Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

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Hogfather · #4851 Post by **Hogfather** » Fri Mar 11, 2022 10:36 pm

I know that Trouble in Paradise got some sort of restoration about 5-6 years ago, so it might get an upgrade a la Written on the Wind soon. IDK about Tea and Sympathy though.

ellipsis7 · #4852 Post by **ellipsis7** » Sat Mar 12, 2022 4:58 pm

IL BELL' ANTONIO directed by Mauro Bolognini from a script by Pier Paolo Pasolini is coming to Blu Ray (& DVD) in France on 28th March from Lobster Films, so there's hope it will also reach the Criterion Collection sooner rather than later...

ryannichols7 · #4853 Post by **ryannichols7** » Tue Mar 15, 2022 7:24 pm

how do we feel about the chances for Bluebeard's Castle being included on the return of Tales of Hoffmann? the studiocanal didn't include it, and I understand it's in less optimal condition, but this seems like a pretty good opportunity for it to get out there. hopefully someone here knows it's status a little better than I do

soundchaser · #4854 Post by **soundchaser** » Tue Mar 15, 2022 7:30 pm

The Film Foundation did a full restoration last year, but it's only had a brief run at festivals so far.

Hogfather · #4855 Post by **Hogfather** » Wed Mar 16, 2022 5:06 pm

I think it's very likely that it will be included with Tales of Hoffmann. There's nothing on the Film Foundation website connecting it to Janus/Criterion though. But I also wouldn't take a Studiocanal disk as an indicator of a Criterion release - the extras are of a differing quality.

yoloswegmaster · Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:33 pm

Tales of Hoffmann page has been updated on the site with new screengrabs and a trailer, so expect an upgrade (no word on Blu or UHD release).

ryannichols7 · #4857 Post by **ryannichols7** » Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:47 pm

thank you everyone for the responses. seems like they could go either way including Bluebeard's Castle or having it be it's own spine (Ian Christie commentary please!), similar to how they could go either way on this being a UHD title.

would be release of the year depending what happens!

#4858 Post by **Finch** » Thu Mar 17, 2022 4:50 pm

So pleased about the Rouge announcement - more non-martial arts Hongkong classics! Surprised that Hoffman is NOT a UHD; you'd think that'd be a title to showcase the strengths of the format. The BD only announcement, to me, feels like an admission that Criterion don't think it'd shift enough copies in 4k. Missed opportunity IMO (though, I'm now seeing they made Shaft the UHD title for the month).

Hogfather · #4859 Post by **Hogfather** » Thu Mar 17, 2022 4:59 pm

It's pretty clear now that Bluebeard's Castle won't be included with The Tales of Hoffmann. However, Criterion still has six more Michael Powell films left to upgrade: Peeping Tom, I Know Where I'm Going!, A Canterbury Tale, 49th Parallel, The Thief of Baghdad, and The Small Back Room. We know that Criterion recently got Peeping Tom back, and I think that that's the most likely candidate to carry it seeing as they were made around the same time and neither were co-directed by Emeric Pressburger.

brundlefly · #4860 Post by **brundlefly** » Thu Mar 17, 2022 5:54 pm

Wasn't it confirmed at some point Criterion had Oslo, August 31st? It's still my favorite of Trier's and I was hoping they'd bring it out alongside Worst... though maybe ike Worst and Hoffmann I'd just wind up holding off to see if there'll be a UHD to import from another region anyway. Only getting the Shaft from this month, literally and figuratively.

ryannichols7 · #4861 Post by **ryannichols7** » Thu Mar 17, 2022 6:05 pm

Finch wrote: Thu Mar 17, 2022 4:50 pm So pleased about the Rouge announcement - more non-martial arts Hongkong classics!

I'd like to see them continue to release more of the auteurist Chinese films, be it Hong Kong, Taiwan, or (haha, good one) mainland China. since last year we've seen Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Ann Hui, Johnnie To (yes, it's martial arts, but..), and now Stanley Kwan all make their Criterion debuts. I think the other labels have the martial arts stuff pretty well covered, so it's nice to see Criterion find their niche as well, as well as expanding in Asian titles outside Japan. definitely a very welcome trend.

regarding mainland China, there were murmurs (maybe the other forum?) that Jia Zhangke is currently holding up the US release of his first three movies because he wants them to be shown in China first, something that apparently isn't possible at the moment. hope that changes in the near future, but at least they're on the channel for the time being (Platform is in pretty dated condition, admittedly)

dwk · #4862 Post by **dwk** » Thu Mar 17, 2022 6:20 pm

Finch wrote: Thu Mar 17, 2022 4:50 pm So pleased about the Rouge announcement - more non-martial arts Hongkong classics! Surprised that Hoffman is NOT a UHD; you'd think that'd be a title to showcase the strengths of the format. The BD only announcement, to me, feels like an admission that Criterion don't think it'd shift enough copies in 4k. Missed opportunity IMO (though, I'm now seeing they made Shaft the UHD title for the month).

