this, but if New World had the non-transferable rights to RoG (and they did IIRC), and they no longer exist, wouldn't the rights go back to Toho? If the other companies had no rights, that seems like it ought to have been the case.

[Svitska Donkun]

Sony should just tell Toho they want to release it. Toho appear to be Sony fanboys.

[Tamura]

^ Toho does seem to like Sony the most. We've gotten the best-looking kaiju DVDs through them.