Vinegar Syndrome and Their Partner Labels

[dwk]

Today's VSA The Nick Millard Action Collection

.357 MAGNUM (1977, 68 minutes) - Millard's action debut follows assassin John Hightower as he attempts to take down a rival hitman who has gone on an unhinged rampage. Fearing that he's not up to the task, he enlists the help of his mentor to train him to become the ultimate killing machine. The most ambitious of Millard's low-fi epics, shot on location throughout Asia, this clever caper offers an abundance of bloody shoot-outs, all the way through to its twist-filled conclusion.

ALCATRAZ BREAKOUT (aka Alcatraz 1313-0) (1978, 58 minutes) - Due to his successful escape attempts at other facilities, maximum security prisoner 1313-0 has been sent to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. While his wife and young daughter hope for his parole, he plots his most daring escape yet. Filled with sneakily stolen footage shot at Alcatraz, this was Millard's final theatrically released feature film.

ONE-ARMED WARRIOR (aka The Terrorists) (1980, 55 minutes) - James Luke is assigned the case of tracking a group of German terrorists who have been responsible for a series of brutal attacks. But when he discovers a plot to assassinate the President of the United States on an upcoming international trip, he's in a race against time to foil the deadly plan. Between typically absurd action set pieces and an abundance of location footage, this was Millard's final international mini-epic.

STREET RACE (1981, 71 minutes) — Once celebrated race car driver John Ryan is now in a crisis. His love for racing, while unchanged, is now being betrayed by his aging body, which may no longer be up to the task. Sensing his decline, a younger racer vies to steal his spotlight. Millard's attempt at a serious, character-driven drama pits actual race car driving against more nuanced and thoughtful character development. Long thought lost, and one of the "longest" films he made, STREET RACE features great international racing footage, from California's Grand Prix of Long Beach to the French Riviera's famous Formula 1 races..

SHOTGUN (aka Gunblast) (1985, 66 minutes) - Career criminal Roy Grant has spent his life in and out of prison, but his latest attempt to go straight is quickly foiled when a mysterious woman enlists his help to steal a fortune's worth of drugs and money. After pulling off the heist, the two embark on a getaway road trip, but danger is following them everywhere. A more "conventional" crime thriller than one would expect from Millard, this was his final feature edited entirely on film and offers plentiful action and surprises throughout.

[criterionsnob]

Coma and Go Fish added to Daily Deals.

[CSM126]

In re: Nick Millard: my one and only question was “is Priscilla Alden involved?” Sure enough, she’s the first face you see when scrolling through the screen grabs. Ol’ Nick sure loved Crazy Fat Ethel.

[Orlac]

Fire Maidens of Outer Space is today's release

Surprisingly in 4:3 instead of the correct 1.66:1 of the Olive disc, but the extras sound great.

[dwk]

Phase IV UHD is part of today's daily deals. I know they never fixed the issue with this (I admit that I've forgotten what the issue was)

and today's Degausser announcement is 5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas

[andyli]

A New Leaf:

2-Disc Set: 4K Ultra HD + Region A Blu-ray
New audio commentary by film programmer, writer and educator K.J. Relth-Miller and Maya Montañez Smukler, author of Liberating Hollywood: Women Directors and the Feminist Reform of 1970s American Cinema
Director Jail - a new video interview with Carrie Courogen, author of Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius
Looking for Elaine May - a new video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, co-editor of ReFocus: The Films of Elaine May
Elaine May and Mike Nicholas In Conversation - an hour long post-screening discussion between Elaine May and her frequent collaborator, conducted at Film at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater in New York City in 2006
Elaine May's A New Leaf 50th Anniversary - an episode of the Silver Streams podcast from the American Film Institute featuring programmers of the AFI Silver Theater discussing May's film
The Cutting Room Floor - an archival interview with assistant editor Angelo Corrao
Women in Hollywood: A Tragedy of Comic Proportions - an archival appreciation of Elaine May with filmmaker Amy Heckerling
Theatrical Trailer
New text essays from film writer Sarah Fensom; film critic Elena Lazic; queer historian and film critic Willow Catelyn Maclay; and film critic and editor Hannah Strong as well as a previously published piece by film critic Richard Brody
Fold out poster featuring new art by cartoonist Michael DeForge
English SDH subtitles

Also, an option to buy with Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius by Carrie Courogen.

[beamish14]

K.J. Relth-Miller’s first commentary! She’s the head of public programs at the Academy Museum, and I adore seeing her at screenings. Extremely insightful.

[criterionsnob]

Thieves Like Us 4K added to Daily Deals.

[Blutarsky]

Also, an option to buy with Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius by Carrie Courogen.

Last I checked when I added my pre-order the book combo is already sold out. Guess I gotta pick up my copy at Barnes and Noble this week when I grab Carnal Knowledge

[hearthesilence]

May be worth borrowing the book at the library first, I've heard very mixed reactions. Given the dearth of Elaine May biographies, it's still welcome for gathering a lot of information in one place.

[soundchaser]

Count me among those who had a mixed-to-negative reaction to the Courogen. It’s clear she did the research, but I couldn’t handle the prose style and her general approach to May’s work.

[Maltic]

I don't know the book/author but the description belabours the point a bit maybe...

Director Jail - a new video interview with Carrie Courogen, author of Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius.

Good to see this on UHD though, and an interesting package overall.

