MoC Forthcoming, Wishlist, and Random Speculation

[artfilmfan]

Here's still hoping for a Naruse Vol. 2 release from MoC.

Hopefully, "Vol. 2" will include:

Vol. 2a

1. A Wife's heart (trust me, this is a wonderful film)
2. Her Lonely Lane/A Wanderer's Notebook
3. Husband and Wife

Vol. 2b

4. Yearning
5. Scattered Clouds
6. Mother

[Michael Kerpan]

A Wife's heart (trust me, this is a wonderful film)

Comments and screen shots

2. Her Lonely Lane/A Wanderer's Notebook
3. Husband and Wife

Excellent choices

4. Yearning
5. Scattered Clouds
6. Mother

Also good choices. But Mother might come off (unjustifiably) as a little humdrum in the company of the other far more florid (visually and dramatically) films. It might be better to switch this with Wanderer's Notebook. ;~}

[colinr0380]

From the latest MovieMail catalogue's review of the Optimum disc of L'Eclisse:

Antonioni's first international hit, L'Avventura, which began his collaboration with Monica Vitti, was followed by La Notte (coming in 2008 from MoC) and L'Eclisse.

[Gropius]

La Notte (coming in 2008 from MoC)

Excellent news if correct (and it should be, coming from the lips of MovieMail). About time Antonioni made his debut in the MoC catalogue, and hopefully it won't be the last.

[justeleblanc]

La Notte (coming in 2008 from MoC)

Excellent news if correct (and it should be, coming from the lips of MovieMail). About time Antonioni made his debut in the MoC catalogue, and hopefully it won't be the last.

I wonder if a Criterion may follow. Wasn't Criterion's reason for not releasing a disc because of a lack of "elements"? Certainly a good print must exist now if MoC is releasing it.

[dadaistnun]

I wonder if a Criterion may follow. Wasn't Criterion's reason for not releasing a disc because of a lack of "elements"? Certainly a good print must exist now if MoC is releasing it.

From the Forthcoming Criterion list:

LA NOTTE (1961, Antonioni) - mentioned by Kim Hendrickson on Speakeasy with Dorian as forthcoming. UPDATE: Coming according to Kim Hendrickson, but problems finding elements for release. (2007)

[akaten]

Any shot of MOC releasing Lang's Scarlet Street?

Not against overlap at all, as I enjoy the way MOC booklets and features discuss the context of the film as well as the qualities of the feature itself, I'd like to see if possible, a Anthony Mann/John Alton boxset, with archive writings from Alton about use of light and shadow.

It also seems to me there are still plenty of examples of American cinema that could be included, early 50s films of Anthony Mann, Devil's Doorway, The Furies and The Tall Target. Can you tell I'm a fan of his? Maybe something by Don Siegel, Riot in Cell Block 11 perhaps The Line Up with Eli Wallach, worth the price of admissionf or the following;

"Women have no place in society, they don't understand the need for violence."

I'm tempted to also ask for something by John Huston, Fat City or The Life and Times of Judge Roy Beans but I'm sure others could come up with lesser known examples of American cinema that deserve exposure.

[Narshty]

Any shot of MOC releasing Lang's Scarlet Street?

The BFI are preparing a DVD, which they had passed at the BBFC some time ago.

[Luke M]

As a general reply to Nick I can only say this: very few in the US, UK, or anywhere in the world knew about Dreyer, Tarkovsky, Mizoguchi, Ozu, Bresson, so so many others before '99. A breakout moment has to occur sometime somewhere, and as in so many cases over the past 7-8 years of the dvd medium we of the ahem slightly older generation can marvel at the phenomenon of FW Murnau & Kurosawa & Welles & Bergman being sort of passe in the "obscure" dept... or "old news". 18 yr old middle american kids are talking UGETSU MONOGATARI & LATE SPRING & PICKPOCKET because of the power of a good presentation by a trusted company of a sublime film. Very few companies around the world have acquired the level of trust andconsumer dedication as CC, MoC, and I have to include Kino as well because of their relentless debuting hitherto unheard-of films based only on the power of the films to stun an audience. You guys--MoC-- put out a silent film or film nobody's heard of, folks are going to take a look, dependable reviewers around the world are going to talk, world will spread and folks will buy. How many buyers under 30 had heard of Louie Feulliade prior to his arrival on dvd? Now we have no less than three full serials available on dvd, and hopefully more to come.

I'm not going to 'lecture'-- sincerely hope it doesn't sound like that-- but I just plead with you to dvd-debut some features in your silent catalog, the same way you do in your sound features line. Occasionally, at least.

I wanted to respond to this and say this certainly had happened to me. I popped my Criterion cherry on Kurosawa a number of years ago. And moved onto Fellini, Renoir, Godard, and Bergman. Now while I still seek out those directors, my tastes have shifted towards Ozu, Naruse, recent Raymond Bernard set, Pabst, Tarr, Melville, Masahiro Shinoda and Satyajit Ray.

[Awesome Welles]

25 is going to be an upgrade of Eureka's THE BLUE ANGEL, but it won't be with us for a while.

Cover art aside, the existing Eureka release is very handsome. I can't imagine how this will be upgraded? Given that Eureka recently released a Classics of German Cinema boxset, with this included I imagine they will want that to sell well prior to reissuing this, I think we'll have quite a wait to see what MoC do with this.

