Indications of Incoming Indicator Entertainments

[domino harvey]

The "coming soon" picture in this month's newsletter is from Bertrand Blier's Les Acteurs (2000), so that’s at least 3 further upcoming Bliers.

I think Trop belle pour toi is Studio Canal in the UK (not sure if MGM still has the rights in the states), so I assume that will be one of the missing spines and then maybe Notre histoire, which I always expected Kino to be interested in so maybe they weren’t because Indicator went after it. Menage would be an excellent release too, not sure if that one’s SC

[MichaelB]

For the benefit of my compatriots, Menage is what we (and indeed the French) know as Tenue de Soirée, although that literally translates as "Evening Dress".

[colinr0380]

If they are going to do Trop Belle Pour Toi!, it may be worth looking into trying to get the Antoine de Caunes introduction from its 30/6/98 Channel 4 screening in their "Creme de la Creme" season of French films.

[ChunkyLover]

I searched a bit here and elsewhere but couldn't find anything referencing--the standard editions of the titles from Universal Noir #1, which were scheduled for release in April, are no longer listed on the Indicator website. Are these releases canceled?

I wonder if Universal being much more prolonged with approvals has put to a delay for individual releases for both this and the second Universal Noir set.

[MichaelB]

I can confirm that they're delayed rather than cancelled.

[TMDaines]

I’ll end up buying all these French films to watch them myself, but review scores do not seem kind at all to suggest hidden gems.

[GaryC]

This is entirely speculative as I have no inside information, but if I look at the sleeve numbers, Buffet Froid is 493 and Merci la vie 496. Assuming they were licensed together, I wonder what 494 and 495 will be? Indicator usually assign numbers to batches of films licensed together in chronological order, so if those are other Blier films there are some possibilities that he made between 1979 and 1991 (and one highly unlikely to have a UK release, namely Beau-père (1991)).

I may of course be completely off-base here, but no doubt we'll find out in due course.

Meanwhile, French Dressing has the highest number so far, 514. The only other one so far released or announced higher than 491 is La travestie (506). The lowest numbers yet to be filled (under 300) are 179, 218 and 236.

For those keeping score, Les acteurs is number 497, so that leaves another two potential Bliers at 494 and 495 and maybe one at 492 and possibly some at 498 upwards.

The two Nadine Trintignants are 420 and 421, so there is a gap of two between them and the last Jean Rollin (for now?), Two Orphan Vampires.

[domino harvey]

The "coming soon" picture in this month's newsletter is from Bertrand Blier's Les Acteurs (2000), so that’s at least 3 further upcoming Bliers.

I think Trop belle pour toi is Studio Canal in the UK (not sure if MGM still has the rights in the states), so I assume that will be one of the missing spines and then maybe Notre histoire, which I always expected Kino to be interested in so maybe they weren’t because Indicator went after it. Menage would be an excellent release too, not sure if that one’s SC

Given the spines, I think it’s safe to expect two more Bliers from between 1980 and 1990 coming, and perhaps even one before 1979 or one after 1997 depending on how ambitious this licensing project is

Edit: GaryC beat me to it!

[reaky]

Defense de Savoir and Crime Thief both have the feel of Radiance releases, with the involvement of the likes of Alain Corneau and Robert Hossein.

[MichaelB]

There will be more Jean Rollin, as confirmed by the original statement of “around twenty” titles under licence.

I can’t confirm or deny any more Bliers, but I’d personally be very keen indeed; working on Buffet Froid and Merci la vie has been an absolute joy, and I haven’t even seen the UHD versions yet.

[domino harvey]

Blier is credited with Calmos (aka Femmes fatales) in the Les acteurs copy, so that could be the pre-1979 title. I kinda thought it seemed more like something in Vinegar Syndrome’s lane but this works