Criterion Random Speculation Vol.4

[domino harvey]

If Criterion did get those Wenders titles, they'd have him record new commentaries, add supplemental interviews, and then package them with a third unavailable movie and make it a Wenders box. Big "if" there, but that's how I'd imagine it going down.

[Tommaso]

Problem (or not) is that Wenders has already recorded excellent audio commentaries to nearly all his films, and most of them in both English and German. There are also excellent interviews with him (in German) on the arthaus Wenders discs, which would only need subtitling probably. So apart from these new discs being entirely English friendly, I doubt there will be any improvement over the Wenders-approved arthaus discs and transfers. Unless they go BluRay, of course.

[Dr. Mabuse]

Unless they go BluRay, of course.

That was my first thought, also. Exciting news, anyway

[Antoine Doinel]

If Criterion did get those Wenders titles, they'd have him record new commentaries, add supplemental interviews, and then package them with a third unavailable movie and make it a Wenders box. Big "if" there, but that's how I'd imagine it going down.

How about this for a box title: Wenders Of Desire

[Cronenfly]

I can't see them boxing these two titles together, seeing as they have nothing to do with each other beyond being released one after the other. As well, any other titles (even Faraway, So Close) would sit very oddly together indeed.

My guess is that the rights have reverted for both these titles to Wenders' Road Movies, and he's licensing these titles to Criterion same as he did all the ones Anchor Bay has released.

I'm with Jeff that Criterion releasing these two titles isn't really worth their time, but I'm sure some people thought that about Mishima too (although the old R1 DVD of that had more issues [burnt-in subs, lacking the Scheider V/O most notably] than the old R1 DVDs of Wings/Paris, and I think Mishima had more room for new, worthwhile supplements than either of these will). It doesn't help that I'm not the biggest fan of either film/Wenders in general, but I really can't see the point in Criterion releasing these (beyond putting them back in print in R1 [which I suppose is reason enough, as there was no way the old editions would stay in print now that the rights have reverted back to Wenders], Criterion being interested only in Wenders' more popular titles as opposed to the more marginal ones actually in need of a R1/any release, etc). I would much rather see them release the DC of Until the End of the World (thanks for dropping the ball on that one, Anchor Bay) or Kings of the Road, say, if they're going to release some Wenders, but alas and alack...

However, I look forward to the new supplements if they involve Peter Falk or Harry Dean Stanton in any capacity...maybe Criterion should release it as a boxset, with Crazy Old Man-themed supplements (and a Swimminghorses cover, of course). Stanton and Falk could interview each other, box perhaps, exchange life philosophies...all (cruel) joking aside, it would take something like that to get me to upgrade on these titles (though others' mileage may vary).

[domino harvey]

Perhaps they would just do a two spines in a row for the films, or maybe not even release them at the same time-- both films are as popular as Days of Heaven and their release would be noticed by the press and consumers, regardless of the quality of the past release.

[Cronenfly]

Perhaps they would just do a two spines in a row for the films, or maybe not even release them at the same time-- both films are as popular as Days of Heaven and their release would be noticed by the press and consumers, regardless of the quality of the past release.

A paired release seems very likely to me given how often Criterion does this (e.g. The Fire Within/The Lovers, Fires on the Plain/The Burmese Harp, Thieves' Highway/Night and the City, etc), but you're right domino that these two titles are big enough to stand on their own (and you're also right that the clout of the films in the marketplace, especially as Criterion titles, probably overshadows the lack of the need for Criterion to re-release them, especially taking into account how relatively low-key the past releases were).

[Tom Hagen]

My bet for tomorrow is that Bottle Rocket gets spine 450.

[Cinephrenic]

That sure in hell would be nice, but hate to dissapoint you, but we all know that spine numbers mean nothing anymore:

spine#50 And the Ship Sails On
spine#100 Beastie Boys Video Anthology
spine#200 The Honeymoon Killers
spine#300 The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
spine#400 Stranger Than Paradise

Not that i'm aluding that these films are not important or anything, just nothing spectacular.

[Queiroz]

I'm guessing Human Condition Trilogy will show up, along with People On Sunday and Scorsese shorts.

[aox]

I'm guessing Human Condition Trilogy will show up

I am guessing this as well, since it was just remastered with a new 35mm print and the trilogy is showing for a few weeks here in NYC in July and August.

[HelenLawson]

Isn't it about time for Last Year in Marienbad to appear?

