IVL - 400 toei films

[Stephen Cremin]

Intercontinental Video Ltd (IVL) seem to be the distributor of Shaw 
Bros, but I think Celestial do the re-mastering in-house, and I don't 
think they're a part of Intercontinental, rather a Malaysian 
conglomerate:
http://www.intercontinental.com.hk/about_us/ivl_about_us_index.htm

It may just mean that IVL get the videos to the stores, and handle 
marketing campaigns.  Which is important, but it doesn't mean the 
quality will be any good.  But all the signs are that they do care more 
about presenting an image of higher video quality than other labels.

I've never seen a figure given for the sales of the Shaw Bros library, 
but in the above link, IVL claim 1m disc sold in one year from a 
library of 150 films.  That's an average of 6666 discs per title.  I 
wonder if that includes sales to Taiwan, Thailand, etc.

Stephen


On Oct 22, 2004, at 12:30 AM, Nuzumaki wrote:

> stephen, thank you for additional information.
>  
> i am sorry but i dont have any more information about the years of the 
> Toei catalogue, but as it seems, they
> are going to put out starting from the 70ties.
>  
> IVL is a HK based distributor and they are also responsible for the 
> SHAW BROTHER dvds. let me know when i am wrong, but CELASTIAL pictures 
> is a part of IVL. And if that is true Celastial are going to put the 
> TOEI film as well and that means: great quality for propper prices.
>  
> it would be great if there is a release list or catalogue....
>  
> Stefan Nutz
>  
>  
>   
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Stephen Cremin
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 6:14 PM
> Subject: Re: IVL - 400 toei films
>
> JINGI NAKI TATAKAI (1973) is BATTLES WITHOUT HONOUR AND HUMANITY, aka 
> THE YAKUZA PAPERS, etc.
>
> The English title of KATAKU NO HITO (1986) is HOUSE ON FIRE, starring 
> Ogata Ken, Ishida Ayumi, Harada Mieko, Matsuzaki Keiko and Ishibashi 
> Renji. Based on the writing of Dan Kazuo. Unijapan wrote: "Yoriko is 
> the second wife of Kazuo and has the job of raising his five children 
> by another woman. Also she must bear his affair with Keiko, an actress 
> to whom he is now attracted. One of the children suffers from 
> encephalitis and Yoriko's lot is hard. But so is Keiko's."
>
> The English title of HANA NO RAN (1988) is THE RAGE OF LOVE, starring 
> Yoshinaga Sayuri, Matsuzaka Keiko, Ogata Ken, Ishida Eri and Matsuda 
> Yusaku. Based on the writing of Nagahata Michiko. Unijapan wrote: 
> "Akiko is the girl destined to become a great poet. Though still young 
> she decides to devote herself not only to poetry but also to her 
> poetry master, Yosano Hiroshi. For him she is ready to forsake her 
> home, her parents, her friends. After nights of love she writes her 
> finest verse."
>
> Is IVL a North American based company? Hong Kong? It's always 
> interesting to see how companies handle large libraries on DVD, for 
> example comparing how Panorama pushed out their Shochiku library to 
> how Celestial pushed out Shaw Bros, etc. Panorama seemed to depend on 
> interest in Oshima Nagisa and Tora-san in early releases, and I'm not 
> sure that strategy did them any favours. Likewise, it seems a bit 
> dangerous for IVL to lead with Fukasaku's female-themed melodramas if 
> that's not what people are expecting from the director of BATTLE 
> ROYALE.
>
> What years of the Toei catalogue do they have rights to?
>
> Stephen
>
>
>
> On Oct 21, 2004, at 11:29 PM, Nuzumaki wrote:
>
>
> Beginning next month, IVL will begin a new DVD/VCD series devoted to 
> the classic films of Toei. Each month IVL will release 1-3 Toei films 
> on DVD/VCD. All in all we can expect 400 films, many for first time on 
> DVD.
> The first batch will be released around November 9-11 and will consist 
> of 3 Kinji Fukasaku films (2 are for first time available subbtitelt - 
> and on DVD):
>  
> Jingi naki tatakai (1973)
> Kataku No Hito (1986)
>
>
> Hana no ran (1988)
> may this series be a great success for IVL.
>  
>  
> Stefan Nutz
>  
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>  
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