Eclipse Discussion and Random Speculation

[HerrSchreck]

I'm totally fucking pumped about this series, as extras have been meaning less and less to me lately anyhoo. The Bernard, Gremillion, all the obvious possibilites viz Japanese film... plus the idea of each release being a "series" like the Berg & Bernard-- absolutely, desperately, totally needed to plug so many gaps in this country. I was at the Anthology tonight and saw Dovzhenko's ZVENIGORA, thus completing his silent cycle viewership for myself... the fact that this has not come out on vid yet, and may be the most stunning and abstract Dovzhenko of all (amazingly, NOT with Daniyel Demyutsky as DP), makes the mouth water.

These fluckoes better get some silents out in there.

[zedz]

Regarding Imamura, Donald Richie recorded commentaries for Pigs and Battleships and Intentions of Murder, so these are not likely to appear on the barebones Eclipse line. Makes me think Vengeance is Mine, The Insect Woman, Deep Desire of Gods, Ballad of Narayama, Black Rain may appear in a set from Eclipse.

All of those seem likely although given the importance of Black Rain, I imagine that's the kind of release that'll end up a $40 CC disc with loads of supplements.

Jesus! Out of that list of films you single out Black Rain as the important one? They're all milestones in Japanese cinema (with the possible exception of Narayama, but that was the Cannes winner), and all worthy of full-price treatment. (Actually, I would have thought Pigs and Intentions were more obscure than any of them.) But, again, I'd be happy with bare-bones versions of any Imamura. This raises the interesting possibility of Eclipse as the home of 'satellite' releases, with the Criterion Imamuras including extensive general features that will help publicise and contextualise the (forthcoming or accompanying) Eclipse series.

There are a lot of bodies of work that could be dealt with in this way. Fred Wiseman springs to mind - a film or two on Criterion with extras detailing his entire career project, then key examples in a series or three on Eclipse.

We know there's at least one Cinema Novo title on the way: a series of others on Eclipse would be fantastic. City of Sadness on Criterion; the earlier Hous on Eclipse. A Brighter Summer Day on Criterion; the three preceding features as an Eclipse series (sigh).

As for the guy who was worried that they'd run out of material in five or ten years: think again. We could generate enough suggestions here in 24 hours to keep them busy the rest of their lives.

[zedz]

Great initiative!

Given its length, can't Phantom India be ruled out as a possible "low-cost" Eclipse title? It would have to be at least three discs.

[What A Disgrace]

As for the guy who was worried that they'd run out of material in five or ten years: think again. We could generate enough suggestions here in 24 hours to keep them busy the rest of their lives.

I smell a new thread.

[Cinephrenic]

Given its length, can't Phantom India be ruled out as a possible "low-cost" Eclipse title? It would have to be at least three discs.

I agree with you. I think Phantom India would make a good stand alone documentary under the Criterion label, but I will just wait and see when the box is released with his documentaries. Then I can delete or move films from this list to the other list and vice versa. As of now, nothing is really certain what is going to be released under the Eclipse label. One can easily figure it out, but I'm not about to judge what films should be under the Eclipse label without evidence. I would like to avoid the wrath of the forum on why I put a film here or there.

[Cinephrenic]

Can we talk about Le Chanois that is supposed to be released according to the Cahiers article. Does anyone think Raymond's Les Misérables will be paired with Le Chanois' version? Or possibly his comedy Monsieur featuring Jean Gabin. Has anyone seen any of his films?

[zedz]

I know nothing about Le Chanois, and don't think I've seen any of this films, but I has assumed that Bernard would have his own Eclipse 'series', since two of his films have been mentioned.

Of course, there's no reason to expect that all 'series' will be director-determined, or that all the Bernards will appear in the same series. Maybe multiple Miserables will form a unit, or Poetic Realism, or Films of the Occupation, or Jean Gabin. I just hope that the mention of Gremillon indicates a dedicated batch of three to five films, not just a stray film that falls under some other classification.

[Jun-Dai]

The real question is: do we create a new forum section for Eclipse, or do we merge it into the one we have for Criterion? Also, will they have spine numbers?

[Derek Estes]

I think they will have series numbers. Such as Series One: Early Bergman, or Series Two: Early Fuller, Series Three: Jean-Pierre Gorin Three Popular Films. But that's just my guess.

[HerrSchreck]

I just hope that the mention of Gremillon indicates a dedicated batch of three to five films, not just a stray film that falls under some other classification.

Cue gospel choir in blue robes:

"A-men."

With so many restored and sitting out there on digitapes as a black mark against every arty film home vid distributor in the english speaking world, at bare minimum, if we don't see MALDONE, PETITE LISE, and GUEULE D'AMOUR along with the already mentioned REMORQUES.. it'd be a little fuckin preposteruous. ARE WE LISTENING GUYS?

