'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.1

[aox]

Could we hope for a Criterion release of Orson Welles' The Trial

That would be incredible.

[Dante Vescio]

Yes, indeed. Is it possible? Who holds the rights to the movie?

[Murdoch]

Could we hope for a Criterion release of [...] Charles Laughton's The Night of The Hunter someday?

I've been hoping for this for years, is it possible? Can it ever be? Please, someone say yes. [-o<

[AfterTheRain]

Could we hope for a Criterion release of [...] Charles Laughton's The Night of The Hunter someday?

I've been hoping for this for years, is it possible? Can it ever be? Please, someone say yes. [-o<

Unfortunately, no. MGM already has plans to release a Special Edition of The Night of the Hunter (although no release date has been scheduled), so I don't think that will get the Criterion treatment.

Sorry if I dashed any Christmas hopes on that.

[tojoed]

Could we hope for a Criterion release of Orson Welles' The Trial

That would be incredible.

Studo Canal own the rights to The Trial, so a Criterion is not out of the question. However, Lionsgate release a lot of SC's films in the U.S. and they may be more likely.

Merry Christmas.

[Cinephrenic]

I'm still holding out for a Welles-Shakespeare set from Criterion. There is still a whole lot of Welles material not out properly on DVD. I hope this is keeping Criterion up at night. :-k

Merry Xmas all!

[justeleblanc]

The Trial is a Milestone property in the US. I doubt they will re-release the current version anytime soon.

I too would love a Welles/Shakespeare box.... Chimes at Midnight!

[Arthur Bannister]

With two versions each of Macbeth and Othello (and one would hope Filming Othello would be included as well), all topped off with Chimes at Midnight, that would be quite a box. Bring it on!

[Dante Vescio]

Could anyone e-mail Jon Mulvaney about this? I did but he doesn't seem to answer. If anyone should ask him about The Trial and receive an answer, please share!

[kaujot]

For the love of God, give me Chimes at Midnight.

[J Wilson]

With two versions each of Macbeth and Othello (and one would hope Filming Othello would be included as well), all topped off with Chimes at Midnight, that would be quite a box. Bring it on!

Chimes has been the subject of an ongoing legal battle over its rights, which has kept it from being released just about anywhere (except France and Spain). And Beatrice Welles owns Othello, and she won't allow anything but her botched restoration to be seen. Universal had produced a beautiful box set of Macbeth in France, but I think Lionsgate acquired the rights to the film in the US and are unlikely to produce a package like the R2 set.

[Cronenfly]

Good news for Nicholas Ray fans courtesy of DVD Savant:

Very frequent correspondent and good pal "B" writes me that he saw an ad at the Film Forum in Manhattan (Savant's never been to the cinematic haunts of NYC). They're showing a new print of Bigger Than Life with James Mason (above), and are advertising it as A Criterion Release of a Twentieth Century Fox Film. That's got to be a big fat clue that The Criterion Collection is going to be putting out Bigger than Life on DVD, hopefully in 2009. Thanks "B"; let's hope for Wild River -- if they aren't averse to Elia Kazan picks -- and maybe Sons and Lovers.

Very glad to hear that Criterion's relationship with Fox still seems to be in play. Guess The Darjeeling Limited could still be coming after all...though I sincerely hope that isn't at the top of CC's priority list.

[kaujot]

Chimes has been the subject of an ongoing legal battle over its rights, which has kept it from being released just about anywhere (except France and Spain).

I believe that there's a Brazilian version, too.

[Jeff]

Good news for Nicholas Ray fans courtesy of DVD Savant:

They're showing a new print of Bigger Than Life with James Mason (above), and are advertising it as A Criterion Release of a Twentieth Century Fox Film.

I wish that Bigger Than Life were coming. There's no Fox title that I would like Criterion to pick up more. Unfortunately, I wouldn't read anything into this. Criterion Pictures is the name of the distribution company that handles all of Fox's repertory library. Our beloved Criterion Collection wouldn't be handling theatrical distribution of a Fox film anyway. This used to come up all the time. There's even a bit about it in the FAQ.

Q. I saw a movie and in the credits it said "A Criterion Pictures Release of a 20th Century Fox Film." Is Criterion Pictures part of the Criterion Collection?

A. No. Criterion Pictures (http://www.criterionpic.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) is "a rental distribution and licensing non-theatrical distributor of feature entertainment movies licensed for public performance." Despite the name, they have nothing to do with the Criterion Collection. Films distributed by Criterion Pictures in Canada or the US are in no way owned or licensed by the Criterion Collection.

[Cronenfly]

My apologies (and regrets); if ever a company were unfortunately named it's that one, and it had been long enough since it came up that it didn't even cross my mind (though the notion of CC distributing Bigger Than Life theatrically should have set me off).

I would send an email to Mr. Erickson to clarify, but I fear he'll just think me another misinformed flamer...

