Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 5

[gcgiles1dollarbin]

I know a lot of people love Godard, but I couldn't resist a little dig

Godard is so traditionally bemoaned by philistines (among whom I'm certain you are not numbered), it has almost become a point of pride among his fans. So they're kind of "dig"-resistant. As a person wholly in love with the insane trajectory of his career, I'm thrilled that Criterion is lavishing attention on John Luke. (However, considering the director's frequent apathy toward his own early work, you may be more in sympathy with the director than you realize!)

[Perkins Cobb]

Regardless, it's all arbitrary numbers. You hate Godard, therefore you're complaining. There's about 50 discs I want upgraded myself, and I'm not exactly eager for May's titles, but they only have so much time and capacity to please everyone.

Indeed, the Blu-ray upgrades are totally subjective. If it's a film I've never seen, or haven't seen in 20 years, I'm delighted. If I saw it on DVD (or film) last week, then it's a criminal waste of a Criterion slot.

[Lowry_Sam]

Well a disappointing month, if only because the 2 titles I will get (Life Is Sweet, Medium Cool) have been discussed for a while. Surprised High Hopes isn't also coming out, or that there's only one upgrade in a lackluster month, or that it's yet another month without a box set.

Since Criterion seems to be getting some older Columbia titles out. A search on IMDB proved to be a bit overwhelming (as in thousands to pick from, though many are shorts). In the midst of a lot of either very banal or very odd sounding titles (French Fried Patootie, Puttin' Out The Kitten, The Big Squirt, Sisters Under The Skin, Catnips of 1940, Tramp Tramp Tramp), I spotted James Whale (They Dare Not Love), Josef von Sternberg (Crime and Punishment), Nicholas Ray (In A Lonely Place) and Frank Capra (Lost Horizon). Also might be interesting to see the original 1984 (perhaps paired with the 80s version). Youth In Revolt also sounds interesting. Anyone familiar with Columbia's catalog to know what's got the best chances to be part of the deal?

[warren oates]

I'm psyched about the two Westerns in this month's announcements and will definitely be picking up both. But frankly, if we're just talking catalog releases from major studios in the genre, there are plenty of other titles I'd rather see with a Criterion spine number on Blu-ray like, for instance, Yellow Sky, Major Dundee (which we know is coming from Twilight Time) or any of many excellent Anthony Mann, Budd Boetticher or John Sturges pictures.

[captveg]

At this point unless it's Lawrence of Arabia pretty much anything from Sony can be licensed. The trick is figuring out to which company it's been licensed to between Criterion, Twilight Time, Image, TCM and Mill Creek.

The Capra films from the Sony 2006 DVD set (American Madness (1932), It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)) or the Cary Grant films from the Sony 2006 DVD set (The Awful Truth (1937), Holiday (1938), Only Angels Have Wings (1939), His Girl Friday (1940), The Talk of the Town (1942)) come to mind. The Grant box set titles are films from George Cukor, Howard Hawks, George Stevens, and Leo McCarey.

[captveg]

Obvious prediction is obvious: In June or July, we will get The Devil's Backbone with Spine #666.

[swo17]

OK, that's actually pretty clever.

[criterion10]

Obvious prediction is obvious: In June or July, we will get The Devil's Backbone with Spine #666.

Unless, by some miracle, Criterion has gotten The Devils from WB. *crosses fingers*

[johnnysnatchclub7]

I've long been in the ROSEMARY'S BABY-okay-I-guess-THE DEVILS-now camp for spine 666 but THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE is clearly the right way to go for its all too perfect literal meaning.

[Lowry_Sam]

I've long been in the ROSEMARY'S BABY-okay-I-guess-THE DEVILS-now camp for spine 666 but THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE is clearly the right way to go for its all too perfect literal meaning.

Well if they're not doing The Devils, they definitely missed the boat with Rosemary's Baby. Thematically, The Devil's Backbone doesn't fit the purpose as well.

[med]

"Doesn't fit the purpose"? Think about it! The Devil's Backbone would be spine #666!

[Buttercream]

"Doesn't fit the purpose"? Think about it! The Devil's Backbone would be spine #666!

That this had to be said is amazing.

[acf171072]

med wrote:

"Doesn't fit the purpose"? Think about it! The Devil's Backbone would be spine #666!

Let's face it, 666 should have been Von Trier's ANTICHRIST. It would have been worth the wait.

[Graham]

Maybe they're saving it for Repossessed.

[bamwc2]

med wrote:

"Doesn't fit the purpose"? Think about it! The Devil's Backbone would be spine #666!

Let's face it, 666 should have been Von Trier's ANTICHRIST. It would have been worth the wait.

It is spine 666...in Artficial Eye's catalogue.

[Cinephrenic]

Spine #666 will be Chud.

[scoundrel]

Spine #666 will be Chud.

I still vote that as the best cover ever.

[Lowry_Sam]

"Doesn't fit the purpose"? Think about it! The Devil's Backbone would be spine #666!

Well It's been a while since I saw it, but from memory The Devil's Backbone was more of a ghost story that takes place in a boy's school. a few things go bump in the night. Outside of a piece of plane falling from the sky, it didn't really leave much of an indelible image. Rosemary's Baby on the other hand is much more suited for the "mark of the beast" thematically.

[The Narrator Returns]

Okay, um, I'm gonna explain this for you. The title has the word "devil" in it. 666 is the number of the devil. "Spine" is another word for "backbone."

[Cold Bishop]

And Rosemary's Baby is unlikely to get that spine #.

[Brian C]

Maybe if we mention to the neighbors next door that we really want Rosemary's Baby to have spine #666, the actual movie picked for spine #666 will go blind and Rosemary's Baby will get slotted in instead.

[towda]

Lowry_Sam said "thematically" the spine more belongs to Rosemary's Baby than the Devi's Backbone, key word thematically, I'm sure he got the pun the first time it was explained and didn't need it explained again.

[mfunk9786]

This is some conversation

[captveg]

It'll probably end up being #667 just to screw with us all.

[zedz]

It'll probably end up being #667 just to screw with us all.

666.6 rounded up.