DVD won't play without "No disc menus"

[InquiringMind]

If "No disc menus" is unchecked a DVD without any menu structure just produces a black screen with no evidence of anything happening (although there is some minor cpu activity with no i/o). With "No disc menus" checked it starts playing the copyright notice, some advertising matter, then the movie, like an old VHS tape. Can't VLC detect the lack of menu structure and just start playing in this situation? Is there a preference setting somewhere I am missing?