Arrow Announcements, Speculation & Wild, Irresponsible Conjecture

[rapta]

Some interesting news in regards to Jia Zhangke's MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART. Previously thought to have been with New Wave Films, I was scanning through the Launching Films site and noticed it's now apparently coming from Arrow Films (finally being released this coming December).

I guess that's good news as it'll almost certainly be an Arrow Academy Blu-ray release - probably with a reissue of A TOUCH OF SIN, possibly as a mini-box set - but bad news if indeed New Wave Films had to let it go. They apparently planned to release it along with Walter Salles' documentary JIA ZHANGKE, A GUY FROM FENYANG, which Arrow may have picked up as well (it'd be a hefty extra for any home video release of either film).

[tenia]

I'm massively out of the Arrow loop now, but I know they've hired at least one new full-time producer in the last few weeks - James Blackford, formerly of the BFI and in general the producer of the most Arrowesque BFI releases, so he'll be an excellent fit. And Marc Walkow's Arrow output this year seems to be as prolific as mine ever was.

I don't doubt Arrow knows at least partially what they're doing, and certainly knows that increasing so much the output means they will only be able to stretch the current resources that much, but I know it sometimes isn't as obvious at it seems, hence my concerns. But I'm glad to know it seems they are doing what is needed to avoid suffering this can of issue.

[Ribs]

I expect the fact we didn't hear about a standalone release for the Rohmer discs concurrent with the release to signify they're aware it might be pushed back, as for past sets like Fassbinder and Allen those began the month after their off-cycle announcements to be concurrent with the release of the box. But generally Arrow delays their Academy sets, and that's fine, as they're putting out so many more exciting box sets then anyone else in the equation. Delays mean that, as things stand right now, we'll be getting Godard + Gorin, Three by Hirokazu Kore-eda, Four by Guitry, Four Film Noir Classics, Early Suzuki Vol. 1, and Ten by Rohmer in a four-week period.

[tenia]

Delays mean that, as things stand right now, we'll be getting Godard + Gorin, Three by Hirokazu Kore-eda, Four by Guitry, Four Film Noir Classics, Early Suzuki Vol. 1, and Ten by Rohmer in a four-week period.

Which isn't optimal from a sales perspective either.

[Orlac]

The sheer volume of "limited edition" stuf exhausted me last year to the point where I had to go cold turkey. Aside from the vintage Japanese titles, I'm going to assume I won't be able to own the other stuff. It's just too much in a short window, and whilst we can safely assume some stuff will stay around for a couple of years, others attract scalpers.

It's great to have many wonderful releases, but I suspect some of us won't get the chance to own them.

[tenia]

I'll be surprised if what is everything now planned for a Nov release end up being released as scheduled.
There will be 6 new individual UK releases, 5 UK sets accounting for a total of 21 movies, 1 US Steelbook re-release, 1 individual UK release from a boxset (After The Storm) + 2 US individual ports + 2 US boxsets ports.
And this will directly be followed on Dec 11th by the Apartment LE, Carrie LE and the 10-movies Rohmer set.

I hope Arrow is very well organised.

Good thing is though : many sets are Academy ones, and so far, these don't look to sell as well as the Video ones (by far, it seems) so except maybe The Apartment, it means we'll have some time to catch up with Guitry, Rohmer, Kore-eda, Suzuki and the 4 Films noirs.

But all these releases are probably going to neutralise each other. People only can spend that much money on a given period.

[TMDaines]

The sheer volume of "limited edition" stuf exhausted me last year to the point where I had to go cold turkey. Aside from the vintage Japanese titles, I'm going to assume I won't be able to own the other stuff. It's just too much in a short window, and whilst we can safely assume some stuff will stay around for a couple of years, others attract scalpers.

It's great to have many wonderful releases, but I suspect some of us won't get the chance to own them.

Late 2016 and 2017 have been ridiculous. I was down to about 25 Blu-rays on my wishlist and now it is well over 100. Amazon have neutered much of their competition, so they are more expensive than ever too.

[Orlac]

I've decided to go for one thing per month, from any label. I love collecting, but not chasing after every damn thing that comes out.