EDIT: Shit, now on the other thread they're talking Grem's LUMIERE D', which, unless they're truly going to be doing five films (yea right), means we'll probably not be seeing LISE or MALDONE. Because we already know their love affair with Gabin (not that there's anything wrong with that) means we HAFTA be getting GUEULE.. plus the elements for that film, and it's obvious majesty, means we hafta be getting this.

And something tells me we're not getting more than three films.

But one can hope.

[HerrSchreck]

Is the Gremillon most likely to be Remorques?

I'm starting to feel the heart race.

Note the note for LUMIERE D' above, dave. Also, from the other Eclipse thread:

I just hope that the mention of Gremillon indicates a dedicated batch of three to five films, not just a stray film that falls under some other classification.

Cue gospel choir in blue robes:

"A-men."

With so many restored and sitting out there on digitapes as a black mark against every arty film home vid distributor in the english speaking world, at bare minimum, if we don't see MALDONE, PETITE LISE, and GUEULE D'AMOUR along with the already mentioned REMORQUES.. it'd be a little fuckin preposteruous. ARE WE LISTENING GUYS?

EDIT: Shit, now on the other thread they're talking Grem's LUMIERE D', which, unless they're truly going to be doing five films (yea right), means we'll probably not be seeing LISE or MALDONE. Because we already know their love affair with Gabin (not that there's anything wrong with that) means we HAFTA be getting GUEULE.. plus the elements for that film, and it's obvious majesty, means we hafta be getting this.

And something tells me we're not getting more than three films.

But one can hope.

[HerrSchreck]

Post as usual and in your usual depth over on the Grem thread. (Ia DINAH subbed?)

PS: Thankfully this board is straightening up and giving (I think, haven't counted yet) the Member Of The Year Award to you david, which is where it belongs.

[Jason]

Has anyone seen any of Malle's docs? How are they?

[Ted Todorov]

From HTF:

Criterion:

March 13, 2007
Fires On The Plain (Kon Ichikawa)

The Burmese Harp (Kon Ichikawa)

March 20, 2007:
The Naked City (Jules Dassin)

Eclipse:

March 27, 2007
Early Bergman: Eclipse Series 1

5-Disc set includes: Torment, Crisis, Port Of Call, Thirst and To Joy

[Cinephrenic]

This means they couldn't get Enjo, therefore, no war trilogy. I'm assuming that all three of these will be 2-discs. Can't really complain, but the Bergmans are really a downer for me at least. I didn't think they'd release those just yet.

[denti alligator]

From HTF:

Criterion:

March 13, 2007
Fires On The Plain (Kon Ichikawa)

The Burmese Harp (Kon Ichikawa)

March 20, 2007:
The Naked City (Jules Dassin)

Eclipse:

March 27, 2007
Early Bergman: Eclipse Series 1

5-Disc set includes: Torment, Crisis, Port Of Call, Thirst and To Joy

This could be a normal Criterion month. Three titles and a box set. Let's hope the Eclipse releases don't cut into the release schedule of the ol' Criterions.

[Galen Young]

March 27, 2007
Early Bergman: Eclipse Series 1

5-Disc set includes: Torment, Crisis, Port Of Call, Thirst and To Joy

That is awesome news! Hopefully they'll start pushing out all the 1950's Bergman soon after.

[mikeohhh]

The two Ichikawas are manna from heaven! I didn't think The Burmese Harp was coming just yet.

[tartarlamb]

Wow. That's *reallly* early Bergman. Torment was directed by Alf Sjoberg (although Bergman directed the last scene). It'll go well with Miss Julie, I guess. The Bergman screenplay is pretty bad.

Port of Call is the only other one of those that stands out to me. I was really crossing my fingers for Prison and The Night is My Future. But I guess I shouldn't look the gift horse in the mouth. This will be a nice set.

[montgomery]

Yeah, still waiting for Sawdust and Tinsel, though maybe that one's worthy of Criterion. I really don't care, as long as it gets released, it's one of his great films.
Still, for a Bergman fan such as myself, this is exciting news.

[ByMarkClark.com]

Obviously, I wasn't thinking early enough with Bergman! I was thinking (among others) SUMMER WITH MONIKA and SAWDUST AND TINSEL. I can only assume those are coming (someday) under the Criterion banner.

[zedz]

Has anyone seen any of Malle's docs? How are they?

Yes. OK.

No, actually, I've only seen God's Country, which is pleasant in a sort of sub-Errol Morris / sub-Les Blank sort of a way.

Actually, a Les Blank series on Eclipse would be superb: Les Blank in New Orleans; The Blues According to Les Blank. Yes, please.

[Dr. Mabuse]

We might see early Hitchcock also. They should be cheap enough to release as Eclipse titles.

[Matt]

Note to certain posters: this thread is already verging on useless. Let's not threaten its existence by discussing, of all things, new Criterion announcements in it.

Note to all posters: Hey, it's the first official thread in our new Eclipse section!

[denti alligator]

Can we speculate as to how Criterion will handle the unveiling of this. I mean, will it be a link from the main site to another site or a tab at the current site? Will there be any kind of 'hurrah'?