Reply With Quote
I am sure this was included in a VHS boxed set of Jayne Mansfield released in the US.
Not a bad film, I remember seeing it when first released, don't think it was an X, more likely an A.
Can anyone help with a colour print of this British crime film starring Jayne Mansfield, Leo Genn, Christopher Lee and pre-"Peeping Tom" Carl Boehm? Directed by Terence Young, the film was shot in Eastmancolor but both Eastmancolor and Technicolor prints werde made at the time of the initial release. The only VHS and DVD versions around in the US (Koch Vision) and the UK (Orbit Media) so far are all sourced from the same bad and heavily truncated black and white 16mm syndicated US TV print. The original uncut British version was running 105'33 minutes (at last when first submitted to the BBFC): TOO HOT TO HANDLE rated X by the BBFC
Here's a clip of the title song: Jane Mansfield in Too Hot to Handle - MySpaceVideos - Strimoo.com
Was the film ever shown on British TV (in colour)?
I am sure this was included in a VHS boxed set of Jayne Mansfield released in the US.
Not a bad film, I remember seeing it when first released, don't think it was an X, more likely an A.
It's available on Amazon UK
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Too-Hot-Handle-Jayne-Mansfield/dp/B00005UBMH/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1265011026&sr=1-2"]Too Hot To Handle [VHS] [1959]: Jayne Mansfield, Karl-Heinz Bohm, Leo Genn, Christopher Lee, Patrick Holt, Barbara Windsor, Terence Young: Amazon.co.uk: Video[/ame]
Ooops! Sorry that's also in B & W.
If this film was filmed in colour, (something I would dearly like to view) then would anyone know why the only prints in circulation are in black and white?..........how did it become black and white.
name='Merton Park']I am sure this was included in a VHS boxed set of Jayne Mansfield released in the US.
Not a bad film, I remember seeing it when first released, don't think it was an X, more likely an A.
It was an X film, Merton Park. But Jayne Mansfield made another British film at around the same time entitled The Challenge and that was an A certificate film.
name='darrenburnfan']It was an X film, Merton Park. But Jayne Mansfield made another British film at around the same time entitled The Challenge and that was an A certificate film.
Sounds like another film i'd like to see, I believe Jayne made quite a few trips back and forward to Britain in the 1960's before her tragic death, i've seen clips of her opening a Motorway, signing autographs at a south London park, and she did a of tour northern England working-mens clubs with her act and Diana Dors went to see her (backstage)
There's no doubting she was a stunning beauty.........
name='Mark O']If this film was filmed in colour, (something I would dearly like to view) then would anyone know why the only prints in circulation are in black and white?..........how did it become black and white.
Apparently, B&W copies were made for distribution on television at a time when few people had color sets, a common practice. I don't know how anyone here would have a color version unless they possess the original theatrical print.
I'm with you Will.
A few more pics of gorgeous Jayne........
The problem seems to be that this was the only film the company "Wigmore Productions" ever produced. The movie slipped into the public domain and thus dvd and vhs versions are PD stuff only. But I thought probably a version licensed by the actual British copyright owner might have been on TV in Britain. The British version was released December 1960 and seems to have had a length of 100 minutes (so 5 minutes cut by the BBFC already). In the US it was released as "Playgirl after Dark" January 12, 1961 in a length of 92 minutes. The only version I have accurate figures about is the German one which was released April 16, 1960 and ran 8832 ft. = 98'24 (24 fps) respectively 94'27 (25 fps). The actual b/w version around is 87'12 at 24 fps NTSC speed only.
The Orbit Media DVD is a bootleg, of course.
Too Hot To Handle seems to have been a co-production between the Associated British Picture Corporation and Wigmore Productions and would have been filmed at Elstree Studios. It was originally distributed in the UK by Warner-Pathe. So maybe Warner Home Video may have it in their archives.
I have the legit b/w dvd and have to say it's right up my street, the early shots of Jayne kneeling over a stool in the club are eye popping to say the least, not very talented but what a sex icon
I watched this (in black and white!) not long ago. You can just see quickly faded out and immediately before the still, superimposed main title cards, "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents". I think this one was made at MGM British Studios.
I recall reading that Too Hot to Handle had a troubled production and the film was locked out of the studios for unpaid bills!
I recall reading that Too Hot to Handle had a troubled production and the film was locked out of the studios for unpaid bills!
The producer was a rather dodgy Arab gentleman Selim Kattan [Selim Cattan ], who only produced this one film !
This may explain the problems with the film, both during production when cast and crew were 'locked out' of MGM Boreham Wood studios, and the later loss of all Eastman colour prints.....a pity because the DOP was Otto Heller, who was also DOP on Michael Powell's Eastman Color Peeping Tom which also starred Karlheinz Bohm. Too Hot to Handle was praised by reviewers in 1960 for its garish colour quality !
Hi this appears to be available as a region 1 release
Play.com (UK) : Too Hot To Handle (1960) (Region 1 DVD) : DVD - Free Delivery
Hi this appears to be available as a region 1 release
Play.com (UK) : Too Hot To Handle (1960) (Region 1 DVD) : DVD - Free Delivery
This is the poor quality 16mm B/W print .......
It's difficult to say just when the 35mm Eastman Colour prints of Too Hot To Handle became unavailable. As far as here in Stoke-on-Trent goes, it was first run for a week on the ABC circuit on Monday, April 24th, 1961 and, after going the rounds at all the other cinemas, was still being booked as late as December, 1962, at the Broadway, Meir. According to the Plaza, Fenton, film despatch books, when it was run there in January, 1962, the copy number was 26 and there were probably many more copies struck of it than that.
Basically there seem to be two DVD releases so far:
Koch Vision (2004)
Alpha Video (2008)
Is there somebody who owns these DVDs who would be able to provide us with screenshots for comparision and the actual length of the movie versions?
Posting Permissions