[tenia]

On DVD Classik, we rely on Gaumont's catalogue and it doesn't return any result for Beineix.
Regarding La lune dans le caniveau, it's a Gaumont co-production which was released on DVD in France through M6, never Gaumont. IMDB (regular) also states that Gaumont only had theatrical rights.
But I asked Jerome Soulet on DVD Classik about it. If he answers, I'll post the reply here.

Jerome answered on DVD Classik :
"It's a complex topic. JJ BENEIX took back his movies' distributions rights at the time. Gaumont is still the movies' co-producer but we don't sell them anymore. However, the parties regularly discuss this topic."

[dda1996a]

When are announcements going to be this month?

[tenia]

I'll be surprised if everything now planned for a Nov release end up being released as scheduled.

Unfortunately but unsurprisingly, November’s output suddenly just got way lighter, with 3 boxsets out of 5 delayed (some massively).
EDIT : now, the Kore-eda has also been pushed in Nov, and Pulp also followed suit. November's slate probably now only is about 40% of what it was.

[Ribs]

I wouldn't call five weeks in the case of the Suzuki set "massively," but it's pretty clear something's up with the Godard set to make it get pushed back a solid seven months from when it was supposed to come out. I expect Arrow is/was aware of the Noir set being their big title and prioritizing that to make sure it comes out over the holidays, and hope the same is true of the two big Academy releases in December (I feel confident about Apartment, less so about the Rohmer set).

[dda1996a]

We also haven't had announcements for January as well

[Orlac]

Too many boxsets...the delays are actually beneficial

[MichaelB]

Too many boxsets...the delays are actually beneficial

Not least to the producers. I can't tell you how happy I was when Powerhouse bowed to the inevitable and delayed the second Hammer box, because it had become too painfully obvious to ignore that meeting the original December release date would have been impossible without seriously cutting corners, and nobody wanted to do that. Not least because if you put out an excellent volume 1 (and I'm very pleased indeed with how that turned out) and a lacklustre volume 2, people are understandably going to be suspicious about the quality of volumes 3 and 4.

[tenia]

I strongly support realism rather than trying to rush to get to the finish line. At some point, sure it can be frustrating for customers, but if it's to output the right product, it's benefitial to all.
My only remark with Arrow november delays is that I'm wondering if anybody there really believed they could release so much that month or if they knew already somehow more delays would happen anyway.

[rapta]

I wonder if the Rohmer set is still on course for December. I'd be happy if that one were a little delayed as it'd give me longer to save up for it. Same for Guitry though...

[Ribs]

The only Academy sets to be released on time were those that had individual releases concurrent with the box (meaning Fassbinder & Allen). If individual Rohmers begin appearing in January it'd be a good sign they're still on track.

[MichaelB]

I wonder if the Rohmer set is still on course for December. I'd be happy if that one were a little delayed as it'd give me longer to save up for it.

I’ve already proofed the complete book text (which is superb: tons of stuff on every individual film, and absolutely no padding), so I’m assuming at least that part of the package is on schedule.

[What A Disgrace]

I'd like to think that Arrow is trying to get Rohmer and Film Noir out before the end of the year, and Kore-eda not being delayed with the other boxed sets is also a good sign.

I'd also like to think the delayed announcements for January are due to Arrow wanting to premiere them with the new site.

[Ribs]

I have a hard time imagining the new site will be ready by the end of the week if we haven't heard about it in months! The 12 weeks between announcement and release is a necessity just for scheduling with retailers and the like. I'd guess they're shooting to have the new site up in early November in time for some kind of Black Friday offer a few weeks later.

[midnitedave]

New announcements coming Friday.
Arrow also gave with this hint...

Cat O'Nine Tails?

[rapta]

Yeah, most probably The Cat O'Nine Tails as we knew it was one of the likely Argento titles to be arriving soon - we're probably due at least one Argento in the new year, with Phenomena and The Bird with the Crystal Plumage having arrived back in May and June.

I also saw the Academy tease of a Garibaldi biscuit, and since they teased some Rossellini a few months ago, I'd guess it'll be Viva l'Italia!

[mistakaninja]

Did Gary Cooper ever appear without the toupee?

[What A Disgrace]

Foxes are canines, and so are hounds, and also a lot of people love Tails the Fox for the wrongest of wrong reasons, so this could be a reference to Hounds of Love, which has had a January release date on Amazon UK for a while.

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