Criterion on Social Media

[swo17]

Well, all they said about F&A was "In time." I take that to mean that, like much of their catalogue, they intend to get to it eventually, but in all likelihood they haven't started doing anything with it yet.

[aox]

That's why I noted that I didn't get any hint of immediacy.

[jaredsap]

On Facebook they mentioned that they'll be releasing another Preston Sturges title. Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend seem the likely suspect since we have more FOX titles coming and it's never been released on dvd.

Any other Sturges that are in need of a special edition upgrade?

REMEMBER THE NIGHT desperately needs to be released by Criterion. I'm going to keep saying that. It's as wonderful as anything Sturges ever directed and far more important than THE BEAUTIFUL BLONDE FROM BASHFUL BEND (which I don't think anyone on the planet would make any great claims for). Unfortunately, souvenir recently said REMEMBER THE NIGHT might wind up in the TCM Vault Collection. Has a Universal title ever met that fate?

[ianungstad]

Is the wacky animal picture they just posted on Facebook suppose to be a clue? Like a lot of people, I thought Magnolia when I saw the pic but they said they didn't have any PTA in the works. Dunno...

[Cinephrenic]

Criterion's first animation feature.

[mteller]

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo ... 4856820564

Is the wacky animal picture they just posted on Facebook suppose to be a clue? Like a lot of people, I thought Magnolia when I saw the pic but they said they didn't have any PTA in the works. Dunno...

From the comments:

He's an outtake from an upcoming supplement on our Che disc. We needed the ice-pack. The frog just came with it.

[mikkelmark]

I thought the frog kinda looked that Naruse picture where hes got a hat on and a smoke in his mouth, but thats just dreaming.

[Michael]

I thought the frog kinda looked that Naruse picture where hes got a hat on and a smoke in his mouth, but thats just dreaming.

[swo17]

They did say a couple days ago that more Naruse was coming.

[domino harvey]

It's clearly hinting at new French releases

[tavernier]

Somebody on Facebook guessed: "Sick frog? Gaspar Noé!"

[Davidspector]

Well, it's pretty obvious about the frog - what do frogs say? Rivet, rivet, rivet. A definite statement that Out/1 Spectre is on its way, absolutely.

[MoonlitKnight]

they have also confirmed that Fanny and Alexander is in the works for Blu... but I got no hint of immediacy.

They better include the vastly superior TV cut if they do put it out on Blu. Then I'm ALL OVER IT!! =P~

[Cinephrenic]

You know they're not, just like The Last Emperor. They probably will do a HD for just the theatrical version.

[Cash Flagg]

They did say a couple days ago that more Naruse was coming.

Actually, this was confirmed back in February.

[knives]

You know they're not, just like The Last Emperor. They probably will do a HD for just the theatrical version.

You do realize they did the theatrical Last Emperor because it is the directors preference. So in the case of F&A at the very least the teevee cut will be the one released.

[Cinephrenic]

Regarding the frog reference, could they be bringing out Pan's Labyrinth along with Cronos?

[Tribe]

Regarding the frog reference, could they be bringing out Pan's Labyrinth along with Cronos?

That also occurred to me...but Pan's Labyrinth already has a special edition out.

[Cinephrenic]

I know it has a nice Blu-ray out, but Criterion has released films (Benjamin Button, Traffic, etc..) with dual DVD on the market before.

[Feego]

I know it has a nice Blu-ray out, but Criterion has released films (Benjamin Button, Traffic, etc..) with dual DVD on the market before.

The non-Criterion editions of Benjamin Button and Traffic had no real special features of substance. The Blu-ray Pan's Labyrinth is loaded. There's just no point in a Criterion release.

[bradass]

I know it has a nice Blu-ray out, but Criterion has released films (Benjamin Button, Traffic, etc..) with dual DVD on the market before.

The Blu-ray Pan's Labyrinth is loaded

[...] and slathered in DNR. An unacceptable release, as far as I'm concerned. Plus, they could get Mike Mignola to do the cover art. HELL, he should be doing the art for "Cronos"! Off to the FB page...

[Tribe]

I know it has a nice Blu-ray out, but Criterion has released films (Benjamin Button, Traffic, etc..) with dual DVD on the market before.

The non-Criterion editions of Benjamin Button and Traffic had no real special features of substance.

What would be of "substance?" I liked the pictures of the drug-sniffing dogs on Traffic.

[Jonathan S]

Unfortunately, souvenir recently said REMEMBER THE NIGHT might wind up in the TCM Vault Collection. Has a Universal title ever met that fate?

I don't know anything about Remember the Night, but over on the Classic Horror Board there's a 41-page thread devoted to a TCM exclusive set "Universal Cult Horrors Collection" which Tom Weaver spotted on the TCM website for advance orders at $50 in late September (and scheduled for October 15) before the listing quickly disappeared. The films are "Murders in the Zoo," "The Mad Doctor of Market Street," "The Strange Case of Doctor Rx," "The Mad Ghoul," and "House of Horrors." The latest reports suggest that the TCM/Universal contract has yet to be signed! I don't think it's worth linking to the thread since - apart from the information above - it's virtually all speculation, including whether they are going to be DVD-Rs (if the set appears at all).

Murders in the Zoo is of course a Paramount film and I recall at one point in the thread someone who seemed to be "in the know" indicated that Island of Lost Souls was originally intended for inclusion in this set, before it was decided to save it for a standalone release (presumably Criterion in the light of recent indications, though I don't think he actually said so).

[Peacock]

Jonathon, Criterion actually confirmed they own the rights to Island of Lost Souls, on their facebook page a couple of days ago, they just say it'll be a long time till something is released due to the print materials

[Jonathan S]

Yes, that's what I meant by "recent indications". Re. the print problems on Island of Lost Souls, according to Jack Theakston on the Classic Horror Film Board:

MCA bought the Paramount package in the '50s, made one-light fine grains on the nitrate material and then junked originals it for the insurance. Late '80s transfer (aka what they run on TCM) was made by Universal from original Paramount print on deposit at UCLA, which has since become unusable. All that's left is the poorly made elements from MCA, which seem unfixable at this point.

That sounds pessimistic in view of some favourable reports of the new 35mm print screened last year, though also on CHFB "FrozenGhost" wrote:

When I saw ISLAND OF LOST SOULS last year at Loews Jersey City it was advertised as one of the first screenings of newly struck print that had just gone into circulation. As I mentioned at the time, the print was indeed pristine but with major contrast problems. Most notably, flaring whites in daylight scenes (especially the ship board scenes in the first couple of reels) which effectively bleached out the details. Digitial tweaking is fine but I doubt if it can provide details which are no longer there. I don't think any major distributor would issue this without some kind of explanation on the packaging.