Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[FrauBlucher]

One Plus One has a blu-ray release through abcko which is solid, and I believe most Godard fans love this one, domino included

Well than I was definitely mistaken. Maybe UHD format could put it in play for Criterion. I remember watching it years ago like in the 80s I believe on PBS. And not liking it but it was before I knew anything about Godard

[therewillbeblus]

I'd prefer to see more Godard on English-friendly blu-rays first. Une femme est une femme, Notre Musique, In Praise of Love and 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her in particular

[FrauBlucher]

One Plus One has a blu-ray release through abcko which is solid, and I believe most Godard fans love this one, domino included

Well than I was definitely mistaken. Maybe UHD format could put it in play for Criterion. I remember watching it years ago like in the 80s I believe on PBS. And not liking it but it was before I knew anything about Godard

Edit: I remember now. I rented the VHS thinking it was anything but what it turned out to be

[domino harvey]

One + One/Sympathy For The Devil doesn't have a US release and how could Criterion pass up a film by Godard featuring The Rolling Stones in the rehearsal studio.

If I'm not mistaken this is Dominos least favorite Godard. Haha So, he'd be all in

Nah, one of my faves actually! There is (or was, at any rate) a RA release with a David Sterritt commentary, because I have it and it’s annoyingly DVD height

You might be thinking that I was annoyed that the Blu was not Academy ratio, but I recanted after watching it as I believe it looks correct in action

[FrauBlucher]

I wonder if a boxset of Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues is something that Criterion would tackle. It's only been released on DVD

[beamish14]

I wonder if a boxset of Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues is something that Criterion would tackle. It's only been released on DVD

I’d love that. Any excuse for more Charles Burnett

[Lowry_Sam]

It's likely they didn't consider it due to the film elements being missing until recently. The camera negative was thought to be lost until it turned up in an MGM vault (they had it all this time without knowing due to the purchase of Island Films). The Palm master was from an interpositive created for the 1999 reissue, which I assume was made from an internegative. Not exactly great materials to work with.

Well when A24 no longer has it/sells out, there is actually still room for improvement on the audio, namely including the original 2.0 and (1999) 5.1 audio in 24 bit lossless, maybe include the 1985 4:3 version on a bonus disc.

[Hogfather]

I wasn't really referring to classic movie musicals.

I don't think there are many classic musicals that Criterion would actually release. I think the most likely candidates would be those films that had a significant cultural impact or strayed from the classic formula & had critical success. There was a rumor for a while that Criterion had West Side Story, it & Porgy & Bess are 2 of the most iconic musicals about the American experience (in addition to Show Boat & Street Scene). Busby Berkeley musicals (especially the Gold Diggers series) would be another not just for the content, but also because of their impact on visual composition, technical innovation & prioritizing the collective over the individual. The other candidates would be off-beat musicals that gained critical/cult status (The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, Hedwig And The Angry Inch, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hair, Hairspray, The Little Shop Of Horrors).

I remember that the West Side Story rumor came about due to Criterion having an image credit on this 60th anniversary blog post. Maybe they own some of the behind-the-scenes photos in the article, but idk.

[jt938]

I have no proof whatsoever, but I feel pretty confident that West Side Story will be coming from Criterion this year, presumably later in the year around November or so.

[starmanof51]

I remember that the West Side Story rumor came about due to Criterion having an image credit on this 60th anniversary blog post. Maybe they own some of the behind-the-scenes photos in the article, but idk.

Criterion put it out on laserdisc, and the general guideline that if they had it once, they'd like it back has been a sound one

[crimlaw]

Buy Physical Media just announced today on ‘X’ that West Side Story is coming in 4K from Criterion.

I’m not sure how credible this is.

[FrauBlucher]

You know when George Feltenstein teases so and so is coming. I think he is referring to not just from WAC but from what he refers to as his partner labels. Much like he did with Errol Flynn and then Criterion announced Captain Blood. I have a hunch that the Fords he teased we could see The Informer getting a Criterion release, especially if it can be released in UHD

[Peacock]

It’s the topic that never ends and almost never gives but I have been pondering if WB’s boutique label friendships may finally lead to The Devils - uncut - getting released by one of them? Mr Horn is long gone, and I find it hard to believe that some shadowy board of people in 2026 that is determined to never license and allow the home video release of this version.

