Criterion and MGM

[AfterTheRain]

I just caught Raintree County on TCM and it appears this never received a proper R1 release. This would make a swell Criterion BD.

Yes, but Warner holds the rights; if this title would come out in the future, it would likely be from them.

[JPJ]

Now that Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia is OOP, is there any reason to think Criterion wouldn't pursue it?

No.
The great If Charlie Parker....blogspot just posted Alfredo Garcia's strange advertasing campaign.
http://tsutpen.blogspot.fi/2012/08/the- ... a-505.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[repeat]

Cutter's Way is MGM, been OOP for a while

Not sure what this refers to but the R2 disc is definitely still available from various vendors, and for small change as well. Great film with a beautiful score from Jack Nitszche - at the price it's going for I'd recommend to pick it up on sight, especially if it's about to go OOP!

[Noiradelic]

It refers to Cutter's Way being OOP for over a year in the U.S., and, replying to the poster's question, I mentioned that fact in the context of whether it would be getting a Blu Ray.

[repeat]

It refers to Cutter's Way being OOP for over a year in the U.S., and, replying to the poster's question, I mentioned that fact in the context of whether it would be getting a Blu Ray.

Yep, that's what I figured - good reason to snap up the R2 for a fiver just in case! Sure hope Criterion will get around to this one eventually.

(BTW I couldn't find this mentioned anywhere on the forum, but Born to Win is also available as an official MGM R2 release in the UK)

[Moe Dickstein]

I just caught Raintree County on TCM and it appears this never received a proper R1 release. This would make a swell Criterion BD.

That one supposedly requires a big restoration as well

[stroszeck]

Can anyone please make a recommendation on which edition of MANHUNTER to purchase? I was waiting for the Blu ray but a friend told me to stay away from it (apparently not a great transfer and total lack of extras) and just get the Divimax Director's Cut (Now OOPS). Does anyone have suggestions?

[knives]

I have the Blu and it's perfectly acceptable if not great.

[matrixschmatrix]

I think the region B version of the blu has all the extras on it, so that's probably ideal, but the image quality on the region A one is great- the director's cut DVD, if it's the one I'm thinking of, has the extras but abysmal PQ.

[dwk]

I'm going to second what knives and matrixschmatrix said. The MGM/US Blu-ray of Manhunter looks fantastic (and is region free), but is barebones. The UK/region B Blu-ray from Optimum was victim to some overzealous noise reduction that wiped out detail (lCheck out caps-a-holic's comparison between the Blu-rays) So, buy the MGM Blu-ray and, if you have to have special features, buy both the OOP Anchor Bay "theatrical" cut and AB's OOP Divimax Director's Cut or, if it is cheaper and you are region free, the Optimum Blu-ray, which has, I think, most but not all of the special features found on the two Anchor Bay releases (pretty sure the Optimum is missing the stills galleries that are on the Divimax DVD, but has the featurettes from the "theatrical" DVD and Mann's commentary from the Divimax DVD)

[stroszeck]

Thanks a lot for the info guys, just ordered the Region 1 Blu Ray and went ahead and got the DVD as well. Early Christmas present to myself.

[Adam]

As far as I know, MGM still has 5 Bergman films, especially Persona. It would be nice if Criterion could get those for Blu-Ray. Persona, Shame, Hour of the Wolf, Passion of Anna (and The Serpent's Egg, but that one is not so essential). All sorts of possible extras, from the Swedish opening to Persona, (suing that fantastic restored version of the film from the Swedish Film Archive), to interviews with the various actors

[dwk]

From an AICN interview with Tibor Takacs

BUG: Also another film that you’ve done which left a mark on me was I, MADMAN. Looking back on that film, is there any chance of getting a Blu-Ray release?

TT: Well there was at one point talk of a Criterion version. That was a couple of years ago. I would love to see that Blu-Ray. I think eventually it probably will. The negative is really nice. If they were to retransfer it, it would be beautiful.

[domino harvey]

LOL I Madman is ill-fitting with the collection by any barometer. Me thinks he's fibbing

[Matt]

There's also been "talk" of a Criterion version of C.H.U.D., but it's not going to happen (sorry Rumsey).

[zedz]

There's definitely been talk about Criterion releasing Chico Ejiro's films.

So. Much. Talk.

[johnnysnatchclub7]

LOL I Madman is ill-fitting with the collection by any barometer. Me thinks he's fibbing

I actually did a movie last year with star Clayton Rohner. I talked his ear off about I, Madman and Just One of the Guys, as I'm a fan, but he didn't seem to remember I, Madman very fondly and I can't honestly see many others digging it either. Let alone a Criterion release.

[knives]

LOL I Madman is ill-fitting with the collection by any barometer. Me thinks he's fibbing

Can't be any more ill fitting then Genocide.

[mfunk9786]

Any Charly chatter?

[Lowry_Sam]

As far as I know, MGM still has 5 Bergman films, especially Persona. It would be nice if Criterion could get those for Blu-Ray. Persona, Shame, Hour of the Wolf, Passion of Anna (and The Serpent's Egg, but that one is not so essential). All sorts of possible extras, from the Swedish opening to Persona, (suing that fantastic restored version of the film from the Swedish Film Archive), to interviews with the various actors

FYI, these are all available free online if you have Amazon Prime (all non-HD versions though), along with many other MGM titles (available here).

[Jameson281]

As far as I know, MGM still has 5 Bergman films, especially Persona.

MGM no longer has rights to PERSONA.

[ianungstad]

Would be nice if Criterion snatched up Persona in addition to the British Hitchcocks. (which MGM also let the rights lapse)

[bainbridgezu]

As far as I know, MGM still has 5 Bergman films, especially Persona.

MGM no longer has rights to PERSONA.

Could you provide a source for this? I know the DVDs are OOP, but the same is true for most of MGM's back catalogue.

Would be nice if Criterion snatched up Persona in addition to the British Hitchcocks. (which MGM also let the rights lapse)

If they are available, I imagine that Janus would take all five to fill out their near-complete Bergman holdings. This would be very welcome news, as it seems a stretch that Criterion would have licensed more than Persona from MGM if they can only take out blocks of 10-15 titles at a time.

[swo17]

Jameson281 is a reliable industry source.

If CC got Persona, I hope that at least Shame and Hour of the Wolf came along with it.

[bainbridgezu]

Jameson281 is a reliable industry source.

Thanks for the clarification, I didn't realize.

Given Janus and Criterion's long-standing relationship with Bergman and his films, I can't imagine them passing on these titles, or anyone else getting ahold of them.