Note to Londell and Koppleman: Increasingly, folks are clamoring for the re-release of the Sign 'o the Times film. This article gives some of the backstory of what lead to its limited release in the United States. It also raises the question of ownership of the rights to the film.

THE MISSING: WHERE IS ‘SIGN O’ THE TIMES’ – PRINCE’S MAGNIFICENT CONCERT FILM?

Most fans would say that “Purple Rain” is their favorite Prince film, but I still say that, pound-for-pound, his best film is his 1987 concert film based on his album “Sign o’ the Times,” which captures the true essence of the genius of Prince.

It’s the great music legend at his most undistilled and powerful. No need for some lame storyline. “Times” is Prince in all his glory, at the apex of his creativity, undiluted and raw. If you’re not up and dancing out of your seat while watching the film, then you’re dead.

Well… that is if you could see it. The film has basically been missing for decades – at least here in the US. It was financed and directed by Prince, and his original intention was to shoot live concert footage while on tour in Europe to promote his monumental album.

Unfortunately the footage that was shot was considered a disappointment and of poor quality, and the sound mix as well; so Prince decided to reshoot the entire concert at his Paisley Park studios, which was a brilliant and inspired move. The result is a film with a direct immediacy and power usually lacking in most concert films.

After he completed the film, Prince bypassed Warners Bros, who previously released “Purple Rain” (or perhaps they stupidly rejected it), and made a distribution deal with the Canadian based distributor Cineplex Odeon, one of the largest movie theater chains in North America at the time.

However, the company didn’t know what do to with the film, and gave it a poor release platform, only opening it on a paltry 230 screens across the country, with little to no publicity. Needless to say, the film was quickly pulled from theaters and hasn’t really seen the light of day since then.

Although it has been available on DVD in the UK, Canada and Australia, it’s never seen any kind of official DVD release in the States, which is where the story gets rather confusing.

Since the film was financed by Prince, featuring his songs, and directed by him as well, you would think that his estate currently holds rights to the film. Perhaps they do and are planning a major theatrical re-release of it, with a new remastered print, and an eventual blu-ray/DVD release to follow. That would be great, but it’s just wishful thinking on my part. Read More...

dance4me3121 said:

I have the Canadian remastered version .Sound and wide screen picture is amazing.

Lucky!!!!!

FlyOnTheWall said:

jayspud said:

But does anyone know who owns the rights to the film? Is it the estate? Warner Bros.? I've even heard that Univeral owns it.

FlyOnTheWall said:

But does anyone know who owns the rights to the film? Is it the estate? Warner Bros.? I've even heard that Univeral owns it.

On wiki it says Cineplex odeon films.

dance4me3121 said:

FlyOnTheWall said:

Lucky!!!!!

Yeah and it's worth a lot of money now days .I only paid $20 for it but that was a few years ago [Edited 8/6/16 15:27pm]

You could ask $10,000 for it and doesn't mean anyone will buy it. But does look like they go for $150-$200 on ebay sometimes.

[Edited 8/6/16 15:56pm]

FlyOnTheWall said:

Note to Londell and Koppleman: Increasingly, folks are clamoring for the re-release of the Sign 'o the Times film. This article gives some of the backstory of what lead to its limited release in the United States. It also raises the question of ownership of the rights to the film.

THE MISSING: WHERE IS ‘SIGN O’ THE TIMES’ – PRINCE’S MAGNIFICENT CONCERT FILM?

Most fans would say that “Purple Rain” is their favorite Prince film, but I still say that, pound-for-pound, his best film is his 1987 concert film based on his album “Sign o’ the Times,” which captures the true essence of the genius of Prince.

It’s the great music legend at his most undistilled and powerful. No need for some lame storyline. “Times” is Prince in all his glory, at the apex of his creativity, undiluted and raw. If you’re not up and dancing out of your seat while watching the film, then you’re dead.

Well… that is if you could see it. The film has basically been missing for decades – at least here in the US. It was financed and directed by Prince, and his original intention was to shoot live concert footage while on tour in Europe to promote his monumental album.

Unfortunately the footage that was shot was considered a disappointment and of poor quality, and the sound mix as well; so Prince decided to reshoot the entire concert at his Paisley Park studios, which was a brilliant and inspired move. The result is a film with a direct immediacy and power usually lacking in most concert films.

After he completed the film, Prince bypassed Warners Bros, who previously released “Purple Rain” (or perhaps they stupidly rejected it), and made a distribution deal with the Canadian based distributor Cineplex Odeon, one of the largest movie theater chains in North America at the time.

