Welcome to “Where on the Shelf Is…” In this column, I look at great TV shows and movies that have never been on DVD and/or Blu-ray. For your pleasure and out of all of our frustrations, this column examines the Where, When and, of course, WHY?! of these non-releases.
Up this week is…DON’S PLUM
What Is It?:
Shot in 1995 and 1996, DON’S PLUM is a grainy black and white venture made between close friends on the cheap. It was directed by R.D. Robb (AKA Schwartz from A CHRISTMAS STORY) and starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Kevin Connelly, all of whom were members of LA’s infamous Pussy Possehref>.
The plot, should anyone choose to call it one, centers on a group of Angelenos who meet in a small diner to engage in childish banter, scream at patrons and just be crude dickheads.
Where Is It?:
Despite the premiere of the much-anticipated THE GREAT GATSBY just two months away, there is no word on a release of DON’S PLUM to be heard.
Years after production wrapped, DiCaprio and Maguire’s reputations started to build, and so they teamed up to halt the release of the work that could potentially be humiliating and damaging to their careers. Because that’s what total BFFs do for each other.
In 1998, producer/writer David Stutman filed a lawsuithref> against DiCaprio and Maguire after the former used his “clout” (from the art house sensation TITANIC) to stop the film from seeing the light of day, citing “declaratory relief, interference with prospective economic advantage, breach of contract, slander of title, and injunctive relief.” Six years later, fellow producer John Schindler filed suit with a similar claim.
In the end, Stutman’s case was settled and Schindler’s was eventually dismissedhref>, because DiCaprio is sexy and Maguire is Spider-Man.
So, as of this column, DON’S PLUM is only available on Region 2 DVD, meaning a limited number of countries have immediate access to the film. Among those fortunate nations are Japan, Egypt and Swaziland, which we assure you we did not make uphref>.
When Will We See It?:
Probably never. DiCaprio and Maguire are worth somewhere in the neighborhood $300 millionhref> combinedhref> and so have nothing to gain in promoting the exhibition of DON’S PLUM, except maybe a slew of delayed Razzies. And those that could benefit (see: Stutman, D.; Schindler, J.) have had no luck.
So DON’S PLUM remains, for the most part, stored away. Meanwhile, this exists:
Where Can We See It?:
Seeing as DON’S PLUM is available on DVDhref> in other countries, it’s not exactly impossible to track down a copy.
Those in North America without a region-free player, though, have no other options except for a bootleg, as not even YouTube has more than a few clips. Here’s our hero Leo belittling the only girl ever to reject him.
Is one of your favorite movies or TV shows not available on DVD or Blu-ray? Leave your suggestions below or shoot me an e-mail at mathewplale@joblo.comhref>.