Godzilla 85 finally?

[JoshK]

Why wouldn't the home video rights transfer to AB and Image?And furthermore, if neither or them own the rights, who does? And if no one, then what is the hold up?

[omgitsgodzilla]

^^I'm wondering much the same thing. It sounds to me like either News Corp. owns the rights now, which could allow a release through some imprint of theirs, or no one does.

[Goji]

Maybe since it's originally Toho's film, first and foremost. Or it could be because the character of Godzilla requires additional licensing fee's...I don't know. I too am not really sure about how this kind of stuff works. I'm starting to think that Image's film library acquired from Lakeshore doesn't include any of Toho's films this time around (for whatever reason). This includes the Americanization of SUBMERSION OF JAPAN that New World did entitled TITAL WAVE, which could be why we haven't seen a release of that here since the 80's.

Of course..none of my theories really hold any water considering Anchor Bay once released GODZILLA 1985 after acquiring New World's film library. So if Image now has Lakeshore's library, it doesn't surprise me that they're assuming they can release G '85.

[gvamp]

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.

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?

[Goji]

It's a damn shame this has happened with this film. I'd much rather an Americanization like GODZILLA 2000 be lost to the ages...*dodges massive coconut*

[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.