Time-Life Video
History
[edit]Time-Life Video was the home video division of Time-Life Films, established in 1977 to distribute content from Time-Life Films, Time-Life Television, BBC, Masterpiece Productions, PBS, WGBH Educational Foundation, HBO, and a few other studios on the VHS, Betamax, and 16mm formats. Their most notable releases are Stagecoach (which, according to film review site Rotten Tomatoes, is their highest-rated title, at a 100% "fresh" critic rating), a western film released in 1939 that was directed by John Ford and starred John Wayne and Claire Trevor, and The Kinks: One for the Road, a live concert music video album by the rock and roll band, The Kinks. In 1982, the assets of the original Time-Life Video were rearranged to form Vestron Video, which reissued many of Time-Life's titles (including the aforementioned Stagecoach). Time-Life Video remained in operation independently as a mail-order service, similar to Columbia House. Time-Life distributed videos such as collections, as well as PBS shows, namely Nature, Barney & Friends and Nova. Most of Time-Life's videocassette releases do not contain any opening or closing previews, rather they just use their own openings and closings. Sometimes, they will reuse print masters of previous releases.
Distributed libraries/labels/organizations
[edit]- Time-Life Films
- Time-Life Television
- Masterpiece Productions
- Home Box Office (HBO)
- Cinema 5
- Cannon Films
- Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
- WGBH Educational Foundation
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
- Media Home Entertainment
- Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment (1979)
Released under the Time-Life Video label
[edit]1979
[edit]| Catalog number | Title | Country of origin | Original year | Length | Version | MPAA rating | Film format | Tape count | Tape break placement (if applicable) | Color | Released | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Stagecoach From Masterpiece Productions |
USA | 1939 | 96 min | Masterpiece Productions version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Black and white | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1001 | Foreign Correspondent From Masterpiece Productions |
USA | 1940 | 120 min | Standard version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Black and white | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1002 | The Woman of the Town From Masterpiece Productions |
USA | 1943 | 90 min | Standard version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Black and white | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1003 | And God Created Woman | France/Italy | 1956 | 90 min | Uncut English language version | NR | CinemaScope | 1 | N/A | TBD | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1005 | Go Tell the Spartans From Avco Embassy Pictures Corporation |
USA | 1977 | 114 min | Standard version | R | Matted 1.85 | 1 | N/A | Color | June 1979 |
|
| 1006 | Slightly Honorable From Masterpiece Productions |
USA | 1939 | 86 min | Standard version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Black and white | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1007 | Sundown From Masterpiece Productions |
USA | 1941 | 90 min | Standard version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Black and white | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1011 | Trade Winds From Masterpiece Productions |
USA | 1938 | 94 min | Standard version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Black and white | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1013 | Slumber Party '57 From The Cannon Group, Inc. |
USA | 1976 | 89 min | Standard version | R | TBD | 1 | N/A | Color | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1014 | 52nd Street From Masterpiece Productions |
USA | 1937 | 80 min | Standard version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Black and white | June 1979 | TBD |
| 1017 | Pepper: Agent OOX | USA | 1973 | 88 min | Standard version | R | TBD | 1 | N/A | Color | June 1979 | TBD |
| 3000 | The Lenny Bruce Performance Film/Thank You, Mr. Mask Man | USA | 1967 | 72 min | Standard version | NR | Matted 1.66 | 1 | N/A | Black and white/Color | June 1979 | TBD |
| 3001 | HBO On Location: Young Comedians Jamboree From Home Box Office |
USA | 1977 | 76 min | Standard version | NR | Video (NTSC-M) | 1 | N/A | Color | June 1979 |
|
| 3003 | HBO On Location: An Evening with Redd Foxx From Home Box Office |
USA | 1978 | 60 min | Standard version | NR | Video (NTSC-M) | 1 | N/A | Color | June 1979 | TBD |
1980
[edit]January
[edit]| Catalog number | Title | Country of origin | Original year | Length | Version | MPAA rating | Film format | Tape count | Tape break placement (if applicable) | Color | Released | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1004 | Good Guys Wear Black From Mar Vista Productions |
USA | 1978 | 96 min | Standard version | PG | Matted 1.85 | 1 | N/A | Color | January 12, 1980 | TBD |
| 1010 | Picnic at Hanging Rock | Australia | 1975 | 115 min | Standard version | PG | Matted 1.66 | 1 | N/A | Color | January 12, 1980 | TBD |
| 3002 | HBO On Location: An Evening with Billy Crystal From Home Box Office |
USA | 1979 | 60 min | Standard version | NR | Video (NTSC-M) | 1 | N/A | Color | January 12, 1980 | TBD |
| 4001 | Rust Never Sleeps | USA | 1979 | 111 min | TBD | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Color | January 12, 1980 | TBD |
June
[edit]This point is where Time-Life would retire their brown clamshells for any new release in favor of the slightly more common gatefold boxes with a neon Time-Life marquee inside the box and a rainbow colored banner on the front of the cover, which would become their standard packaging for future releases. At the time, the company also introduced a new catalog numbering system: TLV XXXX (XXXX indicates a four-digit numbering system; 4000 from The Kinks: One for the Road was given as an example of this).
