Criterion Newsletter

[davebert]

No kidding. Rocco and His Brothers is only five siblings total, while this suggests 6. I'll wait for someone smart to tell me what it is.

[scotty]

Prison, perhaps?

[domino harvey]

I think montgomery has nailed it. The character speaking is the Seventh Seal (so just when we've figured out that the wacky animals have nothing to do with the clue, they go and make it an integral part of it - the chess games are a cute touch).

So we're looking at five pre-Seventh Seal Bergmans, presumably in a box set (since they're not likely to release five films by the same director within a few months of one another without putting them in a box). There are a lot to choose from, and only Sawdust and Tinsel and Summer with Monika leap out at me as unavoidable choices.

Maybe 2007's recurring theme will be box sets.

if they're elder siblings of the Seventh Seal, wouldn't that mean they'd be post-57 films, not pre?

[Fesapo]

For this month's contest, I found Albert Finney, Walter Matthau, Bill Murray, and Alastair Sim. What else did you folks find?

- Greg

[justeleblanc]

I think montgomery has nailed it. The character speaking is the Seventh Seal (so just when we've figured out that the wacky animals have nothing to do with the clue, they go and make it an integral part of it - the chess games are a cute touch).

So we're looking at five pre-Seventh Seal Bergmans, presumably in a box set (since they're not likely to release five films by the same director within a few months of one another without putting them in a box). There are a lot to choose from, and only Sawdust and Tinsel and Summer with Monika leap out at me as unavoidable choices.

Maybe 2007's recurring theme will be box sets.

if they're elder siblings of the Seventh Seal, wouldn't that mean they'd be post-57 films, not pre?

Older as is the films are older.

Also..... from the shadows????? That has to be a clue. I can think of Army of Shadows but maybe not. The beach umbrella makes me think Summer with Monika.

Also, can we talk about the Gorin trilogy?

[godardslave]

i would love for it to be 5 early bergman in a box set, very exciting if it is.
However the link to Bergman through "seal(s)" seems somehwat tenuous, although possible.
i wonder if there is there any significance to the "5 siblings", maybe something related specifically to brothers?

[J M Powell]

I've been sitting on this since Gorin visited my university in the spring of this year: he told a (reliable) friend of mine that Criterion would be releasing some of his films in a box set. Sounds like these are the films.

[ecschmidt]

For this month's contest, I found Albert Finney, Walter Matthau, Bill Murray, and Alastair Sim. What else did you folks find?

- Greg

I'm not sure Bill Murray counts.

The others I found were Michael Caine, Jack Palance, Ralph Richardson, and Russell Thornidike.

[zedz]

The Gorin documentaries are excellent, especially Poto and Cabengo (about two sisters who only communicate in their own secret language). Poto and Cabengo is crying out for a "where are they now?" feature, so they'd better not pull a Koko on us!

[denti alligator]

For this month's contest, I found Albert Finney, Walter Matthau, Bill Murray, and Alastair Sim. What else did you folks find?

I'm not sure Bill Murray counts.

The others I found were Michael Caine, Jack Palance, Ralph Richardson, and Russell Thornidike.

Of course Bill Murray counts. Then there's .... W.C. Fields!
And also George C. Scott, if we're allowed to count laserdiscs. Hey, that's far more than 4.

[thethirdman]

For this month's contest, I found Albert Finney, Walter Matthau, Bill Murray, and Alastair Sim. What else did you folks find?

Russell Thorndike Scrooge (1923) Henry V/Richard III/Hamlet

Technically, Bill Murray did not portray Scrooge, but rather a Scrooge-type.

[mogwai]

Criterion states in one of their blog entries that the Eclipse line will launch in spring. Is it possible that these early Bergman's will launch on that line? Particularly when you take into account the "emerge from the shadows this spring" line in the newsletter.

[CSM126]

I think Eclipse is a one-release-a-month kinda thing (wasn't it stated that there would only be twelve Eclipse releases a year?), so five discs in spring would be out of the question, I think.

[mogwai]

I think Eclipse is a one-release-a-month kinda thing (wasn't it stated that there would only be twelve Eclipse releases a year?), so five discs in spring would be out of the question, I think.

You're absolutely right. I had completely forgotten about that. On to further speculation then...