But will we see more Sternberg on the horizon I wonder? Anatahan, Underworld, The Docks of New York and The Last Command, among others I'm sure, are awaiting release as far as I am aware?

[jt]

I recently picked up the Eureka version of this (grumble...because someone told me MoC wouldn't be doing an upgrade...grumble) but haven't got round to it yet.
I can't find much info differentiating the two versions, I'm assuming the German is the one to watch? Or should I try both?
From beaver, the shots look pretty similar, if not the sharpness of the image. Could someone familiar with both versions give some advise? I fancy trying at least one version this weekend.

[Darth Lavender]

German is considered the superior, mainly because the actors are speaking their native language.

Got this one on DVD, but I've so far only watched it in very soft prints and PD VHS.

[peerpee]

I recently picked up the Eureka version of this (grumble...because someone told me MoC wouldn't be doing an upgrade...grumble) but haven't got round to it yet.

The MoC version won't be out until this time next year at the earliest.

-Nick>-

[Tommaso]

German is considered the superior, mainly because the actors are speaking their native language..

Indeed. There are some minute differences between the two versions, acting and dialogue-wise (some gestures changed, some additional or cut lines), and I think also some different actors in minor roles, but really nothing to trouble oneself about. Watch the German version, unless you want to write a book on the film and its history.

[jt]

I recently picked up the Eureka version of this (grumble...because someone told me MoC wouldn't be doing an upgrade...grumble) but haven't got round to it yet.

The MoC version won't be out until this time next year at the earliest.

Fair enough, it only cost me £6 anyway so no worries.
It wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't pathologically unable to avoid buying every MoC release, regardless of whether I own it or not already...

[blindside8zao]

The subtitles on the Eureka disc are excessively annoying, especially when they're covering up Ms. Dietrich's face or scantily clad body. I think I'd almost trade my disc in just to get something with better titles.

[denti alligator]

The subtitles on the Eureka disc are excessively annoying, especially when they're covering up Ms. Dietrich's [...] scantily clad body.

See, now that's a shame. When Facets (magazine/newsletter) had a contest some years ago for which one was to submit one's evaluation of an actor/actress using only the letters of that person's name (ie make an anagram out of the name to express how you feel about them), I used Marlene Dietrich to say

"Ah! I'm riled 'n erect"

Needless to say, I didn't win

[videozor]

We don't intend to release any existing Eureka titles in the MoC Series without continuing to improve them in some way.

After noticing that Last Laugh and Blue Angel would be upgraded from regular Eureka to MoC releases, I've started wondering if you plan sometime in the future to do the same with Caligari and (or) Mabuse? Both are represented decently on DVD (from either Kino or Eureka), but definitely deserve better.
Thank you in advance for replying!

[Awesome Welles]

I believe it has already been confirmed that MoC will not be reissuing Mabuse as the current editions are pretty definitive though I am not sure what the word is on Caligari. I'd be interested to hear too.

[videozor]

MoC will not be reissuing Mabuse

It's sad if it's so.

My point was: current editions could be bettered.

Eureka's Mabuse transfer, probably, doesn't need an upgrade, but menu and navigation are terrible (all 3 extras are played as one unit); commentaries could be applied from the old Image edition (or new ones could be commissioned), etc. (Not to mention an ugly cover design). I didn't check Kino edition, but it's most likely PAL to NTSC port...

The same with Caligari. Kino edition is very good, and I've found Viertblock's score very suitable, but everybody knows that the first 5 min or so are available in better shape. Again old commentaries could be applied, as well as more extras could be added. Caligari as a movie has a unique status (and, unlike some other movies, deservedly). A definitive edition, sort of we're getting (I hope) for Nosferatu would be appreciated...

I'll appreciate if Peerpee responds

[peerpee]

I agree, the Eureka MABUSE GAMBLER, TESTAMENT OF DR. MABUSE, and CALIGARI would make lovely MoC editions if we were to sort out their collective problems.

The cost and effort it would take to do this however --- considering these are not bestsellers --- would take us away from working on great films by Mizoguchi, Dreyer, Antonioni and others which have not been released on DVD in the UK at all.

We're having to make some harsh decisions about where we commit our time and energy. If we could afford more staff, and more time for projects, all this would eventually get done. As it is, we can't do everything we'd like to do.

Having said that, we are looking into CALIGARI again.

[videozor]

Kinemathekverbund's list of the 100 most important German films (page 41)

This is a terrific list! This sort of list usually end up including obvious silent classics and the half a dozen of Fassbinders and Herzogs. But this one includes movies of pre-Weimer era, Nazi period films, films from East Germany, etc! It's a great starting point for anybody interesting in German movies. It's even broader than BFI's list of 100 Greatest British movies.

The link should be placed in Other Lists forum.

By the way, does anybody know about a similar list on French movies? I couldn't help thinking that I've heard about it (maybe listening commentaries to Children of Paradise, which supposedly is a number 1).

[zedz]

The cost and effort it would take to do this however --- considering these are not bestsellers --- would take us away from working on great films by Mizoguchi, Dreyer, Antonioni and others which have not been released on DVD in the UK at all.

Aha! Or have I missed something?

[denti alligator]

The cost and effort it would take to do this however --- considering these are not bestsellers --- would take us away from working on great films by Mizoguchi, Dreyer, Antonioni and others which have not been released on DVD in the UK at all.

Aha! Or have I missed something?

You have. La Notte is coming. I believe peerpee mentioned it at some point, somewhere.