Before streaming, blu-ray, and DVD, most LVC films were only available on home video cassette tapes, usually VHS (but also Betamax). Many of us discovered these films for the first time in these formats (usually cropped and edited).Often times due to rights issues, these films were given new titles (some similar to the original, some not). Often the cover image of LVC was not from the actual film!
Here is a look back at the old VHS LVC video covers for Commandos!
Yes mine is the box on the left second from the top.
ReplyDeleteLee started in two films back to back (Beyond the Law and Commandos) that did not get a theatrical telease in America. They debuted on the CBS late show in the mid 1970s 8 and 7 years after they were shot. Then in the early 1980's they got a VHS release.
As far as I know The Hard Way (1979), Killing Machine (1983)and The Commander(1987) did not get a theatrical release in the US either and went straight to video.
Bad Man's River, The Grand Duel, Mean Frank and Crazy Tony, The Perfect Killer, The Squeeze and I think Jungle Raiders got a limited lower showcase theatrical US release but it wasn't until VHS that many LVC fans got to see them.