[Matt]

Very frequent correspondent and good pal "B" writes me that he saw an ad at the Film Forum in Manhattan (Savant's never been to the cinematic haunts of NYC). They're showing a new print of Bigger Than Life with James Mason (above), and are advertising it as A Criterion Release of a Twentieth Century Fox Film. That's got to be a big fat clue that The Criterion Collection is going to be putting out Bigger than Life on DVD, hopefully in 2009. Thanks "B"; let's hope for Wild River -- if they aren't averse to Elia Kazan picks -- and maybe Sons and Lovers.

Very glad to hear that Criterion's relationship with Fox still seems to be in play. Guess The Darjeeling Limited could still be coming after all...though I sincerely hope that isn't at the top of CC's priority list.

Criterion Pictures is not the Criterion Collection. It's in our FAQ:

Q. I saw a movie and in the credits it said "A Criterion Pictures Release of a 20th Century Fox Film." Is Criterion Pictures part of the Criterion Collection?

A. No. Criterion Pictures (http://www.criterionpic.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) is "a rental distribution and licensing non-theatrical distributor of feature entertainment movies licensed for public performance." Despite the name, they have nothing to do with the Criterion Collection. Films distributed by Criterion Pictures in Canada or the US are in no way owned or licensed by the Criterion Collection.

[HerrSchreck]

I'm taking a wild guess that they may have had something to do with the old Criterion Theater on Times Sq NYC?

[Cronenfly]

Very frequent correspondent and good pal "B" writes me that he saw an ad at the Film Forum in Manhattan (Savant's never been to the cinematic haunts of NYC). They're showing a new print of Bigger Than Life with James Mason (above), and are advertising it as A Criterion Release of a Twentieth Century Fox Film. That's got to be a big fat clue that The Criterion Collection is going to be putting out Bigger than Life on DVD, hopefully in 2009. Thanks "B"; let's hope for Wild River -- if they aren't averse to Elia Kazan picks -- and maybe Sons and Lovers.

Very glad to hear that Criterion's relationship with Fox still seems to be in play. Guess The Darjeeling Limited could still be coming after all...though I sincerely hope that isn't at the top of CC's priority list.

Criterion Pictures is not the Criterion Collection. It's in our FAQ:

Q. I saw a movie and in the credits it said "A Criterion Pictures Release of a 20th Century Fox Film." Is Criterion Pictures part of the Criterion Collection?

A. No. Criterion Pictures (http://www.criterionpic.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) is "a rental distribution and licensing non-theatrical distributor of feature entertainment movies licensed for public performance." Despite the name, they have nothing to do with the Criterion Collection. Films distributed by Criterion Pictures in Canada or the US are in no way owned or licensed by the Criterion Collection.

...And the mention has disappeared from Savant's site, so thankfully the matter is closed.

[wolf111]

Does anyone have any information on if [People on Sunday] will be released in the near future? I hunted around and see that it is mentioned as a possibility but am looking to see if there is an update on when it might be available. I saw a few minutes of this movie tonight on a television show and fell in love with it.

One more inquiry..I just got a front projector and screen, and was wondering if the European DVD version of this film would play okay on that format or do I still need to wait for a U.S. format DVD. And yes, I know nothing about this subject

Thanks for being kind to a newbie cinemaphile..

[skuhn8]

Indeed a wonderful film, easily in my top five fav silents. I have the BFI and can assure you your technical challenge will not lie in your projector but in your player. The BFI is coded for Region 2 and you will need a player that can accommodate that. Word is that Criterion will be releasing this soon. However, if you want to broaden your options for great cinema you should definitely consider purchasing a multi-region player regardless.

[Jeff]

Does anyone have any information on if [People on Sunday] will be released in the near future? I hunted around and see that it is mentioned as a possibility but am looking to see if there is an update on when it might be available.

No updates on People on Sunday, unfortunately. The latest news that we have heard will always be mentioned in this thread. Our only information about Criterion's release of this film comes from Jon Turell's blog entry at the 2007 Telluride Festival:

Sunday started appropriately with People on Sunday, a 1929 silent film shown with a live orchestra performing the score. It was fascinating to see Berlin between the wars, and it’s a beautifully shot film that Criterion will be releasing next year.

Obviously, it was supposed to come out in 2008, but that didn't happen. I would expect that it's coming fairly soon.

You can always contact Criterion to see if they are able to give you an update.

[canti10]

Any information on Face To Face, Vivre Sa Vie, or any other Bergman title?....Happy to see that Feburary and March brings hope for a better Criterion year!

[piano player]

Any information on Face To Face, Vivre Sa Vie, or any other Bergman title?....Happy to see that Feburary and March brings hope for a better Criterion year!

Face to Face has been mentioned as a possible release. I'm also eagerly awaiting, when it comes to Bergman releases, The Magician, Private Confessions, Sunday's Children, The Best Intentions & Faithless.

[Dadapass]

I asked about the upcoming Jeanne Dielman and In the Realm of the Senses and got this email today

Hi there,

I do not have any information to share, other than the fact that we plan to release these films on DVD at some point in the future. I believe the Oshima film will probably be out before Jeanne Dielman. Thanks for your e-mail!

Best,

Jon Mulvaney

[bradass]

As part of their Auteurs Festival for January, Criterion is streaming Deep Crimson, a title not yet released on DVD or Blu-ray. An April release, maybe? It's not a film I'm familiar with.