Criterion Random Speculation Vol.3

[Jeff]

With all of the newsletter hints and Turrell, Becker, & Company's recent openness and generosity towards their customer base, we know more upcoming titles than ever. I think we have a rough idea on how the rest of the year will pan out. Most of these have either been directly confirmed by Criterion as 2007 releases (*) or have been in production long enough that they should be happening relatively soon. There are a couple of completely speculative wild cards thrown in for good measure. Surely some of these will get pushed to 2008, and of course one only needs to look at my 2007 predictions from last December to see how much things can change, but here are my guesses for the rest of the year's schedule.

September
Breathless *
Pierrot le Fou
Drunken Angel *
Mafioso

October
Robinson Crusoe on Mars *
Days of Heaven *
Threepenny Opera *
Cabiria

November
Under the Volcano *
The Dead
Night on Earth *
Salo Redux *

December
My Dinner with Andre
Berlin Alexanderplatz *


Before the Revolution should be due any time now. Those Kobayashi and Ophuls boxes could sneak in there too. I have my fingers crossed for Criterion releases of White Dog, Face to Face, and One-Eyed Jacks, and I always enjoy a House of Games-style surprise.

[Scharphedin2]

Jeff, surely Night On Earth should be out before the end of the year, no!?

[souvenir]

Fair guesses. You left out Threepenny Opera, which given the newsletter hint a couple of months ago should be coming very soon, probably September. Two or Three Things I Know About Her, I'd guess, might be paired with Breathless instead of Pierrot since it should be next in line among the Rialto releases. The two Godards, the Pabst and Drunken Angel all seem likely choices for September.

[Cinephrenic]

Well we will get at least one Renoir (Monsieur) before the year is out.

[Jeff]

Right you are, gentlemen. I was thinking that Night On Earth wasn't that far into production, but looking back at what was on the Criterion website, they did say "this fall." I wonder if it will be paired with another Jarmusch film. I completely forgot about Threepenny Opera appearing in the newsletter (blame Cinephrenic, it's not on the "forthcoming" list )

Two or Three Things may indeed be paired with Breathless instead, but I think that since it's still in the midst of its theatrical run, they'll wait a while.

I've modified the list in my post above, with Face to Face and Before the Revolution getting the boot in favor of the Pabst and Jarmusch.

[ellipsis7]

My thoughts exactly re. the Renoir... It's been a Lange time coming...

[Cinephrenic]

I completely forgot about Threepenny Opera appearing in the newsletter (blame Cinephrenic, it's not on the "forthcoming" list )

Wow I actually forgot to add it...lol. Nobody sends me PM on these things you know.

[miless]

Right you are, gentlemen. I was thinking that Night On Earth wasn't that far into production, but looking back at what was on the Criterion website, they did say "this fall." I wonder if it will be paired with another Jarmusch film.

Both Permanent Vacation and Stranger Than Paradise (and probably the first "short film version" completed 2 years before the final version) are forthcoming Jarmusch titles (they will probably be packaged together)

[toiletduck!]

Two or Three Things may indeed be paired with Breathless instead, but I think that since it's still in the midst of its theatrical run, they'll wait a while.

The Two or Three Things run is surely winding down, isn't it? Either way, Pierrot seems to be embarking on one itself (it's coming to Chicago in August, anyway), so that's a little unlikely itself.

-Toilet Dcuk

[Cinephrenic]

We might get My Life to Live.

[justeleblanc]

You're all smoking crack if you think Pierrot is coming by the end of the year. Janus is choosing to re-release this in theaters, and it will tour the country (and hit DC) long before it's out on DVD.

[Cinephrenic]

=P~

[a.khan]

Just wanted to throw this in here: I wrote Turell many weeks ago about Siegel's forgotten masterpiece "The Beguiled," and -- I've had all previous enquiries answered promptly -- my message went ignored. (I accepted this as a good sign.)

Given the Universal connection, do you think the film could, one day, be a Criterion? It certainly deserves to be.

