Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.3

[aox]

Out of curiosity, Army of Shadows (5-17-07) and Robinson Crusoe (9-18-07) set the precedent for a recently first time (by CC) released film to be revisited for Blu-Ray, right (Playtime wouldn't count in this instance)?

I only ask, because as soon as CC announced their Blu-Ray line, there was some resentment that recently released titles were pretty much assumed to be in the back of the line for revisiting. Some people, including myself, then lamented that their favorite films had been released in '07-'09 because had they waited, those films surely would have seen a BD counterpart release.

Now it seems that nothing is off the table; though, releases like The Human Condition have been completely shot down, there is hope for things like An Autumn Afternoon, Ace in the Hole, Mishima, etc....

[felipe]

Criterion said on FB titles will be announced on Monday. I'd say

The 39 Steps (Blu)

Have they confirmed anything about 39 Steps or is it just a wild prediction?

[spocker]

Out of curiosity, Army of Shadows (5-17-07) and Robinson Crusoe (9-18-07) set the precedent for a recently first time (by CC) released film to be revisited for Blu-Ray, right (Playtime wouldn't count in this instance)?

Days of Heaven, Breathless (10-23-07), Pierrot Le Fou (2-19-08) and The Last Emperor (2-26-08) Have all gotten Bluray releases after their DVD release dates. So anything before spine #422 seems to be fair game for an upgrade at the moment.

[aox]

Out of curiosity, Army of Shadows (5-17-07) and Robinson Crusoe (9-18-07) set the precedent for a recently first time (by CC) released film to be revisited for Blu-Ray, right (Playtime wouldn't count in this instance)?

Days of Heaven, Breathless (10-23-07), Pierrot Le Fou (2-19-08) and The Last Emperor (2-26-08) Have all gotten Bluray releases after their DVD release dates. So anything before spine #422 seems to be fair game for an upgrade at the moment.

Oh yes, I feel silly now. Thanks for the correction.

Time for coffee. ](*,)

[Finch]

Have they confirmed anything about 39 Steps or is it just a wild prediction?

Pure speculation on my part. I picked this since Blu upgrades of older titles like this now appear to be happening on a monthly basis, and they like to throw in surprises so why not 39 Steps?

[fiddlesticks]

Criterion said on FB titles will be announced on Monday. I'd say

A Brighter Summer's Day (DVD + Blu)
Sweet Smell of Success (DVD + Blu)
The 39 Steps (Blu)
Still Walking (DVD + Blu)

I think that lineup would constitute the greatest single month in Criterion history, at least from my point of view.

[Murdoch]

Sweet Smell of Success on blu would make any month the greatest release month.

[brentg]

Fanny and Alexander (Blu)
Sweet Smell of Success (DVD + Blu)
Y tu mama tambien (DVD + Blu)

[captveg]

Out of curiosity, Army of Shadows (5-17-07) and Robinson Crusoe (9-18-07) set the precedent for a recently first time (by CC) released film to be revisited for Blu-Ray, right (Playtime wouldn't count in this instance)?

Days of Heaven, Breathless (10-23-07), Pierrot Le Fou (2-19-08) and The Last Emperor (2-26-08) Have all gotten Bluray releases after their DVD release dates. So anything before spine #422 seems to be fair game for an upgrade at the moment.

Oh yes, I feel silly now. Thanks for the correction.

The line they have yet to cross is releasing a title that was DVD only after they started releasing day-and-date Blu-ray versions, which would be Bottle Rocket (#450).

[swo17]

Unless you count Christmas Tale, Close-up, and Everlasting Moments, each of which I believe was released day-and-date, but with as much as a month between the DVD and BD announcements.

[captveg]

I count those as "day and date", as the announcement for the Blu version was made before the DVD version streeted.

So, in summary, The Last Emperor is the most recent spine # (422) to get a Blu-ray release announced after its DVD version was already available, and they have yet to do that for a title that was a DVD-only release after their first day-and-date Blu ray (#450).

