'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.2

[domino harvey]

I've heard about people clamoring for the "Criterion treatment," but that must be the first time someone has opined for a film to receive the "Essential Arthouse treatment"

[Tribe]

So Criterion does have Island of Lost Souls but there's some potentially bad news as well:

From Facebook:

Didn't someone already ask about this? It's a super challenging title from a mastering perspective, so don't hold your breath, but don't give up hope either.

After giving Criterion's Facebook page the benefit of the doubt since their "Hundred Flowers" openness campaign started, I'm convinced at this point that very little, if anything, of substance regarding forth-coming releases is gonna come from them there.

Although I did like Criterion's response to a thread regarding the merits of Monsoon Wedding:

You guys should start a forum or something where you can do this all day long.

[ianungstad]

Oh definitely. They prefer to be vague in their responses and seem to like general inquiries more than questions about specific titles. If you phrase your question well enough, you can sort of read between the lines though...

With Island of Lost Souls, I have heard in the past the original negatives were lost or in very poor shape...which is why I suggested Essential Art House. Would rather see it come out as EA rather than Criterion sitting on it indefinitely if they're waiting for quality elements that may not exist anymore.

[jaredsap]

If a good transfer is a lost cause, hopefully at the very least they issue it as an essential art house release. Does anyone know if quality elements even exist anymore?

I watched a brand new, absolutely gorgeous 35mm print of the film made after the Universal fire last year. I don't know how this perpetual rumor that all of ISLAND's elements are in very bad shape first got started -- I'm sure Schrek and david hare can advise -- but I promise you it's not the case. I'll take Criterion at its word that ISLAND is a tough title to work on, but a great disc can clearly be produced.

[jaredsap]

I'm convinced at this point that very little, if anything, of substance regarding forth-coming releases is gonna come from them there.

There are many valuable nuggets if you sift through all the doublespeak. For instance, today is the first time I've seen Criterion confirm that more Von Trier is definitely in the works.

[ianungstad]

They could easily grab most of Von Trier's work outside of Dancer in the Dark and Dogville. IFC has Antichrist, Boss of it All and Manderlay and Focus has both The Idiots and Breaking the Waves. (Both of which have been OOP for at least the last year) I wouldn't be surprised if there were multiple Von Trier's in the pipeline, with The Idiots, Breaking The Waves and Antichrist being the likely candidates.

EDIT: Back in the spring someone on .com had asked about The Idiots and Criterion replied to check back in a few months.

[THX1378]

Posted on Facebook about more Cassavetes, person asked about Love Streams:

Another problem title. Looking into solving it, but it looks like it won't be quick

Also someone asked about Fuller's Park Row, got pretty much the same answer:

Thanks. Park Row is on our list of problems to solve, but so far we haven't been able even to figure out what the problem is. We're trying.

[Perkins Cobb]

You guys should start a forum or something where you can do this all day long.

Oh yeah, that's definitely a shot at us. Is Tamara the designated Facebook responder? I knew she'd get us back one day.

Thanks. Park Row is on our list of problems to solve, but so far we haven't been able even to figure out what the problem is. We're trying.

Yep, they're just fucking with us on Facebook.

[Cinephrenic]

Not sure if this was ever brought up, but The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Rocco and His Brothers played in part of the 50th Anniversary of Janus Films program at the Cinematheque Ontario back in 2007. These two had been restored.

[Arthur Bannister]

Really? This is pretty minor Lang, I doubt Criterion would care to release it.

Sorry I'm only now getting back to you on this, but with all due respect, Der Spieler, I heartily disagree. My recollection is that it's the best of Lang's wartime thrillers, others of which could more appropriately be dubbed "pretty minor". Ministry strikes me as the most succesful and consistent of the lot - visually rich, atmospheric, and filled with sardonic Langian elements. And it's pretty damned entertaining (that should count for something). Lang dismissed the film perhaps because writer-producer Seton Miller kept him on a short leash, leaving him with unhappy memories of the production.

As for Graham Greene's verdict, he's certainly entitled to his opinion, but it's not exactly unexpected given that, yes, the book's complexity was jettisoned in favor of the thriller aspect. Dismissing the film because it is not precisely the book may be the author's prerogative but it's not really dealing what the film is. And what the film is is a streamlined, very professional thriller in the Hitchcock mode (which may have given Lang another, very particular, reason to dismiss it), but still recognizably Lang.

