Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Drucker]

-The Graduate

Wow. I love this movie but that seems wholly unnecessary -- and surprising, since I imagine it's quite a popular disc for MGM/Fox.

Less than stellar transfer though. Could certainly be improved upon.

[hollis]

-Two unfinished films by Orson Welles: It's All True and another film whose name he didn't remember, but which he knew starred Jeanne Moreau and had a running time of approximately one hour, so in all likelihood it's The Immortal Story, though of course that's not unfinished. These will be put out as a single release.

I guess it's possible the other film is THE DEEP.

[Self]

Moonrise Kingdom Cover Art
The Brood
Mulholland Drive
Burroughs
Trouble in Paradise Blu
Haxan Reissue

[Roger Ryan]

...-Two unfinished films by Orson Welles: It's All True...

Would be nice if Criterion could somehow preserve and present some of the deteriorating nitrate stock just sitting in Paramount's vault for IT'S ALL TRUE, but that's probably way beyond the scope of a reissue project. Here's an inventory done fifteen years ago documentary the existing footage for three of the film's sequences:

"My Friend Bonito" — Approximately 67,145 feet of black-and-white not preserved; 8,000 feet preserved.
"Carnaval" — Approximately 32,200 feet of black-and-white not preserved; 3,300 feet preserved. Approximately 2,700 feet of Technicolor not preserved (in Paramount Studios vaults); approximately 2,750 feet processed for use in the 1993 documentary.
"Jangadeiros" — Approximately 28,000 feet of black-and-white not preserved; approximately 35,950 feet preserved.


There does exist several reels of rushes for the "Jangadeiros" episode that was not included in the 1993 documentary/construction but has been screened at Welles festivals.

[hollis]

...-Two unfinished films by Orson Welles: It's All True...

Would be nice if Criterion could somehow preserve and present some of the deteriorating nitrate stock just sitting in Paramount's vault for IT'S ALL TRUE, but that's probably way beyond the scope of a reissue project.

Is it time and expense that holds these back, or are they also subject to the usual Welles legal disputes?

[Roger Ryan]

-Two unfinished films by Orson Welles: It's All True and another film whose name he didn't remember, but which he knew starred Jeanne Moreau and had a running time of approximately one hour, so in all likelihood it's The Immortal Story, though of course that's not unfinished. These will be put out as a single release.

I guess it's possible the other film is THE DEEP.

Issa Clubb mentioned during the Ann Arbor Welles symposium last week that THE IMMORTAL STORY would be released alongside CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, but he wasn't clear if it was to be a single release. Given that the two were consecutive films for Welles as director, it would make more sense to combine them than it would to place IT'S ALL TRUE (1942/1993) next to either of them.

[Roger Ryan]

...-Two unfinished films by Orson Welles: It's All True...

Would be nice if Criterion could somehow preserve and present some of the deteriorating nitrate stock just sitting in Paramount's vault for IT'S ALL TRUE, but that's probably way beyond the scope of a reissue project.

Is it time and expense that holds these back, or are they also subject to the usual Welles legal disputes?

Purely time and expense I believe. Paramount owns the footage outright.

[Max von Mayerling]

I guess it's possible the other film is THE DEEP.

Based on what I saw & heard at the University of Michigan Welles Symposium (including some footage from The Deep that was screened by Stefan Droessler), there is no way that anyone is releasing anything related to The Deep any time soon.

[Frumaster]

I am hoping for

Made in USA (upgrade)
Grand Budapest Hotel
Tales of Hoffman (upgrade)
Chimes at Midnight
Before Trilogy

[Finch]

My prediction:

The Firemen's Ball BD upgrade
The New World with three different cuts
Henry V BD upgrade
Ikiru BD upgrade
The Brood
The Hour of the Wolf (I wish!)

[captveg]

The bonus content listing on Moonrise Kingdom has some updates.

Old:

• Restored 2K digital transfer, supervised by director Wes Anderson, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• Audio commentary featuring Anderson
• Selected-scene storyboard animatics
• Interviews with cast and crew
• Behind-the-scenes tour hosted by Bill Murray
• Welcome to New Penzance, hosted by Bob Balaban
• Auditions
• Edward Norton's home movies from the set
• Trailer
• More!
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien, plus a map of New Penzance Island and other ephemera

New:

• Restored 2K digital transfer, supervised by director Wes Anderson, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• Audio commentary featuring Anderson, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, and Roman Coppola
• Selected-scene storyboard animatics
• Interviews with cast and crew
• Exploring the Set of “Moonrise Kingdom,” an original documentary about the film
• Norton’s home movies from the set
• Behind-the-scenes, special effects, and test footage
• Auditions
• Trailer
• More!
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien, plus a map of New Penzance Island and other ephemera

[Self]

So they update the details, but still have More! to give us. Interesting

[captveg]

I give the odds of the intern having forgotten to confirm the website updates after looking at the preview page before he left the office at 3-to-1.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

They've got the Kinks in the office! Percy on blu?

[MongooseCmr]

They have literally one job

[ordinaryperson]

Oh Criterion! You reel me in and then cut the string.

[Frumaster]

This is ridiculous. Is it incompetence or are they intentionally toying with us? Weeks to prepare 4-5 little pages, and then all they have to do is update the index on the 15th. How could you mess that up?

[mfunk9786]

Man, the bitching! These titles aren't coming out for months, you can wait another few hours or even days

[sir_luke]

They did explicitly say on Twitter that announcements were happening today, so we can totally call them out on it if it doesn't happen

[flyonthewall2983]

They have literally one job

Last minute prediction: The Italian Job

[vidussoni]

from Facebook

Sorry all, our September titles announce is postponed until tomorrow—we still have a few kinks to work out!

[captveg]

"Sorry all, our September titles announce is postponed until tomorrow—we still have a few kinks to work out! "

I don't get it.... What kind of kinks would prevent the announcement?

They update extra listings all the time, so it's not that. Nor is it release date adjustments. Or cover art. These titles are 3 months away, so there can't be legal hurdles at this point.

Anyone?

[mfunk9786]

Omg they're announcing the titles tomorrow, maybe their web person is ill or something, everyone really needs to calm down

[Gregory]

All your September titles announce is belong to us.

[Frumaster]

Man, the bitching! These titles aren't coming out for months, you can wait another few hours or even days

It would not be so irritating if they hadn't TOLD us the announcements would be today.