Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 5

[swo17]

Are you sure about that? My understanding was that all of the films were with Studio Canal but that the Tati estate specially arranged for Criterion to have them again anyway. If that's the case, it would seem odd to leave Trafic out of the arrangement. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Jour de fête and Parade as well, maybe all together in one large set.

[zedz]

I'm sure if Criterion can release Tati In Toto they will, but Parade will be an interesting conundrum for them. Quite apart from that fact that I think it isn't very good, it wouldn't be a viable BluRay release, since it was shot on video. Personally, I think it would be fine as an extra, but if Criterion don't agree - or want to get maximum mileage out of their Tati holdings - then we'll either be looking at an anachronistic DVD-only release or the most redundant dual-disc set ever.

[swo17]

it wouldn't be a viable BluRay release, since it was shot on video.

Remember me?

[zedz]

That did have some minimal HD content in it though, didn't it? Or underwent post-production in HD or something, as I recall.

EDIT: Yes, it's a 2K master, apparently.

[HitchcockLang]

I'm sure if Criterion can release Tati In Toto they will, but Parade will be an interesting conundrum for them. Quite apart from that fact that I think it isn't very good, it wouldn't be a viable BluRay release, since it was shot on video. Personally, I think it would be fine as an extra, but if Criterion don't agree - or want to get maximum mileage out of their Tati holdings - then we'll either be looking at an anachronistic DVD-only release or the most redundant dual-disc set ever.

I'm sorry. Tati In Toto? Is this a real thing? I've tried searching for it with no results. What is it?

[zedz]

Yes, it's a real thing that I just made up. It will be released between the interactive Out 1 box set and A Brighter Summer Day.

[Jeff]

Not to be confused with the live album Toto in Tati, in which thousands in Botswana rocked out to "Africa" and "Rosanna."

[swo17]

Tati & Totò suddenly seems like a huge missed opportunity.

[Red Screamer]

Tati & Totò suddenly seems like a huge missed opportunity.

From a Tati interview with Bazin and Truffaut in the May 1958 issue of Cahiers du Cinema

"After Jour de fete, and more so after Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot, I had some offers to go and make a Franco-Italian co-production. It was to be called Toto and Tati. You get the idea! I said to myself: “No! Hulot does not have the obligation to be in Toto and Tati” It’s not that Toto is bad: in fact be is a very good actor; but the simple fact that the picture was going lo be called Toto and Tati already tells you more than you want to know. I believe that one’s artistic independence is a must, and it is up to the individual to defend it in all cases."

[Moe Dickstein]

Are you sure about that? My understanding was that all of the films were with Studio Canal but that the Tati estate specially arranged for Criterion to have them again anyway. If that's the case, it would seem odd to leave Trafic out of the arrangement. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Jour de fête and Parade as well, maybe all together in one large set.

The ownership on Trafic seemed to be different, but I would love to be wrong.

If they just FINALLY give us the multi-version Jour De Fete I will be happy.

[Jeff]

[The ownership on Trafic seemed to be different, but I would love to be wrong.

I always thought so too. It went out of print before the other Tatis. I thought Criterion's license on Trafic came from StudioCanal, whereas it came directly from the Tati estate on the other films -- as though perhaps the estate did not have the rights to Trafic (perhaps something to do with its original financing?). I'd love to see them all in one complete set too, so hopefully Criterion can make that happen.

[jindianajonz]

Perhaps Criterion trying to get back the Trafic rights is why it's taking so long for the Hulot's to come back into print (though it could also just be that they didn't want to start working on HD versions until they knew the rights for the other three were secure)

[vygnyr]

I've been going through the OOP titles in the Criterionforum.org database and I noticed a few titles that are marked OOP but aren't according to Criterion.com - Could that mean that they're OOP but CC is just waiting to run out copies without giving us a heads up?

OOP according to Criterionforum.org:
Breathless DVD
Breathless Blu-ray
Harlan County USA DVD
The Last Wave DVD
Viridiana DVD

[Moe Dickstein]

Or it could be they are working on some big new versions that just take a certain amount of time to do, as well as working from scratch if they are doing Parade and Jour De Fete, which they haven't released since Laser.

[FrauBlucher]

Film Forum has their new calendar up, with three Janus titles getting runs over the next few months: Harold Lloyd's "The Freshman" (which we knew about), Dino Risi's "Il Sorpasso" and Nagisa Oshima's "Boy."

