I received a notice yesterday that Far From the Madding Crowd will be available from Amazon.com in January 2009. They are taking pre-release orders for the DVD now. Finally, this lovely movie is coming to Region 1 DVD. I do not know if it is being restored for this release.

It'll be available on January the 27th, from Warner. At last.
http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?userid=99365870842972&item_id=1431719&searchID=

1/27/09. Just found out today. It will be the complete uncut version.

That is the whole point about supply and demand economies though, take yourself off to your local dvd store in your local high st and look at the amount of absolute dross that is available, stuff that can only be described as a conplete waste of film and man hours. Then think about the number of cinematographic masterpieces that languish in the vaults of the big studios and ask yourself, is it deliberate? I had to sent half way across the world for "Mr Verdoux", only to have the Chaplin Collection appear just in time for Christmas. I bought "The Pajama Game" from ebay for a fair few bob just ahead of its release to exploit the interest in Bob Fosse caused by the movie of "Chicago" and I had to buy a Daily Mail to get a copy of "Far from the Madding Crowd".

Just to inject a bit of ironic levity into this thread, I thought I would mention that there is one copy of a region 2 DVD, used, for sale by one ValleyCD, on the Amazon site, for the trivial price of $719.50.

I have it on laserdisc, which is in widescreen. The laser is MGM, so I don't know if Warner owns it. FOX is issuing MGM's library so it would be up to them.
This movie does need a proper DVD released. The laser is adequate but not for a widescreen TV. Still, it's better than seeing it panned-and-scanned.
We report, you decide; but we decide what to report.

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Maybe if Julie Christie wins the Oscar next month for "Away From Her", the studios might put out DVD releases of this film and "The Go-Between". One can only hope.
Well, any engine that would get those corporate corpses out of their over-priced coffins and issue a masterpiece like Far From the Madding Crowd would be appreciated by me.
Drat, drat, and drat these suits in offices that hold back art like this.
If the Revolution ever starts, I will form a commando force (without arms, of course, since I am a pacifist) and storm their bastions with good will and good but very firm intentions to liberate these gems.

Maybe if Julie Christie wins the Oscar next month for "Away From Her", the studios might put out DVD releases of this film and "The Go-Between". One can only hope.

dlf20, sorry to break it to you, but Warner Home Video no longer licenses any of its titles to Criterion.

http://www.tcmdb.com/title/title.jsp?stid=1334
here is a clip from TCM. I have seen this a few times on that channel. I would love to have the dvd if it ever they release it.
(follow the links) to the right of the image you can click on watch the trailer or watch a movie clip.

I absolutely agree with you. This underrated movie is a must. The whole cast is great and cinematography is magnificent. Of course Julie is fabulous (as always !).
Check my DVD collection :
http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&id=richais

I got a free copy from a newspaper, may you could buy one off e-bay.