Criterion Newsletter (Part 2)

[knives]

Actually On the waterfront is possible since Warners do not own the rights to the film and so could lose it (and Baby Doll).

[ShellOilJunior]

Mike Tyson?

[mfunk9786]

It's funny, Tyson does indeed make the most sense within the context of the clue (he takes care of pigeons), but I sincerely doubt that's what it is.

[swo17]

I haven't seen On the Waterfront in forever but a quick search on the net reminds me that Brando's character in the film was a former boxer and that pigeons are used symbolically throughout.

[domino harvey]

It's Sony, not Warners

[knives]

For some reason I thought it was part of that same company that has Stagecoach and the like. Either way though it's the most likely possibility.

[eerik]

On the Waterfront it is.

[bamwc2]

I haven't seen On the Waterfront in forever but a quick search on the net reminds me that Brando's character in the film was a former boxer and that pigeons are used symbolically throughout.

I saw it about two years ago, but can't remember any pigeons for the life of me. Where were they?

[Jeff]

That pigeon's got a one-way ticket to Palookaville. Columbia owns On the Waterfront outright, so this is surely it.

[Jonny Pasadena]

Terry Molloy (Brando's character) keeps pigeons on the roof of his building. Things do not end well for them.

And in that illustration, the birds are at the shore -- quite literally on the waterfront. Part of me is hoping, though, that the pigeon in the lower right of the illustration doesn't have a black eye, but a Tyson tatt.

[Brian C]

I saw it about two years ago, but can't remember any pigeons for the life of me. Where were they?

Brando's character takes care of pigeons, he has a coop on his roof. Late in the film

Spoiler

the neighbor kid kills one of (or several?) of the birds in an angry reaction after Brando turns informer.

It's all very sad.

[Jeff]

The pigeons (i.e. stool pigeon) are a major symbolic motif throughout the film.

[bamwc2]

Terry Molloy (Brando's character) keeps pigeons on the roof of his building. Things do not end well for them.

And in that illustration, the birds are at the shore -- quite literally on the waterfront. Part of me is hoping, though, that the pigeon in the lower right of the illustration doesn't have a black eye, but a Tyson tatt.

Ah, yes. I forgot. This is surely right.

[ShellOilJunior]

An On the Waterfront HD transfer delivered by Grover Crisp to Criterion -- the possibility may explode heads.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Could be a contender

[duck duck]

Anyone else think of Animaniacs?

[zedz]

How did Criterion get ahold of my home videos? Guess I'm going to have to go to jail now.

What? You're Bert from Sesame Street?

(Well, I have to admit, I had my suspicions. . .)

[justeleblanc]

Would the three birds indicate that they would release the Brando/Kazan trilogy?

[knives]

It would be tough to wrangle those rights.

[captveg]

I haven't seen On the Waterfront in forever but a quick search on the net reminds me that Brando's character in the film was a former boxer and that pigeons are used symbolically throughout.

We have a winner.

Great news, too!

[knives]

I wonder if they're going to add any extras beyond what was on the previous release? I would double dip for The People of the Cumberland.

[ianungstad]

On the Waterfront is fantastic. Now if they'll only convince FOX to liberate Wild River from that Kazan mega-set. (Wild River being his best film, IMO).

[captveg]

Would the three birds indicate that they would release the Brando/Kazan trilogy?

Highly unlikely. Warner (who doesn't license) just released their quite good Blu-ray of A Streetcar Named Desire, and Viva Zapata! is a Fox film, which would make it troublesome to pair with a a Sony-licensed title like On The Waterfront. Also, like the BBS Story box, OTW was probably prepped at Sony DAC before being handed over to Criterion to finalize.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

On the Waterfront is fantastic. Now if they'll only convince FOX to liberate Wild River from that Kazan mega-set. (Wild River being his best film, IMO).

That'd be a dream come true. Jo Van Fleet was superb, but Clift was a revelation. If anything, Criterion would better that utterly mediocre Schickel commentary.

[Jeff]

I've been pestering Criterion about Wild River for years, to no avail. I saw a gorgeous 35mm print a couple of years ago, and it would make a great Blu-ray. There is plenty of supplemental turf to explore about the Tennessee Valley Authority too. It's my second favorite Kazan after A Face in the Crowd.

Glad to see Criterion finally popping their Kazan cherry, only a few months after at last doing the same with Preminger. On the Waterfront was one of the titles they announced for laserdisc but never released.