A Question for Rush involving BLACK MAGIC aka MEETING AT MIDNIGHT?
Hi Rush! If anyone knows the answers to my questions, I believe you do. My questions involve the Monogram Charlie Chan movie: BLACK MAGIC. This quote is from Ken Hanke's fine CHARLIE CHAN AT THE MOVIES book on the movie BLACK MAGIC: "Almost certainly the best known of all the Monogram Chans due to its constant revival on the repertory/art house circuit (to say nothing of its having been available to private collectors in 16mm, 8mm, and tape for years)..." I am curious, Is this because it is in the Public Domain? I do recall seeing this title under different video labels like GOODTIMES, ADMIT ONE and NOSTALGIA MERCHANT on VHS Tape. Is it still in the Public Domain? MGM seems to have it on DVD only to my knowledge? Also why did BLACK MAGIC get reissued as MEETING AT MIDNIGHT? When Monogram reissued it under its new title, Did they fail to copyright it again? Thanks Rush!
Re: A Question for Rush involving BLACK MAGIC aka MEETING AT MIDNIGHT?
Dear sam,
Good questions.
First, it has been rumored that "Black Magic" ("Meeting at Midnight") is or was in the public domain. As we can see from the MGM Home Entertainment release a few years ago, THEY hold the rights to this movie. It is probable that the releases you mention were authorized. The popularity of this film probably stems from the "supernatural" aspects of the story, which always seem to add entertainment value.
Next, the reason that "Black Magic" became "Meeting at Midnight" was certainly due to the fact that a few years after its release, a gentlemen named Orson Wells made another movie named..."Black Magic"!
Re: Re: A Question for Rush involving BLACK MAGIC aka MEETING AT MIDNIGHT?
Thanks Rush for the answers. I do own the GOODTIMES HOME VIDEO tape and there is a different look between the two other than the fact that the GOODTIMES tape was recorded in EP. The main titles on the GOODTIMES tape is MEETING AT MIDNIGHT while the MGM DVD (as well as LD and VHS) has the BLACK MAGIC titles with MEETING AT MIDNIGHT in video superimposed titles below it. Kind of wished they just omitted this. Still trying to figure out why this was the most popular title of all CHARLIE CHAN films, or at least according to Ken Hanke?
Re: A Question for Rush involving BLACK MAGIC aka MEETING AT MIDNIGHT?
I don't want to put words in Ken Hanke's mouth but I believe he was trying to say that this film was perhaps among the most well known (due to frequent exposure) as opposed to most popular.
Even that comment must be qualified in the context of the times. Since Ken Hanke's book came out, the Chan films have been aired on AMC, FMC and half the Fox films are now on DVD. I doubt anyone in 2007 would say that Black Magic/Meeting at Midnight is the best known Chan film anymore.
Re: Re: A Question for Rush involving BLACK MAGIC aka MEETING AT MIDNIGHT?
You are probably right Steve O. Wrong choice of words. I was guessing that BLACK MAGIC (MEETING AT MIDNIGHT) is in the Public Domain? Is that the reason for the "frequent exposure" of this film? That's what I assume was what Ken Hanke mean't in his statement?
Steve, What about MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING? I have noticed that it is available on DVD from ALPHA VIDEO, GOODTIMES DVD, FRONTROW ENTERTAINMENT, SYNERGY ENTERTAINMENT, FAMILY VALUE, GENIUS ENTERTAINMENT and for a $1.00 from DIGIVIEW. With so many different DVD companies offering this particular Mr. Moto title, surely this title must be in the pd?
