Cohen Film Collection

[Slaphappy]

Any hint as to why the Chaplin films disliked the Keaton films?

Another pun I'm not getting / typo I'm not spotting?

[Michael Kerpan]

Should have been "Chaplin film lovers" -- sorry.

[Slaphappy]

Nice to see that I'm not the only one making typos here.

I think main argument was that Keaton does not have the depth of Chaplin.

[FrauBlucher]

bluray.com....The Great Buster: A Celebration

I wish I understand the rights issues for the Keatons. Why's Kino still have the Keatons out on bluray/dvd but Cohen has the 4k restorations? What's stopping Cohen from releasing the 4k restorations? Cohen purchased the Rohauer Collection in early 2013. Surely that's enough time for them to release the Keatons.

[tenia]

It's even worse here in France, with Lobster having performed concurrent 2K restorations for some of the same feature-length movies (at least The General and Steamboat Bill Jr).

[FlickeringWindow]

Three Ages, College, The General, and Steamboat Bill Jr. have been in the public domain for a while, which is why Kino was able to release the Lobster Films remasters. Our Hospitality recently went into the public domain, as well (as did all 1923 American films still under copyright).

Cohen's website only lists 4Ks for Our Hospitality, Sherlock Jr, Seven Chances, The General, and Steamboat Bill Jr plus Three Ages as "HD" - all the shorts are up without a format indicator except for One Week and Cops as "HD"

They also list 2Ks for Broken Blossoms and the Paramount W.C. Fields and jazz shorts (some of the latter appeared as extras on their release of William Dieterle's Syncopation)

[FrauBlucher]

If all this is true then there is no reason for Cohen not to release their 4k restorations, which is very disappointing they haven't.
Cohen has definitely slowed their bluray/dvd ouput since their beginning but you would think the 4k restos of Keaton would be a good seller for them.

[domino harvey]

I get the feeling that Cohen are working with very little money and resources as-is... Cohen has also been letting titles go OOP once their initial press run is sold out, even though they still have the rights and they’re on their streaming services— their physical releases are all sort of unofficial limited editions, it seems.

[FrauBlucher]

They choose to release a Keaton doc instead of the actual Keaton films

Maybe they should license out their physical media here is the States.

[Luke M]

First Buster Keaton release finally announced

[dustybooks]

Sorry if this is a redundant question, but are we still expecting the MoC box to reappear at some point?

[swo17]

Not really

[Roscoe]

I have the MOC box, and the restorations are to DIE for. I don't know if I can bring myself to buy these again, but not having to warm up the region-free player, and the frankly short lifespans of Cohen silent movie Blu-Rays, makes me think I'll be picking this up.

[DeprongMori]

I’ve picked up the Keaton shorts collection three times now, finalizing on the recent MOC set (which, unlike the Kino Lorber, contains the Arbuckle shorts). I’ve replaced my individual Keaton features with the Kino Lorber “Buster Keaton Collection” from 2012. While the MOC selected-features box was tempting, I’m curious to see how the individual Cohen releases compare to their KL counterparts, and I’ll probably do some ad hoc updates as a result. It’s hard keeping up with the restorations and releases.

In the meantime, I’ll be seeing the restored The Cameraman screened with live accompaniment on opening night of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival in a couple weeks. Glad to see that one finally getting some love.

[HitchcockLang]

I’ve picked up the Keaton shorts collection three times now, finalizing on the recent MOC set (which, unlike the Kino Lorber, contains the Arbuckle shorts). I’ve replaced my individual Keaton features with the Kino Lorber “Buster Keaton Collection” from 2012.

Actually, the most recent Kino release of the Keaton shorts does contain the Arbuckle shorts. It was their earlier release which did not.

[andyli]

So, the first volume of Buster Keaton Collection is up for pre-order. It's got The General and Steamboat Bill Jr. and a couple of extras.

[HitchcockLang]

I'm surprised they're leading with a double-bill of arguably Keaton's two most popular features (with the potential competition of Sherlock Jr.) instead of splitting these two films and pairing less popular titles with each (that's what Kino did with their most recent releases).

[Glowingwabbit]

I'm surprised they're leading with a double-bill of arguably Keaton's two most popular features (with the potential competition of Sherlock Jr.) instead of splitting these two films and pairing less popular titles with each (that's what Kino did with their most recent releases).

That would have made a lot more sense, but since I already have the MOC boxset I'm thankful so I can skip this release. And I don't mind getting another copy of Sherlock Jr (my personal favorite) if it's paired with something like Seven Chances (the dream would be a double bill with The Cameraman, but not sure if that's in the cards).

[dwk]

...(the dream would be a double bill with The Cameraman, but not sure if that's in the cards).

It isn't. If you didnt hear, Criterion is going to release The Cameraman

[Glowingwabbit]

...(the dream would be a double bill with The Cameraman, but not sure if that's in the cards).

It isn't. If you didnt hear, Criterion is going to release The Cameraman

Oh right I did know that. How could I have forgotten that?!!!

[schellenbergk]

So, the first volume of Buster Keaton Collection is up for pre-order. It's got The General and Steamboat Bill Jr. and a couple of extras.

Barnes & Noble also has it listed. No photo, but a lower pre-order price as of now.

[FrauBlucher]

...(the dream would be a double bill with The Cameraman, but not sure if that's in the cards).

It isn't. If you didnt hear, Criterion is going to release The Cameraman

Oh right I did know that. How could I have forgotten that?!!!

This from the San Franciso Silent Film Festival where The Cameraman will be screening...

4k digital restoration undertaken by The Criterion Collection, Warner Bros. and Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna

Which is terrific news. It should look as wonderful as the Cohen's Keaton restorations, which Cinetica di Bologna did as well.

[FigrinDan]

I've put off buying Keaton on Blu for.too long. The MOC box was tempting, but I knew that comparable Region A discs would eventually arrive stateside. It looks like this is it.
Any reason to wait for a more definitive version? Are there any plans for Cohen to release these as a box set? There are so many editions and versions, it's easy to vet confused. I figured I'd ask some experts. Thanks.

[FrauBlucher]

IMHO, You should start buying whatever Cohen starts putting out, beginning with The General/Steamboat Bill Jr. blu. This is probably the best you’re going to get in the States. I don’t see them putting out a box.

[FrauBlucher]

Someone on bluray.com has suggested that Hail Mary and Forever Mozart, plus Jamaica Inn are OOP. Not sure what that means. Do they maintain rights but are not pressing any longer or did they lose rights all together.