Does Universal still own US distribution rights to Island of Lost Souls?

[dbone828]

While Island of Lost Souls (1932) was produced by Paramount Pictures, the film was released on VHS by Universal as part of the Monsters Classic Collection.  It is currently available on DVD through the Criterion Collection, but does anybody know if the Criterion DVD was released in partnership with Universal and/or if Universal still has distribution rights to the film?

While I generally find it odd when Paramount films are packaged in Universal box sets (i.e. Murders in the Zoo included on the TCM: Universal Cult Horror Collection box set, or Dr. Cyclops on the Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection Vol. 2), I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Island of Lost Souls on some sort of a Legacy Collection box set of Universal Classic Horror films.  What a classic!

[Mord]

That's a great idea. I'm pretty sure that Universal still owns it. The restored Criterion edition from 2011 was licensed by Universal.

[Mike Scott]

The Criterion DVD says "Under exclusive license from Universal City Studios, Inc."

I would have liked a Paramount Horrors set, but with ISLAND being released by Criterion an Dr. J. & Mr. H. owned by WB, it wouldn't be much of a set.

[Mike Scott]

I figured somebody would answer before I was done slow-typing! 

[Mord]

I figured somebody would answer before I was done slow-typing! 

You can't possibly be slower than me, Mike.

[Mike Scott]

You can't possibly be slower than me, Mike.

If you use more than one finger, you're probably faster. 

[YoungestMonsterKid]

So I been wondering. What was the particular deal that got Universal to have distribution rights for those three movies?
Do they entirely own them now or just for DVDs and VHS?

[Mike Scott]

What was the particular deal that got Universal to have distribution rights for those three movies?

Universal owns most of the Paramount movies dated up through the late '40s, except the ones that Para no longer owned at the time of the deal, which is why Uni doesn't own Dr. J.

From Wiki:
Like some other studios, Paramount saw little value in its film library, and sold 764 of its pre-1948 films to MCA Inc. (known today as Universal Studios Inc.) in February 1958.

[YoungestMonsterKid]

Universal owns most of the Paramount movies dated up through the late '40s, except the ones that Para no longer owned at the time of the deal, which is why Uni doesn't own Dr. J.

From Wiki:
Like some other studios, Paramount saw little value in its film library, and sold 764 of its pre-1948 films to MCA Inc. (known today as Universal Studios Inc.) in February 1958.

Oh cool, thanks for the info. Yeah, I know about Dr. Jekyll. They sold it to MGM because MGM wanted to remake it. Which is stupid cause the novels actually public domain. The reason MGM bought it was to suppress the Frederick March one so people would have to watch there's. Really despicable honestly. The March movie almost was lost forever because of it.

[crissrudd4554]

Also the film itself on the Criterion disc opens with the Criterion logo followed by the 1997-2012 Universal logo and then the film starts.

[Mike Scott]

Also the film itself on the Criterion disc opens with the Criterion logo followed by the 1997-2012 Universal logo and then the film starts.

No Paramount logo? I have the disc, but I forget.

[crissrudd4554]

No Paramount logo? I have the disc, but I forget.

No the Paramount logo is still there. Thats what I meant when I said the film starts haha

[Mike Scott]

No the Paramount logo is still there. That's what I meant when I said the film starts haha

Got it!