[Cinephrenic]

I agree with you, it's a underrated film and would be a nice edition.

[flyonthewall2983]

Just wanted to throw this in here: I wrote Turell many weeks ago about Siegel's forgotten masterpiece "The Beguiled," and -- I've had all previous enquiries answered promptly -- my message went ignored. (I accepted this as a good sign.)

Given the Universal connection, do you think the film could, one day, be a Criterion? It certainly deserves to be.

I've never seen the film, but I'd like to see it as a Criterion. Simply for the fact that they would most likely include the film's EPK, the first thing Eastwood ever directed.

[Jeff]

I think that The Beguiled is Siegel's best film, and I'd happily snap up a Criterion release. Besides the Eastwood-directed The Beguiled: The Storyteller, they could include the feature-length, made-for-Dutch-television documentary Don Siegel: Last of the Independents.

[colinr0380]

By the way, watching the original Toolbox Murders a while ago it was interesting to listen to the commentary and get told that Pamelyn Ferdin played the little girl (Amelia) in The Beguiled! In the commentary track she seemed particularly proud of working on that film.

[keeproductions]

That is so weird. I was watching an old episode of "The Odd Couple" last night (Bunny is Missing Down by the Lake) that had Pamelyn Ferdin AND Lisa Gerritsen in it.

Since Criterion has done TV before (Tanner, Fishing with John) maybe they can do "Curiosity Shop." (I'm only half-joking). That show really messed up my 8-year old mind.

From what I read, Pamelyn is a radical animal-rights activist now. Maybe once you get kissed by Clint Eastwood like that at such a young age......

[jbeall]

I was looking on dvdplanet, pondering a pre-order of the Raymond Bernard set, and I suddenly recalled that a few folks were disappointed that Miracle of the Wolves isn't included in the Eclipse set.

So what are the odds of Miracle getting a criterion release instead? I'd definitely love to see this film, but none of the libraries in my area have anything by Bernard, let alone this film.

[Cinephrenic]

I still think the two landmark 50's sci-fi B-movie classics When Worlds Collide and War of the Worlds would make great Criterions just like Equinox. Expecially, given the new When Worlds Collide remake is in the works, I think this is all profitable to cult/B-movie lovers. I don't know how Paramount can reject this notion given the recent acquisations that Criterion has acquired.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Maybe once you get kissed by Clint Eastwood like that at such a young age......

Never did me any harm

[miless]

I still think the two landmark 50's sci-fi B-movie classics When Worlds Collide and War of the Worlds would make great Criterions just like Equinox. Expecially, given the new When Worlds Collide remake is in the works, I think this is all profitable to cult/B-movie lovers. I don't know how Paramount can reject this notion given the recent acquisations that Criterion has acquired.

well, if there's a remake... wouldn't Paramount want to keep When Worlds Collide?
War of the Worlds is also a pretty big picture (obviously NOT the Spielberg film) nothing like the peanuts Days of Heaven, House of Games, Ace in the Hole or Robinson Crusoe on Mars would bring in.

[Cinephrenic]

They are both on DVD in crappy editions so Paramount isn't really interested in them, no?

[Narshty]

What's wrong with the current War of the Worlds disc? It's full of stuff - brand new transfer, two commentaries, documentaries, Welles' complete 1939 radio broadcast - and has a $15 list price.

[a.khan]

Just wanted to throw this in here: I wrote Turell many weeks ago about Siegel's forgotten masterpiece "The Beguiled," and -- I've had all previous enquiries answered promptly -- my message went ignored. (I accepted this as a good sign.)

Given the Universal connection, do you think the film could, one day, be a Criterion? It certainly deserves to be.

OK, guys, this is either pure coincidence or Turell Is Watching. Just received his long overdue reply (I thank you, sir!):

Unfortunately, it's not on the list at the moment but things to change. We've got a really solid year of releases and I've got an upcoming blog call Friday about Robinson Crusoe on Mars.

Appreciate the support.