Yesterday I spent my entire workday looking forward to running by the store, purchasing An American in Paris on Blu-ray, and settling in to enjoying one of my favorite films in the best home viewing format possible. I was planning on buying the disc, taking my wife to a nice dinner, and having a nice night in to ourselves.
I walked into Best Buy, a gift certificate in hand, ready to hand over cold hard cash for instant gratification. I made a beeline for the New Release rack...this would be an in-and-out trip. No American in Paris. Gigi or South Pacific, for that matter.
No sweat, this happens all the time with catalog releases. I head for the Blu-ray section. As I pass, I note two copies of Let the Right One In: Lousy Subtitles Edition, around five copies of I Am Legend (one of Ben Lyons' Great Films of All Time), and plenty of other sundry things. Still no Warner Classic Musicals. What gives? I get a bit more anxious as I head for the Musicals section, and alas/alack, only the DVDs that have been around for half a year. Just what the hell is going on here?
I ask the clerk who is "calibrating" (not playing) the Rock Band guitar to help me find this movie. We'll call him "Andy."
Andy: "Which movie?"
Me: "An American in Paris."
Andy: "Yeah, never heard of it."
Me: "Today was the street date. Could you check available stock?"
Andy: "I mean, I didn't see it when we put stuff--"
Me: "Would you mind terribly checking [with dread] whether you carry it in-store?"
Andy: "Yeah, I guess, hold on a second. [thirteen seconds pass] Yeah, it's online-only, dude."
Me: "So what do I do with this Reward Zone thing?"
Andy: "Uh, you can still use it online."
Me: "How long until I get it from them?"
Andy: "Uh, probably like end of next week. [click click] Oh, wait, it's backordered."
Me: "Thanks for your help."
A number of internet searches later, I find that Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, and even Fry's (who carry tens of copies of new Criterion Blu releases) do not carry An American in Paris, Gigi, or South Pacific in store! Are retailers shifting to only carrying loss-leaders and ditching catalog releases? Blu-ray is still an enthusiast and affluent consumer format. Do they realize they are burning the very early adopters who are supporting Blu-ray and actually buy things first week?
This isn't an April Fool's Joke, but I wish it were.