Or StudioCanal wouldn't let them release it on UHD.

ryannichols7 wrote: Thu Mar 17, 2022 6:05 pm regarding mainland China, there were murmurs (maybe the other forum?) that Jia Zhangke is currently holding up the US release of his first three movies because he wants them to be shown in China first, something that apparently isn't possible at the moment. hope that changes in the near future, but at least they're on the channel for the time being (Platform is in pretty dated condition, admittedly)

One of the people behind Crescendo House tweeted that, but I'm not sure where he heard it.

tenia · #4863 Post by **tenia** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 6:19 pm

In any case, reading blu-ray.com's news comment about the line up : "One 4K release? Pretty weak month to say at least." / "Again with the "4K restorations on blu-ray". WTF man, only 1 4K release out of this group is such crap" / "Four 4k masters and only one 4k release is pretty weak. But don't worry Criterion....at least we can count on Kino, Shout, Arrow, Vinegar Syndrome, Blue Underground, and many other niche companies to carry the load. RIP......we had some good times."

Which is pretty much what was expected all along before their 1st UHD releases.

Maltic · #4864 Post by **Maltic** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 6:26 pm

Have you got UHD yet, Tenia?

It's not on the cards for me, but I'm curious whether I will start to sound like those posters after a while once I do get an UHD system.

#4865 Post by **swo17** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 6:50 pm

I mean, they're not entirely wrong. If you view Criterion's mission as split between digging up and shining a flashlight on underappreciated gems vs. shining a spotlight on films that are already well-received, then there are some appetizing examples of the former this month but also 2-3 that feel more like a warmed-over tuna sandwich left under a heat lamp. I know that's like three separate metaphors but my point stands: I want to support UHD with my wallet, but they've gotta give me more of a chance to do it!

criterionsnob · #4866 Post by **criterionsnob** » Mon Mar 21, 2022 7:51 pm

Director Sebastian Meise just did a Top 10 list, and he and Franz Rogowski visited the Criterion offices recently. Perhaps Great Freedom could get a spine.

#4867 Post by **Matt** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 4:05 am

Probably not. It’s being distributed by MUBI in the US, and they’ve never collaborated with Criterion before. I think they just happened to be in town for this event launching the US theatrical run.

Christian Petzold’s Undine (with Rogowski) was an IFC release which never got a US BD, so that seems a more likely (yet still unlikely) option.

dustybooks · #4868 Post by **dustybooks** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 4:37 am

The Inception release of Lady for a Day is OOP, Sony hasn’t released their own (like they did with Lost Horizon after TT), and it’s a former Criterion laserdisc. Possibility or wishful thinking?

FlickeringWindow · Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:16 pm

dustybooks wrote: Tue Mar 22, 2022 4:37 am The Inception release of Lady for a Day is OOP, Sony hasn’t released their own (like they did with Lost Horizon after TT), and it’s a former Criterion laserdisc. Possibility or wishful thinking?

Apparently, Capra’s estate owns Lady for a Day. Also, TT only released the remake. Sony released the only Blu of the original themselves.

dustybooks · #4870 Post by **dustybooks** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 5:48 pm

FlickeringWindow wrote: Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:16 pmApparently, Capra’s estate owns Lady for a Day. Also, TT only released the remake. Sony released the only Blu of the original themselves.

Oops, my apologies for the misinfo!

yoloswegmaster · Tue Mar 22, 2022 8:54 pm

Criterion to release 'Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid' later this year, according to Alex Cox.

therewillbeblus · Tue Mar 22, 2022 9:16 pm

yoloswegmaster wrote: Tue Mar 22, 2022 8:54 pm Criterion to release 'Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid' later this year, according to Alex Cox.

He outlines three cuts and suggests Criterion will "pick a favorite" - too bad Indicator didn't get to this, since they'd certainly release all of them

black&huge · #4873 Post by **black&huge** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 10:36 pm

No idea why they would pick just one if that's what's gonna happen. If On the Waterfront gets three different AR presentations surely they can offer up any and all Pat Garrett.

therewillbeblus · Tue Mar 22, 2022 10:39 pm

black&huge wrote: Tue Mar 22, 2022 10:36 pm No idea why they would pick just one if that's what's gonna happen. If On the Waterfront gets three different AR presentations surely they can offer up any and all Pat Garrett.

Well of course they can but On the Waterfront is an outlier whereas Indicator almost always includes all cuts if they exist on principle

#4875 Post by **Finch** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 11:06 pm

They've included all three cuts of The New World as well, so fingers crossed they'll do likewise with Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid. But as with the Malick, they may choose to give one version the preferential treatment as regards a 4k/2k restoration? I don't know if Warner has restored any of the cuts recently. Ideally, they'd release all three cuts to the same standard (which annoyingly they did not do with the Malick!).

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