I'll grant that it may not be top-tier Lang, but I sure don't believe that it's bottom-tier.

[Der Spieler]

Not bottom-tier but in my opinion not worthy of the Criterion treatment. I much prefered "Hangmen Also Die!" and the Kino transfer is sub-par to say the least. Plus "Ministry" always seemed somewhat incomplete to me.

Not saying it's a bad movie but it suffers from obvious flaws. If I were Criterion (yes, the whole company), I'd go for "You Only Live Once". The Image region 1 DVD is god awful and it's an important american film.

[tojoed]

I'd go for "You Only Live Once". The Image region 1 DVD is god awful and it's an important american film.

I agree, there should be a better US edition and Criterion would be the best company to do it.
In the meantime, there are two excellent editions in the UK and Australia.

But bear in mind that it seems to be a Studio Canal title.

[ianungstad]

Criterion's message on Facebook caught my interest, so I sent a few emails to the Cousteau foundation. The evidence is circumstantial but it seems possible this project may come together sooner than we think:

Dear Mr. Ungstad,

Thank you for contacting the Cousteau Society and for your interest in our films. The Society does not make or distribute videos of its films (with the sole exception of the “85 Years” VHS tape that we sell). In the US, Warner Broadcasting has the rights to recent films, and is releasing them in series of DVDs, available at http://www.wbshop.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and other standard sources.

Fox has the rights to the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. We know of no plans to release them on DVD although, judging from requests we receive, there is an audience for them.

We are in current discussions to have released The Silent World, World Without Sun and Voyage to the Edge of the World. Please keep an eye out for announcement of their release on http://www.cousteau.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.


Yours truly,
Clark Lee Merriam
Research & Communications

I sent another email asking if the current discussions were with Criterion/Janus and offered support for Criterion and they replied:

Dear Mr. Ungstad,

With you not being privy to the discussions about releasing the films, I could not tell you who might or might not be releasing them. It is however good to know that they will be welcomed.


Could mean nothing but found their reponses interesting none the less....it would be a great project for Cri.

[Cash Flagg]

ianungstad is the hardest working man in show business!

[ianungstad]

Between the MGM deal, new titles from Universal, new deal with Fox, more Paramount and Sony/Columbia titles, possibly some Warners and the Caidin/Chaplin stuff, it looks like 2010 and 2011 are going to be pretty heavy on classic hollywood. Which is nice IMO, those were the titles that got me into the collection and they trickled off to an odd release here and there during the height of dvd sales. Now that things are on the decline and all the majors are cutting back and revamping, Criterion seems to have made out like a Bandit!

[Donald Brown]

I don't recall seeing this mentioned as a possibility, but I just watched Resnais's Mon Oncle d'Amerique on Comcast VOD. The film was preceded by a Janus logo.

[Cinephrenic]

It's been Janus for a while now.

[Arthur Bannister]

If I were Criterion (yes, the whole company), I'd go for "You Only Live Once". The Image region 1 DVD is god awful and it's an important american film.

Definitely top-tier Lang and absolutely deserving of the Criterion treatment. I'd be dancing a jig if that came to pass.

[jurples]

will optimum's release of breathless and pierrot le fou as part of their blu-ray studio canal collection have an impact on either's availability from criterion?

Don't know anything about this... sorry!

[Dr. Snaut]

I wasn't sure whether this was previously discussed, but were these titles ever announced as being acquired by Criterion:

Badlands
Dancer in the Dark
Fearless Vampire Killers

[Cinephrenic]

Badlands

[Mr. Ned]

Badlands

Really? When? It was an inevitability, but I was under the assumption it was an inevitability still driven by hope.

[Derek Estes]

When asked on the facebook page, if Criterion had picked up the now OOP Red River from MGM, the response was "could be".

[Matt]

Let's keep Facebook news in the Facebook thread. This is now the 3rd thread this Red River "could be" has been posted in.

[DrunkenGaijin]

Does anyone think there could be any hope of Criterion picking up any films by Kim Ki-young? It would be great to see some of his work as he has been cited as a primary influence to many of today's best Korean directors. From what I've read "the Housemaid" (1960) is supposed to be his best.