Criterion and Warner Bros.

[FrauBlucher]

Another thought, three early Warner Blurays, The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The Grand Hotel, released 2010 and 2013 respectively, may be in play for Criterion UHD releases. Especially the former two. Getting the two Huston films would be right in CC’s wheelhouse.

[rrenault]

It looks like WB will be releasing Singin' in the Rain on UHD themselves. Word of a North by Northwest UHD, however, seems to be conspicuously absent. I wonder if that one has a chance of getting a Criterion release.

[andyli]

Speaking of Warner, I'm wondering about big Western titles such as Rio Bravo, The Searchers and The Wild Bunch, all of which were released on blu-ray's early days and never touched again.

[ryannichols7]

June delivers two big ones, Pink Flamingos and the first WAC-to-CC-UHD title, Shaft.

really hope to see some of the above titles you guys mentioned, and with the Warner licenses continuing like this, one can only hope!

[flyonthewall2983]

Pure speculation on my part but I bet Criterion puts out Se7en, with all the new UHD bells and whistles.

[m_montana]

Will Casablanca have the same marketing strategy as the Citizen Kane 4K release: CC for North America, WB for UK?

[FrauBlucher]

Correct me if I'm wrong, of that initial WB list of titles that went OOP that have ended up being Criterion bound two remain now that Arsenic and Old Lace has got a CC release? Roaring Twenties and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (which should get announced within the next 2 months)

[dwk]

I think these are the remaining titles:
The Roaring Twenties
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
O Lucky Man
Lone Star
Captain Blood
Mean Streets

[beamish14]

I think these are the remaining titles:
The Roaring Twenties
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
O Lucky Man
Lone Star
Captain Blood
Mean Streets

After Hours as well, right?

[dwk]

I don't believe After Hours went OOP at the same time as the titles I listed. The rumors about that one started because the Projection Booth podcast posted that Criterion was going to release it. Maybe Criterion is doing a Scorsese at Warner Brothers boxset and that is why they haven't released it (or Mean Streets.)

[beamish14]

I don't believe After Hours went OOP at the same time as the titles I listed. The rumors about that one started because the Projection Booth podcast posted that Criterion was going to release it. Maybe Criterion is doing a Scorsese at Warner Brothers boxset and that is why they haven't released it (or Mean Streets.)

Ah, I see

I really hope O Lucky Man! isn’t a stand-alone, and that we get the entire Mick Travis trilogy (which would involve 3 studios-Paramount, WB, AND Universal)

[dwk]

I really hope O Lucky Man! isn’t a stand-alone, and that we get the entire Mick Travis trilogy (which would involve 3 studios-Paramount, WB, AND Universal)

Kino has Britannia Hospital under license and released it on Blu-ray in 2020, so trilogy set isn't likely.

[therewillbeblus]

Right, I'm at a loss for why that would be beneficial at all

[beamish14]

Right, I'm at a loss for why that would be beneficial at all

It’s certainly not on par with the first two (much like Kieslowski’s Colors), but I like much of it, particularly the final 10 minutes, which is incredibly effective and moving

[swo17]

I don't think he's asking why anyone should release O Lucky Man! but rather what benefit a box (especially one that's presumably a rights nightmare) would offer when If.... and Britannia Hospital already have stellar standalone editions

[FrauBlucher]

I think these are the remaining titles:
The Roaring Twenties
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
O Lucky Man
Lone Star
Captain Blood
Mean Streets

Wow, OK, quite a few still

[ryannichols7]

and then this speculation doesn't even factor in old Warner Home Video titles that Criterion could now go for as 4K releases...of which I made a list of. laserdisc titles are *'d. I'm sure a good chunk will stay with WB but you'd have to imagine at least a few of these will come to Criterion, as WB doesn't seem to be very quick moving on their 4Ks.

Casablanca*
Eyes Wide Shut
King Kong*
Dog Day Afternoon
North by Northwest*
The Searchers
The Maltese Falcon
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Deliverance
What's Up Doc?
Network (Feltenstein confirmed this is being restored)
All the President's Men
The Adventures of Robin Hood*
Lolita*
Forbidden Planet* (this one screams Shout Factory now)
Rio Bravo
Rebel Without a Cause
Amadeus
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
The Exorcist (there's not a chance in hell CC releases this, but I was shocked it's not out on the format already so I'm including it)
An American in Paris
The Best Years of Our Lives
Cabaret
Boogie Nights*
Se7en*

EDIT: the Goodfellas UHD appears out of print? and you also have to remember The Departed is a Warner title here. maybe people are on to something with a Scorcese at Warner box - obviously an expansive box of all of his films would be a rights nightmare, but his output at WB is probably enough for a decent set

[FrauBlucher]

Isn't the 4k Amadeus rumored for a Criterion release?

[beamish14]

Isn't the 4k Amadeus rumored for a Criterion release?

Yes, as is The Unbearable Lightness of Being

[ryannichols7]

Isn't the 4k Amadeus rumored for a Criterion release?

Yes, as is The Unbearable Lightness of Being

good call. I tried looking this up and couldn't find any info - but what's the deal with the rights on that movie? obviously Criterion didn't license it from WB when it was a DVD spine, and I see on wiki it was originally credited to Orion, who I know MGM now holds and Criterion have similarly licensed titles from. I know WB owns all pre-1986 MGM films but that movie being '88 throws me for a loop. any insight?

I doubt WB would release that title - it seems glaringly obvious for a Criterion return, with two of the more well beloved actors in cinema today. Amadeus, maybe, but even with Warner's prioritization of color films on 4K I can see that one swinging Criterion, especially since they released some of Forman's other films. it has been rumored by the somewhat uncredible site The Digital Bits which...did get the NOTLD 4K guess correct, so I'd say they can't really be ruled out at this point. Amadeus' restoration was confirmed by George recently as not being complete though, so I'm sure 2023 will be the earliest we see it

[ShempTCat]

EDIT: the Goodfellas UHD appears out of print? and you also have to remember The Departed is a Warner title here. maybe people are on to something with a Scorcese at Warner box - obviously an expansive box of all of his films would be a rights nightmare, but his output at WB is probably enough for a decent set

Along with the already mentioned Mean Streets, After Hours, Goodfellas, and The Departed, Scorsese's other Warner titles are: Who's That Knocking at My Door, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and the Aviator. What would be the chances of a UHD for Who's That Knocking at My Door for a Scorsese/WB set? Or, would a possible set feature some films as non-UHD?

[dwk]

The Saul Zaentz Company owns The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and they licensed their catalog to WB. They recently renewed their deal.

[rrenault]

Somehow I doubt WB would license out Goodfellas. That's one of their flagship catalog titles, along with Blade Runner and The Shining. But who knows?

[dwk]

When Ray Liotta died, in response to a question about a special edition of Goodfellas, Glenn Kenny said on Twitter that a new release might be in the works. I would assume it would be from WB themselves, but I could see them letting Criterion include it in an expensive box set.

[captveg]

The Exorcist (there's not a chance in hell CC releases this, but I was shocked it's not out on the format already so I'm including it)

Almost certainly being released by WB next year on 4K UHD for its 50th.