'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.1

[Taketori Washizu]

Any chance of Criterion putting out Last Tango in Paris? I know it has been previously released by MGM, owned by Sony? Criterion are the only ones worthy of putting out a special edition DVD and it desperately needs one.

[sir karl]

Any chance of Criterion putting out Last Tango in Paris? I know it has been previously released by MGM, owned by Sony? Criterion are the only ones worthy of putting out a special edition DVD and it desperately needs one.

Last Tango SE has been announced for this year (or maybe early 2009?) by MGM, so there's no chance of Criterion releasing it.

[colinr0380]

Shadows and Faces are also coming unboxed.

I suppose Opening Night will get a release the month after then, otherwise it would seem to leave it as the odd one out in not receiving a single release (though it does add value to the box set!)

[swo17]

I don't know, Opening Night kind of seems like the runt of the set. Look at what the others have going for them:

Shadows - first independent film ever
A Woman Under the Influence - greatest female performance of the sound era
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie - set in a strip club
Faces - Domino likes it

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see an individual Opening Night release for some time, if ever.

[Gregory]

Independent filmmaking goes back to the origins of the medium.

[planetjake]

It's OK swo.

I thought it was funny.

[Gregory]

Oh no, the dreaded eye-roll smilie! #-o
I knew the comments for Chinese Bookie and Faces were tongue-in-cheek but I didn't know about the first two. So was the comment on A Woman Under the Influence a dig at the reputation of Rowlands's performance in it, because I think it's very well deserved?

[domino harvey]

I suspect he's digging more at people who hyperbolically oversell her performance (and Cassavetes in general) as the greatest thing ever in the history of the medium

[Cinephrenic]

Independent filmmaking goes back to the origins of the medium.

Gregory is right. There is general misconception that filmmakers like Cassevetes and Corman were pioneers in "independent filmmaking", but they were just proficient with their craft in working independent.

[domino harvey]

Thank you for explaining the joke again

[El Manchego]

The Janus site has information on a new print of Amarcord making the rounds next year. Given that this was just rereleased by Criterion, perhaps this will provide Criterion the opportunity to release it on Blu after it makes the theatrical run?

[Narshty]

I had a dream that Criterion put a very blatant Mike's Murder clue in their newsletter. If only...

[HerrSchreck]

The Janus site has information on a new print of Amarcord making the rounds next year. Given that this was just rereleased by Criterion, perhaps this will provide Criterion the opportunity to release it on Blu after it makes the theatrical run?

If they do, it'd be from the hi-def transfer used for the SD, no doubt. In fact, the new touring print may be struck from the digital cleanup they did for the CC, a la what they did for La Regle de jeu.

[Daze]

New Yorker's dvd of L'Atalante is out of print, and none of Jean Vigo's other films seem to be available on dvd in region 1.

What are the chances of Criterion doing a complete Vigo set?

Related question: are Vigo's films all in the public domain at this point?

[kaujot]

I believe Janus holds the rights to Zero for Conduct, so they'd probably do a boxset if they had the rest of his (very short) filmography.

[domino harvey]

New Yorker's dvd of L'Atalante is out of print, and none of Jean Vigo's other films seem to be available on dvd in region 1.

What are the chances of Criterion doing a complete Vigo set?

Related question: are Vigo's films all in the public domain at this point?

Depends on when they were copyrighted in America. Also, prints can be copyrighted, so New Yorker/Artificial Eye may own the rights to the best presentation of the material regardless

[justeleblanc]

Unless I'm mistaken, prints are just owned. I'm not sure if you can copyright a print as much as you can copyright a house. Unless you were to alter the print or prove that you created something with the print that makes a new piece of art. Commentary, subtitles/intertitles, and accompaniments are copyrighted for most silent films, but the prints are just what's available. However, I'm wondering if Coppolla's tinting bullshit with silent films can be copyrighted.

Though given the quality of a lot of New Yorker DVDs, I'm wondering if they own the nicest prints of their films anyway. snap.

[domino harvey]

You definitely can hold the rights to the print that's being used. It's why PD labels will sometimes put a little insignia in the corner of the screen

[julianw]

Anyone know when This Sporting Life will get a UK release. Gets announced every month for release over the past 18 months but never appears. Was reviewed this month in the papers and had a 3rd of November release date. No sign of it yet. Anyone know why the delay.

While I'am asking questions, any info on when Battle of Algiers will appear again in the UK.

[Jonathan S]

Anyone know when This Sporting Life will get a UK release.

Moviemail claim to have it in stock - might be worth e-mailing them for confirmation.

http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/film/ ... ider=af_ft" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's also on the Network site, apparently available to "buy now":

http://www.networkdvd.net/product_info. ... cts_id=726" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jaredsap]

You definitely can hold the rights to the print that's being used. It's why PD labels will sometimes put a little insignia in the corner of the screen

You can own a print and obviously no one can play it without your permission. But you can't copyright a print. It's not intellectual property.

[solaris72]

You definitely can hold the rights to the print that's being used. It's why PD labels will sometimes put a little insignia in the corner of the screen

You can own a print and obviously no one can play it without your permission. But you can't copyright a print. It's not intellectual property.

Indeed. I think the reason why PD labels put an insignia in the corner is that by doing that they're modifying the transfer, and turning what's on the disc into intellectual property.

[jaredsap]

I think the reason why PD labels put an insignia in the corner is that by doing that they're modifying the transfer, and turning what's on the disc into intellectual property.

I would assume the insignia is for the same reason that websites put watermarks on exclusive photos -- so no one can swipe the content and pass it off as their own.

[Adam]

I think the reason why PD labels put an insignia in the corner is that by doing that they're modifying the transfer, and turning what's on the disc into intellectual property.

I would assume the insignia is for the same reason that websites put watermarks on exclusive photos -- so no one can swipe the content and pass it off as their own.

jaredsap is more correct - it's more for proprietary protection than copyright. Just putting your logo isn't a modified transfer.
A company can, however, create a new transfer with new qualities (such as colorizing it) which can be copyrightable, in that the new qualities are copyrightable.

[emlodik]

So, since there is talk of Criterion finally releasing Luchino Visconti's Senso on DVD, I think it's great time to start speculating on what the features should be... Here's my "dream list:"

1. Completely restored, uncut (as much as possible) and remastared anamorhpic widescreen (original 1.66:1 aspect ratio) transfer with much needed color restoration.
2. Digitally remastared original Italian audio.
3. New & improved English subtitles.
4. Alternate American version, The Wanton Contessa
5. Extensive audio commentary with noted Visconti/Senso/Italian history scholars.
6. A featurette on Camillo Boito (the author of the original novella) and his work.
7. "From Page to Screen," a featurette on translating the novella into the famous epic film.
8. "Making of Senso" featurette.
9. "Censorship of Senso" featurette.
10. A featurette on Luchino Visconti.
11. Two Featurettes on Alida Valli and Farley Granger.
12. Poster & Stills gallery.
13. Senso shooting script.
14. Camillo Boito's original novella.
15. An interview with Tinto Brass (writer & director of the 2002 remake; he seems to have a lot to say regarding Boito's novella and Visconti's screen treatment of the story.)

A far shot...

16. Senso '45, the 2002 remake set Nazi occupied Venice.

Even if the Criterion DVD features at least ONE THIRD of what I have listed, it would make my decade!