However, the company didn’t know what do to with the film, and gave it a poor release platform, only opening it on a paltry 230 screens across the country, with little to no publicity. Needless to say, the film was quickly pulled from theaters and hasn’t really seen the light of day since then.

Although it has been available on DVD in the UK, Canada and Australia, it’s never seen any kind of official DVD release in the States, which is where the story gets rather confusing.

Since the film was financed by Prince, featuring his songs, and directed by him as well, you would think that his estate currently holds rights to the film. Perhaps they do and are planning a major theatrical re-release of it, with a new remastered print, and an eventual blu-ray/DVD release to follow. That would be great, but it’s just wishful thinking on my part. Read More...

http://www.indiewire.com/2012/06/why-isnt-sign-o-the-times-available-on-dvd-in-the-u-s-144979/

A couple of people have responded to the link:-

The film has passed through several owners. First Cineplex Odeon Films, then Alliance Atlantis, then Canwest, and now Postmedia Network Canada.

Postmedia is not in the DVD business, they only bought all the assets of Canwest in a bankruptcy sale. So I guess that’s why they don’t have DVD distribution in the US. But the other companies were listed as having US distribution, so no idea why they didn’t release it.

and the reason why it's not available in the US.

Might as well submit to the torrent. That's the only place I could get it and convert it to NTSC. Probably due to the fact that Warner Bros. owns the rights and Prince and they had a sticky divorce. Warner released a 'deluxe' Purple Rain, but 'Sign' doesn't have the universal cache that PR did (although I consider 'Sign' one of the greatest albums of all time). Gotta be a pirate for this gem.

You could order it from Amazon Canada, UK or Australia though. My UK DVD says Alliance Atlantis but distributed by a company called NetworkDVD.co.uk. On their website is says they are undergoing a scheduled maintenance, whatever that means.

NikkiED said:

FlyOnTheWall said:

Note to Londell and Koppleman: Increasingly, folks are clamoring for the re-release of the Sign 'o the Times film. This article gives some of the backstory of what lead to its limited release in the United States. It also raises the question of ownership of the rights to the film.

THE MISSING: WHERE IS ‘SIGN O’ THE TIMES’ – PRINCE’S MAGNIFICENT CONCERT FILM?

Most fans would say that “Purple Rain” is their favorite Prince film, but I still say that, pound-for-pound, his best film is his 1987 concert film based on his album “Sign o’ the Times,” which captures the true essence of the genius of Prince.

It’s the great music legend at his most undistilled and powerful. No need for some lame storyline. “Times” is Prince in all his glory, at the apex of his creativity, undiluted and raw. If you’re not up and dancing out of your seat while watching the film, then you’re dead.

Well… that is if you could see it. The film has basically been missing for decades – at least here in the US. It was financed and directed by Prince, and his original intention was to shoot live concert footage while on tour in Europe to promote his monumental album.

Unfortunately the footage that was shot was considered a disappointment and of poor quality, and the sound mix as well; so Prince decided to reshoot the entire concert at his Paisley Park studios, which was a brilliant and inspired move. The result is a film with a direct immediacy and power usually lacking in most concert films.

After he completed the film, Prince bypassed Warners Bros, who previously released “Purple Rain” (or perhaps they stupidly rejected it), and made a distribution deal with the Canadian based distributor Cineplex Odeon, one of the largest movie theater chains in North America at the time.

However, the company didn’t know what do to with the film, and gave it a poor release platform, only opening it on a paltry 230 screens across the country, with little to no publicity. Needless to say, the film was quickly pulled from theaters and hasn’t really seen the light of day since then.

Although it has been available on DVD in the UK, Canada and Australia, it’s never seen any kind of official DVD release in the States, which is where the story gets rather confusing.

Since the film was financed by Prince, featuring his songs, and directed by him as well, you would think that his estate currently holds rights to the film. Perhaps they do and are planning a major theatrical re-release of it, with a new remastered print, and an eventual blu-ray/DVD release to follow. That would be great, but it’s just wishful thinking on my part. Read More...

http://www.indiewire.com/2012/06/why-isnt-sign-o-the-times-available-on-dvd-in-the-u-s-144979/

A couple of people have responded to the link:-

The film has passed through several owners. First Cineplex Odeon Films, then Alliance Atlantis, then Canwest, and now Postmedia Network Canada.

Postmedia is not in the DVD business, they only bought all the assets of Canwest in a bankruptcy sale. So I guess that’s why they don’t have DVD distribution in the US. But the other companies were listed as having US distribution, so no idea why they didn’t release it.

and the reason why it's not available in the US.