[psufootball07]

Didn't 2 or 3 I know about Her make its way around the country with a Janus logo a while back?

[domino harvey]

Didn't 2 or 3 I know about Her make its way around the country with a Janus logo a while back?

About a year and a half ago I think. We've been expecting that one forever! But now that Criterion likely has rights to Made in USA, they'll probably hold off on releasing it until they can do both back to back, as they're sister films.

[Haggai]

Yes, re: Two or Three Things having been in theaters in the last couple of years. I saw one of the screenings.

[El Manchego]

Didn't 2 or 3 I know about Her make its way around the country with a Janus logo a while back?

About a year and a half ago I think. We've been expecting that one forever! But now that Criterion likely has rights to Made in USA, they'll probably hold off on releasing it until they can do both back to back, as they're sister films.

As much as that makes sense, reportedly the Made in USA print won't tour until the middle of next year, which means if they're paired we probably won't see them until next Fall or Winter. Certainly not the end of the world, but I'd prefer Criterion not sit on Two or Three for that long.

[psufootball07]

They would pair those, would they not put them in the same case like La Jetee / Sans Soleil or just release them together with similar covers like The Lovers and The Fire Within? I was hoping they would release 2 or 3 things when/if they put out Vivre sa vie.

[kaujot]

The reason for pairing "Sans Soleil" and "La Jetée" is that the latter is quite short and, in Criterion's eyes, didn't necessitate its own spine. Neither was it short enough to be considers a supplement of "Sans Soleil."

[justeleblanc]

2 or 3 Things was Rialto, not Janus.

Made in USA is also Rialto, but Studio Canal as well making for a double packaging unlikely, but a timed release pretty likely. I think Domino is right.

[Cinephrenic]

With an exception of Vivre sa vie, I wouldn't be surprised if they released the remaining on Eclipse.

Le Petit Soldat
Les Carabiniers
2 or 3 Things I know About Her
Made in U.S.A.

[justeleblanc]

2 or 3 Things and Made in USA are both coming from Rialto, so they will not be Eclipse.

Le Petit Soldat and Carabiniers are Weinstein properties I believe.

2 or 3 Things is not Studio Canal, so they wouldn't mix different rights holders in one box.

[zedz]

The reason for pairing "Sans Soleil" and "La Jetée" is that the latter is quite short and, in Criterion's eyes, didn't necessitate its own spine. Neither was it short enough to be considers a supplement of "Sans Soleil."

I think more to the point is that La Jetee is Marker's best known film by a margin of probably 10 to 1 (still waiting for the Hollywood remake of Sans soleil!), and it was the 'short' that would be the selling point for the majority of buyers. This is probably a unique situation: in every other bundling of features on a single spine number that I can think of (e.g. Thief & Lion, Late Spring & Tokyo-Ga - obviously doesn't apply to the remakes / adaptations sets) the 'bonus feature' is clearly way secondary in terms of importance / saleability.

[colinr0380]

This is probably a unique situation: in every other bundling of features on a single spine number that I can think of (e.g. Thief & Lion, Late Spring & Tokyo-Ga - obviously doesn't apply to the remakes / adaptations sets) the 'bonus feature' is clearly way secondary in terms of importance / saleability.

I've not got to the disc yet but would this also apply to Trouble In Paradise and The Merry Jail?

[zedz]

I've not got to the disc yet but would this also apply to Trouble In Paradise and The Merry Jail?

That one too, and whichever Clair had Paris qui dort (you know how Criterion loves to market silents!)

[HerrSchreck]

This is probably a unique situation: in every other bundling of features on a single spine number that I can think of (e.g. Thief & Lion, Late Spring & Tokyo-Ga - obviously doesn't apply to the remakes / adaptations sets) the 'bonus feature' is clearly way secondary in terms of importance / saleability.

I've not got to the disc yet but would this also apply to Trouble In Paradise and The Merry Jail?

That would be a resounding YES that echoes down the hallway for a full five minute decay!

Nooooooooooo way would CC ever put out that rather obscure Lube silent all on its own. It's for this very reason that Das fidele Gefängnis is a great and totally unexpected extra.

You must not blink or you might miss a significant chunk of CC's silent catalog!

Trouble In Paradise is truly the king of all Lubitsch dvd's, and one of CC's best ever to be sure. A film that bears endless rewatching with an equally compelling presentation.