Once they announce Blu-ray versions of, say, The Last Days of Disco or Danton that line will have been crossed...

[foofighters7]

Following
Still Walking
The Gold Rush
Rules of the Game Blu
Kwaidan re-release

[movielocke]

I'm gonna guess:
Sweet Smell of Success
City Lights
Still Walking
Rashomon new edition
High and Low blurary upgrade

though I'd prefer a 39 Steps new edition and Lady Vanishes upgrade combination.

and an eclipse set.

[domino harvey]

Blu upgrade of whatever title the board has collective bought the most of in the BN sale

[Brian C]

I would think that The Lady Vanishes would be a more likely Blu candidate than The 39 Steps, since it's already had a DVD upgrade since the original release. I doubt they can just do a straight Blu upgrade of the latter; it would require an all-new edition. But hey, if they want to do that, I'm on board.

My guesses:

a Chaplin, most likely something other than City Lights or The Gold Rush (The Circus, perhaps?)
Still Walking
Sweet Smell of Success
Fear and Loathing Blu upgrade
Beauty and the Beast Blu upgrade

[Finch]

Sweet Smell of Success
City Lights
Still Walking
Rashomon new edition
High and Low blurary upgrade

That line-up would make me buy all new announced titles for a month for the first time ever. Mind, I can't see them announcing two Kurosawa titles in one month. Forgot that there's probably another Chaplin due in February. My money would be on The Kid though I'd love for City Lights to come out sooner than later.

[ianungstad]

Let's hope they announce more than 1 new title to the collection.

[felipe]

Fanny and Alexander (Blu)
Sweet Smell of Success (DVD + Blu)
Y tu mama tambien (DVD + Blu)

That would be amazing.

[MoonlitKnight]

Blu-ray announcements for some crap I'll never buy over again, please! No, wait -- actually, let me second the Gorin, Deep End, and WCF line ideas. And throw in a Taking Off Blu, just to make it completely unrealistic.

Sounds good to me. I'll throw in "Tristana," "Insignificance," and "Fanny and Alexander" on Blu just to sweeten the pot. :-$

[justeleblanc]

Senso + Blu
Zazie dans le metro + Blu
Sweet Smell of Success + Blu
Some IFC Movie + Blu
Naked Lunch Blu

[Feego]

Blu upgrade of whatever title the board has collective bought the most of in the BN sale

I've stopped buying older Criterion DVDs for that very reason. After buying the DVDs of Charade, Black Orpheus, The Leopard, and several others not long before the Blu announcements, I learned my lesson. The only DVDs I'm interested in the BN sale are Rossellini's War Trilogy and the Von Sternberg set.

[Brian C]

I've stopped buying older Criterion DVDs for that very reason. After buying the DVDs of Charade, Black Orpheus, The Leopard, and several others not long before the Blu announcements, I learned my lesson. The only DVDs I'm interested in the BN sale are Rossellini's War Trilogy and the Von Sternberg set.

I imagine the Blu upgrade of Robinson Crusoe on Mars must really gum up the works in this respect for people, since that one was really out of nowhere and would seem to indicate that just about any title is a possible candidate for upgrade. It used to be that you could assume that lower-tier titles would be a long time coming, but I don't know how true that is now.

But really, you didn't see The Leopard coming?

[kaujot]

Again, though, Robinson Crusoe on Mars is one of Peter Becker's favorites, so it's not really too much of a surprise.

[HistoryProf]

I'll go

Senso
Fanny & Alexander blu
Sweet Smell of Success
Y tu Mama Tambien

[teddyleevin]

I'm big in the NYC G&S community and I heard it from the man himself that Ralph MacPhail just recorded a commentary for a Criterion release of the 1939 Mikado film. Also due out is the 1950s film "The Story of Gilbert & Sullivan." Anyone else hear anything to these effects?