I imagine Criterion and others regularly ask for this title as it is sure to be a huge seller. But yeah, maybe I’ve missed the latest updates on this subject over the last few years and maybe this should be moved to a more appropriate thread… But if we are talking about a flagship title like West Side Story now getting a Criterion edition it feels odd that The Devils would still be a no-go for a release?

[FrauBlucher]

But yeah, maybe I’ve missed the latest updates on this subject over the last few years and maybe this should be moved to a more appropriate thread

Where the Devil is The Devils

[domino harvey]

Right wingers just bought WB and you think now is when they’ll release the Devils?!

[MichaelB]

I can guarantee that The Devils would have been requested by every label with a WB deal!

[Peacock]

Right wingers just bought WB and you think now is when they’ll release the Devils?!

Considering who bought WB, I actually think it could be more likely!

I can guarantee that The Devils would have been requested by every label with a WB deal!

Oh totally, I guess I was just idling speculating if things may change in the next couple of years with the flood of third party titles or if anything is possibly in the works.

A boy can dream.

[CSM126]

I seem to recall reading round here that Criterion had offered eye watering amounts of money for the Devils and WB still said no because their hang up is beyond monetary. Somebody must still be offended.

[Calvin]

I find it hard to believe that there remains a moral obligation to suppress the film at Warner when they have allowed it to be available on DVD, TV broadcast, theatrical screenings and streaming/digital download. There's presumably something more mundane preventing a high def release and I suspect that rumours of the amounts offered by Criterion etc. have been a bit overegged.

[ryannichols7]

not to "old man yells at cloud" but I genuinely wish the film would get a release already so I can stop hearing about it. easily one of the most trying things on physical media Internet to constantly see this film named in speculation for every single label

[Drucker]

not to "old man yells at cloud" but I genuinely wish the film would get a release already so I can stop hearing about it. easily one of the most trying things on physical media Internet to constantly see this film named in speculation for every single label

The superb BFI release remains in-print, authoritative, and affordable!

[Drucker]

PS. For whatever it's worth, the absolute best case scenario for home video from a joint Paramount and WBD venture would be the status quo. But in all likelihood there will be massive consolidation. I think it's a safe assumption that at best, the Paramount home video team would run things in the new entity. This is a company that just got rid of its entire news radio division. Is the home video market more durable than news radio? I'm very bearish on the future of home video from this enterprise. Get it while you can.

[denti alligator]

I seem to recall reading round here that Criterion had offered eye watering amounts of money for the Devils and WB still said no because their hang up is beyond monetary. Somebody must still be offended.

This makes no sense to me either. Especially since the label would take the brunt of the criticism, if there were any.

[Hogfather]

not to "old man yells at cloud" but I genuinely wish the film would get a release already so I can stop hearing about it. easily one of the most trying things on physical media Internet to constantly see this film named in speculation for every single label

The superb BFI release remains in-print, authoritative, and affordable!

Actually I'm pretty sure that the BFI version is the UK theatrical version, not the 2002 director's cut that editor Michael Bradsell reassembled with footage cut by the BBFC. The 2002 version was approved by Russell, and he and Mark Kermode were actually able to get it screened a couple times in the UK before his death in 2011.

[MichaelB]

The BFI release is indeed the UK theatrical version, one of two cuts personally signed off by Ken Russell.

The other was the 2002 semi-restoration, which doesn’t restore any of the material cut by the BBFC and Warner Bros (which is believed to be irretrievably junked), but it does restore the “rape of Christ” and the thigh-bone scene, which had originally been removed by Russell prior to formal BBFC submission (which is why that footage survives) following an informal chat with the BBFC’s John Trevelyan, who liked the film and genuinely thought he could steer the rest past his colleagues.

But although he had the backing of his boss Lord Harlech, the majority of BBFC examiners strongly disagreed, as did Warner Bros themselves, who actively wanted their own film censored. At least Russell was personally involved with this process, which is why the UK theatrical cut is far superior to the utterly butchered US cut (drastically scissored by WB without Russell’s involvement).

But when negotiating the deal that led to the BFI DVD release, Warner Bros was adamant that not one frame of the “rape of Christ” or thigh-bone scene could be included, even in the extras—so they had no alternative but to release the UK theatrical cut. But for a great many people, especially outside the UK, this was a substantial improvement on what they’d been able to see up to then.