Might as well submit to the torrent. That's the only place I could get it and convert it to NTSC. Probably due to the fact that Warner Bros. owns the rights and Prince and they had a sticky divorce. Warner released a 'deluxe' Purple Rain, but 'Sign' doesn't have the universal cache that PR did (although I consider 'Sign' one of the greatest albums of all time). Gotta be a pirate for this gem.

You could order it from Amazon Canada, UK or Australia though. My UK DVD says Alliance Atlantis but distributed by a company called NetworkDVD.co.uk. On their website is says they are undergoing a scheduled maintenance, whatever that means.

Thank you, NikkiED!! I wish the estate would work aggressively to secure the rights.

dance4me3121 said:

I have the Canadian remastered version .Sound and wide screen picture is amazing.

So do I and it's fantastic but, why has noone ever seen the deleted songs/clips????

Initially, there had been plans to include the full concert which featured many other non-Sign o' the Times songs (including "Kiss", "1999", "Purple Rain", "When Doves Cry", "Girls & Boys" and "Let's Go Crazy") but these songs were eventually dropped.

rap said:

dance4me3121 said:

I have the Canadian remastered version .Sound and wide screen picture is amazing.

So do I and it's fantastic but, why has noone ever seen the deleted songs/clips????

Initially, there had been plans to include the full concert which featured many other non-Sign o' the Times songs (including "Kiss", "1999", "Purple Rain", "When Doves Cry", "Girls & Boys" and "Let's Go Crazy") but these songs were eventually dropped.

Sounds like a DVD with those deleted songs would be a blockbuster, rap!!!

Two discs - one without and one with!!

P.S. You can see footage from some of those clips in U Got The Look

FlyOnTheWall said:

rap said:

So do I and it's fantastic but, why has noone ever seen the deleted songs/clips????

Initially, there had been plans to include the full concert which featured many other non-Sign o' the Times songs (including "Kiss", "1999", "Purple Rain", "When Doves Cry", "Girls & Boys" and "Let's Go Crazy") but these songs were eventually dropped.

Sounds like a DVD with those deleted songs would be a blockbuster, rap!!!

I'm not on twitter - somebody tweet them both.

So you guys i would love to see this happen as would Cat. Any info that can help inbox me

haleno1 said:

So you guys i would love to see this happen as would Cat. Any info that can help inbox me

Hi haleno 1 - have you seen those deleted songs??

haleno1 said:

So you guys i would love to see this happen as would Cat. Any info that can help inbox me

Hi, haleno1!! Warmest regards to you and Cat!! Please let her know that we love her!! In my estimation, she was Prince's best dancer ever!!! Her dancing and choreography were a large part of the universal acclaim for the SOTT and LoveSexy tours. I have seen bits and pieces of them on YouTube, but I would love to see remasters of both concerts.

dance4me3121 said:

I have the Canadian remastered version .Sound and wide screen picture is amazing.

Ditto So happy I snagged a copy when it came out on DVD!

2olskool4u said:

Surely the same could be said for Lovesexy? Warners had nothing to do with that either, forget bluray, a dvd would be nice! PLEASE, somebody make this happen

Yes please.

Gorkerina said:

jayspud said:

Here in the UK, I actually got a DVD copy free with a Sunday Newspaper. Quality was superb.

I've got the free copy from The Observer too. Watched it the other day actually --- it's great!

.

I have a few versions on DVD and this version is truly great!... and it was free!!!

.

Certainly one of the best out there.

.

Guitarhero said:

2olskool4u said:

Surely the same could be said for Lovesexy? Warners had nothing to do with that either, forget bluray, a dvd would be nice! PLEASE, somebody make this happen

Yes please.

Thirded!

I had Lovesexy on videotape but we don't even have a player any more.

It was brilliiant and I practically wore in out I played it so much.

dance4me3121 said:

Gorkerina said:

jayspud said:

Here in the UK, I actually got a DVD copy free with a Sunday Newspaper. Quality was superb.

I've got the free copy from The Observer too. Watched it the other day actually --- it's great!

There was a free copy in the first issue of german Rolling Stone magazine after his passing.

https://www.rollingstone.de/rolling-stone-im-juni-2016-titelthema-prince-exklusive-live-dvd-sign-o-the-times-1034285/

I bought them all, and this one is the best. Also, still available.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/.../BIXF-131

Apparently this one is pretty solid quality.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0DV4XM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$20 isn't bad at all either. I just bought it and will let you all know if it is solid. I just hope I get a chance to watch it soon after it arrives on Tuesday.