[ryannichols7]

I find it maddening that this is where A New Leaf ended up. you're telling me Criterion and Kino (Tarzi released it at Olive) let it slip through the cracks? please let Eureka or ANYONE release it on 4K in the UK, I really, absolutely do not want to buy this release even though I love the film, ironically the only one of May's I feel that way about

late to the party I know, but I have been enjoying how much the tide is turning against Vinegar Syndrome a bit. thank you Orbit for being who you are

[crimlaw]

Terrible news that Criterion didn’t acquire A New Leaf. Hoping Vinegar Syndrome doesn’t get Catch 22 and 1900. Not many Silver Age Paramount titles left for Criterion.

[ryannichols7]

Terrible news that Criterion didn’t acquire A New Leaf. Hoping Vinegar Syndrome doesn’t get Catch 22 and 1900. Not many Silver Age Paramount titles left for Criterion.

the only upside to a VS acquisition is it leaves the UK open. I genuinely really hope Arrow or Eureka go for it. Eureka hasn't released a Paramount 4K yet whereas Arrow has, but obviously Eureka put it out on BD...and I trust either label equally. but personally this is one I really did want Criterion to get, or at the least Kino, since Frank Tarzi released it twice at Olive

Criterion has been mentioned around Catch 22 for as long as I have followed them. considering we did finally get Carnal Knowledge from them (also rumored during when I first got into the label in 2008ish), maybe not outside the realm of possibility it's next in line. we did get two Bogdanovich titles in fairly quick succession and since we know The Graduate upgrade is probably coming...maybe there's a Mike Nichols renaissance coming

[jt938]

Terrible news that Criterion didn’t acquire A New Leaf. Hoping Vinegar Syndrome doesn’t get Catch 22 and 1900. Not many Silver Age Paramount titles left for Criterion.

the only upside to a VS acquisition is it leaves the UK open. I genuinely really hope Arrow or Eureka go for it. Eureka hasn't released a Paramount 4K yet whereas Arrow has, but obviously Eureka put it out on BD...and I trust either label equally. but personally this is one I really did want Criterion to get, or at the least Kino, since Frank Tarzi released it twice at Olive

Criterion has been mentioned around Catch 22 for as long as I have followed them. considering we did finally get Carnal Knowledge from them (also rumored during when I first got into the label in 2008ish), maybe not outside the realm of possibility it's next in line. we did get two Bogdanovich titles in fairly quick succession and since we know The Graduate upgrade is probably coming...maybe there's a Mike Nichols renaissance coming

I want Criterion to do Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, The Birdcage, and Working Girl. Those could all do with a 4k upgrade.

[ryannichols7]

Terrible news that Criterion didn’t acquire A New Leaf. Hoping Vinegar Syndrome doesn’t get Catch 22 and 1900. Not many Silver Age Paramount titles left for Criterion.

the only upside to a VS acquisition is it leaves the UK open. I genuinely really hope Arrow or Eureka go for it. Eureka hasn't released a Paramount 4K yet whereas Arrow has, but obviously Eureka put it out on BD...and I trust either label equally. but personally this is one I really did want Criterion to get, or at the least Kino, since Frank Tarzi released it twice at Olive

Criterion has been mentioned around Catch 22 for as long as I have followed them. considering we did finally get Carnal Knowledge from them (also rumored during when I first got into the label in 2008ish), maybe not outside the realm of possibility it's next in line. we did get two Bogdanovich titles in fairly quick succession and since we know The Graduate upgrade is probably coming...maybe there's a Mike Nichols renaissance coming

I want Criterion to do Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, The Birdcage, and Working Girl. Those could all do with a 4k upgrade.

none have been upgraded so far. either they or WAC will do Virginia Woolf but I'm sure the other two are open to them if they want - Kino I would've expected to grab The Birdcage

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

Restoration of Paul Morrissey’s Mixed Blood playing next month in Los Angeles presented by Vinegar Syndrome. I was half-expecting some more Morrissey from them, but happy to see it’s confirmed.

[dwk]

Mixed Blood was supposed to be out by now on the Cinématographe sublabel, but it was pushed back. I think the signs are pointing to it being one of the August releases.

[swo17]

It looks like VS has started shrinkwrapping its slipcovered editions so that the entire package is sealed, not just the case inside the slipcover

[What A Disgrace]

Among the titles revealed today, which I'm not well enough to go over, is a 4K release of Lino Brocka's Bona, from Kani Releasing.

[luxta]

Mainline
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
The Films of Larry Fessenden: Volume 1 - Habit & No Telling
Playroom (1990)

Vinegar Syndrome Archive
Robo Warriors

Vinegar Syndrome Labs
Castle of Evil

Cinématographe
Mixed Blood
The Woman Chaser

Distribpix
Confessions of a Psycho Cat + The Fat Black Pussycat

[criterionsnob]

Canadian International Pictures also is releasing the queer classic Winter Kept Us Warm, which I've been waiting for. I'm in for that and the 4K Brocka.

[mfunk9786]

It looks like VS has started shrinkwrapping its slipcovered editions so that the entire package is sealed, not just the case inside the slipcover

Wonder if it makes it easier to shovel unsold copies into landfills this way.

[colinr0380]

Confessions of a Psycho Cat is of course most notable for featuring boxer Jake LaMotta in the cast. For some reason Scorsese did not cover his acting career during the course of Raging Bull... :-k