Film Forum Winter Schedule

[Bando]

I've been going through the OOP titles in the Criterionforum.org database and I noticed a few titles that are marked OOP but aren't according to Criterion.com - Could that mean that they're OOP but CC is just waiting to run out copies without giving us a heads up?

The Last Wave DVD

Crossing my fingers for a one-two upgrade punch of The Last Wave and Picnic at Hanging Rock...

[Jeff]

I've been going through the OOP titles in the Criterionforum.org database and I noticed a few titles that are marked OOP but aren't according to Criterion.com - Could that mean that they're OOP but CC is just waiting to run out copies without giving us a heads up?

The Last Wave DVD

Crossing my fingers for a one-two upgrade punch of The Last Wave and Picnic at Hanging Rock...

The Last Wave was reported to be going OOP last December, at which time I speculated a "First Films of Peter Weir" set was in the works. I'm still betting that's the case.

[zedz]

The Last Wave was reported to be going OOP last December, at which time I speculated a "First Films of Peter Weir" set was in the works. I'm still betting that's the case.

Well, in that case I would happily bet against you, since I have a hard time believing that Criterion would forgo giving Picnic at Hanging Rock a standalone release, and since The Last Wave antedates that feature, I doubt it would headline any kind of "first films' set. He'd actually been directing for nearly ten years at that point, and IMDB has it down as his eighteenth film. In today's money (let's say Wes Anderson) that would be the equivalent of building a 'Wes Anderson's First Films' set around a feature he releases in 2035.

I think a First Films set (maybe on Eclipse) could still be in the offing, but it would more likely be built around The Cars That Ate Paris and those early shorts from '71/'72 (Michael, Homesdale etc.) - which are a decidedly mixed bag.

[Jeff]

He'd actually been directing for nearly ten years at that point, and IMDB has it down as his eighteenth film.

Aren't the majority of those shorts and TV productions though? Perhaps "Early Peter Weir" or "Four Films by Peter Weir" is a more likely moniker. Criterion has The Cars that Ate Paris, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave, and The Plumber. I can definitely see what you mean about them wanting to do a standalone release of Picnic, but it would also help sell the other films.

[Bando]

I guess I just can't see Criterion sitting pretty with a non-anamorphic, skimpy release of a film of Picnic at Hanging Rock's stature for as long as they have without there being something really big in the offing. Especially when Criterion has been so enthusiastic about the film in their social media and web presence.

Then again, the mock-ups for a Hanging Rock BD could very well be filed next to, say, Eisenstein: The Silent Years...

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Any chance Criterion has the rights to Blanche Fury? Not sure if it's been given a Technicolor restoration tho.

[pzadvance]

Don't know if there's been any word of this elsewhere but I just had the good fortune of seeing Agnes Varda talk at LACMA and she indicated that an "Agnes Varda in Los Angeles" Eclipse set is in the works that would include DOCUMENTEUR, LIONS LOVE, MUR MURS, and her Black Panther documentary.

[Cinephrenic]

Huey

Yes, looks like Varda and Demy films coming soon.

[zedz]

Don't know if there's been any word of this elsewhere but I just had the good fortune of seeing Agnes Varda talk at LACMA and she indicated that an "Agnes Varda in Los Angeles" Eclipse set is in the works that would include DOCUMENTEUR, LIONS LOVE, MUR MURS, and her Black Panther documentary.

That would make a lovely set, though it will be a shame to lose the extras from Tout(e) Varda.

A quick glance at the Cine-Tamaris site confirms a wave of new Demy restorations (including Parapluies, Baie des Anges and Une chambre en ville) and the fact that you can now buy this!

[giovannii84]

Don't know if there's been any word of this elsewhere but I just had the good fortune of seeing Agnes Varda talk at LACMA and she indicated that an "Agnes Varda in Los Angeles" Eclipse set is in the works that would include DOCUMENTEUR, LIONS LOVE, MUR MURS, and her Black Panther documentary.

That would make a lovely set, though it will be a shame to lose the extras from Tout(e) Varda.

A quick glance at the Cine-Tamaris site confirms a wave of new Demy restorations (including Parapluies, Baie des Anges and Une chambre en ville) and the fact that you can now buy this!

I would collect the eclipse sets if they had some form of extras on them.