[mikeohhh]

I've been sitting on this since Gorin visited my university in the spring of this year: he told a (reliable) friend of mine that Criterion would be releasing some of his films in a box set. Sounds like these are the films.

Check the no speculation thread. We already knew about that. The title of the box is said to be "3 Popular Films" and Gorin is credited on the newsletter as the director of three popular films, Poto and Cabengo, Routine Pleasures, and My Crasy Life - the same three identified as the box's contents.

By the way, I loved reading Gorin's comments on his top 10 (he made great choices too). I hope he contributes a lot to the box in terms of interviews, essays and commentaries.

[Der Müde Tod]

Criterion states in one of their blog entries that the Eclipse line will launch in spring. Is it possible that these early Bergman's will launch on that line? Particularly when you take into account the "emerge from the shadows this spring" line in the newsletter.

Yes, certainly. We can see seven seals on the logo.
Excellent news.

[Jeff]

Well, that's definitely the seventh seal talking. I agree with zedz; montgomery's got it. Since everyone always reads too much into the wacky animals, Criterion decided to actually incorporate them as part of the clues. It's fun to see them becoming more oblique and creative with their hints.

[justeleblanc]

The Five Chinese Brothers (with the pee pees and the wee wees).

[godardslave]

Criterion states in one of their blog entries that the Eclipse line will launch in spring. Is it possible that these early Bergman's will launch on that line? Particularly when you take into account the "emerge from the shadows this spring" line in the newsletter.

I think (and hope) you're correct. And five early Bergman's in a set would make perfect sense as the Eclipse launch release.

[zedz]

By the way, I loved reading Gorin's comments on his top 10 (he made great choices too). I hope he contributes a lot to the box in terms of interviews, essays and commentaries.

They need to put him on the payroll - he seems to have interesting and incisive things to say about a daunting range of films. I'm certainly itching to watch The Honeymoon Killers again, now.

[Titus]

If the Bergman speculation is correct, I hope the titles are available individually -- Tartan has already released the majority of his early work in fine packages (sans supplements), but Sawdust and Tinsel has curiously remained unreleased.

[Brianruns10]

I found George Cole. He played YOUNG Scrooge (Criterion never specified which Scrooge counted!) in the 1951 Alastair Sim version, and also had a small role in Henry V (verified through wikipedia and imdb). I love those obscure ones!

[Greathinker]

It's five pre-Seventh Seal Bergman's for sure. I'm thinking Summer with Monika, Sawdust and Tinsel, Summer Interlude, and Prison are sure bets. The fifth I'm not sure.

[King of Kong]

The beach umbrella makes me think Summer with Monika.

Also, the seals are naked. A reference to Harriet Andersson's sally to the rock pool?

[Kwyjibo]

Hmm. I may be the only one thinking this, but I'm taking the cryptic message as being a foreshadow that Criterion is re-releasing more of its old titles next year. Many of you seem to think that it's related to earlier Bergman films, but I think it refers to earlier Criterion titles.

Here are all of Criterion's releases up to The Seventh Seal:
1. Grand Illusion
2. Seven Samurai
3. The Lady Vanishes
4. Amarcord
5. The 400 Blows
6. Beauty and the Beast
7. A Night to Remember
8. The Killer
9. Hard Boiled
10. Walkabout
11. The Seventh Seal

Maybe five of these are the "elder siblings" that are "emerging from the shadows." I think the clue refers to these, and not earlier Bergman films. However, several of these already have adequate re-releases, so strike Seven Samurai, Amarcord, 400 Blows, and Beauty and the Beast. That leaves Grand Illusion, The Lady Vanishes, A Night to Remember, The Killer, Hard Boiled, Walkabout, and The Seventh Seal. Maybe the clue alludes to the fact that a reissue of The Seventh Seal is for sure, and five others are to come. Granted, The Killer and Hardboiled are OOP, but maybe Criterion got their licenses back. Of course, maybe it's any of the other many earlier Criterions that were released with barebones discs.

Finally, maybe "elder siblings" means that more Criterion Laserdiscs are transitioning to DVD. I've already posted here that Robinson Crusoe on Mars is finally coming from Criterion Laserdisc to DVD.

Of course, more Bergman would be nice, but I'd rather have upgrades and re-releases of these early Criterions.