Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[captveg]

Was looking through older versions of this thread and stumbled across this old post of mine in 2009 regarding Blu-ray upgrades, and the chances certain titles had. This is right before the StudioCanal situation was understood. Too bad I don't do this well in Vegas. Titles now on Blu in bold.

Confirmed

Gimme Shelter
Walkabout

Inevitable

Seven Samurai

Highly Probable

Au Revoir Les Enfants (amazon.com poll)
Down by Law (amazon.com poll)
Kwaidan (amazon.com poll)
Picnic at Hanging Rock (amazon.com poll)

Possible

Amarcord (recent remaster)
Andrei Rublev (remaster in the works)
Bicycle Thieves
Black Narcissus (BD released in UK)
Brazil (recent remaster; Universal might not re-license for BD)
Breathless
Diabolique (remaster in the works)
High and Low (recent remaster)
Jules and Jim
The Lady Vanishes (recent remaster)
The Naked Kiss (remaster in the works)
Rashomon (new restoration; some stated interest in revisiting)
The Red Shoes (BD released in UK)
Sanjuro (recent remaster)
Shock Corridor (remaster in the works)
Yojimbo (recent remaster)

Perhaps

Army of Shadows
Beauty and the Beast (2 DVD releases; master notably older, however)
Black Orpheus (Oscar winner)
Charade (2 DVD releases; master notably older, however)
Cléo from 5 to 7 (recent remaster, but supposedly a low seller)
Days of Heaven (Paramount might not re-license for BD)
Dazed and Confused (Universal HD-DVD; might not re-license for BD)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Universal HD-DVD; might not re-license for BD)
Hamlet (Oscar winner)
The Last Temptation of Christ (Scorsese well represented on Blu; Universal might not re-license for BD)
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Disney might not re-license for BD)
M (2 DVD releases; master notably older, however)
Nights of Cabiria (Oscar winner)
The Royal Tenenbaums (Disney might not re-license for BD)
Rushmore (Disney might not re-license for BD)
Spartacus (Universal HD-DVD; might not re-license for BD)
The 39 Steps (BD release in UK)
The Tin Drum (Oscar winner)
Traffic (Universal HD-DVD; might not re-license for BD)
Vagabond (recent remaster, but supposedly a low seller)

Outside Chance (mostly due to being more well-known by the general public)

L'avventura
Contempt (definite if rights get straightened out)
Cries and Whispers
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
8½
Fanny & Alexander
Grand Illusion
Hearts & Minds
The Hidden Fortress
The Ice Storm
In the Mood for Love
M. Hulot's Holiday
Mon oncle
My Life as a Dog
Ran (definite if rights get straightened out)
The Rules of the Game
Le samouraï
Short Cuts
Solaris
Throne of Blood
Tokyo Story
The Vanishing
Wild Strawberries

[jedgeco]

Was looking through older versions of this thread and stumbled across this old post of mine in 2009 regarding Blu-ray upgrades, and the chances certain titles had. This is right before the StudioCanal situation was understood. Too bad I don't do this well in Vegas. Titles now on Blu in bold.

Bold The Ice Storm as well.

[captveg]

Was looking through older versions of this thread and stumbled across this old post of mine in 2009 regarding Blu-ray upgrades, and the chances certain titles had. This is right before the StudioCanal situation was understood. Too bad I don't do this well in Vegas. Titles now on Blu in bold.

Bold The Ice Storm as well.

Thanks. Figured I'd mess up one of those.

[Luke M]

Went to a screening of The Graduate, and people from MGM were there. I asked one of them, they said The Graduate will be a soon release from Criterion. Probably a November or December title, cause David Lynch's films are either September (Eraserhead) or October (Mulholland Dr). Last year they released Tootsie in November, my guess is The Graduate would be a December. Also, any of you wondering if we might get StudioCanal titles back. I mean, The Graduate and Mulholland Dr are both StudioCanal titles. Also, watched Peeping Tom on TCm a couple weeks back, and it had a janus logo, and a Criterion logo.

I would really love to see them get Grand Illusion and Contempt back but those still seem to be in-print at Studio Canal.