Catalog numbering systems (all start with "TLV"):
- 1000-1999: Feature films
- 2000-2999: Short subjects (up to 60 min. in length)
- 3000-3999: Stand-up comedy material
- 4000-4999: Music-related material
- 5000-5999: Standing Room Only
- 6000-6999: Public Broadcasting Service and WGBH Educational Foundation
- 7000-7999: British Broadcasting Corporation
- 8000-8999: Media Home Entertainment and The Nostalgia Merchant
| Catalog number | Title | Country of origin | Original year | Length | Version | MPAA rating | Film format | Tape count | Tape break placement (if applicable) | Color | Released | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1008 | My Brilliant Career | Australia | 1979 | 101 min | Standard version | G | Matted 1.85 | 1 | N/A | Color | June 25, 1980 | Released on home media in the United States only a few months after being screened at the New York Film Festival on October 6, 1979, and being given a limited theatrical release in the United States on February 1, 1980. |
| 1016 | Hawmps! From Mulberry Square Productions |
USA | 1976 | 120 min | Standard version | G | Matted 1.85 | 1 | N/A | Color | June 25, 1980 | TBD |
| 2003 | The Greatest Adventure: The Story of Man's Voyage Narrated by Orson Welles with official NASA films |
USA | 1979 | 54 min | Standard version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Color | June 25, 1980 | TBD |
| 3004 | Richard Pryor Filmed Live in Concert From Home Box Office |
USA | 1979 | 79 min | Standard version | NR | Matted 1.85 | 1 | N/A | Color | June 25, 1980 | TBD |
| 4000 | The Kinks: One for the Road | USA | 1980 | 54 min | Standard version | NR | Video (NTSC-M) | 1 | N/A | Color | June 25, 1980 |
|
1981
[edit]| Catalog number | Title | Country of origin | Original year | Length | Version | MPAA rating | Film format | Tape count | Tape break placement (if applicable) | Color | Released | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1024 | The Private Eyes From New World Pictures |
USA | 1980 | ?? min | TBD | PG | Matted 1.85 | 1 | N/A | Color | 1981 | TBD |
| 1030 | Tribute From Pan-Canadian Films |
Canada | 1980 | 125 min | TBD | PG | TBD | 1 | N/A | Color | 1981 | TBD |
| 1033 | Blonde Ambition | USA | 1981 | 84 min | Standard version | NR | Academy | 1 | N/A | Color | 1981 | Two packaging styles were released for this title: the standard gatefold packaging and the older brown clamshell packaging. |
| 1036 | The Changeling From Associated Film Distribution |
Canada | 1980 | 107 min | Standard version | R | Matted 1.85 | 1 | N/A | Color | 1981 |
|
1992
[edit]| Catalog number | Title | Country of origin | Original year | Length | Tape count | Tape break placement (if applicable) | Color | Released | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V549-01 | Barney & Friends: Playing It Safe From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-02 | Barney & Friends: Our Earth, Our Home From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-03 | Barney & Friends: Alphabet Soup From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-04 | Barney & Friends: Caring Means Sharing From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-05 | Barney & Friends: Be A Friend From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-06 | Barney & Friends: Carnival of Numbers From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-07 | Barney & Friends: Eat, Drink and Be Healthy From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-08 | Barney & Friends: My Family's Just Right For Me From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-09 | Barney & Friends: The Treasure of Rainbow Beard From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-10 | Barney & Friends: Everyone is Special From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-11 | Barney & Friends: Hop To It From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
| V549-12 | Barney & Friends: The Queen Of Make Believe From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1992 | TBD |
1993
[edit]| Catalog number | Title | Country of origin | Original year | Length | Tape count | Tape break placement (if applicable) | Color | Released | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V549-13 | Barney & Friends: Down On Barney's Farm From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1993 | TBD |
| V549-14 | Barney & Friends: Four Seasons Day From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1993 | TBD |
| V549-15 | Barney & Friends: 1-2-3-4-5 Senses From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1993 | TBD |
| V549-16 | Barney & Friends: What's That Shadow From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1993 | TBD |
| V549-17 | Barney & Friends: Practice Makes Music From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1993 | TBD |
| V549-18 | Barney & Friends: When I Grow Up From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1993 | TBD |
| V549-19 | Barney & Friends: Hi, Neighbor From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1993 | TBD |
| V549-20 | Barney & Friends: Doctor Barney Is Here From The Lyons Group |
USA | 1992 | 30 min | 1 | N/A | Color | 1993 | TBD |
Duplicators
[edit]- Technicolor Home Entertainment Services, Camarillo, CA (1993-200?)
- Technicolor Videocassette, Newbury Park, CA (198?-1993)
- VCA-Teletronics, Leonia, NJ (1977-199?)