"What you often hear from Turner is that they have the MGM library and we don't, which is true," she said.

On April 14, 2011, Fox's deal distributing the MGM library was extended until 2016.

Another pleasant surprise has been the value of the MGM library overseas.

Thus in 1985, the MGM library took in probably about $30 million overseas.

Turner's best films arrived when Ted Turner bought the MGM library in 1986 - for the staggering price of $1.2 billion.

TNT, an entertainment service that uses the MGM library as its programming base, was started in October and is in 27.2 million homes.

SPT co-distributed the MGM library for a short time.

"Everybody laughed when Teddy Turner bought the MGM library in 1984," she said.

The MGM library, now controlled by Turner Classic Movies, has a print which is missing the final reel.

Turner acquired the MGM library during its brief ownership of the company in 1986.