[Noiradelic]

The Graduate and Mulholland Dr are both StudioCanal titles.

No, they're not in the U.S. The Graduate has an in-print Blu-ray from MGM and Mulholland Drive is still Universal AFAIK. Generally speaking, StudioCanal doesn't have U.S. rights to Hollywood films, though there may be a few exceptions.

Probably a November or December title, cause David Lynch's films are either September (Eraserhead) or October (Mulholland Dr).

Eraserhead came out in September 2014.

Last year they released Tootsie in November, my guess is The Graduate would be a December.

Yes, The Graduate, like Tootsie, is more likely to come out in November, their biggest release month. December is not very likely, though possible. "Soon" might also mean next year.

Also, any of you wondering if we might get StudioCanal titles back.
Also, watched Peeping Tom on TCm a couple weeks back, and it had a janus logo, and a Criterion logo.

A Criterion Collection logo is extremely promising -- some of the more expert members will hopefully weigh in.

[Drucker]

Peeping Tom could easily just have been the old master from the Criterion dvd. Unless it was a brand new, hd version of the film with the logo, no reason to get excited.

[jwd5275]

The Graduate and Mulholland Dr are both StudioCanal titles.

No, they're not in the U.S. The Graduate has an in-print Blu-ray from MGM and Mulholland Drive is still Universal AFAIK. Generally speaking, StudioCanal doesn't have U.S. rights to Hollywood films, though there may be a few exceptions.

The sell sheet for Muholland Drive has Canal+ listed, which owns StudioCanal. Not sure if it is exactly the same thing as far as licensing goes, but it is hopeful.

[djproject]

The Graduate and Mulholland Dr are both StudioCanal titles.

No, they're not in the U.S. The Graduate has an in-print Blu-ray from MGM and Mulholland Drive is still Universal AFAIK. Generally speaking, StudioCanal doesn't have U.S. rights to Hollywood films, though there may be a few exceptions.

The sell sheet for Muholland Drive has Canal+ listed, which owns StudioCanal. Not sure if it is exactly the same thing as far as licensing goes, but it is hopeful.

Mulholland Dr. being released through Criterion has more to do with David Lynch than less to do with StudioCanal (whatever they own or not own). This is similar to the Jacques Tati set where the estate stated they wanted Criterion to release it in the United States.

[cdnchris]

They're licensing Mulholland Drive from Universal, who owns North American rights. Graduate will be from MGM. Studio Canal has little to do with it.

Also, TCM probably just used the old Criterion master for Peeping Tom (I'm assuming it was the old logo). If Lionsgate still has the rights to the titles then Criterion would have to work with them to licence them.

[criterion10]

Does Universal still own Minnie and Moskowitz? While it took them nearly a decade since the release of the Cassavetes box set to put out Love Streams, I'm surprised Criterion hasn't tried to license Minnie out, along with Husbands from Sony (can't really see them being interested in Gloria)

[Minkin]

For those who don't check the Janus topic:

Janus is putting on a Wenders retrospective! Here's what is showing that hasn't already come to disc:

Alice in the Cities
American Friend, The
Buena Vista Social Club
Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick, The
Kings of the Road
Notebook on Cities and Clothes
State of Things, The
Until the End of the World
Wrong Move

Wenders and the Film Forum got the rights back to all of the films he self produced not too long ago, and he indicated that Criterion would be the future home of this output. I assume there will be more to come and that this is just what has been restored thus far.

[Jack Phillips]

At the MoMA retro, Wrong Move was not yet restored (an old print was screened). That may have changed.

[adavis53]

At the MoMA retro, Wrong Move was not yet restored (an old print was screened). That may have changed.

MoMA screens prints from their library, and not always restored ones, even if they exist elsewhere. I saw Barry Lyndon there last year in what was an absolutely terrible print.

[Jack Phillips]

At the MoMA retro, Wrong Move was not yet restored (an old print was screened). That may have changed.

MoMA screens prints from their library, and not always restored ones, even if they exist elsewhere. I saw Barry Lyndon there last year in what was an absolutely terrible print.

