Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Matt]

If they can do for Nothing Sacred what Warner Archives did for the 1937 A Star Is Born, it will be a worthwhile release. The most recent Kino BD used a 1999 photochemical restoration. Since then, digitally compositing three-strip Technicolor color separations from 4K scans has been perfected (see WAC's Technicolor releases or the restoration of Sarabande for Dead Lovers), and this could have the potential to make all older video editions look like dog food.

[domino harvey]

Lombard’s hair is actually blonde at last, should be interesting to see if it ever materializes

[Finch]

That's intriguing. Thank you all for your replies. I'd buy Nothing Sacred for a third time!

[Stefan Andersson]

I could see them doing the Lubitsch films as an Eclipse set - although that may just be wishful thinking on my part.

And perhaps adding So This Is Paris, restored (with a score by Ben Model) and shown at the 2021 TCM Film Festival.
Ben Model: "The version shown on TCM was a brand new 2K scan by Warner their own nitrate 35mm; it was graded, but not digitally restored (stabilization and cleanup). The Library of Congress also has 35mm on this title, and anyone can purchase a scan of this from LoC."

Source:
https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=34145

[ryannichols7]

considering I bought the Kino Nothing Sacred for $4.99 I'd happily pay up for a Criterion with MoMA's restoration, 4K or not

[yoloswegmaster]

January 2026 titles:
The Dead
World Cinema Project Vol. 5
Birth
Dead Man upgrade
Yi Yi upgrade
Captain Blood
Kiss of the Spider Women
Caught By the Tides

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

January 2026 titles:
The Dead
World Cinema Project Vol. 5
Birth
Dead Man upgrade
Yi Yi upgrade
Captain Blood
Kiss of the Spider Women
Caught By the Tides

The best lineup out of any of the world cinema project sets. I’ve seen all but Yam Daabo and my lord they are all fantastic.

[DimitriL]

Interesting that it's the first 3-disc/4 movie set and the first one without DVD. I wonder if that augurs smaller but more frequent releases.

[redbill]

I had a weird dream 3 months ago that Eclipse series was coming back

[dwk]

Interesting that it's the first 3-disc/4 movie set and the first one without DVD. I wonder if that augurs smaller but more frequent releases.

It is also the first WCP box that didn't give spine numbers to the individual films.

[DimitriL]

That IS interesting. I don't know if that's better or worse. It's sort of confusing for, say, WCP 1 to be spine 684, Touki Bouki being 685 in the set, then getting a separate loaded stand-alone also as spine 685.

[rrenault]

So Criterion also accidentally posted an upgrade of A Woman Under the Influence to social media before fixing the mistake, and people seem to presume they accidentally leaked a release intended for next month. I guess we’ll see. Has the film received a 4K restoration yet? I’m not sure.

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

So Criterion also accidentally posted an upgrade of A Woman Under the Influence to social media before fixing the mistake, and people seem to presume they accidentally leaked a release intended for next month. I guess we’ll see. Has the film received a 4K restoration yet? I’m not sure.

I doubt it. This has happened before on their Instagram for multiple past announcements and immediately have taken it done.

[Ribs]

It’s very cool that three of this month’s titles are straight-from-DVD-to-4K upgrades (and Kiss of the Spider Woman had an awful early BD release in the US, though the UK release from AE was much better), feel like Criterion has more than basically anyone else embraced just ripping the band-aid off and accepting this format as where the enthusiasts are now.

[hearthesilence]

So Criterion also accidentally posted an upgrade of A Woman Under the Influence to social media before fixing the mistake...Has the film received a 4K restoration yet? I’m not sure.

It indeed has. A DCP has screened here, here and here for its 50th anniversary.

[beamish14]

So Criterion also accidentally posted an upgrade of A Woman Under the Influence to social media before fixing the mistake...Has the film received a 4K restoration yet? I’m not sure.

It indeed has. A DCP has screened here, here and here for its 50th anniversary.

Really hoping for the “ur-version” of Shadows in Ray Carney’s collection to finally get a release

[yoloswegmaster]

So Criterion also accidentally posted an upgrade of A Woman Under the Influence to social media before fixing the mistake...Has the film received a 4K restoration yet? I’m not sure.

It indeed has. A DCP has screened here, here and here for its 50th anniversary.

Really hoping for the “ur-version” of Shadows in Ray Carney’s collection to finally get a release

Wasn't the Cassavetes estate the reason why the first version of Shadows not added to the boxset?

[ryannichols7]

just put it together that Birth and The Dead come in the same month, so Danny, Anjelica, and John Huston all got represented at the same time

plus of course Dead Man being playful with the theme. I'm sure this is all coincidental, but a fun observation, almost as much as Salaam Bombay coming in December

[hearthesilence]

It indeed has. A DCP has screened here, here and here for its 50th anniversary.

Really hoping for the “ur-version” of Shadows in Ray Carney’s collection to finally get a release

Wasn't the Cassavetes estate the reason why the first version of Shadows not added to the boxset?

Correct. They made it clear they didn't want this version circulating. But since then so many like Gena Rowlands have died, so it's possible the survivors now in charge will change their mind.

[Big Ben]

Wasn't the Cassavetes estate the reason why the first version of Shadows not added to the boxset?

Someone more knowledgeable about this than me (Mr Sausage perhaps?) probably has better recollection but I am under the impression that the late Gena Rowlands made should Carney wasn't involved in the boxset at all. Carney has made all manner of insane claims over the years with my personal favorite insinuation being that he somehow understands John Cassavetes more than the people who actually lived with him. Because of things like this, and a myriad other reasons I don't think we'll be seeing this version of Shadows any time soon.

Hope springs eternal of course.

[hearthesilence]

That's probably the biggest obstacle - as long as Carney has it, I don't think the estate wants anything to do with him because he's now a well-known complete ass, especially after the sleazy shit he pulled on Mark Rappaport. I could see something happening after Carney dies, especially if the print is returned to the estate and they likewise have a much more open mind about putting it out for scholarly reasons, but we'll see.

[Close The Door, Raymond]

just put it together that Birth and The Dead come in the same month, so Danny, Anjelica, and John Huston all got represented at the same time

Anjelica's older brother Tony Huston also is represented. His script for The Dead earned him an Oscar nod.

Imagine if Criterion's January releases also included "Dodsworth" (with Walter) and/or "The Irishman" 4k upgrade (with Jack).

Interesting that it's the first 3-disc/4 movie set and the first one without DVD. I wonder if that augurs smaller but more frequent releases.

There's four movies on three discs. So which two are sharing a disc, and which two are getting their own disc?

[domino harvey]

Chronique is three hours long, it’s surely on its own disc

[rrenault]

Referring to my most recent comment in the “Quarantined” thread, let me just establish I don’t mean to say this month’s slate isn’t interesting.

As a rule, Radiance is the only label these days I blind buy from, and the only two films in January’s slate I’ve actually seen are Yi Yi and Birth(haven’t actually seen Dead Man yet), and I have no interest in owning the latter.

The WCP films certainly pique my interest (I’m sure Carlotta will do stand-alones of these with better encoding).

Yi Yi I may buy at some point, either from Criterion or Carlotta.

P.S. When I first started buying UHDs I was more amenable to blind buys, since I wrongly presumed only a manageable number of titles would make it to the format anyway. Welp…

[yoloswegmaster]

Interesting that it's the first 3-disc/4 movie set and the first one without DVD. I wonder if that augurs smaller but more frequent releases.

There's four movies on three discs. So which two are sharing a disc, and which two are getting their own disc?

It will almost certainly be Yam Daabo and Kummatty sharing a disc since both titles are less than 90 minutes long.