This particular retro was built around the recent digital restorations done for Wenders' reaquired titles. Most were presented on DCPs. Wrong Move hadn't been restored yet but it was clear that the restoration was in the works. I'm thinking now that something else I saw there was also a print (maybe The State of Things ?) But Goalies' Anxiety, Paris Texas, Alice of the Cities, The American Friend, and Kings of the Road were all restored, were marked as such, and looked fabulous. Interestingly, the program also included Peter Handke's Left-handed Woman, which was also restored. If Criterion is, as rumored, bringing out the restored Wenders titles, I'm hoping they'll include the Handke film as an extra on the Goalie's Anxiety release.

[FrauBlucher]

Just in case they announce tomorrow, although a very far outside chance for that......
Guesses for rest of 2015.....
November-
the Apu Trilogy
Speedy
Don't Look Back
Inside Llewyn Davis
Youth of the Beast

December-
The Graduate
Young and Innocent
Beyond the Hills
Jellyfish Eyes

[Ribs]

Apu
A Brighter Summer Day
Inside Llewyn Davis
Young and Innocent
In Cold Blood
Z

[Newsnayr]

The Apu Trilogy
The Before Trilogy
Jellyfish Eyes
Speedy
In Cold Blood
Young and Innocent

[carmilla mircalla]

Apu Trilogy
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lady Snowblood
Gone Girl

Upgrades

Le Samouraï
Mishima

[Finch]

The New World (ideally all the different cuts)
The Apu Trilogy
Bob Le Flambeur BD
Hour of the Wolf (I wish!)
McCabe and Mrs Miller
The Ox-Bow Incident

Malick, Ray, Melville, Bergman, Altman, Wellman - would be quite a lineup

[RSTooley]

Gone Girl

Uh... what? Haha!

New:
The Apu Trilogy
Clouds of Sils Maria
Inside Llewyn Davis
The Kid
A Poem is a Naked Person

Upgrades:
The Naked Prey
Pickup on South Street

I have given up hope for the following titles, but they would make my year:
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
Beyond the Hills
Like Father, Like Son
A Blue is the Warmest Color special edition
Alice Rohrwacher's The Wonders (a title that hasn't even been rumored, but I would love to see in the collection)

[The Narrator Returns]

I have given up hope for the following titles, but they would make my year:
A Blue is the Warmest Color special edition

To the best of my knowledge, there are no immediate plans to release the full Criterion treatment version of BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR. We do try to announce our upcoming releases as far in advance as possible, so the best way to stay up-to-date on our future release plans is to check our "Coming Soon" section and e-newsletter. You can find the newsletter sign up midway down our homepage, in the Newsletter block on the right, just below New Releases. I've included links below for your convenience.

[movielocke]

Apu trilogy
The graduate
Inside llewyn Davis
Don't look back
This is spinal tap
Bicycle thieves
Ugetsu

Edit to add
Life of Brian
Roots of the Czech new wave eclipse.

[FakeBonanza]

Apu Trilogy
The Graduate
Inside Llewyn Davis
Jellyfish Eyes
The Kid
Bicycle Thieves

In my dreams: A Brighter Summer Day

[zedz]

We do try to announce our upcoming releases as far in advance as possible, so the best way to stay up-to-date on our future release plans is to check our "Coming Soon" section and e-newsletter.

So, in all their years of operation, "as far in advance as possible" has always equalled exactly three months? Which by some wild coincidence is also the shortest notice they've ever given for an upcoming release?

I don't have any problem with Criterion's release announcement strategy, but it's amusing how PR Speak so easily comes adrift from one of the most fundamental facts of Criterion's workaday reality.

[danieltiger]

I have given up hope for the following titles, but they would make my year:
A Blue is the Warmest Color special edition

To the best of my knowledge, there are no immediate plans to release the full Criterion treatment version of BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR. We do try to announce our upcoming releases as far in advance as possible, so the best way to stay up-to-date on our future release plans is to check our "Coming Soon" section and e-newsletter. You can find the newsletter sign up midway down our homepage, in the Newsletter block on the right, just below New Releases. I've included links below for your convenience.

Do we have any ideas about why this hasn't happened/isn't imminent? I heard something at one point about Kechiche being the hold-up, but does anyone here know more?